THEY SAID THEY HEARD SCREAMS COMING FROM THE PARK
>> SHE WAS FOUND NAKED AND BOUND
WITH RED DUCT TAPE
>> WHEN YOU SEE THE PHOTOS, YOU
CAN FEEL THE TERROR.
>> HE LEFT HER FOR DEAD.
>> WE WERE PRETTY SHOCKED, AS A
DNA LABORATORY, THAT THERE WERE
NO OTHER OFFENDERS THAT THIS
CASE MATCHED TO.
>> HOW IS THIS GUY NOT IN THE
SYSTEM
>> Reporter: THEN ONE DAY YOU
GOT A CALL
>> SHE SAID, "THERE'S BEEN AN
UPDATE IN YOUR DUCT TAPE CASE.
IT WAS JUST, LIKE, FINALLY
>> I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHO
THIS GUY WAS FOR SO LONG, I
DON'T THINK ANYTHING COULD HAVE
PREPARED ME FOR THAT ANSWER.
>> HOW DO YOU WRAP YOUR MIND
AROUND THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY
YOU TRUSTED IS THE ONE WHO DID
THIS
>> I CAN JUST PICTURE HIM
SMIRKING
>> Reporter: KIND OF A SECOND
VICTIMIZATION.
>> YEAH.
A HUGE, JUST, MIND SCREW
>> Reporter: WHAT KIND OF PERSON
DOES THAT SORT OF THING?
>> EXCEPTIONALLY SICK.
EVIL
>> I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "LEFT
FOR DEAD."
>> Reporter: THE EVENING AIR WAS
WARM AND THICK WITH
ANTICIPATION
COLLEGE STUDENTS RETURNING ANEW,
MIXED AND DRANK AND LAUGHED WITH
YOUNG LOCALS
THEN DARKNESS FELL IN FORT
COLLINS, COLORADO.
ONE MORE NIGHT TO TAKE A LUSTY
BITE OF SUMMER
THAT LAST FRIDAY IN AUGUST,
2013
UNSEEN BY THE PARTY CROWD, A
ROOKIE COP NAMED DANE STRATTON
PROWLED THE STREETS AROUND THE
LITTLE CITY.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT.
HE'D BEEN ON THE JOB BARELY TWO
MONTHS
>> IT'S ALL NEW.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
>> MIDNIGHT PASSED
THE USUAL, BUSY BUT NOTHING
SPECIAL.
THEN SOMEBODY CALLED 911
>> ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING WE
GET A CALL OF A FEMALE'S VOICE
IN A PARK SCREAMING.
>> THEN MORE AND MORE NEIGHBORS
CALLING 911 ABOUT THAT SCREAMING
WOMAN.
OUT ON THE EDGE OF TOWN,
COTTONWOOD GLEN PARK
>> THEY STARTED REPORTING, THEY
COULD HEAR HER SCREAMING, HELP,
HELP
SO THAT FLIPPED A GEAR IN MY
HEAD THAT SOMETHING WAS
SERIOUSLY WRONG OVER THERE
AND I WAS DRIVING ABOUT AS FAST
AS I COULD
MY HEART IS IN MY THROAT
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M GETTING
MYSELF INTO OR WHAT WILL BE AT
THE END OF THIS DRIVE.
>> A BIG PARK.
HE DROVE IN GUIDED NOW BY THE
WAILING SOUNDS OF THE WOMAN
STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK
>> I COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHAT SHE
WAS SAYING AT THAT POINT
MY HEART IS POUNDING
I CAN HEAR TO THIS DAY HER
SCREAMS OF JUST AGONY, PAIN.
>> EVEN WITH HIS POWERFUL
SPOTLIGHT, HE COULD STILL SEE
NOTHING.
WHERE WAS SHE?
>> AND AS I SWUNG MY CAR AROUND
WITH MY HEADLIGHTS CAUGHT HER ON
THE SERVICE ROAD
INSTANTLY MY HEART JUST JUMPED
INTO MY THROAT
SHE WAS NAKED, BOUND
THERE'S JUST RED ALL OVER HER
FACE
SHE WAS ON THE GROUND.
HER HANDS ARE BEHIND HER BACK
AND SHE'S SCREAMING.
TERRIFIED.
>> SHE WAS WEARING ONLY A SOCK
ON ONE FOOT.
AS THE YOUNG COP APPROACHED, HE
SAW IT WASN'T JUST BLOOD ON HER
BODY
>> THE RED THAT I WAS SEEING WAS
A RED DUCT TAPE.
HER HANDS WERE BOUND AND DUCT
TAPED.
HER HAIR MATTED ACROSS HER FACE,
BOUND AND DUCT TAPED
HER EYES WERE COVERED.
SHE WAS BRUISED AND BEATEN AND
BLOODIED AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE
TO SEE
>> RED DUCT TAPE, BINDING A
WOMAN, ALIVE ENOUGH TO SCREAM
BUT ONLY JUST.
>> A HORROR STORY ON THE BEST
DAY.
BEYOND ANYTHING THAT I WOULD
IMAGINE.
SHE HAD BEEN STRANGLED AND LEFT
HERE FOR DEAD.
>> AS HE BENT DOWN TO HELP, A
FELLOW OFFICER SNAPPED THESE
PICTURES
THEN SITTING THERE ON THE COLD
CONCRETE, NAKED, AFRAID AND
IN TERRIBLE PAIN, THE YOUNG
WOMAN LOOKED UP AND TOLD HIM HER
NAME
SHE SAID SHE WAS AMBER
AMBER SMITH.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO CUT APART HER
BINDINGS ON HER HANDS.
THERE WERE MITTENS, ALMOST, AND
THIS TAPE ON HER FOREHEAD.
IT WAS CUTTING INTO HER SKIN
>> THEY BAGGED THE RED DUCT TAPE
FOR EVIDENCE
RUSHED AMBER TO THE E.R.
AND IN THE AMBULANCE AS SHE
STRUGGLED TO CALM DOWN, DANE
STRATTON ASKED, WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WHEN YOU WOKE UP, WERE YOU --
DID YOU SIT YOURSELF UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW
>> IT'S OKAY
AMBER, IT'S OKAY
>> I'M WORRIED THAT SHE HAS SOME
MAJOR INTERNAL BRAIN BLEED OR
TRAUMA THAT SHE MIGHT NOT
RECOVER FROM
WE ARE JUST FRANTIC TRYING TO
GET ANY AND ALL INFORMATION THAT
WE CAN FROM HER.
BECAUSE IS SHE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE THIS?
>> THE DOCTORS ASSESSED HER HEAD
INJURY, PATCHED UP THE REST OF
HER THE BEST THEY COULD, AND A
NEW COP ARRIVED.
>> WHAT WAS TRULY ASTONISHING TO
ME WAS SEEING THIS WOMAN WHO HAD
BEEN SO BADLY BEATEN
HER FACE WAS SO SWOLLEN.
AND WHEN I SAW HER DRIVER'S
LICENSE PICTURE, IT WAS NOTHING
LIKE THE PERSON THAT WAS LAYING
IN THAT BED.
>> THE DETECTIVE FOUND AMBER IN
THE EMERGENCY ROOM
WHAT WAS HER CONDITION WHEN YOU
GOT THERE?
>> SHE HAD SUFFERED FROM A
BROKEN JAW, A BRAIN BLEED.
ONE OF HER EYES WAS ALMOST
SWOLLEN SHUT
SHE HAD THESE LIGATURE MARKS ON
HER NECK WHERE YOU COULD TELL
SHE HAD BEEN STRANGLED
>> STRANGLED LIKE SOMEONE WAS
TRYING TO KILL HER
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SHE HAD A HARD TIME SPEAKING
>> DETECTIVE SEYMOUR PUSHED
AHEAD.
HAD TO
BUT MEDICATED, EXHAUSTED,
TRAUMATIZED, AMBER STRUGGLED TO
REMEMBER
>> TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT YOU
SAW.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS
THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I WOKE UP
WITH MY EYES TAPED AND NAKED
>> WHAT KIND OF SHAPE WAS SHE IN
EMOTIONALLY?
>> SHE WAS AFRAID.
SHE DIDN'T WHO KNOW DID THIS
SHE HAD THOUGHTS OF WHO MIGHT
HAVE DONE IT BUT SHE WAS NOT
SURE
>> SHE HAD BEEN WITH A GUY, THEY
HAD BEEN DRINKING BUT THEY WERE
IN A DIFFERENT PARK.
NOT THE ONE WHERE SHE WAS FOUND.
AND THE GUY WAS A FRIEND OF
HERS
SHE GOT OUT HIS NAME
ARIC
>> YOU WERE DRINKING VODKA
WHAT'S THE NEXT THING THAT YOU
REMEMBER
>> THE NEXT THING, I WAS WAKING
UP WITH SOME MAN ON TOP OF ME.
>> BUT WHO DID THIS?
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR WONDERED, WAS
IT AMBER'S BUDDY ARIC OR SOMEONE
ELSE ALL TOGETHER?
THE RED DUCT TAPE, SEVERE
BEATINGS, STRANGULATION, LIKE
SOME PRACTICED PREDATOR WAS
LIVING OUT AN AWFUL FANTASY.
>> I WAS FEELING THIS INTENSE
NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO HAD DONE
THIS
AND FEAR FOR WHO THIS PERSON
THAT IS OUT THERE AND CAPABLE OF
THESE THINGS
LIKE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO
THIS GUY IS.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR LEVEL OF WORRY
ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THIS
COMMUNITY IF YOU DID NOT FIND
SOMEBODY QUICKLY
>> I WAS TERRIFIED THAT HE WOULD
STRIKE AGAIN
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE
INVESTIGATION BEGINS
STARTING WITH A BODY OF
EVIDENCE
>> SHE WAS PROCESSED
FORENSICALLY FOR DNA
HER HANDS WERE PROCESSED, HER
FACE, HER NECK
>> ANOTHER CLUE?
THE BRUTALITY OF THE ASSAULT
>> WHY WOULD YOU ATTACK SOMEBODY
TO SUCH A DEGREE IF YOU DIDN'T
HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THEM
THIS DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A STRANGER
THING TO ME.
>> SO WHY WOULD HE BE SO HARD TO
FIND
>> HE WAS LIKE A GHOST, LIKE THE
>> Reporter: MEDICAL STAFF AT
THE HOSPITAL WORRIED ABOUT A
BRAIN BLEED AS THEY TREATED
AMBER SMITH AND PATCHED UP HER
BEATEN BODY AND COMPLETED ONE
MORE TEST.
AND YES, NO SURPRISE, AMBER,
JUST 20 YEARS OLD, HAD ALSO BEEN
RAPED.
DETECTIVE SIOBHAN SEYMOUR ADDED
THAT DISMAL RESULT TO HER PILE
OF BAD NEWS.
HAD YOU EVER ENCOUNTERED A THING
LIKE THAT BEFORE
>> NO.
I HAVEN'T.
>> IT'S JUST AWFUL
>> YEAH.
AND I'VE SEEN MY SHARE OF PRETTY
HORRIBLE THINGS.
THIS WAS A VERY SCARY CASE
>> SIOBHAN SEYMOUR HAS BEEN
STEEPED IN CRIME FIGHTING MOST
ALL HER LIFE
FATHER AN FBI AGENT, GRANDFATHER
ONCE WITH THE CIA.
