1 00:00:11,077 --> 00:00:12,644 [tense music] 2 00:00:12,646 --> 00:00:14,045 - In a corner of the bible belt, 3 00:00:14,115 --> 00:00:17,081 An innocent night out ends in terror and tragedy. 4 00:00:17,083 --> 00:00:22,121 - You just think, what kind of animal could do this? 5 00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:24,857 - I threw that phone, 6 00:00:24,925 --> 00:00:27,559 And I screamed bloody murder. 7 00:00:27,628 --> 00:00:29,928 - In pursuit of a cold-blooded killer, 8 00:00:29,997 --> 00:00:33,064 Authorities close in on sinful characters 9 00:00:33,134 --> 00:00:35,166 In this alabama town. 10 00:00:35,236 --> 00:00:36,935 - Everybody was a suspect. 11 00:00:37,004 --> 00:00:41,306 - Every rumor that came in, police were tracking it. 12 00:00:41,375 --> 00:00:44,676 - He was telling somebody he'd gotten away with it. 13 00:00:44,745 --> 00:00:47,112 - And when the truth is finally revealed, 14 00:00:47,181 --> 00:00:50,181 It rattles all of dixie. 15 00:00:50,251 --> 00:00:52,317 - He was just a ghost that showed up. 16 00:00:52,386 --> 00:00:56,655 - It was hell to listen to him say these things. 17 00:00:56,723 --> 00:00:58,423 - I just sat back and I thought, 18 00:00:58,425 --> 00:00:59,691 Are you kidding me? 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,393 ♪ ♪ 20 00:01:01,461 --> 00:01:04,262 ["just another ghost"] 21 00:01:04,331 --> 00:01:07,199 ♪ ♪ 22 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:11,269 - ♪ oh, child ♪ 23 00:01:11,338 --> 00:01:15,074 ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 24 00:01:16,276 --> 00:01:19,411 [country music] 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,547 - Nestled in the piney woods of southeastern alabama 26 00:01:22,549 --> 00:01:25,317 Lies a little gem of a city called dothan. 27 00:01:25,385 --> 00:01:27,152 - Dothan, we always referred to it 28 00:01:27,221 --> 00:01:28,820 As the garden spot of alabama. 29 00:01:28,889 --> 00:01:32,190 The peanut crop plays a major role. 30 00:01:32,192 --> 00:01:37,896 There are more peanuts grown in this part of alabama 31 00:01:37,964 --> 00:01:39,698 Than anywhere else. 32 00:01:39,766 --> 00:01:41,666 - But faith and religion, 33 00:01:41,735 --> 00:01:44,302 That's what holds dothan together. 34 00:01:44,371 --> 00:01:45,704 - You know, the joke is, 35 00:01:45,772 --> 00:01:47,606 You can't swing a cat without hitting a church. 36 00:01:47,674 --> 00:01:49,574 - Everybody goes to church on Sunday 37 00:01:49,643 --> 00:01:51,610 And go to mama's house for lunch. 38 00:01:51,678 --> 00:01:55,414 It is the most important thing. 39 00:01:55,482 --> 00:01:57,416 - It's the kind of place where folks can feel safe 40 00:01:57,484 --> 00:01:59,384 Leaving their doors unlocked and letting 41 00:01:59,453 --> 00:02:00,886 Their kids out of sight. 42 00:02:00,954 --> 00:02:04,022 And in the scorching hot summer of 1999, 43 00:02:04,091 --> 00:02:07,926 One of those kids is a teenager named jb beasley. 44 00:02:07,994 --> 00:02:09,761 - When jb was born, 45 00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:12,931 I couldn't believe god gave that beautiful thing 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,466 To me. 47 00:02:14,534 --> 00:02:16,034 [soft music] 48 00:02:16,103 --> 00:02:17,836 I had her in christian school. 49 00:02:17,904 --> 00:02:19,771 She always made a's, 50 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,374 And she danced and cheerleading 51 00:02:22,442 --> 00:02:24,676 And was in beauty pageants. 52 00:02:24,745 --> 00:02:28,747 - Contestant number 30, it's jb beasley. 53 00:02:28,815 --> 00:02:32,417 - In the south, they love their beauty pageants. 54 00:02:32,486 --> 00:02:37,055 Everything she ever did-- everything--she blossomed. 55 00:02:37,124 --> 00:02:41,293 - Jb has a kindred spirit in her friend tracie hawlett. 56 00:02:41,361 --> 00:02:44,028 - She met tracie that spring. 57 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:45,497 It was a quick friendship. 58 00:02:45,565 --> 00:02:47,900 She was beautiful and sweet and cute 59 00:02:47,968 --> 00:02:49,634 And fun and all that too. 60 00:02:49,703 --> 00:02:52,470 You know, they'd hang out at the mall. 61 00:02:52,472 --> 00:02:56,775 - Tracie was 17 years old, loved to dance. 62 00:02:56,843 --> 00:02:58,410 She wanted to do missionary work 63 00:02:58,478 --> 00:03:00,144 When she got out of high school. 64 00:03:00,146 --> 00:03:02,947 She was just a good girl. 65 00:03:03,017 --> 00:03:06,184 - Saturday, July 31st is jb's birthday, 66 00:03:06,253 --> 00:03:08,052 And she turns 17. 67 00:03:08,122 --> 00:03:10,722 To celebrate, jb heads to tracie's house 68 00:03:10,791 --> 00:03:11,990 For a sleepover. 69 00:03:12,058 --> 00:03:15,660 - That night, jb was spending the night with tracie, 70 00:03:15,729 --> 00:03:18,196 And they were going to a field party. 71 00:03:18,264 --> 00:03:21,166 - A field party is where you're out in a field. 72 00:03:21,235 --> 00:03:22,901 There might be a bonfire. 73 00:03:22,969 --> 00:03:25,537 Maybe people have a guitar or something. 74 00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:28,240 It's just a place to hang out. 75 00:03:28,308 --> 00:03:32,310 - Around 10:05 pm, the duo sets out from tracie's house 76 00:03:32,312 --> 00:03:34,813 In jb's black mazda 929. 77 00:03:34,881 --> 00:03:38,550 Tracie's mom, carol roberts, bids them goodbye. 78 00:03:38,619 --> 00:03:41,185 - They were supposed to be back at tracie's house 79 00:03:41,255 --> 00:03:42,554 By 11:30. 80 00:03:42,623 --> 00:03:43,956 I had told her before, 81 00:03:44,024 --> 00:03:47,892 Nothing good happens after 11:00, 12:00 at night. 82 00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:53,364 ♪ ♪ 83 00:03:53,366 --> 00:03:56,434 [crow cawing] 84 00:03:56,503 --> 00:03:59,203 - The next morning, I was at home. 85 00:03:59,205 --> 00:04:00,338 [phone ringing] 86 00:04:00,407 --> 00:04:02,507 Tracie's mother, carol, called me. 87 00:04:02,576 --> 00:04:04,242 We were close friends. 88 00:04:04,310 --> 00:04:08,180 And she told me that tracie and jb had not come home. 89 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:10,048 That was a little bit unusual. 90 00:04:10,116 --> 00:04:12,717 Tracie didn't normally come home late. 91 00:04:12,719 --> 00:04:14,986 - Carol tells chief white that the last time 92 00:04:15,055 --> 00:04:18,923 She spoke to her daughter was around 11:30 last night. 93 00:04:18,925 --> 00:04:22,294 - Tracie called her mother, carol, from a payphone 94 00:04:22,362 --> 00:04:24,729 At a convenience store in ozark. 95 00:04:24,731 --> 00:04:27,465 - It's about 30-minute drive to get there from town. 96 00:04:27,534 --> 00:04:29,734 - Tracie said, we got lost 97 00:04:29,803 --> 00:04:31,636 And never made it to this party. 98 00:04:31,638 --> 00:04:34,338 But we kind of know where we're going now. 99 00:04:34,340 --> 00:04:36,274 I'll be home in just a little bit. 100 00:04:36,342 --> 00:04:38,843 - Carol tells chief white she went to bed. 101 00:04:38,912 --> 00:04:41,413 But come this morning, when she woke up, 102 00:04:41,481 --> 00:04:44,015 There was no sign of the girls. 103 00:04:44,084 --> 00:04:46,418 - The vast majority of the time, it turns out ok. 104 00:04:46,486 --> 00:04:47,986 They come home. 105 00:04:48,055 --> 00:04:49,988 But carol was worried. 106 00:04:50,056 --> 00:04:52,056 - In a panic, carol tells chief white 107 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:54,759 She's already contacted the dothan police department 108 00:04:54,828 --> 00:04:57,028 And filed a missing persons report. 109 00:04:57,097 --> 00:05:00,064 He assures her he'll take it from there. 110 00:05:00,134 --> 00:05:03,402 - So I told the com center to assign it 111 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:05,470 To a juvenile detective 112 00:05:05,472 --> 00:05:08,306 And put a lookout on jb's vehicle. 113 00:05:08,374 --> 00:05:12,444 - Within an hour, authorities locate jb's vehicle 114 00:05:12,512 --> 00:05:16,180 23 miles away in ozark. 