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NARRATOR: This program is
about unsolved mysteries.
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Whenever possible, the
actual family members
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and police officials
have participated
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in recreating the events.
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What you are about to see
is not a news broadcast.
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ROBERT STACK: The Ouija board--
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to some an entertaining
parlor game; to others,
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a strange and
wondrous instrument,
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able to bridge the gap between
the living and the dead.
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It may sound unbelievable,
but tonight we'll
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bring you the remarkable case
of Pearl Curran, who claimed
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that through the
Ouija board, she
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became the earthly conduit
for a literary spirit named
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Patience Worth.
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September, 1993--
a motel manager
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reports an abandoned
car in his parking lot.
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The vehicle belongs
to Justin Burgwinkel,
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an Army enlisted man
who had apparently
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gone AWOL three months earlier.
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To Justin's parents,
the discovery
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was the latest twist in
a dark scenario that may
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have led to their son's death.
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At first, it seemed like
a routine drug case--
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a few grams of cocaine
smuggled across state lines
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in a box of clothes.
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But then a fistful of
suspicious $100 bills
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put investigators on the
trail of a king's ransom
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in bogus C-notes.
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Now authorities need
your help to capture
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one of the most prolific
counterfeiters in history.
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Join me.
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Perhaps you hold the key.
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Perhaps you may be able
to help solve a mystery.
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[music playing]
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ROBERT STACK: The Ouija board--
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modern face of a
timeless instrument,
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revered for nearly
3,000 years as a method
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to predict the
future and contact
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the spirits of the dead.
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For all its alleged powers, the
Ouija is disarmingly simple--
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nothing more than a
flat piece of wood
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adorned with
letters and numbers.
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Hands resting
lightly on a pointer,
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one of the participants
asks a question.
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Supposedly, the indicator
will move of its own accord
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and spell out an answer.
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The Ouija board first became
popular in the United States
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during the 1890s,
when it was marketed
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as a provocative parlor game.
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A century later, the board
is still a best seller
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and still handing out
answers that push the limits
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of scientific explanation.
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Consider the case of Gaynell
Rawley of Dunkirk, New York.
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Some years ago, Gaynell was
musing about a trip to Scotland
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when she playfully asked the
Ouija board for more details.
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Gaynell's husband looked
on from the kitchen.
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I wonder who I'm going to
go to Scotland with, who I'm
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going to cross the border with?
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I didn't really ask
the Ouija board that.
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I just said it,
kind of sarcastic--
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who's going to be with me
when I go across the border?
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That's what I'd like to know.
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Whoa, whoa!
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ROBERT STACK: Gaynell says
that without hesitation,
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the pointer began to move.
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O N--
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ROBERT STACK: Soon the
baffling answer was complete--
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J. D. MacDonald.
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The Rawleys did not
know a single person
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with that last name.
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Well, J.D. MacDonald.
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Fun now, huh?
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ROBERT STACK: Six months
later, the Rawleys
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were steaming across England,
headed for the Scottish border.
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They got the shock
of a lifetime when
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they were approached by a
fellow passenger, a stranger.
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Hi, I'm J.D. MacDonald.
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I'm from Sydney, Australia.
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GAYNELL RAWLEY: The
minute she said it,
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I remembered the
Ouija board saying it.
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Yeah, I'm Gay Rawley.
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It stunned me so that I
started to kind of laugh,
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and I must have acted a little
strange, because the woman
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kind of pulled back, startled.
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Oh, New York.
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Oh, of course.
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ROBERT STACK: J. D. MacDonald.
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The Rawleys continue to wonder
if their startling encounter
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was simply a coincidence or
proof positive that the Ouija
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board has supernatural powers.
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The Rawley's experience,
though hardly earthshaking,
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is nonetheless a
fitting introduction
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to the most remarkable
Ouija episode of all time.
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Beginning in 1913 and
continuing for several years,
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the lively spirit of a
17th century English woman
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named Patience Worth reportedly
spoke through the board
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from beyond the grave.
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And by all accounts,
Patience wasn't
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content with a simple hello.
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She composed plays, novels, and
countless poems, an astounding
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body of work filling
some 30 volumes that
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has yet to be fully explained.
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The unlikely recipient of
these unworldly contacts
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was Pearl Curran, wife of
a prosperous St. Louis,
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Missouri, businessman.
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Until Patience came
calling, Pearl apparently
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had no interest in the occult--
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00:05:48,248 --> 00:05:50,884
no creative activities
beyond a love of music.
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Pearl Curran had
a very close friend
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named Emily Grant
Hutchings, who was
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a very active freelance writer.
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Mrs. Hutchings became
interested in spiritualism
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and the Ouija board.
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She persuaded Pearl Curran to
take part in some experiments
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with the Ouija
board around 1912.
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As far as we know, Mrs.
Curran was very reluctant.
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Emily, I think
you've gotten carried
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away with this Ouija board.
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I really do.
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I haven't.
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It's like ether, the gasses--
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ROBERT STACK: Once a
week for nearly a year,
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Pearl gamely played along
to humor her friend.
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However, the Ouija produced
little more than gibberish.
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Emily, what book
have you been reading?
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ROBERT STACK: On many
evenings, Pearl's mother
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joined the session, notebook
in hand, just in case.
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M A N--
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00:06:43,737 --> 00:06:46,306
ROBERT STACK: On July
8, 1913, the women
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00:06:46,406 --> 00:06:49,142
had barely taken their places
when the pointer suddenly
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00:06:49,242 --> 00:06:51,779
began whipping across
the board, selecting
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00:06:51,879 --> 00:06:53,647
letters in a dizzying rush.
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I L I--
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00:06:57,317 --> 00:06:58,919
ROBERT STACK: To the
amazement of all present,
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00:06:59,019 --> 00:07:03,056
the letters formed words;
the words, a sentence.
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00:07:03,156 --> 00:07:05,392
Many moons ago, I lived.
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00:07:05,493 --> 00:07:07,595
Again, I come.
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00:07:07,695 --> 00:07:11,565
Patience Worth, my name.
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00:07:11,665 --> 00:07:12,533
Oh!
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00:07:12,633 --> 00:07:14,968
It's a message.
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00:07:15,068 --> 00:07:16,436
Patience?
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That's a Quaker name.
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ROBERT STACK: It was
a modest beginning.
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But soon the women
truly began to believe
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00:07:23,343 --> 00:07:26,413
that the spirit of Patience
Worth, a young Englishwoman
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00:07:26,514 --> 00:07:29,416
dead some 250
years, was reaching
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00:07:29,517 --> 00:07:30,851
out through the Ouija board.
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S C R--
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ROBERT STACK: Over
the next few months,
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Patience began to
dictate literary works
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in an archaic style,
sprinkled with words
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like "thee" and "thou."
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O N S--
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00:07:45,432 --> 00:07:47,367
IRVING LITVAG: Well, the
language of Patience Worth
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was one of the many, many
baffling things in this case.
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It apparently was an
amalgam or a melange
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00:07:55,509 --> 00:07:58,912
of words from many different
times in English history.
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And Patience was often
asked, why do you speak
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in such difficult language?
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And her answer, in
effect, was, I do this
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because if I spoke
in a simpler way
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you would assume it was
Mrs. Curran speaking.
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And it's not Mrs.
Curran speaking.
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It's Patience Worth speaking.
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ROBERT STACK: And Patience
was speaking volumes.
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I L--
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ROBERT STACK: By 1915, when
Pearl's husband John assumed
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00:08:23,604 --> 00:08:25,873
the job of transcribing
the sessions,
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Patience was dictating for
hours on end, producing from 500
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to 3,000 words at a sitting.
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John!
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00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:34,181
Oh, Mr. Reedy, I'm
just so glad you came.
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00:08:34,281 --> 00:08:35,883
ROBERT STACK: Friends
and curiosity seekers
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00:08:35,983 --> 00:08:39,119
flocked to St. Louis to
witness the astounding creation
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of poems, plays, and novels.
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Mr. Reedy, this
is my wife, Pearl.
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How do you do?
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00:08:44,324 --> 00:08:46,126
ROBERT STACK: One of those
who came to see the spectacle
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00:08:46,226 --> 00:08:48,829
for himself was William
M. Reedy, publisher
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00:08:48,929 --> 00:08:51,899
of a respected literary journal.
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00:08:51,999 --> 00:08:55,836
Oh, I don't believe
in this sort of thing.
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00:08:55,936 --> 00:08:56,904
It is rather amazing.
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This is the Ouija board.
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00:08:58,572 --> 00:08:59,573
Um-hmm.
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00:08:59,673 --> 00:09:03,510
Patience, would you
like to greet Mr. Reedy?
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00:09:03,611 --> 00:09:06,179
A--
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00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:07,380
ROBERT STACK:
Patience replied with
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00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,918
characteristic irreverence,
roughly translated--
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00:09:11,018 --> 00:09:14,054
Hello, Mr. Fat and Wide.
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00:09:14,154 --> 00:09:15,255
E.
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00:09:15,355 --> 00:09:16,389
Fat and wide?
192
00:09:16,489 --> 00:09:17,725
She doesn't mean anything.
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00:09:17,825 --> 00:09:19,627
She just does
nonsense sometimes.
194
00:09:19,727 --> 00:09:21,561
She certainly does.
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00:09:21,662 --> 00:09:25,098
Mr. Reedy, how would you
like to join in and ask
196
00:09:25,198 --> 00:09:27,100
Patience a question yourself?
197
00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:32,272
Do you suppose Patience would
continue her work on the novel
198
00:09:32,372 --> 00:09:33,974
if I have my hands on it?
