1 00:00:00,291 --> 00:00:03,294 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:05,213 --> 00:00:09,968 - [Narrator] In 1986, a young man is brand new to San Diego, 3 00:00:09,968 --> 00:00:13,555 having just driven across country in his new car 4 00:00:13,555 --> 00:00:15,807 in search of job opportunities. 5 00:00:16,850 --> 00:00:18,935 Though he's here looking for work, 6 00:00:18,935 --> 00:00:20,979 he's open to new experiences. 7 00:00:20,979 --> 00:00:22,605 And on his first day in town, 8 00:00:22,605 --> 00:00:26,026 he makes a new friend, Stacy Littleton. 9 00:00:27,736 --> 00:00:32,031 The next morning, Cyrus's body is found on a rural road. 10 00:00:32,906 --> 00:00:34,743 - He was likely dumped and dragged 11 00:00:34,743 --> 00:00:37,495 from his shoulders and head area. 12 00:00:37,495 --> 00:00:38,747 - [Narrator] As the city experiences 13 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:41,915 a drastic increase in violent crime and murder, 14 00:00:41,915 --> 00:00:46,046 the resources to hunt down Cyrus's killer become limited. 15 00:00:46,046 --> 00:00:49,841 The case gets shelved and 30 years go by. 16 00:00:49,841 --> 00:00:53,595 But a rookie cold case detective, Troy DuGal, 17 00:00:53,595 --> 00:00:55,472 is determined to find justice. 18 00:00:55,472 --> 00:00:57,974 - I took that on as kind of a challenge. 19 00:00:58,975 --> 00:01:01,644 - [Narrator] With almost no evidence remaining in the case, 20 00:01:01,644 --> 00:01:04,731 it would take a single glove and a lot of determined 21 00:01:04,731 --> 00:01:08,735 police work to finally bring justice to a killer 22 00:01:08,735 --> 00:01:12,072 who's walked free for over three decades. 23 00:01:14,199 --> 00:01:17,911 - The unsolved ones we have to send up. 24 00:01:17,911 --> 00:01:21,956 - And approach these cases in a way outside the box. 25 00:01:21,956 --> 00:01:22,999 - Let the world know, 26 00:01:22,999 --> 00:01:24,918 those out there that did commit a murder, 27 00:01:24,918 --> 00:01:27,253 there are people that are coming after you. 28 00:01:27,253 --> 00:01:28,587 - There's just a lot of good people 29 00:01:28,587 --> 00:01:30,548 trying to do the right thing. 30 00:01:30,548 --> 00:01:31,590 - Because it's something 31 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:33,218 that you have to be passionate about. 32 00:01:33,218 --> 00:01:36,679 - Solve this, bring some peace to the family at least, 33 00:01:36,679 --> 00:01:38,098 just doing my job. 34 00:01:46,106 --> 00:01:48,775 - [Narrator] It's just after 7:00 AM 35 00:01:48,775 --> 00:01:51,778 on a Saturday morning in the city of Lemon Grove, 36 00:01:51,778 --> 00:01:54,155 located in San Diego County. 37 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,534 And most residents are still asleep, 38 00:01:58,743 --> 00:02:00,620 but for anyone up and about 39 00:02:00,620 --> 00:02:03,123 looking to get an early start on the weekend, 40 00:02:03,123 --> 00:02:05,333 the last thing they expect to find along 41 00:02:05,333 --> 00:02:09,379 this quiet stretch of dirt road is a body. 42 00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:12,632 (dramatic music) 43 00:02:12,632 --> 00:02:13,758 - He was wearing clothing 44 00:02:13,758 --> 00:02:15,593 and his shirt was up above his head 45 00:02:15,593 --> 00:02:18,304 and he was wearing pants and he was wearing socks, 46 00:02:18,304 --> 00:02:20,139 but his shoes were missing. 47 00:02:25,812 --> 00:02:28,148 - [Narrator] Detectives arrive at the crime scene 48 00:02:28,148 --> 00:02:31,067 and begin with trying to identify the victim, 49 00:02:31,776 --> 00:02:33,403 whose face is covered. 50 00:02:35,655 --> 00:02:36,489 - The fact that his shirt was up 51 00:02:36,489 --> 00:02:38,657 over his head was unusual. 52 00:02:39,784 --> 00:02:41,911 - The victim has several stab wounds 53 00:02:41,911 --> 00:02:43,788 and his throat has been cut, 54 00:02:43,788 --> 00:02:46,249 which is likely the cause of death. 55 00:02:47,667 --> 00:02:49,544 Given the method of execution, 56 00:02:49,544 --> 00:02:52,380 the detectives make a key observation. 57 00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:55,842 There is a distinct lack of blood at the crime scene. 58 00:02:55,842 --> 00:03:00,096 However, they note the dirt on the victim's clothes. 59 00:03:01,014 --> 00:03:02,931 - [Troy] He was likely dumped and dragged 60 00:03:02,931 --> 00:03:06,895 from his shoulders and head area, placed on the ground, 61 00:03:06,895 --> 00:03:12,150 and right above his arms was a single black motorcycle glove 62 00:03:12,859 --> 00:03:15,153 that was just laying there in the dirt. 63 00:03:15,153 --> 00:03:19,532 - [Narrator] The presence of the lone glove is strange. 64 00:03:19,532 --> 00:03:22,035 It may have belonged to the victim, 65 00:03:22,035 --> 00:03:24,329 or possibly worn by the killer. 66 00:03:26,206 --> 00:03:28,208 Detectives photograph the glove. 67 00:03:33,213 --> 00:03:37,717 Then check the body for a wallet or any form of ID, 68 00:03:37,717 --> 00:03:39,344 but none can be found. 69 00:03:42,764 --> 00:03:45,225 The victim's shoes are also missing, 70 00:03:45,225 --> 00:03:48,603 indicating that this may be a robbery gone wrong, 71 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,523 a case where the victim tries to fight back 72 00:03:52,523 --> 00:03:54,567 and is stabbed to death as a result. 73 00:03:55,652 --> 00:03:58,655 - But detectives also note 74 00:03:58,655 --> 00:04:01,115 tire impressions near the body. 75 00:04:02,033 --> 00:04:04,953 The lack of blood at the crime scene and the presence 76 00:04:04,953 --> 00:04:08,122 of these tire tracks could indicate the victim 77 00:04:08,122 --> 00:04:10,500 was killed at another location. 78 00:04:11,417 --> 00:04:14,420 The killer then transports the body here 79 00:04:14,420 --> 00:04:17,423 and dumps it along this dirt road. 80 00:04:17,423 --> 00:04:18,800 (police sirens blaring) 81 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,302 - [Narrator] From about the mid-80s to 1995, 82 00:04:22,595 --> 00:04:25,848 San Diego County saw an increase in homicides 83 00:04:25,848 --> 00:04:30,687 and violent crime that climbed above the national average. 84 00:04:30,687 --> 00:04:33,189 - I didn't know this myself growing up in San Diego, 85 00:04:33,189 --> 00:04:36,985 but homicides in the 80s were very high. 86 00:04:36,985 --> 00:04:39,112 That's one of the problems with this case. 87 00:04:39,112 --> 00:04:41,990 The homicide detectives and the homicide unit were flooded 88 00:04:41,990 --> 00:04:45,910 with homicides more than the subsequent years. 89 00:04:45,910 --> 00:04:46,995 - [Narrator] Some people linked this 90 00:04:46,995 --> 00:04:48,871 to the growing meth problem 91 00:04:48,871 --> 00:04:52,791 and increased violence among rival gangs in that area. 92 00:04:52,791 --> 00:04:55,670 But what is certain is that homicide detectives 93 00:04:55,670 --> 00:04:57,880 during this period have more cases 94 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,551 on their plate than they can possibly clear. 95 00:05:01,551 --> 00:05:03,052 - As a result, 96 00:05:03,052 --> 00:05:05,053 detectives aren't able to devote the amount of time 97 00:05:05,053 --> 00:05:08,558 and attention they would like to in solving a case. 98 00:05:08,558 --> 00:05:11,394 Follow-up interviews don't always happen. 