115 00:05:16,250 --> 00:05:18,817 - Ozark police department first spotted the car 116 00:05:18,885 --> 00:05:20,786 Between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning 117 00:05:20,854 --> 00:05:25,590 In a secluded area near a couple of acres of woods. 118 00:05:25,658 --> 00:05:27,525 - The car is unlocked, 119 00:05:27,594 --> 00:05:30,462 But the girls are nowhere inside. 120 00:05:30,530 --> 00:05:33,865 - This is the spot that jb beasley 121 00:05:33,934 --> 00:05:38,069 And tracie hawlett's vehicle was found. 122 00:05:38,071 --> 00:05:40,138 The windows were down. 123 00:05:40,207 --> 00:05:43,475 The girls' purses and personal effects 124 00:05:43,543 --> 00:05:46,711 Were still inside the vehicle. 125 00:05:46,780 --> 00:05:49,648 - But there's no keys. 126 00:05:49,716 --> 00:05:52,551 That kind of indicates that they're close by. 127 00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:54,819 Nobody's gonna leave their car very long 128 00:05:54,821 --> 00:05:58,957 And not lock it up, take their belongings. 129 00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:02,560 - The hope was that they were gonna come back to the car. 130 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:04,228 But we also put out what we call 131 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:07,599 A close patrol, really saturated the area, 132 00:06:07,667 --> 00:06:09,801 Just searching. 133 00:06:09,870 --> 00:06:11,436 - The officers thought maybe 134 00:06:11,504 --> 00:06:14,272 They're in the woods doing something 135 00:06:14,341 --> 00:06:16,975 Or somebody was gonna drop them back off. 136 00:06:17,043 --> 00:06:19,343 But after a while, that didn't occur. 137 00:06:19,345 --> 00:06:24,383 And they yelled for them, looked in the woods. 138 00:06:24,451 --> 00:06:26,751 But they didn't find them in the woods. 139 00:06:26,820 --> 00:06:30,488 At that point, they didn't feel real good about it. 140 00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:32,023 [dramatic music] 141 00:06:32,025 --> 00:06:34,025 - In this close-knit southern community, 142 00:06:34,094 --> 00:06:36,661 Word of the missing girls quickly spreads 143 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:38,396 Beyond law enforcement. 144 00:06:38,465 --> 00:06:39,998 - That Sunday morning, 145 00:06:40,066 --> 00:06:41,866 I was listening to my police scanner. 146 00:06:41,935 --> 00:06:44,402 And I heard two girls were missing 147 00:06:44,470 --> 00:06:47,171 And they had found the car. 148 00:06:47,241 --> 00:06:49,341 This may be something. 149 00:06:49,409 --> 00:06:52,644 So I ride up there because they're gonna need a photo 150 00:06:52,712 --> 00:06:54,813 For the newspaper. 151 00:06:54,881 --> 00:06:57,048 As soon as I roll up, I could see 152 00:06:57,117 --> 00:06:59,017 A lot of officers around the car. 153 00:06:59,085 --> 00:07:02,854 So I was like, hmm, something's up. 154 00:07:02,923 --> 00:07:04,489 - Meanwhile, jb's mother, cheryl, 155 00:07:04,557 --> 00:07:07,625 Has no clue that her daughter and tracie are missing. 156 00:07:07,694 --> 00:07:09,728 But late in the morning, 157 00:07:09,796 --> 00:07:12,864 She receives word from jb's dance teacher. 158 00:07:12,933 --> 00:07:14,899 - I was working at the tennis shop 159 00:07:14,901 --> 00:07:17,068 At the country club in dothan. 160 00:07:17,137 --> 00:07:18,636 The police had been looking for me. 161 00:07:18,705 --> 00:07:20,304 I didn't know that. 162 00:07:20,306 --> 00:07:23,942 And patty got on the phone and said, jb's missing. 163 00:07:24,010 --> 00:07:26,644 And they found her purse in her car on the side of the road. 164 00:07:26,713 --> 00:07:28,947 ♪ ♪ 165 00:07:29,015 --> 00:07:32,150 I started screaming and heaving, 166 00:07:32,219 --> 00:07:34,452 And grabbed the trash can. 167 00:07:34,521 --> 00:07:37,688 I just knew something was bad. 168 00:07:37,758 --> 00:07:40,558 - Back in ozark, several hours have passed. 169 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,460 And beyond jb's car, 170 00:07:42,529 --> 00:07:46,330 Investigators still see no sign of her or tracie. 171 00:07:46,332 --> 00:07:48,466 - It was decided at that point that we would 172 00:07:48,534 --> 00:07:53,137 Go a step further and open the trunk of the vehicle. 173 00:07:53,206 --> 00:07:54,473 - They didn't need a key because there's 174 00:07:54,541 --> 00:07:56,708 A trunk release in the 929. 175 00:07:56,776 --> 00:08:00,378 You just touch a button under the driver on the door. 176 00:08:00,447 --> 00:08:05,249 ♪ ♪ 177 00:08:05,318 --> 00:08:08,853 Bang, there it was. 178 00:08:08,855 --> 00:08:12,490 - And I can see a knee-- 179 00:08:12,559 --> 00:08:15,092 Excuse me. 180 00:08:15,162 --> 00:08:16,494 Cut. 181 00:08:16,563 --> 00:08:18,362 Just for a second. 182 00:08:18,432 --> 00:08:20,531 [voice breaking] I'll get it. 183 00:08:20,601 --> 00:08:24,769 - Two young, beautiful girls stretched out like cordwood. 184 00:08:26,773 --> 00:08:30,208 It's one of those visions that will occupy 185 00:08:30,276 --> 00:08:34,345 A piece of your brain that you'll never get rid of. 186 00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:36,047 - Coming up... 187 00:08:36,116 --> 00:08:40,285 - People were scared. They wanted this monster found. 188 00:08:40,353 --> 00:08:43,754 - He was telling somebody that he had done this. 189 00:08:43,824 --> 00:08:46,258 He was just really anxious. 190 00:08:46,326 --> 00:08:48,192 I'm going after him. 191 00:08:48,194 --> 00:08:49,894 ♪ ♪ 192 00:08:49,963 --> 00:08:53,298 - ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 193 00:08:55,167 --> 00:09:01,806 - ♪ judgment day shall come ♪ 194 00:09:01,875 --> 00:09:04,742 [tense music] 195 00:09:04,811 --> 00:09:07,411 ♪ ♪ 196 00:09:07,481 --> 00:09:11,049 - Six hours after 17-year-old best friends jb beasley 197 00:09:11,117 --> 00:09:13,551 And tracie hawlett were reported missing, 198 00:09:13,619 --> 00:09:15,987 Police open jb's trunk 199 00:09:16,056 --> 00:09:19,590 And make a horrifying discovery. 200 00:09:19,592 --> 00:09:23,427 - With a wallet, purse, id, 201 00:09:23,497 --> 00:09:26,631 We knew it was tracie and jb. 202 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,366 Gut punch. 203 00:09:28,435 --> 00:09:31,435 Just terrible. 204 00:09:31,505 --> 00:09:32,504 - They had been 205 00:09:32,572 --> 00:09:33,905 Both shot in the head. 206 00:09:33,973 --> 00:09:36,841 Brutally murdered. 207 00:09:36,910 --> 00:09:41,779 You just think, what kind of animal could do this? 208 00:09:41,848 --> 00:09:48,452 ♪ ♪ 209 00:09:48,454 --> 00:09:50,454 - I was calling all of jb's friends 210 00:09:50,524 --> 00:09:53,992 That I knew of to see if they had seen her 211 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:57,061 Or knew of her whereabouts. 212 00:09:57,063 --> 00:09:59,797 And so I called tracie's mother. 213 00:09:59,866 --> 00:10:02,500 [line ringing] 214 00:10:02,569 --> 00:10:07,839 Somebody answered, and I heard screaming in the background. 215 00:10:07,907 --> 00:10:10,608 I said, tell me, what's going on? 216 00:10:10,677 --> 00:10:12,644 And he said, they're dead. 217 00:10:12,712 --> 00:10:14,412 They're murdered. 218 00:10:14,481 --> 00:10:18,216 I threw that phone, and I screamed bloody murder. 219 00:10:18,284 --> 00:10:20,251 Oh, my god, why? 220 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:21,219 Why? 221 00:10:21,221 --> 00:10:23,287 I don't remember much after that. 222 00:10:23,356 --> 00:10:26,558 ♪ ♪ 223 00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:28,493 - At the crime scene in ozark, 224 00:10:28,561 --> 00:10:32,063 Officers begin to take stock of the evidence. 225 00:10:32,132 --> 00:10:35,967 - By the time I got up there, it was 103 degrees. 226 00:10:36,035 --> 00:10:38,870 The gnats were terrible. 227 00:10:38,938 --> 00:10:42,273 You worry about decomposition of the bodies. 