After the First 48

A beloved mother is found stabbed to death in a vacant lot and, when New Orleans detectives investigate the case, their only suspect seems an unlikely killer; with the help of the victim's daughter, prosecutors fight to restore her dignity.

When two beloved brothers are gunned down in their home, their devastated mother leads Gwinnett detectives to a suspect close to home; but with no clear motive to bolster their case, prosecutors could be in trouble at trial.

The latest in a string of brazen robberies leaves a beloved, retired sheriff's deputy brutally gunned down, and a survivor of the assault terrified.

When a beloved son and brother is murdered just feet from his home, his grieving family has one burning question: Why? It's up to a determined team of Gwinnett County investigators and the prosecutor to get their defiant suspect to talk.

In Tulsa, there's little evidence and no clear motive after a beloved 24-year-old is gunned down in the backseat of a car; in a tragic case of mistaken identity, it's up to his friends to help detectives and prosecutors deliver justice.

When a vulnerable woman is shot to death, witnesses are hesitant to help Tulsa detectives clinch the case; at trial, the defense questions their reliability and claims the prosecution has accused the wrong man.

After a violent melee leaves two young men brutally gunned down, Mobile detectives have to track down multiple suspects to piece together what happened. But without an eyewitness, the prosecution must rely on the defendants themselves to reveal the truth.

In Gwinnett County, a beloved rapper is gunned down in a hail of bullets from a drive-by shooting. With little hard evidence, detectives and prosecutors need to rely on a tipster to testify--despite the risks--and bring the suspect to justice.

When a transient man is gunned downed, the only eyewitness Mobile detectives have is also a suspect. At trial, reluctant witnesses, defendants pointing fingers at each other, and a surprise ruling from the judge leave a novice prosecutor struggling to clinch his case.

When three people are gunned down in a Tulsa home, detectives face two suspects, and a web of lies. Prosecutors are left with circumstantial evidence to clinch the case against a calculated, cold-blooded killer

In Mobile, a professor is murdered in his own home. It takes a missing gaming console, and a strategic game of cat and mouse with the suspects, for detectives and prosecutors to get justice.

When a Mobile mother of four is shot just blocks from her home, detectives look to her loved ones to identify her killer. But, at trial, his attorneys claim he acted in self-defense.

A massive, gang-related melee outside a nightclub leaves Gwinnett County detectives struggling to identify just who shot a young murder victim. And the death of one of the witnesses makes that challenge even harder for prosecutors.

In Mobile, a woman in a volatile relationship is found dead in her car. Detectives suspect her boyfriend, but, at trial, he takes the stand to brazenly claim she was actually the victim of a drug deal gone bad.

When a Tulsa father of two is shot just blocks from his ex-girlfriend's house, detectives have to decide which two persons of interest should be charged with his murder; a conflicting account challenges the result of the court case.

In Tulsa, a rookie detective is pushed to the brink searching for a beloved man who ultimately turns up brutally murdered. After a grinding two-year investigation, bringing the killer to justice could hang on the testimony of a jailhouse informan.

When two boys find their mother in the back of her car, Tulsa detectives turn to her family for help catching her killer. But at the defendant's trial, his explosive testimony leaves the prosecution's case hanging on one key piece of evidence.

When a Tulsa man is killed by a bullet to the head, detectives discover guns hidden in the garage next door. The neighbour's role becomes a question in a case of cousin against cousin.

A mother goes missing after blowing millions at the casino; at trial, the DA and detective take a gamble of their own to bring her killer to justice.

When Gwinnett County detectives find a mother stabbed to death, the job of identifying her killer falls to her young son; testifying at trial could be difficult for the child, putting the prosecution's case at risk.

Detectives in Tulsa, Okla., have only one witness -- a 12-year-old girl -- to a domestic dispute that has escalated to a double homicide; at trial, their case hangs on whether or not she will be able to testify.

Gwinnett County detectives investigate the murder of an innocent fifteen-year-old, caught up in a petty crime. But how will the prosecution take on a witness who claims the shooter acted in self-defense?

When a homeless woman is raped and murdered, Tulsa detectives team up with prosecutors and the suspect’s previous victim, hoping to stop him before he strikes again.

