A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 5, Episode 4 - Coffin for Christmas - full transcript

CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA,

WE ALWAYS KNEW IT WASN'T GOING
TO BE A SNOWY, WHITE HOLIDAY,

SO THE THINGS YOU REMEMBER
INSTEAD ARE THE TRADITIONS.

I KNEW BARBARA
SINCE WE WERE KIDS.

WE WOULD SPEND
OUR CHRISTMAS VACATIONS

PLAYING TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER
GIRLS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

LIKE, WE USED TO HAVE
THIS ONE HOLIDAY TRADITION,

A SILLY GAME, REALLY,
WHERE ONE OF US WOULD LAY DOWN,

AND WE'D SAY,
"YOU'RE DYING. YOU'RE DYING.

OKAY. NOW YOU'RE DEAD."

- NO, BARBARA.
- POOR BARBARA.



ALL OF US WOULD CONCENTRATE.

WE HAD TO REALLY FOCUS
TO MAKE IT WORK.

POOR, POOR BARBARA.

COULD ALL OF US HELP OUR FRIEND
RISE FROM THE DEAD

LIKE THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND LEVITATE OFF THE GROUND?

LIGHT AS A
FEATHER, STIFF AS A BOARD.

LIGHT AS A FEATHER,
STIFF AS A BOARD.

LIGHT AS A FEATHER,
STIFF AS A BOARD.

LIGHT AS A FEATHER,
STIFF AS A BOARD.

- IT WAS JUST A GAME...
- BARB?

...JUST A WAY FOR CHILDREN
TO PASS THE TIME.

- BARB?
- WAIT!

WAIT,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT ARE YOU -- PLEASE, PLEASE,
PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!



BUT THIS TIME,
WHAT HAPPENED TO BARBARA

WASN'T A GAME AT ALL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

ON DECEMBER 17th,
1968, AROUND 4:00 A.M.,

DEKALB COUNTY AUTHORITIES
ARE CALLED TO THE RODEWAY INN

NEAR EMORY UNIVERSITY
OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA.

THEY FIND MOTEL GUEST
JANE MACKLE.

SHE EXPLAINS THAT HER DAUGHTER,
BARBARA MACKLE,

AN EMORY UNIVERSITY STUDENT,

HAS JUST BEEN KIDNAPPED.

THEY TOOK HER.

IT'S BELOW 101 NOW.

REALLY, I JUST NEED
A NEW NOSE.

I CAN'T BREATHE
THROUGH THIS ONE.

BARBARA CAME DOWN WITH THE FLU,
BUT IT'S FINALS WEEK,

AND SHE WAS DETERMINED
TO SIT FOR HER TESTS.

SHE'S SICK, AND HER MOTHER
HAS FLOWN UP TO BE WITH HER,

AND HER MOTHER HAS TAKEN HER
OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY,

AND SHE'S STAYING
AT THE RODEWAY MOTEL.

THIS IS THE POLICE.

THERE WAS A KNOCK
AT THE DOOR.

IT WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

SHE SEES
A GUY WEARING A POLICE CAP.

WE'RE SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
BUT THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT...

THE POLICE OFFICER SAYS THAT
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT OF A FRIEND.

...A BOY IN A WHITE FORD.

HE'S AT THE HOSPITAL,
AND HE'S LOOKING FOR YOU.

ISN'T THAT STEWART'S CAR?

SHE THINKS THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.

- MY GOD.
- GET DOWN!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- GET DOWN ON THE BED!

GET DOWN.
- MY GOD!

SHE OPENED THE DOOR,
AND SHE WAS OVERWHELMED

BY THIS PRETTY LARGE GUY.

HE'S FOLLOWED BY A
SLIGHT FIGURE WEARING A SKI MASK.

THIS PERSON WAS ABOUT THE SIZE
OF A TEENAGE BOY.

JANE IS TIED AND BOUND BY THE
SMALLER OF THE TWO ASSAILANTS.

A CLOTH IS PUT OVER HER
FACE THAT SMELLS LIKE CHLOROFORM,

BUT SHE DOESN'T PASS OUT.

SHE LOOKS UP TO SEE
HER DAUGHTER BEING FORCED

OUT OF THE ROOM AT GUNPOINT.

BARBARA!

JANE JUST COULDN'T
BELIEVE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY,
AND IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED.

- MRS. MACKLE?
- STEWART!

I'M SORRY. I CAME
AS FAST AS I COULD.

THANK GOD.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE
DO THIS TO HER?

WHY WOULD SOMEONE
TAKE...

