1 00:00:08,708 --> 00:00:10,843 [narrator] a hardworking single mother 2 00:00:10,911 --> 00:00:13,345 And her two children suddenly disappear. 3 00:00:14,948 --> 00:00:18,883 She'd got full responsibility for the kids and the house. 4 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,920 Something's possibly happened to all three. 5 00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:25,290 [narrator] but a horrific discovery 6 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:27,393 Will tear their family apart. 7 00:00:28,729 --> 00:00:30,262 There's a body on the floor, 8 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:32,231 There's massive amounts of blood. 9 00:00:33,534 --> 00:00:36,067 You can see that her throat's obviously been sliced. 10 00:00:36,403 --> 00:00:39,071 It was a little unnerving. I knew she was a good person. 11 00:00:40,241 --> 00:00:42,607 [narrator] as the investigation deepens, 12 00:00:42,676 --> 00:00:45,777 A disturbing conspiracy takes shape, 13 00:00:46,246 --> 00:00:49,180 Revealing an unexpected romance 14 00:00:49,716 --> 00:00:52,284 They believed they had been together in other lives. 15 00:00:52,352 --> 00:00:54,452 He liked to have sex with both girls 16 00:00:54,522 --> 00:00:56,688 And watch them have sex with each other. 17 00:01:06,233 --> 00:01:08,867 [brian] they got kinda wrapped off into the fantasy, 18 00:01:08,936 --> 00:01:10,702 And it became a reality. 19 00:01:11,238 --> 00:01:14,139 It was calculated. It was planned. 20 00:01:14,775 --> 00:01:15,874 [brian] and I'm thinking, 21 00:01:15,943 --> 00:01:17,209 "my lord, I can't believe this kid, 22 00:01:17,277 --> 00:01:20,479 As young as he is, is playing this part." 23 00:01:23,884 --> 00:01:29,220 [music] 24 00:01:29,290 --> 00:01:31,290 [muffled scream, gasp] 25 00:01:35,528 --> 00:01:38,263 [narrator] as part of the dallas/fort worth metroplex, 26 00:01:38,666 --> 00:01:41,300 Roanoke, texas offers the rare combination 27 00:01:41,368 --> 00:01:45,104 Of big city amenities and small-town charm. 28 00:01:45,806 --> 00:01:47,306 During the day, it's busy. 29 00:01:47,374 --> 00:01:49,675 But at night, it's a small town, usa. 30 00:01:50,611 --> 00:01:52,644 Everybody seems to know everybody. 31 00:01:53,114 --> 00:01:55,447 Roanoke is an excellent place to raise kids. 32 00:01:55,515 --> 00:01:57,216 Has great school districts. 33 00:01:57,284 --> 00:01:59,517 Roanoke has the usual petty theft 34 00:01:59,587 --> 00:02:01,686 And people speeding through town. 35 00:02:01,755 --> 00:02:05,090 That's the big catch that our police officers do. 36 00:02:05,158 --> 00:02:07,092 So, we don't have a lot going on. 37 00:02:09,529 --> 00:02:11,596 [narrator] but the usually quiet community 38 00:02:11,665 --> 00:02:14,966 Is shaken on September 26th, 2008, 39 00:02:15,035 --> 00:02:19,271 When 43-year-old susan bailey fails to show up for work 40 00:02:19,339 --> 00:02:20,873 At a local retail store. 41 00:02:21,742 --> 00:02:24,042 She was supposed to come and open the store. 42 00:02:24,845 --> 00:02:28,413 Her manager tried to call. Susan didn't answer her phone. 43 00:02:29,316 --> 00:02:31,616 The people that she works with are concerned 44 00:02:31,685 --> 00:02:35,020 Because that's not like her to not either call in 45 00:02:35,088 --> 00:02:37,256 Or let them know her whereabouts. 46 00:02:38,559 --> 00:02:41,860 The manager had susan's mother's name 47 00:02:41,928 --> 00:02:43,528 As an emergency contact. 48 00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:46,765 So, he called her in minnesota and said, 49 00:02:46,833 --> 00:02:48,567 "do you know what? Is your daughter sick today? 50 00:02:48,635 --> 00:02:50,402 What's going on? She's not at work." 51 00:02:51,404 --> 00:02:53,839 So, susan's mother began to call, 52 00:02:54,775 --> 00:02:56,175 And susan didn't answer. 53 00:02:58,278 --> 00:03:01,146 She had tried to call off and on all day long. 54 00:03:01,916 --> 00:03:04,149 Susan's mother finally became concerned enough 55 00:03:04,217 --> 00:03:06,451 That she called roanoke police and told them, 56 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,554 "my daughter's not answering her phone. 57 00:03:08,622 --> 00:03:11,456 Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong." 58 00:03:12,192 --> 00:03:13,792 [narrator] her mother tells police that 59 00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:15,627 Susan has two children: 60 00:03:15,696 --> 00:03:19,564 17-year-old jennifer and 13-year-old david. 61 00:03:19,632 --> 00:03:22,534 And she can't get ahold of either one of them. 62 00:03:23,203 --> 00:03:24,836 [donna] she had tried to call jennifer, 63 00:03:24,838 --> 00:03:26,638 And jennifer never answered the phone. 64 00:03:27,074 --> 00:03:30,075 She tried to call david. He never answered the phone. 65 00:03:30,143 --> 00:03:31,710 That really worried her. 66 00:03:34,114 --> 00:03:35,079 [tracy] roanoke police department 67 00:03:35,081 --> 00:03:36,881 Go do a welfare check that evening, 68 00:03:36,950 --> 00:03:38,216 Around 6:30 or so. 69 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:39,851 When they get to the house at that time, 70 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,154 There's really nothing that looks out of the ordinary. 71 00:03:43,690 --> 00:03:47,458 Car's not there. Nobody answers the door. 72 00:03:47,794 --> 00:03:50,361 There's nothing to indicate forced entry, 73 00:03:50,363 --> 00:03:51,596 There's no broken glass. 74 00:03:52,399 --> 00:03:54,633 [brian] the house is locked and the car is gone. 75 00:03:55,368 --> 00:03:57,135 The porch lights were on. 76 00:03:57,671 --> 00:04:00,338 A lot of people, when they leave for the weekend or the night, 77 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:01,806 They'll leave their porch light on. 78 00:04:01,875 --> 00:04:04,709 And it just looked like they had left 79 00:04:04,778 --> 00:04:07,445 And left the lights on on the outside 80 00:04:07,514 --> 00:04:08,914 To try to make it safe. 81 00:04:10,116 --> 00:04:11,516 I knew susan, 82 00:04:11,585 --> 00:04:13,518 And I could see her loading the kids up in the car 83 00:04:13,587 --> 00:04:15,620 And going, "I'm gonna take you away for a while, 84 00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:17,522 A short trip for the weekend." 85 00:04:17,590 --> 00:04:20,158 That wouldn't be unusual for susan. 86 00:04:23,930 --> 00:04:26,464 Susan bailey, you couldn't help but like her. 87 00:04:26,533 --> 00:04:28,400 I'd met her throughout town, you know, 88 00:04:28,468 --> 00:04:30,001 Interactions with her. 89 00:04:30,070 --> 00:04:31,903 She just had a great personality, 90 00:04:31,905 --> 00:04:32,871 She was real. 91 00:04:32,939 --> 00:04:34,339 There was no put-on about her. 92 00:04:34,407 --> 00:04:36,908 She was as genuine as the day is long. 93 00:04:37,477 --> 00:04:38,877 [narrator] originally from minnesota, 94 00:04:38,945 --> 00:04:43,749 Susan had moved to california to pursue a career in fashion. 95 00:04:44,618 --> 00:04:47,419 [donna] she had got a job in jay jacobs stores. 96 00:04:47,487 --> 00:04:49,421 At the time, it was a pretty big chain. 97 00:04:49,990 --> 00:04:52,791 Susan really enjoyed the work and she was very good at it, 98 00:04:53,526 --> 00:04:57,329 And she was pretty quickly promoted to be a store manager. 99 00:04:58,565 --> 00:05:02,501 About that time, she met a man who was in the military, 100 00:05:02,503 --> 00:05:03,602 He was in the air force, 101 00:05:03,670 --> 00:05:05,837 And fell in love with him. 102 00:05:05,905 --> 00:05:07,306 And they got married. 103 00:05:08,308 --> 00:05:09,908 Susan wanted to have children. 104 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:11,610 And in 1990, 105 00:05:11,678 --> 00:05:13,912 She had a little girl she named jennifer. 106 00:05:14,514 --> 00:05:16,848 And four years later, in 1994, 107 00:05:16,917 --> 00:05:19,384 She had a little boy that she named david. 108 00:05:21,121 --> 00:05:22,454 [narrator] six years later, 109 00:05:22,522 --> 00:05:25,190 Susan's husband retired from the air force. 