A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 4, Episode 3 - Devil's Advocate - full transcript
Woman: RUTHIE NELSON
AND I WERE FRIENDS.
WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE?
WE HAD PRACTICALLY
THE SAME LIFE.
THE KIDS WENT OFF TO SCHOOL,
OUR HUSBANDS WENT TO WORK,
AND WE HAD ALL DAY TO
OURSELVES.
TV Reporter: IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED
THAT POPULAR SINGER PATSY CLINE
DIED IN A PLANE CRASH
OUTSIDE OF CAMDEN, TENNESSEE
YESTERDAY EVENING.
Woman: TODAY, THEY CALL IT
STAY-AT-HOME MOMS.
BUT NO ONE EXPECTED
THAT MUCH OF US.
WE WERE JUST HOUSEWIVES.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT RUTHIE THOUGHT,
BUT I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND.
RUTHIE KEPT BUSY
WITH HER NEWS STORIES.
SHE WATCHED EVERY NEWS HOUR
AND READ EVERY NEWSPAPER
SHE COULD GET HER HANDS ON.
SHE SAID IT MADE HER FEEL
CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
[ Doorbell rings ]
BUT WHEN HER DOORBELL
RANG THAT MORNING,
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
WOULD COME RIGHT UP
TO HER OWN FRONT DOOR.
AND UP CLOSE...
[ Wheezing ]
...IT WAS TERRIFYING.
HELP ME.
HELP ME.
Officer: SHE WAS ALREADY COLLAPSED
WHEN YOU OPENED THE DOOR?
Nelson: I OPENED THE DOOR,
AND THERE SHE WAS,
ON HER HANDS AND KNEES,
BLOODY LIKE THAT.
Swanson: ON MARCH 6, 1963,
POLICE ARRIVE
AT THE HOUSE OF MRS. NELSON.
MA'AM, DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE
ANYONE ON THE STREET BEHIND HER
WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DOOR?
- THERE WASN'T ANYBODY ELSE
THERE.
Swanson: THEY FIND
A BLOODIED WOMAN.
- YOU SAY THE NAME'S THOMPSON?
- THAT'S RIGHT.
THEIR NEIGHBOR, CAROL THOMPSON,
SHE'S NUDE
UNDER THIS BLUE BATHROBE.
SHE'S CLEARLY BEEN BEATEN
BY A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.
AND SHE HAS MULTIPLE
STAB WOUNDS.
AND THEY NOTICE
JUST A LITTLE POINT
OF A BLADE PROTRUDING
FROM HER NECK.
SHE HAS A KNIFE IN HER THROAT.
CAROL GOES OFF
TO ANCHOR HOSPITAL.
AND SHE LIVES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
YEAH, SHE LIVES
THREE HOUSES DOWN.
SHE HAS KIDS.
CAROL ANN THOMPSON
IS 34 YEARS OLD.
SHE'S THE WIFE
OF T. EUGENE THOMPSON,
WHO EVERYONE SEEMS
TO CALL COTTON.
THEY HAVE FOUR KIDS.
THE KIDS, PRESUMABLY,
ARE AT SCHOOL,
AND COTTON THOMPSON
IS PRESUMABLY AT WORK.
THE DETECTIVES GO DOWN THE BLOCK
AND ENTER THE HOUSE
THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR.
THEY NOTICE
THE KITCHEN DRAWERS OPEN.
KNIVES AND UTENSILS
HAVE SPILLED OUT.
AND THEY SEE BLOOD
ON THOSE DRAWERS.
THEY FOLLOW
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD.
THEY'RE LEAD TO THE FRONT DOOR.
IN POOLS OF BLOOD...
HAND ME
THOSE TWEEZERS.
...THEY FIND THREE ROUNDS
FROM A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FIRED.
AND THEY ALSO NOTICE PIECES
OF BLACK AND WHITE PLASTIC.
LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE SOME
KIND OF HOMEMADE PISTOL GRIP.
THIS PLASTIC JUNK?
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE REPLACE
THE FACTORY HANDLE
WITH THEIR OWN
CUSTOM GRIP.
LOOK AT THAT.
COULD BE THE HANDLE
OF A GUN.
HAD TO BE HITTING
HER PRETTY HARD
TO BREAK LIKE THAT.
AND THE THREE LIVE ROUNDS
HAD PROBABLY
COME OUT OF THE GUN
DURING THIS BEATING.
Swanson: UNDER THE RUG,
THEY FOUND A DIAMOND RING,
PROBABLY CAROL'S.
Medina: THE DOOR WAS LOCKED,
SAFETY LATCH,
AND HAS BEEN PULLED AWAY
FROM THE FRAME.
Swanson: SO SOMEBODY OBVIOUSLY
HAD PULLED AWFULLY HARD ON THAT.
THIS IS ALL MYSTERIOUS STUFF.
THERE IS ONE BATHROOM
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE WASH BASIN.
THERE'S ABOUT 5, 6 INCHES
OF WATER IN THE BATHTUB.
AND CURIOUSLY,
THERE IS A THICK RUBBER HOSE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Medina: THE TRAIL THEN LEADS
TO A BEDROOM.
THIS LOOKS LIKE
A BURGLARY INTERRUPTED.
DRAWERS WERE PULLED OUT.
Swanson: BUT BEST THEY CAN TELL,
THERE'S NOTHING
OF ANY VALUE MISSING.
NO WAY THIS COULD BE
A ROBBERY.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BAFFLED
BY THE CRIME SCENE.
THIS STRUGGLE TOOK PLACE
ON TWO FLOORS.
Medina: THERE'S KITCHEN,
BEDROOM,
BATHROOM AND THE FRONT DOOR
WITH BLOOD ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT IS TOUGH TO DETERMINE
THE SEQUENCE.
AND THEN, SOMEHOW,
MRS. THOMPSON STAGGERED
OVER TO THE NELSON HOUSE.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
WELL, THE FIRST PERSON
THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT IS HER HUSBAND.
HE'S THE DE-FACTO FIRST SUSPECT.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
GRAVES.
Medina: SO THEY
START THE PROCESS
OF LOOKING INTO HIS RECORDS,
WHICH WOULD BECOME
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
IF SHE WOULD DIE.
YEAH, TELL ME
WHAT YOU GOT SO FAR.
AND THEY DISCOVER
A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY,
THROUGH THE ZURICH COMPANY,
IN THE AMOUNT OF
$23,000 OR SO --
A RELATIVELY ROUTINE POLICY.
WHAT ABOUT THE WILL?
HOWEVER, THEY WILL
CONTINUE SEARCHING
FOR SIGNS OF MATERIAL GAIN
AS A MOTIVE FOR THIS ATTACK.
THANK YOU.
THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE
HOW MRS. THOMPSON IS DOING.
AND THEY KNOW THAT
COTTON THOMPSON
IS GONNA BE THERE.
HIS WIFE
IS IN THE OPERATING ROOM.
SHE'S LOST AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF BLOOD.
IF T. EUGENE THOMPSON
WAS INVOLVED,
HE WOULD BE VERY BLOODY.
HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S A LAWYER
WHO'S JUST STEPPED
OUT OF HIS OFFICE.
HE'S DRESSED TO
THE NINES AS ALWAYS.
MR. THOMPSON,
I'M DETECTIVE MILTOWN.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE WAGNER.
WELL, MR. THOMPSON,
DO YOU MIND WALKING US
THROUGH YOUR DAY?
WELL, IT WAS A --
A PRETTY NORMAL DAY,
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
Medina: THAT MORNING,
HE WAKES UP, TAKES A BATH...
OKAY, ONE OVER EASY
COMING RIGHT UP.
HAS THE HAM AND EGGS
THAT CAROL PREPARES FOR HIM
ON MOST MORNINGS.
- ABOUT TIME TO GO, HUH?
- YEAH. I NEED TO GRAB MY MACK.
WHY DON'T YOU GRAB ME
THE PAPER TOO?
I HAD BREAKFAST
WITH MY FAMILY...
ALL RIGHT,
SWEETHEART. BYE.
KISSED MY WIFE GOOD-BYE.
READY?
HE LEAVES THE HOUSE
AT ABOUT 8:00.
AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SPOKE WITH HER?
NO. NO.
UM, I SPOKE TO HER LATER
IN THE DAY, AROUND 8:30.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THOMPSON RESIDENCE.
Swanson:
COTTON CALLS HOME AT 8:30
BECAUSE HE WANTS
TO CONFIRM WITH HIS WIFE
THAT HE'S GONNA PICK UP THE KIDS
WHILE SHE'S AT NIGHT SCHOOL.
WELL,
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
Medina: MR. THOMPSON SAYS
HIS WIFE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS.
THERE DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
AND YOUR SECRETARY
PLACED THAT CALL?
SURE, SHE PLACED THE CALL.
YES.
Swanson: HIS ALIBI IS,
HE WAS AT WORK,
THAT HE WAS IN THE
MINNESOTA BUILDING DOWNTOWN.
THE DETECTIVES CONFIRM
THAT WITH THE SECRETARY
AND ALSO WITH OTHER PEOPLE
IN THE BUILDING.
UH, DO YOU KNOW WHY?
IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY
TO TELL, MR. THOMPSON.
BUT THIS ISN'T FOLLOWING
THE PATTERN OF A USUAL BURGLARY.
CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE
WHO MIGHT HAVE HELD A GRUDGE
AGAINST YOUR WIFE?
NO.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY
WHO HAD ANY ILL WILL
TOWARDS CAROL.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU,
MR. THOMPSON.
AND... I HAVE THIS.
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
YOU FIND THE GUY.
I WENT TO CHURCH
AND PRAYED ALL MORNING
THAT CAROL WOULD BE OKAY.
BUT LIKE THEY SAY, SOMETIMES,
GOD HAS OTHER PLANS.
LORD ONLY KNOWS WHY.
Thompson: I WAS
IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.
AND I REMEMBER BEING
IN CHOIR PRACTICE
WHEN I GOT CALLED OUT
AND MET BY PASTOR PEYTON.
