Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:07,250
You're watching Investigation Discovery
On Demand.
2
00:00:32,810 --> 00:00:38,170
It's two days before Thanksgiving in the
picture postcard town of Silverthorne,
3
00:00:38,210 --> 00:00:39,260
Colorado.
4
00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:41,460
Hey, Steph.
5
00:00:42,770 --> 00:00:45,530
As the snow falls quietly outside.
6
00:00:46,590 --> 00:00:47,640
Steph.
7
00:00:48,670 --> 00:00:50,410
Inside the Bruner household.
8
00:00:52,150 --> 00:00:55,110
Steph. Panic is starting to set in. Hey,
Steph.
9
00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,160
48 -year -old Dale Bruner's three young
kids are late to school.
10
00:01:03,161 --> 00:01:06,079
Hey, Steph, will you call me when you
get this, please?
11
00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,200
And their mother is nowhere around.
12
00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:12,100
Stephanie has been gone hours at this
point.
13
00:01:12,340 --> 00:01:13,660
Daddy, where's Mommy?
14
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,200
I don't know, sweetie.
15
00:01:15,201 --> 00:01:18,979
She's supposed to come on our field trip
today to the museum. I'm sure she'll be
16
00:01:18,980 --> 00:01:20,030
there, okay?
17
00:01:20,031 --> 00:01:23,299
Why don't you finish getting dressed,
get your jacket on, and help your
18
00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:27,500
He got his kids off to school and called
the non -emergency line.
19
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,580
Yeah, hi, this is Dale Bruner. I'm
calling because I'm worried about my
20
00:01:31,620 --> 00:01:32,670
Stephanie Bruner.
21
00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:38,419
We had a bit of a disagreement last
night, and she went out for a walk
22
00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:40,380
p .m., and she never came back.
23
00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,060
Can you let us know that she left the
house walking?
24
00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,530
I don't know.
25
00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:49,979
She's wearing a red jacket, tie -dye
shirt. She said she just needed to clear
26
00:01:49,980 --> 00:01:51,019
her head.
27
00:01:51,020 --> 00:01:54,979
I'm at 6321 Green Terrace Drive. The
night that she went missing, the
28
00:01:54,980 --> 00:01:57,400
temperature was about one degree above
zero.
29
00:01:57,980 --> 00:02:00,420
with a windfill factor of negative 24.
30
00:02:00,820 --> 00:02:04,010
Temperatures like that, they can be
really, really dangerous.
31
00:02:04,140 --> 00:02:07,360
She left her house and just disappeared.
32
00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,740
Did someone help her disappear?
33
00:02:49,550 --> 00:02:55,229
After graduating from the University of
California, Irvine, Stephanie Roller
34
00:02:55,230 --> 00:02:57,390
hopes to one day join the Peace Corps.
35
00:02:58,490 --> 00:03:02,390
Steph very much was the dreamer.
36
00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:08,750
She really liked to help people, was
always a lover of life.
37
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:18,199
A nature lover, Stephanie volunteers as
a goodwill ambassador on Mount Hood in
38
00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:19,250
northern Oregon.
39
00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:23,530
See right up through there, that's Mount
Hood.
40
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,720
It's actually a stratovolcano. Do you
know what that means?
41
00:03:26,721 --> 00:03:27,939
Please tell us.
42
00:03:27,940 --> 00:03:31,440
It's built up over many, many years with
layers of hardened lava.
43
00:03:31,780 --> 00:03:35,759
Thank you. It's there she meets Dale
Bruner, a professional wildlife
44
00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:40,399
photographer. Hello. Sorry, I was
distracted by that prairie falcon. Did
45
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:41,279
that by any chance?
46
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:42,720
No, but I've seen them before.
47
00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:46,260
Dale was taking pictures, and he
literally bumped into Stephanie.
48
00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,370
Well, what are you doing, writing
parking tickets?
49
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,240
Very funny. No, I'm actually an
ambassador for the park.
50
00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:57,539
He was, you know, very personable. He's
not this macho guy. He was more of this
51
00:03:57,540 --> 00:03:59,440
kind of quiet and calm.
52
00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:02,320
What's with all the camera gear?
53
00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,780
Well, I am working, too.
54
00:04:06,340 --> 00:04:07,390
Stephanie.
55
00:04:08,740 --> 00:04:09,790
Can I try something?
56
00:04:12,749 --> 00:04:16,450
Oh, this is much better here. Just hold
those.
57
00:04:16,709 --> 00:04:21,588
I can remember her talking about this
guy and later finding out his name was
58
00:04:21,589 --> 00:04:22,639
Dale.
59
00:04:22,930 --> 00:04:24,330
Those eyes, beautiful.
60
00:04:24,690 --> 00:04:26,310
And that she was smitten with him.
61
00:04:27,370 --> 00:04:28,790
He's very charismatic.
62
00:04:29,130 --> 00:04:32,850
I remember thinking, oh, wow, I can see
what she likes in him.
63
00:04:34,910 --> 00:04:36,850
Their connection is instant.
64
00:04:38,330 --> 00:04:40,050
After dating for a year.
65
00:04:40,810 --> 00:04:43,650
The couple settles down in Silverthorne,
Colorado.
66
00:04:46,470 --> 00:04:48,370
Glad you like it. It's my favorite hike.
67
00:04:48,371 --> 00:04:49,609
Me too.
68
00:04:49,610 --> 00:04:51,989
Where do you want to go for vacation
this summer?
69
00:04:51,990 --> 00:04:53,630
Oh, man. Costa Rica?
70
00:04:54,630 --> 00:04:56,170
Hawaii? Bahamas?
71
00:04:56,410 --> 00:04:58,210
Fiji? I can go anywhere.
72
00:04:59,210 --> 00:05:00,530
Costa Rica sounds amazing.
73
00:05:01,590 --> 00:05:06,210
But then again, so does Fiji and every
other tropical island I fantasize about.
74
00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:10,230
I was happy for her. She was ready to
venture off to that new adventure.
75
00:05:11,050 --> 00:05:12,210
Well, then maybe Fiji.
76
00:05:12,910 --> 00:05:15,260
Maybe that's the perfect place to get
married.
77
00:05:18,490 --> 00:05:19,540
Married?
78
00:05:20,230 --> 00:05:21,280
Yeah, sure, why not?
79
00:05:22,090 --> 00:05:23,140
Are you serious?
