1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,086 ♪ 2 00:00:04,086 --> 00:00:07,090 NARRATOR: You know those people who post nonstop? 3 00:00:07,090 --> 00:00:10,511 Pics, vids, challenges? 4 00:00:11,136 --> 00:00:14,139 The people who give us full access to their lives... 5 00:00:15,390 --> 00:00:17,100 to who they are. 6 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:20,938 That is 17-year-old Nikki Kuhnhausen. 7 00:00:20,938 --> 00:00:22,481 - Why are you so obsessed with me? 8 00:00:22,481 --> 00:00:25,150 ♪ 9 00:00:25,150 --> 00:00:26,777 - Social media, yeah, it was her thing. 10 00:00:26,777 --> 00:00:29,279 - She had like 10,000 followers. 11 00:00:30,614 --> 00:00:34,159 NARRATOR: But then one day, her posts just stopped. 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:34,993 [cell phone dings] 13 00:00:34,993 --> 00:00:36,411 Nikki disappears. 14 00:00:37,663 --> 00:00:39,998 TAYLOR WATTS: I thought someone had her tied up somewhere. 15 00:00:40,916 --> 00:00:44,336 [voice breaking] She was hurt and I, I just-- 16 00:00:44,336 --> 00:00:48,090 ♪ 17 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:49,633 NARRATOR: Days go by. 18 00:00:49,633 --> 00:00:54,012 Her friends, family, and followers on edge. 19 00:00:55,264 --> 00:00:59,476 Then investigators uncover their first major clue 20 00:01:00,185 --> 00:01:02,396 on Nikki's social media. 21 00:01:02,896 --> 00:01:03,939 - I couldn't believe what happened. 22 00:01:03,939 --> 00:01:06,441 ♪ 23 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:12,364 ♪ theme music playing ♪ 24 00:01:12,364 --> 00:01:14,491 MAN 1: She solved her own murder from beyond the grave. 25 00:01:14,491 --> 00:01:16,577 MAN 2: The fitness app on the phone, 26 00:01:16,577 --> 00:01:18,412 it was overwhelming evidence. 27 00:01:18,412 --> 00:01:21,373 ♪ I've been haunted by the visions ♪ 28 00:01:21,373 --> 00:01:24,251 ♪ That I've seen with my own eyes ♪ 29 00:01:24,793 --> 00:01:27,671 ♪ And the only way to find you ♪ 30 00:01:28,172 --> 00:01:31,758 ♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪ 31 00:01:31,758 --> 00:01:33,719 ♪ 32 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:36,180 MAN 3: She did help catch this killer. 33 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:38,307 ♪ 34 00:01:40,142 --> 00:01:42,936 NARRATOR: June 15th, 2019. 35 00:01:44,062 --> 00:01:45,939 Vancouver, Washington. 36 00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:51,403 When 17-year-old Nikki Kuhnhausen wants to feel free, 37 00:01:51,403 --> 00:01:52,571 she posts a TikTok. 38 00:01:52,571 --> 00:01:54,406 ♪ 39 00:01:54,406 --> 00:01:58,118 ♪ Everything will be alright ♪ 40 00:01:58,118 --> 00:02:01,580 Feel beautiful, she uploads a selfie on Instagram. 41 00:02:02,331 --> 00:02:05,083 ♪ Everything will be just fine ♪ 42 00:02:05,083 --> 00:02:08,128 Lonely, hits up the BFF on Snapchat. 43 00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:09,838 ♪ 44 00:02:09,838 --> 00:02:15,844 ♪ Everything will be just fine ♪ 45 00:02:16,637 --> 00:02:19,431 But one ordinary summer day, 46 00:02:19,431 --> 00:02:23,143 all her social media posts suddenly stopped. 47 00:02:23,143 --> 00:02:24,269 ♪ 48 00:02:24,269 --> 00:02:27,272 The first person to realize that something is wrong... 49 00:02:27,272 --> 00:02:28,482 [man speaks indistinctly] 50 00:02:29,858 --> 00:02:32,027 ...is Nikki's mother, Lisa. 51 00:02:33,904 --> 00:02:35,405 - It was Nikki's. 52 00:02:37,157 --> 00:02:38,283 Thank you. 53 00:02:40,244 --> 00:02:42,454 [line ringing] 54 00:02:42,454 --> 00:02:45,666 So at 8:34 on June 5th, Nikki called me. 55 00:02:45,666 --> 00:02:48,168 She told me she was at my friend's house. 56 00:02:49,211 --> 00:02:51,880 I called her at 11:00, because I always called her at 11:00. 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:54,800 She texted me back, "I love you, Mommy." 58 00:02:56,260 --> 00:02:58,554 I said, "Honey, I have to be at work at two." 59 00:02:58,554 --> 00:03:00,764 ♪ 60 00:03:00,764 --> 00:03:02,057 The next day... 61 00:03:03,851 --> 00:03:05,519 my message went unread, 62 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:07,980 I thought, that-- that's just weird, 63 00:03:07,980 --> 00:03:10,023 so I called and left another message, 64 00:03:10,691 --> 00:03:13,151 "You know I need to talk to you, where are you?" 65 00:03:13,151 --> 00:03:14,653 [line ringing] 66 00:03:16,238 --> 00:03:17,656 Nothing. 67 00:03:20,284 --> 00:03:23,120 ♪ 68 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,706 NARRATOR: Nikki's older brother Konrad 69 00:03:25,706 --> 00:03:27,291 knows something is off. 70 00:03:27,291 --> 00:03:28,876 ♪ 71 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:30,335 KONRAD KUHNHAUSEN: Her not replying to our mom 72 00:03:30,335 --> 00:03:32,796 would never happen, never. 73 00:03:32,796 --> 00:03:34,715 She would always reply to her. 74 00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:37,926 [line ringing] [keypad beeping] 75 00:03:37,926 --> 00:03:39,887 - I was just getting voice mail after voice mail after voice mail. 76 00:03:40,846 --> 00:03:42,931 And that's when I knew something was wrong. 77 00:03:43,724 --> 00:03:46,894 NARRATOR: Nikki and her mom are super close, 78 00:03:46,894 --> 00:03:50,439 an unbreakable bond, ever since she was a baby. 79 00:03:50,439 --> 00:03:52,399 - Nikki was always sassy. 80 00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:55,527 Here she is on her third birthday. 81 00:03:57,154 --> 00:04:00,073 She would crawl around at my ankles when I was trying to get my makeup on 82 00:04:00,073 --> 00:04:03,368 and while her brothers would be doing Matchbox. 83 00:04:04,620 --> 00:04:06,914 And she'd crawl out of the bathroom with makeup 84 00:04:06,914 --> 00:04:09,583 and her two older brothers would say, 85 00:04:09,583 --> 00:04:11,376 "Mom, why'd you do that to Nikki again?" 86 00:04:11,376 --> 00:04:14,087 And I'm like, "I didn't, she did it to herself." 87 00:04:14,087 --> 00:04:16,673 You know, so she started way young. 88 00:04:17,174 --> 00:04:18,926 [children giggling] 89 00:04:18,926 --> 00:04:21,803 NARRATOR: Her other big brother Alex 90 00:04:21,803 --> 00:04:25,349 knew Nikki was truly unique early on. 91 00:04:25,349 --> 00:04:27,059 - Growing up, she always wore high heels 92 00:04:27,059 --> 00:04:29,853 and wearing makeup, wearing dresses, 93 00:04:29,853 --> 00:04:31,605 you know, I'm playing with my G.I. Joes 94 00:04:31,605 --> 00:04:33,232 and she's playing with Barbie dolls. 95 00:04:33,232 --> 00:04:37,110 - In middle school is when she fully transformed into Nikki 96 00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:39,238 and I never saw Nicholas again. 97 00:04:40,155 --> 00:04:43,033 ♪ Come on to me ♪ 98 00:04:43,033 --> 00:04:46,828 ♪ My sweet self ♪ 99 00:04:46,828 --> 00:04:48,789 ♪ This is ♪ 100 00:04:48,789 --> 00:04:51,041 - There were no gay people in our life at all, 101 00:04:51,041 --> 00:04:53,460 and here's Nikki in the middle of it all. 102 00:04:53,460 --> 00:04:55,087 ♪ 103 00:04:55,087 --> 00:04:56,922 But it seemed natural. 104 00:04:57,881 --> 00:05:02,261 She just lead us down her road and her journey of her life 105 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,389 and we followed, you know. 106 00:05:09,852 --> 00:05:13,105 ♪ 107 00:05:13,105 --> 00:05:15,732 NARRATOR: A lot of people want to follow Nikki's journey 108 00:05:15,732 --> 00:05:18,819 and she shares it openly on social media. 