1 00:00:06,166 --> 00:00:08,266 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 2 00:00:08,367 --> 00:00:12,266 {\an8}Donna was kind, generous, loved life. 3 00:00:12,266 --> 00:00:13,767 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 4 00:00:13,767 --> 00:00:15,567 PATRICIA: Biggest thing she wanted to do was 5 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:18,767 to find somebody that would treat her good, 6 00:00:18,767 --> 00:00:21,000 get married, and have children. 7 00:00:21,066 --> 00:00:24,567 I mean, you couldn't have been happier if you'd hit a lottery. 8 00:00:24,667 --> 00:00:27,266 We didn't know then what was really going on. 9 00:00:27,266 --> 00:00:28,567 {\an8}[phone ringing] 10 00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:30,000 {\an8}[operator speaking] 11 00:00:31,166 --> 00:00:33,500 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 12 00:00:33,567 --> 00:00:34,767 {\an8}OPERATOR: Mm-hmm. 13 00:00:34,867 --> 00:00:38,967 {\an8}-[Roger speaking] -[operator speaking] 14 00:00:38,967 --> 00:00:41,467 All these thoughts go through your head. 15 00:00:41,467 --> 00:00:45,767 It went from a missing persons to where do I go from here? 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,667 BRICE WAYNE: And when the details started rolling out, 17 00:00:48,667 --> 00:00:51,266 the forensic started coming in, 18 00:00:51,367 --> 00:00:53,400 it overwhelmed me. 19 00:00:54,767 --> 00:00:56,867 I was blindsided. I didn't see that coming. 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:00,000 [theme music playing] 21 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,000 [theme music playing] 22 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:15,567 NARRATOR: It's August 4th, 1989, in Knox County, Kentucky. 23 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:19,266 32-year-old Air Force serviceman, 24 00:01:19,367 --> 00:01:23,166 Roger Harris, waits patiently at the altar for his bride. 25 00:01:25,266 --> 00:01:29,800 {\an8}Roger was very nervous, just pacing back and forth, waiting, 26 00:01:29,867 --> 00:01:30,000 {\an8}you know, not knowing what to do. 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,000 {\an8}you know, not knowing what to do. 28 00:01:32,867 --> 00:01:36,367 NARRATOR: The bride's mother, 38-year-old Patricia Jordan, 29 00:01:36,467 --> 00:01:39,100 checks to see if her daughter is ready to make her entrance. 30 00:01:42,367 --> 00:01:44,367 But I was very proud, 31 00:01:44,367 --> 00:01:47,867 I mean, to see my daughter actually get married. 32 00:01:49,767 --> 00:01:52,000 I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. 33 00:01:54,266 --> 00:01:56,467 NARRATOR: Finally, Roger's bride, 34 00:01:56,467 --> 00:01:58,567 20-year-old Donna, appears. 35 00:02:00,567 --> 00:02:01,000 Her 42-year-old father, Brice, 36 00:02:02,967 --> 00:02:04,700 walks his daughter down the aisle. 37 00:02:06,567 --> 00:02:10,600 PATRICIA: Here comes Donna and her dad, Brice. 38 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:13,667 Oh, she looks so pretty in that picture. 39 00:02:15,867 --> 00:02:17,300 She was a beautiful bride. 40 00:02:19,367 --> 00:02:23,567 NARRATOR: Donna Jordan was born on November 25th, 1968, 41 00:02:23,567 --> 00:02:25,600 in Valparaiso, Indiana. 42 00:02:26,667 --> 00:02:28,667 PATRICIA: We had three children. 43 00:02:28,767 --> 00:02:30,000 Donna Lynn Jordan, my number one, 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,000 Donna Lynn Jordan, my number one, 45 00:02:31,567 --> 00:02:34,867 Brice Wayne Jordan, number two, 46 00:02:34,967 --> 00:02:38,166 and Shannon Marie Jordan, number three. 47 00:02:38,266 --> 00:02:41,200 NARRATOR: The Jordan children grow up on their parents' farm. 48 00:02:41,266 --> 00:02:45,500 PATRICIA: We had horses, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, 49 00:02:45,567 --> 00:02:49,000 just things that normal people have on the farm. 50 00:02:49,066 --> 00:02:52,800 Donna took very good care of the younger children when we 51 00:02:52,867 --> 00:02:56,900 was out doing farm work, stuff like that. 52 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,667 BRICE WAYNE: I was close to my older sister, Donna, 53 00:02:59,767 --> 00:03:00,000 {\an8}because me and her was only three years apart. 54 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,000 {\an8}because me and her was only three years apart. 55 00:03:02,967 --> 00:03:06,967 {\an8}She was more, uh, mature 56 00:03:06,967 --> 00:03:09,600 for her age than the rest of us was. 57 00:03:09,667 --> 00:03:12,300 She was the one who kept us in check on all that 58 00:03:12,367 --> 00:03:15,600 and made sure that we didn't do nothing foolish to get hurt. 59 00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:24,266 NARRATOR: In the spring of 1988, 19-year-old Donna 60 00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:26,367 leaves the security of her family. 61 00:03:26,367 --> 00:03:29,467 BRICE WAYNE: We had an aunt that was serving in the military 62 00:03:29,467 --> 00:03:30,000 in Hawaii. 63 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,467 in Hawaii. 64 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:31,000 She had a daughter, and she needed a live-in 65 00:03:34,066 --> 00:03:37,166 babysitter that the military was even willing to pay for. 66 00:03:37,266 --> 00:03:40,100 So Donna got a free ride to go to 67 00:03:40,166 --> 00:03:45,700 Hawaii and be paid to be a live-in babysitter. 68 00:03:45,767 --> 00:03:48,367 NARRATOR: Within a few months, Donna meets Roger, 69 00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:50,000 a divorced dad of one. 70 00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:53,400 He would hang out over at my sister's house, 71 00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:55,967 Roger would, and that's where he met Donna. 72 00:03:55,967 --> 00:03:58,367 BRICE WAYNE: And my aunt basically said, 73 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:00,000 he's a lifetime military man, and he is highly 74 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,000 he's a lifetime military man, and he is highly 75 00:04:04,166 --> 00:04:08,200 recognized amongst his peers in the military, and that he had 76 00:04:08,266 --> 00:04:11,300 never been any kind of mischief or trouble. 77 00:04:11,367 --> 00:04:15,066 Then we got letters saying that she found somebody that 78 00:04:15,066 --> 00:04:17,567 she was able to open up and talk to 79 00:04:17,567 --> 00:04:21,200 and somebody that was taking her out on the town 80 00:04:21,266 --> 00:04:24,900 and treating her to dinners and treating her wonderful. 81 00:04:26,867 --> 00:04:29,166 NARRATOR: Roger proposes six months after 82 00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:30,000 he and Donna first meet. 83 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:30,800 he and Donna first meet. 84 00:04:32,767 --> 00:04:35,567 The pair tie the knot five months later. 85 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,166 PATRICIA: Oh, beautiful, beautiful. 86 00:04:51,166 --> 00:04:53,800 Happy. I don't think Donna could 87 00:04:53,867 --> 00:04:56,200 smile any wider than what she's smiling. 88 00:04:56,266 --> 00:04:58,166 She sure is pretty. 89 00:05:10,367 --> 00:05:11,667 NARRATOR: At the reception, 90 00:05:11,667 --> 00:05:14,200 Donna and Roger share a wedding toast. 