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Narrator: A summer of fun
turns into a season of mystery
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00:00:05,673 --> 00:00:09,842
when a teenage girl disappears
from a small michigan town.
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Cindy: She was vibrant.
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She was a little
on the wild side.
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Pam: We're thinking somebody
just snatched her up.
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There was just
no way she ran away.
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Gina: She had just
vanished into thin air.
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Narrator: Police have
no shortage of suspects.
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Scott: He basically
had no alibi
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for where he was
when she disappeared.
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Gina: He said I know
her friends are lying.
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We're gonna get
the truth out of them.
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Who refuses to take a polygraph
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and then skips town
if they're not guilty?
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Narrator: But when dark
secrets come to light...
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Scott: She told
police she knew
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where the body
was buried.
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Pam: I think that had
to have been
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the worst moment
of her life.
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Narrator: The truth
is more twisted
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than anyone imagined.
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Scott: I think
he took her out there,
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showed her the hole
in the ground,
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and then she started
to fight.
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Cindy: And something
went terribly wrong.
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[♪♪♪]
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narrator: It's a crisp
October afternoon
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in southwest michigan.
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But the peace of the perfect
fall day is shattered
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when police arrive
at a farmhouse
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and officers pour
into the backyard.
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Gina: Police got a tip
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that a body may be
buried on a farm.
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It was a wooded area
next to the lake
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under a wood pile.
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Narrator: After digging
for hours
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and not finding anything,
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officers decide they need
mechanical help.
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[♪♪♪]
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det. David: It was starting
to get dark,
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I made contact
with a person I know
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who has a backhoe
and he came out there.
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Scott: The idea is you wanna
be as delicate as you can
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and-- and he would move
a couple inches of dirt
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and then he would start
again and he would move
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another couple
inches of dirt.
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Gina: Eventually,
that backhoe
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snagged on
something red.
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And so they stopped digging
and went to check it out.
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And it was
a piece of clothing.
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Scott: And a small portion
of body came with it.
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Obviously, you hope
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that you're not
gonna discover the body
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of an innocent
young girl...
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That had been murdered
and buried
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but it had been ongoing
for two years
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and I think everybody
in the community
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00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:07,419
and everybody in
law enforcement anticipated
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it was gonna
turn out this way.
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[♪♪♪]
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gina: Niles, michigan
is right across
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the indiana border
from south bend, indiana.
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Pam: I've been there
for 43 years in the same house.
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I wouldn't wanna live
anywhere else.
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Gina: Back in 1993,
niles was a small town.
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Midwestern vanilla
sort of place.
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There's not a lot
going on there
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but it is close
to a lot of places.
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[laughter]
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cindy: We live
a half an hour away
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from lake michigan,
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so in the summertime
when school gets out,
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we love to go
to the beaches a lot.
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We love to have a lot
of outdoor activities,
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00:04:02,076 --> 00:04:07,696
cookouts, camping,
and things like that.
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Narrator: For one
of the town's teenagers,
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15-year-old becky stowe,
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this summer
is especially magical.
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Cindy: Becky was vibrant.
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00:04:18,058 --> 00:04:20,492
She was a little
on the wild side.
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00:04:20,494 --> 00:04:24,713
I mean, she was
very adventurous.
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When she was younger, like,
I would say around 10, 11,
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00:04:28,769 --> 00:04:30,519
she was more like a tomboy.
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She played baseball
and things like that.
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And then as she grew
a little older,
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she started to wear
more makeup,
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doing her hair more,
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painting her nails,
things like that.
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Rob was the big crush
that summer,
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00:04:48,188 --> 00:04:50,739
the guy that she told me
that she was dating.
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She was excited and happy
to have a boyfriend.
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Gina: Rob was
this popular,
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clean cut football hero,
good-looking guy.
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He was in the
popular crowd.
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And becky was not.
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00:05:07,057 --> 00:05:11,977
She was more one of the rebels.
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Todd: She was
head over heels for him.
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During the summer
of '93, it was the time
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00:05:18,852 --> 00:05:20,752
that becky's best friend
jaclyn and I
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00:05:20,754 --> 00:05:22,788
had just gotten together
and started dating.
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We would spend
a lot of time with becky.
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The three of us did
a lot of stuff together.
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Gina: Becky lived
with her mom, diane,
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who is a single mom.
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And her mom's boyfriend steve.
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Both of them
worked in factories.
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Becky's sister cindy
was 11 years older,
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so becky was alone
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a lot of the time
when her mom was at work.
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I don't think
it bothered her.
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I think she had
a very independent streak
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and was pretty good
at taking care of herself.
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Narrator: Although she is
close to her mother,
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there's been tension
the last few years
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00:06:01,111 --> 00:06:03,445
since becky became a teenager.
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Cindy: My mom and becky
clashed from time to time.
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Becky was a typical teenager.
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Becky liked doing
her own thing.
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Gina: Back in the '90s,
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00:06:18,612 --> 00:06:19,878
the menthol
cigarettes meant
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00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:21,380
you were one
of the cool girls
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00:06:21,382 --> 00:06:25,717
and becky smoked
a pack a day of newport.
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Teenagers, they think
they're invincible,
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they know everything.
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Their parents
are old-fashioned
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and, you know, are just
trying to control them.
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Like most other teenage girls,
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she had arguments
with her mom.
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And she would tell
her mom's boyfriend,
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00:06:43,020 --> 00:06:45,854
you know, you can't
tell me what to do.
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Very typical
sorts of teenage things.
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Cindy: When steve
first moved in,
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he was being a father
figure for becky.
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But steve would come across
as bossy to becky
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and becky
didn't like that
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00:07:05,509 --> 00:07:07,626
and they would
butt heads at times.
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It was rough.
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She did confide in me
how rough that was.
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Todd: They had a lot of tiffs,
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00:07:16,270 --> 00:07:18,103
a lot of yelling matches.
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I never saw anything
really serious
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but she got upset
about it a lot.
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Narrator: On July 12th, 1993,
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00:07:26,847 --> 00:07:30,882
tempers are threatening
to boil over again.
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Becky says she wants
to go and sleep over
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00:07:32,903 --> 00:07:35,370
at her best friend
jaclyn's place for a while
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00:07:35,372 --> 00:07:38,290
to let things between her
and steve simmer down.
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00:07:38,292 --> 00:07:40,158
And her mother diane agrees.
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[♪♪♪]
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narrator: Becky arrives
at jaclyn's place
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00:07:45,299 --> 00:07:47,415
and calm is restored.
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The following day,
jaclyn and her boyfriend todd
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00:07:53,073 --> 00:07:57,259
head out for some alone time,
returning a few hours later.
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Todd: There was no one
at the house.
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00:08:00,597 --> 00:08:03,431
Becky had recently
been there we could tell
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00:08:03,433 --> 00:08:05,717
because the mirror
was still fogged up
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00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:07,269
when she got out of the shower.
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She had left us a note
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saying that she had gone
to talk to rob.
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Narrator: Becky's boyfriend
rob lives just a mile away.
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And becky often
walks to his house.
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Todd: A little while later
the phone rang
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and it was rob.
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And he asked jaclyn if--
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if becky was there.
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And...
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Jaclyn said, "here.
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We thought that
she was with you."
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he insisted that he had
not seen her all day.
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And jaclyn hung up
the phone and she said,
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"well, that's just
really strange."
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gina: At that point,
they realized
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00:08:51,365 --> 00:08:53,114
her keys were there,
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00:08:53,116 --> 00:08:56,101
her wallet was $60
in babysitting money.
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She smoked a pack a day.
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Her cigarettes
were still there.
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00:09:01,959 --> 00:09:03,792
She hadn't taken any clothes.
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00:09:03,794 --> 00:09:05,327
Like it just
didn't make sense
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00:09:05,329 --> 00:09:07,329
that if she was gonna
go off somewhere
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00:09:07,331 --> 00:09:10,215
she wouldn't bring
some of her things.
