I, Witness (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Mother Undercover - full transcript

I THINK FOR ANYONE
WHO'S BORN IN A WAR ZONE,

IT'S A HORRIBLE MEMORY.

BUT FOR SOME, THEY ARE NEVER
ABLE TO SILENCE THE ECHOES.

AND IT ONLY TAKES A SINGLE SPARK

TO REIGNITE THE FLAMES
OF THEIR PAST.

♪ LA, LA, LA, LA,
LA, LA, LA, LA ♪

HEY, HEY, HEY!
WHAT?

DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA
SNEAK OUT OF HERE.

AH.
NO, I DON'T NEED THAT.

I HAVE FOOD AT HOME.
NOT MY FOOD.

MY HUSBAND AND I
HAVE THREE ADOPTED CHILDREN.



BUT ANDY WAS ALWAYS THE ONE
WE WORRIED THE MOST ABOUT.

HE WAS ORPHANED
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR,

AND HIS EXPERIENCES THERE
LEFT HIM DEEPLY SCARED.

OH, YOU LOOK SO GROWN-UP.
I'M 26.

ALL RIGHT?
I'VE BEEN GROWN UP FOR A WHILE.

OH, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND
WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY.

I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

DRIVE SAFE.

BUT WE HAD NO IDEA
AS HE LEFT THAT CHRISTMAS

HOW MUCH DANGER
HE WAS REALLY IN.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
MY HEART'S DESIRE

TO ADOPT CHILDREN
WHO WERE IN NEED OF A HOME,



A PLACE TO LIVE, AND A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THEM.

IN 1975, SAIGON WAS FALLING,

AND IT WAS DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME THAT ANDY CAME.

AT THIS HOUR,
A NUMBER OF CHARTERED JETS

ARE IN THE AIR OVER THE PACIFIC,

BRINGING SOME 900 ORPHANS
OF THE VIETNAM WAR

TO THE UNITED STATES.

A 747 PAN AM JET
HAD BEEN CHARTERED

TO TAKE 405 MORE CHILDREN
AND THEIR DOCTORS,

NURSES, AND ESCORTS
TO THE UNITED STATES.

ALL OF THE CHILDREN
LEAVING HERE TODAY

HAVE BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED
BY AMERICAN FAMILIES.

IT WAS CALLED
OPERATION BABYLIFT.

AND ABOUT 3,000 CHILDREN
FROM VIETNAM

WERE BROUGHT INTO THE U.S.
AT THAT TIME.

AND HE HAD BEEN THROUGH
A LONG ORDEAL.

HE WAS ABANDONED THERE

AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD ORPHANAGE
IN SAIGON.

THERE WAS BOMBING GOING ON,
STRAFING.

THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT.

THE POWER WOULD GO OUT.

AND THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH ADULTS
THERE TO HOLD THESE BABIES

WHEN THESE SCARY THINGS
HAPPENED.

JANUARY 7, 2001, WAS A SUNDAY.

MY HUSBAND AND I
WERE HOME TOGETHER.

HELLO?

Hi, I'm calling

from the Butte County
sheriff's department.

I ANSWERED THE PHONE,

AND THERE IS A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY
ON THE PHONE.

Andy failed to report to his
court-ordered community service,

so we're trying
to track him down.

HE DIDN'T GO?

I'm afraid not,
Mrs. Bushard.

ANDY HAD BEEN SENTENCED
TO COMMUNITY SERVICE

WHEN HE BOUGHT TWO PARROTS
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE STOLEN.

WANT A TREAT?

IT WAS UPSETTING, AS A PARENT,
TO HAVE HIM IN LEGAL TROUBLE,

BUT I KNEW IT CAME
FROM THE BEST PART OF ANDY.

BECAUSE OF HIS
TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD,

HE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME

REALLY CONNECTING
WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT HE LOVED ANIMALS,
ESPECIALLY HIS DOGS.

HIS DOGS WERE HIS BEST FRIENDS.

GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY.

Is he home?
May I speak with him?

WELL, ANDY DOESN'T
LIVE HERE WITH US.

HE HAS A NEW PLACE
OVER IN COHASSET.

AND I SAID,
"WELL, HE LIVES IN COHASSET,

AND AS FAR AS I KNOW,
THAT'S WHERE HE IS."

FIVE WEEKS EARLIER,

HE HAD RENTED A ROOM
IN A THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE THERE.

HEY, MAN.

YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE DOOR
LIKE THIS.

SORRY, I -- THEY'LL BE GONE
IN A SECOND.

DON'T PAY
ANY ATTENTION TO HIM.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU SEE THAT CLUMP
OF TREES OVER THERE?

YOU MENTIONED TAKING
YOUR DOGS FOR A HIKE.

WELL, THERE'S A TRAILHEAD
STARTS RIGHT ABOUT THERE.

HE LOVED LIVING THERE
BECAUSE IT'S IN A FORESTED AREA,

AND ANDY HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AN OUTDOOR PERSON.

I BELIEVE THAT
HE FOUND PEACE THERE.

WHAT WAS THAT?

THAT WAS SOMEONE
FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ANDY HAD
COMMUNITY SERVICE,

AND HE DIDN'T SHOW UP.

I'M SURE HE'S FINE.

I'M GONNA CALL HIM.

HI, ANDY.
IT'S MOM.

