Frenemies (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 12 - Inner Demons - full transcript

Narrator:
TWO FRATERNITY BROTHERS

BECOME BEST FRIENDS...

ED AND BUTCH WERE
DRAWN TOGETHER.

THEY BECAME SO CLOSE,
THEY WERE LIKE BROTHERS.

Narrator:
...UNTIL THE CONSEQUENCES
OF SEVERAL BAD DECISIONS

DESTROYED BOTH OF THEIR LIVES.

THE BRUTALITY OF IT ALONE
WAS VERY SHOCKING.

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER CAN DO THAT
TO HIS BEST FRIEND?

Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: WHEN BUTCH PRATT
AND ED SWIGER



BEGIN THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR
AT THIEL COLLEGE,

THEY BOTH HAVE BIG DREAMS
FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE.

Cousins: THEY HAD HIGH GOALS,

AND THEY WERE FOCUSED
ON ACHIEVING THOSE.

Narrator:
BUTCH IS KNOWN AS A JOCK,

PLAYING BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL.

HE'S ALSO THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.

BUTCH WAS SO OUTGOING
AND SO CHARMING

THAT EVERYONE, GUYS AND GIRLS,
WERE ATTRACTED TO BUTCH.

HE WAS A VERY HELPFUL,
CARING, LOVING BOY.

Narrator: ED HAS
A DIFFERENT CHARACTER.

HE IS SMART,
DRIVEN, AND FOCUSED.

ED REALLY HAD ASPIRATIONS
OF HAVING A POLITICAL CAREER.

HE HAD THAT INTENSE CONFIDENCE.
HE WANTED TO BE A SENATOR.



Narrator: ED IS ALSO DEDICATED
TO BODYBUILDING AND KICK BOXING.

ED WAS FANATICAL
ON HIS WORKOUTS.

YOU COULD GO TO THE GYM

AND WATCH ED DO
A 500-POUND BENCH PRESS.

Narrator: ON THE SURFACE,

ED AND BUTCH SEEM LIKE
UNLIKELY COMPANIONS.

ED COMES FROM AN OHIO FAMILY

WITH STRONG
POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.

BUTCH WAS RAISED
IN A WORKING-CLASS STEEL TOWN

OUTSIDE OF PITTSBURGH.

BUTCH WAS BLUE COLLAR.
ED WAS WHITE COLLAR.

BUTCH CAME FROM
A VERY TOUGH BACKGROUND.

ED CAME FROM
MORE OF AN AFFLUENT HOUSEHOLD.

Narrator:
DESPITE THESE DIFFERENCES,

THE BOYS IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.

THEY BECAME INSEPARABLE.

Cousins:
THEY DID A LOT OF HUNTING,
A LOT OF FISHING.

THEY STARTED VISITING EACH OTHER
AT THEIR HOMETOWNS

AND MEETING
EACH OTHER'S FAMILIES.

Narrator: SIX MONTHS LATER,

THEY PLEDGE THE DELTA SIGMA PHI
FRATERNITY TOGETHER.

Frank: WE WERE "ANIMAL HOUSE."

WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE A KEG
AND GET THE GIRLS.

BUTCH AND ED ABSOLUTELY FELT

THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE
LIFELONG FRIENDS.

Narrator:
BUT THE TWO HAVE NO IDEA

THEIR CAREFREE COLLEGE DAYS
ARE NUMBERED,

AND DREAMS OF A BRIGHT FUTURE

WILL SOON TURN INTO
A TERRIFYING NIGHTMARE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

AS FRATERNITY BROTHERS,

BUTCH AND ED ARE HAVING
THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY SPEND
ALMOST EVERY MOMENT TOGETHER.

BUTCH SAW ED AS A ROLE MODEL,
"THIS GUY'S GOT IT TOGETHER,

BEING THE GUY
UP FRONT AND IN CHARGE."

Narrator:
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
BUTCH'S EASYGOING PERSONALITY

THAT ED ADMIRES, AS WELL.

ED WAS
A LITTLE BIT MORE RESERVED.

HE SAW IN BUTCH, HERE IS
THIS GUY EVERYBODY LIKED,

AND HE WANTED TO BE THAT GUY.

Narrator: BY SOPHOMORE YEAR,

THE BEST FRIENDS' PERSONALITIES
SEEM TO RUB OFF ON EACH OTHER.

ED BECOMES MORE SOCIAL,

AND BUTCH BECOMES MORE STUDIOUS
LIKE ED

AND BEGINS
TO DRESS LIKE HIM, TOO.

INSTEAD OF THE JEANS
ALL THE TIME,

NOW IT WAS MORE DRESS PANTS
OR BUTTON-DOWN DRESS SHIRTS.

Narrator: WHEN THEY'RE JUNIORS,

THEY MOVE OFF CAMPUS TOGETHER

AND ED,

ALWAYS PADDING HIS RéSUMé
FOR A FUTURE IN POLITICS,

IS ELECTED TREASURER
OF THE FRATERNITY.

ED REALLY SAW STUDENT GOVERNMENT
AS HIS INITIAL STEPPING STONE.

Narrator: ONE DAY, ED CRUNCHES
THE FRATERNITY'S BUDGET NUMBERS

AND DISCOVERS
THEY'RE IN SERIOUS DEBT.

Frank: THE FRATERNITY WAS BROKE.

OUR BILLS WERE OVERDUE.

WE HAD NO MONEY TO DO ANYTHING.

ED, AS THE MONEY GUY,

STARTS THINKING OF WAYS
IN WHICH WE CAN REPAY THE LOAN.

Narrator: ED BRAINSTORMS ABOUT

HOW HE CAN
TURN THE SITUATION AROUND.

THEN HE TELLS HIS BUDDY BUTCH
HIS SCHEME

FOR SAVING THE FRATERNITY
FROM FINANCIAL RUIN.

HE WANTS THEM
TO STEAL ELECTRONICS

FROM THEIR OWN
FRATERNITY BROTHERS

SO THEY CAN COLLECT
THE INSURANCE MONEY.

ED TOLD BUTCH,
"WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING

THAT'S NOT GONNA COST
ANYBODY ANYTHING

AND HELP THE FRATERNITY OUT."

Narrator:
BUTCH IS TAKEN ABACK AT FIRST.

BUT AFTER ED CONVINCES HIM
HIS PLAN IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE,

HIS BEST FRIEND GOES ALONG
WITH THE IDEA.

IT'S THE FIRST
OF MANY BAD DECISIONS

THEY'LL MAKE TOGETHER.

BUTCH DID LOOK UP TO ED.

HE WANTED TO HELP HIM OUT
WITH THIS BURGLARY.

ED AND BUTCH TRUSTED EACH OTHER.

Cousins:
ACCORDING TO THEIR THEORY,
THERE WAS NO REASON TO WORRY

BECAUSE THE INSURANCE
WOULD COVER EVERYBODY'S LOSS.

THIS WAS GONNA BE
A WIN-WIN SITUATION.

THEIR PLAN WAS
TO MAKE HEROES OF THEMSELVES.

THESE GUYS THOUGHT THAT BURGLARY
WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING

THAT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYONE.

Rose: BUTCH DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS STEALING.

