Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - Fear Thy Neighbor - full transcript

[ ANIMAL HOWLS ]

Narrator:
THE WILDS OF ALASKA --

VAST, UNTAMED, AND DANGEROUS.

Gross: THERE ARE PLACES
WHERE YOU'RE TOTALLY ISOLATED.

THERE'S NO WAY TO GET IN OR OUT
EXCEPT BY PLANE.

Narrator:
A PLACE WHERE PREDATORS ROAM.

McCann: EVERY PLACE YOU GO,
EVERYTHING YOU HEAR --

BEARS, BEARS, BEARS.

BUT HUMANS PACK A LOT OF EVIL.

Narrator:
AND EVIL CAN STRIKE ANYWHERE.

Lemaire:
ALL TRAILS LEAD HOME.



THERE'S NO SENSE FOR HER
NOT FINDING HER WAY HOME.

THERE WAS NO DRAG MARKS,
NO BLOOD, NO TISSUE,

NO TORN CLOTHING --
NOTHING LIKE THAT.

Ansell:
THIS IS NOT A HURT CHILD.

THIS IS NOT A LOST CHILD.

SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED
IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Gross:
WE SHOULD HAVE REALIZED

THESE MOUNTAINS
DON'T PROTECT US.

THERE'S NO PLACE
THAT EVIL CAN'T HIDE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
FROM THE BASE OF ALASKA'S
MAJESTIC MOUNT WRANGELL,

THE MIGHTY COPPER RIVER FLOWS,
BREATHING LIFE

INTO THE SECLUDED OUTPOST
OF TAZLINA

NESTLED ALONG ITS BANKS.



McCann: IT'S BARELY JUST A SPOT
ON THE MAP,

A LITTLE SPOT ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

AND IF YOU LOOK TO THE LEFT
FOR A MOMENT,

YOU'LL SEE
A LITTLE GENERAL STORE

AND A COUPLE OF HOUSES,
AND THAT'S TAZLINA.

Ansell: WE LIVED IN THIS LITTLE
ISOLATED AREA OF NIRVANA.

ALL I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT

IS WHETHER THERE'S A BEAR
IN THE GARDEN

OR, YOU KNOW,
WILL MY CAR START AT 50 BELOW?

Narrator: IN 1990,
DAVID LEMAIRE AND HIS WIFE

TRADE THE URBAN LIFE
OF ANCHORAGE

FOR TAZLINA'S QUIET ISOLATION.

PEOPLE DIDN'T LOCK THEIR DOORS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY.

YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD,
THEY MEET YOU AND THEY WAVE.

Narrator: WHEN THE LEMAIRE
FAMILY MOVES INTO TOWN,

DAVID'S 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
MANDY,

BECOMES FAST FRIENDS
WITH HER CLOSEST NEIGHBOR, ERIN,

WHO LIVES A MILE AWAY.

Christian: WE WERE ALWAYS
INTO SOLVING MYSTERIES.

SHE LIVED RIGHT BY A STORE,
SO WE WOULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE

THAT WOULD BE WALKING
IN AND OUT,

AND EVEN THEY WOULD TURN
INTO MYSTERIES SOMETIMES.

Narrator: THE GIRLS LOVE
PRETENDING TO BE DETECTIVES

AND SOLVING
MAKE-BELIEVE MYSTERIES.

[ CHUCKLES ]

LITTLE DO THEY KNOW,
THE FUN AND GAMES WILL SOON END.

I WAS WORKING ON A PROJECT
IN MY HOUSE.

I REMEMBER ERIN
AND CARRIE, MY OTHER DAUGHTER,

WERE WANTING TO HELP ME.

CAN I HELP?
NO.

WHEN ARE
YOU GONNA BE DONE?

[ SIGHS ] I'M BORED.

AND I REALLY DIDN'T WANT
THEIR HELP.

I MEAN,
THEY WERE GETTING IN THE WAY.

WHAT ABOUT MANDY?

I MEAN, YOU LIKE TO PLAY
WITH HER.

WHY DON'T YOU CALL HER AND SEE
IF SHE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

WE WERE GOING TO GO TO HER HOUSE

AND SOLVE A LITTLE MYSTERY
IN THE ATTIC.

[ CHUCKLES ]

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
I HAD WALKED THERE BY MYSELF,

AND SO I'D ASKED
IF SHE COULD MEET ME HALFWAY

SO I COULD HAVE SOME COMPANY.

Narrator: MANDY HAD NEVER MADE
THE JOURNEY ALONE, EITHER.

BUT HER MOTHER
RELUCTANTLY AGREES,

KNOWING SHE'LL BE WALKING ALONG
THE VILLAGE AIRSTRIP

MOST OF THE WAY IN PLAIN VIEW.

McCann: MOM STOOD OUT
AND WATCHED HER WALK

DOWN THE EDGE OF THAT RUNWAY.

YOU GET TO THE EDGE
OF THE RUNWAY AND WAVE GOODBYE.

BYE, MOM!

ALL SHE HAD TO DO, REALLY,

WAS TO GET THAT TO THAT
90-DEGREE -- ALMOST 90-DEGREE

TURN DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THEN SHE WOULD BE LOOKING
AT HER GIRLFRIEND

STANDING AT THE END
OF THE CUL-DE-SAC.

Lemaire:
IN REALITY, THERE WAS A VERY,
VERY SHORT DISTANCE OF TIME

THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO BE SEEN BY OTHER PEOPLE.

Narrator:
ERIN AND HER LITTLE SISTER
SET OFF TO MEET MANDY.

THEY GET
TO THE DESIGNATED HALFWAY POINT,

BUT CURIOUSLY,
MANDY ISN'T THERE.

I'M COLD, ERIN.

JUST HOLD ON.
SHE'LL BE HERE SOON.

Christian: WE WAITED FOR
PROBABLY 10 MINUTES, 15 MINUTES,

AND THEN WE DECIDED
TO KEEP ON WALKING.

ERIN!

YOU KNOW WHAT?
MAYBE SHE FORGOT.

LET'S JUST --
LET'S JUST GO TO HER HOUSE.

Narrator: THEY HEAD
STRAIGHT TO MANDY'S HOUSE.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE, THE MADE-UP
MYSTERY SUDDENLY BECOMES REAL.

