Forensic Tales

#319 - In May of 1993, three eight-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Within weeks, police arrested three teenagers, despite a complete lack of physical evidence tying them to the crime.

What followed was an investigation shaped by fear, rumor, and the cultural panic of the early 1990s. A confession filled with factual errors. Forensic interpretations that would later be widely challenged. And a jury decision that would haunt the justice system for decades.

In this episode of Forensic Tales, we take a forensic-first look at the case of the West Memphis Three, examining the crime scene, the investigative failures, the role of junk science, and how belief replaced evidence at every critical turn.

We also explore why advances in DNA testing could still hold answers today and why, nearly thirty years later, the murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers remain unresolved.

Because this case didn’t end with justice.

It ended with questions.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

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For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

Not all stories have happy endings...
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Special Episode

In February 2023, police were called to a quiet home in northern Virginia. Inside the master bedroom, they found Christine Banfield, a wife and mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. A second man, Joseph Ryan, was also found dead. He had been shot inside the same room.

Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, would later be charged with their murders. What followed was a case that quickly drew national attention, centered on allegations of a secret affair, digital deception, and a FetLife account prosecutors say was used to lure Ryan to the home.

In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we break down the facts of the so-called “au pair affair murder trial,” including the competing narratives presented in court and the digital forensic evidence at the heart of the case. Was this a tragic, chaotic confrontation or a calculated online setup that ended in murder?

This episode examines how modern investigations now extend beyond the physical crime scene and into logins, messages, and digital footprints before turning to the jury’s verdict.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support Forensic Tales for as little as $3/month.
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#318 - In February 2005, an Ohio woman suddenly collapsed and died while driving to a local movie theater. At first, her death was thought to be the result of a minor car accident. But as the forensic evidence started to reveal itself, the thought that this woman died in a car accident seemed impossible. And the deeper investigators looked, the more suspicious one of the victim’s loved ones looked.

If you’d like to help create compelling new cases, fund research, and assist with production and editing costs, you can support the show with a small monthly contribution. In return, you’ll be one of the first to listen to new, ad-free episodes and gain access to exclusive content.

You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com
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#317 - When a pattern emerges in criminal investigations, it often becomes the strongest lead. In Southern California, that pattern pointed to a serial sexual offender who used a knife to control his victims and left DNA behind at multiple scenes.

For years, the DNA sat unmatched.

Today’s episode examines the San Diego Knifepoint Rapist case, the forensic evidence that connected the assaults, and how modern genetic genealogy transformed a cold case into a solved one.

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From the Archives: The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante

In 2015, 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante was struck and killed by a train in New Jersey. Authorities quickly ruled her death a suicide but from the very beginning, her family has insisted that explanation doesn’t make sense.

Tiffany had made plans for the future. She had no known history of depression. And crucial pieces of evidence, including her phone, shoes, and the circumstances surrounding how she ended up on the tracks, raised troubling questions that were never fully answered.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Tiffany’s final hours, the investigation that followed, and the inconsistencies that continue to fuel doubt years later. Was this truly a suicide… or was something else overlooked?

This is a case that has haunted listeners since it first aired and one that deserves another careful listen.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced my Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show & get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review & telling friends and family.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.
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