Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - Holy Terror - full transcript

Narrator: WHEN WINTER
COMES CALLING IN NORTHERN IDAHO,

IT BRINGS WITH IT
SOMETHING WICKED.

WHAT COULD BE GOING ON?
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER?

Thompson: IT WAS PLANNED.
IT WAS CALCULATED.

IT'S ABOUT AS COLD
AS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

Acree: IT WAS HORRIFYING
THAT MAYBE NOBODY

WOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
FOR THIS.

A KILLER MAY STRIKE AGAIN.

Heather: WE ARE ALL TARGETS
AT THIS POINT.

WHO'S NEXT?

Narrator: THE LANDSCAPE
AROUND MOSCOW, IDAHO,



HOLDS DARK SECRETS IN ITS HILLS.

Robartes:
WINTERS ARE HARSH.

THE STORM SYSTEMS
THAT COME IN --

THAT'LL DUMP
A FOOT OR TWO OF SNOW.

AND THEY CAN GET ICY AND COLD.

A COLD SNAP HERE
IS MORE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

Narrator:
ALL THAT SNOW CAN SHROUD DANGER.

Besst:
PEOPLE IN MOSCOW DO NOT BELIEVE

THERE CAN BE KILLERS
IN A COMMUNITY SUCH AS THIS.

EVERYBODY THINKS
IT'S SO SAFE HERE

THAT THEY CANNOT FATHOM

THAT SOMEBODY IN MOSCOW
COULD KILL SOMEONE.

Narrator:
YET 21-YEAR-OLD TONYA HART

LOVES HER LITTLE HOME
IN THIS SMALL TOWN.



Heather: SHE STARTED WORKING
AS A REHAB TECHNICIAN

WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY
DISABLED ADULTS.

IT WAS HER CALLING.

IT WAS WHAT SHE
WAS DESTINED TO DO.

Barry:
TONYA WAS THE BEST CAREGIVER,

HAD SO MUCH PATIENCE
WITH HER CLIENTS.

FLYNN.

YOU'D GO THERE
AND SEE THE PEOPLE

THAT AS SOON AS THEY SEEN TONYA,
THEIR EYES WOULD BRIGHTEN.

Narrator: AFTER WORK
ON DECEMBER 11, 2001,

SHE SWINGS BY
A FRIEND'S HANUKAH PARTY.

SHE WAS EXHAUSTED
FROM A DAY OF WORK,

BUT SHE WAS ENERGIZED
FOR THE PARTY.

OUR FRIEND AT THE TIME,
BEING JEWISH,

WE WERE EXCITED
THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE

A DIFFERENT CULTURE, BASICALLY,
DIFFERENT FOOD.

ALL OF OUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
WERE GONNA BE THERE.

SEEMED LIKE SHE KNEW
ALMOST EVERYBODY.

SHE WAS JUST
A FUN-LOVING PERSON.

Narrator: TONYA'S FATIGUE
GETS THE BEST OF HER, THOUGH,

SO SHE DOESN'T STAY LONG.

AROUND 10:00 P.M., SHE ARRIVES
HOME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE.

HER FIANCé, SCOTT,
IS WORKING LATE AT A PIZZERIA.

Heather: SHE GOT HOME
THAT NIGHT, LET OUT THE DOGS,

GOT READY FOR BED.

SHE TYPICALLY ALWAYS READ
BEFORE SHE WENT TO SLEEP.

PROBABLY RELAXED HER
AND HELPED HER GO TO SLEEP.

Narrator: SHE HAS NO IDEA
SOMEONE HAS BEEN WATCHING.

THAT EVENING,
THE SILENT ARCTIC AIR SHATTERS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Thompson:
WE'RE A RURAL AREA,

AND PEOPLE SHOOT GUNS A LOT
AROUND HERE,

FOR HUNTING,
FOR TARGET PRACTICE.

BUT WHEN YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS
JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR,

THAT'S GOING TO ALARM PEOPLE,

AND IT CERTAINLY ALARMED
TONYA'S NEIGHBORS.

FLYNN? FLYNN?

Narrator: ONE NEIGHBOR
RUSHES TO SEE THAT'S THE MATTER

AND FINDS TONYA
BY HER OPEN BACK DOOR.

TONYA?

Besst:
THE NEIGHBOR FELT FOR A PULSE,

SAW BLOOD COMING FROM HER,

AND JUST DID NOT KNOW
WHAT TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE NEIGHBOR

CALLED LAW ENFORCEMENT
RIGHT AWAY.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER,
SIRENS WAILING ]

Narrator: LATAH COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPUTIES HURRY TO THE SCENE.

OF COURSE, THEY IMMEDIATELY
PAID ATTENTION TO TONYA

IN THE HOPES THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

BUT THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT
TO BE THE CASE.

TONYA WAS SHOT ONCE IN THE EYE
AND THEN ONCE IN THE CHEST.

HER WOUNDS
WERE IMMEDIATELY FATAL.

Narrator: A VIBRANT YOUNG WOMAN
KILLED DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Thompson: THEY NOTICED
THERE WERE SOME SHELL CASINGS

IN THE SNOW
RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

THE BRASS CASINGS WERE
FOR A 9mm HANDGUN.

INVESTIGATORS DID RECOVER A SLUG

THAT HAD GONE ALL THE WAY
THROUGH TONYA'S BODY,

AND THEY RECOVERED THAT
FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOME.

Narrator: DEPUTIES CONTINUE
PROCESSING INSIDE.

Robartes:
THE POLICE FOUND NO FORCED ENTRY
AND NO BROKEN WINDOWS.

THERE WAS NOTHING STOLEN
FROM TONYA'S HOME.

EVERYTHING ON THE SHELVES
APPEARED TO BE IN PLACE.

THERE WAS NO CLOTHING SCATTERED
AROUND HER BEDROOM.

IT LOOKED AS IF
SHE'D JUST BEEN THERE,

WAS GETTING READY FOR BED.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ISOLATE
WHAT THEY THINK

ARE THE KILLER'S SNOWY TRACKS.

Thompson:
SHOOTER WAS GONE BY THEN.