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Narrator: Jaclyn starts
calling around
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to friends and family.
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When becky's mother diane
hears the news,
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00:09:17,991 --> 00:09:20,158
she heads over.
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00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,229
She and jaclyn drive around
town but no one's seen becky.
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00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,633
Diane was calling
all of her sisters
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00:09:28,635 --> 00:09:30,151
and everybody
in the family.
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That's how we found out.
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Narrator: Then,
diane phones the police
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00:09:38,445 --> 00:09:41,863
and reports becky missing.
191
00:09:41,865 --> 00:09:44,833
Scott: When police start
an investigation
192
00:09:44,835 --> 00:09:47,285
for a missing person,
the first thing to do
193
00:09:47,287 --> 00:09:49,254
is go to who's
the last person
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they had contact with.
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00:09:50,874 --> 00:09:53,375
And what was
the last conversation is.
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00:09:53,377 --> 00:09:56,261
You know, police came,
they talked to us.
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00:09:56,263 --> 00:09:58,713
It was very surreal.
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00:09:58,715 --> 00:10:00,432
Narrator: Officers asked
todd and jaclyn
199
00:10:00,434 --> 00:10:02,684
if becky had shared
anything with them
200
00:10:02,686 --> 00:10:04,669
which might explain
her disappearance.
201
00:10:04,671 --> 00:10:07,772
They mentioned the note
about meeting rob.
202
00:10:07,774 --> 00:10:12,010
But then jaclyn
has one more thing to add.
203
00:10:12,012 --> 00:10:14,279
Jaclyn knew
what nobody else knew.
204
00:10:14,281 --> 00:10:16,781
And that was that
becky stowe was pregnant.
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00:10:16,783 --> 00:10:21,286
[♪♪♪]
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00:10:21,288 --> 00:10:22,821
scott: In over 25 years,
207
00:10:22,823 --> 00:10:26,041
I've never had any
law enforcement agency
208
00:10:26,043 --> 00:10:27,575
consult with a psychic.
209
00:10:28,662 --> 00:10:30,328
Gina: They all said
210
00:10:30,330 --> 00:10:33,415
she was never
gonna be found alive.
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00:10:33,417 --> 00:10:35,600
Todd: She was
rather desperate.
212
00:10:35,602 --> 00:10:38,336
We all were desperate
by that point.
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00:10:41,390 --> 00:10:42,874
[♪♪♪]
214
00:10:45,095 --> 00:10:46,761
narrator: Becky stowe
has vanished,
215
00:10:46,763 --> 00:10:48,263
leaving behind a note
that she was going
216
00:10:48,265 --> 00:10:50,432
to visit her boyfriend.
217
00:10:50,434 --> 00:10:52,300
The detectives
searching for her
218
00:10:52,302 --> 00:10:55,387
have just learned that
the 15-year-old is pregnant.
219
00:10:58,558 --> 00:11:00,025
Gina: In 1993,
220
00:11:00,027 --> 00:11:04,195
becky had her first
boyfriend rob.
221
00:11:07,367 --> 00:11:11,185
Scott: Rob leamon was a year
ahead of her in school.
222
00:11:11,187 --> 00:11:12,854
He was an athlete.
223
00:11:12,856 --> 00:11:15,857
He was in the popular group.
224
00:11:15,859 --> 00:11:17,826
He was a good-looking
young man.
225
00:11:17,828 --> 00:11:19,527
And first time in her life
226
00:11:19,529 --> 00:11:22,363
somebody like that
paid attention to her.
227
00:11:22,365 --> 00:11:25,383
And I think that was
life changing for her.
228
00:11:28,071 --> 00:11:31,106
Gina: Becky lost
her virginity to him.
229
00:11:31,108 --> 00:11:34,175
She would put a little star
in her calendar
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00:11:34,177 --> 00:11:36,811
every time she and rob had sex.
231
00:11:36,813 --> 00:11:38,313
And by that time,
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00:11:38,315 --> 00:11:41,900
rob and becky
had had sex six times.
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00:11:41,902 --> 00:11:44,319
When becky missed her period,
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00:11:44,321 --> 00:11:46,955
she told jaclyn.
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00:11:46,957 --> 00:11:49,908
Pam: She had gone
to the kmart store there
236
00:11:49,910 --> 00:11:52,944
and had bought
a pregnancy test.
237
00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:55,330
And her and jackie
238
00:11:55,332 --> 00:11:58,333
went over to burger king
right there
239
00:11:58,335 --> 00:12:01,086
in the same lot and she did
the pregnancy test
240
00:12:01,088 --> 00:12:02,620
and that's when
she found out.
241
00:12:04,124 --> 00:12:06,674
Todd: It was early on.
She wasn't showing.
242
00:12:08,412 --> 00:12:11,379
She told me that
it was rob's kid.
243
00:12:14,768 --> 00:12:17,769
[♪♪♪]
244
00:12:17,771 --> 00:12:19,304
narrator: But when police
bring rob leamon in
245
00:12:19,306 --> 00:12:20,939
for an interview,
246
00:12:20,941 --> 00:12:22,607
he tells detectives
that he and becky
247
00:12:22,609 --> 00:12:24,726
weren't seriously dating.
248
00:12:26,563 --> 00:12:28,730
Pam: I do remember
the comments
249
00:12:28,732 --> 00:12:30,799
about him dating becky.
250
00:12:30,801 --> 00:12:33,818
That he's going on
the other side of the tracks
251
00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:36,871
dating somebody
that was way beneath him.
252
00:12:38,708 --> 00:12:41,376
Rob had actually
been dating somebody else
253
00:12:41,378 --> 00:12:42,460
during the school year.
254
00:12:43,830 --> 00:12:45,380
Gina: Becky was,
kind of, you know,
255
00:12:45,382 --> 00:12:47,165
the girl on the side
256
00:12:47,167 --> 00:12:49,751
while rob's girlfriend
was in new york for the summer.
257
00:12:52,055 --> 00:12:54,639
[♪♪♪]
258
00:12:54,641 --> 00:12:56,224
narrator: Rob admits
to the detectives
259
00:12:56,226 --> 00:12:58,125
that becky told him
she was pregnant
260
00:12:58,127 --> 00:13:00,145
and that he was the father.
261
00:13:00,147 --> 00:13:02,847
He also admits that he
asked her to get an abortion.
262
00:13:02,849 --> 00:13:07,685
But he says he didn't see her
the day she disappeared.
263
00:13:07,687 --> 00:13:09,904
Scott: Rob said he had
not had contact with her.
264
00:13:09,906 --> 00:13:11,689
That they were
supposed to meet.
265
00:13:11,691 --> 00:13:13,140
They didn't meet,
266
00:13:13,142 --> 00:13:14,492
that he didn't know
where she was at
267
00:13:14,494 --> 00:13:16,277
and didn't know
what happened.
268
00:13:18,615 --> 00:13:20,698
Gina: Rob was very easily
269
00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:23,117
able to account
for his whereabouts that day.
270
00:13:24,538 --> 00:13:26,538
He had done a landscaping job.
271
00:13:26,540 --> 00:13:28,256
Then he went and talked
272
00:13:28,258 --> 00:13:30,542
to his friend
gary for a while.
273
00:13:30,544 --> 00:13:32,427
Then he hung out
with his mom.
274
00:13:32,429 --> 00:13:35,513
And then he went
to his job as a bus boy.
275
00:13:37,350 --> 00:13:40,001
The police checked
with all of those people.
276
00:13:40,003 --> 00:13:41,719
Gary said
he had seen rob.
277
00:13:41,721 --> 00:13:45,190
Rob's mom said
she had seen rob.
278
00:13:45,192 --> 00:13:47,358
Scott: He said
that he was at work.
279
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,195
And we checked that out
and that was verified.
280
00:13:50,197 --> 00:13:52,530
Said that he hung out
with his cousin.
281
00:13:52,532 --> 00:13:55,567
And we checked that out
and that was verified.