228 00:10:42,342 --> 00:10:44,976 I said, let's leave them in the trunk. 229 00:10:45,045 --> 00:10:48,146 Let's get the trailer, load up the car, 230 00:10:48,214 --> 00:10:51,149 Take it to the morgue in downtown dothan, 231 00:10:51,217 --> 00:10:54,786 Where it's air-conditioned, and process the car there. 232 00:10:54,854 --> 00:10:57,789 ♪ ♪ 233 00:10:57,857 --> 00:11:01,826 - When I looked at jb in the trunk, 234 00:11:01,894 --> 00:11:04,295 I noticed her hands were up, 235 00:11:04,364 --> 00:11:07,966 And I could see stippling on her hands. 236 00:11:08,034 --> 00:11:10,935 And stippling is basically when you have a firearm 237 00:11:11,003 --> 00:11:15,339 That's used close to a person's skin, 238 00:11:15,341 --> 00:11:20,044 It's gonna leave black tick marks that look like dirt. 239 00:11:20,113 --> 00:11:21,980 And then when you look back at tracie, 240 00:11:22,048 --> 00:11:23,548 And it was the same thing. 241 00:11:23,616 --> 00:11:25,850 Her hands were up as well. 242 00:11:25,918 --> 00:11:28,586 ♪ ♪ 243 00:11:28,655 --> 00:11:33,925 Jb had a shell casing laying on her abdomen area. 244 00:11:33,993 --> 00:11:35,759 It was a 9 millimeter. 245 00:11:35,761 --> 00:11:39,397 But the other shell casing, we couldn't find it. 246 00:11:39,466 --> 00:11:42,066 - But some smaller wounds on the girls 247 00:11:42,135 --> 00:11:44,668 Seem to tell another part of their story. 248 00:11:44,738 --> 00:11:50,508 - There were several scratches on both jb and tracie. 249 00:11:50,577 --> 00:11:52,310 You leave the side of the road in alabama 250 00:11:52,378 --> 00:11:53,878 And you step off in the woods, you're probably gonna 251 00:11:53,946 --> 00:11:55,813 Get in what they call briars. 252 00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:58,783 And you're gonna get scratched up. 253 00:11:58,851 --> 00:12:01,052 Also, there's mud on their pants. 254 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:05,356 So it appeared that they had been in the woods. 255 00:12:05,425 --> 00:12:06,791 ♪ ♪ 256 00:12:06,860 --> 00:12:09,861 - Then special agent tucker takes a closer look 257 00:12:09,929 --> 00:12:12,096 At the car itself. 258 00:12:12,165 --> 00:12:15,600 - There was blood under the trunk. 259 00:12:15,668 --> 00:12:17,935 So I crawled up under the car and took a flashlight, 260 00:12:18,004 --> 00:12:21,239 And I could see where it was dripping out of the plug holes. 261 00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:25,877 But I could also see blood had blown back up under the car. 262 00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:30,748 If you've got blowback, the car was in motion 263 00:12:30,817 --> 00:12:33,050 After they were killed. 264 00:12:33,119 --> 00:12:34,818 ♪ ♪ 265 00:12:34,820 --> 00:12:37,088 It was a pretty good indication that where 266 00:12:37,156 --> 00:12:39,857 The murder took place was somewhere other than 267 00:12:39,926 --> 00:12:42,793 Where the car was found. 268 00:12:42,863 --> 00:12:46,731 At that point, I said, let's get forensics down here, 269 00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:48,699 Let's make sure we get everything we can get 270 00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:50,735 From these girls and get them to the lab. 271 00:12:50,803 --> 00:12:53,671 - As investigators evaluate the evidence, 272 00:12:53,740 --> 00:12:55,739 They begin to ponder why someone would 273 00:12:55,809 --> 00:12:58,442 Commit such a heinous crime. 274 00:12:58,444 --> 00:13:00,678 - The first question you're gonna ask is, 275 00:13:00,747 --> 00:13:02,146 What is the motive? 276 00:13:02,215 --> 00:13:04,916 I noticed the purses sitting there. 277 00:13:04,984 --> 00:13:06,584 There's still money in the wallet. 278 00:13:06,652 --> 00:13:09,387 It didn't appear to be theft of any kind. 279 00:13:09,455 --> 00:13:11,889 And it didn't appear, at first glance, 280 00:13:11,958 --> 00:13:13,657 That it was anything sexual in nature. 281 00:13:13,659 --> 00:13:15,493 So what was it? 282 00:13:15,561 --> 00:13:18,496 [dramatic music] 283 00:13:18,564 --> 00:13:21,665 - Away from law enforcement, news of the girls' murders 284 00:13:21,735 --> 00:13:25,703 Blows through dothan like a hellacious tornado. 285 00:13:25,772 --> 00:13:28,139 - You just didn't have something like this 286 00:13:28,207 --> 00:13:30,574 Happen in dothan. 287 00:13:30,644 --> 00:13:32,110 People were scared. 288 00:13:32,178 --> 00:13:35,413 Crime stoppers offered a $1,000 reward for it. 289 00:13:35,481 --> 00:13:37,214 Then the community came together 290 00:13:37,284 --> 00:13:39,550 And they started donating money. 291 00:13:39,619 --> 00:13:41,986 And it ended up being about $35,000. 292 00:13:42,054 --> 00:13:46,257 People wanted this monster found. 293 00:13:46,326 --> 00:13:48,792 - As pain reverberates throughout dothan, 294 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:52,930 Detectives head to the girls' last known location, 295 00:13:52,999 --> 00:13:54,899 The gas station in ozark. 296 00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:57,568 - We went straight there to that gas station. 297 00:13:57,570 --> 00:14:01,706 It was within a mile of where the car was found. 298 00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:04,041 - Investigators spy the payphone 299 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:05,809 And speak with employees, who specify 300 00:14:05,811 --> 00:14:07,845 That no one was on duty when the girls 301 00:14:07,914 --> 00:14:09,580 Rolled in late at night. 302 00:14:09,649 --> 00:14:14,118 - But the gas station had video of the girls' car 303 00:14:14,187 --> 00:14:16,987 At that parking lot of that store. 304 00:14:17,057 --> 00:14:22,092 They pulled up at approximately 11:20 pm. 305 00:14:22,094 --> 00:14:23,494 They were just off camera, 306 00:14:23,563 --> 00:14:25,596 But you could see portions of the car. 307 00:14:25,665 --> 00:14:28,332 - Investigators study the video, 308 00:14:28,401 --> 00:14:31,469 Looking for anything or anyone remotely suspicious. 309 00:14:31,537 --> 00:14:33,571 - You can see two ladies that they were talking to. 310 00:14:33,639 --> 00:14:37,508 And you can see one of the ladies pointing 311 00:14:37,577 --> 00:14:40,244 On how to get back to the major highway, 312 00:14:40,312 --> 00:14:41,913 But we didn't know them. 313 00:14:41,981 --> 00:14:45,616 - But before police can track down these two mystery women, 314 00:14:45,685 --> 00:14:48,952 The next day, one of them comes forward. 315 00:14:48,954 --> 00:14:52,089 - I heard on the news that the two girls 316 00:14:52,158 --> 00:14:54,258 That we saw at the convenience store 317 00:14:54,260 --> 00:14:56,727 Had been found murdered. 318 00:14:56,729 --> 00:15:01,665 So I went to the police station to give a report. 319 00:15:01,735 --> 00:15:04,969 That night was very hot. 320 00:15:05,038 --> 00:15:09,140 My daughter picked me up so that we could go 321 00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:13,011 To the store to get something to drink. 322 00:15:13,013 --> 00:15:18,015 And jb came to the vehicle, talking to my daughter. 323 00:15:18,084 --> 00:15:19,984 And very shortly thereafter, 324 00:15:20,053 --> 00:15:22,786 Tracie came into the conversation. 325 00:15:22,856 --> 00:15:26,658 They seemed very concerned that they were running late. 326 00:15:26,726 --> 00:15:28,459 They missed their curfew. 327 00:15:28,528 --> 00:15:30,995 They were lost, seeking directions 328 00:15:31,064 --> 00:15:34,031 To get back to dothan. 329 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,700 I made sure that they understood 330 00:15:36,769 --> 00:15:40,404 How to get to dothan. 331 00:15:40,473 --> 00:15:44,275 And that went on for no more than 15 minutes. 332 00:15:44,344 --> 00:15:47,945 There was no sense of they were in danger 333 00:15:48,013 --> 00:15:50,748 Or anything like that. 334 00:15:50,817 --> 00:15:54,918 But being a mother myself, maybe we should have 335 00:15:54,920 --> 00:16:00,291 Followed them to make sure that they had arrived home safely. 