Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 7 - Winter Blaze - full transcript

Narrator:
ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN,

A CAULDRON OF ICE AND SNOW.

McBride:
WIND CHILL 30 BELOW ZERO

AND SNOWBANKS
THAT ARE SEVERAL FEET DEEP.

IT IS BRUTAL.

[ SIRENS WAIL ]

Narrator: AT A HOUSE FIRE,
SOMETHING EVEN MORE CHILLING.

Scherer:
AS I'M CONDUCTING MY SEARCH,

FELT DOWN AND FELT --
FELT LIKE A BODY.

Klemstein: YEAH, I'VE SEEN LOTS
OF BAD THINGS IN MY CAREER,

BUT THIS WAS THE WORST THING
THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.



Narrator: SEVERAL DEAD.

MIGHT THERE BE A SERIAL KILLER
AT LARGE IN MILWAUKEE?

Narrator: AND A MISSING BABY.

McBride: THE MYSTERY WAS GROWING
BY THE SECOND.

WHERE WAS THE BABY?

Narrator: IN MILWAUKEE,
WINTER TAKES NO PRISONERS.

Chisholm:
IT'S OFTEN BITTER COLD,

REQUIRES YOU TO DO
MOST OF YOUR ACTIVITIES INDOORS,

AND IT LASTS
FOR A GOOD SEVEN MONTHS.

Scherer: WE'RE NOT QUITE ALASKA,

BUT SOME DAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE
YOU'RE AT THAT EXTREME

WHERE YOU DON'T SEE THE SUN
FOR A WEEK AT A CRACK.

Narrator: YET EVEN
WISCONSIN'S FROZEN COAST

IS NO MATCH
FOR RACHEL THOMPSON'S WARMTH.



HEY, GUYS,
GET BACK HERE.

LET'S GET OUR FEET --
LET'S GET THE SNOW OFF OUR FEET.

THE 23-YEAR-OLD
IS A DEDICATED SINGLE MOTHER

TO HER THREE BOYS,
MASON, NOAH, AND BABY CEDRIC.

Moreno:
SHE REALLY LOVED THE WINTERS.

SHE ENJOYED TAKING THE KIDS
SLEDDING, MAKING SNOW ANGELS.

SHE PUT HER CHILDREN
ABOVE EVERYTHING.

HER LIFE WAS BASED ON
GIVING HER CHILDREN

THE BEST LIFE
THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

Narrator: DESPITE THE STRESS
OF BEING A SINGLE MOM,

SHE HAS ENDLESS LOVE
FOR THE KIDS

AND STILL FINDS TIME
TO TAKE CLASSES FOR HER FUTURE.

Ormond:
SHE ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO SCHOOL

TO BECOME A DAYCARE TEACHER.

SHE WANTED TO RUN
HER OWN DAYCARE.

Moreno: HER GOAL IN LIFE
WAS TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN,

AND HER KIDS WERE
JUST LIKE A BLESSING TO HER,

SO HER CHOICE OF BEING DAYCARE

WAS NOT, YOU KNOW,
A SURPRISE TO THE FAMILY.

IT WAS SOMETHING
WE ALWAYS KNEW SHE WOULD DO.

SHE WAS THE LIGHT OF THE FAMILY.

Narrator:
UNTIL ONE COLD WINTER MORNING

SHORTLY BEFORE 5:00 A.M.

[ ALARM BLARING ]

A SHRILL ALARM WAKES
RACHEL'S DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOR.

[ FIRE CRACKLING ]

McBride:
HE TRIED TO GET UPSTAIRS,

AND HE WAS PUSHED BACK BECAUSE
THE SMOKE WAS SO INTENSE.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
HE CALLED 911.

[ SIRENS WAIL ]

Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,
FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND.

Klemstein: WELL,
AS WE APPROACHED THE SCENE,

I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF SMOKE.

THERE WAS
A VERY LIGHT SMOKE CONDITION,

AS WE WOULD CALL IT,
VERY LAZY SMOKE.

THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN
STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK

TRYING TO WAVE US DOWN,

AND I COULD SEE THE GENTLEMAN
POINTING TO THE STRUCTURE.

AND AS I LOOKED OVER
MY RIGHT SHOULDER,

I COULD ACTUALLY SEE FIRE

IN ONE OF THE BEDROOM WINDOWS
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

AS MY CREW WAS PREPARING
TO DEPLOY A LINE,

I RAN UP TO HIM, AND HE STATED

THAT THERE WAS
A YOUNG LADY WITH HER CHILDREN

ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

GO, GO, GO!

GO! GO, GO!
THERE'S KIDS UP THERE.

GO, GO, GO!

Klemstein:
ANY TIME WE HAVE ANYBODY

TRAPPED INSIDE A STRUCTURE,

IT RAMPS EVERYTHING UP.

WE'RE GONNA GO IN AND GET
A QUICK KNOCKDOWN OF THE FIRE,

CONTINUE ON
WITH OUR PRIMARY SEARCH.

[ FIRE ROARING ]

VISIBILITY IS NONE.

Scherer:
YOU'RE CONDUCTING A SEARCH.

YOU'RE ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES.
YOU'RE ON YOUR BELLY.

YOU FEEL THINGS
OR NUDGE SOMETHING WITH YOUR ARM

OR CATCH IT WITH YOUR LEG.

AS I'M CONDUCTING MY SEARCH,
FELT DOWN --

FELT LIKE A BODY.

Narrator: IT'S A YOUNG WOMAN
COMPLETELY STILL.

Scherer: ONE PERSON AT THE HEAD,
ONE AT THE FEET.

WE'RE GONNA GET HER
TO THE FRONT STAIRWELL

AND OUT OF THE BUILDING
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,

TRY AND GIVE HER A CHANCE
AT BEING REVIVED.

Narrator: BUT ONCE OUTSIDE...

Scherer: YOU COULD SEE THAT
SHE HAS BLOOD UP ON HER CHEST.

THERE'S SOME DUCT TAPE
BY HER FEET, SOME ON HER NECK.

SOMEONE BEING OVERCOME BY SMOKE
AT A FIRE

ISN'T GONNA HAVE THESE THINGS.

YOU'RE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON UP THERE.

ARE THERE MORE PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR

AS WE GET BACK INTO THE HOUSE?

Narrator: BACK INSIDE...

