1 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,734 [Alicia] This story has been at the forefront of everyone's minds 2 00:00:12,734 --> 00:00:14,533 for over 40 years. 3 00:00:15,734 --> 00:00:19,467 Not only because it is one of the worst acts of evil 4 00:00:19,467 --> 00:00:21,634 we've ever encountered at People Magazine, 5 00:00:21,634 --> 00:00:25,734 but also because there's been an endless cycle of conspiracies 6 00:00:25,734 --> 00:00:29,433 that have haunted the victims' families for decades. 7 00:00:31,266 --> 00:00:34,967 In that moment, the carefree nature that we had before 8 00:00:34,967 --> 00:00:36,367 was stripped away. 9 00:00:36,433 --> 00:00:39,533 Residents believe it was an outsider, and that worries them. 10 00:00:39,533 --> 00:00:41,634 I'm just hoping they'll find who did this. 11 00:00:41,734 --> 00:00:43,634 [Mike] There's an animal living among us, 12 00:00:43,634 --> 00:00:46,166 and that animal preyed on the innocent. 13 00:00:46,533 --> 00:00:48,433 And left us with carnage. 14 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,634 I was fearful. 15 00:00:51,734 --> 00:00:53,533 Scared it could happen to us. 16 00:00:53,634 --> 00:00:57,467 It has been the lifelong journey for justice. 17 00:00:57,467 --> 00:01:00,000 There have been conspiracy theories, rabbit holes to go down. 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,467 There have been conspiracy theories, rabbit holes to go down. 19 00:01:02,467 --> 00:01:05,367 Did the sheriff plant the evidence? 20 00:01:05,433 --> 00:01:08,266 [Sheri] What were her last moments like? 21 00:01:08,266 --> 00:01:09,900 We needed the truth, 22 00:01:10,367 --> 00:01:12,634 however horrific it was. 23 00:01:19,967 --> 00:01:21,100 [theme music playing] 24 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,066 [crow caws] 25 00:01:43,166 --> 00:01:46,066 Where we're standing, out in this... 26 00:01:49,266 --> 00:01:50,367 wooded area. 27 00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:53,467 I don't wanna be here. 28 00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:56,734 But, on the other hand... 29 00:01:57,367 --> 00:01:59,066 It's where we need to be. 30 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:00,000 -It's where we need to be. -Yeah. 31 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:00,467 -It's where we need to be. -Yeah. 32 00:02:02,166 --> 00:02:06,000 Part of it is thinking about what happened that night, 33 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:08,166 and then, what might've been. 34 00:02:10,734 --> 00:02:12,533 And all of that is... 35 00:02:13,367 --> 00:02:17,166 a nightmare, and yet, the reality, 36 00:02:17,166 --> 00:02:20,233 of our life now, after 45 years, it's... 37 00:02:20,467 --> 00:02:21,533 our reality. 38 00:02:22,367 --> 00:02:24,800 Every single day. 39 00:02:32,166 --> 00:02:34,900 [Christine] In June of 1977, 40 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,734 school's out, it's the summertime, 41 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,634 and many young girls from all over the state of Oklahoma 42 00:02:39,734 --> 00:02:42,367 are looking forward to going to Camp Scott, 43 00:02:42,433 --> 00:02:43,734 Girl Scout camp, 44 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,700 located about and hour or so outside of Tulsa, 45 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,967 near the small town of Locust Grove, 46 00:02:48,967 --> 00:02:52,734 a really tiny community right in the middle of God's country. 47 00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:57,467 The camp was situated on the top of a, of a bluff, 48 00:02:57,533 --> 00:03:00,000 which then spread out in a dense woodland 49 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,066 which then spread out in a dense woodland 50 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:04,233 bounded by farms and a creek. 51 00:03:06,867 --> 00:03:09,900 [Alicia] On the afternoon of June 12th, 1977, 52 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 hundreds of girls from all over Oklahoma arrive at Camp Scott 53 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:19,000 for what promises to be an exciting two weeks of sleep-away camp. 54 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,166 Among them is eight-year-old Lori Farmer. 55 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:30,000 I'm Sheri Farmer and I'm Lori's mother. 56 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,166 I'm Sheri Farmer and I'm Lori's mother. 57 00:03:30,166 --> 00:03:33,433 I'm Bo Farmer and I'm Lori's dad. 58 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:37,867 [Sheri] Through all of my life, I wanted to be a mom. 59 00:03:37,867 --> 00:03:40,500 So, when we found out we were expecting, 60 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:42,100 we were excited 61 00:03:42,533 --> 00:03:43,634 and happy. 62 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:47,000 Lori was a dream. 63 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:50,367 She was so pretty. 64 00:03:50,433 --> 00:03:53,800 I just couldn't get over how beautiful she was. 65 00:03:54,867 --> 00:03:59,533 From very early, Lori was well beyond her age. 66 00:04:00,467 --> 00:04:03,367 - She read a lot. -[Sheri] Read a lot. 67 00:04:03,367 --> 00:04:04,967 [Bo] Less than two-years-old, 68 00:04:04,967 --> 00:04:09,500 Lori repeated the Pledge of Allegiance perfectly. 69 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,266 - We were astonished. -[Sheri] Yeah. 70 00:04:11,266 --> 00:04:14,500 I would put something on and Lori would say, 71 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:19,266 "Oh, you wore that on Easter", or a specific time, 72 00:04:19,266 --> 00:04:23,166 and I would look back at pictures, and she would be right. 73 00:04:23,233 --> 00:04:25,533 So, she had an unbelievable memory. 74 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:29,467 I loved being her mom. 75 00:04:29,467 --> 00:04:30,000 It was everything that I thought it would be. 76 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,367 It was everything that I thought it would be. 77 00:04:32,367 --> 00:04:37,533 And because of that, Lori wasn't by herself for very long. 78 00:04:39,166 --> 00:04:40,800 [Bo] We had five children. 79 00:04:41,166 --> 00:04:42,266 [chuckles] 80 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:44,734 We had five and seven years. 81 00:04:45,367 --> 00:04:47,800 Lori, of course, was our first child. 82 00:04:48,533 --> 00:04:52,333 And Misti, and Joli, and Chad and Kali. 83 00:04:53,634 --> 00:04:57,734 All of the other children looked up to Lori as the leader, 84 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,000 and she did fulfill that role. 85 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,166 and she did fulfill that role. 86 00:05:04,166 --> 00:05:09,900 [Misti] I am Misti Shannon, and Lori Farmer is my older sister. 87 00:05:11,634 --> 00:05:15,166 Lori and I were 18 months apart. 88 00:05:15,166 --> 00:05:18,066 So we did everything together. [chuckles] 89 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,166 We shared a room together, friends. 90 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:27,166 I have wonderful memories of us playing tag, 91 00:05:27,233 --> 00:05:28,600 running around. 92 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,000 She loved climbing trees in our backyard. 93 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,900 She loved climbing trees in our backyard. 94 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,000 She was always adventurous. [chuckles] 95 00:05:37,967 --> 00:05:42,233 [Kali] I'm Kali Cole, and I was Lori Farmer's youngest sister. 96 00:05:43,467 --> 00:05:47,634 As parents, I can only imagine how busy life was, [chuckles] 97 00:05:47,734 --> 00:05:49,533 with all those little kids. 98 00:05:49,533 --> 00:05:52,166 And Lori became so involved 99 00:05:52,233 --> 00:05:55,233 with helping take care of everybody. 100 00:05:58,066 --> 00:06:00,000 [Joli] I'm Joli Beasley, and I'm Lori's younger sister. 101 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,166 [Joli] I'm Joli Beasley, and I'm Lori's younger sister. 102 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:05,000 Lori was very nurturing, 103 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,066 and she had a tender way. 104 00:06:09,700 --> 00:06:14,066 She was the best big sis anybody could ever ask for. 105 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:22,467 [Sheri] That day when we took her to the bus, 106 00:06:22,467 --> 00:06:24,500 she was real excited 107 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:26,867 about the prospect of taking pictures 108 00:06:26,867 --> 00:06:30,000 because she had read in the girl scout handbook 109 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:30,867 because she had read in the girl scout handbook 110 00:06:30,867 --> 00:06:35,233 that were would be a photo lab and could develop your own film. 111 00:06:36,266 --> 00:06:37,867 [Bo] We got Lori on the bus, 112 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:41,467 and I was pressured because I was leaving there 113 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:44,533 to go to the hospital for a night shift. 114 00:06:44,533 --> 00:06:47,533 She found a seat and we could see her in the window. 115 00:06:47,634 --> 00:06:50,367 You know, and so we waved and said I love you. 116 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,734 When the girls arrive at Camp Scott, 117 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,900 they are assigned different units 118 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,000 which are named Native American tribes. 119 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,634 which are named Native American tribes. 120 00:07:02,734 --> 00:07:06,066 Camp Scott was divided into units 121 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:08,600 consisting of seven tents. 122 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,900 Lori Farmer was assigned to the Kiowa unit. 123 00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:14,600 [Leigh] My name is Leigh Miller. 124 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,634 I was a camper at Girl Scout camp in 1977. 125 00:07:19,467 --> 00:07:21,900 I met Lori Farmer on the bus. 126 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,600 We were both from the same area in Tulsa. 127 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,500 She was a little nervous and a little scared. 128 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:28,333 I was assigned to tent six. 129 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:30,000 Lori was in tent seven 130 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:30,867 Lori was in tent seven 131 00:07:30,867 --> 00:07:34,000 with two girls named Denise and Michele. 132 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,800 They were both very sweet. 133 00:07:37,266 --> 00:07:38,700 [thunder rumbling] 134 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:41,533 [Alicia] That night, the girls to to dinner int he great hall, 135 00:07:41,634 --> 00:07:43,467 and while they're having dinner, 136 00:07:43,533 --> 00:07:45,533 a huge thunderstorm strikes. 137 00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:53,166 [Leigh] If it weren't raining, we could've gone out and had a camp fire, 138 00:07:53,233 --> 00:07:55,500 and that would've been fun. 139 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,333 But, we played games and we just talked in the tents. 140 00:07:59,266 --> 00:08:00,000 Some of the girls wrote letters. 141 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:00,800 Some of the girls wrote letters. 142 00:08:01,967 --> 00:08:04,734 You know, I mean, it was our first night and we were excited. 143 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,734 Around 10:00 p.m., the counselors end up doing a head count. 144 00:08:11,734 --> 00:08:13,634 [Leigh] It was ten o'clock, lights out. 145 00:08:13,734 --> 00:08:16,367 And, as we went to bed, 146 00:08:16,367 --> 00:08:18,166 I thought it was gonna be a lot of fun 147 00:08:18,166 --> 00:08:19,800 at Girl Scout camp. 148 00:08:23,634 --> 00:08:26,967 [Alicia] There's no way anyone could've known 149 00:08:26,967 --> 00:08:30,000 the horror that would be awaiting Camp Scott day daybreak. 150 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,433 the horror that would be awaiting Camp Scott day daybreak. 151 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:39,266 At around six in the morning, 152 00:08:39,266 --> 00:08:44,266 there's a frantic knock on the door of camp director, Barbara Day. 153 00:08:44,333 --> 00:08:48,467 My husband Richard, who was staying with me that very first weekend, 154 00:08:48,533 --> 00:08:50,266 went to the door. 155 00:08:50,266 --> 00:08:52,166 [Alicia] It's one of the Kiowa camp counselors, 156 00:08:52,166 --> 00:08:54,700 and she's absolutely terrified. 157 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:57,467 [Barbara] The counselor explained she was trying 158 00:08:57,533 --> 00:09:00,000 the first one to the staff showers that morning, 159 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:00,166 the first one to the staff showers that morning, 160 00:09:00,233 --> 00:09:02,066 and so, she'd gotten up early 161 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:04,266 and was walking out of the camp 162 00:09:04,333 --> 00:09:09,000 when she saw a girl, partially clad, 163 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,900 lying upon a few sleeping bags on the side of the trail. 164 00:09:14,533 --> 00:09:18,734 We had a camp nurse, and we got her and drove to the location. 165 00:09:20,266 --> 00:09:23,734 When they arrive, the camp nurse rushes to the little girl's side 166 00:09:23,734 --> 00:09:25,166 and checks her vitals, 167 00:09:25,233 --> 00:09:30,000 but is shocked to discover that it's too late. 168 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,166 but is shocked to discover that it's too late. 169 00:09:31,066 --> 00:09:32,533 The little girl was dead. 170 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:36,266 I was pretty horrified. 171 00:09:36,266 --> 00:09:39,000 You know, it was an extremely traumatic sight. 172 00:09:40,266 --> 00:09:42,266 No one had any idea 173 00:09:42,333 --> 00:09:45,800 who she was and what unit she belonged in. 174 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:50,467 Barbara Day's husband Richard then touches these two sleeping bags 175 00:09:50,467 --> 00:09:52,533 beside this girl's body. 176 00:09:54,734 --> 00:09:58,467 [Barbara] There was something in each sleeping bag 177 00:09:58,467 --> 00:10:00,000 that felt to be human. 178 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:00,266 that felt to be human. 179 00:10:09,634 --> 00:10:12,634 [Barbara] No one had any idea what had happened to them 180 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:15,166 or who these campers were. 181 00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:17,467 People were beginning to cry, 182 00:10:17,533 --> 00:10:21,867 and we had no explanation that we could offer, 183 00:10:21,867 --> 00:10:24,367 but we needed to take a head count 184 00:10:24,367 --> 00:10:26,266 in the Kiowa unit, 185 00:10:26,333 --> 00:10:30,467 and try to determine if these girls were, in fact, from that unit. 186 00:10:32,367 --> 00:10:35,634 [Alicia] Camp Scott counselors check inside each tent 187 00:10:35,634 --> 00:10:37,166 and see if anyone is missing. 188 00:10:39,734 --> 00:10:42,367 The staff realized at that point in time 189 00:10:42,367 --> 00:10:44,533 that Lori Farmer, 190 00:10:44,634 --> 00:10:46,066 Michele Guse, 191 00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:48,100 and Denise Milner are missing. 192 00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:52,734 At that point, I went immediately back to my office 193 00:10:52,734 --> 00:10:54,467 to summon law enforcement. 194 00:10:58,734 --> 00:11:00,166 [Marty] My name is Marty Wilson. 195 00:11:00,166 --> 00:11:02,467 I am an agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 196 00:11:04,634 --> 00:11:08,207 Once the sheriff and the medical examiner arrived, 197 00:11:08,207 --> 00:11:09,066 Once the sheriff and the medical examiner arrived, 198 00:11:09,066 --> 00:11:11,867 the girl's body laying on the sleeping bags 199 00:11:11,867 --> 00:11:14,800 was identified at ten-year-old Denise Milner. 