336 00:16:01,761 --> 00:16:04,095 - Realizing the significance of the gas station 337 00:16:04,163 --> 00:16:06,164 In jb and tracie's final hours, 338 00:16:06,232 --> 00:16:08,466 Police begin searching around it, 339 00:16:08,534 --> 00:16:12,169 As well as the spot where jb's mazda was found. 340 00:16:12,238 --> 00:16:14,705 - We're checking the surrounding areas, 341 00:16:14,707 --> 00:16:17,208 Doing some knock-and-talks on close houses. 342 00:16:17,276 --> 00:16:19,443 Have y'all seen the girls? 343 00:16:19,445 --> 00:16:21,813 Things of this nature. 344 00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:26,984 Also, is there anything that this murderer left us? 345 00:16:27,053 --> 00:16:32,490 We searched that whole area, but we never did find anything. 346 00:16:33,493 --> 00:16:36,160 - But soon, special agent tucker receives 347 00:16:36,228 --> 00:16:39,363 News that changes everything. 348 00:16:39,432 --> 00:16:41,665 - In the autopsies report, 349 00:16:41,667 --> 00:16:46,504 The big thing was semen found on jb. 350 00:16:46,572 --> 00:16:51,375 It was located on the shirt and in the underwear. 351 00:16:51,377 --> 00:16:53,611 That was very important. 352 00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:55,713 I felt pretty confident that whoever did this 353 00:16:55,781 --> 00:16:58,916 Did not have consent. 354 00:16:58,985 --> 00:17:01,619 - This was not some consensual act of sex. 355 00:17:01,687 --> 00:17:03,788 This was a rape. 356 00:17:03,856 --> 00:17:06,757 - Once we got that sample of the semen, 357 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:09,660 We put it into the dna database. 358 00:17:09,729 --> 00:17:12,763 And we're sitting there with our fingers crossed. 359 00:17:12,832 --> 00:17:17,901 If I find out who deposited that semen on that girl, 360 00:17:17,903 --> 00:17:19,737 Then I'd have my murderer. 361 00:17:19,805 --> 00:17:21,772 ♪ ♪ 362 00:17:21,841 --> 00:17:25,643 - ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 363 00:17:26,945 --> 00:17:33,917 - ♪ judgment day shall come ♪ 364 00:17:33,987 --> 00:17:35,686 [ominous music] 365 00:17:35,755 --> 00:17:38,189 - Days after the shocking double homicide 366 00:17:38,257 --> 00:17:40,324 Of jb beasley and tracie hawlett, 367 00:17:40,393 --> 00:17:43,394 Police await dna database results 368 00:17:43,462 --> 00:17:46,330 From a profile collected at the crime scene. 369 00:17:46,399 --> 00:17:49,099 - You had semen, but you didn't know who it belonged to. 370 00:17:49,169 --> 00:17:53,170 - There have been several cases solved through just an entry 371 00:17:53,239 --> 00:17:54,805 Into the database. 372 00:17:54,874 --> 00:17:55,939 Maybe we get a hit. 373 00:17:55,941 --> 00:17:57,408 Maybe we get a match. 374 00:17:57,476 --> 00:18:01,379 But we did not. 375 00:18:01,447 --> 00:18:03,847 - Then authorities chase down teens 376 00:18:03,917 --> 00:18:05,883 From the field party jb and tracie 377 00:18:05,952 --> 00:18:08,686 Sought to attend and investigate whether or not 378 00:18:08,754 --> 00:18:11,755 Any of them had a hand in the girls' demise. 379 00:18:11,757 --> 00:18:14,525 - This particular party, we talked to everybody there 380 00:18:14,594 --> 00:18:16,394 To see if they had anything to do with it. 381 00:18:16,462 --> 00:18:19,229 - Law enforcement also look into 382 00:18:19,231 --> 00:18:22,299 Either of the girls' friends, people they had dated, 383 00:18:22,368 --> 00:18:24,568 Acquaintances. 384 00:18:24,637 --> 00:18:26,637 - Talking to some of their other classmates, 385 00:18:26,705 --> 00:18:28,839 All of them were really upset. 386 00:18:28,908 --> 00:18:30,975 Nobody knew anything. 387 00:18:31,043 --> 00:18:32,243 - They all were cooperative. 388 00:18:32,311 --> 00:18:34,245 Their friends gave their dna. 389 00:18:34,313 --> 00:18:37,581 We had 40 to 50 individuals for whom 390 00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:39,583 Dna samples were submitted, 391 00:18:39,585 --> 00:18:40,884 But it always came back negative. 392 00:18:40,953 --> 00:18:43,587 And no one believed they were anywhere 393 00:18:43,589 --> 00:18:45,389 Close to being involved. 394 00:18:45,457 --> 00:18:47,391 [somber music] 395 00:18:47,460 --> 00:18:51,162 - Away from the investigation, the families of the victims 396 00:18:51,230 --> 00:18:54,098 Lay their loved ones to rest. 397 00:18:54,166 --> 00:18:56,033 - I covered both funerals. 398 00:18:56,101 --> 00:18:58,469 Tracie's funeral was first. 399 00:18:58,537 --> 00:19:00,871 Mrs. Hawlett, her husband, 400 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:03,173 And they were just grieving heavily. 401 00:19:03,175 --> 00:19:05,042 I had never seen... 402 00:19:05,110 --> 00:19:08,179 [crying] 403 00:19:08,247 --> 00:19:10,981 So much grief. 404 00:19:10,983 --> 00:19:15,519 It was just unspeakable. 405 00:19:15,521 --> 00:19:17,354 [crow cawing] 406 00:19:17,423 --> 00:19:20,023 - Jb's funeral was at first methodist 407 00:19:20,025 --> 00:19:23,995 Where I raised my girls. 408 00:19:24,063 --> 00:19:26,930 We were devastated. 409 00:19:26,999 --> 00:19:30,902 I almost fainted at the foot of my daughter's casket. 410 00:19:30,970 --> 00:19:35,639 I can't believe I have to plan my baby's funeral. 411 00:19:35,641 --> 00:19:37,174 I should be planning her wedding. 412 00:19:37,243 --> 00:19:39,877 ♪ ♪ 413 00:19:39,945 --> 00:19:41,512 We go to the grave site. 414 00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:47,317 And everybody got a daisy to put on her casket. 415 00:19:47,387 --> 00:19:50,554 This is where we had to say our goodbyes. 416 00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:52,856 And they were getting ready to lower the casket, 417 00:19:52,925 --> 00:19:59,329 And I said, no, you cannot throw dirt over top of my baby. 418 00:19:59,331 --> 00:20:03,200 You just-- you just can't do that. 419 00:20:03,269 --> 00:20:07,238 I was just sick. 420 00:20:09,174 --> 00:20:13,077 - As the families continue to mourn jb and tracie, 421 00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:16,680 Authorities persist in their hunt for clues. 422 00:20:16,682 --> 00:20:18,415 But a month out from the murder, 423 00:20:18,484 --> 00:20:20,684 With no dna match or new leads, 424 00:20:20,686 --> 00:20:22,219 The investigation stalls. 425 00:20:22,288 --> 00:20:26,089 Then an ozark resident comes forward with something 426 00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:28,291 To get off his chest. 427 00:20:28,293 --> 00:20:32,396 - Johnny barrentine came into the ozark police department 428 00:20:32,398 --> 00:20:37,701 And said, I was there when it happened, 429 00:20:37,703 --> 00:20:40,504 But I didn't do it. 430 00:20:40,573 --> 00:20:44,375 And he told us about picking up some guy 431 00:20:44,443 --> 00:20:45,976 Walking down the side of the road, 432 00:20:46,045 --> 00:20:48,478 And they rode around a little while 433 00:20:48,548 --> 00:20:52,783 And met the girls at the gas station. 434 00:20:52,852 --> 00:20:57,020 And the guy took them out into the woods. 435 00:20:57,090 --> 00:21:00,490 And barrentine never got out of his car. 436 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,359 I was surprised. 437 00:21:02,428 --> 00:21:04,195 I didn't know this guy. 438 00:21:04,263 --> 00:21:06,497 - But during the time that they're talking to him, 439 00:21:06,565 --> 00:21:08,532 His story keeps changing. 440 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:09,800 - What's the guy's name? 441 00:21:09,869 --> 00:21:10,901 "I don't know." 442 00:21:10,970 --> 00:21:12,002 Where does he live? 443 00:21:12,071 --> 00:21:14,071 "I really don't know." 444 00:21:14,140 --> 00:21:17,007 - Like, does this guy either know something? 445 00:21:17,076 --> 00:21:19,076 Did he do something? 446 00:21:19,145 --> 00:21:21,345 - But he had made an admission that he was part 447 00:21:21,414 --> 00:21:22,813 Of what happened to these girls. 