HIS FOOTPRINTS WERE IN THE SNOW,

LEADING UP TO THE EAST,
OVER THE HILL.

Besst: THE POLICE FOLLOWED
THE FOOTPRINTS

OVER THE HILL TO THE ROAD,

WHERE THEY ENDED
'CAUSE IT WAS PAVEMENT.

Thompson:
EVENTUALLY, THEY PETERED OUT.

THE OFFICERS
WEREN'T ABLE TO TRACK THEM

MUCH FURTHER
AFTER THEY HIT THE ROAD.

BUT THE SHOOTER
SIMPLY DISAPPEARED.

Besst: AND AT THAT TIME,
THERE WAS A THEORY

THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN
A SECOND PERSON THERE,

SUCH AS A GETAWAY DRIVER.

Narrator: SINCE THE FOOTPRINTS
END AT THE ROAD,

DEPUTIES COMB THE ROADSIDE,

HOPING THE KILLER LEFT
SOME OTHER CLUE WHILE FLEEING.

YOU'RE DEALING WITH SNOW,

SO YOU'RE LOOKING
AT SOME EVIDENCE

THAT COULD DISAPPEAR ON YOU
QUITE RAPIDLY

WITH THE CHANGING CONDITIONS.

SO THERE'S SOME URGENCY THERE.

Narrator: THEY ALSO BEGIN
CANVASSING NEIGHBORS

TO SEE IF ANYONE SAW ANYTHING.

Besst:
THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND

ANY LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATION
THAT THEY COULD

THAT COULD SOMEHOW BE CONNECTED
TO THIS KILLING.

YOU GET TO A HOMICIDE SCENE.
IT'S AN EMOTIONAL SCENE.

SO, FIRST THING
AS AN INVESTIGATOR

IS YOU GOT TO GET THROUGH
THAT EMOTION AND DECIDE

WHAT IS FACTS OUT OF THIS.

Narrator: IT WAS SUCH A FAST
AND EFFICIENT STRIKE,

NEIGHBORS SAW NOTHING.

ONLY MINUTES INTO THE CASE,

DETECTIVES ARE ALREADY
BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

INVESTIGATORS WERE STILL
TRYING TO SORT THROUGH,

"OKAY, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

"IS THERE AN IMMEDIATE RISK
TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY?

WHERE DO WE GO NEXT?"

Narrator:
ONE DIFFICULT STEP --

BREAKING THE NEWS
TO TONYA'S LOVED ONES,

INCLUDING HER FIANCé,
SCOTT UNDERWOOD.

Besst: HE WAS CALLED.

THE POLICE DID NOT TELL SCOTT
WHAT WAS WRONG.

THEY JUST TOLD HIM
HE NEEDED TO COME HOME.

STOP HERE, SIR.
I LIVE HERE.

Man: WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
SCOTT UNDERWOOD.

Thompson:
TONYA'S FIANCé DID PULL UP...

WHAT'S GOING ON?

...AT THE SCENE.

HE HAD BEEN AT WORK
AND LEFT WORK AND SHOWED UP.

TONYA'S DEAD.

Besst: WHEN SCOTT GOT THE NEWS
THAT TONYA HAD BEEN KILLED,

HE DID BECOME EMOTIONAL.

HE DID START CRYING.

Thompson:
MOSCOW'S A SMALL TOWN,

SO WORD WAS GETTING AROUND
PRETTY QUICKLY --

PEOPLE FINDING OUT

THAT SOMETHING BAD
HAD HAPPENED TO TONYA.

Barry: MY EX-WIFE'S BOYFRIEND
CALLED ME,

AND HE HAD SAID
THAT TONYA HAD BEEN SHOT.

I FELT LIKE I'D LEFT MY BODY.

IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.

I'D FELT LIKE
I WAS FROZEN IN TIME.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

Heather: I WAS ASLEEP IN BED.
I HEARD MY PHONE RINGING.

[ ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS ]

BARRY: Heather.

I LISTENED.

AND I COULD HEAR MY FATHER
ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE.

I just got a phone call.

Tonya's been shot.

SO, I EXPLAINED TO MY DAD,
"THAT'S NOT TRUE.

"TONYA'S AT A HANUKAH PARTY.

I WILL CALL THE HOUSE
WHERE TONYA'S AT."

SO I CALLED.

[ Dialing ]

TONYA WASN'T
AT THE HANUKAH PARTY.

SO, MY HUSBAND AND I,
WE GOT IN THE CAR,

AND WE DROVE INTO MOSCOW.

A MILLION THOUGHTS
RACING THROUGH MY HEAD

OF WHAT COULD BE GOING ON,
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER.

AND DEPUTY CAME AND SAID THAT

TONYA HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY
FROM US.

AND IT STILL HADN'T CLICKED
AT THAT MOMENT

OF WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT.

[ Voice breaking ] AND THEN
MY FATHER LOOKED AT ME AND SAID

THAT, "YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT,"
THAT SHE'S GONE.

Narrator: POLICE CAN'T TELL
THE FAMILY MUCH.

Thompson: INVESTIGATORS
WOULD HAVE BEEN CAREFUL

NOT TO RELEASE VERY MUCH
DETAILED INFORMATION AT ALL

BECAUSE THEY HAD NO REASON TO
KNOW WHO WAS OR WASN'T INVOLVED.

Narrator:
THE KILLER MIGHT BE

SOMEONE CLOSE TO TONYA
AND HER FIANCé, SCOTT,

PERHAPS SOMEONE WHO KNEW
SHE'D BE HOME ALONE THAT NIGHT.

Thompson: TONYA HART'S KILLER
WAS COLD-BLOODED.

IT WAS PLANNED.
IT WAS CALCULATED.

AND HE ESSENTIALLY
ASSASSINATED HER.

IT'S ABOUT AS COLD
AS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ "DECK THE HALLS" PLAYING ]

Narrator: DURING THE 2001
WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON

IN MOSCOW, IDAHO,

21-YEAR-OLD REHAB TECHNICIAN
TONYA HART HAS BEEN MURDERED

IN HER OWN HOME,
LEAVING LOVED ONES GRIEVING.

YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT
FROM YOUR THROAT

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO YOUR FEET --

THE MOST DISGUSTING FEELING

THAT YOU'VE EVER FELT
IN YOUR LIFE,

AND YOU'RE NUMB.

I WANTED ANSWERS.

BASED ON THE FORENSICS OF IT,

IT APPEARED THAT TONYA
HAD OPENED THE DOOR.

AS SOON AS SHE OPENED THE DOOR,
THE SHOOTER SHOT.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

SHE HAD NO TIME TO REACT.

SHE WAS SHOT IN THE EYE FIRST,

AND THEN
AS SHE WAS FALLING DOWN,

SHE WAS SHOT A SECOND TIME
IN THE CHEST.

THE KILLER NEVER ENTERED
THE RESIDENCE

AND CAME THERE WITH ONE PURPOSE,
WHICH WAS TO KILL.

THE PERSON THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR TONYA'S DEATH

IS A COMPLETE MONSTER.

Narrator:
A MONSTER STILL OUT THERE,

ARMED AND ANONYMOUS.

YOU KNOW,
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,

SHE'S DEAD,
AND SOMEBODY HAS DISAPPEARED --

DISAPPEARED INTO THE HILLS.

Narrator: LEFT BEHIND,
EJECTED SHELL CASINGS.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Besst: THE CASINGS
THAT WERE FOUND ON SCENE --

THE STRIKE ON IT,
ON THE PRIMER, WAS CONSISTENT

WITH THAT OF A HI-POINT
MODEL "C" 9mm.

Narrator: ALSO, FOOTPRINTS
IN THE SNOW BY THE HOUSE.

Thompson:
THE FACT THAT IT WAS WINTER,

THAT WE HAD SNOW ON THE GROUND,

ACTUALLY ENDED UP
HELPING THE INVESTIGATION.

IF IT HAD BEEN SUMMER AND DRY,

WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE TRACKS
NECESSARY TO FOLLOW,

SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EVEN MORE OF A MYSTERY.

Narrator: LATAH COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES NEED CASTS.

PLASTER WOULD DESTROY
THE FRAGILE PRINT,

SO TECHS SPRAY SEVERAL LAYERS
OF BEESWAX INTO THE IMPRESSION.

DOES NOT CHANGE THE INTEGRITY
OF THE PRINT ITSELF

OR THE COLOR OF IT.

IT JUST MAINTAINS IT.

Narrator: WHEN THE WAX HARDENS,
THEY POUR IN THE PLASTER.

Thompson: THE INVESTIGATORS
WERE ABLE TO GET

SOME PRETTY CLEAR IMPRESSIONS
OF THE SHOES

WITH GOOD DETAIL
AS TO THE SOLE PATTERN

AND THE LENGTH AND SIZE
OF THE SHOES.

Besst: THE POLICE TOOK
MEASUREMENTS OF THE SHOE PRINT

AND DETERMINED IT WAS
APPROXIMATELY A SIZE 9.

THE SHOE TREAD PATTERN WAS SENT
TO THE FBI FOR ANALYSIS.

Thompson:
THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM

AS BEING A TYPE
OF SKATEBOARDING SHOE.

Narrator: THOSE SHOES
BRING DETECTIVES ONE STEP CLOSER

TO PLACING A SUSPECT
AT THE SCENE,

IF THEY FIND A SUSPECT.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS
PAYS OF.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Thompson: THERE WERE WITNESSES
WHO SAW SOMEBODY ON THE HIGHWAY

SHORTLY BEFORE THE SHOOTING
WAS REPORTED.

THAT WAS A LITTLE UNUSUAL
BECAUSE IT WAS WINTER.

IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE,

AND YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE
A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS

HIKING UP THE SHOULDER
OF THE HIGHWAY.

Narrator: HE WAS HEADING
TOWARD TONYA AND SCOTT'S HOUSE.

Besst: THE DESCRIPTION
WAS SOMEWHAT VAGUE.

THEY DESCRIBED THE INDIVIDUAL
AS MEDIUM BUILD

WEARING HEAVIER CLOTHING,

POSSIBLY A FLANNEL JACKET
WITH A HOODIE.

Thompson:
THE WITNESSES DIDN'T HAVE

A GOOD LOOK AT SOMEBODY'S FACE

THAT THEY COULD SAY,
"YEAH, THAT'S THE FACE."

IT COULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

Narrator: NOT EVEN ENOUGH DETAIL
FOR A COMPOSITE SKETCH.

AND ALTHOUGH SNOWY FOOTPRINTS
LEAD FROM TONYA'S HOUSE

TO THE ROAD,

NO ONE SAW THE MAN WALKING AWAY
AFTER THE SHOOTING,

SUGGESTING THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
A GETAWAY DRIVER.

DEPUTIES CONTINUE COMBING
THE HIGHWAY

AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

THE INVESTIGATORS FOUND,
OVER THE HILL BUT FURTHER NORTH,

A BRIEFCASE LAYING OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD,

WHICH WAS VERY UNUSUAL.

COULD THIS BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED
TO THE CRIME ITSELF?

COULD HAVE THE KILLER
DROPPED IT?

WE DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT THE POLICE FELT
THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT

TO GATHER THAT BRIEFCASE UP

IN THE EVENT THAT IT DID LEAD US
TO SOMETHING.

Heather:
LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACTED ME,

AND THEY ASKED IF I WAS FAMILIAR
WITH THE BRIEFCASE

OR IF THAT WAS SOMETHING --
A PROPERTY OF TONYA'S.

Narrator: THE EMPTY CASE DOESN'T
BELONG TO TONYA OR HER FIANCé.

Thompson:
IT WAS SUSPICIOUS,

AND SO IT WAS ANOTHER
AVENUE OF INQUIRY

TO SEE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED,

WHETHER THEY HAD ANY CONTACT
WITH TONYA,

HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH TONYA.

Narrator: DETECTIVES CHECK IN
TO THE PARTY,

WHERE TONYA WAS LAST SEEN.

