1 00:00:01,243 --> 00:00:03,810 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] 2 00:00:03,810 --> 00:00:06,343 Choir: * HARE KRISHNA * 3 00:00:06,343 --> 00:00:07,510 THE KRISHNAS OF THE '80s 4 00:00:07,510 --> 00:00:09,410 LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT MORE SHADOWY WORLD. 5 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:10,810 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 6 00:00:10,810 --> 00:00:14,843 HE WAS WORSHIPPED LITERALLY AS GOOD AS GOD. 7 00:00:14,843 --> 00:00:17,843 YOU THOUGHT, "THIS IS WHAT I NEED IN MY LIFE. 8 00:00:17,843 --> 00:00:19,610 THIS IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS." 9 00:00:19,610 --> 00:00:21,143 [ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ] 10 00:00:21,143 --> 00:00:22,476 I WAS BEING TOLD OFFICIALLY 11 00:00:22,476 --> 00:00:25,176 THAT HE'S BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY. 12 00:00:25,176 --> 00:00:27,343 I SAID, "NO ONE'S EVER GONNA FIND THAT GUY." 13 00:00:27,343 --> 00:00:29,043 ** 14 00:00:29,043 --> 00:00:31,110 [ "EIGHTIES" PLAYS ] SHE WAS UPSET, NOT ONLY 15 00:00:31,110 --> 00:00:35,143 BY THE FACT THAT HE WAS MISSING, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE NOBODY CARED. 16 00:00:35,143 --> 00:00:37,976 Kirtanananda: WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN NONVIOLENCE. 17 00:00:37,976 --> 00:00:40,410 KRISHNA SAID, "FIGHT FOR ME." 18 00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:42,643 THEY WERE AFRAID FOR THEIR LIVES. 19 00:00:42,643 --> 00:00:46,476 THAT MURDER WAS DONE AS AN EXAMPLE TO SCARE PEOPLE OFF. 20 00:00:46,476 --> 00:00:48,676 [ GUNSHOT ] Killing Joke: * AH AH AH AH * 21 00:00:48,676 --> 00:00:50,643 * EIGHTIES * 22 00:00:50,643 --> 00:00:54,810 * I'M LIVIN' IN THE EIGHTIES * 23 00:00:54,810 --> 00:00:55,876 * EIGHTIES * 24 00:00:55,876 --> 00:00:57,043 JUST SAY NO. 25 00:00:57,043 --> 00:00:58,710 - * WELL, I HAVE TO PUSH * - [SIREN CHIRPS] 26 00:00:58,710 --> 00:01:01,276 * I HAVE TO STRUGGLE, OH! * 27 00:01:01,276 --> 00:01:02,576 * EIGHTIES * 28 00:01:02,576 --> 00:01:04,476 - - Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com 29 00:01:04,476 --> 00:01:06,676 [ CLOCK TICKS, ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ] 30 00:01:06,676 --> 00:01:08,976 CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS 31 00:01:08,976 --> 00:01:10,776 Narrator: IT'S 1983. 32 00:01:10,776 --> 00:01:13,676 "TRADING PLACES" IS A SMASH HIT AT THE BOX OFFICE... 33 00:01:13,676 --> 00:01:15,543 SELL 200 APRIL AT 142! 34 00:01:15,543 --> 00:01:16,910 [ SHOUTING ] 35 00:01:16,910 --> 00:01:18,610 [ RING ] 36 00:01:18,610 --> 00:01:19,810 - ...MOBILE PHONES ARE INTRODUCED - HELLO. 37 00:01:19,810 --> 00:01:22,110 TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME... 38 00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:23,176 Announcer: THIS COULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE 39 00:01:23,176 --> 00:01:25,810 TO HAVE A PHONE THAT TRAVELS WITH YOU. 40 00:01:25,810 --> 00:01:28,176 ...AND TELEVANGELISTS LIKE JIM AND TAMMY FAYE BAKKER 41 00:01:28,176 --> 00:01:30,643 ARE PREACHING A NEW KIND OF RELIGIOUS DEVOTION 42 00:01:30,643 --> 00:01:33,176 TO A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MEDIA EMPIRE. 43 00:01:33,176 --> 00:01:35,143 GIVE US 300 MORE PEOPLE 44 00:01:35,143 --> 00:01:37,976 TO CALL ON THEIR CREDIT CARD RIGHT NOW. 45 00:01:37,976 --> 00:01:41,110 BUT NOT EVERYONE IS BOWING DOWN TO THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. 46 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:44,543 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] Choir: * HARE KRISHNA * 47 00:01:44,543 --> 00:01:46,676 Narrator: THERE'S A GROUP THAT OFFERS ANOTHER PATH 48 00:01:46,676 --> 00:01:48,710 TO A SIMPLER WAY OF LIFE -- 49 00:01:48,710 --> 00:01:50,476 THE HARE KRISHNAS -- 50 00:01:50,476 --> 00:01:54,543 AND THEY PLAY OUT THEIR PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF DEVOTION EVERYWHERE: 51 00:01:54,543 --> 00:01:56,010 STREET CORNERS, 52 00:01:56,010 --> 00:01:57,476 AIRPORTS, 53 00:01:57,476 --> 00:01:58,676 EVEN THE MOVIES. 54 00:01:58,676 --> 00:02:00,376 WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION? 55 00:02:00,376 --> 00:02:02,643 NO THANKS. WE GAVE AT THE OFFICE. 56 00:02:02,643 --> 00:02:04,176 "AIRPLANE" IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE 57 00:02:04,176 --> 00:02:06,910 BECAUSE OF THE HARE KRISHNA SPOOFS. 58 00:02:06,910 --> 00:02:10,810 THEY WERE SUCH A PRESENCE SOAKED INTO THE CULTURE. 59 00:02:10,810 --> 00:02:14,243 Narrator: IN A DECADE WHERE MONEY, POWER, AND STATUS RULE, 60 00:02:14,243 --> 00:02:15,543 THE KRISHNAS ARE A HOLDOUT 61 00:02:15,543 --> 00:02:18,776 OF THE PEACE-AND-LOVE COUNTERCULTURE OF THE '60s. 62 00:02:18,776 --> 00:02:22,176 IT'S A RELIGION BASED ON DIVINE LOVE, 63 00:02:22,176 --> 00:02:23,343 LEARNING TO LOVE GOD, 64 00:02:23,343 --> 00:02:26,776 AND TRYING TO DEVELOP COMPASSION FOR ALL. 65 00:02:26,776 --> 00:02:29,510 WE HAD PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, 66 00:02:29,510 --> 00:02:33,743 FROM TRUCK DRIVERS TO COLLEGE PROFESSORS. 67 00:02:33,743 --> 00:02:37,143 Muster: THE '80s WAS THE HIGH POINT FOR THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT. 68 00:02:37,143 --> 00:02:41,910 THEY HAD ABOUT 5,000 MEMBERS IN THE UNITED STATES. 69 00:02:41,910 --> 00:02:43,676 Narrator: THOSE WHO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE KRISHNAS 70 00:02:43,676 --> 00:02:45,576 OFTEN HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON: 71 00:02:45,576 --> 00:02:47,643 DISILLUSIONMENT. 72 00:02:47,643 --> 00:02:51,410 Doktorski: IN MY CASE, THERE WAS SOME EMPTINESS 73 00:02:51,410 --> 00:02:54,710 THAT I WAS VAGUELY AWARE OF. 74 00:02:54,710 --> 00:03:00,110 I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY MY LIFE WAS GOING AT THE TIME. 75 00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:01,610 CHARLES ST. DENIS, 76 00:03:01,610 --> 00:03:04,243 A 29-YEAR-OLD CALIFORNIA TRANSPLANT, 77 00:03:04,243 --> 00:03:06,110 ALSO SHARES A TROUBLED PAST. 78 00:03:06,110 --> 00:03:07,643 [ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ] Rader: CHARLES ST. DENIS 79 00:03:07,643 --> 00:03:09,243 WAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE MAN. 80 00:03:09,243 --> 00:03:12,310 HE WAS A STRONG, TALL, DARK, HANDSOME 81 00:03:12,310 --> 00:03:16,610 SORT OF CHARACTER, MUSCULAR, 6'2". 82 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:18,676 THE KIND OF IRREPRESSIBLE PERSONALITY, 83 00:03:18,676 --> 00:03:21,476 VERY OUTGOING, LARGER-THAN-LIFE. 84 00:03:21,476 --> 00:03:24,110 ST. DENIS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE WHAT MOST PEOPLE 85 00:03:24,110 --> 00:03:26,010 WOULD CONSIDER A HAPPY CHILDHOOD. 86 00:03:26,010 --> 00:03:29,410 CHARLES ST. DENIS'S PARENTS WERE ALCOHOLICS. 87 00:03:29,410 --> 00:03:32,110 Narrator: CHARLES'S FATHER ABANDONED THE FAMILY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. 88 00:03:32,110 --> 00:03:33,976 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 89 00:03:33,976 --> 00:03:37,810 HE ACTUALLY RAN AWAY WHEN HE WAS 11. 90 00:03:37,810 --> 00:03:39,676 Narrator: AFTER A TUMULTUOUS CHILDHOOD, 91 00:03:39,676 --> 00:03:42,910 MARKED BY DRUG DEALING AND JUVENILE HALL, 92 00:03:42,910 --> 00:03:46,010 CHARLES FINDS THE FAMILY HE NEVER REALLY HAD 93 00:03:46,010 --> 00:03:48,776 ON THE SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK. 94 00:03:48,776 --> 00:03:52,176 WHEN HE FIRST MET THE HARE KRISHNAS, HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD. 95 00:03:52,176 --> 00:03:55,110 HE WAS SELLING LSD ON A PIER. 96 00:03:55,110 --> 00:03:59,376 HE SAW THEM AS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS IN HIS LIFE 97 00:03:59,376 --> 00:04:02,610 AND HE THOUGHT, "THIS IS WHAT I NEED IN MY LIFE. 98 00:04:02,610 --> 00:04:05,110 THIS IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS." 99 00:04:05,110 --> 00:04:08,476 Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME, CHARLES HAS ORDER IN HIS LIFE. 100 00:04:08,476 --> 00:04:11,643 THE KRISHNAS TELL HIM WHEN TO WAKE UP, WHEN TO SLEEP, 101 00:04:11,643 --> 00:04:14,276 AND WHAT TO DO IN BETWEEN. 102 00:04:14,276 --> 00:04:15,543 HE GIVES UP DRUGS 103 00:04:15,543 --> 00:04:18,843 AND DEVOTES HIMSELF TO LIVING A SPIRITUAL LIFE, 104 00:04:18,843 --> 00:04:21,843 A DECISION THAT WILL COME AT THE ULTIMATE COST. 105 00:04:21,843 --> 00:04:23,476 [ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ] 106 00:04:23,476 --> 00:04:26,410 Choir: * HARE KRISHNA * 107 00:04:26,410 --> 00:04:29,476 IT'S A PROFOUND, LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE. 108 00:04:29,476 --> 00:04:31,110 - * KRISHNA, KRISHNA * - Narrator: IN 1980, 109 00:04:31,110 --> 00:04:33,410 CHARLES MOVES TO A HARE KRISHNA COMMUNITY 110 00:04:33,410 --> 00:04:36,110 IN WEST VIRGINIA, CALLED NEW VRINDABAN. 111 00:04:36,110 --> 00:04:38,410 Choir: * HARE RAMA * 112 00:04:38,410 --> 00:04:41,110 Reporter: THE MEMBERS OF THE HARE KRISHNA SECT WHO LIVE HERE 113 00:04:41,110 --> 00:04:44,010 CALL THEIR HOME AMERICA'S TAJ MAHAL. 114 00:04:44,010 --> 00:04:46,976 - * HARE * - IN THE EARLY 1980s, 115 00:04:46,976 --> 00:04:49,976 IT'S THIS REALLY GORGEOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION HERE 116 00:04:49,976 --> 00:04:51,476 IN WEST VIRGINIA. 117 00:04:51,476 --> 00:04:54,110 Reporter: GOLD, MARBLE, TEAK, 118 00:04:54,110 --> 00:04:56,110 ALL OF IT HANDCRAFTED. 119 00:04:56,110 --> 00:04:57,476 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] 120 00:04:57,476 --> 00:04:58,743 Narrator: INSIDE THE COMPOUND, 121 00:04:58,743 --> 00:05:03,343 LIFE WAS LESS GRAND FOR THE 500 OR SO DEVOTEES. 122 00:05:03,343 --> 00:05:06,410 Doktorski: MOST OF US JUST SLEPT ON THE FLOOR IN OUR SLEEPING BAGS. 123 00:05:06,410 --> 00:05:11,010 WE HAD TO GET UP AT 2:00 OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING EVERY DAY. 124 00:05:11,010 --> 00:05:15,310 WE CHANTED FOR AN HOUR, THEN THERE WAS THE MORNING SERVICE. 