>> I'M SORRY
IT'S HARD. >> Reporter: RELIVING THE WORST
DAY OF YOUR LIFE WOULD BE HARD FOR ANYONE
SO KNOW THIS KATIE COATS WANTED TO TELL US
HER STORY ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS 20, ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS RAPED BY A
MAN SHE MET ON VACATION. >> WHEN HE WAS STRANGLIN' ME, I
PUT UP SOME FIGHT. BUT I JUST -- I GOT SO SCARED.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT CAME NEXT, AFTER KATIE SUMMONED HER COURAGE
AND REPORTED HER ASSAULT TO POLICE, WAS ALMOST WORSE
HER STORY, THIS STORY, IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LISTENED AND
BELIEVED AND THOSE WHO DID NOT >> I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT
PART OF IT JUST BECAUSE IF HE WAS
PROSECUTED, THEN TWO LIVES WOULD STILL BE WITH US TODAY
>> Reporter: IN THAT FEELING, SHE'S NOT ALONE.
AND IT WOULD TURN OUT KATIE WASN'T HER ATTACKER'S FIRST
VICTIM OR HIS LAST WE BEGIN OUR STORY WITH
MOLLY MATHESON, A PARENTS' DREAM.
KIND, FUNNY, INDEPENDENT SHE HAD A SPECIAL BOND WITH HER
DAD, DAVID, AND HER MOM, TRACY >> I CALLED HER MY BEST FRIEND
AND SHE CALLED ME HER BEST FRIEND
AND WE HUNG OUT A LOT TOGETHER >> Reporter: IT HELPED THAT
MOLLY LIVED ONLY TEN MINUTES FROM HER PARENTS IN FORT WORTH,
TEXAS. IT WAS 2017.
MOLLY WAS STUDYING SOCIAL WORK IN COLLEGE AND WORKING PART-TIME
AT A LINGERIE STORE WHERE SHE WAS THE MODEL EMPLOYEE
>> MOLLY, HER "LATE" WAS 15 MINUTES EARLY
SHE ALWAYS CAME IN TO WORK TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD --
SHE LOOKED PRESENTABLE >> Reporter: MOLLY'S BOSS,
CARISSA VERA >> SHE HAD SUCH A CUTE
PERSONALITY, AND YOU COULD TELL SHE WAS JUST A GREAT GIRL.
>> Reporter: IT WAS ON MONDAY, APRIL 10th, 2017, THAT SOMETHING
SEEMED WRONG >> SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE
AT 1:00. AND IT WAS 12:45, AND I LOOKED
I'M LIKE, "SHE'S NOT HERE. SO I'M LIKE, "WELL, THAT'S
WEIRD. AND THEN I COME 1:00, WHEN SHE'S
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE I'M LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS REALLY
NOT NORMAL." >> Reporter: THE HOURS TICKED BY
AND STILL NO SIGN OF MOLLY >> AND I REMEMBER EXACTLY AT
THE -- AT 4:00 I -- YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE GOT A
LITTLE DOWN TIME, I SAID, "I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, CALL HER
EMERGENCY CONTACT. >> I WAS AT HOME AND THE PHONE
RINGS. AND IT'S MOLLY'S BOSS, CARISSA
AND SHE WAS CALLING TO SAY THAT MOLLY HAD NOT SHOWN UP FOR WORK.
AND, UM, I KNEW MOLLY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT WORK 'CAUSE
SHE HAD TOLD US THE NIGHT BEFORE
>> Reporter: THIS WASN'T LIKE HER.
>> AND - >> Reporter: SHE WOULDN'T -- SHE
WOULDN'T - >> NO.
SO I WAS LIKE, "I'LL JUST HOP IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OVER TO
MOLLY'S HOUSE. >> Reporter: MOLLY'S MOM DROVE
THE TEN MINUTES TO HER DAUGHTER'S APARTMENT
>> I PULL UP AND AT THIS POINT, I'M FEELING A
LITTLE FRANTIC I RACE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY
THE GARAGE APARTMENT IS, YOU KNOW, AT THE BACK OF THE
DRIVEWAY AND I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND
KNOCKED. AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
AND SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL TRY THE DOORKNOB."
I DID. AND IT WAS UNLOCKED.
I WENT INSIDE, AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MOLLY.
I WENT BACK OUT. AND I THOUGHT, "WAIT, I DIDN'T
GO IN THE BATHROOM I SHOULD GO BACK INSIDE.
AND SO I WENT BACK INSIDE AND AROUND THE CORNER TO THE
BATHROOM AND THAT'S WHERE I FOUND HER
BODY ON THE FLOOR OF THE SHOWER. >> Reporter: MOLLY WAS CRUMPLED
OVER SHE WASN'T MOVING.
>> I NEED AN AMBULANCE >> WHAT IS YOUR FIRST NAME
>> MY NAME'S TRACY >>> WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO
MOLLY MATHESON WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> I AM VERY FRANTIC AND OUT OF MY MIND.
>> JUST GOT OVER THERE AS SOON AS I COULD
>> WE WALKED IN, AND SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT
LITERALLY THE HAIRS ON THE BACK >> Reporter: THE AFTERNOON OF
APRIL 10th, 2017, WAS CLOUDY IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS.
>> I NEED AN AMBULANCE >> Reporter: FOR TRACY MATHESON,
A STORM WAS ALREADY RAGING SHE'D JUST ENTERED HER
DAUGHTER'S APARTMENT AND FOUND HER UNRESPONSIVE
>> MY DAUGHTER IS IN A BOTTOM OF A SHOWER
SHE'S NOT MOVING I CANNOT TELL IF SHE'S
BREATHING. >> PARAMEDICS ARE COMING, OKAY
>> OKAY. I AM VERY FRANTIC AND OUT OF MY
MIND AND AT THIS POINT, I HAVE
CONCLUDED THAT MOLLY IS DEAD AND -- AND I -- I -- I THINK I'M
SCREAMING TO THE OPERATOR, "SHE'S DEAD!
SHE'S DEAD SHE'S DEAD!"
>> WE'RE A UNIT THAT WAS AVAILABLE.
THEY DISPATCHED US TO IT >> Reporter: FORT WORTH POLICE
OFFICER TAYLOR ROGERS WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE SCENE
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY VAGUE CALL DETAILS, AN INVESTIGATION
CALL WHERE - - THINK IT SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FEMALE.
HER MOM HAD FOUND HER DECEASED WE PULLED UP, THERE WERE SEVERAL
PEOPLE OUTSIDE THERE WERE FIRETRUCKS,
AMBULANCES >> Reporter: AND MOLLY'S MOM
POLICE BODYCAMS RECORDED THE SCENE.
>> SHE WAS FRANTIC SHE WAS, I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY
FREAKIN' OUT THERE WAS NO CALMING HER DOWN
FOR A WHILE. WE HAD TO GIVE HER SOME SPACE.
>> Reporter: SHE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO CALL HER HUSBAND.
DAVID, WHERE WERE YOU? >> I WAS AT WORK
SO I HAD -- I HAD, YOU KNOW, JUST GOT OVER THERE AS FAST AS I
COULD. >> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
ANYBODY SAW HER? >> LAST NIGHT.
>> ABOUT WHAT TIME >> Reporter: POLICE TRIED TO
FIND OUT ALL THEY COULD ABOUT MOLLY FROM HER FAMILY.
>> SHE WAS THE BEST 22 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
>> YEAH. >> SHE HAD A CERTAIN LIGHT TO
HER. >> Reporter: MOLLY'S OLDER
BROTHER NICK >> SHE WAS SUCH A PERSONALITY
THAT WAS SO GREAT TO BE AROUND UM, SHE WAS FUNNY AND, YOU KNOW,
OUTGOING AND WASN'T SCARED TO MAKE FUN OF HERSELF AND WASN'T
SCARED TO BE HERSELF >> Reporter: AND IN A FAMILY OF
THREE BOYS AND ONE GIRL, MOLLY STOOD OUT.
>> SHE TOOK HUGE ADVANTAGE OF BEING THE ONLY GIRL IN THE
FAMILY >> THAT'S TRUE
>> UM, SHE WAS PRETTY CONVINCED THAT SHE WAS THE FAVORITE CHILD
AND, UM, WOULD, UH, LEAVE NOTES IN THE HOUSE
AND WE STILL HAVE NOTES ON OUR CHALKBOARD IN THE KITCHEN, UM,
"MOLLY IS MY FAVORITE. AND IT'S SIGNED "DAD."
SHE LOVED WHEN I WOULD TAKE HER SHOPPING BECAUSE IT WAS
WHATEVER -- WHATEVER YOU WANT, LET'S GET TWO
OF THOSE >> Reporter: YOU WERE A SOFT
TOUCH. >> VERY MUCH SO.
AND SHE KNEW IT. >> Reporter: AFTER HIGH SCHOOL,
MOLLY HEADED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AND MET HER
SOON-TO-BE BEST FRIEND, SUTTON RHEA.
>> SHE WAS JUST FUNNY, WITTY SHE WAS DIFFERENT.
SHE JUST HAD ME LAUGHING ALL THE TIME, AND IT WAS GREAT
>> Reporter: AND DID WHAT SHE WANTED
>> SHE HAD A BUNCH OF TATTOOS. AND, OF COURSE, SHE HID 'EM FROM
HER PARENTS. >> Reporter: NOT FROM HER OLDER
BROTHER. >> WE WERE OUT THERE PADDLE
BOARDING, AND I KINDA SAW ON HER RIB CAGE -- I THOUGHT IT WAS HER
BATHING SUIT OR SOMETHING. BUT I WAS LIKE, "MOLLY, DO
YOU -- IS THAT A TATTOO? AND SHE VERY QUICKLY KINDA WAS
LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.
AND JUST - AND I WAS LIKE, "MOLLY, THAT --
THAT'S A TATTOO. AND IT -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY,
IT -- WE -- WE FOUND OUT LATER THAT SHE HAD MULTIPLE.
>> Reporter: ONE TATTOO WAS TO REMIND HER OF HER YOUNGER
BROTHERS ANOTHER WAS JUST ONE WORD,
"BELOVED." >> IT JUST -- YEAH, IT'S GREAT
FOR HER. IT'S VERY FITTING FOR HER.
>> Reporter: JUST BEFORE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER SENIOR YEAR
IN 2015, MOLLY DECIDED TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF AND SHE WENT BACK
TO TEXAS >> MOLLY HAD HAD A DIFFICULT
YEAR AT ARKANSAS AND SO WHEN IT WAS DECIDED TO,
YOU KNOW, COME HOME, TAKE A YEAR OFF, KINDA REGROUND, REBASE.
>> Reporter: SHE HAD RETURNED HOME TO FORT WORTH, RENTED THAT
APARTMENT, AND HAD GOTTEN THAT PART-TIME JOB.
IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT SAFE SUBURBAN ROUTINE THAT MOLLY
ENDED UP DEAD. NOW POLICE OFFICERS WERE LOOKING
THROUGH HER BELONGINGS >> EVERYTHING LOOKED PRETTY
UNDISTURBED. IT LOOKED LIVED IN
THERE WERE, YOU KNOW -- THERE WAS FOOD OUT OR THE TV WAS STILL
THERE. >> Reporter: THEY FOUND MOLLY'S
CELL PHONE CHARGING NEXT TO HER BED.
THIS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY, AND NO INDICATION OF A STRUGGLE.
AND THERE WERE PARTS OF THE SCENE THAT WEREN'T ADDING UP
LIKE HOW MOLLY'S BODY LOOKED WHEN IT WAS FOUND IN THE
BATHROOM >> SHE STILL HAD A SHIRT ON.
THE SHOWER WAS ALREADY OFF >> Reporter: HE ASKED MOLLY'S
MOM ABOUT THAT >> "DID YOU TURN THE SHOWER OFF
WHEN YOU GOT HERE? AND SHE SAID, "NO, IT WAS
ALREADY OFF. THAT WAS WEIRD
THEY TELL YOU, AS YOU'RE BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER,
THERE'S GONNA BE CALLS THAT STICK WITH YOU FOREVER
YOU'RE GONNA WALK IN, AND SOMETHING'S JUST NOT GONNA FEEL
RIGHT. AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS.
WE WALKED IN, AND SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
UH, LITERALLY THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STOOD UP
>> Reporter: THE OFFICER CALLED HIS SERGEANT
AND SOON, HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WERE ON THEIR WAY.
>>> COMING UP -- >> WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE
LOOKING AT SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL ISSUE.
MAYBE A POSSIBLE OVERDOSE? >> CLUES WERE EVERYWHERE
IN THE APARTMENT - >> THE SHOWER WAS DRY.
>> -- AND ON HER PHONE >> THE INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT "I'M
OUTSIDE. MOLLY TEXTED THIS INDIVIDUAL
BACK AND SAID, "I'LL COME OUTSIDE AND GET YOU.
>> Reporter: MOLLY MATHESON WAS DEAD
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES MATT ANDERSON AND KYLE SULLIVAN
WERE ASSIGNED TO THE CASE. AND RIGHT AWAY THE SAME THINGS
THAT HAD BOTHERED RESPONDING OFFICERS JUMPED OUT AT THEM.
>> I NOTICED THAT THE SHOWER WAS DRY, UH, INDICATING THAT IT HAD
BEEN DRYING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
>> Reporter: WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS AS TO HOW LONG MOLLY HAD
BEEN DEAD? >> I WAS THINKING SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 8 TO 12 HOURS, IF NOT LONGER
>> Reporter: THE NIGHT BEFORE PROBABLY
>> THE NIGHT BEFORE PROBABLY >> Reporter: SO THEN WHAT HAD
HAPPENED MOLLY HAD NO OBVIOUS WOUNDS.
