Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - Shattered Dreams - full transcript

[ WOLF HOWLS ]

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

A PLACE WHERE PREDATORS ROAM

AND PEOPLE VANISH
AT AN EERILY HIGH RATE.

Schmidt:
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
TO DISAPPEAR UP HERE,

WHETHER IT'S BY ACCIDENT

OR JUST WANTING TO DISAPPEAR
ON YOUR OWN.

Narrator: DID A FAMOUS
ALASKAN RENEGADE

DISAPPEAR BY ACCIDENT
OR ON PURPOSE?

ALASKA IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST
PLACE IN THE WORLD

TO HIDE A BODY.



IT REALLY WAS A JIMMY HOFFA CASE
IN A WAY.

IT WAS A MYSTERY.

Feichtinger:
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A STRUGGLE,

NOTHING APPEARED TO BE
OUT OF PLACE.

Lynette: THE HARDEST THING
WAS NOT KNOWING,

NOT KNOWING
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

Logan: THE THEORY OF MURDER
WAS THE HIGHEST ON THE LIST.

AND THE ONLY QUESTION WAS,

WHO WAS IT THAT WANTED
TO BRING HIM HARM?

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA --

CIVILIZATION'S LAST OUTPOST
BEFORE THE VAST YUKON TERRITORY.

AFTER FAIRBANKS,
IT'S WILDERNESS.

YOU HEAD NORTH FROM FAIRBANKS,
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.



Narrator:
IT'S ALASKA AT ITS WILDEST

WITH THREE MONTHS OF DARK,
DEATHLY COLD WINTER

WHERE TEMPERATURES PLUNGE
TO 80 BELOW.

FAIRBANKS IS ITS OWN ANIMAL.

IT WAS FOUNDED ON GOLD MINING.

AND THE PEOPLE UP THERE
HAVE A REPUTATION

FOR BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE
INDEPENDENT,

A LITTLE BIT MORE REBELLIOUS
THAN THE REST OF ALASKA.

AND THAT'S SAYING A LOT.

Narrator: ON JUNE 1, 1993,

STATE TROOPERS GET CALLED
TO A REMOTE FAIRBANKS CABIN...

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

...BY A CLOSE FRIEND
AND POLITICAL ALLY

OF A RESIDENT NAMED JOE VOGLER.

I HAVEN'T SEEN JOE
IN DAYS.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HIM.

HE SAYS HE'S WORRIED.

HE HASN'T HEARD FROM JOE
IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

AND I CAME UP HERE
AND THE DOORS ARE ALL LOCKED

AND HIS TRUCK'S OUT THERE.

JOE'S TRUCK IS PARKED OUTSIDE
AND THE HOUSE IS LOCKED...

AND STUFF LOOKS REALLY
SUSPICIOUS AROUND THE BACK DOOR.

CAN I SHOW YOU THAT?

...EXCEPT FOR ONE DOOR
SECURED FROM THE OUTSIDE.

I DON'T RECALL
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

[ DOGS BARKING ]

INSIDE, NO SIGN OF JOE.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THERE WAS ANY STRUGGLE,

BUT SOMETHING'S
DEFINITELY WRONG.

Lynette: THERE WAS
COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DOG FECES

ALL OVER THE LIVING ROOM
AND THE KITCHEN.

MAN.

THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD
TO ME.

AND SAME WITH THE GOOSE.

THE GOOSE ALWAYS HAD FRESH WATER
IN THE OVERNIGHT BOX.

BUT THAT WATER WAS GONE.

Dexter: JOE WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT
THOSE DOGS.

I MEAN, HE WOULDN'T PUT A DOG
OUT IN THE COLD.

JOE VOGLER TOLD ME ONCE,
HE SAID, "IF THERE'S A HEAVEN

"AND ALL OF MY DOGS
ARE NOT THERE,

IT'S NO HEAVEN AT ALL."

THAT WAS HIS BELIEF.

THAT'S HOW HE FELT
ABOUT HIS DOGS.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: JOE LEFT HIS WALLET
AND HEART MEDICINE,

SUGGESTING HE DIDN'T EXPECT
TO BE GONE LONG.

HE WAS KNOWN TO CARRY A PISTOL
AND IT WAS MISSING.

I COULDN'T FIND IT IN THE HOUSE.

EVERYTHING'S STILL A QUESTION.

NOTHING'S CARVED IN STONE
AT THIS POINT.

BUT WE'RE INTERVIEWING
WITNESSES.

Narrator: HIS FRIEND CLAIMS
HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE JOE IS.

HE SAYS HE LAST SPOKE TO HIM
ON THE PHONE TWO DAYS EARLIER.

THEIR CONVERSATION
HAD BEEN CUT SHORT

BY SOMEONE COMING BY THE CABIN.

JOE SAID HE NEEDED
TO ANSWER THE DOOR.

AND THAT WAS THE LAST
HE HEARD FROM HIM.

Narrator:
SO, WAS THIS MYSTERIOUS CALLER

RESPONSIBLE
FOR JOE'S DISAPPEARANCE?

POLICE DON'T KNOW.

BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE --

THIS IS NO ORDINARY
MISSING-PERSON CASE.

TROOPERS KNOW
ALL ABOUT JOE VOGLER.

HE WAS LURED TO THE RUGGED
OUTBACK IN 1942,

EVEN BEFORE ALASKA
BECAME A STATE.

Lynette: WHEN HE GOT HERE,

IT WAS LIKE HE'D FOUND
A DIAMOND IN THE NORTH.

HE LOVED THE FREEDOM
AND THE LIBERTIES

AND THE CORE OF THE PEOPLE
THAT LIVED HERE.

Narrator: HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL
GOLD MINER AND POLITICIAN.

TO ALASKA!

IN THE 1950s, AS MANY WORKED
FOR ALASKAN STATEHOOD,

JOE FOUGHT AGAINST IT,

CLAIMING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
JUST WANTED TO STEAL RESOURCES.

THERE'S NO COMPROMISE.

THE MOMENT
YOU START COMPROMISING,

WELL, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP
BACKING YOU UP.

THEY GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR,
IT'S LIKE AN ELEPHANT.

AND PRETTY SOON, THE ELEPHANT'S
IN AND YOU'RE OUT.

Narrator: AFTER ALASKA
JOINED THE UNION IN 1959,

HE FOUNDED
THE ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY

TO OVERTURN THE MOVE.

