Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Blood Red Sun - full transcript

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

Narrator: THE WILDS OF ALASKA,
VAST, UNTAMED, AND DANGEROUS.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS
THAT CAN KILL YOU.

PREDATORS,
MASKED BY THE MERCILESS COLD

OR THE UNRELENTING MIDNIGHT SUN.

Petterson:
YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH UNDERSTAND
WHAT AN ANIMAL'S GONNA DO.

IT'S THE HUMANS
YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH.

Macdonald:
IT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT NIGHT,

AND TO THIS DAY,
IT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT NIGHT

IN ANCHORAGE HISTORY.

Mason: I THINK THIS IS
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN



IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.

HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT
HE WAS DOING, JUST PLAIN EVIL.

DOESN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN THIS.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
ALASKA IS A PLACE OF EXTREMES.

IN WINTER, IT SLUMBERS
IN A DARK AND BITTER CHILL.

IN SUMMER, IT BATHES IN
THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

ALL OF A SUDDEN
IT'S JUST DAYLIGHT,

ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF DAYLIGHT.

YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE SUN SETTING

AT 11:30, 11:45 AT NIGHT.

YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY CONCEPT OF TIME.

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1982,
ANCHORAGE NEVER SLEEPS.

MacDonald:
BARS WERE BASICALLY --



THEY CLOSED LONG ENOUGH
TO SWEEP.

THE PEOPLE OUT
WHO HAD BEEN DRINKING ALL NIGHT,

CLEANED THE PLACE UP A LITTLE
BIT AND THEN THEY'D REOPEN.

AND PEOPLE WOULD COME BACK IN,
YOU KNOW.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A FRONTIER
TOWN, WILD-WEST MENTALITY.

Narrator: FILLED WITH
THAT INDEPENDENT ALASKAN SPIRIT,

V.J. SYLVESTER,
AND HIS BEST BUDDY, DEAN KIMLER,

SOAK UP THE LATE NIGHT SUN
IN RUSSIAN JACK SPRINGS PARK.

THEY HAD BEEN IN AN APARTMENT
WITH TWO OR THREE OTHER GUYS.

AND THEN I GUESS
SOME OTHERS HAD MOVED IN.

IT APPARENTLY
HAD GOTTEN VERY CROWDED.

SO, THEY DECIDED
TO BE OUT ON THEIR OWN.

EVEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER,
IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE,

EVEN A FAMILY,
LIVING IN A VISQUEEN TENT.

IT'S JUST KIND OF DIFFERENT,

MOST CITY FOLKS
DON'T UNDERSTAND.

Petterson:
IN ALASKA, WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY.

IT'S NOT STRESSED,
IT'S NOT RUSHED,

WE KIND OF GO HOW WE WANT TO GO,
DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

Narrator: ON MAY 3rd,
V.J.'S GIRLFRIEND, STEPHANIE,

AND HER FRIEND, AMBER,
JOIN THE BOYS AT THE PARK.

TOMORROW
IS STEPHANIE'S 17th BIRTHDAY.

THE KIDS
WERE GOING TO THE MOVIES,

OR SOMETHING, TO CELEBRATE.

SINCE HIS BUDDY
WAS GOING WITH HIM,

SHE INVITED
HER BEST FRIEND TO GO,

SO THERE WOULDN'T BE LIKE
A THIRD-WHEEL TYPE THING.

THERE'D BE FOUR OF THEM.

Narrator: BUT THE CELEBRATION
IS QUICKLY ECLIPSED

BY A NIGHTMARISH HORROR,
NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN THIS TOWN.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

IT WAS ALMOST
LIKE THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION,

OR THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS
WHERE WHEN YOU HEARD THE NEWS,

AT LEAST FOR ME,
I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS,

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING.

Narrator: AT 8:10 P.M., A STRING
OF CHAOTIC CALLS ERUPTS

FROM ANCHORAGE POLICE OFFICERS'
TWO-WAY RADIOS.

Kasper: WE GOT THE CALL
THAT THERE WERE FOUR KIDS

WHO HAD BEEN SHOT
IN RUSSIAN JACK PARK.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

IT'S ONE OF THOSE
THAT JUST MAKES YOUR HEART STOP,

WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: OFFICERS RACE
TO THE 300-ACRE PARK,

A PERFECT SPOT FOR LOVERS...

AND NOW, MURDER.

Grimes: IT WAS A SHOCKER
FOR ALL OF ANCHORAGE.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY

AT THE WRONG PLACE,
AT THE WRONG TIME.

MacDonald:
IT IS BROAD DAYLIGHT,

PEOPLE ARE KIND OF COMING OUT OF
THEIR WINTER SLUMBER.

THIS ISN'T SOME
DARK STREET CORNER

IN SOME ALLEY WAY, OR WHATEVER.

THIS IS IN A WELL-USED,
VERY POPULAR PARK,

RIGHT SMACK DAB
IN THE MIDDLE OF ANCHORAGE.

Narrator:
NOT FAR FROM THE FIRST BODY,

POLICE NOTICE A SECOND VICTIM
LYING IN THE FRESH GRASS.

THIS ONE'S GOT A PULSE,
GET ME A MEDIC UP HERE.

WE'VE GOT TWO MORE BODIES
DOWN THE HILL.

FURTHER DOWN THE TRAIL,
ONE YOUNG MAN IS DEAD.

MAN, HE'S JUST A KID.

HE'S DEAD.

ANOTHER,
CLINGING TO LIFE NEARBY.

I'VE GOT A PULSE,
HE'S STILL ALIVE.

GET ME A MEDIC.

Grimes: IT WAS LIKE
IN SUCCESSION OF SOMEBODY,

EITHER STARTING
AT ONE END OR THE OTHER,

WAS KILLING THEM
ONE AT A TIME.

EACH WAS UNAWARE
THAT THE OTHER HAD BEEN SHOT.

THIS WAS JUST METHODIC.

IT WAS JUST WALKING A TRAIL,

MEET SOMEBODY ON THAT TRAIL,

SHOOT 'EM, DON'T STOP,
KEEP GOING.

