>> SHE WAS A TINY, LITTLE THING,
BUT SHE WAS NOT SCARED OF ANYBODY.
>> GOT A CALL FROM DISPATCH -- SAID THAT REBEKAH WAS MISSING.
THERE WAS BLOODY ITEMS, PILLOWS, AND CLOTHING THAT WAS SHOVED
UNDER THE BED. >> Reporter: WHERE'D THEY FIND
THE BODY >> RIGHT DOWN THERE, CLOSE TO
THAT BIG TREE. >> Reporter: THERE'S YOUR GIRL
IN A COFFIN. >> THERE'S MY -- YES
>> Reporter: A LOT OF SUSPECTS >> A LOT OF SUSPECTS
CASEY WAS THE BOYFRIEND. THEY WAS ON AND OFF AGAIN.
>> SHE HAD JUSTIN, WHO SHE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH.
JUSTIN WAS THE BAD BOY WE HAD HEARD A RUMOR THAT CHRIS
WAS COVERED IN BLOOD THAT DAY. SO THAT IS A RED FLAG.
>> WE HAVE NO FORCED ENTRY SO SHE KNEW WHO HER KILLER WAS
>> THERE WAS A CAR THERE WITH TEXAS PLATES
WHO WERE THE TEXAS PLATES? >> HE HAD A PICTURE OF REBEKAH'S
HEADSTONE. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS ABOUT
REBEKAH'S MURDER >> WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
WE KNOW HOW IT WENT DOWN >> Reporter: THIS IS A TOTAL
BLUFF? >> IT IS
YEAH >> YOU'RE FREE TO GO AT ANY
TIME >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE
DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING. >> RIGHT
RIGHT. >> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SHOCK.
"OH, MY GOD, IT'S OVER?" >> WOULD AN INVESTIGATOR'S RISKY
STRATEGY DOOM A CASE OR REVEAL A KILLER
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS "DATELINE.
HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH "SECRETS IN THE OZARKS."
>> Reporter: AN AWFUL ACT, ONE YOU COULDN'T UNSEE OR FORGET
AND THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF SUSPECTS
A SMALL MOUNTAIN TOWN WITH RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS TURNED
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. >> THEY ALL WENT THROUGH BEING
>> ACCUSED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM
IT HURT A LOT OF THEM. >> Reporter: WITHOUT AN ARREST,
THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION NEVER REALLY WENT INTO RECESS OR
STOPPED SPINNING FRESH THEORIES. OLD NAMES, NEW NAMES WHISPERED
ABOUT. >> THERE WAS LOTS OF NAMES
THROWED OUT THERE. >> RUMORS ABOUT JENNIFER
>> HE FLAT-OUT TOLD SOME PEOPLE THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT DONE IT.
>> CHRIS CANTRELL. AND LARGELY, CASEY
EVERYBODY WAS POINTING THE FINGER AT HIM.
>> Reporter: SO MANY REPUTATIONS WERE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD
THE TRUE KILLER, MEANWHILE, FOLLOWING IT ALL FROM SO MANY
MILES AWAY, TICKLED TO BE GETTING AWAY WITH IT
>> HE WAS VERY PROUD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO FOOL EVERYBODY
>> Reporter: UNTIL HE ENCOUNTERED THIS MAN AND ALL HIS
BRAVADO FELL AWAY IN A HEARTBEAT.
THE EVIL LAID BARE BY A SIMPLE QUESTION
>> WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH TAKING A POLYGRAPH?
I'LL JUST ASK YA >> Reporter: SO LET'S FOLLOW THE
HILLS INTO THE POSTCARD-PRETTY ARKANSAS OZARKS.
THAT'S WHERE REBEKAH, THE YOUNG WOMAN IN OUR STORY, WAS RAISED
IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN JUST LET YOUR EARS DIRECT YOU TO THE
SOUNDS OF THE FIDDLE AND THE SWEET SONG OF THE DULCIMER
* AND THERE YOU'LL BE IN THE TOWN
OF MOUNTAIN VIEW, THE SELF-DESIGNATED FOLK MUSIC
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IN COZY PARLORS YOU CAN HEAR THE
TIMELESS OLD HYMNS AND THE BALLADS OF FAITHLESS LOVERS COME
TO MURDEROUS RUIN. BUT ONE PERSON'S TIMELESS AND
SATISFYING CAN BE ANOTHER'S CLAUSTROPHOBIC
>> THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO DO THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S BEAUTIFUL AREA, BUT IT'S JUST A SMALL TOWN
YOU'RE LUCKY IF YOU HAVE A STOPLIGHT IN YOUR TOWN
>> Reporter: TIFFANY MOORE GREW UP IN MOUNTAIN VIEW WITH THREE
SISTERS. EVENTUALLY SHE ENROLLED IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE, THREE HOURS AWAY
SHE WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN HER RESTLESS KID SISTERS REBEKAH --
THAT'S HER ON THE RIGHT -- AND DANIELLE MOVED THERE TOO
REBEKAH, 22 YEARS OLD, WANTED SO VERY MUCH TO BE A RAZORBACK.
>> WELL, SHE WAS GOING TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE SHE
WANTED TO GET INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
BUT SHE HAD TO GET A COUPLE OF CLASSES UNDER HER BELT FIRST
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT HER AND DANIELLE WERE BOTH ENROLLED IN
THE SAME CLASSES, GOING TO THE --
>> Reporter: SO DO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THING.
>> YES >> Reporter: AND THEN -- THEN
BECOME A RAZORBACK >> YES, THAT WAS THE PLAN.
>> Reporter: COLLEGE WAS THE FUTURE
BUT TIFFANY'S SISTERS MISSED THEIR MOM AND FRIENDS FROM THE
OLD DAYS SO ON THAT THIRD WEEKEND OF
SEPTEMBER 2004, WITH HER LITTLE DOG LADY AND SISTER DANIELLE
RIDING SHOTGUN, REBEKAH DROVE HOME FOR A VISIT
SHE PLANNED TO SPEND MOST OF HER TIME IN A NEARBY TOWN AT THE
HOME OF A FRIEND A GUY NAMED CASEY, HUH
>> CASEY, YES, YEAH. AND THAT'S WHO SHE WOULD STAY
WITH A LOT OF THE TIMES WHEN SHE WOULD, UM, GO BACK HOME.
>> Reporter: BOYFRIEND OF REBEKAH, CASEY, OR NOT SO MUCH
>> UM, AT ONE POINT, YES, THEY WERE
THEY WERE KIND OF ON AND OFF >> Reporter: COME LATE MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 20th, 2004, THE SISTERS WERE SUPPOSED TO HEAD
BACK TO SCHOOL, REBEKAH AT THE WHEEL.
THAT NEVER HAPPENED. >> SHE DIDN'T ANSWER HER PHONE,
AND SHE NEVER PICKED DANIELLE UP
BUT REBEKAH WAS KIND OF LIKE THAT TOO, YOU KNOW
SHE -- IF SHE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, SHE WAS GOING TO DO
IT >> Reporter: BY TUESDAY MORNING,
REBEKAH'S MOM KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT
>> SHE CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM TO DO
A, UM -- WHAT IS IT -- A WELFARE CHECK OR SOMETHING
>> Reporter: SO WHEN THIS THING WENT DOWN, ARE YOU ALREADY
WORKING? ARE YOU ON SHIFT
>> I'D BEEN ON SHIFT ABOUT, UH, 30 MINUTES THAT MORNING.
>> Reporter: CHARLIE MELTON IS NOW THE IZARD COUNTY SHERIFF
BUT BACK IN 2004, HE WAS A NEWLY MINTED DEPUTY WHEN HIS
DISPATCHER TOLD HIM TO LOCATE ONE REBEKAH GOULD.
JUST IN GENERAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MISSION IS HERE
>> TO, UH, GO FIND SOMEBODY THAT HAS EITHER LOST OR JUST, UH, FOR
SOME REASON, DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO WHERE THEY SUPPOSED TO
BE >> Reporter: SO YOU THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIMPLE DEAL, HUH?
>> JUST A PRETTY ROUTINE CALL. >> Reporter: REBEKAH'S MOM
SUGGESTED THEY TRACK DOWN THAT FRIEND REBEKAH WAS STAYING WITH,
CASEY McCULLOUGH THEY'D MOST LIKELY FIND HIM AT
WORK AT THIS SONIC DRIVE-IN. SO YOU WENT TO THE SONIC
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: THERE HE WAS.
>> HE WAS PULLING OUT AS I WAS PULLING IN
>> Reporter: CASEY TOLD THE DEPUTY HE LAST SAW REBEKAH THE
DAY BEFORE, MONDAY MORNING, WHEN SHE DROPPED HIM OFF FOR HIS
SHIFT AT THE SONIC SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK HIM UP
LATER THAT DAY BUT, FOR SOME REASON, DIDN'T SHOW.
HE SPENT THE NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS AND DIDN'T GO HOME
BUT NOW, HAVING JUST SWUNG BY HIS PLACE, HE NOTICED REBEKAH'S
CAR AND DOG WERE STILL THERE SHE WAS NOT.
THE DEPUTY ASKED CASEY TO TAKE HIM BACK TO THE HOUSE.
SO THIS IS CASEY'S PLACE >> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: AND HERE WE ARE, WHAT, 19 YEARS ON?
>> CLOSE TO IT >> Reporter: IT'S A MESS
>> IT IS >> Reporter: BUT NOT SO BAD
THEN, HUH? >> IT WASN'T
IT WAS PRETTY WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME
>> Reporter: MELTON SAYS AS SOON AS HE WALKED INTO THE HOUSE HE
REALIZED HIS ROUTINE CALL WAS ANYTHING BUT
>> WENT IN HER PURSE WAS ON THE TABLE, AND
HER DOG WAS THERE AND OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS, BUT SHE WASN'T
AROUND I WAS FOR SURE CONCERNED THEN.
>> Reporter: HE ASKED CASEY TO SHOW HIM THE BEDROOM WHERE HE
AND REBEKAH SLEPT. THE LINEN HAD BEEN STRIPPED OFF
THE MATTRESS >> I ASKED HIM IF I COULD LOOK
UNDER THE MATTRESS AND WHEN I FLIPPED IT UP, THE
BOTTOM OF THE MATTRESS HAD BLOOD COVERING A LARGE PORTION OF IT
>> Reporter: AND IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM, YOU FOUND SOMETHING, HUH
>> THE WASHING MACHINE WAS JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE THE, UH, BEDROOM
DOOR I LIFT THE LID ON IT, AND THERE
WAS THE BEDDING. AND IN THE BLEACH DISPENSER FOR
THE WASHING MACHINE, THERE APPEARED TO BE BLOOD
>> Reporter: THIS SOUNDS LIKE TROUBLE, SHERIFF
>> IT WAS. AND AT THAT TIME IS WHEN I -- I
TOOK CASEY OUTSIDE AND CALLED, UH, OUR SHERIFF, TOLD HIM WHAT I
HAD FOUND. >> Reporter: TOLD THE SHERIFF
THAT REBEKAH GOULD WAS MORE THAN JUST MISSING
THE DEPUTY SUSPECTED THE YOUNG MAN STANDING BEFORE HIM KNEW
WHERE SHE WAS AND, MAYBE, WHAT >> Reporter: ARKANSAS POLICE
WERE ROLLING OUT 22-YEAR-OLD REBEKAH GOULD HAD
GONE MISSING HER FRIEND CASEY McCULLOUGH'S
HOME -- A POTENTIAL CRIME SCENE. >> THERE WAS BLOODY ITEMS,
PILLOWS AND CLOTHING THAT WAS SHOVED UNDER THE BED
THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE WALLS BEHIND THE BED
>> Reporter: BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY DESCRIBE WHAT WAS
HAPPENING AT THAT POINT. >> IT DID NOT.
>> Reporter: IT WAS BY THEN TUESDAY MORNING,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2004, A FULL DAY SINCE ANYONE HAD SEEN OR HEARD
FROM REBEKAH POLICE TOLD HER FAMILY LITTLE OF
WHAT THEY'D DISCOVERED INSIDE THE HOUSE.
>> THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND -- THAT THERE WAS BLOOD,
BUT, UM, THEY DIDN'T TELL ME HOW MUCH
>> Reporter: REBEKAH'S SISTER TIFFANY MOORE AND HER
HALF-SISTER ANGELA NEUBAUER WERE NOT ALARMED SO MUCH AS ROLLING
THEIR EYES AT THEIR SISTER'S LATEST STUNT
THEY MADE THE LONG DRIVE OVER TO A TOWN NEAR THEIR OLD HOME AND
CASEY'S. A PLACE CALLED MELBOURNE
>> WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GIVE REBEKAH A LECTURE BECAUSE SHE'S
PROBABLY PARTYING SOMEWHERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THIS
COULD BE HAPPENING >> Reporter: TIFFANY, DO YOU
AGREE? YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INCIDENT
WE'D ALL LOOK BACK AND LAUGH AT SOME TIME AFTER REBEKAH GOT A
SCOLDING >> I DID
YEAH, YEAH I -- I REALLY DID.
>> SHE WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE THE LAST ONE TO COME IF YOU CALLED
HER. >> Reporter: REBEKAH'S FATHER,
LARRY GOULD, LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. WHEN HE GOT WORD, HE WASN'T
OVERLY CONCERNED EITHER. NOT AT FIRST
HE SAYS HIS DAUGHTER WAS A REBEL.
HAD BEEN FROM THE WORD "GO." >> SHE HAD A MIND OF HER OWN
SHE WAS REALLY FEARLESS, EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE.
>> I MEAN, THINGS THAT SHE SHOULDN'T DO, LIKE SNEAKING OUT
EVEN AT US JUST TO GO OUT AND GO DOWN TO THE PARK DOWN THE
STREET IF SHE WANTED TO DO IT, SHE WAS
GOING TO DO IT >> Reporter: FREE SPIRIT, HUH?
>> SHE WAS VERY MUCH - >> AND FEARLESS.
>> YES >> Reporter: FEARLESS AND
INDEPENDENT BY NATURE. INDEPENDENT, BY NECESSITY AFTER
HER PARENTS DIVORCED >> AND I TRIED TO GET CUSTODY OF
MY GIRLS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
THEY WENT WITH THEIR MOTHER AND LIVED THROUGHOUT ARKANSAS,
DIFFERENT PLACES IN ARKANSAS >> Reporter: AN UGLY DIVORCE
NONE OF THEM ARE GREAT, BUT THIS ONE WAS ESPECIALLY PAINFUL
>> ABSOLUTELY, VERY. >> Reporter: IT INVOLVED NASTY
ALLEGATIONS -- MOM AGAINST DAD DAD AGAINST MOM.
