Wicked Attraction (2008–…): Season 1, Episode 12 - Driven by Desire - full transcript

ON AUGUST 20, 1989,

NEBRASKA AUTHORITIES RECEIVE
A STRANGE CALL.

A MAN HAD CALLED

THE NEBRASKA HIGHWAY PATROL'S
TIPS HOTLINE

AND TOLD THEM
THAT HE HAD BEEN HIRED

BY A GENTLEMAN
FROM MOORESVILLE, MISSOURI,

TO PURCHASE COWS WITH
AN INSUFFICIENT-FUNDS CHECK.

HE TELLS THEM THAT A FARMER

FROM LIVINGSTON COUNTY,
MISSOURI,

FORCED HIM TO PURCHASE CATTLE
WITH A BAD CHECK.

THE ANONYMOUS CALLER GIVES THEM
THE NAME OF THE BANK



AND THEN TELLS THE CRIME HOTLINE

THAT HE SAW HUMAN REMAINS BURIED
ON THE FARMER'S LAND.

THE MAN SAYS HE IS TERRIFIED
HE IS GOING TO BE MURDERED.

WHEN OPERATORS TRY TO GET
MORE INFORMATION,

HE QUICKLY HANGS UP.

NEBRASKA POLICE
IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AUTHORITIES

IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

WE HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO GO AND INVESTIGATE

AND SEE IF THIS WAS RIGHT.

THEY CONTACT
NEIGHBORING SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS

AND INFORM THEM ABOUT THE CALL.

THE FOLLOWING DAY,

POLICE CONTACT THE BANK
MENTIONED BY THE CALLER

AND LEARN OF SEVERAL
BOUNCED CHECKS FOR CATTLE.



THE SIGNATURE ON THE CHECKS
IS JACK McCORMICK.

A NUMBER OF THOSE CHECKS
IN THAT ACCOUNT

WAS BEING STRUNG
ACROSS NEBRASKA.

THEY RUN THE NAME

THROUGH THE NATIONAL CRIME
DATABASE

AND LEARN McCORMICK IS WANTED
FOR THE BAD CHECKS.

POLICE SUSPECT
THAT 57-YEAR-OLD JACK McCORMICK

IS THE ANONYMOUS CALLER.

BUT WITH HIS HISTORY,
HE COULD BE ANYWHERE.

McCORMICK WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON
WHO MOVED AROUND A LOT

AND LIVED IN HOMELESS SHELTERS.

HAD AN ADMITTED ALCOHOL PROBLEM.

HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD

FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES,
AUTO THEFT.

HE HAD A PRETTY EXTENSIVE
CRIMINAL HISTORY.

AN ALL-POINTS BULLETIN
IS ISSUED.

AND THREE WEEKS LATER,
INVESTIGATORS LOCATE HIM.

WE DISCOVERED THAT MR. McCORMICK
HAS BEEN ARRESTED

IN SALEM, OREGON,
AND INCARCERATED OUT THERE.

OREGON AUTHORITIES

IMMEDIATELY CONTACT
MISSOURI INVESTIGATORS

ABOUT McCORMICK'S INCARCERATION.

AND SO DEPUTY CALVERT ASKS
A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THERE

TO INTERVIEW MR. McCORMICK,

AND THAT OFFICER
WAS KIND ENOUGH TO COMPLY.

McCORMICK ADMITS
TO MAKING THE CALL

AND REPEATS HIS INITIAL STORY.

ON SEPTEMBER 15th,

AUTHORITIES EXTRADITE HIM
BACK TO MISSOURI

ON THE BOUNCED-CHECK CHARGES.

JACK McCORMICK SEEMED TO BE
A PRETTY SMART INDIVIDUAL,

PRETTY STREET SMART.

McCORMICK TELLS
MISSOURI INVESTIGATORS

HE LEFT THE AREA BECAUSE
HE WAS SCARED FOR HIS LIFE.

A FEW WEEKS EARLIER,

A LOCAL FARMER APPROACHED HIM
AT A NEARBY SHELTER.

HE WANTED TO HIRE McCORMICK
TO HELP HIM PURCHASE CATTLE

FOR $50 A DAY
PLUS FREE ROOM AND BOARD.

WE HAVE
LOCAL LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS.

YOU BRING IN LIVESTOCK
THAT YOU WANT TO SELL.

THEY ARE PARADED
THROUGH THE RING.

THEY ARE AUCTIONED OFF
TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER,

AND THE BIDDER THEN PAYS
FOR THOSE CATTLE

AND TAKES THEM AWAY.

THE OLD FARMER TOLD HIM
HE WAS HARD OF HEARING,

AND THE CATTLE BUYERS,
KNOWING THIS,

WOULD BID AGAINST HIM,
BOOSTING THE PRICE.

THE FARMER OFFERED TO OPEN A
BANK ACCOUNT IN McCORMICK'S NAME

WITH A DEPOSIT OF $200.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE
A LOCAL ADDRESS,

SO ON THE WAY TO THE BANK,

THEY WOULD STOP BY
THE POST OFFICE.

A POST OFFICE BOX
WAS SET UP IN McCORMICK'S NAME.

THE BANK WOULD
ISSUE THEM STARTER CHECKS.

THEY WOULD USE
THOSE STARTER CHECKS

TO PAY FOR THE COWS THEY BOUGHT.

THAT AFTERNOON,

THEY MAKE THEIR FIRST PURCHASE,
FOR $2,000.

THEY THEN LEAVE WITH THE CATTLE,

THE AUCTIONEER RELYING UPON
THE HONOR CODE.

