1
00:00:06,745 --> 00:00:10,401
She told folks, I feel
someone's watching me.
2
00:00:10,488 --> 00:00:14,535
She saw a shadow or a face,
but she thought
3
00:00:14,536 --> 00:00:17,626
somebody was peering
in her window.
4
00:00:17,713 --> 00:00:21,107
He seemed to know that she
was home alone on Friday night.
5
00:00:21,108 --> 00:00:23,805
Lindy was clearly
trying to escape
6
00:00:23,806 --> 00:00:26,243
the clutches of this person.
7
00:00:26,417 --> 00:00:28,723
She actually fought
for her life.
8
00:00:30,987 --> 00:00:33,729
He took the love
of my life away from me.
9
00:00:34,991 --> 00:00:36,470
Some of these
serial killers, it's almost
10
00:00:36,471 --> 00:00:38,386
like a badge of honor
how many people they've killed.
11
00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,128
This is the first time,
perhaps,
12
00:00:41,215 --> 00:00:43,652
he let his fantasy play out.
13
00:00:43,739 --> 00:00:45,349
And then the letter came.
14
00:00:45,436 --> 00:00:47,873
You know,
that was the real clincher.
15
00:00:48,004 --> 00:00:51,268
This person was still
out there and full of hatred
16
00:00:51,355 --> 00:00:52,617
for some reason.
17
00:00:52,791 --> 00:00:54,357
They exhausted
every lead that they had.
18
00:00:54,358 --> 00:00:57,100
And nothing ever panned out.
19
00:00:57,187 --> 00:00:59,755
A cold case dating back
nearly a half century
20
00:00:59,842 --> 00:01:02,584
appears to have been cracked
this week.
21
00:01:02,671 --> 00:01:05,935
How could you have lived
with yourself?
22
00:01:23,431 --> 00:01:26,433
On Friday,
December 5, 1975,
23
00:01:26,434 --> 00:01:28,697
Celeste and Merle Little
24
00:01:28,784 --> 00:01:30,525
were coming home from
their son's basketball game
25
00:01:30,612 --> 00:01:34,484
at the local high school in
Manor Township, Pennsylvania,
26
00:01:34,485 --> 00:01:36,487
and they decided to stop by
and visit their niece, Lindy.
27
00:01:38,054 --> 00:01:39,621
Lindy was a newlywed.
28
00:01:39,708 --> 00:01:42,623
She was only 19 years old,
so she wasn't
29
00:01:42,624 --> 00:01:45,366
used to being alone at night.
30
00:01:45,453 --> 00:01:47,454
And they knew that she was
going to be home alone,
31
00:01:47,455 --> 00:01:51,894
because her husband, Phil,
worked on Friday nights.
32
00:01:51,981 --> 00:01:56,202
Around 8:42, they pulled up
outside the apartment building.
33
00:01:56,203 --> 00:01:58,553
Celeste walked up
to Lindy's apartment.
34
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,338
And the door was open.
35
00:02:01,512 --> 00:02:02,948
And from the doorway,
she could see
36
00:02:03,079 --> 00:02:06,735
her niece lying on the floor
37
00:02:06,865 --> 00:02:08,780
with a very visible
butcher knife handle
38
00:02:08,911 --> 00:02:10,347
sticking out of her neck.
39
00:02:13,481 --> 00:02:15,178
After 32 years on the job,
40
00:02:15,309 --> 00:02:16,919
I've worked my share
of homicides.
41
00:02:17,006 --> 00:02:20,575
You get used to walking into
some pretty awful situations.
42
00:02:20,749 --> 00:02:24,752
But the murder of Lindy
Sue Biechler back in 1975
43
00:02:24,753 --> 00:02:27,538
shocked even the most
seasoned detectives.
44
00:02:31,063 --> 00:02:34,545
I've never, ever seen
another scene like that.
45
00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:39,854
It was one
that I'll remember forever.
46
00:02:39,855 --> 00:02:41,726
The door was standing open.
47
00:02:41,813 --> 00:02:44,772
There was a large amount
of blood on the door,
48
00:02:44,773 --> 00:02:46,601
on the floor,
49
00:02:46,731 --> 00:02:49,995
along the wall,
just all over the apartment.
50
00:02:50,082 --> 00:02:51,909
And you could see
the blood trail.
51
00:02:51,910 --> 00:02:53,390
And then that blood trail
led back
52
00:02:53,564 --> 00:02:54,913
to where she was found
on the floor.
53
00:02:57,525 --> 00:03:00,092
Lindy Sue was covered
with blood, laying on her back.
54
00:03:00,223 --> 00:03:02,573
She was brutally,
brutally assaulted.
55
00:03:05,359 --> 00:03:07,926
In the kitchen were
some bags of groceries.
56
00:03:08,013 --> 00:03:09,753
Some of them were empty.
57
00:03:09,754 --> 00:03:11,495
But some of them
were still full.
58
00:03:11,626 --> 00:03:13,583
That told them that something
had happened to interrupt
59
00:03:13,584 --> 00:03:14,803
Lindy when she was
in the process
60
00:03:14,890 --> 00:03:17,153
of putting away the groceries.
61
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:18,806
How did that person get in?
62
00:03:18,807 --> 00:03:20,808
But as investigators
looked at it,
63
00:03:20,809 --> 00:03:22,767
they realized that there was
no indication
64
00:03:22,854 --> 00:03:25,988
that there was forced entry
into that apartment.
65
00:03:26,075 --> 00:03:27,554
It seemed likely
that she had
66
00:03:27,555 --> 00:03:29,730
opened the door to someone.
67
00:03:32,516 --> 00:03:33,909
There was blood
on the outside of the door
68
00:03:33,996 --> 00:03:35,476
and on the inside.
69
00:03:35,563 --> 00:03:37,564
So that means the door
was open at the time
70
00:03:37,565 --> 00:03:39,523
the assault took place.
71
00:03:39,610 --> 00:03:41,917
Basically, it looked like
she would have been attacked
72
00:03:42,091 --> 00:03:43,179
as soon as she opened the door.
73
00:03:43,266 --> 00:03:45,268
That's what
the evidence showed.
74
00:03:45,399 --> 00:03:48,096
She actually fought
for her life.
75
00:03:50,404 --> 00:03:53,188
Lindy was clearly
trying to escape
76
00:03:53,189 --> 00:03:56,323
the clutches of this person.
77
00:03:56,497 --> 00:03:58,412
There may have been
some kind of a short chase
78
00:03:58,499 --> 00:04:00,630
into the living room,
a lamp knocked over,
79
00:04:00,631 --> 00:04:03,416
and then it somehow wound
its way closer to the kitchen,
80
00:04:03,417 --> 00:04:04,809
where she was
viciously murdered.
81
00:04:14,471 --> 00:04:16,517
For Lindy's family,
her sudden murder
82
00:04:16,647 --> 00:04:19,084
is understandably
a shocking turn of events,
83
00:04:19,171 --> 00:04:20,956
especially considering
how safe
84
00:04:21,130 --> 00:04:24,264
Lancaster County normally is.
85
00:04:24,394 --> 00:04:27,049
This was a huge crime
that shocked the community.
86
00:04:27,136 --> 00:04:31,140
No matter where a crime like
this happens, it is shocking.
87
00:04:31,227 --> 00:04:34,230
But Manor Township is
a small rural suburb
88
00:04:34,404 --> 00:04:36,928
of Lancaster County.
89
00:04:37,059 --> 00:04:40,497
Lancaster County is about
60 miles west of Philadelphia.
90
00:04:40,628 --> 00:04:44,066
Back then,
it had around 50,000 people.
91
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,155
But a lot of people think
of Lancaster County,
92
00:04:46,286 --> 00:04:47,678
they think
of the Amish community.
93
00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,725
Growing up around here,
we would always hear
94
00:04:51,726 --> 00:04:54,119
the clip, clip, clop
of the Amish buggies.
95
00:04:54,250 --> 00:04:57,906
They would bring their goods
into town for the market.
96
00:04:57,993 --> 00:04:59,863
So it's a small community.
97
00:04:59,864 --> 00:05:02,910
People really love
living there.
98
00:05:02,911 --> 00:05:04,869
You just wouldn't worry,
you know?
99
00:05:05,043 --> 00:05:07,045
You wouldn't worry
living in Lancaster.
100
00:05:09,047 --> 00:05:11,136
But that night,
I just wanted to go
101
00:05:11,267 --> 00:05:13,356
to my brother right away.
102
00:05:13,443 --> 00:05:14,879
I'm Beth Clark.
103
00:05:14,966 --> 00:05:18,621
Lindy was my brother's wife,
104
00:05:18,622 --> 00:05:21,886
my sister-in-law.
105
00:05:22,017 --> 00:05:26,021
On December 5, 1975,
I went home,
106
00:05:26,195 --> 00:05:27,631
and my grandfather was there.
