1
00:00:01,567 --> 00:00:04,076
[Vivianne Bernas]
I got a text from him
around 4:00 am.
2
00:00:04,100 --> 00:00:07,400
It said, "Viv, I am sorry.
I have to leave the country.
3
00:00:07,467 --> 00:00:08,734
I can't tell you why."
4
00:00:08,767 --> 00:00:10,843
[reporter] Police need your
help to find the student
5
00:00:10,867 --> 00:00:12,309
who disappeared on Sunday night.
6
00:00:12,333 --> 00:00:14,800
[Stacy Bridavsky]
His cell phone pinged
at several locations
7
00:00:14,867 --> 00:00:18,042
the night he went missing,
into the early-morning hours.
8
00:00:18,066 --> 00:00:19,400
How did he get there?
9
00:00:19,467 --> 00:00:20,943
I was just totally at a loss.
10
00:00:20,967 --> 00:00:24,100
[Vivianne] He had to have
someone with him.
11
00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:28,200
It was something
that I just felt was
very suspicious.
12
00:00:28,266 --> 00:00:31,000
[Bridavsky] Someone out there
has to know something.
13
00:00:31,467 --> 00:00:34,543
[Vivianne] I'm determined
to get the answers.
14
00:00:34,567 --> 00:00:38,743
It was clear to us
he was the last person
to be with her.
15
00:00:38,767 --> 00:00:41,800
I suspected foul play
pretty quickly.
16
00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:45,643
I just kept going
from every angle,
and there was nothing.
17
00:00:45,667 --> 00:00:47,900
There was something
serious going on.
18
00:00:47,967 --> 00:00:51,943
[Celestra Dewey]
When they said, "Hello,"
it clicked and hung up.
19
00:00:51,967 --> 00:00:54,767
And then nothing.
20
00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:56,900
Fade to black.
21
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,743
Smedley went missing Monday.
22
00:01:05,767 --> 00:01:08,500
Cryptic messages were sent
from his phone to his sister,
23
00:01:08,567 --> 00:01:10,142
saying he was leaving
the country,
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00:01:10,166 --> 00:01:12,343
but all week,
she remained skeptical.
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00:01:12,367 --> 00:01:13,943
[reporter] The Smedley
family says
26
00:01:13,967 --> 00:01:16,242
there are too many
unanswered questions.
27
00:01:16,266 --> 00:01:18,000
They want to shine more light
28
00:01:18,066 --> 00:01:21,643
on the circumstances
surrounding Joseph's death.
29
00:01:21,667 --> 00:01:23,443
[Dr. Joseph Smedley]
I was just totally at a loss.
30
00:01:23,467 --> 00:01:26,543
Tried to wrap my mind around
what, what had happened.
31
00:01:26,567 --> 00:01:29,242
There isn't anyone
who was involved initially,
32
00:01:29,266 --> 00:01:31,000
who's willing
to come forward and say,
33
00:01:31,266 --> 00:01:32,467
"Here's this missing piece."
34
00:01:37,467 --> 00:01:39,242
[narrator] Growing up
in Indianapolis,
35
00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:43,400
Joseph Smedley is known
for being as smart
as he is funny.
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00:01:44,667 --> 00:01:47,843
{\an8}His personality was upbeat
and very positive.
37
00:01:47,867 --> 00:01:49,209
{\an8}He was a jokester.
38
00:01:49,233 --> 00:01:51,867
{\an8}We're about
a year-and-a-half apart,
so we were really close.
39
00:01:53,367 --> 00:01:56,543
He was always was trying
to play pranks on us,
growing up,
40
00:01:56,567 --> 00:01:59,242
and he constantly was practicing
41
00:01:59,266 --> 00:02:01,000
his wrestling moves on me.
42
00:02:01,266 --> 00:02:02,743
He's sharp, he's bright.
43
00:02:02,767 --> 00:02:05,843
And you knew
that he was having
an impact on you
44
00:02:05,867 --> 00:02:08,076
when you were in his presence.
45
00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:09,376
Just so smart.
46
00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,200
I always used to refer to him
as the little boy genius.
47
00:02:13,266 --> 00:02:17,367
[narrator] Joseph and
Vivianne's parents' divorce
when Joseph is in third grade.
48
00:02:18,767 --> 00:02:20,467
We all just handled it
a lot differently.
49
00:02:21,567 --> 00:02:24,700
I think Joseph
was just really sad.
50
00:02:25,967 --> 00:02:28,743
So Joseph went
to actually go live
with my mother
51
00:02:28,767 --> 00:02:31,000
in Saint Thomas
for a little while,
52
00:02:31,567 --> 00:02:34,443
but their relationship
pretty much soured.
53
00:02:34,467 --> 00:02:37,543
So he decided to come back home.
54
00:02:37,567 --> 00:02:39,343
Right about the time
that he returned,
55
00:02:39,367 --> 00:02:42,343
Joseph and I
were going through
a lot of challenges
56
00:02:42,367 --> 00:02:46,343
in terms of trying
to get him re-established
back in our home.
57
00:02:46,367 --> 00:02:49,200
My father actually
had gotten remarried.
58
00:02:49,266 --> 00:02:52,100
And the wife that he was with,
59
00:02:52,166 --> 00:02:56,200
it was just not someone
that, um, any of us
got along with very well.
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00:02:57,767 --> 00:03:01,000
[narrator] In 2012,
when he's 16 years old,
61
00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:03,443
Joseph becomes
legally emancipated
62
00:03:03,467 --> 00:03:05,800
and moves in
with a close friend.
63
00:03:07,667 --> 00:03:12,242
Two years later,
Joseph's life takes
a positive turn
64
00:03:12,266 --> 00:03:15,367
when he's accepted
into Indiana
University Bloomington.
65
00:03:16,367 --> 00:03:19,367
His classes begin
in August of that year.
66
00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,443
[Vivianne] I was
really excited for him.
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00:03:22,467 --> 00:03:24,543
I knew that he'd have
a ton of friends there.
68
00:03:24,567 --> 00:03:27,500
He would be able
to get started off
on the right foot.
69
00:03:27,567 --> 00:03:29,076
{\an8}He was very ambitious,
70
00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:31,000
{\an8}and he really wanted
to pursue a degree
71
00:03:31,166 --> 00:03:33,200
{\an8}in biochemistry
and pharmacology.
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00:03:33,767 --> 00:03:35,443
We were estranged,
73
00:03:35,467 --> 00:03:38,900
but I kept tabs of him
through Vivianne.
74
00:03:38,967 --> 00:03:43,500
I was always hopeful
that Joseph and I
would reconcile.
75
00:03:43,567 --> 00:03:47,100
[narrator] Joseph and Vivianne
talk practically every day,
76
00:03:47,166 --> 00:03:50,700
and she couldn't be
happier to see her brother
flourishing at college.
77
00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:54,242
Joseph definitely
enjoyed college.
78
00:03:54,266 --> 00:03:56,066
I could tell he had a blast,
for sure.
79
00:03:57,467 --> 00:03:59,500
[narrator] Then Joseph
makes a decision
80
00:03:59,567 --> 00:04:01,000
that surprises his family.
81
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,400
During his second semester
of his freshman year,
82
00:04:05,467 --> 00:04:10,066
he decided to pledge Sigma Pi,
which is a popular fraternity.
83
00:04:11,567 --> 00:04:13,843
[Vivianne] I'm just not
a fan of fraternities.
84
00:04:13,867 --> 00:04:15,743
I feel like there's
other organizations and ways
85
00:04:15,767 --> 00:04:17,500
that you can get involved
on campus.
86
00:04:17,567 --> 00:04:21,843
I was very upset
that he had decided
87
00:04:21,867 --> 00:04:24,976
to throw his hat in
with that group of boys.
88
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,600
That fraternity had
just a horrible reputation
on campus.
89
00:04:30,867 --> 00:04:32,547
[narrator] Joseph spends
the summer of 2015
90
00:04:33,367 --> 00:04:36,543
living in
an off-campus apartment
with friends.
91
00:04:36,567 --> 00:04:39,500
As his sophomore year
is about to start,
92
00:04:39,567 --> 00:04:42,700
Joseph moves into a house
with two guys from his frat.
93
00:04:44,467 --> 00:04:45,976
I remember him FaceTiming me
94
00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,000
and showing me,
kind of, his new room,
95
00:04:48,066 --> 00:04:49,443
and how excited he was
96
00:04:49,467 --> 00:04:53,166
to be in a house
with his fraternity brothers.
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00:04:54,767 --> 00:04:57,142
{\an8}[narrator] Monday,
September 21st.