SOMETIME SHORTLY THEREAFTER,

HE SELLS THE CATTLE SOMEWHERE
ELSE AND POCKETS THE MONEY.

JACK GOT REALLY NERVOUS
ABOUT THE FACT

THAT WHEN HE BOUGHT
THE FIRST SET OF COWS,

THAT CHECK WAS GONNA BOUNCE,

AND HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GONNA BE
IN TROUBLE FOR IT.

IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED,

WHILE ON THE FARM,
JACK BECAME UNCOMFORTABLE

WHEN HE NOTICED THE FARMER'S
WIFE WATCHING HIM CONSTANTLY.

THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND
HUMAN REMAINS.

FROM THAT POINT ON,

HE WAS TERRIFIED
OF HIS NEW LANDLORDS.

A FEW DAYS LATER, ON AUGUST 9th,

THE FARMER TOOK McCORMICK
TO ANOTHER CATTLE AUCTION

IN A NEARBY TOWN.

HE BECAME FURIOUS

WHEN McCORMICK PURCHASED
THE WRONG CATTLE.

McCORMICK TELLS POLICE
THAT THE NEXT DAY,

HE ASKED HIM TO HELP CATCH
A RACCOON IN THE BARN.

AND JACK BECAME VERY SUSPICIOUS
BECAUSE RAY GAVE HIM A STICK

AND TOLD HIM TO TRY TO SCARE
THIS RACCOON

OUT FROM BEHIND THIS HAY.

COME ON!

BUT McCORMICK
SENSED SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

HE SAID HE WAS REALLY SCARED,

AND HE INSISTED HE WANTED OUT
OF THE BUSINESS DEAL,

THAT HE WANTED TO BE
TAKEN BACK TO THE BANK,

MAKE THE CHECK GOOD.

THE FARMER COMPLIED.

WHEN JACK GOES INTO THE BANK,
HE SNEAKS OUT A SIDE DOOR,

GOES DOWN THE STREET
TO A BUSINESS THERE

WHERE THEY WERE
SELLING USED CARS,

CONVINCES THE OWNER

THAT HE WANTS TO TEST-DRIVE
ONE OF THOSE CARS.

THE OWNER ALLOWS HIM
TO TEST-DRIVE THAT CAR.

AT THAT POINT, JACK LEFT

AND WASN'T PICKED UP LATER
UNTIL HE ARRIVED IN OREGON.

ON HIS WAY OUT OF TOWN,

McCORMICK CALLED
THE NEBRASKA CRIME HOTLINE,

REPORTING THE OLD FARMER.

HIS NAME IS RAY COPELAND.

JACK McCORMICK SAID

THAT MR. COPELAND
IS KILLING PEOPLE

AND BURYING THOSE BODIES
ON HIS FARM.

IN SEPTEMBER 1989,

DRIFTER JACK McCORMICK

TELLS POLICE
IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MISSOURI,

THAT RAY COPELAND
IS KILLING PEOPLE

AND BURYING THEM ON HIS FARM.

INVESTIGATORS ARE FAMILIAR
WITH RAY COPELAND.

IN 1986, THREE YEARS EARLIER,

POLICE CAME ACROSS
COPELAND'S NAME

WHILE INVESTIGATING
A STRING OF BAD CHECKS.

A TRANSIENT NAMED WAYNE WARNER

HAD WRITTEN A BAD CHECK
FOR CATTLE AT A LOCAL SALE BARN.

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES,

THEY SAW RAY COPELAND
HAUL THE CATTLE AWAY.

POLICE TRIED TO LOCATE
WAYNE WARNER.

WE DROVE OUT
TO MR. COPELAND'S FARM

AND INTERVIEWED HIM
IN REGARDS TO WAYNE WARNER.

MR. COPELAND KNEW MR. WARNER.

HE HAD MET HIM AT THE SALE BARN.

HAD MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH HIM

TO TAKE THE COWS
THAT WARNER HAD PURCHASED

AND BRING THEM
TO HIS FARM TEMPORARILY.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY
MR. COPELAND

BUT HAD LEFT WITH THE COWS
AND HAD NOT PAID HIM.

POLICE ISSUED A WARRANT

FOR WAYNE WARNER'S ARREST
BUT WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE HIM.

AND THAT WASN'T THE LAST TIME

RAY COPELAND'S NAME CAME UP
DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY HAD A BAD CHECK DRAWN
ON A DENNIS MURPHY

FOR CATTLE PURCHASED BY MURPHY
BUT HAULED TO THE COPELAND FARM.

POLICE WERE UNABLE TO
LOCATE DENNIS MURPHY, AS WELL.

BOTH MURPHY AND WARNER
HAD DROPPED OFF THE RADAR SCREEN

IN THE SENSE THAT
THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES

HAD BEEN EXPIRED
AND NEVER RENEWED.

THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS SHOWED
NO FURTHER ACTIVITY

AFTER THOSE CHECKS.

THEY HAD MADE
NO FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.

THERE WAS BASICALLY
NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER

THAT THOSE GENTLEMEN
WERE STILL ALIVE.

BUT THEY WERE KNOWN DRIFTERS.

AND WITH NO EVIDENCE
OF FOUL PLAY,

THE CASE WENT COLD.

AFTER JACK McCORMICK
GIVES HIS STATEMENT,

POLICE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER

INTO THE BACKGROUND
OF RAY COPELAND.

RAY COPELAND WAS BORN IN 1914
TO OKLAHOMA FARMERS.

RAY SEEMED TO DO NO WRONG
IN HIS PARENTS' EYES.

