Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - High School Reunion - full transcript

A LONELY SINGLE MOM...

EVERYONE LOVED MY MOM.

SHE WAS BUBBLY.

SHE WAS ALWAYS LOUD.

LOOKS ONLINE FOR COMPANY.

I WON'T BE LATE.

BUT WHEN A FIRST DATE
TURNS DARK...

"SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY
NOT RIGHT HERE."

POLICE ARE LEFT WITH A CYBER
TRAIL OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.

STAY AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND,
YOU BITCH!

SHE TREATED ME LIKE NO ONE'S
EVER TREATED ME BEFORE.



AND LIES TO UNTANGLE.

I LOOKED UP
AND THEN IT WAS JUST GONE.

WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO ANSWER.

NATIVE NEW YORKER
MICHELE REITER

IS A 38-YEAR-OLD
DIVORCED MOTHER OF TWO.

MICHELE NOW LIVES AND WORKS
IN BROWNWOOD, TEXAS,

WHERE SHE'S POPULAR WITH BOTH

THE HARDWARE STORE STAFF
AND THE CUSTOMERS.

SHE HAD A REALLY
OUTGOING PERSONALITY.

SHE WAS FUN TO BE AROUND.

SHE COULD BE FLIRTATIOUS.

REALLY?

SHE WAS BUBBLY,
ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD.

COULDN'T REALLY GET HER DOWN.



SHE WAS JUST CHEERFUL,
HIGH-SPIRITED.

SHE DEFINITELY STOOD OUT HERE.

I LIKE YOUR ARM TATS.

I LIKE YOURS, TOO.
- THANK YOU.

THERE YOU GO.
- THANKS A LOT.

THERE'S YOUR CHANGE.
- THANK YOU.

SEE YOU LATER. BYE.
- SEE YA.

MICHELE'S
BEST FRIEND IS DENISE WORRELL.

WHAT?

YOU'RE SUCH A FLIRT.

WHAT? NO WAY.
- MY GOSH. YES, YOU ARE.

HE HAD NICE TATS.

I KNOW.

THE FIRST NIGHT
WE WORKED TOGETHER,

IT WAS LIKE, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE WERE JUST BEST FRIENDS

AND IT JUST WENT FROM THERE.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING
ANOTHER ONE, ACTUALLY.

YOU SHOULD.
- YEAH, I MEAN...

I LOVE THIS ONE. YEAH.
- THANK YOU.

MICHELE TELLS DENISE
HOW SHE'S JUST BROKEN UP

WITH HER BOYFRIEND
OF FOUR YEARS,

AFTER DISCOVERING
HE'D CHEATED ON HER.

DENISE INVITES MICHELE
TO BE HER HOUSEMATE.

THE NICE THING ABOUT HER
BEING ABLE TO MOVE IN WITH ME

WAS SHE WASN'T COMPLETELY
ON HER OWN, YET,

AND SHE HAD SOMEBODY THAT
WAS THERE FOR HER, YOU KNOW,

SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO ADJUST
TO BEING IN A QUIET HOME.

AS MICHELE SETTLES
INTO HER NEW HOME,

HER TEENAGE KIDS, ALEXIS AND TY,
MAKE REGULAR VISITS.

LISTEN, PUT IT AWAY.
WE'RE ALMOST READY.

ALL RIGHT.
- OKAY.

MICHELE'S CHILDREN
WERE HER LIFE.

SHE LOVED HER CHILDREN
BEYOND ANYTHING.

WE HAD A FUN TIME.

WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME.

EVERY DAY, SHE WOULD MAKE ME
MY FAVORITE MEAL,

WHICH WAS SPAGHETTI
AND MEATBALLS,

AND THAT WAS AWESOME.

NO!

SHE WOULD COOK
AND IT LOOKED LIKE

SHE WAS COOKING A MEAL
FOR 10 PEOPLE.

SHE WOULD MAKE A LOT OF FOOD.

LIKE, LEFT A FACE PRINT.

COME ON, GUYS.

AWW, IT'S OKAY.

IS DAD HERE ALREADY?

WOW, WE'RE NOT EVEN
FINISHED.

YEAH. OKAY, GUYS, COME ON.
GET YOUR STUFF.

MICHELE FEELS
HER EX-HUSBAND, STEVE,

ALWAYS ARRIVES TOO EARLY,

CUTTING HER TIME
WITH THE KIDS SHORT.

BYE, MOM.
- HEY, YOU GOT EVERYTHING?

YOU GOT YOUR SWEATER,
YOUR BOOKS?

HEY, COME BACK.

GIVE YOUR MOM A KISS.

THEY LIVED
WITH THEIR DAD 'CAUSE,

WHEN HER AND STEVE DIVORCED,
THEY LET THE CHILDREN DECIDE

WHERE THEY WANTED TO LIVE AND,
BECAUSE THEY HAD GROWN UP

IN THAT AREA WHERE STEVE LIVED,
THEY CHOSE TO STAY THERE.

BYE, MOM.

BYE, SWEETIE.

WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE
AND SHE WOULD LIKE HUG YOU,

SHE WOULD KIND OF
HOLD ON TIGHTER

CAUSE SHE DIDN'T REALLY
WANT YOU TO LEAVE

AND SHE WANTED YOU TO STAY.

BYE, MOM.
- SEE YA.

THE CUSTODY
ARRANGEMENT WORKS FOR THE KIDS,

BUT MICHELE FINDS IT HARD HAVING
THEM AN HOUR'S DRIVE AWAY.

SHE KNOWS STEVE
STILL HASN'T FORGIVEN HER

FOR LEAVING HIM, FOUR YEARS
AGO, FOR ANOTHER MAN.

WHEN IT CAME TO MICHELE
WANTING TO SEE THE KIDS,

I WAS ALL FOR IT
'CAUSE SHE'S STILL THEIR MOM.

SHE WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE
THEIR MOM,

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED
BETWEEN US.