Lemaire: I HAD BEEN DRIVING
ON THE NIGHT SHIFT,

SO I'D CAME IN AND I SAW MANDY
THAT MORNING FOR BREAKFAST

AND I'D GONE TO SLEEP.

AND MY WIFE WOKE ME UP
AND SAID, "SOMETHING'S WRONG."

DAVID. THE GIRLS ARE HERE,
MANDY'S NOT.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

LET'S GO FIND HER.

ERIN MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO OUR
HOUSE AND HADN'T SEEN MANDY.

MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS
THAT FOR SOME REASON

SHE TOOK A SHORTCUT
OR SOMETHING.

MANDY!

Narrator: DAVID TRACES
HIS DAUGHTER'S STEPS.

I DROVE AROUND THE AIRSTRIP
AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

TO ERIN'S HOUSE
AND SAW THEIR PARENTS.

THEY HADN'T SEEN HER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THIS MADE NO SENSE.

MANDY!

THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY
SHE WOULD HAVE GONE.

THERE WAS NO REASON

WHY THEY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE
THE CONNECTION.

Narrator: PERHAPS SOMETHING
GRABBED MANDY'S ATTENTION

AND DREW HER OFF
THE BEATEN PATH.

Ansell:
THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT
I THINK RUN SOME OF OUR MINDS.

DID SHE FIND SOMETHING
OF INTEREST

OR, YOU KNOW,
DID SHE STEP INTO THE WOODS

AND JUST GET SWALLOWED UP
BY THEM?

Narrator: RIGHT AT THE EDGE
OF TAZLINA'S FEW ROADS

IS A VAST WILDERNESS.

TO A CHILD WALKING,
IT WOULD SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER.

AND IF SHE'D ENTERED THE WOODS,

HAD SHE CROSSED PATHS
WITH A WILD ANIMAL?

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
NICE TIGHT KNOT RIGHT THERE.

WORRIED ABOUT THIS,
DAVID HAD TAUGHT HIS DAUGHTER

ABOUT THE HIDDEN DANGERS
WHEN THE MOVED TO THE AREA.

JUST REMEMBER, THESE BEARS --
THEY'RE NOT PETS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

Lemaire: SHE LEARNED THAT
WILD ANIMALS ARE WILD ANIMALS

AND TO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM,

BUT TO RESPECT THEM
AND TO GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE.

I THINK I FOUND
SOME BEAR TRACKS.

REALLY? WHERE?

YEP. THOSE ARE SOME BEAR TRACKS.
GOOD JOB.

SHE KNEW ABOUT BEARS AND MOOSE
AND, YOU KNOW,

WHAT WOULD PROVOKE THEM,

HOW TO BE SAFE
IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

Narrator: HE'D ALSO TRAINED HER
HOW TO FIND HER WAY HOME.

OUR THING WAS THAT WE DID
BEAR HUNTING TOGETHER

USUALLY OVER BAIT STATIONS

AND IT WAS JUST THE KIND OF
FATHER/DAUGHTER TIME

THAT WE HAD ALONE.

MANDY, HONEY,
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.

NOW PRETEND
IF I WASN'T HERE.

HOW WOULD YOU
FIND YOUR WAY HOME?

I TRIED TO TEACH HER
SENSE OF DIRECTION,

PAY ATTENTION
TO WHICH WAY YOU'RE GOING.

THAT WAY.

VERY GOOD.

IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
THAT SHE WAS JUST LOST.

Narrator: YET NOW, SHE SEEMS
TO HAVE SIMPLY DISAPPEARED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AREA,

IT'S BORDERED BY THREE SIDES
OF THE COPPER RIVER

AND ONE SIDE BY THE HIGHWAY.

AND THERE'S A.T.V. TRAILS THAT
GO EVERYWHERE THROUGH THERE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE SAYING
"ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME."

ALL TRAILS LEAD HOME.

THERE'S NO SENSE FOR HER
NOT FINDING HER WAY HOME.

Narrator: UNLESS SHE DARED
TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE RIVER.

Humphrey: THE COPPER RIVER
CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

IT'S VERY SILTY, VERY DEEP,
AND VERY FAST.

IF YOU FALL IN THERE,

THE SILT FILLS YOUR CLOTHES
AND PULLS YOU THE BOTTOM.

YOU COULD NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

EVEN WITH A LIFE VEST, YOU CAN
STILL BE PULLED TO THE BOTTOM.

Narrator:
FEAR GROWING, DAVID ALERTS
THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT THAT FIRST GROUP HEADING
UP NORTH ON THAT RIVER BAR.

THAT'S MY PRIORITY AREA.

WITHIN HOURS
OF HIS DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE,

VOLUNTEERS
AND ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

SCOUR WALKING TRAILS
AND A.T.V. TRACKS

THAT CRISSCROSS THE PINEY WOODS.

Gross: WE JUST WENT OUT
AND STARTED YELLING,

YELLING HER NAME
TO LET HER KNOW THAT --

IF SHE'S HIDING
FROM SOME ANIMAL,

SHE CAN COME OUT NOW.

SO, WE JUST YELLED AND YELLED
AND YELLED.

MANDY!

Narrator:
A NEIGHBOR TELLS POLICE

SHE SAW MANDY WALKING ALONE

ALONG THE LONESOME STRETCH
OF ROAD

NEAR THE AIRSTRIP AROUND 3:00.

BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

McCann: CERTAINLY A GRIZZLY
COULD PICK UP A CHILD LIKE THAT

AND CARRY IT,
BUT THERE'D BE SOMETHING.

AND IT'S GONNA GO A LITTLE WAYS

AND PROBABLY CACHE THE BODY,
MEANING BURY IT.

THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT --
NO DRAG MARKS, NO BLOOD,

NO TISSUE, NO TORN CLOTHING,
NO NOTHING.

Narrator: TROOPERS BRING IN
SEARCH-AND-RESCUE DOGS

TO TRACK MANDY'S SCENT.

THEY FOLLOW IT FROM HER HOUSE,
BUT THE TRAIL ENDS SUDDENLY.

