>>> I'M LESTER HOLT.
TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- >> IT'S SO DEVASTATING
IT'S THE WORST PAIN EVER [ CRYING ]
>> WE WERE A FAMILY. SHE LOVED HER FAMILY, AND WE
LOVED HER RIGHT BACK >> I WAS ROBBED OF MY SISTER
IN AN INSTANT, SHE WAS GONE. >> THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A
VIOLENT STRUGGLE >> ALL KINDS OF TRACKS ON THE
FLOOR. >> Reporter: TRACKS?
>> MUDDY FOOTPRINTS. WE JUST SAID, "OH, MY GOD, ISN'T
THIS ONE OF HER EARRINGS?" >> EVERYTHING WAS A MYSTERY.
WAS SHE STILL ALIVE? WHY WASN'T ANYBODY TAKING ACTION
AND FIGURING OUT WHERE SHE WAS >> Reporter: HOW FRUSTRATED WERE
YOU? >> OH, SO VERY FRUSTRATED.
>> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN. >> WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, EVERY PIECE OF DNA IN THAT HOUSE
>> WE JUST NEVER GAVE UP >> AS A MOTHER, SHE FOUGHT AND
FOUGHT AND FOUGHT. >> FIND THE KILLERS AND MAKE
THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME >> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH
"THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR." >> Reporter: IT WAS A MONDAY
AFTERNOON. A BAKING SUN
A SCHOOL BUS MADE ITS METHODICAL WAY AMONG THE RESIDENTIAL
STREETS OF PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA. STOPPED AND STARTED AND STOPPED
AGAIN. IT WAS INLAND NOW, MILES FROM
THE THE HARBOR, THE PEACE RIVER, THE CENTER OF THE TOWN WHOSE
WARMTH HAD DRAWN THEM TO THE GULF COAST
THE BUS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD
DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR IT WAS 3:45 P.M.
>> WE GOT OFF THE BUS AND WALKED HOME
>> Reporter: "WE" MEANS VERONICA ORD, THEN ALMOST
14 YEARS OLD, AND HER YOUNGER BROTHER, PAUL.
>> AND I REMEMBER HALFWAY DOWN THE ROAD, REMEMBERING THAT I
FORGET MY KEY. BUT THE CLOSER WE GOT TO THE
HOUSE, I HAD SEEN MY SISTER'S CAR.
SO I SAID, "OH, OKAY, COOL." YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- I DON'T
NEED THE KEY YOU KNOW, SHE'S HOME
>> Reporter: THEN SHE NOTICED -- THE DOOR WASN'T QUITE CLOSED
>> IT WAS CLOSED, BUT IT WASN'T LATCHED.
LIKE YOU COULD JUST PULL ON IT AND THE DOOR WOULD OPEN.
I REMEMBER WALKING IN AND OPRAH WAS ON THE TV.
>> WHAT DID YOU ASSUME WHEN YOU SAW THE DOOR OPEN AND THE TV ON?
>> I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE LEFT IN A HURRY.
>> Reporter: "SHE" WAS TARA, VERONICA'S OLDER SISTER, NOT
QUITE 20 THEN. VERONICA CALLED OUT.
NO ANSWER. SHE WALKED THROUGH THE HOUSE,
BATHROOM LIGHT WAS ON. >> I WENT AND LOOKED IN THE
BATHROOM AND THEN I WENT IN OUR BEDROOM AND I'D SEEN HER PURSE
AND EVERYTHING ON TOP OF HER DRESSER.
SO THEN, I'M LIKE, WHERE WOULD SHE BE WITHOUT HER PURSE
'CAUSE THAT WASN'T USUAL SO THAT'S WHEN I HAD CALLED
KEITH. >> Reporter: "KEITH" WAS KEITH
McPHILLIPS, HER MOM'S FIANCA HE WAS JUST LEAVING WORK, TOLD
VERONICA HE WAS THINKING OF STOPPING FOR COFFEE WITH A
FRIEND ON HIS WAY HOME THEN VERONICA TOLD HIM ABOUT
TARA, THAT HER PURSE WAS HOME, BUT SHE WASN'T
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN SHE TOLD YOU THAT?
>> WELL, JUST SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
BECAUSE IF TARA WAS GONNA GO SOMEWHERE, I KNEW SHE WOULDN'T
LEAVE HER STUFF OR HER CAR SHE WOULD'VE SAID, "I WON'T BE
HERE WHEN THE KIDS GET HERE. THAT'S HOW RESPONSIBLE SHE WAS
>> SURE. >> Reporter: KEITH CANCELED THE
COFFEE PLAN, DROVE STRAIGHT HOME
>> AS SOON AS I GOT HOME, IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT
THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF TRACKS ON THE FLOOR AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE
THESE MARKS ON THE FLOOR?" AND SHE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW.
>> TRACKS? >> MUDDY FOOTPRINTS.
>> Reporter: MUDDY FOOTPRINTS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND MASTER
BEDROOM. AND SOMETHING ELSE SOMETHING
>> STUFF WAS MISSING OFF THE STRESSOR
JEWELRY WAS GONE MONEY WAS GONE
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG >> Reporter: OH, AND IT WAS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GROWN-UP GIRL IN THIS MODEST HOUSE IN THE
LITTLE CITY BY THE SEA ON THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, 2001
>> SHE WAS SUCH A SWEET, LOVING, KIND -
>> CARING. >> CARING, FULL OF LIFE.
>> Reporter: SHARON ORD McPHILLIPS IS TARA'S
MOTHER >> SHE HAD DREAMS AND AMBITIONS.
SHE WAS A CHEERLEADER, A CATCHER FOR SOFTBALL
SHE LOVED ART. MOST OF ALL -- WE WERE A FAMILY.
SHE LOVED HER FAMILY AND WE LOVED HER RIGHT BACK
>> Reporter: THEY WERE NEW TO PUNTA GORDA.
HAD MOVED, RECENTLY, FROM SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA
TARA, ALMOST GROWN UP, TOLD THEM SHE'D STAY BEHIND, MAKE HER OWN
LIFE >> SHE DIDN'T WANNA COME DOWN,
YOU KNOW I'M SURE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE OLDER AND --
BUT WE HAD A BET GOING ON HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE SHE GOT
HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE -- WE ARE SO CLOSE.
SO WE HAD A BET GOING, AND I THINK SHE LASTED THREE WEEKS
>> "I'M GONNA STAY HERE ON MY OWN.
"NO, I'M NOT." >> YEAH.
YES. >> YEP, NO
>> Reporter: SHE GOT A JOB MADE PLANS TO START COLLEGE.
HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATOR >> SHE HAD HER BOOKS AND
EVERYTHING >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND THOUGH SHARON'S THEN-FIANCE KEITH WASN'T
OFFICIALLY TARA'S STEP-DAD, THEY HAD A FATHER-DAUGHTER SORT OF
RELATIONSHIP >> YEAH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
YEP. SHE WOULD MAKE OUR FAMOUS PEANUT
BUTTER AND JELLY TRIPLE-DECKER SANDWICHES WE WOULD HAVE
AND SHE WOULD BE GOING TO MAKE THEM ALL
SHE WAS MY BUDDY >> Reporter: AND NOW HE DIDN'T
KNOW WHERE SHE WAS RIGHT AWAY, THAT AFTERNOON,
KEITH CALLED SHARON, JUST FINISHING HER WORK DAY AT HER
OFFICE >> NEVER FORGET THAT CALL.
I REMEMBER SAYING, "I HAVE TO LEAVE NOW.
IT WAS A 40-MINUTE RIDE. AND I CRIED THAT WHOLE WAY HOME
TO "PLEASE DON'T LET NOTHING BE WRONG, PLEASE, PLEASE.
>> I REMEMBER MY MOTHER PULLING UP
>> HOW DID SHE LOOK? >> OH, PANICKED.
>> Reporter: KEITH HAD CALLED 911 AS SHARON RUSHED HOME.
AN OFFICER WAS THERE WHEN SHE ARRIVED.
>> MY FIRST THING, "YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING
MY DAUGHTER'S NOT HERE." I JUST KNEW.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK --
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO TARA? >> WHY WASN'T ANYONE TAKING
ACTION AND FIGURING OUT WHERE SHE WAS?
>> EARRINGS IN THE CARPET. RIBBONS ON THE GROUND.
TIRE TRACKS ON THE LAWN. >> IT WAS OBVIOUS WE HAD A
SERIOUS PROBLEM. >> GUT-WRENCHING PAIN.
PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE >> Reporter: SO THERE THEY WERE,
AS EVENING DEEPENED, PACING AROUND THE LITTLE HOUSE, FRANTIC
ABOUT TARA WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE WAS SHE? >> IT WAS GETTING LATE
YOU KNOW, WHY -- WHY WASN'T SHE HOME
>> Reporter: THE POLICEMEN WHO CAME TO HELP THEM ONLY SEEMED
CONCERNED ABOUT THE JEWELRY AND CASH THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN
TAKEN, NOT SHARON'S MISSING DAUGHTER
>> THEY WERE CONCENTRATED ON THE BURGLARY
>> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO HEAR WHAT SHE WAS SAYING, DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND HER PANIC >> THEY JUST WEREN'T GETTING US
OR - >> IT WASN'T SINKING IN.
>> WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY WERE TRYING TO SAY, "WELL,
MAYBE SHE'S AT A FOOTBALL GAME." AND THEN THEY --
>> Reporter: THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME THAT NIGHT
>> Both: YEAH. >> AND THEN, THEY WENT THROUGH
HER FRIENDS. AND THEN ACTUALLY THEY CALLED
ONE FRIEND AND THIS PERSON WAS DATING A
TARA >> Reporter: SHARON ALMOST
SHOUTED, IT WASN'T HER TARA. THE OFFICER TRIED A DIFFERENT
TACTIC >> WE'LL PUT A B.O.L.O. OUT.
>> Reporter: B.O.L.O >> Both: YES
>> "BE ON THE LOOK OUT." >> Reporter: TARA'S FAMILY KNEW
IF SHE HAD GONE TO THE FOOTBALL GAME, IF SHE HAD GONE ANYWHERE,
SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM DEPUTIES SAID SINCE TARA WAS AN
ADULT, THEY WOULD WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE CALLING HER A MISSING
PERSON MAYBE SHE JUST LEFT ON HER OWN
>> IF MY DAUGHTER WAS A RUNAWAY OR A TROUBLED CHILD OR WHATEVER
THE CASE MAY HAVE BEEN, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT
I KNOW MY CHILD. >> Reporter: HOW FRUSTRATED WERE
YOU? >> OH, SO VERY FRUSTRATED.
>> Reporter: VERONICA, NOT QUITE 14, REMEMBER, WAS TERRIFIED.
>> WHY WASN'T ANYBODY TAKING ACTION AND FIGURING OUT WHERE
SHE WAS? >> Reporter: KEITH AND SHARON
CALLED EVERYBODY THEY KNEW IN TOWN
THEIR BEST FRIENDS OFFERED MORAL SUPPORT, CAME TO THE HOUSE, AND
ONE OF THEM NOTICED SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR.
>> WE JUST HEARD, "OH, MY GOD! AND WE WALKED IN AND SHE WAS
BENDING OVER, PULLING IT OUT OF THE CARPET LIKE IT WAS EMBEDDED
IN THE CARPET. >> YEAH, IT WASN'T JUST LAYING
THERE. >> SHE PULLED IT OUT AND SHE
SAID, "SHARON, ISN'T THIS ONE OF HER EARRINGS?"
AND SHE SAID, "YEAH. >> Reporter: SO THEN
THE -- >> WE FOUND --
>> -- ANOTHER ONE. >> YEAH.
>> AND - >> AND THEN THE THIRD ONE.
>> Reporter: LIKE, GROUND INTO THE CARPET
>> YEAH, RIGHT - >> OH, YEAH, JUST-
>> -- WE HAD TO PULL THEM OUT. >> Reporter: THEY ALSO NOTICED A
SMALL PALM TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD HAD BEEN DAMAGED ALONG WITH
THE DECORATIVE BRICKS AROUND IT. >> AND THEN THERE WAS TIRE
TRACKS >> Reporter: WHAT, ACROSS THE
LAWN >> ACROSS THE LAWN
>> Reporter: HOW CLOSE DO THOSE TIRE TRACKS COME TO THE HOUSE?
>> IT WASN'T A BIG YARD, BUT - >> NO, IT WASN'T A BIG YARD.
>> Reporter: THEY WENT UP TO THE DOOR
AND THEY FOUND TWO RIBBONS, THE KIND TARA WORE IN HER HAIR,
OUTSIDE THEIR FRONT DOOR, AND SCUFF MARKS ON THEIR BEDROOM
DRESSER. TELL ME ABOUT THE -- WHAT THOSE
SCUFF MARKS LOOK LIKE. LIKE SOMEBODY MOVED IT OR RUBBED
SOMETHING AGAINST IT >> IF YOU TOOK YOUR SHOE AND YOU
KICKED SOMETHING AND YOU LEFT A MARK
>> Reporter: OKAY. >> LIKE, IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU
WALK ON A FLOOR AND YOU DRAG YOUR FEET, IT LEAVES A MARK?