199
00:09:34,074 --> 00:09:35,609
Why don't we see?
200
00:09:35,709 --> 00:09:37,310
Well--
201
00:09:37,410 --> 00:09:38,646
ROBERT STACK: By the
end of the session,
202
00:09:38,746 --> 00:09:39,647
William Reedy was enchanted.
203
00:09:39,747 --> 00:09:40,547
Yes.
204
00:09:40,648 --> 00:09:41,949
Yes!
205
00:09:42,049 --> 00:09:43,917
ROBERT STACK: His enthusiastic
articles helped propel the case
206
00:09:44,017 --> 00:09:45,585
to international prominence.
207
00:09:48,221 --> 00:09:51,258
Reedy never was willing
to admit that Patience
208
00:09:51,358 --> 00:09:52,592
Worth was indeed a spirit.
209
00:09:52,693 --> 00:09:54,394
He never would go that far.
210
00:09:54,494 --> 00:09:58,231
But what he did proclaim, and
he proclaimed it again and again
211
00:09:58,331 --> 00:10:02,435
in his journal, was the
literary merit of the writings
212
00:10:02,535 --> 00:10:03,737
of Patience Worth.
213
00:10:03,837 --> 00:10:06,173
In fact, he said that these
were extremely, extremely
214
00:10:06,273 --> 00:10:09,042
remarkable writings,
almost unparalleled
215
00:10:09,142 --> 00:10:11,945
in literary history.
216
00:10:12,045 --> 00:10:13,280
ROBERT STACK: The
praise continued
217
00:10:13,380 --> 00:10:15,749
when Patience completed a
full-length novel, "The Sorry
218
00:10:15,849 --> 00:10:17,050
Tale."
219
00:10:17,150 --> 00:10:19,486
Despite its mysterious
origins, the book
220
00:10:19,586 --> 00:10:22,622
was snapped up by publishing
giant Henry Holt & Company.
221
00:10:26,193 --> 00:10:29,529
IRVING LITVAG: "The Sorry Tale"
was a novel about Palestine
222
00:10:29,629 --> 00:10:31,298
at the time of Jesus.
223
00:10:31,398 --> 00:10:34,968
A leading historian in St.
Louis reviewed "The Sorry Tale"
224
00:10:35,068 --> 00:10:36,770
and he said,
unquestionably, this
225
00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:41,541
is the greatest book about
Jesus written since the gospels.
226
00:10:41,641 --> 00:10:43,911
Now, for a
distinguished historian
227
00:10:44,011 --> 00:10:47,748
to write something of this
kind was almost unheard of,
228
00:10:47,848 --> 00:10:50,751
because he was putting
his career on the line
229
00:10:50,851 --> 00:10:53,721
by taking this position
about the writings of someone
230
00:10:53,821 --> 00:10:56,323
purporting to be a spirit.
231
00:10:56,423 --> 00:11:01,228
Patience Worth was a
spirit from the 16th century
232
00:11:01,328 --> 00:11:04,798
as far as Pearl
Curran is concerned.
233
00:11:04,898 --> 00:11:07,300
ROBERT STACK: Stoker
Hunt, author of "Ouija,
234
00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:08,702
the Most Dangerous Game."
235
00:11:08,802 --> 00:11:13,273
--probably the best
documented case of Ouija
236
00:11:13,373 --> 00:11:15,342
work in the Western world.
237
00:11:15,442 --> 00:11:18,178
She did-- she produced
masterpiece after masterpiece--
238
00:11:18,278 --> 00:11:20,680
hailed at the time
as masterpieces.
239
00:11:20,781 --> 00:11:24,885
Her poetry was published
in very sophisticated
240
00:11:24,985 --> 00:11:28,889
books, magazines of poetry.
241
00:11:28,989 --> 00:11:30,791
ROBERT STACK: Indeed,
the "New York Times"
242
00:11:30,891 --> 00:11:34,027
gave "The Sorry Tale" a rousing
review, saying it was written
243
00:11:34,127 --> 00:11:37,765
with, quote, "the precision and
the accuracy of a master hand."
244
00:11:40,801 --> 00:11:43,336
However, the acclaim
was not universal.
245
00:11:43,436 --> 00:11:46,506
Some skeptics accused
Pearl Curran of fraud.
246
00:11:46,606 --> 00:11:49,542
They charged that she would
memorize stories all day, then
247
00:11:49,642 --> 00:11:51,812
at the sessions pass
off the information
248
00:11:51,912 --> 00:11:55,916
as coming from Patience Worth.
249
00:11:56,016 --> 00:11:57,317
IRVING LITVAG:
The investigators,
250
00:11:57,417 --> 00:11:59,419
and there were a number of them
who really looked into the case
251
00:11:59,519 --> 00:12:00,821
very carefully,
found that there was
252
00:12:00,921 --> 00:12:02,756
just no truth in these stories.
253
00:12:02,856 --> 00:12:04,591
Everybody agreed
that Pearl Curran
254
00:12:04,691 --> 00:12:08,028
lived the average, typical life
of a housewife during the day.
255
00:12:08,128 --> 00:12:09,296
She would clean her house.
256
00:12:09,396 --> 00:12:11,231
She would go grocery shopping.
257
00:12:11,331 --> 00:12:14,968
She was not poring
over books all day.
258
00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:16,469
ROBERT STACK: A different
theory was advanced
259
00:12:16,569 --> 00:12:18,806
by the scientific community.
260
00:12:18,906 --> 00:12:20,808
Perhaps Patience
Worth and her writings
261
00:12:20,908 --> 00:12:25,779
were creations of Pearl
Curran's subconscious mind.
262
00:12:25,879 --> 00:12:29,516
IRVING LITVAG: Pearl Curran
came from working-class parents.
263
00:12:29,616 --> 00:12:31,919
Her father was a railroad man.
264
00:12:32,019 --> 00:12:35,322
She quit school at the
age of 13 and, apparently,
265
00:12:35,422 --> 00:12:37,657
neither before nor
after that ever evinced
266
00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:39,827
any particular interest
in reading or literature
267
00:12:39,927 --> 00:12:41,494
or anything of that kind.
268
00:12:41,594 --> 00:12:45,665
All of a sudden this
provincial St. Louis housewife
269
00:12:45,765 --> 00:12:49,569
had a separate personality that
was capable of writing works
270
00:12:49,669 --> 00:12:54,274
that the "New York Times"
labeled the works of a genius?
271
00:12:54,374 --> 00:12:57,177
I just don't see how
science can so readily
272
00:12:57,277 --> 00:12:58,611
explain this phenomenon away.
273
00:13:02,415 --> 00:13:04,017
ROBERT STACK: The books
and poems, incredible
274
00:13:04,117 --> 00:13:05,618
as they seemed,
were overshadowed
275
00:13:05,718 --> 00:13:09,089
by yet another facet of
this astonishing case.
276
00:13:09,189 --> 00:13:11,992
The Currans, childless after
nine years of marriage,
277
00:13:12,092 --> 00:13:15,495
finally decided to adopt at
the persistent urging of none
278
00:13:15,595 --> 00:13:17,764
other than Patience Worth.
279
00:13:17,865 --> 00:13:21,034
In August of 1960, Pearl
and John made arrangements
280
00:13:21,134 --> 00:13:23,003
with a widow who
was unable to care
281
00:13:23,103 --> 00:13:26,139
for the baby she was
expecting, a baby Patience
282
00:13:26,239 --> 00:13:28,475
predicted would be a girl.
283
00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:30,177
For many, the
episode would provide
284
00:13:30,277 --> 00:13:33,246
convincing evidence
that supernatural powers
285
00:13:33,346 --> 00:13:35,315
were at work.
286
00:13:35,415 --> 00:13:37,717
N O--
287
00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:39,119
IRVING LITVAG: One
evening, Patience
288
00:13:39,219 --> 00:13:43,957
was busily dictating when
precisely at 8:00 PM,
289
00:13:44,057 --> 00:13:45,125
she suddenly stopped.
290
00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:48,728
And she said in her own
words, "This is enough.
291
00:13:48,828 --> 00:13:51,164
How can I go on
weaving"-- which is
292
00:13:51,264 --> 00:13:52,632
what she called her writing--
293
00:13:52,732 --> 00:13:55,302
"when something of this
importance is happening?"
294
00:13:55,402 --> 00:13:58,038
And she refused to continue.
295
00:13:58,138 --> 00:14:00,573
John, I'm suddenly
feeling very faint.
296
00:14:00,673 --> 00:14:03,076
Come, darling, let
me take you upstairs.
297
00:14:03,176 --> 00:14:04,577
ROBERT STACK: Later that
evening, the Currans
298
00:14:04,677 --> 00:14:06,779
received electrifying news.
299
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,217
The child they planned to
adopt was born at 8 PM--
300
00:14:10,317 --> 00:14:13,020
born at precisely the moment
Patience had interrupted
301
00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:14,221
her Ouija dictation.
302
00:14:17,157 --> 00:14:19,292
Just as Patience had
foretold, the infant
303
00:14:19,392 --> 00:14:21,228
turned out to be a girl.
304
00:14:21,328 --> 00:14:24,097
It was the first of several
uncanny coincidences
305
00:14:24,197 --> 00:14:25,065
noted by the Currans.
306
00:14:27,901 --> 00:14:29,036
IRVING LITVAG:
They further found,
307
00:14:29,136 --> 00:14:31,438
after visiting the
child, that the baby
308
00:14:31,538 --> 00:14:34,041
had red hair and brown eyes--
309
00:14:34,141 --> 00:14:36,409
the exact coloration
that Patience Worth
310
00:14:36,509 --> 00:14:39,146
often had claimed for herself.
