Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - North Pole Slay Ride - full transcript

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

Narrator: THE WILDS OF ALASKA
ARE A VAST AND UNTAMED FRONTIER.

Oberlatz: PEOPLE COME HERE
TO ESCAPE FROM SOCIETY,

ESCAPE FROM THEIR LIVES
ELSEWHERE,

AND ESCAPE INTO THE WILD.

Narrator:
AMID THE RUGGED WILDERNESS,

PEOPLE VANISH
AT AN EERILY HIGH RATE.

BUT OFTENTIMES,
THE WILD TAKES OVER.

Narrator:
IN A REMOTE MINING VILLAGE

DEEP IN THE ICY INTERIOR,

SEVEN PEOPLE GO MISSING
IN 24 HOURS.



Burk-Turner: PEOPLE JUST KEPT
GOING TO THE LANDING,

AND SOMEBODY ELSE
WOULD GO CHECK ON THEM,

AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T
COME BACK, EITHER.

Narrator: AND NO ONE IS PREPARED
FOR WHAT LIES IN WAIT.

THIS COULD BE THE MOST TERRIBLE
THING THAT EVER HAPPENED

IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF MANLEY.

[ PROPELLERS WHIRRING ]

Narrator:
MANLEY HOT SPRINGS, ALASKA,

IS AS MUCH A STATE OF MIND
AS IT IS A PLACE ON THE MAP.

McCann:
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

IT'S THE END OF THE ROAD.

NOT MANY FOLKS WENT THERE.

VERY QUIET LITTLE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE
LIVING IN MANLEY AT THE TIME.



Narrator:
THE GOLD-MINING COMMUNITY

SITS ALONG THE TANANA RIVER,

JUST 150 MILES FROM FAIRBANKS.

BUT THE TREK TO GET THERE
TAKES FIVE HOURS

DOWN A TREACHEROUS GRAVEL ROAD.

Barnard:
IT HAD TO BE A DESTINATION.

IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU REALLY HAD
TO WANT TO GO TO.

YOU JUST DIDN'T GO BY IT.

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1984,

THE RESIDENTS OF MANLEY
ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING

THE TIME OF YEAR
KNOWN AS BREAKUP,

WHEN THE FROZEN TUNDRA THAWS,
THE RIVER FLOWS FREELY AGAIN,

AND LIFE BEGINS ANEW.

Burk-Turner: WELL, IT'S AWESOME.
BIG CHUNKS OF ICE.

HUGE CHUNKS OF ICE,
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THUNDER.

Pam:
WHEN THE ICE GOES OUT,

IT IS THE LAST HURRAH
OF WINTER,

AND SPRING AND SUMMER ARE
ON THE WAY,

AND THAT MEANS
THAT TRANSPORTATION ON THE RIVER

IS NOW AVAILABLE.

Narrator: ON MAY 17th,

VIETNAM VET JOE McVEY

AND HIS GOOD FRIEND,
DALE MADJESKE,

HEAD TO THE BOAT LANDING

ABOUT A QUARTER-MILE
OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

Cruikshank: KIRSTEN AND I
WERE GONNA MAKE LUNCH,

AND THE GUYS WERE GONNA GO
CHECK THE RIVER

TO SEE IF THE ICE
HAD BROKEN UP YET.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS,

BUT IT JUST CAME IN
REALLY CLEAR,

AND A FEELING
SLAMMED INTO ME,

AND I KNOW I STOOD UP AND TURNED
AROUND AND LOOKED AT THE WINDOW,

AND I TOLD KIRSTEN,
"WE'LL NEVER FORGET TODAY.

THIS DAY WILL ALWAYS BE
WITH US."

I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE NEVER
GONNA FORGET IT.

IN A GOOD WAY?

SURE.

OKAY.

Narrator:
LATER THAT AFTERNOON,

WHEN THE MEN FAIL TO RETURN,

THEIR WIVES BEGIN TO WONDER
WHAT COULD BE KEEPING THEM.

[ BABY CRYING ]

THE WOMEN DRIVE TO THE LANDING.

THEY FIND JOE'S BOAT
STILL ON THE TRAILER.

SOMETHING'S WRONG.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT
THEIR BEER IN THE CAR.

Cruikshank: KIRSTEN LOOKED
IN THE TRUCK, AND I REMEMBER HER

DISTINCTLY SAYING, "SOMETHING'S
WRONG. THEY LEFT THE BEER."

Narrator: ALICE ALSO RECOGNIZES
ANOTHER LOCAL'S VEHICLE

PARKED AT THE LANDING.

ALBERT HAGEN WAS VISITING
HIS PARENTS IN MANLEY

AND HAD GONE TO THE RIVER
THAT MORNING

TO THROW OUT SOME BRUSH
HE HAD CLEARED FROM THEIR LAND.

THE GUYS WERE
NOWHERE TO BE SEEN,

AND NEITHER WAS ANYBODY ELSE.

AND THAT,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS CONFUSING.

Narrator: GIVEN
THE UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER,

THE WOMEN THINK
THAT JOE AND DALE

MAY HAVE GOTTEN SIDETRACKED.

PERHAPS THEY RAN INTO ALBERT
AND INVITED HIM ALONG.

THE THOUGHT THAT OCCURRED
TO A LOT OF THE FOLKS THERE --

JUST, YOU KNOW, "OH, THEY
PROBABLY JUST WENT OVER

TO FISH CAMP, OR MAYBE THEY
JUST WENT FOR A HIKE."

NOTHING REALLY OUT OF THE NORM.

Narrator:
BUT BY NOON THE NEXT DAY,

THERE IS STILL NO SIGN
OF THE THREE MEN.

THAT AFTERNOON,

FRIENDS AND FAMILY
OF THE MISSING GATHER TOGETHER.

THEY'RE TERRIFIED
SOMETHING HORRIBLE

HAS HAPPENED
TO THEIR LOVED ONES.

WE'RE MISSING DALE,
JOE, ALBERT.

THEY SUDDENLY REALIZE OTHERS
IN MANLEY HAVE ALSO VANISHED.

NO ONE HAS SEEN ANY OF THEM.
YOU HAVEN'T, RIGHT?

