A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 4, Episode 5 - Paradise Lost - full transcript

[ RADIO DIAL CLICKS,
MUSIC PLAYS ]

YES, YOU ARE.

YES, YOU ARE.

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACH ]

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

YES?

ARE YOU MRS. ALLEN?

- YES, I AM.
- IS YOUR HUSBAND HOME?

NO, HE'S NOT HERE
RIGHT NOW.

AH, GEE,
THAT'S TOO BAD.

I THOUGHT HE SAID HE'D BE
OFF EARLY BECAUSE ON MONDAYS,



THE OFFICE DOES INVENTORY.

PERHAPS I'LL COME
BACK LATER TONIGHT,

SEE IF I CAN CATCH HIM.
- I'M SORRY.

HE SHOULD BE HOME
LATER ON AFTER 5 P.M.

THE THING IS, HE --
HE HAD LENT ME

A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY
AFTER MY SISTER'S CAR ACCIDENT.

HE WAS JUST GIVIN' ME
A HELPIN' HAND.

I'VE BEEN MAKIN'
MY WAY UP FROM BOYS TOWN.

THAT -- THAT --
THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP IN.

- I'M SO SORRY YOU MISSED HIM.
- AH, THAT'S A SHAME.

SAY, I COULDN'T TROUBLE

YOU FOR A GLASS OF WATER
AND A COUPLE OF ASPIRIN?

I -- I GOT A DOOZY
OF A HEADACHE.

OH, OF COURSE.



JUST WAIT HERE A MOMENT.

[ BABY COOS ]

- HERE YOU GO.
- THANKS.

[ BABY CRIES ]

I'LL TELL MY HUSBAND
TO EXPECT YOU.

AH! AH! NO!
[ BABY CRIES ]

Margolin: THE BRONX IN 1941,
PRE-WORLD WAR II,

JUST AS THE COUNTRY'S COMING OUT
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

WE HAD VERY STRONG
NEIGHBORHOODS.

Casale: MOST PEOPLE GREW UP,
MARRIED,

WORKED, AND REMAINED
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Frankel: THE PARKCHESTER
APARTMENTS, IN THE BRONX,

IS A MIDDLE-CLASS COMMUNITY.

Margolin:
THIS IS THE NEW DEAL ERA.

AND THE GOVERNMENT
IS BUILDING

HOUSING COMMUNITIES
ALL OVER THE CITY.

ON THE AFTERNOON
OF JANUARY 13, 1941,

NEW YORK POLICE
DETECTIVE ED BURNS

IS CALLED TO THE PARKCHESTER

TO THE HOME OF ELIZABETH
AND TOM ALLEN.

Woman: WHEN I SAW ALL THAT
COMMOTION ACROSS THE HALL,

I FIGURED I BETTER
MAKE MYSELF USEFUL

AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE BABY.

NEIGHBORS BACK THEN, WE MUDDLED
THROUGH TOGETHER, YOU KNOW?

WE HELPED WHEN WE COULD
WITH A CUP OF SUGAR

OR A FEW BUCKS 'TIL PAYDAY.

BUT THERE WASN'T A THING
WE COULD DO TO FIX

WHAT HAD HAPPENED
TO BETTY ALLEN.

Margolin: THE APARTMENT
IS CLEARLY RANSACKED.

THINGS ARE OUT OF PLACE.

Frankel: HE SEES ON THE TABLE A
GLASS OF WATER AND AN ASPIRIN BOTTLE.

MR. ALLEN.

MRS. ALLEN, COULD YOU
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

IT WAS, UH, MUST'VE BEEN
ABOUT QUARTER TO 3.

AND, UH, I --
I JUST FINISHED MY DUSTING.

AND THERE WAS A --
A MAN AT THE DOOR.

HE SAID HE KNEW MY HUSBAND

FROM THE BAKERY ROUTE
UP IN CONNECTICUT.

AND I BELIEVED HIM.
HE KNEW DETAILS.

THE MAN SAID HE WAS
FROM BOYS TOWN.

BOYS TOWN,
SPENCER TRACY BOYS TOWN?

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO I FELT SORRY FOR HIM.

BOYS TOWN IS A FAMOUS HOME

FOR BOYS STARTED
BY FATHER FLANAGAN

IN NEBRASKA IN 1917.

IT WAS A PIONEER
IN REHABILITATION.

HE SAID THAT MR. ALLEN HAD
LENT HIM MONEY LAST WEEK

AND HE WANTED TO
THANK HIM.

AND THEN, HE ASKED ME
FOR WATER AND AN ASPIRIN.

AND I WENT TO
GET IT FOR HIM.

AND THEN, UH...

Margolin: HE TAKES HER TO
THE BACK BEDROOM.

HE TIES HER HANDS
WITH A NECKTIE,

TIES HER FEET WITH TOWELS.

THE SUBJECT ASKED,
"WHERE ARE ANY VALUABLES?"

HE STUFFS A HANDKERCHIEF
IN HER MOUTH.

I COULD HEAR HIM
GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE.

AND PENNY WAS CRYING.

HE CAME BACK
INTO THE BEDROOM.

HE WAS TAKING OFF
HIS CLOTHES.

Margolin:
HE'S ABOUT TO RAPE HER.

AND THEN THE PHONE RANG.

IT SEEMED TO SPOOK HIM.

AND THEN HE JUST LEFT.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE HIM TO ME?

