Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Mountain Man - full transcript

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

>> Narrator: THE WILDS OF ALASKA

ARE A VAST AND UNTAMED FRONTIER.

>> ALASKA IS ABSOLUTELY

BREATHTAKING, BUT YOU HAVE TO

HAVE YOUR GUARD UP AT ALL TIMES.

THERE'S A RAZOR-THIN LINE

BETWEEN SAFETY AND PERIL.

>> Narrator: IN THE RUGGED

WILDERNESS, A MOUNTAIN MAN'S

DARK DESIRES TAKE ROOT...



>> HE HARBORED HORRIBLE, VICIOUS

THOUGHTS AND SEXUAL FANTASIES.

AND ON ONE DAY, HE WAS WILLING

TO CARRY THOSE OUT.

>> Narrator:...LEAVING ALASKA

STATE TROOPERS SCRAMBLING TO

HUNT DOWN A SURVIVALIST BEFORE

HE STRIKES AGAIN.

>> VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND

HIM, AND FIND HIM FAST.

[ GUNSHOT ]

>> Narrator: IN THE SHADOW OF

ALASKA'S MAJESTIC MOUNT McKINLEY

LIES THE BACKWOODS BRUSH OF



CHULITNA.

>> CHULITNA, ALASKA, IS NOT

ACTUALLY A CITY OR A VILLAGE.

IT'S A RAILROAD STOP OF A SORT.

IT'S A PLACE WITH A NAME ON A

MAP.

>> Narrator: THE FEW WHO CALL

THIS UNTAMED WILDERNESS HOME

RELY ON THEIR OWN RESOURCES,

CARRYING IN SUPPLIES BY

4- WHEELER OR SNOW MACHINE.

>> THE REASON PEOPLE PICK THESE

CABINS IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET

THERE ANY OTHER WAY EXCEPT BY

THE RAILROAD, BY FOOT, OR BY AN

ATV, 4-WHEELER.

>> IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO

IMAGINE WHAT LIFE IN RURAL

ALASKA, A PLACE LIKE CHULITNA,

IS LIKE.

IMAGINE YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR OWN

FOOD, YOUR OWN FIREWOOD, YOUR

OWN FUEL FOR VARIOUS MACHINES,

YOUR GENERATOR.

YOU HAVE TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR

AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME

WITHOUT CONTACT WITH HUMANITY.

>> Narrator: THE WINTERS HERE

ARE RUGGED.

BUT THE SPRING THAW EXPOSES A

PICTURE-PERFECT PARADISE.

[ WOLF GROWLS ]

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

HOWEVER, FOR DON TIDWELL, THE

SPRING OF 1997 WAS ANYTHING BUT

PERFECT.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

JUST AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, HE GETS

AN ALARMING PHONE CALL.

HIS SISTER, DEBBIE, WHO SPENT

THE LONG WEEKEND AT HER CABIN IN

CHULITNA, DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR

WORK.

>> THAT WAS UNLIKE HER, 'CAUSE

SHE HAD A RADIO PHONE.

SHE COULD HAVE CALLED.

THIS WAS, LIKE, 9:00 IN THE

MORNING.

SO, FOR HER NOT TO SHOW UP OR

CALL -- YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T

START, I THINK, TILL 8:00.

SO SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

THANKS FOR CALLING.

>> Narrator: DON KNEW DEBBIE AND

HER HUSBAND HAD PLANNED A

WEEKEND GETAWAY, AND HE COULDN'T

SHAKE THE THOUGHT THAT THE

REMOTE WILDERNESS MAY HAVE

PROVEN TOO MIGHTY A MATCH, EVEN

FOR A VIETNAM VETERAN LIKE HIS

BROTHER-IN-LAW.

>> MY MAIN THOUGHT WAS THEY HAD

A BAD BEAR ENCOUNTER.

THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT I

COULD THINK OF.

>> Narrator: DESPERATE FOR

ANSWERS, DON CONTACTS HIS

BROTHER-IN-LAW RICK'S BOSS, ONLY

TO LEARN HE, TOO IS ABSENT FROM

WORK THAT DAY.

>> I JUST HAD THIS BLACK CLOUD

OVER ME -- THIS EERIE FEELING,

YOU KNOW?

AND I COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A FEELING UP YOUR

BACKBONE THAT...

THERE'S NO EXPLANATION FOR IT.

I JUST -- I WAS WORRIED TO

DEATH.

[ LIQUID SPLASHES ]

>> [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

>> Narrator: RICK BEERY, A

48-YEAR-OLD ELECTRICIAN, HEADED

TO THE CABIN ON THURSDAY.

HIS 40-YEAR-OLD WIFE, DEBBIE, A

CUSTOMER-SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FOR A UTILITY COMPANY, DROVE UP

FROM THEIR HOME IN BIG LAKE TO

MEET HIM THE FOLLOWING DAY.

>> THEY LIVED THERE AND LOVED

THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS A

LIFESTYLE WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE

INTERRUPTED BY A TELEPHONE,

WHERE THERE WAS NO TELEVISION.

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> THEY'D PUT ALL THEIR STUFF

TOGETHER AND GO UP TO CHULITNA

ON THE WEEKEND.

AND IT JUST BECAME A REAL PART

OF THEIR FAMILY CULTURE.

>> THAT WAS GONNA BE THEIR

RETIREMENT HOME.

THEY PLANNED TO MOVE THERE AND

LIVE THERE FOR MOST OF THE YEAR.

THEY LIVED A LOT OF THE FRONTIER

LIFESTYLE, ATE MOOSE MEAT,

SALMON.

THEY -- DEBORAH LIKED GROWING A

NICE GARDEN AND STUFF.

>> Narrator: IN 1983, FRIENDS

INTRODUCED DEBBIE TO RICK.

THE LIFELONG BACHELOR FELL HARD

FOR THE RED-HAIRED BEAUTY.

DEBBIE WAS EQUALLY AS SMITTEN.

>> THEY HAD THAT KIND OF ENERGY

BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM A LOT.

YOU JUST CAN KIND OF FEEL IT.

IT'S KIND OF PALPABLE AND

TOUCHABLE.

YOU CAN ALMOST POUR IT INTO A

MEASURING GLASS AND MEASURE IT

AND LOOK AT IT.

WONDERFUL TO BE AROUND.

YOU KIND OF WANTED SOME OF THAT.

>> Narrator: HOURS AFTER

LEARNING HIS SISTER DIDN'T SHOW

UP FOR WORK, DON TIDWELL ARRIVES

AT THE CABIN IN CHULITNA...