Burk-Turner: PEOPLE JUST KEPT
GOING TO THE LANDING,

AND EVERYBODY'S WONDERING,

"I WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T COME
BACK FROM THE LANDING."

AND SOMEBODY ELSE
WOULD GO CHECK ON THEM,

AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T
COME BACK, EITHER.

PEOPLE WERE JUST MISSING
WITH NO EXPLANATION.

WHAT ABOUT THE KLEINS?

I KNOW I TALKED TO JOYCE
ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO,

BUT SHE DIDN'T MENTION
SHE WAS LEAVING.

OKAY.

Narrator: LYMAN KLEIN,
HIS PREGNANT WIFE, AND THEIR SON

HAD LAST BEEN SEEN
THE DAY BEFORE,

RIDING TO THE RIVERBANK
ON THEIR FOUR-WHEELER.

Pam:
A FRIEND OF OURS CALLED US AND
WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.

THEIR FOUR-WHEELER WAS PARKED
DOWN AT THE LANDING,

AND THEY WEREN'T THERE,
AND WE SAID,

"OH, YOU KNOW,
THEY PROBABLY WENT

UP TO THEIR PROPERTY
THAT THEY HAD UPRIVER."

WE'LL GO CHECK
ON THE KLEINS.

GO. GO CHECK ON THEM NOW.

Narrator: THE FAMILY WAS KNOWN
TO LEAVE TOWN ON OCCASION,

BUT NOT WITHOUT ASKING SOMEONE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOG.

FRANTIC, SEVERAL NEIGHBORS
HEAD TO THE KLEINS' HOME.

[ DOG BARKING ]

STRANGELY,
THEY FIND THE DOG UNATTENDED.

JOE.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY,
EITHER.

MEANWHILE, OTHERS HEAD
TO THE BOAT LAUNCH

IN THE HOPES THE MISSING
MAY HAVE RETURNED.

THEY NOTICE
ANOTHER UNATTENDED VEHICLE --

THAT OF A YOUNG STRANGER

WHO HAD DRIVEN INTO MANLEY
ONLY DAYS EARLIER.

Pam:
HE HAD BEEN AROUND TOWN FOR --

I THINK HE WAS HERE
FOR A TOTAL

OF ABOUT 7 TO 10 DAYS,
AND SO PEOPLE GOT USED TO HIM.

HE WAS CAMPED
DOWN AT THE LANDING,

WHICH IS THE RIVERBANK,

AND IT WASN'T UNUSUAL
TO SEE HIM DOWN THERE

OR TO SEE HIM IN TOWN.

Narrator:
BUT THE NEWCOMER

IS ALSO AMONG THE MISSING
IN MANLEY.

RESIDENTS SCOUR THE DOCK
FOR ANY SIGN

OF THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

BUT ARE LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS
THAN ANSWERS.

NEARLY 1/10 OF THE TOWN
IS UNACCOUNTED FOR.

MacDonald: ONCE YOU HAVE
THAT MANY PEOPLE MISSING,

THAT MANY PEOPLE IN QUESTION,
ALARM BELLS START GOING OFF.

SOMETHING'S AMISS HERE.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Woman:
SO, WHAT'S GOING ON?

WE'VE CALLED EVERYBODY.

WE'RE MISSING DALE,
JOE, ALBERT.

Narrator:
PEOPLE IN THE TINY TOWN

OF MANLEY HOT SPRINGS,
ALASKA,

ARE DISAPPEARING
AT AN ALARMING RATE.

SIX PEOPLE -- NEARLY 1/10
OF THE TOWN -- ARE MISSING.

[ DOG BARKING ]

MEANWHILE, FOLKS IN MANLEY
ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT'S UNFOLDED

WEEKS EARLIER,
SOME 150 MILES DOWNRIVER,

IN THE TINY RENTAL-CABIN
COMMUNITY OF HOPKINSVILLE.

IT WAS VERY RUSTIC.
NO PHONES, NO POWER.

JUST A CHEAP PLACE
TO PARK, LIVE.

Narrator: ROGER CULP HAD CALLED
THE PLACE HOME FOR YEARS.

Hooker: HE CAME
DURING THE PIPELINE DAYS,

AND HE JUST KIND OF STAYED.

HE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW,
DRANK A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH,

BUT HE WAS KIND OF A HAPPY GUY

AND JUST WAS REAL MELLOW
AS A NEIGHBOR.

HE WOULD LOVE TO COME OVER
WHEN I WAS BAKING BREAD.

HE COULD SMELL IT BAKING,
AND HE WOULD JUST COME OVER,

KNOCK ON THE DOOR, AND COME IN
AND VISIT FOR A WHILE.

Narrator:
BUT NO ONE HAS SEEN OR HEARD

FROM ROGER IN MORE THAN A WEEK,

AND HE'S NOT ALONE.

NEIGHBORS NOTICE OTHER THINGS
ARE ALSO DISAPPEARING.

HOPKINSVILLE RESIDENT
WENDY HOOKER

IS MISSING A MOOSE HIDE --

A VALUABLE COMMODITY
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Hooker:
I WAS PLANNING ON TANNING IT,

AND THERE WAS NO TIME TO TAN IT
BEFORE WINTER,

SO I CUT IT IN FOUR BIG
SECTIONS, AND I DRIED IT.

AND I PUT IT ON THE LINE
NEAR MY CABIN.

THE NEXT MORNING,
WHEN WE WOKE UP,

ALL OF THE MOOSE HIDE WAS GONE.

Narrator:
SHE'S IMMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS

THAT ANOTHER NEIGHBOR,
MICHAEL SILKA,

MAY HAVE TAKEN IT.

HE WAS A REAL QUIET GUY,

DIDN'T REALLY LOOK
ANYBODY IN THE EYE,

JUST KIND OF KEPT TO HIMSELF.

SHE GOES TO SILKA'S CABIN
TO CONFRONT HIM

AND NOTICES SOMETHING PECULIAR.

Hooker: THERE WAS A FUNNY MOUND
OF SNOW NEAR HIS CABIN

TO THE LEFT
AS I WALKED UP TO IT.

