1 00:00:02,544 --> 00:00:04,337 STEVEN: April 23rd, 2 00:00:04,379 --> 00:00:08,008 a family of five had been reported missing. 3 00:00:08,049 --> 00:00:09,342 JEFF: It was big news. 4 00:00:09,384 --> 00:00:13,179 How could a family just disappear? 5 00:00:13,221 --> 00:00:15,682 THOMM: An individual discovered a vehicle 6 00:00:15,724 --> 00:00:17,434 that had been burned. 7 00:00:17,475 --> 00:00:22,355 RODNEY: I looked into the back and I recognize human bone. 8 00:00:22,397 --> 00:00:25,108 THOMM: We were now investigating a homicide 9 00:00:25,150 --> 00:00:28,445 of five members of the same family. 10 00:00:30,238 --> 00:00:32,574 A witness felt that the stepbrother 11 00:00:32,615 --> 00:00:36,202 would have information about the homicides. 12 00:00:36,244 --> 00:00:38,038 RODNEY: Some spray painting showed up 13 00:00:38,079 --> 00:00:40,331 that's possibly linked to a Satanic cult. 14 00:00:40,373 --> 00:00:44,336 Did Satanic cult have anything to do with this crime? 15 00:00:45,295 --> 00:00:47,213 JEFF: An entire family massacre 16 00:00:47,255 --> 00:00:49,883 and the question on everyone's mind was, 17 00:00:49,924 --> 00:00:52,802 "Who could do such a thing?" 18 00:00:52,844 --> 00:00:55,055 [fire crackling] 19 00:00:55,096 --> 00:00:58,475 [theme music playing] 20 00:01:07,192 --> 00:01:09,361 [dramatic music playing] 21 00:01:09,402 --> 00:01:11,154 RODNEY: Cushing, Wisconsin is located 22 00:01:11,196 --> 00:01:14,115 in West Central Wisconsin 23 00:01:14,157 --> 00:01:17,619 not too far from the, uh, Minnesota border. 24 00:01:19,204 --> 00:01:21,998 STEVEN: Geographically-remote area 25 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,251 at least in terms of the rest of the county. 26 00:01:25,293 --> 00:01:30,382 An area that's more known for its Jack pine forest. 27 00:01:30,423 --> 00:01:35,095 THOMM: This is an area that has a very low crime rate. 28 00:01:35,136 --> 00:01:38,056 Nearly any crimes that are committed in this area 29 00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:40,433 are simple cabin break-ins. 30 00:01:40,475 --> 00:01:45,647 And the county itself has a very, very low murder rate. 31 00:01:45,689 --> 00:01:49,401 [tense music playing] 32 00:01:49,442 --> 00:01:52,320 THOMM: On April 24th, 1991, 33 00:01:52,362 --> 00:01:55,532 Alice Anderson called the Polk County Sherriff's Department 34 00:01:55,573 --> 00:02:00,787 regarding her 15-year-old son, Bruce Brenizer. 35 00:02:00,829 --> 00:02:05,917 STEVEN: Bruce reported to his mother on April 23rd, 36 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:09,754 the day prior, that his father, Rick, 37 00:02:09,796 --> 00:02:14,718 and his father's girlfriend, Ruth Berentson, 38 00:02:14,759 --> 00:02:17,303 and his two stepsisters 39 00:02:17,345 --> 00:02:20,223 and his half-sister Mindy, and Heidi, 40 00:02:20,265 --> 00:02:22,851 and Crystal, were missing. 41 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:26,396 THOMM: Alice Anderson, Bruce's mother, 42 00:02:26,438 --> 00:02:29,482 stated during her phone call that Bruce said 43 00:02:29,524 --> 00:02:32,819 that two days earlier on April 22nd, 44 00:02:32,861 --> 00:02:38,074 his family left on a trip to a store in Minnesota 45 00:02:38,116 --> 00:02:40,410 and did not return home. 46 00:02:40,452 --> 00:02:42,203 Bruce awoke the next morning 47 00:02:42,245 --> 00:02:46,207 and the family had not returned. 48 00:02:46,249 --> 00:02:48,585 Bruce's mother instructed him 49 00:02:48,626 --> 00:02:51,338 to come to her residence after school. 50 00:02:51,379 --> 00:02:55,258 He did go to her house and she made phone calls 51 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:59,679 to the Brenizer residence and received no answer. 52 00:03:00,764 --> 00:03:03,099 The next day, April 24th, 53 00:03:03,141 --> 00:03:05,685 there was still no answer. 54 00:03:05,727 --> 00:03:08,855 So she called the Polk County Sheriff's Department 55 00:03:08,897 --> 00:03:10,940 and reported the family missing. 56 00:03:10,982 --> 00:03:15,362 [dramatic music playing] 57 00:03:15,403 --> 00:03:17,739 RODNEY: When this family was reported missing, 58 00:03:17,781 --> 00:03:20,158 there's just an endless amount of possibilities 59 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:21,785 that the investigators have to consider. 60 00:03:21,826 --> 00:03:25,205 I mean, did they drive away intentionally? 61 00:03:25,246 --> 00:03:28,750 So we start doing interviews of all the contacts 62 00:03:28,792 --> 00:03:31,586 that this family had, retracing their whereabouts, 63 00:03:31,628 --> 00:03:33,713 trying to establish where they had gone, 64 00:03:33,755 --> 00:03:37,008 what they had done, talking to family members, 65 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:39,594 neighbors, acquaintances. 66 00:03:39,636 --> 00:03:42,931 THOMM: Family members said that Rick Brenizer 67 00:03:42,972 --> 00:03:44,724 was a hardworking individual 68 00:03:44,766 --> 00:03:48,687 who earned a living with a number of part-time jobs. 69 00:03:48,728 --> 00:03:52,399 He worked for a turkey producer doing fencing 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,444 and he did some fencing on his own as a freelancer. 71 00:03:57,529 --> 00:03:59,531 STEVEN: Rick's father had suggested 72 00:03:59,572 --> 00:04:01,366 that when he on a fencing job, 73 00:04:01,408 --> 00:04:04,703 he would occasionally leave the home for a job 74 00:04:04,744 --> 00:04:06,705 that was too far away and occasionally 75 00:04:06,746 --> 00:04:09,207 was known to bring his family with him. 76 00:04:09,249 --> 00:04:12,252 That was one possible scenario. 77 00:04:12,293 --> 00:04:14,295 THOMM: Rick would sell things 78 00:04:14,337 --> 00:04:17,173 at a local flea market on weekends. 79 00:04:17,215 --> 00:04:20,802 We talked to the owner of the flea market. 80 00:04:20,844 --> 00:04:23,596 He said that Rick had reserved a unit 81 00:04:23,638 --> 00:04:27,225 for April 27th but did not show up. 82 00:04:27,267 --> 00:04:29,728 He said that that was very unusual for Rick 83 00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:32,689 to not show up when he has a reservation. 84 00:04:33,773 --> 00:04:37,819 We still had no leads as to what had happened 85 00:04:37,861 --> 00:04:39,446 to the Brenizer family. 86 00:04:39,487 --> 00:04:44,451 So it was decided that we would talk to Ricky's son, Bruce. 87 00:04:44,492 --> 00:04:47,454 STEVEN: Investigators from the city of St. Croix Falls 88 00:04:47,495 --> 00:04:50,623 went to the high school to speak with Bruce, 89 00:04:50,665 --> 00:04:52,751 to try to obtain some more information 90 00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:57,130 about the last time that he saw his family. 91 00:04:57,172 --> 00:04:59,341 Bruce simply indicated that his family 92 00:04:59,382 --> 00:05:03,261 had all went in the family station wagon 93 00:05:03,303 --> 00:05:06,139 to Minnesota in the Twin Cities area 94 00:05:06,181 --> 00:05:07,807 to go to Menards, 95 00:05:07,849 --> 00:05:11,519 which is a builders supply type store. 96 00:05:11,561 --> 00:05:12,896 They were to get supplies 97 00:05:12,937 --> 00:05:16,399 and they were to come home late that evening. 98 00:05:16,441 --> 00:05:18,485 THOMM: Bruce said his father Ricky 99 00:05:18,526 --> 00:05:21,154 had asked him to come along to Minnesota 100 00:05:21,196 --> 00:05:22,822 to buy these materials. 