1 00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:14,413 - I'm craig melvin 2 00:00:14,415 --> 00:00:16,749 And this is "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 3 00:00:18,152 --> 00:00:19,752 - She was brave. 4 00:00:19,754 --> 00:00:22,287 She was incredibly brave. 5 00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:24,122 Why didn't I know that she needed me 6 00:00:24,124 --> 00:00:26,959 And that she was alone and that she was hurt? 7 00:00:26,961 --> 00:00:30,963 Nothing was the same after that, nothing. 8 00:00:30,965 --> 00:00:33,698 - They found her at the soccer field. 9 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,935 The straight arrow student killed by a single bullet. 10 00:00:36,937 --> 00:00:39,104 - I just hit the floor. - I remember the pain. 11 00:00:39,106 --> 00:00:40,272 Every time I talk about it, 12 00:00:40,274 --> 00:00:42,541 The pain comes, like, rushing back. 13 00:00:42,543 --> 00:00:45,610 - That someone would shoot my child... 14 00:00:45,612 --> 00:00:46,645 Like, why? 15 00:00:46,647 --> 00:00:48,580 - This was a small town whodunnit. 16 00:00:48,582 --> 00:00:50,049 - Oh, yeah, we were afraid. 17 00:00:50,051 --> 00:00:52,651 - What had happened that night? 18 00:00:52,653 --> 00:00:55,921 Was the answer somewhere in her circle of friends? 19 00:00:55,923 --> 00:00:58,323 - We're trying to find out why. 20 00:00:58,325 --> 00:01:00,025 - I would never hurt halee. 21 00:01:00,027 --> 00:01:01,626 - They came and talked to me. 22 00:01:01,628 --> 00:01:03,228 It was four fbi agents. 23 00:01:03,230 --> 00:01:05,530 - He's there, he's got a gun. 24 00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:07,799 How could it have not been him? 25 00:01:07,801 --> 00:01:10,869 - Then a secret spills out in court. 26 00:01:10,871 --> 00:01:12,804 - That's a bombshell. - That definitely was. 27 00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:14,806 I feel like I had gotten my heart ripped out. 28 00:01:14,808 --> 00:01:18,477 - For that mother to get on that stand, 29 00:01:18,479 --> 00:01:20,579 It was absolute silence. 30 00:01:28,589 --> 00:01:32,290 - Hello, and welcome to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 31 00:01:32,292 --> 00:01:35,294 Smart, beautiful, and kind. 32 00:01:35,296 --> 00:01:39,764 To her parents, halee rathgeber was the perfect daughter. 33 00:01:39,766 --> 00:01:43,168 She made siblings and friends feel safe. 34 00:01:43,170 --> 00:01:45,904 But no one was able to protect halee 35 00:01:45,906 --> 00:01:48,206 The horrific night she was shot dead. 36 00:01:48,208 --> 00:01:53,578 Her killer confided in the one person he trusted most. 37 00:01:53,580 --> 00:01:56,782 But sometimes, a secret is a burden 38 00:01:56,784 --> 00:01:58,984 Too heavy to bear. 39 00:01:58,986 --> 00:02:02,387 Here's andrea canning with "on the outskirts of town." 40 00:02:02,389 --> 00:02:11,997 ♪♪ 41 00:02:11,999 --> 00:02:14,399 - I'm miles from my family in new york, 42 00:02:14,401 --> 00:02:15,934 But I'm driving, oddly enough, 43 00:02:15,936 --> 00:02:18,136 Through a place that feels like home. 44 00:02:18,138 --> 00:02:21,006 Quaint downtown. 45 00:02:21,008 --> 00:02:23,308 Kinda place you feel safe. 46 00:02:23,310 --> 00:02:26,145 This is newburgh in southwest indiana. 47 00:02:26,147 --> 00:02:28,914 You can see the early days of the midwest 48 00:02:28,916 --> 00:02:30,649 In these historic buildings. 49 00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:32,884 Open farmland everywhere. 50 00:02:32,886 --> 00:02:34,653 Hometown usa. 51 00:02:34,655 --> 00:02:37,089 A place for putting down roots. 52 00:02:37,091 --> 00:02:40,292 - Turn left onto county road 475 west, 53 00:02:40,294 --> 00:02:42,360 Then your destination will be on the left. 54 00:02:42,362 --> 00:02:45,597 - And there it is, what I've been looking for. 55 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:48,166 A gravel lot by a soccer field. 56 00:02:48,168 --> 00:02:52,838 A spot to play sports, to hang with friends. 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,708 Not a place for a young woman to die. 58 00:02:56,710 --> 00:02:58,844 It's jarring to think that when a life ends, 59 00:02:58,846 --> 00:03:00,378 So much begins. 60 00:03:00,380 --> 00:03:04,015 A family's grief, a community's shock, 61 00:03:04,017 --> 00:03:05,650 And in this case, 62 00:03:05,652 --> 00:03:07,252 Right here where I'm standing, 63 00:03:07,254 --> 00:03:08,987 A murder investigation. 64 00:03:12,059 --> 00:03:13,391 Heather collins has always been 65 00:03:13,393 --> 00:03:15,527 Proud of her three girls. 66 00:03:15,529 --> 00:03:18,330 Especially her oldest daughter, halee, 67 00:03:18,332 --> 00:03:20,031 Who even at a young age, 68 00:03:20,033 --> 00:03:22,434 Was eager to lend a helping hand. 69 00:03:22,436 --> 00:03:24,836 - There's, you know, so many pictures of her 70 00:03:24,838 --> 00:03:26,204 Holding the baby sister, 71 00:03:26,206 --> 00:03:29,674 You know, and just taking care of them, yeah. 72 00:03:29,676 --> 00:03:30,942 She's always leading the way. 73 00:03:30,944 --> 00:03:33,145 - My kids, they, you know, they wanted to feed the bottle 74 00:03:33,147 --> 00:03:35,480 And, "can I change the diaper?" 75 00:03:35,482 --> 00:03:37,549 - She was the best diaper changer ever. 76 00:03:37,551 --> 00:03:38,750 - A mother's helper, 77 00:03:38,752 --> 00:03:41,253 And sister, emily's best friend. 78 00:03:41,255 --> 00:03:43,955 With halee, she says, she felt safe. 79 00:03:43,957 --> 00:03:46,358 - She was always definitely a-- 80 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,760 What you picture an older sister being like. 81 00:03:48,762 --> 00:03:52,030 The big, protective, don't mess with my sisters 82 00:03:52,032 --> 00:03:54,299 Or I'll come at you type sister. 83 00:03:54,301 --> 00:03:57,235 - That protective streak continued all through school, 84 00:03:57,237 --> 00:03:59,271 Even extended to friends. 85 00:03:59,273 --> 00:04:01,707 Carley sollars and ansley bowles. 86 00:04:01,709 --> 00:04:04,242 - She kind of just acted like everyone's mom 87 00:04:04,244 --> 00:04:05,444 Because she was so caring. 88 00:04:05,446 --> 00:04:07,712 - She was tall, and everybody, 89 00:04:07,714 --> 00:04:09,681 All of our friends were so short. 90 00:04:09,683 --> 00:04:11,416 And so, it was always, like, she stuck out. 91 00:04:11,418 --> 00:04:12,651 And she didn't care that she was tall. 92 00:04:12,653 --> 00:04:14,719 She wore heels and wedges and whatever. 93 00:04:14,721 --> 00:04:17,255 And so, we would go places and she would just, like, 94 00:04:17,257 --> 00:04:18,490 Tower over all of us, 95 00:04:18,492 --> 00:04:20,125 Which made the mom thing even more funny, 96 00:04:20,127 --> 00:04:21,059 'cause she would, like, huddle over us. 97 00:04:21,061 --> 00:04:23,695 - Mom and all her kids. - Yeah. 98 00:04:23,697 --> 00:04:24,663 And so people always, like, 99 00:04:24,665 --> 00:04:26,398 She was the first one that they noticed. 100 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,267 - The world was kind of like her catwalk? 101 00:04:28,269 --> 00:04:30,368 - Yeah. - Yeah, pretty much. 102 00:04:30,370 --> 00:04:33,338 - Beautiful girl? - Yeah. 103 00:04:33,340 --> 00:04:35,573 I love when I get told that I look like her. 104 00:04:35,575 --> 00:04:36,675 It makes me really happy. - Aw. 105 00:04:36,677 --> 00:04:37,742 That's really sweet. 106 00:04:37,744 --> 00:04:39,411 [laughing] 107 00:04:39,413 --> 00:04:42,414 - But halee's beauty was more than skin deep. 108 00:04:42,416 --> 00:04:44,649 Tattoos, like this one on her back, 109 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:47,085 Testify to her strong faith. 110 00:04:47,087 --> 00:04:49,354 - I said prayers to the girls every night. 111 00:04:49,356 --> 00:04:51,690 - Tharon rathgeber is halee's dad. 112 00:04:51,692 --> 00:04:53,425 - And at the end of our prayer, 113 00:04:53,427 --> 00:04:54,893 The most important line was, 114 00:04:54,895 --> 00:04:57,195 "and those that are less fortunate than we are." 115 00:04:57,197 --> 00:05:00,432 And I think she really grasped that. 116 00:05:01,335 --> 00:05:05,470 - And drew strength from it, especially in difficult times. 117 00:05:05,472 --> 00:05:06,972 One night in particular 118 00:05:06,974 --> 00:05:10,041 Was a defining moment for young halee. 119 00:05:10,043 --> 00:05:11,476 She was just 12 when she went 120 00:05:11,478 --> 00:05:13,912 To a friend's house for a sleepover. 121 00:05:13,914 --> 00:05:17,315 - That night, the brother of the girl 122 00:05:17,317 --> 00:05:19,784 That my daughter was staying with had a friend stay over, 123 00:05:19,786 --> 00:05:22,854 And he was 19, my daughter was 12. 124 00:05:22,856 --> 00:05:24,923 And, um, he tried to molest her. 125 00:05:24,925 --> 00:05:28,593 - At first, halee said nothing to her parents. 126 00:05:28,595 --> 00:05:30,595 But when she learned that the man 127 00:05:30,597 --> 00:05:32,330 Had preyed on other girls, 128 00:05:32,332 --> 00:05:35,266 Her instinct to help led her to act 129 00:05:35,268 --> 00:05:38,336 In a way few her age would have the courage to. 130 00:05:38,338 --> 00:05:40,739 - She testified and sent him to prison. 