Dixfield police Chief Richard Pickett will be featured in an episode of “Forensic Files” on Tru-TV in February. He will talk about his investigation into the 1994 murder of Crystal Perry in Bridgton. DNA evidence led to the conviction of her killer in 2007.

DIXFIELD — Police Chief Richard Pickett was filmed Tuesday for a cable TV show about his investigation into the brutal rape and murder of Crystal Perry at her Bridgton home in 1994.

The former Maine State Police detective’s story about how science led to the conviction of Perry’s killer in 2007 will air on “Forensic Files” on the truTV cable channel in February.

Featuring the Perry case shows how successful investigations can be, Pickett said.

At the time of the 30-year-old mother’s murder, hundreds of leads were followed but no
strong suspect found. Evidence, including physical material such as blood and other body fluids, clothing and household items, and their locations and patterns at the scene were collected and recorded.

Years later, the state began
collecting DNA samples on anyone convicted of a felony. Officials discovered that Michael Hutchinson’s DNA matched the samples taken from Perry’s house. Hutchinson, 19 years old in 1994, lived near Perry’s home at the time of her killing. He eventually was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

“I’m glad people realize there are some good things happening in police work,” Pickett said.

It was the application of science in the investigation that led the cable show to Pickett and others involved in the
case. The former detective was interviewed by reporter Vince Sherry in Augusta in the fall and filmed last week by cameraman Reginald Groff of Portland.

The Perry case was also the subject of the cable show “Suburban Secrets” a few years ago. Pickett was part of that, as well.

“It’s very interesting to see what they do and how much work they do,”
he said of the filmmakers during the first program on the crime.

Both shows are part of truTV, which was formerly called Court TV.

Pickett retired from the state police in 1998 and has been Dixfield’s police chief for the past 12 years.

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