The First 48

10 Best Episodes of The First 48 - Season 1

The First 48 is a hit true crime docu-series that follows detectives during the hours immediately following a homicide. It is available to watch on A&E and first aired back in 2004. After 24 seasons, The First 48 has created some unforgettable episodes. Below, we’ll be ranking the best episodes of The First 48 and why they have earned their spots on the list.

From the shocking twists and turns of the case, to the heartbreaking stories of the victims and their families, the show has created some truly moving and captivating episodes. Each episode is filled with intense moments that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the ranking and see which episodes made the cut as the best of the best of The First 48.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 13, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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The First 48 - S1E1

#13 - Gangs of Little Havana/Execution in Coconut Grove (Season 1 - Episode 1)

A wall of silence from a frightened community hampers efforts to solve a brutal murder; and a mother of two is shot execution-style in her kitchen in an affluent neighborhood. In a visual style more like drama than reality show, we tail Miami homicide investigators as they race time to solve these murders. Who're the suspects? Are the detectives right?

The episode was rated 7.17 from 247 votes.

The First 48 - S1E8

#12 - Fire In The Rain/Family Feud (Season 1 - Episode 8)

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LOCATION: DALLAS In Dallas, a motorist discovers a man's body alongside the highway— with his genitals on fire. The investigation propels detectives on an odyssey through a rowdy world of Texas prostitutes and drugs. And when a hard working Mexican migrant supporting his young family is found dead in a parking lot, detectives can't find a motive. As their investigation deepens, they must navigate a complex web of family ties and loyalties to identify the killer ... and catch him before he flees the country.

The episode was rated 7.26 from 73 votes.

The First 48 - S1E4

#11 - Double Murder on Haskell / Back Alley Revenge (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Kansas City investigators track down two suspects and must convince one of them to give up his own father, and detectives must rely on inhabitants of a drug-ridden area to help solve a murder.

The episode was rated 7.34 from 103 votes.

The First 48 - S1E2

#10 - Overkill/Left for Dead (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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LOCATION: MIAMI In the first case, OVERKILL, Miami homicide sergeant Joe Schillaci and his team of investigators are dispatched to a brutal case of overkill. A young man has just been gunned down in broad daylight on a crowded street. He's been shot numerous times to the head, not far from a busy apartment complex filled with children. It's in a part of town where drug dealers and thugs rule the streets. Detectives have just 48 hours to find a witness willing to talk before threats and intimidation take hold of the neighborhood. In the second case, LEFT FOR DEAD, an unidentified man has been found shot and brutally beaten in an empty parking lot. When he dies in the hospital hours later, a cigar-chomping veteran detective Manny De La Torriente and his rookie partner Jose Rodriguez must act quickly to unravel the mystery. But with an unidentified victim and no physical evidence, investigators have their work cut out for them.

The episode was rated 7.37 from 142 votes.

The First 48 - S1E12

#9 - At Close Range / Murder in Motor City (Season 1 - Episode 12)

When Phoenix homicide Detective Tom Kulesa realizes a potential witness to a double murder has gone missing, he must race against time to stop another vicious killing; and in Detroit, Sergeant Jo Ann Kinney must turn to forensics to solve the murder of a man found dead in a brand new Cadillac Escalade.

The episode was rated 7.39 from 62 votes.

The First 48 - S1E6

#8 - Killing Spree (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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Police try to convince the frightened residents of a Miami housing project known as the "Pork and Beans" to help them track down the man who's been terrorizing the community. But after the third murder in a month, no one even calls 911. Sergeant Joe Schillaci heads the homicide team that must crack the mystery and convince the frightened residents to come forward with information that will help them catch the predator before he kills again.

The episode was rated 7.42 from 78 votes.

The First 48 - S1E5

#7 - Body in the Park / Ruby Street Shooting (Season 1 - Episode 5)

A victim's body is burned beyond recognition; witnesses to a murder refuse to talk to police.

The episode was rated 7.47 from 81 votes.

