1
00:00:01,744 --> 00:00:04,728
[ominous music]
2
00:00:04,747 --> 00:00:08,582
♪ ♪
3
00:00:08,676 --> 00:00:12,753
- The cabinets are banging
and the music's blaring.
4
00:00:12,905 --> 00:00:14,921
I want to believe
that it's in my head.
5
00:00:15,074 --> 00:00:17,349
- "dad, somebody's
in the house."
6
00:00:17,576 --> 00:00:19,426
♪ ♪
7
00:00:19,578 --> 00:00:21,336
- It wasn't a lie.
This was my life.
8
00:00:21,430 --> 00:00:22,913
This is what happened to me.
9
00:00:22,931 --> 00:00:26,583
- I'm naked and someone
is in my house.
10
00:00:26,602 --> 00:00:28,861
- "man found hiding
between a family's' walls."
11
00:00:29,012 --> 00:00:31,679
- "intruder secretly living
inside her attic."
12
00:00:31,699 --> 00:00:33,757
- "man slithers out
from under home."
13
00:00:33,850 --> 00:00:35,442
- Make sure your crawl spaces
are locked.
14
00:00:35,536 --> 00:00:37,369
- I hear footsteps.
15
00:00:37,521 --> 00:00:41,431
I'm vulnerable, naked,
and someone is in my house.
16
00:00:41,525 --> 00:00:43,450
- There was somebody
violating my home.
17
00:00:43,602 --> 00:00:45,026
- I want to believe
it's in my head.
18
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,379
- This giant man's handprint.
19
00:00:47,606 --> 00:00:49,790
- You came into my home.
You invaded my privacy.
20
00:00:49,942 --> 00:00:51,775
- [scream echoes]
21
00:00:51,868 --> 00:00:54,887
- We had a phrogger
in our house.
22
00:00:56,465 --> 00:00:59,449
[ominous music]
23
00:00:59,468 --> 00:01:04,379
♪ ♪
24
00:01:04,398 --> 00:01:09,050
- In 1986, I am 14 years old
25
00:01:09,070 --> 00:01:12,979
And I live in pepperell,
massachusetts.
26
00:01:13,074 --> 00:01:17,301
- The town I lived in
was small, quiet, peaceful.
27
00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,153
We rode our bikes up
and down the street.
28
00:01:20,247 --> 00:01:22,247
There was no traffic.
29
00:01:22,399 --> 00:01:25,918
- The town's so small that
there's not much to do.
30
00:01:26,145 --> 00:01:30,905
I live on a gravel road
in a split-level ranch.
31
00:01:30,925 --> 00:01:32,983
You have the kitchen,
the living room,
32
00:01:33,001 --> 00:01:34,484
Three bedrooms.
33
00:01:34,578 --> 00:01:37,671
Downstairs, the bedroom,
a family room.
34
00:01:37,823 --> 00:01:39,339
We call it the red room.
35
00:01:39,491 --> 00:01:41,934
And a laundry/cellar area.
36
00:01:42,161 --> 00:01:43,769
♪ ♪
37
00:01:43,996 --> 00:01:47,106
I live with my dad,
my little sister karen.
38
00:01:47,257 --> 00:01:48,423
She's eight.
39
00:01:48,517 --> 00:01:51,593
And my friend kathy. She's 15.
40
00:01:51,612 --> 00:01:54,338
My mother passed away
a year earlier.
41
00:01:54,356 --> 00:01:57,524
When I lost my mom,
it was devastating.
42
00:01:57,618 --> 00:02:00,435
I missed her so much.
43
00:02:00,454 --> 00:02:03,680
Mom was my everything.
She was my rock.
44
00:02:03,699 --> 00:02:08,518
And now I had to be there
for my sister.
45
00:02:08,612 --> 00:02:10,687
I had to feed her.
I had to clothe her.
46
00:02:10,706 --> 00:02:13,023
I had to do the laundry.
I had to get her to school.
47
00:02:13,041 --> 00:02:15,116
Her and myself.
48
00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:17,952
I have a lot of responsibility
49
00:02:18,046 --> 00:02:20,881
Dealing with the loss
of my mom.
50
00:02:20,975 --> 00:02:22,123
It's difficult.
51
00:02:22,217 --> 00:02:26,961
The solution my dad has
is to allow kathy,
52
00:02:27,055 --> 00:02:29,464
My best friend, to move in.
53
00:02:29,558 --> 00:02:31,633
Her parents
moved to tennessee,
54
00:02:31,652 --> 00:02:34,802
But she wanted to stay
for high school.
55
00:02:34,897 --> 00:02:36,897
My dad offered to be guardian,
56
00:02:37,049 --> 00:02:39,383
So she stayed
and moved in with us.
57
00:02:39,401 --> 00:02:41,809
We are so excited
to be sisters.
58
00:02:41,904 --> 00:02:44,054
We were partners in crime.
59
00:02:44,072 --> 00:02:45,998
[tense music]
60
00:02:46,225 --> 00:02:47,240
♪ ♪
61
00:02:47,393 --> 00:02:49,242
My dad, he tries hard.
62
00:02:49,395 --> 00:02:53,397
He works far from the home
as a hotel restaurant manager.
63
00:02:53,490 --> 00:02:55,990
And he has trouble
with three girls.
64
00:02:56,084 --> 00:02:58,343
He doesn't know what to do.
65
00:02:58,570 --> 00:03:02,589
But being home alone
has its benefits.
66
00:03:02,741 --> 00:03:05,500
I'm able to stay up late.
67
00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:08,836
Talk on the phone all night.
Have ice cream for dinner.
68
00:03:08,856 --> 00:03:12,249
Torment my little sister
any time.
69
00:03:12,342 --> 00:03:15,194
- My sister fed me.
She washed me.
70
00:03:15,421 --> 00:03:18,030
She beat me up.
She made fun of me.
71
00:03:18,181 --> 00:03:19,198
We were sisters.
72
00:03:19,425 --> 00:03:22,034
I loved hanging out
with my big sister.
73
00:03:22,261 --> 00:03:23,944
[faint pop music]
74
00:03:24,038 --> 00:03:25,595
- Our laundry broke
75
00:03:25,689 --> 00:03:27,264
And we had to go
to the laundromat.
76
00:03:27,282 --> 00:03:29,099
And dad drops us off.
77
00:03:29,117 --> 00:03:30,876
So we put in the clothes,
78
00:03:31,103 --> 00:03:33,937
And there was a huge picture
window with a little shelf.
79
00:03:34,030 --> 00:03:37,031
And it's a small town,
and we're bored.
80
00:03:37,051 --> 00:03:41,202
So we got into the window
and we performed the dance.
81
00:03:41,296 --> 00:03:43,780
Lo and behold,
some boys walk in
82
00:03:43,873 --> 00:03:46,040
And they want
to exchange numbers.
83
00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:49,561
As a boy-crazy 14-year-old,
84
00:03:49,788 --> 00:03:52,973
A little bit of
an attention hound, I think,
85
00:03:53,125 --> 00:03:55,567
"yay! This is great."
86
00:03:58,405 --> 00:04:00,364
[birds chirping]
87
00:04:01,817 --> 00:04:03,984
But I miss mom.
88
00:04:04,136 --> 00:04:07,895
When mom died,
a part of me died.
89
00:04:07,990 --> 00:04:10,824
I'm sad.
I need answers.
90
00:04:10,976 --> 00:04:14,311
I do something
incredibly stupid.
91
00:04:14,329 --> 00:04:17,089
[eerie music]
92
00:04:17,316 --> 00:04:20,926
Kathy and I decide
we're gonna hold a séance.
93
00:04:21,153 --> 00:04:22,669
♪ ♪
94
00:04:22,821 --> 00:04:26,748
And in the séance
we're asking,
95
00:04:26,767 --> 00:04:28,992
"mom, are you there?"
96
00:04:29,085 --> 00:04:31,995
The cover
to the electrical panel
97
00:04:32,014 --> 00:04:34,589
Flew off onto the ground
98
00:04:34,683 --> 00:04:37,834
And scared the crap out of us.
99
00:04:37,927 --> 00:04:40,445
"oh, my god." we were done.
100
00:04:40,672 --> 00:04:42,522
♪ ♪
101
00:04:42,674 --> 00:04:45,025
After the séance,
102
00:04:45,177 --> 00:04:48,862
Crazy, weird things
start to take place.
103
00:04:49,014 --> 00:04:51,181
One morning I wake up
104
00:04:51,199 --> 00:04:55,185
And all the stuff from
the shed in the backyard--
105
00:04:55,203 --> 00:04:58,855
The rakes, the shovels,
the lawn chairs,
106
00:04:58,874 --> 00:05:01,115
Is all tossed
all over the backyard.
107
00:05:01,209 --> 00:05:04,210
I look at kathy.
She looks at me.
108
00:05:04,363 --> 00:05:06,287
We know it's not karen.
109
00:05:06,381 --> 00:05:08,548
And we're a little baffled.
110
00:05:08,642 --> 00:05:10,625
How? Who? What?
111
00:05:10,719 --> 00:05:13,478
We tell dad, and he blames it
on the neighbor kids.
