The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 2, Episode 3 - The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade - full transcript

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[ STATIC CRACKLES ]

THE PEOPLE WAIT FOR AN ARREST
IN THE AX MURDER CASE.

Atkinson: IT WAS A SLASHER MOVIE
COME TO REAL LIFE.

[ SCREAMS ]

THIS WAS A REAL-LIFE
HORROR STORY

FOR WYLIE, TEXAS.

Reporter ♪2:
HACKED TO DEATH IN A FRENZY.

WE KNOW THERE WERE
41 BLOWS TO THE BODY.

HER EYES WERE CHOPPED OUT.

Stone: THERE WAS A NEWSPAPER
OPENED UP TO AN ADVERTISEMENT

FOR THE MOVIE "THE SHINING."



WE WERE JUST SCARED THAT
IT MIGHT BE SOMEBODY WE KNOW,

YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT
WE THOUGHT WAS A SWEET GUY

OR A SWEET LADY.

Reporter ♪3:
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE BELIEVES

THE KILLING WAS
A PERSONAL VENDETTA.

♪♪♪♪

Ron: I PICK IT UP.

THE FIRST THING I HEAR WAS,
"I KILLED HER."

WE HAVE JEALOUSY.

WE HAVE LUST, RAGE, REVENGE.

Vinson: HE WENT ALONG WITH IT.

IT WAS CONVENIENT.

"IF YOU CAN'T HAVE EYES FOR ME,
YOU CAN'T HAVE EYES FOR ANYONE."

OH, MY GOD,
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?



♪♪ AH AH AH AH ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪

♪♪ I'M LIVIN' IN THE EIGHTIES ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪

JUST SAY NO.

♪♪ WELL, I HAVE TO PUSH ♪♪
- [SIREN CHIRPS]

♪♪ I HAVE TO STRUGGLE, OH! ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

Narrator:
IT'S THE SUMMER OF 1980,

AND THINGS ARE HEATING UP
IN AMERICA.

Reporter: IN WASHINGTON,
A RECORD-BREAKING ERUPTION

FROM MOUNT ST. HELENS.

Narrator: A BRUTAL HEAT WAVE
FIRES UP THE NATION.

Reporter ♪2: MANY HOUSEWIVES
ARE ABANDONING

THE KITCHEN AND HOT STOVE

AND TAKING THE FAMILY
TO FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS.

Narrator:
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE WEATHER

KEEPING PEOPLE INDOORS.

Reporter ♪3: THE GENRE'S BEEN
GIVEN IT'S OWN NICKNAME --

SLICE-AND-DICE MOVIES.

Narrator: "FRIDAY THE 13th"
PREMIERED THAT SPRING,

AND WEEKS LATER,
AUDIENCES ARE STILL FREAKED OUT.

[ GASPS, SCREAMING ]

FANTASTIC.

Narrator: THE FIRST OF
THIS NEW GENRE OF SLASHER FILMS

BRINGS UNPRECEDENTED GORE
TO THE SILVER SCREEN

AND SOON INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

IN WYLIE, TEXAS,
LIFE IS ABOUT TO IMITATE ART.

♪♪♪♪

Vinson: WYLIE'S AN OLD-SCHOOL,
PLAIN-JANE KIND OF PLACE.

IT HAD HOUSES ALONG THE STREET.

THEY HAD A CHURCH,

TREES AND YARDS
AND WHITE PICKET FENCES.

EVERYBODY KNEW EVERYBODY.

Narrator:
LIKE MANY SUBURBS OF THE ERA,

WYLIE IS A TOWN IN TRANSITION.

♪♪♪♪

THE TECH BOOM CAME TO TEXAS
BEGINNING IN THE 1980s.

Udashen:
A LOT OF ENGINEERS MOVED THERE.

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WAS
A BIG EMPLOYER.

IT WASN'T FAR FROM WYLIE.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: THIS IS WHAT BRINGS
ALLAN AND BETTY GORE THERE

IN 1976.

Patricia: ALLAN WAS
A COMPUTER TECH,

AN I. T. GUY --

EXTREMELY SMART,

KNEW HIS CRAFT VERY WELL.

Ron: HE WAS IN I. T. LONG BEFORE
IT STARTED GETTING POPULAR.

COMPUTERS WERE, OF COURSE,

THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR
OR BOX TRUCK.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: IF ALLAN
IS EARLY NERD,

BETTY IS THE OPPOSITE.

EMOTIONAL AND THOUGHTFUL,
SHE SEEMS MOST COMFORTABLE

LOOKING AFTER THOSE SHE LOVES.

Patricia: SHE ALWAYS HAD
A GORGEOUS SMILE,

AND SHE JUST KIND OF
PUT YOU AT EASE.

BETTY WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER,
AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER,

AND LOVED DOING IT.

Ron: SHE WAS VERY CARING,

JUST LIKED PEOPLE.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: BETTY MET ALLAN
IN THEIR HOME STATE OF KANSAS

IN THE LATE 1960s.

Ron: WELL, THEY MET AT K. STATE.

BETTY WORKED
IN THE STUDENT UNION

IN THE FOOD SERVICE,

AND SOMEHOW,
THEY MET THROUGH THAT.

♪♪♪♪

THE FAMILY THAT I GREW UP IN
WAS A VERY CLOSE FAMILY.

WHEN WE MET ALLAN,
ALLAN WAS DIFFERENT.

EVEN THOUGH HE CAME
FROM A SMALL TOWN,

HE SEEMED TO BE ABOVE THAT
AND ACTED THAT WAY --

A LITTLE ARROGANT,
A LITTLE STANDOFFISH.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: NEVERTHELESS,
BETTY'S LOVED ONES

WISH THEM WELL
WHEN THEY MARRY IN 1970.

BY THE TIME THEY MOVE TO WYLIE,
SIX YEARS LATER,

THEY'VE STARTED
THEIR OWN FAMILY.

THEIR DAUGHTER, ELISA,
IS BORN IN THE SUMMER OF '74.

Patricia: MY TIMES WITH BETTY
WERE KIND OF FEW

BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE,

BUT I ALWAYS SAW THEM SMILING.

I WOULD DESCRIBE THEIR FAMILY
AS VERY LOVING,

VERY ATTENTIVE TO THEIR FIRST
LITTLE GIRL, ELISA.

Narrator: BETTY APPEARS
TO HAVE IT ALL.

A PERFECT LITTLE
SUBURBAN RELATIONSHIP.

THEY HAD THE KIDS.

THEY HAD THE HOUSE,
SMALL TOWN, AND THE CHURCH.