AND FINDS THINGS SEEMINGLY

OUT OF SORTS.

>> DEB? RICK?

ANYBODY HOME?

THEIR CABIN WAS JUST LIKE

SOMEBODY HAD WALKED OUT.

THERE'S A BEER ON THE TABLE,

CHEESE AND CRACKERS LAID OUT

LIKE HE HAD JUST WALKED OUT.

THEY WERE GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS AND

STUFF.

HE WOULDN'T LEAVE A BEER ON THE

TABLE, AND CHEESE AND CRACKERS

OUT, AND THEN JUST NOT EVER COME

BACK.

>> Narrator: DON ALSO NOTES THAT

THE COUPLE'S TWO DOGS APPEAR

AGITATED AND UNEASY.

>> THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CABIN SO

LONG THAT THEY HAD DEFECATED ON

THE FLOOR, AND THESE DOGS WERE

VERY WELL-RAISED.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY WOULD

HAVE DID THIS ON THE FLOOR OF

THE CABIN UNLESS THEY WERE

TRAPPED IN THERE FOR HOURS ON

END.

>> Narrator: KNOWING IT'S TOO

SOON TO FILE A MISSING PERSON'S

REPORT, DON SEARCHES FOR CLUES

AND WAITS ANXIOUSLY.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THERE IS

STILL NO WORD.

>> I WAS AT MY WIT'S END, YOU

KNOW?

LOOKING AROUND, AND THERE'S JUST

NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY OR WHERE

RICK AND DEB IS.

>> Narrator: AS DAWN BREAKS, DON

DECIDES TO CONDUCT HIS OWN

SEARCH.

HE SCOURS THE AREA AROUND THE

CABIN BUT COMES UP EMPTY.

HE THEN DECIDES TO LOOK DOWN BY

THE CREEK WHERE RICK AND DEBBIE

LIKED TO FISH.

HE'S STARTLED BY THE SIGHT OF

RICK'S 4-WHEELER IN THE WATER.

>> I CALLED THE TROOPERS, AND I

SAID, YOU KNOW, "I KNOW THAT

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT

48 HOURS..."

RICK!

"...BUT I BELIEVE SOMETHING HAS

HAPPENED LONGER THAN 48 HOURS,

'CAUSE THEIR 4-WHEELER'S IN THE

CREEK."

[ SIREN WAILS ]

>> Narrator: ALASKA STATE

TROOPERS IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH

THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION, COMBING

A 2-MILE RADIUS AROUND THE

COUPLE'S CABIN.

WITHIN HOURS, THEY MAKE AN

UNSETTLING FIND --

THE BODY OF RICK BEERY.

>> 322, I HAVE A 107.

I NEED UNITS TO RESPOND TO MY

LOCATION HERE.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

>> EXCUSE ME, SIR.

EXCUSE ME, SIR! EXCUSE ME, SIR.

YOU CANNOT COME IN HERE.

>> I THINK THAT'S MY

BROTHER-IN-LAW.

>> OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT

YOU CANNOT COME IN.

>> MY SISTER'S STILL MISSING.

AND BY THE TIME I MET THEM DOWN

THERE, THEY HAD RICK IN A

BODY BAG.

MY MAIN THOUGHT WAS THEY HAD A

BAD BEAR ENCOUNTER, 'CAUSE IT

WAS SPRINGTIME, YOU KNOW, AND

THEY'RE ALL STARTING TO COME OUT

OF THEIR DENS.

>> I NEED YOU TO GO TO YOUR

CABIN RIGHT NOW.

>> Narrator: TROOPERS QUICKLY

SURMISED THAT RICK MET WITH

SOMETHING FAR MORE SINISTER THAN

MOTHER NATURE.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CASE

FACTS, AS THE TROOPERS FIRST

FOUND THEM, THIS MAN'S

4- WHEELER'S IN THE WATER AND

A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE

HEAD -- THINGS INDICATIVE OF

MURDER.

>> Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE RICK

WAS SHOT AT POINTBLANK RANGE AND

NEVER SAW IT COMING.

EVEN MORE TROUBLING, DEBBIE AND

HER RED 4-WHEELER ARE NOWHERE

TO BE FOUND.

>> IT APPEARED HE'D BEEN

MURDERED, AND THE WIFE WAS

MISSING.

WAS SHE A VICTIM?

OR IS THIS A LOVER'S SPAT?

DID SHE KILL HER HUSBAND, THEN

FLEE AND TAKE OFF AFTER THAT

HAPPENED?

>> IT TAKES A DIFFERENT

PERSPECTIVE, OF COURSE, AT THAT

TIME.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE

FOUL-PLAY ASPECT OF IT.

AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE?

THE WORLD IS OPEN TO YOU AT THAT

POINT IN TIME.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

>> Narrator: IN THE REMOTE

ALASKAN WILDERNESS, SOME

200 MILES FROM CIVILIZATION, A

CHILLING DISCOVERY LEAVES STATE

TROOPERS GRASPING FOR ANSWERS.

THE BODY OF RICK BEERY IS FOUND

IN A CREEK JUST 2 MILES FROM HIS

BACKWOODS CABIN.

HE HAS BEEN SHOT

EXECUTION-STYLE.

>> I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT

HE COULD BE DEAD.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE BEFORE

HIM.

[ CHUCKLES ]

THAT WASN'T OKAY.

>> Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS

WORSE, THERE IS NO SIGN OF

RICK'S WIFE, DEBBIE, OR HER RED

4- WHEELER.

THE ODD SCENARIO PAINTS HER AS A

LIKELY SUSPECT IN THE EYES OF

POLICE.

HAD SHE AND RICK HAD A LOVER'S

SPAT?

MIGHT SHE HAVE LEFT CHULITNA TO

COOL OFF?

>> [ CHUCKLES ]

>> Narrator: OR WAS IT SOMETHING

MORE SINISTER?

MIGHT DEBBIE HAVE KILLED HER

HUSBAND IN ORDER TO BE WITH

SOMEONE ELSE?

>> WE KEEP NARROWING THAT FOCUS

DOWN IN TERMS OF WHERE THAT

INVESTIGATION WOULD LEAD.

WE STILL HAVE A MISSING PERSON.

NO INDICATION THAT THERE'S ANY

PROBLEMS BETWEEN RICK AND

DEBORAH, BUT YOU DON'T RULE

ANYTHING OUT AT THAT POINT IN

TIME EITHER.

