I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 4 - Got a Video Rental Store - full transcript

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator: IN 1975, MICHAEL BROWN
IS A CONVICTED MURDERER.

I BELIEVE HE'S A SOCIOPATH.
I BELIEVE HE HAS NO CONSCIENCE.

Narrator:
15 YEARS LATER,

HE ESCAPES
FROM AN OKLAHOMA PRISON.

Brown:
I JUST WANTED JUST TO KNOW

WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO BE FREE FOR A WHILE.

Narrator: HE AND HIS WIFE
ASSUME NEW IDENTITIES

AND LEAD A DOUBLE LIFE.

HE'S THE KIND OF GUY
THAT, REALLY,

YOU'D INVITE OVER FOR DINNER.



Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS WILL NOT REST

UNTIL THIS FUGITIVE
IS BACK BEHIND BARS.

POLICE!

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

11:00 P.M.

THREE TEENAGERS ARRIVE

AT A TULSA, OKLAHOMA,
INSURANCE COMPANY.

IT'S THEIR LATEST TARGET

IN A STRING
OF NEIGHBORHOOD BURGLARIES.

18-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BROWN
IS THE RINGLEADER.

BROWN HEADS TO THE BACK OF THE
BUILDING WITH HIS ACCOMPLICE,

15-YEAR-OLD DENNIS WOODWARD.



17-YEAR-OLD DELORES STRANGE

WAITS OUTSIDE
WITH THE GETAWAY CAR.

DENNIS AND I
WENT TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING

AND BROKE OUT A WINDOW...

...AND CRAWLED IN THROUGH THAT.

AND WE WERE INSIDE,

JUST GOING THROUGH DESKS,
LOOKING FOR MONEY.

Narrator: AS THE TWO TEENAGERS
RANSACK THE OFFICE,

BUSINESSMAN RICHARD SULLIVAN
PULLS INTO THE PARKING LOT

WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

HE'S JUST RETURNED
FROM A BUSINESS TRIP.

AT THE LAST MINUTE,

HE DECIDES TO STOP BY THE OFFICE
TO PICK UP A FILE.

COME ON. LET'S JUST
GET OUT OF HERE, OKAY?

QUIET, DENNIS.
WE'RE ALREADY IN HERE.

Narrator:
SULLIVAN WALKS INTO HIS OFFICE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Brown: JUST OUT OF THE BLUE,
THIS GUY JUST WALKS IN ON US.

WE NEVER HEARD HIM ENTER,
NEVER HEARD HIM COME IN.

JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN,

WE WERE, ALL THREE,
UPON EACH OTHER, FACE-TO-FACE.

GIVE ME YOUR WALLET.

Narrator: WOODWARD PULLS OUT
A .22-CALIBER PISTOL.

GIVE ME YOUR WALLET!

GET IT OUT!

IT'S OKAY.

JUST GIVE HIM
YOUR WALLET.

AND, UH...

Narrator:
WHEN HE STARTS TO PANIC,
BROWN QUICKLY TAKES CHARGE.

I SAID TURN AROUND!

NOW WALK OVER
TO THE WALL.

[ THUD ]

WHAT DID YOU DO?!

Brown:
FEAR IS THE ONLY THING THAT
I CAN EVEN POSSIBLY THINK OF

AS MY MOTIVE
FOR PICKING THE GUN UP

AND JUST POINTING IT AT THE MAN

AND PULLING THE TRIGGER,
YOU KNOW?

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
SULLIVAN'S WIFE AND DAUGHTER

ARE WAITING IN THE CAR
WHEN THEY HEAR A LOUD BLAST.

[ GUNSHOT ]

I JUST HEARD A NOISE.

THEY FIND A SECURITY GUARD

AND ASK HIM
TO CHECK ON HER HUSBAND.

DENNIS, LET'S GO.
COME ON.

THE TWO BOYS
RUSH FROM THE SCENE.

Brown:
I RAN, YOU KNOW?

I DON'T REMEMBER RUNNING BACK
THROUGH THE BUILDING.

I DON'T REMEMBER GOING OUT
THROUGH THE WINDOW WE CAME IN,

BUT THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED,

AND I RAN AND WENT HOME
TO MY MOM'S HOUSE.

THEY WALKED AWAY WITH $30.
THEY KILLED A MAN FOR 30 BUCKS.

Narrator: THE SECURITY GUARD
NOTICES THE OPEN WINDOW.

HE SEES A CRUMPLED BODY
LYING ON THE FLOOR.

SIR? YOU ALL RIGHT?

HEY!

Narrator:
AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION,

HE DELIVERS THE NEWS TO
MRS. SULLIVAN AND HER DAUGHTER.

Sasser: THE VICTIM WAS SHOT
DEAD BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS,

IN THE BACK.

NO EXIT WOUND.

A .22-CALIBER PISTOL, AUTOMATIC.

SO IT WAS QUITE APPARENT
THAT HE WAS SIMPLY EXECUTED.

Narrator:
DETECTIVE CHARLES SASSER
OF THE TULSA POLICE DEPARTMENT

HAS INVESTIGATED
DOZENS OF HOMICIDE CASES.

HE ARRIVES
ON THE SCENE THE NEXT MORNING.

Sasser: WHEN YOU'RE WORKING
A HOMICIDE CASE,

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL ANGLES.

NOW, LOOKING AT THE SCENE,
I SAY, "BURGLARY."

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: SASSER
EXAMINES THE EVIDENCE CLOSELY.

THE CRIME SCENE HINTS THAT THE
JOB WAS CARRIED OUT BY AMATEURS.

IF YOU'RE
A PROFESSIONAL BURGLAR,

YOU'RE GONNA BREAK IN
SOMEBODY WHO HAS FURS.

YOU'RE GONNA BREAK IN
SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT JEWELS.

YOU'RE GONNA BREAK SOMEPLACE
THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOME MONEY.

INSURANCE COMPANIES
DON'T KEEP MONEY.

Narrator:
WITH NO EYEWITNESSES,

SASSER HAS A GRUELING
INVESTIGATION AHEAD OF HIM.

MEANWHILE, MICHAEL BROWN

GOES ON WITH LIFE
AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

Brown: AFTER THAT HAPPENED,
I DIDN'T SEE DENNIS OR DELORES.

I AVOIDED THEM

MOSTLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IT WITH NOBODY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO REMEMBER IT.
I DIDN'T WANT IT BROUGHT UP.

AND MAYBE THEY WERE
TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM ME

AS MUCH AS I WAS TRYING
TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

I AM SORRY TO SAY THIS,
BUT IT IS THE TRUTH.

I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT.

IT WAS COMPLETELY
OUT OF MY MIND BY THEN.