IT'S JUST THAT TIGHTLY KNIT
SORT OF SUBURBAN LIFE.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: NOT LONG
AFTER THE BIRTH

OF THEIR SECOND DAUGHTER,
BETHANY,

BETTY IS OUT OF SORTS.

I DON'T RECALL ANYONE BACK
IN 1980

CALLING IT
"POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION."

IT PROBABLY WOULD BE
CALLED THAT TODAY.

THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED SOME STRAIN
ON HER MARRIAGE TO ALLAN GORE.

Narrator: WITH A NEW JOB,
ALLAN TRAVELS OFTEN FOR WORK,

AND BETTY IS A SIX-HOUR DRIVE
FROM HER BELOVED FAMILY.

Ron: SHE AND MY MOM --
IT WAS LIKE,

WE'RE NOT A LIFETIME AWAY
FROM EACH OTHER HERE,

BUT THEY WOULD CRY
FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES

BEFORE BETTY WOULD LEAVE...

LIKE IT WAS THE LAST TIME
THEY'D EVER SEE EACH OTHER.

Narrator: BUT THERE'S ONE PLACE
WHERE SHE FEELS AT HOME.

CHURCH WAS A BIG PART
OF BETTY'S LIFE.

Vinson: IN ADDITION TO BEING

IN THE CHOIR
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH,

BETTY AND ALLAN WERE
ON THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

THEY WERE INVOLVED
IN THE GOVERNING BOARD.

Narrator: IT'S ALSO WHERE
SHE MEETS HER DEAR FRIEND,

CANDY MONTGOMERY.

PETITE BLONDE
WITH A CONTAGIOUS LAUGH,

CANDY IS THE CONSUMMATE ALPHA
AT CHURCH,

THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER FOR A
COMMITTEE OR PLAN A BABY SHOWER.

I REMEMBER SHE WAS GREGARIOUS.

SHE WAS THE ONE THAT
PEOPLE CALLED

TO FIND OUT
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN TOWN.

Narrator: BETTY, NOT SO MUCH.

Atkinson: I CAN PICTURE CANDY

WALKING INTO THE CHURCH
FOR A LUNCHEON

AND QUICKLY BECOMING
THE CONTROLLING PERSONALITY.

BETTY WOULD BE OVER
IN THE CORNER,

NEXT TO THE HORS D'OEUVRES,
NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

BETTY GORE!
OH, MY GOODNESS.

Vinson: EVEN WITH
THESE DIFFERENCES

IN THEIR PERSONALITIES,

THESE TWO WOMEN WERE ABLE
TO HAVE THIS FRIENDSHIP.

Patricia: I FELT CANDY AND BETTY
HAD A GOOD CONNECTION,

A GOOD SUPPORT GROUP
FOR EACH OTHER.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator:
AND BETTY NEEDS THAT SUPPORT.

BY OCTOBER OF 1979,

HER RELATIONSHIP WITH ALLAN
IS STILL SUFFERING.

SHE HEARS ABOUT
A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.

A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO,
PRESIDENT CARTER'S OLDEST SON,

JACK, AND HIS WIFE, JUDY,

WENT AWAY FOR
A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND.

THEY FOUND IT TO BE ONE OF
THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCES

OF THEIR LIVES.

Narrator: MARRIAGE ENCOUNTERS IS
A POPULAR SELF-HELP SEMINAR.

Announcer: MANY COUPLES
PUBLICLY EXPRESS

THEIR LOVE AND COMMITMENT
TO ONE ANOTHER.

IT'S AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT
FOR ALL.

Man: AND MAY GOD KEEP US
HAPPY AND TOGETHER FOREVER.

[ AUDIENCE APPLAUDS ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ALLAN AGREES
TO THE WEEKEND RETREAT,

AND IT'S A SUCCESS.

THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD MADE

SOME SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGHS
IN THEIR MARRIAGE.

Narrator: THE THERAPY
INSPIRES BETTY TO PLAN

A EUROPEAN VACATION
FOR JUST THE TWO OF THEM.

Patricia: THIS TRIP
WAS LIKE A SECOND REUNION,

LIKE A HONEYMOON --
A RENEWAL OF THEIR MARRIAGE.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKS ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ONE WEEK TO GO
UNTIL THEIR EUROPEAN GETAWAY,

BETTY HAS LEFT
OLDEST DAUGHTER ELISA

WITH HER FRIEND, CANDY,
FOR THE DAY SO SHE CAN PACK,

BUT INSTEAD
OF EXCITEDLY PREPPING,

SHE'S STRESSED OUT.

ALLAN GORE WAS SET
TO GO ON A BUSINESS TRIP

THAT DAY, IN THE AFTERNOON.

BETTY DIDN'T REALLY LIKE
TO BE ALONE AT HOME.

Narrator: THERE'S ANOTHER
REASON FOR HER MOOD.

Atkinson: SHE WAS LATE
ON HER PERIOD,

AND SO SHE WAS REALLY CONCERNED

THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT AGAIN,

ALMOST TO THE POINT
OF BEING PANICKED.

Narrator: AT 8:30 A. M.,
IT'S TIME FOR ALLAN TO GO.

Atkinson: EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS RUNNING LATE,

ALLAN EVEN TOOK TIME
TO TALK IT THROUGH WITH HER

TO TRY TO CALM HER.

Narrator: HE PROMISES
HE'LL CALL HER LATER.

Atkinson: BETTY SEEMED
TO ALMOST RALLY AT THAT POINT,

AND SHE BROUGHT BETHANY OUT,

AND THE TWO OF THEM
WAVED GOODBYE TO HIM

WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACES.

[ CLOCK TICKS ]

Narrator: 10 HOURS LATER,

ALLAN ARRIVES IN MINNEAPOLIS,

AND WHEN HE GETS TO THE HOTEL,
HE CALLS AS PROMISED.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

THERE'S NO ANSWER.

Atkinson: BETTY WAS JUST
NOT THE KIND OF PERSON

WHO WENT OUT ON HER OWN
VERY OFTEN,

UNLESS IT WAS TO WORK.

HE WAS KIND OF CONCERNED
AND CONFUSED.

Narrator:
KNOWING 7-YEAR-OLD ELISA IS

WITH THE MONTGOMERYS THAT DAY,
HE RINGS CANDY.

YES, YOU KNOW,
I DID SEE BETTY THIS MORNING.

Udashen: CANDY TOLD ALLAN
THAT AFTER BIBLE STUDY,

SHE DECIDED TO PICK
UP A SWIMSUIT

SO THAT CANDY'S CHILD AND
BETTY'S CHILD COULD GO SWIMMING,

AND SHE WANTED TO TALK TO BETTY

ABOUT KEEPING
BETTY'S CHILD OVERNIGHT

SO THEY COULD GO
TO THE MOVIES TOGETHER.