110 00:05:25,426 --> 00:05:28,493 By then, susan's career had taken off. 111 00:05:28,562 --> 00:05:31,163 [donna] susan did so well as a store manager 112 00:05:31,231 --> 00:05:35,700 That she got the opportunity for a really good job in texas. 113 00:05:35,702 --> 00:05:39,537 She was promoted to the position of being a supervisor 114 00:05:39,606 --> 00:05:42,674 Over the chain of stores in three states. 115 00:05:45,278 --> 00:05:47,979 [narrator] after finding an up-and-coming neighborhood 116 00:05:48,048 --> 00:05:49,180 In roanoke, 117 00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:50,549 The baileys broke ground on 118 00:05:50,617 --> 00:05:53,785 Their 3,500 square foot dream home. 119 00:05:54,688 --> 00:05:58,122 Susan and her husband were one of the first houses 120 00:05:58,192 --> 00:05:59,357 In the neighborhood. 121 00:05:59,425 --> 00:06:00,392 Very nice woman. 122 00:06:01,528 --> 00:06:04,029 She was working a lot, so she was always going. 123 00:06:04,965 --> 00:06:06,698 [donna] susan was traveling all over 124 00:06:06,766 --> 00:06:09,133 Texas and oklahoma and louisiana, 125 00:06:09,203 --> 00:06:10,769 And she was gone from home a lot. 126 00:06:11,472 --> 00:06:12,871 But she made good money. 127 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,208 And it was fairly convenient for her husband 128 00:06:17,210 --> 00:06:18,709 To stay at home with the kids. 129 00:06:19,512 --> 00:06:21,746 [michelle] susan's husband did not work consistently, 130 00:06:22,483 --> 00:06:26,785 So she pulled most of the weight and paid for most of the bills. 131 00:06:29,155 --> 00:06:31,256 [narrator] then, in 2005, 132 00:06:31,324 --> 00:06:33,658 The couple's financial footing fell. 133 00:06:35,929 --> 00:06:39,498 The job that she moved to texas for went away. 134 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,401 The chain went bankrupt, closed all its stores. 135 00:06:43,470 --> 00:06:46,371 All of a sudden, susan didn't have a job, 136 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:48,540 And neither did her husband. 137 00:06:48,608 --> 00:06:50,541 And they were living in this huge, big house 138 00:06:50,877 --> 00:06:52,377 With this huge, big house payment. 139 00:06:53,113 --> 00:06:55,547 [narrator] fearing her family would lose their home, 140 00:06:55,615 --> 00:06:57,648 Susan rolled up her sleeves. 141 00:06:57,984 --> 00:07:00,618 [donna] she found another job with a texas chain 142 00:07:00,687 --> 00:07:02,487 And went to work there as a clerk, 143 00:07:02,556 --> 00:07:03,955 But that didn't pay the bills. 144 00:07:04,624 --> 00:07:07,826 So, she found a second job in another retail store. 145 00:07:08,695 --> 00:07:12,764 She took in sewing, and she sold mary kay cosmetics. 146 00:07:14,467 --> 00:07:17,269 As time went on, susan and her husband grew 147 00:07:17,337 --> 00:07:18,837 Farther and farther apart. 148 00:07:19,706 --> 00:07:20,972 She was working all the time, 149 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,108 And she resented the fact that he wasn't. 150 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:28,313 [narrator] after two decades of marriage, 151 00:07:28,381 --> 00:07:30,682 Susan and her husband divorced. 152 00:07:31,718 --> 00:07:34,552 She'd got full responsibility for the kids 153 00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:37,255 And the house and both cars. 154 00:07:38,325 --> 00:07:41,793 Right after the divorce, susan's husband moved to iowa. 155 00:07:42,663 --> 00:07:44,795 [michelle] because susan was working so much, 156 00:07:45,298 --> 00:07:47,665 Jennifer was, was basically raising david. 157 00:07:47,734 --> 00:07:49,301 So, they were tied at the hip. 158 00:07:50,036 --> 00:07:52,070 Because, obviously, they were at home, 159 00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:53,371 And susan was at work. 160 00:07:56,443 --> 00:07:58,977 [narrator] susan realized this wasn't fair 161 00:07:59,045 --> 00:08:00,579 To her teenage daughter, 162 00:08:00,581 --> 00:08:02,146 And began making an effort 163 00:08:02,215 --> 00:08:05,383 To be more present in jennifer and david's lives. 164 00:08:05,986 --> 00:08:07,552 [donna] they all loved to read, 165 00:08:07,621 --> 00:08:09,287 So they spent a lot of time in the bookstores. 166 00:08:09,790 --> 00:08:10,889 They went to movies, 167 00:08:10,957 --> 00:08:12,757 They loved the harry potter books; 168 00:08:13,193 --> 00:08:15,927 They went together and watched the harry potter movies. 169 00:08:16,863 --> 00:08:18,062 [michelle] whenever she had extra time, 170 00:08:18,131 --> 00:08:20,098 She did stuff and spent time with them. 171 00:08:21,501 --> 00:08:23,067 [narrator] in June 2008, 172 00:08:23,136 --> 00:08:26,438 Susan looked on with pride as her daughter graduated 173 00:08:26,506 --> 00:08:28,240 From northwest high school. 174 00:08:28,975 --> 00:08:31,142 [michelle] after jennifer graduated, 175 00:08:31,211 --> 00:08:34,311 Susan told me she was going to be going to art school, 176 00:08:34,313 --> 00:08:36,081 And she was excited. 177 00:08:36,783 --> 00:08:38,350 It's kind of expensive. 178 00:08:38,418 --> 00:08:39,818 Jennifer wanted to go. 179 00:08:39,886 --> 00:08:42,387 So, she was gonna make it happen for her daughter. 180 00:08:42,455 --> 00:08:44,623 And so, she worked more hours. 181 00:08:46,493 --> 00:08:49,493 [narrator] but on September 26th, 2008, 182 00:08:49,495 --> 00:08:53,732 Susan's mother has reported susan and her children missing. 183 00:08:54,734 --> 00:08:57,802 More than 1,000 miles away in minnesota, 184 00:08:57,804 --> 00:09:00,672 All susan's mother can do is anxiously wait 185 00:09:00,740 --> 00:09:03,341 For updates from police in texas. 186 00:09:03,409 --> 00:09:06,077 Susan's mother didn't sleep very much that night, 187 00:09:06,146 --> 00:09:07,445 And the next morning, 188 00:09:07,514 --> 00:09:08,846 She got up and tried to call susan again. 189 00:09:09,315 --> 00:09:12,517 Still no answer. Still no answer from the kids. 190 00:09:12,585 --> 00:09:15,620 Susan's mother was absolutely panic-stricken. 191 00:09:18,191 --> 00:09:21,960 [tracy] roanoke police go back and do another welfare check. 192 00:09:22,829 --> 00:09:23,894 And it's kinda the same thing, 193 00:09:23,964 --> 00:09:26,898 There's nothing that would indicate there's anything wrong, 194 00:09:26,966 --> 00:09:29,100 Except that, you know, the car's gone. 195 00:09:30,203 --> 00:09:32,770 [jamie] there's no reason for them to enter the residence, 196 00:09:32,839 --> 00:09:34,639 The privacy of someone's home. 197 00:09:35,141 --> 00:09:36,074 She's an adult, 198 00:09:36,142 --> 00:09:39,810 And nothing looks suspicious or out of place 199 00:09:39,812 --> 00:09:41,179 Or out of the ordinary. 200 00:09:41,782 --> 00:09:44,716 Susan bailey's mom, in looking not only for susan, 201 00:09:44,784 --> 00:09:46,618 She's also looking for her grandchildren. 202 00:09:46,987 --> 00:09:49,053 And at this point, in her mind, 203 00:09:49,122 --> 00:09:51,623 Something's possibly happened to all three. 204 00:09:55,195 --> 00:09:57,529 [narrator] less than 12 hours later, 205 00:09:57,597 --> 00:10:01,065 A police officer 700 miles north of roanoke 206 00:10:01,067 --> 00:10:04,368 Spots something out of the ordinary. 207 00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:05,903 [tracy] it was September 28th, 208 00:10:05,905 --> 00:10:08,573 3:30 in the morning in yankton, south dakota. 209 00:10:08,575 --> 00:10:10,175 He's out working night shift. 210 00:10:10,243 --> 00:10:12,810 And he sees this vehicle with, with texas plates 211 00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:16,013 At, at a gas station that is obviously closed. 212 00:10:16,483 --> 00:10:18,550 [donna] there's a car at the pumps. 213 00:10:19,252 --> 00:10:20,452 And he can see some, 214 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,755 It looks like kids out messing with the pumps. 215 00:10:26,092 --> 00:10:28,560 So, he decided he better check this out. 216 00:10:31,364 --> 00:10:34,632 [jamie] texas license plate, 3:30 in the morning, 217 00:10:34,701 --> 00:10:38,169 Kids in a car, and there's no adult around. 