HIS DAD WOULD LET HIM DO
JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

THEY COVERED FOR HIM
TO KEEP HIM OUT OF TROUBLE.

THERE WAS ONE TIME
HE STOLE SOME LIVESTOCK,

AND THEY KEPT THAT HUSHED.

BUT THINGS WERE TOUGH
FOR RAY AND HIS FAMILY.

RAY SAW A LOT OF FARMERS
LOSE THEIR HOMES

AND SWORE THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN
TO HIM.

HE WAS BROUGHT UP
DURING THE DEPRESSION.

THESE ARE HARD TIMES.
BANKS LEND MONEY.

WHEN YOU DON'T PAY IT BACK,
THEY FORECLOSE,

AND THIS CAUSES
A NATURAL RESENTMENT FOR RAY.

BY THE TIME RAY WAS IN HIS 20s,

HE WAS ARRESTED
FOR FORGING CHECKS

AND SERVED ONE YEAR IN JAIL.

RAY LIKED TO SCAM
AND STEAL FROM PEOPLE.

HE WANTED THE MONEY.

IN 1940, AT AGE 26,

RAY MET HIS WIFE, FAYE,

IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE
IN RED STAR, ARKANSAS.

FAYE WAS 19 YEARS OLD

AND FROM AN EXTREMELY
RELIGIOUS FAMILY.

RAY REMINDED FAYE OF HER FATHER.

SHE GOT INVOLVED WITH HIM
WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG,

AND SHE CAME OUT OF
A PRETTY STRICT HOME.

HER FATHER TOLD HER WHAT TO DO
AND WHEN TO DO IT,

SOMETHING THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR
A FATHER TO DO WITH A DAUGHTER,

NOT NECESSARILY
FOR A HUSBAND TO DO.

RAY WAS CONFIDENT

AND BOASTED ABOUT
HIS FINANCIAL SITUATION

EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS ONLY A POOR FARMER.

FAYE THOUGHT
HE WAS KING OF THE WORLD

BECAUSE HE SEEMED TO HAVE
MORE MONEY

THAN MOST PEOPLE DID
AT THAT TIME.

ON AUGUST 24, 1940,
RAY AND FAYE WERE MARRIED.

HAVING A FAMILY DID NOT CURB
RAY'S APPETITE TO STEAL.

HE WAS CONSISTENTLY
IN AND OUT OF JAIL

FOR FORGERY AND THEFT.

WHENEVER RAY CAME HOME
FROM PRISON,

YOU HAD TO BE ON YOUR GUARD

AS FAR AS WHAT YOU SAID TO HIM,
HOW YOU SAID IT.

BECAUSE IF YOU SAID IT WRONG
TO HIM,

YOU GOT PHYSICALLY ABUSED.

RAY COPELAND WAS AN ABUSER.

HE WAS A VIOLENT MAN

WITH A TOTAL DISREGARD
FOR HUMAN LIFE,

WITHOUT REGARD
FOR ANYBODY ELSE'S FEELINGS.

THE DEFINITION, OF COURSE,
OF A BATTERER.

HAND, HAMMER, 2x4,
METAL COW KICKERS.

YOU NAME IT, HE GRABBED IT.

HE BEAT ME ONE TIME WITH
A PAIR OF METAL COW KICKERS,

AND I WAS APPROXIMATELY
13 YEARS OLD.

AND TO THIS DAY,
MY BACK IS STILL NOT RIGHT.

RAY'S CHILDREN WERE
NOT THE ONLY ONES HE ABUSED.

RAY WOULD ABUSE MOM A LOT.

YOU WOULD SEE THE BRUISES.

YOU WOULD SEE MAYBE A BLACK EYE,
THINGS LIKE THIS.

AS A KID, YOU HAD
THE SAME BRUISES SOMETIMES,

AND YOU KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG.

MOM WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

I FELT PRETTY BAD
ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION

'CAUSE I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT.

IF I DID,

I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA GET
FROM RAY.

HE'D CALL HER STUPID.

HE'D TELL HER TO KEEP HER NOSE
OUT OF HIS BUSINESS.

TO ENFORCE HIS DEMANDS
THAT HE WAS THE ONE IN CHARGE,

HE'D CARRY A GUN.

HE WOULDN'T HESITATE
TO SHOW IT TO HER.

THESE KINDS OF VERBAL PUTDOWNS

ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT BATTERERS USE AGAINST WOMEN

SO THAT THEY HAVE
MORE CONTROL OVER THEM.

OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS,

RAY AND FAYE HAD FIVE CHILDREN.

AND IN 1965, THEY SETTLED
IN MOORESVILLE, MISSOURI.

RAY HAS ODD JOBS.

HE WORKS FROM TIME TO TIME
FOR AREA FARMERS,

TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY,
TAKING CARE OF THEIR CATTLE.

THEY ALSO RENT OUT THEIR FARM
OCCASIONALLY FOR PASTURE.

FAYE DOES ODD JOBS FROM TIME
TO TIME AT A LOCAL MOTEL.

AFTER THEIR CHILDREN
LEFT THE HOUSE,

RAY HIRED FARMHANDS AND DRIFTERS
TO HELP OUT ON THE FARM.

BUT HE RESENTED THEM

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THEY WERE
LIVING OFF OF THE WELFARE MONEY

OF HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS.

HE THOUGHT THEY WERE LOWER
THAN ANYTHING HE COULD THINK OF.

HE SAID, "EVERY ONE OF THEM
SHOULD BE SHOT

BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING
MY MONEY."

GET UP!

