♪
>>> THE SEARCH FOR JERMAIN
CHARLO CONTINUED TODAY IN THE
MISSOULA AREA.
THIS IS A 23-YEAR-OLD, MOTHER OF
TWO.
>> WE GET MISSING PERSON
ADVISORY PROBABLY MAYBE COUPLE
TIMES A MONTH.
AND 98% OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
REPORTED MISSING ARE GOING TO BE
FOUND OR THEIR CASE IS RESOLVED.
IT IS UNUSUAL JUST TO HAVE
SOMEBODY VANISH.
>> JERMAIN CHARLO WAS 23 YEARS
OLD WHEN SHE VANISHED ON JUNE
16th, 2018.
>> SHE WA VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
>> HI.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW
ME, I'M JERMAIN.
THIS IS NOW GOING TO BE MY BLOG
ABOUT ME.
>> SHE POSTED ABOUT EVERYTHING.
>> NONE OF THIS SCRIPTED -- ALL
REAL.
EDON'T LIKE FAKE [ BLEEP ].
>> FOOD, MAKEUP.
THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING.
THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING.
>>VILLE I'LL HAVE A BETTER BLOG
TOMORROW BECAUSE I'M GOING
GROCERY SHOPPING.
>> FOR HER NOT TO BE ACTIVE ON
SOCIAL MEDIA, THEN I KNEW
SOETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.
>> SO ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 15,
2018, JERMAIN WAS DOWNTOWN
MISSOULA, SOCIALIZING AT SOME
BARS.
AND SHE WAS LAST KNOWN TO BE
ALIVE IN THE ALLEY BEHIND ONE OF
THE BARS.
>> CHARLO IS A NATIVE AMERICAN
WOMAN.
5'8" AND WEIGHS 130 POUNDS.
SHE WAS LAST WEARING BLUE JEANS.
>> WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT,
OKAY, DID SHE MAKE IT BACK ON
THE RESERVATION.
DID SHE NOT MAKE IT BACK ON THE
RESERVATION.
THE RESERVATION ITSELF IS 1.319
MILLION ACRES.
IT'S MOUNTAINOUS.
THERE'S NUMEROUS RIVERS.
THERE'S NUMEROUS PREDATORS.
AND EVERY HOUR, DAY, MINUTE THAT
SEARCH AREA EXPANDS.
>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS THAT
HOPE THAT SHE'S OUT THERE
SOMEWHERE.
>> YOU DIDN'T KNOW JERMAIN.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW JERMAIN.
I DREAM ABOUT HER.
I THINK ABOUT HER.
>> BUT WHAT DOES SHE REPRESENT
TO YOU?
>> SHE DEFINITELY REPRESENTS OUR
PEOPLE.
THIS IS ONE OF MANY CASES IN
MONTANA.
I KNOW HOW TO TAKE PICTURES.
AND VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF ANY
ISSUE IS HUGE.
THAT RED HAND, YOU CAN'T NOT
SEE.
IT SHOUTS OUT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS
ANYMORE.
>> JERMAIN HAS BECOME THE
WESTERN MONTANA FACE OF MISSING
AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
AND NOW WE'RE TO THE POINT WHERE
IT'S THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
IT'S THE SECOND, THE THIRD.
>> AND YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN
LIMBO FOR SIX YEARS?
>> YEAH.
I MISS HER.
I'M NOT GOING TO STOP SEARCHING
FOR HER.
SHE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT
WHERE.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SOLVE
THIS CASE?
>> I FEEL LIKE I GOT THIS PUZZLE
IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I DON'T HAVE
ALL THE PIECES ON THE TABLE
QUITE YET.
ONE OR TWO PIECES COULD BREAK
THE CASE.
>> SOMEONE OUT THERE KNOWS.
>> SOMEONE OUT THERE KNOWS WHAT
HAPPENED TO JERMAIN CHARLO.
>> AND THEY'RE JUST NOT TALKING.
>> COME FORWARD.
WE KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
BE BRAVE.
♪
>>> ON HIGHWAY 93, ON ROUTE TO
MISSOULA, IT'S HARD TO MISS THIS
BILLBOARD
BILLBOARD.
AND JERMAIN CHARLO'S HAUNTING
GAZE.
>> WHEN I SEE THAT BILLBOARD,
I'M FRUSTRATED.
>> MISSOULA POLICE DETECTIVE GUY
BAKER HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR
JERMAIN FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS.
>> WE'VE JUST TIME AND TIME
AGAIN COME UP EMPTY HANDED.
>> THESE ARE THE LAST KNOWN
IMAGES OF JERMAIN CHARLO.
THEY WERE CAPTURED ON
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ON FRIDAY
JUNE 15th, 2018, IN DOWNTOWN
MISSOULA.
THERE'S JERMAIN, CHATTING WITH
PEOPLE OUTSIDE A BAR CALLED THE
BADLANDER.
A LITTLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT JERMAIN
WALKS AWAY FROM THE CAMERA.
A MAN BY HER SIDE.
AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE NIGHT.
SIX YEARS LATER, WITH NO ARRESTS
AND NO PUBLICLY-NAMED SUSPECT,
POLICE RELEASE THE VIDEO TO "48
HOURS" HOPING TO GENERATE LEADS.
>> SOMEONE OUT THERE KNOWS WHAT
HAPPENED TO JERMAIN CHARLO.
JERMAIN WALKS OUT OF VIEW, SO
MAYBE SOMEBODY SAW SOMETHING
THAT NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT
CONTACTING US.
SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT NIGHT OR
ANY ASPECT OF THIS
INVESTIGATION, I ENCOURAGE THEM
TO CALL ME.
>> FOR JERMAIN'S AUNTS DANNY MAT
AND VALENDA MORIGEAU.
THIS BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2018,
WITH A CALL FROM JERMAIN'S
GRANDMOTHER.
>> SHE WAS VERY CLOSE WITH MY
MOM.
