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[female narrator]
in rural ohio,
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A beautiful young
mother goes missing.
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In all the time
that he's known whitney,
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She doesn't go off the radar.
She doesn't go dark.
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She doesn't ghost.
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[kimberly] as a parent,
you don't want to ever think
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That your child
is taken from you.
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[narrator] the evidence
quickly points to foul play.
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They're looking in the
windows with flashlights
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And they start to
notice trash bags.
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[daniel] I dropped the tailgate,
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And I see large clumps
of blonde hair.
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[narrator] as the
investigation escalates,
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An inner circle is
thrown into question.
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Family members have witnessed
them fighting with each other.
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They would break up,
get back together,
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Break up, get back together.
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[narrator] but is this
close-knit family
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Hiding a killer?
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[eric] to our knowledge,
they were the last ones
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That saw whitney alive.
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[music]
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[theme music]
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[music]
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[narrator]
champaign county, ohio
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Is a quiet farming community a
few miles north of springfield.
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You would probably describe it
mostly as blue collar.
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There's beautiful farming land,
very green in the summer.
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And people think it's
a great place to raise a family.
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There's not much crime here
and people feel mostly safe.
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[narrator] but just after
midnight on October 1st, 2020,
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The sense of peace is disturbed
by a mysterious 911 call.
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I was dispatched to meet
a male in the parking lot
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Of the sheriff's office.
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I was told by
the dispatch center
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That the male would not
give them any information
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About what he wanted to report.
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He just wanted to speak
to someone in person.
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So, I go out into
the parking lot.
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[narrator] the young man,
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Who identifies himself
as randy rider,
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Gets out of the vehicle
and tells the deputy
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Why his friends
brought him there.
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Randy stated that an
incident had occurred
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At the house where he lives wit
his girlfriend, whitney hostler
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His father, rodney rider sr,
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And his mother, valerie rider.
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He advised that around
11am on September 30th,
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There had been
an argument between whitney,
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His mother valerie, and him.
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They were screaming
at each other,
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And the argument ended abruptly
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Randy then left,
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And he stated to me
that his mother, valerie,
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Continued to argue with whitney
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[narrator] now it's
midnight on October 1st,
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And over 12 hours have passed
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Since he last
heard from whitney.
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Randy said that he had been
with his friends all day
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And someone was supposed
to come pick up whitney.
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They were not able
to get a hold of her.
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You can tell that he was
genuinely worried about
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Her well-being.
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[denae] in all the time
that he's known whitney,
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Which is many years,
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She doesn't go off the radar.
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She doesn't go dark.
She doesn't ghost.
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And he hasn't heard
from her in all this time.
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[eric] they just
told him to stand by
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At the sheriff's office,
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And they would
go out to the residence
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And, uh, try to make
contact with, uh, whitney.
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We felt like maybe something
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Had happened to her
at that point.
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[music]
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[narrator] whitney lynn hostler
was born on July 27th, 1995,
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In dayton, ohio.
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[kimberly] whitney
was the last baby.
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When she was first born,
we lived in a trailer park.
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Whitney was a little terror.
She really was.
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She liked to run around a lot.
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She would mess
with her sister a lot.
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They would argue, fight,
you know, like little kids do.
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But she loved
her sister, though.
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[music]
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[narrator] but when
whitney was two,
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Her life was upended
by her parents' divorce.
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I just fell out
of love with him.
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Since I was having,
you know, some issues
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That I needed to work through,
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I decided to have
chuck take the girls.
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The girls really didn't
understand at first.
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I mean, they was two
and three years old.
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I just told them that
they had to go with daddy
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Until, you know, mommy
got everything together,
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And that I would get them back.
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That never happened.
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[denae] chuck moved
around with the girls
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And basically
raised them through
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The early years of their lives.
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[music]
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[narrator] the next
time she saw her mother,
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Whitney was a teenager.
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She was having a lot
of behavioral issues,
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So they thought it would be best
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If whitney went and
lived with our mother.
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See if maybe that's
why she was acting out.
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Whitney was something else.
