Are Television Shows Unrealistic? Solving Real Violent Crimes With Fingerprint Analysis. Have popular television shows and movies about crime scene technicians and forensics corrupted public perception with misinformation? What do Hollywood and television get wrong about crime labs and crime scene technicians? The interview is available as a free podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website or most major podcast platforms. Our guest, Rachelle Babler, sheds light on this topic from her experience. A veteran Crime Lab Forensic Fingerprint technician, Rachelle began her public service career as an EMS before transitioning to a crime lab technician role at a smaller agency. She later joined the San Diego Police Department, where she climbed the ranks, amassing over 18 years of experience before her unexpected departure. Now, she’s sharing her insights and the truth about her profession. Are Television Shows Unrealistic, Solving Real Violent Crimes With Fingerprint Analysis. Listen to this for free in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website or most major podcast platforms. Rachelle discusses the infamous Danielle van Dam case, which gripped San Diego, California. Danielle, a young girl disappeared from her bedroom during the night of February 1–2, 2002. Her body was discovered on February 27 in a remote area. Police suspected a neighbor, who was arrested, tried, and convicted of kidnapping and first-degree murder. The killer is currently on death row at San Quentin State Prison. On the night of February 1, Danielle's mother Brenda went out with friends while her father stayed home with Danielle and her two brothers. After putting Danielle to bed, her father noticed an alarm light flashing and found the sliding glass door open, which he closed. The next morning, Danielle was missing, prompting a massive search effort involving hundreds of volunteers. Her nude, partially decomposed body was found near a trail on February 27. Detectives discovered traces of Danielle's blood in the suspect's motor home. Although the coroner couldn't determine the cause of death or confirm sexual assault, dental records identified her. Are Television Shows Unrealistic? Solving Real Violent Crimes With Fingerprint Analysis. You can listen to this in Apple Podcasts, our website, Spotify or most major podcast platforms. The killer a divorced father of two college students, lived two houses away from the van Dams and owned a luxury motorhome. He had interacted with Danielle and Brenda three days before her disappearance, inviting them into his home while they sold Girl Scout Cookies. Law enforcement placed him under 24-hour surveillance on February 4, noting his unusual behavior of thoroughly cleaning his RV. His motorhome, SUV, and other property were impounded on February 5. A fingerprint belonging to Danielle was crucial in his arrest and prosecution. Rachelle also delves into solving the "AM Series Sex Crime Case," where the perpetrator was identified through latent fingerprint examination. She contrasts her real-life crime lab experiences with the false narratives often portrayed by Hollywood, revealing the stark differences between television fiction and reality. Are Television Shows Unrealistic? Solving Real Violent Crimes With Fingerprint Analysis. Listen to this for free in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website or most major podcast platforms. Join us as we uncover the truth behind forensics and crime scene investigation, and explore how the media's portrayal often diverges from the reality faced by professionals in the field. Are Television Shows Un