The New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science

In the mind of an obsessive killer, raw desire replaces all reason and murder becomes an opportune means to an end.

The smallest of clues can solve even the biggest cases. Often the scales of justice are balanced by just a few milligrams of evidence: a couple of fibers, a smudge of blood or a strand of hair.

As technology becomes a bigger part of our lives, it's becoming difficult to do anything without leaving behind an electronic trace.

Often, murderers will change or stage a crime scene, turning murder into suicide, pinning blame or hiding the body completely.

No crime scene is absent of clues. No matter how chaotic or clean it may appear, the culprit is bound to leave something telling behind.

Though female killers usually choose less violent methods than their male counterparts, they're equally deadly and often more calculating.

Contract killings allow someone to establish the perfect alibi. By hiring someone else to do his or her dirty work, a person can deflect guilt or twist the truth.

Some people do get away with murder, at least for a while. Flush with their success, they murder again and again.

Poisoners are the most dangerous culprits in the crime world: smart assassins. They rely on their devious stealth and must put their victims at ease to earn their trust.

Some cases can't be solved immediately. The passage of time can convince people to talk and new technologies can discover overlooked clues.

Since their establishment in the 1800s, the role of the Texas Rangers has significantly evolved over time to keep up with a changing society.

Forensics is not only used to solve murders. Drug trafficking has created a deadly criminal underworld and many forensic investigators are devoted to cracking these violent drug rings.

Some of the best clues come from the least likely places. Seemingly meaningless objects have been used by forensics scientists to solve the most baffling of crimes.

Using combined perspectives from law enforcement, journalism and criminal psychology, Using combined perspectives from law enforcement, journalism a

A good coroner can deliver what is necessary to solve a crime, while a bad one can destroy an otherwise solid case.