TO COPS THIS LOOKED LIKE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY EVEN A DRUG
OVERDOSE >> AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, IT
JUST SEEMED -- WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW,
SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL ISSUE WERE WE LOOKING AT MAYBE A
POSSIBLE OVERDOSE? >> Reporter: WHEN THE COPS SAY
TO YOU, YOU KNOW, "YOU SHOULD GET READY FOR THIS BEING SOME
KIND OF MEDICAL EVENT OR AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE," THAT MAKE
ANY SENSE TO YOU AT ALL? >> NOT AT ALL.
>> NO. >> Reporter: THEY TOLD POLICE
MOLLY DIDN'T DO ANY HARD DRUGS, AND NONE WERE FOUND IN HER
HOUSE. HER PARENTS TOLD POLICE MOLLY
SEEMED COMPLETELY NORMAL THE NIGHT BEFORE
>> SHE CAME OVER SUNDAY AFTERNOON, HUNG OUT WITH US MOST
OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, HAD DINNER, AND LEFT THE HOUSE
ABOUT 8:00 >> Reporter: AND NOT ONLY -- AND
SHE WAS FINE AND SHE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS AND SHE WASN'T -
>> OH, 100%. >> Reporter: -- WORRIED ABOUT
ANYTHING >> OH, GOSH, NO.
AND THAT -- THAT'S WHAT WE WERE STRUGGLIN' WITH.
I MEAN, IT -- IT DIDN'T ADD UP >> Reporter: IT WASN'T ADDING UP
FOR THE DETECTIVES EITHER, UNTIL THE MEDICAL EXAMINER ARRIVED AT
THE SCENE. >> SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE
MOLLY'S HAIR FROM HER FACE WE NOTICED WHAT WE CALL
PETECHIAE, OR WHERE THE BLOOD VESSELS BREAK IN YOUR FACE
THAT WAS VERY WEIRD. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT
IT'S VERY RARE TO SEE THAT IT'S USUALLY AN INDICATION OF
STRANGULATION. >> Reporter: THEY'D HAVE TO WAIT
FOR THE AUTOPSY THE NEXT DAY TO MAKE SURE.
POLICE SEALED THE HOUSE AND PUT AN OFFICER AT THE DOOR
OVERNIGHT. >> I SPENT THE TIME WAITING,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA BE THE BETTER WAY FOR HER
TO DIE AM I GONNA PREFER THAT SHE HAD A
MEDICAL CONDITION WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT?
OR IS IT GONNA BE BETTER THAT SHE OVERDOSED ON SOMETHING
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
WHAT'S GONNA BE BETTER? WHAT'S GONNA BE BETTER?
>> BUT -- BUT A MURDER WASN'T -- >> THAT WASN'T ON THE --
>> IT -- IT NEVER ENTERED OUR -- >> RADAR
>> -- MIND I MEAN, THAT WAS NOT -- IT
WASN'T EVEN A THOUGHT. >> Reporter: IT WAS FOR
DETECTIVES THEY KNEW THE AUTOPSY WOULD
DETERMINE THEIR NEXT MOVE. >> I ARRIVED AT THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER'S OFFICE FOR THE AUTOPSY.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER INSTANTLY TOLD ME SHE WAS MURDERED DUE TO
STRANGULATION. >> Reporter: AND GIVEN THE WAY
MOLLY WAS FOUND, NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN, DETECTIVE SULLIVAN
HAD WONDERED IF SHE'D BEEN RAPED.
>> THEY COLLECTED A SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION FROM MOLLY
BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE AT THAT TIME THAT WE COULD PROVE
THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE DNA TO COME BACK
>> Reporter: NOW THAT THEY KNEW THIS WAS A MURDER, CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATORS RETURNED TO MOLLY'S APARTMENT AND RIGHT AWAY
FOUND CLUES. >> THEY FOUND SOME CLOTHING
ITEMS IN THE WASHING MACHINE SOME MEN'S UNDERWEAR, FEMALE
CLOTHING, TOWELS, AND A WASHCLOTH.
ALL THE CLOTHES WERE STILL STUCK TO THE BASIN AND IT WAS WET.
>> Reporter: THAT SUGGESTED THE WASHER MIGHT HAVE BEEN STARTED
CLOSE TO WHEN MOLLY WAS KILLED AND INSIDE, ALONG WITH THE
CLOTHES, WAS A FITTED BED SHEET. >> WHEN WE LOOKED OVER AT THE
BED, WE NOTICED IT WAS ALSO MISSING THE FITTED SHEET
>> Reporter: SO SOMEBODY TOOK THE FITTED SHEET OFF AND PUT IT
IN THE WASHING MACHINE >> EXACTLY
ONCE WE SAW THIS AND A PAIR OF MEN'S UNDERWEAR -- 'CAUSE MOLLY
LIVED BY HERSELF -- NO OTHER MEN'S CLOTHING WAS FOUND IN
THE -- WE BELIEVED AT THAT TIME THAT THE KILLER WAS TRYIN' TO
COVER HIS TRACKS BY GETTING RID OF THE EVIDENCE THROUGH THE
WASHING MACHINE. >> Reporter: DID THAT UNDERWEAR
BELONG TO MOLLY'S KILLER HAD HE MADE A MISTAKE WHILE
CLEANING UP THE CRIME SCENE? WHO WAS SHE TALKING AND TEXTING
WITH THAT NIGHT? >> WE WERE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE
CELL PHONE AND HAVE A FORENSIC ANALYSIS CONDUCTED ON THE PHONE.
>> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT THE MESSAGES
>> SO I SAW THAT MOLLY WAS COMMUNICATING WITH A NUMBER IN
HER CELL PHONE THAT WAS NOT SAVED.
THE MESSAGES CONSISTED OF MOLLY ASKING THIS INDIVIDUAL TO COME
OVER TO THE HOUSE, AND THE INDIVIDUAL SAID, "YES, I'LL COME
OVER SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS."
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THAT PHONE NUMBER WASN'T IN MOLLY'S
CONTACTS, THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL WHO IT BELONGED TO.
WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL ARRIVED, SAID THAT "I'M OUTSIDE," MOLLY
TEXTED THIS INDIVIDUAL BACK AND SAID, "I'LL COME OUTSIDE AND GET
YOU. >> Reporter: THAT WAS ABOUT
10:30 P.M. AN HOUR OR SO LATER, MOLLY
RESPONDED TO A GROUP TEXT. THE LAST TIME SHE LOOKED AT A
CHAT WAS AROUND 11:37 P.M. ON APRIL 9th, 2017.
SHE RESPONDED TO A CHAT FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS
SO MOLLY WAS PROBABLY STILL ALIVE JUST AFTER 11:30
THEN CAME ONE FINAL TEXT FROM THAT SAME UNKNOWN PERSON WHO'D
BEEN AT HER HOUSE. >> LATER IN AROUND 3:30, I
BELIEVE, IN THE MORNING, THIS SAME NUMBER TEXTED MOLLY BACK.
BUT THE MESSAGE WAS UNREAD AND IT WAS A MESSAGE ABOUT, "HIT
ME UP IN THE MORNING I'M GLAD WE GOT TO TALK AND HOPE
TO SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE." >> Reporter: CONCEIVABLE THAT
THAT PERSON WHO TEXTS HER AND COMES OVER ISN'T THE KILLER?
THAT PERSON LEAVES AND SOMEBODY ELSE SHOWS UP OR REALIZES THAT
SHE'S BEEN SEEING THAT PERSON INSTEAD OF THEM?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: IF ANYBODY KNEW WHO
MOLLY WAS TEXTING WITH, IT WAS HER FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S WHO POLICE TURNED TO NEXT
>>> COMING UP -- >> SHE WAS WITH THIS GUY
HIS NAME IS DAVID. I GUESS THEY WERE DATING
>> WAS HE MOLLY'S LATE NIGHT VISITOR?
>> WELL, ME AND HER HUNG OUT ON SUNDAY
>> I'M JUST GOING TO COME OUT AND ASK.
DID YOU HARM HER
MISSING TONIGHT, 22-YEAR-OLD MOLLY MATHESON
>> Reporter: THE STORY OF MOLLY MATHESON'S MURDER MADE LOCAL TV
NEWS ON NBC STATION KXAS >> CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS
SPENT ALL DAY HERE PROCESSING THE SCENE, WHILE THOSE WHO KNEW
MOLLY TRY TO PROCESS HER LOSS. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES WERE ON
THE HUNT FOR MOLLY'S KILLER. HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY PITCHED
IN >> EVERYONE WAS KIND OF, YOU
KNOW, TRYING TO GET INTO HER FACEBOOK
YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MESSAGES. YOU KNOW, WHO WAS SHE TALKING
TO >> HER FRIENDS PUT THEIR HEADS
TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TRY -- "OKAY, WHO DO WE THINK?
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY KNEW A MOLLY THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW.
AND SO THEY WERE AWARE OF -- >> OR THEY -- THEY KNEW HER
DIFFERENTLY THAN WE KNOW HER >> WELL, RIGHT
I MEAN, JUST AS ALL 22-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, NO PARENT
KNOWS THE SAME 22-YEAR-OLD THAT THEIR 22-YEAR-OLD FRIENDS KNOW
>> I BEGIN RECEIVING NUMEROUS CALLS FROM FRIENDS INDICATING
THAT THEY MAY HAVE INFORMATION ON PEOPLE THAT MOLLY WAS IN
CONTACT WITH HER LAST FEW DAYS >> THIS IS PEYTON.
>> HEY, PEYTON THIS IS DETECTIVE SULLIVAN
AGAIN. >> Reporter: FRIENDS LIKE
PEYTON BAILEY. HOW DO YOU KNOW MOLLY?
>> I, LIKE, GREW UP WITH HER GOING TO YOUTH GROUP AND STUFF
>> WHO WAS SHE WITH? >> SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW FIGURED
OUT FROM, LIKE, A GROUP OF FIVE OF US IS THAT SHE WAS WITH, UM,
THIS GUY HIS NAME IS DAVID.
I GUESS THAT THEY HAD BEEN DATING
WE'D NEVER MET HIM >> I STARTED RECEIVING PHONE
CALLS FROM HER FRIENDS INDICATING THAT MOLLY WAS
POSSIBLY IN A RELATIONSHIP BY A MALE NAMED DAVID WALTON.
ALLS THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE IS THAT SHE HAD BEEN SEEING
DAVID, I GUESS IN A DATING RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT MOLLY
WOULD FREQUENTLY VISIT DAVID AND DAVID WOULD ALSO VISIT
MOLLY. >> Reporter: YOU RUN HIS NAME TO
SEE WHETHER HE HAS ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL RECORD?
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: AND
>> DAVID CHECKED OUT CLEAN >> Reporter: YOU CALL
DAVID WALTON AND HE COMES IN >> YES
>> Reporter: WITHOUT A LAWYER? >> WITHOUT A LAWYER.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU, REALLY, COMING DOWN.
>> Reporter: DAVID FREELY ADMITTED HE WAS WITH MOLLY ON
THE DAY SHE WAS MURDERED >> WELL, ME AND HER HUNG OUT ON
SUNDAY SHE CAME OVER.
>> WHEN YOU SAY HER, WHO DO YOU MEAN
>> MOLLY >> UH-HUH.
>> SHE CAME OVER AT, LIKE, MAYBE 12:00, 12:15 P.M
>> THEY WENT TO KROGER THEY WENT TO PLAY POOL AT
SOMEPLACE. HE HAD TO GO TO WORK
HE LEFT TO GO TO WORK. MOLLY WENT HOME.
>> I CHANGED, AND THEN SHE LEFT. AND ON THE WAY TO WORK, SHE
TEXTED ME AND EVERYTHING, "HAVE A GOOD DAY AT WORK
LOVE YOU." >> Reporter: SULLIVAN WANTED TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT DAVID'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MOLLY.
>> Y'ALL BOYFRIEND-GIRLFRIEND? >> UM, WE -- IT WAS KIND OF
COMPLICATED. WE WERE KINDA JUST TALKING
BUT WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS FOR, LIKE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS
>> Reporter: HE SAID THEY'D BEEN SEEING EACH OTHER THREE OR FOUR
TIMES A WEEK AND POLICE WERE ABLE TO VERIFY
PART OF HIS STORY. HERE'S VIDEO OF MOLLY AND DAVID
COMING OUT OF THAT KROGER GROCERY STORE AT ABOUT
12:45 P.M. AFTER THAT, DAVID SAID HE WENT
TO HIS JOB AS A RESTAURANT COOK. >> AND WHAT TIME DID YOU GET TO
WORK >> 4:00.
>> WHAT TIME DID YOU GET OFF >> ABOUT 10:30, 11:00.
>> WHAT'D YOU DO, UH, AFTER YOU GOT OFF OF WORK?
>> I ENDED UP COMING HOME, AND I PLAYED XBOX LIVE WITH MY BUDDY,
MY CO-WORKER >> DID YOU EVER LEAVE THE
APARTMENT AGAIN? >> NO, SIR
>> ON SUNDAY, DID -- HOW WAS HER MOOD
WAS EVERYTHING GOOD OR - >> THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I DON'T
GET. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT
>> WAS SHE TALKING ABOUT GOING SOME PLACE THAT NIGHT, HAVING
PEOPLE OVER, ANYTHING? >> NOTHING
>> Reporter: DAVID LET THE COPS TAKE A DNA SAMPLE AND ALSO
AGREED TO A POLYGRAPH. >> I'M JUST GOING TO COME OUT
AND ASK BECAUSE, UM, MY BOSS IS GONNA WANT ME TO KNOW.