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Klemstein:
I LOOK UNDERNEATH THE BED.

LITTLE KIDS HAVE A TENDENCY
TO HIDE UNDERNEATH THE BED.

Narrator:
ALL THREE BEDROOMS ARE EMPTY.

Klemstein:
AND THAT'S A SENSE OF RELIEF.

SO, I'M ALMOST AT THE END

OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER
MY PRIMARY SEARCH.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: JUST ONE PLACE LEFT --
THE BATHROOM.

Klemstein:
SOMETIMES LITTLE CHILDREN

WILL CLIMB INTO BATHTUBS
TO HIDE FROM THE FIRE,

BUT PERSONALLY,

I'VE NEVER FOUND ANYBODY
IN A BATHROOM.

Narrator:
BUT THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT.

TRAGICALLY DIFFERENT.

AS I LOOKED IN THE BATHTUB,

I HAD TO TAKE A SECOND
TO PROCESS WHAT I WAS SEEING,

BECAUSE FIRST, WHAT I SAW,

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS SEEING.

TWO YOUNG CHILDREN
IN THE BATHTUB,

AND I COULD CLEARLY SEE

THAT THEY HAD BAGS
OVER THEIR HEAD

THAT WERE DUCT-TAPED
AROUND THE NECK.

I COULD SEE THEIR WRISTS
WERE DUCT-TAPED TOGETHER,

AND I COULD ALSO SEE THAT
THEIR ANKLES WERE DUCT-TAPED.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LIFE.

OBVIOUSLY, THESE ARE NOT
VICTIMS OF THE FIRE.

AT THAT POINT, THIS WAS
SOME TYPE OF CRIME SCENE.

LET'S GET THEM
OUT OF HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

I'VE SEEN LOTS OF BAD THINGS
IN MY CAREER --

HORRIBLE THINGS --

BUT THIS PROBABLY WAS THE WORST
THING THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Scherer:
EVERYTHING KIND OF SLOWED
TO A CRAWL AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS THE THINGS YOU'RE SEEING
AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND,

AND NONE OF IT MADE SENSE.

YEAH, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
THAT KIND OF STILL HAUNTS YOU.

STILL TO THIS DAY,
IT'S WITH YOU EVERY DAY.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: HOMICIDE DETECTIVES
QUICKLY RESPOND.

FIRST ORDER --
IDENTIFY THE VICTIMS.

THEY CLEARLY MATCHED
THE DESCRIPTION AND AGES

OF RACHEL THOMPSON
AND HER TWO YOUNG BOYS.

THEY'VE SEEN THE DUCT TAPE,
THE PLASTIC BAGS,

SOME OF THE VISIBLE WOUNDS.

THEY KNOW THIS IS NOT
JUST A FIRE DEATH.

THIS IS A HOMICIDE,
AND IT'S NOT JUST A HOMICIDE.

IT'S A TRIPLE MURDER.

Narrator:
A MOM AND TWO KIDS SLAUGHTERED.

BUT THEN, MORE TERROR.

Klemstein: THERE WAS A CRIB,
AND THERE WERE BABY TOYS.

A BOUNCER WAS THERE.

THE AGE OF THE BOYS
THAT WERE IN THE BATHROOM

DIDN'T MATCH WITH THAT.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: POLICE LEARN

THAT RACHEL HAS
A 6-WEEK-OLD SON, CEDRIC JR.

Scherer: WE DID ANOTHER SEARCH
OF THE SECOND FLOOR,

A THOROUGH SEARCH AGAIN
SEVERAL TIMES,

AND JUST DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

Narrator: THE BABY IS GONE.

INVESTIGATORS RECALL
A SIMILAR CASE --

A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
SNATCHED FROM HER HOME

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

SHE LIVED JUST A FEW MILES
FROM THE THOMPSON APARTMENT.

McBride: SHE WAS ABDUCTED.

SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
AND LEFT TO DIE.

HOWEVER, SHE LIVED.

SHE WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY
HER ASSAILANT

BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER
THE DETAILS

BECAUSE OF HER INJURIES.

Narrator: THE ATTACKER GOT AWAY.

McBride: POLICE WONDERED,
"COULD THIS BE RELATED?

MIGHT THERE BE A SERIAL KILLER
AT LARGE IN MILWAUKEE?"

WE ARE AFTER ALL THE COMMUNITY
WHERE JEFFREY DAHMER

ACTUALLY HUNTED
DOWN SOME OF HIS VICTIMS

NOT THAT FAR FROM WHERE
RACHEL THOMPSON LIVED.

Narrator: NOW ANOTHER MONSTER
ROAMS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW
AT THAT POINT WAS

WHO DID IT
AND WHAT'S THE MOTIVE.

AND FURTHERMORE, THE MYSTERY
WAS GROWING BY THE SECOND

BECAUSE NOW THEY HAD
A MISSING INFANT.

WHERE WAS THE BABY?

[ BABY CRIES ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: IN THE DEPTHS
OF A BITTER MILWAUKEE WINTER,

RACHEL THOMPSON AND HER TWO
ELDEST SONS, MASON AND NOAH,

HAVE BEEN SLAIN.

RACHEL'S BABY BOY, CEDRIC JR.,
IS MISSING.

McBride: IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS

THAT IF YOU'RE THE POLICE
AND FIREFIGHTERS,

AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
YOU'RE THINKING

PROBABLY WHOEVER KILLED
RACHEL AND THE TWO TODDLER BOYS

TOOK THE BABY.

BUT WHAT POLICE DIDN'T KNOW WAS

WHETHER OR NOT THE BABY
WAS EVEN ALIVE.

Narrator:
NO ONE KNOWS IF IT'S RELATED

TO AN EARLIER ABDUCTION
AND ATTACK ON A LITTLE GIRL

NOT FAR FROM
THE THOMPSON APARTMENT.

INVESTIGATORS STILL HAVEN'T
FOUND THAT ASSAILANT.

BEFORE POLICE CAN REACH OUT
TO RACHEL'S FAMILY,

HER UNCLE FINDS THEM FIRST.

HE LIVES NEARBY
AND HEARS ABOUT THE FIRE.

I HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS
A LADY AND TWO CHILDREN

THAT WERE FOUND IN THE HOUSE.

AS I WAS WALKING DOWN,
MY MOTHER CALLED ME

AND SAID IT WAS RACHEL
AND HER TWO CHILDREN.