IT NEVER APPROACHED
THE COPPER RIVER,

AND POLICE BELIEVE
SHE DIDN'T FALL IN.

THERE'S JUST NO SIGN OF MANDY.

BY THAT TIME, THE SEARCH TEAMS
WERE BASICALLY DOUBLING OVER.

AND I JUST REMEMBER

ME AND MY SON WERE LOOKING
AT THE MAP AND HE SAID,

"THERE'S NOT VERY MANY MORE
AREAS LEFT TO SEARCH.

DO YOU THINK
THEY'RE GONNA FIND HER?"

AND I REMEMBER SAYING, "SURELY,
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA FIND HER."

MANDY!

BUT AFTER DAY TWO
IS BORROWED TIME, IN MY MIND.

Narrator:
DESPERATE TO FIND HIS DAUGHTER,

DAVID ASKS A BUSH PILOT
TO HELP HIM LOOK FROM THE AIR.

I SAID, "WE, YOU KNOW, SPOT GAME
FROM THE AIR ALL THE TIME.

MAYBE WE COULD GO LOOK."

AND SO...

[ SNIFFLES ]

SO, HE SAID, "SURE."

SO WE...

[ CLEARS THROAT ]

WE TOOK OFF
AND WE MADE SEARCH PATTERNS

BACK AND FORTH
ACROSS THE SEARCH AREA.

WE SAW FOX ON THE GROUND.

WE SAW A KID
OUT COLLECTING CANS.

BY THEN, THE PANIC'S GROWING.

Narrator: THEY FACE
AN UNSPEAKABLE POSSIBILITY.

WHAT IF SOMEONE
SNATCHED THE LITTLE GIRL?

THE SUDDEN VANISHING RAVELS
THE SMALL TOWN OF 241 PEOPLE

AS THEORIES FLY
AND PARANOIA GROWS.

NOBODY REALLY KNEW
WHAT HAPPENED.

NOBODY KNEW
WHO COULD HAVE DONE IT.

WE WERE ALL THINKING ABOUT

WHO HAVE WE SEEN LATELY
THAT DOESN'T BELONG IN OUR AREA?

Narrator:
DEEP IN THE WILDS OF ALASKA,

AN 11-YEAR-OLD CHILD IS MISSING

AND TAZLINA,
THE REMOTE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

MANDY LEMAIRE CALLS HOME,
IS GRIPPED WITH FEAR.

THAT LITTLE BIT OF TIME
ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY

WHERE NOTHING EVER HAPPENS,
MANDY WAS GONE.

GONE. DISAPPEARED. VANISHED.

Narrator:
ALASKA STATE TROOPERS TEAM
WITH DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS

FOR AN EXTENDED SEARCH
OF THE TAZLINA AREA,

BUT THEY ALL COME UP EMPTY.

HAS SOMEONE ABDUCTED MANDY?

LOCALS SUSPECT
IT'S THE WORK OF AN OUTSIDER.

THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH TAZLINA
CONNECTS IT

TO THE LARGER TOWN
OF GLENNALLEN.

IF YOU'RE GOING ANYWHERE
IN ALASKA, ESPECIALLY ANCHORAGE,

YOU HAVE TO GO
THROUGH GLENNALLEN --

HAVE TO, NO OTHER WAY.

Narrator:
GLENNALLEN IS A BUSY SUPPLY HUB
WHERE STRANGERS ARE COMMON.

IT HAS A LOT OF CARS
GOING THROUGH IT.

AND SO, WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS
ONE OF THOSE CRAZY PEOPLE.

Narrator:
AS SUSPICION MOUNTS,

TERROR ENVELOPS
THE ISOLATED OUTPOST.

AND USUALLY WHEN YOU WENT DOWN
THE COPPER RIVER TO PICNIC,

YOU WERE LOOKING
FOR ANIMAL PRINTS.

YOU KNOW,
IF THERE WERE BEAR PRINTS,

YOU WOULD PACK UP AND GO HOME.

BUT YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR HUMAN PRINTS.

WHO ELSE HAD BEEN AROUND THERE?

Narrator:
BUT BECAUSE MANDY DISAPPEARED

FROM AN AREA FAR OFF
THE MAIN ROAD TO GLENNALLEN,

SERGEANT McCANN DOES NOT BELIEVE
IT WAS AN OUTSIDER.

McCann: TO BE PASSING THROUGH
ON THE WAY TO SOMEPLACE ELSE

AND JUST GRAB HER,

YOU HAVE TO GO OFF
THE MAIN HIGHWAY TO DO THIS.

NOT VERY LIKELY.

CAPITAL "R" RANDOM,
I MEAN MAJORLY RANDOM.

Narrator: IT MIGHT BE
SOMEONE CLOSER TO HOME.

A STRANGER COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

BUT SOMEBODY ELSE COULD
ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WATCHING HER,

KNEW WHERE SHE LIVED,
AND WENT THERE OFTEN.

AND YOU COULD GO THERE
WITHOUT BEING OBSERVED

BECAUSE RIGHT NEXT TO HER HOUSE
IS THE GENERAL STORE.

YOU COULD GO THERE
AND SEE HER AND THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU COULD GO THERE EVERY DAY
AND THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU LIKE TO THINK THAT PEOPLE
THAT COME TO ALASKA TO VISIT

AREN'T GONNA DO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA ABDUCT
A CHILD.

BUT IF YOU DENY THAT,
THEN YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT,

WAS THAT ONE OF US
THAT DID THIS?

Narrator:
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE,

MANDY'S ABDUCTOR MIGHT BE

ONE OF THE 200 FAMILIAR FACES
IN TOWN.

YOU ARE ISOLATED AND CONFINED
TO WHERE YOU GOT TO KNOW

MOST EVERYBODY
THAT LIVED IN YOUR AREA.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEM
BY NAME,

YOU KNEW THEM BY SIGHT,
FOR SURE.

IF YOU SAW THEM ON THE ROAD,
YOU'D WAVE.

ESSENTIALLY,
NOBODY WAS A STRANGER.

Narrator:
GOSSIP RUNS WILD LIKE THE RIVER.

EVERYONE IN TAZLINA
STARTS TO SUSPECT THE WORST --

EACH OTHER.

