All language subtitles for A Crime to Remember s02e07 Cabin in the Woods.eng

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS LIKE A MELODY *

IT ALL LOOKS SO GOOD.

Stewart: YEAH.

WHICH ONE
ARE YOU GONNA GET?

THE CHOCOLATE.

WE'LL HAVE A STRAWBERRY
AND A CHOCOLATE, PLEASE.

Reporter: THERE WASN'T ANYTHING
UNUSUAL ABOUT STEFFIE BRYAN.

IN FACT,
SHE WASN'T MUCH DIFFERENT

THAN THE THOUSANDS
OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLS

IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THANK YOU.

Woman:
THANK YOU. BYE-BYE.

STEFFIE WAS YOUR DAUGHTER
OR YOUR NIECE

OR YOUR
NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR'S KID.

BUT THAT'S
WHAT GAVE THE STORY LEGS.

BYE.

AND FOR THE LAST HALF OF 1955,

SHE WAS ALL ANYONE IN
THE BAY AREA COULD TALK ABOUT.

BUT WHY THIS GIRL,
ABOVE ALL OTHERS, YOU ASK?

WHY STEPHANIE BRYAN?

[ RUSTLING ]

BECAUSE ON APRIL 28, 1955,
STEFFIE VANISHED.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ TYPEWRITER CLACKING ]

NOWADAYS WHEN YOU HEAR
"BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA,"

YOU THINK HIPPIES AND RADICALS.

BUT BACK WHEN I WAS COVERING
THE STEPHANIE BRYAN CASE,

IT WAS
"LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" LAND

AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE,

RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT DOOR
OF THE BRYAN HOUSE.

THE FAMILY HAD MOVED
TO CALIFORNIA

FROM MASSACHUSETTS

TWO YEARS BEFORE
THIS ALL HAPPENED.

HE WAS A DOCTOR,
AND SHE WAS A DOCTOR'S WIFE.

THEY WERE PROPER
NEW ENGLANDERS...

WHICH MEANT ORDER
AND PUNCTUALITY.

THE FIRST SIGN THAT SOMETHING
IS NOT RIGHT IS THAT STEPHANIE,

THE RULE-FOLLOWER,
THE VERY GOOD DAUGHTER,

SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP AT HOME
ON TIME.

McNamara:
STEPHANIE'S MOM KNOWS

THAT SHE GETS OUT OF SCHOOL
AT 3:15.

CHILDREN, HAVE EITHER OF YOU
SEEN STEPHANIE?

SO, WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME HOME
BY 4:00,

MOM THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY,
"THIS IS NOT RIGHT."

[ ROTARY PHONE DIALING ]

HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS MARY BRYAN.

YES, I -- I'M CALLING TO INQUIRE
ABOUT MY DAUGHTER STEPHANIE.

I'M JUST WONDERING
IF SHE'S, UH, LEFT SCHOOL YET.

HI. JANICE.

HI.

YES, THIS IS MARY BRYAN.

YES, UH, SHE'S NOT HOME YET.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED.

YES, MEREDITH. HI.

THIS IS MARY BRYAN CALLING.

I'M CALLING TO SEE
IF STEPHANIE COME HOME

WITH YOUR DAUGHTER TODAY.

ONE FRIEND WAS THIS GIRL,
MARY ANN STEWART.

AND IN FACT, MARY ANN HAD BEEN
WITH STEPHANIE AFTER SCHOOL.

O'Toole: MARY ANN STEWART
WAS ABLE TO SAY,

"WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY.

"SHE CHECKED OUT SOME BOOKS.

"AND THEN WE WENT
TO THE DOUGHNUT SHOP.

AND FROM THERE,
WE STARTED TO WALK HOME."

BUT THEY WENT SEPARATE WAYS ONCE
THEY GOT TO THAT WOODED PATH.

McNamara: SO, SHE'S GETTING
MORE AND MORE ANXIOUS.

DR. AND MRS. BRYAN,
MY NAME IS DETECTIVE HUTCHINS.

THIS IS MY PARTNER.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR DAUGHTER
WENT MISSING THIS AFTERNOON.

O'Toole: AT 5:30 THAT AFTERNOON,
THE FATHER COMES HOME,

AND HE CALLS THE POLICE.

WHAT WAS STEPHANIE WEARING
THE LAST TIME SHE WAS SEEN?

SHE WAS WEARING A BLUE CARDIGAN,
TURQUOISE SKIRT.

SHE WAS CARRYING A RED PURSE,
AND SADDLE SHOES.

IS THERE A PHOTO OF HER

OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD
TAKE A LOOK AT?

THANK YOU.

McNamara: STEPHANIE WAS 14.

SHE WAS THE OLDEST OF FIVE.

SHE WAS VERY BOOKISH,
VERY QUIET, VERY STUDIOUS.

NOW, THE FIRST THING THAT
COPS TELL WORRIED PARENTS IS,

"DON'T WORRY.

"LITTLE BOBBY OR SALLY
IS GONNA COME

WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR
ANY MINUTE."

DR. BRYAN, IS THERE A TELEPHONE
THAT I COULD USE?

Dr. Bryan: CERTAINLY.
RIGHT THIS WAY.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS ONE.