DID YOU HARM HER >> NEVER
>> DO YOU KNOW WHO HARMED HER? >> NO IDEA
>> Reporter: AND WHEN THEY CHECKED HIS PHONE, HE WASN'T
THAT UNNAMED PERSON MOLLY HAD BEEN TEXTING
DAVID DID TELL POLICE ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE
HE'D HEARD ABOUT ANOTHER MAN IN MOLLY'S LIFE
>> SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT, LIKE, HOW THIS DUDE IN TEXARKANA
HAD STARTED CALLING HER AGAIN. >> DID SHE MENTION NAMES,
ANYTHING LIKE THAT >> YEAH, SHE SAID IT WAS
RYAN PEACOCK >> OKAY.
>> Reporter: RYAN PEACOCK, A FRIEND OF MOLLY'S.
DAVID THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO BE MORE THAN THAT.
>> DAVID SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT MOLLY WAS HAVING ISSUES
WITH HIM AS FAR AS HE ALWAYS WANTED TO CALL HER AND STUFF
LIKE THAT. AND MOLLY WASN'T SO INTERESTED
IN RYAN AS -- AS MUCH AS RYAN WAS INTERESTED IN HER.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH RYAN LIVED 200 MILES AWAY, DETECTIVE
SULLIVAN LEARNED HE'D BEEN IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA THE
WEEKEND MOLLY WAS MURDERED >> I WENT AND CHECKED MOLLY'S
CELL PHONE, AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE HAD BEEN SOME
COMMUNICATIONS WITH RYAY PEACOCK, UH, THE NIGHT
PRIOR TO WHEN THIS UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL CAME OVER
>> Reporter: ARE THERE TEXTS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO
OF THEM? >> YES
UH, I THINK HE CALLED HER SEVERAL TIMES.
SHE DIDN'T ANSWER. MAY HAVE SENT A TEXT
AND THEN APRIL 8th OF 2017, INTO APRIL 9th OF 2017, THEY HAD,
LIKE, A 50- SECOND PHONE CALL. >> Reporter: APRIL 9th WAS A
SUNDAY, THE DAY MOLLY WAS PROBABLY KILLED.
IT WAS TIME FOR POLICE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH RYAN PEACOCK
>>> COMING UP -- >> I PHONED RYAN
COULD HE COME AND TALK TO ME AND HE SAID, "YES, I CAN DO THIS
IN PROBABLY TWO MONTHS." >> Reporter: HANG ON A SECOND.
IN TWO MONTHS HE'S GONNA HELP YOU OUT ON A MURDER
INVESTIGATION? >> YES
>> I DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T BEATING DOWN MY DOOR
TO COME DOWN AND TALK TO ME. WERE LOOKING INTO A PROMISING
LEAD -- RYAN PEACOCK, A GUY FROM MOLLY'S
PAST DID MOLLY EVER SAY ANYTHING TO
EITHER OF YOU ABOUT THIS GUY, RYAN PEACOCK
>> NO. >> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT NAME AT
ALL. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES
CONFIRMED RYAN HAD BEEN TALKING WITH MOLLY IN THE DAYS BEFORE
HER MURDER >> I PHONED RYAN
I INFORMED HIM THAT MOLLY WAS MURDERED
COULD HE COME AND TALK TO ME AND HE SAID, "YES, I CAN DO THIS
IN PROBABLY TWO MONTHS." >> Reporter: HANG ON A SECOND.
IN TWO MONTHS HE'S GONNA HELP YOU OUT ON A MURDER
INVESTIGATION? >> YES, IN TWO MONTHS.
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU TELL RYAN PEACOCK MOLLY'S DEAD,
YOU'RE LISTENING PRETTY CLOSELY TO SEE WHETHER THIS IS SOMEBODY
HEARING THAT INFORMATION FOR THE FIRST TIME
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU THINK? >> I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW.
I DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T BEATING DOWN MY DOOR TO
COME DOWN AND TALK TO ME I DIDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.
>> Reporter: RYAN DID HAVE AN EXPLANATION.
HE SAID HE COULDN'T COME IN PERSON BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY
TRAINING FOR A NEW POSITION AS A RESTAURANT MANAGER
I'M THINKING -- VERY QUICKLY MADE THE POINT TO RYAN PEACOCK
THAT TWO MONTHS WASN'T GONNA DO IT
YOU NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM RIGHT NOW UNLESS HE WANTS A ALERT OUT
FOR HIS ARREST >> DIDN'T SAY IT QUITE LIKE
THAT, BUT I JUST TOLD RYAN THE BEST I COULD DO THEN IF HE
WOULDN'T COME IN IS, "CAN WE JUST DO A PHONE INTERVIEW?
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN MOLLY?
>> ABOUT, I'D SAY, FOUR MONTHS >> FOUR MONTHS
HAVE Y'ALL HAD ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IN THAT FOUR
MONTHS >> UH, YES SIR
>> Reporter: RYAN SAID THEY'D BEEN OUT A FEW TIMES, BUT IT WAS
NOTHING SERIOUS. >> HE SAID HE HASN'T BEEN OVER
TO MOLLY'S RESIDENCE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND HE HADN'T SEEN
HER. >> DID YOU GO TO MOLLY'S HOUSE
ON SUNDAY EVENING? >> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> HE DID VERIFY THE PHONE CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH HER,
BUT THAT HE HAD NOT PHYSICALLY BEEN WITH MOLLY FOR SEVERAL
MONTHS >> Reporter: DETECTIVE SULLIVAN
ALSO LEARNED RYAN HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD AND HIS NUMBER
WAS IN MOLLY'S PHONE SO HE WAS NOT THE LAST PERSON TO
TEXT HER >> Reporter: SO DAVID WALTON AND
RYAN PEACOCK ARE STILL POTENTIAL PERSONS OF INTEREST?
>> YES >> Reporter: AT THE VERY LEAST
>> YES I NEVER BELIEVE ANYBODY.
TRUST BUT VERIFY SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF DAVID OR
RYAN HAD DONE IT AT THAT TIME. BUT I'M INCHIN' CLOSER TO TRYIN'
TO INVESTIGATE, TRYING TO ELIMINATE THEM OR INCLUDE THEM
>> Reporter: THE PERSON POLICE REALLY WANTED TO TRACK DOWN WAS
WHOEVER BELONGED TO THOSE MYSTERY DIGITS IN MOLLY'S PHONE.
A REVERSE SEARCH ON THAT NUMBER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
DETECTIVE SULLIVAN HAD DONE. >> I ACTUALLY USED A LOCAL
DATABASE I TYPED IN THE NUMBER, AND THE
NUMBER CAME BACK TO A PERSON BY THE NAME OF REGINALD KIMBRO.
>> Reporter: WAS THIS THE MYSTERY MAN POLICE HAD BEEN
SEARCHING FOR? NOW DETECTIVE SULLIVAN MADE THE
CALL >> I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND SAID
THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT MOLLY MATHESON
HE SAID THAT, YES, HE WAS WITH HER THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE WAS
MURDERED HE SEEMED EAGER TO COME TO WANNA
TALK TO ME >> Reporter: KIMBRO SAID HE WAS
OUT OF TOWN. SO WHILE DETECTIVES WAITED, THEY
DUG INTO HIS PAST. SULLIVAN FOUND OUT KIMBRO GREW
UP IN PLANO, A WELL-TO-DO SUBURB NEAR DALLAS.
ONCE KIMBRO GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, HE JOINED THE NAVY
AND AFTER BEING DISCHARGED, HE ENDED UP IN ARKANSAS WHERE HE
MET MOLLY. MOLLY AND REGINALD MET ON
TINDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY, MOLLY AND
REGINALD HAD BROKEN UP YOU KNOW WHAT'S UNUSUAL IS THAT
MOLLY HAD KNOWN REGINALD KIMBRO FOR A LONG TIME.
AND YET HIS NUMBER WASN'T IN HER PHONE UNDER HIS NAME
>> YES, THAT IS UNUSUAL. IT'S PROBABLY, I ASSUME, BECAUSE
THEY MUST'VE HAD SOME FALLING OUT AT SOME POINT AND SHE
DELETED HIM FROM HER CONTACTS. >> Reporter: BUT THEN MONTHS
LATER, SHE INITIATES A CONVERSATION WHICH ENDS UP WITH
HIM COMIN' OVER. >> YES
>> Reporter: AND AFTER HIS BREAK-UP WITH MOLLY, REGGIE HAD
STARTED DATING THIS WOMAN, MOLLY'S FORMER COLLEGE ROOMMATE
MEGAN LEWIS. >> HELLO
>> IS THIS MEGAN THIS IS DETECTIVE SULLIVAN
>> YES, IT IS. >> Reporter: MEGAN REACHED OUT
TO POLICE IN THE DAYS AFTER MOLLY'S MURDER
SHE TOLD THEM HOW SHE FIRST STARTED DATING REGGIE.
>> EVENTUALLY REGGIE AND I, UM, GOT INTO A RELATIONSHIP, UH, IN
THE FALL, 2015 HE WAS FUN AND, YOU KNOW, SEEMED
TO BE DIFFERENT THAN EVERY OTHER GUY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'D MEET
IN COLLEGE >> Reporter: MOLLY'S FORMER
ROOMMATE SEEMED TO REALLY LIKE REGGIE
REGGIE WAS CHARMING. HE KNEW WHAT TO SAY, WHEN TO SAY
IT >> HE WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
HE KNEW EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: MEGAN AND REGGIE'S
ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WAS LONG OVER, BUT THEY WERE STILL
FRIENDS. SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP POLICE
TRACK REGGIE'S ACTIVITIES THE NIGHT OF MOLLY'S MURDER.
>> WE TALKED ON THE PHONE. EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
HE TOLD ME HE WAS AT HIS SISTER'S HOUSE, WORKING ON HER
CAR. AND HE SAYS, "I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND, LIKE, LET YOU GO. I HAVE TO RUN BY A FRIEND'S
HOUSE. AND I SAID, "OKAY, GOOD NIGHT.
LIKE, I WAS GONNA GO TO SLEEP. >> Reporter: THAT WAS IT
TWO DAYS LATER, ON TUESDAY, MEGAN GOT THE NEWS ABOUT MOLLY
SHE CALLED REGGIE THAT AFTERNOON IN CASE HE HADN'T HEARD.
>> I SAID, "MOLLY'S GONE." AND HE GOES, "WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT? I SAID, "MOLLY -- MOLLY'S DEAD
MOLLY'S PASSED AWAY. AND THEN THAT'S WHEN HE TOLD ME,
"I WAS JUST WITH HER." THAT'S WHEN I TOLD HIM, "YOU
NEED TO GO TO THE POLICE." I WAS LIKE, "IF YOU TOUCHED A
DOORKNOB, IF YOU TOUCHED THE COUNTER, YOU TOUCHED THE TRASH
CAN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THAT
YOU WERE THERE." >> Reporter: POLICE DIDN'T HAVE
TO WAIT LONG TO MEET THE MAN OF THE HOUR
>> ALL RIGHT, GO HAVE A SEAT, MAN.
>>> COMING UP -- >> I CAME OVER
I GOT THERE ABOUT, LIKE, 10:30 >> REGGIE TELLS HIS STORY.
WILL IT ADD UP >> WHAT TIME DID YOU LEAVE HER
HOUSE? >> I LEFT THERE BEFORE 1:30.
>> CUE THE SECURITY CAMERAS. >> I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME YOU
GOT THERE. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME YOU
LEAVE.
MAN? I'M SORRY.
I HAD KID PROBLEMS THIS MORNING. >> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER HE
SPOKE WITH DETECTIVES BY PHONE, REGGIE KIMBRO SHOWED UP AT THE
FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT >> I KNOW THAT WE NEEDED TO TALK
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU DRIVING YOURSELF
DOWN HERE. SO
>> YEAH, UH, IT'S NO PROBLEM >> THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE ANDERSON I DON'T KNOW IF WE INTRODUCED
YOU TO HIM >> Reporter: HE'S COOPERATING?
>> HE'S COOPERATING. HE'S GIVIN' US EVERYTHING THAT
WE KIND OF WANT AT THAT TIME >> HOW DO YOU KNOW MOLLY
>> I MET MOLLY IN ARKANSAS >> Reporter: REGGIE CONFIRMED
WHAT DETECTIVES HAD ALREADY HEARD IN OTHER INTERVIEWS.
>> REGINALD SAID THAT HE HAD MET MOLLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ARKANSAS UH, THEY WERE IN A DATING
RELATIONSHIP AT THE TIME SHE EVENTUALLY MOVED BACK HOME
TO THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA, AND THEY HAD LOST TOUCH SINCE
AROUND 2015. AND THEY HAD RECENTLY, WITHIN
THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, HAD RECONNECTED AGAIN.
>> Reporter: SO ON THE NIGHT OF HER MURDER, MOLLY TEXTED REGGIE
AND INVITED HIM OVER >> I HAVE THE TEXTS.
>> OKAY. >> I WAS LIKE, "DID YOU NEED
SOMETHING? AND SHE'S LIKE, "I JUST WANT TO
SEE IF YOU WANT TO HANG OUT. SO I CAME OVER
I GOT THERE ABOUT LIKE 10:30 >> Reporter: REGGIE SAID THEY
SMOKED SOME WEED, WATCHED NETFLIX, AND CHATTED
>> OKAY. WHAT ARE YOU ALL TALKING ABOUT
>> UH, BASICALLY JUST CATCHING UP
SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT HER NEW BOYFRIEND.
SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT HOW HER BROTHER GOT HER OLD CAR AND SHE
GOT A NEW CAR. SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, HER
MOM. >> Reporter: HE SAID THEY
STARTED MAKING OUT >> DID YOU ALL HAVE SEX THAT
NIGHT? >> NO.
LIKE, WE GOT TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE WERE GOING TO, BUT SHE
WAS JUST LIKE, "I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
>> AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE, "WAIT, STOP."
I WAS LIKE, "WHAT'S WRONG? AND SHE'S LIKE, "I DON'T FEEL
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, DAVID WOULDN'T LIKE
THIS." >> Reporter: DAVID AS IN
DAVID WALTON >> AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY."
AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT UP I WENT TO THE BATHROOM
I GUESS IT JUST KIND OF GOT AWKWARD THERE.
WHEN I COME BACK OUT, SHE'S LIKE, "WELL, I'M GOING TO GO TO
SLEEP BECAUSE I HAVE CLASS TOMORROW."
AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, JUST HIT ME AFTER CLASS.
>> OKAY. >> AND SHE WALKED ME OUT
>> I DON'T THINK I ASKED THIS. WHAT TIME DID YOU LEAVE HER
HOUSE? >> I LEFT THERE BEFORE 1:30.
>> Reporter: REGGIE TOLD THEM HE DROVE STRAIGHT FROM MOLLY'S
HOUSE UP TO OKLAHOMA, A THREE HOUR DRIVE, THEN STAYED WITH A
FRIEND >> WHEN DO YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
MOLLY'S DEATH? >> TUESDAY
>> TELL ME ABOUT THAT. >> MEGAN HAD CALLED ME, AND SHE
LEFT A VOICEMAIL >> Reporter: HE'S REFERRING TO
MEGAN, MOLLY'S OLD ROOMMATE AND REGGIE'S FORMER GIRLFRIEND
HE RECOUNTED THAT CONVERSATION >> AND SHE'S LIKE, "DID YOU
HEAR?" AND I WAS LIKE, "HEAR ABOUT
WHAT?" AND SHE'S LIKE, "MOLLY."
I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH MOLLY?"
AND SHE'S LIKE, "SHE'S GONE. AND WHEN SHE TOLD ME, I'M LIKE,
"NO, I LITERALLY JUST SAW MOLLY.
AND SHE'S LIKE, "NO, SHE'S -- SHE'S DEAD."
I JUST KIND OF DROPPED IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE I WAS JUST
THERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
AND I WAS JUST BAWLING, CRYING >> Reporter: HE SAID MEGAN AND
THE FRIEND HE WAS STAYING WITH URGED HIM TO REACH OUT TO
POLICE >> SO HE'S LIKE, "YOU NEED TO GO
TALK TO THEM." HE'S LIKE, "YOU CAN HELP SOME
WAY. >> Reporter: THE COPS BEAT HIM
TO IT BY CALLING HIM FIRST AND REGGIE WAS INDEED HELPFUL.
>> HE GAVE US ACCESS TO HIS PHONE, PROVIDED ME HIS PASSCODE
TO HIS PHONE >> DOWN, UP.
>> SWEET, ALL RIGHT. I'LL RUN UP THERE TO 'EM
>> Reporter: YOU ASKED HIM FOR A DNA SAMPLE
>> YES >> Reporter: AND HE GIVES IT TO
YOU? >> HE GIVES ME THAT DNA SAMPLE
>> OPEN YOUR MOUTH >> SO THIS IS JUST A BLOCK, UH,
NORTH OF WHERE MOLLY MATHESON WAS KILLED
>> Reporter: BY THE TIME REGGIE SAT DOWN WITH DETECTIVES, THEY
HAD ALREADY CONFIRMED PART OF HIS STORY.
DETECTIVE ANDERSON HAD PULLED HOURS OF VIDEO FROM CAMERAS IN
MOLLY'S NEIGHBORHOOD THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER, AND THEY SHOWED A
2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE REGGIE'S.
>> AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DID SHOW, UH,
FROM DIFFERENT HOUSES THAT HE WAS SHOWING UP AT 10:25 AND
DRIVING FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH TOWARDS WHERE MOLLY LIVED.
>> Reporter: THEY DID NOTICE A GAP IN REGGIE'S TIMELINE
>> AND THEN AS WE FURTHER REVIEWED THE CAMERAS
2:00 THAT MORNING, WE SEE HIM LEAVING AGAIN OUT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, LEAVING NORTHBOUND THE SAME WAY THAT HE CAME.
>> Reporter: REMEMBER, REGGIE TOLD DETECTIVES HE'D LEFT
MOLLY'S AT 1:30 A.M. THAT PUTS A 30-MINUTE HOLE IN
HIS STORY. BACK IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM,
DETECTIVE SULLIVAN USED THAT TO TURN UP THE HEAT
>> I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME YOU GOT THERE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME YOU LEAVE.
>> OKAY. >> AND AT THAT TIME, THE
INTERVIEW CHANGED DIRECTIONS >> Reporter: HOW DOES IT CHANGE?
>> HE IMMEDIATELY KNOWS NOW THAT I'M TRYING TO CONFRONT HIM
>> THE ONLY REASON I'M TALKING TO YOU NOW, REGGIE -
>> YES, SIR. >> -- IS BECAUSE I THINK SOME --
WENT WRONG IN THERE. >> WHILE I WAS THERE
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> UH, NO THEN
NO >> ABSOLUTELY, REGGIE.
>> NO, SIR >> YEAH.
>> I'M TELLING YOU NO. >> Reporter: SULLIVAN ASKED
REGGIE IF HE'D TAKE A POLYGRAPH. THAT'S THE MOMENT WHERE THE
DETECTIVE'S MOOD CHANGES, AND YOU CAN SEE REGGIE'S DOES TOO.
>> WE'LL GO RIGHT NOW AND DO IT. I GOT A GUY ALREADY WAITING FOR
US >> I DON'T -- DUDE, NO
ALL RIGHT, MAN NO, I'M -- YEAH, I'M DONE.
I DIDN'T KILL MOLLY. YOU'RE ALL OUT OF YOUR -- MINDS,
MAN. >> REGGIE, I PROMISE YOU THIS.
IT'S WHY I'M LOOKING AT YOU. I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN
>> THAT'S FINE >> BUT NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, IT'S
GOING TO BE -- YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN CUSTODY.
>> OKAY. >> OKAY.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES LET HIM DIGEST THAT AS THEY DECIDED WHAT
TO DO. >> HEY, REGGIE, YOU DON'T WANT
TO TAKE POLYGRAPH? >> NO, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A --
POLYGRAPH. >> OKAY.
HEY, WE'RE GOING TO CONFISCATE YOUR PHONE TOO
>> Reporter: WHY NOT ARREST HIM RIGHT THEN
>> THE ONLY THING I COULD PROVE OUT OF THAT INTERVIEW WAS THAT
HE DID LIE ABOUT HIS TIMEFRAME BUT HE COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN
MISTAKEN >> Reporter: IT WAS ONLY A
30-MINUTE DISCREPANCY. NOT A HUGE DEAL.
EXCEPT POLICE KNEW SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT REGGIE'S PAST
SOMETHING THAT SUGGESTED HE WAS VIOLENT AND CAPABLE OF
ASSAULTING MOLLY >> I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT. I WAS, UH, SUSPICIOUS OF HIM
MURDERING HER. BUT I STILL HAD TO PROVE IT.
SUSPICION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DOESN'T EQUATE TO THE CHARGE OF
MURDER >> Reporter: DETECTIVES DIDN'T
HAVE DNA RESULTS BACK YET, AND AT THAT POINT, THEY WERE NOT
EVEN SURE IF MOLLY HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
ULTIMATELY THEY SAY THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LET REGGIE GO.
THEY DID HANG ON TO HIS CELL PHONE.
BUT THEY COULD NOT HANG ONTO REGGIE KIMBRO.
>>> COMING UP -- >> I JUST -- I GOT SO SCARED
>> A YOUNG WOMAN'S HORRIFYING STORY BECOMES A HEARTBREAKING
LINK TO MOLLY'S CASE >> MY DETECTIVE SAID, "DO YOU
WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER GIRL?"
AND I SAID, "NO. HE SAID, "THEN LET'S GET THIS
GUY. >> Reporter: POLICE
INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF MOLLY MATHESON WERE DEEPLY
SUSPICIOUS OF REGGIE KIMBRO. BUT HE WAS ONE OF THREE PERSONS
OF INTEREST. LIKE THAT GUY MOLLY HAD BEEN
SEEING WHAT'D YOU LEARN ABOUT
DAVID WALTON >> I MEAN, HE, WHENEVER WE
CALLED HIM, ANSWERED ALL OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD
AND WE PULLED HIS CELL PHONE RECORDS AND WERE LATER -- LATER
ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T AROUND MOLLY'S
HOUSE AT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS HAPPENED
>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT RYAN PEACOCK
RYAN PEACOCK WASN'T QUITE AS COOPERATIVE.
>> I KNOW DETECTIVE SULLIVAN TALKED TO HIM TWO OR THREE
TIMES. AND WE TRIED MAKIN' IT WHERE WE
WOULD COME MEET WITH HIM, OR HE COULD COME MEET WITH US,
WHATEVER'S EASIEST AND THAT INTERVIEW JUST NEVER
HAPPENED >> Reporter: POLICE WERE ABLE TO
CLEAR PEACOCK AS WELL. THE ONE PERSON WHO COULDN'T BE
CLEARED WAS REGGIE KIMBRO. AND IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE HE'D
BEEN AT MOLLY'S THE NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED
POLICE HAD LEARNED SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT HIM
>> WHEN I RAN A CRIMINAL HISTORY WITH REGINALD, I'D SEEN THAT HE
HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT OUT OF SOUTH PADRE
ISLAND, UH, TEXAS. >> Reporter: YOU CALL THAT
DEPARTMENT >> I ACTUALLY HAD TO CALL THE
DETECTIVE DOWN THERE HE SAID THAT REGINALD KIMBRO WAS
ARRESTED FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT AROUND SPRING BREAK, 2014.
>> Reporter: AND IF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE THE
VICTIM IN THAT CASE WAS SOMEONE YOU'VE ALREADY MET --
KATIE COATS. IT WAS SPRING BREAK, THREE YEARS
BEFORE THE MURDER OF MOLLY MATHESON
IT WAS A DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR KATIE.
>> MY BIRTHDAY ALWAYS FALLS ON SPRING BREAK
SO I HAD JUST RECENTLY TURNED 20.
WE DECIDED TO GO TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
>> Reporter: IT'S A STRIP OF WHITE SAND AND CLEAR WATER ON
THE TEXAS GULF COAST PEACEFUL, QUIET, EXCEPT FOR
THREE WEEKS IN MARCH WHEN THESE BEACHES TEEM WITH THOUSANDS OF
COLLEGE KIDS, ALL INTENT ON HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES
>> DURING SPRING BREAK, OF COURSE, EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, GOES
OUT AND HAS A GOOD TIME. WE'RE ON THE BEACH
THERE'S MUSIC. THERE'S, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,
DRINKS AND EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: IT'S SUN, SAND,
SURF, AND A TSUNAMI OF ALCOHOL PLUS A CHANCE TO MEET OTHER
KIDS, INCLUDING A GUY KATIE KEPT RUNNING INTO -- REGGIE KIMBRO.
>> I JUST REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, HE WAS VERY POPULAR
EVERYONE KIND OF GATHERED AROUND HIM.
>> Reporter: SEEMED LIKE A NICE GUY?
>> YEAH. HE SEEMED LIKE HE JUST WANTED TO
HAVE FUN >> Reporter: ONE NIGHT THEY WENT
OUT TO A CLUB. AS CLOSING TIME APPROACHED -
>> WE ALL WENT DOWN TO THE HOT TUB.
AT SOME POINT, I WAS READY -- I WAS READY TO LEAVE
>> Reporter: REGGIE OFFERED TO WALK KATIE BACK TO HER ROOM.
HERE THEY ARE ON A HOTEL SECURITY CAMERA.
>> WE HAD KISSED UM, THERE'S NO DENYING THAT.
I WANTED TO USE THE RESTROOM >> Reporter: KIMBRO WALKED HER
TO THE HOTEL LADIES' ROOM. >> I'M GOING INTO THE BATHROOM,
AND I'M STILL NOT THINKING ANYTHING'S REALLY WRONG AT THAT
POINT. UNTIL I TURNED AROUND TO SHUT
THE STALL DOOR AND I SEE HIM COMING MY DIRECTION.
>> Reporter: YOU -- YOU DIDN'T INVITE HIM IN?
>> NO. >> Reporter: WHEN KATIE LOOKED
INTO HIS EYES, SHE PANICKED. >> I KNEW BY THE LOOK WHEN I SAW
HIM COMING INTO THE STALL -- I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT
WAS WRONG. >> Reporter: IT ALL HAPPENED
BOTH VERY FAST AND IN SLOW MOTION
>> HE SHUTS THE DOOR AND LOCKS IT
AND AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED TO STRANGLE ME.
I JUST -- I GOT SO SCARED. AND SO I KINDA JUST DID WHATEVER
HE WANTED ME TO DO >> Reporter: HE ATTACKED HER,
RAPED HER. KATIE SAYS ALL SHE COULD DO WAS
TRY TO SURVIVE >> I JUST PUT MY HAND OVER MY
MOUTH SO HE COULDN'T HEAR ME, LIKE, CRYING
>> Reporter: THIS HAD TO BE TERRIFYING
>> YEAH. THE WAY IT FELT, IT FELT LIKE I
WAS IN THERE FOR HOURS >> Reporter: THE REALITY WAS
ABOUT 15 MINUTES KATIE GOT AWAY AND RAN OUT
REGGIE KIMBRO STROLLED OUT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER
KATIE FOUND A HOTEL WORKER WHO WALKED HER TO HER ROOM
>> AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD SAID, "KATIE, LIKE, TELL US
WHAT'S WRONG." AND ONE OF 'EM POINTED OUT --
THEY WERE LIKE, "WHAT IS ON YOUR NECK?"
