The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 2, Episode 9 - The Milk Carton Murder - full transcript

WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME,
OFFICIALS ARE BECOMING LESS

AND LESS OPTIMISTIC

OF FINDING THE YOUNG TEENAGER
UNHARMED.

IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK
WHEN THEY TOLD ME

THAT SHE HADN'T GOTTEN HOME
THAT NIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE A REAL GOOD
FEELING ABOUT IT, PUT THAT WAY.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH
AN ISOLATED ROAD.

THEY NEVER EXPECTED
AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS

TO HAPPEN IN UNDERWOOD.

PEOPLE WERE SOBBING.

PEOPLE WERE ANGRY.



THEY WANTED MORE ANSWERS.

EVEN IF IT WAS BAD NEWS,

IT WOULD BE BETTER
THAN NO NEWS AT ALL.

THEY WERE EATING
AND BREATHING THIS CASE.

I DON'T THINK
I COULD BELIEVE IT,

THAT THAT KIND OF THING
WAS POSSIBLE.

IT'S OBVIOUS SHE WAS HURTING.

WHOEVER DID THIS
IS GONNA PAY.

JUST SAY NO.

IT'S SPRING 1985,

AND AMERICA IS
AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME.

MICHAEL JORDAN BECOMES
NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

"BACK TO THE FUTURE"
HITS THEATERS,

EVENTUALLY GROSSING
OVER $300 MILLION.



1.21 GIGAWATTS!

AND PRINCE WINS THREE GRAMMYS,

INCLUDING ONE
FOR HIS HIT "PURPLE RAIN,"

SOLIDIFYING HIS STATUS OF THE
COOLEST MINNESOTAN IN AMERICA.

BUT FAR FROM PAISLEY PARK
LIES A PLACE THAT STILL REVELS

IN THE SLOWER PACE
OF AN EARLIER ERA --

UNDERWOOD, MINNESOTA.

THE POPULATION WOULD
PROBABLY BE MAYBE 300 PEOPLE.

IT'S A GREAT SMALL TOWN,
HEART OF LAKES COUNTRY.

IT'S LARGELY RURAL.

I THINK THERE'S ONE FOUR-WAY
STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.

AS SMALL TOWN
AS YOU CAN PROBABLY GET.

IT'S A PLACE EVOCATIVE
OF JOHN MELLENCAMP'S ODE

TO AMERICAN
SMALL-TOWN INNOCENCE.

HEY!

IT'S HERE,

FAR FROM THE HUSTLE AND HASSLE
OF THE BIG CITY,

WHERE 13-YEAR-OLD
SARAH ANN RAIRDON

IS LIVING OUT THE SIMPLE
EXISTENCE OF A SMALL-TOWN GIRL.

HER MAIN CONCERNS ARE
PLAYING WITH HER FRIENDS,

GOING TO SCHOOL,
AND JUST GOOFING AROUND.

SARAH REALLY DID LOVE LIFE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS SINGING AND JUST
HAD A PRESENCE ABOUT HER.

AT 5'2",
SARAH IS SCRAPPY AND SKINNY.

SARAH WAS A THIN GIRL,

AND WHEN I SAY THIN,
I MEAN REALLY THIN.

SARAH WAS KIND OF A BEAN POLE.

I REMEMBER HER LONG SKINNY ARMS.

SHE WAS BUBBLY.

SHE WAS OUTGOING.

SHE WAS FRIENDLY.

LIFE SEEMED REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

A GOOD YOUNG LADY.

HER SMILE WAS INFECTIOUS.

SHE JUST BROUGHT HAPPINESS
INTO EVERY ROOM.

BUT LIFE AT SARAH'S HOME,

A FARMHOUSE 4 MILES FROM TOWN,

IS FAR FROM PEACEFUL.

SHE LIVES WITH HER FATHER, JOHN;
HER STEPMOTHER, MARILYN;

AND A BROOD
OF 10 STEPBROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THEY DIDN'T LIVE
IN THE BIGGEST HOUSE,

AND THAT'S A LOT OF KIDS
TO HAVE IN THERE IN ONE SPACE.

SARAH'S BIOLOGICAL
MOTHER WAS NOT IN THE PICTURE,

AND SO WHEN JOHN REMARRIED,

THAT MADE THE SITUATION
EVEN HARDER FOR SARAH,

BECAUSE MARILYN,
JOHN'S NEW WIFE,

HAD CHILDREN OF HER OWN
ALL UNDER ONE ROOF NOW.

JOHN RAIRDON,
THE FAMILY PATRIARCH,

WORKS HARD AS A MECHANIC
TO SUPPORT HIS LARGE FAMILY.

JOHN WAS SORT OF TALL,
A LITTLE BIT LANKY,

THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO WAS USED TO WORKING HARD

AND WORKING OUTDOORS.

LIKABLE GUY,
FRIENDLY, FUN TO TALK TO.

HE WAS HARDWORKING.

I KNOW HE DID A LOT
OF TIRE REPAIR OUT ON FARMS

AND STUFF FOR TRACTORS AND
TRUCKS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SARAH AND HER FATHER, JOHN,

HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

SHE'S THE APPLE OF HIS EYE

AND HIS ONLY BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER
FROM HIS FIRST MARRIAGE,

AND SHE'S THE SPITTING
IMAGE OF HER MOTHER.

LINDA WAS HIS FIRST WIFE.

SARAH'S MOM
DIDN'T HAVE CUSTODY OF HER

AND HER BROTHERS AT THE TIME.

JOHN DID.

EVEN AS YOUNG AS KINDERGARTEN,

I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING
ABOUT HER REAL MOTHER.

AT ONLY 13, SARAH IS FORCED

TO TAKE ON
GROWN-UP RESPONSIBILITIES.

WHEN SHE'S NOT IN SCHOOL,

SHE WORKS WITH HER FATHER
AT THE SHOP

OR HELPS
HER STEPMOTHER, MARILYN,

WHO SHE DOESN'T
ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE WITH.

AS FAR AS I KNEW
AND ANYONE ELSE KNEW,

THERE WAS A LOT
OF TENSION THERE.

SARAH'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH MARILYN, I THINK,

WAS STRAINED IN LARGE PART

BECAUSE OF HER KIND OF
BEING JOHN'S FAVORITE.

MARILYN MAY HAVE RESENTED THAT.

MARILYN TREATED HER DIFFERENTLY
THAN THE OTHER CHILDREN.

SHE WAS HARD ON SARAH
AND REQUIRED HER

TO DO A LOT OF
HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES

AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SARAH ALSO HAS
A STRESSFUL RELATIONSHIP

WITH HER OLDER STEPBROTHER,
16-YEAR-OLD JEFF.