107
00:05:27,805 --> 00:05:29,719
He just said to me,
108
00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,765
there's been
a terrible accident,
109
00:05:31,766 --> 00:05:35,595
and Lindy is dead.
110
00:05:35,596 --> 00:05:40,340
It is just one of those
horrible, dark,
111
00:05:40,470 --> 00:05:42,080
crashing-in-on-you moments.
112
00:05:44,082 --> 00:05:47,259
Lindy was sunshine in a room.
113
00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:50,959
She had a beautiful smile,
very easygoing.
114
00:05:51,046 --> 00:05:53,003
We were a close family.
115
00:05:53,004 --> 00:05:55,180
And she just fit right in.
116
00:05:55,311 --> 00:05:58,313
You felt lucky to know her
117
00:05:58,314 --> 00:06:02,884
and even luckier
to be a part of her life.
118
00:06:03,014 --> 00:06:06,496
All of our family loved her.
119
00:06:06,627 --> 00:06:11,283
When I found out
she was killed, I felt shocked,
120
00:06:11,371 --> 00:06:13,589
and I felt very saddened.
121
00:06:13,590 --> 00:06:16,332
I had asked my dad about Phil,
122
00:06:16,463 --> 00:06:20,075
and my father had said
that he was at work.
123
00:06:20,162 --> 00:06:24,471
They had to tell him
what had happened.
124
00:06:24,558 --> 00:06:26,734
OK, cameras.
Speed.
125
00:06:30,738 --> 00:06:34,655
I got a call from Celeste
saying I should go home,
126
00:06:34,742 --> 00:06:38,310
that an accident happened.
127
00:06:38,441 --> 00:06:41,270
So I speeded home
as fast as I could.
128
00:06:41,357 --> 00:06:44,882
I saw flashing lights,
police cars all around.
129
00:06:45,056 --> 00:06:50,321
I parked out in the street
and ran over to my apartment.
130
00:06:50,322 --> 00:06:52,673
A policeman took ahold of me
and told me
131
00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,718
not to go in there.
132
00:06:54,805 --> 00:06:58,592
He said my wife was dead,
133
00:06:58,722 --> 00:07:02,160
and I just kind of collapsed.
134
00:07:04,598 --> 00:07:09,602
I sort of was in shock,
just crying my eyes out.
135
00:07:09,603 --> 00:07:11,648
It was the worst feeling
136
00:07:11,735 --> 00:07:14,564
I've ever felt
in my entire life.
137
00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,959
I sat down,
138
00:07:18,046 --> 00:07:22,179
and the coroner there
gave me a sedative.
139
00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:24,573
The next thing I remember
was sitting
140
00:07:24,574 --> 00:07:26,837
in the Manor Township
Police Department.
141
00:07:29,187 --> 00:07:31,494
When the police interviewed me
that first night,
142
00:07:31,625 --> 00:07:35,542
they said that 90%
of these cases,
143
00:07:35,629 --> 00:07:37,892
the husband is a suspect.
144
00:07:38,022 --> 00:07:41,155
But I didn't really think
I had anything to hide,
145
00:07:41,156 --> 00:07:44,854
so I told him everything.
146
00:07:44,855 --> 00:07:48,555
I told him that she worked
at Landis Flowers that day.
147
00:07:48,642 --> 00:07:52,949
And I told her that I'd just
seen her at, like, 5:00.
148
00:07:52,950 --> 00:07:55,386
She had just picked up
my paycheck from the place
149
00:07:55,387 --> 00:07:57,868
that I worked at,
which was Hertz Rent-a-Car.
150
00:08:00,175 --> 00:08:02,177
I hugged her and kissed her
151
00:08:02,264 --> 00:08:05,267
and opened the door
for her in her car
152
00:08:05,354 --> 00:08:07,355
and saw her drive away.
153
00:08:11,708 --> 00:08:13,841
The police took
his clothing.
154
00:08:13,928 --> 00:08:15,669
They got him locked in
in a statement.
155
00:08:15,756 --> 00:08:17,278
It's always great
to get somebody locked in
156
00:08:17,279 --> 00:08:19,194
in a statement,
because that statement
157
00:08:19,281 --> 00:08:20,500
can never change.
158
00:08:20,674 --> 00:08:22,284
So they did do
their due diligence
159
00:08:22,414 --> 00:08:25,069
looking at the person
who would initially be
160
00:08:25,156 --> 00:08:26,200
the most obvious person.
161
00:08:28,333 --> 00:08:30,379
Detectives finished
the interview with Phil
162
00:08:30,466 --> 00:08:32,641
and turned their attention
to the crime scene.
163
00:08:32,642 --> 00:08:35,732
But remember, this is 1975.
164
00:08:35,819 --> 00:08:39,214
There's no DNA technology
and very little forensics
165
00:08:39,388 --> 00:08:41,476
compared to what we have today.
166
00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:45,741
There was a knife missing
from the knife set
167
00:08:45,742 --> 00:08:47,918
in the kitchen that matched
the knife that was in her neck.
168
00:08:50,138 --> 00:08:51,705
There was a tea towel
wrapped around
169
00:08:51,792 --> 00:08:54,969
the knife handle,
and detectives found
170
00:08:55,099 --> 00:08:57,885
matching tea towels
in the kitchen.
171
00:08:57,972 --> 00:09:00,278
Lindy's shirt was
a little bit pushed up,
172
00:09:00,452 --> 00:09:03,978
and her pants were fully
unbuttoned and unzipped.
173
00:09:04,108 --> 00:09:06,633
However, she wore
pantyhose underneath,
174
00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,156
I assume to stay warm.
175
00:09:08,243 --> 00:09:12,900
And those pantyhose
and underwear were intact.
176
00:09:13,030 --> 00:09:14,728
Her pants were unbuttoned.
177
00:09:14,815 --> 00:09:16,817
But there was
no indication there was
178
00:09:16,991 --> 00:09:21,865
any sort of direct sexual
assault which took place.
179
00:09:21,952 --> 00:09:23,650
The crime scene
also suggested
180
00:09:23,737 --> 00:09:28,132
to investigators that this
was not a planned robbery.
181
00:09:28,306 --> 00:09:29,481
It was designed
for some other reason.
182
00:09:35,139 --> 00:09:36,663
The morning after
the murder,
183
00:09:36,793 --> 00:09:38,794
detectives continue
their investigation
184
00:09:38,795 --> 00:09:41,318
by talking to Lindy's friends.
185
00:09:41,319 --> 00:09:44,234
Lindy worked
at a flower and gift shop
186
00:09:44,235 --> 00:09:48,021
owned by 34-year-old
local businessman Bob Aument.
187
00:09:48,022 --> 00:09:51,068
He was one of the last people
to see her alive
188
00:09:51,155 --> 00:09:54,332
after she left work
that afternoon.
189
00:09:54,506 --> 00:09:57,684
So obviously,
he had to be interviewed.
190
00:09:57,814 --> 00:10:00,556
But when detectives went
to talk to Bob,
191
00:10:00,730 --> 00:10:01,643
he had disappeared.
192
00:10:03,994 --> 00:10:06,822
The detectives knew that Lindy
and Bob were very, very close.
193
00:10:06,823 --> 00:10:09,434
Perhaps Bob had
feelings for her
194
00:10:09,565 --> 00:10:11,262
that were not reciprocated.
195
00:10:11,393 --> 00:10:14,395
Maybe Bob had gone over there
to her apartment that night.
196
00:10:14,396 --> 00:10:15,919
Everyone was certain
that Lindy would have
197
00:10:16,093 --> 00:10:17,181
opened the door to him.
198
00:10:20,271 --> 00:10:22,926
Police need to speak
with Lindy's boss right away,
199
00:10:23,013 --> 00:10:24,449
but they are met
with a very sudden
200
00:10:24,580 --> 00:10:26,147
and surprising roadblock.
201
00:10:27,888 --> 00:10:30,368
Detectives received a tip
from a worker
202
00:10:30,455 --> 00:10:34,111
at a local psychiatric hospital
that Bob Aument had
203
00:10:34,198 --> 00:10:37,027
checked himself into this
psychiatric hospital
204
00:10:37,158 --> 00:10:40,204
very shortly after
Lindy's murder.
205
00:10:40,291 --> 00:10:42,641
The investigators' hairs
on the back of their necks
206
00:10:42,642 --> 00:10:46,341
go up, because there's
something unusual about this.
207
00:10:46,428 --> 00:10:48,734
Is he having
a psychological breakdown
208
00:10:48,735 --> 00:10:51,519
because she was murdered
by someone else
209
00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:52,695
or because he was the murderer?
210
00:10:55,785 --> 00:10:57,569
Coming up...
211
00:10:57,700 --> 00:10:59,354
I told them
that she felt like
212
00:10:59,484 --> 00:11:01,661
there was somebody
stalking her.