BUT SHE WAS A MOTHER NOW, TWO
YOUNG BOYS
SO THIS ONE HIT HER HARD
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE FOUND OUT
AMBER HAD A SON, TOO
SHE NEEDED TO GET MOVING FAST.
A FEW HOURS AFTER THE ATTACK,
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR AND HER
PARTNERS TRACKED DOWN AMBER'S
SISTER-IN-LAW AND IT TURNED OUT
BEST FRIEND.
KIRSTIE AGUILAR.
>> I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO A
VOICEMAIL FROM THE DETECTIVES
EXPLAINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO
AMBER.
I WAS SCARED
I WENT INTO COMPLETE PANIC MODE
RIGHT AWAY
>> FRANTIC, KIRSTIE RUSHED TO
THE HOSPITAL
BUT THE NAME ON THE ROOM SHE WAS
SENT TO WASN'T AMBER SMITH
>> BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO
DID IT TO HER.
SO FOR HER SAFETY, THEY PUT HER
UNDER AN ALIAS NAME.
>> AND IN THAT ROOM?
>> IT WAS VERY SHOCKING AND
SCARY TO SEE
I WALKED IN THERE.
HER FACE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE.
THAT WAS MY SISTER, MY BEST
FRIEND
>> THEY HAD MET WHEN AMBER WAS
DATING KIRSTIE'S BROTHER-IN-LAW.
>> SHE ENDED UP GETTING PREGNANT
WITH GABRIEL AND OUR
RELATIONSHIP KIND OF GREW FROM
THERE.
>> KIRSTIE HAD BEEN HELPING
RAISE AMBER'S SON, WAS BABY
SITTING THE NIGHT OF THE ATTACK.
AMBER HAD BEEN WORKING HARD TO
GET HER HIGH OF ON TRACK, EARNED
HER GED, JUGGLED A JOB A
7-ELEVEN, WHILE TRYING TO BE A
GOOD SINGLE MOM.
AND SHE WAS YOUNG AND PRETTY,
HAD LOTS OF FRIENDS.
>> WE HAD NO IDEA WHO COULD HAVE
DONE ANYTHING SO HORRIBLE TO
HER.
AMBER WAS SOMEBODY THAT YOU
WOULDN'T THINK THAT WOULD EVER
HAPPEN TO.
>> SOMEBODY IT WOULD NEVER
HAPPEN TO.
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR WRESTLED WITH
SOMETHING THAT FELT LIKE DREAD,
AND INTENSE PRESSURE
SHE AND HER FELLOW COPS HAD TO
FIND THE PERPETRATOR QUICKLY
BEFORE HE DID IT AGAIN
>> EVERYONE IS A SUSPECT WHEN
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
>> WHAT IS THE SENSE OR THE
LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT
COMES CRASHING DOWN ON YOUR
SHOULDERS WHEN YOU SEE A THING
LIKE THAT?
>> OH, MY GOSH
IT IS REALLY AT TIMES, IT FEELS
LIKE THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
TO KNOW THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE
FOR FIGURING OUT ALL THE PARTS
AND PIECES, PUTTING THEM
TOGETHER, SO THAT EVERYONE IS
SAFE, INCLUDING ME
>> NOT JUST SOLVING THE CRIME
FOR HER BUT FOR THE WHOLE TOWN
>> YEAH.
IT'S A LOT
AND THE LEVEL OF RAGE THAT WAS
EXERCISED ON THIS WOMAN WAS SO
SCARY.
>> THE FORENSICS PEOPLE
EXTRACTED WHAT EVIDENCE THEY
COULD.
>> SHE WAS PROCESSED
FORENSICALLY FOR DNA
HER HANDS WERE PROCESSED, HER
FACE WAS, HER NECK, ANY AREA
THAT WE BELIEVED THE SUSPECT MAY
HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH WAS
EXAMINED
>> THE ATTACKER HAD LEFT HIS
SEMEN BEHIND AND MAYBE TOUCHED
DNA.
THEY SWABBED EVERY INCH OF THE
DUCT TAPE.
AS INVESTIGATORS TRIED TO FATHOM
THE MOTIVE
>> THE BRUTALITY OF THIS WAS
UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT I HAD HEARD
ABOUT.
WHY WOULD YOU ATTACK SOMEBODY
AND BRUTALIZE THEM TO SUCH A
DEGREE IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEM
OR HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THEM?
THIS DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A STRANGER
THING TO ME.
>> AND DETECTIVE SEYMOUR KNEW
THERE WAS ONE PERSON SHE NEEDED
TO GET A LOOK AT RIGHT AWAY.
THE LAST PERSON AMBER REMEMBERED
BEING WITH
HER FRIEND ARIC VANAGUNAS.
SHE GOT HIS NAME AND ADDRESS
ARIC WAS 20-SOMETHING, LIVED
WITH HIS PARENTS
BUT HE WASN'T HOME
>> HIS MOTHER WAS THERE AND SHE
SAID THAT HE USUALLY VOLUNTEERS
AT THE CHURCH.
SO A PARTNER OF MINE AND I WENT
TO THE CHURCH TO CONTACT HIM
THERE.
>> I AM WORKING RIGHT NOW ON THE
CASE INVOLVING AMBER SMITH
>> YEAH.
I PICKED HER UP.
BUT HE ALSO KNEW I BELIEVE AT
THAT POINT IN TIME SOMETHING HAD
HAPPENED TO AMBER BECAUSE HE WAS
IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE
THAT SHE KNEW.
>> AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT
POINT WHETHER IT WAS GUILTY
KNOWLEDGE THAT HE KNEW BECAUSE
HE DID IT OR HE JUST KNEW.
>> CORRECT
>> ARIC ECHOED AMBER'S STORY,
ABOUT DRINKING IN THE PARK,
HAVING ONE TOO MANY AND AMBER
FALLING ASLEEP
>> I TRIED TO WAKE HER UP, BUT
SHE WOULDN'T WAKE UP
>> SO ARIC CLAIMED HE LEFT HER
THERE ASLEEP, DROVE AROUND, BUT
THEN GOT WORRIED ABOUT HER
>> I CAME BACK AND SHE SEEMED
FINE SO I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD
BE OKAY IF I LEFT HER THERE.
>> SO SAID ARIC, HE WENT HOME.
>> I THINK HE WAS SURPRISED THAT
IT HAD HAPPENED.
AND CERTAINLY IT MADE HIM LOOK
LIKE A VERY BAD FRIEND.
>> YEAH.
>> THAT HE HAD LEFT HER IN THAT
CONDITION.
>> ARIC DID AGREE TO PROVIDE A
SAMPLE OF HIS DNA, WHICH
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR GOT BACK TO
THE LAB.
AND THEN HURRIED BACK TO THE
HOSPITAL TO TRY ONE MORE TIME TO
PROBE AMBER FOR ANYTHING ELSE,
ANYTHING AT ALL, SHE COULD
REMEMBER
AND REMARKABLY, DESPITE INJURIES
THAT COULD HAVE KILLED HER, SHE
WAS SOMEHOW GETTING BETTER
WELL ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO RELATE A
REAL LIFE NIGHTMARE.
>> I WAS BEYOND SCARED
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE
I THOUGHT THAT WAS MY LAST
MOMENT ON EARTH.
>>> COMING UP, A BONE CHILLING
TALE OF TERROR
>> AS I WAS SCREAMING TRYING TO
BREAK FREE, I REMEMBER A ROPE
BEING PUT ACROSS MY NECK AND
THEN SOME WORDS WERE SAID TO ME.
>> Reporter: EVENING AGAIN
ONE DAY LATER.
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
AND ONCE AGAIN, RESTAURANTS AND
BARS BEGAN TO FILL WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE EAGER TO MEET NEW
FRIENDS.
DETECTIVE SIOBHAN SEYMOUR RACED
AGAINST AN AWFUL POSSIBILITY,
MAYBE PROBABILITY, THAT A SERIAL
KIDNAPPER, RAPIST, KILLER HAD
MOVED INTO HER TOWN.
WAS THE PERSON WHO ATTACKED
AMBER SMITH STILL OUT HERE,
LOOKING, FISHING
SHE ASKED TO RUSH TESTS ON DNA
SAMPLES TAKEN FROM AMBER
AND MELISSA GOT TO WORK.
>> THESE TYPES OF PERPETRATORS
TYPICALLY AREN'T FIRST TIME
OFFENDERS WHEN YOU HAVE A CASE
THAT IS SO BRUTAL.
SO THIS CASE WAS WORKED ON THE
RUSH STATUS.
>> AND STILL, DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO DECIPHER
FROM AMBER EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER
AND SO 13 HOURS INTO HER
INVESTIGATION, SHE RETURNED TO
THE HOSPITAL
>> SHE WAS ABLE TO TALK AND SHE
WAS SCARED
>> SCARED, OF COURSE, AND STILL
VERY TRAUMATIZED
BUT THIS TIME, AMBER WAS MORE
LUCID.
AND THE STORY SHE TOLD
EVEN NOW YEARS LATER, AS SHE
BEGAN TO TELL US THE SAME STORY,
WAVES OF ANXIETY ALL BUT STOPPED
HER.
>> YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME PEOPLE
WHO LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO
GET LOTS OF ATTENTION, GO ON
TELEVISION, BE SEEN BY LOTS OF
PEOPLE
THEY ACT OUT
THEY TELL STORIES.
YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE, ARE
YOU?
>> NO.
I'M KIND, CARING, QUIET,
PEACEFUL
I'M A MOTHER
>> AND SO SHE BEGAN.
IN A WAY, EMBARRASSED ABOUT
GOING DRINKING WITH HER FRIEND,
ARIC VANAGUNAS
>> I BECAME INTOXICATED.
>> THE TWO OF YOU POLISHED OFF A
BOTTLE
>> YES
DRANK TOO MUCH
>> AMBER PASSED OUT AT AN
OUTDOOR PICNIC TABLE
FOR HOW LONG SHE DOESN'T KNOW.
AND WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER NEXT?
>> I REMEMBER WAKING UP ON MY
STOMACH ON THE FLOOR, AND MY
HANDS AND MY FEET WERE BOUND
WITH DUCT TAPE
MY MOUTH WAS BOUND WITH DUCT
TAPE BUT MY EYES WERE NOT.
I KNEW I WAS IN DANGER
>> NO KIDDING!
>> SO I STARTED TO SCREAM
THROUGH THE TAPE AS LOUD AS I
COULD.
I WAS TRYING TO BREAK FREE FROM
THE TAPE
>> WHERE WAS SHE
WHY WAS SHE INSIDE
WHO WAS THAT MAN ON TOP OF HER
NO IDEA.
>> AS I WAS SCREAMING, TRYING TO
BREAK FREE, I REMEMBER A ROPE OR
SOMETHING BEING PUT ACROSS MY
NECK
AND THEN SOME WORDS WERE SAID TO
ME
>> WORDS WE ARE SIMPLY NOT GOING
TO REPEAT.
>> I REMEMBER THAT VIVIDLY
AND SO I KEPT SCREAMING AND
SCREAMING.
AND THEN I REMEMBER GETTING HIT
IN THE FACE RIGHT HERE
A PRETTY GOOD BLOW
>> AMBER COULD NOT SEE HER
ATTACKER'S FACE OR RECOGNIZE HIS
VOICE, BUT THERE WAS ONE THING
SHE WAS SURE OF.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS MY LAST
MOMENT ON EARTH.