>> Reporter: THERE WERE BRUISES ON HER NECK.
HER FRIENDS INSISTED KATIE GO TO A HOSPITAL WHERE A NURSE DID A
SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAM. AND THAT BACKED UP HER STORY
YOU DIDN'T WANNA REPORT THIS AT FIRST?
>> NO. NO
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT REAL?
'CAUSE YOU THINK, WHAT, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FORGET ABOUT IT
OR -- OR YOU DON'T WANNA RUIN THE WEEKEND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE
>> I THINK MY INITIAL THOUGHT AT FIRST WAS, YEAH, I JUST WANTED
TO GO HOME AND KINDA TRY TO FORGET ABOUT IT.
BUT I FELT SORRY FOR HIM AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT
>> Reporter: I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU DID, BUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE BLAME THEMSELVES WHEN, IN FACT, THE BLAME LIES ELSEWHERE
>> YEAH. I'M SORRY.
>> Reporter: NO. I'M SORRY.
>> YOU JUST NEVER IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE YOU.
>> Reporter: KATIE SUMMONED WILLPOWER AND COURAGE TO REPORT
HER RAPE SOON SHE WAS ANSWERING
DETECTIVES' QUESTIONS AT THE SOUTH PADRE ISLAND POLICE
DEPARTMENT >> THEN HE STARTED CHOKING ME.
AND I REMEMBER AT ONE POINT, I WENT, LIKE -- HE, LIKE, SLAMMED
ME TO THE GROUND AND JUST -- HAVING SEX WITH ME
>> WHEN DID YOU TELL HIM NO? >> THE WHOLE TIME.
>> THE WHOLE TIME? >> I SAID I WANTED TO LEAVE AND
I WANT OUT AND HE WOULDN'T LET ME OUT
>> DO YOU WANT TO FILE CHARGES >> I'M JUST SCARED
I SAID, "I JUST WANNA GO HOME. AND MY DETECTIVE JUST LOOKED AT
ME AND HE SAID, "DO YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER GIRL?"
AND I SAID, "NO. HE SAID, "THEN LET'S GET THIS
GUY. SO THAT'S WHEN I WENT THROUGH
WITH PRESSING CHARGES. >> Reporter: REGGIE KIMBRO WAS
ARRESTED THE STORY HE TOLD BACK THEN IS A
FAMILIAR ONE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.
HE SAID THIS WAS JUST SEX, NOT RAPE
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU ALL HAD CONSENSUAL SEX
>> YEAH. SHE -- LIKE I SAID, SHE STOPPED
ME TWICE AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT'S
WRONG? AND SHE'S LIKE, "NOTHING."
AND THEN, LIKE, WE'D GO BACK AT IT
>> Reporter: POLICE DIDN'T BELIEVE HIS STORY AND FOUND
KATIE CREDIBLE EXCEPT, AS THE DETECTIVES SOON
FOUND OUT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY APPARENTLY DID NOT
YOUR TESTIMONY, YOU'RE BRUISED, THE RAPE KIT, AND THEY DON'T
PROSECUTE? >> NOPE.
>> Reporter: HE ADMITS HE WAS THERE.
HE HAD SEX WITH YOU. BUT IT WAS CONSENSUAL, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT IT LEFT YOU TERRIFIED, CRYING, WITH BRUISES?
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: AND THERE'S NO
PROSECUTION? >> NO.
>> Reporter: SO WHY WAS THAT WELL, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND DISTRICT ATTORNEY DECLINED OUR REQUEST TO
HAVE THAT QUESTION ANSWERED. IT TURNED OUT KATIE COATS WASN'T
ALONE IN HER SUFFERING THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN WHOSE
CASE NEVER MADE IT TO A COURTROOM.
>>> COMING UP -- >> THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS,
LIKE, SNAP, LIKE, I'M JUST ON THE GROUND
HIS HANDS ARE AROUND MY THROAT, AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAIN JUST
FROZE. >> Reporter: YOU'RE LUCKY TO
STILL BE HERE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: AS THEY INVESTIGATED REGGIE KIMBRO,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES IN FORT WORTH CONTACTED THEIR
COUNTERPARTS 500 MILES AWAY ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS.
THAT'S WHERE KIMBRO HAD BEEN ARRESTED BUT NOT PROSECUTED FOR
ASSAULTING KATIE COATS THREE YEARS EARLIER.
AND WHAT THE SOUTH PADRE ISLAND COP DISCLOSED PUT THIS CASE IN A
WHOLE NEW CATEGORY >> HE ACTUALLY SAID THAT THERE
WAS A CODIS HIT TO A PLANO CASE THAT HAD OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR
AND A HALF PRIOR, AND REGINALD WAS A SUSPECT IN THE PLANO CASE
AS WELL AS A SUSPECT IN THEIR CASE
>> Reporter: PLANO, REMEMBER, IS REGGIE KIMBRO'S HOMETOWN
IT WAS 2012, 5 YEARS BEFORE MOLLY MATHESON'S MURDER.
>> SO A FRIEND OF MINE AND I HAD GONE TO THE MALL
IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT. >> Reporter: MELISSA WINTON WAS
18 AND JUST STARTING HER SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
MELISSA CONTINUES -- >> WE HAD WALKED INTO THIS ONE
STORE. IT WAS A SURF SHOP
AND HE WAS EMPLOYED THERE. >> Reporter: HE WAS A
19-YEAR-OLD REGGIE KIMBRO. >> WE'RE JUST KINDA, LIKE,
FLIRTING BACK WITH EACH OTHER, WHATNOT.
UM, WE ENDED UP EXCHANGING NUMBERS IN THE STORE
>> Reporter: SOUNDS LIKE HE WAS INTERESTED, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU WERE TOO >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: LATE THAT NIGHT, KIMBRO TEXTED MELISSA AND
INVITED HER TO HIS HOUSE HE TOLD HER TO COME IN THROUGH
HIS BEDROOM WINDOW BECAUSE HIS PARENTS WERE ASLEEP.
THEY TALKED, AND THEN WHEN HE MADE A FEW MOVES, SHE SAID NO.
>> AND THAT'S WHEN HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, CAN I GET ORAL SEX
FOR $200?" AND IMMEDIATELY I WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND AS HE'S WALKING ME OUT TO MY CAR, HE WAS, LIKE, BEING KIND
OF, LIKE, APOLOGETIC IN A SENSE. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS THEY TOOK
A WALK IN A NEARBY PARK AND TALKED
THINGS ARE IN A BETTER PLACE >> RIGHT
AND I, LIKE, LEAN IN TO GIVE HIM A HUG, AND THEN THE NEXT THING I
KNOW IS, LIKE, SNAP, LIKE, I'M JUST ON THE GROUND
MY PANTS ARE DOWN. HE'S ON TOP OF ME.
AND HIS HANDS ARE AROUND MY THROAT
AND I BECAME KINDA LIGHT HEADED. AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAIN JUST
FROZE AND I JUST -- I LAID THERE.
AND I JUST SAT THERE WHILE HE CONTINUED TO ATTACK ME
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS KIMBRO VIOLENTLY RAPED HER.
>> HE WOULD TELL ME LIKE, "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP."
WHEN HE DID THAT, HE THEN, LIKE, MUFFED MY FACE, LIKE, OVER MY
NOSE AND MY MOUTH. >> Reporter: YOU'RE LUCKY TO
STILL BE HERE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "I'M NEVER GONNA SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN.
I'M NEVER GONNA SEE SUNLIGHT LIKE, THIS IS IT?"
>> Reporter: AFTERWARD, HE FORCED HER BACK INTO HER CAR AND
THEY DROVE FOR HOURS FINALLY HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR
AND SHE WENT HOME. >> AND I RUN STRAIGHT TO MY
PARENTS' ROOM. AND I -- ALL I CAN SAY IS, LIKE,
"I WAS RAPED I WAS RAPED.
>> Reporter: HER PARENTS TOOK
HER TO THE E.R. WHERE A NURSE DID A RAPE KIT
AND THEN THEY WENT TO POLICE >> YOU START WHEN YOU'RE READY
>> LIKE, HE WOULDN'T LET GO OF ME
YOU KNOW I TRIED TO, LIKE -- LIKE, SCREAM
OR SOMETHING AND THEN HE WOULD, LIKE, CHOKE
ME AGAIN >> Reporter: MELISSA TOLD HER
STORY MULTIPLE TIMES TO PLANO PD DETECTIVE JON HOFFMAN
>> AND WHEN HE CHOKED YOU, KINDA DEMONSTRATE WHAT HE WAS DOING
WHEN HE DID THAT >> WELL, I HAVE, LIKE, BRUISES
KIND OF. >> YEAH, I SEE A LITTLE BIT
THERE. >> Reporter: SHE QUICKLY
REALIZED THE DETECTIVE SEEMED TO HAVE HIS DOUBTS RIGHT FROM THE
START. >> DO YOU THINK HE KNEW HE WAS
HURTING YOU, OR DO YOU THINK THAT HE THOUGHT THAT YOU WANTED
TO BE CHOKED OR -- >> I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS, LIKE -- >> I MEAN, THERE -- 'CAUSE THERE
ARE PEOPLE THAT -- THAT LIKE THAT
I DON'T KNOW >> Reporter: YOU HEARD THAT
RIGHT. HE ASKED A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL
IF PERHAPS HER ATTACKER THOUGHT SHE ENJOYED IT
POLICE THEN SPOKE WITH REGGIE KIMBRO.
AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GUESS WHAT HE SAID
HE CLAIMED THE SEX WITH MELISSA WAS CONSENSUAL, JUST AS HE WOULD
ABOUT KATIE COATS TWO YEARS LATER.
>> UH, WE HAVE SEX FOR, UH -- FOR, LIKE, THREE MINUTES
UH - UH, WE'RE JUST LAYIN' DOWN
AFTERWARDS AND I WAS LIKE, "I'M PRETTY
TIRED. I JUST WANNA GO HOME."
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, LET'S GO."
>> Reporter: HE SAID MELISSA WAS JUST ANGRY THAT SHE COULDN'T
SPEND THE NIGHT AT HIS HOUSE >> SHE'S LIKE, "NO -- YOU.
YOU'RE A" -- AND I TURN AROUND, AND I WALK
HOME >> Reporter: REGGIE CONSENTED TO
A POLYGRAPH. >> DID YOU USE ANY PHYSICAL
FORCE TO GET MELISSA TO HAVE SEX?
>> NO. >> DID YOU CHOKE MELISSA LIKE
SHE CLAIMED? >> NO.
>> Reporter: AND ACCORDING TO THE EXAMINER, REGGIE KIMBRO WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH. HE PASSED THE POLYGRAPH.
>> OKAY, REGGIE, YOUR POLYGRAPH RESULTS SHOW NO DECEPTION
INDICATED. SO I CAN TELL DETECTIVE HOFFMAN
THAT, IN MY OPINION, THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND THAT TAKES CARE OF IT BEIN' A SEXUAL ASSAULT
>> Reporter: WITH THAT, DETECTIVE HOFFMAN, APPARENTLY
PERSUADED BY THE RESULTS OF THAT POLYGRAPH, OR PERHAPS BY HIS OWN
SKEPTICISM, DECIDED THERE WAS NO WINNABLE CASE HERE
>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, IS WHAT YOU SAID TO ME ABOUT THE REPORT
AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID TRUE
>> YES LIKE -
>> OKAY. >> THIS IS STUPID.
LIKE, NOBODY'S BELIEVING ME. >> I KNOW.
I KNOW IT'S -- IT -- IT'S NOT THAT I'M
NOT BELIEVING YOU. I'M JUST SEEING THINGS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE >> Reporter: ALL OF THAT DROVE
MELISSA TO A BREAKING POINT. >> I DON'T EVEN WANNA DO THIS
ANYMORE BECAUSE, LIKE, HONESTLY, LIKE, I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED Y'ALL PROBABLY DON'T
I DON'T WANNA TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT THIS ANYMORE
LIKE, I JUST WANT IT TO BE OVER WITH
LIKE, NOBODY'S BELIEVING ME. AND I'M STARTING TO REALIZE,
LIKE, I CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY. LIKE, IT'S JUST HARD
>> Reporter: HERE'S HOW THE DETECTIVE EXPLAINED IT TO
MELISSA'S FATHER >> IF I'M SITTING ON A JURY,
HERE'S WHAT THE APPEARANCE IS GONNA BE
SHE LIED TO YOU. SHE SNUCK IN THE GUY'S WINDOW.
THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THEY WANTED TO.
SHE HAD SEX WITH A GUY THAT SHE MET EARLIER IN THE DAY
AND HE WAS A HORSE'S ASS TO HER AFTERWARDS
SHE'S VINDICTIVE, AND SHE MADE THIS WHOLE THING UP BECAUSE NONE
OF THE EVIDENCE GOES THERE >> Reporter: MELISSA SAYS SHE
COULD SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT WAS NOT
SHE DROPPED THE CASE >> ARE YOU WANTING THIS CASE
PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY? >> NO.
