Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - Blood Red Snow - full transcript

[ WIND GUSTING ]

Narrator: MINNESOTA WINTERS
ARE BONE-CHILLING.

Ackerman: THE TEMPERATURE
CAN JUST PLUMMET OVERNIGHT.

IT'S JUST BITTERLY COLD,
AND YOU CAN'T BE OUTSIDE.

Narrator: THE CRIMINALS
CAN BE EVEN COLDER.

IT WASN'T LIKE MY SISTER
TO JUST TAKE OFF.

SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

IT RATTLED EVERYONE'S CAGE.

THE VIOLENCE WAS GRISLY.

IT'S BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION.

SOME PEOPLE
ARE JUST MAYBE BORN EVIL.



[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: MINNESOTA,
THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES,

IS ALSO
THE LAND OF ICE AND SNOW.

Parsons: NORMALLY,
BY NOVEMBER, WE HAVE SNOW.

AND ONCE WE GET SNOW
IN MINNESOTA,

IT STAYS ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: IN MAPLEWOOD,
A QUIET SUBURB OF ST. PAUL,

RESIDENTS HUNKER DOWN.

Ackerman: THE WINTER
IN MAPLEWOOD IS PRETTY BRUTAL,

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
NOVEMBER IS JUST --

YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE
A REALLY NASTY TIME OF YEAR.

Narrator: 22-YEAR-OLD
MORNA JEAN BRENNEN

AND HER FAMILY
HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE AREA.



Kenneth: SHE DID HAVE
A SORT OF A FEARLESS SIDE,

WHICH I USUALLY FOUND OUT
BY SURPRISE.

ONE TIME, WE WERE OVER SWIMMING
IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER,

AND THERE'S
SOME HIGH, ROCKY BLUFFS THERE.

AND I LOOKED OVER, AND THERE WAS
MORNA UP THERE WITH THESE GUYS,

ABOUT TO JUMP OFF THE ROCKS.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT WAS HER.

Ackerman:
SHE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.

SHE WOULD JUST MAKE YOU LAUGH
UNTIL, LIKE, YOU WOULD BE CRYING

JUST OVER THE SILLIEST THINGS.

SHE WAS
JUST PRETTY DOWN-TO-EARTH,

PRETTY RESPONSIBLE.

Narrator: SHE WORKS
IN A COMPUTER-ASSEMBLY PLANT

AND RECENTLY GOT A PROMOTION --

HER FIRST STEP TOWARD WORKING
IN DESIGN ENGINEERING.

Kenneth: LIFE HAD TAKEN ON
A GOOD TURN FOR MORNA.

THE COMPANY
HAD JUST PROMOTED HER

INTO A JOB IN THEIR PRINTSHOP.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Narrator:
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1986,

MORNA'S MOM AND STEPDAD
SAY GOOD NIGHT

BEFORE SHE HEADS OUT
TO CELEBRATE AT A MAPLEWOOD BAR.

BE SAFE.

I WILL. I PROMISE.

WELL, HAVE FUN TONIGHT.

[ LAUGHS ] OF COURSE.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS LATER.

Narrator: THE POPULAR HANGOUT
IS TUCKED INTO AN ISOLATED SPOT

IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

Ackerman: YOU HAVE REGULARS
THAT KNOW ONE ANOTHER

AND GO THERE FREQUENTLY,

AND THEN YOU HAVE STRANGERS
KIND OF PASSING THROUGH.

BUT KIND OF JUST A SAFE,
SUBURBAN KIND OF A FEEL TO IT.

[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ]

Narrator: SHE AND HER FRIEND
CANDACE ARRIVE AROUND 10:00.

IT'S THE START
OF HUNTING SEASON,

AND THE MINNESOTA WOODS
ATTRACT LOTS OF OUTDOORSMEN.

Parsons: THAT NIGHT
WAS AN UNUSUALLY LARGE CROWD,

MAYBE PARTLY DUE
TO THE HUNTING SEASON.

BUT THEY HAD
ABOUT 500 PEOPLE IN THAT BAR.

Narrator: THE FRIENDS
HAVE A DRINK, DANCE,

JUST HAVE FUN
FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

MORNA PLANS TO SPEND THE NIGHT
AT CANDACE'S APARTMENT.

ABOUT 12:00,
THEY EXITED THE BAR.

AND AT THAT TIME,
SOMEBODY CALLED CANDACE'S NAME.

CANDACE TURNED AROUND,
ENGAGED IN A BRIEF CONVERSATION.

CAN I TALK TO THEM
FOR JUST LIKE TWO SECONDS?

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
I'LL WAIT AT THE CAR.

Narrator:
MORNA JEAN WALKS OFF DOWN A PATH

TOWARD THE LOWER PARKING LOT
WHERE CANDACE PARKED.

[ WIND GUSTING ]

OKAY.
SEE YOU GUYS LATER.

AND WHEN SHE TURNED AROUND
AGAIN, MORNA JEAN WAS GONE.

MORNA?

Parsons:
IT WAS PRESUMED THAT MORNA

HAD WALKED ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE PARKING LOT,

BUT NO ONE ACTUALLY SAW HER
WALK DOWN TO THE PARKING LOT.

Narrator: THE MILD NIGHT
SUDDENLY TURNED COLD.

Arnold: WHEN CANDACE AND
MORNA JEAN WENT INTO THE BAR,

THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE
WAS AROUND 55 DEGREES.

WHEN THEY EXITED THE BAR
A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER,

IT WAS ABOUT 25 DEGREES OUT
WITH A WIND,

AND MORNA
WAS NOT WEARING A COAT.

Narrator:
CANDACE HEADS TO HER CAR,

BUT MORNA'S NOWHERE IN SIGHT.

Parsons:
IT WAS COLD THAT NIGHT,

SO SHE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN IN
THE CAR WITH SOMEBODY TO WAIT.

Arnold: CANDACE THEN
DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT

LOOKING FOR HER.

COULDN'T FIND HER. SAT
IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES.

AND WHEN MORNA DIDN'T SHOW UP,

SHE DECIDED, WELL,
SHE MUST HAVE GOTTEN A RIDE

BACK TO CANDACE'S APARTMENT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

SHE WENT BACK TO THE APARTMENT

AND FOUND OUT THAT MORNA JEAN
WASN'T THERE EITHER.

