The New Detectives Season 8 Episode 11 Absent Witness

The New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science season 8 episode 11, titled "Absent Witness," explores the challenges faced by forensic investigators when a crucial witness is missing from a crime scene. The episode dives into several cases where key witnesses were absent, leaving investigators to rely solely on forensic evidence to solve the crimes.

In one case, a woman is found brutally murdered inside her home, but there are no witnesses to the crime. Investigators turn to forensic evidence such as DNA and tire track analysis to identify the killer and build a case against him.

Another case follows the investigation of a hit-and-run accident where the victim is left unconscious and the culprit flees the scene. Without a witness to identify the driver, investigators must rely on forensic evidence such as paint chips and DNA from the vehicle to track down the hit-and-run driver.

The episode also examines a case where a mother and daughter are found stabbed to death in their home, but the father, who was the prime suspect, was nowhere to be found. Investigators use forensic evidence such as bloody footprints and soil samples to link the father to the crime scene and ultimately bring him to justice.

Throughout the episode, various forensic techniques are explored, such as ballistics, forensic entomology, and forensic odontology. The importance of forensic evidence in solving crimes without witnesses is highlighted, as well as the role of skilled forensic investigators in analyzing and interpreting that evidence.

Overall, "Absent Witness" showcases the challenges faced by forensic investigators when key witnesses are missing from a crime scene, and the crucial role of forensic science in solving these cases.