Ansell: PEOPLE STARTED LOOKING
AROUND THEM, GOING,

"WELL, I WONDER
IF HE OR SHE OR THEY..."

IT CHANGED THE WAY
PEOPLE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER,

HOW THEY INTERACTED
WITH EACH OTHER.

I KNOW I HAD A LIST OF PEOPLE

THAT I THOUGHT
WERE CRAZY AND VIOLENT ENOUGH

TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND I WOULD BE VERY GUARDED
AROUND THOSE PEOPLE.

EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN LIST

OF PEOPLE WHO THEY THOUGHT
COULD DO THIS.

Narrator: THIS LEVEL OF DISTRUST
HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE AREA.

RESIDENTS IN TAZLINA
VIVIDLY RECALL

A SIMILAR SMALL-TOWN TERROR
IN THE DEAD OF WINTER

JUST OUTSIDE THE QUIET VILLAGE
OF McCARTHY.

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER,
ONE OF McCARTHY'S OWN RESIDENTS

HATCHED A PLAN TO TAKE OUT
THE ENTIRE TOWN --

ALL 22 PEOPLE.

LOUIS HASTINGS FATALLY AMBUSHED
SIX OF HIS NEIGHBORS

BEFORE TROOPERS WERE ABLE TO GET

TO THE ISOLATED
MOUNTAINTOP VILLAGE

AND PUT AN END TO THE BLOODBATH.

NOW THE HARSH REALITY SETS IN
THAT EVIL LURKS IN TAZLINA.

Gross:
WE'D GO OUT ON BUSES

TO THE LOCATIONS
THAT THEY GAVE US TO SEARCH.

AND I WAS SITTING
NEXT TO THE POLICE OFFICER

WHO SAID TO ME,

"MANY TIMES,
PEOPLE THAT COMMIT THE CRIME

ARE ALSO PART
OF THE SEARCH PARTY."

AND HE LOOKS AT ME AND HE SAYS,

"THE KILLER COULD BE
ON THIS BUS WITH US."

Narrator: PARANOIA RUNS RAMPANT
THROUGH TOWN.

A LOCAL MOVIE-STORE OWNER
EVEN OFFERS POLICE

A LIST OF SUSPICIOUS CUSTOMERS
WHO RENT VIOLENT FILMS.

BUT THEY'RE UNABLE
TO CONNECT ANYONE

TO THE CHILD'S DISAPPEARANCE.

MANDY'S PARENTS
REFUSE TO GIVE UP.

YEAH.
THAT'S PRETTY.

I DECORATED HER BEDROOM
WITH BALLOONS

AND "WELCOME HOME"
TO KEEP OUR HOPES ALIVE.

WE WERE GONNA FIND HER
AND THAT SHE WOULD BE OKAY.

Narrator:
THEIR HOPE IS SHORT-LIVED.

10 DAYS AFTER MANDY VANISHED,

VOLUNTEERS DOUBLE BACK
OVER AN AREA ALREADY SEARCHED

AND FIND
THE CHILD'S LIFELESS BODY.

THE SIGHT SICKENS THE SOUL.

OH, MY GOD.

HER SHOES AND PANTS ARE MISSING.

THIS IS A SEXUAL HOMICIDE,
A SEXUALLY SADISTIC HOMICIDE.

NOTHING THIS CHILD DID
PRECIPITATED THIS MURDER.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS KEEP THE DETAIL
OF THE MISSING CLOTHES SECRET.

IF ANY SUSPECT
LATER MENTIONS THE CLOTHES,

IT WOULD IMPLICATE HIM

SINCE IT'S SOMETHING
ONLY THE KILLER WOULD KNOW.

AN OFFICER GOES TO DELIVER THE
GRIM NEWS TO THE LEMAIRE FAMILY.

WE MET ON THE ROAD
AND I SAW HIM TURN AROUND

AND SAW HIS BLUE LIGHTS COME ON.

I KNEW WHEN I GOT OUT THAT...

THEY WERE GONNA TELL ME
THAT THEY FOUND HER.

AND HE SAID, "WE FOUND HER."

AND I GOT EXCITED.
"YOU FOUND HER?"

HE SAYS, "BUT SHE'S DEAD."

[ CRYING ]

IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,
WE HAVE WORDS --

WIDOW AND WIDOWER DESCRIBE
SOMEBODY WHO LOSES THEIR SPOUSE.

WE HAVE ORPHAN

DESCRIBING SOMEBODY
WHO'S LOST THEIR PARENTS.

BUT THERE'S NO WORD
IN ANY LANGUAGE ON EARTH

THAT DESCRIBES
A PARENT WHO'S LOST A CHILD.

AND MAYBE THAT'S
BECAUSE A LOSS IS WITHOUT WORDS.

WE SHOULD HAVE REALIZED

THAT THESE MOUNTAINS
DON'T PROTECT US.

I HONESTLY THINK

THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE
IN A FAIRY TALE EXISTENCE,

THINKING THAT WE WERE IMMUNE
FROM THIS KIND OF STUFF.

Narrator: AT AUTOPSY,
THE PATHOLOGIST DETERMINES

A CUT ON THE CHILD'S LIP

WAS MOST LIKELY INFLICTED
12 HOURS BEFORE HER DEATH.

IT MEANS A HEARTBREAKING TRUTH.

MANY LEMAIRE HAD BEEN HELD
BY A VICIOUS ABDUCTOR

FOR AT LEAST HALF A DAY.

McCann: YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE
WHAT WAS SAID TO HER,

WHAT WAS DONE TO HER
IN THE MEANTIME,

WHAT WAS GOING
THROUGH THIS BABY'S MIND.

SHE'S 11. SHE'S NEVER KNOWN FEAR
LIKE THIS.

Narrator:
DEFENSIVE WOUNDS REVEAL

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO'D BEEN
SCHOOLED BY HER FATHER

BRAVELY FOUGHT BACK
UNTIL, IN A FINAL COWARDLY ACT,

HER ATTACKER THREW HER
TO THE GROUND AND SHOT HER,

THEN DUMPED HER BODY IN AN AREA
THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN SEARCHED.

