I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 11 - Got to Go to Canada - full transcript

YOU MOVE, YOU DIE.

Narrator:
A DRUG DEAL IN SEATTLE GOES BAD.

THIS GUN WENT OFF BETWEEN US.

[ GUNSHOT ]
BAM!

Narrator:
BUT KILLER SCOTT FREEBURG

KNOWS HOW TO AVOID THE COPS.

Gebo:
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY IDEA

WHERE HE WENT
OR WHERE HE MIGHT GO.

Narrator: HE ESCAPES TO CANADA
AND CONTINUES HIS CRIME SPREE.

Williams:
I MEAN, THIS WAS, FOR ME,

THE MOST SERIOUS FUGITIVE
I HAD EVER HAD TO LOOK FOR.



Freeburg:
I WOULD'VE DONE ANYTHING,
INCLUDING SHOOTING SOMEONE,

TO AVOID BEING CAPTURED.

Narrator: TO CATCH HIM,

THE COPS WILL HAVE TO PUT
EVERYTHING ON THE LINE.

DO IT!

CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SCOTT ALAN FREEBURG
IS HEADING OUT TO DO A JOB.

[ GUN COCKS ]

HE'S BEEN HIRED
BY AN ACQUAINTANCE

AS THE MUSCLE
TO HELP COLLECT A DRUG DEBT.

THIS LINE OF WORK
IS NOTHING NEW TO FREEBURG.



HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON
FOR ARMED ROBBERY

SINCE HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

FOR THIS JOB,
FREEBURG WON'T BE WORKING ALONE.

HIS FRIENDS,
LARRY KUHN AND JEANETTE STUKER,

PICK HIM UP AND
HEAD TO THE DRUG DEALER'S HOUSE.

FREEBURG WAKES UP
DRUG DEALER JOSE RODRIGUEZ

AND HIS GIRLFRIEND.

[ POUNDING ON DOOR ]

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT.

IT'S LATE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT TIME IT IS.
WE WANT OUR MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?

FREEBURG WON'T TAKE "NO"
FOR AN ANSWER.

HE SHOVES HIS WAY
INTO THE HOUSE.

HE DEMANDS THE MONEY.

AAH!

RODRIGUEZ'S GIRLFRIEND
TRIES TO CALL THE POLICE,

BUT FREEBURG STOPS HER.

YOU MOVE, YOU DIE.

RODRIGUEZ SURPRISES FREEBURG.

Woman: NO!

I WAS ON MY FACE.

I LOOKED UP.

HE POINTED THE GUN
STRAIGHT AT MY EYE

AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.

HE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING CHAMBERED.

I CAME UP OFF THE FLOOR

AND GRAPPLED WITH HIM
OVER THIS GUN.

[ GUN CLICKS ]

NO!

[ GUNSHOT ]

THIS GUN WENT OFF BETWEEN US.

BAM!

Narrator:
KUHN HEARS THE GUNSHOT

AND COMES TO FREEBURG'S AID.

RODRIGUEZ IS ON THE FLOOR,
BLEEDING.

I'M GONNA GO LOOK
FOR THE MONEY.
ALL RIGHT.

JUST KEEP HER HERE.

[ PANTING ]

Narrator: FREEBURG SEARCHES
THE HOUSE FOR MONEY.

[ WOMAN SOBBING SOFTLY ]

DON'T MOVE.

WHEN KUHN LOOKS AWAY,

RODRIGUEZ'S GIRLFRIEND
SEES HER CHANCE.

KUHN FIRES A SHOT AT HER
BUT MISSES.

WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
LET'S GO.

THINGS ARE SPIRALING
OUT OF CONTROL,

AND THE CROOKS KNOW THEY'VE
GOT TO GET OUT OF THERE FAST.

THEY LEAVE RODRIGUEZ TO DIE.

POLICE RESPOND AND DISCOVER
THE BODY OF JOSE RODRIGUEZ.

THE MAN RESISTED
THE EFFORTS OF THE INVADER

TO GET IN THE HOUSE

AND ENDED UP
BEING SHOT TO DEATH.

Narrator: THE FORENSICS TEAM
DISSECTS THE CRIME SCENE.

THEY COMB THROUGH THE EVIDENCE,

HOPING TO FIND ANYTHING
THAT WILL IDENTIFY THE KILLER.

THERE WAS A FORCED ENTRY.

Narrator: HOURS LATER,
THEY GET THEIR BIG BREAK.

JEANETTE STUKER,
THE DRIVER OF THE GETAWAY CAR,

SHOWS UP
AT THE SEATTLE POLICE STATION.

WE HANG OUT SOMETIMES.

Gebo: THE WOMAN
THAT WAS OUT IN THE CAR

WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LOOKOUT.

ONCE WE GOT HOOKED UP WITH HER,

WE HAD A MUCH CLEARER IDEA
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THEN I HEARD
SOME GUNSHOTS.

Narrator: STUKER DOESN'T WANT
TO BE CHARGED

AS AN ACCESSORY TO MURDER.

SHE TELLS POLICE
THAT SCOTT FREEBURG

WAS THE TRIGGERMAN
WHO KILLED RODRIGUEZ.

"I SHOT HIM,
AND I THINK I KILLED HIM."

SO, SCOTT FREEBURG
SAID THAT?

IT WAS SCOTT FREEBURG,
YEAH.

Gebo:
WITHIN A FEW HOURS, REALLY,

OF WHEN WE WERE FIRST
AT THE SCENE,

WE HAD AN IDENTIFICATION OF
THE MAN THAT DID THE SHOOTING.

Narrator:
POLICE PULL RECORDS ON FREEBURG.

THE FUGITIVE
HAS A LONG CRIMINAL HISTORY.

HEY, JIM.

WHAT'S MORE TROUBLING IS
THAT HE HAS NUMEROUS ESCAPES

ON HIS RAP SHEET

AND KNOWS HOW TO OUTSMART
LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HIS FIRST BRUSH WITH THE LAW
WAS BACK IN 1976.

FREEBURG WAS ONLY DAYS PAST
HIS 18th BIRTHDAY.

Freeburg:
I ROBBED A CONVENIENCE STORE.

I JUST TURNED 18.

MY MOM WAS REALLY SICK.
SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

I WAS BY MYSELF

AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY
COMING IN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I GOT CAUGHT RIGHT AWAY.
I WENT TO COURT.

I PLEAD GUILTY AND GOT 20 YEARS.