131 00:05:40,741 --> 00:05:41,906 And after that, 132 00:05:41,908 --> 00:05:43,742 I think that's when people realized 133 00:05:43,744 --> 00:05:45,643 They could always go to halee, 134 00:05:45,645 --> 00:05:47,145 That she would fix anything 135 00:05:47,147 --> 00:05:49,681 'cause she would stand up for the weak. 136 00:05:49,683 --> 00:05:51,683 The less fortunate. 137 00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:53,218 - It was no surprise, then, 138 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:55,287 When halee announced she wanted to continue 139 00:05:55,289 --> 00:05:58,090 Helping others as a nurse. 140 00:05:58,092 --> 00:05:59,357 After high school, she enrolled at 141 00:05:59,359 --> 00:06:02,227 Nearby university of southern indiana. 142 00:06:02,229 --> 00:06:03,094 I hear that the girl 143 00:06:03,096 --> 00:06:04,996 Was constantly buried in a book. 144 00:06:04,998 --> 00:06:06,498 - She worked really hard. 145 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,100 - Where does that come from? - I don't know. 146 00:06:08,102 --> 00:06:09,134 - To just want to study all the time? 147 00:06:09,136 --> 00:06:10,769 - 'cause I don't have it. [laughing] 148 00:06:10,771 --> 00:06:13,037 She had so much drive and, like, ambition 149 00:06:13,039 --> 00:06:13,938 And she knew what she wanted 150 00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:15,173 And she was gonna get it. 151 00:06:15,175 --> 00:06:16,908 - When she wasn't hitting the books, 152 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:19,577 She was waiting tables at the texas roadhouse. 153 00:06:19,579 --> 00:06:22,113 That's where she met and started dating 154 00:06:22,115 --> 00:06:25,717 Isaiah hagan, a shy fellow waiter. 155 00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:27,118 - He seemed really nice to me 156 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,521 And he seemed to let halee 157 00:06:29,523 --> 00:06:31,790 Do her own thing, which I liked. 158 00:06:31,792 --> 00:06:33,858 - How did you feel when you saw them together? 159 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:35,126 Did they seem like a good match? 160 00:06:35,128 --> 00:06:37,262 - Yeah, I mean... 161 00:06:37,264 --> 00:06:39,931 They weren't lovey dovey at all, 162 00:06:39,933 --> 00:06:42,100 Which I prefer, to be honest. 163 00:06:42,102 --> 00:06:43,869 He joked with us. 164 00:06:43,871 --> 00:06:46,137 Um, he actually took an interest 165 00:06:46,139 --> 00:06:48,139 In talking to us, 166 00:06:48,141 --> 00:06:51,009 Which is more than I can say for a lot of guys. 167 00:06:51,011 --> 00:06:53,711 - The romance didn't last long, 168 00:06:53,713 --> 00:06:56,214 Though the two remained good friends. 169 00:06:56,216 --> 00:06:58,883 Besides, 20-year-old halee was laser focused 170 00:06:58,885 --> 00:07:00,418 On her schoolwork. 171 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:04,156 On a Sunday in late April, 2017, she was home, 172 00:07:04,158 --> 00:07:06,524 Studying for a big exam the next day. 173 00:07:06,526 --> 00:07:09,361 Just hours later, the sun was rising, 174 00:07:09,363 --> 00:07:12,564 And halee's mom, heather, was starting her morning. 175 00:07:12,566 --> 00:07:13,632 - I was reading facebook, 176 00:07:13,634 --> 00:07:16,301 Having coffee on a Monday morning, 177 00:07:16,303 --> 00:07:17,735 Just sitting on my porch, 178 00:07:17,737 --> 00:07:20,939 And, um, I scroll across a news article. 179 00:07:20,941 --> 00:07:22,307 - It was shocking. 180 00:07:22,309 --> 00:07:25,644 Police had found a body in a soccer field near newburgh. 181 00:07:25,646 --> 00:07:28,279 - It says it's a young female. 182 00:07:28,281 --> 00:07:30,582 So I immediately start looking for the younger two, 183 00:07:30,584 --> 00:07:32,517 Because they're in high school in newburgh. 184 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:33,585 - You just wanna make sure. - Yeah. 185 00:07:33,587 --> 00:07:35,119 - You just wanna find your kids. - Just as a mom, 186 00:07:35,121 --> 00:07:36,455 I just wanna make sure everybody's safe. 187 00:07:36,457 --> 00:07:38,256 - Yeah, I just wanna find my kids. 188 00:07:38,258 --> 00:07:40,058 - Heather found her two youngest. 189 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:41,526 They were okay. 190 00:07:41,528 --> 00:07:44,062 But halee wasn't answering her phone. 191 00:07:44,064 --> 00:07:45,864 And friends told heather she didn't show up 192 00:07:45,866 --> 00:07:48,600 To take her exam at the university. 193 00:07:48,602 --> 00:07:50,068 - It's not like her to miss class. 194 00:07:50,070 --> 00:07:53,771 Um, not like her to have her phone turned off. 195 00:07:53,773 --> 00:07:57,242 - Not like halee rathgeber to go missing. 196 00:08:00,413 --> 00:08:02,214 - What happened to halee? 197 00:08:02,216 --> 00:08:04,883 As each excruciating minute ticks by, 198 00:08:04,885 --> 00:08:08,587 Her family grows more desperate for answers. 199 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:11,289 - Are you getting a sick feeling? 200 00:08:11,291 --> 00:08:12,624 - Oh, I was sick all morning. 201 00:08:12,626 --> 00:08:14,759 It was so much anxiety. 202 00:08:14,761 --> 00:08:16,561 - I just started screaming her name. 203 00:08:16,563 --> 00:08:19,931 Like, my stomach had dropped and I was like, oh, my god. 204 00:08:19,933 --> 00:08:21,967 Where's halee? Where could she be? 205 00:08:21,969 --> 00:08:25,437 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 206 00:08:28,708 --> 00:08:34,512 ♪♪ 207 00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:37,983 - Heather collins couldn't get the news out of her mind. 208 00:08:37,985 --> 00:08:41,319 That morning, April 24th, 2017, 209 00:08:41,321 --> 00:08:43,521 Local police found the body of a young, 210 00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:46,724 Unidentified woman at a nearby soccer field. 211 00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:47,592 - You know, immediately, I'm worried about 212 00:08:47,594 --> 00:08:49,594 Whose child this is. 213 00:08:49,596 --> 00:08:51,463 - It certainly wasn't hers. 214 00:08:51,465 --> 00:08:54,232 At least, that's what heather told herself. 215 00:08:54,234 --> 00:08:56,668 And yet, she was worried. 216 00:08:56,670 --> 00:08:59,604 She couldn't reach her eldest, halee, by phone. 217 00:08:59,606 --> 00:09:01,839 - I called her friend, ansley, and said, 218 00:09:01,841 --> 00:09:04,742 You know, "hey, have you heard from halee?" 219 00:09:04,744 --> 00:09:06,744 - She's like, "I know you have her apartment key. 220 00:09:06,746 --> 00:09:09,280 "can you drive over there and see what she's doing?" 221 00:09:09,282 --> 00:09:11,716 - When ansley did, she saw halee's car 222 00:09:11,718 --> 00:09:13,551 Parked outside the apartment, 223 00:09:13,553 --> 00:09:16,387 Meaning halee must be inside. 224 00:09:16,389 --> 00:09:18,823 Ansley put the key in the front door. 225 00:09:18,825 --> 00:09:21,092 - I swung open the door, I was like, "halee!" 226 00:09:21,094 --> 00:09:22,627 And I just started screaming her name. 227 00:09:22,629 --> 00:09:24,929 Like, my stomach had dropped and I was like, 228 00:09:24,931 --> 00:09:26,431 "oh, my god," I was like, "where is halee?" 229 00:09:26,433 --> 00:09:28,700 I was like, "where could she be?" 230 00:09:28,702 --> 00:09:31,202 - Around the same time, halee's sister, emily, 231 00:09:31,204 --> 00:09:33,071 Was driving to work with a friend. 232 00:09:33,073 --> 00:09:36,407 Suddenly, a sense of doom washed over her. 233 00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:38,710 - I'm freaking out, something's wrong. 234 00:09:38,712 --> 00:09:40,011 - Just like, out of the blue, 235 00:09:40,013 --> 00:09:41,112 This feeling came? - Yeah, just out of the blue. 236 00:09:41,114 --> 00:09:42,680 Like, we were driving and all of a sudden, 237 00:09:42,682 --> 00:09:44,248 I was just like, "you gotta turn around. 238 00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:45,783 I gotta find my sister, something's wrong. 239 00:09:45,785 --> 00:09:47,719 Like, I don't know what's wrong, but something's wrong." 240 00:09:47,721 --> 00:09:51,389 - Emily posted a picture of halee on instagram. 241 00:09:51,391 --> 00:09:54,959 "if anyone hears from my sister, please contact me." 242 00:09:54,961 --> 00:09:57,061 Friends responded, telling her that police 243 00:09:57,063 --> 00:09:58,730 Were trying to identify a woman 244 00:09:58,732 --> 00:10:00,698 Found dead that morning. 245 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:04,435 - And that's when people started sending me that article. 246 00:10:04,437 --> 00:10:05,737 - Oh, gosh. 247 00:10:05,739 --> 00:10:07,472 - At the time, I was just like, "no, like, 248 00:10:07,474 --> 00:10:08,206 I get you're trying to be helpful. 249 00:10:08,208 --> 00:10:10,475 Like, but that's not her." 250 00:10:10,477 --> 00:10:11,943 Like, and it wasn't even like I felt like 251 00:10:11,945 --> 00:10:13,244 I was in any denial. 252 00:10:13,246 --> 00:10:16,615 I just 100% knew that that was definitely not my sister. 253 00:10:18,485 --> 00:10:20,985 - Meanwhile, warrick county sheriff's detective 254 00:10:20,987 --> 00:10:23,521 Paul kruse was just pulling up to the soccer field 255 00:10:23,523 --> 00:10:25,690 To begin his investigation. 256 00:10:25,692 --> 00:10:28,493 Officers had already roped off the scene. 