112
00:05:13,705 --> 00:05:16,039
He says, "your friends
are pulling jokes on you.
113
00:05:16,058 --> 00:05:18,466
It'll be okay.
Just go clean it up."
114
00:05:18,485 --> 00:05:20,986
This is just the beginning.
115
00:05:21,137 --> 00:05:23,137
- I did not grasp
what was happening.
116
00:05:23,231 --> 00:05:26,658
I had no idea what was to come.
117
00:05:26,810 --> 00:05:27,975
[doorbell ringing]
118
00:05:28,070 --> 00:05:30,554
- One day, the doorbell rings.
119
00:05:30,572 --> 00:05:32,072
Broad daylight.
120
00:05:32,224 --> 00:05:34,891
Answer the door. Nobody.
121
00:05:34,910 --> 00:05:36,393
♪ ♪
122
00:05:36,411 --> 00:05:40,747
Is somebody messing with me
and I'm just not catching them?
123
00:05:40,841 --> 00:05:42,507
Do I have a ghost?
124
00:05:42,659 --> 00:05:44,918
[thunder cracks]
125
00:05:45,012 --> 00:05:48,162
Three days later, there was
a thunder and lightning storm
126
00:05:48,182 --> 00:05:52,333
And lightning lit up
the front bay windows.
127
00:05:52,427 --> 00:05:56,021
And I hear karen and kathy
128
00:05:56,172 --> 00:05:59,524
Screaming at the top
of their lungs
129
00:05:59,751 --> 00:06:04,437
And telling me my mother
is in the dining room
130
00:06:04,531 --> 00:06:10,518
Because they saw a human shadow
when the lightning struck.
131
00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:15,265
At this point,
I don't know what to think.
132
00:06:15,283 --> 00:06:17,951
[ominous music]
133
00:06:18,045 --> 00:06:19,878
[upbeat rock music]
134
00:06:20,105 --> 00:06:21,438
♪ ♪
135
00:06:21,456 --> 00:06:23,123
And then one evening,
136
00:06:23,275 --> 00:06:25,884
We are talking
to boys on the phone,
137
00:06:26,035 --> 00:06:30,947
And a huge knock comes
at the window of our bedroom
138
00:06:30,966 --> 00:06:35,394
As if a pretty decent-sized
rock was thrown into it.
139
00:06:35,621 --> 00:06:37,137
[loud bang]
140
00:06:37,289 --> 00:06:40,232
My heart is in my throat.
141
00:06:40,459 --> 00:06:43,735
Because we're together,
we know I didn't do it,
142
00:06:43,887 --> 00:06:45,553
She didn't do it.
We're all together.
143
00:06:45,647 --> 00:06:47,147
Karen didn't do it. She's here.
144
00:06:47,241 --> 00:06:48,798
They were so scared.
145
00:06:48,892 --> 00:06:51,301
My dad's at work.
He's not home.
146
00:06:51,394 --> 00:06:53,394
When it's 2:00 in the morning
147
00:06:53,414 --> 00:06:56,230
And you have banging
coming on your windows
148
00:06:56,250 --> 00:06:58,658
From outside your bedroom,
what do you do?
149
00:06:58,752 --> 00:07:00,326
You call the police.
150
00:07:00,479 --> 00:07:02,979
The police came out
to investigate.
151
00:07:02,998 --> 00:07:05,590
They didn't find
anybody or anything.
152
00:07:05,817 --> 00:07:06,983
♪ ♪
153
00:07:07,076 --> 00:07:11,154
The police asked,
"where's your parents?"
154
00:07:11,173 --> 00:07:14,415
Dad says, "you're not supposed
to be home by yourself
155
00:07:14,435 --> 00:07:16,268
"at 2:00 in the morning.
156
00:07:16,495 --> 00:07:20,346
There's nobody here.
Stop bothering the police."
157
00:07:20,499 --> 00:07:23,424
I thought, "we have ghosts."
158
00:07:23,518 --> 00:07:28,429
This is the only
logical explanation
159
00:07:28,449 --> 00:07:30,615
For the madness.
160
00:07:30,842 --> 00:07:36,121
People thought I was
acting out in grief
161
00:07:36,348 --> 00:07:40,016
And that I needed
grief counseling and help
162
00:07:40,035 --> 00:07:42,443
Because I lost my mother.
163
00:07:42,537 --> 00:07:44,612
No one believes us.
164
00:07:44,706 --> 00:07:45,964
[ominous music]
165
00:07:46,191 --> 00:07:50,210
It wasn't long
before kathy and I
166
00:07:50,362 --> 00:07:54,047
Moved through
this house as a team.
167
00:07:54,141 --> 00:07:57,625
If we were going upstairs,
kathy would have the front,
168
00:07:57,719 --> 00:07:59,311
Karen would be in the middle,
169
00:07:59,538 --> 00:08:01,813
And I would walk up
the stairs backwards
170
00:08:01,965 --> 00:08:04,891
So we could see if anything
was gonna come at us.
171
00:08:04,985 --> 00:08:06,651
- Everyone was scared.
172
00:08:06,878 --> 00:08:10,897
- At night,
I barricade my bedroom door.
173
00:08:11,049 --> 00:08:14,050
I sleep with a knife
under my pillow.
174
00:08:14,143 --> 00:08:18,071
But at a certain point,
the fear turns to anger.
175
00:08:18,223 --> 00:08:20,147
So the next night,
176
00:08:20,167 --> 00:08:22,817
I'm on the phone
in my bedroom.
177
00:08:22,911 --> 00:08:25,912
I hear banging on the wall.
178
00:08:26,064 --> 00:08:29,508
And kathy picks up
a plastic bat
179
00:08:29,735 --> 00:08:32,919
And we kick the door in
to the laundry room
180
00:08:33,071 --> 00:08:34,996
Which leads to the cellar.
181
00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:40,243
We yell,
"whoever or whatever you are,
182
00:08:40,262 --> 00:08:43,188
"come out, show yourself.
183
00:08:43,415 --> 00:08:45,915
We're over this."
184
00:08:45,934 --> 00:08:47,692
I see nothing.
185
00:08:47,919 --> 00:08:49,252
Nothing.
186
00:08:49,271 --> 00:08:51,345
♪ ♪
187
00:08:51,365 --> 00:08:55,516
For six months,
incidents happened on and off.
188
00:08:55,610 --> 00:08:57,351
A couple of days in a row.
189
00:08:57,371 --> 00:08:59,112
A week with nothing.
190
00:08:59,264 --> 00:09:01,355
Two weeks, every day,
incidents.
191
00:09:01,375 --> 00:09:02,615
A week, nothing.
192
00:09:02,768 --> 00:09:07,194
And then one evening,
I'm in the bathroom.
193
00:09:07,214 --> 00:09:10,273
I'm doing my hair.
I'm doing my makeup,
194
00:09:10,292 --> 00:09:14,110
'cause it's Friday night
and we're going roller skating.
195
00:09:14,203 --> 00:09:17,797
I go roller skating
to meet boys.
196
00:09:17,949 --> 00:09:20,892
Kathy is babysitting.
197
00:09:21,119 --> 00:09:25,455
The plan is dad's
going to pick up kathy
198
00:09:25,473 --> 00:09:27,957
And drop us all off
at the skating rink.
199
00:09:27,976 --> 00:09:29,976
As I'm getting ready,
200
00:09:30,128 --> 00:09:32,629
A rock comes
at the bathroom window.
201
00:09:32,647 --> 00:09:34,130
The rock hit so hard,
202
00:09:34,223 --> 00:09:35,965
It cracked the pane
in the window.
203
00:09:35,984 --> 00:09:38,243
And dad's home.
204
00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:40,987
He's in his room watching tv.
I run to him.
205
00:09:41,081 --> 00:09:43,564
"dad! Check it out."
206
00:09:43,658 --> 00:09:45,900
Dad got a little nervous.
207
00:09:45,994 --> 00:09:48,086
Dad says,
"I'm going to check out."
208
00:09:48,313 --> 00:09:51,981
In the meantime,
I decide to call kathy.
209
00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,150
[tense music]
210
00:09:54,169 --> 00:09:55,318
♪ ♪
211
00:09:55,337 --> 00:09:57,411
My phone line is dead.
212
00:09:57,431 --> 00:09:59,672
I go upstairs to the kitchen,
213
00:09:59,766 --> 00:10:01,916
And that line is dead.
214
00:10:02,010 --> 00:10:07,013
Dad comes inside with a bag
of individually-wrapped candy
215
00:10:07,107 --> 00:10:08,923
And a bb gun.
216
00:10:09,017 --> 00:10:10,775
We don't know what's going on,
217
00:10:11,002 --> 00:10:14,929
But the phone lines
had been cut and burnt.
218
00:10:14,948 --> 00:10:15,947
I'm panicked.
219
00:10:16,174 --> 00:10:17,032
♪ ♪
220
00:10:20,862 --> 00:10:23,288
"see? See, dad? See?"
221
00:10:23,439 --> 00:10:25,790
This is the first incident
that happens
222
00:10:25,942 --> 00:10:28,460
Dad sees firsthand.
223
00:10:28,687 --> 00:10:34,040
Dad says, "oh, we'll get
to the bottom of this."
