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[gun cocking]
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[gun cocking]
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Welcome to Very Scary People.
I'm Donnie Wahlberg.
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Welcome to Very Scary People.
I'm Donnie Wahlberg.
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For nature lovers,
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the hiking trails
of Northern California
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are nothing short of paradise.
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Stunning scenery,
breathtaking views,
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and the chance to escape
from the pressures
of daily life.
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But beginning in 1979,
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a chilling mystery
was unfolding on those trails.
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A man known as
The Trailside Killer
was targeting women,
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raping, torturing,
and murdering them
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in a place where
they had always felt safe.
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Investigators had few clues
to the killer's identity,
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but the last five murders
were all committed
with the same weapon,
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but the last five murders
were all committed
with the same weapon,
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and the attacks happened
on weekends and holidays.
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Could this pattern
bring detectives closer
to catching this monster?
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Here's part two
of The Trailside Killer.
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Police are still trying
to find the person,
or persons,
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responsible for
seven grisly murders
in Marin County, California.
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responsible for
seven grisly murders
in Marin County, California.
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It was the dominating news
of the time.
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The Trailside Killer was huge.
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[Wood] It was random,
random victims,
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and those are
the most terrorizing
of killers
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because you don't know
who's next.
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You don't know if you're next.
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[man] I got close enough
and I saw two people,
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and...
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It looked like
they were executed.
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[Graysmith]
This is beyond belief.
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That's four bodies
on the same trail.
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That's four bodies
on the same trail.
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This was so deliberate.
Just...
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[sighs]
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[Det. Sgt. Brook]
They found 38 bullets
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in all of them.
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That really made it
a serial murder case.
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Who is this person
that's doing this?
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[reporter] As this pattern
of killings emerged,
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fear changed the way
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practically every
Bay Area hiker
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enjoyed the outdoors.
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There is a lot of ugliness
in those mountains.
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We had an awareness
because it was in the media
all the time,
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We had an awareness
because it was in the media
all the time,
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but the next leap is
did I know the person
who was doing these things?
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Never entered my mind.
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[Ludlow] David Carpenter
had actually been in
the juvenile justice system.
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At the age of 14,
he was committed
to the Napa State Hospital
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for sexual offences.
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[Keraghosian]
He was too ordinary
[chuckling] to notice,
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but he certainly
didn't have the record
of an ordinary person.
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July 12, 1960,
he was charged with assault
and kidnapping.
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July 12, 1960,
he was charged with assault
and kidnapping.
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[Ludlow] Lois noticed
as soon as he started
the attack on her
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he didn't stutter at all,
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like it calmed him.
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David was raping,
and burglarizing homes,
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-and kidnapping people,
and stealing cars.
-[engine starts]
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[Graysmith]
Later, the doctor said
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this man had
an overwhelming desire,
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but it couldn't
stay bottled up,
it had to come out.
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[Det. Henard]
What did he learn
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the first two times
he went to prison?
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the first two times
he went to prison?
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Kill your victim.
Chances of you getting caught
are a lot less.
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[gunshot]
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Ellen Hansen
and Steven Haertle
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were college students
from Davis
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who had come down here
for the weekend
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to enjoy the park.
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[Ludlow] Ellen was familiar
with camping,
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[Ludlow] Ellen was familiar
with camping,
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but it would be
Steven's first camping trip,
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and she really wanted him
to experience
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this beautiful area.
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Ellen and Steve were hiking
toward an observation deck.
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[Ludlow] Steven and Ellen
had passed this man
on the trail,
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and he seemed to have
this stern look on his face
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like he was really in a hurry
to get somewhere.
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Later that day,
they saw him again,
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and this time
he was coming towards them,
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and he said something
to the effect of,
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"Oh, so, we meet again."
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"Oh, so, we meet again."
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And Steven
was about to make a joke
or say something in response,
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and the man pulled out a gun.
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Steven starts to tell the man,
"You can have my wallet,
you can take our cash."
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And the man tells him,
"I'm not here to rob you.
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I'm gonna rape
your girlfriend."
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Well, Steve is trying
to talk him out it.
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"You don't want to do this."
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[Ludlow] The man
is pointing his weapon
at them,
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trying to take them
off the trail.
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Ellen tells Steven,
"Don't do it,
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Ellen tells Steven,
"Don't do it,
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don't listen to him,
he's gonna shoot us anyway."
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At the same time,
Steven starts to stumble.
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It was almost like
an automatic response
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where she put up her hand
as if to ward off the gun.
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-The man
shoots the weapon...
-[gunshot]
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...and hits both
Ellen and Steven.
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Steve goes down to the side,
and he gets shot in the neck.
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-She got shot twice
in the torso...
-[gunshots]
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-She got shot twice
in the torso...
-[gunshots]
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...and then he did
an execution shot to her head.
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[gunshot]
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In 1981, I was 18 years old.
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My dad and I went
for a trip together,
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and we had hiked
to this observation deck.
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It was a little bit
before sunset.
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There was actually a man
on the observation deck.
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There was actually a man
on the observation deck.
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He was
looking through binoculars,
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he was wearing blue jeans,
a golden color windbreaker,
and a cap,
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and he had a backpack.
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He just looked like
the average Joe, basically.
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We actually did
talk to the man a little bit.
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This is a wonderful location
to see the scenery,
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and he agreed but he said that
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he wished the sun
wasn't so bright.
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he wished the sun
wasn't so bright.
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A few minutes
after this man departed
the observation deck,
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we heard this popping sound.
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Pop, pop, pop.
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[gunshots]
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[Fritz]
We didn't really know exactly
what that popping sound was.
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My dad and I,
we decided to proceed on,
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and off in the distance
we saw a man approaching us,
yelling for help.
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and off in the distance
we saw a man approaching us,
yelling for help.
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He was holding his neck
and said, "I've been shot.
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My girlfriend is shot.
I believe she's dead."
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And then he described the man
who did the shootings.
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The description
fit exactly the man
that my dad and I spoke with.
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We had to come up with a plan.
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My dad would stay
with the man.
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I was to run
as fast as I could
to get help.
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I got to where
the trail head is,
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and people
that happened to be camping
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gave me a ride
to the ranger's station.
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My dad,
with the man who was shot,
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somehow
they were able to make it
to the park ranger's station,
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and while we were
standing there,
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we saw a car leave,
and that's him.
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we saw a car leave,
and that's him.
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He was leaving in
a red economy-type car.
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This crazy person
is out loose now.
Now what?
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[Det. Henard]
There was a shooting
at Henry Cowell Park.
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A female was shot
and died at the scene,
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and her male companion,
he was shot,
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and he had been transported
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to Dominican Hospital
for treatment.
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I started bringing in guys,
getting everybody organized
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who had a ride to work
right then that day.
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We started getting the people
that were the witnesses.
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I remember the father,
Leland Fritz,
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I remember the father,
Leland Fritz,
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watched him drive away
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and was able to give us
a pretty good description
of the red car.
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[Fritz] My dad was obviously
very observant.
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He saw the bent exhaust pipe.
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That information
went out in a bulletin
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to all the police departments.
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[Det. Henard]
The individual was seen
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by a number of witnesses
that were also in the park.
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The description was
that he was an older man
in his '50s,
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he had a hat, baseball hat,
clean shaven,
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he had a hat, baseball hat,
clean shaven,
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5'10", 5'11", over 185lbs,
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and he had
a distinctive jacket on.
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This was
a golden color windbreaker
that, on the back,
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it described something
about a beer drinking contest
in Montana.