Narrator: FREEBURG TRIES TO TURN
HIS LIFE AROUND IN JAIL.

WHEN I WAS IN PRISON,
I FINISHED MY HIGH SCHOOL,

GOT MY DIPLOMA,
AND DID GOOD IN PRISON.

Narrator:
AFTER TWO YEARS IN PRISON,

HE MANAGES TO COMPLETE
HIS COLLEGE DEGREE

WHILE BEHIND BARS.

ALONG WITH HIS GOOD BEHAVIOR,

HE IS ALLOWED TO WORK
ON A FURLOUGH PROGRAM.

THIS LETS HIM LEAVE THE PRISON

FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME
FOR WORK.

ON THE OUTSIDE,
THE TEMPTATION IS TOO GREAT.

HE ROBS A WASHINGTON BANK
AND STEALS MORE THAN $5,000.

Freeburg: IN 1979,

I WAS RELEASED ON
A PAROLE-PLANNING FURLOUGH.

TOOK OFF FROM THE FURLOUGH

AND DID A BUNCH OF BANK
ROBBERIES AND LEFT THE COUNTRY.

Narrator:
FREEBURG HEADS TO MEXICO.

AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS
ON THE RUN,

HIS CONSCIENCE
GETS THE BETTER OF HIM.

Freeburg: CAME BACK TO SEATTLE,

WENT TO FEDERAL COURT,
FACED THE MUSIC.

Narrator:
FREEBURG IS SENT TO A PRISON
IN SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA.

NOW JUST 21 YEARS OLD,

HE'LL HAVE TO SERVE
AT LEAST 12 YEARS

BEFORE HE TASTES FREEDOM AGAIN.

JUST MONTHS INTO HIS SENTENCE,

A PHONE CALL TO HIS GIRLFRIEND
MAKES HIM BLIND WITH JEALOUSY.

Freeburg: I WAS TALKING
TO MY GIRLFRIEND, DENISE.

SOME GUY GOT ON THE PHONE
AND STARTED YELLING AT ME,

AND THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE,

AND I MADE A PLAN TO GET AWAY.

I SAID, "HEY,
GO TO THE BARBER SHOP,

GET A BUNCH OF RAZOR BLADES
AND A BUNCH OF TOOTHBRUSHES."

GET LIKE FOUR OR FIVE
OF THEM.

I WANT YOU TO GET
SOME RAZOR BLADES
AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I'LL STEAL THEM
FROM THE BARBER SHOP.
DO THAT.

THEY GOT ME FOUR OR FIVE BOXES
OF DOUBLE-EDGED RAZORS

AND A WHOLE CONTAINER
FULL OF TOOTHBRUSHES

AND SOME MATCHES.

Narrator: THEY GET THEIR HANDS
ON THE SUPPLIES.

GOT ENOUGH?

FREEBURG AND HIS BUDDIES WORK
FAST TO FASHION CRUDE SAWS.

I BROKE THE RAZORS IN HALF,
MELTED THEM IN THE TOOTHBRUSHES,

AND STARTED SAWING ON THE BARS.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

STEP ONE.

FREEBURG AND HIS ACCOMPLICES
SAW AWAY AT THE BARS

OF A CELL WINDOW.

GUARD, GUARD!

AND WITH JUST A RAZOR BLADE
AND A TOOTHBRUSH --

A BUNCH OF THEM --
I CUT THE BARS.

Narrator:
IT'S A TEDIOUS JOB.

AFTER WEEKS
OF RELENTLESS WORK...

WE GOT IT, WE GOT IT,
WE GOT IT!

Narrator: ...THEY FINALLY
BREAK THROUGH THE BARS.

Freeburg: AND GOT THROUGH

WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS
AN IMPENETRABLE WINDOW.

TIED BEDSHEETS TOGETHER,

WENT FIVE FLOORS
OUT OF THE CELL.

Narrator:
THEY KNOW IT WON'T BE LONG

BEFORE GUARDS INSIDE
REALIZE THERE'S AN ESCAPE.

THEY MUST MOVE FAST.

Freeburg:
THEY HAD CAMERAS THAT CROSSED.

THEY HAD A ROVING PATROL.

THEY HAD A GUARD WITH A SHOTGUN

THAT WALKED AROUND THE CATWALK
ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

TIMING WAS AS SIMPLE

AS WHEN THE CAMERAS WENT
LIKE THAT AND WENT BACK,

YOU HAD
MAYBE A MINUTE AND A HALF

BEFORE THE CAMERAS
CROSSED AGAIN.

Narrator: THE PRISONERS
HAVE A CARD UP THEIR SLEEVE.

A FRIEND AND FORMER INMATE

IS WAITING NEARBY
WITH A GETAWAY CAR.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THEY DRIVE TO A SAFE HOUSE
20 MILES AWAY.

THANKS, BOSS.

IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING,
JUST GIVE ME A CALL.

FREEBURG FEELS SAFE,

BUT SOMEONE BACK AT THE PRISON
TIPS THE AUTHORITIES.

POLICE ACT FAST.

JUST HOURS AFTER THE ESCAPE,
THEY HAVE THE FELONS SURROUNDED.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!
HEY! HOLD ON.

FREEZE! POLICE!
HANDS UP!

ON YOUR KNEES!

Narrator:
FREEBURG IS CAPTURED

AND TRANSPORTED TO A JAIL
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FREEBURG KNOWS HE CAN'T HANDLE
A LIFE BEHIND BARS,

AND TWO MONTHS LATER,
HE GETS ANOTHER CHANCE.

Freeburg: APRIL THE 27th,

I ESCAPED OUT OF
THE SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY JAIL.

Narrator:
FELLOW INMATES ATTACK A GUARD

AND GET AWAY
WITH HIS GUN AND KEYS.

COME ON!

[ KEYS JINGLING ]

I GOT THE KEYS!

ONE OF MY FRIENDS
OPENED UP MY DOOR WITH THE KEYS

AND SAID, "LET'S GO."

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED,
SO I TOOK IT.

Narrator:
ONCE HE'S OUT OF HIS CELL,

FREEBURG MAKES A RUN FOR IT.

Freeburg:
WE HEARD GUNSHOTS BELOW US

AS WE WERE COMING DOWN
THE ELEVATOR.

I JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW.

I LANDED ON THE OVERHANG
AND WAS BEING SHOT AT.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

JUMPED A WALL, A 6-FOOT WALL.

