The WORST episodes of 48 Hours
Every episode of 48 Hours ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of 48 Hours!
Television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style.
#1 - Something Wild: Animal Intelligence
Season 12 - Episode 48 - Aired 8/19/1999
We have forever been fascinated with wild animals. 48 Hours examines this powerful allure, reporting on several animals whose skills and abilities will surprise you. Hollywood Grins And Bears It: Tank the Bear may look mean, but it's just an act - a good act. Performing in Hollywood films, he earns $5,000 a day. Correspondent Harold Dow profiles an unusual star. Swimming With Trouble: Dolphins have a reputation as gentle, friendly creatures. But new research indicates that they may also be stone-cold killers. Troy Roberts reports. AIBO, The Digital Wonder Dog: Peter Van Sant takes a cutting-edge robot dog on a walk in New York's Central Park. How does AIBO stack up against his flesh-and-blood relatives? Secret Language Of Elephants: Susan Spencer interviews a biologist who is trying to decode elephant communication that's barely audible to human ears. Dealing With Dog Anxiety: What do modern pet owners do with a disturbed Dalmation or a jumpy German shepherd? These days, they're calling in the pet psychologist. Richard Schlesinger reports. Learning Is For The Birds: When it comes to intelligence, birds get a bad rap. As Bill Lagattuta discovers, they'r actually very bright. "Birdbrain" takes on a whole new meaning.
#2 - Desperate Measures
Season 12 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/24/1999
Imagine that you have an incurable disease and you are searching for a solution. Is there any path you wouldn't take, any remedy you wouldn't try, when you're desperate for a cure? CBS News 48 Hours takes a look at some unusual and alternative healing methods. Do these strategies work? Or are they fool's gold, sold to those who are most in need of real help? Miraculous Oil? When the religious pictures at her home in Worcester, Mass., started dripping oil, Linda Santos decided that it was a sign from God. Now her house is mobbed by pilgrims, many desperate for a cure. But is this a "miracle" or a hoax? Cancer Cure, Or Snake Oil? Some cancer patients think that 714-X is a wonder drug. They say it got rid of their disease when traditional methods couldn't. But the drug has never been tested, and is illegal in the United States. Does it work? Feel The Energy: Gene Egidio says that his touch can heal. He's created a big business out of it. But does it work? And how often? Healing Sounds: Can a soothing sound help cure cancer or relieve chronic pain? Some people, including some respected doctors, say yes. How does this novel treatment work?
#3 - Wild Things
Season 12 - Episode 37 - Aired 7/6/1999
It's a nonstop adrenaline rush. A trip to strange places that you've never even imagined. It's 48 Hours Adventures! The premiere, "Wild Things," introduces you to scuba divers who swim with sharks, runners who sprint from bulls, and a woman who takes care of baby elephants. Running With The Bulls: Correspondent Erin Moriarty takes viewers to Pamplona, where runners sprint just a few feet ahead of charging bulls. New York City bar owner Joe Distler understands the adrenaline rush well. He has been participating in the event for more than 30 years. Watch as Distler does it again. Adventurous Links: Want to find out how you can run with the bulls? Or how to help save orphaned elephants? The Web can tell you, and we've gathered the best sites here. Lightning Strikes: Correspondent Russ Mitchell explores the amazing power of lightning. You'll meet Gretel Erlich, who was hit by lightning on her cattle ranch in 1991. She almost died, and talks about how the experience changed her. Taking Care Of Baby: Correspondent Susan Spencer profiles a woman who finds new families for baby elephants orphaned by poachers and farmers in Africa. Dipping Into The Volcano: In Hawaii, Spencer meets volcano researcher Carl Thornber, who gets very close to what he studies. He once lived 200 yards from Kilauea, the best-studied volcano in the world. When it erupts, other residents flee, but Thornber gets in closer, to where the lava temperatures rise above 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Swimming With The Sharks: Correspondent Harold Dow reports on a group of divers who go swimming with sharks off the Bahamas. Known as a "shark rodeo," this spectacle is both beautiful and terrifying.
