The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 1, Episode 4 - The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade - full transcript

Are you wondering how healthy the food you are eating is? Check it - foodval.com
---
WELL, THIS HAS BEEN
AN EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ALL OF US.

WE'LL GET ON TO OUR ONE
AND ONLY STORY.

Parameter 56 at this time.

SEVEN PEOPLE ARE DEAD.
THE COMMUNITY IS IN SHOCK.

I HEARD SOME VOICES.
THEN I HEARD ONE GUNSHOT.

WHAT MURPHY MUST HAVE HEARD

WAS THE BEGINNING
OF A TRAIL OF KILLINGS.

I'LL NEVER FORGET
WHAT I SAW THAT MORNING.

IT -- IT'S BURNED IN MY BRAIN
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THERE'S NO ONE LEFT
IN THIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

THIS FAMILY IS GONE.



THE BIG QUESTION WAS,
WHO DID IT?

IT SICKENED ME.
NOBODY COULD BELIEVE IT.

SEPTEMBER 25, 1987,
IS A DARK DAY

IN THE HISTORY
OF WEBSTER COUNTY.

JUST SAY NO.

WELCOME TO THE DECADE
WHEN BAD IS GOOD...

WHEN HIGH-TECH MEETS HIGH ART

AND LIVING THE HIGH LIFE
IS ALL THE RAGE.

BUT THERE'S A DARK SIDE TO 1987,

A CRACK EPIDEMIC.

AND VIOLENCE IS CHANGING
AMERICA'S CITIES.

I JUST WANT TO SHAKE
SOME SENSE INTO YOU KIDS.

LIFE IS DIFFERENT
IN THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND.

HARDWORKING FOLKS IN SMALL TOWNS



STILL PREFER THE SIMPLE LIFE,

A GOOD HARVEST,

QUIET COUNTRY LIVING,
AND LOUD ROCK 'N' ROLL.

IN THE HEART OF THE HEARTLAND
IS ELKLAND, MISSOURI.

ELKLAND'S A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY
LOCATED IN WEBSTER COUNTY,

AROUND 200 PEOPLE,
MOSTLY FARMERS.

THE PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY WAS THE DAIRY FARMING.

ELKLAND WAS A COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE

WHO KNEW EACH OTHER
THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

IN THE 1980s,
I WAS LIVING IN ELKLAND.

IT HAS THREE LITTLE STORES,
POST OFFICE,

LOTS OF SMALL FARMS.

YOU KNEW WHO LIVED
IN EVERY HOUSE.

THEY WERE GOOD
CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S

BEST-KNOWN FAMILIES
IS THE BUCKNERS.

THE BUCKNER FAMILY
WERE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY WERE CLEAN PEOPLE.
THEY WERE HARD WORKERS.

FOR THE BUCKNERS,

EVERY DAY STARTS WITH BREAKFAST
JUST BEFORE DAWN.

THE SON OF A RESPECTED
DAIRY FARMER,

STEVE BUCKNER BOUGHT
HIS OWN FARM BACK IN 1979

AND MARRIED HIS HIGH-SCHOOL
SWEETHEART, JAN.

STEVE WAS A GOOD GUY.

EVERYBODY LIKED HIM,
HE WAS REAL LIKABLE.

HIS WIFE, I KNEW HER FAMILY.

SHE'D COME TO TOWN ONCE
IN A WHILE WITH THE KIDS.

THEIR FOUR SONS
HELP OUT ON THE FARM.

NONE OF THEM WORKS HARDER
THAN THE BUCKNER'S OLDEST SON,

14-YEAR-OLD KIRK.

KIRK WAS FRIENDLY.
HE WAS A SUPER NICE KID.

WHATEVER THERE WAS TO BE DONE,

KIRK WAS THERE
GIVING IT HIS BEST.

HE LOVED HIS MOM AND HE
TOOK CARE OF HIS BROTHERS.

John Cougar Mellencamp...

JUST UP THE ROAD,
STEVE BUCKNER'S SISTER, JULIE,

LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND,
JIM SCHNICK,

ON THEIR OWN DAIRY FARM.

THE COUPLE HAS BEEN
MARRIED FOR 11 YEARS.

BORN AND RAISED
IN WEBSTER COUNTY,

JIM AND JULIE ARE NOW
RAISING THEIR TWO KIDS HERE.

WE MET THROUGH
A CATTLE ORGANIZATION

THAT WE BOTH BELONGED TO,

FINALLY BLOSSOMED INTO US
GETTING MARRIED.

JIM WAS A GOOD FRIEND.
SHE WAS A GOOD FRIEND.

THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY WERE STRONG,
INDEPENDENT PEOPLE,

SALT-OF-THE-EARTH-TYPE PEOPLE.

FOR YEARS,
THE SCHNICKS AND BUCKNERS LIVE

THE AMERICAN DREAM
LIKE THEIR PARENTS BEFORE THEM.

THEN, IN THE MID-'80s,
THINGS CHANGE,

AND THE LIFE THEY'VE
ALWAYS KNOWN FACES

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

WE'RE THREATENED
WITH AN ECONOMIC CALAMITY

OF TREMENDOUS PROPORTIONS.

AS THE ECONOMY SLOWS
TO A HALT...

THE HIGH BIDDER IS THE BUYER.

...AMERICAN FARMERS
ARE IN CRISIS.

WE WERE DOING A LOT
OF AGRICULTURE STORIES.

AND THEY WERE NEVER
POSITIVE STORIES.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT FARMERS
LOSING THEIR FARMS.

INTEREST RATES
ARE EXTREMELY HIGH.

SO IT WAS HARD TO BORROW MONEY.

