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♪
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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...
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00:00:15,390 --> 00:00:17,100
to who they are.
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00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:20,938
That is 17-year-old Nikki Kuhnhausen.
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- 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.
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00:00:26,777 --> 00:00:29,279
- She had like 10,000 followers.
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NARRATOR:
But then one day, her posts just stopped.
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[cell phone dings]
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Nikki disappears.
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TAYLOR WATTS: I thought
someone had her tied up somewhere.
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[voice breaking]
She was hurt and I, I just--
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♪
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NARRATOR:
Days go by.
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00:00:49,633 --> 00:00:54,012
Her friends, family,
and followers on edge.
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00:00:55,264 --> 00:00:59,476
Then investigators
uncover their first major clue
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on Nikki's social media.
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- I couldn't believe what happened.
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♪
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♪ theme music playing ♪
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MAN 1:
She solved her own murder
from beyond the grave.
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MAN 2:
The fitness app on the phone,
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it was overwhelming evidence.
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♪ I've been haunted by the visions ♪
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♪ That I've seen with my own eyes ♪
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♪ And the only way to find you ♪
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♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪
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♪
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MAN 3:
She did help catch this killer.
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♪
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00:01:40,142 --> 00:01:42,936
NARRATOR:
June 15th, 2019.
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00:01:44,062 --> 00:01:45,939
Vancouver, Washington.
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When 17-year-old Nikki Kuhnhausen
wants to feel free,
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she posts a TikTok.
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♪
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♪ Everything will be alright ♪
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Feel beautiful,
she uploads a selfie on Instagram.
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♪ Everything will be just fine ♪
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Lonely, hits up the BFF on Snapchat.
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♪
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♪ Everything will be just fine ♪
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00:02:16,637 --> 00:02:19,431
But one ordinary summer day,
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all her social media posts
suddenly stopped.
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♪
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The first person to realize
that something is wrong...
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00:02:27,272 --> 00:02:28,482
[man speaks indistinctly]
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...is Nikki's mother, Lisa.
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- It was Nikki's.
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Thank you.
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00:02:40,244 --> 00:02:42,454
[line ringing]
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00:02:42,454 --> 00:02:45,666
So at 8:34 on June 5th, Nikki called me.
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She told me she was at my friend's house.
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I called her at 11:00,
because I always called her at 11:00.
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She texted me back, "I love you, Mommy."
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I said, "Honey, I have
to be at work at two."
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♪
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00:03:00,764 --> 00:03:02,057
The next day...
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my message went unread,
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00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:07,980
I thought, that-- that's just weird,
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so I called and left another message,
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"You know I need to talk to you,
where are you?"
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[line ringing]
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Nothing.
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♪
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NARRATOR:
Nikki's older brother Konrad
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knows something is off.
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♪
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KONRAD KUHNHAUSEN:
Her not replying to our mom
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would never happen, never.
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She would always reply to her.
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[line ringing]
[keypad beeping]
75
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- I was just getting voice mail
after voice mail after voice mail.
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And that's when I knew
something was wrong.
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NARRATOR:
Nikki and her mom are super close,
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00:03:46,894 --> 00:03:50,439
an unbreakable bond,
ever since she was a baby.
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- Nikki was always sassy.
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Here she is on her third birthday.
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She would crawl around at my ankles
when I was trying to get my makeup on
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and while her brothers
would be doing Matchbox.
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And she'd crawl out
of the bathroom with makeup
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00:04:06,914 --> 00:04:09,583
and her two older brothers would say,
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00:04:09,583 --> 00:04:11,376
"Mom, why'd you do that to Nikki again?"
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00:04:11,376 --> 00:04:14,087
And I'm like,
"I didn't, she did it to herself."
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00:04:14,087 --> 00:04:16,673
You know, so she started way young.
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[children giggling]
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NARRATOR:
Her other big brother Alex
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knew Nikki was truly unique early on.
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- Growing up, she always wore high heels
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and wearing makeup, wearing dresses,
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you know, I'm playing with my G.I. Joes
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00:04:31,605 --> 00:04:33,232
and she's playing with Barbie dolls.
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00:04:33,232 --> 00:04:37,110
- In middle school
is when she fully transformed into Nikki
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00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:39,238
and I never saw Nicholas again.
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♪ Come on to me ♪
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♪ My sweet self ♪
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♪ This is ♪
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- There were no gay people
in our life at all,
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00:04:51,041 --> 00:04:53,460
and here's Nikki in the middle of it all.
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♪
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But it seemed natural.