McCann: WE DETERMINED THAT SHE
WAS SHOT IN PLACE WITH A.22,

SHOT IN THE FACE, LIKELY LOOKING
UP AT HER ATTACKER.

AND THEN WHEN HER HEAD
SLUMPED DOWN,

HE SHOT HER AGAIN
IN THE TOP OF THE HEAD.

Lemaire:
THERE'S A SOLACE IN THE FACT
THAT SHE'S NO LONGER IN PAIN.

NOW YOU HAVE 100 NIGHTMARES
OF WHAT COULD HAVE TRANSPIRED

FROM THE TIME SHE LEFT THE HOUSE
UNTIL SHE WAS KILLED.

Narrator: AND THE LOCATION

WHERE MANDY'S BODY WAS FOUND
IS ALSO DISTURBING.

THE REMOTE TRACT OF WILDERNESS

IS ACCESSIBLE
ONLY BY WINDING TRAILS.

Humphrey: THESE TRAILS
ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH ANIMALS

LIKE MOOSE AND CARIBOU.

AND EVENTUALLY PEOPLE CAME IN

AND THEY'RE WHAT WE CALL
A.T.V. TRAILS NOW.

THE ODDS OF AN OUTSIDER
STUMBLING ON ONE OF THOSE TRAILS

IS A MILLION TO ONE.

THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE

OR WHERE THEY GO
UNLESS THEY'RE LOCAL.

Narrator:
THOSE IN THE TINY VILLAGE

HAD WORRIED
IT MIGHT BE AN INSIDER,

YET HOPED THEY WERE WRONG.

NOW THEY KNOW FOR SURE.

A SADISTIC KILLER WALKS AMONG
THEM, A MONSTER IN THEIR MIDST.

IT TOOK SOMEBODY
HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA

TO TAKE HER.

THIS WASN'T A STRANGER
THAT WALKED IN THERE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ONE OF US.

Man:
THEY GOT THAT LITTLE GIRL.

Narrator: AFTER THE MURDER
OF MANDY LEMAIRE,

A DARK CLOUD OF SUSPICION

HANGS OVER THE REMOTE
ALASKAN OUTPOST OF TAZLINA.

AS RESIDENTS POINT FINGERS
AT ONE ANOTHER,

A VIGILANTE SPIRIT TAKES HOLD

AND MANY LOOK TO MANDY'S FATHER
TO SETTLE THE SCORE.

FIRST THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT
OF TALK OF VIGILANTE JUSTICE.

THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT SAID,

"DAVE, IF YOU KNOW WHO DID IT,
KILL THEM."

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Narrator: DAVID LEMAIRE
RECOGNIZES A NEED FOR PROTECTION

FROM A FORCE SWELLING WITHIN --
VENGEANCE.

WHERE DO YOU HAVE
THE GUNS AT?

THEY'RE IN THE CLOSET.

Lemaire: THE NIGHT
THEY FOUND MANDY'S BODY,

I CALLED A FRIEND OF MINE
AND I TOLD HIM

TO COME GET MY GUNS
OUT OF MY HOUSE.

I DID NOT WANT THE TEMPTATION.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
RUSH TO PIECE TOGETHER

SHREDS OF EVIDENCE FOUND
ON MANDY'S BODY

IN HOPES
OF REVEALING HER KILLER.

THE KILLER ALWAYS BRINGS
SOMETHING OF HIMSELF

TO THE CRIME SCENE.

AND LIKEWISE, HE TAKES SOMETHING
OF THE CRIME SCENE

AWAY WITH HIM.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS FIND
EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED --

SMALL RED
AND BLUE CLOTHING FIBERS

AND SEVERAL TYPES OF METALLIC
PARTICLES ON MANDY'S BODY.

ACCORDING TO CRIME LAB TECHS,
THE METALLIC PARTICLES

RESEMBLE THE TYPES PRODUCED
BY INDUSTRIAL GRINDERS

AND WELDING EQUIPMENT.

BUT POLICE
STILL DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT.

AND BECAUSE SEXUAL PREDATORS
RARELY STRIKE ONLY ONCE,

THEY WORRY
HE'S NOT FINISHED KILLING.

McCann: WE'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED
THAT IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN,

BUT IT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN
AGAIN RIGHT AWAY.

DEPENDS ON
WHERE THAT SEXUAL MURDERER IS AT

IN HIS BIZARRE THOUGHT PROCESS.

HE MAY NEED TO RE-LIVE THIS
AGAIN RIGHT AWAY

OR HE MAY FEED OFF
THAT ENCOUNTER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THERE WAS AN EVIL PRESENCE

AND THEY WERE CONCERNED,
"WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN?"

THERE WAS EVEN PEOPLE CARRYING
GUNS THAT HADN'T BEFORE.

AND THERE WERE EVEN,
ON A RARE OCCASION,

PEOPLE HAVING THEIR CHILDREN
HAVING GUNS HANDY

WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING
IN THE YARDS.

Narrator: ANXIOUS FOR LEADS,
SERGEANT McCANN APPEALS FOR HELP

FROM THOSE
WHO KNOW TAZLINA BEST.

I WENT TO THE COMMUNITY
MORE THAN, PERHAPS, THE PRESS.

I TOLD THEM THE SAME THING
I'VE TOLD OTHER AUDIENCES --

"YOU KNOW,
I PAID MY RESPECTS TO MANDY

"AND THE TRAGEDY
THAT HAS BEFALLEN THEM, BUT --

"DENY IT AS YOU MIGHT,

"IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE
FROM YOUR OWN COMMUNITY

HAS ABDUCTED MANDY
AND LIKELY MURDERED HER."

THERE WERE NO RANSOM NOTES.

THERE WERE NO KIDNAPPING RANSOM
CALLS -- NOTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I MADE A PLEA
TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHO,
IF ANYBODY, STOOD OUT.

IS THERE ANYBODY STRANGE HERE?

Narrator: ONE WEEK LATER,
POLICE GET AN IMPORTANT CALL.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

31-YEAR-OLD TRUCK DRIVER
DAVE DEFOREST PHONES AUTHORITIES

AND SAYS
HE CAN NO LONGER STAY SILENT

ABOUT WHAT HE WITNESSED
ON MANDY'S ROAD

THE DAY OF THE ABDUCTION.