AND IF YOU DID,
IT WAS HARDER TO PAY IT BACK.

IT WAS JUST HARD
TO MAKE A LIVING.

FARMLAND VALUES
PLUMMET AS MUCH AS 50%.

BY 1985, 250 FARMERS ARE
LOSING THEIR FARMS EVERY DAY.

CELEBRITIES RALLY
THE PUBLIC WITH FARM AID,

AND THEY TESTIFY
BEFORE CONGRESS.

PEOPLE OUT THERE,
THE FARMERS OF THIS COUNTRY,

ARE DROPPING OUT,
DROPPING LIKE FLIES.

AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE
DONE TO SAVE THEM.

THE BUCKNER FAMILY IS
AMONG THOSE HIT ESPECIALLY HARD.

BY AUGUST 1987,

STEVE HAS FALLEN TWO YEARS
BEHIND IN HIS MORTGAGE.

THE DAIRIES WERE
ALL SHUTTING DOWN.

NOBODY WAS MAKING
A VERY GOOD LIVING.

BUT HE WAS PROBABLY
GONNA LOSE HIS FARM.

WITH NO MONEY FOR EXTRA HELP
ON THE FARM,

STEVE IS LEANING HEAVILY
ON 14-YEAR-OLD KIRK.

KIRK WAS OUT EVERY
MORNING AT THE CRACK OF DAWN,

DOING WHATEVER HE COULD.

KIRK SLEPT OUTSIDE.

THERE WAS A CAMPER SHELL
OFF OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.

AND HE SLEPT
IN THAT CAMPER SHELL.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS NOT
IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING MY FARM.

IT WAS TIGHT. I'LL SAY THAT.

AND I COULD GET ALONG
WITH MOST ANYBODY.

AND I HELPED MOST ANYBODY.

AT FIRST, JIM HAS NO PROBLEM

LENDING STEVE
HIS FARM EQUIPMENT.

BUT AS STEVE STRUGGLES
TO KEEP HIS FARM GOING,

HE STARTS TAKING EQUIPMENT
WITHOUT PERMISSION.

YOU COULD SEE IT
JUST WASN'T A GOOD SITUATION

THAT THEY WAS IN.

STEVE DOESN'T SEEM
TO HAVE THE DRIVE

AND DISCIPLINE NECESSARY
TO KEEP HIS FARM.

INSTEAD, HE DEPENDS
ON OTHERS,

LIKE KIRK AND JAN,
TO DO MOST OF THE WORK.

HIS RELIANCE ON JIM'S GENEROSITY
ONLY CAUSES TENSION

BETWEEN THE ONCE-CLOSE
BROTHERS-IN-LAW.

AND EVENTUALLY,
IT'S THE STRAW

THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK.

OVER THE YEARS,
IT HAD MOUNTED UP.

AND, IT HAD
JUST GOT TO THE POINT

THAT IT WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS.

I JUST SEPARATED MYSELF.

AFTER YEARS OF STRAIN,

THESE FAMILY TIES
ARE BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR.

IT'S 7:50 A. M., AND KIRK BUCKNER
IS ALREADY EXHAUSTED.

HE FINISHES HIS MORNING WORK
ON THE FARM,

BOARDS THE BUS FOR SCHOOL.

AND EIGHT LONG HOURS LATER,
THE SAME BUS TAKES HIM HOME.

KIRK, HE WAS A COURTEOUS,
POLITE TEENAGER,

AND I DISTINCTLY
REMEMBER KIRK BUCKNER

AND HIS SIBLINGS
GETTING OFF THE BUS THAT DAY.

ABOUT 4:30 IN THE EVENING,
I REMEMBER HIM TURNING

AND FACING ME AND SMILING.

I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST
PEOPLE TO SEE HIM ALIVE.

Webster County 911,
where is your emergency?

- Star route 1.
- What's going on?

I've been shot!

THE CALL IS COMING
FROM THE SCHNICK FARM.

THE VOICE IS JIM SCHNICK'S.

POLICE SPEED TO THE SCENE...

...AND SLOWLY
APPROACH THE HOUSE.

JIM IS ALIVE BUT INCOHERENT.

HE APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN SHOT IN THE LEG

AND IS BLEEDING FROM
A STAB WOUND IN HIS STOMACH.

BUT THE GRISLY DISCOVERIES
HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN.

UPSTAIRS, POLICE FIND
JIM'S WIFE, JULIE SCHNICK...

...SHOT TO DEATH
WHILE SHE SLEPT.

ASLEEP IN THEIR ROOM,
THE SCHNICK CHILDREN,

8- YEAR-OLD JAMIE

AND 6-YEAR-OLD MINDY,
HAVE BEEN SPARED.

NOT TOO FAR FROM JIM,
THERE'S ONE MORE VICTIM.

KIRK BUCKNER'S BODY
WAS LYING IN THE HALLWAY.

THERE ARE KNIFE AND
BULLET WOUNDS IN KIRK'S CHEST,

ANOTHER BULLET IN HIS NECK,

AND IN HIS RIGHT HAND,
A HANDGUN.

IT WAS HORRIFIC.
IT WAS JUST A HORRIFIC SCENE.

EVERYBODY WAS TRYING
TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED HERE?

POLICE TRY TO QUESTION JIM,

BUT HE'S UNABLE
TO ANSWER CLEARLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
JUST FROM THE INJURIES.

BUT THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME

THERE THAT I CANNOT

TELL YOU REALLY
WHAT WENT ON THERE.

BARELY CONSCIOUS,
JIM IS AIRLIFTED

TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL.