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Um, whitney just had
her own little personality.
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If she didn't like something,
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She would definitely
let you know it.
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She was very blunt.
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[denae] she was a little edgy.
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She had some facial
piercings, blonde hair.
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She obviously cared
about her appearance.
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She would do kind
of some cool tricks
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With her mascara and eyeliner.
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She was really good
at drawing and painting.
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She liked to do, like, eyes
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And, like, abstract pictures.
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[kimberly] you would
not even believe
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The creativity that
girl had in her head.
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And sometimes I wondered,
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Where did you think
of this from, whitney?
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[narrator] like
many 15-year-olds,
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Whitney's academic goals were
eclipsed by other interests.
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[kimberly] it wasn't hard
for whitney to meet guys.
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Oh, my lord.
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She had the most prettiest eyes
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And that's what attracted
a lot of boys to her.
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[narrator] but only
one boy won her heart--
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Classmate randy rider.
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[chelsea] she liked
that he was kind
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And he'd go out
of his way for her
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To show her that he loved her.
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He said that
she was just beautiful.
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He'd never seen someone
so pretty in his life.
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Randy lived with his
parents in st. Paris,
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Um, valerie rider
and rodney sr.
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Randy had an older sister
and two older brothers,
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And he was the
baby of the family.
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[narrator]
whitney and randy dated
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For the next eight years.
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[kimberly] she turned 22,
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And then she found
out she was pregnant
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In the fall of 2017, when
she took her pregnancy test.
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I was happy for her.
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My mom told me that
my sister was pregnant
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And whitney was
excited, but scared.
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But we were all very
happy and excited for her.
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[kimberly] she wanted to
move out to st. Paris with rand
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To get a job out there.
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And that way they can save
up and get their own place.
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That was the plan.
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[narrator] after their daughter
was born in the summer of 2018,
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The couple realized they
needed help taking care of her.
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So they moved into
randy's parents' house,
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Where his brother,
rodney jr, was also living.
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[kimberly] randy's parents
were really excited
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About the baby coming,
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And they wanted to help.
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[denae] rodney sr
worked building tanks,
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And valerie was into automotive
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Sort of building as well.
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So, they both
comfortably retired.
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And for them, they had
this opportunity in retirement
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To create this bond
with their grandchild.
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From what I saw, valerie
was a very loving grandmother.
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And she liked to do
things with them,
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Take them to do things.
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[narrator]
over the next two years,
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Whitney and the rider family
continued to grow closer...
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...Until whitney
suddenly disappears
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And randy is worried
something has happened to her.
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[daniel] deputy culler and I
responded
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To do the welfare
check on whitney.
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[eric] when the
deputies arrived,
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This is after midnight,
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And they were trying to
make contact with someone there,
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See if they could find out
what, uh, whitney's status was.
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[narrator] as soon
as deputies arrive,
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They sense something is wrong.
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[daniel] we began
knocking on the door,
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No lights on in the residence.
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His brother, rodney jr,
then came to the front door.
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Deputy culler and
I asked rodney jr
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Where his parents were
and where whitney was.
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He stated that none of
them were at the residence.
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[denae] he stated
they were going on a drive
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To look for hunting spots,
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And they were taking
the two-year-old with them.
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But, six to seven hours later,
they still weren't home.
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[eric] at that point, we
became more and more confident
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That something bad could have
actually happened to whitney,
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And the riders, and her child.
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[music]
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[narrator] coming up, a home
search unearths new leads...
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They found a nearly
empty roll of duct tape
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In randy's room that
he shared with whitney.
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[narrator] ...And the
truth begins to surface.
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[music]
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[theme music]
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[th[music]ic]
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[narrator] champaign
county sheriff's deputies
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Are at the home of randy rider,
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Looking for his missing
girlfriend, whitney hostler.
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00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:20,945
But as officers talk to
randy's brother, rodney,
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It seems their parents
may have vanished as well.
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[eric] rodney jr said
he didn't have an idea
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Where whitney was.
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She had left earlier that day
and he had not seen her since.