HE THOUGHT
IT WAS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Narrator: SEEMINGLY UNAWARE
OF THE CONSEQUENCES,

THEY BEGIN TO THINK
IT'S A BRILLIANT PLAN.

BUT BUTCH AND ED COULDN'T BE
MORE WRONG.

THEY HAD NO CLUE
WHAT A BAD IDEA THIS REALLY WAS.

Narrator: THEY ALSO DON'T KNOW

THAT THEIR BIZARRE SCHEME
WOULD LEAD TO

A SERIES
OF LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS.

BUTCH AND ED STAGE THE ROBBERY

WHEN EVERYONE IS AWAY
DURING SPRING BREAK.

ED HELD A POSITION OF TRUST
WITHIN THE FRATERNITY,

THEREFORE, HE HAD
PASSKEY ACCESS TO THE ROOMS.

Narrator: ONCE INSIDE, THE BOYS
QUICKLY TAKE ELECTRONICS

FROM THEIR OWN
FRATERNITY BROTHERS

AND LOAD DOZENS OF STEREOS
AND VCRs INTO THEIR CAR.

Nydes:
THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY,

SO IT WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT,

A, TO DISCOVER IMMEDIATELY,

AND B, THE EQUIPMENT'S
NOT TRACEABLE.

SO IT'S CERTAIN
THAT ED THOUGHT OF THIS

WHEN HE CONSPIRED TO COMMIT
THESE BURGLARIES WITH BUTCH.

Narrator: THEY STASHED THE GOODS
AT THEIR APARTMENT OFF CAMPUS.

Frank: THEY THOUGHT
THEIR PLAN WAS PERFECT.

THERE WAS NO WAY
THEY WERE EVER GONNA GET CAUGHT.

Narrator: THE ROBBERY SEEMS
TO GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH

UNTIL THEIR FRATERNITY BROTHERS
RETURN FROM SPRING BREAK.

ED AND BUTCH HAVE
VASTLY UNDERESTIMATED

HOW THEIR FRATERNITY
WILL REACT TO THEIR CRIME.

EVERYBODY GETS BACK.

THEY'RE LIKE,
"HEY, WHERE'S MY STUFF?"

PEOPLE WERE REALLY UPSET.

EVERY ROOM HAD STEREO EQUIPMENT

AND TELEVISIONS
STOLEN OUT OF IT.

THE FIRST PEOPLE
WHO CAME DOWN TO THE HOUSE

TO COMMISERATE WITH US
AND EMPATHIZE WITH US

WERE BUTCH AND ED.

AND ED'S HELPING
ALL THESE PEOPLE FILL OUT FORMS

TO GET INSURANCE MONEY FOR THIS.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

BACK AT BUTCH AND ED'S PLACE
OFF CAMPUS,

ED'S GIRLFRIEND, KATHY BRANDT,

STUMBLES UPON
SOME OF THE STOLEN GOODS

AT THEIR APARTMENT.

DIDN'T TAKE A GENIUS
TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER.

WHERE DO YOU COME UP WITH
18 STEREOS AND 18 TELEVISIONS?

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH KATHY IS SHOCKED,

SHE DOESN'T SAY A WORD
TO ED OR ANYONE ELSE.

SHE WAS NOT REAL HAPPY,

BUT KATHY WAS REALLY IN LOVE
WITH ED.

Cousins: SHE DIDN'T WANT
TO RUIN THE RELATIONSHIP

BY TELLING ABOUT THE BURGLARY.

Narrator:
THE FRATERNITY BROTHERS
CALL THE POLICE,

WHO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION.

ALMOST EVERYONE
IN THE FRATERNITY IS QUESTIONED,

INCLUDING ED AND BUTCH.

THE POLICE THEORIZE
THIS WAS AN INSIDE JOB

BECAUSE THERE WAS
NO REAL FORCED ENTRY.

NOBODY SUSPECTED BUTCH OR ED.

THERE'S NOT AN OUNCE
OF SUSPICION CAST ON THESE GUYS.

AS THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT,

I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN
TO FIND OUT,

AND I WAS GOING TO THE POLICE
ON A DAILY BASIS.

Narrator:
WITH POLICE SNIFFING AROUND,

THE BOY'S EARLIER OPTIMISM
FADES.

NOW THEY ARE TERRIFIED
THEY'LL GET CAUGHT.

ED AND BUTCH STARTED TO PANIC.

IF CAUGHT, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT'S GOING TO RUIN

BOTH OF THEIR FUTURE PLANS.

Narrator: BELIEVING THAT
THE LAW IS CLOSING IN ON THEM,

THE BEST FRIENDS PANIC.

THEY DITCH THEIR IDEA
OF RESCUING THE FRATERNITY

AND DECIDE TO SELL
THE STOLEN GOODS

TO GET RID OF THE EVIDENCE.

ED ASKS HIS IMPRESSIONABLE
YOUNGER BROTHER MICHAEL

FOR HELP.

MICHAEL THOUGHT VERY MUCH
OF HIS BROTHER.

HE WANTED TO HELP HIM.

THEY CALLED UP MIKE,

WHO WAS ATTENDING COLLEGE
IN CLEVELAND,

AND THEY THOUGHT THE BEST WAY

WAS TO GET RID
OF ALL THE EVIDENCE.

Narrator: MICHAEL TAKES
THE STOLEN GOODS BACK TO OHIO

AND SELLS THEM.

AND THE THREE BOYS --
ED, BUTCH, AND MICHAEL --

DIVIDE UP THE MONEY.

BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA,
THE INVESTIGATION STALLS.

THERE WERE NO ARRESTS MADE

BECAUSE THEY HAD
NO WITNESSES, SUSPECTS,

OR THEY HADN'T RECOVERED
ANY OF THE STOLEN ITEMS.

SO THE CASE WENT COLD.

Narrator:
NOW THE BOYS ARE CONFIDENT

THEY WON'T GET CAUGHT
AND ARE RELIEVED,

THINKING THEY'VE DODGED
A MAJOR BULLET.

THEY PROBABLY FELT PRETTY GOOD.

THE SUMMER GOES BY,

AND THEY THINK
THEY'RE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

Narrator:
BUT LITTLE DO THEY KNOW

THE ROBBERY WILL COME BACK
TO HAUNT THEM

AND EVENTUALLY

PIT THE BEST FRIENDS
AGAINST EACH OTHER

IN A WAY
NO ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

Cousins: HOW DO YOU EVEN
LIVE WITH YOURSELF?

HERE WAS A GUY DOING THIS
TO HIS SO-CALLED BEST FRIEND.

I WAS SHOCKED.
EVERYTHING WAS A LIE.

IT'S BEYOND BELIEF

HOW ANY HUMAN BEING
COULD DO THAT TO SOMEONE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS JUST BONE-CHILLING.

IT WAS THE ULTIMATEBETRAYAL.

Narrator: ED AND BUTCH
BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF

AFTER THEY SELL
THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

THAT THEY STOLE
FROM THEIR FRATERNITY BROTHERS.

NO ONE SUSPECTS
BUTCH OR ED'S INVOLVEMENT,

AND THE BEST FRIENDS THINK
THEY ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR.