UNSURE OF HOW THESE TERRIBLE
CRIMES CAME TO PASS,

THE SHERIFF HAS A GRIM TASK,

TO REPORT KIRK'S DEATH

TO HIS FAMILY,
THE BUCKNERS.

THE SHERIFF AND HIS DEPUTY
STEEL THEMSELVES

TO DELIVER THE NEWS.

BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVE,

THE BUCKNER HOUSE
IS EERILY QUIET.

SOMETHING HERE IS WRONG,
DEAD WRONG.

THE SHERIFF WAS
WATCHING IN FRONT OF HIS EYES,

SOMETHING THAT HE NEVER
THOUGHT IN HIS LIFE

HE WOULD SEE -- BLOOD.

BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

WEBSTER COUNTY, MISSOURI.

SHERIFFS JUST RESPONDED
TO A MULTIPLE HOMICIDE

ON JIM SCHNICK'S FARM,

AN ATTACK THAT'S LEFT
JIM WOUNDED AND HIS WIFE

AND HIS 14-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW,
KIRK BUCKNER, DEAD.

NOW, DEPUTIES HAVE ARRIVED
AT THE BUCKNER FARM

TO BREAK THE NEWS
TO KIRK'S FAMILY.

BUT NO ONE ANSWERS THE BELL.

IT'S A VERY SMALL,
LITTLE HOUSE.

THE CHILDREN SLEPT KIND OF
IN THE VERY FRONT AREA.

AND FROM THE DOOR,
A COUPLE OF THE DEPUTIES

COULD SEE WHAT YOU
NEVER IN YOUR LIFE

WANTED TO OR COULD BELIEVE
THAT YOU'D SEE...

...BLOOD, BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

KIRK BUCKNER'S
THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS,

ALL DEAD, SHOT EXECUTION STYLE,

TWO WHILE THEY SLEPT
IN THEIR BEDS,

THE 2-YEAR-OLD IN HIS PLAYPEN.

IT WAS A HORRIFIC CRIME,
INNOCENT CHILDREN MURDERED.

THE BABIES HAD -- HAD JUST
BEEN KILLED COLD-BLOODED.

STEVE AND JAN ARE
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

HORRIFIED, THE POLICE SEARCH
THE BUCKNER PROPERTY.

BEFORE LONG,
THEY FIND KIRK'S MOTHER,

JAN, OUTSIDE THE MILK BARN.

JAN BUCKNER WAS SHOT SQUARE
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

BUT THERE'S STILL
ONE FAMILY MEMBER

WHO HASN'T BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.

WHERE'S STEVE?
NOBODY KNOWS WHERE STEVE IS.

EVERYBODY WAS ACCOUNTED
FOR BUT STEVE.

RIGHT AWAY,
POLICE LAUNCH A MANHUNT

FOR THE BOYS' FATHER,
STEVE BUCKNER.

COULD HE BE ANOTHER VICTIM?
OR IS HE THE KILLER?

THERE WAS GOING THROUGH
PEOPLE'S MINDS THE POSSIBILITY

THAT STEVE MIGHT'VE
COMMITTED THE CRIMES.

EVERYONE WAS THERE BUT STEVE.

IT WAS CHAOS.
IT WAS JUST CHAOS.

THEY WENT AFTER STEVE,
LOOKING FOR HIM IN THE FIELDS.

WHERE'S STEVE?

AS POLICE TRACK
THE POTENTIAL KILLER,

FORENSICS TEAMS GET TO WORK
AT BOTH THE SCHNICK

AND THE BUCKNER FARMS.

JIM SCHNICK'S OVERALLS
HE WAS WEARING

AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING
HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF OF HIM,

CUT OFF OF HIM, AND SENT
TO THE CRIME LAB FOR ANALYSIS.

THEY COLLECTED THE KNIFE

AND THE.22-CALIBER SIX-SHOT
REVOLVER

FOUND IN KIRK'S RIGHT HAND.

THEY TAKE SAMPLES
OF BLANKETS AND CLOTHING.

THEY INTERVIEW NEIGHBORS,

ONE WHO HEARD VOICES
AND A GUNSHOT

COMING FROM THE BUCKNER FARM
AT 4:55 A. M.

BUT NONE OF THE EVIDENCE
AMOUNTS TO A COMPELLING LEAD.

THE CORONER ARRIVES.

THE LOCAL PRESS SOON FOLLOWS.

YOU COULD SEE THE SADNESS,

THE DISBELIEF ON ALL THOSE FACES
WANTING TO KNOW,

HOW ON EARTH COULD
THIS HAVE HAPPENED?

THE KILLINGS STARTED HERE

ON A FAMILY FARM
EAST OF ELKLAND.

INSIDE THE SMALL TOWN'S
ONLY STORE,

SOME PEOPLE WERE HEARING
THE NEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WELL, THAT WAS A SHOCK
BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW,

THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T USUALLY
HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS.

AND, I'VE LIVED HERE
FOR 22 YEARS.

AND IT'S JUST --
IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY.

AND I KNEW EVERY ONE OF THEM,

SEEN THEM EVERY DAY
OR TWO AROUND HERE.

PITIFUL.
- PEOPLE WERE IN SO MUCH SHOCK.

NO ONE COULD BELIEVE THAT THIS
HAD HAPPENED IN THEIR TOWN.

THEN, LATER THAT AFTERNOON,

POLICE SPOT SOMETHING HALFWAY

BETWEEN THE BUCKNER
AND SCHNICK FARMS.

WE HEARD ABOUT A BODY
OUT NEAR THE CEMETERY AREA.

IT'S STEVE BUCKNER.

HAD HE TAKEN HIS OWN LIFE?

THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY NO.

STEVE BUCKNER WAS SHOT SQUARE
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD TWICE.