IT WASN'T ALL BED OF ROSES FOR YOU GUYS GROWING UP, WAS IT?
>> NO, NO, IT WASN'T IT WAS -- IT WAS -
>> Reporter: SOME FOSTER HOMES ALONG THE WAY?
>> MM-HMM. YEAH
UH, WE'RE IN FOSTER HOME FOR, I THINK, A GOOD YEAR OR TWO.
>> Reporter: AFTER WHICH THEY REUNITED WITH THEIR MOM.
BUT THEIR FATHER, A DENTIST, SAYS HIS DAUGHTERS LACKED
STABILITY -- AND HE LACKED CONSISTENT CONTACT WITH THEM
BECAUSE OF THEIR MOTHER. >> SHE'D LIVE ONE PLACE AND THE
GIRLS WOULD NEVER BE SETTLED SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN, AND THEN
SHE WOULD MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO, THERE WAS NEVER ANY SECURITY
IN THEIR LIFE. >> Reporter: DID THAT WORRY YOU?
>> OF COURSE, IT DID, ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, TIFFANY REMEMBERS REBEKAH HAVING A
MOSTLY HAPPY CHILDHOOD -- ONE FILLED WITH OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
>> WE'D GO CAMPING A LOT THAT WAS OUR VACATIONS WHEN WE
WERE LITTLE AND REBEKAH WAS ALWAYS IN THE WATER.
SHE WAS EITHER SWIMMING OR TRYING TO CATCH CRAW DADS.
>> Reporter: COULDN'T GET HER OUT OF THE WATER
>> NOPE SHE WAS A LITTLE FISH. >> Reporter: THE SCRAPPY LITTLE
MERMAID GREW INTO A SELF-ASSURED AND FIERCELY PROTECTIVE YOUNG
WOMAN. >> SHE WAS ONLY 100 POUNDS AND A
TINY LITTLE THING, BUT SHE WAS NOT SCARED OF ANYBODY.
BUT PEOPLE WERE DRAWN TO HER PEOPLE LOVED HER
>> Reporter: SHE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SHE'D BE EASILY
INTIMIDATED. >> NO, SHE WASN'T.
>> Reporter: SHE'D STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR HERSELF?
>> OH, YEAH. >> AND ANYBODY ELSE SHE LOVED.
>> YEAH, SHE - >> Reporter: SHE HAD THE WHOLE
FAMILY'S BACK, HUH >> OH, ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, I WAS
THE ELDEST, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT THAT I
WAS HAVING, SHE'D BE THE FIRST TO JUMP OVER ME TO GET THAT
PERSON TO, YOU KNOW, PROTECT ME. >> Reporter: NOW, MAYBE IT WAS
REBEKAH WHO NEEDED PROTECTING. DEPUTY MELTON SUSPECTED -- AT
THE VERY LEAST -- SOMEONE HAD ATTACKED THE YOUNG WOMAN BEFORE
DRAGGING HER AWAY. HE BELIEVED CASEY KNEW MORE
ABOUT HER DISAPPEARANCE. >> AND I ASKED CASEY AGAIN
I SAID, WHERE IS SHE HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW
AND I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW >> I LEFT WITH REBEKAH, AND WE
WENT TO MOUNTAIN VIEW. >> Reporter: CASEY, IN A
RECORDED INTERVIEW, LATER RETRACED THE HOURS BEFORE
REBEKAH VANISHED AS STATE POLICE BUILT A TIMELINE
HE SAID THE NIGHT BEFORE REBEKAH WENT MISSING, SUNDAY, WAS
NOTHING SPECIAL. >> WHEN WE GOT TO MOUNTAIN VIEW,
WE REALLY ACTUALLY DROVE AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING
TO DO, AND THEN WE DECIDED TO RENT MORE MOVIES
>> Reporter: THEY CAME BACK TO HIS PLACE AND WATCHED THE FIRST
FILM >> AFTER THAT, SHE LOOKS OUT THE
WINDOW AND SHE SEES SOMEBODY OUT IN THE -- ON THE ROAD, THE DIRT
ROAD AND, UH, I LOOK OUT THERE, AND I
TOLD HER IT WAS MY COUSIN. >> Reporter: CASEY SAID HIS
COUSIN BILLY, IN TOWN FROM TEXAS, STOPPED BY THAT NIGHT FOR
A QUICK HELLO. NOW HOW LONG DID HE STAY
>> ABOUT 10, 15 MINUTES TOPS WE JUST REALLY TALKED ABOUT OLD
TIMES AND STUFF. >> Reporter: AN HOUR OR SO LATER
HE SAID HE AND REBEKAH WENT TO BED.
ON MONDAY MORNING, REBEKAH DROVE HIM TO WORK -- JUST AS HE HAD
ALREADY EXPLAINED TO THE DEPUTY. >> ALL I REMEMBER IS SAYING BYE
AND SMILING AT EACH OTHER AND WAVING AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME
I SAW REBEKAH. >> Reporter: HER PLAN WAS TO
RETURN TO HIS PLACE TO CATCH A NAP, BEFORE PICKING HIM UP AT
4:00 P.M., THEN DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL
WHEN SHE DIDN'T SHOW THAT AFTERNOON, HE CALLED BUT SHE
DIDN'T ANSWER. AT THE TIME, HE SAID, HE
SHRUGGED IT OFF. IT WASN'T UNTIL TUESDAY, WHEN HE
RETURNED HOME WITH THE DEPUTY, THAT HE REALIZED SOMETHING BAD
HAD HAPPENED >> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH, UH, REBEKAH'S DISAPPEARANCE?
>> NO, SIR >> DID YOU, IN ANY WAY, CAUSE
ANY HARM TO REBEKAH? >> NO, SIR
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATOR WASN'T GETTING MUCH FROM CASEY
AT ALL. THOUGH, WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT
REBEKAH'S PAST, THE YOUNG MAN'S TONE CHANGED
>> DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY SHE'S HAD RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS WITH OR
SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS SHE'S OUT THERE THAT SHE WOULD FEEL
COMFORTABLE EITHER LETTING IN THE HOUSE OR -- OR THAT COULD
TALK TO HER TO GET INSIDE THE HOUSE?
>> UH, I DO KNOW >> Reporter: CASEY TOLD THE
INVESTIGATOR THEY SHOULD CHECK OUT ONE OF REBEKAH'S OLD
BOYFRIENDS AS IT TURNED OUT, HER SISTERS
WERE ALREADY CALLING HIM, A FELLOW NAMED JUSTIN GULLETT.
>> CASEY KIND OF JUST FELL OVER HIMSELF FOR REBEKAH AND -- AND
THEN JUSTIN WAS THE BAD BOY. >> Reporter: JUSTIN.
POLICE NEEDED TO FIND HIM AND HAVE A CHAT.
>>> Reporter: REBEKAH GOULD HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE MONDAY.
BY WEDNESDAY, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD LAUNCHED A FULL-SCALE
SEARCH >> IT'S A LOT OF NATIONAL
FORESTS. THEY'RE USED TO DOING THE
SEARCHES >> Reporter: DENNIS SIMONS WAS
AN INVESTIGATOR WITH ARKANSAS STATE POLICE WHEN REBEKAH
DISAPPEARED. HE EVENTUALLY TOOK THE LEAD ON
HER CASE HE KNOWS THIS PART OF THE
OZARKS. LIVED HERE FOR YEARS >> THEY DID HORSEBACK.
THEY DID THE FOUR-WHEELER. ANYTIME WE'VE EVER DONE A SEARCH
UP HERE YOU GET THE GAME AND FISH, YOU GET THE NATIONAL
FOREST SERVICE, YOU GET THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS
>> Reporter: HAVE TO, HE SAYS. THIS IS CHALLENGING TERRAIN.
ESPECIALLY IN MID-SEPTEMBER. >> THAT TIME OF YEAR, YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF UNDERBRUSH, A LOT OF THORNS.
I MEAN, IT IS VERY THICK, RUGGED TERRAIN, STEEP TERRAIN
AND YOU CAN WALK TEN FEET FROM SOMETHING AND NOT SEE IT
IT'S JUST VERY THICK UNDERBRUSH. >> Reporter: WHEN REBEKAH'S
FAMILY GOT TO TOWN, POLICE EXPLAINED THEY THOUGHT IT
UNLIKELY THAT REBEKAH, ON A WHIM, HAD DECIDED TO TAKE OFF ON
HER OWN. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE SHE NEVER
REALLY DID HIT THE ROAD BECAUSE HER CAR WAS THERE, HER PURSE WAS
THERE? >> YEAH.
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT EVEN SANK IN
I MEAN, WE WERE JUST HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS
SOMEWHERE ELSE >> Reporter: THEN, POLICE FILLED
THE FAMILY IN ON MORE OF THE DETAILS.
STARTING WITH THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD FOUND IN CASEY'S ROOM.
>> WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW MUCH BLOOD IT WAS AND THAT IT
COULDN'T BE SOMETHING ELSE, IT HAD TO BE A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS,
I STARTED GETTING CONCERNED. BUT I STILL DIDN'T THINK THE
WORST. >> Reporter: THEY CONTINUED TO
BELIEVE REBEKAH WOULD SHOW UP AT ANY MOMENT
EXPLAIN IT ALL AWAY. MAYBE SHE WAS WITH THAT OLD
BOYFRIEND OF HERS, THE ONE CASEY MENTIONED TO POLICE.
>> JUSTIN, WHO SHE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH, THAT WAS HER
EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH >> Reporter: JUSTIN AND REBEKAH,
THAT'S THE COUPLE. >> JUSTIN AND REBEKAH.
YES. >> Reporter: THEY HAD LONG SINCE
BROKEN UP. BUT TIFFANY SAYS REBEKAH STILL
REGARDED HER OLD FLAME AS THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY
>> I THINK JUSTIN ALWAYS STUCK OUT IN HER MIND THAT THAT'S WHO
SHE LOVES AND WHO SHE WANTED TO BE WITH.
>> Reporter: THEIR HUNCH, THAT REBEKAH WAS WITH JUSTIN, MADE
EVEN MORE SENSE WHEN POLICE HANDED THEM REBEKAH'S PERSONAL
ITEMS, INCLUDING HER PURSE INSIDE IT, ANGELA DISCOVERED A
LETTER INTERESTING, A LETTER.
FROM WHOM AND WHAT DID IT SAY? >> IT WAS FROM JUSTIN.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE GIST OF THE LETTER, ANGELA?
>> THAT HE LOVED HER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT THEY BELONG TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: THE LETTER GAVE HER SISTERS HOPE
NOW, THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO WANTED TO TALK TO JUSTIN
POLICE DID TOO BUT HE WASN'T AT HOME.
>> WHEN WE COULDN'T GET A HOLD OF HIM, WE COULDN'T GET A HOLD
OF HER, WE JUST KIND OF HELD ONTO THAT HOPE THAT SHE WAS WITH
HIM. >> Reporter: AFTER TWO DAYS OF
CALLING, JUSTIN FINALLY ANSWERED HIS PHONE.
>> HE WAS AT THE CASINO WITH HIS FATHER
AND WE ASKED IF HE HAD SEEN HER, IF SHE WAS WITH HIM.
AND ONCE HE SAID, NO, IT WAS JUST, IT WAS KIND OF
DEVASTATING. >> Reporter: JUSTIN MET WITH
POLICE, AND THEY INTERVIEWED HIM.
IT TURNED OUT THE OLD BOYFRIEND HAD BEEN OFF GAMBLING WELL
BEFORE REBEKAH VANISHED. STILL, THE FAMILY WOULD NOT GIVE
UP HOPE. >> I JUST KNOW THAT SHE'S OUT
THERE AND SHE NEEDS US >> Reporter: NOT EVEN WHEN THEY
JOINED THE SEARCH. >> YOU HAVE CAVES THERE.
YOU HAVE OLD WELLS >> Reporter: WOODS, FORESTS.
>> YOU HAVE WOODS. >> Reporter: LOTS OF WATERWAYS
>> YES AND SO SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE
AND THE ONLY THING ON MY MIND WAS TO FIND HER.
I JUST FELT LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO SAY,
"GOT HER, HERE SHE IS. >> I REMEMBER LOOKING AT BIRDS,
AND WE'D WALK OVER TOWARDS WHERE THE BIRDS WERE FLYING AROUND,
AND JUST KIND OF GIVING A SIGH OF RELIEF THAT WE DIDN'T FIND
ANYTHING I REMEMBER THAT --
>> Reporter: YOU DO WANT TO FIND SOMETHING, BUT YOU DON'T, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. YEAH
WE DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT -- >> Reporter: YOU WANT THE
ANSWERS? >> WE WANTED THE ANSWERS
YEAH BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO FIND
ANYTHING >> Reporter: BUT HOPE, WITH
NOTHING TO SUSTAIN IT, CAN ONLY LAST SO LONG.
BY WEEK'S END IT WAS GONE FOR GOOD
SHERIFF, WHERE'D THEY FIND THE BODY
>> RIGHT DOWN THERE CLOSE TO THAT BIG TREE.
RIGHT THERE. >> Reporter: SHE LAY THERE ON
HER SIDE, ABOUT 30 FEET DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT OFF THIS
MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY IF YOU CAN PUT YOURSELF IN HIS
HEAD, THE KILLER'S HEAD, WHY DOES THIS MAKE SENSE FOR HIM
WHERE WE ARE >> 'CAUSE IT'S A RURAL AREA, A
LITTLE TRAFFIC, NO HOUSES CLOSE BY
SO THIS, THAT MAY BE THE REASON HE CHOSE THIS SPOT
>> Reporter: DESPITE THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE YOUNG
WOMAN'S BODY, INVESTIGATORS WERE SURE IT WAS REBEKAH.
SHORTLY AFTER, THEY GATHERED HER FAMILY IN A ROOM AT THE STATION
AND TOLD THEM SHE HAD AT LAST BEEN FOUND
>> IT DIDN'T FEEL REAL. IT DIDN'T AT ALL
UM, THERE, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE IT.
>> Reporter: STILL, POLICE NEEDED A FORMAL I.D.
THAT FELL TO HER FATHER, THE DENTIST.
>> THEY ASKED IF I HAPPENED TO HAVE DENTAL RECORDS ON MY
DAUGHTER AND I SAID I DID, AND I PROVIDED
THEM TO THE STATE POLICE, WHICH WENT TO THE CRIME LAB.