MEET SOMEBODY ELSE, SHOOT 'EM,
DON'T STOP, KEEP GOING.

Narrator: BOTH BOYS HAD BEEN
SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

BOTH GIRLS, IN THE FACE.

ONE, DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE EYES.

POINT BLANK, EACH OF THEM,
ONE BULLET IN THE HEAD.

ONE FROM A DISTANCE
OF 14 INCHES.

EFFICIENT AND UNBELIEVABLY SCARY
AND BIZARRE.

NONE OF THE KIDS WOULD HAVE
KNOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON

UNTIL THEY WERE SO CLOSE
IT WAS TOO LATE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: AS MEDICS SCRAMBLE
TO SAVE THE SURVIVORS,

OFFICERS HOPE ONE OF THE KIDS
WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH

TO I.D. THE GUNMAN,
BUT THE ODDS ARE SLIM.

I THINK
THAT ANYBODY THAT RESPONDED

AND SAW THEM BEING TRUCKED AWAY
WITH HEAD WOUNDS,

NOBODY WAS GOING TO SURVIVE,

NOBODY WAS GOING TO BE ABLE
TO TELL US ANYTHING.

Narrator:
ANCHORAGE PD SCRAMBLES TOGETHER
A 25-MAN INVESTIGATIVE TEAM.

Grimes:
CALLS WERE GOING TO DAY-SHIFT
DETECTIVES TO COME OUT.

CALLS WERE GOING OUT TO OFFICERS

THAT WERE
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE TOWN,

THAT THEY COULD COME IN
AND ASSIST.

Narrator:
AND NOT JUST FOR THIS CRIME,

BUT FOR ANOTHER SHOOTING
IN TOWN.

Kasper:
THE PHONE DISPATCH CALLED

AND SAID THERE WAS A SHOOTING
AT A NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT.

Narrator:
LESS THAN FIVE MILES AWAY,

AT THE BLACK BULL TAVERN,

POLICE DISCOVER A MAN
AND A WOMAN LYING NEAR THE BAR.

THE BODY OF ANOTHER MAN
IS JUST A FEW FEET AWAY.

THERE WAS BLOOD
ALL OVER THE FLOOR.

Narrator: BUT, FOR
THE WILD-WEST BAR CROWD,

IT'S NO REASON TO END THE NIGHT.

PATRONS AT THE BAR
WERE JUST SITTING THERE

LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED, DRINKING.

Narrator: ALL THREE VICTIMS
SUFFERED A SINGLE GUNSHOT

TO THE HEAD, JUST LIKE
THE FOUR KIDS FOUND IN THE PARK.

Kasper: I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT
THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED

BECAUSE YOU GET
ALL THESE PEOPLE SHOT.

THEY'RE ALL
REPORTEDLY SHOT IN THE HEAD,

SO IT WAS THE SAME M.O.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY
HAD A GRUDGE AGAINST THEM

AND KILLED THEM ALL.

THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY TARGETED,
THE QUESTION WAS BY WHO?

SOMEONE THEY KNEW
OR A RANDOM SHOOTING?

WE WERE TOTALLY STUMPED.
WE HAD NO CLUE.

Narrator: POLICE ARE RATTLED
BY THE LOOMING FEAR

THAT EVIL IS STILL OUT THERE,

SHROUDED SOMEHOW
IN THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

YOU'RE ALWAYS WONDERING,

"IS THIS PERSON STANDING
OUT HERE, WATCHING US?"

Narrator: PERHAPS POISED
TO STRIKE AGAIN AT ANY MOMENT.

Kasper: WE WERE CONCERNED

THAT WE HAD A SERIAL MURDERER
ON THE LOOSE,

AND RANDOMLY MAYBE
JUST SELECTING VICTIMS

AND KILLING THEM.

Grimes: I THINK THAT WAS
UPPERMOST IN EVERYBODY'S MIND,

YOU KNOW,
WHO IS THIS GUY, WHERE IS HE?

HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE
IS HE GOING TO KILL?

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[ WOLF HOWLS ]

Narrator: ANCHORAGE POLICE
ARE DESPERATE TO SHED LIGHT

ON THE DARKEST NIGHT
IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

IT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT NIGHT,
AND TO THIS DAY,

IT IS THE MOST VIOLENT NIGHT
IN ANCHORAGE HISTORY.

Narrator:
SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN TWO SEPARATE SHOOTINGS,

THREE AT A LOCAL BAR,
AND FOUR OTHERS

IN NEARBY
RUSSIAN JACK SPRINGS PARK,

INCLUDING V.J. SYLVESTER.

AT FIRST, HIS MOTHER
HAS NO IDEA HE'S GONE.

Thornton:
THE FIRST WE HEARD OF IT

WAS ON THE NEWS
ON TV THAT NIGHT.

AND I REMEMBER WE ALL SAID
A PRAYER FOR THE FAMILIES,

WE WERE ALL REAL SAD.

THESE KIDS
DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CHANCE

TO EVEN DEFEND THEMSELVES
OR KNOW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator:
THEN THE PAIN BECOMES PERSONAL.

Thornton: THE NEXT MORNING,

BEFORE GETTING THE KIDS UP
FOR SCHOOL,

THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR,
AND THERE WAS A STATE TROOPER.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND OUT
THAT IT WAS MY SON.

Narrator: ALASKA WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE A FRESH START

FOR NORMA THORNTON
AND HER CHILDREN.

SHE MOVED NORTH IN 1977,
AFTER HER HUSBAND PASSED AWAY.

Thornton: WE DECIDED
THAT WE NEEDED A NEW...

SOMETHING NEW IN OUR LIFE.

SO WE BOUGHT AN OLD SCHOOL BUS,
AND MADE A MOTOR HOME,

AND CAME NORTH.

IT WAS HEALING
AND NEW BEGINNING.

WE FISHED, MOSTLY CAUGHT
OUR OWN DINNER AND SUCH,

BERRY-PICKING
AND GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

Narrator:
V.J. WAS HER OLDEST SON.