200 00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:17,734 [Mike] My name is Mike Reed. 201 00:11:17,734 --> 00:11:19,467 I'm the current Mayes County sheriff. 202 00:11:20,867 --> 00:11:23,967 Denise was found with her hands taped and bound behind her 203 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,467 and she has this gag in her mouth. 204 00:11:26,467 --> 00:11:28,533 She's got a little bruising on her face, 205 00:11:28,634 --> 00:11:32,266 and she's also choked down with this thin rope around her neck, 206 00:11:32,266 --> 00:11:35,066 and it's dug in to her so much, 207 00:11:35,066 --> 00:11:38,066 the M.E. talks about, he barely can get his finger 208 00:11:38,634 --> 00:11:40,734 underneath it, it's so tight. 209 00:11:41,967 --> 00:11:44,967 [Marty] There were two strips of two inch wide black tape 210 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,634 across her chest. 211 00:11:46,634 --> 00:11:50,967 And given the fact that Denise was nude from the waist down, 212 00:11:50,967 --> 00:11:54,266 it was thought that she had been sexually assaulted. 213 00:11:54,266 --> 00:11:57,900 [Alicia] The medical examiner then unzips the sleeping bags. 214 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:00,734 He sadly reveals the bodies 215 00:12:00,734 --> 00:12:03,266 of the other two tent seven campers, 216 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,066 nine-year-old Michele Guse, 217 00:12:06,066 --> 00:12:08,100 and eight-year-old Lori Farmer. 218 00:12:10,166 --> 00:12:14,367 Lori and Michele were in the bottom of their sleeping bags 219 00:12:14,433 --> 00:12:16,367 with bedding soaked in blood. 220 00:12:16,367 --> 00:12:18,634 Both had suffered blunt force trauma to the head 221 00:12:18,634 --> 00:12:21,467 caused by some type of instrument. 222 00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:24,634 But there was no indication of who might've done it 223 00:12:24,634 --> 00:12:26,467 or why this was done. 224 00:12:26,533 --> 00:12:27,634 [police radio chatter] 225 00:12:27,734 --> 00:12:29,634 [Marty] And at that point, the Sheriff's office called in 226 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:32,266 the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 227 00:12:32,333 --> 00:12:37,166 By 10:00 am, the OSBI as well as multiple law enforcement agencies 228 00:12:37,233 --> 00:12:38,207 are on the grounds of Camp Scott. 229 00:12:38,207 --> 00:12:40,066 are on the grounds of Camp Scott. 230 00:12:40,066 --> 00:12:42,800 [Barbara] Helicopters were beginning to circle over 231 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:47,367 and I did not want any camper to know what had just occurred, 232 00:12:47,367 --> 00:12:51,867 and so, we needed to take these hundreds of girls home. 233 00:12:51,867 --> 00:12:55,266 [Leigh] I remember the counselors told us that "You have to go home." 234 00:12:55,266 --> 00:12:58,367 I mean, of course, as a 19-year-old, I thinking, 235 00:12:58,967 --> 00:13:00,166 "Why?" You know? 236 00:13:00,233 --> 00:13:01,367 "Why are we going home?" 237 00:13:03,166 --> 00:13:05,467 [Christine] As the buses are going to the front gate, 238 00:13:05,467 --> 00:13:08,207 they encounter swarms of reporters 239 00:13:08,207 --> 00:13:08,467 they encounter swarms of reporters 240 00:13:08,467 --> 00:13:13,367 that had gotten word that something terrible has happened at Camp Scott. 241 00:13:16,166 --> 00:13:18,533 [Marty] When the OSBI crime scene technicians arrived 242 00:13:18,533 --> 00:13:20,734 and began processing the entire scene, 243 00:13:20,734 --> 00:13:26,367 other items were found, such as a pair of prescription glasses, 244 00:13:26,433 --> 00:13:30,266 a roll of black duct tape, 245 00:13:30,266 --> 00:13:34,634 that appeared to be the same tape that was on Denise Milner's body. 246 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:38,207 They also found a red plastic flashlight 247 00:13:38,207 --> 00:13:39,066 They also found a red plastic flashlight 248 00:13:39,066 --> 00:13:40,634 near the sleeping bags. 249 00:13:45,533 --> 00:13:47,166 [Andrea] My name is Andrea Fielding, 250 00:13:47,166 --> 00:13:50,634 and I'm the Deputy Director for Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 251 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:55,367 So this is, um, a photograph of, 252 00:13:55,367 --> 00:13:57,867 the flashlight that was found next to the bodies. 253 00:13:57,867 --> 00:14:00,467 You can kinda see, there's a piece of a plastic trash bag 254 00:14:00,533 --> 00:14:03,066 that had been torn, um placed over the front 255 00:14:03,066 --> 00:14:06,066 and then it was secured on there with some masking tape. 256 00:14:06,066 --> 00:14:08,207 And this absolutely would've limited the amount of light 257 00:14:08,207 --> 00:14:09,266 And this absolutely would've limited the amount of light 258 00:14:09,266 --> 00:14:12,634 that could be seen by another individual. 259 00:14:13,734 --> 00:14:16,367 When the flashlight was taken apart, 260 00:14:16,367 --> 00:14:20,533 it was discovered that someone had stuffed newspaper inside, 261 00:14:20,634 --> 00:14:23,533 we assume, to keep the battery from rattling and making noise. 262 00:14:25,367 --> 00:14:27,734 [Mike] At this point, investigators understand 263 00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:31,467 that the person that committed these crimes 264 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,367 premeditated this plan. 265 00:14:35,367 --> 00:14:38,207 [Alicia] Roughly a 150 yards away from the bodies, 266 00:14:38,207 --> 00:14:38,266 [Alicia] Roughly a 150 yards away from the bodies, 267 00:14:38,333 --> 00:14:41,867 law enforcement turns to look at tent number seven 268 00:14:41,867 --> 00:14:43,533 where the girls were sleeping. 269 00:14:45,367 --> 00:14:46,734 [Mike] Inside of the tent, 270 00:14:46,734 --> 00:14:50,266 there's a front cot where Lori Farmer was at, 271 00:14:50,266 --> 00:14:54,533 and then the next cot beside Lori would've been Michele Guse. 272 00:14:54,533 --> 00:14:57,166 The other cot on the opposite of Michele was empty, 273 00:14:57,166 --> 00:15:00,800 and then straight across from Lori was Denise Milner's cot. 274 00:15:01,967 --> 00:15:03,867 All the sheets were taken off. 275 00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:06,066 The bed covering, pillow cases, 276 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:08,207 all that stuff was crammed into the sleeping bags. 277 00:15:08,207 --> 00:15:08,467 all that stuff was crammed into the sleeping bags. 278 00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:11,734 [Andrea] There was blood throughout. 279 00:15:11,734 --> 00:15:14,066 Blood on the floor, blood on the mattresses. 280 00:15:14,066 --> 00:15:17,967 There was some blood staining on the outside flap of the tent. 281 00:15:17,967 --> 00:15:22,734 All three girls were very violently attacked in the tent. 282 00:15:22,734 --> 00:15:24,800 [Marty] Although they couldn't determine sizes, 283 00:15:24,900 --> 00:15:26,734 multiple different shoe prints 284 00:15:26,734 --> 00:15:29,367 were found in blood on the tent floor. 285 00:15:29,367 --> 00:15:32,734 And another shoe print that was found just outside the tent 286 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,000 appeared to be a wafflestomper type pattern on the sole. 287 00:15:38,266 --> 00:15:41,266 The campers' personal items from inside the tent 288 00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:44,967 were collected and taken to our laboratory for examination. 289 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,634 And the girls' bodies were taken 290 00:15:46,634 --> 00:15:48,800 to the medical examiner's office in Tulsa. 291 00:15:50,634 --> 00:15:52,166 Then, the Girl Scout Council 292 00:15:52,166 --> 00:15:57,367 and law enforcement reach out to the three girls' families. 293 00:15:57,433 --> 00:16:01,433 [Bettye] That morning, I was told that they found three girls dead. 294 00:16:02,066 --> 00:16:03,734 And my daughter was one of 'em. 295 00:16:05,367 --> 00:16:06,867 I couldn't understand. 296 00:16:06,867 --> 00:16:08,207 I saw her alive, you know, 297 00:16:08,207 --> 00:16:09,166 I saw her alive, you know, 298 00:16:09,233 --> 00:16:11,734 and then the next day, they were here, telling me she's dead. 299 00:16:12,533 --> 00:16:13,800 I couldn't believe it. 300 00:16:14,634 --> 00:16:17,367 Denise was very eager to learn 301 00:16:17,367 --> 00:16:19,367 and she loved people. 302 00:16:19,433 --> 00:16:22,533 She had taught herself to read and write and do math 303 00:16:22,634 --> 00:16:24,000 when she was four years old. 304 00:16:24,533 --> 00:16:26,800 She was exceptional. 305 00:16:28,066 --> 00:16:32,367 She joined Girl Scouts and that was her first year at the camp. 306 00:16:34,367 --> 00:16:36,066 [Alicia] As with Bettye Milner, 307 00:16:36,100 --> 00:16:37,867 Michele Guse's family was notified 308 00:16:37,867 --> 00:16:38,207 and they were completely blindsided. 309 00:16:38,207 --> 00:16:41,233 and they were completely blindsided. 310 00:16:42,867 --> 00:16:44,867 [Christine] Michele Guse was nine-years-old. 311 00:16:44,867 --> 00:16:46,367 She was really athletic. 312 00:16:46,367 --> 00:16:50,166 She played on all her sports teams at school. 313 00:16:50,166 --> 00:16:51,867 Michele had a lot of unique interests. 314 00:16:51,867 --> 00:16:53,634 She was into horticulture. 315 00:16:53,634 --> 00:16:56,266 And she had African violets that she tended to. 316 00:16:57,367 --> 00:16:59,066 [Marty] When she left to go to the camp, 317 00:16:59,066 --> 00:17:00,967 she hugged her father and asked him if, 318 00:17:00,967 --> 00:17:03,634 he could take care of her plants while she was gone. 319 00:17:04,734 --> 00:17:07,800 Her father said that she hugged him in such a manner 320 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:08,207 and said goodbye like she wasn't gonna see him again. 321 00:17:08,207 --> 00:17:10,900 and said goodbye like she wasn't gonna see him again. 322 00:17:13,867 --> 00:17:16,634 Across town, Bo Farmer is wrapping up 323 00:17:16,634 --> 00:17:18,967 his overnight shift at the hospital 324 00:17:18,967 --> 00:17:21,967 when he gets a phone call. 325 00:17:21,967 --> 00:17:27,166 [Bo] I got a call from the Executive Director of the Girl Scout Council 326 00:17:27,967 --> 00:17:29,967 and she just said, 327 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,734 "I hate to tell you this, but your daughter, 328 00:17:32,734 --> 00:17:36,800 was found dead outside back behind her tent this morning." 329 00:17:39,066 --> 00:17:40,100 That was it. 330 00:17:42,367 --> 00:17:44,634 I was devastated, 331 00:17:45,634 --> 00:17:48,266 and I was not very functional. 332 00:17:48,266 --> 00:17:53,367 And I just laid down until my partner... 333 00:17:54,900 --> 00:17:57,900 walked in the room and says, uh... 334 00:17:59,266 --> 00:18:00,800 "I'm gonna take you home." 335 00:18:03,166 --> 00:18:06,467 [Sheri] Bo usually comes home and pulls into the garage, 336 00:18:06,533 --> 00:18:08,207 but he was not in his car and he came to the back door. 337 00:18:08,207 --> 00:18:12,467 but he was not in his car and he came to the back door. 338 00:18:12,533 --> 00:18:16,000 I thought something terrible has happened. 339 00:18:16,867 --> 00:18:20,000 And Bo said that Lori had died in the night. 340 00:18:22,266 --> 00:18:26,266 I can't even explain how horrific it was 341 00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:28,333 to try to process that. 342 00:18:29,533 --> 00:18:34,533 And we had no more information for many hours. 343 00:18:35,734 --> 00:18:38,207 We cried, but having four other children, 344 00:18:38,207 --> 00:18:39,867 We cried, but having four other children, 345 00:18:39,867 --> 00:18:41,800 we just tried to get through the day. 346 00:18:44,533 --> 00:18:46,967 [Misti] I remember, my mum and dad told me 347 00:18:46,967 --> 00:18:50,066 that Lori was not coming home. 348 00:18:51,634 --> 00:18:55,000 I think I pretty much shut down after that. [chuckles tearfully] 349 00:18:56,166 --> 00:18:59,100 I had lost my roommate. 350 00:18:59,900 --> 00:19:01,066 My best friend. 351 00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:02,734 My big sis. 352 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:05,166 I just remember, like, 353 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:07,967 the wind taken out of me. 354 00:19:09,533 --> 00:19:10,867 In that moment, 355 00:19:10,867 --> 00:19:15,467 the carefree nature that we had was stripped away. 356 00:19:15,467 --> 00:19:18,066 There's a sorrow in our lives. 357 00:19:21,066 --> 00:19:24,266 [Sheri] As it to got to be afternoon, 358 00:19:24,333 --> 00:19:26,634 we still don't know what happened. 359 00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:29,867 We tried to reach out to the Girl Scouts 360 00:19:29,867 --> 00:19:31,367 to find out more things, 361 00:19:31,367 --> 00:19:34,166 and we could not ever talk to anybody. 362 00:19:34,166 --> 00:19:35,734 We couldn't get through. 363 00:19:35,734 --> 00:19:37,800 Of course, we weren't watching TV. 364 00:19:40,166 --> 00:19:42,967 But, people are hearing things on TV. 365 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,100 -[doorbell rings] -[knock on door] 366 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:46,967 [Sheri] And finally, actually, a neighbor came over... 367 00:19:46,967 --> 00:19:48,000 [door opens] 368 00:19:48,734 --> 00:19:50,066 [Sheri] ...and told us... 369 00:19:51,533 --> 00:19:54,467 "I think there was some violence involved." 370 00:19:56,533 --> 00:20:01,266 Well, we have no idea what he means by "violence". 371 00:20:01,266 --> 00:20:05,066 Three girls, eight, nine and ten were beaten to death earlier today 372 00:20:05,066 --> 00:20:08,207 while spending the first night at a week-long stay at a Girl Scout camp 373 00:20:08,207 --> 00:20:08,634 while spending the first night at a week-long stay at a Girl Scout camp 374 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:10,233 in northeastern Oklahoma. 375 00:20:13,734 --> 00:20:15,333 When we realized... 376 00:20:17,166 --> 00:20:20,433 that someone had murdered Lori... 377 00:20:21,266 --> 00:20:26,233 It was a feeling different from grief. 378 00:20:26,734 --> 00:20:28,166 It was anger. 379 00:20:38,734 --> 00:20:41,367 [Marty] There was no murder weapon or fingerprints 380 00:20:41,367 --> 00:20:44,467 found at the immediate crime scene. 381 00:20:44,467 --> 00:20:48,734 So, it became time to, uh, expand the search area. 382 00:20:50,467 --> 00:20:51,867 Very shortly after that, 383 00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:55,333 a call was received to the Mayes County Sheriff's Office 384 00:20:55,367 --> 00:20:58,000 from a man named Jack Shroff, who'd reported that 385 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,900 his farmhouse had been broken into. 386 00:21:02,367 --> 00:21:05,734 [Christine] The Shroff farmhouse is located less than three quarters a mile 387 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:06,268 from where the girls were killed. 388 00:21:06,268 --> 00:21:08,166 from where the girls were killed. 389 00:21:08,233 --> 00:21:11,166 [Marty] When officers arrived at Jack Shroff's house, 390 00:21:11,233 --> 00:21:13,967 he reported he was missing, among other things, 391 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,100 a roll of black duct tape, 392 00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:19,634 and a length of nylon sash rope. 393 00:21:20,367 --> 00:21:22,166 During the processing of the scene, 394 00:21:22,233 --> 00:21:24,533 a boot print was observed 395 00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:27,867 on a piece of carpet in mud 396 00:21:27,867 --> 00:21:33,367 and it appeared to be a waffle stomper type pattern on the sole. 397 00:21:33,367 --> 00:21:35,734 [Christine] Because the footprint is very similar 398 00:21:35,734 --> 00:21:36,268 to a footprint they found at the scene 399 00:21:36,268 --> 00:21:38,333 to a footprint they found at the scene 400 00:21:38,367 --> 00:21:41,000 and because the items that were stolen 401 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,867 were eerily similar 402 00:21:42,867 --> 00:21:47,467 to items found near where the girls were killed. 403 00:21:47,467 --> 00:21:48,867 Investigators suspect 404 00:21:48,867 --> 00:21:51,433 that the killer burglarized Jack's home 405 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:54,634 and took the items to the crime scene. 406 00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:59,266 [Alicia] The following morning 407 00:21:59,266 --> 00:22:01,467 autopsies are performed 408 00:22:01,467 --> 00:22:03,166 on the three girls. 409 00:22:04,467 --> 00:22:06,268 [Marty] Once the girls were transported 410 00:22:06,268 --> 00:22:06,367 [Marty] Once the girls were transported 411 00:22:06,367 --> 00:22:07,867 to the medical examiner's office, 412 00:22:07,867 --> 00:22:11,734 it was determined that the cause of death for Lori Farmer 413 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,533 was a single blow to the head with a blunt instrument. 414 00:22:16,734 --> 00:22:19,634 The cause of death for Michele Guse 415 00:22:19,734 --> 00:22:21,166 was also blunt force trauma 416 00:22:21,166 --> 00:22:24,166 with six blows to the head. 417 00:22:24,166 --> 00:22:29,367 Denise Milner's cause of death was asphyxiation plus strangulation. 418 00:22:29,367 --> 00:22:32,734 But she also suffered three blows to the head. 419 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,900 Looking at the, uh, report 420 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:36,268 there appears a face value 421 00:22:36,268 --> 00:22:37,533 there appears a face value 422 00:22:37,533 --> 00:22:39,634 to the all kinds of different patterns 423 00:22:39,634 --> 00:22:41,333 of wounds on the children. 424 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,467 Looks like something that's curved, 425 00:22:43,467 --> 00:22:44,734 there's something that's not. 426 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,433 There's something that's rectangular 427 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,634 which suggest multiple weapons 428 00:22:49,734 --> 00:22:53,166 could have been used to kill these girls. 429 00:22:53,166 --> 00:22:56,734 [Marty] During the examinations at the medical examiner's office, 430 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,166 there were hairs that were found 431 00:22:59,166 --> 00:23:01,333 in each of the girls' sleeping bags 432 00:23:01,367 --> 00:23:03,333 and attached to the tape 433 00:23:03,367 --> 00:23:05,800 that Denise Milner's hands were bound with. 434 00:23:07,266 --> 00:23:10,066 And the hair did not belong to these three girls. 435 00:23:11,367 --> 00:23:12,734 During the autopsy, 436 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,867 it's revealed that not only had 437 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:18,000 these children been bound and beaten 438 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,166 but each one of them had been sexually assaulted. 439 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,000 I almost think that was worse 440 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,533 to hear than that she'd died. 441 00:23:31,634 --> 00:23:33,533 You know, she was just a little girl. 442 00:23:34,166 --> 00:23:35,734 I couldn't even imagine 443 00:23:36,166 --> 00:23:36,268 that happening to her. 444 00:23:36,268 --> 00:23:37,634 that happening to her. 445 00:23:39,166 --> 00:23:42,333 And I started to wonder 446 00:23:42,367 --> 00:23:44,967 how frightened Lori might have been 447 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,333 with somebody entering the tent. 448 00:23:47,367 --> 00:23:50,800 What were her last moments like? 449 00:23:51,867 --> 00:23:55,433 Did she cry out for mommy and daddy? 450 00:23:57,166 --> 00:23:59,734 And I wish that I... 451 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,800 have been there to protect her. 452 00:24:09,533 --> 00:24:12,433 [Marty] During the autopsy sperm cells were found 453 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:14,734 in some of the swabs 454 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:15,900 from each of the girls. 455 00:24:17,166 --> 00:24:19,266 [Andrea] Unfortunately, back in the '70s, 456 00:24:19,266 --> 00:24:23,266 DNA was nowhere on the map for forensic testing. 457 00:24:23,266 --> 00:24:27,800 But the sperm content was biologically analyzed. 458 00:24:29,467 --> 00:24:31,734 [Marty] It was noted that all the sperm cells 459 00:24:31,734 --> 00:24:34,867 were decomposed or deformed in some manner. 460 00:24:34,867 --> 00:24:36,268 That appeared to be a unique characteristic. 461 00:24:36,268 --> 00:24:36,900 That appeared to be a unique characteristic. 462 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,266 [Alicia] Back at Camp Scott, 463 00:24:43,266 --> 00:24:46,734 investigators take statements from each of the counselors 464 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,900 looking for some kind of lead. 465 00:24:49,900 --> 00:24:52,166 [children giggling] 466 00:24:52,166 --> 00:24:54,734 [Marty] A counselor in the Kiowa camp 467 00:24:54,734 --> 00:24:58,533 reported that she was awoken by girls giggling in a tent 468 00:24:58,533 --> 00:25:00,634 at about 1:30 that morning. 469 00:25:01,734 --> 00:25:04,000 When she went out to check on that tent, 470 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:05,100 she heard... 471 00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:06,268 -[voice growling] - [Marty] ...a sound. 472 00:25:06,268 --> 00:25:06,533 -[voice growling] - [Marty] ...a sound. 473 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,734 -[voice growling] -She described like a growl. 474 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,000 Like a moaning. 475 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,634 She said she had shown her flashlight around 476 00:25:15,634 --> 00:25:16,967 but didn't see anything... 477 00:25:17,634 --> 00:25:19,266 and it scared her to death. 478 00:25:20,867 --> 00:25:22,867 [Marty] By that time the girls in the tent number four 479 00:25:22,867 --> 00:25:25,533 weren't making any noise so she just went back into her tent. 480 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,266 She remembers that as she was falling asleep 481 00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:30,533 she could still hear that sound. 482 00:25:30,533 --> 00:25:32,066 [voice growling] 483 00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:36,268 [Marty] After interviewing, counselors were asked 484 00:25:36,268 --> 00:25:36,467 [Marty] After interviewing, counselors were asked 485 00:25:36,467 --> 00:25:38,634 to check their belongings to see if anything was missing. 486 00:25:39,467 --> 00:25:43,100 One reported missing aviator style glasses. 487 00:25:43,100 --> 00:25:45,634 Another counselor reported the purse that was missing 488 00:25:45,734 --> 00:25:47,900 along with all of its contents. 489 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:50,533 A Kiowa camp counselor also reported 490 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:55,066 that she had a pair of prescription glasses that were missing. 491 00:25:56,533 --> 00:25:57,734 [Christine] And it was later determined 492 00:25:57,734 --> 00:25:59,533 that the glasses... 493 00:25:59,533 --> 00:26:01,734 found close to the bodies 494 00:26:01,734 --> 00:26:05,634 belong to the counselor from the Kiowa unit. 495 00:26:07,367 --> 00:26:09,166 [Marty] In addition, many other counselors 496 00:26:09,166 --> 00:26:11,634 reported that on several of the tents 497 00:26:11,634 --> 00:26:14,266 the back tent flap was taken loose. 498 00:26:14,734 --> 00:26:16,166 So it was determined 499 00:26:16,166 --> 00:26:17,867 that whoever did this 500 00:26:17,900 --> 00:26:19,533 was slipping in the tents from behind 501 00:26:19,533 --> 00:26:20,533 and taking stuff. 502 00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:24,066 You really have to think about that. 503 00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:27,166 That night somebody was sneaking into... 504 00:26:27,166 --> 00:26:28,867 tents all over the camp 505 00:26:28,867 --> 00:26:30,533 getting one of the thing from... 506 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,166 like, glasses and purses 507 00:26:32,166 --> 00:26:33,266 and not wake nobody up. 508 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:35,634 And then find a tent 509 00:26:35,734 --> 00:26:36,268 where eight, nine, ten year old little girls are asleep... 510 00:26:36,268 --> 00:26:39,000 where eight, nine, ten year old little girls are asleep... 511 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,166 and then they turn into some sort of an animal... 512 00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:43,066 for lack of a better word. 513 00:26:43,734 --> 00:26:45,533 But that animal was loose... 514 00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:47,734 and that animal preyed on the innocent. 515 00:26:49,266 --> 00:26:50,967 And left us with carnage. 516 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:02,467 [Sheri] The OSBI came with Lori's belongings. 517 00:27:02,467 --> 00:27:04,867 Of course, I had looked at everything 518 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:06,268 and gone through it and they brought them to us. 519 00:27:06,268 --> 00:27:07,066 and gone through it and they brought them to us. 520 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:08,533 [Bo] They had told us 521 00:27:08,533 --> 00:27:11,533 that there was property stolen... 522 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:12,967 missing... 523 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:15,266 uh, throughout the camp. 524 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:17,867 And they've asked us 525 00:27:17,867 --> 00:27:19,734 to see if there was anything 526 00:27:19,734 --> 00:27:21,166 that we could recognize 527 00:27:21,166 --> 00:27:24,433 as missing from Lori's personal belongings. 528 00:27:25,734 --> 00:27:27,166 [Sheri] Nothing was missing 529 00:27:27,233 --> 00:27:29,266 but in the hat 530 00:27:29,333 --> 00:27:31,066 she had written us a letter 531 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,166 in her Father's Day card for Bo. 532 00:27:34,900 --> 00:27:36,268 "Mommy, Daddy, Misti, Joli, Chad and Haley. 533 00:27:36,268 --> 00:27:38,166 "Mommy, Daddy, Misti, Joli, Chad and Haley. 534 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,100 I'm getting ready to go to bed at 7:45. 535 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:45,066 We're at the beginning of a storm 536 00:27:45,467 --> 00:27:46,900 and having lots of fun. 537 00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:48,467 I've made two new friends, 538 00:27:48,467 --> 00:27:51,333 Michele Guse, Denise Milner. 539 00:27:51,367 --> 00:27:53,533 I just couldn't wait to write. 540 00:27:54,166 --> 00:27:55,166 Love, Lori." 541 00:27:57,867 --> 00:28:00,066 I just, you know, I just... 542 00:28:00,066 --> 00:28:02,900 treasure this when they brought it to us. 543 00:28:04,367 --> 00:28:05,734 And then finding... 544 00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:06,268 her Father's Day card to Bo. 545 00:28:06,268 --> 00:28:08,533 her Father's Day card to Bo. 546 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:12,734 It says, "From your daughter." [clears throat] 547 00:28:13,367 --> 00:28:15,967 "I looked at lots of card for dads. 548 00:28:16,867 --> 00:28:19,433 But I got this one because it says... 549 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,967 "You're all that and more to me." 550 00:28:23,100 --> 00:28:25,000 Happy Father's Day 551 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,867 to the best father in the world. 552 00:28:26,867 --> 00:28:28,166 With love, Lori." 553 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:31,634 [Sheri] That was pretty special what she wrote on it. 554 00:28:32,734 --> 00:28:34,533 And for a smudge she was there. 555 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,634 [Christine] On the morning of June 16th, 556 00:28:40,634 --> 00:28:42,533 three days after the murder, 557 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,900 investigators get a potential lead in the case. 558 00:28:46,100 --> 00:28:51,066 Approximately three miles south-west of the crime scene, 559 00:28:51,266 --> 00:28:52,867 near a creek 560 00:28:52,900 --> 00:28:56,066 two squirrel hunters found some items inside a cave. 561 00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:58,867 [Marty] They saw a sack of flour 562 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,100 along with several other items 563 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:02,467 and they could tell 564 00:29:02,467 --> 00:29:04,266 that somebody had been staying 565 00:29:04,266 --> 00:29:06,268 out in this location. 566 00:29:06,268 --> 00:29:06,433 out in this location. 567 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,900 So they've notified authorities about this. 568 00:29:10,367 --> 00:29:12,967 [Mike] When law enforcement drove down there to it, 569 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,166 they could see the... this cave 570 00:29:15,233 --> 00:29:16,333 and went back in there pretty good ways. 571 00:29:16,367 --> 00:29:18,266 And there were some things 572 00:29:18,333 --> 00:29:20,467 that immediately got their attention. 573 00:29:20,467 --> 00:29:22,100 [Marty] The investigators found 574 00:29:22,100 --> 00:29:23,634 a roll of masking tape, 575 00:29:23,634 --> 00:29:26,734 a piece of dark, heavy trash bag... 576 00:29:27,166 --> 00:29:29,000 a piece of newspaper 577 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,800 and a broken pair of aviator style sunglasses. 578 00:29:33,467 --> 00:29:36,066 Investigators were bagging the items 579 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:36,268 believing they could possibly be connected to the murders. 580 00:29:36,268 --> 00:29:39,967 believing they could possibly be connected to the murders. 581 00:29:40,634 --> 00:29:42,000 [Mike] Through that process 582 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,734 investigators come across two pictures. 583 00:29:46,166 --> 00:29:48,533 [Marty] One photograph had two women in it 584 00:29:48,533 --> 00:29:51,634 and another one had one woman by herself. 585 00:29:51,634 --> 00:29:53,634 [Christine] They are all wearing formal dresses 586 00:29:53,634 --> 00:29:55,100 and the photos look like 587 00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:57,867 they were all taken at the same event. 588 00:29:57,867 --> 00:30:00,800 [Alicia] All of the potential evidence is collected 589 00:30:01,166 --> 00:30:02,867 including the photos 590 00:30:02,867 --> 00:30:05,634 and it's transported to the OSBI headquarters 591 00:30:05,734 --> 00:30:06,268 in Oklahoma City for further evaluation. 592 00:30:06,268 --> 00:30:08,066 in Oklahoma City for further evaluation. 593 00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:10,867 [Mike] Experts in Oklahoma City 594 00:30:10,867 --> 00:30:14,967 examined the roll of the masking tape and that newspaper 595 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,634 and both 'em fracture match perfectly 596 00:30:18,634 --> 00:30:22,533 with evidence that's on the flashlight found at the crime scene. 597 00:30:23,634 --> 00:30:25,734 So the masking tape 598 00:30:25,734 --> 00:30:28,367 that's holding the black plastic on the flashlight 599 00:30:28,367 --> 00:30:29,634 found at the same 600 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:32,867 fracture matches exactly 601 00:30:32,867 --> 00:30:35,100 to the roll of the masking tape 602 00:30:35,100 --> 00:30:36,268 as you can see... right here 603 00:30:36,268 --> 00:30:38,066 as you can see... right here 604 00:30:38,533 --> 00:30:40,734 and inside the flashlight, 605 00:30:40,734 --> 00:30:42,634 holding the battery in place, 606 00:30:42,634 --> 00:30:45,734 is newspaper which also 607 00:30:45,734 --> 00:30:49,634 perfectly matches newspaper found at the cave. 608 00:30:50,467 --> 00:30:53,867 So, basically, whoever was at the cave 609 00:30:53,900 --> 00:30:54,867 was at the scene. 610 00:30:54,867 --> 00:30:57,634 Whoever was at the scene was at the cave. 611 00:30:57,634 --> 00:30:59,533 [Alicia] Establishing this connection 612 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,533 is a major break in the case 613 00:31:01,533 --> 00:31:03,433 and investigators believe 614 00:31:03,500 --> 00:31:05,634 that identifying the women in the photographs 615 00:31:05,634 --> 00:31:06,268 may be the key to finding a suspect. 616 00:31:06,268 --> 00:31:08,266 may be the key to finding a suspect. 617 00:31:14,266 --> 00:31:15,367 In Tulsa, Oklahoma today 618 00:31:15,367 --> 00:31:16,734 a funeral service was held. 619 00:31:16,734 --> 00:31:19,066 There will be three services this week, 620 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:21,100 one for each of the young Girl Scouts 621 00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:24,233 murdered on Monday in a camping trip in Locust Grove. 622 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:28,066 [Sheri] Lori's birthday was the 18th. 623 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,533 It would have been the next Sunday... 624 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,867 and she was gonna be at Camp Scott for two weeks. 625 00:31:35,867 --> 00:31:37,367 So our plans were, 626 00:31:37,367 --> 00:31:39,066 we'd gather all the family up, 627 00:31:39,066 --> 00:31:41,533 go up there, celebrate her birth... 628 00:31:41,533 --> 00:31:43,838 -her birthday and Father's Day. -Uh, and Father's Day. 629 00:31:43,838 --> 00:31:43,900 -her birthday and Father's Day. -Uh, and Father's Day. 630 00:31:45,467 --> 00:31:48,634 [Sheri] So instead of having Lori's birthday 631 00:31:48,634 --> 00:31:49,967 and Father's Day, 632 00:31:50,634 --> 00:31:51,734 we had her funeral. 633 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:53,967 Lori... 634 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:56,233 is in heaven with God. 635 00:31:57,166 --> 00:31:58,634 [Misti] Even at seven, 636 00:31:58,634 --> 00:32:00,867 I knew that Lori was gonna be... 637 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,433 gone forever. 638 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,967 I remember at such a young age 639 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:09,634 being fearful... 640 00:32:10,467 --> 00:32:13,838 more scared, more aware of my surroundings. 641 00:32:13,838 --> 00:32:14,700 more scared, more aware of my surroundings. 642 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:18,333 Concerned that anything could happen to us. 643 00:32:19,533 --> 00:32:21,166 [Joli] I did not go to the funeral. 644 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,533 Now, of course, I look back and I wish I had. 645 00:32:25,066 --> 00:32:26,066 Um... 646 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,533 But I can understand my five year old self 647 00:32:29,533 --> 00:32:30,634 not wanting to... 648 00:32:31,266 --> 00:32:32,533 to do that at that time. 649 00:32:35,533 --> 00:32:38,266 [Alicia] Due to the extent of the injuries 650 00:32:38,266 --> 00:32:40,467 her daughter sustained, 651 00:32:40,533 --> 00:32:42,734 Bettye Milner is advised to proceed 652 00:32:42,734 --> 00:32:43,838 with a close casket service. 653 00:32:43,838 --> 00:32:45,634 with a close casket service. 654 00:32:45,734 --> 00:32:46,967 for ten year old Denise. 655 00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:52,066 I could never accept that she was dead 656 00:32:52,066 --> 00:32:53,734 if I didn't actually see her. 657 00:32:56,367 --> 00:32:58,333 My family and I did go to see her 658 00:32:58,367 --> 00:33:00,333 but we were the only one to... 659 00:33:01,066 --> 00:33:02,066 saw the body. 660 00:33:04,533 --> 00:33:05,634 Uh, her body was... 661 00:33:05,634 --> 00:33:07,734 I mean, you could see the bruises, you know, 662 00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:10,433 but other than that she looked perfect. 663 00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:12,100 And she was asleep. 664 00:33:13,867 --> 00:33:14,867 And... 665 00:33:15,533 --> 00:33:16,500 [speaking indistinctly] 666 00:33:20,367 --> 00:33:22,333 [Christine] Back in the Locust Grove area, 667 00:33:22,367 --> 00:33:24,533 law enforcement wanted to get the monster 668 00:33:24,533 --> 00:33:26,467 that killed those three girls 669 00:33:26,467 --> 00:33:28,867 but it was this huge murder mystery. 670 00:33:29,634 --> 00:33:30,533 And so, of course, 671 00:33:30,533 --> 00:33:33,166 that scared the community. 672 00:33:33,166 --> 00:33:34,634 Residents around Locust Grove 673 00:33:34,634 --> 00:33:36,166 believe it was an outsider 674 00:33:36,166 --> 00:33:37,467 and that worries them. 675 00:33:37,467 --> 00:33:39,734 It also scares them the police aren't talking 676 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:41,867 about a motive or a suspect. 677 00:33:41,900 --> 00:33:43,166 Oh, I'm horrified, naturally, 678 00:33:43,166 --> 00:33:43,838 -like everyone else. -[woman] Uh-huh. 679 00:33:43,838 --> 00:33:45,233 -like everyone else. -[woman] Uh-huh. 680 00:33:45,266 --> 00:33:46,967 I'm just hoping they'll find who did it. 681 00:33:49,467 --> 00:33:51,266 [Christine] Following their one good lead, 682 00:33:51,266 --> 00:33:53,800 OSBI does everything in their power 683 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:55,166 to figure out where the photos 684 00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:57,333 that they found in the cave came from... 685 00:33:57,900 --> 00:33:58,900 and who these women are. 686 00:33:59,700 --> 00:34:03,233 The investigation to identify those... 687 00:34:04,166 --> 00:34:06,867 uh, pictures... 688 00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:10,266 took incredible man hours and work. 689 00:34:10,266 --> 00:34:12,166 And once we had exhausted 690 00:34:12,166 --> 00:34:13,838 all of our avenues, 691 00:34:13,838 --> 00:34:14,233 all of our avenues, 692 00:34:15,367 --> 00:34:18,333 we decided to release 'em to the press 693 00:34:18,367 --> 00:34:19,634 on the 10 o'clock news. 694 00:34:21,166 --> 00:34:23,634 [Marty] Almost immediately, an individual came forward 695 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:26,100 and said that he knew... 696 00:34:26,467 --> 00:34:27,367 who those women were 697 00:34:27,367 --> 00:34:28,734 and where those pictures were taken. 698 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,634 It was determined that the photographer 699 00:34:32,734 --> 00:34:35,900 who took those pictures was a part time photographer. 700 00:34:35,900 --> 00:34:38,634 His full time job was working 701 00:34:38,734 --> 00:34:41,634 at the prison in Grant, Oklahoma. 702 00:34:42,734 --> 00:34:43,838 This individual said that those pictures 703 00:34:43,838 --> 00:34:44,367 This individual said that those pictures 704 00:34:44,367 --> 00:34:45,867 where taken at a wedding 705 00:34:45,867 --> 00:34:47,467 and he didn't know how anybody 706 00:34:47,467 --> 00:34:48,634 could have gotten those pictures 707 00:34:48,634 --> 00:34:50,967 because he had the original pictures 708 00:34:51,266 --> 00:34:52,734 and the proofs. 709 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,000 [Mike] Came to find out this photographer 710 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,800 had his stuff developed 711 00:34:57,800 --> 00:34:58,967 at Grant prison. 712 00:35:00,166 --> 00:35:02,734 [Marty] According to him, as a work program, 713 00:35:02,734 --> 00:35:04,533 prisoners were assigned to work 714 00:35:04,634 --> 00:35:05,734 in the records division 715 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:08,166 and sometimes process photographs for him 716 00:35:08,166 --> 00:35:10,634 that he would take at events. 717 00:35:10,634 --> 00:35:13,467 [Dick] This records officer said, for felony, 718 00:35:13,467 --> 00:35:13,838 Gene Leroy Hart 719 00:35:13,838 --> 00:35:15,066 Gene Leroy Hart 720 00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:16,634 was his dark room technician 721 00:35:16,634 --> 00:35:19,734 at the time those pictures were taken 722 00:35:19,734 --> 00:35:21,634 and was the guy who developed them. 723 00:35:23,266 --> 00:35:26,800 [Christine] Gene Leroy Hart had been a prisoner in the '60s 724 00:35:27,166 --> 00:35:28,867 and lo and behold, 725 00:35:28,900 --> 00:35:32,166 Locust Grove was Hart's hometown. 726 00:35:32,166 --> 00:35:35,000 [Dick] And in fact, Gene Hart's mother lived 727 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,734 about a quarter to half a mile away 728 00:35:37,734 --> 00:35:39,333 from the crime scene. 729 00:35:41,700 --> 00:35:43,838 [Christine] Investigators looked into Gene Leroy Hart 730 00:35:43,838 --> 00:35:44,433 [Christine] Investigators looked into Gene Leroy Hart 731 00:35:45,367 --> 00:35:48,367 and they noticed that his previous crimes 732 00:35:48,367 --> 00:35:50,066 were eerily similar 733 00:35:50,066 --> 00:35:52,900 to the three Camp Scott murders. 734 00:35:53,734 --> 00:35:56,000 [Marty] In 1966, Gene Leroy Hart 735 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:58,533 abducted two women coming out of a night club 736 00:35:58,634 --> 00:35:59,533 at gunpoint. 737 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:03,734 Loaded them in his vehicle... 738 00:36:05,266 --> 00:36:07,734 and took them to a secluded area. 739 00:36:11,533 --> 00:36:13,367 He bound both of these women 740 00:36:13,367 --> 00:36:13,838 in such a manner where 741 00:36:13,838 --> 00:36:14,634 in such a manner where 742 00:36:14,634 --> 00:36:16,433 they each got a noose around their neck... 743 00:36:17,166 --> 00:36:19,734 connected to their hands and their feet. 744 00:36:20,500 --> 00:36:22,734 [Mike] Gene Hart ended up duct taping them 745 00:36:22,734 --> 00:36:26,367 and binding them with cord 746 00:36:26,367 --> 00:36:28,066 to... if they moved they would choke themselves out. 747 00:36:28,066 --> 00:36:29,166 Duct taped their eyes, nose 748 00:36:29,233 --> 00:36:31,233 and a pile brush upon top of 'em, 749 00:36:31,266 --> 00:36:33,166 while he was taking turns raping 'em. 750 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:36,800 [voice growling] 751 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:39,066 [Marty] It was reported that during the rapes 752 00:36:39,066 --> 00:36:41,734 he made a low guttural sound 753 00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:43,838 that almost didn't sound human. 754 00:36:43,838 --> 00:36:44,433 that almost didn't sound human. 755 00:36:45,533 --> 00:36:48,467 After Hart finished raping each of them, 756 00:36:48,533 --> 00:36:50,166 he simply left them for dead. 757 00:36:51,467 --> 00:36:53,900 By the grace of God, both of these women survived, 758 00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:56,634 ultimately identifying Gene Leroy Hart, 759 00:36:56,634 --> 00:36:58,166 leading to his conviction. 760 00:36:59,367 --> 00:37:02,000 [Christine] On October 14th, 1966, 761 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,634 Gene Leroy Hart is sentenced to 30 years in prison. 762 00:37:06,266 --> 00:37:07,900 But he doesn't stay long. 763 00:37:09,634 --> 00:37:12,166 Hart was paroled after serving 28 months 764 00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:13,634 for good behavior. 765 00:37:14,266 --> 00:37:15,900 And very shortly after that 766 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:18,467 he committed several burglaries. 767 00:37:18,533 --> 00:37:21,367 Hart would sneak into people houses while they was asleep 768 00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:23,900 and walk up beside their bed 769 00:37:23,900 --> 00:37:26,100 and take items from beside their head... 770 00:37:27,066 --> 00:37:28,066 and leave. 771 00:37:29,467 --> 00:37:31,467 [Marty] Hart was ultimately apprehended 772 00:37:31,467 --> 00:37:32,533 for the burglaries 773 00:37:32,634 --> 00:37:34,266 and convicted to serve 774 00:37:34,266 --> 00:37:35,867 an excess of 300 years. 775 00:37:36,900 --> 00:37:41,266 In 1973, he was transferred to Mayes County Jail 776 00:37:41,266 --> 00:37:43,734 for a post-conviction relief hearing. 777 00:37:43,734 --> 00:37:43,838 And he escaped by sawing through the bars 778 00:37:43,838 --> 00:37:47,233 And he escaped by sawing through the bars 779 00:37:47,266 --> 00:37:48,800 in one of the cells. 780 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,634 Eventually he was apprehended... 781 00:37:51,266 --> 00:37:53,166 but several months later 782 00:37:53,233 --> 00:37:54,100 he escaped again. 783 00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:56,066 And this time, 784 00:37:56,100 --> 00:37:57,533 much to the frustration 785 00:37:57,634 --> 00:38:00,066 of the Mayes Country Sheriff Pete Weaver, 786 00:38:00,066 --> 00:38:01,734 Gene Leroy Hard was never apprehended. 787 00:38:02,634 --> 00:38:05,333 This man had been a fugitive for four years 788 00:38:05,367 --> 00:38:07,066 at the time of the murders. 789 00:38:08,367 --> 00:38:09,367 [Marty] Given his history, 790 00:38:09,367 --> 00:38:11,467 his familiarity with the area, 791 00:38:11,467 --> 00:38:13,533 his connection to the photographs 792 00:38:13,533 --> 00:38:13,838 and the fact that 793 00:38:13,838 --> 00:38:15,467 and the fact that 794 00:38:15,467 --> 00:38:17,066 the masking tape, 795 00:38:17,066 --> 00:38:19,233 the black plastic trash bag 796 00:38:19,266 --> 00:38:21,700 and newspaper found in the cave, 797 00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:23,867 it'll be linked to the flashlight 798 00:38:23,867 --> 00:38:26,166 that was found at the crime scene. 799 00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:28,367 Investigators believe Gene Leroy Hart 800 00:38:28,367 --> 00:38:29,734 was a viable suspect 801 00:38:29,734 --> 00:38:32,634 so the focus became on finding him. 802 00:38:33,367 --> 00:38:34,634 [reporter] It was a passe. 803 00:38:34,634 --> 00:38:36,166 More than 200 townspeople 804 00:38:36,166 --> 00:38:38,467 at Locust Grove at sunrise today 805 00:38:38,467 --> 00:38:40,800 to help find the man charged with the killings. 806 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:43,838 [Alicia] The level of evil of these heinous crimes 807 00:38:43,838 --> 00:38:46,800 [Alicia] The level of evil of these heinous crimes 808 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:48,867 had never been seen before. 809 00:38:48,867 --> 00:38:53,100 And Hart becomes the most wanted man in Oklahoma. 810 00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:54,734 [dogs barking] 811 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:58,233 It was the largest man hunt in Oklahoma history. 812 00:38:59,367 --> 00:39:02,367 Bo and I were very optimistic 813 00:39:02,367 --> 00:39:07,266 that Gene Leroy Hart would be captured quickly. 814 00:39:07,266 --> 00:39:10,634 [Marty] Multiple agencies got involved in the search 815 00:39:11,266 --> 00:39:12,800 but I don't think there's any way 816 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:13,838 that they could have been prepared for what happened. 817 00:39:13,838 --> 00:39:14,900 that they could have been prepared for what happened. 818 00:39:28,166 --> 00:39:29,533 [reporter] This is Locust Grove, 819 00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:30,634 where the killings took place 820 00:39:30,734 --> 00:39:32,467 and where Gene Leroy Hart grew up. 821 00:39:32,467 --> 00:39:34,533 Many people here don't believe Hart did it. 822 00:39:34,533 --> 00:39:36,166 Know Gene like I know me. 823 00:39:36,166 --> 00:39:38,333 And I'm not capable of that kind of crime 824 00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:39,533 and Gene's not either. 825 00:39:39,634 --> 00:39:41,734 -[reporter] Do you know the man they're looking for? -Yes. 826 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:42,734 [reporter] How well do you know him? 827 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,000 [man] He was our student at school. 828 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:46,066 Played football. 829 00:39:47,266 --> 00:39:49,000 [Dick] Gene Hart was a football star. 830 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,233 His coach said he was the finest young man 831 00:39:51,266 --> 00:39:51,325 he ever coached. 832 00:39:51,325 --> 00:39:52,233 he ever coached. 833 00:39:53,166 --> 00:39:55,367 The people that knew him said 834 00:39:55,367 --> 00:39:56,533 that he was a likeable guy. 835 00:39:56,634 --> 00:39:57,734 He was a good looking guy. 836 00:39:57,800 --> 00:39:59,734 He was an articulate guy. 837 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:01,734 [Christine] Despite his previous crimes 838 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:04,066 he was like a hometown hero. 839 00:40:04,100 --> 00:40:06,634 But this case also came out at a time 840 00:40:06,634 --> 00:40:08,634 when there was so much anger 841 00:40:08,634 --> 00:40:10,734 and so much dissident going on. 842 00:40:11,467 --> 00:40:13,367 There was Wounded Knee and Red Power, 843 00:40:13,367 --> 00:40:16,233 and I think that Hart who was Cherokee 844 00:40:16,266 --> 00:40:17,634 was sort of looked at 845 00:40:17,634 --> 00:40:19,333 as part of this movement. 