HIS FIERY SPIRIT DREW
BOTH ENEMIES AND FOLLOWERS.

IF HE HAD BEEN ALIVE
DURING THE REVOLUTION,

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS.

HIS PERSONALITY IN ONE WORD
WAS DETERMINED.

COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS,
SUPPORTERS...

Dexter:
WHEN JOE WAS RIGHT --

AND HE WAS RIGHT
AN AWFUL LOT OF THE TIME --

HE WAS DETERMINED
TO HAVE IT THE RIGHT WAY.

...OF MY VISIT
TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

Man: YES, SIR!
THAT'S RIGHT!

Narrator: JOE KEPT UP THE FIGHT
FOR DECADES,

INCLUDING SEVERAL RUNS
FOR GOVERNOR.

ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WELL DONE, WELL DONE.

FOR YEARS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN...

Narrator: HE GAINED
THE WORLD'S ATTENTION...

...AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN A DIME!

AND THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH!

Narrator:...AND IN EARLY 1993
WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS

THE UNITED NATIONS
ABOUT ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE.

All: TO ALASKA!

[ APPLAUSE ]

Narrator: BUT JUST ONE WEEK
BEFORE HE'S SCHEDULED

TO SPEAK AT THE U.N.,
HE DISAPPEARS.

IT REALLY DID APPEAR AT FIRST
THAT HE JUST WANDERED OFF

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIGN
OF A STRUGGLE,

THERE WAS NO BLOOD,

AND THERE WERE ONLY THREE THINGS
MISSING --

JOE HIMSELF, HIS WEAPON,

AND HIS FEDORA
THAT WAS HIS TRADEMARK.

Narrator: TROOPERS CHECK
WITH OTHER FRIENDS

AND LEARN NO ONE HAS SEEN HIM
IN THE LAST TWO DAYS.

SOME SPECULATE HE MIGHT HAVE
GONE OUT FOR A WALK

AND LOST HIS BEARINGS.

YEAH, IF JOE HAD TO JUST
TAKE OFF INTO THE WILDERNESS,

ESPECIALLY ILL-EQUIPPED,

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
TO SURVIVE.

HE WAS A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

THOUGH HE HAD SOME SKILLS,

ALASKA'S STILL
A REALLY TOUGH MISTRESS.

AND NORTH OF FAIRBANKS
IS FAR WORSE.

Narrator: A POLICE HELICOPTER
CHECKS A TWO-MILE RADIUS

AROUND THE CABIN

WHILE VOLUNTEERS ON FOOT
AND HORSEBACK

SCOUR THE THICK BRUSH
ON JOE'S LAND.

Man: ANYTHING?

Woman: NO!

ONCE THE WORD GOT OUT,

THERE'S SEARCHERS
AND THERE'S TROOPERS

AND SEARCH DOGS
AND ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.

Narrator: AS WORRY MOUNTS,

AUTHORITIES SEARCH
THE TWISTING DARKNESS

OF OLD MINE SHAFTS
ON JOE'S PROPERTY.

Humphrey: ALASKA'S ALSO RIFE
WITH HARD-ROCK MINES,

AND MAYBE HE WAS EXPLORING
FOR GOLD

AROUND AN OLD MINE SHAFT
OR SOMETHING.

HE COULD HAVE EASILY FALLEN IN.

Narrator:
HIS CLOSE FRIENDS DON'T THINK

IT WAS THIS SORT OF ACCIDENT.

Dexter:
HE WAS NOT A DOTTERING OLD FOOL

WANDERING OFF IN THE WILDERNESS

OR JUST WALKING OFF
AND NEVER COMING BACK.

WELL, EVEN IF HE'S GONNA GO
FOR A WALK,

HE PROBABLY TOOK AT LEAST
ONE OR TWO OF THE DOGS WITH HIM.

Narrator: AFTER A COMPLETE
SEARCH OF JOE'S LAND,

THERE'S NO SIGN OF ALASKA'S
MOST INFAMOUS POLITICIAN.

HE WAS NOT THERE.

I KNEW THAT.

I WAS PART OF THE SEARCH MYSELF.

WE HAVE THE REST OF ALASKA
TO LOOK AT.

Humphrey: THIS WASN'T
JUST ANYBODY GOING MISSING.

THIS WAS JOE VOGLER.

HE WAS OUR MOST VOCIFEROUS,
MOST LOUD,

MOST FLAMBOYANT POLITICIAN
WE'VE HAD.

AND SO, WHEN HE DISAPPEARED,

IT WAS LIKE THE WHOLE STATE
WAS MINING FOR HIM.

Narrator: SOME WONDER IF JOE
HAD BEEN OVERCOME BY GRIEF.

HIS WIFE, DORIS,
DIED OF CANCER JUST A YEAR AGO.

THE COUPLE HAD BEEN
INCREDIBLY CLOSE.

Lynette: SHE AND HE WERE LIKE
TWO SIDES OF A COIN.

SHE ABSOLUTELY ADORED HIM.

WHEN SHE'D LOOK AT HIM,
HER FACE WOULD CHANGE.

YOU COULD SEE
HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HIM.

AND IT WAS MUTUAL.

HE WAS DEVASTATED AT HER LOSS.

IT JUST KILLED HIM.

IT REALLY DID.

THE LIGHT THAT -- OH -- THAT SHE
PUT IN HIS EYES WAS OUT.

Narrator: HAD JOE GONE TO VISIT
HER REMOTE GRAVE

DEEP IN THE YUKON TERRITORY?

AND ONCE THERE,
HAD HIS GRIEF MADE HIM CHOOSE

TO JOIN DORIS ON THE OTHER SIDE?

OR IS IT SOMETHING
MORE MALEVOLENT?

ALL ANYONE REALLY KNOWS

IS THAT ALASKA'S
POLITICAL FIREBRAND

LEFT HIS CABIN AND VANISHED.

McCann: JOE IS, IN FACT,
OUT HERE IN THE WOODS

WHETHER HE WALKED OUT THERE
BECAUSE HE WAS GOING ON A WALK

OR SOMEONE MARCHED HIM
OUT THERE.

WE HAVE TO EXPAND
OUR INVESTIGATION

TO EVERY POSSIBILITY.

