Ladies and gentlemen, the story you were about to hear is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Dragnet.

You're a detective sergeant.

You're assigned to homicide detail.

You get a call from a man who tells you his wife has failed to keep an appointment.

There's no trace of her.

There's evidence of foul play.

Your job?

Find her.

Dragnet.

The documented drama of an actual crime.

For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,

you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case

transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

It was Friday, August 7th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from missing persons, and it was 1. How'd they do? Well, they came up with a kid.

Where'd they find him?

The boyfriends. They were watching TV.

The missing youngster told his friend his mother knew he was there.

Uh-huh. Everything's all right, then, huh?

Yeah, I guess so. Graham said the kid's going to have to eat standing up for a few days.

You know, it's a funny thing about, parents. What do you mean? Thing like this happens and all they care about is getting their kids back. Uh-huh. After a while, they begin to think about it and get sore.

...