Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - White Snow, Red Blood - full transcript

[ WOLF HOWLING ]

Narrator:
THE WILDS OF ALASKA

ARE A VAST AND UNTAMED FRONTIER.

Oberlatz:
I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH

THAT SEPARATES LIFE AND DEATH
IN ALASKA.

DEPENDING ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES,

YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF
RIGHT ON THE EDGE,

AND THAT EDGE IS RAZOR-THIN.

[ SNARLING ]

Narrator:
AMID THE RUGGED WILDERNESS,

PEOPLE VANISH
AT AN EERILY HIGH RATE.



YOU HAVE TO BE IN TUNE
WITH EVERYTHING AROUND YOU.

Narrator: OUTSIDE ANCHORAGE,

A MANIACAL KILLER COMES UNGLUED.

COMING IN.

Narrator: THE EVIL ON HIS MIND
SOON BECOMES APPARENT.

HE'S HUNTING HUMANS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

NO ONE WAS SAFE.

ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WAS SAFE
ON THE STREETS THAT DAY.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ HOWLING ]

Narrator: LONG CONSIDERED
THE BREADBASKET OF ALASKA,

THE MAT-SU VALLEY
LIES JUST OUTSIDE OF ANCHORAGE.

TUCKED BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS
LIES A RURAL OASIS,



THE SLEEPY LITTLE SUBURB
OF PALMER.

Derry:
PALMER WAS A WHISTLE-STOP.

IN 1935, THEY BROUGHT IMMIGRANTS
UP FROM MICHIGAN

AND WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA.

THEY WERE GIVEN LAND TRACTS
BY LOTTERY,

ESSENTIALLY JUST PULLING A NAME
OUT OF A HAT.

AND FROM THERE,

IT GREW INTO THE TOWN
IT IS TODAY.

Narrator: A PIONEER'S PARADISE

WHERE THE SOIL IS RICH
AND THE SUN NEVER STOPS SHINING.

IN 2007,
28-YEAR-OLD ERIN ROGERS

IS BASKING IN THE GLOW
OF A SECOND CHANCE IN PALMER.

HIS FATHER, CHRIS,
AND HIS FIANCéE, LENNIE,

AGREE TO LET ERIN LIVE
IN THE HOUSE BEHIND THEIRS

AFTER HE'S CONVICTED
ON A DRUNK-DRIVING CHARGE.

HE WAS HELPING CHRIS AND LENNIE
AROUND THE HOUSE.

HE HELPED THEM PAINT.

HE HELPED THEM DO A LOT
OF THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE.

HELPED WITH THE YARD WORK.

AND SO I THOUGHT
HE WAS DOING REAL WELL.

Narrator: CHRIS AND LENNIE
HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

THEY DRIFTED APART
AFTER CHILDHOOD,

ONLY TO RECONNECT AS ADULTS
AT AN A.A. MEETING.

LENNIE HAD BEEN SOBER
FOR 13 YEARS.

CHRIS HAD GONE SEEKING SUPPORT
FOR HIS SON.

Moren: CHRIS WAS MY HEART
AND MY SOUL MATE.

HE WAS JUST THE MOST ROMANTIC
MAN I'D EVER KNOWN.

I KNEW THAT WE WERE
GOING TO BE TOGETHER FOREVER.

Narrator: ON DECEMBER 1st,

FOUR MONTHS
AFTER TAKING ERIN IN,

CHRIS AND LENNIE HOST
AN IMPROMPTU CELEBRATION

WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

TO MARK THEIR
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DATING.

WE WERE CELEBRATING
EXACTLY 365 DAYS TOGETHER.

365 PERFECT DAYS.

WE MADE ERIN'S FAVORITE MEAL,
HOMEMADE PIZZA.

HE AND I WENT SHOPPING TOGETHER
FOR ALL THE INGREDIENTS,

AND HE DID ALL THE CHOPPING
AND PREPARATION.

Narrator: THE EVENING IS FILLED
WITH HAPPY TIMES

AND TALK OF THE COUPLE'S FUTURE.

Moren: WE WERE GONNA GET MARRIED
ON JUNE 21st,

ON THE SOLSTICE.

WE WERE GONNA HAVE
A WOODSTOCK WEDDING.

Narrator:
CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT,

ERIN VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE CARE
OF THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS.

Moren:
I MEAN, I FELT LIKE CINDERELLA.

I FELT LIKE A PRINCESS
IN A DISNEY MOVIE.

IT WAS THE HAPPIEST EVENING
OF MY LIFE.

Narrator: AFTER THE PARTY,

ERIN RETIRES TO THE LIVING ROOM
TO WATCH TV

WHILE CHRIS AND LENNIE TURN IN
FOR THE NIGHT

ALONG WITH CHRIS' DOG, BEAR.

Moren:
BEAR WAS HALF ENGLISH MASTIFF,

HALF WOLF.

AND HE CAME WITH CHRIS.

THEY WERE A PACKAGE DEAL.

BEAR WEIGHED 150 POUNDS,
AND HE WAS JUST A BIG PUPPY.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Derry: HE LOVED CHRIS.
HE WENT EVERYWHERE WITH CHRIS.

CHRIS WOULD LET HIM RIDE
IN THE TRUCK WITH HIM,

AND HE'D JUST WOULD SIT THERE
IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE TRUCK
FROM BEHIND,

IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A BLOND
WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO CHRIS.

AND SO, I ALWAYS GOT A CHUCKLE
OUT OF THAT.