311
00:14:39,246 --> 00:14:42,349
They also found out that
the mother of the child
312
00:14:42,449 --> 00:14:45,618
had ancestry that
was English-Scotch,
313
00:14:45,718 --> 00:14:48,088
and this was the very same
ancestry that Patience
314
00:14:48,188 --> 00:14:50,790
Worth had claimed for herself.
315
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:52,825
We're going to
call her Patience--
316
00:14:52,926 --> 00:14:55,095
Patience Worth Curran.
317
00:14:55,195 --> 00:14:56,596
ROBERT STACK: For most
spirits this would have
318
00:14:56,696 --> 00:14:58,565
been accomplishment enough.
319
00:14:58,665 --> 00:15:00,968
However, Patience Worth
continued to dictate
320
00:15:01,068 --> 00:15:02,369
through the Ouija board.
321
00:15:02,469 --> 00:15:04,804
And a second novel,
entitled "Hope Trueblood,"
322
00:15:04,904 --> 00:15:09,776
hit the stores in 1918.
323
00:15:09,876 --> 00:15:12,045
The communication between
Pearl and Patience
324
00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:15,482
continued unabated
for another 19 years.
325
00:15:15,582 --> 00:15:17,951
Pearl's husband, John,
transcribed the sessions
326
00:15:18,051 --> 00:15:22,822
until his death in 1922.
327
00:15:22,922 --> 00:15:25,458
In 1930, at the urging
of a close friend,
328
00:15:25,558 --> 00:15:28,996
Pearl moved from St.
Louis to Los Angeles.
329
00:15:29,096 --> 00:15:32,532
In November of 1937 the
legacy of Patience Worth
330
00:15:32,632 --> 00:15:36,103
drew to a close with a
disquieting prediction.
331
00:15:36,203 --> 00:15:39,106
Patience has shown
me the end of the road.
332
00:15:39,206 --> 00:15:42,475
So it's time for you to
carry on as best you can.
333
00:15:45,212 --> 00:15:46,113
I'm a bit tired.
334
00:15:46,213 --> 00:15:48,015
And I think I'm going to go in.
335
00:15:48,115 --> 00:15:49,849
ROBERT STACK: Pearl Curran
was apparently healthy
336
00:15:49,949 --> 00:15:51,751
when she uttered those words.
337
00:15:51,851 --> 00:15:54,954
Inexplicably, she fell
ill within two weeks.
338
00:15:55,055 --> 00:15:57,890
Within another
week she was dead.
339
00:15:57,991 --> 00:16:00,027
The voice of Patience
Worth had been stilled.
340
00:16:03,530 --> 00:16:06,166
Over the course of 24
years, Patience Worth
341
00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:08,801
dictated some 4 million words.
342
00:16:08,901 --> 00:16:11,804
Her poetry appeared
in respected journals.
343
00:16:11,904 --> 00:16:14,707
Her novels basked
in critical acclaim.
344
00:16:14,807 --> 00:16:17,344
But was Patience Worth really
a ghost who communicated
345
00:16:17,444 --> 00:16:19,446
through Pearl Curran?
346
00:16:19,546 --> 00:16:22,949
Perhaps the best answer
came from Patience herself.
347
00:16:23,050 --> 00:16:25,418
After relentless
questioning by a skeptic,
348
00:16:25,518 --> 00:16:28,488
Patience shot back a
challenge-- essentially,
349
00:16:28,588 --> 00:16:32,325
if you're so sure this is a
trick, let's see you do it.
350
00:16:35,395 --> 00:16:38,165
Next, join the hunt for
a master counterfeiter
351
00:16:38,265 --> 00:16:40,700
who printed up millions
in bogus bills.
352
00:16:51,578 --> 00:16:54,381
Day in and day out, it
is a never-ending battle
353
00:16:54,481 --> 00:16:56,183
along thousands
of miles of border
354
00:16:56,283 --> 00:16:58,585
at dozens of checkpoints.
355
00:16:58,685 --> 00:17:00,787
Customs agents face
long odds trying
356
00:17:00,887 --> 00:17:02,889
to choke off the stream
of drugs flooding
357
00:17:02,989 --> 00:17:05,225
the United States from Mexico.
358
00:17:05,325 --> 00:17:06,893
But every now and
then, officials
359
00:17:06,993 --> 00:17:08,528
get an unexpected break.
360
00:17:12,132 --> 00:17:15,168
In January of 1995, an
alert shipping clerk
361
00:17:15,268 --> 00:17:17,170
in the border town of
Brownsville, Texas,
362
00:17:17,270 --> 00:17:21,208
tipped off authorities to
suspected narcotics activity.
363
00:17:21,308 --> 00:17:23,676
Investigators
jumped on the lead.
364
00:17:23,776 --> 00:17:25,912
They never dreamed that
their routine drug case would
365
00:17:26,012 --> 00:17:28,181
take a surprising
twist, and blow
366
00:17:28,281 --> 00:17:30,183
the cover of a
master counterfeiter
367
00:17:30,283 --> 00:17:31,684
who was literally
making millions.
368
00:17:35,122 --> 00:17:36,889
It all started when
a man named John
369
00:17:36,989 --> 00:17:40,093
Vogel sent a package to his
business address in Minnesota.
370
00:17:40,193 --> 00:17:43,096
What are you shipping today?
371
00:17:43,196 --> 00:17:44,597
What do you mean?
372
00:17:44,697 --> 00:17:46,799
What's inside the box?
373
00:17:46,899 --> 00:17:50,503
Well, what did I
put down on the form?
374
00:17:50,603 --> 00:17:52,205
You wrote down "clothes."
375
00:17:52,305 --> 00:17:53,873
Yeah, that's right--
376
00:17:53,973 --> 00:17:56,309
clothes.
377
00:17:56,409 --> 00:17:58,311
And it's going to Minnesota?
378
00:17:58,411 --> 00:17:59,679
Yeah.
379
00:17:59,779 --> 00:18:01,181
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS: The clerk
was suspicious with Vogel's
380
00:18:01,281 --> 00:18:02,549
answers to the questions.
381
00:18:02,649 --> 00:18:05,985
Being that it's on a border town
and being cognizant drugs do
382
00:18:06,085 --> 00:18:08,688
originate out of Mexico
into the United States,
383
00:18:08,788 --> 00:18:10,690
she contacted US
customs officials.
384
00:18:10,790 --> 00:18:13,626
One, two, three,
four-- there you go.
385
00:18:13,726 --> 00:18:17,264
Customs officials arranged for
a drug-sniffing dog to come in.
386
00:18:17,364 --> 00:18:19,332
The dog alerted or
hit on the package
387
00:18:19,432 --> 00:18:21,067
for the presence of narcotics.
388
00:18:21,168 --> 00:18:22,802
Customs officials then
arranged for the package
389
00:18:22,902 --> 00:18:24,504
to be forwarded on to Minnesota.
390
00:18:24,604 --> 00:18:26,739
Let's see what we got here.
391
00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:28,208
ROBERT STACK: Local
police and customs
392
00:18:28,308 --> 00:18:29,776
agents were waiting
for the parcel
393
00:18:29,876 --> 00:18:31,911
when it arrived in Minnesota.
394
00:18:32,011 --> 00:18:35,515
A search warrant allowed
them to inspect the contents.
395
00:18:35,615 --> 00:18:36,916
If I was a betting man--
396
00:18:37,016 --> 00:18:38,251
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS:
Inside the package
397
00:18:38,351 --> 00:18:39,852
they found various
pieces of men's
398
00:18:39,952 --> 00:18:44,257
clothing, and also two aerosol
containers with fake bottoms.
399
00:18:44,357 --> 00:18:45,392
Bingo.
400
00:18:45,492 --> 00:18:46,693
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS:
Inside the containers
401
00:18:46,793 --> 00:18:51,631
were about four grams of
cocaine and 38 $100 bills
402
00:18:51,731 --> 00:18:53,233
and several strips
of test print that's
403
00:18:53,333 --> 00:18:55,268
used in counterfeit
that reflects a Treasury
404
00:18:55,368 --> 00:18:56,269
seal and serial numbers.
405
00:19:00,072 --> 00:19:01,374
ROBERT STACK: A
four-gram cocaine
406
00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:03,943
bust is not even a pistol
shot in the war on drugs.
407
00:19:04,043 --> 00:19:05,645
This is bogus.
408
00:19:05,745 --> 00:19:07,380
ROBERT STACK: But authorities
had stumbled upon what
409
00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,549
would prove to be one of
the biggest counterfeit
410
00:19:09,649 --> 00:19:10,850
operations on record.
411
00:19:13,453 --> 00:19:16,088
Investigators quickly traced
the identity of the man
412
00:19:16,189 --> 00:19:17,857
who had sent the package.
413
00:19:17,957 --> 00:19:20,327
His name was John
Bryson Vogel, and he
414
00:19:20,427 --> 00:19:21,828
was no stranger to the law.
415
00:19:24,697 --> 00:19:26,366
Vogel had served
time for armed bank
416
00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:30,937
robbery, captured only after
a violent high-speed chase.
417
00:19:31,037 --> 00:19:33,806
Since his parole in
1991, he had operated
418
00:19:33,906 --> 00:19:37,777
a small printing business just
outside Minneapolis, Minnesota.
419
00:19:41,281 --> 00:19:44,183
Federal investigators put
Vogel's cocaine and counterfeit
420
00:19:44,284 --> 00:19:46,486
bills back inside his package.
421
00:19:46,586 --> 00:19:49,422
Then the parcel was taken
to Vogel's business,
422
00:19:49,522 --> 00:19:52,459
special delivery, courtesy
of an undercover Secret
423
00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:53,360
Service agent.
