Dead of Winter (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Empty Chair - full transcript
The day after a snowstorm, high school freshman Shaun Ouillette vanishes. His mother searches for three desperate weeks. But when an anonymous letter leads detectives into the frozen woods,...
[ CROWS CAWING IN DISTANCE ]
Quinn: I CAN REMEMBER
THAT WHOLE DAY MINUTE BY MINUTE.
IT'S, LIKE,
BURNT INTO MY MEMORY.
MAYBE I CAN'T DO THIS.
♪♪
♪♪
THOSE ARE MEMORIES YOU'LL
NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU WANT IT TO COME
TO A GOOD CONCLUSION.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE
A HORROR STORY.
Female Reporter:
LAST SATURDAY, 150 PEOPLE
SEARCHED THE AREA
NEAR THE TEEN'S HOME.
Keleher: I'VE BEEN SHOT AT.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE DIE IN MY ARMS.
NONE OF THEM WERE AS TRAUMATIC
AS THAT CASE.
Narrator: 32 YEARS AGO,
A DISCOVERY IN THE FROZEN WOODS
CHANGED THIS TOWN FOREVER.
I REMEMBER WALKING OUT THE DOOR,
AND IT WAS COMPLETE SILENCE.
IT WAS COLD.
AND I SCREAMED,
"THIS IS NOT TRUE.
THIS CANNOT BE."
THAT'S WHEN THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN.
♪♪
[ CROWS CAWING ]
♪♪
EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED,
BIT BY BIT,
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMES BACK.
♪♪
MAYBE GOD SPARES US TOO MUCH
OF THIS STUFF ALL AT ONCE
SO THAT IT DOESN'T,
YOU KNOW, DRIVE US MAD.
♪♪
IF I COULD ONLY TURN BACK TIME.
♪♪
Man: [ On radio ]
FREEMAN KENNEDY SCHOOL, CLOSED.
CANTON HIGH SCHOOL, CLOSED.
[ RADIO SHUTS OFF ]
BACK IN '86,
I WAS A SINGLE MOTHER
OF TWO CHILDREN.
- HEY, MOM. SCHOOL'S CANCELED.
- I HEARD.
DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO STAY IN THIS HOUSE ALL DAY.
COME ON. BUT WHAT
IF WE DID SOMETHING FUN?
WHAT IF WE HANG UP
THE CHRISTMAS TREE?
THE CHRISTMAS TREE?
SHAUN, IT'S NOT EVEN
THANKSGIVING.
WHY DON'T YOU GO PLAY
IN THE SNOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS?
LIKE WHO?
ALL MY FRIENDS
ARE BACK IN HULL.
WE HAD ONLY BEEN IN CANTON
FOR 4 MONTHS,
AND IT'S TOUGH
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
ANY OF THE KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WAS SHUNNED BY MANY
OF THE KIDS AT CANTON HIGH.
I WISH WE NEVER LEFT.
SHAUN, WE HAD NO CHOICE.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WE HAVE TO BE HERE
FOR YOUR SISTER.
YVONNE WENT TO THE MASS HOSPITAL
SCHOOL FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN,
AND IT WAS IN CANTON.
I HAD NO CHOICE.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR ME.
[ SIGHS ]
LISTEN.
OH, SHAUNIE,
IT'LL GET BETTER.
I PROMISE.
♪♪
NOW, GO MAKE A SNOWMAN
OR SOMETHING.
I GOT WORK TO DO.
♪♪
I REMEMBER HIM
LEAVING FOR SCHOOL.
AND I SAW HIM AT THE DOOR,
AND HE SAW ME,
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE
ANY OTHER DAY.
AND I JUST LOOKED AT HIM,
AND HE LOOKED AT ME,
AND WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
TO EACH OTHER.
JUST A USUAL DAY.
♪♪
I LAY DOWN ON THE COUCH.
♪♪
I REMEMBER WAKING UP
FROM A SPLIT-SECOND NIGHTMARE.
[ VOICES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
[ GASPS ]
♪♪
SHAUN?
♪♪
I GOT UP, AND IT WAS 3:30
IN THE AFTERNOON,
LONG AFTER SHAUN WOULD BE HOME
WITH HIS FACE
IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
♪♪
SHAUNIE?
AND HE WASN'T THERE.
YVONNE, HAVE YOU SEEN
YOUR BROTHER?
NO.
NO, NO.
IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY MADE ME
SWALLOW A 20-POUND ROCK,
AND IT WAS SITTING
IN MY STOMACH,
AND I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS WRONG.
[ BREATHES SHAKILY ]
NO.
I GOT ON THE PHONE
AND STARTED CALLING HIS FRIENDS.
HAVE YOU SEEN SHAUN?
WOMAN:
Sorry, Jeanne. I haven't.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS,
RECEIVER CLICKS ]
HI. YEAH.
IT'S JEANNE.
HAVE YOU SEEN SHAUN?
MAN: Not since this morning.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WOMAN #2:
I don't think so, Jeanne. Sorry.
MAN #2: Sorry, Jeanne.
None of us have have seen him.
[ Click, dial tone ]
♪♪
Narrator: HOURS LATER, SHAUN
STILL HAS NOT RETURNED HOME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, JEANNE.
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM HIM YET?
YEAH. ROBBIE'S HERE
WITH HIS FRIEND, JONATHAN.
I'LL -- I'LL ASK THEM AGAIN.
I'LL CALL YOU RIGHT BACK.
♪♪
HEY.
YOU GUYS SURE
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM?
NO. LAST TIME I SAW HIM
WAS AT SCHOOL.
♪♪
CHILDREN DON'T DISAPPEAR.
SOMEBODY ALWAYS KNOWS.
♪♪
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AFTER I GET DONE GOING THROUGH
ALL HIS FRIENDS,
I GOT INTO MY CAR.
I DROVE TO THE STATION.
♪♪
AND I WENT IN,
AND I SAID, "LOOK.
SHAUN NEVER CAME HOME."
SO THEY TOOK
THE INFORMATION DOWN.
I GOT OUT OF THERE. I LEFT.
♪♪
SHE WAS, NATURALLY,
A HYSTERICAL MOTHER.
HER SON IS MISSING,
AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY.
♪♪
WHEN THE INVESTIGATION STARTED,
YOU KNOW,
I WENT TO SPEAK WITH HER.
HEY.
YOU GOT A MINUTE?
♪♪
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING.
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!
HE'S HURT.
HE IS OUT THERE IN THE COLD,
AND HE HIS HURT.
I KNOW IT.
I- I KNOW IT.
SHE WAS ADAMANT
THAT SHAUN DID NOT RUN AWAY.
SHE KNOWS HER SON.
SHE SAYS, "HE HAD NO REASON
TO RUN AWAY."
HE'S A TEENAGER IN A NEW TOWN.
MAYBE HE'S --
WELL, MAYBE WHAT? HE HOPPED
ON A BUS AND LEFT TOWN
WITHOUT TELLING HIS MOTHER?
I SAID, "IF HE RAN AWAY,
I WOULD TELL YOU HE RAN AWAY.
I WOULDN'T HIDE
ANYTHING ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I WANT MY CHILD HOME."
- WHAT ABOUT HIS FATHER?
- NO.
GOD KNOWS WE GOT
OUR PROBLEMS,
BUT HE'D NEVER DO ANYTHING
TO HURT SHAUN.
Callery: IF YOU'RE GOING
IN THE AVENUE OF A KIDNAPPING,
YOU DO LOOK AT THE PARENTS,
ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE'S
A DIVORCE SITUATION.
I'D LIKE TO GO HOME NOW.
GET HOME SAFE.
IT WASN'T JUST NOW
AN INVESTIGATION.
THIS COULD BE ME. THIS COULD BE
MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS VERY PERSONAL.
♪♪
Narrator: SEVERAL CANTON HIGH
STUDENTS TELL DETECTIVES
THAT SHAUN HAD PLANS TO SEE
A NEW FRIEND AFTER SCHOOL.
♪♪
- GOOD EVENING.
- HELLO.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
I'M WITH THE CANTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A MISSING PERSON.
HIS NAME IS
SHAUN OUILLETTE.
HE'S A FRESHMAN
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT?
THAT'S AWFUL.
NO. I HONESTLY CAN'T SAY
THAT I DO.
SOME OF SHAUN'S FRIENDS
THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE COME BY
AND SAW YOUR SON TODAY.
YOU MIND IF I ASK HIM
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
ROD?
♪♪
ROD MATTHEWS WAS AT HIS HOME.
THE OFFICER WENT TO THE HOUSE
AND SAID,
"SHAUN'S MISSING.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?"
"I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I NEVER SAW HIM."
SOME KIDS HEARD
HE CAME BY TO SEE YOU
THIS AFTERNOON
AFTER SCHOOL.
NO. UH,
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO,
BUT HE NEVER CAME.
MS. MATTHEWS, WHAT TIME
DID YOU GET HOME?
I- I'VE BEEN HERE
SINCE I GOT HOME FROM WORK
AROUND 2:30.
SO SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN
IF THERE WAS ANOTHER,
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER PERSON
AT THE DINNER TABLE.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
AND IF YOU DO HEAR FROM SHAUN,
GIVE ME A CALL.
- OF COURSE, YEAH.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU.
♪♪
Female Reporter:
LAST SATURDAY, 150 PEOPLE
SEARCHED THE AREA
NEAR THE TEEN'S HOME.
THE 14-YEAR-OLD WAS LAST SEEN
AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE PICTURES. THERE WERE
PICTURES IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THERE WERE PICTURES
ON TELEPHONE POLES.
THERE WERE SOME PICTURES
AT RESTAURANTS.
WE THOUGHT MAYBE HE WAS LOST.
MAYBE HE GOT HURT.