Parsons: CANDACE WASN'T
TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT

BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT,

"WELL, MAYBE SHE RAN
INTO SOMEONE SHE KNEW."

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, IN A
PARK A FEW MILES FROM THE BAR...

Arnold:
A JOGGER DISCOVERED A PURSE

AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE POLICE
STATION AND TURNED IT IN.

AND INSIDE THE PURSE WAS AN I.D.

THAT IDENTIFIED
THE OWNER OF THE PURSE

AS BEING MORNA JEAN BRENNEN.

Narrator: POLICE CONTACT
MORNA'S MOTHER AND STEPFATHER.

THE PARENTS SAID THAT
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS,

BUT THEY CAME DOWN TO THE POLICE
STATION AND PICKED UP THE PURSE.

Narrator: AFTER WAITING
BY THE PHONE FOR HOURS,

HER MOM AND STEPDAD
START TO WORRY.

HER FATHER AND SISTER
ARE ALSO CONCERNED.

SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

WHY HASN'T MORNA CALLED?

Ackerman: IT WASN'T LIKE
MY SISTER TO JUST TAKE OFF

OR DISAPPEAR WITH SOMEBODY

AND NOT TELL HER FRIENDS
WHERE SHE WAS GOING.

THAT WASN'T -- THAT WASN'T HER.

MY MOM
FILED A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT.

Narrator: MORNA WAS LAST SEEN
WEARING A BLUE SHIRT

WITH WHITE FLOWERS, BLUE JEANS,
AND WHITE ANKLE BOOTS.

SHE ALSO HAD ON
TWO SPECIAL GOLD NECKLACES.

Ackerman:
SHE HAD ONE LONGER GOLD CHAIN

AND THEN A SMALLER ONE
THAT HAD A GOLD HEART ON IT,

AND SHE WORE IT ALL THE TIME.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF PART
OF HER DAILY WARDROBE.

Narrator: PATROLMEN SEARCH THE
PARK WHERE THE PURSE WAS FOUND.

MORNA'S BEEN MISSING
LESS THAN 12 HOURS,

BUT IF SHE WALKED FROM THE BAR
WITHOUT A COAT,

SHE COULD BE IN REAL TROUBLE.

Ackerman: THE TEMPERATURE
CAN JUST PLUMMET OVERNIGHT.

I MEAN, JUST WITHIN HOURS.

IT'S JUST BITTERLY COLD,
AND YOU CAN'T BE OUTSIDE.

Narrator: HYPOTHERMIA

COULD RENDER MORNA
DISORIENTED, HELPLESS.

THE PATROLMEN FIND
NO SIGN OF HER IN THE PARK,

BUT THEY DO MAKE
AN UNSETTLING DISCOVERY --

TRASH BAGS
CONTAINING BIZARRE CLUES.

Arnold: INSIDE THE BAGS,

THE OFFICERS FOUND
SOME BLUE DRAPERY MATERIAL

WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE
BLOODSTAINS ON THEM.

THEY ALSO FOUND SOME BEDDING --
SHEETS, PILLOWCASES.

THEY FOUND A WHITE BELT.

THEY FOUND THE TOP
OF A GARBAGE-BAG BOX.

THEY ALSO FOUND BIRD FEATHERS,

AND THEY FOUND A PLANT MATERIAL
THAT WAS A WANDERING JEW PLANT.

Narrator: POLICE WONDER IF THEY
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MORNA.

IF SO, IS SOMEONE

TRYING TO TAUNT THEM
WITH THE STRANGE ITEMS --

A BIRD'S CLIPPED FEATHERS

AND A TYPE OF PLANT
KNOWN TO BE HARD TO KILL?

Arnold: THEY CALLED THE MOTHER
AND THE STEPFATHER,

AND THEY INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER
OR NOT MORNA JEAN HAD A BELT,

AND THE DESCRIPTION
GIVEN BY THE MOTHER

MATCHED THE BELT THAT THEY
HAD RECOVERED AT THE PARK.

Narrator: HER MOM'S WORRIED,
BUT TRYING NOT TO PANIC.

Ackerman: YOU KNOW,
SHE WAS TRYING TO BE CALM

AND TRYING TO LOOK FOR
THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPLANATION.

MAYBE SOMEBODY HAD BEEN FISHING
AND HAD CUT THEMSELVES,

OR A HUNTER HAD CUT THEMSELVES
AND USED THE RAG TO CLEAN UP.

AND SO, SHE DIDN'T WANT
TO JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION

THAT IT WAS SOMETHING MORE...

SERIOUS.

Narrator:
BUT IT FEELS DEADLY SERIOUS.

MORNA'S NOT ONE TO GO M.I.A.

Ackerman: MORNA WAS
ALWAYS CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS STAYING IN TOUCH.

MY FIRST INSTINCT
WAS THAT IT WASN'T GOOD.

Arnold: BASED ON
THE MISSING-PERSON REPORT,

THE RECOVERED PURSE,

AND THE OTHER ITEMS
THAT WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE

CONTAINING, YOU KNOW,
BLOOD SPLATTER,

WE KNEW WE HAD
A SERIOUS INCIDENT ON OUR HANDS.

Narrator:
POLICE ASK THE FAMILY

IF ANYONE MIGHT HAVE HAD
A PROBLEM WITH MORNA.

Plesha: FAMILY MEMBERS
WERE IMMEDIATELY RULED OUT,

AND THE INVESTIGATION

BEGAN FOCUSING ON THE NEXT TIER
OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS,

WHICH WOULD BE THE GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE LAST WITH HER.

Narrator: DETECTIVES
ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WHETHER MORNA'S
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS

OR HAS BEEN SNATCHED AWAY,

WITH EVERY HOUR,
HER CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DWINDLES.

Kenneth: I WANTED TO BELIEVE
SHE'S STILL ALIVE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
22-YEAR-OLD MORNA JEAN BRENNEN

VANISHES FROM OUTSIDE A BAR
IN MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA.

AS POLICE SEARCH FOR LEADS,

THE NEWS SPREADS
LIKE NOVEMBER'S CREEPING COLD.

Ackerman: THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MAPLEWOOD.

PEOPLE DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR.