YOU CAN'T JUST NOT SHOW UP
FOR THESE THINGS, HON.

LOVE YOU.

ON JANUARY 8th, THE NEXT DAY...

...WE GOT A CALL
FROM DEPUTY OLIVE...

HELLO?

...WITH THE BUTTE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

YES.

AND HE WAS INQUIRING
ABOUT ANDY ALSO.

THAT IS WHEN ALL
THE RED FLAGS WENT UP.

TWO CALLS TWO DAYS IN A ROW
WAS NOT NORMAL.

NO, WE HAVEN'T.

UM, WHAT'S GOING ON?

AND HE WANTED TO KNOW
SPECIFICALLY

IF WE HAD SEEN ANDY RECENTLY,

AND I TOLD HIM THE LAST TIME
WE HAD SEEN HIM

WAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS,
TWO WEEKS BEFORE.

OPEN.
LOVE.

HEART.
HEART, HEART.

CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOUSE IS --
IS A BIG EVENT.

ANDY WAS HAPPY,

AND HE HAD GIFTS
FOR HIS SIBLINGS.

HE HAD GIFTS FOR PAUL AND I.

AS THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN
BY BIRTH AND THREE BY ADOPTION,

I NEVER DISTINGUISHED
BETWEEN MY CHILDREN

AS FAR AS, UM...ANYTHING.

I WOULD FORGET AT TIMES
THAT I DIDN'T GIVE BIRTH TO ANDY

OR HIS ADOPTED SIBLINGS.

OH, MY GOODNESS!
OH, MY GOD!

WHEN THEY WERE GROWING UP,

IF SOMETHING HAPPENED
THAT I FELT WAS RACIAL,

I WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

I TOLD THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY THAT
ON DECEMBER 26th,

WHEN ANDY LEFT,
HE WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR.

I HUGGED HIM AS USUAL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HE ALREADY HAD THE DOGS
LOADED UP IN HIS JEEP.

DEPUTY OLIVE SAYS, "OH, WE --
WE JUST HAD HAD A REPORT,

AND WE WERE JUST WONDERING
IF YOU KNEW WHERE HE IS."

I TOLD HIM THAT

WE HAD JUST TALKED
TO A DEPUTY THE DAY BEFORE

AND THAT WE WEREN'T REAL SURE
WHERE HE WAS.

YES,
THANK YOU, OFFICER.

UH, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW
IF WE HEAR FROM HIM AT ALL.

I'M THINKING...
"WHAT IS GOING ON, ANDY?"

ANDY,
IT'S MOM.

OF COURSE,
I CALLED HIM RIGHT AWAY.

YOU HAVE US WORRIED.
YOU NEED TO CALL US.

LET US KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

I LOVE YOU.

ANDY'S BIRTHDAY WAS
JANUARY 10th, TWO DAYS LATER.

WE HAD WRAPPED GIFTS.

WE HAD A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR HIM.

WE WERE ALL READY
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.

ANDY HADN'T CALLED ME BACK.

I WAS STARTING TO...GET SCARED.

WE WERE CERTAINLY HOPING THAT
WHEN HE CAME FOR HIS BIRTHDAY,

THAT WE WOULD THEN BE ABLE
TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER,

FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE KNEW HE'D BE
GETTING PRESENTS,

SO WHY WOULDN'T HE COME?

WHY WOULDN'T HE GET IN TOUCH
WITH MOM AND DAD?

THIS ISN'T LIKE HIM.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
THIS ISN'T HIM.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

JANUARY 10th COMES AND GOES.

HE DIDN'T COME,
DIDN'T EVER HEAR BACK FROM HIM.

OUR CONCERN BECOMES
A LOT MORE INTENSE.

SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT,
PAUL CALLS THE HOUSE

THAT ANDY WAS LIVING IN
IN COHASSET.

HELLO?

THIS IS PAUL,
ANDY BUSHARD'S FATHER.

UH, WHO'S THIS?
THIS IS JIM.

Hi, Jim.

UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANDY,
AND WE'RE A BIT CONCERNED.

UH, HAVE YOU SEEN HIM
OR HEARD FROM HIM AT ALL?

UH, NO.
I -- I HAVEN'T, MAN,

BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHY I WOULD.

You live with him,
don't you?

NOT ANYMORE.

What do you mean not anymore?

HE'S GONE, MAN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN GONE?

LIKE,
HE SKIPPED TOWN.

ALL OF HIS STUFF'S GONE.

I WAS AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
I CAME BACK.

HIS ROOM WAS TOTALLY EMPTY,
LIKE HE WAS NEVER EVEN HERE.

THAT WAS TERRIFYING
BECAUSE IT MEANT

THAT ANDY HAD BEEN MISSING
MUCH LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT.

WELL, IF YOU HEAR FROM HIM,
WILL YOU JUST...

T-TELL HIM
TO GET IN TOUCH, PLEASE.

Yeah. Fine.

THANKS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THE ALARMS ARE GOING OFF

BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T
JUST TAKE OFF.

WE WENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
TO TALK TO DEPUTY OLIVE.

DEPUTY OLIVE.
PAUL BUSHARD.

AND WE SAID THAT,

"OUR SON HAS BEEN MISSING
FOR QUITE A WHILE."

HAVEN'T SEEN OUR SON ANDY
SINCE CHRISTMAS.