Atkinson: BETTY WAS
IN THE MIDST OF DOING LAUNDRY.

SHE HAD
"THE PHIL DONAHUE SHOW" ON TV.

I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE HERE
IN JUST A MOMENT.

♪♪♪♪

SHE WAS JUST KIND OF GOING
ABOUT MORNING CHORES.

Narrator: CANDY TELLS ALLAN THAT
BETTY GAVE HER THE BATHING SUIT

AND AGREED TO ELISA STAYING
FOR A SLEEPOVER,

AND THAT WAS
THE LAST THEY SPOKE.

ALLAN GOES TO DINNER
WITH COLLEAGUES,

AND AT 10 P. M.,
HE RINGS BETTY AGAIN.

STILL NO ANSWER.

AND NOW ALLAN'S CONCERN GROWS.

ALLAN THEN CALLED TWO NEIGHBORS

AND SAID,
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

CAN YOU GO OVER THERE
AND CHECK?"

HE SAID, "GO TO THE HOUSE.
BREAK THE WINDOWS DOWN.

TRY TO FIND A WAY
TO GET IN THE HOUSE

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON."

[ TELEPHONE CLATTERS ]

♪♪♪♪

[ GATE CREAKS ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: NOTHING LOOKS
OUT OF PLACE WHEN THEY ARRIVE.

BOTH CARS ARE IN THE GARAGE,
AND A FEW LIGHTS ARE ON.

♪♪♪♪

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

Atkinson:
THEY RING THE DOORBELL.

THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

THEY DON'T GET ANY RESPONSE.

THE DOOR...JUST OPENS.

THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED.

THE FRONT DOOR IS UNLOCKED.

Man: ANYBODY HOME?

THEY ARE PRETTY FREAKED.

HELLO?

THEY ENTER THE HOUSE.

COME ON.

THERE IS A BATHROOM
RIGHT THERE.

♪♪♪♪

THEY LOOK IN THE BATHROOM,

AND THEY SEE ON THE TILE...

BLOOD.

[ FAUCET DRIPPING ]

NOW THEY KNOW SOMETHING
IS REALLY WRONG.

[ BABY COOING ]

Narrator: HEARING A NOISE,

THE MEN HEAD
TOWARDS THE BEDROOMS.

♪♪♪♪

Man: OH, MY GOD!

[ Echoing ]
IT'S THE BABY!

♪♪♪♪

Narrator:
IT'S FRIDAY THE 13th, 1980.

NEIGHBORS HAVE JUST ENTERED

BETTY GORE'S HOUSE
TO SEARCH FOR HER.

Atkinson: ONE OF THEM
OPENS THE DOOR,

AND THERE'S BETHANY,

11 MONTHS OLD,

ALL BLOTCHY AND RED.

Ron: SHE WAS CRYING
AND VERY DIRTY,

AS SHE'D BEEN IN THE CRIB
QUITE A WHILE AT THAT POINT,

AND VERY HUNGRY.

Patricia: ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS
TOOK BETHANY OVER TO HIS HOUSE

SO HIS WIFE COULD COMFORT HER.

[ BETHANY CRYING ]

Narrator: HE RETURNS QUICKLY,

AND THEY CONTINUE
TO ANXIOUSLY INVESTIGATE.

♪♪♪♪

Atkinson: WHERE'S BETTY?

THE TWO CARS ARE THERE.

THE FRONT DOOR'S UNLOCKED.

WHERE'S BETTY?

Narrator: THEY SPOT
THE UTILITY ROOM DOOR.

ONE OF THEM APPROACHES THE DOOR,

AND HE JUST SEES THE FLOOR,

WHICH IS COVERED WITH BLOOD.

♪♪♪♪

AND THEN HE SEES...

[ GASPS ]

...BETTY GORE'S CORPSE.

HER FACE IS COMPLETELY
COVERED IN BLOOD,

AND HE SAYS, "OH, MY GOD.

SHE'S BLOWN HER HEAD OFF."

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: JUST AS THE MEN
ARE ABOUT TO CALL TO THE POLICE,

A PIERCING RING STARTLES THEM.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Atkinson: ALLAN GORE CALLS...

ALLAN?!

...HE SAYS, "YOU GOT IN THERE.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?"

HIS FRIEND SAYS, "WELL...

I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GOOD.

I THINK SHE SHOT HERSELF."

♪♪♪♪

ALLAN IS COMPLETELY
SHOCKED BY THIS.

Narrator: IN A FOG,
HE CALLS BETTY'S PARENTS

AND BREAKS THE NEWS TO THEM.

THE HORRIFIC INFORMATION
QUICKLY SPREADS

TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

I WAS AT A CONCERT,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I LOOKED OVER,

AND MY UNCLE WAS
AT THE FRONT GATE WITH A CAR,

AND HE SAID, "WE NEED TO GO.

BETTY'S BEEN SHOT."

DID SHE GET SHOT BY SOMEBODY
BREAKING INTO THE HOUSE?

DID SHE COMMIT SUICIDE?

ALLAN THEN CALLS
BETTY'S CLOSE FRIEND,

WHO'S WITH HIS
OLDEST DAUGHTER, ELISA.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Udashen: HE CALLED CANDY BACK

AND TOLD CANDY THAT THE NEIGHBOR
HAD FOUND BETTY AT THE HOUSE

AND THAT BETTY APPEARED
TO HAVE BEEN SHOT.

CANDY IS IN DISBELIEF,
BUT JUMPS INTO CAREGIVER MODE.

OH, ALLAN...

WITH BABY BETHANY
AT A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE,

SHE AGREES TO KEEP ELISA
UNTIL HE CAN GET A FLIGHT BACK.

SHE TOOK CARE OF ELISA,

SO WE WERE VERY HAPPY FOR THAT,

VERY THANKFUL.

Narrator: IT'S MIDNIGHT
WHEN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR

STEVE DEFFIBAUGH,

ARMED WITH HIS
35-MILLIMETER CAMERA,

ARRIVES AT 410 DOGWOOD DRIVE.

Deffibaugh: WYLIE WAS NOT USED
TO HAVING CRIMES LIKE THIS.

THE OFFICERS, THEY DIDN'T
HAVE ANY CRIME SCENE TAPE.

THEY HAD PUT UP SOME SCOTCH TAPE

WITH A COUPLE OF LITTLE
WHITE PIECES OF PAPER

THAT SAID "DO NOT ENTER."

