1 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,915 >>> I'M LESTER HOLT. 2 00:00:15,915 --> 00:00:19,052 TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- >> IT'S SO DEVASTATING 3 00:00:19,052 --> 00:00:25,358 IT'S THE WORST PAIN EVER [ CRYING ] 4 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:29,596 >> WE WERE A FAMILY. SHE LOVED HER FAMILY, AND WE 5 00:00:29,596 --> 00:00:37,203 LOVED HER RIGHT BACK >> I WAS ROBBED OF MY SISTER 6 00:00:37,203 --> 00:00:39,572 IN AN INSTANT, SHE WAS GONE. >> THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A 7 00:00:39,572 --> 00:00:41,107 VIOLENT STRUGGLE >> ALL KINDS OF TRACKS ON THE 8 00:00:41,107 --> 00:00:43,777 FLOOR. >> Reporter: TRACKS? 9 00:00:43,777 --> 00:00:47,480 >> MUDDY FOOTPRINTS. WE JUST SAID, "OH, MY GOD, ISN'T 10 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:51,685 THIS ONE OF HER EARRINGS?" >> EVERYTHING WAS A MYSTERY. 11 00:00:51,685 --> 00:00:55,922 WAS SHE STILL ALIVE? WHY WASN'T ANYBODY TAKING ACTION 12 00:00:55,922 --> 00:00:59,292 AND FIGURING OUT WHERE SHE WAS >> Reporter: HOW FRUSTRATED WERE 13 00:00:59,292 --> 00:01:01,161 YOU? >> OH, SO VERY FRUSTRATED. 14 00:01:01,161 --> 00:01:02,862 >> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN. >> WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 15 00:01:02,862 --> 00:01:06,466 EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, EVERY PIECE OF DNA IN THAT HOUSE 16 00:01:06,466 --> 00:01:11,171 >> WE JUST NEVER GAVE UP >> AS A MOTHER, SHE FOUGHT AND 17 00:01:11,171 --> 00:01:25,719 FOUGHT AND FOUGHT. >> FIND THE KILLERS AND MAKE 18 00:01:25,719 --> 00:01:32,592 THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME >> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH 19 00:01:32,592 --> 00:01:34,194 "THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR." >> Reporter: IT WAS A MONDAY 20 00:01:34,194 --> 00:01:38,898 AFTERNOON. A BAKING SUN 21 00:01:38,898 --> 00:01:42,102 A SCHOOL BUS MADE ITS METHODICAL WAY AMONG THE RESIDENTIAL 22 00:01:42,102 --> 00:01:46,272 STREETS OF PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA. STOPPED AND STARTED AND STOPPED 23 00:01:46,272 --> 00:01:49,943 AGAIN. IT WAS INLAND NOW, MILES FROM 24 00:01:49,943 --> 00:01:51,311 THE THE HARBOR, THE PEACE RIVER, THE CENTER OF THE TOWN WHOSE 25 00:01:51,311 --> 00:02:00,487 WARMTH HAD DRAWN THEM TO THE GULF COAST 26 00:02:00,487 --> 00:02:02,188 THE BUS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD 27 00:02:02,188 --> 00:02:03,790 DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR IT WAS 3:45 P.M. 28 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:05,892 >> WE GOT OFF THE BUS AND WALKED HOME 29 00:02:05,892 --> 00:02:08,628 >> Reporter: "WE" MEANS VERONICA ORD, THEN ALMOST 30 00:02:08,628 --> 00:02:11,698 14 YEARS OLD, AND HER YOUNGER BROTHER, PAUL. 31 00:02:11,698 --> 00:02:14,334 >> AND I REMEMBER HALFWAY DOWN THE ROAD, REMEMBERING THAT I 32 00:02:14,334 --> 00:02:16,936 FORGET MY KEY. BUT THE CLOSER WE GOT TO THE 33 00:02:16,936 --> 00:02:20,640 HOUSE, I HAD SEEN MY SISTER'S CAR. 34 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:22,075 SO I SAID, "OH, OKAY, COOL." YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- I DON'T 35 00:02:22,075 --> 00:02:24,244 NEED THE KEY YOU KNOW, SHE'S HOME 36 00:02:24,244 --> 00:02:28,581 >> Reporter: THEN SHE NOTICED -- THE DOOR WASN'T QUITE CLOSED 37 00:02:28,581 --> 00:02:29,582 >> IT WAS CLOSED, BUT IT WASN'T LATCHED. 38 00:02:29,582 --> 00:02:33,253 LIKE YOU COULD JUST PULL ON IT AND THE DOOR WOULD OPEN. 39 00:02:33,253 --> 00:02:35,989 I REMEMBER WALKING IN AND OPRAH WAS ON THE TV. 40 00:02:35,989 --> 00:02:40,660 >> WHAT DID YOU ASSUME WHEN YOU SAW THE DOOR OPEN AND THE TV ON? 41 00:02:40,660 --> 00:02:46,966 >> I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE LEFT IN A HURRY. 42 00:02:46,966 --> 00:02:48,568 >> Reporter: "SHE" WAS TARA, VERONICA'S OLDER SISTER, NOT 43 00:02:48,568 --> 00:02:50,136 QUITE 20 THEN. VERONICA CALLED OUT. 44 00:02:50,136 --> 00:02:53,840 NO ANSWER. SHE WALKED THROUGH THE HOUSE, 45 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,476 BATHROOM LIGHT WAS ON. >> I WENT AND LOOKED IN THE 46 00:02:56,476 --> 00:02:58,578 BATHROOM AND THEN I WENT IN OUR BEDROOM AND I'D SEEN HER PURSE 47 00:02:58,578 --> 00:03:01,214 AND EVERYTHING ON TOP OF HER DRESSER. 48 00:03:01,214 --> 00:03:04,150 SO THEN, I'M LIKE, WHERE WOULD SHE BE WITHOUT HER PURSE 49 00:03:04,150 --> 00:03:06,486 'CAUSE THAT WASN'T USUAL SO THAT'S WHEN I HAD CALLED 50 00:03:06,486 --> 00:03:10,690 KEITH. >> Reporter: "KEITH" WAS KEITH 51 00:03:10,690 --> 00:03:12,792 McPHILLIPS, HER MOM'S FIANCA HE WAS JUST LEAVING WORK, TOLD 52 00:03:12,792 --> 00:03:15,962 VERONICA HE WAS THINKING OF STOPPING FOR COFFEE WITH A 53 00:03:15,962 --> 00:03:18,264 FRIEND ON HIS WAY HOME THEN VERONICA TOLD HIM ABOUT 54 00:03:18,264 --> 00:03:22,802 TARA, THAT HER PURSE WAS HOME, BUT SHE WASN'T 55 00:03:22,802 --> 00:03:24,404 >> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN SHE TOLD YOU THAT? 56 00:03:24,404 --> 00:03:28,074 >> WELL, JUST SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. 57 00:03:28,074 --> 00:03:30,710 BECAUSE IF TARA WAS GONNA GO SOMEWHERE, I KNEW SHE WOULDN'T 58 00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:32,345 LEAVE HER STUFF OR HER CAR SHE WOULD'VE SAID, "I WON'T BE 59 00:03:32,345 --> 00:03:36,516 HERE WHEN THE KIDS GET HERE. THAT'S HOW RESPONSIBLE SHE WAS 60 00:03:36,516 --> 00:03:38,718 >> SURE. >> Reporter: KEITH CANCELED THE 61 00:03:38,718 --> 00:03:41,087 COFFEE PLAN, DROVE STRAIGHT HOME 62 00:03:41,087 --> 00:03:44,924 >> AS SOON AS I GOT HOME, IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT 63 00:03:44,924 --> 00:03:46,493 THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF TRACKS ON THE FLOOR AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE 64 00:03:46,493 --> 00:03:48,228 THESE MARKS ON THE FLOOR?" AND SHE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW. 65 00:03:48,228 --> 00:03:50,196 >> TRACKS? >> MUDDY FOOTPRINTS. 66 00:03:50,196 --> 00:03:53,867 >> Reporter: MUDDY FOOTPRINTS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND MASTER 67 00:03:53,867 --> 00:04:02,609 BEDROOM. AND SOMETHING ELSE SOMETHING 68 00:04:02,609 --> 00:04:07,047 >> STUFF WAS MISSING OFF THE STRESSOR 69 00:04:07,047 --> 00:04:11,685 JEWELRY WAS GONE MONEY WAS GONE 70 00:04:11,685 --> 00:04:13,787 I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG >> Reporter: OH, AND IT WAS. 71 00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:15,922 WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GROWN-UP GIRL IN THIS MODEST HOUSE IN THE 72 00:04:15,922 --> 00:04:20,660 LITTLE CITY BY THE SEA ON THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, 2001 73 00:04:20,660 --> 00:04:21,695 >> SHE WAS SUCH A SWEET, LOVING, KIND - 74 00:04:21,695 --> 00:04:25,198 >> CARING. >> CARING, FULL OF LIFE. 75 00:04:25,198 --> 00:04:28,068 >> Reporter: SHARON ORD McPHILLIPS IS TARA'S 76 00:04:28,068 --> 00:04:32,772 MOTHER >> SHE HAD DREAMS AND AMBITIONS. 77 00:04:32,772 --> 00:04:38,578 SHE WAS A CHEERLEADER, A CATCHER FOR SOFTBALL 78 00:04:38,578 --> 00:04:41,848 SHE LOVED ART. MOST OF ALL -- WE WERE A FAMILY. 79 00:04:41,848 --> 00:04:46,519 SHE LOVED HER FAMILY AND WE LOVED HER RIGHT BACK 80 00:04:46,519 --> 00:04:48,755 >> Reporter: THEY WERE NEW TO PUNTA GORDA. 81 00:04:48,755 --> 00:04:53,326 HAD MOVED, RECENTLY, FROM SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA 82 00:04:53,326 --> 00:04:55,962 TARA, ALMOST GROWN UP, TOLD THEM SHE'D STAY BEHIND, MAKE HER OWN 83 00:04:55,962 --> 00:04:59,632 LIFE >> SHE DIDN'T WANNA COME DOWN, 84 00:04:59,632 --> 00:05:01,201 YOU KNOW I'M SURE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S 85 00:05:01,201 --> 00:05:02,769 CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE OLDER AND -- 86 00:05:02,769 --> 00:05:04,904 BUT WE HAD A BET GOING ON HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE SHE GOT 87 00:05:04,904 --> 00:05:10,710 HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE -- WE ARE SO CLOSE. 88 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:12,846 SO WE HAD A BET GOING, AND I THINK SHE LASTED THREE WEEKS 89 00:05:12,846 --> 00:05:13,847 >> "I'M GONNA STAY HERE ON MY OWN. 90 00:05:13,847 --> 00:05:16,483 "NO, I'M NOT." >> YEAH. 91 00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:18,585 YES. >> YEP, NO 92 00:05:18,585 --> 00:05:21,755 >> Reporter: SHE GOT A JOB MADE PLANS TO START COLLEGE. 