PEOPLE ARE NOT KIDNAPPED.

THESE THINGS JUST --
THIS WAS NOT PART OF OUR WORLD.

Narrator: PATROLMEN
CONTINUE SEARCHING THE WOODS

AROUND THE BAR AND PARKING LOT.

Kenneth:
YOU WANT TO NOT FIND SOMETHING,

AND AT THE SAME TIME,
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

IT'S ALMOST A PARADOX.

IT'S VERY STRANGE, INDEED.

Narrator: THEY FIND NOTHING.

Ackerman:
WE WERE CALLING EVERYBODY

WE COULD THINK TO CALL.

AND, AGAIN, YOU JUST WANT
TO KEEP OPEN ANY POSSIBILITY

THAT SHE'S WITH SOMEBODY

OR THAT SHE'S BEEN
IN CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY.

Narrator:
THE BAR WAS CROWDED THAT NIGHT

WITH POTENTIAL SUSPECTS
AND WITNESSES.

Ackerman:
THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE

THAT WERE CONNECTED
TO ONE ANOTHER IN THAT BAR

THAT SOMEBODY
HAD TO KNOW SOMETHING

AND WOULD COME FORWARD.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ]

THAT GUY,
HE WANTS TO BUY YOU A DRINK.

Arnold: THE BARTENDER TOLD ME
THAT SHE RECALLED

THAT THERE WAS TWO GUYS
THAT STOOD OUT

AS BEING QUITE STRANGE
THAT WERE AT THE BAR.

ONE WAS SITTING
NEXT TO MORNA JEAN,

AND THE OTHER ONE WAS
ACROSS THE BAR FROM MORNA JEAN.

AND THE GUY ACROSS
STARED AT MORNA JEAN ALL NIGHT.

Narrator: THE ONE NEXT TO MORNA
BOUGHT HER A DRINK.

Plesha: HE HAD BEEN RUBBING
HER SHOULDERS.

SHE WAS
NOT VERY RECEPTIVE TO IT.

YOU'RE RIDICULOUS.

Narrator: ONCE HE SLINKED AWAY,
THE OTHER GUY MOVED IN.

Arnold:
THE MAN THAT WAS STARING AT HER

APPROACHED HER
AND ASKED HER TO DANCE.

AND AT THAT POINT,
MORNA JEAN SAID,

"NO.
I'M NOT DANCING TONIGHT."

HE SAID, "WELL, I SAW
YOU DANCE WITH CANDACE."

AND SHE SAID,
"I DANCED WITH CANDACE

ONLY BECAUSE
CANDACE WANTED TO DANCE."

SHE SAID,
"I DO NOT WANT TO DANCE."

CANDACE ADVISED US

THAT THEY WERE STRIKING UP
CONVERSATIONS WITH MORNA,

EXCEPT THAT MORNA DIDN'T WANT
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

I'M PRETTY SURE
SHE SAID NO.

Ackerman: THAT'S NOT WHAT
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED
IN THESE GUYS.

AND, OF COURSE, YOU ASSUME THAT
THAT WAS POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW,

SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
A TRIGGER,

OR THESE GUYS
COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING

TO DO WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE.

Narrator:
CANDACE DOESN'T KNOW NAMES.

THEY GAVE BOTH GIRLS THE CREEPS.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

Arnold: THE GUY
WHO WAS STARING AT HER ALL NIGHT

WAS 23 TO 25 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS WHITE.

HE HAD A SLENDER FACE.

AND THE SECOND GUY WHO HAD BEEN
PESTERING HER ALL NIGHT --

HE WAS DESCRIBED
AS BEING 22 TO 25 YEARS OLD,

WHITE, 5'10",

LIGHT-BROWN TO BLOND HAIR,
AND CLEAN-SHAVEN.

Narrator:
THE BARTENDER BELIEVES HIS NAME

MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE RANDY.

THAT NIGHT, THE BAR WAS PACKED

WITH STRANGERS
PASSING THROUGH TO GO HUNTING.

MAYBE ONE OF THEM
FOUND HIS PREY.

Plesha: AND WITH THE HELP
OF THE BARTENDERS,

POLICE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER
A LIST OF MEN

WHO WERE IN THE PROXIMITY
OF MORNA AT THE BAR.

Narrator:
THEY HOPE SOME OF THE REGULARS

CAN NAME THE STRANGERS
WHO'D BOTHERED MORNA.

Ackerman:
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF HER.

SHE HAD JUST DISAPPEARED.

Narrator:
THE SEARCH CONTINUES.

ONE IS RUNNING A BALANCE
BETWEEN ONE MINUTE WANTING

TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING'S
GOING TO WORK OUT FINE,

AND THE NEXT MINUTE,

YOU'RE PLUNGED
INTO A FEELING OF DESPAIR

THAT NOTHING GOOD
IS GOING TO HAPPEN,

AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT
SOMETHING HORRIBLE IN THE END.

Narrator: TEST RESULTS FROM THE
BLOOD ON THE SHEETS AND CURTAINS

COME BACK.

Arnold: THE BLOOD SPLATTER
ON THE PROPERTY

THAT WAS RECOVERED
DOWN AT THE PARK

WAS SENT OUT TO THE BUREAU
OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION,

TO THEIR CRIME LAB.

AND THEY DID AN ANALYSIS

AND FOUND OUT
IT WAS, IN FACT, HUMAN BLOOD.

Narrator:
TYPING MARKERS MATCH MORNA JEAN.

Ackerman: WE WERE TOLD
THAT IT WAS MY SISTER'S BLOOD,

AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS JUST DEVASTATING.

MOSTLY A FEELING
OF JUST BEING NUMB AND LOST.

Ackerman: GIVEN WHAT WE KNEW,
THE CIRCUMSTANCES,

THE EVIDENCE
THAT HAD COME TO LIGHT,

THE CLOTHING, THE BLOOD,
THE COLD TEMPERATURES,

THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO

WAS THAT SHE WAS BEING, PERHAPS,
HELD SOMEWHERE AGAINST HER WILL.

AND SO, THAT WAS A HOPE.

A STRANGE HOPE TO HAVE,
BUT I WANTED TO HAVE HOPE.

Narrator:
POLICE HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

MORNA'S FAMILY
PLEADS FOR HER SAFE RETURN.