218 00:10:38,805 --> 00:10:40,405 [brian] he knew something was wrong. 219 00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:43,341 So, he ran the plates, 220 00:10:43,409 --> 00:10:45,543 It came back to, to susan bailey. 221 00:10:47,013 --> 00:10:49,080 [donna] the officer goes over to the driver's side. 222 00:10:49,148 --> 00:10:51,616 There's a teenage boy driving the car. 223 00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:54,719 [narrator] the teen identifies himself 224 00:10:54,787 --> 00:10:57,421 As 16-year-old paul henson. 225 00:10:58,024 --> 00:11:00,491 The other passengers are his girlfriend, 226 00:11:00,493 --> 00:11:02,793 17-year-old jennifer bailey, 227 00:11:02,863 --> 00:11:05,964 And her brother, 13-year-old david bailey. 228 00:11:06,633 --> 00:11:11,569 But 43-year-old susan bailey is nowhere in sight. 229 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:16,374 This raises quite a few red flags for him. 230 00:11:16,809 --> 00:11:18,209 Where is she? 231 00:11:18,611 --> 00:11:20,512 [brian] there were three teenagers in the car 232 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:22,447 Up there in the middle of the night. 233 00:11:22,949 --> 00:11:25,083 [jamie] it does seem out of the ordinary 234 00:11:25,151 --> 00:11:27,752 That they're so far away from texas, 235 00:11:28,154 --> 00:11:31,722 And susan bailey is nowhere to be found. 236 00:11:32,258 --> 00:11:34,693 The officer knew something was wrong. 237 00:11:38,364 --> 00:11:39,631 [narrator] coming up. 238 00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:42,466 Evidence points to a sinister crime. 239 00:11:43,002 --> 00:11:45,236 [tracy] on this receipt was a shopping list of things 240 00:11:45,305 --> 00:11:47,138 You would need to clean up a crime scene. 241 00:11:47,541 --> 00:11:49,674 There was the suspicion that maybe this pudding 242 00:11:49,742 --> 00:11:52,276 Was used to try and poison her. 243 00:11:52,345 --> 00:11:54,578 [narrator] and the investigation reveals 244 00:11:54,580 --> 00:11:56,848 A couple fueled by rage. 245 00:11:57,383 --> 00:12:00,985 He became a little more violent, a little more aggressive. 246 00:12:01,921 --> 00:12:04,088 She transformed in front of my eyes. 247 00:12:04,157 --> 00:12:05,957 I had never seen anything like it. 248 00:12:06,025 --> 00:12:09,928 When she looked up at me, and it was evil. 249 00:12:12,665 --> 00:12:15,633 [music] 250 00:12:21,207 --> 00:12:24,008 [narrator] a police officer in yankton, south dakota 251 00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:26,277 Has just pulled over three teenagers 252 00:12:26,346 --> 00:12:28,446 In susan bailey's car, 253 00:12:28,514 --> 00:12:31,682 More than 700 miles away from her home. 254 00:12:32,352 --> 00:12:34,685 The officer first questions the driver, 255 00:12:34,687 --> 00:12:36,855 16-year-old paul henson. 256 00:12:41,027 --> 00:12:43,194 [donna] he said, "well, I just got a learner's permit." 257 00:12:43,263 --> 00:12:45,029 And he said, "well, anybody else in the car 258 00:12:45,097 --> 00:12:46,130 Got a driver's license?" 259 00:12:46,199 --> 00:12:46,965 "well, no." 260 00:12:48,234 --> 00:12:50,301 He said, "come over here to talk to me a little bit." 261 00:13:02,215 --> 00:13:04,849 [narrator] unaware that susan and her two children 262 00:13:04,918 --> 00:13:06,518 Are missing in texas, 263 00:13:06,586 --> 00:13:10,154 The officer's priority is finding out why the teens 264 00:13:10,156 --> 00:13:12,390 Are driving around in the middle of the night 265 00:13:12,458 --> 00:13:13,725 Without a license. 266 00:13:14,995 --> 00:13:16,794 [donna] then he said to jennifer, 267 00:13:16,863 --> 00:13:18,429 "you come get in the car with me, 268 00:13:18,431 --> 00:13:20,064 I wanna talk to you a little bit." 269 00:13:22,435 --> 00:13:27,772 And so, he said, "well, this car comes back to susan bailey. 270 00:13:27,774 --> 00:13:29,006 Who is that?" 271 00:13:29,075 --> 00:13:30,375 She said, "well, that's mom." 272 00:13:42,355 --> 00:13:45,189 She said that they were going to minnesota 273 00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:46,490 To visit her grandmother. 274 00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:48,359 [tracy] as he's talking to jennifer, 275 00:13:48,428 --> 00:13:50,628 She indicates she's worried about her mother. 276 00:13:54,867 --> 00:13:57,568 [jamie] jennifer tells the officer there in south dakota 277 00:13:57,637 --> 00:14:00,705 That susan has a boyfriend by the name of joseph, 278 00:14:00,773 --> 00:14:02,874 And joseph is violent. 279 00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,711 [brian] jennifer made the comment that her mother 280 00:14:06,779 --> 00:14:09,313 Was being stalked by her boyfriend, 281 00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:12,082 And they just wanted to go visit the grandmother 282 00:14:12,084 --> 00:14:14,118 And just get away from all the drama there. 283 00:14:15,721 --> 00:14:18,556 [jamie] he has her attempt to call susan, her mom, 284 00:14:19,025 --> 00:14:21,526 And she's not having any success. 285 00:14:24,130 --> 00:14:27,298 Jennifer said that she was afraid that joseph 286 00:14:27,367 --> 00:14:29,167 Might've done something to her mom. 287 00:14:30,636 --> 00:14:33,137 [jamie] so, now the officer's not only concerned about 288 00:14:33,139 --> 00:14:35,339 The three individuals he has in front of him, 289 00:14:35,341 --> 00:14:38,810 But he's also now concerned about the safety and welfare 290 00:14:38,878 --> 00:14:41,379 Of the parent, the mom, of jennifer. 291 00:14:42,849 --> 00:14:44,482 [donna] he decided the thing for him to do 292 00:14:44,484 --> 00:14:46,884 Would be to take the kids back to the police department. 293 00:14:47,487 --> 00:14:49,654 [tracy] they're in violation of curfew laws there 294 00:14:49,722 --> 00:14:51,322 In city of yankton. 295 00:14:51,391 --> 00:14:54,692 So, he has cause to take them down to the police station 296 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,027 And, and hold them. 297 00:14:56,929 --> 00:14:58,229 And he does that. 298 00:15:02,502 --> 00:15:05,737 [narrator] with the three teens safely down at the station, 299 00:15:05,805 --> 00:15:08,572 The officer reaches out to roanoke police. 300 00:15:09,375 --> 00:15:11,108 [donna] he called roanoke police and said, 301 00:15:11,177 --> 00:15:13,110 "listen I've got three kids here from roanoke, 302 00:15:13,179 --> 00:15:15,012 They're in their mother's car. 303 00:15:15,014 --> 00:15:17,849 She's not around, she's not answering her phone. 304 00:15:17,917 --> 00:15:19,984 What do y'all want me to do with these kids?" 305 00:15:21,054 --> 00:15:23,855 Well, the roanoke police officer who had answered the phone 306 00:15:23,923 --> 00:15:25,690 Actually had been one of the officers 307 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:26,891 Who had been to the house. 308 00:15:27,493 --> 00:15:28,760 [jamie] and they're like, "wait a minute, 309 00:15:28,828 --> 00:15:30,461 That's the same name of the person 310 00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:32,297 That we've been doing a welfare check on." 311 00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:36,000 [brian] they told me that the bailey kids 312 00:15:36,069 --> 00:15:37,468 Were in south dakota. 313 00:15:37,537 --> 00:15:39,470 I told them, I said, "something bad happened. 314 00:15:39,539 --> 00:15:43,274 There's no way susan would let those kids go off on their own." 315 00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:45,008 [tracy] so, it sparks an alarm 316 00:15:45,010 --> 00:15:47,645 That something may be very wrong inside that house. 317 00:15:49,115 --> 00:15:50,782 [donna] and he said, "I'll tell you what. 318 00:15:51,284 --> 00:15:53,885 We're gonna go check that house more carefully. 319 00:15:54,487 --> 00:15:55,887 Just keep 'em there, 320 00:15:55,955 --> 00:15:57,989 And I'll call you back and let you know." 321 00:16:01,727 --> 00:16:04,429 [tracy] they immediately go back to the residence. 