424
00:19:57,664 --> 00:20:02,802
Moments after the delivery,
Vogel had unexpected visitors.
425
00:20:02,902 --> 00:20:04,136
Are you John Vogel?
426
00:20:04,237 --> 00:20:05,037
Yes.
427
00:20:05,137 --> 00:20:06,172
Federal agents.
428
00:20:06,273 --> 00:20:08,375
We have a search warrant
to search your premises.
429
00:20:08,475 --> 00:20:09,976
Got the package.
430
00:20:10,076 --> 00:20:11,578
Mr. Vogel, you're
under arrest.
431
00:20:11,678 --> 00:20:14,013
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS: Officials
found approximately $50,000
432
00:20:14,113 --> 00:20:16,015
in counterfeit money.
433
00:20:16,115 --> 00:20:17,284
Some of the counterfeit
looked like it
434
00:20:17,384 --> 00:20:18,851
had just recently been printed.
435
00:20:18,951 --> 00:20:24,090
It was drying, open, on various
workbenches in the shop.
436
00:20:24,190 --> 00:20:25,992
Vogel's counterfeit
was described
437
00:20:26,092 --> 00:20:27,660
as very good or excellent.
438
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,862
He used various colors
of ink on the bills,
439
00:20:29,962 --> 00:20:31,398
as well as some of
the colored threads
440
00:20:31,498 --> 00:20:33,900
that are put into the
bills for authenticity.
441
00:20:37,404 --> 00:20:39,138
Officials also
searched a storage
442
00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,073
locker Vogel had rented.
443
00:20:41,173 --> 00:20:47,514
In that locker, they found
196,114 counterfeit $100 bills.
444
00:20:47,614 --> 00:20:48,448
Holy Moses.
445
00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:55,588
ROBERT STACK: John Vogel was
indeed a self-made millionaire.
446
00:20:55,688 --> 00:21:01,861
The bogus C-notes added up to
an eye-popping $19,611,000,
447
00:21:01,961 --> 00:21:05,532
the fourth-largest haul
in United States history.
448
00:21:05,632 --> 00:21:07,867
Vogel had been printing
the bills since shortly
449
00:21:07,967 --> 00:21:11,638
after his release from prison.
450
00:21:11,738 --> 00:21:13,172
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS:
Vogel had served time
451
00:21:13,272 --> 00:21:15,575
for a 1986 armed bank robbery.
452
00:21:15,675 --> 00:21:17,310
While he was incarcerated,
he was assigned
453
00:21:17,410 --> 00:21:18,945
to the printing industry.
454
00:21:19,045 --> 00:21:20,913
There it's believed he
learned the counterfeiting
455
00:21:21,013 --> 00:21:22,281
trade from another inmate.
456
00:21:25,585 --> 00:21:28,287
ROBERT STACK: Authorities
nabbed Vogel just in time.
457
00:21:28,388 --> 00:21:30,490
Though he had pressed
millions in phony bills,
458
00:21:30,590 --> 00:21:37,497
he had circulated less
than $50,000 worth.
459
00:21:37,597 --> 00:21:40,400
Authorities learned that Vogel
had logged thousands of miles
460
00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:43,970
crisscrossing America and
spending his phony $100 bills
461
00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:45,605
one by one.
462
00:21:45,705 --> 00:21:48,207
By the time he was
arrested, Vogel's handiwork
463
00:21:48,307 --> 00:21:50,643
had surfaced in nearly half
the states in the country.
464
00:21:53,380 --> 00:21:57,016
On January 17, 1995,
Vogel was released on
465
00:21:57,116 --> 00:21:59,318
a personal recognisance bond.
466
00:21:59,419 --> 00:22:03,823
He promptly disappeared and
has not been seen since.
467
00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:07,694
[music playing]
468
00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:35,822
ROBERT STACK: Next, the strange
case of Justin Burgwinkel.
469
00:22:35,922 --> 00:22:39,325
Did he run away from the Army,
or did a secret operation
470
00:22:39,426 --> 00:22:40,226
lead to his death?
471
00:22:44,797 --> 00:22:49,669
[music playing]
472
00:22:49,769 --> 00:22:53,473
ROBERT STACK: Justin Burgwinkel,
Specialist, United States Army.
473
00:22:53,573 --> 00:22:57,143
He reported for duty
in the summer of 1990.
474
00:22:57,243 --> 00:23:01,881
In the summer of 1993 he went
AWOL, absent without leave,
475
00:23:01,981 --> 00:23:03,750
and inexplicably disappeared.
476
00:23:06,786 --> 00:23:08,655
Three months later
Justin's car was
477
00:23:08,755 --> 00:23:10,890
found gathering
dust in the parking
478
00:23:10,990 --> 00:23:14,661
lot of a remote northern
California motel.
479
00:23:14,761 --> 00:23:18,264
The discovery proved to be one
more indecipherable clue, one
480
00:23:18,364 --> 00:23:21,133
more dead end that left
Justin's family anxiously
481
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:24,471
waiting and wondering.
482
00:23:24,571 --> 00:23:27,974
Now I don't know if he
ran away from the Army.
483
00:23:28,074 --> 00:23:29,842
I don't know if
he was kidnapped.
484
00:23:29,942 --> 00:23:31,678
I don't know if he was murdered.
485
00:23:31,778 --> 00:23:35,014
I do not have one clue
what happened to him.
486
00:23:38,785 --> 00:23:42,489
Specialist Justin Burgwinkel
was respected by his superiors,
487
00:23:42,589 --> 00:23:44,691
well-liked by his
fellow soldiers,
488
00:23:44,791 --> 00:23:48,828
and by all accounts, simply not
the type to suddenly go AWOL.
489
00:23:48,928 --> 00:23:51,430
However, on several
occasions, Justin himself
490
00:23:51,531 --> 00:23:55,167
hinted at a secret life
of undercover operations.
491
00:23:55,267 --> 00:23:56,636
At the time it
seemed as if he was
492
00:23:56,736 --> 00:23:58,437
staging cloak-and-dagger
theatrics
493
00:23:58,538 --> 00:24:00,473
to impress his friends.
494
00:24:00,573 --> 00:24:02,842
But today, those
closest to Justin
495
00:24:02,942 --> 00:24:04,577
believe the key to
his disappearance
496
00:24:04,677 --> 00:24:06,846
may lie somewhere
in a shadowy world
497
00:24:06,946 --> 00:24:08,347
of intrigue and deception.
498
00:24:12,251 --> 00:24:14,286
When he enlisted,
Justin Burgwinkel
499
00:24:14,386 --> 00:24:16,088
set his sights on
an elite combat
500
00:24:16,188 --> 00:24:18,290
unit known as the Rangers.
501
00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:20,392
He scored high on
Army tests and began
502
00:24:20,493 --> 00:24:22,662
language training in Korean.
503
00:24:22,762 --> 00:24:24,764
However, within
six months Justin
504
00:24:24,864 --> 00:24:26,899
was yanked from the
prestigious program
505
00:24:26,999 --> 00:24:30,903
after he was implicated
in a shoplifting incident.
506
00:24:31,003 --> 00:24:33,072
--go down there when I was
back in language school, man.
507
00:24:33,172 --> 00:24:35,241
ROBERT STACK: Ultimately,
Justin was transferred to Fort
508
00:24:35,341 --> 00:24:37,677
Ord near Monterey, California.
509
00:24:37,777 --> 00:24:39,579
There, the would-be
language specialist
510
00:24:39,679 --> 00:24:41,648
found himself assigned
to kitchen duty,
511
00:24:41,748 --> 00:24:43,816
serving up meals to
some 1,000 soldiers.
512
00:24:43,916 --> 00:24:45,284
That's the next hot spot.
513
00:24:45,384 --> 00:24:47,453
They're going to
have nuclear weapons.
514
00:24:47,554 --> 00:24:50,222
He had wanted to go in and
be a Ranger, and of course part
515
00:24:50,322 --> 00:24:52,659
of being a Ranger is going
through the language school.
516
00:24:52,759 --> 00:24:54,093
When they took him out
of there and put him
517
00:24:54,193 --> 00:24:57,463
in the cooks section, he
really had a hard time
518
00:24:57,564 --> 00:24:58,665
dealing with that at first.
519
00:24:58,765 --> 00:25:01,200
But then he kind of
refocused himself and said,
520
00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:03,469
well, you know, if I
want to be a Ranger,
521
00:25:03,570 --> 00:25:04,737
I'm going to have
to get back in there
522
00:25:04,837 --> 00:25:06,172
and really soldier
to get back there.
523
00:25:09,909 --> 00:25:11,510
ROBERT STACK: Like many
of his fellow soldiers,
524
00:25:11,611 --> 00:25:15,481
Justin frequented area
nightclubs on the weekend.
525
00:25:15,582 --> 00:25:18,050
In August of 1992,
he met Iolanda
526
00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:20,286
Antunes, a computer
science student
527
00:25:20,386 --> 00:25:21,420
at Santa Clara University.
528
00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:22,589
Where do you want to go?
529
00:25:22,689 --> 00:25:25,391
I know a good 24-hour
place down the street.
530
00:25:25,491 --> 00:25:27,093
OK.
531
00:25:27,193 --> 00:25:28,527
IOLANDA ANTUNES: There
was a rapport there.
532
00:25:28,628 --> 00:25:31,297
And he asked me for my phone
number, and I gave it to him.
533
00:25:31,397 --> 00:25:34,767
And then one weekend, he showed
up at my door, picked me up.
534
00:25:34,867 --> 00:25:36,535
We went to San Francisco,
and that's when it started.
535
00:25:36,636 --> 00:25:39,606
We spent a whole day in
San Francisco, and we knew.
536
00:25:39,706 --> 00:25:45,011
I knew that he was a great guy.
537
00:25:45,111 --> 00:25:47,046
ROBERT STACK: Iolanda
lived here, in Santa Clara,
538
00:25:47,146 --> 00:25:49,315
south of San Francisco.
539
00:25:49,415 --> 00:25:54,353
Fort Ord was 85 miles down
the coast, near Monterey.
540
00:25:54,453 --> 00:25:58,925
Before long, Justin was visiting
Iolanda at every opportunity.
541
00:25:59,025 --> 00:26:00,292
During the subsequent
months, she
542
00:26:00,392 --> 00:26:04,163
began to see the first signs
of Justin's secretive life.
543
00:26:04,263 --> 00:26:06,766
Citing urgent business, he
would interrupt his stay
544
00:26:06,866 --> 00:26:08,901
to shuttle back and
forth between Iolanda's
545
00:26:09,001 --> 00:26:10,102
apartment and Monterey.
546
00:26:12,772 --> 00:26:14,807
All of a sudden, he
would just stop what he was
547
00:26:14,907 --> 00:26:15,842
doing with me in the afternoon.
548
00:26:15,942 --> 00:26:17,744
And he would just
say, I'm sorry,
549
00:26:17,844 --> 00:26:19,646
but I have to go up to
Monterey and see some people.
550
00:26:19,746 --> 00:26:21,013
But I'll be right back.
551
00:26:21,113 --> 00:26:25,017
And I'll be just saying, just
like that, out of the blue?
552
00:26:25,117 --> 00:26:28,387
And he said, just don't
ask me what it's about.
553
00:26:28,487 --> 00:26:29,555
I'll just return.
- Bye.
554
00:26:29,656 --> 00:26:30,890
See you at 4.
555
00:26:30,990 --> 00:26:32,291
IOLANDA ANTUNES: And that
started kind of bothering me,
556
00:26:32,391 --> 00:26:34,627
because we would have a good day
and all of sudden, he'll leave.
557
00:26:34,727 --> 00:26:36,428
And then he started
getting more vague--
558
00:26:36,528 --> 00:26:38,297
I can't tell you.
559
00:26:38,397 --> 00:26:40,967
I really can't discuss
this with you right now.
560
00:26:41,067 --> 00:26:42,368
It's not right for you to know.
561
00:26:42,468 --> 00:26:44,637
And later on it
became more like,
562
00:26:44,737 --> 00:26:46,172
it just won't be a good
thing for you to know.
563
00:26:46,272 --> 00:26:48,440
It won't be-- you
know, just, I'm
564
00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:54,747
doing something kind of secret
and I can't reveal it to you.
565
00:26:54,847 --> 00:26:56,749
ROBERT STACK: In
February of 1983,
566
00:26:56,849 --> 00:26:58,651
Justin was transferred
from Fort Ord
567
00:26:58,751 --> 00:27:01,587
to Fort Lewis near
Tacoma, Washington.
568
00:27:01,688 --> 00:27:03,823
It wasn't until May,
some 10 weeks later,
569
00:27:03,923 --> 00:27:06,726
that Justin made the trip south
to spend a two-week furlough
570
00:27:06,826 --> 00:27:08,394
with Iolanda.
571
00:27:08,494 --> 00:27:10,997
She recalls the visit
as a jumble of baffling
572
00:27:11,097 --> 00:27:12,464
incidents and odd behavior.
573
00:27:15,301 --> 00:27:18,137
Justin always had
a briefcase with him.
574
00:27:18,237 --> 00:27:21,240
But I didn't think much
of it, because a briefcase
575
00:27:21,340 --> 00:27:22,541
is a briefcase.
576
00:27:22,641 --> 00:27:24,076
Can't make much
about a briefcase--
577
00:27:24,176 --> 00:27:27,814
except he would be very
secretive about it.
578
00:27:27,914 --> 00:27:31,517
He would never open
it in front of me.
579
00:27:31,617 --> 00:27:33,619
Can you stay turned around?
580
00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,554
Don't you want me
to leave the room?
581
00:27:35,654 --> 00:27:37,489
No, no, just please
stay turned around.
582
00:27:43,963 --> 00:27:45,331
IOLANDA ANTUNES: There
was this one time.
583
00:27:45,431 --> 00:27:47,734
And I kind of angled
myself just to turn
584
00:27:47,834 --> 00:27:51,403
and look over my shoulder
to see what he was doing.
585
00:27:56,408 --> 00:27:58,444
All he's doing
with that briefcase
586
00:27:58,544 --> 00:28:00,679
is taking pieces of paper--
587
00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:04,350
taking pieces of paper out and
shredding them with his hands,
588
00:28:04,450 --> 00:28:08,120
just tearing them into
little tiny, tiny pieces.
589
00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:12,491
I mean, into little
squares this small.
590
00:28:12,591 --> 00:28:14,160
ROBERT STACK: Whatever
Justin was involved in
591
00:28:14,260 --> 00:28:16,695
seemed to be veering
out of control.
592
00:28:16,796 --> 00:28:19,431
Iolanda says that one day
she found Justin alone
593
00:28:19,531 --> 00:28:21,600
in the living room, sobbing.
594
00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:22,501
Justin?
595
00:28:26,072 --> 00:28:28,307
Justin, what's wrong?
596
00:28:28,407 --> 00:28:29,208
Nothing.
597
00:28:29,308 --> 00:28:30,109
You OK?
598
00:28:30,209 --> 00:28:32,444
No-- yeah, I'm fine.
599
00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:34,713
ROBERT STACK: Justin never
clarified the incident.
600
00:28:34,814 --> 00:28:39,952
And it was soon eclipsed by
a more mysterious episode.
601
00:28:40,052 --> 00:28:41,253
[phone rings]
602
00:28:41,353 --> 00:28:42,454
ROBERT STACK: It
happened on a night
603
00:28:42,554 --> 00:28:45,157
when Justin was
out with friends.
604
00:28:45,257 --> 00:28:46,125
Hello?
605
00:28:46,225 --> 00:28:48,160
(ON PHONE): Is
Burgwinkel there?
606
00:28:48,260 --> 00:28:49,061
Justin?
607
00:28:49,161 --> 00:28:50,562
No, he's not.
Who's this?
608
00:28:50,662 --> 00:28:51,931
(ON PHONE): Don't
worry about it.
609
00:28:52,031 --> 00:28:53,299
Can you give him a message?
610
00:28:53,399 --> 00:28:54,300
OK.
611
00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,969
- (ON PHONE): The mission's off.
- What?
612
00:28:57,069 --> 00:29:00,439
(ON PHONE): Just tell
him-- the mission's off.
613
00:29:00,539 --> 00:29:02,274
The mission's off.
614
00:29:02,374 --> 00:29:03,175
(ON PHONE): That's right.
615
00:29:06,445 --> 00:29:07,646
Justin came back.
616
00:29:07,746 --> 00:29:10,482
I woke up, because I heard him.
617
00:29:10,582 --> 00:29:14,420
And he looked completely
pale, completely frightened.
618
00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:15,321
Hi.
619
00:29:15,421 --> 00:29:16,355
Hi, Justin.
620
00:29:16,455 --> 00:29:19,291
Justin, you had a
phone call tonight.
621
00:29:19,391 --> 00:29:20,226
Here?
622
00:29:20,326 --> 00:29:21,360
Yeah.
623
00:29:21,460 --> 00:29:23,796
Some guy called and said
that the mission's off?
624
00:29:26,332 --> 00:29:27,133
What mission?
625
00:29:27,233 --> 00:29:28,835
Damn it!
626
00:29:28,935 --> 00:29:31,037
Damn it!
627
00:29:31,137 --> 00:29:32,171
Justin!
628
00:29:32,271 --> 00:29:35,007
What time did they call?
629
00:29:35,107 --> 00:29:37,676
- I think it was around 9:30.
- Who was it?
630
00:29:37,776 --> 00:29:39,678
What did they say
their name was?
631
00:29:39,778 --> 00:29:40,813
They didn't give a name.
632
00:29:40,913 --> 00:29:43,715
They just said, tell him
that the mission's off.
633
00:29:43,816 --> 00:29:45,084
And they just hung up.
634
00:29:45,184 --> 00:29:46,986
Damn it!
635
00:29:47,086 --> 00:29:48,855
Damn it!
636
00:29:48,955 --> 00:29:50,622
Justin, who are "they"?
637
00:29:50,722 --> 00:29:51,824
Who are these people?
638
00:29:51,924 --> 00:29:53,860
ROBERT STACK: Justin
refused to discuss the call
639
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,028
or explain the message.
640
00:29:56,128 --> 00:29:58,697
Iolanda was still in the
dark a few days later
641
00:29:58,797 --> 00:30:01,600
when Justin packed his bags
and headed back to Fort Lewis.
642
00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:02,768
I'm going to go
down and see her.
643
00:30:02,869 --> 00:30:04,904
Next weekend, I'm
going to drive down.
644
00:30:05,004 --> 00:30:07,006
ROBERT STACK: During his
first week back at the base,
645
00:30:07,106 --> 00:30:08,975
Justin called his
parents and sounded
646
00:30:09,075 --> 00:30:11,243
perfectly normal and upbeat.
647
00:30:11,343 --> 00:30:12,945
I'm doing good.
648
00:30:13,045 --> 00:30:14,346
How about you guys?
649
00:30:14,446 --> 00:30:16,615
ROBERT STACK: However, at around
the same time, for reasons that
650
00:30:16,715 --> 00:30:20,519
remain obscure, Justin
purchased two handguns and more
651
00:30:20,619 --> 00:30:22,889
than 100 rounds of ammunition.
652
00:30:26,458 --> 00:30:31,163
Friday, July 4,
1993, 04:30 hours.
653
00:30:31,263 --> 00:30:34,600
Private Justin Burgwinkel failed
to report for kitchen duty
654
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:37,736
at Fort Lewis.
655
00:30:37,836 --> 00:30:39,105
The dining
facility should have
656
00:30:39,205 --> 00:30:43,009
reported him as being absent
Friday when he didn't show up.
657
00:30:43,109 --> 00:30:44,610
Because he was a good soldier--
658
00:30:44,710 --> 00:30:47,013
he'd never been in
trouble before that--
659
00:30:47,113 --> 00:30:48,380
they kind of tried
to protect him
660
00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,849
and say, well, we'll find out
where he is and deal with it
661
00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:52,952
ourselves instead
of turning him in.
662
00:30:53,052 --> 00:30:57,023
Anybody seen Burgwinkel?
663
00:30:57,123 --> 00:30:58,390
CHRISTOPHER KAWATERS:
Monday morning they
664
00:30:58,490 --> 00:30:59,691
realized that they
couldn't protect
665
00:30:59,791 --> 00:31:01,627
him any longer, because
it had been a long time.
666
00:31:01,727 --> 00:31:03,329
And they suspected
that, you know,
667
00:31:03,429 --> 00:31:06,765
something out of the
ordinary was going on.
668
00:31:06,865 --> 00:31:08,467
Yeah, Captain Heinzelman?
669
00:31:08,567 --> 00:31:11,037
Yeah, this is the duty
sergeant in the mess hall.
670
00:31:11,137 --> 00:31:12,671
Got an AWOL, sir.
It looks like--
671
00:31:12,771 --> 00:31:14,540
ROBERT STACK: For a man who
had apparently gone AWOL,
672
00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:19,311
Justin was not making
much of an effort to hide.
673
00:31:19,411 --> 00:31:20,947
In fact, he had
been at Iolanda's
674
00:31:21,047 --> 00:31:22,214
since late Friday night.
675
00:31:22,314 --> 00:31:24,951
Justin, what are
you doing here?
676
00:31:25,051 --> 00:31:27,719
Well, I came to see you.
677
00:31:27,819 --> 00:31:29,855
- What time is it?
- It's about 3:00.
678
00:31:29,956 --> 00:31:31,490
Aren't you glad to see me?
679
00:31:31,590 --> 00:31:33,692
It's 3:00 o'clock
in the morning?
680
00:31:33,792 --> 00:31:36,062
I don't know how he
could get more time off.
681
00:31:36,162 --> 00:31:39,498
But I thought, well, if he was
able to, that's really great.
682
00:31:39,598 --> 00:31:41,467
And I did want to see him.
683
00:31:41,567 --> 00:31:43,769
ROBERT STACK: Iolanda
soon learned that Justin
684
00:31:43,869 --> 00:31:46,172
was not exactly on vacation.
685
00:31:46,272 --> 00:31:47,739
She insisted that
he call his parents.
686
00:31:47,839 --> 00:31:48,640
Don't worry, all right?
687
00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:50,242
I'll figure it out.
688
00:31:50,342 --> 00:31:51,510
No, I'm not AWOL.
689
00:31:51,610 --> 00:31:53,412
I wouldn't do
anything like that.
690
00:31:53,512 --> 00:31:54,780
Right, no-- I'm going
to call Heinzelman.
691
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:55,614
That's a mistake.
692
00:31:55,714 --> 00:31:56,482
I'm going to figure that out.
693
00:31:56,582 --> 00:31:57,883
I'm working.
694
00:31:57,984 --> 00:31:59,851
Yes, I'm working.
695
00:31:59,952 --> 00:32:01,620
And I said, well, what do
you mean, you're working?
696
00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,155
And he just said, I
can't tell you any more.
697
00:32:03,255 --> 00:32:04,523
He said, but I will
straighten it out.
698
00:32:04,623 --> 00:32:07,526
I'll have to explain it
all later, and I will, OK?
699
00:32:09,895 --> 00:32:11,063
I just can't.
700
00:32:11,163 --> 00:32:13,165
I'm doing something very
important right now, all right?
701
00:32:13,265 --> 00:32:14,066
You've got to believe me.
702
00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:15,467
And I'll explain
it to you later.
703
00:32:15,567 --> 00:32:19,138
I said to him, at least
call Captain Heinzelman.
704
00:32:19,238 --> 00:32:21,507
You know, at least call him.
705
00:32:21,607 --> 00:32:23,009
And he said that he would.
706
00:32:23,109 --> 00:32:24,876
Justin did call into the unit.
707
00:32:24,977 --> 00:32:27,279
He did indicate that he
was going to come back,
708
00:32:27,379 --> 00:32:29,815
and that he had a couple
of more things to do.
709
00:32:29,915 --> 00:32:33,052
Once he got them taken care of,
that he was going to come back
710
00:32:33,152 --> 00:32:35,921
to the unit and report back in.
711
00:32:36,022 --> 00:32:37,356
Don't go.
712
00:32:37,456 --> 00:32:39,725
ROBERT STACK: But Justin
did not report in.
713
00:32:39,825 --> 00:32:42,528
Instead, he remained at
Iolanda's and continued his
714
00:32:42,628 --> 00:32:44,096
mysterious trips to Monterey.
715
00:32:44,196 --> 00:32:45,231
What's going on?
716
00:32:45,331 --> 00:32:46,332
Let me help you.
717
00:32:46,432 --> 00:32:48,167
There's nothing you
can do to help me, OK?
718
00:32:48,267 --> 00:32:50,036
Then let me go with you.
719
00:32:50,136 --> 00:32:51,237
Don't make me
do this right now.
720
00:32:51,337 --> 00:32:52,138
Justin, please.
721
00:32:52,238 --> 00:32:53,039
No.
722
00:32:53,139 --> 00:32:54,673
Look, I have to go, OK?
723
00:32:54,773 --> 00:32:56,142
Justin?
724
00:32:56,242 --> 00:32:57,076
What are you--
725
00:32:57,176 --> 00:32:58,444
All right, all
right, all right.
726
00:32:58,544 --> 00:33:00,546
What are you
getting yourself into?
727
00:33:00,646 --> 00:33:03,849
You know the
movie "White Sands?"
728
00:33:03,949 --> 00:33:07,419
Watch that movie, OK?
729
00:33:07,519 --> 00:33:09,455
ROBERT STACK: In a
conversation with his parents,
730
00:33:09,555 --> 00:33:11,557
Justin had made the
same cryptic reference
731
00:33:11,657 --> 00:33:13,659
to the film "White Sands."
732
00:33:13,759 --> 00:33:17,296
Released in 1992, the
movie plunges its viewers
733
00:33:17,396 --> 00:33:20,766
and its briefcase-toting hero
into the duplicitous world of
734
00:33:20,866 --> 00:33:23,702
international arms smuggling.
735
00:33:23,802 --> 00:33:28,607
It's about gun-running,
the FBI, and the CIA.
736
00:33:28,707 --> 00:33:31,977
And this one's against this one.
737
00:33:32,078 --> 00:33:33,745
And you don't know
who the good guy is,
738
00:33:33,845 --> 00:33:36,282
and you don't know
who the bad guy is.
739
00:33:36,382 --> 00:33:39,218
You know, then I thought,
are you working for the CIA?
740
00:33:39,318 --> 00:33:41,853
You know-- it was
all too confusing.
741
00:33:41,953 --> 00:33:45,757
But that's the only clue,
if anything, that he's
742
00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:48,494
ever given me about it.
743
00:33:48,594 --> 00:33:50,496
See you later.
744
00:33:50,596 --> 00:33:52,298
ROBERT STACK: Saturday, June 12.
745
00:33:52,398 --> 00:33:55,334
Justin left Iolanda's
apartment at around 10:00 AM,
746
00:33:55,434 --> 00:33:56,735
once again headed for Monterey.
747
00:33:59,505 --> 00:34:02,808
But this time Justin
Burgwinkel would not come back.
748
00:34:07,846 --> 00:34:10,782
The next couple of months, I
was on the phone with the Army,
749
00:34:10,882 --> 00:34:12,418
my senators--
750
00:34:12,518 --> 00:34:15,587
you know, anyone I could
think of to call to try to get
751
00:34:15,687 --> 00:34:17,656
the Army to do something.
752
00:34:17,756 --> 00:34:19,425
Well, I couldn't get
anybody to help me.
753
00:34:19,525 --> 00:34:21,927
The police wouldn't go to
the girlfriend's house.
754
00:34:22,027 --> 00:34:23,895
I mean, nobody
would do anything.
755
00:34:23,995 --> 00:34:25,997
Nobody ever looked
for him, ever.
756
00:34:30,469 --> 00:34:32,338
ROBERT STACK: The windswept
outskirts of Monterey
757
00:34:32,438 --> 00:34:36,842
yielded one final clue
in this puzzling case.
758
00:34:36,942 --> 00:34:38,610
Three months after
Justin vanished,
759
00:34:38,710 --> 00:34:40,346
his car was found
in the parking lot
760
00:34:40,446 --> 00:34:43,315
of an isolated beachfront motel.
761
00:34:43,415 --> 00:34:48,520
The Burgwinkels flew in from
Massachusetts to investigate.