98
00:04:57,166 --> 00:05:01,000
{\an8}Vivianne receives a call
from her brother's
former landlord.
99
00:05:01,767 --> 00:05:04,443
[Vivianne] I had actually
co-signed for that lease
100
00:05:04,467 --> 00:05:05,900
that he was moving out of.
101
00:05:05,967 --> 00:05:09,643
And, apparently,
because he didn't have
anyone to replace him,
102
00:05:09,667 --> 00:05:12,900
he still had to pay
to break the lease.
103
00:05:12,967 --> 00:05:17,443
So Vivianne had called
her brother right away
and said, you know,
104
00:05:17,467 --> 00:05:20,543
"What's going on?
Your old apartment
just called me.
105
00:05:20,567 --> 00:05:23,743
The said you owe around $680."
106
00:05:23,767 --> 00:05:26,543
He said that he would
take care of it.
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00:05:26,567 --> 00:05:28,242
[narrator] Joseph's
former landlord
108
00:05:28,266 --> 00:05:31,000
gives him one week
to pay the remaining balance,
109
00:05:31,567 --> 00:05:37,400
which means he needs
to drop off a check by noon
on Monday, September 28th.
110
00:05:37,467 --> 00:05:42,076
Joseph had checks
from one of his summer jobs
that he hadn't picked up yet,
111
00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:45,400
and that is how
he was planning on paying.
112
00:05:46,367 --> 00:05:48,200
So, I called him
that Sunday night
113
00:05:48,266 --> 00:05:52,200
and asked if he had
anything together
for the next day.
114
00:05:52,266 --> 00:05:55,543
And he said,
"Yes. I have the check
on my desk,
115
00:05:55,567 --> 00:05:57,800
and I'll be
dropping it off tomorrow."
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00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:00,443
[cell phone vibrates]
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00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:02,587
[narrator] The next morning,
Vivianne wakes up to find
118
00:06:03,266 --> 00:06:06,042
a strange message
from her brother.
119
00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:08,867
I got a text from him.
It came around 4:00 am.
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00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:13,000
It said something
along the lines of
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00:06:13,066 --> 00:06:16,142
"Viv, I am sorry.
I have to leave the country.
122
00:06:16,166 --> 00:06:20,142
I can't tell you
why I'm leaving the country,
to protect you.
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00:06:20,166 --> 00:06:23,643
But as soon as
I get set up overseas,
I'll contact you."
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00:06:23,667 --> 00:06:25,643
It did not make sense at all.
125
00:06:25,667 --> 00:06:27,843
Joseph did not have a passport.
126
00:06:27,867 --> 00:06:30,600
I thought it was
a joke at first,
and I responded,
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00:06:30,667 --> 00:06:32,707
{\an8}"Shut up. LOL.
Better have that check
today at noon,"
128
00:06:34,166 --> 00:06:36,543
or something like that.
129
00:06:36,567 --> 00:06:41,543
[narrator] When Vivianne
tries to call him,
she gets his voicemail.
130
00:06:41,567 --> 00:06:44,142
[Vivianne] I still didn't
really take it seriously.
131
00:06:44,166 --> 00:06:48,743
Sometimes he does things
that aren't really funny,
but are funny to him.
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00:06:48,767 --> 00:06:51,300
I'm just gonna wait and see
if he drops the check off.
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00:06:51,367 --> 00:06:55,142
So, once noon came around,
I called the apartment,
and I said,
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00:06:55,166 --> 00:06:56,543
"Did he stop by?"
135
00:06:56,567 --> 00:06:58,367
And they said,
"No. We haven't
seen him today."
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00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:01,640
[narrator] By Monday afternoon,
137
00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:04,943
after not being able
to reach her brother,
138
00:07:04,967 --> 00:07:08,500
Vivianne calls
the Indiana University
Police Department
139
00:07:08,567 --> 00:07:12,100
and asks them to perform
a welfare check.
140
00:07:12,166 --> 00:07:16,700
They discover
that he didn't attend
any of his classes that day.
141
00:07:16,767 --> 00:07:20,543
They went to his home,
and he wasn't there either,
142
00:07:20,567 --> 00:07:24,767
so, at that point,
no one knew where he was.
143
00:07:26,467 --> 00:07:29,943
[narrator] But later that day,
the police call Vivianne back
144
00:07:29,967 --> 00:07:31,567
and say that they've
located her brother.
145
00:07:32,767 --> 00:07:34,843
They said that
they had found him
146
00:07:34,867 --> 00:07:36,743
and that he was in jail.
147
00:07:36,767 --> 00:07:38,700
And then I got really confused,
148
00:07:38,767 --> 00:07:40,600
'cause he's just not
the kind of person
149
00:07:40,667 --> 00:07:42,867
that I would ever think
would be in jail.
150
00:07:45,367 --> 00:07:48,900
So then I actually had
a couple of other people
call the jail,
151
00:07:48,967 --> 00:07:50,967
and they said there wasn't
a Joseph Smedley there.
152
00:07:52,467 --> 00:07:55,343
[narrator] Indiana University
Police follow up,
153
00:07:55,367 --> 00:07:59,000
and confirm
there's been a mix up
at the Monroe County Jail.
154
00:07:59,066 --> 00:08:01,000
[Vivianne] I get
a call back saying,
155
00:08:01,367 --> 00:08:03,643
"We apologize.
We actually did get it wrong.
156
00:08:03,667 --> 00:08:05,943
There was
a Jonathan Smedley there,
157
00:08:05,967 --> 00:08:09,166
and Joseph Smedley
in not in jail."
158
00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,643
[narrator] Tuesday,
September 29th.
159
00:08:13,667 --> 00:08:17,066
Joseph is officially declared
a missing person.
160
00:08:18,667 --> 00:08:21,443
[reporter] How are you?
And police need your help
to find a student
161
00:08:21,467 --> 00:08:23,009
who disappeared on Sunday night.
162
00:08:23,033 --> 00:08:26,643
This poster has been shared
thousands of times
on social media.
163
00:08:26,667 --> 00:08:29,142
Things definitely got
more real for me
164
00:08:29,166 --> 00:08:31,686
when they said that
they were gonna file him
as a missing person.
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00:08:32,867 --> 00:08:34,600
At that point,
I started to feel like
166
00:08:34,667 --> 00:08:36,743
that text message
didn't come from him.
167
00:08:36,767 --> 00:08:39,700
There is no doubt in my mind
that he did not send
that message.
168
00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:46,743
[narrator] The mix up
at the Monroe County Jail
169
00:08:46,767 --> 00:08:51,242
has robbed
Indiana University Police
of precious time.
170
00:08:51,266 --> 00:08:55,443
So Joseph's sister launches
her own investigation.
171
00:08:55,467 --> 00:08:58,643
{\an8}I just immediately started
going on his Instagram
and his Facebook,
172
00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:02,142
{\an8}and looking for
the most recent people
he was tagged in,
173
00:09:02,166 --> 00:09:04,142
and just reaching out,
174
00:09:04,166 --> 00:09:05,976
trying to see if I could find
175
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,242
any information on what
his last moves were,
176
00:09:09,266 --> 00:09:11,367
and I just, kind of,
blasted it all over
her Facebook.
177
00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:13,743
[Dr. Smedley]
Vivianne was awesome.
178
00:09:13,767 --> 00:09:15,367
{\an8}She did everything
that a person could do
179
00:09:18,266 --> 00:09:22,200
{\an8}to try to determine
what had occurred.
180
00:09:24,166 --> 00:09:27,867
[narrator] Vivianne pays
Joseph's roommates a visit
at their house.
181
00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:32,142
[Vivianne] His roommates
had said that during the day,
182
00:09:32,166 --> 00:09:35,242
they had just been at home
watching a show.
183
00:09:35,266 --> 00:09:38,600
Then they all went to bed
around 11:00
184
00:09:38,667 --> 00:09:39,743
on that Sunday night,
185
00:09:39,767 --> 00:09:42,743
and that was the last time
they had seen him.
186
00:09:42,767 --> 00:09:44,887
[narrator] When Vivianne
checks her brother's bedroom,
187
00:09:45,166 --> 00:09:47,743
nothing seems
out of the ordinary.
188
00:09:47,767 --> 00:09:51,242
Nothing seemed
to really be missing,
except for his backpack.
189
00:09:51,266 --> 00:09:53,900
His check,
that he was going
to be taking
190
00:09:53,967 --> 00:09:58,943
to the apartment that Monday,
was still on the desk as well.
191
00:09:58,967 --> 00:10:02,600
[narrator] Vivianne also
learns that when
Indiana University Police
192
00:10:02,667 --> 00:10:05,743
checked Joseph's house
the day he disappeared,
193
00:10:05,767 --> 00:10:08,743
they found a note on his bed.
