Crime-based TV shows and movies provide powerful entertainment. But most of them fail to present a true-to-life depiction of how forensic investigators work. According to a former homicide detective, Breaking Bad, CSI, Zodiac, Sherlock, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective all manage to botch significant details about crime scenes.
The forensic details ‘Ace Ventura’ scriptwriters got wrong
In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, retired homicide detective Rod Demery revealed several times writers stretched the truth when creating crime scenes for dramatic effect. The former Shreveport, Louisiana gumshoe started by explaining the errors in a clip from the 1994 Jim Carrey comedic romp, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
In the clip, Ventura shows up uninvited to a crowded crime scene. Noting that real crime scenes are carefully controlled spaces, a surprise visitor would never be allowed due to the possibility of contamination. When visitors are allowed, explained Demery, a police officer typically screens them.
The forensic details ‘Ace Ventura’ scriptwriters got wrong
In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, retired homicide detective Rod Demery revealed several times writers stretched the truth when creating crime scenes for dramatic effect. The former Shreveport, Louisiana gumshoe started by explaining the errors in a clip from the 1994 Jim Carrey comedic romp, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
In the clip, Ventura shows up uninvited to a crowded crime scene. Noting that real crime scenes are carefully controlled spaces, a surprise visitor would never be allowed due to the possibility of contamination. When visitors are allowed, explained Demery, a police officer typically screens them.
- 3/5/2023
- by Kaanii Powell Cleaver
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Exclusive: Evelyn Braxton, the matriarch of long-running reality series Braxton Family Values, is cooking up a new show.
Braxton is developing a cooking format with Dorothy Toran and Leslie Farrell’s Lauren Grace Media. Cooking With Ms. E, which is inspired by her upcoming cookbook, will see her give viewers an inside look into one of her favorite places – her kitchen.
The series will also see Braxton joined by a number of guests in the kitchen as she bakes up recipes, including her famous buffins – a cross between a muffin and a biscuit.
Evelyn Braxton is an opera singer, certified life coach and mother of six including hit singer Toni Braxton. She is one of the stars of WEtv’s Braxton Family Values, which recently aired its seventh season.
Lauren Grace Media was launched in February 2020 by The Real Housewives of New Jersey exec producer Toran and former NBCU exec Farrell.
Braxton is developing a cooking format with Dorothy Toran and Leslie Farrell’s Lauren Grace Media. Cooking With Ms. E, which is inspired by her upcoming cookbook, will see her give viewers an inside look into one of her favorite places – her kitchen.
The series will also see Braxton joined by a number of guests in the kitchen as she bakes up recipes, including her famous buffins – a cross between a muffin and a biscuit.
Evelyn Braxton is an opera singer, certified life coach and mother of six including hit singer Toni Braxton. She is one of the stars of WEtv’s Braxton Family Values, which recently aired its seventh season.
Lauren Grace Media was launched in February 2020 by The Real Housewives of New Jersey exec producer Toran and former NBCU exec Farrell.
- 4/26/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Anthony Crain was gunned down in the street, Detective Rod Demery had a suspect in mind but proving it was another matter – he recounts the case on Murder Chose Me. February 19, 2012, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and 24-year-old Anthony Crain was found dead on Holly Street in Highland, he’d been shot. Detectives had a suspect in mind for the killing fairly early on, but it took over seven months for them to gather enough evidence to make an arrest. The man they arrested was Kevin Smith, 31, also of Shreveport and who was already in custody, serving time at […]
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The post Anthony Crain murdered in street and Kevin Smith was the prime suspect – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 6/7/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
McDaniel Smith is gunned down in the street and Shreveport Police Department homicide detective Rod Demery is determined to get to the bottom of the case on Murder Chose Me. March, 2012, and McDaniel Smith III was found fatally wounded on the street around 4:00 A.M. at 200 block of Webster in the Allendale area of Shreveport, Louisiana. That block only had a few occupants and detectives soon ascertained that Smith had been arguing with a woman he’d previously dated. At some point another man, Damien Pipkins, became involved in the fight and police believed that 30-year-old Pipkins had pulled a gun […]
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The post McDaniel Smith murdered in the street leaving a new case for detective Rod Demery to solve on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 5/30/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
On this episode of Murder Chose Me, Detective Rod Demery recounts the shooting of Frederick Henderson, a young man who died as he fled for his life September, 2013 in West Shreveport, Louisiana., and police were called to the scene of what seems to be a car accident, with a vehicle having collided with a utility pole. When they examined the driver he was found to have a gunshot wound to his side, though he was still alive. The car had damage from the collision but also had a lot of leaves and other foliage all over the front grill, clearly […]
