FBI Investigates

Season 2, Episode 2: "Hired Gun" In 1993, a brutal triple murder inside a Maryland home claims the lives of Mildred Horn, her 8-year-old quadriplegic son Trevor, and his live-in nurse Janice Saunders. With few initial leads at the scene, local law enforcement calls upon the FBI to assist. Investigators uncover a complex conspiracy orchestrated by former Motown Records producer Lawrence Horn, who hired hitman James Edward Perry to execute his family so Horn could inherit a $1.7 million trust fund. The investigation focuses on forensic paper trails, financial records, and Perry’s strict reliance on the controversial instructional book Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors --- In May 1985, 17-year-old Sherri Faye Smith is abducted from her driveway, followed shortly by the kidnapping of 9-year-old Debra Helmick. The abductor, serial killer Larry Gene Bell, begins a sadistic campaign of phone calls to taunt the Smith family, giving malicious clues while forcing Sherri to write a "Last Will and Testament" letter before killing her. Working alongside local police, FBI profilers analyze the killer's psychological profile while forensic examiners analyze

For nearly two decades, a mysterious domestic terrorist terrorized America with a wave of untraceable, hand-crafted mail bombs targeting universities, airlines, and corporate executives. Known by the FBI code name UNABOM (University and Airline Bomber), the perpetrator left three people dead and wounded dozens more, baffling federal investigators for nearly 17 years. This episode follows the relentless FBI investigation that became one of the longest and most expensive manhunts in U.S. law enforcement history. Discover how forensic experts analyzed microscopic evidence, how the publication of the suspect's 35,000-word manifesto became a pivotal turning point, and how a crucial tip from the suspect's own brother ultimately led agents to a remote, off-the-grid cabin in Lincoln, Montana, where Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski was arrested. Episode Breakdown The Reign of Terror: The origin of the bombing campaign starting in 1978 and the escalation of homemade explosive devices sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The UNABOM Task Force: FBI agents, postal inspectors, and forensic scientists join forces to decipher the bomber's methods and motives. The Manifesto: The high-stakes decision by the FBI and Attorney General

On September 22, 1986, a routine home visit in Indianapolis spiraled into a deadly nightmare when Michael Wayne Jackson shot and killed his probation officer at point-blank range to avoid a mandatory drug test. Armed with a shotgun, Jackson fled the scene and launched into a brutal 13-hour crime spree that spanned Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. To conceal his identity and evade law enforcement, Jackson painted his face in stark silver and black paint—a chilling display that signaled his unstable, lethal mindset. As he fled across state lines, Jackson left a trail of chaos, hijacking vehicles, taking hostages, and shooting innocent bystanders who crossed his path. Recognizing the extreme danger Jackson posed to the public, the FBI joined forces with local and state law enforcement, quickly elevating him to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The desperate dragnet eventually centered on the small, quiet town of Wright City, Missouri, where Jackson abandoned his getaway vehicle and melted into the surrounding countryside, keeping the entire community terrorized for eleven days. Utilizing advanced forensic tracking, aerial surveillance, and coordinated ground tactics

A Florida drug lord turned violent killer sparked terror in the late 80s—can the FBI, DEA, and local police stop his reign? Dive into the Jeff Matthews crime saga. Discover the true story behind Florida’s cocaine-fueled underworld, as law enforcement faces off against the infamous Jeff Matthews. Uncover how this ruthless dealer evaded arrest, orchestrated multiple murders, and even bombed a federal DEA office in Fort Myers Beach. From brazen hits and chilling executions to desperate efforts by detectives and federal agents, see how Matthews' escalating violence forced authorities into a relentless pursuit. This gripping episode reveals inside details of the investigation—the evidence trails, failed informants, and bomb plots that threatened both criminals and officials alike. Followers of organized crime, true crime stories, and 1980s drug wars will get a first-hand look at the chaos, danger, and dogged determination that brought Matthews to justice. Learn about the ingenious FBI and DEA tactics, local heroics, and how one of the most audacious drug lords in U.S. history was finally stopped, sentenced to life, and prevented from wreaking further havoc on Florida’s

Chippendales’ meteoric rise led to fame, fortune—and murder. Dive into the shocking true crime behind the male strip club empire and its dark secrets revealed by the FBI. This gripping documentary uncovers the unbelievable story of Chippendales, the world-famous exotic male dance troupe, and the chilling backstage saga that turned deadly. At the peak of Chippendales’ popularity in the 1980s, co-founder Nick DeNoia was found brutally murdered in his New York office, launching an intensive NYPD and FBI investigation that spanned continents. Discover how business greed, betrayal, and an international murder-for-hire plot led detectives from Times Square to Los Angeles, England, and Switzerland in pursuit of justice. You’ll meet Jim Calstrand, former head of the FBI’s New York office, as he guides you through the high-stakes surveillance, undercover stings, and confessions that finally brought down Steve Banerjee—the enigmatic Chippendales owner who built his empire on dreams but sacrificed everything for profit and power. Learn how arson, secret payouts, and a hitman named “Louis” propelled one of showbiz’s wildest true stories—and how, after years of dead ends, a global FBI operation