846 00:40:19,367 --> 00:40:21,325 There was a lot of animosity going on 847 00:40:21,325 --> 00:40:21,634 There was a lot of animosity going on 848 00:40:21,634 --> 00:40:24,233 between, like, the local police department 849 00:40:24,266 --> 00:40:26,000 as well as the community 850 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:27,800 which was heavily Cherokee. 851 00:40:31,734 --> 00:40:33,266 I'm Gary Pitchlynn. 852 00:40:33,266 --> 00:40:34,734 I'm a criminal defense lawyer. 853 00:40:36,533 --> 00:40:37,533 Gene had escaped 854 00:40:37,533 --> 00:40:40,867 from the Mayes County Jail twice in 1973 855 00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:43,900 and had been evading County Sherriff Pete Weaver 856 00:40:43,900 --> 00:40:45,734 for at least four years. 857 00:40:46,467 --> 00:40:47,900 And Pete have been embarrassed 858 00:40:47,900 --> 00:40:51,100 at not being able to find this fugitive. 859 00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:51,325 So there was a general sense in the community 860 00:40:51,325 --> 00:40:53,533 So there was a general sense in the community 861 00:40:53,533 --> 00:40:55,166 that sheriff's got it up for Gene Hart 862 00:40:55,233 --> 00:40:57,734 and any chance he gets, yeah, he'll burn him. 863 00:41:00,100 --> 00:41:01,533 My name is Kim Baker 864 00:41:01,533 --> 00:41:04,066 and I am Gene Leroy Hart's niece. 865 00:41:06,100 --> 00:41:09,533 My family spoke of the case 866 00:41:09,533 --> 00:41:12,233 as being a railroaded situation. 867 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,533 They believed that there was 868 00:41:15,533 --> 00:41:18,333 a decision made by the sheriff at the time 869 00:41:18,734 --> 00:41:21,266 that Gene had been 870 00:41:21,266 --> 00:41:21,325 the perpetrator based on the fact 871 00:41:21,325 --> 00:41:23,166 the perpetrator based on the fact 872 00:41:23,233 --> 00:41:25,066 that Gene had been on the run for so long. 873 00:41:25,467 --> 00:41:27,533 That Gene had escaped. 874 00:41:27,634 --> 00:41:31,734 [Gary] Once sheriff Weaver named Gene Hart a suspect, 875 00:41:31,734 --> 00:41:33,433 a great deal of the community 876 00:41:33,500 --> 00:41:35,634 did not think that he had committed these crimes 877 00:41:35,734 --> 00:41:38,233 and a lot of people, particularly Cherokee people 878 00:41:38,266 --> 00:41:40,333 were concerned for his welfare 879 00:41:40,367 --> 00:41:41,867 and so there were people in the community 880 00:41:41,867 --> 00:41:44,800 that refused to cooperate in his apprehension. 881 00:41:45,900 --> 00:41:48,367 [Mike] The people in Locust Grove thought, 882 00:41:48,367 --> 00:41:49,800 you know, he's just a good old boy 883 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:51,325 and there's no way that good old boy did it. 884 00:41:51,325 --> 00:41:51,367 and there's no way that good old boy did it. 885 00:41:51,367 --> 00:41:52,533 But what people don't understand, 886 00:41:52,533 --> 00:41:55,166 let's just take away the Girl Scout stuff. 887 00:41:56,533 --> 00:41:58,367 How can a man be such a good old boy 888 00:41:58,367 --> 00:42:00,634 with everything he's done leading up to that? 889 00:42:00,634 --> 00:42:02,166 They've seem to forget about that. 890 00:42:03,100 --> 00:42:04,266 And that's sad because they're not 891 00:42:04,266 --> 00:42:05,533 looking at the true problem. 892 00:42:05,634 --> 00:42:07,734 The problem is you got potential suspect 893 00:42:07,734 --> 00:42:10,066 who might have brutally murdered these little babies. 894 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:13,000 [Sheri] There reached a point 895 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:14,634 when we were getting frustrated 896 00:42:14,634 --> 00:42:18,867 because the manhunt started to take a long time. 897 00:42:19,734 --> 00:42:21,325 And when the leaves started changing 898 00:42:21,325 --> 00:42:22,166 And when the leaves started changing 899 00:42:22,233 --> 00:42:24,900 and another season was coming 900 00:42:24,900 --> 00:42:26,867 and Lori was not here, 901 00:42:26,867 --> 00:42:29,433 I did go through, uh... 902 00:42:30,533 --> 00:42:33,066 a real depression 903 00:42:33,100 --> 00:42:36,066 that made it hard to function. 904 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:37,634 [sniffles] 905 00:42:39,467 --> 00:42:41,166 [Alicia] By December of 1977, 906 00:42:41,166 --> 00:42:44,734 the manhunt for Gene Leroy Hart is called off, 907 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,433 and a new tactic is employed. 908 00:42:48,266 --> 00:42:49,867 [Christine] Lot of law enforcement believed 909 00:42:49,900 --> 00:42:51,325 that Hart was still in the community, 910 00:42:51,325 --> 00:42:52,266 that Hart was still in the community, 911 00:42:52,266 --> 00:42:54,734 and his family and friends were harboring him. 912 00:42:54,734 --> 00:42:58,100 [Marty] The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent Harvey Pratt 913 00:42:58,100 --> 00:42:59,233 is a Native American 914 00:42:59,266 --> 00:43:01,467 and fit in with a lot of the people 915 00:43:01,467 --> 00:43:03,000 in that community, 916 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,634 so he went undercover in... in the Locust Grove area. 917 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,266 [Harvey] My focus was apprehension, 918 00:43:09,266 --> 00:43:11,533 you know, taking somebody into custody, 919 00:43:11,533 --> 00:43:14,266 knowing that if he doesn't surrender, you know, 920 00:43:14,266 --> 00:43:16,800 he's probably gonna get killed 'cause of the type of crime. 921 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:20,066 So as we got into the investigation, 922 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:21,325 we found out, supposedly, that Gene Leroy Hart 923 00:43:21,325 --> 00:43:22,734 we found out, supposedly, that Gene Leroy Hart 924 00:43:22,734 --> 00:43:25,166 was living with, uh, this older gentleman, 925 00:43:25,233 --> 00:43:27,166 but we didn't know where he lived. 926 00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:29,734 [Marty] Eventually, he developed a confidential informant 927 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:33,066 who was able to identify a woman 928 00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:35,533 who knew where Gene Leroy Hart was hiding out. 929 00:43:36,467 --> 00:43:40,100 And Harvey Pratt approached this woman. 930 00:43:40,100 --> 00:43:42,467 I said, "You need to let us take him into custody, 931 00:43:42,467 --> 00:43:44,967 because we are not gonna hurt him." 932 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:47,333 I said, "There's a good chance that someone's probably gonna kill him." 933 00:43:48,467 --> 00:43:50,166 You could see that she was nervous, 934 00:43:50,166 --> 00:43:51,325 you know, maybe little frightened. 935 00:43:51,325 --> 00:43:52,467 you know, maybe little frightened. 936 00:43:52,467 --> 00:43:55,800 And that's when she told us where she thought he might be. 937 00:43:57,166 --> 00:43:59,734 [Christine] Agent Pratt finally tracked down Hart 938 00:43:59,734 --> 00:44:02,734 to a cabin in the Cookson Hills. 939 00:44:07,500 --> 00:44:10,467 [Sheri] Ten months after Lori was murdered, 940 00:44:10,467 --> 00:44:14,166 they found and captured Gene Leroy Hart. 941 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:19,166 It was certainly a very emotional time. 942 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:21,325 And after Hart was captured, 943 00:44:21,325 --> 00:44:22,634 And after Hart was captured, 944 00:44:22,634 --> 00:44:27,233 Bo and I were there that day when they arraigned him. 945 00:44:28,634 --> 00:44:32,367 [Bo] It was just a very unsettling feeling 946 00:44:32,367 --> 00:44:34,634 to know that we were in the same room 947 00:44:34,734 --> 00:44:36,867 with the person that very possibly 948 00:44:36,867 --> 00:44:38,634 could have killed our daughter. 949 00:44:39,634 --> 00:44:43,000 [Sheri] I did want to make eye contact with him. 950 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:45,000 I felt like I would know 951 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:47,867 by looking at him if he did this. 952 00:44:47,867 --> 00:44:49,967 But he did never look at us. 953 00:44:50,900 --> 00:44:51,325 Gene Hart was charged with three counts of murder, 954 00:44:51,325 --> 00:44:53,867 Gene Hart was charged with three counts of murder, 955 00:44:53,867 --> 00:44:57,066 three counts of kidnapping, three counts of rape. 956 00:44:57,867 --> 00:45:00,634 Gene Hart pled not guilty to all the charges, 957 00:45:00,634 --> 00:45:03,533 and so we prepared ourselves to go to trial, 958 00:45:03,634 --> 00:45:05,433 and he had a lot of supporters. 959 00:45:06,467 --> 00:45:07,734 Within the context of the time, 960 00:45:07,734 --> 00:45:11,000 Cherokee community members supported my uncle Gene 961 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:12,900 as someone who was representing 962 00:45:12,900 --> 00:45:15,734 the struggle against injustice. 963 00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:18,900 That was and is still... 964 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:21,325 a big issue for us. 965 00:45:21,325 --> 00:45:21,634 a big issue for us. 966 00:45:22,533 --> 00:45:25,533 [Bo] They were having community events, 967 00:45:25,533 --> 00:45:26,900 chicken dinners, 968 00:45:26,900 --> 00:45:31,433 and there would be a big jar there for donations 969 00:45:31,500 --> 00:45:33,433 to raise money for Hart. 970 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:36,367 [reporter] Hart grew up near here. 971 00:45:36,367 --> 00:45:38,100 Fourteen-hundred people in his hometown 972 00:45:38,100 --> 00:45:40,367 helped raise money for his defense. 973 00:45:40,367 --> 00:45:41,734 His attorneys don't feel they can find 974 00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:44,333 a more sympathetic jury anywhere else. 975 00:45:46,166 --> 00:45:48,734 [Sandi] My name is Sandi Garett. 976 00:45:48,734 --> 00:45:51,325 I was a jurist on the Gene Hart trial. 977 00:45:51,325 --> 00:45:52,066 I was a jurist on the Gene Hart trial. 978 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:56,634 I am a part Cherokee... 979 00:45:57,734 --> 00:46:01,233 and it shocked me that I was still on there. 980 00:46:01,266 --> 00:46:04,266 Being Cherokee, and having Cherokee friends, 981 00:46:04,266 --> 00:46:07,433 I just thought I weren't a very good candidate, 982 00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:10,333 that I had something I needed to be doing 983 00:46:10,367 --> 00:46:13,433 and, uh, so I set my mind to it. 984 00:46:14,900 --> 00:46:17,100 [Sheri] When we went over for the trial, 985 00:46:17,100 --> 00:46:19,634 I just felt like I needed a personal journal 986 00:46:19,634 --> 00:46:21,325 of our experience while we were there. 987 00:46:21,325 --> 00:46:22,467 of our experience while we were there. 988 00:46:22,467 --> 00:46:28,166 And, of course, the first one is March 19th, 1979. 989 00:46:28,166 --> 00:46:31,533 "Today testimony is to begin finally, 990 00:46:31,634 --> 00:46:36,634 21 months and six days after Lori was murdered. 991 00:46:36,634 --> 00:46:40,467 Hart arrived and is dressed in a blue suit with a vest, 992 00:46:40,467 --> 00:46:42,800 suddenly he's an ordinary-looking. 993 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:46,800 Of course, they have worked really hard to give him this new look." 994 00:46:48,467 --> 00:46:51,325 [Alicia] As the trial starts, the prosecution lays out their hypothesis of events 995 00:46:51,325 --> 00:46:52,233 [Alicia] As the trial starts, the prosecution lays out their hypothesis of events 996 00:46:52,266 --> 00:46:57,066 for before, during, and after the murders took place. 997 00:47:00,900 --> 00:47:03,066 [Mike] It was believed that Gene Hart created 998 00:47:03,100 --> 00:47:06,367 this manipulated flashlight at the cave, 999 00:47:06,367 --> 00:47:08,900 which is a premeditated tool 1000 00:47:08,900 --> 00:47:10,166 so he can sneak around better 1001 00:47:10,166 --> 00:47:12,333 not having very much light emitted out of it. 1002 00:47:13,266 --> 00:47:16,800 [Alicia] They said at some point Hart burglarized 1003 00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:20,867 Jack Shroff's farmhouse just a short distance away. 1004 00:47:20,900 --> 00:47:21,325 [Mike] Hart stole the black duct tape, a nylon rope. 1005 00:47:21,325 --> 00:47:24,867 [Mike] Hart stole the black duct tape, a nylon rope. 1006 00:47:24,900 --> 00:47:28,533 While he was there, he left a boot mark on the floor. 1007 00:47:28,533 --> 00:47:30,634 [Alicia] After breaking into Shroff's farmhouse, 1008 00:47:30,634 --> 00:47:32,533 it's believed that Hart walks 1009 00:47:32,533 --> 00:47:35,000 the three-quarters of a mile to Camp Scott, 1010 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,066 and that while the campers were eating dinner, 1011 00:47:38,100 --> 00:47:42,533 he burglarized the tents, stealing various items. 1012 00:47:42,533 --> 00:47:46,166 At that point, Gene Hart sat there just waiting for the girls to go to sleep, 1013 00:47:46,233 --> 00:47:48,867 just a short ways from Kiowa. 1014 00:47:50,266 --> 00:47:51,325 [Alicia] Once comfortable that the entire camp was asleep, 1015 00:47:51,325 --> 00:47:55,000 [Alicia] Once comfortable that the entire camp was asleep, 1016 00:47:55,000 --> 00:47:59,533 he made is way over to the Kiowa Unit tent number seven, 1017 00:47:59,533 --> 00:48:03,066 guided by the modified flashlight. 1018 00:48:05,166 --> 00:48:08,166 [Mike] Documentation stated, it appeared Gene Hart 1019 00:48:08,233 --> 00:48:09,734 entered the rear of the tent... 1020 00:48:12,533 --> 00:48:14,967 and then attacked these three children. 1021 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:16,467 [thunderclap] 1022 00:48:16,467 --> 00:48:18,900 [Alicia] Although a murder weapon was never found, 1023 00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:20,867 it's believed that Hart 1024 00:48:20,867 --> 00:48:21,325 bludgeoned Michelle Guse and Lori Farmer to death. 1025 00:48:21,325 --> 00:48:24,967 bludgeoned Michelle Guse and Lori Farmer to death. 1026 00:48:26,533 --> 00:48:29,867 [Mike] At that point, Gene Hart gets control of Denise Milner 1027 00:48:29,867 --> 00:48:33,734 by binding her with cord, and he put the gag on her, 1028 00:48:33,734 --> 00:48:34,967 but she was still alive. 1029 00:48:36,100 --> 00:48:39,233 [Alicia] Prosecutors are certain that Lori Farmer 1030 00:48:39,266 --> 00:48:42,233 and Michelle Guse are... 1031 00:48:42,266 --> 00:48:44,467 sexually assaulted postmortem. 1032 00:48:44,467 --> 00:48:46,533 [thunderclap] 1033 00:48:46,533 --> 00:48:51,325 Afterwards, Hart hastily gathered the little girls' bodies. 1034 00:48:51,325 --> 00:48:51,734 Afterwards, Hart hastily gathered the little girls' bodies. 1035 00:48:52,634 --> 00:48:54,533 [Mike] Hart took the sleeping bag 1036 00:48:54,634 --> 00:48:56,333 and just crammed the child in there, 1037 00:48:56,367 --> 00:48:58,800 and then he just grabbed those sleeping bags 1038 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:01,266 and took these three small children 1039 00:49:01,266 --> 00:49:03,634 roughly a 150 yards to this tree. 1040 00:49:04,634 --> 00:49:07,367 [Alicia] At this point, prosecutors say 1041 00:49:07,367 --> 00:49:10,467 Hart sexually assaults Denise 1042 00:49:10,467 --> 00:49:12,867 and strangles her to death. 1043 00:49:15,166 --> 00:49:17,734 [Mike] Hart up and leaves and went back to the cave 1044 00:49:17,800 --> 00:49:19,166 with all this stuff 1045 00:49:19,233 --> 00:49:21,325 that had been stolen from the camp. 1046 00:49:21,325 --> 00:49:21,734 that had been stolen from the camp. 1047 00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:25,266 [Sandi] Seeing and hearing what happened, 1048 00:49:25,266 --> 00:49:28,867 I couldn't imagine, it sounded like a... a monster. 1049 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:32,333 It was such a horrific thing. 1050 00:49:33,467 --> 00:49:36,266 [Alicia] The prosecution presents what they believe to be 1051 00:49:36,266 --> 00:49:39,000 an overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence, 1052 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:41,333 including hair and semen samples 1053 00:49:41,367 --> 00:49:45,166 said to belong to Hart taken from the crime scene. 1054 00:49:46,266 --> 00:49:48,734 [Andrea] While Gene Leroy Hart was in jail, 1055 00:49:48,734 --> 00:49:50,734 law enforcement collected his underwear 1056 00:49:50,734 --> 00:49:51,325 and submitted those to the laboratory for forensic testing... 1057 00:49:51,325 --> 00:49:54,467 and submitted those to the laboratory for forensic testing... 