1 00:00:07,540 --> 00:00:08,774 - I'm craig melvin, 2 00:00:08,842 --> 00:00:12,244 And this is "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 3 00:00:12,312 --> 00:00:15,247 - She had this look of absolute terror on her face. 4 00:00:15,316 --> 00:00:16,715 She was scared. 5 00:00:16,784 --> 00:00:18,451 She really, really was afraid, 6 00:00:18,519 --> 00:00:20,051 And I don't really know why. 7 00:00:20,053 --> 00:00:22,454 - She was a sunny, free spirit 8 00:00:22,523 --> 00:00:25,557 Who had yearned to make it in hollywood, 9 00:00:25,627 --> 00:00:29,327 But she made headlines instead when she vanished. 10 00:00:29,396 --> 00:00:31,463 - One day, she was gone. Her pets were gone. 11 00:00:31,465 --> 00:00:33,466 - I knew that something happened. 12 00:00:33,534 --> 00:00:35,501 - Did something drive her away? 13 00:00:35,569 --> 00:00:37,536 Or maybe someone? 14 00:00:37,605 --> 00:00:40,071 There was that old friend turned enemy. 15 00:00:40,141 --> 00:00:41,740 - They seemed to be very passionate 16 00:00:41,742 --> 00:00:43,274 About hating each other. 17 00:00:43,344 --> 00:00:44,744 - There was the new friend-- 18 00:00:44,812 --> 00:00:47,446 Young, handsome, a man of mystery. 19 00:00:47,448 --> 00:00:49,816 - He said, "I'm not what people think I am," 20 00:00:49,883 --> 00:00:51,750 And I thought, "wonder what that means?" 21 00:00:51,819 --> 00:00:54,286 - I told her this could end up killing her. 22 00:00:54,355 --> 00:00:57,556 - A brother and sister desperate to learn the truth. 23 00:00:57,625 --> 00:00:59,758 - It's just chilling for me to think about that. 24 00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:07,899 ♪♪ 25 00:01:07,968 --> 00:01:09,234 - Hello, and welcome 26 00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:11,770 To "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 27 00:01:11,839 --> 00:01:15,574 Brittany tavar wore her heart on her sleeve, 28 00:01:15,643 --> 00:01:18,844 Opening her life to anyone she thought needed her help, 29 00:01:18,912 --> 00:01:21,980 Whether that meant pets or people. 30 00:01:22,049 --> 00:01:24,384 But after she vanished, her family learned 31 00:01:24,451 --> 00:01:27,052 That a secret she had been hiding 32 00:01:27,121 --> 00:01:30,522 May have inadvertently exposed her to danger. 33 00:01:30,591 --> 00:01:34,326 Now could investigators find her alive? 34 00:01:34,394 --> 00:01:35,995 Here's keith morrison with... 35 00:01:38,166 --> 00:01:40,732 - They noticed it first at her favorite place, 36 00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:44,402 That private beach club faces out at the south atlantic. 37 00:01:44,471 --> 00:01:46,004 Took a little longer for the story 38 00:01:46,006 --> 00:01:48,273 To spread up and down the historic streets, 39 00:01:48,342 --> 00:01:51,543 This oldest of all american cities, 40 00:01:51,612 --> 00:01:52,811 Until it reached the ears 41 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,680 Of a young reporter named justine griffin, 42 00:01:55,749 --> 00:01:59,551 Who worked the crime beat at "st. Augustine, florida times." 43 00:01:59,553 --> 00:02:00,619 - This one was definitely 44 00:02:00,621 --> 00:02:03,021 One of the most bizarre that I've covered. 45 00:02:03,023 --> 00:02:06,224 One day, her car-- she was gone. Her pets were gone. 46 00:02:06,293 --> 00:02:08,894 - The "she" justine is talking about 47 00:02:08,896 --> 00:02:11,696 Was the local fixture here in st. Augustine, florida, 48 00:02:11,765 --> 00:02:15,167 A striking and friendly woman named brittany tavar 49 00:02:15,235 --> 00:02:18,637 Who had, without a word to anyone, up and vanished. 50 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:20,440 Hardly a big story at first. 51 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:23,542 After all, people do come and go around st. Augustine, 52 00:02:23,610 --> 00:02:27,846 And this was July 2010, heat ratcheting up. 53 00:02:27,848 --> 00:02:30,616 Good time to head north, maybe? 54 00:02:30,684 --> 00:02:32,017 - Just as the weeks went on, 55 00:02:32,019 --> 00:02:34,854 It sort of got a little bit more strange. 56 00:02:34,922 --> 00:02:36,922 - A little bit strange? 57 00:02:36,924 --> 00:02:39,525 In fact, the disappearance of brittany tavar 58 00:02:39,593 --> 00:02:42,929 Was about to become the biggest and perhaps strangest story 59 00:02:42,996 --> 00:02:45,764 Of justine griffin's young career. 60 00:02:45,833 --> 00:02:48,466 Not just that brittany disappeared, 61 00:02:48,535 --> 00:02:49,335 But that she'd vanished 62 00:02:49,403 --> 00:02:52,704 On such an important day for her, 63 00:02:52,706 --> 00:02:55,674 The day she was due to appear in a st. Augustine court 64 00:02:55,743 --> 00:02:58,944 And bring charges against a bitter enemy. 65 00:02:58,946 --> 00:03:01,213 - She had an enormous amount of anxiety. 66 00:03:01,281 --> 00:03:03,882 - This is brittany's sister pat bellamah. 67 00:03:03,951 --> 00:03:07,486 Pat lived clear across the country in portland, oregon, 68 00:03:07,488 --> 00:03:09,721 So she couldn't do much about her sister's worries, 69 00:03:09,790 --> 00:03:12,824 Couldn't help her confront her nemesis in court, 70 00:03:12,826 --> 00:03:14,426 But pat had been aware since girlhood 71 00:03:14,494 --> 00:03:17,229 Brittany was pretty good at looking after herself. 72 00:03:17,231 --> 00:03:19,431 - We were polar opposites. 73 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:22,834 I was much more academically oriented than she was 74 00:03:22,903 --> 00:03:26,639 And sort of more staid and analytical. 75 00:03:26,707 --> 00:03:29,241 She was very agile and athletic, and I wasn't. 76 00:03:29,243 --> 00:03:32,911 So I spent my childhood following her up trees 77 00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:34,313 And trying to jump over creeks, 78 00:03:34,315 --> 00:03:36,516 And she could do it, and I couldn't. 79 00:03:36,583 --> 00:03:39,450 - Scattered family. Five siblings in all. 80 00:03:39,452 --> 00:03:41,520 Andrew bellamah, one of brittany's three brothers, 81 00:03:41,522 --> 00:03:44,657 Kept track of her from his place up in the northeast. 82 00:03:44,725 --> 00:03:46,191 - She was very extroverted. 83 00:03:46,259 --> 00:03:49,861 She-she, uh, marched to the beat of her own drum. 84 00:03:49,930 --> 00:03:52,197 - So when they heard she was missing, 85 00:03:52,265 --> 00:03:55,133 Pat and andrew had to consider the possibility 86 00:03:55,202 --> 00:03:58,203 That brittany had decided to try something new. 87 00:03:58,271 --> 00:04:00,939 - Well, she very much had a sense of inventing herself, 88 00:04:01,008 --> 00:04:03,776 You know, her whole life. 89 00:04:03,844 --> 00:04:06,679 - Like the time she went to hollywood years ago, 90 00:04:06,747 --> 00:04:08,915 Wanted to be a movie star. 91 00:04:08,982 --> 00:04:10,316 - She wanted certain things in life, 92 00:04:10,383 --> 00:04:12,283 And she just thought if she believed in herself, 93 00:04:12,353 --> 00:04:13,752 And she went out and tried, you know, 94 00:04:13,821 --> 00:04:16,689 She would-- she would get those things. 95 00:04:16,757 --> 00:04:20,492 - Didn't get those things, up to now at least, 96 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,295 But she had some family money, 97 00:04:22,362 --> 00:04:24,562 Settled comfortably in st. Augustine, 98 00:04:24,564 --> 00:04:27,099 Took up photography, sold real estate, 99 00:04:27,167 --> 00:04:28,568 Bought a nice house, 100 00:04:28,635 --> 00:04:32,704 And joined a private beach club called the serenata, 101 00:04:32,773 --> 00:04:35,373 Where she developed a group of very close friends. 102 00:04:35,442 --> 00:04:38,578 For example, brenda lemke. - The thing about brittany, 103 00:04:38,645 --> 00:04:41,780 She was a single woman living on her own, 104 00:04:41,849 --> 00:04:45,717 And I just thought she was very strong and very brave. 105 00:04:45,719 --> 00:04:46,718 You know, she had money. 106 00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:48,253 She didn't have to worry about that, 107 00:04:48,255 --> 00:04:51,723 But still, you know, she had to create a life for herself, 108 00:04:51,792 --> 00:04:53,793 A social environment. 109 00:04:53,860 --> 00:04:56,895 She was interesting. She wasn't boring. 110 00:04:56,963 --> 00:05:00,598 - Joanna simmons was also a friend from the serenata. 111 00:05:00,667 --> 00:05:02,801 - I invited her to come to choir one night 112 00:05:02,803 --> 00:05:04,335 At this church that I was going to, 113 00:05:04,405 --> 00:05:07,339 And she came and seemed to really enjoy it, 114 00:05:07,341 --> 00:05:08,940 And so she joined the choir. 115 00:05:09,009 --> 00:05:11,543 - Was she a spiritual woman? Was she-- 116 00:05:11,612 --> 00:05:14,614 - I think she had a very much of a spiritual side to her. 117 00:05:14,681 --> 00:05:16,682 - They enjoyed her personality. 118 00:05:16,750 --> 00:05:19,751 You know, she could be very sort of sparkly and vivacious. 119 00:05:19,820 --> 00:05:22,287 I was impressed that she had so many close friends 120 00:05:22,289 --> 00:05:24,689 Who cared so much about her. 121 00:05:24,759 --> 00:05:28,293 - So because brittany's family members lived so far away, 122 00:05:28,361 --> 00:05:30,595 It was friends like joanna and brenda 123 00:05:30,597 --> 00:05:33,031 Who first tired to solve the puzzle of her absence 124 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:36,101 That week in July. - I called a few times, 125 00:05:36,169 --> 00:05:38,103 But I didn't hear anything. 