>> OKAY. ARE YOU WANTING THE
INVESTIGATION IN THIS CASE TO STOP
>> YES >> Reporter: WHAT'S THAT LIKE TO
HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS AND DONE THE RIGHT THING, THE DIFFICULT
THING, THE PAINFUL THING, REPORT IT, GET A RAPE KIT DONE, GO
THROUGH A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH POLICE, AND ESSENTIALLY HAVE IT
LEAD NOWHERE BECAUSE -- BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU?
>> UH-HUH. UM, IT'S HARD.
AND IT'S JUST LONELY IT -- I MEAN, IT -- IT SUCKS
THERE -- THERE'S JUST NO WORDS REALLY
IT JUST -- IT SUCKS. IT JUST SUCKS.
>> Reporter: NOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, FORT WORTH DETECTIVES
WERE LEARNING ABOUT MELISSA'S STORY.
AND KATIE'S STORY. AND PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
>> BOTH VICTIMS DESCRIBED BEIN' CHOKED
UH, BOTH VICTIMS DESCRIBE, UH, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PORTION OF
THEIR CASES WERE VERY SIMILAR. >> Reporter: AND BOTH TALK ABOUT
A SORT OF HAIR TRIGGER MOMENT IN WHICH HE TURNS FROM
ACQUAINTANCE, FRIEND, MAYBE POSSIBLE BOYFRIEND, TO RAPIST.
>> YES SO THOSE WERE SOME SIMILARITIES
THAT I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED AS HAPPENING TO MOLLY AS WELL
>> Reporter: FORT WORTH DETECTIVES SAW REGGIE KIMBRO AS
A MURDER SUSPECT AND MAYBE ALSO A SERIAL RAPIST.
SULLIVAN HAD LOOKED AT MELISSA WINTON'S CASE FROM FIVE YEARS
EARLIER AND THOUGHT THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST KIMBRO
ON THAT OLD CHARGE >> YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE A
POLYGRAPH. >> NO, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A --
POLYGRAPH. >> Reporter: SO WHEN KIMBRO
WALKED OUT OF THEIR INTERVIEW, SULLIVAN'S FIRST CALL WAS TO
PLANO DETECTIVE JON HOFFMAN. >> I ASKED AT THAT TIME, "IS
THERE ANY WAY WE COULD OBTAIN AN ARREST WARRANT FOR THE RAPE CASE
BACK IN 2012?" AND I WAS TOLD THAT WE COULD
NOT. >> Reporter: SO PLANO'S STICKIN'
BY THEIR GUNS? THEY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN 2012,
AND THEY DIDN'T WANNA DO ANYTHING NOW
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: A LITTLE MORE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AT THAT
POINT. INSTEAD, REGGIE KIMBRO WAS ONCE
AGAIN BACK IN A FAMILIAR PLACE -- A WORLD WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCES >>> COMING UP --
>> WE BELIEVED THAT THE KILLER WAS GETTING RID OF THE EVIDENCE
THROUGH THE WASHING MACHINE. >> COULD THE WASHER HELP SOLVE
MOLLY'S MURDER DETECTIVES ARE ABOUT TO TAKE
THAT THEORY FOR A SPIN >> Reporter: FORT WORTH
DETECTIVES WANTED REGGIE KIMBRO OFF THE STREETS OF TEXAS, EXCEPT
THEY LACKED THE EVIDENCE TO ARREST HIM
AFTER PLANO POLICE DECLINED TO ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT FOR
KIMBRO, DETECTIVES SULLIVAN AND ANDERSON KNEW IT WAS NOW UP TO
THEM FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY
CAMERAS, THEY KNEW HE'D LEFT MOLLY'S HOUSE ABOUT 2:00 A.M.
THE NIGHT OF HER MURDER. THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM
WHAT HE'D TOLD POLICE. HE SAID HE LEFT AT 1:30?
IS THAT RIGHT? >> CORRECT
HE SAYS ABOUT 1:30 HE LEAVES, AND THEN HE JUST STARTS DRIVING
UP TOWARDS OKLAHOMA. >> Reporter: THAT HALF HOUR
SIGNIFICANT? >> AT THAT POINT, INITIALLY, WE
WEREN'T SURE IF IT WAS SIGNIFICANT OR NOT
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER ON -- THEN IT BECAME VERY SIGNIFICANT
>> Reporter: CRIME SCENE TECHS HAD FOUND THAT BED SHEET AND
CLOTHING IN THE WASHING MACHINE. >> WE BELIEVED AT THAT TIME THAT
THE KILLER WAS TRYIN' TO COVER HIS TRACKS BY, UH, GETTING RID
OF THE EVIDENCE THROUGH THE WASHING MACHINE.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO PROVE SOMEHOW THAT REGGIE WAS THE LAST PERSON
THAT CAME AND WENT FROM MOLLY'S HOUSE.
AND DURING THE INTERVIEW WITH REGGIE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
KIND OF STUCK INTO OUR HEAD WAS HIM TALKING ABOUT WHAT MOLLY WAS
WEARING THAT DAY WHENEVER HE WAS OVER THERE
>> OKAY. WHAT WAS SHE WEARING
>> WHAT THE -- WAS SHE -- SHE WAS WEARING A T-SHIRT.
SOME, UH, LIKE, THOSE NIKE SHORTS
THEY COME, LIKE, RIGHT HERE. THEY WERE YELLOW AND BLACK
>> AND THAT SOUNDED VERY IDENTICAL TO A PAIR OF SHORTS
THAT WAS FOUND IN THE WASHING MACHINE THAT WAS STILL WET FROM
ACTUALLY BEIN' IN THE SPIN CYCLE FROM WHENEVER WE ARRIVED
>> Reporter: AND REMEMBER, THEY'D ALSO FOUND A PAIR OF
MEN'S UNDERWEAR IN THE MACHINE SO YOU GUYS START THINKING,
"WHEN DID THAT WASHING MACHINE START?
>> EXACTLY IF WE COULD PROVE EXACTLY WHEN
THAT WASHING MACHINE STARTED, THEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVE
WHETHER REGGIE WAS THERE WHEN IT STARTED OR WHETHER HE WASN'T
THERE. >> Reporter: OKAY.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT >> SO DETECTIVE SULLIVAN THOUGHT
OF THE WATER USAGE HE CONTACTED THE CITY AN
ASKED THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY MONITOR WATER USAGE
AND THEY BASICALLY INFORMED US THEY CHECK IT, YOU KNOW, FROM
THE METER AT THE STREET ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AND THAT'S IT
THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL WHEN IT'S USED THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR WHAT
DAY IT IS. >> Reporter: THEN SULLIVAN
THOUGHT, "WHAT ABOUT ELECTRICITY?
WASHING MACHINES USE A TON OF POWER.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA. >> YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. >> Reporter: YEAH.
'CAUSE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD HUNCH 'CAUSE THAT
WAS A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. >> THAT WAS A HUMONGOUS PIECE OF
THE PUZZLE >> Reporter: THEY CONTACTED THE
ELECTRIC COMPANY -- ONCOR. >> AND THEY INFORMED US THAT
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SMART METERS THAT MONITOR THE ELECTRICITY
USAGE EVERY 15 MINUTES, WHICH WAS PERFECT FOR US
THEY WERE ABLE TO SEND US A ELECTRICITY USAGE REPORT FOR
MOLLY'S HOUSE FOR THAT ENTIRE TIME SPAN.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT DOES THAT REVEAL
>> SO IT REVEALS DURING -- FROM MIDNIGHT TILL ABOUT 1:30, THE
ELECTRICITY USAGE IS PRETTY STEADY, PRETTY NORMAL.
BUT THEN, AT 1:45, IT ALMOST DOUBLES TO ALMOST TRIPLE -
>> Reporter: AND YOU RAN THE WASHING MACHINE TO SEE WHAT THAT
DOES TO THE ELECTRICITY MONITORING
>> CORRECT SO AFTER WE GOT THAT REPORT, WE
WANTED TO TRY TO MIMIC IT. SO WE MET WITH ONCOR OUT AT
MOLLY'S HOUSE. I HAD THEM SET THE METERS BACK
UP TO MONITOR IT AND WE WAITED, TURNED THE
WASHING MACHINE BACK TO THE NORMAL CYCLE THAT IT WAS ON
WHENEVER WE FOUND IT AND WATCHED THE ELECTRICITY BASICALLY
REPLICATE EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW PREVIOUSLY
AND IT DOUBLED AND TRIPLED, AND THEN CAME BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL
STATE. >> Reporter: JUST AS IT HAD AT
1:45 A.M. ON THE NIGHT OF MOLLY'S MURDER
SO REGGIE KIMBRO IS THERE WHEN THE WASHING MACHINE STARTS
>> EXACTLY HE -- WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT
THAT HE WAS THERE WHEN THE WASHING MACHINE STARTED
AT 1:45 'CAUSE WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT HE DIDN'T LEAVE THE
AREA UNTIL 2:00 THAT MORNING >> Reporter: THAT'S PRETTY
SMART. THAT'S PRETTY SMART THINKING
>> IT WAS BRILLIANT. DETECTIVE SULLIVAN, HE CAN COME
UP WITH SOMETHIN' OUT OF HIS HAT PRETTY GOOD.
>> Reporter: ON THAT DAY, IT HAD ONLY BEEN A WEEK SINCE MOLLY'S
MURDER AND POLICE STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE
RESULTS OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT, NO TOXICOLOGY, NO DNA
RESULTS, STILL NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A CASE.
ARE YOU WORRIED TO HAVE HIM OUT THERE RUNNING AROUND FREE?
>> AT THIS POINT, I WAS WORRIED BASED ON THE WAY HE LEFT
BECAUSE I KNEW AFTER BEIN' CONFRONTED FOR A CAPITAL MURDER,
YOU MAY BECOME DESPERATE >> Reporter: AND THE LAST TIME
THEY SAW HIM, REGGIE KIMBRO WAS AGITATED
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN. YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M -- YEAH, I'M DONE. I DIDN'T KILL MOLLY.
Y'ALL ARE OUT OF YOUR -- MINDS >> Reporter: YOU'VE LOOKED BACK
AT THAT MOMENT A BUNCH OF TIMES, I'M GUESSING
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: BECAUSE OF WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT? >> YES, SIR.
>>> COMING UP -- ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN, ANOTHER
HEARTBREAKING CRIME. >> I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN AND
MY HUSBAND AND I SAYING, "THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL."
AND YOU DON'T DARE VOICE THAT THAT BAD THING COULD BE GOING
ON >> Reporter: BECAUSE SAYING IT
MAKES IT TRUE. >> BECAUSE SAYING IT MAKES IT
TRUE
FORT WORTH POLICE SAW REGGIE KIMBRO, HE WAS LEAVING
THEIR STATION, MINUS HIS CELL PHONE, BUT OTHERWISE A FREE MAN.
SO HE WALKS OUT? >> YES
>> Reporter: AND YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, "THERE GOES A
MURDERER"? >> VERY SUSPICIOUS OF IT
>> WE KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO GET HIM OFF THE
STREETS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE >> Reporter: YEAH.
NOT QUICK ENOUGH >> NO, SIR, UNFORTUNATELY NOT.
>> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER KIMBRO STORMED OUT OF THE
FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT ON FRIDAY APRIL 14th, 36-YEAR-OLD
MEGAN GETRUM WENT FOR HER USUAL AFTER WORK HIKE AT THIS NATURE
PRESERVE IN PLANO. AS SHE WALKED THESE TRAILS, SHE
TEXTED WITH HER MOM, DIANE, ABOUT A RESTAURANT THEY'D BEEN
TO IT WAS ABOUT 8:45 P.M.
>> AND SHE TEXTED BACK, "YES, THAT'S REALLY NEAT
WE SHOULD GO BACK THERE. AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE
TEXT >> Reporter: SOUNDS LIKE
EVERYTHING'S NORMAL AS OF FRIDAY NIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. EVERYTHING'S NORMAL.
>> Reporter: FOR MEGAN, NORMAL DIDN'T MEAN SITTING AROUND
SHE WAS A WHIZ AT COMPUTER CODING WHO ALSO LOVED GETTING
AWAY FROM THE DIGITAL WORLD. HER BROTHER JEFF
>> MEGAN WAS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO'D, UH, JUST GO SOMEWHERE
COOL AND SEE EVERYTHING THERE WAS TO SEE AND THEN COME BACK
AND SHOW EVERYBODY HER PICTURES OF IT.
>> SHE ALSO TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES OF HER CATS
SO SHE WAS A -- A CAT MOTHER AND EVERYTHING HER CATS DID WAS
CUTE AND SHE PHOTOGRAPHED EVERYTHING
HER CATS DID >> Reporter: SO THERE SHE WAS
FRIDAY EVENING, HIKING IN A LOCAL PARK AND TEXTING HER MOM
NO ONE IN HER FAMILY THOUGHT ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL SUNDAY
WHEN MEGAN DIDN'T SHOW AT HER BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
ON MONDAY, SHE DIDN'T GO TO WORK
THAT'S WHEN HER BROTHER WENT TO HER APARTMENT.
>> LIGHTS WERE ON. THERE'S A PILE OF PROBABLY CLEAN
LAUNDRY WAITING TO BE FOLDED ON THE FLOOR.
AND IT JUST LOOKED LIKE SHE'D STEPPED OUT FOR A BIT AND HADN'T
MADE IT BACK YET AND IT'S LIKE, "SURELY SHE'S
JUST BUSY. SO I WOKE UP AT, LIKE, 5:00 A.M.
