Real and Fictional Crime Show

Real and Fictional

Real and Fictional Crime Show

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Real and Fictional Crime Show

Crime shows are a popular for capturing the attention of an audience whether the crime show is fictional or if it is based on a real life scenario. One of the most popular crimes show on television is CSI while another is 48 Hours. In both of these shows science is employed through forensic investigations to discover who is guilty of committing the crime and develop evidence that will be used in a court of law to prove their guilt. In the fictional television show, CSI, a team of crime scene investigators work with police to solve crimes while in the show 48 hours the steps taken by police in a real crime investigation is laid out as well as how the crime was solved.

48 Hours Episode

In the most recent episode of 48 hours police investigate the unsolved murder of a father after his son asks police to reopen the case and find his killer. Police had always suspected victim Russell Douglas was killed by his wife former beauty queen Peggy Sue Thomas. When police reopen the investigation they discover a link between Thomas and a previous boyfriend, James Huden. Through witnesses testimony and linking a gun owned by Huden to the murder he was arrested and convicted. Thomas refused to testify against Huden and Huden refused to implicate Thomas in the murder.

Once Huden was found guilty and sentenced to 80 years for the crime he no longer wanted to remain silent about the crime. Even though there was no evidence linking Huden and Thomas together before the crime there were phone cords showing the tow spoke right after the crime was committed. Huden swore in a court of law that Thomas was with him when thee murder was committed. But evidence later surfaced showing the beauty queen could not have been in another state at the time of the murder. Since the convicted felon was discredited and there was no evidence of her guilty, Thomas agreed to a plea deal where she received four years in jail for being involved in the murder after the fact.

CSI Episode

In the second television show, CSI, a fictional case was presented in Episode 17 the Long Road Home. In this episode, Gene Simmons from Kiss guest stars and is originally considered a suspect in the murder of a groupie who is found deceased in a limousine rented by the band. Simmons claims he is not the murderer and explains the victim was with another member of the band. Through the forensic investigation of the crime scene the evidence leads police to the lead singer of a rock band who claims he was not the killer (CBS, 2014). The evidence located by crime scene investigators was a melted guitar pick belonging to Simmons and his autograph.

Despite physical evidence pointing to the lead singer of the rock band he was not the killer. Days after the groupie was murdered a member of the band, Lex was also murdered. This murder could not be connected to Simmons or any other suspect. When Lex is murdered the CSI focused in on his estranged daughter for the crime (CBS, 2014). Using DNA, the genetic profile of the daughter was matched to Lex but despite the genetic connection she was not responsible for the murder. The CSI’s continue investigating when gum located at the site of the second murder is matched to another band member.

After some investigation the crime scene investigators develop evidence pointing to this band member. He was jealous of Lex and tired of being forced to sing in the background. In this fictional murder the CSI’s used all types of forensic techniques to identify and eliminate suspects. They applied DNA analysis for the gum and in matching the genetic profiles of the murdered band mate. Using handwriting analysis the autograph of Simmons was discovered to be a fake and an analysis of the gum particles yielded DNA which ultimately pointed to the right suspect.

CSI Effect

The “CSI Effect” refers to a result of shows, such as CSI, that send the wrong message to viewers about the availability of forensic tools to law enforcement. The type of forensic tools available to criminal investigators on the fictional television shows are not reality. Many crime investigation do not result in the development of physical evidence but instead are solved using circumstantial evidence. When there is no physical evidence introduced in a trial the jury is more hesitant to convict on circumstantial evidence only. This makes it harder for prosecutors to do their job and allows more guilty offenders to go free.

References

CBS. (2014). Season 14: Episode 17 - Long Road Home. Retrieved May 15, 2014 from

http://www.cbs.com/shows/csi/episodes/212963

Stensland, J. (2013). Beauty queen gets four years for her role in 2003 Whidbey murder.

Retrieved May 15, 2014 from http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/191481961.html