Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - The Darkest of Nights - full transcript

Narrator:
ONE ICE-COLD JANUARY,

A SMALL VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN TOWN
SHUDDERS IN FEAR.

Davis:
A PARENT'S GREATEST NIGHTMARE

IS WHEN THEIR CHILD
VANISHES WITHOUT A TRACE

AND THERE'S NOTHING.

NO CLUES, NOTHING.

Fleenor: SHE WAS
THE ALL-AMERICAN TEENAGER.

IT COULD'VE BEEN
ANYONE'S DAUGHTER.

Roane:
AND THE FIRST THING I SAID WAS,
"YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER?"

I JUST KNEW
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

Narrator:
VERY WRONG.



AS TIME GOES ON,
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF LEADS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Powell:
IF THIS COULD HAPPEN ONCE,

WHAT'S GONNA STOP IT
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

HELP!

Narrator:
IN PULASKI COUNTY, VIRGINIA,

WINTER SOMETIMES
FEELS IMPOSSIBLY LONG.

Powell: WE CAN GET
20-SOMETHING INCHES OF SNOW.

IT CAN REALLY SHUT DOWN
ALL ACTIVITY.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, WINTER CAN
LITERALLY PARALYZE A COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE CAN'T MOVE.
THEY'RE STUCK IN THEIR HOMES.

Narrator: YET 16-YEAR-OLD
TARA ROSE MUNSEY

HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH ENOUGH
FOR MOUNTAIN LIFE.

Bill: SHE WOULD HELP
WITH THE ANIMALS.



AND SHE HAD A HORSE.

NOBODY COULD CATCH THE HORSE
EXCEPT TARA.

D.D.:
SHE WAS A FARMER GIRL.

SHE ALSO
LIKED TO HELP PEOPLE.

DIDN'T MATTER WHO THEY WERE.

SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY
AND NEVER MET A STRANGER AT ALL.

IF ANYBODY BULLIED ANYBODY,
SHE WOULD STOP IT.

SHE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
SHE REALLY WAS.

Narrator: HER PARENTS,
BILL AND KITTY, HAVE DIVORCED.

TARA ROSE
LIVES MAINLY WITH HER MOM,

BUT HER DAD AND YOUNGER BROTHER,
D.D., ARE NEVER FAR.

Roane:
EVEN FOR TWO DIVORCED PEOPLE,

THEY STILL HAD A REALLY GOOD
CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP

AS FAR AS THE KIDS WENT.

THEY BOTH JUST WANTED
THE BEST FOR THE KIDS.

Narrator: IN 2000,
TARA IS A HIGH-SCHOOL SOPHOMORE

WITH A STEADY BOYFRIEND
AND A PART-TIME JOB.

Roane: SHE WAS VERY HOPEFUL
ABOUT THE FUTURE.

SCHOOL WAS GOING GOOD,
SHE LIKED HER JOB,

SHE LIKED MAKING MONEY.

SHE WAS VERY, YOU KNOW,
OUTGOING AS USUAL, VERY HAPPY.

NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY
WAS GOING ON.

Narrator: BUT ON JANUARY 25th,
ORDINARY ENDS.

THAT EVENING,
TARA'S MOTHER, KITTY,

ARRIVES HOME
TO AN EMPTY HOUSE.

TARA HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE.

SHE SAW THE BACKPACK AND KNEW
THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD BEEN HOME.

[ ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS ]
Tara: Hey, mom. It's me.

I just wanted
to let you know

I'm going over to a friend's
house before work at 3:00.

Should be off by 7:00, but
I'll call if anything changes.

All right, I'll see you
tonight. Love you.

Narrator: BUT TARA'S SHIFT
ENDED AN HOUR AGO,

AND KITTY HASN'T
HEARD FROM HER.

Roane: SHE WAS ALWAYS
REALLY CLOSE WITH HER PARENTS.

THEY ALWAYS KNEW
WHERE SHE WAS AT.

LIKE, SHE'D CALL --
YOU KNOW,

HER DAD WOULD BE CALLING
WHILE SHE'D BE CALLING HER MOM.

SHE WOULD'VE TALKED
TO HER PARENTS

IF SHE WAS GOING OUT
FOR THE NIGHT OR SOMETHING.

ABOUT 10:00 P.M.,
TARA'S MOTHER HAD A FEELING.

A BAD FEELING.

Bill: AND IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT, I GET THIS CALL.

IT'S KITTY.

TARA HASN'T GOTTEN HOME,

AND SHE'S
PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
BILL REVEALS HE AND D.D.

WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET TARA
AT A HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME

AFTER SHE
GOT OFF WORK AT 7:00.

D.D. AND I WENT ON TO THE GAME,
AND SHE NEVER SHOWED UP.

SO, WE'RE THINKING,

"WELL," YOU KNOW,
"SHE'LL PROBABLY BE ALL RIGHT.

"SHE WENT WITH ONE OF HER
FRIENDS OR SOMETHING."

KITTY SAID,
"NO, SOMETHING'S THE MATTER."

Narrator:
THE WORRIED MOM HEADS TO
THE RESTAURANT WHERE TARA WORKS.

Powell: HER CAR
WAS DISCOVERED UNLOCKED,

AND THERE WAS FOOD
FROM THE RESTAURANT

IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT,
ALONG WITH HER UNIFORM HAT.

BUT SHE NEVER MADE IT HOME.

AND TO SEE
THAT SHE HAD CLEARLY

MADE AN EFFORT
TO GET INTO HER CAR,

AT LEAST PUT THINGS
IN HER CAR,

AND THEN NOT TO DRIVE OFF IN HER
CAR, I THINK, WAS CONCERNING.

Narrator: KITTY ASKS CO-WORKERS
ABOUT TARA.

NO ONE HAD SEEN
WHERE SHE HAD GONE.

THEY JUST KNEW
THAT SHE HAD CLOCKED OUT

AND LEFT AFTER HER SHIFT.

Narrator:
THAT WAS HOURS AGO.

IT WASN'T LIKE TARA
TO JUST NOT SHOW UP.

SO IF KITTY STARTED TO WORRY
AND HER DAD WAS WORRYING,

THEN WE KIND OF KNEW
SOMETHING WAS UP.

MOM.

AND SO FRIENDS STARTED
TELEPHONING FRIENDS

TO KIND OF SEE WHERE TARA WAS
TO HELP KITTY AND BILL FIND HER.

Roane: HER MOM
CALLED ME THAT EVENING

AND ASKED ME WHERE SHE WAS
OR IF I HAD HEARD FROM HER.

AND THE FIRST THING I SAID WAS,
"YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER?"

AND SHE SAID NO.

AND I...

...I JUST KNEW
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

D.D.: TARA DIDN'T COME HOME
THAT NIGHT.

WE WAITED
UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.

SHE DIDN'T CALL, AND NO ONE KNEW
WHERE SHE WAS AT.

SO, THAT'S WHEN MOM
CALLED THE POLICE.

Narrator: PULASKI COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES

INSPECT TARA'S CAR.

Davis: THERE WAS NO DISARRAY
IN THE VEHICLE.

THE CAR WAS VERY NEAT.
THERE WERE NO KEYS, NO PHONE.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT,
EVERYTHING WAS JUST VERY NORMAL.

Narrator:
NO SIGNS OF STRUGGLE.

WE THOUGHT THAT SHE
HAD GONE SOMEWHERE

AND SPENT THE NIGHT
WITH ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

Narrator: TEENS DO SOMETIMES
JUST TAKE OFF.

COULD THIS BE
ONE OF THOSE TIMES?

Davis:
A MISSING JUVENILE COMPLAINT
IS VERY, VERY STANDARD.

WE RECEIVE LOTS AND LOTS
OF THOSE CALLS.

99% OF THOSE CALLS

END UP WITH THE PARENTS
CALLING BACK AND SAYING,

"OKAY, YOU CAN FORGET IT."
YOU KNOW, "MY CHILD IS HOME."

IN THIS CASE,
THERE WAS NO SUCH CALL.

THE WEATHER WAS HORRIBLE.

IT WAS COLD,
THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND.

SHE HAD MADE PLANS --

THESE PLANS WERE
EXTENDING THROUGH THE EVENING

AND SO FORTH --

AND SHE HAD SCHOOL
THE NEXT DAY.

IT WAS A POSSIBILITY
THAT SHE HAD UPSET SOMEONE

WHO WAITED AROUND IN THE PARKING
LOT FOR HER TO GET OFF WORK

AND HAD DONE SOMETHING TO HER,
TAKEN HER.

MAYBE SHE HAD VOLUNTARILY
GOT INTO A VEHICLE.

WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW
AT THAT POINT.

COULD SHE HAVE GOTTEN LOST?
COULD SHE BE INJURED?

MOUNTAINS CAN CREATE
THEIR OWN WEATHER PATTERN.

THE WEATHER
CAN SNEAK UP ON YOU SO FAST.

A STORM CAN COME IN SO FAST,

YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF
TRAPPED AND IN TROUBLE

BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD PUT
AN ALL-POINTS BULLETIN OUT

THAT SHE WAS
A MISSING JUVENILE.

WE WERE BROADCASTING
THAT SHE WAS GONE.

WE WERE ALSO BROADCASTING
ON A MISSING-CHILDREN WEBSITE.

ALL THE STATE AGENCIES
WERE NOTIFIED

THAT WE HAD A RUNAWAY JUVENILE
AT THAT TIME.

Narrator:
DETECTIVES INTERVIEW

CO-WORKERS THAT TARA'S MOM
HADN'T TALKED TO.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYBODY
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

WHO SAW HER THAT DAY

AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT
HER DEMEANOR AND, YOU KNOW,

WHAT SHE HAD BEEN DOING
AND WHERE SHE WAS GOING.

Narrator:
THEY SOON GET THEIR FIRST LEAD.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

Davis: ON THE DAY
SHE DISAPPEARED,

SEVERAL OF
THE EMPLOYEES MENTIONED

SHE WAS WORKING
THE DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW

AND SHE HAD HAD A CONFRONTATION
WITH TWO YOUNG MEN IN A CAR.

Man: HELLO? WHAT'S TAKING
SO LONG? [ CLAPS ]

HURRY UP!

Roane: SHE WAS SWEET. I MEAN,
SWEETEST GIRL YOU'D EVER MEET.

UM, I SAID NO TOMATOES.

THANKS FOR NOTHING.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

BUT SHE DIDN'T LIKE SOMETHING,
SHE WAS GONNA TELL YOU.

D.D.: THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE
SHE WAS GETTING OFF.

AND WHEN SHE GOT OFF, SHE
WENT OUT AND SPOKE WITH THEM...

I REALLY
DON'T APPRECIATE

THE WAY YOU
WERE TALKING TO ME EARLIER,

AND I DON'T
APPRECIATE IT NOW.

...AND, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF TOLD THEM OFF.

AND SO IT SEEMED LIKE

AN ESCALATING SITUATION
AT THE TIME.

Narrator: HAD A DRIVE-THROUGH
DISAGREEMENT TURNED DANGEROUS?

WE JUST HAD A DESCRIPTION OF
THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS AND A CAR.

SO EACH PERSON IN THAT
RESTAURANT THAT WORKED THERE,

AND ANYONE
THAT WE COULD FIND OUT

THAT ACTUALLY
CAME AS A CUSTOMER,

WE TRIED TO LOCATE.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

Narrator: WHILE INVESTIGATORS
TRY TO FIND THE MEN,

THEY HOPE SOMEONE
SAW MORE IN THE PARKING LOT.

AT THAT LOCATION,
THERE'S NO CAMERAS.

AND ONCE YOU WALK
OUT OF THE SIDE DOORS

AND TOWARD
THE PARKING LOT,

THE LIGHTING
IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT.

Narrator:
POLICE APPEAL TO THE COMMUNITY.

Davis:
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AROUND
7:15 P.M. IN THE EVENING

AND THE RESTAURANT
WAS PROBABLY FAIRLY CROWDED,

THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY,

NO ONE SAW ANYTHING.

Powell:
IT WAS KIND OF ODD

BECAUSE THE RESTAURANT WAS ON
ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS.

SO, IF THERE HAD BEEN
A STRUGGLE,

YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT SOMEONE
WOULD HAVE HEARD SOMETHING

OR SEEN SOMETHING

'CAUSE THERE WERE GONNA BE
CARS PASSING BY.

Davis: SO, IT'S
EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY LEADS.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO THIS CHILD.

AND SHE SIMPLY WALKED OUT
OF A RESTAURANT ON A BUSY NIGHT

AND VANISHED.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: IN THE DEAD OF WINTER,
16-YEAR-OLD TARA ROSE MUNSEY

DISAPPEARS INTO VIRGINIA'S
FRIGID NIGHT AIR.

Davis: AND, OF COURSE,
A PARENT'S GREATEST NIGHTMARE

IS WHEN THEIR CHILD
VANISHES WITHOUT A TRACE

AND THERE'S NOTHING.

NO CLUES, NOTHING.

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY DISAPPEAR
LIKE THAT, IT'S TIME TO WORRY.

YOU START TO GET COLD.

THE BLOOD STARTS DRAWING IN
FROM THE EXTREMITIES.

YOUR BRAIN FUNCTION
STARTS TO DIMINISH,

AND YOU START
MAKING BAD DECISIONS.

AND IT ONLY TAKES ONE BAD
DECISION, AND YOU COULD BE DEAD.

Narrator:
LOVED ONES JOIN PULASKI COUNTY
AUTHORITIES TO GET THE WORD OUT.

THE FAMILY IMMEDIATELY
HAD MISSING POSTERS PRINTED.

THEY WERE -- LITERALLY
COVERED THE AREA WITH POSTERS.

OUR PRAYERS
GO OUT FOR THE FAMILY.

FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOW OFFERING
A REWARD FOR TARA'S RETURN.

Davis:
THEY WERE IN THE MEDIA.

THEY HAD FRIENDS
ON CALL LINES.

THEY HAD PRAYER VIGILS.

[ CUP CLATTERS ]

Man: WHAT'S UP, GIRL?
YOU JUST GET OFF WORK?

I REALLY
DON'T APPRECIATE

THE WAY YOU GUYS
WERE TALKING TO ME EARLIER.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS' ONE LEAD --

AN ARGUMENT TARA HAD
WITH TWO MEN

WHEN SHE GOT OFF WORK
AROUND 7:00 P.M.

THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.

BUT THAT HOT LEAD GOES
COLD AS THE MOUNTAIN AIR

WHEN DETECTIVES
IDENTIFY THE MEN.

Powell:
IT WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED

THAT THEY WERE FORMER EMPLOYEES
OF THE RESTAURANT.

Narrator:
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO LINK
EITHER MAN TO THE DISAPPEARANCE.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

Davis: WE HAD A LOT OF AGENCIES
CALLING TO HELP OUT --

LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS,
THE STATE POLICE, THE FBI.

THEY WERE ALL CALLING
AND OFFERING THEIR ASSISTANCE,

WHICH IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

BUT WE
HAD NOTHING TO WORK ON.

WE HAD NOT AN IDEA.
NOTHING.

[ CAR HORN BEEPS ]

Ritter: THE FIRST 48 HOURS
OF SOMEONE MISSING

IS SO CRUCIAL TO PEOPLE'S
WHEREABOUTS AND PEOPLE'S MEMORY.

YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES ON,
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF LEADS.

Narrator: HER PARENTS WORRY
THAT SHE'S ALONE AND FRIGHTENED

IN THE BONE-CHILLING
WILDERNESS.

Bill: THE DAY AFTER TARA
WAS MISSING,

I REMEMBER GOING
TO THE FRONT DOOR,

AND I WAS AFRAID THAT
SHE WAS OUT AND SHE WAS COLD.

AND I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW,
AND I SAID A PRAYER.

I SAID, "LORD, WRAP YOUR BLANKET
AROUND TARA AND KEEP HER SAFE."

Narrator:
AS THE FIRST 24 HOURS PASS,

A BLANKET OF THICK SNOW
ENTOMBS PULASKI COUNTY.

Davis:
ACCORDING TO THE PARENTS,

SHE DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE WINTER
CLOTHING WITH HER AT THAT TIME.

THE WEATHER ALONE WOULD STOP YOU
FROM HANGING OUT, RUNNING AWAY.

YOU COULD NOT SURVIVE FOR AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OUTSIDE,

AND YOU WOULD NOT BE
OUTSIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE
FOR A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.

Narrator:
WITH EVERY PASSING HOUR,

THE CHANCES OF FINDING TARA
ALIVE GROW COLDER.

POLICE FOCUS
ON HER LAST KNOWN ACTIONS

HOPING TO ZERO IN ON WHO
MIGHT HAVE ZEROED IN ON HER.

WE PUT TOGETHER
WHAT I'VE ALWAYS CALLED

THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
AND RELATIONSHIPS.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING ]

THEIR INVESTIGATION
REVEALED THAT, AFTER SCHOOL,

SHE HAD MET WITH SOME FRIENDS AT
A FRIEND'S HOME NEAR HER HOUSE.

YEAH.
YEAH.

YEAH.

IT WAS FRIENDS THAT SHE
HUNG OUT WITH ALL THE TIME.

IT'S JUST, LIKE,
KIDS GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL

AND GOING OVER TO A HOUSE

AND HANGING OUT
AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

AND, YOU KNOW,
SITTING AROUND WATCHING TV.

Davis:
THEY HAD STAYED TOGETHER

FOR PROBABLY AN HOUR OR SO
THAT AFTERNOON.

AND SHE LEFT TO GO TO WORK.

Narrator: THAT WAS
A LITTLE BEFORE 3:00 P.M.

HAD SOMEONE THERE
KNOWN SHE WAS GOING TO WORK

AND WHAT TIME SHE'D BE OFF,

SO THEY COULD BE READY
TO GRAB HER?

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

DETECTIVES HAVE TO TRACK DOWN
EVERYONE AT THE GATHERING --

ALL OF THE TEENS,
AS WELL AS THE HOST'S MOM,

WHO WAS HOME AT THE TIME,

AND ANOTHER ADULT WHO'D STOPPED
BY TO VISIT THE KIDS HE KNEW,

THEN TRY TO UNRAVEL
THEIR STORIES.

Davis: WE HEARD FROM SO-AND-SO
THAT THIS HAPPENED,

AND THAT SHE
MAY KNOW SO-AND-SO.

AND THEY WOULD SAY,
"YES, THAT'S TRUE."

WELL, EACH TIME WE WOULD
INTERVIEW ONE OF THESE TEENAGERS

THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME,

THEY WOULD GIVE US ANOTHER NAME
OF A POTENTIAL FRIEND

OR A RELATIONSHIP
THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD,

AND THAT WOULD SEND US OFF
FOR MORE INTERVIEWS.

AND THE INTERVIEWS CONTINUED.

WE INTERVIEWED
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

Narrator: SOME WONDER
ABOUT TARA'S BOYFRIEND, LOUIS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

Roane: YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY
HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOREVER.

SHE LOVED HIM
MORE THAN ANYTHING

AND JUST WANTED THE BEST
FOR HIM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

D.D.: SHE WANTED TO SPEND
EVERY WAKING HOUR WITH HIM,

YOU KNOW, SNUCK OUT MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS TO BE WITH HIM.

MOM AND DAD
BOTH WEREN'T VERY KEEN ON IT.

MOM KIND OF SAW HIM
AS A BAD INFLUENCE.

Bill: IT WAS 24/7,
AND EVERYBODY KNEW THAT.

IT WAS "LOUIS THIS"
AND "LOUIS THAT."

Narrator:
DETECTIVES LEARN THAT AT
THE TIME OF HER DISAPPEARANCE,

LOUIS WASN'T AROUND.

LOUIS HAD JOINED THE NAVY
AND WAS IN ILLINOIS,

SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY.

Narrator: HAD SHE SKIPPED TOWN
TO BE WITH HIM?

POLICE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE
LOUIS WAS INVOLVED,

THAT HE KNEW
WHERE SHE WAS AT

AND THAT SHE
MAY BE THERE WITH HIM.

Narrator: WHILE INVESTIGATORS
TRY TO TRACK DOWN LOUIS,

THE COMMUNITY SEARCHES
THE RUGGED, SNOW-CHOKED TERRAIN

FOR TARA.

Davis:
WE WERE CHECKING AN IMMEDIATE
AREA, WITHIN A MILE OR SO,

WHICH IS STANDARD PROCEDURE,

AND WE DID THAT
SEVERAL TIMES ON FOOT

AND PROBABLY
THREE TIMES BY AIR.

AND EACH TIME,

WE WOULD WIDEN THEIR CIRCLE
TO INCLUDE MORE DISTANCE.

Powell:
IT'S REALLY A RURAL AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF LAND
THAT'S UNTOUCHED.

SO THEY WERE SEARCHING
REALLY DENSE WOODED AREAS

ALONG WITH
ALL DOWN BY THE RIVER.

Thane: SEARCH-AND-RESCUE EFFORTS
IN THE MOUNTAINS

IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

YOU HAVE TERRAIN
YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE AGAINST,

YOU HAVE WEATHER
YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE AGAINST.

BUT STILL,
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

IF YOU'RE GOING
TO FIND SOMEBODY,

YOU HAVE TO FIND THEM QUICK.

AND ALL OF THEIR RESULTS
WERE NEGATIVE.

OUR PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS
THE NIGHT SHE HAD DISAPPEARED --

WE HAD NO IDEA
WHERE TO SEARCH.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
LOCATE TARA'S BOYFRIEND

AT A U.S. NAVY
TRAINING SCHOOL.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS ABLE TO
CONTACT HIS COMMANDING OFFICER,

WHO REPORTED THAT LOUIS
HAD NOT LEFT THE BASE

AND HE WOULD HAVE
BEEN THERE THE ENTIRE TIME.

LOUIS AGREED
TO BE INTERVIEWED

AND HE SAID THAT
HE HAD NOT SEEN HER,

HE HAD NOT
SPOKEN TO HER BY TELEPHONE,

AND HAD NOT HAD
ANY KIND OF CONTACT WITH HER

SINCE SHE WAS MISSING.

WE CHECKED THE AIRLINES
AND THE BUS TERMINALS,

AND THERE WAS NO RECORD
OF HER HAVING PURCHASED A TICKET

OR ANY EVIDENCE THAT SHE
HAD TRAVELED TO SEE HIM.

Narrator: DETECTIVES
DON'T THINK LOUIS WAS INVOLVED.

TARA'S FAMILY DOES ITS BEST
TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE.

HER MOTHER HANGS
A BANNER OUTSIDE THE HOME

THAT READS "TARA'S HILL."

FROM DUSK TO DAWN,
THE HOUSE STAYS LIT,

A BEACON TO HELP
GUIDE HER HOME.

EIGHT DAYS
AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE,

THE FAMILY GATHERS
FOR TARA'S 17th BIRTHDAY.

YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY WAS WAITING ON HER

TO SHOW UP TO BLOW OUT
THE CANDLES ON HER BIRTHDAY CAKE

AND OPEN HER PRESENTS.

WE WANTED HER TO KNOW,
IF SHE DID SHOW UP,

THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT HER

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW
THAT SHE WAS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE

AND THAT WE STILL HAD HOPE THAT,
YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD COME HOME.

Narrator:
THAT NIGHT, THE COMMUNITY
HOSTS A CANDLELIT PRAYER VIGIL.

D.D.: ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM HER
HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL

GOT TOGETHER,
PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCHES.

THERE WAS THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE THERE,

AND IT JUST WAS A BIG
OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT.

Young woman: KNOWING TARA
FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE,

AND AS LONG AS THE REST OF YOU,
IT'S MADE THE PAST WEEK...

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ Voice breaking ] IT'S MADE
THE PAST WEEK REALLY HARD.

Fleenor:
SHE WAS JUST SORT OF, IN MANY
WAYS, THE ALL-AMERICAN TEENAGER.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN
ANYONE'S DAUGHTER.

Powell:
HER POSTER WAS EVERYWHERE,

SO HER FACE WAS ALL OVER
THE NEW RIVER VALLEY.

PEOPLE WERE KIND OF CONSTANTLY
KEEPING IT IN THE FOREFRONT

SO THAT PEOPLE
WOULDN'T FORGET

TO CONTINUE TO
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HER.

Fleenor:
YOU COULDN'T MISS IT.

THE LOCAL TELEVISION CHANNELS
WERE DOING THE STORY.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST STORY
GOING IN THIS REGION.

Young woman:
IT'S JUST SO WEIRD

TO HAVE A GIRL
RIGHT OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

TAKEN AWAY FROM US LIKE THIS
AND NOT KNOW.

BUT I THINK
SHE'LL BE BACK.

AND IF NOT, IT'S JUST --

IT'S GONNA BE
A HARD THING TO DEAL WITH.

Narrator:
TWO WEEKS IN,

TARA'S FAMILY GROWS IMPATIENT,
DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS.

MY MOTHER AND FATHER
AND ONE OF MY DAD'S FRIENDS

HAD GONE AND SEEN A PSYCHIC.

THEY WERE OPEN TO ANYTHING
AT THIS POINT.

Narrator: THE PSYCHIC SAYS
TARA IS SOMEWHERE NEAR A CABIN,

CLOSE TO WATER.

SHE ALSO SEES A DOWNED LOG
AND TRAIN TRACKS NEARBY.

BUT, SADLY,
NOTHING MORE SPECIFIC.

THE ONE THING THE PSYCHIC
DOESN'T SEE IS ANY SIGN OF LIFE.

IT'S RARE TO HAVE SOMEONE
MISSING FOR TWO WEEKS

AND TO STILL BE SEARCHING FOR
A LIVING PERSON AT THAT POINT.

TO HAVE
NO WITNESSES SEE HER,

TO HAVE HER
NOT CONTACT HER FAMILY...

EVENTUALLY, A SEARCH
TURNS INTO RECOVERING A BODY.

[ CAR HORN BEEPS ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
TARA ROSE MUNSEY DISAPPEARS

INTO THE SNOWY WILDS
OF PULASKI COUNTY, VIRGINIA,

LEAVING BEHIND NO CLUES.

16 DAYS LATER...

Bill: ONE OF MY FRIENDS, HE
WAS OUT WALKING ALONG THE RIVER.

HE HAD A GUN.

HE WAS DOWN ALONG THE RIVER
SHOOTING, JUST PRACTICING.

AND HE SAW SOMETHING
DOWN OVER THE RAVINE.

AT FIRST THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS A DEAD DEER.

WHEN HE GOT CLOSER,

HE DISCOVERED
THAT IT WAS A YOUNG FEMALE.

WE KNEW WE HAD A MISSING YOUNG
LADY, AND WE ALL RESPONDED.

EVERY ONE OF US
RESPONDED TO THE SCENE.

AND ONCE WE ARRIVED,
OF COURSE,

WE FOUND OUT IT WAS TARA
THERE IN THE RAVINE.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
HAVE TO DELIVER THE TRAGIC NEWS

TO TARA'S FAMILY.

[ Voice breaking ] IT WAS
ME AND MY MOTHER AND D.D.

WE WERE AT THE HOUSE.

AND THE GILES COUNTY
SHERIFF CAME.

I'VE GOT SOME NEWS.

CAME TO THE HOUSE...

AND TOLD US THAT THEY FOUND TARA
AND SHE WAS DEAD.

AND...

I DON'T KNOW WHO CRIED THE MOST,
HIM OR US.

[ SOBBING IN BACKGROUND ]

D.D.:
SEEMED LIKE A DREAM.

IT REALLY DID.

IT SEEMED LIKE ANY MINUTE
I WOULD WAKE UP AND, YOU KNOW,

SHE WOULD BE RIGHT THERE
STANDING OVERTOP OF ME.

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR IT
TO SINK IN THAT, YOU KNOW,

MY LIFE IS CHANGED FOREVER AND
NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME.

Narrator: IT'S A HARSH REALITY
FOR THE INVESTIGATORS,

WHO'D HOPED TO FIND
THE VIBRANT YOUNG WOMAN ALIVE.

WE PRAYED THAT TARA
WOULD APPEAR, SHE WOULD SHOW UP,

SHE HAD BEEN SOMEWHERE,
SHE HAD BEEN WITH FRIENDS,

AND, UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

IT TRULY, TRULY IS UNREAL
TO LOOK DOWN OVER AN EMBANKMENT

AFTER YOU SPENT 16 DAYS
LOOKING FOR THIS CHILD

AND YOU CAN PHYSICALLY SEE THAT
SHE SUFFERED A VIOLENT DEATH.

Fleenor: SHE DIED
FROM FOUR GUNSHOT WOUNDS.

SHE HAD ONE GUNSHOT WOUND
TO HER CHEST,

AND SHE HAD
THREE GUNSHOT WOUNDS

IN A SMALL PATTERN
NEXT TO HER EAR.

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS
A DELIBERATE KILLING.

Narrator:
SHE'S NUDE FROM THE WAIST UP.

Fleenor:
EVIDENCE LED US TO BELIEVE

THAT THERE WAS
A SEXUAL ASSAULT INVOLVED

IN ADDITION TO THE KILLING.

Ritter:
HER SHIRT WAS LAYING FEET AWAY.
IT WAS RIPPED AND TORN.

AND ALSO, THERE WAS A FOOTWEAR
IMPRESSION ON THE SHIRT.

THE FOOTPRINT MIGHT CONNECT
THE KILLER TO THE CRIME SCENE...

IF THEY CAN FIND A MATCH.

OMINOUSLY, THE LOCATION

IS EXACTLY
AS THE PSYCHIC DESCRIBED --

NEAR TRAIN TRACKS, WATER,
A LOG, AND A CABIN.

D.D.: IT WAS
A VERY SECLUDED LOCATION.

THERE WASN'T ANY REASON
FOR SOMEONE TO BE OUT THERE.

AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW,

SEEMED VERY STRANGE
THAT SHE WOULD BE THERE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY
AT A DUMP SITE

WHERE FOLKS DISCARDED, YOU KNOW,
WASHERS, DRYERS, TIRES.

IT WAS AN AREA
WHERE, BASICALLY,

YOU JUST THREW AWAY
YOUR LARGE-ITEM TRASH.

Ritter: ONCE WE RECOVERED TARA'S
BODY, WE BEGAN THE CRIME SCENE,

SIFTING THROUGH SNOW AND ICE
AND ROCK AND DIRT

AND LEAVES AND TREE LIMBS,

SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY

WORKED OUR WAY
UP TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

AND THE ENTIRE TIME
YOU'RE OUT THERE,

YOU KNOW
YOU'RE ON THE CLOCK.

YOU'RE RACING
AGAINST THE WEATHER.

YOU'RE RACING
AGAINST THE COLD.

YOU'RE RACING
AGAINST THE TERRAIN.

AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME,

ANOTHER STORM CAN BLOW IN
AND ERASE ALL THE EVIDENCE.

Davis: THIS GROUND WAS SEARCHED
FOR PROBABLY 36 TO 40 HOURS.

WE KEPT THE SCENE UNDER SECURITY
THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND DURING THAT TIME,
ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS,

WE FOUND
A.22-CALIBER SHELL CASING,

TARA'S KEYS TO HER VEHICLE.

Narrator: ALSO, SEVERAL
PARTIAL CIGARETTES AND FILTERS.

Ritter:
IT APPEARED TO BE THE BUTTS WERE
TORN AWAY FROM THE CIGARETTE

AND THE BUTTS NOT SMOKED,

JUST THE CIGARETTE PORTION
SMOKED.

Narrator: PULLING THE FILTER OFF
IS AN UNUSUAL QUIRK

THAT COULD HELP
I.D. THE KILLER.

INVESTIGATORS SEND THE EVIDENCE
TO THE CRIME LAB

WHILE TARA'S BODY
GOES FOR AUTOPSY.

WHEN THEY GOT TARA, YOU KNOW,
PICKED HER UP,

THEY HAD TO
TAKE HER FOR FORENSIC,

AND KITTY
HELD HER THE WHOLE WAY --

THE BODY BAG.

Narrator:
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINES

TARA WAS LIKELY KILLED
THE NIGHT OF HER ABDUCTION.

THE TOUGH YOUNG GIRL
DIDN'T GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

SHE HAD FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
BRUISING TO HER FACE.

IT APPEARED
THAT SHE HAD BEEN STRUCK.

HER FINGERNAILS WERE BROKEN.

SO, IT APPEARED
THAT SHE HAD CERTAINLY STRUGGLED

AND ATTEMPTED
TO FIGHT FOR HER LIFE.

Narrator:
THE GRIEF IS OVERWHELMING.

SOME OF THEM'S
TAKING IT REAL HARD.

IT MAKES US FEEL
EVEN MORE VULNERABLE.

Powell: TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SUCH
A YOUNG GIRL, A 16-YEAR-OLD,

BE TAKEN
AND BE SENSELESSLY KILLED,

I THINK IT AFFECTED
A LOT OF PEOPLE

WHO HAD, YOU KNOW,
TEENAGERS OF THEIR OWN.

THIS COULD HAPPEN
TO ANYBODY NOW.

IF THIS COULD HAPPEN ONCE,

WHAT'S GONNA STOP IT
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
PULASKI COUNTY RESIDENTS
RECOIL FROM THE SENSELESS MURDER

OF HIGH-SCHOOL SOPHOMORE
TARA ROSE MUNSEY.

Roane: WE KEPT MEETING UP
AT KITTY'S HOUSE.

THAT WAS KIND OF
THE MEETING AREA.

AND, I MEAN, I REMEMBER

HER WHOLE FENCE
WAS COVERED WITH ROSES.

Narrator: TARA'S PARENTS ASK
EVERYONE TO WEAR THE FLOWER

IN HONOR OF
THEIR SWEET TARA ROSE.

D.D.: WE HELD A MEMORIAL SURFACE
AT RADFORD HIGH SCHOOL,

AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL THE STUDENTS AND STUFF CAME.

AND IT WAS MORE OF
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

THAN IT WAS
A MOURNING OF DEATH.

Narrator:
EVERYONE FEARS THE ICE-COLD
KILLER COULD STRIKE AGAIN.

D.D.: THERE WAS SOMEONE
WHO HAD MURDERED A YOUNG GIRL

OUT THERE ON THE STREETS.

WAS IT A PERSON THAT WAS GOING
TO ABDUCT ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL

AND TAKE HER SOMEWHERE
AND MURDER HER?

AND SO,
IT PUT EVERYONE ON EDGE.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS QUESTION THE MAN
WHO DISCOVERED TARA'S BODY.

Fleenor: THE FIRST PERSON
TO REPORT A CRIME,

OCCASIONALLY, IS THE PERSON
WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.

Davis:
WE HAD TO LOOK AT HIM

TO POTENTIALLY SEE
HOW HE CAME TO BE IN THAT SPOT.

WHEN YOU'RE GONNA SEARCH AN AREA
FOR A MISSING PERSON,

EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU'RE
SEARCHING THAT AREA FIRST.

AND WHAT GIVES YOU
ANY INDICATION

THAT YOU CAN SEARCH AREA "Z"
VERSUS ANY OTHER AREA?

WHY HAD HE STOPPED AT THAT
LOCATION, AND HOW, IN 16 DAYS,

DID HE LOOK DOWN
A RAVINE 70 FEET

AND SPOT THE BODY
OF A HOMICIDE VICTIM?

Fleenor:
WE LOOKED INTO THE BACKGROUND
OF THE GENTLEMAN WHO FOUND HER.

WE NEEDED TO CONSIDER
THEIR BACKGROUND

AND ANY RELATIONSHIPS.

Davis: AT THAT POINT, WE FOUND
HIM TO BE VERY COOPERATIVE.

HE WAS EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP,
HE DID KNOW THE FAMILY,

HE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING
THE REPORT IN THE NEWS,

AND HE COOPERATED FULLY THROUGH
THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION.

Narrator: HE HAS A SOLID ALIBI
FOR THE NIGHT SHE VANISHED,

AND INVESTIGATORS
HAVE TO CLEAR HIM.

Ritter: EVEN AFTER
ALL THE INTERVIEWS

AND ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT WE APPROACHED

AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS,

WE COULDN'T FIND ANYONE

THAT WOULD EVEN THINK
OF HURTING TARA.

Dunn:
THEY DID NOT HAVE A SUSPECT.

WE WERE ALL REALLY FEARFUL

AND WONDERING WHO
COULD HAVE DONE SUCH A THING.

Narrator:
TARA'S FAMILY HOLDS HER FUNERAL
THE DAY BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY.

THERE WAS A LINE
ALL THE WAY OUT THE DOOR

OF PEOPLE WAITING TO COME IN
AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO SIT
THROUGH A FUNERAL FOR A PEER,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
A TEENAGER.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO DIE YOUNG.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE KILLED YOUNG.

Narrator: IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD
FOR TARA'S MOTHER, KITTY.

D.D.:
NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED
WAS VERY DIFFICULT ON HER.

MY MOTHER
WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON

THAT LIKED TO HAVE ANSWERS
FOR EVERYTHING.

AND, YOU KNOW,
WHEN NO ONE HAD ANSWERS FOR HER,

IT JUST FRUSTRATED HER
AND UPSET HER MORE.

Narrator:
THE HEARTBREAK TAKES ITS TOLL.

D.D.: AT MY SISTER'S FUNERAL, MY
MOTHER HAD A PAIN IN HER CHEST.

AND WHEN SHE
FELT OVER HER HEART,

SHE HAD ACTUALLY FOUND A LUMP

AND GONE THE NEXT DAY
TO THE DOCTOR.

AND THAT'S WHEN
THEY BIOPSIED IT

AND FOUND OUT
THAT SHE HAD BREAST CANCER.

IT WAS RIGHT EXACTLY THE SAME
SPOT WHERE TARA GOT SHOT.

YOU KNOW,
OVER HER HEART.