Narrator: DETECTIVE SASSER

BEGINS LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE
SUSPECTS IN THE AREA.

WHAT YOU DO IS WORK SNITCHES,
INFORMANTS,

AND MOST OF YOUR INFORMANTS
ARE PETTY THIEVES.

AND YOU KEEP A WHOLE LITTLE
STAFF OF THEM AROUND.

NAMES START POPPING UP

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE
ASSOCIATED WITH A MURDER.

Narrator:
AT THE LOCAL REC CENTER,

THEY QUESTION ANYONE WHO MIGHT
HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION

ON THE RECENT
NEIGHBORHOOD BURGLARIES.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

12 DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,

SASSER GETS A PROMISING TIP
FROM A COUPLE OF INFORMANTS.

MIKE BROWN
SAID HE DID SOMETHING.

Sasser: THEY SAID A GUY NAMED
MIKE AND A GUY NAMED DENNIS

WERE PULLING
A BUNCH OF THESE BURGLARIES.

SO, I RUN THEM
THROUGH THE POLICE FILES,

AND THEY'RE PETTY BURGLARS.

THEY'VE BEEN BUSTED.

Narrator:
IT TURNS OUT THAT BROWN
AND WOODWARD AREN'T NEW AT THIS.

SASSER KNOWS
ONE OF THE SUSPECTS --

DENNIS WOODWARD.

THESE GUYS
ARE YOUR AGE?

DENNY RAY WOODWARD, I HAD KNOWN
HIM SINCE HE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,

SASSER WAITS FOR WOODWARD
TO SHOW UP AT THE REC CENTER.

HE'S GOT ONE PROBLEM.

SASSER NEEDS INFORMATION,

BUT WOODWARD CAN'T BE QUESTIONED
WITHOUT A LAWYER PRESENT.

BUT SASSER'S
GOT A TRICK UP HIS SLEEVE.

Sasser:
WE'RE GONNA WAIT TILL DENNY
COMES OUT OF THE REC CENTER,

WAIT TILL
HE'S CROSSING THE STREET,

AND WE'RE GONNA COME DOWN ON HIM
LIKE GANGBUSTERS.

WE'RE GONNA SCARE
THE HOLY LIVING HELL OUT OF HIM.

ON THE GROUND!
ON THE GROUND!

GET DOWN!

GET DOWN, BUDDY.
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE.

I-I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!

Narrator: AFTER THROWING CUFFS
ON WOODWARD,

SASSER STARTS TO TOY WITH HIM.

Woodward:
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

Sasser: AND I SAID, "I DON'T
WANT TO QUESTION YOU, DENNY.

"I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU.

"I HAVE ALL THE EVIDENCE.
I KNOW YOU'RE GUILTY OF MURDER.

YOU'RE GOING TO THE SEAT, KID."

Narrator: SASSER GETS WOODWARD
TO DO EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND
YOUR RIGHTS?

Sasser: HE'S JUMPING
UP AND DOWN. HE'S HYPER.

HE'S JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
"MR. SASSER, MR. SASSER!"

"DENNY, SHUT UP.
I CAN'T TALK TO YOU."

AND DENNY RAY SAID,
"MR. SASSER, I DIDN'T DO IT!

MIKE BROWN DID IT! HE DID IT!
I WAS THERE! I SAW HIM!"

I DIDN'T KNOW
HE WAS GONNA KILL ANYBODY.

HE PULLED OUT A GUN,
AND HE SHOT THE GUY.

I DIDN'T KNOW, OKAY?

I'VE GOT HIM.

THERE'S NO WAY
THAT HE CAN BACK OUT NOW.

THAT'S A SPONTANEOUS CONFESSION,

AND I HAD TOLD HIM A NUMBER OF
TIMES NOT TO TALK TO ME.

AND SO THAT LED TO A STATEMENT.

Narrator:
SASSER GETS ANOTHER BREAK.

THE STRESS
GETS TO DELORES STRANGE.

SHE COMES INTO THE POLICE
STATION AND CONFESSES.

IT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD LOST
10, 15 POUNDS THAT MONTH.

I MEAN, SHE WAS IN BAD SHAPE,

AND HER CONSCIENCE
WAS REALLY BOTHERING HER.

Narrator: WITH WOODWARD
AND STRANGE IN CUSTODY,

DETECTIVE SASSER'S NEXT STEP
IS TO HUNT DOWN MICHAEL BROWN,

THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND
OF THE CRIME.

SASSER KNOWS HE'S DEALING
WITH A COLD-BLOODED MURDERER.

THE INTERESTING THING,
WHAT DELORES TOLD US THAT NIGHT,

AFTER THE SHOOTING,
MICHAEL BROWN SAYS,

"DELORES, DELORES,
I JUST SHOT A MAN!

I JUST SHOT HIM!"

HE SAYS,
"IF I'D HAVE HAD ANOTHER BULLET,

I'D HAVE SHOT HIS EYES OUT."

Narrator: ON MAY 31st,
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER,

SASSER FINALLY
TRACKS DOWN MICHAEL BROWN

AT HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE.

WE'LL GO REAL EARLY
IN THE MORNING,

TRY TO SURPRISE THIS KID
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KILL HIM.

MOTHER COMES TO THE DOOR, AND
I JUST PUSH HER OUT OF THE WAY.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED
IN MY HOUSE!

MS. BROWN, GO INSIDE.
GO INSIDE.

I GO RIGHT ON THROUGH,

AND SHE'S GRABBING AT ME
AND HITTING AT ME,

THOSE KINDS OF THING,

AND SHE'S CALLING ME
EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.

YOU GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!

GET HER OFF!
GET HER OFF ME!

GET BACK!

LET ME --

Narrator: AS SASSER
AND HIS PARTNER RUSH INSIDE,

BROWN QUIETLY WAITS IN HIS ROOM.

HE WON'T GO DOWN
WITHOUT A FIGHT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator:
TWO WEEKS AFTER MURDERING A MAN
IN COLD BLOOD...

WHAT DID YOU DO?!

...18-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BROWN
IS ON THE RUN.

AUTHORITIES
HAVE FINALLY TRACKED HIM DOWN

AND ARE ABOUT TO ARREST HIM.

DETECTIVE SASSER AND HIS PARTNER

HEAD STRAIGHT
FOR BROWN'S BEDROOM.

Sasser:
I KICKED THE BEDROOM DOOR IN.

JUST RAMMED THE SHOTGUN UP
RIGHT IN HIS FACE, AND I SAID,

"DON'T MOVE
OR YOU'RE A DEAD MAN."

DON'T MOVE
OR YOU'RE DEAD.

Narrator:
AS SASSER POINTS HIS SHOTGUN,

HE LOOKS BROWN
SQUARE IN THE EYES.