YEAH, THAT WAS HARD. >> Reporter: THE RECORDS WERE A
MATCH TO THE BODY. FOR ONE AGONIZING WEEK, ALL EYES
HAD BEEN FIXED ON FINDING REBEKAH GOULD ALIVE.
NOW, THEIR ATTENTION TURNED TO FINDING HER KILLER
INVESTIGATORS WERE PRETTY SURE THEY ALREADY HAD HIS NAME,
CASEY McCULLOUGH THEY'D DISCOVER A POSSIBLE
MOTIVE SOON ENOUGH >> "I'M GOING TO TAKE REVENGE ON
THIS GIRL. DEFINITELY A BIG MOTIVE FOR
MURDER >> Reporter: THE DAY AFTER
SEARCHERS RECOVERED THE BODY OF REBEKAH GOULD, THE COUNTY M.E.
PERFORMED AN AUTOPSY DEPUTY MELTON SAW THE REPORT AND
KNEW -- RUBECAH'S DEATH HAD BEEN ESPECIALLY GRUESOME.
WHAT WAS THE M.E.'S FINDING ABOUT CAUSE OF DEATH? WHAT HAD
HAPPENED TO HER? >> BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA.
>> Reporter: BLOWS TO HER FACE AND HEAD
TO INVESTIGATORS THAT SUGGESTED RAGE
ANY INDICATION SHE'D BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED? COULD THEY
SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER >> THEY COULDN'T SAY
BODY WAS IN TOO BAD A SHAPE. >> Reporter: THE NEXT HEARTBREAK
FOR HER PARENTS AND SISTERS -- FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
>> IT WAS YOU KNOW, THE ONLY TIME THAT I'VE EVER HAD TO
REALLY DO THAT. UM, BUT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH
AND FIGURE OUT WHICH CASKET, YOU KNOW, SHE'S -- SHE WOULD BE
HAPPY SPENDING THE REST OF HER LIFE IN -- OR HER, YOU KNOW,
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT
>> Reporter: AND -- AND YOU FOUND ONE IN PINK.
>> IT WAS LIKE A PINKISH PURPLE COLOR 'CAUSE THAT WAS HER -- HER
FAVORITE COLOR >> Reporter: YOU DON'T WANT TO
PICK YOUR SISTER'S CASKET, BUT THERE YOU WERE
>> YEAH, YEAH. SO, WE WANTED TO MAKE IT PRETTY
FOR HER. >> Reporter: HER FATHER GAVE THE
EULOGY >> I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER, SO
FOR ME TO GET UP THERE AND DO THAT, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW, IT MEANT THAT NOTHING IN THIS WORLD WOULD HAVE STOPPED
ME >> Reporter: AND THERE'S YOUR
GIRL IN A COFFIN >> THERE'S MY -- YES
>> Reporter: HER PINK-THEMED FUNERAL WAS FILLED WITH FLOWERS
AND THOSE SHE LOVED, INCLUDING HER DOG LADY
>> AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT SOMETHING WAS BEING SAID ABOUT
REBEKAH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE DOG BARKED
IT WAS LIKE IT WAS PROGRAMMED. IT WAS AMAZING
I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU GET THROUGH HORRIFIC
EVENTS IN LIFE IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FOUNDATION IN FAITH, OR
IT WILL TEAR YOU UP. >> Reporter: AND THE DOG WAS
DELIVERING FROM CHANNELS UNKNOWN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IN MY MIND SHE WAS
>> Reporter: A MOMENT OF PEACE, PERHAPS, TO CLING TO.
INVESTIGATORS, MEANWHILE, WERE PULLING TOGETHER THE PIECES FROM
THE CRIME SCENE, ALREADY DUSTED FOR FINGERPRINTS, GATHERED FOR
DNA TESTING, HOPING TO RECONSTRUCT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO
REBEKAH. >> I THINK FROM MINUTE ONE, THE
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATORS REALLY FELT LIKE SHE WAS MURDERED IN
THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: IN THAT BEDROOM,
WHERE A LOT OF REBEKAH'S BLOOD WAS FOUND.
A MISSING PIECE OF FURNITURE FROM ANOTHER ROOM SUGGESTED THE
WEAPON USED ON HER >> AND IT WAS NOTED THAT A PIANO
LEG WAS MISSING THAT WOULD REPORTEDLY BEEN LOOSE AND WOULD
COMMONLY FALL OVER >> Reporter: AND IF YOU WALKED,
TROD ON THE FLOOR IN THE WRONG WAY, THE PIANO LEG WOULD DROP
OFF, HUH >> YEP, AND IF YOU WENT BY IT
AND SHOOK THE FLOOR ENOUGH OR STEPPED JUST RIGHT, THE PIANO
LEG WOULD FALL OVER. >> Reporter: ANOTHER MISSING
ITEM, HER SUITCASE, OFFERED A WINDOW INTO THE MIND OF HER
KILLER >> I THINK THEY TRULY THOUGHT
THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK IN WHATEVER LITTLE MINDSET
THEY HAD THAT SHE JUST DISAPPEARED.
SHE WENT -- SHE GRABBED HER SUITCASE AND LEFT.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE THOUGHT IF HE COULD FIND THAT
SUITCASE, IT COULD LEAD HIM TO THE KILLER
TO EARLY INVESTIGATORS IT LOOKED LIKE THAT PERSON WAS CASEY
>> TELL ME HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW REBEKAH
>> UH, WE WORKED AT SONIC TOGETHER AND THE VERY FIRST DAY
THAT SHE WORKED AT SONIC, I THOUGHT SHE WAS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL CREATURE I'VE EVER SEEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED TALKING.
>> HIM AND REBEKAH HAD BEEN ON AND OFF AGAIN, BOYFRIEND
GIRLFRIEND AND JUST BEING THE SIMPLE FACT
THAT THEIR ROCKY RELATIONSHIP AND THAT SHE HAD BEEN STAYING
THERE AND HER CAR WAS STILL AT HIS HOUSE AND HER BELONGINGS
STILL AT HIS HOUSE WHEN SHE WENT MISSING.
>> Reporter: ROMANTIC ENTANGLEMENTS CAN BE PART OF THE
COCKTAIL OF HOMICIDE, HUH? >> THEY CAN BE
>> Reporter: REBEKAH'S FATHER SAYS IN THE WEEKS BEFORE HER
MURDER, SHE COMPLAINED THAT CASEY WAS POSSESSIVE, THAT HE
HADN'T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THEY WERE THROUGH AS A COUPLE
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT, DOCTOR
>> BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD ME
>> Reporter: SHE TOLD YOU? >> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE STILL
HAD TO GO DOWN AND TO -- TO BREAK IT OFF WITH HIM.
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT, YOU KNOW, HE WANTS THIS GIRL
HE -- HE WANTS HER THIS GIRL'S REJECTED ME.
I'M GOING TO TAKE REVENGE ON THIS GIRL. DEFINITELY, A BIG
MOTIVE FOR MURDER, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
>> Reporter: JUST A WEEK BEFORE, LIFE WAS SIMPLE FOR
CASEY MCCULLOUGH, FLIPPING BURGERS AND STRUMMING HIS
GUITAR NOW IT LOOKED AS THOUGH HE WAS
CRUISING TO A MURDER CHARGE. A TIMELY MIRACLE WOULD BE
HELPFUL. AND JUST M
>> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AFTER REBEKAH GOULD'S MURDER,
CASEY McCULLOUGH WAS PRETTY MUCH PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE IN
MOUNTAIN VIEW. EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TO HIS FAMILY
AND FRIENDS. >> I CAN REMEMBER MY GUT TELLING
ME -- AND I TRUST IT -- THAT MY FRIEND DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THIS, YOU KNOW >> Reporter: LARRON McCLURE AND
PHILIP SCHULTZ ARE CASEY'S FORMER CO- WORKERS FROM THAT
SONIC DRIVE-THROUGH. THEY SAY SOFT SPOKEN, MUSICAL
CASEY DIDN'T HAVE A MEAN BONE IN HIS BODY
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE HIT IT OFF.
AND HE WAS A GREAT MUSICIAN, YOU KNOW, PLAYED THE GUITAR AND
SANG, YOU KNOW >> WELL, I DON'T -- I -- A LOT
HE DID, UH, PLAY IT A LOT. AND HE USED TO SING A LOT AT
SONIC, WHICH KIND OF IRRITATED US A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IT STILL -- AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS LIKE IT -- IT WOULD
BRIGHTEN UP A MOOD >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: NOW THEIR FRIEND SEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWING FROM
THE WORLD AND HIMSELF. >> Reporter: DID CASEY KNOW THAT
HE WAS TWISTING SLOWLY IN THE WIND HERE IN THIS WHOLE THING?
INVESTIGATORS WERE LOOKING AT HIM?
>> OH, I'M SURE. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH, I'M SURE. >> Reporter: HE KNEW
INVESTIGATORS KEPT PUTTING HIM IN THE CHAIR
AND THEIR LINE OF QUESTIONING LEFT LITTLE DOUBT.
>> DID YOU AND REBEKAH HAVE ANY KIND OF A DISAGREEMENT
>> NAH, OTHER THAN THE FACT SHE WAS TRYING TO KEEP ME UP THE
NIGHT BEFORE >> OKAY.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY DISAGREEMENT Y'ALL EVER HAD THAT WEEKEND?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THEY ONLY HAD
CASEY'S SAY-SO THAT REBEKAH, INDEED, DROPPED HIM OFF MONDAY
MORNING FOR WORK WAS IT POSSIBLE HE'D KILLED HER
BEFORE THEN, OR MAYBE AFTERWARD, WHEN SHE DIDN'T SHOW TO PICK HIM
UP AFTER WORK AND HE GOT ANGRY >> I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT WORDS
IN YOUR MOUTH, CASEY BUT I'M ASSUMING YOU WERE
PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT -- A LITTLE BIT PUT OUT
>> OH, YEAH, I WAS A LITTLE AGGRAVATED
>> Reporter: THEY ALSO THOUGHT IT STRANGE HE DECIDED TO STAY
OUT ALL NIGHT WITH FRIENDS, SOMETHING HE RARELY DID.
DID HE DO HIMSELF NO FAVOR BY NOT COMING BACK TO THE -- HIS
PLACE THAT NIGHT >> IT DID MAKE HIM LOOK MORE
SUSPICIOUS BY NOT COMING HOME. >> Reporter: BUT A VAGUELY
SUSPICIOUS STORY WASN'T ENOUGH TO PIN REBEKAH'S MURDER ON
CASEY. INVESTIGATORS NEEDED TO NARROW
DOWN THE TIMELINE OF HER DEATH AND CHECK THAT AGAINST HIS ALIBI
TO RULE HIM IN OR OUT AS THEIR PRIME SUSPECT.
THAT'S HOW CASEY'S SONIC CO-WORKERS GOT DRAGGED INTO HIS
NIGHTMARE. >> THEY BRING US IN, YOU KNOW,
ONE AT A TIME, AND INTERVIEW US. >> YEAH, THEY --
>> BUT - >> YEAH, THEY CAME TO OUR HOUSE.
DENNIS -- DENNIS SIMONS THEN KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT >> WELL, YEAH, A COP KNOCKS ON
OUR DOOR >> IT WAS -- YEAH, IT WAS KIND
OF SCARY >> UNNERVING FOR SURE.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THEY AND OTHER
CO-WORKERS PROVED TO BE CASEY'S LIFELINE
THEY COULD LARGELY ACCOUNT FOR CASEY BEING AT WORK ALL DAY
MONDAY FROM JUST AFTER 8:00 IN THE MORNING TO 4:30 IN THE
AFTERNOON. THAT'S WHEN LARRON AND PHILIP
PULLED INTO THE SONIC LOT TO FIND CASEY STRANDED.
>> I WAS LIKE, "HEY, BUDDY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
AND HE'S LIKE, "I'M WAITING ON MY RIDE.
I'M LIKE, "OH, HE'S LIKE"-- I WAS LIKE, "WELL, WE'RE GOING TO
THE MOVIES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO GO."
AND HE'S LIKE, "YEAH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'LL GO.
>> Reporter: THEY SAID CASEY WAS WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THE
NIGHT. THEY DROVE TO A NEARBY TOWN SO
HE COULD PICK UP HIS TRUCK HIS DAD HAD BORROWED IT THE DAY
BEFORE THEN THEY ALL WENT TO THE MOVIES
AND BACK TO PHILIP AND LARRON'S FOR THE NIGHT.
>> WE'RE AT, YOU KNOW, THE RECEIPTS FROM HASTINGS, THE
MOVIE TICKETS. AND THEN -
>> Reporter: SO THE NIGHT CHECKS OUT.
>> THE NIGHT -- THE NIGHT JUST WAS WHAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: THE THING THAT STOOD OUT FROM THAT NIGHT WAS
WHEN CASEY CHECKED HIS PHONE MESSAGES
ONE WAS FROM REBEKAH'S WORRIED MOM.
>> AND HE WAS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, "NOBODY CAN GET A
HOLD OF REBEKAH. IT WAS A BIT ODD
>> Reporter: THE NEXT MORNING, TUESDAY, THEY WATCHED AS CASEY
GOT UP AND LEFT FOR WORK HOURS LATER, THEY HEARD THE
NEWS -- REBEKAH WAS MISSING. >> THEY SAID SOMETHING'S GOING
ON LIKE, THEY CAN'T FIND REBEKAH.
AND THE COPS COME, GOT CASEY FROM WORK.
>> Reporter: CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS COULD ACCOUNT FOR
CASEY'S MOVEMENTS THAT MONDAY INTO TUESDAY
BUT WHAT ABOUT REBEKAH'S MOVEMENTS?
INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT SHE STOPPED HERE AFTER DROPPING
CASEY OFF AT WORK ON MONDAY, A CONVENIENCE STORE CALLED THE
POSSUM TROT JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE SONIC
THEY BELIEVED THAT FOR TWO REASONS.
THIS UNEATEN SANDWICH AND FULL CUP OF CAPPUCCINO FOUND IN
CASEY'S KITCHEN SUGGESTED SHE BOUGHT THE MEAL TO EAT SOME TIME
LATER. AN EYEWITNESS GAVE CREDENCE TO
THE THEORY >> THE LADY AT THE POSSUM TROT
ACTUALLY CALLED THAT IN AND SAID, "HEY, I REMEMBER SEEING
REBEKAH AT MY STORE IN HER -- IN HER LITTLE VEHICLE, AND SHE WAS
BY HERSELF." SO SHE GOES TO THE POSSUM TROT
TIMEFRAME MATCHES EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDN'T GET EXACT TIME ON
THE PURCHASE AND FROM THERE TO THE HOUSE.