RAY WOULD BRING SOME OF THESE
FARMHANDS THAT HE HIRED HOME,

AND SHE WOULD BE FORCED
INTO HAVING SEX WITH THEM

SO THAT HE COULD WATCH...

SOMETIMES AT GUNPOINT

SO THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE
IN THE MATTER.

HOW MUCH THAT WAS DUE TO

RAY COPELAND'S
OWN SEXUAL DIFFICULTIES,

I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN ONLY SUSPECT THAT
THAT WAS TRUE

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
FROM OTHER CASES...

THAT AS MEN GET OLDER,

AS THEY GET LESS ABLE
TO PERFORM SEXUALLY,

THEY OFTEN NEED MORE STIMULATION
TO GET AROUSED.

RAY'S ABUSE ESCALATED OVER TIME
IN THAT RELATIONSHIP...

INCLUDING PHYSICAL ABUSE,
SEXUAL ABUSE,

AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE.

WITH RAY'S SORDID HISTORY,

TWO MISSING DRIFTERS,
AND JACK McCORMICK'S STATEMENT,

INVESTIGATORS DECIDE TO SEARCH
THE COPELAND FARM.

MISSOURI POLICE
OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT

FOR THE FARM
OF RAY AND FAYE COPELAND

AFTER A WITNESS
CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN

HUMAN REMAINS ON THE PREMISES.

IT IS SERVED ON OCTOBER 9, 1989.

FAYE COPELAND GREETS OFFICERS

AND TELLS THEM THAT RAY IS IN
THE NEARBY TOWN OF CHILLICOTHE,

HAVING BREAKFAST.

INVESTIGATORS ASSUME

SHE IS SOMEHOW INVOLVED
WITH THE CHECK SCHEME

AND TAKE HER INTO CUSTODY.

INSIDE FAYE'S PURSE,

INVESTIGATORS FIND BLANK CHECKS
SIGNED BY JACK McCORMICK.

SHE WAS VERY POLITE,
VERY COOPERATIVE.

SHE DIDN'T GIVE US
ANY DIFFICULTY WHATSOEVER.

MOM IN JAIL?

IT'S A HARD THING TO FEEL,

AND IT'S A HARD THING
TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU DO FEEL.

I FELT VERY ANGRY AT RAY
AND VERY COMPASSIONATE FOR MOM.

BECAUSE WITH ALL THE ABUSE
SHE HAD OVER THE YEARS,

SHE'S GETTING PUNISHED.

RAY IS PICKED UP
AT A RESTAURANT IN TOWN.

THE INITIAL CHARGES
AGAINST MR. AND MRS. COPELAND

WERE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT
THE CRIME OF STEALING.

THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE MURPHY
AND WARNER BAD CHECKS.

SO THEY WERE CHARGED
WITH THAT CRIME.

THEY QUESTION THEM SEPARATELY

ABOUT JACK McCORMICK'S
ALLEGATIONS.

RAY CONFIRMS THAT JACK McCORMICK

HAD BEEN LIVING AT THE HOUSE.

HE CONFIRMED
THAT HE HAD ASKED JACK

TO HELP HIM FIND A RACCOON

AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW JACK
COULD POSSIBLY HAVE INTERPRETED

HIS ACTIONS
AS BEING THREATENING.

I THINK HE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING ON

AND KNEW WHY HE WAS DOWN THERE.

BUT HE WASN'T GONNA ADMIT IT.

FAYE SAYS SHE HAS
NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHECK SCHEME

OR OF THE WHEREABOUTS
OF THE MISSING MEN,

WAYNE WARNER AND DENNIS MURPHY.

SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT ANYBODY BEING KILLED.

PEOPLE CAME THERE
AND PEOPLE WENT,

AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

WITH THE TWO SUSPECTS
IN CUSTODY,

POLICE CONDUCT A SEARCH
OF THE COPELAND FARM.

WE FOUND SEVERAL
SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF EVIDENCE,

INCLUDING BANK RECORDS,
LIVESTOCK RECORDS.

ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS

THE OFFICERS FIND
IS A PIECE OF SCRATCH PAPER

THAT HAS A NUMBER OF NAMES ON IT
IN THE FORM OF A LIST.

BESIDE SOME OF THOSE NAMES
IS THE LETTER "X."

BESIDE SOME OF THOSE NAMES
IS THE WORD "BACK."

I DID RECOGNIZE
A FEW OF THE NAMES

AS PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

EVERYONE WHOSE NAME WAS
CONNECTED WITH THE WORD "BACK"

PROVED TO BE ALIVE.

I WAS ABLE
TO LOCATE THOSE PEOPLE

AND INTERVIEWED THEM

AND DETERMINED
THEY WERE ONCE SOLICITED TO WORK

AND HAD, IN FACT,
BEEN TO RAY COPELAND'S HOUSE

BUT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER

DECIDED NOT TO BECOME PART
OF HIS PLAN TO BUY CATTLE.

EVERYONE WHOSE NAME CONTAINED
THE LETTER "X,"

WE BELIEVE TO BE DEAD.

POLICE SEND THE NOTE

TO THE MISSOURI STATE POLICE
CRIME LAB

FOR HANDWRITING ANALYSIS.

THEY ALSO UNCOVER
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CLOTHING

THAT DID NOT BELONG
TO RAY OR FAYE COPELAND.

AND, IN FACT,
UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION,

WE DISCOVERED
SOME OF THE CLOTHES

ACTUALLY HAD LAST NAMES
IN THEM...