109 00:05:19,778 --> 00:05:21,238 ♪ Look how they dress ♪ 110 00:05:21,238 --> 00:05:22,739 ♪ Looking at them ♪ 111 00:05:22,739 --> 00:05:25,200 - She started on social media at 14. 112 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,494 ♪ 113 00:05:27,494 --> 00:05:30,622 ALEX KUHNHAUSEN: She had Snapchat, Instagram, 114 00:05:30,622 --> 00:05:32,124 Twitter, Facebook, 115 00:05:32,124 --> 00:05:33,834 you name it, she used it. 116 00:05:35,043 --> 00:05:37,629 ♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪ 117 00:05:37,629 --> 00:05:40,591 ♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪ 118 00:05:40,591 --> 00:05:43,177 - And, I mean, she was famous. 119 00:05:43,177 --> 00:05:46,054 ♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪ 120 00:05:46,054 --> 00:05:48,182 ♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪ 121 00:05:48,182 --> 00:05:49,016 It was incredible. 122 00:05:49,016 --> 00:05:50,726 ♪ Ohh ♪ 123 00:05:51,518 --> 00:05:54,313 ♪ 124 00:05:54,313 --> 00:05:56,982 NARRATOR: So by the time Nikki goes missing, 125 00:05:56,982 --> 00:05:59,484 in the early hours of June 6th... 126 00:05:59,484 --> 00:06:01,862 ♪ 127 00:06:01,862 --> 00:06:06,200 ...she has a community of loved ones who want answers. 128 00:06:07,284 --> 00:06:10,204 Her mother Lisa contacts authorities, 129 00:06:10,204 --> 00:06:15,000 but after four days, she becomes even more desperate 130 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,419 after not hearing anything. 131 00:06:17,419 --> 00:06:19,171 LISA WOODS: When I made the missing persons report, 132 00:06:19,171 --> 00:06:21,715 I told them, you need to understand 133 00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:25,177 Nikki's being held against her will or she's dead. 134 00:06:25,177 --> 00:06:29,389 ♪ 135 00:06:29,890 --> 00:06:31,558 "Well, wait, let's not, let's not jump--" 136 00:06:31,558 --> 00:06:33,602 "No, you need to jump, 137 00:06:33,602 --> 00:06:37,231 "you need to go that frame of mind in this case, 138 00:06:37,231 --> 00:06:39,566 "because she wouldn't leave me alone this long, 139 00:06:39,566 --> 00:06:40,609 you have to understand." 140 00:06:40,609 --> 00:06:42,486 ♪ 141 00:06:42,486 --> 00:06:45,197 NARRATOR: With every second that goes by, 142 00:06:45,197 --> 00:06:49,117 Nikki's chances of being sound safe slip away. 143 00:06:49,743 --> 00:06:52,329 For investigators in the Vancouver PD, 144 00:06:52,329 --> 00:06:54,122 the clock is ticking, 145 00:06:54,122 --> 00:06:56,166 but they have no leads. 146 00:07:00,254 --> 00:07:02,172 ♪ 147 00:07:02,172 --> 00:07:04,091 SGT. JULIE BALLOU: My name is Sergeant Julie Ballou. 148 00:07:05,801 --> 00:07:07,386 I'm with the Vancouver Police Department, 149 00:07:07,386 --> 00:07:09,721 in the digital evidence cybercrime unit. 150 00:07:11,139 --> 00:07:13,934 I knew that she was a transgender teen 151 00:07:13,934 --> 00:07:17,229 and it's not uncommon for transgender youth 152 00:07:17,729 --> 00:07:22,276 and/or LGBTQ youth in general to go missing or to run away. 153 00:07:22,860 --> 00:07:25,904 Oftentimes though, it's because they don't have a supportive family at home, 154 00:07:25,904 --> 00:07:28,490 but she had a great relationship with her mom, 155 00:07:28,490 --> 00:07:30,033 she kept in touch with her friends, 156 00:07:30,033 --> 00:07:33,453 so when her social media accounts basically went dead, 157 00:07:33,453 --> 00:07:35,455 that was a big red flag for us. 158 00:07:35,956 --> 00:07:38,292 But we just don't have any leads to follow up on. 159 00:07:38,292 --> 00:07:42,045 ♪ 160 00:07:42,045 --> 00:07:44,923 NARRATOR: While the detectives begin their investigation... 161 00:07:46,008 --> 00:07:49,720 Nikki's loved ones push on every front to find her. 162 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,515 Turning to the social media sites that are Nikki's life. 163 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:58,437 - I'm Taylor Watts, and I'm Nikki Kuhnhausen's best friend. 164 00:07:58,437 --> 00:08:01,356 We did Facebook posts, we made a group chat, 165 00:08:01,356 --> 00:08:02,691 it was on the news. 166 00:08:02,691 --> 00:08:05,736 ♪ 167 00:08:05,736 --> 00:08:07,112 BLAIR STENVICK: My name is Blair Stenvick. 168 00:08:07,112 --> 00:08:09,740 I'm a former news reporter for the Portland Mercury. 169 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,202 I have been kind of consistently reported 170 00:08:13,202 --> 00:08:15,662 on LGBTQ+ issues for years 171 00:08:15,662 --> 00:08:18,457 and so I knew that trans people 172 00:08:18,457 --> 00:08:21,793 are four times more likely from cisgender people 173 00:08:21,793 --> 00:08:24,421 to at some point become a victim of a violent crime. 174 00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:28,217 NARRATOR: Blair and other reporters spread the word. 175 00:08:29,009 --> 00:08:33,764 A young girl is missing and leads start to pour in. 176 00:08:33,764 --> 00:08:35,182 [cell phone dinging] 177 00:08:35,182 --> 00:08:37,351 LISA: A lot of people were messaging me, 178 00:08:37,351 --> 00:08:38,560 giving me information. 179 00:08:39,019 --> 00:08:41,438 Saw her there, and possibly sported her there, 180 00:08:41,438 --> 00:08:44,358 took a quick picture of someone on the corner. 181 00:08:44,358 --> 00:08:47,319 All the tips and the leads and the here and the there. 182 00:08:48,529 --> 00:08:49,988 And nothing. 183 00:08:52,491 --> 00:08:56,286 NARRATOR: Then, seven days after she goes missing, 184 00:08:56,286 --> 00:08:59,706 investigators uncover their first major clue 185 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:03,293 and it's related to Nikki's Snapchat account. 186 00:09:03,293 --> 00:09:06,547 ♪ 187 00:09:06,547 --> 00:09:07,965 SGT. BALLOU: On June 13th, 188 00:09:07,965 --> 00:09:10,551 Lisa contacts law enforcement and says that she's learned 189 00:09:10,551 --> 00:09:14,221 that Nikki has been staying with a couple of friends, Faith and Tiffany, 190 00:09:14,221 --> 00:09:16,974 at an apartment complex in Vancouver. 191 00:09:16,974 --> 00:09:21,311 ♪ 192 00:09:21,311 --> 00:09:23,230 They both agree to come to the police department 193 00:09:23,230 --> 00:09:24,690 and speak with detectives. 194 00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:30,612 NARRATOR: Faith reveals a key detail 195 00:09:30,612 --> 00:09:33,156 and the mystery of Nikki's disappearance 196 00:09:33,156 --> 00:09:35,576 takes an unexpected turn. 197 00:09:35,576 --> 00:09:37,953 SGT. BALLOU: I think a lot of people were surprised 198 00:09:37,953 --> 00:09:38,912 with this information. 199 00:09:38,912 --> 00:09:41,582 ♪ 200 00:09:46,753 --> 00:09:48,630 NARRATOR: On June 5th, 201 00:09:48,630 --> 00:09:52,467 the last time Nikki Kuhnhausen is seen by her roommate Faith, 202 00:09:52,467 --> 00:09:56,638 Nikki borrows Faith's phone to log on to Snapchat and talk with a man 203 00:09:56,638 --> 00:09:59,975 who she meets up with several hours later. 204 00:09:59,975 --> 00:10:01,768 ♪ 205 00:10:01,768 --> 00:10:04,396 But Nikki then logs out of Faith's phone. 206 00:10:05,314 --> 00:10:08,984 And finding out who she spoke to is going to be tough. 207 00:10:10,152 --> 00:10:13,113 SGT. BALLOU: Police officers can't just go to Snapchat and say, 208 00:10:13,113 --> 00:10:14,948 "Hey, give me all of her account information." 