126 00:05:38,171 --> 00:05:39,905 And then Thursday came, 127 00:05:39,907 --> 00:05:43,041 And I called Thursday, and I knew. 128 00:05:43,110 --> 00:05:46,245 I knew Thursday that something happened. 129 00:05:48,248 --> 00:05:50,248 - So brenda called brittany's family 130 00:05:50,317 --> 00:05:51,851 And they asked her to go 'round to the house, 131 00:05:51,918 --> 00:05:55,520 But, frankly, just looking at the place from the outside, 132 00:05:55,522 --> 00:05:58,723 She didn't see any sign of foul play. 133 00:05:58,725 --> 00:05:59,825 Back in portland, 134 00:05:59,893 --> 00:06:02,795 Brittany's sister pat didn't know quite what to do. 135 00:06:02,863 --> 00:06:04,664 - I actually happen to have a long-time friend 136 00:06:04,731 --> 00:06:06,399 Who's a police officer, so I called him, 137 00:06:06,466 --> 00:06:08,233 And I said, "what do we do?" 138 00:06:08,302 --> 00:06:11,136 And he says, "well, just get a locksmith. 139 00:06:11,138 --> 00:06:12,604 "send brenda back with a locksmith, 140 00:06:12,606 --> 00:06:15,407 "and have her go into the house." 141 00:06:15,475 --> 00:06:17,008 - Which, by now, several days 142 00:06:17,077 --> 00:06:20,546 After brittany dropped out of sight, brenda did. 143 00:06:20,614 --> 00:06:24,616 And inside, nothing seemed amiss, 144 00:06:24,684 --> 00:06:27,552 Although, she had apparently taken some of her pets, 145 00:06:27,621 --> 00:06:29,621 Her two little dogs. 146 00:06:29,690 --> 00:06:31,222 - Her dogs were gone, 147 00:06:31,291 --> 00:06:34,426 Huey and kuebear, her little white bichons. 148 00:06:34,495 --> 00:06:36,361 - But brittany also had cats, 149 00:06:36,429 --> 00:06:39,731 And they were still in the house alone. 150 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,567 - One of the doors was open for the cats to go in and out. 151 00:06:42,636 --> 00:06:45,770 - Some people do that, it's true. But brittany? 152 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,373 - Well, my sister loved her cats very, very much, 153 00:06:48,441 --> 00:06:50,842 And she would never just go away on a trip 154 00:06:50,911 --> 00:06:53,913 And leave them to fend for themselves. 155 00:06:53,980 --> 00:06:55,713 - Where had brittany gone? 156 00:06:55,782 --> 00:06:58,182 Why would she take her dogs, leave her cats, 157 00:06:58,251 --> 00:07:00,151 And take off, vanish, 158 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:02,387 On the very day she was all set to appear in court 159 00:07:02,455 --> 00:07:04,556 To resolve a bitter feud, 160 00:07:04,625 --> 00:07:06,658 A feud which she told her family 161 00:07:06,726 --> 00:07:08,994 Kept her in constant fear? 162 00:07:09,062 --> 00:07:10,662 - It was very strange that all of a sudden, 163 00:07:10,664 --> 00:07:12,998 The day that she was supposed to be in court, 164 00:07:13,066 --> 00:07:14,332 Now she's gone. 165 00:07:14,401 --> 00:07:17,403 - Brittany tavar was a master of reinvention. 166 00:07:17,471 --> 00:07:20,005 Had she simply run off for a fresh start? 167 00:07:20,007 --> 00:07:22,774 Or did something sinister happen to her? 168 00:07:25,712 --> 00:07:26,744 - Over the years, 169 00:07:26,813 --> 00:07:28,813 Eight different people lived in her spare room. 170 00:07:28,882 --> 00:07:30,682 - That's a very interesting thing 171 00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:33,351 That a single woman living on her own would do. 172 00:07:33,420 --> 00:07:36,154 - She wasn't really practical. I mean, the risk of it-- 173 00:07:36,223 --> 00:07:40,493 But I think she really liked the idea of helping people. 174 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,497 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 175 00:07:47,233 --> 00:07:51,069 ♪♪ 176 00:07:55,242 --> 00:07:58,109 - Something was off, something very wrong, 177 00:07:58,178 --> 00:08:00,979 Here in the dripping heat of the st. Augustine summer. 178 00:08:00,981 --> 00:08:03,114 Friends of brittany tavar had been unable to reach her 179 00:08:03,116 --> 00:08:06,117 For several days. - Everybody that knows brittany 180 00:08:06,119 --> 00:08:09,320 Knows that she would never just take up 181 00:08:09,389 --> 00:08:11,789 And leave like that without telling me. 182 00:08:11,858 --> 00:08:13,191 - So brittany's family, 183 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:16,595 Frantic but far away in opposite corners of the country, 184 00:08:16,597 --> 00:08:18,397 Called a locksmith, 185 00:08:18,465 --> 00:08:20,732 Asked brittany's friends to go inside her house, 186 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,566 Have a look around, 187 00:08:22,568 --> 00:08:25,737 And the place seemed perfectly normal, 188 00:08:25,805 --> 00:08:28,374 Except one or two little things 189 00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:31,476 Didn't quite make sense. - There were some anomalies, 190 00:08:31,545 --> 00:08:33,077 Like the air condition was blasting, 191 00:08:33,146 --> 00:08:35,547 And she never would have left the air condition blasting. 192 00:08:35,615 --> 00:08:37,282 - Oh, and there was one more thing, though. 193 00:08:37,350 --> 00:08:38,617 It wasn't so much as something wrong 194 00:08:38,685 --> 00:08:41,819 As it was just a little too right. 195 00:08:41,888 --> 00:08:43,622 One of the friends who searched brittany's house 196 00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:47,425 Was tim martin, a man brittany had been dating. 197 00:08:47,427 --> 00:08:49,994 - She was a little unorganized, but the house was very clean, 198 00:08:50,063 --> 00:08:51,362 And so it looked like maybe somebody 199 00:08:51,431 --> 00:08:53,565 Was going somewhere, but-- - somebody had 200 00:08:53,567 --> 00:08:56,035 Fixed the place up. - Yes. 201 00:08:56,102 --> 00:08:59,103 - The good news was, everything was tidy. 202 00:08:59,172 --> 00:09:01,373 There was no sign of a crime scene. 203 00:09:01,441 --> 00:09:04,442 The bad news is, the home looked too clean. 204 00:09:04,444 --> 00:09:06,311 - It certainly could be that brittany simply 205 00:09:06,379 --> 00:09:08,513 Cleaned the place more thoroughly than usual, 206 00:09:08,515 --> 00:09:10,181 Then packed up and left 207 00:09:10,250 --> 00:09:13,652 And left the back door open for the cats. 208 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,221 The police told the family that in the absence of foul play, 209 00:09:16,289 --> 00:09:17,989 There wasn't much they could do. 210 00:09:18,058 --> 00:09:19,924 No law against a grown woman 211 00:09:19,926 --> 00:09:22,193 Taking off without telling anyone. 212 00:09:22,262 --> 00:09:24,395 - We hired a private investigator 213 00:09:24,397 --> 00:09:27,732 Who started looking around to find something 214 00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:30,469 That would get the police involved in the case. 215 00:09:30,537 --> 00:09:32,537 - While the pi made his inquiries, 216 00:09:32,605 --> 00:09:33,539 Over the next few days, 217 00:09:33,607 --> 00:09:36,607 Brittany's family began their own investigation, 218 00:09:36,677 --> 00:09:40,545 And soon discovered a few very brittany-esque secrets, 219 00:09:40,613 --> 00:09:42,480 Things she had never told them about. 220 00:09:42,549 --> 00:09:44,415 - We didn't know that over the years, 221 00:09:44,417 --> 00:09:46,017 Eight different homeless people 222 00:09:46,086 --> 00:09:47,685 Lived in her spare room. 223 00:09:47,754 --> 00:09:51,356 She usually had some kind of an arrangement with these fellows 224 00:09:51,424 --> 00:09:52,824 That they would help her with stuff, 225 00:09:52,892 --> 00:09:54,959 Like the first guy helped with the yard work. 226 00:09:54,961 --> 00:09:56,695 I mean, she would never tell us that, 227 00:09:56,697 --> 00:09:59,131 Because, of course, we would say, "bad idea." 228 00:09:59,199 --> 00:10:00,398 - "what are you thinking?" yeah. 229 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,300 - You know, you can't just invite strangers 230 00:10:02,369 --> 00:10:03,968 To live in your house, you know? 231 00:10:04,037 --> 00:10:05,837 - That's a very interesting thing 232 00:10:05,906 --> 00:10:08,374 That a single woman living on her own would do. 233 00:10:08,441 --> 00:10:09,707 - She wasn't really practical. 234 00:10:09,776 --> 00:10:12,643 I mean, the risk of it-- either she would have dismissed it, 235 00:10:12,713 --> 00:10:15,380 Or maybe that was what was interesting about it. 236 00:10:15,382 --> 00:10:18,449 But I think she really liked the idea 237 00:10:18,451 --> 00:10:19,784 Of helping people. 238 00:10:19,786 --> 00:10:20,718 - It's kind of like bringing home 239 00:10:20,787 --> 00:10:22,120 A bird with a broken wing, 240 00:10:22,189 --> 00:10:23,922 And you're gonna fix it or something like that, and-- 241 00:10:23,924 --> 00:10:24,922 - Right. - Make it right. 242 00:10:24,991 --> 00:10:26,858 - Well, she also grew up in a family 243 00:10:26,860 --> 00:10:28,993 Where serving people and serving the poor 244 00:10:29,062 --> 00:10:33,464 Was just part of the environment that we lived in. 245 00:10:33,533 --> 00:10:35,067 - Brittany had recently been hosting 246 00:10:35,135 --> 00:10:38,336 A handsome young man named joe roberts 247 00:10:38,405 --> 00:10:40,940 Whom she had met at a barnes & noble store. 248 00:10:41,007 --> 00:10:43,408 - She was trying to start up some enterprise, 249 00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:46,211 And he was gonna help her do the computer work. 250 00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:49,280 - According to friends, brittany was a doting landlady. 