224
00:10:34,192 --> 00:10:37,969
But dad's scratching his head.
225
00:10:38,121 --> 00:10:41,698
He reports the cutting and
the burning of the phone lines.
226
00:10:41,716 --> 00:10:43,533
Phone lines get repaired,
227
00:10:43,551 --> 00:10:46,311
And all the activities
die off altogether,
228
00:10:46,462 --> 00:10:47,720
And things are quiet.
229
00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:50,131
[tense music]
230
00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:52,709
Karen is sick.
231
00:10:52,727 --> 00:10:55,636
Somebody has to stay home
to take care of karen.
232
00:10:55,656 --> 00:10:58,156
- Tina was the lucky winner
that day.
233
00:10:58,383 --> 00:11:00,492
- Karen and I are laying
on my dad's bed
234
00:11:00,719 --> 00:11:03,310
In his room
watching television,
235
00:11:03,330 --> 00:11:04,829
And she's sleeping.
236
00:11:04,981 --> 00:11:06,498
It's about lunchtime,
237
00:11:06,725 --> 00:11:10,076
And I hear the radio
go on in the kitchen.
238
00:11:10,228 --> 00:11:12,837
My heart is in my throat.
239
00:11:12,989 --> 00:11:16,157
I don't have kathy.
Now I'm alone.
240
00:11:16,251 --> 00:11:18,251
I have to protect karen.
241
00:11:18,403 --> 00:11:21,738
The cabinets in the kitchen
are banging.
242
00:11:21,756 --> 00:11:24,165
Something is opening
and closing the cabinets
243
00:11:24,259 --> 00:11:26,017
At a really rapid pace.
244
00:11:26,244 --> 00:11:29,521
And the music's blaring,
and I panic.
245
00:11:29,672 --> 00:11:32,857
Whatever it is, it's back.
246
00:11:33,009 --> 00:11:35,509
And I think,
"what? What do I do?"
247
00:11:35,603 --> 00:11:37,420
Karen's still sleeping.
248
00:11:37,439 --> 00:11:40,699
So I go to the phone
and I call dad.
249
00:11:40,926 --> 00:11:44,369
Remember, dad's
a hotel restaurant manager,
250
00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:45,853
And it's lunchtime.
251
00:11:45,872 --> 00:11:47,372
Bad time to call dad.
252
00:11:47,599 --> 00:11:51,025
[hushed]
"dad, somebody's in the house."
253
00:11:51,119 --> 00:11:54,862
"tina, hush. Nobody is there.
254
00:11:54,881 --> 00:11:58,049
We're gonna talk
when I get home."
255
00:11:58,201 --> 00:12:00,626
My dad doesn't believe me.
256
00:12:00,779 --> 00:12:04,389
While I'm on the phone,
karen wakes up.
257
00:12:04,540 --> 00:12:06,966
- I was hungry.
I went to the kitchen.
258
00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:08,876
I wanted a snack.
259
00:12:08,895 --> 00:12:10,970
- And she starts crying.
260
00:12:11,122 --> 00:12:13,973
I thought, "oh, no!"
261
00:12:14,125 --> 00:12:15,400
- I yell to tina,
262
00:12:15,627 --> 00:12:18,461
"where are the cupcakes
and orange juice?"
263
00:12:18,554 --> 00:12:20,646
We had just went
grocery shopping.
264
00:12:20,799 --> 00:12:21,965
They should have been there.
265
00:12:21,983 --> 00:12:23,908
[tense music]
266
00:12:24,060 --> 00:12:26,135
- Where did they go?
267
00:12:26,154 --> 00:12:29,489
So I tell karen, "kathy took
'em to school for lunch.
268
00:12:29,641 --> 00:12:31,249
Let's have something else."
269
00:12:31,476 --> 00:12:33,659
- Tina, later on, said,
"let's go get ready.
270
00:12:33,754 --> 00:12:35,253
I have to go to work."
271
00:12:35,404 --> 00:12:40,833
- I have a job mucking stalls
at the local thoroughbred farm.
272
00:12:40,927 --> 00:12:44,337
And we had daycare set up
for karen by the neighbor.
273
00:12:44,489 --> 00:12:46,990
So I'm getting changed,
274
00:12:47,008 --> 00:12:48,841
And I hear karen singing.
275
00:12:48,994 --> 00:12:52,270
♪ I found 'em, I found 'em ♪
276
00:12:52,421 --> 00:12:54,272
"kathy didn't take this
to school.
277
00:12:54,423 --> 00:12:56,257
They're right here."
278
00:12:56,276 --> 00:12:58,001
And I ran into the red room
279
00:12:58,094 --> 00:13:00,612
And there was the box
of cupcakes
280
00:13:00,763 --> 00:13:04,190
With a few empty wrappers
hanging out.
281
00:13:04,284 --> 00:13:08,194
I grab her by the hand
and we get out of that house.
282
00:13:08,346 --> 00:13:12,198
♪ ♪
283
00:13:12,292 --> 00:13:14,441
We arrive home.
284
00:13:14,461 --> 00:13:19,539
We pulled into the driveway,
and all the lights are on.
285
00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:23,860
I say, "dad, when I left today,
it was daylight.
286
00:13:23,953 --> 00:13:25,970
I didn't have the lights on."
287
00:13:26,122 --> 00:13:27,788
We walked through
the front door.
288
00:13:27,882 --> 00:13:30,383
All the tvs are on.
289
00:13:30,477 --> 00:13:33,144
All the radios, they were all
on the same stations
290
00:13:33,296 --> 00:13:37,131
And they were up as loud
as they possibly could be.
291
00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:41,894
This is twice dad sees, like,
something is wrong here.
292
00:13:41,988 --> 00:13:44,213
I'm not lying.
293
00:13:44,307 --> 00:13:47,400
So my dad starts
with the basement.
294
00:13:47,494 --> 00:13:50,069
And he's turning off
the televisions and radios
295
00:13:50,221 --> 00:13:51,663
As he hits room to room.
296
00:13:51,890 --> 00:13:54,557
Karen's following
along behind him.
297
00:13:54,650 --> 00:13:56,334
- So we searched
the downstairs.
298
00:13:56,485 --> 00:13:58,744
Everything seems fine.
299
00:13:58,839 --> 00:14:00,338
We go upstairs.
300
00:14:00,489 --> 00:14:02,823
We open up
the bedroom closet door.
301
00:14:02,843 --> 00:14:05,751
He says, "excuse me.
I'll just let you be,"
302
00:14:05,846 --> 00:14:07,178
And shuts the door.
303
00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:09,180
- "dad, that's not funny."
304
00:14:09,332 --> 00:14:11,741
And now it's quiet.
305
00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:13,334
We hear,
306
00:14:13,353 --> 00:14:18,356
"girls, get your asses
over here now."
307
00:14:18,507 --> 00:14:19,932
And I look.
308
00:14:20,085 --> 00:14:23,344
I see my dad
309
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:28,849
Standing face to face
with this thing.
310
00:14:28,869 --> 00:14:31,369
Hair spiked with hairspray.
311
00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,281
Makeup on the face
like war paint.
312
00:14:35,375 --> 00:14:37,433
A fur coat.
313
00:14:37,452 --> 00:14:40,361
And I see a hatchet
to the side.
314
00:14:40,455 --> 00:14:43,882
I hear dad, "it's okay.
315
00:14:44,033 --> 00:14:48,052
"this is just a homeless person
looking for food.
316
00:14:48,204 --> 00:14:51,964
"it's okay. We're all going
into the last room on the left.
317
00:14:52,117 --> 00:14:53,725
It's okay."
318
00:14:53,876 --> 00:14:57,562
And he has his hands up
as he backs down the hall.
319
00:14:57,789 --> 00:15:00,623
Dad gets in
and he closes the door.
320
00:15:00,642 --> 00:15:05,144
And he's trying to keep
three young girls calm.
321
00:15:05,238 --> 00:15:06,963
- I am crying.
322
00:15:06,981 --> 00:15:09,148
I don't know what is happening.
323
00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:12,559
- Dad says,
"tina, go to the phone."
324
00:15:12,579 --> 00:15:15,562
So I went to the physical
phone that was into the wall
325
00:15:15,657 --> 00:15:17,140
And it had been removed.
326
00:15:17,158 --> 00:15:19,233
The lamp had been removed.
327
00:15:19,252 --> 00:15:20,752
- And she starts freaking out.
328
00:15:20,979 --> 00:15:24,088
"no light. No phone.
No light. No phone."
329
00:15:24,315 --> 00:15:26,573
She's pacing back and forth
in the bedroom.
330
00:15:26,593 --> 00:15:28,985
- "dad, no light, no phone.
Dad, no light, no phone."
331
00:15:29,003 --> 00:15:33,264
The walls were coming in on me.
I couldn't breathe.
332
00:15:33,491 --> 00:15:37,326
And just like the movies,
I saw that window.
333
00:15:37,420 --> 00:15:41,088
- Dad, I'm going for help.
334
00:15:41,182 --> 00:15:42,607
- The next thing I know,
335
00:15:42,834 --> 00:15:45,443
She jumps out the window
and she's gone.