MY MOM'S ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO
HAD CALLED ME AND SAID HAVE YOU
HEARD FROM JERMAIN?
AND I SAID NO.
>> WHY, HELLO.
I'M BACK.
>> THE FAMILY SAYS JERMAIN NEVER
WENT ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER PHONE.
SO IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL FOR HER
NOT TO TEXT OR CALL.
THEY KNEW SHE HAD BEEN IN
MISSOULA.
>> SO I KEPT CALLING HER,
CALLING HER.
AND WHEN SHE DIDN'T ANSWER HER
PHONE, DANNY HAD A FEELING
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
>> WE CALLED THE HOSPITALS TO
THE SHELTERS, ANYWHERE WE COULD
THINK OF JUST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT
NATURAL FOR HER NOT TO TALK TO
MY MOTHER LIKE SHE DID ON A
DAILY BASIS.
>> SHE DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A
TRACE.
>> NOTHING.
>> THE FAMILY WAS SICK WITH
WORRY.
NO ONE HAD HEARD FROM HER.
AND SHE HAD NOT RETURNED TO HER
HOME ON THE FLATHEAD
RESERVATION, ABOUT 40 MILES FROM
MISSOULA.
ON MONDAY, JUNE 18th, 48 HOURS
AFTER JERMAIN WAS LAST SEEN,
BELINDA CONTACTED AUTHORITIES
FOR HELP.
>> BECAUSE SHE WENT MISSING OUT
OF MISSOULA, I CALLED MISSOULA
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO LET THEM
KNOW SHE HAD GONE MISSING.
THERE WAS LIKE NO SENSE OF LET'S
MAKE SURE THAT WE CHECK ALL THE
BOXES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE
DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE SHE'S SAFE.
>> THE FAMILY ALSO CONTACTED THE
FLATHEAD RESERVATION POLICE.
>> WE TRIED TO GET AS MUCH
INFORMATION OUT THERE AS WE CAN,
TRY TO GET FLYERS, PICTURES,
WHATEVER WE CAN DO OUT THERE.
>> POLICE CHIEF CRAIG KOE TOUR.
>> AS THE DAYS GO ON, PEOPLE
START THINKING HOLD ON, MAYBE
THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN SHE'S
GONE.
>> THEN ON JUNE 20th, FOUR DAYS
AFTER JERMAIN DISAPPEARED, VE
LEN DA MADE THE DRIVE TO THE
MISSOULA POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM
THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION,
OFFICIALLY FILED A MISSING
PERSONS REPORT AND MET WITH THE
DETECTIVE ASSIGNED TO JERMAIN'S
CASE.
>> HE DID HIS DUE DILIGENCE AND
CHECKED THE HOSPITALS AND THE
HOMELESS SHELTERS.
I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS NOT IN
IMMEDIATE DANGER.
>> VALENDA KNEW IN HER HEART
JERMAIN WAS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
FRIGHTENED AND FRUSTRATED, THE
FAMILY REACHED OUT AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
>> VOLUNTEER SEARCHES WERE
ORGANIZED.
>> I'VE BEEN ON A COUPLE OF THE
SEARCHES.
>> DESCRIBE THEM TO ME.
>> THEY'RE HEART BREAKING.
>> JEN MURPHY IS AN EDUCATOR
LIVING IN MONTANA.
>> EVERY LITTLE STEP THAT YOU
TAKE, IT'S A GRID SEARCH, SO YOU
CAN'T BE ANY FARTHER THAN AN
ARM'S LENGTH APART SO THAT YOU
DON'T MISS ANYTHING.
>> IF YOU COME UPON ANYTHING
THAT LOOKS OUT OF PLACE --
>> SO GRID SEARCHING A MOUNTAIN
WITH TREES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT
TO EACH OTHER IS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE.
>> DURING ONE OF THOSE SEARCHES,
SHE MET VALENDA.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR
BOND WITH VALENDA?
>> SHE'S LIKE A SISTER TO ME
NOW.
>> SO HER PAIN IS YOUR PAIN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
UH-HUH.
>> THEY'RE CONTINUING TO
INVESTIGATE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF
23-YEAR-OLD JERMAIN CHARLO.
HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK AT HER
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON
HER DISAPPEARANCE --
>> AFTER JERMAIN HAD BEEN
MISSING FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS,
DETECTIVE GUY BAKER, WHO JUST
COME BACK FROM VACATION,
VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE OVER THE
CASE.
IS IT UNUSUAL FOR SOMEONE TO GO
MISSING IN MISSOULA?
>> NO, NO.
I THINK WE HAVE SOMETIMES
MULTIPLE PEOPLE PER WEEK, 97,
98% STATEWIDE REPORTED MISSING
PEOPLE ARE FOUND.
SO IT'S THAT 2% THAT ARE THE
DIFFICULT ONES.
>> BAKER WAS CONCERNED JERMAIN'S
CASE WAS AMONG THAT DIFFICULT
2%.
THEN IN MID JULY, ONE MONTH
AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE, THERE
SEEMED TO BE A NEW AND
DISTURBING DEVELOPMENT.
>> MISSOULA POLICE ARE CONCERNED
THAT A MISSING DIXON WOMAN MIGHT
BE HELD SOMEONE AGAINST HER WILL
TONIGHT.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO
INVESTIGATE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF
23-YEAR-OLD JERMAIN CHARLO, WHO
ALSO GOES BY THE NAME LIZ.
>> WE HAD SOME INFORMATION EARLY
ON THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SOME PEOPLE IN MISSOULA FROM OUT
OF STATE THAT WERE TRYING TO BUY
A GIRL.
AND I WAS THINKING THERE WAS A
CONNECTION THERE.
>> THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF RURAL
AREAS AND MILES TO GO ACROSS
THIS STATE.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXTREMELY VULNERABLE.
>> MISSOULA COUNTY DEPUTY
ATTORNEY, BRITNEY WILLIAMS.
>> HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A HUGE
PROBLEM NATIONWIDE, BUT HOW DOES
IT DIFFER IN MONTANA?
>> I WOULD SAY IT DIFFERS FROM A
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA THAT
MONTANA IS RURAL AND
UNDEVELOPED.
AND WE DON'T HAVE MAJOR CRIMES
THAT OCCUR HERE.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE
HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
INTERSTATES THAT RUNS THROUGH
OUR STATE RIGHT HERE THROUGH
MISSOULA, MONTANA.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE
SWEPT AWAY IN AN INSTANT AND
BECAUSE OF LACK OF GPS OR CELL
TOWERS YOU MIGHT NEVER HEAR FROM
THAT PERSON AGAIN IN A MATTER OF
MINUTES THEY COULD BE GONE.
AND THEY COULD BE TRAFFICKED TO
ANOTHER STATE, POTENTIALLY
ANOTHER COUNTRY.
>> IF JERMAIN CHARLO WAS A
VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING, COULD LAW
ENFORCEMENT FIND HER?
♪
>>> WHILE DETECTIVE BAKER WAS
INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY
JERMAIN CHARLO MAY HAVE BEEN A
VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING, HER
FAMILY WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO
GET HER BACK HOME.
>> WE CALLED HER PHONE IT SEEMS
LIKE A MILLION TIMES OVER.
TRIED TO FACEBOOK, FACETIME.
♪
>> EVEN FROM THE TIME SHE WAS A
LITTLE KID, SHE HAD LIKE THE
BEST PERSONALITY.
SHE'S VERY OUTGOING.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
RESILIENT.
ANIMAL LOVER.
OH, GOSH, THE LIST OF PETS SHE
HAD IS --
>> I THINK SHE HAD A FLYING
SQUIRREL OR SOMETHING.
>> AND THEN A PIG.
>> SHE HAD TWO PIGS.
>> SHE'S VERY OUTDOORSY.
SHE ALWAYS LOVED TO BE BY THE
RIVER AND FISHING.
>> VALENDA WAS ONLY 10 WHEN HER
NIECE JERMAIN WAS BORN.
SOON, THEY WERE AS CLOSE AS
SISTERS.
>> WHEN SHE WAS BORN, I DIDN'T
LIKE HER AT ALL.
I WAS THE BABY OF THE FAMILY.
AND SHE STOLE MY THUNDER.
AND THEN ONE DAY MY GRANDMA WAS
COOKING AND JERMAIN NEEDED TO BE
FED.
MY GRANDMA IS LIKE HOLD THIS
BABY.
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT HER LIKE,
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE NOT THAT BAD.
FROM THAT DAY ON SHE WAS MY
BABY.
SHE WAS MY BABY SISTER.
>> JERMAIN WAS CREATIVE AND
IMAGINATIVE.
>> SHE WAS AN AMAZING ARTIST.
>> HER DREAM WAS TO ATTEND THE
INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN
ARTS IN NEW MEXICO.
>> ON HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL, SHE
WAS LIKE USING FINGERNAIL POLISH
TO MAKE AN OCTOPUS.
SHE WOULD CROCHET GROCERY BAGS
TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT GIRL COULD DO ANYTHING SHE
SET HER MIND TO.
SHE WAS SO SMART.
SO TALENTED.
>> SHE GREW UP ON THE FLATHEAD
RESERVATION.
>> GOT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE
RIVERS.
YOU HAVE THE BISON RANGE RIGHT
NEXT TO YOU AND MOUNTAINS, YOU
KNOW, AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.
A REALLY STRONG SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
>> AND JERMAIN CHARLO'S ROOTS
RUN DEEP ON THIS RESERVATION.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND COUTN-EY
TRIBES AND A DESEN SENT OF CHIEF
CHARLO.
THE TRIBE WAS FORCED TO MOVE
FROM THEIR ANCESTRAL LAND IN
MONTANA'S BITTER ROOT VALLEY TO
THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION.
WE ARE ON TRIBAL LAND.
>> YES.
>> JERMAIN LIVED IN THIS ORANGE
HOUSE OVER HERE.
>> JERMAIN WAS BALANCING LIFE
WHILE CO-PARENTING HER TWO YOUNG
SONS, JACOB AND THOMAS.
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR
FATHER WAS STRAINED.
>> SHE WAS A GREAT MOTHER.
HER WORLD REVOLVED AROUND THOSE
BOYS.
SHE WANTED TO TEACH THEM ALL
ABOUT FISHING AND HUNTING.
TAKE THEM TO THE FAIR.
TRY TO GIVE THEM THE BEST LIFE
SHE KNEW HOW.
>> JERMAIN HAD BEEN WORKING AT
THE BIG RIVER CABNTINA.
SHE WAS HOPING TO FIND WORK AS A
SEASONAL FIREFIGHTER AND HAD AN
INTERVIEW SCHEDULED.
BUT SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP.
IS HE IS THE FIRST NATIVE WOMAN
TO DISAPPEAR FROM THE FLATHEAD
RESERVATION?
>> NO.
>> MISSOULA COUNTY DEPUTY
ATTORNEY BRITNEY WILLIAMS KNOWS
IT ALL TOO WELL.
IN MONTANA, INDIGENOUS PERSONS
MAKE UP ONLY ABOUT 6% OF THE
POPULATION.
BUT 24% OF THE STATE'S ACTIVE
MISSING PERSON'S CASES.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE AN
EPIDEM SNICK.
>> I WOULD, YES.
>> IS THERE ANY INDICATION WHY?
>> I THINK THAT THERE'S --
THAT'S A VERY COMPLEX QUESTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE.
I THINK THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO INTO
EACH MISSING PERSON, FROM
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, TO POVERTY, TO
HOMELESSNESS.
>> AS LAW ENFORCEMENT BEGAN
DIGGING DEEPER INTO JERMAIN
CHARLO'S DISAPPEARANCE, THEY
WOULD RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY
THE 23-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF TWO
HAD BEEN A VICTIM OF
TRAFFICKING.