WITH NO KIDS AT HOME,
NO HUSBAND,

AND, NOW, NO BOYFRIEND,

THE VERY SOCIAL MICHELE
IS LONELY.

SHE GOES ON FACEBOOK TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW SHE'S AVAILABLE.

RIGHT AWAY,
SHE GETS A FRIEND REQUEST,

FROM A MAN NAMED ROCKY SWITZER.

LIKE HER,
HE'S A TEXAS TRANSPLANT

AND NATIVE NEW YORKER.

HEY.
- HEY.

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

MICHELE WAS IN HER BEDROOM

AND SHE HAD HER YEARBOOKS
ALL SPREAD ACROSS THE BED.

THIS GUY
FROM HIGH SCHOOL

IS TRYING TO FRIEND ME
ON FACEBOOK,

BUT I CAN'T FIND HIM
IN MY YEARBOOK.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
ACTUALLY KEPT ALL THESE.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

HIS NAME IS ROCKY.

ROCKY SWITZER.

AND, APPARENTLY, HE WAS
IN MY SISTER'S CLASS.

THE FACT THAT HE KNEW
MELANIE, HER SISTER,

AND KNEW THE SCHOOL
THEY HAD GONE TO

AND NEW SOME THINGS
ABOUT HER FAMILY,

THAT MADE HER
A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE.

SHE WENT AHEAD AND ACCEPTED
THE FRIEND REQUEST.

WAS THAT YOU?

MY GOD.
GIVE ME THE BOOK.

DON'T EVEN LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS SO EMBARRASSING.

THAT WEEKEND, MICHELE
AND ROCKY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER

AND FIND OUT THEY'VE GOT
LOTS IN COMMON.

FROM WHAT
MICHELE WAS SAYING,

THEY WERE MESSAGING
BACK AND FORTH QUITE A BIT

AND BECOMING MORE
AND MORE FRIENDLY.

MORNING.

MORNING.

ARE YOU STILL TALKING
TO THAT GUY?

YEP.

SO, HE'S CUTE?

NO, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

HE'S... HE'S NICE.

NO, HE'S UGLY?

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW

WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE,
OKAY?

THERE'S NO PICTURE.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN,

HE DOESN'T HAVE
A PROFILE PICTURE?

I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY, I GOT TO GO.

I JUST KIND OF LET IT GO
AND THEN,

I THINK LIKE THE NEXT DAY,

HE HAD A PICTURE UP
ON HIS PROFILE.

HEY, DENISE.

YEAH?

I FINALLY GOT A PICTURE.

YEAH? AND?

HE'S KIND OF CUTE.

MICHELE FINALLY SEES
A PHOTO OF ROCKY.

HE LOOKS GOOD,
BUT SHE WONDERS

WHO THE ATTRACTIVE BLONDE
IS ON HIS ARM.

IT SEEMED TO HER LIKE
HE WAS MORE LEGITIMATE.

THIS WAS A REAL PERSON.

ON MONDAY MORNING,
MICHELE GETS A MESSAGE.

ROCKY IS TRAVELING
TO NEARBY ABILENE, TEXAS.

AFTER A WEEKEND OF MESSAGING,

MICHELE IS EAGER
TO MEET HIM IN PERSON.

MICHELE IS EXCITED AND NERVOUS
ABOUT HER DATE WITH ROCKY.

SHE KNOWS IT'S ONE THING TO BE
ATTRACTED TO SOMEONE ONLINE,

BUT THE REAL TEST IS
WHEN YOU MEET IN PERSON.

WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK,
MICHELE WAS THERE.

HEY.
- HEY.

YOU LOOK NICE.
- WELL, THANK YOU.

SO, WHERE'S
HE TAKING YOU?

ROCKIN' R STEAKHOUSE,
SANTA ANNA.

FANCY.

LISTEN, I WON'T BE LATE.

OKAY.
- OKAY.

HAVE FUN.
- SEE YA!

IT WAS NICE TO SEE HER
ENTHUSIASTIC

AND I WAS HAPPY FOR HER.

AS MIDNIGHT APPROACHES,

DENISE CAN'T CONTAIN
HER CURIOSITY

ABOUT MICHELE'S BIG DATE.

I SENT HER A TEXT AND I SAID,
YOU KNOW, "HOW'S IT GOING?"

ABOUT 12:30, I SENT HER ANOTHER
TEXT AND I SAID, "ARE YOU OK?"

AND I STILL DIDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING BACK.

THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING
IN ME THAT WENT,

"THIS ISN'T QUITE RIGHT."
LIKE I KEPT REACHING OVER

AND LOOKING AT MY PHONE, YOU
KNOW, WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.

THERE'S THAT PART OF MY MIND
THAT KEPT WANTING TO GRASP ON

TO THAT, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
WRONG, I WOULD KNOW, YOU KNOW?

LIKE SHE WOULD'VE GOT
A HOLD OF ME.

BUT THERE WAS A BIGGER PART
OF MY MIND THAT WAS SAYING

"SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY
NOT RIGHT HERE.

SOMETHING'S
DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT."

BY 4:00 AM,
MICHELE STILL ISN'T PICKING UP.

Hey, it's Michele.
Leave me a message.

I GOT UP IN THE MORNING
AND THE FIRST THING I DID WAS

CALL HOME DEPOT, TO SEE
IF SHE HAD COME TO WORK.

HEY, THIS IS
DENISE WORRELL.

HAS MICHELE REITER
SHOWN UP FOR WORK YET?

NO.
HAS SHE CALLED IN?

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT

AND I SAID, "OKAY,
I'M CALLING THE COPS."

YES, I NEED TO REPORT
A MISSING PERSON.

I SAID THAT SHE HAD GONE
ON THIS DATE WITH THIS GUY

THAT HAD FRIENDED HER
ON FACEBOOK

AND THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED
TO MEET IN SANTA ANNA

AND GO TO DINNER
AT THE STEAKHOUSE THERE.

GUY'S NAME IS
ROCKY SWITZER.