336
00:15:45,670 --> 00:15:48,504
- Kathy sticks her head
out the window
337
00:15:48,523 --> 00:15:51,023
And screams at the top
of her lungs,
338
00:15:51,117 --> 00:15:54,786
"run, tina, run!"
339
00:15:55,013 --> 00:15:58,681
And I ran like
I've never run before.
340
00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:01,608
I knew at any moment
this thing is gonna get me.
341
00:16:01,703 --> 00:16:03,461
I ran through the woods.
342
00:16:03,612 --> 00:16:07,298
The trees scratched my face
and I didn't care.
343
00:16:07,450 --> 00:16:09,192
I ran up the neighbor's
back door
344
00:16:09,210 --> 00:16:11,194
Two and three steps at a time.
345
00:16:11,287 --> 00:16:13,471
And I'm banging.
Bang, bang, bang.
346
00:16:13,622 --> 00:16:16,307
Neighbor opens up the door
and I just ran her over.
347
00:16:16,534 --> 00:16:18,125
"there's a guy in the house
with an axe
348
00:16:18,219 --> 00:16:19,869
And he's got the whole family!"
349
00:16:19,887 --> 00:16:21,871
She says, "what?"
350
00:16:21,964 --> 00:16:23,797
I couldn't get it out
fast enough.
351
00:16:23,891 --> 00:16:26,559
The neighbor called the police
352
00:16:26,711 --> 00:16:29,654
And all we can do is wait.
353
00:16:29,805 --> 00:16:34,659
I don't know
if they're alive or dead.
354
00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,318
- One state trooper
pulls into the driveway.
355
00:16:44,412 --> 00:16:49,656
I see police hiding
in the woods around the house.
356
00:16:49,676 --> 00:16:53,327
- There was a very tall
police officer
357
00:16:53,346 --> 00:16:55,571
That came up to the window
and said,
358
00:16:55,590 --> 00:16:57,907
"come on, honey, let's go."
359
00:16:57,925 --> 00:17:00,926
And I was crying and screaming.
360
00:17:01,021 --> 00:17:05,005
And my father picked me up
and threw me out to him.
361
00:17:05,025 --> 00:17:06,340
[somber music]
362
00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,267
- Within 30 minutes,
363
00:17:08,419 --> 00:17:13,347
My sister, my friend,
and my dad
364
00:17:13,441 --> 00:17:16,200
Made it to the neighbor's.
365
00:17:16,352 --> 00:17:18,944
And I was thankful.
366
00:17:19,039 --> 00:17:21,355
Dad got on his knees
367
00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:26,360
And gave me a huge apology.
368
00:17:26,379 --> 00:17:29,288
[tense music]
369
00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,198
- We searched the entire home.
370
00:17:31,292 --> 00:17:34,110
Under beds. In closets.
371
00:17:34,128 --> 00:17:37,204
In cubby holes. Repeatedly.
372
00:17:37,223 --> 00:17:41,208
We searched the wooded area
surrounding that home.
373
00:17:41,302 --> 00:17:44,303
And of course, we had cruisers
searching the roads.
374
00:17:44,455 --> 00:17:45,879
And nothing turned up.
375
00:17:45,899 --> 00:17:48,048
Didn't know what happened
to the intruder,
376
00:17:48,142 --> 00:17:50,293
But I found the hatchet
377
00:17:50,311 --> 00:17:53,571
Just outside the rear door
on the ground.
378
00:17:53,722 --> 00:17:57,817
My initial impression
was maybe he has left here.
379
00:17:57,911 --> 00:17:59,410
- He got away
380
00:17:59,637 --> 00:18:03,247
And we were advised
to not spend the night.
381
00:18:05,310 --> 00:18:08,902
The next night,
dad calls the local police.
382
00:18:08,922 --> 00:18:10,646
He says,
"meet me at the house.
383
00:18:10,739 --> 00:18:13,999
I don't want to enter
the home alone."
384
00:18:14,094 --> 00:18:16,243
- I was asked to come into
the station by the chief,
385
00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:18,078
And he's advised me
that the bowen family
386
00:18:18,098 --> 00:18:20,323
Wanted to go home,
retrieve some items,
387
00:18:20,416 --> 00:18:21,933
And they wanted
a police escort.
388
00:18:22,994 --> 00:18:25,494
- We arrive at the house,
389
00:18:25,513 --> 00:18:28,664
And someone is waving at us
390
00:18:28,757 --> 00:18:31,442
From the second floor
bedroom window.
391
00:18:33,855 --> 00:18:36,614
- As I approached the home,
I saw no footprints,
392
00:18:36,765 --> 00:18:38,098
No sign of a break.
393
00:18:38,192 --> 00:18:40,176
So I unlocked the door.
394
00:18:40,194 --> 00:18:41,844
[ominous music]
395
00:18:41,937 --> 00:18:43,121
And I went upstairs
a little bit.
396
00:18:43,272 --> 00:18:45,514
I looked to the right,
and I could see a picture
397
00:18:45,533 --> 00:18:47,441
With a knife through it
still stuck in the wall.
398
00:18:47,460 --> 00:18:48,851
And written on it, it said,
399
00:18:48,944 --> 00:18:51,187
"I'm still here.
Come find me."
400
00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:52,797
I went upstairs
a little further,
401
00:18:52,948 --> 00:18:54,874
And I saw another picture
with a knife through it.
402
00:18:55,026 --> 00:18:57,135
And it said,
"I'm going to kill you all."
403
00:18:57,286 --> 00:18:59,286
Those pictures
were not on the wall
404
00:18:59,305 --> 00:19:00,471
When they locked the house.
405
00:19:00,623 --> 00:19:03,766
So I'm thinking,
"he's got to still be here."
406
00:19:05,036 --> 00:19:06,719
We searched.
And I mean we searched.
407
00:19:06,871 --> 00:19:09,313
Closets, under the bed,
any place that we felt
408
00:19:09,540 --> 00:19:11,632
That the average guy
could fit into.
409
00:19:11,726 --> 00:19:13,042
We didn't find anything.
410
00:19:13,060 --> 00:19:14,635
And they said,
"well, he's not here."
411
00:19:14,654 --> 00:19:16,379
And I said, "no, he is here."
412
00:19:16,397 --> 00:19:19,048
I was adamant. "he's here."
413
00:19:19,066 --> 00:19:21,384
So they agreed
to search the house again.
414
00:19:21,402 --> 00:19:23,552
We looked in places
that we didn't look before.
415
00:19:23,571 --> 00:19:25,554
And we wound up downstairs.
416
00:19:25,573 --> 00:19:27,481
We're in a small laundry room,
417
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:30,668
And I'm looking across the room
and my eyes are wandering.
418
00:19:30,895 --> 00:19:33,171
And all of a sudden,
just like that,
419
00:19:33,322 --> 00:19:36,490
I see part of the wall is not
a wall separating rooms.
420
00:19:36,584 --> 00:19:37,658
I looked at it and said,
421
00:19:37,752 --> 00:19:39,919
"that wall was designed
to hide pipes."
422
00:19:40,071 --> 00:19:42,346
So when he built this wall
to hide the pipes,
423
00:19:42,573 --> 00:19:43,830
He never brought it
all the way over
424
00:19:43,925 --> 00:19:45,090
To meet the other wall.
425
00:19:45,243 --> 00:19:48,744
There was a 7 to 8,
maybe 9-inch space.
426
00:19:48,763 --> 00:19:50,671
I looked at the base of it,
427
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,265
And I said,
"someone could fit in there."
428
00:19:53,418 --> 00:19:55,434
So I asked the sergeant
for his flashlight.
429
00:19:55,586 --> 00:19:58,103
♪ ♪
430
00:19:58,256 --> 00:20:01,440
And I saw what appeared
to be a 3 1/2 to 4 foot-high
431
00:20:01,592 --> 00:20:03,868
Pile of dirty clothes.
432
00:20:04,095 --> 00:20:07,446
I said, "I got the sob
right here. That's him."
433
00:20:07,598 --> 00:20:08,614
I drew my pistol.
434
00:20:08,708 --> 00:20:10,357
I put it right up
by the side of his head.
435
00:20:10,376 --> 00:20:11,542
I said,
"I want to see your hands,
436
00:20:11,694 --> 00:20:13,619
And I want to see 'em
real slow."
437
00:20:13,771 --> 00:20:14,787
♪ ♪
438
00:20:14,881 --> 00:20:18,198
- The police had brought up
a person,
439
00:20:18,218 --> 00:20:21,552
And I recognized those eyes.
440
00:20:21,704 --> 00:20:23,796
And now I know
I know this person.
441
00:20:23,948 --> 00:20:26,039
And I can't think...
442
00:20:26,133 --> 00:20:27,633
How do--where do--who--
443
00:20:27,785 --> 00:20:29,710
♪ ♪
444
00:20:29,729 --> 00:20:31,470
I think I do.
I don't know the name.
445
00:20:31,622 --> 00:20:33,564
And it came.
446
00:20:33,716 --> 00:20:35,808
That's danny laplante.
447
00:20:35,902 --> 00:20:40,312
I spoke with him for months
on the telephone.
448
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:43,241
Danny got my number
449
00:20:43,392 --> 00:20:46,652
Through the boys
we met in townsend
450
00:20:46,804 --> 00:20:49,229
Dancing in the window
at the laundromat.