80
00:05:25,290 --> 00:05:26,340
The two...
81
00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:30,260
Became very close very quickly and ended
up eloping in Fiji.
82
00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:32,320
Damn. Hey, Mary.
83
00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:36,120
I'd love to.
84
00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,300
They soon start a family together, two
girls and a boy.
85
00:05:46,860 --> 00:05:52,080
He just was loving being a mom and was
just so great at it.
86
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:53,760
Look at me, Dad.
87
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:55,170
You want a spot?
88
00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:00,089
Nope. I'm good. It seemed by all
appearances that Dale Bruner was a good
89
00:06:00,090 --> 00:06:01,049
and father.
90
00:06:01,050 --> 00:06:02,100
Race you to the top.
91
00:06:02,101 --> 00:06:04,509
She's definitely your daughter.
92
00:06:04,510 --> 00:06:05,560
Clearly.
93
00:06:07,270 --> 00:06:12,069
When not caring for the kids, Stephanie
teaches dance and works for the county
94
00:06:12,070 --> 00:06:13,120
as a city planner.
95
00:06:13,550 --> 00:06:15,870
She always had a love of dance.
96
00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:19,330
We were in dance since we were young
kids.
97
00:06:20,090 --> 00:06:22,090
She was involved in local charities.
98
00:06:22,830 --> 00:06:26,320
Very popular and well -loved by her
family and her community members.
99
00:06:32,110 --> 00:06:36,410
So it's even more chilling when
Stephanie vanishes the night of November
100
00:06:36,770 --> 00:06:40,030
2010, days before Thanksgiving.
101
00:06:41,970 --> 00:06:46,589
It's not uncommon for people to go
missing, but it is uncommon for a mother
102
00:06:46,590 --> 00:06:49,540
walk away from her family a couple of
days before a holiday.
103
00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:57,160
She would never leave those kids. I just
remember thinking, there's no way.
104
00:06:58,220 --> 00:07:03,759
Stephanie's photo is released to the
public while Officer Teresa Barger
105
00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:04,810
forces.
106
00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:05,910
Thank you.
107
00:07:07,340 --> 00:07:08,390
Officer Barger?
108
00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:09,800
He said she was alone.
109
00:07:09,801 --> 00:07:12,739
And if you had to guess her age, what
would you say?
110
00:07:12,740 --> 00:07:16,639
We called in search and rescue. We were
running down any leads. We were getting
111
00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,020
tips. Like, I mean, I don't got a lot of
tips.
112
00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:28,180
As word spreads, everyone joins the
quest to find her.
113
00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,280
Stephanie was so beloved by the
community that just the community came
114
00:07:33,340 --> 00:07:36,650
Excuse me, have you seen this woman? Her
name's Stephanie Bruner.
115
00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:40,420
The search was on for Stephanie.
116
00:07:41,700 --> 00:07:45,060
Excuse me, have you seen this woman? Her
name's Stephanie Bruner.
117
00:07:45,460 --> 00:07:46,740
No, I haven't.
118
00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,979
Stephanie enjoyed walking along the Blue
River in the National Parkland just
119
00:07:53,980 --> 00:07:55,030
behind her home.
120
00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,860
Stephanie! But there is no sign of her
there either.
121
00:07:59,580 --> 00:08:00,630
Stephanie!
122
00:08:01,060 --> 00:08:05,879
Stephanie! We had many, many volunteers
that were combing the banks of the river
123
00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,260
trying to locate Stephanie.
124
00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,720
With all of that searching, we really
found...
125
00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:18,940
No leads that we could actually follow.
126
00:08:20,460 --> 00:08:24,999
The next morning, Dale Bruner heads into
the Silverthorne Police Department to
127
00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,300
meet with Officer Barger.
128
00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,760
I do want you to write down a statement
for me.
129
00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,700
My goal at that point was just to get
the story.
130
00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:37,369
So there are three options in a missing
person case like this.
131
00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:38,980
I'm Teresa, by the way.
132
00:08:39,340 --> 00:08:40,390
Dale.
133
00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,080
So, one, she ran off to start a secret
life.
134
00:08:46,140 --> 00:08:47,520
Two, she committed suicide.
135
00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,180
Or three, she was murdered.
136
00:08:53,500 --> 00:08:56,040
At first, he was kind of calm, cool,
collected.
137
00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:58,530
Are you okay?
138
00:08:58,760 --> 00:08:59,810
No, I'm not okay.
139
00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,840
And then he got very upset.
140
00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,170
My kid's mother.
141
00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,010
I know, I'm sorry.
142
00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,939
So we need to verify a few details,
okay? Just so we can try to eliminate
143
00:09:11,940 --> 00:09:12,579
a suspect.
144
00:09:12,580 --> 00:09:15,530
I just want to get this done as quickly
as possible so we can...
145
00:09:15,531 --> 00:09:18,719
Find out where she is so why don't you
walk me through exactly what happened
146
00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:19,860
last night, okay?
147
00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:23,560
Around 10 10 p .m.
148
00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,859
Stephanie went out for a walk to get
some fresh air and I fell asleep soon
149
00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:33,499
that and Next thing I know it's morning
She never came home
150
00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:38,259
Why do you think that she went for a
walk so late at night in the middle of a
151
00:09:38,260 --> 00:09:39,310
snowstorm?
152
00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,800
Well, um things haven't been
153
00:09:41,801 --> 00:09:45,509
exactly great in our relationship, and
that's something that we're working to
154
00:09:45,510 --> 00:09:49,930
try to fix, but I thought it would be
good just to give her some space.
155
00:09:49,931 --> 00:09:53,929
He had mentioned that they kind of had a
disagreement. It really wasn't this
156
00:09:53,930 --> 00:09:57,420
huge argument, but she just needed to
leave and kind of clear her head.
157
00:09:57,421 --> 00:10:01,469
Why do you think she didn't take her
purse or her keys with her? Didn't you
158
00:10:01,470 --> 00:10:02,520
think that was odd?
159
00:10:02,521 --> 00:10:07,149
Okay, look, I'm going to be honest with
you. The reason I wasn't really worried
160
00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:10,029
about where she was going is I just
assumed that she was going to go be with
161
00:10:10,030 --> 00:10:11,080
boyfriend.
162
00:10:14,090 --> 00:10:15,140
Her boyfriend.
