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This program is
rated 14+, and contains
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scenes of violence and
mature subject matter.
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Viewer discretion is advised.
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It looks like
this is a robbery
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that has gone
horribly wrong.
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We found her on the floor.
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She was hit
in the back of the head.
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There was blood
all over the floor.
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This is now 100%
a homicide investigation.
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Why was she in this area
working by herself?
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I didn't sleep
for weeks after that.
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Within fairly
short distance of each other,
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within just a couple hours,
we had two significant attacks.
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The victim had been
very severely beaten
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and was in life-threatening
condition at the moment.
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What really made a
difference in the ATM robbery
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was there was CCTV.
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We thought, "Oh, we just
were watching a homicide."
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We got the blood trail, right?
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We're not saying
the incidents are connected,
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but there is
a number of similarities
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that make us
tend to look that way.
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Our number one priority
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is to get
that offender in custody.
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That offender has killed
an innocent individual already,
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and who knows
what they're capable of.
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Welcome to Crime Beat.
I'm Antony Robart.
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A brazen and violent attack
on a young store clerk
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left an entire city
in fear.
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There were no eyewitnesses
and no CCTV,
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but soon police discovered
she wasn't the only victim.
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Here now is Nancy Hixt
with "The Night Shift."
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On a cold and snowy
Thursday in February of 2000,
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two young men
took a break
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from a night
of watching movies
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to go get
some fast food.
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As they approached
a nearby Subway,
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they noticed a sign
on the door that read,
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"Less than $50 in till.
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Clerk cannot open safe."
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They joked
about how pointless
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a holdup
at this shop would be.
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Seconds later,
they saw the outcome
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of that very scenario.
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I believe she was robbed.
We found her on the floor.
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She was hit in the back
of the head.
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There was blood
all over the floor.
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She was vomiting.
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We saw the mess
behind the counter,
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and when we walked
around the counter,
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and he started calling 911,
and I started giving her CPR.
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At 11:42 p.m.
on February 17th,
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the Calgary Police Service
get a phone call
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to assist the paramedics
at a Subway
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along 17th Avenue,
and that particular Subway,
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when the paramedics get there,
when the police get there,
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we have a 25-year-old employee
of the Subway
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that is in critical condition,
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and the paramedics
are working on her.
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She's been attacked.
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The young woman had suffered
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massive head injuries.
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She was rushed
to hospital by ambulance,
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but despite best efforts,
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just minutes
after she arrived,
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she passed away.
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This is now 100%
a homicide investigation.
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The entire Subway restaurant
and parking lot
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is now part
of the crime scene,
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so we've called in
our forensic crime scenes unit.
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Again, they're going
to take photographs.
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They're going to look at
what evidence they can collect.
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And they're going to
look for fingerprints.
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They're going to
look for swabs.
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Even back then, we had DNA
that we were looking for.
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There's napkins
and pieces of paper
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that would normally be
on a counter
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that are scattered
on the floor.
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They can see that
there's a large pool of blood.
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There appears to be
some things
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that have been moved around
or are missing,
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and one of the things
that they noted fairly quickly
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is it looks like
a cash register is missing.
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One of the things
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that the investigators
did right away
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is start talking
to neighbouring businesses,
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asking people
if they saw anything.
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We start, again,
doing neighbourhood inquiries
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to find out,
do we have any witnesses?
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Is there film
footage somewhere?
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The Subways back then,
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again, like most businesses,
just didn't have the cameras,
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certainly not
like you see today.
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We were really
coming up dry.
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Police identified
the victim from a wallet
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and ID
found at the scene.
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Tara McDonald had been working
alone at the Subway that night
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when her attacker
burst into the store.
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It looks like
this is a robbery
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that has gone
horribly wrong.
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This is a significant event
in our community.
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You have a young
25-year-old woman working alone
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in what should be a safe job
making sandwiches for people.
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And so it's not lost
on anybody that responded
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or anybody
working in the city
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that this was
a significant event
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and it was really
all hands on deck
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to do whatever we could
as quickly as we could.
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One of the techniques
that we use,
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and used in this case
is we called our canine unit.
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Utilizing their canine dog,
they began a track.
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What the dog followed
was a trail of coins
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that led officers
directly from the crime scene
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towards a nearby
residential neighbourhood.
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We were able to determine
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which way the subject left
from the Subway.
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And so the working theory
is that the coins probably
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fell out of a cash register
or a cash drawer
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that may have come
from the Subway.
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Investigators located
parts of a cash register
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not far from the coins
in a dark alley.
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The crime scene unit would go
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to any of the pieces of
evidence that we were finding.
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But once again,
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hopes of identifying a suspect
were quashed.
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Yeah, unfortunately,
when we examined the evidence
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that we had at this point,
it was still a whodunit.
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We did not have
a name of an offender.
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Our number one priority is to
get that offender in custody.
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That offender has killed
an innocent individual already
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and who knows
what they're capable of.
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Welcome back to Crime Beat.
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A violent robbery
for petty cash
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left a young
store clerk dead.
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This happened decades ago
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and surveillance cameras
weren't as common,
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so the killer
eluded police.
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That is,
until officers realized
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he had a signature MO.
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Here again is Nancy Hixt
with "The Night Shift."
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Police worked around the clock
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as the hunt
for a killer intensified.
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This was indeed an extremely
brutal, brutal homicide.
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The police service is doing
everything in its power
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to-- they're leaving no stones
unturned in this one.
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Early on Friday,
February 18th, 2001,
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Deb Dore was getting ready to
leave her home in Lethbridge.
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She had a two-and-a-half-hour
drive ahead of her
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to see
her daughter in Calgary.
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Earlier that week,
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she had confirmed plans
with Tara on the phone,
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not realizing
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those would be their
final words to each other.
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"I love you."
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We never ended a conversation
without saying that.
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At about seven
in the morning,
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Deb got
a strange phone call.
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My ex-husband phoned.
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He was sobbing
and he had said,
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"Hey, there's been a robbery.
Tara's dead."
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And as he said that,
I turned the TV on
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and there's Tara
on the TV
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because he had released
her name to the press.
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So they had a picture
and her name,
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as I'm being told,
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because the Lethbridge police
hadn't got to us yet.
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Oh, I screamed.
It was, yeah.
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So we went to the police
station in Lethbridge
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and I walked up
to the front desk
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and they had been notified
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and they had said,
"Oh, I'm sorry, Deb,
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we were just putting
a few things together for you."
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I said, "Don't worry about it.
I already know."
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And we left
and came to Calgary.
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Later that day,
Deb met with Calgary police
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at the sandwich shop.
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They had just said
that she was working alone
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and they hadn't caught
the person yet,
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but they had some leads...
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and that two young boys
had tried to...
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save her.
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They administered
first aid and tried.
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They knew
that there was robbery,
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the cash register
was missing
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and that they would
keep me posted
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as soon
as they knew anything.
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It was roped off
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and there was hundreds
of bouquets of flowers
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and teddy bears and everything
outside the door.
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A stream of strangers
had stopped by
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to pay their respects
to Tara,
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including a former employee
of that very Subway.