Narrator: HOURS LATER,

AS DAWN BEGINS TO BREAK

AND THE MATANUSKA WINDS
HOWL OUTSIDE,

LENNIE IS LYING IN BED AWAKE.

Moren: I HEARD ERIN GOING
IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS WATCHING TV
IN THE LIVING ROOM,

GOING OUT
AND HAVING A CIGARETTE,

COMING BACK IN.

YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THE CLOCK,
AND IT WAS 4:20.

AND I WAS ALMOST GONNA GET UP
AND SAY, YOU KNOW,

"PLEASE, GO TO BED."

Narrator: BUT BEFORE SHE HAS
TIME TO UTTER A WORD,

SHE IS SHAKEN TO THE CORE
BY THE UNIMAGINABLE.

Moren: ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THIS PERSON COMES IN WITH
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A STICK.

[ SCREAMS ]

AND HE IS YELLING,

"LOOK AT WHAT
YOU'RE MAKING ME DO,"

AND STARTS HITTING CHRIS
ON THE NECK.

AND I JUMP ACROSS THE BED,
TRY TO GRAB THE STICK

AND BRING MY HAND BACK,

AND THAT'S WHEN I LOST
THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS.

AND I'M LOOKING AT MY FINGERS,
THINKING,

"I'M BEING HIT BY A MACHETE."

AT THE SAME TIME, I'M WONDERING
IF ERIN HAD BEEN HURT,

'CAUSE I KNEW HE HAD BEEN
IN THE LIVING ROOM

WATCHING TELEVISION.

Narrator: IN AN INSTANT,
LENNIE MOREN IS IN THE MIDDLE

OF SOMETHING SHE CANNOT
EVEN BEGIN TO COMPREHEND.

Moren:
THEN I REALIZED IT WAS HIM,

THAT IT'S ERIN.

AND I AM TRYING
TO WAKE CHRIS UP,

WHO I DON'T KNOW IF HIS HEAD
IS EVEN STILL ON HIM.

THEN SUDDENLY I HEAR THIS SOUND
COME OUT OF HIM

AND HE PICKS ERIN UP
AS HE RISES UP

AND IS ABLE TO CARRY HIM
INTO THE KITCHEN.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

I WAS PRAYING THE WHOLE TIME.

I WAS SAYING THE LORD'S PRAYER
OVER AND OVER AGAIN PERFECTLY,

HOPING THAT HE WOULD
SNAP OUT OF IT

BY HEARING MY PRAYERS.

Narrator:
LENNIE IS DESPERATE FOR COVER.

SHE SCRAMBLES TO PROTECT HERSELF

AS BLOOD POURS FROM THE MASSIVE
WOUNDS OF A 22-INCH BLADE.

Moren: AT THIS POINT,
I HAD BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES.

MY ELBOW IS GONE,

AND MY LEG IS CUT
VERY, VERY BADLY.

I'M NOT ABLE TO STAND ON MY LEG.

I'M ABLE TO HOP.

I AM ABLE TO GET
INTO THE BATHROOM,

BUT I'M NOT ABLE
TO LOCK THE DOOR

BECAUSE, OF COURSE,
THE FINGERS ARE CUT OFF.

Narrator: SECONDS LATER,

ERIN BARGES
THROUGH THE BATHROOM DOOR

AND OVERPOWERS HER.

[ SCREAMS ]

HE SLASHES HER REPEATEDLY,

BRINGING THE MACHETE DOWN
AGAIN AND AGAIN.

Moren: I WASN'T REALLY THINKING
ABOUT WHAT HE WAS DOING.

I WAS MORE
IN THE PRESENT MOMENT.

I HAD NO FEAR,
AND I HAD NO PAIN.

IT WAS MORE LIKE

I WAS JUST WAITING TO GO
TO THE NEXT CHAPTER.

I NEVER EXPECTED TO LIVE.

AT ONE POINT,
I LOOK HIM IN THE EYE AND I SAY,

"WE'RE DEAD. YOU'VE KILLED US.
YOU CAN STOP NOW."

AND HE DOES.

AND I THINK, "WELL, GEE,
I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT SOONER."

[ BEAR GROWLING ]

BUT THEN I REALIZED
BEAR IS PULLING HIM OFF OF ME.

[ SCREAMING ]

Derry:
BEAR MUST HAVE WENT BALLISTIC.

HE KNEW WHAT VIOLENCE WAS.

HE COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PLAY AND REAL.

TO HIM, IT WAS ALL REAL.

[ BEAR BARKING AND GROWLING ]

I'M CERTAIN THAT WHEN HE SAW
WHAT WAS HAPPENING,

HE ABSOLUTELY INTERVENED.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Narrator: BEAR VICIOUSLY CHASES
ERIN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

HE TAKES COVER
IN HIS FATHER'S TRUCK

AND FLEES THE SCENE.

BACK IN THE BATHROOM,

LENNIE IS TERRIFIED
ERIN WILL RETURN.

SHE USES HER TEETH
TO LOCK THE DOOR

AND HER ENGAGEMENT RING
TO CALL FOR HELP.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: CHRIS ROGERS
AND HIS FIANCéE, LENNIE MOREN,

HAVE IT ALL.

BUT THEIR FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE
BECOMES A NIGHTMARE

WHEN THEY ARE ATTACKED
WITH A MACHETE

AT THE HANDS
OF CHRIS' OWN SON, ERIN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Man: STATE POLICE!

Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,
ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

AND THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ARRIVE AT THE GRISLY SCENE.

THEY FIND BLOOD EVERYWHERE,

IN SPLATTERS,
IN DRIPS, IN POOLS.