WE SAY THAT,
"THIS IS NOT LIKE OUR SON.

WE'RE HIS PARENTS. WE KNOW HIM."

HIS HOUSEMATE
SAYS THAT...

AND WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED
THE HELP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WELL, UM, THE THING IS --
IS, UH, ANDY'S YOUNG.

HE'S...26, RIGHT?

YES.
AND AS YOU KNOW,

HE'S ON THE RADAR
FOR SOME LEGAL PROBLEMS.

WE SEE THIS THING
QUITE A LOT.

KIDS ARE USUALLY
WHERE THEY WANT TO BE,

UM, YOU KNOW,

AND WHEN THEY WANT TO
GET IN TOUCH WITH MOM AND DAD,

UM,
THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW.

HE FELT THAT ANDY
HAD INTENTIONALLY DISAPPEARED.

IF SOMETHING
DOES COME UP,

WE'LL DEFINITELY
GET BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE WERE SO SHOCKED
BY THE DEPUTY'S ATTITUDE.

WE JUST COULDN'T GET HIM
TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY.

WHEN WE GOT HOME THAT NIGHT,

WE STARTED
WHAT WE CALL THE TIMELINE.

WE STARTED TAKING NOTES.

SO THE LAST TIME YOU
MIGHT HAVE SEEN ANDY WAS...

WE NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE ANDY WAS,

AND WE THOUGHT THE BEST WAY
TO DO THAT WAS TO MAP OUT

EVERYWHERE HE'D BEEN
BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED.

NONE OF OUR OTHER CHILDREN,
ANDY'S SIBLINGS,

HAD SEEN ANDY
OR HEARD FROM HIM, EITHER.

HELLO.

THIS IS HIM.

WE STARTED CALLING HIS FRIENDS,
AND NOBODY HAD SEEN HIM.

AND AFTER THAT,
WE TRIED HIS WORK.

THANK YOU.

HEY, YOU LIKE DOGS?

HERE YOU GO.

I HAVE TWO DOGS, TOO.
TAKE CARE OF THIS GUY.

ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

HOW WE DOIN' HERE, GUYS?
GOOD.

ANDY HAD BEEN VOLUNTEERING

AT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
LEGAL SERVICES,

AND HE WORKED WITH PEOPLE

WHO ARE HAVING DISPUTES
WITH THEIR LANDLORDS

AND WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
MAINTAINING THEIR RESIDENCE.

OKAY, SO THIS ONE SECTION
OVER HERE, UH...

HE HAD A CASELOAD OF HIS OWN
THAT HE WORKED.

HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING?
GOOD?

YOU GUYS HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS? NO?

I PROMISE, YOU GUYS
HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU'RE IN GREAT HANDS
WITH ANDY.

YEAH.
ANDY LOVED HIS JOB,

AND HE CARED A LOT
ABOUT HIS CLIENTS.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET BACK TO THIS SECTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR CALL.

THAT WAS SUE
FROM LEGAL AID.

AND THEN, THERE WERE
SOME PEOPLE HIKING ONE DAY

UP IN BUTTE CREEK CANYON
WHO SAW TWO DOGS

WHO WERE THIN
AND MALNOURISHED-LOOKING,

ROAMING,
JUST WANDERING IN THE AREA,

AND IT TURNS OUT
IT WAS ANDY'S TWO DOGS.

THIS IS JUST PROOF TO US
THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.

HE WOULD BE WITH HIS DOGS.

HE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THEM...
TO WANDER LIKE THIS.

SO WHERE IS HE?

...TRAILHEAD
STARTS RIGHT ABOUT THERE.

SHOULD WE BE GETTING PEOPLE
OUT THERE TO LOOK FOR HIM?

WE GO BACK
TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE'D LEARNED
ABOUT THE DOGS.

WE'RE MORE INSISTENT THIS TIME

BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE
THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

AT THIS POINT, WE ARE DESPERATE.

WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED
ABOUT OUR SON'S WELL-BEING.

WE'D LIKE TO FILE A MISSING
PERSONS REPORT FOR OUR SON.

AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE HE IS.

UH, A MISSING PERSONS REPORT WAS
ALREADY FILED, UM, JANUARY 7th.

W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN
IT'S ALREADY BEEN FILED?

WHO --
WHO FILED IT?

HOW DID THEY KNOW
THAT ANDY WAS MISSING?

LOOK IT'S, UM,
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

HOW IN THE WORLD
WERE WE NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS?!

HE HAD KNOWN
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

THAT A MISSING-PERSON'S REPORT
HAD BEEN FILED,

AND WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.

I WAS SO ANGRY AND UPSET.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT HE HAD DONE THAT.

UH, YOUR -- YOUR SON...
DEPUTY OLIVE TELLS US

THAT THE MAN
THAT FILED THE REPORT

IS HERBERT HOOVER COPE SR.

HERB COPE?
YEAH.

HERB COPE.
HERB COPE SR.

I THINK
I'M GOING OUT OF MY MIND.

I -- I'M -- I'VE GOT TO
GET SOMETHING OFF MY CHEST.

OKAY, SIR.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

I WANT TO REPORT
A MURDER.

DEPUTY OLIVE TELLS US

THAT THE MAN
THAT FILED THE REPORT

IS HERBERT HOOVER COPE SR.

BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
WHO HERB COPE IS.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING A CALL
ONCE A MONTH FROM HIM,

AND IT NEVER AMOUNTS
TO ANYTHING.

HE WAS KNOWN TO BE
A FREQUENT CALLER

TO THE BUTTE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE

WITH WILD STORIES

AND, YOU KNOW,
THINGS THAT WERE NOT...RELIABLE

WHEN THEY WENT
AND CHECKED THEM OUT.

I WANT TO REPORT
A MURDER.

UH, OKAY, MR. COPE.
IS THERE A BODY?

CAN YOU TELL US
WHERE A BODY IS LOCATED?

WELL, IT'S NOT --
NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE A BODY IS.
NO, I DON'T.

DID YOU SEE
SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN?

WELL, NO, BUT --

HOW DO YOU KNOW THERE WAS
A MURDER, THEN, SIR?

BECAUSE OF WHAT
HE HAD ME DO.

ACCORDING TO MR. COPE,

ANDY'S LANDLORD
CALLED HIM AND SAID,

"I NEED YOU TO TAKE ANDY'S
BELONGINGS AND GET RID OF 'EM.

GET 'EM OFF THE PROPERTY."

AND, UM, MR. COPE

DID HAVE A TRUCKLOAD OF STUFF
AT HIS HOUSE.

SO HERB COPE
TOLD THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY

THAT HE HAD A TRUCKLOAD
OF ANDY'S BELONGINGS,

AND THEY GO THROUGH THE STUFF
IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

AND OUR SON'S NAME
IS ON SOME OF THE MAIL.

SIR, THE-THESE ARE NOT,
UH, PROOF OF A MURDER, SIR.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT
A MISSING-PERSON'S REPORT?

YOU WANT TO FILE
A MISSING-PERSON'S REPORT

WHEN YOU HAVE ALL
THEIR BELONGINGS RIGHT HERE?

IT MIGHT NOT LOOK
TOO GOOD, SIR.

I WANT TO FILE
A MISSING-PERSON'S REPORT.

I HAVE TO.

DEPUTY OLIVE'S TAKE
ON HERBERT COPE SR.

IS THAT HE IS OLD
AND HE'S KIND OF SENILE.

OKAY,
MR. COPE.

WHAT SHOULD WE PUT DOWN
IN THE REPORT?

UM, AND IN ADDITION, UM,
TO THE MISSING-PERSONS REPORT,

THERE WAS ALSO
AN ARREST WARRANT, UM,

OUT -- OUT FOR, UM,
ANDY MISSING COMMUNITY SERVICE,

AND THAT'S
WHEN I CALLED YOU.

AND I ALSO FOLLOWED UP
ON HERB COPE'S STORY.

DEPUTY OLIVE TOLD ME
THAT HE WENT TO THE HOUSE

THAT ANDY WAS LIVING IN
IN COHASSET.

SAM PARRIS.
YEAH.

I'M, UH, DEPUTY OLIVE.

THE LANDLORD, SAM PARRIS,
ACTUALLY HAD OWNED

A RESTAURANT IN CHICO,
A LITTLE CAFE.

HE WAS A KNOWN MEMBER
OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I UNDERSTAND,
A YOUNG MAN LIVED HERE

NAMED, UH,
ANDY BUSHARD.

UH, YEAH.
HE WASN'T HERE LONG.

A FEW MONTHS MAYBE.
ALL RIGHT.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW HIM?

CAME BACK AFTER CHRISTMAS
AND HE WAS GONE.

HMM, MIND IF
I TAKE A LOOK AROUND?

UH, NO, SURE.
COME ON IN.

REALLY STRANGE,
HIM CLEARING OUT LIKE THAT.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME,
MR. PARRIS.

YEAH,
MY PLEASURE.

LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP
IN ANY WAY.

SO WE FOLLOWED UP ON
WHAT HERB COPE HAD TOLD US.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT
WE COULD CONTACT HIM OURSELVES?

HE'S A CRANK CALLER.
HE'S A DEMENTED OLD MAN.

MAYBE HE ACTUALLY
KNOWS SOMETHING

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO ANDY.

PLEASE.

CLEARLY, THE POLICE BELIEVED
THAT ANDY HAD SKIPPED TOWN.

SO IT MADE SENSE
THAT THE LANDLORD

HAD ASKED SOMEONE
TO CLEAR OUT HIS THINGS.

IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO US
THAT MUCH OF ANYTHING

WAS BEING DONE
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT,

SO WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED
TO STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING.

AT THIS POINT,
WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

THAT WILL HELP US FIND OUR SON.

I APOLOGIZE
FOR THE PLACE.

IT'S, UH, I JUST DON'T GET
TOO MANY VISITORS HERE.

UH, CLEAR THESE
CHAIRS OFF.

WE WANT TO KNOW
WHAT HERB COPE SR. IS LIKE.

I GOT THIS CLOCK HERE.
LOOK -- LOOK AT THAT CLOCK.

NEIGHBOR SAID
IT WAS COMPLETELY BUSTED,

BUT, UH, SOMETIMES,
ALL YOU GOT TO DO

IS TAKE IT APART

AND SEE HOW THE PIECES
FIT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM
AND SEE IF HE APPEARS RELIABLE.