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It's sad to see someone die
over less than $50.
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Officers continued to search,
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00:10:07,934 --> 00:10:11,934
retracing all steps
previously taken in the dark,
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00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,333
hoping to find
further evidence,
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00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:16,567
including the murder weapon.
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00:10:16,734 --> 00:10:19,400
So the autopsy
of Tara McDonald indicates
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00:10:19,567 --> 00:10:22,900
that she died as a result of
blunt force trauma to the head
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00:10:23,066 --> 00:10:26,567
and that it was a blunt
instrument that had struck her
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00:10:26,734 --> 00:10:30,633
and the investigators believe
that it was likely a hammer.
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00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,700
Police didn't release details
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00:10:32,867 --> 00:10:34,767
of the murder weapon
to the public.
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00:10:34,934 --> 00:10:35,900
As you know,
hold back
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00:10:36,066 --> 00:10:37,633
is very crucial
to an investigation
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00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,500
and it's a significant
piece of evidence
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00:10:40,667 --> 00:10:43,567
that-- or information
that only the killer
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00:10:43,734 --> 00:10:45,967
and the police investigators
would know.
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00:10:46,133 --> 00:10:50,400
A hammer as a weapon
stood out to investigators.
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00:10:50,567 --> 00:10:52,633
We got
the blood trail, right?
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00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,166
There had been
another similar violent attack
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00:10:57,333 --> 00:11:01,500
two hours before Tara's murder
just down the street.
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00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:03,333
We're not saying
the incidents are connected,
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00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:06,033
but there's a number
of similarities
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00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,400
that make us
tend to look that way.
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00:11:09,567 --> 00:11:11,867
On February 17th of 2000,
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00:11:12,033 --> 00:11:15,166
the Calgary Police Service
received a phone call.
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00:11:15,333 --> 00:11:17,600
There had been an individual
from our community
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00:11:17,767 --> 00:11:21,266
that had been
at a Bank of Montreal ATM
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00:11:21,433 --> 00:11:23,600
and had been doing
some banking transactions.
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00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:25,633
It's about 9:30 at night.
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00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,633
As the community member
is doing his transaction,
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00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,500
somebody comes up from behind
and begins assaulting him
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00:11:33,667 --> 00:11:36,600
with what turns out
to be a hammer
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00:11:36,767 --> 00:11:39,600
and strikes him multiple,
multiple times.
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00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:42,333
The victim
had been badly injured,
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00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:44,900
but was somehow able
to stagger
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00:11:45,066 --> 00:11:48,066
to a nearby business
to ask for help.
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00:11:48,233 --> 00:11:51,367
Covered in blood. .
Blood were dripping actually.
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00:11:51,533 --> 00:11:53,767
From his head,
right on forehead,
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00:11:53,934 --> 00:11:55,233
and all over his face.
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00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,967
He was literally
covered in blood.
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00:11:58,133 --> 00:12:01,800
Minutes later,
police and EMS arrived.
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00:12:01,967 --> 00:12:04,700
The victim was taken
to hospital by ambulance
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00:12:04,867 --> 00:12:06,967
with severe head injuries.
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00:12:07,133 --> 00:12:09,533
Certainly we had a lot
of resources put into that.
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00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:10,767
There were cameras,
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00:12:10,934 --> 00:12:13,734
and so we were doing
neighbourhood inquiries.
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00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:15,533
We were looking
for evidence.
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00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:18,100
We would have had
a significant patrol response.
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00:12:18,266 --> 00:12:22,200
And then also detectives from
our general investigation unit
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00:12:22,367 --> 00:12:25,533
came out to take over
that investigation.
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00:12:26,467 --> 00:12:29,166
We were told that there was
what we call a roll job.
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00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:32,000
So a person had been--
a personal robbery.
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00:12:32,166 --> 00:12:35,300
But the victim had been
very severely beaten
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00:12:35,467 --> 00:12:38,333
and was in life-threatening
condition at the moment.
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00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:41,033
Investigators immediately noticed
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00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,433
surveillance cameras
at the bank
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00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,233
and put a rush
on getting access to CCTV.
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00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,000
In the meantime,
witnesses were interviewed
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00:12:50,166 --> 00:12:52,367
and forensic
evidence gathered.
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00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:58,600
Just hours later,
officers were shocked to learn
253
00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:00,700
the victim had miraculously
254
00:13:00,867 --> 00:13:03,667
regained consciousness
in hospital.
255
00:13:03,834 --> 00:13:05,333
Around four o'clock
in the morning,
256
00:13:05,500 --> 00:13:07,200
my partner and I
attended the hospital.
257
00:13:07,367 --> 00:13:09,567
He couldn't recollect anything
about the incident at all.
258
00:13:09,734 --> 00:13:12,834
He remembers running
some errands prior to
259
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,767
and then
going to the bank
260
00:13:14,934 --> 00:13:18,100
to take some money out for
groceries and pay some bills,
261
00:13:18,266 --> 00:13:20,934
and that last
he remembers.
262
00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:22,867
Didn't remember getting hit.
263
00:13:23,033 --> 00:13:25,867
Didn't remember
stumbling along 17th Avenue.
264
00:13:26,033 --> 00:13:27,166
Nothing like that.
265
00:13:29,066 --> 00:13:32,400
Later that day,
the victim underwent surgery
266
00:13:32,567 --> 00:13:35,066
as doctors tried
to mitigate the damage
267
00:13:35,233 --> 00:13:38,500
caused by multiple
depressed skull fractures
268
00:13:38,667 --> 00:13:41,300
that were putting pressure
on his brain.
269
00:13:41,467 --> 00:13:45,233
His injuries were the result
of repeated blows to the head
270
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,900
with a hammer,
all captured on CCTV.
271
00:13:49,066 --> 00:13:50,100
It was amazing.
272
00:13:50,266 --> 00:13:52,934
We thought
we were watching a homicide.
273
00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:54,900
It was amazing
that he pulled through.
274
00:13:55,066 --> 00:13:57,600
We reckon
that had he not escaped
275
00:13:57,767 --> 00:14:01,100
the vestibule at that point
and got out into the public,
276
00:14:01,266 --> 00:14:03,300
he probably would
have perished, yes.
277
00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:06,333
Investigators learned
that his wallet,
278
00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:09,300
which only had
about $30 inside,
279
00:14:09,467 --> 00:14:11,467
had been stolen.
280
00:14:11,633 --> 00:14:15,200
His red Toyota Corolla
was also missing.
281
00:14:15,367 --> 00:14:16,700
Just the sheer brutality of it.
282
00:14:16,867 --> 00:14:18,300
There really was no reason
283
00:14:18,467 --> 00:14:21,066
to strike a person
in the back of the head.
284
00:14:21,233 --> 00:14:23,066
Simply brandishing it
and demanding money
285
00:14:23,233 --> 00:14:26,200
would have been sufficient.
286
00:14:26,367 --> 00:14:30,400
Horrific violence
for a $30 payoff.
287
00:14:30,567 --> 00:14:33,867
Thankfully, the attacker
left behind evidence
288
00:14:34,033 --> 00:14:36,300
that couldn't be disputed.