451
00:20:49,249 --> 00:20:51,582
I'm boy-crazy.
452
00:20:51,734 --> 00:20:55,086
I didn't think
it was weird at all
453
00:20:55,313 --> 00:21:00,483
That an unidentified boy
called me on my phone.
454
00:21:00,501 --> 00:21:02,593
Danny introduced himself to me
455
00:21:02,820 --> 00:21:05,821
At an eighth grade
school event.
456
00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:07,506
I'm 14.
457
00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,267
I'm shallow,
458
00:21:09,494 --> 00:21:13,253
And I'm not attracted
to danny in person
459
00:21:13,273 --> 00:21:16,256
Like I was the danny
on the telephone.
460
00:21:16,276 --> 00:21:18,167
'cause he was
just flat-out ugly,
461
00:21:18,260 --> 00:21:19,777
And I had forgot
all about him.
462
00:21:20,004 --> 00:21:22,429
But this thing
at the front door,
463
00:21:22,523 --> 00:21:24,431
This is danny laplante.
464
00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:26,767
This is all my fault.
465
00:21:26,861 --> 00:21:28,786
Six months or longer,
466
00:21:28,937 --> 00:21:31,180
Danny was moving in and out
of the house,
467
00:21:31,198 --> 00:21:32,456
Eating our food,
468
00:21:32,608 --> 00:21:35,275
Turning our radios
and televisions on and off,
469
00:21:35,295 --> 00:21:38,370
Knocking on the walls
inside and out.
470
00:21:38,523 --> 00:21:42,024
There were electrical outlets
in my bedroom
471
00:21:42,043 --> 00:21:44,193
That had been cut out
and balanced in the wall
472
00:21:44,286 --> 00:21:46,712
So he could remove them
and peek.
473
00:21:46,864 --> 00:21:49,122
- Daniel was charged
when he was arrested
474
00:21:49,142 --> 00:21:50,474
From the bowen home
475
00:21:50,626 --> 00:21:53,552
For breaking and entering,
kidnapping,
476
00:21:53,704 --> 00:21:56,630
And threatening bodily harm.
477
00:21:56,724 --> 00:21:58,482
Following his arrest,
478
00:21:58,634 --> 00:22:02,878
He was actually held
for roughly 9 1/2 months.
479
00:22:02,897 --> 00:22:06,824
Daniel's mother was able to
come up with the $10,000 bail
480
00:22:06,975 --> 00:22:09,902
That allowed daniel
to be released
481
00:22:10,054 --> 00:22:13,405
In mid-October of 1987.
482
00:22:13,499 --> 00:22:15,074
[tense music]
483
00:22:15,168 --> 00:22:16,725
On December 1st,
484
00:22:16,744 --> 00:22:19,411
The gustafson home
in the town of townsend
485
00:22:19,505 --> 00:22:21,063
Was broken into.
486
00:22:21,082 --> 00:22:24,491
Unfortunately, priscilla
gustafson returns to her home
487
00:22:24,585 --> 00:22:26,493
With her young son
488
00:22:26,512 --> 00:22:28,237
Only to find an intruder
there.
489
00:22:28,255 --> 00:22:30,348
And the intruder
ties her to the bed,
490
00:22:30,499 --> 00:22:33,242
Rapes and murders
a pregnant mother,
491
00:22:33,260 --> 00:22:37,504
Drowns the five-year-old son
in the bathtub,
492
00:22:37,523 --> 00:22:40,432
And upon the daughter
abigail's return
493
00:22:40,526 --> 00:22:42,084
From school to the home,
494
00:22:42,177 --> 00:22:44,195
Drowns her
in a separate bathtub.
495
00:22:44,346 --> 00:22:46,346
Three murders in one home.
496
00:22:46,366 --> 00:22:48,366
I had no facts
on the case whatsoever.
497
00:22:48,593 --> 00:22:50,776
I just knew townsend,
triple murder, and I said,
498
00:22:50,870 --> 00:22:54,187
"I wonder what daniel laplante
is doing today."
499
00:22:54,207 --> 00:22:56,115
I did become involved
in the manhunt.
500
00:22:56,209 --> 00:22:59,602
I told them that, "this young
man can hide anywhere.
501
00:22:59,620 --> 00:23:01,620
Don't leave anything unturned."
502
00:23:01,772 --> 00:23:02,955
♪ ♪
503
00:23:03,107 --> 00:23:04,289
Eventually, I did find him.
504
00:23:04,442 --> 00:23:07,459
He was in a dumpster,
and they arrested him.
505
00:23:07,612 --> 00:23:10,721
In October of 1988,
506
00:23:10,948 --> 00:23:14,133
Daniel laplante was tried
and convicted
507
00:23:14,285 --> 00:23:16,135
Of three counts of murder
508
00:23:16,287 --> 00:23:20,380
And sentenced to
three consecutive life terms
509
00:23:20,474 --> 00:23:22,382
With no chance of parole.
510
00:23:22,476 --> 00:23:24,293
Judge robert barton said,
511
00:23:24,311 --> 00:23:26,570
"if massachusetts had
the death penalty,
512
00:23:26,722 --> 00:23:28,464
I would personally
pull the switch."
513
00:23:28,482 --> 00:23:31,075
♪ ♪
514
00:23:31,302 --> 00:23:35,246
- When I found out
danny was arrested
515
00:23:35,473 --> 00:23:41,252
For the murder
of two innocent babies...
516
00:23:41,403 --> 00:23:43,662
For a pregnant mom,
517
00:23:43,756 --> 00:23:46,331
It was sickening.
518
00:23:46,426 --> 00:23:48,408
It was horrible.
519
00:23:48,428 --> 00:23:50,428
[somber music]
520
00:23:50,579 --> 00:23:55,582
I realize
he could have killed us.
521
00:23:55,601 --> 00:23:59,252
He had unlimited opportunity
522
00:23:59,346 --> 00:24:02,589
To do physical harm to us
523
00:24:02,608 --> 00:24:05,501
Over that six months of hell.
524
00:24:05,594 --> 00:24:07,686
- I didn't know
who this man was.
525
00:24:07,780 --> 00:24:10,448
I didn't know why he was
doing this to our family.
526
00:24:10,599 --> 00:24:12,858
I just was scared.
527
00:24:12,952 --> 00:24:15,360
This man ruined my life.
528
00:24:15,513 --> 00:24:17,121
Ruined my childhood.
529
00:24:17,272 --> 00:24:19,531
Ruined everything.
530
00:24:19,684 --> 00:24:23,610
- I realize the hand of god
was with us
531
00:24:23,704 --> 00:24:26,355
The night dad came home
532
00:24:26,373 --> 00:24:29,191
And found danny in the closet.
533
00:24:29,210 --> 00:24:32,636
We had a phrogger in our house,
534
00:24:32,788 --> 00:24:37,533
And I believe that
this incident tormented him
535
00:24:37,551 --> 00:24:39,435
Until he died.
536
00:24:45,226 --> 00:24:48,043
[ominous music]
537
00:24:48,062 --> 00:24:49,636
♪ ♪
538
00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:52,381
- I moved to this new town.
539
00:24:52,474 --> 00:24:54,049
I didn't know anyone in town.
540
00:24:54,142 --> 00:24:56,827
I had no friends
and was single.
541
00:24:56,979 --> 00:24:59,145
The only people I knew
in enumclaw
542
00:24:59,165 --> 00:25:02,725
Was my brother eric
and his family.
543
00:25:02,743 --> 00:25:06,820
- Enumclaw is an idyllic
little mountain town
544
00:25:06,914 --> 00:25:10,323
On the way out to the ski
resorts and the mountain pass.
545
00:25:10,343 --> 00:25:12,843
It's green. It's beautiful.
546
00:25:13,070 --> 00:25:15,254
Sits right underneath
mount rainier.
547
00:25:15,406 --> 00:25:18,182
Amber wants a little less
hustle and bustle in her life,
548
00:25:18,409 --> 00:25:20,576
And I think that
the draw of enumclaw
549
00:25:20,594 --> 00:25:23,262
Made enumclaw
really attractive to her.
550
00:25:23,414 --> 00:25:25,097
♪ ♪
551
00:25:25,249 --> 00:25:26,857
- When I moved to enumclaw,
552
00:25:27,009 --> 00:25:29,268
I was working and going
to school at the time.
553
00:25:29,420 --> 00:25:33,772
So I was very focused on just
getting through my education.
554
00:25:33,866 --> 00:25:36,258
♪ ♪
555
00:25:36,277 --> 00:25:39,595
I was working for
an insurance salesman
556
00:25:39,613 --> 00:25:43,189
Doing just data
processing for him.
557
00:25:43,284 --> 00:25:46,526
I was waiting tables.
558
00:25:46,546 --> 00:25:48,862
And I was also
working for a drugstore
559
00:25:48,881 --> 00:25:50,363
Just as a cashier.
560
00:25:50,383 --> 00:25:54,443
And then in between that,
I was taking two classes.
561
00:25:54,461 --> 00:25:56,202
♪ ♪
562
00:25:56,222 --> 00:25:57,613
When you entered
the apartment,
563
00:25:57,631 --> 00:25:59,205
You entered it into a hallway.
564
00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:00,616
If you went to the left,
565
00:26:00,634 --> 00:26:03,060
You came across the bathroom
and the bedroom.
566
00:26:03,211 --> 00:26:05,396
To the right, the kitchen,
the living room,
567
00:26:05,547 --> 00:26:07,289
And the dining room.
568
00:26:07,382 --> 00:26:08,640
It was a nice,
sunny apartment.
569
00:26:08,734 --> 00:26:11,977
I could see mount rainier
from my bedroom window.
570
00:26:12,129 --> 00:26:14,479
It's majestic. It was calming.
571
00:26:14,632 --> 00:26:15,722
I loved it.
572
00:26:15,741 --> 00:26:18,742
[tense music]
573
00:26:18,894 --> 00:26:22,154
It's always exciting
to move into a new space.
574
00:26:22,248 --> 00:26:25,140
I had been unpacking all day,
but wasn't finished.
575
00:26:25,233 --> 00:26:26,825
There were still things
in boxes
576
00:26:26,919 --> 00:26:30,570
And the apartment was kind of
in disarray still.
577
00:26:30,590 --> 00:26:32,756
I had finished for the evening
578
00:26:32,983 --> 00:26:36,760
And turned off the music
and was lying in bed
579
00:26:36,987 --> 00:26:39,655
Listening to the sounds
of that space.
580
00:26:39,673 --> 00:26:40,989
♪ ♪
581
00:26:41,008 --> 00:26:43,008
The sounds of the traffic.
582
00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:44,250
♪ ♪
583
00:26:44,270 --> 00:26:46,845
The sounds of the neighbors.
584
00:26:46,997 --> 00:26:48,939
The sounds of the refrigerator
585
00:26:49,091 --> 00:26:51,667
And the air conditioning
coming on.
586
00:26:51,685 --> 00:26:54,336
[air conditioning hissing]
587
00:26:54,355 --> 00:26:56,338
♪ ♪
588
00:26:56,357 --> 00:26:57,840
[creaking]
589
00:26:57,858 --> 00:27:01,343
I hear footsteps above me,
590
00:27:01,436 --> 00:27:04,363
Walking across the ceiling.
591
00:27:04,457 --> 00:27:09,368
I look up and notice
that there's a crawlspace door
592
00:27:09,462 --> 00:27:12,612
That pushes up into
the ceiling in my bedroom.
593
00:27:12,706 --> 00:27:14,298
I am on the top floor.
594
00:27:14,449 --> 00:27:16,541
There's nothing above me
but an attic.
595
00:27:16,694 --> 00:27:21,454
♪ ♪
596
00:27:21,474 --> 00:27:24,791
Could it have been an animal?
Could it have been the wind?
597
00:27:24,810 --> 00:27:27,052
Could it have been
something next door?
598
00:27:27,204 --> 00:27:29,037
♪ ♪
599
00:27:29,056 --> 00:27:32,465
I eventually drift off
and I fell asleep.
600
00:27:32,559 --> 00:27:35,711
So I woke up the next morning
remembering what I had heard.
601
00:27:35,729 --> 00:27:39,639
So I approached
one of the employees
602
00:27:39,659 --> 00:27:42,660
Of the apartment complex
with my concern.
603
00:27:42,811 --> 00:27:46,497
They were very dismissive
and told me
604
00:27:46,724 --> 00:27:49,741
That it was probably
a squirrel or raccoon.
605
00:27:49,894 --> 00:27:52,244
That no one could be up there.
606
00:27:52,396 --> 00:27:55,914
And I accepted that answer,
607
00:27:56,066 --> 00:27:57,991
Probably because I wanted to.
608
00:27:58,085 --> 00:27:59,568
I did go on with my life.
609
00:27:59,661 --> 00:28:02,070
I had three jobs.
I had no choice.
610
00:28:02,089 --> 00:28:04,756
[ominous music]
611
00:28:04,909 --> 00:28:08,001
♪ ♪
612
00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:09,745
So one day,
I leave the apartment
613
00:28:09,838 --> 00:28:11,337
To go to the grocery store,
614
00:28:11,357 --> 00:28:14,583
And I noticed
that there's a man
615
00:28:14,601 --> 00:28:17,027
Sitting behind
the grocery store.
616
00:28:17,179 --> 00:28:19,938
Now, this is
a quiet mountain town.
617
00:28:20,032 --> 00:28:23,683
I have never seen
a homeless person in this town.
618
00:28:23,703 --> 00:28:27,037
But this gentleman
was just sitting there,
619
00:28:27,189 --> 00:28:28,447
And he looks at me.
620
00:28:28,599 --> 00:28:29,856
♪ ♪
621
00:28:29,875 --> 00:28:32,951
He looks at me longer
than is socially acceptable.
622
00:28:33,103 --> 00:28:35,195
♪ ♪
623
00:28:35,289 --> 00:28:38,941
And I just kept walking
and moved on with my errand,
624
00:28:39,034 --> 00:28:40,625
And I came back
and he was gone.
625
00:28:40,778 --> 00:28:45,130
♪ ♪
626
00:28:45,224 --> 00:28:47,391
I have the two cats,
627
00:28:47,618 --> 00:28:50,376
And I have to buy
cat food for them.
628
00:28:50,396 --> 00:28:52,971
So one day,
when I'm at the pet store,
629
00:28:53,065 --> 00:28:56,716
I noticed this little black
and white and tan puppy,
630
00:28:56,810 --> 00:28:58,402
And she looks up at me,
631
00:28:58,629 --> 00:29:00,887
And there's just
a connection there.
632
00:29:00,981 --> 00:29:04,983
She's so sweet and quiet,
633
00:29:05,135 --> 00:29:07,077
And she just
looks into my eyes,
634
00:29:07,304 --> 00:29:10,806
And I know that
I have to have her.
635
00:29:10,824 --> 00:29:12,157
I buy her.
636
00:29:12,251 --> 00:29:16,645
I bring her home,
and I name her after athena.
637
00:29:16,663 --> 00:29:19,072
I call her thea for short.
638
00:29:19,091 --> 00:29:22,834
She is about eight weeks old.
639
00:29:22,987 --> 00:29:24,928
- When she got thea,
she's just so happy.
640
00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,172
She got to have her little
two kitties and her dog,
641
00:29:27,324 --> 00:29:29,916
And she had her little family
and her apartment.
642
00:29:29,935 --> 00:29:32,160
And she's working really hard
and getting stuff done.
643
00:29:32,179 --> 00:29:33,937
Just, you know,
taking care of life.
644
00:29:34,089 --> 00:29:36,014
- Should I have gotten a puppy
with three jobs
645
00:29:36,166 --> 00:29:37,590
Going to school? No.
646
00:29:37,610 --> 00:29:39,759
But the heart wants
what the heart wants,
647
00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:41,761
And I wanted thea in my life.
648
00:29:41,781 --> 00:29:46,008
And so I brought her home
and she was my dog.
649
00:29:46,026 --> 00:29:47,767
So thea is a small puppy,
650
00:29:47,787 --> 00:29:49,511
And she needs to be
potty trained.
651
00:29:49,604 --> 00:29:51,179
So I kennel her
in the bathroom.
652
00:29:51,198 --> 00:29:54,366
I lay down plastic
and newspaper
653
00:29:54,518 --> 00:29:56,201
So that if she has an accident
654
00:29:56,353 --> 00:29:57,869
While I'm at work,
it's easy to clean up.
655
00:29:58,022 --> 00:30:01,039
So she is kept in the bathroom
with food and water and toys.
656
00:30:01,133 --> 00:30:03,708
[ominous music]
657
00:30:03,803 --> 00:30:07,379
I'm at work one night,
and I get a call from someone
658
00:30:07,473 --> 00:30:11,141
At the apartment complex
letting me know that water
659
00:30:11,293 --> 00:30:14,369
Is raining down
on my downstairs neighbor
660
00:30:14,388 --> 00:30:18,649
And that there is a leak
coming from my bathroom.
661
00:30:18,876 --> 00:30:20,800
But they need me to come home
because
662
00:30:20,820 --> 00:30:24,396
When they tried to go into
the bathroom, there's a dog.
663
00:30:24,548 --> 00:30:26,306
And they need me to come home
to get the dog
664
00:30:26,325 --> 00:30:28,325
So they can fix the problem.
665
00:30:28,552 --> 00:30:31,328
So I get home
and find two employees
666
00:30:31,479 --> 00:30:34,498
Of the apartment complex
in the apartment,
667
00:30:34,725 --> 00:30:38,076
And they're waiting
to get into the bathroom.
668
00:30:38,170 --> 00:30:40,987
I open the door,
669
00:30:41,006 --> 00:30:44,490
And thea is in
the bathroom sink.
670
00:30:44,510 --> 00:30:47,010
How did she get in the sink?
671
00:30:51,333 --> 00:30:55,260
I asked one of
the apartment employees
672
00:30:55,412 --> 00:30:57,746
If they had put her
in the sink,
673
00:30:57,764 --> 00:30:59,264
And they said no.