Narrator: A TWO-YEAR VETERAN
OF THE COLLIN COUNTY

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT,

HE'S GOT SOME EXPERIENCE
UNDER HIS BELT...

♪♪♪♪

...BUT NEITHER HE NOR
FORENSIC SCIENTIST IRVING STONE

IS PREPARED FOR WHAT THEY SEE
IN THE UTILITY ROOM.

Stone: I HAD NEVER SEEN
ONE LIKE THAT BEFORE.

I'D BEEN TO A LOT
OF CRIME SCENES

PRIOR TO THIS
WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD,

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE HERE.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY
REPLETE WITH BLOOD.

[ STATIC CRACKLES ]

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

♪♪♪♪

ON THE FREEZER,

ON THE WALLS,

ON THE FLOOR.

NARRATOR: INVESTIGATORS QUICKLY
REALIZE SOMETHING SURPRISING.

BETTY'S NOT THE VICTIM
OF A GUNSHOT.

Stone: SHE HAD WOUNDS
ALL OVER HER,

ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD,

CHOP MARKS
ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD

AND, OF COURSE, ON HER FACE.

ON HER LEFT ARM
AND THE ELBOW AREA,

YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE BONE.

HER EYES WERE,
LACK OF A BETTER TERM,

CHOPPED OUT.

Narrator: AND THE WEAPON
THE MURDER USED

IS STILL IN THE ROOM.

UNDERNEATH THE WASHING MACHINE,
THERE WAS A BIT OF AN AX,

A SINGLE BLADE AX,
WITH THE HANDLE STICKING OUT.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: DEFFIBAUGH IMMEDIATELY
BEGINS PROCESSING THE SCENE.

WE SAW A LOT
OF BLOODY FOOTPRINTS.

Atkinson: THEY ALSO FOUND,
IN THE UTILITY ROOM,

A VERY LARGE CLEAN IMPRINT
IN BLOOD OF A THUMB.

Narrator: ON A TABLE
IN THE LIVING ROOM,

POLICE NOTE SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE WAS A NEWSPAPER OPENED UP
ON THE COUNTER

THAT WAS OPEN
TO AN ADVERTISEMENT

FOR THE MOVIE "THE SHINING."

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: BUT IT'S A FINDING
IN THE BATHROOM THAT

LEADS INVESTIGATORS
TO A CHILLING REVELATION.

Vinson: THEY FOUND HAIR
IN THE DRAIN OF THE SHOWER.

THEY FOUND BLOOD
ON THE TILE WALL OF THE SHOWER.

Ron: THAT WAS ALWAYS
HARD TO FATHOM,

THAT SOMEBODY COULD ACTUALLY
DO THE KILLING,

TAKE A SHOWER,

AND LEAVE THE BABY IN THE CRIB

AND LEAVE THE HOUSEHOLD.

♪♪♪♪

Reporter: NEWS TRAVELS FAST
IN A SMALL TOWN,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S BAD NEWS.

Narrator: THE GRUESOME DETAILS
OF BETTY'S DEATH

SPREAD THROUGH WYLIE
LIKE FIRE ANTS AT A PICNIC.

Vinson: AND SO IT WAS
THE DAY AFTER THAT

THAT WE WENT OUT
AND COVERED THE STORY.

RESIDENTS IN WYLIE
WERE FREAKED OUT.

WYLIE IS A SMALL TOWN,

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
KNOW EVERYBODY AROUND.

THEY'VE LIVED AROUND THEM
FOR YEARS,

AND WE'RE JUST SCARED

THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMEBODY
WE KNOW, YOU KNOW,

SOMEONE THAT WE THOUGHT WAS
A SWEET GUY OR A SWEET LADY.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: THE EERIE SIMILARITIES

TO THE MASSIVELY-POPULAR
HORROR FILMS ARE

FEEDING PEOPLE'S WORST FEARS.

IT MUST BE MY IMAGINATION.

COULD THIS BE A COPYCAT KILLER?

Atkinson: NOW PEOPLE HAD
THE STUFF OF A SLASHER MOVIE

COME TO REAL LIFE
ON THEIR HANDS.

♪♪♪♪

Udashen: THIS TOOK PLACE
ON FRIDAY THE 13th.

THE WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED
WAS NAMED "GORE."

THE NEWSPAPER WAS OPEN
TO AN AD FOR "THE SHINING."

HERE'S JOHNNY!

[ SCREAMS ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: THE POLICE, HOWEVER,

ARE NOT SO SURE
THIS WAS A RANDOM CRIME.

Atkinson: THE AUTHORITIES HAD
PRIVATELY, PRETTY MUCH, DECIDED

THAT THIS HAD TO BE
SOMEONE WHO KNEW HER.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1980,

PEOPLE AROUND THE NATION
ARE CONSUMED WITH WHO SHOT J. R.,

[ GUNSHOT ]

BUT THE RESIDENTS OF
WYLIE, TEXAS,

ARE FIXATED
ON A REAL-LIFE SOAP OPERA.

WHO KILLED BETTY GORE?

Reporter: POLICE SAY BETTY GORE
WAS HACKED TO DEATH IN A FRENZY,

AND THE AX USED
BELONGED TO THE GORE FAMILY.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

Narrator: THE MORNING
AFTER THE MURDER,

LIFE FOR THOSE LIVING

IN THE SUBURBAN TOWN
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

EVERYBODY IS JUST
REAL UPSET ABOUT IT,

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE,
YOU KNOW,

TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.

Reporter: NEIGHBORS
NEAR THE GORE HOME,

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME,

ARE LOCKING DOORS
THEY NEVER BOTHERED WITH.

THE MAIN STREET IS QUIET,
AND WOMEN ARE FEARFUL.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: THE AUTOPSY
IS PERFORMED THAT MORNING,

AND THE FINDINGS ARE CHILLING.

Stone: WE KNOW THERE WERE
41 BLOWS TO THE BODY.

TO HIT MY SISTER 41 TIMES,

IT HAD TO BE SOMEBODY
VERY STRONG

WITH A LOT
OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH,

AND IT'S VERY VICIOUS.

I THINK, AS WE HUMANS,
WE DON'T WANT TO EVER ACCEPT

THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR MIDST
THAT WOULD DO THAT.

Narrator: BETTY'S FAMILY
TRIES TO MAKE SENSE

OF THE HORRIFIC MURDER.

Ron: WE THOUGHT IT WAS
A RANDOM KILLING.

WE THOUGHT SOMEBODY BROKE IN,

MAYBE A ROBBERY.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATOR
STEVE DEFFIBAUGH

NOTES A FINDING FROM THE HOUSE

THAT MAKES ROBBERY
SEEM UNLIKELY.