A COMMON PRACTICE
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

TO PUT THEIR NAMES
IN THEIR CLOTHING.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE CLOTHING

AND THE DISCOVERY
OF THE PIECE OF PAPER

THAT HAD
EIGHT INDIVIDUALS' NAMES

BEGAN TO SUPPORT OUR THEORY

THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE HAPPENED
TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.

INVESTIGATORS ALSO DISCOVER

A .22-CALIBER RIFLE
BELONGING TO RAY COPELAND.

DETERMINED TO FIND HUMAN REMAINS
ON THE PROPERTY,

POLICE USE A VARIETY OF
RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SEARCH.

WE HAD OTHER
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

WHO WERE ASSISTING US,

BACKHOES, BULLDOZERS.

AND WE HAD GONE THOROUGHLY
OVER THE FARM,

AND IT WAS FRUSTRATING THAT
WE WERE NOT FINDING ANY BODIES.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR DAYS.

THIS INVESTIGATION
WAS PROBABLY THE LARGEST,

MOST INTENSIVE
AND EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION

EVER UNDERTAKEN
IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

IT GREW MORE FRUSTRATING
EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE WERE COMING UP WITH NOTHING

TO CORROBORATE
MR. McCORMICK'S STORY.

IT'S NOT LONG

BEFORE THE MEDIA FINDS OUT
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION.

IT WAS A CIRCUS.

YOU'VE GOT THE CAMERA TRUCKS,
SATELLITE TRUCKS HERE

FROM ALL THE MAJOR NETWORKS,
SEVERAL OF THE CABLE NETWORKS.

THEY WERE JUST
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY WERE OUT
BY THE COPELAND FARM,

TRYING TO WATCH
AS WE DID OUR SEARCH.

RESIDENTS COULDN'T BELIEVE

THE COUPLE WAS BEING
INVESTIGATED FOR MURDER.

THE NEIGHBORS WERE THINKING

THAT WE WERE
ON A WILD-GOOSE CHASE

AND PROBABLY
JUST PICKING ON THE COPELANDS.

DURING THE SEARCH,

POLICE CONTINUED TO QUESTION
RAY COPELAND.

RAY HAD TOLD ME THAT WE WOULD
NEVER FIND ANYTHING ON HIS FARM,

AND HE STUCK TO THAT STORY.

HE ALSO,
IN ONE OF THE INTERROGATIONS,

MADE THE STATEMENT

THAT WE WERE NOT SMART ENOUGH
TO FIND ANYTHING.

HE TOLD ME,
"WELL, I'LL BE OUT NEXT WEEK.

THEY'LL LET ME GO
IN A COUPLE WEEKS."

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SEARCHING,

POLICE WONDER IF THEY HAVE MADE
A SERIOUS MISTAKE.

THE SEARCH
OF RAY COPELAND'S FARMLAND

DID NOT TURN UP
ANY HUMAN REMAINS.

OF COURSE, JACK McCORMICK,

WHO WAS STILL IN CUSTODY
IN SULLIVAN COUNTY,

HAD TO BE REINTERVIEWED.

IT WAS AT THAT POINT
THAT HE TOLD ME

THAT HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE
ANY HUMAN REMAINS

ON RAY COPELAND'S FARM.

HE HAD LIED ABOUT THAT.

WHEN A KEY WITNESS

IN A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
CHANGES HIS STORY,

INVESTIGATORS MUST FIND
ANOTHER WAY

TO PROVE THAT RAY
AND FAYE COPELAND ARE MURDERERS.

JACK McCORMICK
LIED INTENTIONALLY

BECAUSE HE THOUGHT
IF HE DIDN'T LIE

THAT HE WOULD NOT GET
LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ATTENTION

IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WOULD
REALLY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

SO HE FABRICATED
PART OF WHAT HE TOLD US.

BUT AS A RESULT

OF OUR INVESTIGATION BECOMING
VERY PUBLIC,

THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY

WHO CAME FORWARD
WITH INFORMATION

AND TRIED TO ASSIST US
WITH WHAT WE WERE DOING.

POLICE LEARN THAT RAY COPELAND

ISN'T VERY WELL LIKED
IN THE COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE

CONSIDERED RAY
A VERY VIOLENT AND ANGRY MAN,

AND THEY JUST WAS AFRAID
TO BE AROUND HIM.

THE TOWN SOON TURNS
ON THE COPELANDS.

PEOPLE WHO BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE WERE DOING

AND KNEW WHO RAY COPELAND WAS

AND KNEW ABOUT SOME OF THE FARMS
HE HAD WORKED ON...

...THEY WOULD CALL
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND AS A RESULT
OF THESE PHONE CALLS,

I WAS ABLE TO DISPATCH
INVESTIGATORS

TO AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY
WHERE WE HAD BEEN TOLD

THAT THEY HAD SEEN RAY COPELAND
WORKING, PAINTING BARNS,

FIXING FENCES, FILLING IN WELLS,
AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

WE STARTED SEARCHING IN BARNS

OR ANYWHERE THAT WE KNEW
THAT RAY COPELAND HAD WORKED.

ON OCTOBER 13th,
A LOCAL SHARECROPPER

GIVES INVESTIGATORS
THEIR FIRST SOLID LEAD.

HE REMEMBERED ONE FARMING SEASON

THAT WHEN HE LIFTED
THE FIELD CULTIVATOR

OUT OF THE GROUND
AT THE END OF THE ROW

THAT THERE WERE SOME BONES.

AND HE DIDN'T EVEN
STOP WHAT HE WAS DOING

BECAUSE HE ASSUMED AT THE TIME

IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A DEAD DEER
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

INVESTIGATORS SEARCH THE FARM.