448 00:21:22,882 --> 00:21:24,748 - The da said, we gotta arrest him. 449 00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:27,484 So the arrest was made. 450 00:21:27,553 --> 00:21:31,055 [dramatic music] 451 00:21:31,123 --> 00:21:33,424 - Prosecutors charge barrentine 452 00:21:33,492 --> 00:21:36,494 With two counts of capital murder. 453 00:21:36,562 --> 00:21:39,663 - And then they did the swab on him. 454 00:21:39,732 --> 00:21:43,401 And when they got the dna report back, 455 00:21:43,403 --> 00:21:46,637 He was not a match for it. 456 00:21:46,706 --> 00:21:50,374 - They found out he, in fact, had not done it. 457 00:21:50,443 --> 00:21:51,942 He later said, I made it up 458 00:21:52,011 --> 00:21:55,379 So I could get the reward money to my family. 459 00:21:55,448 --> 00:21:58,449 - He came in thinking he'd tell us this cockamamie story 460 00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:03,053 And then collect on some reward money. 461 00:22:03,122 --> 00:22:06,323 So he was cut loose. 462 00:22:06,392 --> 00:22:08,058 It was very frustrating. 463 00:22:08,127 --> 00:22:09,460 ♪ ♪ 464 00:22:09,528 --> 00:22:11,262 - Detectives express disappointment 465 00:22:11,330 --> 00:22:14,798 But remain resolute in finding the killer. 466 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,768 And soon they receive a new lead about a man 467 00:22:17,837 --> 00:22:20,404 Exhibiting suspicious behavior. 468 00:22:20,473 --> 00:22:24,207 - During the canvass, some of the agents knocked on a door 469 00:22:24,277 --> 00:22:28,812 Two or three blocks from where the car was found in ozark. 470 00:22:28,881 --> 00:22:31,615 Then there was this group of kids that lived there. 471 00:22:31,684 --> 00:22:34,351 I'm talking late teens, early 20s. 472 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:36,053 - The ozark teens tell police 473 00:22:36,121 --> 00:22:37,488 They were having a party of their own 474 00:22:37,556 --> 00:22:40,090 The night jb and tracie were murdered. 475 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:42,626 - And when we interviewed the kids, 476 00:22:42,695 --> 00:22:46,096 Several of them remember this guy leaving the house. 477 00:22:46,165 --> 00:22:48,465 And he got into a small pickup truck with somebody 478 00:22:48,534 --> 00:22:50,901 That nobody knew. 479 00:22:50,970 --> 00:22:53,270 And they left around 11:30. 480 00:22:53,339 --> 00:22:57,407 And when he came back, he was just really anxious. 481 00:22:57,477 --> 00:22:59,843 The next day, 482 00:22:59,912 --> 00:23:04,381 This same kid buys a bus ticket to michigan 483 00:23:04,449 --> 00:23:07,451 And he gets out of town. 484 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,154 So we're all over it. 485 00:23:10,222 --> 00:23:12,456 Then you start talking to people. 486 00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:16,359 I'm gonna find out everything I can find out about this guy. 487 00:23:16,429 --> 00:23:19,797 - As detectives quickly dig in to learn more about him, 488 00:23:19,865 --> 00:23:22,265 They see no prior connection to the girls, 489 00:23:22,335 --> 00:23:26,269 But do get wind of even more damning information. 490 00:23:26,339 --> 00:23:29,540 - Somebody in michigan told us he was telling somebody 491 00:23:29,608 --> 00:23:31,842 That he had done this 492 00:23:31,911 --> 00:23:33,844 And that he had gotten away with it. 493 00:23:33,913 --> 00:23:37,481 We felt really good that we might be on to something. 494 00:23:37,549 --> 00:23:39,850 The mother lived in ozark, 495 00:23:39,919 --> 00:23:42,019 So we got an address from the mother, 496 00:23:42,087 --> 00:23:44,789 And we drove to michigan. 497 00:23:47,559 --> 00:23:50,160 I'm going after him. 498 00:23:50,229 --> 00:23:52,295 - Coming up... 499 00:23:52,297 --> 00:23:55,299 - He said, we got a match. 500 00:23:55,367 --> 00:23:56,800 - It floored everyone. 501 00:23:56,868 --> 00:24:00,904 - How could he kill these two beautiful girls? 502 00:24:00,973 --> 00:24:02,506 And why? 503 00:24:02,574 --> 00:24:05,108 And for what? 504 00:24:05,110 --> 00:24:08,746 - ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 505 00:24:10,048 --> 00:24:16,687 - ♪ judgment day shall come ♪ 506 00:24:16,755 --> 00:24:19,957 [tense music] 507 00:24:20,025 --> 00:24:22,692 ♪ ♪ 508 00:24:22,762 --> 00:24:25,296 - After receiving a tip from some local teens, 509 00:24:25,364 --> 00:24:27,464 Investigators head to battle creek, michigan, 510 00:24:27,533 --> 00:24:30,934 To interview a man who has allegedly confessed to friends 511 00:24:30,936 --> 00:24:34,205 That he killed jb beasley and tracie hawlett. 512 00:24:34,273 --> 00:24:36,774 - We find him and bring him in. 513 00:24:36,842 --> 00:24:40,577 His father lived in michigan and requested 514 00:24:40,646 --> 00:24:42,613 To watch the interview of his son, 515 00:24:42,681 --> 00:24:45,416 Even though his son was of age. 516 00:24:45,484 --> 00:24:48,018 And we agreed. 517 00:24:48,087 --> 00:24:51,822 Then we sat down and started talking. 518 00:24:51,891 --> 00:24:54,257 Tell us about, where did you live in ozark? 519 00:24:54,327 --> 00:24:55,192 Who did you live with? 520 00:24:55,260 --> 00:24:57,360 Just generalities. 521 00:24:57,362 --> 00:24:59,730 I could tell he was nervous. 522 00:24:59,798 --> 00:25:02,299 This guy knew why we were there. 523 00:25:02,367 --> 00:25:04,635 He wasn't surprised. 524 00:25:04,703 --> 00:25:08,872 I said, that night, where were you? 525 00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:10,741 He said, I didn't go off with anybody that night. 526 00:25:10,809 --> 00:25:12,643 I was at home all night. 527 00:25:12,711 --> 00:25:15,846 - But investigators press him about previously having 528 00:25:15,914 --> 00:25:18,215 Bragged about the crime. 529 00:25:18,284 --> 00:25:21,718 - Did you tell anybody that you did this? 530 00:25:21,787 --> 00:25:23,820 He said, nah, I didn't say that. 531 00:25:23,889 --> 00:25:26,123 I didn't do that. 532 00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:28,659 As we got deeper into the interview, 533 00:25:28,727 --> 00:25:31,895 He started getting a little irritated. 534 00:25:31,897 --> 00:25:35,732 And then out of nowhere, it was over. 535 00:25:35,801 --> 00:25:37,868 His dad put an end to it. 536 00:25:37,937 --> 00:25:40,170 He said, y'all don't need to talk to him anymore. 537 00:25:40,239 --> 00:25:42,439 So we just stopped it. 538 00:25:42,507 --> 00:25:45,608 But he gave us his dna. 539 00:25:45,610 --> 00:25:49,880 We took it straight back to alabama and had it tested. 540 00:25:49,948 --> 00:25:52,382 But he didn't match. 541 00:25:52,384 --> 00:25:55,919 ♪ ♪ 542 00:25:55,921 --> 00:25:57,688 - The man's actions leave detectives 543 00:25:57,756 --> 00:26:00,257 Scratching their heads. 544 00:26:00,325 --> 00:26:01,892 - Any time you have a big case like this, 545 00:26:01,961 --> 00:26:03,760 You got people that want to insert 546 00:26:03,829 --> 00:26:06,296 Themselves into the case. 547 00:26:06,365 --> 00:26:09,833 And it's unreal how many people will try to do that. 548 00:26:09,902 --> 00:26:13,170 But we had to move forward. 549 00:26:13,238 --> 00:26:15,806 - As investigators move on from the michigan man, 550 00:26:15,874 --> 00:26:19,142 The case begins to cool. 551 00:26:19,211 --> 00:26:20,910 - We don't have anything yet. 552 00:26:20,912 --> 00:26:23,113 And everywhere you turn, you've got 553 00:26:23,115 --> 00:26:24,982 The pressure I was getting from other people. 554 00:26:25,050 --> 00:26:26,884 What's happening in that case? 555 00:26:26,952 --> 00:26:28,952 Who do you think did this? 556 00:26:28,954 --> 00:26:31,321 - And as time progressed, as a parent, 557 00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:34,858 You're going, why aren't we getting our answers? 558 00:26:34,926 --> 00:26:38,828 But no matter what we tried, it all rolled back 559 00:26:38,898 --> 00:26:42,866 To the same thing: Find out who owns that semen. 