I KNEW IT WAS BAD.
Swanson: DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS
OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL STAFF,
CAROL THOMPSON HAS SUCCUMB
TO HER INJURIES.
LIKE MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID,
GOD ANSWERS ALL PRAYERS.
IT'S JUST SOMETIMES,
HE SAYS "NO."
SHE ALSO USED TO SAY THAT GRIEF
HELPS US FIND OUR PURPOSE.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE
THING TO DO NOW --
FIND WHOEVER WAS RESPONSIBLE
AND PUT HIM AWAY FOR GOOD.
Woman: IN THOSE DAYS,
WE ALL THOUGHT OF ST. PAUL
AS MORE OF A SMALL TOWN
THAN A BIG CITY.
THAT WAS MINNEAPOLIS.
ON OUR SIDE OF THE RIVER,
IT FELT SAFE FOR YOUR KIDS
TO PLAY OUTSIDE.
YOU'D NEVER EVEN THINK
TO LOCK YOUR DOORS.
BEING ATTACKED
IN OUR OWN HOMES
WAS THE LAST THING
WE'D EVER THINK COULD HAPPEN,
ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE
LIKE CAROL.
THAT'S WHY THE FIRST QUESTION
THOSE DETECTIVES HAD
WAS WHAT CAROL WAS LIKE.
THAT WAY, THEY COULD FIGURE OUT
WHO COULD WANT TO HURT HER.
Swanson: THE POLICE START TALKING
TO HER NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS,
CLOSE FRIENDS OF MANY YEARS.
THEY EVEN CAME TO MY DOOR.
THEY WERE THE HAPPIEST FAMILY
I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.
[ CHILDREN LAUGHING ]
THEY BELONGED ON THE COVER
OF A MAGAZINE.
HI, GUYS. CHEERS.
HI, GOOD
TO SEE EVERYBODY.
Swanson: CAROL IS THE ONLY CHILD
OF ANTONIAS OTTO SWOBODA.
HE'S A SELF-MADE,
VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN.
SHE WAS POPULAR.
SHE WAS SMART.
CAROL WAS IN THE TOP 10
OF HER GRADUATING CLASS
AT MONROE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WHO'S CALLING IT?
SHE WENT TO MACALESTER COLLEGE.
SHE WAS INTERESTED IN RUSSIAN.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WOMEN
WERE THINKING ABOUT CAREERS
IN THOSE DAYS,
SHE FANCIED
HERSELF A LIBRARIAN.
Thompson: MY FATHER
WAS FROM ELMORE, MINNESOTA.
HE WENT TO COLLEGE
AT MACALESTER, MET MY MOM THERE.
HELLO, HELLO.
CAROL MEETS COTTON
IN HER SOPHOMORE YEAR.
THEY QUICKLY FALL IN LOVE,
AND SHE DROPS OUT
10 MONTHS LATER TO MARRY HIM.
ONE AND TWO
AND THREE AND FOUR.
WE USED TO JOKE
THAT CAROL SHOULD WIN
HAPPY HOMEMAKER OF THE MONTH
IN ONE OF THOSE
WOMEN'S MAGAZINES.
SHE NEVER SEEMED TO TIRE
OF BEING A WIFE AND A MOTHER.
SHE WAS A DEN MOTHER
AND A SCOUT LEADER.
BUT I KNOW NOW THAT NO HOME
IS AS PERFECT AS IT SEEMS
WHEN YOU'RE JUST
STANDING OUT ON THE PORCH.
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE INSIDE.
I'D BE LYING IF I SAID THERE
HADN'T BEEN A WHISPER OR TWO.
* KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE
OF LIFE *
I'M SURE YOU'VE TALKED
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TOLD YOU
HOW PERFECT
THEIR MARRIAGE WAS.
YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY?
WELL...
MAYBE SHE WASN'T SO HAPPY.
MAYBE THERE WAS ONE FELLOW
WHO SEEMED TO BE AROUND A LOT.
REFRESH MY MEMORY.
I DON'T PLAY, RIGHT?
I JUST LAY OUT?
DO YOU NEED
TO SET OUT YOUR CARDS?
- LIKE A DUMMY?
- LIKE A DUMMY.
BIG RED WAS THE WAY WE KNEW
THIS FRIEND OF MY MOTHER.
Swanson: HE WAS A TALL,
REDHEADED CHARMING FELLOW.
- OKAY.
- HELLO, HELLO.
- OH, IS THE FUN OVER HERE?
- YEAH. IT IS.
HE WAS NOT A FRIEND
OF MY FATHER'S.
Swanson: HE WAS AROUND A LOT.
THEY DO SOME THINGS TOGETHER
THAT WOULD FEED THE RUMOR MILL.
THEY MAY PICNIC IN THE BACK YARD
OR SOMETIMES, THEY GO UP
TO THE THOMPSON CABIN.
I'M THE DUMMY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
MIND YOU,
THESE ARE JUST
MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS.
CAROL IS FOUND NAKED,
EXCEPT FOR THIS BLUE ROBE.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
COULD THERE HAVE
BEEN A RENDEZVOUS
AFTER THE HUSBAND LEAVES
FOR WORK?
THE DETECTIVES...
AFTERNOON.
...TRACK DOWN BIG RED.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M DETECTIVE MILTOWN.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE WAGNER.
WE'RE HERE ABOUT
CAROL THOMPSON.
DO YOU HAVE
A MOMENT TO TALK?
YEAH.
YEAH. OF COURSE, SURE.
SO, HOW
DO YOU KNOW CAROL?
SHE CAME INTO
THE SHOP ONE DAY.
YOU BECAME FRIENDLY?
CAROL WAS, UH, WELL,
SHE WASN'T LIKE ANYONE
I EVER KNEW BEFORE.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD
QUITE A RELATIONSHIP.
NO.
WHERE WERE YOU ON
THE MORNING OF MARCH 6?
I WAS AT WORK.
SHE WAS A STAND-UP GIRL.
SO DON'T YOU GO
BESMIRCHING HER HONOR
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
Medina: HE SAYS HE WAS AT WORK.
Swanson: HIS BOSS VERIFIES THAT.
AT THIS POINT, HE'S RULED OUT
AS A SUSPECT.
Thompson: SO NOW, THE DETECTIVES
HAD RUN INTO A DEAD END.
WHAT HAVEN'T WE
LOOKED INTO YET?
THE PLASTIC PIECES
ON THE PISTOL GRIP.
THEY REGROUP AND GO BACK
TO WHAT THE CRIME SCENE
COULD POSSIBLY TELL THEM.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY REALIZE THAT
THE PISTOL GRIP IS FROM A LUGER.
IT'S A GUN THAT MOST PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE AT THAT POINT.
WE COULD GO PUBLIC.
MAYBE SOMEONE
WILL RECOGNIZE IT.
McAuliffe: WE WOULD LIKE
TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SEEN THIS
PARTICULAR GRIP OR ONE LIKE IT
TO CALL THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Swanson: ON APRIL 5,
ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE MURDER,
CHIEF LESTER McAULIFFE
STAGED A PRESS CONFERENCE
HOPING THAT SOMEBODY
IN THE COMMUNITY
IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE
THAT PISTOL GRIP
BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL.
Woman: IT WAS JUST LIKE
ON "PERRY MASON:"
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE NEWS,
A CLUE LEFT AT THE MURDER SCENE
AND THE POLICE ASKING
EVERYBODY FOR HELP.
McAuliffe:
IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL GRIP,
MADE OF TWO SHEETS
OF WHITE PLASTIC.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THE PHONE RINGS.
AND DETECTIVES ARE SHOCKED
BY THE PERSON AT THE OTHER END.
THIS IS GRAVES.
Man: That's my gun
you're looking for.
McAuliffe: WE WOULD LIKE
TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SEEN THIS
PARTICULAR GRIP OR ONE LIKE IT
TO CALL THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Woman: IT WASN'T 2 DAYS LATER
THAT DETECTIVES GOT A TIP
ABOUT THAT PISTOL GRIP.
THIS IS GRAVES.
Man: That's my gun
you're looking for.
THE CALLER IDENTIFIES HIMSELF
AS A TRAVELING SALESMAN
WHOSE APARTMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED
ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE MURDER.
AND AMONG THE ITEMS STOLEN
WAS THIS LUGER
WITH THE BLACK-AND-WHITE
LAMINATE PISTOL GRIP
THAT HE HAD MADE
IN A SHOP CLASS.
BUT NOT EVERYONE
WHO CAME FORWARD
WAS JUST LOOKING TO HELP OUT.
EVERY TWO-BIT LOWLIFE
IN ST. PAUL
THOUGHT THEY'D GRAB
A CHANCE TO CUT A DEAL.
HEAR YOU GOT YOURSELF
A GUN, WILLARD.
YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S
WHAT I TOLD THEM.
Swanson: A BURGLAR
NAMED WILLARD INGRAM
IS ARRESTED DURING
A HOLDUP IN ST. PAUL.
Medina: HE HAS SPENT HALF
OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON.
SO, THINK
WE CAN CUT A DEAL?
HE OFFERS UP INFORMATION
ABOUT CRIMES
THAT HE HAS COMMITTED,
HOPING TO SAVE HIMSELF
FROM MORE JAIL TIME.
I STOLE A GUN A FEW WEEKS AGO
WITH A BLACK-AND-WHITE HANDLE,
JUST -- JUST LIKE YOU
SHOWED ON TELEVISION.
THE THING IS THOUGH, UH,
I GAVE THE GUN AWAY.
OH, COME ON.
SOMEONE'S GOING
DOWN FOR THIS.
IT MIGHT AS WELL
BE YOU.
WHO'D YOU GIVE
THE GUN TO?
NORMAN MASTRIAN.
Swanson: NORMAN MASTRIAN
HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN KIND OF A GANGLAND-TYPE
HIT IN 1961.
BUT HE WAS NEVER INDICTED.
THERE AREN'T THAT MANY MURDERS
IN ST. PAUL.