SHE NEVER EATS THE BISCUIT, AND SHE NEVER DRINKS THE CAPPUCCINO.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT CASHIER, NOT CASEY, WAS THE
LAST PERSON CONFIRMED TO HAVE SEEN REBEKAH ALIVE
THEY THINK REBEKAH RETURNED TO CASEY'S AFTER BUYING THAT MEAL
>> SHE'D DO THAT AT HOME SHE'D PUT HER BREAKFAST IN THE
MICROWAVE AND SHE'D GO BACK TO BED.
>> Reporter: SO THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL UP TO THAT PART
OF THE STORY >> NOT AT ALL.
>> Reporter: THEY REASONED THAT REBEKAH WAS KILLED SHORTLY
THEREAFTER CASEY'S ALIBI SEEMED SOLID
HE WAS NOT ARRESTED, NOT CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH REBEKAH'S
MURDER INVESTIGATORS HAD NO CHOICE BUT
TO START CONSIDERING OTHER POSSIBILITIES, LIKE HIS
RELATIVES. >> THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE
REST OF THE FAMILY, WHO ELSE HAD ACCESS TO THE HOUSE.
>> YOU DON'T CARE IF I CALL YOU CLAUDE, DO YOU
>> NO, THAT'S FINE >> Reporter: THEY ASKED CASEY'S
DAD, CLAUDE McCULLOUGH, ABOUT THAT MISSING PIANO LEG -- A
WEAPON THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO KILL REBEKAH.
>> DID Y'ALL EVER COME UP WITH ANYTHING ON THAT PIANO LEG
>> NOTHING >> THEY STARTED LOOKING INTO --
TO CASEY'S DAD YOU KNOW, COULD HE HAVE COME
BACK TO THE RESIDENCE? >> Reporter: BUT CLAUDE, A TRUCK
DRIVER, WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN REBEKAH WAS LAST SEEN.
>> THEY ELIMINATED HIM PRETTY QUICK.
HE WAS TRAINING A NEW DRIVER WHO ALSO CONFIRMED, YOU KNOW -- I
BELIEVE THEY WERE IN KENTUCKY OR SOMEWHERE DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.
>> Reporter: NEXT THEY CONSIDERED CASEY'S BROTHERS.
HE HAD THREE OF THEM LIKEWISE, THEY ALSO HAD ALIBIS
THAT SEEMED SOLID. INVESTIGATORS EVEN TRACKED DOWN
THAT COUSIN BILLY FROM TEXAS, THE ONE WHO STOPPED BY THE
SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE REBEKAH'S DEATH.
>> THEY CONTACTED THE TEXAS AUTHORITIES WHO PULLED THE
FAMILY IN AND INTERVIEWED THEM, GAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT
INTERVIEW BACK TO THE ARKANSAS STATE INVESTIGATORS.
>> Reporter: NONE OF THE INTERVIEWS WITH RELATIVES LED
INVESTIGATORS ANY CLOSER TO REBEKAH'S KILLER
BUT THEY WEREN'T DISCOURAGED IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, TIPS
POURED IN. >> WE KEEP PURSUING OUR LOCAL
LEADS 'CAUSE THEY JUST KEPT COMING IN, AND WE COULD NOT
ELIMINATE PEOPLE >> Reporter: SIMONS SAYS THE
FOCUS OF THE CASE PIVOTED FROM CASEY AND HIS FAMILY TO
REBEKAH'S FRIENDS, THE PEOPLE IN MOUNTAIN VIEW SHE CAME HOME
EVERY WEEKEND TO SEE SHE HAD MANY ADMIRERS HERE
AND MAYBE A FEW ENEMIES. >> HE ACCUSEME
>> Reporter: IF ANYTHING, CASEY McCULLOUGH'S FRIENDS
THOUGHT REBEKAH'S KILLER WOULD BE FOUND CLOSER TO HOME -- HER
HOME THEY KNEW SHE USED TO RUN WITH A
TOUGH CROWD IN MOUNTAIN VIEW >> THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF
IS SOMETHING MUST HAVE WENT WRONG, YOU KNOW, WITH WHATEVER
SHE WAS TRYING TO DO WITH THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CREW
>> Reporter: THAT SEEMED TO BE THE CONSENSUS IN THE MONTHS
FOLLOWING HER DEATH. WHAT WERE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
IN TOWN? >> RUMOR MILLS JUST WENT WILD.
EVERYBODY HAD A THEORY AND A THOUGHT OF WHO DONE IT
>> Reporter: A LOT OF SUSPECTS ALL OF THE SUDDEN.
>> A LOT OF SUSPECTS >> Reporter: IN THE WEEKS THAT
FOLLOWED REBEKAH'S DEATH, HER SISTERS HAD ONE NAME IN MIND --
JENNIFER TURNER, ONE OF REBEKAH'S FORMER CO-WORKERS WHEN
SHE, TOO, WORKED AT THE SONIC. JENNIFER HAD A THING WITH
REBEKAH'S OLD BOYFRIEND, JUSTIN. >> HE HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH
JENNIFER, AND SHE WAS PREGNANT BUT HE STILL LOVED REBEKAH, AND
REBEKAH STILL LOVED HIM. >> Reporter: JEALOUSY.
>> YEAH, YEAH. >> Reporter: DETECTIVE
DENNIS SIMONS SAYS EARLY JENNIFER CONNECTION.
>> I NEVER HATED HER NEVER.
NOT ONE TIME I LOVED HER.
SHE WAS MY FRIEND, MY BEST FRIEND
>> EVERYBODY SAYS, "OH, WE WERE BEST FRIENDS
OH, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THIS GIRL, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH."
I DIDN'T BUY ANY OF THAT PART OF IT
THAT'S JUST SOMEBODY TRYING TO DEFLECT HEAT FROM THEM
>> DID YOU EVER TELL ANYBODY THAT YOU WISHED SHE WERE DEAD?
>> NO. >> YOU AND JUSTIN WOULD GET
ALONG BETTER IF SHE WERE DEAD? >> OH, NO.
>> DEFINITELY TOOK NOTICE OF HER.
I MEAN, I BROUGHT HER IN FOR INTERVIEWS, UH, SUBPOENAED A LOT
OF PHONE RECORDS >> Reporter: BUT FOUND NOTHING,
REALLY, TO CONNECT JENNIFER TO THE MURDER
WHAT HE DID FIND WAS AN ALIBI THAT CHECKED OUT
>> I DETERMINED DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF THE MURDER, SHE HAD
BEEN AT WORK SHE HAD WENT SHOPPING IN CONWAY,
WHICH IS A TOWN ABOUT 60, 70 MILES FROM HERE
>> Reporter: BUT THEN, THIS CASE HAD NO SHORTAGE OF SUSPECTS.
>> REBEKAH WAS MY FRIEND SHE WAS A FIGHTER, AND I
RESPECTED THE HELL OUT OF THAT >> Reporter: THIS IS J.B. YATES.
LIKE JENNIFER, HE CONSIDERED REBEKAH A TRUE PAL -- AND A
CUSTOMER >> SHE WANTED A SACK OF WEED
AND I KNEW WHERE I COULD GET HER A SACK
>> Reporter: REBEKAH, HE SAYS, WOULD BUY SMALL QUANTITIES OF
POT FROM HIM TO TAKE BACK TO SCHOOL
TYPICAL COLLEGE STUFF. AND SHE OWED YOU 20 BUCKS FROM
THAT TRANSACTION >> SHE DID
>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE WAS STUNNED WHEN REBEKAH DISAPPEARED
AND FLOORED BY WHAT CAME NEXT. AND LITTLE BIRDIES IN THAT TOWN
ARE TALKING, AND IT GETS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> OH, YEAH. IT JUST WENT -- BLEW -- BLEW UP.
I MEAN, IT JUST BLEW IT UP AND EVERYBODY STARTS SAYING IT
>> Reporter: THE SCUTTLEBUTT - JB KILLED REBEKAH.
JB HAD A FORMAL SIT-DOWN WITH THE DETECTIVE.
TENSE DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT.
>> HE ACCUSED ME OF KILLING HER FOR -- OVER 20 BUCKS -- OVER THE
$20 THAT SHE HAD OWED ME >> Reporter: SO IT ALL GOES BACK
TO THAT DEBT THAT SHE HAD FOR NOT PAYING FOR THE -- FOR THE
BAG OF WEED, HUH >> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: AND YOU, THEN, AS THEORY GOES, KILLED HER?
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY CLAIM. >> JB'S INTERVIEW COME OFF AS A
VERY COLD PERSON, JUST IN GENERAL.
JUST IN GENERAL DEMEANOR, JUST A VERY NONCHALANT, JUST
"I-DON'T-GIVE-A" -- KIND OF PERSONALITY.
>> Reporter: JB INSISTED HE DID NOT KILL REBEKAH, THAT SHE HAD
SETTLED HER DEBT A FEW DAYS BEFORE SHE VANISHED.
NOT THAT HE COULD PROVE IT >> BUT SHE PAID ME
AND BESIDES, IT'S 20 BUCKS I HAD PEOPLE THAT OWED ME WAY
MORE MONEY THAN THAT >> Reporter: AND YOU'RE NOT IN A
CREDIT CARD AND RECEIPT KIND OF BUSINESS IN THOSE DAYS
>> NO, SIR >> Reporter: AND YET, THE
DETECTIVE COULD NOT LINK JB TO THE MURDER
NO EVIDENCE EITHER OF JB BEING AT THE CRIME SCENE
>> GOT A LOOSE THREAD THERE. I NEVER COULD PROVE THAT JB DID
OR DID NOT KNOW WHERE SHE LIVED AT OR WHERE SHE WAS STAYING AT
>> Reporter: SO HE BEGAN LOOKING AT THE MAN WHO STARTED THAT J.B.
RUMOR. HIS NAME -- CHRIS CANTRELL
>> AND HE HAD A REPUTATION FOR BEING A BADASS
PEOPLE WERE SCARED OF HIM. >> Reporter: TURNED OUT CHRIS
WAS DOING MORE THAN TOSSING JB'S NAME AROUND.
HE WAS WEIRDLY PUTTING HIMSELF IN THE PICTURE FOR REBEKAH'S
MURDER SO MUCH SO THAT POLICE GRILLED
HIM REPEATEDLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION
>> HE BRAGGED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE
MURDER >> Reporter: WHEN THE DETECTIVE
HEARD A RUMOR THAT CHRIS HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT BLOOD IN HIS
VEHICLE, SIMONS CONFRONTED HIM >> YOU NEVER TOLD US YOU HAD
BLOOD IN THAT CAR, CHRIS >> I'M GONNA GET A LAWYER.
'CAUSE HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO TRICK ME, MAN?
>> Reporter: HE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT CHRIS SOLD THAT VERY CAR TO
ANOTHER MAN. BECAUSE THE MAN INFORMED POLICE.
>> AND SAID, "HEY, I BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF CHRIS CANTRELL.
HE MADE SOME VERY WEIRD STATEMENTS ABOUT, 'IF YOU FIND
BODY PARTS IN THE TRUNK. THANK GOD YOU HAD MY CAR
DESTROYED BEFORE LAW ENFORCEMENT GOT TO IT.'"
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHY WOULD YOU MAKE THAT STATEMENT?
>> Reporter: AND YET CHRIS INSISTED TO POLICE, TIME AND
AGAIN, HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN REBEKAH'S MURDER
>> REBEKAH'S LIKE FAMILY, MAN. YOU JUST TRYING TO SAY I HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, AND I DIDN'T
>> Reporter: EVENTUALLY SIMONS HIT ANOTHER DEAD END
ON THE ONE HAND, HE LIKED CHRIS FOR REBEKAH'S MURDER
>> AND EVEN ANYBODY ELSE -- OTHER INVESTIGATORS WOULD READ
THE CASE FILES LIKE, "MAN, THIS CHRIS IS YOUR DUDE."
>> Reporter: BUT HE DIDN'T THINK CHRIS HAD A CONVINCING MOTIVE OR
ACCESS TO CASEY'S HOUSE. MOREOVER, EVIDENCE COLLECTED
FROM THE CRIME SCENE NEVER PUT HIM, JB, JENNIFER, OR ANYONE
ELSE FROM TOWN INSIDE THOSE ROOMS.
>> WE JUST COULD NOT GET A BREAK ON DNA EVIDENCE, FINGERPRINTS,
OR ANYTHING ELSE >> Reporter: STILL, THE
DETECTIVE DIDN'T REMOVE HIM OR ANYONE ELSE, REALLY, FROM HIS
SUSPECT LIST IN THE MEANTIME, THE MOUNTAIN
VIEW RUMOR MILL KEPT TURNING >> THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT
CALLED IN SO MUCH CRAP THAT JUST -- YOU HAD THE PSYCHICS,
YOU KNOW YOU -- YOU JUST HAD -- LET'S
JUST BE HONEST -- JUST NUTTY PEOPLE THAT SAT AROUND AND
THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ALL DAY LONG. >> Reporter: UNTIL ONE DAY, A
STRANGER STEPPED FORWARD WITH ONE PARTICULAR STORY
HE SAID AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF HIS HAD CONFESSED TO REBEKAH'S
MURDER A DISTURBING TALE THAT BROUGHT
THIS CASE AND ALMOST EVERYONE IN IT BACK TO THE BEGINNING
>> THE WAY HE SAID IT, HE JUST LOST IT.
AND HE SAID NEXT THING HE KNOWS, HE'S CLEANING STF
>> Reporter: THERE HAD BEEN SO MANY SUSPECTS, SO MANY TIPS, BUT
NEVER AN ARREST FOR REBEKAH GOULD'S MURDER
MONTHS TURNED INTO YEARS AND REBEKAH'S FAMILY, INCLUDING
HER SISTER ANGELA, WAS LOSING HOPE
>> I WAS MAD, YOU KNOW I --
>> Reporter: WHAT MADE YOU MAD ABOUT IT
>> BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION, NO ANSWERS.