WHAT?

AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I JUST KEPT THINKING,
"THEY'RE WRONG."

THIS CAN'T BE RACHEL
AND THE KIDS, YOU KNOW?

SO, A DETECTIVE ASKED ME
WHY WAS I THERE.

AND I TOLD HIM
THAT RACHEL WAS MY NIECE.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

HE ASKED ME DO I KNOW OF ANYONE
THAT WOULD WANT TO HURT HER.

AND THEN I REALIZED
THAT IT WASN'T JUST A FIRE,

THAT SOMETHING ELSE
HAD HAPPENED.

SO I HAD ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW,

"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY NIECE
AND HER KIDS?"

[ Voice breaking ] AND HE TOLD
ME THAT THEY WERE MURDERED.

Narrator:
RACHEL'S INFANT SON, CEDRIC JR.,

WAS NOT INSIDE.

Moreno:
THERE WAS A SLIGHT RELIEF,

BUT YET, WHERE IS THE BABY?

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU KNOW, THIS INFANT DIDN'T
JUST GET UP AND WALK OUT.

SOMEONE TOOK THIS CHILD,

AND IF IT'S THE PERSON THAT
MURDERED MY NIECE AND TWO KIDS,

THIS BABY'S IN DANGER.

Narrator:
POLICE ISSUE AN AMBER ALERT.

McBride: TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
IN A MISSING-CHILD CASE

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS

THAT IN THE FIRST THREE HOURS,
THE CHILD IS MOST LIKELY TO DIE.

SO IF YOU'RE THE POLICE,
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

THAT YOU FIND THE CHILD
VERY, VERY FAST.

Narrator: AND THEY'RE ALREADY
PLAYING CATCH-UP.

Williams:
BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT

AND THE BODIES WERE TAKEN OUT
OF THE HOUSE,

THERE HAD BEEN AN HOUR OR TWO
THAT HAD ELAPSED.

BY THAT TIME, THE PERSON
WHO KIDNAPPED THE BABY

COULD'VE JUST JUMPED
ON THE INTERSTATE,

FLED THE STATE OF WISCONSIN...

[ BABY CRYING ]

...AND JUST DISAPPEARED.

Narrator:
RACHEL'S FAMILY TELLS DETECTIVES

THIS ISN'T HER FIRST BRUSH
WITH TRAGEDY.

Ormond:
WHEN RACHEL WAS ABOUT 5½,

HER MOM AND HER GRANDMA
WERE MURDERED.

Narrator: THE KILLER --
RACHEL'S STEPFATHER.

Ormond: RACHEL SAW HIM

WALK INTO THE BEDROOM
AFTER HER MOM AND STAB HER,

WATCHED HIM STAB
HER GRANDMOTHER.

Williams: IRONICALLY,
I WAS THE PROSECUTOR.

RACHEL WAS THE ONLY WITNESS,

AND SHE ACTUALLY GOT
ON THE WITNESS STAND,

AND SHE TESTIFIED IN THAT TRIAL.

AND SHE DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED,

AND SHE POINTED OUT
HER STEPFATHER TO THE JURY

AND TOLD THE JURY

THAT SHE HAD SEEN
HER STEPFATHER KILL

BOTH HER MOTHER
AND HER GRANDMOTHER.

Narrator:
RACHEL'S BRAVE TESTIMONY

HELPED CONVICT HER STEPFATHER.

THAT MADE HER
APPRECIATE FAMILY MORE

BECAUSE IT WAS TAKEN AWAY
AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

SHE TOOK HER SISTER
UNDER HER WING

AND PRACTICALLY RAISED HER
AS HER OWN.

Ormond: I THINK THAT MADE HER
A BETTER PERSON

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT THAT
TO HAPPEN

TO HERSELF OR HER KIDS.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT HER KIDS
IN THE SAME SITUATION

THAT SHE WAS IN AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S PARTICULARLY
SAD AND HORRIFIC ABOUT THIS

IS THAT SHE THEN ENDED UP
MEETING THE SAME FATE

AS HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER
HAD YEARS BEFORE.

Narrator: WHO COULD HAVE
POSSIBLY WANTED RACHEL DEAD?

FRIENDS AND FAMILY POINT TO HER
BOYFRIEND, CEDRIC BOOKER SR.,

THE FATHER OF THE MISSING BABY
BUT NOT OF THE OLDER BOYS.

Moreno:
THE KIDS THAT WERE KILLED
WERE NOT HIS BIOLOGICALLY.

AND THEN WHEN I FOUND OUT
THAT HIS CHILD WAS MISSING,

WHY WOULD HIS CHILD BE MISSING
AND THE OTHER CHILDREN MURDERED?

I ASSUMED
IT WAS HIM THAT DID IT.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES LOOK FOR CEDRIC SR.,

DESPERATE TO SAVE THE BABY.

AT THE APARTMENT,

ARSON INVESTIGATORS
GATHER EVIDENCE,

INCLUDING TWO CANS
OF LIGHTER FLUID,

CONFIRMING
WHAT EVERYONE SUSPECTED.

Williams:
THERE WAS ALSO TWO RAGS
THAT CONTAINED LIGHTER FLUID

IN THE APARTMENT.

AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE
TWO POINTS OF ORIGIN --

ONE WAS BY THE FRONT DOOR,
THE OTHER WAS IN A BEDROOM --

WOULD DETERMINE THAT THIS WAS
NOT AN ACCIDENTAL TYPE OF FIRE,

THAT THIS WAS SET BY SOMEONE.

Narrator: OFFICIAL CAUSE
OF DEATH REQUIRES AN AUTOPSY,

BUT DETECTIVES FIND
A 9mm BULLET CASING

NEAR WHERE RACHEL'S BODY
WAS RECOVERED.

Williams:
THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY.

THE DOOR WASN'T DAMAGED
IN ANY WAY.

SO SHE PROBABLY WILLINGLY LET
THAT PERSON INTO THE APARTMENT.

Narrator: COULD THAT PERSON
BE CEDRIC BOOKER SR.?

POLICE LEARN HE AND RACHEL

HADN'T BEEN GETTING ALONG
LATELY.

CEDRIC SR.
HAD BEEN CHEATING ON RACHEL,

AND IT CAUSED RACHEL
TO ARGUE WITH HIM A LOT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO TRACK HIM DOWN.