101 00:05:22,864 --> 00:05:26,701 However, Bruce said that he had too much homework to do. 102 00:05:26,743 --> 00:05:28,953 STEVEN: There was a bit of an argument 103 00:05:28,995 --> 00:05:31,373 between Rick and Bruce 104 00:05:31,414 --> 00:05:34,751 about whether or not Bruce was to go with them. 105 00:05:34,793 --> 00:05:38,046 Rick relented and allowed Bruce to stay home. 106 00:05:38,088 --> 00:05:41,883 And that's the last time that he saw his family. 107 00:05:44,344 --> 00:05:47,514 After interviews with Bruce 108 00:05:47,555 --> 00:05:49,683 and family members and relatives 109 00:05:49,724 --> 00:05:52,936 and those people who worked with Rick Brenizer, 110 00:05:52,977 --> 00:05:56,815 it is not likely that Rick would have taken his family 111 00:05:56,856 --> 00:06:00,443 and suddenly disappeared from the area. 112 00:06:00,485 --> 00:06:03,279 THOMM: There just is no explainable reason 113 00:06:03,321 --> 00:06:05,031 for the family to leave 114 00:06:05,073 --> 00:06:08,535 unless they had gone to the store in Minnesota 115 00:06:08,576 --> 00:06:11,579 and something had happened to them en route 116 00:06:11,621 --> 00:06:13,873 or while returning home. 117 00:06:14,916 --> 00:06:17,377 While we were looking for information 118 00:06:17,419 --> 00:06:19,295 on the Brenizer family, 119 00:06:19,337 --> 00:06:22,173 we learned that Ricky Brenizer 120 00:06:22,215 --> 00:06:25,468 had been married to Alice Anderson. 121 00:06:25,510 --> 00:06:30,932 Ricky and Alice had one son, Bruce. 122 00:06:30,974 --> 00:06:35,020 At some point, Ricky and Alice had broken up. 123 00:06:35,061 --> 00:06:38,148 Alice married Ron Anderson. 124 00:06:38,189 --> 00:06:41,317 And Ricky met Ruth Berentson. 125 00:06:41,359 --> 00:06:44,404 STEVEN: Ruth had two daughters 126 00:06:44,446 --> 00:06:47,073 from a previous relationship, 127 00:06:47,115 --> 00:06:50,618 Mindy and Heidi. 128 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:54,539 And then together, Ruth and Rick Brenizer 129 00:06:54,581 --> 00:06:57,000 had a daughter, Crystal. 130 00:06:57,042 --> 00:06:59,919 THOMM: The Brenizer family lived together 131 00:06:59,961 --> 00:07:02,172 in a mobile home in Sterling Township 132 00:07:02,213 --> 00:07:07,469 which was 10 miles west of the community of Cushing. 133 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,805 RODNEY: When we look at the Brenizer family, 134 00:07:10,847 --> 00:07:13,767 uh, they're a hardworking family without a lot of resources. 135 00:07:13,808 --> 00:07:16,728 They're trying to make a go of it with four children at home, 136 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:18,730 Bruce and then the three daughters. 137 00:07:18,772 --> 00:07:22,275 Financially, they're not wealthy people. 138 00:07:22,317 --> 00:07:24,611 It's a difficult living arrangement 139 00:07:24,652 --> 00:07:26,988 but it's a family unit. 140 00:07:29,366 --> 00:07:31,159 After several days, we still know 141 00:07:31,201 --> 00:07:34,537 about the Brenizer family members' whereabouts. 142 00:07:34,579 --> 00:07:37,707 As time went by and no trace was showing up, 143 00:07:37,749 --> 00:07:40,460 it just led to greater speculation 144 00:07:40,502 --> 00:07:43,963 of different possibilities of what happened to them. 145 00:07:44,005 --> 00:07:46,633 It seemed that Brenizer family just didn't pack up 146 00:07:46,675 --> 00:07:49,427 and leave the area and start anew someplace. 147 00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:53,056 Five people just don't vanish with no trace. 148 00:07:53,098 --> 00:07:56,559 THOMM: Now, we have to shift our investigation 149 00:07:56,601 --> 00:07:59,646 from a missing persons' investigation 150 00:07:59,688 --> 00:08:02,565 to looking for evidence of foul play. 151 00:08:03,942 --> 00:08:05,443 On April 27th, 152 00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:08,321 we contacted that Fridley Menards store 153 00:08:08,363 --> 00:08:13,243 where Bruce said that his father went to buy lumber supplies. 154 00:08:13,284 --> 00:08:16,579 They said that they would go through their receipts 155 00:08:16,621 --> 00:08:19,082 and their sales transactions to see 156 00:08:19,124 --> 00:08:23,003 if there was any purchase by Ricky at their store 157 00:08:23,044 --> 00:08:24,879 and report back. 158 00:08:26,881 --> 00:08:29,968 At that time, members of the Polk County Sheriff's Department 159 00:08:30,010 --> 00:08:34,014 were searching and trying to find the Brenizer vehicle. 160 00:08:34,055 --> 00:08:37,976 STEVEN: Officers knew from Bruce Brenizer 161 00:08:38,018 --> 00:08:41,980 that the Brenizer family were reported 162 00:08:42,022 --> 00:08:43,732 to have left the home 163 00:08:43,773 --> 00:08:47,986 in a 1980 Oldsmobile Station Wagon. 164 00:08:48,028 --> 00:08:51,865 That vehicle was then entered into NCIC 165 00:08:51,906 --> 00:08:53,366 as a vehicle that would hit 166 00:08:53,408 --> 00:08:56,119 if any other law enforcement officer 167 00:08:56,161 --> 00:08:57,662 would run that plate. 168 00:08:57,704 --> 00:08:59,998 [suspenseful music playing] 169 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,625 THOMM: On May 3rd, 1991, 170 00:09:02,667 --> 00:09:06,129 the Fridley Menards Store contacted us. 171 00:09:06,171 --> 00:09:09,215 It was learned that no purchase had been made 172 00:09:09,257 --> 00:09:12,594 by Ricky Brenizer on April 22nd. 173 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,558 STEVEN: There were neighborhood searches of roads, 174 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,019 of the trails, and driveways 175 00:09:21,061 --> 00:09:23,897 that were common in the Sterling Township area. 176 00:09:23,938 --> 00:09:26,566 Additionally, there was helicopter flights 177 00:09:26,608 --> 00:09:30,612 with ground support attempting to find any evidence 178 00:09:30,653 --> 00:09:32,197 that would lead to the whereabouts 179 00:09:32,238 --> 00:09:34,115 of the Brenizer family. 180 00:09:36,284 --> 00:09:37,869 THOMM: No one within the county 181 00:09:37,911 --> 00:09:40,038 appeared to have seen the Brenizer family 182 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,499 or their Oldsmobile Station Wagon 183 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:44,668 after their disappearance. 184 00:09:46,044 --> 00:09:50,590 STEVEN: This case quickly became the lead story. 185 00:09:50,632 --> 00:09:53,510 It was on the top of the news. 186 00:09:53,551 --> 00:09:56,471 It was in the front page of the newspapers. 187 00:09:56,513 --> 00:10:01,142 It was a case that had everybody in suspense. 188 00:10:03,645 --> 00:10:06,690 JEFF: In April of 1991, I was a crime reporter 189 00:10:06,731 --> 00:10:09,275 mostly covering the Minneapolis Police Department 190 00:10:09,317 --> 00:10:11,111 and St. Paul Police Department. 191 00:10:11,152 --> 00:10:14,447 We first heard about it on The Associated Press wire 192 00:10:14,489 --> 00:10:18,410 which means every news outlet in the Midwest 193 00:10:18,451 --> 00:10:19,703 is getting alerted to this. 194 00:10:19,744 --> 00:10:21,621 It was big news. 195 00:10:21,663 --> 00:10:25,083 How could a family of five just disappear 196 00:10:25,125 --> 00:10:28,169 and leave a fifteen-year-old boy behind? 197 00:10:30,839 --> 00:10:32,799 THOMM: We still had no leads 198 00:10:32,841 --> 00:10:37,846 as to what had happened to the Brenizer family. 199 00:10:39,347 --> 00:10:41,808 On May 11th, an individual called 200 00:10:41,850 --> 00:10:44,102 the Polk County Sheriff's Department. 201 00:10:44,144 --> 00:10:46,646 That individual discovered a vehicle 202 00:10:46,688 --> 00:10:49,774 that had been burned in a wooded area 203 00:10:49,816 --> 00:10:53,695 three miles from the Brenizer residence. 