Thornton: HE WAS 18.

THAT SPOT IN-BETWEEN ADOLESCENCE
AND BECOMING A MAN,

AND STANDING
ON HIS OWN TWO FEET.

AND HE WAS REALLY EMPHATIC

ABOUT WANTING
TO BE HIS OWN PERSON,

AND MAKE HIS OWN WAY.

Petterson: HE WANTED
TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING

THAT ALASKA HAD TO OFFER,
EVERYTHING.

HE JUST WANTED TO SEE IT ALL,

EXPERIENCE IT ALL,
TAKE IT ALL IN.

Narrator:
NOW, AS BAFFLED AS POLICE,

HIS FAMILY STRUGGLES
TO COMPREHEND HIS LOSS.

I DON'T THINK
THERE WAS A REASON.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE,
OF COURSE, MURDER NEVER DOES.

Thornton: I COULD NOT HAVE
CHANGED THE CIRCUMSTANCE

OF WHAT THE END RESULT.

BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE,

I COULD HAVE MAYBE
HELD HIS HAND, SAID GOODBYE.

Narrator:
GIVEN THE SIMILAR M.O.,

AUTHORITIES SUSPECT
THE TWO CRIMES ARE RELATED.

THEY FIRST QUESTION THE PATRONS
WHO'D BEEN INSIDE THE BAR.

EACH TELLS A SIMILAR STORY.

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

Kasper: A YOUNG MAN HAD COME IN

AND FOUND HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND
AT THE BAR,

TALKING TO AN OLDER GENTLEMAN.

AND HE WENT OUT TO HIS CAR,
AND CAME BACK IN.

SAM.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Narrator:
THE SHOOTER ENDED HIS OWN LIFE.

BUT DID HE UNLEASH HIS RAGE
ON THE CAMPERS

BEFORE COMING TO THE BAR?

[ FILM REEL STOPS ]

WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE
HE HAD GONE TO THE PARK

AND KILLED THE FOUR KIDS FIRST,
AND THEN CAME IN,

AND THAT WAS FURTHER MOTIVATION
FOR HIM TO KILL HIMSELF.

Narrator: THE TWO SHOOTINGS
ALSO SHARE OTHER SIMILARITIES,

LIKE THE BAR,
THE PARK HAD BEEN CROWDED.

IT SHOWED US EITHER THAT HE WAS
VERY SECURE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT,

THAT HE HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE,
OR JUST VERY BRAZEN ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
BOTH CRIMES HAD TAKEN PLACE

IN THE LIGHT
OF THE LATE-NIGHT SUMMER SUN.

Schmidt: PEOPLE IN THE
WINTERTIME GET A LOT OF SLEEP,

AND IN THE SUMMERTIME,
NOT MUCH SLEEP AT ALL.

WHEN A PERSON'S SLEEP DEPRIVED,
THEY'RE NOT THINKING CLEARLY.

THEY CAN MAKE UP THINGS
IN THEIR MINDS

THAT REALLY AREN'T THERE.

AND IT CAN DEFINITELY
EFFECT PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.

Narrator:
COULD THAT EXPLAIN THE MURDERS?

HAD THE SUMMER SUN
SET THE SHOOTER OFF?

DID SLEEP DEPRIVATION
DRIVE A MAN TO KILL SEVEN PEOPLE

IN A SINGLE NIGHT?

Grimes: WHOEVER KILLED
THESE PEOPLE WAS JUST A STRANGER

WALKING THROUGH A PARK AND
SHOOTING PEOPLE THAT HE MEETS.

JUST COLDLY AND METHODICALLY
GETTING RID OF PEOPLE.

AND, IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
FIVE OR SIX

ON THAT TRAIL HE HAD PASSED,

HE WOULD HAVE
PROBABLY SHOT THEM, TOO.

Macdonald:
IT JUST SEEMED VERY RANDOM,

AND THAT SHOOK THE COMMUNITY
EVEN MORE SO.

THAT SCARED
AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT SEEMED SO RANDOM,
IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY.

Narrator: POLICE WORKED
TO ESTABLISH A TIMELINE.

THROUGH THE TIME STAMPS
ON 911 CALLS,

THEY DETERMINED
THE PARK SHOOTINGS

HAPPENED ALMOST AN HOUR AFTER
THE MURDER-SUICIDE AT THE BAR.

THAT MEANS THE CRIMES AREN'T
THE WORK OF ONE GUNMAN, BUT TWO.

ONE IS DEAD, BUT THE OTHER
IS STILL AT LARGE.

WE HAD NO EYE WITNESSES,

WE HAD NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
AT THE SCENE,

SO WE WERE HOPING
THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD CHIME IN

OR SOMETHING WOULD TURN UP.

Grimes: WE ARE AS IN THE DARK
AS THE REST OF THE PUBLIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST HOPING
SOMEONE COMES FORWARD

AND GIVES YOU THAT ONE
LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATION.

WHAT IS SO SCARY IS
THE PERSON'S STILL OUT THERE.

HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE
IS HE GONNA KILL

BEFORE WE CAN CATCH UP TO HIM?

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT YOU SAW?

Narrator:
POLICE TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO THE DOZENS OF PARK-GOERS

WHO HAD BEEN
AT RUSSIAN JACK SPRINGS.

HI, TREVOR.

HI.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT YOU SAW?

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

Tew: WE'D HEARD A COUPLE OF
POW, POW, BANGS, YOU KNOW.

I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF,
"COOL, FIREWORKS."

I WAS JUST A KID,
SO I'M JUST KIND OF RUNNING,

LEADING THE WAY,
RUNNING UP THE HILL,

AND SEEING THIS MAN
STANDING THERE.

AND I KIND OF
STOPPED IN MY TRACKS.

AND HE WAS JUST OF REACHING
HIS HAND INTO HIS PANTS,

PUTTING THE GUN AWAY.

WE ALL KIND OF FROZE.

I REMEMBER IT
LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

HE YELLS, "GET OUT OF HERE!"
AS LOUD AS HE COULD.