>> YOU THOUGHT TO YOURSELF, I'M
ABOUT TO DIE
>> YES, DEFINITELY
I THOUGHT ABOUT MY SON
THAT WAS THE LAST THING I
THOUGHT ABOUT.
>> HER SON
3-YEAR-OLD GABRIEL
>> I CAN'T LEAVE MY SON BEHIND
THAT'S MY BABY, THAT'S MY WORLD.
I HAVE TO BE STRONG.
I'VE GOT TO PULL THROUGH THIS
FOR HIM.
>> YOU CAN'T DIE
>> NO, I CAN'T DIE
THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION
I FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE OF
MY SON
>> SO SHE FOUGHT, STRUGGLED TO
BREATHE.
>> AND THEN THE ROPE GOT
TIGHTER.
I REMEMBER, IT WAS LIKE A 1, 2,
3, AND THEN IT WAS LIKE A BRIGHT
LIGHT.
AND I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS
>> AND THEN SHE WOKE UP ON A
COLD PIECE OF PAVEMENT IN A
DIFFERENT PARK NOW, NAKED.
BUT FOR THE RED DUCT TAPE THAT
BOUND HER.
>> I KNEW I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF
THERE.
I WAS OVERJOYED THAT I WAS
ALIVE.
I WAS SCARED
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS STILL IN
DANGER
>> YOU THOUGHT MAYBE HE WASN'T
FINISHED WITH YOU.
>> YEAH.
AND THAT WAS MOTIVATION ENOUGH
FOR ME TO SCREAM AS LOUD AS I
COULD AND GET HELP
>> AND THAT'S WHEN OFFICER DANE
STRATTON FOUND AND RESCUED HER
A STILL LIVING MESS OF INJURIES.
>> I REMEMBER, I DIDN'T LOOK AT
MYSELF FOR A GOOD THREE DAYS
>> YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN YOU
LOOKED PRETTY BAD.
>> AND THEN WHEN I SAW MY FACE I
WAS LIKE WHO AM I?
I'M UNRECOGNIZABLE
>> FOUR DAYS AFTER BEING
RESCUED, AMBER WAS RELEASED FROM
THE HOSPITAL AND TRANSFERRED TO
A LOCAL SAFE HOUSE, WHICH TO
AMBER DIDN'T REALLY FEEL SAFE AT
ALL.
>> I THOUGHT HE WOULD COME BACK
FOR ME, EVEN IN THE SAFE HOUSE
I THOUGHT HE HAD LEFT ME FOR
DEAD AND THE FACT THAT I WAS
ALIVE, THE FACT THAT THEY GAVE
ME AN ALIAS FOR THE HOSPITAL -
>> AN ALIAS SO NO ONE COULD FIND
YOU.
>> YEAH.
I WAS SCARED EVERYWHERE.
IF SOMEBODY LOOKED FOR ME, A FEW
SECONDS, I WOULD GET SUSPICIOUS.
>> IT WAS MORE THAN JUST FEAR,
WASN'T IT?
>> YEAH.
I DEFINITELY THOUGHT HE WAS
STILL LURKING, STILL TRYING TO
FIND ME.
>> BUT WHO
WAS A FACE IN THE CROWD WATCHING
HER?
COMING FOR HER
WAS IT A STRANGER?
A FRIEND
AS SHE RAN HER TESTS, THE CRIME
LAB'S MELISSA GRASS WAS
OPTIMISTIC THAT A SOLID DNA
PROFILE WOULD EMERGE AND SOLVE
THE MYSTERY QUICKLY.
>> WE EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD
EITHER HIT TO OTHER CASES OR TO
AN OFFENDER IN THE DATABASE.
>> OR, OF COURSE, TO THE LAST
PERSON AMBER REMEMBERED BEING
WITH --
ARIC VANAGUNAS
HE SWORE HE DIDN'T HURT HER.
DNA WOULD TELL THE TRUTH
>>> COMING UP --
THE LAB RESULTS COME IN.
A GUT PUNCH FOR EVERYONE
>> WE WERE PRETTY SHOCKED, AS A
DNA LABORATORY
WE WERE SURPRISED.
>> I JUST FELT SICK.
>> Reporter: COULD ANYONE
UNDERSTAND HOW SHE WAS FEELING
THE GRUELING PAIN?
THE UNRELENTING TERROR
HUMILIATION, LOSS?
AMBER SMITH WAS A MESS
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO
DESCRIBE THAT FEELING.
>> PRETTY BLACK, THE DARKNESS.
>> YEAH.
IT'S A PLACE I NEVER WANT TO GO
AGAIN.
>> IF THEY COULD ONLY FIND HER
ATTACKER, ARREST HIM, PUT HIM
WHERE HE COULDN'T GET AT HER
ANYMORE.
SO INVESTIGATORS WATCHED THE
CLOCK FOR THE DNA RESULTS AND
SPECULATED
>> AN ATTACK LIKE THIS IS NOT
SOMEBODY'S FIRST RODEO
THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE DONE
SOMETHING IN THE PAST.
SO IN MY MIND, A CASE OF THIS
GRAVITY, WE'LL GET AN ANSWER
WITHIN DAYS.
IF WE HAVE THE OFFENDER IN
CODIS.
>> CODIS, THE NATIONAL DNA
DATABASE THAT HOUSES PROFILES
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED FOR OR CONVICTED OF
FELONIES
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR SUBMITTED A
SAMPLE FROM HER ONLY PERSON OF
INTEREST
AMBER'S FRIEND, ARIC VANAGUNAS
>> WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN
ARIC, THE PERSON SHE WAS WITH
THE NIGHT BEFORE
>> WHO CAN KNOW WHAT A PERSON IS
CAPABLE OF
EVEN A YOUNG MAN WHO LIVED WITH
HIS PARENTS AND HELPED OUT AT
CHURCH
AND THEN NEARLY A WEEK AFTER THE
ATTACK ON AMBER, DNA ANALYST
MELISSA GRASS PICKED UP THE
PHONE AND CALLED DETECTIVE
SEYMOUR WITH THE NEWS.
>> THE FIRST PART OF THE
CONVERSATION WAS EXCITING.
WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP A DNA
PROFILE.
>> A FULL AND COMPLETE GENETIC
PICTURE WHICH THEY COULD USE TO
I.D. AMBER'S ATTACKER.
THAT WAS THE GOOD NEWS
THE ONLY GOOD NEWS
>> WE WERE PRETTY SHOCKED THAT
THE DNA LABORATORY, WE WERE
SURPRISED THAT THERE WERE NO
OTHER CASES AND NO OTHER
OFFENDERS THAT THIS CASE MATCHED
TO
>> DID YOU GET THAT?
NO MATCH
NONE
ZERO
NOT ONE SINGLE HIT AMONG THE
MILLIONS OF PROFILES IN THE
CODIS DATABASE
NONE OF THEM MATCHED THE DNA
RECOVERED FROM AMBER OR THE DUCT
TAPE
AND WHEN THEY COMPARED TO THE
SAMPLE THEY COLLECTED FROM
AMBER'S FRIEND ARIC VANAGUNAS,
DIDN'T MATCH HIM EITHER.
HE DIDN'T DO IT.
SO WHO
A CRIME LIKE THIS ONE HAD ALL
THE EARMARKS OF A PRACTICED
PREDATOR
SO WHY WASN'T HIS DNA IN THE
MASSIVE SYSTEM
>> I FELT SICK
I FELT LIKE HOW COULD THIS BE?
WE DON'T HAVE A SUSPECT.
WHO IS HE?
IS HE DEAD
>> USUALLY YOU HAVE SOMEBODY TO
LOOK AT.
>> YEAH.
BUT ALL THE SOMEBODIES WERE
NOBODIES
>> DANE STRATTON, THE PATROL
COP, STILL HAUNTED BY WHAT HE
SAW IN THE PARK, HAD BEEN JUST
AS SURE.
AMBER WASN'T HER ATTACKER'S
FIRST VICTIM
>> IT WAS A KICK IN THE GUT.
HOW IS THIS GUY NOT IN THE
SYSTEM
I WAS DUMBFOUNDED, HONESTLY.
IF THIS IS HIS OPENING ACT,
WHERE'S HE GOING TO GO FROM
HERE
>> AND AMBER FOUND IT HARD TO
EVEN GO OUTSIDE.
>> CODIS IS A GREAT BIG SYSTEM
EVERY FELON IN THE NATION.
AND SOMEBODY WHO WOULD DO A
THING LIKE THAT TO YOU MUST BE
IN THE SYSTEM.
>> YEAH.
I DEFINITELY THOUGHT SO.
>> SO WHEN THAT RESULT CAME
BACK, NOTHING.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE
>> CRUSHING.
IRRITATING
I THOUGHT IT WAS RIGGED.
I THOUGHT THEY MISSED SOMETHING.
>> BUT THEY DID HAVE ONE, CALL
IT A SMALL CONSOLATION
THE DNA TOLD THEM IT HAD TO BE
ONE GUY.
ONE ATTACKER
>> A SEMEN STAIN RECOVERED FROM
HER BODY, THAT DNA PROFILE
MATCHED THE DNA PROFILE ON THE
DUCT TAPE.
SO THAT TELLS US THAT THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL WHO SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED HER LEFT THE DNA ON
THE DUCT TAPE THAT WAS WRAPPED
AROUND HER BODY.
>> THE DETECTIVE PUT THAT NUGGET
OF INFORMATION IN HER BACK
POCKET
WHO KNEW WHEN SHE MIGHT NEED IT.
NOW SHE AND HER PARTNER STARTED
ALL OVER AGAIN
AMBER FRIEND ARIC HAD SUGGESTED
MAYBE CHECK SOME OF AMBER'S
OTHER FRIENDS WHO LIVED IN FORT
COLLINS.
HE WASN'T SO SURE ABOUT SOME OF
THEM
>> SHE HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT
HE BROUGHT UP THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THIS
THEY'RE FROM A PART OF HER
HISTORY THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN
MORE RISKY TYPE BEHAVIOR
>> WASN'T ALWAYS MAKING THE BEST
CHOICES.
>> YEAH.
SO WE FOLLOWED UP ON THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
>> AND SO DAY BY DAY, ONE BY
ONE, THE MEN IN AMBER'S CIRCLE
WERE QUESTIONED.
CLOSE TO TEN OF THEM, FRIENDS,
ACQUAINTANCES.
EACH ONE PROVIDED A DNA SAMPLE
FOR MELISSA GRASS.
>> AS WE RECEIVED MORE SAMPLES
FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CASE,
WE ANTICIPATED THAT ONE OF THEM
COULD POTENTIALLY MATCH THE
UNKNOWN DNA PROFILE IN THIS
CASE
>> BUT NONE OF THEM DID.
AND A TERRIFIED VICTIM WAITED
AND WINTER CAME TO FORT COLLINS.
AN ANXIOUS DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
WATCHED FOR NEWS ANYWHERE OF
SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
TICK-TOCK.
HE HAD TO BE OUT THERE
WAS HE WATCHING?
>>> COMING UP, FOR
INVESTIGATORS, THE DEPTHS OF
DESPAIR.
>> I FELT HELPLESS
HOW DO WE NOT KNOW WHO THIS GUY
IS
>> AND THEN FOR AMBER, A
BRAND NEW TRAUMA
>> I HAD LIKE AN ANXIETY ATTACK,
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
HAD BEEN SO SURE AMBER SMITH
KNEW THE MAN WHO RAPED HER AND
NEARLY KILLED HER.