674
00:30:59,358 --> 00:31:02,250
They were waiting for me
to come to get the dog
675
00:31:02,344 --> 00:31:05,678
So that they could
fix the problem.
676
00:31:05,772 --> 00:31:07,030
She's a small puppy.
677
00:31:07,257 --> 00:31:11,109
She's about eight,
nine weeks old at this point,
678
00:31:11,203 --> 00:31:15,931
And the toilet is a good
2 1/2 feet away from the sink.
679
00:31:15,949 --> 00:31:20,452
And the sink is standard, what?
3 1/2 feet high.
680
00:31:20,604 --> 00:31:22,604
How did she get up there?
681
00:31:22,623 --> 00:31:24,864
- There's water everywhere.
Your dog's in the sink.
682
00:31:24,884 --> 00:31:27,275
None of that made sense.
683
00:31:27,294 --> 00:31:28,793
This is really scary for her.
684
00:31:28,946 --> 00:31:31,113
And it's scary for me.
685
00:31:31,206 --> 00:31:33,281
I'm really worried about her.
686
00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:36,301
♪ ♪
687
00:31:36,395 --> 00:31:38,803
- One day I come home,
688
00:31:38,956 --> 00:31:43,233
And I noticed that the window
that I leave open
689
00:31:43,385 --> 00:31:47,629
So the cats can access
their litter box is closed.
690
00:31:47,722 --> 00:31:49,798
And I know that
I didn't close it,
691
00:31:49,891 --> 00:31:51,724
Because I specifically
left it open
692
00:31:51,744 --> 00:31:54,578
So that they could get
to their litter box.
693
00:31:54,805 --> 00:31:56,154
♪ ♪
694
00:31:56,306 --> 00:31:58,898
My bedroom door is open,
695
00:31:58,918 --> 00:32:02,978
And I know that I
closed it before I left.
696
00:32:02,996 --> 00:32:05,422
♪ ♪
697
00:32:05,649 --> 00:32:09,985
So I go to the kitchen,
I open the refrigerator,
698
00:32:10,078 --> 00:32:13,321
And I see that there
are four cans of soda
699
00:32:13,415 --> 00:32:16,825
When I had left five
in the fridge.
700
00:32:16,843 --> 00:32:19,828
♪ ♪
701
00:32:19,846 --> 00:32:23,515
I go to make dinner
and I open up the cupboard,
702
00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:27,185
And the can of soup that I was
planning on making for dinner
703
00:32:27,337 --> 00:32:29,929
Is not in my cupboard.
704
00:32:30,023 --> 00:32:31,782
When the food starts missing,
705
00:32:32,009 --> 00:32:34,785
That's when I go
to my brother eric and am done.
706
00:32:35,012 --> 00:32:38,697
"stop coming into my apartment,
stop eating my food.
707
00:32:38,791 --> 00:32:40,348
Give me my key back."
708
00:32:40,442 --> 00:32:42,534
And he accuses me
of being crazy.
709
00:32:42,686 --> 00:32:43,852
"I'm not coming
into your apartment.
710
00:32:43,870 --> 00:32:45,520
I don't need your food."
711
00:32:45,539 --> 00:32:48,190
He denies it
but I still think it's him.
712
00:32:48,283 --> 00:32:51,876
I am fully in denial
at this point.
713
00:32:51,971 --> 00:32:54,879
[eerie music]
714
00:32:55,032 --> 00:32:57,623
♪ ♪
715
00:32:57,718 --> 00:33:00,368
So the issue is persisting.
716
00:33:00,462 --> 00:33:02,871
The food is still missing
from the house.
717
00:33:02,889 --> 00:33:07,225
The doors are still different
than how I left them.
718
00:33:07,377 --> 00:33:10,303
So I start really
paying attention.
719
00:33:10,397 --> 00:33:15,308
And I start marking the level
of the milk on the container.
720
00:33:15,327 --> 00:33:18,386
I'm keeping track how many
cans of soup
721
00:33:18,405 --> 00:33:19,721
I have in the cupboard,
722
00:33:19,740 --> 00:33:21,906
How many cans of soda
I have in the fridge.
723
00:33:22,059 --> 00:33:24,001
I'm really
paying attention now.
724
00:33:24,228 --> 00:33:26,077
♪ ♪
725
00:33:26,230 --> 00:33:28,171
And these things
are still happening.
726
00:33:28,398 --> 00:33:29,989
[door slams]
727
00:33:30,009 --> 00:33:31,233
[birds chirping]
728
00:33:31,251 --> 00:33:33,010
[tense music]
729
00:33:33,237 --> 00:33:35,512
One day,
I call in sick for work
730
00:33:35,663 --> 00:33:37,405
And I spend the day
on the couch.
731
00:33:37,424 --> 00:33:40,575
And I'm quiet all day long,
just watching shows.
732
00:33:40,594 --> 00:33:43,745
♪ ♪
733
00:33:43,764 --> 00:33:48,416
I hear a loud thump
coming from the bedroom.
734
00:33:48,435 --> 00:33:50,510
♪ ♪
735
00:33:50,529 --> 00:33:54,089
But I have animals and so
I assume it's the two cats
736
00:33:54,182 --> 00:33:56,274
And the dog who are playing.
737
00:33:56,368 --> 00:33:58,943
So I go on with my evening.
738
00:33:59,038 --> 00:34:04,432
Then around 11:00 at night,
I turn off the television,
739
00:34:04,451 --> 00:34:07,285
I turn off the lights,
740
00:34:07,379 --> 00:34:09,546
And I lit a candle.
741
00:34:09,773 --> 00:34:10,863
♪ ♪
742
00:34:10,883 --> 00:34:14,959
I drew a bath
and I got into the tub.
743
00:34:15,112 --> 00:34:16,386
♪ ♪
744
00:34:16,613 --> 00:34:18,538
It's dark.
745
00:34:18,557 --> 00:34:23,118
I look up, and the
crawlspace door is open.
746
00:34:23,136 --> 00:34:25,896
[chilling music]
747
00:34:26,123 --> 00:34:27,622
♪ ♪
748
00:34:27,641 --> 00:34:31,126
Just a black hole
in the white ceiling.
749
00:34:31,144 --> 00:34:32,903
I am terrified.
750
00:34:33,130 --> 00:34:34,220
♪ ♪
751
00:34:34,314 --> 00:34:37,741
And everything slows down.
752
00:34:37,968 --> 00:34:39,559
♪ ♪
753
00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:41,486
All the pieces
fall into place,
754
00:34:41,638 --> 00:34:44,989
And I know that
I'm not imagining this.
755
00:34:45,084 --> 00:34:46,750
Somebody is in my house.
756
00:34:46,977 --> 00:34:47,976
♪ ♪
757
00:34:48,069 --> 00:34:51,496
That thump that I heard,
that was him.
758
00:34:51,648 --> 00:34:52,831
♪ ♪
759
00:34:52,925 --> 00:34:54,758
The footsteps,
760
00:34:54,985 --> 00:34:56,927
The food,
761
00:34:57,154 --> 00:34:59,245
The doors,
762
00:34:59,339 --> 00:35:01,823
Thea in the sink,
763
00:35:01,916 --> 00:35:05,493
That man behind
the grocery store.
764
00:35:05,512 --> 00:35:07,938
All of these puzzle pieces
come together
765
00:35:08,089 --> 00:35:13,092
To create a picture
that I can no longer deny.
766
00:35:13,112 --> 00:35:14,853
For the first time,
767
00:35:15,005 --> 00:35:18,173
All my suspicions
are confirmed.
768
00:35:18,191 --> 00:35:22,619
And this is the first time
that I feel real fear.
769
00:35:22,770 --> 00:35:25,956
He's had access to me
for six months.
770
00:35:26,183 --> 00:35:28,700
If he wanted to hurt me,
I would be hurt.
771
00:35:28,852 --> 00:35:30,794
That's not what he wants.
772
00:35:31,021 --> 00:35:32,445
♪ ♪
773
00:35:32,539 --> 00:35:35,023
But if I scare him,
774
00:35:35,041 --> 00:35:37,467
If I let him know
that I know he's here,
775
00:35:37,619 --> 00:35:40,195
He might hurt me
so that I don't call the cops.
776
00:35:40,213 --> 00:35:41,454
♪ ♪
777
00:35:41,548 --> 00:35:44,123
So I need to be very chill.
778
00:35:44,143 --> 00:35:46,309
[drain gurgling]
779
00:35:46,536 --> 00:35:48,219
♪ ♪
780
00:35:48,372 --> 00:35:50,555
I get out of the tub.
781
00:35:50,707 --> 00:35:53,725
I'm vulnerable. I'm naked.
782
00:35:53,877 --> 00:35:56,987
And someone is in my house.
783
00:35:57,214 --> 00:35:58,229
♪ ♪
784
00:35:58,323 --> 00:36:01,900
I have to go into
my bedroom for the robe,
785
00:36:02,052 --> 00:36:05,720
And that is the most
frightening part
786
00:36:05,739 --> 00:36:07,647
Because there's only one place
he could be hiding
787
00:36:07,741 --> 00:36:09,815
And that's in the closet.
788
00:36:09,910 --> 00:36:12,652
And it's a mirror door closet.