204 00:10:53,737 --> 00:10:56,489 This vehicle matched the description 205 00:10:56,531 --> 00:10:58,700 of the Brenizer car. 206 00:11:00,785 --> 00:11:02,287 [suspenseful music playing] 207 00:11:02,328 --> 00:11:05,165 RODNEY: I looked into the back and I recognize 208 00:11:05,206 --> 00:11:07,959 what I believe to be bone fragments. 209 00:11:09,627 --> 00:11:12,047 THOMM: Shortly after the car was found, 210 00:11:12,088 --> 00:11:14,758 we received a report that there was 211 00:11:14,799 --> 00:11:19,179 Satanic graffiti painted on a Masonic lodge. 212 00:11:19,220 --> 00:11:22,891 JEFF: Do we have some crazy Satanic worshippers 213 00:11:22,932 --> 00:11:25,435 running loose in Polk County? 214 00:11:25,477 --> 00:11:28,229 [fire crackling] 215 00:11:33,234 --> 00:11:37,280 [tense music playing] 216 00:11:37,322 --> 00:11:41,826 Bruce Brenizer reported his family missing. 217 00:11:43,620 --> 00:11:46,331 On May 11th, 218 00:11:46,373 --> 00:11:49,084 a local fisherman had reported 219 00:11:49,125 --> 00:11:53,254 that he'd discovered a Station Wagon 220 00:11:53,296 --> 00:11:55,882 that was burnt out. 221 00:11:57,425 --> 00:12:01,429 The vehicle was discovered several miles 222 00:12:01,471 --> 00:12:03,932 west of the Brenizer home 223 00:12:03,973 --> 00:12:07,727 in an area that was quite heavily wooded. 224 00:12:07,769 --> 00:12:09,729 THOMM: When I saw the vehicle, 225 00:12:09,771 --> 00:12:12,190 this vehicle appeared to have matched 226 00:12:12,232 --> 00:12:15,944 the description of the Brenizer car. 227 00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:18,863 The scene was cordoned off, it was secured. 228 00:12:18,905 --> 00:12:22,826 Officers arrived and recordings of photographs 229 00:12:22,867 --> 00:12:25,078 were made of the vehicle. 230 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:26,871 The department contacted 231 00:12:26,913 --> 00:12:29,207 the state Department of Criminal Investigation 232 00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:32,293 and the crime lab was requested to come to the scene 233 00:12:32,335 --> 00:12:35,296 to process the vehicle and surrounding area 234 00:12:35,338 --> 00:12:36,840 for evidence. 235 00:12:38,008 --> 00:12:41,219 The car was completely burned out. 236 00:12:41,261 --> 00:12:45,098 The license plates of the vehicle were gone. 237 00:12:45,140 --> 00:12:49,728 There was a shovel in the back of the car. 238 00:12:49,769 --> 00:12:52,105 There were scrape marks on the bed 239 00:12:52,147 --> 00:12:54,816 of the back of the car, which indicated 240 00:12:54,858 --> 00:12:57,694 that possibly the shovel had been used 241 00:12:57,736 --> 00:13:01,239 to scrape something inside the car 242 00:13:01,281 --> 00:13:02,490 after it had burned. 243 00:13:02,532 --> 00:13:06,786 [suspenseful music playing] 244 00:13:06,828 --> 00:13:08,163 RODNEY: When I arrived on the scene 245 00:13:08,204 --> 00:13:09,998 of the burned out vehicle, you know, 246 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:14,169 I felt that we were facing a difficult investigation. 247 00:13:14,210 --> 00:13:16,588 You know, we're in a wooded area, 248 00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:18,882 there was, uh, a forest road 249 00:13:18,923 --> 00:13:21,134 that was going down to a stream, 250 00:13:21,176 --> 00:13:23,511 there were no neighbors, no nothing in the area, 251 00:13:23,553 --> 00:13:25,138 it was just a forested area. 252 00:13:25,180 --> 00:13:27,599 The four tires were burned, uh, down to the pads 253 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,476 that were in contact with the soil. 254 00:13:29,517 --> 00:13:32,812 Uh, the contents of the inside were burned. 255 00:13:32,854 --> 00:13:34,147 No upholstery left. 256 00:13:34,189 --> 00:13:36,149 All plastics and the dash were burned. 257 00:13:36,191 --> 00:13:39,944 Uh, just about a total burn from bumper to bumper. 258 00:13:40,945 --> 00:13:44,449 We're looking for anything and everything 259 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:46,534 when we process a fire scene. 260 00:13:46,576 --> 00:13:50,163 Every part of that vehicle has a story to tell 261 00:13:50,205 --> 00:13:53,166 and it may be something unique. 262 00:13:53,208 --> 00:13:56,169 In the driver's compartment, I looked at the steering column 263 00:13:56,211 --> 00:13:58,129 and I could make several interpretations 264 00:13:58,171 --> 00:14:01,091 such as the vehicle was moved to the scene 265 00:14:01,132 --> 00:14:04,135 using a key, rather than somebody 266 00:14:04,177 --> 00:14:06,680 had peeled the dash and-- and took out 267 00:14:06,721 --> 00:14:08,640 the steering-like mechanism. 268 00:14:09,933 --> 00:14:13,895 On the rear bumper, there was a blood stain 269 00:14:13,937 --> 00:14:16,356 that had survived the fire. 270 00:14:16,398 --> 00:14:19,234 And on the driver's door rear side, 271 00:14:19,275 --> 00:14:22,779 there was a footprint on the exterior of the door 272 00:14:22,821 --> 00:14:25,907 that happened after the fire. 273 00:14:25,949 --> 00:14:27,659 So after this car has been burned up, 274 00:14:27,701 --> 00:14:29,828 somebody went there and kicked 275 00:14:29,869 --> 00:14:33,540 that particular door leaving a footprint. 276 00:14:33,581 --> 00:14:36,084 THOMM: We suspected that it was arson 277 00:14:36,126 --> 00:14:40,797 because of the turned over upward motor gas can 278 00:14:40,839 --> 00:14:42,549 inside the vehicle. 279 00:14:44,801 --> 00:14:46,886 RODNEY: As part of that evaluation scene, 280 00:14:46,928 --> 00:14:50,181 I looked into the back cargo area of the vehicle, 281 00:14:50,223 --> 00:14:53,018 and I recognized a lot of-- 282 00:14:53,059 --> 00:14:56,438 what I believe to be bone fragments. 283 00:14:56,479 --> 00:14:59,524 [ominous music playing] 284 00:14:59,566 --> 00:15:02,110 RODNEY: I felt that some of the bone was human 285 00:15:02,152 --> 00:15:04,612 although I didn't have the expertise 286 00:15:04,654 --> 00:15:07,449 to be conclusive about that. 287 00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:08,992 STEVEN: At that point, 288 00:15:09,034 --> 00:15:12,662 we called in the assistance of anthropology experts 289 00:15:12,704 --> 00:15:14,706 from the University of Wisconsin 290 00:15:14,748 --> 00:15:18,335 to assist in the collection of the bone fragments 291 00:15:18,376 --> 00:15:22,130 and the analysis of the bone fragments. 292 00:15:22,172 --> 00:15:24,799 RODNEY: Well, once the forensic anthropologist 293 00:15:24,841 --> 00:15:26,593 arrived at the scene, 294 00:15:26,634 --> 00:15:31,139 he looked at the bone fragment that was in the vehicle. 295 00:15:32,515 --> 00:15:34,059 And by visually observing 296 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:38,897 the different shapes and formations of the bone, 297 00:15:38,938 --> 00:15:41,191 he was able to conclude that we were looking 298 00:15:41,232 --> 00:15:44,277 at human bone versus animal bone. 299 00:15:44,319 --> 00:15:48,031 THOMM: The anthropologist went even so far as to say 300 00:15:48,073 --> 00:15:50,116 that the remains in the vehicle 301 00:15:50,158 --> 00:15:53,203 appeared to be that of two adults 302 00:15:53,244 --> 00:15:55,663 and at least two juveniles. 303 00:15:55,705 --> 00:15:57,457 RODNEY: At that point in the investigation, 304 00:15:57,499 --> 00:16:00,126 we don't have a positive identification 305 00:16:00,168 --> 00:16:04,130 on any of the skeletal remains. 306 00:16:04,172 --> 00:16:06,007 THOMM: Since Ricky and the family 307 00:16:06,049 --> 00:16:09,886 left in the Oldsmobile Station Wagon, 308 00:16:09,928 --> 00:16:11,930 it's suspected that the remains 309 00:16:11,971 --> 00:16:15,100 in the vehicle are the Brenizers. 