Still A Mystery (2018–2019): Season 1, Episode 3 - The midnight murders - full transcript

Narrator: A SPIRITED TRAVEL
BLOGGER VANISHES.

HER DREAM WAS TRAVEL
AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT HAPPENED? MY GOD.

Narrator:
HAUNTING CLUES FORCE LOVED ONES

TO FACE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE.

Man: THEY GO TO THE AIRPORT
AND FIND OUT

THAT SHE NEVER TOOK THE FLIGHT.

Narrator: AND COMING UP LATER,

A YOUNG MAN
HAD HIGH HOPES FOR HIS FUTURE.

HE'D ALWAYS JOKE AROUND
WITH MY MOM,

SAYING THAT WHEN HE BECOMES
A POLICE OFFICER



THAT SHE'S GONNA BE
THE FIRST ONE HE'S GONNA ARREST.

Narrator:
BUT HIS DREAM IS CUT SHORT.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

I KNEW SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO MY BABY.

PRAVIN WAS FOUND DECEASED
AT APPROXIMATELY 9:45 A.M.

THIS MORNING.

Narrator: TWO FAMILIES ON A HUNT
FOR THE TRUTH.

WE WANT JUSTICE,
AND WE WILL FIND YOU.

Narrator: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
TO CARLA AND PRAVIN?

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

THIS IS THE LAST KNOWN PHOTO
OF CARLA STEFANIAK,

TAKEN IN COSTA RICA
AND CAPTIONED

"I'M GOING TO MISS THE PLACE."

IT WAS HER 36th BIRTHDAY.



SHE ENJOYED THAT TRIP
VERY MUCH.

SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME
AND I WAS GLAD.

Narrator: NO ONE COULD FORESEE
THAT IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME

ANYONE WOULD EVER
HEAR FROM HER.

I THINK ABOUT HER
ALMOST EVERY DAY.

I CAN STILL HEAR HER LAUGH
AND THAT SMILE.

Narrator:
THE MYSTERY OF WHAT HAPPENED

TO FLORIDA INSURANCE AGENT

CARLA STEFANIAK BEGINS WITH
HER BIRTHDAY IN NOVEMBER 2018.

LIKE, SHE CELEBRATED HER
BIRTHDAY ALL MONTH LONG.

SHE WANTED TO HAVE
A BIRTHDAY TRIP EVERY YEAR.

TRAVELLING WAS HER PASSION,

SO THAT WAS ONE THING
SHE MOST ENJOYED,

AND HER DREAM WAS TRAVEL
AROUND THE WORLD.

Narrator: FOR HER 36th BIRTHDAY,
CARLA HEADS TO COSTA RICA,

A PICTURE-PERFECT PLACE WITH
EXOTIC JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES,

NIGHTLIFE,
BREATHTAKING BEACHES.

SHE WAS VERY -- I WOULD SAY,

EVEN ADDICTED TO HER CELLPHONE,
TO HER SOCIAL MEDIA,

SO SHE HAS FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM,
AND SHE LOVED PICTURES

AND VIDEOS AS WELL.

- YOU GOT IT?
- [ SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]

WE WOULD TRAVEL TOGETHER,

AND SHE WOULD
RECORD EVERYTHING.

I'M LIKE, "ARE YOU, LIKE,
RECORDING A MOVIE RIGHT NOW?"

BECAUSE, LIKE, SHE WOULD, LIKE,
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD FOOTAGE,

YOU KNOW, FOR INSTAGRAM,
FOR LIFE,

FOR, LIKE, LAUGHING LATER ON.

Narrator: JOINING CARLA IS HER
SISTER-IN-LAW APRIL.

THEIR ADVENTURE UNFOLDS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT BY MOMENT.

SHE WAS HAVING
SUCH A GREAT TIME THERE.

CARLA TOOK A SURFING CLASS
IN COSTA RICA. SHE LOVED IT.

SHE WENT TO, LIKE,
LITTLE TOWNS BY THE OCEAN.

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE
WORKING OUT GREAT.

WE KEPT PERMANENT COMMUNICATION,

SENDING ME PICTURES,
SOME VIDEOS.

SECOND DAY, THE HOT SPRINGS.

Carlos: EVERYDAY IN THE MORNING,
THE AFTERNOON.

Narrator: CARLA AND APRIL
FLY HOME SEPARATELY,

AND CARLA SPENDS THE LAST DAY
IN COSTA RICA ALONE.

APRIL LEFT COSTA RICA
ON THE 27th

AND CARLA'S SCHEDULE
IS THE NEXT DAY,

SO DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.

ALSO, DIFFERENT AIRLINES.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 27th,
CARLA'S LAST DAY,

IS JUST AS ANYONE
WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE.

SHE DROPS APRIL
AND THE RENTAL CAR OFF

AT THE SAN JOSE AIRPORT,

THEN SHE GETS A TOUR OF DOWNTOWN
SAN JOSE FROM AN UBER DRIVER.

SHE ARRANGES FOR THE SAME DRIVER
TO PICK HER UP

AT 8:30 THE NEXT MORNING

FOR HER RETURN FLIGHT
TO FORT LAUDERDALE.

BY 5:00 PM, SHE CHECKS INTO
HER ROOM CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT.

IT'S IN A GATED COMPLEX
THAT USES AIRBNB

TO RENT OUT ITS ROOMS.

IT HAS GREAT REVIEWS,
A GORGEOUS VIEW,

AND GUARDS, SO CARLA
BELIEVES IT'S SAFE.

SHE WAS FEARLESS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

SHE TOOK HER PRECAUTIONS.

IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW,
SHE JUST VENTURED

AND STAYED, YOU KNOW...

- WHEREVER.
- YEAH, WHATEVER.

SHE WAS GONNA STAY THERE
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.

THAT'S IT.

AND THEN JUST GO TO THE AIRPORT
THE NEXT DAY

AND CATCH HER FLIGHT BACK HOME.

Narrator: AT FIRST, CARLA SEEMS
HAPPY WITH THE VILLA.

SHE SENT PICTURES OF THE PLACE,

AND THEN
SHE WAS TELLING SOME OF

HER FRIENDS
THAT IT WAS RAINING,

BUT THE PLACE
WAS STILL BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator:
BUT THEN, THE POWER GOES OUT.

SHE TEXTED APRIL AROUND 7:00,

7:30 P.M.
THAT THE POWER WENT OUT.

SHE EVEN SENT PICTURES OF THAT
WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT

AND THEN
THE POWER CAME BACK ON.

SHE SAID THE PLACE WAS SKETCHY.

Narrator:
IN THE PITCH-BLACK DARKNESS,

CARLA SEEMS RATTLED.

SHE TELLS HER FRIEND KEITH THAT
SHE NEEDS A BOTTLE OF WATER.

KEITH TOLD HER
"NO MOVE FROM THE PLACE.

STAY HERE. TRY TO FIND WATER
IN THE SAME PLACE."

SHE TOLD HER FRIEND LAURA
THAT SHE WOULD COME OUTSIDE

AND ASK THE GUARD
WHERE SHE COULD GET SOME WATER.

THAT WAS AROUND 8:58 P.M.
OF THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: THEN CARLA'S
COMMUNICATIONS ABRUPTLY STOP.

HER FRIENDS ASSUME SOMETHING'S
HAPPENED TO HER PHONE.

IT WAS EITHER TURNED OFF OR DIED
OR THE ELECTRICITY WENT OUT.

SOMETHING HAPPENED,
BUT SHE LOST CONNECTION.

Narrator: IT SOUNDS LIKE A SCENE
FROM A SCARY MOVIE --

STRANGE PLACE,
FLICKERING LIGHTS,

POWER GOING OUT AT NIGHT,
NO COMMUNICATION.

BUT BECAUSE SHE'S DUE HOME
IN LESS THAN A DAY,

CARLA'S FAMILY TRIES
TO REMAIN CALM.

IT WAS RAINING STRONG,

AND THE POWER,
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS VERY SCARED.

BUT WE THOUGHT THAT
SHE GOT OUT THE BEDROOM,

MAYBE LOOKING FOR THE GUARD
OR WHATEVER, TO DRINK WATER.

♪

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING IS
CARLA'S ACTUAL BIRTHDAY --

NOVEMBER 28th --

BUT SHE'S
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SILENT,

AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY,

HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
SENSE SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

WE STARTED
SENDING HER MESSAGES --

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" --

TEXTING HER, CALLING HER,
AND SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER.

AND THAT'S NOT HER
BECAUSE SHE'S THE TYPE

OF PERSON THAT GOES TO SLEEP,

THAT CHECKS HER PHONE
BEFORE SHE CLOSES HER EYES,

AND THE MINUTE
THAT SHE OPENS HER EYES,

THE FIRST THING THAT
SHE CHECKS IS HER PHONE.

I SAW THAT HER LAST LOG-IN
IN WhatsApp WAS LIKE

AT 8:40 OR 9:00 P.M.

YOU KNOW, I WENT TO INSTAGRAM
TO SEE THE LAST TIME

THAT SHE HAD SEEN
ALL THE POSTS,

AND THEN I CHECKED FACEBOOK
AND SAME,

AND I'M LIKE
"THIS IS VERY WEIRD."

I TEXTED HER, "HI.

"HOW ARE YOU?

"CONGRATULATIONS FOR
YOUR BIRTHDAY.

"GOD BLESS YOU.

PLEASE TALK TO ME."

SHE NEVER ANSWERED ME.

Narrator:
CARLA'S LONGTIME FRIEND LAURA

IS SUPPOSED TO PICK HER UP

FROM THE FORT LAUDERDALE
AIRPORT, BUT SHE'S ANXIOUS.

WILL CARLA SHOW UP OR NOT?

SO, I GOT TO THE AIRPORT,

AND I'M JUST THERE,
LIKE, WAITING,

AND EVERYBODY CAME FROM
THAT FLIGHT WAS OUT ALREADY,

AND I ASKED A LADY
THAT WORKED AT THE AIRPORT --

I'M LIKE, "I NEED TO UNDERSTAND

IF THIS PERSON WAS
IN THAT FLIGHT."

AND SHE'S LIKE, "WELL, NO,
SHE NEVER BOARDED THE PLANE."

Narrator: AT THIS POINT,

NO ONE HAS HEARD
FROM CARLA IN 21 HOURS.

HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
ARE PANICKED.

CARLA ISN'T THE TYPE
TO GO DARK.

AND EVERYBODY STARTED
FREAKING OUT

AND "SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?"

Narrator: WITHIN HOURS, CARLA'S
FAMILY CALLS THE COSTA RICAN

AND U.S. POLICE,

BUT SINCE CARLA
IS OVER 18 YEARS OLD,

SHE MUST BE MISSING
FOR 48 HOURS BEFORE AUTHORITIES

CAN OFFICIALLY CALL
HER DISAPPEARANCE

A MISSING PERSONS CASE.

AT THAT POINT,
THEN WE JUST STARTED,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING
FOR HER EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE.

Narrator:
CARLA'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY

IMMEDIATELY MOBILIZE
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE JUST SPREAD OUT THE WORD
THAT SHE WAS MISSING,

SPREAD OUT PICTURES OF HER,
AND, YOU KNOW,

JUST HOPE THAT SOMEBODY
SEES HER AND SAYS SOMETHING.

Narrator: WITHIN DAYS,
CARLA'S DAD,

ONE OF HER BROTHERS,

AND A FRIEND ARE ON THE GROUND
IN COSTA RICA.

THE FAMILY DECIDED
THAT MY BROTHER, CARLOS,

WOULD GO TO COSTA RICA
ALONG WITH GREG,

WHICH IS A FAMILY FRIEND.

Narrator: ON SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 1st,

FOUR DAYS AFTER CARLA
GOES MISSING,

CARLA'S BROTHER VISITS
THE VILLA WHERE SHE STAYED.

Mario:
THE OWNERS WERE RECEPTIVE,

AND THEY JUST SHOWED MY BROTHER

THE ROOM
WHERE SHE WAS STAYING AT.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST
NICE AND NEAT.

Narrator: THE STAFF INFORMS THEM
THAT A GUARD SAW

CARLA LEAVE VERY EARLY
ON THE MORNING OF HER BIRTHDAY.

IT'S THE FIRST SIGN OF HOPE.

THAT SHE LEFT ABOUT 5:00,

5:15 IN THE MORNING

IN A DARK GRAY OR BLACK CAR.

SHE PUT INSIDE THE LUGGAGE
ON THE TRUNK,

AND THEY LEFT.

Narrator:
THE NEXT STEP FOR CARLA'S FAMILY

IS TO LOCATE THE UBER DRIVER

CARLA BOOKED TO TAKE HER
TO THE AIRPORT.