THE GREENVILLE POLICE
HAD NO INFORMATION

TO MAKE ANY ARRESTS.

ALL THE EVIDENCE WAS GONE,

SO THERE REALLY WASN'T ANYTHING

TO COME AFTER BUTCH AND ED
AT THIS POINT.

Narrator: BY THE START
OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR

IN THE FALL OF 1987,

BUTCH AND ED ARE
FOCUSING ON GRADUATING

AND MAKING A NEW START.

AS TIME GOES BY,

THE ROBBERY BECOMES
A DISTANT MEMORY,

AND THE BOYS GROW
CLOSER TOGETHER.

THEY HAD TO BE THINKING,
"WE JUST GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

"ONCE WE GET OUT OF HERE,
IT'S DONE AND OVER WITH.

IT'S BEHIND US."

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

PARTY BOY BUTCH TRIES TO STAY
ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW

AND HOPES
TO GO TO BUSINESS SCHOOL

AND GET AN M.B.A.

BUTCH WANTED TO BE
A PROFESSIONAL.

HE WAS GONNA GET HIS MASTERS
IN EDUCATION OR BUSINESS.

Narrator:
ED PLANS TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL

AND HAS HIS EYE
ON A FUTURE SENATE SEAT.

Frank: ED HAD TREMENDOUS
POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

HE WAS NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING
STAND IN HIS WAY.

Narrator:
IN THE FINAL MONTHS OF SCHOOL,

BOTH REMAIN FOCUSED
ON THEIR GOALS

AND ARE INVOLVED
IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT.

ED IS CLASS PRESIDENT,

AND BUTCH IS
ON THE STUDENT COUNCIL.

THEY ARE BOTH BIG MEN ON CAMPUS,

HEADING TOWARDS
AN EVEN BRIGHTER FUTURE.

BUTCH AND ED WERE OFF

AND ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER
THINGS, IN THEIR MIND.

Narrator:
BUT AS GRADUATION APPROACHES,

ED BECOMES NOTICEABLY STRESSED.

HE STARTS HAVING
A LOT OF PROBLEMS

WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.

IT WASN'T UNCOMMON TO HEAR

ED AND KATHY HOLLERING
AND SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER.

ED WAS SCARY.
ED WAS DOMINEERING.

Narrator: THEN,
ONE DAY THAT SPRING,

WHILE WORKING OUT,

BUTCH AND ED MEET
34-YEAR-OLD LINDA KARLEN,

A WELL-TO-DO WOMAN

WHO MANAGES
A LOCAL FURNITURE STORE.

LINDA IS INSTANTLY DRAWN TO ED.

LINDA KARLEN WAS ATTRACTED TO ED

BECAUSE ED'S
A WELL-BUILT, 20-YEAR-OLD GUY.

SHE WAS A COUGAR.

IT WAS AN EGO TRIP FOR HER.

"HEY, I CAN ATTRACT
A YOUNGER MAN."

Narrator: SOON,
THE TWO BEGIN

A PASSIONATE AFFAIR
BEHIND KATHY'S BACK.

ED LIKED HER
BECAUSE OF HER POWER,

HER POSITION, HER INCOME.

SHE COULD BUY HIM
ANYTHING THAT HE WANTED.

LINDA KARLEN HAD
A BEAUTIFUL HOME

AND A SWIMMING POOL
AND A CADILLAC.

NOTHING BUT THE BEST
FOR LINDA KARLEN.

Frank: SHE REPRESENTED
THE NEXT STEPPING STONE

TO MOVE HIM FORWARD.

ED WAS IN IT FOR

MORE, "WHAT BENEFITS
CAN I GET OUT OF THIS?"

HE THOUGHT A LOT OF HIMSELF

AND FELT THAT
HE COULD INFLUENCE PEOPLE,

INCLUDING LINDA.

Narrator: AND HE'S RIGHT.

LINDA SHOWERS HER LOVER
WITH EXPENSIVE GIFTS,

INCLUDING A ROLEX WATCH
AND A CAR.

IT WAS A JEEP, LIMITED EDITION.

SHE COULD GIVE HIM
THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE.

Narrator: ED AND LINDA SEEM LIKE
A PERFECT MATCH.

BOTH ARE AMBITIOUS AND DRIVEN
TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

BUT OTHERS QUESTION
THEIR CLANDESTINE AFFAIR.

Cousins: BUTCH DIDN'T SEE
THE ATTRACTION,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
TO EACH THEIR OWN, I GUESS.

Cathy: IT WAS
THE AGE DIFFERENCE THING.

IT WAS LIKE, "WOW,
IT'S NOT LIKE TWO YEARS APART.

IT'S, LIKE, OVER 10."

Narrator: EAGER FOR ED
TO BECOME PART OF HER WORLD,

LINDA HIRES HIM, BUTCH,
AND OTHERS FROM THE FRATERNITY

TO WORK AT THE FURNITURE STORE.

Frank: PRETTY SOON,

LINDA KARLEN'S
GETTING ALL OF US JOBS.

WE'RE CHEAP LABOR.
SHE'S PAYING US UNDER THE TABLE.

IT'S THE PERFECT SITUATION.

Narrator: PERFECT FOR EVERYONE

EXCEPT ED'S COLLEGE GIRLFRIEND
KATHY BRANDT,

WHO SUSPECTS
SOMETHING IS GOING ON.

CIRCUMSTANCES FOR KATHY AND ED
WERE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT

WHEN ED MET LINDA KARLEN.

Narrator:
ED EVENTUALLY BREAKS UP
WITH HIS COLLEGE SWEETHEART

IN FAVOR OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED
AND WORLDLY LINDA.

BUT KATHY DOES NOT
TAKE THE BREAKUP WELL.

SHE WAS NOT REAL HAPPY.

SHE WAS FURIOUS.

HELL HAS NO FURY
LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED.

AND KATHY BRANDT IS SCORNED.

ED HAS DROPPED HER,
AND KATHY WANTS TO GET EVEN.

Narrator:
KATHY'S PLAN FOR REVENGE
WILL STUN BOTH ED AND BUTCH

AND SEND SHOCK WAVES
THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE CAMPUS.

KATHY WAS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE
THAT KNOW ABOUT THE BURGLARIES.

Narrator: SO SHE DECIDES
THE BEST REVENGE IS

TO TELL ED'S FRATERNITY BROTHERS
WHAT HE AND BUTCH DID.

Cousins: KATHY COMES TO ME
AND TELLS ME

IT WAS ED AND BUTCH
THAT RIPPED OFF THE FRATERNITY.

Frank:
AND SHE SAID, "IT WAS THEM.

"I SAW THE STEREOS AND THE TVs.

YOU DON'T KNOW IT, BUT IT WAS
ED AND BUTCH WHO ROBBED YOU."

WELL,
YOU COULD HEAR MY JAW DROP.

WE ALL JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER
IN DISBELIEF.

WE'RE PISSED. WE'RE REALLY MAD.

PEOPLE WANT
TO GO AFTER THEM THAT NIGHT.

I JUST SAID,
"LET'S WAIT TILL THE MORNING."

