Contents
- 1 48 Hours: The Corn Rake Witness October 17 2026
- 2 Why Investigators Rejected the Accident Theory
- 3 Prosecutors Pointed to Problems in the Marriage
- 4 The Missing Security Footage
- 5 The Son Who Became a Key Witness
- 6 48 Hours: The Detective & the Chewing Gum StingThe Corn Rake Witness October 17 2026
- 7 A Simple Object Becomes Investigative Evidence
- 8 The Detective Behind the Sting
- 9 An Elusive Killer Finally Confronted
- 10 When to Watch
- 11 About 48 Hours
- 12 Weekly 48 Hours Schedule
- 13 Why Follow the 48 Hours Schedule?
- 14 Conclusion
- 15 More News
48 Hours: The Corn Rake Witness October 17 2026
An Iowa farmer convicted of killing his wife with a corn rake returns to the spotlight in an all-new 48 Hours investigation Saturday, October 17.
“The Corn Rake Witness” revisits the death of Amy Mullis and the evidence that led a jury to convict her husband, Todd Mullis, of first-degree murder.
The episode also introduces an important new development: their son Trysten now says he believes his father is innocent.
Why Investigators Rejected the Accident Theory
Amy Mullis was found critically injured in a shed on the family’s Iowa farm.
Todd initially suggested she may have become dizzy and fallen onto a corn rake while trying to retrieve a pet carrier.
But investigators quickly questioned whether her injuries were consistent with an accident.
The rake had four prongs, while Amy suffered six puncture wounds.
Authorities concluded that someone had deliberately attacked her.
Prosecutors Pointed to Problems in the Marriage
As investigators examined Amy’s life, they learned she had been involved in an affair.
Prosecutors argued that Todd had discovered the relationship and feared that a divorce could cost him his family and potentially affect ownership of the valuable farming operation.
The prosecution presented those circumstances as a motive for murder.
Todd denied killing his wife and maintained his innocence throughout the case.
The Missing Security Footage
Another issue at trial involved the farm’s security-camera system.
There was no useful footage from the day Amy died.
Todd testified that antennas connected to the system had been knocked down, possibly by cats seeking warmth near a window.
With little direct physical evidence tying Todd to the killing, prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and the timeline of events on the farm.
The Son Who Became a Key Witness
Trysten Mullis initially appeared to provide his father with an alibi because he told investigators the two had been working together.
Later, however, he acknowledged that there were periods when he could not see Todd.
Those gaps became an important part of the prosecution’s argument that Todd had time to leave the barn.
Now, years after the conviction, Trysten is publicly challenging the verdict and telling 48 Hours that he believes his father did not kill Amy.
“The Corn Rake Witness” airs Saturday, October 17 at 9/8c on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
48 Hours: The Detective & the Chewing Gum StingThe Corn Rake Witness October 17 2026
Forensic DNA has transformed murder investigations, but sometimes the greatest challenge is not analysing a genetic profile — it is obtaining the sample needed for comparison.
That dilemma sits at the heart of 48 Hours: “The Detective & the Chewing Gum Sting,” airing Saturday, October 17.
Correspondent Peter Van Sant examines how an inventive detective used a stick of chewing gum to help catch an elusive killer.
A Simple Object Becomes Investigative Evidence
Chewing gum hardly resembles conventional crime-scene evidence.
But after someone chews it, the gum can retain saliva and cells containing DNA.
If police can reliably connect a discarded piece of gum to a person under investigation, forensic testing may allow them to compare that genetic profile with evidence collected elsewhere.
That appears to be the key scientific idea behind Saturday’s investigation.
The Detective Behind the Sting
CBS’s title puts as much emphasis on the investigator as it does on the evidence.
Rather than simply calling the programme a DNA case, the network describes a sting, pointing to a deliberately planned effort to acquire the gum.
The detective’s identity and the precise mechanics of the operation have not yet been revealed in CBS’s advance material.
That makes the investigator’s strategy one of the key elements viewers will learn during the hour.
An Elusive Killer Finally Confronted
CBS describes the target as an elusive killer.
That wording suggests conventional investigative techniques had previously failed to produce the evidence required to close the case.
The gum ultimately became a route toward solving that problem.
Van Sant’s report will reconstruct how detectives reached the point where an everyday object could make the difference in a homicide investigation.
When to Watch
“The Detective & the Chewing Gum Sting” concludes 48 Hours’ two-hour Season 39 premiere night.
The first episode, “The Corn Rake Witness,” airs at 9/8c, followed by Van Sant’s investigation at 10/9c.
Both programmes are all-new and will stream on Paramount+.
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About 48 Hours
48 Hours is CBS’s award-winning true crime series, known for its compelling storytelling and in-depth investigations. Since its debut in 1988, the program has explored some of the nation’s most fascinating and complex criminal cases. Airing weekly, 48 Hours continues to deliver gripping reports, exclusive interviews, and updates on cases that capture national attention. This page provides the latest 48 Hours schedule so viewers always know what’s coming up next.
48 Hours has built its reputation on thorough investigative reporting, with correspondents including Erin Moriarty, Peter Van Sant, Troy Roberts, Natalie Morales, and others. The series covers a wide range of true crime stories, from unsolved mysteries and wrongful convictions to high-profile trials and breaking case updates.
The program has won numerous Emmy Awards and remains one of the most trusted true crime shows on television. Its combination of investigative journalism and human drama keeps audiences returning each week.
Weekly 48 Hours Schedule
48 Hours typically airs on Saturday nights at 10/9c on CBS, with episodes also available to stream on Paramount+ after broadcast. From time to time, encore episodes or special presentations may also air on additional nights.
The weekly schedule features brand-new investigations as well as updates to cases that continue to evolve. Each week brings viewers into the heart of real criminal cases, offering insight, interviews, and revelations.
Why Follow the 48 Hours Schedule?
True crime cases often unfold in real time, with new details surfacing even after an initial report. By following the schedule, viewers can catch the latest updates and never miss a new investigation.
Episodes of 48 Hours frequently become part of the national conversation, with stories that spark interest, debate, and sometimes even influence justice. Keeping track of the schedule ensures you stay ahead of the most talked-about cases in true crime television.
Conclusion
This guide provides the latest information on the 48 Hours schedule, including upcoming broadcasts and weekly episode details. With frequent updates, it ensures viewers always know when to tune in for the next gripping case. Bookmark this page to stay connected with one of television’s most respected and enduring true crime series.
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