282
00:13:55,569 --> 00:13:57,785
So he had an alibi.
283
00:13:57,787 --> 00:13:59,737
This is not the kid
that you pick out
284
00:13:59,739 --> 00:14:03,741
going, "okay, that kid's
a troublemaker or a liar."
285
00:14:03,743 --> 00:14:05,210
we didn't have
any reason to doubt
286
00:14:05,212 --> 00:14:06,544
that he was telling us
the truth.
287
00:14:08,965 --> 00:14:10,632
-[birds chirping]
-[♪♪♪]
288
00:14:10,634 --> 00:14:13,200
narrator: Still,
investigators ask rob
289
00:14:13,202 --> 00:14:16,137
to take a polygraph test.
290
00:14:16,139 --> 00:14:17,755
Det. David:
He passed the test.
291
00:14:19,426 --> 00:14:22,043
They reported him
as being truthful,
292
00:14:22,045 --> 00:14:25,146
that he had no involvement
in becky's disappearance.
293
00:14:27,434 --> 00:14:28,766
Scott: So then we're like,
"okay, well then
294
00:14:28,768 --> 00:14:32,353
that really does
set rob aside."
295
00:14:32,355 --> 00:14:34,489
narrator: As the detectives
consider the case,
296
00:14:34,491 --> 00:14:36,441
they can't rule out
the possibility
297
00:14:36,443 --> 00:14:39,410
that the person responsible
for becky's disappearance
298
00:14:39,412 --> 00:14:41,262
is becky herself.
299
00:14:41,264 --> 00:14:43,998
[♪♪♪]
300
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,617
gina: Becky was pregnant.
301
00:14:45,619 --> 00:14:47,418
And she was really
excited about it.
302
00:14:48,755 --> 00:14:50,922
Todd: From what I understood,
303
00:14:50,924 --> 00:14:54,042
rob had asked her
to get an abortion.
304
00:14:55,211 --> 00:14:57,578
And initially she thought maybe
305
00:14:57,580 --> 00:14:59,264
she could do that
306
00:14:59,266 --> 00:15:02,100
but I think she just
changed her mind
307
00:15:02,102 --> 00:15:06,087
and she just felt like
308
00:15:06,089 --> 00:15:07,889
she wanted
to keep the child.
309
00:15:12,312 --> 00:15:15,947
Det. David: Not uncommon
that a 15-year-old
310
00:15:15,949 --> 00:15:18,650
becomes pregnant.
311
00:15:18,652 --> 00:15:20,985
And they all handle it
in different ways.
312
00:15:20,987 --> 00:15:25,540
And she may have
taken off and ran away.
313
00:15:27,544 --> 00:15:30,078
Scott: You're 15,
you don't have a job,
314
00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,297
you don't have an education,
you don't have any way
315
00:15:32,299 --> 00:15:35,300
to take care of a kid
because you're still a kid.
316
00:15:35,302 --> 00:15:38,886
And so I think becky
was concerned
317
00:15:38,888 --> 00:15:41,389
that no one else
was going to be
318
00:15:41,391 --> 00:15:44,926
as excited about
this pregnancy as she was.
319
00:15:44,928 --> 00:15:46,728
Narrator:
Still, becky's friends
320
00:15:46,730 --> 00:15:49,630
find it hard to accept
she would just run away.
321
00:15:49,632 --> 00:15:51,566
[♪♪♪]
322
00:15:51,568 --> 00:15:53,651
pam: You know, like I said,
she left her purse,
323
00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:56,688
her cigarettes, her everything
there at that house.
324
00:15:56,690 --> 00:15:59,857
And so everybody said
something's happened to her.
325
00:15:59,859 --> 00:16:02,677
[♪♪♪]
326
00:16:02,679 --> 00:16:04,362
narrator: The theory
that becky had run away
327
00:16:04,364 --> 00:16:06,914
because of her pregnancy
seems even weaker
328
00:16:06,916 --> 00:16:10,118
when detectives break
the news to her mother diane.
329
00:16:14,507 --> 00:16:19,193
Pam: When diane heard
that she was pregnant,
330
00:16:19,195 --> 00:16:21,829
she-- she-- she was--
would've been supportive.
331
00:16:21,831 --> 00:16:23,998
She was that way.
332
00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,516
Scott: She was upset
by the fact
333
00:16:25,518 --> 00:16:28,636
that becky hadn't come
to her and told her.
334
00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,775
But she knew there was tension
between the two of them.
335
00:16:37,113 --> 00:16:38,396
Narrator:
Diane tells detectives
336
00:16:38,398 --> 00:16:40,064
about the arguments at home
337
00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:41,366
but they quickly rule out
338
00:16:41,368 --> 00:16:42,516
any connection
339
00:16:42,518 --> 00:16:43,818
between diane herself
340
00:16:43,820 --> 00:16:45,620
and becky's disappearance.
341
00:16:48,858 --> 00:16:50,658
Gina:
Becky's mom was at work.
342
00:16:50,660 --> 00:16:55,463
So she wasn't a suspect
in her disappearance.
343
00:16:55,465 --> 00:16:58,216
Narrator: But it doesn't escape
the investigator's notice
344
00:16:58,218 --> 00:17:00,601
that becky's mother
isn't the only person
345
00:17:00,603 --> 00:17:04,088
at home with whom becky
has sometimes struggled.
346
00:17:04,090 --> 00:17:06,040
Todd: There was some
tension between becky
347
00:17:06,042 --> 00:17:09,427
and her mother's partner steve.
348
00:17:10,980 --> 00:17:13,264
They-- they didn't
really get along very well
349
00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:16,567
and-- and I think maybe
he was one of the reasons
350
00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:20,254
that she wanted to get out
of the house for a while.
351
00:17:20,256 --> 00:17:26,611
Their interactions were tense,
sometimes almost hostile.
352
00:17:26,613 --> 00:17:27,728
Narrator:
What detectives learned
353
00:17:27,730 --> 00:17:29,063
from becky's friends
354
00:17:29,065 --> 00:17:30,248
about the situation inside
355
00:17:30,250 --> 00:17:32,399
becky's home leads them
356
00:17:32,401 --> 00:17:35,119
to take a closer look at steve.
357
00:17:38,675 --> 00:17:41,092
Scott: That scenario
where you have
358
00:17:41,094 --> 00:17:43,094
a live-in boyfriend,
359
00:17:43,096 --> 00:17:44,462
teenage daughter,
360
00:17:44,464 --> 00:17:46,764
teenage daughter
becomes pregnant,
361
00:17:46,766 --> 00:17:48,800
when law enforcement
looks at it,
362
00:17:48,802 --> 00:17:50,584
we're looking at it
through that lens
363
00:17:50,586 --> 00:17:53,020
of going why don't you go
to mom or you don't go
364
00:17:53,022 --> 00:17:57,108
to mom because perhaps
the father is not robbie.
365
00:17:57,110 --> 00:17:59,026
What's going on
between mom's boyfriend
366
00:17:59,028 --> 00:18:00,862
and teenage daughter?
367
00:18:00,864 --> 00:18:03,931
[♪♪♪]
368
00:18:09,321 --> 00:18:12,156
narrator:
Days after 15-year-old
369
00:18:12,158 --> 00:18:14,025
becky stowe vanishes
in niles, michigan,
370
00:18:14,027 --> 00:18:16,294
police are asking questions
about the relationship
371
00:18:16,296 --> 00:18:18,112
between the pregnant teenager
372
00:18:18,114 --> 00:18:22,733
and her mother's
boyfriend steve.
373
00:18:22,735 --> 00:18:25,203
Gina: So the police went
to question steve
374
00:18:25,205 --> 00:18:30,107
about his whereabouts
on July 13th, 1993.
375
00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:32,109
What they found out
was that he
376
00:18:32,111 --> 00:18:34,378
had not been
at work that day.
377
00:18:34,380 --> 00:18:36,447
He said that
he wasn't feeling well.