163
00:10:44,950 --> 00:10:51,909
As soon as Dale Bruner reveals his
missing wife is
164
00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:57,729
in a secret relationship, Officer Teresa
Barger knows her case just got a lot
165
00:10:57,730 --> 00:10:58,780
more complicated.
166
00:10:58,781 --> 00:11:03,849
When Stephanie left the house, I just
figured her boyfriend was coming to pick
167
00:11:03,850 --> 00:11:04,900
her up.
168
00:11:05,870 --> 00:11:07,610
So you knew she was seeing someone?
169
00:11:09,030 --> 00:11:10,080
Yeah.
170
00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,380
His name's Dennis Calden.
171
00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:14,700
Stephanie was his dance instructor.
172
00:11:14,701 --> 00:11:18,399
When she told me about the relationship,
I mean, it affected our marriage
173
00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:24,260
greatly, obviously, but I just want
Stephanie to be happy,
174
00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:27,820
even if that means that she's with him.
175
00:11:27,821 --> 00:11:33,519
When Mr. Bruner mentioned the boyfriend,
I thought, okay, this is something I
176
00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:34,570
had no clue about.
177
00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:37,450
He's like, they met on Dancing with the
Mountain Stars.
178
00:11:42,460 --> 00:11:47,319
Dancing with the Mountain Stars pairs
notable residents with dance pros to
179
00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:48,940
money for the county's hospital.
180
00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,660
Is this the right place?
181
00:11:58,560 --> 00:11:59,610
Oh, hi.
182
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,170
I'm Dennis. Stephanie. It's nice to meet
you.
183
00:12:03,171 --> 00:12:06,199
I have to let you know, though, I have
two left feet.
184
00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,580
It's local therapist Dennis Calden's
first appearance at the dance charity.
185
00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,520
And he's in good hands with Stephanie.
186
00:12:15,220 --> 00:12:17,930
Okay, I think we'll just start with a
basic salsa step.
187
00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,620
So I'm going to take my hands like that.
Get inside here. Okay.
188
00:12:22,020 --> 00:12:28,659
So on the first count, it's going to be
one and two. We come back to center. And
189
00:12:28,660 --> 00:12:30,160
then your right foot goes back.
190
00:12:30,420 --> 00:12:33,440
Three and four. And then you just repeat
that.
191
00:12:34,540 --> 00:12:37,360
One and two. Dennis was an interesting
character.
192
00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:39,200
Tall, athletic guy.
193
00:12:39,740 --> 00:12:41,970
And the two quickly became very, very
close.
194
00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:43,930
Oh, this is easy.
195
00:12:43,931 --> 00:12:45,079
I've got to get in.
196
00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:46,130
Okay.
197
00:12:46,131 --> 00:12:47,619
It's okay.
198
00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:48,700
Okay. It took me a while.
199
00:12:48,980 --> 00:12:51,900
There you go.
200
00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:54,170
Yeah.
201
00:12:56,500 --> 00:12:58,020
There we go. Oh, yeah. Okay.
202
00:12:58,021 --> 00:13:00,219
You're good at that. You're a natural.
203
00:13:00,220 --> 00:13:01,460
I've got this. Yes. Yes.
204
00:13:01,780 --> 00:13:07,180
He made her feel like he was the world.
205
00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,900
On the big night, Stephanie and Dennis
pull off an impressive routine.
206
00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:20,139
It's not enough to win the trophy, but
they do take away something else, a
207
00:13:20,140 --> 00:13:21,190
connection.
208
00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:28,259
He was compassionate with her. He cared
and wanted to know more about her. He
209
00:13:28,260 --> 00:13:30,790
cared about what happened to her. That
was amazing.
210
00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:32,440
That was incredible.
211
00:13:32,441 --> 00:13:33,939
You were so good.
212
00:13:33,940 --> 00:13:36,360
Though Dale isn't able to attend the
event,
213
00:13:37,130 --> 00:13:40,470
There is someone special in the crowd
cheering on Dennis.
214
00:13:42,030 --> 00:13:43,080
Hi, baby.
215
00:13:43,290 --> 00:13:47,890
Hey. Hi. His wife, Loretta. Did you see
that? I did.
216
00:13:47,891 --> 00:13:49,189
Oh, my.
217
00:13:49,190 --> 00:13:54,569
Hi, I'm Loretta. I'm Dennis' wife.
Stephanie. Hi, Stacy. Oh, my gosh. Thank
218
00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:59,750
so much. You did such a good job. He
wouldn't dance with me at our own
219
00:13:59,930 --> 00:14:04,109
It was very clear that Stephanie and
Dennis had an intensely emotional
220
00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:05,160
relationship.
221
00:14:05,161 --> 00:14:09,149
That was complicated by the fact that
they were also both married.
222
00:14:09,150 --> 00:14:11,200
We've had some drinks. Let's get you
home.
223
00:14:12,010 --> 00:14:13,060
All right.
224
00:14:13,110 --> 00:14:14,290
Thanks again, Stacy.
225
00:14:15,570 --> 00:14:21,070
Definitely. Yeah. They were both very
respectful of being in relationships.
226
00:14:22,590 --> 00:14:25,190
There wasn't any adultery going on.
227
00:14:29,210 --> 00:14:30,260
Still...
228
00:14:30,510 --> 00:14:36,409
Over the next couple of months,
Stephanie and Dennis' emotional bond
229
00:14:36,410 --> 00:14:37,460
intensified.
230
00:14:38,770 --> 00:14:40,730
I honestly have no regrets.
231
00:14:41,790 --> 00:14:44,430
Things are different now.
232
00:14:46,070 --> 00:14:47,120
I understand.
233
00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:53,270
And I love my wife, but I feel like she
doesn't see me, you know?
234
00:14:54,670 --> 00:14:57,670
Like you do. She had fallen in love with
him.
235
00:14:58,330 --> 00:15:01,460
found somebody that she was able to
connect with emotionally.
236
00:15:06,550 --> 00:15:10,630
In mid -October, Stephanie shares her
secret.
237
00:15:10,830 --> 00:15:13,540
You know, something seems different
about you today.
238
00:15:13,690 --> 00:15:14,740
You're glowing.
239
00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:21,270
You know that guy that I was teaching
for the charity event?
240
00:15:21,750 --> 00:15:22,910
Yeah, what about him?
241
00:15:23,270 --> 00:15:27,190
Well, we've been seeing a lot of each
other lately.
242
00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:29,540
For what? The competition's over.