NARRATOR: SHOCKED AND ANGRY,

THE FRATERNITY BROTHERS
NOTIFY THE POLICE THE NEXT DAY

ABOUT ED AND BUTCH'S ROBBERY.

IT WAS LIKE WILDFIRE
AROUND CAMPUS

ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

NARRATOR: WHEN ED HEARS

THAT KATHY HAS TOLD POLICE
ABOUT THE ROBBERY,

HE IS FURIOUS
AND ANGRILY CONFRONTS HER.

Frank: ED THREATENED HER.

ED COULD GET PEOPLE TO DO THINGS

THAT THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY
WANT TO DO.

Narrator: HE CONVINCES KATHY
TO GO TO POLICE

AND TELL THEM IT'S NOT TRUE.

KATHY OBVIOUSLY WAS UNDER DURESS
TO THREAT OF ED.

SHE RECANTED HER STATEMENTS
TO THE POLICE

SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT TRUE,
IN FACT, MADE UP.

Narrator:
WITHOUT KATHY'S TESTIMONY

AND NO HARD EVIDENCE TO GO ON,

POLICE DON'T REOPEN
THE INVESTIGATION,

AND THE BEST FRIENDS ARE
ONCE AGAIN OFF THE HOOK.

Frank: ONCE SHE RECANTED,

THERE WAS NO OTHER ARROWS
POINTING AT THESE TWO GUYS.

SO, THE WHOLE THING
JUST KIND OF DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: BUT WITH
THEIR FRATERNITY BROTHERS,

THE DAMAGE IS DONE.

AND THEY'RE BOTH
KICKED OUT OF THE FRATERNITY.

THESE GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
OUR FRIENDS FOR LIVES,

AND THEY DID THIS TO US.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING MORE
TO DO WITH THEM.

I DON'T EVEN
WANT TO SEE THEM ON CAMPUS.

I TAKE STEPS AS THE PRESIDENT

TO BLACKBALL THESE GUYS
FROM THE FRATERNITY.

Narrator: ED DOESN'T CARE ABOUT

BEING SHUNNED
FROM THE FRATERNITY.

HE IS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT

HOW THIS DEBACLE
COULD AFFECT HIS GOALS.

ED IS BECOMING VERY PARANOID
ABOUT HIS FUTURE.

Narrator: BUT BUTCH,
ON THE OTHER HAND, IS DEVASTATED

THAT HIS FRATERNITY BROTHERS
WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

Cousins: THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT

THAT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT
FOR EVERYBODY,

AND NOW IT HAS BACKFIRED.

AND NOW HE IS
OUT OF THE FRATERNITY,

SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW,
WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

HE WAS DISAPPOINTED,

AND HE DIDN'T
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I'M SURE
HIS CONSCIENCE BOTHERED HIM.

Narrator: ED'S SELFISH ATTITUDE
REALLY BOTHERS BUTCH,

AND THE STRONG BOND BETWEEN THEM
BEGINS TO CRACK.

ED IS NOW
SHOWING A SIDE OF HIMSELF

THAT BUTCH IS STEPPING BACK
AND GOING, "WHO IS THIS GUY?"

ED AND BUTCH'S FRIENDSHIP
STARTED TO SUFFER AT THIS POINT.

Narrator:
WITH GRADUATION ON THE HORIZON,

BOTH BOYS FOCUS ON THEIR FUTURE.

BUT ED AND BUTCH ARE
ABOUT TO MAKE

EVEN MORE SHOCKING DECISIONS,

ONES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD

TO A HORRIFYING SHOWDOWN

BETWEEN THE BEST FRIENDS.

IT JUST GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL.

IT WAS TOO LATE TO GO BACK.

IT'S BEYOND ALL COMPREHENSION.

IT ABSOLUTELY REPULSES ME
WHEN I THINK OF WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU WOULDN'T WISH THIS
UPON YOUR WORST ENEMY,

LET ALONE YOUR BEST FRIEND.

[ FIRE CRACKLING ]

Narrator:
AFTER ED'S EX-GIRLFRIEND KATHY

SUDDENLY RECANTS
HER STATEMENT TO POLICE THAT

ED AND BUTCH WERE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE FRATERNITY HOUSE
ROBBERY,

THE BOYS ARE NOT CHARGED.

I HAVE COME TO LEARN
THAT SHE DID THAT

BECAUSE ED THREATENED HER

IF SHE DIDN'T
RECANT THAT STATEMENT.

Narrator: ON MAY 14, 1988,

THEY BOTH GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

BUTCH FEELS A SPECIAL SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

HE IS THE FIRST ONE
IN OUR FAMILY THAT WENT

AND THAT DID GRADUATE,
SO WE WERE ALL PROUD OF BUTCH.

Narrator: BUT FOR ED,
IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

AS HE GETS READY FOR LAW SCHOOL,
HIS OLDER GIRLFRIEND, LINDA,

COMES TO HIM
WITH SOME ALARMING NEWS.

THE FURNITURE STORE SHE MANAGES

IS HAVING
MAJOR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS,

BUT SHE COMES UP
WITH A SHOCKING PLAN

TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

LIKE ED'S SCHEME,
IT INVOLVES INSURANCE MONEY.

A WAY OUT OF IT WOULD BE
TO BURN IT TO THE GROUND

AND SUBMIT AN INSURANCE CLAIM

AND TO TRY AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE
AN ACCIDENT.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO FRATERNITY BROTHERS
WHO WORKED FOR LINDA,

THE STORE'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
WERE HER FAULT.

THEY SAY SHE WAS POCKETING MONEY
FROM THE STORE.

SHE WAS LIVING
FAR BEYOND HER MEANS.

AND LINDA'S BEEN EMBEZZLING.

SHE NEEDS TO MAKE
SOME OF THIS...PROOF GO AWAY.

THE FINANCIAL RECORDS
WERE LOCATED

IN THE UPPER FLOORS
OF THE FURNITURE WAREHOUSE.

Cousins: THE BEST WAY
TO GET RID OF THESE BOOKS

IS TO COME UP
WITH AN ACCIDENTAL FIRE,

"WE'LL GET RID
OF ALL THE EVIDENCE."

SHE NEEDS SOMEBODY
TO BURN THE BUILDING.

SHE TALKS THIS OVER
WITH HER CLOSEST CONFIDANT, ED.

Rose: LINDA SAID,

"WE'RE GONNA BURN DOWN
THIS FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

AND GET THE MONEY
FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY."

IF SHE WANTED ED
TO DO SOMETHING FOR HER,

HE WOULD DO IT.

Narrator: JUST AS HE DID

WHEN HE PLANNED
THE FRATERNITY HOUSE ROBBERY,

ED SEES EASY MONEY AND AGREES
TO HELP HIS GIRLFRIEND OUT.

I THINK ED'S MOTIVATION
WAS THE MONEY.

HE WAS LIVING A HIGH LIFE.

Narrator: BUT ED NEEDS
SOMEONE HE CAN TRUST

TO HELP HIM WITH THE DIRTY WORK,

SO HE ASKS
HIS BEST FRIEND, BUTCH.

ED WANTED BUTCH TO BE INVOLVED
IN THIS ARSON FIRE,

PUTTING TOTAL TRUST
IN EACH OTHER --

"DON'T TELL ON ME,
I WON'T TELL ON YOU."

