Forensic Files (HD) - Season 14, Episode 2 - Hear No Evil - Full Episode

Summary

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Darlene van der Geesen, a deaf woman, goes missing. Her computer reveals a secret life and threatening emails from a mysterious 'Wendy Smith.' Police suspect her online boyfriend, Jeff Flynn, but find him missing too. The investigation leads to Daphne Wright, who had a public dispute with Darlene. Evidence at Wright's house, including a chainsaw and freshly painted basement, points to a crime. DNA tests confirm Darlene's remains were found in a landfill and a ditch. Wright is convicted of first-degree murder, motivated by jealousy over a perceived love triangle, despite Darlene having no romantic interest in Wright's ex-girlfriend.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Darlene van der Giessen, a deaf woman, went missing after not showing up for work at JDS Industries for two consecutive days.
• 🔍 Her parents discovered her cell phone in her apartment, which was unusual as she relied heavily on it for communication.
• 🚔 Police found Darlene's abandoned truck in a restaurant parking lot, but no one recalled seeing her there.
• 💻 Investigators analyzed Darlene's computer and found threatening emails from a woman named 'Wendy Smith', who turned out to be Daphne Wright.
• 📧 Darlene had been receiving poor English, childish threats from 'Wendy Smith', likely from another deaf person.
• 👤 Darlene had been dating Jeff Flynn, who also went missing around the same time but later returned, raising suspicion.
• 🩸 Evidence technicians found what appeared to be dried blood in Jeff's car trunk, but it was later identified as deer blood.
• 🏠 A search of Daphne Wright's house revealed a recently purchased chainsaw, oil, and freshly painted areas in the basement with marks resembling chainsaw cuts.
• 🧬 DNA evidence from Darlene's toothbrush matched samples found in Daphne's basement, implicating her in the crime.
• 🗑️ Despite Daphne's attempts to dispose of the body and destroy evidence, police found Darlene's dismembered body parts and connected them to Daphne through DNA and other forensic evidence.
• ⚖️ Daphne Wright was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, becoming the first woman in South Dakota to face a possible death sentence.

Q & A

What was unusual about Darlene van der Geesen's absence from work?

Darlene van der Geesen was a dependable employee who didn't report to work for two straight days, which was unusual for her. Her cell phone, which was crucial for her as a deaf person to communicate, was found in her apartment, indicating something was wrong.

What was significant about Darlene's cell phone?

Darlene's cell phone was especially important to her because she was deaf and relied heavily on it for communication. The fact that it was left behind suggested foul play.

What was the significance of the abandoned truck found in a restaurant parking lot?

The abandoned truck belonged to Darlene, which raised questions about her whereabouts and who she might have been with on the night of her disappearance.

What did the investigation of Darlene's computer reveal?

The computer investigation revealed that Darlene had been communicating with a local man named Jeff Flynn and had received threatening emails from a woman named Wendy Smith.

Who was Jeff Flynn in relation to Darlene, and what was unusual about his disappearance?

Jeff Flynn was Darlene's casual boyfriend. It was unusual that he too went missing around the same time as Darlene, and his return after a few days raised suspicions.

What was the significance of the dried blood found in Jeff's car?

The dried blood initially raised suspicion of a crime, but forensic testing revealed it to be deer blood, not Darlene's, which brought relief to investigators.

Who was Daphne Wright and what was her connection to Darlene?

Daphne Wright was a deaf woman who had met Darlene at the deaf club. She was revealed to be the sender of the threatening emails under the alias 'Wendy Smith'.

What was the motive behind Daphne Wright's actions towards Darlene?

Daphne Wright was jealous and believed that Darlene was coming between her and her ex-girlfriend, Sally Ford, which led to her sending threatening emails and being a prime suspect in Darlene's disappearance.

What evidence was found in Daphne Wright's basement that linked her to Darlene's disappearance?

Investigators found small pieces of bone and tissue on the wooden walls of Daphne's basement, which matched Darlene's DNA. There were also symmetrical cuts in the concrete floor resembling chainsaw marks.

How did investigators confirm the blood and tissue found in Daphne's basement belonged to Darlene?

They compared the DNA from the blood and tissue samples found in the basement to DNA obtained from Darlene's toothbrush and hairbrush.

What was the significance of the sweatshirt found during the investigation?

The sweatshirt had Darlene's blood and tissue on it and contained Daphne's DNA on the inside, linking both the victim and the suspect.

What was the final outcome of the case against Daphne Wright?

Daphne Wright was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, becoming the first woman in South Dakota to face a possible death sentence.