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> WELL, THAT WAS ON THE DRESSER
DRAWERS IN OUR BEDROOM >> Reporter: ONE OF THE MISSING
PIECES OF JEWELRY WAS A RING TARA HAD GIVEN TO KEITH.
>> MY "DAD" RING SHE -- SHE BOUGHT ME.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT THAT.
>> Reporter: THE OFFICERS LEFT THE HOUSE WITH NOTHING LEARNED,
NOTHING RESOLVED AND STILL NO TARA.
SHARON AND KEITH DIDN'T SLEEP. NOT A WINK THAT NIGHT.
>> Reporter: WHAT GOES ON IN HERE AS YOU'RE SITTING UP ALL
NIGHT -- >> GUT-WRENCHING PAIN.
>> BIG HOLE. >> PRAYING THAT, "OH, PLEASE,
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE TRUE. >> Reporter: BEFORE THE SUN CAME
UP, SHARON CALLED 911 AGAIN. AND A NEW OFFICER ARRIVED.
>> A WOMAN DEPUTY, I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.
AND SHE CAME AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO HER,
"PLEASE HELP ME. AND SHE DID.
SHE GOT THE BALL ROLLING SHE LISTENED TO ME
THE DEPUTY CALLED IN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS.
>> I REMEMBER MY MOTHER WAKING ME AND MY BROTHER UP
AND I REMEMBER SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, AND THE CRIME
SCENE VAN OUTSIDE. >> Reporter: NOW DEPUTIES WERE
TAKING TARA'S DISAPPEARANCE SERIOUSLY.
MIKE GANDY WAS A CAPTAIN AT THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE BACK THEN >> SOMETIMES YOU'LL RESPOND TO A
SCENE OR A CALL WHERE SOMEONE'S MISSING AND YOU CAN TELL FROM
THE FAMILY INTERACTION THAT IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL
THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH TARA'S MOM
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
FIRST THING, FIND OUT THE LAST TIME ANYONE HAD SEEN OR SPOKEN
WITH TARA. THEY KNEW BY THE TIME VERONICA
GOT HOME JUST BEFORE 4:00 P.M., TARA WAS GONE.
THEY LEARNED TARA'S LAST PHONE CALL BEGAN AT 11:49 A.M.
ENDED AT 12:05 SHE'D TALKED TO A COLLEAGUE AT
THE MALL JEWELRY KIOSK WHERE SHE WORKED
SHE SAID SHE'D BE BY, PICK UP HER PAYCHECK, AND GO SHOPPING.
BUT FIRST, THEIR LANDLORD HAD ARRANGED FOR A SEPTIC REPAIR
COMPANY TO DROP BY THE HOUSE SO, DID TARA STAY AND WAIT
MAYBE THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR COMPANY KNEW SOMETHING
>> ONE OF OUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION SERGEANTS
ON HIS WAY IN TO WORK STOPPED BY THIS GUY'S HOUSE AND ASKED HAD
HE BEEN TO TARA'S HOME YES, HE HAD.
HAD HE SEEN TARA YES, HE HAD CONTACT WITH A
FEMALE THERE AND, HE SAID, SHE WAS PERFECTLY
FINE WHEN HE LEFT THE HOUSE EARLY THAT AFTERNOON
>> Reporter: SO, ASSUMING THAT WAS TRUE, WHO ELSE CAME TO THAT
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 1st AND TOOK AWAY THEIR
TARA >>> COMING UP --
>> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN. >> A FRUSTRATED FAMILY REACHES
OUT TO SOMEONE NEW >> IF YOU MET SHARON, YOU
WOULDN'T TELL HER NO I LOOKED HER IN THE EYE AND I
TOLD THEM I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO TRY TO HELP
THEM >> A TURN IN THE CASE WAS
COMING >> Reporter: HOW TO EXPLAIN HOW
A MOTHER FEELS WHEN HER CHILD HAS VANISHED AND ALL SIGNS POINT
TO SOMETHING BAD KEITH, WHAT DID THIS DO TO HER
>> TORE HER APART. IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHING
EVERYTHING CRUMBLE >> Reporter: THOUGH THE FAMILY
APPEARED TO BE VERY CLOSE AND LOVING AND SINCERELY DISTRAUGHT,
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THEY STILL NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT AS
POSSIBLE SUSPECTS. YOU KNOW IT'S A COOL REALITY
THOUGH OF THE DETECTIVE BUSINESS THAT THEY START CLOSE AND WIDEN
OUT, AND THEY ALWAYS START WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO
ELIMINATE THEM - >> YES
>> I ACTUALLY ASKED THEM MYSELF, "DID YOU CHECK US OUT?
>> Reporter: WHAT'D THEY SAY >> THEY SAID THEY DID.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE SHARON AND KEITH PUSHED THROUGH THEIR
FEAR AND ANXIETY AND DID WHAT THEY COULD
>> YOU LOOK THROUGH GARBAGE BAGS -
>> AND YOU GO EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE AND IN THE WOODS,
DUMPSTERS. >> Reporter: REALLY.
>> I WOULD DO IT EVERY DAY >> WE WOULD GO IN THE WOODS SO
FAR, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE CAME OUT HALF THE TIME.
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE WERE
>> Reporter: CAPTAIN GANDY'S INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED FOR TARA
AS WELL. >> THE INVESTIGATION SHIFTED
THIS MORNING WITH DEPUTIES SEARCHING 500 ACRES OF PASTURE
>> IF SOMEONE CALLED AND SAID, "HEY, WE SAW A SUSPICIOUS
VEHICLE IN THIS WOODED AREA," OR "THERE'S BUZZARDS AND VULTURES
OVER HERE," AND WE WOULD ALWAYS GO AND SEARCH.
WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE WE USED
CADAVER DOGS IN CERTAIN AREAS. >> Reporter: FOUR WEEKS AFTER
TARA VANISHED SHE TURNED 20, AND THEY TRIED TO STAY POSITIVE, AS
THEY TOLD THE LOCAL NBC STATION, WBBH
>> WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CAKE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE GOT HER
PRESENTS AND WE'RE JUST GONNA CELEBRATE
HER BIRTHDAY >> Reporter: YOU HAD A BIRTHDAY
PARTY? >> OF COURSE
>> HAD TO. [ CRYING ]
AND WE HAD THE PRESENTS. AND -- I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.
I WENT TO OPEN ONE, AND MY SON SAID, "YOU'RE NOT OPENING THAT."
HE SAID, "SHE'S COMING BACK. [ CRYING ]
AND I DIDN'T OPEN IT >> Reporter: MONTHS WENT BY,
THEY COULDN'T ACCEPT WHAT THEIR HEADS KEPT TELLING THEM, THAT
TARA HAD BEEN SNATCHED AWAY AND MURDERED
BUT NOBODY WAS TELLING THEM ANYTHING
THE INVESTIGATION SEEMED TO THEM TO HAVE STALLED, WASN'T GOING
ANYWHERE >> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: AND IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS HAPPENING.