MY MOM TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH
WE NEEDED TO HAVE HER BACK

AND THAT SHE NEEDED
TO COME BACK.

Parsons: SHE WAS TEARY.

SHE WAS PRETTY EMOTIONAL.

SHE SAID,
"ANYONE THAT HAD HER DAUGHTER,

TO, PLEASE -- TO LET HER GO."

Ackerman:
THE INTENTION WAS FOR PEOPLE

TO SEE THAT THERE WAS
A REAL FAMILY INVOLVED

AND THAT, YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS A LOT OF PAIN,

AND IT WAS REAL PAIN.

THIS IS SOMEBODY
WHO HAD PEOPLE THAT LOVE HER.

SHE LIVES WITH PAT AND I,

AND SHE WAS OKAY THIS WEEK,
FINE.

Narrator: POLICE ASK THE PUBLIC
TO REPORT ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS,

INCLUDING ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE
MISSING BEDDING OR BLUE DRAPES.

AND THEY CONTINUE INTERVIEWING
PATRONS AT THE BAR THAT NIGHT.

THE POLICE
WERE DOING A THOROUGH JOB

AND WERE TALKING TO EVERYBODY,

BOTH THE REGULARS AND THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE THE STRANGERS,

THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE PASSING THROUGH.

Narrator: THEY LEARNED MORE

ABOUT THE MAN
WHO WAS STARING AT MORNA.

THE REGULARS
CALL HIM "KARATE GUY."

Plesha: HE HAD BEEN
A FREQUENT CUSTOMER AT THE BAR.

THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH HIM.

HE HAD SOME QUIRKS ABOUT HIM.

HEY.
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I NEED YOU TO KNOCK IT OFF.

Arnold:
HE HAD MADE SOME STATEMENTS

TO THE OWNER OF THE BAR
ABOUT BEING A KARATE EXPERT

AND THAT IF HE WANTED TO,

HE COULD KICK THE OWNER'S HEAD
THROUGH A TV SET.

Narrator: HE WORKS
FOR A HOSPITAL LINEN SERVICE --

SIGNIFICANT,
CONSIDERING THE BLOODY SHEETS

FOUND NEAR THE PURSE.

BUT IF HE'S GOT MORNA,
WHERE IS SHE?

MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE,

A RESIDENT
EXPLORING BY A FROZEN LAKE

MAKES A TRULY CHILLING DISCOVERY
THAT RAISES THE STAKES.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: 17 DAYS AFTER
MORNA JEAN BRENNEN VANISHES,

A RESIDENT IS OUT EXPLORING

NOT FAR FROM WHERE MORNA
WAS LAST SEEN...

WHEN SOMETHING CATCHES HIS EYE.

HE'S STUNNED BY WHAT APPEARS
TO BE PARTIAL HUMAN REMAINS.

Arnold: WHEN THE POLICE
ARRIVED AT THE SCENE,

THEY COULD SEE THAT
THERE'S A HUMAN HAND AND A FOOT

ON THE ICE

AND THAT THE BAG
HAD BEEN RIPPED OPEN.

FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE BAG

REVEALED THE SEVERED HEAD
OF A WHITE FEMALE.

Parsons: THAT REALLY FREAKED
EVERYBODY OUT.

I THINK
IT EVEN FREAKED OUT THE COPS.

Narrator:
RECOVERING FROM THE SHOCK,

PATROLMEN
SEARCH FOR HER TORSO...

SADLY, TO NO AVAIL.

FOR NOW, THEY'LL WORK
WITH THE REMAINS THEY HAVE.

Arnold:
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CAME OUT,

AND HE THEN TOOK CUSTODY
OF THE BODY PARTS

AND BROUGHT THEM BACK

TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE
IN ST. PAUL.

IT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD BEEN BEAT
PRETTY HEAVILY AROUND THE FACE.

THERE WAS ALSO SOME CUT MARKS
AROUND HER RIGHT TEMPLE AREA.

Narrator: LIKE SOME SORT OF
SADISTIC TORTURE WITH A BLADE

UNTIL THE FATAL CUT.

IT'S MY BELIEF THAT SHE DIED
FROM HAVING HER THROAT CUT.

Narrator: THE DISMEMBERMENT
WAS POSTMORTEM.

Arnold:
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

DETERMINED
THAT THEY WERE, IN FACT,

THE BODY PARTS
OF MORNA JEAN BRENNEN.

AT THIS POINT, IT WAS A HOMICIDE
CASE THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH.

WE HAD SUSPECTED IT
FOR A LONG TIME,

BUT THIS
SOLIDIFIED THAT THOUGHT.

POLICE HAVE TO INFORM
THE FAMILY.

Ackerman:
IT WAS OVERWHELMING.

YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE IT.

IT'S JUST
THIS BOTTOMLESS, JUST, HORROR.

AND, YOU KNOW,
JUST MISSING SOMEBODY SO MUCH

AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE
NOT GONNA GET THEM BACK.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING.

Kenneth:
MY FIRST REACTION WAS...

..."WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THIS?

THIS IS SO HORRIBLE."

I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK

WHEN I WAS TOLD
THAT HER FACE HAD BEEN CUT UP

AND SHE HAD BEEN TORTURED
AT KNIFE POINT.

Ackerman: TO HAVE IT BE
SOMEBODY I LOVED SO MUCH

AND THAT HAD DESERVED SO MUCH,
THAT DESERVED TO LIVE,

AND TO HAVE, YOU KNOW,

SOMEBODY JUST SO CALLOUSLY
TAKE THAT AWAY,

AND IN SUCH
AN ANGRY, HORRIBLE WAY,

JUST NEVER MADE ANY SENSE.

Narrator: ALL MORNA WANTED
WAS TO LOVE HER FAMILY,

DO GOOD WORK,
AND LIVE A FULL LIFE.

IT'S LIKE
A -- A NATURAL DISASTER...

SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY,

AND THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON.

SHE WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME.

I'D WANT ANYONE
WHO GOES TO PLACES --

AND I KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE DO --

TO BE JUST --
TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL...

TO REALIZE THAT EVERYONE THERE
MAY NOT BE A FRIEND.