Deffibaugh: I NOTICED
ON THE DRESSER

SOME 35-MILLIMETER FILM,
SEVERAL NEW BOXES,

WITH A $20 BILL
STICKING UP FROM IT,

SO THAT KIND OF
PIQUED MY CURIOSITY

BECAUSE NO GOOD THIEF IS
GONNA LEAVE A $20 BILL

LAYING AROUND.

Narrator: AND THOUGH THEY'RE
STILL CHASING EVERY LEAD,

POLICE FEEL CONFIDENT
THIS WASN'T A RANDOM KILLING.

Deffibaugh: WHENEVER YOU HAVE
THE WOUNDS TO THE FACE

WHERE THEY'VE
CHOPPED OUT THE EYES,

THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS USUALLY
BECAUSE THEY'RE JEALOUS --

"IF YOU CAN'T HAVE EYES FOR ME,
YOU CAN'T HAVE EYES FOR ANYONE."

IS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED?

IS IT HER HUSBAND?

[ CLOCK TICKS ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ALLAN GORE
FLIES BACK TO TEXAS

AND COMES HOME
TO UTTER DEVASTATION --

HIS BELOVED WIFE
BRUTALLY MURDERED,

HIS CHILDREN NOW MOTHERLESS.

HE IMMEDIATELY SITS DOWN
WITH THE POLICE.

Atkinson: THEY QUESTION HIM,
I THINK, FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF,

AND THEY WENT THROUGH
EVERY DETAIL OF HIS DAY.

Narrator: ALLAN LEFT
BETTY AROUND 8:30,

ARRIVING AT WORK AROUND 9:00.

HE WAS WITH CO-WORKERS
THE ENTIRE DAY,

INCLUDING HIS LUNCH
AT LONG JOHN SILVER'S,

HIS RIDE TO THE AIRPORT,

AND FLIGHT OUT OF TOWN.

HIS ALIBI IS AIRTIGHT,

BUT SOMETHING DOESN'T SIT WELL
WITH THE POLICE.

Udashen: HE WAS SOMEWHAT
COLD AND DETACHED

IN THE WAY
HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS.

HE WASN'T VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT

WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIS WIFE.

Narrator: AND WHEN ALLAN
RETURNS TO HIS HOME,

SCOURED CLEAN
BY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS,

HE'S JOINED BY BETTY'S FAMILY,

WHO ALSO FIND HIS
DEMEANOR UNNERVING.

Ron: HE WAS GRIEVING
VERY, VERY LITTLE.

WE DIDN'T SEE A PERSON
THAT WAS AS CONCERNED

AS I THINK A NORMAL PERSON
WOULD HAVE BEEN.

Patricia: HE WAS VERY CALM,
KIND OF COOL,

AND JUST KIND OF WENT ABOUT
HIS OWN LITTLE BUSINESS.

Narrator: HAVING LEARNED
FROM ALLAN THAT CANDY MONTGOMERY

VISITED BETTY ON THE 13th,

POLICE ADD HER TO THEIR
LIST OF PEOPLE TO TALK TO.

Udashen: THE POLICE WERE TRYING
TO PUT TOGETHER A TIMELINE

OF WHEN BETTY WAS KILLED

AND WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON
TO SEE BETTY ALIVE.

Narrator: IT APPEARS LIKELY
THAT PERSON IS CANDY.

POLICE CALL HER IN,

AND SHE HEADS TO THE STATION
AFTER SUNDAY MASS.

Udashen: THEY WANTED TO SEE
WHEN SHE SAW BETTY,

WHEN SHE TALKED TO BETTY --

JUST TYPICAL POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE WORK.

Narrator: THEY NEED CANDY
TO CORROBORATE ELEMENTS

OF ALLAN'S TIMELINE.

Deffibaugh: NOWADAYS,
WE GOT CELL PHONES

WHICH WE'D BE ABLE TO TRACK DOWN
THE TIMES OF THINGS.

I KEPT SAYING, "OKAY, WHAT TIME?

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS
THAT ALLAN GORE CALLED?

WHAT WERE YOU WATCHING ON TV?"

Narrator: CANDY IS CAGEY
ON GIVING AN ANSWER.

SHE FINALLY TOLD ME.
SHE LOOKED AT ME.

SHE SAYS, "YOU MUST KNOW
WHAT I WAS DOING --

I WAS SCREWING."

I WENT, "WOW. OKAY."

Narrator: NOT QUITE THE ANSWER
DEFFIBAUGH WAS EXPECTING

FROM A WOMAN DRESSED
IN HER SUNDAY BEST,

AND HE'S BAFFLED BY IT.

WAS SHE SIMPLY EMBARRASSED
TO TELL HIM

SHE WAS HAVING SEX
WITH HER HUSBAND,

OR IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?

EITHER WAY, HER TIMELINE
OF EVENTS MATCHES ALLAN'S,

AND UNFORTUNATELY,

CANDY DIDN'T NOTICE ANYONE
OR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS THAT DAY.

POLICE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

♪♪♪♪

Ron: WE HAD HAD THE FUNERAL
IN WYLIE.

IT WAS A TOUGH DAY.

IT WAS A TOUGH DAY
FOR ALL OF US.

Patricia: I REMEMBER GOING IN

AND HEARING ALL
OF THE GOOD WORDS

AND FEELING LIKE SHE HAD SUCH
A CLOSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH FAMILY.

♪♪♪♪

Ron: OF COURSE,
THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN

THAT BETTY TAUGHT WERE THERE.

THE CHURCH WAS PRETTY FULL.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

Narrator: BUT IT ISN'T JUST
LOVED ONES WHO SHOW UP.

Reporter: WHILE FRIENDS,
RELATIVES, AND FORMER STUDENTS

OF THE 5th GRADE TEACHER PACKED
THE SMALL METHODIST CHURCH

IN WYLIE THIS AFTERNOON,

A TEXAS RANGER WAS QUIETLY
TAKING THEIR PICTURES

FROM ACROSS THE STREET.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

Narrator:
AND THERE'S GOOD REASON

FOR THEIR PRESENCE IN WYLIE.

Reporter: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
BUDDY NEWTON SAYS

HE BELIEVES THE KILLING WAS
A PERSONAL VENDETTA

AND EVEN SPECULATED
THE KILLER ATTENDED

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE
THIS AFTERNOON.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: WITH NO EVIDENCE
OF STOLEN PROPERTY

OR SIGNS OF A BREAK-IN,

INVESTIGATORS NOW
FIRMLY BELIEVE

IT WAS SOMEONE BETTY KNEW,

AND THAT SOMEONE COULD VERY WELL
BE IN THE CROWD AT THAT CHURCH.