378
00:18:36,449 --> 00:18:40,301
He stayed home and no one
had been there with him.
379
00:18:40,303 --> 00:18:42,920
He was just home alone.
380
00:18:45,175 --> 00:18:47,225
Scott: So he basically
had no alibi
381
00:18:47,227 --> 00:18:49,644
for where he was
when becky disappeared.
382
00:18:52,632 --> 00:18:54,482
Gina: Diane was convinced
that steve
383
00:18:54,484 --> 00:18:56,567
had nothing to do
with becky's disappearance
384
00:18:56,569 --> 00:18:59,237
because he was her
longtime boyfriend.
385
00:18:59,239 --> 00:19:03,858
She trusted him.
She loved him.
386
00:19:03,860 --> 00:19:06,327
Narrator: Police placed
a surveillance team on steve
387
00:19:06,329 --> 00:19:09,813
hoping it might lead to
a clue to becky's whereabouts.
388
00:19:09,815 --> 00:19:12,917
Meanwhile, becky's family
and friends are doing
389
00:19:12,919 --> 00:19:17,688
everything they can
to drum up clues on their own.
390
00:19:17,690 --> 00:19:21,125
Gina: Diane needed
the singular purpose
391
00:19:21,127 --> 00:19:23,661
of her life
to find her daughter.
392
00:19:23,663 --> 00:19:27,715
She's nagging
the police almost every day.
393
00:19:27,717 --> 00:19:31,018
What are you doing
to try to find becky?
394
00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:34,222
She and her family are putting
missing persons fliers
395
00:19:34,224 --> 00:19:36,774
up all over town.
396
00:19:36,776 --> 00:19:40,695
Cindy: We were making posters,
posting them on grocery stores,
397
00:19:40,697 --> 00:19:42,613
restaurants, utility poles,
398
00:19:42,615 --> 00:19:45,783
and putting them out
on people's cars
399
00:19:45,785 --> 00:19:47,618
in the parking lots.
400
00:19:47,620 --> 00:19:50,688
Rob and all of her friends
401
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,040
were part of the search team.
402
00:19:53,042 --> 00:19:54,792
We searched every place.
403
00:19:57,130 --> 00:19:59,247
Pam: We're thinking
somebody just snatched her up.
404
00:19:59,249 --> 00:20:01,599
There was just no way
we thought she ran away.
405
00:20:01,601 --> 00:20:03,918
So we just started putting out
fliers and doing everything
406
00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:09,040
we could to help diane
figure out how to find her.
407
00:20:09,042 --> 00:20:11,058
Todd: It was the talk
of the town.
408
00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:15,680
The community was well-aware
that she was missing.
409
00:20:18,618 --> 00:20:20,585
Cindy: Niles is a small town
410
00:20:20,587 --> 00:20:23,554
and we had a lot
of people that kept
411
00:20:23,556 --> 00:20:28,943
saying, well, I've seen becky
over here or over there.
412
00:20:28,945 --> 00:20:30,394
Just places that they thought
413
00:20:30,396 --> 00:20:32,697
that they had seen someone
414
00:20:32,699 --> 00:20:33,965
that looked like her.
415
00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:36,534
And it was never becky.
416
00:20:41,674 --> 00:20:43,074
Narrator: Days turned to weeks.
417
00:20:43,076 --> 00:20:44,976
And although many tips come in,
418
00:20:44,978 --> 00:20:46,677
nothing comes of them.
419
00:20:46,679 --> 00:20:50,214
Becky's loved ones
refused to give up.
420
00:20:50,216 --> 00:20:53,267
Todd: We drove
all around southwest michigan,
421
00:20:53,269 --> 00:20:54,652
northern indiana
422
00:20:54,654 --> 00:20:56,971
talking to mutual friends,
423
00:20:56,973 --> 00:21:01,442
going to places
that she liked to go to.
424
00:21:01,444 --> 00:21:03,694
Just came up
completely empty-handed.
425
00:21:06,466 --> 00:21:11,035
Gina: Diane would just go
around town and look for her.
426
00:21:11,037 --> 00:21:14,138
Diane would, like,
drive to abandoned houses
427
00:21:14,140 --> 00:21:16,007
and look through
the windows and try
428
00:21:16,009 --> 00:21:18,843
to go inside and see
if becky was in there.
429
00:21:18,845 --> 00:21:21,245
[♪♪♪]
430
00:21:23,299 --> 00:21:26,050
narrator: Despite the cloud
of suspicion over him,
431
00:21:26,052 --> 00:21:27,301
diane's boyfriend, steve,
432
00:21:27,303 --> 00:21:28,919
seems increasingly
433
00:21:28,921 --> 00:21:30,888
engrossed in the search,
434
00:21:30,890 --> 00:21:33,507
and he begins insisting
that becky's friends
435
00:21:33,509 --> 00:21:36,260
are hiding something.
436
00:21:36,262 --> 00:21:39,730
Gina: Steve was convinced
that some of becky's friends
437
00:21:39,732 --> 00:21:42,149
knew what had happened to her.
438
00:21:42,151 --> 00:21:44,352
One time, he even woke up
in the middle of the night
439
00:21:44,354 --> 00:21:48,356
and said to diane,
"I know her friends are lying,
440
00:21:48,358 --> 00:21:50,241
we're getting
the truth out of them,
441
00:21:50,243 --> 00:21:52,276
we're gonna figure
out what happened."
442
00:21:52,278 --> 00:21:53,911
[♪♪♪]
443
00:21:53,913 --> 00:21:56,247
todd: Becky's mother
did contact me.
444
00:21:56,249 --> 00:21:59,116
One day, she showed up
at my house,
445
00:21:59,118 --> 00:22:01,535
completely hysterical.
446
00:22:01,537 --> 00:22:04,088
And she asked me
if she could look in the trunk
447
00:22:04,090 --> 00:22:06,841
of my car
and look at my basement,
448
00:22:06,843 --> 00:22:08,826
and I let her do it,
449
00:22:08,828 --> 00:22:13,064
I let her looked everywhere
she wanted to look.
450
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:16,017
I totally understood
where she was coming from.
451
00:22:16,019 --> 00:22:17,334
It was just something
that she felt
452
00:22:17,336 --> 00:22:18,602
that she had to do,
453
00:22:18,604 --> 00:22:21,305
she was leaving
no stone unturned.
454
00:22:21,307 --> 00:22:23,607
She was rather desperate.
455
00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:26,143
We all were desperate
by that point.
456
00:22:26,145 --> 00:22:29,046
[♪♪♪]
457
00:22:29,048 --> 00:22:30,948
narrator: After weeks
of surveillance,
458
00:22:30,950 --> 00:22:32,683
the police
have seen nothing
459
00:22:32,685 --> 00:22:35,419
connecting steve
to becky's disappearance.
460
00:22:35,421 --> 00:22:37,405
But they aren't ready
to clear him,
461
00:22:37,407 --> 00:22:39,790
so they asked him
to take a polygraph test.
462
00:22:39,792 --> 00:22:42,076
[♪♪♪]
463
00:22:42,078 --> 00:22:44,295
scott: Originally, he said,
"oh, yeah, I'll do that."
464
00:22:44,297 --> 00:22:46,530
and then the next thing
you know, we get a contact
465
00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:50,000
from his attorney that says,
uh, he's not doing a polygraph.
466
00:22:50,002 --> 00:22:53,087
[♪♪♪]
467
00:22:53,089 --> 00:22:55,923
scott: That usually means
you don't think you can pass it.
468
00:22:55,925 --> 00:22:57,758
Why can't you pass it?
469
00:22:57,760 --> 00:22:59,510
He's not at work
like he's supposed to,
470
00:22:59,512 --> 00:23:02,313
there's tension
between him and becky,
471
00:23:02,315 --> 00:23:04,849
he's indicated he's angry
with her,
472
00:23:04,851 --> 00:23:06,884
and he has no alibi.
473
00:23:06,886 --> 00:23:09,603
So, that keeps him
at the top of our list.