MAYBE HE FELL IN A POND.
COULD HAVE FALLEN THROUGH
SOME ICE OR SOMETHING.
WHO KNOWS?
Female Reporter:
BUT A SEARCH OF THE AREA
WAS CALLED OFF YESTERDAY
BECAUSE OF DARKNESS AND SNOW.
SEARCH PERIODS WOULD HAVE TO BE
CONDUCTED DURING THE DAY
BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE MUCH LIGHT,
SO I WAS THINKING IF HE WAS
OUT THERE, BITTERLY COLD.
HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SUCCUMBED
TO THE WEATHER.
Quinn: IT WAS 30 DEGREES OUT
WITH DRIVING WIND.
AND PEOPLE CAME OVER TO HELP US,
AND THEY WOULD BE
DRENCHED, FREEZING.
AND WE WOULD PUT
DRY CLOTHES ON THEM,
GIVE THEM HOT COFFEE,
AND SEND THEM BACK OUT.
EVERY DAY BECAME MORE INTENSE
ON OUR PART TO SOLVE THIS
AND TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.
IT WAS JUST
AN ENDLESS NIGHTMARE.
ENDLESS.
I DIDN'T EAT. I SMOKED,
AND I DRANK COFFEE.
COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE.
♪♪
THERE'S NO MANUAL TO THIS...
♪♪
...HORROR SHOW.
♪♪
I'M JUST DOING STRANGE THINGS --
MAKING TRAY AFTER TRAY
AFTER TRAY OF COOKIES,
BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAVORITE.
♪♪
THIS IS IN WINTER.
I WAS LEAVING HIS WINDOW
WIDE OPEN
WITH THESE TRAYS OF COOKIES,
WAFTING THE SMELL,
WAFTING OUT THE WINDOW.
♪♪
IT DIDN'T DAWN ON ME
THAT I PROBABLY WASN'T
TAKING CARE OF MY OTHER CHILD.
♪♪
MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHEN SHAUN COMES HOME,
I WANT HIM TO KNOW
WE WERE WAITING FOR HIM.
Quinn:
I DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO THINK
OF HOW SHE WAS DOING.
I JUST COULDN'T FIND MY SON.
♪♪
Callery: THERE WAS A LOT
OF BIZARRE THINGS GOING ON
IN SHAUN'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMEBODY IN THAT COMMUNITY
WAS LIGHTING FIRES AROUND TOWN.
I WAS DOING AN INVESTIGATION
OF, YOU KNOW,
FINDING DEAD CATS
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I SAID,
"BIZARRE, VERY BIZARRE.
WHO WOULD BE THAT SICK,
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?"
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
YEAH, A FRIEND OF MINE
DOWN AT CANTON P.D.,
HE SAID SOMEONE
IN SHAUN'S NEIGHBORHOOD
HAS BEEN TORTURING ANIMALS.
[ DOOR OPENS, BELLS JINGLE ]
[ CONVERSATIONS STOP ]
WHEN SHAUN WAS MISSING,
I WOULD GO IN FROM TIME TO TIME
INTO KELLY'S FOR BREAKFAST.
I'D WALK IN THE DOOR,
AND EVERYBODY WOULD...
...STOP.
[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC
PLAYING ON SPEAKERS ]
AND THE SENSE OF ISOLATION
AND...ALONENESS AND SADNESS
WAS SO DEEP.
I CAN REMEMBER MORE THAN ONCE
SOMEONE TELLING ME THAT I
BROUGHT BAD LUCK TO THE TOWN.
CAN I HAVE SOME COFFEE,
PLEASE?
♪♪
THAT'S HOW SMALL TOWNS ARE.
♪♪
90% OF THE TIME,
YOU GET INFORMATION.
SOMEONE WILL COME FORWARD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW?
♪♪
IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON KNOWS,
IT'S NOT A SECRET.
SOMEBODY'S GOT
TO KNOW SOMETHING.
♪♪
SO SOMEBODY'S GOING TO TALK.
♪♪
Narrator: RUNNING SHORT
ON LEADS IN CANTON,
DETECTIVE CALLERY HEADS
TO SHAUN'S HOMETOWN
OF HULL, MASSACHUSETTS.
MAYBE HE DID MISS
HIS FRIENDS DOWN IN HULL.
MAYBE HE DID GO BACK TO HULL.
I IMMEDIATELY -- I CONDUCTED
A LITTLE BIT OF FIELD
INVESTIGATION DOWN THERE
TALKING TO KIDS ON THE STREET.
YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN
TO KNOW A YOUNG MAN
BY THE NAME
OF SHAUN OUILLETTE?
NO.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I SPOKE WITH THEM, AND I SHOWED
THE PICTURE, AND THEY SAID,
"OH, YEAH. I SAW HIM
YESTERDAY DOWN HERE."
- WAIT. HE WAS HERE?
- YEAH.
IN HULL. THIS KID RIGHT HERE?
YOU'RE SURE?
THAT'S GOT TO BE HIM.
"HE WAS OUT HERE
WITH US PLAYING."
"WOW. HE WAS?"
AND HE GOES, "YEAH.
I'M POSITIVE
HE WAS HERE WITH US."
THIS IS DETECTIVE CALLERY
FOR DISPATCH.
I GOT A POSITIVE SIGHTING
ON A SHAUN OUILLETTE IN HULL.
I CAN BRING THIS KID HOME
TO HIS MOTHER, YOU KNOW,
AND IT'LL BE OVER.
♪♪
Santa: ♪ EVERY ONCE A YEAR
WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES ♪
♪ I PACK MY SLED
WITH DOLLS AND DRUMS ♪
♪ AND I'M ON MY WAY
WITH HAPPINESS ♪
♪ FOR GIRLS AND BOYS ♪
WE WOULD GET UP AT 2:00
IN THE MORNING AND SAY,
"I THINK HE'S HERE.
I THINK HE'S BACK IN HULL,"
WHERE WE USED TO LIVE.
♪♪
- YOU OKAY?
- NO, HONEY. I'M SORRY.
LOOK. I GOT TO GO TO HULL.
I GOT TO LOOK FOR HIM.
I CAN'T JUST SIT HERE
AND DO NOTHING.
I'LL BE BACK
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP, OKAY?
I LOVE YOU, KIDDO.
♪♪
I WAS BEING A PART OF SOMETHING.
I WAS ON A MISSION.
Narrator: BUT WHEN NO NEW SIGNS
OF SHAUN EMERGE IN HULL,
DETECTIVE CALLERY BEGINS
TO DOUBT THE POSITIVE SIGHTING.
Callery: WE LATER FOUND OUT
THIS WAS JUST A KID
WANTING TO BE INVOLVED,
YOU KNOW?
TYPICAL KIDS, THEY ALL
WANT TO BE PART OF IT.
SOMETIMES THEY WANT
TO BE TOO HELPFUL,
AND THAT WAS THE CASE THAT DAY.
WE SEARCHED, AND THERE WAS
NO INDICATION TO ME
THAT HE WAS DOWN IN HULL.
♪♪
Narrator: BUT AS THEIR LEAD
IN HULL DISINTEGRATES,
A NEW LEAD EMERGES
BACK IN CANTON.
♪♪
Callery: WE'VE GOT A BUS DRIVER
WHO TELLS US
SHE DISTINCTLY REMEMBERED
DRIVING SHAUN
TO PLEASANT STREET,
AND HE GOT OFF THE BUS
WITH A REDHEADED BOY.
Narrator:
ONE CANTON HIGH STUDENT
LIVES NEAR PLEASANT STREET
AND HAS RED HAIR --
14-YEAR-OLD ROD MATTHEWS.
NO. UH,
HE NEVER CAME.
NOW EVERYBODY'S THINKING
CHANGES.
WHY IS THIS KID LYING TO US?
WHAT IS HE CONCEALING?
IT BECAME MORE INTENSE
ON OUR PART TO SOLVE THIS
AND TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
DETECTIVE DEVINE,
WHEN HE WENT TO HIS HOUSE
AND ASKED HIM, HE SAYS...
ROD, THE LAST TIME
I WAS HERE,
YOU SAID YOU HADN'T SEEM SHAUN
THE DAY HE WENT MISSING.
SO HE SAYS, YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.
HE NEVER DID.
WELL, I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK
TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER,
AND SHE SAID SHE SAW
YOU AND SHAUN
GETTING OFF THE BUS
TOGETHER THAT DAY.
WAIT. D-- UH, DO YOU MEAN
THAT, UM, H-HEAVYSET KID?
I- IS THAT SHAUN?
SHE KNEW SHAUN WAS THERE.
SHE KNEW HER SON
WAS LYING ABOUT IT.
YEAH. I REMEMBER NOW. HE, UM --
HE WAS PLAYING WITH ROD.
♪♪
THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
YOU'RE SAYING SHAUN WAS HERE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON?
SHE KNEW THAT SHAUN
WAS IN HER HOUSE
AND NEVER SAID TO US,
"I SAW THE BOY HERE."
SHE KNEW HER SON
WAS CONCEALING SOMETHING,
BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.
I DON'T THINK SHE KNEW WHAT.
HE WAS HERE 'CAUSE HE WANTED
TO BUY SOME BOTTLE ROCKETS.
YOU WERE HERE
DOING THE LAST INTERVIEW,
AND YOU NEVER BROUGHT THAT UP.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE SHE IS
TRYING TO PROTECT HIM
'CAUSE HE'S SELLING
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
♪♪
WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME THIS BEFORE?
YOU DO UNDERSTAND
HIS LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER.
HE'S FINE.
HE TOLD ME
NOT TO TELL ANYONE.
HE SAID HE HATES IT HERE.
EVERYONE MADE FUN OF HIM.
