1 00:00:09,909 --> 00:00:22,055 ♪ >>> AUBURN, ALABAMA, IS HOME TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS A MAJOR FOOTBALL SCHOOL. 2 00:00:22,122 --> 00:00:29,829 IN A COLLEGE TOWN IT HAPPENS THAT STUDENTS SOMETIMES MAY GO OFF AND MAY BE MISSING FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 3 00:00:29,896 --> 00:00:40,573 BUT THEY COME BACK. LORI WAS A STUDENT AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND SHE RECENTLY GRADUATED. 4 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:49,249 >> JUNE 10, 2006, WHICH IS THE FATEFUL DAY IN LORI'S LIFE. >> WE WERE GOING TO HAVE DRINKS AT MY HOUSE. 5 00:00:49,315 --> 00:00:55,588 WE WERE GOING HAVE RUM RUNNERS I BELIEVE AND WATCH A MOVIE AND DO GIRL TIME. SHE CALLED ME AROUND 6:30 AND 6 00:00:55,655 --> 00:01:02,061 SAID I AM GOING TO STOP BY THE STORE, PICK UP THE DRINK MIXES, AND THEN I WILL BE HEADED TO YOUR HOUSE. 7 00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:06,266 THEN THE PHONE RANG ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. IT RANG ONCE OR TWICE. I ANSWERED. 8 00:01:06,332 --> 00:01:11,070 NO ONE WAS THERE. >> HOW MANY TIMES HAD SHE SIMPLY NOT SHOWED UP AND NOT CALLED YOU? 9 00:01:11,137 --> 00:01:18,311 >> NEVER. >> MY DAUGHTER WAS A VERY GOOD PERSON. A KIND PERSON. 10 00:01:18,378 --> 00:01:25,919 A LOVING GIRL. VERY STUDIOS STUDENT. SHE LOVED SPORTS. LOVED HER DOG. 11 00:01:25,985 --> 00:01:32,659 SHE HAD A LITTLE YORKIE NAMED PEANUT THAT WAS HER BABY. >> WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG? 12 00:01:32,725 --> 00:01:40,433 >> I WAS AT WORK. A LADY CALLED. I BELIEVE IT WAS HER BOSS. SHE SAID YOUR DAUGHTER LORI HAS 13 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:46,473 NOT SHOWN UP AND BELLS AND WHISTLES WEPT OFF. I CALLED AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER HER PHONE. 14 00:01:46,539 --> 00:01:52,212 I >> I CALLED, LEFT VOICEMAILS ON HER HOME ANSWERING MACHINE. >> YOU GO OVER TO HER MOBILE 15 00:01:52,278 --> 00:01:58,551 HOME. >> THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED, WHICH WAS NOT LIKE HER. THE AIR CONDITION WAS RUNNING. 16 00:01:58,618 --> 00:02:06,292 HER DOG PEANUT WAS IN THE CRATE. WE WALKED THROUGH THE HOUSE. SHE WASN'T THERE. >> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? 17 00:02:06,359 --> 00:02:12,799 >> SOMETHING'S TERRIBLY WRONG. THERE IS NO WAY SHE WOULD HAVE LEFT PEANUT. >> THIS IS IT. 18 00:02:12,866 --> 00:02:20,273 IT'S ABOUT 4:40 A.M. FOUR DAYS AFTER LORI IS MISSING. THE CAR WAS RIGHT HERE DEAD IN THE CENTER. 19 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:30,383 ENGULFED IN FLAMES. >> WAS LORI IN THIS CAR? >> LORI WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. >> THERE WAS NO TRACE OF HER 20 00:02:30,450 --> 00:02:39,759 WHATSOEVER. I MEAN, NONE. >> JUST VANISHED SNRNLTS JUST VANISHED. 21 00:02:39,826 --> 00:02:43,930 >> AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI SLESINSKI? >> I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS. >> RICK ENNIS. 22 00:02:43,997 --> 00:02:49,369 >> YOUR DAUGHTER HAD NO IDEA ABOUT HIS PAST? >> NO. >> I MET RICK ENNIS WHEN HE WAS 23 00:02:49,435 --> 00:02:58,211 12 YEARS OLD. HE IS SITTING BACK THERE IN THAT SEAT BEHIND YOU AND I SAID, WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS? 24 00:02:58,278 --> 00:03:09,489 HE LOOKS RIGHT BACK AT ME AND HE SAYS, I KILLED THEM BOTH. 25 00:03:13,826 --> 00:03:38,318 ♪ 26 00:03:50,029 --> 00:04:01,240 >>> I CAN STILL SEE HER SMILE. HER SMILE IS JUST ETCHED IN MY MEMORY. >> TO THIS DAY, LINDSAY BRAUN IS 27 00:04:01,307 --> 00:04:14,754 HAUNTED BY THE FINAL CALL FROM LORI SLESINSKI ON JUNE 10, 2006, WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET TOGETHER FOR DRINKS AND A MOVIE. 28 00:04:14,821 --> 00:04:19,826 THAT LAST CALL, DID IT INDICATE IT WAS HER PHONE? >> YES GUILTY CALLS AND IT HANGS UP? 29 00:04:19,892 --> 00:04:23,162 >> YES. >> NO ONE WAS THERE. >> YES. >> DID YOU CALL HER BACK? 30 00:04:23,229 --> 00:04:29,836 >> I DID. NO ANSWER. >> LORI AND LINDSAY WERE FAST FRIENDS WHEN THEY MET JUNIOR 31 00:04:29,902 --> 00:04:37,710 YEAR AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN 2002. >> I REMEMBER THE DAY I MET HER. WE JUST KIND OF IMMEDIATELY 32 00:04:37,777 --> 00:04:43,182 CLICKED. BUT I COULD JUST TELL THAT SHE WAS A WARM PERSON, VERY FRIENDLY, JUST OUTGOING, LOVING, 33 00:04:43,249 --> 00:04:52,058 ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS. >> LORI'S FAMILY, HER OLDER BROTHER PAUL AND THEIR PARENTS ARLENE AND CASEY WERE ACTUALLY 34 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:59,799 FROM NEW YORK STATE. THEY HEADED SOUTH TO RURAL ALABAMA FARM COUNTRY WHEN LORI WAS 13 YEARS OLD. 35 00:04:59,866 --> 00:05:06,506 >> SHE LOVED ANIMALS. WE ALWAYS HAD ANIMALS IN OUR HOUSE. >> LORI'S MOTHER, ARLENE. 36 00:05:06,572 --> 00:05:14,681 >> VERY STUDIOS STUDENT. SHE WAS A GOOD GIRL. >> WHEN SHE ENROLLED IN NEARBY AUBURN UNIVERSITY HER PARENTS 37 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:23,222 BOUGHT LORI A MOBILE HOME TO LIVE OFF CAMPUS IN A MANICURED TRAILER PARK POPULAR WITH STUDENTS. 38 00:05:23,289 --> 00:05:28,795 >> FROM VALEDICTORIAN OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS, WAS IT TOUGH TO SEE YOUR BABY GIRL LEAVE THE HOUSE AND HEAD OFF TO 39 00:05:28,861 --> 00:05:34,667 UNIVERSITY? >> OH, YEAH, IT WAS VERY TOUGH. I CALLED HER EVERY DAY. MOM, THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. 40 00:05:34,734 --> 00:05:44,477 YOU ARE MY BABY AND I WORRY ABOUT YOU. DON'T WORRY, I'M FINE. >> LORI MANLED IN PSYCHOLOGY AND 41 00:05:44,544 --> 00:05:50,950 MINORED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS. >> SHE LOOKED SO HAPPY. >> SHE WAS OVER THE MOON HAPPY. 42 00:05:51,017 --> 00:05:56,255 >> AFTER GRADUATION LORI AN LINDSAY STARTED WORKING TOGETHER AT A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. 