213
00:11:01,791 --> 00:11:04,053
This woman, Mary Schinzing,
was stabbed to death
214
00:11:04,054 --> 00:11:06,796
brutally in an apartment,
same time of night.
215
00:11:06,883 --> 00:11:09,973
The community
of Manor Township
216
00:11:10,147 --> 00:11:11,540
was very frightened.
217
00:11:11,714 --> 00:11:13,629
You have somebody
who you don't know,
218
00:11:13,803 --> 00:11:14,761
who is still out there.
219
00:11:22,203 --> 00:11:24,858
December 1975,
220
00:11:24,945 --> 00:11:27,034
less than a day
after the violent murder
221
00:11:27,121 --> 00:11:29,601
of 19-year-old
Lindy Sue Biechler,
222
00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:31,125
police are looking
to interview
223
00:11:31,212 --> 00:11:33,997
one of the last people
to see her alive.
224
00:11:34,128 --> 00:11:37,870
But he's checked himself
into a psychiatric facility.
225
00:11:37,871 --> 00:11:40,830
Bob Aument was not just
her boss at the flower shop.
226
00:11:40,917 --> 00:11:42,135
He was her friend.
227
00:11:42,136 --> 00:11:44,442
And he had spent
that whole day with her.
228
00:11:44,529 --> 00:11:46,575
What transpired
during that day
229
00:11:46,662 --> 00:11:48,185
that may have resulted
230
00:11:48,272 --> 00:11:51,318
in a violent action
only two hours or so
231
00:11:51,319 --> 00:11:52,886
after she left work?
232
00:11:53,016 --> 00:11:55,062
So they had to talk to him.
233
00:11:55,192 --> 00:11:57,325
At the psychiatric hospital,
even though the police
234
00:11:57,455 --> 00:12:00,675
were investigating a murder,
the hospital staff would not
235
00:12:00,676 --> 00:12:04,287
allow them to speak with Bob.
236
00:12:04,288 --> 00:12:06,116
Unable to interview
their suspect,
237
00:12:06,247 --> 00:12:08,640
detectives return
to headquarters.
238
00:12:08,771 --> 00:12:10,773
There, they examine
the autopsy
239
00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:13,341
and forensics results.
240
00:12:13,471 --> 00:12:17,780
The autopsy showed
there were 19 stab wounds,
241
00:12:17,867 --> 00:12:22,176
multiple in the torso,
chest, and back.
242
00:12:22,306 --> 00:12:27,136
And some of those wounds
appeared to be a narrower blade
243
00:12:27,137 --> 00:12:28,922
than that butcher knife
that was left
244
00:12:29,052 --> 00:12:31,054
at the scene in her neck.
245
00:12:31,141 --> 00:12:34,666
Some of the initial stabs
were from a much smaller,
246
00:12:34,754 --> 00:12:37,931
4-inch-long folding knife.
247
00:12:38,018 --> 00:12:40,455
Unfortunately,
the killer had the foresight
248
00:12:40,542 --> 00:12:43,458
to take that knife with him.
249
00:12:43,545 --> 00:12:46,330
Then the detectives reviewed
the blood samples
250
00:12:46,417 --> 00:12:48,680
from the crime scene
to determine
251
00:12:48,811 --> 00:12:50,857
whether it was
only Lindy's blood
252
00:12:50,944 --> 00:12:53,511
or blood from another person,
253
00:12:53,598 --> 00:12:57,385
and it appeared that it was
all from the victim.
254
00:12:57,472 --> 00:12:58,778
You're stabbed 19 times,
255
00:12:58,908 --> 00:13:00,780
there's going to be
a lot of blood.
256
00:13:00,867 --> 00:13:02,651
This was surprising
that the killer
257
00:13:02,738 --> 00:13:04,522
was able to keep
from having his blood
258
00:13:04,609 --> 00:13:07,177
being all over the place.
259
00:13:07,264 --> 00:13:09,657
There were no fingerprints
found at the scene,
260
00:13:09,658 --> 00:13:11,486
certainly none belonging
to the offender.
261
00:13:14,663 --> 00:13:16,446
No further evidence
is found.
262
00:13:16,447 --> 00:13:18,493
No motive is clear.
263
00:13:18,623 --> 00:13:21,713
24 hours after the murder,
detectives canvass
264
00:13:21,844 --> 00:13:24,107
the small community
of Manor Township
265
00:13:24,238 --> 00:13:27,719
and piece together a timeline
of Lindy's last day.
266
00:13:27,850 --> 00:13:29,547
Lindy Sue got up
December 5th.
267
00:13:29,678 --> 00:13:32,202
She went to work
at the flower shop.
268
00:13:32,333 --> 00:13:33,987
She left
269
00:13:34,074 --> 00:13:35,902
4:00, 4:30 in the afternoon.
270
00:13:35,989 --> 00:13:37,338
She went
271
00:13:37,425 --> 00:13:39,296
to her husband's place
of employment,
272
00:13:39,383 --> 00:13:41,733
which was Hertz,
picked up his paycheck,
273
00:13:41,864 --> 00:13:43,474
went to the bank.
274
00:13:43,605 --> 00:13:45,302
People saw her at the bank.
275
00:13:45,389 --> 00:13:46,999
And she went
to a grocery store,
276
00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,653
a local grocery store.
277
00:13:48,740 --> 00:13:50,307
Detectives spoke with people
at the grocery store
278
00:13:50,438 --> 00:13:53,222
that remembered her.
279
00:13:53,223 --> 00:13:56,051
And then she drove home,
and it looked like
280
00:13:56,052 --> 00:13:57,532
just after she carried
the groceries
281
00:13:57,662 --> 00:14:01,362
into her apartment,
she was killed.
282
00:14:03,755 --> 00:14:06,019
Police did canvass
the neighbors,
283
00:14:06,106 --> 00:14:08,717
and no one had heard anything
in terms of screaming.
284
00:14:08,804 --> 00:14:10,937
No one saw anything.
285
00:14:11,024 --> 00:14:13,940
However, a neighbor
across the street told them
286
00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:15,463
that she had looked out
her front window,
287
00:14:15,593 --> 00:14:18,814
and Lindy's car was not there
at 6:45 p.m.
288
00:14:18,901 --> 00:14:20,207
But when she looked
out her window again,
289
00:14:20,294 --> 00:14:21,599
and Lindy's car was there,
290
00:14:21,686 --> 00:14:24,167
backed into its spot
at 7:05 p.m.
291
00:14:24,298 --> 00:14:26,387
We know the aunt and uncle
came to her apartment
292
00:14:26,474 --> 00:14:27,822
after 8:00.
293
00:14:27,823 --> 00:14:29,259
So that gave us
kind of a narrow window
294
00:14:29,346 --> 00:14:30,217
when it happened.
295
00:14:33,089 --> 00:14:35,222
In cases with little
physical evidence,
296
00:14:35,352 --> 00:14:38,442
a time frame for the crime
becomes your main focus.
297
00:14:38,573 --> 00:14:41,314
Detectives can now check
the alibi of any suspects
298
00:14:41,315 --> 00:14:42,925
in Lindy's murder,
299
00:14:43,056 --> 00:14:45,535
starting with her husband,
Phil.
300
00:14:45,536 --> 00:14:49,149
Phil Biechler was working
for a Hertz dealership
301
00:14:49,236 --> 00:14:50,759
in the city of Lancaster.
302
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:53,152
He was at work.
He never left work.
303
00:14:53,153 --> 00:14:54,632
He had witnesses
putting him there
304
00:14:54,763 --> 00:14:56,417
and customers
dealing with him.
305
00:14:56,504 --> 00:14:58,680
So the investigators
knew pretty much
306
00:14:58,810 --> 00:15:02,205
they had to kind of put him
aside and look elsewhere.
307
00:15:02,292 --> 00:15:06,992
Bob was the next
logical suspect, Lindy's boss.
308
00:15:06,993 --> 00:15:08,908
And police finally were
able to talk to Bob
309
00:15:08,995 --> 00:15:10,822
when he left
the psychiatric hospital
310
00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:12,781
several days later.
311
00:15:12,868 --> 00:15:15,436
Eventually, Bob Aument was
interviewed by investigators.
312
00:15:15,566 --> 00:15:18,352
They were asking questions
of him and about him.
313
00:15:20,571 --> 00:15:22,965
Bob Aument went
into a hospital
314
00:15:23,096 --> 00:15:24,967
for psychiatric care.
315
00:15:25,098 --> 00:15:28,014
Well, Bob Aument was
a very sensitive man.
316
00:15:28,101 --> 00:15:31,756
And so losing somebody
like her, this way,
317
00:15:31,887 --> 00:15:35,717
affected him a lot more
than any other people would be.
318
00:15:35,847 --> 00:15:39,763
So I knew that Bob would
have never done this.
