Ice Cold Killers (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 5 - Slaying Season - full transcript

Narrator:
IN FROZEN NEW ENGLAND,

WOMEN START TO VANISH
ONE BY ONE.

I REMEMBER RUNNING ASKING
WAS THAT MY LORETTA?

THERE WERE OTHER HOMICIDES
OF FEMALES SIMILAR IN NATURE.

[ SCREAMING ]

Narrator: A CITY IN PANIC...

I GO, "WHY'S HE PICKING UP
THE PACE?"

[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator:...AND A KILLER
ONE STEP AHEAD.

EVERY ONE
OF THESE WOMEN WAS MURDERED

IN COLD, HEARTLESS MANNER.



YOU START TO LOOK AT EVERYONE.

EVERYONE'S A SUSPECT.
EVERYONE'S GUILTY.

ON YOUR KNEES!

Narrator:
WITH STAKES THIS HIGH,

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

AND IT DOES.

THE YOUNG MAN POUNCED AND THEN
PUMMELED HIM WITH PUNCHES.

THE WORST SERIAL KILLER
IN MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY.

Narrator: WINTER PUMMELS
THE WORKING-CLASS CITY

OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hamel: SPRINGFIELD WINTERS
IN GENERAL CAN BE BRUTAL.

YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE WORST,

BUT IT ALWAYS SOMEHOW TURNS OUT
WORSE THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT.

THE SNOW WAS SO DEEP,
WE OPENED OUR BACK DOOR



AND THE SNOW FELL
INTO THE HOUSE.

[ CHUCKLES ]
BRUTALLY COLD.

Narrator: THE BRUTAL COLD
DOESN'T FREEZE CRIME.

Meara: THE CITY IS LIKE
EVERY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

IT'S HAD ITS PERIODS OF TIME
WHERE IT HAS BEEN SAFER,

AND PERIODS OF TIME WHERE
THERE'S A LITTLE MORE DANGER

AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE DARKER.

Narrator: THE WINTER
OF 1998 WILL PROVE TO BE

ONE OF THE DARKEST.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

38-YEAR-OLD LORETTA DANIELS
HAS ALWAYS CALLED THE CITY HOME.

ONLY 4'11",

THE FEISTY YOUNGEST
OF 11 SIBLINGS IS

FONDLY REFERRED TO
AS "LITTLE BIT."

Moore: SHE WAS FULL
OF LAUGHTER AND LIFE

AND SHE HAD AN INFECTIOUS SMILE.

SHE ALWAYS SEEN THE GLASS
HALF FULL, SO TO SPEAK.

Narrator:
SHE AND HER OLDER SISTER,

HATTIE, ARE ESPECIALLY CLOSE.

Hattie: I WAS DEFINITELY LIKE
A MOTHER TO HER.

SHE WAS NICE AND PLEASANT
AND WOULDN'T HARM A FLY.

SHE WOULD MAKE YOU SMILE.

IT WOULDN'T BE A DAY PASSED

THAT, YOU KNOW,
I DIDN'T SEE HER.

AND IF I DIDN'T SEE HER,
SHE'D ALWAYS CALL ME.

Narrator: ON JANUARY 31, 1998,
NO CALL COMES.

Hattie:
I DIDN'T HEAR FROM HER.

YOU KNOW, I START ASKING
MY OTHER SISTERS, YOU KNOW,

HAD THEY SEEN HER.

AND MY SISTER DOLORES SAID
THAT SHE HAD SEEN HER,

LIKE, THE DAY BEFORE.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS, WHIRS ]

Dolores: LORETTA.

Narrator: DOLORES EXPLAINS SHE
RAN INTO LORETTA THAT EVENING.

THE MAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN
JUST A FRIEND.

EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS ]

A SECOND DAY PASSES
WITH NO WORD.

WE KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT

BECAUSE NOBODY HAD HEARD
FROM HER IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

Hattie: SHE DIDN'T CALL ME.

SO THEN I GOT IN MY CAR,

WENT OVER TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE
TO PICK THEM UP

SO WE COULD START LOOKING
FOR LORETTA.

Narrator: THEY GO TO TALK
TO LORETTA'S FRIENDS.

THEY HADN'T SEEN HER.

Narrator: IT'S POSSIBLE
LORETTA DECIDED

TO SKIP TOWN FOR A WHILE.

THE TWO SISTERS SHARE
A BANK ACCOUNT.

SO, THEN, WE WENT TO THE BANK.

THE MONEY WAS STILL
IN THE BANK.

SO THEN WE REALLY
GOT CONCERNED,

YOU KNOW,
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

Narrator: ON THE THIRD NIGHT,
HATTIE HAS A DISTURBING VISION.

Hattie: I SEEN LORETTA SITTING
WITH HER LEGS CROSSED.

[ Voice breaking ] HAD HER HAND
OUT TRYING TO MEET MY HAND.

THAT'S THE LAST THING
I'D SEEN OF HER.

AND I KNEW SOMETHING
HAD DONE HAPPENED TO HER.

Narrator:
SHE CALLS SPRINGFIELD POLICE

AND FILES
A MISSING PERSONS REPORT.

BUT BEFORE
AN INVESTIGATION CAN BEGIN,

A MAN WALKING DOWNTOWN
MAKES A CHILLING DISCOVERY.

THIS POOR WOMAN WAS FOUND
PARTIALLY CLAD

NEAR THE POSTAL STATION
IN AN ALLEYWAY IN MASON SQUARE,

WHICH IS A PROMINENT SQUARE.

Narrator: ANOTHER RESIDENT,
A MINISTER, COVERS

THE YOUNG WOMAN.

Hamel: OUT OF RESPECT,
I BELIEVE,

FOR ANOTHER HUMAN BEING,
WHICH I FOUND TO BE

A TOUCHING ASPECT
OF A HORRENDOUS CRIME.

SHE WAS A BLACK FEMALE FOUND
LYING ON HER BACK.

THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS
WERE ABLE TO TELL

THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN
A MANUAL STRANGULATION.

Meara: HER BODY WAS POSITIONED
IN AN UNUSUAL WAY.

HER BOOTS WERE KIND OF PLACED
ORDERLY NEXT TO HER BODY.

SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
AND STRANGLED.

AND THAT IS WHAT WAS CONFIRMED
BY THE CORONER.

Pioggia: IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE

WHETHER IT WAS APPARENT
SHE PUT UP A FIGHT,

IF OUR ATTACKER
COULD'VE BEEN INJURED,

SCRATCHED, ANYTHING
ALONG THEM LINES.

Narrator:
NO SIGN OF DEFENSIVE WOUNDS.

EVEN BEFORE AN I.D. IS MADE,
LORETTA'S NEPHEW SEES

A BREAKING REPORT ON TV
ABOUT A BODY.

Moore: THE NEWS IS ON.
IT'S ON THE NEWS.

AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF,
"THAT'S MY LORETTA."

I JUST GOT THAT GUT FEELING.

I REMEMBER RUNNING
TO THAT PLACE ASKING

WAS THAT LITTLE BIT?

WAS THAT MY LORETTA?

THAT'S MY AUNT LORETTA.

Woman: WE HAVEN'T GOT
ANY INFORMATION ON THIS YET.

Hattie: [ Crying ]
THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME

THAT THEY FOUND A BODY.

AND I TOLD THEM
THAT WAS MY SISTER.

I KNEW IT WAS.

Rene: I WAS DEVASTATED,
SPEECHLESS.

AND YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED

AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN,

YOU KNOW, AND WHY.

I CANNOT IMAGINE
HOW WOULD ANOTHER PERSON

TAKE ANOTHER PERSON'S LIFE.

Pioggia: OUR JOBS
AS INVESTIGATORS AT THAT POINT

WOULD BE TO CANVASS THE AREA
LOOKING FOR WITNESSES.

Narrator: THEY FIND NO ONE
WHO SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING,

AND HOPE THE AUTOPSY
WILL REVEAL MORE.

Rolland:
DURING LORETTA DANIELS' AUTOPSY,

I WAS ASSIGNED
TO ASSIST THE M.E.,

AND IT WAS DISCOVERED
THAT SHE HAD A CLOTH ITEM

DOWN HER THROAT.

Narrator:
A SOCK, LIKELY HER OWN --

IT CONTAINS SEMINAL FLUID.

BUT THERE'S NO SUSPECT
TO COMPARE IT TO.

DETECTIVES TRY TO IDENTIFY
AND QUESTION

ANY MALE SEEN WITH LORETTA
AROUND THE TIME OF HER DEATH.

NO ONE ADMITS KNOWING
ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRIME.

LOOK, IF THERE ARE
NO OTHER QUESTIONS,

CAN I GO HOME NOW?

THANK YOU.

AND INVESTIGATORS FIND NOTHING
TYING ANY OF THEM TO IT.

AS THEY WORK, SOME DETECTIVES
COME TO A TROUBLING REALIZATION.

THE MURDER OF LORETTA DANIELS
SEEMS EERILY FAMILIAR.

WITHIN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS
AND NEARBY,

TWO OTHER WOMEN WERE KILLED.

Meara: SIMILAR HOMICIDES --

SEXUAL ASSAULT, STRANGULATION.

EVERY ONE OF THESE WOMEN WAS
RAPED, ASSAULTED...

[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]

...AND MURDERED
IN A COLD, HEARTLESS MANNER.

Rolland: AND THAT'S WHEN ONE
OF THE INVESTIGATORS SAID,

"THIS ISN'T SOUNDING GOOD.

WE MAY HAVE A SERIAL MURDERER."

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: DURING A HARSH

SPRINGFIELD,
MASSACHUSETTS, WINTER,

LORETTA DANIELS GOES MISSING,

UNTIL HER BODY TURNS UP

IN A DOWNTOWN ALLEY
NEAR THE POST OFFICE.

Rene: THE PLACE
THAT THEY DID FIND HER,

SOMEPLACE THAT YOU JUST
WALK PAST EVERY DAY

AND YOU JUST WOULD NEVER THINK

THAT THEY WOULD FIND
A BODY THERE,

NEVER MIND MY AUNT'S BODY.

Narrator:
SHE'D BEEN RAPED, STRANGLED,

AND HAD A SOCK STUFFED
IN HER THROAT.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I REALLY COULDN'T.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

Moore:
SHE WOULDN'T HAVE HURT ANYONE,

SO IT BOGGLED MY MIND

THAT SHE WOULD BE A VICTIM
TO THAT TYPE OF BRUTALITY.

WHO COULD'VE DONE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WHY?

Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE WAY
LORETTA WAS KILLED,

THEY WONDER IF HER SLAYING

MIGHT BE CONNECTED
TO TWO OTHERS.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS, WHIRS ]

THREE MONTHS EARLIER
AND JUST BLOCKS AWAY

FROM WHERE LORETTA WAS FOUND...

THERE WAS A HOMICIDE
ON SPRING STREET,

A WHITE FEMALE --
NO IDENTIFICATION.

SHE WAS ALSO FOUND
IN A STATE OF UNDRESS.

SHE WAS ALSO FOUND
OUTSIDE AN ALLEY.

Narrator: SHE'S IDENTIFIED
AS DANIELLE TAYLOR.