THE WALLS ARE PAINTED RED.

Kalytiak: IT'S HARD TO FIND
THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE
IN A HOUSE OF HORRORS

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

BECAUSE, I MEAN,
THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD.

Narrator: TROOPERS KICK IN
THE BATHROOM DOOR

AND FIND LENNIE
CLINGING TO LIFE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

Moren: THEY SAID, "OH, MY GOD,
IS SHE IN ONE PIECE?

HOW ARE WE GONNA
GET HER OUT OF HERE?"

AND ANOTHER ONE SAID,

"WE'RE JUST GONNA WRAP UP
AND ROLL."

Narrator: WHILE EMTs
TEND TO LENNIE'S WOUNDS,

SHE TELLS OFFICERS

HER FUTURE SON-IN-LAW
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

IF HE TOOK OFF
IN HIS FATHER'S TRUCK,

HE'S NOW ARMED
WITH MORE THAN A MACHETE.

THE NIGHT BEFORE,

CHRIS PUT HIS.357 MAGNUM
REVOLVER UNDER THE SEAT.

WHITE MALE DRIVING
A DODGE PICKUP TRUCK...

Moren: WE HAD A PARTY.

WE DIDN'T FEEL SECURE PUTTING IT
ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE,

SO CHRIS PUT IT
OUT IN THE TRUCK.

Narrator: LENNIE HAS NO IDEA
HER FIANCé IS DEAD.

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS
SCOUR THE PROPERTY

BUT CAN'T FIND THE ASSAILANT
OR HIS WEAPON.

THERE IS ALSO NO SIGN OF BEAR.

WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT BEAR
BECAUSE HE WAS MISSING.

THERE WERE BLOODSTAINS,
DOG PAW PRINTS LEADING AWAY,

SO WE KNEW HE WAS INJURED.

Narrator: A HANDFUL OF NEIGHBORS
TEAM UP WITH ARMED TROOPERS

TO FIND THE INJURED ANIMAL.

FEARING ROGERS' NEXT MOVE,

POLICE CONTACT
NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS

AND WARN THEM
TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT

FOR A DANGEROUS SUSPECT
ARMED WITH TWO DEADLY WEAPONS,

A BLADE NEARLY 2 FEET LONG
AND A.357 MAGNUM REVOLVER.

THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF UNPREDICTABILITY

TO THE SITUATION.

AND NOBODY HAD AN IDEA
WHERE HE WAS AT THAT POINT.

Oberlatz: ALASKA IS
A GREAT PLACE TO DISAPPEAR.

AND IF YOU WANT TO ESCAPE
AND YOU NEED TO HIDE,

THERE ARE VERY FEW PLACES LEFT
IN THE WORLD

WHERE YOU CAN DO IT.

AND ALASKA IS
ONE OF THOSE PLACES.

MacDonald:
THE WORD FIRST CAME OUT

LATER ON IN THE MORNING
ON SUNDAY

WAS THAT THIS WAS SORT OF
A DOMESTIC CRIME THAT TOOK PLACE

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND
THE ASSAILANT

AND THE ASSAILANT'S ON THE RUN.

WE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT LIE IN THE FUTURE.

Narrator: POLICE ISSUE
AN ALL POINTS BULLETIN

FOR THE TRUCK
ERIN ROGERS IS DRIVING.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ARE ON HEIGHTENED ALERT.

Derry:
NO ONE KNEW WHERE HE WAS.

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE HE WOULD SHOW UP,

WHAT HE WAS LIKE,
WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

SO, EVERYBODY ARMED THEMSELVES,

AND WE WERE READY.

Narrator: FORTUNATELY,
TROOPERS FIND BEAR ALIVE

BUT BADLY INJURED.

HE'S BLEEDING PROFUSELY
FROM A MISSING CANINE TOOTH

AND A 6-INCH GASH
FROM THE MACHETE.

Derry: HE JUST SEEMED BUMMED.

I THINK HE MISSED CHRIS,
MISSED LENNIE.

I DON'T THINK HE REALLY
COMPREHENDED IN THE END

WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
ON THE SUSPECT

SUGGESTS
THE MACHETE-WIELDING MADMAN

IS A HABITUAL OFFENDER

WHO KNOWS HOW TO BEAT
THE SYSTEM.

MacDonald: ERIN ROGERS JR.
HAD A TUMULTUOUS PAST.

HE HAD BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH
THE LAW ON MANY OCCASIONS.

Narrator: AS A TEENAGER,

ROGERS WAS TWICE CAUGHT
STEALING.

HIS FAMILY SOUGHT HELP,
ENROLLING ERIN

IN THE ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD
YOUTH CORPS CHALLENGE,

A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP
PROBLEM KIDS

TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.

BUT IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT.

Derry: AS MUCH AS CHRIS TRIED,
HE JUST COULDN'T REACH HIM.

HE COULDN'T MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND
THE ROAD THAT HE WAS HEADED DOWN

WAS GONNA LEAD TO DESTRUCTION.

Narrator: AT AGE 19,

ROGERS PUT THE LIVES
OF THOSE LIVING

IN THE HEAVILY POPULATED AREA
OF EAGLE RIVER AT RISK

BY SETTING TWO FOREST FIRES
ON THE SAME DAY.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO PROBATION
AFTER HIS FAMILY INTERVENED

AND ASKED THE JUDGE
FOR LENIENCY.

A DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE CONVICTION
FOLLOWED,

THEN A DRUNK-DRIVING CHARGE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

HE GOT ANOTHER SLAP
ON THE WRIST.