AND DROVE BACK TO HER APARTMENT, AND IT WAS THE EXACT SAME STATE
AS WHEN I LEFT IT THE NIGHT BEFORE
AND AT ABOUT NOON, WE DECIDED THAT WE JUST NEEDED TO CALL THE
POLICE AND START THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND HER
INSTEAD OF JUST WANDERING AROUND ON OUR OWN
>> THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE US IN THE BEGINNING.
I REMEMBER IT WASN'T UNTIL I TOLD THE POLICEMAN THAT THE CATS
HAVE NOT BEEN FED AND SHE WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND LEAVE HER
CATS ALONE SO AFTER THAT, OUR POLICE REALLY
WORKED HARD FOR US, I FELT >> Reporter: PLANO DETECTIVE
AARON BENZICK GOT THE CASE YOU'RE KINDA BEHIND THE EIGHT
BALL AT THAT POINT 'CAUSE THIS PERSON'S MISSING FOR
A WHILE. >> RIGHT
AND IN THIS CASE, WE GOT THE CALL ON TUESDAY, WHICH WAS FOUR
DAYS SINCE MEGAN HAD LAST BEEN TALKED TO.
>> Reporter: I'M GUESSING AS TIME GOES ON, YOU'RE GETTING
INCREASINGLY FRANTIC >> I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN AND
MY HUSBAND AND I SAYING, "THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL."
AND YOU DON'T DARE VOICE THAT THAT BAD THING COULD BE GOING
ON >> Reporter: BECAUSE SAYING IT
MAKES IT TRUE SOMETIMES. >> BECAUSE SAYING IT MAKES IT
TRUE AND I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE TRUE.
>> Reporter: IN HER HEART, MEGAN'S MOM PROBABLY KNEW HER
DAUGHTER WAS NOT ON SOME EXOTIC ADVENTURE.
AND ONCE HE GOT A LOOK AT MEGAN'S APARTMENT, BENZICK SAW
THE SAME THINGS HER FAMILY HAD >> WE FOUND HER WALLET AND KEYS
WERE ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER. YOU KNOW, HER LAPTOP WAS THERE,
NO INDICATION THAT SHE WAS TRAVELING.
AND WE FOUND HER VEHICLE PARKED OUTSIDE OF HER BUILDING.
>> Reporter: AND NOTHING UNUSUAL THERE?
>> NOTHING UNUSUAL >> Reporter: BENZICK LOOKED AT
VIDEO FROM COMPLEX SECURITY. >> AND WE FIND THAT AROUND 7:00,
A LITTLE AFTER 7:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE CAN SEE MEGAN
WALKING TOWARDS THE NATURE PRESERVE
>> Reporter: AND DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYTHING'S WRONG.
>> NO, SHE SEEMS COMFORTABLE UM, SHE'S DRESSED IN A KIND OF A
RED AND ORANGE FLORAL SHIRT. >> Reporter: AND NOBODY'S WITH
HER? >> NOBODY'S WITH HER
SHE'S ALONE. >> Reporter: HE CALLED IN SEARCH
TEAMS. >> AND WE STARTED BY BRINGING IN
THE CANINE DOGS. WE HAD THEM SEARCH
UH, COULDN'T FIND ANY SIGNS OF MEGAN.
WE ALSO BROUGHT IN HELICOPTERS THEY USED THEIR THERMAL CAMERAS,
COVER THE WHOLE PARK, TRIED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY SIGNS OF
LIFE >> Reporter: THEY FOUND NONE
>> AT THAT POINT, WE'RE FEELING COMFORTABLE THAT SHE'S NOT IN
THE PARK ANYMORE BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS
>> Reporter: THE NEXT MORNING, BENZICK HEARD NEWS THAT STOPPED
HIM COLD >> THAT WEDNESDAY MORNING, I GOT
A CALL FROM ONE OF OUR INTEL DETECTIVES
SAID, "HEY, THERE'S A BULLETIN OUT FROM DALLAS POLICE HOMICIDE
UNIT THAT THEY HAVE AN UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE THAT GOT
FOUND IN LAKE RAY HUBBARD," WHICH IS OVER 20 MILES AWAY FROM
WHERE WE ARE >> Reporter: WHAT MADE YOU THINK
THAT MIGHT BE MEGAN? >> SO THEY HAD A DESCRIPTOR OF
THE CLOTHING BEING WORN. AND IT WAS KINDA THAT SAME, YOU
KNOW, RED, YELLOW, FLOWERED SHIRT.
>> Reporter: YOU GO OVER THERE TO SEE HER, IDENTIFY HER
>> YEAH. SO NEXT WE GO TO THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER'S OFFICE FOR DALLAS COUNTY
AND FROM VISUALLY LOOKING AT HER, I COULD TELL THAT IT WAS
MEGAN. >> Reporter: A FINGERPRINT
COMPARISON WITH HER DRIVER'S LICENSE CONFIRMED IT, AND THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID MEGAN'S CAUSE OF DEATH WAS READILY
APPARENT >> THEY'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE,
FROM THE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA, FROM THE COMPRESSION ON THE
NECK, THAT THIS IS IN FACT A HOMICIDE
>>> COMING UP -- WHO MURDERED MEGAN
>> YOU DON'T SEE HOW THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED TO SOMEONE YOU
LOVE >> AND WHO MURDERED MOLLY?
AT LAST, THE EVIDENCE IS IN. AND DETECTIVES SAY IT'S A SLAM
DUNK >> Reporter: FIVE DAYS AFTER
MEGAN GETRUM DISAPPEARED, PLANO, TEXAS, POLICE BROKE SOME AWFUL
NEWS TO HER FAMILY >> THEY SAID, "WE FOUND MEGAN,
AND SHE'S DEAD." I MUST'VE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES,
"ARE YOU SURE? HOW CAN YOU BE SURE?
IT'S NOT HER." >> Reporter: FROM HER PRINTS,
DETECTIVES WERE SURE >> YOU DON'T SEE HOW THIS
COULD'VE HAPPENED TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE
AND -- AND IT WAS JUST THE MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE,
JUST KNOWING THAT I'D NEVER SEE THAT STUPID GRIN AGAIN
A WHOLE HOLE OPENED UP IN MY HEART THAT STILL ISN'T FILLED.
>> Reporter: NOW DETECTIVE AARON BENZICK WAS TRYING TO FIND
HER KILLER >> WE REALLY START TRYING TO GET
THE WORD OUT THERE, DO MEDIA RELEASES
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I GOT A BREAK FROM ONE OF OUR OWN
OFFICERS THEY WERE DOING A CURFEW CHECK
AT THE -- IN THE NATURE PRESERVE THAT NIGHT
>> YOU HAVE A TEXAS I.D. >> Reporter: POLICE DASH CAMS
ROLLED AS OFFICERS SAW A GROUP OF TEENAGERS
THIS IS FROM THE NIGHT MEGAN WENT MISSING
>> YOU EVER BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE
>> NO, SIR >> NEVER
>> NO, SIR >> Reporter: WHAT STORY DID THEY
TELL >> THEY NOTICED THAT A VEHICLE
WAS KINDA CIRCLING AROUND THEM SOMEONE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE
AND STARTED APPROACHING 'EM. AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAYS, "HEY,
DID YOU GUYS FIND A PHONE? I'M LOOKING FOR MY CELL PHONE IN
THIS AREA, AND I WAS HERE IN THE PARK EARLIER IN THE DAY AND LOST
IT." >> HOW LONG AGO DID THAT GUY
COME BY? >> 15 MINUTES.
NOT EVEN FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO, I WOULD SAY.
NOT EVEN >> AND HE JUST RAN OFF
>> HE WAS DESCRIBED AS A BLACK MALE IN HIS EARLY 20s.
AND THEY JUST HEAR THAT HE'S LOOKING FOR A PHONE, A LOST
PHONE. SO IT DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY CAUSE
ANY KIND OF MAJOR CONCERN. >> Reporter: ON THEIR WAY OUT,
THE OFFICERS DROVE BY THE CAR -- A BLUE BUICK PARK AVENUE
ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS OR UNUSUAL ABOUT THE CAR?
>> NO. THEY RAN THE TAG
NOTHING POPPED UP. >> Reporter: BENZICK RAN THE
PLATE AGAIN. WHO'S THAT COME BACK TO --
>> I RAN THE PAPER TAG IT CAME BACK TO A
REGINALD KEMBRO, SPELLED K-E-M-B-R-O.
AND I CHECK THAT INDIVIDUAL, AND IT COMES BACK TO AN OLDER BLACK
MALE THAT DOESN'T MATCH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPICIOUS
PERSON THAT WAS REPORTED IN THE PARK
>> Reporter: HOWEVER, IT DID MATCH THE OWNER'S SON --
REGINALD KIMBRO, K-I-M-B-R-O AND BENZICK SOON FOUND OUT THAT
REGGIE KIMBRO WAS NOT ONLY SEEN DRIVING THAT BUICK -- HE WAS
ALSO A PERSON OF INTEREST IN A HOMICIDE OVER IN FORT WORTH.
SO NOW YOU'VE CONNECTED THAT CAR TO REGGIE KIMBRO, WHO IS A
SUSPECT IN MOLLY MATHESON'S MURDER
>> RIGHT IT'S AT THAT MOMENT WHEN WE KIND
OF HAVE THIS EUREKA MOMENT WHEN I REALIZE REGINALD KIMBRO HAD
KILLED MEGAN GETRUM. >> THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR
MEGAN GETRUM THE 36-YEAR-OLD WAS AT THE PARK
THE NIGHT OF APRIL 14th, THEN VANISHED
>> Reporter: MEGAN GETRUM'S MURDER MADE THE NEWS FOR A FEW
DAYS AND FORT WORTH DETECTIVE
KYLE SULLIVAN HAD SEEN THE REPORTS.
IT DIDN'T SEEM CONNECTED TO ANYTHING IN HIS WORLD UNTIL THE
PHONE RANG >> I HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM
ANOTHER PLANO DETECTIVE WHO ASKED ME IF I HAD HEARD ABOUT
THE BODY FOUND IN THE LAKE I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD, AND HE
INFORMED ME THAT REGINALD KIMBRO'S VEHICLE WAS
SEEN IN THE PARK THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING
AND THAT'S WHEN ALARM BELLS WENT OFF.
>> Reporter: AND YOU GET A BAD FEELING IN YOUR STOMACH, DON'T
YOU? >> OH, YES
I KNOW ALMOST WITH 100% CERTAINTY HE WAS PROBABLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR IT >> Reporter: HE WALKED OUT OF
THAT INTERVIEW WITH YOU AND COMMITTED A MURDER
>> YES >> Reporter: THAT'S NOT A GOOD
FEELING. >> NO, IT'S NOT.
>> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN 13 DAYS SINCE REGGIE KIMBRO STORMED OUT
OF THE FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT
DETECTIVES STILL DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORENSIC RESULTS BACK ON MOLLY,
JUST THOSE ELECTRICITY RECORDS SUGGESTING KIMBRO HAD STARTED
HER WASHING MACHINE THAT NIGHT NOW WITH NEWS OF ANOTHER MURDER,
DETECTIVES REALIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD WAITED TOO LONG.
>> I WENT AHEAD AND ISSUED A MURDER WARRANT FOR THE MURDER OF
MOLLY. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE
PLANO S.W.A.T. TEAM. >> Reporter: REGGIE KIMBRO WAS
ARRESTED AS HE LEFT HIS FATHER'S HOME IN PLANO AND BROUGHT BACK
TO THAT SAME FORT WORTH INTERROGATION ROOM
>> YOU'VE BEEN ARRESTED FOR MURDER, THE MURDER OF
MOLLY MATHESON OKAY
UH, I WROTE THAT WARRANT JUST TODAY.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS THE MOMENT WHEN THE FORMERLY LOQUACIOUS
REGGIE KIMBRO CLAMMED UP >> WITH THESE RIGHTS IN MIND,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT
>> NO. >> DO YOU REQUEST YOUR ATTORNEY?
>> YEP >> Reporter: ONE QUESTION
TROUBLED THOSE FORT WORTH DETECTIVES BACK THEN AND TODAY
COULD KIMBRO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SOONER, PREVENTING THE DEATH OF
MEGAN GETRUM TARRANT COUNTY PROSECUTORS
PAGE SIMPSON AND ALLENA BANGS SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT
>> AT THAT POINT, THEY HADN'T DEVELOPED ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CELL PHONE INFORMATION.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DNA >> Reporter: SO THERE'S NOTHING
FORT WORTH COULD'VE DONE TO HOLD HIM?
>> THE THING THAT FORT WORTH DID -- AND THAT COULD HAVE
WORKED OUT -- IS THEY CALLED THE DETECTIVE ON THE ORIGINAL PLANO
CASE AND SAID, "YOU HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST HIM ON
THAT AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT." >> Reporter: AND PLANO WOULDN'T
DO IT. >> THEY DID NOT DO IT.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WOULD PLANO REFUSE TO
ARREST REGGIE KIMBRO WITH FORT WORTH SAYING, "WE WANT YOU TO
TAKE THIS GUY" >> IF YOUR QUESTION FOR ME IS,
"WAS THERE PROBABLE CAUSE TO MAKE AN ARREST FOR A SEXUAL
ASSAULT," THERE ABSOLUTELY WAS >> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, IS WHAT
YOU SAID TO ME ABOUT THE REPORT AND THE --
EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID TRUE? >> YES
LIKE - >> OKAY.
>> THIS IS STUPID. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE
FINAL INTERVIEW WITH OUR VICTIM IN PLANO AND THE DETECTIVE, HE
CLEARLY DID NOT BELIEVE HER. >> Reporter: ONLY AFTER KIMBRO'S
ARREST DID FORENSIC EVIDENCE SEAL THE DEAL.