HE WAS ABOUT 5'10"
OR 5'11".

Margolin:
MRS. ALLEN WAS ABLE TO COME UP

WITH A FAIRLY COMPLETE
DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACKER --

OLIVE COMPLEXION, IN HIS 20S.

MAY I HAVE A WORD
WITH YOU OUTSIDE?

BE RIGHT BACK.

THIS SOUND LIKE
ANYONE YOU KNOW?

- NO.
- YOU'RE SURE?

YEAH, I'M SURE.

Margolin: ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT
OF THEIR VALUABLES

AND THEIR CASH
WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN.

THE GLASS DOES NOT HAVE
A FINGERPRINT ON IT.

SO IT POSSIBLY
COULD'VE BEEN WIPED.

THIS IS SOMEBODY WITH A PLAN.

THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO
HAS COMMITTED A CRIME BEFORE.

DETECTIVES FIND ABOUT
50 PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEN

WHO WOULD MATCH
ROUGHLY THE DESCRIPTION

AND HAVE A HISTORY
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ROBBERY.

THE NEXT DAY,
MRS. ALLEN IS

BROUGHT IN TO LOOK
AT THIS PHOTO ARRAY.

THAT'S HIM.

THAT'S THE MAN.

AND ANTHONY LITZY IS
THE PERSON SHE IDENTIFIES.

AND SHE IS ADAMANT.

Margolin: HE HAS A HISTORY
OF ARMED ROBBERY.

HE'S DONE TIME.

OUT OF JAIL, ANTHONY LITZY
WORKS CONSTRUCTION.

HE'S A PLASTERER'S APPRENTICE.

THEY REACH OUT TO THE EMPLOYER.

ANTHONY LITZY WAS ACTUALLY
AT THE PARKCHESTER APARTMENTS

THE DAY BEFORE ON A JOB.

THAT IS QUITE
THE COINCIDENCE.

ANTHONY LITZY IS BROUGHT
INTO THE STATION

TO BE QUESTIONED
BY DETECTIVE BURNS

AND ASSISTANT DA
MARTIN FRANK.

Burns: YOU WERE AT THE
PARKCHESTER 2 DAYS AGO.

IS THAT RIGHT?

Litzy: ON THE JOB, YEAH.

A MAN WITH YOUR RECORD
WORKIN' RIGHT WHERE

A WOMAN GETS ATTACKED.

I'M A MARRIED MAN,
WORKING STEADY,

WHICH IS MORE THAN
A LOT CAN SAY.

CAN ANYONE VOUCH FOR YOUR
WHEREABOUTS AROUND 3 P.M.?

ASK THE PLASTERER.
ASK THE FOREMAN.

THEY'LL BOTH TELL YOU.

- HAVE THEY ANY RELATION TO YOU?
- YEAH.

THE PLASTERER,
HE'S -- HE'S MY COUSIN.

AND THE FOREMAN?

YEAH,
HE'S MY FATHER-IN-LAW.

BOOK HIM.

ASSISTANT DA FRANK
ARRESTS ANTHONY LITZY.

Woman: THAT WOULD'VE BEEN
A NICE, TIDY ENDING.

BUT WE HAD NO SUCH LUCK.

THREE WEEKS LATER,

THE COPS FOUND A DEAD WOMAN

IN AN APARTMENT ACROSS TOWN.

AND IN THE DINING ROOM
WAS A FAMILIAR SIGHT.

Margolin: FEBRUARY 4, 1941,
3 WEEKS AFTER THE ATTACK

ON MRS. ALLEN,

DETECTIVE ED BURNS ARRIVES

AT THE APARTMENT
OF JOHN AND CATHERINE PAPPAS.

Frankel: JOHN HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE APARTMENT AT THIS POINT,

UH, WHICH IS STANDARD.

Margolin: AND IT'S DEJA VU.
APARTMENT'S RANSACKED.

JOHN PAPPAS TOLD HIM
THAT A NECKLACE,

A DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING

AND A LIMITED AMOUNT
OF CASH HAD BEEN TAKEN.

ON THE COFFEE TABLE,
THERE'S CUPS OF COFFEE,

CIGARETTES AND AN OPEN
BOTTLE OF ASPIRIN.

THE VICTIM AND THE PERPETRATOR
SPENT TIME TOGETHER.

SHE SERVED HIM COFFEE.

AND THEN THE STRUGGLE ENSUES.

Frankel: CATHERINE PAPPAS IS
A 29-YEAR-OLD BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

THERE IS A NECKTIE
WRAPPED AROUND HER HANDS.

HER BRA IS RIPPED.

AND HER CLOTHES HAVE BEEN
HIKED UP A LITTLE BIT.

THERE ARE SCRATCHES ON HER FACE.

HE DIDN'T RAPE HER.

- BUT HER PANTIES ARE STILL ON.
- SHE FOUGHT HIM.

Margolin: THERE WAS SOME SORT OF
DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE.

HE CHOKED HER TO DEATH.

AND SMALL BONES
HAVE BROKEN IN HER NECK.

DETECTIVE BURNS ALSO NOTICES
A HANDKERCHIEF ON THE BED.

ORIGINALLY
FROM ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT,

SHE'S MARRIED LESS THAN 2 YEARS
TO JOHN PAPPAS,

WHO IS A WELL-TO-DO
COFFEE MERCHANT.