CEDRIC BOOKER SR.
HAD THE MOST PERFECT ALIBI

THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY HAVE
IN A CRIME.

HE WAS IN JAIL.

AND HE'D BEEN THERE
FOR THREE MONTHS,

SO THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY

HE COULD HAVE COMMITTED
THE MURDERS.

HE WAS NOT INVOLVED,
AND HE WAS THE MAIN SUSPECT.

SO LITERALLY,
WE'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

Narrator:
THEY SEEK SOMEONE EVIL ENOUGH

TO MURDER A MOM AND HER KIDS...

...YET TRUSTED ENOUGH
FOR RACHEL TO LET INSIDE.

IF YOU WERE GOOD 1% OF THE TIME
AND BAD 99%,

SHE NEVER SEEN THAT 99%.

SHE ALWAYS LOOKED THROUGH IT

AND ALWAYS HOPED THE BEST
FOR PEOPLE

AND WANTED THE BEST FOR PEOPLE.

Ormond: EVEN PEOPLE
WHO SHE KNEW DID BAD THINGS,

SHE DIDN'T LOOK AT THEM AS BEING
EVIL OR TOTALLY UNFORGIVABLE.

SHE TRIED TO HELP
WHOMEVER SHE COULD IN HER LIFE.

McBride: A NEIGHBOR RECALLED AN
INCIDENT THAT HE TOLD TO POLICE,

THAT HE HAD SEEN RACHEL

FREQUENTLY TALKING
TO A HOMELESS MAN

WHO WAS DESCRIBED
AS BEING A HISPANIC MAN

IN HIS LATE 50s
TO MAYBE ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD.

Narrator: NO ONE ONE KNOWS
WHERE HE IS NOW.

HAD RACHEL UNWITTINGLY OPENED
HER DOOR TO A SERIAL KILLER?

Chisholm:
THE ENTIRE CIRCUMSTANCES

STRUCK EVERYBODY
AS EXTRAORDINARILY VICIOUS,

CLEARLY PREMEDITATED.

AND SO, YOU KNEW RIGHT AWAY

THAT YOU WERE DEALING WITH
A DIFFERENT BREED OF KILLER.

Narrator:
AS PRECIOUS MINUTES TICK BY,

EVERYONE FEARS TIME IS
RUNNING OUT FOR BABY CEDRIC.

SOON, THE STAKES WILL BE RAISED

WHEN INVESTIGATORS LEARN
OF ANOTHER WOMAN

MISSING FROM THE BLAZE.

THEY THOUGHT
MAYBE THIS POOR YOUNG WOMAN

WAS BEING HELD
AT THE HANDS OF KILLERS.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
MILWAUKEE POLICE SCRAMBLE

TO FIND WHOEVER MURDERED
RACHEL THOMPSON

AND TWO OF HER SONS,
MASON AND NOAH,

AND TOOK BABY CEDRIC JR.

STATISTICALLY,
THERE'S A THREE-HOUR WINDOW

WHERE RESCUING THE BABY
IS MOST CRUCIAL,

AND TIME IS ALMOST UP.

AN AMBER ALERT GENERATES LEADS.

MOST ARE MADDENINGLY VAGUE.

Williams: SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WERE COMING IN

WERE, YOU KNOW, A WOMAN WALKING
DOWN THE STREET WITH A CHILD

AND THE WOMAN LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.

OR A MAN STANDING ON A CORNER
WITH A BABY

AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE

HE SHOULD BE STANDING THERE
WITH THE BABY.

Chisholm: ANY TIME YOU SEEK
THE PUBLIC'S ASSISTANCE

IN SOLVING A CASE,

THAT MEANS THAT
YOU OFTENTIMES GET

A LOT OF VERY UNUSEFUL
INFORMATION.

AND YET,
WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO DO IS

JUST GET THAT ONE PIECE
OF INFORMATION

THAT PUTS YOU
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

Narrator: AS THEY WORK THROUGH
THEIR LEADS,

THE M.E. REPORT DETAILS THE
CHILLING FATE OF THE VICTIMS.

RACHEL WAS SHOWN NO MERCY.

SHE WAS BEATEN SEVERELY,
THEN SHE WAS TIED UP.

THERE WAS ALSO DUCT TAPE
PLACED ON HER MOUTH.

WE THOUGHT
RACHEL MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT

BECAUSE OF THE SHELL CASING.

IT TURNS OUT SHE WASN'T SHOT.

SHE WAS STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES
ALL OVER HER BODY.

AS TO THE TWO BOYS,

THEY DIED FROM THE PLASTIC BAGS
BEING PUT OVER THEIR HEAD.

THE SUFFOCATION ALSO WAS CAUSED

BY THE TAPE THAT WAS PLACED
OVER THEIR MOUTH.

Narrator: DID BABY CEDRIC
SUFFER A SIMILAR FATE?

Moreno: THE DAY WAS DRAGGING.

EVERY MINUTE
SEEMED LIKE AN HOUR.

THE FAMILY
FELT KIND OF HELPLESS.

THERE WASN'T MUCH WE COULD DO

BUT WAIT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION
UNFOLDED AND WE GOT ANSWERS.

Narrator: MAYBE ONE CALLER TO
THE TIP LINE HAS THOSE ANSWERS.

THE CALLER SAYS A WOMAN
NAMED MELANIE HENDRICKS

HAD JUST MOVED IN WITH RACHEL.

McBride: RACHEL THOMPSON

HAD INVITED MELANIE HENDRICKS
TO LIVE WITH HER

BECAUSE SHE FELT SORRY
FOR MELANIE HENDRICKS.

Moreno: SHE FELT THAT MELANIE
DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD FAMILY LIFE,

SO RACHEL KIND OF TOOK HER IN
AND TOOK HER UNDER HER WING

AND JUST LOOKED AFTER HER
AND GAVE HER A PLACE TO STAY.

McBride:
RACHEL WAS THAT KIND OF PERSON.

SHE WOULD HELP PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOWN AND OUT.

MELANIE MAY HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED,
AS WELL.

SHE WAS MISSING.
NO ONE HAD SEEN HER.

WE FELT THAT
SHE MAY BE A VICTIM,

EITHER BEING KEPT HOSTAGE
SOMEWHERE

OR PERHAPS A MURDER VICTIM
THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

Narrator: POLICE ADD HER
TO THE AMBER ALERT

AS A MISSING ENDANGERED PERSON.