THROUGH HER E-MAIL,
WE GOT THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION,

SO THE POLICE
CONTACTED THIS GUY.

Narrator: WHAT POLICE DISCOVER
IS SHOCKING.

THE UBER DRIVER TELLS THEM
THAT HE NEVER PICKED CARLA UP

BECAUSE SHE WASN'T THERE.

UBER RECORDS CONFIRM
HIS ACCOUNT.

HE ARRIVED AS PLANNED
AT 8:30 A.M., WAITED,

BUT LEFT
WHEN A GUARD TOLD HIM

THAT CARLA WAS PICKED UP
AT 5:00 A.M.

SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REASONS
TO WAKE UP AT 5:00

AND THEN LEAVE AT 5:10,
5:20 A.M.

THAT'S JUST NONSENSE

AND SHE'S NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON
THAT WAKES UP EARLY.

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
THINKING ABOUT

SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO HER.

Narrator: COSTA RICAN POLICE
DON'T CONSIDER

THE UBER DRIVER A SUSPECT,

SO CARLA'S FAMILY PLEADS
WITH AUTHORITIES

TO HELP THEM GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS.

THE PRESSURE WAS VERY STRONG,

AND WE TALKED WITH

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO'S OFFICES
IN ORLANDO,

AND FINALLY, THE FBI HELPS
COSTA RICA POLICE ON THIS CASE.

SHE NEVER LEFT THE PLACE.

SHE NEVER LEFT THE PLACE.

Narrator: BUT IF CARLA
NEVER LEFT THE VILLA,

THEN WHY IS THE ROOM WHERE
SHE STAYED COMPLETELY CLEAN,

AS IF IT'S BARELY BEEN USED?

ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS,
CLEANING LADY

THAT WENT TO CLEAN THE ROOM
THE NEXT DAY SAID

THAT THE ROOM WAS
TOTALLY NORMAL, NOTHING WRONG.

SO, THE ROOM WAS CLEAN

AND THEY RENTED IT
THE NEXT DAY.

Narrator:
CARLA HAS TRULY VANISHED.

HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BEGIN TO FEAR THE WORST.

WE REALLY THOUGHT SHE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND CRAZY STUFF

IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT HAPPENED? MY GOD.

DESPERATE.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT
FAMILIES AND RELATIVES

GO THROUGH
WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING,

NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED,
OR EVEN IF SHE'S STILL ALIVE

AND SHE NEEDS YOU
AND SHE NEEDS HELP.

Narrator:
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CARLA?

SECOND DAY. THE HOT SPRINGS.

Narrator:
WORLD TRAVELLER CARLA STEFANIAK

CELEBRATES HER 36th BIRTHDAY

WITH A TRIP TO COSTA RICA,

A COUNTRY KNOWN
FOR ITS ECO-TOURISM

AND BEAUTIFUL JUNGLES.

BUT WHEN SHE DOESN'T
MAKE IT HOME TO FLORIDA,

HER FAMILY FEARS
SHE'S BEEN KIDNAPPED.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY LAUNCH
A DESPERATE SEARCH

WITH THE HASHTAG
#FINDINGCARLA.

Laura:
WE PUT ALL OUR TIME, RESOURCES,

WE STOPPED DOING LIFE

AND JUST FOCUSED
ON LOOKING FOR HER.

THERE WAS NOT, LIKE,
SLEEPING, NO EATING.

WE JUST FOCUSED,
FOCUSED, FOCUSED.

Narrator: FINALLY ON
DECEMBER 3rd, 2018,

SIX DAYS AFTER CARLA
GOES MISSING,

INVESTIGATORS STEP THINGS UP.

THEY INSPECT CARLA'S ROOM
MORE CAREFULLY,

WITH CHEMICALS
AND SCENT-DETECTING DOGS.

WHAT THEY FIND IS DISTURBING.

THERE WERE TRACES OF BLOOD
EVERYWHERE IN THIS ROOM.

THE DOGS,
THEY SMELL THE BLOOD,

AND SO THAT MEANS
SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THIS PLACE.

Narrator: EVEN MORE TROUBLING,
IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE

WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO COVER IT ALL UP.

THEY SAID THAT THIS ROOM
WAS CLEANED WITH BLEACH

AND VINEGAR SEVERAL TIMES TO BE

ABLE TO LEAVE IT AS IT WAS.

Narrator:
CARLA'S FAMILY IS FORCED

TO FACE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE.

MAYBE SHE WAS MURDERED.

Narrator: A FEW HOURS LATER,
THEY GET DEVASTATING NEWS.

THERE IS STILL
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION

THE BODY FOUND IN
COSTA RICA IS THAT OF STEFANIAK.

Narrator: COSTA RICAN POLICE
DOGS DISCOVER A HALF-NAKED BODY

PARTIALLY WRAPPED IN PLASTIC.

THEY FOUND A BODY,
1,000 FEET AWAY FROM THE AIRBNB

WHERE SHE WAS STAYING AT,

BUT WE HAD TO WAIT
FOR FORENSIC TESTS

TO HAVE CONFIRMATION
THAT IT WAS HER.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES SUSPECT IT'S CARLA,

BUT THEY NEED A POSITIVE I.D.,

SO HER FATHER AND BROTHER
ARE FACED

WITH THE HEARTBREAKING TASK

OF GOING TO THE MORGUE TO
MAKE THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION.

AND...

I DIDN'T WANT TO
ACCEPT IT,

THEN I CRIED SO MUCH.

I WAS JUST...

I WAS IN SHOCK.
I WAS VERY, VERY DEVASTATED.

♪

Narrator: CARLA'S BODY INDICATES
A VIOLENT END.

SHE SUFFERED BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA
TO HER HEAD

AND WAS SLASHED
NUMEROUS TIMES WITH A KNIFE.

KNIFE CUTS ON THE FACE, TOO,
AND THE NECK.

TOO MANY CUTS WITH KNIFE.

YOU CAN IMAGINE
HOW HARD THAT WAS.

Narrator: BUT WHO WOULD DO THIS
TO HER AND WHY?

SHE FOUGHT VERY HARD,
VERY HARD.

Narrator:
POLICE THEORIZE THAT CARLA

WAS MURDERED IN HER ROOM,

THEN HER BODY WAS TAKEN
TO THE WOODS AND DISCARDED.

THEY SUSPECT SHE WAS
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

AND WITH HER LAPTOP,
PHONE, WATCH,

AND PASSPORT ALL FOUND
SCATTERED ON THE GROUND,

ROBBERY DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE A MOTIVE.

