1 00:00:08,108 --> 00:00:10,109 -Everybody knew chris. 2 00:00:10,111 --> 00:00:14,079 He was really outgoing, super personable. 3 00:00:14,148 --> 00:00:16,581 -He's an all-american teenager. 4 00:00:16,650 --> 00:00:18,750 -Everybody wanted to always be around him. 5 00:00:18,819 --> 00:00:22,020 -He was always out with girls or going to parties 6 00:00:22,089 --> 00:00:25,791 Or just doing what high school kids do. 7 00:00:25,859 --> 00:00:28,760 -But when chris daigle disappears... 8 00:00:28,829 --> 00:00:30,129 -Chris wasn't at home. 9 00:00:30,131 --> 00:00:31,996 Chris wasn't at school. 10 00:00:31,998 --> 00:00:33,565 Where is he? 11 00:00:33,633 --> 00:00:36,168 -There was evidence that something had happened. 12 00:00:36,236 --> 00:00:40,205 -It sparks a years-long investigation into rumors... 13 00:00:44,011 --> 00:00:45,376 ...Lies... 14 00:00:45,378 --> 00:00:48,047 -He said, "you wanna know where chris is? 15 00:00:48,115 --> 00:00:49,981 I killed chris." 16 00:00:50,050 --> 00:00:52,250 -...And unspeakable horror. 17 00:00:52,319 --> 00:00:53,919 -I just started crying. 18 00:00:53,987 --> 00:00:56,055 Ran away and just fell on the ground and cried. 19 00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:04,663 -It all adds up to a killer relationship. 20 00:01:04,731 --> 00:01:08,032 -You're not supposed to bury your children. 21 00:01:08,034 --> 00:01:17,776 ♪♪ 22 00:01:17,845 --> 00:01:22,547 ♪♪ 23 00:01:22,549 --> 00:01:25,183 -We've all heard the quote "keep your friends close 24 00:01:25,252 --> 00:01:26,818 And your enemies closer." 25 00:01:26,887 --> 00:01:29,621 Well, high school senior and varsity baseball player, 26 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:32,624 Chris daigle has more friends than he can count. 27 00:01:32,693 --> 00:01:36,961 The popular 17-year-old texan is a social butterfly, 28 00:01:37,031 --> 00:01:38,563 Always up for adventure. 29 00:01:38,632 --> 00:01:44,569 But in November of 2022, chris mysteriously disappears. 30 00:01:44,571 --> 00:01:47,472 The question is, did he leave on his own, 31 00:01:47,474 --> 00:01:50,842 Or is there an enemy within? 32 00:01:50,911 --> 00:01:54,847 ♪♪ 33 00:01:54,915 --> 00:01:57,649 -November 11, 2002, 34 00:01:57,718 --> 00:02:00,252 I was dispatched to a missing person call, 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,587 Subject by the name of chris daigle. 36 00:02:02,656 --> 00:02:05,657 His grandmother was calling in to report him as missing. 37 00:02:05,726 --> 00:02:10,095 ♪♪ 38 00:02:10,164 --> 00:02:13,098 -Chris lived with my mom, his grandmother, 39 00:02:13,167 --> 00:02:15,334 And sometimes he wouldn't come home on the weekends. 40 00:02:15,402 --> 00:02:17,269 He'd stay with his friends. 41 00:02:17,337 --> 00:02:19,103 But he always came back home. 42 00:02:19,105 --> 00:02:20,739 -Chris was so popular. 43 00:02:20,807 --> 00:02:23,742 He was always out with girls or going to parties 44 00:02:23,810 --> 00:02:26,445 Or just doing what high school kids do. 45 00:02:26,513 --> 00:02:28,346 -Everybody knew chris. 46 00:02:28,415 --> 00:02:32,551 He was really outgoing, super personable. 47 00:02:32,619 --> 00:02:35,654 He had a lot of girlfriends. 48 00:02:35,722 --> 00:02:38,190 Everybody wanted to always be around him. 49 00:02:40,493 --> 00:02:42,627 But on November the 7th, 50 00:02:42,629 --> 00:02:45,530 He went to school, and he never came back home. 51 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:47,632 And when his friends, even the girls, 52 00:02:47,701 --> 00:02:49,301 Didn't know where he was, 53 00:02:49,369 --> 00:02:52,471 That was a sign, and I felt something was wrong. 54 00:02:54,808 --> 00:02:56,508 -My mom, she starts calling all around 55 00:02:56,576 --> 00:02:58,710 To his friends and stuff. 56 00:02:58,779 --> 00:03:00,044 Nobody's seen him. 57 00:03:00,114 --> 00:03:02,881 -Chris wasn't at home. 58 00:03:02,949 --> 00:03:05,283 Chris wasn't at school. 59 00:03:05,352 --> 00:03:06,251 Where is he? 60 00:03:09,223 --> 00:03:13,525 -Christopher allen daigle is born on July 10, 1985. 61 00:03:13,593 --> 00:03:16,361 To tracie gregory and jimmy daigle. 62 00:03:16,429 --> 00:03:19,864 Both 21 years old, it soon becomes evident 63 00:03:19,866 --> 00:03:23,067 That the first-time parents can't provide chris 64 00:03:23,069 --> 00:03:25,403 With a stable home. 65 00:03:25,472 --> 00:03:27,772 -Jimmy ended up going to prison, 66 00:03:27,774 --> 00:03:30,074 So I was a single mom, taking care of him. 67 00:03:30,144 --> 00:03:34,212 It was kinda hard being young and first child and working. 68 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,816 So when chris was 3, he went to go live with my mom 69 00:03:37,884 --> 00:03:40,652 Because she was able to take care of him better than I was. 70 00:03:43,490 --> 00:03:45,590 -Chris was good at everything he did. 71 00:03:45,592 --> 00:03:47,091 Year 'round, he was into sports. 72 00:03:47,161 --> 00:03:49,494 Chris played football, chris played baseball, 73 00:03:49,563 --> 00:03:50,963 Especially baseball. 74 00:03:51,031 --> 00:03:54,032 -He was a natural. He would run around the bases, 75 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,501 He would steal all the way around and steal home 76 00:03:56,570 --> 00:03:59,371 Before the next batter could hit the ball. 77 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:02,274 He was awesome. 78 00:04:02,342 --> 00:04:04,576 -Chris just gets better and better 79 00:04:04,644 --> 00:04:08,380 And easily makes the varsity team in high school. 80 00:04:08,448 --> 00:04:10,582 -Excellent short stop, excellent catcher. 81 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:13,518 He wanted to play ball for the major leagues. 82 00:04:13,587 --> 00:04:15,620 -That was his passion. 83 00:04:15,622 --> 00:04:17,622 That was what was gonna get him out of here, he said. 84 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:19,924 You know, that was his ticket. 85 00:04:19,993 --> 00:04:22,994 ♪♪ 86 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,330 -Chris is tight with all the players, 87 00:04:25,399 --> 00:04:26,731 But he's got a special connection 88 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,934 With the team's pitcher, ricky mendoza. 89 00:04:29,936 --> 00:04:32,404 -Chris and ricky didn't have a father in their life, 90 00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:36,308 So they bonded over that, I believe, and baseball. 91 00:04:36,376 --> 00:04:37,876 They were friends, you know, 92 00:04:37,944 --> 00:04:39,411 Through little league, and they were close. 93 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,347 -Well, ricky was a good pitcher. 94 00:04:42,415 --> 00:04:44,182 Chris was a great catcher. 95 00:04:44,251 --> 00:04:46,385 Anybody that knows baseball, 96 00:04:46,387 --> 00:04:47,852 Those two kind of go hand in hand. 97 00:04:47,854 --> 00:04:51,990 ♪♪ 98 00:04:52,058 --> 00:04:55,527 -But chris's life takes a sudden dark turn 99 00:04:55,595 --> 00:04:57,762 At the start of his senior year, 100 00:04:57,764 --> 00:05:00,498 After an incident with a teammate. 101 00:05:00,567 --> 00:05:02,366 -He was on the high school baseball team, 102 00:05:02,368 --> 00:05:05,937 And on their way home from a baseball tournament, 103 00:05:06,006 --> 00:05:11,009 Somebody had urinated in a bottle and threw it, 104 00:05:11,077 --> 00:05:13,845 And it landed on chris. 