Narrator:
THE PRISON GOES ON HIGH ALERT.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

FREEBURG IS ON THE RUN,

AND THE COPS
ARE HOT ON HIS TRAIL.

Narrator: A DARING JAILBREAK
IN SAN FRANCISCO

HAS PUT FUGITIVE SCOTT FREEBURG
ON THE RUN.

GO!

POLICE ALERT ALL UNITS
TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

RAN UNDER AN UNDERPASS...

...AND THOUGHT I GOT AWAY.

Narrator: TWO OFF-DUTY
PARAMEDICS IN THE AREA

HEAR THE CALL ON THEIR RADIO.

THEY SPOT FREEBURG
AND CORNER HIM IN AN ALLEY.

FREEBURG IS SENT TO CALIFORNIA'S
LOMPOC FEDERAL PENITENTIARY.

THIS PRISON IS ABLE TO HOLD HIM
FOR 13 YEARS.

DURING HIS TIME AT LOMPOC,

FREEBURG EARNS A REPUTATION
AS A DANGEROUS INMATE.

[ GAGGING ]

HE BECAME AN ENFORCER
IN THE PRISON.

AT OTHER PEOPLE'S DIRECTION,
HE WOULD ATTACK OTHER PRISONERS.

IF YOU DON'T PAY UP SOON,
YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAD!

GOT IT?!

PAY UP!

I GAINED SOME WEIGHT,

GREW MY BEARD VERY LONG,
GREW MY HAIR VERY LONG.

Gebo: SOME OF WHAT HE DID
ON THE OUTSIDE

ONCE HE GOT RELEASED

WAS EXACTLY
WHAT HE'D LEARNED INSIDE.

WHAT'S UP, PUNK?
WHAT?

YOU OWE HIM.

Narrator: FINALLY, IN 1994,

AFTER MORE THAN 13 YEARS
IN PRISON,

FREEBURG IS RELEASED.

TAKE IT EASY.

I'LL DO MY BEST.

FREEBURG HEADS BACK TO SEATTLE
TO START A NEW LIFE.

Freeburg: IN 1994,
I FINALLY GOT OUT OF PRISON.

I WAS FORCED TO LIVE IN A PLACE
CALLED THE FIFTH STEP HOUSE.

IT WAS A CHRISTIAN
CLEAN-AND-SOBER HOUSE.

BUT I HAD A STATE PAROLE OFFICER
AND A FEDERAL PAROLE OFFICER

CONSTANTLY CHECKING ON ME.

I WAS DOING GOOD.
I WAS LIVING A GOOD LIFE.

Narrator:
FREEBURG STARTS TO DATE A WOMAN

LIVING NORTH OF SEATTLE.

Freeburg: I LOVED CINDY.

AND IT WAS A SHORT RELATIONSHIP,
BUT IT WAS VERY INTENSE,

AND WE HAD
A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.

Narrator: DESPITE THE STABILITY
IN HIS LIFE,

FREEBURG IS SOON PULLED BACK
INTO A LIFE OF CRIME.

AAH!

LESS THAN THREE MONTHS
AFTER BEING RELEASED,

HE'S WANTED BY THE POLICE FOR
THE MURDER OF JOSE RODRIGUEZ.

[ GUNSHOT ]

FREEBURG KNOWS HE CAN'T RETURN
TO THE HALFWAY HOUSE.

HE GOES TO THE ONE PERSON
HE CAN TRUST.

Freeburg: THE FIRST PLACE
I WENT AFTERWARDS

WAS UP TO GRANITE FALLS
TO MY GIRLFRIEND'S.

SCOTT?
HEY.

Narrator: WHEN FREEBURG'S
GIRLFRIEND SEES HIM,

SHE'S CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS INJURY.

HE MAKES UP A LIE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

Freeburg: I DIDN'T
WANT TO TELL HER ABOUT IT

'CAUSE I KNEW
SHE WOULD TRY TO TURN ME IN.

OH, I'M SORRY.

INSTEAD, SHE BREAKS OUT
A MEDICAL KIT.

Freeburg: MY GIRLFRIEND
SEWED MY EAR BACK ON.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

WELL,
YOU GOT TO TELL ME.

[ LAUGHS ]
IT LOOKS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: BACK IN SEATTLE,

INVESTIGATORS ARRIVE
AT FREEBURG'S HALFWAY HOUSE.

THEY QUESTION OTHER RESIDENTS
AND LEARN WHERE HE WENT.

THEN THEY LEARN SOMETHING
THAT SHOCKS THEM.

FREEBURG'S GIRLFRIEND

WORKS FOR THE PRISON
WHERE HE WAS RECENTLY HELD.

NORTH OF SEATTLE,
MAYBE 20, 30 MILES.

MY GIRLFRIEND WAS
MY PSYCHOLOGIST IN PRISON.

Gebo: SCOTT HAD ESTABLISHED
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HER

AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP
BASICALLY LIVING IN HER HOUSE

OUT IN GRANITE FALLS.

LOOK ALL RIGHT?
AM I HEALING?

I THINK YOU'LL BE OKAY.

YOU THINK SO?
MM-HMM.

GOOD.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO AMPUTATE
THE EAR.

[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S A RELIEF.

SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT
WAS ORDERED BY THE PAROLE BOARD

TO GIVE ME A CLASS
ON HOW TO RELATE

FROM DOING A LONG TIME IN PRISON
TO BEING BACK IN SOCIETY.

SHE THOUGHT I WAS INTERESTING.

Narrator: POLICE RACE
TO THE GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE

TO MAKE THE ARREST.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
WHEN THEY GET THERE.

OKAY, WE'RE ON THE LOCATION.

SCOTT FREEBURG,
ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

WE'RE GONNA DO A 3-POINT ENTRY.
I'M GONNA DRAW THE LADY OUT.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO STAY TIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO THIS.

Narrator:
OFFICERS TAKE THEIR POSITIONS

AND PREPARE FOR A FIGHT.

WHAT'S GOING ON?
MA'AM.

Narrator: THEY PUSH THEIR WAY
INTO THE HOUSE

AND SEARCH EVERY ROOM.

FREEBURG IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
ANY IDEA WHERE HE WENT

OR WHERE HE MIGHT GO.

HE HAD A WOUNDED EAR.

Narrator: CARLSON ADMITS
TO MENDING FREEBURG'S EAR

BUT SAYS SHE DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT THE MURDER IN SEATTLE.