Downey: IT REALLY WAS ALMOST
LIKE A JIMMY HOFFA CASE IN A WAY

WHERE THEY KNEW HE WAS GONE,

THEY KNEW OBVIOUSLY IT PROBABLY
WASN'T A VERY GOOD OUTCOME,

BUT THEY STILL NEVER HAD A BODY.

AND SO, IT WAS A MYSTERY.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: STATE TROOPERS
HAVE AN ALASKA-SIZED MYSTERY

ON THEIR HANDS WHEN JOE VOGLER,

THE FOUNDER OF THE ALASKAN
INDEPENDENCE PARTY, VANISHES.

THEORIES ABOUND.

HAD HE WANDERED OFF OR GONE
TO GRIEVE AT HIS WIFE'S GRAVE?

THE STORY LEADS NEWS CASTS
ACROSS ALASKA.

THIS IS NOT A CASE
OF GRABBING AT STRAWS.

THIS IS A CASE OF TRYING TO FIND
JOE VOGLER.

AND THIS WHOLE STATE
IS ASKING WHERE HE IS.

[ DOGS BARKING ]

MOST OF THE SEARCHERS ARE
LOOKING FOR A LIVE JOE VOGLER,

BUT WE'RE ALSO INCLINED TO THINK

THAT WE MIGHT FIND HIS BODY
OUT THERE.

BUT, NEEDLESS TO SAY,
WE'RE LOOKING FOR JOE.

Narrator:
AS THE SEARCH EXPANDS,

TROOPERS CHECK FLIGHTS
OUT OF FAIRBANKS.

THEY FIND NO RECORD
JOE SKIPPED TOWN

AND NO SIGN HE'D BEEN
TO VISIT HIS WIFE'S GRAVE.

HE WAS HEARTBROKEN AT THE LOSS
OF HER, BUT HE WAS HEALING.

HE'D COME THROUGH IT.

IT WAS A HARD TRAIL
FOR HIM TO TRAVEL,

BUT HE'D COME THROUGH IT.

THAT MAN WOULD NEVER EVEN,
I THINK,

CONSIDER THE THOUGHT
OF TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

HE'D NEVER KILL HIMSELF.

THAT'S A CROCK OF HOOEY.

Narrator: NO BANK ACTIVITY,
NO PHONE CALLS.

AFTER FIVE DAYS,

AUTHORITIES SWITCH THEIR SEARCH
FROM RESCUE TO RECOVERY.

BUT CHANCES OF FINDING A BODY
ARE SLIM.

A LOT OF ANIMALS IN ALASKA
DON'T HAVE THE SAME FEAR

OR REPULSION OF MAN
THAT THEY DO IN THE LOWER 48.

YOU GET OUT FAR ENOUGH
WHERE THE ANIMALS

HAVE LITTLE EXPOSURE TO MAN,

THEY'LL EAT A BODY
JUST AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE.

BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE,

YOU WON'T SEE ANY SIGN
OF ANYTHING.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator:
NEW THEORIES START TO SURFACE.

MAYBE THE GOLD MINER
WAS KIDNAPPED.

THERE WAS KIND OF A COMMONLY
HELD BELIEF AMONGST SOME PEOPLE

THAT JOE HAD A LOT OF MONEY,
THAT HE HAD MONEY STASHED,

THAT HE HAD GOLD STASHED.

Lynette: WE WAITED FOR ANY KIND
OF NOTIFICATION.

A RANSOM CALL WOULD HAVE BEEN
A WELCOMED CALL

BECAUSE [SIGHS] YOU CAN ASK
FOR PROOF OF LIFE.

Narrator: OR MAYBE HE'D BEEN
SILENCED BY A POLITICAL ENEMY.

Lynette:
HE WAS PRETTY FIERY.

WHEN HE SAID,
"I'M NOT A DAMNED AMERICAN,"

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA --
THAT CAN FIRE UP SOME ANGER.

Narrator:
MEMBERS OF JOE'S PARTY

COVER THE STATE
WITH "WHERE'S JOE?" SIGNS.

IT WAS A SHOT IN THE ARM
TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW,

TRIGGER SOMETHING WHERE MAYBE
SOMEBODY SAW SOMETHING.

Narrator:
SOME IN THE PARTY DON'T THINK

TROOPERS ARE DOING ENOUGH.

THERE'S NOTHING
AT THIS POINT IN TIME

WE'VE RECOVERED ANY CASE
OF FOUL PLAY AT ALL.

IF IT HAD BEEN THE LEADER
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
JUST UP AND DISAPPEARED,

YOU THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT
OF AN INVESTIGATION?

Narrator:
JOE'S SUPPORTERS SAY

JOE HAD BEEN GETTING
VAGUE THREATS

FROM ANONYMOUS CALLERS RECENTLY.

HE POO-POOED A LOT OF IT.

BUT HE HAS BEEN RECEIVING
THREATS FOR GOODLY MANY YEARS

BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION
AND HIS OPINIONS ON THINGS.

Narrator: THEY WORRY NOW
THE THREATS HAVE BECOME REAL,

AND THEY HIRE
A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

Dexter: WE ALL KICKED IN ABOUT
1,000 BUCKS TO GET IT STARTED.

WE FELT IMMEDIATELY
WHEN WE KNEW THE FACTS

THAT THE HOUSE WAS EMPTY
EXCEPT FOR THE DOGS

AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF JOE
OR HIS HAT, SOMETHING WAS AMISS.

Narrator: FROM THE BEGINNING,
SUPPORTERS WONDERED

HOW SOMEONE COULD TAKE JOE

WITHOUT TANGLING
WITH HIS VERY PROTECTIVE DOGS.

Lynette:
I'M NOT A DETECTIVE.

I JUST KNOW THAT THINGS WORK
THE WAY THEY WORK

AND THAT THOSE DOGS WERE OFF.

THEY HAD TO HAVE BEEN DRUGGED
OR THEY'D BE DEAD

BECAUSE THEY'D HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING OVER

WHO WAS GONNA HURT JOE.

THEY'D HAVE PROTECTED HIM,
PERIOD.

SO THEY HAD TO HAVE BEEN
KNOCKED OUT.

Narrator: THEY HAVE THE DOGS
TESTED FOR SEDATIVES.

NOW THEY AWAIT THE RESULTS.

I'D SAY THE THEORY OF MURDER

WAS THE HIGHEST ON THE LIST
OF ANY SENSIBLE PERSON

WHO KNEW JOE AND THE SITUATION.