In Tulsa, a 19-yr-old woman is killed in a drive-by shooting, but the bullet was meant for someone else. At trial, justice hinges on a witness with close ties to both the victim and the suspect.

In Gwinnett County, Georgia, after a hard-working father of three is murdered at his doorstep, his family and friends must process a horrifying betrayal in order to bring the killers to justice.

After an elderly man is murdered, the suspect shocks prosecutors when he goes against his lawyer’s advice in court.

In Tulsa, Okla., detectives must break a family's code of silence to solve the gruesome murder of an 18-year-old; at trial, justice hinges on a critical witness who initially refuses to testify.

After a man is killed and several others are injured, the Tulsa PD and District Attorney's Office team with the homeless community to convict a potential spree killer.

A young mother and her friend are murdered in a parking lot, sending Tulsa detectives and prosecutors on a mission to put the shooter behind bars.

In Tulsa, the brutal murder of a man gunned down and left to die alone in the street tears apart two families.

In Las Vegas, a professional dancer disappears without a trace. Her boyfriend, the last person to see her alive, provides no leads. Finally, after weeks of dead ends, a tip blows the case wide open. At trial, the prosecution has an eyewitness and plenty of evidence on their side. But when the defendant takes the stand, will his dramatic testimony win over the jury?

A man is brutally gunned down on a neighborhood street in Rochester, New York. Investigators believe his estranged wife, a prostitute, is lying to them about his murder. And when the case goes to trial, a conviction hinges on the testimony of two witnesses with shaky credibility.

In 1983, several young mothers are raped and murdered on the west side of Louisville Kentucky. A conviction on two of the murders leaves a third family with no justice. Until 31 years later, when the re-opened case and preserved DNA evidence lead police to a killer. But at trial, his attorneys question the investigation--and the memory of the victim's children--leading to an explosive confrontation.

An Alabama killer plays a cat-and-mouse game with the justice system; a man claims he is not responsible for the shooting death of an innocent bystander.

A carjacking-turned-murder leaves a youth minister dead. Two men are caught and one suspect turns on the other. But, a last minute change of heart changes everything.

A mugging turns deadly for a man at a petrol station. Police detectives arrest two young men for the crime.

A Houston woman is beaten, set on fire, and left to die in an attack that police investigators suspect was committed by someone the victim knew.

In Harris County Texas, a 38-year-old man is stabbed to death in his own home leaving behind two children and his wife. Investigators track down the suspect thanks to surveillance video and some good old fashion detective work. But when the defendant claims self defense, the state must put together a case that will convince the jury the dead man was in fact the victim and not a predator.

In Cleveland, Ohio, an aspiring police officer is gunned down during a vicious nightclub brawl, and it’s all caught on tape. Investigators pore over more than 80 hours of surveillance footage, hoping to identify the triggerman, but the video doesn’t show who fired the fatal shot. With so few witnesses willing to talk, the state needs to use the video to convince the jury of the events that led to this cold-blooded killing.

A murder case involving the stabbing death of a Cleveland grandfather ends in a surprising courtroom decision; an Alabama killer plays a cat-and-mouse game with the justice system.

In Harris County Texas, a young mother of three daughters is found in her trailer with her throat slashed. Investigators arrest her alleged killer with the help of a key witness, but the defense turns the tables when the case goes to trial. And in Birmingham, Alabama, a popular man is shot blocks from his home, but manages to name the shooter but investigators need the help of witnesses to put away the killer.

In Birmingham Alabama a mother of a two-year-old boy is found stabbed to death in her own bedroom. Investigators have a mystery on their hands when they learn the killer opened the victim’s front door with a key and stole her diamond ring. In Cleveland Ohio, two 19 year-old men are shot and killed during a party at an abandoned house. All signs point to a good friend of the victims’ as the shooter but no one actually saw him pull the trigger. With no DNA or murder weapon found, the state needs to convince a jury the defendant is a cold-blooded killer.

A mother of five young boys is found shot to death in her Cleveland, Ohio apartment. A witness emerges, guiding detectives to a critical piece of evidence–and ultimately, a suspect. Going into trial, prosecutors think their case is airtight, but when their key witness falters on the stand, the veteran defense team is poised and ready to dismantle the prosecution’s case.