93 00:05:21,755 --> 00:05:23,857 HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A CRIME SCENE 94 00:05:23,857 --> 00:05:24,891 INVESTIGATOR >> SHE HAD HER BOOKS AND 95 00:05:24,891 --> 00:05:28,061 EVERYTHING >> YEAH. 96 00:05:28,061 --> 00:05:31,231 >> Reporter: AND THOUGH SHARON'S THEN-FIANCE KEITH WASN'T 97 00:05:31,231 --> 00:05:33,333 OFFICIALLY TARA'S STEP-DAD, THEY HAD A FATHER-DAUGHTER SORT OF 98 00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:38,605 RELATIONSHIP >> YEAH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE. 99 00:05:38,605 --> 00:05:40,173 YEP. SHE WOULD MAKE OUR FAMOUS PEANUT 100 00:05:40,173 --> 00:05:41,741 BUTTER AND JELLY TRIPLE-DECKER SANDWICHES WE WOULD HAVE 101 00:05:41,741 --> 00:05:44,210 AND SHE WOULD BE GOING TO MAKE THEM ALL 102 00:05:44,210 --> 00:05:47,080 SHE WAS MY BUDDY >> Reporter: AND NOW HE DIDN'T 103 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,182 KNOW WHERE SHE WAS RIGHT AWAY, THAT AFTERNOON, 104 00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:51,751 KEITH CALLED SHARON, JUST FINISHING HER WORK DAY AT HER 105 00:05:51,751 --> 00:05:54,921 OFFICE >> NEVER FORGET THAT CALL. 106 00:05:54,921 --> 00:06:00,193 I REMEMBER SAYING, "I HAVE TO LEAVE NOW. 107 00:06:00,193 --> 00:06:04,931 IT WAS A 40-MINUTE RIDE. AND I CRIED THAT WHOLE WAY HOME 108 00:06:04,931 --> 00:06:06,433 TO "PLEASE DON'T LET NOTHING BE WRONG, PLEASE, PLEASE. 109 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:09,636 >> I REMEMBER MY MOTHER PULLING UP 110 00:06:09,636 --> 00:06:12,839 >> HOW DID SHE LOOK? >> OH, PANICKED. 111 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,908 >> Reporter: KEITH HAD CALLED 911 AS SHARON RUSHED HOME. 112 00:06:14,908 --> 00:06:17,077 AN OFFICER WAS THERE WHEN SHE ARRIVED. 113 00:06:17,077 --> 00:06:19,646 >> MY FIRST THING, "YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING 114 00:06:19,646 --> 00:06:24,384 MY DAUGHTER'S NOT HERE." I JUST KNEW. 115 00:06:24,384 --> 00:06:27,554 I JUST KNEW. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- 116 00:06:27,554 --> 00:06:29,756 WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO TARA? >> WHY WASN'T ANYONE TAKING 117 00:06:29,756 --> 00:06:33,360 ACTION AND FIGURING OUT WHERE SHE WAS? 118 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,063 >> EARRINGS IN THE CARPET. RIBBONS ON THE GROUND. 119 00:06:37,063 --> 00:06:39,165 TIRE TRACKS ON THE LAWN. >> IT WAS OBVIOUS WE HAD A 120 00:06:39,165 --> 00:06:42,235 SERIOUS PROBLEM. >> GUT-WRENCHING PAIN. 121 00:06:42,235 --> 00:07:02,489 PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE >> Reporter: SO THERE THEY WERE, 122 00:07:02,489 --> 00:07:05,125 AS EVENING DEEPENED, PACING AROUND THE LITTLE HOUSE, FRANTIC 123 00:07:05,125 --> 00:07:07,761 ABOUT TARA WHAT HAPPENED? 124 00:07:07,761 --> 00:07:09,796 WHERE WAS SHE? >> IT WAS GETTING LATE 125 00:07:09,796 --> 00:07:13,600 YOU KNOW, WHY -- WHY WASN'T SHE HOME 126 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,169 >> Reporter: THE POLICEMEN WHO CAME TO HELP THEM ONLY SEEMED 127 00:07:16,169 --> 00:07:18,038 CONCERNED ABOUT THE JEWELRY AND CASH THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN 128 00:07:18,038 --> 00:07:21,941 TAKEN, NOT SHARON'S MISSING DAUGHTER 129 00:07:21,941 --> 00:07:25,111 >> THEY WERE CONCENTRATED ON THE BURGLARY 130 00:07:25,111 --> 00:07:27,747 >> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO HEAR WHAT SHE WAS SAYING, DIDN'T 131 00:07:27,747 --> 00:07:29,849 UNDERSTAND HER PANIC >> THEY JUST WEREN'T GETTING US 132 00:07:29,849 --> 00:07:31,084 OR - >> IT WASN'T SINKING IN. 133 00:07:31,084 --> 00:07:32,585 >> WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY WERE TRYING TO SAY, "WELL, 134 00:07:32,585 --> 00:07:34,054 MAYBE SHE'S AT A FOOTBALL GAME." AND THEN THEY -- 135 00:07:34,054 --> 00:07:35,622 >> Reporter: THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME THAT NIGHT 136 00:07:35,622 --> 00:07:37,724 >> Both: YEAH. >> AND THEN, THEY WENT THROUGH 137 00:07:37,724 --> 00:07:41,928 HER FRIENDS. AND THEN ACTUALLY THEY CALLED 138 00:07:41,928 --> 00:07:47,734 ONE FRIEND AND THIS PERSON WAS DATING A 139 00:07:47,734 --> 00:07:51,938 TARA >> Reporter: SHARON ALMOST 140 00:07:51,938 --> 00:07:54,074 SHOUTED, IT WASN'T HER TARA. THE OFFICER TRIED A DIFFERENT 141 00:07:54,074 --> 00:07:55,675 TACTIC >> WE'LL PUT A B.O.L.O. OUT. 142 00:07:55,675 --> 00:07:59,846 >> Reporter: B.O.L.O >> Both: YES 143 00:07:59,846 --> 00:08:02,015 >> "BE ON THE LOOK OUT." >> Reporter: TARA'S FAMILY KNEW 144 00:08:02,015 --> 00:08:05,618 IF SHE HAD GONE TO THE FOOTBALL GAME, IF SHE HAD GONE ANYWHERE, 145 00:08:05,618 --> 00:08:08,254 SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM DEPUTIES SAID SINCE TARA WAS AN 146 00:08:08,254 --> 00:08:12,058 ADULT, THEY WOULD WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE CALLING HER A MISSING 147 00:08:12,058 --> 00:08:17,731 PERSON MAYBE SHE JUST LEFT ON HER OWN 148 00:08:17,731 --> 00:08:20,333 >> IF MY DAUGHTER WAS A RUNAWAY OR A TROUBLED CHILD OR WHATEVER 149 00:08:20,333 --> 00:08:26,673 THE CASE MAY HAVE BEEN, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT 150 00:08:26,673 --> 00:08:28,775 I KNOW MY CHILD. >> Reporter: HOW FRUSTRATED WERE 151 00:08:28,775 --> 00:08:32,112 YOU? >> OH, SO VERY FRUSTRATED. 152 00:08:32,112 --> 00:08:34,581 >> Reporter: VERONICA, NOT QUITE 14, REMEMBER, WAS TERRIFIED. 153 00:08:34,581 --> 00:08:38,251 >> WHY WASN'T ANYBODY TAKING ACTION AND FIGURING OUT WHERE 154 00:08:38,251 --> 00:08:40,353 SHE WAS? >> Reporter: KEITH AND SHARON 155 00:08:40,353 --> 00:08:43,523 CALLED EVERYBODY THEY KNEW IN TOWN 156 00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:47,727 THEIR BEST FRIENDS OFFERED MORAL SUPPORT, CAME TO THE HOUSE, AND 157 00:08:47,727 --> 00:08:50,363 ONE OF THEM NOTICED SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR. 158 00:08:50,363 --> 00:08:54,601 >> WE JUST HEARD, "OH, MY GOD! AND WE WALKED IN AND SHE WAS 159 00:08:54,601 --> 00:08:56,569 BENDING OVER, PULLING IT OUT OF THE CARPET LIKE IT WAS EMBEDDED 160 00:08:56,569 --> 00:08:58,805 IN THE CARPET. >> YEAH, IT WASN'T JUST LAYING 161 00:08:58,805 --> 00:09:01,474 THERE. >> SHE PULLED IT OUT AND SHE 162 00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:03,543 SAID, "SHARON, ISN'T THIS ONE OF HER EARRINGS?" 163 00:09:03,543 --> 00:09:07,747 AND SHE SAID, "YEAH. >> Reporter: SO THEN 164 00:09:07,747 --> 00:09:11,184 THE -- >> WE FOUND -- 165 00:09:11,184 --> 00:09:15,121 >> -- ANOTHER ONE. >> YEAH. 166 00:09:15,121 --> 00:09:17,223 >> AND - >> AND THEN THE THIRD ONE. 167 00:09:17,223 --> 00:09:18,792 >> Reporter: LIKE, GROUND INTO THE CARPET 168 00:09:18,792 --> 00:09:20,927 >> YEAH, RIGHT - >> OH, YEAH, JUST- 169 00:09:20,927 --> 00:09:23,830 >> -- WE HAD TO PULL THEM OUT. >> Reporter: THEY ALSO NOTICED A 170 00:09:23,830 --> 00:09:25,131 SMALL PALM TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD HAD BEEN DAMAGED ALONG WITH 171 00:09:25,131 --> 00:09:26,299 THE DECORATIVE BRICKS AROUND IT. >> AND THEN THERE WAS TIRE 172 00:09:26,299 --> 00:09:28,335 TRACKS >> Reporter: WHAT, ACROSS THE 173 00:09:28,335 --> 00:09:30,403 LAWN >> ACROSS THE LAWN 174 00:09:30,403 --> 00:09:33,540 >> Reporter: HOW CLOSE DO THOSE TIRE TRACKS COME TO THE HOUSE? 175 00:09:33,540 --> 00:09:34,708 >> IT WASN'T A BIG YARD, BUT - >> NO, IT WASN'T A BIG YARD. 176 00:09:34,708 --> 00:09:36,710 >> Reporter: THEY WENT UP TO THE DOOR 177 00:09:36,710 --> 00:09:39,679 AND THEY FOUND TWO RIBBONS, THE KIND TARA WORE IN HER HAIR, 178 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,650 OUTSIDE THEIR FRONT DOOR, AND SCUFF MARKS ON THEIR BEDROOM 179 00:09:43,650 --> 00:09:46,152 DRESSER. TELL ME ABOUT THE -- WHAT THOSE 180 00:09:46,152 --> 00:09:51,558 SCUFF MARKS LOOK LIKE. LIKE SOMEBODY MOVED IT OR RUBBED 181 00:09:51,558 --> 00:09:52,625 SOMETHING AGAINST IT >> IF YOU TOOK YOUR SHOE AND YOU 182 00:09:52,625 --> 00:09:54,594 KICKED SOMETHING AND YOU LEFT A MARK 183 00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:56,162 >> Reporter: OKAY. >> LIKE, IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU 184 00:09:56,162 --> 00:09:57,731 WALK ON A FLOOR AND YOU DRAG YOUR FEET, IT LEAVES A MARK? 185 00:09:57,731 --> 00:10:00,333 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> WELL, THAT WAS ON THE DRESSER 186 00:10:00,333 --> 00:10:04,037 DRAWERS IN OUR BEDROOM >> Reporter: ONE OF THE MISSING 187 00:10:04,037 --> 00:10:06,139 PIECES OF JEWELRY WAS A RING TARA HAD GIVEN TO KEITH. 