Best Episodes
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!
The killing of a foreign exchange student is captured on video; family members are involved in a shooting at a New Orleans carwash.
The episode was rated 7.43 from 220 votes.
When an innocent father is brutally stabbed, Tulsa detective Justin Ritter delves into the dark and dangerous world of methamphetamine addiction in order to stop a killer on the edge.
The episode was rated 7.45 from 231 votes.
A young father killed at an abandoned Atlanta car wash may have been the victim of gang violence; a Gulf War veteran is shot dead in a park.
The episode was rated 7.51 from 211 votes.
A police detective must determine if the person who gunned down a New Orleans teenager is a friend or a foe; the employees of an executed businessman may prove a motive for the crime.
The episode was rated 7.52 from 114 votes.
In New Orleans, when a young father is abducted and shot in the street, detective Rayell Johnson hopes shocking surveillance footage can help him crack his first homicide case.
The episode was rated 7.53 from 404 votes.
A young Cleveland father is murdered in his car, and the police suspect his friend has information on the killer's identity; homicide detectives hunt for a shotgun-toting killer.
The episode was rated 7.53 from 249 votes.
When a suburban teenager is found dead in a robbery gone bad, Minneapolis Detective Emily Dunphy must find out which of the victim’s friends may have double-crossed him.
The episode was rated 7.54 from 133 votes.
Detectives discover a neighborhood under siege after a man is killed in his home by a stray gunshot.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 238 votes.
Two young men are victims of a hammer attack in Tulsa. In Atlanta, a man is murdered after a selfless act.
The episode was rated 7.56 from 155 votes.
An investigation into the suspected murder of a,decorated war veteran is made in order to determine why he may have been ambushed at a rental property, and the impact of the situation on his family and grandchildren is addressed.
The episode was rated 7.58 from 12 votes.
A mother is found stabbed to death on the side of the road, but a wedding ring dropped at the scene could break the case.
The episode was rated 7.62 from 292 votes.
When a young father is attacked by a pack of brazen shooters, Atlanta Detective Summer Benton uncovers the shocking reason for his murder.
The episode was rated 7.64 from 221 votes.
When a homeless man is gunned down on the sidewalk, Mobile detectives discover a petty motive.
The episode was rated 7.70 from 127 votes.
Tulsa homicide delves into a dark world of drugs and prostitution to solve the murder of a man executed in his car in a motel parking lot.
The episode was rated 7.71 from 333 votes.
A police detective must determine if the person who gunned down a New Orleans teenager is a friend or a foe; the employees of an executed businessman may prove a motive for the crime.
The episode was rated 7.88 from 26 votes.
