He was working with Hard Copy, a television news magazine program that ran from 1989 to 1999 and that covered true crime and celebrity stories.

His professional interest in the case was not purely personal — Hard Copy was interested in the story because of its obvious dramatic dimensions.

But Parker brought a specific kind of analytical skepticism to the case that the official channels had not applied.

He looked at photographs.

He looked carefully.

The specific forensic technique he applied — comparing ear morphology — is grounded in genuine scientific evidence.

The external ear — the pinna — develops its specific three-dimensional shape during fetal development, shaped by genetic factors.