188 00:10:06,139 --> 00:10:08,742 >> MY "DAD" RING SHE -- SHE BOUGHT ME. 189 00:10:08,742 --> 00:10:11,911 I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT THAT. 190 00:10:11,911 --> 00:10:14,547 >> Reporter: THE OFFICERS LEFT THE HOUSE WITH NOTHING LEARNED, 191 00:10:14,547 --> 00:10:17,717 NOTHING RESOLVED AND STILL NO TARA. 192 00:10:17,717 --> 00:10:21,921 SHARON AND KEITH DIDN'T SLEEP. NOT A WINK THAT NIGHT. 193 00:10:21,921 --> 00:10:23,656 >> Reporter: WHAT GOES ON IN HERE AS YOU'RE SITTING UP ALL 194 00:10:23,656 --> 00:10:28,762 NIGHT -- >> GUT-WRENCHING PAIN. 195 00:10:28,762 --> 00:10:32,465 >> BIG HOLE. >> PRAYING THAT, "OH, PLEASE, 196 00:10:32,465 --> 00:10:35,602 PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE TRUE. >> Reporter: BEFORE THE SUN CAME 197 00:10:35,602 --> 00:10:38,972 UP, SHARON CALLED 911 AGAIN. AND A NEW OFFICER ARRIVED. 198 00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:41,941 >> A WOMAN DEPUTY, I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT. 199 00:10:41,941 --> 00:10:46,680 AND SHE CAME AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO HER, 200 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:49,049 "PLEASE HELP ME. AND SHE DID. 201 00:10:49,049 --> 00:10:52,986 SHE GOT THE BALL ROLLING SHE LISTENED TO ME 202 00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:56,156 THE DEPUTY CALLED IN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS. 203 00:10:56,156 --> 00:11:03,063 >> I REMEMBER MY MOTHER WAKING ME AND MY BROTHER UP 204 00:11:03,063 --> 00:11:05,098 AND I REMEMBER SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, AND THE CRIME 205 00:11:05,098 --> 00:11:06,700 SCENE VAN OUTSIDE. >> Reporter: NOW DEPUTIES WERE 206 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:10,370 TAKING TARA'S DISAPPEARANCE SERIOUSLY. 207 00:11:10,370 --> 00:11:13,540 MIKE GANDY WAS A CAPTAIN AT THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S 208 00:11:13,540 --> 00:11:16,242 OFFICE BACK THEN >> SOMETIMES YOU'LL RESPOND TO A 209 00:11:16,242 --> 00:11:18,778 SCENE OR A CALL WHERE SOMEONE'S MISSING AND YOU CAN TELL FROM 210 00:11:18,778 --> 00:11:20,380 THE FAMILY INTERACTION THAT IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL 211 00:11:20,380 --> 00:11:23,083 THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH TARA'S MOM 212 00:11:23,083 --> 00:11:27,754 IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. 213 00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:30,924 FIRST THING, FIND OUT THE LAST TIME ANYONE HAD SEEN OR SPOKEN 214 00:11:30,924 --> 00:11:33,960 WITH TARA. THEY KNEW BY THE TIME VERONICA 215 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,865 GOT HOME JUST BEFORE 4:00 P.M., TARA WAS GONE. 216 00:11:38,865 --> 00:11:42,502 THEY LEARNED TARA'S LAST PHONE CALL BEGAN AT 11:49 A.M. 217 00:11:42,502 --> 00:11:45,138 ENDED AT 12:05 SHE'D TALKED TO A COLLEAGUE AT 218 00:11:45,138 --> 00:11:47,240 THE MALL JEWELRY KIOSK WHERE SHE WORKED 219 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:53,546 SHE SAID SHE'D BE BY, PICK UP HER PAYCHECK, AND GO SHOPPING. 220 00:11:53,546 --> 00:11:56,416 BUT FIRST, THEIR LANDLORD HAD ARRANGED FOR A SEPTIC REPAIR 221 00:11:56,416 --> 00:11:59,352 COMPANY TO DROP BY THE HOUSE SO, DID TARA STAY AND WAIT 222 00:11:59,352 --> 00:12:03,556 MAYBE THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR COMPANY KNEW SOMETHING 223 00:12:03,556 --> 00:12:06,726 >> ONE OF OUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION SERGEANTS 224 00:12:06,726 --> 00:12:10,397 ON HIS WAY IN TO WORK STOPPED BY THIS GUY'S HOUSE AND ASKED HAD 225 00:12:10,397 --> 00:12:12,499 HE BEEN TO TARA'S HOME YES, HE HAD. 226 00:12:12,499 --> 00:12:16,202 HAD HE SEEN TARA YES, HE HAD CONTACT WITH A 227 00:12:16,202 --> 00:12:18,838 FEMALE THERE AND, HE SAID, SHE WAS PERFECTLY 228 00:12:18,838 --> 00:12:23,076 FINE WHEN HE LEFT THE HOUSE EARLY THAT AFTERNOON 229 00:12:23,076 --> 00:12:25,679 >> Reporter: SO, ASSUMING THAT WAS TRUE, WHO ELSE CAME TO THAT 230 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:30,950 LITTLE HOUSE ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 1st AND TOOK AWAY THEIR 231 00:12:30,950 --> 00:12:35,255 TARA >>> COMING UP -- 232 00:12:35,255 --> 00:12:38,324 >> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN. >> A FRUSTRATED FAMILY REACHES 233 00:12:38,324 --> 00:12:41,461 OUT TO SOMEONE NEW >> IF YOU MET SHARON, YOU 234 00:12:41,461 --> 00:12:43,596 WOULDN'T TELL HER NO I LOOKED HER IN THE EYE AND I 235 00:12:43,596 --> 00:12:45,899 TOLD THEM I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO TRY TO HELP 236 00:12:45,899 --> 00:12:47,801 THEM >> A TURN IN THE CASE WAS 237 00:12:47,801 --> 00:13:05,919 COMING >> Reporter: HOW TO EXPLAIN HOW 238 00:13:05,919 --> 00:13:09,556 A MOTHER FEELS WHEN HER CHILD HAS VANISHED AND ALL SIGNS POINT 239 00:13:09,556 --> 00:13:13,793 TO SOMETHING BAD KEITH, WHAT DID THIS DO TO HER 240 00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:15,395 >> TORE HER APART. IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHING 241 00:13:15,395 --> 00:13:19,065 EVERYTHING CRUMBLE >> Reporter: THOUGH THE FAMILY 242 00:13:19,065 --> 00:13:22,235 APPEARED TO BE VERY CLOSE AND LOVING AND SINCERELY DISTRAUGHT, 243 00:13:22,235 --> 00:13:23,903 INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THEY STILL NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT AS 244 00:13:23,903 --> 00:13:26,973 POSSIBLE SUSPECTS. YOU KNOW IT'S A COOL REALITY 245 00:13:26,973 --> 00:13:29,609 THOUGH OF THE DETECTIVE BUSINESS THAT THEY START CLOSE AND WIDEN 246 00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:30,744 OUT, AND THEY ALWAYS START WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO 247 00:13:30,744 --> 00:13:35,382 ELIMINATE THEM - >> YES 248 00:13:35,382 --> 00:13:36,983 >> I ACTUALLY ASKED THEM MYSELF, "DID YOU CHECK US OUT? 249 00:13:36,983 --> 00:13:40,086 >> Reporter: WHAT'D THEY SAY >> THEY SAID THEY DID. 250 00:13:40,086 --> 00:13:42,255 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE SHARON AND KEITH PUSHED THROUGH THEIR 251 00:13:42,255 --> 00:13:43,823 FEAR AND ANXIETY AND DID WHAT THEY COULD 252 00:13:43,823 --> 00:13:46,459 >> YOU LOOK THROUGH GARBAGE BAGS - 253 00:13:46,459 --> 00:13:48,561 >> AND YOU GO EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE AND IN THE WOODS, 254 00:13:48,561 --> 00:13:51,731 DUMPSTERS. >> Reporter: REALLY. 255 00:13:51,731 --> 00:13:53,299 >> I WOULD DO IT EVERY DAY >> WE WOULD GO IN THE WOODS SO 256 00:13:53,299 --> 00:13:54,434 FAR, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE CAME OUT HALF THE TIME. 257 00:13:54,434 --> 00:13:56,469 WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE WERE 258 00:13:56,469 --> 00:14:00,140 >> Reporter: CAPTAIN GANDY'S INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED FOR TARA 259 00:14:00,140 --> 00:14:03,543 AS WELL. >> THE INVESTIGATION SHIFTED 260 00:14:03,543 --> 00:14:05,412 THIS MORNING WITH DEPUTIES SEARCHING 500 ACRES OF PASTURE 261 00:14:05,412 --> 00:14:09,649 >> IF SOMEONE CALLED AND SAID, "HEY, WE SAW A SUSPICIOUS 262 00:14:09,649 --> 00:14:10,884 VEHICLE IN THIS WOODED AREA," OR "THERE'S BUZZARDS AND VULTURES 263 00:14:10,884 --> 00:14:13,887 OVER HERE," AND WE WOULD ALWAYS GO AND SEARCH. 264 00:14:13,887 --> 00:14:18,224 WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE WE USED 265 00:14:18,224 --> 00:14:21,261 CADAVER DOGS IN CERTAIN AREAS. >> Reporter: FOUR WEEKS AFTER 266 00:14:21,261 --> 00:14:26,366 TARA VANISHED SHE TURNED 20, AND THEY TRIED TO STAY POSITIVE, AS 267 00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:30,737 THEY TOLD THE LOCAL NBC STATION, WBBH 268 00:14:30,737 --> 00:14:33,907 >> WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CAKE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE GOT HER 269 00:14:33,907 --> 00:14:36,076 PRESENTS AND WE'RE JUST GONNA CELEBRATE 270 00:14:36,076 --> 00:14:37,177 HER BIRTHDAY >> Reporter: YOU HAD A BIRTHDAY 271 00:14:37,177 --> 00:14:39,713 PARTY? >> OF COURSE 272 00:14:39,713 --> 00:14:46,586 >> HAD TO. [ CRYING ] 273 00:14:46,586 --> 00:14:50,357 AND WE HAD THE PRESENTS. AND -- I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS. 274 00:14:50,357 --> 00:14:54,394 I WENT TO OPEN ONE, AND MY SON SAID, "YOU'RE NOT OPENING THAT." 275 00:14:54,394 --> 00:14:58,732 HE SAID, "SHE'S COMING BACK. [ CRYING ] 276 00:14:58,732 --> 00:15:02,435 AND I DIDN'T OPEN IT >> Reporter: MONTHS WENT BY, 277 00:15:02,435 --> 00:15:05,071 THEY COULDN'T ACCEPT WHAT THEIR HEADS KEPT TELLING THEM, THAT 278 00:15:05,071 --> 00:15:06,639 TARA HAD BEEN SNATCHED AWAY AND MURDERED 279 00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:09,809 BUT NOBODY WAS TELLING THEM ANYTHING 280 00:15:09,809 --> 00:15:12,445 THE INVESTIGATION SEEMED TO THEM TO HAVE STALLED, WASN'T GOING 281 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:16,649 ANYWHERE >> SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN. 282 00:15:16,649 --> 00:15:19,853 >> Reporter: AND IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS HAPPENING. 