AND I REMEMBER MY MOM SAYING,
"EXCUSE ME?"

AND THEN, THAT'S WHEN
HE TURNED AROUND AND JUST,

IN A RAGE, SCREAMED, BOTH HANDS
IN THE AIR TYPE THING,

"GET OUT OF HERE!"

Man: GET OUT OF HERE!"

Narrator: A MAN, WHO HAD BEEN
WALKING HIS DOG IN THE PARK,

GIVES POLICE MORE.

Kasper: THE DOG'S CUT HIS PAW,

SO HE WAS CARRYING THE DOG,
AND IT WAS HEAVY.

SO, HE'D CARRY IT
ABOUT 100 FEET,

AND SET IT DOWN TO REST.

ONE OF THE TIMES HE RESTED,
HE LOOKED INTO THE WOODS

AND HE SAW A BRAND-NEW BIKE
LEANING UP AGAINST THE TREE.

[ BELL RINGS ]

HE STATED HE HAD WORKED
AT A BICYCLE SHOP,

AND HE KNEW IT WAS PEARL BLUE,

THAT IT WAS NOT THE STANDARD
26-INCH, BUT A 27-INCH.

Narrator:
THE MAN SAYS HE THOUGHT THE BIKE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

HE CONSIDERED
MOVING IT OUT OF THE WOODS,

WHEN HE WAS SUDDENLY SPOOKED.

HE NOTICED SOMEBODY WAS PEERING
THROUGH THE BUSHES AT HIM.

AND THAT MADE HIM
PRETTY NERVOUS.

Narrator: HE LOADED UP HIS DOG
AND TOOK OFF...

COMPLETELY UNAWARE A SHOOTER
HAD BATHED THE PARK IN BLOOD.

AUTHORITIES' WORST FEARS
ARE NOW REAL.

A DERANGED MASS MURDERER
IS HIDING SOMEWHERE

IN THE DENSE SUMMER WILDERNESS.

YOU NEED TO
KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU

AND KEEP LOOKING AROUND
TO KEEP A MENTAL INVENTORY.

ARE YOU PUTTING YOURSELF
IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION

OF PREDATORS,
BOTH WILD AND HUMAN?

Narrator: BOTH UNDETERRED
FROM CLAIMING THEIR NEXT KILL.

THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR
OUT THERE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE
WHO DID THIS,

AND THEY WERE STILL OUT THERE.

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

Thornton: I WAS REALLY WORRIED
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE

BECAUSE THEY JUST KILLED KIDS.

YOU DON'T KNOW
WHO THEY'RE GOING TO KILL.

[ BELL RINGS ]

Narrator: ANCHORAGE POLICE
HUNT FOR AN ICE-COLD KILLER

WHO GUNNED DOWN FOUR TEENS
IN RUSSIAN JACK SPRINGS PARK.

MURDER, NO MATTER WHO IS
INVOLVED, WHO IS THE VICTIM,

IS A HORRIBLE CRIME.

IT ALWAYS
MAKES YOUR HEART SKIP A BEAT,

MAKES YOUR BLOOD RUN COLD,

BUT WHEN YOU HEAR
THAT IT'S FOUR TEENAGERS

WHO ARE CAMPING IN THAT AREA,

IT HITS YOU A LITTLE HARDER,
QUITE A BIT HARDER.

SO, AS THE DETAILS CAME OUT
ON THIS STORY,

IT -- YEAH, IT REALLY SHOOK
THE COMMUNITY IN A BIG WAY.

POLICE CONTINUE
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

IN A BRUTAL QUADRUPLE SLAYING
AT RUSSIAN JACK SPRINGS PARK.

Gruenstein: THERE WAS, I THINK,
GENERAL FEAR, PANIC,

A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

HOW COULD FOUR KIDS BE DEAD?

WHO WAS THE KILLER?
CAN HE DO IT AGAIN?

Narrator: SO FAR, THE BEST LEADS
STEM FROM EYE WITNESSES,

WHO'D SEEN A TALL,
DARK-HAIRED MAN IN THE PARK

THAT BRIGHTLY LIT NIGHT.

POLICE APPEAL TO A COMMUNITY
ALREADY ON EDGE FOR MORE HELP.

I WOULD REQUEST AT THIS TIME
THAT ANYONE...

Anchorman:
THE CHIEF OF ANCHORAGE POLICE

HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY,

TO ASK RESIDENTS FOR HELP

IN SOLVING THE RUSSIAN JACK
SPRINGS PARK MURDERS.

SO FAR, ABOUT 100 TIPS HAVE
BEEN CALLED IN BY RESIDENTS

AND POLICE ARE FOLLOWING UP...

THERE WAS A LOT
OF PUBLICITY GENERATED ON THIS

AND YOU'RE JUST HOPING,
YOU KNOW...

I MEAN, CASES ARE SOLVED
BY PEOPLE CALLING IN.

Narrator: WITHIN HOURS,
THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES

A CHILLING TIP FROM A FRIEND
OF AMBER OLSEN,

ONE OF THE FEMALE VICTIMS.

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

SHE SUGGESTS
THEY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

AT AMBER'S EX-BOYFRIEND,
RICK LARKIN.

THE TIPSTER TOLD POLICE
THAT HE HAD A HISTORY

OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR...

CARRIED A GUN.

Schmidt:
ALASKA'S A WELL-ARMED SOCIETY.

PEOPLE CARRY HANDGUNS, COMMONLY,
WHEREVER THEY GO

FOR BEAR PROTECTION,
THINGS LIKE THAT.

Narrator: BUT WAS LARKIN ARMED
FOR ANOTHER REASON?

Macdonald:
THE TIPSTER TOLD POLICE THAT HE
DROVE A VAN AROUND TOWN,

AND THERE WERE REPORTS OF A VAN

IN THE RUSSIAN JACK AREA
THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: THE TIPSTER ALSO SAYS
RICK LARKIN AND V.J. SYLVESTER

HAD A HEATED ARGUMENT
SHORTLY BEFORE THE MURDERS.