THE FIRST PERSON TO ARRIVE AT
THE MOTEL IS BARBARA'S FRIEND,

STEWART WOODWARD.

STEWART WAS THE BOY
WITH THE WHITE FORD.

HE WAS THE REASON BARBARA'S
MOTHER OPENED THE DOOR,

BUT SHE WAS STILL COMFORTED
TO HAVE HIM THERE.

HE WAS BARBARA'S BEST FRIEND,
AFTER ALL,

AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
WHAT MRS. MACKLE

MUST HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH
ON HER OWN LIKE THAT,

WAITING FOR BARBARA'S DAD
TO COME UP FROM MIAMI.

- JANE.
- ROBERT.

IN THE EARLY-MORNING HOURS,
BARBARA'S FATHER, ROBERT MACKLE,

ARRIVES TO BE WITH HIS WIFE
IN ATLANTA.

ROBERT RUNS A PROMINENT
REAL-ESTATE COMPANY IN MIAMI.

ROBERT MACKLE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAN

THAT'S IN CONTROL
OF HIS EMOTIONS.

HE WOULD DO ANYTHING, MOVE A
MOUNTAIN, TO FIND HIS DAUGHTER.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH
THAT HE CAN DO AT THIS POINT.

LISTEN TO ME.

THE BEST PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO BE ON THIS.

- THANK GOD.
- DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

YES.
THANK GOD.

BARBARA'S FATHER
IS ALSO GOOD FRIENDS

WITH FBI DIRECTOR
J. EDGAR HOOVER.

BLOCK.

I HAVE DIRECTOR HOOVER
ON THE LINE FOR AGENT SCHROEDER.

IS HE IN?
- YES, HE'S HERE.

SCHROEDER HERE.

PLEASE HOLD
FOR DIRECTOR HOOVER.

EVER SINCE CHARLES LINDBERGH'S
SON WAS KIDNAPPED IN 1932,

KIDNAPPING ISN'T CONSIDERED
A LOCAL OR STATE OFFENSE.

IT'S A FEDERAL CRIME,

AND SO THE FBI
GETS INVOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

AGENT SCHROEDER,
THERE'S BEEN A KIDNAPPING IN ATLANTA,

AND I WANT YOU AND BLOCK
TO PERSONALLY ATTEND TO IT.

YES, SIR.

NEXT FLIGHT TO ATLANTA.

A COUPLE HOURS LATER,

VETERAN FBI AGENT REX SCHROEDER

ARRIVES TO LEAD UP
THE INVESTIGATION.

AT THIS POINT,
THIS CASE HAD BEEN BUMPED UP

TO THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

MRS. MACKLE,
YOU SAID THE INTRUDERS

MENTIONED
A WHITE FORD.

THAT MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION
OF BARBARA'S FRIEND'S CAR,

STEWARD WOODWARD.

DO YOU THINK HE COULD BE
INVOLVED WITH THIS?

NO.
HE'S LIKE FAMILY TO US.

THIS CASE ALSO STRIKES
A PERSONAL CHORD WITH SCHROEDER

BECAUSE HE HAS TWO DAUGHTERS
OF HIS OWN.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR FRIENDSHIP
WITH BARBARA MACKLE?

IS SHE YOUR GIRLFRIEND?
- NO.

SHE'S MY BEST FRIEND.

I KNOW
THAT SOUNDS STRANGE.

SHE'S HAD BOYFRIENDS.

WE JUST REALLY
LIKE EACH OTHER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHY ANYONE WOULD DO THIS TO HER?

ISN'T IT OBVIOUS?

SHE IS WORTH
A LOT OF MONEY.

EVERYONE I KNOW AT SCHOOL
HAS HEARD ABOUT HOW HER DAD

IS BIG IN REAL ESTATE
DOWN IN FLORIDA.

THE MACKLE FAMILY
IS THE MOST PROMINENT DEVELOPER

IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THEIR OWN WEALTH WAS SOMETHING
LIKE $60 TO $65 MILLION,

WHICH IS AN ASTRONOMICAL SUM
OF MONEY.

YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT
ABOUT THIS FAMILY.

YEAH, WELL, I DO, SIR,
BECAUSE I CARE, I GUESS.

STEWART IS
THE FIRST PERSON TO SUGGEST

THAT BARBARA MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN
FOR A RANSOM.

THAT MAKES REX
AND HIS COLLEAGUES

A LITTLE BIT SUSPICIOUS.

MY PARENTS
ARE WAITING FOR ME.

STEWART SAYS THAT HE'S GOING TO
DRIVE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK.

THE FBI LET HIM GO,
BUT THEY DECIDE TO SURVEIL HIM.