HE'D SEEN A PICKUP TRUCK

AND HE RECOGNIZED
THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL

AS TAZLINA RESIDENT
CHARLIE SMITHART.

DAVID DEFOREST PUT
CHARLIE SMITHART ON THE ROAD

WITHIN MINUTES OF WHEN THIS GIRL
HAD DISAPPEARED.

YOU GUYS GO RIDING
AROUND HERE?

Narrator: THE SMITHART FAMILY IS
WELL RESPECTED IN TAZLINA.

CHARLIE SMITHART WAS
A QUIET GUY, A BIT UNUSUAL --

LIVED IN THE GARAGE
NEXT TO HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE,

WENT TO HER HOUSE FOR DINNER
EVERY NIGHT.

Narrator: ALL THE KIDS IN TOWN
KNOW THE RETIRED MECHANIC.

McCann: HE WAS THE GUY
THAT THE KIDS FROM THE AREA

WOULD COME AROUND
AND HE WOULD FIX THEIR BICYCLES.

THERE YOU GO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT LOOKS GREAT.

YEAH, IT DOES.
IT MATCHES YOUR JACKET.

HEY,
I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S A CANDY NECKLACE.

Narrator:
SMITHART LIVES A QUIET LIFE,

MAINLY KEEPING TO HIMSELF.

THE SMALL-TOWN GRAPEVINE
ERUPTS WITH CHATTER,

AND SOME LOCALS
TURN ON DAVE DEFOREST.

IT IS A LARGE NATIVE PRESENCE
AND PEOPLE DO PICK SIDES.

DAVE WAS AN OUTSIDER.

CHARLIE SMITHART'S FAMILY
WAS THERE.

THEY'D BEEN THERE,
YOU KNOW, A LIFETIME.

Deforest: THAT SPLIT SECOND
THAT I DID SEE HIM THERE...

...CHANGED MY LIFE.

COMPLETE TURN AROUND.

SOMEBODY ALWAYS THINKS
THAT YOU DID IT --

IT'S A TERRIBLE FEELING.

Narrator: AND BESIDES,
DAVE DEFOREST HAS AN ALIBI.

WHEN I CAME FORTH...

AND I-I PLACED CHARLIE SMITHART
AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE ROAD

THAT SUPPOSEDLY MANDY LEMAIRE
WAS ON,

I WAS AT WORK.

WE WERE HAULING DIRT
FROM OUR PLANT

TO MY BOSS' NEW HOUSE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US
THAT WAS WORKING.

I MEAN, THERE WAS NO WAY

THAT, YOU KNOW,
I COULD LEAVE WORK

AND SNEAK AWAY FOR HOURS
AT A TIME

AND NOT ANYBODY NOTICE
THAT I WAS GONE.

ALL I DID WAS SAID WHAT I SEEN.

Narrator: POLICE HAVE NO PROOF
LINKING ANYONE TO THE CRIME.

WILL THE REAL KILLER
SLIP THROUGH THEIR GRASP?

Narrator: IN THE REMOTE
ALASKAN HIDEAWAY OF TAZLINA,

STATE TROOPERS
SEEK THE DEVIANT SEXUAL PREDATOR

WHO KIDNAPPED AND KILLED
11-YEAR-OLD MANDY LEMAIRE.

THEY'RE CERTAIN THE KILLER
IS NO STRANGER TO TOWN.

TRUCK DRIVER DAVE DEFOREST

CLAIMS HE SAW
TAZLINA NATIVE CHARLIE SMITHART

DRIVING ON MANDY'S ROAD

ABOUT THE SAME TIME
SHE DISAPPEARED.

HE SAID, "I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU
MORE BUT THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

"THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

"I DON'T KNOW
IF IT MEANS ANYTHING,

"BUT I WAS DRIVING BY,
THIS IS WHAT I SAW.

IF IT FITS, IT FITS.
IF NOT, IT DOESN'T."

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

AT CHARLIE SMITHART.

THEY NOTICE THE QUIET LONER
ACTED DIFFERENTLY

AFTER MANDY'S DISAPPEARANCE.

HE NEVER GETS INVOLVED
IN ANYTHING -- NOT ANYTHING.

AND HE SHOWED UP.

SEARCHES WOULD GO OUT
AND SEARCH, AND SO DID CHARLIE.

Man: WHERE WERE YOU
AT 3:00 AUGUST 22nd?

Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED,

SMITHART INSISTS
HE NEVER KNEW MANDY LEMAIRE

AND SAYS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE

THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN
IN HIS TRUCK

NEAR MANDY'S HOME
AROUND 3:00 p.m.

HIS ALIBI?

HE WAS HOME WATCHING
A CERTAIN GAME SHOW AT THE TIME.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

WHAT KIND OF PROOF IS THAT?
IT WAS ON 3:00 YESTERDAY.

IT'S GONNA BE ON 3:00 TODAY.

AND IT'S GONNA BE
ON 3:00 TOMORROW.

WHAT KIND OF AN ALIBI IS IT

TO TELL ME
WHAT YOU WERE WATCHING AT 3:00?

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Narrator: THEN POLICE LEARN
ABOUT SOMETHING

SMITHART SAID TO OTHERS
DURING THE SEARCH.

HE SUGGESTED A CIRCLING CHOPPER
MUST HAVE BEEN LOOKING

FOR THE CHILD'S
MISSING CLOTHING.

BUT TROOPERS HADN'T RELEASED
THAT DETAIL TO THE PUBLIC.

McCann: DID CHARLIE GUESS
THAT SHE WASN'T FULLY CLOTHED,

THAT SHE WAS MISSING
HER LOWER CLOTHING,

HER PANTS, SHOES, HER SNEAKERS?

HMM.

OR DID HE KNOW SOMETHING
THAT ONLY THE MURDERER KNEW?

Narrator:
ADDING TO POLICE SUSPICIONS,

TWO YOUNG GIRLS COME FORWARD

SAYING CHARLIE SMITHART
HAD TRIED TO PICK THEM UP

PRIOR TO MANDY'S ABDUCTION.

HEY, YOUNG LADY!
WANT A RIDE?

IT'S COLD OUT THERE.