HE DIDN'T TELL ME.

THE GIRLFRIEND TELLS POLICE
THAT FREEBURG LEFT HOURS AGO.

AFTER HE LEFT,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WENT.

SEATTLE P.D. IMMEDIATELY
PUTS OUT "WANTED" POSTERS,

AND THE MEDIA BROADCASTS
THE STORY NATIONWIDE.

FREEBURG IS A FUGITIVE

WHO POLICE FEAR
HAS ALREADY FLED THE STATE

OR EVEN THE COUNTRY.

SEATTLE POLICE
DECIDE TO CALL ON U.S. MARSHALS

TO HELP LOCATE THEIR FUGITIVE.

JACK WILLIAMS, A 10-YEAR VETERAN
OF THE MARSHALS,

IS GIVEN THE CASE.

Williams: AFTER BEING ASSIGNED
THE FREEBURG CASE

AND REVIEWING
HIS CRIMINAL HISTORY

AND TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE

THAT HAD DEALT WITH HIM
IN THE PAST,

THIS WAS, FOR ME,

THE MOST SERIOUS FUGITIVE
I HAD EVER HAD TO LOOK FOR,

AND IT JUST MADE THE HAIR
ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STAND UP.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ONE BAD GUY.

Narrator:
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,

WILLIAMS LEARNS THAT FREEBURG
TRAVELED TO ORCAS ISLAND

IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF WASHINGTON STATE.

AGENT WILLIAMS HEADS UP
TO ORCAS ISLAND,

HOPING SOMEONE THERE
CAN PUT HIM ON FREEBURG'S TRAIL.

FREEBURG, HE LEARNED,

WORKED AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE
BRIEFLY

AND SUDDENLY LEFT
WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

ONE CONTRACTOR TELLS WILLIAMS

HE AND FREEBURG TOOK A FERRY
BACK TO THE MAINLAND TOGETHER.

IMMEDIATELY,
WILLIAMS PUTS FREEBURG

ON THE U.S. MARSHALS'
TOP 15 MOST WANTED LIST.

IT UPS THE PRIORITY
OF FINDING THAT INDIVIDUAL

TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

Narrator: FREEBURG SEES PHOTOS
OF HIMSELF POSTED AROUND TOWN...

AND DECIDES
HE HAS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Williams:
WE GOT A FEW TIPS

BUT NOTHING
THAT WE COULD REALLY USE,

NOTHING THAT TURNED UP
ANY VALUABLE INFORMATION

AS TO HIS WHEREABOUTS.

Narrator:
HE REMEMBERS WHILE IN PRISON

HEARING ANOTHER INMATE SAY
THAT FINDING WORK ON A BOAT

IS THE BEST WAY
TO GET OUT OF THE U.S.

BECAUSE CREWS
ARE RARELY MONITORED.

FREEBURG HOPS ON A FISHING BOAT

AND HEADS NORTH
TO VANCOUVER, CANADA.

TWO WEEKS
AFTER KILLING JOSE RODRIGUEZ,

FREEBURG QUIETLY SLIPS
OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

Williams: I HONESTLY HAD NO IDEA
WHERE SCOTT FREEBURG HAD RUN TO.

WE NEVER GOT
ANY KIND OF SOLID LEAD

THAT WOULD PUT HIM ANYWHERE.

Narrator:
FREEBURG ARRIVES IN VANCOUVER.

IF HE'S GOING TO SURVIVE
ON THE RUN,

HE'S GOING TO NEED
A NEW IDENTITY.

Freeburg: PEOPLE ON THE RUN
ARE RESOURCEFUL

IF THEY WANT FAKE I.D.

Narrator: FREEBURG LEARNS ABOUT
A CRACK IN THE SYSTEM

THAT HE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

IN CANADA, THE ICBC,

THE INSURANCE CORPORATION
OF CANADA,

ISSUES DRIVER'S LICENSES.

YOU DON'T GO TO THE DMV,
AS YOU WOULD IN AMERICA.

IT USED TO BE EASY
TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE

BY GOING IN AND SAYING,
"HEY, I LOST MY LICENSE.

"LET ME GET A LICENSE
ISSUED TO ME.

HERE'S MY INFORMATION."

Narrator: THE TRICK WORKS.

FREEBURG STARTS HIS NEW LIFE
UNDER THE NAME MICHAEL KEARNS.

WHILE I WAS IN CANADA,

I USED FAKE I.D. TO WORK,
GET PAYCHECKS, CASH THEM,

AND LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

Narrator: FREEBURG KNOWS
THAT TO KEEP HIS TRAIL COLD,

HE NEEDS TO FOLLOW SOME RULES.

THE GOLDEN RULE IS
TELL NO ONE WHO YOU ARE

OR THAT YOU'RE ON THE RUN,
CONTACT NO ONE.

Narrator: HE ALSO KNOWS
THAT TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE,

HE'S GOING TO NEED TO DO
HONEST WORK

AND TRY NOT TO STAND OUT.

YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY,

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT
TO STAY ON WITH THAT COMPANY.

I WORKED JOB TO JOB SO PEOPLE
WOULDN'T GET TO KNOW ME.

EXCUSE ME.
YEAH?

HI.
HOW YOU DOING?

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1995,

HE WALKS
ONTO A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

I NEED SOME PEOPLE
WITH EXPERIENCE.

Freeburg: I WALKED UP
ON A JOBSITE AND SAID,

"HEY, I'D LIKE TO WORK.

"I SEE YOU BUILDING
THIS BED-AND-BREAKFAST.

I'M A REALLY GOOD WORKER.
YOU'LL APPRECIATE HAVING ME."

I GOT HIRED ON THE SPOT.

Narrator: FREEBURG EARNS
A REPUTATION AS A HARD WORKER

BUT IS CAREFUL NOT TO DISCLOSE
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HIS PAST.

Freeburg: I DROVE
HEAVY EQUIPMENT, BULLDOZERS.

I DID DEMOLITION WORK,
KNOCKING DOWN OLD MOTELS.

I BUILT A SHOPPING MALL.

I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING
TO ATTRACT ATTENTION,

AND I LIMITED ANYONE
KNOWING ANYTHING.

Narrator: OVER SEVERAL MONTHS,

FREEBURG AND HIS BOSS
BECOME FRIENDS.

IT'S A MISTAKE
THAT FREEBURG WOULD SOON REGRET.

