The FBI has released nearly 500 pages of documents related to the investigation of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, offering a glimpse into the bureau’s role in the infamous case. The documents were released two months after O.J. Simpson’s death.

The investigation centered on O.J. Simpson as a suspect from the outset. While Simpson was ultimately acquitted in a highly publicized criminal trial, he was found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33 million to the victims’ families.

The newly released documents focus heavily on the forensic evidence examined during the investigation, with a significant portion dedicated to the FBI’s pursuit of a key piece of evidence: Bruno Magli-style shoes in size 12. An FBI expert testified at the criminal trial that bloody shoe prints found at the crime scene matched the size and style of Bruno Magli shoes, and that these shoes were consistent with Simpson’s shoe size. Simpson, however, denied ever wearing Bruno Magli shoes during his civil trial testimony, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

The released records detail the FBI’s efforts to connect Simpson to a Bruno Magli purchase, including contacting numerous stores that sold the brand and sending an agent to Italy for further investigation. Initially, agents were instructed to keep the purpose of their inquiries confidential, but this directive was later lifted. One documented instruction reads: “ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE STORE PERSONNEL THAT THIS MATTER CONCERNS CAPTIONED INVESTIGATION AND ASK IF THE STORE HAS ANY RECORDS OR RECOLLECTION THAT O J SIMPSON SHOPPED THERE.”

O.J. Simpson was later convicted on unrelated charges of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas and served time in a Nevada prison. Following his release, he remained in Las Vegas until his death at the age of 76.

Source: News3LV