243
00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:35,000
Wait a minute. I know that look. You are
not.
244
00:15:35,660 --> 00:15:37,480
I think I've fallen in love with him.
245
00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,180
Wait, back up. Did you say love?
246
00:15:41,260 --> 00:15:42,480
Tell me everything.
247
00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:47,299
When she confided with these close
friends, they actually were kind of okay
248
00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,650
that, even though she had been married
to Dale.
249
00:15:49,820 --> 00:15:54,720
It just happened by accident, but
nothing physical.
250
00:15:56,460 --> 00:15:58,040
He makes me so happy.
251
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:00,500
Does Dale suspect anything?
252
00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,680
Yeah, he knows.
253
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:10,739
Dale was hurt, and he wanted her back,
and he was trying to get her family to
254
00:16:10,740 --> 00:16:12,560
convince her to come back.
255
00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:21,599
While search and rescue continue to
blanket the town of Silverthorne,
256
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:26,020
Bureau of Investigation agent Greg
Sadar... Brings in Dennis Calden.
257
00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,280
I'm just going to ask you straight up.
258
00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:31,970
Do you know where Stephanie is right
now?
259
00:16:32,780 --> 00:16:34,320
I absolutely have no idea.
260
00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:40,459
He maintained that the relationship was
not physical, but just spiritual and
261
00:16:40,460 --> 00:16:42,750
emotional. When was the last time you
saw her?
262
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,720
We met up Monday afternoon.
263
00:16:47,140 --> 00:16:48,190
Two days ago.
264
00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,620
The same day she went missing.
265
00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:53,160
Yeah, I wrote her an email.
266
00:16:54,000 --> 00:17:00,879
That Sunday evening, telling her that it
was over, but she wanted to meet in
267
00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,120
person the next day.
268
00:17:13,020 --> 00:17:14,500
Thank you for meeting me.
269
00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:19,019
I knew if we could just see each other,
if we could talk face to face, we could
270
00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:21,140
just figure out whatever this is going
on.
271
00:17:22,369 --> 00:17:23,710
We can make this work.
272
00:17:25,230 --> 00:17:26,280
I can't.
273
00:17:26,569 --> 00:17:27,619
I'm sorry.
274
00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:36,589
With his wife still in the dark about
Stephanie, Dennis decides to end the
275
00:17:36,590 --> 00:17:41,290
relationship, hoping it's not too late
to save his own marriage to Loretta.
276
00:17:42,570 --> 00:17:43,690
What about us?
277
00:17:44,330 --> 00:17:48,289
We had a plan. We can make this work.
Don't think for a second that this
278
00:17:48,290 --> 00:17:50,580
hurt me as much as it does you, because
it does.
279
00:17:52,750 --> 00:17:53,800
I have to go.
280
00:17:54,470 --> 00:17:56,010
Please, don't.
281
00:18:03,910 --> 00:18:08,389
Dennis had told us that he kissed her
for that first time, and he realized
282
00:18:08,390 --> 00:18:11,570
he really cared for her a lot, even
though he had to separate it.
283
00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:22,110
That probably just devastated her. This
was...
284
00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:26,340
her soulmate, and he's now closing the
door on her.
285
00:18:30,180 --> 00:18:37,100
Have you talked to her or seen her since
then?
286
00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:38,750
No.
287
00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:40,170
That was it.
288
00:18:40,340 --> 00:18:45,940
Where were you that night around 10 p
.m.? I was at home with my wife.
289
00:18:46,220 --> 00:18:48,580
His alibi was that the two of them were
in bed.
290
00:18:49,150 --> 00:18:53,089
that they slept well that night, that
there were no issues of anyone getting
291
00:18:53,090 --> 00:18:54,140
or leaving the house.
292
00:18:54,390 --> 00:18:56,070
I didn't do anything to Stephanie.
293
00:18:58,670 --> 00:19:03,650
Just five hours after their breakup,
Stephanie disappears into the night.
294
00:19:05,190 --> 00:19:10,609
While investigators track down Dennis'
wife Loretta for questioning, Agent
295
00:19:10,610 --> 00:19:12,750
pays a visit to the Bruner family home.
296
00:19:12,751 --> 00:19:17,599
Just look around, find anything you can
see that doesn't... Would you be willing
297
00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,220
to sign a consent to search form?
298
00:19:19,460 --> 00:19:23,359
Sure. We wanted to take a look and see
if there was any crime scene evidence
299
00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:24,860
that we would need to preserve.
300
00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,939
When a person consents to search, that
is a positive sign. That moves them a
301
00:19:30,940 --> 00:19:33,890
little towards the non -suspect as
opposed to the suspect.
302
00:19:34,460 --> 00:19:39,299
We weren't able to find any signs of a
struggle or where any possible crime
303
00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:41,000
scene had been cleaned up either.
304
00:19:41,820 --> 00:19:44,890
So I understand you and Stephanie were
having some problems.
305
00:19:45,140 --> 00:19:49,999
Now, I want you to know I already spoke
to Dennis Calden, and he doesn't know
306
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:51,050
where she is.
307
00:19:51,780 --> 00:19:55,499
Is there anything else that you could
tell us that might be able to help us
308
00:19:55,500 --> 00:20:00,099
her? I guess I was a little worried
about her, yeah. I mean, she wasn't
309
00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:01,360
recently.
310
00:20:01,361 --> 00:20:06,399
She'd started taking some anti -anxiety
medication, but I'm not really sure it
311
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,450
was working.
312
00:20:08,330 --> 00:20:13,489
Turns out Stephanie had also lost her
job just six weeks earlier, and Dale's
313
00:20:13,490 --> 00:20:15,450
photography business was drying up.
314
00:20:16,330 --> 00:20:22,850
When Stephanie lost her job, she filed a
restraining order against me.
315
00:20:23,410 --> 00:20:27,370
With a misunderstanding, it was
rescinded. And what was that for?
316
00:20:27,970 --> 00:20:29,070
I spanked our son.
317
00:20:29,530 --> 00:20:34,350
I know I shouldn't have done that, but
she overreacted.
318
00:20:34,550 --> 00:20:38,100
Is that what you two were arguing about
before she went out on her walk?
319
00:20:38,101 --> 00:20:39,509
No, no, no. We weren't arguing.
320
00:20:39,510 --> 00:20:42,130
We just... She went out for some fresh
air.
321
00:20:42,470 --> 00:20:47,510
It's a clear change in Dale's story, and
Agent Sadar takes note.