ALL OF THESE THINGS
GOT HIM PROBATION,

2 YEARS' PROBATION HERE,
5 YEARS' PROBATION THERE,

BUT NO REAL JAIL TIME
TO SPEAK OF.

Moren: OH, HE WAS
THE SECOND-CHANCE KID.

ERIN WAS VERY GOOD AT,

"I'M SORRY,
I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN."

HE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD AT THAT.

Narrator: IN JULY 2007,

HE WAS ARRESTED A SECOND TIME
FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.

HIS FATHER
AGAIN CAME TO HIS RESCUE.

Moren: WE KIND OF FELT THAT
MAYBE THIRD-PARTYING HIM,

HAVING HIM IN OUR HOME,

SEEING WHAT A SOBER LIFE
WAS LIKE

WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR HIM,

AND WE WANTED TO EXTEND HIM
THAT OPPORTUNITY.

MacDonald: HE NEEDED GUIDANCE.

HE NEEDED LOVE.
HE NEEDED UNDERSTANDING.

HE NEEDED STABILITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT MR. ROGERS
AND LENNIE WERE TRYING TO DO,

TRYING TO GIVE HIM.

Narrator: FIVE MONTHS LATER,

CHRIS ROGERS LAY
ON AN AUTOPSY TABLE.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
COUNTS 25 MACHETE WOUNDS,

INCLUDING 13
TO THE HEAD AND NECK.

THERE ISN'T ENOUGH BLOOD
LEFT IN HIS BODY

TO PERFORM
A STANDARD TOXICOLOGY TEST.

Kalytiak:
THE WOUNDS WERE WIDE AND DEEP,

YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF WOUNDS
THAT OPEN UP MUSCLE,

LAYERS OF MUSCLE,

AND WHERE YOU CAN LOOK
INTO THE BODY.

THOSE KIND OF WOUNDS.

DEFINITELY HAS TO BE
ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL ATTACKS

IN THE HISTORY OF ALASKA.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator:
LENNIE IS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE

THE SAME KIND OF GAPING WOUNDS.

Moren: BOTH ARMS, ONE LEG.

FROM MY HEAD TO MY TOES,

HE HIT ME THREE TIMES
IN THE HEAD RIGHT THROUGH HERE.

AND THEN THEY QUIT COUNTING
AT 50.

Narrator:
MEANWHILE, POLICE IN PALMER KNOW

ERIN ROGERS
IS A STEP AHEAD OF THEM.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA

THAT HE'S MADE HIS WAY
TO ANCHORAGE...

...OR THAT HE'S DITCHED
THE TRUCK

HE STOLE FROM HIS FATHER,

ALONG WITH THE MACHETE,

AND IS NOW ON THE PROWL
FOR A NEW SET OF WHEELS.

Bachman: HE WAS LOOKING
FOR AN OPPORTUNITY,

SO HE JIGGLED DOORS.

HIS IDEA WAS,
"IF I CAN GET A CAR,

I CAN GET OUT OF TOWN
AND CONTINUE MY FLIGHT."

Narrator: BUT THERE'S SOMEONE
STANDING IN HIS WAY --

27-YEAR-OLD JASON WENGER,

A GRADUATE STUDENT
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA.

Staub:
HE WANTED TO BE ON HIS OWN,

AND I THINK HE WAS
LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH

TO BEING ON HIS OWN

SO HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RELY
UPON HIS PARENTS

AS A 20-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART
OF WHAT MOTIVATED HIM...

EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS SOMEWHAT APPREHENSIVE

ABOUT GOING SO FAR AWAY
TO SUCH A WILD PLACE AS ALASKA.

Narrator: THAT MORNING,
JASON IS SITTING IN HIS CAR.

HE'S WAITING FOR IT TO WARM UP
BEFORE HEADING TO CHURCH.

HE WENT OUT TO START IT UP
BECAUSE IT WAS FRIGID

AND IT NEEDED TIME
FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM UP.

HE WAS LISTENING TO MUSIC,

PROBABLY OBLIVIOUS TO ANYTHING
THAT WAS GOING ON AROUND HIM.

Narrator: OUT OF NOWHERE,

ERIN ROGERS WALKS UP
TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...AND OPENS FIRE.

TWO SHOTS ECHO
THROUGH THE STILL MORNING AIR.

THE NOISE OF THE GUNSHOT
STARTLED ROGERS

TO THE POINT WHERE HE THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA WAKE UP

THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator: HE'S FURTHER ALARMED
WHEN THE WEIGHT OF JASON'S BODY

COLLAPSES
AGAINST THE ACCELERATOR,

REVVING THE ENGINE.

ROGERS TAKES OFF ON FOOT.

A SHORT TIME LATER,
A NEIGHBOR WALKING HIS DOG

FINDS JASON
SLUMPED OVER THE WHEEL

AND CALLS POLICE.

WHEN MEDICS ARRIVE,

JASON WENGER IS PRONOUNCED DEAD
AT THE SCENE.

Staub: THAT EVENING,

WE GOT A KNOCK
AT OUR FRONT DOOR.

AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
DEBBIE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING,

AND SHE STARTED TO CRY.

I THOUGHT, "OH, NO.
THIS CAN'T BE TRUE.

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING."

Narrator:
INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILY,

FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS
OFFER NO CLUES

AS TO WHO MAY HAVE WANTED
A MAN LIKE JASON WENGER DEAD.

WENGER HAD DEDICATED
A LARGE PART OF HIS TIME

TO WORKING WITH
THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.