560 00:26:42,935 --> 00:26:46,203 ♪ ♪ 561 00:26:46,271 --> 00:26:48,471 - In the absence of an identified killer, 562 00:26:48,541 --> 00:26:52,142 Citizens attempt to fill the void on their own. 563 00:26:52,211 --> 00:26:53,677 - There's a lot of rumors. 564 00:26:53,745 --> 00:26:55,379 It's being talked about in barbershops 565 00:26:55,447 --> 00:26:58,081 And in hairdressers and when people are going to lunch. 566 00:26:58,083 --> 00:27:01,384 There were rumors that there was a judge's son 567 00:27:01,454 --> 00:27:04,321 Who must have been involved in this. 568 00:27:04,323 --> 00:27:06,657 There were things like, oh, it was a drug deal 569 00:27:06,725 --> 00:27:10,160 Gone bad that the girls came up on. 570 00:27:10,229 --> 00:27:14,765 Every rumor that came in, the police were tracking it. 571 00:27:14,833 --> 00:27:18,101 But nothing came of it. 572 00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:21,505 - Amid the fog of gossip, dead ends, and other cases, 573 00:27:21,573 --> 00:27:23,406 Months turn into years, 574 00:27:23,476 --> 00:27:26,876 And years stretch into decades. 575 00:27:26,878 --> 00:27:30,413 - I retired in 2013, and I went to work 576 00:27:30,482 --> 00:27:31,948 For the sheriff's office. 577 00:27:32,017 --> 00:27:34,517 But we agreed that at least once a month, 578 00:27:34,519 --> 00:27:36,386 I'd go meet with the chief 579 00:27:36,455 --> 00:27:39,122 Of the ozark police department, marlos walker. 580 00:27:39,191 --> 00:27:42,059 We would ask, what else can we do with that? 581 00:27:42,127 --> 00:27:44,395 What else can we do with this? 582 00:27:44,463 --> 00:27:47,097 There's got to be an answer. 583 00:27:47,165 --> 00:27:50,934 - My mind's going 24/7 every day, 584 00:27:51,002 --> 00:27:53,470 What could have happened that night? 585 00:27:53,538 --> 00:27:55,472 [dramatic music] 586 00:27:55,541 --> 00:27:57,608 I couldn't go to the grocery store. 587 00:27:57,676 --> 00:27:58,875 I couldn't go get gas. 588 00:27:58,944 --> 00:28:00,543 You're the murderer. You're the murderer. 589 00:28:00,613 --> 00:28:02,012 You could be the murderer. 590 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:06,483 You know, your mind just goes crazy. 591 00:28:06,551 --> 00:28:09,519 I didn't sleep a wink for many years. 592 00:28:09,521 --> 00:28:11,588 - Then in 2019, 593 00:28:11,656 --> 00:28:15,292 20 years after the murders of jb and tracie, 594 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:18,395 One of the investigators' regularly scheduled meetings 595 00:28:18,463 --> 00:28:21,098 Goes from routine to significant. 596 00:28:21,166 --> 00:28:24,868 - We discuss this company that came up with this idea 597 00:28:24,936 --> 00:28:28,405 Of how to break down dna 598 00:28:28,474 --> 00:28:31,141 Until you get family names 599 00:28:31,210 --> 00:28:34,911 That strand of dna was most closely associated with. 600 00:28:34,980 --> 00:28:39,315 We didn't have a lot of semen to work with. 601 00:28:39,385 --> 00:28:43,620 But marlos made a comment, how long are we gonna wait? 602 00:28:43,689 --> 00:28:49,059 So marlos sent it in to them, and they started working it. 603 00:28:49,127 --> 00:28:51,662 - The dna laboratory runs the profile through 604 00:28:51,730 --> 00:28:54,531 Public genealogy databases, full of families 605 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,067 Whose members have previously submitted their dna 606 00:28:57,136 --> 00:28:59,202 For ancestry research. 607 00:28:59,204 --> 00:29:02,339 The lab then develops a list of alabama families 608 00:29:02,407 --> 00:29:04,942 Whose genetic material bears some resemblance 609 00:29:05,010 --> 00:29:08,345 To the foreign sample. 610 00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:11,582 - And so they give marlos the report. 611 00:29:11,650 --> 00:29:13,083 It was up to the chief 612 00:29:13,152 --> 00:29:15,419 To look through these names real quick. 613 00:29:15,487 --> 00:29:18,589 It just so happens that one of the last names, 614 00:29:18,657 --> 00:29:23,761 The chief went to high school with a guy with that last name. 615 00:29:23,829 --> 00:29:27,331 And that name was coley mccraney. 616 00:29:27,399 --> 00:29:29,800 Marlos said, I think he's still in ozark. 617 00:29:29,868 --> 00:29:31,902 So marlos called him and said, hey, 618 00:29:31,970 --> 00:29:33,636 Can you come in, let me talk to you? 619 00:29:33,706 --> 00:29:36,740 You're not a suspect, but you are 620 00:29:36,808 --> 00:29:39,910 In these blocks of last names. 621 00:29:39,978 --> 00:29:42,245 Well, mccraney and his wife came in. 622 00:29:42,247 --> 00:29:45,015 Marlos told them, this is what I need from you. 623 00:29:45,083 --> 00:29:48,418 I need your dna, and we can branch out 624 00:29:48,487 --> 00:29:51,521 From there and get closer and closer to our suspect. 625 00:29:51,590 --> 00:29:53,523 - But as coley mccraney hears more 626 00:29:53,592 --> 00:29:55,759 About the double murder investigation, 627 00:29:55,827 --> 00:29:58,528 Police detect some hesitation. 628 00:29:58,597 --> 00:30:00,931 - Mccraney wasn't big on the idea. 629 00:30:00,999 --> 00:30:02,532 Didn't like it. 630 00:30:02,601 --> 00:30:05,435 - But his wife makes the statement, 631 00:30:05,504 --> 00:30:07,237 You don't have anything to hide. 632 00:30:07,306 --> 00:30:09,573 Give them your dna, and I'll give them mine too. 633 00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:15,445 - So at that point, mr. Mccraney gave the chief 634 00:30:15,514 --> 00:30:18,048 A sample of his dna. 635 00:30:18,116 --> 00:30:21,952 And chief sent the sample in. 636 00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:24,187 ♪ ♪ 637 00:30:24,256 --> 00:30:26,790 A couple of months after, we discussed it, 638 00:30:26,858 --> 00:30:29,192 I happened to go to ozark. 639 00:30:29,194 --> 00:30:30,761 The chief, he and I had been working 640 00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:32,095 A couple of leads in georgia. 641 00:30:32,164 --> 00:30:33,896 When I walked in the chief's office, 642 00:30:33,898 --> 00:30:35,966 He just sat down in his chair and he said, 643 00:30:36,034 --> 00:30:40,103 We got a match. 644 00:30:40,172 --> 00:30:43,941 - ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 645 00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:51,948 - ♪ judgment day shall come ♪ 646 00:30:51,950 --> 00:30:54,984 [ominous music] 647 00:30:54,986 --> 00:30:56,619 ♪ ♪ 648 00:30:56,688 --> 00:30:58,521 - Twenty years after their deaths, 649 00:30:58,590 --> 00:31:01,324 Police investigating the murders of jb beasley 650 00:31:01,393 --> 00:31:03,726 And tracie hawlett have finally found 651 00:31:03,728 --> 00:31:07,397 A match for the dna profile recovered from jb's body. 652 00:31:09,034 --> 00:31:12,602 - Chief walker said, we got a match. 653 00:31:12,671 --> 00:31:15,438 I said, who is he? 654 00:31:15,507 --> 00:31:19,743 He said, coley mccraney. 655 00:31:19,811 --> 00:31:23,112 I was just shocked. 656 00:31:23,114 --> 00:31:26,349 - He was simply a surname on a list 657 00:31:26,351 --> 00:31:28,751 That we knew that we hoped to be able 658 00:31:28,821 --> 00:31:31,622 To narrow that list to the eventual person 659 00:31:31,690 --> 00:31:33,490 That committed these crimes. 660 00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:38,028 And so when it turned out that he came back as that match, 661 00:31:38,096 --> 00:31:40,897 It floored everyone. 662 00:31:40,966 --> 00:31:44,000 - Chief walker briefs his colleague on his old friend. 663 00:31:44,069 --> 00:31:48,538 At the time of the murders, mccraney was 25 years old. 664 00:31:48,607 --> 00:31:52,509 But now he's their 45-year-old prime suspect. 665 00:31:52,577 --> 00:31:54,912 - He went to high school with the chief. 666 00:31:54,980 --> 00:31:56,946 He was a local guy. 667 00:31:57,016 --> 00:32:00,383 He's married and got kids. 668 00:32:00,452 --> 00:32:02,385 - When we confirmed the match, 669 00:32:02,454 --> 00:32:07,290 He was a long-haul truck driver and a preacher. 