The post Frederick Henderson was shot and crashed his car as he fled for his life – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Frederick Henderson was shot and crashed his car as he fled for his life – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 5/10/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Donte Gilbert was killed in a hail of bullets as he met friends outside a vacant house, Detective Rod Demery explains how he helped to bring Gilber’s killers to justice on Murder Chose Me. Shreveport, Louisiana, on Aug. 9, 2008, and 36-year-old Donte Gilbert was sitting on the porch of an empty house with a few friends, when they were sprayed with bullets. Demery soon realises he is dealing with more than one suspect but even he is surprised just how many people are involved in the attack. Witnesses described four cars filled with young men riding past the house […]
The post Donte Gilbert died in a hail of bullets meant for someone else – Detective Rod Demery recounts the case on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Donte Gilbert died in a hail of bullets meant for someone else – Detective Rod Demery recounts the case on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 5/2/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Detective Rod Demery recalls the case of grandfather Ronnie Robinson on Murder Chose Me, a man who was beaten to death by some unlikely attackers. Shreveport, Louisiana, at 4:50 a.m. on July 11, 2010, and police were called to investigate reports of a man in distress on the sidewalk. They found a badly beaten man who was later identified as 47-year-old Ronnie D. Robinson. He was rushed to hospital but died of injuries a few days later. There were few clues at the scene of the beating but when Demery visits Robinson’s employer he gets a tip that the grandfather was having […]
The post Grandfather Ronnie Robinson who was beaten to death by children features on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Grandfather Ronnie Robinson who was beaten to death by children features on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/26/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
This episode of Murder Chose Me features Detective Rod Demery recounting the investigation into the murder of store owner Maeung Ram Ellis, who was shot trying to fend off a robber. Ellis was something of a pillar of the Korean community in Shreveport, La, and owned Goody’s Beauty Supply store on Fairfeld Avenue in the city. In January 2007 a young man entered the store and attempted to rob Ellis. She was in the store with a cashier and when the robber failed to get any cash from the register, she decided to act. Ellis resisted the robbery and tried to push […]
The post Maeung Ran Ellis was shot dead by 15-year-old Corenza Kelly – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Maeung Ran Ellis was shot dead by 15-year-old Corenza Kelly – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/19/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
In this episode of Murder Chose Me, Det. Rod Demery has to track down the two people involved in the fatal stabbing of 55-year-old J.W. Fuller during a bar brawl. Fuller was a regular at Benny’s Tea Room in the Crofton area in Shreveport but his days off patronage were numbered after he got into an altercation with another man and his girlfriend. In August 2002 Fuller ended up in a fight at the bar, which was on the outskirts of town. A passerby found Fuller lying on the street, still alive but obviously badly injured and coughing up blood. He was taken […]
The post J.W. Fuller’s murder during bar brawl is focus of Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post J.W. Fuller’s murder during bar brawl is focus of Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/18/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Tavia Sills was just about to start univeristy and pregnant when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, detective Rod Demery on Murder Chose Me recalls the case. Shreveport, La, on September 2008, and 18-year-old Tavia Sills was reported missing by her family, she was five months pregnant and was just about to start her life as a university student. Just three days later her body was found by a couple who were fishing at a local pond. An examination of the body found she’d died from gunshot wounds and had been in the water for several days. Sills ‘s ex-boyfriend, Lamondre Tucker, […]
The post Pregnant teen Tavia Sills was shot dead by her ex-boyfriend Lamondre Tucker – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Pregnant teen Tavia Sills was shot dead by her ex-boyfriend Lamondre Tucker – Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/18/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
The murder of Noah Randle in a botched home invasion robbery features on this week’s episode of Investigation Discovery series Murder Chose Me with Rod Demery. The 22-year-old was killed at a birthday party after walking in on two masked gunmen holding up his friends at gunpoint while attempting to rob them. When hero Noah tried to run and grab a shotgun to protect his friends, he was shot in the head. The initial investigation was reportedly bungled when a new detective mistakenly showed a witness two photos rather than six as was supposed to happen. Then there were back-and-forths […]
The post Noah Randle was killed in botched home invasion robbery: Murder Chose Me looks at the case appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Noah Randle was killed in botched home invasion robbery: Murder Chose Me looks at the case appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/11/2018
- by Julian Cheatle
- Monsters and Critics
Murder Chose Me is back for a second season as Detective Demery is called to the scene of a multiple shooting. The Bottoms in Shreveport is one of the city’s roughest areas and it was here in April 2008 that a jogger discovered the bodies of two men and a woman in an abandoned car, all three have multiple gunshot wounds. 23-year-old Christopher Hastlette and 27-year-old Kendra Hill were both found to be dead, but 24-year-old Troy Crayton was still alive. Shreveport Police Department homicide detective Rod Demery recount the case and how they eventually arrested 28-year-old Eric McCall for […]
The post Detective Demery recalls triple shooting by Eric McCall on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
The post Detective Demery recalls triple shooting by Eric McCall on Murder Chose Me appeared first on Monsters and Critics.