I CAN SHOW YOU
THE PROFILE. ONE SECOND.

I REMEMBER SAYING, "YOU KNOW,
I CAN SHOW YOU THE PROFILE."

BUT AFTER
DENISE ENTERS ROCKY'S NAME,

NOTHING COMES UP.

MICHELE HAS DISAPPEARED
WITHOUT A TRACE

AND, NOW, SO HAS HER NEW
FACEBOOK FRIEND, ROCKY.

I LOOKED AND I LOOKED
AND I'M LIKE

"HOW COULD THAT BE?"

I KNOW I HAD SAW
THAT PROFILE THERE.

AND THEN IT WAS JUST GONE.

IT WAS HERE.

I KNOW IT WAS HERE.

LAST NIGHT,
SINGLE MOM MICHELE REITER

WENT ON A DATE WITH A MAN
SHE'D JUST MET ON FACEBOOK,

ROCKY SWITZER.

LISTEN, I WON'T BE LATE.
- OKAY.

BUT, NOW, NO ONE,
INCLUDING HER HOUSEMATE,

HAS HEARD FROM HER FOR 24 HOURS.

YES, I NEED TO REPORT
A MISSING PERSON.

AT THE BROWNWOOD
POLICE DEPARTMENT,

THE CASE LANDS ON THE DESK
OF DETECTIVE BRIAN TOMPKINS.

TOMPKINS KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE
THAT MOST PEOPLE

REPORTED MISSING AFTER A DATE
GENERALLY TURN UP UNHARMED.

HE HOPES THAT'LL BE
THE CASE WITH MICHELE.

WHEN I WAS ASSIGNED
THE REPORT, WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE

WAS THE NAME ROCKY SWITZER,
'CAUSE THAT WAS THE LAST PERSON

THAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNEW
MICHELE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH

WHEN SHE WENT MISSING.

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
CALLS MICHELE'S SISTER, MELANIE,

TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN TELL HIM
ABOUT ROCKY.

MELANIE RIVERA?

IT'S DETECTIVE TOMPKINS,
BROWNWOOD PD.

BUT MELANIE DOESN'T REMEMBER
ANYONE NAMED ROCKY

FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

NEXT, BRIAN CALLS
DALLAS/FORT WORTH AIRPORT.

YES, I'D LIKE TO ASK
ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE,

ROCKY SWITZER.

SURELY, ROCKY'S COLLEAGUES
CAN GIVE HIM SOME INFORMATION.

NO ONE?

BUT NO ONE BY THAT NAME WORKS
AT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL,

OR ANYWHERE AT THE AIRPORT.

FACED WITH
TWO DEAD ENDS, ALREADY,

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
STARTS TO WORRY

AND DRIVES 30 MINUTES
TO SANTA ANNA.

HE'S HEADED TO THE SITE OF
MICHELE AND ROCKY'S FIRST DATE,

THE ROCKIN' R STEAKHOUSE.

MA'AM, DETECTIVE TOMPKINS,
BROWNWOOD PD.

I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU COULD TELL ME,

WAS THIS WOMAN IN HERE
LAST NIGHT WITH ANYONE?

THE BAD NEWS KEEPS COMING.

ON THE NIGHT
MICHELE DISAPPEARED,

THE RESTAURANT WAS CLOSED.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR

THAT EVERYTHING ROCKY SWITZER
TOLD MICHELE IS A LIE.

I HAD EXHAUSTED ALL MEANS OF
TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHO ROCKY WAS

AND WAS STARTIN' TO BELIEVE
THAT HE POSSIBLY DID NOT EXIST.

WITH NOTHING TO GO ON,
THE DETECTIVE PUTS OUT AN APPEAL

ON THE LOCAL NEWS,
ASKING ANYONE

WITH INFORMATION ABOUT MICHELE'S
WHEREABOUTS TO COME FORWARD.

MICHELE REITER.
- HEY, HEY, HEY, IT'S ON.

FOR MICHELE'S KIDS,
TY AND ALEXIS,

THEIR MOTHER'S DISAPPEARANCE
MAKES NO SENSE.

HER ROOMMATE
REPORTED HER MISSING...

AT FIRST, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT,
'CAUSE, COULDN'T BE LIKE GONE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE.

'CAUSE LIKE EVERY NIGHT, SHE
WOULD EITHER CALL US OR TEXT US,

JUST TO KNOW THAT SHE'S OKAY

AND SHE MISSES US
AND SHE LOVES US.

WITH AN OLD
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE.

AND THEN, I WATCHED THE NEWS AND
THEY SAID THAT SHE WAS MISSING.

I WAS LIKE"
THIS IS REAL."

I HAD HEARD THAT THERE WERE
PEOPLE SAYING THAT SHE RAN AWAY

AND I KNEW THAT WASN'T TRUE.

MY MOM'S NOT
THAT KIND OF PERSON.

JUST LEAVING ISN'T LIKE HER.

TOMPKINS DECIDES
IT'S TIME TO TALK

TO MICHELE'S EX-HUSBAND, STEVE.

HE HEARD THE MARRIAGE
ENDED BADLY

AND THAT STEVE IS STILL
FUMING ABOUT IT.

DIVORCE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING
THAT I EVER WANTED.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET MARRIED,
YOU WANT TO STAY MARRIED,

BUT IT DIDN'T QUITE
WORK OUT THAT WAY.

THAT'S WHEN THE ANGER
KIND OF SET IN.

STEVEN REITER?

BRIAN WANTS TO KNOW

ABOUT STEVE'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS EX-WIFE.

WELL.

WE HAD OUR PROBLEMS, BUT,
WE WERE WORKING THEM OUT.

DID YOU SEE OR TALK
TO HER ON THE 10th?

YEAH.
WE TALKED ON THE PHONE.

WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT
ON THE 10th?

WELL, SHE SPLIT UP
WITH THAT LANNY.

SHE WAS TAKING THAT
PRETTY HARD.

LANNY?

LANNY BUSH.