322
00:20:49,770 --> 00:20:55,249
Despite the bitter cold, the community
has now spent three days searching for
323
00:20:55,250 --> 00:20:56,300
Stephanie.
324
00:20:56,550 --> 00:21:01,270
We were all drained by Thanksgiving
evening. We knew it wasn't going to be
325
00:21:02,110 --> 00:21:03,210
We're getting...
326
00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:09,780
More and more concerned, and it was hard
to celebrate what is a family holiday.
327
00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:20,499
The next day, a search and rescue team
is scouring the forest along the Blue
328
00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:24,900
River when they notice something on the
water's edge.
329
00:21:25,260 --> 00:21:28,140
They see something with some snow on it.
330
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,740
The day after Thanksgiving,
investigators' worst fears are realized.
331
00:21:51,380 --> 00:21:56,259
When 41 -year -old Stephanie Bruner's
body is discovered on the banks of the
332
00:21:56,260 --> 00:21:57,310
Blue River.
333
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,480
Just a half mile from her home.
334
00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:11,799
I remember there just an overwhelming...
Try to keep my composure
335
00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:12,850
here.
336
00:22:26,540 --> 00:22:33,239
She was naked except for a tie -dye T
-shirt that was wrapped around
337
00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:37,720
one arm, and it was just the sinking
feeling of, oh, gosh.
338
00:22:39,380 --> 00:22:42,450
You couldn't get any footprints. The
snow's melting too fast.
339
00:22:43,310 --> 00:22:46,050
I'm sure any DNA already washed down the
river.
340
00:22:47,170 --> 00:22:50,150
Still, we need to get a rape kit.
341
00:22:52,530 --> 00:22:57,130
Foul play is suspected, but
investigators can't rule out suicide.
342
00:22:58,770 --> 00:23:01,730
Agent Sadar notifies Stephanie's
husband.
343
00:23:03,170 --> 00:23:07,909
Dale turned towards the river, which was
just a few hundred yards away from
344
00:23:07,910 --> 00:23:10,810
their house, and broke down sobbing.
345
00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,400
Three days later, the results of her
autopsy are in.
346
00:23:19,780 --> 00:23:23,679
What's really interesting is that
there's water in her lungs, and there
347
00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:24,760
signs of hypothermia.
348
00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,250
What does that mean?
349
00:23:26,660 --> 00:23:31,139
Well, dead people don't drown, so she
was definitely alive when she was placed
350
00:23:31,140 --> 00:23:32,190
in the river.
351
00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:33,950
Suicide?
352
00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:35,170
Definitely not.
353
00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:40,319
There was no damage at all to the soles
of her feet, which made it unlikely that
354
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,340
she actually walked into the river. What
about sexual assault?
355
00:23:44,890 --> 00:23:46,350
No, no signs of that.
356
00:23:47,390 --> 00:23:49,970
There was blunt force trauma to the
head.
357
00:23:51,410 --> 00:23:55,910
She was hit on the head by something
that caused her skull to break.
358
00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:57,850
So is that how she died?
359
00:23:58,410 --> 00:24:03,110
I'm declaring it a homicide caused by a
combination of drowning, hypothermia,
360
00:24:03,290 --> 00:24:05,330
blunt force trauma, and strangulation.
361
00:24:07,810 --> 00:24:12,709
The real turning point in the autopsy
was when they had found out that there
362
00:24:12,710 --> 00:24:13,760
evidence of...
363
00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:15,980
manual strangulation.
364
00:24:16,740 --> 00:24:18,120
Come take a look at my report.
365
00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,979
Her throat was pretty much crushed, and
she was alive when she went into the
366
00:24:22,980 --> 00:24:24,030
water.
367
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,360
Strangulation is a very, very personal
crime.
368
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:37,380
When you are strangling somebody, you
are looking in their eyes.
369
00:24:39,780 --> 00:24:42,130
So at this point, we have three prime
suspects.
370
00:24:42,410 --> 00:24:47,630
We have Dale Bruner, the boyfriend,
Dennis, and Loretta.
371
00:24:49,550 --> 00:24:53,910
This is one of those rare instances
where you had a legitimate whodunit.
372
00:24:56,010 --> 00:25:01,229
We felt that it was very important to
interview Loretta. One, she was Dennis
373
00:25:01,230 --> 00:25:02,430
Calden's alibi.
374
00:25:03,990 --> 00:25:06,330
Second, she could be the murderer.
375
00:25:06,830 --> 00:25:11,950
If she viewed Stephanie as a
homewrecker, she could be exceedingly
376
00:25:11,951 --> 00:25:13,369
You know why you're here?
377
00:25:13,370 --> 00:25:15,130
I'm the jealous wife, right?
378
00:25:15,710 --> 00:25:17,030
Well, let me put it this way.
379
00:25:17,530 --> 00:25:19,510
At this point, everybody's a suspect.
380
00:25:21,270 --> 00:25:23,070
When did you learn about the affair?
381
00:25:23,350 --> 00:25:24,970
Dennis just told me a few days ago.
382
00:25:25,770 --> 00:25:29,729
Dennis didn't tell his wife that he was
having this emotional affair with
383
00:25:29,730 --> 00:25:32,690
Stephanie until after she had gone
missing.
384
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,640
When you look at the interview of
Loretta, she's pissed at Denna.
385
00:25:41,220 --> 00:25:46,000
Okay, so the official headcount for our
Thanksgiving dinner is at 15.
386
00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:48,860
Loretta, we need to talk.
387
00:25:50,380 --> 00:25:51,520
What's wrong with you?
388
00:25:53,020 --> 00:25:54,500
Stephanie Bruner is missing.
389
00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:56,720
Your dance instructor?
390
00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,920
The Silverthorne PD called me this
afternoon.
391
00:26:00,580 --> 00:26:02,630
They asked me to come in for
questioning.
392
00:26:05,710 --> 00:26:06,760
You hardly knew her.
393
00:26:07,870 --> 00:26:08,920
Right?
394
00:26:09,510 --> 00:26:11,190
Loretta, we were having an affair.
395
00:26:14,050 --> 00:26:17,210
I knew it. And I'm sorry I had to tell
you like this.
396
00:26:17,970 --> 00:26:20,810
It was nothing. I kissed her once.
397
00:26:21,090 --> 00:26:22,950
How could you do something like this?