HER BELONGINGS WERE FOUND,
AND SHE WAS FOUND HALF-NAKED.

SO, THEY TOLD US THAT SHE HAD
BEEN KILLED

BECAUSE OF SEXUAL REASONS.

Narrator: WHATEVER THE MOTIVE
FOR HER MURDER,

CARLA'S FAMILY IS DISTRAUGHT.

I THINK THESE COWARDS, WHOEVER
ATTEMPTED AGAINST MY SISTER,

WENT AFTER HER BECAUSE SHE WAS
BEAUTIFUL AND SHE WAS ALONE,

AND OBVIOUSLY THESE PEOPLE
ARE SICK MINDS AND CRIMINALS.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BRING ME
TO THE CEMETERY,

NOT ME HER
TO THE CEMETERY, NO.

Narrator: ON THE SAME DAY
CARLA'S BODY IS DISCOVERED,

INVESTIGATORS ARREST
A SECURITY GUARD AT THE VILLA,

A 32-YEAR-OLD IMMIGRANT
FROM NICARAGUA.

THIS GUARD LIVED AT THE PLACE,
WORKED AT THE PLACE,

AND HIS ROOM
WAS ROOM NUMBER 7.

MY SISTER'S ROOM WAS NUMBER 8.

Narrator:
HE'S IN COSTA RICA ILLEGALLY,

AND HIS STORY ISN'T ADDING UP.

HE WAS THE ONE WHO LIED
ABOUT MY SISTER

LEAVING AT 5:00 A.M.
ON THE 28th,

AND HE WAS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
FROM NICARAGUA.

SO, THEY CALL
THIS A FLIGHT RISK,

THAT THIS GUY CAN JUST
ESCAPE BACK TO NICARAGUA.

SO, THAT'S WHY THEY ARRESTED
THIS PERSON.

Narrator:
SOMEONE IS BEHIND BARS,

BUT CARLA'S FAMILY IS CONVINCED

THAT HER MURDER WAS NOT
THE WORK OF ONE PERSON.

WHOEVER KILLED MY SISTER
COULD NOT HAVE ACTED ALONE.

PERSON-TO-PERSON.

IMPOSSIBLE.

DOMINATE CARLA.

IMPOSSIBLE.

I AM SURE THERE WAS MORE
THAN ONE PEOPLE.

Narrator: AND CARLA'S FAMILY
AREN'T THE ONLY ONES

WHO BELIEVE THIS THEORY.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Narrator: CARLA'S FAMILY INSISTS
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE

FOR ONLY ONE PERSON
TO DRAG HER MUSCULAR,

200-POUND BODY 1,000 FEET
INTO THE WOODS.

IT'S A BIG JOB,
MOVE THE BODY 1,000 FEET AWAY.

IMAGINE 200 POUNDS IN THE HILL

WITH A LOT OF TREES,
STUFF LIKE THAT.

ONE PERSON? NO. TWO? NO.

AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR.

Narrator:
AND WHAT ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS

OF THE CRIME SCENE?

BUT THE GUARD THE POLICE
HAVE ARRESTED ISN'T TALKING,

AND CARLA'S FRUSTRATED
LOVED ONES

ARE LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS
THAN ANSWERS.

WHAT KIND OF EVIL HAS TAKEN
THE LIFE OF THEIR

VIVACIOUS WORLD TRAVELER?

- YOU GOT IT?
- [ SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]

Narrator: CARLA STEFANIAK,

WHO WAS KNOWN
FOR HER SPIRITED ENERGY

AND DETAILED TRAVEL BLOG,
IS FOUND MURDERED IN COSTA RICA.

POLICE BELIEVE SHE WAS
BRUTALLY ATTACKED

AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
IN HER ROOM,

AND THEN THE KILLER
TRIED TO COVER IT ALL UP.

THAT WAS HORRIBLE.

THIS CRIME WAS TERRIBLE,
HORRIBLE.

Narrator:
POLICE ARREST A GUARD,

BUT HE CLAIMS THAT ALTHOUGH
HE KNEW ABOUT THE MURDER,

HE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN IT,

AND WHAT HE REVEALS NEXT
IS DISTURBING.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

SO, DID SOMEONE TRY TO LURE
CARLA INTO PARTICIPATING

IN SOMETHING
SHE WANTED NO PART OF?

THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE
CARLA TO SEX, STUFF LIKE THAT.

"YOU HAVE TO."

MAYBE SHE SAID, "NO, NO."

BECAUSE SHE WAS
AN INNOCENT PERSON.

SHE WAS A GOOD GIRL,
YES, ALWAYS.

Narrator: POLICE DID RECOVER DNA
FROM CARLA'S BODY,

BUT THEY HAVEN'T
REVEALED ANYTHING ELSE.

CARLA'S FAMILY IS NOT
ONLY SAD, THEY'RE FRUSTRATED.

THE GUARD REMAINS IN CUSTODY,

BUT HAS NOT BEEN
CHARGED WITH MURDER.

CARLA'S FAMILY BELIEVES
HER KILLERS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

Mario: WE WILL FIND YOU.

DOESN'T MATTER
HOW LONG IT TAKES.

BUT WE WILL FIND
THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE,

AND YOU WILL PAY
FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY SISTER.

Narrator: CARLA'S FAMILY HAS
FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT

AGAINST BOTH AIRBNB IN THE U.S.
AND THE VILLA

WHERE SHE STAYED IN COSTA RICA,
ARGUING THAT BOTH COMPANIES

COULD HAVE DONE MORE
TO PROTECT GUESTS.

AS THE MURDER INVESTIGATION
CONTINUES,

CARLA'S FRIENDS STRUGGLE
WITH THE PAINFUL REALITY

THAT THEIR BELOVED DIVA
IS GONE.

Laura: HER LOVE FOR LIFE
WAS SO CONTAGIOUS.

YOU KNOW, SINGING CARDI B,
LIKE, IN THE LIVING ROOM

AND JUST, LIKE, WEARING ALL HER
BIG HOOPS LIKE THIS ONE

AND, LIKE, BRIGHT SMILE,
LIKE, YOU KNOW, RED LIPS.

YEAH.
SHE WAS REALLY AMAZING.

SHE REALLY WAS SPECIAL.

SHE REALLY WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

CARLITA.

WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE YOU.