194
00:10:08,767 --> 00:10:10,976
It was very similar
to the text message,
195
00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:12,400
that he's leaving the country
196
00:10:12,467 --> 00:10:14,000
and do not attempt
to contact him.
197
00:10:14,066 --> 00:10:17,076
{\an8}And here's where it gets
especially interesting.
198
00:10:17,100 --> 00:10:19,743
The note was signed Smedley.
199
00:10:19,767 --> 00:10:23,976
Which I found kind of strange
because he's never gone
by Smedley.
200
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,443
{\an8}And it was dated 9/28,
201
00:10:26,467 --> 00:10:29,000
{\an8}which would have been
that Monday.
202
00:10:29,066 --> 00:10:33,600
{\an8}If Joseph left his house
on the 27th,
203
00:10:33,667 --> 00:10:37,100
why would he have
dated the note
for the next day?
204
00:10:37,166 --> 00:10:39,100
It doesn't make sense.
205
00:10:39,166 --> 00:10:41,600
Why even date the note at all?
206
00:10:41,667 --> 00:10:44,000
And I don't really believe
that it's his handwriting
to me.
207
00:10:44,567 --> 00:10:45,767
Joseph wrote really neat.
208
00:10:46,500 --> 00:10:48,743
{\an8}This looked very messy.
209
00:10:48,767 --> 00:10:51,600
{\an8}I had reached out
to Bloomington
Police Department
210
00:10:51,667 --> 00:10:54,443
to try and do
a handwriting analysis.
211
00:10:54,467 --> 00:10:56,467
It ended up
coming back inconclusive.
212
00:10:58,166 --> 00:11:01,843
[narrator] As Vivianne
keeps digging, she uncovers
something else
213
00:11:01,867 --> 00:11:04,343
that unsettles her to the core.
214
00:11:04,367 --> 00:11:07,700
I hacked into a group chat
called "groupme,"
215
00:11:07,767 --> 00:11:11,142
and he was using that
for all of his
fraternity brothers
216
00:11:11,166 --> 00:11:13,142
who were in his pledge class.
217
00:11:13,166 --> 00:11:14,726
They had said
that they were gonna start
218
00:11:15,367 --> 00:11:18,700
telling everyone that
he wasn't actually a part
of Sigma Pi
219
00:11:18,767 --> 00:11:22,042
because he, um,
hadn't paid his dues yet.
220
00:11:22,066 --> 00:11:24,700
This is supposed to be
your brother,
221
00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:27,076
but instead of helping
with the investigation,
222
00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:29,166
you're trying to disown him.
223
00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:33,343
So, I decided
to go over to Sigma Pi,
224
00:11:33,367 --> 00:11:37,076
but all of them were
really just, kind of,
closed off.
225
00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:40,142
When I was talking
to the president,
226
00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:42,343
pretty much every time
I'd ask a question,
227
00:11:42,367 --> 00:11:44,648
he would just refer me back
to, um, his roommates and say,
228
00:11:46,867 --> 00:11:50,543
"They were
the last ones with him.
We don't know anything."
229
00:11:50,567 --> 00:11:53,242
[narrator] By the end
of the week,
the police confirm
230
00:11:53,266 --> 00:11:59,443
that Joseph hasn't withdrawn
or deposited any money
since Sunday, September 27th.
231
00:11:59,467 --> 00:12:03,700
They also track
his phone signal
among local cell towers,
232
00:12:03,767 --> 00:12:06,800
which leads
to an even bigger mystery.
233
00:12:06,867 --> 00:12:09,443
His cell phone pinged
at several locations
234
00:12:09,467 --> 00:12:13,600
the night he went missing,
into the early morning hours
the next day.
235
00:12:13,667 --> 00:12:15,507
The first ping
on his cell phone
was around 4:15
236
00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:20,076
in Downtown Bloomington,
237
00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:22,900
off of Seventh and Walnut.
238
00:12:22,967 --> 00:12:24,743
And then,
about 30 minutes later,
239
00:12:24,767 --> 00:12:29,242
there was another ping
that had happened
near Griffy Lake.
240
00:12:29,266 --> 00:12:36,300
Then there was
another ping at 6:30
off of state road 37.
241
00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:41,667
Those three locations
are not very close
and walking distance.
242
00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:44,847
[narrator] The cell phone
data reveals
243
00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:47,543
that Joseph left his house
at some point
244
00:12:47,567 --> 00:12:50,500
after his roommates say
they thought he went to bed.
245
00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,400
The question, was he alone?
246
00:12:54,467 --> 00:12:56,000
How did he get there?
247
00:12:56,066 --> 00:12:57,700
He didn't have a car
that was working.
248
00:12:57,767 --> 00:13:01,643
I honestly think that
he had to have someone
with him.
249
00:13:01,667 --> 00:13:06,200
There wasn't a way for him
to get around that fast
without being in a car.
250
00:13:06,266 --> 00:13:08,142
There was a lot of chatter
251
00:13:08,166 --> 00:13:11,643
about people
seeing him downtown
with his fraternity brothers.
252
00:13:11,667 --> 00:13:13,743
But later, when Joseph's father
253
00:13:13,767 --> 00:13:15,447
asks that of Bloomington
Police Department,
254
00:13:17,367 --> 00:13:20,800
they respond with,
"We were not aware
that anyone saw Joseph
255
00:13:20,867 --> 00:13:22,800
out with his
fraternity brothers
that night."
256
00:13:25,066 --> 00:13:27,300
{\an8}[narrator] Friday, October 2nd.
257
00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:30,643
{\an8}Three days after
Joseph is declared missing,
258
00:13:30,667 --> 00:13:34,800
a fisherman makes
a shocking discovery.
259
00:13:34,867 --> 00:13:37,343
[reporter] We're following
breaking news
from Monroe County,
260
00:13:37,367 --> 00:13:40,100
where a body has been found
in Griffy Lake.
261
00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:42,443
They find a fully-clothed male.
262
00:13:42,467 --> 00:13:44,000
The body is badly decomposed.
263
00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:47,200
And there are binoculars
tied around the neck.
264
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,500
[narrator] Vivianne
is called down
265
00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:53,367
to the Bloomington
police station.
266
00:13:55,166 --> 00:13:58,543
I was really holding on to hope.
267
00:13:58,567 --> 00:14:01,743
And it wasn't until
I had stepped out of the car
268
00:14:01,767 --> 00:14:06,242
to walk into the precinct
that it had hit me
that it could be him.
269
00:14:06,266 --> 00:14:09,500
[reporter] We have
learned the body found
in a Bloomington lake
270
00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:11,900
is that of a missing IU student.
271
00:14:11,967 --> 00:14:13,743
The coroner says
the cause of death
272
00:14:13,767 --> 00:14:14,967
for 20-year-old Joseph Smedley
273
00:14:15,767 --> 00:14:17,200
is consistent with drowning.
274
00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:22,843
[Vivianne] I was honestly
just in shock immediately.
275
00:14:22,867 --> 00:14:25,743
They're telling me that
my brother's no longer here.
276
00:14:25,767 --> 00:14:27,242
Someone that
you've grown up with,
277
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:30,166
that's literally been
by your side your whole life.
278
00:14:32,367 --> 00:14:35,242
[narrator] Two months later,
the Monroe County coroner
279
00:14:35,266 --> 00:14:38,266
rules Joseph's death
as suicide by drowning.
280
00:14:39,767 --> 00:14:42,600
The Smedleys learn
through the autopsy report
281
00:14:42,667 --> 00:14:44,307
that Joseph was weighed down
by a backpack
282
00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:48,700
filled with 66 pounds of rocks.
283
00:14:48,767 --> 00:14:53,843
I'm not really sure
why the police initially kept
that information from me.
284
00:14:53,867 --> 00:14:58,142
But, apparently,
the rocks in his backpack
285
00:14:58,166 --> 00:15:01,767
is the reason why
they had deemed his death
as suicide.
286
00:15:03,066 --> 00:15:04,643
[Dr. Smedley] I was
just totally at a loss,
287
00:15:04,667 --> 00:15:08,076
trying to wrap my mind around
what had happened.
288
00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:12,400
I spoke to as many
of Joseph's friends and family
as I could get ahold of,
289
00:15:12,467 --> 00:15:14,547
and not one single person
was able to speak to Joseph
290
00:15:16,066 --> 00:15:18,543
having any history of depression
291
00:15:18,567 --> 00:15:20,967
or suicidal ideation in any way.