MR. COPE...
THE POLICE SAID

YOU HAD A PICKUP
ON YOUR DRIVEWAY

WITH OUR SON'S BELONGINGS.

WELL, I TRIED
TO TELL THE COPS ABOUT IT,

BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN.

COULD YOU TELL US
WHAT YOU TOLD THEM?

SURE.

AND AS IT TURNS OUT,
HE'S VERY COOPERATIVE...

AND HE'S INTERESTED
IN HELPING US.

AND ALSO, HERB COPE
IS SAM PARRIS' UNCLE.

SAM PARRIS IS ANDY'S LANDLORD.

WHAT ARE WE
DOING THIS FOR?

JUST SHUT UP.
WHAT?

MR. COPE TOLD US THE STORY
THAT SAM PARRIS TOLD HIM

WHEN HE WAS LOADING UP THE CAR.

SLOW DOWN!

WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?!

SHUT UP.
JUST SHUT UP!

I NEED IT OFF THE PROPERTY.
I NEED IT ALL GONE.

WH-WH-WHERE DO YOU
WANT ME TO TAKE IT,

AND WHO DOES IT
BELONG TO ANYWAY?!

THERE'S MORE STUFF.

THEY WERE FRANTICALLY LOADING UP
THE BACK OF HERB COPE'S TRUCK

AND PUTTING ALL OF
ANDY'S BELONGINGS IN IT.

OKAY, FINE.
I'LL TELL YA.

TELL ME WHAT?

AND SAM PARRIS SPILLED HIS GUTS.

HE PUSHED ME.

HE PUSHED TOO HARD.

WHO ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

ANDY.

MR. COPE SAID HE HAD
A TRUCKLOAD OF ANDY'S BELONGINGS

AT HIS HOUSE,

SO WE WENT TO SEE HIM
TO FIND OUT

WHAT HE COULD TELL US
ABOUT OUR SON.

AND MR. COPE TOLD US THE STORY
THAT SAM PARRIS TOLD HIM

WHEN HE WAS LOADING UP THE CAR.

OKAY, FINE.
I'LL TELL YA.

TELL ME WHAT?

SAM PARRIS SPILLED HIS GUTS.

HE PUSHED ME.

HE PUSHED TOO HARD.

WHO ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

ANDY.

AND HE TOLD HIM THE WHOLE STORY,
AND HE SAID, "AND I TOOK HIM.

I TOOK HIS BODY OUT,
AND I DUMPED IT DOWN A RAVINE."

THANK GOD
YOU'RE HERE.

HERB COPE?
YEAH.

HERB COPE MADE A PHONE CALL
TO THE POLICE,

AND HE TRIED TO DO
THE RIGHT THING.

BUT BECAUSE THE POLICE
THOUGHT HE WAS UNRELIABLE

AND BECAUSE THERE WAS
AN ARREST WARRANT OUT FOR ANDY

MISSING HIS COMMUNITY SERVICE,

THE POLICE FELT THAT ANDY
HAD JUST TAKEN OFF

BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING
TO AVOID BEING ARRESTED.

I'M SORRY.

I'M VERY SORRY.

WE KNEW THAT HERB COPE'S STORY
MEANT THAT ANDY WAS DEAD,

BUT AS PARENTS, WE WEREN'T READY
TO ACCEPT IT THAT EASILY.

PAUL FEELS AT THIS TIME
THAT WE NEED TO GO

LOOK SAM PARRIS
DIRECTLY IN THE EYES

TO SEE IF HE WOULD TIP HIS HAND,

AND I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM GO
JUST BY HIMSELF.

NO.
GO.

WAIT HERE.

BE CAREFUL.

IT WAS REALLY SCARY FOR ME.

I'M PAUL.

UH,
I'M ANDY BUSHARD'S FATHER.

YOU'RE ANDY'S FATHER?

SAM'S JAW DROPPED.

HE WAS OBVIOUSLY SHOCKED
TO SEE THAT ANDY,

BEING VIETNAMESE,
HAD THIS CAUCASIAN FATHER.

I UNDERSTAND MY SON
WAS LIVING HERE WITH YOU?

THAT'S RIGHT.
WHAT?

UM, ME AND MY WIFE -- WE HAVEN'T
SEEN HIM SINCE AFTER CHRISTMAS,

AND WE WERE WONDERING,
SINCE HE WAS LIVING UP HERE,

IF YOU HAD ANY IDEA
WHERE HE MIGHT BE.

WELL, I WISH I COULD HELP YOU,
BUT, UH,

I WAS OUT OF TOWN
AT THE TIME.

I GOT BACK.
HE'D CLEARED OUT.

NO NOTE,
NO NOTHING.

OH, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

HERB COPE
IS YOUR UNCLE, RIGHT?

COPE?
I DON'T KNOW ANY COPE.

I KNOW COPELAND.
YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT THAT?

YOU DON'T KNOW
ANY HERB COPE?

I DON'T LIKE GETTING
THE SAME QUESTION TWICE.

YOU HAVE ANY KIDS?

UH, NO. AND YOU?

FIVE.

I'M MISSING ONE.

IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT HIM,
WILL YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW?

SURE.
WILL DO.

HE DID IT,
DIDN'T HE?

AT THAT POINT, WE BELIEVED
THAT SAM PARRIS

HAD KILLED OUR SON
AND THEN HAD CALLED HERB COPE

TO COME AND GET
ALL OF ANDY'S STUFF.