43 00:05:56,322 --> 00:06:04,630 DID YOU SENSE THAT SHE HAD ANY ENEMY IN THIS WORLD? >> NO. >> THE DAY THAT LORI 44 00:06:04,697 --> 00:06:15,141 DISAPPEARED, JUNE 10, 2006, WAS ANYONE WITH LORI THAT DAY? >> RICK WAS AT HER HOUSE. >> RICK WAS DARRELL RICHARD 45 00:06:15,208 --> 00:06:19,412 ENNIS. >> WHEN I SPOKE TO HER HE WAS IN THE BACKGROUND. >> LORI GOT TO KNOW RICK BACK 46 00:06:19,479 --> 00:06:26,519 WHETHER SHE WAS STILL A STUDENT. SHE HUNG OUT AT THE LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY WHERE HE WORKED. >> I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM 47 00:06:26,586 --> 00:06:35,628 AT ALL EXCEPT HE WAS HER FRIEND. >> ARLENE SAYS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 2005 LORI ASKED IF RICK COULD JOIN THEM. 48 00:06:35,695 --> 00:06:42,702 >> SHE ASKED ME, MOM, HE HAS HE HAS NO FAMILY, CAN I INVITE HIM? SHE FELT BAD HE WAS GOING TO SPEND CHRISTMAS ALONE. 49 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:50,910 HE WAS FRIENDLY. VERY POLITE. >> LINDSAY SAYS LORI OFTEN SPENT TIME WITH RICK, SO SHE WASN'T 50 00:06:50,977 --> 00:06:57,884 SURPRISED HE HAD BEEN AT LORI'S HOME THE DAY SHE DECIISAPPEARED >> THEY WERE FRIENDS. I WASN'T CONCERNED. 51 00:06:57,950 --> 00:07:00,653 >> NOW YOU ARE AT HOME. >> YES. >> WAITING FOR LORI TO COME HOME? 52 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,858 >> YES. >> AND YOU WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT THINKING? >> YOU KNOW, I HOPE SHE'S OKAY. 53 00:07:05,925 --> 00:07:11,330 >> BUT THE NEXT MORNING LINDSAY START TODAY WORRY. >> I CALLED HER HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES. 54 00:07:11,397 --> 00:07:17,703 LEFT VOICEMAILS ON HER HOME ANSWERING MACHINE, HEY, LORI, CHECKING ON YOU, ARE YOU OKAY, WHERE ARE YOU? 55 00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:20,473 >> YOU WENT TO WORK MONDAY, RIGHT? >> YEAH. SHE WASN'T THERE. 56 00:07:20,540 --> 00:07:29,215 THEN MY MIND SOMETHING IS WRONG. I HAD RICK'S NUMBER. SO I DID TEXT HIM AND ASKED, HAVE YOU SEEN LORI? 57 00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:34,720 WHERE IS SHE? I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER. HIS CONVERSATION BACK WAS NO, I HAVEN'T, I'M WORRIED, TOO. 58 00:07:34,787 --> 00:07:40,526 >> WHEN LORI DIDN'T SHOW UP AT WORK A SECOND DAY, THAT'S WHEN LINDSAY HEADED TO LORI'S HOME. >> NO ONE ANSWERED. 59 00:07:40,593 --> 00:07:46,866 >> AND FOUND HER DOG PEANUT IN HIS CRATE. I AM AN ANIMAL LOVER. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS LET 60 00:07:46,933 --> 00:07:51,971 THE DOING G DOG OUT. >> SHE NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE STRANGE. LORI WAS MISSING THREE DAYS, BUT 61 00:07:52,038 --> 00:08:00,112 THE CRATE WAS SPOTLESS. AND PEANUT SEEMED HAPPY AND APPEARED TO BE WELL FED AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD TAKEN CARE OF 62 00:08:00,179 --> 00:08:04,750 HIM. AND THERE WAS MORE. >> ONE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT 15 IS HE WOULDN'T WALK ON TILE. 63 00:08:04,817 --> 00:08:12,892 SO SHE HAD THESE RUGS IN HER KITCHEN AND HE WOULD HOP ON THE RUGS AND THE RUGS WERE GONE. I NOTICED THAT IMMEDIATELY. 64 00:08:12,959 --> 00:08:16,996 HER OUTSIDE TRASH CAN WAS MISSING. SHE HAD ONE THAT SHE HAD YARD TOOLS IN. 65 00:08:17,063 --> 00:08:23,336 AND THE ANSWERING MACHINE HAD BEEN UNPLUGGED, SO THE MESSAGES WERE NOT THERE. >> BY THIS TIME LORI'S MOTHER 66 00:08:23,402 --> 00:08:28,541 HEARD THAT SHE HADN'T BEEN SHOWING UP AT WORK. >> I HAVE GOT TO GO TO AUBURN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE 67 00:08:28,608 --> 00:08:35,581 SHE IS, BECAUSE I CALLED AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER HER PHONE. >> SHE HEADED OFF ON AN AGONIZING DRIVE, CALLING HER 68 00:08:35,648 --> 00:08:41,520 HUSBAND AND ALERTING THE POLICE. FINALLY ARRIVING AT HER DAUGHTER'S HOME. >> AND WHEN THE POLICE GOT THERE 69 00:08:41,587 --> 00:08:49,362 WHAT WAS THEIR ATTITUDE? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE SHE HAS TO BE MISSING 48 HOURS. THEY DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A BIG 70 00:08:49,428 --> 00:08:56,068 DEAL OUT OF IT. THEY WANTED TO JUST THINK SHE RAN AWAY. >> LORI'S PARENTS COULD ONLY 71 00:08:56,135 --> 00:09:02,675 WAIT FOR LORI TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OR CALL. AND FINALLY THE PHONE RANG LATE THAT AFTERNOON. 72 00:09:02,742 --> 00:09:13,119 BUT ARLENE SAYS IT WASN'T LORI. IT WAS HER FRIEND, RICK ENNIS. >> HE SAID THAT LORI HAD GONE TO MAKE A BIG DRUG DEAL. 73 00:09:13,185 --> 00:09:16,555 >> WHAT? >> YES. AND I WAS, LIKE, THERE AIN'T NO WAY. 74 00:09:16,622 --> 00:09:21,894 MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> DID YOU TELL THE POLICE WHAT HE TOLD YOU? 75 00:09:21,961 --> 00:09:26,465 >> I DIDN'T. RICK TOLD THEM. THE POLICE CAME TO THE TRAILER, BANGING ON THE DOOR AND THEY 76 00:09:26,532 --> 00:09:35,942 RAIDED THE MOBILE HOME AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. >> THEN JUST BEFORE DAWN THAT'S WHEN LORI GILBERT KAYE'S MISSING 77 00:09:36,008 --> 00:09:43,582 CAR SUDDENLY EXPLODED. INTO A FIREBALL ON A DESOLATE DEAD END OUTSIDE A CONSTRUCTION SITE. 78 00:09:43,649 --> 00:09:48,788 >> THE FEELINGS WERE UNBELIEVABLE OF FEAR AND KNOWING SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAS HAPPENED. 79 00:09:48,854 --> 00:09:54,593 >> WHO WOULD SET HER CAR ON FIRE? >> EXACTLY. >> AND WHY? 80 00:09:58,397 --> 00:10:04,070 . >> THE INVESTIGATION SHIFTED FROM A MISSING PERSON TO A POSSIBLE HOMICIDE. 81 00:10:04,136 --> 00:10:12,378 INVESTIGATORS DUG INTO RICK'S TIP ABOUT LORI DEALING DRUGS BUT FOUND IN EVIDENCE, NONE THAT HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH. 82 00:10:12,445 --> 00:10:21,821 NOW INVESTIGATORS STARTED DIGGING DEEPER INTO RICK ENNIS. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF HE WAS HIDING SOMETHING FROM THEM. 83 00:10:21,887 --> 00:10:28,427 DID YOU HAVE ANY SENSE AS TO WHY RICK ENNIS DIDN'T HAVE A FAMILY? >> NO, I HAD NO IDEA WHY AT ALL. >> EVENTUALLY YOU LEARNED? 84 00:10:28,494 --> 00:10:31,397 >> I DID. IT'S BEYOND SHOCKING. 85 00:10:45,344 --> 00:10:57,089 ♪ >>> THIS IS MY DAUGHTER LORI'S TRAILER. >> DO YOU GO INTO THAT TRAILER 86 00:10:57,156 --> 00:11:02,428 FROM TIME TO TIME TO CONNECT WITH HER? >> I DO. JUST GO IN THERE AND THINK ABOUT 87 00:11:02,495 --> 00:11:14,173 THE HAPPIER TIMES. >> THIS ROOM BESIDES THE MEMORIES IS ALSO A SOLEMN PLACE BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE SOME HORRORS 88 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:22,915 WENT ON IN THIS ROOM, CORRECT? >> YES. >> IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE INVESTIGATION BACK IN 2006 89 00:11:22,982 --> 00:11:30,723 ARLENE SAYS SHE BECAME SUSPICIOUS OF RICK ENNIS WHEN HE TOLD HER THAT THE NIGHT LORI DISAPPEARED SHE HAD GONE OUT TO 90 00:11:30,790 --> 00:11:35,394 MAKE A DRUG DEAL. WHY WOULD HE BE DOING THAT, DO YOU THINK? >> I THINK TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF 91 00:11:35,461 --> 00:11:41,434 OF HIM. I WAS THINKING, THIS GUY IS LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH. >> POLICE SUSPECTED THE SAME, 92 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:49,075 BUT WITHOUT DIRECT EVIDENCE LINKING RICK ENNIS TO LORI'S DISAPPEARANCE, POLICE COULD NOT MAKE AN ARREST AND THE CASE 93 00:11:49,141 --> 00:11:55,681 QUICKLY WENT COLD. DID RICK ENNIS STICK AROUND TOWN? >> HE WAS THERE FOR A COUPLE OF 94 00:11:55,748 --> 00:12:05,491 DAYS, BUT WITHIN A WEEK AFTER HIS THIRD INTERVIEW HE LEFT TOWN. HE NEVER CAME BACK TO AUBURN 95 00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:12,698 AGAIN. >> IN 2016, TEN YEARS AFTER LORI DISAPPEARED, MARK WHITAKER, A SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE ALABAMA 96 00:12:12,765 --> 00:12:19,238 STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, STARTED A COLD CASE UNIT. HE CHOSE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LORI SLESINSKI AS HIS FIRST 97 00:12:19,305 --> 00:12:25,377 CASE. ANY ESTIMATE HOW MANY MURDER CASES YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IN YOUR CAREER? 98 00:12:25,444 --> 00:12:29,748 >> PROBABLY ABOUT 100. >> WHERE DOES THIS RANK IN TERM OF FASCINATION FOR YOU AS AN INVESTIGATOR? 99 00:12:29,815 --> 00:12:41,393 >> NUMBER ONE. IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT CASE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BODY. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT 100 00:12:41,460 --> 00:12:50,970 HAPPENED. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS. >> BUT IT DIDN'T STAKE LONG FOR RICK ENNIS TO BECOME WHITAKER'S 101 00:12:51,036 --> 00:12:57,109 PRIME SUSPECT. >> WE COUNTY ELIMINATE HIM. HIS INCONSISTENCIES IN HIS STATEMENTS MADE NO SENSE 102 00:12:57,176 --> 00:13:01,313 WHATSOEVER. WE KNEW LORI WAS NOT A DRUG DEALER. SHE VANISHED OFF THE FACE OF THE 103 00:13:01,380 --> 00:13:08,420 EARTH WHEN HE IS THE LAST ONE TO EVER SEE HER. >> WHEN POLICE SPOKE TO RICK HOURS AFTER LORI WAS REPORTED 104 00:13:08,487 --> 00:13:17,496 MISSING THEY NOTICED THESE SCRATCHES ON HIS HANDS AND ARMS. >> RIGHT HERE, THAT IS A THUMBPRINT WHERE SOMEBODY IS 105 00:13:17,563 --> 00:13:21,634 DIGGING, FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AND DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO GET AWAY FROM HIM. >> IN RICK'S CAR WERE HANDCUFFS. 106 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:30,242 THIS KNIFE, AND CLEANING SUPPLIES. AND THEY SOON LEARNED SOMETHING STARTLING ABOUT RICK'S PAST. 107 00:13:30,309 --> 00:13:37,483 >> TURN INTO ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE CASES I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH. >> FORMER ALABAMA STATE TROOPER 108 00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:42,121 JOHN CLARK. >> I WAS PATROLLING THIS COUNTY WHEN I GOT A CALL. >> IT WAS MARCH 5, 1993. 109 00:13:42,188 --> 00:13:51,664 THE CALL FROM DISPATCH SAID A CAR HAD GONE OFF THIS VERY HIGHWAY AND STRUCK A FENCE. >> AND AS MY HEADLIGHTS TAKE IN 110 00:13:51,730 --> 00:14:02,074 THE CURVE, I SEE IT LOOKS LIKE A YOUNG BOY WITH A BACKPACK. >> IT'S A 1-YEAR-O2-YEAR-OLD, R ENNIS, AND HE ADMITS HE HAD BEEN 111 00:14:02,141 --> 00:14:09,548 DRIVING THE CAR. CLARK SERVES HIS BACKPACK. >> I PULL OUT A KITCHEN KNIFE ABOUT THAT LONG. 112 00:14:09,615 --> 00:14:14,787 THERE IS SOME 12 GAUGE AND 22-CALIBER LOOSE AMMUNITION IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG. HE IS SITTING BACK THERE IN THAT 113 00:14:14,853 --> 00:14:21,660 SEAT BEHIND YOU AND I SAID, WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS? HE LOOKS RIGHT BACK AT ME AND HE SAYS, I KILLED THEM BOTH. 114 00:14:21,727 --> 00:14:26,532 >> I KILLED THEM BOTH? >> I KILLED THEM BOTH. NO TEARS. NO EMOTION. 115 00:14:26,599 --> 00:14:34,974 NOTHING. >> CLARK THEN RADIOED FOR LOCAL POLICE TO GET OVER TO ENNIS' HOME. 116 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:45,651 >> WORKING A WRECK -- >> AT THE TIME A SHOW CALLED MBD, THE TELEVISION SERIES, WAS FOLLOWING THE OFFICERS. 117 00:14:45,718 --> 00:14:52,124 >> CAMERAS ENTERED THE HOME OF RICK'S MOTHER AND STEPFATHER. >> POLICE! >> ON THE FLOOR OF A BEDROOM ARE 118 00:14:52,191 --> 00:15:01,133 TWO DEAD BODIES. >> THERE IS PIECES OF A BASEBALL BAT IN THE BEDROOM THAT HAS QUITE PATE OF BLOOD ON IT. 119 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:09,041 >> RICK'S OWN MOTHER, DOLLY ENNIS, WAS SHOT IN THE FACE AND THEN BEATEN TO DEATH WITH THIS BASEBALL BAT. 120 00:15:09,108 --> 00:15:17,082 RICK TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE COVERED HER FACE WITH A VELVET BLANKET AND PLACED A ROSE ON HER CHEST. 