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Narrator: A young dad
working as a security guard
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vanishes from his nightshift
at an isolated utah copper mine.
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Jennifer:
The sheriff's department
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told me that his gate
was left unattended.
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Narrator:
Investigators discovered
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there's an underbelly
of crime at the mine.
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Nate: He would worry
that he would
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stumble on some
of the thieves
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and, uh, it would
make him a target.
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Narrator: And the dark secret
under the guard's own roof.
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Det. Lassig:
She pretended to be his wife.
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Could she have hired
somebody to take care
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of an unfaithful spouse?
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Narrator: Leading to a mystery
that remains unsolved
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for a decade.
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Det. Park: For all these years,
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she felt like somebody
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was already in jail
for the murder.
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It was such an extreme torture
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that I never
in my wildest dreams
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would have imagined.
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This was a body buried
in the sand.
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[♪♪]
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utah doesn't look like many
other places in the world.
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Uh, there's mountains of course,
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but then in between
those mountains,
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you have sagebrush deserts.
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It creates these
incredible landscapes.
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Narrator: One of those
stunning landscapes
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just an hour south
of salt lake city
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is a desolate
and unforgiving stretch
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of high desert
known as five mile pass.
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On a summer morning,
four young friends
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are up and about
after camping overnight.
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One of them spots something
unexpected in the desert sand.
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Det. Lassig:
The gal wandered
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from her campsite
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and she sees some fabric
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sticking out a small patch
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maybe eight inches
or so in diameter,
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dirt around it,
dirt on top of it.
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It's nylon-ish type fabric
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and with a chunk
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of sheet metal
over the top of it.
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She ends up calling
the other campers over.
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They're looking at it,
you know,
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and she's claiming
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there's something under there.
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One person takes out a knife
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to actually kind
of cut some fabric away.
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Det. Lassig: They tug at it and
when they start pulling up
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a little more of it, they see
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some skeletal remains.
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And they contact the police.
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Narrator: Officers fromn the
utah county sheriff's office
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arrive and carefully
begin to excavate
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what appears
to be a burial site.
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The body had
charge cards on him,
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he had id, he had
his driver's license
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in the pockets
was identification
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to bryan ruff,
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but that still needed
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to be positively identified.
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Vincent: We found
most of the bones.
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He clearly was shot five times.
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The casings were found
underneath the body
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and the slugs were found
in the chest area.
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This opens the door
to a homicide.
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Nate: This was a body
buried in the sand.
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And it was really
just kind of out there
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in the wilds of utah.
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Det. Lassig:
It was our responsibility
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to try to figure out
who's bryan ruff
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and who's responsible.
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[♪♪]
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narrator: The mountains
southwest of salt lake city
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sit atop some of earth's
most precious minerals,
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a 60-mile stretch known
as the utah gold belt.
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Prominent in the middle
of this rich area
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is the kennecott mine.
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Nate: From salt lake city
and pretty much everywhere
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in the salt lake valley,
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you can look
to the south and west
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and see the kennecott
copper mine.
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Det. Lassig: It was one
of the major employers up here
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in northern utah area.
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[♪♪]
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narrator: And an overnight
security guard shift
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is the ideal job
for 22-year-old bryan ruff.
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He's a young father
and is studying
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to earn his nursing degree.
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Jennifer: When bryan got
the job at kennecott,
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it was a better paying job
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because of his certification
with emt.
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It was a lot
of pressure on him to do
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everything to be there for me
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and the baby
and to also be a provider,
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and then also going to school
to get a better education.
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Bryan and I went
to the same congregation
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together at church
in south carolina.
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We met and, um,
we had our first date
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when I was 16 years old.
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He was very open,
and friendly, and warm,
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and that's what
attracted me to bryan.
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His bubbly personality,
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he was just a really fun person.
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He was tall and thin, skinny.
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He only weighed 98 pounds.
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Patricia: He was a good kid.
He always was funny
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and he got along with others
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and enjoyed being
around with other people.
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[♪♪]
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narrator: After dating
for just two years,
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the couple marries
in the mormon temple.
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Soon, they are the proud
parents of a baby girl.
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They decide to move
from south carolina
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to salt lake city,
where jennifer's parents
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have relocated
and can help them with the baby.
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My parents were super excited
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when we announced
that we were having
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our first baby
and they were thrilled
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when we decided
to move closer to them.
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Bryan just loved being a dad
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and she was definitely
a daddy's girl.
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Narrator: But with a young
family to support,
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money is tight
and about to get tighter.
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In June of 1991,
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jennifer announces
she's pregnant again.
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In order to continue
with his nursing
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studies during the day,
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bryan takes
the overnight security job
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at the kennecott mine.
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Jennifer: He had to make
rounds around the mine
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to make sure things
were secure at night.
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He had a very busy schedule.
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Narrator: So does
jennifer who's working
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as a nurse's aide
at a local hospital.
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Jennifer:
Being so young, obviously,
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finances were something
that we had
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to really struggle with.
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I worked opposite hours
so that we didn't have
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to count on daycare.
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[♪♪]
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narrator: On a chilly
November morning
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in 1991,
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jennifer wakes up
to the disturbing discovery
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that bryan hasn't come home
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from his late shift at the mine.
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Jennifer: I found a note
he left on our bed
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that he was stressed,
he needed some time to think.
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I was four months
pregnant at the time
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and had a 13-month-old baby.
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So it was scary
and I didn't know
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what exactly was going on.
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I didn't anticipate
him to be gone
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for any long amount of time
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and then it turned in to days.
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And that's
when I decided to call
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the kennecott security shack.
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Narrator: When she calls
bryan's boss,
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jennifer receives both confusing
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and devastating news.
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He had walked in that evening,
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handed in his badge and his--
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and his equipment and quit
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on the spot and took
our last paycheck
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and our car and disappeared.
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Narrator:
Just when jennifer thinks
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things can't get any worse,
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there's a new crisis,
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their daughter brittany
catches a cough
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which turns
into viral pneumonia.
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Bryan found out
that I was up
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at the emergency room
with our daughter
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and the next morning,
he was at the hospital.
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He apologized and told me
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that he just was overwhelmed,
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stressed, he regrets it.
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He should never have left.
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I think that he lived
a very quiet,
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sheltered life and I don't think
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he had a lot of experience.
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So I do think
that's why he made
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some of the choices he did.
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So we went back to our routine.
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I was thrilled that it looked
like things were back on track.
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Narrator: Bryan swallows
his pride and begs
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for his old job back
at the kennecott mine.
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The only post available
has him working
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from 4:00 to midnight
guarding a more remote gate.
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Jennifer:
The security shack
he was stationed
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00:09:14,988 --> 00:09:18,123
at was very,
very desolate area.
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And they didn't have
the security system
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or the lights
around the guard shack
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that he worked at
at that time.
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Narrator: On a freezing
December afternoon,
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bryan drops jennifer
off at work.
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I remember him handing me
the last few dollars
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00:09:36,777 --> 00:09:38,176
he had in his wallet
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00:09:38,178 --> 00:09:40,362
to make sure that I had money
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for food that evening
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and he told me
he would pick me up
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when he got off
and he would see me then.
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Narrator: Later that night,
jennifer receives
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00:09:55,963 --> 00:09:58,246
a disturbing call at work.
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Jennifer: Somebody
identified themselves
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00:10:00,417 --> 00:10:02,500
as the sheriff department
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00:10:02,502 --> 00:10:06,671
and told me
that bryan was missing,
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00:10:08,041 --> 00:10:12,060
that his gate
was left unattended.