Narrator: AND WHAT HURTS HER
LOVED ONES THE MOST

IS THAT CARLA DIED SO YOUNG

AND SO VIOLENTLY
ON HER BIRTHDAY,

AT ALMOST EXACTLY
THE SAME TIME SHE WAS BORN.

SHE WAS BORN ABOUT 1:10 A.M.

ON NOVEMBER 28th, 1982.

SO, SHE WAS MURDERED

THAT NIGHT ABOUT MIDNIGHT.

WE ALL FEEL, LIKE,
THIS EMPTINESS IN OUR HEARTS.

WE FEEL LIKE SOMETHING
VERY IMPORTANT IS MISSING,

AND IT'S JUST DEVASTATING.

SECOND DAY. THE HOT SPRINGS.

Narrator: WILL THERE EVER BE
JUSTICE FOR CARLA?

♪

WHILE CARLA'S FAMILY WAITS
FOR ANSWERS,

ANOTHER FAMILY IN ILLINOIS

HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO SOLVE
A TRAGIC MYSTERY SINCE 2014.

♪

LATE ONE NIGHT, 19-YEAR-OLD
STUDENT PRAVIN VARUGHESE

MAKES A STRANGE PHONE CALL
TO HIS FRIEND.

HE TOLD HER,
"ANITA, DON'T HANG UP."

AND SHE HEARD SOME ARGUMENT,
SOME SCUFFLE,

AND SHE THOUGHT
SOMEBODY WAS RUNNING.

Narrator: IT'S THE LAST TIME
ANYONE EVER HEARS FROM HIM.

♪

PRAVIN IS A POPULAR
COLLEGE SOPHOMORE

AT SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

HE'S THE KIND OF OUTGOING PERSON
EVERYONE LOVES.

HE WAS THE MOST GIVING PERSON
THAT YOU WANT TO MEET.

HE WANTED PEOPLE AROUND HIM
TO BE HAPPY,

SO HE WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE EVERYONE LAUGH.

Narrator: PRAVIN HAS BIG GOALS
FOR HIS FUTURE.

HE WANTS TO BE
A POLICE OFFICER.

HE'D ALWAYS JOKE AROUND
WITH MY MOM,

SAYING THAT WHEN HE BECOMES
A POLICE OFFICER

THAT SHE'S GONNA BE
THE FIRST ONE HE'S GONNA ARREST.

Narrator: AND HE LIVES BY
THE MOTTO "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE."

HE ALWAYS SAID "YOLO."

YOLO! YOLO!

Narrator:
PRAVIN'S MYSTERY BEGINS ON

THE NIGHT OF WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 12, 2014.

HE PLANS TO ATTEND
A PARTY OFF-CAMPUS

AND THEN MEET UP WITH HIS
ROOMMATES LATER AT A LOCAL BAR.

BUT THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED.

PRAVIN NEVER ARRIVES
AT THE BAR.

HE MAKES THE TROUBLING CALL
TO HIS FRIEND AT 12:29 A.M.,

AND THEN THE LINE
ABRUPTLY GOES SILENT.

THE NEXT NIGHT, PRAVIN'S PARENTS
GET A DISTURBING CALL

FROM THE POLICE
IN CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS.

Lovely: AND I SAID,
"IS EVERYTHING OKAY, SIR?"

AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID, "YOUR
SON HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING."

♪

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET
THAT PHONE CALL IN MY LIFE.

THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

Narrator: THEY IMMEDIATELY JUMP
IN THEIR CAR

TO MAKE THE SIX-HOUR DRIVE
FROM CHICAGO TO SIU.

HE'S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON THAT
WOULD JUST GET UP AND DISAPPEAR.

THAT'S NOT HIS CHARACTER.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

I KNEW SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO MY BABY.

Narrator:
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2014,

19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT
PRAVIN VARUGHESE

NEVER SHOWS UP TO MEET

HIS ROOMMATES
AT A BAR OFF-CAMPUS.

HE IS MISSING.

HIS DISTRESSED PARENTS DRIVE
SIX HOURS FROM CHICAGO

TO CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

HOPING TO GET SOME ANSWERS.

BUT WHEN THEY GET THERE,
POLICE DON'T SEEM CONCERNED.

I STILL REMEMBER ONE OF THEM
SAYING, "DON'T WORRY.

ALL COLLEGE KIDS DO THIS."

I SAID, "NO, NOT OUR SON."

Narrator: PRAVIN'S FAMILY'S
FRUSTRATIONS QUICKLY MOUNT.

SIU DID NOT SEND OUT A MASS TEXT

TO ITS STUDENTS
TO ALERT EVERYONE,

"HEY, WE'VE GOT
A MISSING STUDENT.

EVERYBODY START TALKING."

IF THIS WAS A WHITE MALE,
THERE WOULD BE HELICOPTERS

FLYING 24/7
UNTIL THEY FOUND HIM.

Narrator: ON FEBRUARY 16th,

FOUR DAYS
AFTER PRAVIN GOES MISSING,

HIS FAMILY RECEIVES
MORE TERRIBLE NEWS.

THE POLICE TAKE A DAY OFF
FROM SEARCHING,

STATING THAT IT'S A SUNDAY
AND THEY'RE SHORT-STAFFED.

HOW CAN THEY IGNORE
A WHOLE DAY? STILL HURTS ME.

STILL HURTS ME TO THINK
THAT THEY DID NOT

EVEN HAVE A SEARCH ON SUNDAY.

Narrator: FEELING HELPLESS,
PRAVIN'S FAMILY POSTS

A $15,000 REWARD
FOR INFORMATION.

THEN, ON FEBRUARY 18th,
SIX DAYS AFTER HE GOES MISSING,

THEIR WORST FEAR IS CONFIRMED.

PRAVIN WAS FOUND DECEASED

AT APPROXIMATELY 9:45 A.M.
THIS MORNING.

I HAD HOPE THAT HE WOULD
BE FOUND ALIVE.

Narrator: A TIPSTER COMES
FORWARD AND TELLS POLICE

WHERE TO FIND PRAVIN'S BODY --

DEEP IN A WOODED AREA 300 YARDS
FROM THE NEAREST ROAD.

THAT DID IT TO ME.

THAT MOMENT DID IT TO ME.

I JUST STARTED SCREAMING.

Narrator: BUT WHEN PRAVIN'S MOM
ASKS TO SEE THE SPOT

WHERE HER SON'S BODY WAS FOUND,

POLICE WON'T TAKE HER THERE.

THEN, THE RESULTS
OF THE AUTOPSY COME IN.