319
00:15:39,764 --> 00:15:42,158
The reality is that police
didn't have any evidence
320
00:15:42,245 --> 00:15:43,811
against Bob Aument,
321
00:15:43,812 --> 00:15:45,205
that he had been
at the apartment
322
00:15:45,292 --> 00:15:47,728
or that he had done
anything to Lindy.
323
00:15:47,729 --> 00:15:49,818
In fact, police admitted
that they didn't
324
00:15:49,905 --> 00:15:52,560
have any evidence
against anyone.
325
00:15:52,690 --> 00:15:58,348
Well, the big question was,
of course, who and why?
326
00:15:58,435 --> 00:16:01,916
Like, why would you--
she wasn't--
327
00:16:01,917 --> 00:16:05,789
didn't have any enemies
that I knew of.
328
00:16:05,790 --> 00:16:08,357
I thought she was
the sweetest thing ever made.
329
00:16:10,578 --> 00:16:14,625
But she was very confident
at the same time.
330
00:16:14,712 --> 00:16:17,846
Lindy's plan was to open up
her own flower shop,
331
00:16:17,933 --> 00:16:20,675
and she wanted me
to become an art teacher.
332
00:16:20,805 --> 00:16:25,332
I would say that Lindy probably
333
00:16:25,419 --> 00:16:28,074
brought out the best in me.
334
00:16:28,204 --> 00:16:31,294
That's what was
so puzzling about it.
335
00:16:31,381 --> 00:16:32,948
You know, who could hate her
that much?
336
00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:38,562
She was such a great person,
a nice person.
337
00:16:41,130 --> 00:16:42,914
Three days after
Lindy's murder,
338
00:16:43,002 --> 00:16:45,265
detectives talk to Phil again,
339
00:16:45,352 --> 00:16:48,920
digging into why Lindy was
afraid to be home alone.
340
00:16:49,051 --> 00:16:50,879
I told them
she had mentioned
341
00:16:50,966 --> 00:16:54,361
that she felt like there was
somebody stalking her.
342
00:16:54,448 --> 00:16:58,191
And she thought somebody was
peering in her window.
343
00:16:58,321 --> 00:17:01,759
She became a little nervous.
344
00:17:01,846 --> 00:17:05,633
She had told folks,
I feel someone's watching me.
345
00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,504
But they exhausted
every lead that they had,
346
00:17:08,505 --> 00:17:11,204
and nothing ever panned out.
347
00:17:11,291 --> 00:17:14,120
Had to be extremely,
extremely frustrating.
348
00:17:16,296 --> 00:17:19,995
Three months pass
with no new leads.
349
00:17:20,082 --> 00:17:22,692
In March of 1976,
another brutal murder
350
00:17:22,693 --> 00:17:24,521
happened in Columbia.
351
00:17:24,608 --> 00:17:26,915
Columbia is not that far
from where the apartment was
352
00:17:27,002 --> 00:17:29,048
in Manor Township.
353
00:17:29,135 --> 00:17:31,485
This woman, Mary Schinzing,
was stabbed to death
354
00:17:31,615 --> 00:17:34,401
brutally in an apartment,
same time of night.
355
00:17:34,531 --> 00:17:38,057
This looked like
a really promising lead.
356
00:17:38,187 --> 00:17:39,928
It happened on March 5th.
357
00:17:40,015 --> 00:17:41,886
Lindy was killed
on the 5th of December.
358
00:17:42,017 --> 00:17:43,539
It happened in the evening.
359
00:17:43,540 --> 00:17:45,629
Both of those nights happened
to be a Friday night.
360
00:17:48,154 --> 00:17:50,286
There could be
a direct correlation here.
361
00:18:00,122 --> 00:18:01,515
Three months
after the murder
362
00:18:01,602 --> 00:18:03,256
of Lindy Sue Biechler,
363
00:18:03,430 --> 00:18:07,390
a strikingly similar homicide
occurs in a neighboring town.
364
00:18:07,521 --> 00:18:10,524
The victim is a young woman
named Mary Schinzing.
365
00:18:10,611 --> 00:18:12,047
Mary lived alone.
366
00:18:12,178 --> 00:18:13,396
It was a knife murder.
367
00:18:13,483 --> 00:18:15,746
It was brutal.
It was violent.
368
00:18:15,833 --> 00:18:18,662
So there was a lot
of similarities.
369
00:18:18,836 --> 00:18:20,838
There was an arrest made
in that case.
370
00:18:21,012 --> 00:18:24,493
The guy's name was Arndt,
Kenneth Arndt.
371
00:18:24,494 --> 00:18:29,064
He was a handyman who did work
on her apartment building,
372
00:18:29,238 --> 00:18:31,197
and he was watching her.
373
00:18:31,284 --> 00:18:34,504
He had worked for an
appliance delivery company,
374
00:18:34,591 --> 00:18:37,158
and police were told
that he had actually
375
00:18:37,159 --> 00:18:40,945
been on a truck that had been
at Lindy's apartment building.
376
00:18:41,076 --> 00:18:44,384
He could have been familiar
with that apartment complex,
377
00:18:44,471 --> 00:18:47,517
even familiar with Lindy Sue.
378
00:18:47,691 --> 00:18:49,128
Kenneth Arndt
vehemently denied
379
00:18:49,258 --> 00:18:50,868
killing Lindy Sue Biechler.
380
00:18:50,955 --> 00:18:52,174
And when they checked
381
00:18:52,305 --> 00:18:54,220
all the delivery truck route
staffing,
382
00:18:54,307 --> 00:18:56,700
they learned that there was
no concrete link
383
00:18:56,831 --> 00:18:59,007
between Kenneth Arndt
and any delivery
384
00:18:59,094 --> 00:19:01,618
made to the Spring Manor
apartments.
385
00:19:01,705 --> 00:19:04,404
He was convicted
for Mary's murder.
386
00:19:04,578 --> 00:19:08,016
But for Lindy's murder,
he was crossed off the list.
387
00:19:08,190 --> 00:19:10,627
He looked like
a strong suspect.
388
00:19:10,714 --> 00:19:12,107
But that's how
investigations go.
389
00:19:12,194 --> 00:19:13,804
You have to be willing
to get up
390
00:19:13,935 --> 00:19:15,458
and kind of dust yourself off
and continue on
391
00:19:15,632 --> 00:19:16,894
with your investigation.
392
00:19:24,424 --> 00:19:26,948
One unusual aspect
of this case--
393
00:19:27,122 --> 00:19:28,645
and there are several--
394
00:19:28,819 --> 00:19:34,303
was the fact that just about
a year after Lindy's murder,
395
00:19:34,390 --> 00:19:37,306
the tombstone
marking her grave
396
00:19:37,437 --> 00:19:39,439
was vandalized by someone.
397
00:19:39,526 --> 00:19:41,614
It was chipped away
398
00:19:41,615 --> 00:19:46,314
with some sort of a tool,
screwdriver.
399
00:19:46,315 --> 00:19:50,101
My aunt was taking flowers
to the gravesite
400
00:19:50,276 --> 00:19:51,885
and saw this.
401
00:19:51,886 --> 00:19:54,932
So, again,
the fear that this person
402
00:19:55,063 --> 00:19:57,935
was still out there
and still so full
403
00:19:58,022 --> 00:20:01,330
of hatred for some reason.
404
00:20:01,417 --> 00:20:03,550
I mean,
why would you do that?
405
00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,161
What was the purpose there?
406
00:20:06,248 --> 00:20:07,379
I don't know.
407
00:20:07,380 --> 00:20:09,076
But I think the killer did it.
408
00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:13,168
And then the letter came.
409
00:20:13,255 --> 00:20:15,910
You know,
that was the real clincher.
410
00:20:16,998 --> 00:20:19,957
Several days after
someone defaced the tombstone,
411
00:20:20,044 --> 00:20:22,743
Chief Sheeler of the Manor
Township Police Department
412
00:20:22,917 --> 00:20:24,440
received a handwritten letter
413
00:20:24,571 --> 00:20:26,703
that claimed to be
from the killer
414
00:20:26,834 --> 00:20:29,357
of Lindy Sue Biechler
415
00:20:29,358 --> 00:20:32,579
and talked about what he had
done to the tombstone
416
00:20:32,666 --> 00:20:35,145
and talked about how
he would strike again.
417
00:20:35,146 --> 00:20:36,800
It was a sort of
a mocking tone.
418
00:20:39,890 --> 00:20:41,936
Was it the killer himself,
419
00:20:42,023 --> 00:20:45,155
or was it
some mentally deranged person
420
00:20:45,156 --> 00:20:47,376
who just wanted
to insert themselves
421
00:20:47,507 --> 00:20:49,857
into this investigation?
422
00:20:50,031 --> 00:20:52,338
The police didn't know.
423
00:20:52,468 --> 00:20:55,863
Detectives send the letter
to the FBI.
424
00:20:55,993 --> 00:20:58,953
I am a criminal
profiler/behavioralist.