>> THERE WAS ALL OF THESE

INTERESTING PIECES OF

INFORMATION.

I MEAN, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A

BAZILLION MAYBES.

>> TELL ME WHY YOU CALLED ME

HERE.

>> Narrator: BUT THE COUPLE'S

FAMILY INSISTS DEBBIE WOULD HAVE

NEVER CAUSED HER HUSBAND HARM.

>> I CHECKED THE CABIN.

I KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE

HAPPENED TO DEB.

YOU KNOW, RICK WAS DEB'S SAVIOR,

AND I KNEW SOMEBODY HAD TO HAVE

KILLED THEM.

AND I WAS SURE THAT HE WAS

PROBABLY TRYING TO PROTECT DEB,

SO I WAS WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT

MY SISTER.

>> Narrator: POLICE ARE MET WITH

AS MANY QUESTIONS AS FAMILY

MEMBERS.

RICK HAD BEEN GUNNED DOWN ALONG

THE ONLY PASS IN AND OUT OF

CHULITNA.

MIGHT SOMEONE HAVE STALKED HIM?

HAD HE BEEN THE ONLY TARGET?

OR HAD DEBBIE MET THE SAME FATE?

DESPERATE TO FIND DEBBIE ALIVE,

POLICE SET UP A DRAGNET AND

FIRST QUESTIONED ELECTRICAL

WORKERS WHO HAD BEEN INSTALLING

CABLE ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS

NEAR THE CREEK WHERE RICK'S BODY

WAS FOUND.

THEY TELL TROOPERS THEY NOTICED

RICK'S 4-WHEELER IN THE CREEK

ON BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BUT

THAT IT HAD BEEN PULLED OUT TO

DRY LAND WHEN THEY PASSED BY

AGAIN ON TUESDAY.

THE WORKERS ALSO SAY THEY HEARD

GUNSHOTS BEING FIRED FROM A

NEARBY CAMPSITE.

AND THEY RECALL THE ENCAMPMENT

BEING MARKED BY A DISTURBING

MAKESHIFT FLAG -- A PAIR OF

WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR.

>> CERTAINLY, SOMEBODY WHO IS IN

THE AREA, SHOOTING OFF A.22 AND

HANGING WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR IN THE

TREES, BECOMES SOMEBODY THAT

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN THERE'S

A WOMAN MISSING AND YOU BELIEVE

FOUL PLAY, FOR SURE.

>> Narrator: DAYS LATER,

AUTHORITIES GET A LUCKY BREAK

WHEN THE MYSTERY CAMPER COMES

FORWARD.

21-YEAR-OLD GAVIN SAYHAW TELLS

POLICE HE BECAME LOST AND WAS

HEADING TOWARD SOME SMOKE FROM A

CABIN WHEN HE GOT TIRED AND

PITCHED CAMP.

HE SLEPT JUST YARDS FROM RICK'S

CORPSE BUT CLAIMS HE NEVER

NOTICED THE BODY.

>> HIS GOAL WAS NOT TO CAMP

THERE AT THAT CREEK.

HIS GOAL WAS A GOOD FISHING

RIVER SOME, I THINK, 4 OR 5 MORE

MILES FURTHER DOWN THE TRACKS.

BUT HE GAVE UP AND STOPPED RIGHT

THERE NEAR THAT CREEK TO PITCH

HIS LITTLE CAMP ON A LITTLE SPOT

OF GROUND, UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM

THAT HE'S CAMPED RIGHT AT A

MURDER SCENE.

THIS KID CAME ALONG AND CAMPED

RIGHT THERE AND EVEN PUT UP A

FLAG [Chuckling] TO LET

EVERYBODY KNOW THAT HE WAS

THERE.

>> Narrator: AND HE TELLS POLICE

HE FOUND SOME OF RICK'S

BELONGINGS.

>> HE FOUND THE SUBMERGED

4- WHEELER BELONGING TO RICK

IN THE CREEK...

AND WENT DOWN AND SALVAGED SOME

SOFT DRINKS, I BELIEVE, AND

MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF THE

SADDLEBAGS THAT WERE ON THE

4- WHEELER.

>> Narrator: SAYHAW CLAIMS HE

HELPED HIMSELF TO A SODA AND A

PIECE OF GUM.

WHEN PRESSED FURTHER, HE'S

EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT HE HUNG A

PAIR OF HIS GIRLFRIEND'S PANTIES

AT THE CAMPSITE.

>> HE WAS SOMEWHAT ASHAMED, BUT

HE DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS

HIM THAT DID IT AS A PRACTICAL

JOKE.

>> NOW, HE PRESENTED A NUMBER OF

INTERESTING CIRCUMSTANCES.

CERTAINLY, HE PICKED THE WRONG

PLACE TO PITCH HIS CAMP AT THE

WRONG TIME.

>> Narrator: BUT TROOPERS FIND

NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST SAYHAW

WAS INVOLVED IN RICK'S DEATH OR

DEBBIE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

AT A LOSS FOR LEADS, AUTHORITIES

DECIDE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

INTO RICK AND DEBBIE'S PAST.

THEY LEARNED THAT DEBBIE HAD

SOUGHT REFUGE IN ALASKA AFTER A

BITTER DIVORCE.

MEETING RICK GAVE HER A NEW

START.

>> HE WANTED SOMEONE TO COOK HIM

A GOOD MEAL AND BE WITH HIM AND

KEEP HIM COMPANY AND READ

TOGETHER IN THE EVENING, AND IT

WASN'T EASY TO FIND SOMEBODY

LIKE THAT, OR HE FOUND IT VERY

DIFFICULT.

OF COURSE, A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO

WITH WHERE HE WAS LOOKING.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BUT, ANYWAY, THEY JUST FOUND

EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THOSE

GOD THINGS THAT SHE WOUND UP IN

THAT SAME AREA THAT HE WAS.

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> Narrator: THE TWO DIDN'T DATE

LONG BEFORE RICK'S RENEGADE

NATURE PUT THEIR ROMANCE TO THE

TEST.

>> YOU JUST CAN'T FIGHT THE IRS

AND THE UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT, BUT HE SEEMED TO

THINK HE COULD.

IT WASN'T THAT HE WAS UNWILLING

TO PAY HIS INCOME TAX.

HE DID PAY INCOME TAX.

BUT HE WAS UNWILLING TO PAY

ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT THE

TAX CODE SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO

DO, SO THAT'S WHAT HE WENT TO

JAIL FOR.