398
00:26:23,290 --> 00:26:27,029
I tried to break it off with her the
other day. I wanted to focus on us make
399
00:26:27,030 --> 00:26:28,080
this right.
400
00:26:28,290 --> 00:26:29,570
But now she's missing.
401
00:26:29,850 --> 00:26:30,900
You know what?
402
00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:35,050
I hope she rots in hell.
403
00:26:38,420 --> 00:26:42,319
After Stephanie's body was found,
Loretta was pretty upset about having
404
00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:43,520
those angry statements.
405
00:26:43,521 --> 00:26:45,999
Where were you the night Stephanie went
missing?
406
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,240
I was at home with Dennis.
407
00:26:47,580 --> 00:26:51,780
She gives the same alibi, that they were
home in bed, that they were alone.
408
00:26:52,380 --> 00:26:54,610
Would you ever lie to protect your
husband?
409
00:26:56,100 --> 00:27:00,340
I love my husband a lot, but no, I'm not
going to lie for him.
410
00:27:01,660 --> 00:27:03,460
Even if it means him going to prison?
411
00:27:03,980 --> 00:27:05,030
No.
412
00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:06,380
Because you know what?
413
00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,660
If he's made his bed, he needs to lay in
it.
414
00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:16,519
She was pretty resolute, and all the
details of her statement matched up with
415
00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:17,570
Dennis' details.
416
00:27:20,420 --> 00:27:25,559
A week after Stephanie's body surfaced
in the Blue River, friends and family
417
00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,220
gather at her beloved dance studio to
celebrate her life.
418
00:27:29,740 --> 00:27:34,300
We would like to honor Stephanie now as
her dance family and representatives.
419
00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,760
of that world in a procession.
420
00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:42,660
The memorial service was very well done.
421
00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:47,920
All of her dance friends were all there,
and it was beautiful.
422
00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:54,339
Following the advice of investigators,
Dennis and Loretta Calden do not attend
423
00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:58,020
the service and both agree to take a lie
detector test.
424
00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,970
Did you have anything to do with
Stephanie Berner's disappearance?
425
00:28:02,540 --> 00:28:08,689
No. While polygraph results are not
admissible in court, it really helps us
426
00:28:08,690 --> 00:28:11,310
focus on our investigation.
427
00:28:12,530 --> 00:28:15,960
Do you have any first -hand knowledge of
Stephanie Bruner's death?
428
00:28:16,350 --> 00:28:19,230
No. Did you kill Stephanie Bruner?
429
00:28:20,090 --> 00:28:21,140
Absolutely not.
430
00:28:22,570 --> 00:28:26,330
So they take the polygraph and they both
fail the polygraph.
431
00:28:27,190 --> 00:28:31,510
And suddenly the needle moves towards,
uh -oh, have we made a mistake?
432
00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,920
So that did cause us to take a step
back, re -look at them as our suspects.
433
00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,830
Did you have anything to do with
Stephanie Brunner's death?
434
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:53,290
No.
435
00:28:53,980 --> 00:28:56,150
Do you know who killed Stephanie
Brunner?
436
00:28:56,220 --> 00:28:57,270
No.
437
00:28:57,810 --> 00:29:03,009
After Dennis and Loretta Calden both
failed their polygraph exams,
438
00:29:03,010 --> 00:29:05,290
circled back to their original
statements.
439
00:29:06,750 --> 00:29:11,229
But it's a meeting with Stephanie's best
friend, Jennifer, that forces them to
440
00:29:11,230 --> 00:29:12,950
reconsider another suspect.
441
00:29:13,470 --> 00:29:15,410
Thank you for meeting me. Of course.
442
00:29:15,690 --> 00:29:16,740
What's going on?
443
00:29:16,741 --> 00:29:18,669
Did you know about the restraining
order?
444
00:29:18,670 --> 00:29:21,830
Yeah, Dale mentioned it already, but
Stephanie rescinded it.
445
00:29:22,350 --> 00:29:24,270
She only did it to protect the children.
446
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,480
She was afraid of what Dale might do if
she didn't.
447
00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:31,820
Seems there is more to the story than
Dale let on.
448
00:29:34,380 --> 00:29:36,520
She was rushing to go to work.
449
00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,650
Realized she forgot something, needed to
go back into the house.
450
00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:45,300
Hey sweetie, where's daddy?
451
00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:51,640
From the doorway, had heard.
452
00:29:53,800 --> 00:30:00,259
Spanking so loud on their skin that it
immediately
453
00:30:00,260 --> 00:30:01,310
alarmed her.
454
00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,880
Hey, what are you doing? Dale, that's
enough. Stop it.
455
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:19,960
Horrified, Stephanie contacts
authorities and initiates a restraining
456
00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,199
A week or so later, Stephanie felt that
keeping Dale away from the kids might
457
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,079
have been a little too harsh, and they
both went to court to have the
458
00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:30,580
restraining order rescinded.
459
00:30:30,820 --> 00:30:36,640
After that incident, she confided in
Dale about her relationship with Dennis,
460
00:30:36,860 --> 00:30:41,560
and she told him that she wanted a
divorce.
461
00:30:41,860 --> 00:30:43,300
And how did Dale take that?
462
00:30:43,740 --> 00:30:45,540
He was surprisingly understanding.
463
00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:47,900
He even helped her.
464
00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,240
Find a place of her own and move out.
465
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,060
She actually rented a place the weekend
before she went missing.
466
00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:05,659
Finally free to pursue a relationship,
Stephanie reaches out to Dennis to
467
00:31:05,660 --> 00:31:06,710
celebrate.
468
00:31:09,620 --> 00:31:12,280
But her hopes are quickly dashed.
469
00:31:14,890 --> 00:31:19,629
The first night Stephanie was in her new
home, she was communicating online with
470
00:31:19,630 --> 00:31:20,680
Dennis.
471
00:31:21,250 --> 00:31:26,369
And Dennis expressed in writing he
wanted to take a step back from their
472
00:31:26,370 --> 00:31:28,720
relationship and try to focus on his
marriage.
473
00:31:30,770 --> 00:31:35,969
Just hours after moving into her own
place, Stephanie and the children return
474
00:31:35,970 --> 00:31:37,020
home.
475
00:31:37,390 --> 00:31:41,729
It's expensive up here to live. And I
think that's when Stephanie realized
476
00:31:41,730 --> 00:31:43,010
she couldn't do it alone.