257 00:10:28,495 --> 00:10:30,495 When you pull up, what do you see here? 258 00:10:30,497 --> 00:10:32,997 - There's a body, um, we've got a body laying here 259 00:10:32,999 --> 00:10:35,633 With a terrible wound to the head. 260 00:10:35,635 --> 00:10:37,368 - This is a very desolate area. 261 00:10:37,370 --> 00:10:38,903 I mean, I'm sure when people are playing soccer, 262 00:10:38,905 --> 00:10:40,371 It's active, but... - Sure. 263 00:10:40,373 --> 00:10:41,172 - In the middle of the night, 264 00:10:41,174 --> 00:10:42,707 There's nothing around here. 265 00:10:42,709 --> 00:10:44,242 - This place is just pitch black 266 00:10:44,244 --> 00:10:46,077 In the middle of the night. 267 00:10:46,079 --> 00:10:48,913 The nearest neighbor's probably a half a mile 268 00:10:48,915 --> 00:10:50,448 In a straight line away, 269 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:52,984 Separated by trees and fields. 270 00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:55,186 - Even at a glance, the detective could tell, 271 00:10:55,188 --> 00:10:59,323 The woman had been murdered, left to die in agony. 272 00:10:59,325 --> 00:11:01,793 The coroner would later cite the cause of death 273 00:11:01,795 --> 00:11:03,861 As a gunshot wound. 274 00:11:03,863 --> 00:11:04,896 - What did it tell you 275 00:11:04,898 --> 00:11:06,798 That she was shot in the back of the head? 276 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,266 - Tells us that she knew 277 00:11:08,268 --> 00:11:11,202 And trusted the person she was with. 278 00:11:11,204 --> 00:11:13,671 - Could you get a sense of her last moments? 279 00:11:13,673 --> 00:11:15,540 - Unfortunately, the evidence here at the scene showed, 280 00:11:15,542 --> 00:11:20,011 Um, that she had lived for a while 281 00:11:20,013 --> 00:11:21,880 After being shot. 282 00:11:21,882 --> 00:11:23,481 - You could see it in the gravel? 283 00:11:23,483 --> 00:11:25,583 - You could, it almost looked like a snow angel 284 00:11:25,585 --> 00:11:27,886 Where one of her legs had-had rubbed back and forth 285 00:11:27,888 --> 00:11:29,954 And rubbed a bare spot in the gravel. 286 00:11:29,956 --> 00:11:31,489 - And this was odd. 287 00:11:31,491 --> 00:11:34,559 Next to the woman lay a blue towel. 288 00:11:34,561 --> 00:11:35,626 Other than that, 289 00:11:35,628 --> 00:11:37,896 There was little to this crime scene. 290 00:11:37,898 --> 00:11:39,897 - Did you find a weapon? Did you find a bullet? 291 00:11:39,899 --> 00:11:42,967 A casing? Anything that might help you? 292 00:11:42,969 --> 00:11:45,336 - No, we had detectives actually assigned, uh, 293 00:11:45,338 --> 00:11:47,038 To get on their hands and knees with scissors 294 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,075 And cut the grass away looking for a shell casing 295 00:11:51,077 --> 00:11:52,376 Or bullet or anything. - Wow. 296 00:11:52,378 --> 00:11:55,113 - We didn't know who she was, there was no identification, 297 00:11:55,115 --> 00:11:57,048 No phone, no-- 298 00:11:57,050 --> 00:11:58,316 Nothing laying with her at that time 299 00:11:58,318 --> 00:12:00,318 To help us identify her. 300 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,255 - But that mystery would be solved soon enough. 301 00:12:04,257 --> 00:12:08,025 Heather, by now in a panic, called an old friend for help. 302 00:12:08,027 --> 00:12:10,595 - I contacted... 303 00:12:10,597 --> 00:12:12,997 A detective I knew from vanderburgh county and-- 304 00:12:12,999 --> 00:12:14,132 - I mean, I'm getting chills right now. 305 00:12:14,134 --> 00:12:15,400 Are you getting a sick feeling? 306 00:12:15,402 --> 00:12:16,735 - Oh, I was sick all morning. 307 00:12:16,737 --> 00:12:18,669 It was so much anxiety 308 00:12:18,671 --> 00:12:20,605 And I didn't know what to do 309 00:12:20,607 --> 00:12:22,874 And I just kept thinking I'm wrong. 310 00:12:22,876 --> 00:12:25,943 - She gave the detective halee's full name and description 311 00:12:25,945 --> 00:12:27,679 And he forwarded the information 312 00:12:27,681 --> 00:12:29,814 To the warrick county sheriff's office. 313 00:12:29,816 --> 00:12:33,618 Investigators there immediately checked facebook 314 00:12:33,620 --> 00:12:36,287 Where they found halee's profile and picture. 315 00:12:36,289 --> 00:12:39,023 - And there was a tattoo visible on facebook that matched, 316 00:12:39,025 --> 00:12:41,959 So we were pretty certain at that point 317 00:12:41,961 --> 00:12:43,962 Who our victim was. 318 00:12:43,964 --> 00:12:46,497 - Warrick investigators called heather collins 319 00:12:46,499 --> 00:12:49,000 And asked to speak with her in person. 320 00:12:49,002 --> 00:12:52,470 She walked into the meeting dreading what they might say. 321 00:12:52,472 --> 00:12:54,372 - They said, you know, there's a body found 322 00:12:54,374 --> 00:12:56,040 And-and, um, you know, 323 00:12:56,042 --> 00:12:57,809 We've identified her as halee. 324 00:12:57,811 --> 00:13:01,646 - In an instant, your whole world is shattered. 325 00:13:01,648 --> 00:13:06,250 - Nothing was the same after that, nothing. 326 00:13:06,252 --> 00:13:07,919 - Every time I talked about it, it-- 327 00:13:07,921 --> 00:13:10,388 Just the pain comes, like, rushing back. 328 00:13:10,390 --> 00:13:15,293 Like, how awful, and I've never felt so awful. 329 00:13:15,295 --> 00:13:16,861 Like, I just remember just-- 330 00:13:16,863 --> 00:13:18,663 I didn't wanna exist anymore. 331 00:13:18,665 --> 00:13:21,065 - The family was horrified to learn that halee, 332 00:13:21,067 --> 00:13:23,868 Just 20 years old, had been murdered 333 00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:26,270 With a shot to the back of the head. 334 00:13:26,272 --> 00:13:28,339 - That was the most shocking part. 335 00:13:28,341 --> 00:13:30,608 Never in a million years would I have thought 336 00:13:30,610 --> 00:13:33,978 That someone would shoot my child. 337 00:13:33,980 --> 00:13:35,680 Like, why? 338 00:13:35,682 --> 00:13:38,817 - As you're processing the most horrific news 339 00:13:38,819 --> 00:13:41,219 You've ever had in your life, 340 00:13:41,221 --> 00:13:43,221 That your daughter is gone, 341 00:13:43,223 --> 00:13:46,123 Do you immediately ask these detectives 342 00:13:46,125 --> 00:13:48,226 Who did this? 343 00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:50,294 - They asked me. - Oh, they asked you? 344 00:13:50,296 --> 00:13:52,964 - "who do you think?" you know? 345 00:13:52,966 --> 00:13:55,767 - One name sprang to mind immediately. 346 00:13:55,769 --> 00:13:57,568 Heather blurted it out. 347 00:13:57,570 --> 00:13:59,370 - Their eyes just-- 348 00:13:59,372 --> 00:14:01,572 They couldn't believe what they were hearing. 349 00:14:01,574 --> 00:14:05,109 - Detectives knew that name from another case, 350 00:14:05,111 --> 00:14:07,845 One involving an unthinkable death. 351 00:14:07,847 --> 00:14:09,780 Halee knew the name, too. 352 00:14:09,782 --> 00:14:14,285 And it was someone she suspected was hiding a secret. 353 00:14:14,287 --> 00:14:15,787 - Coming up... 354 00:14:15,789 --> 00:14:17,655 - She had said, "what if they wanna talk to me?" 355 00:14:17,657 --> 00:14:19,223 Like, you talk. 356 00:14:19,225 --> 00:14:21,492 - Had someone wanted to keep her quiet? 357 00:14:21,494 --> 00:14:23,728 - Haley could be poking a hornet's nest. 358 00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:25,363 She starts making accusations. 359 00:14:25,365 --> 00:14:26,998 - She absolutely could have. 360 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,734 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 361 00:14:38,410 --> 00:14:39,276 - Welcome back. 362 00:14:39,278 --> 00:14:41,479 It was a horrendous crime. 363 00:14:41,481 --> 00:14:45,149 Halee rathgaber had been shot in the back of the head, 364 00:14:45,151 --> 00:14:46,951 Leaving her family reeling 365 00:14:46,953 --> 00:14:49,821 And investigators searching for answers. 366 00:14:49,823 --> 00:14:52,723 The crime scene offered few clues, 367 00:14:52,725 --> 00:14:55,026 But detectives were about to discover 368 00:14:55,028 --> 00:14:56,961 Halee had a curious connection 369 00:14:56,963 --> 00:14:59,230 To another case they were investigating. 370 00:14:59,232 --> 00:15:01,299 Now, they wondered 371 00:15:01,301 --> 00:15:06,037 Was it a little too curious to be a coincidence? 372 00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:08,172 Here, again, is andrea canning 373 00:15:08,174 --> 00:15:11,842 With "on the outskirts of town." 374 00:15:11,844 --> 00:15:13,778 - Theron rathgaber never thought 375 00:15:13,780 --> 00:15:16,514 He'd outlive his own daughter. 376 00:15:16,516 --> 00:15:19,050 - When they, you know, 377 00:15:19,052 --> 00:15:23,454 Said she'd been murdered... 378 00:15:23,456 --> 00:15:25,289 Now, I went into, you know, 379 00:15:25,291 --> 00:15:27,725 To the dark side we all have. 380 00:15:27,727 --> 00:15:29,994 I wanted to kill myself 381 00:15:29,996 --> 00:15:33,197 'cause I wasn't there to protect her, you see? 382 00:15:33,199 --> 00:15:35,800 - It was hard for him to know how to move forward. 383 00:15:35,802 --> 00:15:40,004 But even in death, halee was a comfort to her family. 384 00:15:40,006 --> 00:15:44,542 - And the things that've impacted us the most is, um, 385 00:15:44,544 --> 00:15:48,612 Her tattoo that had, uh, psalms 46:5. 