99 00:05:11,394 --> 00:05:14,981 Witnesses aren't as thoroughly canvased as they could be. 100 00:05:14,981 --> 00:05:18,735 And potential suspects aren't as deeply investigated 101 00:05:18,735 --> 00:05:20,320 as they need to be. 102 00:05:20,862 --> 00:05:21,946 - [Narrator] While today, 103 00:05:21,946 --> 00:05:24,782 San Diego is known for its bustling downtown, 104 00:05:24,782 --> 00:05:28,452 its shopping, restaurant and craft beer scenes, 105 00:05:28,452 --> 00:05:30,580 as well as its pristine beaches, 106 00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:33,374 it was still developing in the 80s. 107 00:05:33,374 --> 00:05:35,835 - There isn't much to do after dark. 108 00:05:35,835 --> 00:05:38,588 Horton Plaza is built in 1985 109 00:05:38,588 --> 00:05:40,714 and begins attracting some nightlife, 110 00:05:40,714 --> 00:05:42,050 but for the most part, 111 00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:44,635 downtown shuts down at the end of the business day. 112 00:05:44,635 --> 00:05:46,888 However, people manage to find a party 113 00:05:46,888 --> 00:05:49,307 and have fun wherever they can. 114 00:05:52,226 --> 00:05:54,854 - [Narrator] On October 10th, 1986, 115 00:05:54,854 --> 00:05:57,273 the day before the body is found, 116 00:05:57,273 --> 00:06:02,320 a young man named Cyrus Jefferson meets Stacy Littleton 117 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,113 and gets invited to the hotel room 118 00:06:04,113 --> 00:06:07,742 of Stacy's girlfriend, Echo, to party. 119 00:06:07,742 --> 00:06:10,620 (dramatic music) 120 00:06:14,916 --> 00:06:18,002 There, he meets Echo's friend, Lori. 121 00:06:18,002 --> 00:06:22,089 - According to the statements of Lori and Echo, 122 00:06:22,089 --> 00:06:25,093 they all partied, drank beer, smoked marijuana, 123 00:06:25,093 --> 00:06:30,556 played cards, just a hotel party with 20 year old kids. 124 00:06:31,641 --> 00:06:34,685 At some point in the day, closer to the evening, 125 00:06:34,685 --> 00:06:39,232 both ladies say that Stacy and Cyrus leave. 126 00:06:39,940 --> 00:06:41,275 - [Narrator] This is the last time 127 00:06:41,275 --> 00:06:44,237 the two women will see Cyrus Jefferson. 128 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:54,414 Neither Lori nor Echo know where Stacy and Cyrus are headed. 129 00:06:58,835 --> 00:07:02,797 But when Stacy returns to the hotel later to party, 130 00:07:02,797 --> 00:07:07,427 he's alone and Cyrus's whereabouts are unknown. 131 00:07:10,638 --> 00:07:13,141 On October 11th, 1986, 132 00:07:13,141 --> 00:07:16,310 hours after a body is found in Lemon Grove, 133 00:07:16,310 --> 00:07:19,856 the Sheriff's Department gets a strange phone call 134 00:07:19,856 --> 00:07:21,774 from a man named Henry. 135 00:07:21,774 --> 00:07:25,194 Henry claims he came into possession of some goods 136 00:07:25,194 --> 00:07:27,238 and believes a crime took place. 137 00:07:27,238 --> 00:07:29,073 - He doesn't want nothing to do with this. 138 00:07:29,073 --> 00:07:32,326 He now has a bloody spare tire and tools 139 00:07:32,326 --> 00:07:36,330 from what he knows is a car where a murder likely occurred. 140 00:07:38,082 --> 00:07:40,918 - [Narrator] The Sheriff's Department tracks down the car 141 00:07:40,918 --> 00:07:43,337 that Henry says the tools come from. 142 00:07:43,337 --> 00:07:47,508 - And they pop the back hatch and there's blood in there. 143 00:07:47,508 --> 00:07:49,093 - The Sheriffs realize they'll need 144 00:07:49,093 --> 00:07:51,804 to get a full story if they're going to uncover 145 00:07:51,804 --> 00:07:53,389 what happened in the car. 146 00:07:53,389 --> 00:07:54,515 To do that, 147 00:07:54,515 --> 00:07:57,602 they'll need to speak to Henry and whoever had the car last, 148 00:07:59,312 --> 00:08:02,857 which just happens to be Lori and a man named Michael. 149 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:09,280 - [Narrator] Officers keep a post on the car while Henry, 150 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,034 Lori, and Michael are brought in for questioning. 151 00:08:13,034 --> 00:08:15,953 - They interview Michael and Lori, 152 00:08:15,953 --> 00:08:18,873 right away know that they have a big problem. 153 00:08:18,873 --> 00:08:20,958 - [Narrator] While detectives over in Lemon Grove 154 00:08:20,958 --> 00:08:23,002 are beginning their investigation 155 00:08:23,002 --> 00:08:26,422 into the murder of an unidentified man, 156 00:08:26,422 --> 00:08:30,092 Lori is in custody telling officers how she came into 157 00:08:30,092 --> 00:08:34,096 possession of a car where a murder may have occurred. 158 00:08:35,681 --> 00:08:37,016 - The story that Lori provides 159 00:08:37,016 --> 00:08:39,018 to the Sheriff piques his interest. 160 00:08:39,018 --> 00:08:43,231 She says the car belongs to a man she just met named Cyrus 161 00:08:43,231 --> 00:08:45,566 and that she hasn't seen him since last night. 162 00:08:45,566 --> 00:08:48,110 Suddenly the Sheriff realizes that he needs 163 00:08:48,110 --> 00:08:50,279 to call in homicide detectives. 164 00:08:51,655 --> 00:08:53,991 - [Narrator] It doesn't take long for departments 165 00:08:53,991 --> 00:08:56,994 to coordinate and homicide detectives 166 00:08:56,994 --> 00:08:59,789 to learn the identity of their John Doe. 167 00:08:59,789 --> 00:09:02,166 His name is Cyrus Jefferson. 168 00:09:03,083 --> 00:09:06,337 With the identity of their victim revealed, 169 00:09:06,337 --> 00:09:08,673 detectives have one less question, 170 00:09:08,673 --> 00:09:12,176 but there's still a long assorted chain of events 171 00:09:12,176 --> 00:09:14,053 to sort through if they have any hope 172 00:09:14,053 --> 00:09:17,265 of finding out who murdered Cyrus Jefferson. 173 00:09:19,767 --> 00:09:22,562 (dramatic music) 174 00:09:24,981 --> 00:09:27,607 (dramatic music) 175 00:09:30,194 --> 00:09:32,363 Cyrus Jefferson is new to the city 176 00:09:32,363 --> 00:09:35,700 of Lemon Grove in San Diego County, 177 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:37,618 but it's his first day in town 178 00:09:37,618 --> 00:09:41,038 and he's already made a friend in Stacy Littleton. 179 00:09:43,374 --> 00:09:47,795 Stacy brings him around to meet his girlfriend and hang out. 180 00:09:47,795 --> 00:09:50,506 After a few drinks and some cards, 181 00:09:50,506 --> 00:09:54,093 Stacy and Cyrus take off to run an errand. 182 00:09:57,972 --> 00:10:01,892 But several hours later, when Stacy returns, 183 00:10:01,892 --> 00:10:05,438 he has Cyrus's car, but no Cyrus. 184 00:10:07,315 --> 00:10:10,985 And when friends later find blood in the back of the car, 185 00:10:10,985 --> 00:10:15,030 they suspect Stacy may have killed Cyrus. 186 00:10:18,409 --> 00:10:21,621 Cyrus is new to the San Diego area, 187 00:10:21,621 --> 00:10:24,582 originally hailing from Louisiana. 188 00:10:24,582 --> 00:10:27,168 He's been working hard at a pizza joint 189 00:10:27,168 --> 00:10:29,295 saving up money to buy a car. 190 00:10:30,212 --> 00:10:32,798 Meanwhile, his younger sister Sidra 191 00:10:32,798 --> 00:10:36,135 has been awarded a scholarship and gone off to college 192 00:10:36,135 --> 00:10:38,429 at Louisiana State University. 193 00:10:38,429 --> 00:10:40,431 - He's trying to figure himself out. 194 00:10:40,431 --> 00:10:43,559 He decides he doesn't want to just stay in Louisiana, 195 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,269 he wants to look elsewhere. 196 00:10:45,269 --> 00:10:48,189 He had an aunt that lived in San Diego. 197 00:10:48,189 --> 00:10:49,148 He called his aunt and he said 198 00:10:49,148 --> 00:10:51,400 "hey, I want to come out there. 199 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,112 I wanna see what's ahead of me, what potential there is". 200 00:10:55,112 --> 00:10:58,908 That's what brought him from Louisiana to San Diego 201 00:10:58,908 --> 00:11:02,285 on that trip across America was he was growing up, 202 00:11:02,285 --> 00:11:05,289 he was 20 years old, he had a reliable car, 203 00:11:05,289 --> 00:11:07,166 he was just doing pizzas. 204 00:11:07,166 --> 00:11:10,127 He knew he could get a job doing pizzas in San Diego, 205 00:11:10,127 --> 00:11:13,297 so he reunites with his aunt and then he says 206 00:11:13,297 --> 00:11:16,300 "hey, I'm gonna go get my car washed". 207 00:11:16,300 --> 00:11:18,969 So he leaves the house to go get his car washed. 208 00:11:18,969 --> 00:11:22,473 She expects him to come back, but she doesn't see him. 209 00:11:22,473 --> 00:11:25,559 That was the last time the family saw Cyrus. 210 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,895 But fortunately for law enforcement, 211 00:11:27,895 --> 00:11:32,400 the story continues because we know who he ended up with. 212 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,027 (tense music) 213 00:11:36,112 --> 00:11:37,988 - [Narrator] Lori states that she's hanging out 214 00:11:37,988 --> 00:11:40,241 in a hotel room with her friend Echo 215 00:11:40,241 --> 00:11:42,493 and Echo's one year old infant 216 00:11:42,493 --> 00:11:45,871 when Echo's boyfriend Stacy comes over to party 217 00:11:45,871 --> 00:11:47,540 with a new friend he allegedly 218 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:50,668 just met at the park named Cyrus. 219 00:11:52,670 --> 00:11:55,923 The group spends the afternoon in the hotel room, 220 00:11:55,923 --> 00:11:59,677 drinking beer, smoking weed, and playing cards. 221 00:12:00,469 --> 00:12:02,429 getting closer to evening, 222 00:12:02,429 --> 00:12:05,683 Lori states that Stacy and Cyrus leave, 223 00:12:05,683 --> 00:12:08,018 though she doesn't know where they're going. 224 00:12:08,018 --> 00:12:11,188 - They don't really care because Michael has been 225 00:12:11,188 --> 00:12:14,482 in contact with them and Michael's gonna come over. 226 00:12:14,482 --> 00:12:17,528 Echo was actually interested in Michael, 227 00:12:17,528 --> 00:12:18,821 which sounds a little convoluted 228 00:12:18,821 --> 00:12:22,032 because Stacy and Echo had a relationship. 229 00:12:22,032 --> 00:12:24,493 - [Narrator] While Stacy and Cyrus are gone, 230 00:12:24,493 --> 00:12:27,580 the two women await the arrival of Michael. 231 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:29,999 - So about three hours later, 232 00:12:29,999 --> 00:12:32,251 Stacy comes back to the hotel 233 00:12:32,251 --> 00:12:35,379 and he's driving Cyrus's Honda Civic. 234 00:12:35,379 --> 00:12:37,298 They ask where Cyrus is and he says 235 00:12:37,298 --> 00:12:38,883 "oh, he let me use his car". 236 00:12:38,883 --> 00:12:40,176 That's the end of that. 237 00:12:41,135 --> 00:12:43,971 Michael shows up, Michael comes in, 238 00:12:46,307 --> 00:12:49,018 Stacy says "I'm gonna take Echo to the beach. 239 00:12:49,018 --> 00:12:50,311 We're gonna go down and party 240 00:12:50,311 --> 00:12:52,396 at the beaches like 1:00 in the morning. 241 00:12:53,814 --> 00:12:55,607 (dramatic music) 242 00:12:55,607 --> 00:12:58,319 While they're at the beach, they smoked marijuana. 243 00:12:58,319 --> 00:13:02,072 And I know from what Echo tells me 244 00:13:02,072 --> 00:13:06,285 that Stacy had supplied a joint for them to smoke 245 00:13:06,285 --> 00:13:08,537 and the joint was laced with PCP. 246 00:13:08,537 --> 00:13:13,083 So when Echo smoked the joint, she got high on PCP. 247 00:13:13,708 --> 00:13:16,378 - PCP, also known as Angel Dust, 248 00:13:16,378 --> 00:13:18,005 is a hallucinogenic drug 249 00:13:18,005 --> 00:13:20,966 taken for its mind-altering effects. 250 00:13:20,966 --> 00:13:24,678 These effects include visual hallucinations, 251 00:13:24,678 --> 00:13:29,892 sound distortions, and in some cases, violent outbursts. 252 00:13:30,851 --> 00:13:32,770 - She had never smoked PCP before 253 00:13:32,770 --> 00:13:35,064 and she literally lost her mind. 254 00:13:35,981 --> 00:13:37,650 - [Narrator] When they get back to the hotel, 255 00:13:37,650 --> 00:13:39,193 Echo is frantic. 256 00:13:39,193 --> 00:13:41,403 - She was going crazy, she doesn't remember, 257 00:13:41,403 --> 00:13:43,489 but she was making a scene 258 00:13:43,489 --> 00:13:46,742 because this was like at four or five in the morning. 259 00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:50,078 The police are called and Echo is taken into custody 260 00:13:50,078 --> 00:13:51,997 for her own welfare. 261 00:13:51,997 --> 00:13:54,583 - [Narrator] Police take Echo to a hospital 262 00:13:54,583 --> 00:13:56,836 for a psychiatric evaluation 263 00:13:56,836 --> 00:13:59,129 and to be kept and observed overnight. 264 00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:03,968 What started as a party has turned into a nightmare. 265 00:14:04,969 --> 00:14:08,179 - Stacy says "I want to go visit Echo in the hospital". 266 00:14:08,179 --> 00:14:10,432 He's worried about his girlfriend, 267 00:14:10,432 --> 00:14:11,725 but they have the baby there. 268 00:14:11,725 --> 00:14:14,645 - [Narrator] Stacy still has Cyrus's car 269 00:14:14,645 --> 00:14:17,648 and suggests they take it to the hospital. 270 00:14:17,648 --> 00:14:20,025 Lori and Michael get in the car 271 00:14:20,025 --> 00:14:22,361 and wait for Stacy and the baby. 272 00:14:22,361 --> 00:14:24,154 - Both Lori and Michael 273 00:14:24,154 --> 00:14:27,199 notice blood spatter on the headliner, 274 00:14:27,199 --> 00:14:30,661 and more blood spatter in the backseat. 275 00:14:30,661 --> 00:14:32,580 - [Narrator] They don't mention this to Stacy 276 00:14:32,580 --> 00:14:33,873 when he arrives. 277 00:14:36,584 --> 00:14:39,295 - When they get to the hospital, Stacy gets out of the car. 278 00:14:39,295 --> 00:14:40,796 Lori and Michael start talking 279 00:14:40,796 --> 00:14:42,923 about the blood spatter in the car. 280 00:14:42,923 --> 00:14:46,468 Where is this kid, Cyrus? What's going on? 281 00:14:46,468 --> 00:14:47,761 Michael starts looking around. 282 00:14:47,761 --> 00:14:49,805 He turns around, it's a hatchback. 283 00:14:49,805 --> 00:14:50,723 He turns around, 284 00:14:50,723 --> 00:14:52,182 looks in the back and there's a pool of blood 285 00:14:52,182 --> 00:14:55,477 on the spare tire in the far back of the car. 286 00:14:55,477 --> 00:14:57,730 Michael's scared. Lori's scared. 287 00:14:57,730 --> 00:15:01,984 They start to do their own assessment of the events 288 00:15:01,984 --> 00:15:03,444 of the night and they're worried 289 00:15:03,444 --> 00:15:06,488 that Stacy probably did something to Cyrus 290 00:15:06,488 --> 00:15:08,782 because there was no one else involved. 291 00:15:09,408 --> 00:15:10,451 - [Narrator] For detectives, 292 00:15:10,451 --> 00:15:13,495 Lori recounts why neither she nor Michael 293 00:15:13,495 --> 00:15:15,581 contacted police. 294 00:15:15,581 --> 00:15:18,250 - Stacy comes back out and Lori 295 00:15:18,250 --> 00:15:19,710 said she was very nervous to ask him, 296 00:15:19,710 --> 00:15:22,338 but she said basically "what in the heck? 297 00:15:22,338 --> 00:15:23,714 What is all this blood?" 298 00:15:23,714 --> 00:15:26,759 And he said maybe someone got killed and they just zipped 299 00:15:26,759 --> 00:15:31,972 their lips because they were scared to be very honest, 300 00:15:32,890 --> 00:15:34,099 and they were drunk and they were high 301 00:15:34,099 --> 00:15:35,643 and they weren't gonna call the police 302 00:15:35,643 --> 00:15:38,604 because now they're inside of a car with blood. 303 00:15:38,604 --> 00:15:41,857 So Stacy goes back to the hotel, 304 00:15:41,857 --> 00:15:46,362 Michael leaves, and Lori is with Stacy. 305 00:15:47,821 --> 00:15:51,325 - [Narrator] Once Stacy and Lori return to the hotel, 306 00:15:51,325 --> 00:15:54,620 Stacy does something totally unexpected. 307 00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:58,540 - Stacy says "hey, do you want this car?" 308 00:15:58,540 --> 00:16:01,001 Lori had some difficulty with drugs 309 00:16:01,001 --> 00:16:04,463 and she didn't have a job and he's offering to give her 310 00:16:04,463 --> 00:16:07,466 this car and she doesn't have transportation. 311 00:16:07,466 --> 00:16:11,553 Echo's in the hospital and Stacy's gonna leave on his own. 312 00:16:11,553 --> 00:16:14,640 So she actually wants the car. 313 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,725 She wants away to get away from here. 314 00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:20,312 - [Narrator] Stacy takes the baby back to the hotel 315 00:16:20,312 --> 00:16:22,982 and leaves Lori with Cyrus's car. 316 00:16:24,775 --> 00:16:27,444 - Lori drives to the East County of San Diego, 317 00:16:27,444 --> 00:16:29,279 meets back up with Michael because 318 00:16:29,279 --> 00:16:32,408 they want to talk about what the heck are they gonna do. 319 00:16:32,408 --> 00:16:33,617 Now they've been in the car, 320 00:16:33,617 --> 00:16:36,203 they're worried about their involvement. 321 00:16:36,203 --> 00:16:38,497 - [Narrator] Both Michael and Lori are concerned 322 00:16:38,497 --> 00:16:41,208 that they're now caught up in a crime, 323 00:16:41,208 --> 00:16:43,002 possibly even a murder. 