The Devil Speaks (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Killer Confession - full transcript

HE SAID IT'S EVIL.
I SAID IT IS EVIL.

OKAY.

IF HE'S CONFESSED TO YOU ONCE,

WILL HE TALK ABOUT IT
TO YOU AGAIN

AND CAN WE GET IT ON TAPE?

NOW IT WAS DECEMBER.

WE WERE VOTING ON THE VESTRY

AND I WAS UP
FOR ONE OF THE PLACES.

OUR DAUGHTER, MISSY,
WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO CHURCH

WITH US AND SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP

AND WE COULDN'T' GET HER
ON THE PHONE.



SO WE SAID, "WELL,
LET'S GO CHECK ON HER."

SHE HAD A SLIDING DOOR
IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE

AND IT WAS OPEN
AND THE CURTAINS WERE BLOWING

AND EVERYTHING.

MISSY?

SHE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE

SO THE DOGS COULD COME
IN AND OUT.

SO THAT WASN'T REAL UNUSUAL,
BUT THE FEELING WAS.

MISSY?

HE SAID, "DON'T COME IN HERE."
I SAID, "IS IT MISSY?"

AND HE SAID, "YEAH."

"I'M COMING IN THERE."

SHE WAS ON HER BED FACEDOWN

NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN.



MISSY?

MISSY?

SUDDENLY MY HAND
WAS ON HER BACK.

TOLD HER I LOVED HER.

MISSY?

IT WAS SO COLD.

NO.

AND HER FACE WAS LAYING SIDEWAYS
AND SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL.

BUT I KNEW

SHE HAD A REAL BAD INJURY
ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD.

THERE WAS BLOOD IN HER HAIR.

SHE WAS FACEDOWN AND HER HANDS
WERE BOUND

WITH ONE OF THOSE ZIPTIE
THINGS BEHIND HER BACK.

IT WAS JUST UNGODLY, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S MY DAUGHTER.
SHE'S DEAD AND SHE'S GONE.

36-YEAR-OLD MISSY ATKIN

WAS THE BRIGHT LIGHT
OF HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SHE HAD THOSE BRIGHT BLUE
SPARKLING EYES

THAT JUST SPOKE VOLUMES ABOUT
WHO SHE WAS AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

COMPASSIONATE
AND FUN-LOVING AND KIND

AND JUST A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

OKAY...

MISSY'S 5-YEAR-OLD
SON, LUCAS, WAS HER WORLD.

THEY DID KARATE TOGETHER
WHEN LUCAS WAS 4,

THEY JOINED KARATE.

AND DOWN.

AND IT WAS
A BONDING THING, YOU KNOW?

HEY, EXCUSE ME, MISTER.

IT WAS VERY NATURAL FOR THEM.

WATCHING MISSY WITH LUCAS,
WAS JUST... THEY WERE BUDDIES.

EVERY CHOICE SHE MADE, EVERY
STEP SHE TOOK WAS ABOUT LUCAS.

COME ON IN. IT'S OPEN.

MISSY SHARED CUSTODY OF LUCAS

WITH HIS FATHER, SCOTT REYNOLDS.

HEY, BUDDY. HOW YA DOIN'?

SCOTT GOT HIM EVERY OTHER
WEEKEND AND ON WEDNESDAYS.

WE GOT TO GET GOING, MAN.

IT WAS SCOTT'S WEEKEND TO
HAVE LUKE FOR THAT WEEKEND.

OKAY. YOU TWO HAVE FUN.

WHEN I GOT TO THE SCENE,

THE PATROL GUYS
HAD ALREADY SECURED EVERYTHING.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HARD IT IS
FOR DOUG AND LINDA

TO FIND THEIR CHILD LIKE THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA
CARRY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

WELL, BRYANT.

THIS WAS MY FIRST HOMICIDE CASE
AS A DETECTIVE.

I MEAN, YOU SEE IT ON TV
ALL THE TIME

AND NOW YOU'RE IN THAT ROLE
AND YOU'RE LIVING IT

AND IT'S A LITTLE
OVERWHELMING AT FIRST.

YOU START WORKING THE SCENE,

GATHERING ANY KIND OF EVIDENCE
THAT YOU CAN.

YOU KNOW,
YOU WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

WHAT'S NORMAL FOR THAT
HOUSEHOLD, WHAT'S ABNORMAL.

WE DID FIND A MUDDY FOOTPRINT
INSIDE THE BACKDOOR.

THE TRACKS ACTUALLY WENT IN

AND WE COULD SEE
SOME ADDITIONAL MUD

GOING DOWN THE HALLWAY
INTO MISSY'S BEDROOM.

