HLN’s ‘Forensic Files II’ takes on 1984 Wisconsin murder case that was solved 35 years later using DNA evidence – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Preview: 'Forensic Files II' episode on Traci Hammerberg case

The HLN true-crime series explores the 1984 murder of a young Wisconsin woman that was finally solved 35 years later using DNA evidence.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

For the second time in less than a year, the 1984 murder of Saukville teenager Traci Hammerberg, which investigators solved 35 years later using DNA evidence, is gettingits TV closeup.

"Forensic Files II," the rebooted continuation of the long-running crime investigation series, takes a look at the case in an episode called "Grave Justice," airing at 9 p.m. Central Time on Aug. 22 on HLN (Channel 11 on Spectrum cable).

The half-hour episode recaps the basics of the initial case. Hammerberg'sbody was found on a driveway in the Town of Grafton early on Dec. 15, 1984; after a night out with friends, she had been raped, strangled and bludgeoned to death.

Suspects emerged, but without conclusive evidence, the case remained open for more than three decades. Finally, investigators sent DNA evidence from the crime scene to a genetic genealogy database and managed to identify a prime suspect: Philip Cross, an acquaintance of Hammerberg who died of a drug overdose in 2012. A DNA card for Cross proved he was a match.

RELATED: How genetic genealogy helped solve the 1984 murder of 18-year-old Traci Hammerberg

The "Forensic Files" episode focuses on how investigators followed the DNA evidence to find Hammerberg's killer.

Last fall, the Hammerberg case was the focus of an episode of true-crime maven Nancy Grace's latest series, "Bloodline Detectives." That series airs in syndication, locally on WVTVDT2 (Channel 24) at 1 a.m. late Sunday nights.

Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Followhimon Twitter at @cforan12.

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HLN's 'Forensic Files II' takes on 1984 Wisconsin murder case that was solved 35 years later using DNA evidence - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel