Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 1 - Frozen in Fear - full transcript

Narrator:
DURING A MISSOURI WINTER
THAT'S BONE-CRACKING COLD,

THE WIND AND ICE
CAN'T SLOW THE FLOW OF CRIME.

Oldani:
EVERY PARENT'S NIGHTMARE

IS THAT KNOCK AT THE DOOR
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

THIS NIGHTMARE BECAME A REALITY.

Narrator:
A COLD-BLOODED ATTACK

BY AN ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS
KILLER.

McCulloch:
YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE ON
AN ARMED, TRAINED OFFICER,

WHAT CHANCE
DO THE REST OF US HAVE?

Bell:
YOU COULD SEE IT ON THEIR FACES,

THESE OFFICERS
HAD LOST A -- A FRIEND.



THE PRESSURE WAS ON.
WE HAD TO FIND THIS GUY.

Narrator:
AND A STUNNING TWIST

REVEALS THE KILLER
IS CLOSER TO HOME

THAN ANYONE SUSPECTED.

IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY,
MISSOURI, WINTER SHOWS NO MERCY.

WHEN IT GETS COLD, IT GETS COLD
AND JUST GOES RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

Oldani:
SINGLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES
FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

YOU COULD HAVE ICE AND SNOW
ON THE ROADS FOR DAYS OR WEEKS.

IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS TIME
OF YEAR.

Narrator: DESPITE THE DANGERS,
MOST RESIDENTS LOVE IT HERE,

LIKE 38-YEAR-OLD JOANN LISCOMBE.

Oldani: JOANN GREW UP

IN THE NORTHERN PART
OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

JUST YOUR TYPICAL ST. LOUIS
FAMILY, LIVE IN THE CITY,



WENT TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY,

WENT TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

Ostendorf: SHE WAS VERY
OUTGOING, VERY FRIENDLY,

ALWAYS HAD A SMILE

OR COULD MAKE A JOKE
OUT OF ANYTHING, BASICALLY.

Oldani:
WE WERE TWO MONTHS APART.

I WAS BORN IN APRIL.
SHE WAS BORN IN JUNE.

WE GREW UP TOGETHER, AND
THE FAMILY WAS VERY, VERY CLOSE.

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS,
THE NEW YEARS HOLIDAY.

THERE WAS ALWAYS ITALIAN FOOD,
HOMEMADE MEATBALLS FROM SCRATCH,

HOMEMADE SAUCE AND EVERYTHING.
IT WAS GREAT.

Narrator:
JOANN FOLLOWS IN SEVERAL
FAMILY MEMBERS' FOOTSTEPS

WHEN SHE BECOMES
A POLICE OFFICER.

OUR UNCLE, SKIP,
WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

HE WAS BASICALLY THE INSPIRATION
BEHIND ALL OF US

LATER BECOMING POLICE OFFICERS.

MY TWO BROTHERS
WERE POLICE OFFICERS.

JOANN WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

SHE WAS ASSIGNED
TO THE 1st PRECINCT

IN NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY,
AND SHE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

SHE ENJOYED BEING
A PATROL OFFICER,

AND SHE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

Narrator:
JANUARY 11, 1991,

JOANN WORKS ALONE
ON THE MIDNIGHT PATROL.

Battelle: IT WAS A SLOW SHIFT,
AND SHE STOPPED

AT A -- A CONVENIENCE STORE

TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE
AND CHECK ON THE BUSINESS.

HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU?

UH, PRETTY GOOD.
HOW'S YOUR NIGHT BEEN GOING?

GREAT, THANK YOU.

PLACE ALL RIGHT?

Narrator: TONIGHT WILL NOT
BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Battelle: A LADY CAME IN
AND APPROACHED HER AND TOLD HER

THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WALKING
NORTHBOUND ON HALLS FERRY ROAD,

AND HE WAS ACTING FUNNY.

McCulloch: IT JUST STRUCK HER
AS THIS GUY BEING ODD,

THE WAY HE WAS MOVING AROUND
AND STOPPING AND LOOKING

AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HE SEEMED TO HAVE NO DIRECTIONS.

Oldani:
IT'S 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

IT'S A TERRIBLE NIGHT,
VERY COLD OUT.

FOR A PERSON TO BE OUT WALKING,

EITHER YOUR CAR BROKE DOWN
AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HELP,

OR THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WRONG.

Ostendorf: JOANN SAID THAT
SHE WOULD DRIVE DOWN THAT WAY

AND CHECK IN TO IT

AND SEE IF IT WAS A PERSON
THAT HAD BROKEN DOWN,

NEEDED A RIDE SOMEWHERE,
IF THEY WERE OKAY.

SHE ADVISED THE RADIO DISPATCHER

SHE WAS GOING TO BE OUT,
BASICALLY,

THAT MEANS OUT OF SERVICE,
AT THE PATRICIA RIDGE

AND OLD HALLS FERRY
ON A SUSPICIOUS PERSON.

THAT WAS THE LAST
WE HEARD FROM HER.

Ostendorf: 10 MINUTES GO BY,

AND SHE COULDN'T BE REACHED
ON THE RADIO.

SO THE DISPATCHERS SENT AN
OFFICER TO CHECK ON HER WELFARE.

Narrator: BUT BEFORE BACKUP
ARRIVES, A PASSERBY

DISCOVERS AN UNUSUALLY LONG
FLASHLIGHT ON THE ICY ROADSIDE.

Ostendorf:
A PERSON LOOKING AT THIS
WOULD KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE

A LAW-ENFORCEMENT
OR POLICE FLASHLIGHT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT THE NORMAL JOHN Q. CITIZEN

IS GOING TO CARRY AROUND,
JUST BECAUSE OF ITS WEIGHT,

BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, ITS LENGTH.

Narrator: AND THEN...

Ostendorf:
A BODY LAYING IN THE SNOW.

IT'S A POLICE OFFICER.

SHE'S OBVIOUSLY WOUNDED,
BLEEDING.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: WHEN THE BACKUP
OFFICER ARRIVES,

HE RECOGNIZES HER.

- I NEED YOU TO CALM DOWN.
- IT'S JOANN LISCOMBE.

STAY RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT, UH, MAN.

Ostendorf: SHE'S UNRESPONSIVE.
SHE IS STILL BREATHING.

THERE'S BLOOD IN THE SNOW
ALL AROUND HER.

SHE'S INCAPACITATED, CAN'T MOVE.

THERE'S AN OBVIOUS GUNSHOT WOUND

TO HER LEFT HAND
AND HER HEAD AREA.

ON THE SNOW,
IT'S SURROUNDED BY BLOOD.

Narrator: THE OFFICER NOTICES
AN IMMEDIATE THREAT.

McCulloch:
THAT MEANT, IMMEDIATELY, THAT --

THAT YOU GOT A GUY OUT THERE
WITH THE OFFICER'S WEAPON

AND A POLICE CAR.

SO HE -- HE COULD BE ANYWHERE
AT THAT POINT.

Narrator: A POLICE AGENCY'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.

IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING
JUST WENT IN SLOW MOTION,

THAT NOTHING
COULD HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH.

Narrator: SIMULTANEOUSLY,
THEY MUST SAVE JOANN,

FIND HER VEHICLE

AND LOCK DOWN THE AREA
TO STOP THE SHOOTER.

Battelle: JOANN WAS TRANSPORTED
TO THE HOSPITAL, TOOK HER IN,

AND THEY DID SURGERY ON HER.

Narrator:
WORD QUICKLY SPREADS.

I WAS WORKING
IN THE HOMICIDE DIVISION

WITH THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT,

AND WE GOT A CALL
FROM THE COUNTY,

AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW
IF WE COULD SEND SOME DETECTIVES

OUT TO HELP THEM.

I COULDN'T PROCESS IT.

I WAS LIKE, "NOT JOANN LISCOMBE.

IT'S NOT JOANN."

Narrator:
AS EMOTIONS RUN HIGH,

OFFICERS GET TO WORK.

Battelle: CRIME-SCENE UNIT WAS
THERE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS,

DOING THEIR MEASUREMENTS
AND SEIZING EVIDENCE.

OUR DETECTIVES WERE WORKING HARD
TRYING TO FIND SOME EVIDENCE

THAT WOULD, UH,
HELP US DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED.

Ostendorf:
WITH THE SNOW ON THE GROUND,

AND WITH THE ICE COVERING IT,

IT DID INHIBIT
WHAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE

EVIDENCE COLLECTION.

TYPICAL TANGIBLE EVIDENCE

THAT WOULD BE LEFT
AT A NORMAL CRIME SCENE,

SAY DURING THE SUMMER TIME,

THIS PUT A CAMOUFLAGE OVER IT.

Battelle: THERE WAS BLOOD --
BLOOD ON THE ICE AND SNOW.

AND THERE WAS, UH,
OBVIOUSLY SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE

THAT OCCURRED THERE.

Narrator: BUT LITTLE ELSE.

McCulloch: THE PROBLEM WE HAD

WAS THAT EVERYTHING WAS FROZEN,
YOU KNOW,

THERE'S THAT ICE LAYER ON TOP.

AND YOU WOULD NOT BREAK
THROUGH THAT ICE LAYER,

SO THERE WERE NO FOOTPRINTS
LEFT IN -- IN THE ICE.

Ostendorf:
THAT'S HOW HARD IT WAS.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT,
IF ANYTHING,

WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THAT SNOW.

Narrator:
BASED ON JOANN'S INJURIES,

INVESTIGATORS TRY TO PIECE
TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED.

SHE HAD SUFFERED
TWO GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF THE HEAD.

THERE WAS ANOTHER INJURY
TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD

FROM BEING STRUCK
BY THAT FLASHLIGHT

THAT WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE.

Narrator: AND NOW POLICE MUST
RACE TO CATCH AN ASSAILANT

WHO COULD APPEAR
TO BE ONE OF THEM.

McCulloch: COULD BE
IMPERSONATING AN OFFICER.

THERE'S A RADIO IN THE CAR,

AND SO ANYTHING THEY'RE SAYING,
HE MAY BE HEARING.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A GUY

WHO'S DRIVING AROUND NOW
ACTING LIKE THE POLICE.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: ON AN ICY NIGHT
IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI,

OFFICER JOANN LISCOMBE

CLINGS TO LIFE
AFTER BEING SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.

POLICE BELIEVE THE SHOOTER FLED
WITH HER WEAPON AND HER VEHICLE.

ALL AVAILABLE OFFICERS
FROM SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS

SCRAMBLE TO FIND THE GUNMAN

BEFORE HE VANISHES
OR ATTACKS ANYONE ELSE.

Battelle: THIS PERSON
THAT ASSAULTED JOANN

IS OBVIOUSLY A VIOLENT PERSON.

THAT VIOLENCE, UH, YOU KNOW,

COULD VERY WELL EXTEND
TO OTHER PEOPLE

THAT HE MAY CONFRONT, TOO.

Narrator: FINALLY,
THEY SPOT JOANN'S VEHICLE

ABOUT A MILE
FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

THE CAR IS JUST PARKED.

IT'S NOT ABANDONED,
JUST UP ON SOMEBODY'S LAWN,

AND CLEARLY SOMEBODY
HAD RUN AWAY.

IT'S PARKED AT THE CURB,
THE DOORS ARE CLOSED,

THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON.

Ostendorf:
THEY SURROUNDED THE CAR

AND CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHED IT,

NOT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WAS A SUSPECT IN THERE,

WHETHER OR NOT THERE COULD BE
ANOTHER VICTIM IN THERE.

WHO KNOWS WHAT WAS IN THERE.

McCulloch: IT WAS CLEARLY
SOMEBODY HAD PULLED IT UP

AND PARKED IT RIGHT THERE,
AND THEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR,

AND THEN DISAPPEARED.

Narrator:
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

LEAD AWAY FROM THE CAR
A SHORT DISTANCE.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE A NEW FOCUS
IN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE SHOOTER.

Bell:
POLICE WERE THEORIZING...

CLEAR.

...THAT THIS IS A LOCAL.

NOT ONLY HAD HE BEEN
WALKING IN THE STREET

WHEN THE OFFICER CONFRONTED HIM,

BUT HE DROVE THE CAR
A SHORT DISTANCE

IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA,
ABANDONED THE CAR,

AND THEN WAS ON FOOT AGAIN.

WE WERE WORRIED THAT HE WOULD BE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

EITHER BREAKING INTO A HOME
TO SEEK REFUGE,

OR TO HIDE.

Narrator:
OR TO HARM SOMEONE ELSE.

Ostendorf: WE HAVE HUNDREDS
OF POLICE OFFICERS

DOING DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASES,
CHECKING WITH THE RESIDENTS.

AND WE'RE JUST WONDERING
IF YOU'VE HEARD

OR SEEN ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.
- I HAVEN'T SEEN A THING.

- HEAR ANY GUNSHOTS?
- NO.

LOOKING IN OUT-SHEDS,
LOOKING IN DETACHED GARAGES,

LOOKING UNDER PORCHES,

GOING THROUGH PEOPLE'S
BACKYARDS,

LOOKING IN THEIR CARS
THAT ARE PARKED OUTSIDE.

Bell:
THIS WAS THE LARGEST SEARCH

IN THE HISTORY OF THE ST. LOUIS
COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ABOUT 200 OFFICERS

FROM A DOZEN DEPARTMENTS
SHOWED UP TO HELP THE SEARCH.

Narrator: THEIR TARGET
IS AN ESPECIALLY SEVERE THREAT.

McCulloch: ANYONE WHO IS GOING
TO SHOOT AND ATTACK

AN ARMED,
UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER,

THAT INDIVIDUAL IS A GREAT
DANGER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WILLING
TO TAKE ON AN ARMED, UNIFORMED,

TRAINED OFFICER,

WHAT CHANCE
DO THE REST OF US HAVE?

Narrator: AT THE HOSPITAL,

JOANN'S FAMILY
BEGINS A REVERENT VIGIL.

Oldani: I GOT A CALL
FROM MY BROTHER RON,

TELLING ME THE BAD NEWS.

SO I GOT DRESSED AND, UH, WENT
TO CHRISTIAN NORTHEAST HOSPITAL,

WHERE THE FAMILY
WAS ALREADY GATHERING, AND,

UH, JOANN'S MOM, MY AUNT ROSIE
AND UNCLE ART WERE THERE,

AND OBVIOUSLY VERY UPSET
BY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
IT WAS --

THE FAMILY WAS THERE,

SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS
FROM THE COUNTY AND, YOU KNOW,

BASICALLY THE DOCTOR SAID IT WAS
JUST A MATTER OF WAITING TO SEE

IF ANYTHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

Narrator: IT'S ESPECIALLY
DIFFICULT FOR JOANN'S PARENTS.

Oldani:
HER PARENTS WERE INDEPENDENT,

BUT THEY WERE GETTING UP IN AGE,

AND JOANN WOULD SEE TO IT
THAT THEY WERE TAKEN CARE OF,

THAT THEY GOT
TO THEIR DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS,

WENT SHOPPING FOR THEM,
WHATEVER THEY NEEDED.

Narrator: SADLY, THIS ISN'T
HER PARENTS' FIRST BRUSH

WITH TRAGEDY.

Oldani: HER BROTHER PASSED AWAY
AT A -- AT A VERY YOUNG AGE,

SO JOANN WAS THE ONLY CHILD.

SHE WAS ALWAYS CLOSE
TO HER PARENTS,

SO WHEN SHE LOST HER BROTHER,

THAT EVEN BONDED
THEM MORE CLOSELY

BECAUSE SHE KNEW THE PAIN

THAT HER PARENTS
WERE FEELING FOR THE LOSS

OF THEIR SON, HER BROTHER.

EVERY PARENT'S NIGHTMARE

IS THAT KNOCK AT THE DOOR
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED
TO YOUR CHILD.

THIS NIGHTMARE BECAME A REALITY.

Narrator:
CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION,

CRIME-SCENE TECHS
FULLY PROCESS JOANN'S VEHICLE.

FINGER-PRINTED IT,
DID FORENSICS ON IT,

NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY
WAS FOUND IN THE CAR

THAT WOULD HELP US
FIND THE SUSPECT.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,

AS THE SEARCH
FOR THE GUNMAN GOES ON,

DETECTIVES RETURN TO THE SCENE

TO LOOK FOR CLUES
BENEATH THE ICY SNOW.

Ostendorf: WE TOOK PORTABLE
PROPANE HEATERS UP TO THE AREA

AND STARTED MELTING THE ICE
AND SNOW

AROUND WHERE THIS OCCURRED.

BASICALLY WE WERE LOOKING
FOR ANY EVIDENCE

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED
BY THE BLANKET OF ICE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR -- IS THERE
A NEEDLE IN THIS HAYSTACK?

Narrator:
THE EFFORT PAYS OFF.

Ostendorf:
WITH THE METAL DETECTORS,

WE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER
SOME BULLET PROJECTILES

THAT HAD BEEN SHOT
AND HAD COME TO REST

WITHIN THE DIRT
UNDERNEATH THE SNOW AND ICE.

Narrator: THEY LIKELY
WERE SHOTS THAT MISSED JOANN.

BALLISTICS ANALYSIS
REVEALS A SCARY NEW DETAIL.

Bell: SHE HAD BEEN SHOT
BY TWO DIFFERENT GUNS --

HER OWN SERVICE REVOLVER,

AND THEN ANOTHER GUN.

Narrator:
JOANN'S SERVICE REVOLVER

IS A SMITH & WESSON.357.

TESTS SHOW THE SECOND GUN
IS A COLT.38.

AS DETAILS OF THE SHOOTING
SPREAD THROUGH THE MEDIA,

MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD
THAT NIGHT COME FORWARD.

Battelle: WE HAD THREE OR FOUR
WITNESSES THAT HAD DROVE BY

AND SEEN THE SUSPECT WALKING
ON THE ROADWAY

BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED.

THEY DESCRIBED HIM, IN GENERAL,
AS A BLACK MALE,

MAYBE 20s TO 30s,
6'2" OR 6'3",

240, WEARING A STOCKING CAP
AND DARK CLOTHING.

Narrator:
DETECTIVES HAVE EACH MOTORIST

SIT WITH A SKETCH ARTIST.

Bell: THE COMPOSITE SKETCH
WAS SO GOOD,

THAT ONE OF THE MOTORISTS SAID
IT WAS EERIE, IT WAS SO GOOD.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE LOOKING
AT A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MAN

THAT HE HAD SEEN.

Narrator:
WORRIED ABOUT OFFICER JOANN,

THE COMMUNITY ISSUES A REWARD.

IT STARTED AT $10,000
AND KEPT GETTING ADDED TO

AND ADDED TO AND ADDED TO
BY BUSINESSES,

BY PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS,

BY INDIVIDUALS.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS HOPE THE SKETCH

AND REWARD WILL HELP THEM
I.D. THE SHOOTER

AND EXPLAIN WHY HE WOULD STRIKE.

Ostendorf:
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT JOANN
COULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED SOMEBODY

THAT WAS ON THE RUN
FROM THE POLICE,

MAYBE HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT.

ALL RIGHT, SIR,
JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS.

Oldani:
IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

FOR WHAT REASON DO YOU WANT
TO TAKE SOMEBODY'S LIFE?

WHAT REASON DO YOU HAVE
TO KILL A POLICE OFFICER

WHO'S TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB?

SHE SUFFERED A WOUND
TO HER HEAD.

SHE WAS SHOT
IN ONE OF HER HANDS.

SHE WAS SHOT TWICE IN THE HEAD.

WHAT WAS ENOUGH FOR THIS GUY?

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

Narrator: AT THE HOSPITAL,
THE VIGIL CONTINUES.

WE SAT AND CRIED AND PRAYED
AND HOPED FOR HER SURVIVAL,

AND SOME OF THE OFFICERS
EVEN SHOWED UP IN THEIR PAJAMAS.

WE'RE JUST WAITING IT OUT,
HOPING FOR THE BEST.

Narrator:
AND THEY SHARE MEMORIES
OF A KIND-HEARTED WOMAN,

WHO GAVE SUCH JOY
TO HER FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

Dueker:
JOANN WAS A VERY LIVELY PERSON.

WHEN SHE CAME INTO THE ROOM,
YOU KNEW SHE WAS THERE.

YOU KNEW THAT LAUGH,
AND YOU KNEW THAT VOICE.

AND YOU KNEW IT WAS GONNA
BE A GOOD DAY.

Bell: VERY ENERGETIC,
ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.

SHE WOULD TAKE FOOD

TO DISPATCHERS
WHO HAD TO WORK ON CHRISTMAS.

Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS
OF PRAYING, JOANN'S FAMILY,

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
RECEIVE DEVASTATING NEWS.

Battelle: IT WAS ON THE 14th
OF JANUARY, AROUND NOON TIME,

WE WERE THERE
AT THE INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT,

STILL WAITING,
UH, TO HEAR ANYTHING.

THE DOCTORS CAME IN, AND JOANN
WAS ESSENTIALLY BRAIN DEAD,

AND ALL THAT WAS OF JOANN
WAS GONE.

HER FATHER JUST STARTED CRYING,

AND HE SAID, "TAKE ME.
TAKE ME," PLEADING TO GOD.

AND, "LEAVE JOANN HERE."

Narrator: THE FAMILY MAKES
ONE FINAL DECISION

TO HONOR JOANN'S LIFE.

Oldani:
THEY KEPT HER ON LIFE SUPPORT

LONG ENOUGH
TO HARVEST HER ORGANS.

AND I BELIEVE A -- A YOUNG MAN
GOT HER HEART,

SO SHE'S STILL OUT THERE
SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: THE BELOVED OFFICER
MAKES TRAGIC HISTORY.

JOANN LISCOMBE
WAS THE FIRST OFFICER

IN THE HISTORY OF THE ST. LOUIS
COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

TO BE SHOT TO DEATH
WHILE ON PATROL.

Narrator: GRIEF WASHES OVER
THE COMMUNITY

AS INVESTIGATORS TRY TO TRAP
THE ICE-COLD KILLER

WHO MURDERED
ONE OF THEIR OWN,

THEN, SOMEHOW,
SLIPPED THROUGH THEIR NET.

Bell:
THEY SEARCHED SO MANY HOMES,
TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE,

BUT THEY WERE COMING UP EMPTY.

THERE WASN'T A ONE OF US

THAT WAS GOING TO NOT DO WHAT WE
COULD DO TO FIND THIS PERSON

THAT KILLED JOANN
AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: ONE FRIGID JANUARY
IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI,

POLICE SEARCH FOR A MAN

SEEN TALKING
TO OFFICER JOANN LISCOMBE

ON THE NIGHT SHE WAS ATTACKED.

THE MANHUNT IS MASSIVE
FOR THE KILLER OF A FALLEN HERO.

McCulloch: SO MANY OFFICERS
WERE IN THAT...

AND IT WAS A LARGE AREA
THAT THEY WERE CANVASSING,

GOING DOOR TO DOOR,
SETTING UP, UH, CHECK POINTS

AND STOPPING EVERY CAR
THAT CAME THROUGH THERE.

Narrator:
THEY DON'T FIND THE SHOOTER,

BUT THE HUGE POLICE PRESENCE
DOES PAY OFF.

CRIME REALLY DROPPED OFF
THE CHARTS.

IT WAS VIRTUALLY CRIME FREE
DURING THAT TIME,

BECAUSE THERE -- THERE WERE SO
MANY POLICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

NOBODY COULD DO ANYTHING
IF THEY WERE INCLINED TO.

Narrator: THEN A MUCH NEEDED TIP
FROM A CALLER

WHO SAW THE COMPOSITE SKETCH
ON THE NEWS.

Ostendorf:
THE CALLER CALLED IN

AND SAID
THAT THE COMPOSITE DRAWING

LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE HE KNOWS THAT
WORKED AT AN AUTO-REPAIR PLACE.

Narrator:
HIS NAME -- RALPH MYERS.

WE DID A RECORD CHECK,
RAN HIM THROUGH THE SYSTEM,

AND WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH HIM,

HAD SEVERAL PRIOR ARRESTS,

HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN WEAPONS
VIOLATIONS, SALE OF NARCOTICS.

HE HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED
AS HAVING THE SORT OF BACKGROUND

THAT IT COULD VERY EASILY
HAVE BEEN HIM.

HE WAS ALSO
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator:
AND HE WORKS IN THE AREA.

Ostendorf:
IN LOOKING FOR RALPH MYERS,

WE WENT TO HIS PLACE
OF EMPLOYMENT,

AND IT TURNS OUT

THAT HE HADN'T SHOWN UP
TO WORK FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS.

Narrator: SINCE ABOUT THE TIME
JOANN WAS ATTACKED.

Ostendorf: HE DOESN'T WANT
TO BE FOUND BY THE POLICE,

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE
WALKING DOWN THE STREET

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

'CAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO DRAW
ATTENTION TO HIMSELF.

Narrator: IS HE ON THE RUN?

ON AN ICY MORNING,
OVER 1,000 MOURNERS GATHER

TO LAY A BELOVED OFFICER
OF THE PEACE TO REST.

Oldani:
THE COUNTY POLICE HELICOPTER
WAS IN THE AIR THAT DAY.

AND THEY REPORTED
THAT BY ALL ESTIMATIONS,

THE FUNERAL PROCESSION
FROM THE CHURCH TO THE CEMETERY

WAS 41/2 TO 5 MILES LONG.

Battelle: AND THIS WAS
A FULL POLICE FUNERAL

WITH ALL THE HONOR AND DIGNITY
THAT WE COULD GIVE HER

AND HER FAMILY
FOR THEIR SACRIFICE.

AFTER ALL, THEY
HAD JUST LOST THEIR DAUGHTER.

JOANN HAD JUST GIVEN HER LIFE
IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

Narrator: CHIEF BATTELLE
DELIVERS A TOUCHING EULOGY

ABOUT A DEVOTED DAUGHTER
AND A DECORATED OFFICER.

Battelle: I SPOKE
TO OUR POLICE FAMILY ITSELF

AND TOLD THEM
WE OWED IT TO JOANN

TO BE STRONG AND TO PER--

PERSEVERE, TO DO OUR JOBS
THE BEST WE CAN, YOU KNOW,

THAT SHE GAVE HER LIFE
FOR THE COMMUNITY,

AND WE GOT TO CARRY ON
HER LEGACY.

Bell:
YOU COULD SEE IT ON THEIR FACES.

THESE OFFICERS HAD LOST
A -- A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE.

THEY WERE RESOLUTE.

THEY WERE DETERMINED
TO FIND THE KILLER.

Narrator: DETECTIVES CONTINUE
THEIR SEARCH FOR RALPH MYERS.

Ostendorf: SO WE FIND OUT
WHERE RALPH MYERS IS AT,

AND WE TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY.

AND WE BRING HIM INTO
THE DETECTIVE BUREAU,

AND WE TALK TO HIM.

Narrator: BUT NO DIRECT EVIDENCE
LINKS HIM TO THE MURDER.

MORE BAD NEWS --
STILL NO SIGN

OF JOANN'S MISSING.357
OR THE COLT.38.

IF THEY FOUND ONE OF THE GUNS,

THEY THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT
THEY COULD FIND HER KILLER.

Ostendorf:
WE LOOKED EVERYWHERE --

DRAINAGE DITCHES,
CONCRETE CULVERTS.

WE LOOKED DOWN STORM SEWERS,
REMOVED THE SEWER LIDS.

WE LOOKED EVERYWHERE WE
COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF LOOKING

WHERE IT MIGHT BE HIDDEN.

Narrator:
AFTER DAYS OF SEARCH, NOTHING.

INVESTIGATORS REVIEW JOANN'S
LAST CALLS TO DISPATCH.

Battelle: THE RADIO TAPES
INDICATED SHE WAS IN A HURRY

TO GET OUT OF THE CAR,

AND SHE SEEMED IN A HURRY.

AND I THINK SHE RECOGNIZED
WHO IT WAS,

KNEW HE WAS A PROBLEM PERSON
TO BEGIN WITH,

AND SHE WANTED TO GET
OUT OF THE CAR

SO SHE COULD CONFRONT
HIM FACE-TO-FACE.

Narrator: BUT WHO IS HE?

THE REWARD MONEY CLIMBS.

WITHIN A DAY OF HER BEING SHOT,
THE REWARD WAS $10,000.

IT SOON INCREASED TO $25,000.

Narrator:
NOT SURPRISINGLY, TIPS FLOOD IN.

BUT INCREASING THE REWARD

ALSO INCREASES THE NUMBER
OF FALSE TIPS

AND WILD ACCUSATIONS.

Bell: IN THE FIRST MONTH,

THEY TRACKED DOWN
ABOUT 1,500 LEADS.

THEY GOT A LOT OF CALLS,

A LOT OF TIPS FROM PEOPLE
WHO SAW THOSE COMPOSITE SKETCHES

AND THOUGHT THEY KNEW
WHO THAT MAN WAS.

Ostendorf: A LOT OF THESE,
WE HAD FOUND OUT,

UH, WERE PEOPLE CALLING IN

BECAUSE THIS REWARD AMOUNT
WAS GETTING SO MUCH HIGHER.

BUT IT'S EVERY --
EVERY ONE OF THEM

WE HAD TO CHECK OUT
TO ELIMINATE.

Battelle: THE PRESSURE WAS ON.

I MEAN,
WE HAD TO FIND THIS GUY.

HE KILLED A POLICE OFFICER.

HE COULD BE --
VERY WELL BE OUT THERE.

HE'S A DEFINITE THREAT
TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAD ALL HANDS ON DECK,
AND WE WERE ALL IN ON THIS.

WE WERE GONNA DO THE BEST
WE COULD TO FIND THIS PERSON.

Narrator: THESE INVESTIGATORS
WANT JUSTICE

FOR ONE OF THEIR OWN.

WE ALWAYS SAID FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, "THIS MAY TAKE TIME.

WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO STAY
THE COURSE AND DO OUR JOB."

Narrator: 38 DAYS
AFTER JOANN'S MURDER,

NEW INFORMATION FINALLY GIVES
THE CASE REAL FOCUS.

Battelle:
WE GOT A TELEPHONE CALL

FROM THE COUNTY JAIL,
FROM A PRISONER UP THERE,

TRAVIS STOKES.

HE WANTED TO TALK
TO OUR DETECTIVES

BECAUSE HE HAD INFORMATION

RELATED TO THE MURDER
OF JOANN LISCOMBE.

Narrator:
HE DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

STOKES INDICATED HE HAD
WHAT MIGHT BE THE GUN

THAT KILLED JOANN LISCOMBE.

Ostendorf: SO MY PARTNER AND I
WENT UP TO THE COUNTY JAIL

AND SAID, "WHAT DO YOU
KNOW ABOUT THIS GUN?

WE'RE NOT GONNA
LET YOU WALK OUT,

COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO US,

UNTIL WE KNOW
WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER US,

BEFORE WE OPEN
THOSE CELL DOORS."

SO WHAT HE WAS TOLD WAS,

"LOOK, YOU TELL US
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW."

[ FILM PROJECTOR WHIRRING ]

Narrator: STOKES CLAIMS HE GOT
A COLT.38 SNUB-NOSED REVOLVER

FROM A FRIEND
SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOOTING.

HE NAMES THE FRIEND
AS DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

STOKES SAYS HE TOLD BLACKMAN
HE NEEDED A GUN FOR PROTECTION,

KNOWING BLACKMAN WOULD WANT
TO GET RID OF IT.

McCulloch: HIS STORY WAS

THAT HE CONNED
DENNIS JR. OUT OF THE GUN,

BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT
HE WAS WANTED BY THE POLICE,

AND HE NEEDED A BARGAINING CHIP.

Narrator: IS STOKE'S STORY
ANOTHER FALSE LEAD

CALLED IN FOR REWARD MONEY?

THIS ONE HAS A SHOCKING TWIST.

TURNS OUT DENNIS IS THE SON

OF A ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN
POLICE CAPTAIN.

THAT, HUH, KIND OF TOOK
BOTH OUR BREATH AWAY.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI,

INVESTIGATORS WORKING THE
OFFICER JOANN LISCOMBE SLAYING

HAVE A FRIGHTENING
NEW DEVELOPMENT.

A MAN NAMED TRAVIS STOKES

CLAIMS THE KILLER
COULD BE DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.,

THE SON OF A POLICE CAPTAIN.

IT'S UNIMAGINABLE.

THE ST. LOUIS POLICE COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A FAMILY.

HAD ONE OF THEM
GUNNED DOWN JOANN?

McCulloch: HE WAS THE SON
OF A FELLOW POLICE OFFICER.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT
JUST TO, I THINK,

FOR A LOT OF THEM
TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT.

Narrator:
RECORDS SHOW THE CAPTAIN

REPORTED ONE OF HIS GUNS
MISSING BEFORE THE SHOOTING.

IT'S A COLT.38, THE SAME TYPE
USED TO SHOOT JOANN.

Ostendorf: SO WHEN WE WENT
TO TALK TO TRAVIS IN THE JAIL,

HE SAID THAT HE NOT ONLY KNOWS
ABOUT CAPTAIN BLACKMAN'S GUN

AND HAD SEEN DENNIS
WITH THAT GUN,

BUT THAT HE CURRENTLY
HAD IT AT HIS HOUSE.

Narrator:
BUT TRAVIS STOKES IS IN JAIL

AND HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD.

IS HE TRYING TO SET UP
THE SON OF A POLICE CAPTAIN

AND GRAB THE REWARD?

THEY LOOK
INTO DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

Ostendorf:
DENNIS BLACKMAN JR., WE LEARNED,

HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN A SEXUAL-ASSAULT-TYPE CASE,

AND THAT THAT WAS STILL PENDING
IN COURT.

AS A CONDITION OF HIS RELEASE
ON THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT,

HE WAS UNDER HOUSE ARREST
WITH HIS PARENTS.

Battelle: DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.
LIVED, PROBABLY,

LESS THAN A MILE
FROM WHERE THE CRIME OCCURRED,

WHERE JOANN LISCOMBE WAS KILLED.

Narrator: SEEMS OFFICERS
ACTUALLY CHECKED HIS HOME

THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING.

DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.'S HOUSE
WAS ONE OF THE HOUSES

THAT WE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.

WE'RE CANVASSING...

TURNS OUT THAT HIS,
DENNIS BLACKMAN JUNIOR'S, FATHER

WORKS FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN METROPOLITAN AREA

AND IS A RANKING OFFICER THERE.

HE SAID HIS SON WAS AT HOME.
- OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

Narrator: THIS IS BEFORE
WIDESPREAD USE

OF ELECTRONIC ANKLE MONITORS.

BLACKMAN'S HOUSE ARREST IS
TO BE SUPERVISED BY HIS PARENTS,

ONE OF WHOM IS A COP.

I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE
THIS POLICE CAPTAIN'S WORD.

EVERYTHING'S OKEY-DOKEY,
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT HOUSE.

Narrator:
BLACKMAN WAS HOME THAT NIGHT.

THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID ABOUT
THE MAN WHO'S ACCUSING HIM.

TRAVIS STOKES WAS NOT IN JAIL
THAT NIGHT, SO, YOU KNOW,

POTENTIALLY, HE COULD HAVE BEEN
A SUSPECT OR --

OR AN ACCOMPLICE,
OR SOMETHING, IN THIS.

McCulloch: IS HE THE GUY WHO DID
THIS, OR WAS HE THERE?

DOES HE KNOW MORE ABOUT IT
THAN HE'S TELLING US?

SO THOSE ARE ALL REAL CONCERNS,

AND SO WE WERE NOT
ABOUT TO MAKE ANY DEALS WITH HIM

UNTIL WE KNEW ALL
OF THAT INFORMATION ABOUT HIM.

Ostendorf: WE DID GET
A COURT ORDER FROM A JUDGE.

TRAVIS,
WHO WAS RELEASED IN OUR CUSTODY,

WE THEN TOOK HIM BACK
TO HIS HOUSE,

AND HE TOLD US WHERE THE GUN
WAS WITH HIM PRESENT THERE.

HE HAD IT WRAPPED IN A RAG

ON THE TOP SHELF
IN HIS BEDROOM CLOSET.

HE SAID, "THAT'S WHERE IT WAS."

WE OPEN IT UP, OPEN THE RAG,

AND HERE IS A COLT.38
SNUB-NOSED REVOLVER.

ALL THESE DAYS AND NIGHTS,

AND ALL THESE LEADS
THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH,

WE SEE A LIGHT
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

IT'S NOT AN AMTRAK COMING AT US.

I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT
THIS IS THE FIRST POSITIVE HIT

WE'VE GOTTEN
SINCE THIS THING STARTED.

AFTER WE SEIZED THE GUN,

WE TAKE TRAVIS BACK DOWN
TO THE DETECTIVE BUREAU

AND GET A DETAILED STATEMENT
FROM HIM.

Narrator: THEY GRILL HIM ABOUT
THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING.

Ostendorf:
AND HE SAID THAT DENNIS,

WHO WAS SUPPOSED
TO HAVE BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST,

HAD CALLED HIM
AND WANTED TO GO OUT.

AND THAT TRAVIS WAS SUPPOSED
TO GET A CAR AND PICK HIM UP.

Narrator: BUT TRAVIS CLAIMS
HE COULDN'T GET A CAR,

SO HE NEVER SHOWED UP.

HE SAYS HE WAS NOWHERE
NEAR THE CRIME SCENE.

THE GUN MIGHT PROVE OTHERWISE.

WE SENT IT
OVER TO OUR BALLISTICS,

AND THEY DETERMINED
THAT THAT GUN, IN FACT,

DID FORENSICALLY MATCH
THE BULLETS

THAT WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE
WHERE JOANN WAS SHOT.

Narrator:
BUT WHO FIRED THE FATAL SHOTS,

TRAVIS STOKES
OR DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.?

ONE IMPORTANT DETAIL
SETS THE TWO SUSPECTS APART --

DENNIS FITS THE GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOOTER,

TRAVIS DOES NOT.

TRAVIS' BUILD WAS PROBABLY
5'8", 150 POUNDS,

NO FACIAL HAIR, VERY SMALL,
LEAN-BUILT INDIVIDUAL,

JUST THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED TO US.

WE WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE TRAVIS

AND FOCUS SOLELY
ON DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

EVERY BIT OF EVIDENCE
THAT CAME UP KIND OF

CIRCLED RIGHT BACK TOWARDS HIM
AND AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

WE GET A SEARCH WARRANT
AND GIVE IT TO OUR SWAT TEAM,

AND WE APPROACH
DENNIS BLACKMAN'S HOUSE,

KNOCK-KNOCK,
WE'RE COMING IN.

THEY GO INTO THE HOUSE,

AND DENNIS IS DOWNSTAIRS
IN HIS BEDROOM,

AND HIS PARENTS
WERE NOT HOME AT THE TIME,

AND HE'S TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
WITHOUT INCIDENT.

Narrator: EVERYONE IS STUNNED

THAT THE SON
OF A POLICE CAPTAIN

COULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR JOANN'S DEATH.

WE COULDN'T SEE THIS COMING.

POLICE OFFICERS I TALKED TO
SAID, YOU KNOW, "WE'RE --

WE'RE ECSTATIC THAT WE'VE MADE
AN ARREST, BUT IT -- IT --

IT HURTS US THAT THIS IS
AN OFFICER'S SON," YOU KNOW,

"COULD HAVE BEEN MY SON."

IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL TWIST,

A FATHER OR A PARENT CAN ONLY DO
SO MUCH TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

WHAT THEIR CHILDREN
GET INTO AS THEY BECOME ADULTS

IS REALLY UP IN THE AIR.

YOU DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN.

SO IT'S -- IT'S NO FAULT
OF CAPTAIN BLACKMAN'S.

Narrator: AT THE STATION, POLICE
QUESTION DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

Detective:
ALL RIGHT, DENNIS,

YOU KNOW WHY I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.

- I HAVE NO IDEA.
- WE WANTED TO ASK YOU...

Ostendorf: HE ADMITS THAT
HE WAS AT HOME AT THE TIME.

HE SAYS HIS PARENTS
WERE AT HOME THE WHOLE TIME.

HE SAID THAT HE HEARD THE SIRENS
GOING UP AND DOWN THE STREET,

BUT HE WAS AT HOME
THE WHOLE TIME 'CAUSE

HE'S UNDER HOUSE ARREST.

THAT WAS HIS FIRST STORY.

WHAT ABOUT THE GUN THAT WAS
STOLEN FROM YOUR DAD'S CAR?

WE ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW ANYTHING

ABOUT HIS FATHER'S GUN
BEING STOLEN.

AND HE KNEW A LOT
OF DETAILS ABOUT THAT GUN,

WHERE IT WAS TAKEN FROM...

EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T --

DIDN'T ADMIT TO HAVING IT
IN HIS POSSESSION AT ANY TIME.

WE TELL HIM
THAT WE HAVE HIS FATHER'S GUN,

AND IT DOES MATCH
THE MURDER WEAPON,

AND THAT TRAVIS
SAYS HE GOT IT FROM HIM,

DENNIS, AFTER THE SHOOTING.

Narrator: BLACKMAN
SUDDENLY CHANGES HIS TONE

AND HIS ENTIRE PERSONALITY,

CLAIMING HE'S ACTUALLY
NOT DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS
IN MY CAREER BEFORE.

MY PARTNER AND I JUST KIND
OF SAT BACK IN OUR CHAIRS

AND GOING, LIKE,
"WHAT IS GOING ON?