1058 00:49:54,467 --> 00:49:57,634 and there were sperm identified in his underwear. 1059 00:49:57,634 --> 00:50:00,166 [Christine] During the trial, an expert testified 1060 00:50:00,166 --> 00:50:02,967 that the semen that was found in Hart's underwear 1061 00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:04,900 was deformed. 1062 00:50:04,900 --> 00:50:09,166 The experts had said Hart's semen could have become deformed 1063 00:50:09,166 --> 00:50:11,166 due to a botched vasectomy 1064 00:50:11,166 --> 00:50:13,433 he had received, you know, in the mid-'60s. 1065 00:50:15,100 --> 00:50:17,734 [Alicia] The prosecution points out that this distinct trait 1066 00:50:17,734 --> 00:50:20,266 is also noted on the semen collected 1067 00:50:20,266 --> 00:50:21,325 by the Tulsa County medical examiner during the autopsies. 1068 00:50:21,325 --> 00:50:24,533 by the Tulsa County medical examiner during the autopsies. 1069 00:50:26,634 --> 00:50:28,367 [Dick] This was a strong case. 1070 00:50:28,367 --> 00:50:30,967 Sure, it's all circumstantial evidence, 1071 00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:32,867 but my God, how many circumstances 1072 00:50:32,900 --> 00:50:33,967 can there be? 1073 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:37,000 [Gary] In the eyes of the public, 1074 00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:39,967 obviously, it made him look bad initially. 1075 00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,266 And Garvin and I both just sort of took it as a challenge. 1076 00:50:43,266 --> 00:50:46,166 We didn't hesitate to push the limits. 1077 00:50:46,166 --> 00:50:50,634 And so, Garvin and I held a press conference for Gene. 1078 00:50:50,634 --> 00:50:51,325 [interviewer] Gene, how do you feel you may have been treated in the jail 1079 00:50:51,325 --> 00:50:53,266 [interviewer] Gene, how do you feel you may have been treated in the jail 1080 00:50:53,266 --> 00:50:55,066 you've been spending your time in? 1081 00:50:55,600 --> 00:50:57,333 My mama always told me 1082 00:50:57,367 --> 00:51:00,066 never to say anything ab your host. 1083 00:51:00,066 --> 00:51:03,066 [Gary] Overall, I think that he presented himself well. 1084 00:51:03,100 --> 00:51:05,367 He looked like a regular guy, um, 1085 00:51:05,367 --> 00:51:08,166 and not some kind of monster as he'd been portrayed. 1086 00:51:08,166 --> 00:51:10,266 [interviewer] Do you have, uh, a view of yourself, 1087 00:51:10,266 --> 00:51:12,333 and can you share that with us? 1088 00:51:12,367 --> 00:51:13,533 I am not a hero. 1089 00:51:14,734 --> 00:51:17,533 [Sheri] Whether you thought he did this or not, 1090 00:51:17,634 --> 00:51:19,533 he escaped from jail, 1091 00:51:19,634 --> 00:51:21,325 and he'd done time in prison for some horrible crimes. 1092 00:51:21,325 --> 00:51:24,000 and he'd done time in prison for some horrible crimes. 1093 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:28,066 To give him centerstage at a press conference seemed... 1094 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:31,900 so unnecessary. 1095 00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:38,734 After the press conference, it's time for the defense to present their case. 1096 00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:42,533 The prosecution's whole case was built on circumstantial evidence, 1097 00:51:42,533 --> 00:51:46,066 and we felt that they were having to draw a lot of conclusions. 1098 00:51:46,634 --> 00:51:48,867 But the pieces don't all fit. 1099 00:51:48,867 --> 00:51:51,325 A good example is when they tried to link Gene 1100 00:51:51,325 --> 00:51:51,634 A good example is when they tried to link Gene 1101 00:51:51,734 --> 00:51:54,233 to the cave in which they found the pictures. 1102 00:51:56,467 --> 00:52:00,800 These pictures that Gene had developed during his time granted in prison 1103 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:06,433 had been in his possession when he was incarcerated in Mayes County jail in 1973 1104 00:52:06,500 --> 00:52:08,467 and were left there when he escaped 1105 00:52:08,467 --> 00:52:11,800 four years before the Girl Scouts' murders ever happened. 1106 00:52:13,266 --> 00:52:16,000 So it calls into question how those pictures 1107 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:19,333 then became present in that cave 1108 00:52:19,367 --> 00:52:21,325 since they were left behind in that jail cell. 1109 00:52:21,325 --> 00:52:21,967 since they were left behind in that jail cell. 1110 00:52:23,266 --> 00:52:26,800 Our take from that was that the evidence had been planted. 1111 00:52:28,367 --> 00:52:31,333 I felt like that that was suspicious... 1112 00:52:32,367 --> 00:52:35,634 and going forward, I was very skeptical. 1113 00:52:36,266 --> 00:52:38,467 You don't want anyone lying, 1114 00:52:38,467 --> 00:52:41,533 especially someone from the law enforcement. 1115 00:52:49,166 --> 00:52:53,867 [Gary] I think after we called into question the origin of the pictures, 1116 00:52:53,867 --> 00:52:56,500 we were able to call into question the legitimacy 1117 00:52:56,500 --> 00:52:59,634 of all of the other evidence presented by the state, 1118 00:52:59,634 --> 00:53:02,000 and we began to poke holes in their theory. 1119 00:53:03,266 --> 00:53:06,166 [Alicia] The defense dissects each piece of evidence, 1120 00:53:06,233 --> 00:53:08,066 starting with a hair found at the scene. 1121 00:53:09,100 --> 00:53:12,634 [Gary] They could say that it looks exactly alike, 1122 00:53:12,734 --> 00:53:17,130 but you couldn't say that that meant that was his hair. 1123 00:53:17,130 --> 00:53:17,533 but you couldn't say that that meant that was his hair. 1124 00:53:17,634 --> 00:53:20,734 Same thing with the broken, fractured semen. 1125 00:53:21,600 --> 00:53:23,634 It doesn't prove any more to you 1126 00:53:23,734 --> 00:53:25,533 than the hair proves to you. 1127 00:53:25,533 --> 00:53:27,066 It looks like, 1128 00:53:27,066 --> 00:53:29,867 but you can't identify where it came from. 1129 00:53:29,867 --> 00:53:35,634 And that's because there was no acceptable DNA science in 1979. 1130 00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:41,634 Of course, we had to take that into consideration. 1131 00:53:41,734 --> 00:53:44,634 [Bettye] The things that were coming up about hair and DNA 1132 00:53:44,634 --> 00:53:47,130 was presented in a way to confuse the jury. 1133 00:53:47,130 --> 00:53:47,467 was presented in a way to confuse the jury. 1134 00:53:48,367 --> 00:53:50,734 [Bo] The defense team was putting up 1135 00:53:50,734 --> 00:53:54,867 every conceivable straw man theory 1136 00:53:54,900 --> 00:53:57,867 to try to plant down in the... in the jury's mind. 1137 00:53:59,500 --> 00:54:03,533 [Alicia] After 26 days of an intense trial, 1138 00:54:03,634 --> 00:54:06,734 the jury adjourns to deliberate. 1139 00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:09,867 [reporter] If the jury finds Hart guilty of first-degree murder, 1140 00:54:09,900 --> 00:54:14,266 then under Oklahoma law, he could be sentenced added to life in prison 1141 00:54:14,333 --> 00:54:16,066 or death by injection. 1142 00:54:20,367 --> 00:54:23,367 [Sheri] Pretty early in the morning we were notified 1143 00:54:23,367 --> 00:54:26,066 that jury had come back with a verdict. 1144 00:54:26,100 --> 00:54:29,467 So we rushed over to the courthouse. 1145 00:54:30,467 --> 00:54:34,467 "March 30th, 1979, 1146 00:54:34,467 --> 00:54:37,233 09:15, the verdict is in. 1147 00:54:42,867 --> 00:54:44,433 It's not guilty." 1148 00:54:50,800 --> 00:54:52,367 It's all over now. 1149 00:54:58,367 --> 00:55:01,367 [Gary] You know, it was exciting, it was emotional, 1150 00:55:01,433 --> 00:55:04,467 and at the same time, understanding the disappointment 1151 00:55:04,533 --> 00:55:07,266 of not having the final conclusion 1152 00:55:07,333 --> 00:55:09,634 of all this for the families of those little girls. 1153 00:55:11,600 --> 00:55:13,066 [Dick] It broke my heart. 1154 00:55:14,533 --> 00:55:17,130 Those little girls didn't receive a fair trial. 1155 00:55:17,130 --> 00:55:17,734 Those little girls didn't receive a fair trial. 1156 00:55:19,533 --> 00:55:20,900 [Bettye] I think after the trial, 1157 00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:23,367 I came out with the feeling that 1158 00:55:23,367 --> 00:55:26,166 the law is a game, and who plays it the best 1159 00:55:26,166 --> 00:55:28,066 is the one who wins. 1160 00:55:28,100 --> 00:55:30,100 And it's not all about justice. 1161 00:55:32,500 --> 00:55:34,700 [Sheri] After the verdict was read, 1162 00:55:34,700 --> 00:55:37,467 we went to the judge's chambers 1163 00:55:37,533 --> 00:55:40,533 and he just said, "In our system of justice... 1164 00:55:41,166 --> 00:55:44,634 sometimes guilty go free." 1165 00:55:46,700 --> 00:55:47,130 [Sandi] I voted not guilty. 1166 00:55:47,130 --> 00:55:49,066 [Sandi] I voted not guilty. 1167 00:55:49,066 --> 00:55:55,734 I was really waiting for that big bang from the attorneys. 1168 00:55:55,800 --> 00:55:58,266 You gotta have the evidence. 1169 00:55:58,266 --> 00:56:02,066 And I didn't feel like they had proof. 1170 00:56:02,066 --> 00:56:06,467 The jurists that are saying that there was no smoking gun, 1171 00:56:06,467 --> 00:56:12,166 well, the only thing I'm saying about that is... is that, um... 1172 00:56:13,000 --> 00:56:15,066 they may not have done their job. 1173 00:56:17,734 --> 00:56:19,734 [Alicia] Immediately after the trial, 1174 00:56:19,734 --> 00:56:22,066 Gene Leroy Hart is sent back to prison 1175 00:56:22,100 --> 00:56:26,066 to finish serving the remaining 305 years 1176 00:56:26,100 --> 00:56:29,734 of his 308-year sentence 1177 00:56:29,734 --> 00:56:33,734 for his burglary convictions and parole violations. 1178 00:56:36,800 --> 00:56:39,367 [Sheri] When we left the courthouse, I said to Bo, 1179 00:56:39,367 --> 00:56:41,533 "I would really like to have Lori's things back." 1180 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:46,000 They'd been in their possession now for two years. 1181 00:56:47,166 --> 00:56:50,500 And so, we went over there and they gave us the box 1182 00:56:50,500 --> 00:56:53,066 of Lori's things, and we came home. 1183 00:56:57,100 --> 00:56:59,166 [Alicia] On June 4th, 1979, 1184 00:56:59,166 --> 00:57:01,967 more news about Hart makes headlines, 1185 00:57:01,967 --> 00:57:05,233 sending shock waves around the nation. 1186 00:57:06,500 --> 00:57:09,634 I remember being with my mom watching TV, 1187 00:57:09,734 --> 00:57:11,900 when the news bulletins came across the bottom. 1188 00:57:12,867 --> 00:57:15,066 And I remember my mom having this reaction 1189 00:57:15,066 --> 00:57:16,367 and starting to cry. 1190 00:57:18,000 --> 00:57:20,100 [Gary] Gene Hart was in the exercise yard. 1191 00:57:21,000 --> 00:57:23,634 He had lifted weights and he was now jogging. 1192 00:57:24,500 --> 00:57:26,700 And he had a heart attack, and he died there, 1193 00:57:26,700 --> 00:57:29,166 in the... in the exercise yard in McAlester. 1194 00:57:30,600 --> 00:57:33,600 [Sheri] Well, I just assumed that one day I would get to talk to him, 1195 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:36,734 and he will tell us everything he knows. 1196 00:57:38,467 --> 00:57:41,533 I was so shocked when he had died in prison. 1197 00:57:44,166 --> 00:57:45,533 [Alicia] With Hart dead, 1198 00:57:45,533 --> 00:57:47,130 a confession is now impossible, 1199 00:57:47,130 --> 00:57:48,166 a confession is now impossible, 1200 00:57:48,233 --> 00:57:50,900 and rumors begin to swirl. 1201 00:57:52,700 --> 00:57:55,700 [Mike] Some people believed law enforcement framed Gene Hart 1202 00:57:55,700 --> 00:57:58,433 during the investigation in 1977. 1203 00:57:59,634 --> 00:58:02,266 You know, a good example of this was, um, 1204 00:58:02,266 --> 00:58:05,734 the law enforcement found two foot prints in the tent. 1205 00:58:05,800 --> 00:58:08,867 There was this big boot, and then there was some sort of a... 1206 00:58:08,867 --> 00:58:11,533 Another tennis shoe type track. 1207 00:58:11,533 --> 00:58:14,533 And so they started thinking, "Oh, my gosh, 1208 00:58:14,533 --> 00:58:16,000 maybe it was more than one person." 1209 00:58:18,367 --> 00:58:22,367 [Alicia] Then, in 1981, Mayes County residents elected a new sheriff, 1210 00:58:22,367 --> 00:58:25,266 and armed with some new information, 1211 00:58:25,266 --> 00:58:29,266 he takes the multiple killer theory very seriously. 1212 00:58:30,500 --> 00:58:32,600 [Marty] A woman from Locust Grove 1213 00:58:32,600 --> 00:58:34,734 relayed a story that her brother 1214 00:58:34,734 --> 00:58:36,867 had been out with two of his friends 1215 00:58:36,867 --> 00:58:39,533 the night before the homicides. 1216 00:58:39,634 --> 00:58:43,367 And she believed all three were responsible for the Girl Scout murders. 1217 00:58:51,000 --> 00:58:53,634 The Sheriff of Mayes County, Paul Smith, 1218 00:58:53,634 --> 00:58:59,166 said that a woman told him she was coming home the morning of the homicides, 1219 00:58:59,166 --> 00:59:02,066 and she'd seen her brother's two friends 1220 00:59:02,100 --> 00:59:05,000 walking down the road from the Girl Scout area, 1221 00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:07,533 no shirts and no shoes on. 1222 00:59:08,700 --> 00:59:11,967 [Marty] Later that morning, her brother had come home... 1223 00:59:12,533 --> 00:59:14,533 and he was covered in blood. 1224 00:59:16,000 --> 00:59:17,900 He appeared to be under the influence of drugs 1225 00:59:17,900 --> 00:59:19,359 and he was acting nervous. 1226 00:59:19,359 --> 00:59:19,734 and he was acting nervous. 1227 00:59:20,900 --> 00:59:24,066 He was mumbling some stuff about "the poor little girls." 1228 00:59:25,166 --> 00:59:27,967 [Alicia] She then tells Paul Smith that her brother 1229 00:59:28,000 --> 00:59:31,000 revealed how he and these two other men 1230 00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:34,533 disposed off the murder weapon and any evidence. 1231 00:59:35,634 --> 00:59:37,734 [Mike] According to her, these three suspects, 1232 00:59:37,800 --> 00:59:39,367 one of 'em being her brother, 1233 00:59:39,367 --> 00:59:42,100 was in a Super Bee car, 1234 00:59:42,100 --> 00:59:45,634 and they took the shirts and the shoes that was bloody, 1235 00:59:45,734 --> 00:59:49,359 and the murder weapon, put it in the car... 1236 00:59:49,359 --> 00:59:49,634 and the murder weapon, put it in the car... 1237 00:59:49,634 --> 00:59:52,734 and took the car and pushed it off into the water 1238 00:59:52,734 --> 00:59:54,433 down by Spring Creek. 1239 00:59:58,533 --> 01:00:02,967 [Mike] In 1981, Paul Smith hires a private investigator 1240 01:00:03,000 --> 01:00:05,634 for the sole purpose of working on this Girl Scout case. 1241 01:00:07,467 --> 01:00:11,533 [Alicia] For years, the private investigator looks into this lead, 1242 01:00:11,533 --> 01:00:15,867 and in 1984, Sheriff Paul Smith goes public 1243 01:00:15,900 --> 01:00:17,533 and announces in The Oklahoman 1244 01:00:17,533 --> 01:00:19,359 that he's investigating this lead. 1245 01:00:19,359 --> 01:00:19,967 that he's investigating this lead. 1246 01:00:20,000 --> 01:00:22,333 [Mike] He says he has three suspects, 1247 01:00:22,367 --> 01:00:24,467 and he blatantly says 1248 01:00:24,467 --> 01:00:26,800 he's going to make some arrests. 1249 01:00:29,533 --> 01:00:32,166 [Alicia] But the arrests never come, 1250 01:00:32,233 --> 01:00:36,533 and the community is left wondering why. 1251 01:00:39,467 --> 01:00:41,634 [Sheri] As the years passed by, 1252 01:00:41,634 --> 01:00:45,266 our belief in God lifted us and carried us 1253 01:00:45,266 --> 01:00:49,359 in our weakest grieving times. 1254 01:00:49,359 --> 01:00:49,634 in our weakest grieving times. 1255 01:00:49,634 --> 01:00:52,000 Our family and friends loved us 1256 01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:53,867 when we weren't lovable, 1257 01:00:53,867 --> 01:00:57,634 and I'm thankful for all those people who helped. 1258 01:00:57,734 --> 01:01:01,634 But I know that I needed to help other people as well. 1259 01:01:02,600 --> 01:01:05,734 I wanted for Lori and for her honor 1260 01:01:05,734 --> 01:01:10,166 there should be something good that would come. 1261 01:01:10,533 --> 01:01:12,734 And so, Bo and I formed 1262 01:01:12,800 --> 01:01:18,233 the chapter of Parents of Murdered Children in 1984, in Oklahoma. 