283 00:15:19,853 --> 00:15:21,421 >> EXACTLY >> Reporter: NOT AT ALL, RIGHT 284 00:15:21,421 --> 00:15:24,057 >> NOT AT ALL. >> Reporter: AND SO OUT OF SHEER 285 00:15:24,057 --> 00:15:26,726 DESPERATION, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER TARA VANISHED THEY HIRED A 286 00:15:26,726 --> 00:15:30,363 CIVIL ATTORNEY, A WOMAN NAMED AMANDA DOWNING 287 00:15:30,363 --> 00:15:34,100 >> Reporter: WHAT DID THEY WANT YOU TO DO? 288 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:37,937 >> THEY WANTED ANYONE'S HELP, A LAWYER'S HELP, THE MEDIA'S HELP, 289 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:40,607 CIVILIAN'S HELP, NEIGHBOR'S HELP, ANYBODY'S HELP IN FINDING 290 00:15:40,607 --> 00:15:44,644 THEIR DAUGHTER AND I THINK BY HIRING A LAWYER, 291 00:15:44,644 --> 00:15:49,883 THEY BELIEVED THAT I COULD SOMEHOW ASSIST THEM IN FACT, 292 00:15:49,883 --> 00:15:52,519 FINDING THEIR DAUGHTER, SEARCHING FOR -- ANYTHING. THEY 293 00:15:52,519 --> 00:15:54,621 WERE -- THEY WERE GRASPING - >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU TELL 294 00:15:54,621 --> 00:15:56,723 THEM >> I LOOKED HER IN THE EYE 295 00:15:56,723 --> 00:15:57,991 I LOOKED KEITH IN THE EYE, AND I TOLD THEM I WOULD DO EVERYTHING 296 00:15:57,991 --> 00:16:02,028 I POSSIBLY COULD TO TRY TO HELP THEM 297 00:16:02,028 --> 00:16:03,663 >> Reporter: YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECTLY WITHIN 298 00:16:03,663 --> 00:16:06,733 YOUR RIGHTS TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, "LOOK, I'M SORRY, BUT 299 00:16:06,733 --> 00:16:08,835 THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO." >> IF YOU MET SHARON, YOU 300 00:16:08,835 --> 00:16:12,505 WOULDN'T TELL HER NO >> Reporter: WOW 301 00:16:12,505 --> 00:16:15,675 DID THEY WANT YOU TO SUE SOMEBODY OR JUST GET INFORMATION 302 00:16:15,675 --> 00:16:18,845 OR WHAT? >> I DON'T THINK THAT THEIR GOAL 303 00:16:18,845 --> 00:16:23,049 WAS TO SUE ANYONE. I THINK THEIR GOAL WAS TO FIND 304 00:16:23,049 --> 00:16:26,753 TARA >> Reporter: AND THEN NINE 305 00:16:26,753 --> 00:16:29,889 MONTHS AFTER TARA DISAPPEARED -- A MAN TRAVELING ON A DESOLATE 306 00:16:29,889 --> 00:16:33,593 ROAD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PUNTA GORDA, PULLED OVER FOR A PIT 307 00:16:33,593 --> 00:16:40,967 STOP, WALKED INTO THE WOODS AND SAW, NOT A GIRL, BONES 308 00:16:40,967 --> 00:16:43,103 >> WE ACTUALLY SAT ON THE STEPS OF THE CRIME SCENE VAN WHILE 309 00:16:43,103 --> 00:16:44,404 THEY WERE OUT THERE -- >> Reporter: OUT THERE AT THE 310 00:16:44,404 --> 00:16:46,239 SCENE. >> YES, WE DID 311 00:16:46,239 --> 00:16:52,545 >> YOU WANT TO FIND HER. >> BUT NOT LIKE THIS 312 00:16:52,545 --> 00:16:56,783 >> YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW 313 00:16:56,783 --> 00:16:58,351 YOU JUST HOPE AND PRAY EVERYDAY THAT SHE'S ALIVE 314 00:16:58,351 --> 00:17:04,657 BUT IT WAS HER IT WAS TARA. 315 00:17:04,657 --> 00:17:07,293 >> ENOUGH OF THE TEETH WERE THERE TO -- TO MAKE A POSITIVE 316 00:17:07,293 --> 00:17:09,496 IDENTIFICATION THAT IT WAS TARA. >> Reporter: BY THEN, SHARON AND 317 00:17:09,496 --> 00:17:12,565 KEITH WERE AT HOME, WAITING FOR THE RESULTS. 318 00:17:12,565 --> 00:17:15,702 DETECTIVE GANDY WENT TO TELL THEM 319 00:17:15,702 --> 00:17:19,372 THAT'S NEVER EASY, HUH >> HARDEST THING YOU EVER HAVE 320 00:17:19,372 --> 00:17:22,542 TO DO. >> AND THEN WHEN THEY COME TO 321 00:17:22,542 --> 00:17:24,878 YOUR DOOR WITH CLERGY -- >> Reporter: YOU SEE THEM 322 00:17:24,878 --> 00:17:29,382 COMING >> YEAH. 323 00:17:29,382 --> 00:17:37,824 [ CRYING ] THEN THE REALITY IS -- THAT'S 324 00:17:37,824 --> 00:17:40,960 IT, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE HER AGAIN. 325 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:46,232 IT'S SO DEVASTATING. IT'S THE WORST PAIN EVER 326 00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:49,936 [ CRYING ] SHE DIDN'T BELONG OUT THERE. 327 00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:54,140 >> Reporter: 284 DAYS AFTER TARA VANISHED, THEY KNEW, FINALLY, 328 00:17:54,140 --> 00:17:57,310 SHE WAS NEVER COMING BACK. BUT THEY WERE NO CLOSER TO 329 00:17:57,310 --> 00:18:00,013 KNOWING HOW SHE WOUND UP OUT THERE IN THE WOODS 330 00:18:00,013 --> 00:18:03,650 >>> COMING UP -- >> NOW WHAT? 331 00:18:03,650 --> 00:18:07,354 FIND THE KILLERS AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME. 332 00:18:07,354 --> 00:18:09,456 >> NEW LEADS AT LAST >> Reporter: ISN'T THAT YOUR 333 00:18:09,456 --> 00:18:11,024 CONNECTION >> IT WAS A GREAT CONNECTION 334 00:18:11,024 --> 00:18:13,660 >> AND NEW QUESTIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO'D BEEN AT THE HOUSE THAT 335 00:18:13,660 --> 00:18:36,216 DAY. >> I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN, YOU 336 00:18:36,216 --> 00:18:37,417 >> Reporter: IN THE END, BONES AND A FEW TEETH WERE ALL THEY 337 00:18:37,417 --> 00:18:40,420 FOUND. THERE WAS EVERY REASON TO THINK 338 00:18:40,420 --> 00:18:44,090 TARA WAS MURDERED, AND THEN DUMPED IN THE WOODS. 339 00:18:44,090 --> 00:18:47,794 BUT MURDERED HOW BY WHOM? 340 00:18:47,794 --> 00:18:50,930 SHARON'S ATTORNEY CALLED HER AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THE NEWS 341 00:18:50,930 --> 00:18:54,634 >> SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY DISTRAUGHT, DEVASTATED, HYSTERICAL, CRYING 342 00:18:54,634 --> 00:18:58,071 NOW WHAT FIND OUT THE KILLERS AND MAKE 343 00:18:58,071 --> 00:19:01,007 THEM PAY FOR THE CRIME >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR DAN 344 00:19:01,007 --> 00:19:05,679 FEINBERG GOT THE AUTOPSY RESULTS. 345 00:19:05,679 --> 00:19:09,382 THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. >> ONLY HALF OF THE BONES IN HER 346 00:19:09,382 --> 00:19:12,285 BODY WERE RECOVERED. AND SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT 347 00:19:12,285 --> 00:19:16,222 BONES LIKE THE HYOID BONE WHICH WOULD SHOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE 348 00:19:16,222 --> 00:19:19,392 MIGHT BEEN A CHOKING OR STRANGULATION WAS NOT RECOVERED. 349 00:19:19,392 --> 00:19:23,063 >> Reporter: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, THOUGH, FOUND EVIDENCE 350 00:19:23,063 --> 00:19:26,332 THAT FOUR OF TARA'S RIBS WERE FRACTURED. 351 00:19:26,332 --> 00:19:28,401 >> A PERIMORTEM FRACTURE, A FRACTURE THAT OCCURRED AT THE 352 00:19:28,401 --> 00:19:30,437 TIME OF DEATH. >> SO THERE'S A BIG, BIG SLAM 353 00:19:30,437 --> 00:19:33,773 INTO HER RIBS SOMEHOW. >> THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CLEARLY 354 00:19:33,773 --> 00:19:36,242 FOUND THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A VIOLENT STRUGGLE 355 00:19:36,242 --> 00:19:39,946 THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA AND THAT WOULD 356 00:19:39,946 --> 00:19:44,150 CONTRIBUTE TO HER DEATH. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES SCOURED 357 00:19:44,150 --> 00:19:47,821 THAT MIGHT TELL THEM SOMETHING THEY FOUND A BELLY BUTTON RING 358 00:19:47,821 --> 00:19:52,058 NEAR THE BONES THE KIND TARA WORE, SHARON 359 00:19:52,058 --> 00:19:55,729 CONFIRMED. AND THE REMNANTS OF ONLY ONE 360 00:19:55,729 --> 00:19:58,865 PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT BELONGED TO HER, A PAIR OF PANTIES. 