Forensic (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Reuben Elias became a prime suspect after an eyewitness reported seeing a boy disposing of a body near the crime scenes. His profile matched the forensic analysis, someone who could slip through a 4-foot tunnel but not climb over a 5-foot wall, and someone who could blend in with groups of children. Additionally, Dr. Jayakumar Menon confirmed that Reuben had been his patient years earlier with documented murderous tendencies, making him appear to fit the psychological profile investigators were building.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show investigators analyzing the killer's physical capabilities, leading them to conclude the perpetrator was a child.

• reuben elias
• child killer
• suspect
• serial killer investigation

Alphonse, a clinical psychologist, used his professional position to manipulate Reuben, who had pre-existing mental health issues. Through what appears to be a hearing aid device, Alphonse planted instructions and signals that caused Reuben to carry out actions while believing he was acting on his own impulses. Reuben was essentially a puppet, killing and abducting on Alphonse's command while the real mastermind remained hidden behind a child's façade.

Foreshadowing: Samuel notices the inquest footage of Reuben's 'confession' looks coerced, hinting at external manipulation.

• alphonse
• reuben
• manipulation
• hearing aid
• mastermind

Alphonse underwent a bone marrow transplant which gave him two distinct DNA profiles, the original one and that of his donor. This dual DNA allowed him to appear as both himself and another person during the murders, making it appear that two different people were responsible. The Burma Colony murders from ten years earlier matched one DNA profile, while current murders matched another, creating the illusion of a copycat or separate killer.

Foreshadowing: Samuel's earlier conversations with Shikha hint that Alphonse's two DNA profiles could be the key to the mystery.

• dual dna
• bone marrow transplant
• alphonse
• dna match
• burma colony

Alphonse's transformation began in childhood when his father violently punished him for hiding animal organs under his bed, an early sign of his disturbed psychology. As an adult, after learning he had blood cancer and becoming the father of Naveen, Alphonse developed a burning desire for revenge against society and the professionals who had failed to address his psychological issues. His cold case from ten years earlier and his son's health became catalysts for his killing spree.

Foreshadowing: The opening prologue shows the young boy stealing organs and being beaten by his father, establishing his traumatic origins.

• alphonse motive
• revenge
• childhood trauma
• blood cancer
• serial killer origins

In the final showdown, Samuel and Alphonse fought in a car in a remote forested area. During the confrontation, Samuel forcibly unbuckled Alphonse's seat belt, causing the car to crash and resulting in Alphonse's death. Samuel later revealed this action during the inquiry, acknowledging he had crossed moral boundaries in pursuit of justice. This act marked a significant moral turning point for Samuel, whose ethical lines had blurred throughout the intense investigation.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the investigation, Samuel shows increasingly ruthless methods, setting up his willingness to take extreme action.

• samuel
• alphonse
• car crash
• death
• seat belt
• final confrontation

The Burma Colony murders were a decade-old serial killing case that Alphonse had committed before the events of the film. When retired officer Abdul Wahab ran DNA analyses, the results linked the current murders to these earlier killings, revealing that the same person was responsible for both sets of crimes. This connection helped investigators realize they were dealing with one mastermind rather than a copycat killer.

Foreshadowing: Rithika's early career was involved in the original Burma Colony case, adding personal stakes to the investigation.

• burma colony
• cold case
• dna match
• decade old case
• serial murders

Ubaid Ahmed was arrested when a body was found on his school bus route, and initial evidence seemed to point to him as the killer. However, he was proven innocent when another victim was abducted and killed while he was in police custody, definitively establishing that someone else was responsible. The framing was part of Alphonse's elaborate scheme to misdirect the investigation and protect himself.

Foreshadowing: The investigation purposely follows false leads, demonstrating Alphonse's manipulation of police procedures.

• ubaid ahmed
• bus driver
• wrong arrest
• innocent
• frame up

Samuel identified key physical constraints that pointed to a child perpetrator: the killer could squeeze through a narrow 4-foot tunnel at crime scenes but could not climb over a 5-foot wall to escape. Additionally, the killer's ability to blend seamlessly into crowds of children suggested someone of similar age. This analysis shifted the investigation's focus from adult suspects to a juvenile perpetrator, before the deeper twist of manipulation was revealed.

Foreshadowing: Samuel's forensic expertise drives the initial theory that changes the entire direction of the case.

• forensic evidence
• child killer
• tunnel
• wall
• physical constraints
• samuel

Rithika's estranged husband Xavier was the brother of forensic analyst Samuel John Kattookkaran, creating professional tension throughout the case. Despite their personal history, Rithika relied heavily on Samuel's expertise to solve the complex murders. This dynamic added emotional weight to the investigation and ultimately contributed to reconciliation between Rithika and Xavier as they worked together to save Navya.

Foreshadowing: The strained family relationship is established early, with Samuel's assignment to the case creating immediate friction.

• ritika
• xavier
• samuel
• family conflict
• estranged husband
• brother

Navya was abducted by Alphonse as part of his scheme to manipulate the investigation and pressure the police. Rithika and Xavier finally located her within a narrow radius of Ubaid's last known location, allowing the team to rescue her. With Alphonse dead and the mastermind's plan collapsed, Navya's safety became the primary focus of the final operations, though the trauma of her ordeal remained.

Foreshadowing: Alphonse uses Navya's safety as leverage, forcing the investigation into a tense game ofcat and mouse.

• navya
• abduction
• rescue
• alphonse
• hostage