1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,567
I was just listening
to the radio,
2
00:00:03,567 --> 00:00:06,367
and apparently,
they found a girl
3
00:00:06,367 --> 00:00:08,266
by the side of the road.
4
00:00:08,266 --> 00:00:12,400
It was the impression
of the most experienced
officer on the scene
5
00:00:12,467 --> 00:00:14,600
from the get go
that it was not a hit and run.
6
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,066
The jacket
that she was wearing
had no blood on it.
7
00:00:20,066 --> 00:00:21,900
[Jason] It appeared
to have been
8
00:00:21,967 --> 00:00:26,100
maybe placed on her
after whatever happened
to Laura.
9
00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:28,967
There was no way in the world
10
00:00:28,967 --> 00:00:30,000
that Laura would leave Samson
11
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,266
that Laura would leave Samson
12
00:00:31,266 --> 00:00:33,100
and go off
in the middle of the night.
13
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:35,767
[man 1] It's hard
to describe it.
14
00:00:35,767 --> 00:00:38,767
It was just
completely shockingly evil
15
00:00:38,767 --> 00:00:41,166
that a person would do this.
16
00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,467
I just couldn't comprehend
that two people were dead.
17
00:00:47,467 --> 00:00:49,100
My heart stopped.
18
00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:51,200
My whole world froze.
19
00:00:51,266 --> 00:00:55,100
One of the things
that an investigator
needs to ask,
20
00:00:55,166 --> 00:00:57,967
"Okay, who benefits
from this murder?"
21
00:01:06,567 --> 00:01:09,266
[narrator] October 26, 1996,
22
00:01:09,266 --> 00:01:11,567
Kahoka, Missouri,
23
00:01:11,567 --> 00:01:14,500
a small city
in the northeastern corner
of the state
24
00:01:14,567 --> 00:01:18,200
not far from the Iowa
and Illinois borders,
25
00:01:18,266 --> 00:01:20,000
a young mother
is left for dead
26
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,367
on the side of a road
in the middle of the night.
27
00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:26,166
[Bruce] Somebody done
something to her.
28
00:01:26,166 --> 00:01:27,834
They killed her.
29
00:01:27,834 --> 00:01:30,000
[narrator] The tragedy
triggers a desperate search
for her killer
30
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,967
[narrator] The tragedy
triggers a desperate search
for her killer
31
00:01:31,967 --> 00:01:34,000
and leaves
a heartbroken family
32
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,200
struggling for answers
for decades.
33
00:01:37,266 --> 00:01:41,266
This case won't be solved
until somebody decides
to talk.
34
00:01:41,266 --> 00:01:45,667
I think it's unfortunate
that 25 years later,
35
00:01:45,667 --> 00:01:50,200
we don't know more about
what didn't happen as well
as what did happen.
36
00:01:50,266 --> 00:01:52,166
I wouldn't rule out anything
in this case
37
00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:56,300
because there isn't anything
that explains all the facts.
38
00:01:57,500 --> 00:01:59,600
[narrator] Born in 1975,
39
00:01:59,667 --> 00:02:00,000
Laura Van Wyhe
is a brilliant young person
40
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,100
Laura Van Wyhe
is a brilliant young person
41
00:02:02,166 --> 00:02:07,000
who loves life and excels
at just about anything
she puts her mind to.
42
00:02:07,066 --> 00:02:11,967
When Laura was a child,
she was very exuberant.
43
00:02:11,967 --> 00:02:15,100
She had her hands
in just about everything.
44
00:02:15,166 --> 00:02:19,767
She loved animals.
She loved dance, theater.
45
00:02:19,767 --> 00:02:21,900
Laura was extremely unique.
46
00:02:21,967 --> 00:02:24,867
She had her own sense
of everything.
47
00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:28,900
She was very funny
and had a goofy sense
of humor as well.
48
00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:30,000
[narrator] Growing up
in Iowa City, Iowa.
49
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,266
[narrator] Growing up
in Iowa City, Iowa.
50
00:02:31,266 --> 00:02:35,266
Laura's intelligence sets her
apart at a young age.
51
00:02:35,266 --> 00:02:39,467
Her standardized testing
was beyond belief.
52
00:02:39,467 --> 00:02:41,500
She was just off the charts,
53
00:02:41,567 --> 00:02:45,900
and she just wasn't made
54
00:02:45,967 --> 00:02:49,667
for the usual grind of...
55
00:02:49,667 --> 00:02:50,834
of study.
56
00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:54,367
[narrator] Feeling
unchallenged by high school,
57
00:02:54,367 --> 00:02:57,266
Laura drops out
and gets her GED,
58
00:02:57,266 --> 00:03:00,000
achieving the highest score
in Iowa State history.
59
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,000
achieving the highest score
in Iowa State history.
60
00:03:01,066 --> 00:03:02,467
She moves in with her sister
61
00:03:02,467 --> 00:03:06,100
and soon starts dating a man
named Donnie Knight.
62
00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:09,667
I guess she was probably
17 or 18,
63
00:03:09,667 --> 00:03:12,100
and they had a pretty
whirlwind romance.
64
00:03:12,166 --> 00:03:15,367
At some point, they ran off
to California together
65
00:03:15,367 --> 00:03:17,367
and then Hawaii for a while.
66
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,567
[narrator]
Laura and Donnie relationship
is bumpy,
67
00:03:21,567 --> 00:03:23,567
but they keep
getting back together.
68
00:03:23,567 --> 00:03:26,500
At 19, she becomes pregnant.
69
00:03:26,567 --> 00:03:30,000
Her relationship with Donnie
wasn't very stable
at that point,
70
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,867
Her relationship with Donnie
wasn't very stable
at that point,
71
00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:33,266
but she really wanted
to have the baby.
72
00:03:33,266 --> 00:03:35,500
And... and she did.
73
00:03:35,567 --> 00:03:39,467
[narrator] In 1995,
she has a son named Samson.
74
00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:44,767
She was so over the moon
about Samson when he was born.
75
00:03:44,767 --> 00:03:49,400
She was the most
devoted mother
76
00:03:49,467 --> 00:03:51,066
that you could ever imagine.
77
00:03:52,967 --> 00:03:55,100
[narrator] Soon after
Sampson is born,
78
00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:57,667
Laura and Donnie's
relationship ends,
79
00:03:57,667 --> 00:04:00,000
seemingly for the last time.
80
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:00,166
seemingly for the last time.
81
00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:03,467
Laura moves in with her mother
in Iowa City.
82
00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:06,166
In the fall of 1996,
83
00:04:06,166 --> 00:04:09,467
Laura celebrates her
21st birthday.
84
00:04:09,467 --> 00:04:12,200
A few days later,
on October 25th,
85
00:04:12,266 --> 00:04:14,000
her ex-boyfriend,
Donnie's family
86
00:04:14,066 --> 00:04:17,667
throws a party at their home
in Bonaparte, Iowa.
87
00:04:17,667 --> 00:04:23,367
So Donnie picks up
Laura at her mother's house
in the afternoon,
88
00:04:23,367 --> 00:04:25,467
and they drive
to Bonaparte.
89
00:04:25,467 --> 00:04:29,367
[narrator] They arrive
at Donnie's parents' home
around 7:30 p.m.
90
00:04:29,367 --> 00:04:30,000
Shortly after 11:00,
91
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:30,867
Shortly after 11:00,
92
00:04:30,867 --> 00:04:34,467
Laura and her 14-month-old son
leave with Donnie's sister
93
00:04:34,467 --> 00:04:37,367
and brother-in-law
Sarah and Tony Bergman
94
00:04:37,367 --> 00:04:40,667
to spend the night
at their trailer
in nearby Kahoka.
95
00:04:40,667 --> 00:04:44,000
They got to the trailer
in Kahoka,
96
00:04:44,066 --> 00:04:48,266
and they decided
to set up a bed on the floor
of the trailer
97
00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:52,500
for Laura to sleep in
with Samson
and their older daughter.
98
00:04:52,567 --> 00:04:53,600
Tony goes to bed.
99
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,200
Sarah says
she stays up with Laura
100
00:04:58,266 --> 00:05:00,000
for about half an hour
and then she goes to bed.
101
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,967
for about half an hour
and then she goes to bed.
102
00:05:02,166 --> 00:05:05,567
[narrator] When Sarah gets
up at 6:50 the next morning,
103
00:05:05,567 --> 00:05:07,867
Laura is gone.
104
00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:10,400
She comes out
to the living room
of the trailer,
105
00:05:10,467 --> 00:05:13,300
and she sees,
first of all, no Laura.
106
00:05:13,367 --> 00:05:15,266
And she does see Samson,
107
00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:17,066
and she describes
quite vividly
108
00:05:17,066 --> 00:05:18,767
Samson's naked bottom.
109
00:05:18,767 --> 00:05:20,367
Samson's not wearing a diaper.