361 00:19:58,865 --> 00:20:02,202 BUT NO HAIR, NO FIBER, NO DNA OF ANY KIND AT THE SCENE THAT WOULD 362 00:20:02,202 --> 00:20:05,705 HELP THEM I.D. A KILLER. >> IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR THE 363 00:20:05,705 --> 00:20:09,376 FAMILY, IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR THE DETECTIVES AND IT WAS 364 00:20:09,376 --> 00:20:12,579 FRUSTRATING FOR THE PROSECUTORS THAT WORKED ON THE CASE, 365 00:20:12,579 --> 00:20:16,249 INCLUDING MYSELF >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVES WENT 366 00:20:16,249 --> 00:20:20,453 BACK TO THE BEGINNING. THEY REVIEWED ALL THE WITNESS 367 00:20:20,453 --> 00:20:24,157 STATEMENTS THEY'D TAKEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NINE MONTHS TARA 368 00:20:24,157 --> 00:20:29,362 HAD BEEN MISSING AND THERE WAS A NOTE ABOUT A MAN 369 00:20:29,362 --> 00:20:33,099 WHO'D TURNED IN SOME JEWELRY THREE DAYS AFTER TARA WENT 370 00:20:33,099 --> 00:20:37,837 MISSING. A RING AND BRACELET, WHICH 371 00:20:37,837 --> 00:20:45,745 TURNED OUT TO BELONG TO TARA'S FAMILY 372 00:20:45,745 --> 00:20:48,014 >> Reporter: GLEN ST. JOHN, WHO WENT BY PEEWEE, WAS ON PROBATION 373 00:20:48,014 --> 00:20:49,416 FOR FELONY BURGLARY. SO, DID PEEWEE KILL TARA 374 00:20:49,416 --> 00:20:52,085 HE INSISTED, NO, AND HE DIDN'T TAKE THE JEWELRY, EITHER, HE 375 00:20:52,085 --> 00:20:55,789 SAID SOMEBODY GAVE IT TO HIM. 376 00:20:55,789 --> 00:20:58,925 >> TOLD HIM THAT HE RECEIVED THAT JEWELRY FROM PHIL BARR, AND 377 00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:02,629 PHIL BARR TOLD HIM IT CAME FROM THE MISSING GIRL'S HOME. 378 00:21:02,629 --> 00:21:04,731 >> Reporter: PHIL BARR HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE SEPTIC 379 00:21:04,731 --> 00:21:06,833 REPAIR BUSINESS THAT HAD BEEN AT TARA'S HOUSE THE DAY SHE WENT 380 00:21:06,833 --> 00:21:09,469 MISSING. BUT, WAS PEE WEE TELLING THE 381 00:21:09,469 --> 00:21:12,105 TRUTH? WOULD HE EVER TELL THE TRUTH 382 00:21:12,105 --> 00:21:15,775 >> HE TOLD MULTIPLE DIFFERENT STORIES. 383 00:21:15,775 --> 00:21:18,945 >> WHAT DID HE SAY >> HE SAID A LITTLE MORE EACH 384 00:21:18,945 --> 00:21:23,717 TIME HE WAS INTERVIEWED AND HE WOULD CHANGE HIS STORY TO 385 00:21:23,717 --> 00:21:26,853 WHERE -- TO THE POINT WHERE IT MADE HIM AN UNCREDIBLE WITNESS 386 00:21:26,853 --> 00:21:30,090 HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE BODY AT SOME POINT 387 00:21:30,090 --> 00:21:34,794 IT WAS A LITTLE INTERESTING IN THAT -- THAT PARTICULAR AREA, 388 00:21:34,794 --> 00:21:36,429 TARA'S BONES WERE RECOVERED WAS WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS OF 389 00:21:36,429 --> 00:21:38,965 ONE OF PEEWEE'S FAVORITE FISHING SPOTS. 390 00:21:38,965 --> 00:21:43,203 >> ISN'T THAT YOUR CONNECTION? >> THAT IT WAS A GREAT 391 00:21:43,203 --> 00:21:47,407 CONNECTION, BUT MR. SAINT JOHN WAS A VERY INCREDIBLE WITNESS. 392 00:21:47,407 --> 00:21:51,644 >> Reporter: THAT STORY ABOUT GETTING STOLEN JEWELRY FROM PHIL 393 00:21:51,644 --> 00:21:54,781 BARR >> NO JEWELRY FROM TARA'S HOME 394 00:21:54,781 --> 00:21:57,951 WAS FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF PHIL BARR. 395 00:21:57,951 --> 00:22:00,587 >> Reporter: AND ANYWAY, BARR TOLD INVESTIGATORS, TARA WAS 396 00:22:00,587 --> 00:22:05,358 FINE WHEN HE AND HIS HELPER LEFT HER HOUSE THAT AFTERNOON 397 00:22:05,358 --> 00:22:07,427 BUT QUESTIONS WENT ON AND ON AND PHIL BARR, WHO HAD A 398 00:22:07,427 --> 00:22:10,096 BUSINESS TO RUN, DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF 399 00:22:10,096 --> 00:22:12,732 ATTENTION. BARR COMPLAINED TO A LOCAL NBC 400 00:22:12,732 --> 00:22:16,403 REPORTER ABOUT IT. >> IT'S BEEN VERY STRESSFUL. 401 00:22:16,403 --> 00:22:20,640 I REALIZE THE POLICE ARE DOING THEIR JOB AND THEY'RE LOOKING 402 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,276 INTO THINGS, BUT NONETHELESS I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN 403 00:22:23,276 --> 00:22:26,413 HARASSED >> Reporter: AND SEVERAL TIMES, 404 00:22:26,413 --> 00:22:29,582 HE HIMSELF CONFRONTED THE DETECTIVES. INSISTED HE WAS 405 00:22:29,582 --> 00:22:32,218 INNOCENT, ALL THE TALK WAS UNFAIR 406 00:22:32,218 --> 00:22:35,388 >> I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH 407 00:22:35,388 --> 00:22:38,091 THIS GIRL'S DISAPPEARANCE. I'M GETTING THE [ BLEEP ] SHAFT 408 00:22:38,091 --> 00:22:41,528 HERE >> Reporter: IT WAS A PROBLEM. 409 00:22:41,528 --> 00:22:44,364 DETECTIVES CERTAINLY HAD THEIR SUSPICIONS 410 00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:47,500 BUT EVIDENCE THERE WAS NONE 411 00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:51,171 AND MOST EVERYONE THEY QUESTIONED WHO KNEW BARR WAS, 412 00:22:51,171 --> 00:22:54,841 WELL, A BIT SHADY. HARD TO BELIEVE. 413 00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:58,011 PROSECUTOR FEINBERG CONCLUDED HE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO 414 00:22:58,011 --> 00:23:02,349 MAKE A CHARGE STICK. >> THE DNA EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE 415 00:23:02,349 --> 00:23:06,786 THAT WAS COLLECTED FROM THE RESIDENCE EITHER CAME BACK TO 416 00:23:06,786 --> 00:23:10,623 THE FAMILY OR -- WAS NOT RELEVANT TO THIS CASE. 417 00:23:10,623 --> 00:23:14,361 THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE PERPETRATORS HAD LEFT BLOOD OR 418 00:23:14,361 --> 00:23:18,465 BODY FLUID AT THE HOME >> Reporter: AND SO -- 419 00:23:18,465 --> 00:23:21,768 >> CASES TYPICALLY GO COLD WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF LEADS AND WHEN 420 00:23:21,768 --> 00:23:24,437 YOU RUN OUT OF INFORMATION AND YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS 421 00:23:24,437 --> 00:23:28,141 >> Reporter: TARA'S MOTHER, SHARON, AGAIN AND AGAIN, 422 00:23:28,141 --> 00:23:31,845 DEMANDED TO KNOW WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WAS GOING ON 423 00:23:31,845 --> 00:23:35,648 PROSECUTOR FEINBERG HAD NO CHOICE, HE SAID. 424 00:23:35,648 --> 00:23:39,819 HE COULDN'T TELL HER >> THE FRUSTRATION WAS CLEAR 425 00:23:39,819 --> 00:23:43,556 YOU COULD SEE IT ON HER FACE YOU COULD HEAR IT IN HER VOICE 426 00:23:43,556 --> 00:23:46,192 THE FAMILY WAS DEVASTATED AND THEY WANTED ANSWERS. AND I CAN 427 00:23:46,192 --> 00:23:49,562 UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU CAN'T AS A PROSECUTOR AND 428 00:23:49,562 --> 00:23:53,099 YOU CAN'T AS A DETECTIVE GIVE ALL THOSE ANSWERS. 429 00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:57,437 YOU CAN'T PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE. 430 00:23:57,437 --> 00:24:00,507 >> Reporter: STILL, SHARON CONTINUED TO FERRET OUT WHAT SHE 431 00:24:00,507 --> 00:24:04,244 COULD. >> WE JUST NEVER GAVE UP 432 00:24:04,244 --> 00:24:07,414 THERE WAS NO STOPPING. >> Reporter: AS DID HER 433 00:24:07,414 --> 00:24:10,550 ATTORNEY >> SHE WOULD HEAR A PIECE OF 434 00:24:10,550 --> 00:24:14,220 INFORMATION FROM A NEIGHBOR OR A NEWS SOURCE OR A DETECTIVE THAT 435 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:18,458 WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL HER. AND THEN SHE WOULD CONFIRM IT, 436 00:24:18,458 --> 00:24:23,730 RUN WITH IT, CALL ME SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT 437 00:24:23,730 --> 00:24:27,400 FOR JUSTICE. JUSTICE FOR TARA 438 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:32,172 AND AS SHARON WOULD SAY, "MY TARA." 439 00:24:32,172 --> 00:24:36,376 SHE'S ALWAYS SAID, "MY TARA. >> Reporter: BUT NONE OF THESE 440 00:24:36,376 --> 00:24:41,114 EFFORTS TURNED UP ANYTHING USEFUL 441 00:24:41,114 --> 00:24:43,750 AND THE SHERIFF'S CASE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE EITHER. 442 00:24:43,750 --> 00:24:46,386 THERE WAS NO GETTING AROUND IT JUSTICE FOR TARA JUST WAS NOT 443 00:24:46,386 --> 00:24:49,089 HAPPENING. IN FACT, THE CASE WAS GROWING 444 00:24:49,089 --> 00:24:51,658 COLD STONE COLD 445 00:24:51,658 --> 00:24:54,094 EVENTUALLY MIKE GANDY RETIRED, AS DID THESE TWO COPS, WAY UP 446 00:24:54,094 --> 00:24:55,862 NORTH. RETIRED AND MOVED TO SUNNY 447 00:24:55,862 --> 00:24:58,498 FLORIDA. AND -- 448 00:24:58,498 --> 00:25:01,134 >> I GOT VERY BORED. >> Reporter: OH, OH. 449 00:25:01,134 --> 00:25:18,184 >>> COMING UP -- >> I ALWAYS FELT THIS WAS A CASE 450 00:25:18,184 --> 00:25:19,252 >> Reporter: TARA'S FAMILY STRUGGLED AS TIME WENT ON 451 00:25:19,252 --> 00:25:23,957 WITHOUT ANSWERS AND WITHOUT THEIR TARA 452 00:25:23,957 --> 00:25:31,831 >> IT WAS HARD I WAS ROBBED OF MY SISTER. 453 00:25:31,831 --> 00:25:34,067 I HAD TO GROW UP WITHOUT ONE >> Reporter: IN 2003, AFTER SIX 454 00:25:34,067 --> 00:25:37,137 YEARS TOGETHER, SHARON AND KEITH FINALLY GOT MARRIED. 455 00:25:37,137 --> 00:25:41,341 >> WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE, THAT WAS 456 00:25:41,341 --> 00:25:45,578 VERY SAD BECAUSE MY BABY GIRL WASN'T GONNA BE IN THAT WEDDING 457 00:25:45,578 --> 00:25:46,913 PARTY. BUT SHE WAS THERE. 