HE'D BEEN
DRUG UP INTO THE BRUSH,

ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE TRAGEDY.

IT KIND OF ALL CAME TOGETHER
THAT THE ENTIRE BUCKNER FAMILY

HAD BEEN KILLED,
AN ENTIRE FAMILY WIPED OUT.

WHO COULD HAVE
DONE THIS AND WHY?

THE DAY AFTER THE MURDERS,

THE SCHNICK CHILDREN ARE SAFE
WITH JULIE'S PARENTS.

AND WHILE JIM'S INJURIES
AREN'T LIFE-THREATENING,

HIS LIFE IS SHATTERED.

I DON'T REMEMBER MUCH
OF ANYTHING UP AT THE HOSPITAL.

I DON'T THINK I REALLY
ACCEPTED THE FACT

THAT MY WIFE WAS GONE,

THAT SHE WAS GONNA SHOW UP
BY MY BEDSIDE

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

POLICE ARE FINALLY
ABLE TO QUESTION JIM

AND GET HIS STORY.

JIM SAID HE HAD
GOTTEN UP EARLY THAT MORNING

TO CHECK ON A COW
THAT WAS DUE TO CALVE.

AS HE WAS COMING BACK
INTO THE HOUSE YARD,

HE SAW SOME FLASHES.

HE SAW A SHADOWY FORM
NEAR THE FRONT DOOR.

HE SAW A FLASH.

HE WAS SHOT IN THE LEG.
HE PICKED UP THE KNIFE.

AND HE CHARGED DOWN THE HALLWAY

AND HAD A FIGHT
WITH THIS SHADOW.

THEY GRAPPLED OVER THE GUN
AND WITH THE KNIFE.

HE REMEMBERS STABBING
WITH THE KNIFE.

AND EVENTUALLY,
THIS SHADOWY FIGURE IS QUIET.

THE SHADOWY FIGURE
IS JIM'S NEPHEW KIRK BUCKNER.

POLICE NOW PUT TOGETHER
A THEORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

THIS IS THE BUCKNER HOME

WHERE POLICE THINK
14-YEAR-OLD KIRK BUCKNER

BEGAN HIS MURDER RAMPAGE.

POLICE FOUND THE BODY
OF THEIR MOTHER, JAN,

OUT BACK BY A BARN

AND THE BODY OF FATHER
STEVE BUCKNER

A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY.

WE DON'T KNOW
WHETHER HE WAS KILLED

AT THE HOME AND DRIVEN

AND DUMPED OUT ALONG THE ROAD

OR JUST WHAT HAPPENED.

THEN, POLICE SAY, KIRK SHOT

HIS TWO BROTHERS
ASLEEP IN THEIR BEDS

AND THE 2-YEAR-OLD
IN HIS PLAYPEN.

WHEN THE SHOOTING ENDED HERE,
POLICE BELIEVE KIRK BUCKNER

DROVE DOWN THE ROAD FIVE MILES
TO HIS AUNT'S HOUSE.

THAT'S WHERE
THE VIOLENCE CONTINUED.

NEWS TEAM 33's LISA EISENHART
HAS MORE ON THAT.

KIRK BUCKNER DROVE HIS TRUCK
INTO THE SCHNICK'S YARD,

THEN MADE HIS WAY UP
TO THE HOUSE WHERE JAMIE,

MINDY, AND MRS. SCHNICK
WERE ASLEEP INSIDE.

THAT WAS MY FIRST
WEEK ON THE JOB AT KSPR TV.

SO IT -- IT --
IT WAS A HARD DAY.

THROUGHOUT THE MORNING,

STUDENTS HEARD OF
THE MULTIPLE DEATHS,

THE POSSIBILITY THEIR CLASSMATE
WAS RESPONSIBLE.

APPARENTLY, THE FAMILY FARM

HAD BEEN GOING DOWNHILL
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

CLOSEST FRIENDS SUSPECT

THAT MAY BE ONE REASON
WHY KIRK BUCKNER

WAS ACTING STRANGELY
AS RECENTLY AS LAST NIGHT.

A YOUNG TEENAGE BOY
IN A DEPRESSED FARMING AREA

GOES ON A RAMPAGE
AND KILLS HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

BUT THE QUESTION ON
EVERYBODY'S MIND IS, WHY?

WHAT WOULD DRIVE KIRK
TO KILL?

HIS LIFE WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
IT WAS ABOUT THE FARM CRISIS,

NOT HAVING ANYTHING
MUCH ON THE TABLE

AND SURVIVING OFF
THE KINDNESS OF NEIGHBORS.

THERE WAS SO MUCH
PRESSURE ON KIRK

TO HELP THAT FAMILY FEED ITSELF.

POLICE
INTERVIEW KIRK'S CLASSMATES

TO FIND OUT WHAT
MIGHT HAVE MOTIVATED HIM.

ONE RECALLS HE COMPLAINED
HIS FATHER WAS LAZY

AND THEN REMEMBERS
SOMETHING ELSE KIRK SAID,

THAT HE'D LIKE TO KILL HIM.

IN MY MIND, I THOUGHT, "OKAY.

KIRK SEES HOW THEY LIVE
AND THE CONDITIONS THEY LIVE IN.

AND MAYBE HE'S THINKING
"ALL OF US

WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN HEAVEN."

THAT'S HOW I JUSTIFIED
WHAT HE HAD DONE.

THERE SHOULD BE
NO PROBLEM LARGE ENOUGH

TO CAUSE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

BUT, MAYBE IT WAS JUST A
LITTLE TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON HIM.

I- I DON'T KNOW.
- THE COMMUNITY IN IS SHOCK.