LIKE MANY WOMEN AT THE TIME,
SHE DOESN'T WORK.

Frankel: SHE IS 20 YEARS
YOUNGER THAN HER HUSBAND.

HER LIFE REVOLVES
AROUND THE CHURCH

WHERE SHE'S A SUNDAY SCHOOL
TEACHER AND HER HOUSE.

Margolin:
HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE.

THIS PERPETRATOR
IS MOST LIKELY THE SAME ONE

WHO, 3 WEEKS EARLIER,
ATTACKED MRS. ALLEN.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
WOULD PLACE

THE TIME OF DEATH
BETWEEN 11 A.M.

AND 3 P.M. THAT DAY.

THE DETECTIVES THEN START
TO QUESTION THEIR NEIGHBORS.

WHAT TIME DID MR. PAPPAS
RETURN THIS EVENING?

MR. PAPPAS GOT HOME
AROUND 10 P.M.,

AS I RECALL,
GIVE OR TAKE.

THAT TAKES JOHN PAPPAS

AS A POSSIBLE SUSPECT
OUT OF THE MIX.

DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING
UNUSUAL, ANYBODY UNUSUAL?

- THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN, THOUGH.
- A YOUNG MAN?

YEAH. HE WAS LEAVING JUST
AS I CAME IN AROUND 2.

I NEVER SAW HIM BEFORE.

HE HAD DARK HAIR
AND OLIVE SKIN,

JUST LIKE MR. PAPPAS.

HE WAS IN A HURRY.

- THANK YOU.
- YEAH.

Margolin: DETECTIVE BURNS GOES
TO SPEAK WITH JOHN PAPPAS.

I -- I RANG THE BELL,
AS I ALWAYS DO.

YOU RING YOUR OWN DOORBELL?

CATHERINE IS NEW
TO AMERICA,

CONCERNED OF STRANGERS.

Frankel: HE WILL ACTUALLY
RING THE DOORBELL

JUST SO THAT SHE WILL
NOT BECOME SCARED

WHEN HE STARTS
TURNING THE KEY.

- BUT THE DOOR WAS NOT LOCKED.
- SHE OPENED IT FOR SOMEONE?

NO.

SHE WOULD NEVER
INVITE A STRANGER IN.

THIS IS NOT HER WAY.

THIS DOES NOT MAKE
ANY SENSE TO HIM.

LOOK.
YOUNGER WOMAN,

ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW YEARS
AND YOU WORK LONG HOURS.

MAYBE SHE MADE A FRIEND.
- SHE IS AN HONORABLE WOMAN.

Frankel: HE VEHEMENTLY DENIES
THAT THEY KNEW THE PERSON.

HE INSISTS THAT
SHE WAS KILLED NOT

BECAUSE OF HER RELATIONSHIP

BUT THAT SHE WAS TRYING
TO DEFEND HER HONOR.

SHE FOUGHT HIM.

HE BELIEVES THAT SOMEBODY
WAS ATTEMPTING TO RAPE HER

AND THAT SHE FOUGHT BACK SO MUCH

THAT THE PERSON HAD TO KILL HER.

DETECTIVES
ARE WORKING ALL NIGHT.

AT 4 A.M.,

THEY FINALLY CATCH A BREAK.

THERE'S A FINGERPRINT
ON ONE OF THE WATER GLASSES.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S 1941,

THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT
ALREADY HAS A PORTABLE LAB.

SO THEY IMMEDIATELY THEN
START PRINTING EVERYONE.

THEY'RE CALLED
ELIMINATION PRINTS.

Margolin: ALL THE COPS,
THE DETECTIVES...

THE PRINT DOES NOT
MATCH ANYBODY ELSE

THAT COULD WELL BE THE KILLER.

THE DETECTIVES TAKE THAT PRINT
AND THEY SHIP IT

TO THE NEW YORK POLICE
HEADQUARTERS ON CENTER STREET.

THEY SEND IT UP TO ALBANY
WHERE ALL THE RECORDS

ARE KEPT FOR EVERY PERSON

WHO HAS A GOOD FINGERPRINT
ON FILE IN NEW YORK STATE.

AND THEY SENT IT
TO THE FBI IN WASHINGTON.

THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CASE

IS THE 42ND PRECINCT
IN THE BRONX, THE 42.

WITH MR. LITZY IN JAIL,

THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD HAVE
COMMITTED THE PAPPAS MURDER.

Casale:
LITZY HAD TO BE RELEASED.

AS A DETECTIVE,
YOU'RE ON A MISSION

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SAVE

THE NEXT WOMAN
FROM BEIN' ATTACKED.

Margolin:
POLICE GO TO PAWN SHOPS,

ANYWHERE SOMEBODY
MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO FENCE

MRS. PAPPAS' JEWELRY FOR MONEY.

NO LUCK.

WITH AMAZING SPEED
FOR 1941,

DETECTIVES DISCOVER
THAT THE PRINT

DOES NOT MATCH
ANY RECORD ON FILE.

DETECTIVES KNOW THEY NEED

TO GO BACK OVER THE ALLEN CASE.

IS THERE A CONNECTION
THAT SOMEHOW WAS MISSED?

I'M LOOKING
FOR A THREAD TO FOLLOW.

UH, YOU SAID THE STRANGER
KNEW YOUR ADDRESS,

SPECIFIC INFORMATION
ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND.