425
00:20:59,083 --> 00:21:01,347
But I'm also
a forensic linguist.
426
00:21:01,434 --> 00:21:05,568
If there's any case
I'm probably most known for,
427
00:21:05,699 --> 00:21:08,092
it's the Unabomb case.
428
00:21:08,179 --> 00:21:09,442
I remember looking
at this letter
429
00:21:09,572 --> 00:21:11,400
with my fellow profilers.
430
00:21:11,487 --> 00:21:13,924
And after studying
the language,
431
00:21:14,055 --> 00:21:18,624
I was convinced that this
letter was most likely a hoax
432
00:21:18,625 --> 00:21:20,713
and not from the killer.
433
00:21:20,714 --> 00:21:25,761
But we created
a profile of the killer.
434
00:21:25,762 --> 00:21:29,026
The early profile indicated
that the offender was
435
00:21:29,113 --> 00:21:32,465
19 to 25 years of age,
436
00:21:32,552 --> 00:21:35,772
an explosive personality
or temperament,
437
00:21:35,859 --> 00:21:38,209
and could have very well been
a peeping Tom.
438
00:21:40,734 --> 00:21:44,128
This is the first time,
perhaps, he let his fantasy
439
00:21:44,215 --> 00:21:46,957
play out,
and he confronted Lindy,
440
00:21:47,131 --> 00:21:49,569
thinking maybe his fantasy
would go in another direction.
441
00:21:49,743 --> 00:21:51,701
It quickly went another way,
and he took her out.
442
00:21:58,360 --> 00:21:59,926
Over the next several years,
443
00:21:59,927 --> 00:22:02,016
police remain on the lookout
for anyone
444
00:22:02,103 --> 00:22:05,105
matching the profile
of Lindy's killer.
445
00:22:05,106 --> 00:22:08,804
Fast forward to 1982,
police arrest a man in Florida
446
00:22:08,805 --> 00:22:10,416
named Gerald Stano.
447
00:22:10,503 --> 00:22:13,114
He's a serial killer
who confesses to murdering
448
00:22:13,288 --> 00:22:15,334
more than 30 women.
449
00:22:15,464 --> 00:22:18,423
Stano had stabbed
many of his victims to death.
450
00:22:18,424 --> 00:22:22,297
His targets were generally
young white women.
451
00:22:22,428 --> 00:22:25,908
And when he was arrested
and he started confessing,
452
00:22:25,909 --> 00:22:29,042
he told police he had killed
four to six women
453
00:22:29,043 --> 00:22:31,350
in the Pennsylvania area.
454
00:22:31,437 --> 00:22:33,090
As they looked
into his background,
455
00:22:33,177 --> 00:22:35,571
they realized he had a
Pennsylvania driver's license.
456
00:22:35,745 --> 00:22:38,313
His parents lived
very close to Manor Township
457
00:22:38,487 --> 00:22:41,011
in Lancaster County.
458
00:22:41,142 --> 00:22:43,797
Maybe Gerald Stano had been
visiting his parents
459
00:22:43,927 --> 00:22:47,756
and had perhaps seen her
at John Herr's Market,
460
00:22:47,757 --> 00:22:51,108
and just like he killed scores
of other women, killed Lindy.
461
00:22:56,375 --> 00:22:58,725
In October of 1982,
462
00:22:58,812 --> 00:23:01,075
detectives travel down
to Florida to interview
463
00:23:01,162 --> 00:23:05,209
Gerald Stano, a man who shared
a prison cell with Ted Bundy.
464
00:23:05,296 --> 00:23:08,038
One police technique
for interviewing serial killers
465
00:23:08,125 --> 00:23:10,432
is to avoid appealing
to their emotions.
466
00:23:10,519 --> 00:23:12,216
They're too cold.
467
00:23:12,303 --> 00:23:14,044
Your best bet is
to provoke them
468
00:23:14,131 --> 00:23:17,265
into bragging
about their crimes.
469
00:23:17,396 --> 00:23:20,790
Stano generally liked
to talk about his crimes.
470
00:23:20,877 --> 00:23:22,575
He liked the attention.
471
00:23:22,662 --> 00:23:26,143
But when asked about Lindy,
he denied having anything
472
00:23:26,230 --> 00:23:27,928
to do with her murder.
473
00:23:28,015 --> 00:23:29,930
Why he wouldn't confess
to this one
474
00:23:30,060 --> 00:23:32,889
if he, in fact, did it
is unclear.
475
00:23:32,976 --> 00:23:37,285
But the investigators took it
as far as they could with him.
476
00:23:37,372 --> 00:23:38,895
Subsequent to the Lancaster authorities
477
00:23:39,026 --> 00:23:40,288
interviewing Stano,
478
00:23:40,375 --> 00:23:42,682
it was determined
Stano was in Florida
479
00:23:42,769 --> 00:23:46,555
at the exact time in December
of '75 that Lindy was killed,
480
00:23:46,686 --> 00:23:48,862
so that pretty much gave him
a rock-solid alibi
481
00:23:48,949 --> 00:23:51,038
for her murder.
482
00:23:54,563 --> 00:23:56,870
More than a decade passes.
483
00:23:56,957 --> 00:23:58,959
The 20-year investigation
into the murder
484
00:23:59,046 --> 00:24:01,831
of Lindy Sue Biechler
remains cold.
485
00:24:01,918 --> 00:24:04,617
When the case went cold,
I felt--
486
00:24:04,747 --> 00:24:06,575
and I believe
the family did, too--
487
00:24:06,662 --> 00:24:08,838
are we ever going to find out
who did this?
488
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:12,451
I was hopeful.
489
00:24:12,538 --> 00:24:18,065
But I also walled myself off
for a number of years.
490
00:24:18,152 --> 00:24:20,633
I wouldn't say that I had
a drinking problem,
491
00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,158
but I liked to drink a lot
just to deaden the nerves.
492
00:24:26,726 --> 00:24:29,511
He took the love of my life
away from me.
493
00:24:32,209 --> 00:24:35,168
But after some stormy years
and bad years,
494
00:24:35,169 --> 00:24:38,999
I went back to school,
dedicated to let
495
00:24:39,129 --> 00:24:41,392
Lindy's life not go in vain.
496
00:24:45,832 --> 00:24:47,747
But I remember one day
497
00:24:47,834 --> 00:24:50,837
I was going down
to the convenience store,
498
00:24:50,924 --> 00:24:52,926
and I went in there
to buy a newspaper,
499
00:24:53,056 --> 00:24:55,189
because I had heard
the newspaper had come out
500
00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:56,582
with the anniversary of this.
501
00:24:58,845 --> 00:25:00,715
Standing in line
with the newspaper,
502
00:25:00,716 --> 00:25:02,588
and there was
a mother and daughter
503
00:25:02,675 --> 00:25:04,764
standing in front of me.
504
00:25:04,851 --> 00:25:09,333
And the mother said,
after all these years,
505
00:25:09,420 --> 00:25:12,074
I bet you it's the husband
that did it.
506
00:25:12,075 --> 00:25:15,122
And I'm standing
right behind them.
507
00:25:15,209 --> 00:25:18,211
I just dropped the newspaper
and walked out.
508
00:25:21,171 --> 00:25:23,609
I went home and cried.
509
00:25:23,696 --> 00:25:27,395
You know, it just brings up
all that stuff all over again.
510
00:25:31,094 --> 00:25:33,270
As someone who's passionate
about solving cold cases,
511
00:25:33,401 --> 00:25:35,403
I can tell you this.
512
00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:37,970
When a murder goes unsolved
for this long,
513
00:25:37,971 --> 00:25:40,190
it's not just frustrating
for the families.
514
00:25:40,277 --> 00:25:42,018
It's frustrating
for you as a cop.
515
00:25:42,149 --> 00:25:43,977
You feel a responsibility
to the victim
516
00:25:44,064 --> 00:25:46,021
to find some kind of clue
517
00:25:46,022 --> 00:25:48,111
that will lead you
to the killer.
518
00:25:53,247 --> 00:25:56,466
In 1997,
a few county detectives
519
00:25:56,467 --> 00:25:58,207
went to Manor Township
and said, hey,
520
00:25:58,208 --> 00:25:59,470
it's been years and years.
521
00:25:59,558 --> 00:26:00,862
This case is very cold.
522
00:26:00,863 --> 00:26:02,082
Would you like some help?
523
00:26:02,212 --> 00:26:05,302
Because DNA
in the mid to late '90s
524
00:26:05,389 --> 00:26:07,957
was coming more of age.
525
00:26:08,044 --> 00:26:09,568
So the investigators
came in,
526
00:26:09,698 --> 00:26:12,788
and they sent the tea towel,
clothing,
527
00:26:12,919 --> 00:26:14,921
and these other things
to Cellmark Labs.
528
00:26:15,051 --> 00:26:20,100
That was the lab that was able
to develop DNA profiles.