#4 - Multiple Choice
Season 12 - Episode 38 - Aired 7/8/1999
What is it like to be an exact copy of another human being? 48 Hours examines this fascinating question, exploring the lives of twins as well as quadruplets. 48 Hours' "Multiple Choice" introduces you to some twins who for more than 40 years didn't even know each other. You'll also meet a woman who was determined to bear her quadruplets, even if it endangered her own life. And you'll learn the truth about Correspondent Erin Moriarty and her twin sister Sheela. Identical or fraternal twins? Find out. When Cathy Cimoch found out she was pregnant with quadruplets, she decided she'd try to have all four. But the difficulties prove tremendous. Will her babies survive? Many identical twins - even those raised separately - are remarkably alike, down to their hairstyles. But others are drastically different. What determines these outcomes? Is it genes, or environment? For more than 40 years, Erin Moriarty and her sister thought they were identical twins. But are they? Or was the doctor who delivered them mistaken?
#5 - Murder, Madness, Insanity
Season 12 - Episode 39 - Aired 7/12/1999
Should wrongdoers who are mentally ill be treated in the same way as are calculating, cold-blooded murderers? And what happens when a killer, judged insane, then claims to be cured and asks for freedom? CBS News 48 Hours has examined these cases: On July 17, 1988, Michael Hayes, then a 24-year-old moped repairman in Forsyth County, North Carolina, gunned down nine people at a crossroads, killing four. He was soon caught, and confessed, telling authorities that God had told him to kill demons. Found not guilty by reason of insanity, he was sent to the state mental hospital. Now he says he is no longer mentally ill and should be allowed to work unsupervised off hospital grounds. His longtime lawyer agrees. But the relatives of his former victims don't want him freed and the psychiatrist hired by the state thinks Hayes is still dangerous. What will happen? In 1975 Philadelphia lawyer Jay Centifanti shot his wife five times. He claimed insanity and never went to prison. Now a crusader for the mentally ill, he says he leads a normal life. Did the system work, or did he get off easily? What would possess a mother to kill her newborn child? Authorities say that some mothers fall victim to an altered state known as postpartum psychosis, in which mothers are not aware of what they are doing to their children. One of these mothers is Dawn March, who drowned her 22-week-old daughter Shawna. March was sent to a mental hospital. What happened to her?
#6 - Against All Odds
Season 12 - Episode 40 - Aired 7/13/1999
It is 29,028 feet of foreboding rock and ice: Mt. Everest. It has challenged and sometimes beaten even the bravest climbers. Among those who were willing to try: a 51-year-old professor who has only one foot. Last year, that climber, Tom Whittaker, tried to leave his footprint on Everest as the first disabled climber to make the ascent. 48 Hours Adventures takes you along as Whittaker takes his shot in "Against All Odds."
#7 - Sixth Sense
Season 12 - Episode 44 - Aired 8/5/1999
Do ghosts exist? Can we communicate with the dead? Do humans live more than one lifetime? 48 Hours puts the paranormal world to the test. Is any of this stuff really real? Ghosts For Guests? Leland French is sure that his historic house, McRaven, is haunted. Find out what two parapsychologists, who investigate claims of hauntings, think about these ghosts. Tapping Into Past Lives: Dr. Brian Weiss is a Yale-trained psychiatrist who believes that hypnotism can help people remember their past lives. Correspondent Bernie Goldberg reports. Spiritual Switchboard: George Anderson used to be a telephone operator. Now he claims to communicate with the dead. What happens when 48 Hours puts him to the test? Psychic For Cops: Annette Martin says she has helped police solve many mysterious crimes. Among those who believe in her ability is retired Detective Rich Keaton. But what seems psychic to Martin seems like good questioning and good luck to a veteran debunker. Remote Viewing Up Close: Those who believe they have extrasensory perception powers claim to see events and places far out of immediate range. They are also called remote viewers. Onis put to the test by Correspondent Harold Dow.
#8 - Who Killed Allen Griffen?