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: NOT AT ALL, RIGHT
>> NOT AT ALL. >> Reporter: AND SO OUT OF SHEER
DESPERATION, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER TARA VANISHED THEY HIRED A
CIVIL ATTORNEY, A WOMAN NAMED AMANDA DOWNING
>> Reporter: WHAT DID THEY WANT YOU TO DO?
>> THEY WANTED ANYONE'S HELP, A LAWYER'S HELP, THE MEDIA'S HELP,
CIVILIAN'S HELP, NEIGHBOR'S HELP, ANYBODY'S HELP IN FINDING
THEIR DAUGHTER AND I THINK BY HIRING A LAWYER,
THEY BELIEVED THAT I COULD SOMEHOW ASSIST THEM IN FACT,
FINDING THEIR DAUGHTER, SEARCHING FOR -- ANYTHING. THEY
WERE -- THEY WERE GRASPING - >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU TELL
THEM >> I LOOKED HER IN THE EYE
I LOOKED KEITH IN THE EYE, AND I TOLD THEM I WOULD DO EVERYTHING
I POSSIBLY COULD TO TRY TO HELP THEM
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECTLY WITHIN
YOUR RIGHTS TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, "LOOK, I'M SORRY, BUT
THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO." >> IF YOU MET SHARON, YOU
WOULDN'T TELL HER NO >> Reporter: WOW
DID THEY WANT YOU TO SUE SOMEBODY OR JUST GET INFORMATION
OR WHAT? >> I DON'T THINK THAT THEIR GOAL
WAS TO SUE ANYONE. I THINK THEIR GOAL WAS TO FIND
TARA >> Reporter: AND THEN NINE
MONTHS AFTER TARA DISAPPEARED -- A MAN TRAVELING ON A DESOLATE
ROAD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PUNTA GORDA, PULLED OVER FOR A PIT
STOP, WALKED INTO THE WOODS AND SAW, NOT A GIRL, BONES
>> WE ACTUALLY SAT ON THE STEPS OF THE CRIME SCENE VAN WHILE
THEY WERE OUT THERE -- >> Reporter: OUT THERE AT THE
SCENE. >> YES, WE DID
>> YOU WANT TO FIND HER. >> BUT NOT LIKE THIS
>> YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW
YOU JUST HOPE AND PRAY EVERYDAY THAT SHE'S ALIVE
BUT IT WAS HER IT WAS TARA.
>> ENOUGH OF THE TEETH WERE THERE TO -- TO MAKE A POSITIVE
IDENTIFICATION THAT IT WAS TARA. >> Reporter: BY THEN, SHARON AND
KEITH WERE AT HOME, WAITING FOR THE RESULTS.
DETECTIVE GANDY WENT TO TELL THEM
THAT'S NEVER EASY, HUH >> HARDEST THING YOU EVER HAVE
TO DO. >> AND THEN WHEN THEY COME TO
YOUR DOOR WITH CLERGY -- >> Reporter: YOU SEE THEM
COMING >> YEAH.
[ CRYING ] THEN THE REALITY IS -- THAT'S
IT, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE HER AGAIN.
IT'S SO DEVASTATING. IT'S THE WORST PAIN EVER
[ CRYING ] SHE DIDN'T BELONG OUT THERE.
>> Reporter: 284 DAYS AFTER TARA VANISHED, THEY KNEW, FINALLY,
SHE WAS NEVER COMING BACK. BUT THEY WERE NO CLOSER TO
KNOWING HOW SHE WOUND UP OUT THERE IN THE WOODS
>>> COMING UP -- >> NOW WHAT?
FIND THE KILLERS AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME.
>> NEW LEADS AT LAST >> Reporter: ISN'T THAT YOUR
CONNECTION >> IT WAS A GREAT CONNECTION
>> AND NEW QUESTIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO'D BEEN AT THE HOUSE THAT
DAY. >> I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN, YOU
>> Reporter: IN THE END, BONES AND A FEW TEETH WERE ALL THEY
FOUND. THERE WAS EVERY REASON TO THINK
TARA WAS MURDERED, AND THEN DUMPED IN THE WOODS.
BUT MURDERED HOW BY WHOM?
SHARON'S ATTORNEY CALLED HER AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THE NEWS
>> SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY DISTRAUGHT, DEVASTATED, HYSTERICAL, CRYING
NOW WHAT FIND OUT THE KILLERS AND MAKE
THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR DAN
FEINBERG GOT THE AUTOPSY RESULTS.
THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. >> ONLY HALF OF THE BONES IN HER
BODY WERE RECOVERED. AND SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT
BONES LIKE THE HYOID BONE WHICH WOULD SHOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE
MIGHT BEEN A CHOKING OR STRANGULATION WAS NOT RECOVERED.
>> Reporter: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, THOUGH, FOUND EVIDENCE
THAT FOUR OF TARA'S RIBS WERE FRACTURED.
>> A PERIMORTEM FRACTURE, A FRACTURE THAT OCCURRED AT THE
TIME OF DEATH. >> SO THERE'S A BIG, BIG SLAM
INTO HER RIBS SOMEHOW. >> THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CLEARLY
FOUND THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A VIOLENT STRUGGLE
THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA AND THAT WOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO HER DEATH. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES SCOURED
THAT MIGHT TELL THEM SOMETHING THEY FOUND A BELLY BUTTON RING
NEAR THE BONES THE KIND TARA WORE, SHARON
CONFIRMED. AND THE REMNANTS OF ONLY ONE
PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT BELONGED TO HER, A PAIR OF PANTIES.
BUT NO HAIR, NO FIBER, NO DNA OF ANY KIND AT THE SCENE THAT WOULD
HELP THEM I.D. A KILLER. >> IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR THE
FAMILY, IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR THE DETECTIVES AND IT WAS
FRUSTRATING FOR THE PROSECUTORS THAT WORKED ON THE CASE,
INCLUDING MYSELF >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVES WENT
BACK TO THE BEGINNING. THEY REVIEWED ALL THE WITNESS
STATEMENTS THEY'D TAKEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NINE MONTHS TARA
HAD BEEN MISSING AND THERE WAS A NOTE ABOUT A MAN
WHO'D TURNED IN SOME JEWELRY THREE DAYS AFTER TARA WENT
MISSING. A RING AND BRACELET, WHICH
TURNED OUT TO BELONG TO TARA'S FAMILY
>> Reporter: GLEN ST. JOHN, WHO WENT BY PEEWEE, WAS ON PROBATION
FOR FELONY BURGLARY. SO, DID PEEWEE KILL TARA
HE INSISTED, NO, AND HE DIDN'T TAKE THE JEWELRY, EITHER, HE
SAID SOMEBODY GAVE IT TO HIM.
