Autopsy (1994)

Can the dead speak? Yes...but only to those who know how to listen. In this riveting documentary, Dr. Michael Baden, one of the country's most celebrated forensic pathologists, reveals the stories behind the cases of unnatural or suspicious death that he helped solve--and helped earn him the nickname, 'detective of death.'

A painted "dummy" at a carnival funhouse turns out to be a human corpse.

A murderer is revealed in the fingernails and hair of four corpses.

Pine needles. Chewing gum. Cat hair. Paint. They've all been important clues that aided America's 'detectives of death' in solving mysterious cases of unnatural or violent death. This fascinating sequel to three of HBO's most popular documentaries introduces you to forensic pathologists who recount cases where their amazing expertise helped bring killers to justice.

The strangled corpse of a pregnant woman turns up in a chunk of ice floating in the Hudson; a man is poisoned to death by a lethal chemical that is almost impossible to obtain. The mysteries surrounding these and other cases might have remained unsolved were it not for the efforts of forensic pathologists who try to find who--or what--lead to their ultimate demise.

In this edition, forensic pathologists and other specialists search for answers in several tough cases: a severed hand is found on a riverbank; the bodies of a mother and her infant are discovered after the spring thaw; the only clue to a doctor's mysterious death is a bite mark; and a young bride disappears years after her husband's first wife supposedly killed herself.

The dead reveal their secrets once again in this 'Autopsy' special in which forensic experts show how they uncovered the truths behind bodies. Segments in this edition include: a Boy Scout leader who was freed from prison thanks to some unhatched maggot eggs; a shocking double homicide in classic Hitchcock tradition; a beloved doctor whose rapes might have gone unpunished had it not been for a persistent victim; an algae killer used in fish tanks that provides the clue to a series of mysterious poisoning murders; and an examination of the original Siamese twins.

The 'detectives of death' investigate another slate of bizarre cases, including: a twisted case of sibling sabotage; a mystery where saliva turned a suicide into a homicide; the story of a convicted rapist whose claims of innocence are taken seriously when his DNA turns up on a victim while he is in jail; and a 'final answer' to the question, 'Who was the Black Widow?'

An entire family poisoned by an unknown intruder. A suicide made to look like a murder. An airbag that becomes a perfect crime scene. These fascinating stories and more are unveiled in this Autopsy special that looks at criminal cases that might never have been uncovered were it not for the efforts of forensic pathologists and other "detectives of death."

This special explores two suspicious cases of death that were brought to HBO's attention as a result of a component of the Autopsy website.

HBO presents an intriguing look at four intriguing crimes that were solved by forensic science in the 11th edition of the smash-hit documentary series. Dr. Michael Baden shows how the 'detectives of death' cracked the cases. Segments include the death of a bird lover and his cockatoo; a woman who suspects that her brother was murdered by his wife; and a kinky menage a trois.

JFK. O.J. Simpson. Sid Vicious. Nicholas and Alexandra. These are some of the most celebrated cases in the history of forensic pathology - and Dr. Michael Baden has had a hand in every one of them.