125 00:05:15,310 --> 00:05:18,976 THEN, AFTER THAT, BREAKFAST, AND THEN WORK ALL DAY LONG. 126 00:05:18,976 --> 00:05:20,743 Narrator: DESPITE THE VISITING TOURISTS, 127 00:05:20,743 --> 00:05:23,443 THE KRISHNAS OF NEW VRINDABAN ARE ISOLATED, 128 00:05:23,443 --> 00:05:25,710 OPERATING WITHIN THEIR OWN WORLD. 129 00:05:25,710 --> 00:05:27,110 THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED 130 00:05:27,110 --> 00:05:31,676 ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING YOU'D NEED TO RUN A SMALL CITY: 131 00:05:31,676 --> 00:05:35,143 GROWING FOOD, THEIR OWN WATER TREATMENT PLANT. 132 00:05:35,143 --> 00:05:36,410 Narrator: LEADING IT ALL? 133 00:05:36,410 --> 00:05:37,576 KEITH HAM, 134 00:05:37,576 --> 00:05:40,443 A BAPTIST MINISTER'S SON FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK, 135 00:05:40,443 --> 00:05:43,543 WHO'S KNOWN TO ALL DEVOTEES BY HIS KRISHNA NAME: 136 00:05:43,543 --> 00:05:47,343 KIRTANANANDA SWAMI BHAKTIPADA. 137 00:05:47,343 --> 00:05:51,376 HE WAS LIKE A VERY WISE AND COMPASSIONATE FATHER 138 00:05:51,376 --> 00:05:55,943 THAT MAYBE I FELT I DID NOT HAVE AS A CHILD, GROWING UP. 139 00:05:55,943 --> 00:05:59,343 Rader: KIRTANANANDA DEFINITELY HAD A SPECIAL PRESENCE. 140 00:05:59,343 --> 00:06:03,210 HE WAS WORSHIPED LITERALLY AS GOOD AS GOD. 141 00:06:03,210 --> 00:06:07,010 Muster: I ALWAYS SAW HIM AS A REALLY COMPLEX PERSON. 142 00:06:07,010 --> 00:06:09,376 HE HAD POLIO AS A CHILD, THAT, 143 00:06:09,376 --> 00:06:11,843 YOU KNOW, PERMANENTLY SCARRED HIM. 144 00:06:11,843 --> 00:06:16,743 Young: HE SEEMED SO INFIRM, PHYSICALLY; BUT HE WAS SO SHARP, MENTALLY. 145 00:06:16,743 --> 00:06:20,610 HE COMMANDED A CERTAIN KIND OF RESPECT BECAUSE OF THAT. 146 00:06:20,610 --> 00:06:23,976 Doktorski: WE ATTRIBUTED HIM WITH DIVINE QUALITIES. 147 00:06:23,976 --> 00:06:25,543 WE LOVED HIM, YOU KNOW? 148 00:06:25,543 --> 00:06:28,310 AND IT SEEMED LIKE HE LOVED US ALSO. 149 00:06:28,310 --> 00:06:32,776 SO WE WERE HAPPY TO WORK TO BUILD NEW VRINDABAN. 150 00:06:32,776 --> 00:06:36,143 Narrator: THE SWAMI WELCOMES 27-YEAR-OLD CHARLES ST. DENIS, 151 00:06:36,143 --> 00:06:40,110 WHO SHOWS HIS DEVOTION BY LANDSCAPING THE PALACE GROUNDS. 152 00:06:40,110 --> 00:06:43,443 LIKE ALL DEVOTEES, HE WORKS FOR FREE. 153 00:06:43,443 --> 00:06:47,810 KRISHNAS ARE TAUGHT TO LIVE A STARKLY SIMPLE LIFE. 154 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:49,510 WHEN I MOVED IN, THEY WANTED ME 155 00:06:49,510 --> 00:06:52,443 TO THROW AWAY ALL MY POSSESSIONS. 156 00:06:52,443 --> 00:06:54,610 MOST OF US LIVED IN POVERTY. 157 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:59,143 YOU WERE EXPECTED TO SURRENDER EVERYTHING. 158 00:06:59,143 --> 00:07:01,610 YOU'RE LITERALLY SUPPOSED TO GIVE UP ALL DESIRES 159 00:07:01,610 --> 00:07:04,343 AND DESIRE TO ONLY PLEASE GOD. 160 00:07:04,343 --> 00:07:06,543 Muster: NO MEAT, NO INTOXICATION, 161 00:07:06,543 --> 00:07:08,876 NO ILLICIT SEX, AND NO GAMBLING. 162 00:07:08,876 --> 00:07:12,710 ALSO, YOU HAD TO AGREE NOT TO WATCH TV OR MOVIES, 163 00:07:12,710 --> 00:07:16,810 NOT TO READ MAGAZINES, NOT TO LISTEN TO POPULAR MUSIC. 164 00:07:16,810 --> 00:07:18,743 EVERYTHING HAD TO BE FOR KRISHNA. 165 00:07:18,743 --> 00:07:19,943 [ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ] 166 00:07:19,943 --> 00:07:21,576 Narrator: CHARLES SOMETIMES SLIPS UP, 167 00:07:21,576 --> 00:07:24,476 WHEN IT COMES TO THE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS. 168 00:07:24,476 --> 00:07:27,110 HE WAS A GOOD DEVOTEE, BUT, AT SOME POINT, 169 00:07:27,110 --> 00:07:32,443 HE STARTED GOING INTO THE OLD HABITS, WITH DRUGS AND SEX. 170 00:07:32,443 --> 00:07:35,443 CHUCK WAS NOT BEYOND HAVING HIS FAVORITE BEER, 171 00:07:35,443 --> 00:07:37,976 AND HE MAY HAVE BROKEN SOME OF THE OTHER RULES. 172 00:07:37,976 --> 00:07:41,976 APPARENTLY VERY POPULAR WITH THE LADIES AROUND NEW VRINDABAN. 173 00:07:41,976 --> 00:07:44,810 Narrator: RATHER THAN EXILING THOSE WHO CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES, 174 00:07:44,810 --> 00:07:47,543 THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE FOR GUYS LIKE CHARLES. 175 00:07:47,543 --> 00:07:49,943 HE BECOMES A FRINGY. 176 00:07:49,943 --> 00:07:52,243 THEY'RE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE COMMUNITY, 177 00:07:52,243 --> 00:07:54,643 SEVERAL MILES FROM THE TEMPLE. 178 00:07:54,643 --> 00:07:57,176 Narrator: FRINGIES ARE COMMITTED TO THE SPIRIT OF KRISHNA 179 00:07:57,176 --> 00:07:59,310 AND THE COMMUNITY OF NEW VRINDABAN, 180 00:07:59,310 --> 00:08:02,110 BUT NOT ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS. 181 00:08:02,110 --> 00:08:04,310 SOME WOULD COME TO THE TEMPLE EVERY DAY. 182 00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:06,376 MOST WOULD COME ONCE A WEEK. 183 00:08:06,376 --> 00:08:08,276 THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES, 184 00:08:08,276 --> 00:08:11,576 OF NO ILLICIT SEX, NO INTOXICATION, 185 00:08:11,576 --> 00:08:15,743 BUT, THE FRINGIES WERE STILL SURRENDERED TO KIRTANANANDA. 186 00:08:15,743 --> 00:08:17,176 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 187 00:08:17,176 --> 00:08:19,310 Narrator: A YEAR AFTER HE MOVES TO WEST VIRGINIA, 188 00:08:19,310 --> 00:08:22,110 CHARLES FALLS HARD FOR A FELLOW FRINGY: 189 00:08:22,110 --> 00:08:24,776 DEBORAH GERE. 190 00:08:24,776 --> 00:08:26,910 SHE WAS A COMMUNITY NURSE. 191 00:08:26,910 --> 00:08:29,276 SHE WAS A VERY SMART LADY, VERY TOUGH LADY. 192 00:08:29,276 --> 00:08:33,210 SHE HAD LONG RED HAIR, BIG BROWN EYES. 193 00:08:33,210 --> 00:08:38,243 Doktorski: THEY WERE A REALLY GOOD COUPLE, VERY COMPATIBLE, WELL-MATCHED. 194 00:08:38,243 --> 00:08:41,343 THEY WERE BOTH VERY STRONG-WILLED PERSONS, 195 00:08:41,343 --> 00:08:45,443 BUT, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES 196 00:08:45,443 --> 00:08:50,676 SO THAT THEY CAN STAY TOGETHER IN A PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIP. 197 00:08:50,676 --> 00:08:52,643 Narrator: IN THE WINTER OF 1982, 198 00:08:52,643 --> 00:08:54,676 DEBORAH COMES INTO A SURPRISE INHERITANCE 199 00:08:54,676 --> 00:08:56,976 AFTER HER FATHER DIES. 200 00:08:56,976 --> 00:09:00,510 $50,000, WHICH, OF COURSE, WAS A LOT MORE AT THAT TIME 201 00:09:00,510 --> 00:09:04,143 AND, FOR HARE KRISHNAS, YOU KNOW, NO ONE HAD ANY MONEY. 202 00:09:04,143 --> 00:09:07,110 Narrator: CHARLES AND DEBORAH WRESTLE WITH A DIFFICULT DECISION: 203 00:09:07,110 --> 00:09:09,776 DO THEY GO AGAINST THE KRISHNA WAY? 204 00:09:09,776 --> 00:09:13,476 NORMALLY, THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE TEMPLE. 205 00:09:13,476 --> 00:09:16,776 OR TO BHAKTIPADA, KIRTANANANDA SWAMI. 206 00:09:16,776 --> 00:09:20,010 CHARLES ST. DENIS HAS THIS IDEA TO KEEP THE MONEY. 207 00:09:20,010 --> 00:09:21,843 ST. DENIS WANTED TO BE INDEPENDENT 208 00:09:21,843 --> 00:09:24,410 AND START HIS OWN NURSERY BUSINESS. 209 00:09:24,410 --> 00:09:27,110 Narrator: HE AND DEBORAH STRUGGLE WITH THE DILEMMA. 210 00:09:27,110 --> 00:09:29,010 CHARLES WANTS TO USE THE MONEY TO OPEN 211 00:09:29,010 --> 00:09:31,110 AND RUN THE BUSINESS HIS WAY, 212 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:35,143 BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO BETRAY HIS PLEDGE TO THE KRISHNAS. 213 00:09:35,143 --> 00:09:37,176 THEY DECIDE THAT THEY'LL GIVE HALF OF THE MONEY 214 00:09:37,176 --> 00:09:39,943 TO THE COMMUNITY, TO KIRTANANANDA. 215 00:09:39,943 --> 00:09:42,110 Narrator: THEY PROPOSE THIS TO THE SWAMI, 216 00:09:42,110 --> 00:09:44,310 WHO GRUDGINGLY CONSENTS TO THE DEAL. 217 00:09:44,310 --> 00:09:46,410 I'M SURE HE PROBABLY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT 218 00:09:46,410 --> 00:09:47,643 THAT CHARLES ST. DENIS 219 00:09:47,643 --> 00:09:51,110 DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ALL THAT MONEY TO HIM. 220 00:09:51,110 --> 00:09:53,276 Narrator: CHARLES AND DEBORAH EXCITEDLY BEGIN LOOKING 221 00:09:53,276 --> 00:09:55,976 INTO BUILDING THEIR NEW BUSINESS. 222 00:09:55,976 --> 00:09:58,610 Doktorski: AND THINGS WERE LOOKING PROMISING. 223 00:09:58,610 --> 00:10:02,676 EXCEPT, THEY HAD A SQUATTER ON THEIR PROPERTY. 224 00:10:02,676 --> 00:10:04,543 THIS WAS THOMAS DRESCHER. 225 00:10:04,543 --> 00:10:06,043 HE WAS ALSO ANOTHER FRINGY. 226 00:10:06,043 --> 00:10:08,110 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] VERY TOUGH GUY. 227 00:10:08,110 --> 00:10:12,276 HE WAS ABOUT 190 POUNDS, ABOUT 6'0", MOSTLY ALL-MUSCLE. 228 00:10:12,276 --> 00:10:15,410 HE CLAIMS THAT BHAKTIPADA SAID HE COULD LIVE ON THAT PROPERTY. 229 00:10:15,410 --> 00:10:17,343 PART OF WHY HE CAME TO THE COMMUNITY WAS 230 00:10:17,343 --> 00:10:21,276 TO SERVE AS A KIND OF PROTECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY. 231 00:10:21,276 --> 00:10:24,443 THERE WERE A LOT OF LOCALS GOING BY THE COMPOUND AT NIGHT, 232 00:10:24,443 --> 00:10:27,143 LIKE SHOOTING THE PLACE UP, AND THERE WERE PEOPLE 233 00:10:27,143 --> 00:10:32,510 LIKE BEATING UP THE DEVOTEES, LIKE OUT ON LIKE ISOLATED ROADS. 234 00:10:32,510 --> 00:10:35,476 THE SWAMI HAD TROUBLE PROTECTING THE PLACE. 235 00:10:35,476 --> 00:10:39,310 Drescher: HE DID NEED SOMEONE THERE TO PROTECT THE DEVOTEES. 236 00:10:39,310 --> 00:10:42,576 I DID HAVE MILITARY EXPERIENCE. 237 00:10:42,576 --> 00:10:46,643 IN VIETNAM, I WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED 238 00:10:46,643 --> 00:10:49,610 IN QUITE A NUMBER OF [ RAPID GUNFIRE ] 239 00:10:49,610 --> 00:10:51,910 [ BLAST ] CAMPAIGNS. 240 00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:53,743 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] Narrator: CHARLES REALIZES 241 00:10:53,743 --> 00:10:55,510 THE ONLY WAY TO GET DRESCHER TO MOVE IS 242 00:10:55,510 --> 00:10:58,410 TO PAY HIM TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, 243 00:10:58,410 --> 00:11:00,410 BUT THE VIETNAM VET DOESN'T EXACTLY 244 00:11:00,410 --> 00:11:02,743 GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT. 245 00:11:02,743 --> 00:11:05,610 HE TOOK A FEW THINGS, LIKE THE KITCHEN SINK, 246 00:11:05,610 --> 00:11:07,210 THE HOT WATER HEATER, 247 00:11:07,210 --> 00:11:10,976 APPLIANCES THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN LEFT IN THE HOUSE. 248 00:11:10,976 --> 00:11:13,010 HE KIND OF RIPPED THEM OUT, SO, OF COURSE, 249 00:11:13,010 --> 00:11:14,476 ST. DENIS WAS REALLY PISSED ABOUT THAT. 250 00:11:14,476 --> 00:11:18,810 BUT AT LEAST HE'S GONE NOW, FINALLY, THANK GOODNESS. 251 00:11:18,810 --> 00:11:21,110 HE CAN BUILD HIS NURSERY. 252 00:11:21,110 --> 00:11:23,343 Narrator: NOW CLEAR TO GET THE BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING, 253 00:11:23,343 --> 00:11:26,143 CHARLES GETS FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM ANOTHER FRINGY: 254 00:11:26,143 --> 00:11:27,210 DAN REID. 255 00:11:27,210 --> 00:11:28,376 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] 256 00:11:28,376 --> 00:11:31,443 DAN REID WAS A BOOKKEEPER IN THE NEW VRINDABAN 257 00:11:31,443 --> 00:11:35,243 ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND HE WAS VERY GOOD AT HIS JOB. 258 00:11:35,243 --> 00:11:38,176 Narrator: WITH DAN'S EXPERTISE AND DEBORAH'S INHERITANCE, 259 00:11:38,176 --> 00:11:40,110 THEIR DREAM OF OPENING A NURSERY 260 00:11:40,110 --> 00:11:42,943 IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING A REALITY. 261 00:11:42,943 --> 00:11:44,110 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] [ CLOCK TICKING ] 262 00:11:44,110 --> 00:11:45,243 [ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 263 00:11:45,243 --> 00:11:46,676 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 264 00:11:46,676 --> 00:11:48,110 [ TRANQUIL TUNE PLAYS ] 265 00:11:48,110 --> 00:11:51,243 IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, BUT, AS SUMMER APPROACHES, 266 00:11:51,243 --> 00:11:53,976 CHARLES AND DEBORAH HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE. 267 00:11:53,976 --> 00:11:57,310 ST. DENIS'S NURSERY WAS COMING ALONG. 268 00:11:57,310 --> 00:11:59,110 THEY HAD A PLANTING PARTY, WHERE THEY WANTED TO GET ALL 269 00:11:59,110 --> 00:12:01,210 OF THEIR PLANTS IN THE GROUND. 270 00:12:01,210 --> 00:12:03,343 Narrator: ALL OF CHARLES'S FRIENDS STOP BY. 271 00:12:03,343 --> 00:12:05,376 INCLUDING DAN REID. 272 00:12:05,376 --> 00:12:07,110 Rader: IT WAS A FUN TIME FOR EVERYONE. 273 00:12:07,110 --> 00:12:10,376 CHARLES ST. DENIS WAS THE SORT OF CENTER OF ALL THIS ACTIVITY 274 00:12:10,376 --> 00:12:14,243 AND SORT OF ENGAGING WITH EVERYONE. 275 00:12:14,243 --> 00:12:15,676 Narrator: AFTER THE PARTY ENDS, 276 00:12:15,676 --> 00:12:17,443 THE EXHILARATED, YET EXHAUSTED, COUPLE 277 00:12:17,443 --> 00:12:19,710 GETS READY FOR BED. 278 00:12:19,710 --> 00:12:20,810 WHEN THE PHONE RINGS. 279 00:12:20,810 --> 00:12:24,343 [ RING ] 280 00:12:24,343 --> 00:12:26,176 IT'S DAN REID. 281 00:12:26,176 --> 00:12:28,110 ST. DENIS TELLS DEBORAH, 282 00:12:28,110 --> 00:12:31,476 "I HAVE TO GO GET $50 THAT DAN OWES ME. 283 00:12:31,476 --> 00:12:32,710 I'M GONNA GO MEET HIM." 284 00:12:32,710 --> 00:12:35,676 HE TELLS HER HE'LL BE BACK IN 10 MINUTES. 285 00:12:35,676 --> 00:12:37,610 Narrator: DEBORAH SUSPECTS CHARLES IS HEADING OUT 286 00:12:37,610 --> 00:12:40,910 FOR A LITTLE AFTER-HOURS PARTYING WITH DAN. 287 00:12:40,910 --> 00:12:45,910 SHE SAID, "DON'T STAY VERY LONG" AND THEN HE DROVE OFF. 288 00:12:45,910 --> 00:12:47,576 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 289 00:12:47,576 --> 00:12:50,210 Rader: DEBORAH WAKES UP THE NEXT MORNING. 290 00:12:50,210 --> 00:12:52,310 HE'S STILL NOT HOME. 291 00:12:52,310 --> 00:12:54,676 SHE ASSUMES HE IS OUT, PARTYING SOMEWHERE 292 00:12:54,676 --> 00:12:57,376 AND HE'LL BE STUMBLING IN ANYTIME. 293 00:12:57,376 --> 00:13:00,443 Narrator: BUT AFTER A FEW HOURS AND STILL NO SIGN OF CHARLES, 294 00:13:00,443 --> 00:13:02,576 SHE BECOMES ANXIOUS. 295 00:13:02,576 --> 00:13:04,743 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ] DEBORAH REACHES OUT TO DAN. 296 00:13:04,743 --> 00:13:07,843 DAN REID SAID CHARLES ST. DENIS HAD NOT BEEN THERE. 297 00:13:07,843 --> 00:13:10,110 SHE BEGINS TO GET REALLY WORRIED 298 00:13:10,110 --> 00:13:11,276 THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HIM. 299 00:13:11,276 --> 00:13:12,710 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 300 00:13:12,710 --> 00:13:16,310 [ ELECTRONICA PLAYS ] 301 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:21,476 [ CLOCK TICKING, ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 302 00:13:21,476 --> 00:13:22,543 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 303 00:13:22,543 --> 00:13:24,210 Narrator: IT'S 1983. 304 00:13:24,210 --> 00:13:25,943 TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, THE HARE KRISHNAS 305 00:13:25,943 --> 00:13:29,310 ARE SPIRITUAL DEVOTEES SEEKING ETERNAL BLISS. 306 00:13:29,310 --> 00:13:33,210 BUT WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THEIR COMPOUND, THERE IS DISCORD. 307 00:13:33,210 --> 00:13:35,910 DEBORAH GERE IS PANICKED. 308 00:13:35,910 --> 00:13:38,243 WHEN ST. DENIS DID NOT COME HOME, 309 00:13:38,243 --> 00:13:41,510 DEBORAH WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WORRIED. 310 00:13:41,510 --> 00:13:44,176 Narrator: CHARLES HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, 311 00:13:44,176 --> 00:13:46,743 WHEN HE LEFT TO MEET HIS FRIEND DAN REID. 312 00:13:46,743 --> 00:13:48,976 DAN SAYS CHARLES NEVER SHOWED UP. 313 00:13:48,976 --> 00:13:51,210 ** 314 00:13:51,210 --> 00:13:52,510 DEBORAH JUMPS INTO HER TRUCK 315 00:13:52,510 --> 00:13:55,743 AND SETS OUT TO SCOUR THE COMPOUND FOR HIM. 316 00:13:55,743 --> 00:13:57,743 AROUND THE COMMUNITY, ON THE BACK ROADS, 317 00:13:57,743 --> 00:14:00,243 SOME OF THE DIRT ROADS, IT'S KIND OF ROUGH TERRAIN. 318 00:14:00,243 --> 00:14:02,110 ONE THOUGHT SHE HAS IS MAYBE THAT 319 00:14:02,110 --> 00:14:05,710 HIS TRUCK FELL OFF THE SIDE OF A CLIFF. 320 00:14:05,710 --> 00:14:07,776 Westfall: WENT EVERYWHERE AROUND THE COMMUNITY. 321 00:14:07,776 --> 00:14:10,476 SHE WAS DESPERATE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. 322 00:14:10,476 --> 00:14:12,243 SHE REPORTED IT TO A TROOPER AND THEY SAID, 323 00:14:12,243 --> 00:14:13,976 "WE DON'T START LOOKING FOR MISSING PEOPLE 324 00:14:13,976 --> 00:14:16,110 FOR 48 HOURS." 325 00:14:16,110 --> 00:14:17,510 Narrator: DESPERATE FOR HELP, 326 00:14:17,510 --> 00:14:20,176 DEBORAH GOES TO SEE THE GROUP'S SPIRITUAL LEADER, 327 00:14:20,176 --> 00:14:22,510 SWAMI KIRTANANANDA. 328 00:14:22,510 --> 00:14:24,610 SHE CAME TO THE TEMPLE AT NEW VRINDABAN 329 00:14:24,610 --> 00:14:27,110 AND SAW KIRTANANANDA AND TOLD HIM, 330 00:14:27,110 --> 00:14:28,776 "MY HUSBAND'S GONE, YOU KNOW, MISSING." 331 00:14:28,776 --> 00:14:30,543 Westfall: HE DIDN'T TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. 332 00:14:30,543 --> 00:14:34,476 SHE SAID, "HE JUST ACTED LIKE I WAS JUST A SILLY WOMAN." 333 00:14:34,476 --> 00:14:37,110 SHE WAS FRUSTRATED THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY 334 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:38,443 THOUGHT THAT CHARLES ST. DENIS 335 00:14:38,443 --> 00:14:40,443 PROBABLY JUST PACKED UP AND LEFT. 336 00:14:40,443 --> 00:14:44,376 CHARLES, IN HIS EARLIER LIFE, WAS A LITTLE BIT NOMADIC. 337 00:14:44,376 --> 00:14:47,643 Narrator: DEBORAH THEN RUSHES TO FIND CHARLES'S FRIEND BIG JOHN, 338 00:14:47,643 --> 00:14:49,810 WHO LIVES ACROSS THE BORDER IN OHIO, 339 00:14:49,810 --> 00:14:52,943 WHERE HE MAKES HIS LIVING DEALING POT TO FRINGIES. 340 00:14:52,943 --> 00:14:55,910 BIG JOHN'S FARM IS A PLACE THAT CHARLES ST. DENIS 341 00:14:55,910 --> 00:14:57,943 USED TO VISIT REGULARLY. 342 00:14:57,943 --> 00:15:00,110 Narrator: AS DEBORAH PULLS UP, SHE'S RELIEVED TO SEE 343 00:15:00,110 --> 00:15:03,343 HER HUSBAND'S TRUCK PARKED NEARBY. 344 00:15:03,343 --> 00:15:05,843 SHE ANXIOUSLY APPROACHES JOHN. 345 00:15:05,843 --> 00:15:08,410 HE SAID, "I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THAT'S DOWN THE STREET, 346 00:15:08,410 --> 00:15:10,210 BECAUSE HE WAS NOT HERE. 347 00:15:10,210 --> 00:15:12,743 I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT." 348 00:15:12,743 --> 00:15:15,310 Narrator: AFTER TWO DAYS OF FRANTICALLY SEARCHING, 349 00:15:15,310 --> 00:15:17,743 DEBORAH REACHES OUT TO HER LAST HOPE: 350 00:15:17,743 --> 00:15:19,610 SGT. TOM WESTFALL. 351 00:15:19,610 --> 00:15:22,110 Young: HE WAS CALLED THE KRISHNA COP. 352 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:24,210 IF THERE WAS ANY COMMUNICATION AT ALL 353 00:15:24,210 --> 00:15:26,543 BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND NEW VRINDABAN, 354 00:15:26,543 --> 00:15:29,776 IT PROBABLY WENT THROUGH SGT. WESTFALL. 355 00:15:29,776 --> 00:15:32,743 HE DIDN'T SEE THE DEVOTEES 356 00:15:32,743 --> 00:15:36,810 AS SOME HEATHEN RELIGION, WORSHIPING FALSE GODS. 357 00:15:36,810 --> 00:15:38,210 THE FIRST TIME THAT I EVER MET A DEVOTEE, 358 00:15:38,210 --> 00:15:40,343 I NOTICED THAT HE WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. 359 00:15:40,343 --> 00:15:42,310 WE ALL GREW UP WITH THE VIETNAM WAR, 360 00:15:42,310 --> 00:15:45,110 WITH THE HIPPIE GENERATION, ALL OF THAT, 361 00:15:45,110 --> 00:15:46,376 SO I PUT HIM AT EASE. 362 00:15:46,376 --> 00:15:48,576 WE WERE VERY MUCH ALIKE, EXCEPT THEY WERE FOLLOWING 363 00:15:48,576 --> 00:15:50,110 A FAR EASTERN RELIGION AND I WAS 364 00:15:50,110 --> 00:15:53,476 ENFORCING THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. 365 00:15:53,476 --> 00:15:55,876 Narrator: DEBORAH KNOWS THAT, IF ANYONE WILL HELP HER, 366 00:15:55,876 --> 00:15:57,410 IT'S WESTFALL. 367 00:15:57,410 --> 00:16:00,143 Westfall: SHE WAS EXTREMELY UPSET. SHE WAS WEEPING. 368 00:16:00,143 --> 00:16:02,443 SHE WAS UPSET, NOT ONLY BY THE FACT THAT HE WAS MISSING, 369 00:16:02,443 --> 00:16:05,310 BUT IT SEEMED LIKE NOBODY CARED. 370 00:16:05,310 --> 00:16:06,410 Narrator: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMMEDIATELY 371 00:16:06,410 --> 00:16:08,476 CATCHES WESTFALL'S ATTENTION 372 00:16:08,476 --> 00:16:10,510 IS DEBORAH'S RETELLING OF THE PROBLEMS 373 00:16:10,510 --> 00:16:13,243 CHARLES HAD WITH THOMAS DRESCHER. 374 00:16:13,243 --> 00:16:15,643 AWARE OF HIS REPUTATION, WESTFALL BELIEVES 375 00:16:15,643 --> 00:16:19,543 THE VIETNAM VET COULD BE CONNECTED TO THE DISAPPEARANCE. 376 00:16:19,543 --> 00:16:21,376 I NEVER HAD ANYBODY EVER COME UP TO ME AND SAY, 377 00:16:21,376 --> 00:16:22,943 "WHAT A GREAT GUY." 378 00:16:22,943 --> 00:16:24,943 EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT HIS ROLE WAS THERE, 379 00:16:24,943 --> 00:16:26,643 AND EVERYBODY FEARED THAT. 380 00:16:26,643 --> 00:16:28,176 THOMAS DRESCHER HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD 381 00:16:28,176 --> 00:16:31,410 THAT INVOLVED A LOT OF CRIMES, THAT INCLUDED VIOLENCE. 382 00:16:31,410 --> 00:16:35,376 I WAS THE SECURITY GUARD FOR THE PALACE 383 00:16:35,376 --> 00:16:38,476 AND THAT ROLE WAS SORT OF EXPANDED 384 00:16:38,476 --> 00:16:41,910 TO BEING SORT OF LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY'S POLICEMAN. 385 00:16:41,910 --> 00:16:44,110 FROM THERE, THE ROLE, 386 00:16:44,110 --> 00:16:47,510 I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, IT EXPANDED INTO OTHER THINGS. 387 00:16:47,510 --> 00:16:50,476 HIS ROLE EVOLVED TO ALSO KICK PEOPLE OUT 388 00:16:50,476 --> 00:16:53,676 WHEN THEY NEEDED TO BE KICKED OUT, OR ROUGH PEOPLE UP. 389 00:16:53,676 --> 00:16:56,876 Kirtanananda: WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN NONVIOLENCE. 390 00:16:56,876 --> 00:16:59,943 KRISHNA SPOKE THE "BHAGAVAD GITA" ON THE BATTLEFIELD. 391 00:16:59,943 --> 00:17:03,176 KRISHNA SAID, "FIGHT FOR ME." 392 00:17:03,176 --> 00:17:05,310 WE WOULD GET REPORTS OF FLEEING DEVOTEES, 393 00:17:05,310 --> 00:17:06,776 THAT THEIR CAMERAS WERE TAKEN, 394 00:17:06,776 --> 00:17:09,643 MONEY WAS TAKEN, CREDIT CARDS WERE TAKEN. 395 00:17:09,643 --> 00:17:11,676 AND THEY WOULD ALL SAY IT WAS TIRTHA -- 396 00:17:11,676 --> 00:17:13,710 TOM DRESCHER'S DEVOTEE NAME. 397 00:17:13,710 --> 00:17:16,110 THEY WOULD SAY, "THOMAS DRESCHER BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ME," 398 00:17:16,110 --> 00:17:18,743 BUT NOBODY EVER WANTED TO PROSECUTE. 399 00:17:18,743 --> 00:17:19,943 Narrator: HOW COULD A COMMUNITY DEVOTED 400 00:17:19,943 --> 00:17:22,110 TO THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACE AND LOVE 401 00:17:22,110 --> 00:17:23,976 UNLEASH A MAN LIKE THOMAS DRESCHER 402 00:17:23,976 --> 00:17:25,510 ON ITS OWN MEMBERS? 403 00:17:25,510 --> 00:17:29,310 DISILLUSIONED DEVOTEES BEGIN QUESTIONING THE STATUS QUO. 404 00:17:29,310 --> 00:17:30,776 ** 405 00:17:30,776 --> 00:17:32,543 - * HARE * - * HARE * 406 00:17:32,543 --> 00:17:34,343 - * KRISHNA * - * KRISHNA * 407 00:17:34,343 --> 00:17:37,243 DESPITE ALL THE PROMISE OF LOVE AND INNER PEACE, 408 00:17:37,243 --> 00:17:38,976 [ SITAR PLAYS ] THE DEVOTEES BEGIN TO REALIZE 409 00:17:38,976 --> 00:17:41,910 THERE'S A DARK SIDE TO NEW VRINDABAN... 410 00:17:41,910 --> 00:17:43,410 DURING THE 1980s, ESPECIALLY, 411 00:17:43,410 --> 00:17:46,543 THERE WAS A LOT OF UNFORTUNATE INCIDENCES. 412 00:17:46,543 --> 00:17:49,110 Narrator: ...AND IT HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF THEM THE WHOLE TIME. 413 00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:51,243 [chanting] HARE KRISHNA 414 00:17:51,243 --> 00:17:53,310 HARE KRISHNA. 415 00:17:53,310 --> 00:17:56,910 SURRENDER, SURRENDER, SURRENDER. 416 00:17:56,910 --> 00:17:58,610 HEAD GURU KIRTANANANDA 417 00:17:58,610 --> 00:18:04,010 DEMANDS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE FROM ALL OF HIS FOLLOWERS. 418 00:18:04,010 --> 00:18:07,210 HE WOULD RISE EARLIER THAN ANYBODY ELSE 419 00:18:07,210 --> 00:18:09,876 AND HE WOULD WAKE US UP IN THE ASHRAM. 420 00:18:09,876 --> 00:18:13,110 HE'D WALK ALONG AND, IF SOMEONE WASN'T GETTING UP FAST ENOUGH, 421 00:18:13,110 --> 00:18:15,243 HE'D WHACK 'EM WITH HIS CANE. 422 00:18:15,243 --> 00:18:18,176 Narrator: THE SWAMI BELIEVES VIOLENCE IS EVEN NECESSARY 423 00:18:18,176 --> 00:18:19,743 WITH WOMEN. 424 00:18:19,743 --> 00:18:21,776 I CAN'T SAY THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A CIRCUMSTANCE 425 00:18:21,776 --> 00:18:24,243 WHEN IT WOULDN'T BE THE BEST [chuckle] THING IN THE WORLD 426 00:18:24,243 --> 00:18:27,276 TO GIVE HER A LITTLE SLAP ON THE FACE OR -- 427 00:18:27,276 --> 00:18:31,710 Y-- JUST LIKE, UH, MY DOG. 428 00:18:31,710 --> 00:18:33,543 Narrator: CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS 429 00:18:33,543 --> 00:18:35,910 AFTER THE AGE OF FOUR. 430 00:18:35,910 --> 00:18:38,776 THEY ALSO WERE SUPER-OVERMANAGED. 431 00:18:38,776 --> 00:18:41,176 THEY WERE MADE TO ACT LIKE LITTLE ADULTS. 432 00:18:41,176 --> 00:18:45,243 THEY WERE EXPECTED TO CHANT AND TO SIT QUIET. 433 00:18:45,243 --> 00:18:48,376 THEY USED TO SAY, "NOT A BLADE OF GRASS MOVES 434 00:18:48,376 --> 00:18:51,376 WITHOUT KIRTANANANDA KNOWING ABOUT IT." 435 00:18:51,376 --> 00:18:53,543 I WAS AFRAID OF HIM. 436 00:18:53,543 --> 00:18:57,176 Narrator: KIRTANANANDA COUNSELS DEVOTEES NOT TO LET THE OUTSIDE WORLD 437 00:18:57,176 --> 00:19:00,843 KNOW ABOUT THE TRUE GOINGS-ON WITHIN. 438 00:19:00,843 --> 00:19:04,310 Doktorski: KIRTANANANDA ALWAYS TOLD US, "YOU SHOULD NOT TALK 439 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:06,610 TO ANYONE ELSE, SUCH AS THE POLICE. 440 00:19:06,610 --> 00:19:08,210 WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT 441 00:19:08,210 --> 00:19:12,110 ANY NEGATIVE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN HERE." 442 00:19:12,110 --> 00:19:13,810 Narrator: DRESCHER MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO 443 00:19:13,810 --> 00:19:15,576 WITH CHARLES'S DISAPPEARANCE, 444 00:19:15,576 --> 00:19:17,510 BUT, IF SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO HIM, 445 00:19:17,510 --> 00:19:20,843 THE COMPOUND'S HEAD ENFORCER WILL LIKELY KNOW ABOUT IT. 446 00:19:20,843 --> 00:19:23,243 WESTFALL TRIES TO TRACK HIM DOWN, 447 00:19:23,243 --> 00:19:27,343 BUT IT SEEMS DRESCHER'S GONE INTO HIDING. 448 00:19:27,343 --> 00:19:29,476 I WAS BEING TOLD OFFICIALLY THAT HE'S BEEN 449 00:19:29,476 --> 00:19:30,810 REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY, 450 00:19:30,810 --> 00:19:33,243 BUT I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT HE'S THERE, 451 00:19:33,243 --> 00:19:35,643 THAT HE'S STILL COMING BACK, AND THAT HE LIVES IN THE AREA. 452 00:19:35,643 --> 00:19:37,376 ** 453 00:19:37,376 --> 00:19:39,410 Narrator: AT THIS POINT, WESTFALL BECOMES CONVINCED 454 00:19:39,410 --> 00:19:42,643 SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO CHARLES. 455 00:19:42,643 --> 00:19:44,676 HE CONFRONTS THE SWAMI. 456 00:19:44,676 --> 00:19:47,776 SWAMI BHAKTIPADA TOLD DEVOTEES NOT TO TALK TO ME 457 00:19:47,776 --> 00:19:49,443 AND I SAID, "LISTEN, I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU" 458 00:19:49,443 --> 00:19:52,110 AND HE SAID, "WELL, I MAY NOT WANNA TALK TO YOU." 459 00:19:52,110 --> 00:19:53,410 AND I ASKED HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT IT. 460 00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:55,443 I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ST. DENIS CASE?" 461 00:19:55,443 --> 00:19:57,276 AND HE SAID, "OH, EVERYBODY KNOWS: 462 00:19:57,276 --> 00:19:59,610 HE'S GONE TO CALIFORNIA OR GONE TO DO SOMETHING. 463 00:19:59,610 --> 00:20:01,776 HE'S NOT HERE, HE'LL PROBABLY NEVER COME BACK HERE, 464 00:20:01,776 --> 00:20:03,876 AND WE DON'T CARE." 465 00:20:03,876 --> 00:20:06,310 Narrator: EQUALLY TIGHT-LIPPED IS DAN REID, 466 00:20:06,310 --> 00:20:10,543 THE MAN CHARLES WAS ON HIS WAY TO SEE THE NIGHT HE VANISHED. 467 00:20:10,543 --> 00:20:14,110 JUST SAID THAT CHARLES ST. DENIS HAD NOT BEEN THERE. 468 00:20:14,110 --> 00:20:15,176 Narrator: THE NEXT STOP? 469 00:20:15,176 --> 00:20:16,876 BIG JOHN'S. 470 00:20:16,876 --> 00:20:18,943 IT'S STILL A MYSTERY, WHY CHARLES'S CAR 471 00:20:18,943 --> 00:20:21,576 WAS PARKED NEAR HIS HOME. 472 00:20:21,576 --> 00:20:23,243 Westfall: BIG JOHN WAS VERY HONEST WITH US. 473 00:20:23,243 --> 00:20:25,376 HE COOPERATED AS MUCH AS HE COULD. 474 00:20:25,376 --> 00:20:26,943 IT BECAME PRETTY CLEAR TO ME 475 00:20:26,943 --> 00:20:29,076 THIS WAS NOT PART OF WHAT BIG JOHN DID. 476 00:20:29,076 --> 00:20:32,676 MY BELIEF WAS SOMEBODY PUT THE VEHICLE THERE. 477 00:20:32,676 --> 00:20:34,443 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORDS STRIKING ] Narrator: BUT WHO, AND WHY? 478 00:20:34,443 --> 00:20:36,910 [ RING ] AFTER WEEKS OF DEAD ENDS, 479 00:20:36,910 --> 00:20:41,076 THE KRISHNA COP FINALLY UNCOVERS A POTENTIAL BOMBSHELL. 480 00:20:41,076 --> 00:20:42,376 THERE'D BEEN SOME HARSH DEALINGS 481 00:20:42,376 --> 00:20:45,476 BETWEEN DAN REID AND ST. DENIS. 482 00:20:45,476 --> 00:20:47,676 DAN HAD HEARD TALK THAT HIS WIFE 483 00:20:47,676 --> 00:20:50,676 WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ST. DENIS. 484 00:20:50,676 --> 00:20:52,910 AND REID'S REACTION WAS IT MUST'VE BEEN RAPE. 485 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:54,610 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ] 486 00:20:54,610 --> 00:20:58,043 SO THAT MADE HIM REALLY, REALLY ANGRY AT ST. DENIS. 487 00:20:58,043 --> 00:21:00,343 A VERSE FROM THE "SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM" SAYS 488 00:21:00,343 --> 00:21:03,710 "ONE WHO RAPES A WIFE DESERVES TO BE KILLED, 489 00:21:03,710 --> 00:21:06,476 WITH NO PUNISHMENT GIVEN TO THE EXECUTIONER." 490 00:21:06,476 --> 00:21:08,010 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 491 00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:11,276 [ ELECTRONICA PLAYS ] 492 00:21:14,110 --> 00:21:16,710 [ CLOCK TICKING, ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 493 00:21:16,710 --> 00:21:18,143 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] Narrator: IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS 494 00:21:18,143 --> 00:21:21,176 SINCE DEBORAH GERE'S HUSBAND, CHARLES ST. DENIS, 495 00:21:21,176 --> 00:21:22,443 VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE 496 00:21:22,443 --> 00:21:26,143 FROM THE HARE KRISHNA COMMUNITY NEW VRINDABAN. 497 00:21:26,143 --> 00:21:27,876 DEBORAH'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UPSET. 498 00:21:27,876 --> 00:21:29,510 SHE'S FRANTIC. 499 00:21:29,510 --> 00:21:31,743 Narrator: SGT. TOM WESTFALL HAS UNCOVERED 500 00:21:31,743 --> 00:21:34,776 A DISTURBING ALLEGATION ABOUT DAN REID, 501 00:21:34,776 --> 00:21:38,943 THE MAN CHARLES WAS HEADING TO SEE RIGHT BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED. 502 00:21:38,943 --> 00:21:40,143 HE FELT HIS WIFE, BRENDA, 503 00:21:40,143 --> 00:21:42,610 HAD BEEN RAPED BY CHARLES ST. DENIS. 504 00:21:42,610 --> 00:21:44,710 DAN HAD HEARD TALK THAT HIS WIFE 505 00:21:44,710 --> 00:21:47,110 WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ST. DENIS 506 00:21:47,110 --> 00:21:48,576 AND, WHEN HE APPROACHED HER ABOUT IT, 507 00:21:48,576 --> 00:21:50,943 SHE SAID IT WAS A RAPE. 508 00:21:50,943 --> 00:21:53,110 DEBORAH SAYS THAT SHE KNEW ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP 509 00:21:53,110 --> 00:21:55,110 BETWEEN CHARLES ST. DENIS AND BRENDA, 510 00:21:55,110 --> 00:21:57,110 BUT THAT IT WAS JUST AN AFFAIR. 511 00:21:57,110 --> 00:21:59,443 THERE WAS NEVER ANY RAPE. 512 00:21:59,443 --> 00:22:02,010 Narrator: DEBORAH HAS FORGIVEN CHARLES FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES 513 00:22:02,010 --> 00:22:05,743 WAS A BRIEF DALLIANCE THAT ENDED LONG AGO. 514 00:22:05,743 --> 00:22:09,410 BUT DAN HAD JUST HEARD ABOUT THE TRANSGRESSION A MONTH EARLIER. 515 00:22:09,410 --> 00:22:12,210 IF DAN BELIEVED THAT CHARLES HAD RAPED HIS WIFE, 516 00:22:12,210 --> 00:22:14,476 COULD HE HAVE GOTTEN HIS OWN BRAND OF JUSTICE 517 00:22:14,476 --> 00:22:17,876 BY GOING AFTER CHARLES THE NIGHT OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE? 518 00:22:17,876 --> 00:22:20,176 Westfall: WHEN I TALKED TO DAN REID, HIS VOICE CRACKED, 519 00:22:20,176 --> 00:22:21,710 I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS SWEATING, 520 00:22:21,710 --> 00:22:23,743 AND HE WAS SHAKING A LITTLE BIT. 521 00:22:23,743 --> 00:22:26,510 I COULDN'T EXACTLY SAY THAT HE WAS NERVOUS 522 00:22:26,510 --> 00:22:27,810 BECAUSE HE HAD DONE SOMETHING, 523 00:22:27,810 --> 00:22:30,243 BUT I KNEW THAT HE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT TALKING TO ME. 524 00:22:30,243 --> 00:22:33,243 BUT HE SAID HE LIKED CHARLES ST. DENIS. 525 00:22:33,243 --> 00:22:34,576 Narrator: THERE ISN'T A SHRED OF EVIDENCE 526 00:22:34,576 --> 00:22:37,710 THAT HE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLES. 527 00:22:37,710 --> 00:22:39,776 WESTFALL CONTINUES TO SUSPECT 528 00:22:39,776 --> 00:22:44,010 THAT THE VOLATILE THOMAS DRESCHER IS THE LINCHPIN. 529 00:22:44,010 --> 00:22:46,376 DRESCHER TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ST. DENIS. 530 00:22:46,376 --> 00:22:49,543 Narrator: BUT DRESCHER HAS NOT BEEN SEEN ON THE COMPOUND FOR WEEKS 531 00:22:49,543 --> 00:22:52,276 AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S MADE A HASTY EXIT. 532 00:22:52,276 --> 00:22:55,176 WHEN WESTFALL GOES BACK TO INTERVIEW DAN AGAIN, 533 00:22:55,176 --> 00:22:57,610 HE FINDS OUT HE'S GONE, TOO. 534 00:22:57,610 --> 00:23:00,110 DAN REID MOVES BACK TO LOS ANGELES. 535 00:23:00,110 --> 00:23:02,910 Westfall: HE CRATED UP HIS MOTORCYCLE AND SHIPPED IT, AND HE'S GONE. 536 00:23:02,910 --> 00:23:05,310 I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO GET A WARRANT FOR HIM AT THAT POINT, 537 00:23:05,310 --> 00:23:07,110 BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY CURIOUS. 538 00:23:07,110 --> 00:23:09,543 ** 539 00:23:09,543 --> 00:23:12,476 Narrator: MONTHS INTO THE INVESTIGATION, POLICE ARE NO CLOSER 540 00:23:12,476 --> 00:23:15,776 TO SOLVING THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. 541 00:23:15,776 --> 00:23:17,843 DEBORAH GERE WAS VERY FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT 542 00:23:17,843 --> 00:23:19,910 THAT WE WERE NOT GETTING ANY FURTHER. 543 00:23:19,910 --> 00:23:22,376 Narrator: WESTFALL IS STONEWALLED ON ALL SIDES: 544 00:23:22,376 --> 00:23:25,110 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] THE SWAMI WON'T COOPERATE, 545 00:23:25,110 --> 00:23:27,810 THE PEOPLE WHO MAY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HAVE LEFT, 546 00:23:27,810 --> 00:23:32,143 AND IT APPEARS THE DEVOTEES HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO KEEP QUIET. 547 00:23:32,143 --> 00:23:33,676 AS MONTHS TURN INTO YEARS, 548 00:23:33,676 --> 00:23:36,110 THE INVESTIGATION SPUTTERS TO A DEAD HALT. 549 00:23:36,110 --> 00:23:37,143 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 550 00:23:37,143 --> 00:23:38,510 Westfall: WE COULDN'T GO ANY FURTHER. 551 00:23:38,510 --> 00:23:39,943 WE DID NOT HAVE THE BODY. 552 00:23:39,943 --> 00:23:43,110 WE WERE SORT OF IN PURGATORY ON THIS. 553 00:23:43,110 --> 00:23:45,643 Narrator: BUT WESTFALL NEVER LETS GO OF THE CASE, 554 00:23:45,643 --> 00:23:47,876 KNOWING THAT DEBORAH HASN'T, EITHER. 555 00:23:47,876 --> 00:23:50,176 Westfall: IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR DEBORAH. 556 00:23:50,176 --> 00:23:52,643 A SPOUSE WHO'S DISAPPEARED. 557 00:23:52,643 --> 00:23:55,443 SO, I MEAN, IT HAD A GREATER IMPACT ON HER THAN ANYBODY, 558 00:23:55,443 --> 00:23:58,976 AND I THINK SHE SHOWED THE STRESS OVER THE YEARS. 559 00:23:58,976 --> 00:24:01,210 BUT I CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE. 560 00:24:01,210 --> 00:24:03,210 I WAS FORMING UP A GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS 561 00:24:03,210 --> 00:24:04,676 ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY 562 00:24:04,676 --> 00:24:07,610 WHO HAD HAD DEALINGS WITH THE HARE KRISHNAS. 563 00:24:07,610 --> 00:24:08,776 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] [ CLOCK TICKING ] 564 00:24:08,776 --> 00:24:09,910 [ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 565 00:24:09,910 --> 00:24:11,943 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 566 00:24:11,943 --> 00:24:15,176 Narrator: NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER CHARLES ST. DENIS VANISHES, 567 00:24:15,176 --> 00:24:17,010 THE SERGEANT GETS A DISTURBING CALL 568 00:24:17,010 --> 00:24:18,743 FROM THE LOS ANGELES POLICE. 569 00:24:18,743 --> 00:24:21,676 [ RING ] 570 00:24:21,676 --> 00:24:23,710 A FORMER NEW VRINDABAN MEMBER LIVING THERE, 571 00:24:23,710 --> 00:24:26,310 NAMED STEVE BRYANT, WAS MURDERED. 572 00:24:26,310 --> 00:24:28,643 EXECUTION-STYLE. 573 00:24:28,643 --> 00:24:30,310 HE WAS PARKED IN HIS VAN. 574 00:24:30,310 --> 00:24:32,743 [ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ] 575 00:24:32,743 --> 00:24:36,576 Westfall: SOMEONE WALKED UP TO HIS VAN, 576 00:24:36,576 --> 00:24:37,876 TAPPED ON THE WINDOW, [ KNOCKING ] 577 00:24:37,876 --> 00:24:40,476 SO THAT STEVEN BRYANT WOULD TURN AND LOOK AT HIM. 578 00:24:40,476 --> 00:24:43,843 ** 579 00:24:43,843 --> 00:24:46,210 AND, WHEN HE DID, HE FIRED TWO SHOTS INTO HIS HEAD. 580 00:24:46,210 --> 00:24:47,643 [ GUNSHOT ] 581 00:24:47,643 --> 00:24:50,576 [ GUNSHOT ] 582 00:24:50,576 --> 00:24:51,810 AND KILLED HIM. 583 00:24:51,810 --> 00:24:56,176 ** 584 00:24:56,176 --> 00:24:59,610 Narrator: WESTFALL IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTS THE CALIFORNIA KILLING 585 00:24:59,610 --> 00:25:03,776 IS CONNECTED TO CHARLES ST. DENIS'S DISAPPEARANCE. 586 00:25:03,776 --> 00:25:05,943 STEVEN BRYANT HAD BEEN A DEVOTEE AT NEW VRINDABAN 587 00:25:05,943 --> 00:25:09,110 AND REALLY HAD BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL CHARACTER. 588 00:25:09,110 --> 00:25:12,110 HE WAS EXPELLED FROM THE COMMUNITY BY SWAMI 589 00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:14,843 AND WAS SPEAKING AGAINST BHAKTIPADA. 590 00:25:14,843 --> 00:25:18,410 STEVE BRYANT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES 591 00:25:18,410 --> 00:25:20,243 HAPPENING AT NEW VRINDABAN. 592 00:25:20,243 --> 00:25:21,710 HE STARTED TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY, 593 00:25:21,710 --> 00:25:25,410 VISITING OTHER DISGRUNTLED FORMER RESIDENTS, 594 00:25:25,410 --> 00:25:26,910 AND HE FOUND OUT MORE AND MORE 595 00:25:26,910 --> 00:25:29,610 ABOUT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE SWAMI. 596 00:25:29,610 --> 00:25:32,376 HERE WAS STEVEN BRYANT, WHO WAS A DISSIDENT, 597 00:25:32,376 --> 00:25:34,976 AND, YET, HIS PUNISHMENT WAS NOT JUST BANISHMENT. 598 00:25:34,976 --> 00:25:36,443 HE WAS MURDERED. 599 00:25:36,443 --> 00:25:40,443 THAT MURDER WAS DONE AS AN EXAMPLE TO SCARE PEOPLE OFF. 600 00:25:40,443 --> 00:25:41,810 [ GUNSHOT ] 601 00:25:41,810 --> 00:25:45,176 THE MURDER WAS ONE OF THE BIG TURNING-POINT MOMENTS 602 00:25:45,176 --> 00:25:46,843 BECAUSE THINGS WERE NEVER THE SAME. 603 00:25:46,843 --> 00:25:48,510 [ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ] 604 00:25:48,510 --> 00:25:51,510 [ HEARTBEAT ] 605 00:25:54,710 --> 00:25:55,810 [ CLOCK TICKING, ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 606 00:25:55,810 --> 00:25:57,243 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 607 00:25:57,243 --> 00:25:59,010 [ GUNSHOT ] Narrator: A LOS ANGELES MURDER 608 00:25:59,010 --> 00:26:01,310 [ GUNSHOT ] MAY FINALLY LEAD TO ANSWERS 609 00:26:01,310 --> 00:26:03,376 ABOUT CHARLES ST. DENIS'S DISAPPEARANCE 610 00:26:03,376 --> 00:26:08,443 FROM A HARE KRISHNA COMMUNITY OVER 2,300 MILES AWAY. 611 00:26:08,443 --> 00:26:10,710 THE SHOOTING VICTIM, STEVE BRYANT, 612 00:26:10,710 --> 00:26:13,110 ONCE BELONGED TO THE SAME WEST VIRGINIA COMPOUND 613 00:26:13,110 --> 00:26:16,176 AS CHARLES: NEW VRINDABAN. 