105 00:05:13,914 --> 00:05:16,781 -Sometimes, chris was a very aggressive person, 106 00:05:16,783 --> 00:05:18,917 And he did get into some fights. 107 00:05:18,985 --> 00:05:20,452 I don't want to say he liked to fight, 108 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,654 But he never backed down from a fight. 109 00:05:22,723 --> 00:05:25,557 -So chris threw it back, and I guess it hit the coach, 110 00:05:25,625 --> 00:05:27,859 And the coach kicked him off the team. 111 00:05:27,928 --> 00:05:30,528 ♪♪ 112 00:05:30,597 --> 00:05:33,431 -He was really upset 'cause baseball was his dream, 113 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,234 Everything he wanted to do. 114 00:05:36,303 --> 00:05:38,203 -Well, we tried to get him back on the team, 115 00:05:38,205 --> 00:05:40,805 And then the coach finally agreed to it, 116 00:05:40,874 --> 00:05:42,807 And then chris said, "no, I don't want to. 117 00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:45,610 I don't want to be around him." 118 00:05:45,612 --> 00:05:48,546 -He could be stubborn. Very stubborn. 119 00:05:48,615 --> 00:05:52,717 It broke his spirit, I believe. It really did. 120 00:05:52,786 --> 00:05:54,919 I don't think he dealt with it very well. 121 00:05:54,988 --> 00:06:00,392 -Chris was starting to get in some drugs and alcohol 122 00:06:00,460 --> 00:06:02,627 And it all happened so quick. 123 00:06:02,696 --> 00:06:04,896 -Chris started hanging out with the wrong people. 124 00:06:04,965 --> 00:06:08,833 He just started becoming a different person. 125 00:06:08,835 --> 00:06:12,837 He started getting a bad attitude. 126 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,441 -Chris was starting to become somebody 127 00:06:16,509 --> 00:06:19,911 That he did not want to become. 128 00:06:19,980 --> 00:06:22,647 -Not long after his downward slide, 129 00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:26,985 On November 7, 2002, chris vanishes. 130 00:06:27,053 --> 00:06:28,987 -This wasn't the first time. 131 00:06:29,055 --> 00:06:32,791 However, grandma was a little bit more concerned this time, 132 00:06:32,859 --> 00:06:37,161 Because he was gone longer than he normally has been gone. 133 00:06:37,230 --> 00:06:39,263 So I went ahead and gathered all the information, 134 00:06:39,333 --> 00:06:40,865 Got his name, his birthday, 135 00:06:40,934 --> 00:06:43,267 Where he was last seen, who he was with. 136 00:06:43,337 --> 00:06:47,339 -But to sergeant luera, there's no cause for alarm, 137 00:06:47,407 --> 00:06:50,541 At least not yet. 138 00:06:50,611 --> 00:06:52,677 -I never dealt with chris daigle, 139 00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:54,746 But we did have call history at his house, 140 00:06:54,815 --> 00:06:58,049 For just adolescent disagreements. 141 00:06:58,051 --> 00:07:01,886 He had a history of leaving, he had a history of drug use. 142 00:07:01,888 --> 00:07:04,288 Grandma verified that history. 143 00:07:04,358 --> 00:07:06,458 Could be he's off with his friends doing drugs, 144 00:07:06,526 --> 00:07:08,760 And he just lost track of time, 145 00:07:08,828 --> 00:07:11,329 And then he -- he'll be back home. 146 00:07:11,398 --> 00:07:14,332 -They just said, "he's a high school student, he's a teenager. 147 00:07:14,401 --> 00:07:16,568 They run away all the time. They'll come back." 148 00:07:16,636 --> 00:07:20,038 But I just had a feeling that something was wrong. 149 00:07:20,106 --> 00:07:21,906 -Although the authorities are confident 150 00:07:21,908 --> 00:07:23,575 Chris will turn up soon, 151 00:07:23,643 --> 00:07:26,044 They diligently cover all the bases 152 00:07:26,112 --> 00:07:28,780 To track down the missing young man. 153 00:07:28,848 --> 00:07:32,050 -I had dispatch contact the local jails, 154 00:07:32,118 --> 00:07:34,252 Any major hospitals around our city -- 155 00:07:34,321 --> 00:07:35,686 Fort bend county, harris county, 156 00:07:35,756 --> 00:07:37,889 Galveston county, and brazoria county. 157 00:07:37,958 --> 00:07:42,394 No one has seen him at all during that time period. 158 00:07:42,462 --> 00:07:46,530 -And when several days pass with no sign of chris, 159 00:07:46,532 --> 00:07:49,801 The case is handed over to detectives. 160 00:07:49,870 --> 00:07:52,737 -The detective who was assigned the disappearance 161 00:07:52,806 --> 00:07:54,772 Immediately started calling all the friends, 162 00:07:54,841 --> 00:07:57,209 And they start to go back, and talk to witnesses, 163 00:07:57,277 --> 00:08:00,144 People who may have had contact with him. 164 00:08:00,213 --> 00:08:03,147 The detectives talk to ricky mendoza. 165 00:08:03,149 --> 00:08:05,083 He said, "oh, yeah, I know chris," 166 00:08:05,151 --> 00:08:06,518 And, "yeah, we hung out on that day, 167 00:08:06,586 --> 00:08:08,953 On the 7th, and we went to the mall." 168 00:08:08,955 --> 00:08:10,788 -Ricky mendoza had stated 169 00:08:10,857 --> 00:08:13,658 That he had dropped off christopher daigle 170 00:08:13,726 --> 00:08:15,560 At the sugar land mall 171 00:08:15,629 --> 00:08:17,695 And left him there because he had ran into 172 00:08:17,764 --> 00:08:21,366 Some female acquaintances that he knew. 173 00:08:21,434 --> 00:08:23,602 -Ricky said that chris met some girls 174 00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:25,370 And that was the last time he saw him. 175 00:08:25,438 --> 00:08:27,239 He said, "I left him at the mall." 176 00:08:27,307 --> 00:08:30,542 -Ricky tells the detectives he doesn't know the girls, 177 00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:35,146 So from there, no one knows what happened. 178 00:08:35,215 --> 00:08:40,118 Days turn into a week, and chris still doesn't come home. 179 00:08:40,186 --> 00:08:43,655 His family begins to panic. 180 00:08:43,723 --> 00:08:45,323 -Tracie had been out driving around, 181 00:08:45,391 --> 00:08:46,891 Mom had been out driving around. 182 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,662 We're all just looking everywhere we can. 183 00:08:51,732 --> 00:08:54,933 -I was looking in ditches and around ponds. 184 00:08:55,001 --> 00:08:57,702 I thought maybe that chris had gotten into 185 00:08:57,770 --> 00:09:00,872 Some kind of accident and was injured, 186 00:09:00,941 --> 00:09:02,774 Laying in a ditch somewhere. 187 00:09:02,842 --> 00:09:05,877 -At this point, with the timeframe of him missing 188 00:09:05,945 --> 00:09:09,347 That long, it was evidence that something had happened 189 00:09:09,415 --> 00:09:13,084 And that the outcome was not gonna be good. 190 00:09:13,153 --> 00:09:14,452 ♪♪ 191 00:09:14,521 --> 00:09:19,290 -As a week rolls into two, the investigators' concerns mount. 192 00:09:19,359 --> 00:09:23,027 They continue speaking to chris's large circle of friends 193 00:09:23,029 --> 00:09:25,329 Only to get conflicting accounts of 194 00:09:25,399 --> 00:09:28,166 When and where he was last seen. 195 00:09:28,234 --> 00:09:30,034 -They were getting witnesses who said, 196 00:09:30,036 --> 00:09:35,806 "well, I saw him leaving that day with ricky mendoza." 197 00:09:35,808 --> 00:09:37,409 But then there's other people saying, "oh, yeah, 198 00:09:37,477 --> 00:09:39,477 But I saw him a couple of days after that," 199 00:09:39,546 --> 00:09:41,713 Or, "I saw him the next week at a party." 