SO THE POLICE ARE INTERESTED
IN THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
NORMAN MASTRIAN IS A 40-YEAR-OLD
FORMER PRIZE FIGHTER.
HE'S KIND OF IN
AND OUT OF TROUBLE.
HEARD YOU HAD A GUN,
MASTRIAN,
REAL NICE LOOKING,
BLACK AND WHITE HANDLE.
DOES SOUND NICE.
THIS IS JUST
A FRIENDLY LITTLE CHAT.
SURE, ABOUT GUNS?
HOW DO YOU KNOW
CAROL THOMPSON?
CAROL WHO?
WHAT DID THAT NICE LADY
EVER DO TO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE WITNESSES
LINKING YOU TO THE GUN.
IT'S OVER.
I WANT A LAWYER.
NORMAN MASTRIAN
WAS AN OLD PRO.
AW, GUYS, WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE FRIENDLY CHAT?
AND HE WASN'T GONNA TALK.
CAROL WAS ALWAYS VERY
PRACTICAL.
IF SHE'D BEEN ALIVE,
I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE SAID,
"WHATEVER IT IS,
IT ISN'T GONNA BRING ME BACK.
JUST MAKE SURE THE KIDS
ARE ALL RIGHT."
THAT'S THE KIND
OF PERSON CAROL WAS.
BUT THE REST OF US
WANTED JUSTICE,
THE POLICE MOST OF ALL.
BUT MASTRIAN COULD STAY
CLAMMED UP ALL DAY
AS LONG AS THEY COULD
FIND SOMEBODY
WHO HAD SEEN HIM WITH THAT GUN.
Thompson: AND THEY RUN ACROSS
HENRY BUTLER.
Swanson: BUTLER TOO SAW
THAT LUGER WITH NORMAN MASTRIAN.
THE DAY BEFORE CAROL THOMPSON
WAS MURDERED.
BUT THEY DID ONE BETTER EVEN.
Thompson: HE SEES MASTRIAN GIVE
THE GUN TO YET ANOTHER PERSON --
DICK ANDERSON.
Swanson: BUTLER
CAN TELL THE POLICE,
FURTHERMORE, THAT ANDERSON
HAS SKIPPED TOWN.
RIGHT, THIS IS
DETECTIVE MILTOWN
WITH THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE INTERESTED
IN THE WHEREABOUTS OF ONE
DICK ANDERSON.
THEY LEARN FROM A REPORTER,
WHO SOMEHOW GETS ONTO THIS,
THAT DICK ANDERSON
IS IN PHOENIX.
WAGNER.
YEAH.
YES.
WE GOT HIM.
THE POLICE FIND HIM
AT A MOTEL IN PHOENIX,
JUST AS HE'S ABOUT READY
TO CHECK OUT.
DICK ANDERSON IS
A 35-YEAR-OLD MARINE VETERAN.
HE SERVED IN KOREA.
HE SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS
FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED
A PURPLE HEART.
WHAT TOOK YOU DOWN TO PHOENIX
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I WAS ON VACATION.
WE KNOW MASTRIAN
GAVE YOU THE GUN.
WHY'D YOU KILL HER?
YOU WERE STRAPPED
FOR CASH, YEAH?
SHE WALKED IN ON YOU.
YOU PANICKED.
JUST TELL US.
Thompson: HE'S HANGING TOUGH.
HE DIDN'T WANNA
TELL THEM ANYTHING.
THEY HOLD HIM
BECAUSE HE IS PRIME SUSPECT.
BUT DICK ANDERSON
IS NOT YET CHARGED
WITH CAROL THOMPSON'S MURDER.
IT SEEMED LIKE ANYONE
WITH TWO EYES AND A NOSE
HAD COME INTO CONTACT
WITH THAT GUN.
Graves: INGRAM TO MASTRIAN,
MASTRIAN TO ANDERSON...
IT WAS LOOKING LIKE THE BUCK
STOPPED WITH DICK ANDERSON.
BUT THINKING YOU KNOW
WHO DONE IT
ISN'T THE SAME THING
AS KNOWING WHY.
ALL THE NEWSPAPERS SAID
THE CRIME SCENE WAS STAGED
TO LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.
SO IF IT WASN'T A REAL ROBBERY,
THEN WHAT DID
THEY WANT WITH CAROL?
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
GRAVES.
WAGNER.
MILTOWN.
YEAH.
WELL, I THINK JUST ABOUT
EVERYBODY IN TOWN
HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
THAT.
THE POLICE ARE JUST FLOODED
WITH CALLS AND LETTERS.
YES, MA'AM.
OF COURSE.
I'M SURE HALF OF IT
WAS GARDEN-VARIETY GOSSIP.
WE'LL CERTAINLY
LOOK INTO THAT.
GOOD-BYE.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
POLICE.
BUT GOOD POLICE ALWAYS KNOW
HOW TO SORT THE WHEAT
FROM THE CHAFF.
WHAT WAS
THAT NAME AGAIN?
Swanson: THERE WERE
SEVERAL CALLS THAT CAME IN
SUGGESTING THAT THE POLICE
LOOK INTO A WOMAN
NAMED JACKIE OLSEN.
SHE HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH COTTON THOMPSON.
SHE HAD BEEN HIS MISTRESS.
OKAY, SO I CAN ADMIT
THAT I WAS ALWAYS
A LITTLE JEALOUS OF CAROL.
EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS
FLAWLESS.
IT USED TO TIE US UP IN KNOTS.
BUT WHEN WE FOUND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER,
IT ALL JUST SEEMED SO SILLY.
NOT TO MENTION, IT REMINDED US
OF HOW NONE OF US REALLY KNOWS
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH EACH OTHER DEEP DOWN.
AS FAR AS ANYONE COULD TELL,
CAROL AND THAT CREEPY
DICK ANDERSON
NEVER ONCE SHOPPED
AT THE SAME SUPERMARKET,
LET ALONE HAD A CONVERSATION.
MAYBE SOMEONE, SOMEONE JEALOUS,
SOMEONE WHO NEEDED
CAROL OUT OF THE PICTURE,
HAD PUT ANDERSON UP TO IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WENT
TO SEE HIM THE WEEK
BEFORE THE MURDER.
Swanson: A WEEK OR SO
BEFORE THE MURDER,
THIS WOMAN, JACKIE OLSEN,
HAD VISITED T. EUGENE
IN HIS OFFICE.
SO I ASSUME YOU KNOW
WHY WE'RE HERE, MRS. OLSEN?
I THINK I'VE GOT
A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
I SLEPT WITH A MARRIED MAN.
Swanson: SHE DOESN'T DENY
THE AFFAIR AT ALL.
**
SHE MET HIM WHEN HE WAS
HANDLING THE DIVORCE
OF A FRIEND OF HERS.
FOR A WHILE, SHE WORKED FOR HIM.
SHE WAS HIS SECRETARY.
SO HE TOOK HER
ON BUSINESS TRIPS.
THEY WOULD GO UP TO RESORT AREAS
AND CABINS
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
**
Olsen: UNDERSTAND, DETECTIVES,
I WANTED TO MARRY HIM.
WELL, IF I DON'T KNOW
HOW SILLY THAT WAS.
SO WHEN DID THIS AFFAIR
END THEN?
A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
AND WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOU,
CONSIDERING THE FACT
THAT YOU WERE
IN MR. THOMPSON'S OFFICE
JUST A WEEK BEFORE
MRS. THOMPSON WAS MURDERED?
IF YOU'RE SUGGESTING
THAT I HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH CAROL'S DEATH,
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
A GIRL CAN'T WAIT
AROUND FOREVER.
THESE THINGS HAVE
AN EXPIRATION DATE.
Coontz: SHE WAITED FOR HIM,
EVIDENTLY, FOR 2 YEARS.
AND WHEN HE REFUSED
TO LEAVE HIS WIFE,
SHE ACTUALLY WENT
AND MARRIED SOMEONE ELSE.
EXCUSE ME.
MARRIAGE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS.
YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAYBE I WANTED TO BELIEVE
IN COTTON AND CAROL'S MARRIAGE.
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING
OUT OF A FAIRY TALE.
BUT FAIRY TALES
ARE FICTION AFTER ALL.
HI, GUYS. CHEERS.
HI, GOOD TO
SEE EVERYBODY.
BACK THEN,
A WOMAN IN HER POSITION
WOULD JUST HAVE TO
LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
- RIGHT.
- AND YOU'RE SO TINY!
I KNOW.
THE THING ABOUT CAROL WAS,
SHE NEVER SETTLED.
Swanson: CAROL HAD AMBITIONS.
SHE WANTED TO TRAVEL.
SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO GO TO THE SOVIET UNION
AND TOUR OVER THERE.
- HELLO, HELLO, PARTY PEOPLE.
- OH, HEY!
IS EVERYONE HAVING
A GOOD TIME, HONEY?
OH, GOOD, GOOD.
YOU SHOULD GET ME
A DRINK, A REAL ONE.
- OH, SURE, SURE
- THANK YOU.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
Swanson: THERE WERE
ALL KINDS OF THINGS
THAT WOULDN'T JIVE
WITH COTTON'S IDEA
OF WHAT A WIFE
AND MOTHER IS IN 1963.
Coontz: IN THOSE DAYS,
LIFE AS A WIFE
AND MOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A GREATER SOURCE
OF SATISFACTION
FOR WOMEN THAN DOING ANYTHING
ON THEIR OWN.
VERSUS THE MAN,
WHO HAD FREE TIME,
WHO HAD COLLEAGUES
HE COULD HANG OUT WITH
AND DRINK WITH.
Thompson: I KNOW MY MOTHER KNEW
ABOUT MY DAD'S AFFAIR...
OR AFFAIRS.
SHE WAS SADDENED
BY A LOT OF HIS BEHAVIOR.
COTTON WAS A TOUGH,
SELF-ABSORBED CHARACTER.
[ SOBBING ]
Thompson: SO IT
WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME
IF SHE WAS TO REACH OUT
TO ANOTHER PERSON.
- I'LL GO OUT FIRST.
- ALL RIGHT.
