1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,801 [911 operator speaking] 2 00:00:03,968 --> 00:00:05,300 [John speaking] 3 00:00:05,467 --> 00:00:08,167 Me and John are making a video. 4 00:00:08,334 --> 00:00:09,467 [John speaking] 5 00:00:09,634 --> 00:00:11,868 [tense music playing] 6 00:00:12,033 --> 00:00:15,067 What happened when investigators arrived at her home? 7 00:00:15,234 --> 00:00:17,868 There's nothing missing besides Katelyn. 8 00:00:18,033 --> 00:00:21,167 You had that gut feeling, something's wrong here. 9 00:00:21,334 --> 00:00:25,100 Her wallet and her car keys were laying on her bed. 10 00:00:25,267 --> 00:00:27,000 Things weren't adding up. 11 00:00:27,167 --> 00:00:28,367 It's like, she's there one minute, 12 00:00:28,534 --> 00:00:29,467 gone the next. 13 00:00:32,567 --> 00:00:33,601 [David] Each day that went by, 14 00:00:33,767 --> 00:00:36,567 I knew this was not gonna be a good outcome. 15 00:00:36,734 --> 00:00:38,167 [Paul] It was an extensive search. 16 00:00:38,334 --> 00:00:39,868 A girl disappearing for no reason. 17 00:00:40,868 --> 00:00:42,567 That doesn't happen in Fairfield. 18 00:00:42,734 --> 00:00:43,901 They wanted answers. 19 00:00:44,067 --> 00:00:46,367 I called the investigation supervisor, and I said, 20 00:00:46,534 --> 00:00:49,000 "I honestly don't believe this girl's coming home alive." 21 00:00:51,067 --> 00:00:54,267 [Paul] A gentleman searching a creek line comes across a bag. 22 00:00:54,434 --> 00:00:57,067 He opens the bag, and there's a skull in it. 23 00:00:57,234 --> 00:00:58,667 [Sandy] It was Katelyn Markham. 24 00:00:59,701 --> 00:01:01,567 It was heartbreaking. It really was. 25 00:01:02,667 --> 00:01:07,767 There were two police officers and a pastor who told me. 26 00:01:07,934 --> 00:01:09,400 I just broke down. 27 00:01:11,868 --> 00:01:15,067 What did you realistically think were the chances 28 00:01:15,234 --> 00:01:16,501 of solving this case? 29 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:18,267 I knew we'd find something. 30 00:01:19,367 --> 00:01:21,167 That's what my job is -- is to keep digging. 31 00:01:23,167 --> 00:01:24,167 You need to understand something -- 32 00:01:24,334 --> 00:01:25,901 I don't miss. 33 00:01:26,067 --> 00:01:28,100 But if it is you, I'm coming. 34 00:01:28,267 --> 00:01:30,167 [tense music stops] 35 00:01:31,467 --> 00:01:33,467 [theme music playing] 36 00:01:40,801 --> 00:01:42,567 Hi, I'm Paula Zahn. 37 00:01:42,734 --> 00:01:46,868 And tonight, we're on the case in Fairfield, Ohio. 38 00:01:47,033 --> 00:01:50,868 The quaint suburb about 25 miles outside of Cincinnati 39 00:01:51,033 --> 00:01:54,868 became the unlikely backdrop for a terrifying mystery 40 00:01:55,033 --> 00:01:57,767 when 21-year-old Katelyn Markham was reported 41 00:01:57,934 --> 00:02:00,300 missing from her home. 42 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:02,367 As police scoured the area for clues 43 00:02:02,534 --> 00:02:05,400 that might explain her disappearance, 44 00:02:05,567 --> 00:02:09,000 it slowly became clear that the best evidence 45 00:02:09,167 --> 00:02:12,501 of what really happened to Katelyn had vanished, 46 00:02:12,667 --> 00:02:13,667 along with her. 47 00:02:15,901 --> 00:02:18,167 [suspenseful music playing] 48 00:02:18,334 --> 00:02:21,067 [Paula] August 14th, 2011. 49 00:02:21,234 --> 00:02:24,501 It was just after eight on a warm Sunday night 50 00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:28,868 when Fairfield police got an unusual 911 call. 51 00:02:46,501 --> 00:02:48,667 [Paula] The dispatcher tried to determine 52 00:02:48,834 --> 00:02:51,968 just how serious the situation actually was. 53 00:03:02,968 --> 00:03:04,300 [Paula] Then John explained 54 00:03:04,467 --> 00:03:07,100 that none of the couple's friends nor family had 55 00:03:07,267 --> 00:03:10,200 heard from Katelyn all day. 56 00:03:10,367 --> 00:03:13,667 But it was what he saw when he checked her townhouse, 57 00:03:13,834 --> 00:03:15,868 that triggered his call to police. 58 00:03:36,767 --> 00:03:40,367 [Paula] Senior Officer Sandy Sears responded to the address 59 00:03:40,534 --> 00:03:42,400 John had provided. 60 00:03:42,567 --> 00:03:46,000 Take me back to the first call you took about this case. 61 00:03:46,167 --> 00:03:47,234 What happened? 62 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:48,467 [Ofc. Sears] The dispatcher was very concerned 63 00:03:48,634 --> 00:03:50,100 that there were some red flags. 64 00:03:50,267 --> 00:03:52,567 I told her that I would take the call myself. 65 00:03:52,734 --> 00:03:55,000 What happened when you got to her townhouse? 66 00:03:55,167 --> 00:03:56,767 I was met by John Carter 67 00:03:56,934 --> 00:03:59,100 and Katelyn Markham's father, David. 68 00:03:59,267 --> 00:04:03,901 I asked them to take me inside and walk me through. 69 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,100 [Paula] Officer Sears carefully surveyed the scene. 70 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,467 Nothing's missing. Nothing's been stolen. 71 00:04:11,634 --> 00:04:13,267 There was no forced entry. 72 00:04:15,701 --> 00:04:17,467 [suspenseful music playing] 73 00:04:17,634 --> 00:04:20,667 [Paula] Still, Officer Sears did observe a few things 74 00:04:20,834 --> 00:04:22,100 that seemed odd. 75 00:04:23,567 --> 00:04:27,567 There was a coffee table pushed up against the couch 76 00:04:27,734 --> 00:04:28,868 in the living room. 77 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:32,901 And in her bedroom, there was some supplies 78 00:04:33,067 --> 00:04:34,467 knocked over on her desk. 79 00:04:36,901 --> 00:04:38,367 That gave me a little bit of concern. 80 00:04:39,667 --> 00:04:41,767 Was there enough out of place that you thought 81 00:04:41,934 --> 00:04:43,667 a struggle might've taken place there? 82 00:04:43,834 --> 00:04:47,167 Not at that point, but her wallet and her car keys 83 00:04:47,334 --> 00:04:49,067 were laying on her bed. 84 00:04:49,234 --> 00:04:51,601 And I went through the wallet. 85 00:04:51,767 --> 00:04:53,901 She had $300 in cash. 86 00:04:54,067 --> 00:04:56,167 She had her debit -- credit card in there 87 00:04:56,334 --> 00:04:57,868 and her driver's license. 88 00:04:58,033 --> 00:05:00,267 And her shoes were there. 89 00:05:00,434 --> 00:05:03,267 I became very suspicious. 90 00:05:03,434 --> 00:05:05,033 Things weren't adding up for me. 91 00:05:07,501 --> 00:05:09,000 [suspenseful music building] 92 00:05:09,167 --> 00:05:12,701 [Paula] Although there was no obvious sign of foul play, 93 00:05:12,868 --> 00:05:16,868 DA investigator Paul Newton believed that Officer Sears was 94 00:05:17,033 --> 00:05:19,367 reading the scene correctly. 95 00:05:19,534 --> 00:05:22,267 Is it possible that she had just wanted 96 00:05:22,434 --> 00:05:23,868 to disappear for a while? 97 00:05:24,033 --> 00:05:26,100 Her car's there. No purse, no wallet, no money. 98 00:05:26,267 --> 00:05:27,300 She's not going far. 99 00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:29,267 And none of her friends know where she's at. 100 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,501 I know this officer. 