Well, my first impression of this show is a good one. However, I picked out an episode that sounded very interesting.Whether other episodes match up to this, I will find out. Suffice to say, I was impressed.
The people connected with this episode did a very thorough job of presenting all sides to the story, and a good profile of key people before, during and after this case. Correspondent Troy Roberts heads the media investigation, and does a great job staying neutral and asking tough questions to parties on both sides.
The case is a strange one, to say the least. A veteran medical examiner in Memphis, Tenn., is found one night locked to metal bars outside a alleyway next to the ME Building. He is in a crucifixion position with his arms padlocked to the metal and barbed wire around his forehead, mouth, ankles and maybe a few other places. Strapped to his chest is a bomb! Police rescued the man, and he was in good shape in a few days. That's only the beginning of this bizarre case, many details of which I would rather not discuss in case you see this episode. It was aired on CBS in April of 2005 and is seen on cable network these days a rerun, of course.
I can't write this review, however, without mentioning the real "killer" part of this story, which is why I attached spoilers. The medical examiner, Dr. O.C. Smith, a man well-known and respected in the Memphis community for all his work over the years, winds up looking like he did all of this himself! Dr. Smith blames it on a death-row prisoner, whom he says had people work on the outside to do this for revenge. (Smith had testified in a recent parole hearing and eliminating all chance of the suspect getting out of the prison. The suspect. Philip Workman, says this is all baloney.)
After 16 months of investigation, the cops conclude it IS baloney and that Smith did this to himself.....all for attention. Smith, they contend, has Factitious Disorder, a condition that makes people crave attention. The Tawana Brawley case is given as an example of this. The prosecution also demonstrates how Smith could have put himself up on that metal. They explain why they got suspicious of Dr. Smith, in the first place. It's all very intriguing.
We are then privy to the trial of Mr. Smith, comments from both the prosecutor and the defense attorney and from several members of the jury. Some of their comments, and Mr. Smith's views throughout the episode, are amazing.
When this program was over, all I could do was shake my head in astonishment. I'll make sure I watch other episodes of this program, too. It looks like a good one. I'm sorry the IMDb doesn't list individual episodes.
The people connected with this episode did a very thorough job of presenting all sides to the story, and a good profile of key people before, during and after this case. Correspondent Troy Roberts heads the media investigation, and does a great job staying neutral and asking tough questions to parties on both sides.
The case is a strange one, to say the least. A veteran medical examiner in Memphis, Tenn., is found one night locked to metal bars outside a alleyway next to the ME Building. He is in a crucifixion position with his arms padlocked to the metal and barbed wire around his forehead, mouth, ankles and maybe a few other places. Strapped to his chest is a bomb! Police rescued the man, and he was in good shape in a few days. That's only the beginning of this bizarre case, many details of which I would rather not discuss in case you see this episode. It was aired on CBS in April of 2005 and is seen on cable network these days a rerun, of course.
I can't write this review, however, without mentioning the real "killer" part of this story, which is why I attached spoilers. The medical examiner, Dr. O.C. Smith, a man well-known and respected in the Memphis community for all his work over the years, winds up looking like he did all of this himself! Dr. Smith blames it on a death-row prisoner, whom he says had people work on the outside to do this for revenge. (Smith had testified in a recent parole hearing and eliminating all chance of the suspect getting out of the prison. The suspect. Philip Workman, says this is all baloney.)
After 16 months of investigation, the cops conclude it IS baloney and that Smith did this to himself.....all for attention. Smith, they contend, has Factitious Disorder, a condition that makes people crave attention. The Tawana Brawley case is given as an example of this. The prosecution also demonstrates how Smith could have put himself up on that metal. They explain why they got suspicious of Dr. Smith, in the first place. It's all very intriguing.
We are then privy to the trial of Mr. Smith, comments from both the prosecutor and the defense attorney and from several members of the jury. Some of their comments, and Mr. Smith's views throughout the episode, are amazing.
When this program was over, all I could do was shake my head in astonishment. I'll make sure I watch other episodes of this program, too. It looks like a good one. I'm sorry the IMDb doesn't list individual episodes.