THE CORONER CONCLUDES THAT
PRAVIN DIED OF HYPOTHERMIA.

HE FROZE TO DEATH.

AS SHOCKING AS THAT NEWS IS,
WHAT HURTS THE MOST

IS THAT PRAVIN'S FAMILY
ISN'T ALLOWED TO SEE HIS BODY,

SOMETHING THAT STUNS
MONICA ZUKAS,

A LOCAL RADIO HOST
AND VICTIMS ADVOCATE.

THEY HAD TO FIGHT AND SCREAM
AND CAUSE A SCENE

TO GET TO VIEW
THEIR SON'S DECEASED BODY.

WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT PRAVIN'S
MOM IS A NURSE,

AND WHEN SHE IS FINALLY ALLOWED
TO SEE HER SON, SHE'S HORRIFIED.

I SAID, "SOMEBODY BEAT MY BABY.

WHO BEAT HIM?"

Narrator:
AND THE INCONSISTENCIES

DON'T STOP THERE.

THEY SAID,
"HE WAS FOUND FACE-DOWN.

IT'S FROSTBITE."

BUT THE NEXT DAY,
THEY SAID HE WAS ON HIS BACK.

Narrator:
THE FAMILY QUESTIONS

THE ACCURACY
OF THE AUTOPSY REPORT,

AND WHEN PRAVIN'S BODY
ARRIVES IN CHICAGO,

THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR
HAS CONCERNS AS WELL.

A 30-YEAR VETERAN OF THE FUNERAL
HOME INDUSTRY SAID,

"THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHERMIC BODY.
HE HAS INJURIES."

SO, THEY COMMISSIONED
A SECOND PATHOLOGIST.

Narrator:
THE SECOND AUTOPSY CONCLUDES

THAT THE CAUSE OF PRAVIN'S DEATH
ISN'T HYPOTHERMIA,

IT'S BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA
TO THE HEAD.

TWO DIFFERENT AUTOPSIES,
TWO DIFFERENT STORIES.

ANGRY AND CONFUSED,
PRAVIN'S MOTHER IS DETERMINED

TO FIND OUT WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED TO HER SON.

A WOUNDED MOM
IS THE BEST INVESTIGATOR.

SOMETHING IN ME WOKE UP.

I SAID, "MY ENGLISH IS BROKEN,
MY ACCENT IS BAD,

BUT I AM GOING TO TALK."

Narrator: THE POLICE REVEAL THAT
THE TIPSTER GOT HIS INFORMATION

FROM A MAN NAMED GAEGE BETHUNE.

GAEGE IS THE TIPSTER'S COUSIN,

AND HE ATTENDED THE SAME PARTY
AS PRAVIN THE NIGHT HE DIED.

BUT GAEGE ISN'T AN SIU STUDENT.

AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NAME,

I STARTED ASKING
MY SON'S FRIENDS.

NOBODY KNEW HIM.

Narrator: IT TURNS OUT THAT
GAEGE HAS LIVED IN CARBONDALE

ALL HIS LIFE AND HAS DEEP ROOTS
IN THE TOWN.

GAEGE BETHUNE COMES
FROM A GOOD FAMILY.

HE'S A YOUNG MAN
WHO CONDUCTS HIMSELF

WITH A MATURITY
FAR BEYOND HIS YEARS.

HE WAS ALSO A 19-YEAR-OLD KID.

ACTUALLY, HE AND PRAVIN'S
BIRTHDAYS ARE THREE DAYS APART.

Narrator: POLICE BRING
GAEGE BETHUNE IN

FOR QUESTIONING.

HE REVEALS THAT ON THE NIGHT
OF THE PARTY,

HE GAVE PRAVIN A RIDE
BECAUSE PRAVIN WAS SO DRUNK,

HE COULDN'T FIND
HIS OWN WAY HOME.

GAEGE CLAIMS THEY GOT INTO
AN ARGUMENT ABOUT GAS MONEY,

WHICH TURNED VIOLENT.

DURING THE SCUFFLE, HE SAYS
THEY ROLLED DOWN A HILL

THAT LEADS TO
A DENSELY WOODED AREA.

GAEGE SAYS THE FIGHT ENDED

WHEN PRAVIN RAN OFF
INTO THE DARK WOODS,

AND THAT AFTERWARDS,

HE MUST HAVE FROZEN
TO DEATH IN THE COLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS
A STORY AS OLD AS TIME.

SOMETIMES YOUNGSTERS,

THEY DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE
THE DANGERS OF THE OUTDOORS.

♪

Narrator: LOVELY ATTEMPTS TO
SPEAK TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY,

BUT DOESN'T GET THE ANSWERS
SHE'S HOPING FOR.

80, 85 MINUTES
THAT HE TALKED TO ME,

HE BASICALLY ATTACKED PRAVIN.

HE SAID, "YOU THOUGHT
YOU HAD A MODEL SON.

"HE'S NOT THE MODEL SON
YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD.

HE WAS INVOLVED
IN MANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES."

Narrator: LOVELY IS TOLD HER SON
MUST'VE BEEN TOO INTOXICATED

TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

ON TOP OF THAT,
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE,

INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE'S
NO SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY.

BUT MONICA ZUKAS EXPRESSES
HER CONCERN.

I HEARD SEVERAL STATEMENTS
THAT I KNEW WERE INACCURATE.

Narrator:
THINGS JUST AREN'T ADDING UP.

PRAVIN'S FRIENDS
TELL HIS FAMILY

THAT THE BAR WHERE HE WAS
GOING TO MEET THEM

WAS JUST A FEW BLOCKS
FROM THE PARTY.

HE WAS PLANNING TO WALK.

HE DIDN'T NEED A RIDE.

Lovely:
PRAVIN WALKED EVERYWHERE.

PRAVIN NEVER GETS A RIDE,

LET ALONE TALK TO A STRANGER

FOR A LONG TIME
AT THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

AND ASK HIM FOR A RIDE AND GET
INTO THE CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE.

THAT WASN'T HAPPENING.
WE KNEW IT.

Narrator: WHAT'S MORE,
PRAVIN WAS FOUND BAREFOOT.

IF HE RAN INTO THE WOODS,
AS GAEGE BETHUNE CLAIMED,

WHERE WERE HIS SHOES?

HIS FEET AREN'T SCRAPED,
THEY'RE NOT SCRATCHED,

THEY'RE NOT BRUISED.