IT WAS HORRIFYING.

IT REALLY HIT ME

THAT ANDY WAS NOT GOING TO COME
IN THROUGH THE BACKDOOR AGAIN.

I KNEW IN MY HEART
DURING THAT CONVERSATION

THAT HE WASN'T EVER COMING BACK.

IT'S DEVASTATING.

IT'S...THE WORST THING

YOU'LL EVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH
IN YOUR LIFE.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

WE WERE SO FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY,

BUT WE DIDN'T LET ANGER
GET THE BEST OF US.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING US.
ANDY SPOKE SO HIGHLY OF YOU.

OF COURSE.

WE DECIDE TO TALK TO SUE GOOD,
WHO IS THE COORDINATOR

OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
LEGAL SERVICES,

WHERE ANDY VOLUNTEERS,
BECAUSE WE THOUGHT

SHE WOULD KNOW
WHAT LEGAL RIGHTS WE HAVE HERE,

WHAT WE CAN ASK FOR.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT

TO ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATOR
ON THIS CASE.

WE CAN DO THAT?
THEY WON'T DO IT

UNLESS YOU MAKE
A FORMAL REQUEST,

BUT YOU HAVE TO GO
TO THE POLICE

AND YOU HAVE TO DEMAND
AN INVESTIGATOR.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

MA'AM, SIR,
PLEASE LISTEN.

DEPUTY OLIVE
WILL BE HERE SOON,

AND HE CAN
SPEAK TO YOU THEN.

I'M SORRY,
BUT WE'RE DONE LISTENING.

WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS,

AND WE ARE FORMALLY REQUESTING
AN INVESTIGATOR.

AND I SAID,
"WE WANT SOMETHING DONE.

WE UNDERSTAND
WE'RE ENTITLED TO THAT."

AND IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED,
BUT ONLY AFTER I INSISTED.

HI, CAN I PLEASE
HAVE DETECTIVE SQUAD?

DALE WAYRAUCH IS THE DETECTIVE
ASSIGNED TO ANDY'S CASE.

PLEASURE.

UM, DETECTIVE,

WE'VE BEEN KEEPING
DETAILED NOTES

OF EVERY BIT
OF INFORMATION

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER
SINCE OUR SON WENT MISSING.

WE KNOW OUR SON ANDY,

AND HE WOULD NEVER
ABANDON HIS ANIMALS

OR HIS CLIENTS
AT LEGAL AID.

HE WOULDN'T DO THAT.

AND HE CERTAINLY
WOULDN'T DISAPPEAR

WITHOUT SPEAKING TO US.

UH, WE HAVE
NEW INFORMATION

THAT WE'D LIKE YOU
TO INVESTIGATE.

HERB COPE -- HE TOLD US
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO ANDY,

AND WE BELIEVE HIM.

WE SPOKE TO SAM PARRIS,

AND HE LIED TO PAUL
RIGHT TO HIS FACE.

WE DON'T THINK YOU'RE
GIVING OUR SON A FAIR SHAKE.

WELL, MR. AND MRS. BUSHARD,
I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.

IT MUST BE AWFUL.

BUT I'VE LOOKED
AT YOUR SON'S FILE,

AND EVERYTHING
THAT CAN BE CHECKED

HAS ALREADY BEEN CHECKED.

HE WAS HESITANT TO OPEN THE CASE

BECAUSE HE FELT ALSO
THAT ANDY HAD JUST TAKEN OFF.

AND YOUNG MEN
CAN BE IMPULSIVE.

DETECTIVE WAYRAUCH STILL FELT
THAT THERE WASN'T A CASE THERE,

BUT WE WANTED JUSTICE
FOR OUR SON.

IF YOU'LL MAKE
ONE PHONE CALL

AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE

THAT THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION
AFTER THAT ONE PHONE CALL,

THEN I'LL DROP
THE WHOLE THING.

AND MY HEART IS GOING, "NO! NO!

THIS IS OUR --
THIS IS OUR CHANCE.

YOU DON'T SAY THAT TO HIM."

IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL
MR. HERB COPE

AND FIND OUT
WHAT YOU THINK.

I'M THINKING, "WHAT IF IT --
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T GO WELL?"

THE POLICE HAD WARNED US
THAT HERB COPE WAS UNRELIABLE

AND HAD CHANGED HIS STORY
MANY TIMES IN THE PAST.

NOW WE HAD JUST PUT
THE WHOLE CASE

IN MR. COPE'S HANDS.

SO IF HE DID ANYTHING
LIKE THAT THIS TIME,

WE WOULD NEVER FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SON.

HERB COPE SR.?

YEAH.

DETECTIVE DALE WAYRAUCH.

YOU MIND ANSWERING
A COUPLE QUESTIONS

ABOUT ANDY BUSHARD?

I SPOKE
WITH HERB COPE.

IN REGARDS TO
YOUR SON'S DISAPPEARANCE...

WE'RE OPENING
A MURDER CASE.

I SPOKE
WITH HERB COPE.

IN REGARDS TO
YOUR SON'S DISAPPEARANCE...

WE'RE OPENING
A MURDER CASE.

THAT WAS HUGE --
HUGE RELIEF, HUGE.