I GOT TO THE DOOR,
AND I KNOCKED SEVERAL TIMES,

AND NO ONE ANSWERED.

AND SO, THEN I WALKED AROUND
THE BACK SIDE OF HIS CABIN,

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER MOUND
OF FRESH SNOW.

AND I THOUGHT, "THAT'S WEIRD.

I WONDER WHAT HE HAS
IN THAT MOUND."

SO, I WALKED BACK
AROUND THE CABIN,

I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AGAIN,
NO ONE ANSWERED.

Narrator: WENDY SEARCHES
THE PROPERTY FOR SILKA

BUT CAN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE.

SHE DECIDES TO QUESTION
NEIGHBORS ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS.

JANELLE,
HAVE YOU SEEN MICHAEL?

NO.

SOMETHING REALLY STRANGE
IS GOING ON.

Hooker: I WENT BACK
INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,

AND I ASKED OTHER PEOPLE,
"HAS ANYBODY SEEN HIM?"

AND NOBODY HAD.

BYE.
TAKE CARE.

Narrator: HOURS LATER,
SHE RETURNS TO SILKA'S CABIN

AND NOTICES SOMETHING
EVEN MORE DISTURBING.

Hooker:
I NOTICE THAT MY FOOTPRINTS

THAT WERE IN THAT FRESH SNOW
ON THE WALKWAY --

SOME OF THEM HAD FILLED
WITH BLOOD.

THE BLOOD WAS SEEPING UP FROM
UNDERNEATH INTO MY FOOTPRINTS.

Narrator:
WENDY RACES BACK TO HER CABIN

AND TELLS HER HUSBAND
ABOUT WHAT SHE'S WITNESSED.

DAVE. DAVE, YOU GOT TO --
YOU GOT TO COME.

THERE'S TROUBLE OVER HERE.
THERE IS BLOOD ON...

TRULY, A LOT OF US
HUNTED AND FISHED.

WE TRAPPED SMALL ANIMALS.

WE DID DO THINGS LIKE THAT,
SO I THINK MY FIRST THOUGHT

WAS THAT HE HAD KILLED
AN ANIMAL.

I THINK SOMETHING STRANGE
IS GOING ON.

MY HUSBAND THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE HE HAD TRIED

TO GET A MOOSE OR SOMETHING,

BUT IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT
TO BE HIDING IT.

JUST GO GET THE LANDLORD.
OH!

I WAS JUST UNEASY
THAT SOMETHING HAD GONE ON

AND I WASN'T SURE WHAT.

Narrator: THE COUPLE SHARE THEIR
CONCERNS WITH THEIR LANDLORD.

THEY DECIDE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
AT SILKA'S CABIN.

HEY, MICHAEL.

THIS TIME,
HE ANSWERS THE DOOR.

Hooker:
MICHAEL CAME OUT OF THE CABIN,

AND HE SAID THAT HE HAD TAKEN IT
AND THAT HE WOULD BRING IT BACK.

HE HAD THOUGHT
HE COULD HAVE IT ALL.

LIKE I SAID,
SHE TOLD ME I COULD HAVE IT.

I THOUGHT I COULD TAKE
THE WHOLE THING.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.SORRY, GUYS.

Narrator: FEARING THERE MAY BE
MORE TO SILKA'S STORY

THAN HE'S WILLING TO ADMIT,

THE LANDLORD CALLS POLICE.

BUT AS THE INFORMATION IS PASSED
FROM PERSON TO PERSON,

IT SOMEHOW BECOMES GARBLED.

TROOPERS WRONGLY SURMISE
THAT NEIGHBORS BELIEVE

MICHAEL SILKA HAS MET
WITH FOUL PLAY.

LATER THAT DAY, AUTHORITIES
CHECK OUT SILKA'S CABIN.

THEY KNOCK ON HIS DOOR.

BUT THERE IS NO RESPONSE.

THEY SEARCH THE AREA
AND FIND DROPS OF BLOOD,

BUT NO EVIDENCE OF THE POOLS
OF BLOOD WENDY REPORTED.

HOWEVER, THE FRESH MOUNDS
OF SNOW ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE.

THEY DIG UP THE MOUNDS

AND DISCOVER NOTHING MORE
THAN A BURIED MOOSE HIDE.

TROOPERS DIDN'T DETECT
ANYTHING MORE SUSPICIOUS.

Narrator: BEFORE LEAVING,

TROOPERS POUND ON THE CABIN DOOR
ONCE MORE.

Silka:
YEAH, WHO IS IT?

THIS TIME, THEY'RE MET
BY SURPRISE WHEN SILKA ANSWERS.

STRANGELY,
HE HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

McCann: HE CAME OUT
AND TALKED TO THEM BRIEFLY,

SAID HE HAD SHOT THIS MOOSE

AND HE JUST HAD THE HIDE
HANGING THERE,

DRIPPING DOWN ON THE GROUND.

THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT
OF BLOOD.

Barnard: AND HIS EXPLANATION
WHY THE BLOOD'S THERE,

WHICH WAS
FAIRLY REASONABLE EXPLANATION.

THEY SORT OF FELT, "WELL,
I GUESS THE CASE IS CLOSED."

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Barnard:
SEARCHED THE AREA,

SEARCHED THE CABIN,
FOUND NOTHING ELSE.

Narrator: OFFICERS LEAVE WITHOUT
EVEN LOOKING FOR ROGER CULP.

WITH SILKA UNHARMED
AND NOW OFF THEIR RADAR,

THEY DECIDE THERE IS NO REASON
TO PURSUE HIS MISSING NEIGHBOR.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE
TO GO MISSING IN ALASKA.

IT IS SUCH
A VAST AND RUGGED PLACE

THAT OFTENTIMES THERE,
THE CIRCUMSTANCES

ARE COMPLETELY UNKNOWN,
AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY.

[ WOLVES GROWLING, HOWLING ]

Narrator: THREE WEEKS PASS,

AND NO ONE IN HOPKINSVILLE
SEES ANY SIGN OF ROGER CULP.

MEANWHILE,
IN NEARBY MANLEY HOT SPRINGS,

SIX OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
SEEMINGLY DISAPPEARED.

