New ’48 Hours’ Probes Bizarre Case

Ronald Malave had no idea what he was in for eight years ago when a new patient named Jane walked into his Orlando, Fla., psychiatry office. Jane’s eight personalities include Delilah, the budding journalist, and Vanessa, the foulmouthed street punk, but it was her seductive 16-year-old persona called Bridgette that got Malave into a world of trouble.

The bizarre case is examined in tonight’s premiere of “48 Hours Investigates” (8 p.m., CBS), a revamped version of “48 Hours” with Lesley Stahl replacing Dan Rather as anchor. Stahl will stay with “60 Minutes” as well.

Jane appears to switch personalities rapidly during interviews with correspondent Peter Van Sant and in courtroom highlights, but the tone of this series seems consistent with the old version as well as with that of several other TV newsmagazines: highbrow tabloid.

As it has since the 1988 debut of “48 Hours,” the show will focus on a single topic in each episode.

But as the name implies, it will feature more investigative work, according to CBS.

“You won’t see another spring break show like we had this year,” a network spokeswoman said.

In tonight’s episode, “A Crime of the Mind,” the producers hire independent DNA experts to re-analyze forensic evidence from the trial of Malave, who was acquitted of having sex with his patient. Malave said that Jane had a “fatal attraction” and that her various personas worked “in cahoots” to frame him.

By focusing on microscopic detail, the show indirectly raises questions about the use of DNA evidence in general. The evidence may be flawless, but the humans interpreting it are not.

Like some of the other magazine shows, “48 Hours Investigates” keeps you guessing, but tonight’s episode, at least, goes one better: It gets you thinking.