THE ONLY QUESTION WAS,

WHO WAS IT
THAT WANTED TO BRING HIM HARM?

Narrator: THE PARTY'S
"WHERE'S JOE?" CAMPAIGN

UNCOVERS PLENTY OF SUSPECTS
FOR TROOPERS TO SIFT THROUGH.

WE'RE GETTING
TONS OF CALLS, LEADS --

SOME OF THEM PRETTY FARFETCHED,

BUT A LOT OF THEM HAVING TO DO

WITH "THE GOVERNMENT DID THIS
TO JOE".

INFORMANTS SAYING THAT THEY SAW
THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE

FOLLOWING JOE VOGLER'S VEHICLE.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP
ON ALL THIS.

HE WOULD BUTT HEADS
WITH THE GOVERNMENT

ABOUT HIS MANY MINING CLAIMS.

AND HE AND THE BUREAU
OF LAND MANAGEMENT

WERE ALWAYS CLASHING TOGETHER.

Narrator: IT'S NO SECRET

JOE VOGLER DEEPLY DISTRUSTED
THE FEDS.

FRIENDS RECALL ONE CLASH
IN THE SUMMER OF 1984

THAT NEARLY BECAME A GUN BATTLE.

JOE AND HIS CREW
DROVE THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT

ACROSS FEDERAL LAND

TOWARD ONE OF HIS
PRIVATE MINING CLAIMS

ALONG WOODCHOPPER CREEK
OUTSIDE FAIRBANKS.

A HELICOPTER
FULL OF PARK RANGERS

CHARGED WITH PROTECTING THE LAND
SWOOPED IN.

THEY WERE ARMED
WITH AUTOMATIC RIFLES.

AND HE WAS ALMOST CERTAIN
THEY WERE GONNA TAKE HIM OUT.

Man: WE HAVE A COURT INJUNCTION
FOR YOU TO GET OFF THE PROPERTY.

Narrator: THE RANGERS SERVE JOE
WITH AN INJUNCTION,

LITERALLY STOPPING HIM
IN HIS TRACKS.

THEY CLAIMED HIS EQUIPMENT
WAS DAMAGING

THE FEDERALLY OWNED
WILDLIFE PRESERVE.

CLEARLY, WHEN YOU HAVE
A TRILLION-DOLLAR ENTITY

WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WORKING IN ITS BUREAUCRACIES

VERSUS ONE LONELY MINER
IN THE HINTERLANDS OF ALASKA,

IT IS A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH
SITUATION.

Narrator:
NO SHOTS WERE FIRED THAT DAY.

JOE BELIEVED HE WAS TARGETED

BECAUSE HE WAS SO VOCAL
ABOUT ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE

AND WAS GAINING FOLLOWERS.

Logan:
IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE TO PEOPLE

THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE
THE RIGHT

TO VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE

AND LEGAL AND LEGITIMATE
PEACEFUL MEANS

OF SEPARATING
FROM THE UNITED STATES,

NOW, THAT IS
A VERY DANGEROUS THING.

THAT'S ACTUALLY MORE DANGEROUS
THAN SOME NUTBALL

WISHING FOR
A VIOLENT REVOLUTION.

Narrator:
JOE'S POLITICAL SUPPORTERS

FINALLY GET EVIDENCE
OF FOUL PLAY

WHEN LAB RESULTS PROVE
JOE'S MOST AGGRESSIVE DOG

HAD BEEN SEDATED
THE DAY HE DISAPPEARED.

SOMEHOW, SOMEBODY
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE

DRUGGED THAT YOUNGEST DOG
SO IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM,

IS WHAT I'M THINKING.

Narrator: THE DEEPENING MYSTERY
DRAWS LOTS OF NEWS COVERAGE.

I THINK THAT THERE IS
A GREAT POSSIBILITY

THAT THIS IS
A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.

Narrator:
IF JOE HAS BEEN KILLED,

JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED.

THERE'S BEEN NO RANSOM NOTES
AND NO REQUESTS FOR ANY RANSOM,

NO CONTACT FROM ANYONE
LIKE THAT.

I THINK MR. VOGEL WAS MURDERED.

AND ONE THING WE'D LIKE TO DO
IS TO FIND HIS BODY.

I LOOK AT EVERYTHING,
EVERY LEAD,

EVERYTHING THAT'S DANGLED
IN FRONT OF ME.

WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE
THAT POSSIBILITY AS BEST WE CAN.

I DON'T CARE WHO DID IT.

I'M GONNA FIND OUT WHO DID IT,

AND I'M GOING TO ARREST THEM
AND CONVICT THEM AT TRIAL.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE

OF POLITICAL ACTIVIST
JOE VOGLER,

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS
BELIEVE HE'S BEEN KILLED.

BUT THEY HAVE NO REAL SUSPECTS
AND NO BODY.

Humphrey: ALASKA'S THE PERFECT
PLACE TO HIDE A BODY.

THERE ARE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
AND MILLIONS OF PLACES

YOU CAN HIDE PEOPLE.

IF YOU WANTED TO PUT THEM
UNDER A ROCK,

PUT THEM IN A RIVER,
THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE,

LAY THEM OUT ON THE TUNDRA,
SOMETHING'S GONNA EAT THEM.

Narrator:
AS THE WEATHER WARMS,

THE SEARCH WIDENS WITH TROOPERS
AND JOE'S POLITICAL PARTY

WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS
ACROSS THE STATE.

McCann: WE'RE DOING
THESE OTHER EFFORTS

TRYING TO GET
THE PUBLIC INVOLVED

AND TRYING TO FIND THE BODY.

WHERE'S JOE?

Man: VOGLER LEFT BEHIND
HIS BELOVED DOGS --

REASON ENOUGH FOR HIS FRIENDS
TO BELIEVE

HE DIDN'T JUST WALK OFF.

WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING UNDER
THE IMPRESSION THAT HE'S DEAD,

HE'S BEEN MURDERED.

Narrator: ONE OF HIS DOGS
HAD BEEN SEDATED.

MANY IN JOE'S PARTY THINK
IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN INSIDER

WHO KNEW THE DOGS WELL ENOUGH
TO GET CLOSE --

MAYBE THE POLITICAL ALLY
WHO REPORTED HIM MISSING.

PEOPLE ACCUSED HIM OF JUST
SORT OF HANGING ON TO JOE

FOR JOE'S NAME
AND HIS POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.

