Episode 4: Let It Bleed
While on routine patrol, Riley discovers the body of a young woman in a back-street dumpster. A stamp on the victim's thigh indicates that she recently spent some time at a local night club - Dark Water. A visit to the venue reveals that the girl was a VIP there. However, when shown a photograph of the deceased, the club's owner, Craig Hess, says he does not recognise her.
Back at HQ, Greg and Riley pore over Dark Water's security camera footage. Soon Greg spots the victim being escorted out by Craig Hess. "She's a VIP and they bounce her?" says Riley. Meanwhile, new information from the Homeland Security Database names the deceased as one Angela Carlos, a 17-year-old student from Colombia. Her father, Juan Ramon Carlos, is a notorious drug lord with extensive Las Vegas connections. His sister, Emelina, lives locally, so Grissom goes to see her. Emelina explains how she was responsible for Angela while she was in the United States. "You can catch whoever did this, but it doesn't matter," she says. "Juan will never forgive me."
Catherine and Riley return to Dark Water to demand answers from Craig. While the club owner admits that he did see Angela on his premises, he denies knowing Ramon. "I think you do business with her father," says Catherine, "and that kind of business can put you out of business." A prior charge of statutory rape also puts the club owner firmly in the frame as a suspect.
Meanwhile, Al notices something unusual about Angela's blood results. The breakdown of red blood cells, known as haemolysis, has already begun - something that usually happens when the body is in a state of advanced decomposition. Traces of atropine - a stimulant used to cut cocaine - are also found in the victim's nostrils. While these results baffle the examiners, some shocking information follows. As well as female DNA, the sample also contains traces of blood from two males - neither of whom is Craig Hess. Al tells Grissom that the only way this mix of blood types could occur is through a transfusion. "Girl goes out for a night on the town, ends up with a snout full of atropine and a double transfusion," says Grissom.
Now faced with identifying two suspects instead of one, Catherine hopes that Craig can shed further light on the case. The businessman admits that he sent Angela to see one of Ramon Carlos's henchmen - Goya.
When Catherine and Riley arrive at Goya's warehouse, it is clear that he is dealing drugs from the premises. After Goya and his employee are arrested, the CSIs carry out a thorough analysis - with disturbing findings. While Catherine comes across traces of blood and atropine on a coffee table, Riley discovers a set of plastic tubes and needles. "I'm thinking they transfused her Frankenstein style," says Riley. Could Goya really be responsible for Angela's death? And if so, why did he perform such a grisly operation?
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Meet the forensic heroes of the Las Vegas crime scenes as they untangle the evidence behind police lines, bagging and swabbing every morsel of evidence to nail the bad guys.
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