JEFF, A HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUT,

IS THE OLDEST BOY
IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

HE'S GOT A BAD TEMPER

AND HAS DIRECTED THAT TEMPER
TOWARDS SARAH IN THE PAST.

SHE HAD A STEPBROTHER, AND
THERE WAS DEFINITELY TENSION.

YOU COULD DEFINITELY TELL
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM

EXPERIENCED THE TENSION...

...AND THE STRESS.

DESPITE HER STRAINED HOMELIFE,

THE SMART AND BUBBLY
7th GRADER THRIVES AT SCHOOL.

SARAH HAD, I THOUGHT,
A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP

WITH OUR TEACHERS.

SARAH WAS KIND OF
A TEACHER'S PET.

SHE WAS BRIGHT.
SHE WAS SOCIAL.

SHE TALKED TO PEOPLE.

SHE DIDN'T JUST SIT THERE IN
HER CHAIR LIKE I PROBABLY DID.

SHE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
TO HELP PEOPLE --

EITHER BE A DOCTOR
OR MAYBE BEING A TEACHER.

SHE WAS A REALLY GOOD STUDENT.

SHE WAS REALLY SMART.

SHE WAS GOOD AT MATH
AND SCIENCE.

UNDERWOOD SCHOOL
IS LIKE A SECOND HOME TO SARAH.

SHE'S ALWAYS HAPPY
TO STAY LATE FOR SPORTS

OR AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROJECT.

MAY 20th WAS A DAY
LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.

IT WAS SUNNY, A REALLY
NICE MINNESOTA SPRING DAY.

SARAH WAS WEARING
HER YELLOW SHOES,

HER JEANS,
AND HER TEDDY BEAR SHIRT.

THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR DAYS
OF SCHOOL LEFT,

AND SO IT WAS OUR LAST WEEK.

WE WERE ALL PRETTY EXCITED.

SARAH AND HER FRIEND
JO STAY LATE AT SCHOOL

WORKING ON
A HOME-ECONOMICS PROJECT.

AFTERWARDS, THEY WALKED DOWN
TO THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE

IN TOWN -- THE UNDER-MART.

THE UNDER-MART,
IT'S LOCATED ABOUT HALF A BLOCK

FROM WHERE THE HIGH SCHOOL IS.

THE CHILDREN WOULD GO NEXT DOOR
TO PICK UP THEIR CANDY

AND THEIR POP AND THEIR
POTATO CHIPS AND HANG OUT THERE.

WE WENT OVER THERE,
BOUGHT OUR PENNY BALLOONS,

AND PUT THEM IN OUR POCKETS

AND HAD BEEN BIG PLANS
FOR THE NEXT DAY.

THEY PLAN ON HAVING

A BIG WATER-BALLOON FIGHT
AT SCHOOL.

AND SO WE KEPT KIND OF
CONCOCTING THAT PLAN

AS WE WENT BACK OUT ON
THE PLAYGROUND BEHIND THE SCHOOL

AND WERE JUST BASICALLY
FOOLING AROUND

UNTIL ABOUT 5:30,

WHEN THEN I HAD TO CALL
MY SISTER TO COME AND GET ME.

WHEN JO'S SISTER
PULLS UP IN THE FAMILY CAR

TO FETCH HER,
SHE OFFERS SARAH A RIDE.

WE DID OFFER HER A RIDE
THAT DAY, AND SHE SAID, "NO."

SHE SAID, "NO.
MY DAD WILL BE COMING BY,

AND HE'LL GIVE ME A RIDE HOME."

SARAH WAITS FOR HER FATHER.

WHEN HE DOESN'T SHOW UP,
SHE ASSUMES HE'S STUCK AT WORK.

AFTER WAITING
AT THE SCHOOL A WHILE,

SARAH DECIDED TO START WALKING
HOME WHEN JOHN HADN'T COME BY.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON

IN SOME
OF THESE FARMING COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE SMALL ENOUGH WHERE
PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH,

THEY'LL WALK HOME
OR AT LEAST START WALKING HOME.

IN THIS CASE,
THAT'S WHAT SARAH DID.

IT'S A LONG
4- MILE WALK DOWN WHISKEY ROAD

TO THE RAIRDON HOUSE.

WHISKEY ROAD
WAS A COUNTY ROAD BLACKTOP

THAT HEADED EAST OF TOWN.

IT WAS LIKE
ANY OTHER COUNTRY ROAD

IN THAT PART OF THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA -- VERY SCENIC,

TREES, LAKES, HILLS, CURVES.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH
AN ISOLATED ROAD,

OTHER THAN THE TRAFFIC
THAT'S GOING BY.

THERE WERE PEOPLE
FROM UNDERWOOD

WHO WERE ON THAT ROAD
THAT AFTERNOON

AND ACTUALLY OFFERED
TO GIVE HER A RIDE.

BUT SHE KNEW HER FATHER
WAS COMING, AND SO SHE DECLINED.

SARAH WAVES OFF ALL PASSERSBY,

HAPPY TO MAKE HER WAY
ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY.

AT 7:00 P.M.
AT THE RAIRDON HOME,

MARILYN LOOKS AT THE CLOCK.

SARAH IS STILL NOT HOME.

NORMALLY IF SHE WERE
TO WALK HOME,

SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
BEEN HOME BY 7:00

OR EVEN A LITTLE BEFORE.

JOHN CALLS MARILYN
FROM FERGUS FALLS,

ASKING HER IF SHE NEEDS
ANYTHING BROUGHT FROM FERGUS

TO THE FARM IN UNDERWOOD.

IT'S AT THAT POINT
THAT MARILYN TELLS JOHN

THAT SARAH'S NOT HOME.

JOHN DIDN'T GET HOME
TOWARDS 7:30,

AND WHEN HE CAME HOME,
MARILYN SAID TO HIM,

"WELL, SARAH HASN'T COME HOME,"

AND THEY WORRIED ABOUT IT.

MARILYN
AND HER OLDEST SON, JEFF,

DRIVE AROUND TO LOOK FOR SARAH.

JOHN SAYS HE'LL STAY HOME
IN CASE SARAH CALLS THE HOUSE.

CONCERN SOON TURNS TO PANIC.

SARAH WOULD NEVER,
NEVER DISAPPEAR.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS GO HOME
AFTER SCHOOL,

BUT ON THAT DATE,
SHE DID NOT GET HOME.

13-YEAR-OLD
SARAH ANN RAIRDON SET OUT

ON A 4-MILE WALK HOME
FROM SCHOOL

ALONG A SECLUDED
RURAL MINNESOTA ROAD.