121 00:15:17,149 --> 00:15:22,521 >> BLOOD SPLATTERS ON THE WALL, ON THE DOOR. >> RICK'S STEPFATHER, EDDIE JOE FLOWERS, WAS KNOWN AS ELVIS FOR 122 00:15:22,588 --> 00:15:31,130 HIS SIDEBURNS AND COLORFUL PERSONALITY. RICK SHOT HIM IN THE FACE USING THIS SHOTGUN. 123 00:15:31,196 --> 00:15:39,338 RICK TOLD COPS HE WAS MAD THAT HIS PARENTS PLANNED TO MOVE. HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE HIS SCHOOL. 124 00:15:39,405 --> 00:15:44,677 FOR TWO DAYS INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE HE LIVED WITH THEIR BODIES WHILE CONTINUING TO GO TO SCHOOL. 125 00:15:44,743 --> 00:15:53,886 INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS ENNIS' TO-DO LIST THAT INCLUDED KILLING HIS THREE STEPSISTERS. 126 00:15:53,952 --> 00:15:59,591 SO HE WANTED TO KILL ALL THREE OF YOU? >> OH, YEAH. I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE 127 00:15:59,658 --> 00:16:12,237 AND NOT BE ONE OF HIS VICTIMS. >> DONNA, ANGELA, AND TINA ARE ALL EDDIE'S DAUGHTERS. TINA WAS 20 WHEN HER DAD WAS 128 00:16:12,304 --> 00:16:17,910 MURDERED. >> IT CHANGED EVERYTHING. MY DAD WAS MY WORLD. AND THEY WERE 129 00:16:17,976 --> 00:16:25,517 I WILL NEVER GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN. >> THE SISTERS SAY DOLLY WAS A SWEET, OUTGOING WOMAN WHO MET 130 00:16:25,584 --> 00:16:33,192 THEIR FATHER IN CHURCH. RICK WAS THE POLAR OPPOSITE. >> EVERY TIME I WOULD VISIT MY DAD AND DOLLY, HE WOULD GO INTO 131 00:16:33,258 --> 00:16:38,831 HIS BEDROOM AND CLOSE HIMSELF OFF. >> EAT AND GO BACK IN HIS ROOM. >> WHAT IS THE LONGEST 132 00:16:38,897 --> 00:16:44,536 CONVERSATION YOU EVER HAD WITH HIM? >> FIVE SECONDS MAYBE. >> HE DIDN'T TALK TO NOBODY. 133 00:16:44,603 --> 00:16:50,442 >> WHAT DID YOUR FATHER THINK OF RICK? >> HE SAID, HE'S JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN Y'ALL WERE WHEN 134 00:16:50,509 --> 00:16:57,149 Y'ALL WERE COMING UP. HE THOUGHT THEY WERE IN A NEW RELATIONSHIP AND, YOU KNOW, THAT HE WOULD OUTGLROW IT AND THINGS 135 00:16:57,216 --> 00:17:02,254 WOULD GET BETTER. >> BUT TEN MONTHS AFTER THEY MARRIED, THE HAPPY COUPLE WERE DEAD. 136 00:17:02,321 --> 00:17:10,996 >> HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. AND HAD MURDERED TWO PEOPLE BRUTALLY, MURDERED THEM. >> AT AGE 12, RICK ENNIS 137 00:17:11,063 --> 00:17:22,307 COULDN'T BE TRIED AS AN ADULT. HE SPENT NINE YEARS IN JUVENILE DETENTION IN ALABAMA AND WAS RELEASED AFTER HE TURNED 21. 138 00:17:22,374 --> 00:17:31,950 IT WAS NOW UP TO AGENT WHITAKER AND HIS TEAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER RICK ENNIS HAD MURDERED AGAIN. 139 00:17:32,017 --> 00:17:51,303 SHOULD JUVENILES CONVICTED ♪ >>> AGENT MARK WHITAKER KNEW WHAT RICK ENNIS DID TO HIS 140 00:17:51,370 --> 00:18:01,046 PARENTS AND HIS INSTINCTS TOLD HIM ENNIS HAD DONE SOMETHING HORRIBLE TO LORI SLESINSKI, TOO. BUT NOW HE HAD TO PROVE IT. 141 00:18:01,113 --> 00:18:09,087 >> THE BURN SITE IS FOUND ON THE 14th. THE CAR WAS RIGHT HERE FACING OUT BACK TOWARDS THE BOWLING 142 00:18:09,154 --> 00:18:14,092 ALLEY. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE AROUND HERE AT THE TIME. THERE IS NOT APARTMENTS. 143 00:18:14,159 --> 00:18:20,732 IT'S JUST A PAVED ROAD. >> THE BLAZE DESTROYED WHATEVER EVIDENCE THERE WAS IN THE CAR. AN INVESTIGATOR REPORTED FINDING 144 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:27,673 A TINY ITEM ON THE GROUND NEARBY. >> HE FOUND A HAND-ROLLED CIGANDA BUTT RIGHT HERE AND HE 145 00:18:27,739 --> 00:18:32,277 COLLECTED THAT. IT WAS NOT TESTED. KINDA GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. THE CASE AGENT RETIRED. 146 00:18:32,344 --> 00:18:39,785 >> Reporter: WHITAKER'S TEAM NOW SUBMITTED IT FOR TESTING. AND THERE WAS THIS GAS CAN THAT HAD BEEN FOUND NEARBY. 147 00:18:39,852 --> 00:18:45,624 >> IT WAS RIGHT IN THIS AREA RIGHT HERE. >> IT LOOKED LIKE ONE THAT HAD BEEN MISSING FROM THE BOWLING 148 00:18:45,691 --> 00:18:52,698 ALLEY WHERE RICK HAD WORKED. >> IT'S RIGHT HERE, 1,000 YARDS FROM THE BOWLING ALLEY, 30 YARDS FROM HER CAR. 149 00:18:52,764 --> 00:19:01,373 >> WHITAKER'S PARTNER, J.B. BARNES, SHOWED THESE RAILROAD TRACKS. >> THESE ARE THE TRACKS THAT GO 150 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:07,646 BY THE BOWLING ALLEY. THEY RUN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE LORI WEIGHS CAR WAS FOUND BURNING. 151 00:19:07,713 --> 00:19:13,919 >> I ALWAYS THOUGHT OOPGS THAT'S WHAT ENNIS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION WAS WALKING DOWN THE RAILROAD TRACKS BECAUSE IT'S 152 00:19:13,986 --> 00:19:21,326 A STRAIGHT SHOT. YOU WILL NOT BE SEEN UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SEEN. THOSE RAILROAD TRACKS RUN BY 153 00:19:21,393 --> 00:19:25,397 RANGERS LORI'S HOUSE. >> IN THAT HOUSE WERE SIGNS OF A VIOLENT STRUGGLE. 154 00:19:25,464 --> 00:19:31,603 >> THESE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT OUT, THAT'S WHERE THE SCUFFLE MARKS WERE. THEY WERE BLACK LIKE THE BOTTOM 155 00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:37,843 OF HER SHOES. IT WAS EVEN SOME UP AS HIGH HERE. SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A 156 00:19:37,910 --> 00:19:44,716 STRUGGLE WITH SOMEBODY KICKING THEIR LEGS PROBABLY UP IN THE AIR. >> REMEMBER LORI'S DOG PEANUT 157 00:19:44,783 --> 00:19:50,322 SEEMED HAPPY AND TAKEN CARE OF. >> MY THEORY IS THAT RICK ENNIS STAYED IN THE HOUSE. >> AFTER HE HAD MURDERED LORI? 158 00:19:50,389 --> 00:19:58,830 >> I BELIEVE SO. IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN IT. >> WE DON'T HAVE A CAUSE OF DEATH. 159 00:19:58,897 --> 00:20:05,003 I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT HE STRANGLED HER. THE SCRATCHES THAT HE HAD ALL OVER HIS ARMS WERE INDICATIVE OF 160 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:11,176 DEFENSE WOUNDS WHEN YOU ARE INTENSIFY FIGHTING SOMEBODY. >> HE SAYS THE PHONE IN THE CORNER OF THE BEDROOM WAS 161 00:20:11,243 --> 00:20:16,014 MISSING A CORD. >> THERE WAS A LONG CORD AND IT RAN THROUGH THE ROOM. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT CORD 162 00:20:16,081 --> 00:20:19,217 WAS USED FOR? >> I THINK IT WAS USED TO BOUND HER. >> TIE HER UP? 163 00:20:19,284 --> 00:20:23,455 >> YES, SIR. >> COULD IT HAVE BEEN USED TO STRANGLE HER? >> SURE. 164 00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:31,229 THAT PHONE CORD WAS MISSING. >> THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS MISSING. THERE WERE THREE RUGS IN THE 165 00:20:31,296 --> 00:20:36,468 KITCHEN. >> THEY WERE STRATEGICALLY PUT OUT SO PEANUT, LORI'S DOG, COULD HOP THROUGH THE LINOLEUM, BE 166 00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:44,142 BACK ON CARPET. >> THE RUGS TURNED UP, HE SAYS, A FEW YEARS LATER. >> ENNIS HAD A FORMER ROOMMATE 167 00:20:44,209 --> 00:20:50,182 WHO REACHED OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TOLD THEM, HEY, THERE IS THIS GUY LEFT BEHIND THREE RUGS. 168 00:20:50,248 --> 00:20:55,721 I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING ELSE. LORI HAD A TABLE UP ABOUT HERE AND ON THIS TABLE DAYS BEFORE 169 00:20:55,787 --> 00:21:04,930 LORI WENT MISSING A LOVE LETTER WAS LEFT HERE FOR HER FROM RICK. >> PEOPLE WHO KNEW LORI SAYS ENNIS WANTED IT BE MORE THAN 170 00:21:04,997 --> 00:21:11,336 JUST A FRIEND. POLICE SAY ENNIS TOLD A BUDDY THAT LORI REJECTED HIM. >> AND HE WAS DEVASTATED BY 171 00:21:11,403 --> 00:21:16,942 THAT. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS REJECTION MAY HAVE BEEN A MOTIVE FOR MURDER? 172 00:21:17,009 --> 00:21:24,549 >> I THINK THAT'S WHAT SENT HIM OVER THE EDGE. I ABSOLUTELY DO. >> DESPITE THE MOUNTING 173 00:21:24,616 --> 00:21:31,423 EVIDENCE, AGENT WHITAKER STILL NEEDED SOMETHING MORE THAT TIED ENNIS DIRECTLY TO THE CRIME SCENE. 174 00:21:31,490 --> 00:21:38,930 >> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED HE IS INVESTIGATING THIS CASE LIKE LORI IS HIS OWN DAUGHTER. I MEAN, HE HAS A PICTURE OF LORI 175 00:21:38,997 --> 00:21:46,138 HAD IN HIS HOUSE. >> I HAVE HAD IT IN MY CLOSET. IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HER EVERY DAY WHEN I PUT MY TIES ON. 176 00:21:46,204 --> 00:21:51,743 I WOULD REMEMBER WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING SINGLE DAY. >> AND THEN -- 177 00:21:51,810 --> 00:21:57,916 >> IT'S LIKE 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND JW CALLS ME. >> JW BARNES FOUND WHAT THEY NEEDED. 178 00:21:57,983 --> 00:22:06,358 IN THE CASE FILES COLLECTING DUST FOR TEN YEARS. >> HE GOES, I JUST FOUND A REPORT THAT WAS IN AN ENVELOPE 179 00:22:06,425 --> 00:22:15,400 THAT HADN'T BEEN OPENED. >> WHITAKER COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT WHEN LORI DISAPPEARED IN 2006 POLICE COLLECTED EVIDENCE FROM 180 00:22:15,467 --> 00:22:23,341 HER TRAILER. BY THE TIME THE RESULTS CAME IN, NO ONE FOLLOWED UP. THE REPORT CONTAINED CRITICAL 181 00:22:23,408 --> 00:22:31,616 EVIDENCE. RICK'S DNA WAS IDENTIFIED IN SEMEN FOUND ON LORI'S BEDSHEET AND IN BLOOD ON THE INTERIOR OF 182 00:22:31,683 --> 00:22:39,891 THE FRONT DOOR AND IT TURNED OUT HIS BLOOD WAS ALSO FOUND ON ONE OF THE RUGS INVESTIGATORS SAY WERE IN LORI'S KITCHEN. 183 00:22:39,958 --> 00:22:47,232 >> YOU GOT HIS BLOOND A RUG. HIS SEMEN BACK THERE. YOU HAVE HIS BLOOD ON A DOOR. MOST PEOPLE'S BLOOD IS NOT 184 00:22:47,299 --> 00:22:55,173 INSIDE SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOME UNLESS SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENED. >> 12 YEARS AFTER LORI 185 00:22:55,240 --> 00:23:03,482 DISAPPEARED THERE WAS NOW ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE RICK ENNIS WITH HER MURDER. BUT BY THIS TIME RICK ENNIS WAS 186 00:23:03,548 --> 00:23:12,090 HAPPILY ENGAGED TO SCHOOL LIBRARIAN 'ALAINA ATKINSON AND LIVING 500 MILES AWAY IN VIRGINIA. 187 00:23:12,157 --> 00:23:19,598 HE WAS DESIGNING AND BUILDING PORTABLE LIVING STRUCTURES CALLED YURTS FOR SHARON MORLEY'S COMPANY. 188 00:23:19,664 --> 00:23:26,905 MORLEY LIKED ENNIS FROM THE MOMENT THEY MET. >> HE WAS JUST SO OPEN AND FRIENDLY AND HAD A GREAT SENSE 189 00:23:26,972 --> 00:23:36,114 OF HUMOR. >> BUT ON AUGUST 6th, 2018, RICK'S BIRTHDAY, MORLEY SAW A TASK FORCE OF LAW MEN ARRIVING. 190 00:23:36,181 --> 00:23:44,523 >> WALKING OUT OF THE WOODS, HIDING BEHIND TREES, THEY HAD THE PLACE SURROUNDED. >> IT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY 191 00:23:44,589 --> 00:23:51,129 CAREER TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL TO ARLENE AND CASEY SLESINSKI THAT MORNING TO TELL THEM WE JUST TOOK RICK ENNIS INTO CUSTODY FOR 192 00:23:51,196 --> 00:23:58,837 LORI'S MURDER. >> WAS THIS KIND OF A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR YOU? >> MOST DEFINITELY, YES. 193 00:23:58,904 --> 00:24:04,709 I GUESS PSYCHOLOGICALLY I NEVER ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT SHE REALLY WAS GONE, AND I CRIED BIG TIME. 194 00:24:04,776 --> 00:24:17,956 YEAH. >> LATER THAT MONTH, ENNIS APPEARED BEFORE AN ALABAMA JUDGE WITH LORI'S PARENTS FACING HIM. 195 00:24:18,023 --> 00:24:23,395 >> I GUESS HE SEEMED SURPRISED THAT WE WERE THERE. >> WHAT DID YOU WANT HIM TO KNOW? 196 00:24:23,461 --> 00:24:30,435 >> THAT WE FINALLY GOT YOU. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. >> NEWS OF ENNIS' ARREST QUICKLY 197 00:24:30,502 --> 00:24:36,174 SPREAD. >> I READ IT AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, IT'S RICK. >> TERRY BOOTH SAYS HE WAS 198 00:24:36,241 --> 00:24:45,717 FRIENDS WITH RICK AND SUDDENLY REMEMBERED A CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH HIM YEARS EARLIER AT A BAR. WHEN HE ASKED HIM WHY HE LEFT 199 00:24:45,784 --> 00:24:51,189 ALABAMA. >> WHAT DID HE SAY? >> HE JUST MAINLY SAID I HAD TO GET RID OF [ BLEEP ]. 