292
00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:27,000
[narrator] Confusion swirls
around exactly what was used
293
00:15:27,066 --> 00:15:29,500
to weigh down Joseph's body.
294
00:15:29,567 --> 00:15:31,643
Different reports from the scene
295
00:15:31,667 --> 00:15:34,343
refer to them
as bricks or rocks.
296
00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:36,443
And this is extremely important,
297
00:15:36,467 --> 00:15:41,400
because there aren't
any large rocks
around Griffy Lake.
298
00:15:41,467 --> 00:15:43,343
[Vivianne] We just don't have
all those details,
299
00:15:43,367 --> 00:15:46,047
because Bloomington
Police Department has refused
time and time again
300
00:15:47,367 --> 00:15:50,242
to release any information
about the case.
301
00:15:50,266 --> 00:15:52,076
They won't release photography,
302
00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,142
they won't release the notes.
303
00:15:54,166 --> 00:15:59,843
Joseph would have had to walk
45 minutes from his house
to Griffy Lake,
304
00:15:59,867 --> 00:16:04,076
and then find rocks
to put in his bag,
305
00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:06,400
and jump off of the bridge
306
00:16:06,467 --> 00:16:10,076
into five feet of shallow water.
307
00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:12,743
And I actually
went down to Griffy Lake
308
00:16:12,767 --> 00:16:14,167
and tried to find
66 pounds of rocks
309
00:16:16,767 --> 00:16:19,800
to actually put into a backpack,
310
00:16:19,867 --> 00:16:24,976
and we were unsuccessful,
even in the daylight,
to do that.
311
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,800
How do we know that his body
wasn't weighed down
with this backpack
312
00:16:28,867 --> 00:16:30,400
in attempt to conceal a crime?
313
00:16:31,567 --> 00:16:33,407
[Vivianne] I absolutely
believe that my brother
314
00:16:33,467 --> 00:16:35,300
was a victim of foul play.
315
00:16:35,367 --> 00:16:38,843
Whether that is
his body being covered up,
316
00:16:38,867 --> 00:16:43,567
or that it was, you know,
something bigger than that.
317
00:16:44,867 --> 00:16:47,767
I'm determined
to get the answers.
318
00:16:49,467 --> 00:16:52,843
[Vivianne] I immediately had
a second autopsy done.
319
00:16:52,867 --> 00:16:55,100
{\an8}And then we took that report
320
00:16:55,166 --> 00:16:58,200
{\an8}and brought it
to a new forensic pathologist.
321
00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:01,600
{\an8}He found a discrepancy
from the first autopsy.
322
00:17:01,667 --> 00:17:05,800
And what he found
was two deep
intermuscular hematomas,
323
00:17:05,867 --> 00:17:08,200
so, basically,
bruises on Joseph's back.
324
00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,443
[narrator] The private
forensic pathologist
325
00:17:11,467 --> 00:17:14,000
isn't able
to complete his report,
326
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:19,000
because the Bloomington PD
refuses to share photos
of the original scene.
327
00:17:19,166 --> 00:17:22,042
But the forensic pathologist
tells the family
328
00:17:22,066 --> 00:17:25,600
he's leaning toward
a different conclusion
from the coroner.
329
00:17:25,667 --> 00:17:29,943
He said he would have done
either accidental
or undetermined,
330
00:17:29,967 --> 00:17:31,767
but definitely not suicide.
331
00:17:33,166 --> 00:17:35,500
[Bridavsky] As I was starting
to do the podcast,
332
00:17:35,567 --> 00:17:38,142
we brought in
some forensic pathologists
333
00:17:38,166 --> 00:17:41,743
and also
an aquatic death investigator.
334
00:17:41,767 --> 00:17:44,242
I really wanted
to get some clarity around
335
00:17:44,266 --> 00:17:46,066
Joseph's cause
and manner of death.
336
00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:49,843
[Andrea Zaferes]
Bodies found in the water
are some of the most
337
00:17:49,867 --> 00:17:53,343
misdiagnosed types of deaths
that there are.
338
00:17:53,367 --> 00:17:57,443
{\an8}There's no
universally accepted
medical test to prove
339
00:17:57,467 --> 00:17:58,900
whether or not somebody drowned.
340
00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:05,900
[Bridavsky] What I discovered
was that less than 1%
341
00:18:05,967 --> 00:18:09,367
of deaths by suicide
are suicides by drowning.
342
00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,543
We know from Joseph's
autopsy and toxicology reports
343
00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:18,700
that he was presumed
under the influence
at the time of his death.
344
00:18:18,767 --> 00:18:20,127
And most people
who die by suicide,
345
00:18:22,066 --> 00:18:24,500
specifically suicide
by drowning,
346
00:18:24,567 --> 00:18:28,400
are not under the influence
when they do so.
347
00:18:28,467 --> 00:18:33,400
[narrator] Could the rocks
found in Joseph's backpack
provide further clues?
348
00:18:33,467 --> 00:18:36,100
It is not uncommon
for people who commit suicide
349
00:18:36,667 --> 00:18:38,600
to add weights.
350
00:18:38,667 --> 00:18:42,142
Some suicides in water
are extremely elaborate.
351
00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:44,943
That's also what happens
in some homicides,
352
00:18:44,967 --> 00:18:46,500
where you want
to dispose of bodies,
353
00:18:46,567 --> 00:18:49,000
or you're actually
drowning the person.
354
00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:54,600
[narrator] Andrea Zaferes
has many unanswered questions
about Joseph's backpack.
355
00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:57,343
[Zaferes] I have
read documents that said
it was tied in the front.
356
00:18:57,367 --> 00:19:00,076
His toxicology
was pretty significant.
357
00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:03,643
I would like to have
a forensic knot examiner
examine the knot,
358
00:19:03,667 --> 00:19:06,242
and see if in that state
of intoxication,
359
00:19:06,266 --> 00:19:08,400
could you have
tied that yourself?
360
00:19:08,467 --> 00:19:11,976
Part of what needs
to be done in this case
is a reconstruction,
361
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,300
which is what
they're used to doing
if this was a gunshot wound,
362
00:19:15,367 --> 00:19:16,843
if there was
blood stain analysis,
363
00:19:16,867 --> 00:19:18,600
if it was
a vehicle death, right?
364
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,743
[narrator] And questions
about Joseph's cell phone
continue to linger.
365
00:19:24,767 --> 00:19:26,976
When Joseph's body is recovered,
366
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,142
they don't find
Joseph's cell phone
367
00:19:29,166 --> 00:19:32,142
until they do a second sweep
of the area.
368
00:19:32,166 --> 00:19:34,300
And they then find
Joseph's cell phone,
369
00:19:34,367 --> 00:19:36,743
but it is not on his person.
370
00:19:36,767 --> 00:19:39,300
Is it possible
the phone went
into the water
371
00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:41,166
at a different time
than Joseph did?
372
00:19:42,967 --> 00:19:46,643
[narrator] The physical
evidence is only one
piece of the puzzle
373
00:19:46,667 --> 00:19:49,000
in trying to decipher
if Joseph really did die
by suicide.
374
00:19:51,166 --> 00:19:52,943
I really think
a psychological autopsy
375
00:19:52,967 --> 00:19:54,500
would be useful in the case,
376
00:19:54,567 --> 00:19:57,643
and that requires
a forensically-trained
psychiatrist.
377
00:19:57,667 --> 00:20:02,467
They look at
life factors, risk factors,
protective factors.
378
00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:06,443
Could this be a bet, a dare?
379
00:20:06,467 --> 00:20:08,400
Could this be hazing, that he...
380
00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:10,543
You know,
"Hey, can you put
this backpack on
381
00:20:10,567 --> 00:20:12,400
and, you know,
get out of the water?"
382
00:20:12,467 --> 00:20:14,943
Psychological autopsy
would help with that.
383
00:20:14,967 --> 00:20:17,242
Would he have been
the type of person
384
00:20:17,266 --> 00:20:19,000
to be willing to do
high-risk behavior?
385
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,800
[narrator] April 2021.
386
00:20:24,867 --> 00:20:31,000
Indiana University suspends
Joseph's fraternity, Sigma Pi,
for two years
387
00:20:31,066 --> 00:20:34,467
because of hazing
and violating
COVID regulations.
388
00:20:35,867 --> 00:20:40,343
{\an8}As of today, over 120,000 people
389
00:20:40,367 --> 00:20:44,242
{\an8}have signed a petition
urging Bloomington PD
390
00:20:44,266 --> 00:20:46,367
{\an8}to reinvestigate Joseph's death.
391
00:20:47,700 --> 00:20:49,260
Someone out there
has to know something,
392
00:20:50,767 --> 00:20:53,543
someone has to have
seen Joseph that night.