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They had done a brief search
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00:10:14,381 --> 00:10:17,382
and couldn't find him.
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00:10:17,384 --> 00:10:19,384
Det. Lassig: When the patrol
officers went out there,
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00:10:19,386 --> 00:10:22,604
his car was still there,
his half-eaten lunch,
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00:10:22,606 --> 00:10:25,490
he had a, like, a cup
of soup that was there.
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00:10:25,492 --> 00:10:28,576
It didn't look
like there's any fight
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00:10:28,578 --> 00:10:30,228
inside the shack.
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But they realized
things weren't right.
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That's when I got called out.
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00:10:35,085 --> 00:10:38,403
I had no idea what could
have happened to him.
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00:10:38,405 --> 00:10:41,039
I just had this
terrible feeling of dread.
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[♪♪]
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00:10:44,411 --> 00:10:47,445
det. Park: Had bryan caught him
stealing from the mine,
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00:10:47,447 --> 00:10:50,849
he would have had
a motive to kill bryan.
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00:10:55,989 --> 00:10:57,522
Det. Lassig:
We've got a missing person
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00:10:57,524 --> 00:11:00,025
with some suspicious
circumstances
226
00:11:00,027 --> 00:11:02,394
there at the scene
and some stories
227
00:11:02,396 --> 00:11:04,229
that don't line up.
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[♪♪]
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00:11:11,038 --> 00:11:13,038
narrator:
22-year-old bryan ruff
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00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:14,506
has mysteriously vanished
231
00:11:14,508 --> 00:11:15,924
from his remote guard post
232
00:11:15,926 --> 00:11:17,475
at the kennecott copper mine
233
00:11:17,477 --> 00:11:20,211
on the outskirts
of salt lake city, utah.
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00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:23,048
[♪♪]
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det. Lassig: There was 13
different police agencies
236
00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:31,072
in salt lake county.
237
00:11:31,074 --> 00:11:35,110
Attempt to locates
were put out for bryan
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00:11:35,112 --> 00:11:37,395
with a description
he was wearing
239
00:11:37,397 --> 00:11:40,331
a burns security uniform.
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00:11:42,736 --> 00:11:44,902
Narrator: As police
examine the guard post
241
00:11:44,904 --> 00:11:46,838
bryan vanished from that night,
242
00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,109
an odd phone call comes
in that raises their eyebrows.
243
00:11:51,111 --> 00:11:52,744
We had somebody call in
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00:11:52,746 --> 00:11:56,548
saying that they're
bryan's wife, jennifer.
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00:11:56,550 --> 00:12:00,118
But we had
jennifer's information
246
00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,103
and the phone number
wasn't right.
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Narrator: Police are able
to quickly trace
248
00:12:07,194 --> 00:12:08,693
the strange call.
249
00:12:08,695 --> 00:12:10,195
They learned that it came
250
00:12:10,197 --> 00:12:11,763
from the home
of bryan's friends,
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00:12:11,765 --> 00:12:13,698
dale and kristi bradley.
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00:12:15,101 --> 00:12:16,868
Det. Lassig:
The little red flags pop up
253
00:12:16,870 --> 00:12:18,737
because it's not headline news
254
00:12:18,739 --> 00:12:20,605
that bryan was missing.
255
00:12:20,607 --> 00:12:22,707
We wanted to find out more
256
00:12:22,709 --> 00:12:24,942
if she knew anything about,
257
00:12:24,944 --> 00:12:26,711
you know, bryan,
what his activities were,
258
00:12:26,713 --> 00:12:28,046
what his mindset was.
259
00:12:28,048 --> 00:12:32,283
So we went over
to dale bradley's house.
260
00:12:32,285 --> 00:12:34,335
Narrator:
Detectives question kristi
261
00:12:34,337 --> 00:12:37,005
about the call
to the guard shack.
262
00:12:37,007 --> 00:12:39,974
She said that the reason
that she did it
263
00:12:39,976 --> 00:12:42,343
was she was concerned.
264
00:12:42,345 --> 00:12:45,396
Bryan was a friend, heard
that he was missing,
265
00:12:45,398 --> 00:12:47,182
and wanted to find out
what's going on
266
00:12:47,184 --> 00:12:50,101
and knew that
we wouldn't tell her
267
00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,604
because she wasn't the wife.
268
00:12:52,606 --> 00:12:55,023
So that's why she pretended
to be bryan's wife
269
00:12:55,025 --> 00:12:57,575
because she wanted to find out
what was going on.
270
00:12:57,577 --> 00:12:59,444
Narrator: As the detectives
talk with kristi,
271
00:12:59,446 --> 00:13:01,179
her husband dale comes home.
272
00:13:01,181 --> 00:13:03,615
And in speaking with him,
the investigators learn
273
00:13:03,617 --> 00:13:05,867
about bryan's earlier
disappearance
274
00:13:05,869 --> 00:13:08,753
just a month before.
275
00:13:08,755 --> 00:13:09,987
Det. Lassig: Initially,
you know, we're trying
276
00:13:09,989 --> 00:13:12,207
to figure out his mindset.
277
00:13:12,209 --> 00:13:14,158
Was he having problems
again to decide he needed
278
00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,795
to take a break
and go away again?
279
00:13:16,797 --> 00:13:19,497
Vincent:
Bryan and dale were also
280
00:13:19,499 --> 00:13:21,933
coworkers at the mine.
281
00:13:21,935 --> 00:13:23,935
They were work colleagues
282
00:13:23,937 --> 00:13:25,770
for several months and dale
283
00:13:25,772 --> 00:13:28,606
was somebody
that he could talk to.
284
00:13:28,608 --> 00:13:30,775
Narrator: But dale
says he has no idea
285
00:13:30,777 --> 00:13:32,977
what has happened to his friend.
286
00:13:36,516 --> 00:13:40,385
Patricia: Bryan went
missing on December 10th
287
00:13:40,387 --> 00:13:42,821
and my birthday was the 11th.
288
00:13:42,823 --> 00:13:46,858
And that's when we found
out that he was missing.
289
00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,711
And that was really hard.
290
00:13:55,302 --> 00:13:59,170
We live up in the mountains
of south carolina,
291
00:13:59,172 --> 00:14:03,541
and he wanted to come
back home for christmas.
292
00:14:03,543 --> 00:14:07,679
But he couldn't afford
the--the airfares.
293
00:14:07,681 --> 00:14:09,063
Every day, we were
wondering and hoping
294
00:14:09,065 --> 00:14:11,099
that he did just take off
295
00:14:11,101 --> 00:14:12,984
and maybe he was on his way
296
00:14:12,986 --> 00:14:15,219
out here or whatever.
297
00:14:15,221 --> 00:14:17,455
[♪♪]
298
00:14:17,457 --> 00:14:19,324
narrator: Investigators
immediately begin
299
00:14:19,326 --> 00:14:20,942
putting together a timeline
300
00:14:20,944 --> 00:14:23,611
of bryan's movements
on the day he vanished,
301
00:14:23,613 --> 00:14:26,564
hoping to narrow down
when he left his post.
302
00:14:26,566 --> 00:14:28,499
They start by gathering
information
303
00:14:28,501 --> 00:14:30,335
from bryan's supervisor
at the mine,
304
00:14:30,337 --> 00:14:33,371
todd fallows.
305
00:14:33,373 --> 00:14:35,590
Vincent:
Bryan was on the phone at 6:30,
306
00:14:35,592 --> 00:14:38,409
so somewhere around 6:52
307
00:14:38,411 --> 00:14:41,045
they could put him on the phone.