AFTER DAYS OF SEARCHING,

THEY ENTER
ONE OF THE CATTLE BARNS.

IT WAS EMPTY.
IT WAS JUST A DIRT FLOOR.

AND THEY WERE SUSPICIOUS
ABOUT THE WAY THE SOIL LOOKED.

IT LOOKED AS IF
IT WASN'T NATURAL.

AND THEY HAD WITH THEM
SOME METAL RODS

THAT WE USE TO PROD SOIL WITH.

AND JUST UNDER THE SURFACE,
HE COULD SEE A SHOE...

...STILL ON THE FOOT
OF THE REMAINS OF THAT VICTIM.

INVESTIGATORS
CAREFULLY EXCAVATE THE BODY

AND FIND TWO MORE BESIDE IT.

PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

THE GENERAL FEELING WAS,
"NO WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN."

THROUGH DENTAL RECORDS,

A PATHOLOGIST IDENTIFIES THEM
AS JOHN FREEMAN,

JAMES HARVEY, AND PAUL COWART.

EACH OF THEM DIED
FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND

TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

BULLET FRAGMENTS
SEIZED FROM THE BODIES,

THOSE WERE ALL SENT

TO THE MISSOURI STATE
HIGHWAY PATROL LABORATORY,

ANALYZED, AND IT IS DETERMINED
THAT THOSE BULLETS

HAVE BEEN FIRED
BY THE .22-CALIBER RIFLE

THAT WAS SEIZED
FROM THE COPELAND HOUSE.

ON OCTOBER 17, 1989,

RAY AND FAYE COPELAND
ARE FORMALLY CHARGED

WITH THREE COUNTS
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

AT THE JAIL,

INVESTIGATORS QUESTION
RAY COPELAND AGAIN.

HE DENIES KNOWING ANYTHING

ABOUT THE VICTIMS
BURIED IN THE BARN...

BUT HE IS SUDDENLY
VERY COOPERATIVE.

HE THOUGHT HE COULD ASSIST
IN THIS INVESTIGATION

BECAUSE HE HAD OVERHEARD
THREE GUYS IN A RESTAURANT.

AND THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS
WERE TALKING ABOUT

HOW THEY HAD BURIED A BODY

UNDER SOME HAY IN A BARN
ON THE JOE RAY ADAMS FARM

AND THAT THEY HAD DUMPED A BODY
IN A WELL ON THAT FARM.

INVESTIGATORS GET A WARRANT

AND SEARCH JOE ADAMS' FARM.

WE CAME TO THIS BARN,
AND IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL,

ALMOST ALL THE WAY
TO THE CEILING,

OF BIG BALES OF HAY.

SO WE SPENT THE NEXT THREE DAYS
REMOVING THIS HAY.

AND AT ONE POINT,
A PIECE OF PLASTIC

WAS CAUGHT ON THE SCOOP
OF THE TRACTOR.

THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED

THAT THERE WAS A BODY
THAT HAD BEEN WRAPPED

OR COVERED UP
WITH THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC.

HOW MANY YEARS?

I DON'T KNOW.

HOW MANY TRANSIENTS?

I DON'T KNOW.

AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

IT'S AN EERIE FEELING.

THE BODY IS IDENTIFIED
AS WAYNE WARNER...

...ONE OF THE FIRST MEN
WHOSE NAME CAME UP

DURING THE BAD-CHECK
INVESTIGATION IN 1986.

POLICE LOCATE THE WELL
ON THE FARM

THAT RAY COPELAND MENTIONED.

LOOKING IN IT,

THEY SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE

A PAIR OF BOOTS
FLOATING IN THE WATER.

WE DISCOVERED
THE REMAINS OF DENNIS MURPHY,

THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL
THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR

IN REGARDS TO THE INVESTIGATION
OF THE INSUFFICIENT-FUNDS CHECK

AND PURCHASE OF THE CATTLE
AT THE SALE BARN.

BOTH MEN WERE ALSO
SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD

WITH BULLETS
THAT MATCH RAY'S RIFLE.

ON DECEMBER 28, 1989,
RAY AND FAYE COPELAND

ARE CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

FOR THE DEATHS OF WAYNE WARNER,
DENNIS MURPHY, PAUL COWART,

JOHN FREEMAN, AND JIM HARVEY.

A FEW MONTHS LATER,

THE MISSOURI
STATE POLICE CRIME LAB

CONCLUDES
THE HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

OF THE LIST OF NAMES FOUND
AT THE COPELAND FARM.

THREE OF THE VICTIMS HAVE X's
LISTED NEXT TO THEIR NAMES...

...JOHN FREEMAN, PAUL COWART,
AND JIM HARVEY.

THE MISSOURI
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

DETERMINED IT WAS MS. COPELAND
WHO HAD WRITTEN THE LIST.

MR. COPELAND
WAS FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE.

DESPITE ALL OF HER
PROTESTS OF INNOCENCE,

INVESTIGATORS ARE NOT SURPRISED
THAT FAYE COPELAND IS INVOLVED.

FAYE KNEW
THE KILLINGS WERE GOING ON.

I'M SURE SHE WAS PART OF IT.

THE CLOTHES AND OTHER ITEMS
THAT WERE FOUND IN THE HOUSE,

SHE HAD TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF IT.

SHE MUST'VE HAD SOME IDEA

THAT HE HAD THAT ABILITY
TO BE SO CRUEL.

BUT YET SHE USED
WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL DENIAL.