458 00:25:46,913 --> 00:25:50,283 [ SNIFFS WE MADE SURE SHE WAS THERE 459 00:25:50,283 --> 00:25:53,453 >> WE HAD A BIG, BIG PICTURE MADE UP OF HER 460 00:25:53,453 --> 00:25:57,457 >> Reporter: BUT THE ANGER REMAINED AND INTENSE FRUSTRATION 461 00:25:57,457 --> 00:26:01,895 AS, YEAR AFTER YEAR, SHARON DEMANDED ANSWERS AND DIDN'T GET 462 00:26:01,895 --> 00:26:05,598 THEM IN 2008, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS 463 00:26:05,598 --> 00:26:08,735 AFTER TARA'S MURDER, SHARON APPEARED IN A CRIME STOPPERS 464 00:26:08,735 --> 00:26:21,381 VIDEO, AND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE KILLERS, WHOEVER THEY WERE 465 00:26:21,381 --> 00:26:23,083 HOW DO THEY GO ON WITH THEIR LIFE KNOWING THAT THEY DID THIS 466 00:26:23,083 --> 00:26:25,585 TO A PERSON? DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT YOU GOT AWAY WITH 467 00:26:25,585 --> 00:26:28,088 THIS 'CAUSE ONE DAY, AND I TRULY 468 00:26:28,088 --> 00:26:29,289 TRULY BELIEVE THIS, THAT ONE DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A KNOCK 469 00:26:29,289 --> 00:26:31,424 AT THAT DOOR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN CUFFS 470 00:26:31,424 --> 00:26:34,561 AND THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I WANT 471 00:26:34,561 --> 00:26:36,663 >> Reporter: NOTHING CAME OF IT. THE WHOLE WORLD HAD MOVED ON, 472 00:26:36,663 --> 00:26:38,264 FORGOTTEN, APPARENTLY. BUT THEN, A YEAR LATER, 2009, 473 00:26:38,264 --> 00:26:40,900 PUNTA GORDA GOT A NEW SHERIFF. AND HE THOUGHT SOME OF THE 474 00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:44,070 UNSOLVED CASES IN TOWN NEEDED A NEW LOOK AND CALLED UPON THE 475 00:26:44,070 --> 00:26:46,172 RETIRED DETECTIVE MIKE GANDY AND THESE TWO, WHO HAD BEEN 476 00:26:46,172 --> 00:26:48,274 DETECTIVES UP NORTH BEFORE THEY, TOO, RETIRED AND MOVED TO PUNTA 477 00:26:48,274 --> 00:26:51,945 GORDA, MIKE VOGEL AND KURT MEHL. >> I MOVED TO FLORIDA AND CAME 478 00:26:51,945 --> 00:26:57,183 DOWN HERE TO HUNT AND FISH AND PLAY GOLF AND GO BOATING AND GO 479 00:26:57,183 --> 00:27:00,353 TO THE BEACH AND JUST RELAX. AND THAT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS. 480 00:27:00,353 --> 00:27:04,557 I GOT VERY BORED >> Reporter: AND SO THREE BORED 481 00:27:04,557 --> 00:27:09,295 EX-DETECTIVES PUT ON BADGES AGAIN TO FORM THE SHERIFF'S VERY 482 00:27:09,295 --> 00:27:12,432 FIRST OFFICIAL COLD CASE UNIT AND DECIDED EARLY ON THEY'D WORK 483 00:27:12,432 --> 00:27:17,170 ON TARA'S CASE PROSECUTOR FEINBERG WAS FINALLY 484 00:27:17,170 --> 00:27:20,340 OPTIMISTIC, SORT OF. >> I ALWAYS FELT THAT THIS WAS A 485 00:27:20,340 --> 00:27:23,043 CASE THAT COULD BE SOLVED. IF IT HAD A NEW SET OF EYES, IT 486 00:27:23,043 --> 00:27:28,248 HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD PUT THE CASE TOGETHER, CONNECT ALL OF 487 00:27:28,248 --> 00:27:30,350 THE DOTS >> WHAT REQUESTS DID YOU MAKE OF 488 00:27:30,350 --> 00:27:34,821 THEM >> WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 489 00:27:34,821 --> 00:27:36,156 EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, EVERY -- WE HAVE TO RULE OUT 490 00:27:36,156 --> 00:27:39,492 EVERY PIECE OF DNA IN THAT HOUSE. 491 00:27:39,492 --> 00:27:45,098 SO IT WAS CLOSING DOORS, IT WAS EXCLUDING OTHER PEOPLE 492 00:27:45,098 --> 00:27:48,968 >> Reporter: SO, THAT'S WHAT THESE THREE DID, AS A LARGE 493 00:27:48,968 --> 00:27:51,905 PHOTO OF TARA KEPT WATCH BUT, AGAIN, THERE WAS NO DNA TO 494 00:27:51,905 --> 00:27:55,075 HELP THEM. ALL THEY HAD REALLY WERE 495 00:27:55,075 --> 00:27:58,745 LINGERING SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE WORKMEN WHO WENT TO TARA'S HOUSE 496 00:27:58,745 --> 00:28:01,915 THE DAY SHE VANISHED PHIL BARR, THE GUY WHO OWNED THE 497 00:28:01,915 --> 00:28:06,119 SEPTIC TANK BUSINESS, HIS HELPER THAT DAY, DAVE McMANNIS, AND 498 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,321 THEIR BUDDY "PEEWEE" ST. JOHN, BUT NOTHING IN THIS HUGE TROVE 499 00:28:08,321 --> 00:28:11,391 OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIAL PROVED ANYTHING 500 00:28:11,391 --> 00:28:13,526 >> KURT, WE CALL HIM "THE SCRIBE." 501 00:28:13,526 --> 00:28:17,030 HE ORGANIZED IT IN -- IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WAS EASIER TO 502 00:28:17,030 --> 00:28:19,299 UNDERSTAND >> WHAT HAD BEEN DIFFICULT TO 503 00:28:19,299 --> 00:28:21,034 UNDERSTAND >> IT WAS CONFUSING TO THE POINT 504 00:28:21,034 --> 00:28:23,503 WHERE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET INTO 505 00:28:23,503 --> 00:28:25,071 COURT. >> THE CONTEXT WAS IN THERE. 506 00:28:25,071 --> 00:28:26,606 YOU COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS A MESS. 507 00:28:26,606 --> 00:28:29,275 >> THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS IN THERE, YES 508 00:28:29,275 --> 00:28:31,911 WE HAD TO TRY TO DO THE ANALYSIS ON IT, AND THAT'S WHAT TOOK SO 509 00:28:31,911 --> 00:28:33,780 LONG >> Reporter: AN AWFUL LOT OF 510 00:28:33,780 --> 00:28:37,183 DETECTIVE WORK AMOUNTS TO READING. 511 00:28:37,183 --> 00:28:39,519 THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF REPORTS AND WITNESS STATEMENTS, AND THIS 512 00:28:39,519 --> 00:28:43,523 AND THAT ALL WERE FOLLOWED UP, EVERYONE OF THEM 513 00:28:43,523 --> 00:28:47,193 DETECTIVE MEHL CHASED DOWN A 2001 WALMART RECEIPT, A MINOR, 514 00:28:47,193 --> 00:28:51,931 FORGETTABLE PURCHASE, EXCEPT THAT THE TIME STAMP ON THE 515 00:28:51,931 --> 00:28:54,100 RECEIPT CAST DOUBT ON PHILIP BARR'S ALIBI DIDN'T EXACTLY 516 00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:56,670 WRECK IT, BUT IT CAUGHT HIM IN A SIGNIFICANT LIE. 517 00:28:56,670 --> 00:28:59,839 >> THAT'S HOW DETAILED WE WERE GETTING. 518 00:28:59,839 --> 00:29:03,009 >> Reporter: BUT THEN THEY JUST HAPPENED TO RUN INTO A GUY WHO 519 00:29:03,009 --> 00:29:07,213 SAID HE KNEW BARR AND McMANNIS AND PEEWEE 520 00:29:07,213 --> 00:29:11,418 >> AND HE OVERHEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT KILLING THIS GIRL. 521 00:29:11,418 --> 00:29:14,587 HE HEARD DAVID McMANNIS SAY, "WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT GIRL 522 00:29:14,587 --> 00:29:18,291 THAT WAY IF I DON'T GET OUT OF TOWN, I'M 523 00:29:18,291 --> 00:29:21,461 GONNA SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE IN JAIL." PHILLIP BARR SAID 524 00:29:21,461 --> 00:29:25,432 SOMETHING SIMILAR BECAUSE PEEWEE IS TALKING ABOUT, "WELL, I'VE 525 00:29:25,432 --> 00:29:26,766 ONLY SEEN A BODY IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO 526 00:29:26,766 --> 00:29:28,301 SEE -- SEE A BODY. AND BARR TELLS HIM, "HEY, SHUT 527 00:29:28,301 --> 00:29:30,904 UP WE'RE ALL GONNA END UP IN 528 00:29:30,904 --> 00:29:33,039 PRISON." >> AND IT WAS SOMEBODY WITH 529 00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:35,141 CREDIBILITY. >> BE -- BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD 530 00:29:35,141 --> 00:29:37,777 BEFORE, YEAH >> Reporter: BUT OVERALL, A KEY 531 00:29:37,777 --> 00:29:39,879 PROBLEM REMAINED >> TERRIBLE WITNESSES. 532 00:29:39,879 --> 00:29:42,482 >> Reporter: MEANING DETECTIVES SPOKE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO'D 533 00:29:42,482 --> 00:29:44,584 ALSO HEARD THE MEN TALK ABOUT THE MURDER, BUT THEY WERE NOT 534 00:29:44,584 --> 00:29:48,288 THE TYPE A JURY WOULD LIKELY BELIEVE. 535 00:29:48,288 --> 00:29:51,958 MUCH OF WHAT THEY'D SAY SOUNDED LIKE DRUG AND BOOZE SOAKED 536 00:29:51,958 --> 00:29:55,628 GOSSIP THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CERTAINLY TO 537 00:29:55,628 --> 00:29:59,332 SUPPORT CHARGING PEEWEE. BUT, THOUGHT THE PROSECUTOR, 538 00:29:59,332 --> 00:30:01,968 MAYBE HE COULD FIND A WAY TO GO AFTER BARR AND McMANNIS. 539 00:30:01,968 --> 00:30:04,604 AND HE HAD AN IDEA. BRING SOME OF THE KEY WITNESSES BEFORE A 540 00:30:04,604 --> 00:30:08,808 GRAND JURY JUST TO SEE WHO PASSED THE CREDIBILITY TEST AND 541 00:30:08,808 --> 00:30:13,546 WHO DIDN'T >> I'VE PROSECUTED OVER 542 00:30:13,546 --> 00:30:17,250 100 HOMICIDE CASES AND THE COMPLEXITY, AND THE AMOUNT OF 543 00:30:17,250 --> 00:30:21,454 INFORMATION THAT WE HAD TO REVIEW TO DETERMINE IF WE COULD 544 00:30:21,454 --> 00:30:25,658 PROSECUTE THIS CASE WAS THE MOST I'D EVER SEEN. 545 00:30:25,658 --> 00:30:29,662 >> Reporter: THE IDEA WORKED THE GRAND JURY INDICTED BOTH 546 00:30:29,662 --> 00:30:32,499 PHIL BARR AND DAVE McMANNIS FOR TARA'S MURDER. 