474
00:23:09,605 --> 00:23:13,941
[♪♪♪]
475
00:23:13,943 --> 00:23:17,445
pam: And it got really bad
between him and diane
476
00:23:17,447 --> 00:23:21,832
because she was mad at him
and he was mad at her.
477
00:23:21,834 --> 00:23:24,168
Cindy: They were fighting
over that.
478
00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:27,538
If he knew he was innocent
and didn't do anything wrong,
479
00:23:27,540 --> 00:23:30,374
go ahead and take the polygraph
and clear your name.
480
00:23:32,879 --> 00:23:35,780
[♪♪♪]
481
00:23:35,782 --> 00:23:40,818
cindy: He made himself
look very suspicious.
482
00:23:40,820 --> 00:23:44,755
[♪♪♪]
483
00:23:44,757 --> 00:23:47,725
pam: And, uh,
it wasn't too long after that
484
00:23:47,727 --> 00:23:50,728
that he pretty
much packed up and left.
485
00:23:53,266 --> 00:23:55,966
Gina: So, one day diane
gets home
486
00:23:55,968 --> 00:23:58,819
and steve is just gone.
487
00:23:58,821 --> 00:24:02,072
They've been in a relationship
for 12 years
488
00:24:02,074 --> 00:24:05,442
and suddenly he's cleared out.
489
00:24:05,444 --> 00:24:08,045
She didn't know
what happened to him.
490
00:24:08,047 --> 00:24:10,998
And he was just gone.
491
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,117
Scott: He couldn't have done
anything else to make himself
492
00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,054
look more guilty than the way
that he was behaving.
493
00:24:17,056 --> 00:24:19,890
[♪♪♪]
494
00:24:27,799 --> 00:24:31,135
narrator: Michigan detectives
looking for missing 15-year-old
495
00:24:31,137 --> 00:24:32,770
becky stowe have growing
questions about
496
00:24:32,772 --> 00:24:35,806
her mother diane's
boyfriend, steve.
497
00:24:35,808 --> 00:24:37,942
But three months
after becky vanished,
498
00:24:37,944 --> 00:24:40,895
steve has apparently
disappeared too.
499
00:24:40,897 --> 00:24:42,696
[♪♪♪]
500
00:24:42,698 --> 00:24:44,982
pam: He just took off.
501
00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:49,603
And I know diane
was totally upset about it.
502
00:24:49,605 --> 00:24:53,474
Todd: I heard
that steve disappeared
503
00:24:53,476 --> 00:24:55,709
which, kind of,
504
00:24:55,711 --> 00:24:57,211
reinforced my idea
505
00:24:57,213 --> 00:25:00,280
that maybe he has something
to do with it.
506
00:25:00,282 --> 00:25:03,317
And some
of his behavior throughout,
507
00:25:03,319 --> 00:25:07,671
it just seemed so bizarre.
508
00:25:07,673 --> 00:25:09,673
Steve, instead of
taking the polygraph,
509
00:25:09,675 --> 00:25:11,509
moved out of the house.
510
00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:15,346
Well, for us,
that just keeps ramping it up.
511
00:25:15,348 --> 00:25:17,431
Gina: Who refuses
to take a polygraph,
512
00:25:17,433 --> 00:25:19,299
gets a lawyer,
and then skips town
513
00:25:19,301 --> 00:25:21,485
if they're not guilty?
514
00:25:21,487 --> 00:25:24,021
[siren blares]
515
00:25:24,023 --> 00:25:27,007
narrator: Police immediately
begin searching for steve.
516
00:25:27,009 --> 00:25:30,194
[♪♪♪]
517
00:25:30,196 --> 00:25:33,547
narrator: But he proves adept
at keeping under the radar.
518
00:25:33,549 --> 00:25:35,449
[eagle screeches]
519
00:25:35,451 --> 00:25:38,919
narrator: Months go by
with no sign of him.
520
00:25:38,921 --> 00:25:41,188
And still no sign of becky.
521
00:25:41,190 --> 00:25:42,957
[♪♪♪]
522
00:25:42,959 --> 00:25:45,826
scott: There were at least
20 or 30 times
523
00:25:45,828 --> 00:25:48,996
that we put together searches,
cadaver dogs,
524
00:25:48,998 --> 00:25:50,931
the whole bit,
to go out to some location
525
00:25:50,933 --> 00:25:53,017
that she was allegedly buried,
526
00:25:53,019 --> 00:25:54,852
and wouldn't find anything.
527
00:25:54,854 --> 00:25:57,171
So yeah,
this went on for months,
528
00:25:57,173 --> 00:25:59,139
and months,
and months, and months.
529
00:26:00,576 --> 00:26:02,743
[♪♪♪]
530
00:26:02,745 --> 00:26:05,195
narrator: The not knowing
is mental torture
531
00:26:05,197 --> 00:26:07,731
for becky's mother.
532
00:26:07,733 --> 00:26:11,201
Pam: With diane also being,
uh, by herself,
533
00:26:13,022 --> 00:26:15,188
I think it was worse for her.
534
00:26:15,190 --> 00:26:17,207
She's, you know,
stayed in that house,
535
00:26:17,209 --> 00:26:19,860
she didn't wanna leave,
she didn't wanna go anywhere
536
00:26:19,862 --> 00:26:22,212
because she was afraid
that she'd miss,
537
00:26:22,214 --> 00:26:23,714
you know, miss becky.
538
00:26:23,716 --> 00:26:26,267
[♪♪♪]
539
00:26:26,269 --> 00:26:28,102
narrator:
Desperate for answers,
540
00:26:28,104 --> 00:26:30,938
becky's mother, diane,
reaches out to anyone,
541
00:26:30,940 --> 00:26:34,441
anywhere who might provide
a fresh clue.
542
00:26:34,443 --> 00:26:37,011
Cindy: My mom contacted
several psychics
543
00:26:37,013 --> 00:26:39,647
about where becky was.
544
00:26:39,649 --> 00:26:44,935
So, I mean,
you grasp at anything.
545
00:26:44,937 --> 00:26:47,104
Gina: The thing
that they all said the same
546
00:26:47,106 --> 00:26:50,658
was that becky was dead,
and they were looking
547
00:26:50,660 --> 00:26:52,242
for her body,
548
00:26:52,244 --> 00:26:54,628
but she was never gonna
be found alive.
549
00:26:54,630 --> 00:26:57,164
[♪♪♪]
550
00:26:57,166 --> 00:26:59,933
scott: In over 25 years
I've been a prosecutor,
551
00:26:59,935 --> 00:27:03,403
I've never, um, had
any law enforcement agency
552
00:27:03,405 --> 00:27:05,339
consult with a psychic.
553
00:27:05,341 --> 00:27:08,208
In this case, um, because,
again, we had gone
554
00:27:08,210 --> 00:27:10,094
on for over a year and a half
555
00:27:10,096 --> 00:27:13,246
and we were coming up empty.
556
00:27:13,248 --> 00:27:16,917
And the decision was made
to consult with a psychic
557
00:27:16,919 --> 00:27:19,520
that had assisted law
enforcement in another case.
558
00:27:19,522 --> 00:27:21,605
[♪♪♪]
559
00:27:21,607 --> 00:27:27,144
scott: The psychic had pictured
an industrial kind of area,
560
00:27:27,146 --> 00:27:30,030
and then she also indicated
there was water nearby.
561
00:27:30,032 --> 00:27:33,167
[♪♪♪]
562
00:27:33,169 --> 00:27:36,036
scott: She also
indicated railroad tracks.
563
00:27:36,038 --> 00:27:37,938
There's a couple of them
that run through cass county.
564
00:27:39,308 --> 00:27:41,308
It was interesting,
565
00:27:41,310 --> 00:27:44,611
um, it wasn't specific enough
566
00:27:44,613 --> 00:27:46,347
for us to pin down.
567
00:27:47,883 --> 00:27:49,667
It didn't break the case.