386 00:15:48,614 --> 00:15:51,716 And it was, "god is within her. 387 00:15:51,718 --> 00:15:53,484 She will not fall. 388 00:15:53,486 --> 00:15:56,754 He will help her at break of day." 389 00:15:56,756 --> 00:16:00,691 - It's just so difficult to-to imagine why 390 00:16:00,693 --> 00:16:02,693 Any human would do something that horrific 391 00:16:02,695 --> 00:16:04,962 To another human being. 392 00:16:04,964 --> 00:16:07,631 - Detective paul kruse looked for answers 393 00:16:07,633 --> 00:16:09,734 With grim determination. 394 00:16:09,736 --> 00:16:11,903 Halee's murder was not the only tough case 395 00:16:11,905 --> 00:16:14,305 Weighing on him that April morning. 396 00:16:14,307 --> 00:16:16,040 A few weeks before, he and his partner 397 00:16:16,042 --> 00:16:18,542 Were assigned to look into the suspicious death 398 00:16:18,544 --> 00:16:21,212 Of a 10-month-old baby named jackson. 399 00:16:21,214 --> 00:16:22,513 When detectives spoke to heather 400 00:16:22,515 --> 00:16:24,281 After her daughter's death, 401 00:16:24,283 --> 00:16:27,218 She revealed something that stunned them. 402 00:16:27,220 --> 00:16:30,588 - Halee was the godmother of jackson. 403 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:32,957 - So their jaws dropped? - Yeah, yeah. 404 00:16:32,959 --> 00:16:34,992 - Heather told police baby jackson 405 00:16:34,994 --> 00:16:38,162 Was the son of halee's old schoolmate, jordan. 406 00:16:38,164 --> 00:16:39,530 - She had got a baby to play with 407 00:16:39,532 --> 00:16:41,632 Without having to have a baby, so... 408 00:16:41,634 --> 00:16:44,535 - But then, a terrible accident. 409 00:16:44,537 --> 00:16:47,805 Jackson had fallen down some stairs. 410 00:16:47,807 --> 00:16:49,140 Halee rushed to the hospital 411 00:16:49,142 --> 00:16:51,809 Where jordan explained what had happened. 412 00:16:51,811 --> 00:16:54,746 Her boyfriend, a man named thaddious rice 413 00:16:54,748 --> 00:16:56,547 Had dropped the baby down the stairs 414 00:16:56,549 --> 00:16:59,417 After tripping over a diaper bag. 415 00:16:59,419 --> 00:17:01,018 - Jordan was crying and we, like, gave her a hug 416 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:03,020 And I looked at halee and halee, like, looked at me 417 00:17:03,022 --> 00:17:05,957 And I was like, "what are we gonna do?" 418 00:17:05,959 --> 00:17:08,292 - They did what they could to help. 419 00:17:08,294 --> 00:17:10,761 They got jordan some food and went to her apartment 420 00:17:10,763 --> 00:17:12,897 To get her some clean clothes. 421 00:17:12,899 --> 00:17:14,165 - We walked in and halee's like, 422 00:17:14,167 --> 00:17:15,699 "do you know what's weird?" and I was like, "what?" 423 00:17:15,701 --> 00:17:18,769 She goes, "the diaper bag is sitting right there." 424 00:17:18,771 --> 00:17:20,104 Like, as soon as you walked into the door, 425 00:17:20,106 --> 00:17:22,373 The diaper bag was sitting right by the couch. 426 00:17:22,375 --> 00:17:24,442 It didn't look like the diaper bag 427 00:17:24,444 --> 00:17:27,244 Had fallen down the stairs like what thad had said. 428 00:17:27,246 --> 00:17:29,413 - So you're thinking, we might've just caught 429 00:17:29,415 --> 00:17:32,483 Thaddious in a-- in a big lie? - Yeah. 430 00:17:32,485 --> 00:17:36,654 - After two days on life support, jackson died. 431 00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:39,190 Grief stricken, halee agonized over 432 00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:41,992 Whether she should tell police about her suspicions. 433 00:17:41,994 --> 00:17:43,260 - She had said, you know, 434 00:17:43,262 --> 00:17:44,528 "what if they wanna talk to me?" 435 00:17:44,530 --> 00:17:46,931 Like, you talk, you know? 436 00:17:46,933 --> 00:17:49,133 - But the more halee's mom thought about it, 437 00:17:49,135 --> 00:17:51,702 The more she worried what might happen to halee 438 00:17:51,704 --> 00:17:53,471 If she spoke out. 439 00:17:53,473 --> 00:17:56,407 Thaddious had a bad reputation around town. 440 00:17:56,409 --> 00:17:58,943 Halee could be poking a hornet's nest. 441 00:17:58,945 --> 00:18:00,411 - She absolutely could have. 442 00:18:00,413 --> 00:18:04,248 - If she starts making accusations. 443 00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:06,083 Now, halee was dead 444 00:18:06,085 --> 00:18:08,919 And heather wondered if her fears had come true. 445 00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:11,722 Had thaddious killed halee to shut her up? 446 00:18:11,724 --> 00:18:13,057 - I just felt like, you know, 447 00:18:13,059 --> 00:18:15,626 He was looking at some pretty serious charges. 448 00:18:15,628 --> 00:18:18,296 If I had to think of people who had reasons to hurt her, 449 00:18:18,298 --> 00:18:20,431 That would've been number one. 450 00:18:20,433 --> 00:18:22,533 - The day after halee was murdered, 451 00:18:22,535 --> 00:18:25,436 Someone sent heather this snapchat video. 452 00:18:25,438 --> 00:18:28,272 It was thaddious brandishing a gun. 453 00:18:28,274 --> 00:18:29,607 - Oh-- - you got that video, 454 00:18:29,609 --> 00:18:31,509 So that must've really heightened your suspicion. 455 00:18:31,511 --> 00:18:32,710 - Oh, the video was huge. 456 00:18:32,712 --> 00:18:34,712 I was positive at that point. 457 00:18:34,714 --> 00:18:36,413 He did it. 458 00:18:36,415 --> 00:18:38,249 - And heather wasn't the only one 459 00:18:38,251 --> 00:18:40,451 Pointing the finger at thaddious. 460 00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:42,453 Halee's friends knew that she'd gone to see 461 00:18:42,455 --> 00:18:46,023 The baby's mom, jordan, the night she died. 462 00:18:46,025 --> 00:18:49,627 - There's these messages, um, 463 00:18:49,629 --> 00:18:52,863 The night she was murdered where she was 464 00:18:52,865 --> 00:18:54,599 Messaging back and forth with jordan, 465 00:18:54,601 --> 00:18:57,067 "hey, I'm gonna go pick up my wallet from your house." 466 00:18:57,069 --> 00:18:59,803 Late at night the night she was killed. 467 00:18:59,805 --> 00:19:01,139 So, then that was the theory. 468 00:19:01,141 --> 00:19:04,341 She went, she told jordan, thaddious killer her over it. 469 00:19:04,343 --> 00:19:07,812 - Investigators decided it was time to find out 470 00:19:07,814 --> 00:19:09,814 What thaddious and jordan knew. 471 00:19:09,816 --> 00:19:13,684 Thaddious refused to talk to them, but jordan did. 472 00:19:13,686 --> 00:19:16,220 - We did interview thaddious's girlfriend. 473 00:19:16,222 --> 00:19:17,821 She was-- she said they were home together 474 00:19:17,823 --> 00:19:19,757 All night at thaddious's brother's house. 475 00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:21,392 We checked out the surveillance video 476 00:19:21,394 --> 00:19:23,427 From that neighborhood and we were able to see 477 00:19:23,429 --> 00:19:24,629 Halee come into the neighborhood 478 00:19:24,631 --> 00:19:26,363 When she was there to get her wallet 479 00:19:26,365 --> 00:19:27,932 And we saw halee leave the neighborhood, 480 00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:30,501 But we never saw jordan or thad leave. 481 00:19:30,503 --> 00:19:33,971 - It seemed like thaddious had a good alibi. 482 00:19:33,973 --> 00:19:36,207 Heather worried that investigators seemed 483 00:19:36,209 --> 00:19:38,776 No closer to making an arrest. 484 00:19:38,778 --> 00:19:41,779 - I-I think that the fear was overwhelming. 485 00:19:41,781 --> 00:19:43,981 I kept saying, "I hope that they make 486 00:19:43,983 --> 00:19:45,249 An arrest before her funeral." 487 00:19:45,251 --> 00:19:47,585 I don't know how I can stand there 488 00:19:47,587 --> 00:19:49,653 And wonder who's hugging me 489 00:19:49,655 --> 00:19:52,122 And-and who's coming through this line. 490 00:19:52,124 --> 00:19:54,659 You know, did they hurt her? 491 00:19:54,661 --> 00:19:57,127 - But as heather prepared for her daughter's funeral, 492 00:19:57,129 --> 00:19:59,530 Investigators were already talking to someone 493 00:19:59,532 --> 00:20:02,766 Who'd surely be standing in that line of mourners. 494 00:20:02,768 --> 00:20:05,536 Someone very close to haley. 495 00:20:05,538 --> 00:20:08,072 - Take a seat over there. 496 00:20:10,143 --> 00:20:12,276 Video from the night of the murder. 497 00:20:12,278 --> 00:20:15,980 Police have a few questions for halee's friends. 498 00:20:15,982 --> 00:20:17,348 - So were you thinking, 499 00:20:17,350 --> 00:20:19,583 They think I might be involved? - Yeah. 500 00:20:19,585 --> 00:20:22,286 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 501 00:20:31,296 --> 00:20:33,464 - Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 502 00:20:33,466 --> 00:20:35,199 I'm craig melvin. 503 00:20:35,201 --> 00:20:37,901 Detectives suspected halee rathgaber's murder 504 00:20:37,903 --> 00:20:40,304 Was tied to another case they were investigating. 505 00:20:40,306 --> 00:20:43,841 Halee had seen something that made her worry 506 00:20:43,843 --> 00:20:46,777 Her godson's death was no accident. 507 00:20:46,779 --> 00:20:49,847 To test their theory, police retraced 508 00:20:49,849 --> 00:20:52,583 Halee's final hours, and it led them 509 00:20:52,585 --> 00:20:54,986 To someone with a secret. 