IT WAS A SIGN.

IT WAS A SIGN FROM SOMETHING
THAT, SOONER OR LATER,

KITTY AND TARA'S
GOING BACK TOGETHER. YEP.

Narrator: VOLUNTEERS
REPLACE MISSING POSTERS

WITH FLIERS ASKING FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SLAYING.

SOME CALLERS REPORT
SEEING VEHICLES ON THE ROAD

NEAR WHERE
THE BODY WAS FOUND.

SEVERAL VEHICLES
HAD BEEN SEEN IN THE AREA

DURING THE TIME PERIOD

THAT WE HAD BEEN LOOKING
FOR TARA MUNSEY.

D.D.: IT WAS REALLY WEIRD
TO SEE VEHICLES ON THAT ROAD

BECAUSE IT WAS A SERVICE ROAD
FOR THE RAILROAD ITSELF.

AND AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT ROAD.

Davis:
IT GOES BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS,

AND IT GOES FROM GILES COUNTY
INTO THE PULASKI COUNTY.

AND IT'S A TYPE OF A SHORTCUT

IF YOU'VE GOT A VERY STRONG
VEHICLE OR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.

Narrator: BUT ALL THE CALLS
ARE FRUSTRATINGLY VAGUE

AND LEAD NOWHERE.

HONESTLY, WHEN THEY DESCRIBE
A BLUE FORD PICKUP TRUCK,

IT TAKES DAYS TO TRY
TO TRACK THESE PEOPLE DOWN.

AND NONE OF THAT INFORMATION

EVER REVEALED ANYTHING
OF ANY INTEREST TO US.

Narrator: MORE FALSE LEADS.
MORE TIME WASTED.

POLICE REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS,

BUT THEY STILL
HAVE NOTHING SOLID TO GO ON.

UNTIL, OUT OF NOWHERE,

A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP
REVEALS STUNNING NEWS.

A WOMAN WAS PULLED OVER FOR
NOT YIELDING TO A PEDESTRIAN.

IMMEDIATELY SAID, "OFFICER,
I HAVE SOME INFORMATION

ON THE TARA MUNSEY MURDER."

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
RESIDENTS OF PULASKI COUNTY,
VIRGINIA, HAVE LIVED ON EDGE

WHILE TARA ROSE MUNSEY'S
MURDERER ROAMS FREE.

NOW A WOMAN SAYS
SHE KNOWS WHO DID IT.

Davis: WE MET THAT INDIVIDUAL,
AND WE INTERVIEWED HER.

AND IN FACT, SHE DID GIVE US
QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

Narrator:
SHE EXPLAINED SHE HAS A TENANT,
A MAN NAMED JEFFREY THOMAS.

Ritter:
SHE TELLS US

THAT JEFF HAD BEEN AT STAYING AT
HER HOUSE IN THIS RURAL COUNTY

AND THAT HE'S ACTING
VERY STRANGE.

Narrator: ON THE NIGHT
OF TARA'S DISAPPEARANCE,

HE WAS DOWNRIGHT SCARY.

Fleenor: SHE RECALLED
THAT HE CAME HOME LATE,

THAT HE WAS UPSET,
THAT HE WAS DIRTY,

HIS CLOTHES WERE DISHEVELED,

AND TOLD HER
THAT HE HAD DONE SOMETHING.

I DID SOMETHING.

AND WHEN SHE ASKED HIM
TO EXPLAIN IT,

HE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN
WITH A YOUNG LADY

AND THAT WHEN SHE REFUSED
TO DO WHAT HE WANTED,

THAT HE HAD SHOT HER.

Ritter: HE HAD SHOT THIS GIRL
THREE TIMES IN THE HEAD

AND ONE IN THE CHEST.

WE HADN'T RELEASED

ANY INFORMATION
ABOUT EXACTLY HOW TARA DIED,

AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT KNEW
THAT WAS THE INVESTIGATORS.

SHE ACTUALLY TOLD US HOW
MANY TIMES SHE WAS SHOT
AND WHERE SHE WAS SHOT.

SO, SHE HAD FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE
FROM JEFF HOW SHE WAS KILLED.

Narrator: POLICE ASK WHY SHE
TOOK SO LONG TO COME FORWARD.

Fleenor:
SHE EXPLAINED TO US THAT SHE
WAS AFRAID OF JEFF THOMAS,

THAT HE HAD EXHIBITED
SOME VIOLENT TENDENCIES,

AND SHE WAS AFRAID
AS TO WHAT HE MIGHT DO

IF SHE
REPORTED THIS TO THE POLICE.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

Narrator: THE 30-YEAR-OLD
IS NO STRANGER TO TARA

OR TO THOSE
IN HER INNER CIRCLE.

D.D.:
MY SISTER KNEW JEFFREY THOMAS

BECAUSE HE WAS DATING
THE MOTHER OF HER BOYFRIEND.

SO SHE, YOU KNOW, INTERACTED
WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.

HEY, TARA,
HOW YOU DOING?

Fleenor:
TARA'S BOYFRIEND, LOUIS,

WHEN HE WENT OFF
TO ILLINOIS IN THE MILITARY,

HE HAD ASKED JEFFREY THOMAS
TO KIND OF KEEP AN EYE OUT

AND TO WATCH OUT FOR HER.

Narrator:
POLICE KNOW HIM, TOO.

HE WAS AT
THE GATHERING TARA WENT TO

THE AFTERNOON
BEFORE SHE VANISHED.

Fleenor:
ALL THE KIDS WERE ALL ABOUT
THE SAME AGE, 15, 16 YEARS OLD,

AND THEN HERE WE HAVE THIS ADULT
WHO'S BASICALLY TWICE THEIR AGE.

Narrator:
BUT AUTHORITIES

NEVER HAD ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
AGAINST HIM.

WHEN QUESTIONED,

THOMAS INSISTS HE HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SLAYING.

INVESTIGATORS ASK HIM
IF HE'S EVER USED A.22 RIFLE.

HE ADMITS HE DID HAVE ONE
AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDER.

Fleenor: HE SAID THAT
HE HAD BORROWED A RIFLE

FROM HIS FRIEND
CHARLIE BURKE.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

WE HAD QUICKLY, VERY QUICKLY,
LOCATED MR. BURKE,

AND HE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE.

Fleenor: CHARLIE ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT HE HAD, IN FACT,

LOANED A.22-CALIBER RIFLE
TO JEFF THOMAS

AND THAT HE HAD
NEVER RECEIVED IT BACK,

THAT AS FAR AS HE KNEW,

JEFFREY THOMAS
STILL HAD THE RIFLE.