COTTON AND JACKIE,
CAROL AND BIG RED...
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND --
COTTON AND JACKIE WERE AN ITEM.
NO ONE KNEW FOR SURE HOW FAR
CAROL AND BIG RED
HAD TAKEN THINGS.
BUT THE FACT REMAINED --
TWO PEOPLE WERE
IN AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE,
AND ONLY ONE OF THEM
MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
Swanson: THE DAY BEFORE
CAROL WAS MURDERED,
OUT OF THE BLUE, SHE SAID,
TO HER SECOND DAUGHTER,
MARGARET,
"WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF I WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE?"
Thompson: MARGARET WAS
VERY SURPRISED AND CONCERNED.
AND THE THOUGHT WAS
THAT SHE WAS PLANNING
ON LEAVING MY FATHER.
LOOKING BACK ON IT,
I HOPE SHE WAS.
HOWEVER, SHE WOULD HAVE
BEEN FOOLISH TO TELL HIM.
SO COTTON HAD CHEATED ON CAROL.
IT WAS A LOUSY THING TO DO.
BUT IT WASN'T MURDER.
BUT IF THE POLICE COULD
CONNECT HIM TO ANDERSON --
THE CREEP WITH THE GUN --
THEN COTTON WOULD REALLY BE
IN HOT WATER.
HOW DOES A GUY LIKE THOMPSON
MEET A GUY LIKE ANDERSON?
WHAT'S THE CONNECTION?
WELL, ANDERSON WAS THE LAST GUY
TO SEE THE GUN.
BUT IT WENT THROUGH
A HECK OF A LOT OF HANDS
BEFORE IT GOT TO HIM.
MAYBE IT'S NOT ANDERSON.
YOU REMEMBER WHO MURDERED
EDDIE JAMES?
MASTRIAN,
BUT WE KNEW THAT.
YEAH.
BUT WHO WAS HIS LAWYER?
Medina: MASTRIAN HAD BEEN
ARRESTED YEARS PRIOR.
WHO WAS HIS CRIMINAL
DEFENSE LAWYER?
COTTON THOMPSON.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THAT WASN'T THE ONLY STRIKE
AGAINST COTTON.
A LITTLE MORE DIGGING
INTO THE THOMPSON FINANCES
TURNED UP SOMETHING
EVEN MORE INTERESTING.
SEE, TURNS OUT THERE
WASN'T JUST ONE
LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
IN CAROL'S NAME.
EIGHT DIFFERENT
INSURANCE POLICIES,
PARCELED OUT
TO DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
Swanson: IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO,
COTTON HAS TAKEN OUT
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT
OF LIFE INSURANCE ON CAROL --
ABOUT $1.1 MILLION.
POLICIES FROM
EIGHT DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS
IN TODAY'S MONEY.
THEN, OF COURSE,
EVERYBODY STARTED SPECULATING
THAT T. EUGENE WAS INVOLVED.
WE HAD A LOT OF GAWKERS.
I REMEMBER PEOPLE DRIVING
RIGHT UP SAYING...
HEY, KID. I THINK
YOUR DAD'S A MURDERER.
OH, WELL, THANKS FOR --
THANKS FOR SHARING.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?
THE POLICE HAD
THE SAME QUESTION.
THERE WAS ONE LITTLE PROBLEM.
INFIDELITY AND BUYING
A LOT OF LIFE INSURANCE
IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW.
WHAT WOULD YOU
CHARGE HIM WITH?
LUCKILY, LOYALTY AMONG
CRIMINALS IN THIS TOWN
WAS ABOUT AS COMMON
AS A CLEAN CONSCIENCE.
IT WAS BY ONE OF THESE
WILLOW TREES, RIGHT?
SO WHEN A MAN
NAMED SHELDON MORRIS
TURNED HIMSELF INTO THE POLICE,
IT WASN'T OUT OF
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.
THE INVESTIGATION
WAS HEATING UP.
AND MORRIS DIDN'T WANT
TO GET BURNED.
HE TELLS THEM, "I DROVE ANDERSON
TO DISPOSE OF SOME EVIDENCE."
- SHELDON?
- YEAH.
CAN I SEE
THAT STICK?
YEAH.
YEAH.
THERE SHE IS.
Swanson: THE SHARDS
OF THAT LAMINATE
FIT LIKE A GLOVE.
Medina: THAT'S NOT
A SMOKING GUN,
BUT THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
SO ON JUNE 20,
ALMOST 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE MURDER,
ANDERSON FINALLY GIVES IT UP.
MASTRIAN CAME TO ME.
HE SAID "I GOT A JOB
THAT NEEDS DOING.
AND I CAN'T DO IT MYSELF."
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
HE SAID HE'D GIVE ME $4,000
IF I CAN MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
Swanson: THE PLAN IS FOR
ANDERSON TO ENTER THE HOUSE
WHILE IT'S STILL DARK,
GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT,
THE SIDE DOOR WILL BE OPEN,
AND WAIT QUIETLY IN THE BASEMENT
WHILE THE FAMILY GETS UP
AND GOES OFF.
Anderson: HE HAD IT SET UP
SO THAT HE WOULD CALL THE HOUSE,
AND SHE WOULD ANSWER
THE PHONE IN THE KITCHEN.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THOMPSON RESIDENCE.
AND THEN, I WOULD COME UP
OUT OF THE BASEMENT
AND HIT HER
WITH THIS RUBBER TUBE.
AND IT WAS, UH, A WHOPPER.
OH, SURE.
I'LL MAKE SURE
THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
[ CREAKING ]
THE BASEMENT STEPS
STARTED CREAKING.
AND -- AND IT WAS SO LOUD.
I DIDN'T WANT HER TO HEAR,
SO I JUST WAITED.
I WAITED UNTIL SHE
FINISHED THE CALL.
AND THEN, SHE WENT
BACK UP THE STAIRS.
AND THEN, I CAME OUT
OF THE BASEMENT.
* LOWLIFES FILLED *
* WITH DARKNESS AND STRIFE *
[ GASPS ]
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
TAKE YOUR GLASSES OFF.
TURN AROUND,
FACEDOWN ON THE BED.
I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU.
I'M JUST GONNA
TAKE SOME MONEY AND GO.
[ THUD ]
I KNOCKED HER UNCONSCIOUS
AND CARRIED HER
OVER TO THE BATHROOM.
THE LAWYER,
HE LEFT WATER IN THE TUB.
AND IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
SHE SLIPPED AND HIT HER HEAD
AND DROWNED IN THE TUB,
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH
THAT ACTIVATES
THE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES.
AND THAT WAS THE PLAN.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
Swanson: UNEXPECTEDLY,
SHE COMES TO.
SOMEHOW, SHE WIGGLES
OUT OF HIS GRIP.
BUT, A MODEST 1963 WOMAN,
SHE RUNS TO PUT ON HER BATHROBE.
[ GUN CLICKS ]
BUT THE GUN JAMS.
[ GRUNTS ]
I HIT HER.
STILL, I COULDN'T KEEP HER DOWN.
AND SHE RAN.
THE FRONT DOOR
HAS THAT CHAIN ON IT.
NO!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE, MY HUSBAND'S A LAWYER.
HE'LL HELP YOU.
JUST TAKE THIS.
OKAY?
JUST TAKE IT.
SHE OFFERS HER WEDDING RING
TO LEAVE HER ALONE.
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE DON'T.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
SO I -- I TRIED --
TRIED TO...
I JUST STARTED HITTING HER.
I HIT HER WITH THE GUN.
[ SCREAMING ]
THE GUN WAS JUST
FALLING TO PIECES.
AND I JUST KEPT
HITTING HER AND HITTING HER.
BUT I COULDN'T KEEP HER DOWN.
SO I GOT A KNIFE.
PLEASE, NO! NO!
AND I STABBED HER OVER AND OVER
[ Voice breaking ]
UNTIL THAT KNIFE BROKE OFF.
AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD.
SO I WENT UP
TO THE BATHROOM TO WASH OFF.
AND I TRIED TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.
BUT I HEARD A NOISE,
AND I WENT OUT TO LOOK.
AND -- AND SHE WAS GONE.
I NEVER SAW SOMEBODY
WHO WANTED TO LIVE SO HARD
IN ALL MY LIFE.
Thompson: MY 14th BIRTHDAY,
I'M LAYING IN BED.
[ KNOCKS ]
AND I HEAR THE COPS COME.
"EUGENE THOMPSON, WE HAVE
A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF.
THE ONE THING I REALLY REMEMBER
ABOUT THE MORNING SHE DIED...
HOW YOU DOING, KIDDO?
- ABOUT TIME TO GO, HUH?
- YEAH. I NEED TO GRAB MY MACK.
WHY DON'T YOU GRAB ME
THE PAPER TOO?
DID YOU LOCK
THE FRONT DOOR?
NO.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU
BE A GOOD BOY
AND LOCK IT UP FOR ME?
OKAY?
WHY?
YOU NEVER KNOW.
HE ASKED ME TO PUT THE CHAIN
ON THE FRONT DOOR.
I'D NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.
[ SIGHS DEEPLY ]
I HAVEN'T FORGIVEN MY FATHER.
AND MY FATHER'S NEVER ASKED
FOR FORGIVENESS.
CAROL LOVED HER KIDS.
AND SHE LOVED HER HOME.
SHE LOVED BEING A MOTHER.
I THINK SHE EVEN LOVED
COTTON...
FOR A TIME.
BUT YOU CAN LOVE
ALL THOSE THINGS
AND STILL WANT MORE.
CAN YOU BLAME HER?
* THERE'S A DARK *
* AND A TROUBLED SIDE OF LIFE *
SHE WASN'T SAINT CAROL.
SHE WAS A REAL PERSON.
SHE WANTED SOMETHING SPECIAL
FROM HER LIFE.
AND MY MOTHER, MYSELF
AND MY SISTERS DESERVED BETTER.
* IT WILL BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY *
* IT WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY *
* IF YOU KEEP *
* ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE *
* WHEN YOU KEEP
ON THE SUNNY SIDE *
* OF LIFE *
AND I WERE FRIENDS.
WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE?
WE HAD PRACTICALLY
THE SAME LIFE.
THE KIDS WENT OFF TO SCHOOL,
OUR HUSBANDS WENT TO WORK,
AND WE HAD ALL DAY TO
OURSELVES.
TV Reporter: IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED
THAT POPULAR SINGER PATSY CLINE
DIED IN A PLANE CRASH
OUTSIDE OF CAMDEN, TENNESSEE
YESTERDAY EVENING.
Woman: TODAY, THEY CALL IT
STAY-AT-HOME MOMS.
BUT NO ONE EXPECTED
THAT MUCH OF US.
WE WERE JUST HOUSEWIVES.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT RUTHIE THOUGHT,
BUT I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND.
RUTHIE KEPT BUSY
WITH HER NEWS STORIES.
SHE WATCHED EVERY NEWS HOUR
AND READ EVERY NEWSPAPER
SHE COULD GET HER HANDS ON.
SHE SAID IT MADE HER FEEL
CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
[ Doorbell rings ]
BUT WHEN HER DOORBELL
RANG THAT MORNING,
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
WOULD COME RIGHT UP
TO HER OWN FRONT DOOR.
AND UP CLOSE...
[ Wheezing ]
...IT WAS TERRIFYING.
HELP ME.
HELP ME.
Officer: SHE WAS ALREADY COLLAPSED
WHEN YOU OPENED THE DOOR?
Nelson: I OPENED THE DOOR,
AND THERE SHE WAS,
ON HER HANDS AND KNEES,
BLOODY LIKE THAT.
Swanson: ON MARCH 6, 1963,
POLICE ARRIVE
AT THE HOUSE OF MRS. NELSON.
MA'AM, DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE
ANYONE ON THE STREET BEHIND HER
WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DOOR?
- THERE WASN'T ANYBODY ELSE
THERE.
Swanson: THEY FIND
A BLOODIED WOMAN.
- YOU SAY THE NAME'S THOMPSON?
- THAT'S RIGHT.
THEIR NEIGHBOR, CAROL THOMPSON,
SHE'S NUDE
UNDER THIS BLUE BATHROBE.
SHE'S CLEARLY BEEN BEATEN
BY A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.
AND SHE HAS MULTIPLE
STAB WOUNDS.
AND THEY NOTICE
JUST A LITTLE POINT
OF A BLADE PROTRUDING
FROM HER NECK.
SHE HAS A KNIFE IN HER THROAT.
CAROL GOES OFF
TO ANCHOR HOSPITAL.
AND SHE LIVES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
YEAH, SHE LIVES
THREE HOUSES DOWN.
SHE HAS KIDS.
CAROL ANN THOMPSON
IS 34 YEARS OLD.
SHE'S THE WIFE
OF T. EUGENE THOMPSON,
WHO EVERYONE SEEMS
TO CALL COTTON.
THEY HAVE FOUR KIDS.
THE KIDS, PRESUMABLY,
ARE AT SCHOOL,
AND COTTON THOMPSON
IS PRESUMABLY AT WORK.
THE DETECTIVES GO DOWN THE BLOCK
AND ENTER THE HOUSE
THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR.
THEY NOTICE
THE KITCHEN DRAWERS OPEN.
KNIVES AND UTENSILS
HAVE SPILLED OUT.
AND THEY SEE BLOOD
ON THOSE DRAWERS.
THEY FOLLOW
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD.
THEY'RE LEAD TO THE FRONT DOOR.
IN POOLS OF BLOOD...
HAND ME
THOSE TWEEZERS.
...THEY FIND THREE ROUNDS
FROM A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FIRED.
AND THEY ALSO NOTICE PIECES
OF BLACK AND WHITE PLASTIC.
LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE SOME
KIND OF HOMEMADE PISTOL GRIP.
THIS PLASTIC JUNK?
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE REPLACE
THE FACTORY HANDLE
WITH THEIR OWN
CUSTOM GRIP.
LOOK AT THAT.
COULD BE THE HANDLE
OF A GUN.
HAD TO BE HITTING
HER PRETTY HARD
TO BREAK LIKE THAT.
AND THE THREE LIVE ROUNDS
HAD PROBABLY
COME OUT OF THE GUN
DURING THIS BEATING.
Swanson: UNDER THE RUG,
THEY FOUND A DIAMOND RING,
PROBABLY CAROL'S.
Medina: THE DOOR WAS LOCKED,
SAFETY LATCH,
AND HAS BEEN PULLED AWAY
FROM THE FRAME.
Swanson: SO SOMEBODY OBVIOUSLY
HAD PULLED AWFULLY HARD ON THAT.
THIS IS ALL MYSTERIOUS STUFF.
THERE IS ONE BATHROOM
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE WASH BASIN.
THERE'S ABOUT 5, 6 INCHES
OF WATER IN THE BATHTUB.
AND CURIOUSLY,
THERE IS A THICK RUBBER HOSE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Medina: THE TRAIL THEN LEADS
TO A BEDROOM.
THIS LOOKS LIKE
A BURGLARY INTERRUPTED.
DRAWERS WERE PULLED OUT.
Swanson: BUT BEST THEY CAN TELL,
THERE'S NOTHING
OF ANY VALUE MISSING.
NO WAY THIS COULD BE
A ROBBERY.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BAFFLED
BY THE CRIME SCENE.
THIS STRUGGLE TOOK PLACE
ON TWO FLOORS.
Medina: THERE'S KITCHEN,
BEDROOM,
BATHROOM AND THE FRONT DOOR
WITH BLOOD ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT IS TOUGH TO DETERMINE
THE SEQUENCE.
AND THEN, SOMEHOW,
MRS. THOMPSON STAGGERED
OVER TO THE NELSON HOUSE.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
WELL, THE FIRST PERSON
THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT IS HER HUSBAND.
HE'S THE DE-FACTO FIRST SUSPECT.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
GRAVES.
Medina: SO THEY
START THE PROCESS
OF LOOKING INTO HIS RECORDS,
WHICH WOULD BECOME
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
IF SHE WOULD DIE.
YEAH, TELL ME
WHAT YOU GOT SO FAR.
AND THEY DISCOVER
A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY,
THROUGH THE ZURICH COMPANY,
IN THE AMOUNT OF
$23,000 OR SO --
A RELATIVELY ROUTINE POLICY.
WHAT ABOUT THE WILL?
HOWEVER, THEY WILL
CONTINUE SEARCHING
FOR SIGNS OF MATERIAL GAIN
AS A MOTIVE FOR THIS ATTACK.
THANK YOU.
THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE
HOW MRS. THOMPSON IS DOING.
AND THEY KNOW THAT
COTTON THOMPSON
IS GONNA BE THERE.
HIS WIFE
IS IN THE OPERATING ROOM.
SHE'S LOST AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF BLOOD.
IF T. EUGENE THOMPSON
WAS INVOLVED,
HE WOULD BE VERY BLOODY.
HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S A LAWYER
WHO'S JUST STEPPED
OUT OF HIS OFFICE.
HE'S DRESSED TO
THE NINES AS ALWAYS.
MR. THOMPSON,
I'M DETECTIVE MILTOWN.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE WAGNER.
WELL, MR. THOMPSON,
DO YOU MIND WALKING US
THROUGH YOUR DAY?
WELL, IT WAS A --
A PRETTY NORMAL DAY,
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
Medina: THAT MORNING,
HE WAKES UP, TAKES A BATH...
OKAY, ONE OVER EASY
COMING RIGHT UP.
HAS THE HAM AND EGGS
THAT CAROL PREPARES FOR HIM
ON MOST MORNINGS.
- ABOUT TIME TO GO, HUH?
- YEAH. I NEED TO GRAB MY MACK.
WHY DON'T YOU GRAB ME
THE PAPER TOO?
I HAD BREAKFAST
WITH MY FAMILY...
ALL RIGHT,
SWEETHEART. BYE.
KISSED MY WIFE GOOD-BYE.
READY?
HE LEAVES THE HOUSE
AT ABOUT 8:00.
AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SPOKE WITH HER?
NO. NO.
UM, I SPOKE TO HER LATER
IN THE DAY, AROUND 8:30.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THOMPSON RESIDENCE.
Swanson:
COTTON CALLS HOME AT 8:30
BECAUSE HE WANTS
TO CONFIRM WITH HIS WIFE
THAT HE'S GONNA PICK UP THE KIDS
WHILE SHE'S AT NIGHT SCHOOL.
WELL,
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
Medina: MR. THOMPSON SAYS
HIS WIFE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS.
THERE DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
AND YOUR SECRETARY
PLACED THAT CALL?
SURE, SHE PLACED THE CALL.
YES.
Swanson: HIS ALIBI IS,
HE WAS AT WORK,
THAT HE WAS IN THE
MINNESOTA BUILDING DOWNTOWN.
THE DETECTIVES CONFIRM
THAT WITH THE SECRETARY
AND ALSO WITH OTHER PEOPLE
IN THE BUILDING.
UH, DO YOU KNOW WHY?
IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY
TO TELL, MR. THOMPSON.
BUT THIS ISN'T FOLLOWING
THE PATTERN OF A USUAL BURGLARY.
CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE
WHO MIGHT HAVE HELD A GRUDGE
AGAINST YOUR WIFE?
NO.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY
WHO HAD ANY ILL WILL
TOWARDS CAROL.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU,
MR. THOMPSON.
AND... I HAVE THIS.
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
YOU FIND THE GUY.
I WENT TO CHURCH
AND PRAYED ALL MORNING
THAT CAROL WOULD BE OKAY.
BUT LIKE THEY SAY, SOMETIMES,
GOD HAS OTHER PLANS.
LORD ONLY KNOWS WHY.
Thompson: I WAS
IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.
AND I REMEMBER BEING
IN CHOIR PRACTICE
WHEN I GOT CALLED OUT
AND MET BY PASTOR PEYTON.
I KNEW IT WAS BAD.