209 00:10:14,948 --> 00:10:17,951 You know, users have privacy rights, 210 00:10:17,951 --> 00:10:22,873 so we have to ask for those records by way of a search warrant. 211 00:10:23,999 --> 00:10:26,168 NARRATOR: So they do just that. 212 00:10:26,168 --> 00:10:27,794 They submit their search warrant. 213 00:10:29,046 --> 00:10:31,757 But Snapchat may hold fast, 214 00:10:31,757 --> 00:10:34,760 they may not give investigators the info they need. 215 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,554 [thunder rumbling] [sirens wailing] 216 00:10:38,222 --> 00:10:40,432 ♪ White collar never fit clean on me ♪ 217 00:10:41,099 --> 00:10:42,476 NARRATOR: Weeks go by. 218 00:10:43,727 --> 00:10:45,604 ♪ Playing dirty, trying to switch on me ♪ 219 00:10:45,604 --> 00:10:48,649 But then, Snapchat comes through. 220 00:10:49,233 --> 00:10:51,610 ♪ 221 00:10:51,610 --> 00:10:54,029 And investigators find a name. 222 00:10:54,029 --> 00:10:58,909 ♪ 223 00:10:58,909 --> 00:11:03,580 - Nikki had been communicating with a man identified as David Bogdanov. 224 00:11:04,456 --> 00:11:07,251 ♪ 225 00:11:07,251 --> 00:11:09,169 He sent her an address. 226 00:11:10,921 --> 00:11:12,422 She said, "Okay." 227 00:11:14,049 --> 00:11:15,926 He said, "White van, lol." 228 00:11:16,885 --> 00:11:20,347 And it sounded like the two were making arrangements to meet up. 229 00:11:20,347 --> 00:11:23,100 ♪ 230 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:25,394 In addition to the communication, 231 00:11:25,394 --> 00:11:28,438 Snapchat recorded the information on where he was. 232 00:11:29,523 --> 00:11:32,818 As David was Snapchatting, 233 00:11:32,818 --> 00:11:35,946 he was outside of Nikki's apartment, picking her up. 234 00:11:35,946 --> 00:11:40,909 ♪ 235 00:11:40,909 --> 00:11:44,288 NARRATOR: But who is David Bogdanov? 236 00:11:44,288 --> 00:11:46,248 - Me, personally, I didn't know too many details, 237 00:11:46,248 --> 00:11:48,292 I had not heard of him. 238 00:11:48,292 --> 00:11:51,670 ♪ 239 00:11:51,670 --> 00:11:53,463 NARRATOR: She isn't alone. 240 00:11:53,463 --> 00:11:57,593 David is a complete stranger to Nikki's family and friends, 241 00:11:57,593 --> 00:12:01,471 so the police dig in to find out everything they can 242 00:12:01,471 --> 00:12:03,265 about the 25-year-old. 243 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,560 - David was from a very large Russian family, 244 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:08,645 he had multiple brothers and sisters. 245 00:12:08,645 --> 00:12:10,856 ♪ 246 00:12:10,856 --> 00:12:13,275 He seemed to be involved in a family business 247 00:12:13,275 --> 00:12:17,779 in construction and flooring as his regular job. 248 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,157 ♪ 249 00:12:20,157 --> 00:12:22,910 David didn't have a criminal history. 250 00:12:23,493 --> 00:12:27,956 Nothing showed up in his background that was an obvious red flag to us. 251 00:12:27,956 --> 00:12:31,043 ♪ 252 00:12:31,043 --> 00:12:33,921 NARRATOR: David looks clean, a model citizen. 253 00:12:34,963 --> 00:12:37,382 But Snapchat records clearly show him 254 00:12:37,382 --> 00:12:39,927 talking with Nikki the night she disappeared. 255 00:12:40,511 --> 00:12:44,515 And location data puts him right outside her apartment 256 00:12:44,515 --> 00:12:46,099 while they're messaging each other. 257 00:12:46,099 --> 00:12:49,478 ♪ 258 00:12:49,478 --> 00:12:51,021 SGT. BALLOU: At this point in the investigation, 259 00:12:51,021 --> 00:12:54,066 David is definitely considered a person of interest, 260 00:12:54,066 --> 00:12:57,402 so the next step is trying to get a hold of David 261 00:12:57,402 --> 00:12:59,279 and ask him what happened, 262 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:02,032 what were the circumstances of your interaction with her? 263 00:13:02,032 --> 00:13:03,575 [line ringing] 264 00:13:03,575 --> 00:13:07,204 We made multiple attempts to try and get a hold of David, 265 00:13:07,955 --> 00:13:10,249 phone calls and text messages 266 00:13:10,249 --> 00:13:11,917 and business cards left, 267 00:13:11,917 --> 00:13:14,211 and he was not returning our call. 268 00:13:14,211 --> 00:13:15,462 He was not getting back to us. 269 00:13:15,462 --> 00:13:19,633 ♪ 270 00:13:20,843 --> 00:13:23,136 NARRATOR: After nearly a week 271 00:13:23,136 --> 00:13:24,721 of not hearing from David, 272 00:13:24,721 --> 00:13:27,599 police turn their attention to his family. 273 00:13:27,599 --> 00:13:31,144 SGT. BALLOU: So we first reach out to Artur, David's brother. 274 00:13:31,937 --> 00:13:34,773 He said that David was out backpacking, 275 00:13:34,773 --> 00:13:37,025 and he wasn't there, and wasn't quite sure 276 00:13:37,025 --> 00:13:39,319 how to get a hold of him or when he was gonna return. 277 00:13:41,238 --> 00:13:43,448 So after talking to Artur, 278 00:13:44,366 --> 00:13:46,034 we contacted another brother, Stan. 279 00:13:46,618 --> 00:13:48,078 [doorbell dings] 280 00:13:48,912 --> 00:13:51,582 And Stan was kinda nervous 281 00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:55,294 and said on the night of question 282 00:13:55,294 --> 00:13:58,172 he didn't really remember if David was even with him. 283 00:13:58,839 --> 00:14:02,176 And when he was asked about David backpacking, 284 00:14:02,176 --> 00:14:06,763 he sort of seemed surprised to learn that he might be backpacking. 285 00:14:07,723 --> 00:14:09,892 But even surprised that was even a suggestion. 286 00:14:09,892 --> 00:14:12,769 ♪ 287 00:14:12,769 --> 00:14:17,232 Given Stan's demeanor and the conflicting information 288 00:14:17,232 --> 00:14:19,985 that Stan gave versus Artur, 289 00:14:20,777 --> 00:14:24,281 it's possible that one of the brothers was involved 290 00:14:24,281 --> 00:14:26,325 or one of the brothers knew what happened. 291 00:14:26,325 --> 00:14:30,287 We didn't wanna rule out anybody as a suspect at that point. 292 00:14:35,042 --> 00:14:37,628 ♪ 293 00:14:37,628 --> 00:14:41,381 But we had to keep trying and keep looking for David Bogdanov. 294 00:14:42,424 --> 00:14:44,551 NARRATOR: David isn't answering calls, 295 00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:46,512 responding to texts. 296 00:14:46,512 --> 00:14:49,306 More and more time passes. 297 00:14:49,765 --> 00:14:51,600 Is David still around? 298 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,978 Did something happen to David too that night with Nikki? 299 00:14:56,355 --> 00:15:00,734 So police go back to the only lead they have. 300 00:15:00,734 --> 00:15:02,653 They turn to Snapchat. 301 00:15:03,445 --> 00:15:06,156 They message him through the app on September 5th, 302 00:15:06,156 --> 00:15:09,201 three months after Nikki went missing, 303 00:15:09,201 --> 00:15:11,828 and there's a glimmer of progress. 304 00:15:11,828 --> 00:15:14,623 ♪ 305 00:15:14,623 --> 00:15:18,168 - We sent David a Snapchat to say, "Hey, we'd like to talk with you." 306 00:15:18,168 --> 00:15:23,924 ♪ 307 00:15:23,924 --> 00:15:25,092 [chimes] 308 00:15:26,051 --> 00:15:27,761 The message was read, 309 00:15:27,761 --> 00:15:30,681 so we believe that he saw the message, 310 00:15:30,681 --> 00:15:32,307 but we didn't get a response. 311 00:15:32,975 --> 00:15:36,270 ♪ 312 00:15:36,270 --> 00:15:38,647 NARRATOR: David's nowhere to be found, 313 00:15:38,647 --> 00:15:41,275 complete radio silence. 314 00:15:42,693 --> 00:15:47,364 They Snapchat him again on September 12th, a week later. 