McBride:
ALTHOUGH THE THREE-HOUR WINDOW

FOR FINDING AN ABDUCTED CHILD
HAS PASSED,

AUTHORITIES AREN'T GIVING UP,

AND THEY'RE HOPEFUL
THAT THEY CAN SOLVE THIS CRIME.

Narrator:
THEN, A MAJOR DISCOVERY.

McBride: A WOMAN IS GOING
TO A NORTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,

AND SHE STUMBLES UPON
A BABY CARRIER.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER
THIS IS MILWAUKEE IN THE WINTER.

IT'S ICY, IT'S BRUTAL,
AND IT'S COLD.

IT IS NO PLACE TO BE LEAVING
A BABY OUTSIDE FOR VERY LONG.

AND WHEN SHE LOOKS INTO IT,
THERE IS AN INFANT.

[ BABY CRIES ]

THE INFANT IS ALIVE.

THE INFANT'S OKAY
BUT VERY, VERY COLD.

THIS WOMAN WAS PROBABLY
THE ONLY PERSON

IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF MILWAUKEE

WHO ACTUALLY HADN'T SEEN
THE NEWS COVERAGE,

SO SHE DIDN'T KNOW
THERE WAS A MISSING BABY.

Williams: SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

SHE WALKS INTO THE CHURCH,

TALKS TO SOME PARISHIONERS
WHO HAVE SEEN THE AMBER ALERT.

Narrator:
CEDRIC BOOKER SR.'s MOTHER,

THE BABY'S PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER,

HAPPENS TO BELONG
TO THAT CHURCH.

AND THEY CONTACTED
THE GRANDMOTHER,

AND THE GRANDMOTHER OF THE BABY
CAME TO THE CHURCH

AND WAS IMMEDIATELY EMOTIONAL,

SAID, "YES, THIS IS,
YOU KNOW, MY GRANDSON."

Moreno: WE HEARD OVER THE RADIO

THAT THE BABY WAS FOUND
AT A CHURCH,

AND THE FAMILY WAS ECSTATIC,

SO RELIEVED THAT THE BABY
WAS ALIVE AND WELL.

Chisholm:
THERE'S IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

WE NOW KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST
ONE SURVIVOR OF THIS HOUSEHOLD,

AND THE CHILD'S
IN GOOD CONDITION.

YOU CAN NOW FOCUS
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY

ON FINDING THE KILLERS.

Moreno:
IT RAISED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHO COULD COMMIT
SUCH A VICIOUS CRIME

AND YET LEAVE A BABY UNHARMED?

Narrator:
POLICE COLLECT THE CARRIER

AND THE NEWBORN'S CLOTHES,

HOPING TO FIND A LINK
TO THE KIDNAPPER,

BUT THEY FIND
NO USABLE FINGERPRINTS,

NOTHING TO HELP WITH AN I.D.

THE POLICE GO AND THEY LOOK
FOR SURVEILLANCE-VIDEO CAMERAS,

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHURCH
DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THEM.

BUT THE WOMAN WHO FOUND THE BABY

DID PROVIDE
A VERY IMPORTANT CLUE.

SHE TOLD POLICE THAT SHE HAD
SEEN A CAR WITH YOUNG WOMAN

WHO GOT INTO
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF IT

RIGHT AROUND THE TIME

THAT THE BABY WAS LEFT
IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT.

SHE HAD GOTTEN INTO
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR,

WHICH MADE POLICE THINK,

"WELL, THERE'S
AN ACCOMPLICE INVOLVED,

AND WHO IS THAT PERSON?"

Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY,

THE WOMAN DIDN'T SEE
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR.

Narrator: WAS THE WOMAN GETTING
IN THE CAR MELANIE HENDRICKS,

RACHEL'S MYSTERIOUS
MISSING ROOMMATE?

THE POLICE HAVE
TWO THEORIES ON MELANIE.

ONE IS THAT PERHAPS
SHE IS STILL A HOSTAGE

AND SHE WAS TAKEN OUT
OF THE APARTMENT AS A HOSTAGE,

OR THAT SHE'S DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

Narrator: EITHER WAY,

IT NOW LOOKS LIKE
THE CRIME ISN'T CONNECTED

TO THE EARLIER ABDUCTION
OF THE LITTLE GIRL NEARBY.

Narrator: COULD MELANIE
REALLY BE AN ACCOMPLICE

IN A TRIPLE MURDER
AND BABY ABDUCTION?

[ BABY CRYING ]

SHE SOUNDS LIKE A WOMAN
IN DEEP TROUBLE.

AND NOW MORTAL DANGER.

McBride: POLICE HAVE
A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS,

AND THE BIG QUESTION,
OF COURSE, WAS,

WHERE IS MELANIE HENDRICKS NOW?

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
AFTER DETECTIVES RECOVER

RACHEL THOMPSON'S ABDUCTED BABY,

THEY LAUNCH A RIGOROUS SEARCH
FOR HER ROOMMATE,

MELANIE HENDRICKS.

THEY ASK THE BABY'S FATHER,
CEDRIC SR.,

FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Williams: HE'S HAPPY
THE BABY'S BEEN FOUND,

BUT HE'S VERY, VERY UPSET
ABOUT WHO DID THIS TO RACHEL

AND WHO ENDANGERED THE BABY
AND WHO HURT THE CHILDREN,

BECAUSE HE HAD DEVELOPED A BOND
WITH THOSE CHILDREN, ALSO.

SO, HE WAS EXTREMELY UPSET

AND WAS WILLING TO COOPERATE
WITH THE POLICE.

Narrator: HE EXPLAINS

THE TWO WOMEN HAD
A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP.

I MISS YOU SO MUCH.

IT TURNED OUT
THAT THERE AS A LOVE TRIANGLE,

AND THAT BOTH MELANIE HENDRICKS
AND RACHEL THOMPSON

HAD DATED CEDRIC SR.,
THE FATHER OF THE INFANT BABY.

THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY
VERY SURPRISING TO POLICE.

HE SAID THAT HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH RACHEL WAS STILL ONGOING,

THAT IT WAS
A LOVING RELATIONSHIP,

THAT HE CARED VERY MUCH
FOR HIS CHILD,

AND THAT HE FELT
THAT THINGS WERE FINE

BETWEEN HIM AND RACHEL.