251 00:10:49,349 --> 00:10:50,749 Bought young joe new clothes, 252 00:10:50,751 --> 00:10:52,350 Even a computer. 253 00:10:52,418 --> 00:10:53,751 Brittany's friends got to know him some 254 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:57,522 When she showed him off down at the serenata beach club. 255 00:10:57,524 --> 00:10:59,824 - Here she is. "joann. Joann. 256 00:10:59,893 --> 00:11:01,359 "I want you to meet the guy in the hot tub. 257 00:11:01,428 --> 00:11:03,828 "he's so good looking. He's so nice." 258 00:11:03,897 --> 00:11:07,031 - He seemed like he could be my brother, 259 00:11:07,033 --> 00:11:07,899 My younger brother. 260 00:11:07,968 --> 00:11:10,501 - He just seemed like such a nice guy 261 00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:14,306 And that he was just-- he just really wanted to try. 262 00:11:14,374 --> 00:11:16,374 - They accepted him as somebody brittany was 263 00:11:16,376 --> 00:11:19,444 Trying to help and who might help her. 264 00:11:19,446 --> 00:11:20,778 - Very charming. 265 00:11:20,847 --> 00:11:22,780 I thought he was well mannered. 266 00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:25,384 He thought the girls were really shallow his age, 267 00:11:25,452 --> 00:11:26,986 That they just wanted to go out and have, like, 268 00:11:27,053 --> 00:11:28,586 One night stands and he didn't want 269 00:11:28,655 --> 00:11:30,856 To be involved in relationships like that. 270 00:11:30,924 --> 00:11:35,860 He really wanted, uh, sincere relationships with women. 271 00:11:35,862 --> 00:11:39,197 - In addition to which he was, those women could plainly see, 272 00:11:39,199 --> 00:11:41,866 A bit of a hottie and of course 273 00:11:41,935 --> 00:11:43,735 You know how gossip can be. 274 00:11:43,737 --> 00:11:45,603 A good looking young guy that brittany 275 00:11:45,672 --> 00:11:47,939 Had treated very kindly. 276 00:11:48,008 --> 00:11:50,875 He stayed in the master bedroom? 277 00:11:50,944 --> 00:11:52,077 Where did she stay? 278 00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:55,414 - She had a room over by the pool, the swimming pool. 279 00:11:55,482 --> 00:11:57,416 She liked to listen to the fountain at night. 280 00:11:57,484 --> 00:11:59,083 It helped her sleep. 281 00:11:59,085 --> 00:12:00,818 - There had been speculation that there was 282 00:12:00,887 --> 00:12:03,821 Nothing romantic or sexual about 283 00:12:03,890 --> 00:12:05,623 Inviting this young man in? 284 00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:07,426 - You know, I joked with her about it. 285 00:12:07,494 --> 00:12:10,228 She would always say no, he likes megan fox 286 00:12:10,297 --> 00:12:12,363 And, you know, he's not interested. 287 00:12:12,432 --> 00:12:13,765 I'm too old. 288 00:12:15,902 --> 00:12:18,536 - Still, who really knew what went on 289 00:12:18,605 --> 00:12:20,438 Behind closed doors? 290 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,440 Anyway, they couldn't ask joe. 291 00:12:22,442 --> 00:12:23,842 He never stayed anywhere very long 292 00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:26,410 And he wasn't around anymore to shed light 293 00:12:26,479 --> 00:12:28,781 On his ex landlady's disappearance. 294 00:12:28,848 --> 00:12:31,249 So, still playing ametuer slueths, 295 00:12:31,317 --> 00:12:34,253 Brittany's family now asked the obvious question. 296 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,454 Was there anyone here in st. Augustine 297 00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:38,723 Who might want to harm brittany? 298 00:12:38,725 --> 00:12:42,726 And the answer was a resounding yes. 299 00:12:42,728 --> 00:12:46,064 Friends like joanna simmons told how at the serenata beach club 300 00:12:46,066 --> 00:12:48,466 In the days before she disappeared, 301 00:12:48,535 --> 00:12:50,335 Brittany seemed terrified. 302 00:12:50,337 --> 00:12:54,873 - I saw her one day leaving the, uh, hot tub area 303 00:12:54,875 --> 00:12:58,209 To go into the pool and she had this look of absolute terror 304 00:12:58,211 --> 00:12:59,878 On her face. 305 00:12:59,946 --> 00:13:04,282 - Why britney was terrified began with a very weird story 306 00:13:04,351 --> 00:13:06,351 About a neighbor she'd gotten to know. 307 00:13:06,353 --> 00:13:09,954 This woman, her name is ann lydon. 308 00:13:10,023 --> 00:13:13,825 - Everybody knew brittany and if she stopped you, 309 00:13:13,827 --> 00:13:16,761 She'd want to chat and, you know, get into your life. 310 00:13:16,829 --> 00:13:18,096 - You couldn't get away from her for a while. 311 00:13:18,098 --> 00:13:20,364 - No, she's a busybody. 312 00:13:20,366 --> 00:13:24,101 - And if ann doesn't speak very kindly of brittany now, 313 00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:26,204 You have to understand it was very different 314 00:13:26,272 --> 00:13:27,572 At the beginning. 315 00:13:27,574 --> 00:13:29,574 Then they were friendly enough to become partners 316 00:13:29,642 --> 00:13:31,777 In a little dog breeding venture. 317 00:13:31,845 --> 00:13:34,980 - She wanted to breed huey with one of mine. 318 00:13:35,048 --> 00:13:37,649 - But then complications. 319 00:13:37,717 --> 00:13:40,651 Brittany began a romance with a fellow named billy, 320 00:13:40,653 --> 00:13:42,987 Friend of ann and her husband's. 321 00:13:43,056 --> 00:13:45,791 Billy, uh, as the new boyfriend, moved right in 322 00:13:45,859 --> 00:13:48,193 And everything was hunky dory 323 00:13:48,261 --> 00:13:52,196 Until, well, love is unpredictable. 324 00:13:52,265 --> 00:13:54,932 And in this case, it didn't last. 325 00:13:55,001 --> 00:13:57,068 - They got into some stupid fight. 326 00:13:57,070 --> 00:14:00,471 So, billy calls up and said, "I'm coming to get my stuff." 327 00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:02,873 And, um, she said, "come by yourself." 328 00:14:02,943 --> 00:14:05,610 - But billy didn't go there alone. 329 00:14:05,678 --> 00:14:09,213 He was accompanied by ann lydon and her husband. 330 00:14:09,215 --> 00:14:11,016 - Brittany said, "don't come in the house." 331 00:14:11,084 --> 00:14:12,751 And they came in. 332 00:14:12,819 --> 00:14:15,020 - But she was cussing and screaming and whatever 333 00:14:15,088 --> 00:14:17,355 And, um, I said, "okay, I'm leaving." 334 00:14:17,357 --> 00:14:18,289 - What happened? 335 00:14:18,358 --> 00:14:20,825 - She hit me over the head with a wine bottle 336 00:14:20,893 --> 00:14:24,162 And she was sitting on top of me strangling me 337 00:14:24,164 --> 00:14:26,297 And michael and billy pulled her off. 338 00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:28,367 - Two sides to every story, of course. 339 00:14:28,434 --> 00:14:32,670 Brittany said ann and her two men refused to leave. 340 00:14:32,672 --> 00:14:35,106 - You would think that's her house. 341 00:14:35,174 --> 00:14:37,041 If I say, "get out of my house," 342 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:38,776 You should leave my house. 343 00:14:38,845 --> 00:14:40,778 - And yes, it was true they fought, said brittany, 344 00:14:40,847 --> 00:14:43,414 But in a report to police, brittany claimed 345 00:14:43,483 --> 00:14:44,816 She didn't start it. 346 00:14:44,885 --> 00:14:47,785 In fact, after the fight subsided, it was brittany 347 00:14:47,787 --> 00:14:51,956 Who called the police to accuse ann of assaulting her, but... 348 00:14:51,958 --> 00:14:53,023 - They went over and talked to ann 349 00:14:53,093 --> 00:14:56,761 And then they came back and arrested brittany. 350 00:14:56,830 --> 00:14:58,797 - Arrested brittany? 351 00:14:58,865 --> 00:15:00,132 But why her? 352 00:15:00,199 --> 00:15:02,266 - She admitted that she put her throw-- 353 00:15:02,335 --> 00:15:04,535 Her hand on ann's throat 354 00:15:04,604 --> 00:15:07,138 And-and they arrested her based on that. 355 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:09,007 - They charged brittany with battery. 356 00:15:09,009 --> 00:15:10,842 She spent the night in jail. 357 00:15:10,911 --> 00:15:12,544 It was a very traumatic experience 358 00:15:12,612 --> 00:15:14,212 And she called me up crying. 359 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,148 - In court, brittany was sentenced to probation, 360 00:15:17,216 --> 00:15:20,218 Anger management classes, community service, 361 00:15:20,287 --> 00:15:23,854 And a one year order to stay away from ann lydon. 362 00:15:23,923 --> 00:15:27,626 But ann, oddly perhaps, chose to be closer 363 00:15:27,694 --> 00:15:29,627 To brittany, at least physically. 364 00:15:29,696 --> 00:15:32,897 She and her husband joined brittany's sanctuary, 365 00:15:32,965 --> 00:15:34,765 The serenata beach club. 366 00:15:34,834 --> 00:15:37,101 - Felt so bad for her because that was a place 367 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:40,104 That she really, really got peace and she was able 368 00:15:40,173 --> 00:15:43,841 To socialize with people and then enjoy herself there, 369 00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:46,244 And then all of a sudden here they show up 370 00:15:46,246 --> 00:15:48,312 In the hot tub all the time. 371 00:15:48,381 --> 00:15:50,648 - And before long, the conflict-- 372 00:15:50,650 --> 00:15:54,585 The growing fear was all brittany could talk about. 