WHILE SEARCHING
THE RIVER LANDING FOR CLUES,

RESIDENTS FIND
AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE --

THAT OF A YOUNG STRANGER

WHO HAD ONLY RECENTLY MADE
HIS WAY TO MANLEY.

HE WAS WHAT WE WOULD CALL
AN END-OF-THE-ROADER,

AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE
ARE SOMEWHAT ODD,

BUT YOU DIDN'T REALLY THINK
A WHOLE LOT ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST ACCEPTED THEM
FOR WHAT THEY WERE.

Narrator:
BUT THIS GUY SEEMS OUT OF SORTS,

TELLING PEOPLE OF HIS PLANS
TO FISH FOR BASS AND PIKE.

MacDonald: THOSE ARE JUST TWO
FISH SPECIES THAT DON'T EXIST

IN THAT PART OF THE INTERIOR,

AND SO PEOPLE THOUGHT
THAT WAS A LITTLE ODD.

Cruikshank:
HE DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT.

AND HE WAS KIND OF WITHDRAWN
AND OUT THERE IN HIS IDEAS.

HE SEEMED SKILLED

BUT NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE
TO THE ALASKAN ENVIRONMENT.

YOU MEET PEOPLE
THAT ARE EXTREMELY CLEAR

WITH ALASKAN KNOWLEDGE

ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING,
WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND HOW TO.

AND HE DIDN'T APPEAR
TO BE THAT WAY.

Narrator:
NOW FEARING THE STRANGER IN TOWN

MAY ALSO BE AMONG THE MISSING,

RESIDENTS JOT DOWN HIS VEHICLE'S
LICENSE PLATE AND NOTIFY POLICE.

Cruikshank:
I CALLED THE TROOPERS,

AND I GAVE THEM THE FIRST THREE
LETTERS OFF THE CAR TAG,

AND THEY GAVE ME
THE NEXT THREE NUMBERS.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH IT.

THEY ALREADY KNEW.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR HIM.

THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE
WAS, IS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES TRACE THE VEHICLE

AND FIND IT BELONGS
TO 25-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL SILKA.

THEY'VE HEARD THE NAME BEFORE.

HE'S THE SAME OUTSIDER

WHO RAISED EYEBROWS
IN NEARBY HOPKINSVILLE.

Hooker: WE DIDN'T KNOW
TO CONNECT THE DOTS,

BUT WE HAD, IN FACT,
BEEN AFRAID ENOUGH

THAT WE WERE SLEEPING
WITH A PISTOL IN OUR BED.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ DOG BARKING ]

Narrator:
FEAR QUICKLY MOUNTS

IN THE SMALL ALASKAN VILLAGE
OF MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

AS RESIDENTS BEGIN DISAPPEARING
ONE BY ONE.

MEANWHILE, 150 MILES AWAY,

IN THE RENTAL-CABIN COMMUNITY
OF HOPKINSVILLE,

THERE'S SOMETHING
EQUALLY SINISTER GOING ON.

Cruikshank:
I WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO,
FLIPPING RADIO STATIONS.

I GOT A LITTLE BLIP
THAT THEY WERE LOOKING

FOR SOMEONE SOMEWHERE
THAT WAS NOT GOOD.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING,
WELL, WE LIVE WAY OUT HERE --

DOESN'T REALLY PERTAIN TO US.

Narrator: LONGTIME HOPKINSVILLE
RESIDENT ROGER CULP

HAS VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE.

POLICE HAD SEARCHED
THE COMMUNITY ONCE ALREADY

AFTER RESIDENTS REPORTED SEEING
POOLS OF BLOOD IN THE SNOW,

BUT FOUND NOTHING MORE
THAN A MOOSE HIDE.

NOW, MORE THAN A WEEK LATER,

ANOTHER HOPKINSVILLE RESIDENT

COMES FORWARD
WITH A CHILLING STORY.

SHE TELLS POLICE SHE AND ROGER

HAD BEEN CHOPPING WOOD
BEHIND HIS CABIN

WHEN ANOTHER RESIDENT,
MICHAEL SILKA,

WALKED BY WITH A RIFLE
AND CONFRONTED THEM.

WHO'S THIS?
I DON'T KNOW.

HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.

Hooker: THE NEIGHBOR SAID
THAT SHE WAS VERY SCARED --

THAT SHE HAD BEEN OUT TALKING
WITH ROGER THAT DAY

AND DOING SOMETHING IN HER YARD,

AND THAT ROGER AND MICHAEL
HAD HAD WORDS.

REALLY?

WHO IS THAT?I DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS.

HEY!NO, DON'T GO AFTER HIM.

DON'T GO AFTER HIM.
HE'S GOT A GUN.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
COME BACK HERE.

Narrator: THE WOMAN CLAIMS ROGER
WAS SO ANGRY,

HE FOLLOWED SILKA
TO HIS CABIN,

DESPITE HER PLEAS
TO LET HIM BE.

MINUTES LATER, SHE IS STARTLED
BY THE SOUND OF GUNSHOTS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

BECAUSE HOPKINSVILLE DOES NOT
HAVE TELEPHONE SERVICE,

THE WOMAN IS UNABLE
TO CALL POLICE,

AND SHE IS TOO TERRIFIED
TO WALK 200 YARDS FOR HELP.

Hooker: SHE HAD JUST LOCKED
HERSELF IN THE CABIN

AND WAS AFRAID TO COME OUT.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
ARMED WITH THE NEW INFORMATION,

POLICE ARE ANXIOUS TO TALK
TO MICHAEL SILKA AGAIN.

I WENT BACK OUT THERE
TO DO ANOTHER INVESTIGATION,

AND AT THIS TIME, HE WAS GONE.

HIS VEHICLE'S GONE, HE'S GONE.

THE PLACE IS EMPTY.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS SPEND TWO DAYS

COMBING THE GROUNDS
AROUND SILKA'S SHACK.

THEY BRUSH AWAY PATCHES OF PEAT

AND UNCOVER A DISTURBING FIND --

SPOTS OF DRIED BLOOD.

SOIL SAMPLES ARE SENT
TO THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY.