289
00:14:36,467 --> 00:14:39,400
His face was captured
on video.
290
00:14:39,567 --> 00:14:41,667
He had
a very unique look about him,
291
00:14:41,834 --> 00:14:44,133
and if you were a cop
in Forest Lawn
292
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:46,967
in the late '90s
and early 2000s,
293
00:14:47,133 --> 00:14:50,133
you knew exactly
who he was.
294
00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,066
I'd call him an opportunistic
career criminal, I suppose.
295
00:14:54,233 --> 00:14:56,400
His big thing
was break-and-enters,
296
00:14:56,567 --> 00:14:58,533
typically commercial
break-and-enters.
297
00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,567
He'd done
a couple residential ones,
298
00:15:00,734 --> 00:15:03,900
stealing cars,
a lot of car thefts,
299
00:15:04,066 --> 00:15:06,033
simple drug possessions,
300
00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,033
being intoxicated in a public
place, stuff like that.
301
00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,233
Just a career guy
that everybody knew.
302
00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,500
With a person
of interest identified,
303
00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:18,200
investigators began
the arduous task
304
00:15:18,367 --> 00:15:22,967
of finding the career criminal
who had a way of disappearing.
305
00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:27,467
Just blocks
from the ATM investigation,
306
00:15:27,633 --> 00:15:30,600
detectives at the Subway homicide scene
307
00:15:30,767 --> 00:15:34,200
wondered if they could be
looking for the same offender.
308
00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:37,133
When you have
two violent crimes like that
309
00:15:37,300 --> 00:15:38,934
in close proximity,
310
00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:41,333
that's a flag,
311
00:15:41,500 --> 00:15:44,734
and really the ATM robbery
312
00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:48,033
is still being actively
investigated and being pursued.
313
00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,033
So it didn't take long
for the investigators
314
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:52,734
to figure out
there might be a link here.
315
00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:54,700
It is possible
that it's the same offender
316
00:15:54,867 --> 00:15:58,066
that committed the ATM robbery
a few hours earlier
317
00:15:58,233 --> 00:16:03,367
and then traveled to the Subway
and committed another robbery,
318
00:16:03,533 --> 00:16:05,100
except this time also committed
a homicide.
319
00:16:23,934 --> 00:16:26,233
In her hometown of Lethbridge,
320
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,433
hundreds gathered
to remember Tara McDonald.
321
00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,934
We are
in a state of disbelief,
322
00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:36,033
shock, horror,
and sadness
323
00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,000
that a member
of our family
324
00:16:38,166 --> 00:16:40,834
could be the victim
of such a violent crime.
325
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,633
It's not going to be easy
to live through...
326
00:16:43,834 --> 00:16:45,834
but God calls you
to walk close with Him,
327
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,400
and He will pour out
His grace upon you.
328
00:16:48,567 --> 00:16:50,467
He will touch your hearts
with His love,
329
00:16:50,633 --> 00:16:52,133
and you will have
your memories of Tara
330
00:16:52,300 --> 00:16:53,266
to carry you through.
331
00:16:57,467 --> 00:17:01,200
Loved ones reminisced
about Tara's determination
332
00:17:01,367 --> 00:17:04,266
and how her strength
inspired others,
333
00:17:04,433 --> 00:17:07,533
especially after being
badly injured
334
00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:10,533
when she was just
six years old.
335
00:17:10,700 --> 00:17:14,600
She stuck a piece
of cardboard into the furnace,
336
00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:17,500
and it ignited her.
337
00:17:17,667 --> 00:17:20,433
She was burnt from her neck
to her knees...
338
00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:24,300
and her arms to the--
339
00:17:24,467 --> 00:17:28,266
from her shoulders
to her elbows,
340
00:17:28,433 --> 00:17:29,834
and both her hands.
341
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,667
For more than a decade,
342
00:17:31,834 --> 00:17:34,166
Tara was in
and out of hospitals,
343
00:17:34,333 --> 00:17:37,200
undergoing reconstructive surgery.
344
00:17:37,367 --> 00:17:40,200
It was awful,
but she came through it
345
00:17:40,367 --> 00:17:43,934
with such
a phenomenal attitude.
346
00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:45,800
She had a compassionate heart
347
00:17:45,967 --> 00:17:48,533
and aspired
to be a police officer.
348
00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,000
I came home
from work one day,
349
00:17:50,166 --> 00:17:53,133
and there was a homeless person
sleeping on the couch.
350
00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:56,500
I said, "Who's that?"
She said, "I don't know."
351
00:17:56,667 --> 00:17:58,467
I said, "How did he get here?"
"I brought him home.
352
00:17:58,633 --> 00:18:00,467
It's not right
that people sleep outside."
353
00:18:01,567 --> 00:18:05,066
And she just would help anyone
if she could.
354
00:18:07,967 --> 00:18:11,000
Now,
her life had been stolen
355
00:18:11,166 --> 00:18:13,800
for the pittance
that the robber got away with.
356
00:18:13,967 --> 00:18:15,834
There will be nothing
357
00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:17,900
that I believe
will take away our pain.
358
00:18:22,033 --> 00:18:23,166
Back in Calgary,
359
00:18:23,333 --> 00:18:25,233
detectives were
making progress
360
00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,500
in both
the murder investigation
361
00:18:27,667 --> 00:18:29,934
and the attack
at the ATM.
362
00:18:32,300 --> 00:18:34,300
Just a few blocks
from the bank,
363
00:18:34,467 --> 00:18:36,734
on a nearby residential road,
364
00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:39,166
police recovered
the victim's car
365
00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:42,734
and seized it for
a full forensic examination.
366
00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,867
In the meantime, the public
got their first glimpse
367
00:18:49,033 --> 00:18:52,667
at the person of interest in
connection with both attacks
368
00:18:52,834 --> 00:18:55,800
when investigators
released a sketch.
369
00:18:55,967 --> 00:18:57,967
We had some really,
really good descriptive details
370
00:18:58,133 --> 00:18:59,800
from the person that helped us
with that composite,
371
00:18:59,967 --> 00:19:02,000
so we were confident that
that would be a good composite.
372
00:19:02,166 --> 00:19:03,200
And in fact, it was.
373
00:19:03,367 --> 00:19:04,934
First thought was,
"He's a regular.
374
00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:06,033
He's been here for years.
375
00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,567
He's been drinking
and associating
376
00:19:07,734 --> 00:19:09,266
around the T&C for years.
377
00:19:10,133 --> 00:19:12,166
Detectives were able to confirm
378
00:19:12,333 --> 00:19:13,633
that Trevor Stang
379
00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,533
was their suspect
for both crimes.
380
00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:19,300
Sometimes we put out sketches
381
00:19:19,467 --> 00:19:21,066
and we might get
one or two tips.
382
00:19:21,233 --> 00:19:24,867
In this case, you know,
we had well over 60 tips,
383
00:19:25,033 --> 00:19:28,266
all indicating
that it was Stang.