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It was really a unique jacket.
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[beeping]
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[beeping]
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[Det. Henard]
I didn't see Steven.
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I was just told
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that he was in distress
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at Dominican Hospital.
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[Det. Sgt. Brook]
Steve can't talk
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because he's got
this bullet wound
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in his throat,
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and it damaged
his vocal chords.
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So, we had
a very accomplished artist,
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and he starts with
the composite,
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but he makes it more realistic
so it's almost more like
a portrait.
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And we're showing it to Steve,
who's in the bed,
and he goes...
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Starts slapping
with the back of his hand,
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and he goes,
"That's it, that's it."
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and he goes,
"That's it, that's it."
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He's saying this is the guy,
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and that's the one
that we put out.
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[Fritz] It's a day of tragedy.
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It's still difficult,
and just really hard
to understand why.
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I was aware that they thought
that they had a serial killer
in the parks
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00:11:21,567 --> 00:11:23,491
in Marin County.
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00:11:23,491 --> 00:11:23,867
in Marin County.
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[Det. Sgt. Brook]
But the description
that was put out by Marin
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00:11:27,066 --> 00:11:30,867
did not match
the one of the guy
that we were getting,
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so we didn't know
if we had two people
doing these same cases
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or was the same guy
and a bad description.
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00:11:37,367 --> 00:11:41,867
Marin's or theirs,
we had no idea at that point.
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And so, it was not until
we compared the ballistics
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00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:49,266
for the bullets removed
from Ellen and Steven,
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that we were able
to match those up
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with the ballistics
from the bullets
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00:11:53,266 --> 00:11:53,491
recovered from
the shootings in Marin.
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00:11:53,491 --> 00:11:57,000
recovered from
the shootings in Marin.
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00:11:57,066 --> 00:11:59,166
[Lt. Besse]
Suddenly, we knew we had
a serial murder case
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00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:01,166
that was going over
two counties.
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00:12:01,166 --> 00:12:04,000
[reporter] All the crimes
are thought to be the work
of a psychotic killer
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00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,567
whose composite sketch
was widely publicized.
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00:12:07,567 --> 00:12:10,467
That's when we knew
we were looking for
the same person.
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00:12:21,967 --> 00:12:23,491
[Wood] I didn't learn about
David Carpenter's sex drive
until he told me about it
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00:12:23,491 --> 00:12:27,100
[Wood] I didn't learn about
David Carpenter's sex drive
until he told me about it
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00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:29,166
when he met his girlfriend,
Candy.
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And, you know, I mean,
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this is not something
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00:12:33,467 --> 00:12:35,600
you typically talk about
with people.
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He had met Candy,
and I remember him
coming into my office,
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00:12:41,367 --> 00:12:46,900
and just busting out
about how he had
met this woman,
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00:12:46,967 --> 00:12:52,767
and he was madly in love,
and that her sex drive
was as strong as his.
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He had never met anybody
like her.
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00:13:00,667 --> 00:13:04,166
[Det. Sgt. Brook] He met her
after going to his
parole officer's office.
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00:13:05,567 --> 00:13:09,567
Candy was sitting on the curb
by her car.
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00:13:09,567 --> 00:13:12,867
The car had stopped running,
and she didn't have
any money or anything.
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00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:16,567
So, he saw her
and started chatting with her.
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00:13:17,667 --> 00:13:19,300
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
They tow her car,
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00:13:19,367 --> 00:13:22,667
and he takes her for a ride
to the parking lot
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00:13:22,667 --> 00:13:23,491
at Mount Tamalpais.
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00:13:23,491 --> 00:13:24,166
at Mount Tamalpais.
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00:13:25,767 --> 00:13:28,767
Oh, lady,
you don't have a clue.
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00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,266
[Det. Henard] This guy had
a heck of an appetite for sex,
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00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:37,900
and it just so happened
that Candy gave in to him.
238
00:13:39,667 --> 00:13:43,467
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
Next thing, they're having sex
in the backseat in the car.
239
00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:46,000
[Det. Henard] I firmly believe
sex is what saved Candy.
240
00:13:49,066 --> 00:13:50,166
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
Few hours later,
241
00:13:50,166 --> 00:13:52,567
he's inviting her
to come live with him.
242
00:13:52,567 --> 00:13:53,491
[chuckling] I guess
he fell in love with her
243
00:13:53,491 --> 00:13:55,266
[chuckling] I guess
he fell in love with her
244
00:13:55,266 --> 00:13:57,667
because he ends up
taking her home.
245
00:13:57,667 --> 00:14:00,767
And she found a job
bartending.
246
00:14:00,767 --> 00:14:01,767
Before you know it,
247
00:14:01,767 --> 00:14:03,266
she's his fiancee.
248
00:14:04,166 --> 00:14:05,600
Whoa, that was fast.
249
00:14:05,667 --> 00:14:07,567
Very strange relationship.
250
00:14:10,066 --> 00:14:12,900
David would offer
to help people
even if they didn't want help.
251
00:14:13,567 --> 00:14:16,467
He wanted them to owe him.
252
00:14:16,467 --> 00:14:18,000
[Keraghosian]
He knew exactly what to say.
253
00:14:18,066 --> 00:14:19,200
He knew exactly how
to get people
254
00:14:19,266 --> 00:14:20,767
in the positions
that he wanted
255
00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:21,734
in order to kill them.
256
00:14:36,367 --> 00:14:37,867
[Graysmith]
Carpenter had switched jobs,
257
00:14:39,066 --> 00:14:41,166
and he's going
to Econo Quick Print...
258
00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:44,700
Where he is excelling.
259
00:14:44,767 --> 00:14:46,367
[Wood] I remember
writing them a letter
260
00:14:46,367 --> 00:14:48,600
in which, basically,
was a warning
261
00:14:48,667 --> 00:14:53,000
that this guy
should not be around women
262
00:14:53,066 --> 00:14:55,367
because of his
assaultive behavior
in the past.
263
00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:58,667
It was certainly something
that I was concerned about.
264
00:15:06,467 --> 00:15:08,767
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
Heather Scaggs
was a young lady
265
00:15:08,767 --> 00:15:11,600
who was living in San Jose.
266
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:13,967
[Det. Robinson]
She was very interested
in graphic design,
267
00:15:13,967 --> 00:15:17,900
and she hooked up
with a print school,
268
00:15:17,967 --> 00:15:22,200
and next door to the school
was a quick print operation,
269
00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:25,100
and so,
as she was attending school,
270
00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:29,367
she would work
at the quick print shop.
271
00:15:29,367 --> 00:15:31,954
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
She commuted up
to the trade school.
272
00:15:31,954 --> 00:15:32,066
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
She commuted up
to the trade school.
273
00:15:32,066 --> 00:15:35,367
She had a little Volkswagen,
and at some point
it quit working,
274
00:15:35,367 --> 00:15:37,567
and so she wanted
to get another one.
275
00:15:37,567 --> 00:15:40,700
And this male co-worker
that she had,
276
00:15:40,767 --> 00:15:45,767
he had a contact
in Santa Cruz County
that had a used Volkswagen,
277
00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:48,166
much newer than
the one she had,
278
00:15:48,166 --> 00:15:50,467
and she could
buy that Volkswagen.
279
00:15:50,467 --> 00:15:52,500
And then he
sweetened the pot a little bit
280
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:54,767
with, "If you don't have
all the money,
281
00:15:54,767 --> 00:15:56,600
I'll loan you
the rest of the money,
282
00:15:56,667 --> 00:15:58,133
and you can
pay me back monthly."