ON MAY 16th, THE LAB CONFIRMS

THAT THE BLOOD
ISN'T FROM ANY ANIMAL.

IT'S THE BLOOD OF A HUMAN.

Barnard:
WE DIDN'T HAVE A BODY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONFESSION.

WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHOSE BLOOD THAT WAS.

IT COULD'VE BEEN HIS BLOOD.

AT THAT POINT, WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANY COMPARISONS.

BUT WE CERTAINLY WANTED
TO TALK TO HIM IN THE WORST WAY.

Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER,

RESIDENTS IN NEARBY
MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

CALL STATE TROOPERS
AND OFFER UP THE LICENSE PLATE

OF THE NEWCOMER IN TOWN --
MICHAEL SILKA.

POLICE ARE NOW AWARE
THAT THE MAN

THEY'VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK TO
ABOUT ROGER CULP'S DISAPPEARANCE

HAS MADE HIS WAY TO MANLEY.

Barnard: ONCE I HEARD THAT,

I SUSPECTED THAT NOTHING GOOD'S
HAPPENED THERE.

McCann: IT'S A SINKING FEELING

THAT THIS IS NOT
SOME ORDINARY CASE.

THIS IS NOT PEOPLE
THAT HAVE GONE OUT ON TRIPS

OR WHAT-HAVE-YOU AND JUST NOT
COME HOME FOR WHATEVER REASON.

Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
THE RIVER IS JUST BREAKING UP.

PEOPLE IN MANLEY ARE SEEMINGLY
TRAPPED WITH NOWHERE TO RUN.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?
WHAT DID YOU FIND?

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY...

Narrator: THEY NOW SUSPECT

THE STRANGER AMONG THEM
HAS EVIL INTENTIONS,

AND THEY KNOW IT WILL TAKE HOURS

BEFORE TROOPERS ARE ABLE
TO GET THERE.

Joe: I HAD A LOADED RIFLE HERE

BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW
WHERE SILKA WAS AT,

WHETHER HE WAS GONNA COME
TO YOUR PLACE,

OR, I MEAN, HIDING OUT
IN THE WOODS.

WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
AT THE TIME.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAD ANY
IDEA WHERE SILKA REALLY WAS.

Narrator: IN THE EARLY MORNING
DARKNESS OF MAY 19th,

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS CONVERGE

ON THE REMOTE ALASKAN VILLAGE.

A HELICOPTER LANDS
IN THE ONLY ACCESSIBLE AREA --

THE BOAT DOCK --

STIRRING UP A MASSIVE AMOUNT
OF RIVER SILT,

BURYING ANY POTENTIAL EVIDENCE.

TROOPERS SET UP A ROADBLOCK
ALONG THE LONE ROAD INTO TOWN.

AT FIRST LIGHT, THEY STAGE
AN AERIAL AND GROUND SEARCH

FOR THE SIX MISSING RESIDENTS.

Barnard: A SLIGHT, MISTY RAIN
BEGAN TO FALL IN THAT LANDING,

AND AS IT WASHED THE DUST AWAY,

POOLS OF BLOOD AND OLD
FOOTPRINTS AND STUFF POPPED UP.

WELL, THE DUST WASHED OFF
SOME BRIGHT.44-CALIBER SHELLS

THAT WERE LAYING AROUND
THE LANDING IN THE BLOOD.

THEN IT WAS OBVIOUS, OF COURSE,
THIS WAS THE CRIME SCENE.

Narrator: NEAR THE RIVERBANK,

TROOPERS SPOT
THE KLEINS' FOUR-WHEELER

HIDDEN IN THE BRUSH.

THEY ALSO FIND
JOE McVEY'S BILL CAP.

AND THERE ARE MASSIVE DRAG MARKS
NEAR THE WATER'S EDGE.

McCann: I COULD
FINALLY MAKE OUT DEPRESSIONS.

IT WAS SMOOTHED OUT,
AND THERE WERE STRIATIONS

THAT WERE INDICATIVE
OF CLOTHING, BELTS,

THINGS WORN BY PEOPLE,
CAUSING THOSE STRIATIONS,

AND BODIES GOING
INTO A DEEP HOLE IN THE RIVER.

Narrator: BUT AUTHORITIES
HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW

IF ALL THOSE MISSING
IN MANLEY ARE DEAD,

OR IF SILKA MIGHT BE
HOLDING THEM HOSTAGE.

DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS,

AUTHORITIES TAKE TO THE SKIES
TO FIND THE DANGEROUS SUSPECT.

Davis: THICK AS ALL THE TREES
AND BRUSH WAS,

HE COULD VERY EASILY SLIP AWAY
FROM THE TROOPERS.

AND IF WE PUT TROOPERS
ON THE GROUND IN SEARCH OF HIM,

HE COULD LAY AN AMBUSH
AND KILL MORE THAN JUST ONE.

Narrator: TROOPERS HAD
BARELY BEGUN THEIR HUNT

BEFORE THEY SUDDENLY STUMBLE
UPON AN UNEXPECTED SIGHT.

HELP! OVER HERE!

BE ADVISED, WE HAVE
A YOUNG LADY

FLAGGING US DOWN
DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE.

Barnard: AND THERE WAS A WOMAN
ON THE RIVERBANK WAVING US DOWN.

HELP! I'M RIGHT HERE!

AND SHE SAID HER HUSBAND
HAD GONE TO TOWN,

AS THE RIVER HAD BROKEN UP,
IN HIS RIVER BOAT,

AND SHE WONDERED
WHERE HE MIGHT BE.

Narrator: SHE'D LAST SEEN
HER HUSBAND, FRED BURK,

TWO DAYS AGO.

Barnard: WE THOUGHT WE HAD THEM
ALL ACCOUNTED FOR IN MANLEY,

AND THEN WE GOT WORD THAT
WE HAVE ANOTHER MISSING PERSON.

IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM
LIKE IT WAS GONNA END.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: OVER A DOZEN
ALASKA STATE TROOPERS,

INCLUDING A SPECIAL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM

OUTFITTED WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
AND COMBAT GEAR,

CONVERGE ON MANLEY HOT SPRINGS.

BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT
THE SUSPECTED KILLER THEY SEEK

IS A FORMER MILITARY MAN.

MICHAEL SILKA JOINED THE ARMY

AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL
IN ILLINOIS

AND DID A TOUR OF DUTY

AT FORT WAINWRIGHT
OUTSIDE FAIRBANKS.

BEFORE MAKING HIS WAY TO MANLEY,

HE SPENT A FEW MONTHS HOLED UP
IN A REMOTE CANADIAN TOWN.

MacDonald:
HE WAS VERY MUCH TO HIMSELF,

LIVED IN A HOTEL ROOM,
DIDN'T GET OUT VERY MUCH.

WHEN HE DID,
PAID EVERYTHING IN CASH.

EVERYTHING WAS PAID IN CASH.

NO ONE KNEW WHERE HE WORKED,
THOUGH,

SO THEY DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE HE WAS GETTING HIS MONEY.

Narrator:
PEOPLE THERE NOTICED HE CARRIED

A NUMBER OF RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS

IN THE BACK
OF HIS BEAT-UP DODGE SEDAN.

Oberlatz: SILKA WAS A GUY
FROM THE LOWER 48,

FANCIES HIMSELF
AS A MOUNTAIN MAN.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD
A MINOR CRIMINAL HISTORY

WHERE HE WAS FROM --

CRIMINAL OFFENSES FOR FIREARMS.

LOVED TO CARRY FIREARMS,

BUT CAME FROM A PLACE WERE,
REALLY, THAT WAS FROWNED UPON.

Narrator: SILKA CAME
TO MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

DREAMING OF LIVING
OFF THE LAND.

NOW POLICE FEAR THE WILD MAN

MAY HAVE SPLASHED HIS NAME
IN BLOOD ACROSS THE TINY TOWN.

McCann: YOU THINK BAD THINGS
LONG ENOUGH,

YOU'LL END UP DOING THEM.

BEEN HAVING TROUBLE
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

ALL THE WAY FROM ILLINOIS,
ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH CANADA,

AND NOW HERE IN ALASKA.

THERE IS NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.
HE'S AT THE END OF THE ROAD NOW.

Oberlatz: SOME PEOPLE ESCAPE
TO MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

TO ESCAPE THEMSELVES,
REALLY, YOU KNOW?

AND WHAT THEY END UP CONFRONTING
IS THEMSELVES

BECAUSE IT'S SUCH
AN INTENSELY POWERFUL PLACE.

A MAN ALONE WITH HIS THOUGHTS
AT THE END OF THE ROAD

CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS THING,
WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

Narrator:
AS TROOPERS SET OUT TO FIND HIM,

THEY ARE KEENLY AWARE

THEY'RE UP AGAINST A RISKY SET
OF CIRCUMSTANCES --

A DANGEROUS SUSPECT
IN A COVER OF SECLUDED BRUSH.

McCann: HE KNEW WHAT WAS UP.

HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS UP.

YEAH.
AND HE WAS PREPARED TO DIE.

THAT'S A FORMIDABLE FOE.

Narrator: USING TWO HELICOPTERS
AND A SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE,

TROOPERS SCOUR THE AREA.

SUDDENLY, THE PILOT SPOTS A MAN

IN A FLAT-BOTTOM BOAT
TOWING A LOADED CANOE.

THE PILOT RECOGNIZES
MICHAEL SILKA AT THE WHEEL

AND SEES AN ARSENAL OF WEAPONS
IN THE BOAT.

Man: BE ADVISED,

HE HAS A LARGE CACHE OF WEAPONS
INSIDE HIS BOAT.

HE IS HEAVILY ARMED.

Narrator: ARMED WITH M16s,
TROOPERS ORCHESTRATE A PLAN.

Barnard:
THE TWO HELICOPTERS INITIALLY
WANTED TO COME IN TOGETHER

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SUSPECT

SO THAT THEY COULD HIT HIM
IN THE CROSSFIRE

OR THEY COULD DIVERT
HIS ATTENTION BACK AND FORTH.

THAT WAS THE PRINCIPLE.

Narrator:
THE CHOPPER CONTINUES EN ROUTE

TOWARD SILKA'S LOCATION.

FROM INSIDE,
TROOPER TROY DUNCAN

AND HIS BEST FRIEND,
TROOPER JEFF HALL,

SPOT THE CANOE TETHERED
BEHIND THE RIVERBOAT.

AS THE HELICOPTER BEGINS AN
AWKWARD DESCENT INTO THE WIND,

TROOPER HALL SPOTS SILKA

BEHIND THE DENSE BRUSH
ALONG THE RIVERBANK.

Davis:
WE CAME RIGHT DIRECTLY AT HIM.

HE WAS OUT OF THE BOAT, STANDING
ON THE EDGE OF THE BANK,

WHICH IS FAIRLY STEEP,
AND WHEN HE SAW US,

HE MADE IT DOWN FOR THE BOAT
TO GET HIS WEAPON.

AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW
THAT HE WASN'T GONNA GIVE UP,

WHICH WE HAD HOPED HE WOULD.

[ GUN COCKS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

WE'RE HIT! GET US OUT OF HERE!
GET US OUT OF HERE!

Narrator: REALIZING SILKA
HAS THE UPPER HAND...

WE'RE TAKING FIRE.
WE'RE TAKING FIRE. LIFT US UP.

...HALL YELLS
FOR THE PILOT TO PULL BACK.

Barnard: WE HAD DOORS OFF
THE FRONT AND REAR LEFT SIDE

OF THE HELICOPTER.

THEY CAME IN SIDEWAYS,
AND THEY CAME IN LOW,

AND THIS FELLA
HAD TAKEN POSITION

AND FIRED ONE ROUND INTO
THE REAR SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER.

IT WENT BY THE TROOPER AND INTO
THE TOP OF THE HELICOPTER.

AND THEN CAPTAIN LAWRENCE
STARTED HOLLERING, "WE'RE HIT."

AND I'M CHECKING MY GAUGES
ON THE HELICOPTER.

YOU'RE CONTAINED,
YOU'RE MOVING, THE NOISE,

AND WE'RE NOT COMMITTED
TO KILLING HIM

UNTIL HE ACTS UPON US.