SOMEBODY WAS THERE LONG ENOUGH

TO ACTUALLY BIND
AND SECURE HER.

ZIPTIES TIED AROUND
HER WRISTS.

IF YOU'RE BOUND FROM BEHIND
AND DRESSED AS SHE WAS

BEING IN THE BED,

THEN THERE'S ALWAYS
THE POSSIBILITY

THAT SHE WAS
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

SHE WAS KILLED RIGHT THERE
ON THE BED.

THAT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.

AND YOU COULD SEE WHERE
THE BLOOD WAS POOLING

AND POURING OFF
THE EDGE OF THE BED.

SHE HAD, FROM WHAT
WE COULD TELL AT THAT TIME,

THREE OR FOUR GUNSHOT WOUNDS
TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD.

SHOT AT POINT BLANK, I'D SAY.

WHEN MELISSA WAS MOVED, WE FOUND
A PROJECTILE IN THE MATTRESS.

IT WAS A .32 CALIBER.

SO IT WAS A FAIRLY
SMALL PROJECTILE.

THE PROJECTILE CAN BE
A VERY IMPORTANT CLUE.

YOU CAN START NARROWING DOWN
THE TYPE OF WEAPON,

THE TYPE OF AMMUNITION,
WHO MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

THE WAY THAT SHE WAS FOUND

AND OBVIOUSLY THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS

THAT WERE TO
THE BACK OF THE HEAD,

IT LOOKED LIKE AN EXECUTION
TYPE OF MURDER.

AS THE FORENSIC TEAM

SCOURS THE CRIME SCENE
FOR CLUES,

MISSY'S PARENTS ARE INTERVIEWED
BY THE DETECTIVES.

I'M SURE YOUR BRAIN
TELLS YOU NOT TO REMEMBER,

YOU KNOW.

IT WAS A VERY WEIRD SENSATION.

THE WHOLE THING WAS.

LIKE YOU WERE WATCHING
A BAD B MOVIE.

I SMELL SOMETHING DELICIOUS.

- HI, DADDY.
- HEY. YOU TWO BACK ALREADY?

- WE ARE.
- GREAT.

WITH LUCAS AT
HIS DAD'S FOR THE WEEKEND,

MISSY SPENT THE DAY PLANNING
HER SON'S 6th BIRTHDAY PARTY.

- DID YOU GET EVERYTHING?
- WE DID. CHECK IT OUT.

FOR THE KARATE PARTY.

- HE'S GONNA LOVE THAT.
- YEAH.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST DAY
MISSY AND I EVER SPENT TOGETHER.

- WE GOT ENOUGH STUFF?
- I THINK SO.

WE GIGGLED AND LAUGHED
AND TALKED AND WENT OVER LIFE.

MY GOODNESS.

AND THEN SHE GOT UP TO LEAVE.

- THANK YOU.
- HONEY.

THANK YOU FOR TODAY.
OKAY, MISSY.

AND I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE,

AND I BEGGED HER
TO STAY OVERNIGHT.

I NEVER ASKED HER
TO DO THAT BEFORE.

- DAD, I'M GONNA HIT THE ROAD.
- ALL RIGHT.

BUT MISSY WAS PLANNING
ON GOING TO WALMART THAT NIGHT

AND SAID SHE'D SEE THEM
TOMORROW IN CHURCH.

I'LL PHONE YOU AND MAKE SURE
YOU'RE AWAKE, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT. ENJOY DINNER.

- BYE.
- CIAO.

MISSY'S PARENTS SAY THERE WAS

ONLY ONE PERSON IN HER LIFE
WITH WHOM SHE HAD ANY CONFLICT.

OKAY.

COME ON IN! IT'S OPEN.

YOUR DADDY'S HERE.

HEY, BUDDY. HOW YA DOIN'?

WE GOTTA GO.

DON'T LET HIM GET UP AFTER 9.

YEAH, I GOT IT.

AND HOME ON SUNDAY
'CAUSE HE'S GOT SCHOOL.

WELL, NO, 'CAUSE
IT'S MY WEEKEND WITH HIM

AND I GOT HIM UNTIL MONDAY.
NOW, YOU KNOW THAT.

- COME ON, BUDDY.
- COME ON.

AFTER A ROCKY 10-YEAR
RELATIONSHIP,

MISSY AND SCOTT
SEPARATED 18 MONTHS AGO.

OKAY, YOU TWO HAVE FUN.

IT WASN'T WORKING
BETWEEN HER AND SCOTT,

BUT SHE DID WANT IT WORK
BETWEEN SCOTT AND LUCAS.