614 00:26:16,176 --> 00:26:19,410 THE STEVE BRYANT MURDER WAS A VERY HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENT. 615 00:26:19,410 --> 00:26:21,510 IT WAS A CLEAR CASE OF MURDER. 616 00:26:21,510 --> 00:26:24,110 THIS BEGINS TO DRAW SOME LARGER MEDIA SCRUTINY 617 00:26:24,110 --> 00:26:26,210 TO THE NEW VRINDABAN COMMUNITY. 618 00:26:26,210 --> 00:26:28,610 Westfall: HE WAS KILLED ON THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES. 619 00:26:28,610 --> 00:26:31,110 THE MEDIA IS A LITTLE BIT THICKER IN LOS ANGELES 620 00:26:31,110 --> 00:26:33,110 THAN IT IS IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. 621 00:26:33,110 --> 00:26:34,276 THE KRISHNAS OF THE '80s 622 00:26:34,276 --> 00:26:36,610 LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT MORE SHADOWY WORLD. 623 00:26:36,610 --> 00:26:38,943 WE HAD NETWORKS IN AND WE HAD NEWS MAGAZINE SHOWS 624 00:26:38,943 --> 00:26:40,610 COMING IN AND DOING PIECES. 625 00:26:40,610 --> 00:26:44,943 THE ORGANIZATION WAS VERY OUT OF CONTROL. 626 00:26:44,943 --> 00:26:46,910 Narrator: BRYANT WAS A DISAFFECTED KRISHNA 627 00:26:46,910 --> 00:26:49,810 WHO QUIT THE COMPOUND IN 1984, 628 00:26:49,810 --> 00:26:52,976 ONE YEAR AFTER ST. DENIS DISAPPEARED. 629 00:26:52,976 --> 00:26:56,410 STEVEN BRYANT WAS A DISSIDENT 630 00:26:56,410 --> 00:27:01,743 AND HE WAS UNHAPPY WITH HOW KIRTANANANDA WAS RUNNING THINGS. 631 00:27:01,743 --> 00:27:04,210 HE BECAME MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED 632 00:27:04,210 --> 00:27:06,576 WITH TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE AT THE COMMUNE 633 00:27:06,576 --> 00:27:08,210 AND HE FINALLY DECIDED 634 00:27:08,210 --> 00:27:10,243 THAT HE HAD HAD IT. HE WANTED TO LEAVE. 635 00:27:10,243 --> 00:27:13,143 [ STATIC CRACKLES ] AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DESTROY 636 00:27:13,143 --> 00:27:16,643 ME AND THE COMMUNITY. 637 00:27:16,643 --> 00:27:19,110 Narrator: BRYANT GOES ON A ONE-MAN ODYSSEY, 638 00:27:19,110 --> 00:27:22,510 TRACKING DOWN EX-DEVOTEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 639 00:27:22,510 --> 00:27:24,943 HE STARTED AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND SOME DIRT 640 00:27:24,943 --> 00:27:28,143 ON KIRTANANANDA, AND HE FOUND LOTS OF IT. 641 00:27:28,143 --> 00:27:32,543 Narrator: BRYANT UNCOVERS VARIOUS SCHEMES KIRTANANANDA BHAKTIPADA UTILIZES 642 00:27:32,543 --> 00:27:36,876 TO FUND THE UPKEEP AND EXPANSION OF HIS ORNATE PALACE. 643 00:27:36,876 --> 00:27:42,143 BECAUSE OF HIS GOALS, BHAKTIPADA HAD A VERY BIG NEED FOR MONEY. 644 00:27:42,143 --> 00:27:47,210 WHICH MEANT COLLECTING MONEY, BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE. 645 00:27:47,210 --> 00:27:50,576 Westfall: THERE'S A SORT OF FAMOUS PICTURE OF HIM SEATED ON A THRONE 646 00:27:50,576 --> 00:27:52,676 AND HE'S COVERED IN MONEY THAT WAS BROUGHT IN. 647 00:27:52,676 --> 00:27:54,810 HE'S CELEBRATING THE MONEY COLLECTION. 648 00:27:54,810 --> 00:27:58,110 Woman: THEY DID NOT DRESS UP AS THEY DID IN NEW VRINDABAN. 649 00:27:58,110 --> 00:28:01,010 THEY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT 650 00:28:01,010 --> 00:28:04,476 NOT TO BE NOTICED OR KNOWN AS A HARE KRISHNA. 651 00:28:04,476 --> 00:28:05,843 FUND-RAISING PRACTICES 652 00:28:05,843 --> 00:28:09,010 THAT WERE EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE, AT BEST. 653 00:28:09,010 --> 00:28:11,443 THEY COLLECTED MONEY IN THE NAME OF NORML, 654 00:28:11,443 --> 00:28:13,510 THE MARIJUANA ORGANIZATION. 655 00:28:13,510 --> 00:28:16,776 THEY COLLECTED MONEY IN THE NAME OF THE GIRL SCOUTS. 656 00:28:16,776 --> 00:28:20,176 THEY WOULD ASK FOR MONEY TO HELP STARVING CHILDREN IN APPALACHIA. 657 00:28:20,176 --> 00:28:21,676 ** 658 00:28:21,676 --> 00:28:24,310 Narrator: BRYANT ALSO DETAILS SHOCKING ALLEGATIONS 659 00:28:24,310 --> 00:28:26,143 INVOLVING CHILDREN. 660 00:28:26,143 --> 00:28:28,876 VARIOUS ACTIVITIES HAPPENING AT NEW VRINDABAN, 661 00:28:28,876 --> 00:28:30,276 ESPECIALLY CHILD ABUSE 662 00:28:30,276 --> 00:28:33,776 AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. 663 00:28:33,776 --> 00:28:35,943 THEY HAD A SCHOOL AT THE PROPERTY 664 00:28:35,943 --> 00:28:39,310 AND THEY HAD CHILD ABUSERS WORKING ON THE STAFF. 665 00:28:39,310 --> 00:28:42,910 Narrator: BRYANT TAKES HIS STORY TO THE MEDIA. 666 00:28:42,910 --> 00:28:44,243 EVEN MORE DAMNING? 667 00:28:44,243 --> 00:28:45,910 DISTURBING ACCUSATIONS 668 00:28:45,910 --> 00:28:49,710 THAT THE GURU HIMSELF IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR. 669 00:28:49,710 --> 00:28:52,743 BRYANT FOUND OUT MORE AND MORE ABOUT THESE ALLEGATIONS 670 00:28:52,743 --> 00:28:55,143 OF THE SWAMI HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS 671 00:28:55,143 --> 00:28:58,610 WITH THE BOYS AT NEW VRINDABAN. 672 00:28:58,610 --> 00:29:00,910 Rader: STEVE HAD MANY AUDIOCASSETTES 673 00:29:00,910 --> 00:29:04,776 ABOUT SEXUAL MOLESTATION OF THE BOYS. 674 00:29:04,776 --> 00:29:07,110 Narrator: BRYANT KNEW HE WAS PLAYING WITH FIRE. 675 00:29:07,110 --> 00:29:09,376 ONE RECORDING IS EERILY FOREBODING. 676 00:29:12,510 --> 00:29:15,110 [ GUNSHOT ] 677 00:29:15,110 --> 00:29:18,610 Narrator: NOW? HIS WORST PREDICTIONS HAVE COME TRUE. 678 00:29:18,610 --> 00:29:22,276 WITH STEVE BRYANT'S MURDER, ALL EYES ARE NOW ON NEW VRINDABAN 679 00:29:22,276 --> 00:29:24,476 AND, FOR CHARLES ST. DENIS'S WIFE, DEBORAH, 680 00:29:24,476 --> 00:29:27,943 IT'S THE BREAK SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR FOR THREE YEARS. 681 00:29:27,943 --> 00:29:29,510 THERE WAS SO MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION 682 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:31,776 THAT CAME AFTER THE BRYANT CASE THAT DEBORAH GERE 683 00:29:31,776 --> 00:29:34,676 WAS NO LONGER SOMEBODY CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS. 684 00:29:34,676 --> 00:29:36,210 SHE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION 685 00:29:36,210 --> 00:29:38,143 TO WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. 686 00:29:38,143 --> 00:29:40,510 THE MURDER OF STEVE BRYANT WAS AN EXTREME 687 00:29:40,510 --> 00:29:42,710 TURNING POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE 688 00:29:42,710 --> 00:29:45,676 THAT'S WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOT INVOLVED. 689 00:29:45,676 --> 00:29:47,310 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 690 00:29:47,310 --> 00:29:49,110 Westfall: WE FORMED THIS TASK FORCE. 691 00:29:49,110 --> 00:29:51,210 THERE WERE TWO TROOPERS AND THERE WAS AN FBI AGENT. 692 00:29:51,210 --> 00:29:52,776 WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENTERED THE CASE, 693 00:29:52,776 --> 00:29:54,576 WE HAD A LOT MORE RESOURCES. 694 00:29:54,576 --> 00:29:56,243 THAT HELPED QUITE A BIT. 695 00:29:56,243 --> 00:29:57,643 Narrator: TWO DAYS AFTER BRYANT'S MURDER, 696 00:29:57,643 --> 00:30:00,110 [ GUNSHOT ] A NEW FIGURE EMERGES: 697 00:30:00,110 --> 00:30:03,276 A FRIGHTENED OLDER MAN NAMED RANDALL GORBY. 698 00:30:03,276 --> 00:30:04,676 HE MADE CONTACT WITH A TROOPER 699 00:30:04,676 --> 00:30:07,710 WHOM HE KNEW PERSONALLY FROM UP IN THE AREA. 700 00:30:07,710 --> 00:30:10,176 Narrator: GORBY DID LAND DEALS FOR THE SWAMI. 701 00:30:10,176 --> 00:30:11,976 HE'S FRIENDS WITH THOMAS DRESCHER 702 00:30:11,976 --> 00:30:15,843 AND HE HAS A SPINE-TINGLING STORY TO TELL. 703 00:30:15,843 --> 00:30:20,376 HE TELLS THEM THAT HE KNOWS WHO KILLED STEVE BRYANT. 704 00:30:20,376 --> 00:30:23,710 WHILE THOMAS DRESCHER WAS SORT OF HIDING OUT AT GORBY'S HOUSE 705 00:30:23,710 --> 00:30:26,176 TO STAY AWAY FROM NEW VRINDABAN, AND ME, 706 00:30:26,176 --> 00:30:30,376 HE TOLD RANDALL GORBY THAT "I'M GOING TO KILL STEVEN BRYANT." 707 00:30:30,376 --> 00:30:33,310 Narrator: AFTER THE BRYANT MURDER BECOMES FRONT-PAGE NEWS, 708 00:30:33,310 --> 00:30:36,743 HE REALIZES DRESCHER WAS DEAD SERIOUS. 709 00:30:36,743 --> 00:30:37,943 NOW, GORBY'S TERRIFIED 710 00:30:37,943 --> 00:30:40,343 THAT DRESCHER MAY REGRET HIS CONFESSION 711 00:30:40,343 --> 00:30:42,976 AND COULD COME AFTER HIM NEXT. 712 00:30:42,976 --> 00:30:45,243 DRESCHER MUST'VE RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD A LOOSE END 713 00:30:45,243 --> 00:30:46,743 THAT HE NEEDED TO CLOSE. 714 00:30:46,743 --> 00:30:48,043 Narrator: BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. 715 00:30:48,043 --> 00:30:50,710 THERE'S ONE MORE SHOCKING REVELATION THAT CAME OUT 716 00:30:50,710 --> 00:30:52,943 DURING THE DISTURBING CONVERSATION. 717 00:30:52,943 --> 00:30:54,843 DRESCHER TELLS GORBY, 718 00:30:54,843 --> 00:30:57,543 "I'M GONNA HAVE TO KILL STEVE BRYANT 719 00:30:57,543 --> 00:30:59,076 JUST LIKE I DID ST. DENIS." 720 00:30:59,076 --> 00:31:01,443 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ] 721 00:31:01,443 --> 00:31:02,676 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 722 00:31:02,676 --> 00:31:05,310 [ ELECTRONICA PLAYS ] 723 00:31:08,643 --> 00:31:11,410 [ CLOCK TICKING, ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 724 00:31:11,410 --> 00:31:12,876 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] Narrator: RANDALL GORBY 725 00:31:12,876 --> 00:31:15,010 HAS JUST GIVEN SGT. TOM WESTFALL 726 00:31:15,010 --> 00:31:17,210 THE BREAK HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR: 727 00:31:17,210 --> 00:31:18,976 THE NAME OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE 728 00:31:18,976 --> 00:31:22,610 FOR CHARLES ST. DENIS'S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. 729 00:31:22,610 --> 00:31:25,110 I KNEW THAT THOMAS DRESCHER WAS INVOLVED. 730 00:31:25,110 --> 00:31:26,510 Narrator: GORBY TELLS INVESTIGATORS 731 00:31:26,510 --> 00:31:28,643 THAT DRESCHER SAID HE KILLED ST. DENIS 732 00:31:28,643 --> 00:31:32,110 AND ANOTHER KRISHNA DEVOTEE: STEVE BRYANT. 