The FBI on June 7 released 475 pages of documents revealing details of the 1994 O.J. Simpson homicide investigation, two months after the death of the controversial NFL and Hollywood star.
Mr. Simpson was tried for the murders of Mr. Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in a high-profile trial.
He was cleared of criminal charges in 1995, but was later found liable for the deaths in a civil suit brought by the families and was ordered to pay more than $30 million in restitution.
Mr. Simpson maintained his innocence until his death in April from prostate cancer at the age of 76.
The newly released files focus on the collection and testing of forensic evidence from the crime scene. This includes fiber and blood samples, as well as hair samples from Ms. Brown Simpson and Mr. Goldman.
The fibers in question were from the infamous white Ford Bronco that Mr. Simpson used to flee police in a live televised car chase, after being served arrest warrants.
Multiple pages also focused on a pair of luxury Italian Bruno Magli men’s shoes that were reportedly found at the crime scene. Authorities connected Mr. Simpson to the crime via these size 12 shoes.
The FBI further detailed its research into the manufacture and distribution of the shoes, a rare brand which investigators believe to have been worn by the murderer due to the distinct bloody footprints left at the scene.
The records include a visit to the designer factory in Italy, where investigators obtained shoe molds and soles to give to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Agents were also instructed to keep a low-profile, noting that “under no circumstance should the interviewing agents mention that this investigation concerns OJ Simpson or the homicide investigation in Los Angeles, California.”
Meanwhile, during deposition tapes prior to the civil trial, Mr. Simpson testified, “I know that Bruno Magli makes shoes that look like the shoes they had in court that’s involved with this case, I would have never worn those ugly-ass shoes.”
Also included in the files, were rambling notes written by an individual claiming to have had premonitions of the murders. The letters were addressed to the FBI and were sent during the month of the crimes.
“I can’t sleep at night. The dreams that I have, where pieces of the puzzle fall into place. And the ultimate dream that the killer is still out there and is after me,” reads one excerpt.
The FBI publicly releases records it maintains on individuals after they die, although some names throughout the documents have been redacted.
Due to the widespread coverage of the case, the FBI sent out an internal memo at the time in hopes of keeping its investigation under wraps.
“Due to the intense media interest in captioned matter, and the potential prejudicial impact that public dissemination could have on pending criminal proceedings, the following information should be handled on a strict need to know basis, and should not be disseminated outside the FBI. Any media inquiries should be directed to the Los Angeles Police Department.”
The trial, often dubbed as one of the most famous trials of the past century, drew worldwide attention and spectacle, during which federal investigators testified that Mr. Simpson’s shoe size matched the shoe that made the print at the crime scene, but he was ultimately found not guilty.
Despite being acquitted of the murders, the former Buffalo Bills running back-turned-actor was arrested for armed robbery in 2008 and served nine years in prison.
It’s unclear if the FBI intends to release more documents, as the first tranche was labeled “part one.”