Narrator:
FEAR HOWLS THROUGH THE STREETS

LIKE THE BITTER NORTH WIND.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Ackerman:
PEOPLE STOPPED GOING OUT.

PEOPLE REALIZED THAT,
YOU KNOW, WHOEVER HAD DONE THIS

WAS STILL OUT THERE,

AND IT WAS
A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY

THAT THEY WOULD TARGET
SOMEBODY ELSE.

Narrator: UNLESS AUTHORITIES
FIND THE KILLER FIRST.

POLICE RE-INTERVIEW THE MEN
ON THE LIST FROM THE BAR.

THEY FOCUS ON KARATE GUY,

WHO COULDN'T KEEP HIS EYES
OFF MORNA THAT NIGHT.

Arnold: WE FOUND OUT
THAT HIS NAME WAS NEIL KIRKLAND.

AND THE BARTENDER

ALSO REMEMBERED ONE OTHER
VERY INTERESTING DETAIL --

THAT SUSPECT WALKED OUT OF THE
BAR RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME

THAT CANDACE AND MORNA JEAN
LEFT THE BAR.

YOU DON'T REMEMBER
SEEING HER?

I'M NOT SURE.

HE COULDN'T SEEM
TO REMEMBER ANYTHING,

BECAUSE HE SAID HE HAD A PROBLEM
WITH HIS MEMORY FROM CHILDHOOD.

AND HE KEPT ON CHANGING HIS
STORY THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEW.

MY MEMORY ISN'T TOO GOOD.

AT ONE POINT, HE MENTIONED

THAT HE COULDN'T REMEMBER
CANDACE'S NAME,

AND LATER ON IN THE INTERVIEW...

I DID SPEAK
TO MORNA AND CANDACE.

OOH. WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU JUST SAID YOU
COULDN'T REMEMBER HER NAME,

BUT THEN YOU WENT
AND USED CANDACE'S NAME.

YEAH, HE ADVANCED HIMSELF ON
OUR LIST OF SUSPECTS TO THE TOP.

Narrator:
BUT THEY HAVE NOTHING SOLID YET,

SO THEY KEEP LOOKING
AT OTHER SUSPECTS...

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

...INCLUDING A MAN
NAMED VANCE McCARTY,

WHO WAS THERE
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.

Arnold:
WE RECEIVED INFORMATION

THAT VANCE McCARTY HAD BEEN
AT THE BAR THAT EVENING

AND THAT WHEN HE LEFT,

HE HAD INVITED
TWO WOMEN AND ANOTHER GUY

OVER TO HIS RESIDENCE
FOR A LITTLE AFTER-PARTY PARTY.

Narrator: ONE OF THOSE WOMEN
MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORNA.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

POLICE FIND AND QUESTION HIM.

MR. McCARTY?

I'M DETECTIVE ARNOLD.

THIS IS OFFICER WILLIAMS.

WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU

ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF MORNA BRENNEN.

UH, CAN YOU
PUT THE KNIFE DOWN?

WHEN ASKED ABOUT MORNA,
HE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT,

"I KNEW YOU WOULD BE HERE
TO TALK TO ME ABOUT FOUL PLAY."

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT FOUL PLAY, MR. McCARTY.

AND HE SAID, "WELL, THAT'S WHAT
THEY'VE BEEN SAYING AT THE BAR,

AND THAT'S WHY I KNEW THAT
YOU'D BE HERE TO TALK TO ME."

Plesha: VANCE APPEARED
EXTREMELY NERVOUS,

WAS PERSPIRING HEAVILY,

AND APPEARED TO BE
VERY UNCOOPERATIVE.

Arnold:
THIS IS THE FIRST SUSPECT

THAT BECAME VERY AGITATED
AND ARGUMENTATIVE

WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MORNA JEAN.

HE WAS MOVED UP
ON THE LIST OF SUSPECTS.

Narrator:
THEY HAVE TWO STRONG LEADS,

BUT NO SOLID ANSWERS
FOR MORNA'S TORMENTED FAMILY.

NOT KNOWING WHO DID THIS

OR WHERE THE REST OF
HER REMAINS ARE IS UNBEARABLE.

THAT NOVEMBER WAS A PARTICULARLY
BITTERLY COLD NOVEMBER.

IT MADE EVERYTHING
JUST SEEM THAT MUCH WORSE,

THE BITTER, PENETRATING COLD.

MAYBE THE SITUATION WITH MORNA

MADE THE WEATHER
SEEM COLDER THAN NORMAL, TOO.

[ WIND GUSTING ]

Narrator: TWO DAYS
AFTER THE FIRST REMAINS TURN UP,

A SECOND GRISLY DISCOVERY.

Plesha: NEAR TO
WHERE THE BODY PARTS WERE FOUND,

A WOMAN WAS WALKING HER DOG,

AND THE DOG HAD REACTED
IN AN AREA OFF OF THE ROAD,

AND SHE HAD GONE THERE
AND OBSERVED A TORSO.

POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE

AND FOUND WHAT WAS
SHORTLY THEREAFTER IDENTIFIED

TO BE
THE TORSO OF MORNA BRENNEN.

Ackerman: ODDLY, THERE WAS
A SENSE OF RELIEF ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS HORRIFYING,
BUT IT WAS INEVITABLE,

AND IT WAS SOMETHING --

WE DIDN'T WANT IT
TO DRAG OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF SOME SORT OF CLOSURE,

TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE
WE COULD PREPARE FOR A FUNERAL.

Narrator:
WHAT KIND OF MONSTER

COULD TORTURE AND KILL
A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN,

CUT HER LIMB FROM LIMB,

AND SCATTER HER REMAINS
ACROSS THE FROZEN LANDSCAPE?

NEIL KIRKLAND AND VANCE McCARTY
TOP THE LONG LIST OF SUSPECTS.

BUT IN THIS COLDEST OF KILLINGS,

INVESTIGATORS HAVE BARELY
PENETRATED THE ICY CRUST.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: IN THE DEAD OF WINTER,
MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA, RESIDENTS

SHUDDER AT THE DISCOVERY

OF THE DISMEMBERED REMAINS
OF MORNA JEAN BRENNEN.