510 00:20:54,988 --> 00:20:57,655 Once more, here's andrea canning 511 00:20:57,657 --> 00:20:59,790 With "on the outskirts of town." 512 00:20:59,792 --> 00:21:03,060 ♪♪ 513 00:21:03,062 --> 00:21:04,795 - The young people who had worked with halee 514 00:21:04,797 --> 00:21:07,631 At the texas roadhouse were reeling. 515 00:21:07,633 --> 00:21:10,534 The shock of her murder, the fear. 516 00:21:10,536 --> 00:21:13,637 Waiter, jake allen, was one of them. 517 00:21:13,639 --> 00:21:15,273 - They were gonna have a candlelight vigil 518 00:21:15,275 --> 00:21:17,641 At the soccer field where she was found 519 00:21:17,643 --> 00:21:20,211 And I was just about to leave my apartment 520 00:21:20,213 --> 00:21:22,613 And go there when my roommate told me, 521 00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:24,348 "hey, there's-there's somebody at the door. 522 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:26,183 It looks like a cop." 523 00:21:26,185 --> 00:21:28,486 - Investigators wanted to talk to jake 524 00:21:28,488 --> 00:21:30,854 About his best friend since eighth grade, 525 00:21:30,856 --> 00:21:33,757 Isaiah hagan, halee's ex. 526 00:21:33,759 --> 00:21:36,360 They asked jake what he and isaiah had been up to 527 00:21:36,362 --> 00:21:38,195 The night of halee's death. 528 00:21:38,197 --> 00:21:41,098 Police had recovered security camera video from 529 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:43,967 The night halee died showing isaiah picking her up 530 00:21:43,969 --> 00:21:46,337 At her apartment a little after 10:30. 531 00:21:46,339 --> 00:21:49,440 An hour or so later, he met up with jake. 532 00:21:49,442 --> 00:21:51,975 They played video games and then went to walmart, 533 00:21:51,977 --> 00:21:55,546 Where this camera captured them at about 2am. 534 00:21:55,548 --> 00:21:57,514 There was no sign of halee. 535 00:21:57,516 --> 00:21:58,582 - So are you thinking, 536 00:21:58,584 --> 00:22:00,984 They think I might be involved in halee's murder? 537 00:22:00,986 --> 00:22:03,454 - Yeah, yeah. 538 00:22:03,456 --> 00:22:06,323 - Jake told police he hadn't seen halee that night, 539 00:22:06,325 --> 00:22:09,660 But isaiah had told him where he'd taken her. 540 00:22:09,662 --> 00:22:13,063 To a local park a few miles from the soccer field. 541 00:22:13,065 --> 00:22:15,066 He told me he dropped her off 542 00:22:15,068 --> 00:22:16,367 And he went on his separate way 543 00:22:16,369 --> 00:22:18,736 Because she wanted to go there to meet somebody. 544 00:22:18,738 --> 00:22:20,637 - That didn't sound right to jake. 545 00:22:20,639 --> 00:22:22,072 - I feel like he wasn't that type of person 546 00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:26,243 To just let her be there alone at that time of night. 547 00:22:26,245 --> 00:22:29,146 He was way too overprotective. 548 00:22:29,148 --> 00:22:30,347 - Something wasn't adding up for you. 549 00:22:30,349 --> 00:22:31,482 - Not at all. 550 00:22:31,484 --> 00:22:33,450 - And there was something else that bothered him. 551 00:22:33,452 --> 00:22:36,287 Jake told police that the isaiah he knew 552 00:22:36,289 --> 00:22:38,422 Had always been a stand-up guy. 553 00:22:38,424 --> 00:22:40,557 But recently he'd heard stories 554 00:22:40,559 --> 00:22:42,826 About isaiah stealing from people. 555 00:22:42,828 --> 00:22:43,894 - His roommate was telling me, 556 00:22:43,896 --> 00:22:47,098 "he owes us rent. He stole my tv." 557 00:22:47,100 --> 00:22:48,299 And I said, "he did what?" 558 00:22:48,301 --> 00:22:50,401 - Oh, my gosh, so he was on a downward spiral. 559 00:22:50,403 --> 00:22:51,769 - Something was going on. 560 00:22:51,771 --> 00:22:54,405 - Isaiah had been borrowing money, too. 561 00:22:54,407 --> 00:22:57,074 Halee was one friend who'd helped him out. 562 00:22:57,076 --> 00:23:00,010 - She mentioned that she had loaned him $600, 563 00:23:00,012 --> 00:23:02,980 Um, to pay his rent. - That's a lot of money. 564 00:23:02,982 --> 00:23:04,982 - But apparently not enough. 565 00:23:04,984 --> 00:23:06,450 - Me and halee had been hanging out, 566 00:23:06,452 --> 00:23:07,851 And she goes, "it looks like someone 567 00:23:07,853 --> 00:23:10,855 Had taken money out of my bank account." 568 00:23:10,857 --> 00:23:13,391 And she's like, "hang on, I can pull up a picture." 569 00:23:13,393 --> 00:23:15,325 And she pulled up a picture of the check, 570 00:23:15,327 --> 00:23:19,363 And it said "to: Isaiah hagen for groceries" 571 00:23:19,365 --> 00:23:21,799 And it was $300. 572 00:23:21,801 --> 00:23:23,134 - Halee being halee, 573 00:23:23,136 --> 00:23:25,135 She told friends she'd forgiven isaiah 574 00:23:25,137 --> 00:23:27,071 After he promised to pay her back. 575 00:23:30,209 --> 00:23:32,076 - Three days after halee's death, 576 00:23:32,078 --> 00:23:35,379 Police decided it was time to talk to isaiah themselves. 577 00:23:35,381 --> 00:23:37,281 - He sat there in that chair. 578 00:23:37,283 --> 00:23:39,817 And I sat here. 579 00:23:39,819 --> 00:23:42,152 - What was his-- what was his demeanor like? 580 00:23:42,154 --> 00:23:44,355 This is a big case. This is a young guy. 581 00:23:44,357 --> 00:23:49,026 - Almost surprisingly calm. Um, he was very quiet 582 00:23:49,028 --> 00:23:51,695 And didn't show much emotion at all. 583 00:23:51,697 --> 00:23:55,966 - Isaiah told investigators the same story he told jake. 584 00:23:55,968 --> 00:23:57,668 He picked halee up at her apartment 585 00:23:57,670 --> 00:23:59,804 And then dropped her off at that local park. 586 00:24:07,313 --> 00:24:08,512 - What isaiah didn't know 587 00:24:08,514 --> 00:24:10,881 Was that more than a dozen investigators 588 00:24:10,883 --> 00:24:13,984 Were watching his interview remotely from the next room, 589 00:24:13,986 --> 00:24:16,520 And they had proof he was lying. 590 00:24:16,522 --> 00:24:18,989 They checked the park's security cameras, 591 00:24:18,991 --> 00:24:21,592 And there was no trace of isaiah and halee. 592 00:24:21,594 --> 00:24:24,895 Cell phone data showed where they had really gone: 593 00:24:24,897 --> 00:24:28,265 To the soccer field where halee's body had been found. 594 00:24:28,267 --> 00:24:30,133 - We saw him leave her apartment complex 595 00:24:30,135 --> 00:24:31,469 On surveillance video. 596 00:24:31,471 --> 00:24:32,636 The cell phones are traveling, 597 00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:34,738 Her and his cell phones are traveling together. 598 00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:37,608 - So they're-they're definitely together at this point, 599 00:24:37,610 --> 00:24:39,042 If you go by their cell phones. 600 00:24:39,044 --> 00:24:41,478 - And they're traveling straight to this location, 601 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,080 Right here to the soccer field. 602 00:24:43,082 --> 00:24:44,915 - What happens to the cell phones 603 00:24:44,917 --> 00:24:46,683 At that point once they're here? 604 00:24:46,685 --> 00:24:49,086 - Her cell phone goes dark while they're here 605 00:24:49,088 --> 00:24:50,287 And remains dark. 606 00:24:50,289 --> 00:24:52,356 His cell phone stays on, 607 00:24:52,358 --> 00:24:54,291 And we see his cell phone leave here 608 00:24:54,293 --> 00:24:55,993 And go back to evansville. 609 00:24:55,995 --> 00:24:58,028 - Isaiah didn't miss a beat when the detective 610 00:24:58,030 --> 00:25:00,130 Confronted him with that information. 611 00:25:09,975 --> 00:25:12,042 He insisted he'd left halee alive and well 612 00:25:12,044 --> 00:25:14,712 At the soccer field with her wallet and phone, 613 00:25:14,714 --> 00:25:17,915 But investigators questioned that, too. 614 00:25:17,917 --> 00:25:19,650 Their analysis showed halee's phone 615 00:25:19,652 --> 00:25:23,387 Had been in the same location as isaiah's phone hours later 616 00:25:23,389 --> 00:25:26,557 When he was long gone from the soccer field. 617 00:25:26,559 --> 00:25:29,660 Detective kruse pressed isaiah to explain, 618 00:25:29,662 --> 00:25:31,562 Moving his chair closer. 619 00:25:33,732 --> 00:25:35,833 Isaiah's explanations kept changing. 620 00:25:50,149 --> 00:25:51,815 - He said that it just happened to catch his eye 621 00:25:51,817 --> 00:25:53,016 When his headlights hit it. 622 00:25:53,018 --> 00:25:54,851 - Just driving along, and there it is? 623 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:57,688 - Yeah. - And does he pick it up? 624 00:25:57,690 --> 00:25:59,356 - Yeah, so that's what he says in that version. 625 00:25:59,358 --> 00:26:00,857 - Are you buying any of this? 626 00:26:00,859 --> 00:26:02,426 - Absolutely not. 627 00:26:02,428 --> 00:26:04,895 - And where was the phone now? 628 00:26:04,897 --> 00:26:07,364 Isaiah said he'd thrown it out of his car widow. 629 00:26:07,366 --> 00:26:10,233 That didn't make sense either. 630 00:26:10,235 --> 00:26:11,969 - He texts her that morning after the body's been found, 631 00:26:11,971 --> 00:26:14,871 Saying, "are you okay?" or something to that effect. 632 00:26:14,873 --> 00:26:16,507 He knows she's never gonna get the message, 633 00:26:16,509 --> 00:26:18,342 Because he threw her phone out the window. 634 00:26:18,344 --> 00:26:19,676 - And you believe he was establishing 635 00:26:19,678 --> 00:26:22,079 Some type of, uh, alibi? 636 00:26:22,081 --> 00:26:24,481 - He was trying to lay down an alibi at that point. 