Narrator:
WITH MELANIE, IT'S DIFFERENT.

Williams:
HE MADE IT CLEAR TO MELANIE

THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP WAS OVER

AND THAT HE REALLY WANTED
NO PART OF MELANIE ANYMORE.

YOU DO.
I DON'T.

Narrator: RACHEL, HOWEVER,

DIDN'T WANT TO
SHUT OUT CEDRIC'S EX.

McBride: HE WAS VERY SURPRISED

AND DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHY RACHEL THOMPSON

WOULD HAVE INVITED
MELANIE HENDRICKS

TO LIVE WITH HER.

WHEN HE LEARNED ABOUT THAT,
HE WAS TAKEN ABACK.

Narrator: MELANIE TOLD RACHEL

SHE'D GIVEN BIRTH TO A BABY BOY
SHE'D ALSO NAMED CEDRIC JR.,

BUT HE WAS BORN PREMATURELY
AND DID NOT SURVIVE.

McBride: THIS GIVES HER
EVEN MORE OF A MOTIVE

TO NOT LIKE RACHEL THOMPSON,

WHO ALSO WAS DATING CEDRIC SR.

AND WHO ALSO HAD NAMED
HER CHILD WITH CEDRIC SR.

"CEDRIC JR."

Narrator: TRUE TO HER NATURE,

RACHEL SHOWED HER ROMANTIC RIVAL
NOTHING BUT KINDNESS.

RACHEL TOLD MELANIE

THAT SHE WASN'T MAD AT HER
FOR SLEEPING WITH CEDRIC SR.,

THAT IT WASN'T HER FAULT
THAT HE WAS A PLAYER.

RACHEL STILL TOOK HER IN
AND GAVE HER A PLACE TO STAY,

AND MELANIE HELPED OUT
WITH BABY CEDRIC,

AND I GUESS
THEY BECAME PRETTY CLOSE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
SEARCH THE APARTMENT

AND FIND MELANIE'S JOURNAL.

Williams: IN THAT JOURNAL,

MELANIE INDICATED
HOW MUCH SHE LOVED CEDRIC,

HOW SHE COULD NOT STAND
LOSING HIM,

HOW CEDRIC WAS
EVERYTHING IN HER LIFE,

AND HOW SHE WANTED TO BE PART
OF CEDRIC'S LIFE

AND HOW THE BREAKING UP
OF THE RELATIONSHIP

TOTALLY DEVASTATED HER.

McBride: MELANIE'S OBSESSED.
SHE'S OBSESSED WITH CEDRIC SR.

SHE CAN'T LET GO.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO LET GO.

Narrator: MELANIE SIGNS
THE ENTRIES "ENVY."

Williams: NOW THERE WAS A MOTIVE

FOR MELANIE TO DO SOMETHING EVIL
TO RACHEL,

BECAUSE OF PERHAPS JEALOUSY.

SHE WANTED THAT BABY
FOR SOME PURPOSE,

KNOWING IT WAS CEDRIC'S CHILD.

McBride: THE QUESTION IN POLICE
INVESTIGATORS' MINDS

AT THAT POINT WAS,
"IS MELANIE ENVIOUS ENOUGH

"TO BE CAPABLE OF MURDERING
TWO YOUNG TODDLER BOYS

IN ADDITION TO RACHEL THOMPSON?"

Narrator: THEN WHY
LEAVE THE BABY AT THE CHURCH?

WHO ELSE WAS IN THE CAR?

AND WHERE'S MELANIE NOW?

BEFORE THOSE QUESTIONS
CAN BE ANSWERED...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...A GUNSHOT ECHOES THROUGH

A NORTH SIDE
MILWAUKEE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Williams: AND A MAN COMES OUT
OF HIS APARTMENT,

AND HE SEES ON HIS PATIO
THAT A WOMAN HAS BEEN SHOT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: POLICE RESPOND.

YEAH, I CAME OUT
OF MY APARTMENT.

WHEN I CAME OUT HERE...

THE WOMAN WAS SHOT POINT-BLANK
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

McBride: AND THEY REALIZE THE
BODY IS OF MELANIE HENDRICKS,

THE YOUNG WOMAN
THAT THEY'VE BEEN SEEKING

AND THAT ALL OF MILWAUKEE'S
LOOKING FOR.

Narrator:
RACHEL'S MISSING ROOMMATE

AND ROMANTIC RIVAL

HAS MET A SIMILARLY VIOLENT END.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED
THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.

THIS WAS CERTAINLY
A TURN OF EVENTS

THAT SHE WAS SHOT TO DEATH.

WE THEN BEGAN THINKING, "WELL,
PERHAPS SHE WAS JUST A HOSTAGE,

AND THEY HAD KILLED HER THERE
IN ORDER TO GET RID OF HER."

McBride:
YOU HAVE A TRIPLE MURDER

THAT'S TURNED INTO
A QUADRUPLE MURDER.

THE ONLY GOOD PART
OF THIS WHOLE STORY SO FAR

IS THAT, THANKFULLY,
THE BABY TURNED UP ALIVE.

Narrator: NEAR THE BODY,
POLICE FIND A 9mm SHELL CASING,

JUST LIKE THE ONE
IN RACHEL'S APARTMENT.

Williams:
THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS,

AND WHAT IS FOUND IS
THAT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS SAW,

AFTER THE GUNSHOT --

SHE LOOKED OUT HER DOOR

AND SAW TWO MEN RUNNING
TOWARD A WHITE GRAND PRIX,

JUMPING IN THAT GRAND PRIX,
AND EXITING THE AREA.

Narrator:
BUT NO ONE GETS A PLATE NUMBER.

THE STORY'S ALL OVER THE NEWS.

MORE TIPS COME IN,

INCLUDING A CRUCIAL ONE
FROM A MILWAUKEE HOTEL.

McBride:
WELL, THE NIGHT MANAGER SAYS

THAT A WOMAN WHO MATCHES
THE DESCRIPTION OF MELANIE,

A BABY, AND TWO YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES

HAD CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL
AROUND 5:00 IN THE MORNING,

WHICH WAS RIGHT AFTER
THE HOMICIDES WERE DISCOVERED.