STEVE SAYS THAT,
AFTER LEAVING HIM,

MICHELE MOVED IN
WITH A MAN NAMED LANNY.

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
JOTS DOWN THE NAME AND WONDERS

"DOES MICHELE HAVE
MORE THAN ONE ANGRY EX?"

DOES THE NAME ROCKY SWITZER
MEAN ANYTHING?

NO.

NO, CAN'T SAY
AS I KNOW THAT NAME.

OKAY, THANKS.

I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS TRIES
TO CALL MICHELE'S EX-BOYFRIEND

LANNY BUSH.

LANNY WAS LIVING
IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS,

AT THE TIME,
WITH HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND.

Hello.
- LANNY BUSH?

YES, SIR.
- This is Detective Tompkins,

Brownwood PD.

LIKE TO ASK YOU
A FEW QUESTIONS.

SURE.

LANNY EXPLAINED TO ME
THAT HIM AND MICHELE HAD

HAD A PRETTY ROUGH BREAKUP, BUT
THEY WERE NOW ON CIVIL TERMS.

DOES THE NAME ROCKY SWITZER
MEAN ANYTHING?

No, that don't ring a bell.

SHE WAS SEEIN'
THIS MARRIED FELLA,

BUT, I DON'T KNOW
HIS NAME OR ANYTHING.

TOMPKINS SPECULATES
WHETHER THE MARRIED MAN

MICHELE GOT INVOLVED WITH
AFTER HER BREAKUP WITH LANNY

MIGHT BE ROCKY SWITZER.

THEN, SUDDENLY,

BACK IN MICHELE'S NEIGHBORHOOD
IN BROWNWOOD, TEXAS,

THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH.

MICHELE'S CAR IS DISCOVERED,

ABANDONED, AT A SPORTS COMPLEX
JUST 10 MINUTES FROM HER HOME.

I DID NOT SEE
ANY SIGNS OF STRUGGLE

AROUND THE CAR.

ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED,
EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S-SIDE DOOR.

MICHELE'S PURSE
AND I.D. ARE ON THE FRONT SEAT.

TOMPKINS CAN ONLY IMAGINE

WHAT WOULD MAKE HER
LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

THE MISSING-PERSON'S CASE
JUST GOT CRITICAL.

MICHELE HAS BEEN MISSING
FOR 48 HOURS

AND DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
IS NO CLOSER TO FIGURING OUT

WHERE SHE IS OR THE IDENTITY
OF THE PERSON SHE'S WITH.

AT THE HARDWARE STORE
WHERE MICHELE WORKS,

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
MEETS YOLANDA,

MICHELE'S COWORKER
AND CLOSE FRIEND,

TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN TELL HIM
ABOUT MICHELE'S LOVE LIFE.

SHE REVEALS
A TANGLED WEB OF MEN.

FIRST, STEVE; THEN, LANNY;
AND THEN...

SHE WAS SEEING
THIS ONE GUY.

DO YOU KNOW WHO IT WAS,
HIS NAME?

UM, KEMPER.

KEMPER CROFT.

YOLANDA TELLS TOMPKINS

THAT KEMPER HAD COME
INTO THE STORE SIX WEEKS AGO.

I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL.
- WHAT'S THAT?

I'LL TAKE ONE OF THESE.
YOU TAKE ONE OF THESE.

HE CHARMED MICHELE.

AND, WHEN HE TOLD HER
HE WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE,

SHE WAS GLAD TO HEAR IT.

BUT IT WASN'T THE TRUTH.

WE SPOKE ABOUT KEMPER'S WIFE
CALLIN' HER

AND ACCUSIN' HER OF HAVIN'
AN AFFAIR WITH HER HUSBAND.

SHE'D LOST HER MIND.
SHE FREAKED OUT ON MICHELE

OVER THE PHONE.

Michele?

SPEAKING.

I know what you and Kemper
have been up to.

WAIT, WHAT?

Don't even try to deny it.
- WHO IS THIS?

I'm not messing with you!

Stay away from my husband.

SHOCKED AND HURT,

MICHELE IMMEDIATELY BREAKS
THINGS OFF WITH KEMPER.

SHE JUST PRETTY MUCH SAID
THAT SHE WAS DONE WITH IT.

SHE DIDN'T WANT ANY KIND
OF DRAMA IN HER LIFE

AND SHE DIDN'T NEED IT.

TOMPKINS DECIDES
TO BRING IN

MICHELE'S MARRIED EX-BOYFRIEND
KEMPER FOR QUESTIONING.

YOU KNEW MICHELE REITER?

I DID, YEAH.

HOW DID YOU
AND MICHELE MEET?

WE MET AT THE HARDWARE
STORE SHE WAS SERVIN' AT.

WE STARTED FLIRTIN',
GOT ALONG REALLY WELL,

AND SHE GAVE ME
HER NUMBER AND...

WE WENT OUT
A COUPLE TIMES.

AND THINGS GOT
A LITTLE PHYSICAL.

WHO'S ROCKY SWITZER?

SIR, I DON'T KNOW.

NEVER HEARD
THAT NAME, SIR.

OKAY.

WHEN DID YOU LAST
SEE MICHELE?

THINK IT WAS ON THE 8th.

YOU DIDN'T SEE HER OR TALK
TO HER ON THE 10th?

NO. I DID TALK TO HER
ON THE 10th.

KEMPER TOLD ME THAT
HE DID MAKE CONTACT WITH HER

ON THE PHONE
ON THE 10th OF SEPTEMBER,

IN REGARDS TO HAVING
TO QUIT TALKIN' TO HER

BECAUSE HIS WIFE, SUSAN,
HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT THE AFFAIR.

HOW DID SHE FIND OUT
ABOUT THE AFFAIR?

I DO NOT KNOW, SIR.

SHE WAS MAD AS HELL,
THOUGH.

KEMPER SWEARS
THAT HE HAS NOTHING

TO DO WITH
MICHELE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

AND THE DETECTIVE BELIEVES HIM.