SHE NEVER ARRIVED.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
SHE JUST SEEMED TO VANISH.

AFTER DRIVING
BACKROADS AND CALLING FRIENDS,

THE RAIRDONS TURN TO POLICE.

IN THE EARLY EVENING HOURS,

THE OTTER TAIL COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE

RECEIVED A CALL FROM,
I BELIEVE, JOHN RAIRDON

THAT HIS DAUGHTER
SARAH ANN RAIRDON

HAD NOT RETURNED
HOME FROM SCHOOL.

THEY WENT OUT
AND SEARCHED TO SEE

IF SHE WAS HURT OR SOMETHING

OR IF SHE WAS SOMEWHERE ON THE
ROAD AND FELL DOWN OR WHATEVER.

DETECTIVE CHUCK SHERBROOKE

BEGINS THE INVESTIGATION
IMMEDIATELY.

WE HAD THE FAMILY
FILL OUT A MISSING-PERSONS FORM,

AND FROM THERE,
WE PUT OUT TELETYPES --

THEY CALLED IT
TELETYPES BACK THEN --

TO DIFFERENT COUNTIES
AND CITIES,

YOU KNOW,
LOOKING FOR THIS GIRL --

THIS IS WHAT SHE WAS WEARING,

LAST SEEN LEAVING SCHOOL
AT A CERTAIN TIME.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE HAD
RAN AWAY FROM HOME,

WENT TO VISIT WITH A FRIEND,
BUT SHE WAS MISSING.

WHEN A YOUNG GIRL DISAPPEARS,

THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY

SHE COULD HAVE RUN
FROM PROBLEMS AT HOME.

OR WORSE --
PERHAPS A FAMILY MEMBER

COULD BE INVOLVED
IN HER DISAPPEARANCE.

THE GOOD PRACTICE IN POLICE WORK

IS TO LOOK AT THE FAMILY FIRST.

MOST CRIMES INVOLVE SOMEONE
THAT KNOWS THE OTHER PERSON

RATHER THAN A STRANGER.

WE WANTED TO FIND OUT,

WHERE WERE YOU, JOHN RAIRDON,

THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED?

HE WAS WORKING AT A FIELD,

CHANGING A TIRE
AT ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I BELIEVE MARILYN MIGHT HAVE
JUST GOT HOME FROM WORK

AT THAT TIME.

MARILYN LET JOHN DO
MOST OF THE TALKING.

SHE JUST WASN'T REAL OPEN
TO SAYING VERY MUCH.

BUT SHE DOES TELL THEM
SHE AND JEFF

WENT SEARCHING
FOR SARAH THAT NIGHT.

INVESTIGATORS LEARN THAT SARAH
WAS WITH HER FRIEND JO

AFTER SCHOOL THAT DAY,

AND THEY WASTE NO TIME
FINDING OUT WHAT SHE MIGHT KNOW.

I WAS IN BED, SLEEPING.

I THINK IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE SHERIFF'S
DEPUTIES CAME TO OUR HOUSE

TO TALK TO ME TO GET
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND SO WHEN MY MOM CAME
AND WOKE ME UP,

IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK
WHEN THEY TOLD ME

THAT SHE HADN'T GOTTEN
HOME THAT NIGHT.

JO TELLS THEM EVERY DETAIL

ABOUT THE PRIOR AFTERNOON,

RIGHT DOWN TO THE TEDDY BEAR
T- SHIRT SARAH WAS WEARING.

THE NEXT DAY, NEWS OF
SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE

WHISPERS THROUGH THE HALLWAYS
AT UNDERWOOD SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER SITTING
IN THE SECOND ROW

AND SOMEBODY ASKING ME
IF I GOT THE PHONE CALL,

AND I SAID, "WHAT PHONE CALL?"

I STILL DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THEN THEY SAID,
"WELL, EVERYBODY GOT CALLED,

LOOKING TO FIND OUT
IF THEY KNEW WHERE SARAH WAS."

EVERYONE WAS LIKE,
"WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT HAPPENED?

WHY DIDN'T SHE GET HOME?"

AND JUST FEAR.

NONE OF US BELIEVED
SHE RAN AWAY.

WE ALL JUST THOUGHT SOMETHING
REALLY BAD HAPPENED TO HER.

THERE WAS
NO AMBER ALERT, NO SOCIAL MEDIA,

FACEBOOK, TWITTER
ALERTING THE MEDIA

OR ALERTING PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY,

"HEY, WE HAVE A MISSING KID."

IT JUST KIND OF SLOWLY
FILTERED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

BY THIS AFTERNOON, ABOUT 30
VOLUNTEERS HAD JOINED THE SEARCH

FOR SARAH RAIRDON.

SHE WAS LAST SEEN MONDAY,

WALKING THE FEW MILES
FROM SCHOOL TO HER HOME.

WE HAD
THE SHERIFF'S POSSE ON HORSES

COME TO HELP SEARCH.

WE HAD HELICOPTERS
UP LOOKING FOR HER.

WE HAD SNIFFING DOGS
SEARCHING FOR HER.

KEVIN WALLEVAND
OF WDAY NEWS IS ONE OF A SWARM

OF LOCAL REPORTERS
FOLLOWING THE STORY.

WE HEADED DOWN TO UNDERWOOD

TO DO THE INITIAL
"WE HAVE A MISSING GIRL" STORY,

AND THEN THAT WAS QUICKLY
FOLLOWED BY STORIES

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY MOBILIZING
AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS.

ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY,
THE UNDERWOOD SCHOOL CAFETERIA

BECAME A HEADQUARTERS
IN SEARCH OF SARAH RAIRDON.

PEOPLE REALLY DID VOLUNTEER
AND HELP OUT

WHETHER THEY KNEW HER OR NOT.

POSTERS OF SARAH --
THOUSANDS OF THEM --

WERE FOLDED, ADDRESSED,

THEN SENT
TO CITIES ALL OVER AMERICA.

IT WAS A PLEA FROM THE FAMILY
AND PEOPLE OF UNDERWOOD.

WE HAD MISSING POSTERS MADE UP.

THEY WERE ALL AROUND TOWN.

THE COMMUNITY,
NOT ONLY OF UNDERWOOD,

BUT SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
ALL CAME TOGETHER.

PEOPLE FOLDED FLYERS.

PEOPLE WENT OUT IN THE GRASS.

AND THERE WAS A REAL SENSE
THAT WE CAN FIND HER,

WE CAN BRING HER HOME,

WE HAVE HOPE.