310 00:16:15,141 --> 00:16:17,018 [dramatic music playing] 311 00:16:17,060 --> 00:16:21,022 RODNEY: At that time, DNA technology wasn't that good. 312 00:16:21,064 --> 00:16:23,316 Plus with the amount of fire damage 313 00:16:23,358 --> 00:16:26,611 to the skeletal remains, DNA is difficult. 314 00:16:26,653 --> 00:16:30,240 So we were probably looking at dental remains 315 00:16:30,281 --> 00:16:33,535 being our best method for identification. 316 00:16:33,576 --> 00:16:35,870 So part of our investigative process 317 00:16:35,912 --> 00:16:39,082 is to recover as many dental remains, 318 00:16:39,124 --> 00:16:41,376 fragments of teeth, whole teeth 319 00:16:41,418 --> 00:16:43,545 that we could find there so that we could send them 320 00:16:43,586 --> 00:16:47,173 to the odontologist for identification. 321 00:16:47,215 --> 00:16:49,384 [dramatic music playing] 322 00:16:49,426 --> 00:16:51,386 RODNEY: When we examined the front seat area, 323 00:16:51,428 --> 00:16:54,556 we didn't find any human remains up in the front seat. 324 00:16:54,597 --> 00:16:57,017 So we felt that we had a driver 325 00:16:57,058 --> 00:16:59,310 who transported these bodies 326 00:16:59,352 --> 00:17:02,147 to the scene and that the bodies were burned 327 00:17:02,188 --> 00:17:05,400 at that location after they were driven them. 328 00:17:05,442 --> 00:17:08,236 So it's logical to assume that we're dealing 329 00:17:08,278 --> 00:17:12,490 with a homicide and destruction of the bodies by far. 330 00:17:15,827 --> 00:17:18,163 The investigators were left with questions, 331 00:17:18,204 --> 00:17:21,666 is this really the Brenizer family? 332 00:17:21,708 --> 00:17:25,378 We needed to identify the skeletal remains 333 00:17:25,420 --> 00:17:29,382 so that we can find out what happened and solve this crime. 334 00:17:37,182 --> 00:17:40,060 [dramatic music playing]ar 335 00:17:40,101 --> 00:17:42,103 that was burnt to a crisp. 336 00:17:42,145 --> 00:17:45,648 We now know that there were remains in the car. 337 00:17:45,690 --> 00:17:49,152 The question was, whose remains are they? 338 00:17:49,194 --> 00:17:50,695 STEVEN: At that point, 339 00:17:50,737 --> 00:17:53,865 we sought the assistance of a dental expert 340 00:17:53,907 --> 00:17:58,286 to analyze tooth fragments that were found in the vehicle. 341 00:17:58,328 --> 00:18:00,205 DON: The anthropologist had determined 342 00:18:00,246 --> 00:18:02,624 that there was five individuals 343 00:18:02,665 --> 00:18:06,294 that were burned and commingled or mixed together. 344 00:18:06,336 --> 00:18:10,840 The thinking was is that it could be the Brenizer family. 345 00:18:13,343 --> 00:18:16,221 My role was to obtain dental records 346 00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:17,972 and review those records, 347 00:18:18,014 --> 00:18:21,101 compare them to post-mortem X-rays, 348 00:18:21,142 --> 00:18:23,353 and hopefully to identify individuals 349 00:18:23,395 --> 00:18:27,107 that were in this burned-out vehicle. 350 00:18:27,148 --> 00:18:29,651 There were 97 different Dental fragments 351 00:18:29,693 --> 00:18:31,194 that I examined. 352 00:18:31,236 --> 00:18:32,904 And there were fragments 353 00:18:32,946 --> 00:18:34,364 that I was able to identify 354 00:18:34,406 --> 00:18:37,325 as having come from Rick. 355 00:18:37,367 --> 00:18:39,828 There were fragments that I was able to identify 356 00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:41,955 as having come from Ruth. 357 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:46,584 There were no fragments that I was able to identify 358 00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:49,796 positively as having come from the children. 359 00:18:49,838 --> 00:18:52,340 But I was able to state that there were remains 360 00:18:52,382 --> 00:18:54,676 that were recovered in this vehicle 361 00:18:54,718 --> 00:18:59,139 that were consistent with a five to a six-year-old, 362 00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:01,307 a seven to eight-year-old, 363 00:19:01,349 --> 00:19:05,687 and approximately a ten to eleven-year-old individual. 364 00:19:05,729 --> 00:19:07,605 During the course of this examination, 365 00:19:07,647 --> 00:19:10,358 there were few fragments that struck me 366 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,611 as being odd or unique. 367 00:19:13,653 --> 00:19:17,240 Some of Rick's fragments showed presence of lead. 368 00:19:18,283 --> 00:19:20,702 There's no lead in the silver filling. 369 00:19:20,744 --> 00:19:24,247 So, I think that Rick was shot in the head. 370 00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:29,044 And as that shell is coming through, 371 00:19:29,085 --> 00:19:32,589 it left trace of evidence on that particular tooth. 372 00:19:34,341 --> 00:19:37,385 Now, we have credible evidence to say 373 00:19:37,427 --> 00:19:41,389 that these remains are those of Ricky Brenizer, 374 00:19:41,431 --> 00:19:45,185 Ruth Berentson, Heidi, Mindy, and Crystal. 375 00:19:45,226 --> 00:19:49,272 And that at least Ricky was shot in the head. 376 00:19:50,607 --> 00:19:53,526 We were now investigating the homicide 377 00:19:53,568 --> 00:19:56,613 of five members of the same family. 378 00:19:57,989 --> 00:20:00,325 The deaths of the Brenizer family 379 00:20:00,367 --> 00:20:02,327 whereas horrific a crime 380 00:20:02,369 --> 00:20:05,413 as had ever happened in Cushing before. 381 00:20:05,455 --> 00:20:08,333 RODNEY: It caused so much hardship in the community 382 00:20:08,375 --> 00:20:10,210 and especially with the murders 383 00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:13,088 of a couple of young children. 384 00:20:13,129 --> 00:20:17,300 JEFF: This was a absolute bombshell for this community. 385 00:20:17,342 --> 00:20:19,427 Suddenly, the family's been found, 386 00:20:19,469 --> 00:20:22,472 but they were incinerated. 387 00:20:22,514 --> 00:20:24,557 Whoever did this, one of this family 388 00:20:24,599 --> 00:20:27,102 wiped off the face of the Earth. 389 00:20:27,143 --> 00:20:29,229 It was so shocking. 390 00:20:29,270 --> 00:20:31,606 Who could possibly want them dead? 391 00:20:31,648 --> 00:20:34,693 How could this happen to an entire family? 392 00:20:36,194 --> 00:20:37,654 The entire town, 393 00:20:37,696 --> 00:20:41,074 their heart was breaking for Bruce Brenizer. 394 00:20:41,116 --> 00:20:43,952 He was the lone survivor. 395 00:20:43,993 --> 00:20:46,329 [dramatic music playing] 396 00:20:48,289 --> 00:20:51,126 THOMM: Social workers offered their services 397 00:20:51,167 --> 00:20:54,963 to Alice's family and specifically Bruce, 398 00:20:55,005 --> 00:20:58,508 but she stated that Bruce wasn't in need of it. 399 00:20:58,550 --> 00:21:02,971 Bruce didn't seem to be having any issues at that time. 400 00:21:03,013 --> 00:21:04,556 Typically in homicides, 401 00:21:04,597 --> 00:21:06,933 the guilty parties are individuals 402 00:21:06,975 --> 00:21:11,646 that are either known or related to the victims. 403 00:21:11,688 --> 00:21:15,775 STEVEN: Bruce was interviewed a number of times. 404 00:21:15,817 --> 00:21:18,528 He was cooperative with law enforcement. 405 00:21:18,570 --> 00:21:22,157 He provided a consistent story 406 00:21:22,198 --> 00:21:24,284 with how his family disappeared 407 00:21:24,325 --> 00:21:26,745 or the last time that he saw them. 408 00:21:26,786 --> 00:21:29,080 He made himself available to law enforcement 409 00:21:29,122 --> 00:21:31,708 when they needed more information. 