Heather:
THE INVESTIGATOR TOLD ME

THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE LOOKING

OUTSIDE OF
THE HANUKAH PARTY HOUSE,

LOOKING FOR FOOTPRINTS
TO SEE IF THEY MATCHED UP

WITH FOOTPRINTS THAT THEY
HAD LOCATED AT THE CRIME SCENE.

Narrator:
THEY FIND NOTHING.

AND FRIENDS DIDN'T SEE ANYONE
FOLLOW HER OUT.

Besst: THE KILLER
COULD HAVE BEEN WAITING

FOR TONYA TO GET HOME,
COULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING HER

RIGHT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator:
WAS IT AN INSIDER,

SOMEONE WHO'D KNOW WHEN
SHE'D BE BACK FROM THE PARTY?

I THOUGHT THAT SHE
HAD TO HAVE KNOWN WHO IT WAS.

IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
SHE HEARD A KNOCK ON HER DOOR.

SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER HER DOOR
FOR ANYONE.

SHE HAD TO HAVE KNOWN.

Narrator: MAYBE SHE RECOGNIZED
THE KILLER'S VOICE.

DETECTIVES ASK HER FAMILY
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TONYA

AND THE PEOPLE IN HER LIFE.

Besst:
YOU KNOW, TO FIND OUT,

"DID THE VICTIM HAVE
ANY ENEMIES?

"IS THERE ANYBODY
THAT DIDN'T LIKE HER?

HAD THEY RECENTLY
MADE ANYBODY MAD?"

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Barry:
TONYA WAS ALWAYS VERY ARTISTIC.

SHE COULD DRAW.
SHE COULD PAINT.

SHE LOVED HER TATTOOS.

SHE ALWAYS DID
EVERYTHING DIFFERENT

AND WANTED TO BE UNIQUE
TO HERSELF.

SHE MADE HER OWN CLOTHES.
SHE DESIGNED HER TATTOOS.

SHE PICKED THINGS
THAT REPRESENTED HER.

Narrator: THE FREE SPIRIT
WAS READY TO SETTLE DOWN

WHEN SHE MET SCOTT UNDERWOOD.

Heather: WITHIN SIX MONTHS
OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

AN ENGAGEMENT RING
GOT PRESENTED TO HER.

SHE SHOWED THE FAMILY
AND EVERYTHING.

THEY WERE GOING TO BE
LIFELONG PARTNERS TOGETHER.

SO, I GOT SOMETHING
FOR YOU.

Narrator: SHE WAS SAVING
TO MOVE TO THE ARTSY CITY

OF PORTLAND, OREGON,
AFTER THE WEDDING.

SHE WANTED TO GET AN EDUCATION
AND BE A NURSE IN PORTLAND.

Narrator:
BUT THAT FUTURE NEVER HAPPENED.

Thompson:
THE INVESTIGATORS WERE LOOKING

AT EVERY AVENUE
THEY COULD IMAGINE TO SEE,

"DID SOMEBODY HAVE A REASON
TO HARM TONYA?"

Barry: EVERYBODY ASSUMES THAT
THE BOYFRIEND OR THE HUSBAND --

THE PEOPLE CLOSEST
TO THE MURDER VICTIM --

ARE THE FIRST SUSPECTS.

VIOLENT CRIMES
AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE

ARE COMMITTED
BY PEOPLE THEY KNOW.

Narrator: AND IT DOES SEEM
TONYA AND SCOTT'S ROMANCE

HAD ITS ROUGH PATCHES.

Acree: I STARTED HEARING
THE RUMORS THAT EVERYTHING

WASN'T ALL PEACHES AND CREAM
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

HE HAD TRIED TO BREAK UP
WITH HER.

Heather:
HE HAD WROTE HER A LETTER

SAYING THAT HE WAS ENDING
THE RELATIONSHIP.

HE SAID THAT MOVING TO PORTLAND
WAS HER DREAM.

IT WASN'T HIS.

Narrator: SHE HAD TO CHOOSE --
PORTLAND OR HIM.

SHE CHOSE HIM.

SHE HAD MADE IT CLEAR

THAT SHE DID NOT WANT TO END
THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator: IN THE END,
THEY WORKED IT OUT,

AND AS PART
OF THEIR FRESH START,

MOVED INTO A NEW PLACE TOGETHER.

Heather:
THINGS SEEMED TO BE BETTER.

TONYA WAS REALLY HAPPY
WHERE SHE LIVED.

SHE WAS LOCATED
A LITTLE BIT OUT OF TOWN.

SHE LIKED THAT.

SHE FELT THAT IT WAS A HOME,
IT WAS ACTUALLY THEIR HOME.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS,
WE GOT TO HURRY UP.

WE GOT FIVE MORE
ORDERS UP.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS FIND NOTHING

THAT IMPLICATES SCOTT
AS THE KILLER.

Besst: SCOTT WAS ABLE TO
PROVIDE US WITH AN ALIBI

THAT HE WAS WORKING THAT NIGHT
AT HIS STORE,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT
WITH WORK SCHEDULE

AND WITH TALKING WITH OTHER
EMPLOYEES AT THE STORE.

Narrator:
AND THE SNOWY TRACKS?

Besst: SCOTT'S SHOE SIZE
WAS COMPARED TO

THE SHOE PRINT
THAT WAS FOUND ON SCENE,

AND IT WAS DETERMINED
THAT IT WAS NOT A MATCH.

AND SO WE WERE PRETTY
COMFORTABLE IN CONCLUDING

THAT HE WAS NOT THE SHOOTER.

Narrator: AND THAT LEAVES
NO SUSPECTS AT ALL.

Heather: TIME'S GOING BY,

AND I'M WONDERING WHERE
THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING.

ARE THEY GONNA FIND
TONYA'S KILLER OR KILLERS?

Besst:
THE KILLER MAY STRIKE AGAIN.

IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE OUT THERE

WHOSE LIFE IS IN DANGER,
AS WELL?

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2001,

IN THE ICY HILLS
OF MOSCOW, IDAHO...

[ GUNSHOTS ]

...THE SENSELESS MURDER
OF TONYA HART

RATTLES THE COMMUNITY
AND UNMOORS HER LOVED ONES.