HEY, I GOT A FEW WORDS
TO SAY TO YOU.

AND THAT AMBER HAD ONLY RECENTLY
ENDED THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

APPARENTLY, HE HAD THREATENED
TO KILL HER AFTER THEY BROKE UP.

OUR FIRST THOUGHT
WAS HE DIDN'T WANT TO

LEAVE ANY WITNESSES
BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE MAN.
ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?

YOU'RE GONNA BE A DEAD MAN
IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

[ FILM REEL STOPS ]

Narrator:
POLICE IMMEDIATELY ARREST LARKIN
ON OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC WARRANTS.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP...

HE FITS THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION

OF THE MENACING STRANGER
SEEN IN THE PARK.

LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS.

THEY'RE EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS
OF ABRASIONS ON HIS HANDS.

IT WASN'T OUTSIDE
OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES

THAT IT WAS A JEALOUS BOYFRIEND.

I'VE DEALT WITH
A LOT OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES

THAT WERE THAT KIND OF RAGE.

WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE CUTS?
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THOSE?

Narrator: BUT LARKIN
REMAINS TIGHT-LIPPED,

WILLING TO TALK
ONLY TO HIS ATTORNEY.

MIGHT THE JILTED LOVER
BE THE STRANGER

THE DOG-WALKER HAD SEEN
IN THE PARK?

WAS HE THE GUY WITH THE GUN

AND THE ONE RIDING
THE MYSTERIOUS BIKE?

HOW MANY SHOOTERS DO WE HAVE...

[ BELL RINGS ]

...USING A BIKE [CHUCKLES]
AS A GETAWAY?

WE'RE PROBABLY
JUST TRYING TO FIND A WITNESS.

SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
HE'S A WITNESS,

BUT WAS IN THE PARK
AT THAT TIME.

MAYBE HE SAW SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN USE.

Narrator:
TO CHECK ON THE MYSTERY RIDER,

DETECTIVES CALL ON THE MANAGER
OF THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP.

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

HE RECALLS SELLING A PEARL BLUE
BIKE TWO MONTHS EARLIER...

Man: HEY, THERE.

OH, HEY.
HOW YOU DOING?

YEAH,
I'M LOOKING FOR A BIKE.

GREAT, I THINK
I CAN HELP YOU OUT...

...JUST LIKE THE ONE
SEEN IN THE PARK.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

SOMETHING WITH A BIGGER FRAME
WOULD DO.

FANTASTIC,
I'VE GOT A NICE BIKE OVER HERE.

WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS?

HE SEEMED TO REMEMBER THE SALE
BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN EARLY ONE

BEFORE THE BIKE BUSINESS
PICKED UP.

AND HE SAID THE GUY
KNEW WHAT HE WANTED.

Narrator: THE CUSTOMER'S
WISH LIST INCLUDED

A CARGO POUCH, A LOCK AND CABLE,
AND STRANGELY,

A BELL TO WARN PEOPLE
HE WAS COMING.

Macdonald:
YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE ODD.

IT WAS SOMETHING
RESERVED MORE FOR A YOUNG CHILD.

Narrator: THE BIKE SHOP MANGER
PULLS THE PURCHASE RECORD,

AND OFFERS POLICE SPECIFIC
DETAILS ABOUT THE CUSTOMER.

INCLUDING AN ADDRESS,
2900 PROVIDENCE DRIVE.

YOU JUST KNEW THAT ADDRESS.

WE ALL KNEW
ANYTIME YOU GET A NUT CASE,

YOU KNOW, INVOLVED IN ANY CALL,

YOU TOOK THEM
TO 2900 PROVIDENCE.

2900 PROVIDENCE IS THE
ALASKA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE,

ALSO KNOWN AS A.P.I.

POLICE WONDER IF AMBER OLSEN'S
DISTRAUGHT EX-BOYFRIEND

USED A FAKE ADDRESS.

OR MIGHT HE HAVE BEEN THE ONE
SEEKING PSYCHIATRIC HELP?

Narrator: KNOWING THE GUNMAN
BEHIND A GRISLY QUADRUPLE MURDER

CAN'T HIDE FOREVER
IN THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN,

AUTHORITIES HONE IN
ON A JILTED EX-BOYFRIEND

OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS.

I HEARD
SHE'S YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND,

AND YOU DID KNOW HER,
AND YOU BROKE UP.

FRIENDS CLAIM RICK LARKIN TRIED
TO RECONCILE WITH AMBER OLSEN

JUST BEFORE THE MURDERS.

WE'LL STAY HERE
UNTIL I GET AN ANSWER.

BUT SHE WANTED
NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

YOU'RE AWFUL NERVOUS
FOR NOT KNOWING ANYTHING.

Macdonald: THIS TIPSTER SAID
HE WOULD BE CRAZY EMOTIONAL,

SAYING HE WANTED TO
DO BODILY HARM

TO THIS EX-GIRLFRIEND OF HIS,

AND THEN THE NEXT MOMENT,

WOULD JUST, "OH, NO.
I LOVE HER, I LOVE HER."

SO, HIS EMOTIONS
WERE UP AND DOWN.

HE SEEMED VERY UNSTABLE.

HE WASN'T FILLING IN
ANY OF THE GAPS FOR POLICE.

[ BELL RINGS ]

Narrator:
SO, WHO OWNS THE MYSTERIOUS BIKE

POLICE TRACED TO THE
ALASKA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE?

I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE GUY
WAS AN EMPLOYEE OR A PATIENT.

COULD BE A DOCTOR,
COULD BE A PSYCH TECH,

SOMEBODY WHO WORK AT A.P.I.,

AND SOMEBODY
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE PARK

AT THE TIME AND SAW SOMETHING.

Narrator: A VISIT TO A.P.I.

REVEALS THAT LARKIN
ISN'T THE OWNER OF THE BIKE.