1263 01:01:19,367 --> 01:01:22,867 Immediately, it just got much bigger 1264 01:01:22,867 --> 01:01:26,066 than I would have ever, ever guessed, 1265 01:01:26,100 --> 01:01:30,967 and people drove from all over Oklahoma to come. 1266 01:01:35,867 --> 01:01:38,166 [Alicia] During the time while the conspiracy theories 1267 01:01:38,166 --> 01:01:40,634 continued to cast a shadow over the case, 1268 01:01:40,634 --> 01:01:44,066 the OSBI decides to try a brand-new 1269 01:01:44,100 --> 01:01:47,266 scientific advancement that's available to them, 1270 01:01:47,266 --> 01:01:48,700 DNA. 1271 01:01:50,367 --> 01:01:53,867 [Grace] My name is Grace Helms and I'm the primary DNA analyst 1272 01:01:53,900 --> 01:01:56,100 who's worked on the Girl Scout case. 1273 01:01:56,100 --> 01:01:59,533 In 1989, DNA testing had only been around 1274 01:01:59,533 --> 01:02:03,367 and used in criminal courts for a few years. 1275 01:02:03,367 --> 01:02:07,367 In 1989, we sent a semen stain from a pillow case 1276 01:02:07,367 --> 01:02:11,100 that was in Michelle Guse's sleeping bag for testing. 1277 01:02:11,100 --> 01:02:13,734 [Alicia] After the FBI receives the semen stain sample, 1278 01:02:13,734 --> 01:02:19,359 they compare it to semen stain samples taken from Hart's underwear. 1279 01:02:19,359 --> 01:02:19,433 they compare it to semen stain samples taken from Hart's underwear. 1280 01:02:20,734 --> 01:02:24,734 [Bo] When we first found out that they were doing DNA testing, 1281 01:02:24,800 --> 01:02:26,734 we were very encouraged 1282 01:02:26,734 --> 01:02:29,467 that we were going to very quicky 1283 01:02:29,467 --> 01:02:31,433 come to a resolution of this. 1284 01:02:32,700 --> 01:02:35,333 [Andrea] With the particular testing technique that was used, 1285 01:02:35,367 --> 01:02:37,533 there are five locations on the DNA strand 1286 01:02:37,533 --> 01:02:40,634 that analysts look at in an evidence sample 1287 01:02:40,734 --> 01:02:43,967 and then they'll look at those same locations from a known sample. 1288 01:02:45,000 --> 01:02:49,359 Results at the three of those locations matched Mr. Hart. 1289 01:02:49,359 --> 01:02:50,333 Results at the three of those locations matched Mr. Hart. 1290 01:02:51,467 --> 01:02:54,533 [Andrea] Because only 60% actually matched, 1291 01:02:54,600 --> 01:02:57,166 the whole thing is considered partial. 1292 01:02:57,166 --> 01:03:01,333 And so, we were not able to say that Gene Leroy Hart was the murderer. 1293 01:03:02,266 --> 01:03:06,433 Basically, it points to him, but it's not conclusive. 1294 01:03:07,867 --> 01:03:09,533 [Alicia] After the DNA falls short, 1295 01:03:09,533 --> 01:03:12,467 the OSBI works quietly behind the scenes 1296 01:03:12,467 --> 01:03:15,734 for over two decades... 1297 01:03:15,734 --> 01:03:19,359 until 2012, when Agent Fielding decides 1298 01:03:19,359 --> 01:03:19,533 until 2012, when Agent Fielding decides 1299 01:03:19,600 --> 01:03:24,166 to make another big push to bring this case to a close. 1300 01:03:24,166 --> 01:03:26,867 And at the time, I was a forensic biologist 1301 01:03:26,867 --> 01:03:29,533 in the biology DNA unit. 1302 01:03:29,600 --> 01:03:32,634 So I pulled the case file and started looking at it. 1303 01:03:33,367 --> 01:03:35,100 I was very surprised to realize 1304 01:03:35,100 --> 01:03:37,433 that only two items of evidence had been tested 1305 01:03:37,500 --> 01:03:39,533 when there were hundreds of items of evidence 1306 01:03:39,533 --> 01:03:42,333 that could have been forensically analyzed. 1307 01:03:42,900 --> 01:03:44,333 And so, I wanted to make sure 1308 01:03:44,367 --> 01:03:47,634 that everything that could be tested, we were able to test. 1309 01:03:47,634 --> 01:03:49,359 [Alicia] Agent Fielding begins processing hundreds of items 1310 01:03:49,359 --> 01:03:51,467 [Alicia] Agent Fielding begins processing hundreds of items 1311 01:03:51,467 --> 01:03:53,734 for eventual DNA testing. 1312 01:03:53,734 --> 01:03:55,634 And as she's going through this process, 1313 01:03:55,634 --> 01:03:57,734 she contacts the girls' families 1314 01:03:57,734 --> 01:04:00,467 to let them know that OSBI 1315 01:04:00,467 --> 01:04:03,734 is looking to test new evidence in the case. 1316 01:04:03,734 --> 01:04:08,433 And Sheri Farmer reveals that she may be able to help. 1317 01:04:08,500 --> 01:04:11,533 [Andrea] Sheri Farmer told me that when the trial was over, 1318 01:04:11,533 --> 01:04:13,533 she insisted in getting 1319 01:04:13,533 --> 01:04:14,900 all of Lori's personal items back, 1320 01:04:14,900 --> 01:04:16,867 she had with her at the camp, 1321 01:04:16,867 --> 01:04:18,533 including her blood-stained sleeping bag, 1322 01:04:18,600 --> 01:04:19,359 and clothing items. 1323 01:04:19,359 --> 01:04:19,734 and clothing items. 1324 01:04:19,734 --> 01:04:23,266 I was very surprised to learn Bo and Sheri 1325 01:04:23,266 --> 01:04:25,967 wanted everything that could be tested, tested. 1326 01:04:26,000 --> 01:04:27,100 So I went to their home 1327 01:04:27,100 --> 01:04:28,867 and retrieved the items of evidence. 1328 01:04:30,266 --> 01:04:33,367 [Sheri] When Andrea Fielding came to our house 1329 01:04:33,367 --> 01:04:35,367 to see if we had some things here 1330 01:04:35,367 --> 01:04:37,734 that she and Mike can do testing on with... 1331 01:04:37,734 --> 01:04:43,533 one of the things that she was interested in was Lori's sleeping bag. 1332 01:04:43,600 --> 01:04:48,233 My mother and dad had given each of the children a sleeping bag. 1333 01:04:48,734 --> 01:04:49,359 And so Lori took this. 1334 01:04:49,359 --> 01:04:51,066 And so Lori took this. 1335 01:04:53,867 --> 01:04:56,233 As you can see, 1336 01:04:56,266 --> 01:05:01,867 there were parts of it cut for doing DNA testing, 1337 01:05:01,900 --> 01:05:04,467 and so there's holes in this 1338 01:05:04,467 --> 01:05:08,066 and holes in the sleeping bag that's inside here. 1339 01:05:10,600 --> 01:05:13,533 [Andrea] The family stood around while I went through 1340 01:05:13,600 --> 01:05:17,533 items from the crime scene that belonged to Lori. 1341 01:05:17,600 --> 01:05:19,359 And so it was definitely difficult for the family, 1342 01:05:19,359 --> 01:05:21,100 And so it was definitely difficult for the family, 1343 01:05:21,100 --> 01:05:24,867 but they... they all supported each other and were there for each other, 1344 01:05:24,867 --> 01:05:27,066 and it was an incredible thing to experience. 1345 01:05:29,000 --> 01:05:31,900 [Alicia] Encouraged by the renewed efforts, 1346 01:05:31,900 --> 01:05:34,433 the Farmers approached the new Mayes County Sheriff 1347 01:05:34,500 --> 01:05:37,634 hoping he might be able to investigate a different angle, 1348 01:05:37,734 --> 01:05:40,900 which is, namely, the three alleged suspects 1349 01:05:40,900 --> 01:05:43,100 that were never arrested. 1350 01:05:43,100 --> 01:05:46,100 [Mike] Shortly after I became Sheriff in 2013, 1351 01:05:46,100 --> 01:05:48,433 Bo and Sheri Farmer came to my office. 1352 01:05:49,266 --> 01:05:49,359 [Sheri] We met with Mike Reed, 1353 01:05:49,359 --> 01:05:51,233 [Sheri] We met with Mike Reed, 1354 01:05:51,266 --> 01:05:55,233 and I said, "I just want you to take a second look, fresh eyes." 1355 01:05:55,266 --> 01:05:57,266 I said, "I just want you to be open 1356 01:05:57,266 --> 01:06:00,900 for anything to help solve the murders." 1357 01:06:02,100 --> 01:06:03,900 [Mike] It was pretty emotional. 1358 01:06:03,900 --> 01:06:06,800 I gave 'em my word I would help any way I could. 1359 01:06:08,266 --> 01:06:13,166 I quickly found out that OSBI ran this investigation. 1360 01:06:13,233 --> 01:06:16,066 So they have the original files, they have original everything. 1361 01:06:17,266 --> 01:06:19,359 [Alicia] Sheriff Reed contacts OSBI 1362 01:06:19,359 --> 01:06:19,433 [Alicia] Sheriff Reed contacts OSBI 1363 01:06:19,500 --> 01:06:22,066 to gain access to the case files 1364 01:06:22,100 --> 01:06:27,867 and soon, he's shocked by what he finds. 1365 01:06:27,867 --> 01:06:31,734 [Mike] At the time, the Paul Smith theory was still alive. 1366 01:06:31,734 --> 01:06:35,433 But one of the first things that I noticed was his three suspects 1367 01:06:35,500 --> 01:06:37,867 actually had been brought in, they had been interviewed, 1368 01:06:37,867 --> 01:06:39,634 they had been polygraphed. 1369 01:06:39,734 --> 01:06:41,867 None of that information were out there. 1370 01:06:41,900 --> 01:06:46,333 So I was like, "Man, there's lot of stuff here that's... We don't know." 1371 01:06:47,266 --> 01:06:49,359 [Alicia] Sheriff Reed digs into the investigation 1372 01:06:49,359 --> 01:06:49,634 [Alicia] Sheriff Reed digs into the investigation 1373 01:06:49,634 --> 01:06:52,467 that was done on the three suspects. 1374 01:06:52,467 --> 01:06:56,734 [Mike] In '84, OSBI tracked down these three subjects. 1375 01:06:57,533 --> 01:06:59,533 One of 'em says he wasn't there, 1376 01:06:59,600 --> 01:07:02,100 and he actually alibied one of the other suspects, 1377 01:07:02,100 --> 01:07:05,100 saying, "Well, he was with me drinking at the dam." 1378 01:07:05,100 --> 01:07:07,734 He immediately agrees to take polygraph test. 1379 01:07:07,734 --> 01:07:09,433 And he passes his polygraph test. 1380 01:07:10,367 --> 01:07:12,433 So they go to the next suspect, 1381 01:07:12,500 --> 01:07:15,467 the brother of the informant, and he tells them, 1382 01:07:15,467 --> 01:07:18,166 "No, I wasn't there, had nothin' to do with it." 1383 01:07:18,166 --> 01:07:19,359 [Alicia] The suspect tells the OSBI agents 1384 01:07:19,359 --> 01:07:20,100 [Alicia] The suspect tells the OSBI agents 1385 01:07:20,100 --> 01:07:22,166 that he was at home with his father 1386 01:07:22,233 --> 01:07:24,000 and his two brothers the night of the murders, 1387 01:07:24,000 --> 01:07:28,333 and he was nowhere near the Girl Scout camp. 1388 01:07:28,367 --> 01:07:32,166 And he agrees to take a polygraph test and he passes it. 1389 01:07:32,233 --> 01:07:36,467 [Alicia] At this point, the OSBI returns to Paul Smith's informant 1390 01:07:36,467 --> 01:07:38,066 to question her again. 1391 01:07:38,734 --> 01:07:41,000 [Mike] OSBI interview her. 1392 01:07:41,000 --> 01:07:44,867 She immediately admits that she actually didn't know 1393 01:07:44,867 --> 01:07:47,266 nothing about who killed the Girl Scouts 1394 01:07:47,266 --> 01:07:49,359 and is remorseful for lying all these years 1395 01:07:49,359 --> 01:07:51,634 and is remorseful for lying all these years 1396 01:07:51,634 --> 01:07:53,900 and making this story up. 1397 01:07:54,867 --> 01:07:57,867 [Marty] She reported that the reason she did this 1398 01:07:57,900 --> 01:08:00,634 was because she was upset with her brother, 1399 01:08:00,634 --> 01:08:03,000 claimed that he had sexually assaulted her in the past, 1400 01:08:03,000 --> 01:08:05,467 and she was trying to get even with him. 1401 01:08:05,467 --> 01:08:08,166 [Mike] At this point, she passes the polygraph, 1402 01:08:08,233 --> 01:08:10,867 admitting that she made all this up. 1403 01:08:10,867 --> 01:08:12,533 So that whole story... 1404 01:08:13,734 --> 01:08:15,433 had no merit whatsoever. 1405 01:08:16,266 --> 01:08:19,000 [Marty] Even after she reported 1406 01:08:19,000 --> 01:08:19,359 that she had made the story up, 1407 01:08:19,359 --> 01:08:20,967 that she had made the story up, 1408 01:08:21,000 --> 01:08:23,533 Paul Smith still believed her initial story 1409 01:08:23,600 --> 01:08:27,467 and he did not let go of that. 1410 01:08:27,467 --> 01:08:31,266 [Alicia] For years, Paul Smith clings to this theory, 1411 01:08:31,266 --> 01:08:35,867 even after someone in his own camp denies its validity. 1412 01:08:37,467 --> 01:08:42,467 [Mike] In 1988, private investigator that was hired by Paul Smith 1413 01:08:42,467 --> 01:08:44,433 to solely investigate the Girl Scout murders 1414 01:08:44,500 --> 01:08:47,100 goes to the Governor, and the State's Attorney, 1415 01:08:47,100 --> 01:08:49,359 OSBI agents there, and they had a big meeting about this. 1416 01:08:49,359 --> 01:08:50,100 OSBI agents there, and they had a big meeting about this. 1417 01:08:50,100 --> 01:08:54,533 And the private investigator states that he no longer believes 1418 01:08:54,533 --> 01:08:57,533 that these three suspects had anything to do with it 1419 01:08:57,533 --> 01:09:00,166 and he believes Hart committed this crime solely 1420 01:09:00,233 --> 01:09:02,266 and he has no other suspects. 1421 01:09:02,266 --> 01:09:04,867 That is Paul Smith's own investigator. 1422 01:09:08,166 --> 01:09:10,433 [Marty] And to this day, there are people 1423 01:09:10,500 --> 01:09:13,900 who don't have all the information that we have, 1424 01:09:13,900 --> 01:09:17,066 who believe that this is a viable story. 1425 01:09:20,266 --> 01:09:22,634 People say, "Well, it wasn't looked into." 1426 01:09:22,634 --> 01:09:23,800 But it was. 1427 01:09:24,734 --> 01:09:29,166 In our eyes, as Lori's Mom and Dad, 1428 01:09:29,233 --> 01:09:32,166 Paul Smith's theory is not plausible. 1429 01:09:37,533 --> 01:09:39,900 [Christine] It must be so frustrating for family members 1430 01:09:39,900 --> 01:09:43,433 to hear all these conspiracy theories... 1431 01:09:43,500 --> 01:09:48,333 to constantly have to relive the death of their daughter... 1432 01:09:48,367 --> 01:09:49,359 must be incredibly hurtful and... and painful. 1433 01:09:49,359 --> 01:09:51,967 must be incredibly hurtful and... and painful. 1434 01:09:59,166 --> 01:10:01,967 While Sheriff Reed has debunked the Paul Smith theory, 1435 01:10:02,000 --> 01:10:06,900 he still cannot prove that Hart was the sole killer. 1436 01:10:06,900 --> 01:10:09,734 -[telephone ringing] -[Alicia] But the next break in the case comes 1437 01:10:09,734 --> 01:10:13,734 when Sheri receives a call out of the blue. 1438 01:10:15,266 --> 01:10:19,359 [Sheri] I got a call from someone who said Lori's death 1439 01:10:19,359 --> 01:10:19,533 [Sheri] I got a call from someone who said Lori's death 1440 01:10:19,533 --> 01:10:21,367 greatly affected her 1441 01:10:21,367 --> 01:10:26,066 and she wanted to help us solve her murder. 1442 01:10:34,367 --> 01:10:36,166 [Sheryl] My name is Sheryl Stokes, 1443 01:10:36,166 --> 01:10:38,734 and Lori Farmer was my childhood friend. 1444 01:10:39,533 --> 01:10:41,467 When Lori was killed, 1445 01:10:41,467 --> 01:10:45,867 I knew I wanted to be someone that is there supporting families 1446 01:10:45,867 --> 01:10:47,867 when the worst happens. 1447 01:10:47,867 --> 01:10:50,867 I am now a senior family advocacy specialist 1448 01:10:50,867 --> 01:10:54,533 at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1449 01:10:54,533 --> 01:10:57,500 In 2013, I told Sheri and Bo 1450 01:10:57,500 --> 01:11:01,060 my colleague could probably be a big help on this case. 1451 01:11:01,060 --> 01:11:01,634 my colleague could probably be a big help on this case. 1452 01:11:01,634 --> 01:11:03,734 [Sheri] She asked if we were interested, 1453 01:11:03,800 --> 01:11:06,800 and we both said, "Oh, of course." 1454 01:11:12,066 --> 01:11:14,367 [Richard] My name is Richard Leonard. I'm the program manager 1455 01:11:14,367 --> 01:11:17,734 at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1456 01:11:19,166 --> 01:11:23,166 We decided that we would do a comprehensive case review 1457 01:11:23,166 --> 01:11:27,066 with folks from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, 1458 01:11:27,100 --> 01:11:31,060 specific to child crimes, cold case investigators, analysts, lab experts, 1459 01:11:31,060 --> 01:11:33,800 specific to child crimes, cold case investigators, analysts, lab experts, 1460 01:11:33,900 --> 01:11:36,634 to look at every facet of that investigation. 1461 01:11:38,266 --> 01:11:40,634 Looking at the facts about the case, 1462 01:11:40,700 --> 01:11:42,500 the behavioral analysts folks 1463 01:11:42,500 --> 01:11:46,734 gave a picture of who you would expect that offender to be. 1464 01:11:46,734 --> 01:11:51,166 And, obviously, Gene Hart had a criminal background 1465 01:11:51,166 --> 01:11:55,734 and part of that background was abduction and rape. 1466 01:11:55,734 --> 01:11:58,634 And in the Girl Scout case, he brought certain tools 1467 01:11:58,700 --> 01:12:01,060 very similar to the ones that were used in that assault at Tulsa. 1468 01:12:01,060 --> 01:12:02,233 very similar to the ones that were used in that assault at Tulsa. 1469 01:12:03,867 --> 01:12:05,967 Additionally, one of the things 1470 01:12:05,967 --> 01:12:09,367 that Gene Hart was known to do 1471 01:12:09,433 --> 01:12:12,967 when he went out and did burglaries was to take eye glasses, 1472 01:12:13,000 --> 01:12:15,166 which, to me, would be his signature. 1473 01:12:15,166 --> 01:12:17,467 The girls that he assaulted in Tulsa, 1474 01:12:17,467 --> 01:12:19,467 he took their eyeglasses as well. 1475 01:12:19,533 --> 01:12:21,634 And glasses were taken from Camp Scott 1476 01:12:21,700 --> 01:12:23,100 the night this happened. 