HAVE EITHER OF YOU
DISCUSSED YOUR LIVES

WITH A STRANGER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS?

I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO RECALL, BUT...

I DID.

I KNOW
WHO ATTACKED MY WIFE.

I KNOW
WHO ATTACKED MY WIFE.

YOU KNOW WHO DID THIS?

IT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO.

I WAS DRIVING MY ROUTE
IN CONNECTICUT.

I SAW A YOUNG FELLA ON THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD WITH HIS THUMB OUT.

Margolin: MR. ALLEN SAID
HE PICKED UP A HITCHHIKER

JUST A FEW DAYS
BEFORE THE ATTACK

ON MRS. ALLEN.

Frankel: HE WAS ON HIS WAY
INTO NEW YORK

BECAUSE HE HAD TO GO
HELP HIS SICK SISTER.

HE HAD A REAL
HARD-KNOCK LIFE,

ORPHAN,
RAISED IN BOYS TOWN.

HE SAID HIS NAME
WAS JERRY MITCHELL.

I FELT SORRY FOR HIS TOUGH LUCK,
SO I GAVE HIM A FEW BUCKS.

HE ASKED WHERE I LIVED,
TO SEND US A CARD.

WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL US THIS BEFORE?

MY WIFE PICKED OUT
A DIFFERENT MAN.

A WOMAN'S DEAD BECAUSE
I LOCKED UP THE WRONG MAN.

I WAS PRAYIN'
IT WASN'T THIS FELLA.

I GAVE HIM OUR ADDRESS.

Margolin: THIS WAS A BOLT OF
LIGHTNING FOR DETECTIVE BURNS.

HE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY

HELPED DETECTIVES SOLVE
THIS CRIME

BEFORE KITTY PAPPAS GOT KILLED.

THEY SEND OUT A TELETYPE

TO EVERY NEW YORK CITY POLICE

PRECINCT IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS

TO SEE IF THERE
MIGHT BE SIMILAR CASES.

IT'S NOT EVEN A FULL DAY LATER,
FEBRUARY 6TH,

A DETECTIVE FROM MANHATTAN

BRINGS THIS COUPLE OVER
TO THE 42 IN THE BRONX.

THIS CASE SOUNDS
REMARKABLY SIMILAR.

AND THERE THEY MEET
WITH THE ASSISTANT DA

AND WITH DETECTIVE BURNS.

Man:
I GAVE THE GUY A LIFT.

HE SAID HE WAS COMING
ALL THE WAY UP FROM BOYS TOWN,

REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HIS SISTER
WHO BROKE A LEG IN A CAR CRASH.

IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE
IT'S THE SAME PERSON.

- HIS NAME WAS JERRY.
- JERRY MITCHELL?

NO, SCHOFFNER,
JERRY SCHOFFNER.

Margolin:
THIS GUY IS PRACTICED.

THIS IS SOMEBODY
WHO'S DONE THIS BEFORE.

WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN HE CAME OVER?

HE SAID HE WAS, UM,
AN ACQUAINTANCE OF BOB'S.

HE KNEW DETAILS.

HE ASKED FOR
A BITE TO EAT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE RUDE,
SO I GAVE HIM A SANDWICH.

AND WE ATE AT THE TABLE
IN THE KITCHEN.

HE HAD A HEADACHE.

I GOT HIM A GLASS OF WATER
AND AN ASPIRIN.

AND HE CAME AT ME.

HE USED HIS NECKTIE TO TIE
MY HANDS BEHIND MY BACK.

AND, UH, HE FORCED
HIMSELF UPON ME.

AFTER THIS, IT'S FLOODGATES

AT THE 42ND PRECINCT
IN THE BRONX

Woman: FORTY-SECOND.
[ PHONES RINGING ]

Margolin: DETECTIVES EVERYWHERE
IN THE CITY BRINGING IN CASES.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED?

I WAS IN CONNECTICUT
FOR A JOB INTERVIEW.

AND I MET A YOUNG MAN.

Man:
HE WAS HITCHHIKING.

HE SAID HE WAS GOING
TO SEE HIS -- HIS SISTER.

HE SAID HOW HE GREW UP
IN BOYS TOWN AND

HOW HE'S ON
HIS WAY UP TO NEW YORK.

Man: I BEEN DOWN ON MY LUCK
FOR A WHILE,

SO I FIGURED
I'D HELP HIM OUT.

GAVE HIM A COUPLE BUCKS,

AND THAT'S WHEN HE ASKED ME
FOR MY ADDRESS

TO SEND A THANK-YOU CARD.

ONE AFTER ANOTHER SEEMS
TO TELL THE SAME STORY.

HE -- HE SHOWED UP
AT MY DOOR UNANNOUNCED.

HE SAID HE HAD A --
A THANK YOU FOR DAVID.

AND HE SEEMED
TO KNOW HIM.

HE'S INVITED IN.
HE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT.

HE SAID HE HAD A HEADACHE AND HE
WANTED ASPIRIN AND SOME WATER.

HE TIED MY HANDS
BEHIND MY BACK WITH

CORBATA.

NECKTIE.

Man 2: AND THEN, AFTER THE ASPIRIN,
TIES HER HANDS WITH A NECKTIE.

AND THEN AFTER STEALING

WHAT HE CAN FROM
AROUND THE HOUSE,

RAPES HER VIOLENTLY
ON HER OWN BED.

