Dale Pike murder: Evidence photos in the case against Enrico Forti
Dale Pike. pictured, traveled to Miami from Ibiza, Spain, on Feb. 15, 1998. He was found murdered on a beach in Miami the next day.
At the time of Pike's death, Enrico Forti was negotiating to buy a hotel in Ibiza, Spain, owned by the victim's father. Dale Pike flew to Miami to discuss the deal.
"48 Hours" investigates the murder in "The Case Against Enrico Forti"
The Players
Dale was the son of Tony Pike, who owned a famous hotel in Ibiza. Pikes Hotel was once very popular with celebrities like Freddie Mercury and Julio Iglesias, and was the scene of wild parties.
The Players
Enrico Forti, an Italian television producer, picked Dale up at the Miami airport that night.
Deal Gone Wrong?
Dale Pike was coming to meet with Enrico Forti about a deal Forti had made to buy Pikes Hotel from Dale's father.
Murder on the Beach
A beachgoer on Virginia Key saw blood in the sand and found Dale Pike's body in the underbrush the next day. Pike had been shot twice in the back of the head with a .22.
Key Clues
A visa entry form and boarding pass found nearby on Virginia Key helped police identify the victim as Dale Pike.
Key Clues
Also found next to the body was a charm from Pikes Hotel in Ibiza, owned by Dale's father Tony Pike.
Key Clues
The third clue was a phone calling card. It had only been used to dial one number: Enrico Forti's.
Key Clues
Police also found Dale Pike's bloody shirt and his shoes nearby, but the murder weapon was never recovered.
Key Clues
Police also found Dale Pike's bloody shirt and his shoes nearby, but the murder weapon was never recovered.
Making a Connection
Enrico Forti initially denied picking Dale Pike up at the airport. But by checking the airport paging records, police were able to confirm the two had been in contact over the airport intercom system.
Making a Connection
Police also got Enrico Forti's cell phone records, and a call he made to his wife, Heather, seemed to indicate that he wasn't telling the truth about his whereabouts that night.
At the scene of the crime?
After police zeroed in on Enrico Forti as a suspect in Dale Pike's murder, they looked for physical evidence to tie him to the crime scene. They searched his car several times.
Crucial Physical Evidence
The third time police searched Enrico Forti's car, they said they found approximately a teaspoon of sand in the trailer hitch.
Crucial Physical Evidence
A local geology expert told police, and later testified, that the sand from Enrico Forti's trailer hitch matched the beach at Virginia Key, where Dale Pike's body was found.
Case Closed?
In June 2000, Enrico Forti was convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He has always denied any involvement in Dale Pike's murder, and is hoping to have his sentence commuted.
Another Suspect?
Enrico Forti says after picking Dale Pike up at the airport, he dropped him off at the Rusty Pelican restaurant, two miles from the crime scene. We had this sketch made from Forti's description of the man he says picked Dale up there.