637 00:26:24,483 --> 00:26:26,951 - Detective kruse raised the heat again. 638 00:26:29,922 --> 00:26:31,688 He tag-teamed with other investigators 639 00:26:31,690 --> 00:26:33,324 To get isaiah to confess. 640 00:26:50,476 --> 00:26:52,542 Isaiah stuck to his story. 641 00:26:52,544 --> 00:26:54,378 It was 3:30 in the morning 642 00:26:54,380 --> 00:26:57,681 When investigators finally let him go home. 643 00:26:57,683 --> 00:27:01,685 Jake says an fbi agent told him to keep clear of isaiah. 644 00:27:01,687 --> 00:27:04,287 He didn't know what to think. 645 00:27:04,289 --> 00:27:05,856 - He never has been an aggressor. 646 00:27:05,858 --> 00:27:07,557 I've never known him to be that type of way. 647 00:27:07,559 --> 00:27:10,427 He's never been temperamental 648 00:27:10,429 --> 00:27:12,429 Or, you know, violent. 649 00:27:12,431 --> 00:27:14,364 - So you must've had a lot of conflicting feelings, 650 00:27:14,366 --> 00:27:16,567 Because something's bothering you, 651 00:27:16,569 --> 00:27:19,103 And yet you don't think he's capable of murder. 652 00:27:19,105 --> 00:27:21,238 - Right. 653 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:25,242 - Was isaiah really behind this? 654 00:27:25,244 --> 00:27:27,778 - It seems like a leap to go from forging checks 655 00:27:27,780 --> 00:27:30,380 To cold-blooded murder. - Oh, absolutely. 656 00:27:30,382 --> 00:27:35,519 - To even be considered to have committed 657 00:27:35,521 --> 00:27:37,921 Such a heinous act to another person 658 00:27:37,923 --> 00:27:40,791 Was just inconceivable. 659 00:27:40,793 --> 00:27:44,294 - All I could do was hold him. 660 00:27:44,296 --> 00:27:46,930 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 661 00:27:51,602 --> 00:27:56,440 ♪♪ 662 00:27:56,442 --> 00:27:58,575 - As his father, I poured everything I could 663 00:27:58,577 --> 00:28:00,010 Into that young man. 664 00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:03,780 And to even be considered 665 00:28:03,782 --> 00:28:06,983 To have committed such a heinous act 666 00:28:06,985 --> 00:28:10,688 To another person is just inconceivable. 667 00:28:12,858 --> 00:28:14,758 - Isaiah's father, wandel hagen, 668 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,493 Was dumbfounded when police told him 669 00:28:16,495 --> 00:28:20,364 His son was a suspect in halee rathgeber's murder. 670 00:28:20,366 --> 00:28:21,832 He and his wife donna, 671 00:28:21,834 --> 00:28:23,700 A corrections officer who worked for the sheriff, 672 00:28:23,702 --> 00:28:26,603 Said isaiah had always been a good son. 673 00:28:26,605 --> 00:28:30,307 - He was pretty shy as a kid, 674 00:28:30,309 --> 00:28:32,509 Good natured, happy, 675 00:28:32,511 --> 00:28:34,778 Easy to get along with, 676 00:28:34,780 --> 00:28:37,681 Um, eager to please. 677 00:28:37,683 --> 00:28:39,549 Everyone loved him. 678 00:28:39,551 --> 00:28:40,851 - The hagens said they raised isaiah 679 00:28:40,853 --> 00:28:42,652 To put his faith first. 680 00:28:42,654 --> 00:28:45,589 The family went to church several times a week. 681 00:28:45,591 --> 00:28:47,858 Their other love was sports. 682 00:28:47,860 --> 00:28:49,593 Isaiah was a gifted soccer player, 683 00:28:49,595 --> 00:28:52,930 Even scored a partial scholarship to college. 684 00:28:52,932 --> 00:28:55,165 - He talked about wanting to be a teacher 685 00:28:55,167 --> 00:28:58,135 And teach athletics. 686 00:28:58,137 --> 00:28:59,169 - They didn't know much 687 00:28:59,171 --> 00:29:01,538 About isaiah's relationship with halee, 688 00:29:01,540 --> 00:29:04,508 Didn't realize how much she meant to their son, 689 00:29:04,510 --> 00:29:06,810 Until he told them she died. 690 00:29:06,812 --> 00:29:08,945 - He was very, very distraught. 691 00:29:08,947 --> 00:29:10,814 - I mean, his elbows, his hips, his knees, 692 00:29:10,816 --> 00:29:13,416 His ankles, everything gave. 693 00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:15,819 He was collapsing to the floor, and we caught him. 694 00:29:15,821 --> 00:29:19,322 - But police believed isaiah was a cold-blooded killer 695 00:29:19,324 --> 00:29:22,759 Who had shot halee from behind, then robbed her. 696 00:29:22,761 --> 00:29:25,195 They hauled him down to the station again. 697 00:29:30,903 --> 00:29:32,703 - Isaiah asked to speak to his mother. 698 00:29:32,705 --> 00:29:35,773 Donna, the corrections officer who had brought suspects 699 00:29:35,775 --> 00:29:38,175 To these interrogation rooms for years, 700 00:29:38,177 --> 00:29:41,311 Was allowed to see her son alone. 701 00:29:41,313 --> 00:29:43,781 - All I could do was hold him. 702 00:29:43,783 --> 00:29:46,383 I just felt extremely helpless. 703 00:29:46,385 --> 00:29:47,918 - Whatever they talked about, 704 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,821 Donna wouldn't tell the detectives. 705 00:29:50,823 --> 00:29:52,856 Isaiah stopped talking, too. 706 00:29:52,858 --> 00:29:56,059 But police were convinced they had the right suspect. 707 00:29:56,061 --> 00:29:58,695 They charged isaiah with two counts of murder 708 00:29:58,697 --> 00:30:01,799 And one count each of robbery and obstructing justice. 709 00:30:04,303 --> 00:30:06,870 But when the trial began in the summer of 2018, 710 00:30:06,872 --> 00:30:09,273 Prosecutor michael perry knew 711 00:30:09,275 --> 00:30:11,942 That proving the charges would be difficult. 712 00:30:11,944 --> 00:30:15,612 His case against isaiah was largely circumstantial. 713 00:30:15,614 --> 00:30:16,947 - This was not a slam dunk. 714 00:30:16,949 --> 00:30:19,616 - The prosecution team methodically laid out 715 00:30:19,618 --> 00:30:22,485 Every piece of the puzzle before the jury. 716 00:30:22,487 --> 00:30:23,954 - We wanted to show them 717 00:30:23,956 --> 00:30:25,956 That isaiah was the last person to see her alive, 718 00:30:25,958 --> 00:30:28,325 That he lied about her cell phone, 719 00:30:28,327 --> 00:30:30,360 That he had money problems, 720 00:30:30,362 --> 00:30:33,663 That he did a lot of things to cover his tracks. 721 00:30:33,665 --> 00:30:36,099 - And the prosecution presented 722 00:30:36,101 --> 00:30:39,703 Perhaps the most explosive piece of evidence they had: 723 00:30:39,705 --> 00:30:41,371 What investigators found 724 00:30:41,373 --> 00:30:44,908 When they searched the home of wandel and donna hagen. 725 00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:47,044 - We were able to locate 726 00:30:47,046 --> 00:30:50,881 A, uh, towel from that home 727 00:30:50,883 --> 00:30:53,783 That was actually the same make, 728 00:30:53,785 --> 00:30:55,318 The same model as the towel 729 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,655 That was located at the soccer field. 730 00:30:58,657 --> 00:31:01,458 - And there was something else investigators discovered. 731 00:31:01,460 --> 00:31:03,460 Wandel owned several guns. 732 00:31:03,462 --> 00:31:05,929 One of them was missing. 733 00:31:05,931 --> 00:31:09,332 - Did you think that maybe isaiah took it? 734 00:31:09,334 --> 00:31:12,068 - It wouldn't be something that we would suspect, 735 00:31:12,070 --> 00:31:13,470 Because-- - he didn't like guns. 736 00:31:13,472 --> 00:31:18,141 - He didn't like guns, was not comfortable around them. 737 00:31:18,143 --> 00:31:19,576 - The prosecution told the jury 738 00:31:19,578 --> 00:31:22,145 That isaiah owed his father some cash, 739 00:31:22,147 --> 00:31:23,346 And on the night halee died, 740 00:31:23,348 --> 00:31:27,183 Wandel sent a text to his son, "got the money yet". 741 00:31:27,185 --> 00:31:29,686 - We do know that he left $210 for his dad 742 00:31:29,688 --> 00:31:31,955 The next morning on the counter. 743 00:31:31,957 --> 00:31:34,557 - One of the things that seems somewhat weak 744 00:31:34,559 --> 00:31:36,092 Is the motive. 745 00:31:36,094 --> 00:31:39,096 I mean, we're talking about, what, a couple hundred dollars? 746 00:31:40,699 --> 00:31:43,767 To just kill somebody for? 747 00:31:43,769 --> 00:31:45,635 - Right. I've actually prosecuted cases 748 00:31:45,637 --> 00:31:47,905 Where somebody was killed for far less than that. 749 00:31:47,907 --> 00:31:50,273 - It seems like a leap to go from forging checks 750 00:31:50,275 --> 00:31:52,976 To cold-blooded murder. - Oh, absolutely. 751 00:31:52,978 --> 00:31:55,478 It's, you know, zero to murder in 3.5 seconds. 752 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:58,715 It's-it's not the usual situation. 753 00:31:58,717 --> 00:32:03,119 - It wasn't the usual situation, because it didn't happen. 754 00:32:03,121 --> 00:32:04,988 That's what isaiah's defense attorney 755 00:32:04,990 --> 00:32:06,723 Mark phillips said. 756 00:32:06,725 --> 00:32:08,325 He argued the prosecution 757 00:32:08,327 --> 00:32:10,727 Had been fixated on isaiah from the start 758 00:32:10,729 --> 00:32:13,496 And had built a case out of guesses, 759 00:32:13,498 --> 00:32:14,598 Nothing more. 760 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:16,533 - We had no physical evidence. 761 00:32:16,535 --> 00:32:20,070 Uh, they had no gun. They had no bullet. 762 00:32:20,072 --> 00:32:21,939 They had no casing. 763 00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:23,740 - And that blue towel investigators found 764 00:32:23,742 --> 00:32:25,375 At the crime scene? 