322 00:16:05,865 --> 00:16:09,934 You know, this time, they have to go in to see if susan's okay. 323 00:16:11,037 --> 00:16:12,970 [jamie] they find a window that's unlocked, 324 00:16:13,039 --> 00:16:14,939 So they're able to get into the house. 325 00:16:16,308 --> 00:16:19,176 As soon as he got in the house, he could smell something, 326 00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:20,912 And he knew what it smelt like. 327 00:16:23,783 --> 00:16:24,748 [tracy] these officers, you know, 328 00:16:24,818 --> 00:16:27,085 They smell that unmistakable smell of death. 329 00:16:29,088 --> 00:16:31,054 They clear the bottom floor first. 330 00:16:31,691 --> 00:16:34,324 [jamie] they make their way up the stairs. 331 00:16:34,394 --> 00:16:36,527 They see that there's a body on the floor... 332 00:16:38,531 --> 00:16:41,466 And there's massive amounts of blood. 333 00:16:44,336 --> 00:16:45,703 It was a slaughterhouse. 334 00:16:47,740 --> 00:16:51,042 [donna] she still had a tag that said "susan" on it. 335 00:16:52,144 --> 00:16:53,677 So, he knew that was... 336 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,280 That was the woman they were looking for. 337 00:16:58,050 --> 00:16:59,784 [tracy] it's susan laying face down. 338 00:17:00,620 --> 00:17:03,087 She's been there a couple of days, at least. 339 00:17:04,224 --> 00:17:05,889 There's blood everywhere. 340 00:17:05,891 --> 00:17:08,225 There's blood on the walls. There's blood on the door. 341 00:17:08,294 --> 00:17:11,329 It's soaked into the carpet. It's horrific. 342 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:14,898 [brian] it was unnerving. 343 00:17:15,301 --> 00:17:16,433 I knew she was a good person, 344 00:17:16,503 --> 00:17:18,236 And when I first laid eyes on her, 345 00:17:18,304 --> 00:17:21,105 I felt really sorry for what she had had to go through 346 00:17:21,174 --> 00:17:22,606 And what she endured. 347 00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:26,277 I remember, I thought, "this is gonna be a big case." 348 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,348 The texas ranger that was assigned to this area 349 00:17:30,416 --> 00:17:32,683 Was texas ranger tracy murphree. 350 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:34,552 He was very well known. 351 00:17:34,620 --> 00:17:37,521 He had worked some very high-profile homicides. 352 00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:40,091 [tracy] it was the first homicide in the city's history. 353 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,161 It was the first homicide brian was gonna be working. 354 00:17:43,163 --> 00:17:44,595 And so, they give me a call. 355 00:17:45,464 --> 00:17:47,565 When I walked up the stairs and turned the corner 356 00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:48,533 And saw susan... 357 00:17:51,170 --> 00:17:52,970 You can see obvious stab wounds. 358 00:17:53,038 --> 00:17:55,906 You can see that her throat's obviously been sliced. 359 00:17:56,509 --> 00:17:59,743 [brian] there was a bat that was laying on a bed 360 00:17:59,812 --> 00:18:04,015 Just approximately five foot, six foot from susan's body. 361 00:18:04,316 --> 00:18:06,617 It looked like there some blunt force trauma. 362 00:18:06,619 --> 00:18:09,053 So, I believe the bat was involved. 363 00:18:10,056 --> 00:18:12,756 [tracy] it was very violent death. 364 00:18:13,092 --> 00:18:16,060 And I could tell that there was a struggle. 365 00:18:16,128 --> 00:18:18,962 I could tell that, that she put up a little bit of a fight. 366 00:18:19,399 --> 00:18:21,432 [narrator] as they widen their search, 367 00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:24,569 New discoveries about the scene are equally chilling. 368 00:18:25,571 --> 00:18:28,172 [jamie] they go into one of the upstairs bathrooms 369 00:18:28,241 --> 00:18:30,942 And immediately see that the bathtub 370 00:18:31,010 --> 00:18:33,810 Has standing water in it. 371 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:35,979 There's a knife in the bathtub. 372 00:18:36,582 --> 00:18:40,584 [jamie] there's three cellphones in the tub, in the water. 373 00:18:40,986 --> 00:18:43,754 There is a smell, a chemical-type, 374 00:18:43,823 --> 00:18:45,323 A bleach-type smell, 375 00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:49,060 And there's a frayed electrical cord 376 00:18:49,128 --> 00:18:52,196 Hanging from the shower curtain area. 377 00:18:52,265 --> 00:18:54,798 It's not in the water, but it's dangling there. 378 00:18:55,535 --> 00:18:58,269 [tracy] it had been cut and the ends had been frayed. 379 00:18:58,738 --> 00:19:00,804 And the immediate thing that came to my mind was 380 00:19:00,873 --> 00:19:03,607 Someone was planning on trying to electrocute someone 381 00:19:03,676 --> 00:19:04,642 In the bathtub. 382 00:19:07,647 --> 00:19:09,613 [jamie] as the police and the ranger 383 00:19:09,682 --> 00:19:12,483 Are processing all the items from the crime scene, 384 00:19:12,551 --> 00:19:15,286 They come upon a walmart receipt. 385 00:19:15,955 --> 00:19:17,421 [tracy] it's dated during the time 386 00:19:17,423 --> 00:19:19,490 That susan hadn't been heard from, 387 00:19:19,558 --> 00:19:21,325 And on this receipt is, you know, 388 00:19:21,394 --> 00:19:22,626 There's cleaning supplies. 389 00:19:23,229 --> 00:19:25,329 And of course, you know, we had the smell of bleach 390 00:19:25,397 --> 00:19:26,864 In the bathtub, 391 00:19:26,932 --> 00:19:29,466 So we're assuming that this was a shopping list of things 392 00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:31,402 You would need to clean up a crime scene. 393 00:19:32,338 --> 00:19:34,538 It shows at least some premeditation 394 00:19:34,607 --> 00:19:37,675 And some forethought to try to cover up their tracks. 395 00:19:38,878 --> 00:19:41,178 [jamie] another thing that they took notice of was 396 00:19:41,247 --> 00:19:43,614 Some pudding that was left out in the kitchen. 397 00:19:44,784 --> 00:19:48,819 The pudding had a, a weird color, consistency... 398 00:19:50,522 --> 00:19:51,889 It drew it their attention. 399 00:19:51,957 --> 00:19:54,425 There was the suspicion that maybe this pudding 400 00:19:54,493 --> 00:19:57,228 Was used to try and poison susan. 401 00:19:58,731 --> 00:20:01,899 And so, they sent that off to a crime lab to be tested. 402 00:20:03,269 --> 00:20:04,535 [narrator] based on the evidence, 403 00:20:04,604 --> 00:20:09,340 Investigators believe susan was killed by someone she knew. 404 00:20:10,476 --> 00:20:14,278 They've got a hardworking, law-abiding mom 405 00:20:14,346 --> 00:20:17,514 Who has been brutally murdered in her own home. 406 00:20:17,917 --> 00:20:21,152 And they've got three kids up in south dakota. 407 00:20:21,620 --> 00:20:23,887 Two of 'em are susan bailey's children. 408 00:20:24,824 --> 00:20:27,058 [narrator] at the time of the teens' detainment, 409 00:20:27,126 --> 00:20:28,759 Susan's daughter, jennifer, 410 00:20:28,828 --> 00:20:31,162 Had reported that her mother was dating 411 00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:33,964 A violent man named joseph. 412 00:20:34,767 --> 00:20:37,168 [tracy] jennifer had told the officer that joseph wasn't 413 00:20:37,236 --> 00:20:38,769 A very good boyfriend. 414 00:20:38,838 --> 00:20:41,605 And that she was afraid that joseph might've 415 00:20:41,674 --> 00:20:43,073 Done something to her mom. 416 00:20:43,543 --> 00:20:46,344 We have to follow up on this joseph guy. 417 00:20:47,013 --> 00:20:48,913 [music] 418 00:20:55,588 --> 00:20:57,354 [narrator] police in roanoke, texas 419 00:20:57,423 --> 00:21:00,824 Investigating the stabbing deat of susan bailey 420 00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:04,195 Are searching for susan's alleged boyfriend, joseph, 421 00:21:04,263 --> 00:21:06,630 After her teenage daughter jennifer 422 00:21:06,699 --> 00:21:08,265 Claimed that he was violent. 423 00:21:09,102 --> 00:21:12,069 It was the first time that I ever heard that story at all. 424 00:21:12,137 --> 00:21:14,938 None of that had ever come up when I saw 'em in public 425 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:16,540 Or was around susan. 