Narrator: HIS FRIEND TOLD POLICE
HE WORRIED

WHEN JOE CUT THEIR PHONE CALL
SHORT TO ANSWER THE DOOR.

YET HE WAITED TWO DAYS
TO REPORT HIM MISSING.

THE DOORS ARE ALL LOCKED
AND HIS TRUCK'S OUT THERE.

WHERE WOULD HE GO
WITHOUT HIS TRUCK?

TO ALASKA!

Narrator:
FROM THE EARLY YEARS...

[ APPLAUSE ]

...HE WAS BY JOE'S SIDE
AS THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY GREW.

THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA
CHANGE IT!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Vogler: WHAT WE NEED
IS A GOVERNOR WITH ENOUGH GUTS

IN PLAIN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

TO STAND UP
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

AND SAY, "GENTLEMEN,
YOU'VE SOLD US OUT.

"YOU SHORTED US.
YOU SHORT-CIRCUITED US.

"YOU'VE LIED TO US.

"YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING
IMMORALLY

TO KEEP ALASKA AS A COLONY."

HEAVEN HELP THEM IF I GET
THE OPPORTUNITY AS GOVERNOR.

Narrator: ONE OF THE TIMES
JOE RAN FOR GOVERNOR

PROMISING A PUSH
FOR INDEPENDENCE,

HIS FRIEND JOINED HIS TICKET

AS CANDIDATE
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THEY WERE QUITE THE TEAM.

IT REALLY DID ESTABLISH
A PRESENCE

OF THE ALASKAN
INDEPENDENCE PARTY.

IT WAS NOT
A RECOGNIZED PARTY BEFORE,

BUT THEY GARNERED SO MUCH
SUPPORT DURING THEIR RACE

THAT IT WAS THEN A RECOGNIZED
PARTY IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.

Narrator: DURING THE CAMPAIGN,
JOE'S RUNNING MATE

TOOK OUT A SERIES
OF NEWSPAPER ADS

PORTRAYING HIMSELF AS A FIGHTER.

Dexter: SURE, HE'S GOT A PICTURE
OF HIM WITH A BASEBALL BAT.

HE'S GONNA KNOCK THEM
OUT OF OFFICE OR WHATEVER.

HE'S GONNA CLEAN THEM UP
OR WHATEVER -- HOWEVER IT WENT.

Narrator: NOW SOME WONDER ABOUT
THE AD'S VIOLENT UNDERTONES.

THEY NOTE JOE'S LATE WIFE DORIS

WAS ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF HIS
FRIEND HANGING AROUND JOE.

THEY WERE LIKE FIRE AND WATER.

THEY DID NOT GET ALONG ONE BIT.

I KNOW EVENTUALLY
SHE RAN HIM OFF.

AND HE DID NOT COME BACK
UNTIL AFTER DORIS DIED.

IT WAS WITHIN WEEKS OF HER DEATH
THAT HE SHOWED UP.

Narrator: JUST DAYS AFTER
HE CAME BACK INTO THE PICTURE,

SOME OF JOE'S EQUIPMENT
WAS VANDALIZED.

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

SOON AFTER, HE MOVED ON TO JOE'S
PROPERTY AS HIS WATCHMAN.

IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS --
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME

WAS NUZZLING UP TO JOE,

TRYING TO GET
INTO HIS GOOD GRACES,

TRYING TO BE INFLUENTIAL
IN JOE'S LIFE,

PARTICULARLY AFTER
JOE'S WIFE HAD DIED.

Narrator:
MANY BELIEVE HIS AMBITIONS

REACHED BEYOND
THEIR POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP.

HE HAD MADE IT KNOWN

THAT HE BELIEVED
THAT HE WAS JOE'S HEIR,

ALL OF WHICH SEEMED TO MAKE ME
MORE CONCERNED

THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH IT.

Narrator: TROOPERS ALSO HAVE HIM
ON THEIR RADAR.

HE DANGLED OUT THERE
BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE

THAT MADE THE INITIAL
MISSING-PERSON COMPLAINT.

Narrator:
KILLERS ARE OFTEN THE ONES

WHO CALL THE COPS FIRST.

HE DENIES HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH JOE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
TYING HIM TO ANY WRONGDOING,

ESPECIALLY WITH NO BODY
OR CRIME SCENE.

IF HE DIDN'T SNATCH JOE AWAY,

HAD IT BEEN
SOMEONE MORE POWERFUL,

SOMEONE HIGHER UP IN THE STATE
OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

JOE HAD ENEMIES.

HIS POLITICS WERE LOUD.

AND PEOPLE SUSPECTED

THAT SOMEBODY
WAS TRYING TO SHUT HIM DOWN.

Narrator:
THREE YEARS BEFORE JOE VANISHED,

HE HELPED WALLY HICKEL
RUN FOR GOVERNOR

UNDER THE A.I.P. BANNER.

HE WON --
THE PARTY'S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT.

ONCE IN OFFICE,

JOE DIDN'T THINK WALLY PUSHED
HARD ENOUGH FOR INDEPENDENCE.

JOE WAS OF THE MIND --
AND I REMEMBER HIM SAYING IT --

HE WAS GOING DOWN TO JUNO
TO "SEE WHO GOT TO WALLY"

'CAUSE HE FIGURED
SOMEBODY GOT TO HIM.

Narrator:
JOE LEFT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION

WITHOUT ANSWERS
AND JUST AS FRUSTRATED.

HE BELIEVED HIS BEST SHOT

WAS HIS MEETING
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS

WHERE HE PLANNED TO MAKE A BID
FOR RETURN TO SELF GOVERNMENT.

ONE WEEK LATER,
JOE VOGLER WENT MISSING.

AND MONTHS HAVE GONE BY
WITH NO SIGN OF HIM.

HOW DID HE DIE?

WAS HE SHOT TWICE?

WAS HE BOMBED OVER THE HEAD?

WAS HE DRUGGED?
WAS HE ASPHYXIATED?

JUST EXACTLY HOW DID HE DIE?

WELL, IT'S ON THE TALK SHOWS
LIKE DEXTER SAID THERE

AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY'S
TALKING ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE, EVERYBODY'S HAD
AN OPINION OR AN IDEA

OF WHAT'S HAPPENED ALL ALONG,
YOU KNOW?