91 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,967 PATRICIA: This is where they want them to cross arms. 92 00:05:18,967 --> 00:05:22,467 They didn't know quite how to cross arms. 93 00:05:22,567 --> 00:05:26,266 [indistinct talking] 94 00:05:26,367 --> 00:05:28,667 They was much more relaxed at that time. 95 00:05:28,767 --> 00:05:30,000 Like, oh, thank God, it's over with, we're married now. 96 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,000 Like, oh, thank God, it's over with, we're married now. 97 00:05:31,967 --> 00:05:33,400 We can go on with our life. 98 00:05:33,467 --> 00:05:37,266 And we felt very, very good about it. Very good. 99 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,867 NARRATOR: A week after the wedding, Roger is transferred 100 00:05:41,867 --> 00:05:44,867 to Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, Georgia. 101 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,367 PATRICIA: They went on, like, a week's honeymoon, 102 00:05:48,367 --> 00:05:53,066 and then they moved to a house in Georgia where 103 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:57,266 it wasn't maybe a mile from the Air Force base 104 00:05:57,367 --> 00:05:58,800 where he was stationed at. 105 00:05:58,867 --> 00:06:00,000 NARRATOR: Donna's siblings come to visit in July 1990. 106 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,000 NARRATOR: Donna's siblings come to visit in July 1990. 107 00:06:05,667 --> 00:06:09,066 {\an8}NARRATOR: Donna videotapes her little sister, Shannon, Roger, 108 00:06:09,066 --> 00:06:11,667 and Roger's daughter from his previous marriage. 109 00:06:11,767 --> 00:06:13,567 BRICE WAYNE: That's the kind of man that -- 110 00:06:13,667 --> 00:06:15,367 that Donna married right there. 111 00:06:15,467 --> 00:06:19,000 Just loving to have fun, as you can see, you know. 112 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:21,000 Look at the grins on their face, 113 00:06:21,066 --> 00:06:22,367 at the fun they were having. 114 00:06:23,467 --> 00:06:25,000 Just picking on each other. 115 00:06:25,100 --> 00:06:27,300 If the kids wanted to wrestle, 116 00:06:27,367 --> 00:06:29,667 he would literally get right down on the floor with them 117 00:06:29,667 --> 00:06:30,000 and roll around like a dog. 118 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,000 and roll around like a dog. 119 00:06:31,266 --> 00:06:33,000 You know, it was fun. 120 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:38,567 Donna's brother, Brice, takes over filming. 121 00:06:38,567 --> 00:06:41,800 {\an8}[Brice Wayne speaking] 122 00:06:41,867 --> 00:06:44,567 Me and Donna's relationship when we're together, 123 00:06:44,567 --> 00:06:47,166 if we weren't picking on each other, I mean, 124 00:06:47,266 --> 00:06:50,166 one of the two of us was having a really bad day, and it 125 00:06:50,166 --> 00:06:55,467 was just always little -- little picking going on, 126 00:06:55,567 --> 00:06:59,100 and letting each other know that we still love one another. 127 00:07:02,166 --> 00:07:03,967 NARRATOR: The next day, the group head out 128 00:07:03,967 --> 00:07:05,867 to watch an air show. 129 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,100 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 130 00:07:09,166 --> 00:07:11,367 BRICE WAYNE: Roger's daughter to the right, 131 00:07:11,467 --> 00:07:15,367 Shannon to the left, and Roger was notorious for giving 132 00:07:15,467 --> 00:07:17,200 the Queen Elizabeth wave. 133 00:07:18,867 --> 00:07:20,166 And there I was. 134 00:07:21,867 --> 00:07:23,400 The sun was bright that day. 135 00:07:23,467 --> 00:07:26,300 I remember that -- like I say, I got some burned pretty badly. 136 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:30,000 They were on the blanket. 137 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:30,467 They were on the blanket. 138 00:07:30,467 --> 00:07:31,000 They were cutting up, clowning around. 139 00:07:33,066 --> 00:07:36,100 I was sitting there enjoying watching, but I wasn't joining 140 00:07:36,166 --> 00:07:39,667 in, so she had to pick on me, 141 00:07:39,767 --> 00:07:42,767 just get me to react for the video camera. 142 00:07:42,767 --> 00:07:45,967 {\an8}[Donna speaking] 143 00:07:48,166 --> 00:07:52,867 Even though Donna was married, she had her own life. 144 00:07:52,867 --> 00:07:56,166 But when me, Donna, and Shannon would get together, 145 00:07:56,166 --> 00:07:59,000 it was like we had never left one another's side. 146 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:00,000 {\an8}♪♪ 147 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,000 {\an8}♪♪ 148 00:08:06,967 --> 00:08:09,266 NARRATOR: The following summer, 149 00:08:09,367 --> 00:08:12,300 Donna is home alone when she hears a knock at the door. 150 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:15,300 BRICE WAYNE: A gentleman had broke down in 151 00:08:15,367 --> 00:08:18,266 the neighborhood in the middle of the heat 152 00:08:18,266 --> 00:08:19,400 in June in Georgia. 153 00:08:19,467 --> 00:08:22,266 It was well right around 100 degrees. 154 00:08:22,367 --> 00:08:25,867 Nobody would answer the door to him until he come to 155 00:08:25,867 --> 00:08:27,100 Donna's house. 156 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:30,000 He wanted to know if he could just borrow 157 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:30,800 He wanted to know if he could just borrow 158 00:08:30,867 --> 00:08:31,000 a phone to call somebody to come and get him. 159 00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:37,200 Donna being the person that Donna was, 160 00:08:37,266 --> 00:08:38,700 she was going to help him 161 00:08:39,967 --> 00:08:41,467 BRICE WAYNE: After the phone call, 162 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:43,100 he asked her for a glass of water. 163 00:08:45,667 --> 00:08:48,066 She stepped in the house, 164 00:08:48,066 --> 00:08:49,800 he stepped in behind her. 165 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:53,066 PATRICIA: And when she turned her back 166 00:08:53,066 --> 00:08:54,266 to get him the glass of water, 167 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:57,467 he had pulled a knife on Donna. 168 00:09:06,367 --> 00:09:08,200 BRICE WAYNE: He held the knife to her there 169 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:11,567 [phone ringing] 170 00:09:11,667 --> 00:09:14,667 until a friend called, 171 00:09:14,667 --> 00:09:19,367 and this friend was supposed to have met Donna for a walk. 172 00:09:21,166 --> 00:09:24,066 {\an8}Well, the friend called to cancel the walk 173 00:09:24,066 --> 00:09:25,266 {\an8}or to change time, 174 00:09:25,367 --> 00:09:28,567 and Donna acted like everything was peaches 175 00:09:28,667 --> 00:09:30,300 and cream, and the walk was going on. 176 00:09:31,967 --> 00:09:34,567 And that woman is like, you know, are you in trouble? 177 00:09:34,567 --> 00:09:37,800 And it went into a coded phone call at 178 00:09:37,867 --> 00:09:41,800 the time where the friend knew Donna was in distress. 179 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:47,667 NARRATOR: Donna ends the call with her friend. 180 00:09:47,667 --> 00:09:50,100 Then the man with the knife attacks her. 181 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,667 BRICE WAYNE: It was a violent rape at knifepoint, 182 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:58,867 and we don't know if he was intending on 183 00:09:58,967 --> 00:10:00,806 killing Donna or if he was just gonna leave. 184 00:10:00,806 --> 00:10:01,000 killing Donna or if he was just gonna leave. 185 00:10:01,867 --> 00:10:03,166 We don't know, because the police 186 00:10:03,166 --> 00:10:05,200 was able to get there before then. 187 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:13,367 NARRATOR: Donna's attacker is named Kenneth Battles. 188 00:10:13,367 --> 00:10:17,567 She testifies at Battles' trial in March 1992. 