JEFFREY THOMAS DENIED THAT

AND SAID THAT HE
HAD RETURNED THE GUN.

[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: WITH NO WEAPON,

THEY NEED SOMETHING
TYING THOMAS TO THE SHOOTING.

WE WERE ABLE TO SEARCH
THE AREA OF MR. BURKE'S HOME

WHERE HE HAD TOLD US

THAT THEY HAD BEEN
TARGET SHOOTING MONTHS BEFORE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND
TWO CARTRIDGE CASES.

THE FORENSIC LAB
NOTIFIES US ALMOST IMMEDIATELY

THAT THOSE TWO CASINGS
THAT WE FOUND

WERE IDENTICAL TO THE ONE
FOUND NEAR THE BODY.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW
THE WEAPON THAT WAS USED,

WE KNEW THE PERSON
THAT HAD THE LAST POSSESSION,

BUT WE DID NOT
HAVE THE RIFLE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
HAVE NO SMOKING GUN,

BUT THEY DO HAVE
SOMETHING BETTER --

THE SMOKES.

WHEN THEY WERE QUESTIONING HIM
AT ONE POINT,

AN INVESTIGATOR NOTICED

THAT HE HAD THIS UNUSUAL WAY
OF SMOKING CIGARETTES.

Fleenor:
HE WOULD LIGHT THE CIGARETTE

AND THEN IMMEDIATELY
TEAR OFF THE FILTER

AND DISCARD THE FILTER

AND SMOKE THE REMAINING PORTION
OF THE CIGARETTE

WITHOUT A FILTER.

Narrator:
JUST LIKE THE CIGARETTE FILTERS
FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE.

Fleenor: ULTIMATELY, THOSE
CIGARETTE BUTTS AND FILTERS

HAD JEFFREY THOMAS'
DNA PRESENT ON THEM,

AND THAT PUT HIM
RIGHT THERE AT THE CRIME SCENE.

Narrator: AND THE SHOE
IMPRESSION LEFT ON TARA'S SHIRT.

WE SEIZED HIS TENNIS SHOES
AND SENT THOSE TO THE LAB,

AND THEY WERE COMPARED

WITH THE FOOTWEAR IMPRESSION
ON HER RESTAURANT T-SHIRT.

AND THOSE ALSO MATCHED.

Narrator:
ON FEBRUARY 18, 2000,

PULASKI COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES

ARREST JEFFREY THOMAS
FOR CAPITAL MURDER.

THEY LATER ADD
AN ATTEMPTED RAPE CHARGE.

HE NEVER ADMITS
ANY WRONGDOING,

BUT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE
THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

HEY, TARA.

Davis:
I THINK, THE NIGHT TARA DIED,

HE REALLY HAD NOWHERE TO GO,
FROM WHAT WE CAN DETERMINE.

AND I THINK HE MET TARA
WHEN SHE GOT OFF,

AND FOR WHATEVER REASON,
TARA GOT IN THE CAR WITH HIM.

I THINK, WHEN HE PARKED HIS CAR
ON THAT RIVER ROAD,

WHICH IS WELL OFF
THE BEATEN PATH,

I THINK THAT AT THAT TIME,
HE PROBABLY MADE A SEXUAL PASS

OR MADE SOME TYPE
OF SEXUAL MOVEMENT ON TARA.

AND I THINK SHE RESISTED.

I THINK HE BEAT HER,

AND I THINK HE EXECUTED HER
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Tara: HELP!

[ PANTING ]

[ GUNSHOT ]
[ PROJECTOR WHIRS ]

Narrator:
JEFFREY THOMAS PLEADS NO CONTEST
AND GETS LIFE IN PRISON.

TARA'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS

STRUGGLE TO COPE
WITH SUCH A SENSELESS LOSS.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE TO FIND OUT
THAT JEFF HAD KILLED TARA.

NOBODY WANTED TO BELIEVE

THAT SOMEBODY THAT KNEW HER
HAD MURDERED HER,

AND ESPECIALLY
HER BOYFRIEND'S PARENTAL FIGURE,

WHO TARA TRUSTED.

Narrator:
TRYING TO PICK UP THE PIECES
OF THEIR SHATTERED LIVES,

TARA'S PARENTS,
BILL AND KITTY, RE-MARRY.

Bill: AFTER TARA'S FUNERAL
AND EVERYTHING,

KITTY AND I
GOT BACK TOGETHER.

IT WAS A LOT BETTER.

WE BONDED BACK TOGETHER.

IT WAS SOMETHING
BOTH OF US NEEDED.

WE NEEDED THAT.

AND I GUESS TARA
BROUGHT US BACK TOGETHER.

D.D.: MY SISTER WAS ALWAYS, YOU
KNOW, PESTERING MY DAD ABOUT,

"WHEN ARE Y'ALL
GONNA GET RE-MARRIED?

"WHEN ARE Y'ALL
GONNA GET BACK TOGETHER?"

AND THEN
SHE ACTUALLY MADE IT HAPPEN.

Narrator: BUT KITTY LOSES
HER BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER.

Roane: I CAN'T...

[ SNIFFLES ]

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
IT'S LIKE FOR BILL AND D.D.

IT'S HARD TO THINK OF WHAT
THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE NOW

IF SHE WAS STILL HERE.

IT'S CRAZY
TO THINK HOW ONE...

ONE DAY
CAN CHANGE EVERYBODY'S LIFE.

Dunn:
I MISS TARA'S LAUGH THE MOST.

TARA JUST HAD THIS LAUGH THAT
WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO LAUGH.

I MEAN, SHE LAUGHED
ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

SHE WAS SO FULL OF LIFE,

AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT I MISS ABOUT HER.

D.D.:
SHE STOOD UP FOR ME,

AND I ALWAYS KNEW
THAT SHE HAD MY BACK.

EVEN THOUGH I HAVE
MY WIFE AND MY FATHER,

IT'S NOT LIKE HAVING A SISTER
THAT YOU'VE GROWN UP WITH.

I MISS HAVING THAT ONE PERSON
THAT I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON.

Bill: I JUST MISS,
I GUESS, HER...

FEISTINESS.

SHE WAS FEISTY.

AND -- WITH LOVE.
FEISTY WITH LOVE.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY TARA WAS.

TARA WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE.

SHE WAS JUST
SOMETHING ELSE, YEAH.