410 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:33,585 THOMM: When we interviewed Bruce, 411 00:21:33,626 --> 00:21:37,964 he stated that one of the times when he was home alone, 412 00:21:38,006 --> 00:21:41,176 a male individual had come to the residence 413 00:21:41,217 --> 00:21:42,927 looking for his father, 414 00:21:42,969 --> 00:21:47,474 and that he had indicated that his father Ricky, 415 00:21:47,515 --> 00:21:50,143 may have owed the individual money. 416 00:21:51,936 --> 00:21:53,063 Bruce did indicate 417 00:21:53,104 --> 00:21:55,398 that after his family disappeared, 418 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,317 someone had entered the house 419 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,527 and apparently searched the premises 420 00:21:59,569 --> 00:22:03,698 after he had left for school on April 23rd. 421 00:22:03,740 --> 00:22:07,035 And maybe that individual had come on the property 422 00:22:07,077 --> 00:22:09,829 looking for something of value. 423 00:22:09,871 --> 00:22:13,124 He didn't tell us that any property was missing, 424 00:22:13,166 --> 00:22:17,128 but Bruce offered the theory that maybe that individual 425 00:22:17,170 --> 00:22:21,800 was the reason that Ricky and his family had been killed. 426 00:22:23,093 --> 00:22:26,179 STEVEN: Bruce reported to law enforcement 427 00:22:26,221 --> 00:22:30,141 the suspicion that perhaps his father 428 00:22:30,183 --> 00:22:32,852 was in trouble financially, 429 00:22:32,894 --> 00:22:36,231 and that somewhere in that was a motive 430 00:22:36,272 --> 00:22:38,900 for somebody to do harm to them. 431 00:22:38,942 --> 00:22:42,987 This was a lead that was investigated. 432 00:22:43,029 --> 00:22:45,490 RODNEY: We looked at Rick's financial records 433 00:22:45,532 --> 00:22:47,909 to see where expenditures were made, 434 00:22:47,951 --> 00:22:50,245 if there is indebtedness to somebody. 435 00:22:50,286 --> 00:22:54,499 And we talked to people who knew the Brenizer family. 436 00:22:54,541 --> 00:22:56,501 THOMM: There never was any individual 437 00:22:56,543 --> 00:23:01,214 discovered by law enforcement that Ricky owed money to. 438 00:23:01,256 --> 00:23:02,882 And there were no other indications 439 00:23:02,924 --> 00:23:07,429 of financial distress for Rick Brenizer. 440 00:23:07,470 --> 00:23:10,598 [dramatic music playing] 441 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,976 THOMM: Shortly after the car was found, 442 00:23:13,018 --> 00:23:17,856 we received a report that there was Satanic graffiti 443 00:23:17,897 --> 00:23:22,360 painted on a Masonic lodge in St. Croix Falls. 444 00:23:22,402 --> 00:23:24,320 RODNEY: Some spray painting showed up 445 00:23:24,362 --> 00:23:25,780 in a neighboring community 446 00:23:25,822 --> 00:23:28,533 that possibly linked to a Satanic cult. 447 00:23:28,575 --> 00:23:30,744 The speculation went wild. 448 00:23:30,785 --> 00:23:34,956 Did a Satanic cult have anything to do with this crime? 449 00:23:34,998 --> 00:23:37,042 JEFF: There had been rumors surrounding this case 450 00:23:37,083 --> 00:23:40,337 from the very beginning, but when the remains were found 451 00:23:40,378 --> 00:23:42,422 and they were so badly incinerated, 452 00:23:42,464 --> 00:23:43,965 we, as the media, 453 00:23:44,007 --> 00:23:46,176 were all convinced it was Satanic worship 454 00:23:46,217 --> 00:23:52,182 because often, there's Satanic rituals involving fires. 455 00:23:54,976 --> 00:23:57,645 But the idea that Satanic graffiti was found 456 00:23:57,687 --> 00:24:00,565 on a nearby temple really pushed that narrative 457 00:24:00,607 --> 00:24:02,567 that this could have been Satan worship. 458 00:24:02,609 --> 00:24:04,402 The question everybody was asking is, 459 00:24:04,444 --> 00:24:07,739 do we have some crazy Satanic worshippers 460 00:24:07,781 --> 00:24:10,492 running loose in Polk County? 461 00:24:10,533 --> 00:24:13,912 [dramatic music playing] 462 00:24:15,914 --> 00:24:17,999 RODNEY: We interviewed Katie Han, 463 00:24:18,041 --> 00:24:19,834 friend of Bruce Brenizer. 464 00:24:19,876 --> 00:24:22,879 She was also the girlfriend of Jesse Anderson, 465 00:24:22,921 --> 00:24:25,840 the stepbrother to Bruce Brenizer. 466 00:24:25,882 --> 00:24:27,967 It was obvious from talking to Katie 467 00:24:28,009 --> 00:24:32,847 that there was a lot of tension amongst Jesse and Bruce. 468 00:24:32,889 --> 00:24:36,059 THOMM: Jesse Anderson was asked what he knew 469 00:24:36,101 --> 00:24:39,396 about the disappearance of the Brenizer family. 470 00:24:39,437 --> 00:24:42,023 Did he have any involvement in this? 471 00:24:50,156 --> 00:24:54,452 [dramat that were burnedive peop 472 00:24:54,494 --> 00:24:56,621 and now the discovery of some spray painting 473 00:24:56,663 --> 00:24:59,207 possibly linked to a Satanic cult. 474 00:25:00,917 --> 00:25:05,005 The idea that a Satanic cult could kill five people 475 00:25:05,046 --> 00:25:09,217 including three children and then burned the bodies, 476 00:25:09,259 --> 00:25:13,596 that's a pretty scary thing to live with in your small town. 477 00:25:13,638 --> 00:25:16,891 [dramatic music playing] 478 00:25:19,394 --> 00:25:22,188 THOMM: While interviewing one of Bruce's friends, 479 00:25:22,230 --> 00:25:26,276 we learned that Bruce had purchased marijuana 480 00:25:26,317 --> 00:25:31,781 from a person who might have some sort of Satanic background. 481 00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:37,912 He also said that Bruce might owe that person money. 482 00:25:39,414 --> 00:25:42,625 STEVEN: In this interview, there was a lot of discussion 483 00:25:42,667 --> 00:25:45,795 about an organized Satanic worship 484 00:25:45,837 --> 00:25:49,174 or cult related drug enterprise 485 00:25:49,215 --> 00:25:53,678 that may play into the death of this family. 486 00:25:55,847 --> 00:25:59,100 Officers investigated these reports 487 00:25:59,142 --> 00:26:02,312 and simply found no credible information 488 00:26:02,354 --> 00:26:05,148 to suggest that that was true. 489 00:26:05,190 --> 00:26:07,734 THOMM: At this point in the investigation, 490 00:26:07,776 --> 00:26:11,112 we've dismissed the fact that any Satanic involvement 491 00:26:11,154 --> 00:26:13,990 could be linked to the homicides. 492 00:26:14,032 --> 00:26:16,326 RODNEY: As this investigation is unfolding, 493 00:26:16,368 --> 00:26:18,995 the investigative team is out there doing interviews 494 00:26:19,037 --> 00:26:22,374 of all the contacts that this family had. 495 00:26:24,542 --> 00:26:26,920 Six days after that vehicle 496 00:26:26,961 --> 00:26:29,005 was found burned up in the woods, 497 00:26:29,047 --> 00:26:31,591 myself and an investigator from Polk County 498 00:26:31,633 --> 00:26:35,303 interviewed Katie Han, friend of Bruce Brenizer. 499 00:26:35,345 --> 00:26:38,848 She was also the girlfriend of Jesse Anderson, 500 00:26:38,890 --> 00:26:42,644 the stepbrother to Bruce Brenizer. 501 00:26:42,686 --> 00:26:44,813 Bruce and Jesse were fairly close. 502 00:26:44,854 --> 00:26:46,773 Even though they were stepbrothers, 503 00:26:46,815 --> 00:26:50,193 they were close to the same age and they were confidants. 504 00:26:50,235 --> 00:26:53,363 We wanted to interview Katie to learn 505 00:26:53,405 --> 00:26:55,281 what she knows from conversations 506 00:26:55,323 --> 00:26:59,035 and just the physical actions of these individuals, 507 00:26:59,077 --> 00:27:00,620 Jesse and Bruce. 508 00:27:00,662 --> 00:27:02,747 It was obvious from talking to Katie 509 00:27:02,789 --> 00:27:07,502 that there was a lot of tension amongst Jesse and Bruce 510 00:27:07,544 --> 00:27:12,257 about the aggressive police interviewing that was going on. 511 00:27:12,298 --> 00:27:15,218 She said Jesse and Bruce were making comments 512 00:27:15,260 --> 00:27:18,346 as if they knew more about the murder 513 00:27:18,388 --> 00:27:20,515 of the Brenizer family. 