110
00:05:20,367 --> 00:05:22,266
[Anne] Sarah stays behind
and gets the kids ready
111
00:05:22,266 --> 00:05:24,900
while Tony goes to try
to track down Laura.
112
00:05:24,967 --> 00:05:28,100
So he goes to Ayerco,
which is a convenience
store gas station
113
00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:29,800
a few blocks
from their house.
114
00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:30,000
And he asks
if anybody's seen Laura,
no one has.
115
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,567
And he asks
if anybody's seen Laura,
no one has.
116
00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:35,100
He goes to his parents' house
117
00:05:35,166 --> 00:05:39,700
and a cousin of his is over
at the house and tells him,
118
00:05:39,767 --> 00:05:41,567
"Hey, I was just listening
to the radio
119
00:05:41,567 --> 00:05:45,567
and apparently they found
a girl by the side
of the road."
120
00:05:46,767 --> 00:05:49,367
[narrator] The girl is spotted
on a local highway
121
00:05:49,367 --> 00:05:51,467
at 1:50 a.m. by a trucker
122
00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:54,900
who notices something strange
on the side of the road.
123
00:05:54,967 --> 00:05:57,700
He stops and dials 911.
124
00:05:57,767 --> 00:05:59,300
Police arrive at 2:00 a.m.
125
00:05:59,367 --> 00:06:00,000
and find a woman lying
on her side unresponsive
126
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,767
and find a woman lying
on her side unresponsive
127
00:06:02,767 --> 00:06:04,800
but still alive.
128
00:06:04,867 --> 00:06:08,367
Emergency responders rush her
to the hospital,
129
00:06:08,367 --> 00:06:11,967
but she dies 3 hours later.
130
00:06:11,967 --> 00:06:15,200
When Tony gets
to the police station
at 9:00 that morning,
131
00:06:15,266 --> 00:06:18,367
he sees a full description
of the victim.
132
00:06:18,367 --> 00:06:21,367
And what jumps out at him
about this description
133
00:06:21,367 --> 00:06:24,867
is that it describes
a black satin jacket
134
00:06:24,867 --> 00:06:28,100
with Mike Sanders Masonry
written on the back.
135
00:06:28,166 --> 00:06:30,000
Tony knows immediately that
that's his jacket and says,
136
00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,667
Tony knows immediately that
that's his jacket and says,
137
00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:35,867
"I think the person you found
is Laura Van Wyhe."
138
00:06:38,066 --> 00:06:39,667
[narrator] Tony tells police
139
00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:43,266
that the jacket
had been hanging in his closet
the day before.
140
00:06:43,266 --> 00:06:45,500
He and Sarah head straight
to the morgue
141
00:06:45,567 --> 00:06:47,000
to identify the body.
142
00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:49,800
It's Laura.
143
00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:54,000
Samson's father Donnie
drives to Iowa City
later that morning
144
00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,800
to deliver the devastating
news to Laura's mother.
145
00:06:57,867 --> 00:06:59,567
When he walked in...
146
00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,567
I said, "What's wrong?"
147
00:07:03,567 --> 00:07:06,600
And he said, just flat out,
"Laura is dead."
148
00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:10,700
And my reaction was,
"That's impossible.
149
00:07:11,767 --> 00:07:14,767
I had just seen her
and now she's dead?"
150
00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,166
You know, my mind
could not accept that.
151
00:07:21,266 --> 00:07:23,700
[narrator] It appears
she's been hit by a vehicle,
152
00:07:23,767 --> 00:07:25,600
given where she's found.
153
00:07:25,667 --> 00:07:30,000
But from the beginning,
officers sense
something is off.
154
00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:30,900
But from the beginning,
officers sense
something is off.
155
00:07:30,967 --> 00:07:35,767
It was the impression
of the most experienced
officer on the scene
156
00:07:35,767 --> 00:07:38,767
from the get go
that it was not a hit and run.
157
00:07:38,767 --> 00:07:42,200
[Leanne] The officer
immediately told me
158
00:07:42,266 --> 00:07:45,600
that something
was very wrong about this,
159
00:07:45,667 --> 00:07:47,066
that there was...
160
00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:49,767
a...
161
00:07:51,767 --> 00:07:53,266
mystery.
162
00:07:53,266 --> 00:07:54,500
[Bruce] The scene
didn't look like
163
00:07:54,567 --> 00:07:57,266
what we would call
a typical traffic accident.
164
00:07:57,266 --> 00:07:59,967
There was no debris,
whether it be vehicle debris
165
00:07:59,967 --> 00:08:00,000
or parts of the body along
the roadway whatsoever.
166
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:04,900
or parts of the body along
the roadway whatsoever.
167
00:08:04,967 --> 00:08:06,967
[narrator]
One of the first things
police notice
168
00:08:06,967 --> 00:08:11,467
is that Laura is wearing
an extra layer of clothing
over her own.
169
00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:14,600
So she's wearing
size 16 burgundy sweatpants,
170
00:08:14,667 --> 00:08:17,100
which I don't think
those were hers.
171
00:08:17,100 --> 00:08:19,800
And this black satin jacket,
which we know isn't hers.
172
00:08:21,967 --> 00:08:23,567
She's found
with her left hand,
173
00:08:23,567 --> 00:08:26,467
lightly grasping a bottle,
a sip-top bottle.
174
00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,000
There's a baby blanket
stuffed under her jacket.
175
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:30,767
There's a baby blanket
stuffed under her jacket.
176
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:33,967
There is also a folded paper
plate with rice on it.
177
00:08:33,967 --> 00:08:36,767
And then in her
right jacket pocket,
178
00:08:36,767 --> 00:08:39,600
Laura was left-handed,
but in her right pocket,
179
00:08:39,667 --> 00:08:41,400
there is an open pocketknife.
180
00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:44,767
[narrator] As police
try to make sense
of the strange scene,
181
00:08:44,767 --> 00:08:47,667
they received some potential
leads from the public.
182
00:08:47,667 --> 00:08:50,166
A mechanic in another town
183
00:08:50,166 --> 00:08:52,467
calls the police and says,
184
00:08:52,467 --> 00:08:55,667
"I've got a car here that
looks like it hit a person.
185
00:08:55,667 --> 00:08:59,467
There's blood on it.
Its fender's all dented up."
186
00:08:59,467 --> 00:09:00,000
[narrator] But investigators
quickly determined
the driver hit a deer.
187
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,567
[narrator] But investigators
quickly determined
the driver hit a deer.
188
00:09:03,567 --> 00:09:07,867
Then a tip comes in
from a hospital worker
about a patient
189
00:09:07,867 --> 00:09:11,700
who visited the emergency room
the morning Laura died.
190
00:09:11,767 --> 00:09:14,867
The owner
of a local radio station,
191
00:09:14,867 --> 00:09:17,300
he shows up
in the emergency room
192
00:09:17,367 --> 00:09:21,100
with a serious stab wound
in his leg.
193
00:09:22,667 --> 00:09:25,567
The doctors stitch him up,
194
00:09:25,567 --> 00:09:30,000
but the police, knowing
that Laura had a knife
in her pocket
195
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,166
but the police, knowing
that Laura had a knife
in her pocket
196
00:09:30,166 --> 00:09:31,367
at the time she was found,
197
00:09:31,367 --> 00:09:33,767
are clearly quite interested
in this.
198
00:09:33,767 --> 00:09:35,400
[narrator]
Police interview him.
199
00:09:35,467 --> 00:09:37,567
But it's another dead end.
200
00:09:37,567 --> 00:09:40,867
Turned out to be
just a coincidence.
201
00:09:40,867 --> 00:09:43,700
But it's a coincidence
that takes up a lot
of law enforcement time.
202
00:09:43,767 --> 00:09:46,300
[narrator] Meanwhile,
an autopsy reveals
203
00:09:46,367 --> 00:09:49,700
the brutal extent
of Laura's injuries.
204
00:09:49,767 --> 00:09:51,500
The autopsy did find that
205
00:09:51,567 --> 00:09:55,767
she had died of blunt force
trauma to the head and legs
and massive blood loss.
206
00:09:56,767 --> 00:09:59,200
[narrator] Investigators
are stumped.
207
00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:00,000
If Laura lost so much blood,
where is it?
208
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,066
If Laura lost so much blood,
where is it?
209
00:10:03,066 --> 00:10:07,266
The jacket
that she was wearing
had no blood on it.
210
00:10:08,900 --> 00:10:12,667
We actually checked the scene
211
00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:17,166
for a quarter mile each way
from where Laura was lying.
212
00:10:17,166 --> 00:10:21,000
I can tell you, she never lost
a lot of blood along
that highway whatsoever.
213
00:10:22,567 --> 00:10:25,700
[narrator] Her clothing
doesn't appear
to be scraped or dirty,
214
00:10:25,767 --> 00:10:29,066
including the black
satin jacket.