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He also explained that his
parents had left that evening
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To drive around and try to find
some new deer hunting locations,
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And that they had taken the,
uh, granddaughter with them.
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The deputies asked
if that was something
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That they normally did,
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Left that, uh,
that late at night,
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Especially with the child,
to go look for hunting areas.
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And rodney jr did say that
that was somewhat unusual.
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[daniel] we asked
what kind of vehicle
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Rodney jr's parents
would be driving,
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And he stated it would
be a white ford pickup.
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Deputy culler and I
asked that rodney jr
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Have valerie and
rodney sr contact us
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When they arrived
at the residence.
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00:12:15,969 --> 00:12:20,338
Then we observe the white ford
truck pull into the front yard.
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[denae] they see
a truck pull up,
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And they notice, wait, that's
got to be rodney sr's truck.
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[daniel] we both approached the
vehicle and made contacts with
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Rodney rider sr,
who was driving,
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And valerie rider, who
was in the passenger seat.
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00:12:39,158 --> 00:12:40,725
While looking in the vehicle,
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I observed a small female child
sitting in the back middle seat.
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Deputy culler asked
about whitney's whereabouts
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Or when the last time
they had seen whitney,
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And valerie stated that
a maroon car had picked her up
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Sometime in the afternoon.
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She said that
the windows were tinted
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And they couldn't
see the driver.
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[denae] according to valerie,
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They had their granddaughter
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00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,987
Because whitney and
randy had had a fight.
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00:13:10,056 --> 00:13:12,390
And that wasn't unusual.
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00:13:12,458 --> 00:13:15,326
They unfortunately fought a lot.
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00:13:15,395 --> 00:13:18,396
However, they'd usually
go their separate ways,
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00:13:18,464 --> 00:13:21,733
They'll cool down, they'll
be back together tomorrow.
247
00:13:21,801 --> 00:13:23,201
It'll blow over.
248
00:13:25,204 --> 00:13:27,539
[narrator] the riders say
they last heard from whitney
249
00:13:27,607 --> 00:13:29,541
That afternoon.
250
00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:32,811
Valerie rider stated that she
had received a text from whitney
251
00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:36,080
Saying that she was going to
be gone for a period of time
252
00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:37,481
And that she would contact her
253
00:13:37,483 --> 00:13:39,050
To let her know where she was a
254
00:13:39,118 --> 00:13:41,019
And, uh, when she
would be coming back
255
00:13:41,021 --> 00:13:42,720
To pick up the child.
256
00:13:42,789 --> 00:13:45,156
And that everything was okay.
257
00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:46,424
[daniel] deputy culler had asked
258
00:13:46,492 --> 00:13:49,026
Where valerie
and rodney had been
259
00:13:49,095 --> 00:13:52,496
Prior to arriving
at the residence.
260
00:13:52,565 --> 00:13:55,499
[eric] valerie
advised that rodney sr
261
00:13:55,501 --> 00:13:59,470
Wanted to go out and scout out
some new deer hunting locations.
262
00:13:59,472 --> 00:14:01,072
So, they drove around
for several hours
263
00:14:01,140 --> 00:14:03,507
Trying to find
new hunting sites.
264
00:14:03,576 --> 00:14:07,545
It was after that that
they went down to a gas station
265
00:14:07,613 --> 00:14:10,714
In the city of new carlisle
to buy some cherry coke
266
00:14:10,716 --> 00:14:12,683
And then returned
a short time later
267
00:14:12,685 --> 00:14:14,519
To find the deputies
there at the residence.
268
00:14:16,756 --> 00:14:20,124
[narrator] despite supporting
rodney jr's account,
269
00:14:20,193 --> 00:14:22,226
Deputies find the story odd,
270
00:14:22,295 --> 00:14:25,196
Even under normal circumstances
271
00:14:25,264 --> 00:14:27,632
Considering whitney's
disappearance,
272
00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:33,671
The riders' late-night trip
sounds even more suspicious.
273
00:14:33,673 --> 00:14:36,640
[denae] they walk
around the truck.