AND HE THOUGHT SHE WAS TRYING
TO TAKE HIM AWAY FROM HIM

AND SHE NEVER HAD THAT THOUGHT
IN HER HEAD EVER.

AFTER MISSY ATKIN
IS BRUTALLY MURDERED,

HER PARENTS SUSPECT
THE INVOLVEMENT

OF HER EX-PARTNER,
SCOTT REYNOLDS.

DOUG AND LINDA
ARE VERY CONVINCED

THAT SCOTT REYNOLDS
WAS THE KILLER.

OUR REACTION IS WE TAKE
IN ALL THE INFORMATION

AND THEN TRY NOT
TO GET TUNNEL VISION.

A LOT OF TIMES FAMILY IS JADED

AND THEY DON'T LOOK
AT THE BIG PICTURE.

THE DAY AFTER THE MURDER,

DETECTIVES SUMMON SCOTT
TO THE STATION FOR AN INTERVIEW.

HE WAS SOMBER.

HE WAS VERY QUIET.

HEY, DOUG. LINDA.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

AND I WENT UP AND KISSED SCOTT

BECAUSE I WANTED HIM
TO THINK I WAS FRIENDLY.

ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS
I'VE EVER DONE.

GO ON, CHAMP.

YOU'RE GONNA GO STAY
WITH GRANDMA.

AS A POTENTIAL SUSPECT,

HE HAS TO RELINQUISH
CUSTODY OF HIS SON.

POLICE FIND SCOTT CANDID

AND READY TO HELP
IN ANY WAY HE CAN.

HE WAS VERY CALM.

HE DIDN'T SEEM WORRIED.

HE SEEMED VERY CONFIDENT.

I TRIED TO MAKE HIM
FEEL COMFORTABLE

SO THAT HE WOULD TALK.

SCOTT ADMITS HE
AND MISSY HAD BEEN ARGUING

OVER CUSTODY OF THEIR SON.

CLEARLY HE'S NOT HAPPY
WITH THE SITUATION,

BUT IT WAS HIS WEEKEND TO HAVE
LUKE ACCORDING TO THE CUSTODY.

SCOTT TELLS DETECTIVES
HE STAYED AT HIS FRIEND

EVE'S HOUSE ALL WEEKEND
WITH LUCAS AND TANNER,

HIS 18-YEAR-OLD STEPSON
FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP.

ANYTIME SOMEBODY GIVES US
A STATEMENT,

IF THEY'VE GOT AN ALIBI
OR A STORY

AS TO WHERE THEY'VE BEEN,

WE'RE GONNA DOUBLE CHECK THAT.

POLICE CALL EVE BARGER
IN FOR QUESTIONING.

OKAY, UM...

IT SEEMS SCOTT AND EVE
ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS.

THEY'VE BEEN DATING
FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS.

SCOTT WOKE HER AND TOLD HER
HE WAS GOING TO TAKE

TANNER OUT DEER HUNTING.

WHILE SCOTT WAS OUT
OF THE HOUSE,

LUCAS HAD WOKE UP
AND I BELIEVE HE WAS CRYING

AND UPSET FOR SOME REASON
AND HE GOT IN THE BED WITH EVE.

WHEN SCOTT GOT BACK HE GOT
IN THE BED WITH THE TWO OF THEM.

SHE CORROBORATED
SCOTT'S INTERVIEW.

EVE TELLS THEM THEY GOT UP LATER

THAT MORNING AROUND 9:30 A.M.

AND SPENT SUNDAY TOGETHER
BEFORE SCOTT LEFT THAT EVENING.

I BELIEVE HE WAS ON HIS WAY BACK
OR HAD JUST LEFT

AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT
MISSY HAD BEEN KILLED.

TO DOUBLE CHECK SCOTT'S ALIBI,

DETECTIVES PULL IN HIS STEPSON,
TANNER.

TANNER DID SAY THAT IT WAS ABOUT

4:00 THAT HE WAS TAKEN OUT
TO THE DEER STAND.

HE SAID THAT HE WAS TOLD
BY SCOTT THAT,

"I'M GONNA GO BACK,

BUT IF I HEAR A GUNSHOT,
I'LL COME BACK."

AFTER HE LEFT TANNER,

SCOTT CAME BACK TO EVE'S
BEDROOM AROUND 5:00 A.M.

LEAVING JUST ONE HOUR
UNACCOUNTED FOR.

SCOTT REYNOLDS
WOULD'VE HAD TO TRAVEL

SOME 50 MILES BACK AND FORTH.
SO 100 MILES.