Sasser:
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT MIKE

IS HE HAD THESE, LIKE,
GRAY-BLUE EYES.

NO CHANGE OF EXPRESSION
WHATSOEVER.

I MEAN,
IT'S LIKE HE'S ALMOST EMPTY.

GET UP!
HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK!

Brown: IT WAS LIKE I JUST FROZE,
YOU KNOW?

JUST...

AND ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS,
YOU KNOW,

"I HOPE THEY DON'T ARREST ME.

I HOPE THEY DON'T FIND OUT
THAT I DID IT."

YOU CAN'T
DO THIS TO US!

DON'T TAKE
MY BABY AWAY!

Narrator:
INSIDE THE INTERROGATION ROOM,

SASSER KNOWS THAT BROWN
WON'T BREAK DOWN EASILY.

Sasser:
HE'S NOT GONNA TELL ME A WORD.

I WOULD CALL HIM A SOCIOPATH.

NO CONSCIENCE.

I WAS A COP 14 YEARS.

I'VE ARRESTED
HUNDREDS OF KILLERS.

BUT THIS 18-YEAR-OLD BOY

WAS THE COLDEST...

EMPTIEST...

KID I'D EVER RUN ACROSS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK.
I UNDERSTAND.

WELL, I HAVE SOMEBODY HERE

WHO MIGHT WANT
TO SAY SOMETHING TO YOU.

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,

SASSER USES DENNIS WOODWARD
TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

HE DECIDES TO PIT THE
TWO FRIENDS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

Sasser:
I BRING DENNY RAY TO THE DOOR.

I WANT THEM
TO CONFRONT EACH OTHER,

AND DENNY RAY SAYS,
"YOU KILLED HIM, MIKE."

MAN, I ALREADY
TOLD THEM EVERYTHING, OKAY?

JUST TELL THEM,
ALL RIGHT?

JUST TELL THEM
THAT YOU KILLED HIM.

THANK YOU, DENNIS.

Brown:
YOU GROW UP AROUND PEOPLE,

AND YOU'RE ALWAYS
TELLING EACH OTHER,

"IF WE GET CAUGHT,
WE DON'T SAY A WORD."

I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST THE CODE.
YOU DIDN'T SAY NOTHING.

AND ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS...

I JUST DESPISED HIM, YOU KNOW?

I FELT LIKE HE WAS WEAK.

MR. BROWN...

Narrator:
MICHAEL BROWN GOES ON TRIAL
FOR MURDER IN OCTOBER 1975.

Judge: MURDER IS
A CAPITAL OFFENSE.

A JURY FINDS HIM GUILTY
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

HIS SENTENCE --
THE DEATH PENALTY.

I SENTENCE YOU
TO DEATH BY ELECTROCUTION.

Sasser: THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL,
JUST NO EMOTION WHATSOEVER.

ONCE IN A WHILE, HE WOULD GLARE
AT DENNY OR GLARE AT DELORES

'CAUSE
THEY WERE COPPING ON HIM.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT,
THERE WAS NOTHING.

Narrator: BROWN BARELY SURVIVES
HIS FIRST YEAR ON DEATH ROW.

Man: DOOR 3!

I SPENT THE FIRST YEAR JUST
FEELING TOTALLY SORRY FOR ME.

LIFE IN THAT CELL --
IT WAS BEYOND MONOTONOUS.

IT WAS JUST
THE MOST BORING SITUATION

YOU COULD EVER FIND YOURSELF IN,
WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO.

LETTER.

Narrator:
THEN, A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

ON JULY 6, 1976,

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECLARES

THAT THE DEATH PENALTY
IN OKLAHOMA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

36 PRISONERS HAVE THEIR
SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE.

MICHAEL BROWN IS ONE OF THEM.

HE MUST SERVE 15 YEARS
BEFORE HE'S ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.

ALTHOUGH THE FUTURE LOOKS DIM,

BROWN TRIES TO MAKE PRISON LIFE
MORE BEARABLE.

HE SPENDS THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS

LAYING LOW
AND STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE.

Brown: ALL I WANTED TO DO
WAS GET A JOB SO I COULD BE OUT,

MOVING AROUND EVERY DAY,
INSTEAD OF BEING LOCKED DOWN.

LETTER.

JANUARY 1984.

BROWN RECEIVES
AN UNEXPECTED LETTER.

IT'S FROM
A WOMAN NAMED DONNA MOSES,

A LOCAL CHURCHGOER
WHO CORRESPONDS WITH INMATES.

Brown:
THE LETTER FROM DONNA --

IT JUST WAS SOMETHING
I NEEDED AT THAT TIME.

I WAS JUST BECOMING
SO FULL OF HATE AGAIN.

AND I WROTE HER BACK, AND
WE STARTED EXCHANGING LETTERS,

AND EVENTUALLY I ASKED HER

IF SHE WANTED TO
COME UP AND VISIT ME.

Narrator:
BEFORE LONG, DONNA BEGINS
VISITING BROWN EVERY WEEKEND.

THEY QUICKLY FALL IN LOVE.

AND ON AUGUST 31, 1984,

THEY GET MARRIED

AT THE HOWARD McLEOD
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

Brown:
I THOUGHT THE WORLD OF HER.
SHE WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN MY LIFE
HAS EVER LOVED ME THAT MUCH

OR SHOWN THAT TO ME LIKE THAT.

BUT SHE WAS A VERY EASY PERSON
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH.

Narrator: BROWN CAN'T BEAR
TO BE APART FROM HIS NEW BRIDE.

HE SOON COMES UP WITH A PLAN.

FIRST, HE ASKS FOR A TRANSFER
TO A MINIMUM-SECURITY WORK CAMP.

ON NOVEMBER 20, 1984,

BROWN IS MOVED
TO JESS DUNN CORRECTIONAL CENTER

IN TAFT, OKLAHOMA,
ONE HOUR NORTH.

Brown: THERE WAS A
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AT THE DESK

THAT WAS CHECKING PEOPLE IN
AND CHECKING PEOPLE OUT.

THEY HAD OPEN-YARD AREAS.

THERE WAS NO ONE
STANDING OVER YOU ALL THE TIME.

Narrator:
AT THE NEW PRISON,

BROWN IS REUNITED WITH
AN OLD FRIEND FROM DEATH ROW,

WILLIE DAVIS.

Brown: WILLIE WAS IN PRISON FOR
STABBING HIS LANDLORD TO DEATH.

I HAD A VERY LOYAL BOND
TO WILLIE.

WE'D GONE THROUGH DEATH ROW
TOGETHER.

Narrator: TOGETHER,
THEY TEAM UP TO HATCH A PLAN --

A PLAN TO BREAK OUT OF PRISON.