THE BIKE
IS REGISTERED TO A PATIENT,

A TALL, DARK-HAIRED MAN
NAMED CHARLES MEACH,

WHO'S BEEN HOSPITALIZED
FOR THE LAST DECADE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHY HE WAS IN THERE,

BUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS A
PATIENT AT A MENTAL INSTITUTION

DEFINITELY
INCREASED OUR INTEREST.

HI.
GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

MEACH MADE HIS WAY TO ALASKA
IN 1973,

ON THE RUN FROM A TROUBLED PAST

OF DRUG-AND-ALCOHOL-RELATED
OFFENSES.

Gruenstein: A LOT OF PEOPLE
COME UP HERE FOR THE ADVENTURE.

SOME OTHER PEOPLE COME UP HERE

'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T
MAKE IT ANYPLACE ELSE.

SOME PEOPLE CAME UP HERE
TO ESCAPE.

Narrator:
BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE SURPRISED

TO FIND
MANY AT A.P.I. DESCRIBE MEACH

AS THE SANEST PATIENT
IN THE HOSPITAL.

Barbara: MOST OF THE PATIENTS
TEND TO BE A LITTLE SLOPPY,

NOT REALLY
TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES.

BUT CHARLIE WAS VERY FASTIDIOUS,

AND HIS HAIR
WAS ALWAYS NEATLY GROOMED

AND TRIMMED AND CUT, YOU KNOW.

HE STOOD OUT
AS BEING ALMOST MORE NORMAL.

WHEN QUESTIONED
ABOUT THE PARK MURDERS,

MEACH TELLS DETECTIVES
THERE IS NO WAY

HE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE
ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC NIGHT?

I'M JUST SURE I WAS HERE.

NOW POLICE
HAVE TWO VIABLE SUSPECTS.

AMBER OLSEN'S JEALOUS EX-LOVER,
WHO'S REFUSING TO TALK...

...AND A MAN IN A PSYCH WARD

WHO APPEARS
TO BE A MODEL PATIENT...

BUT IS HE?

Kasper:
IT STARTED CLICKING FOR ME.

WE WERE ONTO SOMETHING,

BECAUSE THIS GUY
IS IN HERE ON A COMMITTAL,

NOT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN VOLITION.

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

Narrator: IN MARCH, 1973,
MEACH MET A 22-YEAR OLD BOX BOY

AT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE
IN ANCHORAGE.

IT'S COLD OUT.
IT'S VERY COLD.

MEACH SINGLED HIM OUT
FOR WHATEVER SICK REASON HE HAD.

Narrator: HE COERCED HIM
TO EARTHQUAKE PARK.

OUT OF NOWHERE, MEACH ATTACKED.

LET ME SHOW YOU
SOMETHING.

[ GRUNTING ]

THE SMALL-FRAMED BOX BOY

WAS NO MATCH FOR A MAN WHO STOOD
MORE THAN SIX FEET TALL.

Gruenstein:
HE BRUTALLY KILLED THIS KID
BY FIST AND BY FEET,

BY KICKING HIM TO DEATH,
AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Narrator:
MEACH ULTIMATELY CONFESSED,

AND WAS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

BUT BEFORE TRIAL,
PSYCHIATRISTS DIAGNOSED HIM

WITH PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA.

[ FILM REEL STOPS ]

HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY,
BY REASON OF INSANITY,

AND SENT TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION
IN CALIFORNIA.

HE VIRTUALLY LACKED CAPACITY

TO SYMPATHIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE,
PROBLEMS, PREDICAMENTS,

BECAUSE HE WAS SO CONSUMED
BY HIS OWN.

BUT HE WAS CLEARLY CAPABLE OF
UNDERSTANDING RIGHT FROM WRONG.

HE TRIED HARD
TO CONFORM TO THE RULES,

BUT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE
COULDN'T CONCEAL HIS DARK SIDE,

LIKE WHEN HE DREW A PORTRAIT
OF PRESIDENT CARTER'S WIFE.

NURSE, LET ME SHOW YOU
THE PICTURE I DREW.

Barbara: HE SHOWED ME
THIS DRAWING THAT HE HAD DONE

OF ROSALYNN CARTER,
AND IT WAS SPOT ON.

I MEAN IT LOOKED
SO MUCH LIKE HER,

AND IT WAS ALL DONE IN PENCIL.

BUT IT HAD LITTLE CRACKS,
ALL THROUGH HER FACE.

DO YOU MIND IF I HOLD ON
TO THIS FOR A WHILE.

SURE.

Mason: WHEN I SAW IT HAD
A LOT OF LITTLE TINY LINES

DRAWN ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT,
INDICATING A CRACKED SKULL.

[ ELEVATOR BELL DINGS ]

Narrator:
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY TIME

MEACH TRANSFORMED
FROM DR. JEKYLL TO MR. HYDE.

Barbara: WE HAD BEEN
UP IN THE ART CLASS,

AND SOMETHING HAPPENED
IN ONE OF THE UNITS

AND THE AIDES
HAD TO RUN TO HELP OUT.

SO THAT LEFT CHARLIE AND ME.

WE GOT ON THE ELEVATOR,

AND I PUSHED THE BUTTON
TO HIS FLOOR,

AND I LOOKED UP AND HE HAD
THIS WEIRD SMILE ON HIS FACE.

[ PEN CLICKING ]

I COULD JUST FEEL
MY KNEES WERE SHAKING.

KNOCK IT OFF, CHARLES.

[ ELEVATOR BELL DINGS ]

AND HE SMILED
AND STEPPED BACK.

IT WAS THAT SMILE,
THAT KIND OF, LIKE...

SINISTER, ALMOST SINISTER SMILE

THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN
WITH CHARLIE BEFORE.

BUT HE JUST SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS
OUT OF ME.

Narrator:
CHARLES MEACH WAS LOCKED UP.

IT SEEMED VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE

THAT HE COULD HAVE ESCAPED
TO KILL AGAIN.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

Narrator: ANCHORAGE POLICE
NARROW THEIR LEADS

IN THE SEARCH FOR THE GUNMAN
BEHIND THE BRUTAL PARK SLAYINGS.

AFTER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE
FROM POLICE,

AMBER OLSEN'S EX-BOYFRIEND
BREAKS HIS SILENCE.