SHE WAS BOUND AND GAGGED,
AND THAT, TO ME,

HAD THIS SADOMASOCHISTIC
QUALIFICATION TO IT.

Narrator: A CLUE
TO THE KILLER'S PSYCHOLOGY

BUT NOT HIS IDENTITY.

SHE HAD TISSUE FORCED
DOWN HER THROAT

THAT WAS NON-VISIBLE
FROM THE OPEN MOUTH.

THAT HAD TO BE FOUND
BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

THE SAME HELD TRUE FOR
LORETTA DANIELS ON STATE STREET.

SHE HAD A SOCK FORCED
DOWN HER THROAT

WHICH COULD NOT BE SEEN

UNTIL EXAMINED
BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

Narrator: LIKE THE SOCK
FROM LORETTA'S AUTOPSY,

THE TISSUE CONTAINED
SEMINAL FLUID.

AS WITH LORETTA,
THERE WERE NO WITNESSES.

A WEEK AFTER THAT,
ANOTHER VICTIM,

AMANDA LAWSON,
38 YEARS OLD,

JUST LIKE LORETTA.

Meara:
SHE WAS FOUND IN HER HOME

TWO BLOCKS
FROM THE POLICE STATION

GOING UP THE HILL
ON WORTHINGTON STREET.

SHE LIVED THERE WITH HER CHILD,
WHO ACTUALLY MADE THE DISCOVERY.

THE KILLER LEFT
HER DECEASED BODY

IN SUCH A POSITION
WHERE THE SON,

THAT MINOR SON WAS GONNA FIND
HIS MOTHER.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
NO SON SHOULD FIND.

Pioggia: SHE WAS RAPED,
MANUAL STRANGULATION,

AND THERE WAS ALSO A SOCK
UNDERNEATH HER BODY

THAT CONTAINED SEMINAL FLUID.

Narrator: IN THREE CRIME SCENES,
TWO SOCKS AND A TISSUE,

ALL WITH BODILY FLUIDS.

Pioggia: THAT'S KIND OF
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

THAT WOULD INDICATE TO US

THAT THE WOMEN, THEY WERE RAPED,

AND THE SOCK
OR OTHER ITEM WAS USED

TO CLEAN HIMSELF AFTERWARDS.

Narrator: THERE'S
ONE MORE SICKENING TRUTH.

Rolland: THERE WAS EVIDENCE
THAT THERE WAS

POST-MORTEM SEXUAL RELATIONS
WITH THESE VICTIMS.

Narrator: DETECTIVES SEND
THE SOCKS AND THE TISSUE

TO THE LAB TO TRY
TO EXTRACT DNA EVIDENCE.

Pioggia: BACK THEN, DNA WAS
A RELATIVELY NEW SCIENCE.

IT INVOLVED COLLECTING
VIALS OF BLOOD FROM PEOPLE

AND SUBMITTING THEM TO THE LAB,

AND THE PROCESS
OF DEVELOPING THAT PROFILE,

IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

Narrator: ARE THE THREE MURDERS
REALLY CONNECTED?

Rolland: IT WAS TOO EARLY
TO JUMP TO THAT CONCLUSION.

UNTIL THE SCIENCE CAME BACK,
WE KEPT AN OPEN MIND.

Rene: THE COMMUNITY WAS
BASICALLY LIKE,

"OKAY, WE NEED SOME ANSWERS."

EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE PERSON,
YOU WANT TO FIND OUT.

BUT WHEN IT'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE
THAT ARE GETTING KILLED,

WE NEED TO HAVE
SOME KIND OF ANSWERS.

Narrator: NONE OF THE VICTIMS
HAD DEFENSIVE WOUNDS,

AND NO WITNESSES SAW
OR HEARD ANY STRUGGLE.

Pioggia: WE FOCUSED
OUR ATTENTION TO MALE SUBJECTS

WHO WOULD BLEND IN
IN THE COMMUNITY.

SOMEONE THAT THESE WOMEN
WOULD BEFRIEND,

LOOK TO SPEND TIME WITH.

THE POLICE CHIEF
AT THE TIME, PAULA MEARA,

ASSIGNED
A HEAVY UNIFORM PRESENCE

IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS

AS WELL AS AN AWFUL LOT
OF UNDERCOVER OFFICERS.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Meara: WE WORKED
WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE

ON THE STREETS,
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS,

ALL OVER THE CITY,
AND WE WERE GETTING COOPERATION.

SO WE REALLY FELT
THAT IF SOMEBODY KNEW

THAT THEY WOULD COME FORWARD.

WE GOT TIPS.
WE'D GET PHONE CALLS.

Narrator: MOST OF THEM
VAGUE ACCUSATIONS,

NAMES OF MEN
WHO KNEW SOME OF THE VICTIMS.

NO ONE PROVIDES DIRECT EVIDENCE,

BUT THE LIST OF SUSPECTS GROWS.

Moore: WHEN THE BODIES
START TO PILE UP

AND IT'S FOCUSED
ON THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD,

YOU START TO WONDER
AND LOOK AT EVERYONE.

EVERYONE'S A SUSPECT.

EVERYONE'S GUILTY.

Meara: EVERY ONE OF
THESE MURDERS WAS UNWITNESSED,

AND UNWITNESSED MURDERS ARE
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.

Albano: WE DID EVERYTHING
WE COULD IN TERMS OF ADDING

UNLIMITED OVERTIME,

CALLING IN ALL THE EXPERTS IN
THE LAW-ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

Narrator: INCLUDING
FBI PROFILERS

WHO REVIEW DETAILS
OF THE THREE KILLINGS

AND DEVELOP A PROFILE.

Hamel: THEY SAID
THAT HE WAS FAIRLY YOUNG --

30, GIVE OR TAKE.