OR IF SHE DIDN'T, HE WOULD BE A
PREDATOR WHO HAD COMMITTED OTHER
SIMILAR CRIMES SO HIS DNA WOULD
BE IN CODIS, THE NATIONAL
DATABASE
BUT THERE WAS SIMPLY NO TRACE OF
HIM ANYWHERE
NOT ONLY IN FORT COLLINS BUT THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY
>> HE WAS LIKE A GHOST, LIKE THE
BOOGEYMAN.
WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT, WE HAD
EVERYTHING WE NEEDED AS FAR AS
HIS DNA TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE
WAS.
>> WHOEVER HE WAS, HIS BEHAVIOR,
DUCT TAPING AND TORTURING HIS
VICTIM, WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT
HAD HAPPENED BEFORE IN FORT
COLLINS.
>> IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT
WHOEVER HAD DONE THIS TO HER WAS
A STRANGER
>> A STRANGER WHO HAD MANAGED TO
AVOID CAPTURE FOR WHATEVER ELSE
HE'D PROBABLY DONE, SOMEONE
AMBER HAD THE BAD LUCK TO
ENCOUNTER AT A MOMENT OF
VULNERABILITY.
BUT WAS HE STILL HERE IN FORT
COLLINS PLANNING HIS NEXT ATTACK
OR LONG GONE
>> THE PATROL OFFICERS KNEW THE
SUSPECT HAD USED RED DUCT TAPE
SO IF THEY HAD STOPPED A CAR
WITH A STRANGE GUY IN IT AND HE
HAD RED DUCT TAPE, THEY TOOK HIS
SWAB AND COLLECTED THE DUCT
TAPE
WE WERE CHASING DOWN EVERYTHING
WE COULD
I WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE
DISCOURAGED AND FRUSTRATED
I FELT HELPLESS.
HOW DO WE NOT KNOW WHO THIS GUY
IS
>> MONTHS PASSED
THE HOLIDAYS CAME TO FORT
COLLINS.
NOBODY FELT LIKE CELEBRATING
LEAST OF ALL, AMBER WHO WANTED
ONLY ONE THING FOR CHRISTMAS
HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO YOUR
PSYCHIC HEALTH TO LEARN WHO IT
WAS?
AND TO GET SOME SORT OF JUSTICE?
>> VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I JUST FELT HOPELESS
I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO FULLY
MOVE ON FROM IT.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE JUST A
QUESTION OF I GIVE UP, I'M NEVER
GOING TO FIND OUT.
BUT I'M NEVER GOING TO FIND OUT
AND THIS WOUND IS NEVER GOING TO
HEAL
>> YEP
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
I THOUGHT HE WAS DECEASED OR HE
HAD LEFT THE COUNTRY
>> BUT DID YOU FEEL ANY SAFER
REALLY
>> NOT REALLY.
I BOTTLED IT UP AND JUST TRIED
TO FORGET ABOUT IT
BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT FEAR
THAT HE WOULD HURT SOMEBODY
ELSE
>> A YEAR WENT BY.
BUT AMBER DID NOT FEEL BETTER
WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME
NO
SHE FELT GUILTY.
>> I'VE ALWAYS FELT RESPONSIBLE,
LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT
>> HAVE YOU ALWAYS FELT THINGS
WERE YOUR FAULT?
>> YES, DEFINITELY
IF I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
INTOXICATED OR AT THAT PARK THAT
NIGHT, THEN NONE OF THIS WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED, YOU KNOW.
I DESERVED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> SAD, REALLY, THAT A VICTIM
WOULD BLAME HERSELF FOR HER OWN
VICTIMIZATION.
OF COURSE IT WASN'T AMBER'S
FAULT.
BUT SHE COULDN'T SEE IT THEN
AND HER EMOTIONS, HER
DEPRESSION, HER FEAR, PULLED HER
DOWN
FOR MONTHS THAT BECAME YEARS,
THE WEIGHT OF IT AS HEAVY AS HER
FIRST DAY IN THE HOSPITAL.
>> IT WAS THAT SENSE OF, I'M NOT
SAFE
I'M NEVER GOING TO BE SAFE
I WOULD LOOK AT MEN AND
QUESTION, IS IT HIM?
>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU
INSIDE WHEN THAT HAPPENED?
>> I WOULD HAVE LIKE AN ANXIETY
ATTACK, JUST LIKE THE
OVERWHELMING SENSE OF, LIKE --
OF DOOM.
>> KIRSTIE AGUILAR SAW HER ONCE
HAPPY FRIEND TURN INTO SOMEONE
SHE BARELY RECOGNIZED.
>> SHE BECAME VERY ISOLATED.
AND SHE WAS VERY SELF-CONSCIOUS
ABOUT EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY
THAT SHE WAS AROUND.
SHE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND
SHATTERED FROM WHAT HAD HAPPENED
TO HER
>> AND THEN IN 2015, A WHOLE
GROUP, IN A WAY, CAME TO AMBER'S
RESCUE
HOUSE MATES WHO INVITED HER TO
LIVE HERE WITH THEM IN THIS SAFE
PLACE, AMONG FRIENDS, IN A GOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD
A GOOD SITUATION
>> IT WAS FINE
>> DID IT FEEL SAFE?
>> IT DID FEEL SAFE.
>> IT'S A NEW KIND OF FAMILY
DYNAMIC, ISN'T IT?
JUST A BUNCH OF FRIENDS LIVING
TOGETHER, LIKE THE TV SHOW,
FRANKLY.
DID IT FEEL LIKE THAT?
>> A LITTLE BIT, YEAH.
>> MOSTLY GUYS, AND SOON FAST
FRIENDS LIKE BRYCE BAILEY.
A BOYFRIEND'S BUDDY.
AND BRYCE'S CHILDHOOD PAL, A
FRIENDLY GUY NAMED STEFAN MOON
WHO CRASHED ON THE COUCH
EVERYBODY CALLED HIM SAM
GRADUALLY THEY AND THE OTHER
HOUSE MATES HELPED AMBER LEARN
TO SMILE AGAIN
BUT PARTICULARLY SAM, A BRIGHT,
GENTLE GUY
A GOOD LISTENER.
JUST WHAT AMBER NEEDED
>> STEFAN WAS REAL SUPPORTIVE.
>> DID YOU TELL HIM WHAT YOUR
SITUATION WAS AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOU
>> YES
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M SO SORRY.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE A HUG
YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THAT AND NOBODY SHOULD
EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT
>> AND HELPED YOU FEEL BETTER.
>> IT DID.
>> TO HER BEST FRIEND KIRSTIE,
IT SEEMED THE OLD AMBER WAS
BEGINNING TO EMERGE AGAIN.
>> SHE WAS SETTLED IN AND HAPPY.
THAT WAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME
THERE.
>> AND AS SHE FOCUSED ON RAISING
HER SON, AMBER BEGAN TO ACCEPT,
RELUCTANTLY, THAT HER CASE WOULD
PROBABLY NEVER BE SOLVED
>> I BLOCKED IT OUT TO TRY TO
MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE
>> AND THEN, HOW TO SAY IT,
THERE WAS A BICYCLE AND A PAWN
SHOP AND A SMALL DOMESTIC
TRAUMA
HOW CURIOUS LIFE CAN BE.
>>> COMING UP, A TANTALIZING
LEAD FROM OUT OF STATE
>> THERE WAS SOME GUY IN
VIRGINIA WHO HAD USED DUCT TAPE
IN SOME OF HIS MURDERS
AND I WAS LIKE, "MAYBE THIS IS
>> Reporter: BY 2015, THE AMBER SMITH DUCT TAPE CASE WAS OLD
NEWS IN FORT COLLINS
AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY,
WAVES OF STUDENTS HAD COME AND
GONE
LIFE HAD MOVED ON.
EXCEPT FOR A FEW, LIKE DETECTIVE
SIOBHAN SEYMOUR, WHO WAS STILL
CHASING PHANTOMS
CHASING ANYTHING SHE COULD THINK
OF
AND SHE KEPT AN EYE ON THE NEWS
FROM OUT OF STATE.
>> THERE WAS SOME GUY IN
VIRGINIA WHO HAD USED DUCT TAPE
AT ONE POINT IN TIME IN ONE OF
HIS MURDERS.
AND I WAS LIKE, "MAYBE THIS IS
MY -- MY DUCT TAPE GUY."
>> Reporter: BUT AGAIN AND
AGAIN, THERE WAS NOTHING TO
FIND
>> WE COULD HAVE SWABBED
EVERYONE
LIKE, WE COULD'VE ASKED EVERYONE
FOR THEIR CONSENT.
WE COULD'VE ASKED --
>> Reporter: THE WHOLE TOWN.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, WE COULD'VE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT REALISTIC
>> Reporter: THE IDEA CROSSED
YOUR MIND?
>> YEAH.
AND EVERY TIME THERE WAS A
VIOLENT SEXUAL ASSAULT HERE IN
TOWN, I WAS CERTAIN IT WAS MY
GUY.
UNTIL IT WASN'T.
>> AND NEW CRIMES WERE DEMANDING
ATTENTION.
SHE HAD TO LET IT GO
>> I FELT JUST LIKE I HAD
FAILED
>> MAYBE NOT SUCH A GOOD COP
AFTER ALL.
>> YEAH.
LIKE I COULDN'T PUT THE PIECES
TOGETHER ON THIS ONE
>> DID YOU TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU
AT NIGHT
>> YES, I DID.
I HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS
CASE
HOW COULD I NOT FIGURE THIS OUT?
HE'S STILL OUT THERE
>> AND NOW TIME WAS RUNNING OUT.
>> WE HAVE SEVEN YEARS WHERE WE
GET TO BE A DETECTIVE, RIGHT
AND THEN YOU GET ROTATED BACK
OUT TO PATROL.
AND I WAS DUE TO ROTATE OUT.
I NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT WHO DID
THIS BEFORE I DIDN'T HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY ANY LONGER
>> OFFICIALLY, IT WASN'T EVEN A
CASE ANYMORE
THE AMBER SMITH INVESTIGATION
WAS CLOSED TWO YEARS AFTER THE
ATTACK
THE CASE, COLDER THAN THE
COLORADO WINTER.
BUT NOT QUITE FOR OFFICER DANE
STRATTON, THE COP WHO FOUND AND
RESCUED AMBER IN THE PARK.
IT WAS NEVER HIS INVESTIGATION
AND YET YEARS LATER, HE WAS
STILL TRAUMATIZED BY THE
HORRIBLE SCENE HE ENCOUNTERED IN
THE PARK
>> I HAD POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS,
NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP,
AUDITORY, HEARING HER SHOUTS
>> COPS ARE PEOPLE, TOO, AFTER
ALL.
JUST LIKE AMBER, DANE STRATTON
NEEDED RELIEF.
BUT --
>> I STARTED TO THINK, IS THIS
GUY A ONE-HIT WONDER
IS HE -- BUT SURELY HE COULDN'T
BE BECAUSE OF HOW BRUTAL IT WAS.
>> SO OFTEN, LATE AT NIGHT, IN
HIS PATROL CAR, HE PROWLED
THROUGH CITY PARKS LOOKING FOR
WHAT
A VILLAIN?