215
00:10:29,066 --> 00:10:30,000
Had she been struck
by a vehicle and knocked
to the ground,
216
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,567
Had she been struck
by a vehicle and knocked
to the ground,
217
00:10:31,567 --> 00:10:34,467
there would have been
abrasions on the jacket.
218
00:10:34,467 --> 00:10:35,867
There was none found.
219
00:10:35,867 --> 00:10:39,200
It appeared to have been
maybe placed on her...
220
00:10:40,567 --> 00:10:43,867
after whatever happened
to Laura occurred.
221
00:10:43,867 --> 00:10:46,066
[narrator] The evidence leads
law enforcement
222
00:10:46,066 --> 00:10:48,467
to a chilling conclusion.
223
00:10:48,467 --> 00:10:53,700
It did not appear
that her injuries occurred
at that scene whatsoever.
224
00:10:59,166 --> 00:11:02,767
[narrator] Police are now
investigating the case
as a homicide.
225
00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:04,166
They comb the area
226
00:11:04,166 --> 00:11:09,200
near where Laura Van Wyhe's
body was found for more clues.
227
00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:13,066
Next to her body,
they find a branch
from a cocklebur bush.
228
00:11:13,066 --> 00:11:16,200
And burs are found
in one of the pockets
of her jacket
229
00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:18,266
and on her waistband.
230
00:11:18,266 --> 00:11:20,700
It's determined that
the branch comes
from a cornfield
231
00:11:20,767 --> 00:11:22,767
on the other side
of the highway,
232
00:11:22,767 --> 00:11:26,600
but they find no evidence
of blood there either.
233
00:11:26,667 --> 00:11:27,490
Investigators slowly widen
their search
234
00:11:27,490 --> 00:11:29,300
Investigators slowly widen
their search
235
00:11:29,367 --> 00:11:32,567
and another unusual clue
turns up on the property
236
00:11:32,567 --> 00:11:35,100
next to Tony
and Sarah Bergman's trailer.
237
00:11:35,166 --> 00:11:37,300
A bag of hers is found
in a tree,
238
00:11:37,367 --> 00:11:40,567
and that bag
has more baby items in it,
239
00:11:40,567 --> 00:11:42,567
some of her clothes in it.
240
00:11:42,567 --> 00:11:44,600
[narrator]
Everyone is left wondering
241
00:11:44,667 --> 00:11:48,767
if Laura placed that bag there
herself when she left
the trailer.
242
00:11:48,767 --> 00:11:50,300
But the biggest question
243
00:11:50,367 --> 00:11:52,800
is why she left
in the middle of the night
244
00:11:52,867 --> 00:11:54,000
in the first place.
245
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,490
Tony and Sarah both speculate
246
00:11:57,490 --> 00:11:57,867
Tony and Sarah both speculate
247
00:11:57,867 --> 00:12:01,567
that perhaps Laura had left
to go buy diapers.
248
00:12:01,567 --> 00:12:04,967
[narrator] But Laura's
loved ones are doubtful.
249
00:12:04,967 --> 00:12:07,100
The Bergmans
had a one-year-old
themselves, Sidney.
250
00:12:07,166 --> 00:12:11,367
So if Laura had needed
a diaper, especially
around midnight,
251
00:12:11,367 --> 00:12:12,967
I think that her first resort
252
00:12:12,967 --> 00:12:16,500
would have been to take
a diaper from Sidney.
253
00:12:16,567 --> 00:12:19,000
[narrator] The investigation
soon shifts focus
254
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,567
to that small party
at Donnie's parent's home
255
00:12:21,567 --> 00:12:24,200
the night before
Laura disappeared.
256
00:12:24,266 --> 00:12:27,000
That's when investigators
learn about an argument
257
00:12:27,066 --> 00:12:27,490
Laura had with a friend
of Donnie's mother.
258
00:12:27,490 --> 00:12:29,967
Laura had with a friend
of Donnie's mother.
259
00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:33,300
And when Laura sees this man
on the front porch,
260
00:12:33,367 --> 00:12:35,467
she gets very animated,
261
00:12:35,467 --> 00:12:40,400
and she accuses him loudly
of having raped a friend
of hers in Iowa City.
262
00:12:43,166 --> 00:12:46,266
Donnie comes out,
Donnie's mother comes out.
263
00:12:46,266 --> 00:12:49,467
They sort of separate the two.
264
00:12:49,467 --> 00:12:53,166
And the friend
of Donnie's mother
265
00:12:53,166 --> 00:12:56,467
who was being accused
of rape essentially says,
"I don't need this."
266
00:12:56,467 --> 00:12:57,490
And he walks away.
267
00:12:57,490 --> 00:12:58,100
And he walks away.
268
00:12:58,166 --> 00:13:01,066
[narrator] Minutes later,
Laura leaves
with Tony and Sarah
269
00:13:01,066 --> 00:13:04,400
to spend the night
in their trailer in Kahoka.
270
00:13:04,467 --> 00:13:06,900
Investigators look
into the possibility
271
00:13:06,967 --> 00:13:10,867
that this man tracked
Laura down after the party.
272
00:13:10,867 --> 00:13:13,867
They receive a tip
about a woman wearing
a black jacket
273
00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:18,200
who was seen walking
on a Kahoka sidewalk
just after midnight.
274
00:13:18,266 --> 00:13:20,767
[Anne] And a car
was following her.
275
00:13:20,767 --> 00:13:23,900
And a woman yelled out,
from the car,
276
00:13:23,967 --> 00:13:26,667
some curse words
at the woman walking.
277
00:13:26,667 --> 00:13:27,490
[narrator] If this encounter
has anything
278
00:13:27,490 --> 00:13:28,867
[narrator] If this encounter
has anything
279
00:13:28,867 --> 00:13:32,266
to do with Laura and the man
she confronted at the party,
280
00:13:32,266 --> 00:13:35,266
police never make
the connection.
281
00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:37,700
It's hard to connect the dots
282
00:13:37,767 --> 00:13:42,066
between this person and Laura
in a trailer in Kahoka.
283
00:13:42,066 --> 00:13:44,600
He somehow has to get her
out of the trailer
284
00:13:44,667 --> 00:13:46,567
without Tony or Sarah knowing.
285
00:13:46,567 --> 00:13:48,400
It seems
completely implausible
286
00:13:48,467 --> 00:13:51,767
that Laura would just quietly
slip out of the trailer
287
00:13:51,767 --> 00:13:53,166
with somebody a few hours
288
00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:56,000
before she'd been yelling at
and accusing of rape.
289
00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:57,490
[narrator] Investigators
turn their attention
290
00:13:57,490 --> 00:13:59,100
[narrator] Investigators
turn their attention
291
00:13:59,166 --> 00:14:01,400
to the one person
they theorize
292
00:14:01,467 --> 00:14:04,300
could persuade Laura
to step outside.
293
00:14:04,367 --> 00:14:08,300
It's the same person
Laura's loved ones say
has been violent
294
00:14:08,367 --> 00:14:12,166
with her in the past,
her ex-boyfriend Donnie.
295
00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:13,667
[Anne] I saw Laura in August.
296
00:14:13,667 --> 00:14:14,967
At the time
I talked to her,
297
00:14:14,967 --> 00:14:17,800
she was very resolute
that they were broken up.
298
00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:22,767
She was adamant that
her child would not grow up
299
00:14:22,767 --> 00:14:27,100
in any sort of atmosphere
of domestic violence.
300
00:14:27,166 --> 00:14:27,490
There's no direct evidence
301
00:14:27,490 --> 00:14:28,767
There's no direct evidence
302
00:14:28,767 --> 00:14:30,667
that Donnie left the house
in Bonaparte.
303
00:14:30,667 --> 00:14:32,166
There's no direct evidence
304
00:14:32,166 --> 00:14:34,467
that Donnie went
to Kahoka that night.
305
00:14:34,467 --> 00:14:37,667
And frankly, there's not even
much circumstantial evidence.
306
00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:40,266
[narrator] With every
new theory they chase,
307
00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:43,166
investigators hit
more brick walls,
308
00:14:43,166 --> 00:14:45,166
including when they look
into a rumor
309
00:14:45,166 --> 00:14:47,467
that Laura got drunk
at the party.
310
00:14:47,467 --> 00:14:52,100
So one possible theory
is that she was inebriated
311
00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:54,667
and she went for a walk
and got lost.
312
00:14:54,667 --> 00:14:57,490
As part of the medical
examiner's report
313
00:14:57,490 --> 00:14:57,567
As part of the medical
examiner's report
314
00:14:57,567 --> 00:14:59,867
is they do a toxicology test.
315
00:14:59,867 --> 00:15:01,467
She has no alcohol
in her system,
316
00:15:01,467 --> 00:15:03,567
she has no marijuana,
no other drugs.
317
00:15:03,567 --> 00:15:06,266
Given what I knew
about Laura at that time,
318
00:15:06,266 --> 00:15:07,634
that doesn't surprise me.