384
00:19:28,433 --> 00:19:30,834
Trevor Stang was a--
385
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,400
at that time,
a lifelong offender,
386
00:19:33,567 --> 00:19:35,633
amassing a lot of convictions
over his life,
387
00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,200
up until the Subway Sandwich
Shop for crimes of violence,
388
00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:41,800
break and enters,
possession of stolen property,
389
00:19:41,967 --> 00:19:43,266
that sort of thing.
390
00:19:43,433 --> 00:19:45,967
This was a significant break,
391
00:19:46,133 --> 00:19:50,233
and Tara's mother reacted
by sending a message to Stang
392
00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,166
through a local newspaper.
393
00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:54,967
Back in those days
prior to social media,
394
00:19:55,133 --> 00:19:59,333
newspapers were a significant
way of communication,
395
00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:01,333
as was the traditional news,
396
00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:05,200
and so I don't think
there's anybody in the city
397
00:20:05,367 --> 00:20:07,233
that didn't know
what had happened
398
00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,800
and that we have
an innocent 25-year-old woman
399
00:20:09,967 --> 00:20:12,200
that's murdered while working.
400
00:20:12,367 --> 00:20:13,934
That shouldn't happen
in our city.
401
00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:16,967
And so when
the family comes forward
402
00:20:17,133 --> 00:20:19,467
and when the victim's mom
comes forward
403
00:20:19,633 --> 00:20:23,333
and basically pleads
for the killer
404
00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:25,567
to turn himself in,
that was pretty powerful.
405
00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:29,367
By now, investigators
406
00:20:29,533 --> 00:20:32,400
had also finally
tracked down Stang
407
00:20:32,567 --> 00:20:35,734
and put him
under 24-hour surveillance.
408
00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:37,000
There is a lot going on,
409
00:20:37,166 --> 00:20:38,500
and the investigators
are trying
410
00:20:38,667 --> 00:20:40,133
to balance the investigation
411
00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:42,133
as well as the risk
of keeping this person
412
00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:44,400
in our community
and not locked up.
413
00:20:44,567 --> 00:20:47,000
So we didn't have
anything significant
414
00:20:47,166 --> 00:20:49,266
to charge him
when it comes to the murder.
415
00:20:49,433 --> 00:20:51,133
Again,
it's all speculation.
416
00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:53,333
He's our suspect,
but it's because of the MO,
417
00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:54,867
it's because of the location,
418
00:20:55,033 --> 00:20:57,166
but that's not good enough
to arrest somebody.
419
00:20:58,767 --> 00:21:01,700
But police felt
the risk was too high.
420
00:21:01,867 --> 00:21:03,567
When covert officers saw him
421
00:21:03,734 --> 00:21:06,533
head towards
the same busy area
422
00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:10,066
where both violent crimes
had taken place.
423
00:21:11,667 --> 00:21:13,433
At 5:30 in the morning,
424
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:14,834
our surveillance units
425
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,033
indicate that Stang
is walking by himself
426
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,500
on a sidewalk
on 17th Avenue,
427
00:21:20,667 --> 00:21:22,133
and that's our opportunity.
428
00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:23,400
There's nobody else around.
429
00:21:23,567 --> 00:21:26,333
There's very few pedestrians,
very few cars.
430
00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:28,300
That was our opportunity
to make the arrest,
431
00:21:28,467 --> 00:21:31,100
and the detectives themselves
arrested him.
432
00:21:31,266 --> 00:21:34,400
Trevor Stang
was taken into custody.
433
00:21:34,567 --> 00:21:37,834
He's transported
to the arrest processing unit,
434
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,867
and not only
is he photographed,
435
00:21:41,033 --> 00:21:44,433
but also we seized the clothing
that he was wearing,
436
00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,133
and ultimately we sent
that clothing
437
00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:48,600
up to the crime lab
for analysis.
438
00:21:48,767 --> 00:21:51,567
Stang immediately
called his sister.
439
00:22:14,967 --> 00:22:18,333
At that point,
Trevor Stang was only charged
440
00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:22,433
in connection with the attack
and robbery at the ATM.
441
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,700
He called to update
his mother.
442
00:22:38,133 --> 00:22:40,734
That's when
key evidence related
443
00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:43,100
to the murder came to light.
444
00:22:43,266 --> 00:22:44,633
The investigators realized that
445
00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,600
where Stang's
sister's house is,
446
00:22:47,767 --> 00:22:50,033
and where Stang has been
staying multiple times,
447
00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,333
is just a short walk from where
the Subway homicide took place.
448
00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:58,066
On February 26th at 11:00 p.m.,
449
00:22:58,233 --> 00:23:00,667
investigators go
to the sister's residence
450
00:23:00,834 --> 00:23:02,867
with a search warrant,
and we were able to talk
451
00:23:03,033 --> 00:23:05,834
to the sister and obviously
search the residence
452
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,533
for some things
that we were looking for.
453
00:23:08,867 --> 00:23:11,867
As officers searched
Stang's sister's home,
454
00:23:12,033 --> 00:23:14,834
she agreed to go
to police headquarters
455
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,166
and speak with detectives.
456
00:23:17,333 --> 00:23:20,333
As part of that interview...
457
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:21,834
she was shown the video
458
00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,834
of the ATM robbery,
and she broke down.
459
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,533
It was pretty clear that
she knew who the offender was,
460
00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:31,367
and again,
it's a very violent attack,
461
00:23:31,533 --> 00:23:35,500
and she decided at that point
that she wanted to speak
462
00:23:35,667 --> 00:23:37,934
to police
and tell what happened.
463
00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:51,200
In the days following
the murder of Tara McDonald,
464
00:23:51,367 --> 00:23:54,300
police expanded
their search from the trail
465
00:23:54,467 --> 00:23:57,633
canine trackers
had originally identified.
466
00:23:59,166 --> 00:24:01,333
We've had a number
of Crime Stoppers tips come in,
467
00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,200
as you well know,
and some of the tips
468
00:24:03,367 --> 00:24:06,333
indicate that perhaps something
was either deposited or thrown
469
00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:09,000
into the field here, so that's
what we're searching for.
470
00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:13,700
Police recruited
volunteers skilled
471
00:24:13,867 --> 00:24:16,200
in using metal detectors.
472
00:24:16,367 --> 00:24:17,567
How good are these things?
473
00:24:17,734 --> 00:24:20,367
Very. I can pick up
the back off an earring
474
00:24:20,533 --> 00:24:23,500
three inches underground
with a good, clear signal.
475
00:24:23,667 --> 00:24:26,700
But in the end,
it wasn't these volunteers
476
00:24:26,867 --> 00:24:30,333
who located
key evidence in this case.
477
00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:31,734
We were doing
a grid search there
478
00:24:31,900 --> 00:24:33,300
with searchers,
including canine,
479
00:24:33,467 --> 00:24:35,233
and the team came across
480
00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,333
what we were looking for,
481
00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:37,734
one of the things we were
looking for.
482
00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:41,200
It's significant because
it's close to the Subway shop
483
00:24:41,367 --> 00:24:43,300
where the homicide took place
and the ATM.
484
00:24:43,467 --> 00:24:45,400
It helps us to establish
a number of things,
485
00:24:45,567 --> 00:24:48,100
including the path
of the person
486
00:24:48,266 --> 00:24:49,700
who took the cash register.
487
00:24:51,166 --> 00:24:55,266
We found
some black pieces of plastic.
488
00:24:55,433 --> 00:24:58,500
We also found what looked
like a metal cash drawer,
489
00:24:58,667 --> 00:25:01,734
and we also found that
some of the items had been
490
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:04,233
duct taped and they were
inside a plastic bag.
491
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,834
All of the exhibits were sent
492
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,834
for fingerprinting,
and sometimes this happens,
493
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,233
but unfortunately we weren't
able to get any further
494
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:17,333
forensics from those pieces
of evidence that we found.
495
00:25:19,467 --> 00:25:22,233
In the meantime,
forensic crime scenes officers
496
00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,867
continued to search
Trevor Stang's sister's home
497
00:25:26,033 --> 00:25:29,800
as she opened up
to homicide investigators.
498
00:25:29,967 --> 00:25:32,767
So she talked about
how earlier in the day
499
00:25:32,934 --> 00:25:36,734
that Stang had indicated that
he needed to go get some drugs.
500
00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:39,066
He left for a period of time.
501
00:25:39,233 --> 00:25:42,567
When he came back,
he had $30 cash.
502
00:25:42,734 --> 00:25:47,133
He had some vehicle
that had not been seen before.
503
00:25:47,300 --> 00:25:49,233
As investigators start
piecing this together
504
00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:50,834
and putting it together,
they realize that...
505
00:25:51,967 --> 00:25:54,667
the timeline seems to fit
with the ATM robbery
506
00:25:54,834 --> 00:25:57,000
where $30
were stolen from the victim,
507
00:25:57,166 --> 00:25:58,300
and the vehicle matches
508
00:25:58,467 --> 00:26:00,533
the vehicle
that was stolen from him.
509
00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:02,633
She also talks about
her boyfriend being
510
00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,667
at the house at the same time.
511
00:26:04,834 --> 00:26:08,900
So when Stang came back,
it was her, her brother,
512
00:26:09,066 --> 00:26:11,800
and her boyfriend, and they all
did drugs together.
513
00:26:11,967 --> 00:26:15,133
Throughout this time,
Stang is showing up
514
00:26:15,300 --> 00:26:18,900
with some money and or drugs,
or he has money,
515
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:20,800
he leaves, gets drugs,
comes back,
516
00:26:20,967 --> 00:26:22,633
they smoke it,
he then leaves again.
517
00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,066
So there's this coming
and going of Stang
518
00:26:25,233 --> 00:26:26,266
throughout that time.
519
00:26:28,133 --> 00:26:31,166
Carol Stang told police
that around 10:30
520
00:26:31,333 --> 00:26:32,834
on the night of the attacks,
521
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,400
her brother once again left
to get more money and drugs.
522
00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:42,000
She said he returned
about an hour later
523
00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:44,266
carrying a steel box.
524
00:26:44,433 --> 00:26:46,834
And the three of them, Stang,
525
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,767
his sister and her boyfriend,
526
00:26:48,934 --> 00:26:52,133
all are attempting
to gain access to this box.
527
00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:54,467
When they did
get access to the box,
528
00:26:54,633 --> 00:26:56,700
there was a couple
hundred dollars in there.
529
00:26:56,867 --> 00:27:00,767
Stang's sister indicates that
she knew that the box
530
00:27:00,934 --> 00:27:02,900
came from Subway
because of the pieces of paper
531
00:27:03,066 --> 00:27:05,233
that were in there,
but she just assumed
532
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:06,567
that it was a theft.
533
00:27:06,734 --> 00:27:08,133
And it wasn't
until the next morning
534
00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:11,166
when it really broke
on the news,
535
00:27:11,333 --> 00:27:12,633
that she saw that
there had been
536
00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,066
a homicide at the Subway,
and that's when she was able
537
00:27:16,233 --> 00:27:19,767
to piece things together
and realize that her brother
538
00:27:19,934 --> 00:27:22,433
very, very likely
committed a homicide.
539
00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,700
She indicated to us that as
she was panicking and trying to
540
00:27:25,867 --> 00:27:28,233
clean some of these items,
she took them out of the house
541
00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:29,734
and got rid of them,
542
00:27:29,900 --> 00:27:32,367
but that she would be willing
to show us where they were.
543
00:27:33,633 --> 00:27:35,200
In the middle of the night,
544
00:27:35,367 --> 00:27:39,066
the murder suspect
Trevor Stang's own sister,
545
00:27:39,233 --> 00:27:41,266
agreed to walk investigators
546
00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:44,767
to the place she had disposed
of key evidence.
547
00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:48,767
This is Sunday,
February 27th.
548
00:27:48,934 --> 00:27:50,266
It's 3:30 a.m.
549
00:27:50,433 --> 00:27:53,667
We're now at 2804
46th Street Southeast,
550
00:27:53,834 --> 00:27:55,333
and this is Carol Stang.
551
00:27:55,500 --> 00:27:57,433
- Carol Stang.
- I'm John Dukes.
552
00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,166
I acknowledge that
you're still under oath,
553
00:27:59,333 --> 00:28:02,066
that we were able to provide
you with a KGB statement.
554
00:28:02,233 --> 00:28:04,767
Now you've offered to take me
from your house and show me
555
00:28:04,934 --> 00:28:06,633
- where some items were stashed.
- Yes.
556
00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:08,400
Okay, this is
all of your own free will.
557
00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:09,467
Yes.
558
00:28:09,633 --> 00:28:10,700
You're not being
forced to do this.
559
00:28:10,867 --> 00:28:12,200
No.
560
00:28:12,367 --> 00:28:13,800
We appreciate your cooperation,
and this is all the truth.
561
00:28:13,967 --> 00:28:15,033
All the truth.
562
00:28:18,133 --> 00:28:20,266
Carol Stang
told police she hid
563
00:28:20,433 --> 00:28:23,100
the cash drawer
near this tree,
564
00:28:23,266 --> 00:28:26,633
which is exactly
where officers had located it
565
00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,100
during their grid search
just hours earlier.
566
00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,600
Stang's sister
told us that she found
567
00:29:00,767 --> 00:29:02,800
a ball-peen hammer
in the residence.
568
00:29:02,967 --> 00:29:06,333
She believed that
it was the homicide weapon,
569
00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,567
and in fact had taken steps
570
00:29:08,734 --> 00:29:10,500
to clean
that particular hammer.
571
00:29:10,667 --> 00:29:12,500
Again, that was
hold-back information
572
00:29:12,667 --> 00:29:14,066
that we hadn't told anybody.
573
00:29:16,433 --> 00:29:19,834
The hammer was covered in snow,
and really it was just
574
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,533
a partial piece of the hammer
that we're seeing,
575
00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:26,033
but the fact that she was able
to lead directly
576
00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,900
to there and point out exactly
where she put the hammer,
577
00:29:30,066 --> 00:29:32,166
again just adds
to the reliability
578
00:29:32,333 --> 00:29:33,900
of the information
she's giving.