789
00:36:12,671 --> 00:36:17,565
So I see myself in the dark,
790
00:36:17,659 --> 00:36:21,252
Naked and alone,
reaching for my robe,
791
00:36:21,405 --> 00:36:24,014
Knowing that he's on
the other side of that door.
792
00:36:24,241 --> 00:36:24,806
♪ ♪
793
00:36:29,003 --> 00:36:31,337
- I put on my robe
very calmly.
794
00:36:31,356 --> 00:36:34,749
I walk by the closet
795
00:36:34,768 --> 00:36:38,102
Knowing that he's on
the other side of that door.
796
00:36:38,255 --> 00:36:40,346
There's a junk drawer
right below the phone.
797
00:36:40,365 --> 00:36:42,866
And in that junk drawer,
there's a hammer.
798
00:36:43,093 --> 00:36:46,018
And so I take the hammer
out of the drawer
799
00:36:46,038 --> 00:36:49,264
And hold it in my hand,
claw side out,
800
00:36:49,282 --> 00:36:50,523
As I make that phone call.
801
00:36:50,617 --> 00:36:52,692
And as I'm on the phone,
802
00:36:52,711 --> 00:36:54,769
I'm looking down that hallway
803
00:36:54,788 --> 00:36:57,772
To where he would be coming,
and I am ready.
804
00:36:57,791 --> 00:36:59,774
[tense music]
805
00:36:59,867 --> 00:37:01,793
Anybody comes at me
in this moment
806
00:37:01,945 --> 00:37:04,870
Is going to get a face
full of a claw hammer.
807
00:37:04,890 --> 00:37:07,039
And I call my brother.
808
00:37:07,059 --> 00:37:09,375
My sister-in-law
answers the phone,
809
00:37:09,469 --> 00:37:11,786
And I just say, "theresa,
810
00:37:11,879 --> 00:37:14,973
I think there's someone
in my house."
811
00:37:15,125 --> 00:37:17,901
And she tells me, "get out
of the house. I'm on my way."
812
00:37:18,052 --> 00:37:20,886
So I pick up my puppy,
813
00:37:20,906 --> 00:37:23,222
And I walk out the door
in my bathrobe
814
00:37:23,316 --> 00:37:26,559
With a claw hammer in one hand
and a puppy in the other.
815
00:37:26,653 --> 00:37:31,581
- She wanted that dog so badly
that she wasn't letting anybody
816
00:37:31,808 --> 00:37:33,491
Take that away from her
or mess with it.
817
00:37:33,643 --> 00:37:35,827
Not at all. And that's amber.
818
00:37:35,979 --> 00:37:38,070
- And I'm waiting at
the bottom of the stairs
819
00:37:38,090 --> 00:37:40,090
For theresa to come.
820
00:37:40,241 --> 00:37:42,425
I'm terrified
and I just keep thinking
821
00:37:42,652 --> 00:37:45,578
That if he comes out
of that apartment door,
822
00:37:45,672 --> 00:37:50,008
I am no longer going to be
able to contain myself.
823
00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:51,250
♪ ♪
824
00:37:51,270 --> 00:37:53,103
But she gets there in minutes,
825
00:37:53,254 --> 00:37:54,996
And she's got both
her german shepherds
826
00:37:55,015 --> 00:37:56,014
In the backseat of that car.
827
00:37:56,108 --> 00:37:59,167
[tense music]
828
00:37:59,185 --> 00:38:01,093
So I get to
my brother's house,
829
00:38:01,113 --> 00:38:02,687
And theresa gets me
some clothes.
830
00:38:02,839 --> 00:38:04,839
We call the police,
831
00:38:04,858 --> 00:38:06,932
And I tell the police
what had occurred.
832
00:38:07,027 --> 00:38:09,435
That I had heard a sound,
833
00:38:09,454 --> 00:38:11,288
That the crawlspace door
was open,
834
00:38:11,439 --> 00:38:15,125
And that I had suspected
someone living in my apartment
835
00:38:15,276 --> 00:38:16,534
For the past six months.
836
00:38:16,686 --> 00:38:19,129
And I kind of explained to them
about the missing food
837
00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,689
And the footsteps.
838
00:38:21,708 --> 00:38:24,692
But even as I'm telling
the police, it sounds crazy.
839
00:38:24,711 --> 00:38:25,802
♪ ♪
840
00:38:26,029 --> 00:38:28,972
The police go
and they check it out.
841
00:38:29,199 --> 00:38:32,884
And they find
the crawlspace door open.
842
00:38:33,036 --> 00:38:36,646
They go up there,
and there's nobody there.
843
00:38:36,798 --> 00:38:39,632
But they find
some stuff up there.
844
00:38:39,726 --> 00:38:42,468
There's a sleeping bag.
845
00:38:42,562 --> 00:38:46,881
There's some food and a book.
846
00:38:46,900 --> 00:38:48,307
And the police never found him.
847
00:38:48,327 --> 00:38:50,902
He was gone before they came.
848
00:38:51,054 --> 00:38:52,904
I never found out who he was.
849
00:38:53,056 --> 00:38:54,072
♪ ♪
850
00:38:54,224 --> 00:38:55,981
There's no crime.
851
00:38:56,076 --> 00:38:58,818
Nothing has been stolen.
852
00:38:58,912 --> 00:39:00,562
There was no assault.
853
00:39:00,655 --> 00:39:03,006
There's really no signs
of a break in.
854
00:39:03,157 --> 00:39:07,677
So the police can't really
do much of anything.
855
00:39:07,904 --> 00:39:09,829
The next day,
I go back to the apartment,
856
00:39:09,848 --> 00:39:11,514
And I pack up all my stuff.
857
00:39:11,741 --> 00:39:13,908
And the whole time
I'm there packing,
858
00:39:14,001 --> 00:39:17,579
I'm wondering,
"is he up there?"
859
00:39:17,597 --> 00:39:21,149
But I was moved out
before the sun set that day.
860
00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:28,940
- Six months of someone just
living their life above you.
861
00:39:29,034 --> 00:39:31,868
So I couldn't believe she even
went back to get her things.
862
00:39:32,019 --> 00:39:35,597
I would've ran and never
looked back at that place.
863
00:39:35,615 --> 00:39:38,357
- I left enumclaw.
I never went back.
864
00:39:38,451 --> 00:39:40,710
To have this unresolved,
865
00:39:40,937 --> 00:39:43,121
It's just something
that I've lived with,
866
00:39:43,273 --> 00:39:45,790
Because I don't think
I'll ever know who he was.
867
00:39:45,942 --> 00:39:48,718
♪ ♪
868
00:39:48,870 --> 00:39:50,536
- Amber and I,
for the next few years,
869
00:39:50,555 --> 00:39:53,631
Lived together off and on
and we're very, very close.
870
00:39:53,725 --> 00:39:56,134
And even though amber
is so strong and tough,
871
00:39:56,228 --> 00:39:59,621
Her sense of safety
was really, really changed.
872
00:39:59,639 --> 00:40:01,564
I remember one night
she called my work,
873
00:40:01,791 --> 00:40:04,125
And I had to leave work
and come home
874
00:40:04,144 --> 00:40:05,460
Because she had watched
a movie
875
00:40:05,478 --> 00:40:08,888
And she had a chair propped up
against the door,
876
00:40:08,907 --> 00:40:11,983
Like, to defend off invaders.
877
00:40:12,077 --> 00:40:15,319
Amber had a really hard time
feeling safe after this.
878
00:40:15,414 --> 00:40:17,155
I think forever.
879
00:40:17,307 --> 00:40:20,658
- I know that there was
no malice with him.
880
00:40:20,810 --> 00:40:22,735
And I think maybe
that's why I've been able
881
00:40:22,829 --> 00:40:24,570
To live with this story.
882
00:40:24,589 --> 00:40:26,998
I think he was just alone
and desperate.
883
00:40:27,092 --> 00:40:29,909
And that doesn't necessarily
make him a bad person.
884
00:40:29,928 --> 00:40:32,153
But I would love to meet him.
885
00:40:32,172 --> 00:40:34,005
I would love to talk to him.
886
00:40:34,157 --> 00:40:36,415
I shared
this experience with him
887
00:40:36,435 --> 00:40:37,767
Without us ever meeting,
888
00:40:37,919 --> 00:40:41,679
And that would close the book
on this encounter.
889
00:40:41,831 --> 00:40:47,835
♪ ♪
890
00:40:47,929 --> 00:40:49,520
- There were two
perfect footprints
891
00:40:49,673 --> 00:40:51,364
Of a shoe on the wall.
892
00:40:52,451 --> 00:40:53,933
- Every single cabinet
is open.
893
00:40:53,952 --> 00:40:57,178
Every single door that someone
had access to is open.
894
00:40:57,271 --> 00:40:58,788
The fridge,
the washing machine,
895
00:40:58,940 --> 00:41:01,624
The oven,
the dishwasher, everything.
896
00:41:01,851 --> 00:41:04,202
- Is there somebody
still in the house?
897
00:41:04,296 --> 00:41:08,798
- When he pushed up
his access panel to the attic,
898
00:41:08,950 --> 00:41:11,709
It resisted
and someone pushed down.
899
00:41:11,803 --> 00:41:12,802
I was scared.