♪♪♪♪

WHEN THE FUNERAL ENDS,

FRIENDS PILE IN AND PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO THE GRIEVING FAMILY,

BUT CASSEROLES CAN ONLY DO
SO MUCH TO EASE THE PAIN

AND THE LINGERING FEAR THAT
THE KILLER MAY STRIKE AGAIN.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT
TO FIND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE

FOR BETTY'S DEATH.

WE WANTED TO KNOW WHY.

WE STARTED LOOKING FOR CLUES
OR FOR ANYTHING,

ANYTHING THAT WAS MISSED.

AND THEN...

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

...A CHILLING PHONE CALL.

Ron: WE'RE IN THE HOUSE,
AND THE PHONE RINGS.

MY BROTHER, RICHARD, ANSWERS.

HELLO, GORE RESIDENCE.

MAN: I killed Betty Gore.

HE TURNS ALMOST WHITE.

♪♪♪♪

[ HEARTBEAT POUNDING ]

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Narrator: DAYS AFTER
BETTY GORE'S MURDER,

A STRANGER MAKES A TERRIFYING
CALL TO HER HOME.

MAN: I killed Betty Gore.

RICHARD HUNG UP RIGHT AWAY.

AS RICHARD BEING
AS SENSITIVE AS HE IS,

HE JUST CANNOT HANDLE
CERTAIN THINGS.

Narrator:
THE THREATENING PHONE CALL --

A CLASSIC HORROR FILM TROPE.

HELLO?

MAN: Have you
checked the children?

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ANOTHER INDICATION
THIS COULD BE A COPYCAT KILLER.

THE FAMILY QUICKLY
CONTACTS THE POLICE

IN CASE HE CALLS BACK.

Ron: THE TEXAS RANGERS
CAME TO THE HOUSE

AND ASKED ME IF I WAS ABLE
TO ANSWER THE PHONE.

Narrator: IF THE KILLER DOES
ACTUALLY CALL AGAIN,

RON WILL HAVE TO KEEP HIM
ON THE LINE

FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES
IN ORDER TO TRACE THE CALL.

NOT LONG AFTER THE FIRST CALL,

THE PHONE RINGS AGAIN.

Ron: I PICK IT UP,

AND THE FIRST THING I HEAR WAS,

"I KILLED HER."

SO I SAID,
"WELL, HOW DID YOU KILL HER?"

THE PERSON ON THE LINE
KEPT TRYING TO TELL ME

THAT HE'D KILLED HER
IN A MARSH AREA OUT BY THE LAKE.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: RON KEEPS
THE CALLER ENGAGED,

AND POLICE WERE ABLE
TO TRACE THE CALL.

WITHIN MINUTES, A POLICE CAR
IS DISPATCHED TO AN ADDRESS.

I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER EXACTLY
IF IT WAS HORROR OR RELIEF

THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AN ANSWER.

[ POLICE SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: THEY THOROUGHLY
QUESTION THE MAN

AND DISCOVER A FACT
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

IT WAS ACTUALLY
A RECENTLY-RELEASED

MENTAL HOSPITAL PERSON.

♪♪♪♪

TO FIND OUT IT WAS ALL A RUSE,
IT WAS JUST HEARTBREAKING.

Narrator: WITH NO NEW LEADS,
POLICE BRING ALLAN GORE IN

FOR ANOTHER INTERROGATION.

WITH HIS EVASIVE ATTITUDE,

THERE'S STILL THE POSSIBILITY
HE'S HIDING SOMETHING.

HE SUBMITS TO HOURS
OF QUESTIONING.

HIS TIMELINE AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE EVENTS DON'T CHANGE,

BUT WYLIE P. D.
HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH

ALL THE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL.

Deffibaugh: THEY WANT
TO POLYGRAPH ALLAN GORE

TO SEE IF HE IS HIDING ANYTHING.

Narrator: ALLAN AGREES
TO THE POLYGRAPH,

BUT BEFORE HE TAKES IT,
HE ADMITS TO POLICE

THAT HE HASN'T BEEN
COMPLETELY FORTHCOMING.

ALLAN ACTUALLY TOLD THEM
THAT HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR

WITH CANDACE MONTGOMERY.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: A TORRID LIAISON
WITH HIS WIFE'S FRIEND,

ONE THAT ALLAN CONFESSES
STARTED TWO YEARS AGO,

AT, OF ALL PLACES, CHURCH.

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

[ ORGAN PLAYS ]

ALLAN EXPLAINS
THAT CANDY PURSUED HIM.

Atkinson: SHE FLIRTED WITH HIM.

SHE ALMOST BECAME A PEST.

ALLAN TELLS THEM THAT
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,

HE RESISTS HER ADVANCES,

BUT CANDY DOESN'T
TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER.

Atkinson: AT EVERY
CHURCH GATHERING,

SHE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY
TO ISOLATE HIM.

SHE SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T KNOW
REALLY WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS,

BUT I'M REALLY ATTRACTED
TO YOU."

FINALLY, ALLAN SAID "OKAY."

♪♪♪♪

Vinson: CANDACE AND ALLAN WOULD
MEET UP AT A LITTLE MOTEL,

THE COMO MOTEL.

IT WAS CLOSE
TO ALLAN'S WORKPLACE.

THEY WOULD MEET UP AT LUNCHTIME.

Atkinson: THEY WOULD HAVE SEX.

THEY WOULD CHAT ABOUT
THIS AND THAT,

FRUSTRATION WITH LIFE,

THE STATE OF THEIR MARRIAGES.

THEY WOULD EAT THIS EXTRAVAGANT
LUNCH SHE HAD PREPARED.

Vinson: HE WENT ALONG WITH IT.

IT WAS EASY.

IT WAS CONVENIENT.

Narrator: THEN,
NEARLY A YEAR AFTER IT BEGAN,

ALLAN ABRUPTLY ENDS
THE RELATIONSHIP.

Atkinson: LARGELY AS A RESULT
OF HIS PARTICIPATION

IN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

AND THIS RENEWED RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS WIFE.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ALLAN PASSES
THE POLYGRAPH,

AND NOW POLICE BELIEVE
THEY HAVE A MOTIVE

FOR A DIFFERENT SUSPECT --

CANDY MONTGOMERY.

Atkinson: WE HAVE JEALOUSY.

WE HAVE LUST
AND RAGE AND REVENGE.

WE HAVE DOMESTIC MOTIVES
NOW IN PLAY.