SHAUN NOW SAYS TO ROD,
"EVERYBODY'S BEEN PICKING ON ME.
THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN
PICKING ON ME.
THE KIDS ARE ALL PICKING ON ME.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN AWAY.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO HULL."
ARE YOU SURE
HE WAS GOING TO HULL?
HE LEFT
AFTER A FEW HOURS.
WE KNEW IT WAS A LIE.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
FOR HIM TO BE IN HULL.
ARE YOU, UH, SURE
THAT'S ALL YOU KNOW?
ANYTHING AT ALL?
HE SAYS, AT WHICH POINT,
ROD JUST KIND OF --
ROD JUST KIND OF --
GAVE HIM A SMIRK,
A GRIN.
♪♪
WHEN YOU ASK A 14-YEAR-OLD KID,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION,
AND HE JUST SITS THERE
AND GRINS AT YOU, VERY BIZARRE.
THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE
WITH HIM.
♪♪
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
♪♪
CANTON P.D.
WOMAN: I know what happened
to Shaun Ouillette.
♪♪
HE RECEIVED A CALL
FROM A FEMALE INDIVIDUAL
STATING THAT
SHE HAD INFORMATION.
I really shouldn't be
telling you this.
I should probably --
NO, NO, NO.
LISTEN. LISTEN.
DON'T HANG UP, OKAY?
SHE WAS NERVOUS
AND A LITTLE AFRAID
TO GIVE INFORMATION
ALMOST, YOU KNOW,
THAT SHE WAS
HOLDING BACK SOMEWHAT.
TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON.
A kid at work told me
he was hurt.
Somebody attacked him.
SHE HAD INFORMATION
ABOUT SHAUN OUILLETTE,
WHO SHE BELIEVES
WAS HURT OR INJURED,
SERIOUSLY INJURED,
LYING IN THE WOODS
BECAUSE HE GOT HIT
IN THE HEAD WITH A BAT.
WHO TOLD YOU THIS?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?
I can't. I'm sorry.
[ Click, dial tone ]
IS THIS A WORTHWHILE
ROUTE TO FOLLOW,
OR IS IT JUST SOMEBODY
TRYING TO BE HELPFUL,
BUT THEY'RE LEADING US
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION?
Male Reporter: POLICE ARE
SEEKING THE PUBLIC'S ASSISTANCE
IN IDENTIFYING A YOUNG WOMAN
WHO CONTACTED THEM
ABOUT MISSING TEENAGER
SHAUN OUILLETTE.
Quinn: AT THANKSGIVING,
I MADE A HUGE TURKEY...
♪♪
...ALL THE FIXINGS
THAT HE LOVED,
AND LET THE SMELLS
WAFT OUT THE WINDOW
THINKING IF I MADE
ENOUGH THINGS,
SOMEHOW, HE WOULD COME HOME.
♪♪
♪♪
I WOULD GO INTO HIS CLOSET
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
LOOKING THROUGH HIS THINGS.
♪♪
AND I WOULD SMELL HIM.
♪♪
EVERY MOTHER KNOWS THE SCENT.
IF THEY HAVE 2 KIDS,
1 KID, OR 20,
THEY KNOW THE SCENT
OF EACH CHILD.
♪♪
THE LOGICAL SIDE OF MY BRAIN
SAID, "YOU GOT TO KEEP LOOKING.
YOU NEVER KNOW."
[ Voice breaking ]
AND I NEVER KNEW.
I- I NEVER KNEW.
♪♪
Keleher:
IT WAS LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER
ANYTHING EXTRAORDINARY.
AND THEN AT 3:30, 3:45,
THEY CALLED ALL OF US
AND SAID -- CALLED US
INTO THE OFFICE, SAID,
"WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD YOU GUYS OVER.
WE GOT SOME NEW INFORMATION
ON THE SHAUN OUILLETTE CASE."
♪♪
Callery:
IT WAS AN ANONYMOUS LETTER
THAT CAME TO THE POLICE STATION
DIRECTED TO
THE CANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND IT BASICALLY SAID
THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS SORRY
THAT HE DIDN'T CALL US SOONER,
BUT HE HAD INFORMATION
ABOUT SHAUN OUILLETTE.
♪♪
Keleher: "SHAUN OUILLETTE
DID NOT RUN AWAY.
HE WASN'T IN TROUBLE
WITH ANYONE,
AND HE DIDN'T TAKE A BUS
ANYWHERE THAT DAY.
I HAVE ENCLOSED DIRECTIONS
ON HOW TO FIND SHAUN,
AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M SORRY
I COULDN'T TELL YOU IN PERSON.
BETWEEN SAWYER AVENUE
AND THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK
ON SHERMAN STREET,
YOU WILL FIND SHAUN IN THE WOODS
AT THE TOP OF A HILL."
♪♪
WHEN THEY READ US THE NOTE,
I SAID,
"THIS IS REAL. THEY GOT
SOMETHING HERE, SOMETHING."
YOU KNOW, "THIS IS
GOING TO END TODAY."
♪♪
SO WE ALL PILED INTO THE CARS,
AND IT WAS STARTING
TO SNOW MORE.
AND WE ALL DROVE
UP TO BURR LANE.
AND GOING UP --
I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
I'VE NEVER FELT IT
BEFORE OR SINCE --
I HAD A PREMONITION.
♪♪
I REMEMBER DRIVING UP THERE
SAYING, "I'M GOING TO FIND HIM."
I COULD HAVE JUST JUMPED
OUT OF THE CAR AND SAID,
"I'M GOING HOME. I DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS," YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
FALLING OFF A CLIFF,
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE
GOING TO HIT GROUND.
IT'S JUST SURE.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
♪♪
AND THERE WAS A ROCK,
A BIG ROCK,
AND BEHIND THE ROCK
WAS A BUNCH OF OAK BRANCHES
WITH DEAD LEAVES STILL ON THEM,
LIKE SOMEONE TRIED
TO COVER SOMETHING UP.
AND I WENT, "OH, MY GOD."
AND I WENT OVER.
AND VERY APPREHENSIVELY,
YOU KNOW, I'M PULLING
THE BRANCHES OFF LIKE THIS.
AND I GET DOWN.
I SAY [SIGHS] "NOTHING THERE.
THANK GOD," YOU KNOW?
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
I REMEMBER SAYING,
"THANK GOD IT'S NOT HERE."
♪♪
AND I JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT,
AND THERE IT WAS.
AND THEN I JUST -- "OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS REAL.
THIS IS HAPPENING."
Narrator: NEWS OF HIS DISCOVERY
WILL SOON RIPPLE ACROSS CANTON.
THAT'S PROBABLY
ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
YOU HAVE TO DO IN YOUR CAREER.
MY HEART WAS BLEEDING FOR HER.
♪♪
WHAT IS IT?
"I'M SORRY."
♪♪
"SO SORRY."
Quinn: I GOT HOME.
AND THE PARKING LOT
IS FULL OF CARS.
AND THERE'S TWO CRUISERS.
I SAW IT, BUT IT WAS LIKE
MY MIND SAID,
"DON'T REGISTER.
THAT'S NOTHING."
AND I GOT UP OUT OF THE CAR,
AND...
I WENT INTO THE HOUSE.
♪♪
CHIP.
♪♪
WHAT IS IT?
AND CHIP GOT UP,
AND HE CAME OVER TO ME
AND SAID...
♪♪
"JEANNE, WE GOT...
A CALL TELLING US
WHERE WE COULD FIND SHAUN."
"BUT HE'S DEAD.
SO WE FOUND HIS BODY."
♪♪
NO.
AND I --
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
[ Sobbing ]
NO!
♪♪
I JUST RAN OUT THE DOOR.
AND I REMEMBER
WALKING OUT THE DOOR,
AND IT WAS COMPLETE SILENCE.
AND IT WAS DARK,
AND THE SKY WAS CLEAR.
IT WAS COLD.
AND I SCREAMED HIS NAME.
♪♪
I CAN'T DO THIS.
I- I'M SORRY.
- IT'S ALL RIGHT.
- FORGIVE ME. I CAN'T DO THIS.
CHIP CALLERY TOOK ME TO SEE
WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY SON.
I COULDN'T SEE HIM FOR TWO DAYS.
HE WAS 5'11".
HE WAS A BIG, BIG KID,
AND THE FACT
THAT HE WAS FROZEN SOLID,
AND IT TOOK THEM
THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO...
♪♪
...THAW HIM.
♪♪
♪♪
AND THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR SAID,
"BE VERY CAREFUL, NOW,
BECAUSE HIS SKIN IS SLIPPING."
♪♪
AND I...
KISSED HIM ON HIS --
I WENT FOR HIS CHEEK, BUT
I KISSED HIM ON HIS EYELASHES.
♪♪
AND I SMELLED HIM.
AND THAT WAS SHAUN'S SCENT.
♪♪
THIS IS SHAUN'S BABY SHOE.
GOD, IT'S SO OLD,
AND PROBABLY CRACK
IF I TRIED TO BEND IT.
♪♪
THIS IS HIS HAIR.
♪♪
AND IT IS MATTED...
WITH BLOOD AND, UM...
BRAIN MATTER.
♪♪
I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER
TAKE THAT OUT AGAIN, EVER.
♪♪
Narrator: JEANNE SOON LEARNS
THAT THE ANONYMOUS LETTER
HAS DONE MORE THAN GUIDE POLICE
TO SHAUN'S BODY.
IT HAS NAMED HIS KILLER.
♪♪
Keleher: "SHAUN WENT TO ROD'S
HOUSE TO BUY A BOTTLE ROCKET,
UNAWARE OF ROD'S PLAN
TO KILL HIM.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO OTHER PEOPLE
BESIDES ROD
THAT KNOW OF HIS ACTION,
AND I SHOULDN'T EVER HAVE TOLD,
BECAUSE HE SAID
HE'D KILL US IF WE TOLD.