189 00:10:18,567 --> 00:10:20,700 PATRICIA: When she went to court for the rape, 190 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:23,800 {\an8}I came down to support her. 191 00:10:25,166 --> 00:10:28,600 {\an8}Uh, she seemed nervous, um, 192 00:10:28,667 --> 00:10:30,200 scared, 193 00:10:30,266 --> 00:10:30,806 afraid that if what she said or what she'd done, 194 00:10:30,806 --> 00:10:31,000 afraid that if what she said or what she'd done, 195 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,767 that he would get out and come back and harm her. 196 00:10:38,867 --> 00:10:41,800 NARRATOR: The jury finds Kenneth Battles guilty of rape, 197 00:10:41,867 --> 00:10:44,266 aggravated assault, and kidnapping. 198 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,367 The judge sentences him to 60 years in prison. 199 00:10:49,367 --> 00:10:51,700 Afterwards, she wouldn't go nowhere by herself. 200 00:10:51,767 --> 00:10:53,300 She was too afraid to. 201 00:10:53,367 --> 00:10:57,266 She was very frightened, and she was scared to even stay by 202 00:10:57,266 --> 00:10:59,066 herself after that for a while. 203 00:10:59,066 --> 00:11:00,806 But Roger seemed very kind and willing to help her. 204 00:11:00,806 --> 00:11:01,000 But Roger seemed very kind and willing to help her. 205 00:11:02,967 --> 00:11:06,100 Um, he was there for her, and it 206 00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:07,967 seems like they could lean on each other. 207 00:11:07,967 --> 00:11:11,367 Uh, there never seemed like there was any doubt 208 00:11:11,467 --> 00:11:13,100 that they really loved each other 209 00:11:13,166 --> 00:11:15,567 and they was there for each other, and that's pretty 210 00:11:15,667 --> 00:11:17,100 important in a marriage. 211 00:11:20,567 --> 00:11:23,667 NARRATOR: On October 22nd, 1992, 212 00:11:23,667 --> 00:11:26,667 Donna gives birth to a son, Joey. 213 00:11:26,667 --> 00:11:30,667 PATRICIA: Joseph was born, and she was very, very happy. 214 00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:30,806 Roger was very happy, excited. 215 00:11:30,806 --> 00:11:31,000 Roger was very happy, excited. 216 00:11:33,767 --> 00:11:35,667 "I got a boy! I got a boy!" 217 00:11:35,767 --> 00:11:37,867 I mean, he was like a proud peacock. 218 00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:43,000 BRICE WAYNE: And Joey just brought so much joy to the home. 219 00:11:43,066 --> 00:11:46,100 Her and Roger both were just -- just 220 00:11:46,166 --> 00:11:48,767 beautiful again, they had a glow to them. 221 00:11:48,767 --> 00:11:51,400 They was -- they was living large. 222 00:11:55,667 --> 00:11:59,400 PATRICIA: Okay, here's Donna -- she's trying to get him to nap 223 00:11:59,467 --> 00:12:00,806 is what it is. [laughs] 224 00:12:00,806 --> 00:12:01,000 is what it is. [laughs] 225 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:05,400 Get him good and tired so she can 226 00:12:05,467 --> 00:12:07,667 put him -- put him down for his nap. 227 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,567 That's how she checks him. 228 00:12:12,667 --> 00:12:14,767 See how she picks up the arm and drops it? 229 00:12:18,066 --> 00:12:21,467 NARRATOR: Donna revels in her role as a new mom. 230 00:12:21,567 --> 00:12:24,000 But she continues to struggle in the aftermath 231 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:26,066 of her rape the year before. 232 00:12:26,066 --> 00:12:27,467 BRICE WAYNE: After the rape, 233 00:12:27,467 --> 00:12:30,700 my sister was just completely different. 234 00:12:30,767 --> 00:12:30,806 Even after Joey was born, 235 00:12:30,806 --> 00:12:31,000 Even after Joey was born, 236 00:12:32,867 --> 00:12:36,266 we had noticed Donna was still very insecure. 237 00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:38,567 She would just kind of withdraw. 238 00:12:38,567 --> 00:12:41,100 We tried to be there as much as we could. 239 00:12:41,166 --> 00:12:45,567 Uh, we showed support as a family. 240 00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:54,166 NARRATOR: In July 1994, 241 00:12:54,166 --> 00:12:56,667 the Air Force transfers Roger to Arkansas. 242 00:12:57,867 --> 00:12:59,867 The family moves to Harrison. 243 00:13:01,767 --> 00:13:03,600 The change of scene focuses Donna's 244 00:13:03,667 --> 00:13:06,600 mind about what she wants from life. 245 00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:08,367 Once Joey started getting old 246 00:13:08,367 --> 00:13:12,166 enough to start preschool, kindergarten, 247 00:13:12,166 --> 00:13:14,467 she wanted to find something to start 248 00:13:14,467 --> 00:13:18,266 doing to give her life a purpose. 249 00:13:18,367 --> 00:13:20,166 [child babbling] 250 00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:23,767 Donna come to the decision to become a nurse. 251 00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:27,767 NARRATOR: Donna enrolls in nursing school in August 1994. 252 00:13:29,467 --> 00:13:30,806 Roger films Joey as he greets his mom after a day in class. 253 00:13:30,806 --> 00:13:31,000 Roger films Joey as he greets his mom after a day in class. 254 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,367 {\an8}I apparently would wait at the front door like 255 00:13:38,367 --> 00:13:40,967 {\an8}a lost puppy and just wait for her to come in. 256 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:44,667 {\an8}Mm-hmm. 257 00:13:44,667 --> 00:13:46,266 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 258 00:13:46,266 --> 00:13:49,467 As soon as she got home and got out of the car, 259 00:13:49,567 --> 00:13:51,000 I was jumping up in her arms. 260 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:53,400 [laughs] 261 00:13:53,467 --> 00:13:55,367 Muwah! 262 00:13:55,367 --> 00:13:59,100 {\an8}-[Roger speaking] -[Joseph babbling] 263 00:14:00,367 --> 00:14:00,806 NARRATOR: Roger and Donna see their stay 264 00:14:00,806 --> 00:14:01,000 NARRATOR: Roger and Donna see their stay 265 00:14:02,367 --> 00:14:04,000 in Arkansas as temporary. 266 00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:07,600 They both hankered to live somewhere warmer. 267 00:14:07,667 --> 00:14:08,567 {\an8}DONNA: Thank you. 268 00:14:09,967 --> 00:14:11,000 {\an8}ROGER: Ahhh! 269 00:14:11,967 --> 00:14:13,000 {\an8}JOSEPH: Ah! 270 00:14:13,066 --> 00:14:14,800 NARRATOR: In March 1995, 271 00:14:14,867 --> 00:14:18,467 they drive the 900-mile journey to Lake City, Florida, 272 00:14:18,567 --> 00:14:21,767 to scope out land on which to build a forever home. 273 00:14:21,867 --> 00:14:24,567 This is the new home, going to be, 274 00:14:24,567 --> 00:14:26,166 this is her spot of ground. 275 00:14:26,266 --> 00:14:30,806 Uh, there's 10 acres -- as you see, it's very sandy. 276 00:14:30,806 --> 00:14:31,000 Uh, there's 10 acres -- as you see, it's very sandy. 277 00:14:31,166 --> 00:14:33,467 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 278 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,867 PATRICIA: They had dreams of owning land, 279 00:14:43,967 --> 00:14:48,166 having livestock, and, uh, 280 00:14:48,266 --> 00:14:50,467 just a place where they could relax. 281 00:14:50,567 --> 00:14:52,867 Everything seemed like it was just coming together. 282 00:14:58,266 --> 00:14:59,967 NARRATOR: Three months later, 283 00:14:59,967 --> 00:15:00,806 Roger retires from the Air Force. 284 00:15:00,806 --> 00:15:01,000 Roger retires from the Air Force. 285 00:15:03,166 --> 00:15:06,367 PATRICIA: Roger retired after 17 years out 286 00:15:06,467 --> 00:15:10,700 of the military, June 30th of 1995. 287 00:15:10,767 --> 00:15:15,600 They did all these accommodational rewards, 288 00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:20,100 medals, and things that he received, and Donna also 289 00:15:20,166 --> 00:15:25,567 received one for being the wife of a military person. 