477
00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,360
The next evening, Stephanie disappears.
478
00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:53,280
So investigators zero in on those last
24 hours of her life.
479
00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,980
They bring in Dennis Calden again.
480
00:31:56,740 --> 00:31:59,780
I swear, I didn't do anything to her.
481
00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:09,299
Dennis was pretty emotionally upset when
we told him a little bit more about
482
00:32:09,300 --> 00:32:10,350
Stephanie's death.
483
00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:13,140
He would openly sob.
484
00:32:14,590 --> 00:32:17,060
Legitimate, real tears rolling down his
cheeks.
485
00:32:17,061 --> 00:32:21,289
How could this have happened? What do I
have to do to help you find who's ever
486
00:32:21,290 --> 00:32:22,340
done this to her?
487
00:32:22,341 --> 00:32:24,689
We're going to need to search her home
if that's okay.
488
00:32:24,690 --> 00:32:25,740
Yeah, fine.
489
00:32:30,090 --> 00:32:34,149
We did a search on their homes and their
cars. There was nothing that would say
490
00:32:34,150 --> 00:32:37,550
that they had anything to do with her
disappearance or her murder.
491
00:32:37,551 --> 00:32:39,849
Looks like Loretta's been keeping a
journal.
492
00:32:39,850 --> 00:32:42,090
Listen to this. We did, however...
493
00:32:42,460 --> 00:32:46,370
find some pretty compelling information
to find that they were not involved.
494
00:32:46,371 --> 00:32:49,859
I feel for those children who are going
to be without their mother on
495
00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:52,220
Thanksgiving. I pray that she comes home
safe.
496
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:57,250
That doesn't sound like someone who's
been involved in a murder.
497
00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:05,179
Computer records also prove that Dennis
was home the night Stephanie went
498
00:33:05,180 --> 00:33:09,500
missing. We were able to cooperate. He
was on his computer. He wrote an email.
499
00:33:09,660 --> 00:33:10,780
He came up to bed later.
500
00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:12,380
Loretta said the same thing.
501
00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:19,079
With this new information, Dennis and
Loretta are dismissed as persons of
502
00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:23,479
interest. We realized that we probably
made some mistakes in how we phrased
503
00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,040
of the questions to each of them.
504
00:33:27,300 --> 00:33:32,359
When Dennis and Loretta are officially
eliminated as suspects, that just leaves
505
00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:33,410
one person.
506
00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:35,950
Dale. Dale Bruner.
507
00:33:39,370 --> 00:33:43,150
Police obtain a warrant to search Dale's
home for a second time.
508
00:33:43,430 --> 00:33:46,090
You go all along here, up around the
door.
509
00:33:46,530 --> 00:33:47,580
Okay? All right.
510
00:33:47,810 --> 00:33:48,860
Don't forget inside.
511
00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:53,580
Oh.
512
00:33:53,581 --> 00:33:55,769
What happened to all Stephanie's stuff?
513
00:33:55,770 --> 00:33:58,449
I took it to Goodwill. I couldn't stand
looking at it anymore.
514
00:33:58,450 --> 00:34:02,949
One of the things we noticed that's
really odd to us was there was not one
515
00:34:02,950 --> 00:34:04,810
of Stephanie Bruner left in the house.
516
00:34:05,150 --> 00:34:06,590
What about all the pictures?
517
00:34:06,950 --> 00:34:12,908
All of Stephanie's clothes and personal
items were gone. Any picture of her was
518
00:34:12,909 --> 00:34:13,959
gone.
519
00:34:14,810 --> 00:34:20,629
After a second search fails to yield
forensic evidence, investigators get a
520
00:34:20,630 --> 00:34:21,680
-changing tip.
521
00:34:22,590 --> 00:34:26,888
I'm Officer Berger. I'm Dale Bruner's ex
-girlfriend. Oh, okay. I have some
522
00:34:26,889 --> 00:34:29,869
information that might help in the
investigation of his wife's murder.
523
00:34:29,870 --> 00:34:30,920
Please.
524
00:34:31,989 --> 00:34:33,270
I know he did it.
525
00:34:35,130 --> 00:34:37,240
I know he did it because he tried to
kill me.
526
00:34:38,489 --> 00:34:42,229
She goes, as soon as I knew that she was
deceased, I knew it was Dale. Because
527
00:34:42,230 --> 00:34:44,589
if I didn't get out, I think he would
have killed me.
528
00:34:44,590 --> 00:34:49,009
I mean, Dale would be very charming and
very kind, but when he would get mad, he
529
00:34:49,010 --> 00:34:53,289
would just switch, like Jekyll and Hyde.
I mean, we would get this look in his
530
00:34:53,290 --> 00:34:54,340
eyes.
531
00:34:54,469 --> 00:34:55,519
Hey, Dale!
532
00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:56,549
Stop it!
533
00:34:56,550 --> 00:34:58,350
I wasn't done talking to you. Damn it!
534
00:34:59,010 --> 00:35:03,290
If you ever talk to me like that again,
I will kill you. I will kill you.
535
00:35:11,159 --> 00:35:15,400
That was huge when we got that tip.
536
00:35:17,580 --> 00:35:23,300
Over the next few months, investigators
dissect every detail of Dale's past.
537
00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:25,800
The results are troubling.
538
00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:30,400
It became apparent to us that Dale had a
repeated...
539
00:35:31,020 --> 00:35:34,510
pattern and practice of strangling women
when he was upset with them.
540
00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:39,020
He was kind of seen as this nice
photographer guy.
541
00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:45,419
But through this investigation, we're
going to see a very different side of
542
00:35:45,420 --> 00:35:48,080
Bruner. Hey, Dale, that's enough. Stop
it.
543
00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:50,780
That in private, he could be very
violent.
544
00:35:51,420 --> 00:35:55,540
Turns out, Dale's ex -girlfriend was not
his only victim.
545
00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:57,920
Has he ever been violent with Stephanie?
546
00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,990
Stephanie told me that Dale actually
threatened to kill her.
547
00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:03,800
She was so ashamed of it.
548
00:36:05,340 --> 00:36:08,470
I swear to God, if you leave me, I will
kill you! Dale, the kids!
549
00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,450
Don't turn your back on me. Get over
here!
550
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:14,810
Dale!
551
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:18,760
Stop! Stop! Let go of me!
552
00:36:19,380 --> 00:36:20,430
Let go!