373 00:15:54,654 --> 00:15:58,923 She was fearful for her life and I-- and I-I told her, 374 00:15:58,991 --> 00:16:01,192 Um, this could end up killing you. 375 00:16:03,463 --> 00:16:05,597 - Did brittany's terror drive her 376 00:16:05,665 --> 00:16:06,831 Hundreds of miles away? 377 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:08,867 - Her dogs were found roaming the streets 378 00:16:08,935 --> 00:16:10,268 And they were both found separately. 379 00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:11,670 - How did they manage to connect two dogs 380 00:16:11,738 --> 00:16:14,005 In columbia, south carolina to her? 381 00:16:14,007 --> 00:16:17,675 - That's just the beginning of a long, strange tale. 382 00:16:17,744 --> 00:16:20,345 - They were following her credit card transactions 383 00:16:20,413 --> 00:16:24,115 To north carolina, idaho, oregon. 384 00:16:24,183 --> 00:16:27,419 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 385 00:16:37,096 --> 00:16:39,897 - What a respite was the serenata beach club. 386 00:16:39,899 --> 00:16:43,768 What a lovely perch from which to enjoy the brilliant sun, 387 00:16:43,770 --> 00:16:46,971 The warm soothing currents. 388 00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:50,776 But on those summer days in 2010, events at the serenata 389 00:16:50,843 --> 00:16:53,077 Were perhaps a little too warm. 390 00:16:53,146 --> 00:16:55,646 Day after day, the sworn enemies faced each other 391 00:16:55,715 --> 00:16:58,816 Across swimming pools and hot tubs, 392 00:16:58,885 --> 00:17:01,519 And all the while brittany seethed with 393 00:17:01,587 --> 00:17:04,722 An expanding collection of insults and incidents 394 00:17:04,791 --> 00:17:07,592 Heaped on her by her ex friend ann. 395 00:17:07,660 --> 00:17:10,395 - I was like, brittany, can't you just let this go? 396 00:17:10,463 --> 00:17:12,263 And she just-- she couldn't let go of it. 397 00:17:12,332 --> 00:17:16,667 It was so-- it was sub-- an obsession actually. 398 00:17:16,736 --> 00:17:19,736 - Brittany accused ann of keying her car. 399 00:17:19,806 --> 00:17:22,540 So, she began carrying around a video camera 400 00:17:22,609 --> 00:17:27,411 As a kind of a visual bodyguard until the day when ann, 401 00:17:27,413 --> 00:17:30,715 Tired of being taped, swam over to the camera. 402 00:17:30,783 --> 00:17:34,085 At that point poolside inside brittany's bag. 403 00:17:34,153 --> 00:17:35,987 - Yes, and I knocked the camera in the pool. 404 00:17:37,423 --> 00:17:38,690 She pushed my buttons. 405 00:17:38,758 --> 00:17:40,358 She went around town-- the whole neighborhood-- 406 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,827 Everybody, "I'm scared for my life." 407 00:17:42,895 --> 00:17:45,029 - It was after the dunking of the video camera 408 00:17:45,031 --> 00:17:48,232 That brittany launched legal action against ann. 409 00:17:48,301 --> 00:17:50,836 By this time she invited joe roberts into her house 410 00:17:50,903 --> 00:17:53,838 And so she listed the help of the handsome young border 411 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,175 To prepare a dvd of the incident to show the judge. 412 00:17:57,177 --> 00:17:59,844 When she got to court, said brittany, 413 00:17:59,846 --> 00:18:02,179 She was going to tell that judge just how dangerous 414 00:18:02,248 --> 00:18:05,783 She believed ann was, and in fact she was afraid 415 00:18:05,852 --> 00:18:06,985 Ann was going to kill her. 416 00:18:07,053 --> 00:18:09,187 - I think all her friends made very clear she was 417 00:18:09,255 --> 00:18:11,189 Quite traumatized by this. 418 00:18:11,191 --> 00:18:14,859 She was just very, very much afraid of this ann. 419 00:18:14,861 --> 00:18:18,729 - The court date was Wednesday July 7th, 2010. 420 00:18:18,798 --> 00:18:20,397 The morning arrived. 421 00:18:20,466 --> 00:18:22,266 Ann came with her attorney. 422 00:18:22,335 --> 00:18:25,603 Sat in court waiting and waiting 423 00:18:25,671 --> 00:18:28,406 And brittany did not show. 424 00:18:28,408 --> 00:18:32,209 So, that was the very day she disappeared. 425 00:18:32,211 --> 00:18:35,412 A convenient repree for ann-- too convenient. 426 00:18:35,481 --> 00:18:38,883 Bizarre thought the crime reporter,justine griffin. 427 00:18:38,951 --> 00:18:42,487 In light of how important that court date was to brittany. 428 00:18:42,555 --> 00:18:44,622 - She had become very obsessed of-- 429 00:18:44,691 --> 00:18:45,756 With this restraining order. 430 00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:47,758 Everything she was doing was to basically make sure 431 00:18:47,827 --> 00:18:49,694 This restraining order was going through, 432 00:18:49,762 --> 00:18:52,229 - Perhaps brittany was afraid to show up. 433 00:18:52,298 --> 00:18:53,832 Afraid of what'd might happen? 434 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:56,834 These were not necessarily genteel ladies, then. 435 00:18:56,903 --> 00:18:58,235 - No, no. 436 00:18:58,304 --> 00:19:01,038 They seem to be very passionate about 437 00:19:01,107 --> 00:19:04,174 Hating each other, especially toward the end. 438 00:19:04,176 --> 00:19:06,643 - So, in the days following brittany's disappearance, 439 00:19:06,713 --> 00:19:08,780 Some people around town wondered just how much 440 00:19:08,848 --> 00:19:12,650 Ann lydon knew or what she might have to do with it. 441 00:19:12,719 --> 00:19:16,187 After all, if anybody had a motive it was ann. 442 00:19:16,189 --> 00:19:18,924 Had all the anger, the emotion, the bitterness 443 00:19:18,991 --> 00:19:22,526 Finally culminated in some violent confrontation? 444 00:19:22,595 --> 00:19:24,796 Were they looking at you as a suspect, you think? 445 00:19:24,864 --> 00:19:26,397 The media. - Of course they're gonna-- 446 00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:27,865 That's the first thing you're going to think of. 447 00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:30,534 I already had all the news and the helicopters 448 00:19:30,603 --> 00:19:34,939 And all that, you know, filming the front of my house. 449 00:19:35,007 --> 00:19:37,875 - The local police department got wind of it of course. 450 00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:39,810 - That's basically where detectives 451 00:19:39,879 --> 00:19:41,346 Started asking questions. 452 00:19:41,414 --> 00:19:45,484 - But not very many questions and not for long. 453 00:19:45,551 --> 00:19:47,252 In fact, according to ann, 454 00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:50,655 There was really only one thing those detectives asked her. 455 00:19:50,723 --> 00:19:54,426 Did she know anything about where her arch enemy had gone? 456 00:19:54,493 --> 00:19:56,227 What did you tell them? 457 00:19:56,295 --> 00:19:57,428 - I haven't seen her. 458 00:19:57,496 --> 00:19:59,496 He goes, "that's all I need to know." 459 00:19:59,565 --> 00:20:00,966 Never heard from her again. 460 00:20:01,033 --> 00:20:02,499 - And poof! 461 00:20:02,568 --> 00:20:05,035 Just like that, the police ruled out 462 00:20:05,037 --> 00:20:07,771 Any involvement on the part of ann lydon. 463 00:20:07,841 --> 00:20:10,374 There were other reasons too, of course, for doing that. 464 00:20:10,376 --> 00:20:12,310 One of which was that brittany was just fine 465 00:20:12,378 --> 00:20:14,912 The day before she failed to show up in court. 466 00:20:14,914 --> 00:20:17,982 - They had surveillance footage at this gas station 467 00:20:17,984 --> 00:20:19,651 That showed her getting out of her car, 468 00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:21,986 Putting gas in it, and then driving away. 469 00:20:22,054 --> 00:20:23,522 Nothing unusual. 470 00:20:23,589 --> 00:20:25,856 - And between the time that video 471 00:20:25,858 --> 00:20:27,324 Was recorded on July 6th 472 00:20:27,393 --> 00:20:28,659 Then court the next morning, 473 00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:31,929 It turned out ann lydon had an unassailable alibi. 474 00:20:31,998 --> 00:20:35,667 So, what could brittany's family do? 475 00:20:35,735 --> 00:20:37,034 Through all their efforts, 476 00:20:37,103 --> 00:20:38,203 They couldn't persuade the police 477 00:20:38,271 --> 00:20:39,536 That a crime had occurred, 478 00:20:39,605 --> 00:20:42,273 That something bad may have happened to brittany, 479 00:20:42,275 --> 00:20:44,809 And thus the investigation stalled. 480 00:20:44,811 --> 00:20:47,279 So, those who loved brittany had no choice 481 00:20:47,346 --> 00:20:50,548 But to follow what leads there were on their own. 482 00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:52,683 - We were keeping cool heads and being vigilant, 483 00:20:52,752 --> 00:20:54,219 Trying to do everything possible, 484 00:20:54,287 --> 00:20:57,087 Coaxing them to do things they hadn't done. 485 00:20:57,156 --> 00:21:00,324 "did my sister go on a cruise? 486 00:21:00,393 --> 00:21:03,360 "did she leave town for a week or something? 487 00:21:03,429 --> 00:21:04,428 "search this area. 488 00:21:04,430 --> 00:21:05,763 "you haven't searched this area. 489 00:21:05,765 --> 00:21:07,431 Why haven't you done this?" 490 00:21:07,501 --> 00:21:09,834 - But they also hired a private investigator, 491 00:21:09,902 --> 00:21:12,169 Remember, and he had an idea. 492 00:21:12,238 --> 00:21:14,138 If they couldn't find brittany, 493 00:21:14,206 --> 00:21:17,676 Maybe somehow they could find her dogs. 494 00:21:17,743 --> 00:21:19,276 - We were checking the pounds. 495 00:21:19,345 --> 00:21:20,978 We were doing anything and everything 496 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:22,579 You can possibly imagine. 