Cousins: ED MENTIONED TO BUTCH,
YOU KNOW,

"THIS IS EASY.
THIS ISN'T LIKE THE BURGLARY."

Narrator: BUT BUTCH DOESN'T
WANT TO BE INVOLVED

IN ANOTHER ONE OF ED'S SCHEMES.

AND HE'S SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED

THAT HIS FRIEND WOULD ONCE AGAIN
PUT THEIR FUTURES IN JEOPARDY.

Cousins: AND IT'S AT THIS TIME
WHERE BUTCH STARTS SEEING --

WOW, IT IS A WAKE-UP CALL.

"NOW HE WANTS ME
TO GET INVOLVED WITH ARSON?"

HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE
THESE DECISIONS RUIN HIS LIFE.

I THINK HE WAS AFRAID.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,
AND HE HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT DOWN.

Narrator: AFTER HAVING ALREADY
NARROWLY ESCAPED

GETTING CAUGHT FOR THE ROBBERY
AT THE FRATERNITY HOUSE

THE YEAR BEFORE,

BUTCH WANTS NO PART
OF ED AND LINDA'S SCHEME.

Rose: HE REALLY DIDN'T,

BECAUSE BUTCH DIDN'T WANT
TO GO TO JAIL.

Nydes: HE'S VERY CONCERNED.

THIS IS GONNA RUIN
HIS WHOLE FUTURE.

Narrator:
AND BUTCH STARTS TO REALIZE
THAT ED IS NO LONGER

THE KIND OF PERSON
HE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH.

THERE WAS A SIDE OF ED THAT
HE FINALLY COULD SEE CLEARLY,

AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD SIDE.

Narrator: BUTCH DECIDES
HE HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM ED.

HE EVEN MOVES HOME
FOR THE SUMMER.

HE DID NOT WANT
ANY CONTACT WITH ED WHATSOEVER.

Narrator:
ED IS ANGRY AND SHOCKED
THAT BUTCH WON'T HELP HIM OUT.

HE'S USED TO CALLING THE SHOTS
IN THEIR FRIENDSHIP.

ED WAS FURIOUS WITH BUTCH,

BUT BUTCH KNEW RIGHT FROM WRONG.

Narrator: AND EVEN THOUGH
BUTCH HAS MOVED AWAY,

HE CAN'T ESCAPE
THE BRUTAL IMPACT

OF ED'S NEXT CRIMINAL ACT.

UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE
FROM LINDA,

ED DECIDES TO GO AHEAD
WITH THE ARSON PLANS

WITHOUT HIS FRIEND BUTCH.

BUT HE KNOWS
HE CAN'T COMMIT THE ARSON ALONE,

SO HE ONCE AGAIN
TURNS TO HIS BROTHER MICHAEL.

Nydes: MICHAEL WAS A STUDENT
OVER IN OHIO.

HE KNEW SOMEONE
THAT COULD POSSIBLY

MAKE THIS FIRE LOOK LIKE
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Cousins: MICHAEL WAS INFLUENCED.
THIS WAS HIS BIG BROTHER.

THIS IS GUY HE LOOKED UP TO.
"HEY, I NEED YOUR HELP."

AND THEN THEY COULD MAKE
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

Narrator: ON MAY 22, 1988,

ED, HIS BROTHER MICHAEL,
AND ONE OF MICHAEL'S FRIENDS,

ARMED WITH
FLAMMABLE PAINT THINNER,

MEET AT
THE FURNITURE STORE WAREHOUSE,

AND THE BUILDING IS SET ON FIRE.

ED FELT IT WAS A PERFECT CRIME.

IT BURNS TO THE GROUND,

AND IT POSSIBLY WILL BE RULED
AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

Cousins: IT'S TOTALLY TORCHED.

THE PLACE IS UP IN FLAMES.
IT'S GONE.

Narrator: BUT WHEN INVESTIGATORS
CHECK IT OUT,

THEY KNOW RIGHT AWAY
THE FIRE WAS NO ACCIDENT.

IMMEDIATELY,
THERE WAS SOME SUSPICION

THIS, IN FACT,
WAS AN ARSON FIRE.

AND THE FIRST THING
THAT YOU LOOK AT IS MOTIVE,

CHECKING FINANCIAL RECORDS.

Narrator: AS THE ARSON
INVESTIGATION DEEPENS,

ED AND BUTCH BECOME
TWO OF THE PRIME SUSPECTS,

ALONG WITH LINDA.

ED AND BUTCH HAD BEEN
WORKING THERE OFF AND ON,

AND THEIR NAMES CAME UP
IN THE INVESTIGATION.

Narrator:
THE ALREADY DAMAGED FRIENDSHIP

IS NOW PUT TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE

HE COULD DO THAT
TO HIS BEST FRIEND.

[ BOTH GRUNTING ]

Cathy: I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE
HE DID IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE WHOLE THING.

Narrator: ED IS FURIOUS
AFTER BUTCH REFUSES TO HELP

WITH HIS AND LINDA'S SCHEME
TO BURN DOWN THE FURNITURE STORE

IN ORDER TO COLLECT
INSURANCE MONEY.

THE FIRE OCCURRED
AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.

THE POLICE LOOKED AT THIS,
AND THEY KNEW IT WAS ARSON.

Narrator:
BECAUSE LINDA MANAGES THE STORE
AND ED IS HER BOYFRIEND,

BOTH ARE CONSIDERED SUSPECTS

AND ARE BROUGHT IN
FOR QUESTIONING.

I THINK THEY LOOKED
AT LINDA KARLEN RIGHT AWAY,

SAW HER LIFESTYLE,

AND KIND OF FIGURED
WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE.

Narrator: BOTH ED AND LINDA DENY
ANY INVOLVEMENT.

ED IS COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTIVE
DURING THE INTERROGATION.

ED FELT THAT
HE WOULD NEVER GET CAUGHT,

OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T HAVE
COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

Narrator: SINCE BUTCH HAD ALSO
WORKED AT THE FURNITURE STORE,

POLICE SHOW UP AT HIS HOME
TO QUESTION HIM.

BUTCH ASKED ME TO WALK THE DOG

'CAUSE I THINK
HE WAS EMBARRASSED

OVER THIS WHOLE SITUATION

AND HE COULDN'T TALK
TO THE POLICE WITH ME THERE.

Narrator: DESPITE
WHAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM,

BUTCH STILL FEELS
A CERTAIN LOYALTY

TOWARDS HIS FORMER FRIEND.

SO HE TELLS POLICE

HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THE ARSON.

Cousins:
THIS WAS HIS BEST FRIEND.

HE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT
ED'S GOALS WERE TO HIM,

AND HE KNEW
BY TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM,

HE WOULD NOT ACHIEVE
THOSE GOALS.

THERE'S NO WAY --
IF ROLES WERE REVERSED,

ED WOULD HAVE THROWN BUTCH
RIGHT UNDERNEATH A BUS.

Narrator:
BUT BUTCH IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD

WHEN THE POLICE
ALSO PRESS HIM ABOUT

THE FRATERNITY HOUSE ROBBERY
A YEAR EARLIER.