Meara: THAT THIS PERSON COULD
MOVE IN AND OUT

OF THIS COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
VERY COMFORTABLY

AND WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.

Hamel:
THAT HE DID A TYPE OF WORK

THAT WAS PRECISE AND EXACTING.

Narrator: HE'LL APPEAR NORMAL,
MAYBE EVEN BORING.

THAT HE LIVED AND WORKED
NOT TOO FAR FROM THE AREA.

Narrator:
AND HE DOES NOT LIVE ALONE.

Meara: IT DID COME BACK
THAT THE KILLER WAS LIKELY

AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN.

WE WERE REALLY QUITE SHOCKED
AT THAT

BECAUSE MANY
OF THE SERIAL KILLERS

IN AMERICAN HISTORY
UP TO THAT POINT

HAD BEEN WHITE MEN.

Narrator: PROFILERS ALSO KNOW

SERIAL KILLERS OFTEN KEEP
SOUVENIRS FROM VICTIMS --

CLOTHING, JEWELRY.

THEY'RE UNCERTAIN
IF JEWELRY WAS TAKEN

FROM THEIR THREE VICTIMS,

BUT IF SO, FINDING IT MIGHT
LEAD THEM TO THE KILLER.

Hamel: THERE WAS AN ESCALATING
FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY,

AND THERE WERE WARNINGS
TO EXERT EXTREME CAUTION

IN WHO YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH.

Albano:
THE TENSION WAS SO, SO HIGH

THAT YOU COULD CUT IT
WITH A KNIFE

WHEN YOU WALKED
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU WANT TO CATCH THIS GUY
AS QUICK AS YOU CAN.

Rolland:
THE PUBLIC WAS FRUSTRATED.

WE AS POLICE OFFICERS
WERE FRUSTRATED.

IT TAKES A CERTAIN TYPE
OF PERSON

TO BE A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR,

THE TYPE-A, HARD CHARGING
"LET'S SOLVE THIS."

AND WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO DO THAT.

YOU HAD THREE WOMEN DEAD
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SOON THERE WOULD BE
A FOURTH.

[ SCREAMS ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: IN SPRINGFIELD,
MASSACHUSETTS, POLICE WORRY

THE WINTER MURDERS
OF LORETTA DANIELS,

AMANDA LAWSON,
AND DANIELLE TAYLOR ARE RELATED.

DETECTIVES RECOVER TWO SOCKS
AND A TISSUE

FROM THE THREE SCENES,
ALL WITH BODILY FLUIDS ON THEM.

BUT THEY NEED A SUSPECT
TO COMPARE THEM TO.

Pioggia: THERE'S DNA.

WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS
REALLY GONNA BE THE CONNECT.

Narrator: UNTIL THEY FIND
THAT SUSPECT,

CITY-WIDE FEAR.

Rene: EVERYBODY WAS KIND OF
ON ALERT,

ESPECIALLY WOMEN, YOU KNOW,

WHERE THEY WOULD SAY YOU JUST
DON'T GO OUT BY YOURSELF.

ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE
A SECOND PERSON WITH YOU.

BUT IT WAS A SCARY FEELING.

Narrator: JUST NINE DAYS
AFTER LORETTA'S MURDER...

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Man: HEY, MOM.

MOM?

Man: MOM?

MOM?!

MOM, WAKE UP.

[ Voice breaking ] MOM, WAKE UP.
PLEASE WAKE UP, MOM.

COME ON.

...THE KILLER CLAIMS
A FOURTH VICTIM,

43-YEAR-OLD ROSEMARY DOWNS.

WENT TO THE APARTMENT.
THE SON HAD LET US IN.

THERE WAS NO SIGN
OF A FORCED ENTRY.

THE OBVIOUS SIMILARITIES
WERE STRANGULATION, RAPING.

LEFT AT THE SCENE
AND COLLECTED AND ANALYZED WERE

A PIECE OF CLOTHING
THAT CONTAINED SEMINAL FLUID.

ROSEMARY'S BODY
AND HER APARTMENT,

FROM WHERE LORETTA
WAS FOUND MURDERED, WAS,

AS THE CROW FLIES,
MAYBE NO MORE THAN A HALF MILE.

Narrator: WORD SPREADS QUICKLY
THROUGH ROSEMARY'S FAMILY.

MY OLDEST BROTHER CALLED
TO INFORM US

THAT SHE HAD BEEN KILLED.

THAT'S WHEN WE ALL DROVE

STRAIGHT OVER
TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

[ Voice breaking ] IT WAS HARD
TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS GONE

AND THAT ANYONE WOULD DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HER,

'CAUSE SHE WAS NICE TO...
[ GASPS ]

[ SIGHS ]
SHE WAS GOOD TO EVERYONE.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS, WHIRS ]

Narrator:
ANOTHER SENSELESS SLAYING

OF A GOOD WOMAN LOVED BY MANY.

Hill: SHE WAS
THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.

SHE WAS AWESOME.

WE'D ALWAYS GO OVER THERE.

AND SHE WAS EITHER COOKING
OR HAD SOME MUSIC ON.

SHE LOVED MUSIC.

MY BROTHERS WOULD RATHER GO
TO HER HOUSE IN THE SUMMER

INSTEAD OF GOING TO CAMP.

SHE WAS GREAT.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS ]

I'M RACKING MY BRAIN.

AND EVERYONE I LOOK AT,
I'M ASKING ARE THEY CAPABLE

OF BEING THAT HEARTLESS
AND RUTHLESS TO KILL SOMEONE

AND FEED OFF OF THAT?

JUST A SICK, TWISTED,
MIXED-UP INDIVIDUAL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, "WE GOT
A SERIAL KILLER RUNNING

AROUND IN SPRINGFIELD?
THAT'S CRAZY."

IT'S ABSURD ANYWHERE,

BUT WHERE WE LIVE,
NO, THAT'S CRAZY.

Narrator: WHO IS HE?

WHY THESE WOMEN?

WHY THIS WINTER?

WHAT'S IN THIS GUY'S MIND?
IT STARTED SLOW.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT'S SPEEDING UP,

THE AMOUNT OF HOMICIDES
LIKE THIS.

AND YOU'RE LIKE, "MY GOD,
WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING?

WHY IS HE PICKING UP THE PACE?"

WE WERE SHOCKED AT THE APPETITE
OF THIS KILLER,

THAT HE COULD DO THIS
TO THESE WOMEN

AND, IN NO TIME,
DO IT OVER AGAIN.

Man: WE HAVE TO UNITE
AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER.

Narrator: NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS
HOLD MEETINGS

TO DISCUSS THE CASE.

Rolland: THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY
IN TUNE WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THE CITIZENS WERE AFRAID.

Manolakis: YOU GOT TO HELP THEM
GET THEIR PEACE OF MIND,

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT
TO LIVE IN FEAR.

YOU WANT TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN
TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER.

Narrator: YET,
WHAT THEY WANT IS AN ARREST.

Hill:
AFTER MY AUNT WAS MURDERED,

I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
AROUND ANY MEN.

I COULDN'T TAKE THE BUS
OR ANYTHING

'CAUSE I JUST DIDN'T
TRUST ANYONE,

AND I BASICALLY STAYED
IN THE HOUSE FOR A WHILE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS AGREE
WITH FBI PROFILERS

THAT THE KILLER IS AN INSIDER.

THEY SAID THAT HE MOVED EASILY
THROUGH HIS COMMUNITY.

Meara: SO, WE DID FEEL
THAT THIS KILLER HAD ACCESS

TO THE WOMEN
AND THAT HE KNEW THEM.

Rolland: WE WERE WORKING
20 HOURS A DAY.

SOMETIMES, WE WORKED
AROUND THE CLOCK --

VERY LONG DAYS IN AN ATTEMPT
TO SOLVE THESE CRIMES.

Meara: OFFICERS,
THEY KNOCKED ON DOORS,

THEY TALKED TO EVERYBODY
AND THEIR BROTHER,

AND THEY FOLLOWED UP
ON EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION

THAT THEY HAD.

Rolland: THERE WAS
ONE INDIVIDUAL BEING SURVEILLED

24 HOURS A DAY.

THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD
A CONNECTION TO TWO,

IF NOT THREE
OF THE MURDER VICTIMS.

THERE WAS NOTHING FORENSICALLY
PUTTING HIM AT THESE CRIMES.

IT WAS JUST
THAT HE KNEW THESE FEMALES.

Narrator: THEY FOLLOW HIM,
HOPING TO SPOT HIM WITH TROPHIES

OR OTHER CONNECTIONS
TO THE SLAYINGS,

YET FIND NOTHING.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

HE SUBMITTED TO A DNA SAMPLE.
HE COOPERATED 100%.

AND IT WAS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED
HE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE

FOR THESE HOMICIDES.

Narrator: BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

A FRIGHTENED COMMUNITY
ARMS ITSELF.

THEY HAVE A RUSH OF --
AN INFLUX OF NEW WEAPONS

THAT WERE GOING INTO HOMES
IN THE CITY.

IT CAUSED ME SOME CONCERN, TOO.

REALLY, IT'S SCARY
TO BE OUT AT NIGHT NOW.

I'M SO AFRAID FOR MY DAUGHTERS
RIGHT NOW TONIGHT,

WHEN MY DAUGHTER GETS OFF AT
11:00, I WILL ESCORT HER HOME.

Albano: I CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD
WHY THEY DID IT.

I CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD IT.

BUT IT WAS NOT
A GOOD COMBINATION.

Rolland: IF WE DIDN'T CATCH
THIS PERSON,

WE EXPECTED ANOTHER DEATH
DOWN THE ROAD.

IT HAD TO BE SOMEBODY
THAT JUST DIDN'T HAVE A SOUL.

Narrator: SOMEBODY
WHO'S NOT FINISHED KILLING

AND IS ABOUT TO RIP A MOTHER...

- MWAH.
- ...AWAY FROM HER CHILDREN.

HE'S PROBABLY
THE WORST SERIAL KILLER

IN MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY.

HE'S AN ICE-COLD KILLER.

[ SCREAMS ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator:
OVER FOUR WINTER MONTHS,

A SERIAL KILLER HAS CLAIMED
THE LIVES OF FOUR WOMEN...

INCLUDING LORETTA DANIELS
AND ROSEMARY DOWNS.

Hill: THEY ALL HAD FAMILIES.

AND NONE OF THEM DID
ANYTHING WRONG

TO HAVE THEIR LIFE TAKEN AWAY.

SOMEONE THAT EITHER HAS A SWITCH
THAT GOES ON AND OFF

OR IS JUST PLAIN EVIL.

THIS HAD TO BE
A HEARTLESS MONSTER

TO SNUFF THEIR LIVES OUT PURELY
FOR HIS OWN PLEASURE.

IT WAS JUST STUNNING
BEYOND BELIEF.

Pioggia: HE ALSO HAS TO BE
SOMEBODY THAT THE WOMEN

PROBABLY WOULD
FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

THE FIRST TIME
THAT I EVER SAW IT,

AND I WAS ON THE JOB
FOR 391/2 YEARS --

SUCH HORRIFIC CRIMES
THAT WERE GOING ON.

[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS, WHIRS ]

Narrator: EIGHT DAYS
AFTER ROSEMARY'S MURDER,

FAMILY MEMBERS REPORT

A SPRINGFIELD WOMAN
NAMED VICKY ROBERTS MISSING.

- YOU GUYS GONNA BE GOOD TONIGHT?
- YES.

OH, COME GIVE MOMMY
A HUG.

Narrator: THE 37-YEAR-OLD
SINGLE MOTHER WAS LAST SEEN

LEAVING HER DAUGHTERS
WITH A BABYSITTER

FOR A NIGHT OUT.

- ALL RIGHT, I LOVE YOU.
- SHE WAS A GOOD MOM,

AND I KNOW THAT SHE WOULDN'T
HAVE DESERTED HER CHILDREN.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

THAT SOMETHING EVIL
HAD HAPPENED TO HER.

Hill: ONCE I FOUND OUT
THAT SHE WAS MISSING,

I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT
THAT THIS COULD BE

THE SAME PERSON
THAT KILLED MY AUNT.

[ SCREAMS ]

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS ]

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NEED
TO FIND OUT

WHO VICKY WENT OUT WITH
THAT NIGHT

AND BEGIN QUESTIONING
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE NEXT DAY,
HER CAR TURNS UP NEARBY.

Rolland:
SHE LIVES IN A LARGE COMPLEX

OFF THE NORTH BRANCH PARKWAY.

SHE LIVED ON ONE SIDE,

AND ON THE EXACT OPPOSITE SIDE
WAS HER CAR --

LEFT UNLOCKED.

THERE WAS SOME BLOOD
INSIDE THE CAR, SMEARS.

THERE WASN'T MUCH.
THERE WASN'T MUCH.

Hamel: THIS IS NOT GOOD.

WHETHER YOU ARE LEANING TOWARD
THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER OR NOT,

THIS MAY HAVE A BAD OUTCOME.

Narrator:
THE BLOOD MIGHT BE VICKY'S

OR WHOEVER GRABBED HER.

Rolland: THERE WAS A HOPE
THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

THERE WAS THAT HOPE.

Narrator:
THIS COULD BE THEIR ONE CHANCE

TO SAVE A MISSING WOMAN

BEFORE SHE BECOMES
ANOTHER DEAD BODY.

SHE WAS MISSING.

WE KNEW WE HAD A KILLER
WITH A TREMENDOUS APPETITE.

WE BEAT THE BUSHES.

Pioggia: IN THE AREA
WHERE SHE LIVED,

THERE WAS A HEAVILY WOODED AREA
NOT TOO FAR THAT WAS SEARCHED.

WE HAD OUR CANINES OUT.

WE HAD OUR OFFICERS
DOING SEARCHES.

WE DID EVERYTHING
THAT WE COULD.

WE DIDN'T LOCATE HER.

Narrator: BUT DETECTIVES DO FIND
SOME OF THE PEOPLE

SHE WAS WITH THE NIGHT
SHE VANISHED.

Pioggia: ON THE NIGHT
THAT SHE DISAPPEARED,

SHE WAS IN THE COMPANY
OF A COUPLE FEMALES

AND A MALE.

AND THE COUPLE FEMALES
IDENTIFIED THE MALE SUBJECT.

FINALLY, THEY HAVE A NAME.

VICKY WAS WITH
31-YEAR-OLD ALFRED GAYNOR.

GAYNOR IS WELL KNOWN
IN THE COMMUNITY.

MY AUNT ROSEMARY KNEW GAYNOR.

I DID SEE THEM TOGETHER
ONE DAY WALKING DOWN THE STREET,

AND MY MOTHER KNEW
SOME OF THE GAYNOR FAMILY.

Rene: HIS FAMILY LIVED, LIKE,
ON THE NEXT STREET, YOU KNOW,

SO THE NAME GAYNOR WAS LIKE
A NAME THAT OUR FAMILY KNEW.

YOU KNOW
WHY WE CALLED YOU DOWN HERE?

NOPE.
REALLY?

Rolland: MR. GAYNOR WAS FIRST
BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING.

HE WAS BROUGHT IN NOT
AS A SUSPECT

BUT AS A PERSON WHO WAS LAST
SEEN WITH ONE OF THE VICTIMS.

WHERE WERE YOU ON FEBRUARY 2nd?
DO YOU REMEMBER?

Narrator: HE ADMITS
HE WAS WITH VICKY THAT NIGHT,

BUT THEY SEPARATED WHEN SHE SAID

SHE WANTED TO GO PAWN
SOME EARRINGS.

MR. GAYNOR INFORMED US
THAT HE WAS DROPPED OFF

ON A CERTAIN STREET
IN SPRINGFIELD

AND HE GAVE DIRECTIONS

WHERE TO GO SELL HER JEWELRY
IN HOLYOKE,

AND SHE DROVE OFF BY HERSELF.

THE INTERVIEW LASTED
SEVEN HOURS.

Narrator: HE SWEARS HE DID
NOTHING TO HARM VICKY

OR ANY OF THE OTHERS.

AND THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE
OR TESTIMONY AGAINST HIM.

A DNA SAMPLE WAS TAKEN
FROM HIM --

VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED.

Pioggia: BACK THEN,
IT REQUIRED TAKING SOMEONE

TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THEM
TO DRAW FOUR VIALS OF BLOOD.

Narrator: WILL IT MATCH
THE FLUID FROM THE BODIES

AND THE BLOOD FROM VICKY'S CAR?

DNA WAS IN ITS INFANCY STAGES,
SO IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF TIME,

TOO MUCH TIME, ACTUALLY.