I REMEMBER JUST MY KNEES
SHAKING SO BAD

THAT I JUST WENT DOWN
ON MY HANDS AND KNEES

TO THE FLOOR
AND JUST LAID ON THE FLOOR.

BASICALLY, NOTHING MATTERED
AFTER TONYA WAS MURDERED.

IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE SUN
CAME UP, THE SUN WENT DOWN,

IF I WENT TO WORK OR NOT.

NONE OF IT MATTERED.

Narrator: LATAH COUNTY
SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORS

BELIEVED TONYA'S FIANCé, SCOTT,
WAS NOT THE SHOOTER.

Acree: HE HONESTLY SEEMED
LIKE A TYPICAL

GRIEVING BOYFRIEND/FIANCE.

HE SEEMED VERY UPSET.

HE SEEMED, YOU KNOW, CONFUSED
AND A LITTLE SHATTERED,

NATURALLY,
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND INITIALLY,
AFTER WE ALL FOUND OUT,

EVERYBODY DID RALLY TOGETHER.

WE WANTED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

Narrator:
LOVED ONES START TO WONDER,

"MAYBE THOSE BULLETS
WEREN'T MEANT FOR TONYA."

Heather: I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS
INTENDED FOR HER FIANCé, SCOTT,

THAT TONYA WAS IN THE WRONG
PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
AT A HANUKAH PARTY.

SCOTT UNDERWOOD?
YES.

INITIALLY, WE WERE BRAINSTORMING
ANY POSSIBLE SCENARIO,

WHETHER THIS WAS A CASE
OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

WHETHER THERE WAS
SOME SORT OF PERSONAL GRUDGE,

REVENGE MOTIVE FOR SOMETHING
THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

I MEAN,
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU GUYS...

Narrator:
POLICE LEARN HE ALLEGEDLY
USED TO SELL MARIJUANA,

BUT NOTHING MAJOR.

Besst:
WE LOOKED AT POSSIBLY,

MAYBE, HE HAD
RIPPED SOMEBODY OFF

OR CHEATED SOMEBODY
ON A DRUG DEAL.

SO, SCOTT MAY HAVE BEEN
THE INTENDED TARGET.

HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE US
WITH ANY INFORMATION

THAT LED US TO ANY SUSPECTS
OR PERSONS OF INTEREST.

Narrator:
THE INVESTIGATION STALLS.

Besst:
THE KILLER WAS STILL OUT THERE.

WE PLED TO THE COMMUNITY
FOR INFORMATION.

"IF ANYBODY HAD
ANY KIND OF INFORMATION,

PLEASE COME FORWARD."

Narrator: WHEN THEY
SHOULD BE CELEBRATING HANUKAH

AND PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS,

FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER
FOR THE FUNERAL.

Heather:
I'M SEEING TEACHERS COMING,
SEEING COUNSELORS COMING,

SEEING PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY
THAT I'VE NEVER MET BEFORE

COMING IN
TO TONYA'S FUNERAL SERVICE.

IT WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE.

PEOPLE COULDN'T EVEN FIT
IN THE ROOM.

THEY WERE STANDING OUT
IN THE HALLWAYS JUST TO BE THERE

TO CELEBRATE TONYA'S LIFE.

Acree: AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE GETTING UP

AND SAYING VERY KIND WORDS

ABOUT TONYA AND HOW IMPORTANT
SHE WAS TO ALL OF US

AND HOW MUCH
SHE IMPACTED OUR LIVES

WITH HER BRIGHT, CHEERFUL,

WONDERFUL ATTITUDE
AND PERSONALITY.

AND JUST THE UNIQUENESS
OF TONYA.

WHAT AN IRONY,

TO NEVER KNOW HOW MANY FRIENDS
YOUR DAUGHTER ACTUALLY HAS

UNTIL YOU SEE THEM
AT YOUR DAUGHTER'S FUNERAL.

Narrator:
THERE ARE A FEW CLUES --

THE TIMING OF THE MURDER,
SHORTLY AFTER TONYA CAME HOME

AND HER OPENING THE DOOR
SO LATE AT NIGHT --

WHICH POINT TO AN INSIDER,

AND THE 9mm SHELL CASINGS,

SKATEBOARD-SHOE PRINTS
IN THE SNOW,

A VAGUE DESCRIPTION OF A MAN
SEEN ON A ROAD NEAR THE HOUSE,

AND AN EMPTY BRIEFCASE
FOUND NEAR THAT ROAD.

ODDLY, A MAN NAMED DENNIS VAUGHN
SUDDENLY COMES FORWARD

TO TELL DETECTIVES HE'D DRIVEN
IN THE AREA THAT NIGHT

BUT WAS NOT INVOLVED
WITH THE SHOOTING.

DENNIS WAS KNOWN TO US.

HE WAS KNOWN
AS A PETTY CRIMINAL.

HE WAS IN AND OUT OF JAIL
QUITE OFTEN.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL

THAT DENNIS CAME
INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

SEVERAL DAYS LATER
TO REPORT THIS TO US.

Narrator: IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE
HE'S COVERING HIS TRACKS.

UNDER QUESTIONING,

HE ADMITS HE'S THE ONE
WHO DUMPED THE BRIEFCASE,

WHICH HE STOLE FROM SOMEONE ELSE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Besst:
DENNIS HAD TOLD THE POLICE,

ON THE DAY TONYA WAS MURDERED,

HE HAD STOLEN THE BRIEFCASE
FROM A RESIDENCE,

AND THE NIGHT TONYA WAS KILLED
IS WHEN HE THREW THE BRIEFCASE

OUT IN THE FIELD
AND HAD TOOK THE CONTENTS.

Narrator: AND HE ADMITS
A CONNECTION TO THE VICTIM.

Thompson: HE KNEW TONYA.

ALSO KNEW HER FIANCé.

AGAIN, WE HAVE
A SMALL COMMUNITY HERE,

AND IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME
THAT THEY KNEW EACH OTHER.

THE REAL QUESTION IS,

DID THAT RELATIONSHIP
HAVE SOME RELEVANCE

TO WHY TONYA WAS KILLED
AND HOW THAT HAPPENED?

