by Tom Philbin
Though valuable, trace material is not infallible. Matching hair and paint samples and fibers are not as conclusive as fingerprints, and there is always the possibility that the technician made a mistake.
Whodunit—Any murder that has gone unsolved for at least forty-eight hours. Most homicides are solved within the first forty-eight hours, usually because of a well-known connection. This may be someone close to the victim. The murder might have also had many witnesses, as in a bar fight. Interviewing the witnesses quickly turns up suspects.
About the Author
Tom Philbin is a longtime freelance writer who has written many books, both fiction and nonfiction. Two of his books, Copspeak: The Lingo of Law Enforcement and Crime (1997) and A Warmer Shade of Blue (2007), the latter written with ex-cop Scott Baker, won the Quill and Badge Award for Excellence in Communications from the International Union of Police Associations. He is the only writer to win the award twice.
Tom Philbin is the coauthor, along with his brother Michael, of The Killer Book of True Crime, The Killer Book of Serial Killers, and The Killer Book of Infamous Murders.