I JUST WANTED
SIX MONTHS OF FREEDOM.

THAT WAS ALL I WANTED --

JUST TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO BE FREE FOR A WHILE.

Narrator:
BROWN RECALLS ONE OF THE BOOKS
HE READ WHILE ON DEATH ROW.

HE STUDIES IT FEVERISHLY.

ONE OF THE BOOKS I READ
WHILE I WAS ON DEATH ROW

WAS CALLED "THE PAPER TRIP,"

AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
AN ILLEGAL BOOK IN PRISON.

IT WAS A MANUAL.

IT WENT INTO PRETTY GOOD,
IN-DEPTH DETAIL

ON HOW TO TOTALLY ESTABLISH
A NEW I.D. THAT WAS UNTRACEABLE.

Narrator:
ON DECEMBER 4, 1984,

AFTER SETTLING IN AT
THE NEW PRISON FOR JUST 13 DAYS,

BROWN AND DAVIS
ARE READY TO ESCAPE.

THEY HATCH A PLAN

TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON-WORK DUTY
ON A DAIRY FARM.

THERE WAS A COUNT AT 6:00
IN OKLAHOMA IN THE WINTERTIME.

AFTER THEY HAD THE 6:00 COUNT,
THAT'S USUALLY WHEN THE FARMERS,

THE DAIRY-FARMER PEOPLE,
WOULD GO OUT.

Narrator:
BROWN AND DAVIS BLEND IN WITH
THE OTHER INMATES ON WORK DUTY.

THEN THEY SNEAK AWAY.

THEY HEAD STRAIGHT FOR
A PREARRANGED MEETING SPOT,

WHERE DONNA
WILL BE WAITING FOR THEM.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE,
DONNA IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

WELL, WHERE IS SHE?
SHE'LL BE HERE.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID
SHE WAS GONNA BE HERE!
SHE'LL BE RIGHT HERE.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: FINALLY, THEY SPOT
A TRUCK DRIVING TOWARDS THEM.

Brown: WELL, THERE WAS
A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

I WAS JUST ON EDGE,
VERY MUCH ON EDGE,

BUT I WAS VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED
TO BE WITH MY WIFE.

HEY, BABE.
[ SMOOCHES ]

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.

Narrator:
THE TRIO DRIVES 100 MILES EAST
TO FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS,

WHERE DONNA HAS
AN APARTMENT READY FOR THEM.

BROWN KNOWS
THAT THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

THEY'VE HAD A DECENT HEAD START.

8:00 P.M.
WOULD'VE BEEN THE NEXT COUNT,

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD'VE
DISCOVERED THAT WE WERE MISSING.

Narrator:
BACK AT THE PRISON,

AUTHORITIES REALIZE THAT
BROWN AND DAVIS HAVE ESCAPED.

THIS IS 21.
WE GOT TWO MISSING.

THEY NOTIFY THE FBI
ABOUT THE MISSING FUGITIVES.

FBI SPECIAL AGENT ERIC PARIS
INVESTIGATES THE CASE.

Paris:
WE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION

AND STARTED CONTACTING

FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE BROWNS
IN OKLAHOMA.

Narrator: AUTHORITIES
QUESTION DONNA'S BROTHER.

HE TELLS THE COPS
THAT DONNA DISAPPEARED DAYS AGO

AND THAT HE'S ALREADY FILED
A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT.

POLICE FEAR FOR DONNA'S LIFE.

Paris:
TRAGICALLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE

THAT ASSIST FUGITIVES
IN ESCAPING,

ONLY LATER TO BE MURDERED
WHEN THEY'RE NO LONGER OF USE.

DONNA LOOKS LIKE A VICTIM HERE.

HE'S A CONVICTED MURDERER.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW
EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.

MY CONCERN WAS THAT PROBABLY
HE HAD DONE AWAY WITH HER.

IT WAS VERY LIKELY.

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

BROWN, DONNA, AND DAVIS
DECIDE TO STAY ON THE MOVE.

THEY DRIVE
FROM ARKANSAS TO PARIS, TEXAS.

AS THEY SETTLE DOWN,

BROWN SLOWLY ADJUSTS TO LIFE
OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS.

I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING ON A BED
WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT

'CAUSE I'D SPENT SO MANY YEARS

SLEEPING ON CONCRETE
AND METAL BUNKS.

THAT FIRST NIGHT,
I DON'T THINK I SLEPT AT ALL.

I WAS JUST SO KEYED UP.
I WAS AFRAID.

EVERY SIREN I HEARD,
EVERY CAR I HEARD OUTSIDE,

I JUST KNEW
THEY WERE COMING TO GET ME.

I HAD ONE SHOT
AND ONE SHOT ONLY.

Narrator:
A WEEK AFTER THE ESCAPE,

THE OKLAHOMA POLICE
GET A SOLID LEAD.

THEY DISCOVER THAT THE TRIO
MIGHT BE HIDING OUT IN TEXAS.

THEY HAD DEVELOPED INFORMATION
THAT AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING,

DONNA BROWN MAY BE RESIDING
WITH TWO MALES.

Narrator: THE POLICE
RUSH TO THE APARTMENT BUILDING.

THAT'S THE PERP WOMAN.
THAT'S THE PERP GUY.

EVERYBODY IS CONSIDERED
ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

OUTSIDE,
THEY COME UP WITH A PLAN.

Man:
...PEOPLE THIS WAY.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES KNOW

THEY'RE JUST MOMENTS AWAY
FROM CATCHING THEIR MAN.

THEY WAIT FOR THE SIGNAL.

POLICE!

Narrator:
DECEMBER 10, 1984.

PARIS, TEXAS.

CONVICTED MURDERER MICHAEL BROWN

HAS JUST ESCAPED
FROM AN OKLAHOMA PRISON.

AFTER A PROMISING TIP,

OFFICERS KNOW EXACTLY
WHERE BROWN HAS BEEN HIDING OUT

WITH HIS WIFE, DONNA,
AND FELLOW INMATE WILLIE DAVIS.

POLICE PREPARE
TO RAID THE APARTMENT.

POLICE!

Paris: BY THEN, THE APARTMENT
HAD ALREADY BEEN VACATED.

THEY MISSED DONNA
AND HER TWO MALE COMPANIONS

BY ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

THE ROOM'S EMPTY.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE.

Narrator: BY THAT TIME,

THE THREESOME
IS ALREADY ON THEIR WAY

TO LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY,
OVER 700 MILES AWAY.

Brown: I FIGURED OUR BEST BET
WOULD BE TO FIND A CITY

THAT CONSISTS OF LIKE 100,000
TO 150,000 PEOPLE,

'CAUSE IT WASN'T TOO BIG
TO WHERE YOU GET LOST,

BUT IT WAS BIG ENOUGH
TO HIDE YOU IN.