274
00:14:36,642 --> 00:14:40,211
And at this point, they're
just kind of checking it out.
275
00:14:40,279 --> 00:14:43,080
They're looking in the
windows with flashlights.
276
00:14:43,149 --> 00:14:46,117
And they start to
notice trash bags.
277
00:14:47,286 --> 00:14:49,520
I looked in the bed cap
278
00:14:49,589 --> 00:14:54,258
And I could see in the bed
that there wadded-up trash bags
279
00:14:54,327 --> 00:14:55,593
With duct tape stuck to them.
280
00:14:56,829 --> 00:14:59,731
I dropped the tailgate,
pull open those trash bags,
281
00:14:59,799 --> 00:15:03,134
And I see large clumps of blonde
hair stuck in the duct tape.
282
00:15:05,105 --> 00:15:07,538
We knew that whitney
was a blonde female.
283
00:15:07,606 --> 00:15:11,342
I noticed that the
duct tape had formed
284
00:15:11,411 --> 00:15:13,511
Almost like
a semicircular shape,
285
00:15:13,579 --> 00:15:15,446
Like it had been wrapped
around something.
286
00:15:15,515 --> 00:15:17,448
When I saw the
duct tape and the hair,
287
00:15:17,517 --> 00:15:20,084
I just had that feeling that
288
00:15:20,153 --> 00:15:22,053
This was not gonna end well.
289
00:15:23,323 --> 00:15:25,189
Deputy culler went
to make a phone call
290
00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:27,358
To chief deputy holmes,
291
00:15:27,427 --> 00:15:29,994
Advise him of the situation.
292
00:15:30,063 --> 00:15:31,595
After he made that phone call,
293
00:15:31,664 --> 00:15:34,365
He asked valerie if
he would walk through the house
294
00:15:34,434 --> 00:15:38,469
And make sure that
everything looked okay.
295
00:15:38,538 --> 00:15:41,139
The riders said that they would
be happy to consent to search
296
00:15:41,141 --> 00:15:44,075
And the deputies went ahead
and went through the residence.
297
00:15:45,611 --> 00:15:47,511
[music]
298
00:15:47,513 --> 00:15:48,512
[narrator] during the search,
299
00:15:48,514 --> 00:15:52,383
Deputies find more
incriminating evidence.
300
00:15:53,553 --> 00:15:56,720
Deputy culler came back
out of the residence
301
00:15:56,722 --> 00:16:00,892
And he placed a nearly
empty roll of duct tape
302
00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:02,493
On the tailgate and stated
303
00:16:02,562 --> 00:16:06,864
That he had found that next
to the bed in randy's room
304
00:16:06,933 --> 00:16:08,333
That he shared with whitney.
305
00:16:10,002 --> 00:16:11,202
Also, in the bed of the truck,
306
00:16:11,270 --> 00:16:13,504
I located a two-wheeled dolly,
307
00:16:13,572 --> 00:16:15,806
Which the tires
were covered in mud.
308
00:16:15,875 --> 00:16:17,208
It was wet still.
309
00:16:17,276 --> 00:16:21,112
And a single flip-flop
laying under the dolly.
310
00:16:22,214 --> 00:16:26,150
I also located a
thick green rubber glove.
311
00:16:27,087 --> 00:16:30,354
[denae] they're asking,
"what are these items for?"
312
00:16:30,423 --> 00:16:32,723
And valerie said, "well,
today was a cleaning day.
313
00:16:32,792 --> 00:16:36,160
"I clean often.
I've got, you know, grandkids.
314
00:16:36,229 --> 00:16:37,661
"they've got a lot of hair.
315
00:16:37,730 --> 00:16:40,098
"that's just what this is,
trash bags, duct tape.
316
00:16:40,166 --> 00:16:41,565
"yep, there's some hair.
317
00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:43,801
That's normal in my household."
318
00:16:43,869 --> 00:16:46,971
[music]
319
00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:51,442
[narrator] rodney jr confirms
his mother's explanation.