Staub: HE HAD A FONDNESS
FOR THE UNDERDOG,

THE PERSON THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
LACKING IN SOME WAY,

NOT BY ANY FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

JUST KIND OF DISBELIEVING,
WHO WOULD WANT TO SHOOT HIM?

YOU KNOW, WHY?
WHAT POSSIBLE MOTIVE?

I MEAN, EVEN IF THEY WANTED
TO STEAL THE TRUCK,

HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
GIVEN THEM THE KEYS

OR EVEN DRIVEN HIM
WHERE HE WANTED TO GO.

MacDonald:
IT WAS ALL VERY RANDOM.

THAT'S WHAT WAS SCARING
A LOT OF FOLKS, TOO.

IT JUST SEEMED VERY RANDOM.

Narrator: EXHAUSTED,

ROGERS DUCKS INTO THE WILD
TO REST.

WHEN HE WAKES FROM A NAP,

HE BUYS A PACK OF CIGARETTES
AND A BOTTLE OF BEER

AT A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE.

BUT HIS PLAN HAS CHANGED.

HE'S NO LONGER HUNTING
FOR A WAY OUT OF TOWN.

MacDonald:
HE WAS HUNTING FOR PEOPLE.

HE WAS GOING TO TAKE
AS MANY PEOPLE OUT AS POSSIBLE.

HE WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT
GETTING CAUGHT.

HE WAS GONNA TAKE
MORE PEOPLE OUT WITH HIM.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
A DANGEROUS DOUBLE MURDERER

IS ON THE LOOSE
IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.

AND 33-YEAR-OLD
ELIZABETH RUMSEY,

A LAW CLERK
FOR THE ALASKA SUPREME COURT,

HAS NO WAY TO KNOW

SHE'S ABOUT TO MEET HIM
FACE TO FACE.

SHE'S WALKING HOME ALONE

AFTER VOLUNTEERING
AT A LOCAL THEATER.

Rumsey: I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET
A FRIEND FOR DINNER,

AND I HAD NOT BROUGHT
MY CAR WITH ME.

THIS IS LITERALLY
WHAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND.

"IT MIGHT NOT BE SAFE FOR ME
TO WALK HOME LATE AT NIGHT

"AFTER I'D HAD DINNER.

WHY DON'T I GO GET MY CAR NOW?"

Narrator:
LIZ IS CHATTING ON HER CELLPHONE

WHEN SHE'S SUDDENLY SURPRISED
BY THE TALL, SKINNY STRANGER.

Rumsey:
I HADN'T HEARD HIM OR SEEN HIM.

HE JUST APPEARED,

SO IT REALLY DID
SORT OF STARTLE ME A LITTLE BIT.

HE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW,
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?"

AND IT JUST STRUCK ME AS LIKE,
"WOW. THAT WAS OUT OF NOWHERE."

Narrator: LIZ KEEPS WALKING.

MINUTES LATER,
SHE STEPS OFF THE BIKE PATH

ONLY A BLOCK FROM HOME.

Rumsey: I DIDN'T HAVE
THAT CREEPY FEELING YOU HAVE

WHEN YOU'RE BEING FOLLOWED.

I JUST GOT BACK
INTO MY CONVERSATION

AND DIDN'T EVEN MENTION
THE INTERACTION TO MY FRIEND

AND JUST CARRIED ON.

HE THOUGHT THAT
SHE MIGHT HAVE RECOGNIZED HIM

AND THAT SHE WAS GONNA CALL
THE POLICE.

Narrator: SUDDENLY,
ROGERS UNLOADS HIS WEAPON,

SHOOTING LIZ THREE TIMES.

Rumsey: THEY ALL HIT ME
AS I WAS FALLING.

IT WAS ALL AT ONCE.

THE PHONE FELL OUT OF MY HAND,

AND I COULD SEE IT
LIKE 5, 6 FEET AWAY

AND I REMEMBER YELLING
TO MY FRIEND,

"I'VE BEEN SHOT.
I'VE BEEN SHOT."

Narrator: THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE

DRAWS RESIDENTS
FROM THEIR HOMES,

AND THEY CALL FOR HELP.

AS DARKNESS FALLS,

MEDICS ARRIVE AND POLICE
SEARCH THE SCENE FOR CLUES.

ALL THE WHILE,

THE SADISTIC GUNMAN
WATCHES FROM THE WOODS.

THIS IS A PRETTY CRUEL

AND HEARTLESS
AND CALLOUS INDIVIDUAL,

SOMEBODY WHO'S DEMONSTRATING

A DEVIL-MAY-CARE
SORT OF ATTITUDE

ABOUT WHAT HE'S DOING,

'CAUSE HE'S ENJOYING
WATCHING THE POLICE RESPONSE.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

Narrator:
LIZ IS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL

IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

SHE IS UNABLE TO DESCRIBE
HER ATTACKER TO POLICE.

I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE PERSON
WHO ASKED ME FOR THE TIME

AND WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN
THAT HAD JUST SHOT ME.

THE POLICE ARE SAYING,
"WHO DID THIS" WHO DID THIS?"

AND I'M LIKE, "I HAVE NO IDEA."

Narrator:
WHILE ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

SEARCH FOR THE MAN BEHIND
A GRUESOME MACHETE ATTACK,

ANCHORAGE POLICE
ARE NOW SCRAMBLING

TO FIND A GUN-TOTING KILLER
OF THEIR OWN.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

THE CITY OF ANCHORAGE
IS HELD HOSTAGE.