315 00:15:47,364 --> 00:15:49,992 ♪ 316 00:15:49,992 --> 00:15:52,870 But this time, he responds the next day. 317 00:15:53,328 --> 00:15:57,541 ♪ 318 00:16:01,336 --> 00:16:04,298 - On October 2nd, 2019, David finally agrees 319 00:16:04,298 --> 00:16:05,924 to meet with Detective Jensen. 320 00:16:06,508 --> 00:16:08,594 ♪ 321 00:16:22,983 --> 00:16:25,986 NARRATOR: David was the last person to see Nikki. 322 00:16:25,986 --> 00:16:29,448 Now it's time to find out what he knows. 323 00:16:29,448 --> 00:16:32,951 Could he hold the key to bringing Nikki home alive? 324 00:16:32,951 --> 00:16:37,164 ♪ 325 00:16:39,166 --> 00:16:43,504 ♪ 326 00:16:43,504 --> 00:16:46,381 NARRATOR: After four months with Nikki missing, 327 00:16:46,381 --> 00:16:49,218 detectives have their first lead. 328 00:16:49,218 --> 00:16:51,678 ♪ Inside the darkest night ♪ 329 00:16:51,678 --> 00:16:55,224 Their first talk with a person of interest, 330 00:16:55,224 --> 00:16:56,683 David Bogdanov. 331 00:16:57,809 --> 00:17:00,062 ♪ Some words I should've said ♪ 332 00:17:00,062 --> 00:17:02,314 But David doesn't have much insight. 333 00:17:02,314 --> 00:17:04,858 ♪ They burn inside my head ♪ 334 00:17:04,858 --> 00:17:10,531 ♪ 335 00:17:10,531 --> 00:17:13,534 SGT. BALLOU: David said that he met her downtown 336 00:17:13,534 --> 00:17:16,662 in Downtown Vancouver, struck up conversation with her, 337 00:17:16,662 --> 00:17:18,789 and he said he gave her his coat... 338 00:17:18,789 --> 00:17:21,500 ♪ 339 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,085 and they parted ways. 340 00:17:23,085 --> 00:17:26,255 She later reached out to him on Snapchat, 341 00:17:26,255 --> 00:17:29,508 and the two made arrangements to meet up. 342 00:17:30,425 --> 00:17:34,930 He said that they went to hang out with his brothers. 343 00:17:34,930 --> 00:17:36,807 ♪ 344 00:17:36,807 --> 00:17:39,601 NARRATOR: But David's brothers told the police 345 00:17:39,601 --> 00:17:41,728 they didn't know if they saw them that night. 346 00:17:42,271 --> 00:17:44,481 ♪ 347 00:17:44,481 --> 00:17:47,526 Someone's lying, but why? 348 00:17:47,526 --> 00:17:50,195 And then, David says this, 349 00:17:51,488 --> 00:17:54,449 which piques the interest of the prosecutor's office. 350 00:17:55,659 --> 00:17:57,619 KRISTEN ARNAUD: My name's Kristen Arnaud. 351 00:17:58,161 --> 00:18:00,247 I'm a deputy prosecutor here in Clark County. 352 00:18:00,873 --> 00:18:04,376 In that interview, he said that she mentioned that she was trans, 353 00:18:04,376 --> 00:18:06,336 and he immediately told her to get out of the car. 354 00:18:06,336 --> 00:18:10,257 ♪ 355 00:18:35,532 --> 00:18:38,327 ARNAUD: So at that point, he says that she walked away. 356 00:18:38,327 --> 00:18:41,747 He volunteered not responsive to any questions, 357 00:18:42,289 --> 00:18:44,917 uh, really derogatory things that he felt 358 00:18:44,917 --> 00:18:46,460 about people who are trans. 359 00:19:14,530 --> 00:19:18,367 ♪ 360 00:19:18,367 --> 00:19:20,244 ♪ I ♪ 361 00:19:20,244 --> 00:19:24,623 ♪ Can't make you stay ♪ 362 00:19:24,623 --> 00:19:27,668 NARRATOR: However, even though things don't seem right, 363 00:19:27,668 --> 00:19:30,504 there isn't much that investigators can do. 364 00:19:31,421 --> 00:19:34,925 ARNAUD: Without a body, David Bogdanov, 365 00:19:34,925 --> 00:19:36,593 he was still a person of interest and not a suspect, 366 00:19:36,593 --> 00:19:39,012 which was why he walked away from that interview. 367 00:19:39,012 --> 00:19:40,764 ♪ 368 00:19:40,764 --> 00:19:42,391 SGT. BALLOU: At this point in the investigation, 369 00:19:42,391 --> 00:19:44,643 we don't have really much else to go on. 370 00:19:44,643 --> 00:19:47,396 ♪ 371 00:19:47,396 --> 00:19:50,440 NARRATOR: Unfortunately, that soon changes. 372 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:56,363 ♪ The lights, they dim black where we were ♪ 373 00:19:57,447 --> 00:19:59,366 ♪ At last... ♪ 374 00:19:59,366 --> 00:20:02,244 And the worst-case scenario happens. 375 00:20:02,244 --> 00:20:06,874 ♪ We take our bow ♪ 376 00:20:06,874 --> 00:20:09,209 ♪ 377 00:20:09,209 --> 00:20:10,544 NEWSCASTER: In our breaking news tonight, 378 00:20:10,544 --> 00:20:13,297 a hiker discovered a skull near a logging road 379 00:20:13,297 --> 00:20:14,756 on Larch Mountain. 380 00:20:17,176 --> 00:20:22,306 ♪ 381 00:20:22,306 --> 00:20:24,474 - A man was near Larch Mountain. 382 00:20:25,934 --> 00:20:28,103 It is an area outside of Vancouver 383 00:20:28,103 --> 00:20:32,983 where people go to shoot guns regularly, uh, to go hunting. 384 00:20:32,983 --> 00:20:35,527 ♪ 385 00:20:35,527 --> 00:20:39,323 This man was out in the boonies collecting fair grass 386 00:20:40,115 --> 00:20:42,993 and while he was foraging in the forest... 387 00:20:42,993 --> 00:20:46,788 ♪ 388 00:20:46,788 --> 00:20:49,917 ...he came across what he believed to be human remains. 389 00:20:49,917 --> 00:20:52,961 ♪ 390 00:20:52,961 --> 00:20:54,588 And called 911. 391 00:20:54,588 --> 00:20:58,300 ♪ 392 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:01,053 The remains that were found out in the wilderness 393 00:21:01,053 --> 00:21:03,096 were basically bare bones. 394 00:21:03,096 --> 00:21:04,264 [camera shutter clicks] 395 00:21:05,098 --> 00:21:09,436 And it made it difficult for investigators to piece together what had happened. 396 00:21:10,562 --> 00:21:12,481 ARNAUD: Detectives scoured the area, 397 00:21:12,481 --> 00:21:15,651 spent two days out in the mountains, picking apart everything. 398 00:21:18,278 --> 00:21:20,822 NARRATOR: There's almost nothing left of the remains 399 00:21:20,822 --> 00:21:23,367 that can be used to identify the body, 400 00:21:23,367 --> 00:21:26,620 but based on items found scattered around it, 401 00:21:26,620 --> 00:21:28,372 police have a sneaking suspicion 402 00:21:28,372 --> 00:21:30,916 about who they've tragically found. 403 00:21:30,916 --> 00:21:33,752 [camera shutter clicking] 404 00:21:33,752 --> 00:21:35,379 ♪ 405 00:21:35,379 --> 00:21:37,256 ARNAUD: There was matching jewelry, 406 00:21:38,340 --> 00:21:40,092 matching clothing, 407 00:21:40,092 --> 00:21:42,678 black extensions with a white stripe. 408 00:21:42,678 --> 00:21:46,765 There was a pretty distinctive hi-vis yellow jacket 409 00:21:46,765 --> 00:21:49,351 that coordinated with what images that we had of Nikki 410 00:21:49,351 --> 00:21:50,435 from social media. 411 00:21:51,103 --> 00:21:55,232 NARRATOR: Everyone's worst fears are soon confirmed. 412 00:21:55,232 --> 00:21:57,609 ♪ My eyes close ♪ 413 00:21:58,819 --> 00:22:00,946 ♪ And I go back to the night ♪ 414 00:22:00,946 --> 00:22:03,156 LT. TOM RYAN: With the forensic examination 415 00:22:03,156 --> 00:22:05,117 of the remains, 416 00:22:05,117 --> 00:22:08,495 we were able to confirm the remains belonged to Nikki Kuhnhausen. 417 00:22:08,495 --> 00:22:11,582 Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Nikki. 418 00:22:15,335 --> 00:22:19,173 ♪ 419 00:22:19,173 --> 00:22:21,508 ♪ 420 00:22:21,508 --> 00:22:24,469 - [voice breaking] When I found out they found Nikki's remains, 421 00:22:24,469 --> 00:22:25,929 I was at my mom's house. 422 00:22:27,306 --> 00:22:28,640 And I-I just-- 423 00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:32,519 cried, lost it. 424 00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:35,063 So, uh, it was very hard. 425 00:22:35,981 --> 00:22:37,816 LISA: I fell on my knees and started screaming. 