Season 12 - Episode 45 - Aired 8/9/1999
CBS News 48 Hours examines the case of Allen Griffen, an 11-year-old Iowa boy who died from a treatable disease. Whose fault is his death? His parents? His doctors? Should his parents - put on trial for allowing his death to occur - be held responsible? As 48 Hours explores how a controllable medical problem could get so far out of control, you'll learn more about the following individuals: Allen Griffen, a fourth-grader in Johnston, Iowa. On May 22, 1989, he died of peritonitis, a treatable intestinal disease. He weighed about 45 pounds when he died. Terry and Jean Griffen, Allen's parents. The Griffins say they had no idea that their son was in danger of dying. They say they think about their son's death every day. But Iowa authorities, who said the signs of danger were obvious, charged the pair with willfully depriving their son of medical care. The couple faced 10 years in prison. Carla Fultz and Bill Price, the Griffens' lawyers. They argued that Allen's doctors didn't adequately communicate the danger to the boy or his parents. Dr. Thomas Bennett, who served as the Iowa state medical examiner. He said on the stand that Allen was a victim of "medical neglect." Allen Kaufman and Jeffrey Stahl, two of Allen's doctors. The Griffens' lawyers argued that these two are really at fault in Allen's death. Ultimately, the Griffens were found not guilty of neglect. They considered adopting another child, but never did. Following their acquittal, the Griffens sued Allen's doctors for malpractice. The case was settled out of court.
#9 - Mission Impossible
Season 12 - Episode 43 - Aired 8/3/1999
Most of us have lives constrained by the possible. But a brave few reach for what others deem impossible. Some strive to recover from devastating injuries, to balance more people on a thin strand of wire, or to row across more miles than ever before. They put themselves in great danger, sometimes even risking too much. 48 Hours Adventures examines their drive in "Mission Impossible." Kenyans Run Over The Competition: Kenyan long-distance runners have been almost unbeatable. Bryant Gumbel travels to the heights of Kenya to discover what gives these racers their edge. A Fearless Love Of Flying: Patty Wagstaff is one of the best aerobatic flyers in the world. Where many people would be terrified, she finds her happiest moments. Around World In A Rowboat: For years, Mick Bird has dreamed of rowing around the world. Now he's actually doing it. It takes unimaginable willpower, plus 10,000 strokes a day. A Hard Act To Follow: Walther Guerrero lived to perform on the tightrope. Then, two years ago, he had a devastating accident. Harold Dow finds out how he has dealt with life on the ground. He finds a courageous man, unwilling to regret his decisions. A Two-Way Street To Recovery: Picabo Street is trying to recover from a serious skiing injury, her second. Then she meets Rebecca Olivares, struggling with an even scarier, more frustrating injury. See how each helps the other overcome her fears.
#10 - Animal Magnetism
Season 12 - Episode 41 - Aired 7/20/1999
Unusual relationships between man and beast; woman's quest to save the orangutan in Indonesia; lions as pets; glider pilot leads birds' migration; scientists study penguins in Antarctica.
#11 - Deadly Deception
Season 12 - Episode 47 - Aired 8/16/1999
Many people think of con artists as charismatic rakes, criminals who don't really hurt anyone. The reality is usually very different. Whether financially, emotionally or physically, con artists can cause their victims enormous pain. CBS News 48 Hours takes a look at two unusual and charming con artists, both of whom ended up hurting their victims - in one case, mortally. Raymond Stone claimed that he was just a con man, that he would never resort to violence. But police and prosecutors said he was a murderer. Retha Sue Whitfield was a former professional gospel musician. She painted herself as a deeply religious woman. That didn't stop her from defrauding a widow out of hundreds of thousands of dollars
#12 - Class of 2000: Driven to Extremes
Season 12 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/10/1999
In the aftermath of the Littleton tragedy, many Americans began to ask how such young people could plan and commit such a horrible act. As part of its ongoing examination of the Class of 2000, CBS News 48 Hours takes a look at teens and violence. You'll meet all sorts of teenagers: heroes, violent felons, and some more or less normal kids who are just trying to find their way in a confusing and scary world.