101 00:05:31,667 --> 00:05:32,901 Went to the police academy with her. 102 00:05:32,901 --> 00:05:34,968 She's very experienced. She doesn't get shook real easy. 103 00:05:35,133 --> 00:05:37,934 You have that gut feeling -- something's wrong here. 104 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,567 [mysterious music playing] 105 00:05:42,734 --> 00:05:46,701 [Paula] And following that gut feeling led Officer Sears to take 106 00:05:46,868 --> 00:05:49,367 additional precautions. 107 00:05:49,534 --> 00:05:52,167 At this point, I'm calling the dispatcher, 108 00:05:52,334 --> 00:05:56,801 and I'm asking her to have Katelyn's cellphone pinged. 109 00:05:56,968 --> 00:05:59,067 [Paula] While she waited for those results, 110 00:05:59,234 --> 00:06:01,367 Officer Sears asked Dave Markham 111 00:06:01,534 --> 00:06:04,868 what he knew about his daughter's disappearance. 112 00:06:09,067 --> 00:06:13,400 How did you find out something was wrong? 113 00:06:13,567 --> 00:06:16,467 I got a phone call from John. He was at the townhouse. 114 00:06:16,634 --> 00:06:18,167 He said that Katelyn's missing. 115 00:06:18,334 --> 00:06:20,300 "She's gone. I can't find her anywhere." 116 00:06:21,567 --> 00:06:24,100 When was the last time you had spoken with her? 117 00:06:24,267 --> 00:06:26,767 It was just a few days before, via text. 118 00:06:26,934 --> 00:06:30,968 She had said that there was a UPS package for me, 119 00:06:31,133 --> 00:06:32,501 and that was it. 120 00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:34,100 I still have that text message. 121 00:06:34,267 --> 00:06:36,968 [solemn music playing] 122 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,868 [Paula] Officer Sears then spoke with Katelyn's fiancé 123 00:06:43,033 --> 00:06:46,400 to get more information about the last time he had seen her. 124 00:06:47,701 --> 00:06:51,567 What was known about her timeline that night? 125 00:06:51,734 --> 00:06:53,367 She's home that evening, and she's hanging out 126 00:06:53,534 --> 00:06:55,167 with John Carter, her fiancé. 127 00:06:55,334 --> 00:06:57,167 Now it's recording. 128 00:06:57,334 --> 00:07:00,367 Around 9:30 that night, a friend of Katelyn's, 129 00:07:00,534 --> 00:07:02,200 a Brad Von Bargen, shows up. 130 00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:04,000 They watch some TV show. 131 00:07:04,167 --> 00:07:06,167 Brad leaves around 10:45, 132 00:07:06,334 --> 00:07:09,167 and John leaves shortly after Brad does. 133 00:07:10,467 --> 00:07:13,567 Did he speak with her again later that night? 134 00:07:13,734 --> 00:07:16,100 [Paul] John said that he received some text messages 135 00:07:16,267 --> 00:07:19,567 shortly after 11:00, ending around 11:36 PM. 136 00:07:19,734 --> 00:07:21,400 He did not talk to Katelyn no more that night. 137 00:07:23,868 --> 00:07:27,868 [Paula] And the evidence pointing to a problem continued to mount 138 00:07:28,033 --> 00:07:29,767 with a call to Katelyn's work. 139 00:07:30,701 --> 00:07:34,167 I spoke to the manager of the bridal shop 140 00:07:34,334 --> 00:07:36,767 and she told me that Katelyn had never 141 00:07:36,934 --> 00:07:38,767 no called, no showed -- ever. 142 00:07:38,934 --> 00:07:41,267 And today she did no call, no show. 143 00:07:41,434 --> 00:07:42,667 They were very worried about her. 144 00:07:44,868 --> 00:07:48,000 Was she someone who was disciplined 145 00:07:48,167 --> 00:07:49,801 and dedicated to her job? 146 00:07:49,968 --> 00:07:52,267 Yes, always punctual, never missed a shift. 147 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:56,667 [suspenseful music playing] 148 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:01,267 [Paula] Officer Sears was still trying to piece together 149 00:08:01,434 --> 00:08:02,868 the puzzling clues, 150 00:08:03,033 --> 00:08:06,667 when a call from her dispatcher suddenly forced her to view 151 00:08:06,834 --> 00:08:10,267 all the evidence through a new lens. 152 00:08:10,434 --> 00:08:13,701 The ping on the cellphone showed that shortly after midnight, 153 00:08:14,701 --> 00:08:18,200 the cellphone was turned off, the battery removed, 154 00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:19,868 and the SIM card removed. 155 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,300 They can actually tell that through their analysis? 156 00:08:25,467 --> 00:08:27,000 Yes, ma'am. And that is 157 00:08:27,167 --> 00:08:28,367 one of the first times 158 00:08:28,534 --> 00:08:31,100 that I've had them say that in my career. 159 00:08:32,467 --> 00:08:35,200 What point did Katelyn's phone go dark? 160 00:08:35,367 --> 00:08:38,000 At 12:06 AM. August the 14th. 161 00:08:40,367 --> 00:08:43,267 [suspenseful music playing] 162 00:08:44,601 --> 00:08:47,167 [Paula] The timing was troubling. 163 00:08:47,334 --> 00:08:51,167 Katelyn's phone had been disabled just a half-hour 164 00:08:51,334 --> 00:08:54,567 after her last text to John. 165 00:08:54,734 --> 00:08:56,367 What did you make of that? 166 00:08:56,534 --> 00:08:59,467 Just with the totality of the circumstances, 167 00:08:59,634 --> 00:09:03,267 honestly, I felt like there was some foul play here. 168 00:09:03,434 --> 00:09:06,868 [suspenseful music playing] 169 00:09:07,033 --> 00:09:10,000 [Paula] Officer Sears was instructed to bring anyone 170 00:09:10,167 --> 00:09:12,200 who might have information about Katelyn 171 00:09:12,367 --> 00:09:14,601 to the police station. 172 00:09:14,767 --> 00:09:17,000 [Ofc. Sears] I separated everybody into different rooms 173 00:09:17,167 --> 00:09:19,000 and waited for the detectives. 174 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:23,367 I had Dave Markham out in a community area, 175 00:09:23,534 --> 00:09:26,868 and...he looked up at me and he said, 176 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:30,067 "Is this all really necessary?" 177 00:09:31,968 --> 00:09:33,868 I said, "Yes, it is, sir." 178 00:09:34,033 --> 00:09:35,868 And he just broke down and started crying. 179 00:09:36,033 --> 00:09:37,267 [solemn music playing] 180 00:09:40,501 --> 00:09:42,701 [Paula] And Officer Sears feared 181 00:09:42,868 --> 00:09:45,801 there was more heartbreak ahead. 182 00:09:45,968 --> 00:09:49,367 I called the investigation supervisor and I said, 183 00:09:49,534 --> 00:09:51,968 "Look, sir, I -- I honestly don't believe 184 00:09:52,133 --> 00:09:53,400 this girl's coming home alive." 185 00:09:53,567 --> 00:09:55,300 [suspenseful music concludes] 186 00:10:00,567 --> 00:10:04,067 2 [theme music playing] 187 00:10:05,801 --> 00:10:08,000 [Paula] As police investigating 188 00:10:08,167 --> 00:10:10,300 the disappearance of Katelyn Markham 189 00:10:10,467 --> 00:10:12,000 contemplated the evidence, 190 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,267 the only thing that seemed clear was the window of time 191 00:10:17,434 --> 00:10:18,868 when the mystery began. 192 00:10:20,067 --> 00:10:23,567 How small of a time window are we talking about? 193 00:10:23,734 --> 00:10:26,000 We're talking about a very short period of time, 194 00:10:26,167 --> 00:10:27,968 30 minutes. 195 00:10:28,133 --> 00:10:30,667 And her friends are saying she's not going to open the door 196 00:10:30,834 --> 00:10:32,667 for just anybody, especially at that time of night. 197 00:10:33,767 --> 00:10:35,567 No forced entry, phone's gone. 198 00:10:35,734 --> 00:10:37,100 There was something going on that night. 