The New Detectives

For some killers, murder can be a lucrative business.

When an untraceable poison is used as a murder weapon, investigators rely on forensic toxicologists.

When indisputable evidence refutes a killer's story, police must use the clues to piece together the truth.

Sometimes when a death seems to be accidental, forensics can reveal the deception just below the surface.

When everyday substances reveal clues that break a case, those substances become the elements of murder.

Most victims are meticulously chosen by their murderer because of a connection.

Killers often will try to cover up their crime by hiding the remains of their victims.

When a victim is killed at point-blank range, police often suspect that a friend or acquaintance is to blame.

In most murder cases, police rely on motive to pursue a killer.

When killers are driven by jealousy, rage and desire, their desperation is evident.

When murderers hide or destroy the remains of their victims, forensic scientists must reconstruct the scenes.

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

Anytime, anywhere, people disappear...and sometimes these disappearances end in tragic murder.

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

At a crime scene, anything left behind or moved out of place is considered a clue.

Science provides investigators with proof to uncover staged accidents.

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

Coroners play a vital role in piecing together the final moments of someone's life.