Narrator: AND THE NEXT MORNING,

POLICE BEGIN ANGLING THEIR
INVESTIGATION TOWARDS CANDY.

Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
ARE HOPING REPORTS

FROM THE FORENSIC LAB
WILL GIVE THEM MORE CLUES

TO THE SIZE AND WEIGHT
OF THE KILLER.

Narrator: ONE FINDING FROM
THE CRIME SCENE IS NOTEWORTHY.

Deffibaugh: UNDERNEATH
ONE OF BETTY GORE'S LEGS

THERE WAS A FOOTPRINT,
A BLOODY FOOTPRINT.

NARRATOR: A FOOTPRINT CAN
HELP INVESTIGATORS ESTIMATE

A PERSON'S SIZE,

AND THIS ONE IS TELLING.

WE MEASURED, AND IT IS
A SMALL FOOT OR A WOMAN,

MORE THAN LIKELY,
THAT HAD COMMITTED THIS OFFENSE.

Narrator: BUT FOR AN ARREST,
THEY NEED CONCRETE EVIDENCE,

SO THEY LOOK TO
THEIR BEST EVIDENCE --

THE BLOODY THUMBPRINT.

THEY SUMMON CANDY TO THE STATION

FOR FINGERPRINTING
AND A POLYGRAPH.

Udashen: AND CANDY TOLD
THE POLICE SHE WOULD DO THAT,

BUT BEFORE SHE ACTUALLY WENT
AND TOOK A POLYGRAPH TEST,

THEN SHE CAME TO MY FIRM
TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE.

Narrator: SHE MEETS
WITH ROBERT UDASHEN,

A YOUNG BUT BRILLIANT ASSOCIATE.

SHE TOLD ME SHE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO HIDE,

AND SHE WANTED TO HELP
THE POLICE CATCH

WHOEVER DID THIS,

BUT SHE STILL
WANTED LEGAL ADVICE

ONCE THEY STARTED ASKING
ABOUT A POLYGRAPH.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHE
SHOULD DO OR SHE SHOULDN'T DO?

I TOLD HER "LET'S JUST PAUSE."

[ CLOCK CLICKING ]

Narrator: CANDY'S LAWYER CALLS
THE PRECINCT AND TELLS THEM

SHE WON'T BE TAKING A POLYGRAPH.

HOWEVER, THAT SAME DAY,
AROUND MIDNIGHT,

THE CHIEF FINGERPRINT EXPERT
FOR DALLAS COUNTY

MAKES A POSITIVE I. D.
OF THE THUMBPRINT FOUND

ON BETTY GORE'S FREEZER.

THE THUMBPRINT WAS GOOD ENOUGH
TO MATCH TO CANDY.

BLOODY THUMBPRINT.

THAT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN...

UNLESS YOU WERE THERE
AT THE TIME.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

Reporter: THIS AFTERNOON,
CANDY MONTGOMERY

WAS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION

WITH THE BRUTAL AX SLAYING
OF BETTY GORE.

Vinson: WHEN CANDY WAS ARRESTED,

RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN
WERE IN SHOCK.

FROM WHAT I DO KNOW OF CANDY,

AND FROM WHAT I HAVE
SEEN OF CANDY,

I JUST CAN'T PICTURE

CANDY DOING THIS SORT OF THING.

SHE WAS SOMEONE
WHO DID NOT HAVE A DARK SIDE.

Narrator: THREE MONTHS LATER,

WHEN THE TRIAL
FINALLY COMMENCES,

FOR THE LITTLE TOWN
OF WYLIE, TEXAS,

IT'S THE BIGGEST EVENT IN YEARS.

THE FIRST SHOCKING TWIST
COMES AS SOON

AS CANDY'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY GETS UP

TO DELIVER
HIS OPENING STATEMENT.

HE STANDS UP AND WITH
GREAT GRANDIOSITY SAYS,

"WE HAVE QUITE A STORY TO TELL.

CANDY MONTGOMERY DID
KILL BETTY GORE,

BUT SHE DID SO IN SELF-DEFENSE."

AND YOU COULD HEAR A LOT
OF GASPS IN THE COURTROOM.

Ron: WE WERE ALL IN DISBELIEF

THAT SHE CLAIMED SELF-DEFENSE --

STUNNED.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

THE PROSECUTION
CALLS TO THE STAND

A PARADE OF CANDY'S
CHURCH FRIENDS,

INVESTIGATORS,
AND POLICE OFFICERS.

Reporter: THE FIRST WITNESS
WAS ALLAN GORE,

WIDOWER OF THE VICTIM
BETTY GORE.

THE SOMBER-LOOKING GORE
FIELDED QUESTIONS

WITH THE MURDER WEAPON
ON THE EDGE OF THE STAND

NEXT TO HIM.

Narrator: ALLAN ADMITS
TO THE AFFAIR,

BUT HE SAYS THE BREAKUP
WAS MUTUAL,

AND CANDY NEVER EXPRESSED
ANY ANGER OR JEALOUSY

THAT WOULD LEAD HIM TO THINK
HER CAPABLE OF THIS CRIME.

BUT THERE IS ABUNDANT EVIDENCE
POINTING TO CANDY AS THE KILLER.

THE STATE'S STRONGEST EVIDENCE
TO CONNECT HER

WERE BLOODY FINGERPRINTS
AND PALMPRINTS.

Narrator: IT'S NOT UNTIL
THE FOURTH DAY OF COURT,

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23rd,

THAT CANDY TAKES THE STAND

AND FINALLY TELLS
THE PEOPLE OF WYLIE

WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PACKING IN
TO HEAR FOR DAYS --

HER VERSION OF WHAT WENT DOWN
THAT FATEFUL MORNING.

Atkinson: WHEN CANDY WENT
OVER TO BETTY'S

TO PICK UP THE SWIMSUIT
FOR ELISA,

THEY ENGAGED IN A LOT
OF MOM SORT OF SMALL TALK.

AT SOME POINT,

BETTY'S DEMEANOR CHANGED,

AND SHE TURNED REALLY DARK.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO CANDY,

BETTY GORE KNEW
ABOUT HER AFFAIR WITH ALLAN

AND WANTED REVENGE.

SHE SAYS THAT BETTY GOT THE AX

AND STATED,

"YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM."

CANDY SAID, "IT'S OKAY, BETTY.

I DIDN'T REALLY WANT HIM,"

WHICH, OF COURSE,
JUST ADDED INSULT TO INJURY.

SHE SAYS BETTY KEPT SAYING,
"YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM,"

AND CAME AT HER WITH THE AX,

AND FROM THERE,
THE FIGHT WAS ON.