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She just lead us down her road
and her journey of her life
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and we followed, you know.
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♪
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00:05:13,105 --> 00:05:15,732
NARRATOR: A lot of people
want to follow Nikki's journey
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and she shares it openly on social media.
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♪ Look how they dress ♪
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♪ Looking at them ♪
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- She started on social media at 14.
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♪
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00:05:27,494 --> 00:05:30,622
ALEX KUHNHAUSEN:
She had Snapchat, Instagram,
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Twitter, Facebook,
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you name it, she used it.
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♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪
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♪ Show your face,
you're the party girl ♪
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- And, I mean, she was famous.
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♪ Show your face, you're the party girl ♪
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♪ Show your face,
you're the party girl ♪
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It was incredible.
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♪ Ohh ♪
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♪
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NARRATOR:
So by the time Nikki goes missing,
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in the early hours of June 6th...
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♪
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00:06:01,862 --> 00:06:06,200
...she has a community
of loved ones who want answers.
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Her mother Lisa contacts authorities,
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00:06:10,204 --> 00:06:15,000
but after four days,
she becomes even more desperate
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after not hearing anything.
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LISA WOODS:
When I made the missing persons report,
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I told them, you need to understand
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Nikki's being held against her will
or she's dead.
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♪
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"Well, wait, let's not, let's not jump--"
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"No, you need to jump,
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00:06:33,602 --> 00:06:37,231
"you need to go
that frame of mind in this case,
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"because she wouldn't
leave me alone this long,
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you have to understand."
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♪
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00:06:42,486 --> 00:06:45,197
NARRATOR:
With every second that goes by,
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Nikki's chances
of being sound safe slip away.
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For investigators in the Vancouver PD,
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the clock is ticking,
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but they have no leads.
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♪
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00:07:02,172 --> 00:07:04,091
SGT. JULIE BALLOU:
My name is Sergeant Julie Ballou.
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00:07:05,801 --> 00:07:07,386
I'm with the Vancouver Police Department,
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00:07:07,386 --> 00:07:09,721
in the digital evidence cybercrime unit.
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I knew that she was a transgender teen
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00:07:13,934 --> 00:07:17,229
and it's not uncommon
for transgender youth
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and/or LGBTQ youth in general
to go missing or to run away.
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00:07:22,860 --> 00:07:25,904
Oftentimes though, it's because they
don't have a supportive family at home,
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00:07:25,904 --> 00:07:28,490
but she had a great relationship
with her mom,
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00:07:28,490 --> 00:07:30,033
she kept in touch with her friends,
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00:07:30,033 --> 00:07:33,453
so when her social media accounts
basically went dead,
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that was a big red flag for us.
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00:07:35,956 --> 00:07:38,292
But we just don't have
any leads to follow up on.
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00:07:38,292 --> 00:07:42,045
♪
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00:07:42,045 --> 00:07:44,923
NARRATOR:
While the detectives
begin their investigation...
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00:07:46,008 --> 00:07:49,720
Nikki's loved ones
push on every front to find her.
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Turning to the social media sites
that are Nikki's life.
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- I'm Taylor Watts,
and I'm Nikki Kuhnhausen's best friend.
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00:07:58,437 --> 00:08:01,356
We did Facebook posts,
we made a group chat,
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it was on the news.
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♪
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00:08:05,736 --> 00:08:07,112
BLAIR STENVICK:
My name is Blair Stenvick.
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00:08:07,112 --> 00:08:09,740
I'm a former news reporter
for the Portland Mercury.
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00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,202
I have been kind of consistently reported
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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
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00:08:18,457 --> 00:08:21,793
are four times more likely
from cisgender people
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00:08:21,793 --> 00:08:24,421
to at some point
become a victim of a violent crime.
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00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:28,217
NARRATOR:
Blair and other reporters spread the word.
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A young girl is missing
and leads start to pour in.
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[cell phone dinging]
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00:08:35,182 --> 00:08:37,351
LISA:
A lot of people were messaging me,
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00:08:37,351 --> 00:08:38,560
giving me information.
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00:08:39,019 --> 00:08:41,438
Saw her there,
and possibly sported her there,
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00:08:41,438 --> 00:08:44,358
took a quick picture
of someone on the corner.
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00:08:44,358 --> 00:08:47,319
All the tips and the leads
and the here and the there.
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00:08:48,529 --> 00:08:49,988
And nothing.
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00:08:52,491 --> 00:08:56,286
NARRATOR:
Then, seven days after she goes missing,
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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
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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
♪