NEITHER DEPARTMENT REALIZES

THEY'RE HUNTING
THE SAME SUSPECT.

Oberlatz:
EVERYBODY WAS TERRIFIED.

PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED
THAT THIS GUY

WAS GONNA POP OUT ANYWHERE
AND KILL THEM.

Narrator: THE FOLLOWING MORNING
IN ANCHORAGE,

AN ARCHITECT
AND MARRIED FATHER OF TWO

GLANCES AT THE NEWSPAPER
ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR.

ERIN ROGERS' PICTURE
IS PLASTERED ON THE FRONT PAGE.

HE'S NOW A WANTED MAN,

CHARGED WITH MURDERING
HIS FATHER WITH A MACHETE

AND SLASHING UP HIS FIANCéE.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THE MAN GETS IN HIS CAR
AND STARTS THE ENGINE

TO WARM THE VEHICLE
FOR THE DRIVE TO WORK.

MacDonald:
WHILE HE'S DOING THAT,

ERIN ROGERS IS WATCHING.

AND THIS TIME,

HE DOESN'T MAKE THE MISTAKE
THAT HE MADE WITH WENGER.

Bachman: ROGERS WAITED FOR HIM
TO GET OUT OF HIS CAR,

AND ROGERS AMBUSHED HIM.

Narrator: IN A FLASH,

THE ARCHITECT IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF HIS OWN WORST NIGHTMARE.

ROGERS PULLS HIM
OUT OF THE JEEP.

AAH!

AS THE MAN STRUGGLES
WITH HIS ATTACKER,

ROGERS FIRES FIVE SHOTS
AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

HE WAS BASICALLY ON A RAMPAGE.

HE WAS GONNA TAKE THIS OUT
ON ANYBODY WHO CROSSED HIS PATH.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: ERIN ROGERS
IS ON A KILLING SPREE.

[ SCREAMING ]

THE MAN WHO HACKED HIS OWN
FATHER TO DEATH WITH A MACHETE

IS ON THE RUN.

HE'S DESPERATE
TO FIND A GETAWAY CAR

AND ISN'T ABOUT TO LET ANYBODY
STAND IN HIS WAY.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

HE DISAPPEARS INTO THE OUTBACK

AFTER SHOOTING LIZ RUMSEY
IN THE BACK...

...ONLY TO SURFACE AGAIN

IN THE DRIVEWAY
OF AN ANCHORAGE MAN

WHO IS GETTING READY
TO LEAVE FOR WORK.

WHO ARE YOU?!

SURPRISED BY ROGERS'
BRUTAL ATTACK,

THE MAN FEARS HE IS INCHES AWAY
FROM CERTAIN DEATH.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Bachman: ROGERS POINTED
THE GUN AT HIS HEAD,

AND HE TURNED HIS HEAD
AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT

SO THAT HE WAS SHOT
THROUGH THE NECK

BUT NOT SQUARELY IN THE FACE.

HE WAS AFRAID THAT ROGERS
MIGHT ACTUALLY RUN HIM OVER,

THAT THE ASSAULT
WASN'T OVER WITH.

Narrator: INSTEAD,
ROGERS RACES FROM THE SCENE.

THE MAN SOMEHOW MANAGES TO CRAWL
TO HIS FRONT DOOR.

[ COUGHING ]

SUFFERING FROM A PUNCTURED LUNG,

HE CAN'T YELL LOUDLY ENOUGH
TO WAKE HIS WIFE,

WHO HAS DISMISSED THE SOUND
OF GUNFIRE AS FIREWORKS.

HAVING BEEN SHOT
THROUGH THE ARM,

HAVING BEEN SHOT
THROUGH THE TORSO,

HAVING BEEN SHOT
THROUGH THE NECK,

HE HAS TO TRY AND MANIPULATE
A CELLPHONE WITH BLOODY HANDS.

HE ENDS UP USING HIS TEETH
TO ACTUALLY GET THE PHONE OPEN

BECAUSE HIS HANDS
ARE TOO SLIPPERY

TO GET THE PHONE OPEN.

Narrator: HE MUSTERS
THE STRENGTH TO DIAL 911.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: SECONDS LATER,

POLICE AND PARAMEDICS
ARE AT HIS SIDE.

JUST HANG IN THERE,
OKAY?

HE IS ABLE TO DESCRIBE
THE GETAWAY CAR AND THE GUNMAN.

Bachman: HE WAS AMAZINGLY
DETAILED IN HIS ACCOUNT.

THE MAN IS AN ARCHITECT.

THE MAN IS A PERSON

WHO IS ACCUSTOMED
TO BEING PRECISE AND DETAILED.

POLICE, I THINK,
AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT

HAVE THEIR "AHA" MOMENT

AND REALIZE THAT
ALL THIS HAS TO BE CONNECTED,

THAT THIS HAS TO BE
THEIR GUY FROM PALMER.

Narrator: IMMEDIATELY,

ANCHORAGE POLICE JOIN IN
THE HUNT TO STOP ERIN ROGERS

BEFORE HARM COMES
TO ANOTHER INNOCENT PERSON.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

MacDonald:
IT WAS JUST COMPLETE RANDOMNESS.

AND AGAIN, WHOEVER
WAS GONNA CROSS HIS PATH

WAS IN TROUBLE THAT DAY,

AND NO ONE WAS SAFE.

ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WAS SAFE
ON THE STREETS THAT DAY.

Narrator: NOT EVEN THE POLICE.

OFFICERS ARE DEEPLY DISTURBED

BY WHAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER
WHEN THEY FIND ROGERS...