>> HE ENDED UP DOING 10, 11

MONTHS IN JAIL 'CAUSE HE

DISAGREED WITH THE IRS.

HE WAS VERY STUBBORN IN THAT

ASPECT.

>> YOU LOOK GREAT THIS MORNING.

>> Narrator: BUT DEBBIE

WEATHERED THE STORM, AND THE TWO

EVENTUALLY WED.

>> SHE WOULD GO UP AND VISIT HIM

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND.

I GUESS THAT PROVED TO RICK

THAT, "HEY, THIS LITTLE GAL --

SHE'S A KEEPER."

>> Narrator: RICK'S RUN-IN WITH

THE LAW RAISES SUSPICIONS.

POLICE QUESTION WHETHER RICK MAY

HAVE HAD A BEEF WITH AN OLD

CELLMATE.

MAYBE SOMEONE HAD PROMISED TO

GET EVEN WITH HIM ON THE

OUTSIDE.

AS AUTHORITIES SCRAMBLE TO TRACK

THE KILLER, SEARCHERS CONTINUE

TO COMB THE RUGGED TERRAIN FOR

ANY SIGN OF DEBBIE.

>> THE THING THAT WORRIED ME

ABOUT NOT FINDING DEBBIE IS THAT

EITHER SHE WAS BEING TORTURED

SOMEWHERE OR THAT SHE WAS TIED

UP AND BEING HURT.

>> Narrator: SEVEN DAYS AFTER

DISCOVERING RICK BEERY'S BODY,

INVESTIGATORS SCOURED THE THICK

UNDERBRUSH ALONG THE CREEK...

AND LEARNED FIRSTHAND WHAT

REALLY BECAME OF DEBBIE.

>> AND THE OFFICER NOTICED

SOMETHING THAT WAS OUT OF THE

ORDINARY, AND AS THEY

INVESTIGATED FURTHER, THAT'S

WHEN THEY FOUND HER BODY.

>> 322, I HAVE A 107 AT MY

LOCATION.

>> Narrator: HER BODY IS BURIED

BENEATH GRASS AND TREE LIMBS.

>> HER CLOTHES WERE PARTIALLY

REMOVED.

SHE WAS LYING ON HER PANTS AND

HER PANTIES.

THERE WAS SOME SEMEN AT THE

SCENE.

>> Narrator: AN AUTOPSY REVEALS

EVEN MORE DISTURBING DETAILS.

>> NOT ONLY WAS SEMEN PRESENT,

BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF

CONTUSIONS, ABRASIONS, AND OTHER

FINDINGS NOT INDICATIVE OF

CONSENSUAL SEX.

SO, SHE WAS SHOT TO DEATH,

SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO HER

HUSBAND.

>> Narrator: AND THERE WAS

ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THE

KILLER MAY HAVE HAD SEX WITH

DEBBIE'S CORPSE.

AUTHORITIES ARE SHAKEN BY THE

SADISTIC NATURE OF THE CRIME.

WITH NO SUSPECT OR MOTIVE, THEY

ARE PLAGUED BY A SINGLE

TERRORIZING THOUGHT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

WHAT IF THE CRAZED KILLER

VANISHED INTO THE VAST

WILDERNESS OF ALASKA?

>> Narrator: ALASKA STATE

TROOPERS DISCOVER THE BODIES OF

RICK BEERY AND HIS WIFE, DEBBIE,

IN THE REMOTE ALASKAN

WILDERNESS.

BOTH HAVE BEEN SHOT

EXECUTION-STYLE.

>> PEOPLE WERE VERY FRIGHTENED.

SOMEBODY WAS STILL OUT THERE WHO

KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN COLD BLOOD,

AND NO ONE KNEW WHERE THEY WERE.

>> Narrator: PANIC GRIPS THE

TINY TOWN OF CHULITNA.

NEIGHBORS FEAR A PREDATOR IS

LURKING AMONG THEM.

BUT WHO COULD IT BE?

AND WHEN MIGHT HE STRIKE AGAIN?

>> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SOMEBODY

WHO WAS VERY ANGRY.

THAT WAS THE FEAR -- IT WAS A

NEIGHBOR WHO THEY KNEW VERY

WELL, WHO STILL IN THEIR CABIN,

ACTING LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED,

STILL IN THE VICINITY.

WAS IT A MYSTERY PERSON WHO WAS

JUST A MOUNTAIN MAN WHO WAS

STILL LIVING IN THE WILDERNESS

AND HOMELESS OUT THERE?

WAS IT A STRANGER WHO JUST CAME

THROUGH AND LEFT TOWN AND IS

ALREADY ON THEIR WAY?

SO, THAT WAS -- THAT WAS THE

FEAR.

THE FEAR WAS OF THE UNKNOWN.

>> Narrator: RICK BEERY HAD BEEN

FOUND EXECUTED IN A CREEK.

A WEEK LATER, THE BODY OF HIS

WIFE, DEBBIE, WAS DISCOVERED

DOWNSTREAM.

SHE HAD BEEN BURIED AMONG LIMBS

AND DEBRIS AND BRUTALLY

VICTIMIZED.

>> IT WAS TRAGIC ENOUGH, WHAT

HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER, BUT I

DON'T THINK HE SUFFERED.

YOU KNOW?

HE HAD A SHOT TO HIS HEAD AND

HE -- THE LIGHTS WERE OUT.

BUT I THINK DEBBIE SUFFERED.

AND...

IT'S AMAZINGLY NOT OKAY.

THAT'S, AGAIN, LIKE PULLING THE

WINGS OFF A FLY, WATCHING IT

SQUIRM...

TILL IT CAN'T SQUIRM ANYMORE,

[Voice breaking] AND JUST LET

IT DIE.

>> Narrator: POLICE KNOW THE

KILLER IS AS DARK AS THEY ARE

DESPERATE.

>> ON EVERY CASE LIKE THIS,

WHERE THERE'S A MURDERER AT

LARGE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHEREVER

YOU ARE, WANTS TO FIND THIS

PERSON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IF THEY'D KILLED TWO PEOPLE,

COULD EASILY KILL MORE.

>> Narrator: TROOPS CONSIDER THE

21-YEAR-OLD CAMPER WHO SLEPT

NEAR RICK'S CORPSE MIGHT HAVE

SOMETHING TO HIDE.

BUT HE'S EASILY RULED OUT AFTER

HIS DNA FAILS TO MATCH THAT

FOUND ON DEBBIE'S BODY.