WE'RE JUST ONE BIG FAMILY
IN THIS COMMUNITY,

AND JUST HELPING
EACH OTHER OUT.

SARAH'S FATHER, JOHN,
LEADS THE VOLUNTEER SEARCH

FOR HIS MISSING DAUGHTER,

EVEN GOING ON TV TO PLEAD
FOR HER SAFE RETURN.

WE'RE UNDER
A LOT OF STRAIN, YOU KNOW?

WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER SHE'S HURT OR ANYTHING,

AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

WE COMBED THE AREA
NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST,

TRYING TO LOCATE HER.

BUT WE GOT NEGATIVE RESULTS.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME,
OFFICIALS ARE BECOMING LESS

AND LESS OPTIMISTIC

OF FINDING THE YOUNG TEENAGER
UNHARMED.

SARAH IS ONE OF 11 CHILDREN.

HER MOTHER SAYS,
"SHE WOULD NEVER RUN AWAY."

AND THE FAMILY
IS TAKING THIS HARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

I WISH I DID.

EVEN IF IT WAS BAD NEWS,

IT WOULD BE BETTER
THAN NO NEWS AT ALL.

THE PEOPLE OF UNDERWOOD

DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP,

WHILE FEAR TAKES
HOLD OF THE TOWN.

EVERYONE WAS SCARED.

WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY
SEE KIDS OUT AND ABOUT

ON THEIR OWN
ON THEIR BIKES, WALKING,

SUDDENLY IT WAS MUCH
MORE OF A GHOST TOWN.

UNFORTUNATELY,
STORIES OF DISAPPEARING CHILDREN

HAVE BECOME ALL TOO FAMILIAR.

IT IS EVERY PARENT'S WORST FEAR,

AND IT IS HAPPENING
MORE AND MORE OFTEN.

CHILDREN ARE KIDNAPPED.

WHILE THESE STORIES
OFTEN HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS...

WE GOT HER BACK!

...SOMETIMES A PARENT'S
WORST FEAR IS REALIZED.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DO THIS

TO A 6-YEAR-OLD CHILD.

I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF IT.

BUT IN THE '80s,

THE NATION DECIDED
ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH,

AND A PLAN WAS HATCHED TO HELP
FIND THESE MISSING KIDS.

SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE

WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTLY
AFTER THE MILK-CARTON CAMPAIGNS

INVOLVING MISSING CHILDREN
WERE INITIATED.

1984 SAW
THE FIRST MILK-CARTON ADS

APPEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

BEARING THE FACE
OF 6-YEAR-OLD ETAN PATZ,

WHO WENT MISSING FROM
A NEW YORK CITY STREET CORNER.

WE ARE TRYING
TO LOCATE A LOST CHILD

BY THE NAME OF ETAN PATZ.

THIS TREND SPREADS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

WITH MORE AND MORE FACES

FILLING UP THE SIDES OF
MILK CARTONS AROUND THE NATION.

TO THE PEOPLE OF UNDERWOOD,
THESE MILK-CARTON ADS

WERE A PRODUCT
OF DANGEROUS CITIES,

NOT A SMALL TOWN LIKE THEIRS.

BUT SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE
CHANGES ALL OF THAT.

THE COMMUNITY EVEN ATTACHES
A PICTURE OF SARAH

TO LOCAL PEPSI BOTTLES,

THEIR OWN TAKE ON
THE MILK-CARTON CAMPAIGN.

SARAH WAS ON THE PEPSI BOTTLE.

20,000 BOTTLE HANGERS
ARE BEING PRINTED FOR NOW.

THEY WILL BE HUNG
ON 2-LITER PEPSI BOTTLES

WHEREVER PEPSI IS SOLD IN
MOST OF THE TRI-STATE AREA.

THE FLYER IS AN EFFORT
TO REMIND PEOPLE

THAT SARAH STILL
HAS NOT BEEN FOUND.

IT'S REALLY ETCHED IN OUR MINDS
THAT PICTURE

OF THAT JUST CUTE,
INNOCENT LITTLE GIRL.

ALL OF THE PUBLICITY
SPARKS A FLOOD OF TIPS.

TIPS WERE COMING IN.

PEOPLE EITHER THOUGHT THEY SAW
SOMETHING OR KNEW SOMETHING

OR HAD A THEORY ABOUT
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

A LOT OF HOURS TRYING
TO SIFT THROUGH

WHAT SEEMED LEGITIMATE
TO CHECK OUT

AND WHAT JUST SEEMED CRAZY.

POLICE FOLLOW UP
ON EACH AND EVERY TIP.

MOST ARE FRUITLESS,
BUT ON MAY 22, 1985,

A NEIGHBOR CONTACTS
INVESTIGATORS

WITH A INTERESTING
BIT OF INFORMATION.

WE DID GET A CALL
FROM AN INDIVIDUAL

WHO SAID THAT HE WAS
ON THE WHISKEY ROAD

AND OBSERVED SARAH WALKING...

...BUT, ALSO, HE HAD THOUGHT
HE HAD SAW A GREEN CAR

ON THE ROAD THAT SAME DAY.

HE HAD DESCRIBED
THAT, AFTER HE HAD PASSED HER

AND HE CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD,

HE HAD OBSERVED
A GREEN CHEVROLET

THAT HAD BEEN TRAVELING
IN FRONT OF HIM

SLOW AND TURN
INTO A FARM APPROACH,

AND THEN AS HE WENT BY IT
AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD,

HE SAW THAT IT TURNED AROUND

AND STARTED DRIVING BACK
IN THE DIRECTION OF SARAH.

THE GREEN CHEVROLET
IS THE TYPE OF LEAD

POLICE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

THEY ARE DETERMINED
TO FIND THE DRIVER.

WE RAN ALL THE LICENSE PLATES
IN MINNESOTA

INVOLVING A GREEN VEHICLE
ABOUT THAT YEAR IN VINTAGE,

AND THERE WAS JUST HUNDREDS.

WHILE THEY PORE OVER
THE VEHICLE RECORDS,

HUNDREDS OF OTHER LEADS

CONTINUE TO COME IN
FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE WAS A BRIEF MOMENT
WHERE SOMEBODY SAID,

"WELL, MAYBE HER MOM
CAME AND GOT HER,"

BECAUSE HER MOM WASN'T
IN THE PICTURE.

I RECALL A PSYCHIC SAYING
THAT SHE ENVISIONED SARAH

IN AN OUTBUILDING NEAR A LAKE.

PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT

THEY MIGHT HAVE SEEN HER
IN TEXAS,

AT TRUCK STOPS IN IOWA.

A GIRL WAS SEEN, I BELIEVE,
IN MONTANA IN A SEMI.