The First 48 - S1E7

#6 - On Ice/Body in the Canal (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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The detectives must track down the killers of an Ice Rink employee and a body floating in the canal. The detectives have a tough job ahead of them as they try to find the elusive murderers.

The episode was rated 7.54 from 76 votes.

The First 48 - S1E13

#5 - Silent Witness/Halley Street Slayings (Season 1 - Episode 13)

LOCATION: MIAMI In Miami, when a hard-working store worker is cut down in a hail of gunfire, a veteran Sgt. Pepi Granado and his team must turn to a silent witness--the store's video surveillance system, which caught the entire murder on tape; and in Detroit, Sgt. Jo Ann Kinney and Detective Ed Williams tackle the case of a young couple found brutally killed in their house and learn that the victims knew their killer. They must track down reluctant witnesses deep in the narcotics game...before their killer has a chance to get away.

The episode was rated 7.55 from 66 votes.

The First 48 - S1E3

#4 - Blood in the Snow / Swope Park Killing (Season 1 - Episode 3)

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In Kansas City, two veteran detectives tackle a mysterious case of a young woman brutally murdered in a snowy cul-de-sac; and a female homicide sergeant and her all-male team investigate the murder of a man shot and dumped in a bucolic park. As these detectives race against time during the critical first hours of their investigations, they must enter a dark subculture of drugs, guns, and buried safes.

The episode was rated 7.66 from 117 votes.

The First 48 - S1E11

#3 - Stripper's Revenge / Dead on Arrival (Season 1 - Episode 11)

Hours after a jealous stripper vows revenge, her two-timing boyfriend is shot and killed. But the girlfriend is not the shooter, and it's up to Detective Tom Kulesa of Phoenix PD to unravel the mystery. And when a young father is dragged screaming from his bed in the middle of the night and gunned down in his doorway, Detective Mike Polk must figure out fact from fiction in witnesses' stories before the killers' trail grows cold.

The episode was rated 7.72 from 68 votes.

The First 48 - S1E9

#2 - Desert Bones / Party's Over (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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The First 48 episode “Desert Bones / Party’s Over” follows detectives Dillian and Jewell as they investigate a female skeleton found in the desert with the help of forensic anthropologist Laura Fulginiti. The detectives use their skills and knowledge to uncover the identity of the skeleton, as well as to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, Detectives Rodriguez and Kulesa investigate a shooting at a high-school party, searching for a suspect wearing a ski mask. The detectives must piece together the clues to identify the shooter and bring them to justice.

Throughout the episode, viewers are taken on a thrilling journey as the evidence is collected and pieced together. The detectives use their keen eye for detail and investigative skills to uncover the truth. They must also rely on the expertise of the forensic anthropologist in order to gain a better understanding of the skeleton they are trying to identify. The episode also focuses on the detectives as they use their knowledge and experience to interview witnesses and track down the suspect in the high-school shooting.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 60 votes.

The First 48 - S1E10

#1 - Wrong Side of the Tracks / At Death's Door (Season 1 - Episode 10)

The First 48’s episode “Wrong Side of the Tracks / At Death’s Door” is an action-packed double feature that showcases the challenges of law enforcement in Miami. In the first story, Detective Mayree Morin and her team investigate a murder that appears to have been executed in a professional hitman-style. Morin and her team must race the clock to find the killer before he disappears. The second story follows Detective Ervens Ford and his rookie partner Kevin Ruggiero as they investigate the murder of a doctor’s son. Ford and Ruggiero trace the clues through shady halfway houses and strip clubs as they search for answers.

The First 48’s episode “Wrong Side of the Tracks / At Death’s Door” is an intense look into the world of law enforcement. The episode highlights the challenges of Miami law enforcement as they investigate two different murders. Detective Mayree Morin and her team must move quickly to find the killer in the first story, while Detective Ervens Ford and his partner must travel through seedy locations to uncover the truth in the second story. The episode is a thrilling look into the world of law enforcement and the dedication it takes to put criminals behind bars.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 65 votes.

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