393
00:20:53,567 --> 00:20:57,400
Seen him either
driving with someone,
leave with someone.
394
00:20:57,467 --> 00:21:01,266
And all of these details
make a big difference
in Joseph's case.
395
00:21:03,166 --> 00:21:06,076
[narrator] While Joseph's
family awaits answers,
396
00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:09,343
they continue to mourn his loss.
397
00:21:09,367 --> 00:21:13,543
{\an8}I don't know any parent
who expects to lose a child.
398
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:17,000
{\an8}The fact that
I've been unable to see
399
00:21:17,066 --> 00:21:19,000
what he would have
developed into
400
00:21:19,867 --> 00:21:25,100
with his brilliant mind,
his personality,
and his intelligence,
401
00:21:26,066 --> 00:21:27,100
that's what I miss.
402
00:21:28,767 --> 00:21:32,643
It's definitely
a big gaping hole
in my life
403
00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:33,800
that's missing now.
404
00:21:35,066 --> 00:21:39,700
It's just sad that, you know,
I have to miss out on,
405
00:21:39,767 --> 00:21:41,743
you know, our adulthood.
406
00:21:41,767 --> 00:21:43,900
He was just getting started.
407
00:21:46,467 --> 00:21:48,443
[narrator] Elsewhere in Indiana,
408
00:21:48,467 --> 00:21:49,987
the heartbroken family
of a young woman
409
00:21:51,266 --> 00:21:53,500
is also searching for answers.
410
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,943
{\an8}July 2004, Indianapolis,
411
00:21:58,967 --> 00:22:03,667
a bustling Midwestern city
known for its down-to-earth
friendly people.
412
00:22:04,767 --> 00:22:07,543
But when a college student
goes missing...
413
00:22:07,567 --> 00:22:09,400
{\an8}Police have
never found her body,
414
00:22:09,467 --> 00:22:11,643
{\an8}and no one has been charged
with murder.
415
00:22:11,667 --> 00:22:13,743
The mystery haunts the city
416
00:22:13,767 --> 00:22:17,142
and baffles this
young woman's family
for years.
417
00:22:17,166 --> 00:22:18,843
[Keri Dattilo]
We knew something
was not right.
418
00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:19,867
Everything of importance
419
00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:22,843
was still left in her apartment.
420
00:22:22,867 --> 00:22:26,100
Didn't make any sense,
given who she was.
421
00:22:26,166 --> 00:22:28,042
And so the wheels
start spinning.
422
00:22:28,066 --> 00:22:29,976
What happened?
423
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,443
Every time
I'd be talking about it,
I just start crying.
424
00:22:33,467 --> 00:22:38,443
It was just
the most awful thing
that you could imagine.
425
00:22:38,467 --> 00:22:43,100
[narrator] 22-year-old
Molly Dattilo is known
for her friendly spirit
426
00:22:43,166 --> 00:22:44,600
and boundless energy.
427
00:22:44,667 --> 00:22:49,000
{\an8}She was very bubbly,
she was very outgoing,
428
00:22:49,567 --> 00:22:52,743
and she never really
met a stranger.
429
00:22:52,767 --> 00:22:54,343
She was very kind to people,
430
00:22:54,367 --> 00:22:56,200
{\an8}she was very encouraging,
431
00:22:56,266 --> 00:22:57,900
{\an8}and really thought
the best of everybody.
432
00:22:59,367 --> 00:23:01,200
[narrator] Growing up
in a big family
433
00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:03,976
in the small town
of Madison, Indiana,
434
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,643
Molly is the youngest
of nine children.
435
00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:09,042
She stands out
from an early age.
436
00:23:09,066 --> 00:23:11,200
I just remember she was...
437
00:23:11,266 --> 00:23:12,643
You know, sometimes
she was so smart,
438
00:23:12,667 --> 00:23:14,142
I didn't even know
what she was talking about.
439
00:23:14,166 --> 00:23:18,800
{\an8}She was very talented
and extremely driven.
440
00:23:18,867 --> 00:23:21,307
{\an8}[narrator] Molly excels
in the classroom
and is a star athlete,
441
00:23:22,667 --> 00:23:25,443
regularly seen
on the front page
of the newspaper.
442
00:23:25,467 --> 00:23:27,343
[Wilbur] Everybody
in the town knows
443
00:23:27,367 --> 00:23:29,843
that she was
a super talented runner.
444
00:23:29,867 --> 00:23:32,743
She was consistently,
you know, winning races
445
00:23:32,767 --> 00:23:36,443
even, you know,
at the state level.
446
00:23:36,467 --> 00:23:41,543
[narrator] Molly's running
earns her a scholarship to
Eastern Kentucky University.
447
00:23:41,567 --> 00:23:45,976
In the summer of 2004,
Molly is picking up
some extra credits
448
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,700
at a college program
in Indianapolis,
449
00:23:48,767 --> 00:23:50,927
and she's living
in an apartment
with her brother, Nick.
450
00:23:53,266 --> 00:23:55,900
But everything
is about to change
451
00:23:55,967 --> 00:23:58,843
for this thriving
young college student.
452
00:23:58,867 --> 00:24:03,000
{\an8}Tuesday, July 6,
begins like any other day.
453
00:24:03,066 --> 00:24:09,242
{\an8}She went to school,
she prepared for classes,
she went shopping.
454
00:24:09,266 --> 00:24:16,142
{\an8}She'd bought some stuff
to, um, store her files on
for school.
455
00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:19,046
[narrator] At around 7:00 pm,
Molly walks to a nearby
fast food restaurant
456
00:24:20,567 --> 00:24:24,343
to drop off a part-time
job application.
457
00:24:24,367 --> 00:24:26,343
Along the way,
she sees a friend,
458
00:24:26,367 --> 00:24:29,076
who notices she's carrying
her cell phone.
459
00:24:29,100 --> 00:24:31,500
We know she returned
back to her apartment,
460
00:24:31,567 --> 00:24:36,242
because her cell phone
was later found
in her apartment.
461
00:24:36,266 --> 00:24:40,600
[narrator] That evening,
she joins up with neighbors
at her apartment complex.
462
00:24:40,667 --> 00:24:44,142
Even though it's Tuesday,
people party on Tuesdays.
463
00:24:44,166 --> 00:24:45,843
It's still July 4th week.
464
00:24:45,867 --> 00:24:49,000
And she decided
to go hang out
and go to this party.
465
00:24:49,667 --> 00:24:53,076
[narrator] She runs into
a friend who works
at the apartment building,
466
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:55,543
and he introduces Molly
to his brother.
467
00:24:55,567 --> 00:25:00,443
{\an8}And he asked her
if she wanted to go
on a boat ride,
468
00:25:00,467 --> 00:25:03,643
because Westlake Apartments
had retention ponds.
469
00:25:03,667 --> 00:25:06,100
And Molly accepted that offer.
470
00:25:06,166 --> 00:25:08,242
[Coursey] And they go out
on this boat ride,
471
00:25:08,266 --> 00:25:12,200
and people saw it,
so, you know, there's
witness accounts to that.
472
00:25:13,367 --> 00:25:15,843
[narrator] Then a few
hours pass.
473
00:25:15,867 --> 00:25:19,000
And at around 11:00 pm,
Molly is at a gas station
474
00:25:19,967 --> 00:25:22,443
about three miles from her home.
475
00:25:22,467 --> 00:25:25,443
She uses a pay phone
to call a friend.
476
00:25:25,467 --> 00:25:28,500
She made a phone call to someone
477
00:25:28,567 --> 00:25:30,743
who she was supposed
to be meeting up with.
478
00:25:30,767 --> 00:25:34,142
And we don't know
if she was calling to cancel,
479
00:25:34,166 --> 00:25:38,076
we don't know
if she was calling
to maybe say,
480
00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:39,610
"I need help."
481
00:25:39,634 --> 00:25:41,443
We don't know
what the conversation
would have been like,
482
00:25:41,467 --> 00:25:46,643
because before he could
pick up, the call was ended.
483
00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:49,000
[Dewey] When they said,
"Hello," it clicked
and hung up.
484
00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,400
That's the last contact
that she tried to make
with any of us.
485
00:25:53,967 --> 00:25:56,667
And then nothing.
486
00:25:57,867 --> 00:25:59,800
Fade to black.
487
00:26:01,767 --> 00:26:06,042
[narrator] The next morning,
Molly's brother, Nick,
notices she hasn't come home.
488
00:26:06,066 --> 00:26:08,976
{\an8}Nick wasn't necessarily
worried about it,
489
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,843
{\an8}because she's an adult.