THE RAPIST
>> BECAUSE IF HE HAD DONE IT
ONCE, HE'S GOT TO DO IT AGAIN,
RIGHT?
SO I WOULD DRIVE MY POLICE CAR
THROUGH THE PARK
I WOULD TRY TO BE AS SNEAKY AS I
COULD IN THESE PLACES.
TALK TO KIDS IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT.
TALK TO THE PEOPLE HANGING OUT
IT WAS NEVER OUR GUY, EVER
>> IF HE COULDN'T FIND HIM,
MAYBE HE COULD AT LEAST PREVENT
ANOTHER ATTACK
>> I WOULD SEE PEOPLE STUMBLING
HOME FROM THE BARS
I KIND OF BECAME A
SELF-MOTIVATED TAXI.
OFTENTIMES I WOULD DRIVE THEM
HOME BECAUSE THE LAST THING I
WANTED WAS SOMEBODY TO TURN UP
DEAD OR WASHED UP IN A PARK.
>> BUT GIVE UP
HE COULDN'T DO THAT.
>> BECAUSE IF THE GUY IS ALIVE,
HE CAN'T SIT IDLY BY FOR THE
REST OF HIS LIFE
HE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING AT
SOME POINT
WE'RE GOING TO CATCH HIM DOING
SOMETHING.
HE'S GOING TO SLIP UP.
>> THEN ONE DAY, BENEATH JUST
ABOUT EVERYBODY'S NOTICE,
SOMEBODY STOLE A BICYCLE
WELL, UPSETTING THING TO HAVE
YOUR BIKE STOLEN AS ANYONE KNOWS
WHO'S HAD IT HAPPEN.
SO THE OWNER CALLED THE COPS
AND WHO WAS THE OWNER?
BRYCE BAILEY, ONE OF AMBER'S OLD
HOUSE MATES.
FUNNY HOW THESE THINGS HAPPENED.
>> THEY INVESTIGATED THE THEFT
>> THEY FOUND THE BIKE AT THE
PAWN DEALER'S?
>> MM-HMM.
>> A LUCKY THING
BIKES AREN'T OFTEN RECOVERED
BUT THE PAWN DEALER WAS HAPPY TO
HELP
HE TOLD POLICE ABOUT THE THIEF
WHO SOLD HIM THE BIKE.
THE THING IS COLORADO FROWNS
HEAVILY ON PEOPLE WHO SELL HOT
THINGS TO PAWNBROKERS.
>> IT IS A FELONY TO LIE,
PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION TO A
PAWNBROKER
A FELONY CASE.
SO COLORADO, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE
DNA SAMPLE FOR ALL FELONY
ARRESTS.
>> THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED,
BOOKED, AND SWABBED.
ALL ROUTINE.
JUST ONE MORE DNA SAMPLE TO DROP
INTO THAT MASSIVE CODIS SYSTEM
WHICH OF COURSE, ALSO CONTAINED
THE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM AMBER
SMITH.
AND -- WELL, YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE
UP WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
>>> COMING UP, A CALL FROM THE
CRIME LAB.
>> I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SAY
TO HER, "YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT
HAPPENED TODAY."
>> MELISSA WAS LIKE, I GOT HIM
>> AND LATER, DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
HAS BIG NEWS FOR AMBER
BUT IT'S NOTHING SHE'S PREPARED
FOR.
SHE SAID, "OH, MY GOD.
>> Reporter: IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
PICTURE PERFECT DAYS
THE KIND THAT DRAW PEOPLE TO
LIFE IN COLORADO
IT WAS FOUR YEARS SINCE THE
ATTACK ON AMBER SMITH.
DETECTIVE SIOBHAN SEYMOUR WAS
HIKING WITH HER KIDS IN A PLACE
CALLED HOOTER CANYON WEST OF
TOWN
AND HER PHONE CHIRPED.
TEXT MESSAGE FROM HER BOSS
>> SHE WAS LIKE, YOU NEED TO
CALL CBI
THERE'S BEEN AN UPDATE IN YOUR
DUCT TAPE CASE
>> RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT, WHAT
WERE YOU THINKING?
>> LIKE, WE GOT HIM.
FINALLY.
>> IT MUST BE THAT
>> YES, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
ELSE IT WOULD BE
>> RIGHT AWAY, SEYMOUR DIALED
FORENSIC ANALYST MELISSA AT THE
CBI.
>> I PICKED UP THE PHONE
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SAY TO
HER YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
>> MELISSA WAS LIKE, WE GOT HIM.
>> WE GOT A CODIS HIT ON THE
CASE
THERE WAS SCREAMING AND YELLING
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PHONE
>> IT WAS COMPLETE ELATION
I WAS SO HAPPY
IT IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN MY
LIFE REALLY WHERE I WILL ALWAYS
REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS
>> BUT HOW
AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF
FRUITLESS SLOGGING, WHERE DID
THIS DNA SUDDENLY SHOW UP?
WELL, OF COURSE, YOU GUESSED THE
ANSWER
IT CAME FROM THE STOLEN BIKE
THAT TURNED UP AT THE PAWN SHOP,
THE DNA SWAB OF THE BICYCLE
THIEF.
IT WAS THAT DNA THAT MATCHED THE
SAMPLE RECOVERED FROM AMBER.
>> IT WAS LIKE FINALLY, FINALLY.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO STOP WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
WE'VE GOT TO GO GET THIS GUY
RIGHT NOW.
>> SO SHE WENT ON FACEBOOK AND
FOUND HIS PICTURE.
>> WHAT DID YOU EXPECT THIS
PERSON WOULD TURN OUT TO BE?
>> HE WAS ALWAYS THE BOOGEYMAN
TO ME.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A FACE OR A NAME.
HE WAS JUST SOMEBODY REALLY
SCARY OUT THERE.
WHEN I SAW THE PICTURE OF HIM,
HE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE A
BOOGEYMAN.
>> NOT QUITE THE MONSTER SHE
EXPECTED
WHO RAPED AMBER, BEAT HER WITHIN
AN INCH OF HER LIFE, LEFT HER TO
DIE TRUSSED UP AND HELPLESS IN
RED DUCT TAPE.
BUT THE NUMBERS DIDN'T LIE
>> WHEN I PERFORMED MY
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS
CASE, THE STATISTIC WAS 1 IN 10
QUINTILLION.
THAT IS ONE FOLLOWED BY EIGHT
ZEROS, SO A SIGNIFICANT MATCH.
>> DID YOU FIND HIS DNA ANYWHERE
ELSE
EITHER ON HER BODY OR ON THE
WRAPPING OR THE SOCK OR
ANYTHING
>> WE FOUND IT ON NECK SWABS
THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE
LIGATURE MARKS AND THE MARKINGS
ON HER NECK.
WE FOUND IT ON THE TAPE THAT WAS
USED TO BIND HER
WE FOUND IT REALLY ON HER
INJURIES AND ON THE TAPE
>> ALL OF IT MATCHING ONLY THE
MAN ARRESTED FOR THAT SMALL TIME
BIKE THEFT
OFFICER DANE STRATTON WAS
STUNNED WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS
AFTER FOUR YEARS, THEY FINALLY
HAD A SUSPECT.
>> I ACTUALLY WOKE UP TO AN
E-MAIL FROM SIOBHAN.
SHE SAID CALL ME
WE GOT SOME NEWS ABOUT THE DUCT
TAPE CASE.
I REMEMBER JUMPING OUT OF BED
AND CALLING HER.
AND SHE TOLD ME THAT WE HAD A
DNA HIT AND I WAS SO HAPPY
I WAS OVER THE MOON.
IT TOOK FOREVER.
WE FINALLY HAVE AN ANSWER.
>> AND THEN DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
PREPARED TO REVEAL THIS AMAZING
NEW BREAK TO AMBER
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF BAD NEWS,
SHE COULD BARELY CONTAIN
HERSELF.
>> AND I CALLED HER.
I TOLD HER THAT I HAD AN UPDATE
IN HER CASE AND COULD I COME
OVER AND SEE YOU
AND SHE SAID YES
AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN
MY JOY THAT WE HAD FOUND HIM
>> SHE RACED OVER TO TELL AMBER,
WHO BY THEN WAS LIVING WITH HER
SON IN HER OWN SMALL APARTMENT
>> SHE ANSWERED THE DOOR
I SAID WE GOT A HIT.
AND I SAID I THINK WE FIGURED
OUT WHO THE DNA BELONGS TO THAT
WE RECOVERED
I WAS LIKE, YEAH
I DID A LITTLE DANCE
YEAH
IT WAS GREAT
>> COULD YOU BELIEVE IT?
>> NO.
IT WAS SURREAL
IT WAS CRAZY
I WAS OVERJOYED.
I WAS LIKE, YES!
THIS IS THE START OF A NEW
BEGINNING.
>> THEN DETECTIVE SEYMOUR PULLED
OUT THE PICTURE OF THE PRIME
SUSPECT, FINALLY PUTTING A FACE
TO THAT UNSPEAKABLE CRIME HE HAD
COMMITTED AGAINST HER.
>> AND I SAID, WHAT?
LIKE, I -- NO, NO.
I WAS LIKE THERE'S A MISTAKE
THIS IS NOT REAL
THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT ACCURATE
MY WHOLE WORLD HAS FLIPPED
UPSIDE DOWN.
>> WERE THOSE OVERWHELMING DNA
RESULTS WRONG?
THEY COULDN'T BE
AND YET AMBER COULD NOT BELIEVE
THAT THE MAN IN THE PICTURE WAS
HIM.
THERE HAD TO BE SOME MISTAKE
>>> COMING UP -- WHY AMBER
COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT SHE HAD
BEEN TOLD.
>> THERE IS NO WAY
THIS IS THE WRONG GUY.
>> AND THEN DETECTIVES GIVE HER
A JOB.
>> SHE ASKED IF I WOULD BE
LONG YEARS TO THIS MOMENT IN
AMBER SMITH'S LITTLE APARTMENT
WHERE DETECTIVE SIOBHAN SEYMOUR
COULD TELL HER THE NEWS, THE MAN
WHO HAD RAPED AND BEATEN AND
BOUND HER UP IN RED DUCT TAPE
HAD BEEN FOUND
>> SO I HAVE EXCITING NEWS
>> OKAY.
>> WE GOT A HIT.
I SHOWED HER A PICTURE
AND SHE SAID, OH, MY GOD
SHE SAID I KNOW HIM.
>> FOR A MOMENT IT DIDN'T SEEM
TO REGISTER BECAUSE THAT WAS HER
OLD FRIEND, HER GENTLE
CONFIDANTE, HER HOUSEMATE.
THAT MAN IN THE PICTURE WAS SAM.
SAM MOON
BUT IT DIDN'T COMPUTE.
AND THEN SUDDENLY IT DAWNED ON
HER WHAT THIS PICTURE COULD
MEAN
>> IT WAS LIKE ALL THE AIR HAD
BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THE ROOM.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, NO, YOU DON'T
GET IT
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM UNTIL TWO
YEARS AFTER THE ASSAULT TOOK
PLACE.
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY
RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS INSANE
THIS IS MY FRIEND.
THERE IS NO WAY.
THIS IS THE WRONG GUY.
>> SO FROM ELATION, YOU WENT
RIGHT BACK DOWN AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS THE GUY YOU CONFIDED
IN
>> YEAH.