547 00:30:32,499 --> 00:30:36,202 THEY WERE ARRESTED IN LATE 2012, 11 YEARS AFTER TARA VANISHED 548 00:30:36,202 --> 00:30:39,873 FROM HER HOME. DAVE McMANNIS WAS ARRESTED IN 549 00:30:39,873 --> 00:30:43,276 MARYLAND, WHERE HE GREW UP, WHILE U.S. MARSHALS MOUNTED A 550 00:30:43,276 --> 00:30:46,246 MANHUNT FOR PHIL BARR. >> KINDA LOST TRACK OF HIM 551 00:30:46,246 --> 00:30:48,848 WE WERE ACTUALLY THEN ABLE TO -- TO LOCATE PHIL IN THE VERMONT 552 00:30:48,848 --> 00:30:52,986 AREA, VERY CLOSE TO THE CANADIAN BORDER, WHERE WE THINK HE HAD 553 00:30:52,986 --> 00:30:55,655 FLED WITH THE INTENT POSSIBLY OF -- OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY 554 00:30:55,655 --> 00:30:57,791 >> Reporter: BUT THE CASE AGAINST THE MEN NEEDED MORE, AND 555 00:30:57,791 --> 00:31:00,393 SO THE COLD CASE TEAM KEPT INVESTIGATING. 556 00:31:00,393 --> 00:31:03,563 AND IN 2014, ONE OF THEM CAME ACROSS A NAME BURIED DEEP IN AN 557 00:31:03,563 --> 00:31:06,199 OLD FILE RIGHT AFTER TARA DISAPPEARED, A 558 00:31:06,199 --> 00:31:09,336 NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE SAW BARR AND 559 00:31:09,336 --> 00:31:11,971 ANOTHER MAN AT TARA'S HOUSE THAT DAY, BUT SHE COULDN'T SEE MUCH 560 00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:14,607 BECAUSE HER VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY A FENCE. 561 00:31:14,607 --> 00:31:19,846 SO THAT WENT NOWHERE THEN, EXCEPT THE NEIGHBOR HAPPENED TO 562 00:31:19,846 --> 00:31:27,420 MENTION THAT HER SISTER-IN-LAW HAD BEEN VISITING THAT DAY 563 00:31:27,420 --> 00:31:32,992 BUT, NO ONE HAD EVER INTERVIEWED HER. 564 00:31:32,992 --> 00:31:37,230 >> KURT, I THINK, HAD FOUND HER NAME AND SAID, "HEY, DO YOU -- 565 00:31:37,230 --> 00:31:41,968 WHO IS THIS PERSON?" AND MIKE SAID, "OH, I KNOW 566 00:31:41,968 --> 00:31:47,874 SOMEONE BY THAT NAME." SO MIKE THEN WENT OUT AND-- AND 567 00:31:47,874 --> 00:31:53,113 LOCATED HER AND SPOKE TO HER >> WHAT'D SHE HAVE TO SAY? 568 00:31:53,113 --> 00:31:55,115 >> SHE FLOORED ME. >> Reporter: WHY 569 00:31:55,115 --> 00:31:57,250 THAT VISITOR WAS NOT BLOCKED BY THE FENCE LIKE HER RELATIVES 570 00:31:57,250 --> 00:32:00,387 WERE SHE'D BEEN SITTING IN FULL VIEW 571 00:32:00,387 --> 00:32:03,556 NOT MORE THAN 15 YARDS FROM TARA'S FRONT DOOR, AND SHE SAW A 572 00:32:03,556 --> 00:32:06,693 LOT. >> SHE DID SEE A VEHICLE PULL IN 573 00:32:06,693 --> 00:32:10,397 A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEN THE SECOND TIME SHE SAW 574 00:32:10,397 --> 00:32:15,135 THE VEHICLE THERE, IT WAS BACKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR 575 00:32:15,135 --> 00:32:18,805 AND THE TWO GUYS GOT OUT, OPENED THE TAILGATE, AND WE WERE 576 00:32:18,805 --> 00:32:23,543 WALKING BACK AND FORTH INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR 577 00:32:23,543 --> 00:32:25,211 >> EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SHE -- SHE IDENTIFIED DAVID 578 00:32:25,211 --> 00:32:27,247 McMANNIS AS BEING AT THE HOUSE WITH BARR. 579 00:32:27,247 --> 00:32:29,349 SHE IDENTIFIED HIM THERE AT A TIME WHEN THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS 580 00:32:29,349 --> 00:32:31,451 BACKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. WHAT OTHER REASON WAS THAT 581 00:32:31,451 --> 00:32:33,119 PICKUP TRUCK BACKED UP THE FRONT DOOR OTHER THAN TO TAKE TARA OUT 582 00:32:33,119 --> 00:32:35,121 OF THAT HOUSE? >> Reporter: WE WENT OUT TO THE 583 00:32:35,121 --> 00:32:37,757 HOUSE TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THIS WOMAN WAS SITTING AND 584 00:32:37,757 --> 00:32:42,495 WHAT SHE COULD HAVE SEEN >> SO, SHE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE. 585 00:32:42,495 --> 00:32:48,301 >> WOW SO THAT'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, 586 00:32:48,301 --> 00:32:49,969 FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, NINE, 10, LIKE MAYBE A DOZEN STEPS AWAY WHERE 587 00:32:49,969 --> 00:32:53,106 THIS TRUCK IS PARKED >> YES 588 00:32:53,106 --> 00:32:56,176 >> SO, THAT'S CLOSE, YEAH. >> IT'S VERY CLOSE 589 00:32:56,176 --> 00:32:57,777 >> HUH SO IF -- IF THE BACK OF TRUCK, 590 00:32:57,777 --> 00:32:58,912 IT WOULD'VE BEEN, HOW -- HOW FAR FROM THE DOOR? 591 00:32:58,912 --> 00:33:02,515 LIKE, RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR LIKE THAT 592 00:33:02,515 --> 00:33:07,287 >> THAT'S CORRECT. AND -- AND IN THIS GENERAL AREA, 593 00:33:07,287 --> 00:33:10,423 ON THE OUTSIDE -- TRACK, TIRE TRACK, WAS FOUND THE HAIR 594 00:33:10,423 --> 00:33:12,525 RIBBONS. >> WAY OUT HERE? 595 00:33:12,525 --> 00:33:16,730 >> RIGHT OUT HERE. >> OKAY. 596 00:33:16,730 --> 00:33:19,899 SO SUGGESTING THAT THEY PUT HER IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND THE 597 00:33:19,899 --> 00:33:23,069 HAIR RIBBONS CAME LOOSE AS THEY WERE DRIVING AWAY OR PUTTING HER 598 00:33:23,069 --> 00:33:28,141 THERE OR SOMETHING >> THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY 599 00:33:28,141 --> 00:33:29,409 GOOD -- EXPLANATION. >> WELL, WELL, WELL. 600 00:33:29,409 --> 00:33:33,079 THIS -- MAKES IT ALL THE MORE REAL WHEN YOU SEE HOW CLOSE THIS 601 00:33:33,079 --> 00:33:36,216 MUST HAVE BEEN >> Reporter: THE WOMAN SAID SHE 602 00:33:36,216 --> 00:33:39,919 DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE MEN WERE DOING, BECAUSE THE CAB OF 603 00:33:39,919 --> 00:33:43,256 THE TRUCK BLOCKED HER VIEW BUT STILL, THIS WAS WAY MORE 604 00:33:43,256 --> 00:33:46,760 THAN THEY HAD BEFORE FINALLY, 14 YEARS AFTER TARA 605 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,463 VANISHED, BARR AND McMANNIS WERE GOING ON TRIAL FOR HER MURDER. 606 00:33:50,463 --> 00:33:55,702 >>> COMING UP -- WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE HOUSE 607 00:33:55,702 --> 00:33:59,673 THAT DAY A JURY FINALLY HEARS THE STORY 608 00:33:59,673 --> 00:34:01,041 >> WE BELIEVE SHE CONFRONTED HIM. 609 00:34:01,041 --> 00:34:03,610 >> Reporter: A MOTHER'S PERSEVERANCE HAD BROUGHT THE 610 00:34:03,610 --> 00:34:06,880 CASE THIS FAR. >> SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND 611 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,116 FOUGHT >> Reporter: WOULD A VERDICT 612 00:34:10,116 --> 00:34:10,550 >> Reporter: WOULD A VERDICT BRING JUSTICE AT LAST? 613 00:34:29,402 --> 00:34:33,106 2015 WHEN THE TRIALS BEGAN DAN FEINBERG WAS JOINED BY A 614 00:34:33,106 --> 00:34:35,275 CO-PROSECUTOR NAMED JENNIFER GARCZEWSKI, 14 YEARS -- ALMOST 615 00:34:35,275 --> 00:34:38,878 TO THE DAY -- SINCE TARA'S LIFE ENDED. 616 00:34:38,878 --> 00:34:45,218 >> SHE'S ONLY A YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME. 617 00:34:45,218 --> 00:34:46,820 SO I DID FEEL A CONNECTION TO HER, THINKING ABOUT HER AND 618 00:34:46,820 --> 00:34:48,888 WHERE SHE WOULD'VE BEEN AT MY AGE NOW. 619 00:34:48,888 --> 00:34:52,092 >> Reporter: AND THE DEFENDANTS NOW ON TRIAL 620 00:34:52,092 --> 00:34:53,493 PHIL BARR OWNED A SEPTIC TANK REPAIR BUSINESS, DAVE McMANNIS 621 00:34:53,493 --> 00:34:56,796 WAS HIS HELPER THE DAY TARA DISAPPEARED. 622 00:34:56,796 --> 00:34:59,933 THE DETECTIVES HAD LEARNED THAT BARR USED HIS BUSINESS AS A 623 00:34:59,933 --> 00:35:04,671 COVER FOR STEALING FROM THE HOMES OF UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS. 624 00:35:04,671 --> 00:35:08,375 AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED, SAID THE STATE, THAT FIRST OF 625 00:35:08,375 --> 00:35:12,579 OCTOBER, 2001: TARA'S LANDLORD ASKED BARR FOR A 626 00:35:12,579 --> 00:35:14,681 REPAIR ESTIMATE. BARR AND HIS HELPER, McMANNIS, 627 00:35:14,681 --> 00:35:18,351 BEGAN THEIR WORK-DAY BY SMOKING CRACK. 628 00:35:18,351 --> 00:35:22,055 AROUND NOON, FOUR HOURS BEFORE VERONICA ARRIVED HOME FROM 629 00:35:22,055 --> 00:35:25,725 SCHOOL, THE MEN MOST LIKELY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TARA LET 630 00:35:25,725 --> 00:35:31,531 THEM IN, UNAWARE THEY HAD ROBBERY NOT WORK ON THEIR MINDS. 