Ep 4. Hit or Miss

On The Case With Paula Zahn is a true-crime documentary series that delves into some of the most intriguing and challenging criminal cases in history. In season 1 episode 4 named Hit or Miss, Paula Zahn takes on a case that revolves around the mysterious death of a retired university professor.

The episode begins with Paula Zahn introducing the case and providing an overview of the events that led to the professor's death. The professor had been a popular and well-respected member of the university community, but he had developed a reputation for being somewhat eccentric in his later years. He had also become increasingly paranoid and reclusive, leading some of his colleagues and family members to worry about his mental health.

On the night of his death, the professor was found lying on the floor of his home with a single gunshot wound to the head. The police initially believed that he had committed suicide, but as Paula Zahn explains, there were several factors that suggested foul play.

For one thing, the bullet wound was in an unusual location – behind the professor's left ear – and it was not consistent with the type of wound that someone would inflict upon themselves. Additionally, there were several other items at the scene that suggested that someone else had been in the house that night, including a disarrayed living room, a broken window, and a disturbed fireplace.

Paula Zahn then takes us through the investigation that followed the professor's death, as the police attempted to piece together the events of that fateful night. She interviews detectives who worked on the case, as well as the professor's former colleagues and family members who knew him best.

One of the key figures in the investigation was a neighbor who reported hearing gunshots and saw a black SUV speeding away from the professor's house on the night in question. The police eventually traced the vehicle to a group of young men who had been involved in a string of robberies in the area, but they denied any involvement in the professor's death.

Another potential suspect was the professor's caretaker, who had been hired by the family to look after him in his old age. The caretaker had a criminal record, and there were several instances in which he had been caught stealing from the professor's home. However, he also had a solid alibi for the night of the shooting.

Throughout the episode, Paula Zahn presents all of the evidence and theories related to the case, without revealing the final outcome. She also raises several important questions about the investigation, such as why the police failed to follow up on certain leads, and whether important evidence was overlooked.

Ultimately, Hit or Miss is a compelling and thought-provoking episode of On The Case With Paula Zahn. The case itself is shrouded in mystery and intrigue, and Paula Zahn's careful and thorough reporting leaves the viewer with a deep sense of empathy for the victim and the people who loved him.