553
00:36:28,351 --> 00:36:35,719
We were able to get warrants for Dale's
arrest, and obviously we were very
554
00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:37,580
comfortable that we had the right guy.
555
00:36:42,340 --> 00:36:47,720
Eight months after Stephanie's body is
discovered in the river near her home.
556
00:36:47,820 --> 00:36:49,930
Put your hands on the steering wheel
now!
557
00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:53,600
Dale Bruner is taken into custody.
558
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,299
You're under arrest for the murder of
Stephanie Bruner. But without physical
559
00:36:58,300 --> 00:37:00,240
evidence, will he be convicted?
560
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:11,210
Put your hands on the steering wheel
now!
561
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:20,399
In August 2011, Dale Bruner is arrested
for the murder of
562
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,500
his wife of 11 years, Daphne Bruner.
563
00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:25,420
Put your hands behind your head!
564
00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:30,800
You have the right to remain silent.
565
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:36,059
He's offered a plea in exchange for a
guilty verdict, but adamantly proclaims
566
00:37:36,060 --> 00:37:38,140
his innocence and opts to face a jury.
567
00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:43,060
I remember thinking, bring it on.
568
00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:45,370
We'll get you.
569
00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:54,079
Although the case is circumstantial, the
prosecution believes the sum of the
570
00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,940
evidence clearly points to Dale as the
killer.
571
00:37:58,060 --> 00:38:02,139
When you have no physical evidence and
you have no eyewitnesses, you have to
572
00:38:02,140 --> 00:38:05,460
build your case piece by piece by piece.
573
00:38:08,930 --> 00:38:14,489
Investigators believe that just hours
after Dennis breaks up with Stephanie,
574
00:38:14,490 --> 00:38:16,950
emails him to try to win him back.
575
00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:24,229
One of the critical things about that
email was that it autosaved just before
576
00:38:24,230 --> 00:38:25,280
midnight.
577
00:38:25,550 --> 00:38:31,149
So that put her in the house from their
IP address prior to her sudden
578
00:38:31,150 --> 00:38:32,200
disappearance.
579
00:38:33,550 --> 00:38:37,370
And that email was professing her love
to Dennis.
580
00:38:40,190 --> 00:38:43,930
And her email stopped mid -sentence, not
finished.
581
00:38:48,050 --> 00:38:54,249
It led us to believe that she may have
been typing an email when Mr. Bruner
582
00:38:54,250 --> 00:38:57,829
looked at her computer and saw what she
was doing. What do you think you're
583
00:38:57,830 --> 00:38:58,880
doing?
584
00:38:58,970 --> 00:39:01,380
Nothing. I was just writing an email to
my sister.
585
00:39:02,190 --> 00:39:03,990
Come on, how stupid do you think I am?
586
00:39:04,170 --> 00:39:07,170
Please, the kids are sleeping. He
grabbed that computer.
587
00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,590
and hit her in the head with that,
causing blunt force trauma.
588
00:39:13,700 --> 00:39:19,340
He then strangles her with so much
force, it breaks a bone in her neck.
589
00:39:25,380 --> 00:39:28,740
She is unconscious, and he thinks he has
killed her.
590
00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:34,500
And so he takes her, and he dumps her
body into the Blue River.
591
00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:41,839
thinking that she will float down the
Blue River and they will never, ever
592
00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:42,890
her body.
593
00:39:57,860 --> 00:40:04,679
The most dramatic moment in the trial
comes from Stephanie's own agonizing
594
00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:05,730
words.
595
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:11,159
The recording of the restraining order
made against Dale just six weeks before
596
00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:12,210
her murder.
597
00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:39,880
It was one of the most incredibly
powerful things that we were able to
598
00:40:41,540 --> 00:40:46,739
Stephanie's voice from essentially
beyond the grave, when we played that,
599
00:40:46,740 --> 00:40:51,200
just silence in the courtroom. Everybody
was just stunned.
600
00:40:52,160 --> 00:40:58,739
It really put it in perspective what she
had been enduring and going through for
601
00:40:58,740 --> 00:40:59,790
so many years.
602
00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:01,460
And that was tough.
603
00:41:03,530 --> 00:41:05,880
I think that was the turning point for
the jury.
604
00:41:06,610 --> 00:41:09,930
Dale Bruner is found guilty on all
charges.
605
00:41:10,870 --> 00:41:14,370
He is sentenced to 112 years in prison.
606
00:41:15,190 --> 00:41:19,390
It's just relief that maybe you've got a
little bit of justice for Stephanie,
607
00:41:19,510 --> 00:41:21,620
who died such a horrible, horrible
death.
608
00:41:23,430 --> 00:41:26,070
He was a manipulator. Oh, beautiful.
609
00:41:27,730 --> 00:41:28,780
He's a narcissist.
610
00:41:29,370 --> 00:41:33,030
Love you. There was no doubt in my mind
that he had done it.
611
00:41:34,681 --> 00:41:42,169
It's exactly like a double life. That
person right here behind these closed
612
00:41:42,170 --> 00:41:46,189
doors, one person. They come out and
what they show the world, totally
613
00:41:46,190 --> 00:41:47,810
different. And that's what he was.
614
00:41:56,069 --> 00:41:59,139
Today, Stephanie's children are being
raised by her family.
615
00:41:59,610 --> 00:42:04,889
I remember thinking, now they're going
to go through life without their mom and
616
00:42:04,890 --> 00:42:05,940
their dad.
617
00:42:07,970 --> 00:42:09,890
No child should have to go through this.
618
00:42:09,891 --> 00:42:13,529
I'll never forget Stephanie and I'll
never forget her kids.
619
00:42:13,530 --> 00:42:17,169
When I think of this case, it still
really bothers me. It's going to be one
620
00:42:17,170 --> 00:42:20,649
will stay with me because I don't want
that ever to happen to anybody else.
621
00:42:20,650 --> 00:42:22,130
If I could go back in time.
622
00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:27,739
I would just say, Steph, you'll be safe
with me. Come, you know, we'll get you
623
00:42:27,740 --> 00:42:28,790
out of this.
624
00:42:29,020 --> 00:42:35,319
There's organizations out there to help
625
00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:39,820
get you out while you're still alive.
626
00:42:42,660 --> 00:42:45,820
Thank you for watching Investigation
Discovery On Demand.
627
00:42:45,870 --> 00:42:50,420
Repair and Synchronization by
Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0
52947
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.