>> THAT WAS INITIALLY AN AVENUE
OF INVESTIGATION.
ULTIMATELY I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
SHE WAS TRAFFICKED.
>> WHY?
>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH
EVIDENCE THROUGH THIS
INVESTIGATION THAT LENDS ITSELF
TO BELIEVE SOMETHING ELSE HAS
HAPPENED TO HER.
>> JERMAIN POSTED THIS TikTok
VIDEO, LIP SYNCHING LINES FROM A
TV SHOW THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED.
IT'S THE SAME IMAGE SEEN IN HER
MISSING POSTER BILLBOARD.
SHE'S WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES
IN THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
DETECTIVE BAKER DISCOVERED THE
VIDEO EARLY IN HIS
INVESTIGATION.
AND HE SHARED EXCERPTS OF IT
WITH US.
HE TOLD US THAT THE MAN STANDING
BEHIND JERMAIN WAS MICHAEL
DEFRANCE, JERMAIN'S EX.
AND THE FATHER OF THEIR TWO
CHILDREN.
HE AGREED TO SPEAK WITH POLICE
WITHOUT A LAWYER.
>> YOU BELIEVE MICHAEL DEFRANCE
WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE
JERMAIN CHARLO?
>> THAT'S WHAT THE INVESTIGATION
HAS DETERMINED.
AND HE TOLD US THAT.
>> ACCORDING TO POLICE, SOME
TIME AROUND MIDNIGHT MICHAEL AND
JERMAIN WALKED AWAY, AND GOT IN
HIS 2011 BROWN DODGE TRUCK.
>> HE SAID THAT THEY LEFT THE
DOWNTOWN AREA AND THAT HE
DROPPED HER OFF AND THAT THAT
ENDED THEIR NIGHT TOGETHER.
>> ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
MICHAEL DEFRANCE STATED HE
DROPPED JERMAIN OFF AT THE
ORANGE STREET FOOD FARM.
MICHAEL DEFRANCE DID THIS
BECAUSE JERMAIN STATED THAT HER
FRIEND CASSIDY LIVED NEARBY.
AND JERMAIN WAS GOING TO SPEND
THE NIGHT THERE.
MICHAEL DEFRANCE DROPPED JERMAIN
OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 0100 HOURS.
POLICE DIDN'T FIND A CASSIDY,
BUT THEY LEARNED JERMAIN HAD
BEEN VISITING MISSOULA REGULARLY
BECAUSE SHE WAS DATING A MAN
NAMED JACOB, WHO LIVED IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THEY HAD MET ON A DATING APP.
AND THEY WEREN'T TOGETHER FOR
VERY LONG, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE
THEY HAD A VERY STRONG
CONNECTION AND HE WAS JUST
TOTALLY INFATUATED WITH HER.
>> AUTHORITIES SAY JACOB WAS OUT
OF TOWN, MILES AWAY IN ANOTHER
STATE.
VALENDA SAYS HE AND JERMAIN WERE
TEXTING EACH OTHER THAT NIGHT
BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.
>> HER PLAN, ACCORDING TO LIKE
HER MESSAGE TO HIM, WAS THAT SHE
WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO HIS
PLACE THAT NIGHT BECAUSE HE WAS
OUT OF TOWN.
>> ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
WHEN JACOB ATTEMPTED TO CALL
JERMAIN SHORTLY BEFORE 1:00 A.M.
ON JUNE 16th, HE THOUGHT IT WAS
STRANGE BECAUSE THE PHONE RANG
SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WENT TO
VOICE MAIL.
JACOB FELT THAT SOMEBODY
PURPOSEFULLY ENDED THE CALL.
>> AND THIS PARTICULAR CALL THAT
WAS MADE TO HER HAS BEEN SHOWN
THROUGH THE CARRIER TO HAVE BEEN
SILENCED BY SOMEONE.
>> JACOB ALSO TOLD POLICE THAT
THE DAY BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED
JERMAIN TOLD JACOB THAT MICHAEL
HAD BEEN YELLING AT HER, ASKING
IF SHE WAS DATING ANYONE.
AND WANTED TO GET BACK TOGETHER
WITH HER.
POLICE SAY JACOB COOPERATED WITH
THE INVESTIGATION AND WAS NEVER
CONSIDERED A SUSPECT.
IT'S UNSETTLING TO SEE JERMAIN
CHARLO SOCIALIZING THAT NIGHT
AND MICHAEL DEFRANCE, THE LAST
KNOWN PERSON TO SEE HER ALIVE.
AND NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT OR WHAT MAY HAVE
BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN THEM.
MICHAEL DEFRANCE HAS NOT BEEN
NAMED AS A SUSPECT IN JERMAIN'S
DISAPPEARANCE.
WE SHOWED THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
TO VALENDA AND DANNY.
THEY'RE SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST
TIME.
>> THERE SHE IS.
>> FOR HER TO BE WALKING IN
FRONT OF HIM, IT SEEMED LIKE HE
KEEPS TRYING TO CATCH UP TO HER.
>> THEY SENSED JERMAIN WAS
SENDING A MESSAGE ABOUT MICHAEL
DEFRANCE.
>> AND SHE IS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT
TO GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS.
>> Announcer: WHAT DO YOU THINK
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CLUE IN
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JERMAIN
CHARLO?
CHAT NOW WITH THE 48
♪
>>> JERMAIN CHARLO NEVER WENT
ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER PHONE.
SO IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR
INVESTIGATORS TO FIND IT.
>> WE GOT CELL PHONE DATA LINKED
TO JERMAIN'S CELL PHONE THAT
INDICATED IT WAS ACTIVE ON THE
NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
AND IT WAS ACTIVE MULTIPLE TIMES
PRIMARILY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
2:00 A.M. AND UP UNTIL JUST
ABOUT 10:00 A.M. ON THE 16th OF
JUNE.
>> AND WHERE WAS THE PHONE?