I REPEAT, ROD MATTHEWS
KILLED SHAUN OUILLETTE
WITH A BASEBALL BAT
THAT DAY THAT SHAUN
WAS REPORTED MISSING."
NOW WE'VE GOT THIS LETTER.
HOW CAN WE TURN THIS
INTO MAKING THE ARREST
OF THE INDIVIDUAL
WHO COMMITTED THE MURDER?
♪♪
ROBBIE AND JON WERE CLASSMATES
AND FRIENDS OF SHAUN.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU WANT TO TELL ME?
JONATHAN CASH WAS THE INDIVIDUAL
WHO WROTE THE LETTER.
AND I SAT PROBABLY
WITHIN 2 FEET OF HIM
AND PLACED MY HAND ON HIM
AND SAID,
"YOU'RE NOT IN ANY TROUBLE HERE.
WE NEED YOU TO TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED
SO WE CAN SOLVE THIS."
HE'S BEEN PLANNING THIS
SINCE HALLOWEEN.
PLANNING THIS?
HE SAID HE WANTED TO KILL,
TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
A SICK INDIVIDUAL,
VERY SICK MIND,
TO EVEN COME UP WITH THIS STUFF,
YOU KNOW?
WHY SHAUN?
HE TOLD ROBBIE,
I BELIEVE IT WAS.
HE SAYS,
"I PICKED SHAUN OUILLETTE
'CAUSE NOBODY'S GOING
TO MISS HIM."
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?
AFTER SCHOOL,
ROD WAS GOING TO SELL SHAUN
SOME FIREWORKS.
Callery: AND HE SAID,
"I HAVE TO TAKE A BASEBALL BAT
TO A FRIEND OF MINE."
HE SAYS, "LET'S GO,
AND WE'LL SHOOT OFF
BOTTLE ROCKETS ON THE WAY."
WHEN THEY GET TO THE POINT
WHERE HE WAS
WALKING BEHIND SHAUN,
HE HIT SHAUN
WITH THE BASEBALL BAT.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE TOOK
THE BASEBALL BAT,
WIPED IT OFF IN THE SNOW,
AND WENT TO ROBBIE'S HOUSE
TO TELL OF HIS CONQUEST,
WHAT HE HAD DONE --
HIS TROPHY, SO TO SPEAK.
♪♪
Narrator:
ONCE DARKNESS FELL,
ROD TOLD JONATHAN AND ROBBIE
TO FOLLOW HIM.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
IF THEY FIND HIM?
THEY'RE NOT GONNA
FIND HIM,
'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
ROD TOLD HIM, "YOU BETTER NOT
TELL ANYBODY, OR YOU'RE NEXT."
♪♪
IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN
HORRIFYING FOR THEM.
FOR KIDS OF THAT AGE,
14, 15 YEARS OF AGE,
TO KEEP A SECRET ABOUT A MURDER
IS, LIKE, UNBELIEVABLE,
THAT THEY COULD HOLD ONTO THAT.
♪♪
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator:
DETECTIVES RACE TO THE HOME
OF 14-YEAR-OLD ROD MATTHEWS.
IT WAS 5:15 IN THE MORNING,
SO HE WAS GETTING OUT OF BED.
♪♪
BUT HE MADE IT A POINT
TO LOOK AT EVERY OFFICER
AND SMILE AND A NOD OF THE HEAD.
"GOOD MORNING, OFFICER.
GOOD MORNING, OFFICER."
VERY BIZARRE.
GOOD MORNING, OFFICER.
DO YOU KNOW
WHY WE'RE HERE, ROD?
NO.
WHAT'S THE TROUBLE, SIR?
WE'RE HERE TO CONDUCT
A SEARCH OF THE PREMISES.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY BASEBALL BATS
IN THE HOUSE?"
HE SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY BASEBALL BATS.
♪♪
Girl:
I KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE.
THE SISTER THEN ACKNOWLEDGES,
"WE HAVE BATS IN THE HOUSE."
CAN YOU SHOW US?
WE WENT
TO THE LAUNDRY ROOM,
AND SHE HANDED ME
THREE BASEBALL BATS
THAT WERE HANGING
ON RACKS THERE,
AND ONE PARTICULAR BAT HAD
A DARK SPOT ON THE END OF IT.
AND LOOKING AT IT
AS AN INVESTIGATOR,
I'M SAYING THAT'S THE BAT.
ALL RIGHT, ROD.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US
WHAT THIS IS?
MS. MATTHEWS, WE'RE PLACING
YOUR SON UNDER ARREST
ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.
♪♪
STAND UP, KID.
NOW.
♪♪
SHE WAS PROTECTING HER SON
THAT NIGHT.
AND AS FAR AS SHE'S CONCERNED,
THAT WAS HER DUTY TO DO THAT,
AND SHE IS AT PEACE WITH THAT.
♪♪
♪♪
THAT SON OF A BITCH
HAS THE GALL,
THE UNMITIGATED GALL,
TO TAKE A BREATH.
SO I'M SITTING THERE,
AND I'M THINKING,
"WHAT DO I DO
IF JEANNE COMES IN HERE
LIKE A CRAZY WOMAN
AND WITH A GUN
AND WANTS TO SHOOT HIM?"
♪♪
YEAH. HOLIDAY SEASONS ARE TOUGH.
♪♪
CHRISTMAS IS TOUGH, BECAUSE
SHAUN USED TO PICK OUT THE TREE.
♪♪
HE ALWAYS WAS THE ONE TO HELP
HIS MOTHER WRAP THE GIFTS.
TO THIS DAY,
I CANNOT WRAP A GIFT.
I CAN'T DO IT.
♪♪
I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
♪♪
♪♪
Keleher: THEY HAD
ROUND-THE-CLOCK SUICIDE WATCH,
AND I WAS CALLED IN
TO WORK THE 4:00 TO 12:00.
♪♪
HE GOT UP, GOT ON THE BED.
HE PULLED THE BLANKETS
UP TO ABOUT HERE,
AND I COULD SEE HIS LITTLE
EYEGLASSES STICKING OUT,
AND HE WENT,
"NIGHTY NIGHT," TO ME.
AND I THOUGHT RIGHT THEN
AND THERE, "THIS KID IS GONZO.
HE IS GONE.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE,
NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER, NOTHING."
♪♪
Male Reporter: ROD MATTHEWS
IS ON TRIAL AS AN ADULT
FOR THE CURIOSITY KILLING
OF CLASSMATE SHAUN OUILLETTE.
I WAS ONLY 10 FEET FROM HIM,
AND I WANTED TO THROTTLE HIM.
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
NOTHING LEFT OF HIM.
♪♪
WHAT IF SHE WANTS
TO TAKE HIS LIFE
AND STARTS SHOOTING AT HIM?
NOTHING WILL STOP HER, YOU KNOW?
IT WOULD HAPPEN IN SECONDS.
AND I WOULD BE THERE.
DO I SHOOT HER?
WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO?
BETWEEN THE PAIN OF LOSING SHAUN
AND HAVING TO SIT
AND BEHAVE MYSELF
ACROSS FROM A MURDERER,
MURDERING LITTLE MONSTER --
Narrator:
ROD MATTHEWS IS CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
Male Reporter:
THE SECOND-DEGREE CONVICTION
MEANS HE COULD BE ELIGIBLE
FOR PAROLE IN 15 YEARS.
♪♪
ROD:
[ Voice breaking ]
[ Sobbing ]
♪♪
I DIDN'T BUY IT.
NOPE. I DON'T THINK
THEY'RE REAL TEARS.
I THINK IT'S ALL STAGED.
[ Sobbing ]
HIS BIRTHDAY WAS THE OTHER DAY,
JULY 7th.
IT'S NICE THAT HE GETS
TO HAVE ONE.
♪♪
I LOST MYSELF IN THE ANGER.
I WAS LOST.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS.
YVONNE CALLED ME ONE DAY,
AND SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, MOMMY,
THIS IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION,
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND
I AM NOT TRYING TO HURT YOU.
I'M REALLY TRYING TO SAVE US."
I SAID, "OKAY.
COPY THAT. FIRE AWAY."
AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU
VERY MUCH, MOMMY,
BUT I DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE."
FORGIVE ME.
♪♪
"YOU ARE SO CONSUMED
WITH HATE AND RAGE,
BECAUSE ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS KILL THIS KID."
AND SHE SAID,
"WE HAVE TO FORGIVE HIM
SO THAT WE CAN HEAL OURSELVES,
SO WE CAN START TO LIVE AGAIN."
AND I SAID, "YOU'RE RIGHT."
♪♪
"YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT."
AND SHE SAID TO ME, "DEAL?"
AND I SAID, "DEAL,"
AND THEN SHE SAID, "COPY THAT?"
AND I SAID, "YEAH.
COPY THAT."
AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU, MOM."
♪♪
I KNOW YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
♪♪
I JUST DON'T CARE, BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR IT ANYWAY.
I FORGIVE YOU. I DO...
ROD MATTHEWS.
♪♪
♪♪
I WOULD HOPE SHE FINALLY
HAS SOME PEACE
AND SOLITUDE IN HER LIFE.
♪♪
"THANK YOU
FOR TAKING CARE OF ME.
THANK YOU.
AND I LOVE YOU, AND I'M SORRY."
♪♪
"SO SORRY."
♪♪
"I JUST COULDN'T GET THERE."
♪♪
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
WHAT IS THERE LEFT?
♪♪
Keleher:
DEATH IS PERMANENT.
I'VE LIVED MY LIFE. I'M 74.