308
00:14:41,047 --> 00:14:45,016
So when fallows
comes by at 8:00,
309
00:14:45,018 --> 00:14:46,301
bryan is not there.
310
00:14:48,271 --> 00:14:50,722
[♪♪]
311
00:14:50,724 --> 00:14:53,191
narrator: The detectives learn
of some suspicious activity
312
00:14:53,193 --> 00:14:55,994
at the mine and wonder
if it might be connected
313
00:14:55,996 --> 00:14:57,695
to bryan's disappearance.
314
00:14:57,697 --> 00:15:00,732
It's recently been the target
of criminal activity,
315
00:15:00,734 --> 00:15:03,935
with thieves stealing
more than $150,000
316
00:15:03,937 --> 00:15:07,205
worth of material
over the past several months.
317
00:15:10,276 --> 00:15:12,777
It became a concern
actually for bryan
318
00:15:12,779 --> 00:15:15,380
because he was supposed
to be checking some cars
319
00:15:15,382 --> 00:15:17,949
coming and going to make sure
they weren't stealing anything.
320
00:15:17,951 --> 00:15:20,251
And he would worry
that he would stumble
321
00:15:20,253 --> 00:15:22,119
on some of the thieves
322
00:15:22,121 --> 00:15:25,173
and it would
make him a target.
323
00:15:25,175 --> 00:15:27,458
Det. Lassig: We didn't notice
any signs of struggle
324
00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:29,627
outside the guard shack.
325
00:15:29,629 --> 00:15:31,729
Search and rescue
did a grid search
326
00:15:31,731 --> 00:15:33,514
at the mine
327
00:15:33,516 --> 00:15:36,768
and came up
with nothing really.
328
00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:38,736
Narrator: But when detectives
pressed todd fallows
329
00:15:38,738 --> 00:15:40,688
about what could have
happened to bryan,
330
00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:43,942
he points to a sinister
possibility.
331
00:16:13,907 --> 00:16:15,723
Narrator: While they search
for any evidence
332
00:16:15,725 --> 00:16:17,608
that might support todd fallows'
333
00:16:17,610 --> 00:16:19,143
frightening suggestion,
334
00:16:19,145 --> 00:16:21,012
detectives get some information
335
00:16:21,014 --> 00:16:23,348
that causes them
to take a closer look
336
00:16:23,350 --> 00:16:25,984
at todd himself.
337
00:16:25,986 --> 00:16:27,452
Detectives start questioning
338
00:16:27,454 --> 00:16:30,455
other security guards
at the mine.
339
00:16:30,457 --> 00:16:33,157
Det. Park: They hear rumors
that todd was a part
340
00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:36,494
of the theft dream
at the copper mine.
341
00:16:36,496 --> 00:16:39,964
Obviously if bryan
caught todd fallows
342
00:16:39,966 --> 00:16:41,866
stealing from the mine,
343
00:16:41,868 --> 00:16:43,868
todd fallows would
have had a motive
344
00:16:43,870 --> 00:16:45,420
to kill bryan.
345
00:16:45,422 --> 00:16:47,438
[♪♪]
346
00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,425
nate: When detectives
go to question fallows again,
347
00:16:50,427 --> 00:16:53,177
he denies having anything
to do with the theft.
348
00:16:53,179 --> 00:16:54,645
Property crimes detective
349
00:16:54,647 --> 00:16:58,516
pursued that angle
of the investigation.
350
00:16:58,518 --> 00:17:03,321
And todd did get fired
due to the theft
351
00:17:03,323 --> 00:17:06,557
of materials from kennecott.
352
00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:10,228
Nate: So now, detectiv
353
00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:13,197
and he was the last
person to see bryan.
354
00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:15,967
So it does not
look good for fallows.
355
00:17:15,969 --> 00:17:19,037
Det. Lassig: He was looked
at as a person of interest.
356
00:17:21,174 --> 00:17:23,240
But we could never
really tie him
357
00:17:23,242 --> 00:17:26,344
into the disappearance
of bryan ruff.
358
00:17:26,346 --> 00:17:28,446
[♪♪]
359
00:17:28,448 --> 00:17:32,016
narrator: Another week
goes by with no sign of bryan,
360
00:17:32,018 --> 00:17:33,918
jennifer's worries are mounting.
361
00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,421
And her concern grows
into alarm when she starts
362
00:17:36,423 --> 00:17:40,391
receiving some unexpected
bills in the mail.
363
00:17:40,393 --> 00:17:43,694
I got a bill
from our phone company
364
00:17:43,696 --> 00:17:45,730
and bills from credit cards
365
00:17:45,732 --> 00:17:49,266
and started tracking the charges
366
00:17:49,268 --> 00:17:51,369
and the phone calls
that were made
367
00:17:51,371 --> 00:17:54,322
during the week he had
disappeared the first time,
368
00:17:54,324 --> 00:17:55,823
and that's when I discovered
369
00:17:55,825 --> 00:17:58,993
he had spent
the first night he left
370
00:17:58,995 --> 00:18:02,380
in a hotel close to town
371
00:18:02,382 --> 00:18:05,883
and then started tracking him
372
00:18:05,885 --> 00:18:08,586
traveling through reno, nevada,
373
00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:11,622
and then eventually
ended up in san francisco
374
00:18:11,624 --> 00:18:15,059
when he got the call about
brittany being in the hospital.
375
00:18:17,430 --> 00:18:19,313
Narrator: The phone
bill includes a number
376
00:18:19,315 --> 00:18:22,567
in san francisco that jennifer
doesn't recognize,
377
00:18:22,569 --> 00:18:25,269
so she decides to call it.
378
00:18:25,271 --> 00:18:27,021
A gentleman answered
the phone and told me
379
00:18:27,023 --> 00:18:30,741
that he was kristi
bradley's uncle.
380
00:18:30,743 --> 00:18:34,078
And that kristi
had come for a visit
381
00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,581
a few weeks prior.
382
00:18:36,583 --> 00:18:38,816
Narrator: Kristi bradley
is bryan's friend
383
00:18:38,818 --> 00:18:41,018
who told police she called
his guard shack
384
00:18:41,020 --> 00:18:42,486
pretending to be jennifer
385
00:18:42,488 --> 00:18:44,288
because she was worried
about him.
386
00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:47,425
Jennifer: And I asked
kristi's uncle
387
00:18:47,427 --> 00:18:49,210
if he knew bryan, and he said
388
00:18:49,212 --> 00:18:51,546
that they had introduced bryan
389
00:18:51,548 --> 00:18:53,965
as kristi's new husband.
390
00:19:04,676 --> 00:19:07,178
Narrator: Bryan ruff
has been missing in utah
391
00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:09,147
for more than a week,
and his wife jennifer
392
00:19:09,149 --> 00:19:10,681
has made the shocking discovery
393
00:19:10,683 --> 00:19:12,016
that he was likely
having an affair
394
00:19:12,018 --> 00:19:13,518
with kristi bradley,
395
00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:15,920
the wife of his friend
and coworker,
396
00:19:15,922 --> 00:19:17,588
dale bradley.
397
00:19:19,843 --> 00:19:24,262
Jennifer actually brought
the phone records to my partner
398
00:19:24,264 --> 00:19:26,430
and ended up talking with kristi
399
00:19:26,432 --> 00:19:28,666
and kristi did verify
400
00:19:28,668 --> 00:19:31,602
that bryan was with kristi
401
00:19:31,604 --> 00:19:34,639
the whole time he was gone.
402
00:19:34,641 --> 00:19:37,608
So now we had to figure
out if an affair
403
00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:39,810
may be the reason he's missing.
404
00:19:42,699 --> 00:19:45,716
Narrator: The revelation
puts both jennifer and kristi
405
00:19:45,718 --> 00:19:47,902
in the detective's spotlight.
406
00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:52,156
Being so young
at the time, I was so naive.
407
00:19:52,158 --> 00:19:54,158
Never in a million years
would I have thought
408
00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,361
that anybody would
have questioned me
409
00:19:57,363 --> 00:19:59,029
or where I was at the time.
410
00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:01,382
[♪♪]
411
00:20:01,384 --> 00:20:03,050
narrator:
When detectives question her,
412
00:20:03,052 --> 00:20:05,670
jennifer insists
she couldn't have been involved
413
00:20:05,672 --> 00:20:07,204
in her husband's disappearance.
414
00:20:07,206 --> 00:20:09,891
On the day bryan vanished,
she explains
415
00:20:09,893 --> 00:20:12,710
she was working at the hospital.
416
00:20:12,712 --> 00:20:14,645
I was five
and a half months pregnant
417
00:20:14,647 --> 00:20:16,931
and I was working
at the time.
418
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:20,184
She was at work in that 5:30
419
00:20:20,186 --> 00:20:21,852
to 7:30 timeframe,
420
00:20:21,854 --> 00:20:23,187
it was verified.
421
00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:26,023
She did relay to us
that they've had
422
00:20:26,025 --> 00:20:28,993
some rocky patches
in their marriage,
423
00:20:28,995 --> 00:20:32,396
but this last two-week
timeframe, prior to this,
424
00:20:32,398 --> 00:20:35,333
it was some of the happiest
times that they've had.
425
00:20:35,335 --> 00:20:37,735
Could she have hired
somebody to take care
426
00:20:37,737 --> 00:20:39,236
of the problem for her? Yes.
427
00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,739
But was there
any indication of it?
428
00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:44,425
Not that we came up with.
429
00:20:44,427 --> 00:20:46,594
Narrator: With jennifer
ruled out as a suspect,
430
00:20:46,596 --> 00:20:48,763
the investigators
then turn their attention
431
00:20:48,765 --> 00:20:51,265
to kristi bradley,
who they now know
432
00:20:51,267 --> 00:20:52,950
ran off with bryan a month
433
00:20:52,952 --> 00:20:54,918
before he disappeared.
434
00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,104
She admits that
they've kept in contact
435
00:20:57,106 --> 00:20:59,457
after they got back to utah.
436
00:20:59,459 --> 00:21:02,059
The detectives learned
that includes a phone call
437
00:21:02,061 --> 00:21:03,861
earlier on the same night
438
00:21:03,863 --> 00:21:07,031
that bryan was reported missing.
439
00:21:07,033 --> 00:21:09,066
Det. Lassig: We found out
that kristi had called out
440
00:21:09,068 --> 00:21:12,269
and talked to bryan before 5:30.
441
00:21:12,271 --> 00:21:13,821
It was a short phone call.
442
00:21:15,608 --> 00:21:18,075
He said there's
an employee here
443
00:21:18,077 --> 00:21:21,245
and he has to hang up.
444
00:21:21,247 --> 00:21:25,750
Bryan didn't specifically name
who was there to kristi.
445
00:21:25,752 --> 00:21:27,485
Narrator: Knowing
that kristi's husband dale
446
00:21:27,487 --> 00:21:30,287
also works as a security guard
at the mine,
447
00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:32,590
the detectives wonder
if he could have been
448
00:21:32,592 --> 00:21:34,308
the employee bryan mentioned.
449
00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:36,661
If dale had found out
about the affair,
450
00:21:36,663 --> 00:21:39,964
could he have gone
to confront bryan that night?
451
00:21:43,319 --> 00:21:46,303
Dale said he didn't know
anything about an affair
452
00:21:46,305 --> 00:21:48,639
between kristi and bryan
453
00:21:48,641 --> 00:21:50,825
until we broke the news.
454
00:22:00,370 --> 00:22:02,453
Vincent: Dale told us
that he was going
455
00:22:02,455 --> 00:22:07,324
to his counseling class
that started at 8:00 pm.
456
00:22:07,326 --> 00:22:09,677
But he said
that he went there at 7:00
457
00:22:09,679 --> 00:22:11,595
and the doors were locked.
458
00:22:12,682 --> 00:22:14,998
Det. Lassig:
He said that he went up
459
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,717
to the university of utah
460
00:22:16,719 --> 00:22:18,269
to the library up there
461
00:22:18,271 --> 00:22:20,971
to listen to some
motivational tapes.
462
00:22:29,682 --> 00:22:31,866
Det. Lassig:
He sat in his car,
463
00:22:31,868 --> 00:22:34,151
got stuck on the ice
in the parking lot.
464
00:22:35,788 --> 00:22:39,040
Vincent: He called
his friend bill easton
465
00:22:39,042 --> 00:22:41,876
down in gino's bar
at 33rd and state.
466
00:22:41,878 --> 00:22:44,495
And bill easton
came up to help him up
467
00:22:44,497 --> 00:22:46,213
at the university of utah.
468
00:22:46,215 --> 00:22:49,417
And bill helped him
get his car started.
469
00:22:51,036 --> 00:22:54,171
And then dale and bill
drive over to dale's house.
470
00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:57,558
And when they arrive,
471
00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,177
police are already there
questioning kristi
472
00:23:00,179 --> 00:23:02,012
about bryan's disappearance.
473
00:23:03,215 --> 00:23:04,682
Narrator:
It's a detailed account
474
00:23:04,684 --> 00:23:06,183
that seems to provide dale
475
00:23:06,185 --> 00:23:07,685
with a solid alibi.
476
00:23:07,687 --> 00:23:10,154
But as the detectives
probe further,
477
00:23:10,156 --> 00:23:13,574
dale suddenly changes his story.
478
00:23:13,576 --> 00:23:15,493
There were just a bunch
of different stories
479
00:23:15,495 --> 00:23:16,994
and each time he told it,
480
00:23:16,996 --> 00:23:18,612
there's a little bit
different angle.
481
00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:32,209
Det. Lassig:
Brings up this concern
482
00:23:32,211 --> 00:23:34,845
that he's not telling us
the truth.
483
00:23:36,549 --> 00:23:38,682
Narrator: Concerned about
dale's lack of honesty
484
00:23:38,684 --> 00:23:41,352
and shifting stories,
the detectives decide
485
00:23:41,354 --> 00:23:43,086
to take a closer look at him.
486
00:23:43,088 --> 00:23:45,956
He agrees to let them
search his car.
487
00:23:48,111 --> 00:23:50,127
Vincent: They confronted him
about what appeared
488
00:23:50,129 --> 00:23:51,979
to be fresh mud
in the wheel wells.
489
00:23:54,233 --> 00:23:57,618
And he said, "no, I've only
been driving on pavement."
490
00:23:57,620 --> 00:23:59,954
det. Lassig: Some dirt samples
were taken,
491
00:23:59,956 --> 00:24:03,407
some paint chips were obtained.
492
00:24:05,611 --> 00:24:09,663
I didn't see anything
that was out of sorts.
493
00:24:10,967 --> 00:24:12,616
I didn't see any blood.
