20 Years Ago: OJ Chase Began

It's been 20 years since OJ Simpson sat face down in the back seat of a white bronco with a gun to his head. Watch the historic footage here as it happened 20 years ago today.

The WORLD watched as 'The Juice' ran from police in conjunction with the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.  OJ was face down with a loaded gun in one hand to his temple and a phone in the other talking with L.A.P.D.  OJ's former teammate and long time friend, A.C. Cowlings, was driving the famous white bronco.  This WAS and probably WILL be the most watched and remembered chase in history.

TRIAL FACT:  Did you know this was the beginning stages of DNA evidence being used in trials? Did you also know that DNA evidence indicated a 1 in 57 billion chance that blood found at the murder scene was not OJ Simpsons.

Watch as it happened on CNN below.  Pay close attention to the people and fans lining the streets.  This was also after the Rodney King trial and L.A. Riots.  The city was already on edge and President Bill Clinton was being advised of the situation.  You will see how people were captivated.  I remember serving on board the USS Sacramento watching things unfold in our living areas.

Part 2 of the OJ saga was the trial.  This gained more audience than the Superbowl and was considered a modern day, live soap opera.  You might think that's odd considering news today and how it's covered.  Not in 1994.  The OJ Trial was called, "The Trial Of The Century."

"The OJ Simpson trial was for legal TV what Wrestlemaina was for sports entertainment. It engaged millions of people across the globe. It jump-started the careers of many legal correspondents, and as a producer, it was one of the most exciting times in history to be working in television,” - Mark Goldman, former producer for Court TV Radio, told Fox411

OJ Simpson would be found not guilty in October 1995.  The verdict was just as much satisfying for some viewers as it was shocking for others.  This went from a murder trial to a racial prosecution of the L.A.P.D.  You have to remember the timing of the OJ trial.  It's just years after a jury deadlocked 8-4 and 5 officers were acquitted for beating Rodney King in the streets of L.A.

TRIAL FACT:  Did you know 95 million viewers tuned in to watch what some called, "Slow Speed" chase?  Did you also know that one of OJ's lawyers was a Kardashian?

I spoke with 580 KIDO's Morning Personality, Kevin Miller, who covered the verdict live on WMVU in New Hampshire,

We were blindsided by the verdict.  It was the first time you saw instant emotion and reaction from an event that was happening in real time.  It was a trial divided by race and was raw...

OJ would later be convicted in the civil trial, but wouldn't serve time.  According to ABC News, The court found OJ liable for both deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 Million dollars to the victims families.

TRIAL FACT:  Did you know Domino Pizza reported record sales during the famous white bronco chase?

Simpson would later find himself in trouble with the law again and this time there wouldn't be a "not guilty" verdict.  He's currently serving behind bars for armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges stemming from the retrieval of his football memorabilia from 2 collectible vendors in a Vegas hotel room.