Narrator:
UNTIL THEY GET RESULTS,

THEY HAVE TO RELEASE HIM.

WE DID NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE.

YOU KNOW,
WE WERE VERY CAUTIOUS.

Manolakis: YOU DO NOT WANT
TO MESS UP A CASE LIKE THIS,

AND LET A GUY OUT
ON A TECHNICALITY.

YOU DON'T WANT A JUDGE
TO COME IN AND SAY,

"YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU MADE A MISTAKE."

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE DEPARTMENT
THAT MESSES SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THEY WERE SUPER-CAREFUL.

Rolland: MR. GAYNOR WAS PUT
UNDER SURVEILLANCE.

IT WAS A HIDDEN SURVEILLANCE.

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK,

EVERYWHERE HE WENT,
THE OFFICERS WENT.

THERE WAS NO TIME MR. GAYNOR
COULD'VE SLIPPED AWAY.

Narrator: THEY HOPE
HE'LL LEAD THEM TO VICKY.

AS EACH DAY WENT BY,
THE CONCERN WAS IS

THAT SHE WASN'T ALIVE.

SO THERE WAS SOME CONCERN

THAT WE WERE GONNA FIND
ANOTHER DEAD FEMALE SOMEWHERE.

[ PROJECTOR CLICKS, WHIRS ]

SHE WAS MISSING
FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS

WHEN SHE WAS LOCATED
IN THE SOUTH END,

DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD AREA.

THERE WAS AN INSPECTION
GOING ON AT THE BUILDING,

AND THE PERSON CONDUCTING
THE EXTERIOR INSPECTION...

LOCATED HER KIND OF TUCKED
BEHIND SOME SMALL SHRUBBERY.

AND SHE WAS FROZEN
TO THE CORE.

Rolland:
HER DEATH WAS CONSISTENT

WITH THE OTHER HOMICIDES --
MANUAL STRANGULATION.

Hamel: LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS
VERY CLEAR THAT THEY FELT

THAT SHE HAD BEEN SLAIN
ELSEWHERE

AND THAT HER BODY WAS DUMPED
OUTSIDE.

Narrator:
AND SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

AN IMPORTANT CLUE --
SHE'S NOT WEARING THE EARRINGS

SHE WORE THE NIGHT SHE VANISHED,

THE ONES GAYNOR SAID
SHE WAS GOING TO PAWN.

THEN, SURVEILLANCE UNITS
FOLLOWING ALFRED GAYNOR

SPOT HIM VISITING A PAWN SHOP.

OUR DETECTIVES WENT OUT
AND DISCOVERED AT THE PAWN SHOPS

THAT HE HAD PAWNED
OUR LAST VICTIM'S EARRINGS.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS THINK
THEY FINALLY HAVE THE PROOF.

HE IS THEIR GUY.

AS FOR THE FBI PROFILE...

Meara: THE KILLER WAS LIKELY
AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN.

HE'S THE SAME RACE,
FAIRLY YOUNG --

30, GIVE OR TAKE
A FEW YEARS.

HE WAS IN HIS EARLY 30s.

HE LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS.

HE DID A TYPE OF WORK
THAT WAS PRECISE AND EXACTING.

- WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- GOT TO GO TO WORK.

Hamel: AUTO BODY AND MACHINING
WERE HIS TRADES,

AND CERTAINLY MACHINING HAS
A PRECISION QUALITY TO IT.

Narrator: BUT IN THIS STORY,
THE DANGER IS FAR FROM OVER.

THE YOUNG MAN POUNCED
ON ALFRED GAYNOR

AND PUMMELED HIM WITH PUNCHES.

HE JUST JUMPED UP.

HE COULDN'T CONTROL HIMSELF.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: FIVE WOMEN DIE
AT THE HANDS OF A SERIAL KILLER

BEFORE POLICE GET
THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED

TO ARREST SUSPECT ALFRED GAYNOR.

IT WAS AMAZING THAT --
IF HE DIDN'T PAWN THOSE EARRINGS

HOW MANY MORE LADIES
WOULD'VE DIED?

ALFRED GAYNOR,
ON YOUR KNEES!

MY FAMILY, WE WERE WATCHING
THE NEWS EVERY DAY ALL DAY

TO SEE IF THEY WOULD
EVER CATCH SOMEONE.

FREEZE, ALFRED GAYNOR,
NOW!

FINALLY, THEY HAD SAID THAT THEY
HAD APPREHENDED ALFRED GAYNOR.

Moore: THE GAYNOR I KNEW CAME
ACROSS FROM TIME TO TIME.

I NEVER WOULD'VE IMAGINED.

IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

I WAS SURPRISED.
I WAS SHOCKED.

I WAS HURT.
I WAS CONFUSED.

Meara: IT WAS REALLY A SHOCK
TO HIS FAMILY

AND TO PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM,
HIS NEIGHBORS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE SURPRISED.

"WHAT?
THAT WAS ALFRED WAS DOING THAT?"

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

Albano: EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS
AN ARREST,

AND EVEN THOUGH THE CHIEF
AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

THOUGHT THEY HAD THE SUSPECT,

TO LINK IT ALL TOGETHER
AND BE 100% SURE --

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

WE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THAT
UP UNTIL THE TRIAL.

HIS PALM PRINTS WERE RECOVERED
AT TWO CRIME SCENES,

HIS FINGERPRINTS WERE RECOVERED
AT ONE OR TWO CRIME SCENES,

AND HIS BLOOD WAS RECOVERED
AT THE ROSEMARY DOWNS HOMICIDE.

Narrator: THE FINAL NAIL
IN GAYNOR'S COFFIN --

THE DNA TEST RESULTS.