514 00:27:22,225 --> 00:27:26,104 We know that Bruce Brenizer was the only one left alive. 515 00:27:26,146 --> 00:27:28,940 Did he have any involvement in this? 516 00:27:30,692 --> 00:27:32,193 As this information came out, 517 00:27:32,235 --> 00:27:35,238 we began to focus on Bruce and Jesse. 518 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,574 THOMM: We interviewed another friend 519 00:27:37,615 --> 00:27:40,577 who knew of Bruce's activities 520 00:27:40,618 --> 00:27:43,580 since the family disappeared. 521 00:27:43,621 --> 00:27:47,709 This person had knowledge that Bruce was removing items 522 00:27:47,751 --> 00:27:50,670 from the residence and selling them 523 00:27:50,712 --> 00:27:54,632 and he was also spending coins 524 00:27:54,674 --> 00:27:56,760 that were his father's 525 00:27:56,801 --> 00:28:01,181 that were collector type coins at a local arcade. 526 00:28:02,891 --> 00:28:05,101 According to this witness, 527 00:28:05,143 --> 00:28:07,937 shortly after the family disappeared, 528 00:28:07,979 --> 00:28:12,692 Bruce was giving TVs and stereos away to his friends. 529 00:28:12,734 --> 00:28:15,528 He was telling his friends that he now 530 00:28:15,570 --> 00:28:19,407 had three vehicles of his own which is somewhat strange 531 00:28:19,449 --> 00:28:23,411 considering his family was just reported missing. 532 00:28:24,954 --> 00:28:28,958 So now we were starting to see a side of Bruce 533 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,294 that might indicate that he knew 534 00:28:31,336 --> 00:28:34,422 that his family wasn't coming home. 535 00:28:37,842 --> 00:28:41,304 This witness felt that Jesse Anderson, 536 00:28:41,346 --> 00:28:42,889 Bruce's step brother, 537 00:28:42,931 --> 00:28:44,974 would probably have some knowledge 538 00:28:45,016 --> 00:28:48,395 or some information about this crime, 539 00:28:48,436 --> 00:28:51,231 because he said that Jesse was a person 540 00:28:51,272 --> 00:28:53,858 who likes to know what's going on, 541 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,819 and he was always hanging out 542 00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:59,572 with his stepbrother, Bruce. 543 00:28:59,614 --> 00:29:02,242 RODNEY: Upon talking to Bruce's family members and friends, 544 00:29:02,283 --> 00:29:06,204 it's my understanding that Bruce and Jesse were extremely close, 545 00:29:06,246 --> 00:29:08,164 that there--there were no secrets between them. 546 00:29:08,206 --> 00:29:11,167 [suspenseful music playing] 547 00:29:11,209 --> 00:29:13,962 THOMM: At that point, we set up to conduct 548 00:29:14,004 --> 00:29:16,548 an interview with Jesse Anderson. 549 00:29:17,882 --> 00:29:21,136 Jesse was living with his father, Ron Anderson, 550 00:29:21,177 --> 00:29:23,722 and Bruce's mother Alice Anderson 551 00:29:23,763 --> 00:29:28,685 in a house just outside of the city of St. Croix Falls. 552 00:29:28,727 --> 00:29:32,022 [suspenseful music playing] 553 00:29:32,063 --> 00:29:35,650 THOMM: It was determined that officers would interview 554 00:29:35,692 --> 00:29:39,070 Jesse Anderson with his father present. 555 00:29:41,072 --> 00:29:43,700 Jesse was asked what he knew about 556 00:29:43,742 --> 00:29:46,703 the murders of the Brenizer family. 557 00:29:46,745 --> 00:29:50,081 Jesse related a story similar to that 558 00:29:50,123 --> 00:29:52,208 which Bruce had given officers 559 00:29:52,250 --> 00:29:55,378 that this family left their house hurriedly 560 00:29:55,420 --> 00:29:59,549 on a trip to Menards in Minnesota. 561 00:29:59,591 --> 00:30:00,759 During questioning about 562 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,470 the murders of the Brenizer family, 563 00:30:03,511 --> 00:30:07,307 Jesse became very agitated and defensive. 564 00:30:09,142 --> 00:30:12,187 At that point, Jesse and his father 565 00:30:12,228 --> 00:30:18,068 went to talk amongst themselves for approximately 15 minutes. 566 00:30:22,113 --> 00:30:25,408 After the 15 minutes, Ron Anderson stated that 567 00:30:25,450 --> 00:30:28,203 he wished to consult with an attorney 568 00:30:28,244 --> 00:30:30,872 before making further statements, 569 00:30:30,914 --> 00:30:34,042 because Jesse wanted to tell the truth 570 00:30:34,084 --> 00:30:38,004 about the murder of the Brenizer family. 571 00:30:38,046 --> 00:30:40,131 It was apparent that Jesse knew 572 00:30:40,173 --> 00:30:42,801 more about the murder of the Brenizer family 573 00:30:42,842 --> 00:30:44,594 than he initially had said. 574 00:30:44,636 --> 00:30:47,972 [suspenseful music playing] 575 00:30:51,309 --> 00:30:54,479 THOMM: Jesse Anderson, Bruce's stepbrother, 576 00:30:54,521 --> 00:30:56,648 said that he wants to cooperate 577 00:30:56,690 --> 00:30:58,108 with the investigation 578 00:30:58,149 --> 00:31:01,319 into the murder of the Brenizer family. 579 00:31:01,361 --> 00:31:04,656 On May 18th, we met with Jesse, 580 00:31:04,698 --> 00:31:07,325 his attorney, and his father 581 00:31:07,367 --> 00:31:11,287 at the Amery Police Department in Amery, Wisconsin. 582 00:31:12,497 --> 00:31:16,126 Jesse said that Bruce told him on April 21st 583 00:31:16,167 --> 00:31:20,422 that he was going to shoot his entire family. 584 00:31:23,550 --> 00:31:26,636 Jesse didn't believe that he was serious. 585 00:31:26,678 --> 00:31:30,223 Bruce had expressed to Jesse a strong dislike 586 00:31:30,265 --> 00:31:33,476 for his father and Ruth Berentson. 587 00:31:33,518 --> 00:31:36,604 Bruce expressed a strong dislike 588 00:31:36,646 --> 00:31:38,648 for living in the conditions 589 00:31:38,690 --> 00:31:43,028 that he was living in with his father. 590 00:31:43,069 --> 00:31:45,739 Jesse told us that both boys 591 00:31:45,780 --> 00:31:49,868 went to school on the 22nd. 592 00:31:49,909 --> 00:31:51,244 Later that evening, 593 00:31:51,286 --> 00:31:54,080 Jesse received a phone call from Bruce. 594 00:31:55,373 --> 00:31:59,586 Bruce said, "I did it. I killed them all." 595 00:32:01,171 --> 00:32:02,756 Jesse said that Bruce then 596 00:32:02,797 --> 00:32:05,383 related in detail over the phone 597 00:32:05,425 --> 00:32:08,261 how he had tied up two of the girls. 598 00:32:08,303 --> 00:32:12,474 Then he shot them outside the back of their mobile home. 599 00:32:15,268 --> 00:32:18,813 Bruce then went back into the trailer to his bedroom, 600 00:32:18,855 --> 00:32:20,398 stood by an open window 601 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,110 and waited until his dad arrived home. 602 00:32:25,111 --> 00:32:27,614 RODNEY: Jesse said some time later, 603 00:32:27,655 --> 00:32:29,240 Bruce's father, and Ruth, 604 00:32:29,282 --> 00:32:31,409 and Crystal, the five-year-old, 605 00:32:31,451 --> 00:32:33,703 drive into the Brenizer property, 606 00:32:33,745 --> 00:32:38,041 and Bruce's dad is walking up to the trailer. 607 00:32:38,083 --> 00:32:39,376 THOMM: Ricky asked Bruce 608 00:32:39,417 --> 00:32:41,670 what he was doing with the rifle. 609 00:32:41,711 --> 00:32:46,132 Bruce shot Ricky two times, killing him. 610 00:32:47,175 --> 00:32:50,178 Bruce then went toward the living room 611 00:32:50,220 --> 00:32:52,180 and saw Ruth on the phone 612 00:32:52,222 --> 00:32:54,432 trying to call the sheriff's department. 613 00:32:54,474 --> 00:32:58,436 He terminated the call by cutting the phone lines, 614 00:32:58,478 --> 00:33:03,274 and ordered Ruth at gunpoint to go outside. 