>> MOLLY HAD INDEED BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
>> Reporter: BY HIM? >> BY HIM.
>> Reporter: THEY ALSO FOUND KIMBRO'S DNA ON THAT UNDERWEAR
IN THE WASHING MACHINE AND IN THE SHOWER WHERE THEY FOUND
MOLLY'S BODY AND THEN THE TOXICOLOGY CAME
BACK >> WELL, IT SHOWED THAT MOLLY
HAD THE DATE RAPE DRUG, OR GHB, IN HER SYSTEM.
>> Reporter: SO SHE INVITES HIM OVER
HE COMES OVER. AND THEN AT SOME POINT, HE GIVES
HER GHB AND RAPES HER? >> YES
>> Reporter: AND I GUESS DURING THAT, KILLS HER?
>> YES >> Reporter: DNA EVIDENCE ALSO
SHOWED MEGAN GETRUM'S BODY HAD BEEN IN THE TRUNK OF KIMBRO'S
BUICK AND THAT HE HAD SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER.
FOR YEARS, REGGIE KIMBRO HAD EVADED PROSECUTION
NOW TWO WOMEN WERE DEAD. AND SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES HAD QUESTIONS THEY NEEDED TO ANSWER
>>> COMING UP -- >> Reporter: WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
IS THAT YOUR DETECTIVE DID NOT BELIEVE THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE
AND SENT THIS GUY BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET WHERE HE COMMITTED
TWO MURDERS. >> WHAT HE HAS TO GO BY IS WHAT
DOES THE EVIDENCE SHOW >> YOU HAVE DNA.
YOU HAVE STRANGULATION MARKS THERE IS CERTAINLY PROBABLE
CAUSE.
IN THE TARRANT COUNTY JAIL, CHARGED WITH THE CAPITAL MURDER
OF MOLLY MATHESON. DETECTIVES WERE ALSO CONVINCED
HE'D KILLED MEGAN GETRUM LESS THAN A WEEK LATER.
NOW, REMEMBER THOSE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM
THAT WERE NEVER PROSECUTED >> THE MINUTE THAT
DETECTIVE SULLIVAN WRITES THE WARRANT FOR REGGIE, WE GET HIM
ARRESTED THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THESE
CASES JUST START BOMBARDING, YOU KNOW, BEING FILED ALL OF A
SUDDEN WITH NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S -- WAS EVER
OBTAINED BESIDES MOLLY'S DEATH AND MEGAN'S DEATH.
>> Reporter: VICTORY HAS A THOUSAND FATHERS
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
AND PLANO SUDDENLY BOTH INDICTED KIMBRO FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND A THIRD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE AGAINST HIM THAT HAD LINGERED
FOR YEARS IN NEARBY ALLEN, TEXAS, ALSO NOW MADE IT TO A
PROSECUTOR'S DESK. KIMBRO WAS STARING AT THE DEATH
PENALTY FOR MOLLY'S MURDER THEN IN MARCH OF 2022, JUST
BEFORE TRIAL, KIMBRO PERHAPS SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
IN ONE WHIRLWIND SESSION, HE PLED GUILTY TO EVERYTHING.
THESE PROSECUTORS MADE SURE HE WOULD NEVER WALK THE STREETS
AGAIN. >> LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE TO OUR
CASE, THE MURDER OF MOLLY MATHESON
IT IS LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE TO THE MURDER OF MEGAN GETRUM
IT IS A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF KATLIN COATS,
AND THEN 20 YEARS FOR THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF MELISSA WINTON.
AND THEN 20 YEARS ON TWO OTHER CASES IN COLLIN COUNTY, ONE FOR
THE ALLEN CASE, AND ONE FOR A VICTIM WHO CALLED IN TO POLICE
AFTER MOLLY'S MURDER WAS ON THE NEWS
>> Reporter: WERE THE TWO OF YOU OKAY WITH THAT
>> UH, VERY MUCH SO. HE IS NOT GONNA OCCUPY ANY SPACE
IN MY HEAD I'M NOT GONNA THINK ABOUT HIM
AGAIN. >> BASICALLY HIS VOICE HAS BEEN
SILENCED AND WHEN I REALIZED THAT, I
THINK THAT SORT OF WAS LIKE, "YES, THE PLEA DEAL.
THIS IS THE BEST ENDING THAT WE COULD HAVE TO THIS WHOLE
ORDEAL." >> Reporter: FOR MEGAN'S MOM, IT
HELPED A LITTLE. >> IT DID HELP TO HAVE THE --
MR. KIMBRO SAY THAT HE WAS GUILTY
IT DID HELP. AND, UM, I'M CONTENT THAT HE'LL
SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN JAIL
>> Reporter: YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.
IN SOME CASES, POLICE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT GOING
FORWARD, AND IN OTHER CASES, PROSECUTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT
GOING FORWARD. IT'S NOT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOUR
DAUGHTER'S DEATH WAS AT THEIR HAND
BECAUSE IT WASN'T. BUT IT MIGHT KIND OF BE AT THEIR
FEET BECAUSE IF THEY'D DONE
SOMETHING, WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY.
>> THEY HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THAT
CHOICE AND EACH OF 'EM, FOR WHATEVER
REASON, CHOSE NOT TO >> Reporter: NORMALLY AT
"DATELINE," WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE PERSUADING LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO SIT DOWN WITH US. BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE ON THIS
STORY. WE DID SPEAK WITH FORT WORTH PD,
WHICH WAS THE AGENCY PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCKING UP
REGGIE KIMBRO. EVERYONE ELSE, PARTICULARLY THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT EXAMINED RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
AGAINST HIM, WERE CONSIDERABLY MORE RELUCTANT
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND WHO DIDN'T
PROSECUTE KATIE COATS' CASE IN 2014 WOULD NOT DO AN INTERVIEW
NEITHER WOULD SOUTH PADRE ISLAND POLICE
THE ALLEN POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO DECLINED OUR INVITATION BUT IN A
STATEMENT SAID THEY ARE NOW BETTER EQUIPPED TO INVESTIGATE
ASSAULT CASES. WE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH PLANO
DETECTIVE JON HOFFMAN ABOUT HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE
2012 ASSAUL OF MELISSA WINTON. WE WERE TOLD NO.
BUT PLANO POLICE CHIEF, ED DRAIN, DID AGREE TO AN
INTERVIEW. BACK IN 2012, HE WAS ASSISTANT
CHIEF IN CHARGE OF ALL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
I APPRECIATE YOU SITTING DOWN AND TALKING WITH US.
A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS CASE DID NOT WANNA DO THAT
>> I UNDERSTAND. >> Reporter: WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
IS THAT YOUR DETECTIVE DID NOT BELIEVE THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE
AND SENT THIS GUY BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET, WHERE HE COMMITTED
ADDITIONAL ASSAULTS AND TWO MURDERS.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT A MATTER IN HIS MIND OF WHETHER HE BELIEVED
HER OR NOT WHAT HE HAS TO GO BY IS WHAT
DOES THE EVIDENCE SHOW AND HE HAS TO HAVE EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ARREST
>> Reporter: THE CHIEF ALSO SAID MELISSA WINTON STOPPED
COOPERATING. >> THE CASE DID NOT GO FORWARD
BECAUSE THE VICTIM SAID SHE DID NOT WANT HIM TO PRESENT THE CASE
TO THE GRAND JURY. >> Reporter: WELL, BUT THE
VICTIM SAID THAT, ACCORDING TO HER, BECAUSE SHE COULD TELL YOUR
DETECTIVE DIDN'T BELIEVE HER - >> RIGHT -
>> Reporter: AND, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT ASKED HER IF SHE -- IF
SHE ENJOYED SOME PART OF THE ASSAULT, WHICH MADE HER FEEL
LIKE, "I CAN TELL WHICH WAY THIS IS GOING, AND WHERE IT'S GOING
IS NOT IN THE DIRECTION OF BELIEVING ME
WHERE IT'S GOING IS IN THE DIRECTION OF BELIEVING THE GUY
THAT I'M ACCUSING. >> WE DID NOT HAVE THE EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT -- THE PROBABLE CAUSE TO GET AN ARREST, TO ARREST
KIMBRO THAT'S JUST THE FACT
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR ALLENNA BANGS, IN NEIGHBORING TARRANT
COUNTY, DISAGREES. >> YOU HAVE AN ACUTE OUTCRY.
YOU HAVE A SANE EXAM YOU HAVE GRASS IN THE HAIR,
PHYSICAL BRUISING INJURIES AND THEN YOU HAVE DNA.
YOU HAVE STRANGULATION MARKS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS
CONSISTENT INTERVIEW AFTER INTERVIEW.
THERE IS CERTAINLY PROBABLE CAUSE WITHIN THAT SEXUAL
ASSAULT. AND AGAIN, FAST FORWARD, HE PLED
GUILTY TO IT >> Reporter: WE SPOKE WITH
TARRANT COUNTY PROSECUTORS, WHO SAID YOU ABSOLUTELY DID HAVE
ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST REGGIE KIMBRO.
>> WELL, IN -- I -- YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY, UH, RESPECT, UH,
A.D.A. BANGS' OPINION. BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, ON MY STAFF,
I HAVE AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKED GRAND JURY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
IN OUR COUNTY. AND SHE SAID IT IS NOT THAT
CLEAR CUT THAT WE HAD THE PROBABLE CAUSE TO DO THAT.
>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, IS WHAT YOU SAID TO ME ABOUT THE REPORT
AND THE -- EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID TRUE?
>> YES LIKE -
>> OKAY. >> THIS IS STUPID.
>> I THINK MELISSA DID PICK UP ON THE FACT THAT, UM, HE MAY NOT
HAVE BELIEVED HER. BUT HE DOES HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO LET HER KNOW, "THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS
CASE." >> Reporter: I KNOW YOU'RE NOT
TELLIN' ME THAT YOU GUYS WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT
HERE, 'CAUSE I THINK YOU WOULD IF YOU HAD THIS TO DO OVER
AGAIN. >> THE THING THAT WE'D NEED TO
DO DIFFERENT IN -- IN -- IN THE 2012 CASE IS HOW THE DETECTIVE
TALKED TO THE VICTIM >> Reporter: NOW, REMEMBER, FIVE
YEARS LATER, FORT WORTH POLICE ASKED THAT SAME DETECTIVE TO
ARREST KIMBRO AFTER HE WALKED OUT OF THAT INTERVIEW.
THEY CALL YOUR DEPARTMENT AND SAY, "CAN YOU HOLD HIM ON THE
MELISSA WINTON CASE? AND YOUR DEPARTMENT SAYS, "NO,
WE CAN'T." >> WELL, I DISAGREE WITH THAT
DECISION NOT TO GET -- NOT TO GET A WARRANT AT -- AT THAT
POINT FOR SURE I THINK THAT WE SHOULD'VE MOVED
FORWARD TO TRY TO GET A WARRANT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ALL THAT
OTHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION >> Reporter: CHIEF DRAIN SAYS
HIS DETECTIVES ARE NOW BETTER TRAINED AND WOULD DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY TODAY. AFTER KIMBRO WAS ARRESTED FOR
THE TWO MURDERS, MELISSA CALLED DET. HOFFMAN TO SAY SHE WANTED
TO PRESS CHARGES AND HIS TONE SEEMED TO HAVE
CHANGED CONSIDERABLY >> AND LET ME TELL YOU, I -- I
WILL BE YOUR ADVOCATE ON THIS. >> Reporter: HE ADMITTED
REGGIE KIMBRO HAD FOOLED HIM >> I'LL JUST BE COMPLETELY 100%
HONEST WITH YOU. THE WAY HE LIED WAS CONVINCING
YOU SHOULD SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE THIS
YOUNG MAN COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
>> MM-HM >> I KNOW BETTER
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE HOFFMAN IS STILL ON THE FORCE AT
PLANO PD BY CHOICE, HE IS NO LONGER
INVESTIGATING SEX CRIMES REGGIE KIMBRO DID NOT WANT TO
TALK WITH US ANY MORE THAN SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
THAT FAILED TO PURSUE HIM. EVEN SO, WE MAY NOT HAVE HEARD
THE LAST OF HIM. POLICE AND PROSECUTORS ARE
LOOKING INTO HIS PAST TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER VICTIMS.
THIS ISN'T JUST HAPPENING IN TEXAS.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
UNDERREPORTED CRIMES, IN PART BECAUSE WOMEN OFTEN FEEL THAT
THE PROCESS OF FILING CHARGES IS DIFFICULT, UNPLEASANT, OR
HUMILIATING. AND THEY'RE AFRAID THEY WON'T BE
BELIEVED AND THIS STORY SEEMS TO FIT THAT
PERFECTLY. >> THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT
CAUSES RAPE. AND THAT'S A RAPIST.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WEAR IT'S NOT WHERE YOU ARE
IT'S NOT IF YOU DRINK. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IRRELEVANT.
THE NEXT STEP IS WORKIN' WITH PROSECUTORS TO SUCCESSFULLY
PROSECUTE THESE CASES. BUT THAT STARTS WITH EDUCATING
THE JURY POOL. THE JURORS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IF A GIRL'S NOT ABLE TO CONSENT, THAT IS RAPE.
>> Reporter: REGGIE KIMBRO WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN
PRISON NOW FAMILIES ARE DEALING WITH
THE WRECKAGE HE LEFT BEHIND AS WELL AS THE SENSE THAT THOSE WHO
WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN DID THE OPPOSITE,
PUTTING A RAPIST AND MURDERER BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN AND
AGAIN. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00, 8:00 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.