290 00:15:25,567 --> 00:15:30,000 It's hard to be a military wife for the simple reason, 291 00:15:30,100 --> 00:15:30,806 when you're in the military, 292 00:15:30,806 --> 00:15:31,000 when you're in the military, 293 00:15:31,567 --> 00:15:35,166 they go away for months and years on end, 294 00:15:35,266 --> 00:15:38,400 and you have to be supportive of what they're doing, 295 00:15:38,467 --> 00:15:41,467 keep up the home in the States. 296 00:16:13,667 --> 00:16:16,100 NARRATOR: The Harris family makes the move to Florida 297 00:16:16,166 --> 00:16:18,467 in the fall of 1995. 298 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:24,200 Donna finds work at a veterans hospital in Lake City. 299 00:16:24,266 --> 00:16:27,166 Roger stays at home and looks after Joey. 300 00:16:29,066 --> 00:16:30,806 A year later, Donna discovers that 301 00:16:30,806 --> 00:16:31,000 A year later, Donna discovers that 302 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,266 she is pregnant with her second child. 303 00:16:34,867 --> 00:16:38,567 {\an8}[man speaking] 304 00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:41,567 PATRICIA: When Donna found out that she 305 00:16:41,667 --> 00:16:47,467 was pregnant with another child, she was... 306 00:16:47,467 --> 00:16:49,367 kind of beside herself, 307 00:16:49,467 --> 00:16:51,500 happy-go-lucky. 308 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,100 She had a good job, a good career. 309 00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:57,500 She had her children. 310 00:16:57,567 --> 00:16:59,867 Roger seemed very contented. 311 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:05,166 But I was never sure how Roger's 312 00:17:05,166 --> 00:17:08,100 mindset was with getting out of the military. 313 00:17:09,867 --> 00:17:14,100 He ran his house like a military base, 314 00:17:14,166 --> 00:17:19,367 and Roger would be harsh on her. 315 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:26,767 I started seeing a side of Roger, a very manipulating, 316 00:17:26,867 --> 00:17:30,806 controlling side to him that the family had never got to see. 317 00:17:30,806 --> 00:17:31,000 controlling side to him that the family had never got to see. 318 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:38,166 [man speaking indistinctly] 319 00:17:38,166 --> 00:17:40,166 [woman speaking indistinctly] 320 00:17:40,166 --> 00:17:41,467 [man speaking indistinctly] 321 00:17:41,467 --> 00:17:46,200 PATRICIA: Timothy was born March 13th, 1997, 322 00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:50,166 at the Gainesville Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. 323 00:17:50,266 --> 00:17:54,500 {\an8}It seemed like a very joyous, joyous occasion. 324 00:17:54,567 --> 00:17:58,300 Happy, and Timmy was so tiny. 325 00:17:58,367 --> 00:18:01,000 [laughs] He was such a tiny little thing. 326 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:02,718 Joseph was very, very excited that he had a baby brother. 327 00:18:02,718 --> 00:18:03,000 Joseph was very, very excited that he had a baby brother. 328 00:18:07,166 --> 00:18:09,367 {\an8}[Joseph talking] 329 00:18:09,467 --> 00:18:12,867 PATRICIA: Donna just got out of the hospital, was coming home. 330 00:18:12,967 --> 00:18:15,100 Roger's got the baby. 331 00:18:15,166 --> 00:18:19,166 He's helping Donna out. 332 00:18:19,266 --> 00:18:22,767 {\an8}-[woman speaking] -[Joseph speaking] 333 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,467 {\an8}[Joseph speaking] 334 00:18:26,467 --> 00:18:28,400 PATRICIA: Shannon baked the cake. 335 00:18:28,467 --> 00:18:31,100 She worked all day on it. [laughs] 336 00:18:31,166 --> 00:18:32,667 Joey's so excited. 337 00:18:32,767 --> 00:18:33,000 "Made it for my baby. Made it for my baby brother." 338 00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:39,467 {\an8}[Joseph speaking] 339 00:18:39,567 --> 00:18:41,667 JOSEPH: You know, I had no idea how excited I was 340 00:18:41,667 --> 00:18:42,867 for him to come home. 341 00:18:45,300 --> 00:18:48,467 {\an8}I love that I just seem stuck on -- that's my baby. 342 00:18:48,467 --> 00:18:50,700 That's my baby brother. 343 00:18:50,767 --> 00:18:53,500 That's adorable. We're a family. 344 00:18:56,900 --> 00:18:59,567 NARRATOR: One year later, Donna's parents sell 345 00:18:59,667 --> 00:19:01,600 their home in Kentucky. 346 00:19:01,667 --> 00:19:02,718 They move to Lake City, Florida, to 347 00:19:02,718 --> 00:19:03,000 They move to Lake City, Florida, to 348 00:19:04,367 --> 00:19:07,500 be closer to Donna and their grandchildren. 349 00:19:07,567 --> 00:19:11,967 This is when things -- we felt a little different. 350 00:19:13,266 --> 00:19:17,667 All of a sudden Roger, he didn't want us there. 351 00:19:17,767 --> 00:19:19,000 We didn't know why. 352 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,467 Donna was becoming more independent. 353 00:19:23,567 --> 00:19:25,100 He did not like that. 354 00:19:26,467 --> 00:19:30,100 He got bored watching the kids, taking care of things. 355 00:19:30,166 --> 00:19:32,500 He went on to work then for Walmart. 356 00:19:32,567 --> 00:19:32,718 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 357 00:19:32,718 --> 00:19:33,000 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 358 00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:37,367 PATRICIA: While he was working there, they offered him 359 00:19:37,367 --> 00:19:41,367 a chance to become a district manager. 360 00:19:41,467 --> 00:19:46,400 Roger made it really key to everybody knowing 361 00:19:46,467 --> 00:19:48,567 that a man needs to be the provider, 362 00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:51,667 and then a woman's place is in the house. 363 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,700 But Donna worked very hard as a nurse, 364 00:19:56,767 --> 00:20:00,100 {\an8}and Roger was not real thrilled about it, 365 00:20:00,166 --> 00:20:02,718 {\an8}but by the end, Roger was showing her a little bit of 366 00:20:02,718 --> 00:20:03,000 {\an8}but by the end, Roger was showing her a little bit of 367 00:20:03,367 --> 00:20:04,767 support to help her, but she 368 00:20:04,767 --> 00:20:07,200 still had to maintain her housework. 369 00:20:13,367 --> 00:20:15,667 PATRICIA: Oh, Roger decided 370 00:20:15,667 --> 00:20:17,867 he wanted to keep the kids at home more. 371 00:20:17,967 --> 00:20:21,100 So he was gonna hire a babysitter. 372 00:20:21,166 --> 00:20:23,600 In December of 1996, 373 00:20:23,667 --> 00:20:27,100 Donna and Roger went to a Christmas party, 374 00:20:27,166 --> 00:20:30,867 and that's where they met Jennifer Palmer. 375 00:20:30,967 --> 00:20:32,718 Jennifer kind of needed a place to stay, 376 00:20:32,718 --> 00:20:33,000 Jennifer kind of needed a place to stay, 377 00:20:33,667 --> 00:20:35,467 and it was going to be beneficial 378 00:20:35,467 --> 00:20:37,066 for Donna and Roger for her 379 00:20:37,066 --> 00:20:40,567 to move in with them so that she could be a babysitter 380 00:20:40,667 --> 00:20:44,100 where they didn't have to run the kids anywhere. 381 00:20:44,166 --> 00:20:46,467 They could be more at home. 382 00:20:46,467 --> 00:20:50,066 So he hired this girl, and Donna seemed okay with it at 383 00:20:50,066 --> 00:20:53,400 the time, because then she wouldn't have to pay 384 00:20:53,467 --> 00:20:55,266 that much for a sitter. 385 00:20:56,667 --> 00:20:58,967 BRICE WAYNE: But then Donna told me that her 386 00:20:58,967 --> 00:21:01,667 and Roger wasn't getting to spend time together. 387 00:21:01,667 --> 00:21:02,718 He was always at work. 388 00:21:02,718 --> 00:21:03,000 He was always at work. 389 00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:10,900 PATRICIA: And Donna was getting kind of suspicious, 390 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:15,200 more or less, of what was going on because of the way they 391 00:21:15,266 --> 00:21:17,867 connected with each other and snuck around 392 00:21:17,967 --> 00:21:19,467 and talked to each other. 