...AND KNOW THEY MUST BE
PREPARED FOR ANYTHING

GIVEN THE COLD,
CALCULATED PREMEDITATION

OF THE MACHETE ATTACK.

Kalytiak: WHEN PEOPLE SLEEP,
THEY'RE REALLY DEFENSELESS.

YOU KNOW, HE TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF THAT SITUATION.

HE HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT.

HE WAS THERE THE EVENING BEFORE.

HE WENT BACK
TO HIS PLACE ON THE PROPERTY,

WHERE HE HAD THE MACHETE.

THERE HAD TO BE SOME THOUGHT
PROCESS THAT WENT INTO IT

YOU KNOW,
THAT HE WAS GONNA DO THIS

AND HOW HE WAS GONNA DO IT.

Narrator:
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE SUSPECT

SHARE ALL THEY CAN WITH POLICE

IN HOPE OF GIVING AUTHORITIES
THE UPPER HAND.

BUT EVEN THOSE
WHO KNOW ROGERS BEST

ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT
COULD HAVE SET HIM OFF.

Derry:
I DON'T BELIEVE HE JUST SNAPPED.

THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING
INSIDE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS,

A CONSCIENCE,

AND AN INHERENT EVIL
RESIDES IN ITS PLACE.

MY HEART'S POUNDING OUT OF
MY CHEST JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
MINUTES AFTER THE ASSAULT,

ANCHORAGE POLICE
CLOSE IN ON ROGERS.

THEY SPOT THE STOLEN JEEP
AND QUICKLY FOLLOW IN BEHIND IT.

ROGERS TRIES
TO OUTMANEUVER POLICE,

GUNNING THE VEHICLE
DOWN A NARROW ROAD.

MacDonald:
IT'S VERY OBVIOUS TO THE POLICE

THAT THIS FELLA
IS NOT GONNA GIVE UP.

AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS DECIDE
TO RAM THEIR CAR INTO HIS

TO DISABLE IT.

Narrator: COPS FORCE
HIS VEHICLE INTO A DITCH.

FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL,

ROGERS GRABS HIS GUN
AND TAKES AIM AT OFFICERS.

POLICE PREPARE
FOR AN ALL-OUT BLOODBATH.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

HE WAS IN THAT MIND-SET OF JUST

HE WAS GONNA GO OUT
IN THIS BLAZE OF GLORY.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: ANCHORAGE POLICE
HAVE CORNERED THE MAN

BEHIND A HEINOUS MACHETE ATTACK
AND STRING OF RANDOM SHOOTINGS.

AND IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR

THAT ERIN ROGERS
ISN'T GOING TO GIVE UP EASILY.

HE TAKES AIM AT OFFICERS
AND ATTEMPTS TO FIRE.

BUT HIS.357 MAGNUM REVOLVER
JAMS.

GET DOWN!

HE'S QUICKLY SUBDUED
AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

AFTER HIS ARREST,
POLICE CONFISCATE THE GUN.

INSIDE,
THEY FIND FIVE LIVE ROUNDS

AND PLENTY MORE
IN ROGERS' JACKET.

GET UP.

ERIN ROGERS IS CHARGED
WITH TWO COUNTS OF MURDER,

THREE COUNTS
OF ATTEMPTED MURDER,

AND INJURY TO AN OFFICER

WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE WRECK
THAT LED TO HIS CAPTURE.

THE TRUCK HE'D STOLEN
FROM HIS FATHER

IS FOUND AT A NEARBY GAS STATION

WITH THE BLOODY MACHETE
STILL INSIDE.

Moren:
HE BOUGHT IT AT A GARAGE SALE,

AND I REMEMBER CLEARLY
CHRIS TELLING HIM

THAT THAT WAS GONNA BE
HIS BEST FRIEND AT A CAMPSITE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE
BOTH MURDER WEAPONS IN HAND

BUT NOT A SINGLE EXPLANATION

FOR THE DEADLY MACHETE ATTACK
ON ROGERS' FATHER AND FIANCéE

OR THE SHOOTINGS
OF THREE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.

DURING QUESTIONING,

ROGERS OFFERS FEW CLUES
ABOUT HIS ACTIONS...

WHY DID YOU ATTACK
YOUR FATHER?

...SAYING HE ATTACKED
HIS FATHER AND FIANCéE

BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY OVER
HOW HIS FAMILY TREATED HIM.

Derry: I'M NOT SURE
ANYONE REALLY KNEW

WHAT WAS UNDERNEATH

AND REALLY HOW TO HELP HIM.

I THINK IT WAS ONLY A GUESS
THAT PEOPLE MADE.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT
CAME FROM HIS HOME.

Narrator:
PERHAPS MORE SHOCKING,

ROGERS CONFESSES
THE STRING OF SHOOTINGS...

[ GUNSHOTS ]

...STEMMED SOLELY
FROM HIS DESIRE

TO KILL A FEW MORE PEOPLE.

Kalytiak: I THINK AT THAT POINT

HE JUST FIGURED THAT HIS LIFE
WAS PRETTY MUCH OVER.

WHATEVER ELSE HE DID
WOULDN'T BE OF ANY CONSEQUENCE.

Narrator: ALTHOUGH ROGERS IS
TRIED SEPARATELY FOR HIS CRIMES,

PROSECUTORS DESCRIBE THE MAN
BEHIND SUCH VICIOUS ATTACKS

THE SAME WAY --

MANIPULATIVE, MERCILESS,
AND SELF-CENTERED.