765 00:32:25,377 --> 00:32:27,945 - The dna testing they did on that towel, uh, 766 00:32:27,947 --> 00:32:31,815 Showed that none of isaiah hagen's dna was present. 767 00:32:31,817 --> 00:32:34,584 - Though there was one thing that was plain to see: 768 00:32:34,586 --> 00:32:36,319 Isaiah's lies, 769 00:32:36,321 --> 00:32:39,022 Right there in the interrogation video. 770 00:32:39,024 --> 00:32:42,359 The prosecution played the entire 9 1/2 hours of it 771 00:32:42,361 --> 00:32:43,893 To the jury. 772 00:32:43,895 --> 00:32:45,562 - I think anytime somebody says something 773 00:32:45,564 --> 00:32:48,231 That the state contends isn't true, 774 00:32:48,233 --> 00:32:50,033 You have to try to understand 775 00:32:50,035 --> 00:32:53,169 The dynamic of where it was said. 776 00:32:53,171 --> 00:32:56,106 - Phillips noted the detectives questioned isaiah 777 00:32:56,108 --> 00:32:57,807 Aggressively for hours. 778 00:32:57,809 --> 00:33:00,911 They used profanity, invaded his space, 779 00:33:00,913 --> 00:33:02,579 Intimidated him. 780 00:33:06,051 --> 00:33:08,785 Maybe, he theorized, isaiah simply lied 781 00:33:08,787 --> 00:33:11,454 To make them go away. 782 00:33:11,456 --> 00:33:14,124 - Were you worried that the jury is going to hear lies? 783 00:33:14,126 --> 00:33:18,228 And that's just gonna trump everything else. 784 00:33:18,230 --> 00:33:19,730 "this guy's lying. 785 00:33:19,732 --> 00:33:22,499 "why should I believe him, that he didn't kill her?" 786 00:33:22,501 --> 00:33:24,467 - That's a hard one to overcome. 787 00:33:24,469 --> 00:33:27,070 But he had no confession, first and foremost. 788 00:33:27,072 --> 00:33:29,473 Isaiah never said anything like, 789 00:33:29,475 --> 00:33:32,075 "I killed halee rathgeber." 790 00:33:32,077 --> 00:33:35,445 - So if isaiah didn't kill halee, who did? 791 00:33:35,447 --> 00:33:37,947 The defense pointed to thaddeus rice, 792 00:33:37,949 --> 00:33:41,484 The man halee suspected of killing 10-month-old jackson. 793 00:33:41,486 --> 00:33:42,886 Thaddeus was eventually found guilty 794 00:33:42,888 --> 00:33:44,821 Of neglect of a dependant 795 00:33:44,823 --> 00:33:46,556 And reckless homicide. 796 00:33:46,558 --> 00:33:48,224 But at the time of halee's murder, 797 00:33:48,226 --> 00:33:49,726 He was roaming free. 798 00:33:49,728 --> 00:33:52,429 Had he been worried halee had evidence against him? 799 00:33:52,431 --> 00:33:55,899 - He knew information about the suspicious circumstances 800 00:33:55,901 --> 00:33:57,634 Of jackson wheeler's death. 801 00:33:57,636 --> 00:34:00,003 He and jordan were the last two people 802 00:34:00,005 --> 00:34:03,740 To see halee other than isaiah, we believe, 803 00:34:03,742 --> 00:34:05,375 Uh, based on the information 804 00:34:05,377 --> 00:34:07,377 That we were provided in discovery. 805 00:34:07,379 --> 00:34:10,180 And it just seemed curious to us 806 00:34:10,182 --> 00:34:14,584 That for some reason they weren't pursued. 807 00:34:14,586 --> 00:34:16,720 - And according to the defense, 808 00:34:16,722 --> 00:34:17,987 There was other evidence 809 00:34:17,989 --> 00:34:21,124 That showed isaiah could not have killed halee. 810 00:34:21,126 --> 00:34:23,493 After halee's cell phone stopped sending a signal 811 00:34:23,495 --> 00:34:26,329 Just before 11:30 on the night she died. 812 00:34:26,331 --> 00:34:31,000 It had mysteriously turned on about four hours later. 813 00:34:31,002 --> 00:34:33,870 And pinged off a cell tower near the soccer field. 814 00:34:33,872 --> 00:34:34,938 When that happened, 815 00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:38,708 Cell phone data showed isaiah was miles away. 816 00:34:38,710 --> 00:34:40,944 - At the time that her phone came back on 817 00:34:40,946 --> 00:34:44,180 And started traveling, it was nowhere near isaiah. 818 00:34:44,182 --> 00:34:46,082 In fact, he was in a different county. 819 00:34:46,084 --> 00:34:47,750 So he could not have been pinging 820 00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:49,953 Off the same tower that she was. 821 00:34:49,955 --> 00:34:51,421 - Which according to the defense, 822 00:34:51,423 --> 00:34:54,357 Meant someone else had to have halee's cell phone. 823 00:34:54,359 --> 00:34:58,495 - But the prosecution insisted isaiah had the phone all along. 824 00:34:58,497 --> 00:35:00,630 - It looks like it powers back up at the soccer field, 825 00:35:00,632 --> 00:35:02,999 But we've since come to the theory 826 00:35:03,001 --> 00:35:05,101 That when you power your phone up, 827 00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:07,270 It hits on the last tower that it was on 828 00:35:07,272 --> 00:35:08,505 When it powered down, 829 00:35:08,507 --> 00:35:10,640 So that explains the, uh, 830 00:35:10,642 --> 00:35:12,475 The reason shy it looked like it was traveling. 831 00:35:12,477 --> 00:35:15,378 - Is that exact science, or is that the theory? 832 00:35:15,380 --> 00:35:16,346 - That's a theory, 833 00:35:16,348 --> 00:35:19,415 But we have found absolutely zero evidence 834 00:35:19,417 --> 00:35:20,650 That there was anybody else involved 835 00:35:20,652 --> 00:35:22,118 Other than isaiah hagen. 836 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:23,186 - The prosecution and the police, 837 00:35:23,188 --> 00:35:24,487 They believe that she was shot 838 00:35:24,489 --> 00:35:26,856 Before isaiah left the soccer field, 839 00:35:26,858 --> 00:35:30,660 That his alibi doesn't hold up because she was already dead. 840 00:35:30,662 --> 00:35:32,662 - Well, that's hard-- hard for me to understand, 841 00:35:32,664 --> 00:35:37,066 Because there was testimony by the coroner 842 00:35:37,068 --> 00:35:39,402 That he could not determine a time of death. 843 00:35:39,404 --> 00:35:41,070 - Halee's friend carly, 844 00:35:41,072 --> 00:35:43,206 Who attended every day of the trial, 845 00:35:43,208 --> 00:35:46,543 Watched with growing uneasiness as the defense poked holes 846 00:35:46,545 --> 00:35:49,546 In the prosecution's case again and again. 847 00:35:49,548 --> 00:35:51,080 - Every day my dad texted me 848 00:35:51,082 --> 00:35:52,682 And would ask how the trial went. 849 00:35:52,684 --> 00:35:56,119 Every single day I was like, "yeah, we're not gonna-- 850 00:35:56,121 --> 00:35:57,620 We're not gonna get this conviction." 851 00:35:57,622 --> 00:35:59,356 - It was that bad? - It was that bad. 852 00:35:59,358 --> 00:36:02,292 - And then a bombshell. 853 00:36:02,294 --> 00:36:04,294 - Huh, that's putting it mildly. 854 00:36:07,232 --> 00:36:09,332 - A stunning moment in court. 855 00:36:09,334 --> 00:36:11,467 Isaiah's mom on the stand. 856 00:36:11,469 --> 00:36:13,836 What would she reveal? 857 00:36:13,838 --> 00:36:15,372 - That almost doesn't even really happen 858 00:36:15,374 --> 00:36:17,707 In tv dramas because it's too hard to believe. 859 00:36:17,709 --> 00:36:19,342 - Right, truth is stranger than fiction. 860 00:36:19,344 --> 00:36:22,479 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 861 00:36:31,122 --> 00:36:32,388 - Welcome back. 862 00:36:32,390 --> 00:36:35,758 Was isaiah hagen in such dire financial straits 863 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:40,330 That he'd murder halee rathgeber for a couple hundred bucks? 864 00:36:40,332 --> 00:36:42,565 That's what the prosecution believed. 865 00:36:42,567 --> 00:36:46,336 And they argued the web of lies he spun for detectives 866 00:36:46,338 --> 00:36:49,205 Proved he was a killer. 867 00:36:49,207 --> 00:36:50,573 The defense countered 868 00:36:50,575 --> 00:36:53,876 That police intimidated isaiah into telling tall tales. 869 00:36:53,878 --> 00:36:58,815 But soon an explosive secret would be revealed in court, 870 00:36:58,817 --> 00:37:01,517 Stunning both sides. 871 00:37:01,519 --> 00:37:02,886 Here's andrea canning 872 00:37:02,888 --> 00:37:06,122 With the conclusion of on the outskirts of town. 873 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:10,893 - As each day of trial passed, 874 00:37:10,895 --> 00:37:13,763 Heather collins became less hopeful. 875 00:37:13,765 --> 00:37:15,565 There was no direct evidence 876 00:37:15,567 --> 00:37:18,034 Tying isaiah hagen to her daughter's murder, 877 00:37:18,036 --> 00:37:22,972 No gun, no dna, no eyewitnesses, 878 00:37:22,974 --> 00:37:25,942 Nothing to prove isaiah was a killer. 879 00:37:25,944 --> 00:37:28,111 I was at the point where 880 00:37:28,113 --> 00:37:31,381 I was prepared for him to be walking the streets. 881 00:37:31,383 --> 00:37:34,117 - Prosecutor michael perry urged patience. 882 00:37:34,119 --> 00:37:36,519 - We knew that we did not have enough evidence to convict 883 00:37:36,521 --> 00:37:37,787 At that point, 884 00:37:37,789 --> 00:37:41,457 But that's why you go to the end. 885 00:37:41,459 --> 00:37:43,126 - There was one person in particular 886 00:37:43,128 --> 00:37:44,928 He wanted the jury to hear from, 887 00:37:44,930 --> 00:37:47,730 Donna hagen, isaiah's mom. 888 00:37:47,732 --> 00:37:51,301 The prosecutor had no idea what she'd say on the stand, 889 00:37:51,303 --> 00:37:53,002 But he had reason to believe 890 00:37:53,004 --> 00:37:56,506 Isaiah had confided in her that day at the police station 891 00:37:56,508 --> 00:37:58,641 About the night halee died. 892 00:37:58,643 --> 00:38:01,344 - So the mom takes the stand, in your words, 893 00:38:01,346 --> 00:38:04,414 As a reluctant witness. - Yes. 894 00:38:04,416 --> 00:38:06,883 - Would a mother actually reveal something 895 00:38:06,885 --> 00:38:08,952 He'd told her in confidence? 