DENNIS, WHAT'S GOING ON?"

AND HE -- HE CAME BACK WITH,

"I'M NOT DENNIS.
I'M DEATH."

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: AFTER THE MURDER
OF OFFICER JOANN LISCOMBE

IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI,

HOMICIDE DETECTIVES INTERROGATE
SUSPECT DENNIS BLACKMAN JR.

AT FIRST, BLACKMAN
CLAIMS HE WAS HOME ALL NIGHT.

BUT THEN HE CHANGES.

McCulloch:
HE TRIED SELLING THE STORY

THAT HE HAS
THIS OTHER PERSONALITY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE WAS THIS VERY...

THEY'D LOOK AT HIM

AND SAY HE HAD A DIFFERENT LOOK
ON HIS FACE.

HE HAD A DIFFERENT MANNER
ABOUT HIM, DIFFERENT TONE,

BECAME VERY --
HE WAS ALREADY VERY BIG,

BUT JUST LOOKED
A LOT BIGGER ALL OF A SUDDEN.

Ostendorf: DENNIS BASICALLY TOOK
US THROUGH THE WHOLE SCENARIO

OF WHAT HAPPENED
IN THIS THIRD PERSON,

AS THIS DEATH GUY.

Narrator: DEATH SAYS DENNIS
WANTED TO DO SOME DAMAGE

THAT NIGHT.

[ FILM PROJECTOR WHIRRING ]

SO HE SLIPPED
OUT OF HIS PARENT'S HOUSE.

THEY HAD NO IDEA.

TRAVIS STOKES FAILED
TO PICK HIM UP,

SO HE JUST WANDERED AROUND.

Ostendorf: SO HERE'S DENNIS
NOW WALKING UP HALLS FERRY.

HE'S OUT OF HIS HOUSE.
HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.

HE'S GOT HIS DAD,

CAPTAIN BLACKMAN'S,
STOLEN GUN ON HIM,

HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE.

AND HE'S GOT A POLICE OFFICER

THAT APPROACHES HIM WANTING
TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

DEATH TELLS US THAT DENNIS
WAS APPROACHED BY JOANN

AND ASKED HIM
IF HE WAS ALL RIGHT,

IF SHE CAN GIVE HIM A RIDE
ANYWHERE.

HE SAID, "NO.
HE'S PERFECTLY FINE."

Narrator: JOANN DOESN'T SEE HIM
AS A THREAT

AND A ROUTINE PEDESTRIAN CHECK
TURNS LETHAL.

IT'S A SHOCKINGLY ABRUPT CHANGE,

LIKE HIS SHIFT TO DEATH
DURING THE INTERROGATION.

Ostendorf:
AND THAT HE, FROM DEATH,

HAS PULLED THE GUN OUT,
HIS FATHER'S STOLEN GUN,

AND THEN SHOT JOANN.

Narrator:
HE MAKES THE BIZARRE CLAIM

THAT THE BULLETS WEREN'T MEANT
FOR OFFICER LISCOMBE.

BLACKMAN ABANDONED
JOANN'S VEHICLE

AND RAN ABOUT A HALF MILE
TO HIS HOME.

AS DEATH, HE THEORIZES DENNIS
THREW HER.357 SERVICE REVOLVER

INTO A NEARBY BODY OF WATER.

THAT WEAPON IS NEVER RECOVERED.

IT'S A CHILLING CONFESSION,
BUT HIS ALLEGED DUAL PERSONALITY

COULD JUST BE AN ATTEMPT
TO SEEM INSANE AT TRIAL.

DETECTIVES LEARN JOANN
AND DENNIS BLACKMAN

HAD CROSSED PATHS BEFORE.

SHE DROVE HIM TO THE STATION

WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED
ON THE EARLIER, UNRELATED,

SEXUAL-ASSAULT CHARGE.

BUT THAT NIGHT ON THE ROAD,

HE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL,

SO SHE WAS JUST GOING
TO LEAVE HIM IN PEACE.

HE HAD OTHER PLANS.

Battelle: JOANN WAS ALWAYS KNOWN
TO BE TOUGH UNDER PRESSURE.

BUT IN THIS CASE,

I THINK SHE JUST GOT OVERWHELMED
BY SOMEBODY TWICE HER SIZE.

HE NOT ONLY MURDERED HER,
HE EXECUTED HER.

Narrator:
ON FEBRUARY 19, 1991,

DENNIS BLACKMAN JR. IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

AFTER A 13-DAY TRIAL
AND 2 DAYS OF DELIBERATION,

THE JURY REJECTS
THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE,

WHICH CARRIES
A POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE.

THEY FIND HIM GUILTY
OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER,

AND A JUDGE SENTENCES HIM
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

I WORKED IN THE SAME BUILDING
WITH THE SUSPECT'S FATHER.

WE WERE FRIENDS.

I WAS SHOCKED, I MEAN,
JUST WHAT A SMALL WORLD THIS IS,

THAT THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER
WHO I WORKED WITH

KILLED A POLICE OFFICER
WHO WAS MY COUSIN.

Narrator:
FOR YEARS AFTER HER DEATH,

THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE

KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE
OVER JOANN'S MOTHER AND FATHER.

Oldani: IT WAS AMAZING,

THE COUNTY POLICE
RALLIED AROUND MY AUNT AND UNCLE

FROM THE MOMENT JOANN WAS SHOT.

THEY ASSUMED
JOANN'S RESPONSIBILITY,

RESPONSIBILITY
THAT SHE HAD UNDERTAKEN

WHEN HER PARENTS
NEEDED HER HELP, REALIZED THAT,

AND THEY TOOK OVER.

YOU AFFECT A LOT OF LIVES.

IT'S A RIPPLING EFFECT.

IT WAS HARD ON THE FAMILY.

I KNOW IT WAS HARD
ON THE COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I KNOW IT IMPACTED
THE PEOPLE

THAT LIVED ON THE BEAT
SHE PATROLLED.

THEY LOST A FRIEND.

THEY LOST SOMEBODY
THAT WAS LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.