Ep 3. Texas Servant Girl Murders

In the third episode of the twelfth season of History Detectives, the team examines the unsolved case of the Texas Servant Girl Murders. In the late 1800s, Austin, Texas was rocked by a series of brutal murders. The victims were all female domestic servants, and many of them were attacked while they slept.

The team begins their investigation by examining newspaper accounts and police reports from the time. They learn that there were eight victims in total, all of them young women who worked as live-in servants for wealthy families in the city. The first murder occurred in 1884, and the last in 1885. In each case, the killer struck in the middle of the night, attacking the victim with an axe or other sharp object.

The detectives talk to several experts in the field of criminology and forensic science to gain insight into the case. They learn about the methods used by investigators at the time, which included taking plaster casts of footprints and examining bloodstains. They also learn about the psychological profiling of killers by contemporary forensic artists.

The team then examines a series of clues that may shed light on the identity of the killer. One such clue is a suspicious letter written to the police by someone claiming to be the murderer. The detectives analyze the handwriting and language used in the letter to try to determine whether it was genuine or a hoax.

They also analyze a bloodstained shirt that may have belonged to the killer. Testing reveals that the blood is human and is consistent with the type found on some of the murder victims. The detectives work with a forensic artist to create a portrait of the killer based on the bloodstained shirt and other evidence.

The team also examines the social and cultural context of the time. They learn that many of the victims were African American, and that racial tensions were high in the city at the time. Some historians have suggested that the murders may have been racially motivated, and that the killer may have been a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Throughout the episode, the detectives interview descendants of the victims and other people connected to the case. They also talk to modern-day criminal investigators and forensic experts to gain insight into the case. The team uses a variety of methods, including archival research, forensic testing, and psychological analysis, to try to solve the mystery of the Texas Servant Girl Murders.

Overall, the episode is a fascinating and complex exploration of one of America's most notorious unsolved crimes. The detectives take us on a journey through time, examining the historical context of the murders and the investigative techniques used to try to catch the killer. Through interviews with experts and descendants of the victims, we gain a deeper understanding of the human impact of the murders and the legacy they left behind. Ultimately, the episode is a powerful reminder of the value of historical inquiry and the importance of seeking justice even for crimes long past.