STEWART IS GONNA REMAIN
ON THE SUSPECT LIST

UNTIL WE'VE GOT OUR VICTIM BACK.

YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO
LOOK AROUND AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE

AND GATHER ANY CLUES
YOU CAN.

BY THIS TIME,
FBI AGENTS ARE ALREADY STATIONED

AT THE MACKLE HOUSE IN MIAMI.

AT 10:00 A.M., A CALL
IS RECEIVED BY A FAMILY FRIEND.

- HELLO?
- THIS REGARDS BARBARA.

PLEASE LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY.

- WHO IS THIS?
- TELL THE POLICE TO LOOK

UNDER A TREE IN THE NORTHEAST
CORNER OF THE HOUSE.

AND UNDER
A VERY SPECIFIC TREE...

...THEY DIG UP A BEAKER...

...AND IN IT,
THERE'S A RANSOM NOTE.

THIS IS A COPY
OF THE NOTE.

SCHROEDER IS STRUCK BY THE FACT
THAT THE RANSOM NOTE

IS FOUND 700 MILES AWAY
FROM THE KIDNAPPING SITE.

GO GET MR. MACKLE.

SO, THE KIDNAPPERS
EITHER HAVE AN ACCOMPLICE IN MIAMI,

OR THEY PLANTED IT IN ADVANCE,

WHICH MEANS
THAT THEY'VE BEEN PLANNING

THIS KIDNAPPING FOR A WHILE.

THE NOTE STARTS OUT,
"ROBERT MACKLE, SIR,

YOUR DAUGHTER
HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY US,

AND WE NOW HOLD HER
FOR RANSOM FOR $500,000."

SO, AT LEAST SHE'S ALIVE,

BUT THE NEXT PART OF THE RANSOM
NOTE IS REALLY DISTURBING...

...BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT BARBARA
IS BURIED IN A SMALL CAPSULE

IN A REMOTE PIECE OF SOIL.

PLEASE, PLEASE,
DON'T DO THIS!

PLEASE, DON'T! PLEASE!

PL-- WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!
WAIT, WAIT!

WAIT, YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!

PLEASE, YOU CAN'T
LEAVE ME HERE!

PLEASE, WAIT!

WHY?!

DON'T BE SUCH A BABY.

- PLEASE!
- TURN ON THE FAN.

THE SWITCH IS BEHIND YOUR HEAD.
- I DON'T -- WHERE?

THIS WILL BRING IN
AIR AS LONG AS THE BATTERY LASTS.

THE NOTE SAYS SHE HAS
ENOUGH AIR AND FOOD AND WATER

FOR A FEW DAYS,

BUT AT THAT POINT,
THE AIR SUPPLY WILL BE CUT OFF.

ROBERT MACKLE THEN UNDERSTANDS
THAT THIS IS REALLY A TIME BOMB,

AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!

PLEASE!

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!

WAIT, DON'T LEAVE ME!
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

IT WAS FUN TO PLAY DEAD
AND SEE IF WE COULD LEVITATE.

WE KNEW THE ONLY WAY
IT WOULD WORK

WAS IF YOU CONCENTRATED
REALLY HARD.

BARB?

FOR SUCH A SWEET GIRL, BARBARA
COULD BE SO INTENSE ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES
SHE WOULD SPOOK US OUT.

BARB?

GIRLS!

AFTER OUR GAMES,
I REMEMBER HOW GIDDY WE WERE.

IT WAS EASY FOR US
TO PLAY GAMES ABOUT DEATH.

ALL OF US TOOK IT FOR GRANTED
THAT WE WERE YOUNG AND WEALTHY

AND HAD A PILE
OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

WAITING FOR US UNDER THE TREE.

WE THOUGHT THE DARKNESS OF
THE WORLD WOULD NEVER TOUCH US.

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!

PLEASE!

PLEASE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!

BUT THEN THE DARKNESS
FOUND BARBARA.

SHE HAD BEEN MISSING
FOR OVER 10 HOURS.

WERE OUR PRAYERS REACHING HER?

DID SHE KNOW, WHEREVER SHE WAS,

THAT WE WERE ALL
COMING APART WITH WORRY?

WHEN THE MACKLES
RETURNED TO MIAMI,

THEY FIND THAT THE STORY
IS ALREADY FRONT-PAGE NEWS.

I WAS ALREADY HOME
FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

WHEN I FOUND OUT.

HOW COULD THIS
HAVE HAPPENED TO BARBARA?

SHE WAS THE MOST INNOCENT
OF ALL OF US.

EVEN IF SHE SURVIVED,

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THIS
EXPERIENCE MIGHT DO TO HER.