Besst:
DENNIS DID FIT THE GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF THIS SUBJECT

SEEN WALKING DOWN THE ROAD
THE NIGHT TONYA WAS KILLED.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Narrator:
BUT DENNIS VAUGHN SAYS,

AT 10:00 P.M.,
THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING,

HE WAS MILES AWAY
FROM TONYA'S NEIGHBORHOOD.

Besst:
DENNIS HAD TOLD INVESTIGATORS
HE HAD SPENT THE NIGHT

WITH HIS SISTER IN MOSCOW.

DENNIS.

TAKE IT EASY. YOU'VE BEEN
AT THIS GAME FOR HOURS.

Thompson: THERE WERE PEOPLE --
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS --

WHO CORROBORATED

WHAT HE SAID HIS ACTIVITIES
HAD BEEN THAT EVENING.

Besst: DENNIS' SHOE SIZE
WERE COMPARED TO

THOSE SHOE PRINTS
FOUND IN THE SNOW,

AND THEY DID NOT MATCH.

Narrator:
DETECTIVES HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO LET HIM GO...

FOR NOW.

BUT AS THE INVESTIGATION
CONTINUES,

HIS NAME KEEPS POPPING UP
IN DISTURBING WAYS.

THERE WAS A FORMER,
I BELIEVE, GIRLFRIEND

WHO SAID THAT, AT ONE POINT,
THEY WERE HAVING

A BIG DISAGREEMENT,
THEY WERE SEPARATED.

HE CAME TO HER HOME,
THREATENED HER,

MADE A BUNCH OF THREATENING
STATEMENTS.

Narrator: IT WAS JUST AFTER
TONYA'S SLAYING.

HE SAID
HE'D KILLED A WOMAN BEFORE

AND CAN DO IT AGAIN.
COME OUT HERE!

DETECTIVES HAVE MORE QUESTIONS
FOR VAUGHN

AND KNOW WHERE TO FIND HIM.

Heather: HE HAD GOTTEN PICKED UP
FOR A WARRANT OR A NEW CHARGE,

AND HE WAS IN COUNTY JAIL.

Narrator: AND THERE
HE'S BEEN EVEN MORE TALKATIVE.

Thompson: WHAT WE HEARD
WAS THAT THIS PERSON,

WHEN HE WAS INCARCERATED
ON OTHER CHARGES,

WAS MAKING
BRAGGING-TYPE STATEMENTS

ABOUT HAVING HURT PEOPLE
IN THE PAST,

HAVING KILLED PEOPLE
IN THE PAST.

HE HAD TOLD ANOTHER INMATE
THAT HE HAD MURDERED TONYA.

Narrator: HE ALSO SAID
HE DIDN'T ACT ALONE.

AS INVESTIGATORS TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT DENNIS VAUGHN,

THEY DO A DOUBLE TAKE
WHEN THEY LEARN

HE HAS A TWIN NAMED PETER
WHO ALSO LIVES IN TOWN.

Thompson:
OBVIOUSLY, THE TWIN BROTHER,
THEY LOOK SIMILAR.

GENERALLY,
THEY WOULD HAVE MATCHED

WHAT THE PEOPLE SAW
OF THE PERSON

WALKING UP THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Narrator:
IS IT POSSIBLE THE SIBLINGS
WERE PARTNERS IN CRIME,

WITH PETER THE TRIGGERMAN
AND DENNIS DRIVING GETAWAY?

IT'S THE BEST THEORY SO FAR.

BUT IN THIS CASE,
NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS.

AND THE SURPRISES
ARE JUST BEGINNING.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
MOSCOW, IDAHO, DETECTIVES

WORKING THE TONYA HART MURDER
ZERO IN ON DENNIS VAUGHN,

NOW IN JAIL
ON AN UNRELATED CHARGE.

Robartes:
AT THE TIME, POLICE THOUGHT

HE WAS A GOOD SUSPECT
BECAUSE HE WAS

IN AND OUT OF JAIL,
HE HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD,

AND HE HAD APPARENTLY
CONFESSED TWICE IN JAIL

TO THE MURDER OF TONYA HART.

Narrator: LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE
IN THIS CASE,

GETTING TO THE TRUTH ISN'T EASY.

Thompson:
WHEN SPECIFICALLY QUESTIONED,
UNDER OATH HE SAID,

"NO, I WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN TONYA'S DEATH,

"AND, YEAH,
I MADE STUPID STATEMENTS,

"BUT I WAS LOCKED UP.

"I WAS TRYING TO BE A BIG MAN.

"I WAS TRYING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
NOT TO MESS WITH ME

WHILE I WAS INCARCERATED."

Besst: WE HAD HIM TAKE
TWO SEPARATE POLYGRAPH TESTS,

AND HE PASSED BOTH OF THEM.

THIS LED POLICE TO BELIEVE

THAT DENNIS WAS NO LONGER
A SUSPECT IN THIS CASE.

Narrator: THAT DOESN'T LET
HIS TWIN BROTHER, PETER,

OFF THE HOOK.

HE ALSO FITS
THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION

OF THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER.

MAYBE DENNIS HAS BEEN
COVERING FOR HIM ALL ALONG.

Thompson: HE GAVE AN EXPLANATION
OF HIS ACTIVITIES

AND WHO HE'D BEEN WITH.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A CONCERN

THAT MAYBE HE WAS NOT TELLING
THE TRUTH.

MAYBE THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE CORROBORATING HIS STORY

WERE COVERING FOR HIM.

BUT IN THE END, THE CONCLUSION
OF THE INVESTIGATORS,

ONCE ALL THE OTHER EVIDENCE
CAME TOGETHER,

WAS THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN THE SHOOTING ITSELF.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN WEEKS
SINCE THE SLAYING.

STILL NO ARREST.

PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE
THE MURDERER HADN'T BEEN CAUGHT.

Thompson: MORE TIME
THAT GOES BY, YOU WORRY

THAT THERE'S NOTHING NEW
THAT'S GONNA COME TO LIGHT,

THAT YOU AREN'T GONNA GET
WHAT YOU NEED

TO TRY TO BREAK IT OPEN.

Heather:
IT DEVASTATED AN ENTIRE FAMILY.