393 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,600 July 3rd of 1998, 394 00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:30,367 Donna discovered emails with Jennifer Palmer 395 00:21:30,367 --> 00:21:32,367 and Roger. 396 00:21:34,867 --> 00:21:38,867 He would give her times when to meet with her, when not to. 397 00:21:39,867 --> 00:21:43,000 BRICE WAYNE: Roger was having an affair. 398 00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:46,667 All the nights that she was worried about him working late, 399 00:21:46,667 --> 00:21:48,367 he wasn't working. 400 00:21:48,367 --> 00:21:50,000 It just devastated her. 401 00:21:51,467 --> 00:21:54,266 It felt like somebody just tore her world away from her. 402 00:21:55,867 --> 00:21:57,300 PATRICIA: She just told Roger she wanted to get 403 00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:59,200 away for a few days and clear her head. 404 00:21:59,266 --> 00:22:02,100 So she came over and stayed, and she talked. 405 00:22:02,166 --> 00:22:02,718 We all talked it out. 406 00:22:02,718 --> 00:22:03,000 We all talked it out. 407 00:22:04,767 --> 00:22:07,967 And so when she went back, she confronted him 408 00:22:07,967 --> 00:22:09,867 about the emails. 409 00:22:11,367 --> 00:22:15,667 He says, "Oh, yes," he says, "I fell away, and I 410 00:22:15,667 --> 00:22:19,467 cheated on you, and I'm so sorry, I'll never do it again." 411 00:22:19,467 --> 00:22:21,900 She said, "Well, the girl has to go, has to move out." 412 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,400 She was getting pretty hard on Roger by this time. 413 00:22:24,467 --> 00:22:27,000 And so he says, "Okay, I'll move her out." 414 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:28,700 She said, "If you don't, I will." 415 00:22:28,767 --> 00:22:32,718 Donna chucked her out more or less on her ear, 416 00:22:32,718 --> 00:22:32,967 Donna chucked her out more or less on her ear, 417 00:22:32,967 --> 00:22:33,000 all her stuff and all, right out the door, honey. 418 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,567 NARRATOR: Jennifer rents a place in town. 419 00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:47,467 But Donna keeps her on as the family's babysitter. 420 00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:50,066 PATRICIA: It was really surprising that Donna would even 421 00:22:50,066 --> 00:22:56,100 still talk to her and to allow her to come back and babysit. 422 00:22:56,166 --> 00:22:58,400 But Roger had to be out of the house. 423 00:22:59,567 --> 00:23:02,467 She babysat a few weeks after that until finally, 424 00:23:02,467 --> 00:23:02,718 Donna seen or knew 425 00:23:02,718 --> 00:23:03,000 Donna seen or knew 426 00:23:05,066 --> 00:23:08,100 that they were still seeing each other and that she 427 00:23:08,166 --> 00:23:11,967 was actually coming over when Donna was gone, um, sneaking 428 00:23:11,967 --> 00:23:13,467 behind her back, and Roger 429 00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:16,467 sneaking, even though he promised that he wouldn't. 430 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:21,300 Donna said that she wanted Jennifer Palmer not 431 00:23:21,367 --> 00:23:23,967 to have no part whatsoever in their lives. 432 00:23:23,967 --> 00:23:26,066 Uh, and they would have nothing more to do with 433 00:23:26,066 --> 00:23:27,133 Jennifer Palmer. 434 00:23:31,100 --> 00:23:32,718 BRICE WAYNE: Roger went to counseling and broke up 435 00:23:32,718 --> 00:23:33,000 BRICE WAYNE: Roger went to counseling and broke up 436 00:23:34,066 --> 00:23:37,266 with Jennifer Palmer, and everything was going good. 437 00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:39,300 He wanted to be back with Donna, 438 00:23:39,367 --> 00:23:41,266 that he realized his mistake. 439 00:23:45,367 --> 00:23:46,467 MAN: Ew. 440 00:23:46,567 --> 00:23:48,266 [laughter] 441 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,567 PATRICIA: By that time, Donna and Roger was seeming 442 00:23:53,667 --> 00:23:56,166 like they was trying to put their marriage together. 443 00:23:57,367 --> 00:23:58,400 Around her, 444 00:23:58,467 --> 00:24:02,266 he portrayed the loving father, husband. 445 00:24:02,367 --> 00:24:02,718 She knew no different. 446 00:24:02,718 --> 00:24:03,000 She knew no different. 447 00:24:04,467 --> 00:24:07,100 She thought, well, yeah, he had a fling, 448 00:24:07,166 --> 00:24:10,266 it's over with, let's move on. 449 00:24:10,367 --> 00:24:11,867 That's just the way she was. 450 00:24:13,967 --> 00:24:16,700 [indistinct talking] 451 00:24:16,767 --> 00:24:21,467 This was, uh, thanksgiving in, um, '98. 452 00:24:21,567 --> 00:24:23,567 They decided to come over to our house for 453 00:24:23,667 --> 00:24:25,000 Thanksgiving dinner. 454 00:24:26,367 --> 00:24:27,767 JOSEPH: The whole family's together. 455 00:24:27,767 --> 00:24:29,567 The kids know to stay out of the house, 456 00:24:29,667 --> 00:24:31,600 stay out of the kitchen, get out from under their feet. 457 00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:36,400 I remember hanging a little airplane out in the front yard. 458 00:24:37,700 --> 00:24:38,967 [shouts indistinctly] 459 00:24:38,967 --> 00:24:40,867 It seemed like most of the family 460 00:24:40,867 --> 00:24:43,867 atmosphere was, when we were there together, 461 00:24:43,867 --> 00:24:45,467 there's -- nothing else mattered. 462 00:24:48,367 --> 00:24:49,867 PATRICIA: We see no change. 463 00:24:49,967 --> 00:24:52,266 Uh, not at that point other than things 464 00:24:52,266 --> 00:24:53,967 were just a little more quieter than normal. 465 00:24:53,967 --> 00:24:57,300 But -- because we didn't know then what was really going on. 466 00:24:59,567 --> 00:25:02,718 BRICE WAYNE: Nobody could ever imagine that it would 467 00:25:02,718 --> 00:25:03,000 BRICE WAYNE: Nobody could ever imagine that it would 468 00:25:03,367 --> 00:25:05,367 turn out the way that it did. 469 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,166 I was blindsided. I didn't see that coming. 470 00:25:23,667 --> 00:25:26,200 {\an8}[operator speaking] 471 00:25:31,700 --> 00:25:33,166 {\an8}[operator speaking] 472 00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:35,200 {\an8}-[Roger speaking] -[operator speaking] 473 00:25:35,266 --> 00:25:40,000 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 474 00:25:40,066 --> 00:25:42,300 {\an8}[operator speaking] 475 00:25:42,367 --> 00:25:43,545 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 476 00:25:43,545 --> 00:25:44,000 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 477 00:25:46,367 --> 00:25:48,367 {\an8}[operator speaking] 478 00:25:48,367 --> 00:25:50,400 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 479 00:25:50,467 --> 00:25:53,166 {\an8}[operator speaking] 480 00:25:53,266 --> 00:25:55,467 {\an8}[Roger speaking] 481 00:25:55,567 --> 00:25:59,000 PATRICIA: On December 4th of 1998, 482 00:25:59,066 --> 00:26:01,767 Roger brought Timmy to our home 483 00:26:01,767 --> 00:26:04,000 {\an8}and told us that Donna was missing. 484 00:26:07,567 --> 00:26:09,166 I said, "What do you mean Donna's missing?" 485 00:26:09,266 --> 00:26:13,000 He said, "Well, Donna got in her van last night, 486 00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:13,545 "was gonna go to Walmart and exchange a jack 487 00:26:13,545 --> 00:26:14,000 "was gonna go to Walmart and exchange a jack 488 00:26:17,367 --> 00:26:21,467 "that she had bought me for my birthday, but I already had one. 489 00:26:21,567 --> 00:26:23,867 So she was gonna take it back." 490 00:26:23,967 --> 00:26:25,900 And he said she'd never come back home. 491 00:26:27,767 --> 00:26:29,700 Donna would not leave her boys. 492 00:26:29,767 --> 00:26:32,266 Donna would not go out of the house at night. 