529
00:26:20,230 --> 00:26:23,930
They were actually able to find
a semen stain on the underwear.
530
00:26:26,323 --> 00:26:27,890
This had never
been detected before.
531
00:26:27,977 --> 00:26:30,023
And it gave a motive
to the case
532
00:26:30,110 --> 00:26:33,199
that previously had seemed
motiveless.
533
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,159
Now, police realized
she had indeed been
534
00:26:36,246 --> 00:26:39,771
sexually assaulted
by the killer.
535
00:26:39,772 --> 00:26:41,904
It was suspected
that he had possibly
536
00:26:42,035 --> 00:26:44,037
masturbated over her dead body
537
00:26:44,124 --> 00:26:47,040
while he surveyed
his handiwork.
538
00:26:47,170 --> 00:26:50,913
But what was really important
was because we were firmly
539
00:26:51,044 --> 00:26:54,961
in the DNA era now, the lab
was able to obtain a profile
540
00:26:55,048 --> 00:26:57,311
and entered it
into the national DNA
541
00:26:57,398 --> 00:27:00,706
database of offenders.
542
00:27:00,793 --> 00:27:02,969
You get excited about that
because you know
543
00:27:03,056 --> 00:27:05,232
that there's hope,
because if it's a match,
544
00:27:05,319 --> 00:27:08,539
then you got your person.
545
00:27:08,670 --> 00:27:10,933
The results are
disappointing.
546
00:27:11,020 --> 00:27:13,588
The DNA sample doesn't match
any of the profiles
547
00:27:13,675 --> 00:27:15,808
in the database.
548
00:27:15,938 --> 00:27:20,116
However, the test does provide
one piece of good news.
549
00:27:20,203 --> 00:27:22,423
It was now proof positive
that I was
550
00:27:22,553 --> 00:27:24,207
never a suspect in this case.
551
00:27:26,601 --> 00:27:28,385
But I don't think
that you can ever
552
00:27:28,472 --> 00:27:32,258
clear that line of suspicion
until there's an actual suspect
553
00:27:32,259 --> 00:27:33,521
that's arrested.
554
00:27:35,262 --> 00:27:37,350
I just wished
that they would catch
555
00:27:37,351 --> 00:27:39,352
whoever killed Lindy.
556
00:27:39,353 --> 00:27:42,268
But as each week
and then each month
557
00:27:42,269 --> 00:27:46,534
and then each year evolves,
time marches on.
558
00:27:55,021 --> 00:27:58,764
The case had been cold
for over 40 years
559
00:27:58,894 --> 00:28:01,723
when our office got involved.
560
00:28:01,854 --> 00:28:03,769
But when we did our review,
we felt
561
00:28:03,856 --> 00:28:06,032
with the new technology in DNA,
562
00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,208
maybe we should retest
some things.
563
00:28:12,038 --> 00:28:14,605
In September 2019,
detectives send
564
00:28:14,693 --> 00:28:16,259
a sample of the killer's DNA
565
00:28:16,346 --> 00:28:18,479
to a pioneering
genetics company
566
00:28:18,609 --> 00:28:22,004
known as Parabon NanoLabs.
567
00:28:22,135 --> 00:28:26,269
I'm CeCe Moore, and I'm
the chief genetic genealogist
568
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,793
at Parabon NanoLabs.
569
00:28:28,794 --> 00:28:33,450
Genetic genealogy is
using documentary records
570
00:28:33,537 --> 00:28:36,105
like census records,
vital records,
571
00:28:36,236 --> 00:28:39,543
in conjunction
with DNA analysis.
572
00:28:39,630 --> 00:28:42,677
When Parabon received
the results from the profile
573
00:28:42,808 --> 00:28:45,636
on Lindy Sue Biechler's case,
they were able
574
00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:49,292
to predict
that her killer likely had
575
00:28:49,379 --> 00:28:52,425
brown to black hair,
fair skin,
576
00:28:52,426 --> 00:28:55,515
and green to hazel eyes.
577
00:28:55,516 --> 00:28:58,866
We were also able
to predict his ancestry
578
00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:00,694
by making a family tree.
579
00:29:00,695 --> 00:29:03,479
Using two public databases,
580
00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,918
I looked
at the distant cousins
581
00:29:06,919 --> 00:29:08,834
of Lindy Sue's killer
582
00:29:08,964 --> 00:29:11,793
that we had identified
in the databases.
583
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,578
I could see that they were
all converging
584
00:29:14,665 --> 00:29:18,321
in a region in South Italy.
585
00:29:18,408 --> 00:29:20,715
And there was one town
that kept jumping out at me
586
00:29:20,802 --> 00:29:23,282
called Gasperina.
587
00:29:23,283 --> 00:29:26,503
So the first thing I did
was to look
588
00:29:26,590 --> 00:29:29,942
at the records of immigration
589
00:29:30,029 --> 00:29:33,727
directly from Gasperina
to Lancaster,
590
00:29:33,728 --> 00:29:36,251
and I started making a list.
591
00:29:36,252 --> 00:29:41,823
That took me down to a little
under 2,300 people.
592
00:29:41,910 --> 00:29:44,347
When you consider
that some of those people
593
00:29:44,434 --> 00:29:46,828
are going to be too young
or too old to have committed
594
00:29:46,915 --> 00:29:49,744
the crime, about half
of those people are female,
595
00:29:49,831 --> 00:29:52,878
and I'm looking for a male,
suddenly I had
596
00:29:53,008 --> 00:29:56,969
a relatively small list,
a couple dozen or so.
597
00:29:57,056 --> 00:30:00,059
Then when I was going
through newspapers,
598
00:30:00,146 --> 00:30:03,365
I found something
extremely interesting.
599
00:30:03,366 --> 00:30:07,370
There was a newspaper article
that announced
600
00:30:07,501 --> 00:30:10,243
the engagement
and upcoming marriage
601
00:30:10,330 --> 00:30:12,636
of one of the men on my list.
602
00:30:12,767 --> 00:30:17,163
The address for the groom
was the exact same address
603
00:30:17,293 --> 00:30:19,208
as the scene of the crime.
604
00:30:19,295 --> 00:30:21,167
That just shocked me.
605
00:30:21,297 --> 00:30:23,386
The man that
CeCe Moore identifies
606
00:30:23,473 --> 00:30:27,737
lived one floor above Lindy
in the same apartment building.
607
00:30:27,738 --> 00:30:29,784
It was almost
too coincidental
608
00:30:29,915 --> 00:30:31,351
to be a coincidence.
609
00:30:39,489 --> 00:30:43,145
September 2019,
44 years after the murder
610
00:30:43,319 --> 00:30:44,712
of Lindy Sue Biechler,
611
00:30:44,799 --> 00:30:47,846
a genetics lab has honed in
on a suspect,
612
00:30:47,976 --> 00:30:50,456
a man who lived in the
very same apartment complex
613
00:30:50,457 --> 00:30:52,589
as Lindy Sue.
614
00:30:56,898 --> 00:30:59,727
So right away,
I got very excited
615
00:30:59,814 --> 00:31:02,729
thinking that this
could potentially be
616
00:31:02,730 --> 00:31:04,471
the man that
law enforcement had been
617
00:31:04,601 --> 00:31:07,213
looking for for decades.
618
00:31:07,343 --> 00:31:11,347
And his name was
David Sinopoli.
619
00:31:11,434 --> 00:31:15,263
I went to social media,
and I found pictures of him.
620
00:31:15,264 --> 00:31:18,180
And I just couldn't believe it
when I saw
621
00:31:18,354 --> 00:31:20,790
that he fit perfectly
622
00:31:20,791 --> 00:31:23,969
with the snapshot
phenotype predictions.
623
00:31:24,099 --> 00:31:28,276
My instincts told me
I was looking in the face
624
00:31:28,277 --> 00:31:30,235
of Lindy Sue Biechler's killer.
625
00:31:34,283 --> 00:31:36,895
When CeCe Moore called,
I got excited.
626
00:31:37,025 --> 00:31:38,287
But I can't get too excited,
627
00:31:38,418 --> 00:31:40,680
because we had
to confirm things.
628
00:31:40,681 --> 00:31:43,075
So we collect as much
factual information
629
00:31:43,205 --> 00:31:45,468
as we can about him,
his family,
630
00:31:45,555 --> 00:31:50,298
whereabouts, employment,
everything we can find.
631
00:31:50,299 --> 00:31:52,040
We found out
he was a long-term
632
00:31:52,171 --> 00:31:54,521
Lancaster County resident.
633
00:31:54,651 --> 00:31:57,524
In fact, Lindy Sue
and David Sinopoli went
634
00:31:57,611 --> 00:32:00,048
to the same middle school.
635
00:32:00,179 --> 00:32:03,356
And also, when Philip
and Lindy Sue moved
636
00:32:03,530 --> 00:32:07,186
into that apartment complex,
Sinopoli and his wife
637
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,971
also lived there,
although he did not live there
638
00:32:10,102 --> 00:32:12,365
at the time
the homicide occurred.