615 00:33:03,316 --> 00:33:07,320 RODNEY: She runs out the front door of the trailer, 616 00:33:07,362 --> 00:33:11,950 and then he shoots her in the back of the head. 617 00:33:11,991 --> 00:33:15,787 THOMM: Jesse said that Bruce went back into the house 618 00:33:15,829 --> 00:33:19,124 and observed Crystal, age five, 619 00:33:19,165 --> 00:33:21,376 standing at the back door of the trailer 620 00:33:21,418 --> 00:33:24,546 where she could see her two dead sisters. 621 00:33:26,214 --> 00:33:28,717 Bruce ordered her out of the house 622 00:33:28,758 --> 00:33:32,262 and shot Crystal in the head, killing her. 623 00:33:32,303 --> 00:33:35,557 [dramatic music playing] 624 00:33:39,436 --> 00:33:41,312 RODNEY: Jesse's story was that he had 625 00:33:41,354 --> 00:33:42,981 gotten a phone call from Bruce 626 00:33:43,023 --> 00:33:45,400 that he wanted Jesse to come out there 627 00:33:45,442 --> 00:33:48,319 and he needed to clean up the crime scene. 628 00:33:48,361 --> 00:33:51,489 THOMM: When Jesse arrived at the Brenizer residents, 629 00:33:51,531 --> 00:33:56,453 the scene upset Jesse so much that he threw up. 630 00:33:56,494 --> 00:33:59,122 Jesse said that they then decided 631 00:33:59,164 --> 00:34:01,499 they were going to transport the bodies 632 00:34:01,541 --> 00:34:05,253 using the Oldsmobile Station Wagon. 633 00:34:05,295 --> 00:34:08,048 Jesse and Bruce then dragged the bodies 634 00:34:08,089 --> 00:34:11,259 and put them in the back of the Station Wagon. 635 00:34:11,301 --> 00:34:14,179 Jesse told us that they went around 636 00:34:14,220 --> 00:34:17,390 to each location where there had been a body 637 00:34:17,432 --> 00:34:21,519 and disposed of the bloody sand. 638 00:34:21,561 --> 00:34:24,022 RODNEY: Jesse said they used a snow shovel 639 00:34:24,064 --> 00:34:27,025 to scoop up some of the physical remains 640 00:34:27,067 --> 00:34:29,194 that were present there. 641 00:34:29,235 --> 00:34:31,237 THOMM: After that was done, they agreed that 642 00:34:31,279 --> 00:34:34,032 they would drive somewhere nearby 643 00:34:34,074 --> 00:34:35,700 and burn the vehicle. 644 00:34:35,742 --> 00:34:39,204 Jesse told us that he refused to drive 645 00:34:39,245 --> 00:34:41,247 the Station Wagon with the bodies in it, 646 00:34:41,289 --> 00:34:44,459 so he drove a Hyundai behind Bruce. 647 00:34:44,501 --> 00:34:47,212 The Hyundai was another one of 648 00:34:47,253 --> 00:34:49,673 Bruce's father's vehicles. 649 00:34:49,714 --> 00:34:53,301 They went three miles to an area near a river 650 00:34:53,343 --> 00:34:57,472 where they found a logging type road. 651 00:34:57,514 --> 00:34:59,140 RODNEY: They took the license plates off 652 00:34:59,182 --> 00:35:01,476 and took those with them. 653 00:35:01,518 --> 00:35:04,979 THOMM: They had an outboard motor tank of gasoline, 654 00:35:05,021 --> 00:35:07,732 they doused the car. 655 00:35:07,774 --> 00:35:11,152 Jesse watched Bruce light a piece of paper 656 00:35:11,194 --> 00:35:12,779 and throw it into the car. 657 00:35:12,821 --> 00:35:15,073 [suspenseful music playing] 658 00:35:15,115 --> 00:35:17,909 RODNEY: Jesse told us that the rifle 659 00:35:17,951 --> 00:35:19,786 that was used as he tossed into 660 00:35:19,828 --> 00:35:24,457 a small pond by Bruce near one of the county highways. 661 00:35:24,499 --> 00:35:26,584 THOMM: They did not see or speak to each other 662 00:35:26,626 --> 00:35:28,420 until the following morning. 663 00:35:28,461 --> 00:35:31,923 Jesse told Bruce that he was unable to sleep 664 00:35:31,965 --> 00:35:33,258 very well that night. 665 00:35:33,299 --> 00:35:35,343 Bruce said that he slept like a baby 666 00:35:35,385 --> 00:35:37,345 because there was no one at his house 667 00:35:37,387 --> 00:35:38,930 making any noise. 668 00:35:40,306 --> 00:35:44,269 According to Jesse, on May 8th, 9th, or 10th, 669 00:35:44,310 --> 00:35:47,814 Jesse and Bruce drove to the burned up car. 670 00:35:47,856 --> 00:35:49,357 Bruce wanted to make sure 671 00:35:49,399 --> 00:35:52,277 that the remains of the family members 672 00:35:52,318 --> 00:35:53,820 were totally burned up. 673 00:35:55,488 --> 00:35:57,574 RODNEY: They look at the car and there's some large 674 00:35:57,615 --> 00:36:01,411 skeletal remains, large bones still left in the car. 675 00:36:01,453 --> 00:36:04,330 THOMM: Jesse said that Bruce got a duffel bag 676 00:36:04,372 --> 00:36:05,623 he had with him. 677 00:36:05,665 --> 00:36:08,293 He reached into the burned out car, 678 00:36:08,335 --> 00:36:12,380 grabbing several pieces of bone fragments 679 00:36:12,422 --> 00:36:15,383 and put them inside the duffel bag. 680 00:36:15,425 --> 00:36:19,054 They also found a head which they suspected was 681 00:36:19,095 --> 00:36:23,433 that of one of the girls that was put in the duffel bag. 682 00:36:23,475 --> 00:36:25,393 The duffel bag was put in the trunk 683 00:36:25,435 --> 00:36:27,937 and they went back to Jesse's house. 684 00:36:27,979 --> 00:36:30,065 [dramatic music playing] 685 00:36:30,106 --> 00:36:32,901 RODNEY: Bruce and Jesse buried the license plates 686 00:36:32,942 --> 00:36:34,319 in back of the barn 687 00:36:34,361 --> 00:36:38,323 and out in a cornfield near the farm. 688 00:36:38,365 --> 00:36:41,368 There was a burn pit area 689 00:36:41,409 --> 00:36:43,536 and they'd buried the blue duffel bag 690 00:36:43,578 --> 00:36:45,497 with the human remains there. 691 00:36:47,082 --> 00:36:49,292 THOMM: We have believed that the information 692 00:36:49,334 --> 00:36:51,378 received from Jesse Anderson 693 00:36:51,419 --> 00:36:53,254 was truthful and reliable 694 00:36:53,296 --> 00:36:56,383 because the testimony that he gave 695 00:36:56,424 --> 00:36:58,259 matched the crime scene. 696 00:36:58,301 --> 00:37:01,513 Much of this information had not previously been 697 00:37:01,554 --> 00:37:04,391 released to the media. 698 00:37:04,432 --> 00:37:06,059 After Jesse's statement, 699 00:37:06,101 --> 00:37:11,189 a search warrant was obtained for the Alice and Ron Anderson 700 00:37:11,231 --> 00:37:13,983 residence in St. Croix Falls. 701 00:37:14,025 --> 00:37:16,361 RODNEY: When we arrived at the home, 702 00:37:16,403 --> 00:37:18,988 Bruce was there and so was his mother. 703 00:37:19,030 --> 00:37:20,990 During the search warrant at that property, 704 00:37:21,032 --> 00:37:24,452 I'd found a composition notebook from Bruce Brenizer. 705 00:37:24,494 --> 00:37:26,204 In that notebook, he had written about 706 00:37:26,246 --> 00:37:28,039 his unhappiness with his father 707 00:37:28,081 --> 00:37:29,582 and the family situation. 708 00:37:29,624 --> 00:37:31,793 There were some notes to the effect that 709 00:37:31,835 --> 00:37:33,336 he hated his father. 710 00:37:33,378 --> 00:37:35,130 And that hate was to the level that 711 00:37:35,171 --> 00:37:36,631 he wished his father was dead. 712 00:37:36,673 --> 00:37:38,717 [suspenseful music playing] 713 00:37:38,758 --> 00:37:41,219 RODNEY: So there was sufficient probable cause 714 00:37:41,261 --> 00:37:42,804 to arrest Bruce. 715 00:37:42,846 --> 00:37:45,223 We told Bruce that he was under the arrest 716 00:37:45,265 --> 00:37:49,102 for the murder of his five family members. 717 00:37:50,603 --> 00:37:52,564 We secured him and then transported him 718 00:37:52,605 --> 00:37:54,733 to the Polk County Sheriff's Department. 719 00:37:54,774 --> 00:37:58,403 All during the time, he really held no reaction, 720 00:37:58,445 --> 00:38:01,573 he was rather stone-face, didn't question anything. 721 00:38:01,614 --> 00:38:03,408 JEFF: This was such a horrific case, 722 00:38:03,450 --> 00:38:05,368 an entire family massacred 723 00:38:05,410 --> 00:38:06,911 and the thought that a teenage boy 724 00:38:06,953 --> 00:38:10,498 could be responsible was almost unimaginable. 