324 00:16:43,877 --> 00:16:46,171 But with blood literally on their hands, 325 00:16:47,089 --> 00:16:49,299 they fear they have nowhere to turn. 326 00:16:51,510 --> 00:16:54,388 (dramatic music) 327 00:16:56,348 --> 00:16:59,184 (dramatic music) 328 00:17:03,522 --> 00:17:06,525 Cyrus Jefferson goes missing on his first day 329 00:17:06,525 --> 00:17:10,320 in San Diego, and the last person to see him alive, 330 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,032 Stacy Littleton, now has his car, 331 00:17:14,032 --> 00:17:16,493 and the car is covered in blood. 332 00:17:17,869 --> 00:17:20,955 After a night of partying and a visit to the hospital 333 00:17:20,955 --> 00:17:22,916 to take care of Echo, 334 00:17:22,916 --> 00:17:25,919 Stacy gives the car to his friend Lori. 335 00:17:26,628 --> 00:17:29,798 But this gift ends up being a curse. 336 00:17:29,798 --> 00:17:31,383 As Lori now suspects, 337 00:17:31,383 --> 00:17:34,053 she's caught up in the middle of a murder. 338 00:17:36,096 --> 00:17:39,725 Lori and Michael have decided they need help, 339 00:17:39,725 --> 00:17:42,895 but they don't see going to the police as an option. 340 00:17:43,854 --> 00:17:47,733 - Michael decides to reach out to his friend Henry 341 00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:51,320 who he admires, and Henry's a logical guy. 342 00:17:52,279 --> 00:17:55,824 They drive the car over to Henry's house and they tell him, 343 00:17:55,824 --> 00:17:59,369 "hey, first of all, we need to get rid of this car". 344 00:17:59,369 --> 00:18:00,662 And he said "why?" 345 00:18:00,662 --> 00:18:01,914 And they said "well, check this out". 346 00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:05,334 And they pop the back hatch and there's blood in there. 347 00:18:08,170 --> 00:18:10,422 - Henry's first thought is that Michael 348 00:18:10,422 --> 00:18:12,590 and Lori have committed a crime, 349 00:18:12,590 --> 00:18:15,135 and he threatens to call the police, 350 00:18:16,220 --> 00:18:18,222 but Michael asks him to listen 351 00:18:18,222 --> 00:18:20,224 while he explains the situation. 352 00:18:21,141 --> 00:18:23,143 - Henry takes the time to hear the story, 353 00:18:23,143 --> 00:18:26,188 and then Michael offers up and it's kind of arbitrary, 354 00:18:26,188 --> 00:18:27,147 but Michael says 355 00:18:27,147 --> 00:18:28,773 "hey, I'm gonna get rid of this car. 356 00:18:28,773 --> 00:18:31,359 Do you want the spare tire and the tools right here?" 357 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,403 And Henry takes them because Henry 358 00:18:33,403 --> 00:18:36,824 was a construction guy, and he took them, once again, 359 00:18:36,824 --> 00:18:40,577 not the right action for somebody to do, but he did it. 360 00:18:41,829 --> 00:18:44,289 - [Narrator] Feeling uneasy about the situation, 361 00:18:44,289 --> 00:18:46,708 Henry contacts the police. 362 00:18:46,708 --> 00:18:49,086 He agrees to come down for an interview. 363 00:18:50,879 --> 00:18:53,674 Henry describes to detectives about feeling odd 364 00:18:53,674 --> 00:18:56,760 about the exchange and being in possession 365 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,055 of items that may be linked to a murder. 366 00:19:00,848 --> 00:19:04,768 Police dragged down the car in East San Diego County 367 00:19:04,768 --> 00:19:07,354 near the hotel where the group partied. 368 00:19:08,564 --> 00:19:09,857 - Detectives are beginning 369 00:19:09,857 --> 00:19:12,693 to get a clearer picture of Cyrus's last day, 370 00:19:12,693 --> 00:19:15,612 where he was, and who he was with. 371 00:19:15,612 --> 00:19:18,824 But there's the unaccounted three hour period 372 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:21,160 when he was alone in the car with Stacy. 373 00:19:22,619 --> 00:19:24,454 To fill in that time gap, 374 00:19:24,454 --> 00:19:26,415 they're going to have to bring Stacy in 375 00:19:26,415 --> 00:19:28,542 for questioning as a suspect. 376 00:19:29,751 --> 00:19:31,879 - So they tow the car into evidence 377 00:19:31,879 --> 00:19:34,381 and they process the car for evidence, 378 00:19:34,381 --> 00:19:38,051 and they start the search warrant for Stacy's house. 379 00:19:38,051 --> 00:19:40,262 They talk to Echo, they talk to Lori, 380 00:19:40,262 --> 00:19:42,013 they talk to Michael, they talk to Henry, 381 00:19:42,013 --> 00:19:44,641 and based on their statements, they get the search warrant, 382 00:19:44,641 --> 00:19:46,810 they take Stacy into custody. 383 00:19:48,020 --> 00:19:50,981 - [Narrator] Suspect Stacy Littleton is questioned, 384 00:19:50,981 --> 00:19:52,316 but tells detectives that 385 00:19:52,316 --> 00:19:54,984 he doesn't know what happened to Cyrus. 386 00:19:54,984 --> 00:19:57,905 - Stacy says that Cyrus had received a paycheck. 387 00:19:57,905 --> 00:20:01,617 I don't know how he had this paycheck that was $125. 388 00:20:01,617 --> 00:20:04,578 Stacy was going with Cyrus to cash that paycheck. 389 00:20:05,704 --> 00:20:08,040 - [Narrator] Stacy claims that afterwards, 390 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,042 Cyrus gave him his car. 391 00:20:10,042 --> 00:20:11,960 When questioned about the blood, 392 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:17,215 he provides no explanation, but denies that he killed Cyrus. 393 00:20:17,715 --> 00:20:18,967 - You have to remember 394 00:20:18,967 --> 00:20:22,471 this is 1986 and there is no way of testing the blood 395 00:20:22,471 --> 00:20:26,892 to verify the victims using forensics science. 396 00:20:26,892 --> 00:20:29,853 As long as Stacy keeps his mouth shut, 397 00:20:29,853 --> 00:20:31,355 there's nothing concrete 398 00:20:31,355 --> 00:20:34,691 connecting the blood in the car to him. 399 00:20:34,691 --> 00:20:37,109 - While it may seem obvious to detectives that 400 00:20:37,109 --> 00:20:39,238 Stacy Littleton is involved 401 00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,156 in the murder of Cyrus Jefferson, 402 00:20:41,156 --> 00:20:44,201 they know that the District Attorney is going to need more 403 00:20:44,201 --> 00:20:45,994 than just circumstantial evidence 404 00:20:45,994 --> 00:20:48,247 and belief to convince a jury. 405 00:20:49,330 --> 00:20:51,917 - [Narrator] For officers to make arrests, 406 00:20:51,917 --> 00:20:54,670 they need a probable cause, 407 00:20:54,670 --> 00:20:57,172 which is at least 50% likelihood 408 00:20:57,172 --> 00:20:59,633 that the suspect has committed a crime. 409 00:21:01,301 --> 00:21:04,221 (tense music) 410 00:21:04,221 --> 00:21:06,056 - The problem with getting it into court 411 00:21:06,056 --> 00:21:08,850 is you have to get beyond reasonable doubt. 412 00:21:08,850 --> 00:21:11,270 Reasonable doubt is a much higher bar. 413 00:21:12,061 --> 00:21:13,981 There is no percentage based on it. 414 00:21:13,981 --> 00:21:16,566 But you're talking to 12 ordinary citizens 415 00:21:16,566 --> 00:21:19,820 who may or may not know anything about law enforcement, 416 00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:21,655 and you have to convince them that 417 00:21:21,655 --> 00:21:23,615 the evidence you have, the statements made, 418 00:21:23,615 --> 00:21:26,034 everything makes this guy, 419 00:21:26,034 --> 00:21:28,662 beyond a reasonable doubt, the suspect. 420 00:21:28,662 --> 00:21:30,789 That's the bar for the District Attorney. 421 00:21:30,789 --> 00:21:33,709 That's why the District Attorney rejected the case. 422 00:21:36,086 --> 00:21:38,588 - Without a witness or any further evidence, 423 00:21:38,588 --> 00:21:41,717 detectives can only hypothesize about what happens 424 00:21:41,717 --> 00:21:44,303 in the three hours between Stacy and Cyrus 425 00:21:44,303 --> 00:21:48,223 leaving the hotel together and Stacy returning alone. 426 00:21:48,223 --> 00:21:51,310 They have no choice but to release Stacy. 427 00:21:52,728 --> 00:21:54,521 - [Narrator] A couple of days later, 428 00:21:54,521 --> 00:21:56,523 Echo's mom goes down to the station 429 00:21:56,523 --> 00:22:00,902 to retrieve Stacy's things that police took into evidence 430 00:22:00,902 --> 00:22:02,404 during their search warrant. 