Narrator: THE TIMING
CONVINCES HIS FOLLOWERS

THAT WHOMEVER TOOK HIM OUT
WAS SOMEONE WITH ACCESS,

SOMEONE WHO STOOD TO GAIN POWER,

OR SOMEONE WHO DESPERATELY
WANTED TO KEEP IT AT ANY COST.

YOU'RE DONE TALKING.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Man: NO ONE HAS SEEN JOE VOGLER
IN ABOUT A YEAR

WHEN HE WAS DISCOVERED MISSING
FROM HIS FAIRBANKS HOME.

SEARCH PARTIES COMBED THE AREA.

BUT WHEN TROOPERS HIT A WALL,
THE SEARCH STOPPED.

NOW THERE'S TALK OF REFORMING
THE SEARCH IN NENANA,

BUT THIS TIME INVESTIGATORS
WON'T BEGIN THE SEARCH

UNTIL THEY KNOW FOR SURE THEY'LL
STOP WHEN VOGLER IS FOUND.

THE BIGGEST THING, OF COURSE,
IS TO FIND MR. VOGLER'S BODY...

NOT ONLY FOR THE FAMILY
BUT, YOU KNOW,

CERTAINLY FOR OUR CASE.

JOE VOGLER EPITOMIZED

THE PERFECT POLITICIAN
FOR ALASKA.

HE WAS A REBEL.

HE WAS VOCAL.

HE DIDN'T HAVE
THIS LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION

THAT MOST POLITICIANS
FROM THE LOWER 48 HAVE.

AND HE SPOKE HIS MIND.

WE LOVED HIM.

Narrator:
STATE TROOPERS ARE NO CLOSER

TO FINDING ANY EVIDENCE
OR A BODY.

TRYING TO FIND JOE'S BODY

WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO FIND
A STASH OF GOLD.

IT WOULD BE LIKE
A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

Lynette: HOW DO YOU GET RID
OF A BODY IN ALASKA?

PEOPLE SPECULATED OF,
WELL, FISH FOOD.

CHIPPER SHREDDER.

ALL THIS HORRIFIC...

THOUGHTS AND IDEAS GOING ON
THAT PEOPLE WOULD BRING TO YOU.

PEOPLE CAN DISAPPEAR HERE,
OBVIOUSLY, RELATIVELY EASY.

Narrator:
TROOPERS AND JOE'S PARTY MEMBERS

REFUSE TO GIVE UP THE SEARCH.

AS THE "WHERE'S JOE?" CAMPAIGN
EXPANDS,

SEARCHERS POST NEW PLACARDS
TO MARK CLEARED AREAS.

I ALSO WAS WONDERING,
WHERE'S JOE?

I WANT TO KNOW WHERE JOE IS.

I WANT TO FIND HIS BODY.

I NEED THAT BODY.

I CAN PROSECUTE SOMEONE LATER ON
FOR MURDER WITHOUT A BODY,

BUT I NEED EVIDENCE.

Narrator: SOME IN JOE'S PARTY

THINK THE MAN
WHO REPORTED HIM MISSING

MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

YET IT'S ONLY AN IDLE RUMOR

BACKED BY NO EVIDENCE
WHATSOEVER,

AND TROOPERS DO NOT CONSIDER HIM
A SUSPECT.

McCann: HE WAS TRYING TO RUN
HIS OWN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS,

BUT HE HAD NO MOTIVE.

HE WAS NOT A KILLER.

NOT AT ALL.

Narrator: THE FRUSTRATING CASE
FINALLY BEGINS TO BREAK OPEN

WHEN A TIPSTER CONTACTS
THE ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY.

Dexter: HE CALLED.

SAID, "HEY, THIS GUY BORROWED
MY TRUCK TO GO UP TO FAIRBANKS.

"HE COMES BACK.
IT'S RE-PAINTED.

THERE'S A BULLET HOLE
IN THE DOOR."

Narrator: THIS HAPPENED

ABOUT THE TIME JOE VOGLER
DISAPPEARED FROM FAIRBANKS,

BUT THE CALLER HADN'T THOUGHT
THERE WAS A CONNECTION

UNTIL SOMEONE POINTED OUT
THE COINCIDENCE.

THE PARTY'S PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
FOLLOWS UP.

Feichtinger:
I SEARCHED THE TRUCK

AND FOUND A HANDWRITTEN MAP
TO JOE'S HOUSE.

Narrator: TROOPERS CONDUCT
THEIR OWN SEARCH,

TURNING UP A DAY PLANNER
WITH NAMES AND CODE WORDS.

ONE WAS
"JOE, DOLLAR SIGN, GOLD."

WELL, THAT CERTAINLY FIT
JOE VOGLER,

THAT HE WOULD HAVE MONEY AROUND

AND COULD VERY POSSIBLY HAVE
A LOT OF GOLD AROUND.

Narrator: THE CALLER SAYS
THE MAN WHO BORROWED THE TRUCK

IS MANFRIED WEST.

IT'S A NAME
FAMILIAR TO TROOPERS.

WE ALWAYS KNEW HIM AS SOMEWHAT
OF A -- HE'S A TWO-BIT CROOK.

HE WAS A THIEF.

Narrator: WEST MADE HIS WAY
TO ALASKA IN 1980

AFTER TROUBLE WITH THE LAW
IN THE LOWER 48.

JOE VOGLER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PEOPLE HE MET.

A CARTOONIST,
WEST PAINTED CAMPAIGN SIGNS

FOR JOE AND HIS RUNNING MATE.

HE LIKED TO PAINT
AND DRAW THINGS,

AND HE WAS CALLED
CARTOON FREDDY.

THAT WAS HIS MONIKER.

SO, WE NEVER SAW HIM
AS ONE WHO WOULD MURDER, BUT...

...ONE NEVER KNOWS.

STRANGER THINGS HAPPEN
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

SO, OUR INVESTIGATION
CERTAINLY FOCUSED

ON FRED WEST AT THAT POINT.

Narrator:
CHECKING RECORDS, POLICE LEARN

WEST IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN JAIL
FOR VIOLATING PROBATION

ON A CHARGE
OF WRITING FRAUDULENT CHECKS.

WE THOUGHT HE WAS
SAFELY TUCKED AWAY IN JAIL.

EXCEPT THAT THERE CAME A TIME

WHEN I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT

SAYING, "YOU KNOW FREDDY'S NOT
IN JAIL ANYMORE, DON'T YOU?"