AND SHE HAD SO MUCH TO BE OFFER TO THIS WORLD, AND SHE HAD SO
MUCH GOING FOR HER SHE WAS GOING TO SET THE WORLD
ON FIRE. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE,
LARRY GOULD, WHO'D WATCHED FROM THE SIDELINES AS THE POLICE
WORKED THE CASE, BECAME FRUSTRATED
BY 2010, 6 YEARS AFTER HIS DAUGHTER'S MURDER, HE COULDN'T
TAKE IT ANYMORE AND FELT HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
>> I'VE GIVEN THEM LOTS OF TIME. NOW IT'S TIME TO JUMP IN AND TRY
TO FIGURE OUT FOR MYSELF WHAT HAPPENED
AS A FATHER, THAT'S THE PART THAT ATE AWAY AT ME.
I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MY DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED
>> Reporter: SO THE DENTIST STARTED PEPPERING OFFICIALS WITH
LETTERS -- LOTS OF THEM
HE WANTED ACCESS TO SOME OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATIVE FILES
"LET ME SEE RECORDS. LET ME SEE THE M.E. REPORT."
>> YES >> Reporter: "LET ME SEE SOME
DEPOSITIONS. >> I WANTED THE BASICS
WHY CAN'T I HAVE AN AUTOPSY REPORT
THAT'S MY DAUGHTER >> Reporter: OFFICIALS TOLD HIM
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RELEASE THE INFORMATION FOR FEAR IT MIGHT
NEGATIVELY AFFECT THEIR INVESTIGATION.
ARE YOU BECOMING THE TROUBLESOME FATHER OF THE VICTIM WHO JUST
WON'T STAY IN HIS PLACE? >> I HOPE I'M CHARACTERIZED THAT
WAY. >> Reporter: "HE'S THERE AGAIN."
>> IF ANYTHING, I SHOULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE EARLIER.
>> Reporter: REBEKAH'S DAD ENDED UP HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
BUT FELT HIS FINDINGS ONLY ADDED CONFUSION AND WENT NOWHERE
SO HE DEVISED ANOTHER IDEA >> I WANT A REBEKAH LAW.
I WANT SOMETHING THAT MAKES THIS SYSTEM FUNCTION A LITTLE BIT
BETTER THAN IT DOES. >> Reporter: HE WANTED A NEW LAW
IN ARKANSAS THAT WOULD ALLOW LOVED ONES, AFTER A CERTAIN
NUMBERS OF YEARS, TO SEE AT LEAST A PORTION OF A CASE FILE
>> IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S MURDERED,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? YOU'D WANT TO KNOW THINGS.
>> Reporter: IN 2016, THE PROSECUTOR VOLUNTARILY RELEASED
ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE TO REBEKAH'S DAD.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE LEARNED SOME OF THE DETAILS OF HOW HIS
DAUGHTER DIED. >> HE FINALLY DID RELEASE THE
AUTOPSY REPORT, SO HE -- HE DENIED ANYTHING ELSE, BUT HE
RELEASED THE AUTOPSY REPORT TO ME
>> Reporter: AFTER THAT, THE FAMILY DIDN'T HEAR MUCH UNTIL
2018, THE 14-YEAR MARK OF THE HOMICIDE
>> REBEKAH WAS BEAUTIFUL, POPULAR, AND FULL OF LIFE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS BY THEN A NEW CULTURAL ERA
PODCASTS BECAME A PHENOMENON AND THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE
FASCINATION WITH ALL THINGS TRUE CRIME.
AND ONE PODCAST ABOUT THE REBEKAH CASE TURNED HEADS WITH
ITS REVELATIONS. >> I'VE COME BACK TO MOUNTAIN
VIEW WITH ONE MISSION -- TO GET JUSTICE FOR REBEKAH.
>> Reporter: "HELL AND GONE" IS HOSTED BY CATHERINE TOWNSEND, A
WRITER AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WHOSE FAMILY LIVED IN THE AREA
HER SERIES MADE NEWS WITH A BLOCKBUSTER ACCUSATION
>> HE SAID THAT HE KILLED HER. >> Reporter: A MAN TOLD THE
PODCASTER HE KNEW WHO KILLED REBEKAH.
HE SAID A CO-WORKER OF HIS ADMITTED TO THE CRIME.
AND WHO WAS THAT PERSON? NONE OTHER THAN
CASEY McCULLOUGH THE PODCASTER SAYS NOT ONLY HAS
CASEY ALL THESE YEARS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE PERSON OF INTEREST.
IN FACT, HE'S CONFESSED TO IT? >> YES
>> Reporter: THE MAN SAID HE WORKED WITH CASEY REPAIRING CELL
TOWERS ACCORDING TO THE CO-WORKER, ONE
DRUNKEN NIGHT CASEY CONFESSED AND SAID AFTER REBEKAH REJECTED
HIM, HE KILLED HER >> HE SAID THAT PRETTY MUCH THAT
SHE WAS TELLING HIM THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST THAT HE SAW
HER BECAUSE THEY WERE, I GUESS, COMING TO AN END
BUT THEY GOT INTO IT, AND SHE SAID SOME OFFENSIVE THINGS TO
HIM, AND THE WAY HE SAID IT, HE JUST LOST IT
AND HE SAID NEXT THING HE KNOWS, HE'S CLEANING STUFF UP
>> Reporter: IT WAS INFORMATION SPECIAL AGENT SIMONS COULDN'T
IGNORE THE DETECTIVE, STILL WORKING THE
CASE MORE THAN A DECADE LATER, INTERVIEWED THE CO-WORKER WHO
THEN SHARED DETAILS. >> CASEY GETS DRUNK AND
CONFESSES TO THIS -- THIS WITNESS THAT HE DID, IN FACT,
KILL REBEKAH >> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS
SOMETHING OFF ABOUT THE CO-WORKER'S STORY.
HE SAID THE BLURTED OUT CONFESSION HAD OCCURRED EIGHT
YEARS BEFORE, AND YET HE NEVER TOLD POLICE.
>> IT NEVER MADE SENSE HIM COMING FORWARD THAT -- THAT MANY
YEARS LATER. HE WAS VERY JUST UNCOOPERATIVE
AND BITTER AND WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO
TELL ME CASEY MURDERED THIS GIRL
>> Reporter: AND THERE WAS ANOTHER RED FLAG
THERE WAS AN ACCUSATION CASEY ONCE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE CO- WORKER'S EX-WIFE. >> CASEY HAD SLEPT WITH HIS --
HIS WIFE, AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET REVENGE ON CASEY FOR
SLEEPING WITH HIS WIFE >> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO
THAT CO-WORKER, WHO ASKED NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE HE'S
RECEIVED THREATS HE TOLD US HE STANDS BY HIS
STORY AND DENIES HIS EX-WIFE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH CASEY
SIMONS CONSIDERED IT A DEAD END. EVENTUALLY, MORE THAN HALF A
DOZEN PODCASTS ABOUT THE CASE WERE RELEASED.
AND NOW SOCIAL MEDIA, LIKE THE TOWN GOSSIPS OF YEARS BEFORE,
WAS ON FIRE WITH FINGER-POINTING ACCUSATIONS AND SPECULATION.
THE SISTERS FELT, AT TIMES, IT WAS JUST ALL SO DESTRUCTIVE AND
POINTLESS. EVERY STATE HAS GOT SOME
FASCINATING UNSOLVED MYSTERY >> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> Reporter: AND IN ARKANSAS, THAT BECAME THE -- THE STORY OF
REBEKAH. >> MM-HMM.
IT DID >> Reporter: DID THAT DISTRESS
YOU? >> IT DID.
I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S HARD. IT'S CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, IN
YOUR FACE. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
REBEKAH'S SISTERS, IT GOT SO WHACKO ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SOME
POSTERS SUGGESTED TIFFANY COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER.
>> PEOPLE ARE MEAN THEY SAY MEAN THINGS AND HURTFUL
THINGS, YOU KNOW IF IT KEPT THE CASE ALIVE AND
FOREFRONT, I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT
BUT I'M NOT THANKFUL FOR ALL THE DRAMA THAT IT CAUSED MY FAMILY
>> Reporter: AS THE YEARS CONTINUED TO SLIP BY, IT WAS
ALMOST CLOSING TIME FOR DETECTIVE DENNIS SIMONS.
HE WAS NEARING RETIREMENT. IN 2020, HE RELUCTANTLY HANDED
OVER HIS INVESTIGATION TO SOMEONE NEW.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS THING UNRESOLVED
>> Reporter: IN HIS 29-YEAR CAREER, HE SAYS IT WAS HIS ONLY
UNSOLVED HOMICIDE, AND HE ESPECIALLY REGRETTED NEVER
FINDING THAT MISSING SUITCASE, WHICH HIS GUT INSTINCT TOLD HIM
MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT CLUE >> IF I COULD FIND THE SUITCASE,
MAYBE I COULD GET PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OFF OF IT, WHICH
THROUGHOUT THE CASE, WE NEVER COULD GET PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
THAT DAMN SUITCASE THEY JUST BREAKS MY HEART.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE A NEW INVESTIGATOR IN TOWN,
SOMEONE WITH FRESH EYES TO TAKE HIS SHOT AT TURNING THIS CASE
UPSIDE DOWN. WHY, THOUGHT THE NEW AGENT, HAD
SO MUCH ATTENTION BEEN PUT ON CASEY McCULLOUGH BUT NOT THE
REST OF HIS FAMILY >> ANY MALE McCULLOUGH, I WANTED
TO PUT THEM UNDER THE MICROSCOPE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS
PROBABLY A SEXUALLY MOTIVATED CRIME.
>> Reporter: AND THERE WERE A * (MÚSICA) *
JANUARY 2020 COULD A NEW YEAR AND A NEW
DETECTIVE FINALLY UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY -- WHO KILLED
REBEKAH GOULD? *
SPECIAL AGENT MIKE McNEILL, WITH THE ARKANSAS STATE POLICE, WAS
NEWLY IN CHARGE OF THE NEARLY 16-YEAR-OLD INVESTIGATION.
HE HAD A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO
I'VE GOT A VISION IN MY HEAD OF, HERE COMES A DOLLY DOWN THE
HALLWAY WITH A LOT OF BOXES ON IT
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> Reporter: FILLED WITH
DEPOSITIONS, VIDEOS, AND SOMEBODY BRING IT IN AND SAY,
"HERE YOU ARE. HAVE AT IT."
>> YEAH. WELL, I THINK IF YOU STACKED IT
ALL UP IN DOCUMENTS, IT'D BE FOUR-FOOT HIGH
>> Reporter: REBEKAH'S DAD REMAINED CAUTIOUS BUT HOPEFUL
ABOUT THE NEW INVESTIGATOR ON THE CASE
SO, McNEILL COMES ALONG. DO YOU THINK THIS IS A HEALTHY
CHANGE, OR WE'LL SEE, OR I DON'T HAVE MUCH HOPE IN THIS
>> HE DID THE RIGHT THING FROM THE START.
>> Reporter: WHICH WAS >> CALLED ME ON THE PHONE, SAID,
"CAN I COME UP THERE AND SEE YOU?
HE SHOWED COMPASSION AND EMPATHY. BUT, MORE SO, HE REALLY
WANTED TO HEAR MY FRUSTRATION, AND THE THINGS THAT I NEEDED AT
THIS POINT AND THAT HIT HOME WITH ME.
>> Reporter: AND McNEILL, A 24-YEAR POLICE VETERAN, DECIDED
THAT IF HE WAS GOING TO FIND REBEKAH'S KILLER, HE NEEDED TO
START FROM SQUARE ONE. LET'S GO BACK TO DAY ONE
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOUR FIRST FOCUS IS ON THE INNER
CIRCLE OF THE VICTIM WHO DOES THE VICTIM KNOW
CASEY IS OBVIOUSLY SUSPECT NUMBER ONE, JUST BECAUSE HE'S --
>> Reporter: HIS PLACE, HIS GIRLFRIEND
>> HIS PLACE, HIS GIRLFRIEND YEAH
ABSOLUTELY IT'S NICE TO FINALLY MEET YA
>> YEAH, I WAS WAITING ON YA >> Reporter: SO RIGHT OFF THE
BAT, CASEY WAS QUESTIONED YET AGAIN.
AN IMPROMPTU INTERVIEW WAS DONE FROM THE DETECTIVE'S CAR
>> THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, THAT
THINK YOU HAD A HAND IN THIS, RIGHT?
>> ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUFF >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: ALL THOSE PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS MOSTLY
POINTED TO CASEY AS THE KILLER RUMORVILLE IN THE COURT OF
PUBLIC OPINION CASEY IS THE GUY
>> RIGHT YEAH, ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: HE'S BEEN TRIED AND CONVICTED.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: BUT THE SPECIAL
AGENT CAME TO BELIEVE CASEY McCULLOUGH WAS NOT
INVOLVED >> I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU DID
NOT HAVE A HAND IN THIS. >> MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
>> Reporter: BUT, McNEILL DID BELIEVE SOMEONE RELATED TO
CASEY MCCULLOUGH HAD MURDERED REBEKAH.
SO HE STARTED LOOKING AT HIS FAMILY
REMEMBER, THE McCULLOUGHS OWNED THE PROPERTY WHERE REBEKAH DIED,
A PLACE THAT'S LONG SINCE BEEN ABANDONED.
SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS LIVED IN THE AREA
>> I WAS PROBABLY 80% A McCULLOUGH IS RESPONSIBLE.
>> Reporter: AND ARE THEY ALL IN YOUR FRAME
>> ABSOLUTELY. ANY MALE McCULLOUGH.
I WANTED TO PUT THEM UNDER THE MICROSCOPE BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY A SEXUALLY MOTIVATED CRIME
>> Reporter: McNEILL, LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR, THOUGHT REBEKAH
KNEW HER KILLER. WE HAVE NO FORCED ENTRY THERE.
>> WE HAVE NO FORCED ENTRY SO THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO
BELIEVE THAT SHE KNEW WHO HER KILLER WAS
SHE KNEW WHO SHE WAS LETTING IN. >> Reporter: McNEILL QUICKLY
ELIMINATED CASEY'S DAD AS A SUSPECT.
HE THEN MET WITH A HALF BROTHER, RANDY.
>> RANDY >> YES
>> HEY, CAN I TALK TO YOU A MINUTE
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: IN A VOLUNTARY
INTERVIEW, RANDY WAS COOPERATIVE.
>> WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE INFORMATION IN THE CASE FILE
SAYS THAT YOU WERE WORKING AT THE FLOORING COMPANY
>> NO, I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE. >> Reporter: RANDY WAS ALSO
QUICKLY CLEARED. >> HE WASN'T EVEN IN ARKANSAS
WHEN THIS HAPPENED HEY CHRIS.