283
00:15:59,667 --> 00:16:01,954
[Det. Robinson]
She was pretty desperate
to get transportation
284
00:16:01,954 --> 00:16:02,100
[Det. Robinson]
She was pretty desperate
to get transportation
285
00:16:02,166 --> 00:16:04,300
to make her life
a little easier.
286
00:16:04,367 --> 00:16:06,767
Said she was working
and going to school
at the same time.
287
00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:11,967
The co-worker
did not want Heather
to tell anybody
288
00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:15,600
what they were doing
and where they were going.
289
00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:18,967
Apparently,
Heather had said
to her boyfriend,
290
00:16:18,967 --> 00:16:21,567
"I'm kind of apprehensive,
but I'm gonna be okay.
291
00:16:21,567 --> 00:16:24,667
I'm gonna take a steak knife
and I'm gonna keep it
in my purse."
292
00:16:24,667 --> 00:16:31,567
And she also said
that the co-worker wanted them
to stop in the Redwoods
293
00:16:31,567 --> 00:16:31,954
and find a fern for a gift
for this individual,
294
00:16:31,954 --> 00:16:36,000
and find a fern for a gift
for this individual,
295
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,300
kind of soften him up
to see what kind of good deal
she could get from him.
296
00:16:40,367 --> 00:16:43,767
So, she said,
"If you don't hear from me
by 7 o'clock,
297
00:16:43,767 --> 00:16:44,867
call the police."
298
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,100
Out of abundance
of caution and concern,
299
00:16:48,166 --> 00:16:53,000
she left that name,
and address, and phone number
with her boyfriend.
300
00:16:53,066 --> 00:16:57,400
The co-worker was a gentleman
by the name of
David Carpenter.
301
00:16:57,467 --> 00:17:01,954
She had told her boyfriend
that the co-worker
was gonna pick her up,
302
00:17:01,954 --> 00:17:02,367
She had told her boyfriend
that the co-worker
was gonna pick her up,
303
00:17:02,367 --> 00:17:04,367
at 7 o'clock in the morning,
304
00:17:04,367 --> 00:17:08,900
a block away
from her apartment
at the convenience store.
305
00:17:08,967 --> 00:17:13,567
And, as far as we know,
the clerk was the last person
to have saw her that day.
306
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,066
She had reservations
about going
307
00:17:22,066 --> 00:17:24,400
because of the way
this guy acted.
308
00:17:24,467 --> 00:17:26,900
I don't know why she went.
309
00:17:26,967 --> 00:17:31,000
When Heather didn't come back,
the bells started going off.
310
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:31,954
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
Her boyfriend, Dan,
and his next door neighbor
311
00:17:31,954 --> 00:17:34,266
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
Her boyfriend, Dan,
and his next door neighbor
312
00:17:34,266 --> 00:17:37,767
called the phone number
that Heather had provided,
313
00:17:37,767 --> 00:17:40,667
and they ended up
talking to David's mother.
314
00:17:40,667 --> 00:17:44,000
[Det. Robinson]
David wasn't home.
He was at the ballet.
315
00:17:44,066 --> 00:17:47,867
As far as his being
with Heather that day,
316
00:17:47,867 --> 00:17:51,200
the mother had
no information about that.
317
00:17:51,266 --> 00:17:54,266
She said, however,
that David did leave the house
318
00:17:54,266 --> 00:18:00,066
between 5AM
and 5:30 that morning
to go to work.
319
00:18:00,066 --> 00:18:01,954
Dan and his next door neighbor
ended up driving
to San Francisco.
320
00:18:01,954 --> 00:18:04,467
Dan and his next door neighbor
ended up driving
to San Francisco.
321
00:18:04,467 --> 00:18:08,166
[Det. Robinson]
They waited until David
did finally arrive at home,
322
00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:11,100
and they challenged him.
323
00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:13,800
"Hey, where is Heather?
What happened to her?"
324
00:18:15,867 --> 00:18:17,900
Of course,
David's response was,
325
00:18:17,967 --> 00:18:21,000
"Nah, I didn't wake in time
and I wasn't feeling well,
326
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,567
so I haven't seen Heather
since yesterday."
327
00:18:24,567 --> 00:18:29,000
[Det. Robinson]
David told the boys that
he didn't even leave his house
328
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,800
until approximately 11:00
that morning,
329
00:18:31,867 --> 00:18:31,954
and that it was to go to work
and fix his car.
330
00:18:31,954 --> 00:18:34,400
and that it was to go to work
and fix his car.
331
00:18:34,467 --> 00:18:37,100
Carpenter didn't know
that they'd talked to mom.
332
00:18:37,166 --> 00:18:40,000
Of course, then they came home
and called the police.
333
00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:46,300
We went to the workplace,
and we talked
to the two owners,
334
00:18:46,367 --> 00:18:49,266
and we learned
as much as we could
about Heather
335
00:18:49,266 --> 00:18:52,400
and who she got
to associate with there.
336
00:18:52,467 --> 00:18:54,467
And when we get to David
it's like,
337
00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:59,166
"Hmm, this is interesting.
Really?"
338
00:18:59,166 --> 00:19:01,954
[Det. Robinson]
He was a unique character,
a very affable person.
339
00:19:01,954 --> 00:19:04,667
[Det. Robinson]
He was a unique character,
a very affable person.
340
00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:07,166
He got along well
with everybody, pretty much,
341
00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,367
and he had a stutter.
342
00:19:10,367 --> 00:19:13,767
He seemed to be
overly attentive to Heather.
343
00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:20,000
According to some co-workers,
Carpenter tried to become
a father figure to her,
344
00:19:20,066 --> 00:19:25,200
and we were later to find out
that Carpenter was a parolee.
345
00:19:25,266 --> 00:19:28,066
Now we are
a little more concerned.
346
00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:30,900
I mean, this is not
your average co-worker.
347
00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:37,100
[Det. Robinson] Before we left
the trade school,
348
00:19:37,166 --> 00:19:39,166
we went out
to the parking lot.
349
00:19:39,166 --> 00:19:45,467
Off in the corner,
behind some other cars,
was this dusty red Fiat.
350
00:19:45,467 --> 00:19:49,166
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
I walk by that car and go,
"Whose car is that?"
351
00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:52,066
"Oh, that's David's car."
352
00:19:52,066 --> 00:19:54,467
[Det. Robinson]
We asked the employers,
353
00:19:54,467 --> 00:19:56,467
and they said,
"Well, he's got two cars.
354
00:19:56,467 --> 00:20:00,567
He's got a green
Chevy '69 Nomad,
355
00:20:00,567 --> 00:20:01,954
and he has a little red Fiat."
356
00:20:01,954 --> 00:20:02,667
and he has a little red Fiat."
357
00:20:03,467 --> 00:20:06,200
Hmm, this is curious,
358
00:20:06,266 --> 00:20:08,000
because it matched
the description
359
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,000
that was put out on
the law enforcement
information bulletin
360
00:20:12,066 --> 00:20:17,700
of a dirty red compact car
that has a square,
rectangular back end
361
00:20:17,767 --> 00:20:21,467
and a bent down tailpipe
on the right side.
362
00:20:21,467 --> 00:20:23,166
So, I photographed it.
363
00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:28,300
[Det. Robinson]
Heather's mother, Mary,
mentioned Heather had a habit
364
00:20:28,367 --> 00:20:31,954
of carrying lots of
green tissue, Kleenex,
with her all the time,
365
00:20:31,954 --> 00:20:33,266
of carrying lots of
green tissue, Kleenex,
with her all the time,
366
00:20:33,266 --> 00:20:38,567
which was interesting
in that on the seat
was some green tissues,
367
00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:40,500
and then more green tissues
on the floor.