DESCRIBE HIM TO ME.

HE WAS ABOUT 5'10".

- OLIVE SKIN.
- DARK HAIR.

Frankel: OFTEN WOULD WEAR
A GREEN JACKET,

YELLOW SHOES AND BROWN PANTS.

Margolin: COPS ALSO LEARN
ABOUT HIS ALIASES --

- JERRY MITCHELL...
- JERRY SCHOFFNER...

- GEORGE MUNDY...
- GEORGE MITCHELL...

- BILL SHNY...
- GEORGE BLAKE.

COPS IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS

HAVING NO IDEA THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR THE SAME PERSON.

NO ONE WAS COMMUNICATING.

Margolin: THEY DO AN EXHAUSTIVE
INVESTIGATION

OF ALL THE CASE FILES

FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS
IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY KEPT FILES METICULOUSLY.

GREEN IS WHERE HE GOT
PICKED UP HITCHHIKING.

BLUE IS WHERE
HE ONLY ROBBED SOMEONE.

YELLOW -- ROBBERY AND RAPE.

AND RED IS MURDER.

THERE'S ONLY ONE
OF THOSE SO FAR --

PAPPAS.

YOU GOT IT?

THEY CAN PINPOINT
31 SEPARATE CASES

THAT GO BACK 9 MONTHS

TO MAY OF 1940
WITH THE SAME MO.

THEY HAVE A PREDATOR
WHO HAS BEEN MARCHING

THROUGH NEW YORK CITY,
RAPING WOMEN.

DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED
PICKING HIM UP ON THE ROADS IN

AND OUT OF NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY,

CONNECTICUT, MASSACHUSETTS.

Frankel: THEY WERE STARTIN'
TO SEE A PATTERN.

HE WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE STATE

AND THEN COME BACK INSIDE

AND COMMIT SEVERAL ATTACKS
IN NEW YORK CITY.

Casale: SO WHAT DOES BURNS DO?
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

LET'S JUST KEEP
EXPANDING THE NET."

Margolin: HE SENDS OUT
AN EIGHT-STATE

ALARM BROADCAST
TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS

ALL UP AND DOWN
THE EAST COAST.

Female Operator:
FORTY-SECOND, PLEASE HOLD.

Gillan: DETECTIVE GILLAN.

Margolin: OVER THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS LARGE

AND SMALL FROM MAINE
TO NEW ORLEANS

FIND 50 CASES,

81 TOTAL CASES,

OF RAPE OR ATTEMPTED
RAPE IN 9 MONTHS.

Frankel: THE DETECTIVES BELIEVE
THAT THIS PERSON

HAS BEEN RAPING SOMEBODY
ONCE EVERY 3 DAYS.

Woman: THEY WERE ALL
DIFFERENT SORTS,

COMING FROM ALL
DIFFERENT PLACES.

THE ATTACKS WERE ALL THE SAME.

BUT IT HAD TO HAVE HURT

DIFFERENTLY
FOR EACH ONE OF THEM.

UM, HE'S -- HE GRABBED ME
ALL OF A SUDDEN

AND TIED MY, UH...

HE SAID IF I MOVE,
HE'D KILL ME.

SO I LISTENED.

UH, IT WAS HARD TO BREATHE.

HE RAPED ME MORE THAN ONCE.

AND THEN HE WAS GONE.

Aalai:
THE AFTEREFFECTS CAN BE

JUST AS CATASTROPHIC
AS THE ACT ITSELF,

WHICH IS WHY SO MANY
VICTIMS OF RAPE

ARE VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPING
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

Margolin: SOME OF THESE WOMEN,
THEY'RE MONOTONE.

THEY'RE STARING OFF INTO SPACE.

IT SEEMS THAT
ALL OF THESE HUSBANDS

GAVE THE ADDRESS
TO THE ATTACKER.

THERE'S GONNA BE
SOME SHAME IN THAT.

YOU KNOW, WHY LET HIM IN?

THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

FIX HER HAIR,
FIXING LUNCH,

IT SENDS THE WRONG SIGNAL.

Aalai: MANY OF THE HUSBANDS
WERE ANGRY AT THEMSELVES,

BUT THEY WERE PROJECTING
IT ONTO THEIR WIVES.

Frankel: IN THE 1940S,
IF A WOMAN IS RAPED,

MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT

THAT SHE HAD LED SOMEBODY ON

OR THAT SHE DID NOT
FIGHT BACK ENOUGH.

Aalai: IT'S THE CATCH-22
FOR WOMEN.

IF YOU TRY TO FIGHT
OFF THE ATTACK,

YOU COULD END UP STRANGLED
AND MURDERED THE WAY

THAT MRS. PAPPAS WAS.

IF YOU DON'T FIGHT
HARD ENOUGH,

THEN OFTENTIMES YOU'RE
BLAMED AFTERWARDS,

EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST
WANT TO SURVIVE THE ATTACK.

THAT'S A TYPE
OF RETRAUMATIZING.

Margolin: HE'S LIKE A GREAT
WHITE SHARK.

HE LEAVES A PATH OF DESTRUCTION
IN THESE LIVES.

Casale: AND THEY KNOW HE'S NOT
GOING TO STOP TILL HE'S CAUGHT.

AND THAT'S IT.

Woman: I WAS TERRIFIED FOR
THE WHOLE MONTH

AFTER BETTY ALLEN WAS ATTACKED.