OTTER TAIL COUNTRY SHERIFF
GLEN MELBY SAYS,

"THE WORD IS OUT ABOUT
THE MISSING GIRL,

AND THERE HAVE BEEN
SEVERAL LEADS,

BUT NONE OF THE CLUES
HAVE PANNED OUT."

BUT WHILE DETECTIVES
PAINSTAKINGLY

INVESTIGATE EACH LEAD,

THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO
GROW MORE AND MORE ANXIOUS.

THEN, ON JULY 6th,

SEVEN WEEKS
AFTER SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE,

A FARMER IS WORKING
IN HIS FIELD.

HE NOTICES THAT HIS COWS

AREN'T GOING
NEAR A CERTAIN PATCH.

IN FACT, GRASS HAS GROWN UP.
THISTLES HAVE GROWN UP.

HE GOES OUT AND MAKES
THE GRISLY DISCOVERY.

IN 1985, FEAR OF
CHILD ABDUCTIONS IS ON THE RISE,

AND THE TINY TOWN
OF UNDERWOOD, MINNESOTA,

IS ON THE HUNT
FOR ONE OF ITS OWN,

13-YEAR-OLD SARAH ANN RAIRDON.

IT'S NOW BEEN SEVEN WEEKS
SINCE SHE DISAPPEARED...

...WHEN A FARMER IN THE TOWN
OF ROTHSAY, MINNESOTA,

ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AWAY,
IS TENDING TO HIS COWS.

A FARMER NOTICES THAT HIS COWS

AREN'T GOING
NEAR A CERTAIN PATCH.

GRASS HAS GROWN UP.
THISTLES HAVE GROWN UP.

HE WENT OVER TO CHECK IT OUT.

THE OVERGROWN GRASS
IS NEAR A LARGE DRAINAGE DITCH.

AS HE APPROACHES,

HE'S IMMEDIATELY HIT
WITH A FOUL SMELL.

HE PEERS INSIDE THE DITCH
AND MAKES A GRUESOME DISCOVERY.

THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND
THE SKELETON REMAINS

OF A SMALL PERSON,

AND THE ONLY CLOTHING
WAS A PINK T-SHIRT

WITH TWO TEDDY BEARS ON IT.

IT HAD TO BE SARAH RAIRDON.

WE CAN'T REALLY ACCEPT IT YET.

I DON'T THINK THAT
SHE'S NOT COMING BACK.

IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING.

MY DAD CAME DOWN, I THOUGHT, TO
JUST WAKE ME UP TO GO TO CHURCH.

HE SAT NEXT TO ME AND SAID,
"I AM SORRY

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT THEY FOUND SARAH YESTERDAY."

I REMEMBER CRYING
AND COVERING MY EARS

AND JUST BEING
COMPLETELY OUT OF SORTS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS
SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO BELIEVE

THAT SOMEBODY WOULD MURDER HER
UNTIL THEY FOUND HER BODY.

I GOT A CALL FROM THE SHERIFF.

HE SAID, "MIKE, WE FOUND SARAH."

HE WAS VERY SAD.

THE SEARCH
FOR SARAH RAIRDON IS OVER,

BUT THE MYSTERY IS NOT.

A FARMER CUTTING THISTLES
IN THIS PASTURE

FOUND SARAH'S BODY
LATE SATURDAY.

PEOPLE WERE SOBBING.

PEOPLE WERE ANGRY.

ALL THIS TIME AND EFFORT

WE PUT IN
TO TRYING TO FIND SARAH.

THEY WANTED MORE ANSWERS.

SARAH'S BODY
IS TAKEN TO THE CORONER'S OFFICE

FOR AN AUTOPSY.

THERE WERE NO SKULL INJURIES

THAT WOULD SUGGEST
BLUNT-FORCE INJURY.

BUT IN HER STOMACH AREA,

THERE WAS A PIECE
OF MUMMIFIED SKIN,

AND YOU COULD SEE, LIKE,
THERE WAS HOLE MARKS.

THERE WAS THIS SMALL
CYLINDRICAL HOLE IN HER SHIRT

THAT SEEMED TO CORRESPOND
TO A HOLE IN THE SKIN

THAT REMAINED IN THE STOMACH.

THE PRESENCE
OF THE PUNCTURE WOUND

SUGGESTS THAT SHE WAS STABBED,

CONFIRMING THAT THE PEOPLE
OF UNDERWOOD, MINNESOTA,

HAVE A HOMICIDE ON THEIR HANDS.

BUT BEFORE THEY CAN SHIFT
THEIR FOCUS TO FINDING ANSWERS,

THEY MUST SAY GOODBYE
TO THE LITTLE GIRL

IN THE TEDDY BEAR T-SHIRT.

NEARLY THE ENTIRE TOWN
MOURNED SARAH'S DEATH

IN THE GYMNASIUM OF HER SCHOOL.

A DEATH DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND,

NOT ONLY BECAUSE
SARAH WAS SO YOUNG,

BUT BECAUSE
OF THE TROUBLING WAY SHE DIED.

IT WAS PACKED,
ABSOLUTELY PACKED.

THERE WERE PROBABLY AROUND
500 PEOPLE IN THERE.

HER CLASSMATES HAD
WRITTEN SPECIAL NOTES TO SARAH,

PEOPLE WHO MISSED HER SMILE,
HER QUIRKY LAUGH.

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE FAMILY

AND HOW TORN UP THEY WERE,

FEELING JUST HORRIBLE FOR THEM.

JOHN RAIRDON,
HE LOOKED AWAY AND JUST SAID,

"I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE
WOULD DO THIS TO A LITTLE GIRL.

WHOEVER DID THIS IS GONNA PAY."

ONCE SARAH IS LAID TO REST,

THE ATTENTION OF
THE COMMUNITY RETURNS

TO TRACKING DOWN HER KILLER,

AND HER SMALL TOWN
OF UNDERWOOD, MINNESOTA,

IS STRUGGLING
WITH THE THOUGHT

THAT THERE MAY BE
A MURDERER ON THE LOOSE.

YOU KNOW,
IS IT GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR TOWN?

IS THERE SOMEONE ON THE LOOSE
THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF?

WAS IT A SERIAL-TYPE KILLER
THAT'S RUNNING THE STREETS?

WE DIDN'T KNOW.

THE POLICE OFFICERS
AND THE DETECTIVES

WITH THE OTTER TAIL COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT,

THEY WERE EATING
AND BREATHING THIS CASE.

THAT'S WHAT
I WORKED ON EVERY DAY --

12-, 14-, 15-HOUR DAYS.