AND I SAID, "WHAT?"

Narrator: IT TURNS OUT WEST WAS
IN A MINIMUM SECURITY UNIT

AND SIMPLY WALKED AWAY
WEEKS EARLIER.

NOW POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT
FOR TWO MISSING MEN --

JOE VOGLER AND MANFRIED WEST.

THEY BELIEVE WEST
WILL LEAD THEM TO JOE,

BUT HE'S LONG GONE.

HE COULD BE ANYWHERE,

CONCEALED BY
A SPRAWLING WILDERNESS

THAT OFFERS THE PERFECT PLACE
TO DISAPPEAR.

Humphrey:
NORTH OF FAIRBANKS,

IT'S MILES AND MILES AND MILES
OF ROLLING TUNDRA.

IT'S A LOT OF CRAGGY MOUNTAINS
AND CREEKS AND RIVERS.

IT'S DEEP, IT'S DARK,
IT'S DENSE.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE
FOR SOMEBODY TO HIDE OUT.

IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE
FOR PEOPLE WITH NEFARIOUS INTENT

TO COMMIT CRIMES.

WE'RE USING OUR RESOURCES
TO FIND FRED WEST.

WE WERE FLABBERGASTED.

BUT HE HAD TAKEN OFF.

Narrator:
TROOPERS PUT OUT AN APB,

CHECK PLANE
AND TRAIN PASSENGER LISTS,

AND START WORKING
THEIR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANTS

IN ALASKA'S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD.

AFTER EIGHT TENSE DAYS,
AN INFORMANT CONTACTS POLICE.

HE TELLS THEM ABOUT A CABIN
HE THINKS WEST IS HIDING IN.

TROOPERS SURROUND THE PLACE.

WEST SPOTS THEM.

THEN HE STARTED WAVING GUNS
IN THE WINDOW,

I THINK A RIFLE AND A PISTOL,

AND NOW WE HAVE A STANDOFF,
YOU KNOW?

NOW WE'RE IN A TOUGH SITUATION.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

[ BEEP ]

WHAT?

THIS IS SERGEANT McCANN.

I SAID, "WHY DID THIS THING
HAPPEN BETWEEN YOU AND JOE?

WHAT CAUSED IT?"

YOU KNOW, AND HE ADMITS.

HE SAYS HE'S A PETTY THIEF,
PIECE OF GARBAGE.

BUT HE TURNED MURDERER THAT DAY.

Narrator:
HE WON'T SAY WHERE JOE'S BODY IS

AND VOWS
HE WON'T BE TAKEN ALIVE.

IT'S ALL OVER, MAN!

I AIN'T COMING OUT ALIVE!

I GOT A LIVING ROOM
FULL OF DYNAMITE!

I'M DEAD!

McCann: SOME OF MY TROOPERS,
THEY SAW SMOKE.

IT WENT FROM SMOKE TO FLAMES.

THESE GUYS THINK
OF PRETTY BIZARRE THINGS

WHEN THEY'RE
JUST TRAPPED ANIMALS.

Narrator: AS THE DRY ALASKAN AIR
FANS THE FLAMES,

SERGEANT McCANN
STRUGGLES TO CONVINCE WEST

HIS LIFE IS WORTH LIVING.

THEN WHEN HE GOT
BACK ON THE PHONE,

I SAID,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, FREDDY?"

AND HE SAYS, "IT'S ALL OVER."

HE SAID THERE WAS EXPLOSIVES
THERE AND EVERYTHING

AND IT'S GONNA GO UP
AND "I'M GOING WITH IT."

YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY PLEADED
WITH HIM NOT TO DO THAT.

"DON'T DO THIS, FREDDY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO KILL YOURSELF.

COME ON OUT."

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS,

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS
PLEAD WITH MANFRIED WEST

TO GIVE HIMSELF UP.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
BETWEEN YOU AND JOE.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET
PLASTIC C4

and he didn't have any
when I went down there.

THAT'S WHAT STARTED
THIS WHOLE DAMN THING.

Did you shoot him?

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

Freddy, talk to me.

FREDDY,
WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS.

WE DON'T NEED TO.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.

WEST CHOOSES
TO GO DOWN IN FLAMES.

Man: IT'S GONNA BLOW!

McCann:
THINGS WERE EXPLODING --

PROPANE BOTTLES
AND PROPANE TANKS

AND AMMUNITION
AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

Narrator:
AS FIRE ENGULFS THE CABIN,

WEST COMES TO THE DOOR AGAIN.

NOW, PICTURE THIS.

IT'S THIS ORANGE BALL.

I MEAN, IT'S BURNING DOWN
AND WE THOUGHT, "OH,

HE'S GONNA TRY AND MAKE HIS WAY
OUT OF THE BACK OF THE HOUSE."

AND WE GOT GUYS
WITH MACHINE GUNS

WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT HE WENT BACK INTO THE FIRE.

THEN IT WAS CRACKLE, CRACKLE,
AND THE PHONE WENT DEAD.

AND THE WHOLE PLACE WAS ORANGE.

IT WAS JUST TOTALLY ENGULFED.

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS
AND CINDERS COOL,

DETECTIVES SEARCH THE RUBBLE
FOR WEST'S REMAINS.

IT'S ALL SMOKE AND RUINS.

AND THE SWAT GUYS COME IN
AND THEY APPROACH CAREFULLY,

AND THEY SAID, "WE FOUND HIM."

Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
HE'S ALIVE...

BARELY.

CALL AN AMBULANCE.

McCann: I NEVER HAD
ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

ALMOST COMICAL THAT,
"NO, HE'S DEAD.

"NO, HE LIVES.

"OH, NO, HE'S DEAD.

OH, NO, HE LIVES."

YOU KNOW, I'D LET THE PLACE BURN
ALL THE WAY DOWN

AND THEN PUT THE 2,000 GALLONS
OF WATER ON IT

AND THEY BRING HIM OUT
ON A GURNEY.

THEY SAY HE'S GONNA DIE
AT ANY MOMENT.

AND THEN HE DOESN'T.

Narrator:
AS HE'S RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL,

TROOPERS SEARCH THE CABIN
FOR JOE VOGLER'S REMAINS

BUT COME UP EMPTY.

AFTER A LENGTHY HOSPITAL STAY,

WEST GETS HANDED OVER
TO ALASKA STATE TROOPERS.