Plesha: THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE
WAS CONCERNED,

AND PEOPLE WERE CALLING IN
TRYING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION

AS TO ANYONE
THAT THEY FELT WAS SUSPICIOUS

OR ANY BEHAVIOR
THAT THEY FOUND SUSPICIOUS.

Kenneth: AT THAT POINT,

I WAS STILL NOT SURE
IF THIS WAS A PERSON

OR WHETHER IT WAS
A GANG OF PEOPLE,

SOME SORT OF RITUAL SACRIFICE.

IT SEEMED SO BIZARRE.

Arnold: YEAH, AFTER
THE DISCOVERY OF HER BODY,

WE REALLY STARTED TO FOCUS
ON THE THREE OR FOUR SUSPECTS

AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST.

Plesha: THEY WERE UNABLE
TO MAKE ANY CONNECTION

THAT WOULD PROVIDE
THE PROBABLE CAUSE

THAT'S NEEDED TO CHARGE SOMEONE.

Arnold: WE REVIEWED
ALL OF THE EVIDENCE OVER AGAIN,

RE-INTERVIEWED
SOME OF THE SUSPECTS.

Narrator:
THEY START WITH NEIL KIRKLAND,

WHO IS MUCH MORE COOPERATIVE
THIS TIME.

Arnold: WE INTERVIEWED NEIL
A SECOND TIME 'ROUND,

AND THIS TIME HE ADMITTED
THAT HE KNEW MORNA JEAN,

AND HE KNEW CANDACE'S NAME,

THAT HE'D TALKED TO THEM
THAT NIGHT AT THE BAR.

HE GOES THERE WEEKLY.

AND...

BUT HE DENIED
SEEING THEM OUTSIDE THE BAR.

Narrator: HE ALLOWS THE POLICE
TO SEARCH HIS CAR.

THEY FIND NOTHING.

Arnold: IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS
THAT, YOU KNOW,

HE WASN'T INVOLVED IN KIDNAPPING
MORNA OFF THE BAR PARKING LOT.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO
APPROACH VANCE McCARTY AGAIN.

BY NOW, THEY'VE I.D.'d THE TWO
WOMEN HE LEFT WITH THAT NIGHT.

MORNA WASN'T ONE OF THEM.

CALMER NOW,
HE PRESENTS A CREDIBLE ALIBI.

Arnold: WE HAD INTERVIEWED HIM
BEFORE WHEN HE WAS AGITATED,

AND THIS TIME,
HE WAS MUCH MORE FORTHCOMING.

AND WE THEN CLEARED HIM
OF BEING A SUSPECT.

Narrator: MOVING ON,
POLICE LOOK CLOSER AT A MAN

INITIALLY IDENTIFIED AS RANDY
BY A BARTENDER.

THEY LEARN FROM THE REGULARS
HIS REAL NAME IS RICKIE KIGER.

PEOPLE SAY HE'S WEIRD,
BUT NOT IMMEDIATELY THREATENING.

Arnold: HE WOULD PUT
A TOWEL OVER HIS ARM,

AND HE WOULD WALK AROUND
AND PICK UP GLASSES,

BEING LIKE A WAITPERSON,

AND JUST USING THAT
AS AN EXCUSE, I SUPPOSE,

TO PICK UP WOMEN.

Narrator: THE BARTENDER SAW HIM
THE NIGHT MORNA VANISHED.

JUST AN AVERAGE GUY THAT ANYBODY
COULD HAVE TALKED TO IN A BAR

OR HAVE, YOU KNOW,
PAID ATTENTION TO OR NOT.

BUT HE WAS JUST A TYPICAL GUY.

Narrator: MAPLEWOOD POLICE
ASKED MORNA'S FATHER

IF HE EVER HEARD MORNA SPEAK
OF A MAN NAMED RICKIE KIGER.

I SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

I HAD NEVER HEARD HER
MENTION A NAME LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
ONE BARTENDER IDENTIFIES KIGER

AS THE GUY WHO SENT A DRINK TO
MORNA AND RUBBED HER SHOULDERS.

Plesha: NOBODY REALLY HAD SEEN
HIM LEAVE AT CLOSING TIME.

THEY JUST KNEW THAT HE WAS GONE.

Arnold:
FURTHER INVESTIGATION

REVEALED THAT RICKIE KIGER
LIVED IN MAPLEWOOD

ABOUT A MILE
OR A MILE AND A HALF AWAY

FROM WHERE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE
WAS LOCATED,

AND THE PURSE WAS LOCATED.

Narrator:
THEIR PERSON OF INTEREST

GETS A LOT MORE INTERESTING.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

Arnold:
I DETERMINED THAT, BACK IN 1976,

HE WAS AT A MENTAL HOSPITAL
IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA.

AND HE MET THIS WOMAN WHO WAS
ALSO IN THE MENTAL INSTITUTION.

AND THEY WENT FOR A WALK.

AND HE GRABBED HER, CHOKED HER
UNTIL SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS.

AND WHEN SHE WOKE UP, SHE FOUND
OUT THAT SHE HAD BEEN RAPED,

AND SHE HAD HER THROAT CUT.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

Narrator:
IT SOUNDS LIKE A DRESS REHEARSAL

FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MORNA JEAN.

Arnold:
IT DID THROW AN ALARM TO ME,

BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THE SUSPECT

HAD ALSO SLIT THE THROAT
OF MORNA JEAN BRENNEN.

IT CERTAINLY MOVED RICKIE KIGER
TO THE TOP OF THE SUSPECT LIST.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS LEARN

RICKIE HAS A GIRLFRIEND
NAMED ERICA HINTON

WHO'D JUST FILED
A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIM.

SHE AGREES TO TALK.

Arnold:
SHE SAID THAT AFTER MORNA JEAN

WENT MISSING FROM THE BAR,

THAT RICKIE KIGER WAS
TOTALLY INTERESTED IN THE NEWS.

PRIOR TO THAT,
HE NEVER WATCHED THE NEWS.

BUT AFTER SHE WENT MISSING, HE
WATCHED THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

Kenneth:
ERICA TOLD THE POLICE

THAT THEY HAD WATCHED
THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TOGETHER

AND THAT RICKIE
HAD SAID HE FELT VERY SORRY

FOR THAT FAMILY
WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS MISSING.