319
00:15:07,634 --> 00:15:10,567
She was still breastfeeding.
She was a total Earth mother.
320
00:15:10,567 --> 00:15:14,400
[narrator] Weeks go by
and investigators struggle
to piece together
321
00:15:14,467 --> 00:15:16,400
what little they know.
322
00:15:16,467 --> 00:15:18,367
They discover footprints
in the field
323
00:15:18,367 --> 00:15:19,800
with cocklebur bush
324
00:15:19,867 --> 00:15:22,767
that appear to be a match
for Laura's shoes.
325
00:15:22,767 --> 00:15:25,066
They theorize
she left the trailer
326
00:15:25,066 --> 00:15:26,867
and walked into that field,
327
00:15:26,867 --> 00:15:27,490
which is situated
in between the highway
and the Bergman's trailer.
328
00:15:27,490 --> 00:15:31,200
which is situated
in between the highway
and the Bergman's trailer.
329
00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:35,400
What they don't know
is if she brought Samson
with her.
330
00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:37,767
The family has no doubt.
331
00:15:37,767 --> 00:15:40,367
There was no way in the world
332
00:15:40,367 --> 00:15:44,800
that Laura would leave
Samson naked
333
00:15:44,867 --> 00:15:46,367
on the floor of their trailer
334
00:15:46,367 --> 00:15:48,300
and go off in the middle
of the night.
335
00:15:48,367 --> 00:15:52,266
There was no way that
that baby was alone
336
00:15:52,266 --> 00:15:56,166
in that trailer from midnight
337
00:15:56,166 --> 00:15:57,490
to 7:00 in the morning
338
00:15:57,490 --> 00:15:58,367
to 7:00 in the morning
339
00:15:58,367 --> 00:16:03,300
without crying for his mother,
crying to be fed.
340
00:16:03,367 --> 00:16:06,667
It seems much more likely that
341
00:16:06,667 --> 00:16:09,266
Laura left the trailer
with Samson,
342
00:16:09,266 --> 00:16:12,667
which means somebody
had to bring Samson
back to the trailer.
343
00:16:14,166 --> 00:16:15,667
[narrator] That leads
investigators
344
00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:17,967
back to the only people
they know for sure
345
00:16:17,967 --> 00:16:20,367
could get inside that trailer.
346
00:16:20,367 --> 00:16:22,867
Her ex-boyfriend's sister
and brother-in-law,
347
00:16:22,867 --> 00:16:25,266
Sarah and Tony Bergman.
348
00:16:25,266 --> 00:16:27,490
On the morning that
I interviewed both
Tony and Sarah Bergman,
349
00:16:27,490 --> 00:16:30,100
On the morning that
I interviewed both
Tony and Sarah Bergman,
350
00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:32,700
I thought
they were not completely
truthful with me
351
00:16:32,767 --> 00:16:34,100
during those interviews.
352
00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:36,367
So they knew more
than they were saying.
353
00:16:36,367 --> 00:16:37,800
There are key parts
of their story
354
00:16:37,867 --> 00:16:39,467
that are inconsistent
over time,
355
00:16:39,467 --> 00:16:41,100
including what Laura
is wearing.
356
00:16:42,367 --> 00:16:45,300
Did Laura have her bags
or didn't she have her bags?
357
00:16:45,367 --> 00:16:47,467
People are inconsistent
all the time.
358
00:16:47,467 --> 00:16:49,000
But I think
there are certain things
359
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,066
that do get burned
into our brains
360
00:16:51,066 --> 00:16:53,767
because of an event
that happens.
361
00:16:53,767 --> 00:16:57,467
[narrator] The Bergmans refuse
to take a polygraph,
362
00:16:57,467 --> 00:16:57,490
but investigators can find
nothing to tie them
to Laura's death.
363
00:16:57,490 --> 00:17:02,200
but investigators can find
nothing to tie them
to Laura's death.
364
00:17:02,266 --> 00:17:05,800
You would think that
they would reach out to me
365
00:17:05,867 --> 00:17:11,300
and give me some
sort of personal condolence,
366
00:17:11,367 --> 00:17:16,867
but all they did was they said
a few words at her memorial
367
00:17:16,867 --> 00:17:20,000
and never, ever contacted me.
368
00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,767
You know, supposedly,
she's one of their own
369
00:17:24,767 --> 00:17:27,300
and she's my daughter.
370
00:17:27,367 --> 00:17:27,490
You would think
they could even send a card.
371
00:17:27,490 --> 00:17:30,567
You would think
they could even send a card.
372
00:17:32,066 --> 00:17:33,500
Nothing.
373
00:17:33,567 --> 00:17:35,800
[narrator] Within months
of Laura's death,
374
00:17:35,867 --> 00:17:38,266
the case goes cold.
375
00:17:38,266 --> 00:17:41,200
For many years,
376
00:17:41,266 --> 00:17:44,867
I could not speak about this.
377
00:17:44,867 --> 00:17:47,200
It took seven years
after her death
378
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:52,600
before I could even
mention it to anyone.
379
00:17:52,667 --> 00:17:54,000
[narrator] In 2008,
380
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,367
12 years after Laura
was killed,
381
00:17:56,367 --> 00:17:57,490
there's a stunning
development.
382
00:17:57,490 --> 00:17:59,000
there's a stunning
development.
383
00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:03,467
[Jason] A judge in Missouri
gets a letter from an inmate.
384
00:18:03,467 --> 00:18:07,200
He says that
he has information
about Laura's case.
385
00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:09,867
And he says, "I know
that a woman was found
by the side of the road.
386
00:18:09,867 --> 00:18:12,166
I have information
about that case."
387
00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:15,567
And then he says,
"Don't reveal who I am
because I'll be killed."
388
00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,867
That informant observed
a confrontation between
two men and a woman,
389
00:18:24,867 --> 00:18:26,600
and that during
that conversation
390
00:18:26,667 --> 00:18:27,867
he heard the woman
391
00:18:27,867 --> 00:18:30,000
accuse one of the men
of rape.
392
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,800
We know Laura did make
an accusation like
that that evening.
393
00:18:33,867 --> 00:18:35,367
[narrator]
According to the inmate,
394
00:18:35,367 --> 00:18:38,467
these two men are the ones
who killed Laura.
395
00:18:38,467 --> 00:18:42,000
The informant's story changes
slightly with each telling,
396
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,266
and it can't be corroborated.
397
00:18:44,266 --> 00:18:45,600
But there is one detail
398
00:18:45,667 --> 00:18:48,722
that makes law enforcement
pay close attention.
399
00:18:48,722 --> 00:18:49,000
that makes law enforcement
pay close attention.
400
00:18:49,066 --> 00:18:52,500
And he says one of the men
has a hand injury
of some kind.
401
00:18:52,567 --> 00:18:56,066
He has a large bandage
on his hand and he's bleeding.
402
00:18:56,066 --> 00:18:58,367
This prompts law enforcement
403
00:18:58,367 --> 00:19:01,166
to go back
to the evidence locker
404
00:19:01,166 --> 00:19:03,567
where they still have
Laura's clothes
405
00:19:03,567 --> 00:19:08,100
to see if there's a sign
of anybody else's blood
on her clothes.
406
00:19:08,166 --> 00:19:11,200
And lo and behold, they find
somebody else's blood.
407
00:19:11,266 --> 00:19:13,600
[narrator] This discovery
gives new hope
408
00:19:13,667 --> 00:19:15,500
to Laura's friends and family
409
00:19:15,567 --> 00:19:18,200
that the agonizing mystery
of her death
410
00:19:18,266 --> 00:19:18,722
can finally be solved.
411
00:19:18,722 --> 00:19:20,266
can finally be solved.
412
00:19:20,266 --> 00:19:22,767
They do a DNA lab test
413
00:19:22,767 --> 00:19:25,467
and initially back in 2008,
414
00:19:25,467 --> 00:19:28,166
what they could determine
is that it's human blood
415
00:19:28,166 --> 00:19:29,767
and that it's from a man.
416
00:19:29,767 --> 00:19:33,367
[narrator] Investigators
obtained DNA samples
from every man
417
00:19:33,367 --> 00:19:36,767
who had some connection
to Laura the night
she's killed.
418
00:19:36,767 --> 00:19:39,600
They track down
the truck driver
that found her,
419
00:19:39,667 --> 00:19:41,900
they contact the police
in Southern California,
420
00:19:41,967 --> 00:19:44,200
where Laura's son,
Samson is living,
421
00:19:44,266 --> 00:19:45,967
and they get a swab
from him.
422
00:19:45,967 --> 00:19:47,900
They get swabs
from Tony Bergman,
423
00:19:47,967 --> 00:19:48,722
from Donnie Knight,
from everybody else.
424
00:19:48,722 --> 00:19:51,166
from Donnie Knight,
from everybody else.