200 00:09:41,781 --> 00:09:43,615 Their memories aren't exact, 201 00:09:43,683 --> 00:09:46,317 And so there wasn't, like, this very tight timeline on 202 00:09:46,386 --> 00:09:49,888 When he disappeared. 203 00:09:49,956 --> 00:09:51,456 -Some of 'em had said, 204 00:09:51,524 --> 00:09:54,593 "chris had been talking about leaving and running away," 205 00:09:54,661 --> 00:09:56,728 And they felt like that's what it was, 206 00:09:56,796 --> 00:09:58,229 But some of 'em kind of thought "well, you know, 207 00:09:58,298 --> 00:10:00,932 Surely he would've touched base." 208 00:10:01,001 --> 00:10:06,137 -Chris was very social. He would never just disappear. 209 00:10:06,206 --> 00:10:07,571 ♪♪ 210 00:10:07,573 --> 00:10:09,607 -Without any solid leads, 211 00:10:09,676 --> 00:10:15,413 The missouri city detectives continue following up on rumors. 212 00:10:15,481 --> 00:10:19,650 They also distribute a missing-persons flier. 213 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,620 Weeks stretch into months. 214 00:10:22,689 --> 00:10:24,956 -Here comes thanksgiving. 215 00:10:25,024 --> 00:10:28,993 We're still looking. We've still got hope. 216 00:10:28,995 --> 00:10:32,964 Christmas comes. He's still missing. 217 00:10:33,033 --> 00:10:36,467 I'm thinking, "he'll be back. 218 00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:41,239 He's gonna walk through that door any minute." 219 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,608 No, he didn't. 220 00:10:44,610 --> 00:10:48,780 ♪♪ 221 00:10:48,848 --> 00:10:50,514 [ school bell rings ] 222 00:10:50,584 --> 00:10:56,654 -Chris's absence made our friend group fall apart. 223 00:10:56,723 --> 00:10:58,322 He was kind of like the glue 224 00:10:58,324 --> 00:11:01,525 That held all these different personalities together. 225 00:11:01,527 --> 00:11:03,961 -Desperate for any bit of news, 226 00:11:04,030 --> 00:11:06,030 Brittany keeps her ear to the ground 227 00:11:06,099 --> 00:11:09,400 And also keeps chris's grandmother informed. 228 00:11:09,469 --> 00:11:11,535 -I was constantly talking about chris. 229 00:11:11,605 --> 00:11:14,806 Everything I heard, I'm like, "grandma wanda?" 230 00:11:14,874 --> 00:11:18,943 I'm sharing anything I heard. 231 00:11:19,011 --> 00:11:21,079 -Brittany's obsession with chris's disappearance 232 00:11:21,147 --> 00:11:23,815 Grates on her boyfriend's nerves. 233 00:11:23,883 --> 00:11:26,584 Nick is a senior at hightower high 234 00:11:26,653 --> 00:11:29,020 Who was never fond of chris. 235 00:11:29,088 --> 00:11:31,956 -Brittany and nick had been dating, and at some point, 236 00:11:32,025 --> 00:11:33,858 He said, "quit whining and complaining 237 00:11:33,926 --> 00:11:37,295 And wondering what happened to chris." 238 00:11:37,363 --> 00:11:41,032 -He didn't want to hear any more about chris. 239 00:11:41,101 --> 00:11:42,366 ♪♪ 240 00:11:42,769 --> 00:11:47,438 -One night, nick drives brittany to the outskirts of town. 241 00:11:47,507 --> 00:11:50,942 His manner then turns threatening. 242 00:11:51,010 --> 00:11:52,510 -We pull up to this field. 243 00:11:52,579 --> 00:11:55,946 He said, "stop [bleep] talking about chris. 244 00:11:56,016 --> 00:11:58,216 I wish you'd just shut the [bleep] up about chris. 245 00:11:58,284 --> 00:12:00,952 You wanna know where chris is? 246 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:02,420 I killed chris." 247 00:12:02,488 --> 00:12:06,290 ♪♪ 248 00:12:06,359 --> 00:12:08,859 -The psychic had told us, "he's here. 249 00:12:08,861 --> 00:12:10,094 This is the spot." 250 00:12:10,162 --> 00:12:12,396 -To find out really what happened 251 00:12:12,465 --> 00:12:13,797 Just floored us. 252 00:12:13,799 --> 00:12:16,534 -He had a conversation recorded 253 00:12:16,603 --> 00:12:17,869 Where he admitted to killing chris. 254 00:12:17,937 --> 00:12:22,373 ♪♪ 255 00:12:25,644 --> 00:12:29,747 ♪♪ 256 00:12:29,749 --> 00:12:33,151 -It's been five months since anyone has seen or heard 257 00:12:33,219 --> 00:12:36,954 From 17-year-old high school senior chris daigle. 258 00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:40,224 Then, one night, chris's good friend, brittany, 259 00:12:40,226 --> 00:12:42,426 Is out with her boyfriend, nick. 260 00:12:42,428 --> 00:12:45,697 Nick takes her to a remote area outside of town, 261 00:12:45,765 --> 00:12:48,900 And there, he drops a bombshell. 262 00:12:48,968 --> 00:12:53,237 ♪♪ 263 00:12:53,239 --> 00:12:56,407 -We pull up to this field. 264 00:12:56,476 --> 00:12:59,110 He said, "you wanna know where chris is? 265 00:12:59,178 --> 00:13:01,645 I'm the reason chris went missing. 266 00:13:01,715 --> 00:13:04,015 I killed chris. 267 00:13:04,083 --> 00:13:06,918 And if you don't shut the [bleep] up about chris," 268 00:13:06,986 --> 00:13:09,921 It's gonna happen to me. 269 00:13:09,989 --> 00:13:14,758 I was so scared. I did believe him. 270 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,895 He was convincing. 271 00:13:17,964 --> 00:13:19,797 I was having nightmares. 272 00:13:19,866 --> 00:13:21,399 I was also holding a lot of guilt, 273 00:13:21,467 --> 00:13:23,167 'cause that was, like, the first thing 274 00:13:23,169 --> 00:13:27,338 That I did not tell grandma wanda about. 275 00:13:27,406 --> 00:13:31,509 Finally, I had a complete, absolute meltdown. 276 00:13:31,577 --> 00:13:34,145 I told my dad, and my dad brought me to the police. 277 00:13:34,214 --> 00:13:38,116 ♪♪ 278 00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:40,685 -Brittany told the detectives both of them were very, 279 00:13:40,753 --> 00:13:43,520 Very high, and she was basically 280 00:13:43,590 --> 00:13:46,257 Crying about chris's disappearance. 281 00:13:46,326 --> 00:13:48,125 And nick said, "oh, I killed him," 282 00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:51,195 And, "just quit crying about chris." 283 00:13:51,197 --> 00:13:52,964 But he didn't give any details at all. 284 00:13:53,032 --> 00:13:55,199 Like, he didn't say how he did it or, you know, 285 00:13:55,268 --> 00:13:58,202 What he did with the body or anything like that. 286 00:13:58,204 --> 00:14:01,172 -The investigators need more information, 287 00:14:01,241 --> 00:14:04,875 So they go straight to nick. 288 00:14:04,945 --> 00:14:07,512 He said, "I don't remember saying that, 289 00:14:07,514 --> 00:14:10,882 But that definitely did not happen. 290 00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:14,185 I did not kill chris." he was very believable. 291 00:14:14,253 --> 00:14:18,756 He had really no motive to do anything to chris. 292 00:14:18,825 --> 00:14:20,692 And so we figure he just kind of said it 293 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,527 To get her to quit crying about this other guy. 294 00:14:23,529 --> 00:14:26,430 ♪♪ 295 00:14:26,432 --> 00:14:30,201 -Nick's alleged confession is just another story about chris, 296 00:14:30,269 --> 00:14:32,203 So the detectives move on. 297 00:14:32,271 --> 00:14:34,538 And with no evidence of foul play, 298 00:14:34,540 --> 00:14:37,141 Police continue treating chris daigle's disappearance 299 00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:40,612 As a missing-person case. 300 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,380 As the months tick by, 301 00:14:42,448 --> 00:14:45,249 Different investigators pick up the case, 302 00:14:45,318 --> 00:14:50,722 Hoping to find a clue that could turn into a breakthrough. 