1477 01:12:26,734 --> 01:12:29,467 [Alicia] During the meeting, investigators also discussed 1478 01:12:29,467 --> 01:12:31,060 the theory that perhaps multiple weapons 1479 01:12:31,060 --> 01:12:32,266 the theory that perhaps multiple weapons 1480 01:12:32,266 --> 01:12:34,500 had been used in the murders. 1481 01:12:34,500 --> 01:12:38,166 Because the original autopsies had suggested 1482 01:12:38,166 --> 01:12:42,734 that each child's injuries varied. 1483 01:12:42,800 --> 01:12:44,634 Looking at all the autopsy photos, 1484 01:12:44,634 --> 01:12:47,500 it was decided that the weapon that was used was probably 1485 01:12:47,500 --> 01:12:49,900 a single small camp hatchet. 1486 01:12:51,500 --> 01:12:53,367 [Mike] When I looked at the image reports, 1487 01:12:53,433 --> 01:12:56,867 you can see 90-degree corners 1488 01:12:56,867 --> 01:12:58,734 of the bruising 1489 01:12:58,734 --> 01:13:01,060 that match the rectangular part of a small hatchet. 1490 01:13:01,060 --> 01:13:03,734 that match the rectangular part of a small hatchet. 1491 01:13:03,800 --> 01:13:06,967 But something that you have to take into consideration 1492 01:13:06,967 --> 01:13:10,367 is at least one child's probably struggling, 1493 01:13:10,367 --> 01:13:12,166 so there is absolutely no way 1494 01:13:12,233 --> 01:13:14,634 you're gonna make a perfect hit. 1495 01:13:14,700 --> 01:13:18,533 So you're gonna have all kinds of different patterns of wounds. 1496 01:13:22,500 --> 01:13:24,066 [Alicia] The other piece of evidence 1497 01:13:24,100 --> 01:13:26,467 that skeptics have pointed to is 1498 01:13:26,467 --> 01:13:30,266 the presence of multiple footprints in tent seven, 1499 01:13:30,266 --> 01:13:31,060 which gave credence to the theory 1500 01:13:31,060 --> 01:13:32,734 which gave credence to the theory 1501 01:13:32,734 --> 01:13:35,367 that there was more than one person involved. 1502 01:13:35,433 --> 01:13:39,734 But the NCMEC experts see things differently. 1503 01:13:40,500 --> 01:13:42,266 [Mike] When you come to the photograph 1504 01:13:42,266 --> 01:13:43,734 of the footprints in the tent, 1505 01:13:43,734 --> 01:13:45,266 there was this big boot 1506 01:13:45,266 --> 01:13:48,734 and there was a small tennis shoe type track. 1507 01:13:48,734 --> 01:13:52,533 So let's say, you had grown guys who was out here doing this, 1508 01:13:52,634 --> 01:13:55,233 why has one of 'em got little small tennis shoes on? 1509 01:13:56,967 --> 01:13:58,333 Yeah, I don't see that. 1510 01:13:59,066 --> 01:14:01,060 Plus, the small tennis shoe type track 1511 01:14:01,060 --> 01:14:01,967 Plus, the small tennis shoe type track 1512 01:14:01,967 --> 01:14:04,734 was on top of the blood and it was clean and crisp. 1513 01:14:04,800 --> 01:14:07,367 So that means it was that these tracks got in here after 1514 01:14:07,367 --> 01:14:09,367 the sleeping bags and the girls was taken out. 1515 01:14:10,634 --> 01:14:14,166 And when you go back and you read the interviews of the counselors, 1516 01:14:14,166 --> 01:14:17,533 the next move, the counselors said they actually physically 1517 01:14:17,634 --> 01:14:23,467 went into the tents touching each girl, counting them. 1518 01:14:23,533 --> 01:14:26,967 And so, it's believed that it's probably 1519 01:14:26,967 --> 01:14:29,333 one of the counselors that stepped in blood. 1520 01:14:33,467 --> 01:14:35,634 [Leonard] After three days, and at the end of looking 1521 01:14:35,634 --> 01:14:38,266 at the totality of the circumstances, 1522 01:14:38,266 --> 01:14:40,734 all of us in that case review, 1523 01:14:40,734 --> 01:14:43,000 um, came to a consensus of opinion... 1524 01:14:44,467 --> 01:14:47,467 that Gene Hart was, in fact, the person that was involved 1525 01:14:47,533 --> 01:14:49,233 and he acted alone. 1526 01:14:50,900 --> 01:14:53,967 There's nothing to suggest anyone else was involved. 1527 01:14:55,367 --> 01:14:59,467 We recommended the use of specific labs 1528 01:14:59,533 --> 01:15:01,060 outside the norm of a state lab 1529 01:15:01,060 --> 01:15:01,266 outside the norm of a state lab 1530 01:15:01,333 --> 01:15:03,734 that could provide advanced technologies, 1531 01:15:03,734 --> 01:15:05,800 particularly in the area of DNA, 1532 01:15:05,900 --> 01:15:07,867 in order to help law enforcement 1533 01:15:07,867 --> 01:15:09,800 bring justice to those families. 1534 01:15:11,867 --> 01:15:13,634 [Alicia] Heeding the advice from the meeting's experts, 1535 01:15:13,634 --> 01:15:16,266 Sheriff Reed collects DNA samples 1536 01:15:16,266 --> 01:15:18,467 from known suspects in the case 1537 01:15:18,533 --> 01:15:23,533 in order to compare that to any new DNA that is discovered. 1538 01:15:25,166 --> 01:15:27,166 Most people that was brought up as a suspect, 1539 01:15:27,233 --> 01:15:29,266 like Paul Smith's suspects, 1540 01:15:29,266 --> 01:15:31,060 there was already blood, semen, hair 1541 01:15:31,060 --> 01:15:31,367 there was already blood, semen, hair 1542 01:15:31,433 --> 01:15:33,867 they had taken as evidence in the past. 1543 01:15:33,867 --> 01:15:36,734 Others was in prison or in jail, 1544 01:15:36,734 --> 01:15:41,233 and their DNA is in what's considered CODIS, it's a federal data base. 1545 01:15:42,266 --> 01:15:45,734 Once Sheriff Reed and Andrea Fielding collected enough evidence, 1546 01:15:45,734 --> 01:15:50,166 hundreds of samples are shipped off for DNA testing. 1547 01:15:50,166 --> 01:15:54,967 I think all of us felt that this is going to finally bring closure to those families. 1548 01:16:03,533 --> 01:16:05,066 [Sheri] I was hoping and praying 1549 01:16:05,066 --> 01:16:07,467 that the results would show 1550 01:16:07,533 --> 01:16:10,233 the person who killed Lori, 1551 01:16:10,266 --> 01:16:12,166 Michelle and Denise. 1552 01:16:13,533 --> 01:16:17,533 [Andrea] Hundreds of items of evidence have been forensically analyzed. 1553 01:16:18,266 --> 01:16:20,266 We found out from the testing 1554 01:16:20,266 --> 01:16:21,867 that pretty much everything was degraded 1555 01:16:21,867 --> 01:16:24,233 to a point that we didn't get anything usable. 1556 01:16:25,500 --> 01:16:28,000 Out of all of the evidence items, 1557 01:16:28,000 --> 01:16:31,367 the original semen's analysis back in 1989 1558 01:16:31,433 --> 01:16:32,257 and the hair, sweat from the tent 1559 01:16:32,257 --> 01:16:34,066 and the hair, sweat from the tent 1560 01:16:34,100 --> 01:16:37,166 were the only profiles of someone 1561 01:16:37,166 --> 01:16:38,734 other than a victim or a family member 1562 01:16:38,800 --> 01:16:43,166 that had been obtained to-date in this case. 1563 01:16:43,233 --> 01:16:47,533 And both of those resulted in a partial profile consistent with Mr. Hart. 1564 01:16:49,800 --> 01:16:53,000 [Sheri] The results were devastating. 1565 01:16:53,000 --> 01:16:59,634 We all were disappointed that it was not a more conclusive answer. 1566 01:16:59,634 --> 01:17:01,734 [Andrea] We've tested all of the people of interest, 1567 01:17:01,734 --> 01:17:02,257 and all of those individuals have been excluded 1568 01:17:02,257 --> 01:17:04,800 and all of those individuals have been excluded 1569 01:17:04,800 --> 01:17:07,266 from the DNA profiles that we have obtained. 1570 01:17:07,266 --> 01:17:09,467 But Gene Leroy Hart cannot be excluded 1571 01:17:09,467 --> 01:17:12,467 as being the possible perpetrator of this crime. 1572 01:17:12,467 --> 01:17:14,066 So it was a positive. 1573 01:17:14,066 --> 01:17:15,800 Absolutely, it was a positive. 1574 01:17:16,533 --> 01:17:18,800 And everything that I've looked at 1575 01:17:18,800 --> 01:17:21,533 still points to Gene Hart. 1576 01:17:21,533 --> 01:17:24,433 And I don't have a single other thing pointing to somebody else. 1577 01:17:26,166 --> 01:17:28,533 [Bo] Sheri and I definitely believe 1578 01:17:28,533 --> 01:17:32,257 that Gene Leroy Hart was the sole person 1579 01:17:32,257 --> 01:17:32,867 that Gene Leroy Hart was the sole person 1580 01:17:32,867 --> 01:17:35,166 that committed this crime 1581 01:17:35,233 --> 01:17:36,634 and was the sole person 1582 01:17:36,734 --> 01:17:39,333 that was in that tent that night. 1583 01:17:40,700 --> 01:17:44,233 But Sheri and I are still open 1584 01:17:44,266 --> 01:17:46,333 to any information... 1585 01:17:47,533 --> 01:17:50,166 that might show 1586 01:17:50,166 --> 01:17:53,533 that he may have had an accessory 1587 01:17:53,533 --> 01:17:57,233 help him in some way after the fact. 1588 01:17:58,100 --> 01:18:02,257 If people know something and they come forward, 1589 01:18:02,257 --> 01:18:02,600 If people know something and they come forward, 1590 01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:04,533 it will be looked into. 1591 01:18:05,500 --> 01:18:06,867 [Kim] You know, members of my family 1592 01:18:06,867 --> 01:18:09,634 supported my uncle Gene during that trial. 1593 01:18:09,734 --> 01:18:11,166 When I became interested in this case 1594 01:18:11,166 --> 01:18:13,734 as a young person and started asking questions, 1595 01:18:13,734 --> 01:18:18,100 I got the feeling that Gene's half-brother, my uncle Thurman, 1596 01:18:18,100 --> 01:18:20,233 believed that Gene was involved in some way. 1597 01:18:21,467 --> 01:18:23,734 But that this was not just Gene. 1598 01:18:24,700 --> 01:18:26,967 And I believe that he thought that for a reason, 1599 01:18:27,000 --> 01:18:28,700 and a valid reason. 1600 01:18:28,700 --> 01:18:30,533 He grew up in the area, you know, 1601 01:18:30,533 --> 01:18:32,257 he knew these people that lived around Camp Scott. 1602 01:18:32,257 --> 01:18:32,734 he knew these people that lived around Camp Scott. 1603 01:18:33,734 --> 01:18:35,066 So, when he stated to me 1604 01:18:35,066 --> 01:18:37,233 that there were more people involved, I believed him. 1605 01:18:38,867 --> 01:18:45,100 This crime doesn't exemplify our culture or our traditions or our communities. 1606 01:18:45,100 --> 01:18:47,100 We don't want anyone 1607 01:18:47,100 --> 01:18:49,100 to have their children taken from them like that 1608 01:18:49,100 --> 01:18:52,967 in such a violent manner and then have it unsolved. 1609 01:18:52,967 --> 01:18:55,800 And we want justice for the victims. 1610 01:18:58,367 --> 01:19:01,367 [Bo] Over the years, Sheri developed a presence 1611 01:19:01,433 --> 01:19:02,257 about victims' rights. 1612 01:19:02,257 --> 01:19:04,166 about victims' rights. 1613 01:19:04,166 --> 01:19:09,000 By and large, a criminal had all the rights and victims had no rights. 1614 01:19:10,000 --> 01:19:12,100 [Alicia] Using all that she'd learned 1615 01:19:12,100 --> 01:19:16,066 as a victims' right advocate, Sheri successfully campaigns 1616 01:19:16,066 --> 01:19:19,367 in 2018 to have victims' rights 1617 01:19:19,367 --> 01:19:22,533 made part of Oklahoma State Constitution. 1618 01:19:24,266 --> 01:19:26,100 [Sheri] By passing Marsy's Law, 1619 01:19:26,100 --> 01:19:27,967 victims and victims' families 1620 01:19:27,967 --> 01:19:31,000 have a right to be in the courtroom. 1621 01:19:31,000 --> 01:19:32,257 They would have the right to have some input, 1622 01:19:32,257 --> 01:19:34,600 They would have the right to have some input, 1623 01:19:34,600 --> 01:19:37,967 should there be a punishment phase. 1624 01:19:37,967 --> 01:19:42,634 And now these rights are in our state constitution. 1625 01:19:45,600 --> 01:19:48,000 [Alicia] In October of 2022, 1626 01:19:48,000 --> 01:19:50,533 Sheri and Bo are recognized 1627 01:19:50,533 --> 01:19:54,100 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1628 01:19:54,100 --> 01:19:56,867 [announcer] Please welcome to stage, 1629 01:19:56,867 --> 01:19:59,967 Lori Farmer's incredible parents, 1630 01:19:59,967 --> 01:20:02,233 Sheri and Bo Farmer. 1631 01:20:02,266 --> 01:20:04,800 Surrounded by their four surviving children 1632 01:20:04,800 --> 01:20:06,066 and three of their grandchildren, 1633 01:20:06,066 --> 01:20:08,634 the Farmers received the Hope Award 1634 01:20:08,734 --> 01:20:11,166 for their relentless work 1635 01:20:11,233 --> 01:20:13,166 advocating for victims' rights. 1636 01:20:13,166 --> 01:20:18,000 [Sheri] This is really for Lori and Denise and Michelle. 1637 01:20:18,000 --> 01:20:22,367 To our children, you have lived with imperfect parents, 1638 01:20:22,367 --> 01:20:25,700 who have grappled with the murder of their child, 1639 01:20:25,700 --> 01:20:29,000 but somehow, in the midst of all of that, 1640 01:20:29,000 --> 01:20:32,257 you have become amazing adults, 1641 01:20:32,257 --> 01:20:32,367 you have become amazing adults, 1642 01:20:32,433 --> 01:20:34,233 and we could not be more proud. 1643 01:20:36,367 --> 01:20:41,367 The Gala was, uh, a really special time for Bo and I. 1644 01:20:41,367 --> 01:20:45,634 It was far more emotional than I ever thought I was going to be. 1645 01:20:47,533 --> 01:20:51,367 Tonight is a testament to the... the impact that they've had 1646 01:20:51,367 --> 01:20:54,867 and the ripple effects that their work has had for 1647 01:20:54,900 --> 01:20:56,367 um, many, many people. 1648 01:20:56,367 --> 01:20:58,867 And, uh, it's a... a very special event tonight. 1649 01:21:00,166 --> 01:21:02,257 [Kali] I really enjoyed seeing my parents being honored 1650 01:21:02,257 --> 01:21:04,166 [Kali] I really enjoyed seeing my parents being honored 1651 01:21:04,233 --> 01:21:07,166 'cause I know all the hours they've spent 1652 01:21:07,166 --> 01:21:09,867 helping other victims. 1653 01:21:09,900 --> 01:21:12,066 There's not a day that goes by 1654 01:21:12,066 --> 01:21:16,867 that we don't see a picture of Lori or talk about her. 1655 01:21:18,166 --> 01:21:23,467 As I've gotten older, I think I have felt the void more now. 1656 01:21:24,367 --> 01:21:26,467 It's not just that my sister's not here, 1657 01:21:26,533 --> 01:21:28,700 but who she would've married 1658 01:21:28,700 --> 01:21:31,634 and their children and their children. 1659 01:21:32,900 --> 01:21:35,166 [Bo] Lori, Denise and Michelle 1660 01:21:35,233 --> 01:21:38,967 are still just largely recognized 1661 01:21:38,967 --> 01:21:41,734 as three Girl Scouts that were murdered. 1662 01:21:42,266 --> 01:21:44,433 Those three girls deserve... 1663 01:21:45,166 --> 01:21:46,333 much more. 1664 01:21:49,533 --> 01:21:52,367 [Bettye] Over 40 years is a long time to wait 1665 01:21:52,367 --> 01:21:55,266 for something to be resolved and... 1666 01:21:55,266 --> 01:21:57,166 at one time, I guess I thought 1667 01:21:57,233 --> 01:21:59,600 that I would live long enough to see that happen, 1668 01:21:59,600 --> 01:22:01,734 but now I don't know. 1669 01:22:02,734 --> 01:22:04,467 Even if it does, 1670 01:22:04,533 --> 01:22:07,433 it won't ever be over for us, the parents. 1671 01:22:09,266 --> 01:22:11,533 [Christine] Denise Milner's mother, Bettye, 1672 01:22:11,533 --> 01:22:15,533 and Bo and Sheri Farmer 1673 01:22:15,634 --> 01:22:17,867 are the only surviving parents, 1674 01:22:17,867 --> 01:22:21,467 and have stayed in contact over the years. 1675 01:22:21,467 --> 01:22:25,166 I hope that for the families there's more advances 1676 01:22:25,166 --> 01:22:31,467 in, uh, DNA technology that they could possibly find undisputed proof 1677 01:22:31,533 --> 01:22:32,257 they are so desperately seeking. 1678 01:22:32,257 --> 01:22:34,634 they are so desperately seeking. 1679 01:22:36,367 --> 01:22:40,967 The summer of '77 was the last summer girls attended Camp Scott. 1680 01:22:41,000 --> 01:22:44,533 And eventually, the Girl Scout counsel sold the property in 1988, 1681 01:22:44,533 --> 01:22:47,634 and today, it's a hunting ground. 1682 01:22:52,967 --> 01:22:57,634 [Alicia] Although it's been almost five decades since the night of the murders, 1683 01:22:57,634 --> 01:23:01,800 the tree where the girls were found still remains. 1684 01:23:01,800 --> 01:23:02,257 And Lori's parents have come here 1685 01:23:02,257 --> 01:23:05,734 And Lori's parents have come here 1686 01:23:05,734 --> 01:23:08,367 to mourn one last time. 1687 01:23:11,800 --> 01:23:14,867 Gonna put a rose for Michelle... 1688 01:23:18,500 --> 01:23:20,867 and a rose for Denise... 1689 01:23:24,100 --> 01:23:25,233 [sniffles] 1690 01:23:26,967 --> 01:23:28,634 ...and a rose for Lori. 1691 01:23:31,066 --> 01:23:32,233 [sighs deeply] 1692 01:23:33,533 --> 01:23:35,634 These girls are not forgotten. 1693 01:23:37,100 --> 01:23:39,066 -[Bo] Never ever. -[Sheri sniffles] 1694 01:23:47,000 --> 01:23:50,734 Closure will not be a part of our lives. 1695 01:23:52,367 --> 01:23:56,367 Our pathway has always been justice for Lori 1696 01:23:56,367 --> 01:23:58,266 and to help other people, 1697 01:23:58,266 --> 01:24:00,467 and we've tried to do both of those.