426 00:21:19,311 --> 00:21:20,711 [tracy] talking to susan's mom, 427 00:21:20,780 --> 00:21:24,181 We were never able to identify anyone named joseph. 428 00:21:24,250 --> 00:21:25,482 Susan didn't have a boyfriend. 429 00:21:25,551 --> 00:21:27,284 She didn't have time to date anybody. 430 00:21:27,353 --> 00:21:28,619 She was working all the time. 431 00:21:29,955 --> 00:21:31,622 [narrator] detectives have a different theory, 432 00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:34,959 But it involves jennifer's boyfriend, paul henson. 433 00:21:38,630 --> 00:21:40,865 [tracy] on September 23rd, prior to the murder, 434 00:21:40,933 --> 00:21:43,967 Paul had been reported missing by his parents, a runaway. 435 00:21:44,036 --> 00:21:47,838 Possibility that he had a gun with him at the time. 436 00:21:47,907 --> 00:21:50,440 And so, the parents were worried. 437 00:21:50,442 --> 00:21:52,642 Paul's father had given the police 438 00:21:52,712 --> 00:21:55,212 The name of his girlfriend at the time, jennifer bailey, 439 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:56,580 And that, you know, 440 00:21:56,649 --> 00:21:58,015 There was a good chance paul might be located there. 441 00:21:58,083 --> 00:22:00,251 Or at least jennifer would have some knowledge 442 00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:01,419 Of paul's whereabouts. 443 00:22:02,822 --> 00:22:04,689 So, roanoke pd immediately went to the bailey residence. 444 00:22:05,524 --> 00:22:06,523 [tracy] susan talked to the police 445 00:22:06,592 --> 00:22:09,260 And assured them that paul wasn't at the house, 446 00:22:09,328 --> 00:22:10,628 That he wasn't staying there. 447 00:22:11,697 --> 00:22:13,731 They talk to jennifer, the same thing. 448 00:22:23,743 --> 00:22:25,642 [narrator] susan had told officers 449 00:22:25,711 --> 00:22:27,978 That she initially supported her daughter's relationship. 450 00:22:28,614 --> 00:22:30,313 Until recently... 451 00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:34,584 Susan was very concerned about how invested 452 00:22:34,654 --> 00:22:36,620 Jennifer seemed to be in paul. 453 00:22:38,624 --> 00:22:41,024 [donna] jennifer and paul met in spanish class. 454 00:22:41,627 --> 00:22:44,095 Jennifer read a lot of fantasy books. 455 00:22:44,730 --> 00:22:46,130 They had a lot in common, 456 00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:48,099 Because he liked fantasy, as well. 457 00:22:49,301 --> 00:22:51,334 [harley] jennifer and paul were holding hands, 458 00:22:51,336 --> 00:22:52,737 Kissing in the hallways. 459 00:22:54,139 --> 00:22:56,106 It was definitely a weird romance. 460 00:22:56,309 --> 00:22:57,775 She'd sit in his lap, 461 00:22:57,843 --> 00:23:00,578 And he'd just possessively put his arms around her. 462 00:23:01,447 --> 00:23:03,280 Jennifer was well-to-do. 463 00:23:03,682 --> 00:23:05,816 Very well kept. 464 00:23:05,885 --> 00:23:08,586 Blonde, really pretty blue eyes. 465 00:23:09,521 --> 00:23:14,024 And then paul: Tall, dark and always dirty. 466 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,527 [brian] they did not look like they went together at all. 467 00:23:17,597 --> 00:23:19,830 She kinda looked like the girl next door type. 468 00:23:19,899 --> 00:23:22,900 And he, just his looks and everything else, 469 00:23:22,968 --> 00:23:25,002 It, it looked mismatched to me. 470 00:23:25,871 --> 00:23:29,272 [donna] at the end of jennifer's senior year at school, 471 00:23:29,708 --> 00:23:33,243 There was a senior prom and she wanted to go. 472 00:23:33,846 --> 00:23:35,546 She invited paul to go with her. 473 00:23:35,948 --> 00:23:38,015 Susan was a wonderful seamstress, 474 00:23:38,083 --> 00:23:41,852 And she made a beautiful dress for jennifer to wear. 475 00:23:41,921 --> 00:23:44,287 So, they went to the senior prom together. 476 00:23:44,357 --> 00:23:45,756 Paul dressed up, 477 00:23:45,824 --> 00:23:47,724 And they had their picture made together. 478 00:23:48,294 --> 00:23:51,362 [tracy] susan's thoughts about paul was, she didn't like paul. 479 00:23:52,164 --> 00:23:53,364 Paul's a strange kid, 480 00:23:53,432 --> 00:23:55,465 And susan didn't want him around. 481 00:23:55,535 --> 00:23:57,835 She didn't want jennifer seeing paul. 482 00:24:00,773 --> 00:24:04,107 [narrator] when asked about paul's whereabouts on the 23rd, 483 00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:08,045 Susan had said she had no idea where he could be. 484 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,413 [tracy] susan said, well, she hasn't seen him, 485 00:24:10,415 --> 00:24:11,515 He's not allowed there. 486 00:24:11,583 --> 00:24:12,883 But the police ask, 487 00:24:12,952 --> 00:24:15,719 "hey, can we, can we go look? Can we see?" 488 00:24:20,726 --> 00:24:23,227 Susan led 'em in the house to come look for him, 489 00:24:23,295 --> 00:24:26,430 To see if he might been inside the residence. 490 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:30,935 It was in jennifer's bedroom they found some bags. 491 00:24:56,395 --> 00:24:58,528 [tracy] it was obvious that he had been there, 492 00:24:58,598 --> 00:25:00,731 Probably been staying there for quite a while. 493 00:25:01,366 --> 00:25:02,632 And susan was irate. 494 00:25:02,634 --> 00:25:04,635 She was very upset with jennifer. 495 00:25:17,783 --> 00:25:20,250 They searched the house, trying to find paul. 496 00:25:20,319 --> 00:25:21,886 They never located him. 497 00:25:24,890 --> 00:25:26,857 [narrator] given his familiarity with her, 498 00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:30,060 When susan turned up missing only three days later, 499 00:25:30,129 --> 00:25:32,630 Officers had approached detective peterson. 500 00:25:33,832 --> 00:25:35,366 [brian] they knew that I knew susan. 501 00:25:35,934 --> 00:25:38,501 At that time, I thought she was trying to probably 502 00:25:38,503 --> 00:25:40,403 Get jennifer away from paul. 503 00:25:40,473 --> 00:25:42,273 To take 'em someplace for the weekend 504 00:25:42,341 --> 00:25:44,174 Just to let things die down. 505 00:25:45,378 --> 00:25:49,279 [narrator] investigators suspect paul henson had become enraged 506 00:25:49,348 --> 00:25:53,017 When susan had forbidden her daughter from seeing him. 507 00:25:53,919 --> 00:25:55,518 Back at the crime scene, 508 00:25:55,588 --> 00:25:57,354 They continue searching the house 509 00:25:57,422 --> 00:26:00,658 To determine if jennifer and david were also involved. 510 00:26:01,994 --> 00:26:03,326 [tracy] in jennifer's room, 511 00:26:03,328 --> 00:26:05,529 We find a piece of paper she had written on, 512 00:26:06,231 --> 00:26:08,666 And, and part of it was talking about 513 00:26:08,734 --> 00:26:12,036 A new life with, with paul in canada. 514 00:26:13,639 --> 00:26:15,506 [brian] while we were searching the room, 515 00:26:15,574 --> 00:26:17,174 There was a purse. 516 00:26:17,242 --> 00:26:19,510 Ranger murphree went over to the purse and was opening it, 517 00:26:19,578 --> 00:26:21,444 And there was a school id that was found. 518 00:26:21,981 --> 00:26:25,683 I find a northwest high school id, a student id, 519 00:26:25,685 --> 00:26:27,651 With, with a, with a girl's picture on it 520 00:26:27,719 --> 00:26:29,019 And the name merrilee. 521 00:26:29,488 --> 00:26:30,787 [jamie] this causes them concern, 522 00:26:30,856 --> 00:26:32,956 Because that's not somebody who they suspect 523 00:26:32,958 --> 00:26:34,191 Would live at that house, 524 00:26:35,627 --> 00:26:37,727 And she's not one of the people that's up in south dakota. 525 00:26:37,797 --> 00:26:39,964 So, who is she and where is she? 526 00:26:43,068 --> 00:26:45,102 [music] 527 00:26:51,143 --> 00:26:53,176 [narrator] authorities in roanoke, texas 528 00:26:53,245 --> 00:26:56,580 Are investigating the murder of susan bailey. 529 00:26:57,682 --> 00:26:59,516 In her daughter jennifer's bedroom, 530 00:26:59,585 --> 00:27:04,187 Investigators have located identification for another teen 531 00:27:05,124 --> 00:27:08,358 [donna] there was an id for a girl named merrilee. 532 00:27:08,427 --> 00:27:10,960 What does she have to do with this whole case? 533 00:27:11,030 --> 00:27:13,564 Why is her id here in the bailey house? 