MEANWHILE, MICHELE'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS

ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING
FOR WORD ON HER WHEREABOUTS.

IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS
SINCE MICHELE LEFT

FOR HER DATE
WITH ROCKY SWITZER.

THEN, MICHELE'S HOUSEMATE,
DENISE, HEARS HER PHONE PING.

THERE'S A MESSAGE.

MOTHER OF TWO
MICHELE REITER

HAS BEEN MISSING FOR FOUR DAYS.

DETECTIVE BRIAN TOMPKINS

IS NO CLOSER TO FINDING OUT
WHERE SHE IS

AND WORRIES TROUBLE
MAY HAVE BEFALLEN HER.

BUT, THEN, HER BEST FRIEND,
DENISE, GETS A TEXT MESSAGE.

THAT FIRST SECOND
WHEN I OPENED THE TEXT

AND IT SAID IT WAS FROM MICHELE,

JUST RELIEF CAME OVER ME.

FINALLY, SHE HAD GOTTEN
A HOLD OF US.

THE MESSAGE SAYS, "I'M FINE BUT
I CAN NEVER COME BACK, NOT NOW.

JUST LET IT ALONE."

DENISE READS
THE MESSAGE AGAIN

AND SEES IT CAME
FROM MICHELE'S AOL ACCOUNT.

IF MICHELE WAS TRYING
TO GET A HOLD OF ME,

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT
THROUGH AOL.

I CALLED STEVE.

STEVE?

IT'S DENISE.
I'M SORRY TO WAKE YOU.

DID YOU GET A MESSAGE
FROM MICHELE?

HE HADN'T RECEIVED A MESSAGE.

THEN I KNEW, FOR SURE,
IT WASN'T FROM HER.

IF MICHELE HAD SENT
THAT MESSAGE,

SHE WOULD'VE SENT ONE TO STEVE.

SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT
HER CHILDREN

AND NOT SAID SOMETHING.

I KNEW IT WASN'T HER
AND IT WAS LIKE

TAKIN' THAT RELIEF AND
THROWING IT OFF A CLIFF.

MICHELE'S FRIENDS
NOW FEAR THE WORST

AND DOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS
TO HELP FIND HER.

WE JUST TRIED
TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING

THAT WE COULD THINK OF,
YOU KNOW.

WE STARTED POSTING
PICTURES DOWNTOWN,

AT THE CONVENIENCE STORES,
ANYWHERE THAT WE COULD THINK OF.

THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,
HER FRIENDS CATCH A BREAK

WHEN ROCKY SWITZER SUDDENLY
REAPPEARS ON FACEBOOK.

AND SO,
THERE I WAS ON FACEBOOK

AND, BOOM, THERE HE WAS.

ROCKY'S NAME WAS THERE AND I
WAS LIKE "HE'S LOGGED ON.

HE'S THERE.

I NEED TO CALL SOMEBODY."

HELLO.

DENISE? IT'S BACK.

ROCKY'S PROFILE IS BACK UP.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

Detective Tompkins.

DETECTIVE,
THE PROFILE IS BACK UP.

GOT IT. THANKS.

WHEN DENISE CONTACTED ME
AND TOLD ME

THAT ROCKY'S FACEBOOK PROFILE
WAS ACTIVE AGAIN,

I MADE CONTACT WITH FACEBOOK.

YES, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK
TO SOMEONE

ABOUT AN ACCOUNT
PRESERVATION ORDER.

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS
CALLS FACEBOOK

AND ASKS THEM
TO FREEZE THE ACCOUNT.

HE THEN GETS A COURT ORDER

TO OBTAIN THE SUBSCRIBER
INFORMATION AND IP ADDRESS

ASSOCIATED WITH
ROCKY SWITZER.

I'M COMIN' FOR YOU,
ROCKY.

WHEN TOMPKINS GETS ACCESS
TO ROCKY'S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT,

HE READS THROUGH
ROCKY'S MESSAGES

AND SEES THAT MICHELE TOLD ROCKY
ABOUT HER MARRIED BOYFRIEND.

HE BELIEVES THAT THE ROCKY
PROFILE PAGE COULD BE A FAKE,

CREATED BY THE WIFE
OF MICHELE'S EX-BOYFRIEND.

DID YOU MAKE
A PHONE CALL

TO MICHELE REITER ON THE 10th,

IN CONNECTION WITH
YOUR HUSBAND'S AFFAIR?

YES, I DID.

HELLO?

STAY AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND,
YOU BITCH!

OR YOU'LL BE SORRY.

SUSAN WAS HIGHLY UPSET
AT THE FACT THAT KEMPER

WAS HAVIN' AN AFFAIR
WITH MICHELE.

AND HOW DID YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT THE AFFAIR?

WHAT SUSAN TELLS HIM

IS A SHOCKER.

I WASN'T EXPECTING KEMPER
HOME FROM WORK, YET.

THERE WAS A MAN,
STANDING THERE,

THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.

I OPENED UP THE DOOR
A LITTLE BIT.

YES?

AND HE SAYS TO ME,
"HELLO, MA'AM.

YOU DON'T KNOW ME,

BUT I HAVE SOME IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR YOU.

YOUR HUSBAND HAS BEEN
MESSING AROUND

WITH ANOTHER WOMAN
BEHIND YOUR BACK."

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS HEARING.

WHO IS SHE?

HE TELLS ME
HER NAME IS MICHELE.

SO, I CALLED HER

AND I TOLD HER TO STAY AWAY
FROM MY HUSBAND.

THIS MAN WHO CAME
TO YOUR DOOR,

HE DIDN'T HAPPEN TO TELL
YA HIS NAME, DID HE?

YES, HE DID.

WHO ARE YOU?

LANNY.

LANNY BUSH, MA'AM.

LANNY BUSH
IS NONE OTHER

THAN THE BOYFRIEND MICHELE LEFT
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DATING.