POLICE QUESTION RICK AND

DEBBIE'S NEIGHBORS AND COME UP

WITH A LEAD.

THE NEIGHBORS SAY THE COUPLE GOT

ALONG WITH EVERYONE -- EVERYONE

EXCEPT PAUL STAVENJORD, A

46-YEAR-OLD MOUNTAIN MAN WHO

LIVED ABOUT A MILE AWAY.

>> HE DIDN'T LIVE LIKE THE REST

OF US.

HE LIVED IN THE SHADOWS -- NOT

IN CITY SHADOWS, BUT HE LIVED IN

THE WILDERNESS.

WOULD WILE AWAY HIS DAYS...

OUT THERE IN THAT CABIN.

>> Narrator: NEIGHBORS CLAIM

STAVENJORD HAD STOLEN FUEL FROM

RICK AND DEBBIE'S CABIN AND THAT

RICK FURTHER SUSPECTED

STAVENJORD HAD TAKEN A

SNOW MACHINE AND A.22 RIFLE.

>> THERE HAD BEEN SOME BAD

BLOOD.

THERE WAS THAT BELIEF,

APPARENTLY, THAT PAUL STAVENJORD

WAS TAKING THEIR PROPERTY, AND I

THINK HE HAD CONFRONTED HIM OVER

THAT IN THE PAST.

>> Narrator: NEIGHBORS REVEAL

THAT RICK ONCE SOLD STAVENJORD A

CELLULAR ANTENNA.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

DURING THE TRANSACTION,

STAVENJORD TOOK A CABLE THAT

WAS NOT PART OF THE DEAL.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Narrator: WHEN STAVENJORD

LEARNED THAT RICK WANTED $50 FOR

THE CABLE, HE RETURNED IT, CUT

TO PIECES.

>> YEAH!

YEAH, AND YOU OWE ME A CABLE!

>> CERTAINLY, AT THIS POINT, AND

AFTER ALL THE TROOPERS AT OUR

MEETING TOLD ME, PAUL STAVENJORD

IS DEFINITELY A SUSPECT.

STAVENJORD, IN MY OPINION, WAS

THE PRIME SUSPECT.

>> Narrator: DEBBIE'S BROTHER

DON OFFERS FURTHER CREDENCE TO

THE NEIGHBORS' CLAIMS.

>> HI. I'M DEB'S BROTHER.

>> Narrator: HE TELLS TROOPERS

ABOUT A CHILLING ENCOUNTER WITH

STAVENJORD THE NIGHT HE ARRIVED

IN CHULITNA AND QUESTIONED

STAVENJORD ABOUT DEBBIE'S

DISAPPEARANCE.

>> NO, WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE.

WE HAD A FALLING OUT A LITTLE

WHILE BACK.

>> OKAY. THANKS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE FEELING,

BUT IT WAS LIKE WALKING THROUGH

A PIT OF RATTLESNAKES, YOU KNOW,

THIS CHILL GOING UP AND DOWN MY

SPINE WHEN I BACKED OUT OF

THERE.

[ BRUSH RUSTLING ]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> THOUGHT I'D LOOK AROUND, TOO.

>> DON'T SWEET ME.

AFTER YOU.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE CABIN, I

CRAWLED ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK,

INTO THE TOP OF THE CABIN, AND

WAS IN A DARK SPOT.

I DIDN'T SLEEP ON THE BED.

I JUST CURLED UP IN THE BACK IN

CASE ANYBODY WALKED IN, THAT

THEY WOULDN'T SEE ME.

AND I SLEPT WITH MY PISTOL RIGHT

BY MY SIDE.

>> Narrator: POLICE DELVE DEEPER

INTO STAVENJORD'S BACKGROUND AND

FIND HE HAS BEEN ON THE WRONG

SIDE OF THE LAW BEFORE.

AT AGE 20, STAVENJORD PULLED OFF

THE BIGGEST BANK HEIST IN ALASKA

HISTORY.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

>> HE AND, I THINK, TWO OTHER

YOUNG FRIENDS OF HIS HAD ROBBED

A BANK, AND THEN THEY HAD

ESCAPED INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

>> COME ON.

>> Narrator: BUT THE TRIO HADN'T

CALCULATED THE WEIGHT OF THEIR

LOOT.

THEY WERE FORCED TO STASH THE

CASH IN THE WOODS IN ORDER TO

STAY ON THE RUN.

>> DONE.

>> THEY WERE OUT THERE FOR A

WHILE, AND IT WAS TOUGH TO TRACK

THEM.

>> Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER,

STAVENJORD WALKED OUT OF THE

BRUSH AND INTO THE ARMS OF

POLICE.

>> STOP! YOUR HANDS UP!

ON THE CAR.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

>> Narrator: HIS CRONIES WERE

ALSO CAPTURED, AND THE MONEY

RECOVERED.

AFTER A 3-YEAR PRISON STINT,

STAVENJORD REPORTEDLY BECAME A

DIFFERENT MAN.

HE MARRIED, GOT A JOB WITH THE

RAILROAD, AND STARTED A FAMILY.

15 YEARS LATER, THE MARRIAGE

FELL APART, AND HE CAME

UNHINGED.

HE BEGAN DRESSING LIKE AN

OLD-TIME TRAPPER AND BURIED

HIMSELF IN CRAFTS, CARVING SMALL

ARCTIC ANIMALS AND FLUTES OUT OF

WOOD TO SELL AT LOCAL SHOPS.

[ FLUTE PLAYS ]

>> HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED

FLUTIST, SO WE SAW THAT PART OF

PAUL STAVENJORD, BUT WE ALSO

WOULD SEE HIM OUT AT EVENTS

DRESSED UP AS A MOUNTAIN MAN

WITH HIS BLACK-POWDER MUSKET.

AND SO WE DID SEE SOME

INTERESTING -- INTERESTING

PARADOX ABOUT WHO

PAUL STAVENJORD WAS.

>> Narrator: THE ISOLATION

SEEMED TO SWALLOW HIM WHOLE.

HAD PAUL STAVENJORD BECOME A

WILD MAN IN A WILD PLACE?

WAS IT POSSIBLE THE

MILD-MANNERED MUSICIAN HAD

BECOME AN ICE-COLD KILLER?

>> PUT YOUR HANDS UP!

ON THE CAR.

>> Narrator: ALASKA STATE

TROOPERS ARE ANXIOUS TO

DETERMINE IF BANK ROBBER TURNED

BACKWOODSMAN PAUL STAVENJORD

MAY HAVE EMBRACED THE ISOLATION

OF ALASKA TO THE EXTREME.