303 00:14:50,790 --> 00:14:52,490 -We're checking everything out. 304 00:14:52,558 --> 00:14:55,025 We're following up on every single lead 305 00:14:55,095 --> 00:14:56,961 Or tip that's provided. 306 00:14:57,030 --> 00:14:58,896 Any information that the family's providing, 307 00:14:58,965 --> 00:15:00,664 We're following up with, 308 00:15:00,733 --> 00:15:05,102 And we're doing our absolute best to get to the bottom of it. 309 00:15:05,171 --> 00:15:06,871 -It was a very frustrating case. 310 00:15:06,939 --> 00:15:11,509 Detectives wanted to solve the thing and find him -- 311 00:15:11,577 --> 00:15:12,643 Find him alive. 312 00:15:12,712 --> 00:15:15,779 But very seldom did the detectives get 313 00:15:15,849 --> 00:15:17,915 Any credible new information. 314 00:15:17,984 --> 00:15:21,585 [ dog barking in distance ] 315 00:15:21,587 --> 00:15:25,022 ♪♪ 316 00:15:25,024 --> 00:15:28,659 -As the anniversary of chris's disappearance nears, 317 00:15:28,728 --> 00:15:32,931 His family becomes increasingly desperate to learn his fate. 318 00:15:32,999 --> 00:15:36,534 -We pretty much accepted the fact that he was probably dead. 319 00:15:36,602 --> 00:15:41,005 But we needed to know what really happened. 320 00:15:41,074 --> 00:15:42,673 -He was always on my mind. 321 00:15:42,742 --> 00:15:44,908 I was talking to people I didn't know, 322 00:15:44,910 --> 00:15:47,945 Making phone calls, and dedicated most of the time 323 00:15:48,014 --> 00:15:49,480 To looking for chris. 324 00:15:49,549 --> 00:15:51,082 ♪♪ 325 00:15:51,150 --> 00:15:52,816 -The longer he was gone, 326 00:15:52,886 --> 00:15:58,289 The more we turned to different resources of finding him. 327 00:15:58,357 --> 00:16:00,391 -Chris's sister jen 328 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:03,727 Had a friend in school that her mom was a psychic. 329 00:16:03,796 --> 00:16:06,731 -I said, "would y'all be willing to talk to her? 330 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:08,198 She's even helped, you know, 331 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,067 The houston pd find missing children." 332 00:16:10,136 --> 00:16:11,835 ♪♪ 333 00:16:11,905 --> 00:16:13,737 -We went to her house. 334 00:16:13,806 --> 00:16:15,339 I was, just, you know leery of it, too, 335 00:16:15,341 --> 00:16:17,074 But she recited the lord's prayer. 336 00:16:17,076 --> 00:16:18,376 She had her crystals. 337 00:16:18,444 --> 00:16:20,444 And we took chris's baseball hat. 338 00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:22,646 ♪♪ 339 00:16:22,715 --> 00:16:24,648 -She's like, "what do you wanna find out?" 340 00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:28,185 And I was like, "I wanna know where he's at." 341 00:16:28,254 --> 00:16:30,488 Like, a blank look came over her face, and she says, 342 00:16:30,556 --> 00:16:33,190 "okay. Okay." 343 00:16:33,259 --> 00:16:35,659 She just starts crying. 344 00:16:35,661 --> 00:16:37,895 And she started saying that there were three boys. 345 00:16:37,964 --> 00:16:39,630 They had on hats. 346 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:45,202 They went down this dirt road, with tree line, and it was dark. 347 00:16:45,271 --> 00:16:48,239 And there was an argument. 348 00:16:48,307 --> 00:16:50,174 And she says chris was shot... 349 00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:51,609 [ gunshot ] 350 00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:54,846 ...In the back of his head with a shotgun. 351 00:16:54,914 --> 00:16:56,380 She gets paper out. 352 00:16:56,449 --> 00:16:59,483 She's like, "I don't know where this is, 353 00:16:59,552 --> 00:17:02,219 But I can tell you what I'm hearing in the background, 354 00:17:02,288 --> 00:17:04,622 What I'm seeing." 355 00:17:04,690 --> 00:17:07,859 She could hear kids playing. It was near a school. 356 00:17:07,927 --> 00:17:11,462 There was a number of 34 that was green and white. 357 00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:13,031 And so we were trying to figure out 358 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:15,766 If it was a street or road. 359 00:17:15,835 --> 00:17:18,436 She told us that where his body was lying, 360 00:17:18,504 --> 00:17:23,541 That if we got there, it would be visible to us. 361 00:17:23,609 --> 00:17:25,509 -The psychic said he was -- 362 00:17:25,511 --> 00:17:27,078 His bones were underneath a blue tarp, 363 00:17:27,146 --> 00:17:28,812 Next to a chain-link fence. 364 00:17:28,882 --> 00:17:32,349 And you could hear a loud horn in the background. 365 00:17:32,418 --> 00:17:34,618 [ horn blaring ] 366 00:17:34,620 --> 00:17:35,786 ♪♪ 367 00:17:35,855 --> 00:17:38,822 -After that, for days and days and days, 368 00:17:38,891 --> 00:17:42,593 We would go looking and looking and looking. 369 00:17:42,662 --> 00:17:45,997 -Wanda, my mom, and jennifer, 370 00:17:46,065 --> 00:17:49,067 They went to arcola, which is about a mile and a half, 371 00:17:49,135 --> 00:17:51,602 2 miles from where we lived. 372 00:17:51,671 --> 00:17:55,873 -We did find a place near the railroad tracks. 373 00:17:55,941 --> 00:17:59,410 -When we got out to the field, I don't know what came over me, 374 00:17:59,479 --> 00:18:01,846 But I was just, like, "he's here. 375 00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:04,782 I think this is it. This is the spot." 376 00:18:04,850 --> 00:18:09,220 -And then tracie's like, "there's something over here." 377 00:18:09,288 --> 00:18:11,455 -And she found this spot next to a train tracks 378 00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:14,826 With a chain-link fence, a blue tarp. 379 00:18:14,894 --> 00:18:16,960 -I mean, I'm just shaking at this point. 380 00:18:16,962 --> 00:18:20,064 I just fell to my knees and started digging. 381 00:18:20,132 --> 00:18:22,099 We found bones in there. 382 00:18:22,168 --> 00:18:24,268 And I just started crying. 383 00:18:24,336 --> 00:18:27,572 ♪♪ 384 00:18:31,843 --> 00:18:34,745 -Chris daigle's family is desperate for answers, 385 00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:38,049 So desperate measures are in order. 386 00:18:38,117 --> 00:18:39,783 A psychic steers them to a field 387 00:18:39,785 --> 00:18:43,921 Where the missing young man may have been shot. 388 00:18:43,989 --> 00:18:48,159 -We did find a place near the railroad tracks with a tarp. 389 00:18:48,227 --> 00:18:50,628 It was just like the psychic said. 390 00:18:50,696 --> 00:18:55,066 -My mom, tracie, she pulled the blue tarp back. 391 00:18:55,134 --> 00:18:57,200 There was bones there. 392 00:18:57,202 --> 00:18:59,537 She got completely freaked out. 393 00:18:59,605 --> 00:19:01,539 -I just started crying. I went -- ran away 394 00:19:01,607 --> 00:19:03,274 And just fell on the ground and cried. 395 00:19:03,342 --> 00:19:07,211 ♪♪ 396 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,879 -They called the police department. 397 00:19:08,948 --> 00:19:12,650 They came out there, and they looked at it. 398 00:19:12,718 --> 00:19:16,621 -It's just like, "is this it? Did we find him?" 399 00:19:16,689 --> 00:19:19,356 Like, "is this gonna be over with?" 400 00:19:19,425 --> 00:19:22,159 -The shape and size of the rib and vertebrae 401 00:19:22,227 --> 00:19:26,497 Tell trained investigators they're not human remains. 