NOT ONLY ME, BUT
THE OTHER INVESTIGATORS, ALSO.

THEIR PRIME FOCUS?

THE WHEREABOUTS
OF THAT GREEN CHEVY

THAT WAS SEEN MAKING
A U-TURN ON WHISKEY ROAD

THE DAY OF
SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE.

EARLY ON, THERE HAD BEEN
A TIP ABOUT A GREEN CHEVROLET

ONE OF THE WITNESSES
HAD OBSERVED IN THE SAME AREA

WHERE HE HAD DESCRIBED SARAH
WALKING ALONG THE COUNTY ROAD.

AFTER A LOT OF EFFORT
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT,

THEY WERE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY A PERSON

WHO HAD THE REQUISITE
GREEN CHEVROLET.

DETECTIVES TRACK HIM DOWN

AND IMMEDIATELY QUESTION HIM
ABOUT HIS COMMUTE

AND WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS
EVER DRIVEN ON WHISKEY ROAD.

HE NOT ONLY RECALLED
DRIVING ON THAT ROAD,

BUT RECALLED MAKING THE TURN
INTO A FARM APPROACH

TO TURN AROUND.

BUT WHEN THEY TRY TO PLACE HIM

AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
ON THE DAY OF SARAH'S ABDUCTION,

THEY RUN INTO A ROADBLOCK.

SARAH WENT MISSING
ON MAY 20th, A MONDAY.

IT WASN'T THE SAME DAY

THAT SARAH WAS WALKING
ON THE ROAD.

IT WAS A DAY PRIOR
TO HER DISAPPEARANCE.

POLICE CONFIRM HIS WHEREABOUTS

AND ELIMINATE HIM AS A SUSPECT.

THEIR MOST PROMISING LEAD
IS A WASH.

ONE MONTH AFTER THE DISCOVERY
OF SARAH'S BODY,

THERE ARE STILL NO NEW
PROMISING LEADS.

JOHN RAIRDON GOES PUBLIC AGAIN,

THIS TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT MISSING CHILDREN.

HE WAS THE FACE OF FAMILIES
WITH MISSING CHILDREN.

HE DID PANELS.

HE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MINNESOTA

AT THE TIME, DOING SPEECHES.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN
STARTING AN ORGANIZATION

FOR PEOPLE WHOSE CHILDREN
HAD GONE MISSING.

HE WANTED TO BE A LEADER
IN FINDING MISSING KIDS.

BUT FOR THOSE TASKED
WITH FINDING SARAH'S KILLER,

EACH PASSING DAY
BRINGS LESS AND LESS HOPE

THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED.

I THINK THE DETECTIVES THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW, "WHERE DO WE TURN?"

THE WHEELS ARE SPINNING,

AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE CASE
JUST WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

THEN THE BOMBSHELL.

SHORTLY AFTER
SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE,

OFFICIALS FOUND
A NOTEBOOK IN HER SCHOOL.

BUT IT'S ONLY NOW
THAT INVESTIGATORS

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT THE CONTENTS.

IT'S WHAT SHE WROTE
THAT WAS REALLY JARRING.

IT'S OBVIOUS SHE WAS HURTING.

IT'S EARLY AUGUST, 1985,

A MONTH
SINCE SARAH ANN RAIRDON'S BODY

WAS DISCOVERED
DECOMPOSING IN A DITCH.

HUNDREDS OF LEADS
HAVEN'T PANNED OUT,

BUT THEY CONTINUE TO POUR IN.

ONE SUCH LEAD
IS SARAH'S NOTEBOOK,

WHICH WAS FOUND AT HER SCHOOL.

SHE HAD A POETRY BOOK,

BUT IT'S WHAT SHE WROTE
THAT WAS REALLY JARRING

AND REALLY SET UP
SOME RED FLAGS.

WELL, SHE JUST TALKED ABOUT
DEATH AND VIOLENT DEATH

AND ASKING SOMEBODY
NOT TO KILL HER.

JOHN KLINNERT SAID THAT PAPER,

COMBINED
WITH SARAH ANN'S TENDENCY

TO WANT TO STAY LATE AT SCHOOL,

MADE HIM SUSPECT
SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT HOME.

THIS INFORMATION IS ALARMING,

AND DETECTIVES DECIDE
TO QUESTION THE FAMILY

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS
GOING ON AT HOME.

THEIR ATTENTION QUICKLY SHIFTS
TO ONE OF THE CHILDREN

WHO SEEMS VERY RELUCTANT TO HELP
WITH THE INVESTIGATION, JEFF.

IT WAS WELL KNOWN
IN THE COMMUNITY

THAT SARAH DIDN'T GET ALONG
WITH HER STEPSIBLINGS,

ESPECIALLY JEFF.

BASED ON HIS AGE AND THE TENSE
RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH HER,

THEY WORRY HE MAY
HAVE BEEN THE REASON

SARAH'S WRITING
SUCH MORBID POETRY.

SARAH'S STEPBROTHER COULD HAVE
DONE SOMETHING TO HER.

PERHAPS JEFF HAD BEEN
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

AND HAD INTERCEPTED SARAH
BEFORE SHE GOT HOME

AND THEN DONE SOMETHING TO HER.

JEFF IS TIGHT-LIPPED
WITH THEM AT FIRST,

BUT OVER TIME,
THE STRESS OF THE SITUATION

FORCES HIM TO BREAK DOWN
AND ADMIT A DARK FAMILY SECRET.

MANY YEARS AGO,
HE HAD TRIED TO FORCE SARAH

INTO HAVING SEX WITH HIM.

DETECTIVES ARE STUNNED.

THEY GO ON TO ASK IF HE WAS
INVOLVED IN SARAH'S DEATH.

JEFF SAYS HE WASN'T.

WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
A VIABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM

TO HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM

TO HAVE MOVED THE BODY
FROM THAT AREA TO 30 MILES AWAY

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE
A DRIVER'S LICENSE

OR ACCESS TO A MOTOR VEHICLE.

MARILYN AND SOME
OF THE OTHER CHILDREN

ALSO CONFIRMED THAT JEFF
WAS AT THE HOUSE WITH THEM

WHEN SARAH WENT MISSING.

SO POLICE DECIDE
TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK

INTO THE REST
OF THE FAMILY'S ALIBIS.

WELL, INITIALLY
IN THE INVESTIGATION,

WE HAD CHECKED THE FAMILY,

WHERE THEY WERE
AND THEIR LOCATIONS

ON THAT EVENING OF MAY 20th.

OUR PERCEPTION WAS
THAT EVERYONE HAD AN ALIBI.

WE WENT BACK
AND TALKED TO THE SIBLINGS.