Narrator: AS SOON
AS THEY ARRIVE IN LEXINGTON,

THEY ESTABLISH FAKE IDENTITIES.

Brown:
WE WENT TO THE GRAVEYARD,

WHERE YOU GO AND FIND SOMEONE

THAT WAS BORN ABOUT
THE SAME TIME THAT YOU WERE,

AND YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY
AND GET ON THE OLD NEWSPAPERS,

AND IT'D TELL YOU
THE NAME OF THE PARENTS

AND THE HOSPITAL
THEY WERE BORN AT.

YOU JUST SEND THEM
A MONEY ORDER FOR $10,

AND THEY'D SEND YOU BACK
A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

Narrator: AFTER SECURING
BIRTH CERTIFICATES,

THEY NEED JUST
ONE OTHER FORM OF I.D.

TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS.

BROWN AND DONNA
COME UP WITH A PERFECT PLAN.

THEY'LL MARRY AGAIN
UNDER THEIR NEW NAMES

AND GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE.

Brown: SO, MY WIFE AND I,

WE WENT AND GOT MARRIED
WITH OUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES

AND TOOK
THOSE TWO PIECES OF I.D.

TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE

AND WENT IN AND APPLIED
FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

ONCE THAT CAME IN THE MAIL,

TOOK THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
AND THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE

AND GOT A PICTURE I.D. MADE UP.

WITHIN A FEW WEEKS,
YOU HAD A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

Narrator:
BROWN AND DONNA USED THE ALIASES
DAVID AND SHERRY GREGORY.

EVERY DAY, THE THREE FUGITIVES
SEARCH THE WANT ADS FOR JOBS.

HERE WE GO.

Narrator: THEY FIND A JOB
INSTALLING CABLE TV

IN MULTIPLE CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Brown:
ONLY THING THEY NEEDED YOU TO DO

WAS OWN A PICKUP TRUCK
AND GET THERE.

Narrator:
IN JANUARY 1985,

THE THREESOME
HEADS TO THEIR FIRST GIG

IN OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY.

WHILE IN THE CAR, THEY START
MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, BROWN NOTICES
A COP FLASHING HIS LIGHTS.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

AS THEY PULL OVER,

THE THREE OF THEM
BEGIN TO PANIC.

WERE YOU SPEEDING?

RELAX.

THE OFFICER TELLS BROWN
HE WAS SPEEDING.

I'M SORRY.

Narrator: BROWN HANDS OVER
HIS FAKE DRIVER'S LICENSE.

IF THE LICENSE DOESN'T
COME BACK CLEAN, IT'S OVER.

THE OFFICER
SOON RETURNS TO THE CAR.

HE GIVES BROWN A SPEEDING TICKET
AND WALKS AWAY.

THE THREE OF THEM
BREATHE A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF.

Brown: THE ONLY WAY

THEY WERE EVER GONNA REALLY
PROVE WHO I WAS,

WAS IF THEY
GOT AHOLD OF MY FINGERPRINTS.

Narrator: NOW BROWN KNOWS
HIS NEW IDENTITY IS FOOLPROOF.

Brown: I REALIZED

THAT THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE
OUT THERE COMMITTING CRIMES

FOR THEM
TO BE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEBODY

THAT WAS NOT OUT THERE
MAKING A PROBLEM FOR THEM.

Narrator: AFTER ARRIVING
IN NEW JERSEY,

BROWN AND DAVIS
GET TO WORK RIGHT AWAY.

Brown: YOU COULD MAKE
$100 APIECE A DAY

OUT THERE HANGING THE CABLE,
AND THE MONEY WAS COMING IN.

IT WAS GOOD.

Narrator:
THE THREE OF THEM

COMFORTABLY SETTLE
INTO THEIR NEW LIVES.

PULL UP THE SLACK,
COULD YOU?

BUT SIX MONTHS LATER,
THINGS GO SOUTH.

THE COMPANY SUDDENLY
STOPS SENDING THEIR PAYCHECKS.

Brown:
WHEN THE MONEY STOPPED COMING IN

AND WE WERE MORE OR LESS
WORKING FOR NOTHING,

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT HE OWED US

WAS STEADILY PILING UP.

Narrator:
BROWN, DONNA, AND DAVIS
DECIDE TO QUIT THEIR JOBS

AND RETURN
TO LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

YET DAVIS CAN'T GET OVER
THE MONEY HE'S OWED --

NEARLY $2,000.

Brown:
WILLIE WOULD CALL EVERY WEEK.

EVERY WEEK, HE'D CALL THAT GUY
AND ASK FOR THE MONEY,

AND HE JUST COULD NOT LET IT GO.

I EVEN TOLD HIM,
"MAN, FORGET IT."

I'M NOT GOING AWAY.
YOU GIVE US OUR MONEY.

Narrator:
FINALLY, AFTER TWO MONTHS,

THE COMPANY'S MANAGER
AGREES TO MEET DAVIS.

OKAY. FINE.

HE'S GONNA PAY US.

WILLIE,
YOU ARE REALLY NOT

GONNA GO UP THERE
AND MEET THIS GUY, ARE YOU?

YEAH,
I'M GONNA MEET HIM.

Brown:
MY WIFE BEGGED HIM NOT TO GO.

SHE JUST REALLY FELT LIKE
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

OKAY.

I GOT A BAD FEELING
ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW YOU DO.
I KNOW YOU DO.

WE'RE ON LOCATION NOW.

Narrator:
DONNA'S INSTINCTS ARE RIGHT.

THE MEETING IS A SETUP.

THE COMPANY MANAGER DISCOVERED
THE MEN WERE FUGITIVES.

THE COPS ARE GETTING READY
TO TRAP DAVIS.

HE'S COMING?

LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.

Narrator:
ON OCTOBER 24, 1985,

DAVIS HEADS TO A KENTUCKY MOTEL
TO COLLECT THE MONEY.

FREEZE! POLICE!

POLICE! GET DOWN, GET DOWN!
GET DOWN RIGHT NOW!

Paris: KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
CONFRONTED HIM,

AND WHEN HE WAS CONFRONTED,
HE MADE A QUICK GESTURE,

AS IF HE WAS
REACHING FOR A WEAPON,

AND ONE OF THEIR TROOPERS
SHOT HIM IN THE LEFT ARM.

CUFF HIM.

CODE 4.

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH DAVIS IS INJURED,
HE SURVIVES THE ATTACK.

HE HAD NO INTEREST
IN TALKING TO THE FBI

OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT

ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS
OF MICHAEL BROWN.