431 00:22:04,948 --> 00:22:06,032 - They collected all his clothes, 432 00:22:06,032 --> 00:22:08,660 they went through his house, they collected evidence. 433 00:22:08,660 --> 00:22:11,288 He's been cleared because the District Attorney, 434 00:22:11,288 --> 00:22:12,914 they're not filing charges. 435 00:22:12,914 --> 00:22:14,624 They could later file charges. 436 00:22:15,625 --> 00:22:18,587 Property evidence checked with the homicide detectives, 437 00:22:18,587 --> 00:22:19,755 for whatever reason, 438 00:22:19,755 --> 00:22:21,631 whether the homicide detectives were too busy, 439 00:22:21,631 --> 00:22:22,840 didn't think about it, 440 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,177 for whatever reason, I don't know, 441 00:22:25,177 --> 00:22:28,888 they authorized the release of that physical evidence 442 00:22:28,888 --> 00:22:30,849 from the property evidence room. 443 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:34,561 - [Narrator] Police have a viable suspect 444 00:22:34,561 --> 00:22:36,938 in the murder of Cyrus Jefferson, 445 00:22:36,938 --> 00:22:40,192 but without additional evidence or the resources 446 00:22:40,192 --> 00:22:42,903 to pursue Stacy Littleton further, 447 00:22:42,903 --> 00:22:45,030 detectives are forced to shelve it 448 00:22:45,030 --> 00:22:47,449 while they deal with other cases. 449 00:22:47,449 --> 00:22:49,368 - That's one of the problems with this case 450 00:22:49,368 --> 00:22:52,079 or why this case ended up as a cold case, 451 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:55,499 is the homicide detectives in the homicide unit were 452 00:22:55,499 --> 00:22:59,711 flooded with homicides more than the subsequent years. 453 00:23:00,837 --> 00:23:02,506 - [Narrator] Detectives have good reason 454 00:23:02,506 --> 00:23:04,383 to believe Stacy Littleton 455 00:23:04,383 --> 00:23:07,010 brutally murdered Cyrus Jefferson. 456 00:23:07,010 --> 00:23:08,970 But for now they have no choice 457 00:23:08,970 --> 00:23:12,641 but to let their prime suspect walk free. 458 00:23:13,934 --> 00:23:16,853 (dramatic music) 459 00:23:18,772 --> 00:23:21,400 (dramatic music) 460 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,821 Detectives hear a story from Lori, 461 00:23:25,821 --> 00:23:30,409 Michael, and Henry that all points to one suspect, 462 00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:31,993 Stacy Littleton. 463 00:23:34,579 --> 00:23:39,000 But Stacy denies having anything to do with Cyrus's murder. 464 00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:44,297 But with no witnesses or substantial evidence, 465 00:23:44,297 --> 00:23:46,174 the District Attorney fears that 466 00:23:46,174 --> 00:23:48,927 a jury would acquit Stacy Littleton, 467 00:23:48,927 --> 00:23:51,930 and they decide not to try the case. 468 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:55,267 It becomes a cold case for over 30 years. 469 00:23:59,855 --> 00:24:02,023 (dramatic music) 470 00:24:02,023 --> 00:24:03,567 - Well, I went to a Thanksgiving dinner, 471 00:24:03,567 --> 00:24:05,777 and I knew I was slated to become 472 00:24:05,777 --> 00:24:07,946 the next cold case detective. 473 00:24:07,946 --> 00:24:10,824 And I sat next to my lieutenant and my lieutenant 474 00:24:10,824 --> 00:24:14,035 is talking to me very friendly and he says 475 00:24:14,035 --> 00:24:15,996 "hey, are you ready to come over to Cold Case? 476 00:24:15,996 --> 00:24:17,372 You ready for that step?" 477 00:24:17,372 --> 00:24:20,917 And he goes "I really need you to solve a case". 478 00:24:20,917 --> 00:24:22,878 And I said "well of course, that's why I'm coming there." 479 00:24:22,878 --> 00:24:24,921 And he said "no, you don't understand. 480 00:24:24,921 --> 00:24:26,882 Cold cases are very hard to solve 481 00:24:26,882 --> 00:24:28,133 and it's been a couple years 482 00:24:28,133 --> 00:24:30,802 since this agency has solved one". 483 00:24:30,802 --> 00:24:33,263 And he said "I know they're working hard, 484 00:24:33,263 --> 00:24:35,223 I know that they're doing everything 485 00:24:35,223 --> 00:24:38,185 they can to solve these crimes, 486 00:24:38,185 --> 00:24:41,229 but we really need somebody in there gung ho 487 00:24:41,229 --> 00:24:43,231 to get busy and get one solved". 488 00:24:43,231 --> 00:24:45,609 I took that on as kind of a challenge, right? 489 00:24:47,986 --> 00:24:50,864 So that was Thanksgiving, you go through Christmas, 490 00:24:50,864 --> 00:24:53,282 I get the call, you're going to Cold Case. 491 00:24:53,282 --> 00:24:56,411 And within a week or two I get this message, 492 00:24:56,411 --> 00:25:01,708 call Sidra Jefferson about her brother's 1986 cold case. 493 00:25:02,751 --> 00:25:04,211 - [Narrator] Cyrus's younger sister Sidra 494 00:25:04,211 --> 00:25:07,923 has been calling the Cold Case division at least once a year 495 00:25:07,923 --> 00:25:11,259 in an effort to keep her brother's case alive. 496 00:25:12,761 --> 00:25:15,180 - So on a professional level, I was ready to go. 497 00:25:15,180 --> 00:25:17,849 I was gonna solve every case that I touched, 498 00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:18,767 but on top of that, 499 00:25:18,767 --> 00:25:21,144 then I get the emotional part from the family. 500 00:25:23,355 --> 00:25:25,273 That family is just amazing. 501 00:25:25,273 --> 00:25:29,319 They're the sweetest people and this case kills them. 502 00:25:30,362 --> 00:25:33,031 - [Narrator] Detective Troy DuGal doesn't want 503 00:25:33,031 --> 00:25:34,782 to give Sidra any false hope 504 00:25:34,782 --> 00:25:37,035 that her brother's case can be solved, 505 00:25:37,035 --> 00:25:39,412 but he promises her he'll do everything 506 00:25:39,412 --> 00:25:43,124 within his power to bring justice for Cyrus. 507 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,714 - First thing I did was I went down to the crime lab, 508 00:25:49,714 --> 00:25:53,134 which was in the same building as the homicide unit 509 00:25:53,134 --> 00:25:54,386 and I pulled all the evidence 510 00:25:54,386 --> 00:25:57,347 that was available for this case and I reviewed it. 511 00:25:58,682 --> 00:26:00,725 I opened every package, I looked at it, 512 00:26:00,725 --> 00:26:03,478 I got a physical understanding of what evidence 513 00:26:03,478 --> 00:26:05,438 I could lay in front of a jury. 514 00:26:08,233 --> 00:26:11,444 I resealed it and then I went back and reviewed 515 00:26:11,444 --> 00:26:14,823 the case again to see where that evidence came from, 516 00:26:14,823 --> 00:26:16,950 what potential that evidence had. 517 00:26:16,950 --> 00:26:20,453 And the glove was interesting to me from the very beginning. 518 00:26:21,371 --> 00:26:23,290 I was like, why a motorcycle glove? 519 00:26:23,290 --> 00:26:26,292 And the obvious answer is maybe somebody wore 520 00:26:26,292 --> 00:26:29,004 motorcycle gloves to hide their fingerprints. 521 00:26:29,004 --> 00:26:29,963 Because in 1986, 522 00:26:29,963 --> 00:26:32,173 DNA was not an issue in law enforcement, 523 00:26:32,173 --> 00:26:34,050 but fingerprints were a big issue. 524 00:26:34,050 --> 00:26:35,427 So if you were wearing gloves, 525 00:26:35,427 --> 00:26:37,262 it would hide your fingerprints. 526 00:26:38,930 --> 00:26:40,307 I read through all the reports 527 00:26:40,307 --> 00:26:43,143 and there was really no mention of the glove. 528 00:26:43,143 --> 00:26:45,311 I looked through more of the photographs, 529 00:26:45,311 --> 00:26:48,523 and they did collect the glove, but once again, 530 00:26:48,523 --> 00:26:51,234 there was no mention of it, no testing of it. 531 00:26:51,234 --> 00:26:54,863 And I started to just use my experience and training 532 00:26:54,863 --> 00:26:56,406 and what I had seen in the past. 533 00:26:56,406 --> 00:27:01,161 And I knew circumstantially from Cyrus's body position, 534 00:27:01,161 --> 00:27:03,246 the fact that the shirt was over the head, 535 00:27:03,246 --> 00:27:06,374 his arms were up, up above his head, 536 00:27:06,374 --> 00:27:10,211 and then the motorcycle glove was above his arms, 537 00:27:10,211 --> 00:27:12,881 not near his hands, didn't come off his hands, 538 00:27:12,881 --> 00:27:15,342 it was just laying there. 539 00:27:16,926 --> 00:27:20,138 - [Narrator] Something about the placement of Cyrus's body 540 00:27:20,138 --> 00:27:23,224 and the shirt covering his face catches 541 00:27:23,224 --> 00:27:25,393 detective DuGal's attention. 542 00:27:27,145 --> 00:27:30,523 - So I made an interpretation that he was likely dumped 543 00:27:30,523 --> 00:27:33,902 and dragged from his shoulders and head area, 544 00:27:33,902 --> 00:27:37,405 placed on the ground, and then then either the suspect, 545 00:27:37,405 --> 00:27:39,407 because of the dragging motion, 546 00:27:39,407 --> 00:27:42,535 the shirt went up over the head or the suspect knew him. 547 00:27:42,535 --> 00:27:45,246 And that'll happen where a suspect wants to cover the face 548 00:27:45,246 --> 00:27:48,958 of a decedent because they have some consciousness 549 00:27:48,958 --> 00:27:50,042 and they don't want to see the face 550 00:27:50,042 --> 00:27:52,212 of the person they just killed. 551 00:27:53,088 --> 00:27:55,131 - If Detective DuGal's theory is right, 552 00:27:55,131 --> 00:27:57,300 the killer was known to the victim. 553 00:27:57,300 --> 00:27:59,469 According to statements from the family, 554 00:27:59,469 --> 00:28:01,304 Cyrus was new to the area 555 00:28:01,304 --> 00:28:04,182 and didn't know anyone except for Stacy, 556 00:28:04,182 --> 00:28:05,892 the friend he just made. 557 00:28:08,353 --> 00:28:11,314 - If Stacy and Cyrus were in the car together, 558 00:28:11,314 --> 00:28:13,441 then the tire tracks photographed 559 00:28:13,441 --> 00:28:17,362 at the scene are likely from Cyrus's car. 560 00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:20,323 Though nothing in the evidence file shows that 561 00:28:20,323 --> 00:28:23,326 detectives confirmed that his car 562 00:28:23,326 --> 00:28:25,869 was at the scene of a crime. 563 00:28:25,869 --> 00:28:28,790 But as Detective Dugal tracks down 564 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:31,334 all the remaining evidence in the case, 565 00:28:31,334 --> 00:28:33,712 he makes a grim discovery. 566 00:28:34,546 --> 00:28:37,382 - The car, because there was no pending trial, 567 00:28:37,382 --> 00:28:41,428 it sat stored forever and it was basically 568 00:28:41,428 --> 00:28:43,263 sold to a towing company 569 00:28:43,263 --> 00:28:45,849 and the towing company destroyed it. 570 00:28:45,849 --> 00:28:47,058 So I lost my crime scene 571 00:28:47,058 --> 00:28:49,102 from a cold case detective point of view. 572 00:28:49,102 --> 00:28:51,146 So a lot of problems with the case. 573 00:28:52,355 --> 00:28:54,482 - [Narrator] Detective DuGal also discovers 574 00:28:54,482 --> 00:28:58,319 that days after Stacy Littleton is released from custody, 575 00:28:58,319 --> 00:29:02,198 his girlfriend's mother goes down to evidence and requests 576 00:29:02,198 --> 00:29:05,660 the items taken from his place in the search warrant. 577 00:29:07,162 --> 00:29:08,371 DuGal is surprised to learn 578 00:29:08,371 --> 00:29:12,125 that the evidence is released to Echo's mom, 579 00:29:12,125 --> 00:29:15,211 but the destroyed car and missing clothes 580 00:29:15,211 --> 00:29:17,756 aren't the only gaps in the case. 581 00:29:19,174 --> 00:29:21,301 - I did notice a few issues. 582 00:29:21,301 --> 00:29:24,220 When we process a suspect, we take many, 583 00:29:24,220 --> 00:29:27,265 many photographs of the suspect from every angle, 584 00:29:27,265 --> 00:29:29,225 and we definitely focus on hands 585 00:29:29,225 --> 00:29:31,352 and body for injuries and stuff, 586 00:29:31,352 --> 00:29:34,272 and we have the suspect hold their hands out 587 00:29:34,272 --> 00:29:36,441 and flip them over and have their fingers displayed 588 00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:40,111 so that we can see everything, so we can see injuries. 589 00:29:40,111 --> 00:29:43,198 I noticed in the photographs of Stacy Littleton 590 00:29:43,198 --> 00:29:45,408 that he had his hands together pinched 591 00:29:45,408 --> 00:29:47,243 and actually overlapped. 592 00:29:47,243 --> 00:29:51,414 That concerned me because he could be hiding an injury. 593 00:29:51,414 --> 00:29:52,707 - [Narrator] With a lot of the evidence 594 00:29:52,707 --> 00:29:55,627 in this case either released or destroyed, 595 00:29:55,627 --> 00:30:00,048 it leaves DuGal with very little to go on 31 years later, 596 00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:02,592 but he isn't deterred. 597 00:30:02,592 --> 00:30:06,179 He has a hunch that the black motorcycle glove 598 00:30:06,179 --> 00:30:09,599 may be a crucial piece of overlooked evidence. 599 00:30:09,599 --> 00:30:11,351 - And I didn't know whose glove it was, 600 00:30:11,351 --> 00:30:12,143 I didn't know why it was there, 601 00:30:12,143 --> 00:30:13,478 but I had anticipated 602 00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:16,606 that Stacy likely wore it to hide his fingerprints. 603 00:30:16,606 --> 00:30:18,691 So that was a critical piece of evidence. 604 00:30:18,691 --> 00:30:22,403 I knew then that I now had a potential piece of evidence 605 00:30:22,403 --> 00:30:24,906 that could get us over the reasonable doubt. 606 00:30:25,782 --> 00:30:28,451 - The glove is sent away to be tested for DNA, 607 00:30:28,451 --> 00:30:31,788 a test that didn't exist back in 1986, 608 00:30:31,788 --> 00:30:35,500 one which will hopefully blow the case wide open. 609 00:30:36,292 --> 00:30:38,461 - [Narrator] Detective DuGal knows 610 00:30:38,461 --> 00:30:40,713 he can't put all his hope in the glove 611 00:30:40,713 --> 00:30:43,299 as it may not return any results. 612 00:30:45,385 --> 00:30:48,638 He turns his attention to the witness interviews 613 00:30:48,638 --> 00:30:51,391 and notices that they're surprisingly brief. 614 00:30:51,391 --> 00:30:54,686 Most of them lasting only about 20 minutes. 615 00:30:54,686 --> 00:30:57,897 - The interviews were, in my opinion, good interviews, 616 00:30:57,897 --> 00:30:59,232 but very short. 617 00:30:59,232 --> 00:31:00,608 They didn't go into detail. 618 00:31:00,608 --> 00:31:03,069 So if there was something that was open-ended, 619 00:31:03,069 --> 00:31:05,071 if I'm doing an interview and somebody gives me an 620 00:31:05,071 --> 00:31:07,949 open-ended statement saying "I went to 7-Eleven, 621 00:31:07,949 --> 00:31:10,368 two hours later I was back at the hotel". 622 00:31:10,368 --> 00:31:12,704 Well what you should do is go back 623 00:31:12,704 --> 00:31:15,081 and say "tell me about those two hours". 624 00:31:16,541 --> 00:31:18,501 - [Narrator] He decides to track down everyone 625 00:31:18,501 --> 00:31:21,296 who gave statements in 1986 626 00:31:21,296 --> 00:31:25,842 and re-interview them, this time more thoroughly. 627 00:31:27,552 --> 00:31:31,264 Detective DuGal now faces the daunting task 628 00:31:31,264 --> 00:31:33,600 of trying to track down everybody 629 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:38,229 who was there the night of Cyrus's murder over 30 years ago. 630 00:31:39,856 --> 00:31:42,859 (dramatic music) 631 00:31:44,694 --> 00:31:47,655 (dramatic music) 632 00:31:50,366 --> 00:31:52,952 On October 11th, 1986, 633 00:31:52,952 --> 00:31:57,582 the body of Cyrus Jefferson is discovered in Lemon Grove, 634 00:31:57,582 --> 00:32:00,084 a small city in San Diego County. 635 00:32:01,336 --> 00:32:04,797 All signs point to Stacy Littleton as the killer. 636 00:32:04,797 --> 00:32:08,217 But with limited evidence and no eyewitnesses, 637 00:32:08,217 --> 00:32:10,762 detectives have to let him go free. 638 00:32:15,433 --> 00:32:18,269 Now, over three decades later, 639 00:32:18,269 --> 00:32:21,689 detective DuGal is working the case for any clues 640 00:32:21,689 --> 00:32:24,567 or statements that might have been overlooked. 641 00:32:25,234 --> 00:32:26,861 But tracking down those involved 642 00:32:26,861 --> 00:32:29,405 is proving to be harder than expected. 