Plesha: SHE DID TELL POLICE

THAT RICKIE
HAD A COLLECTION OF KNIVES,

INCLUDING HUNTING KNIVES,
THAT HE DID KEEP THEM SHARPENED,

AND THAT HE HAD A HACKSAW
IN THE HOUSE.

SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT, BETWEEN
2:00 AND 3:00 IN THE MORNING

ON THE NIGHT
THAT MORNA JEAN WENT MISSING,

SHE RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL
FROM RICKIE KIGER

IN WHICH HE STATED
VERY EMOTIONALLY, "I LOVE YOU.

"I LOVE YOU.

"I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
THAT I HATE YOU."

AND SHE WAS VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THAT,

BECAUSE WHEN HE HUNG UP,
SHE TRIED CALLING HIM BACK,

AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER.

Narrator: ERICA'S STORY
PIQUES POLICE INTEREST,

AND WHAT SHE REVEALS NEXT
STIRS THEM TO ACTION.

KIGER OWNS TROPICAL BIRDS
AND A WANDERING JEW PLANT,

JUST LIKE THE PECULIAR EVIDENCE
FOUND EARLIER.

HAD THEY BEEN SOME KIND
OF BIZARRE CALLING CARD?

ALSO, HIS BLUE DRAPES
ARE MISSING.

KNOWING THAT THE EVIDENCE THAT
WAS COLLECTED DOWN AT THE PARK

INCLUDED BIRD FEATHERS,
A WANDERING JEW PLANT,

THE MISSING BLUE DRAPES,

AND THE FACT THAT MORNA JEAN'S
THROAT WAS SLIT,

AND HIS FASCINATION WITH KNIVES,

I WENT
BACK TO THE POLICE STATION

AND STARTED DRAFTING
A SEARCH WARRANT.

Narrator:
WHILE PREPARING THE PAPERWORK,

DETECTIVE ARNOLD CALLS ERICA
BACK TO GET MORE DETAILS.

HER RESPONSE MAKES HIS NEXT MOVE
CLEAR AS ICE.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: RICKIE KIGER'S
GIRLFRIEND, ERICA HINTON,

COOPERATES WITH POLICE

INVESTIGATING THE MURDER
OF MORNA JEAN BRENNEN.

Arnold: WHEN I WAS DRAFTING
THE SEARCH WARRANT,

I MADE A CALL TO ERICA

TO CLARIFY A FEW STATEMENTS
THAT SHE HAD MADE TO ME.

AND SHE INQUIRED THEN
AS TO WHETHER OR NOT MORNA JEAN

WAS WEARING ANY JEWELRY ON
THE NIGHT THAT SHE WENT MISSING.

SHE TOLD ME THAT RICKIE KIGER
HAD GIVEN HER THESE NECKLACES

SHORTLY AFTER MORNA JEAN
WENT MISSING

AND SAID THEY WERE A GIFT.

ERICA SAID THAT RICKIE
HAD GIVEN HER THIS PENDANT,

WHICH WAS THE SAME PENDANT

MY DAUGHTER WAS WEARING
THE NIGHT OF HER DEATH.

Arnold:
I GOT ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY

WITH SERGEANT NORM GREEN,
MY PARTNER,

AND THE TWO OF US
WENT OUT TO ERICA'S

AND RECOVERED
BOTH THE NECKLACES,

BROUGHT THEM
BACK TO THE POLICE STATION,

AND MATCHED THEM UP PERFECTLY

WITH A PHOTOGRAPH
WE HAD OF MORNA JEAN.

Narrator: THOSE TWO CHAINS
LINK KIGER TO THE MURDER.

ARMED WITH A SEARCH WARRANT,
DETECTIVES ENTER HIS LAIR.

Arnold: DURING THE COURSE
OF OUR SEARCH OF HIS APARTMENT,

WHICH LASTED, I THINK,
ABOUT 12 OR 14 HOURS,

WE FOUND BLOOD IN THE BATHROOM,

BOTH IN THE SINK
AND ALSO ON THE BATHTUB.

WE ALSO FOUND BLOOD

IN THE INSIDE OF THE COIL CORD
ON HIS OLD TELEPHONE.

AND WE RECOVERED SOME KNIVES.

WE FOUND A GARBAGE-BAG BOX
THAT MATCHED PERFECTLY

WITH THE GARBAGE-BAG BOX
THAT WAS FOUND BY MY PATROLMAN.

Plesha: POLICE IMMEDIATELY NOTED
THAT THE PLANT IN HIS APARTMENT

MATCHED THE PLANT LEAVES

THAT WERE FOUND
WITH THE BLOODY SHEET.

THERE WERE FEATHERS
FROM TROPICAL BIRDS

THAT WERE FOUND
WHERE HER PURSE HAD BEEN FOUND,

AND SO, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT CLUE
THAT TIED HIM IN.

Narrator: FROM WHAT POLICE KNOW
OF THE IMPULSIVE KIGER,

THE LEAVES AND FEATHERS

SEEM MORE LIKE DEBRIS
FROM A HASTY CLEANUP

RATHER THAN
A VILLAINOUS CALLING CARD.

THE CURTAINS IN THE BEDROOM
ARE MISSING,

AND HIS PILLOWCASES MATCH THE
BLOODY SET FOUND IN THE PARK.

TECHNICIANS ALSO FIND
MORNA'S BLOOD IN KIGER'S TRUCK.

I ARRESTED RICKIE FOR THE MURDER
OF MORNA JEAN BRENNEN,

AND HE WAS BROUGHT
TO THE STATION

AND INTERVIEWED
BY ONE OF OUR SERGEANTS.

Plesha: RICKIE KIGER
NEVER DENIED BEING RESPONSIBLE,

BUT CLAIMED
THAT HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION

OF HOW MORNA BRENNEN
WAS MURDERED.

Narrator:
IT'S A COWARDLY HALF-CONFESSION.

RICKIE ADMITTED THAT HE WAS
AT THE BAR THAT NIGHT,

HE DID TALK TO MORNA JEAN.

AND THEN HE HAD
A LAPSE OF MEMORY

UNTIL HE FOUND OUT THAT HER BODY
WAS IN THE BACK OF HIS VEHICLE

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

AND BROUGHT HER
TO HIS APARTMENT.

HE KEPT HER THERE.