368
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:45,867
We felt we needed now
to talk to David
369
00:20:45,867 --> 00:20:49,500
and find out
what he could tell us.
370
00:20:49,567 --> 00:20:52,300
[Det. Sgt. Womack] I contacted
David's parole officer
371
00:20:52,367 --> 00:20:55,166
and said,
"We'd like to do
this interview."
372
00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:59,066
And he said,
"Oh, David would prefer
to meet in my office,
373
00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:01,667
and he's more than willing
to help you
374
00:21:01,667 --> 00:21:01,954
in any way he can."
375
00:21:01,954 --> 00:21:03,333
in any way he can."
376
00:21:05,166 --> 00:21:09,567
[Wood] He wasn't this
milk toast kind of guy
that I saw all the time.
377
00:21:09,567 --> 00:21:12,667
He was, I thought,
in his element.
378
00:21:12,667 --> 00:21:14,100
He was enjoying this.
379
00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:33,967
Welcome back
to Very Scary People.
380
00:21:33,967 --> 00:21:38,367
20-year-old Heather Scaggs
went missing on May 2nd, 1981.
381
00:21:38,367 --> 00:21:39,967
She was supposed
to meet a co-worker
382
00:21:39,967 --> 00:21:41,867
named David Carpenter
that day,
383
00:21:41,867 --> 00:21:45,767
and drive to Santa Cruz
to buy a used car
from his friend.
384
00:21:45,767 --> 00:21:47,467
Heather was apprehensive
about the trip,
385
00:21:47,467 --> 00:21:49,667
but she decided to go anyway.
386
00:21:49,667 --> 00:21:54,491
Investigators decided
to meet with Carpenter
to question him about Heather.
387
00:21:54,491 --> 00:21:54,667
Investigators decided
to meet with Carpenter
to question him about Heather.
388
00:21:54,667 --> 00:21:57,667
Turned out to be a meeting
no one would forget.
389
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,066
[reporter]
At a stop-and-shop market
in San Jose,
390
00:22:01,066 --> 00:22:04,166
the place at which
Heather Scaggs
last was seen alive,
391
00:22:04,166 --> 00:22:06,567
her picture this afternoon
was posted on the window.
392
00:22:17,667 --> 00:22:20,400
[Wood]
David walked in my office,
393
00:22:20,467 --> 00:22:23,767
and he's grown a beard,
and he wasn't wearing glasses,
394
00:22:23,767 --> 00:22:24,491
So he was
altering his appearance.
395
00:22:24,491 --> 00:22:27,166
So he was
altering his appearance.
396
00:22:27,166 --> 00:22:30,567
The bells and whistles
were going off at that point.
397
00:22:30,567 --> 00:22:34,667
My first impression was that
he was very pleasant,
398
00:22:34,667 --> 00:22:37,266
eager to be there for us.
399
00:22:37,266 --> 00:22:40,467
Kind of a out-of-shape,
middle aged, balding,
400
00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,700
well-dressed,
well-groomed person.
401
00:22:43,767 --> 00:22:46,500
But I hadn't heard him speak
at that point.
402
00:22:46,567 --> 00:22:50,567
My partner asked him
the first question,
403
00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:54,066
and I couldn't believe
what happened.
404
00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,266
He started
to contort his body,
405
00:22:57,367 --> 00:22:59,266
he twisted his neck,
and was looking upward,
406
00:22:59,266 --> 00:23:03,100
and he was
struggling to speak.
407
00:23:03,166 --> 00:23:06,467
And I thought, "My gosh,
this guy is having a seizure."
408
00:23:06,467 --> 00:23:08,500
It was a lot more
than just a mild stutter.
409
00:23:08,567 --> 00:23:12,100
A lot of noises
before he could
get a word out,
410
00:23:12,166 --> 00:23:15,700
and clearly, the situation
was distressing to him.
411
00:23:17,367 --> 00:23:18,467
[Det. Robinson]
We continued on,
412
00:23:18,467 --> 00:23:20,467
and I was kind of
getting skeptical
413
00:23:20,467 --> 00:23:24,491
that this man
could be a harmful individual
414
00:23:24,491 --> 00:23:25,266
that this man
could be a harmful individual
415
00:23:25,266 --> 00:23:28,000
because of the way
he was struggling
and behaving.
416
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,667
Kind of a meek, mild,
harmless guy.
417
00:23:30,667 --> 00:23:34,367
How would he be able
to give commands
418
00:23:34,367 --> 00:23:38,600
if he was facing
Ellen and Steven Haertle?
419
00:23:38,667 --> 00:23:40,166
Steven, an excellent witness,
420
00:23:40,166 --> 00:23:44,166
said this man had
no speech impediments,
no lisps.
421
00:23:44,166 --> 00:23:46,967
[Wood] I don't believe
they ever talked about
422
00:23:46,967 --> 00:23:49,667
the murders
in Santa Cruz County
or Marin County.
423
00:23:49,667 --> 00:23:54,491
This was solely focused on
Heather Scaggs.
424
00:23:54,491 --> 00:23:54,767
This was solely focused on
Heather Scaggs.
425
00:23:54,767 --> 00:23:57,700
[Det. Sgt. Womack] He admitted
that he had made arrangements
to pick her up
426
00:23:57,767 --> 00:24:01,667
and take her to Santa Cruz
to see about buying a car.
427
00:24:01,667 --> 00:24:04,400
And then he said
he just didn't make it.
428
00:24:04,467 --> 00:24:07,166
The arrangement
he had made with Heather
was to pick her up at 7:00,
429
00:24:07,166 --> 00:24:09,667
and if he wasn't there by 8:00
it was off
430
00:24:09,667 --> 00:24:11,200
and they'd do it another time.
431
00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:13,100
[Det. Robinson]
He said, "My car broke down."
432
00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:16,700
Then, he pulled out a receipt
for an auto repair
433
00:24:16,767 --> 00:24:19,567
for his 1969
Chevy station wagon.
434
00:24:19,567 --> 00:24:23,000
I said, "Do you have access
to any other vehicles?"
435
00:24:23,066 --> 00:24:24,491
And he said,
"No, no, that's my only car.
I don't have any other car."
436
00:24:24,491 --> 00:24:27,467
And he said,
"No, no, that's my only car.
I don't have any other car."
437
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,066
And I didn't challenge him
on it,
438
00:24:31,066 --> 00:24:35,367
but it was very significant
that he didn't want me to know
about the red Fiat.
439
00:24:35,367 --> 00:24:38,066
[Wood]
He was a driving a car
that nobody knew about.
440
00:24:38,066 --> 00:24:39,300
I don't know about it.
441
00:24:39,367 --> 00:24:41,667
[Det. Robinson]
But this interview went for
442
00:24:41,667 --> 00:24:43,867
probably an hour-and-a-half,
443
00:24:43,867 --> 00:24:48,200
and during that time
these flags kept flying.
444
00:24:48,266 --> 00:24:51,166
He was, I thought,
in his element.
445
00:24:51,166 --> 00:24:53,667
He was enjoying
the verbal fencing.
446
00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:54,491
I saw a really assertive,
almost powerful guy
447
00:24:54,491 --> 00:24:58,000
I saw a really assertive,
almost powerful guy
448
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:00,200
that I've never seen before.
