Telltale Tracks

The episode 'Telltale Tracks' from the podcast 'Forensic Files' investigates the 1996 murder of 22-year-old Amy Willard, whose car was found abandoned on Route 476 in Philadelphia with the engine running and no driver in sight. Clues at the scene—including blood spatter, a tire iron, and a tire impression—pointed to a violent attack, but initial suspects like Andrew Kobach were ruled out. A year after Amy’s death, a series of new leads emerged when another woman reported an attempted carjacking by a man matching the description of Arthur Bomar, a convicted murderer with a history of violence against women. Bomar, who had been released from prison after serving 11 years for a 1978 murder, was eventually linked to the case through a stolen Honda and a hidden identity. Forensic breakthroughs were pivotal: DNA from the rape kit matched Bomar, a Firestone 440 tire from his Ford Escort matched the tire impression at the crime scene, and a distinctive X-and-O pattern on the car’s oil pan matched an unusual burn mark on Amy’s body. Further investigation revealed that Bomar had also abducted and murdered Maria Cabuenos, whose remains were found nearby. Bomar was convicted of first-degree murder and rape and sentenced to death, described by investigators as a remorseless predator whose own actions provided the final, damning evidence.