In 1966, the brutal discovery of two murdered teens in Everman, Texas, set off a decades-long saga that would change Texas law forever. This is the chilling story of Kenneth McDuff. Dive into one of Texas’s most infamous true crime cases as we unravel the shocking crimes, trials, and manhunt surrounding serial killer Kenneth McDuff. From the tragic murders of three teenagers in 1966 to a controversial parole release that put a monster back on the streets, this episode exposes how the justice system failed and was ultimately forced to reform. Hear firsthand accounts from lawmen, prosecutors, and investigators who faced down a remorseless killer, and discover how McDuff’s reign of terror led to sweeping changes in parole laws, known today as the “McDuff Laws.” You’ll learn about the horrifying events that began with an abandoned car, the desperate search for missing victims, and the relentless pursuit by Texas law enforcement as McDuff continued his crimes decades later. The video covers the tense courtroom battles, the circumstantial evidence that put McDuff back on death row, and the haunting aftermath that

Washington, D.C. became America's murder capital as a ruthless cop killer stalked officers in 1995. Discover the true story behind the city’s most harrowing manhunt. Journey into the dark days when violent crime and gang wars overwhelmed the nation's capital, leaving police outnumbered, outgunned, and even targeted themselves. This gripping crime documentary reveals how a wave of shootings—including the near-fatal ambush of Officer Vance Warren and the assassinations of Officer Eric Hayes and John Novobilski—unleashed panic in law enforcement ranks. Follow investigators as they race to gather forensic evidence, track down the elusive suspect, and rely on the brave testimony of a battered woman who risked everything to break the case. Top FBI agents and D.C. detectives recount each chilling step of the investigation, from tense stakeouts to deadly shootouts and heartbreaking losses. Using advanced forensics, witness descriptions, and the relentless determination of those tasked to protect and serve, they finally close in on the killer. But not without sacrifice—the story honors the fallen heroes whose names are etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Perfect for fans of

A cross-country predator leaves a red Chevy behind and a hostage in danger. Inside the dragnet, the FBI pieces together a killer's trail before time runs out. From Sarah Mitchell’s roadside escape to a shotgun standoff with police, this episode follows the breakneck search that begins in West Palm Beach and points to a chilling name: Paul John Knowles. A hidden Volkswagen, a Fort Pierce motel check-in under an alias, and a yellow Dodge Demon tie-ins raise the stakes. As Agent James Cavanaugh builds a psychological profile, evidence links Knowles to a murdered schoolteacher in Jacksonville Beach, a brutal Atlantic Beach killing, and a Milledgeville double homicide traced through stolen clothing and a newspaper clipping. With Deborah Taylor captive and Knowles obsessively scanning newscasts, investigators chase credit card breadcrumbs across dozens of states and a last will that finally reveals his identity. What they uncover about his past changes the urgency of the hunt. Watch to see how a red Impala, a forged identity, and a terrifying confession push the FBI to close in before he kills again.

A respected dentist. A city on edge. And a trail of bodies stretching across decades. This chilling FBI investigation peels back the mask of Glennon Engelman, the St. Louis “deadly dentist” tied to car bombs, staged accidents, and cold-blooded executions for cash. From a Madison County farmhouse massacre to a body staged at a seedy motel, investigators chase a phantom who always seems one step ahead. A car bomb shatters the quiet south side, but a misfired device from months earlier reveals an unexpected link. An ex-wife’s terrified testimony opens locked doors: an alleged quarry “accident,” a drag-strip blast, and a suspicious 1958 killing that never sat right. Insurance windfalls, forged signatures, a bogus confession, and a killer’s arrogance converge as agents connect dots others missed. How did a mediocre dentist outmaneuver cops for years? What tiny forensic match finally cracks the case? And why did so many people closest to him keep paying with their lives? Watch the full story to see how investigators exposed the method behind the murders and the motive that never changes.