HOW WOULD HE HAVE
TRAVELED HIMSELF

THAT FAR INTO THE WOODS
WITH NO SHOES ON

WITHOUT HURTING HIS FEET?

Narrator:
EVEN MORE TROUBLING IS THAT

WHEN PRAVIN'S TOXICOLOGY REPORT
COMES BACK, IT'S NEGATIVE.

WHEN PRAVIN'S TOX
CAME BACK CLEAR WITH ZERO DRUGS

AND ZERO ALCOHOL,

THAT INFURIATED ME.

Narrator: MONICA REACHES OUT
TO PRAVIN'S FAMILY.

SHE'S A MOM, TOO,

AND SHE WANTS TO HELP
PRAVIN'S MOM UNCOVER THE TRUTH.

I KIND OF TOOK THE MENTALITY OF
"IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO MESS

WITH HER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST."

THERE IS NOTHING A MOTHER
WOULDN'T DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THERE WAS NO WAY ANYBODY
WAS EVER GONNA TALK ME

OUT OF FINDING OUT ANSWERS.

NOBODY.

Narrator: IN FEBRUARY 2014,

AFTER HE GOES MISSING
FOR SIX DAYS,

19-YEAR-OLD PRAVIN VARUGHESE
IS FOUND DEAD IN THE WOODS

IN THE SMALL COLLEGE TOWN
OF CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS.

THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH
IS HYPOTHERMIA,

BUT HIS FAMILY DOESN'T BUY IT,

ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY GET
A SECOND AUTOPSY,

WHICH DETERMINES PRAVIN DIED

FROM BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA
TO THE HEAD.

I KNEW SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO MY BABY.

Narrator:
POLICE QUESTION GAEGE BETHUNE,

WHO ATTENDED THE SAME PARTY
AS PRAVIN THE NIGHT HE DIED

AND SAYS HE GAVE HIM A RIDE.

HE ADMITS TO HITTING PRAVIN
IN THE FACE

AFTER THEY ARGUED
ABOUT GAS MONEY

AND THEN GOT IN A FIGHT.

BUT THE ILLINOIS STATE'S
ATTORNEY

DOESN'T FILE ANY CHARGES
AGAINST BETHUNE,

AND HIS ATTORNEY MAINTAINS
THAT HE HAD NOTHING

TO DO WITH PRAVIN'S DEATH.

ABSOLUTELY A TRAGEDY,

BUT AN ACCIDENT.

Narrator:
THEN, LESS THAN 48 HOURS

AFTER PRAVIN'S BODY IS FOUND,

MONICA ZUKAS RECEIVES
A SHOCKING TIP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

A YOUNG LADY ON FACEBOOK
MADE A POST

THAT SHE KNEW A STATE TROOPER
WAS ON THE "SCENE" THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: IT TURNS OUT THAT ON
THE NIGHT OF PRAVIN'S DEATH,

AN ILLINOIS STATE TROOPER
SAW GAEGE BETHUNE.

HE PULLED OVER
AND SPOKE TO GAEGE,

WHO WAS STANDING
NEXT TO THE WOODS

WHERE PRAVIN'S BODY
WAS LATER DISCOVERED.

NO ONE TOLD US
ABOUT THE STATE TROOPER.

Narrator:
PRAVIN'S FAMILY IS FURIOUS.

THE TROOPER EVEN HAS VIDEO
FROM HIS DASHBOARD CAMERA

SHOWING GAEGE
COMING OUT OF THE WOODS.

THE TROOPER BRIEFLY SHINES
HIS FLASHLIGHT INTO THE WOODS,

BUT THAT'S IT.

HE LEAVES THE SCENE,
AND SO DOES GAEGE BETHUNE.

♪

THEN, ANOTHER TWIST --
GAEGE CONFESSES TO LYING ABOUT

WHAT HE TOLD THE STATE TROOPER
THAT NIGHT,

THAT A BLACK MAN
HAD JUST TRIED TO ROB HIM.

EVEN THOUGH HE ADMITS TO LYING
TO THE STATE TROOPER,

GAEGE IS NEVER ARRESTED
OR NAMED AS A SUSPECT.

INSTEAD, HE PRESENTS HIMSELF
AS SOMEONE

WHO WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP
PRAVIN THE NIGHT HE DIED.

Man:
GAEGE BETHUNE DESCRIBED HIMSELF

TO POLICE AS A GOOD SAMARITAN.

GAEGE VIRTUALLY BEGGED THIS
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

TO GO SEARCH FOR THE PASSENGER
OF HIS VEHICLE

THAT RAN INTO THE WOODS.

Narrator: BUT NOT EVERYONE
BELIEVES THE IDEA

THAT GAEGE IS A GOOD SAMARITAN.

THERE'S EVEN SPECULATION THAT
BECAUSE GAEGE BETHUNE KNOWS

SO MANY PEOPLE IN CARBONDALE,

MAYBE HE'S GETTING
SPECIAL TREATMENT.

THERE'S A VERY BIG CHANCE
THAT STATE TROOPER KNEW

MR. BETHUNE OR HIS DAD.

Narrator: GAEGE'S ATTORNEY SAYS
HE'S BEING UNFAIRLY ATTACKED.

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID
ABOUT GAEGE IN THE MEDIA

HAVE ZERO BASIS IN FACT.

Narrator:
BUT PRAVIN'S FAMILY IS CONVINCED

THAT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT,

AND WITH MONICA'S HELP,
THEY BEGIN STAGING PROTESTS.

THEY ALSO PETITION FOR
THE RELEASE OF THE CASE FILES

THROUGH THE FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION ACT.

WE FILED FOIA MULTIPLE TIMES.

EVERY TIME WE FILED FOIA,

IT WAS BEING DENIED
BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY.

HE SAYS THERE'S AN OPEN
INVESTIGATION.

Narrator: THEN, IN MARCH 2015,

MORE THAN
A YEAR AFTER PRAVIN'S DEATH,

THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
SUDDENLY RECUSES HIMSELF

AND ASSIGNS A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
TO THE CASE.

AND THE NEW SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR GRANTS

PRAVIN'S FAMILY ACCESS
TO THE FILES

THEY'VE BEEN PLEADING TO SEE.

IT WAS A HUGE,
HUGE TURNING POINT FOR US.

Narrator:
WHEN THEY OPEN THE FILES,

SOMETHING INSTANTLY CATCHES

THE ATTENTION
OF PRAVIN'S FAMILY.