670 00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:09,426 - But one piece of his biography 671 00:32:09,494 --> 00:32:13,063 Also serves as possible evidence of his guilt. 672 00:32:13,131 --> 00:32:15,698 - When jb and tracie were murdered, 673 00:32:15,767 --> 00:32:19,236 The guy lived two blocks from the store 674 00:32:19,304 --> 00:32:22,939 Where they were last seen. 675 00:32:23,008 --> 00:32:23,907 We did a canvass. 676 00:32:23,976 --> 00:32:25,609 We did every house. 677 00:32:25,677 --> 00:32:27,777 But by the time we got to doing canvasses, 678 00:32:27,779 --> 00:32:29,112 He had already moved, 679 00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:31,248 So he slipped through the cracks. 680 00:32:31,316 --> 00:32:33,750 But now, with regards to the dna, 681 00:32:33,819 --> 00:32:36,586 We felt like it's him. 682 00:32:36,655 --> 00:32:39,556 - Then chief walker reveals that investigators have 683 00:32:39,624 --> 00:32:41,991 Already tracked mccraney via his cell phone 684 00:32:42,061 --> 00:32:44,160 And have him in their sights. 685 00:32:44,229 --> 00:32:46,063 - And marlos told me, he's actually 686 00:32:46,065 --> 00:32:49,198 Coming back from his route. 687 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,835 And he'll be in daleville at a certain time today. 688 00:32:52,905 --> 00:32:55,872 So I'm on the phone, I'm getting troopers set up. 689 00:32:55,941 --> 00:32:57,774 Find this guy. 690 00:32:57,843 --> 00:32:59,842 This is what he's driving. 691 00:32:59,912 --> 00:33:03,580 And when you get to daleville, you watch him like a hawk. 692 00:33:03,648 --> 00:33:07,050 That young man's got some explaining to do to me. 693 00:33:07,119 --> 00:33:09,486 - Special agent tucker races 16 miles 694 00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:11,354 To mccraney's location. 695 00:33:11,423 --> 00:33:14,224 Soon, authorities make their move. 696 00:33:14,292 --> 00:33:18,661 - We catch up with mccraney, and we arrest him. 697 00:33:18,730 --> 00:33:20,864 I don't think he really understood what was going on 698 00:33:20,932 --> 00:33:22,799 At that point, because all he was told 699 00:33:22,867 --> 00:33:24,734 Was he was under arrest. 700 00:33:24,803 --> 00:33:28,638 Then we took him to the ozark police department. 701 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,241 - Investigators quickly inform the victims' parents 702 00:33:31,309 --> 00:33:33,743 That they have a suspect in custody. 703 00:33:33,812 --> 00:33:39,082 - They're telling me that his dna is a 100% match. 704 00:33:39,151 --> 00:33:40,617 I didn't know who he was. 705 00:33:40,685 --> 00:33:42,152 All I could think was, wow, 706 00:33:42,220 --> 00:33:44,387 He killed these two beautiful girls. 707 00:33:44,456 --> 00:33:46,789 And why? And for what? 708 00:33:46,858 --> 00:33:49,125 ♪ ♪ 709 00:33:49,194 --> 00:33:51,027 - Back at the ozark police station, 710 00:33:51,096 --> 00:33:55,031 Authorities bring mccraney into an interrogation room. 711 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:56,366 - And we all sat down. 712 00:33:56,435 --> 00:34:00,903 Right off the bat, do you know jb beasley 713 00:34:00,973 --> 00:34:03,840 And tracie hawlett, yes or no? 714 00:34:03,908 --> 00:34:06,376 Have you ever had any sexual contact 715 00:34:06,445 --> 00:34:08,879 With jb beasley or tracie hawlett? 716 00:34:08,947 --> 00:34:10,246 He said, no, no, no. 717 00:34:10,315 --> 00:34:13,216 I don't know them, only what I've heard on tv. 718 00:34:13,284 --> 00:34:15,285 I said, you said you didn't know them. 719 00:34:15,353 --> 00:34:19,389 You said you never had sexual contact with them. 720 00:34:19,457 --> 00:34:24,194 Then you explain why your sperm is on jb. 721 00:34:24,262 --> 00:34:28,831 And then shortly thereafter, he asked for an attorney, 722 00:34:28,901 --> 00:34:31,768 So we just stopped it. 723 00:34:31,836 --> 00:34:34,805 - In June, a grand jury indicts coley mccraney 724 00:34:34,873 --> 00:34:37,039 On four counts of capital murder. 725 00:34:37,109 --> 00:34:41,678 He pleads not guilty, and the judge denies him bail. 726 00:34:41,746 --> 00:34:43,846 - No one even knew who coley mccraney was. 727 00:34:43,916 --> 00:34:46,683 His name had never been even mentioned. 728 00:34:46,751 --> 00:34:48,585 I don't think any of the families knew him. 729 00:34:48,653 --> 00:34:51,120 He was just a ghost that showed up. 730 00:34:51,122 --> 00:34:53,523 - Despite the evidence against mccraney, 731 00:34:53,592 --> 00:34:55,958 In comments to the media, his loved ones 732 00:34:56,028 --> 00:34:58,961 And members of the community offer support. 733 00:34:58,963 --> 00:35:01,564 - The family maintains his innocence. 734 00:35:01,566 --> 00:35:03,966 And people had good things to say about him. 735 00:35:03,968 --> 00:35:05,702 That he was a man of faith. 736 00:35:05,770 --> 00:35:09,872 And it's just hard for anybody down here to imagine 737 00:35:09,942 --> 00:35:13,243 A man of faith doing something like that. 738 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:18,981 - But as the case moves toward trial, in early 2020, 739 00:35:18,983 --> 00:35:21,418 Covid brings proceedings to a halt. 740 00:35:21,486 --> 00:35:23,319 - Most cases get worse over time. 741 00:35:23,388 --> 00:35:26,890 Delay is never a good thing for a prosecutor. 742 00:35:26,958 --> 00:35:29,826 - Then finally, over four years after his arrest, 743 00:35:29,894 --> 00:35:31,994 With the state attorney general 744 00:35:31,996 --> 00:35:33,496 Leading the prosecution, 745 00:35:33,565 --> 00:35:36,933 The capital murder trial of coley mccraney begins. 746 00:35:37,002 --> 00:35:41,137 - When he comes in, oh, my god, I lose it. 747 00:35:41,206 --> 00:35:42,272 I am so angry. 748 00:35:42,340 --> 00:35:44,607 I'm fixing to explode. 749 00:35:44,609 --> 00:35:48,745 You don't know how hard that was. 750 00:35:48,813 --> 00:35:51,281 - In their opening statement, the prosecution 751 00:35:51,349 --> 00:35:54,751 Highlights the evidence that led them to the defendant. 752 00:35:54,819 --> 00:35:57,420 - It was important for that jury to understand, 753 00:35:57,489 --> 00:36:00,223 We had coley mccraney's dna on jb. 754 00:36:00,291 --> 00:36:02,625 And not only dna, but it was semen. 755 00:36:02,694 --> 00:36:06,763 And what I believe happened is once the two witnesses, 756 00:36:06,831 --> 00:36:10,967 The mother and daughter, saw tracie and jb that night 757 00:36:11,035 --> 00:36:15,472 And they left, mr. Mccraney got the two girls 758 00:36:15,540 --> 00:36:18,841 Into the vehicle in which they were driving. 759 00:36:18,843 --> 00:36:23,179 - My gut feeling tells me that he might have asked for a ride, 760 00:36:23,248 --> 00:36:24,714 And they tried to help him. 761 00:36:24,783 --> 00:36:27,684 And immediately upon getting the car, 762 00:36:27,752 --> 00:36:29,319 He pulls the gun out, puts it to their head, 763 00:36:29,387 --> 00:36:30,653 And says, drive. 764 00:36:30,655 --> 00:36:33,623 I'll tell you where to go. 765 00:36:33,692 --> 00:36:36,693 - Everything points to the fact of an abduction 766 00:36:36,761 --> 00:36:40,663 At the big little, a rape in a remote location, 767 00:36:40,665 --> 00:36:43,399 And a murder of two girls. 768 00:36:43,401 --> 00:36:45,468 There's obviously missing pieces 769 00:36:45,537 --> 00:36:47,537 That we'll never know the answer to. 770 00:36:47,606 --> 00:36:50,973 But I think the motive was that he engaged in a rape. 771 00:36:51,043 --> 00:36:54,677 And then the violence was as a result of the fact 772 00:36:54,679 --> 00:36:57,980 He didn't want to be caught. 773 00:36:58,050 --> 00:37:01,417 - Lust caused him to rape and murder. 774 00:37:01,486 --> 00:37:03,753 Pure evil. 775 00:37:03,822 --> 00:37:06,122 - To bolster their case, the prosecution calls 776 00:37:06,191 --> 00:37:08,691 An unexpected witness to the stand: 777 00:37:08,693 --> 00:37:12,228 Coley's wife, jeanette mccraney. 