BUT SHAUN OUILLETTE
WAS JUST STARTING OUT,
JUST STARTING OUT HIS LIFE,
YOU KNOW?
SHAUN WAS A CHILD, YOU KNOW?
Quinn: I CAN REMEMBER
THAT WHOLE DAY MINUTE BY MINUTE.
IT'S, LIKE,
BURNT INTO MY MEMORY.
MAYBE I CAN'T DO THIS.
♪♪
♪♪
THOSE ARE MEMORIES YOU'LL
NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU WANT IT TO COME
TO A GOOD CONCLUSION.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE
A HORROR STORY.
Female Reporter:
LAST SATURDAY, 150 PEOPLE
SEARCHED THE AREA
NEAR THE TEEN'S HOME.
Keleher: I'VE BEEN SHOT AT.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE DIE IN MY ARMS.
NONE OF THEM WERE AS TRAUMATIC
AS THAT CASE.
Narrator: 32 YEARS AGO,
A DISCOVERY IN THE FROZEN WOODS
CHANGED THIS TOWN FOREVER.
I REMEMBER WALKING OUT THE DOOR,
AND IT WAS COMPLETE SILENCE.
IT WAS COLD.
AND I SCREAMED,
"THIS IS NOT TRUE.
THIS CANNOT BE."
THAT'S WHEN THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN.
♪♪
[ CROWS CAWING ]
♪♪
EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED,
BIT BY BIT,
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMES BACK.
♪♪
MAYBE GOD SPARES US TOO MUCH
OF THIS STUFF ALL AT ONCE
SO THAT IT DOESN'T,
YOU KNOW, DRIVE US MAD.
♪♪
IF I COULD ONLY TURN BACK TIME.
♪♪
Man: [ On radio ]
FREEMAN KENNEDY SCHOOL, CLOSED.
CANTON HIGH SCHOOL, CLOSED.
[ RADIO SHUTS OFF ]
BACK IN '86,
I WAS A SINGLE MOTHER
OF TWO CHILDREN.
- HEY, MOM. SCHOOL'S CANCELED.
- I HEARD.
DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO STAY IN THIS HOUSE ALL DAY.
COME ON. BUT WHAT
IF WE DID SOMETHING FUN?
WHAT IF WE HANG UP
THE CHRISTMAS TREE?
THE CHRISTMAS TREE?
SHAUN, IT'S NOT EVEN
THANKSGIVING.
WHY DON'T YOU GO PLAY
IN THE SNOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS?
LIKE WHO?
ALL MY FRIENDS
ARE BACK IN HULL.
WE HAD ONLY BEEN IN CANTON
FOR 4 MONTHS,
AND IT'S TOUGH
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
ANY OF THE KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WAS SHUNNED BY MANY
OF THE KIDS AT CANTON HIGH.
I WISH WE NEVER LEFT.
SHAUN, WE HAD NO CHOICE.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WE HAVE TO BE HERE
FOR YOUR SISTER.
YVONNE WENT TO THE MASS HOSPITAL
SCHOOL FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN,
AND IT WAS IN CANTON.
I HAD NO CHOICE.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR ME.
[ SIGHS ]
LISTEN.
OH, SHAUNIE,
IT'LL GET BETTER.
I PROMISE.
♪♪
NOW, GO MAKE A SNOWMAN
OR SOMETHING.
I GOT WORK TO DO.
♪♪
I REMEMBER HIM
LEAVING FOR SCHOOL.
AND I SAW HIM AT THE DOOR,
AND HE SAW ME,
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE
ANY OTHER DAY.
AND I JUST LOOKED AT HIM,
AND HE LOOKED AT ME,
AND WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
TO EACH OTHER.
JUST A USUAL DAY.
♪♪
I LAY DOWN ON THE COUCH.
♪♪
I REMEMBER WAKING UP
FROM A SPLIT-SECOND NIGHTMARE.
[ VOICES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
[ GASPS ]
♪♪
SHAUN?
♪♪
I GOT UP, AND IT WAS 3:30
IN THE AFTERNOON,
LONG AFTER SHAUN WOULD BE HOME
WITH HIS FACE
IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
♪♪
SHAUNIE?
AND HE WASN'T THERE.
YVONNE, HAVE YOU SEEN
YOUR BROTHER?
NO.
NO, NO.
IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY MADE ME
SWALLOW A 20-POUND ROCK,
AND IT WAS SITTING
IN MY STOMACH,
AND I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS WRONG.
[ BREATHES SHAKILY ]
NO.
I GOT ON THE PHONE
AND STARTED CALLING HIS FRIENDS.
HAVE YOU SEEN SHAUN?
WOMAN:
Sorry, Jeanne. I haven't.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS,
RECEIVER CLICKS ]
HI. YEAH.
IT'S JEANNE.
HAVE YOU SEEN SHAUN?
MAN: Not since this morning.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WOMAN #2:
I don't think so, Jeanne. Sorry.
MAN #2: Sorry, Jeanne.
None of us have have seen him.
[ Click, dial tone ]
♪♪
Narrator: HOURS LATER, SHAUN
STILL HAS NOT RETURNED HOME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, JEANNE.
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM HIM YET?
YEAH. ROBBIE'S HERE
WITH HIS FRIEND, JONATHAN.
I'LL -- I'LL ASK THEM AGAIN.
I'LL CALL YOU RIGHT BACK.
♪♪
HEY.
YOU GUYS SURE
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM?
NO. LAST TIME I SAW HIM
WAS AT SCHOOL.
♪♪
CHILDREN DON'T DISAPPEAR.
SOMEBODY ALWAYS KNOWS.
♪♪
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AFTER I GET DONE GOING THROUGH
ALL HIS FRIENDS,
I GOT INTO MY CAR.
I DROVE TO THE STATION.
♪♪
AND I WENT IN,
AND I SAID, "LOOK.
SHAUN NEVER CAME HOME."
SO THEY TOOK
THE INFORMATION DOWN.
I GOT OUT OF THERE. I LEFT.
♪♪
SHE WAS, NATURALLY,
A HYSTERICAL MOTHER.
HER SON IS MISSING,
AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY.
♪♪
WHEN THE INVESTIGATION STARTED,
YOU KNOW,
I WENT TO SPEAK WITH HER.
HEY.
YOU GOT A MINUTE?
♪♪
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING.
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!
HE'S HURT.
HE IS OUT THERE IN THE COLD,
AND HE HIS HURT.
I KNOW IT.
I- I KNOW IT.
SHE WAS ADAMANT
THAT SHAUN DID NOT RUN AWAY.
SHE KNOWS HER SON.
SHE SAYS, "HE HAD NO REASON
TO RUN AWAY."
HE'S A TEENAGER IN A NEW TOWN.
MAYBE HE'S --
WELL, MAYBE WHAT? HE HOPPED
ON A BUS AND LEFT TOWN
WITHOUT TELLING HIS MOTHER?
I SAID, "IF HE RAN AWAY,
I WOULD TELL YOU HE RAN AWAY.
I WOULDN'T HIDE
ANYTHING ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I WANT MY CHILD HOME."
- WHAT ABOUT HIS FATHER?
- NO.
GOD KNOWS WE GOT
OUR PROBLEMS,
BUT HE'D NEVER DO ANYTHING
TO HURT SHAUN.
Callery: IF YOU'RE GOING
IN THE AVENUE OF A KIDNAPPING,
YOU DO LOOK AT THE PARENTS,
ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE'S
A DIVORCE SITUATION.
I'D LIKE TO GO HOME NOW.
GET HOME SAFE.
IT WASN'T JUST NOW
AN INVESTIGATION.
THIS COULD BE ME. THIS COULD BE
MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS VERY PERSONAL.
♪♪
Narrator: SEVERAL CANTON HIGH
STUDENTS TELL DETECTIVES
THAT SHAUN HAD PLANS TO SEE
A NEW FRIEND AFTER SCHOOL.
♪♪
- GOOD EVENING.
- HELLO.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
I'M WITH THE CANTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A MISSING PERSON.
HIS NAME IS
SHAUN OUILLETTE.
HE'S A FRESHMAN
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT?
THAT'S AWFUL.
NO. I HONESTLY CAN'T SAY
THAT I DO.
SOME OF SHAUN'S FRIENDS
THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE COME BY
AND SAW YOUR SON TODAY.
YOU MIND IF I ASK HIM
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
ROD?
♪♪
ROD MATTHEWS WAS AT HIS HOME.
THE OFFICER WENT TO THE HOUSE
AND SAID,
"SHAUN'S MISSING.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?"
"I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I NEVER SAW HIM."
SOME KIDS HEARD
HE CAME BY TO SEE YOU
THIS AFTERNOON
AFTER SCHOOL.
NO. UH,
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO,
BUT HE NEVER CAME.
MS. MATTHEWS, WHAT TIME
DID YOU GET HOME?
I- I'VE BEEN HERE
SINCE I GOT HOME FROM WORK
AROUND 2:30.
SO SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN
IF THERE WAS ANOTHER,
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER PERSON
AT THE DINNER TABLE.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
AND IF YOU DO HEAR FROM SHAUN,
GIVE ME A CALL.
- OF COURSE, YEAH.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU.
♪♪
Female Reporter:
LAST SATURDAY, 150 PEOPLE
SEARCHED THE AREA
NEAR THE TEEN'S HOME.
THE 14-YEAR-OLD WAS LAST SEEN
AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE PICTURES. THERE WERE
PICTURES IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THERE WERE PICTURES
ON TELEPHONE POLES.
THERE WERE SOME PICTURES
AT RESTAURANTS.
WE THOUGHT MAYBE HE WAS LOST.
MAYBE HE GOT HURT.
MAYBE HE FELL IN A POND.
COULD HAVE FALLEN THROUGH
SOME ICE OR SOMETHING.