THEY HAVE A PIECE OF
SURVEILLANCE CAUGHT ON A MOTION

SENSOR OF A BUILDING,
A WHITE MALE,

WHAT LOOKS TO BE A LOT LIKE
MR. BETHUNE,

CARRYING ANOTHER PERSON
ACROSS THE STREET.

Narrator:
ALARMED, LOVELY AND MONICA

IMMEDIATELY BRING THE VIDEO

TO THE SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR'S ATTENTION.

WE'RE TWO MOMS THAT SAID,

"NO. NOT TODAY.

YOU'RE NOT SWEEPING HER BABY'S
CASE UNDER THE RUG."

Narrator: BUT THE SURVEILLANCE
FOOTAGE IS GRAINY,

AND THE TWO MOMS
ARE TOLD IT'S INCONCLUSIVE.

♪

♪

FOR TWO YEARS AFTERWARDS,
THINGS REMAIN AT A STANDSTILL.

THEN, IN JULY OF 2017,

THERE'S AN UNEXPECTED,
STUNNING DEVELOPMENT.

GAEGE BETHUNE IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

IN THE DEATH
OF PRAVIN VARUGHESE.

Narrator:
A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCES

THAT THERE'S ENOUGH
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

TO CHARGE GAEGE
WITH PRAVIN'S MURDER.

THEY INTERVIEWED MORE PEOPLE,
THEY GOT MORE EVIDENCE,

AND THAT BROUGHT THE CHARGE.

Narrator: IN JUNE 2018,

MORE THAN FOUR YEARS
AFTER PRAVIN'S DEATH,

GAEGE BETHUNE GOES ON TRIAL.

THE PROSECUTION ARGUES
THAT GAEGE BEAT PRAVIN SO BADLY

THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED
AND THEN DIED IN THE WOODS,

BUT THE DEFENSE MAINTAINS
THAT GAEGE

DID NO SERIOUS HARM TO PRAVIN.

GAEGE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF,

THE VERY LIMITED MARKINGS

AND BRUISINGS
ON PRAVIN'S BODY

WERE NOT SEVERE ENOUGH
TO CAUSE HIM

TO BE INCAPACITATED
IN ANY WAY.

Narrator:
THEN, TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE,

GAEGE TAKES THE WITNESS STAND.

THE FACT THAT GAEGE BETHUNE
TESTIFIED

WAS THE SHOCK OF THE CENTURY.

Narrator: UNDER OATH,
GAEGE ADMITS THAT HE DIDN'T JUST

HIT PRAVIN IN THE FACE,
HE HIT HIM IN THE HEAD.

Monica: PEOPLE WERE DROPPING
LIKE FLIES IN THE COURTROOM.

HE TOOK THE STAND.
HE SAID IT.

ANY NORMAL PERSON
WHO IS HEARING

ALL THIS EVIDENCE

WOULD SEE THAT HE DID IT.

Narrator: ON JUNE 14th,
AFTER A WEEK-LONG TRIAL,

THE JURY FINDS BETHUNE GUILTY

OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

PRAVIN'S FAMILY IS ELATED, BUT
THAT FEELING DOESN'T LAST LONG.

THREE MONTHS LATER,
ON SEPTEMBER 17th,

THE MORNING OF GAEGE BETHUNE'S
SENTENCING,

THEY NOTICE SOMETHING STRANGE

WHEN HE WALKS
INTO THE COURTROOM.

I SEE GAEGE WALK IN

IN STREET CLOTHES
AND NO HANDCUFFS.

I THOUGHT,
"WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?"

Narrator:
WHAT COMES NEXT IS SHOCKING.

THE MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING
PRAVIN VARUGHESE

WILL HAVE THAT CONVICTION
THROWN OUT.

Narrator: THE JUDGE SAYS
THERE'S BEEN AN ERROR

IN THE WORDING
OF THE INDICTMENT,

AND THE USE OF THE WORD
"KNOWINGLY"

MAY HAVE CONFUSED THE JURY.

WE TOOK ONE LOOK
AT THIS INDICTMENT AND SAID,

"OH, MY GOSH.
THIS KID NEVER HAD A CHANCE."

THE PROSECUTORS NEVER COULD
HAVE PROVEN SOMETHING CALLED

"INTENTIONAL, KNOWING MURDER."

Narrator:
PRAVIN'S FAMILY IS ASTOUNDED.

I HAVE READ
SO MANY INDICTMENTS,

AND THAT IS A WORD IN ALMOST
ALL OF THE INDICTMENTS.

"KNOWINGLY."

THE JUDGE SAW IT.

THE PROSECUTORS, THE DEFENSE --
NOBODY EVER OPPOSED IT.

NOBODY EVER OBJECTED TO IT.

Narrator: JUST WHEN IT LOOKED
LIKE HE WOULD BE SENTENCED

FOR MURDER,
THE JUDGE ORDERS A NEW TRIAL,

AND BETHUNE GOES FREE.

WHAT IS GOING ON?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

Lovely:
THE JUDGE LET HIM WALK FREE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M DISGUSTED ABOUT.

WE ALWAYS TRUSTED AUTHORITY,
TRUSTED LAW ENFORCEMENT,

BUT NOW I DON'T.

Narrator: THE PROSECUTOR INTENDS
TO PUSH FOR A NEW TRIAL,

BUT FOR NOW,
GAEGE REMAINS FREE.

Liam:
GAEGE IS AN INNOCENT MAN.

HE DID NOTHING WRONG.

Narrator: WILL WE EVER FIND OUT
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

WILL THERE BE JUSTICE
FOR PRAVIN?

BOTH PRAVIN'S FAMILY AND MONICA
ARE DETERMINED

TO CONTINUE
THEIR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH.

THIS IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE

TO GET UP AND FIGHT.

WE ARE NOT SPECIAL,
WE ARE NOT DIFFERENT.

WE ARE EVERY MOM
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ANYBODY COULD STAND UP
TO INJUSTICE.

Narrator: AND FOR LOVELY,

THE MISSION TO
GET ANSWERS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

Lovely: WE DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN
FOR FIVE YEARS

AFTER WE GOT MARRIED.

SO THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE
PRAYING FOR A BABY,

I PROMISED TO GOD,

"IF YOU GIVE ME A CHILD,

"I PROMISE YOU
I'LL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE

TO TAKE CARE OF THAT BABY
AND DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN."

SO, WHEN I LOST PRAVIN,

I THOUGHT OF THAT PROMISE.

I HAD TO DO IT.