HE'S COMMITTED
RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
ALASKA STATE TROOPERS DESCEND

ON SUSPECTED MULTIPLE MURDERER
MICHAEL SILKA

FROM THE AIR,

UNAWARE HE HAS POSITIONED
HIMSELF FOR A GUN BATTLE.

McCann: WASN'T WAR.

AT LEAST WE DIDN'T KNOW
IT WAS WAR.

WE HAVE TO GO AT IT
LIKE WE'RE THE STATE POLICE.

"DROP YOUR GUN. COME OUT
AND LET US SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT."

WE HAVE TO CONTACT THEM
AND DO WHAT WE DO.

BUT HE WAS VERY WELL PREPARED
TO KILL US

AND TO BE KILLED HIMSELF.

MacDonald: THEY HAD A CERTAIN
PLAN. THAT PLAN WENT AWRY.

THEY WERE HOPING TO KIND OF COME
UP BEHIND HIM ON THE RIVER

AND SURPRISE HIM THAT WAY.

Narrator: BUT SILKA

HAS STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED
HIMSELF,

TAKING COVER
IN THE THICK BRUSH.

THERE HE IS,
RIGHT DOWN THERE.

THE SECOND TROOPERS SPOT HIM,
IT'S TOO LATE.

MacDonald: SO, THEY WERE
HOVERING NOT VERY HIGH OVER HIM,

AND HE LET LOOSE WITH A GUNSHOT.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Narrator: THEY CALL
FOR THE PILOT TO PULL UP,

BUT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TIME.

Davis: CAPTAIN LAWRENCE STARTED
HOLLERING, "WE'RE HIT."

AND I'M CHECKING MY GAUGES
ON THE HELICOPTER

'CAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS
REFERRING TO THE AIRCRAFT.

AND HE FINALLY SAID,
"TROY IS HIT."

DUNCAN'S BEEN HIT.

WHAT?

TROY DUNCAN TOOK A --

A 30-06 HIT HIM IN THE FACE
AND TOOK HIS HEAD OFF.

[ GUN COCKS ]

YEAH, I GOT HIM.
I GOT HIM.

Narrator: SECONDS LATER,

TROOPER HALL EMPTIES A 20-ROUND
CLIP AND CUTS SILKA DOWN.

TAKING A SHOT.

Davis:
HIS WAS ON FULLY AUTOMATIC.

HE JUST WALKED THE BULLETS
RIGHT INTO HIM WHEN HE DID FIRE.

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

HE COULDN'T COMPETE
WITH AN M16 MACHINE GUN.

OKAY, HE'S DOWN.
HE'S DOWN.

COPY, HE'S DOWN.

Narrator: SILKA IS HIT
AT LEAST FIVE TIMES.

HE DIES INSTANTLY.

TROOPERS THEN TURN
THEIR ATTENTION

TO THEIR FALLEN COMRADE.

Davis: I SAW AN OPEN FIELD
WITH TUNDRA.

NOTHING BUT TUNDRA THERE --
SMALL FIELD.

AND I LANDED
SO THEY COULD CHECK TROY OUT.

JEFF GOT OUT OF THE HELICOPTER
AND CHECKED TROY,

AND HE CAME BACK AND SAID

THERE WAS NOTHING
THEY COULD DO FOR HIM.

HE'S ALREADY DEAD.

Narrator: TROY DUNCAN IS
ONLY THE THIRD STATE TROOPER

TO FALL IN THE LINE OF DUTY

IN THE 25 YEARS SINCE ALASKA
BECAME A STATE.

WE ALL REALIZE THIS
AS TROOPERS --

CERTAINLY
AS SERT TEAM MEMBERS --

IS THAT WE'RE GOING AGAINST
A FOE THAT IS WILLING TO DIE.

MAYBE IT'S HIS WISH, EVEN.

SILKA WAS COMMITTED
TO HIS CAUSE,

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RULES.

HE WAS READY.

HE FELT HE WAS TRAPPED,
AND HE WAS WILLING TO DIE.

AND SO HE DID.

Narrator:
IN THE DAYS AFTER THE MELEE,

FOLKS IN TOWN REFUSE
TO GIVE UP HOPE.

Joe: THE GUYS WERE ALL SEARCHING
AND STUFF,

AND I REMEMBER MYSELF GOING OUT
IN THE WOODS AND STUFF,

BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT

THAT A LOT OF THESE
SERIAL KILLERS AND STUFF

A LOT OF TIMES DON'T KILL WOMEN
AND LITTLE KIDS.

SO I THOUGHT
MAYBE HE HAD THEM TIED UP,

POSSIBLY,
IN THE WOODS SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: AT THE SAME TIME,

DIVERS SEARCH THE TANANA RIVER
FOR THE MISSING.

BUT THE SILTY RIVER BOTTOM
SUCKS THEM DOWN TO THEIR ANKLES,

AND THEY HAVE TO BE PULLED OUT.

McCann:
IT'S A HUGE AND DANGEROUS RIVER

THAT DOESN'T GIVE UP BODIES
VERY EASILY.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
INVESTIGATORS AND SURVIVORS

ARE DESPERATE TO UNDERSTAND
THE MADMAN'S MOTIVE.

MacDonald: HE WAS A TIME BOMB
WAITING TO GO OFF,

AND UNFORTUNATELY,
HE WENT OFF IN MANLEY

AND DID GREAT DAMAGE
TO THE COMMUNITY THERE.

I THINK IT WAS A CASE
OF THE WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME,

AND THIS INDIVIDUAL
WAS READY TO SNAP,

AND HE SNAPPED RIGHT THERE.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONTEND
THAT SILKA

LIKELY GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT

WITH JOE McVEY
OR HIS BEST FRIEND, DALE,

DOWN AT THE BOAT DOCK.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS
DOING HERE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?THIS IS MY FISHING SPOT.

YOUR SPOT?
YOU A LOCAL?

WHAT ARE YOU FISHING FOR?

BASS AND MUSKIE.

THERE'S NO BASS UP HERE.

WHAT DO YOU GOT IN HERE?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM, DUDE?
WHAT IS THIS STUFF?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU GOT SOME SHORTS HERE?