HERE AT THE MACKLE HOME
IN CORAL GABLES,

THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE ACTIVITY
THROUGH THE DAY.

THEN LATER
IN THE AFTERNOON --

WE ALL KNEW BARBARA'S DAD
WAS A BIG DEAL AROUND TOWN.

IF HE NEEDED THAT KIND OF CASH
FOR THE RANSOM,

HE WOULD GET IT DONE.

I BET HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
10 TIMES AS MUCH

IF THEY'D ASKED FOR IT, JUST
TO GET HIS LITTLE GIRL BACK.

HE WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING
FOR BARBARA.

$500,000 IS $3.6 MILLION
IN TODAY'S MONEY.

PER THE KIDNAPPERS'
INSTRUCTIONS,

ROBERT MACKLE
CALLS THE MIAMI HERALD,

AND HE PLACES AN AD
TO RUN ON DECEMBER 18th.

THE AD READS,
"LOVED ONE, PLEASE COME HOME.

WE WILL PAY ALL EXPENSES."

AND THEN THEY JUST
HAVE TO SIT AROUND AND WAIT.

THEY WAITED ALL DAY INTO NIGHT.

IT HAD BEEN NEARLY
TWO WHOLE DAYS.

WE WERE ALL SCARED,
BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

HOW HARD IT MUST HAVE BEEN
FOR HER PARENTS.

THEY WORRY THAT,
"WHAT IF HE DOESN'T CALL?

WHAT IF THIS IS A HOAX?"

AT 3:47 A.M., DECEMBER 19th,

THE MACKLES' HOME PHONE
FINALLY RINGS.

HELLO?

ROBERT MACKLE,

YOU WILL PROCEED DOWN BIRD ROAD
TO 27th AVENUE.

TAKE A RIGHT.

YEAH, I GOT IT.

THE CALLER
GIVES ROBERT MACKLE DIRECTIONS

TO A CAUSEWAY ABOUT FIVE MILES
FROM THE MACKLES' HOUSE.

THAT'LL BE
THE RANSOM DROP POINT.

HOW DO I KNOW
BARBARA IS WELL?

YOU DON'T.

SO, ROBERT MACKLE DRIVES OFF

WITH A SUITCASE
FILLED WITH MONEY.

THE NOTE SPECIFIES THAT ROBERT
HAS TO BRING THE MONEY HIMSELF,

WEAR A WHITE SUIT,

AND HE HAS TO DRIVE HIS LINCOLN
TO THE RANSOM DROP.

ROBERT IS A GUY THAT IS
MAKING MILLION-DOLLAR DECISIONS

ALL THE TIME,

BUT THIS IS ONE TIME WHEN
HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL.

HE JUST WANTS TO DO
EXACTLY WHAT THE KIDNAPPER ASKS.

AFTER THE DROP,
EVERYBODY IS RELIEVED

THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR,

BUT YOU'VE STILL GOT A LIFE
IN THE BALANCE.

WE HAVE A POSSIBLE
1027 HEADING SOUTH ON FAIR ISLE.

A REQUEST FOR BACKUP,
A POSSIBLE 1027 IN PROGRESS.

THE FBI HAD NOT TOLD
THE LOCAL POLICE

THAT THIS RANSOM DROP
IS HAPPENING.

BECAUSE THERE'S
A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE

THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
WOULD LEAK THE INFORMATION

TO THEIR CONTACTS IN THE PRESS.

SUSPICIOUS
MALE FIGURE WITH A SUITCASE,

APPEARS TO BE ARMED.

PROCEED TO APPREHEND.

TWO POLICEMEN HAD COME
UPON A MAN HOLDING A SUITCASE

AND A GUN.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT THEY'VE INTERRUPTED.

THIS MAN DROPS THE SUITCASE,
AND HE RUNS AWAY.

MONEY HAS BEEN RECOVERED.

MONEY HAS BEEN RECOVERED.

IN THAT MOMENT, THEY REALIZED
THAT THAT WAS THE KIDNAPPER,

THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY,

AND NOW HE HAS NO INCENTIVE
TO TELL THEM WHERE BARBARA IS.

MY GOD.
THEY'RE GONNA KILL HER.

REX SCHROEDER HAS
THE FBI ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE

THAT'S A DIRECT PLEA TO THE
KIDNAPPER FROM ROBERT MACKLE.

I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
THE ACTION THURSDAY MORNING

OF THE MIAMI POLICE.

THIS HAS ALL JUST GONE
AS BAD AS IT POSSIBLY COULD.

THERE'S NO LOGICAL REASON
FOR THE KIDNAPPER TO RESURFACE.