425
00:19:51,166 --> 00:19:53,000
[narrator] The DNA
from the new blood
426
00:19:53,066 --> 00:19:56,900
is also entered
into a centralized
FBI database,
427
00:19:56,967 --> 00:20:00,266
which includes millions
of DNA profiles,
428
00:20:00,266 --> 00:20:04,367
including anyone convicted
of a felony nationwide.
429
00:20:04,367 --> 00:20:06,467
And they get no hits.
430
00:20:06,467 --> 00:20:08,867
They get no hits
on any of the DNA samples
431
00:20:08,867 --> 00:20:10,767
that they take from people
connected to Laura.
432
00:20:10,767 --> 00:20:15,200
Doesn't come from anybody
in the federal
penitentiary system
433
00:20:15,266 --> 00:20:18,266
or even in the state systems
convicted of major crimes.
434
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,867
[narrator] After more than
25 years,
435
00:20:21,867 --> 00:20:25,367
there's never been a suspect
named in Laura's case.
436
00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:29,467
Her loved ones feel like
their desperate search
for answers
437
00:20:29,467 --> 00:20:33,700
lies in fading memories
and fragments of DNA.
438
00:20:33,767 --> 00:20:38,100
In the beginning, we felt
that it was going
to be solved quickly.
439
00:20:38,166 --> 00:20:40,867
About two years
after she died,
440
00:20:40,867 --> 00:20:43,266
they said this case
won't be solved
441
00:20:43,266 --> 00:20:46,367
until somebody decides
to talk
442
00:20:46,367 --> 00:20:48,722
because the evidence
is such a crazy quilt...
443
00:20:48,722 --> 00:20:51,066
because the evidence
is such a crazy quilt...
444
00:20:52,467 --> 00:20:54,166
that no one
can figure out...
445
00:20:55,367 --> 00:20:56,667
how it happened.
446
00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:01,667
[narrator] Laura's childhood
friend Anne Champion
447
00:21:01,667 --> 00:21:05,000
still wants answers
desperately.
448
00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,300
She's now a nationally
prominent lawyer
449
00:21:07,367 --> 00:21:09,166
who raises awareness
of the case
450
00:21:09,166 --> 00:21:12,266
through the website
Champion for Laura.
451
00:21:12,266 --> 00:21:14,400
I just think that
we all deserve to know
452
00:21:14,467 --> 00:21:15,667
what happened that night,
453
00:21:15,667 --> 00:21:18,467
and it is unfortunate
that we may never know.
454
00:21:18,467 --> 00:21:18,722
I mean, this may not work.
455
00:21:18,722 --> 00:21:20,100
I mean, this may not work.
456
00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:23,266
You know, we may never know.
And I've made peace with that.
457
00:21:23,266 --> 00:21:26,867
But I am still determined
to try to figure out
458
00:21:26,867 --> 00:21:27,967
what happened that night.
459
00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:31,467
[narrator] Laura's story
is also the focus
460
00:21:31,467 --> 00:21:34,367
of Jason Stavers' podcast,
Bonaparte.
461
00:21:35,367 --> 00:21:38,867
It's really easy for us
to see a news event,
462
00:21:38,867 --> 00:21:42,367
to read a magazine piece,
to watch a TV show
463
00:21:42,367 --> 00:21:45,767
and put people into buckets,
snapshot people.
464
00:21:45,767 --> 00:21:48,100
But if I'd had 60 hours,
465
00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:48,722
I'm not sure that I could
have fully told the story
466
00:21:48,722 --> 00:21:51,367
I'm not sure that I could
have fully told the story
467
00:21:51,367 --> 00:21:53,667
of who Laura was,
who Donnie was,
468
00:21:53,667 --> 00:21:54,900
who all these
other people were,
469
00:21:54,967 --> 00:21:56,867
and how they collided
with one another.
470
00:21:56,867 --> 00:22:01,300
It has just been
such a devastating affair,
you know?
471
00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:04,767
So, please,
if you know something,
472
00:22:04,767 --> 00:22:06,166
please say something.
473
00:22:08,867 --> 00:22:10,000
[Anne] She was so smart.
474
00:22:10,066 --> 00:22:11,800
She was so creative.
475
00:22:11,867 --> 00:22:14,800
I just think
she would have done
incredible things.
476
00:22:14,867 --> 00:22:16,166
She would have
been remarkable.
477
00:22:16,166 --> 00:22:18,500
I have no doubt about that.
478
00:22:18,567 --> 00:22:18,722
[Leanne] Twenty-five
years later,
479
00:22:18,722 --> 00:22:21,066
[Leanne] Twenty-five
years later,
480
00:22:21,066 --> 00:22:24,867
I'm able to be very calm...
481
00:22:26,100 --> 00:22:30,100
when I think about her life
and her death.
482
00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:34,266
And I'm able to have
this weight inside of me...
483
00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:37,200
that I can't get rid of.
484
00:22:38,567 --> 00:22:43,500
But there's also
the remembering
of the good times
485
00:22:43,567 --> 00:22:46,200
and the great person
that she was,
486
00:22:46,266 --> 00:22:48,722
and that helps ease the grief.
487
00:22:48,722 --> 00:22:50,166
and that helps ease the grief.
488
00:22:50,166 --> 00:22:52,000
I think about her every day...
489
00:22:53,266 --> 00:22:57,467
and sometimes,
it's with a laugh
and sometimes it's sad.
490
00:23:02,667 --> 00:23:03,867
[narrator]
Police have been unable
491
00:23:03,867 --> 00:23:06,667
to solve a triple homicide
in Powder Springs.
492
00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:08,800
A mother and her two daughters
were beaten to death.
493
00:23:08,867 --> 00:23:10,700
Her only son survived.
494
00:23:10,767 --> 00:23:12,467
[Lucy speaking]
495
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,667
As I went to go put
my foot into the door,
496
00:23:18,667 --> 00:23:18,722
that's when I saw a pool
of blood on the floor.
497
00:23:18,722 --> 00:23:21,767
that's when I saw a pool
of blood on the floor.
498
00:23:21,767 --> 00:23:25,000
I'd attended hundreds
of death scenes.
499
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,767
The assault on Jane Kuria
500
00:23:26,767 --> 00:23:29,867
was one of the most vicious
that I had seen.
501
00:23:32,667 --> 00:23:34,266
[narrator]
Originally from Kenya,
502
00:23:34,266 --> 00:23:38,667
Jane Kuria moved
to Georgia in 2002
with her three children
503
00:23:38,667 --> 00:23:41,800
following the death of her
husband the year before.
504
00:23:41,867 --> 00:23:44,767
In 2007, Jane and her kids,
505
00:23:44,767 --> 00:23:46,700
19-year-old Isabella,
506
00:23:46,767 --> 00:23:48,700
16-year-old Annabelle,
507
00:23:48,767 --> 00:23:53,200
and 7-year-old Jeremy
are living in Powder Springs
near Atlanta.
508
00:23:53,266 --> 00:23:55,400
[Lucy speaking]
509
00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:14,800
My mom and my sisters
were very good people.
510
00:24:14,867 --> 00:24:17,367
My mom was very hard working.
511
00:24:17,367 --> 00:24:18,722
She loved everyone.
512
00:24:18,722 --> 00:24:20,100
She loved everyone.
513
00:24:20,166 --> 00:24:24,867
Isabella was a really calm,
cool, collected individual.
514
00:24:24,867 --> 00:24:27,667
But she was also very funny.
515
00:24:27,667 --> 00:24:30,767
My cousin Annabelle,
we were the same age.
516
00:24:30,767 --> 00:24:34,000
Because she came
to this country before I did,
517
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,867
I like to say that she was
the one that gave me
518
00:24:36,867 --> 00:24:40,100
a quick orientation of the US.
519
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,300
[narrator] July 29, 2007,
seems like a normal Sunday.
520
00:24:46,367 --> 00:24:48,700
The Kurias' cousin,
ten-year-old PK,
521
00:24:48,767 --> 00:24:51,700
is visiting from Kenya
with his mom.
522
00:24:51,767 --> 00:24:54,200
She drops him off to spend
the day with the family.
523
00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:58,667
Jane is busy cooking
and talking to her
sister-in-law Lucy
524
00:24:58,667 --> 00:25:00,867
about a new job.
525
00:25:00,867 --> 00:25:04,200
PK and Jeremy spend
the whole day playing outside.
526
00:25:05,266 --> 00:25:08,200
We went to sleep
on that day early.
527
00:25:08,266 --> 00:25:11,100
I think we were just tired
from all the playing
that we did.
528
00:25:12,567 --> 00:25:15,367
[narrator] The next day,
Jane's sister-in-law Lucy
529
00:25:15,367 --> 00:25:17,767
is unable to reach Jane.