FAYE COPELAND DID NOT KNOW WHAT
WAS HAPPENING WITH THESE MEN.

FAYE SAID
THESE MEN WERE HOMELESS PEOPLE,

AND SO THEY HAD NO TIES,

AND THEY WENT
FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

SO SHE DIDN'T QUESTION RAY

WHEN HE SAID,
"THIS MAN IS GONE."

SHE WROTE THE LIST,
THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT DIED.

IT'S IN HER HANDWRITING,

NOT THE HANDWRITING
OF HER HUSBAND.

SHE COOKED FOR THESE PEOPLE.
THEY STAYED IN HER HOME.

WHEN THEY LEFT, THEIR CLOTHING
WAS LEFT IN HER HOME.

THEIR LUGGAGE WAS LEFT
IN HER HOME.

SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE SENSE

THAT SHE TRANSPORTED
THESE PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME.

JACK McCORMICK SAID
THAT SHE KEPT AN EYE ON HIM.

MS. COPELAND WAS NOT A VICTIM
IN THIS CASE.

SHE WAS A PARTICIPANT.

IN 1989,

LIVINGSTON COUNTY,
MISSOURI, OFFICIALS

CHARGE RAY AND FAYE COPELAND
FOR MURDERING FIVE TRANSIENTS.

BOTH OF THE COPELANDS
DENY THE ALLEGATIONS.

OFFICIALS PREPARE THEIR CASE
FOR COURT.

WE DEVELOPED A PROFILE

ON HOW MR. COPELAND RUNS
HIS OPERATION.

RECRUITING TRANSIENTS,

OPENING POST OFFICE BOXES
IN SMALL COMMUNITIES,

OPENING BANK ACCOUNTS
WITH SMALL CASH DEPOSITS.

THE BANK ACCOUNTS
ARE IMMEDIATELY OVERDRAWN

BY CHECKS TO A SALE BARN.

THEY LEAVE WITH THE CATTLE,
AND SOMETIME SHORTLY THEREAFTER,

THE TRANSIENT DISAPPEARS.

HE WAS ENSURING THAT THE PERSON
COULDN'T TESTIFY AGAINST HIM

BY MURDERING THEM.

BUT POLICE BELIEVE

THERE ARE WITNESSES OUT THERE
WHO CAN TESTIFY.

WE DEVELOPED A LIST OF PEOPLE

WHOSE BANK ACCOUNTS
FIT THAT PROFILE.

INVESTIGATORS TRACK THEM DOWN

AND QUESTION THEM ABOUT THEIR
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COPELANDS.

SOME OF THE TRANSIENTS
WERE ABLE TO GET AWAY.

SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT
TO THEM.

OTHERS WEREN'T ANY GOOD
AT BUYING CATTLE,

DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT CATTLE,

AND MR. COPELAND
BECAME FRUSTRATED WITH THEM

AND SENT THEM BACK
TO WHEREVER THEY CAME FROM.

ON NOVEMBER 1, 1990,

FAYE COPELAND GOES TO TRIAL.

THIS IS A WOMAN WHO,
IN HER HUSBAND'S ABSENCE,

KEPT THE FARM TOGETHER
IN HARD TIMES

AND KEPT THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT A SHRINKING VIOLET.

THIS WAS A WOMAN
WHO WAS VERY, VERY MUCH,

I THINK, IN COMMAND OF HERSELF

AND, I BELIEVE, WAS VERY MUCH
A WILLING PARTICIPANT

IN WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I DID NOT AGREE
THAT FAYE COPELAND WAS INVOLVED.

I THINK SHE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SHE BELIEVED RAY COPELAND

WHEN HE TOLD HER
THAT THESE MEN JUST LEFT.

THERE WAS TIMES
I WANTED TO KNOW,

AND SHE SAID,
"SON, YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW."

SHE TOLD ME, YEAH, SHE KNEW,

BUT SHE WASN'T GONNA
TELL ANYBODY.

AS FAR AS HELPING HIM
TO HURT THE TRANSIENTS,

NOBODY IS GONNA CONVINCE ME
THAT SHE HELPED IN THAT...

NOBODY.

FAYE PLEADS NOT GUILTY.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BAD-CHECK
CHARGES BEING DROPPED,

JACK McCORMICK TESTIFIES
THAT FAYE HANDLED THE BOOKS,

SINCE RAY WAS ILLITERATE,
AND TOOK CARE OF THE TRANSIENTS

THAT STAYED
AT THE COPELAND HOUSE.

HER LAWYER CLAIMS

SHE WAS SUFFERING
FROM BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME

AND WAS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED
BY RAY

AND WOULD DO WHATEVER HE ASKED
WITHOUT QUESTION.

FAYE NEVER TESTIFIES
ABOUT THE ABUSE SHE SUFFERED.

AT THAT TRIAL,
SHE PROTECTED HIM.

AND I DON'T THINK
SHE REALLY UNDERSTOOD

THE EXTENT OF THE VIOLENCE,

THE NUMBER OF MEN
THAT HE KILLED.

HER LOYALTY TO THE LOVING PART
OF RAY COPELAND

WAS FAR MORE SERIOUS

THAN HER ABILITY
TO PROTECT HERSELF.

SHE SAW HERSELF AS PART OF HIM,

AND SHE PROTECTED HIM
AT THAT TRIAL.

I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT MS. COPELAND

WAS A VICTIM
OF BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME.

I HAVE NO DOUBT

THAT MR. COPELAND IS A MEAN,
HARD MAN.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE HAS,
IN FACT, PROBABLY BATTERED HER,

JUST AS HE BATTERED
HIS CHILDREN.