631 00:35:31,531 --> 00:35:34,167 >> DAVE McMANNIS WAS TAKING THE PROPERTY WHILE BARR WAS 632 00:35:34,167 --> 00:35:38,371 DISTRACTING HER IN THE BATHROOM. WE BELIEVE SHE FOUND OUT 633 00:35:38,371 --> 00:35:42,609 SHE HEARD SOMETHING OR SAW SOMETHING THAT MR. McMANNIS WAS 634 00:35:42,609 --> 00:35:46,546 DOING, WHERE HE WAS IN A PLACE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AND SHE 635 00:35:46,546 --> 00:35:49,783 CONFRONTED HIM AND TWO PEOPLE WITH IMPAIRED 636 00:35:49,783 --> 00:35:53,687 MINDS DO THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO 637 00:35:53,687 --> 00:35:55,789 AND THEIR SOLUTION TO THAT WAS TO KILL HER. 638 00:35:55,789 --> 00:35:58,425 >> Reporter: THE WOMAN WHO'D BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE FRONT 639 00:35:58,425 --> 00:36:02,095 YARD TOLD THE JURY HOW THE TWO MEN HAD BEEN LAUGHING AND JOKING 640 00:36:02,095 --> 00:36:05,799 WHEN THEY ARRIVED, BUT LATER WHEN SHE SAW THEM BACKING THEIR 641 00:36:05,799 --> 00:36:08,935 TRUCK UP TO TARA'S FRONT DOOR BREAKING THAT SMALL PALM TREE IN 642 00:36:08,935 --> 00:36:13,673 THE PROCESS. >> IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THEY HAD A 643 00:36:13,673 --> 00:36:15,775 MISSION, THAT THEY HAD A PLAN. AND ONE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE 644 00:36:15,775 --> 00:36:18,044 TAILGATE AND PUT THE TAILGATE DOWN OUT THE TRUCK AND THE OTHER 645 00:36:18,044 --> 00:36:20,046 WENT -- WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FRONT DOOR 646 00:36:20,046 --> 00:36:23,149 >> ALL BUSINESS? >> ALL BUSINESS. 647 00:36:23,149 --> 00:36:27,487 >> Reporter: THAT, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, IS WHEN THEY CLEANED 648 00:36:27,487 --> 00:36:30,757 UP AND TOOK TARA'S BODY IN A BED SHEET, LOADED IT INTO THE TRUCK, 649 00:36:30,757 --> 00:36:34,761 AND WAITED FOR DARK WHEN ONE OR BOTH OF THEM DUMPED HER BODY IN 650 00:36:34,761 --> 00:36:39,466 THE WOODS. BUT TO TELL THAT STORY TOOK TWO 651 00:36:39,466 --> 00:36:41,634 LONG TRIALS, EACH PEOPLED BY WITNESSES THE JURY MIGHT NOT 652 00:36:41,634 --> 00:36:49,476 THINK WERE VERY CREDIBLE >> "WE RAPED AND KILLED THE 653 00:36:49,476 --> 00:36:51,945 GIRL." >> "THEY'RE NOT GONNA FIND HER." 654 00:36:51,945 --> 00:36:55,815 >> "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU LIKE I KILLED THE GIRL IN FLORIDA." 655 00:36:55,815 --> 00:36:57,350 "THE GIRL I KILLED WAS 20. >> Reporter: ONE WITNESS 656 00:36:57,350 --> 00:37:01,054 TESTIFIED ABOUT OVERHEARING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN BARR AND 657 00:37:01,054 --> 00:37:03,757 McMANNIS >> PHILLIP BARR WAS SAYING TO 658 00:37:03,757 --> 00:37:08,428 DAVID McMANNIS, "I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER. 659 00:37:08,428 --> 00:37:11,831 AND SHE OVERHEARD DAVID McMANNIS RESPOND, "SHE HAD TO DIE." 660 00:37:11,831 --> 00:37:14,734 >> Reporter: NOT VERY BELIEVABLE, SAID THE DEFENSE 661 00:37:14,734 --> 00:37:18,772 ATTORNEYS. JUST PEOPLE MAKING THINGS UP, 662 00:37:18,772 --> 00:37:20,540 SAID BARR'S LAWYER, MARK DE SISTO. 663 00:37:20,540 --> 00:37:21,741 >> WE CONTENDED THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEVER TOOK PLACE 664 00:37:21,741 --> 00:37:25,278 >> Reporter: SOME OF THOSE WITNESSES WERE INMATES, TOO, 665 00:37:25,278 --> 00:37:27,514 SNITCHES >> I NEVER MET A CONFIDENTIAL 666 00:37:27,514 --> 00:37:30,316 INFORMANT THAT'S GONNA INFORM JUST 'CAUSE HE WANTS TO BE A 667 00:37:30,316 --> 00:37:32,152 NICE GUY OR A GOOD CITIZEN THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING IN IT 668 00:37:32,152 --> 00:37:34,754 FOR HIM. >> Reporter: THAT WOMAN, THE 669 00:37:34,754 --> 00:37:36,456 STAR WITNESS FOUND BY THE COLD CASE TEAM, WHO SAID SHE SAW THE 670 00:37:36,456 --> 00:37:40,527 TWO MEN COMING AND GOING FROM TARA'S HOUSE 671 00:37:40,527 --> 00:37:42,662 >> COULD IT BE SHE MADE HERSELF BELIEVE THIS OVER SO MUCH OF A 672 00:37:42,662 --> 00:37:46,332 TIME TO MAKE SURE THE BAD GUY GOES AWAY? 673 00:37:46,332 --> 00:37:48,968 >> Reporter: DAVE McMANNIS' ATTORNEY, MICHAEL BROSS, SAID 674 00:37:48,968 --> 00:37:52,639 HIS VIEW THOSE DETECTIVES FOCUSED ON THE WRONG MAN 675 00:37:52,639 --> 00:37:54,841 SAID PHIL BARR'S ACCOMPLICE MUST HAVE BEEN PEEWEE ST. JOHN, THE 676 00:37:54,841 --> 00:37:58,978 MAN WHO'D TURNED IN JEWELRY THREE DAYS AFTER TARA WENT 677 00:37:58,978 --> 00:38:02,115 MISSING. >> THERE'S ENOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL 678 00:38:02,115 --> 00:38:03,783 EVIDENCE TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IF NOT IN THE MURDER, 679 00:38:03,783 --> 00:38:10,590 BUT DEFINITELY IN THE COMPLICITY TO COVER IT UP 680 00:38:10,590 --> 00:38:12,659 >> Reporter: THE ONLY THING THAT DAVE McMANNIS WAS GUILTY OF, 681 00:38:12,659 --> 00:38:14,761 SAID BROSS WAS BEING A SARCASTIC GUY. 682 00:38:14,761 --> 00:38:17,931 >> THE MAJORITY OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE WERE 683 00:38:17,931 --> 00:38:19,032 SARCASM AT BEST. SO IF HE'S GUILTY -- 684 00:38:19,032 --> 00:38:22,135 >> IT'S A CLAIM. YEAH 685 00:38:22,135 --> 00:38:24,237 AND THAT'S KIND OF AN EASY OUT FOR SAYING TERRIBLE THINGS, 686 00:38:24,237 --> 00:38:27,907 ISN'T IT >> WELL, IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE 687 00:38:27,907 --> 00:38:32,112 STATEMENTS, IF SAID AT ALL DAVID IS KNOWN TO BE A JOKESTER 688 00:38:32,112 --> 00:38:33,380 AND SARCASTIC. EVEN DURING THE COURSE OF THE 689 00:38:33,380 --> 00:38:36,316 TRIAL, HE WOULD SAY THINGS THAT WERE SARCASTIC 690 00:38:36,316 --> 00:38:41,221 >> Reporter: THE TRIALS, TWO OF THEM, DRAGGED ON FOR MORE THAN 691 00:38:41,221 --> 00:38:43,156 15 MONTHS WITH DELAY AFTER DELAY IN A CASE THAT HAD TAKEN MORE 692 00:38:43,156 --> 00:38:47,894 THAN 15 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT. 693 00:38:47,894 --> 00:38:51,631 SHARON AND KEITH'S MARRIAGE DIDN'T MAKE IT THAT LONG 694 00:38:51,631 --> 00:38:54,267 THEY'RE SEPARATED NOW, BUT THEY ATTENDED BOTH TRIALS TOGETHER. 695 00:38:54,267 --> 00:38:57,871 >> WE STARTED THIS TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT TOGETHER, 696 00:38:57,871 --> 00:39:01,041 NO MATTER WHAT >> Reporter: AND AFTER ALL THAT 697 00:39:01,041 --> 00:39:06,312 TIME IN EACH CASE, DELIBERATIONS TOOK 698 00:39:06,312 --> 00:39:08,381 LESS THAN 90 MINUTES THE VERDICTS: GUILTY 699 00:39:08,381 --> 00:39:15,021 BOTH MEN WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE 700 00:39:15,021 --> 00:39:18,558 >> I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT BUT FOR SHARON, NEITHER 701 00:39:18,558 --> 00:39:22,896 TRIAL WOULD'VE TAKEN PLACE SHE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT 702 00:39:22,896 --> 00:39:24,698 FOR JUSTICE. >> Reporter: TARA'S LITTLE 703 00:39:24,698 --> 00:39:29,169 SISTER VERONICA HAS TWO CHILDREN OF HER OWN NOW 704 00:39:29,169 --> 00:39:32,072 >> THEY KNOW THEIR AUNT TARA AND THEY HAVE NECKLACES WITH HER 705 00:39:32,072 --> 00:39:36,276 PICTURES ON IT AND MY DAUGHTER, YOU WOULD THINK 706 00:39:36,276 --> 00:39:38,912 THAT SHE HAD MET HER SHE DREAMS ABOUT HER 707 00:39:38,912 --> 00:39:44,684 >> NEVER MET HER, BUT THEY LOVE HER. 708 00:39:44,684 --> 00:39:48,388 THAT WARMS MY HEART. >> Reporter: A FEW WEEKS AFTER 709 00:39:48,388 --> 00:39:51,057 THE TRIALS WERE OVER, THE PROSECUTORS, DETECTIVES AND 710 00:39:51,057 --> 00:39:54,194 THEIR SPOUSES GOT TOGETHER FOR DINNER WITH SHARON, KEITH AND 711 00:39:54,194 --> 00:39:58,932 VERONICA DETECTIVE MEHL MADE A 712 00:39:58,932 --> 00:40:03,670 PRESENTATION >> SHE WAS A FIGHTER AND SHE 713 00:40:03,670 --> 00:40:07,374 KEPT US FIGHTING FOR HER, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 714 00:40:07,374 --> 00:40:12,946 >> THEY'VE HAD THE PICTURE HANGING IN THEIR OFFICE FOR A 715 00:40:12,946 --> 00:40:14,314 VERY LONG TIME AND THEY -- THEY PASSED IT ONTO 716 00:40:14,314 --> 00:40:17,450 ME I COULD LOOK AT IT NOW AND GO, 717 00:40:17,450 --> 00:40:23,690 "WE DID IT WE DID IT. 718 00:40:23,690 --> 00:40:26,860 >> YOU'VE GIVEN US A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR LIFE. 719 00:40:26,860 --> 00:40:30,563 >> Reporter: THE FAMILY GAVE THE COLD CASE DETECTIVES AND 720 00:40:30,563 --> 00:40:37,404 PROSECUTORS GIFTS AS WELL. EACH WAS ENGRAVED: "JUSTICE FOR 721 00:40:37,404 --> 00:40:42,142 TARA." >> THEY PUT IN SO MUCH HARD WORK 722 00:40:42,142 --> 00:40:46,346 AND TIME AND RESPECT, COMPASSION 723 00:40:46,346 --> 00:40:49,516 SO WE WANNA GIVE THEM A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION AND 724 00:40:49,516 --> 00:40:53,219 LOVE FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE 725 00:40:53,219 --> 00:40:58,992 THEY GAVE TARA PEACE AND JUSTICE. 726 00:40:58,992 --> 00:41:02,696 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 727 00:41:02,696 --> 00:41:05,865 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL 728 00:41:05,865 --> 00:41:07,434 AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY 729 00:41:07,434 --> 00:41:10,070 NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT. 730 00:41:10,070 --> 00:41:11,805 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.