POLICE THINK
KATHY MAY HAVE LIED TO THEM

WHEN SHE RECANTED HER STORY.

BUTCH IS BEING INTERVIEWED.

THEY NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT
THE ARSON,

THEY WANT TO BRING UP
THE BURGLARY CHARGES.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE SEE BUTCH
STARTING TO REALLY PANIC.

Narrator: BUTCH CRACKS
UNDER PRESSURE

AND CONFESSES TO HIS ROLE
IN THE CRIME.

HE ALSO GOES ON TO TELL POLICE
THE WHOLE STORY,

MAKING IT CLEAR THAT
THE BURGLARY WAS ALL ED'S IDEA.

WHEN BUTCH ADMITTED TO IT,
HE IMPLICATED ED.

I THINK THIS WAS EATING AT HIM.

HE HAD TO FINALLY
GET THIS OFF HIS CHEST.

Cathy: HE KNEW IT WAS WRONG.

HE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HIMSELF
AND BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID.

[ SIREN CHIRPS ]

Narrator:
AFTER BUTCH COMES CLEAN,

POLICE CHARGE HIM WITH
THE FRATERNITY HOUSE ROBBERY.

BUT HE SOON POSTS BAIL.

BECAUSE BUTCH IMPLICATED ED,

POLICE BRING HIM IN
FOR QUESTIONING

ABOUT THE FRATERNITY ROBBERY.

BUT ED TELLS POLICE BUTCH LIED
AND DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT.

ED DENIED EVERYTHING.
HE WAS IN CONTROL.

Narrator:
WITH ONLY BUTCH'S WORD TO GO ON,

POLICE DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE HIM.

BUT THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

EVEN THOUGH ED
IS OFF THE HOOK FOR NOW,

HE IS ENRAGED
THAT BUTCH HAS TOLD POLICE

ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS ROBBERY.

AT THAT POINT,

THAT WAS THE END
OF BUTCH AND ED'S RELATIONSHIP.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SENSE
OF BETRAYAL ON ED'S BEHALF.

BUT ED WAS NOT
GOING TO GO DOWN QUIETLY.

ED WAS NOT GOING TO LET ANYBODY
COME IN BETWEEN THOSE GOALS.

Narrator: ED BEGINS FRANTICALLY

LEAVING MESSAGES FOR BUTCH
AT HIS HOME,

HOPING TO CONVINCE HIM

TO CLEAR HIS NAME
IN THE FRATERNITY ROBBERY.

BUT BUTCH REFUSES
TO TAKE HIS CALLS.

AND BUTCH SAID,
"I GOT INTO ENOUGH TROUBLE.

I'M NOT GETTING
IN NO MORE TROUBLE."

Nydes: HE WANTED
NO CONTACT WITH HIM.

HE WOULD NOT RETURN ANY CALLS
AND SPEAK WITH ED.

HE KNOWS THIS GUY IS NOT
HIS BEST FRIEND ANYMORE.

Narrator: BUT ED IS NOT
ABOUT TO LET BUTCH

SIMPLY WALK AWAY FROM THE PAST.

Frank: ED DUG HIMSELF
IN SUCH A DEEP HOLE

THAT HE WAS JUST GONNA SEE IT
ALL THE WAY THROUGH,

AND HE HATCHED HIS NEXT SCHEME.

Narrator: AND ED'S NEXT SCHEME
IS BEYOND BELIEF,

FAR WORSE THAN
THE FRATERNITY HOUSE ROBBERY

OR THE FURNITURE STORE ARSON.

MEANWHILE, ED IS DETERMINED

TO COME UP WITH A WAY
TO TALK TO BUTCH.

HE FINDS THE OPPORTUNITY
WHEN HE RUNS INTO

HIS AND BUTCH'S MUTUAL FRIEND
TERESA WAKULCHIK,

WHO COINCIDENTALLY
HAS BEEN DATING BUTCH.

SHE'S GOOD FRIENDS WITH ED.

BUT BUTCH WAS DATING TERESA
AT THAT TIME.

Narrator: WHILE CATCHING UP,

TERESA TELLS ED
THAT SHE'S INVITED BUTCH

TO COME VISIT HER
FOR THE WEEKEND.

AND FOR THE SCHEMING ED,
HE SEES THEIR RENDEZVOUS

AS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
TO ARRANGE

A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING
WITH HIS FORMER FRIEND.

HE KNOWS THAT BUTCH WILL NOT
VOLUNTARILY TALK TO HIM,

SO ED THEN COMES UP WITH AN IDEA

OF TRYING TO LURE BUTCH
TO SPEAK TO HIM IN PERSON.

Narrator: ED TELLS TERESA THAT
HE AND BUTCH HAD AN ARGUMENT

AND THAT HE NEEDS HER
TO HELP THEM RECONCILE.

SHE WAS TOLD THAT
BUTCH WAS BEING UNREASONABLE

AND HE WASN'T ANSWERING
ANY OF HIS PHONE CALLS

AND IT WAS IMPORTANT
THAT THEY TALK.

Narrator: TERESA AGREES
TO TRICK BUTCH INTO SEEING ED

BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO HELP
THE OLD FRIENDS MAKE UP.

SHE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR BUTCH

EXCEPT, YOU KNOW,
A CHANCE FOR THOSE TWO TO MEET.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

BUTCH BOARDS A GREYHOUND BUS
IN HIGH SPIRITS,

TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THE PLAN
THAT IS NOW UNDERWAY.

Nydes:
BUTCH HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS

TO TAKE A BUS
OVER TO AKRON, OHIO,

WHERE HE WOULD BE PICKED UP
BY THIS GIRL.

HE SAID, "MA,
I WANT TO SEND HER FLOWERS

AND LET HER KNOW
THAT I'M COMING."

Cathy: HE WAS EXCITED
ABOUT GOING, GETTING AWAY.

HE WAS JUST
GONNA FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Narrator:
TERESA AND ONE OF HER FRIENDS
PICK BUTCH UP AT THE STATION,

STILL NAIVE
ABOUT ED'S REAL MOTIVE.

THEY CAME UP WITH A STORY

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO A PARTY
IN THE WOODS.

BUTCH HAD NO CLUE
THAT ED WAS BEHIND THIS IDEA,

OR ELSE
HE WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE UP.

Narrator:
THE GIRLS DRIVE THROUGH
A REMOTE AREA, THEN SUDDENLY,

TERESA ASKS HER FRIEND
TO STOP THE CAR

SO SHE CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM.

THEY AGREED THAT

THEY WOULD HAVE BUTCH SITTING
ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE,

ONE GIRL IN THE CENTER,
AND THE ONE GIRL DRIVING.

AND UNDER A RUSE OF THE GIRL
HAVING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM,

BUTCH WOULD HAVE TO
GET OUT OF THE CAR.

AND AS BUTCH GOT OUT OF THE CAR,
THE CAR SPED AWAY.

I'M SURE HE WAS STARTLED.

"WHY ARE THEY DRIVING OFF
AND LEAVING ME?"

HE'S PROBABLY THINKING,
"ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE.
WHAT ARE YOU PULLING ON ME?"

Narrator: BUT IT'S NO JOKE.