SO TIME WAS A VERY BIG CONCERN.

DID HE HAVE THE TIME TO LEAVE,

GET IN THE HOUSE,

KILL HER, GET BACK IN THE CAR,
AND GET BACK?

INVESTIGATORS
CALCULATE THE DRIVING DISTANCE

IN TIME AND CONCLUDE
HE DID NOT.

SCOTT'S ALIBI WAS SOLID.

IT DID SEEM TO FALL INTO PLACE
THAT HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.

POLICE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

THEY NEED A NEW LEAD.

WE'VE GOT TO LEARN AS
MUCH AS WE CAN ABOUT MISSY.

EACH ONE OF US HAS OUR OWN
PERSONAL LIVES

THAT WE DON'T SHARE
WITH EVERYBODY.

MAYBE NOT EVEN FAMILY.

SO WE'VE GOT TO PULL THAT OUT
AS MUCH AS WE CAN

TO FIND OUT THE HIDDEN
INFORMATION THAT NOBODY KNOWS.

START LOOKING TOWARDS
WHO MIGHT BE ANOTHER SUSPECT,

PARTICULARLY WHO
SHE MIGHT'VE TALKED TO LAST.

MISSY'S PARENTS TOLD
POLICE SHE WAS HEADED TO WALMART

AFTER SHE LEFT
THEIR HOUSE THAT NIGHT.

CUE IT UP TO 8:00 P.M.

SO INVESTIGATORS
PULL THE SECURITY FOOTAGE

AND START HUNTING
FOR ANY SIGN OF HER.

ALL RIGHT, PAUSE IT THERE.

THAT'S HER.

WE FIND MISSY ARRIVE AT WALMART
IN THE EVENING ON SATURDAY.

SHE COMES IN BY HERSELF.

PLAY IT FROM THERE.

CAMERAS SHOW SHE
ENTERED THE STORE AT 8:52 P.M.

WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE MIGHT'VE
RUN ACROSS THE WRONG PERSON

OR IF SHE MIGHT'VE BEEN
FOLLOWED AFTERWARDS.

SHE MIGHT'VE MADE
SOMEBODY ANGRY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW.

ALL RIGHT,
WHERE IS SHE GOING NEXT?

WHOA. WHO'S THAT GUY?

AT 9:30 P.M.,

A MYSTERY MAN APPROACHES
MELISSA WEARING

A GREY SWEATER AND BLACK CAP.

DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS.

THEY TALK FOR ALMOST AN HOUR.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA TALK
TO JUST ANYBODY FOR AN HOUR.

IT'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY
THAT'S PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO YOU

THAT YOU KNOW VERY WELL.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
WHO SHE WAS TALKING TO.

AFTER THE CONVERSATION,

THE MAN AND MISSY PART WAYS.

AND POLICE NOTICE THAT MISSY
IS TALKING ON HER CELLPHONE.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO PULL
PHONE RECORDS,

SEE WHO'S BEEN CALLING WHO.

THE LAST CALL
TO COME IN TO MISSY'S PHONE

WAS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER.

I CALLED HER PROBABLY
ABOUT 10:30, 11:00.

I WAS THE LAST ONE TO TALK
TO HER THAT SATURDAY NIGHT.

CRUCIALLY, KEN IS ABLE
TO TELL POLICE THE MAN

WHO SPOKE TO MISSY FOR AN HOUR
IS ONE OF HIS BEST BUDDIES,

TODD BURFIELD.

MELISSA'S BROTHER, KEN,
HAD CALLED AND TODD

HAD PICKED UP THE PHONE
JOKINGLY TO ANSWER "HELLO?"

YOU KNOW,
WITH A MAN'S VOICE ON THE PHONE

WHICH KIND OF SURPRISED
HER BROTHER.

COULD THIS PERSON HAVE COME
TO HER HOUSE LATER?

I MEAN, THIS IS THE PERSON
ESSENTIALLY

THAT SAW HER LAST ALIVE.

POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT
FOR MELISSA ATKIN'S KILLER.

WALMART SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE

SHOWS HER TALKING
TO FAMILY FRIEND,

TODD BURFIELD,
THE NIGHT SHE WAS MURDERED.

WE'VE GOT TO INTERVIEW
TODD BURFIELD AND FIND OUT WHO

TODD IS AND WHAT
HIS RELATIONSHIP IS WITH MISSY.

TODD TELLS POLICE HE'S KNOWN

MISSY SINCE BECOMING FRIENDS
WITH HER BROTHER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIENDSHIP.

NOTHING ROMANTIC OR ANYTHING
INVOLVED LIKE THAT.