639
00:32:12,495 --> 00:32:15,107
He was married during
the time of the homicide,
640
00:32:15,281 --> 00:32:17,022
but he divorced from that wife.
641
00:32:17,109 --> 00:32:18,544
He had three children.
642
00:32:18,545 --> 00:32:19,981
He was still married
to his second wife
643
00:32:20,155 --> 00:32:22,201
living in East Hempfield
Township.
644
00:32:22,288 --> 00:32:24,203
He worked at a couple
printing companies,
645
00:32:24,290 --> 00:32:27,336
one for quite a long time.
646
00:32:27,467 --> 00:32:29,773
While Sinopoli,
by all indications,
647
00:32:29,860 --> 00:32:33,776
mostly led a lawful life,
in 2003,
648
00:32:33,777 --> 00:32:35,997
he was caught in,
of all places, his wife's
649
00:32:36,171 --> 00:32:38,912
tanning salon,
peering at a naked woman
650
00:32:38,913 --> 00:32:40,480
on the tanning bed,
651
00:32:40,567 --> 00:32:43,526
and he was actually
arrested for that.
652
00:32:43,657 --> 00:32:45,659
In 2004,
he ended up pleading guilty
653
00:32:45,746 --> 00:32:48,227
to invasion of privacy
and disorderly conduct.
654
00:32:48,314 --> 00:32:50,664
And he got one-year probation.
655
00:32:50,751 --> 00:32:53,188
Other than that,
Sinopoli's record was clean.
656
00:32:55,974 --> 00:32:58,324
Police, of course,
questioned his first wife
657
00:32:58,454 --> 00:33:02,110
extensively about her 13 years
married to David Sinopoli.
658
00:33:02,241 --> 00:33:03,894
She said that he was
never violent with her.
659
00:33:03,982 --> 00:33:05,939
They simply grew apart.
660
00:33:05,940 --> 00:33:09,291
Their divorce was amicable.
661
00:33:09,378 --> 00:33:11,772
David Sinopoli fit the age.
662
00:33:11,859 --> 00:33:13,512
He fit the peeping Tom.
663
00:33:13,513 --> 00:33:15,080
He fit the phenotype.
664
00:33:15,167 --> 00:33:17,169
He kind of fit everything.
665
00:33:19,171 --> 00:33:20,172
Of course,
we can't arrest him,
666
00:33:20,346 --> 00:33:22,652
so we start surveilling him.
667
00:33:22,739 --> 00:33:24,915
We were watching
his movements
668
00:33:25,003 --> 00:33:27,570
hoping that we could collect
a surreptitious sample
669
00:33:27,744 --> 00:33:29,703
of his DNA.
670
00:33:29,790 --> 00:33:32,097
If someone is a suspect
in a case,
671
00:33:32,184 --> 00:33:33,749
it is standard
operating procedure
672
00:33:33,750 --> 00:33:36,144
to obtain a DNA sample
without their knowledge.
673
00:33:36,318 --> 00:33:37,885
It's not done every time.
674
00:33:37,972 --> 00:33:39,930
But they do have to get
a confirmatory sample
675
00:33:40,105 --> 00:33:41,628
before arrest.
676
00:33:41,758 --> 00:33:44,238
No arrest is ever made
on genealogy alone.
677
00:33:44,239 --> 00:33:46,763
Unfortunately, this happened
during the height of COVID.
678
00:33:46,850 --> 00:33:48,983
Everything was locked down,
so you couldn't go anywhere.
679
00:33:49,157 --> 00:33:50,680
You couldn't do anything.
680
00:33:50,767 --> 00:33:52,334
And there was
no promising leads
681
00:33:52,421 --> 00:33:55,423
through trash collections
either.
682
00:33:55,424 --> 00:33:58,166
So those efforts
were fruitless.
683
00:33:59,863 --> 00:34:02,300
Another year passes.
684
00:34:02,301 --> 00:34:03,693
Detectives are
still trying to get
685
00:34:03,780 --> 00:34:05,999
a sample
of their suspect's DNA
686
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,828
when a call comes in
from the FBI.
687
00:34:08,829 --> 00:34:12,137
Tip came in
that Sinopoli and his wife
688
00:34:12,224 --> 00:34:14,182
were flying out of the
Philadelphia International
689
00:34:14,356 --> 00:34:16,750
Airport on a vacation.
690
00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,534
We decided to go down there
691
00:34:18,621 --> 00:34:20,971
and hopefully retrieve
something
692
00:34:21,102 --> 00:34:22,929
if they were to leave
something behind
693
00:34:22,930 --> 00:34:25,889
before taking off in the plane.
694
00:34:25,976 --> 00:34:29,240
We get there, and we start
walking through the airport.
695
00:34:29,241 --> 00:34:30,938
I went to get a coffee,
696
00:34:31,069 --> 00:34:33,680
and David Sinopoli
and his wife
697
00:34:33,810 --> 00:34:35,985
was sitting at a table
in a coffee shop,
698
00:34:35,986 --> 00:34:40,165
the one I happened
to step into.
699
00:34:40,252 --> 00:34:41,905
He had no coffee cup.
700
00:34:42,036 --> 00:34:43,864
His wife had one.
701
00:34:43,951 --> 00:34:47,910
But there was a bag sitting
between David and his wife.
702
00:34:47,911 --> 00:34:49,522
A minute later, they finish.
703
00:34:49,652 --> 00:34:54,918
David picks up his wife's cup,
puts her cup in the bag,
704
00:34:55,049 --> 00:34:59,922
folds it neat, like your mom
would fold your lunch bag,
705
00:34:59,923 --> 00:35:03,579
walks it over, and puts it
in the trash receptacle
706
00:35:03,710 --> 00:35:06,930
not even 5 feet from me.
707
00:35:07,017 --> 00:35:09,019
That's eligible
to be collected
708
00:35:09,194 --> 00:35:10,760
because it's been
considered abandoned.
709
00:35:10,891 --> 00:35:12,849
It's thrown in the trash.
710
00:35:12,936 --> 00:35:15,200
He leaves.
I grab it.
711
00:35:15,330 --> 00:35:17,071
There's two cups in it,
the one on the top,
712
00:35:17,158 --> 00:35:19,160
which I knew was
his wife's cup,
713
00:35:19,334 --> 00:35:22,032
and the one underneath
had to be his cup.
714
00:35:24,470 --> 00:35:26,863
I will say
that I was flying high.
715
00:35:27,037 --> 00:35:28,081
I was excited.
716
00:35:28,082 --> 00:35:30,824
I was, like, really excited.
717
00:35:30,911 --> 00:35:34,349
If we're able
to say scientifically
718
00:35:34,523 --> 00:35:37,874
that that DNA matches
that DNA profile,
719
00:35:37,961 --> 00:35:39,746
then we got our man.
720
00:35:47,710 --> 00:35:49,538
More than 46 years
after the murder
721
00:35:49,625 --> 00:35:51,018
of Lindy Sue Biechler,
722
00:35:51,105 --> 00:35:53,107
the crime lab compares
the DNA sample
723
00:35:53,194 --> 00:35:55,849
of the suspect,
David Sinopoli,
724
00:35:55,979 --> 00:35:58,329
to the profile of the killer.
725
00:35:58,330 --> 00:36:01,159
I had no doubt
that he was the killer
726
00:36:01,289 --> 00:36:02,595
from all the evidence we had.
727
00:36:02,682 --> 00:36:05,119
I knew he was the person.
728
00:36:05,250 --> 00:36:07,208
But you know that's always
an anxious time,
729
00:36:07,295 --> 00:36:10,429
a time where it's hard
to wait.
730
00:36:10,516 --> 00:36:13,083
Learning that investigators
were still working on this,
731
00:36:13,171 --> 00:36:14,562
I felt very comforted.
732
00:36:14,563 --> 00:36:16,348
I mean,
these people really care
733
00:36:16,478 --> 00:36:18,611
about what happened to her.
734
00:36:18,741 --> 00:36:22,309
Eventually,
those DNA results came back.
735
00:36:22,310 --> 00:36:25,574
It was a match, no question.
736
00:36:25,661 --> 00:36:27,272
So excellent news.
737
00:36:27,359 --> 00:36:29,274
We were all ecstatic.
738
00:36:29,361 --> 00:36:31,972
I mean,
it was the glorious day.
739
00:36:32,102 --> 00:36:34,757
We knew at that point,
we've got our guy.
740
00:36:34,844 --> 00:36:36,455
Police gear up
for an arrest
741
00:36:36,585 --> 00:36:39,632
that's nearly five decades
in the making.
742
00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:41,068
My name is Trish Mazur.
743
00:36:41,155 --> 00:36:43,331
I work at Manor Township
Police Department.