In Harris County, Texas investigators are called to an abandoned SUV, its interior covered in blood. The vehicle’s owner, a 20-year-old single mother, is nowhere to be found. The Sheriff’s department believes she’s been murdered, and her boyfriend is the main suspect–but he’s not talking. Thirteen hundred miles away an SUV slams into a house, its driver shot dead behind the wheel. Detectives soon have an ID on his shooter, but he’s fled the state, and a manhunt is on.

In Memphis, Tennessee a man’s body is found dumped in a field. Despite every effort, the case goes cold and the murderer remains a mystery. For six years the victim’s father investigates the murder on his own, trying to find out who killed his son. When an unexpected tip leads to the arrest of a close friend of the victim, the victim’s family worries that there is not enough evidence to put the murderer away for life. And the details of the brutal killing are finally revealed in court.

In Cleveland, Detectives Mike Smith and Walley Everett investigate the murder of a young woman who’s body is burned beyond recognition. A key witness comes forward who leads them to the suspect. But when the case moves to court, the key witness could become the prosecution’s main liability.

The case of a fatal shooting in Cleveland takes a strange turn when a witness comes forward claiming the victim was shot by his best friend.

When a Honduran immigrant is found stabbed to death in his Miami apartment, his brother claims it was a suicide. But as investigators dig deeper, all evidence points to the surviving brother. His attorney claims self-defense, citing Florida’s stand your ground law–but the prosecution fights hard to send the defendant to trial, and ultimately, to prison.

In Liberty City, Miami a well-liked husband and wife are brutally murdered in an ambush shooting. The eyewitness to the crime is the couple’s ten-year-old daughter. She is the only thing linking the suspect to the crime. It’s up to her to sway the jurors as she gives an emotional testimony in the hopes of putting her parents’ killer behind bars.

An unexpected tip helps police crack the case involving an unidentified shooting victim in Louisville, Ky.; three scared co-defendants are asked to testify against the killer.

After a 17-year-old girl is found with a bullet through the back of her head in the woods of Katy, Texas, a young man comes forward who claims to be an eyewitness. Investigators are shocked by the unusual deal he’s made with the DA. Is the eyewitness telling the truth — or is he involved in the murder? And will the prosecution convince the jury that the defendant is the real killer?

In Miami, Florida, 25-year-old Pedro Roteta is stabbed in the middle of the street and left to die. Despite video of the murder and a confession the defense attempts to get immunity based on the controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. Will a judge let the suspect walk out of court a free man? And in Dallas Texas, a man is stabbed to death in an alley and the sole suspect disappears over the Mexican border. Then, after four years on the run, the alleged killed is finally arrested and claims self defense. Will a jury buy his story?

In Harris County, Texas, an innocent fifteen year old is heartlessly murdered by another teenager during a robbery. But when witnesses to the crime are shown photos of the killer, they fail to identify him. Will he get away with murder? And in Memphis, Tennessee, an innocent bystander, trying to break up a fight is killed when he is caught in the crossfire. But the more police question the suspect in the shooting, the more he adamantly proclaims his innocence. Did the police actually have the wrong man?

A brutal shooting in Memphis leaves a single mom mourning her only son. The main suspect is a high-ranking gang member. Will his violent reputation keep witnesses from testifying? Then–a Birmingham motorist calls 911 in the middle of the night after his car is run off the road. But when responders arrive, they find the caller shot dead. A lone eyewitness steps forward, but will his testimony be enough to convince a jury to convict?

When a popular local celebrity in Louisville is murdered during a drug deal, homicide detectives Brenda Wescott and John Lesher search for his killer. Lashawn “Shizz” Talbert created a popular dance called “The Shizz.” In August, 2010 he was driven to a drug deal by a local club promoter named David Curd. They drove to a quiet neighborhood and met a dealer named Kenneth Brown. Brown claimed that Talbert robbed him at gunpoint. Detectives unravel the case and learn about the role of Curd. And in an exclusive interview after his trial, Brown claims self-defense.

In Memphis, TN, Lt. Caroline Mason revisits the 2007 homicide of a 19-year-old man shot to death during a street fight that got out of hand. But when 26-year-old DeMario Thomas went to trial in 2009, the victim’s mother surprised everyone. While in Louisville, KY, a prosecutor’s case comes close to collapse when an unforeseen twist of fate threatens to let an alleged murderer walk.