BUT HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IF HE
WEREN'T MARRIED TO HIS WIFE,

MELISSA WOULD BE
THE TYPE OF PERSON

THAT HE WOULD WANT TO BE WITH.

TODD'S INTEREST IN MISSY

PUTS HIM FIRMLY
ON THE SUSPECT LIST.

HE CLAIMS THAT AFTER
HE SPOKE TO MISSY,

HE LEFT THE STORE
AND DROVE HOME.

HE'D GOT HOME BEFORE HIS WIFE

AND THEN IT WAS
A SHORT TIME LATER,

MAYBE 20 MINUTES OR SO,
AND SHE HAD RETURNED HOME.

DETECTIVE GREGORY
HEADS TO TODD'S ADDRESS

TO TALK TO HIS WIFE, TINA.

I SPOKE WITH TINA TO
PIN DOWN TODD'S TIMELINE.

SHE TELLS THE DETECTIVE

HER HUSBAND WAS HOME

WHEN SHE RETURNED
AROUND 11:30 P.M.

WE WERE ABLE TO SEE
ON THE TIMESTAMP

ON THE WALMART VIDEO

THAT MELISSA HAD
LEFT WALMART AT 11:30.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO EXCLUDE TODD
FROM THE SUSPECT POOL.

IT'S A MAJOR BLOW
TO THE INVESTIGATION.

BUT AS ONE AVENUE SHUTS DOWN,

ANOTHER OPENS UP.

THEY RECEIVE A CALL FROM
MISSY'S ATTORNEY, MITCH SHANNON.

MELISSA HAD HIRED ATTORNEY
MITCH SHANNON TO HELP HER

WITH THE CUSTODY
AND VISITATION ISSUES.

SHE WOULD COME IN FOR A MEETING
WITH THE ATTORNEY

AND DURING THAT TIME,

SCOTT REYNOLDS WOULD
CALL HER CONSTANTLY.

HE SAID SOMETIMES AS MUCH
AS 15 TIMES.

Let's just sort
this out ourselves, okay?

Look, you and me.

HE DID REMEMBER
SPECIFICALLY ONE OCCASION

MELISSA PUT HIM
ON SPEAKERPHONE.

You know I can get rid
of your attorney.

It's not a problem.

I know where he lives.

I followed him home.

HE SAID, "I KNOW WHERE
YOUR ATTORNEY LIVES

AND I CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM."

SCOTT'S FRUSTRATION
WITH THE CUSTODY BATTLE

WAS THREATENING
TO TURN VIOLENT.

IT APPEARED TO US
THAT SCOTT REYNOLDS

WAS SOMEBODY WHO WANTED
ULTIMATE CONTROL

OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY
AND THAT HE SAW

THAT MELISSA WAS TAKING
THAT CONTROL OUT OF HIS HANDS.

WITH SCOTT NOW BACK
UNDER SUSPICION,

THE POLICE ARE EAGER
TO SPEAK TO HIM AGAIN.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE HE WAS.

AND WE KNOW WHAT
HIS TOTAL FOCUS ON LUKE.

SO WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IN
DESPERATION HE MAY SNATCH LUKE

AND JUST TAKE OFF.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE
TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED

TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE,
GO TO ONE OF THE HOTELS,

GET A HIGH-FLOOR ROOM
UNDER AN ASSUMED NAME.

AND HE SAYS WE'LL HAVE
POLICE PROTECTION THERE 24/7.

INVESTIGATORS RETURN
TO EVE BARGER'S HOUSE TO SEE

IF SHE'S HEARD FROM SCOTT.

TAKE A SEAT.

SHE CLAIMS SHE HASN'T SEEN HIM

SINCE THE WEEKEND
HE STAYED AT HER HOUSE.

MIND IF WE GO THROUGH
THE EVENTS OF

SATURDAY NIGHT AGAIN?

EVE REPEATS THE SAME STORY,

THAT SCOTT SPENT
THE NIGHT WITH HER.

THEN TOOK HIS STEPSON
HUNTING WITH HIM AT DAWN.

SCOTT HAD BORROWED SOME OF
EVE'S GUNS TO HUNT DEER WITH.

MIND IF WE TAKE A LOOK?

SURE.

SHE HAD TWO OR THREE
LONG GUNS, HUNTING WEAPONS,

AND SHE HAD
A COUPLE OF PISTOLS.

EVE TELLS THE DETECTIVES

SHE KEEPS A .32 CALIBER PISTOL
IN THE GREEN RANGE BAG.

THERE IS NO GUN IN HERE.

WHAT?