IS IT POSSIBLE SUCH SECLUSION

MADE HIM SNAP?

>> WE WERE ALL KIND OF

WONDERING, AT THE TIME, WHO

COULD DO THIS.

WHAT TYPE OF PERSON COULD AMBUSH

A COUPLE ON THE MEMORIAL DAY

WEEKEND?

WHAT KIND OF PERSON COULD DO

THIS -- BRUTALLY KILL A COUPLE

AND RAPE A WOMAN AFTER SHE'S

SHOT?

>> Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED

ABOUT THE MURDERS, STAVENJORD

CLAIMS HE WASN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE

TO CHULITNA AT THE TIME.

>> WHERE WERE YOU, MEMORIAL DAY

WEEKEND?

>> HE SAID HE WENT TO FAIRBANKS

FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

HE STOPPED AT A GROCERY STORE.

HE STOPPED TO HAVE LUNCH.

>> Narrator: BUT POLICE REMEMBER

THAT THE MAN WHO CAMPED NEAR

RICK'S CORPSE SAID HE SAW SMOKE

COMING FROM A NEARBY CABIN,

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

STAVENJORD'S CABIN IS THE ONLY

ONE IN THE AREA.

TROOPERS FIND THAT'S NOT THE

ONLY DISCREPANCY IN STAVENJORD'S

STORY.

>> SAID HE WAS IN HERE LAST WEEK

AND HAD STEAK FOR LUNCH.

>> WE DON'T SERVE STEAK FOR

LUNCH.

>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PLACES

UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHERE HE

SAID HE HAD GOTTEN GAS AND SOME

SNACKS OR HAD ACTUALLY STOPPED

AND HAD DINNER, PLACES HE WAS AT

IN FAIRBANKS.

>> DID YOU SEE HIM AT ALL?

>> NO.

>> COULD YOU CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS

TO VERIFY THAT, PLEASE?

>> SURE.

>> NONE OF THESE THINGS CHECKED

OUT.

WE COULDN'T VERIFY ANYTHING.

STAVENJORD DIDN'T HAVE RECEIPTS

TO PROVE THESE PURCHASES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NONE OF IT CHECKED OUT.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

>> Narrator: A COURT ORDER

FORCES STAVENJORD TO ALLOW

POLICE TO TAKE A DNA SAMPLE.

THE CRIME LAB DETERMINES

STAVENJORD'S DNA MATCHES THE

SEMEN FOUND ON DEBBIE'S BODY.

HE'S CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND ONE

COUNT EACH OF RAPE AND THEFT.

TROOPERS IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A

WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.

>> WE THOUGHT WE'D GO BACK UP

THERE AND WE'D TRY AND TALK TO

HIM ONE MORE TIME.

BUT WENT TO HIS CABIN.

NOT THERE.

CLEARLY, HE HAD RUN.

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING ]

>> SEE IF YOU SEE ANYTHING ON

THAT MANTEL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Narrator: AUTHORITIES

SEARCH STAVENJORD'S CABIN FOR

CLUES...

AND UNCOVER SOMETHING OF

INTEREST.

>> NEVER SEEN A CRIMINAL SUSPECT

LEAVE THIS SORT OF STUFF BEHIND.

>> LISTEN TO THIS.

>> THEY WERE NOTES ABOUT MY

CONVERSATIONS WITH STAVENJORD

AND THEN, BASICALLY, HIS

NARRATIVE -- A STORY, A SCRIPT,

IF YOU WILL.

IF YOU'RE GONNA LIE, YOU BETTER

WRITE IT DOWN AND REPEAT IT OVER

AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER

UNTIL, JUST LIKE ANY GOOD ACTOR,

YOU'VE GOT IT DOWN PRETTY GOOD

AND IT BECOMES YOU.

IT BECOMES HIS -- HIS STORY,

HIS TRUTH.

VERY DAMAGING EVIDENCE.

>> Narrator: TROOPERS ALSO FIND

A JOURNAL IN WHICH STAVENJORD

DESCRIBES HIS LIFESTYLE.

"I AM AN ARTIST AND MUSICIAN,"

HE WRITES.

"I BUILD FLUTES, DRUMS, RATTLES,

AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I DON'T HAVE A WATCH.

I DON'T HAVE CREDIT CARDS.

I DON'T HAVE A CHECKING

ACCOUNT.

ALL OF THIS IS MY CHOICE."

BUT MOST UNSETTLING ARE HIS

WRITINGS ABOUT RICK BEERY AND

HIS WIFE.

HE DESCRIBES RICK AS LIKING TO

STIR THINGS UP AND SAYS DEBBIE

BOWED DOWN TO HER HUSBAND.

[ FLUTE PLAYS ]

ACCORDING TO STAVENJORD'S

WRITTEN ACCOUNT, HE WENT OUT FOR

A WALK THE FRIDAY BEFORE

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND MET

DEBBIE BY THE CREEK.

HE DESCRIBES A ROMANTIC

RENDEZVOUS IN WHICH HE PLAYED

HIS FLUTE FOR HER.

>> HE TALKED HIMSELF SO MUCH

INTO THINKING THAT HE HAD A

RELATIONSHIP WITH DEBBIE OR THAT

SHE COULD HAVE ONE WITH HIM, OR

THAT HE HAD SOME KIND OF

MYSTICAL POWERS OVER WOMEN AND

THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A

REAL RESPONSE GOING ON THERE,

THAT HE ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT

WAS TRUE.

AND THEN HE WROTE IT DOWN AND

RECORDED IT.

[ FLUTE PLAYS ]

>> I THINK THAT HE WANTED A

RELATIONSHIP WITH MY SISTER, AND

IF HE SAID IT ENOUGH TIMES AND

DID ENOUGH THINGS, IT WOULD MAKE

THINGS SO.

YOU COULD TELL THIS GUY IS, YOU

KNOW, NOT DEALING WITH A FULL

DECK WHATSOEVER.

>> Narrator: HE ALSO SAYS DEBBIE

CALLED HER HUSBAND AT 7:30 THAT

NIGHT.

>> IN HIS JOURNAL, HE SAID THAT

SHE, IN FACT, CALLED HER HUSBAND

AT THE CABIN AT A CERTAIN TIME,

AND THERE WERE NO RECORDS THAT

SHE ACTUALLY CALLED ANYBODY

DURING THAT TIME.