449
00:25:00,266 --> 00:25:02,066
[Det. Robinson] And one of
the significant things
450
00:25:02,066 --> 00:25:05,567
was he says, "I'm a parolee.
451
00:25:05,567 --> 00:25:08,266
I should be
your number one suspect.
452
00:25:08,266 --> 00:25:12,367
The reason I'm a parolee
is because of my mother.
453
00:25:12,367 --> 00:25:15,300
She was very domineering
with me,
454
00:25:15,367 --> 00:25:20,300
and my mom made me
take ballet lessons,
455
00:25:20,367 --> 00:25:22,967
and I didn't want
to take ballet lessons."
456
00:25:22,967 --> 00:25:24,491
So I said,
"Well, David, you know,
457
00:25:24,491 --> 00:25:26,467
So I said,
"Well, David, you know,
458
00:25:26,467 --> 00:25:30,467
when I was nine-years-old
my mom did the same thing
to me.
459
00:25:30,467 --> 00:25:34,967
I had to take ballet lessons,
and you know what,
I resented it too."
460
00:25:34,967 --> 00:25:36,700
[chuckling]
And he looked at me
461
00:25:36,767 --> 00:25:38,667
and he said,
"Let me show you."
462
00:25:38,667 --> 00:25:44,100
And he got up,
and he started demonstrating,
doing plies and pirouettes.
463
00:25:45,467 --> 00:25:47,066
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
I'm sitting there,
watching this happen,
464
00:25:47,066 --> 00:25:49,266
and going,
"I don't believe it."
465
00:25:49,266 --> 00:25:52,900
[Det. Robinson]
And the whole time
that he was doing this,
466
00:25:52,967 --> 00:25:54,491
we ceded control
of that interview to him.
467
00:25:54,491 --> 00:25:56,166
we ceded control
of that interview to him.
468
00:25:56,967 --> 00:25:59,767
He never stuttered one time.
469
00:25:59,767 --> 00:26:05,367
Is this the same guy
that an hour-and-a-half ago
could hardly get a word out?
470
00:26:05,367 --> 00:26:08,000
The transformation
was amazing.
471
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:10,166
[Det. Robinson]
He carried this on
for several minutes.
472
00:26:10,166 --> 00:26:15,567
While he is expressing
these angers and frustrations,
473
00:26:15,567 --> 00:26:20,800
it's occurring to me
that this man has a grudge
against his mom,
474
00:26:20,867 --> 00:26:23,467
and it probably explains
the hostility that,
475
00:26:23,467 --> 00:26:24,491
if he was a sexual predator,
he hates women.
476
00:26:24,491 --> 00:26:28,266
if he was a sexual predator,
he hates women.
477
00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:31,667
And when he sat down
he started stuttering again.
478
00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:33,634
It was dramatic.
479
00:26:34,767 --> 00:26:36,767
[Det. Sgt. Womack]
We were shutting down
the interview,
480
00:26:36,767 --> 00:26:39,066
we were getting ready
to leave,
481
00:26:39,066 --> 00:26:41,266
and he looked at me directly
and said,
482
00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:44,066
"I pray to God
no one finds her body
483
00:26:44,066 --> 00:26:45,767
and finds
that she's been raped."
484
00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,200
And we had never discussed
a homicide,
485
00:26:50,266 --> 00:26:52,266
we had never discussed a rape,
486
00:26:52,266 --> 00:26:54,367
we had never even
discussed a crime.
487
00:26:54,367 --> 00:26:54,491
That was speaking volumes
to us.
488
00:26:54,491 --> 00:26:56,300
That was speaking volumes
to us.
489
00:26:56,367 --> 00:26:59,100
[Det. Womack]
At that point, I know.
490
00:27:00,767 --> 00:27:04,200
I can't prove it yet
but I know.
491
00:27:04,266 --> 00:27:05,767
[Det. Robinson]
When we finished
that interview,
492
00:27:05,767 --> 00:27:07,266
I really believed
Heather was dead.
493
00:27:11,066 --> 00:27:15,367
The next thing
that went off in my mind was,
494
00:27:15,367 --> 00:27:19,600
"We just let a killer
walk out of this office,
495
00:27:19,667 --> 00:27:21,200
and it's the weekend."
496
00:27:21,266 --> 00:27:24,100
That's when
The Trailside Killer
497
00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:24,491
-usually killed his victims.
-[gunshot]
498
00:27:24,491 --> 00:27:26,767
-usually killed his victims.
-[gunshot]
499
00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:29,066
It was a big enough concern,
500
00:27:29,066 --> 00:27:33,600
that we contacted both
Santa Cruz County
and Marin County
501
00:27:33,667 --> 00:27:36,667
that very evening and said,
502
00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:39,500
"We have information
on the suspect
that you need to know,
503
00:27:39,567 --> 00:27:42,600
because," we said,
"he's quite possibly
The Trailside killer."
504
00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:58,266
When San Jose
505
00:27:58,266 --> 00:28:00,066
had that
missing persons report,
506
00:28:00,066 --> 00:28:04,100
those two officers went
and saw the car
in the parking lot,
507
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:09,266
and put those together,
took the pictures,
that was it.
508
00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:10,800
We knew that we had the guy,
509
00:28:10,867 --> 00:28:13,266
but we knew
we need more evidence.
510
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:20,400
We started the surveillance
on Saturday, May 9th.
511
00:28:20,467 --> 00:28:24,547
The FBI had
an airplane over the sky
every daylight hour.
512
00:28:24,547 --> 00:28:25,000
The FBI had
an airplane over the sky
every daylight hour.
513
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,567
They had vans following him.
514
00:28:28,567 --> 00:28:32,100
I got reports daily,
sometimes more than once a day
515
00:28:32,166 --> 00:28:34,266
of what he was doing,
where he was.
516
00:28:34,266 --> 00:28:36,266
It was getting
toward the weekend,
517
00:28:36,266 --> 00:28:38,867
and they were concerned
that he could kill
somebody else.
518
00:28:38,867 --> 00:28:41,600
And so that's how that
whole week got started.
519
00:28:41,667 --> 00:28:43,600
It came together
in warp speed.
520
00:28:43,667 --> 00:28:45,266
I've never seen anything
quite like that.
521
00:28:45,266 --> 00:28:48,467
We went out and interviewed
David's parents,
522
00:28:49,166 --> 00:28:50,667
and that interview confirmed
523
00:28:50,667 --> 00:28:52,900
he was, uh,
living with a woman
524
00:28:52,967 --> 00:28:54,233
by the name of Candy.
525
00:28:54,233 --> 00:28:54,547
She was a part-time bartender
in the San Francisco area.
526
00:28:54,547 --> 00:28:58,000
She was a part-time bartender
in the San Francisco area.
527
00:28:58,000 --> 00:28:59,367
She'd already moved out,
528
00:28:59,367 --> 00:29:02,066
she left in April
of that year.
529
00:29:02,066 --> 00:29:04,567
[Kenn Womack]
I get a hold of Stoney,
we sit down with Candy,
530
00:29:05,266 --> 00:29:07,166
and was that an interview.
531
00:29:07,166 --> 00:29:08,467
Wow.
532
00:29:08,467 --> 00:29:11,166
[Stoney Brook] Candy was, uh,
533
00:29:11,166 --> 00:29:14,000
a free spirit,
I think I'll use that term.