497 00:21:22,648 --> 00:21:25,283 - Word about the dogs spread 498 00:21:25,352 --> 00:21:27,052 And a week after brittany's disappearance, 499 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,454 A call came in and what do you know? 500 00:21:30,456 --> 00:21:31,922 - A tiny white dog. 501 00:21:31,991 --> 00:21:33,657 - It looked like a rabbit at first. 502 00:21:33,659 --> 00:21:37,062 - Her dogs were found in columbia, south carolina. 503 00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:38,796 - Ah. - Without collars. 504 00:21:38,865 --> 00:21:40,130 Just roaming the streets, 505 00:21:40,199 --> 00:21:41,198 And they were both found separately. 506 00:21:41,267 --> 00:21:42,534 - How did they manage to connect two dogs 507 00:21:42,601 --> 00:21:44,868 In columbia, south carolina, to her? 508 00:21:44,937 --> 00:21:46,805 - She had the microchips implanted in the dogs 509 00:21:46,872 --> 00:21:48,405 With her information on them, 510 00:21:48,474 --> 00:21:51,008 So the veterinary clinic were able to scan them 511 00:21:51,077 --> 00:21:53,143 And figured out that these dogs were from florida. 512 00:21:53,145 --> 00:21:55,279 - And belong to brittany. 513 00:21:55,347 --> 00:21:57,281 - They belonged to brittany, yep. 514 00:21:57,283 --> 00:21:59,217 - Now all of the sudden the case broke loose, 515 00:21:59,285 --> 00:22:02,152 Because one of the dogs is found two or three states away. 516 00:22:02,221 --> 00:22:03,888 No tags. 517 00:22:03,956 --> 00:22:08,959 Um, now finally there's probable cause. 518 00:22:09,028 --> 00:22:09,928 There's no question. 519 00:22:09,930 --> 00:22:11,896 That was, uh, a key-- a key break. 520 00:22:11,964 --> 00:22:13,564 - That was enough to get the police involved, 521 00:22:13,632 --> 00:22:15,299 But unfortunately, at that point, 522 00:22:15,367 --> 00:22:19,570 It was 11 days after she disappeared. 523 00:22:19,572 --> 00:22:22,773 - Finally, st. Augustine police took over 524 00:22:22,775 --> 00:22:25,542 From the band of amateur sleuths. 525 00:22:25,611 --> 00:22:27,978 Pat flew to florida to do what she could to help, 526 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:30,582 Met with the police, did the rounds of local media, 527 00:22:30,649 --> 00:22:32,450 Tried to keep the search for in her sister 528 00:22:32,518 --> 00:22:34,919 Front and center in the public mind. 529 00:22:34,921 --> 00:22:37,187 - The family long ago ruled out any possibility 530 00:22:37,189 --> 00:22:40,858 That this is just a purely innocent, uh, 531 00:22:40,927 --> 00:22:41,925 Departure for her. 532 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:43,927 I mean, you know, that just is not possible 533 00:22:43,996 --> 00:22:45,463 That she would abandon her pets and-- 534 00:22:45,465 --> 00:22:47,932 And, you know, stop calling her friends. 535 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,934 I really felt that it was a short-- 536 00:22:50,002 --> 00:22:51,802 A brief window of opportunity 537 00:22:51,871 --> 00:22:54,204 While there was still some publicity about the case, 538 00:22:54,273 --> 00:22:55,273 And then people will move on. 539 00:22:55,341 --> 00:22:56,807 There will be other stories. 540 00:22:56,809 --> 00:22:58,809 - Quite reasonable worry, 541 00:22:58,878 --> 00:23:00,411 Especially when the search for brittany 542 00:23:00,479 --> 00:23:03,080 Seemed to be going nowhere. 543 00:23:03,082 --> 00:23:06,084 - Her picture had been everywhere, 544 00:23:06,152 --> 00:23:09,753 And had she been anywhere, somebody in florida-- 545 00:23:09,755 --> 00:23:11,755 Somebody would have seen her picture. 546 00:23:11,824 --> 00:23:15,092 That's why we started to think she really has disappeared. 547 00:23:15,161 --> 00:23:17,361 - And then, suddenly, a break. 548 00:23:17,363 --> 00:23:19,097 Almost two weeks after brittany disappeared, 549 00:23:19,165 --> 00:23:20,564 The police finally picked up her trail. 550 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:24,568 Looked like she was on a long, winding road trip. 551 00:23:24,637 --> 00:23:27,237 What they found were her credit card transactions, 552 00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:29,907 Which headed north from florida to south carolina 553 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:31,575 Where her dogs were found. 554 00:23:31,644 --> 00:23:34,244 - They were following her credit card transactions. 555 00:23:34,313 --> 00:23:36,313 There were transactions in north carolina, 556 00:23:36,315 --> 00:23:39,050 Idaho, oregon. 557 00:23:39,118 --> 00:23:42,286 - The question was, was brittany alone? 558 00:23:42,355 --> 00:23:43,787 Or was she with someone else? 559 00:23:43,789 --> 00:23:46,390 Was she the driver? The willing passenger? 560 00:23:46,459 --> 00:23:48,859 Or was there something else going on? 561 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:53,197 - And what about that young drifter 562 00:23:53,199 --> 00:23:55,365 Who disappeared along with brittany? 563 00:23:55,434 --> 00:23:57,801 - He said, "I'm not what people think I am," 564 00:23:57,870 --> 00:23:59,670 And I thought, "wonder what that means?" 565 00:23:59,672 --> 00:24:01,740 - They thought maybe the two of them had just left, 566 00:24:01,807 --> 00:24:04,074 Could have just gone on a trip together, just left town. 567 00:24:04,143 --> 00:24:07,478 - You realize that something irreversible has happened. 568 00:24:07,546 --> 00:24:11,149 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 569 00:24:14,153 --> 00:24:18,822 ♪♪ 570 00:24:18,891 --> 00:24:21,558 Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 571 00:24:21,627 --> 00:24:22,893 I'm craig melvin. 572 00:24:22,962 --> 00:24:25,497 Brittany tavar had generously opened her home 573 00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:28,365 To people who needed a place to stay, 574 00:24:28,434 --> 00:24:32,704 But brittany kept details of these relationships a secret, 575 00:24:32,771 --> 00:24:35,239 And now she was gone. 576 00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:38,042 Investigators discovered a trail of digital breadcrumbs 577 00:24:38,110 --> 00:24:39,977 Leading across the country, 578 00:24:39,979 --> 00:24:43,580 And the race was on to catch up to her. 579 00:24:43,649 --> 00:24:47,985 Back to keith morrison with "the stranger." 580 00:24:47,987 --> 00:24:50,988 - A spouse is late for dinner. 581 00:24:51,057 --> 00:24:53,525 A teenager stays out all night. 582 00:24:53,592 --> 00:24:55,192 The awful, sinking feeling 583 00:24:55,261 --> 00:24:58,529 When a loved one is out of touch. 584 00:24:58,597 --> 00:25:00,531 Usually, of course, everything rights itself, 585 00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:03,934 But not for the family of brittany tavar. 586 00:25:04,003 --> 00:25:07,471 In July of 2010, they found themselves stuck fast 587 00:25:07,473 --> 00:25:09,940 In the purgatory of missing persons, 588 00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:12,142 The place where families must go to wait, 589 00:25:12,211 --> 00:25:15,145 For what they do not know. 590 00:25:15,214 --> 00:25:18,682 - You alternate between, "it's not real. 591 00:25:18,751 --> 00:25:20,484 "it isn't really happening." 592 00:25:20,553 --> 00:25:22,587 To having these terrible, terrible moments 593 00:25:22,655 --> 00:25:26,891 Where you realize that something irreversible has happened. 594 00:25:26,959 --> 00:25:28,926 - Brittany's two little dogs had been found, 595 00:25:28,995 --> 00:25:30,427 Abandoned by the side of the road, 596 00:25:30,496 --> 00:25:32,496 Three states away in south carolina. 597 00:25:32,565 --> 00:25:34,431 Brittany loved those dogs, 598 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:36,500 Would never abandon them, 599 00:25:36,569 --> 00:25:38,835 And yet, the credit card record 600 00:25:38,904 --> 00:25:41,438 Made it look like she had done exactly that, 601 00:25:41,507 --> 00:25:43,307 That she'd been driving her car 602 00:25:43,375 --> 00:25:46,877 Clear across the country. 603 00:25:46,946 --> 00:25:50,180 At last, a nationwide alert was issued for brittany's car. 604 00:25:50,249 --> 00:25:53,517 Now with the whole nation's law enforcement on watch, 605 00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:55,854 The answer to what happened to brittany tavar 606 00:25:55,921 --> 00:25:57,854 Should not be long in coming. 607 00:25:57,923 --> 00:26:00,257 The family held its collective breath, 608 00:26:00,326 --> 00:26:02,793 Waited, and hoped. 609 00:26:02,862 --> 00:26:04,595 - We were dealing with the bank authorities, 610 00:26:04,597 --> 00:26:06,330 And they were talking to the police. 611 00:26:06,332 --> 00:26:08,999 If there's any activity, one guy had a pager on him 612 00:26:09,068 --> 00:26:10,367 With one of the cards. 613 00:26:10,436 --> 00:26:12,736 If anybody tries to put anything through on this card, 614 00:26:12,738 --> 00:26:16,073 Our guy's pager's gonna go off. 615 00:26:16,075 --> 00:26:16,940 - By now, the local police had been joined 616 00:26:17,009 --> 00:26:19,476 By u.S. Marshals and the fbi. 617 00:26:19,545 --> 00:26:22,346 And attention now turned to the young man 618 00:26:22,414 --> 00:26:24,015 Who'd been living at brittany's house, 619 00:26:24,083 --> 00:26:26,216 The one she'd been showing off at the beach club, 620 00:26:26,218 --> 00:26:27,886 26 year old joe roberts. 