744
00:36:43,462 --> 00:36:46,421
When I learned
we had developed a suspect,
745
00:36:46,552 --> 00:36:47,596
I, of course,
was very excited.
746
00:36:47,727 --> 00:36:49,032
It was huge.
747
00:36:49,163 --> 00:36:50,947
Now it was time
for the investigators
748
00:36:51,078 --> 00:36:53,472
to do our part.
749
00:36:53,602 --> 00:36:55,822
We were able to determine
that he gets
750
00:36:55,909 --> 00:36:58,954
a Sunday newspaper
delivered to his house.
751
00:36:58,955 --> 00:37:00,869
And there was always
a certain time
752
00:37:00,870 --> 00:37:03,264
in the morning he would have
to walk away from the house
753
00:37:03,351 --> 00:37:05,135
down the driveway.
754
00:37:05,266 --> 00:37:06,789
So we felt that
that was the best way
755
00:37:06,876 --> 00:37:07,964
to effect the arrest.
756
00:37:10,228 --> 00:37:13,578
And that's what we did.
757
00:37:13,579 --> 00:37:16,582
Officers approached him,
told him he was under arrest.
758
00:37:16,712 --> 00:37:19,411
He was immediately handcuffed.
759
00:37:19,498 --> 00:37:23,023
And myself and another
Manor Township Police Officer
760
00:37:23,153 --> 00:37:23,980
took custody of him.
761
00:37:27,288 --> 00:37:30,509
I think probably
top three, four things
762
00:37:30,596 --> 00:37:32,380
that happened in my career
was being able
763
00:37:32,467 --> 00:37:35,340
to tell Phil Biechler
that we made the arrest.
764
00:37:40,867 --> 00:37:42,782
Excuse me.
765
00:37:46,742 --> 00:37:52,357
Larry and I worked with Phil
766
00:37:52,487 --> 00:37:56,839
since the beginning.
767
00:37:56,970 --> 00:38:00,278
Great feeling.
That's all I can say.
768
00:38:02,062 --> 00:38:04,194
Detective Christopher Erb
told me
769
00:38:04,282 --> 00:38:10,288
that we have just arrested
a man in Lindy Sue's case.
770
00:38:10,375 --> 00:38:15,336
And I was, like, in shock.
771
00:38:15,423 --> 00:38:18,644
They said his name
was David Sinopoli,
772
00:38:18,731 --> 00:38:21,037
and he lived right above us.
773
00:38:21,168 --> 00:38:23,736
I didn't really know
who he was.
774
00:38:23,866 --> 00:38:29,480
But I knew I passed him,
probably in the hallway.
775
00:38:29,481 --> 00:38:31,134
My brother called me,
776
00:38:31,221 --> 00:38:32,788
and he said,
are you sitting down?
777
00:38:32,875 --> 00:38:35,791
And he's like,
they have the guy.
778
00:38:35,878 --> 00:38:38,880
Honestly, you wait for so long,
779
00:38:38,881 --> 00:38:40,796
and then
it's actually happening,
780
00:38:40,927 --> 00:38:43,233
and it seems surreal.
781
00:38:43,321 --> 00:38:46,062
A cold case dating back
nearly a half century
782
00:38:46,193 --> 00:38:47,847
appears to have been
cracked this week.
783
00:38:47,977 --> 00:38:49,978
Sinopoli is being held
without bail.
784
00:38:49,979 --> 00:38:53,635
Investigators say the DNA match
is 1 in 10 trillion.
785
00:38:55,463 --> 00:38:58,118
David Sinopoli had been
married to the same woman
786
00:38:58,205 --> 00:38:59,553
for 36 years.
787
00:38:59,554 --> 00:39:01,426
He had children.
He had grandchildren.
788
00:39:01,556 --> 00:39:05,081
He was beloved by his coworkers
and his boss.
789
00:39:05,212 --> 00:39:08,171
People were absolutely
surprised to their core
790
00:39:08,258 --> 00:39:10,086
that he turned out
to have done something
791
00:39:10,173 --> 00:39:12,261
so horrific in his past.
792
00:39:12,262 --> 00:39:15,048
When I heard
that he was arrested,
793
00:39:15,135 --> 00:39:16,571
there was relief,
794
00:39:16,658 --> 00:39:21,968
tears of joy and sadness,
you know.
795
00:39:22,098 --> 00:39:26,233
And then you found out
that he was married,
796
00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:29,758
that he had children
of his own.
797
00:39:29,845 --> 00:39:31,760
And you think,
798
00:39:31,891 --> 00:39:34,763
how could you have
lived with yourself?
799
00:39:37,592 --> 00:39:40,812
In October of 2023,
David Sinopoli
800
00:39:40,813 --> 00:39:43,250
enters a guilty plea
for third-degree murder,
801
00:39:43,337 --> 00:39:46,121
aggravated assault,
and burglary
802
00:39:46,122 --> 00:39:50,300
and is sentenced to 25
to 50 years in prison.
803
00:39:52,694 --> 00:39:55,175
Sinopoli went to prison
without talking to anyone,
804
00:39:55,262 --> 00:39:57,089
so we never will actually know
805
00:39:57,090 --> 00:39:59,788
what exactly happened
that night.
806
00:40:02,356 --> 00:40:04,531
But putting everything
together, I would say,
807
00:40:04,532 --> 00:40:07,405
this person has
an active fantasy life.
808
00:40:07,492 --> 00:40:10,669
And when he was living
above Lindy and her husband,
809
00:40:10,799 --> 00:40:13,236
he must have seen
this attractive younger woman
810
00:40:13,323 --> 00:40:16,239
living below him,
walking in and out to her car.
811
00:40:16,370 --> 00:40:20,896
Maybe he would follow her once
or twice to her flower shop,
812
00:40:21,027 --> 00:40:23,769
sit outside in a parking lot,
watch her go in and out,
813
00:40:23,856 --> 00:40:25,901
maybe get to know
her husband's schedule.
814
00:40:25,988 --> 00:40:28,382
He's developing
his active fantasy,
815
00:40:28,469 --> 00:40:30,819
and he's building up
to getting the gumption,
816
00:40:30,906 --> 00:40:35,824
getting the courage
to confront her.
817
00:40:35,955 --> 00:40:39,088
That night,
he came to the door
818
00:40:39,175 --> 00:40:41,612
not necessarily planning
to kill her,
819
00:40:41,613 --> 00:40:43,396
because he only brought
a small penknife with him.
820
00:40:43,397 --> 00:40:47,226
But he didn't get very far
inside before, essentially,
821
00:40:47,227 --> 00:40:49,795
his fantasy was turned away.
822
00:40:49,925 --> 00:40:51,492
That's when he lost control
823
00:40:51,579 --> 00:40:53,929
and wound up stabbing her
19 times.
824
00:41:00,545 --> 00:41:02,197
I've always wanted
to know the why,
825
00:41:02,198 --> 00:41:05,375
but he's never told me
and probably never will.
826
00:41:08,335 --> 00:41:11,990
He sent me an apology letter
that had one sentence in it
827
00:41:11,991 --> 00:41:14,994
that said,
"I'm very, very sorry."
828
00:41:15,081 --> 00:41:17,212
That was it.
829
00:41:17,213 --> 00:41:20,347
So to me,
David Sinopoli is only sad
830
00:41:20,478 --> 00:41:24,699
because he got caught.
831
00:41:24,830 --> 00:41:26,874
We have to start
letting it go.
832
00:41:26,875 --> 00:41:29,182
If you hold it in
and keep it there,
833
00:41:29,269 --> 00:41:30,791
when you think about Lindy,
that's the only thing
834
00:41:30,792 --> 00:41:31,880
you think about.
835
00:41:31,967 --> 00:41:34,013
You lose her.
836
00:41:34,143 --> 00:41:37,103
Let's remember how she lived.
837
00:41:37,233 --> 00:41:39,453
Let's just remember
how wonderful she was,
838
00:41:39,584 --> 00:41:45,241
what a sweet person she was,
and taken away too soon.
839
00:41:45,328 --> 00:41:49,115
Lindy taught me how to love
for the first time in my life.
840
00:41:50,812 --> 00:41:54,250
I got remarried in '91.
841
00:41:54,337 --> 00:41:59,429
I have a lovely daughter and--
who is married to a great guy.
842
00:41:59,517 --> 00:42:03,390
And I have two lovely
grandchildren that I adore.
843
00:42:05,566 --> 00:42:07,654
I was sad
that most of the people
844
00:42:07,655 --> 00:42:10,440
that were around Lindy
have all passed away--
845
00:42:10,528 --> 00:42:14,314
her father, her mother.
846
00:42:14,444 --> 00:42:17,359
But I was glad that there was
a closure for the people
847
00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:20,755
that are still alive.
848
00:42:20,886 --> 00:42:22,235
I think
Lindy should be remembered
849
00:42:22,365 --> 00:42:26,108
as a competent, compassionate,
intelligent woman.