Swanson: DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS
OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL STAFF,
CAROL THOMPSON HAS SUCCUMB
TO HER INJURIES.
LIKE MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID,
GOD ANSWERS ALL PRAYERS.
IT'S JUST SOMETIMES,
HE SAYS "NO."
SHE ALSO USED TO SAY THAT GRIEF
HELPS US FIND OUR PURPOSE.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE
THING TO DO NOW --
FIND WHOEVER WAS RESPONSIBLE
AND PUT HIM AWAY FOR GOOD.
Woman: IN THOSE DAYS,
WE ALL THOUGHT OF ST. PAUL
AS MORE OF A SMALL TOWN
THAN A BIG CITY.
THAT WAS MINNEAPOLIS.
ON OUR SIDE OF THE RIVER,
IT FELT SAFE FOR YOUR KIDS
TO PLAY OUTSIDE.
YOU'D NEVER EVEN THINK
TO LOCK YOUR DOORS.
BEING ATTACKED
IN OUR OWN HOMES
WAS THE LAST THING
WE'D EVER THINK COULD HAPPEN,
ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE
LIKE CAROL.
THAT'S WHY THE FIRST QUESTION
THOSE DETECTIVES HAD
WAS WHAT CAROL WAS LIKE.
THAT WAY, THEY COULD FIGURE OUT
WHO COULD WANT TO HURT HER.
Swanson: THE POLICE START TALKING
TO HER NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS,
CLOSE FRIENDS OF MANY YEARS.
THEY EVEN CAME TO MY DOOR.
THEY WERE THE HAPPIEST FAMILY
I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.
[ CHILDREN LAUGHING ]
THEY BELONGED ON THE COVER
OF A MAGAZINE.
HI, GUYS. CHEERS.
HI, GOOD
TO SEE EVERYBODY.
Swanson: CAROL IS THE ONLY CHILD
OF ANTONIAS OTTO SWOBODA.
HE'S A SELF-MADE,
VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN.
SHE WAS POPULAR.
SHE WAS SMART.
CAROL WAS IN THE TOP 10
OF HER GRADUATING CLASS
AT MONROE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WHO'S CALLING IT?
SHE WENT TO MACALESTER COLLEGE.
SHE WAS INTERESTED IN RUSSIAN.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WOMEN
WERE THINKING ABOUT CAREERS
IN THOSE DAYS,
SHE FANCIED
HERSELF A LIBRARIAN.
Thompson: MY FATHER
WAS FROM ELMORE, MINNESOTA.
HE WENT TO COLLEGE
AT MACALESTER, MET MY MOM THERE.
HELLO, HELLO.
CAROL MEETS COTTON
IN HER SOPHOMORE YEAR.
THEY QUICKLY FALL IN LOVE,
AND SHE DROPS OUT
10 MONTHS LATER TO MARRY HIM.
ONE AND TWO
AND THREE AND FOUR.
WE USED TO JOKE
THAT CAROL SHOULD WIN
HAPPY HOMEMAKER OF THE MONTH
IN ONE OF THOSE
WOMEN'S MAGAZINES.
SHE NEVER SEEMED TO TIRE
OF BEING A WIFE AND A MOTHER.
SHE WAS A DEN MOTHER
AND A SCOUT LEADER.
BUT I KNOW NOW THAT NO HOME
IS AS PERFECT AS IT SEEMS
WHEN YOU'RE JUST
STANDING OUT ON THE PORCH.
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE INSIDE.
I'D BE LYING IF I SAID THERE
HADN'T BEEN A WHISPER OR TWO.
* KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE
OF LIFE *
I'M SURE YOU'VE TALKED
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TOLD YOU
HOW PERFECT
THEIR MARRIAGE WAS.
YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY?
WELL...
MAYBE SHE WASN'T SO HAPPY.
MAYBE THERE WAS ONE FELLOW
WHO SEEMED TO BE AROUND A LOT.
REFRESH MY MEMORY.
I DON'T PLAY, RIGHT?
I JUST LAY OUT?
DO YOU NEED
TO SET OUT YOUR CARDS?
- LIKE A DUMMY?
- LIKE A DUMMY.
BIG RED WAS THE WAY WE KNEW
THIS FRIEND OF MY MOTHER.
Swanson: HE WAS A TALL,
REDHEADED CHARMING FELLOW.
- OKAY.
- HELLO, HELLO.
- OH, IS THE FUN OVER HERE?
- YEAH. IT IS.
HE WAS NOT A FRIEND
OF MY FATHER'S.
Swanson: HE WAS AROUND A LOT.
THEY DO SOME THINGS TOGETHER
THAT WOULD FEED THE RUMOR MILL.
THEY MAY PICNIC IN THE BACK YARD
OR SOMETIMES, THEY GO UP
TO THE THOMPSON CABIN.
I'M THE DUMMY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
MIND YOU,
THESE ARE JUST
MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS.
CAROL IS FOUND NAKED,
EXCEPT FOR THIS BLUE ROBE.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
COULD THERE HAVE
BEEN A RENDEZVOUS
AFTER THE HUSBAND LEAVES
FOR WORK?
THE DETECTIVES...
AFTERNOON.
...TRACK DOWN BIG RED.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M DETECTIVE MILTOWN.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE WAGNER.
WE'RE HERE ABOUT
CAROL THOMPSON.
DO YOU HAVE
A MOMENT TO TALK?
YEAH.
YEAH. OF COURSE, SURE.
SO, HOW
DO YOU KNOW CAROL?
SHE CAME INTO
THE SHOP ONE DAY.
YOU BECAME FRIENDLY?
CAROL WAS, UH, WELL,
SHE WASN'T LIKE ANYONE
I EVER KNEW BEFORE.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD
QUITE A RELATIONSHIP.
NO.
WHERE WERE YOU ON
THE MORNING OF MARCH 6?
I WAS AT WORK.
SHE WAS A STAND-UP GIRL.
SO DON'T YOU GO
BESMIRCHING HER HONOR
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
Medina: HE SAYS HE WAS AT WORK.
Swanson: HIS BOSS VERIFIES THAT.
AT THIS POINT, HE'S RULED OUT
AS A SUSPECT.
Thompson: SO NOW, THE DETECTIVES
HAD RUN INTO A DEAD END.
WHAT HAVEN'T WE
LOOKED INTO YET?
THE PLASTIC PIECES
ON THE PISTOL GRIP.
THEY REGROUP AND GO BACK
TO WHAT THE CRIME SCENE
COULD POSSIBLY TELL THEM.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY REALIZE THAT
THE PISTOL GRIP IS FROM A LUGER.
IT'S A GUN THAT MOST PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE AT THAT POINT.
WE COULD GO PUBLIC.
MAYBE SOMEONE
WILL RECOGNIZE IT.
McAuliffe: WE WOULD LIKE
TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SEEN THIS
PARTICULAR GRIP OR ONE LIKE IT
TO CALL THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Swanson: ON APRIL 5,
ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE MURDER,
CHIEF LESTER McAULIFFE
STAGED A PRESS CONFERENCE
HOPING THAT SOMEBODY
IN THE COMMUNITY
IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE
THAT PISTOL GRIP
BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL.
Woman: IT WAS JUST LIKE
ON "PERRY MASON:"
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE NEWS,
A CLUE LEFT AT THE MURDER SCENE
AND THE POLICE ASKING
EVERYBODY FOR HELP.
McAuliffe:
IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL GRIP,
MADE OF TWO SHEETS
OF WHITE PLASTIC.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THE PHONE RINGS.
AND DETECTIVES ARE SHOCKED
BY THE PERSON AT THE OTHER END.
THIS IS GRAVES.
Man: That's my gun
you're looking for.
McAuliffe: WE WOULD LIKE
TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SEEN THIS
PARTICULAR GRIP OR ONE LIKE IT
TO CALL THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Woman: IT WASN'T 2 DAYS LATER
THAT DETECTIVES GOT A TIP
ABOUT THAT PISTOL GRIP.
THIS IS GRAVES.
Man: That's my gun
you're looking for.
THE CALLER IDENTIFIES HIMSELF
AS A TRAVELING SALESMAN
WHOSE APARTMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED
ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE MURDER.
AND AMONG THE ITEMS STOLEN
WAS THIS LUGER
WITH THE BLACK-AND-WHITE
LAMINATE PISTOL GRIP
THAT HE HAD MADE
IN A SHOP CLASS.
BUT NOT EVERYONE
WHO CAME FORWARD
WAS JUST LOOKING TO HELP OUT.
EVERY TWO-BIT LOWLIFE
IN ST. PAUL
THOUGHT THEY'D GRAB
A CHANCE TO CUT A DEAL.
HEAR YOU GOT YOURSELF
A GUN, WILLARD.
YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S
WHAT I TOLD THEM.
Swanson: A BURGLAR
NAMED WILLARD INGRAM
IS ARRESTED DURING
A HOLDUP IN ST. PAUL.
Medina: HE HAS SPENT HALF
OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON.
SO, THINK
WE CAN CUT A DEAL?
HE OFFERS UP INFORMATION
ABOUT CRIMES
THAT HE HAS COMMITTED,
HOPING TO SAVE HIMSELF
FROM MORE JAIL TIME.
I STOLE A GUN A FEW WEEKS AGO
WITH A BLACK-AND-WHITE HANDLE,
JUST -- JUST LIKE YOU
SHOWED ON TELEVISION.
THE THING IS THOUGH, UH,
I GAVE THE GUN AWAY.
OH, COME ON.
SOMEONE'S GOING
DOWN FOR THIS.
IT MIGHT AS WELL
BE YOU.
WHO'D YOU GIVE
THE GUN TO?
NORMAN MASTRIAN.
Swanson: NORMAN MASTRIAN
HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN KIND OF A GANGLAND-TYPE
HIT IN 1961.
BUT HE WAS NEVER INDICTED.
THERE AREN'T THAT MANY MURDERS
IN ST. PAUL.
SO THE POLICE ARE INTERESTED
IN THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
NORMAN MASTRIAN IS A 40-YEAR-OLD
FORMER PRIZE FIGHTER.