621 00:26:27,953 --> 00:26:30,288 It seems that joe had left 622 00:26:30,356 --> 00:26:34,158 Around the same time as brittany disappeared, 623 00:26:34,226 --> 00:26:36,961 And police now had to consider the distinct possibility 624 00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:39,163 That brittany had simply washed her hands 625 00:26:39,165 --> 00:26:41,298 Of the feud with ann lydon 626 00:26:41,367 --> 00:26:45,302 And taken off on a cross-country trip with young joe. 627 00:26:45,304 --> 00:26:49,573 For justine griffin, that only made the story more interesting. 628 00:26:49,575 --> 00:26:53,510 - I mean, living in her house for free, so... 629 00:26:53,512 --> 00:26:54,579 - Makes you think, doesn't it? 630 00:26:54,647 --> 00:26:56,780 - Yeah. They thought maybe the two of them had just left, 631 00:26:56,849 --> 00:26:58,049 Could have just gone on a trip together, 632 00:26:58,117 --> 00:26:59,516 Just left town. 633 00:26:59,585 --> 00:27:02,186 - So, really, it was all speculation. 634 00:27:02,254 --> 00:27:05,756 In fact, nobody had a clue what those two did. 635 00:27:05,825 --> 00:27:08,592 And then another lucky break, 636 00:27:08,661 --> 00:27:10,127 Or it seemed lucky. 637 00:27:10,195 --> 00:27:11,862 The good news in mid-July-- 638 00:27:11,864 --> 00:27:14,932 Police found out that just four days after brittany vanished, 639 00:27:14,934 --> 00:27:18,135 A cop stopped her toyota on a highway out west, 640 00:27:18,203 --> 00:27:22,272 But brittany wasn't driving. Joe was. 641 00:27:22,341 --> 00:27:25,944 - On July 11th, uh, roberts was actually stopped by police 642 00:27:26,011 --> 00:27:28,412 In wyoming for speeding. 643 00:27:28,414 --> 00:27:29,813 - The bad news? 644 00:27:29,882 --> 00:27:32,416 That cop stopped the car before the alert went out. 645 00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:36,087 He wasn't looking for the car or brittany or anybody. 646 00:27:36,155 --> 00:27:38,689 He said he didn't recall seeing a passenger, 647 00:27:38,758 --> 00:27:41,058 But then, he wasn't looking for one. 648 00:27:41,126 --> 00:27:42,292 - They let him go with a warning. 649 00:27:42,361 --> 00:27:45,830 - And now that car and whoever was in it was long gone. 650 00:27:45,898 --> 00:27:48,165 But that stop triggered a serious effort 651 00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:50,300 To find joe roberts. 652 00:27:50,302 --> 00:27:51,635 - It was after that 653 00:27:51,637 --> 00:27:55,773 That they had released an arrest warrant for him 654 00:27:55,775 --> 00:27:58,308 With grand theft charges. 655 00:27:58,377 --> 00:28:00,511 - So the investigation took a turn, 656 00:28:00,579 --> 00:28:02,380 The police hoping that finding roberts 657 00:28:02,448 --> 00:28:04,649 Would lead to finding brittany. 658 00:28:04,717 --> 00:28:08,051 They went on tv hoping to raise public awareness. 659 00:28:08,053 --> 00:28:11,254 - We believe that they, uh, car's gonna relate to people 660 00:28:11,323 --> 00:28:13,924 More so than him, 661 00:28:13,992 --> 00:28:17,661 Because it's a rav4 dark blue color vehicle 662 00:28:17,663 --> 00:28:19,197 With florida tags. 663 00:28:19,264 --> 00:28:22,733 He pretty much can blend in with any crowd. 664 00:28:22,801 --> 00:28:24,801 - Trouble was, police soon discovered, 665 00:28:24,870 --> 00:28:27,205 That only a few days after brittany disappeared, 666 00:28:27,272 --> 00:28:29,539 Just after the time of that traffic stop, 667 00:28:29,608 --> 00:28:32,944 The credit card trail abruptly ended. 668 00:28:33,011 --> 00:28:34,879 They must have stopped using the card, 669 00:28:34,947 --> 00:28:37,714 And without the credit card trail, 670 00:28:37,716 --> 00:28:41,284 The police had no idea where roberts and brittany were now, 671 00:28:41,353 --> 00:28:43,888 Or if they were even still together, 672 00:28:43,956 --> 00:28:46,490 And if not, where was she, 673 00:28:46,492 --> 00:28:48,759 And what was he up to? 674 00:28:48,827 --> 00:28:50,227 - What we're concerned about 675 00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:52,162 Is did he meet someone else at a coffee shop? 676 00:28:52,231 --> 00:28:54,364 And is he living in someone's house right now? 677 00:28:54,433 --> 00:28:56,434 And that's why I think it's very important 678 00:28:56,502 --> 00:28:59,603 To get this story out as much as possible. 679 00:28:59,671 --> 00:29:02,906 - And all that effort finally produced another break, 680 00:29:02,975 --> 00:29:07,111 Or what seemed like a break and justine's next big story. 681 00:29:07,179 --> 00:29:11,048 Police discovered somebody caught roberts on videotape 682 00:29:11,050 --> 00:29:14,117 Just four days after he and brittany disappeared. 683 00:29:14,119 --> 00:29:15,652 - There was surveillance footage of him 684 00:29:15,721 --> 00:29:19,524 Walking into a walmart in ontario, oregon, 685 00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:22,659 And him buying a tent and some clothes. 686 00:29:22,661 --> 00:29:24,729 - Just him. No brittany. 687 00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:28,265 But, again, by the time somebody found the walmart video 688 00:29:28,267 --> 00:29:30,333 And got it to the florida police, 689 00:29:30,402 --> 00:29:32,936 Roberts was nowhere to be found. 690 00:29:32,938 --> 00:29:34,938 - So they had alerted police in that area, 691 00:29:35,007 --> 00:29:36,607 Had started putting out flyers. 692 00:29:36,675 --> 00:29:38,942 It looked like from-- once he got to the walmart, 693 00:29:38,944 --> 00:29:40,677 He was going to go off the grid 694 00:29:40,746 --> 00:29:43,480 With his tent to live in the woods. 695 00:29:43,549 --> 00:29:46,082 - But just who was this kid anyway? 696 00:29:46,151 --> 00:29:49,953 What was his story before brittany took him in? 697 00:29:50,022 --> 00:29:53,757 Oh, a lesson in recent history seemed in order-- 698 00:29:53,825 --> 00:29:57,427 The curious story of young joe roberts. 699 00:29:57,429 --> 00:29:58,995 - He said to me something really interesting 700 00:29:59,064 --> 00:30:01,498 Which I thought was-- kind of stopped me for a second. 701 00:30:01,567 --> 00:30:05,436 He goes, "I'm not what people think I am," 702 00:30:05,504 --> 00:30:08,539 And I thought, "wonder what that means?" 703 00:30:10,676 --> 00:30:12,976 - That strange and charming drifter-- 704 00:30:12,978 --> 00:30:14,845 Was he hiding a shady past? 705 00:30:14,847 --> 00:30:16,713 - Well, he would just sleep in his car, 706 00:30:16,715 --> 00:30:19,115 But this is how he came to know a few other women 707 00:30:19,184 --> 00:30:20,851 In st. Augustine. - The more I got to know him, 708 00:30:20,853 --> 00:30:23,520 The more he started scaring me. 709 00:30:23,522 --> 00:30:27,424 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 710 00:30:31,296 --> 00:30:37,734 ♪♪ 711 00:30:37,803 --> 00:30:39,903 - It's a strange thing, rather cruel, actually, 712 00:30:39,972 --> 00:30:41,805 How an answer so desperately sought 713 00:30:41,873 --> 00:30:44,174 Can slip away just at the moment of capture. 714 00:30:44,176 --> 00:30:46,343 Police had finally sniffed out the trail 715 00:30:46,411 --> 00:30:49,079 Left by joe roberts, the one person 716 00:30:49,147 --> 00:30:52,616 Who seemed to know what happened to brittany tavar, 717 00:30:52,685 --> 00:30:54,752 But before they could catch up to joe, 718 00:30:54,820 --> 00:30:58,755 He was gone in a puff of oregon fog. 719 00:30:58,757 --> 00:31:02,626 - The investigators had alerted, uh, police and law enforcement 720 00:31:02,694 --> 00:31:04,227 All the way up through washington, 721 00:31:04,296 --> 00:31:06,429 Past seattle in the pacific northwest, 722 00:31:06,498 --> 00:31:08,898 'cause they thought he was headed in that direction. 723 00:31:08,967 --> 00:31:11,969 - Meanwhile, investigators warned brittany's family. 724 00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:13,404 - Well, they were telling me he had a history 725 00:31:13,472 --> 00:31:15,572 Of falling off the radar screen. 726 00:31:15,641 --> 00:31:19,076 - And sure enough, that's just what he did. 727 00:31:19,078 --> 00:31:21,578 And days turned into weeks. 728 00:31:21,580 --> 00:31:22,913 Summer turned into fall. 729 00:31:22,915 --> 00:31:24,781 No sign of him. 730 00:31:24,850 --> 00:31:28,184 Police suspicions turned darker. 731 00:31:28,253 --> 00:31:29,919 - I think it's important for us here in florida 732 00:31:29,989 --> 00:31:31,455 Not to lose interest 733 00:31:31,457 --> 00:31:33,590 And to not just be thinking and puttin' it off 734 00:31:33,592 --> 00:31:34,925 As this guy is, you know, 2,000 miles away, 735 00:31:34,993 --> 00:31:37,193 'cause he might still be in our backyard 736 00:31:37,262 --> 00:31:39,596 Or comin' back to our backyard, for all we know. 737 00:31:39,598 --> 00:31:41,532 - Life went on for the rest of the world, 738 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:43,867 But not for those who loved brittany tavar, 739 00:31:43,935 --> 00:31:45,803 And who knew full well 740 00:31:45,871 --> 00:31:48,538 That time is not on the side of the missing. 741 00:31:48,607 --> 00:31:50,807 - I really did feel that the more time went on, 742 00:31:50,809 --> 00:31:53,543 The less likely we would be to find him. 743 00:31:53,612 --> 00:31:57,080 - Brittany's family found themselves in kind of limbo, 744 00:31:57,082 --> 00:31:59,550 A barren landscape shared by more people 745 00:31:59,618 --> 00:32:02,285 Than they had ever imagined was possible. 746 00:32:02,287 --> 00:32:04,287 - People would say to me, "oh, you need to talk to so-and-so. 747 00:32:04,356 --> 00:32:06,356 "his sister disappeared." 