ALL RIGHT.

Kasper: MY PARTNER WALKED IN,

AND THE KID RECOGNIZED HIM.

HE SAID, "HEY, I KNOW YOU.
I USED TO CUT YOUR MOM'S LAWN."

HE SAID,
"THOSE GUYS MADE ME MAD

AND I WASN'T
GONNA TALK TO THEM."

BUT HE TOLD US WHERE HE WAS,

AND WE WERE PRETTY ASSURED THAT
HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

I WAS JUST TOO SCARED
TO SAY ANYTHING.

Narrator:
THAT LEAVES AUTHORITIES

WITH ONLY ONE POSSIBLE SUSPECT,

CHARLES MEACH.

BUT HOW HAD A CONFESSED KILLER

MANAGED TO BREAK OUT
OF THE ASYLUM UNNOTICED?

IN THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION
WHERE HE WAS INITIALLY HOUSED,

MEACH WAS SMART ENOUGH
TO BEAT THE SYSTEM

BY TELLING HIS DOCTORS
WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR.

I THINK
I'M DOING PRETTY WELL.

Macdonald: SO, HE WAS
SENT BACK TO ANCHORAGE.

THEY PUT HIM AT THE
ALASKA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE.

HE PROGRESSED FURTHER.

Narrator:
MEACH USES THE KNOWLEDGE
HE GAINED IN CALIFORNIA

TO CONTINUE HIS CHARADE
AT A.P.I.

Mason: HE KNEW BETTER
THAN TO TALK ABOUT HIS VOICES,

OR ABOUT HIS DELUSIONS.

SO, ON THE SURFACE, HE LOOKED
VERY FRIENDLY AND PEACEFUL,

AND NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.

THEY'RE VERY PERSUASIVE,
VERY CHARMING, YOU KNOW,

THE TED BUNDY TYPE,
THAT KIND OF THING,

CHARLIE MANSON, YOU KNOW,

THEY CAN CON THE PANTS
OFF OF YOU, REALLY.

Gruenstein: HE HAD A HIGH IQ --
120, 125, IN THAT CATEGORY.

HE'D STUDY
HOW TO BE INTIMIDATING.

HE WAS CLEVERLY INTIMIDATING,
CLEVERLY MANIPULATING.

HE CONVINCED A LOT OF PEOPLE,
A LOT OF FAIRLY SMART PEOPLE,

A LOT OF RELATIVELY
WELL-TRAINED PEOPLE,

THAT HE WAS MUCH HEALTHIER
THAN HE WAS.

Narrator: BUT DR. MASON ROBISON,
THE SUPERINTENDENT AT A.P.I.,

RECOGNIZES SOMETHING
MORE SINISTER AT PLAY.

OFF MEDICATIONS,
HE'D BE QUITE PSYCHOTIC.

THE REAL CHARLES MEACH,
THE MONSTER INSIDE,

WOULD GRADUALLY EMERGE.

HE'D HAVE
THESE FANTASIES OF MURDER,

AND THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH A PART
OF HIS MIND-SET ALL THE TIME.

HE ALSO HAD A PLAN,
AT ONE POINT,

OF KILLING ONE OF
THE STAFF MEMBERS AT A.P.I.,

AND COOKING THEM,
AND INVITING OTHER STAFF MEMBERS

TO COME JOIN IN THE MEAL.

Narrator: DR. ROBISON ISSUES
A STERN WARNING.

Mason:
I TOLD THE STAFF THAT I THINK

THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN
AT A.P.I.,

AND PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS
IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.

SHOULD NOT
EVER BE LET OUT, NEVER.

I DOCUMENTED THAT,

AND TWO MONTHS LATER, I LEFT.

Narrator: BUT SOON AFTER,
DESPITE DR. ROBISON'S WARNING,

MEACH
IS GRANTED LEAVE PRIVILEGES,

ABLE TO COME AND GO
AS HE PLEASES,

UP TO 10 HOURS A DAY.

Petterson: HE WAS FREE TO DO
WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

TO GO WHERE HE WANTED TO GO.

SUPPOSEDLY,
IMMENSELY ILL PATIENT,

AND HE'S MINGLING WITH THE
PUBLIC AFTER COMMITTING MURDER.

PEOPLE WERE
UP IN ARMS OVER THIS,

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

HOW COULD SOMEONE SO DANGEROUS
BE ALLOWED OUT ON THE STREET?

Narrator:
WITH NO ONE KEEPING TABS ON HIM,

HE STOPS TAKING HIS MEDS...

AND MAKES AN OMINOUS PURCHASE
THROUGH THE CLASSIFIED ADS.

HE BOUGHT TWO GUNS,
AND HE HAD THEM HIDDEN

IN THE PARK
ACROSS FROM THE INSTITUTION.

HIS PERSONALITY WAS SUCH
THAT HE FELT INADEQUATE,

AND A GUN GAVE HIM
A SENSE OF POWER.

KNOWING HE'S IN VIOLATION
OF THE RULES,

HE PAYS A STRANGER $20
TO PURCHASE AMMUNITION FOR HIM.

Grimes: YOU KNOW,
EVEN AFTER HE DID TIME,

A CONVICTED FELON
COULD NEVER ACTUALLY OWN A GUN.

BUT HE WAS NOT
A CONVICTED FELON,

HE WAS NOT GUILTY
BY REASON OF INSANITY.

I WAS RIGHT HERE.

Narrator:
WHEN FIRST QUESTIONED BY POLICE,

MEACH DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT
IN THE PARK MURDERS.

HE SAYS HE WAS WENT
TO THE DEPARTMENT STORE

WHERE HE WORKED,
BUT WASN'T GONE LONG.

FIRST, I BELIEVE A.P.I.
KEEPS A LOG HERE

OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
ALLOWED TO LEAVE OR HAVE LEFT.

WE DO HAVE IT.

COULD YOU GET THAT LOG
FOR ME, PLEASE?

SURE,
I'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.