>> SO, THE PHONE HAS NEVER BEEN
RECOVERED.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PHONE
WAS, BUT JUDGING BY THE
INFORMATION WE GOT FROM THE
TOWER, IT WAS MOST DEFINITELY
NORTH OF MISSOULA AND IT WAS IN
THE AREA OF EVERYO HILL.
>> IT'S ON THE FLATHEAD
RESERVATION.
IT'S A RUGGED AREA WITH LOTS OF
TREES AND WILDLIFE.
AND IT'S A PLACE MICHAEL
DeFRANCE KNOWS WELL.
>> HE LIVES SPECIFICALLY UP ON
THE EVERO HILL AREA.
HE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO BE
WITH JERMAIN CHARLO BEFORE HER
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT CAME TO A
STANDSTILL.
>> SEARCHES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED
ON EVERO HILL, BUT JERMAIN WAS
NOT FOUND.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS THAT HOPE THAT
SHE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> JEN MURPHY, WHO HAS JOINED
SEVERAL VOLUNTEER SEARCHES FOR
JERMAIN CAME ONE THE IDEA TO PUT
JERMAIN CHARLO'S MISSING POSTER
ON A BILLBOARD.
>> I CURRENTLY AM DOING A
PROJECT WITH BILLBOARDS
THROUGHOUT MONTANA AND
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
I TRY TO HAVE BILLBOARDS AS
CLOSE TO OUR RESERVATIONS AS
POSSIBLE.
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
SPEAKING TO THE PERPETRATORS,
TOO, LIKE WE SEE YOU.
>> THE INVESTIGATION INTO
JERMAIN'S DISAPPEARANCE IS JUST
ONE OF MANY CASES OF MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, KNOWN
AS MMIW.
IN 2019, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
CREATED A TASK FORCE TO
INVESTIGATE CASES OF MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HELPED TO
IGNITE THE MOVEMENT.
>> AND THIS IS THE CASE OF
JERMAIN CHARLO.
>> AND THE 2024 EMMY AWARDS,
RESERVATION DOGS ACTOR AND
NOMINEE DEFAR ROW WAS ON THE RED
CARPET --
>> YEAH, THIS IS REPRESENTING
RED PALM PRINT REPRESENTING
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN.
>> BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE
CRISIS.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL OF THE
HUMAN RACE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED
FOR THE SAME.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ASKING FOR
SPECIAL TREATMENT.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE SAME
TREATMENT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP LOOKING
FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT.
OUR LIVES MATTER.
>> AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, JEN MURPHY
IS USING HER LENS TO OPEN THE
APERTURE TO THE MMIW CRISIS.
THIS PHOTO SHOOT WAS IN THE SAME
ALLEY WHERE JERMAIN WAS LAST
SEEN.
>> STARTS OUT WITH PRAYING AND
TRYING TO SET YOURSELF RIGHT.
>> WE OFFER A MOMENT OF SILENCE
IN A SPACE FOR OUR SISTERS.
>> PAINTING ON THE PAINT --
>> JUST RELAX OUR HAND.
JUST PUT YOUR HAND STRAIGHT
DOWN.
>> WHAT DOES THE RED HAND MEAN?
>> THE RED HAND PRINT REALLY
SYMBOLIZES OUR PEOPLE BEING
SILENCED.
HOW WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKED
AT DIFFERENTLY.
AND THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE NOT
BEEN HEARD IN THE SAME WAY THAT
OTHER PEOPLE ARE.
THAT'S A HARSH REALITY AND HAS
BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
TIME, SINCE COLONIZATION.
>> JERMAIN'S FAMILY CAN'T HELP
BUT WONDER ABOUT HOW HER CASE
WAS TREATED IN THOSE CRITICAL
EARLY DAYS IN THE INVESTIGATION.
>> WHEN I REPORTED HER MISSING,
THERE WAS NO SENSE OF URGENCY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE
SHE'S OVER 18 OR BECAUSE SHE WAS
DRINKING OR THE FACT THAT SHE
WAS NATIVE AMERICAN.
>> LEAD DETECTIVE GUY BAKER
CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE FIRST DAYS
OF THE INVESTIGATION.
REMEMBER, HE DIDN'T GET THE CASE
UNTIL TEN DAYS AFTER JERMAIN
DISAPPEARED.
BUT HE'S WELL AWARE THAT SOME
MISSING PERSONS CASES DO GET
MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHERS.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST LOOK AT OUR
NATIONAL MEDIA.
GABBIE PA TITO GOES MISSING AND
LOOK AT THE NATIONAL EXPOSURE
SHE GOT FOR A WEEK OR TWO FOR A
CAUCASIAN FEMALE.
HOW MANY NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN
WENT MISSING DURING THAT SAME
TIME AND GOT NOTHING.
I MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO
KEEP JERMAIN RELEVANT.
>> IT'S BAKER'S HOPE THAT BY
RELEASING THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
TO 48 HOURS HE'LL GAIN NEW
LEADS.
FOR VALENDA AND DANNY --
>> DO YOU SEE HER?
>> YEAH.
>> BEING SOCIAL.
SILLY, BEING HERSELF.
>> IT'S THE LAST GLIMPSE OF
JERMAIN'S LIFE THE NIGHT SHE
DISAPPEARED.
>> JERMAIN, HER BUBBLY SELF WAS
BEAUTIFUL TO SEE HER.
HURTS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT SO
FULL OF LIFE.
>> THEN THEY ZERO IN ON THE MAN
STANDING BEHIND JERMAIN.
>> HERE.
>> YEP.
>> MICHAEL DeFRANCE.
>> INTRODUCES HIM.
>> THEN HE'S GOT HIS ARMS
CROSSED LIKE -- AND ROLLS UP HIS
SLEEVES LIKE TRYING TO
INTIMIDATE WHOEVER THE DUDE IS
THAT SHE'S TALKING TO.
>> DOES IT TELL YOU ANYTHING?