>> Narrator: DESPERATE TO BRING

STAVENJORD TO JUSTICE,

AUTHORITIES LAUNCH AN INTENSIVE

MANHUNT.

MEANWHILE, DEBBIE'S BROTHER DON

HOPES TO CAPTURE THE ELUSIVE

MOUNTAIN MAN HIMSELF AND CAMPS

OUT AT STAVENJORD'S CABIN JUST

IN CASE HE RETURNS.

>> IF HE CAME BACK TO THE CABIN,

WE WAS GONNA GET RIGHT DOWN TO

THE TRUTH OF WHAT DID HAPPEN.

IF I COULD HAVE GOT HIM IN MY

SIGHT, I'D HAVE SHOT HIM IN A

NEW YORK SECOND.

>> Narrator: BUT STAVENJORD

NEVER COMES BACK.

RAILROAD WORKERS REPORT SEEING

STAVENJORD WALKING ALONG THE

TRACKS ON THE DAY AUTHORITIES

OBTAINED HIS DNA.

THEY TELL POLICE HE HAD SHAVED

HIS BEARD AND MUSTACHE.

A SECURITY GUARD WORKING THE

SAME AREA SAYS HE SAW STAVENJORD

CRASH A RED 4-WHEELER AND TAKE

OFF RUNNING INTO THE WOODS THAT

SAME DAY.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

[ CRASH ]

>> WE THOUGHT HE PROBABLY HAD

GONE INTO THE WOODS AND STAYED

THERE.

HE HAD THE SKILLS TO DO THAT, HE

HAD THE BACKGROUND TO DO THAT.

HE HAD A PROPENSITY TO DO THAT

KIND OF THING.

>> Narrator: TROOPERS LOCATE

DEBBIE'S 4-WHEELER BUT FIND

NO SIGN OF STAVENJORD.

MEANWHILE, HIS FAMILY MAINTAINS

HIS INNOCENCE AND HIRES AN

ATTORNEY.

A PUBLIC APPEAL IS ISSUED FOR

STAVENJORD TO TURN HIMSELF IN,

BUT THE PLEA GOES UNANSWERED

AND THE MANHUNT CONTINUES.

AS WEEKS PASS WITH NO SIGHTING

OF STAVENJORD, TROOPERS ARE

FORCED TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH

THEIR WORST FEAR.

>> HE'S ALREADY SNAPPED.

HE'S ALREADY DONE TWO MURDERS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND

HIM, AND FIND HIM FAST.

BUT NOT EASILY DONE IN

WILDERNESS ALASKA.

>> Narrator: AUTHORITIES SCOUR

THE WOODS NEAR CHULITNA, BUT

PAUL STAVENJORD HAS SEEMINGLY

VANISHED -- ONE MORE AMONG THE

MISSING IN ALASKA.

>> IT'S LIKE LOOKING FOR A

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK, QUITE

LITERALLY.

>> FOR A GUY LIKE STAVENJORD,

WHO REALLY KNEW ALASKA AND KNEW

HOW TO LIVE IN REMOTE ALASKA,

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES TO

HIDE.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

>> Narrator: NEARLY FOUR WEEKS

AFTER THE BRUTAL SLAYINGS OF

RICK BEERY AND HIS WIFE, DEBBIE,

SUSPECTED MURDERER

PAUL STAVENJORD SEEMINGLY

WALKED INTO THE ALASKAN

BACKWOODS, NEVER TO BE SEEN

AGAIN.

>> THE POSTERS WERE OUT THERE.

THE CANADIAN AUTHORITIES HAD

BEEN NOTIFIED.

SO WE WERE HOPING HE'D BE CAUGHT

IN THAT NET.

BUT, NO, WE DIDN'T KNOW.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY HE

WAS OR IF HE WOULD BE CAUGHT.

>> Narrator: AS STATE TROOPERS

CONDUCT AN INTENSE MANHUNT,

PEOPLE IN THE REMOTE VILLAGE OF

CHULITNA ARM THEMSELVES AGAINST

THE DANGEROUS FUGITIVE.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

>> HE CLEARLY HAD SOME SKILLS

THAT WOULD PROLONG THIS WHOLE

SEARCH THAT WAS GOING ON HERE.

AND WHEN PEOPLE BECOME DESPERATE

LIKE THAT, IN ORDER TO KEEP

THEIR FREEDOM, THEY MAY RESORT

TO MORE VIOLENCE, THEY MAY

RESORT TO MORE CRIMINAL

ACTIVITY.

>> Narrator: SURPRISINGLY,

STAVENJORD OPTS FOR A MORE

PEACEFUL END.

>> GIVING MYSELF UP.

>> Narrator: AFTER FOUR WEEKS ON

THE RUN, HE CALLS THE ATTORNEY

HIS FAMILY HIRED AND SAYS HE'S

READY TO TURN HIMSELF IN.

>> I KNOW THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE

WHO HE, HIMSELF, I THINK, SAID

THAT IF HE HADN'T TURNED HIMSELF

IN, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE FOUND

HIM.

THAT CAN HAPPEN.

OCCASIONALLY, IT HAPPENS.

>> Narrator: IN APRIL 1998,

PAUL STAVENJORD STANDS TRIAL FOR

DOUBLE HOMICIDE AND RAPE.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES KILLING

RICK BEERY BUT ARGUES IT WAS AN

ACT OF SELF-DEFENSE.

HE CLAIMS RICK CAUGHT HIM AND

DEBBIE IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS.

[ FLUTE PLAYS ]

>> ACCORDING TO STAVENJORD, WHAT

HAPPENED WAS, HE AND DEBORAH

WERE AT THE CREEK.

THEY WERE HAVING A SEXUAL

ENCOUNTER AT THE TIME, WHEN RICK

PULLED UP WITH HIS 4-WHEELER AND

CAUGHT THEM IN THE ACT.

>> HEY!

>> NO, RICK!

>> I'M GONNA BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF!

>> HIS STATEMENT WAS, WHEN

MR. BEERY SAW WHAT WAS

HAPPENING, THAT HE WAS HAVING

SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HIS WIFE,

MR. BEERY SAID, "I'M GOING TO

BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF," PULLS OUT

HIS WEAPON, AND HE STARTS

SHOOTING, AT WHICH POINT IN TIME

MR. STAVENJORD HAD NO CHOICE BUT

TO PULL OUT HIS WEAPON AND SHOT

MR. BEERY.