762
00:34:48,620 --> 00:34:50,189
They learned that their
son's name did not
763
00:34:50,289 --> 00:34:52,591
appear in the motel
register, although the car
764
00:34:52,691 --> 00:34:55,727
had been in the parking lot
for nearly three months.
765
00:34:55,827 --> 00:34:57,396
The manager assumed
it had been left
766
00:34:57,496 --> 00:34:58,964
by a guest for later pickup.
767
00:34:59,064 --> 00:35:02,000
Something in it.
768
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:04,102
ROBERT STACK: Justin's handguns
were nowhere to be found.
769
00:35:04,203 --> 00:35:05,504
Wallet.
770
00:35:05,604 --> 00:35:06,605
ROBERT STACK: But his briefcase
had been stashed in the trunk.
771
00:35:06,705 --> 00:35:07,606
There's the keys.
772
00:35:07,706 --> 00:35:08,840
ROBERT STACK:
Curiously, his car keys
773
00:35:08,940 --> 00:35:11,343
were locked inside,
along with his wallet,
774
00:35:11,443 --> 00:35:13,212
credit cards, and military ID.
775
00:35:13,312 --> 00:35:15,981
His military ID is here.
776
00:35:16,081 --> 00:35:18,417
You knew something
was drastically wrong.
777
00:35:18,517 --> 00:35:19,585
And you knew,
like, more or less,
778
00:35:19,685 --> 00:35:21,587
that he had placed
everything just the way
779
00:35:21,687 --> 00:35:23,722
he wanted it found.
780
00:35:23,822 --> 00:35:26,124
That's the way I look at it.
781
00:35:26,225 --> 00:35:27,526
[inaudible]
782
00:35:27,626 --> 00:35:28,827
ROBERT STACK: Tucked
in Justin's wallet
783
00:35:28,927 --> 00:35:30,962
was a standard-issue
military dog tag.
784
00:35:31,062 --> 00:35:32,231
Dog tag.
785
00:35:32,331 --> 00:35:33,832
ROBERT STACK: When Iolanda
learned of that discovery,
786
00:35:33,932 --> 00:35:38,337
she recalled a
chilling conversation.
787
00:35:38,437 --> 00:35:41,307
We were driving down
one time in his car,
788
00:35:41,407 --> 00:35:42,641
and Justin had his dog tags.
789
00:35:42,741 --> 00:35:45,877
And he said, do you
know what they're for?
790
00:35:45,977 --> 00:35:48,314
I kind of had an idea,
but I just said, no, no.
791
00:35:48,414 --> 00:35:49,348
What are they for?
792
00:35:49,448 --> 00:35:50,749
And he says, well,
when a soldier dies,
793
00:35:50,849 --> 00:35:54,085
they put it in his teeth
so you can identify him.
794
00:35:54,186 --> 00:35:55,954
I said, OK.
795
00:35:56,054 --> 00:36:02,361
He says, well, if you ever see
these, you know, lying around,
796
00:36:02,461 --> 00:36:05,831
you know, that means I'm dead.
797
00:36:05,931 --> 00:36:07,933
ROBERT STACK: Is
Justin Burgwinkel dead,
798
00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:10,769
swallowed up by a
murky secret life?
799
00:36:10,869 --> 00:36:13,772
Or did he simply run away
and cover his disappearance
800
00:36:13,872 --> 00:36:16,842
with an elaborate fantasy
plucked from a Hollywood movie?
801
00:36:19,578 --> 00:36:21,347
I really don't think it's
possible that he ran away.
802
00:36:21,447 --> 00:36:23,415
The three things he loved--
he loved his mother,
803
00:36:23,515 --> 00:36:26,718
he loved his girlfriend
deeply, and he loved his car.
804
00:36:26,818 --> 00:36:29,455
And that day, he just
threw everything away.
805
00:36:29,555 --> 00:36:30,689
Everything was gone.
806
00:36:30,789 --> 00:36:32,658
I just can't believe
anybody could do that
807
00:36:32,758 --> 00:36:36,094
without any trace or anything.
808
00:36:36,194 --> 00:36:39,531
Justin was not the type of
person that would go AWOL.
809
00:36:39,631 --> 00:36:41,767
Very reliable, dependable.
810
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:43,935
You could always count on
him to get the job done.
811
00:36:44,035 --> 00:36:46,638
So him going AWOL surprised
everybody that I knew.
812
00:36:46,738 --> 00:36:49,608
It just-- it just
didn't happen with him.
813
00:36:49,708 --> 00:36:52,544
I'd like to believe
he's still alive.
814
00:36:52,644 --> 00:36:53,979
I don't like to think he's dead.
815
00:36:54,079 --> 00:36:56,315
But if he was, I wish
I could find out.
816
00:36:56,415 --> 00:37:00,218
And then I could at least
bury him and put it to rest,
817
00:37:00,319 --> 00:37:03,322
because the not knowing--
818
00:37:03,422 --> 00:37:05,924
that's about the worst
thing that I can imagine,
819
00:37:06,024 --> 00:37:08,159
is not knowing what
happened to him.
820
00:37:12,264 --> 00:37:14,500
ROBERT STACK: In
a moment, murder
821
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,303
invades a small town when
an unknown hitchhiker
822
00:37:17,403 --> 00:37:18,203
turns violent.
823
00:37:22,641 --> 00:37:27,379
[music playing]
824
00:37:27,479 --> 00:37:29,515
ROBERT STACK: It was
around midnight, June 22,
825
00:37:29,615 --> 00:37:32,150
1991, in Harrington, Delaware.
826
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:33,585
Cup of coffee, black.
827
00:37:33,685 --> 00:37:34,786
ROBERT STACK: A
factory worker named
828
00:37:34,886 --> 00:37:37,523
Charles Holden stopped
by a fast-food restaurant
829
00:37:37,623 --> 00:37:40,626
at the end of his shift.
830
00:37:40,726 --> 00:37:42,861
It was a typical
night for Charles
831
00:37:42,961 --> 00:37:44,963
until he left the restaurant.
832
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:50,936
I went in and
got my hamburger.
833
00:37:51,036 --> 00:37:55,941
And I was on my way across
the lot, and got in my truck,
834
00:37:56,041 --> 00:37:57,509
started my truck.
835
00:37:57,609 --> 00:38:00,679
And as I proceeded to
get ready to back up,
836
00:38:00,779 --> 00:38:04,950
I noticed there was a man
right at my passenger window.
837
00:38:05,050 --> 00:38:07,853
Hey, man, I wonder
if I could get a ride?
838
00:38:07,953 --> 00:38:09,321
Uh, well, I don't know.
839
00:38:09,421 --> 00:38:10,489
It's pretty late.
840
00:38:10,589 --> 00:38:12,591
Hey, but I'm, like,
in a big-time bind, man.
841
00:38:12,691 --> 00:38:13,725
My sister, she's had a baby.
842
00:38:13,825 --> 00:38:15,226
She's up in Georgetown.
843
00:38:15,327 --> 00:38:16,862
I got to get there.
844
00:38:16,962 --> 00:38:19,365
I-- I-- I live very close by.
845
00:38:19,465 --> 00:38:21,367
ROBERT STACK: In the
end, Charles relented.
846
00:38:21,467 --> 00:38:23,669
Harrington was a small
town, mostly friendly.
847
00:38:23,769 --> 00:38:25,070
All right.
848
00:38:25,170 --> 00:38:26,572
ROBERT STACK: Charles assumed
he had nothing to worry about.
849
00:38:31,710 --> 00:38:33,979
Three miles down
Highway 14, Charles
850
00:38:34,079 --> 00:38:36,682
reached the intersection where
he normally turned to go home.
851
00:38:41,620 --> 00:38:44,723
CHARLES HOLDEN: Yeah, I pulled
off to the side, and I said,
852
00:38:44,823 --> 00:38:47,058
this is as far as
we go, right here.
853
00:38:47,158 --> 00:38:49,761
I guess this is where
you have to get off.
854
00:38:49,861 --> 00:38:51,329
Hey, man, I got to
get down the road.
855
00:38:51,430 --> 00:38:53,565
I ain't getting
out of this truck.
856
00:38:53,665 --> 00:38:55,166
I-- I can't go any further.
857
00:38:55,266 --> 00:38:57,869
I told you I could just
go a few miles, you know.
858
00:38:57,969 --> 00:38:59,738
Listen, I got a
problem, and I ain't
859
00:38:59,838 --> 00:39:00,839
getting out of this truck.
860
00:39:00,939 --> 00:39:02,508
Well, I can't help you.
861
00:39:02,608 --> 00:39:04,676
I can't-- you're going to
have to leave, I'm sorry.
862
00:39:04,776 --> 00:39:06,478
No, then I'm going to
have to take this truck!
863
00:39:06,578 --> 00:39:07,746
Hey, hey!
864
00:39:07,846 --> 00:39:09,981
ROBERT STACK: Without warning,
the stranger attacked.
865
00:39:10,081 --> 00:39:12,250
Charles grabbed his keys
and jumped from the truck.
866
00:39:16,555 --> 00:39:18,089
CHARLES HOLDEN: He come
after me with a-- a knife
867
00:39:18,189 --> 00:39:20,759
or a screwdriver.
868
00:39:20,859 --> 00:39:22,594
What you looking in there for?
869
00:39:22,694 --> 00:39:24,563
Ain't nobody going to help you.
870
00:39:24,663 --> 00:39:28,400
No, this has all
been taken care of.
871
00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:29,468
I'm going to kill you.
872
00:39:29,568 --> 00:39:31,069
I'm going to tell
you right here--
873
00:39:31,169 --> 00:39:32,638
I want that truck!
- All right, all right.