200 00:24:51,256 --> 00:24:57,963 AND I'M THINKING, THIS FY IS JUST MESSING AROUND WITH ME. >> BUT THAT CHANGED WHEN LEARNED OF RICK'S ARREST. 201 00:24:58,029 --> 00:25:02,300 >> AND IT WAS REAL. HE WASN'T JOKING. I COULDN'T SLEEP THE WHOLE NIGHT. 202 00:25:02,367 --> 00:25:07,973 >> HE CALLED WHITAKER'S TASK FORCE. >> AND IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE WHAT ENNIS HAD TOLD HIM. 203 00:25:08,039 --> 00:25:17,949 >> BUT THE MOST EXPLOSIVE NEWS OF ALL CAME LATER. CREDIBLY, WHILE WHITAKER WAS WITH ENNIS AT ANOTHER COURT 204 00:25:18,016 --> 00:25:21,519 HEARING. >> INVESTIGATORS COMES UP AND TELLS ME, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS. 205 00:25:21,586 --> 00:25:27,359 THE HAND-ROLLED CIGANDA BUTT NEXT TO THE CAR HAS HIS DNA ON IT. I WANTED TO DO A SOMERSAULT IN 206 00:25:27,425 --> 00:25:34,900 THE COURTROOM BUT I COULDN'T. >> EVERYONE NOW WAS PREPARED TO GO TO TRIAL. BUT THE COURTS GROUND TO THE 207 00:25:34,966 --> 00:25:44,943 HALT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. AND ARLENE SLESINSKI SUFFERED MORE LOSSES. FIRST HER SON TO CANCER AND THEN 208 00:25:45,010 --> 00:25:55,921 HER HUSBAND, CASEY, TO COVID. >> I THINK YOU BETTER COME. WHEN I GOT THERE, HE WAS GONE. >> YOU LOSE YOUR DAUGHTER. 209 00:25:55,987 --> 00:26:02,994 YOU LOSE YOUR SON. AND THEN YOU LOSE YOUR HUSBAND. HOW DO YOU GO ON WITH ALL OF THIS? 210 00:26:03,061 --> 00:26:12,938 >> I GUESS MY FAITH, MY FRIENDS, FAMILY. AND I JUST DID NOT WANT TO DIE NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 211 00:26:13,004 --> 00:26:18,877 DAUGHTER OR SEEING JUSTICE BEING DONE. >> BUT RICK ENNIS WAS DETERMINED TO PROVE POLICE HAD IT ALL 212 00:26:18,944 --> 00:26:26,751 WRONG. AND HE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE FIGHTING TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE. >> THEY HAVE THE WRONG PERSON. 213 00:26:26,818 --> 00:26:36,761 THERE IS NO WAY. >> HIS FIANCE, ALAINA ATKINSON. >> DO YOU BELIEVE RICK HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH LORI'S 214 00:26:36,828 --> 00:26:42,701 DISAPPEARANCE? >> NO, I TO NOT. NOT ONLY DO I BELIEVE RICK IS INTERIOR, I BELIEVE THAT HE 215 00:26:42,767 --> 00:26:50,608 WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIS LIFE FOR LORI IF HE HAD BEEN THERE. THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON HE IS. >> AND SHE BELIEVES THAT DESPITE 216 00:26:50,675 --> 00:26:58,650 THE FACT THAT SHE KNOWS RICK MURDERED HIS MOTHER AND STEPFATHER WHEN HE WAS 12. PEOPLE WOULD WONDER WHY IS IT 217 00:26:58,717 --> 00:27:04,789 HARD FOR YOU TO BELIEVE HE COULD KILL AGAIN? >> SHE SAYS RICK TOLD HER SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED 218 00:27:04,856 --> 00:27:13,164 WITH HIS MOTHER, SOMETHING THAT CONVINCED HER HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI. 219 00:27:29,114 --> 00:27:36,721 >>> RICK ENNIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS, KIND PEOPLE THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN. 220 00:27:36,788 --> 00:27:43,862 >> ALANA ATKINSON HAS BEEN IN LOVE WITH RICK ENNIS FOR FOUR YEARS. >> I LOVE HIS INTELLIGENCE. 221 00:27:43,928 --> 00:27:50,101 ALWAYS JOKE WITH HIM AND TELL HIM I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS BRAIN FIRST. >> BUT JUST TWO MONTHS INTO 222 00:27:50,168 --> 00:28:05,383 THEIR ROMANCE ALANA, AN AMATEUR JEANOLOGIST, WAS RESEARCHING RICK'S ANCESTRY WHEN SHE STUMBLED ON NEWS HE KILLED HIS 223 00:28:05,450 --> 00:28:10,088 MOTHER AND STEPFATHER. >> WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED IN HIS HOME LIFE THAT PUSHED HIM TO THAT POINT? 224 00:28:10,155 --> 00:28:18,530 >> RICK WOULD TELL HER SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T SEE IN ANY ARTICLE. >> RICK, IT'S PETER VAN SANT WITH "48 HOURS." 225 00:28:18,596 --> 00:28:27,739 >> REACHED BY PHONE, RICK TOLD US WHAT HE INSISTS HAPPENED. >> I WAS MOLESTED BY MY MOTHER. >> RICK SAYS HIS MOTHER SEXUALLY 226 00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:39,617 ABUSED HIM AND HE SNAPPED. >> I EXPLODED AND AS THE RESULT I TOOK MY MOTHER'S LIFE AND MY STEPFATHER'S LIFE. 227 00:28:39,684 --> 00:28:45,256 >> REMEMBER, BACK THEN HE TOLD AUTHORITIES HE KILLED HIS PARENTS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. 228 00:28:45,323 --> 00:28:53,298 >> I WAS DEEPLY ASHAMED ABOUT MY MOTHER MOLESTING ME AND I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME TALKING ABOUT IT. 229 00:28:53,364 --> 00:29:00,205 >> STILL WE COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE TO CORROBORATE RICK'S ABUSE ALLEGATION. >> YOU KNOW, RICK, I HAVE TO 230 00:29:00,271 --> 00:29:09,514 TELL YOU, OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. A SKEPTIC WOULD SAY THAT YOU HAVE CONVENIENTLY ACCUSED THE 231 00:29:09,581 --> 00:29:14,552 MOTHER THAT YOU MURDERED OF MOLESTING YOU AND SHE CAN'T DEFEND HERSELF. YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S 232 00:29:14,619 --> 00:29:21,493 DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO BELIEVE? >> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WORKED THROUGH WITH A PSYCHIATRIST. 233 00:29:21,559 --> 00:29:30,001 THE WHAT I DID WHEN WAYS 12 IS THE GREATEST REGRET OF MY LIFE. >> RICK INSISTS HE IS NO LONGER 234 00:29:30,068 --> 00:29:39,811 THAT ANGRY 12-YEAR-OLD. NOW 41, RICK ENNIS WOULD STAND TRIAL FOR YET ANOTHER MURDER. >> I NEVER MURDERED LORI 235 00:29:39,878 --> 00:29:45,483 SLESINSKI. SHE WAS A VERY CLOSE, DEAR FRIEND OF MINE. I NEVER WOULD HAVE HURT HER. 236 00:29:45,550 --> 00:29:52,490 >> PROSECUTOR JESSICA VENTIERE IS SURE THAT IS A LIE, BUT AT TRIAL SHE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO TELL THE JURY ANYTHING ABOUT 237 00:29:52,557 --> 00:30:09,307 RICK'S PAST. >> THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST COMPLICATED CASE OF MY CAREER. >> HER FIRST HURDLE WAS 238 00:30:09,374 --> 00:30:15,280 CONVINCING THE JURY THAT LORI WAS DEAD. SHE CALLED LORI'S MOTHER, ARLENE, TO THE STAND. 