IT'S ALWAYS IN THERE.

EVE CLAIMED THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME SHE'D NOTICED

THE .32 PISTOL BEING MISSING.

NOW WE HAVE A WEAPON THAT
MATCHED THE PROJECTILES WE FOUND

AT THE CRIME SCENE
AND IN MELISSA'S BODY.

IT WAS A DEFINITE
FLASHING RED LIGHT THAT,

HEY, WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

EVE'S CAR WAS TAKEN
TO THE TBI LAB

AND THEN THEY CONDUCTED
A SEARCH OF IT.

THEY FOUND TWO .32 CALIBER
ROUNDS INSIDE EVE'S CAR.

THAT'S A HUGE MOMENT.

EXPERTS CONFIRM
THE BULLETS IN EVE'S CAR

MATCHED THOSE FOUND
AT THE CRIME SCENE.

WELL, THAT WAS AS GOOD
AS HAVING THE GUN.

THAT WOULD NARROW
THE SUSPECT LIST

DOWN TO WHOEVER
HAD ACCESS TO EVE'S CAR

WHICH WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN

EITHER HERSELF,
AND SCOTT REYNOLDS.

POLICE LAUNCH A FULL
SEARCH OF EVE'S PROPERTY.

EVE BARGER LIVED IN LEWISBURG,
TENNESSEE OVER AN ISOLATED AREA.

LIVING IN A RURAL SETTING,

YOU EITHER HAVE TO HAUL
YOUR OWN GARBAGE OFF OR BURN IT.

SO EVE HAD A BURN BARREL
TO BURN THE TRASH.

WE FOUND SOME RIVETS
FROM A PAIR OF JEANS

AND WE FOUND PART
OF A WRANGLER LABEL.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
THIS WAS USED?

SUNDAY.

SUNDAY LAST?

YEAH, SCOTT USED IT.

WHEN WE TALKED TO EVE,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS SCOTT WEARING

WHEN HE CAME UP THERE?

SCOTT WAS WEARING WRANGLERS
WHEN HE CAME UP.

AND WHEN HE WENT HOME SUNDAY,
HE WASN'T WEARING WRANGLERS.

HE WEARING A PAIR OF KHAKIS.

POLICE NOW BELIEVE MISSY WAS

KILLED BY EITHER SCOTT OR EVE.

THEY JUST NEED TO PROVE IT.

DETECTIVES HAVE
DISCOVERED EVIDENCE

THAT SUGGESTS SCOTT AND EVE
ARE LYING ABOUT THE NIGHT

MELISSA WAS MURDERED.

THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING

AND IT'S LONG BEFORE
ONE OF THEM CRACKS.

MS. BARGER,
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

EVE CAME IN AND I HAD
A PHOTO OF MISSY

AND SHE LOOKED AT THE PICTURE
AND SHE STARTED CRYING.

IT'S ABOUT THAT NIGHT.

THE NIGHT MELISSA
WAS MURDERED.

AND SHE SAID, "I'VE GOT
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING."

I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU THE WHOLE
TRUTH ABOUT THE NIGHT

THAT MISSY DIED.

SCOTT DID WAKE ME,

BUT I CAN'T BE CERTAIN
OF THE TIME.

EVE?

EVE?

I'M TAKING TANNER
OUT TO DEER'S DEN.

WATCH LUCAS FOR ME.

- OKAY.
- OKAY.

THEN LUKE WOKE UP
A LITTLE LATER.

HE WANTED TO SEE HIS DADDY.

I STAYED UP WITH LUKE
UNTIL SCOTT CAME HOME.

SHE SAID HE GOT IN
BED AND HE WAS STILL DRESSED

IN HIS JEANS AND HIS SHIRT.

AND HE STARTED SOBBING.

SCOTT?

AND SHE'S, LIKE,
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

WHAT'S WRONG?

I CAN'T TELL YOU.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU CAN'T TELL ME?

YOU'LL HATE ME.

NO, OF COURSE
I WON'T HATE YOU.

SCOTT, WHAT'S WRONG?

HE SAID,
"I JUST KILLED MELISSA."

WHAT?

AND THEN HE JUST CAME OUT
AND TOLD ME HE KILLED MELISSA.

HE OUTRIGHT CONFESSED TO YOU?

YES.

THE NEXT DAY WE WOKE UP AND HE
ACTED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.

THAT'S A HARD POSITION
FOR HER TO BE IN.

THIS IS A GUY THAT SHE WAS
IN LOVE WITH,

OR THOUGHT
SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH.

AND NOW SHE'S GOT TO PROTECT HIM
OR TURN HIM IN.