534
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,000
[Womack] We talked to her
about her relationship
with David,
535
00:29:17,066 --> 00:29:19,500
and, um, was he ever
aggressive or violent,
536
00:29:19,567 --> 00:29:22,500
and she only had
one occasion where he got
a little bit aggressive,
537
00:29:22,567 --> 00:29:24,547
and she got in his face
right away,
538
00:29:24,547 --> 00:29:24,967
and she got in his face
right away,
539
00:29:24,967 --> 00:29:26,133
and he backed right off.
540
00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,367
I said to her, "Did you
ever give him a present?"
541
00:29:30,367 --> 00:29:32,767
And she was, "No, I never
gave him a present,"
542
00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:35,667
but she says,
"He took something of mine.
543
00:29:35,667 --> 00:29:37,700
It was this yellow jacket
that said
544
00:29:37,767 --> 00:29:41,800
'Olympic beer drinking team',
uh, 'Billings, Montana'.
545
00:29:41,867 --> 00:29:44,000
It was a little large for me,
so he just took it.
546
00:29:44,066 --> 00:29:47,500
My boss who owned the bar,
he ordered 12 of 'em."
547
00:29:47,567 --> 00:29:49,867
And then I said, "Whatever
happened to that jacket?"
548
00:29:49,867 --> 00:29:53,066
And she said, "Oh, David
told me it was stolen out
of his car,"
549
00:29:53,066 --> 00:29:54,547
and Stoney and I are smiling
at each other, going,
550
00:29:54,547 --> 00:29:55,500
and Stoney and I are smiling
at each other, going,
551
00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:57,166
"Got it!
552
00:29:58,000 --> 00:29:59,333
Got it!"
553
00:29:59,367 --> 00:30:02,000
[Brook] That was the connector
to put him at the crime scene
554
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,800
wearing something unique
that was golden,
555
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:06,166
no pun intended.
556
00:30:06,166 --> 00:30:07,867
Now we have our case.
557
00:30:07,867 --> 00:30:09,867
Authorities
in Northern California
558
00:30:09,867 --> 00:30:11,967
have arrested a suspect
in the so called
559
00:30:11,967 --> 00:30:13,667
"Trailside murder cases".
560
00:30:13,667 --> 00:30:16,367
David J. Carpenter has been
charged with one murder,
561
00:30:16,367 --> 00:30:18,166
and he may soon
be charged with more.
562
00:30:18,166 --> 00:30:19,800
There was no resistance.
563
00:30:19,867 --> 00:30:22,266
It was almost like he
expected, sooner or later,
564
00:30:22,266 --> 00:30:24,166
they were gonna be
knocking on his door.
565
00:30:24,166 --> 00:30:24,547
[reporter] The arrest warrant
charges Carpenter
566
00:30:24,547 --> 00:30:26,266
[reporter] The arrest warrant
charges Carpenter
567
00:30:26,266 --> 00:30:28,000
with the March 29th
shooting murder
568
00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,967
of 20-year-old Ellen Hansen,
569
00:30:29,967 --> 00:30:31,967
and the attempted murder
of her companion,
570
00:30:31,967 --> 00:30:33,166
Steven Haertle.
571
00:30:34,266 --> 00:30:37,166
[Walt Robinson]
When we had arrested David,
572
00:30:37,867 --> 00:30:39,600
a line-up was done.
573
00:30:39,667 --> 00:30:41,767
Steven keyed in on him
right away.
574
00:30:41,767 --> 00:30:45,100
"That's the man right there.
That's the guy."
575
00:30:45,166 --> 00:30:47,867
[reporter] Sheriff Howenstein
describes the mood
of the department
576
00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:49,667
as one of elation,
577
00:30:49,667 --> 00:30:52,600
and now there is hope
that the mystery behind
this string of murders
578
00:30:52,667 --> 00:30:54,547
that has terrified
and shocked the community
579
00:30:54,547 --> 00:30:54,800
that has terrified
and shocked the community
580
00:30:54,867 --> 00:30:56,100
has finally been solved.
581
00:30:56,166 --> 00:30:58,600
We were on the search
warrant team...
582
00:31:00,066 --> 00:31:02,100
...that went
to Carpenter's house.
583
00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:03,500
There was tons of maps.
584
00:31:03,567 --> 00:31:06,967
Marin, Tamalpais, Santa Cruz.
585
00:31:06,967 --> 00:31:09,266
Well, we didn't find
the things we were
looking for,
586
00:31:09,266 --> 00:31:11,166
the jacket and the firearms.
587
00:31:11,166 --> 00:31:14,767
I think that when he figured
the noose was getting tighter,
588
00:31:14,767 --> 00:31:16,066
he started getting
rid of the stuff.
589
00:31:16,066 --> 00:31:17,467
Where was this .38?
590
00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,500
Will we ever see that gun now?
591
00:31:20,567 --> 00:31:21,767
Where is it?
592
00:31:21,767 --> 00:31:24,066
[Womack] It wasn't
an impossible hurdle,
593
00:31:24,066 --> 00:31:24,547
but it certainly
was a handicap.
594
00:31:24,547 --> 00:31:26,567
but it certainly
was a handicap.
595
00:31:28,266 --> 00:31:30,367
[reporter] Fifty-one-year-old
David Joseph Carpenter
596
00:31:30,367 --> 00:31:32,500
was arraigned in Santa Cruz,
California.
597
00:31:32,567 --> 00:31:34,867
The printer, who has
a long criminal-record,
598
00:31:34,867 --> 00:31:38,000
suffers from a crippling
stutter, which was
painfully apparent.
599
00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:40,266
[judge] David Joseph Carpenter
is your true name?
600
00:31:40,266 --> 00:31:43,100
[David Carpenter stuttering]
601
00:31:44,700 --> 00:31:45,800
...correct.
602
00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:54,367
Nine days after
David Carpenter was arrested,
603
00:31:54,367 --> 00:31:54,547
Heather Scaggs' body
was finally found.
604
00:31:54,547 --> 00:31:56,967
Heather Scaggs' body
was finally found.
605
00:31:56,967 --> 00:32:00,467
[Robinson] Heather was
found by two hikers
606
00:32:00,467 --> 00:32:03,667
in the Big Basin State Park.
607
00:32:03,667 --> 00:32:05,667
[Esther Ludlow] Her body
was badly decomposed.
608
00:32:05,667 --> 00:32:07,900
She had been shot
with a .38-caliber weapon.
609
00:32:07,967 --> 00:32:11,166
She was found raped
and with a gunshot
to her face.
610
00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:15,967
[Robinson] Carpenter got her
to do what he wanted.
611
00:32:15,967 --> 00:32:18,500
Heather didn't want to go
to the mountains to get
a fern,
612
00:32:18,567 --> 00:32:21,100
she just wanted to go
to Santa Cruz, get a car,
and come home.
613
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:24,500
I wish there was a way to see
614
00:32:24,567 --> 00:32:27,900
what was going
through Heather's mind
615
00:32:27,967 --> 00:32:30,767
when she got out of the car
to look for the fern.
616
00:32:30,767 --> 00:32:35,266
Is she noticing that there
are no ferns anywhere
in that area?
617
00:32:35,266 --> 00:32:39,500
Was she thinking, "Uh-oh,
this is not going the way
I thought it would?"
618
00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:45,166
[gunshot]
619
00:32:45,166 --> 00:32:49,100
[Brook] To this day,
I hike extensively
in these mountains.
620
00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:51,967
I cannot see a fern
without thinking
of that young woman.
621
00:33:07,166 --> 00:33:09,367
[Donald Besse]
Shane Williams robs a bank,
622
00:33:10,166 --> 00:33:11,200
and gets caught.
