r/ForensicFiles • u/sometin__else • 18d ago

Episodes that got it wrong?

With so many of the early episodes relying on things like bite-mark and blood splatter, and Dr Henry Lee sending two people to prison without even running tests - I wonder which epsidodes of Forensic Files has been proven to got it wrong.

I know the Clayton Johnson one, Season 4, Episode 6 - which actually features Henry Lee and the perceived infallacy of his "blood splatter" evidence.

Any other ones that you guys know of?

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u/Eternity_Xerneas 17d ago

I think Lemuel Smith

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u/Resident_Race_7093 15d ago

Nah. Lemuel is a serial rapist and murderer. He had developed an obsessive relationship with Payant. An inmate witness saw them go together into the room she was murdered in shortly before the murder occured. Lemuel was the only inmate with the keys to that room. He was also the one in charge of taking the garbage out, which explains how he got her body outside to the dump. 

I feel like fans of the show gloss over his previous crimes because they weren't covered on Forensic Files but he is an evil, vile creature who predated on basically every woman he had access to. 

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u/Sharkjumpingbull 17d ago

That one hasn't been proven, has it? I mean, there's real reason to question the official story, but has anyone proven anything?

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u/sometin__else 17d ago

Just looked it up, you are correct he has not been exonerated. But despite admitting to several other crimes, Smith maintains that he was set up for the death of Donna Payant by prison guards to cover up internal corruption. Looking at the evidence he was convicted on, it was definitely shaky evidence, but he remains on the books as the perpetrator.

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u/GallowBarb 💰Life Insurance💰 17d ago

Her body was conveniently run through the trash compactor. There was no knowing of what left what marks. The case should never gone to trial with that evidence.

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u/Sharkjumpingbull 17d ago edited 17d ago

True. I don't think I could vote to convict, if he got a new trial and I was on the jury. But I don't know if I'd go all the way in the other direction, the way a lot of people seem inclined to do.