WITH THAT CLOSE OF A CALL,
IT'S POSSIBLE

THAT HE'S GONNA HEAD FOR
THE BORDER AND NEVER COME BACK.

PLEASE, CONTACT ME AGAIN
THROUGH ANY CHANNEL.

THE STATEMENT IS
RELEASED THE MORNING OF THE 19th

AND IS PUBLISHED EVERYWHERE,

AND IT'S BROADCAST ON RADIO
AND TV REPEATEDLY.

I'M TRIMMING A TREE.

START AT THE BOTTOM.

DO THE BIG BRANCHES FIRST.

NOW CLIMB A LADDER TO THE TOP

AND PUT THE ANGEL
ALL THE WAY UP THERE.

YES.

THEY FOUND THE CAR.

NEAR THE RANSOM DROP-OFF
SPOT, THE MIAMI POLICE FIND A CAR

THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND --

A 1966 STATION WAGON
WITH MASSACHUSETTS PLATES.

THE INVESTIGATORS FIND
SEVERAL INTERESTING OBJECTS,

INCLUDING ROPE AND
MASKING TAPE AND A SKI MASK.

THEY ALSO DISCOVERED
A KEY TO THE RODEWAY MOTEL

WHERE THE ABDUCTION TOOK PLACE.

WHAT'D YOU
FIND HERE, SON?

THE AGENTS
ALSO DISCOVER INTIMATE PHOTOS

OF A MAN IN HIS 20s.

IN ONE OF THEM, HE'S NUDE

EXCEPT FOR A
STRATEGICALLY-PLACED POLICE CAP.

THAT STRIKES A CHORD
WITH THE AGENTS

BECAUSE THEY REMEMBER
JANE MACKLE

REPORTING THAT THE KIDNAPPER
WAS WEARING A POLICEMAN'S CAP

WHEN HE CAME INTO
THEIR MOTEL ROOM.

AT THIS POINT, THEY DETERMINE
THIS WAS THE VEHICLE

THAT BARBARA WAS ABDUCTED IN.

WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT
IS THE MOBILE COMMAND POST

OF THE KIDNAPPERS.

SO, THEY VACUUM UP EVERY PIECE
OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN FIND.

AGENTS CONTACT
THE MASSACHUSETTS FBI,

AND THEY FIND OUT THAT THE CAR
IS OWNED BY A GEORGE DEACON.

SO, AT THIS POINT,
THEY BELIEVE GEORGE DEACON

MIGHT BE THE KIDNAPPER.

BUT THE MACKLES DON'T
RECOGNIZE THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.

AND NOBODY
IS FAMILIAR WITH ANYONE

BY THE NAME GEORGE DEACON.

HE'S ALSO NOT ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY CRIMINAL RECORD.

THERE SEEMS TO BE VERY LITTLE
INFORMATION ABOUT GEORGE DEACON.

HOOVER HERE.

SO, REX SCHROEDER
COMMANDEERS 125 FBI AGENTS

TO COMB MIAMI,
LOOKING FOR GEORGE DEACON.

HELLO.

THE NEW PICKUP SITE
IS 2.2 MILES OFF THE LEFT-HAND SIDE

OF THE ROAD
ON SOUTHWEST 8th STREET.

THE KIDNAPPER GIVES
ROBERT MACKLE DRIVING DIRECTIONS

TO AN UNPAVED ROAD
ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.

ALL UNITS
IN THE VICINITY, STAND DOWN.

REPEAT, STAND DOWN.

THIS TIME, REX SCHROEDER INFORMS
ALL THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES

THAT THIS DROP
IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

THIS TIME,
THE DROP-OFF GOES AS PLANNED,

BUT THERE'S THIS FEAR THAT
THE LONGER THIS THING GOES ON,

"IF WE CAN'T GET IT TOGETHER
AND MAKE THIS WORK,

SHE'S GONNA DIE.

WHERE WAS OUR FRIEND,
BARBARA MACKLE?

IT HAD BEEN HOURS SINCE
THE KIDNAPPER GOT HIS MONEY,

BUT SO FAR,
IT WAS STILL AGONIZING SILENCE.

EVEN WITH THE FBI
ALL OVER MIAMI

LOOKING FOR THIS BOGEYMAN,
GEORGE DEACON,

IT DIDN'T MAKE
ANY OF US FEEL BETTER.

IT DIDN'T BRING OUR FRIEND,
BARBARA, BACK.

YOU GOT TWO PRIMARY GOALS
THE ENTIRE TIME --

SAVE THE HOSTAGE,
CATCH THE KIDNAPPER.