623
00:33:12,500 --> 00:33:15,266
So, now that, uh,
he's in federal custody,
624
00:33:15,266 --> 00:33:17,900
and he wants to see
if he can get his break.
625
00:33:17,967 --> 00:33:20,000
[Womack] He says,
"Tell you what, guys,
626
00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:21,667
let's play,
and let's make a deal."
627
00:33:21,667 --> 00:33:24,547
So, he tells them that
he knows where the gun is
628
00:33:24,547 --> 00:33:25,867
So, he tells them that
he knows where the gun is
629
00:33:25,867 --> 00:33:28,066
that the Trailside
Killer used.
630
00:33:28,066 --> 00:33:30,900
[Besse] Shane said
that Carpenter volunteered
631
00:33:30,967 --> 00:33:32,867
to loan him a gun
for a bank robbery.
632
00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:34,900
so, Shane took him up on it.
633
00:33:34,967 --> 00:33:37,367
[Robert Graysmith]
David Carpenter's plan is,
634
00:33:37,367 --> 00:33:39,000
"Go rob a bank,
635
00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,667
you'll be shot and killed
or you'll be arrested,
636
00:33:41,667 --> 00:33:43,767
and there's the murder weapon,
637
00:33:43,767 --> 00:33:46,066
and you're
the Trailside Killer."
638
00:33:46,066 --> 00:33:47,367
He's not a dumb person.
639
00:33:48,166 --> 00:33:49,900
Pretty wily.
640
00:33:49,967 --> 00:33:52,266
[Womack] And then he
realizes he's been set up.
641
00:33:53,467 --> 00:33:54,547
And he takes that gun,
and he goes and hides it.
642
00:33:54,547 --> 00:33:55,667
And he takes that gun,
and he goes and hides it.
643
00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:57,767
[Besse] So, Shane tells me
where the gun is,
644
00:33:58,367 --> 00:33:59,800
exactly where it is.
645
00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:02,367
It was at a lot
where a gas station
was being torn down,
646
00:34:02,367 --> 00:34:04,266
and he didn't know
the address,
647
00:34:04,266 --> 00:34:06,100
but he describes it perfectly,
648
00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:07,800
so, I hustle right
over to that area.
649
00:34:08,667 --> 00:34:09,967
I start picking up asphalt,
650
00:34:09,967 --> 00:34:12,567
and there's newspaper
in a bundle,
651
00:34:12,567 --> 00:34:14,767
and there's the gun
in the newspaper.
652
00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:17,000
[Brook] They sent it
over to the lab,
653
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,667
and did the ballistics
and they matched.
654
00:34:22,967 --> 00:34:24,547
[Elaine Kendall]
It really wasn't the matter
of so much of what he said,
655
00:34:24,547 --> 00:34:26,066
[Elaine Kendall]
It really wasn't the matter
of so much of what he said,
656
00:34:26,066 --> 00:34:27,667
but how he said it.
657
00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:34,600
It just made me shudder.
658
00:34:45,567 --> 00:34:46,667
[reporter] In May of '81,
659
00:34:46,667 --> 00:34:49,066
David Joseph Carpenter
was arrested and charged
660
00:34:49,066 --> 00:34:51,300
with the murder of two
women in Santa Cruz.
661
00:34:51,367 --> 00:34:52,700
Marin County then charged him
662
00:34:52,767 --> 00:34:55,000
with the murder
of five more victims.
663
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,200
By the time that case
went to trial,
664
00:34:57,266 --> 00:35:00,900
it was, it was pretty much
a slam dunk.
665
00:35:00,967 --> 00:35:04,600
[Ludlow] There was two
separate trials in two
separate venues.
666
00:35:04,667 --> 00:35:06,767
The trials were moved
out of the Bay area
667
00:35:06,767 --> 00:35:09,467
because of media publicity.
668
00:35:09,467 --> 00:35:12,567
Ended up costing the tax
payer between $3 million
and $5 million.
669
00:35:12,567 --> 00:35:14,767
And this was
a death-penalty case.
670
00:35:14,767 --> 00:35:15,083
They wanted to be sure
they were going to get
this man.
671
00:35:15,083 --> 00:35:16,467
They wanted to be sure
they were going to get
this man.
672
00:35:19,767 --> 00:35:23,767
[Ludlow] In the first trial,
his attorney admitted
673
00:35:23,767 --> 00:35:26,000
that Carpenter was guilty.
674
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,467
He knew that there was
just too much evidence.
675
00:35:28,467 --> 00:35:30,867
His strategy was just to save
him from the death penalty.
676
00:35:30,867 --> 00:35:33,300
[reporter] Haertle calmly
described the sequence
of events
677
00:35:33,367 --> 00:35:34,900
that preceded the attack.
678
00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:38,266
[Ludlow] Steven Haertle
was the prosecution's
star witness.
679
00:35:38,266 --> 00:35:40,000
[Steven Haertle]
I heard two shots...
680
00:35:41,166 --> 00:35:43,800
...and didn't feel anything.
681
00:35:43,867 --> 00:35:45,083
And then I felt like
somebody hit my neck
with a sledgehammer.
682
00:35:45,083 --> 00:35:49,000
And then I felt like
somebody hit my neck
with a sledgehammer.
683
00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,667
[Ludlow] Not only was he one
of the only living witnesses
684
00:35:51,667 --> 00:35:53,600
who had been up close
to the killer,
685
00:35:53,667 --> 00:35:55,700
he was able to give
686
00:35:55,767 --> 00:35:58,200
very disturbing details.
687
00:35:58,266 --> 00:36:01,066
I remember waking up
lying on the ground.
688
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:04,300
[lawyer] What did you see?
689
00:36:04,367 --> 00:36:06,500
[Haertle] Ellen was
lying on the ground,
690
00:36:06,567 --> 00:36:09,200
and her head was
in a pool of blood.
691
00:36:09,266 --> 00:36:11,000
Steven Haertle who,
to this day,
692
00:36:11,066 --> 00:36:13,867
has been living with that
horror that he had
to experience.
693
00:36:13,867 --> 00:36:15,083
[lawyer]
Is the man who you saw
here in this courtroom?
694
00:36:15,083 --> 00:36:18,066
[lawyer]
Is the man who you saw
here in this courtroom?
695
00:36:18,066 --> 00:36:19,367
Yes, he is.
696
00:36:19,367 --> 00:36:23,266
[lawyer] Would you point him
out towards all of us.
697
00:36:23,266 --> 00:36:26,000
It's that gentleman
sitting right there.
698
00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,767
-[lawyer] Are you point--
-[Haertle] In the,
in the brown sweater.
699
00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:30,667
In the glasses.
700
00:36:30,667 --> 00:36:34,100
The real nail in the coffin
was Steve being able to say,
701
00:36:35,066 --> 00:36:37,367
"He's the one who shot me
and shot Ellen."
702
00:36:37,367 --> 00:36:40,700
That's the man.
No doubt, no hesitation.
703
00:36:45,667 --> 00:36:47,166
[juror] The sixth day of July
704
00:36:47,166 --> 00:36:49,667
in the above entitled action,
find the defendant,
705
00:36:49,667 --> 00:36:52,967
David Joseph Carpenter,
guilty of the crime of murder.
706
00:36:52,967 --> 00:36:56,767
I must conclude with...
707
00:36:56,767 --> 00:37:02,500
[indistinct]
708
00:37:02,567 --> 00:37:04,667
[reporter] Mothers of the two
Santa Cruz County victims
709
00:37:04,667 --> 00:37:06,266
were happy with the verdict.
