When time is the enemy in solving crime | Forensic Files

I think one of the most tragic elements of this uh case is that if John mccab who was found somewhere in that Thicket
over there was murdered today as opposed to 1969 chances are really very good that
they would have found his killer or Killers within days maybe even hours think about it here's what they found at
the scene they found the rope that he was tied up with they found the tape over his mouth and eyes they could have
gotten DNA off of that if DNA technology had existed back in 1969 today of course everybody carries a
cell phone cell phones ping off of towers you know that they could have found Trac the kids through the uh
through their cell phones so I mean one of the great tragedies of this is the tragedy of time if you will that if only
this had happened when technology was more advanced people wouldn't have had to wonder for 40 years years who did
what to poor John mccab he was just 15 years old at the time we would have probably known and so uh this great Saga
that we follow in this uh in this hour this week probably would never have happened there wouldn't have been 40
years there wouldn't have been all of these dead ends there wouldn't have been all of the Heartbreak uh that attached
to this case and if you think about it that is a very sad thing indeed watch us this weekend this weekend
you'll uh you'll learn a lot about how cases were handled back then and how people keep a secret like that for 40
long years

"48 Hours"' Richard Schlesinger on how time worked against police in solving John McCabe’s murder in 1969. With new DNA technology, cell phones and advanced CSI techniques, a case like McCabe's would likely be solved very quickly today. Watch "The Pact" Saturday, Oct 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Brief Summary

The episode examines the unsolved murder of John McCabe and how modern technology could have changed the investigation.

Key points

The Tragic Element of Time. The case of John McCab highlights how technology could have changed outcomes.
40 Years of Heartbreak. The unresolved case of John McCab led to decades of questions and sorrow.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

The tragedy of time is heartbreaking.

Reflecting on the impact of technology on solving crimes.

0:49WatchOct 23, 2014

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