643 00:32:32,575 --> 00:32:36,913 Detective DuGal's search for Henry, Michael, Echo, 644 00:32:36,913 --> 00:32:39,916 and especially Lori is exhaustive. 645 00:32:39,916 --> 00:32:42,961 - There's Lorraine, Lori. That was 2017. 646 00:32:42,961 --> 00:32:45,964 She was homeless. I had to go find her in a tent. 647 00:32:45,964 --> 00:32:47,382 None of this was easy. 648 00:32:48,049 --> 00:32:49,258 - [Narrator] But eventually, 649 00:32:49,258 --> 00:32:51,511 he's able to track them all down 650 00:32:51,511 --> 00:32:53,680 and conduct new interviews with them. 651 00:32:55,807 --> 00:32:59,602 - As I filled those gaps, the case got a little stronger, 652 00:32:59,602 --> 00:33:00,520 not great, 653 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,522 just based on statements alone 654 00:33:02,522 --> 00:33:04,816 would not have gotten us over probable cause. 655 00:33:04,816 --> 00:33:08,569 But it definitely strengthened the circumstantial evidence 656 00:33:08,569 --> 00:33:10,697 of the statements and the people remembered 657 00:33:10,697 --> 00:33:13,241 because back then they were all young, 658 00:33:13,241 --> 00:33:14,575 they were all together, 659 00:33:14,575 --> 00:33:16,828 they realized there was a murder being investigated, 660 00:33:16,828 --> 00:33:20,331 they were all scared and they were protective of each other. 661 00:33:20,331 --> 00:33:23,626 Especially Henry, when he was interviewed back then, 662 00:33:23,626 --> 00:33:25,420 told an absolute lie because 663 00:33:25,420 --> 00:33:27,171 he was trying to protect Michael, 664 00:33:27,171 --> 00:33:29,424 not knowing what Michael would say. 665 00:33:29,424 --> 00:33:31,968 He didn't want Michael exposed at all. 666 00:33:34,470 --> 00:33:35,847 Now 30 years later, 667 00:33:35,847 --> 00:33:40,476 he hasn't even seen Michael in 30 years and now he's free. 668 00:33:40,476 --> 00:33:41,769 His conscience is clear. 669 00:33:41,769 --> 00:33:44,439 He's gonna tell me exactly what he remembers, 670 00:33:44,439 --> 00:33:46,566 and he's no longer protecting friends. 671 00:33:46,566 --> 00:33:49,944 And that helps. That helps in the 30 year old interview. 672 00:33:52,363 --> 00:33:55,199 - [Narrator] Lori is likewise more cooperative 673 00:33:55,199 --> 00:33:57,744 and less concerned about protecting her friends 674 00:33:57,744 --> 00:34:00,204 now that three decades have passed. 675 00:34:00,204 --> 00:34:03,499 - My interviews in 2017 were closer 676 00:34:03,499 --> 00:34:05,251 to an hour for each person. 677 00:34:05,251 --> 00:34:07,962 I had the advantage of hearing the old interview, 678 00:34:07,962 --> 00:34:09,172 knowing the story, 679 00:34:09,172 --> 00:34:11,924 being able to ask questions that would fill the gaps, 680 00:34:11,924 --> 00:34:14,927 but also their memory, their recollection, 681 00:34:14,927 --> 00:34:17,930 and their lack of desire to protect their friends 682 00:34:17,930 --> 00:34:19,724 brought a bolder statement. 683 00:34:19,724 --> 00:34:21,017 For instance, in 1986, 684 00:34:21,017 --> 00:34:23,936 I think Lori said when Stacy came out of the hospital, 685 00:34:23,936 --> 00:34:27,648 he said "maybe somebody got killed in here". 686 00:34:27,648 --> 00:34:31,027 2017, she says somebody got killed. 687 00:34:31,027 --> 00:34:32,820 Stacy told her somebody got killed. 688 00:34:32,820 --> 00:34:35,239 Well, there was nobody else involved. 689 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:39,535 So now going back to what I need for court, 690 00:34:39,535 --> 00:34:40,995 the statements got better. 691 00:34:40,995 --> 00:34:44,623 That alone isn't the new thing that can make a cold case 692 00:34:44,623 --> 00:34:47,210 better unless they admit to a confession 693 00:34:47,210 --> 00:34:49,045 or hearing a confession. 694 00:34:49,045 --> 00:34:51,964 - [Narrator] The statements provide a clearer picture 695 00:34:51,964 --> 00:34:54,675 of what happened the day of Cyrus's murder 696 00:34:54,675 --> 00:34:57,762 October 11th, 1986. 697 00:34:57,762 --> 00:35:01,431 All signs point to Stacy Littleton as the killer, 698 00:35:01,431 --> 00:35:05,853 but this is still insufficient for the DA to reopen the case 699 00:35:05,853 --> 00:35:07,939 and try Stacy Littleton. 700 00:35:07,939 --> 00:35:10,608 A piece of evidence, a confession, 701 00:35:10,608 --> 00:35:13,111 or a witness is still needed. 702 00:35:14,737 --> 00:35:17,573 Then in April 2017, 703 00:35:17,573 --> 00:35:20,243 detective DuGal gets a phone call 704 00:35:20,243 --> 00:35:23,121 that will change everything. 705 00:35:23,121 --> 00:35:27,291 - And then the crime lab DNA gal calls me and she says 706 00:35:27,291 --> 00:35:30,128 "Troy, you won't believe it, 30 years later, 707 00:35:30,128 --> 00:35:34,465 I've got the DNA and the glove, and it's Cyrus and Stacy." 708 00:35:35,758 --> 00:35:38,678 And now I've got this glove by the victim 709 00:35:38,678 --> 00:35:40,930 with the suspect's DNA in it. 710 00:35:40,930 --> 00:35:42,640 And that's awesome. 711 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:43,850 So there's my piece of evidence 712 00:35:43,850 --> 00:35:46,018 that was just the golden nugget. 713 00:35:46,018 --> 00:35:48,813 It didn't absolutely prove or disprove anything, 714 00:35:48,813 --> 00:35:50,940 but it put Stacy in that glove, 715 00:35:50,940 --> 00:35:52,859 and the glove was at the crime scene 716 00:35:52,859 --> 00:35:54,235 where the body was dumped. 717 00:35:55,319 --> 00:35:57,155 And there's a lot of explanation there. 718 00:35:57,155 --> 00:35:58,739 How does that happen? 719 00:35:58,739 --> 00:36:00,950 - [Narrator] Detective DuGal now believes 720 00:36:00,950 --> 00:36:03,536 he has enough evidence to convince the DA 721 00:36:03,536 --> 00:36:06,164 to go after Stacy Littleton. 722 00:36:06,956 --> 00:36:08,248 - And I would constantly say 723 00:36:08,248 --> 00:36:10,334 "this is what I got, here's the new stuff". 724 00:36:10,334 --> 00:36:11,627 And he'd say "that ain't enough". 725 00:36:11,627 --> 00:36:13,254 Here's the new stuff I had, ain't enough, 726 00:36:13,254 --> 00:36:15,381 because he's working through his mind 727 00:36:15,381 --> 00:36:18,426 that reasonable doubt that a jury has to get over. 728 00:36:18,426 --> 00:36:20,511 And when I called him and said 729 00:36:20,511 --> 00:36:23,306 I got that glove at the crime scene, Stacy's DNA, 730 00:36:23,306 --> 00:36:26,517 he said "that's enough for an arrest warrant, let's go". 731 00:36:27,768 --> 00:36:30,563 - [Narrator] Detective DuGal doesn't have to look far 732 00:36:30,563 --> 00:36:32,648 to track down Stacy Littleton. 733 00:36:32,648 --> 00:36:36,819 He's already serving time at San Diego County Central Jail 734 00:36:36,819 --> 00:36:40,323 for drug and drug paraphernalia possession. 735 00:36:40,323 --> 00:36:41,824 - Stacy waives his Miranda Rights 736 00:36:41,824 --> 00:36:45,161 and decides to give Detective DuGal a statement. 737 00:36:49,832 --> 00:36:51,167 - I go down to the jail 738 00:36:51,167 --> 00:36:53,628 and I interview him and he gives me 739 00:36:53,628 --> 00:36:56,922 a statement that differed from his 1986 statement. 740 00:36:56,922 --> 00:37:00,676 His 1986 statement was ludicrous, to be honest with you. 741 00:37:00,676 --> 00:37:03,346 When he was arrested, he talked in 1986, 742 00:37:03,346 --> 00:37:05,598 but he said in those hours he was gone, 743 00:37:05,598 --> 00:37:08,351 they drove up to LA and met some gang member 744 00:37:08,351 --> 00:37:11,687 who was selling drugs and that gang member gave him money. 745 00:37:11,687 --> 00:37:14,940 But in 1986, one of the statements that Stacy says that 746 00:37:14,940 --> 00:37:18,486 nobody else talks about is he says that Cyrus 747 00:37:18,486 --> 00:37:22,031 had received a paycheck, whether that was mailed to him, 748 00:37:22,031 --> 00:37:24,075 I don't know how he had this paycheck, 749 00:37:24,075 --> 00:37:28,120 but Stacy said that Cyrus had a paycheck that was $125. 750 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:31,082 Stacy was going with Cyrus to cash that paycheck. 751 00:37:31,082 --> 00:37:33,292 That brought money into the issue. 