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE BREAK
KIND OF CAME IN FOR US.

WHILE INTERVIEWING
SARAH'S STEPSISTERS

ABOUT THE FAMILY'S WHEREABOUTS
ON MAY 20th,

THEY UNCOVER ANOTHER
DARK FAMILY SECRET.

ONE OF THE SIBLINGS SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, JOHN AND SARAH

HAVE A THING GOING."

SHE TELLS HIM THAT, "I KNOW THAT
BECAUSE MY SISTER WALKED IN

ON A SITUATION

WHERE JOHN WAS HAVING SEX
WITH SARAH."

THIS IS A SHOCKING REVELATION.

THAT REALLY TURNED THE PAGE
RIGHT THERE,

TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU.

DETECTIVES SEIZE THE MOMENT.

THEY DECIDED,
"BEFORE JOHN GETS WIND

OF WHAT'S GOING ON
OR ANYTHING ELSE,

WE WANT TO TALK TO HIM."

DETECTIVES CALL JOHN,

NOT LETTING ON WHAT
THEY HAD JUST HEARD,

AND HE AGREES TO
MEET THEM AT HIS HOME

WHEN HE GETS OFF OF WORK.

WHEN JOHN RAIRDON
RETURNED HOME FROM WORK,

LIEUTENANT COWSLER AND
AGENT JACOBSON CONFRONTED HIM,

SAYING, "JOHN, DO YOU AND SARAH
HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON?

ARE YOU HAVING
A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP?"

OF COURSE, HE DENIED IT,
BUT AFTER SPEAKING TO THEM

FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
A PERIOD OF TIME,

HE DID CONFESS THAT THEY
HAD SOMETHING GOING ON.

HE SAID, "WELL, I DID,
BUT IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE."

AND THEN BY THE END
OF THAT INTERVIEW,

IT WAS 10 OR 20 TIMES.

FOR JOHN RAIRDON,
IT WAS A POWER THING.

IT WAS FINDING WAYS
TO NOT GET DISCOVERED.

THE MAN WHO POLICE
SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH

OVER THE SUMMER
IS NOW THEIR LEAD SUSPECT.

HERE YOU HAVE A GUY

THAT'S HAVING SEX
WITH HIS DAUGHTER,

WHO'S 13 YEARS OF AGE.

NOW YOU'VE GOT A MOTIVE.

BUT WHILE JOHN
ADMITS TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE,

HE'S STILL ADAMANT THAT HE HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH HER DEATH.

POLICE CONTINUE TO QUESTION HIM,

BUT HE DOESN'T BUDGE
FROM HIS STORY.

WE CAME TO JOHN.
I SAID, "YOU KNOW,

IS THERE SOMETHING
THAT YOU WANT TO TELL US?"

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "WE REALLY
GOT TO FIND THE KILLER.

WE GOT TO FIND OUT
WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER."

AND I SAID, "YEAH, WE DO.
WE NEED TO GET THIS SOLVED."

AND I SAID,
"JOHN, WERE YOU INVOLVED?"

AND HE WOULD DENY, DENY.

WITHOUT HIM ADMITTING
THAT HE KILLED SARAH,

WE WOULD HAVE A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME PROVING IT,

PARTICULARLY SINCE HE HAD
AN IRONCLAD ALIBI.

WEEKS EARLIER,
DETECTIVES HAD CONFIRMED

THAT JOHN WAS IN ANOTHER TOWN,

CHANGING A TIRE
ON A FARMER'S PROPERTY

SHORTLY BEFORE
SARAH WAS ABDUCTED.

THERE IS NO WAY JOHN COULD HAVE
DRIVEN FROM THAT LOCATION

TO PICK UP SARAH AND KILL HER.

BUT AFTER JOHN'S
CONFESSION TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE,

DETECTIVE SHERBROOKE DECIDES
TO RETURN TO THAT FARMER

AND ASK HIM
A FEW FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.

SO, THEN THEY ASKED HIM,
YOU KNOW,

"CAN YOU SHOW US IN THE FIELD

WHERE YOU WERE
WHEN HE WAS FIXING THIS TIRE?"

AND HE SAID, "SURE."

AND SO THEY STARTED
TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE,

AND THEY EXPECT THAT
HE'S GONNA JUST SHOW THEM

ON HIS FARM WHERE IT IS.

THEN HE SAYS, "WELL, NO.
WE GOT TO GO FOR A RIDE.

I WAS AT A FARM THAT I RENT
OVER BY UNDERWOOD."

IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY
FROM WHERE SARAH DISAPPEARED.

POLICE INVESTIGATE
SARAH ANN RAIRDON'S DEATH

HAVE JUST UNEARTHED
A DISCREPANCY

IN HER FATHER'S ALIBI.

THEY THOUGHT HE WAS WORKING
AT A FARM A FEW TOWNS AWAY,

BUT HE WASN'T.

IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY

FROM WHERE SARAH DISAPPEARED.

SO IT GAVE HIM AMPLE TIME
TO DRIVE FROM THAT FIELD,

DRIVE DOWN THE WHISKEY ROAD,

FIND SARAH, AND KILL HER.

POLICE ASK JOHN
TO RETURN TO THE STATION.

I THINK HE KNEW
THAT HIS STORY WAS UNRAVELING,

INITIALLY DENYING THAT
THERE WAS SEXUAL ABUSE,

AND THEN WHEN PRESSED
BY INVESTIGATORS,

WHO WERE RELENTLESS,

HE FINALLY JUST BROKE.

JOHN AT THAT POINT SAYS TO
CHUCK, "CHUCK, I KILLED SARAH."

"CHUCK," HE SAYS, "YOU MAY WANT
TO CHECK MY TOOLBOX IN MY TRUCK.

IT'LL BE A RED TOOLBOX,
AND INSIDE THE RED TOOLBOX,

THERE WILL BE AN AWL,
WHICH IS LIKE AN ICE PICK."

AND I SAID, "OKAY."

I SAID, "WHY IS THAT, JOHN?"

HE SAID, "BECAUSE THERE MAY BE
BLOOD OR SOMETHING ON IT."

WE READ HIM HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS.

WE TURNED THE RECORDER ON.

WE INTERVIEWED WITH HIM
ABOUT KILLING SARAH.

THEY DECIDED TO DO ANOTHER
INTERVIEW BY VIDEOTAPE.

AND IN
THE POLICE STATION ON VIDEOTAPE,

JOHN RAIRDON FINALLY
TELLS DETECTIVES

WHAT HAPPENED TO SARAH
ON MAY 20, 1985.