"OPENING A MURDER CASE" --

THOSE WERE JUST...
OVERWHELMING WORDS.

THIS IS OUR SON.

MAKE SURE YOU FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU HAVE MY WORD.

DALE WAYRAUCH MAKES TWO TRIPS
TO HERB COPE'S HOUSE.

THE FIRST TRIP
WAS JUST TO INTERVIEW HIM

AND TALK TO HIM.

THE SECOND TRIP
IS TO INSTALL A WIRETAP

IN HERB COPE'S PHONE.

SAM.
WHAT?

SAM,
IT'S UNCLE HERB.

LOOK, THE POLICE
ARE STARTING TO ASK ME

ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS,

AND I NEED YOU TO
CLEAR THIS UP ONCE AND FOR ALL.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, SAM,
IS TO GO DOWN TO THE POLICE

AND TELL THEM
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW.

SAM PARRIS SAYS
THAT HE, YOU KNOW,

HE'S NOT GONNA DO THAT.

HE DOESN'T THINK
THAT HE'LL DO THAT.

BUT HE DOES ADMIT
IN THAT PHONE CALL...

He -- he pushed me.

You think I'm taking that
from anybody?

Least of all him.

...KILLING OUR SON.

SO WHY DID YOU NEED
TO GET RID OF

ALL OF ANDY BUSHARD'S
BELONGINGS?

UM,
HE OWES ME RENT.

HE -- HE SKIPS TOWN.

I MEAN, I HAD TO
CLEAR HIS CRAP OUT.

IT IS MY HOUSE,
YOU KNOW.

INITIALLY,
DURING THAT INTERROGATION,

HE'S COOPERATIVE,

BUT AS THEY START
ASKING MORE QUESTIONS

AND POINTING OUT AREAS

THAT DON'T JIVE
IN WHAT HE'S SAYING

AND DON'T MAKE SENSE...

WHAT ABOUT THE STORY
YOU TOLD YOUR UNCLE?

HE GETS CONFUSED,
MY UNCLE.

SAM,
I'VE GOT YOU ON TAPE.

THE TAPE
DOESN'T GET CONFUSED.

THIS IS WEIGHING ON YOU,
RIGHT?

IT'S OKAY.

'CAUSE WE CAN LIFT THAT LOAD
RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE.
I SWEAR TO GOD.

...HE FINALLY FOLDS.

HE CAME AT ME.

JUST TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED.

WE'RE AT THE HOUSE.

IT'S JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS.

YOU'RE RIPPING US OFF!

YOU'RE OVERCHARGING US
FOR UTILITIES!

IT WAS JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS
WHEN THE OTHER ROOMMATE, JIM,

WAS STILL AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

STOP RIPPING US OFF.

GUESS WHAT?
I WANT YOU OUT.

I WANT YOU TONIGHT.
I-I'M NOT LEAVING.

SAM PARRIS WANTED ANDY
TO MOVE OUT,

AND HE SAID
THEY GOT INTO A HUGE ARGUMENT

OVER SOME MONEY THAT ANDY
SUPPOSEDLY OWED HIM.

AND HE SAID,
"I WANT YOU OUT OF HERE."

YOU CAN'T JUST
EVICT SOMEBODY OVERNIGHT!

BUT BECAUSE ANDY VOLUNTEERED

FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
LEGAL SERVICES,

HE KNEW SOME OF
THE LEGALITIES OF HIS CASES

THAT HE MANAGED

ON HOW LONG A TENANT
HAD TO GET OUT

WHEN THE TENANT
WAS ASKED TO LEAVE

AND THAT YOU COULDN'T SAY,
"YOU NEED TO BE OUT TONIGHT,"

THAT THAT WAS NOT
PART OF THE LAW.

THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY --
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
DO ABOUT IT?!

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
DO ABOUT IT?!

YOU'RE CRAZY,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

SO HE PUSHED BACK.

AND HE TOLD SAM PARRIS

THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA LEAVE
THAT EVENING

AND THAT HE KNEW
WHAT HIS RIGHTS WERE.

SAM PARRIS SAID
ANDY WAS THREATENING HIM

AND THAT HE RAN OUTSIDE...

AND THAT HE REMEMBERED
THAT HE HAD A GUN

IN ONE OF HIS OUTBUILDINGS.

SAM SAID HE CAME BACK
INTO THE HOUSE

AND ANDY SURPRISED HIM
AND HE HAD A KNIFE,

SO SAM SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD.

HE SAID HE KNEW HE NEEDED
TO GET RID OF THE BODY,

AND HE JUST WENT
ON A DRINKING BINGE,

I THINK, FOR DAYS...

AND THEN CALLED HERB COPE.

THEY ASKED HIM,
"WHERE IS ANDY'S BODY?"

AFTER HE HAD ADMITTED
TO DOING IT.

STAY BACK, MA'AM,
STAY BACK.

GET THAT GUY.

YOU GUYS
HAVE TO STEP BACK.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
SETS IT UP SO THAT SAM PARRIS

IS IN THE PATROL CAR
IN THE BACKSEAT.

SOMEHOW, IN THIS PROCESS,
THE NEWS GETS AHOLD OF THIS,

AND THEY'RE OUT THERE, TOO.

AND FINALLY, THEY FOUND IT.

FINALLY, THEY FOUND THE SPOT,
AND...