>> IT KIND OF SHOWS ME HIS
DEMEANOR THAT NIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S IN A RUSH TO
LEAVE, AND THAT HER ATTENTION
ISN'T FOCUSSED ON HIM.
>> DANNY WAS SURPRISED AND
RELIEVED TO SEE THERE WERE OTHER
PEOPLE, POTENTIAL WITNESSES, IN
THE ALLEY THAT NIGHT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE,
WHICH REASSURES ME THAT SOMEBODY
KNOWS SOMETHING.
SOMEBODY HAS SEEN HER.
SOMEBODY HAS TO KNOW WHAT THAT
CONVERSATION WAS.
>> DETECTIVE BAKER SAYS HE SPOKE
WITH SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE SEEN
ON THE VIDEO.
BUT BECAUSE THIS INVESTIGATION
IS STILL ACTIVE, HE WOULDN'T SAY
MUCH ABOUT WHAT HE LEARNED.
>> I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE BY
CHANCE SOMEBODY SAW THEM AND
JUST HAS NO IDEA THAT SHE'S BEEN
MISSING.
AND SAYS SOMETHING AND THAT IS
JUST LIKE THE SMALL MISSING
PIECE THAT WE NEED.
>> AUTHORITIES NEEDED A BREAK IN
JERMAIN'S CASE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT HER LIFE, THEY WOULD TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT HER PAST.
AND THEY WOULD DISCOVER HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHAEL
DeFRANCE WASN'T JUST STRAINED,
IT HAD BEEN DANGEROUS.
♪
>>> WHILE AUTHORITIES DID NOT
NAME MICHAEL DeFRANCE AS A
SUSPECT IN JERMAIN'S
DISAPPEARANCE, THEY DID WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COUPLE'S
RELATIONSHIP.
THEY STARTED AT THE BEGINNING.
JERMAIN CHARLO WAS 14 WHEN SHE
MET 16-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL DeFRANCE
IN 2010, WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVED
IN ACROSS THE STREET.
THEY BOTH ENJOYED FISHING ON THE
RIVER AND TAKING LONG WALKS.
THE TEENS WERE PRACTICALLY
INSEPARABLE.
BUT THERE WERE RED FLAGS.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER WHY I HAD
HER PHONE, BUT I HAD FOUND SOME
EXMISIT PHOTOS OF HER ON HER
PHONE.
I HAD MENTIONED TO MICHAEL, SHE
WAS NEVER LIKE THIS BEFORE.
THIS IS NOT OKAY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU
GUYS SHOULD BE SHARING AT YOUR
AGE.
>> WHAT WAS HIS REACTION?
>> HE DIDN'T REALLY SAY MUCH.
>> DESPITE FAMILY DISAPPROVAL,
JERMAIN CONTINUED TO SEE MICHAEL
DeFRANCE.
THEN IN APRIL, 2013, JUST TWO
WEEKS SHY OF JERMAIN'S 18th
BIRTHDAY, VALENDA GOT A
HARROWING CALL.
>> THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE
SHE HAD CALLED ME AND SAID
AUNTIE, I NEED YOU DOWN HERE,
MICHAEL HIT ME.
>> ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS,
MICHAEL DeFRANCE, WHO WAS 19,
ADMITTED HE ASSAULTED JERMAIN.
ON 4/14/2013 IN SANDERS COUNTY,
I CAUSED BODILY INJURY TO MY
GIRLFRIEND.
THE DOCUMENTS ALSO STATE HOW HE
HURT JERMAIN.
THE DEFENDANT MADE THE FOLLOWING
ADMISSIONS, THAT HE HIT HER
THREE TIMES, THAT HE USED HIS
FIRST.
>> IT WAS HARD TO HEAR THAT AND
SEE HER GO THROUGH THAT AND THE
EMOTIONAL PHONE CALLS AND THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT FOLLOWED.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A KID.
>> DeFRANCE PLED GUILTY TO
PARTNER FAMILY MEMBER ASSAULT.
HE WOULDN'T SERVE ANY JAIL TIME,
BUT HE WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM
POSSESSING FIREARMS.
DESPITE THE VIOLENCE, JERMAIN
AND MICHAEL DeFRANCE REMAINED
TOGETHER.
JERMAIN'S FAMILY SAYS SHE WAS
STAYING WITH DeFRANCE IN A
CARPER ON HIS PARENT'S PROPERTY.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL
DeFRANCE LEFT TOWN TO WORK AS A
SEASONAL FIREFIGHTER.
>> I'M HOME ALONE FOR TWO MORE
WEEKS.
SO, EVERYDAY THE BLOG WILL
PROBABLY BE ONLY ME UNTIL MY
BOYFRIEND/FIANCE GETS HOME FROM
WORK.
>> JERMAIN, ALONE, LONELY AND
LIVING IN A CARPER BEGAN SHARING
HER WORLD ON YOUTUBE.
>> I USUALLY DON'T DO MUCH.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A HOUSEWIFE.
>> SHE WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT
HIDING PAIN AND TRIED TO PRETEND
LIKE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.
>> SOON THEY WERE YOUNG PARENTS
RAISING THEIR TWO BOYS.
BUT VALENDA SAYS THE VIOLENCE
CONTINUED.
>> MULTIPLE TIMES OF GETTING
PHONE CALLS AND GOING DOWN TO
MAKE SURE SHE WAS OKAY.
AND IT WAS HARD FOR US TO WATCH
HER GO BACK, BUT THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS TO A LOT OF WOMEN WHO
ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
>> THEY BREAK UP AND MAKE UP AND
BREAK UP AND MAKE UP.
>> ACCORDING TO DANNY THE COUPLE
EVENTUALLY BROKE UP FOR GOOD IN
2017.
>> MICHAEL STILL WANTED JERMAIN
TO DO, AS MICHAEL SAID.
AND SO WHEN JERMAIN STARTED TO
CREATE A LIFE WITHOUT HIM, IT
SEEMS LIKE THINGS GOT WORSE FOR
HER.
SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF HIS KIDS
AND HAD TO KIND OF WALK ON EGG
SHELLS AROUND WHAT MICHAEL
WANTED OR HOW, YOU KNOW, HE
PICTURED HER, WANTED HER TO BE
AS A MOM.
>> IN EARLY 2018, JUST MONTHS
BEFORE HER DISAPPEARANCE,
JERMAIN AND MICHAEL HAD A HEATED
CUSTODY BATTLE OVER THE BOYS.
ACCORDING TO HER FAMILY, JERMAIN
HAD LIMITED RESOURCES.
MICHAEL DeFRANCE, IT SEEMED, HAD
MORE.
>> HE HAD AN ATTORNEY.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY.
JERMAIN WAS WORKING HARD TO FIND
STABILITY WITH WORK.
>> A JUDGE DECIDED THE KIDS
WOULD LIVE WITH THEIR FATHER.
AND SHE WOULD HAVE VISITATION
RIGHTS.
THE PARENTING PLAN SAYS HER
FAMILY WAS STRESSFUL FOR
JERMAIN.
SHEALA RUSSELL NOTICED A CHANGE
IN HER COUSIN'S BEHAVIOR.
>> MICHAEL HAD THE BOYS, SO SHE
WAS LONELY AND SCARED FOR HER
SAFETY.
>> SHE WAS SCARED FOR HER
SAFETY?
>> YEAH.
SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT HAVING
NIGHTMARES OR BEING SCARED TO BE
ALONE.
>> AFTER JERMAIN'S
DISAPPEARANCE, INVESTIGATORS
WOULD DISCOVER SOMETHING ELSE
ABOUT MICHAEL DeFRANCE.
>> DETECTIVES REALIZED HE WAS IN
POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.
WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW WHEN
YOU'VE CONVICTED OF FAMILY
PARTNER ASSAULT.
>> IN 2021 HE WAS ARRESTED AND
CHARGED WITH POSSESSING
FIREARMS.
A VIOLATION OF HIS 2013
SENTENCE.
ANCHOR AND REPORTER JILL VALLEY
COVERED THE FEDERAL TRIAL.
>> AND ON ONE SIDE IT'S THE
DeFRANCE FAMILY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE IT'S JERMAIN'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AND IT IS TENSE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY LOVE
LOST BETWEEN THOSE TWO FAMILIES.
>> IN 2023, MICHAEL DeFRANCE WAS
CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO 21
MONTHS IN PRISON.
HE HASN'T SERVED ANY TIME
BECAUSE HE IS APPEALING THE
CONVICTION.
"48 HOURS" REQUESTED AN
INTERVIEW THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY.
HE DECLINED OUR REQUEST.
IN THEIR EFFORT TO FIND JERMAIN,
AUTHORITIES SECURED NUMEROUS
SEARCH WARRANTS, INCLUDING AT
LEAST TWO ON MICHAEL DeFRANCE'S
PROPERTY.
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS AN ACTIVE
INVESTIGATION, MANY OF THE
SEARCH WARRANTS HAVE BEEN
SEALED.
>> DOZENS OF SEARCHES FOR
JERMAIN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN CANINE SEARCHES,
CANINES WHO ARE TRAINED TO
DETECT BODIES.
>> EVERY PLACE THAT WE'VE
SEARCHED HAS NOT YIELDED THE
EVIDENCE THAT WOULD GIVE US THE
ANSWER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO
HER?
AND WHY?
>> ALL I CAN SAY WITHOUT
COMPROMISING THE INVESTIGATION
IS I THINK JERMAIN'S
DISAPPEARANCE IS A RESULT OF A
CRIMINAL ACTION AND SOMEBODY
KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO JERMAIN.
AND WE NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE.
SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING.
>> SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS BAFFLED
BAKER IS WHAT HAPPENED TO
JERMAIN'S CELL PHONE.
TURNS OUT, MICHAEL DeFRANCE
PROVIDED AN ANSWER.
>> Announcer: TO SEE A FULL
TIMELINE OF JERMAIN CHARLO'S
♪
>>> EVERO HILL IS THE LAST KNOWN
AREA WHERE JERMAIN'S CELL PHONE
WAS ACTIVE.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, IT
WAS PINGING BETWEEN 2 AND 10:00
A.M., THE MORNING AFTER SHE WAS
LAST SEEN.
>> IT'S A VERY HEAVILY FORESTED
AREA.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT WILDLIFE.
AND THEN ONE SOLE HIGHWAY THAT
RUNS THROUGH THE TOP OF EVARO
HILL.
>> IT'S THE AREA WHERE JERMAIN'S
EX, MICHAEL DeFRANCE, WAS
LIVING.
IN HIS INITIAL STATEMENT TO
POLICE, HE SAID THAT HE DROPPED
JERMAIN OFF IN MISSOULA AROUND
1:00 A.M.
AND THAT SHE HAD HER PHONE WITH
HER.
SO WHY WAS IT ACTIVE ON EVARO
HILL, ROUGHLY 14 MILES NORTH OF
MISSOULA HOURS LATER?
DeFRANCE CHANGED HIS STORY AND
SAID HER PHONE WAS WITH HIM.
>> IN A SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEW, HE
PROVIDED A STATEMENT THAT SHE
LET HER CELL PHONE AND HE
ATTEMPTED TO GO THROUGH HER CELL
PHONE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO GET
INTO HER CELL PHONE.
>> WHAT HE SAID HE DID NEXT
SURPRISED DETECTIVE GUY BAKER.
DeFRANCE ADMITTED THAT TWO DAYS
AFTER HE LAST SAW JERMAIN, HE
THREW HER PHONE AWAY.
>> SO MR. DeFRANCE HAD TOLD US
DURING ONE OF HIS INTERVIEWS
THAT HE DISCARDED JERMAIN'S CELL
PHONE IN IDAHO.