579
00:29:34,066 --> 00:29:37,000
She did say that
she had cleaned the hammer,
580
00:29:37,166 --> 00:29:41,800
and when we sent it to the lab,
forensics did indicate that
581
00:29:41,967 --> 00:29:43,533
it looked like
it had been cleaned,
582
00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:45,700
and so there was no DNA
583
00:29:45,867 --> 00:29:48,400
that we were able
to get that was usable.
584
00:29:48,567 --> 00:29:51,033
That night,
Carol Stang told her boyfriend
585
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,200
to cooperate
and tell officers the truth.
586
00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,500
Okay, good.
587
00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,567
Suddenly,
police had a mountain
588
00:30:39,734 --> 00:30:43,133
of evidence against Trevor
Stang for both the attack
589
00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:47,000
at the ATM and the murder
of Tara McDonald.
590
00:30:47,166 --> 00:30:51,033
But investigators continued
to gather further proof
591
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,934
against him while he was
in custody awaiting trial.
592
00:30:56,100 --> 00:30:57,633
So one of the things
that Stang was doing
593
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,166
while he was in remand
was he was calling people
594
00:31:00,333 --> 00:31:04,100
and having conversations
with them about what he did,
595
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:07,000
and essentially
was making confessions to them.
596
00:31:07,166 --> 00:31:10,033
Those calls
were recorded and included
597
00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,200
this one to his mother.
598
00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,300
Stang reached out
to several friends.
599
00:31:45,266 --> 00:31:47,967
In one conversation,
he complained about
600
00:31:48,133 --> 00:31:51,000
his sister's cooperation
with police.
601
00:32:33,100 --> 00:32:36,266
And then,
Stang admitted to attacking
602
00:32:36,433 --> 00:32:38,734
Tara McDonald with a hammer.
603
00:32:59,967 --> 00:33:04,667
We have Stang,
who is caught on wiretap,
604
00:33:04,834 --> 00:33:09,233
actually admitting to striking
Tara McDonald on the head
605
00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,166
with a hammer and killing her.
606
00:33:11,333 --> 00:33:15,100
Also striking the ATM victim
on the head with a hammer.
607
00:33:15,266 --> 00:33:18,567
And that's all caught
with his own voice,
608
00:33:18,734 --> 00:33:20,934
which is a very,
very powerful confession.
609
00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:24,200
But would this new evidence
610
00:33:24,367 --> 00:33:25,900
be enough to convince
611
00:33:26,066 --> 00:33:28,900
a jury beyond
a reasonable doubt?
612
00:33:40,333 --> 00:33:41,233
Welcome back.
613
00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,533
Two seemingly random
acts of violence
614
00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:46,900
just ten blocks from each other
left one person dead,
615
00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:48,700
another badly injured.
616
00:33:48,867 --> 00:33:50,934
Both victims were attacked
with a hammer,
617
00:33:51,100 --> 00:33:54,033
leading police
to look at the same suspect.
618
00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,300
But will key evidence
from his own sister
619
00:33:56,467 --> 00:33:59,100
be enough to secure justice
for Tara McDonald?
620
00:34:01,367 --> 00:34:02,767
Here now is Nancy Hixt
621
00:34:02,934 --> 00:34:05,867
with a conclusion
of "The Night Shift."
622
00:34:17,967 --> 00:34:19,133
So this here is the...
623
00:34:20,166 --> 00:34:22,533
BMO where
the first attack happened,
624
00:34:22,700 --> 00:34:26,000
right in the vestibule
here at the ATM.
625
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,467
And then
about ten blocks behind us,
626
00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:33,867
in that direction,
is where the subway is,
627
00:34:34,033 --> 00:34:36,633
or was,
and where we had the murder.
628
00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:44,867
On a cold winter night
in February of 2000,
629
00:34:45,033 --> 00:34:47,533
police believed
a drug addict's desire
630
00:34:47,700 --> 00:34:52,567
for money and cocaine-fuelled
a violent crime spree
631
00:34:52,734 --> 00:34:55,533
that left one man
with a brain injury
632
00:34:55,700 --> 00:34:57,266
and a young woman dead.
633
00:34:57,433 --> 00:34:59,400
What we have
is a prolific offender
634
00:34:59,567 --> 00:35:01,133
that was addicted to drugs,
635
00:35:01,300 --> 00:35:03,500
and that's
what he cared about,
636
00:35:03,667 --> 00:35:05,266
was getting money
to buy drugs.
637
00:35:05,433 --> 00:35:07,767
That would be
the prosecution's theory
638
00:35:07,934 --> 00:35:09,900
in two separate trials.
639
00:35:10,066 --> 00:35:13,300
So after the ATM
robbery, where he gets $30
640
00:35:13,467 --> 00:35:16,533
from the victim's wallet
and the car,
641
00:35:16,700 --> 00:35:18,567
he goes back
to his sister's place,
642
00:35:18,734 --> 00:35:20,400
tells them that
he has this car,
643
00:35:20,567 --> 00:35:21,734
which they ask him to park
644
00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:23,800
somewhere else,
and he's got $30.
645
00:35:23,967 --> 00:35:26,834
So he then goes out
to buy some crack cocaine,
646
00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:28,934
comes back,
$30 of crack cocaine
647
00:35:29,100 --> 00:35:32,066
doesn't last long,
they use up the crack cocaine.
648
00:35:32,233 --> 00:35:34,900
Then he has the brilliant idea
of going to get more money
649
00:35:35,066 --> 00:35:36,400
to buy more crack cocaine.
650
00:35:36,567 --> 00:35:38,300
That's where
Tara McDonald came in.
651
00:35:38,467 --> 00:35:42,133
These types of crimes
are target-focused.
652
00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:45,800
The target is the money,
and however you get
653
00:35:45,967 --> 00:35:47,233
the money
doesn't really matter.
654
00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,166
So whether
it is hitting someone
655
00:35:49,333 --> 00:35:51,600
over the head with a hammer,
stealing a car,
656
00:35:51,767 --> 00:35:55,100
breaking into a home,
any of those things,
657
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:58,133
the target is to get
the money to get the drugs,
658
00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:00,734
and then you need to get
more money to get more drugs,
659
00:36:00,900 --> 00:36:03,500
and so it is crime that fuels
660
00:36:03,667 --> 00:36:07,066
that repetitive,
endless cycle.
661
00:36:07,233 --> 00:36:09,500
At the onset
of the first trial
662
00:36:09,667 --> 00:36:13,133
for the attack at the ATM
that was caught on video,
663
00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:16,367
Trevor Stang pleaded guilty
to robbery,
664
00:36:16,533 --> 00:36:19,834
but he denied
attempting to kill the victim.
665
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,867
A key forensic finding
in this case came from
666
00:36:23,033 --> 00:36:26,500
the jeans that Trevor Stang was
wearing when he was arrested.
667
00:36:26,667 --> 00:36:31,800
Those jeans had blood on them,
and through DNA testing,
668
00:36:31,967 --> 00:36:34,233
that was linked
not to Tara McDonald,
669
00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:37,400
but to the ATM robbery victim.