BUT THIS IS A WOMAN
WHO HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY

TO GET AWAY AND REPORT.

I THINK BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME

HAS EVERYTHING TO DO
WITH THIS CASE,

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW SOME PEOPLE
THINK IT'S JUST AN EXCUSE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME,

WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT
ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

OF LIVING WITH SOMEBODY

WHO BOTH LOVES YOU
AND TAKES CARE OF YOU

AND, AT THE SAME TIME,

IS WILLING TO SERIOUSLY
PHYSICALLY HARM YOU.

BASED ON HER
HANDWRITTEN LIST OF VICTIMS,

BANK ACCOUNT EVIDENCE,
AND WITNESS TESTIMONY,

ON NOVEMBER 13th, FAYE COPELAND
IS FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.

RAY COPELAND SHOWS NO REMORSE

AND CONTINUES TO DENY
ANY INVOLVEMENT.

HE ASKED ME, "HOW DID FAYE
MAKE OUT IN COURT YESTERDAY?"

AND I SAID,
"RAY, FAYE WAS CONVICTED."

HIS RESPONSE TO ME... "WELL,
IT HAPPENS TO SOME OF 'EM."

FIVE MONTHS LATER,
FAYE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

SHE WAS GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY, ACTUALLY,

TO ASSIST US
IN THE INVESTIGATION.

SHE WAS OFFERED A PRETTY GOOD
DEAL BY THE PROSECUTOR

IF SHE WOULD HELP US
IN THIS INVESTIGATION.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HER MOTIVES WERE.

SHE DENIED TO US

KNOWLEDGE OF ANY OF THE THINGS
THAT WERE GOING ON,

AND THAT WAS HER STANDPOINT.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NO QUESTION IN MY MIND

THAT RAY COPELAND CONTINUED
TO CONTROL FAYE COPELAND

AT THE TRIAL, AFTER THE TRIAL.

WHEN THEY WERE IN PRISON,
HE STILL CONTROLLED HER.

THAT'S THE BOND,
THE STRENGTH OF THE BOND,

BETWEEN BATTERERS
AND THEIR VICTIMS.

ON MARCH 7, 1991,
RAY HAS HIS DAY IN COURT.

JACK McCORMICK
IS THE STAR WITNESS

FOR THE PROSECUTION.

THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
IS OVERWHELMING.

DEPOSIT TICKETS
AND OTHER RECORDS

THAT ARE CONNECTED
TO CHECKING ACCOUNTS

MAINTAINED BY PEOPLE THAT
ULTIMATELY PROVED TO BE VICTIMS.

CLOTHING THAT IS CONNECTED
TO THE VICTIMS,

AS WELL AS LUGGAGE
THAT BELONGED TO THE VICTIMS,

A .22-CALIBER RIFLE.

A BALLISTICS EXAMINATION
CONFIRMED

THAT IT IS THE MURDER WEAPON.

IT DOESN'T TAKE THE JURY LONG

TO CONVICT HIM ON ALL COUNTS.

RAY COPELAND
IS ALSO SENTENCED TO DEATH.

RAY AND FAYE COPELAND
WAS WELL PLANNED.

IT WAS PREMEDITATED,

AND I THINK
THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT

ALL FELT THAT IT WAS
A FAIR VERDICT.

IN THE THREE YEARS
RAY KILLED TRANSIENTS

TO COVER UP HIS CHECK SCHEME,

OFFICIALS DETERMINED THAT
THE VICTIMS LOST THEIR LIVES

FOR A TOTAL OF $31,000.

ABOUT $1,000 A MONTH

WAS ALL THEY ADDED
TO THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS

BY KILLING A MINIMUM
OF FIVE PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY.

RAY AND FAYE COPELAND
MAINTAIN THEIR INNOCENCE.

TWO YEARS AFTER HIS SENTENCE,
RAY COPELAND DIES FROM A STROKE.

I THINK THERE WAS A PART OF FAYE

THAT DIED
WHEN RAY COPELAND DIED, ALSO,

AND THAT SHE WAS MUCH MORE
WILLING AND FELT SAFER...

TO BE ABLE TO TALK
AT THAT POINT.

FAYE FINALLY ADMITS
TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL,

PHYSICAL, AND SEXUAL ABUSE

SHE ENDURED FROM HER HUSBAND
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

ON AUGUST 6, 1999,

FAYE COPELAND'S DEATH SENTENCE
IS COMMUTED TO LIFE

BASED ON UNDISCLOSED TESTIMONY
ON BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME.

MANY PEOPLE SAY
THAT IF YOU ENGAGE IN DENIAL

AND YOU DON'T SEE
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR HOUSE

THAT YOU HAVE CULPABILITY,
A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THAT PSYCHOLOGICALLY,
YOU CAN ENGAGE IN DENIAL

WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING
YOU'RE DOING IT.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER KNOW
HOW MUCH SHE REALLY KNEW,

HOW MUCH CULPABILITY

SHE REALLY HAD
IN ANY OF THESE CASES.

IN 2002,

AFTER SPENDING
12 YEARS IN PRISON,

FAYE SUFFERS A STROKE
AND IS PARTIALLY PARALYZED.

SHE IS SENT TO A NURSING HOME.

ONE YEAR LATER,

SHE DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES
AT THE AGE OF 82.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
THAT MOM...

WAS A BAD PERSON IN THIS.

IT WASN'T HER FAULT.

SHE DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT MY FATHER
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA ANSWER
THAT QUESTION.

WE'RE NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.