In Miami, Detective Freddie Ponce arrests a man who tortured and killed his childhood friend. The case is strong–until an unexpected event in the first days of trial puts the whole thing in jeopardy. In Birmingham, a young mother is killed in front of her children. The killer is a young woman with no criminal history. Will this unlikely defendant win the jury’s sympathy–and a verdict of self-defense?

In January of 2009, Louisville resident Billy Wagner was killed in the street by a single bullet to the back of the head. After nearly two weeks, Det. Rick Arnold charged 20-year-old Gary Lindsey with murder, but the story was far from over. At trial, a young prosecutor faced off against a power veteran defense attorney. And the jury had to decide: Was the killing self-defense or murder?

In 2009, John Craig Froelich, II was shot and killed while taking his girlfriend to buy drugs in south Houston. Sgt. Craig Clopton charged the shooter and his girlfriend with capital murder. Without forensic evidence, prosecutor Terrence Windham had to rely on three eyewitnesses who all had credibility issues. Would the jury believe them on the stand? Or would the shooter walk?

In Memphis, a 79-year-old man is shot dead. When the young man accused of the killing comes to trial, his defense attorney argues an unusual defense. Also, a female tattoo artist is killed in her shop. The alleged shooter faces the death penalty.

In 2008 Mohamed Abdelrahman, a Darfurian immigrant, was killed in his store during a robbery. Det. Arnold charged three suspects with his murder. Mohamed’s widow watches and worries that the jury will let her husband’s alleged killers go free.

A Louisville, Kentucky family awakes before dawn as a barrage of gunfire rips through their home. When the smoke clears, three teenage boys are bleeding from bullet wounds. One would not survive. The lives of two others would be forever altered. Now, a family friend with violent tendencies stands trial for the shooting, but a lack of eyewitnesses threatens to derail the whole case. Will a jury find him guilty or will the angry suspect walk free?

When a robbery goes bad in south Memphis, one man is dead and very little physical evidence is left at the scene. Detectives track down several witnesses, but the one person who saw the shooting was a 10-year-old boy. Fast forward five years to a dramatic murder trial. The witness is now 15 and well aware of the dangers of testifying. Will he do the right thing? Or not…

In February of 2009, 21-year-old James “Jamo” Allen was gunned down outside of a Louisville, Kentucky housing project. After discovering that his ex-girlfriend knows the truth about the crime, detectives work quickly to track down the alleged killer and elicit a confession from him. Nearly two years later, what should have been a straightforward trial goes haywire when a detective stumbles on the stand and the defense calls a surprise witness. Will justice be served or will the confessed murderer go free?

In September of 2010, Jessie Dotson went on trial for one of the worst mass murders in Memphis history. He wasn’t accused of killing strangers–he was brother, friend and uncle to the six people he’d allegedly murdered and three surviving children he’d allegedly beaten and stabbed. Even seasoned detectives were horrified by the bloody crime scene. Now, all of Memphis wanted an answer to the same question: How could only one man be responsible for such brutal carnage?

University of Memphis football star Taylor Bradford was killed in his beloved Lincoln Town Car. At first police thought the motive was robbery. Then as they investigated, a love triangle emerged. Finally four men were charged with Bradford’s murder. The first to go on trial wasn’t even at the crime scene. Could prosecutors convince a jury to find him guilty of murder?

One man was part of a love triangle, the other a complete stranger–both were murdered a week apart. Little did Louisville Homicide Detectives realize these two brutal homicides were linked, until they met Michael Knights and Jeston Murray. Were they both murderers or was one a witness? Both faced the death penalty but only one would go to trial.

Suspects in the case of a cab driver who was robbed and murdered face their day in court.