IN FACT,
BUTCH GETS THE SHOCK OF HIS LIFE

WHEN ED AND HIS BROTHER MICHAEL
EMERGE FROM THE WOODS.

NOT IN BUTCH'S
WILDEST NIGHTMARES

COULD HE IMAGINE
THE HORROR THAT AWAITS HIM.

WE NEVER KNEW THAT
HE WAS CAPABLE OF SUCH EVIL.

I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE
THE BRUTALITY.

Narrator: AFTER LURING BUTCH
TO AN ISOLATED AREA,

ED EMERGES FROM THE WOODS

AND CONFRONTS
HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND.

ED IS HELL BENT
ON PERSUADING BUTCH

TO GO BACK TO POLICE
AND TELL THEM

THAT HE WASN'T INVOLVED
IN THE FRATERNITY ROBBERY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THE HORROR
THAT HE MUST HAVE FELT

WHEN HE SAW ED.

BUTCH WAS DEFINITELY,
AT THAT POINT, AFRAID OF ED.

HE WANTED NO CONTACT WITH HIM.

HE WAS AFRAID
OF WHAT ED WOULD DO.

Nydes: THE KEY THING WOULD BE
RECANTING ANYTHING

THAT HE SAID
ABOUT ED BEING INVOLVED

BECAUSE IF HE DID NOT,
THERE GOES HIS FUTURE PLANS.

Narrator:
A FURIOUS ED CONFRONTS BUTCH,

AND WHEN BUTCH REFUSES
TO RECANT HIS STORY

THAT IMPLICATES ED
IN THE ROBBERY,

ED GETS ANGRIER AND ANGRIER.

ED BECAME ENRAGED,
AND A FIGHT ENSUED.

IT JUST GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE HE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL.

Narrator:
WITH ED'S BROTHER MICHAEL
LOOKING ON IN SHOCK,

THE TWO EX-BEST FRIENDS
ARE AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS.

ANY TYPE OF INCIDENT LIKE THIS
IS SHOCKING,

HOW SOMETHING SO MINOR

COULD ESCALATE
INTO SUCH A SERIOUS THING.

Narrator: BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

IS BEYOND ANYONE'S
WORST NIGHTMARES.

ED SUDDENLY PULLS OUT A GUN

AND BASHES BUTCH IN THE HEAD
WITH IT.

ED HAD JUST KIND OF LOST IT.

HERE WAS A GUY DOING THIS
TO HIS SO-CALLED BEST FRIEND.

Frank: I'M SURE BUTCH
TRIED TO GIVE HIM A FIGHT,

BUT...

THERE WASN'T ANY COMPROMISING
WITH ED.

Narrator: BUTCH GOES
IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS

AS ED CONTINUES
TO SAVAGELY BEAT HIM.

UNTIL BUTCH
SUCCUMBS TO HIS INJURIES

AND DIES.

Cousins:
THIS WAS ED'S OPPORTUNITY

TO GET RID OF THE GUY
THAT HAS THE EVIDENCE,

THE GUY THAT CAN LINK HIM
TO THE ROBBERY.

AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAS TO DO
TO FINISH LAW SCHOOL,

TO BE THAT SENATOR
THAT HE WANTED TO BE.

THIS WAS THE WAY
THAT ED SHUT BUTCH UP.

IT WAS THE ULTIMATEBETRAYAL.

Nydes: AT THAT POINT,

MICHAEL WAS TOTALLY ASTOUNDED

BY WHAT HE HAD JUST WITNESSED,

THIS HORRIBLE BEATING
AND DEATH OF BUTCH.

Narrator: BUT ED MANAGES
TO CONVINCE HIS BROTHER

TO HELP HIM GET RID OF THE BODY.

Nydes:
ED AND MICHAEL HANDCUFFED BUTCH

BEHIND HIS BACK,

AND THEN
THEY TIE HIS ANKLES TOGETHER

WITH A NECKTIE.

Narrator: THEN THEY THROW
BUTCH'S LIFELESS BODY

INTO THE TRUNK
AND DRIVE BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE,
LINDA IS THERE WAITING FOR HIM

AND WANTS TO KNOW
IF ED SUCCEEDED

IN CONVINCING BUTCH
TO RECANT HIS STORY TO POLICE.

SHE HAS NO IDEA
THE ENCOUNTER TURNED DEADLY.

LINDA INQUIRED, "WHERE'S BUTCH?"

AND MIKE SAID,
"HE'S IN THE TRUNK."

AND AT THAT POINT,

A TERRIBLE SMELL PERMEATES
THROUGHOUT THE CAR,

AND SHE KNEW THAT HE HAD DIED.

LINDA WAS SCARED AT THIS POINT.

LINDA THOUGHT
THEY WERE JUST GOING TO TALK,

THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

Narrator:
TERRIFIED THEY'LL GET CAUGHT,

LINDA SUGGESTS THEY DRIVE
TO A REMOTE AREA

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
WHERE SHE USED TO LIVE

AND BURY BUTCH THERE.

Nydes: ED USED A SHOVEL
TO DIG THE GRAVE,

AND THEY PLACED BUTCH
IN THE GRAVE

WITH THE HANDCUFFS
AND HIS LEGS TIED.

AND THEN ED JUMPED UP AND DOWN
ON THE BODY

TO FORCE IT DOWN
INTO THE GRAVE FURTHER.

Frank: THIS IS HIS BEST FRIEND.

THE BRUTALITY OF IT,

THE INTENSITY OF IT --

HE'S -- HE'S A MONSTER.

Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER,

WHEN BUTCH DOESN'T RETURN
FROM HIS TRIP,

HIS FAMILY BEGINS TO WORRY.

WE WENT TO THE BUS STATION.

HE NEVER GOT OFF THE BUS.

I THOUGHT DEFINITELY
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

NOBODY KNEW WHERE BUTCH WAS.

NARRATOR:
BUTCH'S MOTHER CALLS TERESA,

THE GIRLFRIEND HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE VISITING,

AND TELLS HER BUTCH IS MISSING.

SHOCKED
AND NOT KNOWING WHERE BUTCH IS,

TERESA PANICS AND LIES TO HER.

TERESA SAID,
"OH, HE NEVER ARRIVED."

AND I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN
HE DIDN'T ARRIVE?"

SHE WAS LIKE, "HE'S NOT HERE."
YOU KNOW, "HE NEVER CAME."

Narrator: NEXT,
BUTCH'S MOM CALLS

HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND, ED.

HE ALSO LIES TO HER.

Rose: I WAS TOLD
MAYBE HE WENT FISHING,

MAYBE HE FELL IN THE WATER
OR SOMETHING.

Narrator:
DESPERATE TO FIND HER SON,

BUTCH'S MOTHER EVEN CALLS
HIS OLD FRATERNITY BROTHERS.

SHE HAD ASKED ME
IF I HAD SEEN BUTCH,

AND I JUST GOT
THE WORST FEELING IN MY STOMACH.

Nydes: AT THAT POINT,
HE HAD JUST VANISHED.

HIS MOTHER CONTACTS
THE LOCAL POLICE

AND REPORTS HIM MISSING.