490
00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:13,800
Maybe she spent the night
at someone's house.
491
00:26:13,867 --> 00:26:16,343
{\an8}[narrator] But after
two days of silence,
492
00:26:16,367 --> 00:26:20,600
{\an8}on July 8th,
Molly's brother knows
something isn't right.
493
00:26:20,667 --> 00:26:22,543
So he makes
the phone call to police
494
00:26:22,567 --> 00:26:24,567
to file a missing person report.
495
00:26:25,367 --> 00:26:26,476
[narrator] From the beginning,
496
00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:29,443
police don't treat
Molly's case as a priority.
497
00:26:29,467 --> 00:26:31,507
[Wilbur] I imagine
they get a lot of calls
like this,
498
00:26:32,467 --> 00:26:35,000
{\an8}and, you know,
nine times out of ten,
499
00:26:35,066 --> 00:26:36,943
{\an8}that person
has just wandered off,
500
00:26:36,967 --> 00:26:39,600
or they'll come back later
or whatever.
501
00:26:39,667 --> 00:26:41,743
[narrator] But Molly's family
tells police
502
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:44,567
it's not like her to go away
without telling anyone.
503
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:49,076
And when her loved ones
converge on her apartment,
504
00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:52,100
they are alarmed
by what they find.
505
00:26:52,166 --> 00:26:58,743
{\an8}She left behind her car,
her identification,
her wallet.
506
00:26:58,767 --> 00:27:00,207
So, really, she had
nothing with her.
507
00:27:01,567 --> 00:27:04,242
{\an8}The only thing
that Molly had on her
508
00:27:04,266 --> 00:27:06,743
{\an8}was her lanyard
with the key on it.
509
00:27:06,767 --> 00:27:08,900
[Ben] She left
all kinds of stuff
510
00:27:08,967 --> 00:27:11,343
that you would need
if you were going to run away.
511
00:27:11,367 --> 00:27:14,600
I suspected foul play
pretty quickly
512
00:27:14,667 --> 00:27:18,600
after going through
those details of the story.
513
00:27:18,667 --> 00:27:20,142
[narrator] For Molly's
loved ones,
514
00:27:20,166 --> 00:27:23,743
it's obvious that she didn't
intend to disappear.
515
00:27:23,767 --> 00:27:27,843
But the Marion County
Sheriff's Department
has other theories.
516
00:27:27,867 --> 00:27:30,787
They said that, you know,
maybe Molly got tired
of living the straight life
517
00:27:31,767 --> 00:27:33,600
and just wanted to run away.
518
00:27:33,667 --> 00:27:35,343
You know, she was a female.
519
00:27:35,367 --> 00:27:37,343
She could live on the streets
better than a male.
520
00:27:37,367 --> 00:27:40,843
Molly was, obviously,
giving applications
at Wendy's,
521
00:27:40,867 --> 00:27:42,843
she was not looking
at the strip club.
522
00:27:42,867 --> 00:27:47,743
Um, but the police,
they took her detail
to the strip clubs.
523
00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:50,142
He said, "Yeah,
we've been looking
at the strip clubs."
524
00:27:50,166 --> 00:27:52,300
It was just insulting.
525
00:27:52,367 --> 00:27:57,600
[narrator] In the days
after Molly's disappearance,
there's not a single lead.
526
00:27:57,667 --> 00:28:00,000
Her family
is frantic with worry,
527
00:28:00,266 --> 00:28:03,976
and they're furious
that the police
aren't doing more.
528
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,643
After two weeks,
Molly's sister marches into
529
00:28:06,667 --> 00:28:08,743
the Marion County
Sherriff's Office.
530
00:28:08,767 --> 00:28:11,743
And I just don't take
crud from people.
531
00:28:11,767 --> 00:28:15,343
So, I went in there,
and... [sighs]
532
00:28:15,367 --> 00:28:17,343
Yeah, I came out defeated.
533
00:28:17,367 --> 00:28:19,443
I just kept going
from every angle,
534
00:28:19,467 --> 00:28:21,543
and there was nothing
we could do.
535
00:28:21,567 --> 00:28:23,643
He hadn't even looked
in her car,
536
00:28:23,667 --> 00:28:26,443
he hadn't looked
anywhere in her apartment.
537
00:28:26,467 --> 00:28:29,743
They weren't doing anything.
538
00:28:29,767 --> 00:28:32,647
[narrator] Molly's loved ones
decide to take matters
into their own hands.
539
00:28:34,867 --> 00:28:39,242
They retrace Molly's
last-known steps,
searching for clues,
540
00:28:39,266 --> 00:28:41,300
and fan out across Indianapolis
541
00:28:41,367 --> 00:28:43,900
to spread the word
about her case.
542
00:28:43,967 --> 00:28:47,343
They put flyers up
with her photo on it.
543
00:28:47,367 --> 00:28:48,643
"Have you seen me?"
544
00:28:48,667 --> 00:28:50,643
They started
putting billboards up.
545
00:28:50,667 --> 00:28:52,800
You know, just everything
that they could.
546
00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:56,643
[narrator] Volunteers search
the woods where Molly
often runs,
547
00:28:56,667 --> 00:29:00,000
and scent dogs work the area
around her apartment.
548
00:29:00,467 --> 00:29:03,743
Miraculously, they turn up
a clue.
549
00:29:03,767 --> 00:29:06,843
The dogs
went up to the apartment.
550
00:29:06,867 --> 00:29:10,567
They came down
from the apartment
and went out to the road,
551
00:29:11,467 --> 00:29:13,300
like, on the sidewalk,
by the road,
552
00:29:13,367 --> 00:29:15,200
to indicate
that Molly got into a car.
553
00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,142
[narrator] Whose car
did Molly get into,
554
00:29:19,166 --> 00:29:21,443
and where was she taken?
555
00:29:21,467 --> 00:29:25,142
For weeks, these questions
haunt Molly's family.
556
00:29:25,166 --> 00:29:28,242
But they're not getting
any answers from the police,
557
00:29:28,266 --> 00:29:30,506
who still don't seem
to consider her case
a high priority.
558
00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:36,643
{\an8}So, in August,
just over a month
after Molly disappears,
559
00:29:36,667 --> 00:29:39,843
her loved ones organize
a run in Indianapolis
560
00:29:39,867 --> 00:29:42,543
to try to keep
Molly's name in the news.
561
00:29:42,567 --> 00:29:46,343
The media coverage
quickly yields another clue.
562
00:29:46,367 --> 00:29:49,242
A man was fishing,
563
00:29:49,266 --> 00:29:53,743
and he found a lanyard
with a key on it.
564
00:29:53,767 --> 00:29:55,242
[narrator] It's found in a river
565
00:29:55,266 --> 00:29:58,200
near the gas station
where Molly is last seen.
566
00:29:58,266 --> 00:30:00,000
He had picked it up
and taken the key off,
567
00:30:01,767 --> 00:30:04,400
because he really liked
the lanyard,
568
00:30:04,467 --> 00:30:07,142
and kept the lanyard
and tossed the key.
569
00:30:07,166 --> 00:30:12,142
And then, once he saw
the media, you know,
stories on Molly,
570
00:30:12,166 --> 00:30:15,200
he thought this might be hers.
571
00:30:15,266 --> 00:30:17,543
And so he contacted
law enforcement
572
00:30:17,567 --> 00:30:20,543
and brought the lanyard to them.
573
00:30:20,567 --> 00:30:22,700
[narrator] But because
the key is missing,
574
00:30:22,767 --> 00:30:26,242
{\an8}police can't be certain
the lanyard is Molly's.
575
00:30:26,266 --> 00:30:28,142
{\an8}It's a dead end.
576
00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:30,000
But Molly's case
is now headline news,
577
00:30:31,066 --> 00:30:34,843
{\an8}and investigators agree
to assign a new detective
578
00:30:34,867 --> 00:30:36,343
and intensify their efforts.
579
00:30:36,367 --> 00:30:38,343
[Keri] They did search
Westlake Apartments,
580
00:30:38,367 --> 00:30:41,076
they did search
the retention ponds.
581
00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:47,300
They did searches
tracing the area that
Molly was last seen.
582
00:30:47,367 --> 00:30:51,300
[narrator] As the months
go by, momentum in
the case stalls.
583
00:30:51,367 --> 00:30:56,242
{\an8}Then, in 2006, two years
after Molly's disappearance,
584
00:30:56,266 --> 00:30:59,600
there's a bombshell development.
585
00:30:59,667 --> 00:31:01,387
Molly's family hires
a private investigator,
586
00:31:02,467 --> 00:31:06,800
{\an8}and he learns
police have identified
a person of interest.