MAYBE IT WAS STEFFIE'S
"GOOD GIRL" STATUS,

MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE LOOK
IN MRS. BRYAN'S EYES.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

IT WAS DIFFERENT BACK THEN.

US GUYS ON THE CRIME BEAT

HAD TO HOLD DOWN THE BENCH
AT THE PRECINCT FOR HOURS,

JUST WAITING FOR A HEADLINE
TO ROLL IN.

BERKELEY P.D.

APB, ALL CARS.
STEPHANIE BRYAN.

O'Toole: AT 9:00 P.M.
THEY PUT OUT AN APB.

BROWN EYES, BROWN HAIR.

AND AT THAT POINT,

THE MEDIA BECOMES AWARE
OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

LAST SEEN, THE TENNIS CLUB
OF THE CLAREMONT HOTEL.

McNamara: THE NEWS MEDIA LOVES
NOTHING MORE

THAN A STORY
ABOUT A YOUNG GIRL IN DISTRESS.

SADDLE SHOES, 5'2".

O'Toole:
BACK IN 1955, THERE WERE

FOUR MAJOR NEWSPAPERS
IN THE BAY AREA.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY WERE
ALL COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER

FOR THE SCOOP ON THE CASE.

McNamara:
WITH A MISSING-PERSONS CASE, THEY NEED THE MEDIA

BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO
GET IT OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

AND THE TIPS STARTED COMING IN.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WHERE'D YOU SAY
YOU SAW THIS HAPPEN?

A NAVY LIEUTENANT SAID HE SAW
A MAN DRIVING VERY ERRATICALLY.

McNamara: AND IN THE BACK,
HE SEES THIS YOUNG GIRL.

AND HE SAW THE MAN TURN AROUND
AND HIT HER.

WHITE MALE, BROWN HAIR.

Orloff: BUT IT'S A VERY
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR.

NO LICENSE PLATE.

NOTHING TO REALLY POINT THEM
TOWARDS ANY INDIVIDUAL.

McNamara: THE POLICE
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION

THAT THE BRYANS HAVE
A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

YOU KNOW,
HE'S A WELL-OFF DOCTOR.

SO, THEIR FIRST THOUGHT
IS RANSOM.

THEY WIRETAP THE HOME...

...AND AWAIT THE CALL.

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

HELLO? YES.

YES.

O'Toole: 32 HOURS
AFTER STEPHANIE GOES MISSING,

A PHONE CALL DOES, IN FACT,
COME IN.

AND THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END
SAYS THAT HE WANTS $5,000

FOR THE SAFE RETURN
OF STEPHANIE.

YES.

YES.

THE CALLER SAID,

"I WANT YOU TO DROP THE MONEY
IN WEST OAKLAND.

NO COPS."

OKAY.
I'LL BE THERE.

SO, DR. BRYAN MAKES A BEELINE
FOR THE SPOT, CASH IN HAND.

NOW EVERYONE --
AND I MEAN EVERYONE KNOWS

YOU DON'T TRY
AND HANDLE THINGS YOURSELF,

NO MATTER
WHAT THE GUY ON THE PHONE SAYS.

ARE YOU HER FATHER?

DON'T MOVE.
[ GUN COCKS ]

SO, STEFFIE BRYAN'S PARENTS
HAD GOTTEN A RANSOM CALL

AND HIGH-TAILED IT
TO THE RENDEZVOUS

WITH THE MONEY AND THE COPS.

Officer:
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?

DOES IT MATTER?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?

MY NAME'S L.C.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING
OUT HERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW?

WHAT WERE YOU ASKING
THAT MAN?

McNamara:
THE POLICE HAVE THIS GUY.

HE'S AN 18-YEAR-OLD.
HIS NAME IS L.C. ELLIOT.

AND WHAT ELLIOT TELLS THEM
IS THAT HE'S BEEN PAID

BY A WHITE MAN
TO GET THE RANSOM MONEY.

AND HE ASKED YOU TO ASK HIM?
YES.

HOW MUCH MONEY?
I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHEN THE COPS SEARCHED
THE AREA,

THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING.

THE WHOLE THING SMELLED WRONG.

Orloff: EVENTUALLY,
HE JUST BREAKS DOWN AND SAYS,

"I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT KIDNAPPING.

"BUT I READ ABOUT IT,

AND I THOUGHT
I COULD MAKE SOME MONEY."

I SWEAR, IF I HAD A DIME
FOR EVERY SKEL

WHO TRIED TO WORK AN ANGLE
ON THE COPS, I'D BE A RICH MAN.

Orloff:
HE WAS JUST A BLOODSUCKER

THAT JUST CAME OUT
OF THE WOODWORK

TO TRY AND EXTORT THE FAMILY.

FOUR DAYS
AFTER STEPHANIE DISAPPEARS,

A MAN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

PULLS OVER
TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

AND HE SEES A BOOK.

IT'S ACTUALLY STEPHANIE BRYAN'S
FRENCH BOOK.

THE BOOK IS FOUND
ON FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD,

WHICH IS AN HOUR
FROM WHERE SHE DISAPPEARED.

O'Toole: THIS CRIME SCENE
NOW HAS EXTENDED

WELL BEYOND THE BAY AREA.

AND IT COULD HAVE EVEN GONE
INTO ANOTHER STATE.

AND REMEMBER, BACK THEN,

THERE WERE NO COMPUTERS,
NO INTERNET.