494
00:24:12,618 --> 00:24:16,220
He had some damage to the door
that dale's claiming
495
00:24:16,222 --> 00:24:19,623
this is because of slipping
on the ice up at the university.
496
00:24:23,012 --> 00:24:24,895
We've got a missing person
497
00:24:24,897 --> 00:24:29,350
with some suspicious
circumstances there at the scene
498
00:24:29,352 --> 00:24:32,803
and some stories
that don't line up.
499
00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:34,972
Narrator: Investigators
haven't found anything
500
00:24:34,974 --> 00:24:38,609
connecting dale or his wife
kristi to bryan's disappearance.
501
00:24:38,611 --> 00:24:41,028
Yet they know bryan
and kristi's affair
502
00:24:41,030 --> 00:24:44,081
gives dale a potential motive
to want to harm bryan,
503
00:24:44,083 --> 00:24:46,784
so they can't rule him out.
504
00:24:46,786 --> 00:24:48,369
Det. Lassig: Now, the focus
505
00:24:48,371 --> 00:24:49,987
was a little more
on dale bradley.
506
00:24:49,989 --> 00:24:53,007
Is dale the kind
of an impulsive person
507
00:24:53,009 --> 00:24:55,526
to where now he's gonna get
even with the guy
508
00:24:55,528 --> 00:24:58,662
who his wife
is having an affair with?
509
00:24:58,664 --> 00:25:01,632
So, we started thinking,
you know, let's do a polygraph.
510
00:25:02,718 --> 00:25:05,469
If dale flunks miserably,
511
00:25:06,606 --> 00:25:07,805
we can hammer him with it.
512
00:25:17,048 --> 00:25:19,783
Narrator: Dale bradley
has agreed to take a polygraph
513
00:25:19,785 --> 00:25:21,552
in an effort to prove
he had nothing to do
514
00:25:21,554 --> 00:25:23,737
with the disappearance
of his friend
515
00:25:23,739 --> 00:25:25,389
and coworker bryan ruff.
516
00:25:26,559 --> 00:25:28,359
When you're doing
an investigation,
517
00:25:28,361 --> 00:25:32,696
you look at every tool
that's out there,
518
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,750
and polygraphs were a tool.
519
00:25:36,752 --> 00:25:39,420
Narrator: Even though he's told
police conflicting stories
520
00:25:39,422 --> 00:25:42,006
about where he was
the night bryan vanished,
521
00:25:42,008 --> 00:25:44,792
dale passes
the lie detector test.
522
00:25:46,462 --> 00:25:49,413
Det. Lassig: There was nothing
that could positively identify
523
00:25:49,415 --> 00:25:52,600
that dale bradley was
the person that was responsible
524
00:25:52,602 --> 00:25:55,269
for the disappearance
of bryan ruff.
525
00:25:55,271 --> 00:25:58,856
Vincent: We still had
a missing person.
526
00:25:58,858 --> 00:26:00,441
Law enforcement continued
to work at it.
527
00:26:00,443 --> 00:26:03,594
[♪♪]
528
00:26:03,596 --> 00:26:06,263
narrator: Three months
after bryan's disappearance,
529
00:26:06,265 --> 00:26:09,533
there's still no sign of him
or what happened to him.
530
00:26:09,535 --> 00:26:14,738
Jennifer and bryan's family
are desperate for answers.
531
00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:16,807
Patricia:
The snow had begun melting.
532
00:26:18,277 --> 00:26:20,411
When the phone rang
and I would answer,
533
00:26:20,413 --> 00:26:22,913
I just say, "is this bryan?
Is this bryan?
534
00:26:22,915 --> 00:26:24,465
If it is, come home."
535
00:26:25,668 --> 00:26:27,468
they probably thought
I was nuts,
536
00:26:27,470 --> 00:26:30,220
but this is back in the day
that we didn't have,
537
00:26:30,222 --> 00:26:32,222
uh, caller id.
538
00:26:33,626 --> 00:26:35,342
It was extremely difficult
539
00:26:35,344 --> 00:26:38,345
in a lot of ways,
constantly worrying.
540
00:26:44,186 --> 00:26:46,303
Narrator: More weeks
and months go by
541
00:26:46,305 --> 00:26:47,871
with no break in the case,
542
00:26:47,873 --> 00:26:51,141
despite the offer
of a $5,000 reward.
543
00:26:51,143 --> 00:26:53,877
Jennifer now a mother of two
544
00:26:53,879 --> 00:26:55,713
is surviving on food stamps,
545
00:26:55,715 --> 00:26:59,183
facing bankruptcy,
and rapidly losing hope.
546
00:26:59,185 --> 00:27:02,002
Jennifer: I knew at the time
that our daughter was born
547
00:27:02,004 --> 00:27:03,587
that he would have come back,
548
00:27:03,589 --> 00:27:06,156
that it was kind
of the final shred of hope
549
00:27:06,158 --> 00:27:09,927
that I had
that he was still alive.
550
00:27:09,929 --> 00:27:13,964
I knew that something really
terrible had happened to him.
551
00:27:13,966 --> 00:27:16,800
[♪♪]
552
00:27:20,406 --> 00:27:23,574
narrator: Then,
in early July 1993,
553
00:27:23,576 --> 00:27:25,843
police received
a frantic call
554
00:27:25,845 --> 00:27:29,897
from a group of young hikers
25 miles from kennecott mine.
555
00:27:32,518 --> 00:27:34,151
When law enforcement responds,
556
00:27:34,153 --> 00:27:37,154
it doesn't take long
to identify the body
557
00:27:37,156 --> 00:27:38,889
the hiker stumbled upon.
558
00:27:40,993 --> 00:27:43,544
We recovered
a significant part
559
00:27:43,546 --> 00:27:45,746
of the evidence
including the identification.
560
00:27:47,233 --> 00:27:48,866
Narrator:
Two hundred yards away,
561
00:27:48,868 --> 00:27:50,384
a canine finds a boot
562
00:27:50,386 --> 00:27:52,419
with a bullet hole in it.
563
00:27:55,474 --> 00:27:58,258
His second boot,
we never recovered.
564
00:27:58,260 --> 00:28:00,928
All the stuff
that was gathered from the hole
565
00:28:00,930 --> 00:28:03,914
was bagged up as evidence.
566
00:28:03,916 --> 00:28:07,918
We got to make sure
that it was bryan ruff
567
00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,654
that was exhumed out of there.
568
00:28:12,258 --> 00:28:14,925
Narrator: Crime scene techs
carefully remove the bones
569
00:28:14,927 --> 00:28:18,796
and take them to the medical
examiner's office.
570
00:28:18,798 --> 00:28:21,281
An autopsy determines
that the victim was shot
571
00:28:21,283 --> 00:28:24,284
five times in the back
with. 22 caliber bullets
572
00:28:24,286 --> 00:28:26,286
fired from a single gun.
573
00:28:29,241 --> 00:28:30,708
Det. Park: Ultimately,
574
00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:33,127
the medical examiner's office
575
00:28:33,129 --> 00:28:36,079
was able to definitively
identify bryan
576
00:28:36,081 --> 00:28:37,848
through dental records.
577
00:28:43,856 --> 00:28:47,274
Jennifer: I remember
I was unloading my groceries
578
00:28:47,276 --> 00:28:49,693
and had brittany and jesse
579
00:28:49,695 --> 00:28:53,280
sitting in the living room
with my mom and dad.
580
00:28:53,282 --> 00:28:55,816
And I got the phone call
581
00:28:57,036 --> 00:29:00,988
that they had found
bryan's body.