199 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Something they didn't know. 200 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,400 [Paula] Police believed the first step was 201 00:10:44,567 --> 00:10:46,968 to find out more about Katelyn's lifestyle. 202 00:10:48,267 --> 00:10:49,501 Hi, this is Katelyn Markham. 203 00:10:49,667 --> 00:10:51,567 This is my very professional web page. 204 00:10:51,734 --> 00:10:53,801 I hope you enjoy it because I enjoyed making it 205 00:10:53,968 --> 00:10:55,167 and I love you. 206 00:10:55,334 --> 00:10:58,300 [melancholic music playing] 207 00:10:58,467 --> 00:11:02,567 [Paula] Her father, Dave, filled in a lot of details. 208 00:11:02,734 --> 00:11:03,901 What was she like? 209 00:11:04,067 --> 00:11:05,767 Katelyn was very... 210 00:11:05,934 --> 00:11:06,901 bubbly. 211 00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:08,467 Outgoing, her entire life. 212 00:11:08,634 --> 00:11:10,667 Made friends wherever we went. 213 00:11:10,834 --> 00:11:13,868 She never wanted to see anybody upset or hurt. 214 00:11:14,033 --> 00:11:17,767 She always wanted somebody to leave her presence happy. 215 00:11:17,934 --> 00:11:19,868 [Paula] That kindhearted spirit 216 00:11:20,033 --> 00:11:22,801 radiated through everything Katelyn did, 217 00:11:22,968 --> 00:11:26,100 especially in the main focus of her life, 218 00:11:26,267 --> 00:11:28,267 her artwork. 219 00:11:28,434 --> 00:11:31,400 Could you tell that she had artistic talent 220 00:11:31,567 --> 00:11:32,667 at an early age? 221 00:11:32,834 --> 00:11:34,267 A very early age, yeah. 222 00:11:34,434 --> 00:11:36,267 She always had crayons or pencils 223 00:11:36,434 --> 00:11:37,868 or markers and sketchbooks. 224 00:11:38,033 --> 00:11:39,567 That was a passion of hers. 225 00:11:39,734 --> 00:11:41,467 She wanted to go to a trade school, 226 00:11:41,634 --> 00:11:43,467 some kind of commercial of arts. 227 00:11:43,634 --> 00:11:45,167 She enrolled and was accepted. 228 00:11:45,334 --> 00:11:47,000 That's when it just took off. 229 00:11:49,467 --> 00:11:51,467 The sky was the limit. 230 00:11:51,634 --> 00:11:54,267 [in singsong] This is a video of me and John. 231 00:11:54,434 --> 00:11:56,667 Me and John are making a video. 232 00:11:56,834 --> 00:11:58,100 [John indistinct] 233 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:01,467 [Paula] Katelyn also seemed settled in her personal life. 234 00:12:01,634 --> 00:12:06,567 She and her fiancé, John Carter, had been together for six years. 235 00:12:06,734 --> 00:12:10,667 Friends painted a vivid portrait for investigators. 236 00:12:10,834 --> 00:12:13,767 How did her friends characterize her relationship 237 00:12:13,934 --> 00:12:15,767 with her fiancé, John Carter? 238 00:12:15,934 --> 00:12:18,767 In the eyes of everybody, they were the perfect couple, 239 00:12:18,934 --> 00:12:20,801 very happy couple. 240 00:12:23,267 --> 00:12:25,367 [Paula] Despite all the glowing stories 241 00:12:25,534 --> 00:12:27,601 about the newly engaged couple, 242 00:12:27,767 --> 00:12:29,901 police were still focused on the fact that 243 00:12:30,067 --> 00:12:33,667 John was the last person to see Katelyn. 244 00:12:33,834 --> 00:12:37,868 They needed to know every detail of their final evening together. 245 00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:02,801 [Paula] John said when he left Katelyn, 246 00:13:02,968 --> 00:13:04,667 she was getting ready for bed. 247 00:13:15,667 --> 00:13:18,367 [Paula] John then went to meet up with some friends. 248 00:13:19,567 --> 00:13:21,767 Was anybody able to verify 249 00:13:21,934 --> 00:13:23,767 he actually went to his friend's house 250 00:13:23,934 --> 00:13:25,400 after he left Katelyn's that night? 251 00:13:25,567 --> 00:13:27,400 Absolutely, five people there. 252 00:13:27,567 --> 00:13:31,868 He's there approximately until 1:15 to 1:20 in the morning, 253 00:13:32,033 --> 00:13:33,801 and then he goes home. 254 00:13:36,267 --> 00:13:38,767 [Paula] John said it was still several hours 255 00:13:38,934 --> 00:13:40,667 before he called it a night. 256 00:13:40,834 --> 00:13:44,267 He watches three episodes of the show "White Collar," 257 00:13:44,434 --> 00:13:45,400 and he says he goes to bed, 258 00:13:45,567 --> 00:13:47,367 shortly after 4 o'clock in the morning. 259 00:13:47,534 --> 00:13:49,267 [Paula] Before closing his eyes, 260 00:13:49,434 --> 00:13:52,100 John completed a nightly ritual. 261 00:13:52,267 --> 00:13:54,667 John says he sent Katelyn a text message 262 00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:55,968 at 4 o'clock in the morning. 263 00:13:56,133 --> 00:13:58,467 It was, "Good morning, love you." 264 00:13:58,634 --> 00:14:01,667 [Paula] John expected to see Katelyn's response 265 00:14:01,834 --> 00:14:04,367 when he woke up, 12 hours later. 266 00:14:04,534 --> 00:14:07,300 He didn't get up till 4:30 that day to go to work. 267 00:14:07,467 --> 00:14:09,567 When he sees that Katelyn has not contacted him, 268 00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,167 he's getting concerned. 269 00:14:12,667 --> 00:14:16,567 [Paula] John tried calling Katelyn several times and texted her. 270 00:14:16,734 --> 00:14:18,567 And when she didn't respond, 271 00:14:18,734 --> 00:14:21,067 he decided to go to her townhouse. 272 00:14:33,901 --> 00:14:38,367 [Paula] John entered the townhouse, and his anxiety grew. 273 00:14:58,667 --> 00:15:00,167 [tense music playing] 274 00:15:00,334 --> 00:15:03,901 [Paula] Police still wanted to further verify John's timeline, 275 00:15:04,067 --> 00:15:06,667 but his account seemed solid. 276 00:15:06,834 --> 00:15:09,367 And he and Katelyn's other friends 277 00:15:09,534 --> 00:15:12,567 pointed the investigation in another direction. 278 00:15:12,734 --> 00:15:14,767 They believe the huge festival 279 00:15:14,934 --> 00:15:16,801 across the street from Katelyn's home, 280 00:15:16,968 --> 00:15:19,267 played a role in her disappearance. 281 00:15:20,868 --> 00:15:24,100 They wanted to direct my attention towards the people 282 00:15:24,267 --> 00:15:25,801 that were working at the carnival. 283 00:15:26,801 --> 00:15:29,701 [Paula] The idea seemed to make sense. 284 00:15:29,868 --> 00:15:31,868 [Ofc. Sears] That festival is a huge draw. 285 00:15:32,033 --> 00:15:33,300 They pack that place. 286 00:15:33,467 --> 00:15:36,100 And most of the time, the carnival workers are 287 00:15:36,267 --> 00:15:37,667 from out of town, 288 00:15:37,834 --> 00:15:39,567 especially the ride workers. 289 00:15:39,734 --> 00:15:42,467 They are very transient type people. 290 00:15:42,634 --> 00:15:43,968 Did you think it was possible? 291 00:15:44,133 --> 00:15:47,567 That someone who either worked at the festival 292 00:15:47,734 --> 00:15:51,067 or attended the festival could've had something to do 293 00:15:51,234 --> 00:15:53,601 with Katelyn's disappearance? 294 00:15:53,767 --> 00:15:57,100 I wasn't willing to rule out anything. 295 00:15:57,267 --> 00:15:59,667 [tense music concludes] 296 00:16:03,801 --> 00:16:05,801 2 [theme music playing] 297 00:16:09,501 --> 00:16:12,300 [Paula] Law enforcement was still looking for a lead 298 00:16:12,467 --> 00:16:14,167 that might explain the disappearance 299 00:16:14,334 --> 00:16:15,701 of Katelyn Markham. 