530
00:25:17,767 --> 00:25:18,722
[Lucy speaking]
531
00:25:18,722 --> 00:25:20,867
[Lucy speaking]
532
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,500
[narrator] PK's mum
Pauline also can't get
ahold of Jane
533
00:25:31,567 --> 00:25:34,166
or anyone else
at the house all day.
534
00:25:34,166 --> 00:25:38,667
By Wednesday, she senses
something is very wrong.
535
00:25:38,667 --> 00:25:40,200
Pauline came to my house.
536
00:25:40,266 --> 00:25:44,567
She asked me if I could
take her to Miss Jane's house.
537
00:25:44,567 --> 00:25:47,367
[narrator] When they get
to the house
in Powder Springs,
538
00:25:47,367 --> 00:25:48,722
Jane and her daughter
Isabella's cars
539
00:25:48,722 --> 00:25:49,400
Jane and her daughter
Isabella's cars
540
00:25:49,467 --> 00:25:51,667
are both in the driveway.
541
00:25:51,667 --> 00:25:53,600
Pauline tries the front door.
542
00:25:53,667 --> 00:25:55,867
Diana goes around
the back of the house.
543
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,467
I noticed the sliding door
was still slightly open.
544
00:26:00,467 --> 00:26:02,467
I opened the sliding door.
545
00:26:02,467 --> 00:26:06,567
I pushed the blinds,
and it was total darkness.
546
00:26:06,567 --> 00:26:10,100
And as I went to go
put my foot into the door,
547
00:26:10,166 --> 00:26:12,867
that's when I saw a pool
of blood on the floor.
548
00:26:15,467 --> 00:26:17,767
[narrator] Diana calls 911.
549
00:26:17,767 --> 00:26:18,722
At her side,
Pauline is in a state
of stunned panic.
550
00:26:18,722 --> 00:26:22,266
At her side,
Pauline is in a state
of stunned panic.
551
00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:24,800
Neither one fully understands
what has happened
552
00:26:24,867 --> 00:26:26,166
inside the house.
553
00:26:27,166 --> 00:26:31,266
The first officer on the scene
quickly calls for backup.
554
00:26:31,266 --> 00:26:35,100
Within a few minutes,
all these cop cars,
fire trucks,
555
00:26:35,166 --> 00:26:37,066
ambulances,
everybody kind of showed up.
556
00:26:38,467 --> 00:26:42,300
[narrator] The responders
arrive to find a massacre.
557
00:26:42,367 --> 00:26:45,266
Jane Kuria has been murdered,
558
00:26:45,266 --> 00:26:48,722
so have her daughters,
Isabella and Annabelle.
559
00:26:48,722 --> 00:26:48,800
so have her daughters,
Isabella and Annabelle.
560
00:26:49,867 --> 00:26:52,367
The young cousins,
Jeremy and PK
561
00:26:52,367 --> 00:26:56,567
are both unconscious,
clinging to life.
562
00:26:56,567 --> 00:26:59,667
All five victims
had been brutally attacked
563
00:26:59,667 --> 00:27:02,400
with multiple blows
to their heads.
564
00:27:02,467 --> 00:27:06,266
The assault on Jane Kuria
was one of the most vicious
565
00:27:06,266 --> 00:27:08,200
that I had seen.
566
00:27:08,266 --> 00:27:11,667
And then seeing
what had occurred
567
00:27:11,667 --> 00:27:13,100
with Jane's daughters
568
00:27:13,100 --> 00:27:15,300
and then what had happened
to the little boys.
569
00:27:15,367 --> 00:27:16,400
It's hard to describe it.
570
00:27:16,467 --> 00:27:18,722
It was just completely
shockingly evil
571
00:27:18,722 --> 00:27:20,166
It was just completely
shockingly evil
572
00:27:20,166 --> 00:27:22,400
that a person would do this.
573
00:27:22,467 --> 00:27:25,066
[narrator] Police break
the devastating news
574
00:27:25,066 --> 00:27:27,367
to the rest of the family.
575
00:27:27,367 --> 00:27:29,200
Well, at first,
it was a lot of disbelief
576
00:27:29,266 --> 00:27:32,066
because I didn't
understand it.
577
00:27:32,066 --> 00:27:37,800
I just couldn't comprehend
that three people were dead.
578
00:27:37,867 --> 00:27:42,000
I'm just trying to think
how, why, who.
579
00:27:42,066 --> 00:27:44,066
[Lucy speaking]
580
00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:58,467
[narrator] Investigators work
to secure and catalog
581
00:27:58,467 --> 00:28:00,800
the crime scenes
at the Kuria house.
582
00:28:00,867 --> 00:28:03,867
They note that
there are no signs
of forced entry.
583
00:28:05,066 --> 00:28:06,467
In the kitchen area,
584
00:28:06,467 --> 00:28:11,166
I discovered the area
where Jane had been assaulted.
585
00:28:11,166 --> 00:28:14,500
The blood evidence
on the scene indicated to me
586
00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:16,800
that she had put up
quite a struggle.
587
00:28:16,867 --> 00:28:20,700
We discovered Isabelle
on the landing.
588
00:28:20,767 --> 00:28:24,339
She had been at the top
of the stairs near the kitchen
589
00:28:24,339 --> 00:28:25,367
She had been at the top
of the stairs near the kitchen
590
00:28:25,367 --> 00:28:27,600
when she was first assaulted.
591
00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:30,000
Annabelle simply
stepped out of her bedroom
592
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,867
into the hallway
when she was assaulted.
593
00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:40,367
Her injuries
were much the same
as Isabelle's and Jane's.
594
00:28:40,367 --> 00:28:44,667
It became apparent to me that
Jane was the primary target.
595
00:28:46,166 --> 00:28:48,567
[narrator] The two boys,
PK and Jeremy,
596
00:28:48,567 --> 00:28:50,767
were attacked in their beds.
597
00:28:50,767 --> 00:28:52,867
They were asleep
when they were assaulted
598
00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:54,339
and their heads
were on soft enough objects,
a mattress, a pillow
599
00:28:54,339 --> 00:28:58,867
and their heads
were on soft enough objects,
a mattress, a pillow
600
00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:03,600
that allowed some give
to the strikes to their heads.
601
00:29:03,667 --> 00:29:06,600
And that's why they were able
to survive their injuries.
602
00:29:06,667 --> 00:29:08,367
[narrator]
While the family grieves,
603
00:29:08,367 --> 00:29:11,967
investigators comb
through the physical evidence
to find out
604
00:29:11,967 --> 00:29:15,667
who could have carried out
these vicious assaults.
605
00:29:15,667 --> 00:29:18,667
I could tell the item
that was used as a weapon
606
00:29:18,667 --> 00:29:23,166
was at least
12 or 15 inches long,
607
00:29:23,166 --> 00:29:24,339
something that was
not very large in diameter.
608
00:29:24,339 --> 00:29:27,100
something that was
not very large in diameter.
609
00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:31,200
The injuries also showed that
610
00:29:31,266 --> 00:29:33,667
at least one end of this tool
611
00:29:33,667 --> 00:29:37,200
that was used as a weapon
was forked.
612
00:29:37,266 --> 00:29:39,767
[narrator] Police interview
family and friends
613
00:29:39,767 --> 00:29:42,100
and scrutinize phone records
614
00:29:42,166 --> 00:29:44,367
to build a timeline
of what happened
615
00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:47,000
in the days leading up
to the murders.
616
00:29:47,066 --> 00:29:51,266
We went through 60 days
of phone records.
617
00:29:51,266 --> 00:29:54,339
[narrator] Something catches
the interest of police.
618
00:29:54,339 --> 00:29:54,767
[narrator] Something catches
the interest of police.
619
00:29:54,767 --> 00:29:59,100
The number of calls between
Jane and a friend from church
named Patrick.
620
00:30:00,467 --> 00:30:04,867
Patrick and Jane
communicated by phone
621
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:07,166
seven days a week
622
00:30:07,166 --> 00:30:08,266
during that two months.
623
00:30:08,266 --> 00:30:13,567
There were sometimes
10, 12, 15 calls a day,
624
00:30:13,567 --> 00:30:15,100
sometimes more than that.
625
00:30:15,166 --> 00:30:18,100
Either Jane calling him
or Patrick calling Jane.
626
00:30:19,467 --> 00:30:21,900
[Mark] I just thought that
they were just good friends.
627
00:30:21,967 --> 00:30:24,339
I didn't think anything other
than because he had a wife...
628
00:30:24,339 --> 00:30:25,600
I didn't think anything other
than because he had a wife...
629
00:30:26,700 --> 00:30:28,233
but he was always around.
630
00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:34,100
[narrator] Detective
John Dawes notices
a suspicious pattern
631
00:30:34,166 --> 00:30:36,000
or lack thereof,
632
00:30:36,066 --> 00:30:40,367
starting with the evening
of the brutal attacks
on the Kuria family.
633
00:30:40,367 --> 00:30:42,000
On the date of June 30th...