493 00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:34,500 All these things is running through my head. 494 00:26:34,567 --> 00:26:37,166 And when I told Brice about it, he said, 495 00:26:37,166 --> 00:26:39,300 "Something's not right." He says, "Call the police." 496 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:43,545 I called the police and told them what was going on, 497 00:26:43,545 --> 00:26:44,000 I called the police and told them what was going on, 498 00:26:45,767 --> 00:26:47,066 what I thought. 499 00:26:47,066 --> 00:26:50,467 And they said, "Oh, we can't put out any kind of report," 500 00:26:50,467 --> 00:26:52,867 he said, "for 24 hours." 501 00:26:52,867 --> 00:26:56,567 And I said, "You people don't understand, this is not Donna." 502 00:26:56,567 --> 00:26:57,900 And I mean, I got onto them. 503 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,066 I was calling them every hour on the hour and finally they 504 00:27:00,066 --> 00:27:02,266 got tired of me calling, and I said, 505 00:27:02,266 --> 00:27:04,200 "I ain't waiting no 24 hours." 506 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:06,367 We're crazy-headed. 507 00:27:06,367 --> 00:27:10,300 We knew something was wrong -- on Sunday, 508 00:27:10,367 --> 00:27:13,545 we knew, just a feeling, that something bad 509 00:27:13,545 --> 00:27:14,000 we knew, just a feeling, that something bad 510 00:27:14,767 --> 00:27:16,000 had happened to Donna. 511 00:27:16,100 --> 00:27:21,600 {\an8}♪♪ 512 00:27:21,667 --> 00:27:24,400 NARRATOR: 72 hours after Donna's disappearance, 513 00:27:24,467 --> 00:27:27,800 the Columbia County Sheriff's Office receives a report of 514 00:27:27,867 --> 00:27:30,000 a suspicious abandoned vehicle. 515 00:27:31,300 --> 00:27:33,767 DONNIE: On December 7th, 516 00:27:33,867 --> 00:27:37,066 {\an8}employees of the truck stop located 517 00:27:37,066 --> 00:27:39,667 {\an8}at I- 75 and 441 518 00:27:39,767 --> 00:27:43,545 {\an8}called 911, stating that they've noticed a foul odor 519 00:27:43,545 --> 00:27:44,000 {\an8}called 911, stating that they've noticed a foul odor 520 00:27:44,467 --> 00:27:46,266 coming from the area of the van 521 00:27:46,266 --> 00:27:48,400 that was in the north parking lot. 522 00:27:48,467 --> 00:27:49,667 Upon my arrival, 523 00:27:49,667 --> 00:27:53,667 um, I noticed the 1992 Chevy Astro van 524 00:27:53,767 --> 00:27:57,667 in the north parking lot, away from the business, 525 00:27:57,767 --> 00:28:00,800 isolated by itself. 526 00:28:00,867 --> 00:28:02,867 We ran the vehicle license plate, 527 00:28:02,967 --> 00:28:05,400 and it came back to Roger and Donna Harris. 528 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:09,100 Walking around to the right side of 529 00:28:09,166 --> 00:28:11,266 the van, where the sliding door is, 530 00:28:11,367 --> 00:28:13,545 I could observe a deceased white 531 00:28:13,545 --> 00:28:14,000 I could observe a deceased white 532 00:28:14,166 --> 00:28:17,967 female in an advanced state of decomposition. 533 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,000 Looking at her, she matched 534 00:28:23,066 --> 00:28:26,000 the description of what we believed to be Donna Harris. 535 00:28:29,567 --> 00:28:33,367 NARRATOR: Crime scene technicians search the vehicle. 536 00:28:33,367 --> 00:28:36,567 She was face-down, with her head between 537 00:28:36,667 --> 00:28:39,367 the seat and the wall of the van. 538 00:28:39,467 --> 00:28:43,367 You could not make out any type of injury 539 00:28:43,467 --> 00:28:43,545 to the head or body. 540 00:28:43,545 --> 00:28:44,000 to the head or body. 541 00:28:46,266 --> 00:28:50,767 A nail punch was located near Donna's body. 542 00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:53,967 It's used to drive through pieces of metal 543 00:28:53,967 --> 00:28:57,367 nails that you can't extract out of something. 544 00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:02,767 They had found a purse behind the passenger seat, 545 00:29:02,867 --> 00:29:06,166 a bolt, and a floor jack in the rear of the van. 546 00:29:08,867 --> 00:29:12,100 My mind immediately raced to something's not right here. 547 00:29:12,166 --> 00:29:13,545 The doors are locked, the keys are missing. 548 00:29:13,545 --> 00:29:13,800 The doors are locked, the keys are missing. 549 00:29:13,867 --> 00:29:14,000 She's face-down in the far back seat. 550 00:29:16,667 --> 00:29:20,166 In my mind, there's foul play. 551 00:29:20,266 --> 00:29:23,767 It went from a missing persons to a homicide case. 552 00:29:28,867 --> 00:29:31,667 NARRATOR: Detectives delay notifying Donna's family about 553 00:29:31,767 --> 00:29:35,467 their discovery until they have more information. 554 00:29:35,467 --> 00:29:38,200 DONNIE: The problem with small towns is words get out fast. 555 00:29:38,266 --> 00:29:41,467 People start making calls, and there's 50 stories 556 00:29:41,567 --> 00:29:43,545 out there, and 49 and 1/2 of them are incorrect. 557 00:29:43,545 --> 00:29:44,000 out there, and 49 and 1/2 of them are incorrect. 558 00:29:45,266 --> 00:29:49,767 So when we located Donna, we're gonna be 559 00:29:49,867 --> 00:29:50,867 very tight-lipped. 560 00:29:51,867 --> 00:29:54,567 I begin the process of finding 561 00:29:54,667 --> 00:29:57,500 where's Donna been these three days. 562 00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:01,266 I went to the VA domiciliary 563 00:30:01,266 --> 00:30:04,367 for veterans to interview coworkers, 564 00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:06,900 see when she had been there, 565 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:11,100 what shift she worked, and gaining insight on 566 00:30:11,166 --> 00:30:13,545 Donna's work, 567 00:30:13,545 --> 00:30:13,600 Donna's work, 568 00:30:13,667 --> 00:30:14,000 what she had said about her home life, and I was told that 569 00:30:17,266 --> 00:30:18,367 she had been complaining about 570 00:30:18,367 --> 00:30:20,867 marital problems with Roger Harris. 571 00:30:22,567 --> 00:30:25,300 Donna's colleagues told us that he was having 572 00:30:25,367 --> 00:30:27,500 an affair with a girl named Jennifer Palmer. 573 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:33,367 While speaking with coworkers of Donna Harris, 574 00:30:33,467 --> 00:30:37,900 one of the male employees points out the window and says, 575 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,667 "There goes Roger now." 576 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:43,545 I'm interested in why Roger 577 00:30:43,545 --> 00:30:44,000 I'm interested in why Roger 578 00:30:45,266 --> 00:30:48,367 is pulling through Donna Harris's work. 579 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,367 I immediately went to the parking lot, 580 00:30:52,367 --> 00:30:55,867 got into my unmarked vehicle, and began to follow Roger. 581 00:30:57,900 --> 00:31:01,000 NARRATOR: Roger drives to a nearby residential property. 582 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,667 Detective Brown watches Roger enter the house. 583 00:31:05,767 --> 00:31:09,100 On the day that we found his wife deceased in the van, 584 00:31:09,166 --> 00:31:11,166 I definitely wanted to know who lived there. 585 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:13,545 NARRATOR: Detective Brown's colleagues 586 00:31:13,545 --> 00:31:14,000 NARRATOR: Detective Brown's colleagues 587 00:31:14,767 --> 00:31:16,300 report that the residence belongs 588 00:31:16,367 --> 00:31:19,600 to Roger's alleged mistress, Jennifer Palmer. 