534 00:27:14,833 --> 00:27:16,834 [brian] you know, normally people don't leave their purses, 535 00:27:16,902 --> 00:27:18,369 You know, in other people's houses. 536 00:27:18,437 --> 00:27:20,471 So, we were concerned if she was there 537 00:27:20,539 --> 00:27:23,507 When the murder took place, if something happened to her. 538 00:27:23,575 --> 00:27:27,411 We didn't know if she was involved or a possible victim. 539 00:27:28,213 --> 00:27:30,714 [tracy] so, we task that to, to one of the detectives, 540 00:27:30,783 --> 00:27:34,585 Who immediately started to see who that was. 541 00:27:35,855 --> 00:27:38,855 [brian] they discover that she was in a city over from us 542 00:27:38,924 --> 00:27:41,291 In a juvenile detention center, 543 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:44,662 And she was there for attacking her mother. 544 00:27:45,464 --> 00:27:47,531 [narrator] according to the police report, 545 00:27:47,533 --> 00:27:50,000 On the night of September 23rd, 546 00:27:50,068 --> 00:27:54,037 Three days before susan bailey was reported missing, 547 00:27:54,039 --> 00:27:57,708 Merrilee was arrested for trying to stab her mother 548 00:27:57,776 --> 00:27:59,276 While she slept. 549 00:28:00,145 --> 00:28:01,445 [tracy] merrilee's mom wakes up, 550 00:28:02,281 --> 00:28:04,114 Her daughter's standing over her with a knife. 551 00:28:04,416 --> 00:28:05,915 They struggle over it. 552 00:28:06,285 --> 00:28:07,685 She calls the police. 553 00:28:11,090 --> 00:28:14,658 It sends some chills down my spine that this is why 554 00:28:14,726 --> 00:28:16,593 She's in juvenile detention center, 555 00:28:16,661 --> 00:28:17,394 And we have susan here dead. 556 00:28:18,530 --> 00:28:21,198 And it was, it was bigger than what we thought. 557 00:28:22,768 --> 00:28:25,902 [narrator] investigators know they need to speak to merrilee, 558 00:28:25,971 --> 00:28:27,437 But due to her age, 559 00:28:27,506 --> 00:28:30,140 A judge must first sign off on their request. 560 00:28:33,913 --> 00:28:36,179 Investigators face the same challenge 561 00:28:36,181 --> 00:28:38,048 When they travel to south dakot 562 00:28:38,116 --> 00:28:40,984 To speak to 13-year-old david bailey 563 00:28:41,053 --> 00:28:43,353 And 16-year-old paul henson. 564 00:28:44,389 --> 00:28:46,457 The only person they can interview 565 00:28:46,525 --> 00:28:49,326 Is 17-year-old jennifer bailey. 566 00:28:50,595 --> 00:28:54,364 She is an adult at 17 for our criminal law purposes. 567 00:28:55,167 --> 00:28:57,534 [tracy] I was a little unprepared for 568 00:28:57,603 --> 00:28:59,802 Just how small in stature she was. 569 00:29:00,138 --> 00:29:02,773 [brian] she was acting coy and acting innocent, 570 00:29:02,841 --> 00:29:04,808 That she didn't know anything was going on. 571 00:29:04,877 --> 00:29:07,177 Still trying to blame the, the fake boyfriend, 572 00:29:07,246 --> 00:29:08,712 You know, her mom had. 573 00:29:09,848 --> 00:29:11,448 [tracy] I knew she was lying. 574 00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:13,951 And we weren't really getting anywhere with her. 575 00:29:13,953 --> 00:29:15,986 We weren't really getting any, any answers. 576 00:29:16,054 --> 00:29:19,123 It was, "I don't know. I don't know how this happened." 577 00:29:20,425 --> 00:29:22,893 [jamie] ranger murphree, he decides that 578 00:29:22,961 --> 00:29:25,128 He's gonna tell her that merrilee, 579 00:29:25,765 --> 00:29:29,933 Who's back in texas and is in juvenile custody, has confessed. 580 00:29:31,203 --> 00:29:33,436 [tracy] at the time, we had not talked merrilee yet. 581 00:29:34,239 --> 00:29:36,807 It was a shot in the dark to try to get a response. 582 00:29:37,676 --> 00:29:38,975 I lied to her. 583 00:29:39,044 --> 00:29:40,977 I said, "hey, we've talked to merrilee, 584 00:29:41,046 --> 00:29:43,046 And she told us everything." 585 00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:47,851 And when I said that, 586 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:53,123 This young, timid, frail girl transformed in front of my eyes. 587 00:29:53,192 --> 00:29:55,124 I'd never seen anything like it. 588 00:29:55,493 --> 00:29:58,061 When she looked up at me, it was evil. 589 00:29:59,331 --> 00:30:01,932 Her jaw tightened, and, and her shoulders tightened. 590 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,169 And she wasn't afraid to look me in the eye anymore. 591 00:30:06,305 --> 00:30:08,739 If, if she could've come across the table and hurt me, 592 00:30:08,807 --> 00:30:10,407 She would have done it at that time. 593 00:30:10,875 --> 00:30:14,745 And her physical appearance changed. 594 00:30:14,813 --> 00:30:17,147 We weren't dealing with this little timid girl. 595 00:30:17,215 --> 00:30:18,749 We, we were dealing with a killer. 596 00:30:19,618 --> 00:30:23,053 After mentioning merrilee, she didn't wanna talk anymore. 597 00:30:23,422 --> 00:30:26,089 And so, we, we had to end the interview. 598 00:30:30,195 --> 00:30:31,828 [narrator] on September 29th, 599 00:30:31,897 --> 00:30:33,930 Investigators receive the results 600 00:30:33,999 --> 00:30:36,399 From susan bailey's autopsy. 601 00:30:36,936 --> 00:30:42,238 The autopsy report showed 26 separate stab wounds. 602 00:30:42,641 --> 00:30:45,541 [brian] the cuts were very deep. 603 00:30:46,144 --> 00:30:48,411 The cuts across the neck and the throat 604 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,413 Went all the way back to the spine, 605 00:30:50,916 --> 00:30:53,149 And there was some blunt force trauma. 606 00:30:54,019 --> 00:30:55,652 There's basically three different types of, 607 00:30:55,721 --> 00:30:56,853 Of stab wounds on susan. 608 00:30:56,922 --> 00:30:59,055 You have, of course, the, the fatal blow 609 00:30:59,124 --> 00:31:00,991 Across the throat; very deep cuts. 610 00:31:01,526 --> 00:31:04,528 You have some medium cuts that are not as deep; 611 00:31:04,596 --> 00:31:07,931 Probably weren't gonna be fatal, but were pretty severe. 612 00:31:07,999 --> 00:31:09,499 And then you had some cuts that 613 00:31:09,568 --> 00:31:11,401 Barely scratched the surface of the skin. 614 00:31:12,671 --> 00:31:15,005 [jamie] based on the evidence, 615 00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:19,209 The officers and the rangers surmised that 616 00:31:19,277 --> 00:31:24,114 The bulk of the stabbings and the throat slashing 617 00:31:24,182 --> 00:31:27,450 Were more than likely at the hands of paul henson. 618 00:31:27,519 --> 00:31:31,154 He was probably big enough to overpower susan. 619 00:31:31,490 --> 00:31:33,423 [tracy] was paul solely responsible? 620 00:31:33,492 --> 00:31:35,859 Did jennifer have anything to do with it? 621 00:31:35,927 --> 00:31:38,028 Was, was david even there when it happened? 622 00:31:38,730 --> 00:31:40,063 We need to figure that out. 623 00:31:42,033 --> 00:31:43,433 [narrator] searching for more evidence 624 00:31:43,435 --> 00:31:46,136 That might clarify the teens' roles, 625 00:31:46,204 --> 00:31:48,505 Investigators follow up on the receipt 626 00:31:48,573 --> 00:31:51,341 For cleaning supplies found at the crime scene. 627 00:31:51,743 --> 00:31:56,847 The store's security footage reveals more than they expected 628 00:31:58,717 --> 00:32:01,118 [brian] you could see david on the outside security cameras 629 00:32:01,186 --> 00:32:02,619 Coming up to walmart. 630 00:32:03,355 --> 00:32:06,056 He goes in and he purchases the items. 631 00:32:07,125 --> 00:32:11,061 He bought formula 409 and a bottle of bleach. 632 00:32:11,696 --> 00:32:13,430 And rode his bicycle home. 633 00:32:14,332 --> 00:32:17,133 It's david who actually goes and picks up these things, 634 00:32:17,202 --> 00:32:19,937 Riding his bicycle, and goes back home. 635 00:32:21,239 --> 00:32:23,406 The whole time I'm watching that I'm thinking, 636 00:32:23,475 --> 00:32:26,476 "my lord, I can't believe this kid, as young as he is, 637 00:32:26,545 --> 00:32:28,444 Is playing this part." 638 00:32:29,248 --> 00:32:31,248 [tracy] we felt like we had enough physical 639 00:32:31,316 --> 00:32:32,649 And circumstantial evidence 640 00:32:32,717 --> 00:32:34,350 That these kids had committed this crime. 