THE DNA FROM MR. GAYNOR MATCHED
THE DNA

FROM THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
FROM A NUMBER OF CRIME SCENES.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS
WHEN THE DNA FINALLY CAME BACK

THAT ALFRED GAYNOR WAS
RESPONSIBLE AND WAS THE KILLER.

I WAS HAPPY.

AND I WAS SAD.

UPSET THAT SOMEONE THAT WAS
MY AUNT'S FRIEND TOOK HER LIFE.

Narrator: WHEN GAYNOR IS
ARRAIGNED -- MAYHEM.

Hill: MY AUNT'S OLDEST SON,
HE COULDN'T CONTROL HIMSELF.

HE JUST JUMPED UP.

[ PEOPLE SCREAM ]

AND THEN,
GAYNOR'S TWO RELATIVES,

HIS SISTER AND A NEPHEW,
CAME RUNNING FROM THE GALLERY

AND JOINED THE FRAY.

Narrator:
THE TRIAL IS AN EMOTIONAL ONE.

Hattie: OH, GOD.
OHH!

[ Sighing ] OHH...
MNH-MNH.

I MADE SURE THAT WHEN HE WAS
IN THE COURTROOM

THAT HE WOULD LOOK
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME,

THAT HE WOULD LOOK IN MY FACE.

HE ACTUALLY ADMITTED KILLING
MY SISTER TO ME.

FACE-TO-FACE.

Hill: I WAS TERRIFIED,
'CAUSE I COULD PUT A FACE

TO THE MAN
THAT HAD KILLED MY AUNT.

Narrator: PROSECUTORS DESCRIBE
HOW GAYNOR SOUGHT OUT WOMEN

HE KNEW WHO WOULD BE
COMFORTABLE WITH HIM.

Kenneth: HE TARGETED WOMEN
THAT WERE BY THEIRSELF...

SO HE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE.

Narrator:
HE STRUCK WITH INTENSE FURY.

THEY DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

THEN, HE'D DISAPPEAR
INTO THE COMMUNITY,

WHO THOUGHT THEY KNEW HIM.

Judge: ON INDICTMENT
NUMBER 98-965,

YOU, THE JURY, FIND
THE DEFENDANT GUILTY

OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

ALFRED GAYNOR IS FOUND GUILTY
ON ALL COUNTS.

Rolland: THE FIRST FOUR THAT
THE JURY CONVICTED HIM ON WERE

MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
AND AGGRAVATED RAPE.

HE RECEIVED
LIFE SENTENCES FOR EACH

WITH A 25-YEAR ON IT AFTER
FOR EACH AGGRAVATED RAPE.

OUR OFFICERS COULD BREATHE.

OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
COULD BREATHE.

THE INTENSE FEELING OF FEAR
THAT RAN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY

LIKE A CHILL WAS
IMMEDIATELY RELIEVED.

Narrator:
BUT IT'S STILL NOT OVER.

TURNS OUT HE'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR EVEN MORE MURDERS.

YEARS LATER,
HE CONFESSED TO FIVE OTHERS,

AND DURING ONE OF THOSE,

HE LEFT AN 18-MONTH-OLD BABY
AT THE CRIME SCENE...

TO SLOWLY DIE
IN THE SAME APARTMENT...

CAN I HELP YOU?

...THAT HER MOTHER WAS KILLED.

THE NEIGHBORS WERE CALLING,
AND THE LANDLORD WAS SAYING,

"LISTEN, THERE'S A PROBLEM.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE WOMAN
HERE, AND SHE HAS A BABY."

[ SCREAMS ]

WHEN WE GOT THERE,
THE BABY HAD DIED.

Meara: HE WAS INDICTED
FOR A FEW MORE MURDERS,

AND HE'S CONFESSED TO AND BEEN
HELD RESPONSIBLE IN COURTS

FOR EIGHT OR NINE MURDERS
AT THIS POINT.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

HE STILL COULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR A COUPLE MORE.

Albano: IN THIS BUSINESS,
A DOUBLE MURDER IS VERY RARE.

TRIPLE MURDER -- VERY RARE.

TO HAVE SOMEBODY
WITH 7, 8, 9, 10--

UNHEARD OF.

HE'S WHERE HE SHOULD BE.

Narrator:
NOW HE'LL NEVER HARM ANYONE

OUTSIDE THE PRISON SYSTEM AGAIN.

Manolakis:
HE'S NEVER GONNA GET OUT.

THERE'S NO DEATH PENALTY
IN MASSACHUSETTS.

SO HE COULDN'T GET ANY MORE.

Moore: HE GETS TO LIVE.

MY AUNT DOESN'T.

I'M ONE
AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.

BUT I THINK I WOULD'VE MADE
AN EXCEPTION THIS TIME.

I BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE --

EYE FOR AN EYE,
A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.

HE TOOK THEIR LIVES.

HE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO BE ALIVE.

THAT'S MY HONEST OPINION.

YEAH.

Hill: ROSEMARY MISSED OUT
ON HER CHILDREN'S LIVES,

HER GRANDDAUGHTER'S LIFE,

THE BIRTHS OF HER GREAT NIECES
AND NEPHEWS.

ALL THE GOOD TIMES
THAT WE USED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW,

WAS STOLEN AWAY FROM US.

THINGS WEREN'T THE SAME AFTER.

THAT, TO THIS DAY,
IS STILL HARD.

Rene: OH, LORETTA WAS
A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

SHE HAD SO MUCH LIFE IN HER,
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH

SHE COULD'VE HAD
THAT CHANCE TO LIVE IT.

WE'LL ALWAYS --
[ BREATHES SHAKILY ]

WE'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU,
AUNT LORETTA.

YOU'LL ALWAYS BE A PART OF US.