WHILE AT WORK ONE DAY,

FREEBURG NOTICES
A PAIR OF OFFICERS

FROM THE ROYAL CANADIAN
MOUNTED POLICE

TALKING WITH HIS BOSS.

HE SHOWED UP ONE DAY
OUT OF NOWHERES,

AND I ASKED HIM
WHAT HE DID,

IF HE OPERATED
ANY OF THIS MACHINERY,

AND HE SAID
HE WORKED A BOBCAT.

MATTER OF FACT,
THAT'S HIM RIGHT OVER THERE.

THIS GUY
RIGHT OVER HERE?
YEAH.

THAT'S HIM.

Narrator: THEN THE OFFICERS
START TO HEAD HIS WAY.

AND I SEE ALL THESE COPS,

AND MY BOSS IS CALLING ME
OVER TO THEM.

HEY, MIKE!

Narrator: FREEBURG IS SURE

HIS BOSS HAS FIGURED OUT
WHO HE IS

AND HAS TURNED HIM IN.

I'M THINKING, "GEEZ, I'M DONE."

Narrator:
VANCOUVER, CANADA, JULY 1995.

SCOTT FREEBURG HAS BEEN
A FUGITIVE FOR EIGHT MONTHS.

HE'S FOUND WORK
ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE

AND, FOR THE MOST PART,
KEEPS TO HIMSELF.

BUT NOW TWO OFFICERS WITH THE
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE,

KNOWN AS THE RMPC,
ARE TALKING WITH HIS BOSS.

MATTER OF FACT,
THAT'S HIM RIGHT OVER THERE.

THIS GUY
RIGHT OVER HERE?
YEAH.

THAT'S HIM.

Narrator:
THEY APPROACH FREEBURG,

AND HE'S SURE
THIS IS THE END OF HIS RUN.

HEY, MIKE!

HEY.

THIS IS MIKE.

HE'S THE HARDEST WORKING GUY
ON MY CREW.

TO HIS RELIEF, FREEBURG LEARNS

THAT HIS BOSS IS GOOD FRIENDS
WITH ONE OF THE OFFICERS.

Freeburg:
HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT,

AND HE WOULD COME THERE DURING
LUNCH ON HIS WAY TO WORK.

WE WERE TWO BLOCKS UP
FROM THE RCMP BUILDING.

AND HERE I AM, WANTED.

Narrator:
FREEBURG IS DESPERATE

TO NOT DRAW ATTENTION
TO HIMSELF.

HE IS FRIENDLY BUT QUICKLY
GOES ABOUT HIS BUSINESS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RECOGNIZED,
SO IT'S "HELLO, SIR,"

"GOODBYE," "NICE TO SEE YOU,"
"I'M BUSY WORKING."

Narrator: FREEBURG CAN SEE

THAT HIS BOSS'S FRIENDS
ARE NOT SUSPICIOUS OF HIM.

IT LEADS FREEBURG TO FEEL
ALMOST INVINCIBLE.

HE'S GOT A GOOD JOB,
HE'S MAKING FRIENDS,

AND HE IS SURE HIS IDENTITY WILL
REMAIN A WELL-GUARDED SECRET.

Freeburg: I THOUGHT
I WAS BULLETPROOF AFTER A WHILE,

AND THE EXPRESSION IS
YOU HAVE PERFECT I.D.

YOU THINK
THAT YOU CAN'T GET CAUGHT.

Narrator: THIS NEW LIFE
IS A WORLD AWAY

FROM HIS MURDEROUS PAST.

[ GUNSHOT ]

BUT OVERCONFIDENCE
CAUSES HIM TO TAKE SOME RISKS

THAT ALMOST SPELL THE END
OF HIS FREEDOM.

WHILE SPEEDING THROUGH
A SMALL TOWN ONE AFTERNOON,

HE SUDDENLY SEES LIGHTS
IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Freeburg: I WAS GOING
TO A FRIEND OF MINE'S PLACE,

AND THEY HAD AN RCMP
SITTING IN SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY

SO YOU COULDN'T SEE HIM.

I WENT FLYING UP THROUGH THERE.

Narrator:
FREEBURG HAS ONE HAND ON HIS GUN

AS HE WATCHES THE COP
APPROACH HIS CAR.

Freeburg:
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RUN,

ANYTIME YOU ENCOUNTER
THE AUTHORITIES,

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CLOSE CALL.

Narrator: THE COP ASKS
FOR FREEBURG'S LICENSE.

HE SMILES AND HANDS THE OFFICER
THE FAKE I.D.

Freeburg: SOMEONE ON THE RUN
ALWAYS HAS TO BE POLITE,

AND IF YOU'RE POLITE,
YOU'RE RESPECTFUL TOWARD THEM,

YOU GET FARTHER.

OKAY, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK
WITH THIS.

Narrator: IF HIS TRUE IDENTITY
IS REVEALED,

HE MAY HAVE TO MAKE A BOLD MOVE

IN ORDER TO ESCAPE
BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

DEEP DOWN, I REALLY DIDN'T
WANT TO HAVE TO HURT HIM,

BUT I WASN'T GONNA
LET MYSELF BE ARRESTED.

Narrator:
MINUTES SEEM LIKE HOURS

WHILE THE OFFICER
RUNS HIS LICENSE.

THE COP COMES BACK,

AND FREEBURG BRACES
FOR THE WORST.

FREEBURG CREDITS HIS ABILITY
TO STAY COOL UNDER PRESSURE

AS ONE KEY TO KEEPING
HIS TRUE IDENTITY A SECRET.

THE COP LETS HIM GO.

IT'S BEEN 18 MONTHS SINCE
THE MURDER OF JOSE RODRIGUEZ.

FREEBURG CONTINUES TO WORK
IN CONSTRUCTION,

BUT TO EARN A FEW EXTRA BUCKS,
HE DRAWS ON A UNIQUE SKILL.

Freeburg:
WHEN I WAS ON THE RUN,

A LUCRATIVE WAY
OF MAKING MONEY WAS TATTOOING.

TATTOOING IS SOMETHING I LEARNED
IN THE FEDERAL PRISONS.

Narrator: GREG GARDINER
HAS BECOME FRIENDS WITH FREEBURG

WHILE WORKING TOGETHER.

HE PAYS FREEBURG
TO GIVE HIM A TATTOO.

PUT THESE LITTLE LADYBUGS
ON THERE.

LADYBUGS? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
A SPIDER, MAN.

YEAH, YEAH,
TOTALLY, TOTALLY.