HE'S KIND OF IN
AND OUT OF TROUBLE.
HEARD YOU HAD A GUN,
MASTRIAN,
REAL NICE LOOKING,
BLACK AND WHITE HANDLE.
DOES SOUND NICE.
THIS IS JUST
A FRIENDLY LITTLE CHAT.
SURE, ABOUT GUNS?
HOW DO YOU KNOW
CAROL THOMPSON?
CAROL WHO?
WHAT DID THAT NICE LADY
EVER DO TO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE WITNESSES
LINKING YOU TO THE GUN.
IT'S OVER.
I WANT A LAWYER.
NORMAN MASTRIAN
WAS AN OLD PRO.
AW, GUYS, WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE FRIENDLY CHAT?
AND HE WASN'T GONNA TALK.
CAROL WAS ALWAYS VERY
PRACTICAL.
IF SHE'D BEEN ALIVE,
I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE SAID,
"WHATEVER IT IS,
IT ISN'T GONNA BRING ME BACK.
JUST MAKE SURE THE KIDS
ARE ALL RIGHT."
THAT'S THE KIND
OF PERSON CAROL WAS.
BUT THE REST OF US
WANTED JUSTICE,
THE POLICE MOST OF ALL.
BUT MASTRIAN COULD STAY
CLAMMED UP ALL DAY
AS LONG AS THEY COULD
FIND SOMEBODY
WHO HAD SEEN HIM WITH THAT GUN.
Thompson: AND THEY RUN ACROSS
HENRY BUTLER.
Swanson: BUTLER TOO SAW
THAT LUGER WITH NORMAN MASTRIAN.
THE DAY BEFORE CAROL THOMPSON
WAS MURDERED.
BUT THEY DID ONE BETTER EVEN.
Thompson: HE SEES MASTRIAN GIVE
THE GUN TO YET ANOTHER PERSON --
DICK ANDERSON.
Swanson: BUTLER
CAN TELL THE POLICE,
FURTHERMORE, THAT ANDERSON
HAS SKIPPED TOWN.
RIGHT, THIS IS
DETECTIVE MILTOWN
WITH THE ST. PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE INTERESTED
IN THE WHEREABOUTS OF ONE
DICK ANDERSON.
THEY LEARN FROM A REPORTER,
WHO SOMEHOW GETS ONTO THIS,
THAT DICK ANDERSON
IS IN PHOENIX.
WAGNER.
YEAH.
YES.
WE GOT HIM.
THE POLICE FIND HIM
AT A MOTEL IN PHOENIX,
JUST AS HE'S ABOUT READY
TO CHECK OUT.
DICK ANDERSON IS
A 35-YEAR-OLD MARINE VETERAN.
HE SERVED IN KOREA.
HE SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS
FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED
A PURPLE HEART.
WHAT TOOK YOU DOWN TO PHOENIX
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I WAS ON VACATION.
WE KNOW MASTRIAN
GAVE YOU THE GUN.
WHY'D YOU KILL HER?
YOU WERE STRAPPED
FOR CASH, YEAH?
SHE WALKED IN ON YOU.
YOU PANICKED.
JUST TELL US.
Thompson: HE'S HANGING TOUGH.
HE DIDN'T WANNA
TELL THEM ANYTHING.
THEY HOLD HIM
BECAUSE HE IS PRIME SUSPECT.
BUT DICK ANDERSON
IS NOT YET CHARGED
WITH CAROL THOMPSON'S MURDER.
IT SEEMED LIKE ANYONE
WITH TWO EYES AND A NOSE
HAD COME INTO CONTACT
WITH THAT GUN.
Graves: INGRAM TO MASTRIAN,
MASTRIAN TO ANDERSON...
IT WAS LOOKING LIKE THE BUCK
STOPPED WITH DICK ANDERSON.
BUT THINKING YOU KNOW
WHO DONE IT
ISN'T THE SAME THING
AS KNOWING WHY.
ALL THE NEWSPAPERS SAID
THE CRIME SCENE WAS STAGED
TO LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.
SO IF IT WASN'T A REAL ROBBERY,
THEN WHAT DID
THEY WANT WITH CAROL?
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
GRAVES.
WAGNER.
MILTOWN.
YEAH.
WELL, I THINK JUST ABOUT
EVERYBODY IN TOWN
HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
THAT.
THE POLICE ARE JUST FLOODED
WITH CALLS AND LETTERS.
YES, MA'AM.
OF COURSE.
I'M SURE HALF OF IT
WAS GARDEN-VARIETY GOSSIP.
WE'LL CERTAINLY
LOOK INTO THAT.
GOOD-BYE.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
POLICE.
BUT GOOD POLICE ALWAYS KNOW
HOW TO SORT THE WHEAT
FROM THE CHAFF.
WHAT WAS
THAT NAME AGAIN?
Swanson: THERE WERE
SEVERAL CALLS THAT CAME IN
SUGGESTING THAT THE POLICE
LOOK INTO A WOMAN
NAMED JACKIE OLSEN.
SHE HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH COTTON THOMPSON.
SHE HAD BEEN HIS MISTRESS.
OKAY, SO I CAN ADMIT
THAT I WAS ALWAYS
A LITTLE JEALOUS OF CAROL.
EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS
FLAWLESS.
IT USED TO TIE US UP IN KNOTS.
BUT WHEN WE FOUND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER,
IT ALL JUST SEEMED SO SILLY.
NOT TO MENTION, IT REMINDED US
OF HOW NONE OF US REALLY KNOWS
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH EACH OTHER DEEP DOWN.
AS FAR AS ANYONE COULD TELL,
CAROL AND THAT CREEPY
DICK ANDERSON
NEVER ONCE SHOPPED
AT THE SAME SUPERMARKET,
LET ALONE HAD A CONVERSATION.
MAYBE SOMEONE, SOMEONE JEALOUS,
SOMEONE WHO NEEDED
CAROL OUT OF THE PICTURE,
HAD PUT ANDERSON UP TO IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WENT
TO SEE HIM THE WEEK
BEFORE THE MURDER.
Swanson: A WEEK OR SO
BEFORE THE MURDER,
THIS WOMAN, JACKIE OLSEN,
HAD VISITED T. EUGENE
IN HIS OFFICE.
SO I ASSUME YOU KNOW
WHY WE'RE HERE, MRS. OLSEN?
I THINK I'VE GOT
A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
I SLEPT WITH A MARRIED MAN.
Swanson: SHE DOESN'T DENY
THE AFFAIR AT ALL.
**
SHE MET HIM WHEN HE WAS
HANDLING THE DIVORCE
OF A FRIEND OF HERS.
FOR A WHILE, SHE WORKED FOR HIM.
SHE WAS HIS SECRETARY.
SO HE TOOK HER
ON BUSINESS TRIPS.
THEY WOULD GO UP TO RESORT AREAS
AND CABINS
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
**
Olsen: UNDERSTAND, DETECTIVES,
I WANTED TO MARRY HIM.
WELL, IF I DON'T KNOW
HOW SILLY THAT WAS.
SO WHEN DID THIS AFFAIR
END THEN?
A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
AND WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOU,
CONSIDERING THE FACT
THAT YOU WERE
IN MR. THOMPSON'S OFFICE
JUST A WEEK BEFORE
MRS. THOMPSON WAS MURDERED?
IF YOU'RE SUGGESTING
THAT I HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH CAROL'S DEATH,
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
A GIRL CAN'T WAIT
AROUND FOREVER.
THESE THINGS HAVE
AN EXPIRATION DATE.
Coontz: SHE WAITED FOR HIM,
EVIDENTLY, FOR 2 YEARS.
AND WHEN HE REFUSED
TO LEAVE HIS WIFE,
SHE ACTUALLY WENT
AND MARRIED SOMEONE ELSE.
EXCUSE ME.
MARRIAGE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS.
YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAYBE I WANTED TO BELIEVE
IN COTTON AND CAROL'S MARRIAGE.
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING
OUT OF A FAIRY TALE.
BUT FAIRY TALES
ARE FICTION AFTER ALL.
HI, GUYS. CHEERS.
HI, GOOD TO
SEE EVERYBODY.
BACK THEN,
A WOMAN IN HER POSITION
WOULD JUST HAVE TO
LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
- RIGHT.
- AND YOU'RE SO TINY!
I KNOW.
THE THING ABOUT CAROL WAS,
SHE NEVER SETTLED.
Swanson: CAROL HAD AMBITIONS.
SHE WANTED TO TRAVEL.
SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO GO TO THE SOVIET UNION
AND TOUR OVER THERE.
- HELLO, HELLO, PARTY PEOPLE.
- OH, HEY!
IS EVERYONE HAVING
A GOOD TIME, HONEY?
OH, GOOD, GOOD.
YOU SHOULD GET ME
A DRINK, A REAL ONE.
- OH, SURE, SURE
- THANK YOU.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
Swanson: THERE WERE
ALL KINDS OF THINGS
THAT WOULDN'T JIVE
WITH COTTON'S IDEA
OF WHAT A WIFE
AND MOTHER IS IN 1963.
Coontz: IN THOSE DAYS,
LIFE AS A WIFE
AND MOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A GREATER SOURCE
OF SATISFACTION
FOR WOMEN THAN DOING ANYTHING
ON THEIR OWN.
VERSUS THE MAN,
WHO HAD FREE TIME,
WHO HAD COLLEAGUES
HE COULD HANG OUT WITH
AND DRINK WITH.
Thompson: I KNOW MY MOTHER KNEW
ABOUT MY DAD'S AFFAIR...
OR AFFAIRS.
SHE WAS SADDENED
BY A LOT OF HIS BEHAVIOR.
COTTON WAS A TOUGH,
SELF-ABSORBED CHARACTER.
[ SOBBING ]
Thompson: SO IT
WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME
IF SHE WAS TO REACH OUT
TO ANOTHER PERSON.
- I'LL GO OUT FIRST.
- ALL RIGHT.
COTTON AND JACKIE,
CAROL AND BIG RED...