426 00:22:39,151 --> 00:22:41,111 ♪ 427 00:22:41,111 --> 00:22:43,238 I just wish it didn't have to be my baby. 428 00:22:50,704 --> 00:22:51,622 [sniffles] 429 00:22:52,539 --> 00:22:56,960 ♪ 430 00:22:57,878 --> 00:22:59,505 - [voice breaking] You beat yourself up 431 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:02,966 a lot, 432 00:23:02,966 --> 00:23:04,718 a lot more than you should. 433 00:23:08,847 --> 00:23:12,100 ♪ 434 00:23:13,435 --> 00:23:16,813 NARRATOR: Nikki wasn't just a member of a grieving family. 435 00:23:16,813 --> 00:23:18,023 [clamoring] 436 00:23:18,482 --> 00:23:21,860 Heartbroken and angry over her story, 437 00:23:21,860 --> 00:23:24,446 people are inspired to act. 438 00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:30,661 ♪ 439 00:23:31,912 --> 00:23:33,580 LISA: This is one of my favorite ones. 440 00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:34,623 LINDEN WALLS: I love this one. 441 00:23:34,623 --> 00:23:36,542 - I think she's in eighth grade in that one. 442 00:23:37,835 --> 00:23:41,672 - Her eyebrows and makeup are just, like, on point. 443 00:23:43,257 --> 00:23:44,591 Wow. 444 00:23:44,591 --> 00:23:45,801 I am Linden Wells, 445 00:23:45,801 --> 00:23:49,555 I am a member of the Justice for Nikki Task Force, 446 00:23:49,555 --> 00:23:52,307 which was formed in late December 2019 447 00:23:52,307 --> 00:23:54,268 after Nikki's remains were found. 448 00:23:54,268 --> 00:23:57,688 The goal of the task force was to make sure that Nikki's story was heard. 449 00:23:58,689 --> 00:24:01,275 SPEAKER: It is to build a coalition of activists and people, 450 00:24:01,275 --> 00:24:04,236 people from this community to come together, 451 00:24:04,236 --> 00:24:06,113 continue paying attention to this case, 452 00:24:06,113 --> 00:24:08,782 continue to make sure that media stays aware of what's going on. 453 00:24:09,741 --> 00:24:11,618 NARRATOR: And the task force stays true 454 00:24:11,618 --> 00:24:13,912 to honoring Nikki's legacy. 455 00:24:13,912 --> 00:24:16,582 ♪ 456 00:24:17,916 --> 00:24:20,043 - We just got information just a few minutes ago 457 00:24:20,043 --> 00:24:21,170 that there will be a vigil 458 00:24:21,170 --> 00:24:26,300 for Nikki this Friday from 5:00 till 7:00 at the Vancouver United Church of Christ. 459 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:28,093 REPORTER: We're at a standing room only. 460 00:24:28,093 --> 00:24:30,137 In fact, people are spilling out into the lobby, 461 00:24:30,137 --> 00:24:31,638 that is how packed it is. 462 00:24:31,638 --> 00:24:33,223 These people came out not only 463 00:24:33,223 --> 00:24:35,517 to support Nikki Kuhnhausen's family, 464 00:24:35,517 --> 00:24:38,145 but to also support the transgender community. 465 00:24:38,145 --> 00:24:39,730 ♪ I've got to think of an escape ♪ 466 00:24:39,730 --> 00:24:41,148 ♪ I've got to think of a plan ♪ 467 00:24:41,148 --> 00:24:44,985 - March 2020, we all came together for Nikki's celebration of life 468 00:24:44,985 --> 00:24:47,279 and her celebration of life was beautiful. 469 00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:48,989 ♪ 470 00:24:48,989 --> 00:24:52,910 - You could see how many people's lives were touched by Nikki 471 00:24:52,910 --> 00:24:54,953 and people from all different walks of life. 472 00:24:55,495 --> 00:24:57,456 ♪ But now my name's a command ♪ 473 00:24:57,456 --> 00:24:59,249 KONRAD: Nikki always thought she was alone. 474 00:24:59,958 --> 00:25:01,001 And then when she passed away, 475 00:25:01,001 --> 00:25:02,628 seeing all those people, it was like, 476 00:25:02,628 --> 00:25:05,088 wow, she actually had all of these people. 477 00:25:05,088 --> 00:25:09,301 - The outpouring of love, it was... it was incredible. 478 00:25:09,301 --> 00:25:12,471 ♪ Pretty little thing he says to me ♪ 479 00:25:12,471 --> 00:25:16,183 ♪ Pretty little thing, don't mess with me ♪ 480 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:20,312 ♪ Just so I can bring you down ♪ 481 00:25:20,312 --> 00:25:23,982 ♪ 482 00:25:25,442 --> 00:25:27,277 NARRATOR: People wanted answers. 483 00:25:28,111 --> 00:25:30,447 People wanted justice. 484 00:25:30,447 --> 00:25:33,408 BLAIR: Supporters were commenting every day. 485 00:25:33,408 --> 00:25:35,494 People who knew her as well as people 486 00:25:35,494 --> 00:25:38,455 who were, you know, attached to the political side of things 487 00:25:38,455 --> 00:25:41,333 really came together after Nikki's death 488 00:25:41,333 --> 00:25:42,626 to get justice for her. 489 00:25:43,252 --> 00:25:47,214 NARRATOR: And the first step is to find out how she died. 490 00:25:48,090 --> 00:25:49,591 SGT. BALLOU: One of the items of evidence 491 00:25:49,591 --> 00:25:50,884 that the medical examiner reviewed 492 00:25:50,884 --> 00:25:54,388 was this phone charging cord that was found with Nikki's remains. 493 00:25:55,764 --> 00:26:00,644 And the phone charging cord was basically tied in a knot. 494 00:26:01,645 --> 00:26:07,025 And within that knot in the middle was tiny bone fragments as well as hair. 495 00:26:07,025 --> 00:26:10,028 ♪ 496 00:26:10,028 --> 00:26:12,823 The medical examiner, based on the evidence, 497 00:26:13,490 --> 00:26:17,160 they made a ruling that Nikki died of homicidal violence 498 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:18,996 and the likely method was strangulation. 499 00:26:20,581 --> 00:26:22,708 ♪ 500 00:26:22,708 --> 00:26:26,170 NARRATOR: Now the police are looking for a murderer. 501 00:26:26,170 --> 00:26:27,796 ♪ 502 00:26:27,796 --> 00:26:30,966 Detectives wonder who had the motive to kill Nikki 503 00:26:30,966 --> 00:26:32,926 in such a brutal way? 504 00:26:33,719 --> 00:26:37,055 David Bogdanov is an obvious suspect, 505 00:26:37,055 --> 00:26:40,559 but Nikki's family has a secret to share. 506 00:26:40,559 --> 00:26:42,895 Something that happened a year earlier. 507 00:26:42,895 --> 00:26:44,980 ♪ 508 00:26:48,901 --> 00:26:51,195 LISA: When she was 16, I was at work... 509 00:26:51,195 --> 00:26:53,572 [telephone ringing] 510 00:26:53,572 --> 00:26:56,116 ...and the front manager comes over to relieve me 511 00:26:56,116 --> 00:26:57,618 and says, "You've got a call on the phone. 512 00:26:57,618 --> 00:26:59,369 It's a detective, it's something about Nikki." 513 00:26:59,369 --> 00:27:00,787 ♪ 514 00:27:00,787 --> 00:27:02,539 So I go to the phone and I said, "Hello?" 515 00:27:03,373 --> 00:27:06,001 And they said that Nikki was at OHSU. 516 00:27:07,753 --> 00:27:11,965 And she had been shot... six times. 517 00:27:11,965 --> 00:27:15,052 [gunshots thumping] 518 00:27:15,052 --> 00:27:17,387 ♪ 519 00:27:17,387 --> 00:27:18,972 NARRATOR: Someone wanted her dead. 520 00:27:19,473 --> 00:27:23,519 But who, and did they finally finish the job? 521 00:27:23,519 --> 00:27:25,979 ♪ 522 00:27:29,566 --> 00:27:32,736 [siren wailing] 523 00:27:32,736 --> 00:27:34,821 NARRATOR: A year before Nikki's disappearance, 524 00:27:35,531 --> 00:27:39,409 she's in the ICU, fighting for her life. 525 00:27:40,410 --> 00:27:44,873 ♪ Standing helpless by my window tonight ♪ 526 00:27:44,873 --> 00:27:46,375 LISA: It was the longest drive 527 00:27:47,167 --> 00:27:49,294 from Vancouver to the hospital. 528 00:27:50,254 --> 00:27:51,797 The longest drive. 