ONE OF THE MEN
PRODUCES AN OFFENDER CARD

TO CHECK IN TO THIS HOTEL.

AN OFFENDER CARD IS A CARD
THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE

IF THEY WERE INCARCERATED

OR IF THEY WERE
UNDER SUPERVISION

BY PROBATION AND PAROLE.

THIS CARD GIVES AUTHORITIES

THE NAME OF THE MAN WHO'S WITH
MELANIE FOR THE FIRST TIME,

AND HIS NAME IS ANTHONY BARNES.

[ BABY CRYING ]
KEEP THAT BABY QUIET, MAN.

IT'S GONNA CAUSE
SOME NOISE.

Narrator: THE SECOND MAN

SIGNS THE HOTEL REGISTRATION
AS DESMOND LASTER.

GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW.

McBride: UNTIL THIS POINT,

THE POLICE HAVE BEEN
SORT OF OPERATING IN A VOID.

NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME,
POLICE HAVE THE ACTUAL NAMES

OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH
MELANIE HENDRICKS

AND MAY HAVE COMMITTED
THE MURDERS.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

Narrator:
POLICE RUSH TO THE HOTEL,

BUT THEY'RE TOO LATE.

McBride: DETECTIVES OBTAINED

THE VIDEO-SURVEILLANCE FEED
FROM THE HOTEL,

AND UNLIKE THE CHURCH,
IT LUCKILY HAS ONE.

Williams:
THEY SEE THEM WALKING AROUND.

THEY SEE LASTER AND BARNES
GO BACK AND FORTH LEAVING,

AND THEY SEE MELANIE LEAVE
WITH THE CHILD.

Narrator: THEY ADD BARNES' AND
LASTER'S NAMES TO THE THE APB.

THEY ANNOUNCED
THEIR NAMES ON THE RADIO,

AND I SAT THERE TRYING TO THINK
WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE,

HOW THEY ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH RACHEL.

IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
WHY THESE TWO MEN WOULD DO

SUCH A VICIOUS THING
TO MY FAMILY.

McBride: SO NOW THE CHASE IS ON.

POLICE KNOW
WHO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

Chisholm:
WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE

THAT HAVE PLANNED A MURDER,

EXECUTED IT
IN A VERY BRUTAL FASHION.

THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOU'RE
DEALING WITH SOME SICK PEOPLE.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE FOUND
AND FOUND QUICKLY.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: AFTER THE SLAYINGS
OF RACHEL THOMPSON

AND TWO OF HER SONS

AND THE MURDER
MELANIE HENDRICKS,

SUSPECTS ANTHONY BARNES
AND DESMOND LASTER

VANISH INTO A MILWAUKEE WINTER.

A BACKGROUND CHECK
ON BARNES SHOWS

HE WAS RECENTLY RELEASED
FROM PRISON TO A HALFWAY HOUSE.

Williams:
POLICE BEGAN INTERVIEWING PEOPLE

AT THE HALFWAY HOUSE.

THEY INDICATED THAT BARNES
HAD LEFT THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER

AND HAD NOT BEEN SEEN AGAIN.

Narrator: DETECTIVES UNCOVER
THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN LASTER
AND MELANIE HENDRICKS.

MR. LASTER HAD BEEN
IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH MELANIE,

AND MELANIE ACTUALLY HAD BROUGHT
MR. LASTER TO RACHEL'S HOUSE

A NUMBER OF TIMES,

TO THE POINT WHERE THE KIDS

ACTUALLY KNEW
WHO MR. LASTER WAS.

Narrator: THE FUGITIVES REMAIN
IN HIDING FOR ALMOST FIVE DAYS.

McBride:
BARNES DOESN'T GO VERY FAR.

POLICE TRACK HIM DOWN
TO HIS BROTHER'S HOUSE,

WHERE HE'S HIDING,
AND THEY ARREST HIM.

Narrator: HE TELLS THEM
WHERE TO FIND DESMOND LASTER.

DETECTIVES ARREST HIM, TOO.

LASTER DOESN'T TALK,

BUT BARNES IS READY TO CONFESS.

BARNES WAS WILLING TO TALK
TO THEM FAIRLY QUICKLY.

I WOULD ATTRIBUTE THAT
TO A PROFOUND SENSE OF GUILT,

OF SHOCK, EVEN,
AT WHAT HE HAD DONE.

BARNES AGREES TO TESTIFY
AGAINST LASTER.

AT TRIAL, PROSECUTORS BASE
THEIR ARGUMENTS

ON THE EVIDENCE RECOVERED

AND BARNES' CHILLING ACCOUNT

OF THE EVENTS LEADING UP
TO FEBRUARY 26, 2010.

WHAT YOU DOING IN HERE?

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH RACHEL THOMPSON

WAS SO GENEROUS
TO MELANIE HENDRICKS,

MELANIE COULD NOT CONTAIN
HER JEALOUSY.

SHE CONVINCED LASTER,

WHO GOT HIS BUDDY BARNES
TO HELP ROB RACHEL.

RACHEL HAD RECEIVED A CHECK,
A GRANT FOR SCHOOL,

AND HAD $800.

Ormond: WITH MELANIE LIVING
THERE AT RACHEL'S HOUSE,

MELANIE KNEW THAT RACHEL HAD
JUST RECEIVED HER STIPEND CHECK.

AND THAT WAS THE COST
OF HER LIFE -- $800.

Narrator: THEY ARRIVED AT
THE APARTMENT AROUND 4:00 A.M.

RACHEL WAS ASLEEP ON THE SOFA.

LASTER AND BARNES AND MELANIE
WAKE UP RACHEL THOMPSON.

THEY PUNCH HER.

[ RACHEL SCREAMING ]

BEFORE SHE CAN DO ANYTHING,
THEY START DEMANDING TO KNOW,

"WHERE'S THE MONEY?
WHERE'S THE MONEY?"

YOU KNOW WHAT MONEY
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I WANT THE $800 FOR SCHOOL.
WHERE IS IT?

IT'S IN MY PURSE
IN THE OTHER ROOM.

IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE
ONLY A ROBBERY.

YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING.

SO, THE MONEY ISN'T ENOUGH.

LASTER AND BARNES BECOME ANGRY.

Narrator:
THEY BOUND RACHEL'S HANDS
AND FEET WITH DUCT TAPE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

VERY SADLY, THE OLDEST BOY
RECOGNIZES DESMOND.