14-YEAR-OLD KIRK BUCKNER
OF ELKLAND APPEARS

TO BE THE ONE
BEHIND THIS TRAGEDY.

AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE
TO UNDERSTAND,

THEY GATHER TOGETHER TO MOURN.

THE SMALL TOWN OF ELKLAND
WAS QUIETER THAN NORMAL TODAY.

THERE WAS COMMUNITY BUSINESS
TO TEND TO.

VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE TOWN
OF 200 CAME

FOR THE GRAVESIDE SERVICE
IN THE TIMBER RIDGE CEMETERY.

WE WATCHED JUST THRONGS AND
THRONGS OF PEOPLE POURING IN.

IT WAS A TIME TO CRY
AND A TIME FOR NEIGHBORS

TO SHARE THE STRENGTH
NEEDED TO LOOK AHEAD.

I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER
THE CASKETS ALL LINED UP.

YOU HAVE A WHOLE FAMILY
LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT WAS, UM,
IT WAS VERY POWERFUL.

YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT CRY.

THE INJURED JIM SCHNICK
CAN'T WALK TO THE GRAVESIDE,

BUT HE LOOKS ON
AS HIS FAMILY IS BURIED.

I REMEMBER A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT BEING THERE.

AND, I WAS TOLD LATER

THAT I'D STAYED THERE
FOR A PRETTY GOOD SPELL.

IT WAS JUST A PERIOD OF TIME
THAT I WAS MORE NUMB.

I WENT OVER TO THE CAR.
AND I SAID, "I'M SORRY,"

AND -- AND, YOU KNOW,
"ANYTHING I CAN DO?"

AND HE REALLY DIDN'T RESPOND.

HE JUST SAT THERE KIND OF
WITH HIS HEAD DOWN.

AFTER THE FUNERALS,

NEIGHBORS CONVERGE
ON THE SCHNICK

AND BUCKNER HOMES
TO SCRUB THEM DOWN.

NOW THAT THE POLICE
HAVE THEIR SUSPECT,

WEBSTER COUNTY
IS READY FOR CLOSURE

UNTIL THE SHERIFF
GETS A PHONE CALL.

THERE'S A DETAIL
ABOUT KIRK BUCKNER

THAT COULD TURN THE POLICE'S
THEORY OF THE CRIME UPSIDE DOWN.

ONE OF HIS TEACHERS
CALLED AND SAID,

"WAIT A MINUTE.
THE GUN WAS IN HIS RIGHT HAND?

KIRK IS LEFT-HANDED."

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

DUE TO THE TRAGEDY
THAT OCCURRED, BEFORE WE PRAY,

IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE
VERY APPROPRIATE THAT WE OBSERVE

JUST A FEW MOMENTS
OF SILENT MEDITATION

AND RESPECT
TO THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE VICTIMS OF THE LARGEST

MASS MURDER IN MISSOURI HISTORY
HAVE BEEN LAID TO REST.

AMONG THE DEAD --
THE ALLEGED KILLER,

14-YEAR-OLD KIRK BUCKNER.

POLICE SHOULD BE
CLOSING THE CASE.

THEY HAVE JIM'S STATEMENT,

THAT HE KILLED KIRK
IN SELF-DEFENSE

DURING A VICIOUS ATTACK.

CONFIRMING JIM'S STORY,
POLICE DETERMINED

THE GUN FOUND
IN KIRK'S RIGHT HAND

IS REGISTERED TO HIS MOTHER.

THE HIGHWAY PATROL
WHO WAS PRIMARILY IN CHARGE

OF THE INVESTIGATION
HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT

WHERE THEY HAD FELT
LIKE THEY HAD DONE

EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO
AT THAT POINT.

BUT FOUR DAYS AFTER THE CRIME,

NEW EVIDENCE CHANGES EVERYTHING.

WORD CAME OUT THAT THE GUN
WAS IN KIRK'S RIGHT HAND,

AND THE YOUNG MAN
WAS LEFT-HANDED.

SO WHY WOULD HE HAVE A GUN
IN HIS RIGHT HAND?

IF HE WAS GONNA SHOOT
SOMEBODY WITH THAT GUN,

HE WOULD'VE HAD THE GUN
IN HIS LEFT HAND.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
IT RAISED A SERIOUS QUESTION.

STUMPED, POLICE BEGIN
REVIEWING THE CASE.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
THAT DOESN'T SIT RIGHT.

ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL
THEORY OF THE CRIME,

KIRK SHOT HIS DAD,

LOADED HIS BODY INTO THE PICKUP,

DROVE TO THE CEMETERY,
AND DRAGGED HIM INTO THE WEEDS.

KIRK WAS NOT VERY BIG,
PROBABLY WEIGHED,

I WOULD GUESS, 130,
140 POUNDS, SLENDER BUILD.

HIS FATHER, STEVE BUCKNER,

I'M GUESSING WEIGHED
250, 260 POUNDS.

HE WAS A LARGE MAN.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT
THAT YOUNG MAN,

THAT VERY SCRAWNY
LITTLE 14-YEAR-OLD BOY,

COULD HAVE PULLED HIS
FATHER THE DISTANCE

THAT THAT BODY HAD APPEARED
TO HAVE BEEN MOVED.

AS POLICE BEGIN TO QUESTION
KIRK'S ROLE IN THE CRIME,

THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF ELKLAND
ECHOES A NAGGING DOUBT.

IF THERE IS A DOMINANT
EMOTION AMONG KIRK'S TEACHERS

AND CLASSMATES,
IT'S CONFUSION.

THEY SAY KIRK NEVER SHOWED
ANY SIGNS OF VIOLENCE,

THAT HE SEEMED JUST
LIKE A NORMAL KID.