WHO KNOWS?
Female Reporter:
BUT A SEARCH OF THE AREA
WAS CALLED OFF YESTERDAY
BECAUSE OF DARKNESS AND SNOW.
SEARCH PERIODS WOULD HAVE TO BE
CONDUCTED DURING THE DAY
BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE MUCH LIGHT,
SO I WAS THINKING IF HE WAS
OUT THERE, BITTERLY COLD.
HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SUCCUMBED
TO THE WEATHER.
Quinn: IT WAS 30 DEGREES OUT
WITH DRIVING WIND.
AND PEOPLE CAME OVER TO HELP US,
AND THEY WOULD BE
DRENCHED, FREEZING.
AND WE WOULD PUT
DRY CLOTHES ON THEM,
GIVE THEM HOT COFFEE,
AND SEND THEM BACK OUT.
EVERY DAY BECAME MORE INTENSE
ON OUR PART TO SOLVE THIS
AND TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.
IT WAS JUST
AN ENDLESS NIGHTMARE.
ENDLESS.
I DIDN'T EAT. I SMOKED,
AND I DRANK COFFEE.
COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE.
♪♪
THERE'S NO MANUAL TO THIS...
♪♪
...HORROR SHOW.
♪♪
I'M JUST DOING STRANGE THINGS --
MAKING TRAY AFTER TRAY
AFTER TRAY OF COOKIES,
BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAVORITE.
♪♪
THIS IS IN WINTER.
I WAS LEAVING HIS WINDOW
WIDE OPEN
WITH THESE TRAYS OF COOKIES,
WAFTING THE SMELL,
WAFTING OUT THE WINDOW.
♪♪
IT DIDN'T DAWN ON ME
THAT I PROBABLY WASN'T
TAKING CARE OF MY OTHER CHILD.
♪♪
MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHEN SHAUN COMES HOME,
I WANT HIM TO KNOW
WE WERE WAITING FOR HIM.
Quinn:
I DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO THINK
OF HOW SHE WAS DOING.
I JUST COULDN'T FIND MY SON.
♪♪
Callery: THERE WAS A LOT
OF BIZARRE THINGS GOING ON
IN SHAUN'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMEBODY IN THAT COMMUNITY
WAS LIGHTING FIRES AROUND TOWN.
I WAS DOING AN INVESTIGATION
OF, YOU KNOW,
FINDING DEAD CATS
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I SAID,
"BIZARRE, VERY BIZARRE.
WHO WOULD BE THAT SICK,
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?"
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
YEAH, A FRIEND OF MINE
DOWN AT CANTON P.D.,
HE SAID SOMEONE
IN SHAUN'S NEIGHBORHOOD
HAS BEEN TORTURING ANIMALS.
[ DOOR OPENS, BELLS JINGLE ]
[ CONVERSATIONS STOP ]
WHEN SHAUN WAS MISSING,
I WOULD GO IN FROM TIME TO TIME
INTO KELLY'S FOR BREAKFAST.
I'D WALK IN THE DOOR,
AND EVERYBODY WOULD...
...STOP.
[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC
PLAYING ON SPEAKERS ]
AND THE SENSE OF ISOLATION
AND...ALONENESS AND SADNESS
WAS SO DEEP.
I CAN REMEMBER MORE THAN ONCE
SOMEONE TELLING ME THAT I
BROUGHT BAD LUCK TO THE TOWN.
CAN I HAVE SOME COFFEE,
PLEASE?
♪♪
THAT'S HOW SMALL TOWNS ARE.
♪♪
90% OF THE TIME,
YOU GET INFORMATION.
SOMEONE WILL COME FORWARD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW?
♪♪
IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON KNOWS,
IT'S NOT A SECRET.
SOMEBODY'S GOT
TO KNOW SOMETHING.
♪♪
SO SOMEBODY'S GOING TO TALK.
♪♪
Narrator: RUNNING SHORT
ON LEADS IN CANTON,
DETECTIVE CALLERY HEADS
TO SHAUN'S HOMETOWN
OF HULL, MASSACHUSETTS.
MAYBE HE DID MISS
HIS FRIENDS DOWN IN HULL.
MAYBE HE DID GO BACK TO HULL.
I IMMEDIATELY -- I CONDUCTED
A LITTLE BIT OF FIELD
INVESTIGATION DOWN THERE
TALKING TO KIDS ON THE STREET.
YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN
TO KNOW A YOUNG MAN
BY THE NAME
OF SHAUN OUILLETTE?
NO.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I SPOKE WITH THEM, AND I SHOWED
THE PICTURE, AND THEY SAID,
"OH, YEAH. I SAW HIM
YESTERDAY DOWN HERE."
- WAIT. HE WAS HERE?
- YEAH.
IN HULL. THIS KID RIGHT HERE?
YOU'RE SURE?
THAT'S GOT TO BE HIM.
"HE WAS OUT HERE
WITH US PLAYING."
"WOW. HE WAS?"
AND HE GOES, "YEAH.
I'M POSITIVE
HE WAS HERE WITH US."
THIS IS DETECTIVE CALLERY
FOR DISPATCH.
I GOT A POSITIVE SIGHTING
ON A SHAUN OUILLETTE IN HULL.
I CAN BRING THIS KID HOME
TO HIS MOTHER, YOU KNOW,
AND IT'LL BE OVER.
♪♪
Santa: ♪ EVERY ONCE A YEAR
WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES ♪
♪ I PACK MY SLED
WITH DOLLS AND DRUMS ♪
♪ AND I'M ON MY WAY
WITH HAPPINESS ♪
♪ FOR GIRLS AND BOYS ♪
WE WOULD GET UP AT 2:00
IN THE MORNING AND SAY,
"I THINK HE'S HERE.
I THINK HE'S BACK IN HULL,"
WHERE WE USED TO LIVE.
♪♪
- YOU OKAY?
- NO, HONEY. I'M SORRY.
LOOK. I GOT TO GO TO HULL.
I GOT TO LOOK FOR HIM.
I CAN'T JUST SIT HERE
AND DO NOTHING.
I'LL BE BACK
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP, OKAY?
I LOVE YOU, KIDDO.
♪♪
I WAS BEING A PART OF SOMETHING.
I WAS ON A MISSION.
Narrator: BUT WHEN NO NEW SIGNS
OF SHAUN EMERGE IN HULL,
DETECTIVE CALLERY BEGINS
TO DOUBT THE POSITIVE SIGHTING.
Callery: WE LATER FOUND OUT
THIS WAS JUST A KID
WANTING TO BE INVOLVED,
YOU KNOW?
TYPICAL KIDS, THEY ALL
WANT TO BE PART OF IT.
SOMETIMES THEY WANT
TO BE TOO HELPFUL,
AND THAT WAS THE CASE THAT DAY.
WE SEARCHED, AND THERE WAS
NO INDICATION TO ME
THAT HE WAS DOWN IN HULL.
♪♪
Narrator: BUT AS THEIR LEAD
IN HULL DISINTEGRATES,
A NEW LEAD EMERGES
BACK IN CANTON.
♪♪
Callery: WE'VE GOT A BUS DRIVER
WHO TELLS US
SHE DISTINCTLY REMEMBERED
DRIVING SHAUN
TO PLEASANT STREET,
AND HE GOT OFF THE BUS
WITH A REDHEADED BOY.
Narrator:
ONE CANTON HIGH STUDENT
LIVES NEAR PLEASANT STREET
AND HAS RED HAIR --
14-YEAR-OLD ROD MATTHEWS.
NO. UH,
HE NEVER CAME.
NOW EVERYBODY'S THINKING
CHANGES.
WHY IS THIS KID LYING TO US?
WHAT IS HE CONCEALING?
IT BECAME MORE INTENSE
ON OUR PART TO SOLVE THIS
AND TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
DETECTIVE DEVINE,
WHEN HE WENT TO HIS HOUSE
AND ASKED HIM, HE SAYS...
ROD, THE LAST TIME
I WAS HERE,
YOU SAID YOU HADN'T SEEM SHAUN
THE DAY HE WENT MISSING.
SO HE SAYS, YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.
HE NEVER DID.
WELL, I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK
TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER,
AND SHE SAID SHE SAW
YOU AND SHAUN
GETTING OFF THE BUS
TOGETHER THAT DAY.
WAIT. D-- UH, DO YOU MEAN
THAT, UM, H-HEAVYSET KID?
I- IS THAT SHAUN?
SHE KNEW SHAUN WAS THERE.
SHE KNEW HER SON
WAS LYING ABOUT IT.
YEAH. I REMEMBER NOW. HE, UM --
HE WAS PLAYING WITH ROD.
♪♪
THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
YOU'RE SAYING SHAUN WAS HERE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON?
SHE KNEW THAT SHAUN
WAS IN HER HOUSE
AND NEVER SAID TO US,
"I SAW THE BOY HERE."
SHE KNEW HER SON
WAS CONCEALING SOMETHING,
BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.
I DON'T THINK SHE KNEW WHAT.
HE WAS HERE 'CAUSE HE WANTED
TO BUY SOME BOTTLE ROCKETS.
YOU WERE HERE
DOING THE LAST INTERVIEW,
AND YOU NEVER BROUGHT THAT UP.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE SHE IS
TRYING TO PROTECT HIM
'CAUSE HE'S SELLING
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
♪♪
WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME THIS BEFORE?
YOU DO UNDERSTAND
HIS LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER.
HE'S FINE.
HE TOLD ME
NOT TO TELL ANYONE.
HE SAID HE HATES IT HERE.
EVERYONE MADE FUN OF HIM.
SHAUN NOW SAYS TO ROD,
"EVERYBODY'S BEEN PICKING ON ME.
THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN
PICKING ON ME.