568
00:27:49,669 --> 00:27:52,753
[♪♪♪]
569
00:27:54,523 --> 00:27:57,291
gina: I don't think diane
ever believed
570
00:27:57,293 --> 00:27:59,193
that becky was dead.
571
00:27:59,195 --> 00:28:02,646
I think, as a mother,
she thought
572
00:28:02,648 --> 00:28:05,182
that if becky was dead,
she would feel it.
573
00:28:05,184 --> 00:28:07,901
[♪♪♪]
574
00:28:07,903 --> 00:28:10,070
cindy: I feel that my mom
was hoping becky
575
00:28:10,072 --> 00:28:11,522
would just walk
in the front door
576
00:28:11,524 --> 00:28:14,708
at any given time
577
00:28:14,710 --> 00:28:16,744
and it'd all be over.
578
00:28:16,746 --> 00:28:19,780
[♪♪♪]
579
00:28:22,868 --> 00:28:26,086
narrator: An agonizing year
and a half goes by.
580
00:28:26,088 --> 00:28:29,957
Then, diane's tireless
efforts appeared to pay off.
581
00:28:29,959 --> 00:28:31,759
One of her volunteer searchers
582
00:28:31,761 --> 00:28:34,494
has found something
suspicious in a field.
583
00:28:34,496 --> 00:28:36,663
[♪♪♪]
584
00:28:36,665 --> 00:28:38,165
she got a call that
there were bones
585
00:28:38,167 --> 00:28:39,383
out at this particular farm
586
00:28:39,385 --> 00:28:40,851
and she, you know, put together
587
00:28:40,853 --> 00:28:43,237
her team of volunteers.
588
00:28:45,725 --> 00:28:47,725
Gina: And so they started
digging up that patch
589
00:28:47,727 --> 00:28:51,078
of dirt and found bones.
590
00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,032
They called the police
and it turned out
591
00:28:55,034 --> 00:28:58,035
this poor farmer
had just recently buried
592
00:28:58,037 --> 00:29:01,905
his deceased dog
and they were dog bones.
593
00:29:01,907 --> 00:29:05,292
[♪♪♪]
594
00:29:05,294 --> 00:29:07,161
scott: If you put yourself
in her position,
595
00:29:07,163 --> 00:29:10,964
you'll move heaven
and earth to find your kid.
596
00:29:10,966 --> 00:29:13,550
So I don't--
I don't blame her a bit.
597
00:29:13,552 --> 00:29:16,220
But at that point,
by the time we hit that 20,
598
00:29:16,222 --> 00:29:19,173
21, 22 months mark,
599
00:29:19,175 --> 00:29:20,774
we were running on empty.
600
00:29:22,945 --> 00:29:25,679
And we still met
regularly to go, "okay.
601
00:29:25,681 --> 00:29:28,899
Is there something
we can circle back and do again?
602
00:29:28,901 --> 00:29:32,719
You know, do we need to find
steve and harass him some more?"
603
00:29:32,721 --> 00:29:34,738
we found nothing
that would indicate
604
00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:36,273
that steve was involved
605
00:29:36,275 --> 00:29:38,492
in anything inappropriate
with becky,
606
00:29:38,494 --> 00:29:41,945
or that he had anything
to do with the disappearance.
607
00:29:41,947 --> 00:29:43,580
What else can we do?
608
00:29:43,582 --> 00:29:46,133
[♪♪♪]
609
00:29:48,103 --> 00:29:51,738
narrator: With no new leads,
becky's case goes cold.
610
00:29:51,740 --> 00:29:54,174
Then, in October 1995,
611
00:29:54,176 --> 00:29:56,944
the phone rings in the cass
county sheriff's office
612
00:29:56,946 --> 00:30:00,247
and everything changes.
613
00:30:00,249 --> 00:30:02,132
The woman on the other end
of the line
614
00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:05,102
claims she knows exactly
what happened to becky stowe
615
00:30:05,104 --> 00:30:07,154
two years earlier.
616
00:30:07,156 --> 00:30:08,856
Scott:
We couldn't believe it.
617
00:30:08,858 --> 00:30:11,475
It was angela snyder.
618
00:30:11,477 --> 00:30:14,094
The ongoing
steady girlfriend
619
00:30:14,096 --> 00:30:17,314
of robbie leamon.
620
00:30:17,316 --> 00:30:20,400
[♪♪♪]
621
00:30:23,789 --> 00:30:25,772
pam: It just makes me sick
to my stomach
622
00:30:25,774 --> 00:30:29,626
to think that she went
through that at 15 years old.
623
00:30:31,497 --> 00:30:33,947
[ sighs ]
624
00:30:33,949 --> 00:30:38,302
cindy: He was evil,
and he was manipulative,
625
00:30:38,304 --> 00:30:41,822
and he planned this whole thing
out from the beginning.
626
00:30:44,792 --> 00:30:46,276
[♪♪♪]
627
00:30:48,664 --> 00:30:50,397
narrator:
Becky stowe has been missing
628
00:30:50,399 --> 00:30:52,566
in michigan for two years.
629
00:30:52,568 --> 00:30:54,785
But now,
a witness has come forward,
630
00:30:54,787 --> 00:30:57,037
claiming to know
what happened to the teenager.
631
00:31:00,593 --> 00:31:03,644
Gina: In 1993,
before she disappeared,
632
00:31:03,646 --> 00:31:06,797
becky had her first boyfriend,
633
00:31:06,799 --> 00:31:09,216
rob.
634
00:31:09,218 --> 00:31:11,134
Scott: At that time,
angela snyder
635
00:31:11,136 --> 00:31:14,754
was robert leamon's ongoing,
steady girlfriend,
636
00:31:14,756 --> 00:31:16,923
except for the time
he was sleeping with becky
637
00:31:16,925 --> 00:31:18,809
during the summer of '93.
638
00:31:21,463 --> 00:31:23,564
Narrator: Police cleared rob
as a suspect
639
00:31:23,566 --> 00:31:26,283
early in the investigation.
640
00:31:26,285 --> 00:31:28,235
Scott: He was,
you know, a good kid,
641
00:31:28,237 --> 00:31:30,103
he hadn't been
in trouble before.
642
00:31:30,105 --> 00:31:33,991
He was involved in school,
he was involved in sports.
643
00:31:33,993 --> 00:31:35,792
So when he said,
"hey, I was at work,
644
00:31:35,794 --> 00:31:39,413
um, I didn't see her."
and then we checked it out,
645
00:31:39,415 --> 00:31:41,281
and it--
and it-- it checked out.
646
00:31:41,283 --> 00:31:44,001
So then
it must be somebody else.
647
00:31:48,123 --> 00:31:50,324
Narrator: But now,
angela drops a bombshell
648
00:31:50,326 --> 00:31:53,310
on the investigation.
649
00:31:53,312 --> 00:31:56,480
She tells detectives
she knows that rob leamon
650
00:31:56,482 --> 00:31:59,232
killed becky stowe.
651
00:31:59,234 --> 00:32:01,184
She claims
that he admitted it to her
652
00:32:01,186 --> 00:32:02,853
and she's been too frightened
653
00:32:02,855 --> 00:32:07,357
to reveal the awful secret
until now.
654
00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:09,693
Scott: We said,
"when did he tell you this?"
655
00:32:09,695 --> 00:32:13,113
seventeen months
before she told us.
656
00:32:14,867 --> 00:32:17,167
And, of course, we're like
"so you've been carrying
657
00:32:17,169 --> 00:32:20,253
this information for 17 months
658
00:32:20,255 --> 00:32:23,540
while her mom, every single day,
659
00:32:23,542 --> 00:32:25,359
is out looking for her daughter,
660
00:32:25,361 --> 00:32:27,377
and all of the law enforcement
661
00:32:27,379 --> 00:32:29,596
has been looking for her
for two years?"
662
00:32:31,433 --> 00:32:34,217
and I never got
a good answer for why.
663
00:32:39,391 --> 00:32:41,942
Narrator: Then,
angela drops another bomb.