>> TOLD HIM THAT HE RECEIVED THAT JEWELRY FROM PHIL BARR, AND
PHIL BARR TOLD HIM IT CAME FROM THE MISSING GIRL'S HOME.
>> Reporter: PHIL BARR HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE SEPTIC
REPAIR BUSINESS THAT HAD BEEN AT TARA'S HOUSE THE DAY SHE WENT
MISSING. BUT, WAS PEE WEE TELLING THE
TRUTH? WOULD HE EVER TELL THE TRUTH
>> HE TOLD MULTIPLE DIFFERENT STORIES.
>> WHAT DID HE SAY >> HE SAID A LITTLE MORE EACH
TIME HE WAS INTERVIEWED AND HE WOULD CHANGE HIS STORY TO
WHERE -- TO THE POINT WHERE IT MADE HIM AN UNCREDIBLE WITNESS
HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE BODY AT SOME POINT
IT WAS A LITTLE INTERESTING IN THAT -- THAT PARTICULAR AREA,
TARA'S BONES WERE RECOVERED WAS WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS OF
ONE OF PEEWEE'S FAVORITE FISHING SPOTS.
>> ISN'T THAT YOUR CONNECTION? >> THAT IT WAS A GREAT
CONNECTION, BUT MR. SAINT JOHN WAS A VERY INCREDIBLE WITNESS.
>> Reporter: THAT STORY ABOUT GETTING STOLEN JEWELRY FROM PHIL
BARR >> NO JEWELRY FROM TARA'S HOME
WAS FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF PHIL BARR.
>> Reporter: AND ANYWAY, BARR TOLD INVESTIGATORS, TARA WAS
FINE WHEN HE AND HIS HELPER LEFT HER HOUSE THAT AFTERNOON
BUT QUESTIONS WENT ON AND ON AND PHIL BARR, WHO HAD A
BUSINESS TO RUN, DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF
ATTENTION. BARR COMPLAINED TO A LOCAL NBC
REPORTER ABOUT IT. >> IT'S BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.
I REALIZE THE POLICE ARE DOING THEIR JOB AND THEY'RE LOOKING
INTO THINGS, BUT NONETHELESS I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
HARASSED >> Reporter: AND SEVERAL TIMES,
HE HIMSELF CONFRONTED THE DETECTIVES. INSISTED HE WAS
INNOCENT, ALL THE TALK WAS UNFAIR
>> I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
THIS GIRL'S DISAPPEARANCE. I'M GETTING THE [ BLEEP ] SHAFT
HERE >> Reporter: IT WAS A PROBLEM.
DETECTIVES CERTAINLY HAD THEIR SUSPICIONS
BUT EVIDENCE THERE WAS NONE
AND MOST EVERYONE THEY QUESTIONED WHO KNEW BARR WAS,
WELL, A BIT SHADY. HARD TO BELIEVE.
PROSECUTOR FEINBERG CONCLUDED HE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO
MAKE A CHARGE STICK. >> THE DNA EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE
THAT WAS COLLECTED FROM THE RESIDENCE EITHER CAME BACK TO
THE FAMILY OR -- WAS NOT RELEVANT TO THIS CASE.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE PERPETRATORS HAD LEFT BLOOD OR
BODY FLUID AT THE HOME >> Reporter: AND SO --
>> CASES TYPICALLY GO COLD WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF LEADS AND WHEN
YOU RUN OUT OF INFORMATION AND YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS
>> Reporter: TARA'S MOTHER, SHARON, AGAIN AND AGAIN,
DEMANDED TO KNOW WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WAS GOING ON
PROSECUTOR FEINBERG HAD NO CHOICE, HE SAID.
HE COULDN'T TELL HER >> THE FRUSTRATION WAS CLEAR
YOU COULD SEE IT ON HER FACE YOU COULD HEAR IT IN HER VOICE
THE FAMILY WAS DEVASTATED AND THEY WANTED ANSWERS. AND I CAN
UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU CAN'T AS A PROSECUTOR AND
YOU CAN'T AS A DETECTIVE GIVE ALL THOSE ANSWERS.
YOU CAN'T PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
>> Reporter: STILL, SHARON CONTINUED TO FERRET OUT WHAT SHE
COULD. >> WE JUST NEVER GAVE UP
THERE WAS NO STOPPING. >> Reporter: AS DID HER
ATTORNEY >> SHE WOULD HEAR A PIECE OF
INFORMATION FROM A NEIGHBOR OR A NEWS SOURCE OR A DETECTIVE THAT
WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL HER. AND THEN SHE WOULD CONFIRM IT,
RUN WITH IT, CALL ME SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT
FOR JUSTICE. JUSTICE FOR TARA
AND AS SHARON WOULD SAY, "MY TARA."
SHE'S ALWAYS SAID, "MY TARA. >> Reporter: BUT NONE OF THESE
EFFORTS TURNED UP ANYTHING USEFUL
AND THE SHERIFF'S CASE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE EITHER.
THERE WAS NO GETTING AROUND IT JUSTICE FOR TARA JUST WAS NOT
HAPPENING. IN FACT, THE CASE WAS GROWING
COLD STONE COLD
EVENTUALLY MIKE GANDY RETIRED, AS DID THESE TWO COPS, WAY UP
NORTH. RETIRED AND MOVED TO SUNNY
FLORIDA. AND --
>> I GOT VERY BORED. >> Reporter: OH, OH.
>>> COMING UP -- >> I ALWAYS FELT THIS WAS A CASE
>> Reporter: TARA'S FAMILY STRUGGLED AS TIME WENT ON
WITHOUT ANSWERS AND WITHOUT THEIR TARA
>> IT WAS HARD I WAS ROBBED OF MY SISTER.
I HAD TO GROW UP WITHOUT ONE >> Reporter: IN 2003, AFTER SIX
YEARS TOGETHER, SHARON AND KEITH FINALLY GOT MARRIED.
>> WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE, THAT WAS
VERY SAD BECAUSE MY BABY GIRL WASN'T GONNA BE IN THAT WEDDING
PARTY. BUT SHE WAS THERE.