THE KIDS ARE ALL PICKING ON ME.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN AWAY.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO HULL."
ARE YOU SURE
HE WAS GOING TO HULL?
HE LEFT
AFTER A FEW HOURS.
WE KNEW IT WAS A LIE.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
FOR HIM TO BE IN HULL.
ARE YOU, UH, SURE
THAT'S ALL YOU KNOW?
ANYTHING AT ALL?
HE SAYS, AT WHICH POINT,
ROD JUST KIND OF --
ROD JUST KIND OF --
GAVE HIM A SMIRK,
A GRIN.
♪♪
WHEN YOU ASK A 14-YEAR-OLD KID,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION,
AND HE JUST SITS THERE
AND GRINS AT YOU, VERY BIZARRE.
THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE
WITH HIM.
♪♪
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
♪♪
CANTON P.D.
WOMAN: I know what happened
to Shaun Ouillette.
♪♪
HE RECEIVED A CALL
FROM A FEMALE INDIVIDUAL
STATING THAT
SHE HAD INFORMATION.
I really shouldn't be
telling you this.
I should probably --
NO, NO, NO.
LISTEN. LISTEN.
DON'T HANG UP, OKAY?
SHE WAS NERVOUS
AND A LITTLE AFRAID
TO GIVE INFORMATION
ALMOST, YOU KNOW,
THAT SHE WAS
HOLDING BACK SOMEWHAT.
TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON.
A kid at work told me
he was hurt.
Somebody attacked him.
SHE HAD INFORMATION
ABOUT SHAUN OUILLETTE,
WHO SHE BELIEVES
WAS HURT OR INJURED,
SERIOUSLY INJURED,
LYING IN THE WOODS
BECAUSE HE GOT HIT
IN THE HEAD WITH A BAT.
WHO TOLD YOU THIS?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?
I can't. I'm sorry.
[ Click, dial tone ]
IS THIS A WORTHWHILE
ROUTE TO FOLLOW,
OR IS IT JUST SOMEBODY
TRYING TO BE HELPFUL,
BUT THEY'RE LEADING US
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION?
Male Reporter: POLICE ARE
SEEKING THE PUBLIC'S ASSISTANCE
IN IDENTIFYING A YOUNG WOMAN
WHO CONTACTED THEM
ABOUT MISSING TEENAGER
SHAUN OUILLETTE.
Quinn: AT THANKSGIVING,
I MADE A HUGE TURKEY...
♪♪
...ALL THE FIXINGS
THAT HE LOVED,
AND LET THE SMELLS
WAFT OUT THE WINDOW
THINKING IF I MADE
ENOUGH THINGS,
SOMEHOW, HE WOULD COME HOME.
♪♪
♪♪
I WOULD GO INTO HIS CLOSET
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
LOOKING THROUGH HIS THINGS.
♪♪
AND I WOULD SMELL HIM.
♪♪
EVERY MOTHER KNOWS THE SCENT.
IF THEY HAVE 2 KIDS,
1 KID, OR 20,
THEY KNOW THE SCENT
OF EACH CHILD.
♪♪
THE LOGICAL SIDE OF MY BRAIN
SAID, "YOU GOT TO KEEP LOOKING.
YOU NEVER KNOW."
[ Voice breaking ]
AND I NEVER KNEW.
I- I NEVER KNEW.
♪♪
Keleher:
IT WAS LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER
ANYTHING EXTRAORDINARY.
AND THEN AT 3:30, 3:45,
THEY CALLED ALL OF US
AND SAID -- CALLED US
INTO THE OFFICE, SAID,
"WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD YOU GUYS OVER.
WE GOT SOME NEW INFORMATION
ON THE SHAUN OUILLETTE CASE."
♪♪
Callery:
IT WAS AN ANONYMOUS LETTER
THAT CAME TO THE POLICE STATION
DIRECTED TO
THE CANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND IT BASICALLY SAID
THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS SORRY
THAT HE DIDN'T CALL US SOONER,
BUT HE HAD INFORMATION
ABOUT SHAUN OUILLETTE.
♪♪
Keleher: "SHAUN OUILLETTE
DID NOT RUN AWAY.
HE WASN'T IN TROUBLE
WITH ANYONE,
AND HE DIDN'T TAKE A BUS
ANYWHERE THAT DAY.
I HAVE ENCLOSED DIRECTIONS
ON HOW TO FIND SHAUN,
AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M SORRY
I COULDN'T TELL YOU IN PERSON.
BETWEEN SAWYER AVENUE
AND THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK
ON SHERMAN STREET,
YOU WILL FIND SHAUN IN THE WOODS
AT THE TOP OF A HILL."
♪♪
WHEN THEY READ US THE NOTE,
I SAID,
"THIS IS REAL. THEY GOT
SOMETHING HERE, SOMETHING."
YOU KNOW, "THIS IS
GOING TO END TODAY."
♪♪
SO WE ALL PILED INTO THE CARS,
AND IT WAS STARTING
TO SNOW MORE.
AND WE ALL DROVE
UP TO BURR LANE.
AND GOING UP --
I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
I'VE NEVER FELT IT
BEFORE OR SINCE --
I HAD A PREMONITION.
♪♪
I REMEMBER DRIVING UP THERE
SAYING, "I'M GOING TO FIND HIM."
I COULD HAVE JUST JUMPED
OUT OF THE CAR AND SAID,
"I'M GOING HOME. I DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS," YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
FALLING OFF A CLIFF,
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE
GOING TO HIT GROUND.
IT'S JUST SURE.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
♪♪
AND THERE WAS A ROCK,
A BIG ROCK,
AND BEHIND THE ROCK
WAS A BUNCH OF OAK BRANCHES
WITH DEAD LEAVES STILL ON THEM,
LIKE SOMEONE TRIED
TO COVER SOMETHING UP.
AND I WENT, "OH, MY GOD."
AND I WENT OVER.
AND VERY APPREHENSIVELY,
YOU KNOW, I'M PULLING
THE BRANCHES OFF LIKE THIS.
AND I GET DOWN.
I SAY [SIGHS] "NOTHING THERE.
THANK GOD," YOU KNOW?
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
I REMEMBER SAYING,
"THANK GOD IT'S NOT HERE."
♪♪
AND I JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT,
AND THERE IT WAS.
AND THEN I JUST -- "OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS REAL.
THIS IS HAPPENING."
Narrator: NEWS OF HIS DISCOVERY
WILL SOON RIPPLE ACROSS CANTON.
THAT'S PROBABLY
ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
YOU HAVE TO DO IN YOUR CAREER.
MY HEART WAS BLEEDING FOR HER.
♪♪
WHAT IS IT?
"I'M SORRY."
♪♪
"SO SORRY."
Quinn: I GOT HOME.
AND THE PARKING LOT
IS FULL OF CARS.
AND THERE'S TWO CRUISERS.
I SAW IT, BUT IT WAS LIKE
MY MIND SAID,
"DON'T REGISTER.
THAT'S NOTHING."
AND I GOT UP OUT OF THE CAR,
AND...
I WENT INTO THE HOUSE.
♪♪
CHIP.
♪♪
WHAT IS IT?
AND CHIP GOT UP,
AND HE CAME OVER TO ME
AND SAID...
♪♪
"JEANNE, WE GOT...
A CALL TELLING US
WHERE WE COULD FIND SHAUN."
"BUT HE'S DEAD.
SO WE FOUND HIS BODY."
♪♪
NO.
AND I --
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
[ Sobbing ]
NO!
♪♪
I JUST RAN OUT THE DOOR.
AND I REMEMBER
WALKING OUT THE DOOR,
AND IT WAS COMPLETE SILENCE.
AND IT WAS DARK,
AND THE SKY WAS CLEAR.
IT WAS COLD.
AND I SCREAMED HIS NAME.
♪♪
I CAN'T DO THIS.
I- I'M SORRY.
- IT'S ALL RIGHT.
- FORGIVE ME. I CAN'T DO THIS.
CHIP CALLERY TOOK ME TO SEE
WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY SON.
I COULDN'T SEE HIM FOR TWO DAYS.
HE WAS 5'11".
HE WAS A BIG, BIG KID,
AND THE FACT
THAT HE WAS FROZEN SOLID,
AND IT TOOK THEM
THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO...
♪♪
...THAW HIM.
♪♪
♪♪
AND THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR SAID,
"BE VERY CAREFUL, NOW,
BECAUSE HIS SKIN IS SLIPPING."
♪♪
AND I...
KISSED HIM ON HIS --
I WENT FOR HIS CHEEK, BUT
I KISSED HIM ON HIS EYELASHES.
♪♪
AND I SMELLED HIM.
AND THAT WAS SHAUN'S SCENT.
♪♪
THIS IS SHAUN'S BABY SHOE.
GOD, IT'S SO OLD,
AND PROBABLY CRACK
IF I TRIED TO BEND IT.
♪♪
THIS IS HIS HAIR.
♪♪
AND IT IS MATTED...
WITH BLOOD AND, UM...
BRAIN MATTER.
♪♪
I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER
TAKE THAT OUT AGAIN, EVER.
♪♪
Narrator: JEANNE SOON LEARNS
THAT THE ANONYMOUS LETTER
HAS DONE MORE THAN GUIDE POLICE
TO SHAUN'S BODY.
IT HAS NAMED HIS KILLER.
♪♪
Keleher: "SHAUN WENT TO ROD'S
HOUSE TO BUY A BOTTLE ROCKET,
UNAWARE OF ROD'S PLAN
TO KILL HIM.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO OTHER PEOPLE
BESIDES ROD
THAT KNOW OF HIS ACTION,
AND I SHOULDN'T EVER HAVE TOLD,
BECAUSE HE SAID
HE'D KILL US IF WE TOLD.