320
00:16:51,511 --> 00:16:54,278
[denae] he says, "no,
that actually does make sense
321
00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:55,980
"because my daughter
visits a lot
322
00:16:56,048 --> 00:16:57,248
"and she has some hair loss.
323
00:16:57,316 --> 00:17:00,518
In fact, we call her rapunzel."
324
00:17:00,586 --> 00:17:01,685
So, deputies say,
"well, could you
325
00:17:01,754 --> 00:17:05,022
Walk with us out to the truck
and take a look at it?"
326
00:17:05,091 --> 00:17:07,358
And the hair is
kind of...You know,
327
00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:10,294
Kind of a blondish-brown color.
328
00:17:10,362 --> 00:17:11,295
He looks at it and says,
329
00:17:11,364 --> 00:17:14,264
"yeah, that's probably
my daughter's hair."
330
00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:15,733
[narrator] throughout
the questioning,
331
00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:19,336
Valerie rider
remains cooperative.
332
00:17:19,405 --> 00:17:23,007
Her husband, rodney sr,
however,
333
00:17:23,075 --> 00:17:25,643
Doesn't seem as calm.
334
00:17:25,711 --> 00:17:28,646
Rodney sr appeared
to be very nervous,
335
00:17:28,714 --> 00:17:31,615
And as time went on, he
continued to become more nervous
336
00:17:31,617 --> 00:17:33,251
To the point where, uh,
337
00:17:33,253 --> 00:17:36,554
He started to
begin to hyperventilate
338
00:17:36,622 --> 00:17:38,689
And actually had
to, to go sit down
339
00:17:38,758 --> 00:17:40,792
Because he was
becoming so upset.
340
00:17:44,697 --> 00:17:47,565
Based on what was found
in the bed of the truck,
341
00:17:47,633 --> 00:17:50,834
Valerie and rodney sr's actions
342
00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:54,238
Their demeanor, the
nervousness, their story,
343
00:17:54,307 --> 00:17:55,739
We felt concerned enough
344
00:17:55,808 --> 00:18:00,510
That we needed to get detectives
involved at that point.
345
00:18:00,512 --> 00:18:02,613
You know, something
had happened to whitney
346
00:18:02,682 --> 00:18:04,348
And we needed to get
to the bottom of that.
347
00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:07,819
[music]
348
00:18:08,454 --> 00:18:12,457
[theme music]
349
00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:22,165
[theme music]
[music]
350
00:18:22,167 --> 00:18:25,135
[narrator] just over
12 hours after whitney hostler
351
00:18:25,205 --> 00:18:27,105
Was last reportedly seen,
352
00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:31,309
Sheriff's deputies find
human hair in the riders' truck
353
00:18:31,311 --> 00:18:34,411
And call in homicide detectives
354
00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,780
[scott] we took everything
from the search of the truck
355
00:18:36,782 --> 00:18:39,317
As evidence and submitted
it to the crime lab
356
00:18:39,319 --> 00:18:41,485
To check for dna.
357
00:18:41,487 --> 00:18:43,721
I spoke with the deputies
that were out there
358
00:18:43,789 --> 00:18:46,457
And they voiced
their, their concerns.
359
00:18:46,526 --> 00:18:48,359
At that time, they led
me into the residence,
360
00:18:48,427 --> 00:18:49,793
The deputies did,
361
00:18:49,795 --> 00:18:52,129
And showed me the general area.
362
00:18:52,198 --> 00:18:54,798
And then I came
outside and spoke with
363
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,968
Valerie and rodney sr
on the porch.
364
00:18:58,037 --> 00:19:00,871
Mr. Rider seemed
kind of hesitant and quiet.
365
00:19:00,873 --> 00:19:02,339
He really didn't
say a whole lot.
366
00:19:02,408 --> 00:19:05,809
He was very vague in
his, in his answers.
367
00:19:05,811 --> 00:19:08,578
When I spoke with valerie
next, she started talking,
368
00:19:08,580 --> 00:19:11,482
And she continued to
talk and talk and talk.