[ BOTH SCREAMING ]

Atkinson: THE TWO LOCK
THEIR HANDS ON THE AX.

THEY'RE BOTH STRUGGLING WITH IT.

CANDY GOT HIT BY THE AX,

A SMALL BLOW TO HER HEAD.

Narrator: CANDY SAYS
WHEN SHE STARTED SCREAMING,

BETTY DID SOMETHING ODD.

SHE SHUSHED HER.

Deffibaugh: BETTY WENT
"SHH" TO BE QUIET

BECAUSE SHE WAS SCREAMING.

Narrator: AND THAT'S WHEN
CANDY ADMITS SHE SNAPPED.

[ BOTH GRUNTING ]

[ SCREAMING ]

♪♪♪♪

Atkinson: SHE WALKED OUT
TO THE GUEST BATHROOM

AND TOOK A SHOWER.

♪♪♪♪

AND WALKED OUT TO HER CAR
AND DROVE HOME.

THE COURTROOM IS STUNNED.

SELF-DEFENSE DOESN'T QUITE WORK

IF YOU HAVE 40 BLOWS.

Ron: CANDY LEFT
THE BABY IN THE CRIB

AND WENT BACK
TO VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL.

IF IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE,
YOU WOULD THINK

YOU WOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL
THE AUTHORITIES.

WHY DIDN'T SHE CALL 911?

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: BUT HER DEFENSE TEAM

IS MORE THAN READY
FOR THESE QUESTIONS.

THEY USE A SURPRISING METHOD

TO FIGURE OUT
WHY CANDY DID WHAT SHE DID.

Announcer: HYPNOTISM IS
AN EMERGING FIELD

THAT'S RAPIDLY GAINING
POPULARITY WITH THERAPISTS.

IN A HYPNOTIC TRANCE,

INFORMATION THAT
HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN

OR REPRESSED CAN BE RECALLED.

Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER
CANDY'S FIRST VISIT,

UDASHEN BROUGHT HER
TO A PSYCHIATRIST AND HYPNOTIST

WHO PULLED THE REAL STORY
OUT OF HER.

IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A MOVIE
OF WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE THAT DAY

AT BETTY GORE'S HOUSE.

Narrator: AND WHAT HE LEARNED
SHAPED THE DEFENSE.

WITH THE PSYCHIATRIST
ON THE STAND,

THE STUNNED COURTROOM LEARNS
THAT CANDY DID THIS

BECAUSE SHE SUFFERED
FROM WHAT MANY HAD

NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE --

A DISSOCIATIVE REACTION,

SIMILAR TO A SPLIT PERSONALITY,

BUT FOR AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT
IN THE COURSE OF HYPNOSIS

IS THAT CANDY GOT HIT BY THE AX,
AND SHE SCREAMED,

AND BETTY GORE SAID, "SHH."

DR. FASON SAID THAT
THAT TRIGGERED

A DISSOCIATIVE REACTION IN CANDY

BASED ON AN INCIDENT
FROM CANDY'S CHILDHOOD.

Patricia: THROUGH HYPNOSIS,
SHE REMEMBERED AN INCIDENT

FROM WHEN SHE WAS QUITE YOUNG
WHERE SHE HAD BEEN INJURED.

AND HER MOTHER HAD TOLD HER,
"SHH, DON'T EXPRESS YOUR PAIN.

DON'T SHOW THAT YOU'RE HURT."

Narrator: ACCORDING
TO THE DEFENSE,

25 YEARS OF REPRESSED ANGER
AT HER MOTHER

UNLEASHED WITH A SINGLE SOUND.

Reporter: DOCTORS TESTIFIED
THAT MRS. MONTGOMERY WAS

IN A DREAMLIKE STATE
AT THE TIME OF ATTACK.

Vinson: THIS WAS AN ELEMENT
OF THIS TRIAL AND THIS MURDER

THAT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE
TO WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND.

"WHOA! THIS IS NOT OUR WORLD."

IT'S A LITTLE BIT WOO-WOO.

Narrator:
IT'S AN OUT-THERE DEFENSE,

AND THE FAMILY DOESN'T BUY IT.

SEEING CANDY IN THE COURTROOM,
ALL I COULD DO WAS STARE AT HER,

BECAUSE I WANTED HER
TO FEEL EVERY STARE.

I WANTED HER TO KNOW
THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE

A WORD SHE WAS SAYING.

Narrator: THE TRIAL
LASTS NINE DAYS.

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29th,

SPECTATORS ANXIOUSLY GATHER
FOR THE VERDICT.

WE THOUGHT,
"THERE'S NO WAY SHE'S GONNA

GET OFF ON SELF-DEFENSE."

WE KNEW WE HAD A CONVICTION.

THEY FOUND HER NOT GUILTY
BY REASON OF SELF-DEFENSE.

♪♪♪♪

Patricia: MY HUSBAND AND I
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

I REMEMBER HEARING PEOPLE
YELLING IN THE COURTROOM,

UPSET AT THE VERDICT.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: FOR THE FAMILY,
JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED.

CANDY GOT AWAY WITH MURDER,

NOT A QUESTION IN MY MIND.

Narrator: AS FOR ALLAN,

HE QUICKLY MOVES ON
WITH HIS LIFE.

HE GOT MARRIED THREE MONTHS
AFTER THE TRIAL.

IT CERTAINLY MADE US
MORE SUSPICIOUS OF HIM.

I KNOW MY DAD TILL HIS DEATH,

STILL BELIEVED
ALLAN HAD A PART OF THIS.

Narrator: DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN
BY THE BACKLASH AGAINST HER,

CANDY MOVES TO GEORGIA,

CHANGES HER NAME,

AND FINDS A NEW PROFESSION.

Vinson: THIS IS SOMETHING
I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND,

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT CANDY WENT
AND GOT HER COUNSELOR LICENSE.

SHE'S A COUNSELOR.

Ron: I ALWAYS THOUGHT
ABOUT GETTING AN APPOINTMENT,

THEN TELLING HER I HAVE
PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THINGS

BECAUSE SOMEBODY KILLED
MY SISTER WITH AN AX.

Narrator: ONE OF THE MAIN TENETS
OF '80s SLASHER FILMS WAS

TO LEAVE ROOM FOR A SEQUEL,

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT,

THE KILLER HAD TO GO FREE.

THIS HORROR-MOVIE-COME-TO-LIFE
GOT THAT SAME TREATMENT,

LEAVING BETTY GORE'S LOVED ONES
LONGING FOR CLOSURE.

IT CERTAINLY LEFT AN...
OPEN WOUND

BECAUSE WE STILL
DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH.

♪♪♪♪