Ep 11. Witness to Terror

The New Detectives is a true-crime series that delves deep into the investigation process of some of the most heinous crimes committed in recent history. Season 2 episode 11, Witness to Terror, takes the viewers to a case that shook the nation in the mid-1990s.

It starts with an innocent spring day in Oklahoma when a powerful explosion rips apart the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds. The blast was so severe that it not only destroyed the building but also ripped apart the people's lives.

The episode follows the meticulous investigation process that the FBI and ATF carried out to find the culprits behind this terrorist attack. The investigation was no less than a Herculean task considering the magnitude of destruction and the number of lives involved.

The case takes a crucial turn with the discovery of a surveillance camera footage that captured the image of a truck parked outside the building moments before the explosion. The camera belonged to a nearby building, and the FBI and ATF worked tirelessly to enhance the footage to identify the truck's make and model.

The footage, coupled with an eyewitness account of a man who saw the truck and a sketch drawn by him, became the focal point of the investigation. It was clear that the truck played a crucial role in the bombing, and the authorities left no stone unturned to track it down.

As investigators examined the remnants of the truck found in the debris, some other crucial pieces of evidence were discovered. A piece of a rental contract that belonged to Timothy McVeigh, a former army veteran who had a history of anti-government affiliations, raised alarms among investigators.

With his name, Timothy McVeigh became the prime suspect, and a massive manhunt was launched across the country to find him. As the investigation progressed, the FBI uncovered McVeigh's connections to other extremist groups and individuals, making his culpability in the terrorist attack clear.

The case took a significant turn when a retired Army officer, who knew McVeigh, came forward and identified him as the driver of the truck. This testimony became the nail in the coffin, and McVeigh was arrested and charged with the terrorist attack. Subsequently, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.

The episode also explores the impact of the terrorist attack on the nation and the people. It features interviews of survivors, families of victims, and first responders, who share their harrowing experiences of that tragic day. It shows the resilience and strength of the American people in such testing times.

Overall, Witness to Terror is a gripping and informative episode that walks the viewers through one of the most heinous terrorist attacks in American history. The episode showcases the exemplary work of the FBI and ATF in bringing the culprits to justice while also sensitively portraying the impact of such a heinous crime on the people affected by it.