THE DATABASE FOR THESE GUYS
WAS CALLED A FILING CABINET.

A SEARCH ENGINE,
IT HAD FOUR WHEELS AND A V-8.

O'Toole:
THEY WANT TO FIND STEPHANIE IN THE ABSOLUTE WORST WAY.

THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN
TO GENERATE LEADS.

TOO MUCH TIME HAD PASSED
WITHOUT A REAL RANSOM CALL.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.

THE MOTIVE WASN'T MONEY.

IT WAS SOMETHING WORSE.

AH, THOMAS.
PEEPING THOMAS.

WE MEET AGAIN.

LOOK FAMILIAR?

14-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL.

I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW
WHO SHE IS, OFFICER.

I'M GETTING SO TIRED
OF SEEING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

O'Toole: WELL, BACK IN 1955,

THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT PROFILING

OR CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT MORE TO GO ON
THAN CONTACTING PEOPLE

THAT MAY HAVE HAD PROPENSITY
TO DO THIS KIND OF THING.

THEY HAULED IN EVERY CREEP
IN THE FILES --

FLASHERS AND MASHERS,
PERVS AND JERKERS.

IT'S LIKE WE BOUGHT A TICKET
TO THE LOSER PARADE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

I'VE NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE,

AND I KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT THIS GIRL.

THAT CAME TO A DEAD END,
AS WELL.

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

[ SIGHS ]

McNamara:
STEPHANIE'S DISAPPEARANCE HAS BEEN HEADLINE NEWS

FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

[ SIGHS ]

THE CASE IS ESSENTIALLY COLD.

IT'S AT A STANDSTILL.

NOW, HERE'S THE THING
YOU HAVE TO KNOW

ABOUT WORKING THE CRIME BEAT.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK
YOUR STORY IS PETERED OUT,

YOUR NEXT HEADLINE CAN HIT.

AND IT CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE.

[ DOOR CREAKS ]

AND I MEAN ANYWHERE.

McNamara:
IN A HOUSE IN ALAMEDA,

GEORGIA ABBOTT,
A 33-YEAR-OLD COSMETOLOGIST,

GOES DOWN INTO HER BASEMENT...

...AND SHE DISCOVERS
A RED LEATHER PURSE.

AND IT'S NOT HERS.

THE STEPHANIE BRYAN
DISAPPEARANCE

HAD BEEN FRONT-PAGE NEWS
FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS,

BUT THE POLICE HAD NOTHING.

AND THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,

THEY GET
THE MOTHER OF ALL BREAKS...

...IN THE CRAZIEST OF PLACES.

Officer: MRS. ABBOTT,
WHAT BROUGHT YOU DOWN --

PLEASE CALL ME GEORGIA.

GEORGIA.

O'Toole: THE DETECTIVES GO IN,
AND THEY TRY TO GET THE STORY

BEHIND HOW THESE ITEMS COULD
HAVE ENDED UP IN THEIR BASEMENT.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHY YOU WERE IN THE BASEMENT

THIS EVENING?

WELL, I WAS GOING DOWN TO LOOK
FOR A HAT.

UH, FOR A COSTUME.

COSTUME?
DO YOU GO DOWN THERE OFTEN?

UH, NOT OFTEN.

I'M THE HEAD
OF THE COSMETOLOGY SOCIETY,

AND EVERY YEAR WE HOST
A SORT OF GALA EVENT...THING.

UM, OTTO?

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE THEME
WAS LAST YEAR FOR THE GALA?

UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UM,
OLD WEST, WESTERN?

THIS YEAR, IT'S 1920s THEMED,
AND I NEEDED A FLAPPER HAT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

AND DO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAVE
ANY OTHER AREAS OF STORAGE,

MAYBE THE ATTIC?

[ CHUCKLES ]
OTTO'S NOT MY HUSBAND.

WE'RE NOT MARRIED.

NO.
UH, BURTON'S MY HUSBAND.

MR. ABBOTT, YOU MIND
IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?

NOT AT ALL.

McNamara:
BURTON ABBOTT IS 27.

HE IS AN ACCOUNTING STUDENT
AT U.C. BERKELEY.

HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

SEVEN YEARS?

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH
WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?

YEAH.

UH, WELL, I WAS COOKING.

WE WERE JUST GETTING READY
FOR DINNER.

AND MY WIFE, SHE CAME UPSTAIRS
HOLDING A RED PURSE.

SHE OPENED IT UP.
SHE SHOWED IT TO US.

AND INSIDE WAS AN I.D. CARD
OF STEPHANIE BRYAN.

WE RECOGNIZED THE NAME
FROM THE PAPERS.

DID YOU TOUCH IT?

YES.

I THINK
WE ALL TOUCHED THE PURSE.

MYSELF, OTTO, GEORGIA,
MY MOTHER.

YOUR MOTHER?

YES, MY MOTHER, ELSIE.
IS SHE HERE?

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO SPEAK TO HER.

NO.
SHE WAS HERE, BUT SHE LEFT.

SHE --
SHE DOESN'T REALLY LIKE

PEOPLE INTRUDING
IN ON THE HOUSE, SO.

MM.

AND OTHER THAN YOU
AND YOUR HUSBAND,

HAS ANYBODY HAD ANY ACCESS
TO THE BASEMENT?