#13 - Missing
Season 12 - Episode 49 - Aired 8/30/1999
It's every parent's nightmare: a missing child. With every passing hour, the tendency to think the worst grows. CBS News' 48 Hours reports on how parents and authorities responded in three cases. Traci Rene Conrad: On Feb. 25, 1996, Traci, an 11-year-old girl who lived in California's Central Valley, disappeared. Authorities and local people spent the next 25 days searching frantically for the little girl, often slogging their way through pouring rain. Finally, Rene's body was found in a kiln, just a few blocks from the Conrads' house. The kiln belonged to the Galik family, and police soon arrested a former truck driver named Kevin Galik, then 37. When she disappeared, Rene had been on her way to visit Galik's children. She was found wrapped in a sheet matching those inside the Galik home, and a man's T-shirt was wrapped around her head. The shirt was Kevin Galik's size. Galik claimed innocence, but at his trial, prosecutors produced several witnesses who undercut his alibi. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rene's parents, Chris and Terri, have since become vocal advocates for better, quicker police response to child-related crimes. Baby Kerri: In July 1992, Kerri Mammini, who was then 2 days old, was snatched from the Alta Bates Medical Center in San Francisco. Three months later, after a frenzied nationwide search, Kerri was found in the possession of Karen Lea Hughes, a 40-year-old woman. Hughes, who said she had kidnapped the baby to ease her distress about a miscarriage, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Kerri now lives with her mother, Jessica Mammini, in the San Francisco area. Robert Kloack: In 1987, Robert Kloack's mother lost a custody battle for her son. In response, she went underground, taking her 3-year-old son to Florida. She taught him at home and seldom let him go outside. When he was found after five years and returned to his father Tom in Idaho Falls, Idaho
#14 - On the Edge of Your Seat
Season 12 - Episode 50 - Aired 8/31/1999
What is the thrill of risking danger? Is it the momentary adrenaline rush or the sense of having cheated death? Whatever it is, the pursuit of extreme excitement appears to have caught on in a major way. From jumping out of airplanes to climbing mountains, Americans are putting themselves in harm's way - all in the pursuit of fun. In "On The Edge Of Your Seat," 48 Hours Adventures looks at people who take great risks - sometimes with awful consequences. The Sky's Her Limit: When a plane full of skydivers crashed, Carol O'Connell was the only survivor. Follow along as she decides to confront her greatest fear, returning to the skies to jump once more. Life As A Loose Cannon: 48 Hours Anchor Dan Rather reports on Sean Thomas, a real-life human cannonball, and the master who taught him his art. Surviving An Avalanche: Christian George got more thrills than he expected when he was trapped in an avalanche while snowmobiling. Find out how he tunneled his way through miles of snow, back to safety. A Life Full Of Crazy Stunts: For Cindy Folkerson, leaping off cliffs and dodging fireballs are just part of a normal day. And she takes her work home with her, too: A top Hollywood stuntwoman, Folkerson is married to stunt coordinator Jeff Ramsey. Susan Spencer reports.
#15 - Courage
Season 12 - Episode 51 - Aired 9/2/1999
What is courage? Many people see it as a dramatic attribute, the ability to suddenly rise above fear. But courage can also be something quieter and more lasting. Thursday CBS News' 48 Hours profiles three people whose courage consists in their dogged, decades-long fight to overcome obstacles. The three face different difficulties, but what they share in common is their commitment to triumph no matter what the odds.
#16 - Race to Freedom
Season 12 - Episode 52 - Aired 9/14/1999
As a kid growing up in a tough California town in the 1920s and 1930s, Louis Zamperini was a troublemaker. He hopped freight trains, skipped school and fled from the police more than once. But then he discovered that he was a world-class runner. In 1936, he ran in the Berlin Olympics. Then his life took an incredible turn. In "Race To Freedom," 48 Hours Adventures tells the story of Zamperini and of his dogged will to survive all kinds of mental and physical obstacles. Bob Simon reports, from all over the world.
#17 - Nature's Fury
Season 12 - Episode 53 - Aired 9/16/1999
As Hurricane Floyd makes its way up the East Coast, 48 Hours reports on the havoc that this and other such storms can cause: "Nature's Fury." Rescue On The High Seas: Correspondent Susan Spencer tells the story of a hazardous Coast Guard rescue operation that took place five years ago during Hurricane Gordon. Blowing In The Wind: To get a sense of the power a hurricane can pack, CBS News Correspondent Jose Diaz-Balart went into a wind tunnel for 48 Hours this week. What do 115 mph winds really feel like? Chasing Floyd: While everyone else in Floyd's path headed for safe ground, meteorologist Josh Wurman went into the danger zone -- all in the name of science. CBS News Corresondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.
#18 - Torn by Hate
Season 13 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/1999
Just seven weeks ago, Los Angeles paramedics Todd Carb and Paul Medina found pandemonium after reports of gunshots at the North Valley Jewish Community Center, at a summer camp for preschoolers. Police identified the gunman as 37-year-old Buford Furrow, a white supremacist armed with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic and a hatred for Jews. In less than a minute, he opened fire on five children and then proceeded to kill a postal worker. 48 Hours Correspondent Susan Spencer takes the first television look inside the community center since the shooting took place. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#19 - Why Did Josh Kill?