710
00:37:06,266 --> 00:37:08,200
I think this is
a very fair panel,
711
00:37:08,266 --> 00:37:10,600
I think they've really
been serious about it.
712
00:37:10,667 --> 00:37:12,767
I think it was
a very good jury.
713
00:37:16,266 --> 00:37:18,266
[reporter] Marin County now
are preparing a new trial
714
00:37:18,266 --> 00:37:19,700
for five murders.
715
00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:24,266
[Kendall]
After his first trial,
when he got to death row,
716
00:37:24,266 --> 00:37:26,467
I picked up the phone
and I just called San Quentin.
717
00:37:26,467 --> 00:37:29,700
Elaine Corral snagged
the carpenter interview.
718
00:37:29,767 --> 00:37:34,266
[Kendall] He started talking
about how he was not given
a fair trial,
719
00:37:34,266 --> 00:37:37,100
that he was not
the Trailside Killer.
720
00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:39,400
But it was when we
got to the words "Killer",
721
00:37:39,467 --> 00:37:43,467
he stuttered with such
a pronounced emphasis
722
00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,083
that it just made me shudder.
723
00:37:45,083 --> 00:37:46,300
that it just made me shudder.
724
00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:55,200
To think what on Earth
would these victims have,
725
00:37:55,266 --> 00:37:57,467
have thought,
when I'm sitting at table,
726
00:37:57,467 --> 00:38:00,166
um, length away from him,
and I felt it.
727
00:38:07,667 --> 00:38:09,867
[Kendall] "I'm not
a k-k-k-k-killer."
728
00:38:09,867 --> 00:38:12,667
It really wasn't the matter
of so much of what he said,
729
00:38:12,667 --> 00:38:14,100
but how he said it.
730
00:38:21,467 --> 00:38:23,367
And then they had
trial number two.
731
00:38:25,467 --> 00:38:28,400
[Ludlow]
Carpenter got on the stand
in his own defense.
732
00:38:28,467 --> 00:38:29,500
[Graysmith] He was
looking for sympathy.
733
00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:33,467
"Poor me,
poor beat up little child."
734
00:38:33,467 --> 00:38:35,867
There was nothing else
going for him.
735
00:38:35,867 --> 00:38:39,667
After I got my... [stutters]
...Chevy station wagon,
736
00:38:39,667 --> 00:38:44,100
I began taking my father...
[stutters] ...shopping.
737
00:38:44,100 --> 00:38:45,083
[Ludlow]
He brought in calendars
and detailed receipts
738
00:38:45,083 --> 00:38:48,367
[Ludlow]
He brought in calendars
and detailed receipts
739
00:38:48,367 --> 00:38:53,000
trying to say that he could
not have been in these places
at this time.
740
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:56,567
But his only witnesses
that could corroborate
these things
741
00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:59,200
was his father
who had since died,
742
00:38:59,266 --> 00:39:02,800
his mother who was suffering
with Alzheimer's disease,
743
00:39:02,867 --> 00:39:06,567
and these characters
that he said he had
been in prison with
744
00:39:06,567 --> 00:39:09,066
that he only knew
by their nicknames.
745
00:39:09,066 --> 00:39:10,567
[Womack] David always
thinks he smart enough
746
00:39:10,567 --> 00:39:13,166
that he can do whatever
he wants to and get away
with it.
747
00:39:20,567 --> 00:39:22,500
[juror] We, the jury,
in the above-entitled cause,
748
00:39:22,567 --> 00:39:24,367
determine that the penalty
shall be death.
749
00:39:25,367 --> 00:39:27,166
I felt very good
about the outcomes.
750
00:39:27,166 --> 00:39:29,567
[Womack] Well,
it's rewarding to know
751
00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,367
that we were able
to successfully complete
the circle,
752
00:39:32,367 --> 00:39:33,667
and put him away.
753
00:39:33,667 --> 00:39:36,867
[Ludlow] David Carpenter was
convicted of seven murders,
754
00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:40,567
and we know that there are
others that they couldn't
try him for.
755
00:39:49,567 --> 00:39:54,667
[Besse] We were positive
he killed Schwarz and Kane,
756
00:39:54,667 --> 00:39:57,767
but because they're
different ammos,
757
00:39:57,767 --> 00:40:00,667
he was only tried
for those seven murders
758
00:40:00,667 --> 00:40:02,367
'cause the gun
tied them all together.
759
00:40:02,367 --> 00:40:05,667
[Ludlow] Edda Kane was killed
with a .44-caliber weapon,
760
00:40:05,667 --> 00:40:09,200
and Barbera Schwartz
who had been stabbed to death
761
00:40:09,266 --> 00:40:11,467
could not be linked
to the .38 caliber,
762
00:40:11,467 --> 00:40:13,900
so, they couldn't
positively link him
763
00:40:13,967 --> 00:40:15,083
to the evidence they had.
764
00:40:15,083 --> 00:40:15,500
to the evidence they had.
765
00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,667
David Carpenter still
professes his innocence
to this day.
766
00:40:22,667 --> 00:40:26,066
[Robinson] I don't think
he wants to allow himself
to admit
767
00:40:26,066 --> 00:40:29,867
that he is the ugly,
disgusting,
768
00:40:29,867 --> 00:40:32,567
vile human being that he is.
769
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:37,567
[reporter] The hikers
are back in numbers,
770
00:40:37,567 --> 00:40:39,066
but for some who remember,
771
00:40:39,066 --> 00:40:41,767
hiking will never
be the same again.
772
00:40:41,767 --> 00:40:43,667
[lady] I've started
to hike again.
773
00:40:43,667 --> 00:40:45,000
-[reporter] By yourself ever?
-No.
774
00:40:46,100 --> 00:40:47,800
No, not anymore.
775
00:40:47,867 --> 00:40:50,166
[Ludlow] David Carpenter
decided to use
776
00:40:50,166 --> 00:40:53,200
the beauty of this area
as a hunting ground
777
00:40:53,266 --> 00:40:56,567
that changed how people
thought about that area
778
00:40:56,567 --> 00:40:58,700
for a long,
long time afterwards.
779
00:40:58,767 --> 00:41:02,000
It was hard to just
be in nature,
780
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:03,567
and be at peace with it
781
00:41:03,567 --> 00:41:05,767
without thinking about
David Carpenter.
782
00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:07,867
This guy was a predator,
783
00:41:08,767 --> 00:41:10,967
and he hid it beautifully.
784
00:41:15,166 --> 00:41:17,166
[David Carpenter]
785
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,266
In 2010,
cold-case investigators
786
00:41:27,266 --> 00:41:29,567
use advanced DNA technology
787
00:41:29,567 --> 00:41:32,567
tying David Carpenter
to yet another victim,
788
00:41:32,567 --> 00:41:36,066
a 23-year-old woman
named Mary Frances Bennett.
789
00:41:36,066 --> 00:41:39,300
She was found stabbed
to death in San Francisco
in 1979.
790
00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:42,166
Carpenter, now in his 90s,
791
00:41:42,166 --> 00:41:45,083
is the oldest inmate still
on California's death row.
792
00:41:45,083 --> 00:41:46,066
is the oldest inmate still
on California's death row.
793
00:41:46,066 --> 00:41:49,667
California currently has
a moratorium on the death
penalty,
794
00:41:49,667 --> 00:41:51,867
so, it is unlikely he will
ever be put to death.
795
00:41:52,767 --> 00:41:55,000
I'm Donnie Wahlberg,
thanks for watching,