The First 48 Presents Critical Minutes

In Tucson, when a homeless woman is brutally gutted under a highway underpass, the suspect’s motive haunts investigators. And in Tulsa, the shooting of a man in an apartment sets off a chain of events unlike anything Tulsa Homicide has ever seen.

Three cases are highlighted from “The First 48” archive that feature stories of friendship gone wrong: in New Orleans close friends fight over money and one of them ends up dead; in Broward County, Florida, an elderly man makes a fatal mistake with some new friends; and in Dallas, childhood friends have a wild night that ends in tragedy.

In Kansas City, when detectives discovered two women in an abandoned garage, they had no idea how big the case would turn out to be. In Dallas, investigators used a surprising clue to bring their killers to justice. And in Miami, one marina is linked to two murders that share a shocking connection.

Three cases from The First 48 archive that took place in broad daylight are featured: in New Orleans a night out ends with a deadly morning after a random encounter; in Tulsa an argument over a cell phone escalates into a double homicide; and in Birmingham a lovers’ breakup goes very wrong in a public park.

Looks back at three cases solved, because they were caught on camera. In Tulsa, multiple cameras help crack open a case. Then, in Atlanta, a key witness provides a crucial lead after seeing surveillance footage of the suspect on the news. And in another Tulsa case, detectives watch in horror as a hit and run driver targets homeless people. They race to stop him before he kills again.

In Tulsa, a beloved barber is caught in the crossfire of a long-standing gang rivalry. In Atlanta, a young man returns home during his lunchbreak and is killed by an armed burglar. In Dallas, an elderly woman opens her home to a man searching for his lost dog and pays a deadly price. In Miami, a mother down on her luck is killed at her storage unit after losing her job and her home.

Three of The First 48’s most memorable cases featuring surveillance video are highlighted: in Cleveland, Ohio a robbery leaves an innocent man dead at the shop where he worked; in Dallas, an encounter on an elevator seals the shocking fate of a woman heading home for the day; and in Memphis, revenge is served in video surveillance that tells a misleading story.

Looks back at three cases that erupted in the heat of the moment. In Kansas City, a confrontation with a baseball bat escalates to murder. Then, in Harris County, a man’s Easter visit with his ex-wife turns deadly. And in Atlanta, a mother watches in horror as her family is destroyed in a flash of violence.

In Tulsa, a shooting in a motel parking lot leads investigators to undertake an undercover operation to capture the suspect. In Dallas, after a man was stabbed to death in his own apartment, detectives take advantage of a love triangle to bring the suspect in. And in Tulsa, the investigation into the shooting of a former Marine leads to a dangerous car chase and apprehension.

Three of The First 48’s rookie homicide detectives are highlighted in condensed stories: in New Orleans a baffling robbery takes a rookie months to unravel, in Phoenix a first time detective with only one clue traces a random fender bender that sparks a horrible turn of events, and in Atlanta the new guy tracks the suspects in a deadly drug deal.

In Atlanta, the gruesome rape and murder of two women in an abandoned house haunts investigators. In New Orleans, detectives embark on a sprawling investigation to identify the suspects who drowned a local couple. And in Harris County, TX, a woman who was burned alive fights to survive, so she can identify her assailants.

Four of The First 48’s female homicide detectives are highlighted in four condensed stories: in Memphis a confrontation turns deadly, in Cincinnati a single mother is torn between work and home, in Tulsa a family dispute takes a dark turn, and in Atlanta an interrogation room interview turns emotional.

In Tulsa, a key witness denies knowing anything about a brutal homicide until confronted with evidence that proves otherwise. In Dallas, a suspect shocks detectives with a confession they didn’t see coming. In Atlanta, Detective Quinn has an uphill battle in the interview room with a suspect who appears to be targeting and killing homeless people.

In Memphis, the tragic murder of 6 people in the same house on Lester Street tears a family apart. In Tulsa, the strange disappearance of a former Navy vet finally provides answers after almost 2 years. And in Atlanta, the brutal shooting of a young engaged couple on the side of the road haunts investigators.