670
00:36:37,567 --> 00:36:41,700
And so that also helped
to link his involvement
671
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:44,300
in the spree
that occurred that evening.
672
00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:47,166
In the end,
a judge acquitted him
673
00:36:47,333 --> 00:36:48,533
of attempted murder
674
00:36:48,700 --> 00:36:51,900
and convicted him
of aggravated assault.
675
00:36:53,166 --> 00:36:56,133
In handing down
a ten-year prison term,
676
00:36:56,300 --> 00:37:01,000
the judge noted Stang
made no expression of remorse.
677
00:37:03,567 --> 00:37:08,166
Then, in the fall of 2001,
Tara McDonald's mother
678
00:37:08,333 --> 00:37:11,633
went to court to see
her daughter's accused killer
679
00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:14,734
stand trial
in front of a jury.
680
00:37:17,700 --> 00:37:20,100
The Subway Sandwich Shop murder
681
00:37:20,266 --> 00:37:23,433
was a crime of convenience.
682
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,100
Tara McDonald
was a young woman working
683
00:37:26,266 --> 00:37:29,166
at the Subway Sandwich Shop,
working by herself at night.
684
00:37:29,333 --> 00:37:30,867
She wasn't hanging around
with the wrong people.
685
00:37:31,033 --> 00:37:32,200
She wasn't doing bad things.
686
00:37:32,367 --> 00:37:34,834
She was just doing her job.
687
00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:38,400
And that's the kind of murder
that people are more afraid of,
688
00:37:38,567 --> 00:37:40,600
where you're just doing
your life.
689
00:37:40,767 --> 00:37:42,533
You're just doing things
in life,
690
00:37:42,700 --> 00:37:45,266
and you happen
to be the chosen victim.
691
00:37:45,433 --> 00:37:48,200
Little did she know,
but Trevor Stang was out
692
00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:51,867
looking to make some quick cash
to buy some crack cocaine.
693
00:37:52,033 --> 00:37:53,867
He went into
the Subway Sandwich Shop.
694
00:37:54,033 --> 00:37:56,467
She was working alone.
There were no customers.
695
00:37:56,633 --> 00:38:00,734
He went up to her and,
with a four-pound hammer,
696
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:03,133
struck her on the back of
the head,
697
00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:05,433
collapsing her skull,
698
00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:08,333
and then stole
the cash register.
699
00:38:08,500 --> 00:38:11,100
He wasn't smart enough
to open the cash register,
700
00:38:11,266 --> 00:38:14,600
so he actually stole
the entire cash register
701
00:38:14,767 --> 00:38:17,166
and then ran away with it.
702
00:38:17,333 --> 00:38:20,266
Along with
wiretap admissions Stang made
703
00:38:20,433 --> 00:38:22,800
while in custody
awaiting trial,
704
00:38:22,967 --> 00:38:24,433
the jury heard evidence
705
00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,600
from Stang's own sister
and her boyfriend.
706
00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:31,200
His calls
from the remand centre made it
707
00:38:31,367 --> 00:38:33,667
very clear
that he was the killer.
708
00:38:33,834 --> 00:38:38,967
His remand centre calls alone
probably would have put him
709
00:38:39,133 --> 00:38:42,066
in the frame for conviction.
710
00:38:42,233 --> 00:38:46,033
But his sister's evidence
really gave us the context
711
00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:49,233
for the robbery, for coming
home with the cash drawer,
712
00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:51,567
for getting rid of the
evidence,
713
00:38:51,734 --> 00:38:52,767
that sort of thing.
714
00:38:54,834 --> 00:38:58,166
The evidence against
Stang was overwhelming,
715
00:38:58,333 --> 00:39:02,300
yet he refused
to admit to the murder.
716
00:39:02,467 --> 00:39:05,467
The defence was that
this was a manslaughter.
717
00:39:05,633 --> 00:39:08,133
The argument
before the jury was that
718
00:39:08,300 --> 00:39:11,700
there was no intent to kill,
no intent to cause bodily harm
719
00:39:11,867 --> 00:39:13,767
that would rise
to the level of murder.
720
00:39:13,934 --> 00:39:16,867
This was an unintentional
killing,
721
00:39:17,033 --> 00:39:18,533
a robbery gone bad.
722
00:39:19,500 --> 00:39:21,400
And that was
the logical argument
723
00:39:21,567 --> 00:39:23,233
for the defence to make
to the jury.
724
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,567
After hearing nearly
three weeks of evidence,
725
00:39:27,734 --> 00:39:31,667
the jury deliberated
for just five hours.
726
00:39:31,834 --> 00:39:35,166
The jury did not convict
of first-degree murder,
727
00:39:35,333 --> 00:39:38,600
and it was absolutely open
to them to do what they did.
728
00:39:38,767 --> 00:39:40,767
They convicted him
of second-degree murder.
729
00:39:40,934 --> 00:39:42,533
They could have convicted him
of first-degree murder,
730
00:39:42,700 --> 00:39:44,066
but they clearly
weren't satisfied
731
00:39:44,233 --> 00:39:47,100
beyond a reasonable doubt that
there had been enough planning
732
00:39:47,266 --> 00:39:49,066
or premeditation to rise
733
00:39:49,233 --> 00:39:50,567
to the level
of first-degree murder.
734
00:39:50,734 --> 00:39:52,900
But they clearly had
no difficulty convicting him
735
00:39:53,066 --> 00:39:55,400
of second-degree murder
because they were satisfied
736
00:39:55,567 --> 00:39:57,166
there was an intent to kill
737
00:39:57,333 --> 00:39:59,834
or an intent
to cause bodily harm
738
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,200
and being reckless as
to whether death ensued or not.
739
00:40:03,367 --> 00:40:05,000
Prior to being sentenced,
740
00:40:05,166 --> 00:40:06,900
Stang stood up in court
741
00:40:07,066 --> 00:40:10,200
and said he wished
he could take it back.
742
00:40:10,367 --> 00:40:12,000
I mean, you say
I'm sorry to people
743
00:40:12,166 --> 00:40:13,667
when you bump into them
on the street.
744
00:40:13,834 --> 00:40:15,400
You don't say I'm sorry
to their families
745
00:40:15,567 --> 00:40:17,667
after you hit them
over the head with a hammer.
746
00:40:17,834 --> 00:40:20,400
Stang was sentenced
to life in prison
747
00:40:20,567 --> 00:40:23,800
with no chance
of parole for 18 years.
748
00:40:25,066 --> 00:40:26,233
It's a fair sentence.
749
00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:28,467
This was a terrible crime.
750
00:40:28,633 --> 00:40:29,734
There's no doubt about it,
751
00:40:29,900 --> 00:40:33,867
and it resulted
in very tragic consequences.
752
00:40:34,033 --> 00:40:36,567
Well, all the evidence
went before the judge.
753
00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:38,500
I think he considered
all the appropriate factors,
754
00:40:38,667 --> 00:40:42,300
and he gave a decision
that's within the range in law.