300 00:16:17,868 --> 00:16:20,667 They were confident something had happened to her 301 00:16:20,834 --> 00:16:22,100 during the half-hour 302 00:16:22,267 --> 00:16:25,167 before her cellphone suddenly went dark 303 00:16:25,334 --> 00:16:27,300 at 12:06 AM. 304 00:16:28,501 --> 00:16:30,267 Did they investigate any possible 305 00:16:30,434 --> 00:16:32,467 criminal activity in the area? 306 00:16:32,634 --> 00:16:35,701 Yes, the Sacred Heart Festival was occurring down the street. 307 00:16:37,868 --> 00:16:39,868 [Mike] You know, there are some unsavory characters 308 00:16:40,033 --> 00:16:41,868 over at this...fair. 309 00:16:42,033 --> 00:16:45,167 Maybe those people at the carnival were involved 310 00:16:45,334 --> 00:16:46,467 in her disappearance. 311 00:16:50,367 --> 00:16:52,701 [Paula] Detectives compiled a list 312 00:16:52,868 --> 00:16:56,567 of festival employees with criminal backgrounds. 313 00:16:56,734 --> 00:16:59,868 Each was eliminated using the narrow timeline 314 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:01,868 of Katelyn's disappearance. 315 00:17:02,033 --> 00:17:04,767 The festival appeared to be a dead end. 316 00:17:06,667 --> 00:17:08,901 Who else did they end up looking into? 317 00:17:09,067 --> 00:17:11,267 There was an acquaintance out of Katelyn's school 318 00:17:11,434 --> 00:17:14,501 who had been named as being creepy around Katelyn. 319 00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:16,968 He'd had some criminal history in his past. 320 00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:20,100 Could they establish where he was 321 00:17:20,267 --> 00:17:21,501 the night she went missing? 322 00:17:21,501 --> 00:17:23,300 Fairfield Police Department established where he was at, 323 00:17:23,467 --> 00:17:24,968 and he had nothing to do with this. 324 00:17:25,133 --> 00:17:27,367 [dramatic chord strike] 325 00:17:27,534 --> 00:17:31,067 [ominous music playing] 326 00:17:31,234 --> 00:17:34,467 [Paula] Seventy-two hours after Katelyn's disappearance, 327 00:17:34,634 --> 00:17:37,100 police still had no physical evidence 328 00:17:37,267 --> 00:17:39,868 that foul play was even involved. 329 00:17:41,267 --> 00:17:43,868 There's nothing missing besides Katelyn and her cellphone. 330 00:17:44,033 --> 00:17:47,100 No blood, no acts of violence. 331 00:17:47,267 --> 00:17:49,167 It's like she's there one minute, gone the next. 332 00:17:51,601 --> 00:17:53,267 [intense music playing] 333 00:17:53,434 --> 00:17:56,267 [Paula] Police reached out to the public for help, 334 00:17:56,434 --> 00:17:59,100 and the community answered their call. 335 00:17:59,267 --> 00:18:02,367 [intense music continues] 336 00:18:02,534 --> 00:18:05,067 Describe some of the searches that took place. 337 00:18:05,234 --> 00:18:07,767 They searched the whole general area. 338 00:18:07,934 --> 00:18:11,000 It was an extensive search. It was unbelievable. 339 00:18:11,167 --> 00:18:13,167 People were coming out with their ATVs 340 00:18:13,334 --> 00:18:14,567 and they were coming out with their dogs. 341 00:18:14,734 --> 00:18:16,100 They wanted answers. 342 00:18:16,267 --> 00:18:17,868 Because disappearing for no reason, 343 00:18:18,968 --> 00:18:20,767 that doesn't happen in Fairfield. 344 00:18:20,934 --> 00:18:22,200 [intense music ends] 345 00:18:24,667 --> 00:18:26,367 [ominous music playing] 346 00:18:26,534 --> 00:18:30,000 [Paula] The show of support comforted Katelyn's family 347 00:18:30,167 --> 00:18:32,667 during their darkest hours. 348 00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:34,701 The community came together for Katelyn. 349 00:18:35,901 --> 00:18:37,367 Very humbling. 350 00:18:37,534 --> 00:18:39,367 People that have never met Katelyn, 351 00:18:39,534 --> 00:18:41,300 followed this case. 352 00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:42,701 Poured their hearts out. 353 00:18:42,868 --> 00:18:44,968 It's a very surreal feeling. 354 00:18:45,133 --> 00:18:48,601 [Paula] But the massive searches uncovered nothing of value. 355 00:18:48,767 --> 00:18:53,167 And over time, the investigation slowly ground to a halt. 356 00:18:56,567 --> 00:18:58,767 As the weeks turned into months, 357 00:18:58,934 --> 00:19:01,067 did you try to maintain hope? 358 00:19:01,234 --> 00:19:03,000 Yes, but each day that went by, 359 00:19:03,167 --> 00:19:05,767 it just, you know, it was less and less. 360 00:19:05,934 --> 00:19:08,467 I knew that this was not gonna be a good outcome. 361 00:19:08,634 --> 00:19:11,367 This was not gonna be what any of us wanted. 362 00:19:16,501 --> 00:19:18,968 [Paula] Meanwhile, police were still waiting 363 00:19:19,133 --> 00:19:22,567 for the evidence that would jump-start the investigation. 364 00:19:22,734 --> 00:19:25,901 And more than a year after Katelyn's disappearance, 365 00:19:26,067 --> 00:19:29,200 they got it in the worst way possible. 366 00:19:30,667 --> 00:19:33,467 Police finally got a break in the case. 367 00:19:33,634 --> 00:19:34,901 How did that come about? 368 00:19:35,067 --> 00:19:36,567 A gentleman in Franklin, Indiana, 369 00:19:36,734 --> 00:19:39,000 searching a creek line for cans, 370 00:19:39,167 --> 00:19:40,901 come across a little area 371 00:19:41,067 --> 00:19:42,567 where some people had done some dumping. 372 00:19:44,067 --> 00:19:48,267 [Paula] The man saw a small bag, and he opened it. 373 00:19:48,434 --> 00:19:50,767 He opens the bag, and there's a skull in it. 374 00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:54,067 [tense music playing] 375 00:19:54,234 --> 00:19:57,000 [Paula] Terrified, the man dropped the bag 376 00:19:57,167 --> 00:19:59,667 and ran to notify police. 377 00:19:59,834 --> 00:20:02,367 He calls 911, and the Indiana State Police 378 00:20:02,534 --> 00:20:03,968 and the local sheriff's office show up. 379 00:20:05,467 --> 00:20:07,667 What did the Indiana State Police do 380 00:20:07,834 --> 00:20:09,000 when they arrived at the scene? 381 00:20:09,167 --> 00:20:10,467 [Paul] They could tell it was a female. 382 00:20:10,634 --> 00:20:13,567 So they got their phones out and started looking for people 383 00:20:13,734 --> 00:20:15,467 who had disappeared in the area. 384 00:20:15,634 --> 00:20:17,000 And the first photograph they pulled up 385 00:20:17,167 --> 00:20:18,667 was Katelyn Markham. 386 00:20:18,834 --> 00:20:21,868 [Paula] And a detail in the photos they saw 387 00:20:22,033 --> 00:20:24,501 inside of Katelyn's missing person file, 388 00:20:24,667 --> 00:20:27,000 led first responders to suspect 389 00:20:27,167 --> 00:20:29,767 she was the victim they had found. 390 00:20:31,267 --> 00:20:34,000 Katelyn had a pronounced tooth. 391 00:20:34,167 --> 00:20:36,000 And from that, they were pretty sure 392 00:20:36,167 --> 00:20:37,100 it was gonna be Katelyn. 393 00:20:38,167 --> 00:20:39,501 They called Fairfield, right away. 394 00:20:39,667 --> 00:20:41,400 "We think we found your missing person." 395 00:20:43,367 --> 00:20:44,868 [suspenseful music playing] 396 00:20:45,033 --> 00:20:48,367 [Paula] Dental records confirmed their hunch. 397 00:20:48,534 --> 00:20:50,267 It was a devastating blow 398 00:20:50,434 --> 00:20:53,667 for everyone who had been relentlessly searching 399 00:20:53,834 --> 00:20:55,567 for the young woman. 400 00:20:55,734 --> 00:20:58,367 The Katelyn Markham missing person's case 401 00:20:58,534 --> 00:21:01,801 had just become a homicide investigation. 402 00:21:03,601 --> 00:21:05,067 I felt angry. 