582
00:29:02,441 --> 00:29:06,744
I remember collapsing
to the floor.
583
00:29:06,746 --> 00:29:09,163
And I remember looking over
and I remember
584
00:29:09,165 --> 00:29:11,131
brittany and jesse.
585
00:29:11,133 --> 00:29:12,583
Sorry.
586
00:29:19,892 --> 00:29:22,426
It was such an extreme torture
587
00:29:22,428 --> 00:29:25,596
that I never
in my wildest dreams
588
00:29:25,598 --> 00:29:28,482
would have imagined.
589
00:29:28,484 --> 00:29:32,770
We had a lot of people here
that had been praying for him.
590
00:29:34,023 --> 00:29:37,024
We had the memorial service
in salt lake
591
00:29:37,026 --> 00:29:39,576
and all of our family was there.
592
00:29:44,316 --> 00:29:45,916
Narrator:
But there are still no leads
593
00:29:45,918 --> 00:29:47,951
to what happened
to bryan that night.
594
00:29:49,205 --> 00:29:52,039
The frustration
of it is, yeah, we--
595
00:29:52,041 --> 00:29:56,009
we've recovered,
uh, bryan ruff's remains,
596
00:29:56,011 --> 00:29:59,012
but we weren't any closer
to finding the person
597
00:29:59,014 --> 00:30:03,166
who was responsible
for what happened to bryan ruff.
598
00:30:03,168 --> 00:30:04,685
Franklin: We kept praying
that we would find
599
00:30:04,687 --> 00:30:06,353
who murdered bryan.
600
00:30:06,355 --> 00:30:08,338
We were just wanting
hopefully that they would
601
00:30:08,340 --> 00:30:09,890
find somebody quick.
602
00:30:09,892 --> 00:30:12,810
So we know who did it
to bryan and why.
603
00:30:14,947 --> 00:30:17,197
Narrator: But the prayers
go unanswered
604
00:30:17,199 --> 00:30:20,350
and a decade goes by
with no new information
605
00:30:20,352 --> 00:30:23,487
about how bryan was murdered
and buried in the sand.
606
00:30:25,591 --> 00:30:28,926
Then, another homicide
more than 100 miles away
607
00:30:28,928 --> 00:30:30,594
from salt lake city
608
00:30:30,596 --> 00:30:34,998
suddenly brings new attention
to this cold case.
609
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:36,917
Tom:
It was in wellington, utah.
610
00:30:36,919 --> 00:30:41,054
A neighbor had called and said
that there was a body
611
00:30:41,056 --> 00:30:44,141
outside a residence.
612
00:30:44,143 --> 00:30:48,095
And they were investigating
dale bradley for that homicide.
613
00:30:50,599 --> 00:30:53,116
[♪♪]
614
00:30:53,118 --> 00:30:55,402
there was a lot of blood loss.
615
00:30:55,404 --> 00:30:57,888
Det. Park: When I looked
at the boot for the first time,
616
00:30:57,890 --> 00:31:00,941
I saw a paint scuff
on the bottom of the boot.
617
00:31:03,529 --> 00:31:05,279
It appears that he was trying
to kick his way out.
618
00:31:06,866 --> 00:31:09,032
That was a huge piece
of evidence.
619
00:31:17,909 --> 00:31:20,210
Narrator: A decade
after the investigation
620
00:31:20,212 --> 00:31:21,828
into bryan ruff's
murder goes cold,
621
00:31:21,830 --> 00:31:24,715
one of the potential suspects
dale bradley
622
00:31:24,717 --> 00:31:27,084
is at the center
of another homicide case
623
00:31:27,086 --> 00:31:28,785
a hundred miles away.
624
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:32,506
Dale's second wife
crystal bradley
625
00:31:32,508 --> 00:31:34,524
has been found dead
outside her home
626
00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:36,393
in carbon county, utah.
627
00:31:38,664 --> 00:31:41,798
Tom: A neighbor told us
she was bringing laundry back
628
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:43,901
into the house at the time.
629
00:31:43,903 --> 00:31:45,435
There was a lot of blood loss.
630
00:31:47,373 --> 00:31:50,173
Narrator: The prime suspect
is her husband dale bradley,
631
00:31:50,175 --> 00:31:52,542
bryan's coworker
and the former husband
632
00:31:52,544 --> 00:31:55,078
of kristi bradley,
the woman with whom bryan
633
00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:56,646
was having an affair.
634
00:31:56,648 --> 00:31:58,999
He'd moved away
from salt lake city
635
00:31:59,001 --> 00:32:01,034
after bryan's death
and remarried.
636
00:32:02,487 --> 00:32:06,990
Tom: Dale says that he doesn't
know how crystal died.
637
00:32:06,992 --> 00:32:09,593
He says that he was
in diabetic shock
638
00:32:09,595 --> 00:32:12,429
and that he doesn't remember
anything from the evening.
639
00:32:15,017 --> 00:32:19,636
I asked dale if he would take
a polygraph and he agreed.
640
00:32:19,638 --> 00:32:22,022
In the polygraph
pre-examination,
641
00:32:22,024 --> 00:32:25,008
dale bradley was asked
if he had ever taken
642
00:32:25,010 --> 00:32:27,194
a polygraph exam before.
643
00:32:27,196 --> 00:32:30,948
He then mentions that he had
taken one in 1991
644
00:32:30,950 --> 00:32:34,034
regarding the kennecott
disappearance of a guard.
645
00:32:35,187 --> 00:32:36,954
I didn't know
if he was a suspect
646
00:32:36,956 --> 00:32:38,905
or what his involvement was.
647
00:32:38,907 --> 00:32:41,575
I had to do some research.
648
00:32:41,577 --> 00:32:44,361
Narrator: When questioned
about his wife crystal's death
649
00:32:44,363 --> 00:32:47,047
dale fails
the polygraph miserably.
650
00:32:47,049 --> 00:32:50,050
To learn more
about their prime suspt,
651
00:32:50,052 --> 00:32:51,918
the detectives contact
their colleagues
652
00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,255
in salt lake county
to ask about the earlier case.
653
00:32:55,257 --> 00:32:57,307
The request lands on the desk
654
00:32:57,309 --> 00:33:00,811
of cold case
detective todd park.
655
00:33:00,813 --> 00:33:03,263
To have somebody
that is a suspect
656
00:33:03,265 --> 00:33:07,551
in two separate homicides
that far apart
657
00:33:07,553 --> 00:33:11,021
and that many years apart
is pretty unique.
658
00:33:11,023 --> 00:33:12,773
And that's when
I pulled the case out
659
00:33:12,775 --> 00:33:15,859
and started to review it.
660
00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:18,862
The bryan ruff case
was very similar to the fact
661
00:33:18,864 --> 00:33:22,249
that dale bradley's
current wife crystal
662
00:33:22,251 --> 00:33:24,501
had been having an affair on him
663
00:33:24,503 --> 00:33:26,787
and had told him
about the affair
664
00:33:26,789 --> 00:33:29,840
and was going to leave him
the following day
665
00:33:29,842 --> 00:33:33,126
to go be with her new boyfriend.
666
00:33:33,128 --> 00:33:36,346
I think those two things
mirroring each other
667
00:33:36,348 --> 00:33:38,348
is a pure motive.
668
00:33:39,968 --> 00:33:42,019
Narrator: In reviewing
the cold case files
669
00:33:42,021 --> 00:33:45,389
on bryan ruff,
detective park quickly notices
670
00:33:45,391 --> 00:33:47,924
discrepancies
in the alibi dale gave
671
00:33:47,926 --> 00:33:51,428
in the early days
after bryan's disappearance.