DETECTIVE TOMPKINS REALIZES
HE NEEDS TO FOLLOW UP

HIS BRIEF CHAT WITH LANNY
FOUR DAYS AGO.

LANNY BUSH HAD TOLD ME
THAT HE WAS NOT IN BROWNWOOD

DURING THE DAY
MICHELE WENT MISSING.

SUSAN AND KEMPER CROFT RESIDE
IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BROWNWOOD

AND THEIR INTERVIEWS VERIFY THAT
LANNY WAS IN TOWN AND WAS LYING.

DENISE?
- YES.

BRIAN TOMPKINS.
- YES.

BUT FIRST,
TOMPKINS NEEDS DENISE

TO FILL HIM IN ON MICHELE
AND LANNY'S HISTORY.

HE WAS CONTROLLING.
HE WAS OBSESSIVE.

HE WAS ALWAYS CALLING HER
WHEN SHE WAS OUT

WITH HER FRIENDS
AND CHECKING UP ON HER.

HE... DROVE HER NUTS.

LANNY TOLD ME THAT HE
AND MICHELE WERE

ON GOOD TERMS AGAIN, THAT
THEY WERE TALKING REGULARLY

AND GETTIN' ALONG
JUST FINE.

IS THAT TRUE?
- GOD, NO.

HE HAS BEEN CALLING HER AND
HARASSING HER EVER SINCE.

RIGHT THEN,
I STARTED THINKIN'

THAT LANNY HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THIS.

SOMEHOW, LANNY HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THIS.

WITH STRONG ALIBIS

FOR HIS OTHER PERSONS
OF INTEREST,

IT'S CLEAR TOMPKINS SHOULD FOCUS
SOLELY ON LANNY BUSH.

BUT HE ALSO NEEDS
TO FIND MICHELE, AND FAST.

HE KNOWS HE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

HE NEEDS MORE RESOURCES,
MORE MANPOWER, AND MORE REACH,

SO HE CALLS IN THE TEXAS RANGERS
TO TAKE OVER THE CASE.

YEAH, PUT ME THROUGH
TO RANGER CRAWFORD.

THE FIRST THING I DID, BECOMING
INVOLVED WITH THE INVESTIGATION,

WAS ASK TO SEE
CELLPHONE RECORDS.

THESE ARE ALL OF THEM?

YEAH, THAT'S ALL OF THEM.

THAT'S IT.

RANGER CRAWFORD
TRACKS MICHELE'S CELLPHONE.

IT'S THE BEST CHANCE
THEY HAVE OF FINDING HER.

NORTH 45.25.89.

WE WERE ABLE
TO TRIANGULATE

SOME GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONS.

MICHELE HAD LEFT BROWNWOOD,
TRAVELING SOUTH;

HAD TURNED WEST,
THROUGH BROOKESMITH, TEXAS;

AND TRAVELED SOME RURAL ROADWAYS
INTO COLEMAN COUNTY.

MICHELE'S PHONE DISAPPEARED
FROM THE NETWORK

THE EVENING
OF SEPTEMBER THE 10th.

AND THAT'S THE LAST ONE,
AT 8:55 PM.

WHERE IS IT?

THE LOCATION
OF MICHELE'S LAST CELL PING

IS REMOTE.

THEN, LANNY BUSH REACHES OUT
TO DETECTIVE TOMPKINS

OF THE BROWNWOOD
POLICE DEPARTMENT,

WITH A STUNNING REVELATION.

SO?

WHAT DO YOU WANT
TO TELL ME?

I'M ROCKY SWITZER.

MICHELE REITER
HAS BEEN MISSING

SINCE SHE LEFT FOR A DATE

WITH A NEW FACEBOOK FRIEND
OVER A WEEK AGO.

AS THE TEXAS RANGERS
LAUNCH A RESCUE OPERATION,

DETECTIVE BRIAN TOMPKINS
SITS DOWN WITH THE MAN

WHO IS BEHIND MICHELE'S
FACEBOOK FLIRTATION.

I'M ROCKY SWITZER.

IS THAT RIGHT?

LOOK,
I KNOW HOW THIS LOOKS

AND I NEED YOU TO KNOW
THAT IT'S NOT THAT WAY.

I CREATED ROCKY
TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HER.

I... I LOVED HER.

I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BEST
THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

I MEAN, REALLY, IT WAS.

SHE TREATED ME LIKE NO ONE'S
EVER TREATED ME BEFORE.

SO, YOU DID MEET WITH HER
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED?

NO. NO, SIR. NO WAY.

NO, I SET THE MEETIN' UP,
BUT I DIDN'T SHOW UP.

LOOK, I...
I KNOW IT WAS STUPID

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE
DONE IT, BUT,

I WANTED HER TO FEEL
WHAT IT FELT LIKE

TO BE STOOD UP AND DUMPED,
LIKE SHE DID TO ME.

SO, WHY'D YOU TAKE
SO LONG TO COME FORWARD?

I FIGURED MICHELE
HAD JUST PROBABLY RUN OFF

TO TEACH ME A LESSON,
AND I STILL THINK

THAT THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT, JUST IN CASE,

THOUGHT I'D BETTER
LET YOU KNOW,

SO YOU DON'T WASTE
ANY MORE TIME

CHASIN' AROUND
AFTER ROCKY SWITZER.

OKAY.

I'LL HAVE A FEW
MORE QUESTIONS,

SO DON'T GO LEAVIN' TOWN.

NO PROBLEM.

LANNY WAS NOT ARRESTED
AT THIS TIME,

BUT I ALSO FELT THAT
HE WASN'T BEING TRUTHFUL

WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.

TEXAS RANGER
DANNY CRAWFORD

TRIGGERS A GROUND SEARCH
FOR MICHELE

AT HER LAST-KNOWN
PHONE LOCATION.

WE WERE LOOKIN'
A HALF A MILE

TO EITHER SIDE OF THE ROADWAY,

SO 1 MILE WIDE
AND ABOUT 3 MILES LONG.