>> HOW ARE YOU >> GOOD, MAN
YOU MIND HAVING A SEAT >> NO, I DON'T CARE AT ALL
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE DECIDED TO MORE AGGRESSIVELY
INTERVIEW THE NEXT BROTHER UP, CHRIS.
HE BLUNTLY ASKED A SHOCKING QUESTION -- DID HE HAVE A SECRET
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH REBEKAH?
>> BROTHERS SOMETIMES MESS AROUND WITH BROTHERS'
GIRLFRIENDS. >> NO.
>> IT HAPPENS. *
>> Reporter: IT WAS A BLUFF. McNEILL HAD ABSOLUTELY NO
EVIDENCE OF AN AFFAIR. >> I NEVER EVEN HUGGED HER OR
ANYTHING, SO NO, THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE
CLEARED HIM. BUT CHRIS, PERHAPS UNWITTINGLY,
OPENED AN INVESTIGATIVE DOOR TO HIS BROTHER COREY.
INVOLVING HIS WHEREABOUTS ON THE DAY REBEKAH WAS KILLED
>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER BROTHER DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME
WHERE WAS HE COREY.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO CLUE. >> REALLY?
I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE, ANY CONCERNS WITH ANY OF THE
McCULLOUGHS EXCEPT COREY AND I --
>> Reporter: AND WHO IS HE >> HE WAS THE YOUNGER BROTHER.
>> Reporter: WHY HIM >> WELL, IF I BELIEVED THAT A
MCCULLOUGH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AND I HAD ALREADY WENT
THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND COREY'S MY LAST, WELL, COREY'S MY GUY.
>> Reporter: COREY HAD WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HIMSELF, AS A
PAROLE OFFICER McNEILL ASKED HIM TO COME IN FOR
AN INTERVIEW IT DIDN'T GO WELL.
>> I THINK THE INTERVIEW WITH HIM ENDED WITH ME TELLING
HIM -- I BELIEVE THAT NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I'M GOING TO BE
>>> REGARDING THE DEATH OF REBEKAH, DO YOU INTEND TO ANSWER
EACH QUESTION TRUTHFULLY >> YES
>> Reporter: SPECIAL AGENT MIKE McNEILL AND ANOTHER OFFICER
HAD A PRIME SUSPECT SEATED ACROSS THE TABLE FROM THEM --
COREY McCULLOUGH, CASEY'S BROTHER.
>> I TOLD YOU WHEN I FIRST MET YOU THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
THE DNA FROM THE KILLER AT THE CRIME SCENE.
>> Reporter: AS CAPTURED BY A CAMERA ON THE TABLE, McNEILL
TOLD COREY HE HAD SOME NEW, BLOCKBUSTER EVIDENCE
AND IT INVOLVED HIM. HIS DNA HAD BEEN FOUND ON A
CLOTH UNDER THE BED WHERE REBEKAH HAD BEEN MURDERED.
>> THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, COREY, IS THAT WASH CLOTH RIGHT
THERE THAT HAS YOUR DNA ON IT. >> I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU. IF IT'S GOT MINE, IT'S FROM LONG
TIME AGO >> IT DON'T WORK LIKE THAT,
COREY. >> Reporter: COREY SEEMED TO BE
ADMITTING HIS DNA COULD BE AT THE CRIME SCENE.
YET HE REMAINED DEFIANT. >> OKAY, WELL, DO WHAT YOU GOTTA
DO I'M INNOCENT
AND I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS UNTIL I WAS TOLD ABOUT IT.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE YOU >> I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND
LET YOU DO THIS TO ME. EITHER LET ME GO OR ARREST ME.
>> Reporter: McNEILL THEN SAID HE HAD EVEN MORE EVIDENCE.
HE FOUND THE OLD TRUCK COREY OWNED BACK WHEN REBEKAH WAS
MURDERED REMEMBER, DETECTIVES BELIEVED
REBEKAH'S BODY HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED FROM THE CRIME SCENE
TO THAT RAVINE FIVE MILES AWAY >> YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR BLUE FORD
RANGER IS RIGHT NOW? >> NO.
>> IT'S AT THE ARKANSAS STATE CRIME LAB.
>> COOL. I'M GLAD YOU FOUND IT.
>> I AM TOO. >> BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
LOOKING FOR IT >> BECAUSE WHENEVER - BECAUSE
WHENEVER YOU GOT IN THAT TRUCK, YOU WERE COVERED IN BLOOD.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU, WE'RE GONNA FIND -
>> DUDE. >> -- REBEKAH'S DNA IN THE CAB
OF THAT TRUCK. >> I KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, AND I
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. I AM COMPLETELY INNOCENT
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG PEOPLE
I MEAN, I'M SORRY. I DON'T WANNA BE A -- TO YOU,
BUT YOU'RE BEING AN -- TO ME >> Reporter: THERE WAS ONE THING
McNEILL DIDN'T TELL COREY. HE WAS BLUFFING -- A STANDARD,
BUT CONTROVERSIAL, POLICE INTERROGATION TECHNIQUE.
McNEILL USED THE PLOY BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HELP HIM CRACK
THE CASE IN FACT, HE DIDN'T HAVE COREY'S
DNA AT THE CRIME SCENE AND HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS TRUCK
>> COMPLETELY INNOCENT TO THIS, MAN.
I REALLY HOPE I WAS ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THIS.
>> YOU WERE. >> I REALLY DO
>> Reporter: WITH THAT, THE INTERVIEW ENDED.
AND SO DID THE THEORY THAT COREY WAS THE LEADING SUSPECT.
McNEILL CONCLUDED HE WAS NOT THE KILLER
SO IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON TO HIS NEXT SUSPECT
>> WHAT YOU DO IS YOU FIND OUT WHO WAS AT THE McCULLOUGH
RESIDENCE LAST, AND THEN YOU FOCUS ON THAT PERSON
THAT WAS BILLY >> Reporter: BILLY
BILLY MILLER WHO WAS HE
HE WAS CASEY'S COUSIN FROM TEXAS WHO HAD STOPPED BY THE HOUSE THE
NIGHT BEFORE THE MURDER. HE WAS INTERVIEWED IN 2004, BUT
POLICE DIDN'T CONSIDER HIM A VIABLE SUSPECT
BACK THEN, BILLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE HAD STOPPED BY
CASEY'S HOUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE REBEKAH WAS KILLED
McNEILL DECIDED TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AND DO A DEEP DIVE INTO
BILLY'S BACKGROUND WHAT CAME BACK
>> SO IN 2002, 2 YEARS BEFORE REBEKAH IS MURDERED, HE IS A
SUSPECT IN AN AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A MINOR
NOW, THAT INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED WITH NO CHARGES.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING FOR YOU.
>> OH, THAT'S HUGE >> Reporter: BILLY, IT TURNED
OUT, HAD ALSO BEEN ARRESTED IN 2010
HE ALLEGEDLY USED HIS ELBOW TO PUSH HIS EX-WIFE AFTER HE FORCED
HIS WAY INTO HER ARANSAS PASS, TEXAS, HOME.
THE CHARGES WERE LATER DISMISSED.
>> NOW I'VE GOT TWO POLICE REPORTS THAT SHOW ME EXACTLY
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR HE'S CHECKING THE -- THE SEXUAL
COMPONENT BOX. HE'S -- HE'S CHECKING THE
FORCIBLE ENTRY, UH, PHYSICAL HARM TO A FEMALE
>> Reporter: HE IS THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION?
>> HE IS I -- I DID THIS KIND OF
SYSTEMATICALLY, ONE AT A TIME, AND NOW I'M ON BILLY
LET'S SEE HOW FAR THIS TAKES ME. >> Reporter: McNEILL WANTED TO
MEET WITH BILLY IN PERSON. BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
WHERE IS HE PHYSICALLY AT THIS POINT?
>> HE IS CURRENTLY MARRIED WITH A FAMILY LIVING IN THE
PHILIPPINES, AN OFFSHORE OIL RIG WORKER
>> Reporter: BILLY, WHO WAS 44, HAD MOVED TO THE PHILIPPINES
WHERE HE SAID HE OWNED A 30-ACRE FARM, INCLUDING A BANANA
PLANTATION HE HAD MARRIED A FILIPINO WOMAN
HE'D MET ONLINE. THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN TOGETHER
AND WHILE LIVING OVERSEAS, McNEILL COULD SEE THAT BILLY
JOINED A FACEBOOK GROUP THAT ACTIVELY FOLLOWED REBEKAH'S
CASE IS HE ALSO POSTING NOTICES TO
IT >> HE -- HE MADE A NUMBER OF
COMMENTS HE'S TRYING TO KEEP TABS ON THE
INVESTIGATION FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
WELL, WHY? WHY IS THAT?
>> Reporter: McNEILL WOULD HAVE TO PATIENTLY WAIT.
HE PUT AN ALERT ON BILLY'S PASSPORT TO BE NOTIFIED IF HE
RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND YOU ASKED CUSTOMS, "IF YOU
GUYS GET A HIT, GIVE ME A CALL," HUH?
>> THAT -- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: DID THAT, IN FACT,
HAPPEN >> IT DID.
>> Reporter: IN OCTOBER 2020, ABOUT 10 MONTHS AFTER McNEILL
STARTED WORKING THE CASE, BILLY FLEW HOME TO SEE HIS MOTHER
LINDA IN OREGON. AT THAT POINT, THE DETECTIVE
GAVE BILLY'S MOM A CALL. AND THAT'S WHEN SHE SAID
SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HER SON WAS STILL IN THE
PHILIPPINES. >> WHEN'S THE LAST TIME HE WAS
IN THE U.S.? >> IT'S BEEN -- IT'S -- HE'S --
HE CAME LAST - >> SO THE LAST -
>> SO -- >> THE LAST TIME BILLY MADE IT
HOME WAS SOME TIME LAST YEAR, OR -
>> I -- I -- I DON'T KNOW. >> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HADN'T
SEEN BILLY AND SHE HADN'T TALKED TO BILLY
>> Reporter: WHICH YOU KNEW CLEARLY WAS A LIE.
BECAUSE -- >> RIGHT, BECAUSE HE HAD -
>> Reporter: IMMIGRATION HAD EYES ON HIM, RIGHT
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> HELLO, THIS IS LINDA MILLER
>> Reporter: BUT A FEW DAYS LATER, BILLY'S MOM CALLED BACK
WITH A NEW STORY, SAYING HER SON WAS GOING TO BE IN THE U.S
SHE WAS UNAWARE AUTHORITIES KNEW HE WAS ALREADY HERE.
>> WHEN'S BILLY COMING BACK? >> HE DATE HE'LL BE HERE,
NOVEMBER 7th THAT'S WHEN WE WANT TO HAVE, UH,
OUR MEETING WITH YOU >> OKAY.
NOVEMBER THE 7th >> Reporter: SHE SAID BILLY
WOULD VOLUNTARILY COME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH SPECIAL AGENT
McNEILL. DID YOU HAVE ANY GUARANTEE THAT
HE WAS GOING TO BE A SHOW? >> NO, NO GUARANTEE.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE.
>> Reporter: UNDETERRED, McNEILL TRAVELED FROM ARKANSAS TO
COTTAGE GROVE, A PICTURESQUE TOWN IN OREGON WHERE BILLY'S MOM
LIVED. >> BILLY, YA WANNA HAVE A SEAT
RIGHT THERE? >> YES, SIR.
BY SINCE REBEKAH'S MURDER. FOR HER SISTER TIFFANY, THOSE
YEARS WERE FILLED WITH REGRET AND WHAT- IFS.
SHE STRUGGLED OVER WHETHER, BACK THEN, SHE COULD HAVE DONE
SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. >> THERE'S SO MANY TIMES I'VE,
YOU KNOW, WISHED I COULD DO THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, TURN
EVERYTHING AROUND AND GO BACK. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, AGENT
McNEILL WAS BUSY VERY BUSY.
RESEARCHING AND PREPPING FOR HIS MEETING WITH BILLY MILLER.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY THIS THING?
WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY >> WE KNEW REBEKAH HAD BEEN
TRANSPORTED FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> SO I KNEW A VEHICLE WAS
INVOLVED >> Reporter: THIS TIME, McNEILL
DECIDED HE WOULD TRY TO ACTUALLY LOCATE THE TRUCK BILLY OWNED
BACK IN 2004, A BLACK CHEVY S-10
16 YEARS LATER, WOULD IT STILL BE AROUND?
A LOT OF TIME'S GONE BY. THIS THING COULD BE IN A
JUNKYARD >> SIX -- SIX --
>> Reporter: OR NOT ABOVE GROUND
>> YEAH, IT COULD BE IN A JUNKYARD
COULD BE -- IT COULD BE ANYWHERE
>> Reporter: SURPRISINGLY, THE TRUCK WAS STILL ON THE ROAD.
BILLY HAD SOLD IT LONG AGO BUT THE DETECTIVE FOUND THE NEW
OWNER AND HAD PHOTOS TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE.
A 16-YEAR-LATER PHOTOGRAPH WAS USEFUL TO YOU, WASN'T IT
>> IT WAS. I ENDED UP USING A -- A COUPLE
OF THEM, UH, IN BILLY'S INTERVIEW.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE HAD ALREADY DECIDED HOW AND WHEN HE
WOULD USE THOSE PHOTOS >> BILLY, YOU'D WANT TO HAVE A
SEAT RIGHT THERE.
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: BECAUSE THIS AGENT
WAS ABOUT TO DEPLOY EVERY TECHNIQUE FROM HIS INVESTIGATIVE
TOOL BOX FOR BILLY MILLER'S INTERVIEW.
AND HE WOULD ONCE AGAIN USE A POTENT WEAPON -- THE BLUFF
>> YOU'RE NOT BEING DETAINED UH, YOU'RE FREE TO GO AT ANY
TIME >> Reporter: BILLY, VISITING HIS
MOM IN OREGON, ARRIVED 30 MINUTES EARLY AT THE LOCAL
POLICE STATION IT WAS TIME TO EXECUTE THE
DETECTIVE'S GAME PLAN. >> I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU
AND TRUTHFUL WITH YOU. >> Reporter: AND THERE HE IS
YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT ON. >> AND THERE HE IS
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THIS THING'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.
>> Reporter: THE SPECIAL AGENT WANTED BILLY TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH
ON THE SPOT BUT FEARED HE WOULDN'T AGREE
SO HE CAME UP WITH A LESS THREATENING OFFER.