AND THEY'RE SO INTERTWINED...

HAVE A NICE DAY.

...THAT ONE REALLY
PLAYS TOWARDS THE OTHER.

THEY FIND OUT
A GEORGE DEACON WORKS AT

THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE.

SO, THEY TRACK DOWN
GEORGE DEACON'S BOSS.

I HIRED GEORGE SIX MONTHS AGO.
HE'S VERY SMART.

HIS CREDENTIALS
WERE IMPECCABLE.

THE BOSS SAYS THAT HE HAD
HIRED HIM IN JUNE OF 1968

TO PILOT THESE BOATS
FOR MARINE-RESEARCH EXPEDITIONS.

HE TELLS THEM THAT GEORGE DEACON
COULD PILOT A BOAT.

HE COULD BUILD ANYTHING.
HE COULD REPAIR ANYTHING.

WOULD HE BE ABLE TO MAKE
A VENTILATED BOX?

THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.

HIS BOSS ACTUALLY SAYS
THAT HE HAS TO BUILD VENTILATED BOXES

FOR THESE MARINE RESEARCH
EXPEDITIONS TO PUT SPECIMENS IN.

DOES ANYONE ELSE
KNOW HIM WELL?

RUTH. SHE'S
A POST-GRAD STUDENT.

THEY'RE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

SHE'S TINY, MAYBE JUST
A LITTLE OVER FIVE-FEET TALL.

- MY GOD.
- GET DOWN!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- GET DOWN ON THE BED! GET DOWN!

RUTH IS A VERY SMALL WOMAN,
AND THEY RECALL MRS. MACKLE

DESCRIBING THE SECOND KIDNAPPER
AS BEING SMALL,

LIKE A TEENAGE BOY.

HE ALSO MENTIONS
THAT SHE SPEAKS SPANISH.

THEY THINK BACK
TO THE FIRST PHONE CALL

WHEN THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER LINE
HAD A SPANISH ACCENT.

THIS MAKES THE AGENTS WONDER,
"COULD RUTH BE THIS ACCOMPLICE?"

WE'D ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS
TWO MEN WHO HAD TAKEN BARBARA.

TO HEAR THAT A WOMAN MIGHT HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED, WHOEVER SHE WAS,

I COULDN'T IMAGINE
HOW SHE COULD GO THROUGH

WITH SUCH A THING.

I DIDN'T EVEN WANT IT,
BUT FOR $35, I COULDN'T SAY NO.

DURING THAT TIME,
A MAN CAME FORWARD TO SAY

THAT HE HAD JUST BOUGHT
A DETACHABLE TRAILER FROM DEACON

IN A THRIFT-STORE PARKING LOT
JUST THE NIGHT BEFORE.

THE GUY
WAS IN A REAL HURRY.

WHEN I SAW THIS,
I JUST GOT A CREEPY FEELING.

INSIDE THE TRAILER,
THEY FOUND SOME LETTERS...

GEORGE DEACON.

...AND AS THEY
LOOKED THROUGH THEM,

SOME LETTERS
REFERENCED A GEORGE DEACON...

GARY KRIST?

...BUT OTHER LETTERS
REFERENCED A GARY KRIST.

WHEN THE FBI
LOOKS UP THE NAME "GARY KRIST,"

THEY FIND THAT
HE'S A 23-YEAR-OLD

THAT'S BEEN ARRESTED
SEVERAL TIMES FOR CAR THEFT.

HE'D ESCAPED FROM
A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRISON

IN 1966, AND HE'D BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AGENTS RUN THE FINGERPRINTS
THAT THEY FOUND IN THE CAR

WITH THE ONES THAT THEY FOUND
IN GARY KRIST'S FILE.

AND IT TURNS OUT
THEY'RE IDENTICAL.

GEORGE DEACON
WAS INDEED GARY KRIST.

THE MADDENING THING
WAS THEY KNEW WHO DID IT,

AND THEY'D GIVEN HIM
HIS MONEY,

BUT HE STILL HADN'T TOLD THEM
WHERE TO LOOK FOR BARBARA.

IT HAD BEEN ALMOST FOUR DAYS,

AND SHE WAS STILL OUT THERE
SOMEWHERE UNDERGROUND

IN THAT TINY BOX ALL ALONE.

SHE'S DEAD.

I THINK SHE'S DEAD.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
BUT FOR ME,

I KNOW I WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE THAT.

FBI.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME
INFORMATION ON THE MACKLE GIRL.

COULD YOU HOLD
WHILE I TRANSFER YOU?

NO.
WRITE THIS DOWN.