402 00:19:26,566 --> 00:19:29,767 -The family thought they were chris's bones, 403 00:19:29,835 --> 00:19:32,536 And it turned out to be animal bones. 404 00:19:32,605 --> 00:19:34,371 -Was kind of like a big letdown. 405 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,107 And I know it was frustrating for the grandmother 406 00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:38,241 And the mother, tracie and wanda. 407 00:19:38,243 --> 00:19:39,276 They wanted to solve it, you know? 408 00:19:39,278 --> 00:19:40,611 Get some closure. 409 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,315 -The investigation hits a wall yet again. 410 00:19:44,383 --> 00:19:47,050 ♪♪ 411 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:53,056 A year stretches into two, and the rumor mill grinds to a halt. 412 00:19:53,058 --> 00:19:54,792 And for chris's classmates, 413 00:19:54,860 --> 00:19:57,661 High school is now in the rearview mirror. 414 00:19:57,663 --> 00:19:59,096 -Some of them, you know, 415 00:19:59,165 --> 00:20:00,864 Graduated and moved on to college and things like that. 416 00:20:00,933 --> 00:20:03,333 Some of them, you know, they were working. 417 00:20:03,335 --> 00:20:05,002 ♪♪ 418 00:20:05,071 --> 00:20:07,971 -Detectives put him into every database 419 00:20:08,041 --> 00:20:10,374 And check his social security number to see 420 00:20:10,442 --> 00:20:13,677 If anybody was working with that social security number. 421 00:20:13,679 --> 00:20:15,346 You know, check any leads of missing people 422 00:20:15,414 --> 00:20:17,215 That might match his description. 423 00:20:17,283 --> 00:20:20,684 But this case was very, very difficult 424 00:20:20,753 --> 00:20:22,853 And without any real leads. 425 00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:26,790 ♪♪ 426 00:20:26,859 --> 00:20:29,860 -The years went by. The hope started dying. 427 00:20:29,929 --> 00:20:32,296 'cause there ain't no way chris could go that long 428 00:20:32,365 --> 00:20:36,400 Without contacting grandma wanda. No way. 429 00:20:36,468 --> 00:20:38,636 -During that time, my mom got sick 430 00:20:38,704 --> 00:20:41,138 And was diagnosed with cancer. 431 00:20:41,207 --> 00:20:44,608 -But she was not gonna let herself die 432 00:20:44,676 --> 00:20:47,578 Before she knew what happened to her grandson. 433 00:20:47,647 --> 00:20:49,847 ♪♪ 434 00:20:49,915 --> 00:20:53,116 -Five years after chris daigle disappears, 435 00:20:53,118 --> 00:20:56,253 His case is reassigned to detective craig weathers 436 00:20:56,321 --> 00:20:58,889 And his partner. 437 00:20:58,958 --> 00:21:02,159 As the new detectives dive into a difficult case, 438 00:21:02,228 --> 00:21:06,463 Chris's family never gives up trying to learn his fate. 439 00:21:06,532 --> 00:21:08,365 -There's always been rumors that he was killed. 440 00:21:08,434 --> 00:21:11,068 We just didn't know how. 441 00:21:11,136 --> 00:21:15,206 Our family believed people knew what had happened. 442 00:21:15,274 --> 00:21:16,940 -I made chris a promise 443 00:21:16,942 --> 00:21:21,379 That I wouldn't stop looking for him until I found him. 444 00:21:21,381 --> 00:21:23,381 I was making a lot of bold moves 445 00:21:23,383 --> 00:21:26,617 Because that's my son. I needed peace. 446 00:21:26,685 --> 00:21:28,686 So I went to work at a bar 447 00:21:28,754 --> 00:21:31,154 Because the kids were old enough to drink. 448 00:21:31,224 --> 00:21:33,524 And I thought, "well, when people drink, 449 00:21:33,592 --> 00:21:36,727 They start talking." 450 00:21:36,796 --> 00:21:39,329 I started asking, "do you remember chris daigle?" 451 00:21:39,399 --> 00:21:41,098 I said, "well, I'm his mom." 452 00:21:41,167 --> 00:21:45,636 I remember, one night, tyler hall came in the bar. 453 00:21:45,705 --> 00:21:50,307 -22-year-old tyler hall starts talking about the old days, 454 00:21:50,376 --> 00:21:53,777 Hanging out with friends like chris, ricky mendoza, 455 00:21:53,779 --> 00:21:56,113 And ricky's girlfriend, megan. 456 00:21:56,181 --> 00:22:00,517 -I knew megan since I was a toddler. 457 00:22:00,586 --> 00:22:04,287 When she was in seventh grade, she met ricky. 458 00:22:04,357 --> 00:22:06,590 She started dating him. 459 00:22:06,659 --> 00:22:09,660 -Megan told me ricky was jealous of chris 460 00:22:09,729 --> 00:22:11,929 Because megan was hanging out with chris a lot. 461 00:22:11,997 --> 00:22:15,232 ♪♪ 462 00:22:15,301 --> 00:22:22,373 -One day, megan ended up coming to skip school with us. 463 00:22:22,441 --> 00:22:24,175 It was soggy, so it was, like, a good day 464 00:22:24,243 --> 00:22:30,313 To just run through the mud with the boys and their trucks. 465 00:22:30,315 --> 00:22:32,082 -Ricky found out that chris 466 00:22:32,151 --> 00:22:34,418 And a number of other people had gone mudding 467 00:22:34,487 --> 00:22:37,254 And that megan had gone with them. 468 00:22:37,323 --> 00:22:38,989 She's with other boys, 469 00:22:39,058 --> 00:22:41,258 But we didn't think too much of it 470 00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:44,094 Until we met up with ricky, 471 00:22:44,163 --> 00:22:46,463 And he just started screaming at her, 472 00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:49,367 And he just physically charged her. 473 00:22:49,435 --> 00:22:52,136 And it wasn't just shocking for me, 474 00:22:52,204 --> 00:22:54,838 It was shocking for the guys. 475 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,908 Chris was not gonna stand for that. 476 00:22:57,976 --> 00:23:00,911 -Chris had seen some family violence growing up, 477 00:23:00,980 --> 00:23:04,848 And he ain't gonna let ricky lay a hand on her 478 00:23:04,850 --> 00:23:06,984 Or talk to her disrespectfully. 479 00:23:07,052 --> 00:23:10,053 -Chris leads the charge to put ricky in his place. 480 00:23:10,055 --> 00:23:16,359 Ricky backs down, but the sting of public humiliation lingers. 481 00:23:16,361 --> 00:23:20,364 More than six years later, and several drinks in, 482 00:23:20,433 --> 00:23:24,201 Tyler lets go of a terrible secret. 483 00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:25,803 -A lot of people tell the truth 484 00:23:25,871 --> 00:23:27,838 And not a lie when they're drunk. 485 00:23:27,906 --> 00:23:32,243 She said that she knew what had happened. 486 00:23:32,311 --> 00:23:33,544 She was friends with ricky, 487 00:23:33,612 --> 00:23:35,712 And she said that ricky killed chris. 488 00:23:35,781 --> 00:23:38,082 And I went -- [ gasps ] 489 00:23:44,422 --> 00:23:46,690 ♪♪ 490 00:23:46,759 --> 00:23:48,959 -There's a term -- ambiguous loss -- 491 00:23:49,028 --> 00:23:51,929 And it's considered the most distressing loss of all. 492 00:23:51,997 --> 00:23:55,232 Not only is living with uncertainty agonizing, 493 00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:56,834 But it prevents grieving. 494 00:23:56,902 --> 00:23:59,636 For chris daigle's family, it's been more than six years 495 00:23:59,705 --> 00:24:02,105 Struggling with ambiguous loss. 496 00:24:02,107 --> 00:24:04,141 But they never gave up trying to find out 497 00:24:04,209 --> 00:24:06,309 What happened to their loved one. 498 00:24:06,379 --> 00:24:09,446 As tracie pursues her quest for answers, 499 00:24:09,515 --> 00:24:14,918 She hears a deeply unsettling tale from a young patron. 500 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:16,620 -One night, tyler hall came in the bar 501 00:24:16,688 --> 00:24:19,422 Where I was working, and I ask her about chris, 502 00:24:19,424 --> 00:24:23,060 And she said that she knew what had happened. 