403 00:21:05,234 --> 00:21:06,701 She lived a low-risk lifestyle. 404 00:21:06,868 --> 00:21:09,167 She worked two jobs and went to school. 405 00:21:09,334 --> 00:21:11,067 And no one can tell me why she's dead. 406 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:16,567 There were two police officers and a pastor 407 00:21:16,734 --> 00:21:18,567 who came to the door and told me. 408 00:21:18,734 --> 00:21:20,467 I just broke down. 409 00:21:20,634 --> 00:21:22,567 [tense music playing 410 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,567 [sniffling] 411 00:21:26,868 --> 00:21:29,701 [Paula] Seeing Katelyn's devastated loved ones, 412 00:21:29,868 --> 00:21:32,567 motivated detectives to provide answers. 413 00:21:33,601 --> 00:21:37,067 They were desperate to know why Katelyn had been killed 414 00:21:37,234 --> 00:21:38,767 and by whom. 415 00:21:38,934 --> 00:21:40,367 But it quickly became clear 416 00:21:40,534 --> 00:21:44,767 that even getting the "how" would be challenging. 417 00:21:44,934 --> 00:21:48,767 Was the medical examiner able to determine how she died? 418 00:21:48,934 --> 00:21:51,267 [Paul] No. The cause of death was unknown, 419 00:21:51,434 --> 00:21:53,167 but they did rule it a homicide. 420 00:21:53,334 --> 00:21:57,300 Was there anything that they were able to learn 421 00:21:57,467 --> 00:21:58,701 from the autopsy? 422 00:21:58,868 --> 00:22:01,167 They found cut marks 423 00:22:01,334 --> 00:22:02,567 on her left wrist. 424 00:22:02,734 --> 00:22:03,801 Looked like postmortem. 425 00:22:03,968 --> 00:22:05,367 Someone had tried to cut off her hand, 426 00:22:05,534 --> 00:22:08,067 some bones had been cut by something sharp. 427 00:22:08,234 --> 00:22:10,467 [tense music playing] 428 00:22:10,634 --> 00:22:11,567 [camera shutter clicking] 429 00:22:11,734 --> 00:22:13,000 [Paula] Investigators hope 430 00:22:13,167 --> 00:22:15,901 that the material her remains were wrapped in 431 00:22:16,067 --> 00:22:18,968 would provide them with a clue about the suspect. 432 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:21,868 Was there something distinctive 433 00:22:22,033 --> 00:22:24,067 about the way the body had been wrapped? 434 00:22:24,234 --> 00:22:26,567 Her head had been wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, 435 00:22:26,734 --> 00:22:29,501 and her body had been wrapped in a plastic tarp. 436 00:22:31,767 --> 00:22:33,667 And what was your theory 437 00:22:33,834 --> 00:22:38,000 about why the killer would've wrapped the body that way? 438 00:22:38,167 --> 00:22:41,567 My theory was that someone knew who she was 439 00:22:41,734 --> 00:22:44,367 and they didn't want to see Katelyn's face no more. 440 00:22:44,534 --> 00:22:45,567 That's my theory. 441 00:22:45,734 --> 00:22:47,501 [tense music concludes] 442 00:22:51,601 --> 00:22:54,267 2 [theme music playing] 443 00:22:56,367 --> 00:22:59,267 [Paula] Police had no physical evidence 444 00:22:59,434 --> 00:23:02,100 that linked Katelyn Markham to her killer. 445 00:23:03,367 --> 00:23:06,501 But they did discover an intriguing clue 446 00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:09,501 as they looked at a map between her home 447 00:23:09,667 --> 00:23:12,300 and where her body had been found. 448 00:23:12,467 --> 00:23:16,200 Was there anything investigators could glean from that location? 449 00:23:16,367 --> 00:23:17,300 [Paul] Yes. 450 00:23:17,467 --> 00:23:19,267 They found out really quickly that 451 00:23:19,434 --> 00:23:22,200 the location of her body was a direct route 452 00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:24,801 to John Carter's father's farm. 453 00:23:24,968 --> 00:23:26,367 [suspenseful music playing] 454 00:23:28,167 --> 00:23:29,367 [camera shutter clicking] 455 00:23:31,467 --> 00:23:34,767 [Paula] That potential link sent investigators 456 00:23:34,934 --> 00:23:36,567 back to where they started -- 457 00:23:36,734 --> 00:23:39,667 Katelyn's fiancé, John Carter. 458 00:23:39,834 --> 00:23:40,868 Come on in, over here. 459 00:23:41,033 --> 00:23:42,767 I got you a chair right over there. 460 00:23:42,934 --> 00:23:44,000 [Paula] This time, 461 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,267 the Indiana State Police handled the interview. 462 00:24:09,667 --> 00:24:12,000 [Paula] Although police remained skeptical, 463 00:24:12,167 --> 00:24:15,167 John's alibi was airtight. 464 00:24:15,334 --> 00:24:17,667 He had witnesses and computer logs 465 00:24:17,834 --> 00:24:19,767 that backed up his account. 466 00:24:19,934 --> 00:24:24,267 It seemed their new lead was just another dead end. 467 00:24:34,367 --> 00:24:35,901 [Paula] Following that interview, 468 00:24:36,067 --> 00:24:39,267 the investigation was at a standstill. 469 00:24:39,434 --> 00:24:42,901 The case was in danger of going cold, 470 00:24:43,067 --> 00:24:46,367 when details of a strikingly similar attack 471 00:24:46,534 --> 00:24:48,868 popped up on detectives' radar. 472 00:24:49,033 --> 00:24:52,100 [suspenseful music intensifies] 473 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,367 [Paul] A young lady had went missing. 474 00:24:56,534 --> 00:24:59,868 Her body had been located and her head had been wrapped. 475 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:01,868 Her body had been wrapped, 476 00:25:02,033 --> 00:25:04,801 and her body had been placed near a creek bed 477 00:25:04,968 --> 00:25:06,267 in Butler County. 478 00:25:06,434 --> 00:25:08,567 [Paula] And there was more that appeared to link 479 00:25:08,734 --> 00:25:12,067 the murder of Ellie Weik to Katelyn Markham's. 480 00:25:13,167 --> 00:25:15,000 Did the victims resemble each other? 481 00:25:15,167 --> 00:25:17,601 Yes, it was uncanny how they looked alike. 482 00:25:17,767 --> 00:25:19,701 They could have been twins. 483 00:25:19,868 --> 00:25:21,133 [Paula] In fact, 484 00:25:21,133 --> 00:25:24,501 the two crimes could've been mirror images of one another. 485 00:25:26,901 --> 00:25:30,767 But the Weik investigation had one major difference. 486 00:25:30,934 --> 00:25:34,701 This time, police had identified the man responsible. 487 00:25:36,968 --> 00:25:40,367 It was a gentleman by the name of Michael Strouse. 488 00:25:40,534 --> 00:25:43,767 Mr. Strouse was found guilty of the killing of Ellie Weik, 489 00:25:43,934 --> 00:25:46,868 and we were trying to connect the two homicides together. 490 00:25:47,968 --> 00:25:51,400 [Paula] And police quickly found links. 491 00:25:51,567 --> 00:25:53,100 Strouse had a connection to Indiana. 492 00:25:53,267 --> 00:25:57,000 His grandma lives an hour north of where Katelyn was found. 493 00:25:59,467 --> 00:26:01,000 [suspenseful music playing] 494 00:26:01,167 --> 00:26:05,467 [Paula] The investigation into Strouse shifted into high gear 495 00:26:05,634 --> 00:26:09,267 after an anonymous tip appeared to directly tie 496 00:26:09,434 --> 00:26:12,667 the convicted killer to Katelyn Markham. 497 00:26:12,834 --> 00:26:16,400 There was a photograph of Michael Strouse and John Carter 498 00:26:16,567 --> 00:26:17,601 at this party. 499 00:26:17,767 --> 00:26:20,000 [tense music playing] 500 00:26:20,167 --> 00:26:21,200 So now they're saying, 501 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,167 "OK, these two guys are connected somehow." 