Is it true on some segments that the real victims and family members take the roles in the re-enactments sometimes? I know unsolved mysteries usually used people who looked like victims/family members but I remember in some the real people replayed what happened.

That is true. In many cases the actual family members and police officials participated in recreating the events. :)

This didn't happen so much in the later years, but yes, the earliest seasons did use the actual real people in their re-enactments whenever it was possible. I always cite the Dave Davis case as the most shocking example where Shannon Mohr's parents actually play themselves in the hospital scene where they find out their daughter is dead and Dave insists that she be cremated.

I liked the trucker in the John Cheek segment. In the re-enactment he walks up, kicks "Cheek" while he's sleeping and immediately says, "You eat yet? Come on you're getting something to eat"...I've always found that moment pretty hilarious, he doesn't even give the guy a chance to respond. Granted the trucker didn't study at Juilliard but still.

Who remembers the exact quote? Wasn't it something like:

Whenever possible, the actual family members and police officials have participated in re-creating the events. What you are about to see is not a news broadcast."

Who remembers the exact quote? Wasn't it something like:

Whenever possible, the actual family members and police officials have participated in re-creating the events. What you are about to see is not a news broadcast."

That's pretty much it, though sometimes they would add "or a news documentary" onto the end.