AND THEN KITTY PAPPAS
WAS KILLED.

IT WAS SO STRANGE WALKING
THE CROWDED STREETS OF THE CITY

AND NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE KNEW

THAT A MONSTER WAS ON THE
LOOSE.

THANK GOD THAT
DIDN'T LAST LONG.

Detective:
YOU SEEN THIS?

Margolin:
THERE'S AN EIGHT-STATE ALARM

THAT IS LITERALLY TOO LOUD
TO KEEP OUT OF THE NEWS MEDIA.

AND SO A VETERAN REPORTER NAMED

MAURICE KASNER PRINTS THE STORY
ABOUT THE ASPIRIN BANDIT.

HE PIECES TOGETHER
THE ALLEN CASE

AND THE PAPPAS CASE.

IT'S GOOD FOR KASNER.

NOW MORE WOMEN
WILL BE WISE TO HIS TRICKS.

AND HE LEFT THE RAPE OUT.

IF HE READS THIS, HE'LL HAVE
NO IDEA HOW MUCH WE KNOW.

Casale: THE DETECTIVES
AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

ARE ALWAYS JUDICIOUS

IN WHAT INFORMATION
THEY GIVE OUT.

Margolin: LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE
1940S

IS NOT BUILT
FOR A MULTI-STATE CRIME.

THE PROBLEM IS THE LACK
OF TECHNOLOGY.

THE POLICE NEEDED TO CREATE
A COMMUNICATION NETWORK.

BRONX POLICE CHIEF
AT THE TIME --

JOHN J. O'CONNOR --
CANCELS LEAVES.

THERE'S NO DAYS OFF.

Frankel: ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS
IN THE BRONX

CALL IN EVERY NIGHT.

THE BEAT COP WOULD GO
TO THE CALL BOX ON HIS POST

AND RING IN TO
THE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR.

Margolin: AND THEY'VE GOT TO LET
THE COMMAND POST KNOW

WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED
ABOUT THIS CASE.

AND SO THAT STARTS
MUCH MORE COMMUNICATION

BETWEEN THE PRECINCTS.

ALSO, POLICE DEPARTMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE REGION,

THEY ARE TOLD TO LOOK FOR ANYONE

THAT MATCHES A DESCRIPTION

AND THEN CONTACT
THE 42ND PRECINCT IN THE BRONX.

FEBRUARY 14TH, 10 DAYS AFTER
CATHERINE PAPPAS IS KILLED,

DETECTIVES GET
A BREAK IN THE CASE.

THEY GET A CALL
FROM HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

Detective: SO HOW DID HE COME
TO STAY WITH YOU?

WE LET HIM STAY HERE
OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

AND HE ROBBED US.

Margolin: THE IDES,
A HUSBAND AND WIFE...

BUT HE DIDN'T FATHOM
THE EYE OF AN ARTIST.

HER PORTRAITS
ARE EXQUISITE.

Margolin:
...THE WOMAN IS AN ARTIST.

AND SHE SAYS, "YOU WANT ME
TO MAKE A SKETCH OF THIS GUY?"

THIS SUBJECT DID TALK ABOUT
BOYS TOWN WITH THEM.

YEAH, THAT'S THE DIRTY
LITTLE SCAMP.

Frankel: THEY THEN BRING THE
PICTURE BACK TO THE BRONX.

AND SEVERAL OF THE FAMILIES
LOOK AT THE PICTURE.

AND THEY SAY,
"THAT IS HIM."

Casale:
BURNS WORKS THE STREET.

HE SWEATS HIS SAUCES.

HE'S NOT KNOWN TO
THE PROSTITUTES OF BORDELLOS.

HE'S NOT KNOWN TO THE
SHAPE-UP GUYS ON THE DOCK.

THE GUY'S NOT
A REGULAR NEW YORKER.

Margolin:
HOWEVER, FEBRUARY 19TH,

2 WEEKS AFTER THE PAPPAS
HOMICIDE, THEY GET A LEAD.

THE POLICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,

GET A CALL OF
A SUSPICIOUS PERSON

IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING.

Frankel: SOMEBODY TRIED TO GET
INTO AN APARTMENT.

AND THE FEMALE,
THINKING THIS DID NOT

SOUND RIGHT, STOPPED HIM.

THE SUPER IMMEDIATELY
CALLS THE POLICE.

AND THE POLICE, BECAUSE OF ALL
THE GREAT COMMUNICATION,

KNOWS THAT THIS COULD
BE THE SAME PERSON

THAT HAS COMMITTED THE ACTS
IN NEW YORK CITY.

SUPER SAYS THAT HE CHASED
THE GUY UP TO THE ROOF.

BUT HE'S NOT THERE,

MUST'VE GOTTEN DOWN OFF
THE FIRE ESCAPE.

HE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY
AT THAT POINT.

FIVE DAYS GO BY.

THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING.

HE MAY HAVE REALIZED

THEY'RE ON TO HIM NOW
AND VANISHED.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

DURANT.

WHERE?
ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT ANOTHER ONE IN NEWARK.

FEBRUARY 25TH, THE PHONE
RINGS -- NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,

A WOMAN HAS BEEN
RAPED TWICE VIOLENTLY.

THEN THERE ARE REPORTS
OF ATTACKS IN PASSAIC,

FORT LEE,
ALL TOWNS IN NORTH JERSEY.