Narrator: SOON,
ED GOES OFF TO LAW SCHOOL

AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

Cousins: I DON'T KNOW
HOW THAT GUY WORKED OR SLEPT,

BUT HE'S BACK AT SCHOOL.

AND HE'S DOING VERY WELL.

Cathy:
HE WAS GONNA JUST MOVE RIGHT ON,

FURTHERING HIS EDUCATION,

BECOME THE LAWYER
THAT HE WANTED TO BE,

MAKE THE BIG BUCKS.

Narrator: AS THE MONTHS GO BY,

THE INVESTIGATION INTO
BUTCH'S DISAPPEARANCE STALLS.

COULD ED LITERALLY GET AWAY
WITH MURDER?

ED NEVER DREAMT
OF GETTING CAUGHT.

HE ALWAYS FIGURED
HE WAS SMARTER THAN EVERYBODY.

Narrator: AT THE END
OF HIS FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL,

ED IS CAUGHT UP IN HIS NEW LIFE
AND BREAKS UP WITH LINDA.

ED REALLY WASN'T
IN LOVE WITH LINDA.

HE WAS USING HER.

Narrator: ED WARNS HER

TO KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT
ABOUT BUTCH'S MURDER.

ED THREATENED HER.

SHE KNOWS OF HIS INVOLVEMENT
IN THESE CRIMES.

Narrator: AND KNOWING HOW

HE BRUTALLY MURDERED
HIS BEST FRIEND,

SHE'S TERRIFIED THAT
ED WILL TRY TO KILL HER, TOO.

LINDA IS SCARED,
AND SHE FEELS

SHE'S GONNA BE THE NEXT ONE
IN THE GRAVE.

Narrator:
IT'S A TERRIFYING REALIZATION.

LINDA FINALLY DECIDES THAT
THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT HERSELF

IS TO GO TO THE POLICE.

HE THREATENED THE WRONG PERSON
FOR THE LAST TIME.

SHE TELLS POLICE
ABOUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL,

THAT ED HAD KILLED BUTCH.

Narrator: SHE ALSO IMPLICATES
ED'S BROTHER MICHAEL

AND CONFESSES TO HER PART
IN THE FURNITURE STORE ARSON

AND TO HELPING DISPOSE
OF BUTCH'S BODY.

LINDA IS ARRESTED,

BUT AGREES TO LEAD POLICE
TO WHERE BUTCH IS BURIED.

Narrator: NEARLY 16 MONTHS

AFTER HE WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED
BY HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND,

POLICE FIND BUTCH'S BODY.

ONE OF THE TROOPERS
STUCK A SHOVEL INTO THE GROUND

AND MOVED SOME EARTH,
AND THERE WAS BUTCH'S KNEE.

AND HE WAS STILL HANDCUFFED
BEHIND HIS BACK,

HIS FEET WERE TIED
WITH A NECKTIE AT HIS ANKLES.

Narrator: POLICE IMMEDIATELY
BREAK THE HORRIFYING NEWS

TO BUTCH'S FAMILY.

HE SAYS, "WELL,
I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE IT.

"THEY FOUND BUTCH.

HE WAS BURIED ON A FARM,
SHALLOW GRAVE."

AND, OF COURSE, I CRIED.

Cathy: I JUST SAT THERE
FOR A LONG TIME...

[ SNIFFLES ]

...CRYING.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, ED,

WHO'S NOW IN HIS SECOND YEAR
OF LAW SCHOOL,

HAS NO IDEA
THAT LINDA HAS GONE TO POLICE

AND THAT THEY FOUND
BUTCH'S BODY.

Rose: HE HAD NO CONSCIENCE.

SO, HE WAS GONNA
GO ON WITH HIS LIFE

WHILE BUTCH LAID IN A GRAVE.

HE REALLY THOUGHT THAT
HE WAS GONNA GET AWAY WITH THIS.

Narrator:
BUT ED'S WORLD SUDDENLY

COMES CRASHING DOWN ON HIM.

POLICE ARREST HIM ON CAMPUS
AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

ON OCTOBER 5, 1989.

ED REFUSED TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT
TO THE POLICE WHATSOEVER.

THE 23-YEAR-OLD IS CHARGED
WITH THE KIDNAPPING AND MURDER

OF HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND,
BUTCH PRATT.

BUTCH'S FAMILY
IS EVEN MORE DEVASTATED

WHEN THEY LEARN
IT WAS HIS BEST FRIEND

WHO SAVAGELY BEAT HIM TO DEATH.

[ Voice breaking ] AND IT WAS
ED SWIGER THAT DID IT TO HIM.

IT WAS HIS ROOMMATE
FROM COLLEGE, HIS FRIEND ED.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
HE DID IT.

THE LOSS OF BUTCH
WAS SUCH A TRAGEDY.

THE BRUTALITY OF THE MURDER,
IT'S BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION.

IT TURNS MY STOMACH.

Narrator: DURING HIS TRIAL
IN 1990,

THE EVER-COCKY ED
EXPRESSES NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER.

HE CLAIMED IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,
THAT A FIGHT HAD ENSUED,

AND THAT BUTCH HAD
HIT HIS HEAD ON A ROCK.

BUT IT WAS CONTRARY
TO THE EVIDENCE.

Narrator: THE JURY DOESN'T BUY
HIS VERSION OF EVENTS.

ED SWIGER IS SENTENCED
TO 43 YEARS TO LIFE

FOR AGGRAVATED MURDER
AND KIDNAPPING.

LINDA KARLEN IS CONVICTED

OF CONSPIRACY
TO COMMIT KIDNAPPING AND ARSON

AND IS SENTENCED
TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.

SHE LED A LIFESTYLE
PUTTING ON AIRS OF HER WEALTH,

MATERIAL POSSESSIONS,
AND IT WAS ALSO SUPERFICIAL,

BECAUSE DEEP INSIDE,
SHE WAS AN EVIL PERSON.

ED'S BROTHER MICHAEL SWIGER
SERVES 16 YEARS

FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
AND KIDNAPPING

FOR HIS ROLE IN THE MURDER
AND THE FURNITURE STORE ARSON.

ED BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE
DOWN WITH HIM, AND FOR WHAT?

HIS GOALS.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN
NEARLY 25 YEARS

SINCE BUTCH'S TRAGIC DEATH
AND ED'S VIOLENT BETRAYAL.

BUT TIME HASN'T HEALED
THE FAMILY'S PAIN.

HIS KINDNESS AND HIS GOODNESS

AND COMING OVER
AND PUTTING HIS ARMS AROUND ME

AND GIVING ME A KISS
AND TELLING ME HE LOVED ME...

Cathy: I ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT IF I GOT MARRIED,

THAT BUTCH WOULD BE
IN THE WEDDING.

HE WASN'T.

ED SAYING THAT,
"OH, YOU'RE LIKE A BROTHER,"

AND THEN FOR HIM
TO JUST TURN LIKE THAT,

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE WHOLE THING.

NONE OF US COULD IMAGINE
WHAT THIS WOULD COME TO.

I MEAN, HERE ARE TWO GUYS

THAT WE THOUGHT
WERE THE BEST OF FRIENDS,

AND HERE'S SOMETHING THAT

THE WORST OF ENEMIES
WOULDN'T DO TO EACH OTHER.