Worst Episodes
Television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style. This in-depth approach has earned the program and its teams numerous awards including three Peabodys, 17 Emmys and five RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards.The program was revamped in 2002 when Lesley Stahl took over hosting duties from Dan Rather, and its name was changed to 48 Hours Investigates. The name was changed again to 48 Hours Mystery in 2004, and with its single-topic format, it does not use a single host but is narrated by the reporter assigned to the story.The current format of the documentary primarily deals with real life mysteries and crime stories, again with just one mystery per episode, owing to its single topic per show heritage.The program is not confined to reporting mysteries; CBS often uses the 48 Hours title or timeslot to present special reports on events, such as a 2006 report on the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, or coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre in April 2007. However, the relationship between these special programs and the rest of the series is essentially limited to the program's title.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 08, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
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The investigation into the 2010 shooting death of Wall Street millionaire John Bender, who was killed in his exotic home in Costa Rica. His wife, Ann, is charged with the crime, but she claims she is innocent.
The episode was rated 6.74 from 19 votes.
A major break in the Long Island Serial Killer case. The 18-month search for a missing New Jersey woman finally came to an end this week when police on Long Island, New York, announced the discovery remains believed to be 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert. On Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, the remains were positively identified as Gilbert. As "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports, the search for Gilbert uncovered a greater mystery. Erin Moriarty has the latest developments.
The episode was rated 6.73 from 11 votes.
"48 Hours" Live to Tell: A father and basketball star is caught in a terror attack. Sebastien Bellin's remarkable story of recovery. CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers reports.
The episode was rated 6.65 from 26 votes.
Moataz Azzeh, a decorated former U.S. Army soldier who pretended to take on a hit job for two Houston area doctors in a murder-for-hire plot speaks out about the shocking case to 48 Hours. Valerie McDaniel, a veterinarian, and Leon Jacob, a surgeon, quickly fell in love and even talked of marriage. Jacob was an up-and-coming doctor with plenty of confidence. She was newly single after getting a divorce from her ex-husband Marion "Mack" McDaniel. But there were some problems. The McDaniels were in the midst of an ugly custody battle, while Leon Jacob was facing felony charges for stalking an ex-girlfriend. If found guilty on those charges, it could have upended his medical career. Houston Police say that's when Leon Jacob sought the help of someone he thought was a hit man to eliminate the problems.
The episode was rated 6.65 from 23 votes.
Police have DNA evidence in a brutal murder, but can't match a killer -- so how did a public DNA database lead police to suspect a filmmaker of murder? CBS News correspondent Anne-Marie Green investigates.
The episode was rated 6.64 from 14 votes.
When a young U.S. Army combat medic goes missing, a bounty hunter takes on his biggest case ever. "48 Hours" correspondent Troy Roberts investigates.
The episode was rated 6.64 from 22 votes.
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The episode was rated 6.62 from 13 votes.
The girlfriend of a Hollywood producer is brutally murdered. Was she the victim of the Russian mob, the producer’s love life, or was there something in his graphic novel that held the key?
The episode was rated 6.60 from 10 votes.
Five decades after the murder of the beautiful school teacher, her long suspected killer -- a former priest -- is in custody. A new witness stepped forward, but despite this new evidence, there would still be no indictment ... until now.
The episode was rated 6.45 from 11 votes.
Part 2 - Known as the internet's evil twin, the dark web is a place where services offering hit men-for-hire are just a computer click away. "48 Hours" explores the alarming world of murder-for-hire on the mysterious dark web and exposes an international criminal organization in a hunt for a self-described murder mastermind who uses the name Yura. A six-month investigation spans the globe and leads "48 Hours" to information in the U.S. and beyond, about murder plots bought and paid for -- but not yet carried out. Who is Yura? Where is Yura? And can police intervene before someone else gets killed?
The episode was rated 6.00 from 10 votes.