THEY'RE PLOTTING HIM
OUT ALMOST IN REAL TIME.

HE'S GOT A PATTERN.
HE HITCHHIKES.

EVENTUALLY, HE COMES
BACK TO NEW YORK.

WE GET A HIT IN NEWARK

AND JUST NORTH OF PASSAIC
AND FORT LEE.

HE'S COMING TO
THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED MEN ON THE BRIDGE
AND EVERY TUNNEL CROSSING NOW.

I WANT EVERY CAR STOPPED
COMING FROM NEW JERSEY.

Margolin: ON MARCH 3, 1941,

THEY ARE AT EVERY
CROSSING INTO NEW YORK.

THEY'RE STOPPING CARS.
THEY'RE STOPPING PEOPLE.

Frankel: DETECTIVE BURNS BELIEVES
THAT HE'S LIVING ATTACK TO ATTACK.

COME HERE.

I NEED DETECTIVES AT EVERY
CHEAP HOTEL ON THE WEST SIDE.

THEY FLOOD THE WEST
SIDE OF MANHATTAN.

Frankel:
THE MILLS HOTEL IS 1,800 ROOMS

FOR DAY LABORERS
WHO ARE IN NEW YORK

WHO NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO LIVE
THAT WAS NICE ENOUGH.

BRONX DETECTIVES GILLAN,
MAYHEN AND DURANT,

THEY'RE STATIONED THERE.

PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING.

DETECTIVE DURANT SEES OUT
OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE A GUY

IN A GREEN JACKET WALK IN.

THEY'VE GOT A SKETCH
OF THIS GUY IN THEIR POCKET.

WELCOME BACK, SIR.

SAME ROOM?
- YEAH, ONE NIGHT.

REMIND ME YOUR NAME AGAIN?

KOZLOWSKI,
GEORGE KOZLOWSKI.

OF COURSE.

JUST A MOMENT.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I FORGOT
SOMETHIN'. I...

IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, I'LL --
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

UH, PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

WELCOME TO THE MILLS HOTEL.

YEAH, WHAT DO YOU
GET FOR A ROOM NOW?

WELL, SIR,
FOR JUST A NIGHT...

GILLAN AND MAYHEN ARE ABLE
TO GRAB HIM RIGHT

BEFORE HE MAKES IT OUT THE DOOR.

WHAT GIVES?

POLICE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

GEORGE JOSEPH CVEK.

NOT KOZLOWSKI?

YEAH,
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

LET'S TAKE A RIDE, PAL.

HIS NAME IS
GEORGE JOSEPH CVEK.

Casale:
IN THE PRECINCT, THE LEADING

PRINT DETECTIVE
FINGERPRINTS HIM.

HE COMPARES IT TO
THE FINGERPRINT PHOTO REMOVED

FROM THE GLASS
IN PAPPAS' APARTMENT.

WE HAVE A MATCH.

Margolin: CVEK WAS BORN IN
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

HIS PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS.

FATHER FROM WHAT
BECAME YUGOSLAVIA,

MOTHER IS FROM HUNGARY.

Casale:
HE HAD A VERY TROUBLED YOUTH.

Frankel: AGE 10 WAS HIS FIRST
RUN-IN WITH THE LAW.

AT ONE POINT, GEORGE STARTED
ROBBING THE HOUSE.

HIS MOTHER GOES TO STOP HIM
AND HE BEATS HER.

HE WAS THEN SENT NOT
TO BOYS TOWN,

BUT TO A REFORMATORY
FOR 5 YEARS.

AND THEN HE'S ARRESTED
FOR STEALING CARS.

DURING NONE OF THESE TIMES
WAS HE EVER FINGERPRINTED.

Woman:
WELL, CRY ME A RIVER.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE
HAVE ROUGH CHILDHOODS

AND DON'T WIND UP
KILLIN' PEOPLE.

ALL I CARED ABOUT
WAS THAT THE POLICE

WERE GONNA LOCK HIM UP
AND THROW AWAY THE KEY.

THAT WAS CALLED COMFORT

FOR ALL OF THOSE WOMEN
THE POLICE BELIEVED HE RAPED.

UH, WE GOT YOU FOR THE MURDER
OF CATHERINE PAPPAS.

IT'S OVER, CVEK.
YOU'RE GONNA PAY.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH,
NOT BY A LONG SHOT, BOY.

- HOW'S THAT?
- HOW'S ABOUT YOU TELL ME

ABOUT THOSE OTHER WOMEN.

- WHAT WOMEN?
- YOU KNOW EXACTLY

WHO I'M TALKIN' ABOUT,

THE ONES YOU TIED UP AND
VIOLATED IN THEIR OWN BEDS.

WELL, I DON'T CARE THAT

YOU'RE ALREADY GOIN' TO
THE BIG HOUSE

FOR THE MURDER
OF CATHERINE PAPPAS.

THOSE WOMEN, THEIR HUSBANDS,
THEY DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

I'M TELLING THE TRUTH.

YOU'RE A NO-GOOD,
TWO-BIT CON ARTIST.

YOU'RE LIAR.
AND YOU'RE A RAPIST.

BOY, I SURE DO HAVE
A DOOZY OF A HEADACHE.

YOU COULDN'T SPARE
ANY ASPIRIN, COULD YOU?

WE'LL SEE.

Casale: THEY'RE GOING TO
CONDUCT A LINEUP.