502 00:26:23,334 --> 00:26:24,667 Was it a possibility that 503 00:26:24,834 --> 00:26:26,667 Michael Strouse knew John and knew Katelyn? 504 00:26:26,834 --> 00:26:27,934 I asked the question, 505 00:26:27,934 --> 00:26:29,767 "Well, how about we go talk to Michael Strouse?" 506 00:26:29,934 --> 00:26:31,667 And we interviewed him in the prosecutor's office. 507 00:26:31,834 --> 00:26:33,701 [suspenseful music continues] 508 00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:39,067 [Paula] In the interrogation room, 509 00:26:39,234 --> 00:26:42,000 Investigator Newton explained to Strouse 510 00:26:42,167 --> 00:26:44,767 why he was being questioned. 511 00:26:44,934 --> 00:26:46,667 I slid a news article over to him. 512 00:26:46,834 --> 00:26:48,067 I said, "I want you to read that, please." 513 00:26:48,234 --> 00:26:49,767 And I said, "Now you see why you're here." 514 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,901 [Paula] Then, Investigator Newton showed Strouse the photograph 515 00:26:56,067 --> 00:26:59,167 that connected him to Katelyn Markham. 516 00:26:59,334 --> 00:27:02,267 And he says, "I knew him from parties, coming and going. 517 00:27:02,434 --> 00:27:04,767 I didn't know her. I never met her." 518 00:27:04,934 --> 00:27:06,901 [suspenseful music ends] 519 00:27:08,567 --> 00:27:11,167 [Paula] When Strouse denied any role 520 00:27:11,334 --> 00:27:13,868 in Katelyn's disappearance or murder, 521 00:27:14,033 --> 00:27:17,200 police asked him to take a polygraph exam. 522 00:27:17,367 --> 00:27:19,701 [Paul] The polygraph come back inconclusive. 523 00:27:19,868 --> 00:27:23,267 So I went to the Westchester Police Department 524 00:27:23,434 --> 00:27:25,868 and asked to look at the Michael Strouse case. 525 00:27:26,033 --> 00:27:28,267 What am I missing? What is someone else missing? 526 00:27:28,434 --> 00:27:29,467 So I did a search warrant on him. 527 00:27:29,634 --> 00:27:32,701 Let me do a deep dive into Michael Strouse. 528 00:27:32,868 --> 00:27:36,367 [Paula] That deep dive led police to pore over Strouse's 529 00:27:36,534 --> 00:27:37,868 online history, 530 00:27:38,033 --> 00:27:41,200 including Facebook pictures and messages. 531 00:27:41,367 --> 00:27:42,767 And shockingly, 532 00:27:42,934 --> 00:27:46,267 the time-consuming effort paid off. 533 00:27:46,434 --> 00:27:48,567 I find a conversation that Michael Strouse is having 534 00:27:48,734 --> 00:27:51,467 about, "Hey, I had a great time last night at the party." 535 00:27:53,367 --> 00:27:55,300 [dramatic music playing] 536 00:27:55,467 --> 00:27:58,000 [Paula] Investigator Newton was stunned. 537 00:27:58,167 --> 00:28:02,367 The party took place the night Katelyn Markham disappeared. 538 00:28:02,534 --> 00:28:04,567 And there was more. 539 00:28:04,734 --> 00:28:06,067 We find a photograph 540 00:28:06,234 --> 00:28:08,467 of a gentleman with a lampshade on his head at this party. 541 00:28:08,634 --> 00:28:10,100 And right next to him, 542 00:28:10,267 --> 00:28:11,467 you see someone's face. 543 00:28:11,634 --> 00:28:13,400 It's Michael Strouse. 544 00:28:13,567 --> 00:28:14,968 [Paula] The picture taken of Strouse 545 00:28:15,133 --> 00:28:16,801 gave him a solid alibi 546 00:28:16,968 --> 00:28:19,901 during the time that Katelyn was killed. 547 00:28:20,067 --> 00:28:22,300 Strouse was there that night, 548 00:28:22,467 --> 00:28:25,067 and there is no way he could've killed Katelyn? 549 00:28:25,234 --> 00:28:27,767 Yes, he had nothing to do with this. 550 00:28:27,934 --> 00:28:32,167 [Paula] The original picture of Strouse and John Carter was 551 00:28:32,334 --> 00:28:34,567 nothing more than a coincidence. 552 00:28:34,734 --> 00:28:36,767 Michael Strouse, he may be a serial killer. 553 00:28:36,934 --> 00:28:38,067 He may be. 554 00:28:38,234 --> 00:28:40,200 But I don't think he had anything to do with Katelyn. 555 00:28:42,667 --> 00:28:45,000 [Paula] Instead of feeling defeated, 556 00:28:45,167 --> 00:28:48,601 Investigator Newton was more determined than ever. 557 00:28:48,767 --> 00:28:52,400 He decided to start the entire Markham investigation 558 00:28:52,567 --> 00:28:54,000 over from the beginning. 559 00:28:54,167 --> 00:28:58,100 And his unrelenting search for the truth would ultimately 560 00:28:58,267 --> 00:29:02,567 put Katelyn's killer directly in his crosshairs. 561 00:29:02,734 --> 00:29:03,968 You need to understand something -- 562 00:29:04,133 --> 00:29:05,901 I don't miss. 563 00:29:06,067 --> 00:29:07,400 If it is you, I'm coming. 564 00:29:07,567 --> 00:29:09,367 [suspenseful music concludes] 565 00:29:13,367 --> 00:29:16,200 2 [theme music playing] 566 00:29:18,667 --> 00:29:20,467 [Paula] It had been more than six years 567 00:29:20,634 --> 00:29:23,100 since Katelyn Markham had been murdered. 568 00:29:25,067 --> 00:29:27,167 But District Attorney Mike Gmoser 569 00:29:27,334 --> 00:29:29,667 and his investigator, Paul Newton, 570 00:29:29,834 --> 00:29:34,100 believed that every clue had to be reviewed with a fresh eye. 571 00:29:35,868 --> 00:29:40,167 Did you have any expectations of the case being solved, 572 00:29:40,334 --> 00:29:41,467 when you committed to it? 573 00:29:41,634 --> 00:29:43,968 I felt that we were the last stop. 574 00:29:44,133 --> 00:29:46,200 If we didn't solve this case, 575 00:29:46,367 --> 00:29:47,901 it was never going to get solved. 576 00:29:49,067 --> 00:29:52,634 Everyone is a person of interest until I've ruled you out. 577 00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:57,167 [Paula] Investigator Newton believed 578 00:29:57,334 --> 00:30:00,367 that meant re-interviewing everyone, 579 00:30:00,534 --> 00:30:03,167 starting with those closest to Katelyn. 580 00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:09,000 And the passage of time had changed some of their views. 581 00:30:09,167 --> 00:30:12,968 Did any of Katelyn's friends have new information for you? 582 00:30:13,133 --> 00:30:14,868 We found out that the relationship 583 00:30:15,033 --> 00:30:18,467 between John and Katelyn wasn't quite as smooth 584 00:30:18,634 --> 00:30:20,601 as it was made out to be. 585 00:30:20,767 --> 00:30:22,300 John, he's kind of controlling. 586 00:30:22,467 --> 00:30:24,100 John's jealous. 587 00:30:24,267 --> 00:30:26,000 Katelyn was confiding in some of these people, 588 00:30:26,167 --> 00:30:27,801 "I'm not sure we're gonna be getting married." 589 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:30,567 That's the first time we had heard that. 590 00:30:32,467 --> 00:30:34,968 [dramatic music intensifies] 591 00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:39,267 [Paula] But perhaps the most important new details were found buried 592 00:30:39,434 --> 00:30:41,667 inside the massive case file. 593 00:30:42,767 --> 00:30:44,601 A report that had been taken 594 00:30:44,767 --> 00:30:48,868 just days after Katelyn's body was discovered. 595 00:30:49,033 --> 00:30:50,767 Paul Newton said, 596 00:30:50,934 --> 00:30:55,000 "Hey, what's this about these boys in the bushes here 597 00:30:55,167 --> 00:30:58,868 "that saw Carter come home that night 598 00:30:59,033 --> 00:31:01,000 at about 2 o'clock in the morning?" 599 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,200 [Paula] The tip had come from two teenagers 600 00:31:04,367 --> 00:31:05,801 who had snuck out of the house 601 00:31:05,968 --> 00:31:08,667 late on the night Katelyn disappeared. 