589 00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:25,467 DONNIE: 10 minutes later, Roger emerges from the residence 590 00:31:27,567 --> 00:31:30,266 and gets into his car 591 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:34,567 and proceeds southbound on Country Club Road 592 00:31:34,567 --> 00:31:35,767 off of [indistinct]. 593 00:31:37,767 --> 00:31:41,367 We followed Roger all the way to his residence, 594 00:31:42,967 --> 00:31:43,545 and while up the road, I contact Roger by phone 595 00:31:43,545 --> 00:31:44,000 and while up the road, I contact Roger by phone 596 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,867 and announce who I am. 597 00:31:49,867 --> 00:31:55,567 I ask him if he had seen or heard from Donna. 598 00:31:57,100 --> 00:31:58,266 Any updates? 599 00:31:58,367 --> 00:32:01,867 Roger tells me, "I was gonna ask you the same thing." 600 00:32:03,467 --> 00:32:06,367 I get some base information from him, 601 00:32:06,467 --> 00:32:09,600 and I started to throw some things out there 602 00:32:09,667 --> 00:32:11,367 and ask him about his relationship with 603 00:32:11,467 --> 00:32:13,367 Jennifer Palmer. 604 00:32:13,367 --> 00:32:13,545 He was extremely nervous, voice shaking. 605 00:32:13,545 --> 00:32:14,000 He was extremely nervous, voice shaking. 606 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,066 Not sure what to say. 607 00:32:20,066 --> 00:32:22,266 He immediately starts telling me 608 00:32:22,367 --> 00:32:23,767 they were having marital problems. 609 00:32:23,867 --> 00:32:27,100 He admits to an affair with Jennifer. 610 00:32:27,166 --> 00:32:29,967 Roger said that six days prior, on December 611 00:32:29,967 --> 00:32:33,166 the first, was the last time that he had seen Jennifer. 612 00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:36,867 So I knew that he was lying. 613 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,667 I knew there was more for Roger to 614 00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:43,545 tell me, and it probably wasn't gonna be good. 615 00:32:43,545 --> 00:32:44,000 tell me, and it probably wasn't gonna be good. 616 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:49,667 NARRATOR: Detective Brown arranges for Roger and Jennifer 617 00:32:49,767 --> 00:32:51,667 to be interviewed at the sheriff's office. 618 00:32:51,767 --> 00:32:55,400 So I'm getting very serious at this point about finding out 619 00:32:55,467 --> 00:32:57,266 what happened to Donna, and I feel like 620 00:32:57,266 --> 00:32:59,867 I have the two people on the way to tell me the answers. 621 00:33:01,567 --> 00:33:05,800 Jennifer was more nervous than most people I had dealt with 622 00:33:05,867 --> 00:33:08,767 in my career -- hands visibly shaking, 623 00:33:08,767 --> 00:33:11,300 eyes tearing up. 624 00:33:11,367 --> 00:33:13,545 When I asked Jennifer the last time she had seen Roger Harris, 625 00:33:13,545 --> 00:33:14,000 When I asked Jennifer the last time she had seen Roger Harris, 626 00:33:15,567 --> 00:33:19,066 Jennifer told me it was on the first of December. 627 00:33:19,066 --> 00:33:22,800 This is also what Roger had told me. 628 00:33:22,867 --> 00:33:27,367 I told her that we basically had found Donna 629 00:33:27,367 --> 00:33:28,467 deceased in a van 630 00:33:28,467 --> 00:33:31,567 and that she had been killed and I want to know 631 00:33:31,667 --> 00:33:32,900 what she knew about that. 632 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:39,100 And her actual statement after I told her she needed to get 633 00:33:39,166 --> 00:33:42,567 it off her chest was, "I just want to tell the truth." 634 00:33:48,300 --> 00:33:51,066 Jennifer said that she and Roger had 635 00:33:51,066 --> 00:33:53,266 been having an affair for five months. 636 00:33:53,266 --> 00:33:56,166 Donna had found out about it. 637 00:33:56,266 --> 00:33:59,066 But the affair continues. 638 00:33:59,066 --> 00:34:01,300 Roger tells Jennifer, 639 00:34:01,367 --> 00:34:03,700 "Donna's threatened to take the children from me. 640 00:34:03,767 --> 00:34:05,467 "Divorce is not an option. 641 00:34:05,467 --> 00:34:08,300 "I'm not gonna lose property. I'm not gonna lose children. 642 00:34:08,367 --> 00:34:12,767 My only way out is taking Donna's life." 643 00:34:17,266 --> 00:34:18,500 BOB: According to Jennifer, 644 00:34:18,567 --> 00:34:21,867 Roger said he was gonna make a gun to kill his wife 645 00:34:21,967 --> 00:34:24,000 with, and he invited Jennifer 646 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:28,266 {\an8}around to his house one day when the wife wasn't there 647 00:34:28,266 --> 00:34:30,900 {\an8}and showed her the gun in progress. 648 00:34:32,100 --> 00:34:36,166 DONNIE: He was slowly, methodically, sawing pipe, 649 00:34:36,166 --> 00:34:38,900 fitting things to make a gun. 650 00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:43,867 I refer it to a zip gun -- it's a homemade gun. 651 00:34:46,166 --> 00:34:50,667 BOB: Roger had told Jennifer he was gonna kill Donna with it. 652 00:34:50,667 --> 00:34:53,166 He was gonna shoot her in the head in the van, 653 00:34:53,166 --> 00:34:56,200 and then he was gonna need help disposing of the body. 654 00:34:57,467 --> 00:35:00,166 NARRATOR: Jennifer tells detectives that she and Roger 655 00:35:00,266 --> 00:35:03,100 met at a diner on the morning of December 3rd. 656 00:35:03,166 --> 00:35:06,400 He says, "It's gonna go down tonight," 657 00:35:06,467 --> 00:35:09,100 and says he's gonna call her when it's done. 658 00:35:11,100 --> 00:35:13,000 [phone ringing] 659 00:35:13,066 --> 00:35:14,222 At about 10:30 that night, she gets a phone call. 660 00:35:14,222 --> 00:35:15,000 At about 10:30 that night, she gets a phone call. 661 00:35:16,367 --> 00:35:18,467 Roger says, "Well, I did it. 662 00:35:22,100 --> 00:35:24,066 I'm washing my hands, and you need to get here." 663 00:35:27,266 --> 00:35:30,500 She got to the house, Roger was there. 664 00:35:32,767 --> 00:35:35,600 He wanted her to follow him down to the parking lot. 665 00:35:35,667 --> 00:35:37,800 Uh, he parked Donna's van. 666 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,367 And then Roger tried to clean up 667 00:35:42,367 --> 00:35:44,222 the inside of the car as best he could. 668 00:35:44,222 --> 00:35:44,567 the inside of the car as best he could. 669 00:35:44,567 --> 00:35:45,000 {\an8}♪♪ 670 00:35:49,567 --> 00:35:52,467 Then she drove him back to his house 671 00:35:52,567 --> 00:35:54,667 and then went and disposed of the evidence, 672 00:35:56,667 --> 00:35:57,700 bloody clothes, 673 00:35:59,467 --> 00:36:02,567 and then she finally threw the components to 674 00:36:02,567 --> 00:36:04,100 the gun off the end of the dock. 675 00:36:07,567 --> 00:36:11,700 NARRATOR: Next, Detective Brown interviews Roger. 676 00:36:11,767 --> 00:36:14,222 So I sat down with Roger, and he had that look, 677 00:36:14,222 --> 00:36:15,000 So I sat down with Roger, and he had that look, 678 00:36:15,367 --> 00:36:18,266 he was still doing the grieving husband look, 679 00:36:18,367 --> 00:36:21,700 and when Roger realized what Jennifer had shared with me, 680 00:36:21,767 --> 00:36:23,300 I mean he just sat back, 681 00:36:23,367 --> 00:36:28,767 and it was a straight, stone-cold changed Roger. 682 00:36:30,100 --> 00:36:33,600 It was, "You gotta prove it, bud, I ain't saying nothing. 683 00:36:33,667 --> 00:36:34,700 I want an attorney." 684 00:36:38,266 --> 00:36:40,500 NARRATOR: Detective Brown arrests Roger Harris 685 00:36:40,567 --> 00:36:42,600 on suspicion of first-degree murder. 