PEOPLE WANTED THE NEWS MEDIA
TO KNOW THAT HE WAS A GOOD KID,

THAT HE LOVED HIS MOM,

THAT HE TOOK CARE
OF HIS BROTHERS.

HIS TEACHERS
SPOKE HIGHLY OF HIM.

HIS FRIENDS AND HIS CLASSMATES
SPOKE HIGHLY OF HIM.

TO FAIR GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT KIM WALLACE,

THE IMPACT IS DIRECT
AND PAINFUL.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT

WOULD HAPPEN
WHEN YOU'RE THAT YOUNG.

AT THAT AGE, I DON'T THINK
I COULD DO THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY ELSE COULD.

AND I DON'T THINK HE DONE IT.

POLICE PORE OVER
THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE,

AND NEW QUESTIONS EMERGE,
STARTING WITH THE GUN.

THE MURDER WEAPON WAS
A.22-CALIBER SIX-SHOT REVOLVER.

TO RELOAD IT, THE RETAINING PIN
HAD TO BE REMOVED,

THE CYLINDER LOADED,

PUT BACK, AND THEN THE CYLINDER
RETAINING PIN INSERTED

TO HOLD THAT CYLINDER IN PLACE
WHEN THE GUN WAS FIRED.

THE GUN WOULD NOT FIRE
WITHOUT THE CYLINDER

RETAINING PIN BEING IN POSITION.

WITHOUT THAT PIN,
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE

TO FIRE THE 17 BULLETS
DISCHARGED THAT MORNING.

BUT THE PIN IS
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

POLICE WANT TO SEARCH FOR IT
AT THE CRIME SCENES.

BUT BOTH HOMES
HAVE BEEN SCRUBBED DOWN

AND EMPTIED BY NEIGHBORS
ANXIOUS TO MOVE ON.

PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY
WERE BEING HELPFUL.

BUT WHAT THEY HAD ACTUALLY
DONE WAS DESTROYED,

YOU KNOW,
THE CRIME SCENE AND SUCH.

KIRK'S GUN IN THE WRONG HAND,

HIS INABILITY
TO LIFT STEVE'S BODY,

THE MISSING PIN.

POLICE ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER
IF KIRK REALLY WAS RESPONSIBLE.

DOGGED INVESTIGATION
TURNS UP NOTHING

UNTIL A RUMOR SURFACES,
THEN QUICKLY LOOKS LIKE A LEAD.

SMALL COMMUNITY,
IN ANY COMMUNITY, RUMORS START.

AND SOME ARE RIGHT.
AND SOME ARE WRONG.

AND SOME OF THEM
YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

THE WHOLE STORY
STARTED CHANGING.

WHAT CAME OUT WAS THAT
JIM SCHNICK HAD A GIRLFRIEND.

IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS
SINCE JIM SCHNICK

SURVIVED THE MASS MURDER
OF SEVEN FAMILY MEMBERS,

INCLUDING HIS WIFE, JULIE.

FORENSIC EVIDENCE HAS TURNED
THE POLICE CASE

AGAINST SUSPECTED KILLER

14-YEAR-OLD KIRK BUCKNER
UPSIDE DOWN.

THE RETAINING PIN,
THE GUN IN THE RIGHT HAND,

CONSIDERABLE QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT

SOMEONE OF KIRK'S SIZE
WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE

TO MOVE HIS FATHER'S BODY.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING
ELSE POLICE HAVE JUST HEARD --

SOMETHING UNSETTLING ABOUT
THE GRIEVING WIDOWER,

JIM SCHNICK.

THERE WAS A BIG RUMOR
THAT HIT TOWN THAT

SCHNICK WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

SHOCKED, MANY WHO KNOW
JIM DON'T THINK THE RUMOR

ABOUT THEIR TRUSTED FRIEND
IS TRUE.

NO, HE WASN'T A LADIES' MAN.

NO, HE WAS A HARDWORKING FARMER.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN HE
HAD TIME TO HAVE A GIRLFRIEND.

BUT POLICE UNCOVER THE TRUTH.

APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS PRIOR
TO THE MURDER,

JIM HAD RECEIVED
A FAIRLY SERIOUS CHEST INJURY.

JIM MADE AN
APPOINTMENT WITH A NURSE

PRACTITIONER NAMED NANCY BRUNER.

WHAT STARTED AS A 15-MINUTE
MEETING LASTED 4 HOURS.

APPARENTLY, THEY STRUCK UP
A RELATIONSHIP,

WHICH TURNED INTO AN AFFAIR.

JIM'S WIFE, JULIE, HAD NO IDEA,

THOUGH SHE DID KNOW SHE
AND JIM WERE DRIFTING APART.

- NOT ONLY OFFERING AERODYNAMIC
- STYLING AND HIGH PERFORMANCE...

THAT MARRIAGE WAS NOT
WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS.

WE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS,

ME AND THE WIFE WAS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND, THIS HERE GAL BECOME
ON THE SCENE.

AND WE -- WE GOT TO JUST
ENJOYING EACH OTHER.

POLICE CONTACT
NANCY BRUNER

TO ASK FOR AN INTERVIEW.

SHE AGREES.

DIVORCED WITH TWO CHILDREN
WHEN SHE MET JIM,

NANCY SAYS THEY "DEVELOPED
AN ACQUAINTANCE,"

AND OVER TIME,
"WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS."

HE WAS GOING TO SPRINGFIELD
ON A REGULAR BASIS,

TELLING HIS WIFE, JULIE,
THAT HE HAD A --

A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

SHE TELLS THE POLICE SHE KNOWS

NOTHING ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS.

BUT A DAY LATER, NANCY BRUNER
CALLS POLICE BACK.