Gardiner: UNBELIEVABLE MAN
WITH TATTOOING NEEDLES.

EITHER HAND.
AMBIDEXTROUS.

AND WHEN ONE GOT TIRED,

HE COULD DO IT
WITH THE OTHER ONE.

I GOT A TATTOO ON MY BACK
THAT HE DID IN SIX DAYS.

YEAH, THAT'S LOOKING PRETTY
GOOD, MAN.

Narrator:
GARDINER IS COMPLETELY FOOLED

BY FREEBURG'S
CALM AND FRIENDLY NATURE.

HE ACCEPTS HIM
AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.

THANK YOU
FOR WATCHING THE KIDS, MAN.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S TOTALLY COOL.

GOOD KIDS.
THEY REALLY LOVE YOU,
MAN.

HE BABYSAT MY KIDS,
AND I'M TALKING LITTLE PEOPLE.

AND THEY LOVED HIM.

HE WAS JUST A BIG TEDDY BEAR
TO THEM.

I NEVER SEEN HIM
REALLY PRESSURED ON ANYTHING.

HE WAS KIND OF LIKE
A DUCK'S BACK.

IT JUST WASHED RIGHT OFF.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WHAT AM I EVER GONNA DO?

YOU GUYS WANT TO GO PLAY
ON THE SWING?

YEAH!

Gardiner:
IF HE WAS THIS DEVIANT

THAT THEY'RE TELLING ME
THAT HE WAS,

TO HIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT

WOULD'VE BEEN
ONE HELL OF A CHORE.

HEY, ALL RIGHT!

Narrator: FREEBURG STRUGGLES
TO LIVE A CLEAN LIFE,

BUT AFTER TWO YEARS
IN CONSTRUCTION,

WORK DRIES UP.

FEBRUARY 1997.

FREEBURG FINDS HIMSELF RETURNING
TO HIS HARD CRIMINAL ROOTS.

SO, LET'S SEE.

HE GETS INVOLVED
WITH A VIETNAMESE CRIME GROUP.

THEY HIRE HIM
TO ACT AS THE MUSCLE.

THE GANG IS INVOLVED IN
COUNTERFEITING CANADIAN MONEY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR FREEBURG,

CANADIAN POLICE ALREADY HAVE
THE GANG UNDER SURVEILLANCE.

LEAD DETECTIVE JIM FISHER OF
THE VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT

WAS IN CHARGE
OF THE INVESTIGATION.

WE WERE INVESTIGATING
COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY

THAT WAS BEING CIRCULATED

THROUGH THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY
IN VANCOUVER,

AND PART OF THAT
INVOLVED SURVEILLANCE,

AND WE HAD SEEN THIS WHITE GUY
THAT WAS PART OF THE GROUP.

HE IS THE ONE THAT CONVINCES
PEOPLE TO COOPERATE

WHEN THEY'RE NOT SURE
IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

HE'S WILLING TO GET VIOLENT.

HE USUALLY HAS GOT

A PRETTY INTIMIDATING MANNER
ALL BY HIMSELF

WITHOUT ACTUALLY
HAVING TO DO ANYTHING TO YOU.

AND I SUGGEST
THAT YOU PAY.

HE'S A COMPLIANCE EXPERT.

Narrator:
ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 6th,

CANADIAN POLICE
ARE STAKING OUT THE GANG.

INSIDE, GANG MEMBERS
ARE TURNING UP THE HEAT

ON ONE OF
THEIR CRIMINAL CONTACTS.

WHERE'S MY MONEY?

I DON'T GOT IT.

COME ON, MAN,
TWO MORE WEEKS.

YOU'RE ALREADY LATE.

COME ON!

YOU PAY.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

YOU PAY!

YOU GOT ME?

YEAH,
YOU GONNA PAY UP!

NO! NO!
PLEASE!

NO!

Narrator: THE COPS SUDDENLY SEE
THE BEATEN MAN

STUMBLE FROM THE BUILDING.

HE IMMEDIATELY FLEES THE SCENE.

THE OFFICERS PURSUE THE MAN...

FREEZE!

...AND STOP HIM
JUST A BLOCK AWAY.

COME TO THE CAR, OKAY?
WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU.

HE SAID HE JUST WAS IN AN
APARTMENT WITH A BIG BLOND BIKER

AND THAT HE HAD BEEN BEATEN
WITH A GUN

AND HAD JUST ESCAPED BEFORE
THEY WERE GOING TO KILL HIM.

YEAH, 4th AND MILLER.

Narrator: POLICE RETURN THE MAN
TO THE SCENE AND WAIT OUTSIDE.

WHEN FREEBURG EXITS
THE BUILDING,

THE MAN IDENTIFIES HIM
AS THE MAN WHO BEAT HIM.

WE'RE ON HIM.
GET OUT OF THE CAR.

BEFORE THEY CAN GRAB HIM,
FREEBURG DRIVES OFF.

OFFICER FISHER
RADIOS FOR BACKUP,

AND THEY TAIL FREEBURG
TO ANOTHER LOCATION

JUST A FEW MILES AWAY.

CORPORAL GREG BOGGIS
ARRIVES ON THE SCENE TO HELP.

Boggis:
BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION,

IT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT TO GET IN CLOSE

WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.

Narrator: POLICE CAREFULLY
SURROUND THE BUILDING.

INSIDE, FREEBURG HAS NO IDEA
A TRAP IS BEING SET.

I WOULD'VE DONE ANYTHING,
INCLUDING SHOOTING SOMEONE,

TO AVOID BEING CAPTURED.

Narrator:
THEY KNOW FREEBURG IS ARMED,

AND THEY KNOW
THE MOMENT HE STEPS OUTSIDE,

IT WILL BE A BATTLE.

Narrator: FEBRUARY 1997.

AFTER THREE YEARS ON THE RUN,

SCOTT FREEBURG IS BEING AMBUSHED
BY VANCOUVER POLICE.

CORPORAL GREG BOGGIS KNOWS
THAT FREEBURG IS A DANGEROUS MAN

BUT HAS NO IDEA
HE'S AN AMERICAN FUGITIVE.

WE DECIDED
TO MORE CAREFULLY SET UP

TO TAKE HIM DOWN
AS HE EXITED THE BUILDING.

I WALKED DOWN SOME STAIRS,
TURNED THE CORNER.

HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!
POLICE!

[ ALL SHOUTING ]

GUNS.