672
00:33:51,430 --> 00:33:54,648
Det. Park: Dale bradley said
that he called bill easton
673
00:33:54,650 --> 00:33:56,817
to say, "hey, I got
into a car accident up here
674
00:33:56,819 --> 00:33:59,602
at the university of utah.
Will you come and pick me up?"
675
00:33:59,604 --> 00:34:02,372
and we found out
that bill easton
676
00:34:02,374 --> 00:34:04,708
did not have a car
or a driver's license.
677
00:34:06,161 --> 00:34:09,212
And dale bradley knew that,
678
00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:11,281
so why would you do that?
679
00:34:11,283 --> 00:34:13,717
That's kind
of a crazy thing to do.
680
00:34:15,137 --> 00:34:17,254
Narrator: But that's not
the only odd thing
681
00:34:17,256 --> 00:34:19,172
the detective discovers
about the call
682
00:34:19,174 --> 00:34:22,309
dale made to his friend
waiting in the bar that night.
683
00:34:22,311 --> 00:34:24,861
Det. Park: The only
telephone call that had came in
684
00:34:24,863 --> 00:34:26,980
to gino's bar the day
685
00:34:26,982 --> 00:34:29,433
that, uh, bryan
had disappeared
686
00:34:29,435 --> 00:34:32,102
was from a place
called lake point
687
00:34:32,104 --> 00:34:35,272
and it came in
from a phone booth.
688
00:34:36,825 --> 00:34:39,493
I did a distance check
from the guard shack
689
00:34:39,495 --> 00:34:43,697
to the gravesite
to lake point
690
00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:47,584
where the phone booth was
and to gino's bar.
691
00:34:49,838 --> 00:34:53,090
From kennecott to five mile pass
where bryan was found,
692
00:34:53,092 --> 00:34:57,010
it would probably only take you
about 45 minutes to drive that
693
00:34:57,012 --> 00:34:58,378
at that time of the night.
694
00:35:00,665 --> 00:35:03,266
Det. Park: I realized
that dale saying
695
00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:06,136
that he was up
at the university of utah
696
00:35:06,138 --> 00:35:08,038
during this whole period of time
697
00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:09,556
was just a fallacy.
698
00:35:09,558 --> 00:35:11,691
It was not the truth.
699
00:35:13,979 --> 00:35:15,779
Narrator:
Spurred on by this discovery,
700
00:35:15,781 --> 00:35:19,483
detective park begins unpacking
the old evidence boxes.
701
00:35:20,619 --> 00:35:21,985
And to my surprise,
702
00:35:21,987 --> 00:35:24,454
there was very
little evidence there.
703
00:35:25,541 --> 00:35:28,191
So I started thinking, well,
704
00:35:28,193 --> 00:35:30,410
bryan was kidnapped
in one county
705
00:35:30,412 --> 00:35:33,296
taken to another county
where he was shot,
706
00:35:33,298 --> 00:35:35,715
killed, and left.
707
00:35:35,717 --> 00:35:38,101
Maybe utah county
had the evidence.
708
00:35:38,103 --> 00:35:41,805
So I contacted utah county
709
00:35:41,807 --> 00:35:44,558
and they had all the clothing,
710
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,144
which included
the black cowboy boot
711
00:35:47,146 --> 00:35:50,780
from the scene
where bryan's body was found.
712
00:35:53,185 --> 00:35:55,902
When I looked at the boot
for the first time,
713
00:35:55,904 --> 00:35:58,989
I saw a paint scuff
on the bottom of the boot.
714
00:36:00,108 --> 00:36:02,192
I was surprised to find out
715
00:36:02,194 --> 00:36:05,061
that the paint
wasn't talked about
716
00:36:05,063 --> 00:36:07,831
at any last police reports.
717
00:36:07,833 --> 00:36:11,334
To me, it looked like that boot
had kicked at something
718
00:36:11,336 --> 00:36:13,336
which created the scuff.
719
00:36:14,873 --> 00:36:18,124
The color on it
was a reddish orange.
720
00:36:19,411 --> 00:36:21,344
It-- it just popped up
into my head
721
00:36:21,346 --> 00:36:23,296
that that was the same color
722
00:36:23,298 --> 00:36:26,216
of car that dale bradley
had driven.
723
00:36:31,306 --> 00:36:32,822
The original detectives,
724
00:36:32,824 --> 00:36:34,791
they had actually
taken paint chips
725
00:36:34,793 --> 00:36:38,094
from that car back in 1991.
726
00:36:38,096 --> 00:36:43,316
Those paint chips were
in salt lake county's evidence.
727
00:36:43,318 --> 00:36:46,369
And then when I found
the boot in utah county
728
00:36:46,371 --> 00:36:48,104
and looked at the boot,
729
00:36:48,106 --> 00:36:50,207
the color of the paint chips,
730
00:36:50,209 --> 00:36:52,709
the picture of the car
that was in the case file
731
00:36:52,711 --> 00:36:55,979
and, uh, the color
that was on the scuff
732
00:36:55,981 --> 00:36:57,547
on the bottom of the boot,
733
00:36:57,549 --> 00:36:59,399
all three of those to me
734
00:36:59,401 --> 00:37:01,284
were close enough in color
735
00:37:01,286 --> 00:37:04,187
to take that
examination further.
736
00:37:04,189 --> 00:37:07,057
Narrator: Detective park
sends the paint samples
737
00:37:07,059 --> 00:37:11,344
to a specialty lab
in seattle for comparison.
738
00:37:11,346 --> 00:37:14,797
Meanwhile, he tracks down
dale's former wife kristi
739
00:37:14,799 --> 00:37:19,002
and learns she's now living
in marietta, georgia.
740
00:37:19,004 --> 00:37:21,071
Det. Park: I reached out
to her by telephone
741
00:37:21,073 --> 00:37:22,739
and she had been told
742
00:37:22,741 --> 00:37:27,110
by dale bradley
that the case had been solved.
743
00:37:27,112 --> 00:37:29,663
And so for all these years,
she felt like somebody
744
00:37:29,665 --> 00:37:34,534
was already in jail
for, uh, bryan ruff's murder.
745
00:37:36,838 --> 00:37:39,389
[♪♪]
746
00:37:39,391 --> 00:37:41,091
narrator:
With a circumstantial evidence
747
00:37:41,093 --> 00:37:42,726
building against dale,
748
00:37:42,728 --> 00:37:44,728
the detectives get
the concrete evidence
749
00:37:44,730 --> 00:37:48,665
they need to connect him
to bryan's murder.
750
00:37:48,667 --> 00:37:51,084
The lab results
on the paint samples come back
751
00:37:51,086 --> 00:37:53,570
showing the smudge found
on bryan's boot
752
00:37:53,572 --> 00:37:56,122
is a match for dale's car.
753
00:37:59,244 --> 00:38:01,645
Not only did
they match microscopically,
754
00:38:01,647 --> 00:38:05,548
but they-- they matched
in chemical compound.
755
00:38:05,550 --> 00:38:08,568
And so that was a huge
piece of evidence.
756
00:38:09,705 --> 00:38:12,922
Now, I'm in a situation
in the case
757
00:38:12,924 --> 00:38:16,293
to where I'm taking it
to a prosecutor
758
00:38:16,295 --> 00:38:20,363
and convincing them that
I have enough probable cause
759
00:38:20,365 --> 00:38:23,333
to file charges
against dale bradley.