503 00:24:23,128 --> 00:24:25,362 Ricky said that he'd killed chris. 504 00:24:25,431 --> 00:24:29,466 I begged her and asked her, "please talk to the detectives." 505 00:24:29,534 --> 00:24:31,668 ♪♪ 506 00:24:31,737 --> 00:24:34,337 -When I talked to tyler, she told me, 507 00:24:34,407 --> 00:24:37,808 At one point, while they were still in high school, 508 00:24:37,876 --> 00:24:42,880 Tyler had a conversation with ricky mendoza. 509 00:24:42,948 --> 00:24:45,248 'cause they were friends, also. 510 00:24:45,318 --> 00:24:50,287 Tyler actually said, "I had been driving around with ricky, 511 00:24:50,355 --> 00:24:56,159 One day, and the conversation came up about chris 512 00:24:56,161 --> 00:24:59,696 And all the rumors whether he was killed by someone. 513 00:24:59,765 --> 00:25:03,600 And ricky drove by this ranchland, 514 00:25:03,602 --> 00:25:07,104 And he just pointed in the distance 515 00:25:07,172 --> 00:25:11,241 Where he claimed they shot and buried him." 516 00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:16,046 At the time, she felt like maybe he was just making it up, 517 00:25:16,115 --> 00:25:18,882 You know, bragging a little bit, trying to be the big shot, 518 00:25:18,951 --> 00:25:21,384 "yeah, I killed him. I got away with it." 519 00:25:21,454 --> 00:25:22,686 ♪♪ 520 00:25:22,754 --> 00:25:25,188 It was very hard for tyler to believe 521 00:25:25,257 --> 00:25:27,658 That he could actually do that to anyone, 522 00:25:27,726 --> 00:25:29,960 Much less his childhood friend. 523 00:25:30,029 --> 00:25:32,529 -Tyler took detective weathers out to the area 524 00:25:32,598 --> 00:25:35,198 Where she said he had left the body. 525 00:25:35,267 --> 00:25:38,368 ♪♪ 526 00:25:38,370 --> 00:25:42,505 -When we took her out there, she was like, 527 00:25:42,575 --> 00:25:45,141 You know, "it all looks the same." 528 00:25:45,211 --> 00:25:49,012 You're looking at hundreds, if not thousands, of acres, 529 00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:50,681 And she couldn't narrow it down. 530 00:25:50,749 --> 00:25:52,850 We went back several times to try to find 531 00:25:52,918 --> 00:25:54,785 Some kind of evidence out there. 532 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:57,587 And we drove all around, walked all over the place, 533 00:25:57,656 --> 00:26:01,424 And couldn't find anything. 534 00:26:01,426 --> 00:26:03,159 The way tyler explained it, 535 00:26:03,229 --> 00:26:05,128 Ricky didn't drive out to the spot 536 00:26:05,130 --> 00:26:06,697 And say, "this is where he's at. 537 00:26:06,765 --> 00:26:08,866 He's buried here," or anything like that. 538 00:26:08,934 --> 00:26:13,070 He might just be lying and boasting about it. 539 00:26:13,138 --> 00:26:15,406 -Tyler's account is similar to brittany's story 540 00:26:15,474 --> 00:26:19,910 From five years ago about nick confessing to killing chris. 541 00:26:19,979 --> 00:26:24,315 Still, the investigators have a hunch there's more to it. 542 00:26:24,383 --> 00:26:27,918 Unlike nick, ricky was a close friend of chris's, 543 00:26:27,987 --> 00:26:31,321 And he's one of the last people to have had contact with him. 544 00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:33,757 -The last time that chris was seen alive 545 00:26:33,826 --> 00:26:35,359 Was with ricky mendoza. 546 00:26:35,427 --> 00:26:38,829 And we felt like, "yeah, he knows something." 547 00:26:38,897 --> 00:26:41,598 -The authorities try repeatedly 548 00:26:41,667 --> 00:26:44,067 To get ricky down to the station. 549 00:26:44,069 --> 00:26:45,502 -He was somewhat reluctant 550 00:26:45,571 --> 00:26:48,205 When he agreed to go into my office and talk to me. 551 00:26:48,273 --> 00:26:51,342 I said I'd heard that he had been upset 552 00:26:51,410 --> 00:26:54,577 Because chris had been talking to his girlfriend, 553 00:26:54,647 --> 00:26:57,347 And he was pretty well closed off to talking about it. 554 00:26:57,416 --> 00:27:00,083 He wasn't giving us really anything. 555 00:27:00,085 --> 00:27:02,052 -Now 24 years old, 556 00:27:02,121 --> 00:27:07,724 Ricky insists he never told anyone he killed chris daigle. 557 00:27:07,726 --> 00:27:09,860 Plus, when chris first went missing, 558 00:27:09,928 --> 00:27:13,496 Detectives interviewed ricky's then-girlfriend, megan. 559 00:27:13,566 --> 00:27:16,133 She swore she didn't know anything then, 560 00:27:16,201 --> 00:27:18,635 But will she say the same thing now? 561 00:27:18,704 --> 00:27:22,839 -We talked to her, and we tried to see what she did know, 562 00:27:22,908 --> 00:27:24,475 But she kept telling us, "I don't think he did it." 563 00:27:24,543 --> 00:27:29,112 We felt like she knew a lot more than what she was saying. 564 00:27:29,114 --> 00:27:31,148 But we're back to, you know, another standstill. 565 00:27:31,216 --> 00:27:34,952 -The detectives feel that something is off about ricky, 566 00:27:35,020 --> 00:27:39,689 But with no proof against him, they can't do much. 567 00:27:39,691 --> 00:27:43,293 Then, a year after tyler gives her statement to detectives, 568 00:27:43,362 --> 00:27:47,064 Chris's brother travis gets a tip. 569 00:27:47,132 --> 00:27:50,267 -There was a guy I met named jose lopez, and he said, 570 00:27:50,335 --> 00:27:52,769 "I think I know who killed your brother -- 571 00:27:52,838 --> 00:27:54,271 Ricky mendoza." 572 00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:55,906 And I said, "how do you know this?" 573 00:27:55,974 --> 00:27:57,640 And he said, "he was at my house talking about it." 574 00:27:57,710 --> 00:28:01,144 So I told my mom what happened, and she called the police. 575 00:28:01,213 --> 00:28:05,048 -The detectives bring in 22-year-old jose lopez 576 00:28:05,116 --> 00:28:06,884 For an interview. 577 00:28:42,921 --> 00:28:45,055 [ gunshot, birds squawking ] 578 00:28:45,057 --> 00:28:47,324 -It's a shocking story. 579 00:28:47,326 --> 00:28:49,226 But the detectives tread carefully. 580 00:28:49,294 --> 00:28:51,462 With chris missing for so long, 581 00:28:51,530 --> 00:28:54,197 This could be a wild rumor resurfacing. 582 00:28:54,199 --> 00:28:57,034 Even jose has his doubts. 583 00:29:00,772 --> 00:29:06,376 -But then, he offers up potentially explosive evidence. 584 00:29:06,445 --> 00:29:11,348 -Jose lopez said that he had a camera outside 585 00:29:11,416 --> 00:29:13,283 On his front porch area 586 00:29:13,351 --> 00:29:16,519 And that he had a conversation recorded 587 00:29:16,589 --> 00:29:19,789 Where ricky admitted to killing chris. 588 00:29:19,791 --> 00:29:24,094 It was the first time since I had looked at the case 589 00:29:24,163 --> 00:29:27,797 That I actually felt like we possibly solved this thing. 590 00:29:27,867 --> 00:29:34,037 ♪♪ 591 00:29:34,106 --> 00:29:35,672 -He led them to the exact location, 592 00:29:35,741 --> 00:29:38,375 And he said, "this is where the body was dumped." 593 00:29:38,443 --> 00:29:41,144 -I wanted to look him in the eye and let him know 594 00:29:41,213 --> 00:29:45,415 I was gonna get justice for chris. 595 00:29:48,652 --> 00:29:50,520 ♪♪ 596 00:29:50,589 --> 00:29:52,755 -The missouri city detectives may be on the cusp 597 00:29:52,757 --> 00:29:56,526 Of solving the most frustrating homicide of their careers 598 00:29:56,595 --> 00:29:59,796 When an informant claims he has video evidence 599 00:29:59,864 --> 00:30:04,935 Of ricky mendoza admitting he killed chris daigle. 