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

AND, YOU KNOW, WE USED IT
AS A POLLING STATION

FOR THIS LITTLE ELECTION
A FEW MONTHS AGO.

A POLLING STATION?
YES.

SO, A LOT OF THE PUBLIC
WAS DOWN THERE.

AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE
PUT IT DOWN THERE.

WELL, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

FOR THE COPS TO CHECK OUT,

AND THEY WOULD
IF THEY WERE FORCED TO.

BUT RIGHT THEN, THOSE
DETECTIVES WERE MORE INTERESTED

IN THE THREE PEOPLE
IN THAT HOUSE.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH BURTON AND GEORGIA ABBOTT?

UM, FAMILY FRIENDS,
NEIGHBOR.

[ CHUCKLES ] GEORGIA ACTUALLY
WORKS AT MY WIFE'S BEAUTY SALON.

OTTO DEZMAN WAS MARRIED
TO LEONA DEZMAN

WHO OWNED THE BEAUTY PARLOR
WHERE GEORGIA WORKED.

AND HE WAS AN EX-MARINE,

KIND OF DID A LITTLE BIT
OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.

WHERE WERE YOU
APRIL 28th?

YOU REMEMBER?

YEAH, I WAS WORKING
ON A CONSTRUCTION JOB,

AND I HAD TO RUN SOME ERRANDS
THAT DAY.

I WAS PROBABLY
AT THE BEAUTY PARLOR

BECAUSE I WORK
EVERY THURSDAY.

THE 28th OF APRIL?

THE 28th, YEAH.

I WAS HEADED UP
TO THE FAMILY CABIN

FOR A FISHING TRIP.

AND WHERE IS THAT?

IT'S UP IN WEAVERVILLE,
IN TRINITY COUNTY.

ABOUT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU
TO GET OUT THERE?

WELL,
IT WAS LONG ENOUGH.

I MEAN, IT'S ABOUT 300 MILES
FROM HERE TO WEAVERVILLE.

SO, IT TOOK A GOOD CHUNK
OF THE DAY.

I DID STOP OFF FOR A MEAL
AT THE CHUCK WAGON.

AND I ALSO STOPPED OFF
AT THE WILDWOOD INN

TO GET
A COUPLE OF DRINKS...

AND ARRIVED AT THE CABIN.

MM-HMM.

BURTON SAYS THAT
HE HAD GONE TO A FAMILY CABIN

ABOUT SIX HOURS AWAY.

[ VEHICLE APPROACHES,
ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]

THINK ABOUT IT.

THE MISSING GIRL'S PURSE
WAS FOUND

IN SOME WEIRD GUY'S BASEMENT,

AND HE MENTIONS A SOLO TRIP
UP TO A SECLUDED CABIN

IN THE WOODS?

YOU BET THE COPS
WERE GONNA CHECK IT OUT.

O'Toole:
THEY LOOK AROUND THE CABIN.

THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF STEPHANIE.

THEY GO TO THE CHUCK WAGON,
AND THEY TALK TO A WAITRESS.

THE INVESTIGATORS PRESENTED HER
WITH SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM.

AND SHE SAID, "OH, YEAH, YEAH.
I RECOGNIZE HIM.

"YOU KNOW, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER

HAVING A CONVERSATION
WITH THAT GUY."

AND SHE DESCRIBED KIND OF
WHAT WE HE WAS WEARING,

WHICH MATCHED UP
WITH WHAT HE SAID HE WAS WEARING

ON THAT THURSDAY EVENING.

THAT MEANT ABBOTT WAS AT LEAST
SIX HOURS NORTH OF BERKELEY

WHEN STEFFIE WAS SNATCHED,
SO THAT WAS A NO-GO.

SO, THEY COME BACK HOME
TO THE BAY AREA.

McNamara: THE COPS GO BACK
TO THE ABBOTT HOUSE,

AND THEY TURNED IT INSIDE-OUT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Burton: MOTHER?
THEY'D LIKE YOU DOWNSTAIRS NOW.

O'Toole: BURTON'S CAR
REALLY MATCHED FAIRLY CLOSELY

THE DESCRIPTION OF PEOPLE
THAT HAD CALLED IN WITH LEADS.

A VERY RENOWNED
CRIMINALIST PROFESSOR

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
NAMED PAUL KIRK

COMES AND GOES OVER THE CAR
WITH A FINE-TOOTHED COMB.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING
TO DRINK?

COFFEE? TEA?

THANK YOU.

[ SIGHS ]

YOU COULD TELL THESE PEOPLE
TO LEAVE, IS WHAT YOU COULD DO.

MOTHER.

Officer: I'M HEADING DOWN
TO THE BASEMENT.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

McNamara: AND THEY GO DOWN
INTO THE BASEMENT.

IT'S HALF DIRT,
HALF PAVEMENT.

AND THEY DECIDE
TO START DIGGING.

O'Toole:
NOW WE REALLY PUT A BIG DISTANCE

BETWEEN INVESTIGATORS
AND THE MEDIA.

BUT THERE WAS NO DISTANCE HERE
BACK IN 1955.

THEY WERE ALMOST ELBOW TO ELBOW
ON THIS INVESTIGATION.

McNamara: THEY FIND THE
LIBRARY BOOKS SHE CHECKED OUT,

THE PARAKEET BOOK...