587
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:09,200
{\an8}His name is John Shelton,
588
00:31:09,266 --> 00:31:12,900
{\an8}the man Molly met at the party
and took a boat ride with
589
00:31:12,967 --> 00:31:14,867
the night she was last seen.
590
00:31:16,767 --> 00:31:20,100
John said he took her
to Taco Bell,
591
00:31:20,166 --> 00:31:24,943
and he was with her
when she was
at the gas station.
592
00:31:24,967 --> 00:31:27,242
[narrator] He says
he was at her side
593
00:31:27,266 --> 00:31:30,000
when she made that
final, mysterious call
on the pay phone.
594
00:31:30,967 --> 00:31:35,100
But he could not answer
as to why she was placing
the phone call.
595
00:31:36,767 --> 00:31:41,242
[narrator] John Shelton
doesn't give investigators
much more to go on.
596
00:31:41,266 --> 00:31:45,943
He basically said,
"Well, I didn't do anything.
597
00:31:45,967 --> 00:31:49,367
I just took her back
to the apartment
and dropped her off."
598
00:31:51,166 --> 00:31:54,800
It was clear to us
he was the last person
to be with her,
599
00:31:54,867 --> 00:32:00,000
and, therefore, we had
pretty strong suspicions
that he was, in fact,
600
00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:03,800
the cause of her being missing.
601
00:32:03,867 --> 00:32:07,042
[narrator] Investigators
zero in on the puzzling route
602
00:32:07,066 --> 00:32:09,843
Molly and John drove that night.
603
00:32:09,867 --> 00:32:12,200
After eating
at the fast food restaurant,
604
00:32:12,266 --> 00:32:16,000
why did they go past
Molly's apartment
for another two miles
605
00:32:16,066 --> 00:32:19,700
before stopping to make
that call at the gas station?
606
00:32:19,767 --> 00:32:23,600
It's away from
the apartment complex,
not towards it.
607
00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:28,300
So it wouldn't be
"We're gonna go
and get some gas,
608
00:32:28,367 --> 00:32:30,000
and then go back
to the apartment,"
609
00:32:30,266 --> 00:32:34,142
because you pass
several gas stations
getting there.
610
00:32:34,166 --> 00:32:38,100
So, what was the reasoning
to go that far out?
611
00:32:38,166 --> 00:32:41,543
[narrator] If the police know,
they're not saying.
612
00:32:41,567 --> 00:32:43,943
The private eye
digs up more information
613
00:32:43,967 --> 00:32:46,600
about John Shelton
from Molly's family.
614
00:32:46,667 --> 00:32:49,500
And what he finds is chilling.
615
00:32:49,567 --> 00:32:52,843
When we first
learned about John,
we saw that,
616
00:32:52,867 --> 00:32:55,900
you know, he has a history
with law enforcement.
617
00:32:55,967 --> 00:33:00,000
It's unbelievable
how many times
he has been arrested
618
00:33:00,867 --> 00:33:01,867
and then back out.
619
00:33:02,467 --> 00:33:04,543
[narrator] January 2007.
620
00:33:04,567 --> 00:33:08,200
Molly's loved ones go public
with John Shelton's name,
621
00:33:08,266 --> 00:33:10,242
against the wishes
of the police.
622
00:33:10,266 --> 00:33:16,343
We believed that if, um,
enough people who knew
John Shelton
623
00:33:16,367 --> 00:33:22,142
were aware that he was
a crime suspect
in this situation,
624
00:33:22,166 --> 00:33:24,543
that might lead to some answers
625
00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:26,600
about what happened
to my sister, Molly.
626
00:33:26,667 --> 00:33:30,000
And from there,
we received many more tips
627
00:33:30,967 --> 00:33:34,643
of people who knew John
628
00:33:34,667 --> 00:33:39,000
and had information
that, you know,
that they could share.
629
00:33:39,066 --> 00:33:41,600
[narrator] Some of the most
terrifying information
about him
630
00:33:41,667 --> 00:33:43,743
comes from past girlfriends.
631
00:33:43,767 --> 00:33:48,467
They would contact me
saying they were
afraid of him.
632
00:33:50,266 --> 00:33:51,976
And that he had bragged to them
633
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,743
about doing something to Molly.
634
00:33:54,767 --> 00:33:59,543
And that if they
didn't straighten up,
he'd do it to them.
635
00:33:59,567 --> 00:34:01,767
[narrator] The tips
paint a dark picture
of John Shelton.
636
00:34:03,567 --> 00:34:05,543
But they don't yield
anything new
637
00:34:05,567 --> 00:34:08,066
about Molly's
disappearance at first.
638
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,242
{\an8}Then, in October 2008,
639
00:34:11,266 --> 00:34:14,743
{\an8}four-and-a-half years
after Molly is last seen,
640
00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:16,300
someone from a local church
641
00:34:16,367 --> 00:34:19,600
calls the police
with an explosive lead.
642
00:34:19,667 --> 00:34:21,700
This tipster reported that...
643
00:34:22,567 --> 00:34:26,000
John contacted his father
644
00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:29,242
on the night
of Molly's disappearance.
645
00:34:29,266 --> 00:34:30,986
John said, "I accidentally
killed somebody."
646
00:34:33,767 --> 00:34:39,343
And the dad, he says,
"Go in the shed,
or in the garage,
647
00:34:39,367 --> 00:34:41,467
and get a shovel
and bury her."
648
00:34:42,700 --> 00:34:45,400
[narrator] By 2008,
there's finally
enough evidence
649
00:34:45,467 --> 00:34:49,142
for the police to reclassify
Molly's case
650
00:34:49,166 --> 00:34:52,042
from a missing person
to a homicide.
651
00:34:52,066 --> 00:34:57,543
But it's not enough
to arrest John Shelton
or his father, Edward Shelton.
652
00:34:57,567 --> 00:35:00,000
Without a body,
it is very difficult
to have any kind of case.
653
00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:04,843
It's hard to arrest somebody,
654
00:35:04,867 --> 00:35:06,500
it's hard to prosecute somebody,
655
00:35:06,567 --> 00:35:09,266
it's hard to do anything
without a body.
656
00:35:11,066 --> 00:35:13,843
[narrator] Her loved ones say
they've always worried
657
00:35:13,867 --> 00:35:17,242
that Molly could make
an easy target for a predator.
658
00:35:17,266 --> 00:35:20,543
The thing about
Molly's personality was,
659
00:35:20,567 --> 00:35:23,843
she was not afraid of anybody.
660
00:35:23,867 --> 00:35:26,343
Um, she really was very naive.
661
00:35:26,367 --> 00:35:29,000
She would just talk to anybody,
662
00:35:29,066 --> 00:35:31,106
and talking to anybody
was a worrisome thing for us.
663
00:35:32,567 --> 00:35:36,643
So, personality wise,
there was this trusting streak
664
00:35:36,667 --> 00:35:39,000
that I always thought
was a little bit dangerous.
665
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,900
{\an8}[narrator] As the years go by,
666
00:35:41,967 --> 00:35:44,843
{\an8}every dead end
brings Molly's family back
667
00:35:44,867 --> 00:35:49,743
{\an8}to the last-known person
to be with her, John Shelton.
668
00:35:49,767 --> 00:35:54,643
{\an8}In 2010, they win
a $3.5 million civil lawsuit
669
00:35:54,667 --> 00:35:57,242
that blames Shelton
for Molly's death,
670
00:35:57,266 --> 00:36:00,000
and names his father
as an accomplice
in covering up the crime.
671
00:36:01,367 --> 00:36:04,200
But since neither Shelton
nor his father
672
00:36:04,266 --> 00:36:06,076
ever appeared in court,
673
00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:10,443
Molly's loved ones feel like
they've run into
another brick wall.
674
00:36:10,467 --> 00:36:13,600
[Dewey] We knew
we'd never see any money,
and we haven't.
675
00:36:13,667 --> 00:36:16,700
The only thing
we were really trying to do
is to get John on the stand,
676
00:36:16,767 --> 00:36:17,967
so it didn't work.
677
00:36:18,967 --> 00:36:21,643
[narrator] The lawsuit
does unearth one detail
678
00:36:21,667 --> 00:36:23,242
from the police investigation
679
00:36:23,266 --> 00:36:25,976
that Molly's family
did not know.
680
00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,743
They discover
that early on in the case,
681
00:36:28,767 --> 00:36:31,607
investigators were able
to track down the car
John Shelton drove Molly in
682
00:36:33,367 --> 00:36:35,100
the night she went missing.