♪
>> MICHAEL DeFRANCE, THEN
WORKING AS A TRUCK DRIVER, TOLD
AUTHORITIES HE DISPOSED OF
JERMAIN'S PHONE IN IDAHO, AT
MILE MARKER 94 ON HIGHWAY 12.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHED THE
AREA BUT NEVER FOUND THE PHONE.
>> I HAVE TO ASK, WHY WOULD HE
GET RID OF HER CELL PHONE?
WHAT EXPLANATION DID HE HAVE.
>> YOU CAN'T TELL ME?
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU.
>> IS THAT UNUSUAL?
THAT SOMEONE WOULD, ONE, ADMIT
TO HAVING A MISSING PERSON'S
CELL PHONE AND THEN, TWO, THAT
THEY WOULD DISPENSE WITH IT?
>> YEAH.
WHY WOULD YOU GET RID OF A CELL
PHONE IF SOMEONE WAS AROUND TO
GIVE THE PHONE BACK TO THEM.
>> WHY WOULD HE HAVE HER PHONE?
WHY WOULD HE DESTROY IT?
THROW IT OUT AT MILE MARKER WHAT
THE HELL EVER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY MICHAEL
DeFRANCE IS NOT A PERSON OF
INTEREST.
I WOULD SAY THAT I'M NOT AD
LIBBERTY TO SAY WHO IS OR WHO IS
NOT A PESHRSON OF INTEREST.
>> NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN NAMED
IN CONNECTION WITH JERMAIN'S
DISAPPEARANCE.
POLICE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE
CASE A NO BODY HOMICIDE.
BUT WITHOUT A BODY, PROSECUTING
A HOMICIDE IS A CHALLENGE.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT YOU ONLY
GET ONE BITE AT THE APPLE HERE.
ONLY ONE SHOT.
AND SO I WANT TO GATHER AS MUCH
INFORMATION TO ENSURE A
SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION SHOULD WE
NEED THAT CROSS ROAD.
IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WE ARE CLOSE
TO MOVING FORWARD IN THIS CASE.
>> MOVING FORWARD MEANING FILING
CHARGES AGAINST A SUSPECT?
>> IF IT ULTIMATELY IS
DETERMINED THAT THIS IS CRIMINAL
MEANS, ABSOLUTELY.
JERMAIN AND HER FAMILY DESERVE
ANSWERS.
AND IT IS MIE HOPE THAT SOMEONE
COMES FORWARD, PROVIDES US SOME
NEW LEAD THAT CAN LEAD TO
JUSTICE.
>> I HAVE MY CELL PHONE ON THAT
BILLBOARD, NOT JUST THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S MAIN NUMBER,
BECAUSE I WANT SOMEONE TO CALL
ME BECAUSE I WANT THE
INFORMATION.
>> THE BILLBOARD'S LOCATION WAS
IMPORTANT TO DANNY AND VALENDA.
IT LOOKS OUT TOWARD THE
RESERVATION AND EVARO HILL.
WHERE MICHAEL DeFRANCE WAS
LIVING WITH JERMAIN'S TWO SONS.
>> I KNOW THAT MICHAEL WOULD
PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE THAT ROUTE
TO COME TO MISSOULA.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THE BOYS
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE HER IN
PERSON, BUT THAT PICTURE WILL BE
THERE AND JACOB AND THOMAS COULD
SEE THEIR MOTHER EVERY TIME THEY
DROVE BY THERE.
I HOPE THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS
THAT THOMAS AND JACOB HAVEN'T
FORGOT WHO THEIR MOTHER IS, AND
I HOPE THEY KNOW THAT SHE LOVES
THEM VERY MUCH.
>> IN MISSOULA, THERE'S A
DIFFERENT BILLBOARD.
THIS ONE SHOWING VALENDA'S FACE.
HER PHOTO STANDS AS A STARK
REMINDER OF THE ON GOING CRISIS
OF MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
>> IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO DO
THAT PHOTO SHOOT.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE
THINKING THAT, LIKE, I WANT
ATTENTION ON MYSELF.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.
IT'S ABOUT JERMAIN.
WE WILL NO LONGER BE SILENT
ABOUT OUR WOMEN GOING MISSING.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR
OUR LOVED ONES.
>> DO YOU STILL PLAN ON
SEARCHING FOR JERMAIN?
>> ALWAYS.
I DON'T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES.
I'M NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP ON
HER.
I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO SEARCH
UNTIL I'M 80 YEARS OLD.
>> IF THIS CASE IS NEVER SOLVED
AND I RETIRE, IT'S NOT GOING
AWAY IN MY MIND.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT WILL BE WITH ME UNTIL THE
DAY I DIE.
THAT WEIGHS ON US.
THAT WEIGHS ON OUR TRIBAL
COUNCIL.
EVERYONE HERE THINKS ABOUT IT.
>> SIX WINTERS HAVE PASSED SINCE
JERMAIN DISAPPEARED.
>> TODAY IS JERMAIN CHARLO'S
BIRTHDAY.
>> DANNY AND VALENDA NO LONGER
BELIEVE SHE IS ALIVE.
>> SO, I HAVE A GIFT OF WHEN MY
FAMILY MAKES IT TO THE OTHER
SIDE.
WHEN MY GRANDMA PASSED AWAY, SHE
CAME AND TOLD ME SHE MADE IT.
WHEN MY GRANDPA PASSED AWAY, HE
TOLD ME HE MADE IT.
AND I HAD THIS DREAM AND JERMAIN
WAS THERE AND SHE'S LIKE, I JUST
WANTED TO TELL YOU I FOUND
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA AND I'M
FINE.
AND SHE GAVE ME A HUG.
AND SHE TURNED TO WALK AWAY.
AND I SAID, JERMAIN -- AND SHE
GOES, WHAT?
>> I WAS LIKE, WHERE IS YOUR
BODY.
AND SHE LOOKED ME DEAD IN THE
EYES AND SHE SAID IT'S IN EVARO.
I LOVE YOU, BUT I HAVE TO GO.
♪