...HER GLASSES...

...AND HER BRA.

THAT MEANS, TO THEM,

THAT SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED
TO STEPHANIE.

STEPHANIE BRYAN'S BELONGINGS
WERE FOUND

IN THE BASEMENT OF A HOUSE
IN BERKELEY.

IT WASN'T A SMOKING GUN,

BUT IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN

AS FAR AS JOHN Q. PUBLIC
WAS CONCERNED.

FOR US IN THE DAILIES,

THE SMART MONEY
WAS ON THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,

A GUY NAMED BURTON ABBOTT.

[ FLASHBULBS POPPING ]

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE SEEING
YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER?

UNPLEASANT, IN A WORD.

TO BE HONEST,
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY LIKES

BEING THROWN INTO THE LIMELIGHT,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS FASHION.

Man:
BURTON, DID YOU DO IT?

AS I'VE TOLD THE POLICE
AND THE FBI MANY TIMES,

I DID NOT, NO.

O'Toole: AT THIS POINT,
BURTON ABBOTT SAYS,

"HEY, I'M COMPLETELY INNOCENT.

"I'M BEING FRAMED.

"I DIDN'T PUT THOSE ITEMS THERE.

"I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU

THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD ACCESS
TO MY BASEMENT."

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO STEPHANIE BRYAN'S FAMILY?

I'M MOURNING WITH THEM,
AS ARE MY FAMILY.

I'M A FATHER MYSELF,
AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE

THE HORROR
THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH.

AND WE'RE ALL PRAYING

THAT SHE'S REUNITED
WITH HER FAMILY VERY SOON.

[ SIGHS ]

IF I COULD BE FRANK,
ME AND MY FAMILY,

W-WE'RE KIND OF READY
FOR THIS MEDIA FRENZY,

IF YOU WILL CALL IT, TO BE OVER.

WE'RE READY TO GO BACK
TO OUR DAILY LIVES.

AND SO, I'VE AGREED
TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH TEST

FOR THE POLICE

AND DO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN
TO SPEED THIS PROCESS ALONG

BECAUSE, FRANKLY,
I THINK WE'RE READY

TO JUST GO BACK
TO OUR PRIVATE LIVES.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
THAT WILL BE ALL.

[ WHIRRING ]

Riedel: IS YOUR NAME
BURTON WILBUR ABBOTT?

YES.

DO YOU LIVE
AT 1408 SAN JOS� AVENUE?

YES.

ARE YOU MARRIED
TO GEORGIA ABBOTT?

YES.

Orloff:
THE POLYGRAPH IS ADMINISTERED BY A BERKELEY DETECTIVE

CALLED AL RIEDEL.

HE WAS THOUGHT OF AS ONE
OF THE TOP POLYGRAPH EXAMINERS

IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DID YOU DO
ON APRIL 28, 1955?

UH, WENT TO
MY WIFE'S PARLOR,

SAID HELLO TO HER
ABOUT 10:00 A.M.

AND THEN I DROVE UP
TO WEAVERVILLE, TRINITY COUNTY.

ON MY WAY,
I STOPPED FOR GAS.

O'Toole: THEY ASK, "DO YOU HAVE
A RECEIPT FOR THE GAS?"

AND HE SAYS,
"NO, I DON'T HAVE A RECEIPT.

"I PAID CASH.

"MY WIFE SAYS I USE
THE CREDIT CARD TOO MUCH,

SO I CAN'T VERIFY THAT."

I STOPPED AT THE CHUCK WAGON
TO HAVE AN EARLY DINNER.

THAT'S WHERE THE WAITRESS
HAD SEEN HIM.

I STOPPED AT THE WILDWOOD INN
TO HAVE A DRINK.

I SAID HELLO TO THE OWNER.

THEN I GOT TO THE CABIN,
AND I WENT TO BED.

HE TELLS INVESTIGATORS THAT HE
SPENT THAT NIGHT AT THE CABIN.

TELL US YOUR ROUTE HOME.

I TOOK THE ZIG-ZAGGIEST ROUTE
YOU EVER DID SEE.

ROUTE 36 TO 99 EAST,

HIGHWAY 40
OVER THE CARQUINEZ BRIDGE.

THEN I TOOK A SHORTCUT
ALONG FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD.

STEPHANIE BRYAN'S FRENCH BOOK

WAS FOUND
ON FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD.

DO YOU KNOW
STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

DID YOU ABDUCT
STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

DID YOU KILL
STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

I DON'T SEE
ANY FLUCTUATION.

McNamara:
THE RESULTS ARE INCONCLUSIVE.

NOTHING SHOWS
THAT BURTON'S LYING.

THE POLYGRAPH DIDN'T PAN OUT
LIKE THEY WERE HOPING IT WOULD,

AND THAT LEFT THEM WITH
TWO OPTIONS THEY DIDN'T LIKE.

"A," BURTON WAS THEIR GUY,

BUT HAD SOMEHOW
BEATEN THE TEST.

OR "B," BURTON WASN'T THEIR GUY

AND THEY WERE BACK
TO SQUARE ONE.

SIR?

McNamara: THEN THEY GET
AN ANONYMOUS NOTE.

O'Toole:
THE NOTE SAYS, "IT'S NOT BURTON.