664
00:32:41,944 --> 00:32:46,530
She claims to also know
where becky's body is buried.
665
00:32:46,532 --> 00:32:48,615
Scott: She said
becky's body was out
666
00:32:48,617 --> 00:32:53,854
on a farm
owned by robbie's uncle.
667
00:32:53,856 --> 00:32:56,423
It was a wooded area
next to the lake
668
00:32:56,425 --> 00:33:00,860
on the end of his farm,
and it was under a wood pile.
669
00:33:00,862 --> 00:33:02,663
That's pretty specific.
670
00:33:06,385 --> 00:33:10,754
[♪♪♪]
671
00:33:10,756 --> 00:33:12,756
narrator:
On a cold October morning,
672
00:33:12,758 --> 00:33:14,725
investigators arrive
at the farm
673
00:33:14,727 --> 00:33:17,644
and start digging
near a log pile in the backyard
674
00:33:17,646 --> 00:33:20,681
but it's tough going.
675
00:33:20,683 --> 00:33:23,650
Det. David: I made contact
with a person I know
676
00:33:23,652 --> 00:33:25,819
who has a backhoe
and he came out there.
677
00:33:25,821 --> 00:33:27,688
[backhoe engine revving]
678
00:33:29,825 --> 00:33:33,060
det. David: After some
scoops by the excavator,
679
00:33:33,062 --> 00:33:35,779
there was some clothing
and body parts
680
00:33:35,781 --> 00:33:37,698
that came up on the bucket.
681
00:33:39,251 --> 00:33:41,067
Scott: It was easy
to recognize,
682
00:33:41,069 --> 00:33:44,921
it was a pelvic bone
and a thigh.
683
00:33:44,923 --> 00:33:47,924
Narrator: The officers believe
they have found becky stowe.
684
00:33:49,678 --> 00:33:51,778
They gather
around the burial site
685
00:33:51,780 --> 00:33:54,648
and offer a prayer.
686
00:33:54,650 --> 00:33:57,134
Det. David: In one sense,
it's gut-wrenching to see,
687
00:33:57,136 --> 00:34:00,270
in the other sense,
you feel a sense of relief
688
00:34:00,272 --> 00:34:03,223
because it's probably becky.
689
00:34:03,225 --> 00:34:07,461
[♪♪♪]
690
00:34:07,463 --> 00:34:09,780
narrator: The bones are taken
to the medical examiners
691
00:34:09,782 --> 00:34:11,648
where the forensic team
checks the teeth
692
00:34:11,650 --> 00:34:13,967
against becky's dental records.
693
00:34:13,969 --> 00:34:15,502
They are a match.
694
00:34:18,540 --> 00:34:20,474
But because of decomposition,
695
00:34:20,476 --> 00:34:22,743
the medical examiner
is unable to determine
696
00:34:22,745 --> 00:34:25,178
the cause of death.
697
00:34:25,180 --> 00:34:26,713
Gina: The body
was so decomposed
698
00:34:26,715 --> 00:34:28,298
they couldn't find
medical evidence
699
00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:29,549
of the fact
that she had been pregnant.
700
00:34:35,524 --> 00:34:38,391
Narrator: Detectives sadly
bring becky's mother diane,
701
00:34:38,393 --> 00:34:41,261
the news she's been dreading
for two years.
702
00:34:42,865 --> 00:34:46,016
Pam: I think
that had to have been
703
00:34:46,018 --> 00:34:48,151
the worst moment
of her life.
704
00:34:48,153 --> 00:34:51,238
[♪♪♪]
705
00:34:53,008 --> 00:34:55,025
it was horrid.
706
00:34:58,363 --> 00:35:01,314
Cindy: My mom called me
on the phone and said,
707
00:35:01,316 --> 00:35:03,667
"you need to come over.
708
00:35:03,669 --> 00:35:05,786
They found becky."
709
00:35:05,788 --> 00:35:08,088
I was like, just,
710
00:35:08,090 --> 00:35:10,757
[ gasps ]
I was just shocked.
711
00:35:13,011 --> 00:35:16,096
[♪♪♪]
712
00:35:19,034 --> 00:35:20,734
narrator:
The missing person's case
713
00:35:20,736 --> 00:35:23,737
has become a homicide case.
714
00:35:23,739 --> 00:35:26,973
And rob leamon
is the prime suspect.
715
00:35:26,975 --> 00:35:28,692
Detectives are surprised
716
00:35:28,694 --> 00:35:30,644
when he agrees
to speak with them,
717
00:35:30,646 --> 00:35:33,780
and they're stunned
when with no hesitation,
718
00:35:33,782 --> 00:35:35,866
he tells them the story
of what happened
719
00:35:35,868 --> 00:35:37,617
the day becky died.
720
00:35:37,619 --> 00:35:41,454
[♪♪♪]
721
00:35:41,456 --> 00:35:43,123
narrator: He tells them
he picked becky up
722
00:35:43,125 --> 00:35:44,908
and drove her
to his uncle's farm
723
00:35:44,910 --> 00:35:48,712
so they could spend
some time together.
724
00:35:48,714 --> 00:35:52,132
Scott: He said they got into,
uh, a little bit of an argument.
725
00:35:52,134 --> 00:35:54,868
[♪♪♪]
726
00:35:54,870 --> 00:35:57,254
scott: Robbie began to describe
what, in effect,
727
00:35:57,256 --> 00:36:01,424
was a wrestling match
where he was behind becky,
728
00:36:01,426 --> 00:36:03,710
had his arms
wrapped around her head.
729
00:36:03,712 --> 00:36:05,228
And they kind of rolled around,
730
00:36:05,230 --> 00:36:06,763
and something popped
in her neck.
731
00:36:09,568 --> 00:36:11,401
It was sort of minimizing,
732
00:36:11,403 --> 00:36:14,187
sort of a pseudo-accident
explanation?
733
00:36:14,189 --> 00:36:16,156
That doesn't work
like that in real life.
734
00:36:16,158 --> 00:36:18,408
[♪♪♪]
735
00:36:18,410 --> 00:36:20,527
narrator: The investigators
find rob's story
736
00:36:20,529 --> 00:36:23,914
hard to swallow,
even more so when rob's cousin
737
00:36:23,916 --> 00:36:29,085
tells them he helped rob
dig the hole the previous day.
738
00:36:29,087 --> 00:36:32,672
Scott: His cousin
is learning-impaired,
739
00:36:32,674 --> 00:36:36,626
and so he didn't connect
the dots on what was going on.
740
00:36:36,628 --> 00:36:40,463
[♪♪♪]
741
00:36:40,465 --> 00:36:42,132
scott: After that interview,
742
00:36:42,134 --> 00:36:44,467
rob leamon was placed
into custody
743
00:36:44,469 --> 00:36:47,254
and then charged
with open murder.
744
00:36:47,256 --> 00:36:51,224
[♪♪♪]
745
00:36:51,226 --> 00:36:53,610
when we found out
746
00:36:53,612 --> 00:36:58,999
that robert had been arrested,
747
00:36:59,001 --> 00:37:02,202
it was kind of a bit
of relief
748
00:37:02,204 --> 00:37:04,487
because we had spent
749
00:37:04,489 --> 00:37:06,122
a couple of years
750
00:37:06,124 --> 00:37:08,708
looking and hoping and...
751
00:37:10,612 --> 00:37:12,662
Sighs: And, um...
752
00:37:14,449 --> 00:37:16,499
That's pretty stressful.
753
00:37:16,501 --> 00:37:19,586
[♪♪♪]
754
00:37:22,658 --> 00:37:24,491
narrator:
Although he was only 16
755
00:37:24,493 --> 00:37:26,393
at the time of the murder,
756
00:37:26,395 --> 00:37:28,762
a judge rules that rob leamon
will be tried
757
00:37:28,764 --> 00:37:31,698
as an adult because
of the severity of the crime.