686 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:44,222 He arrest Jennifer Palmer for 687 00:36:44,222 --> 00:36:45,000 He arrest Jennifer Palmer for 688 00:36:45,867 --> 00:36:48,100 being an accessory after the fact. 689 00:36:52,166 --> 00:36:54,300 PATRICIA: Well, I knew when the detectives pulled up 690 00:36:54,367 --> 00:36:57,166 my yard, something had happened, 691 00:36:57,266 --> 00:36:59,367 bad, because he brought us Joseph. 692 00:37:01,667 --> 00:37:06,367 They picked him up from school, and we sat at the kitchen table, 693 00:37:06,467 --> 00:37:09,266 and the detective says, "I hate to inform you, 694 00:37:09,266 --> 00:37:10,567 but we found Donna." 695 00:37:12,667 --> 00:37:14,222 And I said, "Is she okay?" 696 00:37:14,222 --> 00:37:15,000 And I said, "Is she okay?" 697 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,300 And he told us at that time she had -- 698 00:37:18,367 --> 00:37:19,967 they had found her body. 699 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:26,100 You don't know to speak. You don't know to think. 700 00:37:27,166 --> 00:37:29,567 You're numb -- a lot of it, you're just numb. 701 00:37:31,500 --> 00:37:34,266 JOSEPH: When I walked into the kitchen, 702 00:37:34,266 --> 00:37:36,567 {\an8}Nanna Pat and Papaw Brice, 703 00:37:36,667 --> 00:37:41,000 both of their backs were to me, and I remember, 704 00:37:41,066 --> 00:37:42,700 before I saw them, 705 00:37:42,767 --> 00:37:44,222 I heard the crying. 706 00:37:44,222 --> 00:37:44,700 I heard the crying. 707 00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:51,967 You know, you can never really prepare a child of that -- 708 00:37:51,967 --> 00:37:53,667 I was six years old at the time. 709 00:37:53,767 --> 00:37:55,567 They sat me down and told me that 710 00:37:55,667 --> 00:37:57,667 my mother was gone and wasn't coming back. 711 00:38:02,667 --> 00:38:06,266 That's a memory I don't think I'll ever, uh, forget. 712 00:38:06,367 --> 00:38:11,700 {\an8}♪♪ 713 00:38:11,767 --> 00:38:14,222 {\an8}♪♪ 714 00:38:14,222 --> 00:38:15,000 {\an8}♪♪ 715 00:38:16,967 --> 00:38:19,100 NARRATOR: Jennifer directs investigators 716 00:38:19,166 --> 00:38:20,900 to where she disposed of the items 717 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,266 that she says Roger cleaned up from Donna's van. 718 00:38:26,266 --> 00:38:28,467 Investigators scour the locations 719 00:38:28,467 --> 00:38:30,100 to recover physical evidence 720 00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:32,200 that links Roger to his wife's murder. 721 00:38:33,266 --> 00:38:38,500 They had scuba drivers look on the bottom of the lake. 722 00:38:38,567 --> 00:38:42,667 There was a half-inch diameter pipe that was connected to 723 00:38:42,667 --> 00:38:44,222 the smaller diameter pipe that a .357 magnum bullet would fit 724 00:38:44,222 --> 00:38:45,000 the smaller diameter pipe that a .357 magnum bullet would fit 725 00:38:47,567 --> 00:38:49,000 right into. 726 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:54,000 The portions of the gun that were found in the van were 727 00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:59,266 the finishing nail punch and bolt that had been sharpened on 728 00:38:59,266 --> 00:39:00,967 one end. 729 00:39:00,967 --> 00:39:03,066 You have a number of pieces at the -- 730 00:39:03,066 --> 00:39:05,600 in the car, and you have a number of pieces 731 00:39:05,667 --> 00:39:07,467 in the, uh, in the lake. 732 00:39:07,467 --> 00:39:10,266 And did they go together? They did. 733 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,222 It was a very effective short-range murder weapon. 734 00:39:14,222 --> 00:39:15,000 It was a very effective short-range murder weapon. 735 00:39:18,767 --> 00:39:21,100 The medical examiner, he was able to take that 736 00:39:21,166 --> 00:39:24,000 finishing nail punch and fit it perfectly into the hole 737 00:39:24,066 --> 00:39:25,900 that was in the back of Donna's head. 738 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:28,867 This was probably one of 739 00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:31,266 the most premeditated murders that I've ever handled. 740 00:39:31,367 --> 00:39:34,567 Because you -- you set out, you know, I'm gonna kill 741 00:39:34,667 --> 00:39:37,567 somebody, and in order to kill that person, 742 00:39:37,567 --> 00:39:39,767 I'm gonna make a gun to kill 'em with. 743 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:44,222 Roger had grown tired of his wife, Donna. 744 00:39:44,222 --> 00:39:44,900 Roger had grown tired of his wife, Donna. 745 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,867 He told a number of people that he hated her, 746 00:39:47,967 --> 00:39:51,400 and so he shot her in the back of the head with 747 00:39:51,467 --> 00:39:52,700 the homemade gun. 748 00:39:52,767 --> 00:39:59,867 {\an8}♪♪ 749 00:39:59,967 --> 00:40:02,100 NARRATOR: On April 24th, 2000, 750 00:40:02,166 --> 00:40:05,300 Roger pleads not guilty to the murder of his wife. 751 00:40:06,467 --> 00:40:08,200 Jennifer pleads guilty to being 752 00:40:08,266 --> 00:40:11,100 an accessory to murder and tampering with evidence. 753 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:14,222 She agrees to testify against Roger at 754 00:40:14,222 --> 00:40:14,667 She agrees to testify against Roger at 755 00:40:14,767 --> 00:40:15,000 his trial in exchange for a lesser sentence. 756 00:40:19,667 --> 00:40:25,367 On April 27th, 2000, the jury found Roger Harris guilty 757 00:40:25,467 --> 00:40:26,967 of murder in the first degree 758 00:40:26,967 --> 00:40:29,567 and conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree. 759 00:40:31,166 --> 00:40:34,166 NARRATOR: The judge sentences Roger Harris to death. 760 00:40:34,266 --> 00:40:36,667 An appeal court later commutes his sentence 761 00:40:36,767 --> 00:40:37,967 to 30 years in prison. 762 00:40:39,967 --> 00:40:43,667 Jennifer Palmer receives 25 years in prison. 763 00:40:43,767 --> 00:40:44,222 An appeal court later reduces this to 20 years. 764 00:40:44,222 --> 00:40:45,000 An appeal court later reduces this to 20 years. 765 00:40:47,567 --> 00:40:51,066 I was very relieved when Roger Harris 766 00:40:51,066 --> 00:40:53,367 was sentenced to death, 767 00:40:53,367 --> 00:40:54,667 even though he didn't stay there. 768 00:40:54,667 --> 00:40:58,000 But it was like a big weight had been 769 00:40:58,100 --> 00:41:02,100 lifted off our shoulder and that Donna got her justice. 770 00:41:06,667 --> 00:41:08,667 BRICE WAYNE: My mom and dad ended up getting custody 771 00:41:08,767 --> 00:41:12,900 of Timmy and Joey, and when Joey was 772 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,222 a teenager and Timmy was eight years old, 773 00:41:14,222 --> 00:41:15,000 a teenager and Timmy was eight years old, 774 00:41:17,767 --> 00:41:21,000 they decided they wanted to live with me and my wife. 775 00:41:23,367 --> 00:41:25,500 I think she'd be extremely proud of them. 776 00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:28,100 I know I am, I'm very proud of 777 00:41:28,166 --> 00:41:29,767 the way both of them have turned out. 778 00:41:32,367 --> 00:41:35,166 JOSEPH: I feel like over the years, Nanna Pat 779 00:41:35,166 --> 00:41:38,367 {\an8}and Papaw Brice have done a wonderful job of keeping 780 00:41:38,367 --> 00:41:41,567 {\an8}her memory alive and well. 781 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:44,222 {\an8}PATRICIA: They asked something, we let them know. 782 00:41:44,222 --> 00:41:45,000 {\an8}PATRICIA: They asked something, we let them know. 783 00:41:46,467 --> 00:41:51,166 {\an8}They had their pictures of her hanging up on the wall. 784 00:41:51,266 --> 00:41:55,166 {\an8}I have kept everything that she treasured, 785 00:41:58,667 --> 00:42:00,367 {\an8}but I still wish she was here. 786 00:42:04,567 --> 00:42:05,767 {\an8}There'll never be another.