602 00:31:08,834 --> 00:31:11,467 They said that while they were waiting for their ride, 603 00:31:11,634 --> 00:31:14,901 they heard a car approaching from the opposite direction. 604 00:31:17,267 --> 00:31:18,901 They think it's gonna be Fairfield Police Department, 605 00:31:19,067 --> 00:31:21,200 so they hide behind a big, huge evergreen. 606 00:31:21,367 --> 00:31:23,868 [Paula] But it wasn't a police car. 607 00:31:24,033 --> 00:31:27,167 It was John Carter returning home. 608 00:31:27,334 --> 00:31:30,467 These boys saw Carter go into his garage. 609 00:31:31,968 --> 00:31:35,667 Ten minutes later, he comes out and drives away, 610 00:31:35,834 --> 00:31:38,567 and as he's leaving, he leaves with his lights off. 611 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:42,801 [suspenseful music playing] 612 00:31:45,267 --> 00:31:48,000 [Paula] The information was stunning. 613 00:31:48,167 --> 00:31:50,267 In every one of his interviews, 614 00:31:50,434 --> 00:31:52,968 Carter had told police that he had arrived home 615 00:31:53,133 --> 00:31:55,167 at 1:30 in the morning 616 00:31:55,334 --> 00:32:00,200 and hadn't gone out again until 4:30 the next day. 617 00:32:00,367 --> 00:32:03,100 But police now had two witnesses 618 00:32:03,267 --> 00:32:06,100 who said they saw him leave his home 619 00:32:06,267 --> 00:32:08,267 after 2 AM. 620 00:32:08,434 --> 00:32:09,667 I said to Paul, 621 00:32:09,834 --> 00:32:12,000 "Those boys are not lying. 622 00:32:12,167 --> 00:32:14,667 That's the key in this case." 623 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:20,467 Those interviews punched a hole in John Carter's alibi. 624 00:32:20,634 --> 00:32:23,868 How did that alter your investigation? 625 00:32:24,033 --> 00:32:26,767 Fits the timeline of when she's being murdered. 626 00:32:28,901 --> 00:32:30,400 And at that point in time, it's game on. 627 00:32:30,567 --> 00:32:32,467 [tense music playing] 628 00:32:32,634 --> 00:32:36,167 [Paula] Police went to work searching for additional cracks 629 00:32:36,334 --> 00:32:37,968 in Carter's alibi. 630 00:32:38,133 --> 00:32:40,701 Carter claimed, after he got home, 631 00:32:40,868 --> 00:32:44,167 he spent the next few hours watching his favorite show 632 00:32:44,334 --> 00:32:45,701 on his computer. 633 00:32:45,868 --> 00:32:49,200 One of my investigators reviewed that computer. 634 00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:50,400 And what does he find? 635 00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:52,467 He finds that at 4:30 in the morning, 636 00:32:52,634 --> 00:32:56,267 Carter is looking for the synopsis of the program. 637 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,567 [Paula] The police believe it was evidence 638 00:32:59,734 --> 00:33:03,567 that Carter had never actually viewed the episodes 639 00:33:03,734 --> 00:33:05,267 he downloaded. 640 00:33:05,434 --> 00:33:07,200 If he watched them, why is he reading the synopsis? 641 00:33:07,367 --> 00:33:09,267 So was it your belief 642 00:33:09,434 --> 00:33:12,267 that he never watched the show that night 643 00:33:12,434 --> 00:33:15,868 because he was disposing of Katelyn's body at that time? 644 00:33:16,033 --> 00:33:17,100 Absolutely. 645 00:33:22,067 --> 00:33:24,000 [suspenseful music playing] 646 00:33:24,167 --> 00:33:28,868 [Paula] Prosecutors believe they had a strong circumstantial case. 647 00:33:29,033 --> 00:33:31,267 They presented their potential motive, 648 00:33:31,434 --> 00:33:33,300 the links to the crime scene, 649 00:33:33,467 --> 00:33:36,467 and the evidence of Carter's shattered alibi 650 00:33:36,634 --> 00:33:38,100 to a grand jury. 651 00:33:38,267 --> 00:33:39,367 When they were done, 652 00:33:39,534 --> 00:33:42,868 they confronted John Carter with its findings. 653 00:34:13,367 --> 00:34:17,767 [Paula] John Carter was arrested for Katelyn Markham's murder 654 00:34:17,934 --> 00:34:20,501 on March 22nd, 2023. 655 00:34:20,667 --> 00:34:22,901 [indistinct chatter] 656 00:34:23,067 --> 00:34:26,467 Many wondered if the evidence police had collected 657 00:34:26,634 --> 00:34:28,767 would be enough to get a conviction. 658 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,367 At that point, 659 00:34:32,534 --> 00:34:37,667 did you have anything beyond circumstantial evidence? 660 00:34:37,834 --> 00:34:39,300 No. 661 00:34:39,467 --> 00:34:42,167 No, I knew -- we'd find something. 662 00:34:42,334 --> 00:34:43,868 If you dig hard enough, you will find it. 663 00:34:48,467 --> 00:34:50,501 [Paula] With Carter behind bars, 664 00:34:50,667 --> 00:34:53,868 police continued to build their case. 665 00:34:54,033 --> 00:34:56,000 Prior to...trial, 666 00:34:56,167 --> 00:34:58,400 we go back to interview individuals 667 00:34:58,567 --> 00:35:00,701 who live next door to Katelyn. 668 00:35:00,868 --> 00:35:04,868 [Paula] And one of them had a disturbing story to tell. 669 00:35:05,033 --> 00:35:06,167 They recall that date very well, 670 00:35:06,334 --> 00:35:07,501 because it was their anniversary. 671 00:35:07,667 --> 00:35:10,868 And she dozes off around 10 o'clock at night. 672 00:35:11,033 --> 00:35:13,267 [Paula] Sometime after 11 PM, 673 00:35:13,434 --> 00:35:15,801 a loud noise woke her up. 674 00:35:15,968 --> 00:35:17,567 She hears a loud thump. 675 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,467 And she hears yelling from a female, 676 00:35:21,634 --> 00:35:23,200 "Stop it, stop it!" 677 00:35:24,267 --> 00:35:25,367 And she hears another thump. 678 00:35:27,167 --> 00:35:29,167 Wasn't she concerned? 679 00:35:29,334 --> 00:35:30,701 When she heard that? 680 00:35:30,868 --> 00:35:31,801 She was. 681 00:35:31,968 --> 00:35:34,400 When I interviewed her, she breaks down. 682 00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:37,801 [Paula] Then the young woman explained why she had held on 683 00:35:37,968 --> 00:35:41,067 to this terrible secret for so long. 684 00:35:41,234 --> 00:35:42,767 I said, "Why didn't you report this?" 685 00:35:42,934 --> 00:35:44,167 She goes, 686 00:35:44,167 --> 00:35:46,868 "I didn't want to think I heard someone being murdered, 687 00:35:47,033 --> 00:35:48,934 especially Katelyn." 688 00:35:51,367 --> 00:35:54,567 [Paula] Police believed it was the final piece of the puzzle. 689 00:35:56,267 --> 00:35:57,767 That was a revelation of like, 690 00:35:57,934 --> 00:35:59,501 "OK, now we -- now we've got him. 691 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:02,000 Now we've got him." 692 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,868 [Paula] District Attorney Mike Gmoser 693 00:36:05,033 --> 00:36:06,200 wasn't as certain. 694 00:36:06,367 --> 00:36:09,801 He still had to prove to the jury that John Carter 695 00:36:09,968 --> 00:36:13,501 was the only one with the motive and the opportunity 696 00:36:13,667 --> 00:36:15,501 to murder Katelyn. 697 00:36:15,667 --> 00:36:17,701 [Mike] Katelyn was getting cold feet. 698 00:36:17,868 --> 00:36:20,801 She wanted out, and she ended up dead. 699 00:36:20,968 --> 00:36:22,868 I think it was probably as simple as that. 700 00:36:24,767 --> 00:36:26,667 [suspenseful music playing] 701 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,300 [Paula] Prosecutors wanted to present evidence 702 00:36:30,467 --> 00:36:32,567 that, after killing Katelyn, 703 00:36:32,734 --> 00:36:35,601 Carter methodically planned his alibi. 