HE WAS JUST PRETENDING
LIKE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.

HE TOOK THE BURN BARREL OUT
AND BURNED SOME TRASH.

DID YOU SEE WHAT EXACTLY
HE WAS BURNING?

NO, I DIDN'T.

THE DETECTIVES ARE SUSPICIOUS

ABOUT THE TIMING
OF EVE'S CONFESSION.

I WAS A BIT AGGRAVATED AT
THE FACT THAT EVE HAD LIED TO US

AND HAD NOT COME FORTH THE VERY
FIRST TIME WE HAD TALKED TO HER.

THE FACT THAT
SHE WAS NOT TELLING US

EVERYTHING INITIALLY
WAS CONCERNING.

COULD SHE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED

AND NOW SHE'S TRYING
TO GET HERSELF OUT OF IT?

I THOUGHT, WELL,

IF HE'S CONFESSED TO YOU ONCE,

WILL HE TALK TO YOU
ABOUT IT AGAIN

AND CAN WE GET IT ON TAPE?

- ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH SCOTT?
- YES.

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS?

HE WON'T TELL ME.

EVE, WE WANT YOU
TO RECORD YOUR CALLS.

WE NEED HIM TO CONFESS.

IF SHE REFUSED, THEN IT MIGHT'VE
BEEN AN INDICATION

THAT SHE HAD MORE TO DO
WITH THE MURDER

THAN SHE WAS INITIALLY SAYING.

WHEN YOU'RE READY.

WE HAD HER ATTEMPT TO CALL HIM
RIGHT THERE

WHILE SHE WAS IN OUR OFFICE
AND TRY TO MAKE CONTACT.

I WAS VERY SCARED AT THAT POINT.

KNOWING WHAT I KNEW,

I WAS AFRAID THAT HE WOULD

OBVIOUSLY TRY TO COME BACK

AND DO SOMETHING TO ME.

BUT I KNEW THAT I COULD DO IT.

AND I HAD TO.

I COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF
IF I DIDN'T DO THAT.

OBVIOUSLY HIM REFUSING TO SAY
WHERE HE WAS AND COMMENTING

THAT SOMETHING'S GOING ON,
HE KNEW WE WERE ON TO HIM.

WHEN YOU LISTEN
TO THE TAPE RECORDINGS,

THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
PIECE OF EVIDENCE

TO RULE HER
COMPLETELY OUT AND AGAIN

SHINE THE LIGHT BACK
ON MR. SCOTT REYNOLDS.

BUT DESPITE EVE'S BEST EFFORTS,

SCOTT SAYS NOTHING
INCRIMINATING.

POLICE GIVE EVE A RECORDER

SO SHE CAN CONTINUE
TAPING THEIR CALLS.

THE GOAL WAS TO GET TO THE TRUTH

AND BY GETTING EVE
ON THE PHONE WITH SCOTT,

IT WAS GOING TO COME OUT.

HELLO?

I REMEMBER FEELING I JUST WISH
HE WOULD SAY THE WORDS

SO IT COULD BE OVER.

SCOTT REYNOLDS IS A WANTED MAN,

BUT HIS WHEREABOUTS
ARE STILL UNKNOWN.

HIS GIRLFRIEND, EVE BARGER,

CONTINUES TO RECORD
HIS PHONE CALLS

IN THE HOPE THAT HE WILL
FINALLY CONFESS ON TAPE.

AND I MEANT THAT, YOU KNOW,
TO BE HONEST.

BE HONEST.
BE TRUTHFUL, YOU KNOW,

MAYBE SOME DAY YOU WILL HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SON.

I FELT MORE OF LIKE A THERAPIST
IN THAT MOMENT

'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY
HE WAS BREAKING DOWN.

I WANTED HIM TO SAY IT.

I WANTED TO GET IT ON THE TAPE.

I REMEMBER FEELING I JUST WISH
HE WOULD SAY THE WORDS

SO IT COULD BE OVER.

THAT'S A DEFINITE CONFESSION.

THAT'S THE NAIL IN HIS COFFIN AS
FAR AS THE CASE WAS CONCERNED.

SCOTT IS STILL IN HIDING,

BUT DETECTIVES HOPE THEY CAN
LURE HIM OUT WITH THE ONE THING

HE VALUES ABOVE ALL ELSE...

CUSTODY OF HIS SON, LUCAS.

MELISSA'S LAWYER
HAD SET THE MOTION

TO COMPEL AGAINST SCOTT.

SO I THINK
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM

TO MAKE THAT COURT APPEARANCE.