THE TERRAIN GOES FROM
CULTIVATED FIELDS, CROPLAND,

TO PASTURELAND,
SOME OF IT DENSE BRUSH,

CEDAR, MESQUITE, OAK TREES.

IT'S A DAUNTING TASK.

BEFORE STARTING
IN EARNEST...

WE'RE NOT GONNA
FIND HER.

RANGER CRAWFORD HAS SOME
QUESTIONS FOR LANNY BUSH.

THANKS FOR COMING IN,
LANNY.

GLAD TO HELP.

THEY STARTED OFF WITH,
"WE'RE JUST HERE TO TRY TO,

YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT'S
GOIN' ON, WHERE SHE'S AT,"

THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SEPTEMBER 10th.

- YOU IN TOWN SEPTEMBER 10th?
- NOPE.

LANNY BEGAN BY JUST DENYING
HE WAS EVEN IN BROWNWOOD,

'TIL, FINALLY,
I QUESTIONED HIM

ABOUT HIS MEETING
WITH SUSAN CROFT.

YOU RECOGNIZE
THAT WOMAN?

SUSAN CROFT
SAID THAT LANNY BUSH

HAD BEEN AT HER HOUSE
ON THAT DAY.

WELL, MAYBE I WAS
IN TOWN FOR A WHILE.

BUT HE CONTINUES TO DENY
SEEING MICHELE ON THAT DAY.

AND THIS GOES ON
'TIL I SHOWED HIM,

BY PHONE RECORDS, THAT I COULD
PUT HE AND MICHELE TOGETHER.

WELL, MAYBE I SAW HER
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IN FACT, YEAH, WE MET UP

IN THE NORTH PART
OF BROWNWOOD,

THE WAREHOUSE
IN THE NORTH END OF TOWN,

SO I COULD GIVE HER BACK
SOME OF HER STUFF.

BUT I SWEAR
THAT'S WHERE I LEFT HER.

RANGER CRAWFORD
SHOWS LANNY THE MAP

TRACKING BOTH PHONES.

AND THESE
ARE YOUR RECORDS.

THE TWO PHONES
TRAVELED TOGETHER

THROUGH SOUTHERN BROWN COUNTY,
INTO COLEMAN COUNTY

AND THEY REMAINED TOGETHER

UNTIL MICHELE'S PHONE
DISAPPEARS FROM THE GRID.

THE PHONES
ARE TOGETHER FOR TWO HOURS,

IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE,

BEFORE LANNY'S PHONE TRAVELS
TO SAN ANGELO, ALONE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE. SHE'S. AT.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

I TOLD HIM, I SAID, "LOOK,
I DID NOT KILL MICHELE REITER.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE."

JUST TELL US
WHERE MICHELE IS.

I CAN'T HELP YOU,
DANNY.

THEY HAD ONE INTENTION,
AND ONE INTENTION ONLY,

AND THAT WAS TO GET ME
TO EITHER CONFESS

OR INCRIMINATE MYSELF.

ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE
TALKIN' TO YOU.

HE GOT MAD,
TERMINATED THE INTERVIEW.

RANGER CRAWFORD
GETS A WARRANT

TO SEARCH LANNY'S TRUCK.

IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT,

THEY FIND A RECEIPT
FROM A GUN SHOP.

NICK,
COME AROUND HERE.

FOR 3:13 PM,
SEPTEMBER 10th.

WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE
VIDEO OF LANNY IN THERE

ON SEPTEMBER THE 10th,

THE DAY MICHELE DISAPPEARED
AND LANNY BOUGHT A BOX OF AMMO.

THE AMMUNITION
MATCHES THE CALIBER OF A GUN

THAT LANNY'S MOTHER
REPORTED MISSING

JUST WEEKS BEFORE
MICHELE VANISHED.

IN THE BED
OF THE PICKUP,

WE FOUND A SHOVEL WITH
THE HANDLE BROKEN OFF ON IT.

THE SHOVEL HEAD
WAS ACTUALLY VERY RUSTED,

EXCEPT FOR ABOUT THE BOTTOM
3 OR 4 INCHES OF IT,

WHICH SHOWED RECENT SIGNS

OF HAVING BEEN USED
TO DO SOME DIGGIN'.

BUT RANGER CRAWFORD KNOWS

HE CAN'T ARREST LANNY
WITHOUT HARD EVIDENCE.

THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE
OF MAKING A CASE IS

TO FIND MICHELE'S REMAINS.

THE TEXAS RANGERS

MUSTER ALL THEIR RESOURCES
FOR ONE FINAL SEARCH.

THERE WERE
APPROXIMATELY 100 OFFICERS.

WE HAD TWO DOG TEAMS OUT,
USING CADAVER DOGS.

WE HAD MOUNTED
HORSEBACK RIDERS.

WE HAD OFFICERS ON ATVs
AND THEN, WE ALSO

JUST LINED TEAMS OF OFFICERS UP,
ABOUT AN ARM'S LENGTH APART.

THEY ALL KNOW

THAT FINDING A BODY OUT HERE
WILL BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

THIS PARTICULAR AREA HAS A HEAVY
POPULATION OF FERAL HOGS

AND FERAL HOGS
ARE CARNIVOROUS.

BASICALLY, ANYTHING THAT DIES
GETS EATEN BY THE HOGS.

WE WALKED THROUGH THE BRUSH
AND SEARCHED

FOR ANY POSSIBLE EVIDENCE THAT
COULD TELL US WHERE MICHELE WAS.

MY SEARCH TEAM HAD MADE IT
TO THE LAST SOUTHERN AREA

OF OUR SEARCH ZONE,

WHICH WAS THE SECOND BRIDGE
OFF... 26.

HEY! OVER HERE!

THINK I SAW
SOMETHING!

IT WAS A DIRT MOUND
APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 2 FEET HIGH

THAT HAD BRUSH THROWN
ON TOP OF IT.

YOU THINK THIS IS IT?

