The Lake Erie Murders Season 1 Episode 9 The Search For Joseph Chandler

The Lake Erie Murders season 1 episode 9 titled "The Search For Joseph Chandler" chronicles the investigation into the identity of a man who committed suicide after murdering an Ohio family of three in 1989. The episode starts with an overview of the crime, where a man named Joseph Chandler used a false identity to rent an apartment in an Ohio suburb and then killed a family of three, taking his own life later.

The case remained unsolved for over 20 years until DNA evidence was discovered in 2012 that led investigators to believe that Chandler might have originated from the state of California. The episode showcases how police detectives, forensics experts, and genealogists collaborated to find Chandler's real identity and solve the crime.

The episode follows the detectives as they trace Chandler's footsteps and gather evidence to piece together his true identity. They interview his former landlords, neighbors, and acquaintances to figure out where he might have originated from. Meanwhile, the forensics experts are busy analyzing the DNA samples collected from the crime scene and comparing them to DNA databases across the country.

As the investigation progresses, the episode delves into the life of Joseph Chandler, a man who seemed to have no past, no family, and no friends. The detectives get a complete picture of his life by visiting his hometown in California and interviewing his former high school teachers, classmates, and acquaintances. They also explore his military records and psychiatric evaluations to understand what might have led him to committing such a heinous crime.

The episode also explores the role of genealogy experts in solving the case. The detectives worked closely with a genealogy company that specializes in creating family trees using DNA samples. Through this revolutionary technique, they were able to identify one of Chandler's distant relatives who lived in Louisiana. The detectives contacted this relative, and after a few DNA tests, they were finally able to identify Chandler's true identity.

The episode concludes with the detectives tracing Chandler's family lineage, finding a sister who had not seen or heard from him in over 30 years. With Chandler's true identity known, the detectives finally put to rest the mystery surrounding the Lake Erie Murders.

Overall, the episode is a gripping account of how modern science and detective work solved a crime that had remained unsolved for over two decades. With its dramatic reenactments and interviews with key witnesses and experts, "The Search For Joseph Chandler" is an informative and compelling episode of The Lake Erie Murders.