DESMOND SAID HE KNEW
HE WOULD HAVE TO KILL THE KIDS,

'CAUSE THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS.

HE WAS AFRAID
THAT HE WOULD TELL,

YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY OR POLICE
WHO DID THIS TO HIS MOM.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO BARNES,

MELANIE HENDRICKS AND
DESMOND LASTER BOUND THE BOYS.

THEN LASTER SUFFOCATED THEM.

McBride:
MELANIE GOES AND GETS A KNIFE,

AND SHE STABS RACHEL
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

AND SHE'S STILL NOT SATISFIED.

THE KNIFE BREAKS OFF
IN RACHEL'S BODY,

SO SHE GOES AND SHE GETS
ANOTHER KNIFE, COMES BACK,

AND CONTINUES STABBING RACHEL
TO DEATH.

BARNES SAYS THAT
AT SOME POINT IN ALL OF THIS,

HE WAS BECOMING DISTURBED
AND THINKING,

YOU KNOW,
"I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT I WANT
TO STICK AROUND FOR THIS."

BUT HE DID STAY.

Narrator: LASTER HANDED BARNES
A 9mm HANDGUN

AND ORDERED HIM TO SHOOT RACHEL.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Williams: HE SAYS HE HESITATED

AND THAT HE CLOSED HIS EYES
AND HE JUST FIRED THE GUN.

HE DIDN'T KNOW
IN WHAT DIRECTION,

SO THAT MR. LASTER WOULD THINK
THAT HE SHOT RACHEL.

Narrator: THE SHOT MISSED,
BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER.

MELANIE GRABBED CEDRIC JR.
AS LASTER TORCHED THE PLACE.

SHE THOUGHT
IF SHE KEPT CEDRIC JR.

THAT WHEN CEDRIC SR.
GOT OUT OF JAIL,

THAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER

AND MAKE A FAMILY.

Narrator: THE AMBER ALERT
PUT A QUICK END TO THAT PLAN.

Williams:
IF SHE WAS SEEN WITH THE BABY,

PEOPLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED.

SO SHE DECIDED TO DROP
THE BABY OFF IN A SAFE PLACE

AND SOMEHOW
TRY TO DESPERATELY ESCAPE

WITH LASTER AND WITH MR. BARNES.

Narrator: BUT WHEN MELANIE
WAS ADDED TO THE AMBER ALERT,

SHE ALSO BECAME EXPENDABLE.

McBride:
SO THEY MAKE A DECISION.

THEY TAKE HER TO A NEIGHBORHOOD,

AND THEY MARCH HER OUT,
AND THEN THEY SHOOT HER.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Chisholm: DESMOND LASTER WAS,
BEYOND QUESTION,

THE DRIVING EVIL FORCE
BEHIND THIS HOMICIDE

AND THIS SERIES OF EVENTS.

LASTER HAD MADE UP HIS MIND,

CLEARLY BEFORE HE EVEN WALKED
IN THAT HOUSE,

THAT HE WAS GONNA KILL EVERYBODY
IN THAT HOUSE

AND WAS GONNA DO IT

WITHOUT ANY REMORSE,
WITHOUT ANY CONSCIENCE.

Williams: SO, WE GAVE
MR. BARNES A PLEA DEAL

WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO SERVE
EVERY DAY OF 40 YEARS IN PRISON

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING

HE WOULD TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY
IN MR. LASTER'S TRIAL.

Narrator: ON MARCH 24, 2011,

A JURY FINDS DESMOND LASTER
GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES,

INCLUDING FOUR COUNTS

OF FIRST-DEGREE
INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE.

HE'S SENTENCED TO FOUR
LIFE TERMS WITHOUT PAROLE.

Moreno: THROUGH THE WHOLE TRIAL,
HE SHOWED NO EMOTION --

NOTHING, NO REMORSE.

BUT WHEN HE WALKED IN
AT SENTENCING DAY,

HE LOOKED AT MY FAMILY
AND HE WINKED AND SMILED.

AND IT JUST...

[ SIGHS ]

[ Voice breaking ]
IT JUST DISPLAYED, YOU KNOW,

WHAT A COLD-BLOODED KILLER
HE WAS.

Williams:
DESMOND LASTER IS RIGHT UP THERE

WITH SOME OF THE WORST PEOPLE
I'VE PROSECUTED,

AND I'VE PROSECUTED
HUNDREDS OF HOMICIDES.

AND THE FACT THAT THE CHILDREN
HAD TO SEE THEIR MOTHER --

BEFORE THEY WERE TAKEN
OUT OF THE ROOM,

THEY WERE WATCHING THEIR MOTHER

BEING BRUTALLY BEATEN
BY THESE PEOPLE.

AND THEN TO JUST PUT
PLASTIC BAGS OVER THEIR HEAD

AND TAPE OVER THEIR MOUTHS

AND THROW THEM IN A BATHTUB
AND WATCH THEM SUFFOCATE,

IT REALLY DOESN'T GET
ANY WORSE THAN THAT.

Narrator:
THE EMOTIONAL SCARS REMAIN.

RACHEL'S FAMILY IN CONTACT
WITH HER ONLY SURVIVING SON.

CEDRIC JR. IS RAISED
BY HIS PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS.

CEDRIC JR. IS THE LAST LIVING
CHILD OF RACHEL,

AND HE'S NO LONGER IN OUR LIVES,
AND IT MAKES IT HARD.

WE KNOW HE'S OUT THERE,

AND WE CAN'T SEE HIM,
SO IT'S HARD ON THE FAMILY.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE LEFT OF HER.

Narrator: STILL,
THE LOVE SHE CREATED LINGERS.

SHE HAS THIS CROOKED SMILE.

[ CHUCKLES ] AND...

AS SOON AS YOU SEEN THAT SMILE,

YOU FORGOT ABOUT YOUR DAY
AND WHAT WAS BOTHERING YOU.

RACHEL WAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL

WHO CARED ABOUT EVERYBODY
WHO CROSSED HER PATH.

RACHEL LOVED LIFE,
AND LIFE WASN'T GOOD TO HER.

I MEAN, SHE LOST A LOT
AS A CHILD.

AND TO ACHIEVE WHAT SHE DID,

YOU KNOW,
SHE'S A ROLE MODEL TO ALL OF US.