600 00:30:05,003 --> 00:30:08,538 -It was a vhs tape, and it was old. 601 00:30:08,607 --> 00:30:13,076 Detective tippit and I, we went through the whole tape. 602 00:30:17,115 --> 00:30:19,149 There was parts of it you could understand... 603 00:30:23,888 --> 00:30:24,854 ...And then a lot of it you couldn't 604 00:30:24,924 --> 00:30:26,056 And a lot of road noise. 605 00:30:26,124 --> 00:30:29,159 [ vehicle passing ] 606 00:30:29,161 --> 00:30:32,695 But it wasn't anything to do with the murder victim. 607 00:30:32,697 --> 00:30:37,467 And so the best bet was to send it off to the fbi. 608 00:30:37,536 --> 00:30:39,670 It was months. 609 00:30:39,738 --> 00:30:42,739 We finally got a report back from them saying, 610 00:30:42,808 --> 00:30:46,910 "sorry. We were unable to get anything on the video." 611 00:30:47,946 --> 00:30:53,517 -Still, jose's story gives the detectives a big, new lead. 612 00:31:03,595 --> 00:31:06,229 -Daniel rodriguez and josh fretz, 613 00:31:06,298 --> 00:31:08,665 They were friends, and then daniel rodriguez 614 00:31:08,734 --> 00:31:12,269 Was ricky's cousin. 615 00:31:12,337 --> 00:31:16,006 -Back in 2002, daniel and josh are sophomores 616 00:31:16,074 --> 00:31:18,475 And two years younger than the strong, 617 00:31:18,543 --> 00:31:23,213 Intimidating 17-year-old senior, ricky mendoza. 618 00:31:23,281 --> 00:31:25,682 Now that many years have passed, 619 00:31:25,751 --> 00:31:30,420 The detectives hope the young men have more perspective. 620 00:31:30,489 --> 00:31:33,656 -We went out there and talked to josh, 621 00:31:33,725 --> 00:31:37,360 And we just told him, "if something happened to chris 622 00:31:37,362 --> 00:31:38,895 And he or his friends knew about it, 623 00:31:38,964 --> 00:31:41,531 It was time to do something," and he swore up and down 624 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,267 He didn't know anything. 625 00:31:44,269 --> 00:31:46,703 -The investigators suspect josh is lying, 626 00:31:46,771 --> 00:31:48,038 But they can't prove it. 627 00:31:48,106 --> 00:31:50,973 And getting ricky's cousin daniel to talk 628 00:31:50,975 --> 00:31:53,943 Will be even more challenging. 629 00:31:54,013 --> 00:31:56,779 -Having daniel tell on his own cousin 630 00:31:56,849 --> 00:31:58,548 Was going to tear his family up. 631 00:31:58,617 --> 00:32:04,120 ♪♪ 632 00:32:04,189 --> 00:32:06,689 -Then, in July 2011, 633 00:32:06,759 --> 00:32:09,659 Joshua fretz has a run-in with the law, 634 00:32:09,728 --> 00:32:13,129 And the detectives get another crack at him. 635 00:32:13,198 --> 00:32:16,667 -Josh got in trouble on another case where he was a suspect. 636 00:32:16,735 --> 00:32:19,302 ♪♪ 637 00:32:19,371 --> 00:32:21,738 It's a little bit different story now. 638 00:32:21,807 --> 00:32:23,106 You know, "you're in trouble. 639 00:32:23,174 --> 00:32:24,240 You're looking at going to jail." 640 00:32:24,309 --> 00:32:26,643 So they brought up chris. 641 00:32:51,236 --> 00:32:53,570 -Just prior to the murder, 642 00:32:53,638 --> 00:32:57,574 Megan and chris were both in the same classroom. 643 00:32:57,642 --> 00:32:59,342 Ricky came walking by 644 00:32:59,411 --> 00:33:03,179 And thought he saw chris kissing megan. 645 00:33:03,248 --> 00:33:05,348 -Chris leaned over, 646 00:33:05,417 --> 00:33:08,251 And it looked like he had kissed her. 647 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,753 But the kiss did not happen. 648 00:33:10,823 --> 00:33:12,455 -But it was too late. 649 00:33:12,524 --> 00:33:14,591 Instead of confronting chris, 650 00:33:14,659 --> 00:33:19,629 Ricky remains friendly, all while plotting his revenge. 651 00:33:32,844 --> 00:33:36,479 According to ricky, there are loads of magic mushrooms, 652 00:33:36,481 --> 00:33:39,616 Ripe for the picking, in the nearby woods. 653 00:33:39,684 --> 00:33:41,217 -Joshua said, when they got out of the truck, 654 00:33:41,286 --> 00:33:42,852 Ricky pulled out a shotgun. 655 00:33:42,854 --> 00:33:45,021 Chris said, "well, why do you have a shotgun?" 656 00:33:45,089 --> 00:33:47,424 "oh, well, if I see a bird or something, you know, 657 00:33:47,492 --> 00:33:51,028 Maybe might shoot at it." didn't think anything of it. 658 00:34:15,854 --> 00:34:19,489 -Then they dragged chris's body into an area 659 00:34:19,558 --> 00:34:21,458 Where they could cover it up with some brush. 660 00:34:21,526 --> 00:34:24,927 Joshua said that then they all changed clothes, 661 00:34:24,997 --> 00:34:27,998 And also, whatever was on chris he took all of this 662 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:31,902 Back to his place and burned it in a barrel. 663 00:34:31,970 --> 00:34:34,204 ♪♪ 664 00:34:34,272 --> 00:34:36,006 -After nine long years, 665 00:34:36,074 --> 00:34:38,208 The investigators have a detailed 666 00:34:38,276 --> 00:34:39,609 And more credible account 667 00:34:39,678 --> 00:34:43,413 Of ricky mendoza killing chris daigle. 668 00:34:43,482 --> 00:34:46,549 But without a murder weapon or a body, 669 00:34:46,618 --> 00:34:49,552 There's no proof of murder. 670 00:34:49,554 --> 00:34:51,721 -When you have a missing person and you don't have a body, 671 00:34:51,790 --> 00:34:53,422 That's not a good thing 672 00:34:53,424 --> 00:34:55,091 Because then you have the defense is able to say, 673 00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:56,426 "hey, this guy's still alive. He's out there somewhere. 674 00:34:56,494 --> 00:34:58,228 They just can't find him." 675 00:35:04,302 --> 00:35:07,803 Detectives robb and tippit went out to the field 676 00:35:07,873 --> 00:35:10,507 With joshua fretz. 677 00:35:10,509 --> 00:35:14,310 He led them to the exact location, 678 00:35:14,379 --> 00:35:16,713 And he said, "this is where the body was dumped." 679 00:35:16,781 --> 00:35:20,116 They had some cadaver dogs and some equipment taken out there, 680 00:35:20,184 --> 00:35:21,551 And they started digging. 681 00:35:24,089 --> 00:35:27,891 And they were able to find a couple of bones. 682 00:35:27,959 --> 00:35:31,461 -Dna samples from chris daigle's mother and father 683 00:35:31,529 --> 00:35:34,864 Were obtained for identification purposes. 684 00:35:34,933 --> 00:35:38,635 -It takes 12 days for the results to come in. 685 00:35:40,271 --> 00:35:44,140 -The mitochondrial dna came back as positive for being chris. 686 00:35:44,209 --> 00:35:45,742 [ sniffles ] 687 00:35:45,810 --> 00:35:48,878 ♪♪ 688 00:35:48,947 --> 00:35:53,015 [ crying ] 689 00:35:53,085 --> 00:35:57,954 ♪♪ 690 00:35:57,956 --> 00:36:00,957 -To build a strong case against ricky mendoza, 691 00:36:01,026 --> 00:36:03,460 The district attorney needs a second witness 692 00:36:03,528 --> 00:36:06,162 To corroborate joshua's statement. 693 00:36:06,231 --> 00:36:09,299 -And so officer tippit and officer robb 694 00:36:09,367 --> 00:36:12,936 Made a plan to go speak to daniel rodriguez. 695 00:36:30,222 --> 00:36:34,390 Daniel gave them the exact same story that joshua did, 696 00:36:34,459 --> 00:36:36,693 So he corroborated everything. 697 00:36:52,978 --> 00:36:56,679 Both of them had reasons to be very fearful of ricky. 698 00:36:56,748 --> 00:36:58,681 They watched him kill somebody, 699 00:36:58,750 --> 00:37:01,684 And ricky basically said, "you can't tell anybody. 