I WAS GONNA DO WHATEVER
I HAD TO DO TO MAKE SURE

THAT JUSTICE WAS BROUGHT
FOR TONYA.

Robartes:
TONYA HART'S FAMILY

WAS TRYING TO KEEP
HER NAME OUT THERE

AND KEEP
THE INVESTIGATION ALIVE.

THEY OFFERED A REWARD

FOR INFORMATION
LEADING TO THE KILLER.

Barry: I WOULD GO AROUND,
PUT POSTERS SAYING "WANTED:

INFORMATION ON THE MURDER
OF TONYA HART."

Narrator:
THE EFFORT KEEPS PEOPLE TALKING.

RUMORS FLY.

Robartes: PEOPLE DID COME UP
WITH THEIR OWN THEORIES

AS TO WHAT HAPPENED,
SPECULATING ABOUT IT.

Narrator: FUELING PART
OF THAT SPECULATION,

ONE BIG QUESTION --

WHO KNEW WHEN TONYA
WOULD COME HOME

FROM THAT FATEFUL PARTY
AND BE THERE ALONE?

THE ANSWER -- HER FIANCé, SCOTT.

ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN --
SCOTT HAS MOVED ON FAST.

I'M GETTING PHONE CALLS
FROM MY GRANDMOTHER SAYING,

"I JUST SAW SCOTT GOING AROUND
TOWN WITH ANOTHER FEMALE."

AND THIS IS TONYA'S BEST FRIEND.

Barry:
YOU WOULD THINK, MOST PEOPLE,

WHEN THEY LOSE A BEST FRIEND
BY VIOLENT MURDER LIKE THAT,

THEIR EMOTIONS WOULD BE SUBDUED.

THOSE GUYS WERE TALKATIVE
AND GIGGLY.

YOU COULD TELL
THEY WERE A COUPLE.

TURN. BE DISCREET.

Acree: FRIENDS STARTED
KIND OF TALKING ABOUT,

"WELL, THIS SEEMS ODD,"
YOU KNOW.

THE FIANCé
ALREADY HAS A NEW GIRLFRIEND

AND, YOU KNOW,
TONYA'S FUNERAL JUST OCCURRED

AND THERE'S RUMOR
THAT THE NEW GIRLFRIEND

WAS AROUND EARLIER
THAN BEFORE TONYA PASSED.

AND SO JUST A LOT
OF DEVASTATING INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST DON'T KNOW
PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINK YOU DO.

HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED

WITH TONYA'S DEATH
AT ALL ANYMORE.

AND THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN HIM AND I ANYMORE --

NO FRIENDSHIP,
LIMITED COMMUNICATION.

Narrator:
THE COPS HAVE NOTHING ON HIM,

BUT SUSPICION TAKES HOLD.

AND I FEEL THAT HER FIANCé
WANTED HER OUT OF THE PICTURE...

...AND NOT BE BOTHERED
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES

OF ENDING A RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator: BUT WHY KILL HER
INSTEAD OF JUST BREAKING UP?

THERE'S NO INSURANCE MONEY
OR OTHER OBVIOUS MOTIVE.

PLUS, SCOTT WAS WORKING
THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS HORRIFYING
THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE

THAT MAYBE NOBODY WOULD BE
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE FOR THIS.

Narrator: DETECTIVES HAVE HAD
GOOD LEADS BEFORE

ONLY TO SEE THEM CRACK LIKE ICE.

THEN, THE CASE TAKES
AN UNEXPECTED TURN

WHEN CARL VARGA,

A MOSCOW MAN IN CUSTODY
ON AN UNRELATED CHARGE,

OFFERS SOME SURPRISING
INFORMATION

THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: IDAHO POLICE TALK
TO A MAN NAMED CARL VARGA,

WHO HAS BEEN ARRESTED
ON A DRIVING INFRACTION.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

HE TELLS THEM
HE SOLD A 9mm HANDGUN

TO A FRIEND
JUST BEFORE TONYA HART'S MURDER.

THIS PIQUED
THE POLICE'S INTEREST

BECAUSE WE KNEW TONYA HART
HAD BEEN KILLED

WITH A 9mm HANDGUN.

THE TYPE OF GUN WAS NOT
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AT THAT TIME.

Narrator: THE FRIEND'S NAME --
DAVID MEISTER.

Besst:
THIS PERSON DISCLOSED TO US

THAT IT WAS A HI-POINT
MODEL "C" 9mm.

THIS IS VERY CRUCIAL
TO OUR INVESTIGATION.

THE CASINGS THAT WERE FOUND
ON SCENE HAD BEEN FIRED

FROM A HI-POINT MODEL "C" 9mm.

DAVID MEISTER HAD NO CRIMINAL
HISTORY THAT WE COULD FIND.

Narrator: BUT HE DOES HAVE
A CONNECTION TO TONYA.

HE WORKS WITH HER FIANCé
AT THE PIZZA SHOP,

AND HE KNOWS HER.

DETECTIVES DON'T WANT TO
QUESTION MEISTER DIRECTLY

AND TIP HIM OFF
THAT HE'S A SUSPECT.

THEY FIRST QUIETLY SPEAK
TO ACQUAINTANCES AND CO-WORKERS.

DAVID MEISTER WAS INTO
SKATEBOARDS AND TATTOOS.

THAT'S THE IMAGE THAT HE HAD.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNEW HIM AS.

HE WAS A VERY TALENTED ARTIST.

HE WAS REAL INTERESTED
IN BECOMING A TATTOO ARTIST,

ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT MATTER
OF A LOT OF THAT

WAS PRETTY DARK AND DISTURBING.

Narrator: ONE WITNESS SAYS
MEISTER RECENTLY DREW A DESIGN

THAT SEEMS AN OMINOUS MIRROR
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO TONYA.

Robartes: RIGHT EYE.

TONYA HART WAS SHOT
IN THE RIGHT EYE.

PERSONALLY, I HAVE A HARD TIME

GETTING INTO THE MIND
OF AN ARTIST

WHO WOULD DRAW
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AS WE STARTED
LOOKING INTO THAT FURTHER,

IT MADE US WONDER KIND OF WHAT
WAS GOING ON DEEP IN HIS MIND.