Narrator: WHEN DAVIS DOESN'T
RETURN HOME AFTER SEVERAL HOURS,

BROWN AND DONNA BEGIN TO WORRY

THAT SOMETHING
HAS GONE HORRIBLY WRONG.

WE KNEW AT THAT TIME
SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.

WE TURNED ON THE NEWS
THAT NIGHT,

AND THAT WAS WHEN
THEY HAD THAT ON THERE

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
SHOOTING WILLIE.

[ GASPS ]

Narrator: BROWN AND DONNA
ARE SHOCKED AT THE NEWS.

THEN THINGS GET WORSE.

THEY WATCH IN HORROR

AS THEIR PHOTOS AND ALIASES
ARE PLASTERED ON THE SCREEN.

Brown:
SO, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE HERE,
JUST TOTALLY EXPOSED,

AND OUR PICTURES ARE RIGHT THERE
ON THE TELEVISION,

AND ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS
WE DIDN'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

WE DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING.

Narrator:
DAVIS IS SENT BACK TO PRISON

WHILE BROWN
QUICKLY BUYS A USED CAR.

THEY PACK UP AND DECIDE
TO HEAD FOR DAYTON, OHIO,

TWO HOURS NORTH.

Brown: WE BOTH HAD THOUGHT
DAYTON MIGHT BE A NICE PLACE.

SO, OUR FUNDS WERE LOW.

I THINK WE HAD
MAYBE $400 OR $500,

AND WE HAD TO
PRETTY MUCH GO INTO

THE WORST PART OF DAYTON
THAT THERE WAS

TO BE ABLE
TO AFFORD SOMETHING.

Narrator:
THE COUPLE WORK HONEST JOBS

AND STRUGGLE FOR SIX MONTHS
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

LIFE FINALLY TURNS AROUND
FOR THE BROWNS.

THEY GET STEADY JOBS,
MOVE INTO A NICER APARTMENT,

AND START TO ESTABLISH CREDIT.

NO ONE EVER QUESTIONS
THEIR ALIASES.

THEY HAVE NO CONTACT WITH THEIR
FAMILIES OR DONNA'S CHILDREN.

AND FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS,

THE COUPLE BUILDS
A NEW LIFE FOR THEMSELVES

UNDER THEIR FALSE NAMES.

I DIDN'T WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
DREADING ANYTHING.

I WOKE UP WITH A BIG SMILE
ON MY FACE EVERY DAY.

I WAS HAPPY.

Narrator:
BUT FOR BROWN, THE PARANOIA
WOULD NEVER COMPLETELY GO AWAY.

"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED."
PHEW!

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY STARTED
ADVERTISING FOR THAT,

I WAS TOTALLY PARANOID.

AS I'D WATCH THESE SHOWS
EVERY WEEK --

AND YOU HAD TO, JUST TO MAKE
SURE YOU WEREN'T ON THERE.

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE BROWN
ESCAPED FROM AN OKLAHOMA PRISON.

IN JANUARY 1993, BROWN DECIDES
TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS.

Brown:
WE SOLD EVERYTHING EXCEPT OUR
BED AND A LITTLE PORTABLE TV,

AND WE CAME UP WITH, LIKE,
$5,000 ALTOGETHER.

Narrator:
THEY NAME THE STORE K&L VIDEO,

WHICH STANDS
FOR THEIR NEW ALIASES --

KENNETH AND LINDA GINTER.

BROWN HIRES A SMALL STAFF
TO HELP HIM RUN THE BUSINESS,

INCLUDING DELORES GRAY,

A REGULAR PATRON
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD VIDEO STORE.

I WAS DOING BOOKKEEPING, AND OFF
AND ON, I'M RUNNING HIS STORE.

WHAT'S IT CALLED?
"ANGEL MAN"?

ALL THE KIDS
WOULD COME IN THERE,

AND THEY WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH KENNY.

HE WAS A VERY NICE GUY.
VERY CARING, LOVED KIDS.

HE WAS JUST LIKE HE WAS
ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

Narrator:
BROWN BEGINS TO FEEL

AS THOUGH HE'S LEAVING
HIS OLD SELF BEHIND.

Brown: I WAS ASHAMED
OF WHO MIKE BROWN WAS,

AND I WAS PROUD
OF WHO KENNETH GINTER WAS,

'CAUSE I WAS
A GOOD MAN OUT THERE,

AND I WISH I COULD'VE BEEN
THAT PERSON THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I REALLY DO.

Gregory: HE WAS LIKE
AN ICON OF THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYBODY KNEW HIM.
THEY KNEW HIS STORE.

THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD
WENT THERE.

INSTEAD OF, LIKE,
TO THE BIG VIDEO STORES,

THEY WOULD GO TO HIS STORE.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Narrator: STILL,
BROWN TAKES EXTRA PRECAUTIONS

TO MAKE SURE
HIS IDENTITY STAYS HIDDEN.

Delores: HE WAS PRIVATE AS FAR
AS WHAT PHONE CALLS CAME IN.

WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER

ANY PHONE CALLS
COMING INTO THE STORE

IF WE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME.

Narrator: AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS,
K&L VIDEO IS A SUCCESS.

Brown: THE STORE WAS JUST --
IT WAS A GOLD MINE.

AND IT WAS LIKE
IN A MATTER OF SIX MONTHS,

WE WERE JUST MAKING MONEY.

Narrator:
BACK IN OKLAHOMA,

THE FBI HASN'T FORGOTTEN
ABOUT THIS CASE.

IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS

SINCE MICHAEL BROWN
ESCAPED FROM PRISON.

AGENT PARIS
REFUSES TO LET THE CASE GO COLD.

Paris: THE CHALLENGE WAS
FOR ME TO FIND OUT

HOW TO STIR UP
MICHAEL BROWN'S WORLD,

HOW TO BRING HIM OUT OF HIDING,
WHEREVER HE WAS.

PARIS.

Narrator:
PARIS GETS A LUCKY BREAK.

A NEWLY LAUNCHED CRIME SERIES
AGREES TO PROFILE MICHAEL BROWN.

IN OCTOBER 1997, THEY BEGIN
INTERVIEWING FAMILY MEMBERS

AND INVESTIGATORS
INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

DONNA'S CHILDREN AGREE
TO BE INTERVIEWED ON CAMERA.

AUTHORITIES HOPE IT WILL
PRESSURE DONNA OUT OF HIDING.

THEY WERE VERY EXCITED

ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF GETTING THEIR MOM BACK,

AND THEY BOTH
READILY AGREED TO INTERVIEWS.

AND THEY SAT AND BASICALLY
TALKED TO THEIR MOM

AND TOLD HER
SHE WAS A GRANDMOTHER

AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.