A 727, a ransom, and a jump into the dark. What followed rewired aviation and ignited a nationwide hunt. This episode traces the real-life chase for Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., from the San Francisco ransom drop to that mysterious bump over Utah sky. Follow the search across Provo’s mud flats, the tip that changed everything, and the fingerprint and handwriting hits that cracked the case. Then the story swerves: a plaster-made .45 in a prison dental lab, a garbage truck jailbreak, a swamp pursuit, and a quiet Virginia stakeout that ends it all. Along the way, the shadow of D.B. Cooper looms large: the tie clip, the parachutes, the identical playbook, and a riverbank discovery years later that kept the legend alive. If you think you know the Cooper story, wait until you see how McCoy’s trail forced new aircraft design and left one question hanging in the air. Watch to uncover the choices, the luck, and the clues investigators still can’t shake. Watch now for the full investigation and decide for yourself.

A drifter with many faces finally had a name: Paul John Knowles. What followed pulled in multiple states, agencies, and a survivor who lived to tell investigators what he said next. From a failed roadside abduction in Palm Beach to a hostage taken from a quiet West Palm Beach home, the investigation widens with a chilling find: record albums in Macon that link Knowles to a double homicide in Marlboro, Connecticut. As alerts blanket the Southeast, a gas station sighting in Lakeland points to a blue Ford and a Florida trooper suddenly riding in the back seat. Then comes a desperate run on Georgia back roads, a shattered roadblock, and a tense search through woods and farmhouses. The final twist involves secret audio tapes, a lawyer who won’t hand them over without a court order, and a last, high‑stakes ride to recover a crucial weapon.

An Arkansas State Trooper is shot and killed officers catch the shooter, after a car chase and shootout. ATF is alerted when officers find weapons and explosives in the man's vehicle. Testing of the weapons leads them to three men who are all members of The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord (CSA), a racist, anti-Semitic paramilitary group residing in a fortified compound with stockpiles of weapons in Arkansas. The FBI and ATF surround the compound, but the members resist them for several days. Finally, the standoff is ended and agents get their men.

In June 1985, armed hijackers stormed Royal Jordanian Flight 405 shortly before takeoff at Beirut International Airport, holding dozens of passengers hostage—including an American professor and his teenage son. Utilizing new congressional authority granting the Bureau jurisdiction over international crimes involving U.S. citizens, federal agents set a daring trap. Code-named Operation Goldenrod, agents lured lead hijacker Fawaz Younis onto a yacht in the Mediterranean under the guise of a lucrative drug deal. Watch how relentless investigation, undercover deception, and military coordination brought a terrorist from international waters straight to a U.S. courtroom.

The FBI hunts for a sophisticated criminal in Chicago after a wealthy club owner is gunned down in his own garage. Investigators initially suspect a carjacking, but the facts reveal a calculated, purposeful murder. All roads lead to the victim's beautiful fiancée, Catherine Sue, an attention-seeking socialite obsessed with a lavish lifestyle. But as police look closer, they see an unsettling pattern: Catherine's mother was also a murder victim seven years before, and she collected a massive inheritance in both deaths.

A worn $20 in a Charlotte bank sparks a three-year chase across America. What begins as a counterfeiting case unravels into something far darker than agents ever imagined. This FBI Files Movie of the Week pulls you inside the evidence rooms, the interviews, and the moment the case turns from money to menace. Watch to see how agents piece together the Mall Passer’s depraved legacy—and what they still need to find.

In May 2001, 11-year-old Leah Henry vanished just a block from her home in Houston, Texas. What started as an ordinary school day turned into a nightmare for her family and the beginning of one of the FBI’s most desperate hunts for a dangerous predator. With only a neighbor’s eyewitness account of a white hatchback, investigators feared the worst as Leah’s abductor carried her miles away.

In the 1990s, Chicago police and the FBI were on the trail of a bank robber whose hold-ups were becoming increasingly violent. When they finally located the man they learned that he did not work alone and he had made a pact never to surrender.

In February 1988, a record store clerk was fatally shot in his van. After discovering a night deposit bag with thousands of dollars in the vehicle, police knew that robbery was not the motive, and began to investigate other possibilities.

In June 1973, a young girl was abducted from a state park on the Missouri River while camping with her family. Several months passed with no leads, then an FBI agent took a particular interest in the case.

A man returned to his Memphis home and discovered that his wife was missing. The husband began to receive ransom calls, but FBI agents noticed that one neighbour had a very good rapport with the kidnapper.

In 1996, a group of political extremists twice robbed a bank in Washington, using home-made bombs and military precision to escape. The FBI learned that the robbers were part of a shadowy organisation

In October 1995, a South Carolina family is taken hostage as part of an elaborately planned bank robbery. Local police quickly identify two of the perpetrators, but the criminal mastermind proves more elusive.

In 1988, new light was shed on the mysterious death of a South Carolina farmer when a criminal confessed that two prominent community members hired him to commit murder.