WOULD BILLY AGREE TO TAKE THE TEST LATER, IN ARKANSAS?
>> IF YOU EVER MAKE IT BACK TO ARKANSAS, MAYBE WE COULD, YOU
KNOW, GET YOU TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH.
'CAUSE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN POLYGRAPHS ON THAT THING
>> WHATEVER YOU WANT, I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE >> Reporter: IT WORKED
WITH NO IMMEDIATE PRESSURE, BILLY QUICKLY AGREED
>> BILLY HASN'T BEEN TO ARKANSAS SINCE 2004
>> Reporter: HMM >> AND HE'S NEVER COMING BACK TO
ARKANSAS WILLINGLY, IN MY OPINION.
BUT WHAT DOES HE SAY "ABSOLUTELY.
SO NOW I'VE GOT HIM LOCKED IN ON A POLYGRAPH.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE WAS SETTING BILLY UP AND WOULD SOON
COME BACK TO THAT QUESTION ABOUT TAKING A LIE DETECTOR TEST
>> I GO TO WORK FOR A MONTH. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE, CLOSE TO
25 GRAND >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, THE DETECTIVE MADE BILLY FEEL
COMFORTABLE. >> LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG, MAN,
OUT IN THE PHILIPPINES >> $1,500, YOU LIVE LIKE A KING.
>> BILLY LIKES TO TALK UH, HE'S KIND OF LIKE A CHATTY
CATHY. >> I'M PUSHING FOR MOM TO
RETIRE WE TALK ABOUT THE KIDS, YOU
KNOW, "HEY, HOW ARE THEY DOING?" ALL HE TALKS ABOUT GOING TO,
LIKE, THE PHILIPPINES OR THAILAND
>> HE THOUGHT HE WAS THE SMARTEST ONE IN THE ROOM
>> AND THEN MY TRANSPORTATION WAS A BIKE
SO, YOU KNOW >> Reporter: BILLY WAS FRIENDLY,
HAPPY JUST TO SHOOT THE BREEZE WITH HIS SUSPECT RELAXED NOW,
McNEILL SAW HIS OPENING COMING HE CHANGED SUBJECTS.
"GETTING BACK TO THAT POLYGRAPH TEST," WOULD BILLY STAND BY HIS
WORD AND TAKE ONE RIGHT NOW? >> WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH TAKING
A POLYGRAPH? I'LL JUST ASK YA
>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> I'LL CALL A SERGEANT UP HERE TO SEE
THEY MAY HAVE A POLYGRAPHER IN TOWN
YOU KNOW, IT'S A SHOT IN THE DARK
>> Reporter: DOES HE KNOW YOU HAVE A GUY WAITING OUTSIDE THE
DOOR >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> Reporter: POLYGRAPHER DAMIAN ACOSTA WITH THE OREGON STATE
POLICE WAS ALREADY AT THE STATION.
McNEILL HAD SET IT UP ALL IN ADVANCE.
BILLY HAD NO CLUE. >> IT'S WORTH A SHOT
>> Reporter: McNEILL ACTED AS THOUGH HE WAS TRYING TO FIND A
POLYGRAPHER AT THE LAST MINUTE >> DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A
POLYGRAPHER IN TOWN? >> Reporter: OF COURSE THEY DID.
McNEILL HAD HIM IN THE ON-DECK CIRCLE
>> ABOUT HALF AN HOUR, WOULD THAT WORK?
>> AWESOME YES, SIR
>> Reporter: NOW BILLY APPEARED HESITANT
HE WONDERED, "COULD THE POLYGRAPH RESULT BE USED AS
EVIDENCE AGAINST A DEFENDANT." >> BUT IT DOESN'T HOLD UP IN
COURT, CORRECT >> BOTH THE -- THE PROSECUTION
AND THE DEFENSE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO IT.
>> SO IN A WAY, I'M ASKING YA -- I'M A SUSPECT?
>> NO, I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE A SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: THEN CAME THE BIG SWING OF THE HAMMER.
THE DETECTIVE TOLD BILLY, FALSELY, THEY HAD THE KILLER'S
DNA FROM THE CRIME SCENE AND ASKED IF BILLY WOULD MIND GIVING
A SAMPLE REMEMBER, POLICE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
USABLE DNA EVIDENCE. >> IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF
HE PROVIDES ME WITH HIS DNA OR NOT.
I'VE GOT NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO
I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW HE FEELS ABOUT IT
>> Reporter: DOES HE GET A LITTLE ANXIOUS
>> HE DID. HE DID
>> OBVIOUSLY WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN YOUR DNA, YOU KNOW
IT'S MY JOB TO ASK IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT
>> NOW IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE WINDOW, TO ME,
THAT YOU'RE SAYING I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
>> IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT, I'M NOT GONNA -- I'M
NOT GONNA PUSH YOU OR TRY PUTTING ANY PRESSURE ON YOU.
IT'S JUST -- >> I'LL TAKE YOUR LIE DETECTOR
TEST AND ALL THAT STUFF. >> Reporter: HE SAID HE'D TAKE
THE "LIE DETECTOR" TEST BUT BALKED AT A DNA SWAB
McNEILL, NOT WANTING TO SPOOK HIS SUSPECT, MOVED ON.
IT WAS TIME TO BRING IN THE POLYGRAPHER.
>> GOOD -- MY NAME'S DAMIAN. I'M A STATE POLICE DETECTIVE
>> Reporter: BUT NOW BILLY WAS HAVING SERIOUS SECOND THOUGHTS
ABOUT TAKING IT. >> IF I REFUSED --
>> MM-HMM. >> -- THEN I WILL BE MORE --
LOOKED AT MORE OR NOT COOPERATING WITH THE POLICE AND
ALL THAT STUFF >> Reporter: SPECIAL AGENT
McNEILL, WATCHING A POLICE MONITOR IN ANOTHER ROOM NOW,
WAITED TO SEE HOW HIS PLAN WOULD PLAY OUT
>> MY HEART'S BEATING OUT OF MY CHEST.
>> Reporter: AND HE STILL HAD A FEW MORE SURPRISES IN STORE FOR
HIS SUSPECT. >> WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IS
NORMAL >> Reporter: AFTER ALMOST TWO
DECADES AND DOZENS OF INTERVIEWS, THERE HAD NEVER BEEN
A BREAK IN THIS CASE BUT WAS THAT ABOUT TO CHANGE
>> I HAVE ANXIETY, REALLY BAD ANXIETY.
>> Reporter: COULD THIS, AT LONG LAST, BE THE FACE OF
>> Reporter: BILLY MILLER -- NOW SUSPECT NUMBER ONE -- WAS ABOUT
TO UNDERGO A POLYGRAPH TEST. BUT BEFORE THAT, THE TEST
ADMINISTRATOR DETECTIVE DAMIAN ACOSTA ASKED HIM
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS VISIT TO CASEY'S HOUSE ON THAT SUNDAY
NIGHT BEFORE THE MURDER. >> WELL, I THINK WE PULLED IN,
AND HE SAW THE LIGHT OR WHATEVER, HE CAME OUT.
AND THEN HE REALIZE IT'S ME AND -- AND MOM
>> Reporter: AS HE'D TOLD POLICE IN 2004, BILLY SAID HE BRIEFLY
TALKED WITH HIS COUSIN IN THE DRIVEWAY THAT SUNDAY NIGHT, WHEN
REBEKAH WAS STAYING OVER AT CASEY'S.
THAT'S THE SAME STORY CASEY TOLD INVESTIGATORS BACK THEN.
>> HE SAID THAT HE HAD COMPANY AND SO THAT HE, YOU KNOW, KIND
OF "GET LOST," UH, MIGHT GET LUCKY.
>> Reporter: HOWEVER, BILLY ADDED SOME NEW DETAILS
HE HAD BEEN IN CASEY'S HOUSE BEFORE -- MEANING HIS DNA MIGHT
BE FOUND INSIDE. REMEMBER, SPECIAL AGENT MCNEILL
HAD FALSELY TOLD BILLY THEY HAD THE KILLER'S DNA
>> THEIR DNA'S - >> Reporter: BUT HE DIDN'T
>> SO I THINK THERE WAS TWO TIMES THAT I WENT INTO THAT
HOUSE. I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN IN THE
LIVING ROOM AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND I REMEMBER GOING TO THE
RESTROOM AND ALL THAT STUFF. >> OKAY.
>> Reporter: BILLY ADDED THAT THERE WAS A "WHOLE BUNCH" OF
FURNITURE, INCLUDING CHAIRS, COUCHES, AND BEDS THAT HIS MOM
GAVE TO THE McCULLOUGH'S -- FURNITURE THAT ENDED UP IN
CASEY'S HOUSE. >> SO IT'S POSSIBLE YOUR DNA
COULD BE ON ANY BED OR BEDDING THAT COULD BE --
>> YEAH. >> OKAY, PERFECT
ALL RIGHT. >> BECAUSE ALL THAT FURNITURE
CAME FROM MY MOM THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT CAME --
>> OKAY. >> -- FROM OUR HOUSE
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE CONTINUALLY ASSURED BILLY HIS
STORY MADE SENSE >> IF WE DIDN'T TALK TO YOU, WE
WOULDN'T KNOW THAT, RIGHT? >> DAMIAN FOLLOWED THE SCRIPT.
DID A SUPER JOB. INTERVIEWING BILLY, BUILDING
RAPPORT WITH BILLY, AND THEN PUTTING BILLY THROUGH THE
POLYGRAPH. >> Reporter: WHEN IT CAME TO
TAKING THE POLYGRAPH, BILLY WAS INSTRUCTED NOT TO RESPOND
VERBALLY INSTEAD, HE SHOULD ONLY SHAKE
HIS HEAD "YES" OR "NO" TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
>> DID YOU CAUSE THAT WOMAN TO DIE?
ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING THAT WOMAN'S DEATH
>> Reporter: HE SHOOK HIS HEAD "NO.
AND AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND A SLEW OF REPEATED QUESTIONS, THE
TEST CONCLUDED >> SO HOW DO YOU THINK YOU DID
>> I DON'T KNOW. >> YOU FAILED THE TEST
>> I FAILED THE TEST >> YEAH, YES, AND SO -
>> MY HEARTBEAT FELT IT WAS JUST BEATING OUT OF MY CHEST.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE DID
CONCLUDE BILLY WASN'T TELLING THE TRUTH.
AT THAT MOMENT, SPECIAL AGENT McNEILL RETURNED TO THE
INTERVIEW ROOM >> ALL RIGHT, BILLY --
>> Reporter: GONE WAS HIS "GOOD COP" DEMEANOR.
HE WAS SHOWING BILLY "BAD COP" ATTITUDE
>> BECAUSE YOUR MOM -- >> Reporter: MCNEILL SAID HE
WASN'T BUYING BILLY'S STORY ABOUT WHY HIS DNA WOULD BE ALL
OVER CASEY'S HOUSE >> YOU EVEN SAID THAT IT -- IT
WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR YOUR DNA TO BE ON THE BEDDING, WHICH IS
ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. >> Reporter: ACTUALLY HE HAD
SAID THAT. NOW, McNEILL FELT IT WAS TIME TO
SHOW THOSE PICTURES HE'D BEEN HOLDING BACK -- ONES OF BILLY'S
TRUCK FROM 16 YEARS BEFORE >> THAT TRUCK LOOK FAMILIAR?
>> YEAH. >> YEAH.
THAT'S YOUR TRUCK. BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, BILLY,
LASTS FOR DECADES. BLOOD, SKIN CELLS, ALL KINDS OF
STUFF. THAT WAS A REALLY BLOODY CRIME
SCENE. WHAT YOU -- WHAT HAPPENED -- YOU
GOT BLOOD ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SHOE
WE GOT REBEKAH'S DNA NEXT TO THE GAS PEDAL IN YOUR TRUCK.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT HER DNA'S IN YOUR TRUCK.
>> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE TRACES OF HER BLOOD
>> NO. WE HAD NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
>> Reporter: SO THIS IS A TOTAL BLUFF?
>> IT IS YEAH
DO YOU KNOW WHO DID -- >> Reporter: SENSING HE WAS
MAKING PROGRESS, THE DETECTIVE CHIPPED AWAY AT BILLY MORE
>> DUDE, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU HAVE TO COME FORWARD RIGHT NOW
WITH WHAT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GET AROUND BIOLOGICAL
EVIDENCE IN THE FLOORBOARD OF YOUR TRUCK
OKAY SO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED, BILLY,
TELL ME. >> I DID NOT KILL HER.
>> WHO DID WHO DID?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE.
>> Reporter: IN A DRAMATIC MOMENT, BILLY SUDDENLY CHANGED
HIS STORY. AND SHARED FOR THE FIRST TIME --
16 YEARS LATER -- THAT HE ACTUALLY DID SEE WHO KILLED
REBEKAH. >> WHAT I SAW WAS IT LOOKED LIKE
SOMEONE WAS CLEANING UP. >> Reporter: BILLY SAID IT ALL
HAPPENED EARLY THAT MONDAY MORNING.
HE'D GONE HUNTING ON HIS GRANDFATHER'S PROPERTY WHERE HE
COULD SEE THE BACK OF CASEY'S HOUSE.
SUDDENLY HE SAW SOME MEN >> I SAW A WHITE VEHICLE AND A
YOUNG BLONDE-HAIRED GUY ON THE BACK PORCH, AND IT LOOKED LIKE
HE HAD GLOVES ON AND, UH, HE JUMPED OVER THE BACK PORCH
I JUMPED OVER, KIND OF WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AND -- TO SEE
WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON >> HE SEES THE REAR OF THE
McCULLOUGH RESIDENCE AND SEES TWO WHITE MALES FLEEING THE
RESIDENCE, GETTING INTO A VEHICLE AND -- AND SPEEDING
AWAY >> Reporter: SO HE'S GIVEN YOU
THE UNKNOWN PERPETRATORS >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: TWO GUYS. >> RIGHT
HE'S TELLING ME SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE
>> Reporter: BUT BEFORE BILLY WOULD TELL HIM MORE ABOUT THE
KILLERS, HE MADE AN UNUSUAL REQUEST.
>> CAN I SPEAK TO MY MOM OUTSIDE?
>> LET ME BRING YOUR MOM IN HERE AND LET'S TALK TO HER TOGETHER
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. >> I WANT TO TALK TO HER
OUTSIDE. >> Reporter: HIS MOM
>> HIS MOM HE WANTS TO TALK TO HIS MOM.
