The New Detectives

For some killers, murder can be a lucrative business.

Sometimes, the cause of death does coincide with the scene of the crime. When an untraceable poison is used as a murder weapon, investigators rely on forensic toxicologists to follow a killer's tracks and expose a toxic death.

A woman's estranged spouse is often the key witness in a murder investigation. When the body of a missing person is found and identified, family members and friends can provide crucial information to the investigation.

The cases of the Row Family, who were murdered by arson in Boise, Idaho in 1992; and 18 year old Nicholas Howard, who was strangled to death in Yolo County, California in 1997.

The cases of Susan Galloway, who was murdered in Montana in 1982; Lenora Robinson, who died in Nashville, Tennessee in 1997; and Jennifer McCready, who was murdered in Belpre, Ohio in 1996.

Most victims are meticulously chosen by their murderer because of a connection or because they match an intricate set of criteria. The most terrifying cases of murder occur when the killer appears to choose victims at random, seemingly without an apparent connection or reason.

Killers often will try to cover up their crime by hiding the remains of their victims. Sometimes, bodies may lay hidden for years before they are discovered. That's when forensic scientists are called upon to reveal buried clues that can lead investigators to the killers.

When a victim is gunned down at point blank range, police often assume that an acquaintance is to blame, since it's less-likely for a stranger to commit an assault at close range. However, experience shows the most obvious suspect is not always guilty.

In most cases, the killer and victim share a personal history. But when a victim is caught in a stranger's deadly grasp, a crime may go unsolved for years. It takes an arsenal of forensic tools to expose the killer behind a Lethal Encounter.

When killers are driven by jealousy, rage and desire, their desperation is evident in both the crime and their efforts to cover their tracks. But forensic science can reveal even the smallest mistake to solve these crimes of passion.

Plastic, industrial tie-wraps lead police to a killer.

The methods of a murder itself can leave a lasting impression on authorities.

A woman is mysteriously abducted in Colorado, and it's not long before the police are investigating her murder.

A charred corpse is found at the site of a house fire. When investigators determine arson caused the fire but not the death, detectives are set on a hot pursuit to catch a cold-heated killer.

Some killers choose to hide their victims and investigators must then rely on forensics.

When victims of murder know their killers, they are often caught off guard. The killers rely on their intimate knowledge to pull off the perfect crime. But even the best-laid plans leave traces of the forsaken trust.

Coroners play a vital role in piecing together the final moments of someone's life. Los Angeles County coroner Julie Wilson provides an in-depth look into the science of death, as well as the techniques and methodology used by coroner investigators.

When victims of murder knew their killers, they can be caught off guard.