I REPEAT, ROD MATTHEWS
KILLED SHAUN OUILLETTE
WITH A BASEBALL BAT
THAT DAY THAT SHAUN
WAS REPORTED MISSING."
NOW WE'VE GOT THIS LETTER.
HOW CAN WE TURN THIS
INTO MAKING THE ARREST
OF THE INDIVIDUAL
WHO COMMITTED THE MURDER?
♪♪
ROBBIE AND JON WERE CLASSMATES
AND FRIENDS OF SHAUN.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU WANT TO TELL ME?
JONATHAN CASH WAS THE INDIVIDUAL
WHO WROTE THE LETTER.
AND I SAT PROBABLY
WITHIN 2 FEET OF HIM
AND PLACED MY HAND ON HIM
AND SAID,
"YOU'RE NOT IN ANY TROUBLE HERE.
WE NEED YOU TO TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED
SO WE CAN SOLVE THIS."
HE'S BEEN PLANNING THIS
SINCE HALLOWEEN.
PLANNING THIS?
HE SAID HE WANTED TO KILL,
TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
A SICK INDIVIDUAL,
VERY SICK MIND,
TO EVEN COME UP WITH THIS STUFF,
YOU KNOW?
WHY SHAUN?
HE TOLD ROBBIE,
I BELIEVE IT WAS.
HE SAYS,
"I PICKED SHAUN OUILLETTE
'CAUSE NOBODY'S GOING
TO MISS HIM."
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?
AFTER SCHOOL,
ROD WAS GOING TO SELL SHAUN
SOME FIREWORKS.
Callery: AND HE SAID,
"I HAVE TO TAKE A BASEBALL BAT
TO A FRIEND OF MINE."
HE SAYS, "LET'S GO,
AND WE'LL SHOOT OFF
BOTTLE ROCKETS ON THE WAY."
WHEN THEY GET TO THE POINT
WHERE HE WAS
WALKING BEHIND SHAUN,
HE HIT SHAUN
WITH THE BASEBALL BAT.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE TOOK
THE BASEBALL BAT,
WIPED IT OFF IN THE SNOW,
AND WENT TO ROBBIE'S HOUSE
TO TELL OF HIS CONQUEST,
WHAT HE HAD DONE --
HIS TROPHY, SO TO SPEAK.
♪♪
Narrator:
ONCE DARKNESS FELL,
ROD TOLD JONATHAN AND ROBBIE
TO FOLLOW HIM.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
IF THEY FIND HIM?
THEY'RE NOT GONNA
FIND HIM,
'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
ROD TOLD HIM, "YOU BETTER NOT
TELL ANYBODY, OR YOU'RE NEXT."
♪♪
IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN
HORRIFYING FOR THEM.
FOR KIDS OF THAT AGE,
14, 15 YEARS OF AGE,
TO KEEP A SECRET ABOUT A MURDER
IS, LIKE, UNBELIEVABLE,
THAT THEY COULD HOLD ONTO THAT.
♪♪
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator:
DETECTIVES RACE TO THE HOME
OF 14-YEAR-OLD ROD MATTHEWS.
IT WAS 5:15 IN THE MORNING,
SO HE WAS GETTING OUT OF BED.
♪♪
BUT HE MADE IT A POINT
TO LOOK AT EVERY OFFICER
AND SMILE AND A NOD OF THE HEAD.
"GOOD MORNING, OFFICER.
GOOD MORNING, OFFICER."
VERY BIZARRE.
GOOD MORNING, OFFICER.
DO YOU KNOW
WHY WE'RE HERE, ROD?
NO.
WHAT'S THE TROUBLE, SIR?
WE'RE HERE TO CONDUCT
A SEARCH OF THE PREMISES.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY BASEBALL BATS
IN THE HOUSE?"
HE SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY BASEBALL BATS.
♪♪
Girl:
I KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE.
THE SISTER THEN ACKNOWLEDGES,
"WE HAVE BATS IN THE HOUSE."
CAN YOU SHOW US?
WE WENT
TO THE LAUNDRY ROOM,
AND SHE HANDED ME
THREE BASEBALL BATS
THAT WERE HANGING
ON RACKS THERE,
AND ONE PARTICULAR BAT HAD
A DARK SPOT ON THE END OF IT.
AND LOOKING AT IT
AS AN INVESTIGATOR,
I'M SAYING THAT'S THE BAT.
ALL RIGHT, ROD.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US
WHAT THIS IS?
MS. MATTHEWS, WE'RE PLACING
YOUR SON UNDER ARREST
ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.
♪♪
STAND UP, KID.
NOW.
♪♪
SHE WAS PROTECTING HER SON
THAT NIGHT.
AND AS FAR AS SHE'S CONCERNED,
THAT WAS HER DUTY TO DO THAT,
AND SHE IS AT PEACE WITH THAT.
♪♪
♪♪
THAT SON OF A BITCH
HAS THE GALL,
THE UNMITIGATED GALL,
TO TAKE A BREATH.
SO I'M SITTING THERE,
AND I'M THINKING,
"WHAT DO I DO
IF JEANNE COMES IN HERE
LIKE A CRAZY WOMAN
AND WITH A GUN
AND WANTS TO SHOOT HIM?"
♪♪
YEAH. HOLIDAY SEASONS ARE TOUGH.
♪♪
CHRISTMAS IS TOUGH, BECAUSE
SHAUN USED TO PICK OUT THE TREE.
♪♪
HE ALWAYS WAS THE ONE TO HELP
HIS MOTHER WRAP THE GIFTS.
TO THIS DAY,
I CANNOT WRAP A GIFT.
I CAN'T DO IT.
♪♪
I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
♪♪
♪♪
Keleher: THEY HAD
ROUND-THE-CLOCK SUICIDE WATCH,
AND I WAS CALLED IN
TO WORK THE 4:00 TO 12:00.
♪♪
HE GOT UP, GOT ON THE BED.
HE PULLED THE BLANKETS
UP TO ABOUT HERE,
AND I COULD SEE HIS LITTLE
EYEGLASSES STICKING OUT,
AND HE WENT,
"NIGHTY NIGHT," TO ME.
AND I THOUGHT RIGHT THEN
AND THERE, "THIS KID IS GONZO.
HE IS GONE.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE,
NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER, NOTHING."
♪♪
Male Reporter: ROD MATTHEWS
IS ON TRIAL AS AN ADULT
FOR THE CURIOSITY KILLING
OF CLASSMATE SHAUN OUILLETTE.
I WAS ONLY 10 FEET FROM HIM,
AND I WANTED TO THROTTLE HIM.
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
NOTHING LEFT OF HIM.
♪♪
WHAT IF SHE WANTS
TO TAKE HIS LIFE
AND STARTS SHOOTING AT HIM?
NOTHING WILL STOP HER, YOU KNOW?
IT WOULD HAPPEN IN SECONDS.
AND I WOULD BE THERE.
DO I SHOOT HER?
WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO?
BETWEEN THE PAIN OF LOSING SHAUN
AND HAVING TO SIT
AND BEHAVE MYSELF
ACROSS FROM A MURDERER,
MURDERING LITTLE MONSTER --
Narrator:
ROD MATTHEWS IS CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
Male Reporter:
THE SECOND-DEGREE CONVICTION
MEANS HE COULD BE ELIGIBLE
FOR PAROLE IN 15 YEARS.
♪♪
ROD:
[ Voice breaking ]
[ Sobbing ]
♪♪
I DIDN'T BUY IT.
NOPE. I DON'T THINK
THEY'RE REAL TEARS.
I THINK IT'S ALL STAGED.
[ Sobbing ]
HIS BIRTHDAY WAS THE OTHER DAY,
JULY 7th.
IT'S NICE THAT HE GETS
TO HAVE ONE.
♪♪
I LOST MYSELF IN THE ANGER.
I WAS LOST.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS.
YVONNE CALLED ME ONE DAY,
AND SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, MOMMY,
THIS IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION,
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND
I AM NOT TRYING TO HURT YOU.
I'M REALLY TRYING TO SAVE US."
I SAID, "OKAY.
COPY THAT. FIRE AWAY."
AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU
VERY MUCH, MOMMY,
BUT I DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE."
FORGIVE ME.
♪♪
"YOU ARE SO CONSUMED
WITH HATE AND RAGE,
BECAUSE ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS KILL THIS KID."
AND SHE SAID,
"WE HAVE TO FORGIVE HIM
SO THAT WE CAN HEAL OURSELVES,
SO WE CAN START TO LIVE AGAIN."
AND I SAID, "YOU'RE RIGHT."
♪♪
"YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT."
AND SHE SAID TO ME, "DEAL?"
AND I SAID, "DEAL,"
AND THEN SHE SAID, "COPY THAT?"
AND I SAID, "YEAH.
COPY THAT."
AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU, MOM."
♪♪
I KNOW YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
♪♪
I JUST DON'T CARE, BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR IT ANYWAY.
I FORGIVE YOU. I DO...
ROD MATTHEWS.
♪♪
♪♪
I WOULD HOPE SHE FINALLY
HAS SOME PEACE
AND SOLITUDE IN HER LIFE.
♪♪
"THANK YOU
FOR TAKING CARE OF ME.
THANK YOU.
AND I LOVE YOU, AND I'M SORRY."
♪♪
"SO SORRY."
♪♪
"I JUST COULDN'T GET THERE."
♪♪
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
WHAT IS THERE LEFT?
♪♪
Keleher:
DEATH IS PERMANENT.
I'VE LIVED MY LIFE. I'M 74.
BUT SHAUN OUILLETTE
WAS JUST STARTING OUT,
JUST STARTING OUT HIS LIFE,
YOU KNOW?
SHAUN WAS A CHILD, YOU KNOW?