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND --
COTTON AND JACKIE WERE AN ITEM.
NO ONE KNEW FOR SURE HOW FAR
CAROL AND BIG RED
HAD TAKEN THINGS.
BUT THE FACT REMAINED --
TWO PEOPLE WERE
IN AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE,
AND ONLY ONE OF THEM
MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
Swanson: THE DAY BEFORE
CAROL WAS MURDERED,
OUT OF THE BLUE, SHE SAID,
TO HER SECOND DAUGHTER,
MARGARET,
"WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF I WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE?"
Thompson: MARGARET WAS
VERY SURPRISED AND CONCERNED.
AND THE THOUGHT WAS
THAT SHE WAS PLANNING
ON LEAVING MY FATHER.
LOOKING BACK ON IT,
I HOPE SHE WAS.
HOWEVER, SHE WOULD HAVE
BEEN FOOLISH TO TELL HIM.
SO COTTON HAD CHEATED ON CAROL.
IT WAS A LOUSY THING TO DO.
BUT IT WASN'T MURDER.
BUT IF THE POLICE COULD
CONNECT HIM TO ANDERSON --
THE CREEP WITH THE GUN --
THEN COTTON WOULD REALLY BE
IN HOT WATER.
HOW DOES A GUY LIKE THOMPSON
MEET A GUY LIKE ANDERSON?
WHAT'S THE CONNECTION?
WELL, ANDERSON WAS THE LAST GUY
TO SEE THE GUN.
BUT IT WENT THROUGH
A HECK OF A LOT OF HANDS
BEFORE IT GOT TO HIM.
MAYBE IT'S NOT ANDERSON.
YOU REMEMBER WHO MURDERED
EDDIE JAMES?
MASTRIAN,
BUT WE KNEW THAT.
YEAH.
BUT WHO WAS HIS LAWYER?
Medina: MASTRIAN HAD BEEN
ARRESTED YEARS PRIOR.
WHO WAS HIS CRIMINAL
DEFENSE LAWYER?
COTTON THOMPSON.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THAT WASN'T THE ONLY STRIKE
AGAINST COTTON.
A LITTLE MORE DIGGING
INTO THE THOMPSON FINANCES
TURNED UP SOMETHING
EVEN MORE INTERESTING.
SEE, TURNS OUT THERE
WASN'T JUST ONE
LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
IN CAROL'S NAME.
EIGHT DIFFERENT
INSURANCE POLICIES,
PARCELED OUT
TO DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
Swanson: IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO,
COTTON HAS TAKEN OUT
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT
OF LIFE INSURANCE ON CAROL --
ABOUT $1.1 MILLION.
POLICIES FROM
EIGHT DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS
IN TODAY'S MONEY.
THEN, OF COURSE,
EVERYBODY STARTED SPECULATING
THAT T. EUGENE WAS INVOLVED.
WE HAD A LOT OF GAWKERS.
I REMEMBER PEOPLE DRIVING
RIGHT UP SAYING...
HEY, KID. I THINK
YOUR DAD'S A MURDERER.
OH, WELL, THANKS FOR --
THANKS FOR SHARING.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?
THE POLICE HAD
THE SAME QUESTION.
THERE WAS ONE LITTLE PROBLEM.
INFIDELITY AND BUYING
A LOT OF LIFE INSURANCE
IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW.
WHAT WOULD YOU
CHARGE HIM WITH?
LUCKILY, LOYALTY AMONG
CRIMINALS IN THIS TOWN
WAS ABOUT AS COMMON
AS A CLEAN CONSCIENCE.
IT WAS BY ONE OF THESE
WILLOW TREES, RIGHT?
SO WHEN A MAN
NAMED SHELDON MORRIS
TURNED HIMSELF INTO THE POLICE,
IT WASN'T OUT OF
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.
THE INVESTIGATION
WAS HEATING UP.
AND MORRIS DIDN'T WANT
TO GET BURNED.
HE TELLS THEM, "I DROVE ANDERSON
TO DISPOSE OF SOME EVIDENCE."
- SHELDON?
- YEAH.
CAN I SEE
THAT STICK?
YEAH.
YEAH.
THERE SHE IS.
Swanson: THE SHARDS
OF THAT LAMINATE
FIT LIKE A GLOVE.
Medina: THAT'S NOT
A SMOKING GUN,
BUT THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
SO ON JUNE 20,
ALMOST 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE MURDER,
ANDERSON FINALLY GIVES IT UP.
MASTRIAN CAME TO ME.
HE SAID "I GOT A JOB
THAT NEEDS DOING.
AND I CAN'T DO IT MYSELF."
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
HE SAID HE'D GIVE ME $4,000
IF I CAN MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
Swanson: THE PLAN IS FOR
ANDERSON TO ENTER THE HOUSE
WHILE IT'S STILL DARK,
GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT,
THE SIDE DOOR WILL BE OPEN,
AND WAIT QUIETLY IN THE BASEMENT
WHILE THE FAMILY GETS UP
AND GOES OFF.
Anderson: HE HAD IT SET UP
SO THAT HE WOULD CALL THE HOUSE,
AND SHE WOULD ANSWER
THE PHONE IN THE KITCHEN.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THOMPSON RESIDENCE.
AND THEN, I WOULD COME UP
OUT OF THE BASEMENT
AND HIT HER
WITH THIS RUBBER TUBE.
AND IT WAS, UH, A WHOPPER.
OH, SURE.
I'LL MAKE SURE
THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
[ CREAKING ]
THE BASEMENT STEPS
STARTED CREAKING.
AND -- AND IT WAS SO LOUD.
I DIDN'T WANT HER TO HEAR,
SO I JUST WAITED.
I WAITED UNTIL SHE
FINISHED THE CALL.
AND THEN, SHE WENT
BACK UP THE STAIRS.
AND THEN, I CAME OUT
OF THE BASEMENT.
* LOWLIFES FILLED *
* WITH DARKNESS AND STRIFE *
[ GASPS ]
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
TAKE YOUR GLASSES OFF.
TURN AROUND,
FACEDOWN ON THE BED.
I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU.
I'M JUST GONNA
TAKE SOME MONEY AND GO.
[ THUD ]
I KNOCKED HER UNCONSCIOUS
AND CARRIED HER
OVER TO THE BATHROOM.
THE LAWYER,
HE LEFT WATER IN THE TUB.
AND IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
SHE SLIPPED AND HIT HER HEAD
AND DROWNED IN THE TUB,
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH
THAT ACTIVATES
THE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES.
AND THAT WAS THE PLAN.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
Swanson: UNEXPECTEDLY,
SHE COMES TO.
SOMEHOW, SHE WIGGLES
OUT OF HIS GRIP.
BUT, A MODEST 1963 WOMAN,
SHE RUNS TO PUT ON HER BATHROBE.
[ GUN CLICKS ]
BUT THE GUN JAMS.
[ GRUNTS ]
I HIT HER.
STILL, I COULDN'T KEEP HER DOWN.
AND SHE RAN.
THE FRONT DOOR
HAS THAT CHAIN ON IT.
NO!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE, MY HUSBAND'S A LAWYER.
HE'LL HELP YOU.
JUST TAKE THIS.
OKAY?
JUST TAKE IT.
SHE OFFERS HER WEDDING RING
TO LEAVE HER ALONE.
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE DON'T.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
SO I -- I TRIED --
TRIED TO...
I JUST STARTED HITTING HER.
I HIT HER WITH THE GUN.
[ SCREAMING ]
THE GUN WAS JUST
FALLING TO PIECES.
AND I JUST KEPT
HITTING HER AND HITTING HER.
BUT I COULDN'T KEEP HER DOWN.
SO I GOT A KNIFE.
PLEASE, NO! NO!
AND I STABBED HER OVER AND OVER
[ Voice breaking ]
UNTIL THAT KNIFE BROKE OFF.
AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD.
SO I WENT UP
TO THE BATHROOM TO WASH OFF.
AND I TRIED TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.
BUT I HEARD A NOISE,
AND I WENT OUT TO LOOK.
AND -- AND SHE WAS GONE.
I NEVER SAW SOMEBODY
WHO WANTED TO LIVE SO HARD
IN ALL MY LIFE.
Thompson: MY 14th BIRTHDAY,
I'M LAYING IN BED.
[ KNOCKS ]
AND I HEAR THE COPS COME.
"EUGENE THOMPSON, WE HAVE
A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF.
THE ONE THING I REALLY REMEMBER
ABOUT THE MORNING SHE DIED...
HOW YOU DOING, KIDDO?
- ABOUT TIME TO GO, HUH?
- YEAH. I NEED TO GRAB MY MACK.
WHY DON'T YOU GRAB ME
THE PAPER TOO?
DID YOU LOCK
THE FRONT DOOR?
NO.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU
BE A GOOD BOY
AND LOCK IT UP FOR ME?
OKAY?
WHY?
YOU NEVER KNOW.
HE ASKED ME TO PUT THE CHAIN
ON THE FRONT DOOR.
I'D NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.
[ SIGHS DEEPLY ]
I HAVEN'T FORGIVEN MY FATHER.
AND MY FATHER'S NEVER ASKED
FOR FORGIVENESS.
CAROL LOVED HER KIDS.
AND SHE LOVED HER HOME.
SHE LOVED BEING A MOTHER.
I THINK SHE EVEN LOVED
COTTON...
FOR A TIME.
BUT YOU CAN LOVE
ALL THOSE THINGS
AND STILL WANT MORE.
CAN YOU BLAME HER?
* THERE'S A DARK *
* AND A TROUBLED SIDE OF LIFE *
SHE WASN'T SAINT CAROL.
SHE WAS A REAL PERSON.
SHE WANTED SOMETHING SPECIAL
FROM HER LIFE.
AND MY MOTHER, MYSELF
AND MY SISTERS DESERVED BETTER.
* IT WILL BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY *
* IT WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY *
* IF YOU KEEP *
* ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE *
* WHEN YOU KEEP
ON THE SUNNY SIDE *
* OF LIFE *