THEY CHARGE HIM
WITH THE MURDER OF JOE VOGLER.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
THE TRUTH?

WEST AGREES TO TALK.

HE SAYS HE WENT TO JOE'S HOME
THAT DAY TO SELL C4 EXPLOSIVES.

I WENT UP THERE TO SELL HIM
SOME C4 EXPLOSIVES.

HE CAME OUT.

HE SEEN ME
AND HE GOT FURIOUS.

I MEAN, FURIOUS.

JOE HAD OCCASIONALLY
LOANED FRED MONEY

AND PERHAPS HAD HIM DO WORK,
SO JOE TRUSTED HIM.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ DOGS BARKING ]

Narrator:
YET FOR SOME REASON,

WEST CLAIMS THIS TIME
JOE CAME OUTSIDE

AND TOLD HIM TO GET LOST.

HEY, MAN,
I GOT YOUR DYNAMITE.

THEY ARGUED.

I'M NOT BUYING ANY DYNAMITE
FROM YOU.

HE SAYS JOE GOT FURIOUS

AND FIRED ONE WARNING SHOT
IN THE AIR...

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...A SECOND INTO THE TRUCK.

[ GUNSHOT ]

AFTER ALL
THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE,

TURNS OUT IT WAS JUST A BRASH
DECISION BY A PETTY CRIMINAL

THAT BROUGHT DOWN
ONE OF THE STATE'S

LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTERS.

INSTEAD OF FEELING REMORSE,

WEST SEEMS TO SAVOR
THE NOTORIETY

THE KILLING BRINGS HIM.

HE REFUSES TO TELL TROOPERS

WHERE HE BURIED
JOE VOGLER'S BODY.

BUT HE CAN'T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT
BEHIND BARS.

HE BRAGS TO A CELLMATE
ABOUT DITCHING THE BODY.

THE INFORMANT,
HE HAD A MAKESHIFT LITTLE MAP,

BUT IT WASN'T A BIG "X"
TELLING ME EXACTLY WHERE.

BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE
UP ON THIS LITTLE HILLSIDE

OFF THIS LITTLE TRAIL THERE.

Narrator: THAT MAN GUIDES
TROOPERS TO A SNOW-COVERED AREA

30 MILES OUTSIDE OF FAIRBANKS.

THE EARTH ON THE UNMARKED GRAVE
IS UNDISTURBED.

Woman: THE GRAVESITE IS
TUCKED AWAY IN THE WOODS

25 MILES OUT OF FAIRBANKS,

JUST OFF
OF CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD.

A DOG SNIFFED OUT THE SITE

AFTER A TIP SENT SEARCHERS
TO THE AREA.

FRED WEST HAD INDICATED TO ME
ON THE TELEPHONE

AND IN HIS CONFESSION

THAT HE HAD WRAPPED JOE
IN A BLUE TARP.

I REALLY WANTED TO SEE
A BLUE TARP FIRST.

AND THEN THERE IT WAS.

Narrator: WRAPPED INSIDE,
THE REMAINS OF JOE VOGLER.

Woman: THE REMAINS WERE PULLED
FROM THE COLD EARTH

AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF DIGGING,
UNDER THREE FEET OF DIRT

AND WRAPPED TIGHTLY
IN A BLUE TARP WITH DUCT TAPE.

HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NOT BE
BURIED ON AMERICAN SOIL.

HE WAS AN ALASKAN,
BUT NOT AN AMERICAN,

AND HE WANTED TO BE BURIED
IN CANADA.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS
WHERE HIS BODY WAS FOUND --

IN A VERY SHALLOW GRAVE
IN ALASKA.

HIS GUN WAS NEVER FOUND.

THAT DERRINGER, AS FAR AS
I KNOW, HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.

AND HIS HAT.

IF THOSE TWO AIN'T TROPHIES
FOR SOME TWISTED, SICK MURDERER,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

Narrator: CONCERNED A JURY
WON'T CONVICT WEST

FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,
THE D.A. OFFERS HIM A DEAL.

MANFRIED WEST AGREES TO PLEAD
TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.

HE GETS 80 YEARS.

TO JOE'S STAUNCH SUPPORTERS,
THE STORY STILL DOESN'T ADD UP.

MANY ARE CONVINCED
HE DIDN'T ACT ALONE.

BASICALLY JUST A REALLY
FRINGE CHARACTER,

KIND OF A PETTY CRIMINAL.

HOW DOES A GUY LIKE FRED WEST
PULL OFF A CRIME

THAT WAS
A PRETTY DARN GOOD CRIME

AS FAR AS NOT LEAVING A TRACE,
PLANNING, AND SO FORTH?

Narrator:
JOE'S POLITICAL ALLY,

THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED
HIM MISSING,

WAS COMPLETELY EXONERATED
BY POLICE.

SUSPICION STILL SWIRLS AMONG
SOME MEMBERS OF JOE'S PARTY.

IF JOE GOT OFF A SHOT,

FRED WOULD BE DEAD,
IN MY THINKING.

NOW, JOE PUT THAT HOLE
IN THE DOOR OF THE TRUCK

THAT FRED WAS DRIVING
AND DIDN'T HIT FRED,

AND FRED HAD SOME HELP,

MAYBE THEY WERE ABLE TO SUBDUE
JOE AND MAYBE TAKE HIM OUT.

ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS,

YOU WANT TO START
DISCARDING THEM.

BUT HOW CAN YOU?

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT FRED WEST THOUGHT

JOE HAD
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF GOLD

STASHED ON HIS PROPERTY.

I JUST HAVE THIS NAGGING BELIEF

THAT SOMEONE ELSE
WAS IN COLLUSION WITH FRED.

Narrator: THE FIGHT
FOR ALASKA'S INDEPENDENCE

LOST ITS DRIVING FORCE
WITH THE DEATH OF JOE VOGLER,

THOUGH MANY ARE STILL LOYAL
TO HIS CAUSE.

Dexter: JOE WAS RIGHT.

ANYBODY WHO KNOWS JOE KNOWS DAMN
GOOD AND WELL HE WAS RIGHT.

Narrator:
EXCEPT PERHAPS ABOUT ONE THING.

HE REALLY THOUGHT
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

WAS HIS BIGGEST ENEMY.

HE DIDN'T SEE
THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY SOME

EVEN MORE CLOSE TO HOME.