641 00:32:34,753 --> 00:32:37,921 The next step is trying to find out the extent 642 00:32:37,989 --> 00:32:39,222 Of which one participated. 643 00:32:40,625 --> 00:32:43,826 [jamie] they are able to get arrest warrants for the three. 644 00:32:44,363 --> 00:32:48,699 Jennifer's 17 and alleged to have committed a crime in texas; 645 00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:50,233 That makes her an adult. 646 00:32:50,635 --> 00:32:53,070 The other two are considered juveniles. 647 00:32:54,038 --> 00:32:56,439 So, they bring the kids to texas, 648 00:32:56,508 --> 00:32:59,509 And going through all the proper procedures of 649 00:32:59,578 --> 00:33:00,911 Talking to a juvenile, 650 00:33:01,746 --> 00:33:03,213 They talk to paul henson. 651 00:33:03,281 --> 00:33:06,116 And while he's somewhat reluctant to give up 652 00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:07,383 Too much information, 653 00:33:07,452 --> 00:33:10,453 He ultimately says that david went crazy. 654 00:33:10,822 --> 00:33:12,990 That david killed his mother... 655 00:33:14,392 --> 00:33:17,827 ...And that jennifer and paul were kind of scared. 656 00:33:18,130 --> 00:33:19,328 Didn't know what to do, panicked. 657 00:33:19,330 --> 00:33:22,132 But jennifer ultimately wanted to protect her brother, 658 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,001 So they all fled. 659 00:33:27,973 --> 00:33:31,274 [brian] we believed that david was involved, 660 00:33:31,276 --> 00:33:33,610 But he wasn't a lone actor on it. 661 00:33:34,213 --> 00:33:35,545 As short as david was, 662 00:33:35,614 --> 00:33:37,714 And, and as tall as his mother was, 663 00:33:37,783 --> 00:33:38,915 There was no way. 664 00:33:39,618 --> 00:33:42,352 [tracy] the angle of the cut, the depth of the cut 665 00:33:42,420 --> 00:33:45,788 Would indicate to me someone who's taller than her. 666 00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:47,390 Paul's about 6'1". 667 00:33:47,459 --> 00:33:50,293 He was the only one that could overpower her like that. 668 00:33:50,895 --> 00:33:52,629 David, he was 13 at the time. 669 00:33:52,697 --> 00:33:56,366 Very small stature, very thin, very frail. 670 00:33:56,435 --> 00:33:58,368 He looked like he was about ten. 671 00:33:59,138 --> 00:34:01,872 [narrator] investigators next confront david 672 00:34:01,940 --> 00:34:03,640 About paul's accusations. 673 00:34:04,709 --> 00:34:09,146 The officers asked david, "what are you here for?" 674 00:34:10,582 --> 00:34:14,317 David said, "oh, I'm here for murdering my mama." 675 00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:16,853 And he giggled. 676 00:34:17,856 --> 00:34:22,225 And the officers, they were absolutely horrified. 677 00:34:23,662 --> 00:34:25,962 They could not believe those words came out of 678 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:27,264 That child's mouth. 679 00:34:29,334 --> 00:34:31,300 [tracy] that took me aback. 680 00:34:31,837 --> 00:34:35,272 We weren't dealing with a normal 13-year-old kid here. 681 00:34:37,242 --> 00:34:39,676 [narrator] after reading david his miranda rights, 682 00:34:40,378 --> 00:34:42,646 He refuses to cooperate. 683 00:34:43,915 --> 00:34:47,817 So, investigators attempt to interview jennifer bailey 684 00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:49,052 A second time. 685 00:34:50,655 --> 00:34:53,457 And this time, she tells him that it was all paul. 686 00:34:54,826 --> 00:34:57,894 [donna] her story was that she did nothing wrong. 687 00:34:58,296 --> 00:34:59,863 David did nothing wrong. 688 00:34:59,931 --> 00:35:01,430 Paul did everything. 689 00:35:02,033 --> 00:35:05,135 [jamie] the police are getting conflicting stories. 690 00:35:05,203 --> 00:35:07,704 Everybody's pointing the finger at each other. 691 00:35:11,977 --> 00:35:13,342 [narrator] six days later, 692 00:35:13,412 --> 00:35:15,812 A judge signs off on law enforcement's request 693 00:35:16,215 --> 00:35:18,781 To interview 15-year-old merrilee. 694 00:35:19,251 --> 00:35:23,286 Merrilee is ultimately granted immunity, 695 00:35:23,955 --> 00:35:27,057 And in exchange for that agreement of immunity, 696 00:35:27,125 --> 00:35:28,524 She tells them everything. 697 00:35:28,927 --> 00:35:31,261 [brian] when we first went to go talk with merrilee 698 00:35:31,329 --> 00:35:32,896 About what had happened, 699 00:35:32,964 --> 00:35:35,732 Merrilee divulged that there was a plan. 700 00:35:36,534 --> 00:35:38,234 And she pinned it on jennifer, 701 00:35:38,303 --> 00:35:41,037 Coming up with the idea to kill her mom. 702 00:35:41,106 --> 00:35:42,672 Some of the truth started coming out. 703 00:35:45,009 --> 00:35:46,843 [music] 704 00:35:53,919 --> 00:35:55,451 [narrator] in roanoke, texas, 705 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:57,654 A local teenager named merrilee 706 00:35:57,722 --> 00:36:00,222 Has just implicated jennifer bailey 707 00:36:00,224 --> 00:36:04,460 As the true mastermind behind her mother susan's murder. 708 00:36:05,530 --> 00:36:08,331 [tracy] what we learned from merrilee is that initially, 709 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:09,966 She's approached by jennifer. 710 00:36:10,035 --> 00:36:12,168 That jennifer, you know, 711 00:36:12,236 --> 00:36:14,170 Talks about she's dating this guy named paul. 712 00:36:14,806 --> 00:36:17,273 Paul has a, a brother named talos 713 00:36:17,342 --> 00:36:19,709 That, you know, wants to date her. 714 00:36:21,246 --> 00:36:23,413 [narrator] merrilee claims she soon learned 715 00:36:23,481 --> 00:36:26,783 That paul and talos were one in the same. 716 00:36:27,385 --> 00:36:30,186 [brian] talos was paul's alter personality 717 00:36:30,254 --> 00:36:31,520 That would come out. 718 00:36:31,590 --> 00:36:35,358 He believed that he was a executioner back in the, 719 00:36:35,427 --> 00:36:37,994 I guess, maybe 15, 1600s. 720 00:36:38,897 --> 00:36:42,199 [tracy] paul claimed that when he turned into talos, 721 00:36:42,267 --> 00:36:44,734 Then he became a little more violent, 722 00:36:44,803 --> 00:36:46,602 A little more aggressive. 723 00:36:46,671 --> 00:36:49,372 And that he could switch from talos back to paul, 724 00:36:49,374 --> 00:36:50,740 And paul back to talos. 725 00:36:51,476 --> 00:36:54,744 Paul is dating both of these girls at the same time. 726 00:36:59,284 --> 00:37:01,151 [donna] he convinced them 727 00:37:01,219 --> 00:37:02,919 That he wasn't cheating on either one of them, 728 00:37:02,988 --> 00:37:06,122 Because one of his girlfriends was in love with talos 729 00:37:06,191 --> 00:37:08,024 And the other was in love with paul. 730 00:37:08,093 --> 00:37:09,826 And they bought that. 731 00:37:09,894 --> 00:37:12,895 They became intimate as a threesome. 732 00:37:12,964 --> 00:37:15,765 Paul liked to have sex with both girls, 733 00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:17,767 And he liked to watch them have sex with each other. 734 00:37:18,637 --> 00:37:21,638 [brian] they were into kind of dark mysticism. 735 00:37:21,706 --> 00:37:26,076 Fantasy games, all this occultic-type fantasy world. 736 00:37:26,144 --> 00:37:29,545 They got kinda wrapped off into the fantasy a little bit, 737 00:37:30,015 --> 00:37:32,214 And it became a reality. 738 00:37:32,284 --> 00:37:34,350 One of the things that they would do a lot of 739 00:37:34,419 --> 00:37:36,352 Is they would cut each other on the back, 740 00:37:36,721 --> 00:37:38,288 And then they would drink each other's blood 741 00:37:38,356 --> 00:37:40,257 Or let paul drink their blood. 742 00:37:42,994 --> 00:37:46,362 [narrator] as the relationship between the teens intensified, 743 00:37:46,865 --> 00:37:49,899 Merrilee says their parents tried to intervene. 744 00:37:50,735 --> 00:37:54,570 Merrilee's mother told her, "you can't see paul anymore." 