369
00:19:11,550 --> 00:19:13,251
It was a nervous talk and,
370
00:19:13,253 --> 00:19:17,488
Based on that, that kind of
made me think they're lying.
371
00:19:17,556 --> 00:19:19,757
I said, "something's
not right here
372
00:19:19,825 --> 00:19:21,893
"with what we found
in the bed of the truck
373
00:19:21,961 --> 00:19:25,163
"and the statements
you guys are making.
374
00:19:25,231 --> 00:19:28,065
And we need to talk a little
further in a better setting."
375
00:19:31,837 --> 00:19:34,938
[denae] valerie,
rodney sr, rodney jr,
376
00:19:34,940 --> 00:19:38,276
The little girl--they're
all taken into the station
377
00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:39,777
For questioning.
378
00:19:39,845 --> 00:19:43,714
We decided to interview
rodney jr first
379
00:19:43,783 --> 00:19:47,885
To kind of establish a baseline
of what had occurred that day.
380
00:19:49,789 --> 00:19:53,324
Rodney had been at work
on September 30th of 2020.
381
00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:02,265
He said whitney had
left earlier that day
382
00:20:02,267 --> 00:20:05,770
And he had not seen her, um,
during the rest of that day.
383
00:20:07,740 --> 00:20:09,973
After completing the interview,
rodney jr was released.
384
00:20:10,743 --> 00:20:13,644
[narrator] randy rider continues
to stand by at the station
385
00:20:13,713 --> 00:20:16,947
While rodney sr and
valerie tell detectives
386
00:20:16,949 --> 00:20:20,351
About the argument that led up
to whitney's disappearance.
387
00:20:48,047 --> 00:20:50,480
[narrator] rodney sr
says that his wife told him
388
00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:53,084
That she tried to
calm whitney down,
389
00:20:53,152 --> 00:20:54,885
But she was too angry.
390
00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:09,400
[music]
391
00:21:09,468 --> 00:21:11,002
[narrator] according to valerie,
392
00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:12,836
As soon as randy left,
393
00:21:12,905 --> 00:21:15,406
Whitney packed up
her belongings as well.
394
00:21:16,409 --> 00:21:20,878
Valerie said that whitney,
uh, contacted a friend of hers
395
00:21:20,946 --> 00:21:22,813
That was going to
come and pick her up,
396
00:21:22,882 --> 00:21:25,182
And they were gonna
leave that night.
397
00:21:53,913 --> 00:21:55,579
[narrator] the idea
that whitney left
398
00:21:55,581 --> 00:21:57,514
Without her two-year-old child
399
00:21:57,583 --> 00:21:59,950
Doesn't sit right
with investigators.
400
00:22:32,518 --> 00:22:33,917
[narrator] randy rider has been
401
00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:35,686
Voluntarily waiting
at the station
402
00:22:35,754 --> 00:22:38,622
After reporting whitney missing
403
00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:41,024
When detectives ask him
to give a statement,
404
00:22:41,093 --> 00:22:44,762
Officers are eager
to hear his version of events.
405
00:23:06,619 --> 00:23:07,951
[eric] according to randy,
406
00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:11,255
Rodney sr and valerie
had the baby with them
407
00:23:11,323 --> 00:23:12,589
Virtually all the time.
408
00:23:12,658 --> 00:23:15,926
Um, they were the
caretakers of that child.
409
00:23:15,995 --> 00:23:20,564
The child frequently would
sleep in their room with them.
410
00:23:20,632 --> 00:23:24,668
Um, everything in
his parents' world
411
00:23:24,670 --> 00:23:26,937
Revolved around
that little girl.
412
00:23:30,309 --> 00:23:32,743
[narrator] to investigators,
it doesn't sound like
413
00:23:32,811 --> 00:23:35,980
His mother was going
to let her go that easily.
414
00:23:56,535 --> 00:23:57,634
[narrator] a few moments later,
415
00:23:57,703 --> 00:24:01,238
Randy says his father
emerged from the bedroom.