748 00:32:06,425 --> 00:32:09,359 There are hundreds of thousands of missing persons, 749 00:32:09,361 --> 00:32:12,363 Um, all heartbreaking stories, 750 00:32:12,431 --> 00:32:15,298 And you're just a number in a pool of people 751 00:32:15,367 --> 00:32:18,168 Who are going through this or who have gone through this. 752 00:32:18,170 --> 00:32:20,037 - Back in florida, 753 00:32:20,039 --> 00:32:22,439 Police had been digging up everything they could find 754 00:32:22,507 --> 00:32:24,375 About joe roberts. 755 00:32:24,443 --> 00:32:26,777 As crime reporter justine griffin learned, 756 00:32:26,845 --> 00:32:29,713 Joe had been on the road roaming the country, 757 00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:32,716 Ran out of money about the time he got to st. Augustine 758 00:32:32,718 --> 00:32:35,985 Where he began living off the kindness of local women. 759 00:32:36,055 --> 00:32:38,455 - Came here and got a job 760 00:32:38,523 --> 00:32:40,657 Working as a clerk at a kangaroo gas station, 761 00:32:40,726 --> 00:32:41,925 And, uh, I guess when he couldn't afford 762 00:32:41,993 --> 00:32:44,594 To stay at a local motel, he would just sleep in his car, 763 00:32:44,596 --> 00:32:46,463 But this is how he came to know 764 00:32:46,465 --> 00:32:49,799 A few other women in st. Augustine. 765 00:32:49,801 --> 00:32:51,334 - One of them was a coworker, 766 00:32:51,403 --> 00:32:54,204 A single mother named cheryl davenport. 767 00:32:54,272 --> 00:32:56,606 As joe needed a place to stay, 768 00:32:56,608 --> 00:32:58,675 Cheryl invited him to her place, 769 00:32:58,744 --> 00:33:00,677 Put him a spare bedroom right down the hall 770 00:33:00,746 --> 00:33:03,213 From cheryl and her two little children. 771 00:33:03,282 --> 00:33:04,548 - He was a nice guy. 772 00:33:04,616 --> 00:33:07,083 He was always really good around the kids. 773 00:33:07,152 --> 00:33:09,352 - So cheryl wasn't worried about joe-- 774 00:33:09,421 --> 00:33:10,620 No reason to be, apparently. 775 00:33:10,689 --> 00:33:12,822 - Joe has too much of a pretty boy face. 776 00:33:12,891 --> 00:33:14,558 He wasn't very intimidating at all. 777 00:33:14,626 --> 00:33:17,361 I think I was more intimidating than he was. 778 00:33:17,429 --> 00:33:19,897 - But then cheryl began to tell us 779 00:33:19,965 --> 00:33:23,300 Some rather more disturbing things about joe. 780 00:33:23,302 --> 00:33:26,236 - He told me that the reason why he left home, 781 00:33:26,304 --> 00:33:28,705 He had run some type of internet scheme 782 00:33:28,774 --> 00:33:30,907 To where he was getting people's credit card numbers 783 00:33:30,976 --> 00:33:32,375 And stuff like that. 784 00:33:32,377 --> 00:33:35,712 And they had found out, and so he took off. 785 00:33:35,781 --> 00:33:37,782 - He confessed this to you? - Yeah. 786 00:33:37,849 --> 00:33:40,250 And he said that him and his family don't get along, 787 00:33:40,252 --> 00:33:43,119 Because they believe he has mental issues, 788 00:33:43,188 --> 00:33:45,455 Severely messed up in the head, 789 00:33:45,457 --> 00:33:48,725 And that he was convinced he didn't have issues. 790 00:33:48,794 --> 00:33:50,260 - When he moved in, said cheryl, 791 00:33:50,328 --> 00:33:52,529 He told her he used to have a drug problem, 792 00:33:52,597 --> 00:33:54,198 But swore he'd stay clean, 793 00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:57,200 Certainly at least while living with cheryl and her family. 794 00:33:57,269 --> 00:33:58,935 - He actually looked for a job 795 00:33:59,004 --> 00:34:01,071 For the first month. 796 00:34:01,073 --> 00:34:04,274 And then he slowly just got lazier and lazier. 797 00:34:04,276 --> 00:34:06,810 - What was he doing? - He was going on drug binges. 798 00:34:06,812 --> 00:34:09,746 That's when the anger, like, started coming out. 799 00:34:09,815 --> 00:34:12,415 The more I got to know him, the more he started scaring me, 800 00:34:12,484 --> 00:34:14,218 And the more he started upsetting me. 801 00:34:14,286 --> 00:34:16,419 - And that's when she says she demanded 802 00:34:16,488 --> 00:34:18,688 That joe get out of her house. 803 00:34:18,690 --> 00:34:19,823 And then... 804 00:34:19,825 --> 00:34:22,091 - He was about this close into my face, 805 00:34:22,161 --> 00:34:23,760 And he went like this, 806 00:34:23,829 --> 00:34:25,696 Like he was gonna punch me in the face. 807 00:34:25,764 --> 00:34:28,499 And I just looked at him with a dead stare 808 00:34:28,567 --> 00:34:29,567 And I was like, "joe," 809 00:34:29,634 --> 00:34:30,901 I was like, "I swear to god, if you hit me, 810 00:34:30,969 --> 00:34:34,771 I will take you down." [laughing] 811 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:38,109 - So he left and found brittany, 812 00:34:38,176 --> 00:34:40,109 Who police would learn told her friends 813 00:34:40,179 --> 00:34:41,778 Not long before she disappeared 814 00:34:41,847 --> 00:34:45,716 That she was getting a little exasperated with joe, too. 815 00:34:45,784 --> 00:34:47,650 - She said that, um, she would come home, 816 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,386 And he would have gone through her stuff 817 00:34:50,455 --> 00:34:52,922 And that they got in a few little fights. 818 00:34:52,991 --> 00:34:55,192 I was kind of worried. I asked her about them. 819 00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:59,463 You know, she would go, "no, it's okay, it's okay." 820 00:34:59,531 --> 00:35:02,065 - Did you warn her? - No, I did, I did. 821 00:35:02,067 --> 00:35:04,934 I warned her about having people into her house. 822 00:35:05,003 --> 00:35:07,671 - And now still no word. 823 00:35:07,673 --> 00:35:09,205 - We still didn't stop believing 824 00:35:09,274 --> 00:35:11,541 That there was a chance that she was alive. 825 00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:13,744 - Police rededicated their efforts 826 00:35:13,812 --> 00:35:16,179 To find the elusive joe roberts. 827 00:35:16,181 --> 00:35:19,816 - We are looking for him. There's no question about that. 828 00:35:19,818 --> 00:35:22,553 - Then sure enough. 829 00:35:22,621 --> 00:35:24,955 - We figured it would be something trite or petty 830 00:35:25,023 --> 00:35:27,224 That he'd get caught for. 831 00:35:27,292 --> 00:35:29,560 Sure enough, that's what happened. 832 00:35:32,131 --> 00:35:33,897 - The drifter makes a mistake, 833 00:35:33,899 --> 00:35:36,834 And brittany's family learns the truth. 834 00:35:36,902 --> 00:35:39,169 - It's just chilling for me to think about that. 835 00:35:39,237 --> 00:35:43,140 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 836 00:35:47,211 --> 00:35:50,914 ♪♪ 837 00:35:50,982 --> 00:35:52,649 - Welcome back. 838 00:35:52,717 --> 00:35:54,185 The search for brittany tavar 839 00:35:54,252 --> 00:35:57,320 Became a hunt for her secretive roommate, 840 00:35:57,389 --> 00:36:00,256 A drifter named joe roberts. 841 00:36:00,325 --> 00:36:02,326 He was the one person who could answer 842 00:36:02,394 --> 00:36:04,261 Whether brittany was still alive, 843 00:36:04,263 --> 00:36:09,199 But roberts had been good at covering his tracks so far. 844 00:36:09,267 --> 00:36:12,135 Now police were hoping he would slip up. 845 00:36:12,203 --> 00:36:13,269 Here's keith morrison 846 00:36:13,338 --> 00:36:16,340 With the conclusion of the stranger. 847 00:36:16,408 --> 00:36:18,742 - For three long months, brittany tavar 848 00:36:18,810 --> 00:36:20,810 Was just missing. 849 00:36:20,879 --> 00:36:23,280 And all the searching since by agencies 850 00:36:23,348 --> 00:36:25,748 From the canadian mounties to the fbi 851 00:36:25,817 --> 00:36:29,352 Had produced no sign of brittany or joe roberts, 852 00:36:29,421 --> 00:36:31,821 The young boarder who disappeared along with her. 853 00:36:31,890 --> 00:36:33,824 Nothing, not a thing. 854 00:36:33,892 --> 00:36:36,492 But then on October 12th, 2010... 855 00:36:36,561 --> 00:36:37,927 - He was caught in seattle 856 00:36:37,929 --> 00:36:39,930 In a grocery store in the area, 857 00:36:39,998 --> 00:36:42,031 Trying to steal lunch meat. 858 00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,301 - His captor was a clerk in a grocery store. 859 00:36:45,370 --> 00:36:48,104 - He wasn't a sheriff. He wasn't a police officer. 860 00:36:48,173 --> 00:36:51,709 He was somebody that was employed by a grocery store 861 00:36:51,776 --> 00:36:53,243 To deter theft. 862 00:36:53,312 --> 00:36:56,080 - But it wasn't until after the seattle police 863 00:36:56,147 --> 00:36:58,781 Showed up and arrested roberts on a shoplifting charge 864 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:03,052 They discovered this was one very wanted man, 865 00:37:03,121 --> 00:37:06,389 And so called the police in st. Augustine, florida. 866 00:37:06,458 --> 00:37:08,526 - Sometimes we just have to count on luck, 867 00:37:08,593 --> 00:37:11,327 And sometimes we can count on their mistake, 868 00:37:11,396 --> 00:37:12,996 And in this case I think he made a mistake, 869 00:37:13,064 --> 00:37:17,334 And, um, we had a little luck on our side. 870 00:37:17,402 --> 00:37:19,802 - And then a little more luck. 871 00:37:19,871 --> 00:37:22,405 - They had found brittany tavar's car parked 872 00:37:22,474 --> 00:37:25,742 In, like, a north seattle library parking lot. 873 00:37:25,811 --> 00:37:28,478 The keys had been locked inside of it, actually. 874 00:37:28,546 --> 00:37:32,749 - So the police had the car, but no brittany. 