HE WANTS TO LEAVE THE INTERVIEW ROOM AND MEET WITH HER
>> Reporter: THIS IS WHEN McNEILL'S PLAN WENT OFF-SCRIPT
BASIC INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES DICTATE YOU DON'T STOP AN
INTERVIEW WHEN A SUSPECT IS GIVING VALUABLE INFORMATION.
YET, THE DETECTIVE THREW THE DICE AND LET HIM LEAVE
>> Reporter: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT BREAKING THE FLOW HERE
I MEAN, YOU'RE DANGLING HIM -- -- RIGHT OVER THE EDGE
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: HE'S PUT HIMSELF AT
THE SCENE. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND THE CRITICAL TIME PERIOD IT'S TIME TO CLOSE
THE -- THE NOOSE HERE, RIGHT >> IT -- IT GOES AGAINST -
>> Reporter: THEN SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENED IN OUR
INTERVIEW WITH THE AGENT >> HM.
IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS AN
INVESTIGATOR, UM, YOU KNOW >> Reporter: IT CAME TO A SUDDEN
AND ABRUPT HALT. >> I NEED A BREAK.
>> Reporter: HAD SPEAL >>> Reporter: ARE YOU GUYS GOOD?
>> GOOD. >> Reporter: WE DIDN'T SEE IT
COMING SPECIAL AGENT MIKE McNEILL HAD
STOPPED OUR INTERVIEW. WHEN HE SAT BACK DOWN A FEW
MINUTES LATER, HE EXPLAINED WHY. >> INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THIS, YOU
ALLOW THE INVESTIGATION TO KIND OF CONSUME YOU
IT'S THE LAST THING YOU THINK OF BEFORE YOU GO TO BED
AND IT'S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP.
AND THAT'S HOW THIS ONE HAS BEEN
YOU GET EMOTIONAL. >> Reporter: HE GOT EMOTIONAL,
HE SAID, BECAUSE OF HIS PIVOTAL DECISION TO LET BILLY WALK FROM
THE INTERROGATION ROOM, JUST WHEN HE WAS STARTING TO REVEAL
CRUCIAL INFORMATION. DID YOU THINK YOU WERE ON THE
EDGE OF GETTING THIS THING >> I DID
I DID. WHEN HE WANTED TO LEAVE THE
INTERVIEW ROOM, THAT'S LIKE A KISS OF DEATH FOR AN INTERVIEW
>> Reporter: YOU'VE LOST THE MOMENTUM, HUH?
>> WELL, BUT YEAH, VERY RARELY WILL YOU GET A SUSPECT TO GO
BACK INTO AN INTERVIEW ROOM. >> Reporter: NONETHELESS, THE
DETECTIVE DECIDED TO TAKE A RISK AND FOLLOW HIS GUT
BILLY WAS ALLOWED TO MEET HIS MOM IN THE POLICE STATION'S
GARAGE AGENT McNEILL AND ANOTHER
OFFICER STOOD BY >> THEY EMBRACE, THEY HUG.
HE IS WHISPERING SOMETHING TO HER IN HER EAR
I CAN'T MAKE IT OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE SAID TO
HER. >> Reporter: BILLY WASN'T UNDER
ARREST, FREE TO LEAVE THE STATION AT ANY TIME.
* BUT HE DIDN'T.
>> OKAY. I HELD UP MY END OF THE DEAL
LET'S TALK >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN
SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAPPENED. >> ONE THING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S
BEEN REELING IN YOUR HEAD LIKE A MOVIE REEL SINCE IT HAPPENED
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ABOUT THIS THAT YOU FORGOT.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME
>> I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I DID IT.
I DID IT I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID >> HE STARTS TO CONFESS TO THE
MURDER OF REBEKAH GOULD. *
>> Reporter: IT WAS A RARE AND STUNNING ABOUT-FACE, A FULL
CONFESSION >> I'M TELLING YOU THAT I DID
IT EVERYBODY THAT I'M ASSOCIATED IS
A VICTIM OF ME >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> A VICTIM. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND I PLAYED EVERYBODY AS A FOOL
EVERYBODY. I NEVER TOLD ANYBODY BUT YOU
RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: BILLY SAID HE
CONFESSED BECAUSE HE THOUGHT REBEKAH'S DNA WAS FOUND IN HIS
OLD TRUCK. >> HE SAYS, "YOU'VE GOT MY DNA
I'M TELLING YOU I DID IT." >> Reporter: HE TOTALLY TOOK
YOUR BAIT. >> HE DID.
HE DID BILL YOU GOT EVIDENCE.
>> Reporter: AND NOW BILLY WAS READY TO TELL ALL, INCLUDING THE
HARD-TO-HEAR DETAILS OF HOW HE KILLED REBEKAH
EARLY THAT MONDAY MORNING, HE SAID HE PARKED HIS PICKUP TRUCK
ON HIS GRANDFATHER'S PROPERTY. HE WENT AROUND AND KNOCKED ON
CASEY'S DOOR REBEKAH ANSWERED
THE TWO HAD NEVER MET, BUT HE KNEW SHE WAS IN THE HOUSE FROM
HIS VISIT THE NIGHT BEFORE HE SAID HE WAS CASEY'S COUSIN
AND ASKED TO USE THE PHONE >> DO YOU EVER REALLY CALL
ANYBODY? >> NO.
>> THAT WAS JUST A RUSE TO GET INSIDE
>> YES >> ‘CAUSE YOU'D ALREADY MADE UP
YOUR MIND WHAT YOU WAS GONNA DO, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, YOU CAN SAY, YEAH >> Reporter: HE SAID REBEKAH
WENT TO THE BEDROOM, WHILE HE PACED BACK AND FORTH IN THE
LIVING ROOM. AND BY CHANCE, THAT PREVIOUSLY
BROKEN LEG FROM THE PIANO FELL OFF ON ITS OWN
HE GRABBED IT. >> SHE GOES BACK, GOES TO THE
BEDROOM, YOU GET THE PIANO LEG AND ENTER THE BEDROOM.
WHAT DOES SHE SAY? >> NOTHING
SHE'S SLEEPING SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING
>> HOW MANY TIMES YOU REMEMBER HITTING HER?
>> TWICE AND THEN THAT, THE THING FELL
APART. AND I WENT INTO, LIKE, A RAGE.
>> Reporter: HE SAID THE WOODEN PIANO LEG FELL APART
AS FOR WHY HE DID IT, BILLY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
AND IT REMAINS UNKNOWN HE CLAIMS IT WAS NOT SEXUAL.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTIONS? YOUR INTENTIONS WERE TO GO IN
THERE AND JUST KILL HER? WHY?
>> I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH THAT JUST WENT OFF.
AND I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IT JUST, IT'S LIKE ANGRY, OR
JUST KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW >> WAS -- SHE MADE FUN OF YOU?
>> NO. SHE DIDN'T
I JUST WENT IN THERE AND IT WAS LIKE, BAM, BAM, BAM.
AND THAT WAS IT. THEN I FREAKED OUT
>> Reporter: HE SAID AFTER HE HIT REBEKAH, SHE WAS STILL
ALIVE, SO HE USED A MAN'S TIE HE FOUND THERE AND STRANGLED HER.
HE THEN SCRAMBLED TO CLEAN UP. >> I TOOK THE BEDDING, PUT IT IN
A SUITCASE AND THEN FLIPPED THE MATTRESS ‘CAUSE THERE WAS BLOOD
ON IT. AND THEN WIPED UP EVERYTHING THE
BEST THAT I COULD. >> WHAT ABOUT THE LAUNDRY?
>> I PUT STUFF IN THE LAUNDRY. >> WHAT'D YOU PUT IN THE
LAUNDRY? >> THERE WAS BEDDING
>> SO BEDDING WENT INTO THE LAUNDRY AND IN THE SUITCASE?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: IT ALL MATCHED WHAT
HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED AT THE CRIME SCENE.
AND HE KNEW ABOUT THAT MISSING SUITCASE
A FACT NEVER MADE PUBLIC BY POLICE
THE PIECE OF EVIDENCE DETECTIVE SIMONS HAD SO
DESPERATELY SEARCHED FOR, AND NEVER FOUND.
/M/M BILLY WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE
MURDER >> YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR THE
MURDER OF REBEKAH GOULD. >> OKAY.
* >> Reporter: SOON AFTER,
REBEKAH'S DAD GOT THE CALL HE THOUGHT MIGHT NEVER COME
WE HAVE MADE AN ARREST AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
>> YES I THINK IT WAS MORE A LITTLE BIT
OF SHOCK BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THE NAME AND I FELT, OH MY GOD,
IT'S OVER? >> Reporter: AND THERE HE'D BEEN
ALL THOSE YEARS. >> YUP, OFF LIVING HIS LIFE AND
FOOLING EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: AND PROUD OF IT
>> AND VERY PROUD. >> Reporter: IT'S CLEAR THE
OTHER SUSPECTS, CASEY, THE REST OF THE McCULLOUGH FAMILY,
JENNIFER, J.B. YATES, CHRIS, JUSTIN, NONE OF THEM HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH REBEKAH'S DEATH.
* STILL, THIS CASE WASN'T YET
OVER IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR POLICE TO
LOCATE THAT SUITCASE TO CORROBORATE WHETHER BILLY WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH. *
HE GAVE INVESTIGATORS A GENERAL LOCATION, IN A WOODED AREA,
WHERE HE SAID IT WOULD BE FOUND. A SEARCH PARTY WAS SENT OUT.
AND OF ALL PEOPLE, IT WAS DETECTIVE SIMONS, NOT YET
RETIRED, WHO FOUND IT. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT I GOT
EMOTIONAL, BUT I DANG SURE I GOT A LITTLE EXCITED
I KNEW THAT WAS THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN
I KNEW THAT WE HAD OUR MAN WHEN I FOUND THAT SUITCASE.
>> BUT JUST WHEN IT SEEMED IT WAS ALL OVER, CAME A BOMBSHELL
DEVELOPMENT. AND IT INVOLVED BILLY'S
CONFESSION >> NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO TALK TO A LAWYER -- >> Reporter: IT MIGHT NOT BE
ADMISSIBLE IN A COURT BECAUSE HIS DEFENSE ARGUED HE DIDN'T GET
READ ALL HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS. >> DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: AFTER READING THREE
OF THE MIRANDA RIGHTS, OFFICER ACOSTA GOT DISTRACTED BY A
QUESTION FROM BILLY. >> SO NUMBER FOUR --
>> SO DO YOU THINK I NEED TO GET A LAWYER
>> THAT'S, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT ADVICE
I'M NOT A LAWYER >> Reporter: HE WAS NEVER READ
HIS FOURTH RIGHT AND ACCORDING TO BILLY'S
ATTORNEYS, GRAY DELLINGER AND JOE DENTON, THAT WAS A VIOLATION
OF HIS RIGHTS. >> IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD AN
ATTORNEY, ONE WILL BE APPOINTED FOR YOU.
>> THAT WARNING HAS TO BE GIVEN TO EVERY PERSON IN AMERICA, IF
THE POLICE WANT TO USE ANYTHING THAT THEY DEVELOP IN THAT
INTERROGATION LATER AT TRIAL >> Reporter: AFTER BEING
EXTRADITED BACK TO ARKANSAS, BILLY PLEADED NOT GUILTY
NOW, NOT ONLY COULD HIS ENTIRE CONFESSION BE THROWN OUT, SO TOO
COULD KEY EVIDENCE ERIC HANCE WAS THE PROSECUTOR
FOR THE CASE >> IF THERE'S A CONFESSION THAT
IS TAINTED, ANY EVIDENCE WE OBTAIN AS A RESULT OF THAT
CONFESSION IS INADMISSIBLE AT TRIAL AS WELL.
SO THE SUITCASE AND ALL OF THE CLOTHING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS
THAT CORROBORATED THE CONFESSION WOULD GO OUT WITH IT
>> Reporter: IT FELT INCOMPREHENSIBLE
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, IT SEEMED THE CASE MIGHT FALL APART.
>> AND WE TOLD THE FAMILY THAT, IF THE CONFESSION GOES OUT, HE
GOES BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND IT'S GAME OVER
>> Reporter: A TENSE THREE-DAY HEARING WAS HELD ABOUT WHETHER
THE CONFESSION COULD BE ADMITTED AT TRIAL
* BECAUSE BILLY SIGNED A DOCUMENT
ACKNOWLEDGING HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS, THE JUDGE RULED THE
CONFESSION WAS ADMISSIBLE. *
IN THE END, THE FAMILY AGREED WITH PROSECUTORS TO ACCEPT A
PLEA DEAL. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RISK THAT
EVEN ONE JUROR COULD SET BILLY MILLER FREE.
HE GOT 40 YEARS WITH A CHANCE OF PAROLE
>> WE HAVE JUSTICE WE HAVE THE PERSON BEHIND BARS
HE CANNOT ROAM HE CANNOT FIND SOMEBODY ELSE AND
HE CAN'T DO THIS TO SOMEBODY ELSE
>> Reporter: AS FOR CASEY McCULLOUGH, HE SENT US A
STATEMENT. IN PART,, IT READ THAT HIS
"HEART GOES OUT TO REBEKAH AND HER FAMILY."
HE THANKED HIS "FRIENDS AND FAMILY" WHO STOOD BY HIM DURING
THE "SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKS," AND SAID HE CAN NOW LIVE HIS "LIFE
IN PEACE." *
AND SPEAKING OF CASEY, BILLY HAD A QUESTION ABOUT HIS COUSIN, THE
MAN WHO'D ENDURED YEARS OF SCORN AND SUSPICION.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT I COULD TELL CASEY THAT I'M
SORRY? WHEN I GO TO ARKANSAS?
>> I THINK YOU'LL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> Reporter: AFTER BILLY'S SENTENCING, REBEKAH'S SISTER
DANIELLE PASSED AWAY AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER.
AS FOR REBEKAH'S FATHER, HE'S STILL WORKING ON GETTING
"REBEKAH'S LAW" PASSED *
HE'S NOW FOUND SOME PEACE IN THAT HE FINALLY FULFILLED A
PLEDGE HE MADE THE DAY HE BURIED HIS DAUGHTER
WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT, AND READ, AT BILLY'S SENTENCING.
>> NOTHING WOULD EVER STOP US FROM FINDING THE PERSON WHO
MURDERED REBEKAH TODAY I LOOK TO HEAVEN AND I
SIMPLY WHISPER, "PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT."
>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL, AND OF
COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.