OUTSIDE THE NURSE'S PRESENCE,

MEACH ADMITS
THERE'S MORE TO HIS STORY.

YOU GUYS KEEP A SECRET?

SURE.
SURE, YEAH.

HE KIND OF LEANED OVER,
AND HE ASKED,

HE SAID, "CAN YOU GUYS
KEEP A SECRET?"

AND WE SAID, "SURE."

AND HE SAID, "I WENT OUT
AND I HAD SOME DRINKS

AND I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO."

HE SAYS, "YOU GUYS
WON'T TELL THE DOCTOR, WILL YA?"

HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT,
THAT THE DOCTORS WOULD FIND OUT.

BECAUSE WHEN I DRINK
I GET MYSELF INTO TROUBLE.

I SAID, "WELL, DO YOU KNOW WHY

WE'RE ASKING YOU
THESE QUESTIONS?"

AND HE KIND OF LEANED FORWARD

AND SAYS, "YEAH, IT WAS
ABOUT THOSE KIDS IN THE PARK.

IT WASN'T
A PRETTY SIGHT, WAS IT?"

AND HE KIND OF SMILED AT ME.

AND THE HAIR ON
THE BACK OF MY NECK STOOD UP,

AND I KNEW WE HAD
JUST TALKED TO THE MURDERER.

Narrator:
THREE DAYS LATER, MEACH FINALLY
CONFESSES TO HIS PSYCHIATRIST.

[ FILM REEL CLICKING ]

HE ADMITS
ON THE MORNING OF THE MURDERS,

HE WOKE TO A BAD DAY.

HE HAD A SHIRT, A NEW SHIRT,
AND IT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM.

SO, IT WAS
HIS MISSION THAT NIGHT

TO STEAL SOMETHING
FROM SOMEBODY ELSE,

KIND OF GET EVEN,
GET SOME REVENGE.

HE BEGAN UNRAVELING.

SON OF A BITCH!

[ YELLS, PANTING ]

Narrator:
FURTHER FUMING OVER THE FACT

THAT A JUDGE
HAD JUST BLOCKED HIS RELEASE,

HE LEFT ON HIS BIKE AROUND NOON.

HE STOPPED AT A STRIP CLUB,

AND SHARED A COUPLE OF PITCHERS
OF BEER WITH SOME SERVICE MEN.

THEN, TRIED TO GET FRIENDLY
WITH A DANCER.

HE HAD GONE DOWN THAT DAY
TO THE WILD CHERRY,

AND HAD BOUGHT A DRINK
FOR THE YOUNG LADY,

AND STARTED TO TOUCH HER,

AND APPARENTLY SHE SLAPPED HIM
AND REJECTED HIM.

GET OFF ME.

Narrator:
MEACH STORMED OUT OF THE BAR

AND RODE TO
HIS SECRET HIDING PLACE.

HE HAD PICKED UP HIS GUN
AND WOUND UP IN THE AREA,

THE TENT, OF COURSE, DETERMINED
THAT THE KIDS WERE NOT THERE.

GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO STEAL.

BUT, OF COURSE,
WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT

ALL FOUR OF THE KIDS
WERE OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NEARBY.

HE WASN'T PLANNING ON MURDER.

HE WAS PLANNING ON STEALING,

AND THEN WHEN
HE WAS DISCOVERED...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...HE HAD NO CONSCIENCE.

KILLING FOUR KIDS
BECAME NECESSARY.

THERE WAS NOTHING
STOPPING CHARLES MEACH

FROM DOING WHAT HE HAD TO DO
BECAUSE HE COULD CARE LESS

ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.

IT WAS HIS LIFE
THAT HE CARED ABOUT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

THIS ISN'T FUNNY,
REALLY.

WHERE ARE Y'ALL?

[ SCREAMS ]
[ GUNSHOT ]

Girl: GUYS?

[ SCREAMS ]
[ GUNSHOT ]

AFTER THE MURDERS,
HE QUICKLY FLED THE SCENE.

Kasper: HE REPLACED HIS GUN,
IN ITS HIDING PLACE,

AND WENT BACK
TO THE INSTITUTION...

AS NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.

Narrator: MEACH IS LATER
IDENTIFIED AS THE GUNMAN

BY SEVERAL PARK GOERS.

HE'S CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

DURING THE TRIAL
THE FOLLOWING DECEMBER,

CHARLES MEACH PLEADS NOT GUILTY
BY REASON OF INSANITY

A SECOND TIME.

THE VOICES IN MY HEAD
SAID IT WAS OKAY.

Narrator:
HE LATER ASKS A PSYCHIATRIST

WHETHER HE SHOULD ACT CRAZY
DURING PROCEEDINGS.

I HONESTLY THINK HE KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING

BECAUSE HE HAD THAT GUN
APPARENTLY HIDDEN SOMEWHERE.

HE'D GONE AND RETRIEVED IT,
LOADED IT.

YEAH, PLAIN AND SIMPLE,
COLD-BLOODED.

CHARLES MEACH IS FOUND GUILTY
ON ALL FOUR COUNTS.

HE'S SENTENCED
TO 396 YEARS IN PRISON.

IN THE END, THE CASE PROMPTS
ALASKA TO CHANGE ITS LAWS.

A CRIMINALLY INSANE PERSON

DEEMED HEALTHY
WHILE INSTITUTIONALIZED,

NOW MUST SERVE THE REMAINDER
OF THE SENTENCE BEHIND BARS.

HE KNEW THE STEPS TO TAKE.

HE KNEW
HOW TO MOSTLY COVER HIS BUTT.

HE TOOK STEPS
TO PREVENT BEING CAUGHT.

HE WASN'T CRAZY.

CHARLES MEACH DIED IN 2004,

INSIDE THE COLD CONCRETE
CONFINES OF A PRISON CELL,

A PLACE, MANY ARGUE,
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.

FREEDOM WAS THE FIRST MISTAKE.

HE IS EVIL,
HE IS EVIL PERSONIFIED.

HE IS DANGEROUS.

HE IS INTIMIDATING,
AND HE'S A TOTAL PSYCHOPATH.