875 00:37:32,751 --> 00:37:35,085 It wasn't long before policemen from florida 876 00:37:35,153 --> 00:37:36,954 Were sitting in a seattle interrogation room 877 00:37:37,022 --> 00:37:38,821 With young mr. Roberts. 878 00:37:38,890 --> 00:37:40,824 Her family waited again, 879 00:37:40,892 --> 00:37:44,028 This time to hear what roberts would say. 880 00:37:44,095 --> 00:37:46,496 Only he could resolve the mystery, 881 00:37:46,564 --> 00:37:49,366 Why she'd been out of touch for months. 882 00:37:49,434 --> 00:37:51,835 - You always hold out a small amount of hope 883 00:37:51,837 --> 00:37:56,974 That she would be alive, and you never give up hope. 884 00:37:57,042 --> 00:37:58,874 - And then within three hours, 885 00:37:58,944 --> 00:38:00,510 There in that police station, 886 00:38:00,579 --> 00:38:02,912 Joe roberts finally answered the question 887 00:38:02,981 --> 00:38:04,580 That had been hanging over everybody, 888 00:38:04,649 --> 00:38:06,315 Half hope, half dread, 889 00:38:06,385 --> 00:38:08,719 Over what happened to brittany tavar. 890 00:38:08,787 --> 00:38:11,988 - The answer was perhaps the most dreadful story 891 00:38:12,057 --> 00:38:14,458 This young crime reporter had yet written, 892 00:38:14,526 --> 00:38:18,294 Taken right from the confession roberts gave police. 893 00:38:18,296 --> 00:38:19,896 - She woke up early on the morning of her court case, 894 00:38:19,898 --> 00:38:21,197 And woke him up very angry 895 00:38:21,199 --> 00:38:23,132 That something wasn't done correctly 896 00:38:23,201 --> 00:38:25,335 Or he didn't do it at all 897 00:38:25,337 --> 00:38:27,538 And was bugging him early in the morning, 898 00:38:27,605 --> 00:38:29,539 Trying to get him out of bed, yelling at him. 899 00:38:29,608 --> 00:38:32,209 - Now why would she do that? 900 00:38:32,277 --> 00:38:33,944 It didn't take but a minute 901 00:38:34,012 --> 00:38:36,080 For her friends to figure it out. 902 00:38:36,147 --> 00:38:38,614 - This whole big argument with joe was about 903 00:38:38,683 --> 00:38:42,285 Him not being able to get this dvd or cd 904 00:38:42,353 --> 00:38:45,488 Up to perfection about what they were gonna take to court. 905 00:38:45,557 --> 00:38:48,157 - The court case against ann lydon, that is. 906 00:38:48,226 --> 00:38:51,294 And so her friends speculated about what happened 907 00:38:51,363 --> 00:38:53,163 That last morning of her life, 908 00:38:53,231 --> 00:38:55,531 Said she must have vented her temper on a man 909 00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:57,301 Who according to a former landlady 910 00:38:57,369 --> 00:39:00,103 Had a drug habit, possible mental health issues, 911 00:39:00,171 --> 00:39:01,838 And an anger problem. 912 00:39:01,906 --> 00:39:03,506 - I think it just got to the point 913 00:39:03,575 --> 00:39:06,709 Where he got pushed to the point of no return. 914 00:39:06,711 --> 00:39:07,910 - In a statement to police, 915 00:39:07,979 --> 00:39:09,445 Roberts said they argued 916 00:39:09,514 --> 00:39:11,014 The nght before her disappearance. 917 00:39:11,082 --> 00:39:12,182 And then the next morning 918 00:39:12,250 --> 00:39:14,817 Brittany went off about something, 919 00:39:14,886 --> 00:39:16,586 Which is when... 920 00:39:16,654 --> 00:39:17,653 - He grabbed a hammer 921 00:39:17,722 --> 00:39:20,323 And hit her in the head a couple of times. 922 00:39:20,391 --> 00:39:22,459 - That anger issue again. - Right. 923 00:39:22,461 --> 00:39:25,528 And she was laying on their-- on the kitchen floor bleeding. 924 00:39:25,530 --> 00:39:26,996 And in the report he says 925 00:39:27,065 --> 00:39:28,799 There was lots and lots of blood. 926 00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:32,602 And at first he tried to stuff her body 927 00:39:32,604 --> 00:39:34,337 In the attic of her house, 928 00:39:34,405 --> 00:39:37,206 But he said that she was too heavy for him to carry 929 00:39:37,275 --> 00:39:38,542 All the way up those stairs, 930 00:39:38,610 --> 00:39:41,077 And then decided he was going to leave town 931 00:39:41,146 --> 00:39:42,945 And dump her body in the woods. 932 00:39:43,014 --> 00:39:44,148 Roberts would tell investgators 933 00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:45,548 That he brought the dogs with him 934 00:39:45,617 --> 00:39:46,684 To buy him some time, 935 00:39:46,751 --> 00:39:48,285 Because he knew people that knew her well 936 00:39:48,353 --> 00:39:49,619 Would think that it was strange 937 00:39:49,688 --> 00:39:51,688 That she just left without her animals. 938 00:39:51,690 --> 00:39:54,023 - It was a shock, of course. 939 00:39:54,092 --> 00:39:56,493 And then joe roberts answered another question, 940 00:39:56,495 --> 00:39:59,362 This one with no good answer, 941 00:39:59,364 --> 00:40:00,831 Where was brittany? 942 00:40:00,899 --> 00:40:02,765 - She was found on a state road, 943 00:40:02,767 --> 00:40:05,568 Sort of where some homeless camps in the area, 944 00:40:05,570 --> 00:40:07,937 But it's mainly just woods. 945 00:40:08,006 --> 00:40:10,840 - One of the most terrible things would be 946 00:40:10,909 --> 00:40:14,777 To know that someone you loved died in fear, 947 00:40:14,846 --> 00:40:18,447 You know, died in a moment of terror and pain. 948 00:40:18,517 --> 00:40:22,318 And that was a very, very hard thing for me to accept. 949 00:40:22,387 --> 00:40:25,054 It just was-- even today, it's just chilling 950 00:40:25,123 --> 00:40:26,989 For me to think about that. 951 00:40:27,058 --> 00:40:28,391 - But at least... 952 00:40:28,393 --> 00:40:30,994 - We never would have found the body 953 00:40:31,062 --> 00:40:33,496 If he hadn't told us, you know, 954 00:40:33,565 --> 00:40:35,465 It was in a forest somewhere. 955 00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:36,533 And the likelihood, you know, 956 00:40:36,535 --> 00:40:37,934 Maybe it would show up in 20 years, 957 00:40:38,003 --> 00:40:39,602 But we wouldn't have found it. 958 00:40:39,671 --> 00:40:43,005 - Having offered his detailed confession to police, 959 00:40:43,074 --> 00:40:46,275 Roberts pleaded not guilty to first degree murder. 960 00:40:46,277 --> 00:40:50,013 But ultimately his case did not go to trial. 961 00:40:50,081 --> 00:40:52,248 After years of legal wrangling... 962 00:40:52,250 --> 00:40:54,618 - State your name. - Joseph roberts. 963 00:40:54,686 --> 00:40:57,753 - Roberts pleaded guilty to second degree murder 964 00:40:57,822 --> 00:41:02,291 On an amended indictment in may, 2014. 965 00:41:02,293 --> 00:41:04,427 - And you still believe this plea is in your best interest? 966 00:41:04,495 --> 00:41:05,695 - Yes, sir. - Thank you. 967 00:41:05,764 --> 00:41:07,096 - And was sentenced to 30 years 968 00:41:07,165 --> 00:41:10,033 In a florida state correctional facility. 969 00:41:10,035 --> 00:41:12,235 As brittany's family struggled 970 00:41:12,303 --> 00:41:14,437 With the aftermath of her loss, 971 00:41:14,505 --> 00:41:18,574 Her friends looked after brittany's dogs. 972 00:41:18,643 --> 00:41:22,578 And her friends mourn, as does her family. 973 00:41:22,647 --> 00:41:23,913 - My sister was the one 974 00:41:23,915 --> 00:41:26,716 That my parents worried about the most, you know? 975 00:41:26,718 --> 00:41:28,252 She was the one they were concerned about, 976 00:41:28,319 --> 00:41:30,387 Because she had the hardest time 977 00:41:30,455 --> 00:41:34,057 Getting her feet on a path in life, 978 00:41:34,059 --> 00:41:35,592 Finding her way. 979 00:41:35,660 --> 00:41:37,861 We never, ever, ever dreamed 980 00:41:37,929 --> 00:41:39,529 That anything like this would happen, 981 00:41:39,597 --> 00:41:42,266 That anything violent would happen to her. 982 00:41:42,333 --> 00:41:44,800 I guess you have a point from which you move on, 983 00:41:44,869 --> 00:41:46,802 But there isn't really closure. 984 00:41:46,871 --> 00:41:50,073 That actually is something that the homicide detectives know. 985 00:41:50,075 --> 00:41:51,541 There really isn't closure. 986 00:41:51,543 --> 00:41:53,676 You know, that's a cliche that people use, 987 00:41:53,745 --> 00:41:55,545 But there's no closure. 988 00:41:55,613 --> 00:41:59,749 - Brittany tavar lived life on her own terms. 989 00:41:59,818 --> 00:42:02,818 Naive? Maybe. Reckless? Sometimes. 990 00:42:02,887 --> 00:42:05,154 And it cost her dearly. 991 00:42:05,223 --> 00:42:07,690 - She just thought she was invincible. 992 00:42:07,692 --> 00:42:09,692 She didn't think anything bad could happen. 993 00:42:09,761 --> 00:42:12,295 - But that's part of who she was. 994 00:42:12,363 --> 00:42:14,764 She did have a very big heart. 995 00:42:14,766 --> 00:42:17,501 - So she did, and lived out loud 996 00:42:17,569 --> 00:42:19,802 And was exuberant and generous, 997 00:42:19,871 --> 00:42:23,639 And for those who loved her, is eternally missed 998 00:42:23,708 --> 00:42:26,176 For all of those things. 999 00:42:26,244 --> 00:42:28,244 - She was my sister, and I've been robbed 1000 00:42:28,313 --> 00:42:30,379 Of the rest of my life with my sister. 1001 00:42:30,381 --> 00:42:31,981 I've been robbed of that relationship. 1002 00:42:31,983 --> 00:42:34,051 I've been robbed of those conversations. 1003 00:42:34,118 --> 00:42:35,919 You know, I've been robbed of that friendship. 1004 00:42:40,458 --> 00:42:41,391 - That's all for this edition 1005 00:42:41,459 --> 00:42:43,593 Of "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 1006 00:42:43,595 --> 00:42:46,196 I'm craig melvin. Thank you for watching.