Margolin: CVEK IS SURROUNDED
BY A BUNCH OF COPS

WHO LOOK SIMILAR TO HIM.

THEY'RE BRINGING
ALL OF THESE VICTIMS

AND THEIR FAMILIES
INTO THE PRECINCT.

JOHN PAPPAS IS EVEN
THERE WITH HIS DOORMAN.

IN 1941, YOU DON'T
HAVE TWO-WAY MIRRORS.

YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY GLASS PARTITION.

CAN THIS MAN STEP FORWARD?

IT'S HIM.

THIS IS THE MAN.

Frankel: ONE BY ONE, THEY'RE BROUGHT.
AND THEY GO PAST THE LINEUP.

THIS IS THE MAN.

THEY IDENTIFY HIM.

Margolin:
SOME DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

AND HIS DEMEANOR
STARTS TO CHANGE.

THAT MAN, MM-HMM.

HE'S LOOKING DOWN.

Margolin:
THE COCKINESS HAS MELTED AWAY.

- [ STRANGLED SOB ] HIM.
- I'LL KILL YOU!

I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!

I'LL KILL YOU!

Frankel: ONE OF THE VICTIMS'
HUSBANDS GOES AT HIM.

AND HE HAS TO BE HELD BACK.

CVEK IS NOW DEMORALIZED.

HE GAVE EVERYTHING
UP AT THAT POINT.

AND HE IMMEDIATELY CONFESSES
TO SEVERAL RAPES

AND TO THE MURDER
OF CATHERINE PAPPAS.

HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF.

HE SAID HOW HE WANTED TO SAY,

"THANK YOU," TO JOHN PAPPAS.

CATHERINE PAPPAS IS POLITE.

AND SHE INVITES HIM IN.

SHE BRINGS OUT HER
BEST CHINA.

AND THEN HE ATTACKS HER.

BECAUSE SHE'S STRUGGLING
SO MUCH,

HE CLAMPS HIS HANDS
AROUND HER THROAT,

TIGHTENING HARDER AND HARDER
UNTIL SHE STOPS MOVING.

THE FACT THAT THERE
HAD ONLY BEEN

ONE DOCUMENTED MURDER SUGGESTS

THAT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WENT WRONG.

Frankel: HE QUICKLY GRABS
A COUPLE OF ITEMS

AND HE RUNS OUT
AS FAST AS HE CAN.

AND HE DOESN'T
WIPE THE GLASS.

HE LATER SAYS THAT HE HAD
NEVER MET JOHN PAPPAS.

HE JUST WAS DOWNSTAIRS.
HE SAW THAT NAME.

AND HE DECIDED
TO GIVE THAT A TRY.

ALL THESE VICTIMS,
THESE WERE ALL GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY WERE KIND.

THEY TRUSTED HIM.

AND HE TOOK THEIR KINDNESS
AND HE USED IT AGAINST THEM.

Aalai: ULTIMATELY, THE ROOT OF
RAPE IS NOT SEX-BASED.

IT'S POWER-BASED, OVERPOWERING
OR CONTROLLING SOMEBODY ELSE.

CVEK, PERHAPS, FELT POWERLESS
OR RESENTFUL TOWARDS WOMEN.

AND SO HE EXPRESSED
THAT THROUGH VIOLATING THEM.

Frankel: THE AMOUNT OF HARM
THAT THIS PERSON

DID IS ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE.

RESEARCHERS PREDICT ANYWHERE
FROM WITHIN 50

TO 70 PERCENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS

AND RAPES GO UNREPORTED.

Margolin: BASED ON THAT FACT,
THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS

OF GEORGE JOSEPH CVEK

COULD TOTAL WELL OVER 200.

Frankel: GEORGE CVEK'S STRENGTH
WAS THAT HE WAS A LONER.

Margolin: HE WAS ABLE TO USE THE
SEAMS,

THE BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS,

BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ULTIMATELY, WHAT ENDS UP LEADING

TO HIS DEMISE IS COMMUNITY.

Casale: THEY WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO FIND HIM

WITHOUT THE COOPERATION
OF THE VICTIMS.

Aalai: IT'S HARD IN 2016
TO COME FORWARD.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
IN THE 1940S

HOW MUCH HARDER
EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOU

IS GONNA TELL YOU TO BE SILENT.

AND YOU MIGHT EXPLICITLY BE

GETTING THOSE MESSAGES
FROM YOUR SPOUSE.

TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS
AND TO SPEAK UP,

THAT'S AN ACT OF HEROISM.

I'LL KILL YOU!
I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!

I'LL KILL YOU!

Woman: THE HURT THAT GEORGE CVEK
INFLICTED KNEW NO BOUNDS.

HE DIDN'T JUST
FORCE HIMSELF ON THEM.

HE FORCED HIS WAY
INSIDE THEIR MARRIAGES.

HE FORCED HIS WAY
INSIDE THEIR HEADS.

BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING

GOOD TO COME OUT
OF THIS STORY,

AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD
TO SEE IT AT ALL,

MAYBE IT'S THIS.

YOU MIGHT BE HURTING.

YOU MIGHT NEVER STOP HURTING.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HURT ALONE.

Woman: * WHISPERING HOPE *

* OH, HOW WELCOME THY VOICE *

* MAKING MY HEART *

* IN ITS SORROW REJOICE *

* OOH *