WHO YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT
ARE GEORGIA AND OTTO."

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU

THE TRUTH IS STRANGER
THAN FICTION.

THE IDEA OF THAT PAIR
FRAMING BURTON FOR MURDER

WASN'T SO CRAZY.

SO, THE DETECTIVES WENT TO
TALK TO THE PERSON

WHO HAD AVOIDED THEM
FROM THE BEGINNING,

THE ONE WHO MIGHT KNOW
ALL THERE WAS TO KNOW

ABOUT GEORGIA, OTTO,
AND BURTON.

ANY INFORMATION
THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR US,

WE'D REALLY --

PERHAPS YOU SHOULD
ASK HER.

GEORGIA?

YES.
AND MAYBE OTTO.

GEORGIA AND OTTO?

YES, PERHAPS.

WHY DO YOU BRING UP
THEIR NAMES?

WELL, THEY DO SEEM
AWFULLY CLOSE.

MM-HMM.

ELSIE SAID,
"GEORGIA JUMPS FROM MAN TO MAN.

SHE'S UNFAITHFUL TO MY SON."

AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT
WHAT BURTON IS SAYING IS THAT,

"SOMEBODY'S FRAMING ME,"

AND THE IMPLICATION IS

THAT OTTO COULD BE
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

McNamara:
INVESTIGATORS RECALL

THAT THEY THOUGHT GEORGIA
AND OTTO SEEMED A LITTLE COZY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW,
SPINNING THAT THEORY OUT,

THEY HAVE TO BE OPEN
TO THE POSSIBILITY...

THANKS AGAIN.

...DID OTTO FRAME BURTON
SO THAT HE COULD HAVE GEORGIA?

O'Toole:
OTTO'S NEIGHBOR CAME FORWARD.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD HEARD
SCREAMING FROM HIS GARAGE

THE DAY
THAT STEPHANIE WENT MISSING.

NOT ONLY THAT,

SHE SAID SHE HAD A HOE
AND SHE HAD A SHOVEL

THAT WERE MISSING
FROM HER GARAGE.

SIT HIM DOWN.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH GEORGIA ABBOTT?

YOU'VE BEEN SLEEPING
WITH HER.

NO!

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

OTTO DENIED THE AFFAIR

AND THE RUMORS
FROM HIS NEIGHBOR.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK
A GUY'S GONNA SAY

WHEN HE'S PUT IN A SPOT
LIKE THAT?

WHERE WERE YOU APRIL 28th WHEN
STEPHANIE BRYAN DISAPPEARED?

Orloff:
THAT DAY, OTTO'S WIFE WAS WORKING AT THE BEAUTY PARLOR.

LET ME SEE THAT.

HE WENT INTO
THE BEAUTY PARLOR,

AND THERE WAS A WOMAN THERE
THAT HAD A PARKING TICKET.

AND HE VOLUNTEERS
TO TAKE HER PARKING TICKET

TO THE PARKING BUREAU
AND PAY IT.

DATE CHECKS OUT.

THAT PUTS HIM IN ALAMEDA
WHEN STEPHANIE DISAPPEARS.

SO, HE BASICALLY HAS
AN IRON-CLAD ALIBI.

WERE GEORGIA AND OTTO HAVING
AN AFFAIR?

WHO KNOWS?

THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING
STOPPED RIGHT THERE.

AND THAT'S WHEN ONE OF US --
A REPORTER, I MEAN,

A REAL HARD CASE
NAMED ED MONTGOMERY --

PLAYED A HUNCH.

BETWEEN THE CAR,
FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD,

STEPHANIE'S STUFF
IN THE BASEMENT,

AND ABBOTT'S TIMELY TRIP NORTH,

MONTGOMERY DECIDED THERE HAD
TO BE ANSWERS UP AT THAT CABIN.

McNamara:
THERE WAS NO WAY IN HIS MIND

THAT THERE WASN'T SOMETHING
UP THERE THAT THE COPS MISSED.

MONTGOMERY AND A PHOTOGRAPHER
WENT DOWN

TO BURTON ABBOTT'S CABIN SITE
AND LOOKED AROUND.

McNamara:
THEY LOOKED AND THEY LOOKED,

AND THE DAY WAS ENDING.

SO, MONTGOMERY,
BEING THE SMART,

RESOURCEFUL REPORTER
THAT HE WAS...

[ DOGS BARKING ]

...WENT AND FOUND
SOME BLOODHOUNDS.

O'Toole: THE DOGS HIT...

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

...AT A LOCATION
THAT'S WAY UP ON A STEEP HILL.

BUT AS THEY GET CLOSER...

THEY SEE A LITTLE SADDLE SHOE
STICKING OUT OF THE DIRT.

A CABIN IN THE WOODS,
AN INTREPID REPORTER,

AND A PACK OF BLOODHOUNDS.

THREE HOURS LATER,
WE WERE STARING AT A BODY,

AND THE COPS WERE SWARMING.

O'Toole:
THEY FIND STEPHANIE'S BODY

WITHIN 330-SOME FEET
TO THE CABIN

WHERE BURTON SAYS
HE WAS THAT THURSDAY.

McNamara: THEY'RE ABLE TO TELL
FROM INSECT LARVAE

THAT SHE WAS KILLED
SHORTLY AFTER HER ABDUCTION.