WHEN YOU GOT
ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE,

YOU COULD SMELL
THE ODOR OF DECOMPOSITION.

YEAH, I DO.

CALL IT IN.

GET A SHOT OF THIS.

IT'S HER.

FINDING MICHELE'S BODY,
YOU HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS.

ONE, OKAY, WE CAN LET THE FAMILY
KNOW WHERE SHE IS, YOU KNOW?

IT'S A LETDOWN
BECAUSE SHE'S NOT SAFE.

HER FAMILY'S GONNA
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT, THE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT
IS THE UNKNOWN,

NEVER FINDING HER,

NEVER KNOWING, FOR SURE,
WHAT HAPPENED.

THE POLICE
FORMALLY IDENTIFY

MICHELE REITER'S BODY

AND NOTIFY HER FAMILY.

HELLO.

THANKS FOR CALLING.

YOUR WORST FEARS,
THEY'RE NOW A REALITY.

IT WAS JUST...

IT WAS JUST TOO UNBELIEVABLE
TO BELIEVE,

THAT SHE COULD BE GONE.

IT WAS JUST
KIND OF LIKE A BLUR.

LIKE IT JUST HIT YOU,
AT ONCE,

THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEE
YOUR MOM AGAIN.

I WAS IN SHOCK.

YOU CAN'T PREPARE YOURSELF
FOR A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO PREPARATION.

WALKED IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME.

AND I WAS DEVASTATED

AND I KNEW
SHE'D NEVER COME HOME.

2 WEEKS
AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED,

THE TEXAS RANGERS HAVE FINALLY
FOUND MICHELE REITER'S BODY

AND RANGER CRAWFORD
HOPES TO PROVE

THAT EX-BOYFRIEND LANNY BUSH
IS HER KILLER.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS DEAL,

DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME
AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS,

THERE WAS NO DNA EVIDENCE
RECOVERED.

NOTHING.

THERE WAS
NO BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA.

MICHELE HADN'T BEEN SHOT,
SHE HADN'T BEEN STABBED,

SHE HADN'T BEEN BEAT TO DEATH.

STILL, LANNY BUSH IS
CHARGED WITH MICHELE'S MURDER.

THERE'S NO DNA.
THERE'S NO FINGERPRINTS.

THERE'S NO WITNESSES.
THERE'S NO MURDER WEAPON.

THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW SHE DIED.

WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR TRIAL,

WITH A GUILTY VERDICT,
LANNY DOES LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

OF COURSE, NOT GUILTY,
HE WALKS.

AT THE TIME,
MY OFFICE BECAME INVOLVED

AND DECIDED TO TAKE THIS CASE
TO A GRAND JURY,

IT WAS PURELY CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT WAS
GONNA PLAY IN FRONT OF A JURY.

THE PROSECUTION
PRESENTS THEIR THEORY

THAT AN INNOCENT SINGLE MOTHER

GOT FOOLED BY A MAN
SHE ONCE TRUSTED.

I BELIEVE ROCKY SWITZER
HAD DONE AN EFFECTIVE-ENOUGH JOB

AT TRICKING MICHELE
THAT SHE WENT FOR A MEETING.

SHE WENT TO GO MEET
ROCKY SWITZER AND GO ON A DATE

AND SHE NEVER SAW
LANNY BUSH COMIN',

UNTIL HE STUCK THAT PISTOL
IN HER FACE.

HEY, MICHELE.

WHO YOU WAITIN' FOR?

LANNY,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

LANNY. LANNY.

LANNY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- TURN AROUND.

LANNY!
- SHH SHH SHH SHH.

LANNY, COME ON. LANNY.
- IN THE TRUCK.

I BELIEVE HE THEN
FORCED HER IN HIS VEHICLE,

DROVE TO SOUTHERN
COLEMAN COUNTY...

TO A SECLUDED LOCATION
UNDER A BRIDGE.

LANNY,
WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?

LANNY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THIS IS NOT FUNNY
ANYMORE, LANNY.

PLEASE.

LANNY.

DON'T, LANNY, PLEASE.
LANNY, NO!

LANNY, NO.

HE PROBABLY STRANGLED HER

OR USED SOME CHEMICAL MEANS
TO MAKE HER UNCONSCIOUS,

KILLED HER, AND, LATER, BURIED
HER BODY UNDER THAT BRIDGE.

HE THEN GATHERED HIS THINGS
AND DROVE BACK TO SAN ANGELO.

A SEARCH
OF LANNY'S LAPTOP REVEALS

THAT HE WAS GOOGLING
KNOCKOUT DROPS

THE DAY BEFORE
MICHELE WENT MISSING.

TRACES OF FREON
ARE FOUND IN HIS TRUCK.

BUT IT IS LANNY'S FINAL ACT THAT
CONVINCES THE JURY OF HIS GUILT.

THE NEXT MORNING, HE
REALIZED HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE.

HE LEFT MICHELE'S CELLPHONE
THERE AT THE SCENE

AND HE TRAVELED BACK
AND RETRIEVED HER CELLPHONE.

LANNY
DIGS UP MICHELE'S PHONE

AND CHECKS HER MESSAGES.

THIS CREATES ONE FINAL PING
THAT PLACES HIM BESIDE HER.

ONLY, NOW, SHE'S DEAD.

ON APRIL 11, 2014,

LANNY BUSH IS FOUND
GUILTY OF CAPITAL MURDER.

HE IS SENTENCED

TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.

YOU KIND OF JUST HATE HIM.

YOU WONDER WHY.

WHY WAS IT SO NEEDY
TO TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE?

TO... DESTROY SOMEONE'S
WHOLE, ENTIRE LIFE?

FOR TWO WEEKS,
ALL I WANTED WAS

TO BE ABLE TO BRING
MICHELE HOME FOR THEM.

AND I WASN'T GONNA BE
ABLE TO DO THAT.

I FEEL LIKE,
IF I COULD GO BACK

AND SPEND EVERY WAKING MOMENT
WITH MY MOTHER, I WOULD'VE.