896 00:38:08,954 --> 00:38:10,820 - Tell us what happened. 897 00:38:10,822 --> 00:38:13,756 - I don't specifically remember what question was asked, 898 00:38:13,758 --> 00:38:16,526 Uh, but the answer that she gave 899 00:38:16,528 --> 00:38:18,628 Was that isaiah had told her 900 00:38:18,630 --> 00:38:22,299 That he had shot halee and had done it accidentally. 901 00:38:22,301 --> 00:38:24,133 - And with those words, 902 00:38:24,135 --> 00:38:27,370 Donna hagen turned the trial upside down. 903 00:38:27,372 --> 00:38:29,238 Instead of defending her son, 904 00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:31,775 She pointed the finger right at him. 905 00:38:31,777 --> 00:38:35,078 - I mean, that almost doesn't even really happen in tv dramas, 906 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:35,978 Because it's too hard to believe. 907 00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:37,714 - Right. - Nobody would do that. 908 00:38:37,716 --> 00:38:39,982 - Truth is stranger than fiction. 909 00:38:39,984 --> 00:38:41,784 - Isaiah's attorney, mark phillips, 910 00:38:41,786 --> 00:38:44,520 Could not believe what he was hearing. 911 00:38:44,522 --> 00:38:46,155 - I started sweating. 912 00:38:46,157 --> 00:38:48,858 I felt like I had been sucker punched. 913 00:38:48,860 --> 00:38:51,728 - Had she just torpedoed your defense? 914 00:38:51,730 --> 00:38:55,799 - Yes. She said something that we couldn't, um, expect, 915 00:38:55,801 --> 00:38:57,266 We didn't expect, 916 00:38:57,268 --> 00:38:59,803 And as I sat there in that moment, 917 00:38:59,805 --> 00:39:02,271 I had no idea how to, uh, how to address it. 918 00:39:02,273 --> 00:39:03,940 - No one saw it coming. 919 00:39:03,942 --> 00:39:08,010 It was probably the first time that everyone in the room cried. 920 00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:10,346 It was an amazing gift. 921 00:39:10,348 --> 00:39:12,081 - The judge called for a recess 922 00:39:12,083 --> 00:39:13,283 And cleared the courtroom. 923 00:39:13,285 --> 00:39:15,685 All sides left to absorb the enormity 924 00:39:15,687 --> 00:39:17,220 Of what had just happened. 925 00:39:17,222 --> 00:39:20,289 Heather drove to the soccer field to reflect. 926 00:39:20,291 --> 00:39:22,892 She honors halee by wearing the same tattoo 927 00:39:22,894 --> 00:39:25,395 Her daughter once had. 928 00:39:25,397 --> 00:39:29,766 The prosecutor went home, humbled by a woman's confession. 929 00:39:29,768 --> 00:39:34,504 - I don't know that I've ever had more faith 930 00:39:34,506 --> 00:39:37,173 In the words coming out of somebody's mouth 931 00:39:37,175 --> 00:39:39,175 Than a mother that would actually say that 932 00:39:39,177 --> 00:39:41,110 Against her son. 933 00:39:41,112 --> 00:39:42,879 - You almost look like you're getting emotional. 934 00:39:42,881 --> 00:39:45,848 - I am getting emotional. I'm sorry. 935 00:39:45,850 --> 00:39:47,984 - The defense attorney, on the other hand, 936 00:39:47,986 --> 00:39:50,052 Got straight to work. 937 00:39:50,054 --> 00:39:53,523 He needed a new plan to save his client. 938 00:39:53,525 --> 00:39:54,657 When court reconvened, 939 00:39:54,659 --> 00:39:57,326 He called donna hagen back to the stand. 940 00:39:57,328 --> 00:40:01,464 His goal: To show the jury that she couldn't be believed. 941 00:40:01,466 --> 00:40:03,066 - On cross-examination, 942 00:40:03,068 --> 00:40:06,469 She admitted that she believed 943 00:40:06,471 --> 00:40:08,504 That if the jury heard 944 00:40:08,506 --> 00:40:10,540 That isaiah said it was an accident, 945 00:40:10,542 --> 00:40:12,675 Then they couldn't convict him of murder. 946 00:40:12,677 --> 00:40:17,280 - So you think that perhaps his mother had said these things 947 00:40:17,282 --> 00:40:21,284 So that her son could get perhaps a lesser sentence? 948 00:40:21,286 --> 00:40:22,819 - Well, yes. 949 00:40:22,821 --> 00:40:24,754 - The problem is the genie's out of the bottle. 950 00:40:24,756 --> 00:40:26,522 - Yes. - The jury cannot unhear 951 00:40:26,524 --> 00:40:29,759 What she said about her own son. 952 00:40:29,761 --> 00:40:32,395 How do you now overcome that? 953 00:40:32,397 --> 00:40:35,231 - Well, I think it goes back to we have no confession, 954 00:40:35,233 --> 00:40:38,701 We have no direct evidence, um, we have no dna, 955 00:40:38,703 --> 00:40:42,805 And we have no other significant piece of evidence 956 00:40:42,807 --> 00:40:45,374 That's compelling. 957 00:40:45,376 --> 00:40:46,542 - And in his closing, 958 00:40:46,544 --> 00:40:49,312 He made those same arguments to the jury. 959 00:40:49,314 --> 00:40:51,214 But the damage was done. 960 00:40:51,216 --> 00:40:53,249 It only took the jury four hours 961 00:40:53,251 --> 00:40:57,854 To find isaiah hagen guilty on all four counts against him, 962 00:40:57,856 --> 00:41:01,123 Including murder. 963 00:41:01,125 --> 00:41:04,727 - That's the most relief I'd felt since it all happened. 964 00:41:04,729 --> 00:41:07,530 'cause all I wanted forever 965 00:41:07,532 --> 00:41:10,399 Was just to get justice for her. 966 00:41:10,401 --> 00:41:12,602 - But the hagens were angry. 967 00:41:12,604 --> 00:41:15,204 They didn't believe isaiah should've been convicted 968 00:41:15,206 --> 00:41:19,008 Of the most serious charge against him: Murder. 969 00:41:19,010 --> 00:41:20,977 - You were in the courtroom for the verdict? 970 00:41:20,979 --> 00:41:22,011 - Yes. 971 00:41:22,013 --> 00:41:24,847 - What was that moment like for-for you two? 972 00:41:24,849 --> 00:41:26,883 - I was in disbelief. - Yeah. 973 00:41:26,885 --> 00:41:29,419 And just devastated. 974 00:41:29,421 --> 00:41:32,188 - Just how did we get here? 975 00:41:32,190 --> 00:41:34,624 How did we get here? 976 00:41:34,626 --> 00:41:38,094 Um, I know this isn't right. 977 00:41:38,096 --> 00:41:40,296 I know this isn't right. 978 00:41:40,298 --> 00:41:42,431 - Their pain was compounded 979 00:41:42,433 --> 00:41:46,369 When isaiah was sentenced to 60 years in prison. 980 00:41:46,371 --> 00:41:47,703 On appeal, the court ruled that 981 00:41:47,705 --> 00:41:50,373 Three of his four convictions relied on the same evidence 982 00:41:50,375 --> 00:41:52,775 In what amounted to double jeopardy. 983 00:41:52,777 --> 00:41:55,311 His robbery conviction was reduced to theft, 984 00:41:55,313 --> 00:41:56,512 A misdemeanor, 985 00:41:56,514 --> 00:41:59,181 And one of his two murder convictions was thrown out. 986 00:41:59,183 --> 00:42:02,585 But on the remaining count, the jury's verdict stood, 987 00:42:02,587 --> 00:42:05,054 As did isaiah's sentence. 988 00:42:05,056 --> 00:42:07,857 - We want him to know, um, 989 00:42:07,859 --> 00:42:11,027 That we're-- we love him, 990 00:42:11,029 --> 00:42:14,263 And we're, um, gonna be there for him 991 00:42:14,265 --> 00:42:17,600 No matter what. - We will always love him, 992 00:42:17,602 --> 00:42:20,937 Regardless what you, 993 00:42:20,939 --> 00:42:23,272 Anyone else has to say. 994 00:42:23,274 --> 00:42:26,676 He's my son as long as I'm living. 995 00:42:26,678 --> 00:42:28,644 - This is a very special place for you and halee. 996 00:42:28,646 --> 00:42:31,814 - Yeah. We came here a lot when she was little. 997 00:42:31,816 --> 00:42:34,250 - Heather collins doesn't want to think anymore 998 00:42:34,252 --> 00:42:36,019 About isaiah hagen. 999 00:42:36,021 --> 00:42:38,821 She comes to this park to think about halee, 1000 00:42:38,823 --> 00:42:41,457 The good times they had here as a young family 1001 00:42:41,459 --> 00:42:44,627 And the woman halee could've been. 1002 00:42:44,629 --> 00:42:47,163 - I don't think that we, any of us 1003 00:42:47,165 --> 00:42:50,132 Have come to terms with what happened yet, 1004 00:42:50,134 --> 00:42:51,768 And that she's really gone. 1005 00:42:51,770 --> 00:42:54,670 You think that she's just gonna come walking back in the door 1006 00:42:54,672 --> 00:42:56,839 To pick up her laundry, you know? 1007 00:42:56,841 --> 00:42:59,642 - Emily finds herself picking up the phone 1008 00:42:59,644 --> 00:43:01,210 To call her big sister, 1009 00:43:01,212 --> 00:43:05,081 Only to have the sad reality come crashing down, 1010 00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:09,352 Only to be left with one sad, unanswerable question, 1011 00:43:09,354 --> 00:43:12,288 Why did isaiah do it? 1012 00:43:12,290 --> 00:43:14,790 - I wonder how he could do something like that 1013 00:43:14,792 --> 00:43:18,127 And what made him do that. 1014 00:43:18,129 --> 00:43:22,064 Why was he so desperate to hurt someone so kind? 1015 00:43:22,066 --> 00:43:25,935 And there's no one that could say 1016 00:43:25,937 --> 00:43:27,403 She wasn't the most giving person, 1017 00:43:27,405 --> 00:43:31,240 So why wouldn't he just ask? 1018 00:43:31,242 --> 00:43:33,542 'cause if you would've just asked her, 1019 00:43:33,544 --> 00:43:36,112 I'm sure she would've given you the world. 1020 00:43:41,919 --> 00:43:45,221 - That's all for this edition of "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 1021 00:43:45,223 --> 00:43:48,091 I'm craig melvin. Thank you for watching.