In November 2006, Dallas detectives investigated the murder of a twenty-nine-year-old mother of four, found burned beyond recognition in her car behind a remote warehouse. Detectives soon discovered that the victim’s former boyfriend and father of her infant son, had been stalking her for months, leading up to her death. After tracking down two homeless witnesses and finding a piece of crucial evidence, police were able to charge James Bartley with capital murder. The Dallas DA’s office was responsible for bringing the case to a close. In order to do that successfully, the prosecutor and her investigator had to keep close tabs on their key homeless witnesses for years, while the cased awaited trial. When Bartley finally stood trial in 2009, the prosecution worried the jury wouldn’t believe the testimony of two homeless crack addicts and find the evidence insufficient to prove Bartley guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In Dallas, Texas in 2007 Darell Billingsela was charged with brutally attacking and killing twenty-two-year old Jessica Lewalling in a jealous rage. Billingslea was a two-time convicted murderer out on parole. Prosecutor Jennifer Bennett was determined to make sure Billingslea would not slip through the system again. And, in February 2007, thirty-six-year old Antoine, “Tony” Hamilton was found shot dead, and left behind a vacant house. His friend, Carlos Mitchell, confessed to the crime. Prosecutor Jenni Morse thought she had a slam dunk case–until the verdict in a similar case shook her confidence in getting a conviction.

In Dallas, detectives investigated the shooting death of 26-year-old Daniel Barron, who was killed in the doorway of his home. Detectives soon discovered that the victim's residence doubled as a drug den and that he was robbed. A tipster called-in and eventually six suspects were arrested and charged with capital murder. All six individuals admit involvement in the crime and point to 19-year-old Callie Marshall, mother of two, as the group's ringleader. A year and a half later, Callie finally faces a jury of her peers. Will they see a confused girl who organized the robbery in order to bail her boyfriend out of jail in time for Christmas, or a coldblooded killer?

On March 26th, 2006, homicide detectives were called to the site of a burning car. Inside were the charred remains of 22-year-old Xenia Wilson, the mother of a four-year-old daughter. Detectives Rick Duggan and Randy Laboda closed the case by arresting three suspects: Jose ""J.J."" Verduzco, Chito Rojas and Ismael ""Boogeyman"" Moreno. Verduzco and Rojas pled guilty and agreed to testify against Moreno. The trial would take turns that surprised both defendant and prosecutor. And the case itself would have a tragic postcript.

In Dallas, detectives investigated the disappearance of a 20-year old woman who suddenly went missing. After a six-day search, detectives arrested Douglas Edwards who confessed to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, found strangled and burned in a remote field. Two years later, in the hope of begging the court for mercy, Edwards opts to have his sentenced determined by a jury.

A father of five found stabbed over 50 times shocks friends and family. Cleveland Homicide follows a bizarre trail of evidence that takes the case someplace they least expected.

On a Sunday night in June 2007, Christian Marton and his girlfriend Monica Stafford drove two hours from Axtell, Texas to Dallas where Christian had arranged to buy a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice. By the end of the evening, Christian was dead - shot in a robbery attempt.

Ashes and Snow: A strangled woman is found in a partially burned car. Backyard Murder: A murder is born from a gun sale that went wrong.

Detective Robert Arredondo and his team find themselves involved in a cross country manhunt for suspects in the brutal shootings of three young men.

In San Antonio, TX, Det. Tim Angell and his partners find a nameless man beaten to death floating in a creek. They must race to identify the victim and find anyone who may have known him. And in Phoenix, Det. Mike Polk and his team painstakingly reconstruct the final hours of a man found dead hogtied in a hotel room.

In Dallas, Detective Eddie Ibarra used surveillance video to track down Jose Castro who was accused of brutally murdering a fifty-one year-old woman in the lobby of her office building. Castro now faced the death penalty, but his defense team would come up with an unexpected counter argument that could change the outcome of the case.

In Dallas, Detective Rick Duggan arrested two suspects for the murder of Leonel Valle. Now the justice system needed to determine which of them was most responsible - the girlfriend, Marsela Cortez, whose fingerprints were found on his empty safe, or her jealous ex-boyfriend, Gerardo Hernandez?

As the First 48 ran out on Phoenix detectives, 16-year-old Lonny Bassett stood accused of brutally killing his two friends with a shotgun. Would his claim to self-defense hold water or would the evidence detectives collected in the first 48 be enough to convince jurors of his guilt? In Miami, a minor altercation on the highway ended with a shooting that took the life of an innocent young man. The offender was facing a minimum 25-year sentence with the charge of second-degree murder. But will his defense team convince the jury that the homicide was an accident.