529 00:27:51,797 --> 00:27:53,382 ♪ 530 00:27:53,382 --> 00:27:55,592 She was shot once through here, 531 00:27:56,260 --> 00:27:58,053 missed the main artery right here, 532 00:27:58,887 --> 00:28:00,597 twice in the stomach, 533 00:28:00,597 --> 00:28:02,307 once through the neck, 534 00:28:02,307 --> 00:28:03,642 and once through the hand. 535 00:28:05,727 --> 00:28:08,188 [gunshots thumping] 536 00:28:08,188 --> 00:28:11,775 Nikki was shot point-blank range in the car. 537 00:28:14,987 --> 00:28:17,739 And pushed out onto the street. 538 00:28:18,907 --> 00:28:20,158 They drove off. 539 00:28:20,158 --> 00:28:23,620 ♪ 540 00:28:23,620 --> 00:28:25,455 [panting] 541 00:28:26,748 --> 00:28:28,458 She crawled to the first house. 542 00:28:29,042 --> 00:28:30,544 They wouldn't open the door for her. 543 00:28:31,253 --> 00:28:32,671 So she crawled to the second house. 544 00:28:34,173 --> 00:28:35,883 And that's the last thing she remembers. 545 00:28:35,883 --> 00:28:38,343 ♪ 546 00:28:38,343 --> 00:28:39,386 She was a walking miracle. 547 00:28:39,386 --> 00:28:41,972 ♪ 548 00:28:41,972 --> 00:28:43,724 [beeping] 549 00:28:43,724 --> 00:28:47,936 ♪ 550 00:28:47,936 --> 00:28:49,980 - Nikki never really talked about, like, who shot her or anything. 551 00:28:49,980 --> 00:28:51,356 She didn't get anybody involved. 552 00:28:51,356 --> 00:28:55,360 ♪ What you gonna do, what you gonna do, what you gonna do? ♪ 553 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,029 ALEX: They asked her who did it. 554 00:28:57,029 --> 00:28:59,615 She would always say, you know, "He'll get his when he gets his." 555 00:28:59,615 --> 00:29:01,867 ♪ 556 00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:03,410 ♪ What you gonna do? ♪ 557 00:29:03,410 --> 00:29:05,245 NARRATOR: Nikki remains silent, 558 00:29:05,245 --> 00:29:07,206 never pressing charges. 559 00:29:07,623 --> 00:29:09,750 So the police close the case 560 00:29:09,750 --> 00:29:12,586 without ever conducting a full investigation 561 00:29:12,586 --> 00:29:14,254 into the shooting. 562 00:29:14,254 --> 00:29:15,631 ALEX: When Nikki went missing, 563 00:29:15,631 --> 00:29:17,925 I thought about who would wanna harm her, 564 00:29:17,925 --> 00:29:20,052 and that's the only person that I could think of. 565 00:29:20,677 --> 00:29:24,306 With him not being apprehended, maybe he would want to do that again. 566 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:27,184 NARRATOR: The police never do find out 567 00:29:27,184 --> 00:29:29,102 who made the attempt on Nikki's life. 568 00:29:29,561 --> 00:29:32,314 The shooter's identity remains a mystery. 569 00:29:32,314 --> 00:29:33,941 ♪ What you gonna do? ♪ 570 00:29:33,941 --> 00:29:35,150 It's a dead end. 571 00:29:36,652 --> 00:29:40,322 With time passing by, and now desperate to find answers... 572 00:29:41,782 --> 00:29:44,201 police take another look at the last person 573 00:29:44,201 --> 00:29:46,495 Nikki messaged on social media, 574 00:29:47,621 --> 00:29:49,206 David Bogdanov. 575 00:29:49,206 --> 00:29:51,875 ♪ 576 00:29:51,875 --> 00:29:55,295 - David was, as far as we knew, the last person who had seen her alive. 577 00:29:55,295 --> 00:29:56,839 ♪ 578 00:29:56,839 --> 00:30:00,300 NARRATOR: David Bogdanov, a person of interest 579 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:04,429 with no known connection to the body or the murder weapon, 580 00:30:04,429 --> 00:30:06,431 but with holes in his story. 581 00:30:06,431 --> 00:30:07,808 ♪ 582 00:30:07,808 --> 00:30:10,143 Conflicting accounts of what occurred the night 583 00:30:10,143 --> 00:30:11,645 of the disappearance. 584 00:30:12,604 --> 00:30:15,566 So police press further for more answers 585 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,694 and uncover a startling truth. 586 00:30:21,154 --> 00:30:22,739 ♪ 587 00:30:22,739 --> 00:30:24,491 SGT. BALLOU: We applied for a search warrant to Sprint 588 00:30:24,491 --> 00:30:27,870 which was the carrier for David's cell phone 589 00:30:27,870 --> 00:30:29,580 at the time Nikki went missing. 590 00:30:29,580 --> 00:30:31,415 ♪ 591 00:30:31,415 --> 00:30:33,041 ARNAUD: They had graphed out where he had gone 592 00:30:33,041 --> 00:30:34,334 and it was clear at that point 593 00:30:34,334 --> 00:30:36,461 that David had gone up to Larch Mountain 594 00:30:36,461 --> 00:30:38,547 the same day that Nikki went missing, 595 00:30:38,547 --> 00:30:40,591 which was not part of his original statement. 596 00:30:40,591 --> 00:30:42,634 ♪ 597 00:30:42,634 --> 00:30:44,178 NARRATOR: David told investigators 598 00:30:44,178 --> 00:30:45,762 he went right to work. 599 00:30:46,305 --> 00:30:48,015 But his phone took a trip 600 00:30:48,015 --> 00:30:51,894 to where Nikki Kuhnhausen's body was found. 601 00:30:51,894 --> 00:30:57,649 Investigators bring him in for questioning and confront him with cold, hard data. 602 00:30:58,150 --> 00:31:01,236 ♪ 603 00:31:26,845 --> 00:31:29,389 ♪ 604 00:31:29,389 --> 00:31:31,934 [tape whirring] 605 00:31:31,934 --> 00:31:35,687 ♪ 606 00:31:38,649 --> 00:31:41,318 [tape whirring] 607 00:32:05,968 --> 00:32:09,429 ♪ 608 00:32:12,099 --> 00:32:14,476 NARRATOR: Even though David is cornered, 609 00:32:14,476 --> 00:32:17,980 Nikki's loved ones and everyone following the case 610 00:32:17,980 --> 00:32:19,565 have an uneasy feeling. 611 00:32:19,565 --> 00:32:23,777 ♪ 612 00:32:24,319 --> 00:32:26,864 BLAIR: I think there was an understandable worry 613 00:32:26,864 --> 00:32:29,658 that Nikki's killer might try to use 614 00:32:29,658 --> 00:32:34,037 the LGBTQ+ panic defense in court. 615 00:32:34,037 --> 00:32:36,164 ♪ 616 00:32:36,164 --> 00:32:38,667 ARNAUD: The trans panic defense is a way of saying, 617 00:32:38,667 --> 00:32:41,795 I was in a mental state that I can't be held accountable 618 00:32:41,795 --> 00:32:43,714 because I was in such a blind rage 619 00:32:43,714 --> 00:32:48,218 by finding out that someone who I was in a sexual encounter with was trans, 620 00:32:48,218 --> 00:32:52,097 and that's so counter to my morals and existence, 621 00:32:52,097 --> 00:32:53,640 that I flew into this rage 622 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,142 and you can't hold me accountable. 623 00:32:55,142 --> 00:32:57,019 NARRATOR: Using this defense 624 00:32:57,019 --> 00:32:58,687 means that there's a possibility 625 00:32:58,687 --> 00:33:02,024 that David could get off scot-free, 626 00:33:02,024 --> 00:33:04,776 just because she's transgender. 627 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,362 - I couldn't even believe there was such a law 628 00:33:07,988 --> 00:33:09,698 that differentiated 629 00:33:10,449 --> 00:33:14,077 between my child and your child. 630 00:33:16,079 --> 00:33:18,123 My child's life was worth less 631 00:33:19,875 --> 00:33:21,543 because she was transgender? 632 00:33:22,711 --> 00:33:26,798 ♪ 633 00:33:26,798 --> 00:33:29,885 NARRATOR: So what is David's defense gonna be? 634 00:33:29,885 --> 00:33:32,763 ♪ 635 00:33:32,763 --> 00:33:35,599 With Nikki's friends and family watching, 636 00:33:35,599 --> 00:33:37,809 David drops a bombshell 637 00:33:39,061 --> 00:33:40,771 that no one sees coming. 638 00:33:41,355 --> 00:33:42,814 - I was shocked to hear what he said. 639 00:33:42,814 --> 00:33:47,486 ♪ 640 00:33:51,698 --> 00:33:54,535 NARRATOR: The life of a 17-year-old girl 641 00:33:54,535 --> 00:33:56,745 was taken far too soon. 642 00:33:57,329 --> 00:34:01,959 Over two years later, with the eyes of the world watching, 643 00:34:01,959 --> 00:34:05,504 David Bogdanov finally faces justice in court. 