758
00:37:34,603 --> 00:37:36,569
As the trial date approaches,
759
00:37:36,571 --> 00:37:38,171
becky's family must deal
760
00:37:38,173 --> 00:37:40,974
with another
shocking revelation.
761
00:37:40,976 --> 00:37:44,077
Forensic testing has determined
that becky's death
762
00:37:44,079 --> 00:37:46,863
was even more cruel
than they had imagined.
763
00:37:48,149 --> 00:37:50,417
Pam: It was awful.
764
00:37:50,419 --> 00:37:52,919
Cindy: Something
went terribly wrong.
765
00:38:01,063 --> 00:38:03,396
Narrator: In January 1997,
766
00:38:03,398 --> 00:38:06,833
rob leamon goes on trial
for the murder of becky stowe,
767
00:38:06,835 --> 00:38:09,569
his pregnant girlfriend,
four years earlier.
768
00:38:10,939 --> 00:38:13,239
[♪♪♪]
769
00:38:13,241 --> 00:38:15,375
scott: We did attend the trial
770
00:38:15,377 --> 00:38:18,194
that was held
in cassopolis, michigan,
771
00:38:18,196 --> 00:38:21,281
which is even smaller
than niles.
772
00:38:22,584 --> 00:38:24,284
It was quite a major event.
773
00:38:25,854 --> 00:38:29,923
Pam: I even wrote down
every word
774
00:38:29,925 --> 00:38:31,991
that was said in that trial.
775
00:38:31,993 --> 00:38:33,677
It was something
I felt like I had to do
776
00:38:33,679 --> 00:38:35,996
because I didn't
wanna miss anything,
777
00:38:35,998 --> 00:38:38,348
as far as what he was saying
778
00:38:38,350 --> 00:38:41,217
and what was being said.
779
00:38:41,219 --> 00:38:42,852
Narrator:
Rob sticks to his story
780
00:38:42,854 --> 00:38:45,271
that becky's death
was accidental.
781
00:38:45,273 --> 00:38:47,107
But prosecutors tell the jury
782
00:38:47,109 --> 00:38:49,842
the evidence
suggests something else.
783
00:38:49,844 --> 00:38:51,528
Scott: I think
he took her out there,
784
00:38:51,530 --> 00:38:53,113
showed her the hole
in the ground
785
00:38:53,115 --> 00:38:54,864
and said, "do you understand
how serious I am
786
00:38:54,866 --> 00:38:56,483
about you getting an abortion?"
787
00:38:56,485 --> 00:38:58,201
[screams]
788
00:38:58,203 --> 00:39:00,370
scott: And then she started
to fight.
789
00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,741
She was strangled,
790
00:39:04,743 --> 00:39:06,876
to the point
where she lost consciousness.
791
00:39:09,214 --> 00:39:11,214
And then put in the hole.
792
00:39:13,635 --> 00:39:17,087
She might not have died
instantly from being strangled.
793
00:39:20,642 --> 00:39:22,592
Becky stowe was buried alive.
794
00:39:25,313 --> 00:39:28,064
Pam: Absolutely
the hardest thing to hear
795
00:39:28,066 --> 00:39:31,885
was that her heart
could've still been beating
796
00:39:31,887 --> 00:39:33,787
when he threw her in that hole.
797
00:39:33,789 --> 00:39:36,773
I mean, that just
makes me sick to my stomach,
798
00:39:36,775 --> 00:39:41,694
and to think that she went
through that at 15 years old.
799
00:39:43,198 --> 00:39:44,998
[ sighs ]
800
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:46,732
it's just horrible.
801
00:39:46,734 --> 00:39:49,786
[♪♪♪]
802
00:39:52,074 --> 00:39:53,606
narrator:
Rob's lawyers point out
803
00:39:53,608 --> 00:39:55,141
that he was just a teenager.
804
00:39:55,143 --> 00:39:57,010
He passed
a lie detector test
805
00:39:57,012 --> 00:39:58,845
and he had an alibi.
806
00:39:58,847 --> 00:40:00,713
His time card shows
he was at work
807
00:40:00,715 --> 00:40:02,348
the day becky went missing.
808
00:40:03,852 --> 00:40:06,136
[♪♪♪]
809
00:40:06,138 --> 00:40:08,638
rob was evil.
810
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:10,607
And he was manipulative,
811
00:40:10,609 --> 00:40:14,694
and he planned this whole thing
out from the beginning.
812
00:40:14,696 --> 00:40:17,864
When they found out
that rob had someone
813
00:40:17,866 --> 00:40:20,900
clock him in and out
at work for an alibi?
814
00:40:23,505 --> 00:40:25,004
It was just so sick,
815
00:40:25,006 --> 00:40:26,772
his cousin helped him
dig the hole
816
00:40:26,774 --> 00:40:31,244
the day before, and,
uh, it's just unreal.
817
00:40:32,614 --> 00:40:34,647
[♪♪♪]
818
00:40:34,649 --> 00:40:36,516
narrator: After three weeks
of testimony,
819
00:40:36,518 --> 00:40:38,151
the jury delivers its verdict
820
00:40:38,153 --> 00:40:41,020
on January 29th, 1997.
821
00:40:43,008 --> 00:40:45,558
Cindy: When the jury came back
with the guilty verdict,
822
00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:47,927
we were just shedding tears.
823
00:40:49,815 --> 00:40:54,901
Overwhelming feelings
of just, it's over.
824
00:40:56,404 --> 00:40:58,354
We have justice for becky.
825
00:41:00,742 --> 00:41:03,643
[♪♪♪]
826
00:41:03,645 --> 00:41:06,162
cindy: And it was
an overwhelming feeling.
827
00:41:09,201 --> 00:41:12,285
[♪♪♪]
828
00:41:18,009 --> 00:41:21,227
narrator: Rob leamon
is sentenced to life in prison.
829
00:41:22,364 --> 00:41:25,431
[♪♪♪]
830
00:41:27,886 --> 00:41:31,504
scott: Becky stowe died
because she had a crush
831
00:41:31,506 --> 00:41:35,225
on a kid,
and she fell in love with him,
832
00:41:35,227 --> 00:41:39,178
she slept with him,
she got pregnant.
833
00:41:39,180 --> 00:41:41,481
And this kid,
out of all of the people
834
00:41:41,483 --> 00:41:43,366
she could've picked,
835
00:41:43,368 --> 00:41:46,452
was a homicidal sociopath.
836
00:41:46,454 --> 00:41:48,872
And when faced with a choice
of being embarrassed
837
00:41:48,874 --> 00:41:52,858
that he slept with her
or killing her,
838
00:41:52,860 --> 00:41:55,228
he chose killing her.
839
00:41:55,230 --> 00:41:58,298
[♪♪♪]
840
00:42:02,571 --> 00:42:07,039
cindy: Rob taking
my sister's life just...
841
00:42:07,041 --> 00:42:12,178
[ sighs ] just destroyed
my mom's life, literally.
842
00:42:12,180 --> 00:42:17,233
I mean, she had such
major anxiety over it,
843
00:42:17,235 --> 00:42:20,403
um, she cried so much.
844
00:42:24,075 --> 00:42:28,244
Now, we know the truth though,
it was not steve at all.
845
00:42:28,246 --> 00:42:32,782
But she never saw him again.
846
00:42:32,784 --> 00:42:35,868
[♪♪♪]
847
00:42:37,905 --> 00:42:40,707
cindy: I have a poem
I wrote for becky.
848
00:42:40,709 --> 00:42:44,210
Why did god give you wings
so early to fly?
849
00:42:46,047 --> 00:42:49,148
Now I see you only in my dreams.
850
00:42:49,150 --> 00:42:51,434
I know you're in god's
loving arms,
851
00:42:51,436 --> 00:42:53,303
shining like a beam.
852
00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:57,690
So fly, my angel, fly,
853
00:42:57,692 --> 00:42:59,425
up in the heavens so high.
854
00:43:01,129 --> 00:43:04,197
[♪♪♪]