Goldman: THESE GIRLS HAD ALL HAD
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS.

THEY ALL HAD LONG BLOND HAIR,
THEY WERE TEENAGERS,

AND, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE MOTHERS EVEN SAID

THAT WHEN SHE SAW
MANDY LEMAIRE'S PICTURE

IN THE NEWSPAPER, SHE THOUGHT
THAT WAS HER DAUGHTER.

I DON'T WANT A RIDE.
GO AWAY.

McCann: THERE'S NO DOUBT.

AND THAT'S TYPICAL
OF THIS KIND OF MURDERER.

THEY'RE GOING AMONGST
THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME

AND SEEING VICTIMS
THAT FIT THEIR CRITERIA.

AND THEY'RE STARTING
THEIR FANTASIES.

THEY GO OUT HUNTING.

[ TIRES SQUEAL ]

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Narrator: WHILE INVESTIGATORS
PIECE TOGETHER

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
TO TRY TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT,

MANDY'S FATHER
STRUGGLES TO BE PATIENT.

Lemaire:
EVERY DAY REPRESENTS

SOMEBODY GETTING AWAY
WITH MURDER.

EVERY DAY, TO ME, REPRESENTS,

"HE HAD A CHANCE
TO DO THIS AGAIN."

Narrator:
EVENTUALLY, DAVID LEMAIRE IS
PUSHED TO THE BREAKING POINT.

Lemaire: THERE WAS A DAY
HE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE

AND WALKED OVER
TO THE GROCERY STORE NEXT DOOR.

AND AS HE'S WALKING OVER,

HE SAW A GUY HE KNEW
OVER ON THE GAS PUMPS.

HE WALKED OVER THERE,
HE'S TALKING TO THEM,

HE'S YELLING LOUD,
HE'S POINTING AT MY HOUSE,

HE'S POINTING AT THE WOODS,

THE DIRECTION
THAT HER BODY WAS FOUND,

AND I KNOW THAT I LOOKED AT
THAT AS HE WAS TAUNTING ME.

THAT TIME THOSE VOICES
GOT VERY LOUD INSIDE MY HEAD.

"BE A MAN, DEFEND YOUR FAMILY,
AND MAKE HIM SUFFER."

Narrator: AT THAT MOMENT,
DAVID REMEMBERS A HUNTING RIFLE

HE'D DISCOVERED
HIDDEN IN HIS UPSTAIRS CLOSET

ONLY DAYS BEFORE.

THE LONE GUN NOT GIVEN
TO HIS FRIEND FOR SAFE KEEPING.

I REMEMBER WALKING
TOWARDS MY BEDROOM.

BY THEN THE ANGER
WAS...UNBELIEVABLY HIGH.

I FELT MY BODY TEMPERATURE RISE.

I FELT MY HEART POUND LIKE
I'D BEEN RUNNING A MARATHON.

AND I COULD FEEL ALL THE VEINS
IN MY FACE AND MY HEAD.

AND THEY WERE GETTING HOT
AND THEY WERE PULSATING.

AND JUST BUILT UP
UNTIL MY HEAD FELT LIKE

IT HAD 300 POUNDS OF PRESSURE
IN IT.

[ Voice breaking ]
I'M HEARING, "KILL HIM."

I'M HEARING --

THEM GUYS ARE LIKE
THEY'RE SCREAMING AT ME NOW.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Narrator: AFTER THE ABDUCTION
AND MURDER OF MANDY LEMAIRE,

HER FATHER, DAVID LEMAIRE,

BELIEVES HER KILLER
IS WITHIN REACH.

AND THE VIGILANTE SPIRIT
THAT ENGULFED

THE TOWN OF TAZLINA
NOW SEARS HIS SOUL.

Lemaire: I CANNOT SAY I WAS
GOING TO GET THAT HUNTING RIFLE,

BUT I REALLY CAN'T SAY I WASN'T.

ALMOST LIKE I WAS ON AUTO PILOT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I SAW A PICTURE OF MY TWO BOYS.

AND I SAID OUT LOUD, "GUYS,

"THERE'S A BAD MAN IN THIS WORLD
THAT KILLED YOUR SISTER.

BUT I JUST KILLED HIM,
AND NOW WE'RE EVEN."

AND I SAID THAT,
I REALIZED WHERE I WAS HEADED.

AND I KNEW I COULD NOT DO THAT.

I KNEW I COULD NOT EXPLAIN
TO MY BOYS.

AND I KNEW I COULD NOT FACE
MY GOD...

THAT I WAS A MURDERER.

I WENT AND I LAID DOWN IN MY BED
AND I STARTED CRYING.

AND I WAS CRYING SO HARD

I WAS LITERALLY SHAKING
AND CONVULSING.

AND I CRIED OUT TO GOD
TO PLEASE REMOVE THIS RAGE

AND DO NOT LET ME
COMMIT THIS SIN.

Narrator: LEMAIRE DECIDES
NOT TO PULL THE TRIGGER,

BUT POLICE ARE READY TO STRIKE.

A JUDGE FINALLY APPROVES
A SEARCH WARRANT

FOR CHARLIE SMITHART'S HOME
AND SHOP.

TROOPERS COLLECT
TWO.22-CALIBER RIFLES,

BUT THEY DON'T FIND THE HANDGUN

THEY THINK
WAS THE MURDER WEAPON.

THEY ALSO COLLECT
METALLIC PARTICLES

FROM THE FLOOR OF HIS SHOP.

AND INVESTIGATORS SEIZE
HIS PICKUP.

LAB TECHS COMPARE THE METALLIC
PARTICLES FROM THE FLOOR

AND THE RED-AND-BLUE FIBERS
FROM THE TRUCK

TO THOSE RECOVERED
FROM MANDY'S BODY.

McCann:
THEY'RE NOT FINGERPRINTS.

WE'RE REASONABLY CLOSE
TO MATCHING --

AS CLOSE AS THEY COULD BE.

Narrator:
AND THEN A STUNNING DISCOVERY.

WE FOUND HAIRS
FROM MANDY LEMAIRE IN HIS TRUCK.

DAMNING EVIDENCE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator:
ON NOVEMBER 26, 1991,

TROOPERS SURROUND
SMITHART'S HOME

AND CLOSE IN ON HIM
WHILE HE'S WATCHING TV.