760
00:38:31,208 --> 00:38:34,544
[♪♪]
761
00:38:34,546 --> 00:38:37,681
narrator:
On September 19th 2005,
762
00:38:37,683 --> 00:38:39,766
dale bradley is charged
with the murder
763
00:38:39,768 --> 00:38:41,384
of his friend bryan ruff,
764
00:38:41,386 --> 00:38:43,770
14 years earlier.
765
00:38:46,825 --> 00:38:48,725
Patricia:
Detective park called us.
766
00:38:48,727 --> 00:38:53,063
They had him arrested
and he was in jail.
767
00:38:53,065 --> 00:38:54,197
It's always hard.
768
00:38:54,199 --> 00:38:55,532
It's 30 years
769
00:38:55,534 --> 00:38:58,702
this December
and it's still hard.
770
00:39:02,074 --> 00:39:05,458
[♪♪]
771
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,248
dale, in one of his interviews,
admitted that he was at the mine
772
00:39:12,250 --> 00:39:13,833
around 6:30.
773
00:39:13,835 --> 00:39:15,969
He most likely
took bryan at gunpoint
774
00:39:15,971 --> 00:39:17,337
and put him in the trunk.
775
00:39:21,176 --> 00:39:24,344
Narrator: After forcing bryan
into the trunk of his car,
776
00:39:24,346 --> 00:39:27,847
dale heads to five mile pass.
777
00:39:27,849 --> 00:39:29,766
Vincent: It appears
by the directionality
778
00:39:29,768 --> 00:39:31,768
of the paint on the booth
that bryan was trying
779
00:39:31,770 --> 00:39:34,187
to kick his way out.
Very possible that he stopped
780
00:39:34,189 --> 00:39:35,989
because he was making noise
and told to take
781
00:39:35,991 --> 00:39:38,691
his boots off there,
or the boots taken off
782
00:39:38,693 --> 00:39:40,110
out at the scene.
783
00:39:42,531 --> 00:39:44,247
Narrator:
Investigators conclude
784
00:39:44,249 --> 00:39:46,166
that in the last moments
of his life,
785
00:39:46,168 --> 00:39:51,621
bryan was forced by dale
to dig his own grave.
786
00:39:51,623 --> 00:39:54,674
He was shot approximately
five times in the back
787
00:39:54,676 --> 00:39:55,925
with a small caliber.
788
00:39:58,847 --> 00:40:01,631
They found casings
underneath his body.
789
00:40:04,069 --> 00:40:07,554
For the casings to be
that close to the grave area
790
00:40:07,556 --> 00:40:09,973
would indicate
that he was very close
791
00:40:09,975 --> 00:40:12,358
or in the grave
at the time that he was shot.
792
00:40:13,845 --> 00:40:16,563
Narrator: Then,
dale bradley buries bryan ruff
793
00:40:16,565 --> 00:40:18,314
in the desert sand.
794
00:40:20,235 --> 00:40:24,070
I think trying
to back down this hill
795
00:40:24,072 --> 00:40:25,371
so he could leave the scene,
796
00:40:25,373 --> 00:40:26,823
his door catches
797
00:40:26,825 --> 00:40:28,575
and it springs the door open
798
00:40:28,577 --> 00:40:30,910
causing damage on his car
799
00:40:30,912 --> 00:40:34,414
that dale is going to have
to try to explain away.
800
00:40:34,416 --> 00:40:37,600
And then after he gets
out of five mile pass,
801
00:40:37,602 --> 00:40:41,888
he takes another way home
back to salt lake.
802
00:40:41,890 --> 00:40:45,391
He goes through lake point,
803
00:40:45,393 --> 00:40:47,310
because people
are going to ask questions
804
00:40:47,312 --> 00:40:49,062
about where he's been.
805
00:40:49,064 --> 00:40:51,815
He calls his friend bill easton,
806
00:40:51,817 --> 00:40:54,934
who he knows doesn't have
a driver's license
807
00:40:54,936 --> 00:40:57,353
or doesn't have a car
and he asked him
808
00:40:57,355 --> 00:41:00,023
to come and pick him up
at the university of utah
809
00:41:00,025 --> 00:41:03,660
because his car had gotten
into a small accident.
810
00:41:03,662 --> 00:41:06,362
So after he makes
that phone call,
811
00:41:06,364 --> 00:41:11,501
he shows up as a surprise
to bill easton at gino's bar.
812
00:41:15,173 --> 00:41:17,957
Narrator: Although no murder
weapon is ever recovered,
813
00:41:17,959 --> 00:41:21,144
facing a mountain of evidence
stacked up against him,
814
00:41:21,146 --> 00:41:23,513
in January 2007,
815
00:41:23,515 --> 00:41:26,216
dale bradley agrees
to a plea deal on charges
816
00:41:26,218 --> 00:41:30,353
of second degree felony
manslaughter and kidnapping.
817
00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:36,592
Vincent: Dale bradley
refused to admit guilt.
818
00:41:36,594 --> 00:41:38,444
So essentially, what he says is,
819
00:41:38,446 --> 00:41:40,396
"I agree
that the state's evidence
820
00:41:40,398 --> 00:41:42,315
"when presented
would convict me"
821
00:41:42,317 --> 00:41:44,067
"of this particular crime,"
822
00:41:44,069 --> 00:41:46,769
or what we call an alford plea.
823
00:41:46,771 --> 00:41:48,454
Narrator: Under the plea deal,
824
00:41:48,456 --> 00:41:51,975
dale is sentenced
to 40 years in prison.
825
00:41:54,913 --> 00:41:57,997
Jennifer: Him being able
to take the alford plea
826
00:41:57,999 --> 00:42:02,502
and not give answers
and admit what he had done,
827
00:42:02,504 --> 00:42:04,804
it wasn't justice at all.
828
00:42:07,058 --> 00:42:10,093
Franklin: I think bryan
would have been a good nurse.
829
00:42:10,095 --> 00:42:12,228
He loved to take care of people
830
00:42:12,230 --> 00:42:13,596
and I think he would have
831
00:42:13,598 --> 00:42:15,064
made a good father.
832
00:42:15,066 --> 00:42:18,151
And he didn't get
a chance to do it.
833
00:42:18,153 --> 00:42:20,403
Patricia: I made
a memory quilt out of his shirts
834
00:42:20,405 --> 00:42:23,273
and photographs from his life
835
00:42:23,275 --> 00:42:27,043
and my friend embroidered
all around the edge
836
00:42:27,045 --> 00:42:29,779
different things about him.
837
00:42:29,781 --> 00:42:31,814
And these are his two daughters.
838
00:42:31,816 --> 00:42:36,619
It was about the time
that we had the trial.
839
00:42:36,621 --> 00:42:39,122
They're both married
and both have two children.
840
00:42:39,124 --> 00:42:42,458
And brittany is expecting
a second little girl.
841
00:42:43,595 --> 00:42:45,995
There's more to bryan
than that last
842
00:42:45,997 --> 00:42:47,597
few weeks of his life.
843
00:42:48,633 --> 00:42:50,183
He made some bad decisions,
844
00:42:50,185 --> 00:42:53,002
but he was a good person.
845
00:42:53,004 --> 00:42:54,971
He had a kind heart.
846
00:42:54,973 --> 00:42:59,442
And I've always made sure
that my girls know
847
00:42:59,444 --> 00:43:02,145
that they were born to parents
848
00:43:02,147 --> 00:43:04,480
that loved them and wanted them.