[ GUNSHOT ]

>> HE WAS SHOOTING AT ME, AND I

BELIEVED THAT I WAS GOING TO BE

KILLED.

>> Narrator: AFTER THE

CONFRONTATION, STAVENJORD SAYS

HE SAW DEBBIE LYING ON THE

GROUND, WITH A BULLET THROUGH

HER HEAD.

ACCORDING TO THE DEFENSE,

RICK BEERY KILLED HIS OWN WIFE

IN A MOMENT OF INEXPLICABLE

RAGE.

THEY FURTHER ARGUE THAT

STAVENJORD PANICKED.

>> HE HAD SAID THAT, AT THE

TIME, HE KNEW NO ONE WOULD

BELIEVE HIM -- WITH HIS CRIMINAL

PAST, NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE THAT

IT WAS ACCIDENTAL AND

SELF-DEFENSE.

>> Narrator: HE'D CARRIED

DEBBIE'S BODY TO A GRASSY SPOT

DOWN THE CREEK AND COVERED IT

WITH BRANCHES.

BY THEN, RICK'S BODY HAD FLOATED

INTO A DEEP POOL, WHERE

STAVENJORD LEFT IT.

IN A STRANGE TWIST, ON THE LAST

DAY OF TESTIMONY, STAVENJORD

ASKS TO PLAY A SONG ON ONE OF

HIS HAND-CARVED FLUTES.

>> HE DECIDED TO PLAY HIS FLUTE,

BECAUSE HIS ATTORNEY SAID HE

COULD EXPRESS HIMSELF MUCH

BETTER THROUGH HIS MUSIC.

AND IT WAS A SONG THAT HE SAID

THAT HE PLAYED FOR DEBORAH RIGHT

BEFORE RICK FOUND THEM.

>> HE THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BE

LIKE A SNAKE CHARMER TO THE

JURY -- ONCE THEY HEARD HIS

MELODIES, THAT WOULD BE IT.

"HOW CAN YOU CONVICT SOMEBODY

WHO CAN MAKE SUCH BEAUTIFUL

MUSIC?" I GUESS.

"HOW COULD DEBBIE DO ANYTHING

OTHER THAN HAVE RELATIONS WITH

THIS MAN AFTER HE PLAYED HIS

FLUTE?"

>> Narrator: BUT THE JUDGE

DOESN'T ALLOW THE JURY TO HEAR

STAVENJORD'S SONG.

AND IN THE END, THEY DON'T BUY

HIS STORY EITHER.

NOR DO THE VICTIMS' RELATIVES.

>> HE LIED SO MUCH, YOU DIDN'T

KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE OR WHAT NOT

TO BELIEVE.

IF HE TOLD ME THE SUN WAS

SHINING, I'D GO TO THE WINDOW

AND LOOK.

>> DEBBIE DIDN'T LIKE

MR. STAVENJORD, SO SHE WASN'T

GONNA STOP AND LISTEN TO

ANYTHING HE WAS GONNA DO, SAY,

OR PLAY.

SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LIKELY

TO COPULATE WITH AN ALLIGATOR

THAN THAT MAN.

>> Narrator: PROSECUTORS CONTEND

IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT RICK BEERY

ARRIVED IN CHULITNA THAT WEEKEND

TO FIND MORE OF HIS BELONGINGS

MISSING, THEN CONFRONTED

STAVENJORD.

HOURS LATER, STAVENJORD SET OUT

TO GET EVEN.

KNOWING RICK WOULD HEAD TO THE

PASS TO MEET DEBBIE WHEN SHE

DROVE IN, STAVENJORD AMBUSHED

THEM.

>> HE HAD ACTUALLY LAID IN WAIT

AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE,

WAITING FOR THEM TO COME OVER,

AND THEN TOOK THEM OUT.

>> STAVENJORD SEEN RICK GOING IN

TO GET DEB.

STAVENJORD WAITED ON THE

OPPOSITE SIDE WITH A.22 RIFLE,

'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, RICK, I'M

SURE, SAID, "GONNA BREAK YOUR

NECK IF YOU DON'T QUIT STEALING

MY GAS."

AND WHEN HE WAS COMING BACK IN,

THAT'S WHEN HE SHOT RICK OFF HIS

4- WHEELER AND SHOT DEB.

[ GUNSHOT ]

>> UGH!

[ GUNSHOT ]

>> IF HE DIDN'T KILL RICK,

RICK WOULD HAVE DIED TRYING TO

GET TO HIM TO TAKE HIM OUT.

DEBORAH -- YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD

HAVE FOUGHT HOOK, TOOTH, AND

NAIL TO SAVE RICK, TOO.

>> Narrator: PAUL STAVENJORD IS

CONVICTED OF TWO COUNTS OF

MURDER.

HE'S SENTENCED TO 198 YEARS IN

PRISON.

THE JUDGE NOTES, THE STEEP

SENTENCE STEMS FROM THE FACT

STAVENJORD NEVER EXPRESSED ANY

REGRET.

>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, "KILL

THE S.O.B.," YOU KNOW?

AND TO THIS DAY, I REALLY

BELIEVE "AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A

TOOTH FOR A TOOTH."

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

HE'S BREATHING MY GOOD AIR AND

TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE.

>> THIS WAS A SENSELESS MURDER

OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE TWO

REALLY GOOD PEOPLE FOR WHAT

APPEARS TO BE NO REASON AT ALL

ANYBODY COULD TELL, OTHER THAN

BAD BLOOD.

NO MATTER WHAT THE WORDS WERE,

THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T JUSTIFY

THE DEATH OF THESE TWO PEOPLE.

[ DRILL WHIRRING ]

>> Narrator: TODAY, THE MAN WHO

FANCIED HIMSELF A BACKWOODSMAN

COMMUNING WITH NATURE IS NOW

LIVING OUT HIS LIFE IN A

CONCRETE CELL.

HE HAS NO CHANCE OF PAROLE.

>> MR. STAVENJORD WAS LIVING THE

DREAM -- THE DREAM THAT HE

WANTED TO LIVE.

HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL CABIN.

HE HAD EVERYTHING THAT HE

NEEDED.

AND, APPARENTLY, HE ALSO DECIDED

THAT AS MUCH AS ANYTHING, THAT

PERHAPS OTHER PEOPLE HAD MORE

THAN HE HAD.

>> HE'LL NEVER DO THIS TO NOBODY

AGAIN UNLESS HE BREAKS OUT OF

PRISON.

IF HE DOES, I HOPE HE COMES AND

VISITS ME.