THEY HAD BACKUP PEOPLE
WITH GUNS BEHIND THEM.

WE WILL SHOOT

IF YOU DO NOT PUT YOUR HANDS
BEHIND YOUR BACK!

IT WAS A NO-WIN SITUATION.

I WAS BADLY OUTDRAWN,
AND THAT WAS IT.

CUFF HIM.

THAT'S IT.

DO NOT TRY
ANY SUDDEN MOVES!

Boggis: AND I TOLD HIM
IN NO CERTAIN TERMS

ANY MOVE COULD WELL BE FATAL.

Narrator:
CORPORAL BOGGIS ASKS FREEBURG

IF HE'S CARRYING ANY WEAPONS.

FREEBURG ADMITS
HE HAS A GUN IN HIS BOOT.

Fisher: NOW, WE'RE EXPECTING,
LIKE, A .25 AUTO OR SOMETHING.

THIS WAS A .44 MAGNUM.
IT WAS A HUGE GUN.

THE NEXT SIZE COMES WITH WHEELS.
YOU PULL IT BEHIND YOU.

Boggis: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY
NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

THAT HAD WE ATTEMPTED
TO ARREST HIM FRONT ON

THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN
IN A GUN BATTLE.

ABSOLUTELY NONE.

Narrator: CANADIAN POLICE BRING
FREEBURG TO THE VANCOUVER JAIL.

WHILE FREEBURG GETS BOOKED,

FISHER GETS THE FEELING
HE'S NOT A FIRST-TIME OFFENDER.

HE HAD SUCH AN AIR
OF FAMILIARITY.

HE KNEW WHERE
THE BOOKING COUNTER WOULD BE.

HE KNEW HOW TO STAND ON A WALL

AND WAIT TO BE TOLD
TO COME TO THE BOOKING COUNTER.

HE KNEW
HOW TO HOLD HIS HANDS OUT

SO THAT I COULD GET
THE HANDCUFFS OFF MOST EASILY.

IT WAS OVERWHELMING.

Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED,

FREEBURG STICKS TO HIS ALIAS,
MICHAEL KEARNS.

DETECTIVE FISHER FEELS
THAT SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP.

AH, YOU'RE AN OLD PRO.

SEEN A LOT OF COP SHOWS.

Fisher: HE HAD A COUPLE
OF PIECES OF I.D. ON HIM

BUT NONE OF THEM
WERE REALLY SATISFACTORY.

HE HAD AN ADDRESS ON MOUNTAIN
HIGHWAY IN NORTH VANCOUVER,

WHICH IS A LEGITIMATE STREET,

BUT "HIGHWAY"
WAS SPELLED "HI-WAY,"

NOT THE NORMAL SPELLING.

Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS
STILL DON'T KNOW

THAT THEY'VE GOT
ONE OF THE FBI's MOST WANTED MEN

ON THEIR HANDS.

ALL THEY KNOW IS
THAT FREEBURG IS IN POSSESSION

OF AN UNREGISTERED .44 MAGNUM.

POLICE TAKE PHOTOS
OF FREEBURG'S TATTOOS.

ONE TATTOO
OF THE SEATTLE SPACE NEEDLE

HINTS AT THE SUSPECT'S
TRUE IDENTITY.

AND I ASKED HIM,
"ARE YOU FROM SEATTLE?

ARE YOU AN AMERICAN?"

HE SAID, "NO, NO,
I JUST VISITED THAT CITY,

AND I LIKE THAT BUILDING."

YOU'RE NOT FROM SEATTLE,
HUH?

NO, I'M FROM VANCOUVER.

WE WERE PLAYING
THE LITTLE WORD GAMES

AND TRIED TO GET HIM
TO REVEAL MORE ABOUT HIMSELF,

AND HE WAS BEING
VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS.

WE HAD BEEN TALKING
FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR

AND KIND OF BUILT UP
A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANIMOSITY.

HE WAS AVOIDING EVERYTHING
THAT I WAS ASKING HIM.

IT WAS A CHALLENGE.

ALL RIGHT.
GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

LET'S GO.

I DON'T BUY IT.

Narrator: FISHER PUTS
FREEBURG'S FINGERPRINTS

INTO THE DATABASE.

THE RESULTS
CONFIRM FREEBURG'S STORY.

HE HAS A CLEAN RECORD IN CANADA.

FREEBURG IS ONLY CHARGED WITH
CARRYING AN UNREGISTERED GUN.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH
TO HOLD HIM FOR LONG.

FISHER'S INSTINCTS TELL HIM
THERE'S MORE TO THIS SUSPECT.

HE'S SURE THAT FREEBURG
IS HIDING SOMETHING,

BUT THE SUSPECT
STILL WON'T COOPERATE.

INVESTIGATORS ARE CONVINCED
THAT THE SPACE NEEDLE TATTOO

IS A VITAL CLUE
TO HIS TRUE IDENTITY.

DETECTIVE FISHER RETURNS
TO INTERROGATE FREEBURG.

HE'S DESPERATE TO UNCOVER
THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS MAN.

Fisher: HE JUST KIND OF
SMILED AT ME, AND HE SAID,

"WELL, THAT'S YOUR JOB
TO FIND OUT WHO I AM.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU."

I TOLD HIM, "I'M GOING TO
FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE."

Narrator:
TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

FREEBURG WILL SOON MAKE BAIL
AND DISAPPEAR AGAIN.

Narrator:
VANCOUVER, CANADA.

SCOTT FREEBURG HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR THREE YEARS,

ACCUSED OF KILLING A MAN
IN WASHINGTON STATE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

NOW CANADIAN OFFICIALS
HAVE HIM IN CUSTODY

FOR CARRYING AN UNREGISTERED GUN

UNDER WHAT THEY SUSPECT IS
THE FALSE IDENTITY

OF MICHAEL KEARNS.

FREEBURG CLAIMS HE'S INNOCENT,

BUT INVESTIGATORS HAVE A HUNCH.

THEY RUN HIS PRINTS

IN THE UNITED STATES
CRIMINAL DATABASE.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

I THINK EVERY PHONE WAS RINGING
IN THE OFFICE POSSIBLE

FROM AMERICAN AUTHORITIES.

THEY WERE THRILLED.

Narrator:
CANADIANS ARE TOLD

THE MAN THEY CAUGHT
IS REALLY SCOTT ALAN FREEBURG,

ONE OF THE MOST WANTED MEN
IN AMERICA.