...THEY WENT DOWN
AND RETRIEVED HIS BODY.

AND THE PICTURE WAS ON

THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER
THE NEXT DAY...

WITHOUT A NAME.

BUT IT JUST SAID
THEY HAD FOUND A BODY.

AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC

TO GO GET THE PAPER
AND...SEE THAT.

WE'VE ARRESTED SAM PARRIS

AND ARE BUILDING A CASE
AGAINST HIM.

BUT WE STILL NEED
TO GET A POSITIVE I.D. ON ANDY.

SOMETHING WITH HIS --
HIS DNA.

DETECTIVE WAYRAUCH CAME.

HE WANTED...SOME THINGS
FOR POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION.

THIS WAS
HIS FIRST HAIRCUT.

WILL THIS HELP?

IT WAS ALL...
FOR PROOF THAT IT WAS HIM.

YES, THANK YOU.

FORENSIC EVIDENCE PROVED

THAT SAM PARRIS'
SELF-DEFENSE STORY WASN'T TRUE,

AND NOBODY ELSE
REALLY KNOWS FOR SURE.

BUT BASED ON EVIDENCE
AT THE TRIAL...

I HAVE MY OWN THEORY
ON WHAT HAPPENED.

I'M -- I'M NOT PAYING THE RENT
UNTIL YOU DO THIS FAIRLY.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WANT YOU GONE.

I WANT YOU OUT TONIGHT.

ACCORDING TO THE PROSECUTORS,
SAM PARRIS WAS AN ALCOHOLIC,

AND HE HAD FRIENDS

THAT HE WOULD CALL
AND USE DRUGS WITH.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE NIGHT
THAT ANDY WAS MURDERED,

SAM HAD BEEN DRINKING
AND HE HAD BEEN TAKING DRUGS.

I BELIEVE WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

IS THAT SAM DID ASK HIM
TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE...

I WANT YOU OUT.

...AND THAT SAM WANTED HIM OUT
RIGHT NOW.

HE WANTED HIM GONE.
I WANT YOU OUT TONIGHT!

AND ANDY SAID
HE WASN'T GOING TO MOVE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT SAM PARRIS
WENT DOWN TO HIS ROOM...

GOT THE PISTOL THAT HE USED,
AND CAME UPSTAIRS...

...AND SHOT HIM.

THE ACTUAL TRAJECTORY
OF THE BULLET INDICATED

AN EXECUTION-STYLE MURDER

RATHER THAN A CASE
OF SELF-DEFENSE,

AS SAM PARRIS HAD CLAIMED,

BECAUSE THE BULLET WENT
STRAIGHT INTO ANDY'S FOREHEAD,

THROUGH THE BRAIN,
AND...DID NOT EXIT,

BUT IT LODGED ITSELF OVER HERE
IN HIS RIGHT TEMPLE.

IT CAME OUT IN THE TRIAL
THAT SAM PARRIS

HAD HIRED A COMPANY
TO REPLACE THE BLOODY CARPET,

AND THE MAN WHO DID THE WORK
TESTIFIED

THAT SAM WAS REFERRING TO ANDY

USING A RACIAL SLUR
FROM THE VIETNAM WAR.

AS IT TURNS OUT,
SAM PARRIS WAS A VIETNAM VET.

WHAT COMES INTO MY MIND

IS HE DID THIS
BECAUSE ANDY WAS VIETNAMESE,

THAT HE TOOK OUT
SOME OF HIS ANGER ON ANDY,

THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF HIMSELF.

AFTER ONLY SIX HOURS
OF TESTIMONY,

SAM PARRIS WAS FOUND GUILTY
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO TWO
25-YEAR-TO-LIFE SENTENCES,

25 YEARS FOR THE MURDER

AND 25 YEARS
FOR THE USE OF A GUN.

SAM PARRIS DIED
IN MARCH OF 2015 IN PRISON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DIED OF,
AND I DON'T CARE.

THERE ARE TIMES
THAT PEOPLE WILL ASK US

IF THE RECOVERY OF ANDY'S BODY
OR HIS FUNERAL

OR THE ENDING OF HIS TRIAL

AND HIS SENTENCING
HAVE GIVEN US CLOSURE.

AND THERE'S NEVER CLOSURE
IN THIS TYPE OF...CRIME.

IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

YOU LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.

IT CHANGES OVER TIME,
BUT SLOWLY OVER TIME.

THE TRUTH IS, THERE ARE WOUNDS
THAT TIME WON'T HEAL,

AND THEY CAN EAT YOU ALIVE
IF YOU LET THEM.

ANDY NEVER REALLY RECOVERED
FROM HIS EXPERIENCES IN VIETNAM,

AND I THINK SAM PARRIS,
IN SOME WAYS,

ENDED UP EVEN WORSE.

AFTER THE TRIAL, I BECAME
INVOLVED IN AN ORGANIZATION

CALLED PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN,

AND WORKING WITH THEM
HELPED ME THROUGH

SOME OF MY DARKEST TIMES.

YOU NEED TO DO THE GRIEF WORK.

IF YOU DON'T DO
THE GRIEF WORK...

IT'LL BE BACK
AT YOUR DOOR AGAIN.

ANDY IS A PART OF MY LIFE
EVERY DAY.

HE'S A PART OF WHO I AM,
AND THAT IS SO WONDERFUL.