>> THE GUY YOU TRUSTED
>> YEAH, EXACTLY
>> YOUR GOOD FRIEND.
IT WAS A MISTAKE
>> I WAS CONCONVINCED IT WAS A
MISTAKE.
IT WASN'T RIGHT.
HE WASN'T CAPABLE OF THAT.
>> SAM MOON?
SENSITIVE, COME PASSIONATE SAM
HER FORMER HOUSEMATE
SO GOOD TO HER AND HER SON GABE?
THIS WAS THE PERSON WHO DID
THAT
AND ALL THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH
NOW AMBER HAD TO DEAL WITH
SOMETHING FAR MORE DIFFICULT,
SOMETHING DETECTIVE SEYMOUR
ASKED HER TO DO, CALL HIM.
CONFRONT SAM MOON ON THE PHONE
THE DNA WAS HUGE, OF COURSE.
BUT IF AMBER COULD SOMEHOW
ELICIT A CONFESSION FROM SAM,
THE CASE WOULD BE IRON CLAD.
>> SHE SAID WE COULD CATCH HIM
WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM
AND SHE ASKED IF I WOULD BE
WILLING TO DO THE PHONE CALL
AND I SAID YEP, LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S GET HIM.
>> YOU DIDN'T HESITATE AT ALL?
>> I HESITATED, YEAH
IT WAS A REALLY HORRIBLE DAY
>> BECAUSE
>> BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS MY
FRIEND
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
I WAS STILL JUST BLOWN AWAY IT
WAS HIM.
>> THE THING WAS, IT WASN'T JUST
THE CALL SHE DREADED
SHE WASN'T AT ALL SURE THEY --
>> Reporter: AMBER SMITH HAD OVERCOME HER WORST FEARS AND
CONFRONT HER FRIEND, SAM MOON.
THE DNA SAID HE HAD TO BE THE
MAN WHO ATTACKED HER
AND YET, BACK IN THE POLICE
STATION, SHE PRESSED SAM FOR
ANSWERS.
HE SAID SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT
HER OFF GUARD.
>> YEAH, WE HAD SEX.
I DIDN'T HURT YOU.
WE HAD SEX
>> WE HAD SEX AT ROSSBOROUGH
PARK
>> ROSSBOROUGH PARK.
REMEMBER
THAT WAS THE PLACE AMBER HAD
BEEN DRINKING WITH A DIFFERENT
FRIEND
>> YEAH.
YOU WERE GIVING OUT FREE -- YOU
WERE THE GIRL.
>> SAM INSISTED HE HAD RESPONDED
TO A PERSONAL AD ON CRAIGSLIST
AND THAT MUST BE HOW SHE PICKED
UP HIS DNA
>> OH, WOW
>> WE HAD SEX.
I DID NOT HURT YOU, AMBER.
>> BUT THAT WAS A TERRIBLE THING
TO SAY
IT COULDN'T BE TRUE.
>> THAT WAS HORRIBLE
THAT WAS EMBARRASSING AND
DISGUSTING AND DISTURBING.
>> AND THEN RIGHT AFTER HE THREW
OUT THAT DISTURBING STORY -- SAM
ENDED THE CALL
>> THIS CONVERSATION IS DONE
I DIDN'T HURT YOU.
I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T HURT YOU.
>> WAS IT REMOTELY POSSIBLE HE
WAS TELLING THE TRUTH?
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR HAD BEEN
LISTENING INTENTLY
>> YOU CAN HEAR HIS WHEELS
SPINNING AS HE'S TRYING TO
CREATE THIS STORY THAT IS
SOMEHOW PLAUSIBLE.
GIVEN THE EVIDENCE
HE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE WHAT WE HAVE MATCH
SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE
HAPPENED
>> SOMETHING THAT WOULD CLEAR
HIM AND SLIME AMBER.
THE DETECTIVE WASN'T BUYING IT
AND SOON AFTER THE PHONE CALL
WAS DONE, POLICE ARRESTED SAM
MOON, BROUGHT HIM TO THE FORT
COLLINS POLICE STATION, AND THEN
THEY SAT HIM DOWN HERE FOR ONE
MORE CONVERSATION.
EXCEPT THIS TIME SAM WOULD BE
TALKING TO HER, DETECTIVE
SEYMOUR, ONE-ON-ONE.
>> AS TEARS ROLLED DOWN HIS
FACE
DID IT SEEM LIKE HE, THAT GUY,
THAT COUCH SURFER, COULD BE YOUR
MONSTER, COULD BE YOUR
BOOGEYMAN?
>> NO.
NOT AT FIRST
BUT WHAT THIS JOB HAS TAUGHT ME
TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS PEOPLE
ARE NOT ALWAYS WHO YOU THINK
THEY ARE
>> HE INSISTED AGAIN AND AGAIN
THAT HE WAS INNOCENT
THAT THIS WAS ALL A MISTAKE.
>> I'M NOT A RAPIST.
I NEVER HURT AMBER
I NEVER HURT HER
>> DETECTIVE SEYMOUR DOES NOT
BLUSTER OR THREATEN, AND SHE
DIDN'T HERE.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST
TO MAKE YOU AS COMFORTABLE AS
POSSIBLE
>> SHOOT ME.
>> NO.
STEFAN, LET'S SLOW IT DOWN
TAKE SOME BREATHS.
OKAY
SLOW IT DOWN
>> HER VOICE, STEADY, CALMING.
AS SHE GENTLY LOWERED THE BOOM
>> I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH EACH
OTHER.
WE HAVE YOUR DNA IN HER BODY IN
2013
OKAY
>> SO SAM KEPT TALKING
>> YEAH, I HAD SEX WITH HER IN
2013
>> OKAY.
>> AGAIN, HE OFFERED UP HIS
CRAIGSLIST STORY THAT HE HAD
RESPONDED TO A PERSONAL AD, A
WOMAN OFFERING FREE SEXUAL
FAVORS IN THE PARK, AND THAT'S
WHY HIS DNA SHOWED UP.
>> I HAD JUST GOTTEN SEPARATED
FROM MY WIFE
I WAS REALLY DOWN.
I WENT OUT THERE TO ROSSBOROUGH
PARK
I HAD SEX WITH A GIRL.
I DIDN'T SEE HER FACE.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT HER,
NOTHING.
>> AND AFTERWARDS, HE SAID, HE
WENT HOME AND TOLD HIS ROOMMATE,
BRYCE BAILEY
THERE'S A GIRL IN THE PARK
OFFERING FREE SEX.
YOU SHOULD GO THERE.
>> MAYBE AN HOUR OR TWO, WHEN HE
COMES THROUGH THE DOOR AND I CAN
HEAR HE'S WITH SOMEBODY ELSE
AND IT'S FEMALE.
>> SAM SAID HE BELIEVED BRYCE
WENT TO THE PARK, BROUGHT THE
WOMAN BACK TO THE HOUSE.
AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS HAPPEN,
SAID SAM
VERY BAD THINGS.
>> AND IT WAS JUST SCREAMING AND
YELLING IN THERE
UNTIL IT STOPPED
I THOUGHT HE KILLED HER.
>> SAM SAID HE HID IN HIS ROOM
WITH THE DOOR CLOSED
>> SO I LOOKED IN THE DOOR AND
WATCHED HIM CARRY HER OUT.
HE HAD HER OVER HIS SHOULDER AND
HER WHOLE HEAD WAS COVERED IN
RED.
IT WAS ALL BLOODY.
>> BUT SAM DID NOT REPORT HIS
ROOMMATE TO THE POLICE
>> THE NEXT DAY, HE BEAT THE
[ BLEEP ] OUT OF ME.
AND TOLD ME HE KILLED HER.
AND I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
>> QUIETLY, IN HER ALMOST GENTLE
WAY, DETECTIVE SEYMOUR PUSHED
BACK
>> SOME OF THE STUFF ISN'T
MAKING SENSE TO ME
ALL RIGHT?
>> YES, MA'AM.
NONE OF THIS STUFF MAKES SENSE
TO ME.
>> BUT HIS STORY DID SEEM TO
EXPLAIN HOW HIS DNA COULD BE ON
AMBER'S BODY CONSENSUALLY.
SO THE DETECTIVE OFFERED SOME
INCONVENIENT FACTS
>> THERE WAS ALSO SCRATCHES ON
HER NECK THAT WERE SWABBED,
SWABS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER
HAND, SWABS ON THE LEFT HAND,
SWABS ON THE TAPE.
AND YOUR DNA WAS ON ALL OF THAT.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WAS THERE SEMEN ALL OVER HER
BODY
>> NO.
IT WASN'T SEMEN, IT WAS YOUR
DNA.
YOU'RE THE MAN WHO DID THIS TO
HER.
>> I'M NOT
>> AND I PLEADED WITH HIM TO BE
THE HERO THAT I BELIEVED HE
COULD BE, AND ALLOW MY VICTIM TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH HER LIFE BY
APOLOGIZING AND TAKING
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE THINGS HE
HAD DONE
>> YOUR FRIEND NEEDS THIS.
YOU KNOW THAT.
AND YOU HEARD THE PAIN IN HER
VOICE.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER HER.
YOU CAN CHANGE THIS.
YOU CAN CHANGE HOW THE STORY
ENDS
>> BUT SAM WOULDN'T BUDGE.
HE STUCK TO HIS STORY.
BLAMING HIS LIFELONG FRIEND
BRYCE FOR ATTACKING AMBER,
LEAVING HER FOR DEAD
IT SEEMED TO THE DETECTIVE LIKE
A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FRAME JOB
UNLESS, THAT IS, UNLESS HE WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH.
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR WASN'T
FINISHED INVESTIGATING YET
SHE NEEDED TO FIND OUT A LOT
MORE ABOUT SAM MOON.
WHO WAS HE, ANYWAY
>>> COMING UP, SAM'S PARENTS SAY
A BRUTAL ATTACK IS JUST NOT IN
HIS CHARACTER.
>> HE WAS FAMOUS FOR DOING
STUPID THINGS, BUT NOTHING
AGGRESSIVE
NOTHING VIOLENT.
>> AND THEN DETECTIVES INTERVIEW
THE MAN SAM SAYS ATTACKED AMBER.
>> Reporter: EVERYBODY IS
SOMEBODY'S BABY.
EVEN SAM MOON.
A MAN ACCUSED OF HEINOUS CRIMES,
RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.
AFTER SAM'S ARREST, DETECTIVE
SEYMOUR AND HER COLLEAGUES WENT
TO HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
AND WHILE THE OTHERS SEARCHED
FOR EVIDENCE, THE DETECTIVES
ASKED SAM'S FATHER, BRIAN MOON,
ABOUT DUCT TAPE.
>> HAS HE HAD IT
YOU'VE SEEN HIM HANDLE IT OR
MAKE STUFF WITH IT OR USE IT
>> THERE WAS SOME AROUND HERE A
WHILE AGO.
>> LIKE HOW LONG AGO, WOULD YOU
THINK?
>> WELL, IN MY RECOLLECTION,
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.
THERE WAS A ROLL AROUND.
MY RECOLLECTION IS IT ALL GOT
USED UP.
>> NEXT DAY, BRIAN MOON AND HIS
WIFE SUSY CAME DOWN TO THE
POLICE STATION TO TELL DETECTIVE
SEYMOUR ABOUT THEIR SON.