WHAT'S WRONG, FELLAS?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

GO AHEAD AND TURN AROUND,
PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK.

HE'S ARRESTED AND CHARGED
WITH THE KIDNAPPING,

SEXUAL ASSAULT,
AND MURDER OF MANDY LEMAIRE.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS
TALKING ABOUT?

RELAX, RELAX.

COME ON!

DURING HIS TRIAL,
SMITHART'S OWN COUSIN TESTIFIES

SHE ALSO SPOTTED HIS PICKUP
ON MANDY'S ROAD

ON THE DAY MANDY WAS LAST SEEN.

Goldman: SO WE HAD HIM
GOING IN AND COMING OUT.

CHARLIE SMITHART'S COUSIN,

BEING A FAMILY MEMBER
WHO COULD CLEARLY IDENTIFY

CHARLIE AS BEING
THE PERSON THAT WAS SEEN.

SHE SAW HIM GOING THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION ON THAT ROAD.

TALK OF THE TOWN WAS

THAT CHARLIE COULD HAVE NEVER
DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

CHARLIE SMITHART'S ATTORNEY
SAID IT WAS ME.

ALL I DID
WAS PLACE A MAN AT THE SCENE.

I SEEN WHAT I SEEN.

Narrator: IN THE END, SMITHART'S
MOTHER TRIES TO SAVE HIM

BY CORROBORATING HIS ALIBI

THAT HE WAS HOME WATCHING TV
AROUND 3:00

SO HE COULDN'T
HAVE GRABBED MANDY.

SHE SAYS SHE SAW HIM THERE.

THEN SHE WENT TO THE STORE
LATER THAT EVENING.

WE HAD SENT SOMEBODY
UP TO THE STORE,

KNOWING
THAT THIS WAS THE DEFENSE.

AND THE STORE KEPT
CASH REGISTER TAPES,

FOUND THE KEY RECEIPTS
FOR THE TIME PERIOD

MATCHING THE EXACT AMOUNT
IN HER CHECKBOOK.

THE ONLY ONE THAT MATCHED WOULD
HAVE BEEN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:17.

IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR
AT THAT POINT IN TIME

THAT IF SHE WAS
AT THE GROCERY STORE AT 3:17,

SHE WASN'T CHARLIE'S ALIBI.

SHE'D BEEN CAUGHT IN,
BASICALLY, A LIE.

Narrator: THE DEFENSE
TRIES TO PIN THE MURDER

ON DAVE DEFOREST BUT FAILS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE
THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE

THAT CHARLIE DID IT.

AND SO, WHO ELSE TO BLAME

OTHER THAN THE PERSON
THAT SAW HIM TURN INTO THE AREA?

WHEN THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW,

I KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS
A GOOD HEART,

YOU KNOW, WILL COME FORTH,
YOU KNOW, IF THEY SEE SOMETHING.

THEY TRIED TO, YOU KNOW --

HIS ATTORNEY
JUST TRIED TO MAKE ME LOOK

LIKE THE BADDEST GUY
IN THE WORLD.

Goldman: DAVID DEFOREST
WASN'T REALLY A SUSPECT.

HE WAS THE RED HERRING
FOR THE DEFENSE.

THAT'S ALL HE WAS.

I HAVE KIDS OF MY OWN.

I'VE SEEN MY MOM LOSE
THREE OF HER KIDS.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE LOSING ONE.

UM...

YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS

AND YOU THINK THAT
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOMETHING,

COME FORTH.

JUST COME FORTH.

AND IF IT'S NOTHING,
IT'S NOTHING.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU COULD PUT A KILLER
BEHIND BARS FOR LIFE.

THIS WHOLE THING WAS ABOUT
FINDING MANDY LEMAIRE'S KILLER.

I'M JUST GLAD THAT...

THAT I CAME FORTH THAT DAY.

Narrator: ON JULY 22, 1993,

A JURY CONVICTS CHARLES SMITHART
ON ALL CHARGES.

HE IS SENTENCED
TO 114 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

IN 1999, THE SUPREME COURT

OVERTURNS THE VERDICT
ON A TECHNICALITY

AND ORDERS A NEW TRIAL,

BUT SMITHART WOULD NEVER
STAND TRIAL A SECOND TIME.

ON DECEMBER 16, 2000,

CHARLES SMITHART DIES
OF LUNG CANCER IN PRISON.

I'M CLEARLY CONVINCED

THAT CHARLIE SMITHART
COMMITTED THIS MURDER.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALL THOSE
NAYSAYERS, TOO, THAT SAID --

LIKE HIS MOTHER -- WHO SAID,
"HE'S STILL OUT THERE,

HE'S GOING TO KILL AGAIN."

DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE KILLER'S DEAD.

IF THERE IS A HELL,
THAT'S WHERE HE'S AT.

Narrator: DAVID LEMAIRE
STILL LIVES IN TAZLINA.

Lemaire: SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY
RELIGION IS A CRUTCH.

BUT IF I DIDN'T HONESTLY BELIEVE
THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS IN HEAVEN,

I HAD NO REASON TO LIVE.

IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE
I COULD SEE HER AGAIN...

THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT
IN MY WORLD.

Narrator:
DESPITE THE SOLACE HE'S FOUND,

THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE

THE PRISTINE WILDERNESS
STILL HARBORS UNSEEN EVIL,

THE KIND OF WICKEDNESS
FROM WHICH NO ONE CAN HIDE.

Ansell: IT FOREVER CHANGED
WHAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD.

WE LIVED PRETTY SIMPLE LIVES,
NOT REAL COMPLEX.

AND WE THOUGHT
WE WERE BEYOND THE REACH

OF THE BAD THINGS
THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US.

THERE'S AN INNOCENCE THAT'S LOST
THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK.

Gross:
WE HAD DELUDED OURSELVES

INTO THINKING THAT WE WERE
ISOLATED, WE WERE PROTECTED.

THIS KIND OF PROVED TO US
THAT THERE'S EVEN EVIL IN ALASKA

AND THAT YOU CAN'T GET AWAY
FROM EVIL.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.