BUT THEY CONTEND
HE'S FAR FROM CRAZY

AND HAS NEVER SHOWN ANY REMORSE,

NOT EVEN FOR THE MURDER
OF HIS OWN FATHER.

Kalytiak: HE MENTIONED

THAT IT TOOK SOME FORCE
TO COMMIT THESE CRIMES

AND I THINK HE MENTIONED
HE HAD SOME REGRET.

IF ANYTHING HE HAD SOME REGRET

THAT HE DIDN'T USE
A MORE EFFICIENT WEAPON,

THAT BEING THE GUN
THAT HE FOUND IN THE TRUCK.

Narrator: IN A SURPRISE MOVE,

PROSECUTORS
CALL TO THE STAND BEAR,

THE 150-POUND WOLF MASTIFF
WHO CAME TO LENNIE'S RESCUE.

I'M SURE IT HAD AN IMPACT.
IT'S LIKE, "WOW."

I'M SURE EVERYBODY
IN THE COURTROOM

WAS AMAZED AT HIS SIZE.

I CREDIT BEAR
FOR SAVING HER LIFE.

Narrator: ROGERS IS FOUND GUILTY
IN BOTH TRIALS.

JASON WENGER'S FAMILY
STILL STRUGGLES WITH THEIR LOSS

BUT HAVE MANAGED TO FIND COMFORT

IN THE FAITH THEY SHARED
WITH THEIR ONLY SON.

Staub: ERIN ROGERS
IS THE KIND OF PERSON

THAT JASON WOULD SEE AS SOMEONE
WHO'S KIND OF THE UNDERDOG.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S
AGAINST THEM KIND OF THING.

AND IT SEEMS APPARENT

THAT THAT'S HOW ERIN ROGERS
VIEWED HIMSELF.

YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE WAS AGAINST HIM.

YOU KNOW,
NO ONE TOOK HIS SIDE.

I THINK JASON WOULD HAVE WORKED

TO TRY TO GET HIM TO SEE
THAT HIS THINKING WAS ALL WRONG.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
LENNIE AND THE OTHER SURVIVORS

REFUSE TO LET ROGERS' DEMONS
DEFINE THEM.

SHE HAS FOUND STRENGTH
IN HER OWN CONVICTIONS

AND A WAY TO GO ON
WITHOUT CHRIS.

Moren:
OUR RELATIONSHIP STARTED

WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER
365 DAYS BEFORE,

AND IT ENDED
WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS
THE LAST THING HE HEARD.

Narrator: LENNIE HAS UNDERGONE
17 SURGERIES

SINCE THE MACHETE ATTACK.

SHE STILL STRUGGLES
WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

BUT HOPES HER STORY
WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS.

SHE IS PLANNING TO WRITE A BOOK
ABOUT THE POWER OF A SURVIVOR.

Moren:
THIS IS REALLY STRANGE,

AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHEN I SAY IT.

BUT THE ATTACK WAS THE EASIEST
PART OF THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

AND IT WAS SPIRITUAL.

I MEAN,
I WAS IN THE ARMS OF GOD.

I FELT A PEACE ABOUT IT.

WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,
I FELT CRADLED.

WHEN I WAS IN THAT ROOM ALONE,
I FELT COMFORTED.

I FELT LIFTED UP WHEN I WENT
TO GET THE CELLPHONE.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD
HAVE GOTTEN UP FROM THE FLOOR

BECAUSE I COULDN'T DO IT
FOR A YEAR AFTERWARDS.

Narrator:
SHORTLY AFTER THE ATTACK,

BEAR WAS NAMED
MOST COURAGEOUS DOG IN ALASKA

BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Derry:
HE WAS A MAJESTIC GENTLE GIANT

AND VERY REGAL AND FEARLESS,
COURAGEOUS.

HE DESERVED THAT, ABSOLUTELY.

Narrator:
SADLY, HE SUCCUMBED TO CANCER

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER.

LENNIE WAS WITH HIM
WHEN HE DIED.

Moren: HIS HEAD WAS IN MY LAP.

HIS EAR WAS RIGHT NEXT
TO MY HEART

AND SO HE COULD HEAR
MY HEART BEATING.

AND HE ONLY KNEW LOVE.

HE JUST LOOKED AT ME

AND SLOWLY CLOSED HIS EYES.

[ Voice breaking ]
THE HARDEST THING I EVER DID

WAS PUT DOWN THAT DOG

BECAUSE THAT DOG SAVED MY LIFE.

Narrator: ERIN ROGERS
WAS ULTIMATELY CONVICTED

OF THE MURDERS OF HIS FATHER
AND JASON WENGER,

AS WELL AS ATTEMPTED MURDER...

AND ANIMAL CRUELTY.

BEFORE SENTENCING,

LENNIE MOREN
EXPRESSED TO THE COURT

ALL THAT BEAR COULD NOT.

Moren:
CHRISTOPHER ERIN ROGERS JR.

BUTCHERED MY HEART,

FILLETING IT AS SURELY
AS HE SLAUGHTERED HIS FATHER.

SHOW HIM THE SAME MERCY
HE SHOWED US.

Narrator: ROGERS WAS SENTENCED
TO 498 YEARS.

HE IS GUARANTEED

TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE
BEHIND BARS.

Moren: I BELIEVE HE GOT JUSTICE,

BUT WHAT HE DESERVES,
THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

MY WORLD IS DIFFERENT
THAN OTHER PEOPLE'S WORLD.

MY REALITY IS THAT CHILDREN
KILL THEIR PARENTS.

THAT IS THE WAY IT IS.