THEY WERE THE TWO PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT KNOW HIM BEST AND FOR WHOM
THE NEWS WAS A BLOW.
>> JUST REALLY SHAKES MY WHOLE
FOUNDATION UP.
>> I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT WE HAD
A MATCH FOR THE DNA AND IT CAME
BACK TO YOUR SON
>> SOMETHING NO PARENT WANTS TO
HEAR
DETECTIVE SEYMOUR HOPED THEY
MIGHT OFFER SOME INSIGHT INTO
SAM.
ANY ODD HABITS OR FETISHES, EVEN
SEXUAL DEVIANCES OF THEIR 30
SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD COUCH SURFING
SON.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE
THINGS THAT HE DID GROWING UP,
OR IF YOU EVER SAW HIM LOOKING
AT WEIRD PORNOGRAPHY
>> THE MOONS SAID THEY COULDN'T
REMEMBER ANYTHING USUAL.
>> A SMART KID
>> A SMART AND KIND KID WHO DID
NOT ALWAYS MAKE THE MOST
INTELLIGENT CHIOICES, THEY SAID
>> HE'S BEEN KIND OF A SCREW UP.
>> HE WAS FAMOUS FOR DOING
STUPID THINGS.
THE EPITOME OF STUPIDITY
BUT NOTHING AGGRESSIVE, NOTHING
VIOLENT.
>> JUVENILE PRANKS, UNPAID
TRAFFIC TICKETS.
THOSE WERE HIS WORST OFFENSES.
SAID HIS PARENTS
AND THEY WERE SURE THEIR ONCE
MARRIED SON WOULD NEVER HURT A
WOMAN, MUCH LESS DO WHAT
HAPPENED TO AMBER.
>> IF THERE'S ANYTHING I'VE
DRUMMED INTO HIM HOW YOU TREAT
WOMEN, AND HOW I FEEL ABOUT
BEATING WOMEN UP AND RAPE AND
THAT CULTURE
I'M A NURSE FOR GOD'S SAKE
>> SAM MOON WAS AN UNLIKELY
SUSPECT, FOR SURE, AND HE HAD
OFFERED ALIBIS
SO DETECTIVE SEYMOUR CHECKED
THEM OUT ONE BY ONE.
REMEMBER HOW HE SAID HE LOOKED
UNDER HIS BEDROOM DOOR AND
WATCHED HIS FRIEND BRYCE BAILEY
COMMIT THE CRIME
>> I WENT TO THE HOME.
I LOOKED UNDER THE DOOR TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE VANTAGE
POINT WAS THAT STEFAN MOON HAD
CLAIMED HE HAD
AND YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING
UNDER THE DOOR BESIDES MAYBE A
HEEL IN FRONT OF YOU
>> BUT THEN THEY TRACKED DOWN
BRYCE BAILEY
TOLD HIM WHAT SAM SAID
HOW DID BRYCE REACT TO THIS?
>> HE WAS DISGUSTED AND
SURPRISED.
>> THAT'S RIDICULOUS
>> REALLY?
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO
AMBER IN 2013?
>> NO.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AMBER IN
2013
>> SO WHY WOULD HIS OLD PAL SAM
TRY TO FRAME HIM FOR THE ATTACK
ON AMBER
WELL, THAT WAS EASY, SAID BRYCE.
>> ONE, TOO SCARED OR, TWO, HE'S
TRYING TO GET REVENGE ON ME FOR
GETTING HIM IN TROUBLE IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
>> OH, YES
HE STOLE BRYCE'S BIKE.
REMEMBER
THAT'S HOW POLICE GOT SAM'S DNA.
AND BRYCE?
>> LIKE, BACK AND FORTH.
>> HE WAS EAGER TO PROVIDE ME
WITH A SAMPLE OF HIS DNA TO
EXONERATE HIM.
>> THEN BRYCE SAID THIS ABOUT
HIS OLD FRIEND SAM
THE KID HE HAD KNOWN SINCE THEY
WERE 5 YEARS OLD
>> THE ONLY THING I COULD TELL
YOU ABOUT SAM IS THAT HE'S A
CONSTANT LIAR.
>> BUT THE HEART OF SAM'S ALIBI
WAS HIS CLAIM THAT HE HAD SEX
AND ONLY SEX WITH AMBER AFTER
READING A CRAIGSLIST AD,
OFFERING FREE SEX IN THE PARK.
THESE DAYS, CRAIGSLIST DOESN'T
POST ADS LIKE THAT
BUT IN 2013 WHEN THEY DID?
WELL, INVESTIGATORS ASKED
CRAIGSLIST, WAS THERE ANY SUCH
AD AT THE TIME
THAT ONE TOOK A WHILE.
>> WE DID A SEARCH WARRANT FOR
SPECIFIC KEY WORDS THAT STEFAN
USED IN HIS INTERVIEW ABOUT WHAT
THE AD HAD SAID.
AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE
AN AD THAT HAD THE AMOUNT OF
DETAIL THAT STEFAN HAD REPORTED
THIS AD HAVING
AND YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ON
CRAIGSLIST, THERE'S SOME SEEDY
STUFF THAT HAPPENS
SO THERE ARE ADS THAT TALK ABOUT
THINGS LIKE THAT
BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT
STEFAN MOON HAD SAID
>> IT HAD TO BE INVESTIGATED
THOUGH THE PROSECUTORS SAID THEY
DIDN'T BELIEVE SAM'S ALIBI FOR A
MINUTE
NO
IT LOOKED TO THEY WILL LIKE SAM
HAD A VERY UGLY PLAN
>> 100% OF ME BELIEVES THAT MR
MOON'S INTENT THAT NIGHT WAS TO
SEXUALLY ASSAULT HER, LEAVE HER,
AND HAVE HER DIE SO THAT NO ONE
WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER
WHAT HAPPENED AND POINT TO HIM
ABOUT WHAT HAD OCCURRED.
>> SO THE PROSECUTORS WERE
CERTAIN THEY HAD THEIR MAN
BUT, AS THE TRIAL APPROACHED,
THE VICTIM HERSELF, AMBER SMITH,
WAS NOT SO CERTAIN
>> SHE ROUTINELY ASKED US, ARE
YOU GUYS SURE?
ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHO DID IT?
HOW DO YOU WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND
THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY YOU
TRUSTED IS THE ONE WHO DID THIS?
>> AMBER, AFTER ALL, WAS SLATED
TO BE THEIR STAR WITNESS AND
THEY NEEDED HER TO HELP SEAL THE
CASE
HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
THAT NIGHT IN THE PARK, SHE
WOULD FINALLY CONFRONT SAM MOON
FACE TO FACE
>>> COMING UP -- EVEN ON THE EVE
OF TRIAL, AMBER WASN'T CONVINCED
SAM WAS HER ATTACKER
>> I STILL QUESTIONED.
>> WOULD SHE HAVE IT IN HER TO
TESTIFY?
>> Reporter: TRAUMA, THE KIND
SUFFERED BY AMBER SMITH, IS A
BEAST WITH A LONG TAIL
AND STILL AS THE TRIAL OF HER
ACCUSED ATTACKER APPROACHED,
AMBER COULD NOT QUITE BELIEVE
THAT HER SWEET FRIEND, SAM MOON,
WAS THE ONE WHO DID THOSE AWFUL
THINGS
A STEW OF EMOTIONS OVERLAID WITH
CONFUSION.
>> YOU COULD JUST SEE THERE'S
THIS SENSE OF DISORIENTATION
LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WAS REAL IN
HER WORLD JUST WENT POOF
>> KIND OF A SECOND
VICTIMIZATION.
>> YEAH.
A HUGE MIND SCREW, IF YOU WILL
JUST THAT THIS PERSON THAT YOU
DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH
AND TRUSTED --
>> NOT ONLY BETRAYED YOU,
ATTACKED YOU, ASSAULTED YOU, AND
MAY HAVE TRIED TO KILL YOU
>> YEAH.
YEAH
EVERYTHING THAT WAS REAL IS NOT
REAL ANYMORE
>> BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY REAL TO
THE TWO SEASONED PROSECUTORS
>> THE IDEA THAT ANYBODY CAN
TREAT SOMEBODY LIKE THIS EVEN IN
THIS LINE OF WORK, DOING THIS
FOR TEN YEARS, IS STILL AMAZING.
>> AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE THE
PHOTOS, YOU CAN FEEL THE TERROR
THAT AMBER FELT.
BUT I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED
SOMETHING QUITE LIKE THIS.
>> AND THOUGH AMBER SURVIVED, IF
ONLY BARELY, HER TRAUMA, THE
UGLINESS OF THE CRIME, MADE
THEIR MISSION PERSONAL
>> WE DIDN'T WANT TO LET HER
DOWN
WE WANTED HER TO BE ABLE TO WALK
OUT OF THE COURTROOM AT THE END
OF THE TRIAL KNOWING THE PERSON
WHO VIOLATED HER IN THE WAY MR
MOON DID, WOULD NEVER WALK FREE.
>> THE TRIAL BEGAN IN A FORT
COLLINS COURTROOM IN AUGUST
2019, NEARLY SIX YEARS TO THE
DAY AFTER THE ATTACK
IT WAS DETECTIVE SEYMOUR WHO
TOLD THE STORY TO THE JURY
>> WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
>> STRESSFUL
BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
EMOTIONAL CASES I'VE EVER
EXPERIENCED.
SO THERE WAS THIS TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO GET IT
RIGHT.
IT WAS ALMOST AS IF I WAS
FIGHTING FOR A SISTER TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THAT SENSE OF CLOSURE SO
THAT SHE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH
HER LIFE
LIKE, WE ALL WANTED THIS FOR
HER.
>> DANE STRATTON, THE FIRST
RESPONDER, TRIED TO BE
BUSINESS-LIKE ON THE STAND
HE COULDN'T DO IT.
>> I TEARED UP
I WAS CHOKED UP.
IT WAS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL FOR
ME
BECAUSE IT WAS SO VIVID WHEN I
WAS BEING ASKED ABOUT THIS CRIME
SCENE.
>> I THINK THAT WAS VERY
POWERFUL TO THE JURY
BECAUSE HE ADDED THAT HUMAN
ELEMENT TO THIS CASE
>> MIND YOU, SAM HIMSELF TRIED
TO DO THAT, TOO.
HE TESTIFIED
TOLD THE SAME STORY ABOUT
RESPONDING TO A CRAIGSLIST AD
OFFERING SEX IN THE PARK
SO IT WAS ALL CONSENSUAL, HE
SAID
HE DID NOT RAPE AMBER.
INVESTIGATORS JUST DIDN'T LOOK
HARD ENOUGH FOR THAT AD, THE
DEFENSE SAID
EVEN THOUGH SAM'S ATTORNEY SAID
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW
AMBER POSTED ANYTHING ON
CRAIGSLIST
THE DEFENSE TOLD THE JURY AMBER
WAS FOUND IN A PUDDLE OF FLUID
SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN CROSS
CONTAMINATION THAT SPREAD THE
DNA TO HER NECK AND THE DUCT
TAPE
SUGGESTIONS THE PROSECUTORS
SWATTED AWAY
BECAUSE THE ANALYSTS FOUND DNA
WHERE ONLY THE VIOLENT ATTACKER
COULD HAVE LEFT IT
>> SHE SWABBED ALL AREAS OF THE
TAPE
SHE DIDN'T JUST SWAB THE
OUTSIDE.