755
00:40:42,467 --> 00:40:45,033
I'm a bit disappointed,
but that just meant that
756
00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,367
he can't fight to get out
until 18 years is up,
757
00:40:49,533 --> 00:40:50,767
doesn't mean
he's going to get out
758
00:40:50,934 --> 00:40:52,934
if I have anything
to do with it .
759
00:40:54,533 --> 00:40:57,367
Even with
Tara's killer behind bars,
760
00:40:57,533 --> 00:41:00,333
there was no peace
for her mother.
761
00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:02,934
I thought it was unfinished
because I do believe that...
762
00:41:04,033 --> 00:41:07,667
not out of revenge
or anything,
763
00:41:07,834 --> 00:41:10,533
they should have to face
the victim's family.
764
00:41:10,700 --> 00:41:13,467
She decided
to visit Trevor Stang
765
00:41:13,633 --> 00:41:15,533
at Bowden Institution.
766
00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:17,934
Because I was raised that...
767
00:41:18,100 --> 00:41:20,066
prisons are
country club settings
768
00:41:20,233 --> 00:41:21,967
and that
they can get their education,
769
00:41:22,133 --> 00:41:27,667
and I'd never had anything
to do with the justice system.
770
00:41:27,834 --> 00:41:33,000
So to go in and go through
the doors that slam
771
00:41:33,166 --> 00:41:36,333
automatically behind you
and the security clearance.
772
00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:42,867
And then it was in a room half
this size just across a table.
773
00:41:43,033 --> 00:41:46,000
They brought him in,
handcuffed and shackled,
774
00:41:46,166 --> 00:41:49,033
and he was
absolutely terrified.
775
00:41:50,367 --> 00:41:52,300
And I think
that might have given me...
776
00:41:53,700 --> 00:41:55,633
the strength to...
777
00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:57,600
I wasn't going to buckle
in front of him.
778
00:41:57,767 --> 00:42:00,200
Oh, he was crying,
and he...
779
00:42:01,266 --> 00:42:02,834
apologized prophetically,
780
00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:07,000
and he kept asking me
if I forgave him,
781
00:42:07,166 --> 00:42:09,834
and I said,
"No, that's not up to me.
782
00:42:11,300 --> 00:42:14,667
I don't have to forgive you,
it's not my place."
783
00:42:14,834 --> 00:42:15,667
You know?
784
00:42:16,633 --> 00:42:20,800
He said Tara was his only
victim he had ever left behind.
785
00:42:21,867 --> 00:42:24,567
And I said, "But you had
40-some prior convictions,
786
00:42:24,734 --> 00:42:28,467
maybe not murder,
but other victims."
787
00:42:30,100 --> 00:42:32,033
And he didn't see them
as victims
788
00:42:32,200 --> 00:42:33,400
because they were alive.
789
00:42:36,767 --> 00:42:39,500
Stang remains in prison.
790
00:42:39,667 --> 00:42:43,100
Deb Dore continues to attend
his parole hearings
791
00:42:43,266 --> 00:42:44,800
and even visited him
792
00:42:44,967 --> 00:42:49,333
for a second time
in custody in 2025.
793
00:42:49,500 --> 00:42:52,533
He was just
very quiet and reserved
794
00:42:52,700 --> 00:42:55,433
and said he'd served
his sentence,
795
00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:58,800
and I said, "Yes,
but your 25-year sentence
796
00:42:58,967 --> 00:43:00,600
is what they consider life,
797
00:43:00,767 --> 00:43:02,667
where I get the life
sentence...
798
00:43:03,967 --> 00:43:05,433
without my daughter."
799
00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:08,834
And he didn't say
nothing to that.
800
00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:10,967
I really don't feel
anything towards him.
801
00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,500
Like I say,
I think I'm more angry about...
802
00:43:15,700 --> 00:43:17,567
well, I'm angry at him,
and I always will be,
803
00:43:17,734 --> 00:43:20,100
but not to the point where
it's going to eat me alive.
804
00:43:21,367 --> 00:43:25,066
I don't care if he forgets me,
but I don't want him
805
00:43:25,233 --> 00:43:27,100
to ever forget
what he did to her.
806
00:43:32,433 --> 00:43:33,700
Deb often visits
807
00:43:33,867 --> 00:43:36,166
her daughter's
final resting place
808
00:43:36,333 --> 00:43:39,100
at a cemetery
not far from the home
809
00:43:39,266 --> 00:43:41,867
where Tara grew up
in Lethbridge.
810
00:43:43,767 --> 00:43:46,100
Every time, she's reminded
811
00:43:46,266 --> 00:43:49,166
of the magnitude
of what she lost.
812
00:43:50,367 --> 00:43:53,233
There's been lots of
weddings and births.
813
00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:55,700
I'm lucky enough,
I've got ten grandchildren
814
00:43:55,867 --> 00:43:58,033
and two great-grandchildren.
815
00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:00,133
And...
816
00:44:00,300 --> 00:44:02,967
I see what they missed out on.
817
00:44:03,133 --> 00:44:05,400
To me,
all my kids were spectacular,
818
00:44:05,567 --> 00:44:09,266
but Tara fought
for everything she had...
819
00:44:10,633 --> 00:44:12,667
and excelled at everything
820
00:44:12,834 --> 00:44:16,500
and still never lost
the compassion or the caring.
821
00:44:17,767 --> 00:44:18,867
She would help anyway.
822
00:44:19,033 --> 00:44:20,567
I mean,
if he demanded the money,
823
00:44:20,734 --> 00:44:23,066
she probably would have made
him a sandwich to go with it.
824
00:44:27,467 --> 00:44:29,767
When Trevor Stang
was convicted of murder,
825
00:44:29,934 --> 00:44:31,066
he had a record with
826
00:44:31,233 --> 00:44:34,066
approximately 40
prior convictions.
827
00:44:34,233 --> 00:44:37,633
Stang was also investigated
in relation to hammer attacks
828
00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:41,900
and robberies involving
two cab drivers in 1999.
829
00:44:42,066 --> 00:44:45,500
In the end, he was convicted
of one count of robbery.
830
00:44:45,667 --> 00:44:48,000
Tara McDonald's family
hoped her death
831
00:44:48,166 --> 00:44:50,500
would lead to laws
being passed preventing
832
00:44:50,667 --> 00:44:53,900
businesses from having
solo workers at night.
833
00:44:54,066 --> 00:44:56,367
But that never happened
in Alberta.
834
00:44:58,867 --> 00:45:01,600
Thank you for joining us
tonight on Crime Beat.
835
00:45:01,767 --> 00:45:02,834
I'm Antony Robart.
836
00:45:04,266 --> 00:45:06,000
Want more episodes
of Crime Beat?
837
00:45:06,166 --> 00:45:07,967
Listen to
the Crime Beat podcast
838
00:45:08,133 --> 00:45:11,433
now for free
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
839
00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:14,066
or wherever you find
your favourite podcasts.
840
00:45:14,233 --> 00:45:16,467
And for past episodes
of Crime Beat,
841
00:45:16,633 --> 00:45:20,433
go to the Global TV app,
visit globaltv.com
842
00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:23,667
or check out
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