644 00:34:06,588 --> 00:34:09,508 But his story takes a wild turn. 645 00:34:09,508 --> 00:34:12,219 ♪ 646 00:34:12,219 --> 00:34:17,224 - Our client did not strangle Nikki Kuhnhausen causing her death 647 00:34:17,224 --> 00:34:18,725 because she's transgender, 648 00:34:19,351 --> 00:34:21,311 Nikki Kuhnhausen is now deceased 649 00:34:21,311 --> 00:34:24,314 because Mr. Bogdanov had to defend himself 650 00:34:24,314 --> 00:34:28,068 against her attacking him and possibly killing him. 651 00:34:28,068 --> 00:34:30,863 ♪ 652 00:34:30,863 --> 00:34:35,617 - A self-defense argument came at trial and not prior at any point. 653 00:34:35,617 --> 00:34:37,119 He had never mentioned it. 654 00:34:37,119 --> 00:34:38,829 ♪ 655 00:34:38,829 --> 00:34:42,291 TAYLOR: I was shocked to hear him sit there 656 00:34:42,291 --> 00:34:45,169 and act like, you know, it was him that was scared. 657 00:34:46,670 --> 00:34:48,046 MIKKI GILLETTE: You see how big he is 658 00:34:48,046 --> 00:34:49,965 and Nikki looks like she weighed 90 pounds. 659 00:34:49,965 --> 00:34:53,468 I mean, she was tough, but I don't think anybody thought 660 00:34:53,468 --> 00:34:56,722 that he was really needing to defend himself against her. 661 00:34:56,722 --> 00:34:59,099 It just doesn't seem like a possible story. 662 00:35:00,225 --> 00:35:02,728 - When he chose to claim self-defense, 663 00:35:02,728 --> 00:35:06,523 he eliminated what was going to be one of the biggest hurdles in our case, 664 00:35:08,192 --> 00:35:10,652 proving that he was the person who did this. 665 00:35:11,278 --> 00:35:14,281 COLIN HAYES: So that took some of the burden off of the state, 666 00:35:14,281 --> 00:35:15,866 if he's admitting that he did it, 667 00:35:15,866 --> 00:35:17,784 it's more just, okay, what were the reasons 668 00:35:17,784 --> 00:35:19,578 surrounding why you claim 669 00:35:19,578 --> 00:35:21,163 you were justified in doing it? 670 00:35:22,039 --> 00:35:25,459 ♪ 671 00:35:25,459 --> 00:35:28,629 NARRATOR: And then, something else happens at trial 672 00:35:28,629 --> 00:35:32,049 that no one expects, not by a long shot. 673 00:35:32,049 --> 00:35:35,302 ♪ 674 00:35:35,302 --> 00:35:37,804 - Your Honor, the defense calls David Bogdanov. 675 00:35:37,804 --> 00:35:39,473 ♪ 676 00:35:39,473 --> 00:35:41,391 [clock ticking] 677 00:35:43,852 --> 00:35:47,523 ♪ 678 00:35:47,523 --> 00:35:48,941 JUDGE DAVID E. GREGERSON: Raise your right hand. 679 00:35:48,941 --> 00:35:51,068 Do you solemnly swear to affirm the testimony 680 00:35:51,068 --> 00:35:52,736 you're about to give in these proceedings is the truth? 681 00:35:53,904 --> 00:35:56,240 NARRATOR: With his hand on a Bible, 682 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:58,909 David Bogdanov is going to speak. 683 00:35:59,368 --> 00:36:00,702 Will it be the truth? 684 00:36:00,702 --> 00:36:05,290 ♪ 685 00:36:05,290 --> 00:36:07,167 LAWYER: June 5th, 2019, 686 00:36:07,167 --> 00:36:11,088 it turned into the early morning of June 6th, 2019, 687 00:36:11,088 --> 00:36:14,216 did you happen to meet a female walking down Main Street? 688 00:36:16,468 --> 00:36:18,679 ♪ 689 00:36:18,679 --> 00:36:20,639 JUDGE GREGERSON: I'm David E. Gregerson, 690 00:36:20,639 --> 00:36:22,933 and I was the judge on the case 691 00:36:22,933 --> 00:36:24,935 of State versus David Bogdanov. 692 00:36:26,186 --> 00:36:29,773 It's always risky to put the defendant on the stand 693 00:36:29,773 --> 00:36:32,776 and it was a gamble as to whether the jury would believe 694 00:36:32,776 --> 00:36:34,069 that version of events. 695 00:36:34,069 --> 00:36:36,780 ♪ 696 00:36:36,780 --> 00:36:39,658 - He said that he picked Nikki up from a friend's house. 697 00:36:40,450 --> 00:36:44,162 HAYES: Mr. Bogdanov said that they became 698 00:36:45,163 --> 00:36:47,583 physically involved sexually in the back seat. 699 00:36:47,583 --> 00:36:50,377 That Nikki performed oral sex on him. 700 00:36:50,377 --> 00:36:52,337 ♪ 701 00:36:52,337 --> 00:36:55,090 - As part of this hookup, he reaches into her pants 702 00:36:55,090 --> 00:36:56,758 and he realized that Nikki is trans. 703 00:36:56,758 --> 00:37:00,888 ♪ 704 00:37:18,947 --> 00:37:20,365 LAWYER: Okay, then what does she do? 705 00:37:21,700 --> 00:37:23,410 DAVID BOGDANOV: At that time... 706 00:37:28,290 --> 00:37:31,960 ♪ 707 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:33,712 ARNAUD: Colin Hayes is my co-chair, 708 00:37:33,712 --> 00:37:35,422 and we both were a little surprised 709 00:37:35,422 --> 00:37:37,007 that a gun had been mentioned, 710 00:37:37,007 --> 00:37:39,384 because we had no indication that a gun had ever been involved. 711 00:37:41,386 --> 00:37:43,972 And that's a completely different version of events 712 00:37:43,972 --> 00:37:46,475 than anything that had ever been presented before. 713 00:37:46,934 --> 00:37:49,144 - He claims she then began attacking him 714 00:37:49,937 --> 00:37:52,481 and that he was trying to restrain her 715 00:37:52,481 --> 00:37:57,277 and he saw this cell phone cord, that according to him was pre-tied, 716 00:37:57,277 --> 00:38:01,365 and then he thought that was a good way to try to continue restraining Nikki 717 00:38:01,365 --> 00:38:03,158 and that it slipped up to her neck 718 00:38:03,158 --> 00:38:07,538 and that is somehow how he claims her life ended. 719 00:38:07,538 --> 00:38:10,541 ♪ 720 00:38:17,422 --> 00:38:19,091 NARRATOR: It's a hard story to hear, 721 00:38:20,217 --> 00:38:23,554 especially for a mother that lost a child. 722 00:38:25,222 --> 00:38:29,768 - I had no idea that the world was as ugly as it is. 723 00:38:30,185 --> 00:38:33,480 I had no idea that she would run into such... 724 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:37,985 ♪ 725 00:38:37,985 --> 00:38:40,988 ...a horrible evil in this town. 726 00:38:42,114 --> 00:38:44,867 ♪ 727 00:38:44,867 --> 00:38:47,786 I just didn't want his hands to be the last ones that touched her. 728 00:38:49,454 --> 00:38:51,248 I wanted it to be loving hands... 729 00:38:54,293 --> 00:38:55,669 ...and love. 730 00:38:59,256 --> 00:39:00,549 Not hate. 731 00:39:04,636 --> 00:39:07,055 ♪ 732 00:39:07,055 --> 00:39:09,766 NARRATOR: Self-defense or a brutal crime? 733 00:39:09,766 --> 00:39:14,229 No one else was there to verify what the real story was. 734 00:39:14,813 --> 00:39:18,650 But sometimes, actions speak louder than words. 735 00:39:18,650 --> 00:39:21,028 HAYES: He did not try to resuscitate 736 00:39:21,028 --> 00:39:22,863 or call aid for Nikki. 737 00:39:22,863 --> 00:39:25,616 Mr. Bogdanov didn't have great explanations 738 00:39:25,616 --> 00:39:29,453 for the steps or lack of steps thereafter that he took 739 00:39:29,453 --> 00:39:32,331 after strangling someone into submission. 740 00:39:32,331 --> 00:39:35,459 NARRATOR: And there was yet another shocking detail 741 00:39:35,459 --> 00:39:38,504 that comes out in David's testimony 742 00:39:38,504 --> 00:39:41,882 that doesn't seem to fit with his self-defense story. 743 00:39:41,882 --> 00:39:45,344 ♪ 744 00:39:45,344 --> 00:39:47,513 - He said that he was in the white van initially 745 00:39:47,513 --> 00:39:50,265 and they had switched into a gold Audi. 746 00:39:52,184 --> 00:39:55,187 - He talked about having, you know, this Audi vehicle 747 00:39:55,187 --> 00:39:58,190 that the encounter with Nikki happened in. 748 00:40:00,901 --> 00:40:02,569 I think that was a surprise to everyone. 749 00:40:03,904 --> 00:40:05,572 LAWYER: Where's your Audi now? 750 00:40:17,626 --> 00:40:20,587 LAWYER: So you called somebody to make your vehicle disappear? 