IT MADE US VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
WHO DAVID MEISTER REALLY WAS.

Narrator: SOME SAY
HE HAS DERANGED AMBITIONS.

Barry:
DAVID USED TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE

THAT HE WANTED TO TRAVEL
AROUND THE COUNTRY,

KILLING PEOPLE,
BEING A SERIAL KILLER.

I'M CUTTING YOU OFF
ON THE BEERS.

[ LAUGHS ]

Heather:
HE WAS MAKING REMARKS

THAT HE WOULD KILL ANYBODY
FOR SOME MONEY.

Man: HOW MANY OF THOSE
HAVE YOU HAD?

Barry: DAVID MEISTER
WAS AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE

WATCHING A CRIME STORY
ON TV WITH HIS FRIEND'S FATHER.

THEY WERE WATCHING TV,

AND DAVID EXPLAINED
TO HIS FRIEND'S FATHER

THAT HE HAD KILLED A WOMAN ONCE.

I DID THAT ONCE.

DID WHAT?

I DID THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]

KILLED A WOMAN.

YEAH, IF YOU DID THAT,
THEN YOU'D BE DOING TIME.

NO.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: DETECTIVES BRING
MEISTER IN FOR QUESTIONING.

THEY NOTE HE WEARS
SIZE-9 SHOES...

...THE SAME
AS THE SKATEBOARD SHOES

THAT LEFT THE PRINTS
IN THE SNOW.

DAVID WAS AN AVID SKATEBOARDER.

WE WERE ABLE TO FIND PEOPLE
WHO KNEW DAVID WHO SAID,

"YEAH, DAVID HAD SHOES
LIKE THOSE. WE'VE SEEN THEM.

WE'VE SEEN HIS SHOES LIKE THAT.
HE HAD SEVERAL SHOES LIKE THAT."

Narrator:
HE'S NOT WEARING THE SHOES NOW,

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.

TO THEIR SURPRISE,
HE CONFESSES...

WITH A TWIST.

HE CONFESSED TO BEING HIRED
BY TONYA'S FIANCé TO KILL HER.

Besst: HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS
HOW HIS CO-WORKER SCOTT

HAD COME TO HIM AND SAID,

"I WANT YOU TO KILL
MY GIRLFRIEND.

I WILL PAY YOU $1,000
TO DO THIS."

Heather: HE SAID SCOTT
HAD ACTUALLY OFFERED A BONUS

IF HE DID IT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Thompson: KILLING
IN AND OF ITSELF IS SENSELESS,

BUT FOR A PITTANCE OF MONEY,
FOR NO REASON --

IT WASN'T LIKE REVENGE.

IT WASN'T LIKE SELF-DEFENSE.

IT WASN'T THE HEAT OF PASSION
OR A SUDDEN QUARREL.

IT WAS JUST COLD-BLOODED
KILLER FOR HIRE.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO MEISTER,

THE FIANCé WANTED TONYA
OUT OF HIS LIFE FOR GOOD.

AND MEISTER WAS UP FOR THE TASK.

Besst: HE DID NOT EXPRESS ANY
REMORSE DURING THAT CONFESSION.

HE HAD MADE A STATEMENT

THAT HE FELT LIKE HE WAS
JUST HELPING A FRIEND OUT.

NO REMORSE, JUST COLD.

Narrator: ON AUGUST 30, 2002,
PROSECUTORS CHARGE DAVID MEISTER

WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

LATER THAT SAME NIGHT,

DETECTIVES ARREST THE FIANCé
FOR ALLEGEDLY ORDERING THE HIT.

ALL THEY HAVE AGAINST HIM

IS MEISTER'S CONFESSION,
WHICH DOESN'T LAST.

DAVID MEISTER, WITHIN 24 HOURS,
RECANTED HIS CONFESSION.

WE WERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IN A POSITION

WHERE WE NO LONGER HAD
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

TO SUPPORT
A PROSECUTION OF THE FIANCé.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE NO CHOICE.

THEY DROP ALL CHARGES
AGAINST THE FIANCé.

THE FIANCé, TO THIS DAY,
IS AT LARGE IN THE COMMUNITY

BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE
THE EVIDENCE

TO SUPPORT A PROSECUTION.

AND DAVID MEISTER IS THE ONE
WHO HOLDS THE KEY TO THAT.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKING ]

Narrator:
AT TRIAL, PROSECUTORS ARGUE

THAT ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,

DAVID MEISTER
LEFT THE PIZZA SHOP

AND WALKED TO TONYA'S HOUSE...

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
...KNOWING SHE WAS ALONE.

Besst:
HE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.

WHO IS IT?

TONYA HAD OPENED THE DOOR.

AND HE SHOT HER ONCE
IN THE EYE...

AND ONCE IN THE CHEST.

[ GUNSHOT ]

AND FLED OVER THE HILL
AND MADE HIS WAY ON FOOT

BACK INTO MOSCOW.

Narrator: THERE WAS NO
GETAWAY DRIVER AFTER ALL.

IT'S JUST THAT NO ONE SAW HIM
WALKING HOME.

DAVID MEISTER IS FOUND GUILTY
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

HE RECEIVES TWO LIFE SENTENCES
WITH NO CHANCE OF PAROLE.

DAVID IS A TRUE SOCIOPATH.

HE HAS NO FEELINGS FOR ANYONE
BUT HIMSELF.

Narrator: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
LINKING THE FIANCé TO THE CRIME.

HE IS CLEARED OF ALL WRONGDOING.

THE FAMILY WILL NEVER FORGET

THEIR VIVACIOUS,
COMPASSIONATE TONYA.

Barry: I ALWAYS FEEL
TONYA'S ALWAYS THERE

TRYING TO PROTECT ME,

JUST LIKE SHE WAS ALWAYS
TRYING TO PROTECT

HER FELLOW HUMAN BEING.

AND THERE'S CERTAIN TIMES
WHERE I FEEL LIKE

I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT
THROUGH THE DAY,

AND THEN SHE VISITS ME
IN MY DREAMS.

AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE
TONYA'S CHECKING IN WITH ME.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.