634
00:30:43,367 --> 00:30:47,867
the last call between
Jane and Patrick
was about 10:00 p.m.,
635
00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:50,266
and that was the last
phone call between them.
636
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:53,667
But he didn't call her
on July 31st.
637
00:30:54,667 --> 00:30:56,467
He didn't call her
on August 1st.
638
00:30:57,767 --> 00:31:01,300
It was completely alarming
to me.
639
00:31:01,367 --> 00:31:05,266
I said, "Man, why didn't you
call Jane on July 31st?"
640
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:08,500
"I don't know."
641
00:31:08,567 --> 00:31:10,166
He would interview
642
00:31:10,166 --> 00:31:13,467
and he would freely and openly
talk about many things.
643
00:31:13,467 --> 00:31:16,767
But when it came time
to answer questions
644
00:31:16,767 --> 00:31:19,200
that were really important...
645
00:31:20,767 --> 00:31:23,467
I just didn't get
any satisfactory answers.
646
00:31:23,467 --> 00:31:24,339
[narrator] But Patrick
does have his own theory
647
00:31:24,339 --> 00:31:25,867
[narrator] But Patrick
does have his own theory
648
00:31:25,867 --> 00:31:27,800
about what might
have happened.
649
00:31:27,867 --> 00:31:30,166
He volunteered to me
650
00:31:30,166 --> 00:31:34,100
that I needed to look
at the Mungiki gang.
651
00:31:34,166 --> 00:31:39,967
[narrator] The Mungiki gang
is often referred to
as the Kenyan Mafia.
652
00:31:39,967 --> 00:31:43,767
Patrick told me
that Jane had shared with him
653
00:31:43,767 --> 00:31:47,367
that her husband was murdered
by the Mungiki gang
654
00:31:47,367 --> 00:31:50,166
in Kenya years earlier.
655
00:31:50,166 --> 00:31:54,339
[narrator] Investigators
obtained a death certificate
for Jane's husband.
656
00:31:54,339 --> 00:31:54,567
[narrator] Investigators
obtained a death certificate
for Jane's husband.
657
00:31:54,567 --> 00:31:57,800
My Uncle Kuria didn't die
from being murdered by anyone.
658
00:31:57,867 --> 00:32:00,367
My uncle died from pneumonia.
659
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,700
I felt like
it was an obvious ploy
660
00:32:04,767 --> 00:32:07,667
by Patrick to get me working
towards something
661
00:32:07,667 --> 00:32:09,600
that had nothing to do
with this case.
662
00:32:10,900 --> 00:32:13,367
[narrator] Meanwhile,
the family shifts focus
663
00:32:13,367 --> 00:32:17,600
to the two survivors
of the massacre,
PK and Jeremy.
664
00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,166
Jeremy was in a coma
at the time
665
00:32:22,166 --> 00:32:24,339
and PK was also in a coma.
666
00:32:24,339 --> 00:32:25,200
and PK was also in a coma.
667
00:32:25,266 --> 00:32:27,700
All I wanted
to really know was
668
00:32:27,767 --> 00:32:30,100
how they're doing
and when can I see them.
669
00:32:31,467 --> 00:32:34,900
We had service and prayers
for days on end.
670
00:32:34,967 --> 00:32:37,166
We had a huge fundraising
671
00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:39,800
because we knew we had
to transport three bodies
to Kenya.
672
00:32:39,867 --> 00:32:43,500
[narrator] Jane's
sister-in-law Lucy plans
for the bodies of Jane,
673
00:32:43,567 --> 00:32:48,100
Isabella, and Annabelle
to be flown back
to Kenya for burial.
674
00:32:48,166 --> 00:32:50,700
She spends
the rest of her time
in the hospital
675
00:32:50,767 --> 00:32:54,339
at the bedside of her nephews
Jeremy and PK.
676
00:32:54,339 --> 00:32:54,767
at the bedside of her nephews
Jeremy and PK.
677
00:32:54,767 --> 00:32:58,467
PK regains consciousness
a week after the attacks,
678
00:32:58,467 --> 00:33:02,467
but he doesn't recall
any details of the incident.
679
00:33:02,467 --> 00:33:06,166
Jeremy remains unconscious
for another few weeks.
680
00:33:06,166 --> 00:33:07,500
[Lucy speaking]
681
00:33:18,467 --> 00:33:21,667
[narrator] For Jeremy,
now 23 years old,
682
00:33:21,667 --> 00:33:24,339
the feeling
is one of bewilderment.
683
00:33:24,339 --> 00:33:24,800
the feeling
is one of bewilderment.
684
00:33:24,867 --> 00:33:27,567
After a fun day of playing
with his cousin,
685
00:33:27,567 --> 00:33:30,467
he looked forward
to a peaceful night of rest.
686
00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:35,400
My next memory
after going to bed is just
waking up in the hospital.
687
00:33:35,467 --> 00:33:38,300
I can't speak.
I can't move.
688
00:33:38,367 --> 00:33:41,300
[narrator] Amid the family's
grief and struggle,
689
00:33:41,367 --> 00:33:46,166
they noticed that a friend
of Jane's Elizabeth
has taken charge.
690
00:33:46,166 --> 00:33:47,567
I remember one particular day
691
00:33:47,567 --> 00:33:49,867
I was going to go and identify
the bodies and she called me.
692
00:33:49,867 --> 00:33:51,800
She was like, "Oh, no,
you don't have to come.
693
00:33:51,867 --> 00:33:54,300
I'll handle it for you.
You can go back home."
694
00:33:54,367 --> 00:33:58,367
She presented herself
to the community
695
00:33:58,367 --> 00:34:00,667
as a spokesperson
for the family.
696
00:34:01,667 --> 00:34:03,300
[narrator]
The family is confused
697
00:34:03,367 --> 00:34:06,166
by the prominent role
Elizabeth is taking.
698
00:34:06,166 --> 00:34:12,166
Culturally, it was completely
bizarre for Elizabeth to step
into that role.
699
00:34:12,166 --> 00:34:14,567
But at the time,
I was only 22.
700
00:34:14,567 --> 00:34:16,433
I couldn't question that.
701
00:34:16,433 --> 00:34:20,567
[narrator] When Jeremy's Aunt
Lucy returns from a trip
to Kenya with her mother,
702
00:34:20,567 --> 00:34:22,300
Jeremy's grandmother,
703
00:34:22,367 --> 00:34:24,339
she discovers
something disturbing.
704
00:34:24,339 --> 00:34:25,467
she discovers
something disturbing.
705
00:34:25,467 --> 00:34:27,300
[Lucy speaking]
706
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,000
[narrator] Meanwhile,
Elizabeth has gained
707
00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:48,367
the trust of Jeremy's
other grandmother,
Jane's mother.
708
00:34:48,367 --> 00:34:51,500
Elizabeth has leveraged
this relationship
709
00:34:51,567 --> 00:34:53,400
and has removed
the rest of the family
710
00:34:53,467 --> 00:34:54,339
from Jeremy's paperwork
without their consent.
711
00:34:54,339 --> 00:34:57,200
from Jeremy's paperwork
without their consent.
712
00:34:57,266 --> 00:35:02,567
Things between Jeremy's
guardianship moved
very, very fast.
713
00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:05,767
When Jeremy got
out of the hospital,
714
00:35:05,767 --> 00:35:10,400
he started living
in Elizabeth's house
with his grandma.
715
00:35:11,567 --> 00:35:18,567
And we saw Jeremy maybe
once or twice after that.
716
00:35:18,567 --> 00:35:21,667
[narrator] Elizabeth sells
Jane's house, car
717
00:35:21,667 --> 00:35:24,100
and all the family's
belongings.
718
00:35:24,100 --> 00:35:24,339
[Lucy speaking]
719
00:35:24,339 --> 00:35:25,767
[Lucy speaking]
720
00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:36,600
This was really, really sad
721
00:35:36,667 --> 00:35:40,967
because he had no support
from any family member
who he knew.
722
00:35:40,967 --> 00:35:43,767
We wanted to just be there
to comfort him.
723
00:35:44,767 --> 00:35:46,867
There's nothing
that I could do at that time.
724
00:35:46,867 --> 00:35:50,367
No one can come and see me
without her knowing
725
00:35:50,367 --> 00:35:52,266
what was taken and...
726
00:35:52,266 --> 00:35:54,339
and put
into the trust accounts.
727
00:35:54,339 --> 00:35:55,266
and put
into the trust accounts.
728
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:57,467
I've never had access to it.
729
00:35:57,467 --> 00:35:59,867
When I ask about it,
730
00:35:59,867 --> 00:36:02,600
I'm told that
I'll tell you later.
731
00:36:02,667 --> 00:36:04,800
One of the things
that an investigator...
732
00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:11,467
needs to ask himself
on the scene of a murder is,
733
00:36:11,467 --> 00:36:14,700
"Okay, who benefits
from this murder?"