874
00:39:32,738 --> 00:39:34,272
I'll take you wherever
you want to go, man.
875
00:39:34,372 --> 00:39:35,807
Just calm down, all right?
- I ain't playing with you.
876
00:39:35,907 --> 00:39:36,708
I want that truck!
877
00:39:36,808 --> 00:39:37,876
Come on, come on, we'll go.
878
00:39:37,976 --> 00:39:39,110
I'll take you over there.
879
00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:41,913
Come on.
880
00:39:42,013 --> 00:39:44,416
ROBERT STACK: Charles
knew he had to act fast.
881
00:39:44,516 --> 00:39:46,885
As he and the assailant
headed back to the truck,
882
00:39:46,985 --> 00:39:48,019
Charles made his move.
883
00:40:02,568 --> 00:40:05,236
Charles sped off in the
opposite direction of his house,
884
00:40:05,336 --> 00:40:06,905
so the man could
not follow him home.
885
00:40:09,841 --> 00:40:12,611
CHARLES HOLDEN: Went down
the road a little ways.
886
00:40:12,711 --> 00:40:14,112
Turned around.
887
00:40:14,212 --> 00:40:15,647
I didn't see him
nowhere in sight.
888
00:40:15,747 --> 00:40:18,950
I went down the other
way and I turned around.
889
00:40:19,050 --> 00:40:20,886
Didn't see him out
nowhere in sight.
890
00:40:20,986 --> 00:40:22,688
So I ventured down
the road, and when
891
00:40:22,788 --> 00:40:26,458
I come back to my driveway,
he was at my trailer.
892
00:40:26,558 --> 00:40:28,827
ROBERT STACK: Somehow, by
some disturbing coincidence,
893
00:40:28,927 --> 00:40:32,097
the stranger had found his
way to Charles's trailer.
894
00:40:32,197 --> 00:40:34,700
Now Charles had an
additional concern--
895
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:37,202
his trailer was adjacent
to a small farmhouse where
896
00:40:37,302 --> 00:40:39,738
his 70-year-old mother lived.
897
00:40:39,838 --> 00:40:42,340
Charles rushed to a payphone
and called the police.
898
00:40:46,545 --> 00:40:47,713
How are you doing?
899
00:40:47,813 --> 00:40:49,114
I'm Trooper Williams with
the Delaware State Police.
900
00:40:49,214 --> 00:40:50,916
Are you Mr. Holden?
- Yes, ma'am.
901
00:40:51,016 --> 00:40:52,050
Mr. Holden just
explained to me
902
00:40:52,150 --> 00:40:54,886
that he had been home,
by his residence,
903
00:40:54,986 --> 00:40:58,456
and saw this black male there,
and that he needed somebody
904
00:40:58,557 --> 00:41:00,959
to go back with him,
because this person
905
00:41:01,059 --> 00:41:03,929
was hanging around his mom's
residence and his residence.
906
00:41:06,598 --> 00:41:08,500
Once we got there, we
checked to see if the doors
907
00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:09,868
were locked and everything.
908
00:41:09,968 --> 00:41:12,203
And both the back and front
door of his trailer were locked.
909
00:41:12,303 --> 00:41:17,643
Well, Mr. Holden, it looks
like your house is secure here.
910
00:41:17,743 --> 00:41:18,777
All right.
911
00:41:18,877 --> 00:41:21,379
Could you come take a
look at my mom's house?
912
00:41:21,479 --> 00:41:23,582
TROOPER WILLIAMS: And we
walked across the grass,
913
00:41:23,682 --> 00:41:26,084
because their property is
adjacent to each other.
914
00:41:26,184 --> 00:41:28,854
We walked across the grass
and around to the back door
915
00:41:28,954 --> 00:41:30,255
of the residence.
916
00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:32,791
And that's when the two of us
discovered that the back window
917
00:41:32,891 --> 00:41:34,192
to the back door was broken.
918
00:41:46,538 --> 00:41:47,906
Mom?
919
00:41:48,006 --> 00:41:49,407
CHARLES HOLDEN: I thought
something was wrong
920
00:41:49,507 --> 00:41:52,310
when I first hollered,
because Mom, she
921
00:41:52,410 --> 00:41:54,279
was the type of mother that--
922
00:41:54,379 --> 00:41:58,817
she would be awake
until I got in at night.
923
00:41:58,917 --> 00:42:00,586
Then she'd go to sleep.
924
00:42:00,686 --> 00:42:01,486
Mom?
925
00:42:09,427 --> 00:42:10,729
ROBERT STACK: In an
upstairs bedroom,
926
00:42:10,829 --> 00:42:14,866
Charles Holden found the body
of his mother, Dorothy Donovon.
927
00:42:14,966 --> 00:42:16,602
Dorothy had been
stabbed repeatedly
928
00:42:16,702 --> 00:42:20,105
in the chest, arms, and face.
929
00:42:20,205 --> 00:42:23,408
[police radio]
930
00:42:23,508 --> 00:42:24,810
ROBERT STACK: The
police found nothing
931
00:42:24,910 --> 00:42:28,714
missing from Dorothy's house and
ruled out robbery as a motive.
932
00:42:28,814 --> 00:42:31,049
When investigators
heard Charles's story,
933
00:42:31,149 --> 00:42:32,818
their first instinct
was that he had
934
00:42:32,918 --> 00:42:34,653
concocted an elaborate alibi.
935
00:42:34,753 --> 00:42:35,954
And again, I
just drove around.
936
00:42:36,054 --> 00:42:38,624
I was scared.
937
00:42:38,724 --> 00:42:40,225
OK, Charles, you're
going to need come down
938
00:42:40,325 --> 00:42:41,559
and treat with us.
939
00:42:41,660 --> 00:42:43,461
We're going to have to talk
about this a little further.
940
00:42:43,561 --> 00:42:45,363
OK?
941
00:42:45,463 --> 00:42:46,397
Come on.
942
00:42:46,497 --> 00:42:48,533
GREGORY NOLT: Just
the mere coincidence
943
00:42:48,634 --> 00:42:50,501
of what he said
happened-- it was
944
00:42:50,602 --> 00:42:53,004
difficult for the
investigators to believe
945
00:42:53,104 --> 00:42:56,374
that he picks this guy up,
takes him a couple of miles,
946
00:42:56,474 --> 00:42:57,508
drops him off.
947
00:42:57,609 --> 00:42:59,177
The next thing you know,
he's at his mom's house,
948
00:42:59,277 --> 00:43:01,747
never having met this
lady or Charles before,
949
00:43:01,847 --> 00:43:03,915
and killing this--
killing Dorothy Donovon.
950
00:43:04,015 --> 00:43:06,317
It just was very
hard to believe.
951
00:43:06,417 --> 00:43:09,554
And it wasn't until we were
able to go back and interview
952
00:43:09,655 --> 00:43:11,823
the people at the
fast-food restaurant,
953
00:43:11,923 --> 00:43:15,193
were we able to see that, yes,
this black male did exist.
954
00:43:15,293 --> 00:43:16,594
I wonder if I could
ask you ladies to do
955
00:43:16,695 --> 00:43:17,696
me like a really big favor?
956
00:43:17,796 --> 00:43:19,197
I'm trying to get
up to Georgetown.
957
00:43:19,297 --> 00:43:20,565
GREGORY NOLT: Also,
later that day, we
958
00:43:20,666 --> 00:43:23,601
were able to obtain certain
physical evidence at the scene,
959
00:43:23,702 --> 00:43:26,271
that being a bloody palm print.
960
00:43:26,371 --> 00:43:31,376
And we also found two sources
of DNA inside the residence.
961
00:43:31,476 --> 00:43:33,611
Neither of this
physical evidence
962
00:43:33,712 --> 00:43:35,647
comes back to Charles Holden.
963
00:43:35,747 --> 00:43:37,048
So therefore, because
of these things,
964
00:43:37,148 --> 00:43:40,551
we were able to eliminate
Charles as a suspect.
965
00:43:40,652 --> 00:43:42,453
CHARLES HOLDEN: It's--
the whole story seemed
966
00:43:42,553 --> 00:43:44,189
like a big nightmare to me.
967
00:43:44,289 --> 00:43:48,293
You know, it's like, you're
in some kind of a dream.
968
00:43:48,393 --> 00:43:50,561
You don't think it
really-- really happened.
969
00:43:50,662 --> 00:43:52,931
You think you could drive
over to my mother's house
970
00:43:53,031 --> 00:43:54,065
and she'll be there, you know.
971
00:43:54,165 --> 00:43:56,001
But I know that's not
going to be happening.
972
00:43:59,337 --> 00:44:01,072
BRENDA ALEXANDER: She
meant the world to me.
973
00:44:01,172 --> 00:44:04,475
She called me every
morning and every evening,
974
00:44:04,575 --> 00:44:06,845
say good night to us.
975
00:44:06,945 --> 00:44:09,080
Best friend I ever have had.
976
00:44:09,180 --> 00:44:09,981
I miss that dearly.
977
00:44:13,118 --> 00:44:16,654
If she'd been killed
in an automobile wreck,
978
00:44:16,755 --> 00:44:20,225
or had a medical problem,
I could have accepted that.
979
00:44:20,325 --> 00:44:24,462
And I don't think anybody has
a right to-- to kill someone
980
00:44:24,562 --> 00:44:28,399
and to take their
life away like that.
981
00:44:28,499 --> 00:44:31,737
[music playing]
982
00:44:55,626 --> 00:44:58,296
ROBERT STACK: Join me next
Friday for another edition
983
00:44:58,396 --> 00:45:01,232
of Unsolved Mysteries.
75948
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