733 00:31:32,110 --> 00:31:34,510 HE AGREES TO BE A POLICE INFORMANT. 734 00:31:34,510 --> 00:31:37,310 GORBY ALLOWS THEM TO TAP HIS PHONE. 735 00:31:37,310 --> 00:31:39,276 HE HAS A CONVERSATION WITH DRESCHER 736 00:31:39,276 --> 00:31:41,376 ABOUT THE STEVE BRYANT MURDER. 737 00:31:41,376 --> 00:31:43,443 Narrator: THE RECORDING PROVIDES DAMNING EVIDENCE 738 00:31:43,443 --> 00:31:46,910 THAT DRESCHER WAS A PAID ASSASSIN WHO KILLED BRYANT. 739 00:31:46,910 --> 00:31:49,010 IT WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY DRESCHER 740 00:31:49,010 --> 00:31:52,110 HADN'T GOTTEN THE FULL $8,000 FOR KILLING BRYANT. 741 00:32:05,776 --> 00:32:07,576 Narrator: THE SOURCE OF THAT MONEY? 742 00:32:07,576 --> 00:32:09,110 SWAMI BHAKTIPADA. 743 00:32:09,110 --> 00:32:10,243 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 744 00:32:19,276 --> 00:32:20,443 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] 745 00:32:20,443 --> 00:32:21,443 Narrator: WHEN CONFRONTED, 746 00:32:21,443 --> 00:32:23,210 THE SWAMI VEHEMENTLY DENIES 747 00:32:23,210 --> 00:32:25,876 ANY INVOLVEMENT IN BRYANT'S DEATH. 748 00:32:25,876 --> 00:32:27,810 DID YOU GIVE THE ORDER TO MURDER STEVE BRYANT? 749 00:32:27,810 --> 00:32:29,643 [ LAUGHS ] 750 00:32:29,643 --> 00:32:32,343 I'M SURPRISED AT YOU. 751 00:32:32,343 --> 00:32:33,743 OF COURSE NOT. 752 00:32:33,743 --> 00:32:35,643 I COULD NOT DO THAT. 753 00:32:35,643 --> 00:32:38,376 WE DON'T EVEN KILL ANIMALS. 754 00:32:38,376 --> 00:32:39,676 Narrator: AS MAJOR NEWS NETWORKS 755 00:32:39,676 --> 00:32:42,710 CONTINUE TO SHINE A HARSH LIGHT ON NEW VRINDABAN, 756 00:32:42,710 --> 00:32:45,743 SGT. WESTFALL HOPES THE GLARE WILL REFLECT BACK 757 00:32:45,743 --> 00:32:49,010 TO THE UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE OF CHARLES ST. DENIS 758 00:32:49,010 --> 00:32:51,876 AND DEVOTEES WILL COME FORWARD. 759 00:32:51,876 --> 00:32:54,843 HIS HOPE IS REALIZED WHEN THREE KRISHNAS TELL WESTFALL 760 00:32:54,843 --> 00:32:59,110 THAT DRESCHER ALSO MADE MURDEROUS CONFESSIONS TO THEM. 761 00:32:59,110 --> 00:33:02,476 DRESCHER BRAGGED THAT HE KILLED ST. DENIS. 762 00:33:02,476 --> 00:33:04,976 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 763 00:33:04,976 --> 00:33:07,510 Westfall: WE HAD FORMAL STATEMENTS FROM EVERYBODY. 764 00:33:07,510 --> 00:33:09,843 WE HAD DEVELOPED MORE INFORMATION. 765 00:33:09,843 --> 00:33:12,443 Narrator: THE STUNNING INFORMATION REVEALED THAT DRESCHER WAS NOT 766 00:33:12,443 --> 00:33:16,876 THE ONLY ONE INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF CHARLES ST. DENIS. 767 00:33:16,876 --> 00:33:19,710 DAN REID WAS AN ACCOMPLICE. 768 00:33:19,710 --> 00:33:22,376 REID IS SAYING, "I WANT TO KILL THIS ST. DENIS 769 00:33:22,376 --> 00:33:25,143 BECAUSE MY WIFE SAYS HE RAPED HER." 770 00:33:25,143 --> 00:33:27,210 I DON'T KNOW THAT WE EVER KNEW WHETHER OR NOT 771 00:33:27,210 --> 00:33:29,776 THAT RAPE EVER OCCURRED. 772 00:33:29,776 --> 00:33:31,110 Narrator: IN EARLY JULY, 773 00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:33,810 WHILE AWAITING TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF STEVE BRYANT, 774 00:33:33,810 --> 00:33:36,476 THOMAS DRESCHER, ALONG WITH DAN REID, 775 00:33:36,476 --> 00:33:40,543 IS INDICTED ON CHARGES OF MURDERING CHARLES ST. DENIS. 776 00:33:40,543 --> 00:33:42,343 BUT THERE'S ONE MAJOR HURDLE: 777 00:33:42,343 --> 00:33:43,776 ST. DENIS'S BODY? 778 00:33:43,776 --> 00:33:45,910 HAS STILL NOT BEEN FOUND. 779 00:33:45,910 --> 00:33:49,643 WE WERE HAUNTED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THE CASE 780 00:33:49,643 --> 00:33:52,943 BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A BODY, BUT TIME RAN OUT. 781 00:33:52,943 --> 00:33:54,110 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] [ CLOCK TICKING ] 782 00:33:54,110 --> 00:33:55,243 [ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 783 00:33:55,243 --> 00:33:56,710 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 784 00:33:56,710 --> 00:33:58,710 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] Narrator: ON A COLD WINTER DAY, 785 00:33:58,710 --> 00:34:00,510 THE TRIAL BEGINS. 786 00:34:00,510 --> 00:34:02,510 Reporter: ONE WITNESS CALLED TODAY, DEBORAH GERE, 787 00:34:02,510 --> 00:34:05,276 WAS LIVING WITH ST. DENIS WHEN HE DISAPPEARED. 788 00:34:05,276 --> 00:34:07,243 Narrator: DEBORAH GERE TELLS THE JURY ABOUT THE FEUD 789 00:34:07,243 --> 00:34:09,843 BETWEEN HER HUSBAND AND THOMAS DRESCHER. 790 00:34:09,843 --> 00:34:13,610 RANDALL GORBY AND THREE KRISHNA DEVOTEES ALSO TESTIFY 791 00:34:13,610 --> 00:34:17,610 ABOUT HOW DRESCHER BRAGGED TO THEM ABOUT MURDERING CHARLES. 792 00:34:17,610 --> 00:34:20,110 THE TRIAL LASTS FOUR DAYS. 793 00:34:20,110 --> 00:34:22,710 Reporter: THE PROSECUTION HAS TWO PREMISES TO PROVE: 794 00:34:22,710 --> 00:34:25,210 ONE, CHARLES ST. DENIS IS ACTUALLY DEAD, 795 00:34:25,210 --> 00:34:27,410 EVEN THOUGH THE BODY WAS NEVER FOUND; 796 00:34:27,410 --> 00:34:30,843 AND TWO, THAT THOMAS DRESCHER KILLED HIM. 797 00:34:30,843 --> 00:34:33,176 Narrator: DRESCHER SITS SMUGLY THROUGH THE TRIAL, 798 00:34:33,176 --> 00:34:36,110 CONVINCED THAT, WITH NO HARD EVIDENCE AND NO BODY, 799 00:34:36,110 --> 00:34:38,676 THERE WILL BE NO CONVICTION. 800 00:34:38,676 --> 00:34:41,443 AND THEN, ON DECEMBER 5, 1986, 801 00:34:41,443 --> 00:34:43,876 THE VERDICT IS ANNOUNCED. 802 00:34:43,876 --> 00:34:45,376 Reporter: THE JURY FOUND THOMAS DRESCHER 803 00:34:45,376 --> 00:34:48,143 GUILTY IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF MURDERING CHARLES ST. DENIS. 804 00:34:48,143 --> 00:34:49,310 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 805 00:34:49,310 --> 00:34:50,476 Narrator: DRESCHER IS SENTENCED 806 00:34:50,476 --> 00:34:53,210 TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. 807 00:34:53,210 --> 00:34:55,110 I THINK THOMAS DRESCHER WAS PRETTY STARTLED. 808 00:34:55,110 --> 00:34:57,510 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] 809 00:34:57,510 --> 00:34:58,943 ** 810 00:34:58,943 --> 00:35:01,543 Narrator: REID, WHO HAS NOT YET GONE TO TRIAL, 811 00:35:01,543 --> 00:35:05,776 IS SPOOKED BY THE SWIFT, AND HARSH, OUTCOME. 812 00:35:05,776 --> 00:35:06,976 IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER THAT 813 00:35:06,976 --> 00:35:09,976 THAT DAN REID'S ATTORNEY OFFERED A DEAL: 814 00:35:09,976 --> 00:35:11,843 THAT HE WOULD PLEAD TO MANSLAUGHTER 815 00:35:11,843 --> 00:35:14,110 AND THAT HE WOULD SHOW THE INVESTIGATORS 816 00:35:14,110 --> 00:35:15,976 WHERE THE BODY WAS BURIED. 817 00:35:15,976 --> 00:35:17,910 Narrator: AND INVESTIGATORS LEARNED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, 818 00:35:17,910 --> 00:35:20,276 EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT CHARLES ST. DENIS 819 00:35:20,276 --> 00:35:23,143 LEFT HIS HOME MORE THAN THREE YEARS EARLIER 820 00:35:23,143 --> 00:35:24,310 AND NEVER RETURNED. 821 00:35:24,310 --> 00:35:25,810 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 822 00:35:25,810 --> 00:35:26,976 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] [ CLOCK TICKING ] 823 00:35:26,976 --> 00:35:28,110 [ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 824 00:35:28,110 --> 00:35:29,643 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 825 00:35:29,643 --> 00:35:31,543 [ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ] THAT NIGHT, 826 00:35:31,543 --> 00:35:34,876 AS ST. DENIS WAS WINDING DOWN AFTER HIS PLANTING PARTY, 827 00:35:34,876 --> 00:35:37,543 DAN REID AND THOMAS DRESCHER LAUNCHED THEIR PLAN 828 00:35:37,543 --> 00:35:39,310 TO LURE CHARLES TO A CABIN. 829 00:35:39,310 --> 00:35:41,376 [ RING ] 830 00:35:41,376 --> 00:35:44,010 Rader: CHARLES ST. DENIS GETS A CALL FROM DAN REID. 831 00:35:44,010 --> 00:35:45,943 [ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ] HE'S THINKING THAT THEY'RE GOING 832 00:35:45,943 --> 00:35:47,576 TO DO SOME COCAINE TOGETHER 833 00:35:47,576 --> 00:35:51,510 AND HE TELLS DEBORAH THAT HE HAS TO GO MEET DAN. 834 00:35:51,510 --> 00:35:53,243 ** 835 00:35:53,243 --> 00:35:56,176 CHARLES DRIVES UP TO MEET DAN. 836 00:35:56,176 --> 00:35:57,910 Doktorski: DAN WAS SITTING IN THE SHADOWS 837 00:35:57,910 --> 00:36:01,243 AND DRESCHER WAS BEHIND THE DOOR. 838 00:36:01,243 --> 00:36:03,843 AND ST. DENIS PULLS UP IN HIS JEEP. 839 00:36:03,843 --> 00:36:05,510 HE WALKS OUT. 840 00:36:05,510 --> 00:36:07,710 AND THEN DAN CONFRONTS HIM. 841 00:36:07,710 --> 00:36:09,810 ** 842 00:36:09,810 --> 00:36:13,543 Rader: DRESCHER SAYS, "STEP INSIDE. WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU." 843 00:36:13,543 --> 00:36:15,610 AT THAT POINT, CHARLES ST. DENIS 844 00:36:15,610 --> 00:36:17,943 TURNS TO RUN AWAY. 845 00:36:17,943 --> 00:36:19,443 Westfall: DRESCHER HAD A .22 PISTOL 846 00:36:19,443 --> 00:36:21,110 [ TWO GUNSHOTS ] AND SHOT HIM ABOUT 11 TIMES. 847 00:36:21,110 --> 00:36:24,976 [ THREE GUNSHOTS ] 848 00:36:24,976 --> 00:36:28,176 ST. DENIS WENT DOWN, BUT HE DIDN'T DIE. 849 00:36:28,176 --> 00:36:30,210 ST. DENIS IS SAYING, "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING, 850 00:36:30,210 --> 00:36:33,010 SHOOTING ME, YOU KNOW, BULLETS IN ME?" 851 00:36:33,010 --> 00:36:37,110 Rader: HE'S STILL TRYING TO GET BACK TO HIS TRUCK TO ESCAPE. 852 00:36:37,110 --> 00:36:42,010 THOMAS DRESCHER YELLS TO DAN REID, "GET ME A KNIFE!" 853 00:36:42,010 --> 00:36:43,943 DAN REID -- HE'S FREAKING OUT BY THIS POINT -- 854 00:36:43,943 --> 00:36:45,376 RUNS AND GETS HIM A KNIFE. 855 00:36:45,376 --> 00:36:48,810 ** 856 00:36:48,810 --> 00:36:51,110 THOMAS DRESCHER STABS CHARLES ST. DENIS 857 00:36:51,110 --> 00:36:54,376 MULTIPLE TIMES. 858 00:36:54,376 --> 00:36:57,743 THEY'RE KILLING THE GUY AND THEY'RE ORDERING HIM, 859 00:36:57,743 --> 00:36:58,843 "CHANT HARE KRISHNA." 860 00:36:58,843 --> 00:37:01,576 Choir: * HARE KRISHNA * 861 00:37:01,576 --> 00:37:04,443 - * HARE KRISHNA * - THEY DID ENOUGH TO KILL 10 MEN, 862 00:37:04,443 --> 00:37:06,976 BUT ST. DENIS WAS SOMEHOW STILL BREATHING. 