725 00:38:10,540 --> 00:38:12,459 Everybody knew the name Bruce Brenizer, 726 00:38:12,500 --> 00:38:14,753 and everybody had spent a month 727 00:38:14,794 --> 00:38:18,173 sympathizing for this young man. 728 00:38:18,214 --> 00:38:19,299 When they arrested Bruce, 729 00:38:19,341 --> 00:38:20,717 most people just couldn't imagine 730 00:38:20,759 --> 00:38:23,970 how could a teenage boy do something like this? 731 00:38:24,012 --> 00:38:27,140 [suspenseful music playing] 732 00:38:30,727 --> 00:38:32,979 POLICE OFFICER: On Saturday night, 733 00:38:33,021 --> 00:38:34,564 a juvenile was taken into custody 734 00:38:34,606 --> 00:38:36,941 as a result of this investigation. 735 00:38:36,983 --> 00:38:38,943 THOMM: After Bruce was arrested, 736 00:38:38,985 --> 00:38:43,698 Jesse was informed that if he assisted officers in 737 00:38:43,740 --> 00:38:45,116 recovering evidence, 738 00:38:45,158 --> 00:38:48,703 then he would not be taken into custody. 739 00:38:48,745 --> 00:38:50,205 RODNEY: Jesse was offered immunity 740 00:38:50,246 --> 00:38:53,166 if he was not involved in the murder itself. 741 00:38:53,208 --> 00:38:54,626 It's a horrific crime 742 00:38:54,668 --> 00:38:57,295 to be associated with the murder of five people. 743 00:38:57,337 --> 00:38:58,963 And Jesse made the choice 744 00:38:59,005 --> 00:39:01,841 to become a state's witness in this. 745 00:39:03,843 --> 00:39:05,804 The next day, after Bruce was arrested, 746 00:39:05,845 --> 00:39:08,306 we're doing continuation of the search warrant 747 00:39:08,348 --> 00:39:09,974 at the Anderson property. 748 00:39:10,016 --> 00:39:12,769 Jesse takes us out and gives us the general location 749 00:39:12,811 --> 00:39:14,312 where the license plates are. 750 00:39:14,354 --> 00:39:17,732 The license plates were buried in back of the barn 751 00:39:17,774 --> 00:39:19,526 near a junk pile. 752 00:39:19,567 --> 00:39:23,571 And out in a cornfield near the farm, 753 00:39:23,613 --> 00:39:26,491 there was a burn pit area, 754 00:39:26,533 --> 00:39:28,993 and they dug up the blue duffel bag 755 00:39:29,035 --> 00:39:30,495 with the human remains there. 756 00:39:30,537 --> 00:39:32,831 [suspenseful music playing] 757 00:39:32,872 --> 00:39:35,542 RODNEY: With Jesse's help, we identified the pond 758 00:39:35,583 --> 00:39:39,212 where the rifle had been tossed into. 759 00:39:39,254 --> 00:39:42,424 We went to the pond with a metal detector 760 00:39:42,465 --> 00:39:44,342 and we're able to wade into the pond 761 00:39:44,384 --> 00:39:47,178 and actually recovered the rifle. 762 00:39:47,220 --> 00:39:50,015 It was a 30-30 Marlin lever-action, 763 00:39:50,056 --> 00:39:52,100 and there were some identifying initials 764 00:39:52,142 --> 00:39:55,979 on the rifle that go back to Bruce Brenizer. 765 00:39:57,230 --> 00:39:59,649 During the examination of the Brenizer trailer, 766 00:39:59,691 --> 00:40:02,235 I found a. 30-caliber bullet 767 00:40:02,277 --> 00:40:06,364 that was mushroomed and partially into the ground. 768 00:40:06,406 --> 00:40:08,867 That bullet was sent to the lab 769 00:40:08,908 --> 00:40:10,618 and eventually matched up 770 00:40:10,660 --> 00:40:14,247 to the rifle that was recovered in the pond. 771 00:40:14,289 --> 00:40:18,877 And directly adjacent to that was an adult tooth. 772 00:40:18,918 --> 00:40:22,339 There were some small pieces of white bone 773 00:40:22,380 --> 00:40:25,633 that eventually were identified as skull material 774 00:40:25,675 --> 00:40:27,969 that was found just in that proximity 775 00:40:28,011 --> 00:40:32,015 where we believe Mr. Brenizer had been shot and killed. 776 00:40:33,183 --> 00:40:36,728 When we went to the back far corner of 777 00:40:36,770 --> 00:40:39,898 the Brenizer trailer, there was an area that 778 00:40:39,939 --> 00:40:42,567 started to notice a lot of real bleached 779 00:40:42,609 --> 00:40:44,819 white fragments on the ground. 780 00:40:44,861 --> 00:40:47,405 One of the things that was learned 781 00:40:47,447 --> 00:40:52,160 from the interview of Jesse is that Bruce had taken Crystal, 782 00:40:52,202 --> 00:40:54,746 the five-year-old, to that back corner 783 00:40:54,788 --> 00:40:58,208 of the trailer and had executed her, 784 00:40:58,249 --> 00:41:01,044 which causes a spray away pattern of 785 00:41:01,086 --> 00:41:03,797 the skull fragments that we recovered 786 00:41:03,838 --> 00:41:05,674 during that search warrant. 787 00:41:05,715 --> 00:41:07,467 During this investigative process, 788 00:41:07,509 --> 00:41:11,930 we gained a lot of physical and interview evidence. 789 00:41:11,971 --> 00:41:14,349 Human remains that were in the blue duffel bag 790 00:41:14,391 --> 00:41:17,268 are sent down to the state crime laboratory, 791 00:41:17,310 --> 00:41:22,273 and they are matched to the Brenizer family members. 792 00:41:23,858 --> 00:41:26,736 At the conclusion of this investigation, 793 00:41:26,778 --> 00:41:29,114 it left no doubt whatsoever 794 00:41:29,155 --> 00:41:32,534 that Bruce Brenizer is the individual 795 00:41:32,575 --> 00:41:34,494 who killed his family members 796 00:41:34,536 --> 00:41:39,082 and then facilitated the destruction of their bodies. 797 00:41:41,084 --> 00:41:43,628 NEWS REPORTER: Two years to the day that Bruce Brenizer 798 00:41:43,670 --> 00:41:44,963 took a deer rifle 799 00:41:45,005 --> 00:41:46,631 and killed five members of his family, 800 00:41:46,673 --> 00:41:48,967 he walked into court and admitted it, 801 00:41:49,009 --> 00:41:51,803 pleading guilty to all five counts of murder, 802 00:41:51,845 --> 00:41:54,305 three of them by reason of insanity. 803 00:41:54,347 --> 00:41:56,975 RODNEY: Eventually, there is a plea arrangement 804 00:41:57,017 --> 00:41:59,144 that struck with Bruce's attorney 805 00:41:59,185 --> 00:42:00,979 and the District Attorney's Office. 806 00:42:01,021 --> 00:42:06,109 And Bruce is found guilty of killing the two adults, 807 00:42:06,151 --> 00:42:10,530 and is found insane at the time that he kills the children. 808 00:42:23,043 --> 00:42:25,670 RODNEY: Bruce is sentenced to life with confinement 809 00:42:25,712 --> 00:42:27,672 in the criminal mental health system 810 00:42:27,714 --> 00:42:29,549 of the state of Wisconsin. 811 00:42:30,675 --> 00:42:32,635 Certainly one would have to think 812 00:42:32,677 --> 00:42:34,679 that you're not mentally right 813 00:42:34,721 --> 00:42:36,556 in order to do a crime like this, 814 00:42:36,598 --> 00:42:40,018 you know, whether justice was served in his sentence, 815 00:42:40,060 --> 00:42:41,853 I don't know. But I know he-- 816 00:42:41,895 --> 00:42:44,230 at least he's not in the position 817 00:42:44,272 --> 00:42:46,649 to do that again. 818 00:42:46,691 --> 00:42:48,902 And that's the most important thing. 819 00:43:00,372 --> 00:43:02,832 THOMM: The Brenizer family killing 820 00:43:02,874 --> 00:43:04,709 was truly horrific. 821 00:43:04,751 --> 00:43:09,089 It was a crime that was senseless. 822 00:43:09,130 --> 00:43:11,049 STEVEN: It was hard for me to understand then 823 00:43:11,091 --> 00:43:13,885 and it's hard for me to understand now, 824 00:43:13,927 --> 00:43:19,724 how a person can kill their entire family 825 00:43:19,766 --> 00:43:21,351 and burn their remains. 826 00:43:21,393 --> 00:43:23,895 JEFF: I think about those little girls 827 00:43:23,937 --> 00:43:27,190 and their last moments on the planet 828 00:43:27,232 --> 00:43:30,235 were being murdered by their brother. 829 00:43:30,276 --> 00:43:30,402 There--there are-- there are no words.