[ SNIFFS WE MADE SURE SHE WAS THERE
>> WE HAD A BIG, BIG PICTURE MADE UP OF HER
>> Reporter: BUT THE ANGER REMAINED AND INTENSE FRUSTRATION
AS, YEAR AFTER YEAR, SHARON DEMANDED ANSWERS AND DIDN'T GET
THEM IN 2008, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS
AFTER TARA'S MURDER, SHARON APPEARED IN A CRIME STOPPERS
VIDEO, AND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE KILLERS, WHOEVER THEY WERE
HOW DO THEY GO ON WITH THEIR LIFE KNOWING THAT THEY DID THIS
TO A PERSON? DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT YOU GOT AWAY WITH
THIS 'CAUSE ONE DAY, AND I TRULY
TRULY BELIEVE THIS, THAT ONE DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A KNOCK
AT THAT DOOR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN CUFFS
AND THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I WANT
>> Reporter: NOTHING CAME OF IT. THE WHOLE WORLD HAD MOVED ON,
FORGOTTEN, APPARENTLY. BUT THEN, A YEAR LATER, 2009,
PUNTA GORDA GOT A NEW SHERIFF. AND HE THOUGHT SOME OF THE
UNSOLVED CASES IN TOWN NEEDED A NEW LOOK AND CALLED UPON THE
RETIRED DETECTIVE MIKE GANDY AND THESE TWO, WHO HAD BEEN
DETECTIVES UP NORTH BEFORE THEY, TOO, RETIRED AND MOVED TO PUNTA
GORDA, MIKE VOGEL AND KURT MEHL. >> I MOVED TO FLORIDA AND CAME
DOWN HERE TO HUNT AND FISH AND PLAY GOLF AND GO BOATING AND GO
TO THE BEACH AND JUST RELAX. AND THAT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS.
I GOT VERY BORED >> Reporter: AND SO THREE BORED
EX-DETECTIVES PUT ON BADGES AGAIN TO FORM THE SHERIFF'S VERY
FIRST OFFICIAL COLD CASE UNIT AND DECIDED EARLY ON THEY'D WORK
ON TARA'S CASE PROSECUTOR FEINBERG WAS FINALLY
OPTIMISTIC, SORT OF. >> I ALWAYS FELT THAT THIS WAS A
CASE THAT COULD BE SOLVED. IF IT HAD A NEW SET OF EYES, IT
HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD PUT THE CASE TOGETHER, CONNECT ALL OF
THE DOTS >> WHAT REQUESTS DID YOU MAKE OF
THEM >> WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, EVERY -- WE HAVE TO RULE OUT
EVERY PIECE OF DNA IN THAT HOUSE.
SO IT WAS CLOSING DOORS, IT WAS EXCLUDING OTHER PEOPLE
>> Reporter: SO, THAT'S WHAT THESE THREE DID, AS A LARGE
PHOTO OF TARA KEPT WATCH BUT, AGAIN, THERE WAS NO DNA TO
HELP THEM. ALL THEY HAD REALLY WERE
LINGERING SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE WORKMEN WHO WENT TO TARA'S HOUSE
THE DAY SHE VANISHED PHIL BARR, THE GUY WHO OWNED THE
SEPTIC TANK BUSINESS, HIS HELPER THAT DAY, DAVE McMANNIS, AND
THEIR BUDDY "PEEWEE" ST. JOHN, BUT NOTHING IN THIS HUGE TROVE
OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIAL PROVED ANYTHING
>> KURT, WE CALL HIM "THE SCRIBE."
HE ORGANIZED IT IN -- IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WAS EASIER TO
UNDERSTAND >> WHAT HAD BEEN DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND >> IT WAS CONFUSING TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET INTO
COURT. >> THE CONTEXT WAS IN THERE.
YOU COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS A MESS.
>> THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS IN THERE, YES
WE HAD TO TRY TO DO THE ANALYSIS ON IT, AND THAT'S WHAT TOOK SO
LONG >> Reporter: AN AWFUL LOT OF
DETECTIVE WORK AMOUNTS TO READING.
THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF REPORTS AND WITNESS STATEMENTS, AND THIS
AND THAT ALL WERE FOLLOWED UP, EVERYONE OF THEM
DETECTIVE MEHL CHASED DOWN A 2001 WALMART RECEIPT, A MINOR,
FORGETTABLE PURCHASE, EXCEPT THAT THE TIME STAMP ON THE
RECEIPT CAST DOUBT ON PHILIP BARR'S ALIBI DIDN'T EXACTLY
WRECK IT, BUT IT CAUGHT HIM IN A SIGNIFICANT LIE.
>> THAT'S HOW DETAILED WE WERE GETTING.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN THEY JUST HAPPENED TO RUN INTO A GUY WHO
SAID HE KNEW BARR AND McMANNIS AND PEEWEE
>> AND HE OVERHEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT KILLING THIS GIRL.
HE HEARD DAVID McMANNIS SAY, "WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT GIRL
THAT WAY IF I DON'T GET OUT OF TOWN, I'M
GONNA SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE IN JAIL." PHILLIP BARR SAID
SOMETHING SIMILAR BECAUSE PEEWEE IS TALKING ABOUT, "WELL, I'VE
ONLY SEEN A BODY IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO
SEE -- SEE A BODY. AND BARR TELLS HIM, "HEY, SHUT
UP WE'RE ALL GONNA END UP IN
PRISON." >> AND IT WAS SOMEBODY WITH
CREDIBILITY. >> BE -- BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD
BEFORE, YEAH >> Reporter: BUT OVERALL, A KEY
PROBLEM REMAINED >> TERRIBLE WITNESSES.
>> Reporter: MEANING DETECTIVES SPOKE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO'D
ALSO HEARD THE MEN TALK ABOUT THE MURDER, BUT THEY WERE NOT
THE TYPE A JURY WOULD LIKELY BELIEVE.
MUCH OF WHAT THEY'D SAY SOUNDED LIKE DRUG AND BOOZE SOAKED
GOSSIP THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CERTAINLY TO
SUPPORT CHARGING PEEWEE. BUT, THOUGHT THE PROSECUTOR,
MAYBE HE COULD FIND A WAY TO GO AFTER BARR AND McMANNIS.
AND HE HAD AN IDEA. BRING SOME OF THE KEY WITNESSES BEFORE A
GRAND JURY JUST TO SEE WHO PASSED THE CREDIBILITY TEST AND
WHO DIDN'T >> I'VE PROSECUTED OVER
100 HOMICIDE CASES AND THE COMPLEXITY, AND THE AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION THAT WE HAD TO REVIEW TO DETERMINE IF WE COULD
PROSECUTE THIS CASE WAS THE MOST I'D EVER SEEN.
>> Reporter: THE IDEA WORKED THE GRAND JURY INDICTED BOTH
PHIL BARR AND DAVE McMANNIS FOR TARA'S MURDER.