WHAT HE TOLD ME IS THAT
ON THE DAY THAT SHE DIED,

HE HAD PICKED HER UP.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT
SHE WAS SMILING, SKIPPING,

SINGING,
'CAUSE THAT WAS JUST HER WAY.

THEY DROVE
A MILE OR TWO OUT OF TOWN

TO WHERE THERE USED TO BE
AN OLD, VACANT HOUSE

AND THAT HE USED TO TAKE HER
THERE QUITE OFTEN TO HAVE SEX.

AND I BELIEVE
WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY --

I THINK SHE SAID, "NO, DAD,
THIS AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN ANYMORE.

I'M 13 YEARS OLD."

SARAH WAS GETTING TO THE AGE
WHERE SHE WANTED TO BE NORMAL,

AND SHE STARTED REFUSING
JOHN RAIRDON'S ADVANCES,

AND HE WOULD BECOME ANGRY.

SHE RUNS DOWN THE GRAVEL ROAD.

JOHN CHASES HER.

HE CONFRONTS HER.

AND HE STABS HER IN HER STOMACH.

WHILE HER OWN SIBLINGS
WERE AT HOME HAVING DINNER

AND WATCHING TV,

SARAH IS DYING AT
THE HANDS OF HER FATHER.

I STABBED HER
IN THE LOWER STOMACH.

THE NEXT THING I CAN SEE

IS HER LAYING ON THE GROUND
WITH BLOOD ALL OVER HER.

WHERE WAS THE BLOOD?

THE BLOOD WAS ALL
OVER HER STOMACH.

JOHN LEAVES SARAH'S
BODY AND RETURNS TO THE HOUSE.

MARILYN'S WORRIED BECAUSE
SARAH HASN'T COME HOME YET

AND TAKES JEFF WITH HER
TO SEARCH THE AREA.

BUT INSTEAD OF STAYING TO MAN
THE PHONES, ONCE MARILYN LEAVES,

JOHN RETURNS TO
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

HE WRAPPED HER BODY
IN A RUG OR A SHEET,

DROVE HER TO ROTHSAY, MINNESOTA,

AND THREW HER INTO A DITCH.

ONCE JOHN CONFESSES
TO THE MURDER OF SARAH,

THE NEWS SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE
THROUGHOUT THE SMALL COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS A FEELING IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS...

THEY WERE SO ANGRY.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY WAS
BETRAYED AT THE VERY LEAST.

JOHN, WHO HAD BEEN
ALL OVER THE NEWSPAPER,

ALL OVER THE TV, BEGGING FOR
HIS DAUGHTER'S SAFE RETURN --

HE'D BEEN PLAYING
WITH US THIS WHOLE TIME.

IT WAS SUCH A BETRAYAL.

WE SUPPORTED HIM.

MARILYN RAIRDON SEEMS
TO BE THE MOST SURPRISED

BY HER HUSBAND'S CONFESSION.

MARILYN RAIRDON SAID TODAY
SHE WAS SHOCKED TUESDAY NIGHT

WHEN SHERIFF'S OFFICIALS
TOLD HER HER HUSBAND

HAD CONFESSED TO THE MURDER
OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

BEING A MOM OR A STEPMOTHER,
I THINK YOU MAY KNOW THAT

OR GET A GUT FEELING
THAT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT,

BUT DID SHE
DEFINITELY KNOW THAT?

I CAN'T SAY THAT SHE DID.

WE BELIEVED THAT SHE KNEW.

WE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE
HARD TO PROVE.

SHE NEVER EXPRESSED
ANYTHING TO ANYBODY.

I WISH SHE HAD.

JOHN IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

AND CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT
IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

AFTER A THREE-WEEK TRIAL,
THE JURY REACHES A VERDICT.

JOHN WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY FOR
THE MURDER OF SARAH ANN RAIRDON

AND ALSO THE SEXUAL ABUSE
OF SARAH ANN RAIRDON.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE.

JOHN RAIRDON
ONCE ASKED THE PUBLIC

TO HELP HIM FIND
HIS MISSING DAUGHTER.

TODAY, HE SAT QUIETLY IN COURT

AS THE JURY CONCLUDED
HE WAS HIS DAUGHTER'S KILLER.

I REMEMBER
THE REACTION IN UNDERWOOD.

NO ELATION, NO CELEBRATION
THAT HE WAS FOUND GUILTY.

THERE WAS JUST REALLY
THIS DEEP, DEEP SADNESS.

THIS WAS THE END OF THE STORY,
AND IT WAS SUCH A TRAGIC ENDING.

AFTER THE TRIAL,
THE TOWN OF UNDERWOOD

STRUGGLES TO PUT THIS
HORRIBLE ORDEAL BEHIND THEM.

BUT IN 1991, JOHN RESURFACES
IN A PRISON INTERVIEW ON TV.

THERE WAS A SHOW CALLED
"CONFESSIONS OF A CRIME"

THAT AIRED ON CABLE.

WHEN THE REPORTER ASKS
HIM ABOUT HIS SLAIN DAUGHTER,

HE GIVES A CHILLING RESPONSE.

I DON'T REALLY THINK
OF SARAH VERY OFTEN.

I REALLY DON'T.

BUT I JUST
CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
JOHN'S REACTION

BECAUSE WE THINK ABOUT
SARAH ALL THE TIME.

SHE'S JUST A PART OF US.

HE KILLED HIS OWN DAUGHTER,

AND HOW THAT CAN'T JUST
LIVE WITH HIM NIGHT AND DAY

IS BEYOND ME.

THE 1980s TRAGICALLY
BROUGHT MISSING CHILDREN'S CASES

TO THE PUBLIC EYE THROUGH MILK
CARTONS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS.

SARAH'S DISAPPEARANCE AND MURDER

BROKE THE SMALL TOWN
OF UNDERWOOD,

BUT THEN BROUGHT THEM
EVEN CLOSER TOGETHER.

I THINK EVEN TODAY
HER CLASSMATES REMEMBER HER

FOR HER LAUGHTER, HER SMILE,

BUT THESE WOMEN NOW HAVE
FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN,

AND THEY REMEMBER SARAH
FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY NO

TO HER FATHER.

I JUST FEEL LIKE SHE HAD
SUCH A BRIGHT LIGHT.

WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT AWAY
FROM HER AND AWAY FROM US?

I THINK
SHE COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN

ANYTHING SHE WANTED TO BE.

I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE
HAD A GREAT LIFE.

I REALLY DO.

SHE COULD HAVE DONE
GREAT THINGS IN THIS WORLD.

THE WHOLE WORLD,
NOT ONLY US FROM UNDERWOOD,

HAVE LOST OUT.