778 00:37:12,296 --> 00:37:14,931 - Mr. Mccraney's wife described their relationship 779 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:15,798 In a positive way. 780 00:37:15,867 --> 00:37:18,234 - But then the attorney general 781 00:37:18,303 --> 00:37:20,370 Asks jeanette if she remembers 782 00:37:20,438 --> 00:37:22,372 Where her husband was on the night 783 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:24,741 Jb and tracie were murdered. 784 00:37:24,809 --> 00:37:27,877 - She, for the first time, revealed that coley mccraney 785 00:37:27,946 --> 00:37:32,014 Told her he was at the big little convenience store 786 00:37:32,084 --> 00:37:36,118 The last night when the girls were seen. 787 00:37:36,188 --> 00:37:41,024 Placing coley mccraney at the location of the store 788 00:37:41,092 --> 00:37:44,160 Was critically important. 789 00:37:44,229 --> 00:37:46,863 - Under questioning, jeanette also tells the court 790 00:37:46,865 --> 00:37:48,965 Her husband left home around 10:00 pm 791 00:37:49,033 --> 00:37:51,601 On the night of the murder and didn't return 792 00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:54,771 Until about 12:45 am. 793 00:37:54,839 --> 00:37:58,875 - She helped put, kind of, the chain of events together 794 00:37:58,943 --> 00:38:02,178 In a way that nobody else could have. 795 00:38:02,247 --> 00:38:06,783 It was a little bit unusual coming from his wife herself, 796 00:38:06,851 --> 00:38:09,619 But that was powerful evidence for us. 797 00:38:09,687 --> 00:38:11,954 - Then on the fourth day of the trial, 798 00:38:11,956 --> 00:38:13,556 The defense calls a witness 799 00:38:13,625 --> 00:38:16,893 That stuns the courtroom silent. 800 00:38:16,961 --> 00:38:20,196 - Coley mccraney then suddenly gets on a witness stand. 801 00:38:20,265 --> 00:38:23,032 Maybe the most compelling portion of the case 802 00:38:23,101 --> 00:38:27,069 Was really when the defendant decided to testify. 803 00:38:27,138 --> 00:38:28,337 - I couldn't believe it. 804 00:38:28,407 --> 00:38:31,774 Blew me away. 805 00:38:31,776 --> 00:38:34,877 I mean, you could hear a pin drop in there. 806 00:38:34,946 --> 00:38:36,913 ♪ ♪ 807 00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:40,483 - ♪ come home to the gallows pole ♪ 808 00:38:42,019 --> 00:38:48,858 - ♪ judgment day shall come ♪ 809 00:38:48,927 --> 00:38:51,093 [ominous music] 810 00:38:51,162 --> 00:38:52,995 - Four days into his murder trial, 811 00:38:53,064 --> 00:38:56,532 Accused killer coley mccraney takes the stand, 812 00:38:56,601 --> 00:39:01,003 And he makes a stunning confession. 813 00:39:01,072 --> 00:39:04,240 - Mccraney said, yeah, I met jb 814 00:39:04,309 --> 00:39:07,944 A month or so before the night that the girls were last seen. 815 00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:11,481 I had talked to her a couple times on the phone. 816 00:39:11,549 --> 00:39:13,650 - He said that he'd met her at a mall 817 00:39:13,718 --> 00:39:15,652 And thought her name was jennifer. 818 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:17,186 - The night the murders took place, 819 00:39:17,188 --> 00:39:21,758 He said he agreed to meet at that gas station 820 00:39:21,826 --> 00:39:25,895 That night to hang out with these two girls. 821 00:39:25,964 --> 00:39:30,366 - And then told a story of how he and jb 822 00:39:30,435 --> 00:39:32,735 Had some consensual act of sex. 823 00:39:32,804 --> 00:39:35,037 - It was disgusting. 824 00:39:35,039 --> 00:39:39,509 It was hell to listen to him say these things. 825 00:39:39,577 --> 00:39:41,243 [dramatic music] 826 00:39:41,313 --> 00:39:44,847 - He said, last time I saw them, they were fine. 827 00:39:44,849 --> 00:39:48,985 And that was how he explained that night. 828 00:39:49,053 --> 00:39:53,189 I just sat back and I thought, are you kidding me? 829 00:39:53,257 --> 00:39:56,258 Jb never mentioned him to anyone. 830 00:39:56,328 --> 00:39:58,194 Never. 831 00:39:58,263 --> 00:40:01,231 And nobody ever saw them together. 832 00:40:01,299 --> 00:40:05,001 - He denied in prior statements he ever knew the girls. 833 00:40:05,003 --> 00:40:07,404 But now he wanted the jury to believe 834 00:40:07,472 --> 00:40:13,209 That jb was gonna come out and meet him on her birthday. 835 00:40:13,277 --> 00:40:16,445 It was a story that defied common sense. 836 00:40:16,515 --> 00:40:20,983 - After one day of testimony, the defense rests its case. 837 00:40:21,052 --> 00:40:23,886 And the proceedings are handed over to the jury. 838 00:40:23,888 --> 00:40:26,923 - I thought it was going to be a mistrial, 839 00:40:26,991 --> 00:40:30,560 Because all it took was one to hold out. 840 00:40:30,628 --> 00:40:34,831 - But they ultimately found him guilty 841 00:40:34,899 --> 00:40:40,502 Of the murder and rape of jb and then the murder of tracie. 842 00:40:40,504 --> 00:40:46,242 - Every juror said guilty, guilty, guilty, all 12 of them. 843 00:40:46,310 --> 00:40:50,813 And the place went crazy when that was over with. 844 00:40:50,881 --> 00:40:52,348 And I was crying and screaming. 845 00:40:52,417 --> 00:40:53,249 I said, god, thank you. 846 00:40:53,318 --> 00:40:56,786 God, thank you. 847 00:40:56,854 --> 00:40:58,955 - He was sentenced to life 848 00:40:59,023 --> 00:41:02,124 Without the possibility of parole. 849 00:41:02,193 --> 00:41:03,960 - I said, fine with me. 850 00:41:04,028 --> 00:41:05,928 If we got the death penalty, I would have had 851 00:41:05,930 --> 00:41:08,464 To have been in appeals year after year. 852 00:41:08,533 --> 00:41:11,701 And this way, it's done. 853 00:41:11,769 --> 00:41:14,504 - Mccraney thinks that he is a true man of god. 854 00:41:14,572 --> 00:41:16,606 He's got a lot of people fooled to believe 855 00:41:16,674 --> 00:41:18,608 That he's a true man of god. 856 00:41:18,676 --> 00:41:23,613 But no, he committed this heinous crime. 857 00:41:23,681 --> 00:41:26,382 [somber music] 858 00:41:26,451 --> 00:41:29,886 - Despite the case's verdict, the murders have left a mark 859 00:41:29,954 --> 00:41:33,423 On southeast alabama forever. 860 00:41:33,491 --> 00:41:37,493 - ♪ honey, won't you hold my hand? ♪ 861 00:41:37,562 --> 00:41:40,263 - Just watching these people throughout the years, 862 00:41:40,331 --> 00:41:41,397 They're still grieving. 863 00:41:41,465 --> 00:41:43,132 - ♪ feels like the walls ♪ 864 00:41:43,134 --> 00:41:46,869 ♪ are falling down ♪ 865 00:41:46,938 --> 00:41:49,305 - They've never got over it. 866 00:41:49,373 --> 00:41:51,173 I mean, how could you? 867 00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:53,009 ♪ ♪ 868 00:41:53,077 --> 00:41:56,278 - Friends and family started the monument here, 869 00:41:56,347 --> 00:41:58,981 And you can see jb beasley, tracie hawlett. 870 00:41:58,983 --> 00:42:00,550 This is in remembrance of the two girls 871 00:42:00,618 --> 00:42:02,318 That were found here 872 00:42:02,387 --> 00:42:04,720 And tragically murdered. 873 00:42:04,789 --> 00:42:08,358 - I cemented those steel crosses. 874 00:42:08,426 --> 00:42:10,860 And I would decorate them like a decorator 875 00:42:10,929 --> 00:42:15,197 With gorgeous flowers every year. 876 00:42:15,266 --> 00:42:16,598 Yay! 877 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:19,902 Jb was wonderful. 878 00:42:19,971 --> 00:42:23,572 That's how I want to remember her, 879 00:42:23,642 --> 00:42:26,376 Because that's exactly who she was. 880 00:42:26,444 --> 00:42:30,046 - Jb and tracie were both smart, attractive. 881 00:42:30,048 --> 00:42:32,215 They could have been anything. 882 00:42:32,283 --> 00:42:34,817 They had their entire lives ahead of them, 883 00:42:34,886 --> 00:42:36,352 And it was snuffed out. 884 00:42:36,420 --> 00:42:39,321 The community didn't deserve that. 885 00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:42,625 And tracie and jb sure didn't deserve it. 886 00:42:42,693 --> 00:42:45,728 ♪ ♪