AND THEN HE DECIDED
HE COULDN'T KEEP HER THERE.

Narrator:
HE MAKES THE RIDICULOUS CLAIM

HE CAN'T RECALL
THE DISMEMBERMENT.

Arnold: HE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE WAS
STANDING THERE HOLDING HER HEAD

AND THAT HE HAD OBVIOUSLY
CUT HER HEAD OFF.

DOWN AT HIS FEET, THERE'S A BAG,

AND THAT CONTAINED
THE HANDS AND FEET,

BUT HE DIDN'T REMEMBER
CUTTING THEM OFF EITHER.

RICKIE, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF MORNA BRENNEN.

STAND UP.

Narrator:
POLICE ARREST KIGER THE SAME DAY

MORNA'S FAMILY
IS HOLDING HER MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Kenneth: JUST BEFORE WE STARTED
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE,

THE POLICE CHIEF TOOK ME ASIDE

AND TOLD ME THAT THEY
HAD ARRESTED THE PERPETRATOR

AND ASKED ME
IF I WOULD SPREAD THAT WORD

TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

AND IT WAS A GREAT SENSE
OF RELIEF TO ALL OF US

THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD
AND HAVE THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

THAT WOULD BRING OUT
THE BEST OF MORNA'S LIFE

WITHOUT THE THOUGHT
THAT SOME EVIL PERSON

WAS LURKING IN THE CROWD.

Narrator: AUTHORITIES BELIEVE
THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

IN MORNA JEAN BRENNEN'S
FINAL HOURS.

Arnold: DURING THE EVENING,

RICKIE KIGER
PURCHASED A DRINK FOR MORNA,

WENT OVER AND CONTINUED
TO TRY TO TALK TO HER.

WAS RUBBING HER SHOULDERS,
AND MORNA OBJECTED TO THAT.

HE ASKED MORNA TO DANCE.

AND SHE TOLD HIM NO.

Narrator: HE FELT REJECTED.

SO WHEN MORNA AND CANDACE LEFT
THE BAR, HE SLIPPED OUTSIDE.

CANDACE!

COME HERE!

HEY, CAN I TALK TO THEM
FOR JUST LIKE TWO SECONDS?

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
I'LL WAIT AT THE CAR.

MORNA BRENNEN GOT SEPARATED
FROM HER FRIEND AT CLOSING TIME.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

RICKIE KIGER HAD OFFERED,
BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUT,

TO SIT IN HIS VEHICLE

AND WAIT TILL SHE SAW
HER FRIEND COME OUT OF THE BAR.

IT IS MY BELIEF

THAT HE SMASHED HER HEAD AGAINST
THE DOOR PANEL OF HIS VEHICLE

AND RENDERED HER UNCONSCIOUS.

Narrator: HE THEN TOOK HER
BACK TO HIS APARTMENT,

WHERE HE ASSAULTED HER
AND SLIT HER THROAT.

HE TOOK THE BLOODY EVIDENCE
FROM HIS APARTMENT

AND STUFFED IT IN TRASH BAGS,

INADVERTENTLY INCLUDING
FEATHERS FROM HIS BIRDS

AND CUTTINGS
FROM HIS HOUSEPLANT.

THEN HE TOSSED THEM
INTO THE PARK.

HE DUMPED MORNA JEAN'S PURSE
SEPARATELY.

Arnold:
THAT'S WHEN HE SAWED HER UP

AND DEPOSITED HER BODY
OUT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

[ PROJECTOR RUNS ]

Narrator:
KIGER TRIES TO SAY HE AND MORNA

HAD A CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP,

BUT THERE'S NO PROOF OF THAT,
AND NO ONE BELIEVES HIM.

JUST ANOTHER
SICK, COWARDLY CLAIM.

Arnold: NO MATTER
WHAT RICKIE KIGER SAID,

NO MATTER WHAT HE TRIED TO DO OR
DRAG HER DOWN THROUGH THE MUD,

THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE

TO SHOW THAT SHE IS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VICTIM.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GLAD THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO DO HER JUSTICE.

Narrator: ON MARCH 13, 1987,

RICKIE KIGER PLEADS GUILTY
TO FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

AND IS SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

Kenneth: IT WAS A GREAT,
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT RELIEF

WHEN HE DECIDED TO PLEAD GUILTY,

BECAUSE THAT SPARED US
THE HORRORS OF A TRIAL,

WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY
DIFFICULT FOR US TO FACE UP TO.

Ackerman: THERE WAS SOME ELEMENT
OF CLOSURE TO THAT,

IN THAT HE JUST WOULD
NEVER EXIST FOR US IN OUR WORLD.

Narrator: RICKIE KIGER DIES
OF NATURAL CAUSES IN PRISON

IN APRIL 2014.

I'M HAPPY THAT HE'S GONE.

I'M HAPPY THAT I NEVER HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT HIM AGAIN.

Kenneth:
I NEVER WANTED MR. KIGER

TO BE OUT IN THE PUBLIC AGAIN,

SO THE FACT
THAT HE DIED IN PRISON

AND COULDN'T POSSIBLY
HAVE EVER GOTTEN A PAROLE

SEEMED APPROPRIATE TO ME.

Narrator:
MORNA JEAN BRENNEN,

A LOVING SISTER,
DAUGHTER, AND FRIEND,

WAS TAKEN AWAY FAR TOO SOON.

Ackerman:
I MISS LAUGHING WITH HER.

I MISS HER STORIES.

I MISS HER JOKES.

I MISS JUST HER WIT.

SHE WAS SO SHARP.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHE JUST
BROUGHT SO MUCH LIFE, YOU KNOW,

AND SO MUCH FUN
AND SO MUCH ENERGY.

I MISS HER AS MY FRIEND.

I MISS HER AS MY SISTER.

THE LAST TIME THAT WE MET WAS
RIGHT HERE ON MY FRONT STEPS.

SHE HAD TWO SHOPPING BAGS
FULL OF STUFF.

AND I WANTED TO GIVE HER A HUG,

BUT BECAUSE SHE HAD THESE
SHOPPING BAGS, WE JUST DIDN'T.

WE JUST SAID GOODBYE.

[ Voice breaking ] AND I'M
STILL WAITING FOR THAT HUG.