THEY WERE ARRESTED IN LATE 2012, 11 YEARS AFTER TARA VANISHED
FROM HER HOME. DAVE McMANNIS WAS ARRESTED IN
MARYLAND, WHERE HE GREW UP, WHILE U.S. MARSHALS MOUNTED A
MANHUNT FOR PHIL BARR. >> KINDA LOST TRACK OF HIM
WE WERE ACTUALLY THEN ABLE TO -- TO LOCATE PHIL IN THE VERMONT
AREA, VERY CLOSE TO THE CANADIAN BORDER, WHERE WE THINK HE HAD
FLED WITH THE INTENT POSSIBLY OF -- OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY
>> Reporter: BUT THE CASE AGAINST THE MEN NEEDED MORE, AND
SO THE COLD CASE TEAM KEPT INVESTIGATING.
AND IN 2014, ONE OF THEM CAME ACROSS A NAME BURIED DEEP IN AN
OLD FILE RIGHT AFTER TARA DISAPPEARED, A
NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE SAW BARR AND
ANOTHER MAN AT TARA'S HOUSE THAT DAY, BUT SHE COULDN'T SEE MUCH
BECAUSE HER VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY A FENCE.
SO THAT WENT NOWHERE THEN, EXCEPT THE NEIGHBOR HAPPENED TO
MENTION THAT HER SISTER-IN-LAW HAD BEEN VISITING THAT DAY
BUT, NO ONE HAD EVER INTERVIEWED HER.
>> KURT, I THINK, HAD FOUND HER NAME AND SAID, "HEY, DO YOU --
WHO IS THIS PERSON?" AND MIKE SAID, "OH, I KNOW
SOMEONE BY THAT NAME." SO MIKE THEN WENT OUT AND-- AND
LOCATED HER AND SPOKE TO HER >> WHAT'D SHE HAVE TO SAY?
>> SHE FLOORED ME. >> Reporter: WHY
THAT VISITOR WAS NOT BLOCKED BY THE FENCE LIKE HER RELATIVES
WERE SHE'D BEEN SITTING IN FULL VIEW
NOT MORE THAN 15 YARDS FROM TARA'S FRONT DOOR, AND SHE SAW A
LOT. >> SHE DID SEE A VEHICLE PULL IN
A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEN THE SECOND TIME SHE SAW
THE VEHICLE THERE, IT WAS BACKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR
AND THE TWO GUYS GOT OUT, OPENED THE TAILGATE, AND WE WERE
WALKING BACK AND FORTH INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR
>> EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SHE -- SHE IDENTIFIED DAVID
McMANNIS AS BEING AT THE HOUSE WITH BARR.
SHE IDENTIFIED HIM THERE AT A TIME WHEN THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS
BACKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. WHAT OTHER REASON WAS THAT
PICKUP TRUCK BACKED UP THE FRONT DOOR OTHER THAN TO TAKE TARA OUT
OF THAT HOUSE? >> Reporter: WE WENT OUT TO THE
HOUSE TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THIS WOMAN WAS SITTING AND
WHAT SHE COULD HAVE SEEN >> SO, SHE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE.
>> WOW SO THAT'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,
FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, NINE, 10, LIKE MAYBE A DOZEN STEPS AWAY WHERE
THIS TRUCK IS PARKED >> YES
>> SO, THAT'S CLOSE, YEAH. >> IT'S VERY CLOSE
>> HUH SO IF -- IF THE BACK OF TRUCK,
IT WOULD'VE BEEN, HOW -- HOW FAR FROM THE DOOR?
LIKE, RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR LIKE THAT
>> THAT'S CORRECT. AND -- AND IN THIS GENERAL AREA,
ON THE OUTSIDE -- TRACK, TIRE TRACK, WAS FOUND THE HAIR
RIBBONS. >> WAY OUT HERE?
>> RIGHT OUT HERE. >> OKAY.
SO SUGGESTING THAT THEY PUT HER IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND THE
HAIR RIBBONS CAME LOOSE AS THEY WERE DRIVING AWAY OR PUTTING HER
THERE OR SOMETHING >> THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY
GOOD -- EXPLANATION. >> WELL, WELL, WELL.
THIS -- MAKES IT ALL THE MORE REAL WHEN YOU SEE HOW CLOSE THIS
MUST HAVE BEEN >> Reporter: THE WOMAN SAID SHE
DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE MEN WERE DOING, BECAUSE THE CAB OF
THE TRUCK BLOCKED HER VIEW BUT STILL, THIS WAS WAY MORE
THAN THEY HAD BEFORE FINALLY, 14 YEARS AFTER TARA
VANISHED, BARR AND McMANNIS WERE GOING ON TRIAL FOR HER MURDER.
>>> COMING UP -- WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE HOUSE
THAT DAY A JURY FINALLY HEARS THE STORY
>> WE BELIEVE SHE CONFRONTED HIM.
>> Reporter: A MOTHER'S PERSEVERANCE HAD BROUGHT THE
CASE THIS FAR. >> SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND
FOUGHT >> Reporter: WOULD A VERDICT
BRING JUSTICE AT LAST?
2015 WHEN THE TRIALS BEGAN DAN FEINBERG WAS JOINED BY A
CO-PROSECUTOR NAMED JENNIFER GARCZEWSKI, 14 YEARS -- ALMOST
TO THE DAY -- SINCE TARA'S LIFE ENDED.
>> SHE'S ONLY A YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME.
SO I DID FEEL A CONNECTION TO HER, THINKING ABOUT HER AND
WHERE SHE WOULD'VE BEEN AT MY AGE NOW.
>> Reporter: AND THE DEFENDANTS NOW ON TRIAL
PHIL BARR OWNED A SEPTIC TANK REPAIR BUSINESS, DAVE McMANNIS
WAS HIS HELPER THE DAY TARA DISAPPEARED.
THE DETECTIVES HAD LEARNED THAT BARR USED HIS BUSINESS AS A
COVER FOR STEALING FROM THE HOMES OF UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS.
AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED, SAID THE STATE, THAT FIRST OF
OCTOBER, 2001: TARA'S LANDLORD ASKED BARR FOR A
REPAIR ESTIMATE. BARR AND HIS HELPER, McMANNIS,
BEGAN THEIR WORK-DAY BY SMOKING CRACK.
AROUND NOON, FOUR HOURS BEFORE VERONICA ARRIVED HOME FROM
SCHOOL, THE MEN MOST LIKELY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TARA LET
THEM IN, UNAWARE THEY HAD ROBBERY NOT WORK ON THEIR MINDS.
>> DAVE McMANNIS WAS TAKING THE PROPERTY WHILE BARR WAS
DISTRACTING HER IN THE BATHROOM. WE BELIEVE SHE FOUND OUT
SHE HEARD SOMETHING OR SAW SOMETHING THAT MR. McMANNIS WAS
DOING, WHERE HE WAS IN A PLACE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AND SHE
CONFRONTED HIM AND TWO PEOPLE WITH IMPAIRED
MINDS DO THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO
AND THEIR SOLUTION TO THAT WAS TO KILL HER.