IF YOU BUY WHAT THE DEFENSE WAS
TRYING TO SELL TO THAT JURY, THE
CONTAMINATION WOULD ONLY BE ON
THE OUTSIDE AREA
SHE SWABBED THE STICKY SIDE OF
THE TAPE, AND THOSE SWABS THE
DEFENDANT'S DNA ON THEM.
>> THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN
MIND IS, IF WASN'T STEFAN MOON,
THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE'S DNA
THERE.
SOMEONE WHO WITH SUCH FORCE
PLACED SO MUCH TAPE ON HER THAT
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER, DRAGGED
HER FROM THE FIRST PARK, TOOK
HER TO ANOTHER LOCATION,
DEPOSITED HER IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE SECOND PARK, DIDN'T LEAVE
ANY OF THEIR DNA
THE DNA SAMPLES ESTABLISHED THAT
THE ONLY PERSON'S DNA THAT WAS
THERE WAS MR. MOON
>> AMBER WAS THERE IN COURT,
LISTENED TO ALL OF THIS.
>> WAS THERE A POINT AT WHICH IT
CAME CRASHING DOWN ON YOU THAT
IT WAS HIM, HAD TO BE HIM?
>> DURING THE TRIAL.
>> IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN.
>> IT WASN'T
I STILL QUESTIONED
I STILL COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>> AS SHE SAT THERE, LOOKING AT
HER FORMER FRIEND --
>> I WAS ANGRY, PRETTY ANGRY
I WAS HURT
IT WAS EVERY EMOTION, EVERY
NEGATIVE EMOTION
>> JUST LOOKING AT HIM
>> YEAH.
JUST LOOKING AT HIM.
ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD, YES
>> BECAUSE NOW SHE KNEW.
SAM MOON WAS HER KIDNAPPER AND
ATTACKER AND SHE NEEDED TO SHARE
HER STORY TO HELP PUT HIM BEHIND
BARS
NO SMALL FEAT.
>> I WAS JUST SO NERVOUS
SO MANY PEOPLE
I WAS GETTING VERY OVERWHELMED
IT WAS MY PERSONAL BUSINESS AND
IT WAS OUT FOR EVERYBODY
>> LIKE THE ONLY WAY THROUGH TO
GET YOUR JUSTICE YOU WANTED WAS
TO TELL ALL THESE PEOPLE
EVERYTHING
>> YEAH.
YEAH
>> BUT EVEN IF AMBER DOUBTED
HERSELF, THE PROSECUTORS NEVER
DID.
>> WHEN SHE TOOK THE STAND, SHE
WAS PHENOMENAL
AND I THINK SHE REALLY GOT TO
TAKE BACK SOME OF WHAT STEFAN
MOON TOOK FROM HER WHEN SHE SAT
THERE AND CONFRONTED HIM
SHE'S SUCH A STRONG WOMAN.
IT'S INSPIRING
>> HIS CLAIMS?
RIDICULOUS AND UGLY, A
CRAIGSLIST AD?
NEVER HAPPENED, SHE SAID
AND AS SHE FINISHED, AMBER
REALIZED SHE HAD MANAGED TO
INSPIRE HERSELF, TOO
>> IT FELT REALLY EMPOWERING
I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE TO
SUPPORT ME, TOO, SO THAT WAS
HELPFUL.
>> THE CASE WAS THE JURY'S NOW
THE VERDICT WOULD BE SWIFT
BUT WHAT CAME NEXT
WELL, NO ONE SAW THAT COMING
>>> COMING UP, AFTER AN
EXCRUCIATING SIX-YEAR ODYSSEY --
>> THERE'S AN AUDIBLE GASP
>> AMBER AND HER TEAM HEAR THE
VERDICT.
>> I JUST SOBBED
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE JURY
AND, LIKE, WHY
>> I WAS HEA
>> Reporter: IN THE END, IT
DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG AT ALL
LESS THAN A DAY.
AND THERE WAS A VERDICT.
>> I WAS SHAKING
>> YOUR HEART GOES LIKE CRAZY.
>> I HAD STARTED CRYING BEFORE
THE JUDGE EVEN SAID ANYTHING
>> AND THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED
>> WHEN JUDGE READS COUNT ONE,
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER
WE, THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT
NOT GUILTY
AND THERE'S AN AUDIBLE GASP.
>> AMBER AND THE PEOPLE IN THE
COURTROOM WHO HAD FOUGHT SO HARD
FOR HER WERE STUNNED
>> I JUST SOBBED
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE JURY
AND LIKE, WHY?
I WAS ANGRY.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
>> I CANNOT BEGIN, I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO PUT WORDS TO IT
I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO
VOMIT.
YEAH
JUST, MY HEART, I DON'T EVEN
THINK WAS IN MY BODY ANYMORE
I WAS HEART BROKEN
>> YOU WERE AFRAID YOU FAILED.
>> UH-HUH.
I WAS.
>> THERE WERE OTHER CHARGES.
OTHER VERDICTS TO COME
BUT --
>> THE CONCERN IS THEY'LL MAKE
THAT SAME FINDING ALL THE WAY
THROUGH.
THAT WAS PROBABLY THE LONGEST
TWO OR THREE SECONDS OF MY LIFE.
FROM THE FIRST NOT GUILTY, AND
THEN FOR THE NEXT ONE.
>> AND THEN, OUT IT CAME
ONE BY ONE
THE JURY FOUND SAM MOON GUILTY,
KIDNAPPING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT,
AND MORE
ALL OF THE OTHER CHARGES
>> WE FELT -
>> RELIEF.
>> YEAH.
>> THE QUESTION NOW WAS, WITHOUT
THAT ATTEMPTED MURDER
CONVICTION, WOULD HE DO SERIOUS
TIME
OR AS AMBER FEARED, WOULD HE BE
RELEASED TO TERRIFY HER AGAIN?
MONTHS LATER, THEY GOT THE
ANSWER
>> THE JUDGE GAVE MR. MOON THE
MAXIMUM POSSIBLE SENTENCE.
SHE SENTENCED HIM TO 128 YEARS,
TO THE REMAINDER OF HIS NATURAL
LIFE
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT
>> ALL I REALLY ASK, HE CAN'T
HURT ANYBODY ELSE, CAN'T HURT
ME
A CHAPTER IN MY LIFE WILL CLOSE.
DONE
>> A SENTENCE THAT WOULD LAST
MORE THAN A LIFETIME
MOON WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR
PAROLE UNTIL THE YEAR 2115 WHEN
HE WOULD BE MORE THAN 130 YEARS
OLD.
>> HE DESERVES EVERY YEAR, EVERY
MINUTE, EVERY SECOND THAT HE
SPENDS IN PRISON
AND AMBER DESERVES EVERY MINUTE,
EVERY SECOND HE DESERVES IN
PRISON
>> PATROL OFFICER DANE STRATTON,
THE FIRST PERSON TO RESPOND TO
THE SCENE, HAUNTED BY IT ALL FOR
YEARS, WHO HAD SPENT MANY NIGHTS
SEARCHING ON HIS OWN FOR AMBER'S
ATTACKER, FINALLY IN COURT SAW
HER FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
SINCE HE'D RESCUED HER
>> I TAPPED AMBER ON THE
SHOULDER AND I VERY QUICKLY
SPOKE WITH HER BECAUSE I WANTED
TO HEAR HER.
BECAUSE THE VOICE IN MY MEMORY
WAS HER SCREAMING, TERRIFIED
I WANT HER REAL VOICE TO BE MY
NEW MEMORY
>> AND THEN THE JUDGE ASKED IF
DANE STRATTON HAD ANYTHING TO
SAY.
>> MY PARTING WORDS TO STEFAN
MOON WERE, I WANT YOU TO TAKE A
LOOK AT AMBER SMITH AND REMEMBER
HER NOT AS YOUR VICTIM BUT AS A
VICTOR
WE MADE SURE THAT AMBER WAS NO
LONGER THE GIRL DUMPED IN THE
PARK IN THE DUCT TAPE CASE
AMBER IS A VICTOR OF THE DUCT
TAPE CASE.
>> BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS
SATISFIED.
SAM MOON'S PARENTS, THOUGH
MORTIFIED BY WHAT THEIR SON HAD
DONE, AND WHAT IT ALL MEANT FOR
THEIR FAMILY, WERE NOT SO
CONVINCED THAT HE WAS THE ONE
WHO BEAT AND BOUND AMBER IN DUCT
TAPE
AND THEY THOUGHT HIS LENGTHY
SENTENCE WAS OUTRAGEOUS.
AFTER ALL, MANY CONVICTED
MURDERERS HAVE GOTTEN MUCH LESS
TIME
THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO BE
RELEASED
COULDN'T SAM
>> I'M SORRY FOR THEM.
AND MY HEART BREAKS FOR THEM,
BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S
THE RIGHT CHOICE
I DO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS AND IS
A TICKING TIME BOMB.
AND SHOULD HE BE ABLE TO WALK
AROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE GOES
OFF AGAIN.
>> HOW COULD ANYONE KNOW WHETHER
OR WHEN HE MIGHT ATTACK SOMEONE
ELSE WERE HE FREE?
AND ANYWAY, SHE KNEW SOMETHING
ELSE ABOUT SAM AFTER GOING
THROUGH HIS PHONE.
SOMETHING THE JURY DIDN'T HEAR
AND IT WASN'T PRETTY
>> WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SEARCHES
FOR RAPE PORNOGRAPHY IN HIS
PHONE.
I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT HE HAD GOOGLED, IT
WAS JUST GROSS, GROSS STUFF.
>> DID YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT
SUGGESTED WHAT EVENTUALLY
HAPPENED TO HER?
>> I SAW THAT HE HAD AN AFFINITY
FOR RAPE AND FOR TORTURING WOMEN
BASED OFF THE SEARCHES THAT HE
HAD DONE
THE SEARCHES WERE DONE YEARS
LATER.
>> AFTER THE EVENT
>> YES
>> SO WHAT THE SEARCHES SHOWED
ME WAS THAT HE STILL HAD A
PROPENSITY TOWARD RAPE AND
HURTING WOMEN.
>> THAT IS WHY SHE BELIEVES THE
ONLY PLACE FOR HIM IS IN PRISON.
AND WHILE AMBER STILL HAS HER
STRUGGLES AHEAD, SHE IS ALSO
RELISHING THE FIRST TENDER STEPS
OF A RECLAIMED AND STRENGTHENED
LIFE
A NEW FOUND SENSE OF SELF.
>> I FEEL MORE AT PEACE NOW.
I FEEL I CAN FINALLY MOVE ON
WITH MY LIFE
IT DOESN'T DEFINE ME ANYMORE
I'M NOT A VICTIM
>> NO.
SHE'S A SURVIVOR
FOCUSED ON RAISING HER SON,
GABE
AND GIVING BACK SOMEHOW.
IT'S PRETTY FREAKING
PHENOMENAL, ACTUALLY
THAT YOU GO FROM FEELING LIKE A
WORTHLESS PIECE OF VICTIM TO
WONDER WOMAN
>> YEAH.
>> YOU GOT THE GUY
>> I DO.
I FEEL EMPOWERED NOW
I ACTUALLY FEEL A SENSE OF HOPE
NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE I DO HAVE A
FUTURE AHEAD OF ME
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MEANT TO
HELP PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
>>> 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.