Season 13 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/1999
Last November, 8-year-old Maddie Clifton vanished from her Jacksonville, Fla., home. After a frantic citywide search, she was discovered hidden in the waterbed of a 14-year-old boy who lived across the street. Josh Phillips was put on trial, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But the question remains: Why did he do it? 48 Hours finds out. For seven days, parents Steve and Sheila Clifton held out hope, and with the help of dozens of volunteers searched desperately for their daughter. Correspondent Peter Van Sant reports on how Josh was viewed by his family, friends and teachers. Was there any hint that he could end up murdering his playmate?
#20 - Gambling With Your Life
Season 13 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/1999
Gambling is one of this country's most popular activities. In 1996, Americans made $586 billion in legal bets. One expert estimates that 4 million people in this country are addicted to gambling. 48 Hours takes a look at this pastime, profiling a recovering gambling addict, a woman whose obsession with scratch-off games has left her deeply in debt, and a cabby who trades online while he drives. Melanie Morgan was a successful radio and TV journalist. Then she started playing poker, in legal games in Seattle. Soon she let everything else go, including her career, her marriage, and even her newborn baby. Correspondent Troy Roberts reports on her long struggle to regain control. A recent study found that 70 percent of day traders lose money. But Kenny Glick is convinced that he can buck those odds. Correspondent Susan Spencer reports on an activity that many critics say is just another form of gambling. Scratch-off lottery tickets are enormously popular in Massachusetts; by one estimate the state makes $800 million from this game. But this form of gambling has its price. Among those in its thrall are Terri Candido of Boston, who is more than $50,000 in debt. Correspondent Harold Dow reports. While he is ferrying fares around New York, cabbie Carlos Rubino, who has a laptop computer in his taxi, trades online and even offers tips. Dow reports from Manhattan's hectic streets.
#21 - Deadly Secret
Season 13 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/1999
Can a team of dogged detectives solve a 6-year-old disappearance when all of the trails seem to have gone cold? 48 Hours Correspondent Harold Dow reports. In 1994, Russ Smith and his wife Khristine had seemed like the perfect couple. They had been married for eight years and lived a comfortable life in Kalamazoo, Mich., with their 7-year-old daughter Candace. Next-door neighbor Debbie Orosz says that Khristine was a wonderful mother, deeply involved in her daughter's life. A former policeman, Smith, 32 at the time, worked as the service manager of the local Sears automotive department. But in September of that year, Khristine disappeared.
#22 - A Second Chance
Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/21/1999
For almost every patient, a cancer diagnosis used to be a death sentence. But with advances in modern medicine, many of these patients now have a good chance to survive. CBS News 48 Hours follows the fortunes of several cancer sufferers, introduces viewers to a few of the cutting edge researchers as they race to find a cure, reports on the latest treatments, and talks to the experts about what you can do to avoid this terrifying disease.
#23 - Samantha's Choice
Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/5/1998
Ten-year-old Samantha Frazer has a very big decision to make. Should she live with the woman who is fighting to adopt her and whom she's grown to love, or her birth mother, who abandoned her years ago and ran off across the country? The choice is hers. CBS News 48 Hours examines what happens when parental rights clash with a child's desire for a happy home.
#24 - Searching for Immortality
Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/12/1998
For thousands of years, humans have dreamed of finding the secrets to long life, even immortality. Until now, the dream has been elusive. But scientists and doctors are beginning to understand the fundamental mechanisms that cause the human body to grow, and to deteriorate. Will we one day clone ourselves? Or will we simply inject ourselves with hormones that keep us permanently spry? CBS News 48 Hours takes a look at some modern attempts to sidestep death. Some will amaze you, others may cause you to scratch your head in wonder.
#25 - Cry Rape
Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/19/1998
Like most high schools, Grosse Pointe North High is a place full of hormones and insecurity. Sexuality and social pressure can make for a volatile combination. Sometimes that combination leads older guys to take advantage of younger girls eager for acceptance. But is there a difference between mistreating vulnerable young girls. CBS News 48 Hours takes a look at this question, taking viewer to Grosse Pointe, a small, well-to-do suburb near Detroit, where four high school seniors are accused of rape by a group of freshman girls.