I WANTED HIM TO SHOW UP.

I WANTED HIM TO BE THERE
SO WE COULD ARREST HIM.

HEY, SCOTT.

HEY, SCOTT.
I NEED TO TELL YOU

I'VE GOT A WARRANT
FOR YOUR ARREST.

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

HE DIDN'T FIGHT.
HE DIDN'T ARGUE.

SCOTT IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE

PREMEDITATED MURDER.

AT THE TRIAL, THE PROSECUTION
PRESENTS ITS CASE OF A PLAN

THAT BEGAN UNFOLDING LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT AT EVE'S HOUSE.

SCOTT PLANNED IT OUT
AHEAD OF TIME.

HE WENT TO EVE'S FULLY WELL

INTENDING TO GET UP IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

AND SLIP OUT.

WITH THE HOUSEHOLD ASLEEP,

SCOTT TAKES THE .32 PISTOL
AND EVE'S CAR KEYS.

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, HE DRIVES
50 MILES TO MELISSA'S HOUSE.

BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE HOUSE
TO SHOOT SOMEBODY,

YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
A BULLET IN THE CHAMBER

AND THE WAY YOU WOULD DO THAT
WOULD BE TO PULL THE SLIDE BACK.

IF THERE'S A BULLET
ALREADY IN THE CHAMBER,

IT WILL BE EJECTED
AND ANOTHER WILL LOAD.

TWO BULLETS EJECTED,

ONE BY THE SEAT AND ONE
IN THE BOOT OF THE GEAR SHIFT.

SCOTT HEADS FOR THE HOUSE

LEAVING TWO VITAL PIECES
OF EVIDENCE BEHIND HIM.

HE SNEAKS IN THROUGH
THE OPEN BACK DOOR.

AND BRUTALLY EXECUTES
THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD.

I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS LEFT
ON THE BED IN THAT MANNER.

THERE WAS NO INDICATION
OF ANY SEXUAL CRIME,

BUT I THOUGHT THAT EITHER HE WAS
TRYING TO STAGE THE CRIME SCENE

TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING
MORE HAD HAPPENED THAN DID

OR IT WOULD BE A WAY
TO HUMILIATE HER.

TO LEAVE HER POSED THAT WAY.

POLICE SUSPECT SCOTT
RETURNED TO EVE'S

AND TOOK TANNER
HUNTING AS AN ALIBI

FOR HIS ACTIONS
EARLIER THAT NIGHT.

MR. REYNOLDS,
YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED BY

DETECTIVE RALPH MAYERCHIK
IN A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

IN THE DEATH OF MELISSA ATKIN
ON OR ABOUT...

SCOTT IS A VERY
SELFISH INDIVIDUAL.

HE WANTED LUCAS FOR HIMSELF
AND HE WAS WILLING TO END

MELISSA'S LIFE
TO TRY TO GET WHAT HE WANTED

AND INSTEAD HE KILLED MELISSA,

HE SCARRED LUCAS FOR LIFE,

AND THEN ENDED UP
IN PRISON HIMSELF.

SCOTT IS FOUND GUILTY
OF MURDER IN THE FIRST-DEGREE

AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

HE DENIED EVER THREATENING
MELISSA'S ATTORNEY,

BUT HIS INCARCERATION CAN NEVER
GIVE BACK WHAT HE TOOK

FROM MISSY'S LOVED ONES.

WE TALK.

SHE DOESN'T ANSWER, BUT I TALK.

I TELL HER WHAT LUKE'S DONE,
HOW HE IS, AND HOW TALL HE IS.

LUCAS IS MY ROCKSTAR.

WE'VE HAD HIM SINCE MISSY DIED

AND HE WAS HALFWAY
THROUGH KINDERGARTEN

AND HE'S NOW 10th GRADE
AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM.

HE'S A GOOD BOY.

NOW 16, LUCAS IS
AWAITING HIS 18th BIRTHDAY

WHEN HE WILL LEGALLY BE ABLE
TO LOSE HIS FATHER'S SURNAME

AND BECOME LUCAS ATKIN.

ON THE 16th OF DECEMBER,

THE DAY SHE DIED,

A LOT OF THE FAMILY COMES
TOGETHER, FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY,

AND WE JUST SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY

BEING TOGETHER, EATING,

JUST KIND OF BEING
WITH EACH OTHER TO REMEMBER HER.

AND HE IMAGINES THE WORDS

HE WOULD SAY TO
HIS MOTHER TODAY.

PROBABLY I LOVE YOU 'CAUSE
I DON'T THINK I GOT TO SAY THAT.