The summary of ‘Forensic Files Season 11, Episode 13 – Undertaken – Full Episode’

This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.

00:00:0000:21:01

The YouTube video examines the case of Frankie Pullian's death in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1980. Initially ruled a hit-and-run, suspicions arose due to unusual elements at the scene, leading to a second autopsy revealing homicide. Investigations uncovered insurance fraud schemes involving E. Lee White, Pullian's boss, and associates. White orchestrated the murder, aiming to profit from Pullian's life insurance policies totaling nearly $1 million. Forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and forged documents implicated White and his co-conspirators, resulting in murder and fraud charges. The culprits received life sentences for first-degree murder and fraud, emphasizing the repercussions of greed-driven crimes and the vital role of thorough forensic examinations in solving mysteries.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator introduces a case from Paterson, New Jersey, in 1980 involving the death of a 29-year-old man named Frankie Pullian, who was found dead under an abandoned car following a hit-and-run accident. The hit-and-run vehicle was discovered to have been stolen a month earlier from a retired policeman with an alibi for the night before. The police determined the accident happened between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. as Frankie’s body was found at 6:00 a.m. The location where Frankie was walking early in the morning was noted for being dark and isolated, making it a potential site for a crime.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, Frankie’s body is taken to the funeral home where he worked for an autopsy that revealed he died from massive trauma due to a hit-and-run accident. Investigators started to suspect foul play as they found suspicious elements at the accident scene. They discovered no skid marks, lack of front-end damage to the car, and the body’s positioning was unusual. Furthermore, the victim’s coat and watch did not match typical accident scenarios. The focus shifted to questioning whether Frankie’s death was truly a hit-and-run accident as initially thought.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, it is highlighted that blood found behind the car and inside the vehicle, along with the discovery of injuries inconsistent with a car accident, led to the decision to exhume the body for a second autopsy conducted by Dr. Geetha Natarajan. The second examination revealed four linear fractures on the back of the skull, indicating a blow from a hammer-like object. The absence of external injuries and broken limbs, along with the presence of wood splinters at the wound site, suggested foul play, prompting a change in the official manner of death from accident to homicide. The discrepancies between the first and second autopsies raised questions about the thoroughness of the initial examination.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, it is revealed that the initial death certificate was issued by a general practitioner, not a forensic pathologist, who conducted a limited autopsy. The autopsy was done at the victim’s employer’s funeral home before the coroner arrived. Investigators suspected that the original examiner didn’t perform a thorough autopsy, initially ruling the death as a hit-and-run. However, a second autopsy concluded that the victim was murdered with a blunt instrument. Photos of the car indicated blood inside matching the victim’s blood type. Additionally, it was discovered that the victim had numerous life insurance policies totaling nearly $1 million, raising suspicions of foul play and possible insurance fraud.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, it is revealed that Franklin Pullian’s life-insurance policies had beneficiaries including his boss E. Lee White and individuals linked to White. Suspicion arises due to the substantial policies and forged signatures on the policies. Additionally, discrepancies are found in the relationships cited on the policies. The policies also included an accidental death provision, offering a significant payout if Pullian died in an accident. Further investigation shows that the individual who underwent the physical examination for the policies was not neurologically impaired as Pullian was said to be. Handwriting samples on the policies were determined to be forgeries, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the policies. E. Lee White admitted to purchasing the policies but denied involvement in Pullian’s death when questioned by investigators.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, a witness came forward indicating seeing the car from a staged accident scene parked outside E. Lee White’s funeral home the night before Frankie’s murder. It is revealed that the main suspects, including E. Lee White and two other employees, stood to gain nearly $1 million from insurance policies on Frankie’s life. The prosecutors believe Mr. White orchestrated the crime, planning it for years by purchasing multiple life insurance policies on Frankie and sending impostors to physical examinations. The crime involved luring Frankie into a stolen vehicle, hitting him on the back of the skull, and driving over his body. Mistakes left at the crime scene, such as blood splatter and misplaced clothing, pointed towards the perpetrators’ involvement. E. Lee White, knowing Frankie’s body would come to his funeral home for autopsy, was involved in facilitating the crime without raising suspicions.

00:18:00

In this segment of the video, the case discussed involves E. Lee White and his co-conspirators being charged with murder and insurance fraud. Investigators found overwhelming circumstances linking them to the crime, suggesting a murder-for-profit scheme. Frankie Pullian was unknowingly involved in his own murder. The perpetrators were sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and fraud. While the actual killer remains unknown, the owners and beneficiaries of the policies were held responsible for Pullian’s death. White’s wife was also convicted of fraud. The case highlights the importance of forensic evidence and the downfall of greed in attempting to commit a calculated murder.

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