SHE HAS SOMETHING TO TELL THEM.
SHE LIED.

SHE AND JIM WERE DEEPLY
INVOLVED.

HE HAD TOLD HER

THAT HE WAS GOING
TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE,

THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE
AWARDED CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN,

AND THAT THEY WOULD BE MARRIED,

AND THAT THEY WOULD JUST
LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

BUT NANCY SAYS THE PLAN

DOESN'T PLAY OUT
THE WAY JIM PROMISED.

WHEN HE ISN'T WITH NANCY,

HE FEELS THE PULL TO TRY
AND REVIVE HIS MARRIAGE.

WE TRIED GOING TO COUNSELING
AND DIFFERENT STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND -- AND,
IT WASN'T ALL WORKING.

CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WOMEN,

BY SUMMER 1987,
JIM'S WORLD IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.

AND THAT'S WHEN NANCY BRUNER
DECIDES

TO TAKE MATTERS
INTO HER OWN HANDS.

SHE HAD GONE TO
THE SCHNICK RESIDENCE

AND HAD HAD A TALK
WITH JULIE SCHNICK.

AND SO THE GIRLFRIEND FOUND OUT
AT THAT POINT EVERYTHING

JIM HAD BEEN
TELLING HER WAS A LIE.

THE WIFE FOUND OUT
THAT HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

NANCY IS FURIOUS.

AND JULIE'S READY FOR A DIVORCE.

POLICE ARE STARTING TO THINK
THAT JIM'S AFFAIR

HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH JULIE'S MURDER.

BUT THEN THERE'S KIRK.

POLICE STILL CAN'T RULE HIM OUT
AS A SUSPECT

UNTIL KIRK'S AUTOPSY REPORT
COMES IN.

THE PATHOLOGIST INVOLVED SAID
THAT WHAT HE WAS SEEING

JUST DIDN'T FIT THE STORY.

POLICE THOUGHT KIRK
DIED FROM THE KNIFE

AND BULLET WOUNDS
IN HIS CHEST AND NECK

AS HE AND JIM
SCUFFLED THAT MORNING.

BUT THEY WERE WRONG.

KIRK BUCKNER HAD BEEN
SHOT ONCE IN THE CHEST.

BUT THE BULLET WAS A DUD.

IT HAD JUST MADE
AN INDENTATION ON HIS CHEST.

THE FATAL INJURY,
IT TURNS OUT,

IS A SHOT THAT
PIERCED KIRK'S HEART

THAT ENTERED THROUGH HIS BACK.

SO HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK

AND THEN SHOT AGAIN
THROUGH THE NECK

WHILE HE WAS LAYING
ON THE GROUND.

HE WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN
THE KNIFE WAS PLACED IN HIM.

IF JIM KILLED KIRK
IN SELF-DEFENSE,

WHY SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK?

AND HOW DID THE SAME GUN

THAT SHOT KIRK IN THE BACK
END UP IN HIS HAND?

WHAT'S CLEAR NOW IS KIRK
IS MOST LIKELY NOT THE KILLER,

AND JIM'S STORY IS A LIE.

AFTER A TERRIFYING
MASS MURDER IN THE HEARTLAND,

POLICE HAVE RECEIVED
AN AUTOPSY REPORT

THAT CASTS SERIOUS DOUBT
ON THE GUILT

OF THEIR PRIME SUSPECT,
14-YEAR-OLD KIRK BUCKNER.

THEIR SUSPICIONS ARE SHIFTING

TO SOMEONE NOBODY
WOULD HAVE EXPECTED --

JIM SCHNICK.

A NEW REPORT BACKS UP
THEIR SUSPICIONS.

THE, CRIME LAB DISCOVERED

THAT ON THE LEG
THAT JIM SCHNICK

HAD BEEN SHOT, ALL THE GUNSHOT
RESIDUE WAS INSIDE THE PANT LEG.

IT'S A SIGN THAT JIM
COULD'VE SHOT HIMSELF,

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

IN THE POCKET OF THE PANTS

PARAMEDICS TORE OFF JIM
TO TREAT HIS LEG,

THE CRIME LAB FINDS CRITICAL
EVIDENCE MISSING UNTIL NOW.

THEY FOUND THE CYLINDER
RETAINING PIN

FOR THE MURDER WEAPON.

THE GUN SIMPLY WOULD NOT
FIRE WITHOUT THAT PIN.

AND THE PIN WAS
IN JIM SCHNICK'S POCKET.

BELIEVING THAT ONLY THE KILLER

WOULD HAVE THAT PIN,
ON OCTOBER 1st,

POLICE ARREST JIM SCHNICK.

SO I REMEMBER WE WENT TO
TROOP D HEADQUARTERS AND STUFF

FOR QUESTIONING,
AND THEY WAS FILMING IT.

ALL RIGHT. JIM, IF YOU WILL,
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, PLEASE,

TELL US WHAT
HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

THAT MORNING, JIM SAYS

HIS WIFE, JULIE, WAS FURIOUS
ABOUT JIM'S AFFAIR.

SHE CALLED HER BROTHER,
STEVE BUCKNER, FOR SUPPORT.

HE DOESN'T HESITATE.

STEVE HAS A GUN.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH
TO SET HIM OFF

WHEN IT COMES TO JIM.

I NOTICED A SET OF LIGHTS

COME INTO MY PLACE
FROM DOWN IN THE BOTTOM

WHEN I WAS THERE,
AND WHEN I GOT UP THERE,

I WENT UP TO SEE
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

YEARS OF RESENTMENT
HARDENED INTO A SINGLE MOMENT.

HE SAID, "I'LL JUST
GET RID OF THIS ALL.