683
00:36:35,166 --> 00:36:36,700
[Keri] He had sold the vehicle,
684
00:36:36,767 --> 00:36:40,343
but law enforcement
was able to get that vehicle
from the new owner,
685
00:36:40,367 --> 00:36:44,042
do a whole
crime scene with that,
686
00:36:44,066 --> 00:36:50,300
and they found
what appeared to be vomit.
687
00:36:50,367 --> 00:36:56,300
When someone is strangled,
they often will vomit.
688
00:36:56,367 --> 00:36:59,943
I had two different girls
contact me and tell me that
689
00:36:59,967 --> 00:37:01,687
when he would be drunk,
he would choke them.
690
00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:11,100
[narrator] Police take
what they find to a lab,
691
00:37:11,166 --> 00:37:14,042
but determine that
the car has been
scrubbed so clean
692
00:37:14,066 --> 00:37:15,343
by the time they get to it,
693
00:37:15,367 --> 00:37:18,943
it's impossible to confirm
it's Molly's DNA.
694
00:37:18,967 --> 00:37:22,976
It's another painful blow
for Molly's loved ones.
695
00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:26,242
[Ben] I expect him
to cover his tracks,
696
00:37:26,266 --> 00:37:30,643
but I didn't expect
law enforcement
697
00:37:30,667 --> 00:37:37,142
to be so slow in responding
698
00:37:37,166 --> 00:37:38,606
that it would give him
a lot of time.
699
00:37:40,166 --> 00:37:41,843
[narrator] In the years
that follow,
700
00:37:41,867 --> 00:37:45,000
John Shelton cycles
in and out of jail
701
00:37:45,066 --> 00:37:47,943
for crimes unrelated
to Molly Dattilo.
702
00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:52,142
But tips
continue to trickle in,
linking him to her case.
703
00:37:52,166 --> 00:37:56,843
He's told numerous people,
he's told neighbors,
704
00:37:56,867 --> 00:38:00,443
he's told, uh, fellow inmates
705
00:38:00,467 --> 00:38:03,976
that, you know,
they're not gonna find Molly.
706
00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:08,000
{\an8}[narrator] Then, in 2014,
on the 10th anniversary
of Molly's disappearance,
707
00:38:09,367 --> 00:38:13,843
a local Indiana reporter
tracks down John Shelton
at his home,
708
00:38:13,867 --> 00:38:16,100
and presses him for answers.
709
00:38:16,166 --> 00:38:19,843
The conversation takes
an unexpected turn.
710
00:38:19,867 --> 00:38:22,943
To me, that kind of aggression
711
00:38:22,967 --> 00:38:26,300
when you're just
being asked questions
is very telling.
712
00:38:28,266 --> 00:38:30,142
[narrator] John Shelton
tells the reporter
713
00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:33,867
he'll only speak
if the interview
is off camera.
714
00:38:34,767 --> 00:38:37,843
{\an8}During that interview,
John said that
715
00:38:37,867 --> 00:38:39,187
{\an8}he was the only person
dumb enough
716
00:38:39,867 --> 00:38:43,000
to admit he was
with Molly that night.
717
00:38:43,066 --> 00:38:46,643
[narrator] He again
denies any involvement
in her disappearance.
718
00:38:46,667 --> 00:38:50,242
Then, the reporter says,
he suddenly gets flustered.
719
00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:52,743
He ended up
punching a hole in the wall,
720
00:38:52,767 --> 00:38:58,543
and she grabbed
her camera guy
and ran out.
721
00:38:58,567 --> 00:39:01,700
{\an8}[narrator] To this day,
John Shelton is
the only individual
722
00:39:01,767 --> 00:39:06,142
{\an8}police have identified
as a person of interest
in this case.
723
00:39:06,166 --> 00:39:09,126
But he's never been charged
with anything relating
to Molly's disappearance,
724
00:39:10,867 --> 00:39:12,467
nor has his father.
725
00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:19,343
{\an8}In 2017, the family decides
it's time to find closure,
726
00:39:19,367 --> 00:39:22,000
and Molly's mother
and eight siblings consent
727
00:39:22,066 --> 00:39:24,843
to a court's finding
that she is gone.
728
00:39:24,867 --> 00:39:27,843
More than 13 years
after an EKU student
went missing,
729
00:39:27,867 --> 00:39:30,142
a judge has formally
declared her dead.
730
00:39:30,166 --> 00:39:33,743
{\an8}We felt like
she had been deceased
for a long time.
731
00:39:33,767 --> 00:39:36,843
We just wanted, you know,
things to be settled,
732
00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:38,947
and just giving
our family some peace
after that long.
733
00:39:42,467 --> 00:39:45,643
{\an8}[narrator] Molly's family
channels their grief
and frustration
734
00:39:45,667 --> 00:39:47,242
into advocacy,
735
00:39:47,266 --> 00:39:51,843
working with
state legislators in Indiana
to create Molly's Law.
736
00:39:51,867 --> 00:39:56,242
[Keri] Molly Dattilo's Law,
it mandates that
737
00:39:56,266 --> 00:39:59,200
law enforcement accept
a missing persons case.
738
00:39:59,266 --> 00:40:03,076
They can't say,
"Come back in 24 hours,
72 hours,
739
00:40:03,100 --> 00:40:05,343
and let us know
if the person
is still missing."
740
00:40:05,367 --> 00:40:08,000
Red flags
don't seem to stand out
for law enforcement,
741
00:40:08,567 --> 00:40:11,242
but they sure do stand out
for families of the missing.
742
00:40:11,266 --> 00:40:18,000
And in Molly's case,
the family knew
in the very beginning
743
00:40:18,066 --> 00:40:21,600
that this was
a critical situation.
744
00:40:21,667 --> 00:40:25,142
[narrator] As of 2022,
John Shelton is in jail
745
00:40:25,166 --> 00:40:27,600
for armed robbery
and drug charges.
746
00:40:27,667 --> 00:40:31,142
His release date is in 2038.
747
00:40:31,166 --> 00:40:34,543
For Molly's family,
after all these years,
748
00:40:34,567 --> 00:40:38,000
they still believe
that one day they will
get justice for Molly.
749
00:40:39,567 --> 00:40:42,242
I think that there are,
uh, people out there
750
00:40:42,266 --> 00:40:45,643
that do know more information,
751
00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:49,242
and that still
can come forward to help.
752
00:40:49,266 --> 00:40:52,600
Please come forward,
help us solve this,
753
00:40:52,667 --> 00:40:54,400
so that we don't have to go on
754
00:40:54,467 --> 00:40:59,500
without ever knowing
what happened to our sister,
our daughter.
755
00:40:59,567 --> 00:41:01,800
She was so fun.
756
00:41:01,867 --> 00:41:04,500
And she was just
so kind to people.
757
00:41:05,266 --> 00:41:06,743
You know, the value of a person
758
00:41:06,767 --> 00:41:08,287
{\an8}isn't in some
great thing that they do,
759
00:41:09,166 --> 00:41:10,943
{\an8}it's that they live.
760
00:41:10,967 --> 00:41:13,500
{\an8}I wish she was around
to meet my kids.
761
00:41:15,166 --> 00:41:16,643
And I think she would have been
762
00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:18,843
a role model to them
in, kind of, a way,
763
00:41:18,867 --> 00:41:21,400
so I'm sad that
she's not here for that.
764
00:41:21,467 --> 00:41:25,443
{\an8}One of the things that
she had written in her diary
765
00:41:25,467 --> 00:41:30,900
was that "I truly want
to do something
to better the world,"
766
00:41:30,967 --> 00:41:34,543
and she definitely has.
767
00:41:34,567 --> 00:41:38,000
[narrator] Molly's legacy
lives on in her hometown
of Madison.
768
00:41:38,767 --> 00:41:42,200
{\an8}Every year,
residents take part
in Molly's Run
769
00:41:42,266 --> 00:41:45,000
{\an8}to honor Molly
and the sport she loved.
770
00:41:45,066 --> 00:41:50,142
{\an8}I know that she is
smiling down from heaven
every time that race comes,
771
00:41:50,166 --> 00:41:56,343
{\an8}because it doesn't matter
if it's the first kid
or the last kid,
772
00:41:56,367 --> 00:41:58,543
{\an8}there are crowds
of people cheering.
773
00:41:58,567 --> 00:42:00,443
{\an8}It is the most beautiful thing
774
00:42:00,467 --> 00:42:02,400
{\an8}you've ever seen in your life.
775
00:42:02,467 --> 00:42:04,300
{\an8}That whole race embodies her.
776
00:42:04,367 --> 00:42:06,400
{\an8}That's why
I love that run every year.