SO, IT WAS VERY TOUCHING.

DON'T MAKE
THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.

COME HOME.
BE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

Narrator: WEEKS BEFORE
THE SHOW IS SCHEDULED TO AIR,

THE FBI KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR.

PARIS PULLS TOGETHER
SURVEILLANCE TEAMS

IN WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA,

AND VARIOUS LOCATIONS
IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY MONITOR PHONE LINES

AND STAKE OUT
ALL KNOWN RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

Paris:
I WAS GONNA BE IN THE TELECENTER
WHEN THE SHOW WAS AIRING

TO ASSESS LEADS RAPIDLY
AS THEY CAME IN.

PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE CALLING IN,

TELLING YOU,
"I'VE SEEN THIS GUY,"

AND WE HAVE TO BE READY TO ACT.

Narrator:
THE TRAP IS SET.

THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO AIR.

THEN, ONE HOUR BEFORE AIRTIME,
PARIS GETS AN UNEXPECTED CALL.

Paris:
JUST BEFORE AIRTIME,

I GOT A CALL FROM
MY SURVEILLANCE TEAM IN OKLAHOMA

TELLING ME THAT
THE SHOW WAS BEING PRE-EMPTED

FOR AN EASTER SPECIAL
IN OKLAHOMA.

AND OF ALL THE LOCATIONS
WE WANTED THIS TO AIR,

WE WANTED IT TO AIR
IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

THAT'S WHERE MICHAEL BROWN'S
MOTHER WAS LIVING.

OUR BEST GUESS WAS THAT
IF THIS SHOW WAS SHOWN TO HER,

SHE WOULD RUN TO THE PHONE

OR SHE'D RUN DOWN THE STREET
AND USE A PAY PHONE.

Narrator: IT'S BAD NEWS,

BUT PARIS STILL
RECEIVES DOZENS OF LEADS

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

Paris: THAT NIGHT,
WE SENT OUT SEVERAL DOZEN LEADS

TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY,

AND THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE
THAT WERE WOKEN OUT OF BED

BECAUSE THEIR NAME WAS SIMILAR
OR THEY RESEMBLED THE FUGITIVE.

Narrator:
BACK IN OHIO,

ONE OF BROWN'S NEIGHBORS,
GREGORY GRAY,

IS BROWSING THE
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" WEBSITE.

HE'S SURPRISED
WHEN HE COMES ACROSS A MUG SHOT

THAT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE
KENNETH GINTER,

THE OWNER OF A LOCAL VIDEO STORE
WHERE GRAY'S WIFE WORKS.

WELL,
I WAS SCROLLING THE INTERNET,

AND I JUST HAPPENED
TO GO TO THAT PAGE

AND JUST STARTED SCROLLING DOWN,

AND I SAW THE PICTURE.

AND I LOOKED,
AND I LOOKED TWICE.

IT KNEW IT WAS HIM IMMEDIATELY.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE HAIR, THE FACIAL FEATURES,
THE EYES, THE NOSE, THE MOUTH.

HE WAS ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD, BUT
HIS LOOKS HAVE NEVER CHANGED.

Narrator: GRAY IS SHOCKED
AT THE STORY HE'S READING.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT
THAT THE PICTURE WAS HIM,

BUT THE STORY
DID NOT MATCH KENNETH GINTER.

HE'S THE KIND OF GUY
THAT, REALLY,

YOU'D INVITE OVER FOR DINNER.

Narrator:
ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER,
GRAY GETS A PHONE CALL.

IT'S BROWN.

GREGORY,
IT'S KENNETH.

HI.

HEY. GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

Gregory:
HE ASKED IF DELORES WAS HOME,
AND AT THE TIME, SHE WASN'T.

HE WAS WANTING HER
TO COME TO WORK.

I TOLD HIM
I SAW A PICTURE OF HIM

THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE HIM
ON "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED."

OH, REALLY? HUH.
THAT IS WEIRD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I SAID, "WELL, THEY SAY
EVERYBODY'S GOT A TWIN."

THAT SHOT A BIG RED FLAG UP
RIGHT THERE.

Gregory: I PRETTY MUCH
BLEW IT OFF AT THAT POINT,

AND WE WENT ON,

JUST CARRYING ON ABOUT NORMAL
THINGS FOR A FEW MINUTES.

BYE.

Narrator: AFTER WORK,

BROWN AND DONNA
LOOK UP THE WEBSITE.

HORRIFIED, THEY REALIZE
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE SOMEONE TURNS THEM IN.

IN ADDITION,
DONNA'S HEALTH IS DETERIORATING.

SHE'S RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.

Brown:
SHE STARTED WORRYING

SHE WAS NEVER GONNA GET TO SEE
HER FAMILY AGAIN.

SHE WANTED TO GO BACK,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO.

I DID NOT WANT TO.

Delores:
GREG, I'M HOME.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, GRAY IS
STILL CURIOUS ABOUT THE PHOTO.

HE SHOWS IT TO HIS WIFE,
DELORES.

DOESN'T THIS GUY
LOOK JUST LIKE KEN?

Delores:
WE WERE ALL IN SHOCK.

WE COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT WAS HIM,

THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: GRAY WANTS A CLOSER
LOOK AT THE IDENTIFYING MARKS.

THE WEBSITE INDICATES

THAT BROWN SHOULD HAVE
TWO TATTOOS ON HIS ARMS --

THE WORD "MOM" ON HIS LEFT ARM

AND HIS INITIALS,
"M.B.," ON HIS RIGHT ARM.

HE TELLS DELORES TO LOOK
FOR THESE TATTOOS THE NEXT DAY.

I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
GOING BACK INTO THE STORE.

I HAD TO MAKE SURE
MY EYES DIDN'T LET HIM KNOW

THAT I KNEW WHO HE WAS.

Narrator: AT WORK,
DELORES TRIES TO ACT NORMAL.

SHE QUIETLY STEALS A GLANCE
AT BROWN'S ARMS.

Delores:
I WAS LOOKING FOR THE TATTOOS.

BASICALLY HOW I IDENTIFIED
HIM WAS THE TATTOO HAD "MOM,"

AND THE OTHER ONE
HAD HIS INITIALS,

AND THAT'S WHEN
I KNEW FOR SURE THAT WAS HIM.

Narrator: THE COUPLE
CAN'T DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

SHOULD THEY TURN BROWN IN?

WE HAVE HUNG OUT
AT THE LODGE TOGETHER,

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DRINKING
A COUPLE BEERS TOGETHER.

IT WASN'T LIKE
HE WAS A STRANGER AT ALL.

Narrator:
TWO DAYS LATER, GRAY PICKS UP
THE PHONE AND CALLS THE FBI.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.