- 4/5/2018
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
When you watch the new season of Investigation Discovery's Murder Chose Me, know that Rod Demery became a successful crime solver in spite of — or, perhaps, because of — the violent crimes that ended his mother's life nearly 50 years ago and put his brother behind bars nearly 25 years ago. Rod pursued a career in law enforcement, working for more than two decades at the police department in Shreveport, La. Now he's a TV star with a story to tell. When Rod was just 3, police arrived at his grandmother's doorstep to tell her Rod's mother had been murdered, killed by her husband. Per Starcasm, Rod said the husband was charged with murder without malice, which "basically says that he believed that there was a burglar in the house and he just started shooting. And that was his explanation. But had they done a homicide investigation, they would have realized it was just a straight-up murder.
- 3/25/2018
- by Dan Clarendon
- In Touch Weekly
Investigation Discovery is back on the case. Recently, the network announced Murder Chose Me will return for a second season in April.The true crime series follows Louisiana homicide detective Rod Demery "as he reflects on memorable cases from his 14 years as a homicide detective, where he miraculously achieved a confession and 100% solve rate in the more than 250 homicide cases where he served as lead detective."Read More…...
- 3/13/2018
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
You can stop worrying that it has been cancelled. Investigation Discovery has renewed its Murder Chose Me TV show for a second season. The series features retired Shreveport homicide detective Rod Demery, whose own mother was murdered when he was just three years old. Jupiter Entertainment produces Murder Chose Me for Investigation Discovery. Jupiter's Todd Moss executive produces, and Erich Sturm co-executive produces. Lorna Thomas executive produces for ID. Read More…...
- 5/22/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Investigation Discovery has given the green light to a 10-episode second season of original series Murder Chose Me for a 2018 premiere. Featuring stories and case files from Rod Demery of Shreveport, La, the series reflects on his 14 years as a homicide detective – a profession he was drawn to after his mother was murdered. During his career, Demery worked on more than 250 homicide cases, achieving a confession and a 100% solve rate in each case where he served as lead…...
- 5/19/2017
- Deadline TV
Tonight’s Murder Chose Me finds Detective Rod Demery trying to solve a murder-mystery that has haunted him for his entire life: the shooting death of his mother, Barbara Sue Demery. The episode, titled Dreams of My Mother, focuses on the unsolved homicide, which occurred May 8, 1969, when Demery was just three years old, in the Texas city of Sweeny. Accounts vary of the death of Demery’s mother. He and his brother were initially told she was killed in a “robbery-gone-wrong”. But when Demery became an adult, he started to suspect Barbara’s then new-husband Jerry Armstead may have killed her after discovering she had...read more...
- 4/19/2017
- by Kurt Orzeck
- Monsters and Critics
Tonight’s episode of Murder Chose Me on Investigation Discovery documents the death of a popular cheerleader killed “in a hail of gunfire,” according to the TV channel. In the episode, called Deadliest Sin, ex-homicide detective Rod Demery (learn more about him here) combs through heaps of witness testimony and eventually narrows down his search to a prime suspect. “But he soon learns that the triggerman was driven to violence by a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” according to a brief synopsis of the show from ID. Murder Chose Me captures Demery revealing how the murder of his mother was ever-present in...read more...
- 4/12/2017
- by Kurt Orzeck
- Monsters and Critics
Tonight’s Murder Chose Me on Investigation Discovery follows former homicide detective Rod Demery as he probes the murder of a young woman. But it also features a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the Investigation Discovery show, featuring interviews with the cast and crew. Right at the center of that is Demery himself, with the show revolving around cases he had tracking criminals on the loose in Shreveport, Louisiana. Demery has a personal interest in pursuing killers, following the murder of his own mother when he was just three years old. Moreover, Demery’s brother was convicted in a separate murder case and...read more...
- 4/5/2017
- by Kurt Orzeck
- Monsters and Critics
In the series premiere of Investigation Discovery’s Murder Chose Me, detective Rod Demery steels himself to interview a young boy who has just witnessed his mother’s homicide.
The Shreveport, Louisiana, officer sympathizes instantly: When Demery was 3 years old, two somber officers showed up at his grandmother’s door and told him his mother had been killed.
“As I looked at this little boy, I recognize him,” Demery narrates in an exclusive clip from the premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 15. “And I realize that the little boy is me.”
Indeed, beginning with his mother’s death, murder has defined Demery.
The Shreveport, Louisiana, officer sympathizes instantly: When Demery was 3 years old, two somber officers showed up at his grandmother’s door and told him his mother had been killed.
“As I looked at this little boy, I recognize him,” Demery narrates in an exclusive clip from the premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 15. “And I realize that the little boy is me.”
Indeed, beginning with his mother’s death, murder has defined Demery.
- 2/10/2017
- by Chris Harris and Greg Hanlon
- PEOPLE.com
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