WHEN THEY ARRESTED ME,

THEY RAN A FRONT-PAGE PICTURE
OF ME IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE,

THE BIGGEST NEWSPAPER
IN THE CITY.

Narrator: DETECTIVE FISHER
AND CORPORAL BOGGIS

PAY FREEBURG A VISIT.

YOU'RE A WANTED MAN
BACK IN THE STATES.

Boggis: AND HE LOOKED AT ME,
AND HE SAID,

"SO, HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO CATCH A BIG FISH?"

AND I SAID, "IF THAT'S WHAT
YOU WANT TO CALL YOURSELF,

I GUESS IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD."

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE TO SHOOT
CORPORAL BOGGIS,

AND HE TURNED OUT TO BE
A PRETTY DECENT GUY

THAT SPOKE WELL OF ME.

Narrator: FREEBURG FEARS
GOING BACK TO THE U.S.

HE BELIEVES
HE'LL GET THE DEATH PENALTY.

Fisher:
I CORRECTED HIM.

I SAID,
"THERE'S NO DEATH PENALTY

IN WASHINGTON STATE ANYMORE."

HE SAYS,
"I'M A THREE-STRIKE CANDIDATE.

"I'VE GOT
THE SLOW DEATH PENALTY.

I'M NEVER GETTING OUT OF JAIL
AGAIN IN MY LIFE."

Narrator: U.S. OFFICIALS
TELL THEIR NORTHERN COUNTERPARTS

ABOUT FREEBURG'S HISTORY
OF PRISON ESCAPE.

THE CANADIAN POLICE
TAKE EXTRA MEASURES

TO KEEP HIM LOCKED UP.

AFTER TALKING TO MR. FREEBURG,
LEARNING ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND,

I CAME TO SOME CONCLUSIONS
ABOUT HIM.

HE'S A CHARMER,
BUT HE'S CONNIVING.

HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AN EDGE.

Narrator: OFFICIALS MOVE
FREEBURG TO A PRISON

20 MINUTES
FROM THE U.S. BORDER.

THE SINGLE CELL
HAS ITS OWN WING IN THE PRISON.

ONLY PERSONNEL WITH 10 OR MORE
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

ARE ALLOWED TO GUARD
THE CRIMINAL.

A FEW DAYS LATER,

THE CANADIAN POLICE HAND
FREEBURG OVER TO THE AMERICANS.

Freeburg:
IT WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

THEY CLEARED DURING RUSH HOUR
A WHOLE LANE

AND HAD A CONTINGENCY
OF U.S. MARSHALS

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WAITING,

AS A GUNSHIP HELICOPTER
HOVERED OVER THE BORDER.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE RCMP VAN UNLOADED ME...

...AND GUNS WERE EVERYWHERE,
DRAWN.

IT WAS QUITE A SHOW
FOR PEOPLE ON THE BORDER.

Narrator: THEY TAKE EXTRA
PRECAUTIONS DURING THE HAND-OFF

TO MAKE SURE FREEBURG DOESN'T
TRY TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT.

IN FEBRUARY 1999,

FREEBURG GOES ON TRIAL FOR
THE MURDER OF JOSE RODRIGUEZ.

FREEBURG PLEADS NOT GUILTY.

IN HIS DEFENSE,

HE CLAIMS THAT RODRIGUEZ
ATTACKED HIM FIRST

AND THAT FREEBURG
WAS FORCED TO RETALIATE

IN ORDER TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

JOSE PISTOL-WHIPPED ME
FROM BEHIND,

CUT MY EAR OFF,
CRACKED MY HEAD OPEN.

I TOOK THE GUN FROM HIM,
KILLED HIM WITH HIS OWN GUN.

[ GUNSHOT ]

SELF-DEFENSE.

FREEBURG'S INJURY
SUPPORTS HIS CLAIM.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
MARK LARSON DISAGREES

WITH FREEBURG'S INTERPRETATION
OF THE CRIME.

IF HE WENT THERE THAT NIGHT TO
ENTER THIS APARTMENT UNLAWFULLY

OR TO COMMIT A ROBBERY INSIDE,

UNDER THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON --

AND I THINK THE LAW
IN ALL 50 STATES --

REALLY, YOUR RIGHT
TO CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE

THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT ATTACK YOU
UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES

IS LOST.

YOU MOVE, YOU DIE.

Narrator:
FREEBURG IS SENTENCED

TO MANDATORY LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT PAROLE.

LARSON BELIEVES THE PUNISHMENT
MORE THAN FITS THE CRIME.

HE HAD A LONG AND A SERIOUS
AND A VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY

BEFORE THIS INCIDENT

AT THE TIME
THAT HE WAS APPREHENDED.

HE WAS CLEARLY INVOLVED
IN A CRIMINAL LIFESTYLE,

LIVING IN CANADA,
ARMED WITH A .45 AUTOMATIC.

SCOTT FREEBURG WAS, IN MY MIND,

THE KIND OF GUY
WHO COULD BE LIKED BY ANYONE.

BUT YET THERE'S
THAT KIND OF DEMON

LURKING IN THE SHADOWS WITH HIM

THAT WHEN HE BEFRIENDS YOU,

HE COULD ALSO BE THE SAME GUY

WHO COULD STRIKE OUT
AT ANY MOMENT FOR ANY REASON.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS SAY FREEBURG
IS EXACTLY WHERE HE BELONGS.

HE IS AND WAS

AND, I BELIEVE, ALWAYS WILL BE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

HE'S INTELLIGENT,
BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON,

HE CHOSE TO GET INVOLVED
IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

AT A FAIRLY YOUNG AGE

AND THEN FROM THEN ON

BECAME A MORE AND MORE
SUCCESSFUL AND HARDENED CRIMINAL

AND A DANGEROUS PERSON.

Narrator:
FREEBURG CONTINUES TO APPEAL.

HE BELIEVES HE'S A VICTIM
OF A FLAWED JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Freeburg: I SPEND MOST OF
MY WEEK IN A LAW LIBRARY HERE,

RESEARCHING, TRYING
TO LEGALLY FIGHT THE WRONGS

THAT ARE ATROCIOUS
IN WASHINGTON STATE.

I'M NEVER
GONNA GIVE UP APPEALING.

Narrator: FREEBURG IS LOCKED UP

AT THE CLALLAM BAY
CORRECTIONS CENTER

IN WASHINGTON STATE.

HE WILL BE THERE
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.