>> Reporter: THE WOMAN WHO'D BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE FRONT
YARD TOLD THE JURY HOW THE TWO MEN HAD BEEN LAUGHING AND JOKING
WHEN THEY ARRIVED, BUT LATER WHEN SHE SAW THEM BACKING THEIR
TRUCK UP TO TARA'S FRONT DOOR BREAKING THAT SMALL PALM TREE IN
THE PROCESS. >> IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THEY HAD A
MISSION, THAT THEY HAD A PLAN. AND ONE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE
TAILGATE AND PUT THE TAILGATE DOWN OUT THE TRUCK AND THE OTHER
WENT -- WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FRONT DOOR
>> ALL BUSINESS? >> ALL BUSINESS.
>> Reporter: THAT, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, IS WHEN THEY CLEANED
UP AND TOOK TARA'S BODY IN A BED SHEET, LOADED IT INTO THE TRUCK,
AND WAITED FOR DARK WHEN ONE OR BOTH OF THEM DUMPED HER BODY IN
THE WOODS. BUT TO TELL THAT STORY TOOK TWO
LONG TRIALS, EACH PEOPLED BY WITNESSES THE JURY MIGHT NOT
THINK WERE VERY CREDIBLE >> "WE RAPED AND KILLED THE
GIRL." >> "THEY'RE NOT GONNA FIND HER."
>> "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU LIKE I KILLED THE GIRL IN FLORIDA."
"THE GIRL I KILLED WAS 20. >> Reporter: ONE WITNESS
TESTIFIED ABOUT OVERHEARING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN BARR AND
McMANNIS >> PHILLIP BARR WAS SAYING TO
DAVID McMANNIS, "I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER.
AND SHE OVERHEARD DAVID McMANNIS RESPOND, "SHE HAD TO DIE."
>> Reporter: NOT VERY BELIEVABLE, SAID THE DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS. JUST PEOPLE MAKING THINGS UP,
SAID BARR'S LAWYER, MARK DE SISTO.
>> WE CONTENDED THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEVER TOOK PLACE
>> Reporter: SOME OF THOSE WITNESSES WERE INMATES, TOO,
SNITCHES >> I NEVER MET A CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMANT THAT'S GONNA INFORM JUST 'CAUSE HE WANTS TO BE A
NICE GUY OR A GOOD CITIZEN THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING IN IT
FOR HIM. >> Reporter: THAT WOMAN, THE
STAR WITNESS FOUND BY THE COLD CASE TEAM, WHO SAID SHE SAW THE
TWO MEN COMING AND GOING FROM TARA'S HOUSE
>> COULD IT BE SHE MADE HERSELF BELIEVE THIS OVER SO MUCH OF A
TIME TO MAKE SURE THE BAD GUY GOES AWAY?
>> Reporter: DAVE McMANNIS' ATTORNEY, MICHAEL BROSS, SAID
HIS VIEW THOSE DETECTIVES FOCUSED ON THE WRONG MAN
SAID PHIL BARR'S ACCOMPLICE MUST HAVE BEEN PEEWEE ST. JOHN, THE
MAN WHO'D TURNED IN JEWELRY THREE DAYS AFTER TARA WENT
MISSING. >> THERE'S ENOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IF NOT IN THE MURDER,
BUT DEFINITELY IN THE COMPLICITY TO COVER IT UP
>> Reporter: THE ONLY THING THAT DAVE McMANNIS WAS GUILTY OF,
SAID BROSS WAS BEING A SARCASTIC GUY.
>> THE MAJORITY OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE WERE
SARCASM AT BEST. SO IF HE'S GUILTY --
>> IT'S A CLAIM. YEAH
AND THAT'S KIND OF AN EASY OUT FOR SAYING TERRIBLE THINGS,
ISN'T IT >> WELL, IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE
STATEMENTS, IF SAID AT ALL DAVID IS KNOWN TO BE A JOKESTER
AND SARCASTIC. EVEN DURING THE COURSE OF THE
TRIAL, HE WOULD SAY THINGS THAT WERE SARCASTIC
>> Reporter: THE TRIALS, TWO OF THEM, DRAGGED ON FOR MORE THAN
15 MONTHS WITH DELAY AFTER DELAY IN A CASE THAT HAD TAKEN MORE
THAN 15 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SHARON AND KEITH'S MARRIAGE DIDN'T MAKE IT THAT LONG
THEY'RE SEPARATED NOW, BUT THEY ATTENDED BOTH TRIALS TOGETHER.
>> WE STARTED THIS TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT TOGETHER,
NO MATTER WHAT >> Reporter: AND AFTER ALL THAT
TIME IN EACH CASE, DELIBERATIONS TOOK
LESS THAN 90 MINUTES THE VERDICTS: GUILTY
BOTH MEN WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE
>> I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT BUT FOR SHARON, NEITHER
TRIAL WOULD'VE TAKEN PLACE SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT
FOR JUSTICE. >> Reporter: TARA'S LITTLE
SISTER VERONICA HAS TWO CHILDREN OF HER OWN NOW
>> THEY KNOW THEIR AUNT TARA AND THEY HAVE NECKLACES WITH HER
PICTURES ON IT AND MY DAUGHTER, YOU WOULD THINK
THAT SHE HAD MET HER SHE DREAMS ABOUT HER
>> NEVER MET HER, BUT THEY LOVE HER.
THAT WARMS MY HEART. >> Reporter: A FEW WEEKS AFTER
THE TRIALS WERE OVER, THE PROSECUTORS, DETECTIVES AND
THEIR SPOUSES GOT TOGETHER FOR DINNER WITH SHARON, KEITH AND
VERONICA DETECTIVE MEHL MADE A
PRESENTATION >> SHE WAS A FIGHTER AND SHE
KEPT US FIGHTING FOR HER, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
>> THEY'VE HAD THE PICTURE HANGING IN THEIR OFFICE FOR A
VERY LONG TIME AND THEY -- THEY PASSED IT ONTO
ME I COULD LOOK AT IT NOW AND GO,
"WE DID IT WE DID IT.
>> YOU'VE GIVEN US A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR LIFE.
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY GAVE THE COLD CASE DETECTIVES AND
PROSECUTORS GIFTS AS WELL. EACH WAS ENGRAVED: "JUSTICE FOR
TARA." >> THEY PUT IN SO MUCH HARD WORK
AND TIME AND RESPECT, COMPASSION
SO WE WANNA GIVE THEM A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION AND
LOVE FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE
THEY GAVE TARA PEACE AND JUSTICE.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.