704 00:36:35,767 --> 00:36:37,801 He visited a friend's house, 705 00:36:37,968 --> 00:36:39,367 destroyed her phone, 706 00:36:39,534 --> 00:36:41,901 went home to turn on his computer, 707 00:36:42,067 --> 00:36:45,367 and then made the 30-mile drive to Indiana 708 00:36:45,534 --> 00:36:47,400 to get rid of Katelyn's body. 709 00:36:48,701 --> 00:36:51,868 But no matter how convincing that story was, 710 00:36:52,033 --> 00:36:55,701 there were still huge hurdles to clear. 711 00:36:55,868 --> 00:36:57,968 There was no DNA evidence. 712 00:36:58,133 --> 00:36:59,767 There's nothing directly pointing to John, 713 00:36:59,934 --> 00:37:01,167 and John knew that. 714 00:37:03,267 --> 00:37:07,367 The defense always claims that circumstantial evidence 715 00:37:07,534 --> 00:37:10,067 is nothing more than a coincidence. 716 00:37:10,234 --> 00:37:12,067 But when all of the circumstances 717 00:37:12,234 --> 00:37:13,234 can be put together, 718 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:17,467 it can become a very powerful indictment, 719 00:37:17,634 --> 00:37:18,934 with respect to guilt. 720 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,467 [Paula] John Carter and his attorney were clearly worried 721 00:37:23,634 --> 00:37:25,901 about who the jury would believe. 722 00:37:26,901 --> 00:37:28,367 Just before the trial, 723 00:37:28,534 --> 00:37:31,801 they asked the district attorney for a meeting. 724 00:37:31,968 --> 00:37:35,801 Carter's attorney approached you with a deal. 725 00:37:35,968 --> 00:37:38,701 How did you weigh his offer? 726 00:37:38,868 --> 00:37:41,000 I wanted acceptance of responsibility 727 00:37:41,167 --> 00:37:42,200 and accountability. 728 00:37:42,367 --> 00:37:44,000 One way or another, 729 00:37:44,167 --> 00:37:48,467 John Carter needed to admit that he killed this girl, 730 00:37:48,634 --> 00:37:51,567 that the end of the relationship caused his anger, 731 00:37:51,734 --> 00:37:53,601 and bad things happened. 732 00:37:53,767 --> 00:37:55,167 He was responsible. 733 00:37:55,334 --> 00:37:57,868 It needed to have closure in that way. 734 00:38:00,167 --> 00:38:03,400 [Paula] District Attorney Gmoser got his confession. 735 00:38:03,567 --> 00:38:06,901 John Carter admitted he killed Katelyn. 736 00:38:08,701 --> 00:38:10,968 But the price was shocking. 737 00:38:12,501 --> 00:38:14,567 Carter would plead guilty 738 00:38:14,734 --> 00:38:17,167 to the charge of involuntary manslaughter 739 00:38:17,334 --> 00:38:21,601 and face a prison sentence of just three years. 740 00:38:23,701 --> 00:38:26,000 While the general public might say, 741 00:38:26,167 --> 00:38:29,501 "Well, only three years? How can that be justice?" 742 00:38:29,667 --> 00:38:34,367 Well, justice has to be decided on issues of what the truth is. 743 00:38:34,534 --> 00:38:36,167 And we didn't have the truth 744 00:38:36,334 --> 00:38:38,968 until he agreed to take the deal. 745 00:38:39,133 --> 00:38:40,601 Then, we had the truth. 746 00:38:44,968 --> 00:38:46,367 [Paula] For Dave Markham, 747 00:38:46,534 --> 00:38:51,167 the outcome brought a wave of mixed emotions. 748 00:38:51,334 --> 00:38:53,267 When Mike Gmoser approached you 749 00:38:53,434 --> 00:38:55,300 with the possibility of a plea deal, 750 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:56,767 were you on board? 751 00:38:56,934 --> 00:38:59,200 I was on board. I wasn't happy with it. 752 00:38:59,367 --> 00:39:03,000 But I did not want a hung jury or a mistrial. 753 00:39:03,167 --> 00:39:05,501 He could've walked and gotten absolutely nothing. 754 00:39:06,601 --> 00:39:09,167 So I'm happy that he's in prison right now. 755 00:39:10,868 --> 00:39:13,868 [Paula] Investigator Paul Newton was deeply disappointed 756 00:39:14,033 --> 00:39:16,567 the case wasn't going to trial. 757 00:39:16,734 --> 00:39:20,501 What was your reaction to John Carter pleading guilty 758 00:39:20,667 --> 00:39:22,701 to involuntary manslaughter? 759 00:39:22,868 --> 00:39:23,901 [Paul] No, I didn't like it at all. 760 00:39:24,067 --> 00:39:25,467 But we could've tried this case. 761 00:39:25,634 --> 00:39:27,100 We could've found him guilty. 762 00:39:27,267 --> 00:39:30,567 And John would've went the rest of his life saying, 763 00:39:30,734 --> 00:39:31,734 "I didn't kill Katelyn." 764 00:39:31,734 --> 00:39:33,567 With this involuntary manslaughter charge, 765 00:39:33,734 --> 00:39:36,367 John has to walk into a Butler County courtroom 766 00:39:36,534 --> 00:39:39,701 in front of God and everybody and say, "I killed Katelyn." 767 00:39:41,767 --> 00:39:45,000 [solemn music playing] 768 00:39:45,167 --> 00:39:47,467 [Paula] Paul Newton's tireless pursuit 769 00:39:47,634 --> 00:39:51,367 of Katelyn's killer has forged an unbreakable bond 770 00:39:51,534 --> 00:39:54,267 between him and Dave Markham. 771 00:39:55,767 --> 00:39:59,400 How much gratitude do you have for the team 772 00:39:59,567 --> 00:40:01,701 that finally solved this case? 773 00:40:01,868 --> 00:40:02,868 Very grateful. 774 00:40:03,033 --> 00:40:06,667 Paul Newton, he was a godsend. 775 00:40:06,834 --> 00:40:08,000 You know, without Paul, 776 00:40:08,167 --> 00:40:10,300 we wouldn't be sitting here today. 777 00:40:10,467 --> 00:40:13,868 He put his heart and soul into solving this. 778 00:40:15,701 --> 00:40:17,968 [Paula] Katelyn had an amazing future, 779 00:40:18,133 --> 00:40:19,801 and she had a lot of passion 780 00:40:19,968 --> 00:40:22,167 about the direction she was moving in. 781 00:40:23,300 --> 00:40:26,567 What do you think John Carter robbed her of? 782 00:40:26,734 --> 00:40:29,067 Life, happiness, joy. 783 00:40:29,234 --> 00:40:31,267 John Carter didn't just rob Katelyn. 784 00:40:31,434 --> 00:40:33,601 He robbed me of the joy of seeing Katelyn 785 00:40:33,767 --> 00:40:35,300 do great things with her art. 786 00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:39,167 [melancholic music playing] 787 00:40:39,334 --> 00:40:42,501 [David] He took away a lot from a lot of people. 788 00:40:42,667 --> 00:40:45,200 Katelyn would have touched so many lives. 789 00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:47,501 But, uh, that's it. 790 00:40:48,767 --> 00:40:49,901 Love you. 791 00:40:51,167 --> 00:40:53,667 Dave Markham hopes he can touch lives 792 00:40:53,834 --> 00:40:55,367 in Katelyn's memory. 793 00:40:55,534 --> 00:40:57,868 He's pursuing legislation in her name 794 00:40:58,033 --> 00:41:00,400 that would extend the statute of limitation 795 00:41:00,567 --> 00:41:03,567 on any crime committed during a homicide. 796 00:41:04,701 --> 00:41:06,067 I'm Paula Zahn. 797 00:41:06,234 --> 00:41:09,667 Please join us again next time when we're back on the case. 798 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,100 On the next On the Case... 799 00:41:13,267 --> 00:41:14,901 What happened that morning? 800 00:41:15,067 --> 00:41:18,067 DJ saw an unknown assailant that had a 801 00:41:18,234 --> 00:41:19,801 firearm pointed at Roger. 802 00:41:19,968 --> 00:41:22,868 It did feel like it was premeditated. 803 00:41:23,033 --> 00:41:26,067 My dad and mom were the target. 804 00:41:26,234 --> 00:41:28,968 He brought all the tools to commit a murder. 805 00:41:29,133 --> 00:41:30,300 [gun blast]