THE MAN
ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE

GIVES A SET
OF DRIVING DIRECTIONS

TO A RURAL AREA OUTSIDE ATLANTA,

24 MILES AWAY
FROM WHERE SHE WAS KIDNAPPED.

THEN HE JUST HANGS UP.

FBI AGENTS IMMEDIATELY
DRIVE TO THE SITE.

THE FBI AGENTS ARE SKEPTICAL.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO GET YOUR HOPES UP

IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

EVEN IF THEY GAVE YOU
GOOD INFORMATION,

YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT YOUR VICTIM

IS STILL GONNA BE ALIVE.

THERE ARE NO SIGNS
OF WHERE BARBARA IS BURIED,

AND THESE WOODS GO ON FOR MILES.

SHE'S BEEN BURIED
ALMOST FOUR FULL DAYS.

THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE
THAT IF THEY DIG HER UP,

THAT THEY COULD BE
DIGGING UP A BODY.

HEY! HEY,
I FOUND SOMETHING!

DIG!
DIG! DIG!

COME ON!

THE AGENTS DIG ABOUT A FOOT AND
A HALF, AND THEY START YELLING.

BARBARA, ARE YOU THERE?!

BARBARA,
KNOCK IF YOU CAN HEAR US!

BARBARA,
CAN YOU HEAR ME?

BARB?

I'M HERE.

WE'RE COMING FOR YOU,
BARBARA!

HANG ON! HANG ON!
WE'RE COMING!

COME ON!

I'M HERE.

I'M HERE!

ALL RIGHT.
COME ON.

IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY.

COME ON. COME ON.
WE'VE GOT YOU.

WE'VE GOT YOU, BARBARA.
COME ON.

COME ON. COME ON.
WE'VE GOT YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE VERY GLAD TO SEE YOU,
MISS MACKLE.

- YES?
- BOB, THIS IS EDGAR.

I'VE GOT
SOME VERY GOOD NEWS.

BARBARA IS ALIVE
AND WELL AND IN FBI...

J. EDGAR HOOVER,
THE HEAD OF THE FBI, CALLED ROBERT MACKLE

AND SAID, "WE FOUND
YOUR DAUGHTER, AND SHE'S OKAY."

THEY GOT HER!
THANK YOU.

OUR FRIEND, BARBARA,
WAS FINALLY SAFE,

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT
HORRIBLE MAN WHO TOOK HER?

TWO DAYS LATER,
THE KIDNAPPER, GARY KRIST,

WAS CAUGHT IN A SWAMP
LIKE A MANGY DOG.

BY THIS POINT,
HE DIDN'T DENY MUCH...

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE SHE IS.

...AND ADMITTED
THAT HIS GIRLFRIEND, RUTH,

OF ALL PEOPLE, HAD INDEED
BEEN HIS ACCOMPLICE.

KRIST TELLS THEM
THAT RUTH EISEMANN-SCHIER

HAS GONE ON THE RUN.

RUTH BROKE THE GLASS
CEILING IN A VERY DUBIOUS WAY.

SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN
ON THE FBI'S MOST WANTED LIST.

WE ALL THOUGHT
WHEN THEY FOUND KRIST,

THEY WOULD ALSO FIND RUTH.

THEY WERE A TEAM, RIGHT?

BUT THEN WHEN THEY FINALLY
FOUND HER, THREE MONTHS LATER

AND 800 MILES AWAY,
YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER,

"WHAT HAPPENED?

WHO IS THIS WOMAN?"

SHE IS EVENTUALLY
APPREHENDED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.

I HAVE A STATEMENT.

I MET GEORGE WHEN
I BEGAN WORKING WITH HIM

WHEN WE WERE ON A MARINE
EXPEDITION IN SEPTEMBER OF 1968.

WE FELL IN LOVE.

WITHIN TWO
OR THREE WEEKS,

WE TALK ABOUT
RUNNING AWAY TOGETHER.

HE TOLD ME HE HAD DREAMS
OF THE PERFECT CRIME.

THE GUY SHE KNEW
AS GEORGE DEACON TOLD HER

THEY COULD KIDNAP SOME SPOILED,
RICH GIRL FOR RANSOM

AND NEVER GET CAUGHT.

THEY'D RUN AWAY TOGETHER
AND LIVE LIKE KINGS.

RUTH GOT SWEPT UP
BY THE FAIRY TALE.

AND SO SHE BECAME
HIS ACCOMPLICE.

HE WENT DOWN
TO THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY,

AND HE CHECKED OUT
THE SOCIAL REGISTER,

WHICH IS A BOOK THAT LISTS
THE PROMINENT FAMILIES.