WE'LL CLEAN IT UP RIGHT NOW."
HEY.

HE SAID, "YOU CAN
BE OUT OF THE PICTURE.

YOU CAN BE OUT OF THE FAMILY.
YOU'RE OF NO IMPORTANCE."

A FLARE WENT UP INSIDE OF ME
THAT IT WAS ME OR HIM.

AND WE WAS FIGHTING
OVER THE PISTOL

THAT I HEARD IT GO OFF ONCE.

AND HE JUST KIND OF GOT LIMP.

AND THAT'S THE LAST I CAN
REMEMBER WHERE HE WAS AT.

JIM'S STORY IS THAT HE
WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE.

JUDGING FROM STEVE'S CORPSE,
POLICE THINK OTHERWISE.

STEVE BUCKNER WAS SHOT SQUARE
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD TWICE.

FIGHTING OVER A GUN
IS NOT LIKELY TO SHOOT YOU

IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

JIM SAYS HE GETS RID
OF HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW'S BODY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT STEVE'S WIFE,
JAN BUCKNER?

SHE KNOWS STEVE WAS
AT JIM'S HOUSE.

JAN BUCKNER WAS SHOT
SQUARE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

KIRK, WHO WAS SLEEPING
IN HIS FAMILY'S CAMPER,

WAKES AT THE SOUND OF THE SHOT
AND TRIES TO ESCAPE.

JIM SAYS HE CHASED HIM,
AND THEY FOUGHT.

BUT THE AUTOPSY
TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.

KIRK WAS SHOT IN
THE BACK AS HE WAS FLEEING...

AND THEN SHOT AGAIN
THROUGH THE NECK

WHILE HE WAS LAYING
ON THE GROUND.

WHEN JIM LEAVES THE HOUSE,

HE SEES THAT KIRK
IS STILL ALIVE BARELY.

SO HE PICKS HIM UP
AND HEADS HOME

WHERE JULIE IS ASLEEP
IN HER BEDROOM.

THEN JIM FINISHES HIS RAMPAGE
WITH ONE LAST DETAIL.

HE SHOOTS HIMSELF
IN THE LEG.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S
GOT THEIR OWN IDEAS

AND THOUGHTS ABOUT
WHY IT HAPPENED

TO WHAT WAS SEEMINGLY
A STELLAR PERSON

IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S STILL HURTFUL.
IT'S STILL HURTFUL.

INVESTIGATORS
COME UP WITH A THEORY

ABOUT JIM'S MOTIVE.

JIM SCHNICK WAS UNDER
A LOT OF PRESSURE,

TRYING TO HAVE THIS
EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR

AND KEEP IT SECRET
FROM HIS WIFE,

HIS WIFE DISCOVERING IT

AND TELLING HIM
SHE'S GONNA DIVORCE HIM,

THE PROBLEMS
WITH STEVE BUCKNER --

ALL THIS HAD JUST
BUILT UP IN HIM,

AND HE ERUPTED LIKE A VOLCANO.

FOR MANY, JIM'S
HEINOUS ACTIONS DEFY REASON.

I DON'T RECALL ANYONE
THINKING HE SNAPPED.

ALL I RECALL IS PEOPLE THINKING
THAT HE WAS A MONSTER.

THE TIME THIS TAPE IS BEING
ENDED IS AT 4:14 P. M.

NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW
WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED

ON THAT SEPTEMBER MORNING
IN 1987.

POLICE ONLY HAVE
JIM'S STORY TO GO ON.

BUT WHAT'S CLEAR IS
THAT JIM IS A MASS MURDERER.

AND HIS CONFESSION
IS ENOUGH TO CHARGE HIM

WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

IF JIM SCHNICK IS CONVICTED
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
HE COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY.

PEOPLE LINED UP
LITERALLY FOR HOURS.

THE COURTROOM
WAS PACKED EVERY DAY.

THE DEFENSE WAS A
TEMPORARY-INSANITY-TYPE DEFENSE.

HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HE WAS DOING

AND FOR A PERIOD OF HOURS,
WAS JUST TEMPORARILY INSANE.

JIM SCHNICK WAS WILLING
TO PLEAD GUILTY

IF I WOULD TAKE
THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE

AND RECOMMEND A SENTENCE
OF LIFE IN PRISON

WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF PAROLE.

TODAY, SCHNICK PLEADED GUILTY

AND WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE
IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.

I FEEL THAT JUSTICE WAS DONE
IN THIS CASE IN APRIL OF 1988.

TODAY, LIVING IN
THE MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY,

JIM DISTANCES HIMSELF
FROM THE MORNING

HE MURDERED SEVEN MEMBERS
OF HIS FAMILY.

I THINK I TRY TO BLOCK
A LOT OF IT OUT.

I CANNOT SEE MYSELF

STEPPING OVER THAT LINE
TO REALLY LOSE IT THAT BAD.

BUT OVER 30 YEARS LATER,

WEBSTER COUNTY STILL REMEMBERS.

WE WERE ONE OF THOSE
LITTLE QUIET FARM COMMUNITIES

THAT COEXISTED TOGETHER.

YOU LEFT YOUR CAR DOORS
UNLOCKED,

YOUR HOUSES UNLOCKED.

IT -- IT -- IT CHANGED THAT.

IT BROUGHT US CLOSER TOGETHER.

IT MADE US REALIZE
WE WERE NO LONGER IN A --

MAYBE A COCOON.

AFTER THE FARM CRISIS
OF THE 1980s,

FAMILY FARMS ALL BUT DISAPPEAR
IN WEBSTER COUNTY.

BUT THE MEMORY
OF THE BUCKNER FAMILY

AND JULIE SCHNICK LIVES ON.