863 00:37:06,976 --> 00:37:10,443 - ST. DENIS WOULD NOT DIE. - * HARE HARE * 864 00:37:10,443 --> 00:37:14,343 - THEY WRAP HIM IN PLASTIC. - * HARE RAMA * 865 00:37:14,343 --> 00:37:17,543 Narrator: THE MEN ARE CONVINCED THAT CHARLES IS FINALLY DEAD. 866 00:37:17,543 --> 00:37:20,776 BUT, JUST LIKE A CHARACTER IN A HORROR MOVIE... 867 00:37:20,776 --> 00:37:23,576 HE OPENED HIS EYES AND SAID, "DON'T PUT THAT OVER MY FACE. 868 00:37:23,576 --> 00:37:25,876 YOU'LL SMOTHER ME." [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 869 00:37:25,876 --> 00:37:30,410 Narrator: DRESCHER AND REID DRIVE ST. DENIS TO A NEARBY CREEK. 870 00:37:30,410 --> 00:37:33,410 WHEN DRESCHER AND REID BURIED ST. DENIS IN THE CREEK, 871 00:37:33,410 --> 00:37:34,776 HE WAS STILL BREATHING. 872 00:37:34,776 --> 00:37:39,276 THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS DROWNING, TECHNICALLY. 873 00:37:39,276 --> 00:37:42,643 Young: TOM DRESCHER BURIED THAT BODY UNDER A MOVING STREAM. 874 00:37:42,643 --> 00:37:44,776 THAT WILL CONFUSE DOGS. 875 00:37:44,776 --> 00:37:47,143 THAT WILL CONFUSE ANY KIND OF SEARCH PARTY. 876 00:37:47,143 --> 00:37:49,410 AFTER THEY BURY CHARLES ST. DENIS, 877 00:37:49,410 --> 00:37:50,943 THEY TAKE HIS TRUCK. 878 00:37:50,943 --> 00:37:53,643 THEY DRIVE TO BIG JOHN'S FARM. 879 00:37:53,643 --> 00:37:54,910 THEY PARK THE TRUCK THERE. 880 00:37:54,910 --> 00:37:57,576 Choir: * HARE HARE * 881 00:37:57,576 --> 00:38:01,376 I SAID, "NO ONE'S EVER GONNA FIND THAT GUY." 882 00:38:01,376 --> 00:38:03,710 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 883 00:38:03,710 --> 00:38:05,576 ST. DENIS WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN FOUND, 884 00:38:05,576 --> 00:38:08,610 IF DAN REID HADN'T HAVE GONE TO THE AUTHORITIES 885 00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:10,476 AND SHOWN THEM WHERE THE BODY WAS. 886 00:38:10,476 --> 00:38:12,110 [ EERIE MUSIC-BOX LULLABY PLAYS ] 887 00:38:12,110 --> 00:38:14,010 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS FINALLY HAVE THEIR ANSWER 888 00:38:14,010 --> 00:38:17,443 AS TO HOW CHARLES ST. DENIS WAS KILLED. 889 00:38:17,443 --> 00:38:19,443 BUT THERE'S STILL ONE MORE PERSON INVOLVED 890 00:38:19,443 --> 00:38:21,376 IN THE GRUESOME TALE, 891 00:38:21,376 --> 00:38:24,276 ONE WHO APPARENTLY AUTHORIZED THE MURDER: 892 00:38:24,276 --> 00:38:26,510 KIRTANANANDA SWAMI BHAKTIPADA. 893 00:38:26,510 --> 00:38:29,343 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 894 00:38:29,343 --> 00:38:31,910 Doktorski: REID IS SAYING, "I WANT TO KILL ST. DENIS." 895 00:38:31,910 --> 00:38:35,343 DRESCHER SAYS, "YOU GOTTA COME AND TALK TO KIRTANANANDA. 896 00:38:35,343 --> 00:38:37,843 HE'LL KNOW WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO." 897 00:38:37,843 --> 00:38:41,776 I FINALLY TALKED HIM INTO 898 00:38:41,776 --> 00:38:45,343 GOING TO SEE KIRTANANANDA. 899 00:38:45,343 --> 00:38:49,276 Narrator: AFTER MEETING WITH THE SWAMI, REID CONTACTS DRESCHER. 900 00:38:49,276 --> 00:38:50,710 I SAID, "HOW'D IT GO?" 901 00:38:50,710 --> 00:38:52,710 HE SAYS, "HE WANTS ME TO KILL HIM. 902 00:38:52,710 --> 00:38:56,110 HE SAID TO GET WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE THE JOB GOT DONE RIGHT. 903 00:38:56,110 --> 00:38:58,943 BECAUSE OF HIS OFFENSES, HE HAS TO DIE." 904 00:38:58,943 --> 00:39:00,843 [ SINISTER FLOURISH PLAYS ] 905 00:39:00,843 --> 00:39:02,743 DAN REID IS SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS 906 00:39:02,743 --> 00:39:04,543 [ EERIE LULLABY CONTINUES ] FOR VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER 907 00:39:04,543 --> 00:39:08,010 AS AN ACCOMPLICE IN THE KILLING OF CHARLES ST. DENIS. 908 00:39:08,010 --> 00:39:09,276 BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE UNABLE 909 00:39:09,276 --> 00:39:12,510 TO PIN ANY RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE SWAMI. 910 00:39:12,510 --> 00:39:16,876 IN CALIFORNIA, THOMAS DRESCHER FACES YET ANOTHER TRIAL. 911 00:39:16,876 --> 00:39:19,110 HE STILL HAD TO FACE THE TRIAL 912 00:39:19,110 --> 00:39:21,943 FOR THE MURDER OF STEVEN BRYANT IN CALIFORNIA, 913 00:39:21,943 --> 00:39:24,210 WHICH, HE WAS LATER BROUGHT OUT OF PRISON 914 00:39:24,210 --> 00:39:26,110 AND TAKEN TO CALIFORNIA. 915 00:39:26,110 --> 00:39:27,710 Narrator: DRESCHER IS FOUND GUILTY 916 00:39:27,710 --> 00:39:30,143 AND RECEIVES A SECOND LIFE SENTENCE. 917 00:39:30,143 --> 00:39:32,676 AND, WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, HE FINALLY REVEALS THAT 918 00:39:32,676 --> 00:39:36,876 THE SWAMI HAD HIS OWN REASONS FOR WANTING ST. DENIS DEAD. 919 00:39:36,876 --> 00:39:39,643 Drescher: ST. DENIS WAS TELLING PEOPLE 920 00:39:39,643 --> 00:39:43,376 KIRTANANANDA WAS HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS 921 00:39:43,376 --> 00:39:45,910 WITH SOME OF THE MEXICAN WORKER BOYS. 922 00:39:45,910 --> 00:39:48,810 IT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS TRUTH TO THESE ALLEGATIONS 923 00:39:48,810 --> 00:39:50,443 THAT HE HAD TO BE SILENCED. 924 00:39:50,443 --> 00:39:51,810 [ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] WHATEVER I DID, 925 00:39:51,810 --> 00:39:56,910 I DID OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY TO MY SPIRITUAL MASTER. 926 00:39:56,910 --> 00:40:01,110 Rader: DRESCHER REALIZES THAT HE'S BEEN USED BY KIRTANANANDA. 927 00:40:01,110 --> 00:40:04,310 HE TELLS POLICE THAT KIRTANANANDA SANCTIONED 928 00:40:04,310 --> 00:40:07,276 BOTH OF THESE MURDERS AND HE IS VERY ADAMANT 929 00:40:07,276 --> 00:40:10,243 THAT HE WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT 930 00:40:10,243 --> 00:40:13,143 WITHOUT KIRTANANANDA'S DIRECT PERMISSION. 931 00:40:13,143 --> 00:40:16,343 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WORK DILIGENTLY TO PUT THE SWAMI BEHIND BARS 932 00:40:16,343 --> 00:40:19,776 FOR THE MURDERS OF ST. DENIS AND STEVE BRYANT. 933 00:40:19,776 --> 00:40:23,710 IN MAY OF 1990, KIRTANANANDA IS INDICTED FOR MAIL FRAUD, 934 00:40:23,710 --> 00:40:27,476 RACKETEERING, AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER. 935 00:40:27,476 --> 00:40:31,310 DRESCHER TESTIFIES AGAINST KIRTANANANDA. 936 00:40:31,310 --> 00:40:34,876 Narrator: THROUGHOUT IT ALL, THE HEAD GURU MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE. 937 00:40:34,876 --> 00:40:38,376 THEY SAID THAT I CONSPIRED. 938 00:40:38,376 --> 00:40:40,510 [scoff] I DON'T SEE THAT. 939 00:40:40,510 --> 00:40:42,743 ** 940 00:40:42,743 --> 00:40:43,910 [ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ] [ CLOCK TICKING ] 941 00:40:43,910 --> 00:40:45,043 [ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ] 942 00:40:45,043 --> 00:40:47,043 [ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ] 943 00:40:47,043 --> 00:40:50,276 Reporter: SWAMI BHAKTIPADA WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN JAIL. 944 00:40:50,276 --> 00:40:53,510 BHAKTIPADA WAS CONVICTED ON NUMEROUS COUNTS. 945 00:40:53,510 --> 00:40:56,443 Narrator: THE SWAMI'S CONVICTIONS ARE OVERTURNED ON APPEAL, 946 00:40:56,443 --> 00:40:57,776 BUT DURING A RETRIAL, 947 00:40:57,776 --> 00:41:00,976 HE PLEADS GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF RACKETEERING 948 00:41:00,976 --> 00:41:03,276 AND GOES TO PRISON. 949 00:41:03,276 --> 00:41:04,510 ALL THREE MEN CONNECTED 950 00:41:04,510 --> 00:41:06,710 TO CHARLES ST. DENIS'S BRUTAL MURDER 951 00:41:06,710 --> 00:41:09,810 FOUND THEMSELVES BEHIND BARS. 952 00:41:09,810 --> 00:41:13,210 I COULD NOT HELP BUT THINK THAT DEBORAH WAS PROVED TO BE RIGHT. 953 00:41:13,210 --> 00:41:14,410 SHE WAS VINDICATED. 954 00:41:14,410 --> 00:41:15,876 [ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ] 955 00:41:15,876 --> 00:41:18,676 Westfall: THE ST. DENIS CASE WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END 956 00:41:18,676 --> 00:41:21,843 OF THE REGIME OF SWAMI BHAKTIPADA 957 00:41:21,843 --> 00:41:23,643 AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF HIS INFLUENCE 958 00:41:23,643 --> 00:41:26,810 WITHIN THE KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT. 959 00:41:26,810 --> 00:41:28,143 Narrator: DURING THE 1980s, 960 00:41:28,143 --> 00:41:30,510 NEW VRINDABAN WAS AS MUCH A CRIME SCENE 961 00:41:30,510 --> 00:41:33,276 AS A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT. 962 00:41:33,276 --> 00:41:36,243 IN 1987, NEW VRINDABAN WAS REMOVED 963 00:41:36,243 --> 00:41:40,243 FROM THE SANCTIONED LIST OF KRISHNA TEMPLES AND COMMUNITIES. 964 00:41:40,243 --> 00:41:43,410 IT REGAINED ITS STATUS IN 1998. 965 00:41:43,410 --> 00:41:45,710 IN MANY WAYS, THE HARE KRISHNA COMMUNITY 966 00:41:45,710 --> 00:41:48,843 IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN THE '80s. 967 00:41:48,843 --> 00:41:52,110 THE TWO MURDERS OF ST. DENIS AND STEVE BRYANT 968 00:41:52,110 --> 00:41:53,776 TURNED THE TIDE 969 00:41:53,776 --> 00:41:57,510 REGARDING THE CORRUPTION AND IMMORAL ACTIVITIES 970 00:41:57,510 --> 00:42:00,276 AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AT NEW VRINDABAN. 971 00:42:00,276 --> 00:42:02,176 THE ST. DENIS MURDER MAY HAVE BEEN 972 00:42:02,176 --> 00:42:04,176 MORE IMPORTANT, IN THE LONG RUN, 973 00:42:04,176 --> 00:42:07,976 BECAUSE, AFTER TOM DRESCHER WAS PUT IN JAIL, 974 00:42:07,976 --> 00:42:11,410 THE DEVOTEES AT NEW VRINDABAN BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT 975 00:42:11,410 --> 00:42:15,476 MAYBE GOOD DOES TRIUMPH OVER EVIL. 976 00:42:15,476 --> 00:42:19,276 Rader: OBVIOUSLY, WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW VRINDABAN IS A TRAGEDY. 977 00:42:19,276 --> 00:42:22,843 CHARLES ST. DENIS WAS AN AMAZING PERSON, IN HIS OWN WAY, 978 00:42:22,843 --> 00:42:25,443 AND, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WOULD HAVE SETTLED DOWN, 979 00:42:25,443 --> 00:42:29,776 LIKE MOST OTHER PEOPLE WHO GOT INTO DRUGS AND HAD A WILD TIME. 980 00:42:29,776 --> 00:42:31,743 I JUST SEE SO MUCH LOST POTENTIAL.