DON'T TOUCH MY STUFF.
BACK OFF, ALL RIGHT?

WHO IS THIS GUY? WHO THE HELL
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

HEY, MAN, DON'T.

COME ON, MAN.

BACK OFF!

DUDE, LET HIM --

GET OUT OF HERE!

DUDE, LET GO, MAN,
LET GO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

GET OFF HIM.

YOU STAY BACK.

BACK OFF, DALE.
JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

WHO IS THIS?JUST GONNA LEAVE, OKAY?

WHAT DOES THIS GUY
THINK HE'S DOING?

DOESN'T MATTER, MAN.

PUT THAT DOWN, MAN.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HEY.

Narrator: HE THEN LOST
HIS TEMPER AND SHOT THEM.

STOP!
LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS, MAN.

THE OTHER RESIDENTS SHOWED UP

WHILE SILKA WAS DRAGGING
HIS VICTIMS TO THE RIVER.

Joe: PEOPLE JUST HAPPENED
TO JUST SHOW UP

AT THE WRONG TIME TO THE RIVER,

AND HE HAD EVIDENCE THERE
THAT HE HAD TO GET RID OF,

SO HE JUST KEPT KILLING PEOPLE

IN ORDER TO GET RID
OF THE EVIDENCE.

Narrator: TRAPPER FRED BURK

HAD THE MISFORTUNE
OF ENCOUNTERING SILKA

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE RIVER
TO FIX HIS CAR.

Burk: HEY, MAN. WHAT'S GOING ON?
I HEARD GUNSHOTS.

WHAT'S WITH ALL THE BLOOD?

OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
NO, NO.

Pam: WHEN FREDDY BURK
SHOWED UP WITH HIS BOAT,

THAT WAS HIS WAY OF ESCAPING.

IT WAS PRETTY DEVASTATING,

PARTICULARLY, IF YOU THINK
ABOUT IT,

THERE WAS 10% OF THE POPULATION
WAS KILLED IN ONE DAY.

Narrator:
BY THE END OF THE SUMMER,

THE RIVER HAD GIVEN UP
THE BODIES

OF JOE McVEY, DALE MADJESKE,

LYMAN KLEIN, AND FRED BURK.

ALL HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

LYMAN'S PREGNANT WIFE
AND THEIR SON

HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND.

NEITHER HAS ALBERT HAGEN JR.

THE BODY OF ROGER CULP,

THE MAN WHO WENT MISSING
IN HOPKINSVILLE,

NEVER SURFACES, EITHER.

Hooker: I TRULY BELIEVE
HE WAS PROBABLY IN THAT MOUND

BEHIND THE CABIN
WHEN I WAS THERE THE FIRST DAY.

MICHAEL PROBABLY TOOK ROGER
THROUGH THE WOODS --

IT WAS A VERY SHORT DISTANCE
TO THE RIVER --

AND PUT HIM INTO THE RIVER,

BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER A TRACE,
AND HE WAS NEVER FOUND.

HE NEVER ASKED US FOR ANYTHING
OR ANY HELP

OTHER THAN THAT PIECE
OF MOOSE HIDE.

BUT I THINK
THAT HE WANTED THE MOOSE HIDE

TO COVER UP THE MURDER.

Narrator: THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF SILKA'S VICTIMS

MAY NEVER BE KNOWN.

TWO DAYS BEFORE SILKA
MADE HIS WAY TO MANLEY,

FRED BURK
AND HIS EX-BROTHER-IN-LAW

SAW THE DRIFTER'S VEHICLE PARKED
SOME 30 MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

THEY NOTICED THREE PEOPLE
IN THE FRONT SEAT --

ONE THEY LATER IDENTIFIED
AS SILKA.

MY EX-HUSBAND SAID, "HEY, LET'S
STOP AND SEE IF THEY NEED HELP."

AND MY BROTHER SAYS, "NO, PEOPLE
GET KILLED LIKE THAT. LET'S GO."

HE JUST HAD A BAD FEELING,
SO THEY KEPT GOING.

AND HE NOTICED THAT THE PEOPLE
WERE LOOKING SCARED.

THEY WERE JUST, LIKE,
PETRIFIED-LOOKING.

Narrator: MICHAEL SILKA ARRIVED
IN MANLEY ALONE.

MacDonald: TO THIS DAY,
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THOSE TWO PEOPLE.

THEY VERY WELL
COULD BE DEAD AND BURIED

SOMEPLACE IN THE TUNDRA
OUT THERE.

Barnard: NOBODY KNEW
WHO THE TWO PEOPLE WERE.

WE DON'T HAVE NO OTHER
REPORTED MISSING PEOPLE.

THEY COULD'VE BEEN HITCHHIKERS.

Narrator: THOSE WHO SURVIVE
THE MASSACRE IN MANLEY

EQUATE IT TO A GAME
OF RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

THEY SAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN
ANY ONE OF THEM

AT THE DOCK THAT DAY.

IT WAS TIMING.
IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE OF TIMING.

WE JUST WEREN'T ON TIME
TO BE A VICTIM.

Narrator:
AT THE REQUEST OF HIS FATHER,

MICHAEL SILKA WAS BURIED

IN THE NATIONAL CEMETERY
IN SITKA, ALASKA.

Barnard: HE WAS
AN HONORABLY DISCHARGED SOLDIER,

AND HE HAS THAT RIGHT.

WHAT'S MORE IRONIC ABOUT THAT

IS THAT STATE TROOPER
TRAINING ACADEMY

IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR
TO THE CEMETERY.

THEY'VE HAD TO UNMARK THE GRAVE
FOR WHATEVER REASON.

Narrator: THE RIFLE HE USED
TO TAKE OUT TROOPER TROY DUNCAN

REMAINS ON DISPLAY
AT THE ACADEMY.

IT'S A REMINDER -- A REMINDER
OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN,

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WALK
INTO THE JAWS OF DANGER OFTEN.

AMONGST THIS BEAUTY
ARE THESE PEOPLE

THAT HAVE COME HERE
FOR EVIL REASONS,

AND IT'S THEIR LAST STRONGHOLD.