239 00:30:15,346 --> 00:30:20,318 DID SHE MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU? >> NO. >> HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED A BIRTHDAY CARD? 240 00:30:20,385 --> 00:30:25,256 >> NO. >> A MOTHER'S DAY CARD? >> NO. >> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD FROM YOUR 241 00:30:25,323 --> 00:30:36,034 DAUGHTER IN ANY WAY SINCE THAT THURSDAY BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED? >> NO, MA'AM. >> LINDSAY BRAUN WAS NEXT, 242 00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:41,673 SEEMINGLY SETTING UP A MOTIVE, TELLING THE JURY THAT LORI REJECTED RICK. >> SHE TOLD ME ABOUT A LETTER 243 00:30:41,739 --> 00:30:47,178 THAT HE HAD WRITTEN HER. >> WAS IT A LOVE LETTER? >> YES. >> SHE TOLD ME SHE WASN'T 244 00:30:47,245 --> 00:30:58,556 INTERESTED IN HIM THAT WAY. AND TERRY BOOTH TOOK THE STAND TO RECOUNT THAT TROUBLING REMARK HE SAID RICK MADE. 245 00:30:58,623 --> 00:31:06,164 >> [ BLEEP ] SHE WAS A WHITE PIECE OF TRAILER PARK TRASH. >> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BUILT HER CASE WITH TESTIMONY ABOUT 246 00:31:06,231 --> 00:31:14,639 THE SCUFF MARKS ON THE WALL AND THE BLOOD IN LORI'S TRAILER. RICK'S SEMEN ON HER BED AND THE CIGARETTE BUTT WITH RICK'S DNA 247 00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:24,449 FOUND NEAR LORI'S SCORCHED CAR. >> THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS EVIDENCE. >> DEFENSE ATTORNEY WILLIAM 248 00:31:24,515 --> 00:31:30,822 WHATLEY CLAIMED THAT HAND-ROLLED CIGARETTE WAS PLANTED, ARGUING POLICE COULD HAVE TAKEN FROM RICK'S HOME. 249 00:31:30,888 --> 00:31:37,695 >> THAT CIGARETTE BUTT DIDN'T COME FROM THERE. >> THE DEFENSE SUGGESTED LORI WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER OWN 250 00:31:37,762 --> 00:31:44,969 DISAPPEARANCE. THEY PORTRAYED HER AS A DRUG DEALER. >> YOU KNEW THAT LORI HAD GROWN 251 00:31:45,036 --> 00:31:51,175 MARIJUANA? >> YES. >> LINDSAY INSISTED, HOWEVER, IT WAS ONLY FOR LORI'S PERSONAL 252 00:31:51,242 --> 00:31:56,314 USE. >> SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO PURCHASE ANY. >> BUT TO DRIVE HOME THEIR 253 00:31:56,381 --> 00:32:04,122 POINTS, WHATLEY CALLED RICK ENNIS HIMSELF TO THE STAND. RICK INSISTED HE HAD NO REASON TO HURT LORI. 254 00:32:04,188 --> 00:32:12,897 >> DID YOU WRITE LETTER TO LORI? >> YES, SIR, I DID. I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO DATE. 255 00:32:12,964 --> 00:32:21,439 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MONTH OR TWO BEFORE SHE WENT MISSING. I AM NOT CERTAIN. >> BUT EVEN THOUGH SHE TURNED 256 00:32:21,506 --> 00:32:28,212 HIM DOWN, RICK SAYS THEY WERE STILL INTIMATE. >> DID YOU EVER HAVE SEX WITH LORI? 257 00:32:28,279 --> 00:32:35,920 >> YES, SIR. >> SO WHAT ABOUT WHAT SAID TO TERRY BOOTH? ENNIS SAYS IT NEVER HAPPENED. 258 00:32:35,987 --> 00:32:41,426 >> DID YOU EVER GO OUT DRINKING WITH TERRY BOOTH? >> YES, SIR. >> IS YOU TELL TERRY BOOTH THAT 259 00:32:41,492 --> 00:32:47,765 YOU STRANGLED SOMEONE? >> NO, SIR. >> RICK, I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME PHOTOGRAPHS -- 260 00:32:47,832 --> 00:32:54,572 >> THOSE RUGS GIVEN TO POLICE BY HIS FORMER ROOMMATE, RICK CLAIMS THEY WERE NOT FROM LORI'S TRAILER. 261 00:32:54,639 --> 00:32:59,577 >> WHERE DID YOU GET THESE RUGS FROM? >> TARGET. >> DID YOU GET ANY OF THOSE FROM 262 00:32:59,644 --> 00:33:05,850 LORI? >> NO, SIR. >> RICK SAYS LORI WAS FINE WHEN HE LEFT HER THAT SATURDAY. 263 00:33:05,917 --> 00:33:13,758 HE SAYS HE HEADED OFF TO SELL SOME WEED AND HE CLAIMS SHE WAS OFF TO DO THE SAME. >> THE LAST TIME YOU SAW LORI 264 00:33:13,825 --> 00:33:20,365 DID YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF AN ARGUMENT WITH HER? >> NO, SIR RNG DID YOU BREAK INTO LORI'S TRAILER THAT 265 00:33:20,431 --> 00:33:25,903 SATURDAY? >> I DID NOT. >> DID YOU KIDNAP LORI? >> NO, SIR. 266 00:33:25,970 --> 00:33:32,276 >> DID YOU KILL LORI? >> I DID NOT. >> DID YOU BURN LORI'S CAR? >> NO, SIR. 267 00:33:32,343 --> 00:33:37,615 >> SO WHAT ABOUT THE KNIFE, HANDCUFFS AND CLEANING ITEMS IN HIS CAR? RICK SAYS IT HAD NOTHING TO DO 268 00:33:37,682 --> 00:33:45,189 WITH LORI. HE WAS MOVING THINGS FROM HIS APARTMENT. AND THOSE SCRATCHES ON HIM, BACK 269 00:33:45,256 --> 00:33:51,362 IN 2006 POLICE SAY HE HAD NO EXPLANATION, BUT AT THE TRIAL HE HAD AN ANSWER. >> I GOT THEM FROM PLAYING WITH 270 00:33:51,429 --> 00:33:59,070 MY DOG. >> JESSICA VENTIERE BARELY MADE TO THE PODIUM TO START HER CROSS-EXAMINATION. 271 00:33:59,137 --> 00:34:09,947 >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE -- >> SHE QUESTIONED RICK ABOUT THAT BLOOD ON LORI'S DOOR. >> BLOOD IN LORI'S TRAILER HAS 272 00:34:10,014 --> 00:34:17,755 YOUR DNA IN IT. HOW DID THAT GET THERE? >> I HAVE NO IDEA. >> AND THE QUESTION VSHE WANTED 273 00:34:17,822 --> 00:34:25,396 AN ANSWER FOR, SHE NEVER GOT. >> WHERE DID YOU DROP LORI OFF? >> I DIDN'T DUMP LORI'S BODY ANYWHERE. 274 00:34:25,463 --> 00:34:33,404 >> WHO DID? >> I HAVE NO IDEA. >> BOTH SIDES HAD THEIR FINAL CHANCE TO PERSUADE THE JURY. 275 00:34:33,471 --> 00:34:39,043 DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHATLEY TOLD THE JURORS THERE WASN'T ANY EVIDENCE THAT A CRIME HAD EVEN BEEN COMMITTED. 276 00:34:39,110 --> 00:34:46,918 >> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT LORI WAS KIDNAPPED. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN AGAINST HER 277 00:34:46,984 --> 00:34:55,326 WILL. >> VENT EERIE ATTACKED RICK'S DEFENSE. >> THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T SIT 278 00:34:55,393 --> 00:35:05,970 THERE AND SAY THAT THEIR CLIENT TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT ANYTHING IS LAUGHABLE. THIS IS ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS 279 00:35:06,037 --> 00:35:14,011 OBSESSED WITH LORI. >> JESSICA VENTIERE INSISTED THAT THE VOLUME OF EVIDENCE AGAINST RICK ENNIS WAS 280 00:35:14,078 --> 00:35:20,852 OVERWHELMING, EVEN IF POLICE STILL COULDN'T FIND LORI'S REMAINS. AND SHE REMINDED THE JURY THAT 281 00:35:20,918 --> 00:35:33,965 LORI WOULD NEVER JUST TAKE OFF. >> SHE WOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER LEAVE PEANUT BEHIND. NEVER. 282 00:35:34,031 --> 00:35:40,938 >> AFTER SEVEN DAYS OF TESTIMONY, IT WAS NOW UP TO THE JURY TO DECIDE. >> I'M TERRIFIED. 283 00:35:41,005 --> 00:35:50,748 I ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT THIS. BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT A JURY IS GOING TO DO. >> DO YOU BELIEVE RICK ENNIS IS 284 00:35:50,815 --> 00:35:59,724 A CHANGED MAN? SEE MORE OF THE INVESTIGATION 285 00:36:13,671 --> 00:36:18,442 >>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN -- >> WHEN THE JURY CAME BACK INTO THE COURTROOM, DID YOU LOOK AT THEIR FACES? 286 00:36:18,509 --> 00:36:24,949 >> YES, I DID. IT WAS VERY HARD TO READ THEIR FACES. I STILL WASN'T SURE WHAT THE 287 00:36:25,016 --> 00:36:33,925 VERDICT WAS GOING TO BE. >> NEARLY 16 YEARS AFTER LORI SLESINSKI VANISHED, THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT DURING THEIR 288 00:36:33,991 --> 00:36:46,637 SECOND DAY OF DELIBERATIONS. >> WE, THE JURY, FIND THE DEFENDANT, DAROLD RICHARD ENNIS, GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL 289 00:36:46,704 --> 00:36:52,276 MURDER. >> GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF LORI SLESINSKI. >> GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT THAT 290 00:36:52,343 --> 00:37:00,551 MEANT TO YOU. >> SHEER RELIEF, JOY THAT HE WAS FINALLY CONVICTED AND WOULD NEVER GET TO DO THIS TO ANYONE 291 00:37:00,618 --> 00:37:08,826 ELSE AGAIN. >> I'M THRILLED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING JUSTICE FOR LORI AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME. 292 00:37:08,893 --> 00:37:17,435 >> IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE JURY'S VERDICT, D.A. VENTIERE WENT TO ARLENE WITH A PROPOSAL. RICK WAS NOW FACING A POSSIBLE 293 00:37:17,501 --> 00:37:24,875 DEATH SENTENCE, BUT THAT WOULD TRIGGER YEARS OF APPEALS AND LEGAL WRANGLING. TO SPARE ARLENE ALL THAT 294 00:37:24,942 --> 00:37:42,493 VENTIERE SUGGESTED OFFERING RICK LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. ARLENE AGREED. >> ALANA ATKINSON WAS STUNNED. 295 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:52,203 >> IT'S COMPLETE SHOCK. DISBELIEF. I WAS DEVASTATED. >> SHE WAS SO CERTAIN RICK WOULD 296 00:37:52,269 --> 00:37:58,676 BE EXONERATED SHE MADE PLANS TO CELEBRATE. A CELEBRATION, RICK TOLD US, THAT HE WOULD BE PART OF. 297 00:37:58,743 --> 00:38:10,287 >> I FELT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO AND HAVE A NICE DINNER AND THAT I WAS GOING TO GET TO START MY LIFE OVER. 298 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:24,101 >> ARLENE HEADED HOME TO SAVOR THE BITTERSWEET VICTORY. AFTER THIS VERDICT DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH LORI? 299 00:38:24,168 --> 00:38:33,844 >> I DID. I JUST SAID, LORI, JUSTICE HAS FINALLY COME. WE HAVE WAITED FOR THIS FOR A 300 00:38:33,911 --> 00:38:39,116 LONG TIME AND I HOPE YOU ARE ALL CELEBRATING IN HEAVEN WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY. AND I WISH YOU WERE YOU ALL HERE 301 00:38:39,183 --> 00:38:54,432 TO SEE THIS DAY. >> THIS TRAGIC MURDER, THE RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS YOUR FAMILY IS JUST INCREDIBLE. 302 00:38:54,498 --> 00:39:02,673 >> IT HAS LEFT A VERY LARGE VOID IN MY LIFE. I WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE. -I MEAN I COULD HAVE BEEN 303 00:39:02,740 --> 00:39:14,618 ENJOYING MY GRANDCHILDREN POSSIBLY, JUST SPENDING TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER, WHO I LOVED. THIS IS LORI AT HER TRAILER AND 304 00:39:14,685 --> 00:39:24,962 PEANUT, WHO SHE ABSOLUTELY ADORED, AND VICE VERSA. WE BROUGHT PEANUT HOME WITH US AND HE STAYED WITH US UNTIL HE 305 00:39:25,029 --> 00:39:32,803 WAS, I GUESS, ABOUT 16 YEARS OLD AND HE DIED. EVERY TIME WE MENTIONED LORI'S NAME, I DON'T CARE WHERE HE WAS 306 00:39:32,870 --> 00:39:42,012 IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS LIKE HE JUST HEARD HER NAME AND HE'D RUN IN THERE AND LIKE, WHERE IS SHE? IT TOTALLY AMAZED ME THAT HE 307 00:39:42,079 --> 00:39:51,088 NEVER FORGOT HER. NEVER. DID YOU EVER THINK SIX YEARS AGO WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY? 308 00:39:51,155 --> 00:40:00,464 >> WITH HER HUSBAND AND BOTH HER CHILDREN GONE, THIS TRAGIC STORY HAS BROUGHT NEW FRIENDSHIPS INTO ARLENE'S LIFE. 309 00:40:00,531 --> 00:40:08,272 >> MARK WHITAKER IS MY HERO. HIM AND HIS WIFE ARE LIKE FAMILY TO ME NOW. THIS WAS ON HER GRADUATION DAY, 310 00:40:08,339 --> 00:40:15,179 CASEY, HER AND ME. >> A GREAT PHOTO. >> AND THIS WAS HER A MONTH BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED AT HER 311 00:40:15,246 --> 00:40:18,215 COUSIN JENNIFER'S WE HAD BEING HER YOU WE ARE COUSIN THOMAS. >> WOW. 312 00:40:18,282 --> 00:40:23,888 NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD. >> NO. >> SHE IS ONE THE BRIGHTEST WOMEN I HAVE EVER MET. 313 00:40:23,954 --> 00:40:31,629 YOU SHOWING THESE TO ME MAKES IT EVEN MORE REAL FOR ME. BEAUTIFUL GIRL. THANKS FOR SHARING THOSE WITH 314 00:40:31,695 --> 00:40:35,399 ME. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> I COULD TELL SHE SEEMS TO BE HAPPIER NOW. 315 00:40:35,466 --> 00:40:40,838 >> I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR IT. >> I LOVE YOU. >> I LOVE YOU, TOO. 316 00:40:40,905 --> 00:40:46,911 >> YOU ARE ONE TOUGH LADY.