745 00:37:54,639 --> 00:37:57,207 Jennifer's mother had told her she couldn't see paul. 746 00:37:57,809 --> 00:38:01,311 Paul's dad had told him he couldn't see either girl. 747 00:38:02,413 --> 00:38:04,414 They believed that they had to stay together, 748 00:38:04,482 --> 00:38:07,550 Or they would not be together in their next life. 749 00:38:08,486 --> 00:38:10,220 [narrator] according to merrilee, 750 00:38:10,288 --> 00:38:13,323 That's when jennifer hatched a plot. 751 00:38:13,391 --> 00:38:15,091 [brian] they were all gonna kill their parents, 752 00:38:15,627 --> 00:38:18,528 And then they were all gonna flee to canada 753 00:38:18,596 --> 00:38:20,863 And start a commune up there. 754 00:38:20,932 --> 00:38:22,665 [knocking on door] 755 00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:24,434 [donna] merrilee ran away from home. 756 00:38:24,502 --> 00:38:26,035 Paul ran away from home. 757 00:38:26,805 --> 00:38:29,138 They were both staying in the bailey house. 758 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:32,409 And when susan came home, it was usually late at night. 759 00:38:32,744 --> 00:38:34,644 They would hide under the beds, 760 00:38:34,712 --> 00:38:36,913 And susan was too tired to notice. 761 00:38:40,786 --> 00:38:42,652 [narrator] merrilee tells investigators 762 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:46,388 That paul planned to kill his father and stepmother 763 00:38:46,390 --> 00:38:48,491 Before running away to jennifer's house 764 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:50,393 On September 23rd. 765 00:38:50,995 --> 00:38:53,463 His intent was to shoot and kill his parents, 766 00:38:53,531 --> 00:38:55,331 And for some reason, he didn't do it. 767 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,467 And it almost foiled the plan, 768 00:38:57,535 --> 00:38:59,802 Because then their dad comes looking for him, 769 00:38:59,804 --> 00:39:01,871 And I think jennifer was pretty angry about that. 770 00:39:03,107 --> 00:39:05,475 [narrator] after police failed to locate paul 771 00:39:05,543 --> 00:39:06,876 At the bailey home, 772 00:39:06,945 --> 00:39:10,747 Merrilee says jennifer tried to poison her mother. 773 00:39:11,616 --> 00:39:14,083 Jennifer ground up an entire bottle of tylenol 774 00:39:14,653 --> 00:39:16,319 And dumped it in some pudding. 775 00:39:16,888 --> 00:39:19,021 She said, "mother loves chocolate pudding. 776 00:39:19,023 --> 00:39:20,290 She'll eat this." 777 00:39:20,358 --> 00:39:22,658 Susan tried the pudding, it tasted horrible. 778 00:39:22,727 --> 00:39:25,594 She spit it out and, and wouldn't eat it anymore. 779 00:39:25,664 --> 00:39:27,696 So, that plan is not gonna work. 780 00:39:28,099 --> 00:39:29,932 But they were determined to kill her. 781 00:39:30,001 --> 00:39:32,568 They planned to kill susan, take her car, 782 00:39:32,637 --> 00:39:34,838 And then go live happily ever after. 783 00:39:36,941 --> 00:39:39,175 Merrilee's mom, of course, was looking for her. 784 00:39:40,111 --> 00:39:42,244 And she actually finds her walking down the road. 785 00:39:42,647 --> 00:39:45,147 And she grabs her, puts her in the car, 786 00:39:45,149 --> 00:39:47,484 And, and takes her home. 787 00:39:48,220 --> 00:39:49,418 And this panics merrilee. 788 00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:52,789 She is bound and determined to go with them to canada, 789 00:39:52,857 --> 00:39:55,325 And to be part of this happily ever after. 790 00:39:56,694 --> 00:39:59,195 [donna] and the only way that she knew that she could get away 791 00:39:59,263 --> 00:40:01,464 Was to kill her mother. 792 00:40:05,770 --> 00:40:08,538 Merrilee's mom is extremely lucky 793 00:40:08,606 --> 00:40:10,907 That she is not dead, also. 794 00:40:12,477 --> 00:40:14,744 Merrilee really helped tie up some loose ends 795 00:40:14,813 --> 00:40:17,413 And really helped give us a big picture of 796 00:40:17,482 --> 00:40:19,115 Exactly what happened. 797 00:40:19,850 --> 00:40:23,453 It wasn't a fit of rage. It was calculated. 798 00:40:23,521 --> 00:40:24,854 It was planned. 799 00:40:25,924 --> 00:40:26,923 [tracy] what I believe happened, 800 00:40:26,991 --> 00:40:28,824 And I think the evidence supports this, 801 00:40:28,893 --> 00:40:33,096 Is that as susan's walking down the hallway, she was attacked. 802 00:40:34,232 --> 00:40:36,633 We always felt like jennifer was standing in the front 803 00:40:36,635 --> 00:40:39,569 To confront her mom with the baseball bat. 804 00:40:41,039 --> 00:40:43,873 [tracy] then I believe that paul came up behind her 805 00:40:44,409 --> 00:40:45,708 And cut her throat. 806 00:40:48,479 --> 00:40:50,212 And I think jennifer 807 00:40:50,282 --> 00:40:52,415 Participated in stabbing her mom. 808 00:40:53,751 --> 00:40:55,651 [brian] we always felt with what the autopsy revealed, 809 00:40:55,720 --> 00:40:58,387 Paul was the one that did the massive stab wounds. 810 00:40:58,856 --> 00:41:01,157 We felt like jennifer was in the front. 811 00:41:01,425 --> 00:41:02,992 On the superficial wounds, 812 00:41:03,061 --> 00:41:06,296 We always had the theory that it was david. 813 00:41:07,065 --> 00:41:09,966 And I think they basically told david, 814 00:41:10,768 --> 00:41:12,935 "you're, you're going to do this, too." 815 00:41:13,772 --> 00:41:16,672 All three participated in this, all three stabbed her, 816 00:41:16,741 --> 00:41:18,574 All three planned her death, 817 00:41:18,643 --> 00:41:21,478 And I believe all three are equally responsible. 818 00:41:23,247 --> 00:41:26,348 [narrator] investigators believe that after the murder, 819 00:41:26,350 --> 00:41:28,451 The teens cleaned up the scene. 820 00:41:29,621 --> 00:41:30,820 [tracy] I think the bottom line is 821 00:41:30,888 --> 00:41:34,290 Jennifer bailey manipulated paul into doing her bidding. 822 00:41:34,759 --> 00:41:36,558 He would've done anything for her, 823 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:38,160 And he did do anything for her. 824 00:41:38,630 --> 00:41:40,896 [donna] jennifer was 17. 825 00:41:40,965 --> 00:41:43,899 She wanted to see her boyfriend, she wanted to see friends. 826 00:41:43,968 --> 00:41:45,001 But she couldn't do any of that, 827 00:41:45,069 --> 00:41:47,904 Because she had to take care of her little brother. 828 00:41:48,373 --> 00:41:50,573 Jennifer really resented that, 829 00:41:50,642 --> 00:41:53,576 And as time went on, she began to hate her mother. 830 00:41:54,479 --> 00:41:57,947 She had a very evil, evil heart. 831 00:41:58,282 --> 00:41:59,315 She did. 832 00:41:59,750 --> 00:42:01,083 To be that young, 833 00:42:01,085 --> 00:42:03,720 She had, definitely, darkness deep inside of her. 834 00:42:07,392 --> 00:42:08,524 [narrator] in 2009, 835 00:42:08,593 --> 00:42:12,595 All three defendants agree to plead guilty to murder. 836 00:42:13,331 --> 00:42:18,400 Jennifer and paul were both offered 60 years in prison 837 00:42:18,402 --> 00:42:20,069 In exchange for a guilty plea, 838 00:42:20,138 --> 00:42:23,640 Waiving their right to trial, waiving their right to appeal. 839 00:42:24,608 --> 00:42:26,242 Because of david's extreme youth, 840 00:42:26,878 --> 00:42:30,146 The judge gave him a 26-year prison sentence. 841 00:42:36,587 --> 00:42:38,788 I think justice was served for susan. 842 00:42:40,191 --> 00:42:43,826 [michelle] the power of love can make you do sinful things. 843 00:42:44,296 --> 00:42:47,263 Who knew you would want to escape your life so badly 844 00:42:48,099 --> 00:42:51,433 That you would do something that horrific to somebody 845 00:42:51,435 --> 00:42:52,902 That you're supposed to love? 846 00:42:54,072 --> 00:42:56,973 Jennifer and paul were so caught up in the fantasy 847 00:42:57,041 --> 00:42:59,909 That they had created about star-crossed lovers 848 00:43:00,978 --> 00:43:02,579 That they just went crazy. 849 00:43:05,784 --> 00:43:11,487 The murder of susan bailey is tragic in so many ways. 850 00:43:12,356 --> 00:43:16,826 These kids were well cared for and loved by their mother. 851 00:43:16,894 --> 00:43:20,763 And she poured her whole life into them. 852 00:43:21,332 --> 00:43:24,333 And for them to not only take her life, 853 00:43:24,402 --> 00:43:28,337 But to take it in such a brutal, brutal fashion... 854 00:43:28,806 --> 00:43:32,041 It's really just evil. 855 00:43:35,146 --> 00:43:44,587 [music]