Gregory: I PUT MYSELF
IN THE VICTIM'S SHOES

AND REALIZED THAT
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Narrator:
IN THE MEANTIME,

BROWN AND DONNA DECIDE TO
PACK UP AND GO BACK ON THE RUN.

TRIED CALLING HIM.
HE WOULDN'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

HE DISAPPEARED, VANISHED.

SO, A NEW CHASE IS ON.

Narrator:
THE FBI IS HOT ON THE TRAIL.

THIS TIME, THEY WON'T LET BROWN
GET AWAY WITH IT.

Narrator: JUNE 1999.

FUGITIVE MICHAEL BROWN
AND HIS WIFE, DONNA,

HAVE BEEN ON THE RUN
FOR OVER 14 YEARS.

AFTER STARTING
A NEW LIFE IN DAYTON, OHIO,

A NEIGHBOR TELLS BROWN ABOUT
A MUG SHOT ON A CRIME WEBSITE

THAT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE BROWN.

OH, REALLY? HUH.

Narrator: AFRAID THAT THEY
WILL SOON GET CAUGHT,

THE COUPLE
LEAVES OHIO IMMEDIATELY.

Paris: WE REALIZED
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

BECAUSE BROWN
HAS GOTTEN AWAY BEFORE.

IF GINTER REALIZES THAT HIS
NEW IDENTITY HAS BEEN REVEALED,

HE'S GONNA BE RUNNING.

HE'S GONNA BE, IN SOME CASE,
VERY CARELESS.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED
THE TRUCK HE'S DRIVING IN.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED HIS PHONE
NUMBER, HIS CELLPHONE NUMBER.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE FACT
THAT DONNA BROWN IS AILING,

TRULY AILING.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
BROWN'S VIDEO STORE, K&L VIDEO,

IS LEFT UNATTENDED.

Delores:
THE PLACE WAS LEFT UNLOCKED.

I HAD TO GO
SECURE EVERYTHING.

WE HAD PUT
A SIGN ON THE DOOR

SAYING THAT IT WAS CLOSED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Narrator:
DONNA, WHO'S BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE,

DECIDES IT'S TIME TO RETURN TO
OKLAHOMA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

SHE'S TIRED OF RUNNING
AND MISSES HER FAMILY.

Brown:
WHEN DONNA FIRST GOT SICK,

WE WERE GOING TO
HEART-TRANSPLANT CLINICS

EVERY OTHER WEEK,

AND THEN SHE TOOK
A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

SHE STARTED WORRYING

SHE WAS NEVER GONNA GET
TO SEE HER FAMILY AGAIN.

Narrator: BROWN FEELS
HE HAS ONLY ONE CHOICE.

Brown: SHE'D GIVEN UP
EVERYTHING FOR ME.

SHE STILL WANTED ME
TO BE HER HUSBAND,

AND SO THAT WAS WHEN
I AGREED TO TURN MYSELF IN.

I DIDN'T WANT TO.

Narrator:
ON JUNE 29, 1999,

BROWN AND DONNA

ARRIVE AT OKLAHOMA STATE
PENITENTIARY IN McALESTER.

THEY QUIETLY SAY THEIR GOODBYES
TO ONE ANOTHER.

Brown: EVERYTHING IN ME
IS JUST SCREAMING,

"MAN, DO NOT DO THIS.
DO NOT DO THIS."

SO, FINALLY I JUST TOLD HER,

I SAID, "LOOK, WE NEED TO GO DO
THIS BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND."

THERE COMES A TIME IN YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU START REALIZING

THERE'S RIGHT AND THERE'S WRONG,

AND THERE'S
ALL THESE OBLIGATIONS,

WHATEVER YOU WANT,
AND IT WAS TIME TO COME BACK.

Narrator:
AFTER 14 1/2 YEARS ON THE RUN,

MICHAEL BROWN TURNS HIMSELF IN
TO PRISON AUTHORITIES.

MIKE BROWN --
I'M A FUGITIVE.

IN HIS POSSESSION ARE $125,

A TOOTHBRUSH,

AND A PHOTO OF HIS WIFE, DONNA.

DONNA WAS JUST --
SHE WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN.

IT WAS TIME FOR ME
TO GIVE UP FOR HER.

SHE GAVE UP 14 1/2 YEARS FOR ME.

Paris:
HE WAS TIRED FROM THE CHASE.

HE KNEW THAT WE WERE NEVER GONNA
STOP LOOKING FOR HIM.

HE REALIZED IT WAS JUST A
MATTER OF TIME, AND HE GAVE UP.

Narrator:
DONNA BROWN IS NEVER CHARGED
FOR HER ROLE IN THE ESCAPE.

SHE IS STILL MARRIED TO BROWN

AND IS LIVING A HAPPY
AND HEALTHY LIFE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE ALWAYS TREATED DONNA
AS A VICTIM IN THIS CASE,

SOMEONE WHO BOUGHT INTO
MICHAEL BROWN'S OVERTURES.

Narrator:
TODAY, BROWN RESIDES AT
THE OKLAHOMA STATE REFORMATORY

IN THE TOWN OF GRANITE.

HE STILL HAS 14 YEARS LEFT
TO COMPLETE HIS LIFE SENTENCE.

I SERVED 20 YEARS
OUT OF THE LAST 34 IN PRISON,

AND I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

THE ONE QUESTION THE PAROLE
BOARD ASKED EVERYBODY WAS,

"HOW DO WE KNOW
YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT THERE?"

I MADE IT FOR 14 1/2 YEARS,

AND I MADE IT BECAUSE
I WANTED TO SHOW MYSELF

I WASN'T THE SAME PERSON
I WAS IN 1974.

Narrator:
WHILE HE WAS ON THE RUN,

BROWN MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION
ON THOSE WHO CROSSED HIS PATH.

Delores:
I HONESTLY BELIEVE HE WAS
A DIFFERENT PERSON BACK THEN.

THE MICHAEL I KNOW WOULD'VE
NOT DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S TOTALLY --

IT'S A SHOCK
TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WAS JUST RELIEVED
THAT HE'S BACK IN CUSTODY,

WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE.

I WAS HAPPY FOR THE VICTIMS.

THE MAN WHO KILLED
THEIR HUSBAND AND FATHER

WAS NOW BACK BEHIND BARS.

Sasser:
MICHAEL WAYNE BROWN

BELONGS IN PRISON
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

IT'D BE A MISTAKE

TO LET A MAN LIKE THAT
BACK OUT ON THE STREETS.

Narrator: MICHAEL BROWN
LIVED A LOW-KEY LIFE ON THE LAM

AND ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.

BUT AFTER 14 1/2 YEARS,

HIS RUN
HAS FINALLY COME TO AN END.