THERE HAD BEEN SOME
VERY SEVERE BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA

TO HER HEAD.

THEY SAW THAT HER UNDERPANTS
HAD BEEN AROUND HER THROAT.

I HAVE TO ADMIT,
EVEN FOR VETERAN REPORTERS,

THE DETAILS WERE NIGHTMARISH.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

Man:
THERE HE IS!

Man #2: ALL RIGHT, FELLAS.
MOVE IT ALONG.

O'Toole:
SO, THEY ARREST HIM.

BUT HE'S STILL PRETTY COOL,
AND HE'S CALM,

AND HE'S COLLECTED.

NOW THE PROSECUTOR KNOWS
THAT HE'S UNDER A TIME CRUNCH.

IT SOUNDS FROM THE OUTSET
LIKE HE HAD A GOOD CASE.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO COURT,

THAT EVIDENCE HAS TO RISE
TO A CERTAIN LEVEL

WHERE A JURY OF PEOPLE
WOULD SAY,

"THIS IS MORE
THAN CIRCUMSTANTIAL."

SO, HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO NEED
FORENSIC EVIDENCE

BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T,
BURTON'S GOING TO WALK.

NOVEMBER 7, 1955,

THE TRIAL STARTED,
AND IT WAS GONNA BE HUGE.

HACKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
SHOWED UP.

AND JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT

THE CIRCUS COULDN'T GET
ANY BIGGER...

THE MAIN ATTRACTION ARRIVED
TO TAKE CENTER RING.

AND LET ME TELL YOU,
HE WAS A SHOW-STOPPER.

O'Toole: BURTON ABBOTT HAS
NO EMOTION THAT'S CONSISTENT

WITH THE FACT THAT HE'S FACING
THE CHARGE OF HOMICIDE

WITH THE POSSIBILITY
OF A DEATH SENTENCE.

HE'S COMPLETELY DETACHED
FROM THAT.

IN COURT,
HE'S GLIB AND CHARMING.

HE WAS LAUGHING AND JOKING
TO THE MEDIA,

TO THE DEFENSE,
TO ANYBODY THERE.

'COURSE,
THE D.A. WAS UNIMPRESSED

WITH ABBOTT'S SHENANIGANS

AND WENT RIGHT AFTER HIM
AND HIS ALIBI.

BURTON ABBOTT SAID ON THURSDAY,

THE DAY
OF STEPHANIE'S DISAPPEARANCE,

HE LEFT FOR TRINITY COUNTY

SOME TIME SHORTLY AFTER
10:00 IN THE MORNING.

SO, HE COULDN'T
HAVE ABDUCTED STEPHANIE.

AND THE WAITRESS
AT THE CHUCK WAGON HAD SAID

SHE'D SEEN HIM THURSDAY NIGHT.

BUT THE BARTENDER
AT THE WILDWOOD INN

REMEMBERED IT DIFFERENTLY.

Prosecutor:
WAS IT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY?

FRIDAY.

THE BARTENDER SAID, "HE WASN'T
HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT."

THEY VERIFIED THAT HE WAS THERE
THE FOLLOWING DAY,

BUT THEY SAID, "NO, HE WASN'T
HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT."

TOUGH DAY FOR ABBOTT,
AIN'T IT, FELLAS?

[ CHUCKLES ]

HE'S NOT SO COCKY ANYMORE,
IS HE?

GOT THAT RIGHT.

IT WAS A GOOD OPENING MOVE
FOR THE D.A.

SHOW ABBOTT'S A LIAR
ABOUT ONE THING,

AND CHANCES ARE
HE'S A LIAR ABOUT EVERYTHING.

IT'S EFFECTIVE,
BUT IT'S NOT FOOLPROOF,

AND THAT'S WHERE
THE PROSECUTION'S

KEY WITNESS CAME IN.

McNamara:
SO, FINALLY, THE PROSECUTION BRINGS OUT THEIR SECRET WEAPON,

FORENSIC EXPERT PAUL KIRK.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,

THIS WAS BEFORE "PERRY MASON"
AND "THE DEFENDERS"

AND SHOWS THAT MADE US ALL FEEL
THAT WE KNEW OUR WAY AROUND

THE INSIDE OF A COURTROOM.

MOST OF US HAD NEVER SEEN
ANYONE LIKE PAUL KIRK.

Orloff:
PAUL KIRK WAS A NATIONALLY RENOWNED CRIMINOLOGIST.

HE WAS A PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY.

HE HAD DEVELOPED
SEVERAL TECHNIQUES

IN THE AREA
OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

PROFESSOR KIRK, CAN YOU TELL US
THE SIGNIFICANCE

OF THE FIBER THAT YOU FOUND
IN BURTON ABBOTT'S CAR?

I CANNOT ONLY TELL YOU,
I CAN SHOW YOU.

I BROUGHT ALONG
SOME SAMPLES.

O'Toole: PAUL SAYS THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO RECOVER FIBERS

FROM BURTON'S CAR

THAT, ULTIMATELY,
HE WAS ABLE TO MATCH

TO THE FIBERS
IN STEPHANIE'S SWEATER.

HE ALSO SAID HE FOUND HAIRS

THAT MATCHED
THE HAIRS OF STEPHANIE.

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE DIRT

THAT YOU FOUND
ON HIS BOOTS?

WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO,

WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT
IN A LABORATORY,

IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN, SAY,

THE DIRT FOUND ON THE LAWN
OUTSIDE THIS COURTHOUSE

AND A LAWN FOUND A FEW MILES
AWAY IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.

PAUL WAS ABLE TO SAY
THAT THE DIRT ON BURTON'S BOOTS

MATCHED THE DIRT NINE INCHES
DOWN INTO STEPHANIE'S GRAVE.

THE EVIDENCE DON'T LIE, BOYS.
THE EVIDENCE DON'T LIE.

AND ONCE THE D.A. HAD STACKED
UP HIS CASE BRICK BY BRICK,

HE DID WHAT D.A.s DO BEST --

HE TOLD THE JURY A STORY.

McNamara:
ON APRIL 28, 1955,

STEPHANIE BRYAN WAS WALKING HOME
FROM SCHOOL.

[ TWIG SNAPS ]

O'Toole: HE GRABBED HER...

...AND HIT HER...

SO HE COULD
GET CONTROL OF HER.

HE THEN PUT HER IN HIS CAR.

HE HAD AN INSTRUMENT
THAT HE USED

TO INFLICT
THE BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA.

* THAT HAUNTS YOU
NIGHT AND DAY *

AND THEN,
ONCE HE WAS FINISHED WITH HER,

HE THEN PUT HER IN THE TRUNK
OF HIS CAR

AND THEN DROVE UP TO TRINITY....
* JUST LIKE THE STRAIN *

* OF A HAUNTING REFRAIN *

...AND BURIES HER
300 FEET FROM HIS CABIN.

AND THEN, ON HIS WAY HOME,
ABBOTT DISCARDS A FRENCH BOOK.

AND THEN,
ARRIVING HOME, YOU KNOW,

HE'S GOT SOME
OF HER OTHER POSSESSIONS,

AND HE BURIES A COUPLE OF THEM
UNDERNEATH HIS HOUSE.

SIX DAYS OF DELIBERATIONS
AND NO VERDICT.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.

THOSE 12 JURORS COULDN'T AGREE.

AND EVERY HOUR THAT PASSED,

IT GOT MORE LIKELY
THAT ABBOTT WOULD WALK.

THEN FINALLY,
ON THE SEVENTH DAY,

WE GOT WORD
THAT THE JURY WAS BACK.

[ GAVEL BANGING ]

Foreman: WE, THE JURY,
FIND THE DEFENDANT,

BURTON W. ABBOTT,
GUILTY OF FELONY VIOLATION

OF SECTION 209
OF THE PENAL CODE.

O'Toole: THE JURY COMES BACK,
AND THEY FIND HIM GUILTY.

AND HE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

MRS. ABBOTT.

MRS. ABBOTT.

ONE QUESTION.

IS HE GUILTY?

THE VERDICT SENT SHOCK WAVES
THROUGH BERKELEY AND BEYOND.

Man on TV: DOOMED
BY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

IN THE SENSATIONAL TRIAL...

Reporter:
A DEATH SENTENCE WAS JUSTICE IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

Man on TV: ...BLUDGEON MURDER
OF 14-YEAR-OLD STEPHANIE BRYAN.

Reporter: BUT IT WAS
COLD COMFORT TO THE BRYANS,

WHO WOULD NEVER
BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN.

[ CRYING ]

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND
HER PARENTS WANTING,

AT THE VERY LEAST, A REASON --

WHY DO IT?

WHY KILL OUR GIRL?

BUT BURTON WOULD NEVER
GIVE IT TO THEM...

...BECAUSE HE NEVER EVEN
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE DID IT.

Man: WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT
AND ADMIT YOUR GUILT

AND THROW YOURSELF
ON THE MERCY OF THE GOVERNOR?

NOT REALLY, ANYWAY.

I CAN'T ADMIT IT.

THINK OF WHAT IT WOULD DO
TO MY MOTHER.

BUT GET THIS.

EVENTUALLY,
IT CAME OUT IN THE PAPERS

THAT ELSIE HAD MADE HERSELF
SO SCARCE

BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN KEEPING
A SECRET OF HER OWN.

McNamara: SHE, IN FACT,
HAD FOUND THAT PURSE

DOWN IN THE BASEMENT
TWO MONTHS EARLIER,

BEFORE THE LOCAL ELECTION.

AND SHE WAS SILENT AS A MOUSE
ABOUT THAT.

I GUESS THERE'S JUST NO LIMIT

TO THE LOVE BETWEEN A BOY
AND HIS MOTHER.

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS LIKE A MELODY *

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS AND
I'VE COVERED A LOT OF STORIES.

IT'S EASY TO GET HARDENED
ABOUT THINGS,

BUT NOT ABOUT STEFFIE BRYAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THAT
I WAS YOUNG AND IDEALISTIC

OR THAT THIS TOWN WAS,

OR JUST THAT STEFFIE BRYAN,
A BEAUTIFUL 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL,

WAS DESTROYED BY A MONSTER.

BUT I SUPPOSE
IT'S NOT IMPORTANT

WHY WE REMEMBER STEFFIE BRYAN,

JUST THAT WE DO.

* SHE WILL LEAVE YOU
AND THEN *

* SHE'LL COME BACK AGAIN *

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS JUST LIKE *

* A PRETTY TUNE *

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