Enrico Forti

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48 HOURS: “The Case Against Enrico Forti” was Saturday’s #1 non-sports primetime program with viewers, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Saturday, May 4. The broadcast delivered 3.01 million viewers and a 0.5/02 with adults 25-54, the demographic that matters most to those who advertise in news.

Saturday’s broadcast featured Erin Moriarty and 48 HOURS’ investigation into the case against Enrico Forti, a former windsurfing champion and Italian television producer who had contracts with ESPN, and who sits in a Florida prison serving out a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. The report raised serious questions about whether the right man is in prison for a homicide and whether a shooter is still out there.

Forti was convicted in 2000 of killing Dale Pike and leaving his body on a quiet Miami beach. Forti was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His attorney said there is no forensic evidence linking Forti to the murder. There was, however, less than a teaspoon of sand that prosecutors said was from the crime scene and linked to Forti. At the time of Pike’s death, Forti was negotiating to buy a hotel in Ibiza, Spain, owned by the victim’s father, Tony. Dale Pike and his brother, Brad, felt Pikes Hotel was worth millions more than their father was asking. Dale Pike flew to Miami to discuss the deal. Forti met him at the airport.

Pike was later shot twice in the back of the head and left on a Miami beach. Forti was immediately a suspect because he was the last known person to see Pike alive. And Forti lied to police about picking Pike up at the airport.

Moriarty and 48 HOURS investigate the death of Dale Pike and the path that led Forti to prison through interviews with Dale Pike’s brother Brad, Forti’s attorney Joe Tacopina, Forti, Forti’s friends and others. 48 HOURS also spoke with a juror who does not believe Forti helped or killed Pike even though she helped convict him. Moreover, 48 HOURS also reported on new information that revealed the case against Forti was weak.

48 HOURS: “The Case Against Enrico Forti” is produced by Paul LaRosa, Murray Weiss and Sabina Castelfranco. Dena Goldstein is the field producer. Jud Johnston, Michael McHugh , Gregory McLaughlin and Michael Vele are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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