AND HE DECIDED BARBARA MACKLE

WAS THE PERFECT PERSON
TO KIDNAP.

ON THE WAY OUT OF MIAMI,
THEY STOP BY THE MACKLE HOUSE.

AND THEY BURIED THE RANSOM NOTE
ON THE MACKLE LAWN.

THEY ARRIVE IN ATLANTA WITHIN
A DAY OR SO OF LEAVING MIAMI.

THEY LEARN THAT BARBARA IS SICK,

AND HER MOTHER HAS FLOWN UP
TO BE WITH HER,

AND HER MOTHER HAS TAKEN HER
OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

WE FIND OUT THEY'RE STAYING
AT THE RODEWAY INN

ON CLAREMONT DRIVE.

WHERE'D YOU GET
THE POLICEMAN'S CAP?

HE STOLE IT FROM A COP
AT A RESTAURANT.

THEY'D OBSERVED BARBARA
WELL ENOUGH

TO KNOW ABOUT
HER FRIEND STEWART...

THIS IS THE POLICE.

...AND THAT HE DROVE
A WHITE FORD.

WE'RE SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
BUT THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT,

A YOUNG BOY
IN A WHITE FORD.

ISN'T THAT
STEWART'S CAR?

- MY GOD.
- GET DOWN!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- GET DOWN ON THE BED! GET DOWN!

MY GOD!

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!

PLEASE! PLEASE!

PLEASE, YOU CAN'T
LEAVE ME HERE!

WHY DID YOU
LEAVE MIAMI?

RUTH SAYS AFTER
THE FIRST PICKUP OF THE MONEY,

THEY BECAME SEPARATED.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET UP
WHERE THE CAR WAS,

BUT BECAUSE THE POLICE
HAD INTERVENED,

GARY NEVER QUITE
GOT OVER THERE TO IT,

AND HE JUST RAN TO SEEK REFUGE,

AND SO AT THIS POINT,
SHE'S ON HER OWN,

AND SHE FEELS AS IF
HE'S PROBABLY ABANDONED HER.

I WALKED INTO MIAMI
AND GOT ON A BUS TO HOUSTON.

WHY DIDN'T YOU THINK
KRIST WOULD FIND YOU?

RUTH HAD
A VERY DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD,

SO SHE REALLY DEVELOPED
A SURVIVOR MENTALITY.

SHE WAS LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO SURVIVE,

AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER,

SHE KIND OF HOOKS HER STAR
TO THE WRONG WAGON.

NOW THAT HE HAD THE MONEY...

I THOUGHT HE DIDN'T
NEED ME ANYMORE.

I REMEMBER WHEN BARBARA
FINALLY CAME HOME

FOR CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR.

WE WERE ALL WORRIED ABOUT HER,
BUT THEN SHE WAS SO PEACEFUL,

AS IF SHE'D LEFT
ALL THE DARKNESS

BURIED DEEP UNDERGROUND.

HOW COULD OUR SWEET,
INNOCENT FRIEND

SURVIVE SOMETHING SO HORRIFIC?

HOW DID SHE STAY SO STRONG?

HI, SWEETIE.

I'M SO EXCITED
FOR CHRISTMAS.

WELL, HOW ABOUT WE COUNT
CHRISTMAS INSTEAD OF SHEEP?

OKAY.

I'M TRIMMING THE TREE.
- I'M TRIMMING THE TREE.

START AT THE BOTTOM.

DO THE BIG BRANCHES FIRST,

NOW THE ORNAMENTS,

ESPECIALLY THE ONES I MADE...

IT'S JUST UNIMAGINABLE
HOW THIS WONDERFUL, YOUNG WOMAN

COULD GO THROUGH 83 HOURS
LIKE THIS, SURVIVE,

AND THEN LEAD A SEEMINGLY
NORMAL LIFE IN THE AFTERMATH.

...NOW ALL THE TINSEL,

AND LEAVE THE LIGHTS FOR DADDY.
THAT'S ALWAYS HIS JOB.

BUT BARBARA, HAVING
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK ON LIFE,

IT'S CLOSE TO CHRISTMASTIME.

SHE KEPT THINKING ABOUT
WHEN SHE WOULD BE FREE

AND HELPING THE FAMILY
DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

SHE ATTRIBUTES THAT TO
GETTING HER THROUGH THIS ORDEAL.

SHE'S UNPRETENTIOUS.
SHE'S STUDIOUS.

SHE'S SWEET.

SHE'S JUST A LOVELY GIRL,

AND SHE HAD A PERFECT CHARACTER
TO SURVIVE THIS.