734
00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:20,266
[Lucy speaking]
735
00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:34,266
Elizabeth wasn't
a mother figure to me.
736
00:36:34,266 --> 00:36:38,266
What she was was like
a principal that
I can't do anything
737
00:36:38,266 --> 00:36:40,800
without having her permission.
738
00:36:40,867 --> 00:36:43,500
[narrator] Investigators
explore possible connections
739
00:36:43,567 --> 00:36:47,000
between Elizabeth
and Jane's friend Patrick.
740
00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:47,967
The only link
that I could find
741
00:36:47,967 --> 00:36:48,600
The only link
that I could find
742
00:36:48,667 --> 00:36:51,100
between Elizabeth
and Patrick
743
00:36:51,166 --> 00:36:56,000
is that they were,
in fact, acquainted
through church, mainly.
744
00:36:56,066 --> 00:36:58,400
[narrator] While members
of the Kuria family say
745
00:36:58,467 --> 00:37:00,467
they've been confused
and hurt
746
00:37:00,467 --> 00:37:02,467
by Elizabeth's actions
747
00:37:02,467 --> 00:37:04,266
and they don't trust her,
748
00:37:04,266 --> 00:37:09,000
she has never been named
as a person of interest
in the brutal murders.
749
00:37:09,066 --> 00:37:13,500
Is there someone else
who would have benefited
from Jane's death?
750
00:37:13,567 --> 00:37:15,767
The answer may lie
in something found
751
00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:17,800
on the dining room table
in the house
752
00:37:17,867 --> 00:37:17,967
where the massacre
took place.
753
00:37:17,967 --> 00:37:20,367
where the massacre
took place.
754
00:37:20,367 --> 00:37:24,400
There were some handwritten
notes on a piece of paper
755
00:37:24,467 --> 00:37:29,967
that included some numbers
that were added up
and totaled.
756
00:37:29,967 --> 00:37:32,100
One of the things
I came across is that
757
00:37:32,100 --> 00:37:38,967
Patrick had requested
a loan from Jane
in the amount of $5,000.
758
00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,567
It just so happens
that the handwritten note
759
00:37:42,567 --> 00:37:44,700
on the dining room table,
760
00:37:44,767 --> 00:37:47,967
the numbers written down
there totaled right at $5,000.
761
00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:48,700
the numbers written down
there totaled right at $5,000.
762
00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:52,567
[narrator]
The investigation once again
763
00:37:52,567 --> 00:37:55,767
turns to Jane's close friend
Patrick.
764
00:37:55,767 --> 00:37:59,467
In asking Patrick
the very simple question,
765
00:37:59,467 --> 00:38:01,867
"Did you owe Jane $5,000?"
766
00:38:01,867 --> 00:38:03,266
And he said, "Yes."
767
00:38:04,367 --> 00:38:06,567
And I said, "Had she been
pushing you about that?"
768
00:38:06,567 --> 00:38:09,066
And he said,
"No, there was no pressure."
769
00:38:09,066 --> 00:38:10,567
[Lucy speaking]
770
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,066
I interviewed
Patrick thoroughly.
771
00:38:21,066 --> 00:38:22,700
Patrick's demeanor was calm.
772
00:38:22,767 --> 00:38:26,700
He wasn't a person
that showed any anxiety
773
00:38:26,767 --> 00:38:28,500
in talking with the police.
774
00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:30,667
I would have loved
to have been able to throw
775
00:38:30,667 --> 00:38:32,567
some physical evidence
in there
776
00:38:32,567 --> 00:38:35,266
to put with that circumstance
and see where we could get.
777
00:38:36,667 --> 00:38:39,500
[narrator] While the hundreds
of items of physical evidence
778
00:38:39,567 --> 00:38:42,767
gathered from the crime scene
in 2007
779
00:38:42,767 --> 00:38:45,800
didn't yield any leads
at the time,
780
00:38:45,867 --> 00:38:47,967
there are a few clues
that offer tantalizing
hope for answers.
781
00:38:47,967 --> 00:38:50,200
there are a few clues
that offer tantalizing
hope for answers.
782
00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:53,300
A person perhaps
two miles away
783
00:38:53,367 --> 00:38:57,000
from this heinous
triple murder
784
00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:02,900
saw a couple of hand towels
lying in the ditch
785
00:39:02,967 --> 00:39:04,967
and they were covered
in blood.
786
00:39:04,967 --> 00:39:10,367
And those bloody hand towels
did go to the state crime lab.
787
00:39:10,367 --> 00:39:15,400
And we have a full profile
from that blood
on those towels.
788
00:39:16,767 --> 00:39:17,967
[narrator] Retired detective
John Dawes
789
00:39:17,967 --> 00:39:18,867
[narrator] Retired detective
John Dawes
790
00:39:18,867 --> 00:39:22,300
believes these towels
are from the crime scene.
791
00:39:22,367 --> 00:39:25,200
Civil liberties protections
prevent investigators
792
00:39:25,266 --> 00:39:28,967
from running the profile
found on the towels
through the database
793
00:39:28,967 --> 00:39:33,100
that contains the DNA profiles
of convicted felons.
794
00:39:33,100 --> 00:39:36,867
But the science
of DNA continues to evolve.
795
00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:41,066
Even though I'm retired,
that's what I'm pushing
for now,
796
00:39:41,066 --> 00:39:45,100
to go back
into the physical evidence
797
00:39:45,166 --> 00:39:47,500
with the latest
and greatest technology,
that's...
798
00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:53,567
There are a lot of things
that can be defeated
in a criminal court,
799
00:39:53,567 --> 00:39:55,700
but physical evidence
isn't one of them.
800
00:39:55,767 --> 00:39:59,166
And we went out of our way
to collect it and preserve it.
801
00:39:59,166 --> 00:40:00,500
It's still there.
802
00:40:01,767 --> 00:40:04,667
[narrator] Investigators find
a fitting workaround.
803
00:40:04,667 --> 00:40:09,266
The DNA will be tested
and entered
into a genealogy database,
804
00:40:09,266 --> 00:40:12,867
the same process
that identified
the Golden State Killer
805
00:40:12,867 --> 00:40:15,567
Joseph James DeAngelo.
806
00:40:15,567 --> 00:40:17,967
Results are expected
by the end of 2022.
807
00:40:17,967 --> 00:40:19,400
Results are expected
by the end of 2022.
808
00:40:19,467 --> 00:40:22,100
Until then, the family
and investigators
809
00:40:22,166 --> 00:40:26,600
can only speculate
who and why.
810
00:40:26,667 --> 00:40:28,500
[Lucy speaking]
811
00:40:34,967 --> 00:40:38,400
She didn't have
any recent deposits.
812
00:40:38,467 --> 00:40:42,467
She didn't have any recent
debits of significant amounts
of money.
813
00:40:42,467 --> 00:40:44,367
There was some information
814
00:40:44,367 --> 00:40:46,467
that came along
within a year or so
815
00:40:46,467 --> 00:40:47,967
that that Jane was expecting
816
00:40:47,967 --> 00:40:48,166
that that Jane was expecting
817
00:40:48,166 --> 00:40:50,967
to be receiving
a significant sum of money.
818
00:40:50,967 --> 00:40:53,600
I never found
the fact of that,
819
00:40:53,667 --> 00:41:00,200
although we couldn't go
into her account that
she held in Kenya.
820
00:41:00,266 --> 00:41:03,600
[narrator] The aftermath
of these horrific murders
821
00:41:03,667 --> 00:41:08,700
and the suspicions
they've raised continue
to plague the family.
822
00:41:08,767 --> 00:41:11,700
[Lucy speaking]
823
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,166
It's just been really
difficult to get over
the loss of three people.
824
00:41:25,166 --> 00:41:28,166
And you still don't have
any answers
on what really happened.
825
00:41:28,166 --> 00:41:30,667
I always find myself
with the rest of my family
826
00:41:30,667 --> 00:41:33,066
and we're having
a good time,
827
00:41:33,066 --> 00:41:36,567
and there's always
that one moment where I freeze
828
00:41:36,567 --> 00:41:41,100
and I imagine my aunt
and my cousins
just being around
829
00:41:41,166 --> 00:41:44,100
and us just laughing
and having a really
great time.
830
00:41:45,567 --> 00:41:47,967
And it makes me very sad
that they're not here with us.
831
00:41:47,967 --> 00:41:50,567
And it makes me very sad
that they're not here with us.
832
00:41:50,567 --> 00:41:54,500
Still hurts to know
that my mom's
not still alive to call...
833
00:41:54,567 --> 00:41:58,367
to call my son
grandson and my sisters
834
00:41:58,367 --> 00:42:00,600
are not alive
to see their nephew.
835
00:42:00,667 --> 00:42:02,867
And now I have a family
of my own,
836
00:42:02,867 --> 00:42:06,767
I want to give my family
everything that I didn't get.