751 00:40:23,340 --> 00:40:25,843 LAWYER: And that was not a cheap vehicle, was it? 752 00:40:27,594 --> 00:40:30,973 - If the encounter, as he said, happened in the Audi and not the van, 753 00:40:30,973 --> 00:40:33,517 he definitely destroyed that evidence. 754 00:40:34,226 --> 00:40:37,187 ♪ 755 00:40:37,187 --> 00:40:39,439 ARNAUD: He killed Nikki, that is without question. 756 00:40:40,107 --> 00:40:42,276 The only reasonable explanation 757 00:40:42,276 --> 00:40:45,946 from the evidence here is that he killed her intentionally. 758 00:40:45,946 --> 00:40:47,948 But this is an act of rage, 759 00:40:47,948 --> 00:40:50,117 not an act of self-defense. 760 00:40:50,117 --> 00:40:51,702 This was murder. 761 00:40:51,702 --> 00:40:54,496 ♪ 762 00:40:55,038 --> 00:40:57,666 HAYES: The murder weapon being the phone cord 763 00:40:57,666 --> 00:40:59,793 with Nikki's wig hair tied into it 764 00:40:59,793 --> 00:41:02,546 in a manner that was not consistent 765 00:41:02,546 --> 00:41:06,842 with any type of struggle the way he described it, 766 00:41:06,842 --> 00:41:10,137 so it showed a very deliberate, 767 00:41:10,137 --> 00:41:13,265 in our mind, a very deliberate killing of Nikki. 768 00:41:14,391 --> 00:41:17,269 - He murdered this person because they were trans. 769 00:41:17,269 --> 00:41:19,188 You know, there's no other way around it. 770 00:41:19,188 --> 00:41:21,648 And he now needs to go away for murder. 771 00:41:23,609 --> 00:41:27,654 NARRATOR: Nikki was killed on June 6th, 2019. 772 00:41:28,530 --> 00:41:31,742 On August 27th, 2021, 773 00:41:31,742 --> 00:41:36,747 two years, two months and nineteen days later, 774 00:41:36,747 --> 00:41:39,917 it's time for David to be judged. 775 00:41:39,917 --> 00:41:41,877 ♪ 776 00:41:41,877 --> 00:41:43,629 TAYLOR: We all came back into the courtroom 777 00:41:43,629 --> 00:41:44,671 for the verdicts, 778 00:41:44,671 --> 00:41:48,550 and everybody that was there for Nikki held hands in a line 779 00:41:48,550 --> 00:41:51,053 and we all just sat there and prayed. 780 00:41:51,053 --> 00:41:52,679 ♪ 781 00:41:52,679 --> 00:41:55,349 NARRATOR: No one is sure if his story will be believed. 782 00:41:55,349 --> 00:41:56,767 [ticking] 783 00:41:56,767 --> 00:41:59,311 ♪ 784 00:42:01,688 --> 00:42:03,106 And it isn't. 785 00:42:03,106 --> 00:42:05,776 - David Bogdanov was found guilty of murder in the second degree 786 00:42:05,776 --> 00:42:06,860 and malicious harassment. 787 00:42:07,277 --> 00:42:10,239 ♪ When everything's been said ♪ 788 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:13,617 ♪ And we're lying here in bed ♪ 789 00:42:14,284 --> 00:42:17,037 - When it said guilty, I was just in shock. 790 00:42:17,037 --> 00:42:19,206 ♪ Oh, you seem so sure ♪ 791 00:42:19,206 --> 00:42:21,416 We were blessed on getting a guilty. 792 00:42:22,084 --> 00:42:22,960 It was amazing. 793 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:25,379 ♪ 'Cause I'm fallin'... ♪ 794 00:42:25,379 --> 00:42:28,465 BLAIR: I felt a lot of relief and happiness 795 00:42:28,465 --> 00:42:33,095 recognizing Nikki as a valued community member. 796 00:42:33,095 --> 00:42:36,306 ♪ 797 00:42:36,306 --> 00:42:40,143 And I felt glad that at least in the kind of messed-up system we have 798 00:42:40,143 --> 00:42:42,688 there was some justice served. 799 00:42:42,688 --> 00:42:46,525 ♪ But I have to go now ♪ 800 00:42:46,525 --> 00:42:49,361 - I was thankful that he was found guilty. 801 00:42:49,361 --> 00:42:51,530 ♪ Be with me ♪ 802 00:42:52,531 --> 00:42:55,200 Then once sentencing came around, 803 00:42:55,951 --> 00:42:57,369 I started getting mad about it. 804 00:42:57,369 --> 00:43:00,873 I was very, very disappointed in the justice system. 805 00:43:01,748 --> 00:43:04,960 ARNAUD: The judge sentenced him to 19 and a half years. 806 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:08,005 That is the maximum that we could've gotten on this case, 807 00:43:08,005 --> 00:43:10,632 but it doesn't feel appropriate to the crime. 808 00:43:10,632 --> 00:43:12,009 (no audio) 809 00:43:12,009 --> 00:43:15,679 A life was lost, especially in this case, a very young life. 810 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:20,100 It's always difficult, because it's so hard 811 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:22,561 to look at a family member and say, 812 00:43:22,561 --> 00:43:24,646 "We got 19 and a half years." 813 00:43:24,646 --> 00:43:26,398 ♪ 814 00:43:26,398 --> 00:43:28,192 TAYLOR: To me, it wasn't fair, 815 00:43:28,192 --> 00:43:30,319 but I am glad he got the full sentence. 816 00:43:30,319 --> 00:43:32,613 ♪ 817 00:43:32,613 --> 00:43:35,574 NARRATOR: This is David Bogdanov's first offense, 818 00:43:35,574 --> 00:43:38,702 so he gets 19 and a half years. 819 00:43:38,702 --> 00:43:42,289 With good behavior, maybe he's out in 17. 820 00:43:42,289 --> 00:43:45,209 That's how old Nikki was when he killed her. 821 00:43:45,209 --> 00:43:48,670 ♪ 822 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:53,926 LISA: She was so beautiful and bright. 823 00:43:55,010 --> 00:43:58,055 And he wasn't sorry, not one little bit. 824 00:43:58,972 --> 00:44:00,474 Not one little bit. 825 00:44:00,474 --> 00:44:01,767 He was sorry he got caught. 826 00:44:04,853 --> 00:44:08,941 NARRATOR: Nikki Kuhnhausen was a light, a beacon. 827 00:44:08,941 --> 00:44:12,611 Her social media inspired transgender teens 828 00:44:12,611 --> 00:44:14,029 to find courage. 829 00:44:14,029 --> 00:44:18,158 She inspired a community to spread love in spite of hate. 830 00:44:18,158 --> 00:44:21,286 She inspired and changed history. 831 00:44:21,828 --> 00:44:25,457 Her family and advocates helped create a new law, 832 00:44:25,457 --> 00:44:26,959 the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act, 833 00:44:26,959 --> 00:44:29,670 which eliminates the gay and trans panic defense 834 00:44:29,670 --> 00:44:32,047 in the state of Washington, 835 00:44:32,047 --> 00:44:36,301 protecting countless LGBTQ+ lives. 836 00:44:48,981 --> 00:44:50,440 NARRATOR: Nikki lives on 837 00:44:50,440 --> 00:44:53,819 and her story will now forever help others. 838 00:44:54,653 --> 00:44:58,740 A small piece of comfort for her family and loved ones. 839 00:44:59,741 --> 00:45:02,953 - [voice breaking] Everybody loves her, you know, she was very loved, 840 00:45:02,953 --> 00:45:04,329 still very loved. 841 00:45:06,206 --> 00:45:09,960 ♪ From smoke and ashes we rise ♪ 842 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:12,045 NARRATOR: Social media was how Nikki 843 00:45:12,045 --> 00:45:14,965 showed her true self to the world. 844 00:45:14,965 --> 00:45:17,301 ♪ 845 00:45:17,301 --> 00:45:18,385 And in the end... 846 00:45:19,261 --> 00:45:22,681 social media was how Nikki caught her killer. 847 00:45:22,681 --> 00:45:27,394 ♪ 848 00:45:28,061 --> 00:45:31,356 ♪ I don't know where my head is lately ♪ 849 00:45:31,356 --> 00:45:34,193 ♪ Have I lost my mind? ♪ 850 00:45:34,193 --> 00:45:39,364 ♪ 851 00:45:41,617 --> 00:45:45,120 ♪ But I know that I have a secret ♪ 852 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:47,539 ♪ And it's only mine ♪ 853 00:45:47,539 --> 00:45:52,461 ♪ 854 00:45:55,255 --> 00:45:58,759 ♪ And the only way to find me ♪ 855 00:45:58,759 --> 00:46:02,763 ♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪ 856 00:46:02,763 --> 00:46:05,766 ♪