700 00:37:01,686 --> 00:37:04,654 You're involved. You'll be prosecuted, too." 701 00:37:07,892 --> 00:37:10,092 Now there's two eyewitnesses. 702 00:37:10,162 --> 00:37:12,829 So at this point, we felt pretty good about the fact 703 00:37:12,897 --> 00:37:16,198 That ricky committed the murder, and we went ahead and got 704 00:37:16,268 --> 00:37:17,567 An arrest warrant. 705 00:37:25,076 --> 00:37:28,712 -Police are dealing with a violent, volatile killer. 706 00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:31,714 They'll need to take every necessary precaution 707 00:37:31,716 --> 00:37:33,516 To apprehend him. 708 00:37:39,424 --> 00:37:42,559 ♪♪ 709 00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:48,731 -For nine years, this small texas town 710 00:37:48,733 --> 00:37:53,436 Keeps an awful secret -- who killed chris daigle? 711 00:37:53,438 --> 00:37:56,739 But now, on August 12, 2011, 712 00:37:56,741 --> 00:37:59,275 The missouri city police cautiously move in 713 00:37:59,343 --> 00:38:01,511 On the trailer where his alleged killer, 714 00:38:01,579 --> 00:38:04,714 Ricky mendoza, lives. 715 00:38:11,856 --> 00:38:13,990 -I was with my mom, shopping. 716 00:38:14,058 --> 00:38:19,361 And they called and said that they arrested ricky. 717 00:38:19,363 --> 00:38:25,001 We just started hugging and crying, 718 00:38:25,069 --> 00:38:28,137 Ricky was arrested on a Friday, went to fort bend county jail, 719 00:38:28,139 --> 00:38:31,540 And I went in, signed in as a visitor, 720 00:38:31,610 --> 00:38:33,876 And they brought him. 721 00:38:33,878 --> 00:38:35,511 I wanted to look him in the eye 722 00:38:35,580 --> 00:38:37,980 And let him know I was not going away 723 00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:41,451 And that I was going to get justice for chris. 724 00:38:41,519 --> 00:38:43,385 And when he saw me sitting there, 725 00:38:43,387 --> 00:38:44,921 He just started pacing back and forth -- 726 00:38:44,989 --> 00:38:47,390 "I don't know her. I don't want to talk to her." 727 00:38:47,459 --> 00:38:50,793 ♪♪ 728 00:38:50,795 --> 00:38:55,198 -Ricky mendoza's trial started on January 29, 2013. 729 00:38:55,266 --> 00:38:56,866 The courtroom was very tense 730 00:38:56,935 --> 00:38:59,969 Because you had all of ricky's family on one side 731 00:39:00,038 --> 00:39:05,708 And all of chris's family on the other side. 732 00:39:05,777 --> 00:39:07,710 -Ricky, he came in his street clothes, 733 00:39:07,779 --> 00:39:13,416 And, you know, looking nice, with a smirk on his face like, 734 00:39:13,485 --> 00:39:15,451 "nothing's gonna happen to me." 735 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:19,689 ♪♪ 736 00:39:19,758 --> 00:39:22,092 -The trial lasts 10 days. 737 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:27,096 After closing arguments, the jury deliberates for five hours. 738 00:39:27,165 --> 00:39:30,833 -And then, when they did come back and say that he was guilty, 739 00:39:30,835 --> 00:39:33,369 That was -- it was -- I was so happy. 740 00:39:33,438 --> 00:39:36,106 ♪♪ 741 00:39:36,174 --> 00:39:38,508 -[ sighs ] I mean, we were all crying happy tears. 742 00:39:38,576 --> 00:39:42,245 Like, thank god, you know? Finally. 743 00:39:42,313 --> 00:39:44,013 ♪♪ 744 00:39:44,015 --> 00:39:48,250 -I felt like the jury really needed to give him a strong, 745 00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:51,954 Long sentence because he didn't show any remorse, 746 00:39:52,023 --> 00:39:56,059 Because there was no justification for what he did. 747 00:39:56,127 --> 00:39:57,427 -He took my son. 748 00:39:57,495 --> 00:40:02,398 I hope he gets the fullest penalty possible 749 00:40:02,467 --> 00:40:03,833 For what he's done." 750 00:40:05,870 --> 00:40:10,673 -Ricky mendoza is sentenced to 50 years in prison. 751 00:40:10,741 --> 00:40:13,375 Daniel rodriguez and joshua fretz 752 00:40:13,377 --> 00:40:15,011 Are not charged. 753 00:40:15,079 --> 00:40:17,013 -Neither one of them participated in any way 754 00:40:17,081 --> 00:40:18,881 In the murder, nor did they do anything 755 00:40:18,883 --> 00:40:21,617 To encourage ricky in committing the murder. 756 00:40:21,686 --> 00:40:23,653 With them not having any knowledge whatsoever 757 00:40:23,721 --> 00:40:26,389 That ricky was going to shoot chris, 758 00:40:26,457 --> 00:40:29,892 They could not have been tried for the murder. 759 00:40:29,961 --> 00:40:37,900 ♪♪ 760 00:40:37,902 --> 00:40:41,671 -With chris's killer finally behind bars, 761 00:40:41,739 --> 00:40:45,441 Grandma wanda gets some measure of closure. 762 00:40:45,509 --> 00:40:48,310 -It wasn't very long -- a year or so after the trial 763 00:40:48,380 --> 00:40:53,649 And everything -- that she finally got to join chris. 764 00:40:53,718 --> 00:40:57,920 She passed away, and we got chris's remains back. 765 00:40:57,922 --> 00:41:02,925 We had him cremated so we could have a funeral at the same time. 766 00:41:02,927 --> 00:41:06,195 -Jen and tracie still get chills thinking about 767 00:41:06,264 --> 00:41:10,199 How close the psychic came to uncovering the truth. 768 00:41:10,268 --> 00:41:12,001 -Tracie pulled out all the paperwork 769 00:41:12,070 --> 00:41:13,335 From the psychic. 770 00:41:13,405 --> 00:41:15,337 Everything she said is true. 771 00:41:15,339 --> 00:41:20,176 Chris was shot in the back of his head with a shotgun. 772 00:41:20,244 --> 00:41:25,782 -Three boys, they went down this dirt road with tree line. 773 00:41:25,850 --> 00:41:28,250 -Tracie was like, "do you remember that number, 774 00:41:28,319 --> 00:41:30,286 And we didn't know what it was?" and I was like, "yeah." 775 00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:33,256 And she's like, "that's ricky's baseball jersey number." 776 00:41:39,797 --> 00:41:43,165 -Now that we've found closure on the case, 777 00:41:43,167 --> 00:41:44,734 There's not a day that doesn't go by 778 00:41:44,802 --> 00:41:46,002 That I don't think about chris being here, 779 00:41:46,070 --> 00:41:49,138 Especially now that I have my son. 780 00:41:49,207 --> 00:41:50,573 I still miss him. 781 00:41:50,641 --> 00:41:52,108 -My son's name is christian. 782 00:41:52,176 --> 00:41:55,511 It's like chris plus ian, chris and ian, 783 00:41:55,580 --> 00:41:57,847 My name and chris's name together. 784 00:41:57,916 --> 00:41:59,649 ♪♪ 785 00:41:59,717 --> 00:42:02,051 -He wanted to have a child. 786 00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:04,586 That's something that I'm -- miss out on. 787 00:42:04,588 --> 00:42:06,388 Mm. Sorry. 788 00:42:06,458 --> 00:42:10,726 I just wonder if he would have children now 789 00:42:10,795 --> 00:42:12,295 And what he would be doing. 790 00:42:15,066 --> 00:42:16,432 It's hard to deal with it. 791 00:42:16,501 --> 00:42:19,869 ♪♪ 792 00:42:19,938 --> 00:42:22,138 You're not supposed to bury your children. 793 00:42:22,206 --> 00:42:27,043 ♪♪ 794 00:42:27,111 --> 00:42:29,679 -An extroverted, talented athlete, 795 00:42:29,747 --> 00:42:33,549 Chris daigle was ready to take the baseball world by storm. 796 00:42:33,618 --> 00:42:35,251 But his dream of the big leagues 797 00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:38,688 Was shattered by a wolf in sheep's clothing. 798 00:42:38,756 --> 00:42:41,323 Ricky mendoza was a jealous teammate 799 00:42:41,393 --> 00:42:43,759 Who warped a close friendship 800 00:42:43,828 --> 00:42:46,195 Into a killer relationship.