752 00:37:33,292 --> 00:37:36,420 I believe the motivation for the murder unfortunately 753 00:37:36,420 --> 00:37:40,174 was that cash and potentially the car. 754 00:37:40,174 --> 00:37:42,218 And I think Stacy, once he got the car, 755 00:37:42,218 --> 00:37:44,094 realized it is the scene of the crime. 756 00:37:44,094 --> 00:37:48,266 So he wanted to get rid of the car and gave it to Lori. 757 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,061 - [Narrator] Detective DuGal notices a scar 758 00:37:52,061 --> 00:37:55,898 on Littleton's hand and questions him about it. 759 00:37:55,898 --> 00:37:58,651 - And when I ask him about the injury on his finger, 760 00:37:58,651 --> 00:38:00,820 he shows me and he's got a scar on his pinky 761 00:38:00,820 --> 00:38:03,531 that he was definitely hiding back then. 762 00:38:03,531 --> 00:38:05,825 I asked him how he got that scar and he says 763 00:38:05,825 --> 00:38:09,161 "I got the scar in a fight, I also broke my finger". 764 00:38:09,161 --> 00:38:12,873 And I said "you got the cut and a broken finger in a fight. 765 00:38:12,873 --> 00:38:15,293 Was that during the murder of Cyrus?" 766 00:38:15,293 --> 00:38:16,544 And he goes "I don't know". 767 00:38:16,544 --> 00:38:17,920 It wasn't "no", 768 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:21,090 it wasn't "I'll tell you about the fight that caused this". 769 00:38:21,090 --> 00:38:22,383 It was "I don't know". 770 00:38:23,426 --> 00:38:25,011 Does that make him guilty? No. 771 00:38:25,011 --> 00:38:26,846 But all these things start piling up. 772 00:38:26,846 --> 00:38:30,725 - [Narrator] Finally, detective DuGal moves onto the glove 773 00:38:30,725 --> 00:38:33,060 containing Littleton's DNA. 774 00:38:34,687 --> 00:38:35,855 - [Troy] It was golden because 775 00:38:35,855 --> 00:38:37,732 he denies ever wearing a glove. 776 00:38:37,732 --> 00:38:39,025 He never saw a glove. 777 00:38:39,025 --> 00:38:41,360 Just a lot of "no", "wasn't me", 778 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:43,696 "I didn't do it", that kind of thing. 779 00:38:44,864 --> 00:38:48,659 - Detective DuGal has now caught Stacy in a lie. 780 00:38:48,659 --> 00:38:52,621 The DNA evidence proves that he did wear the glove, 781 00:38:52,621 --> 00:38:57,293 the likely explanation being to cover up any fingerprints. 782 00:38:59,210 --> 00:39:02,131 - [Narrator] Given Littleton's contradictory interview, 783 00:39:02,131 --> 00:39:06,594 in combination with the new physical evidence against him, 784 00:39:06,594 --> 00:39:09,096 detective DuGal is confident 785 00:39:09,096 --> 00:39:11,974 that Stacy Littleton killed Cyrus Jefferson. 786 00:39:20,399 --> 00:39:23,819 Detective DuGal calls Cyrus's sister Sidra, 787 00:39:23,819 --> 00:39:26,364 finally with some good news. 788 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:29,784 - I called her and told her he was arrested 789 00:39:29,784 --> 00:39:32,911 and then I asked her if I could go come visit her 790 00:39:32,911 --> 00:39:33,661 and talk to her. 791 00:39:33,661 --> 00:39:35,414 And she was thrilled. 792 00:39:40,753 --> 00:39:41,921 People sometimes go 793 00:39:41,921 --> 00:39:44,090 "well why is a detective flying to the victim's house?" 794 00:39:44,090 --> 00:39:45,800 She was in Houston, Texas. 795 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,677 "Why are you going to the victim's family's house?" 796 00:39:48,677 --> 00:39:51,222 Well she's got information for me still. 797 00:39:52,306 --> 00:39:55,935 I have questions for her. I want more background on Cyrus. 798 00:39:55,935 --> 00:39:58,062 I wanna know if anybody in the family 799 00:39:58,062 --> 00:40:00,064 ever heard of Stacy Littleton. 800 00:40:00,064 --> 00:40:02,983 A lot of questions and I wanna do that in person. 801 00:40:02,983 --> 00:40:04,402 And there's a huge satisfaction 802 00:40:04,402 --> 00:40:07,446 in sitting with the victim's family and saying 803 00:40:07,446 --> 00:40:09,239 I did this, I worked hard, 804 00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:10,950 and we've come to a conclusion 805 00:40:10,950 --> 00:40:12,743 and all of us should be very happy. 806 00:40:12,743 --> 00:40:14,036 She was thrilled. 807 00:40:16,205 --> 00:40:18,791 - [Narrator] With the collection of new statements, 808 00:40:18,791 --> 00:40:21,710 including Stacy's contradictory account, 809 00:40:21,710 --> 00:40:24,922 as well as new physical evidence in the case, 810 00:40:24,922 --> 00:40:27,591 the DA takes it to trial. 811 00:40:27,591 --> 00:40:29,051 - On July 3rd, 2018, 812 00:40:29,051 --> 00:40:32,763 after a two week trial and 11 hours of deliberation 813 00:40:32,763 --> 00:40:34,014 over three days, 814 00:40:34,014 --> 00:40:35,933 a jury convicts Stacy Littleton 815 00:40:35,933 --> 00:40:38,853 of killing Cyrus Jefferson with a knife. 816 00:40:38,853 --> 00:40:42,606 Stacy Littleton is sentenced on August 6th, 2018, 817 00:40:42,606 --> 00:40:45,067 and receives a sentence of 25 years 818 00:40:45,067 --> 00:40:46,986 to be served on top of the sentence 819 00:40:46,986 --> 00:40:49,447 he's currently serving for drug possession. 820 00:40:50,531 --> 00:40:52,950 - I think he spent two years, three years, 821 00:40:52,950 --> 00:40:54,326 and he died in custody. 822 00:40:54,326 --> 00:40:56,120 This case had the potential to be solved 823 00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:58,122 obviously because I was able to solve it. 824 00:40:58,122 --> 00:40:59,415 That doesn't mean that 825 00:40:59,415 --> 00:41:02,001 other investigators couldn't solve this, they could. 826 00:41:02,001 --> 00:41:04,545 The reason it was solved was timing, 827 00:41:04,545 --> 00:41:07,672 Sidra's determination to call the homicide unit, 828 00:41:07,672 --> 00:41:10,551 my availability to dive into the case, 829 00:41:10,551 --> 00:41:12,094 because right after this case, 830 00:41:12,094 --> 00:41:14,638 genetic genealogy became a very big issue 831 00:41:14,638 --> 00:41:16,223 in the Sheriff's Department 832 00:41:16,223 --> 00:41:19,018 and we changed our focus to the cold cases 833 00:41:19,018 --> 00:41:22,188 which had genetic genealogy potential. 834 00:41:22,188 --> 00:41:23,189 This one didn't. 835 00:41:23,189 --> 00:41:26,609 So this one would've been not pushed aside, 836 00:41:26,609 --> 00:41:28,861 but lowered on a priority 837 00:41:28,861 --> 00:41:31,280 because it wasn't a genetic genealogy case. 838 00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:34,033 So Sidra's right, God reached down and said 839 00:41:34,033 --> 00:41:35,493 "let's solve this one". 840 00:41:37,953 --> 00:41:39,371 - [Narrator] Due to the tireless work 841 00:41:39,371 --> 00:41:43,375 of Detective DuGal and the DNA evidence found in the glove 842 00:41:43,375 --> 00:41:47,004 that investigators preserved for over three decades, 843 00:41:47,922 --> 00:41:52,259 Cyrus Jefferson's family finally has justice. 844 00:41:53,219 --> 00:41:58,098 - I want the families of victims who have cold cases 845 00:41:58,098 --> 00:42:00,184 to understand that there is a potential 846 00:42:00,184 --> 00:42:03,062 for solving the case in the future. 847 00:42:03,062 --> 00:42:07,274 I've solved many, and after that, I've solved five more. 848 00:42:07,274 --> 00:42:11,152 So that's very rewarding for all those people 849 00:42:11,152 --> 00:42:14,031 who had gotten no closure for many years, 850 00:42:14,031 --> 00:42:17,284 and now the case comes to fruition and they find somebody, 851 00:42:17,284 --> 00:42:19,286 or we know who the suspect is. 852 00:42:19,286 --> 00:42:22,831 Sometimes in cold case, your suspect is deceased. 853 00:42:22,831 --> 00:42:24,291 That happens. 854 00:42:24,291 --> 00:42:25,668 It's happened to a couple of those five I solved. 855 00:42:25,668 --> 00:42:28,337 And sometimes they're still alive and doing well, 856 00:42:28,337 --> 00:42:31,340 and you would never guess that they committed 857 00:42:31,340 --> 00:42:33,509 a murder 20 or 30 years ago. 858 00:42:34,927 --> 00:42:37,680 (dramatic music) 859 00:42:48,774 --> 00:42:52,570 (dramatic music continues)