416
00:24:35,507 --> 00:24:40,211
[music]
417
00:24:40,279 --> 00:24:43,580
Speaking with randy, he, he
seemed to be genuinely concerned
418
00:24:43,582 --> 00:24:45,449
For the welfare of whitney.
419
00:24:45,517 --> 00:24:47,617
He seemed to be concerned
for his daughter.
420
00:24:47,619 --> 00:24:49,720
He seemed to be very suspicious
421
00:24:49,788 --> 00:24:54,291
Of the situation
involving his parents.
422
00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:57,228
That, coupled with
the physical evidence
423
00:24:57,296 --> 00:25:00,531
That we believed we had found
in the truck and in the house
424
00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:02,966
Gave us great concern.
425
00:25:03,035 --> 00:25:06,970
But we, at that point,
had nothing to support
426
00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:09,039
That a crime had
actually been committed.
427
00:25:11,176 --> 00:25:12,843
[narrator]
it's been almost 24 hours
428
00:25:12,912 --> 00:25:16,179
Since whitney was last seen.
429
00:25:16,248 --> 00:25:19,282
Investigators return
the riders to their home,
430
00:25:19,284 --> 00:25:22,052
But consider them to
be persons of interest.
431
00:25:24,389 --> 00:25:26,924
[music]
432
00:25:26,992 --> 00:25:28,826
[narrator] looking
for more information,
433
00:25:28,894 --> 00:25:33,196
Detectives turn to
whitney's family next.
434
00:25:33,265 --> 00:25:36,166
[kimberly] the morning
of October 1st,
435
00:25:36,235 --> 00:25:38,502
There was a cop outside
that needed to talk to me.
436
00:25:39,238 --> 00:25:41,738
So I go outside and he asked me
437
00:25:41,807 --> 00:25:44,841
If I knew a girl
named whitney hostler.
438
00:25:44,910 --> 00:25:48,712
And I said, "yes, I do.
That is my daughter.
439
00:25:48,781 --> 00:25:50,413
What's going on?"
440
00:25:50,415 --> 00:25:55,185
And he told me that
she was being reported missing.
441
00:25:56,455 --> 00:25:58,722
That was not her.
442
00:25:58,724 --> 00:26:01,825
She would always let someone
know where she was going,
443
00:26:01,827 --> 00:26:04,794
Whether it be me
or, you know, randy.
444
00:26:04,796 --> 00:26:08,198
Whitney's family did not know
what her current location was.
445
00:26:12,437 --> 00:26:14,237
[narrator] however,
they do something
446
00:26:14,306 --> 00:26:17,741
About whitney and randy's
volatile relationship.
447
00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:20,744
[kimberly] they would
break up, get back together,
448
00:26:20,813 --> 00:26:22,779
Break up, get back together.
449
00:26:22,848 --> 00:26:25,282
She would get with someone
and he would get with someone.
450
00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:27,184
But then that
wouldn't last long.
451
00:26:27,252 --> 00:26:30,854
But the last couple years,
it was just, got really rocky,
452
00:26:30,856 --> 00:26:32,456
Especially after
she had the baby.
453
00:26:34,093 --> 00:26:35,492
[narrator]
but whitney's loved ones say
454
00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:40,531
Valerie rider was the one she
had the biggest problem with.
455
00:26:40,599 --> 00:26:44,834
Whitney suffered really bad
from postpartum depression.
456
00:26:44,836 --> 00:26:45,902
It was hard on her.
457
00:26:45,971 --> 00:26:48,071
Whitney would sleep a lot.
458
00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:50,841
So...It'd make it hard to
take care of her daughter.
459
00:26:52,077 --> 00:26:54,311
[kimberly] whitney
had issues with valerie
460
00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:59,116
On the point that she was trying
to take over her daughter
461
00:26:59,184 --> 00:27:00,985
And keep her for herself.
462
00:27:02,021 --> 00:27:03,453
At one time, I guess, um,
463
00:27:03,522 --> 00:27:08,892
She wanted randy and whitney
to sign her over to them
464
00:27:08,961 --> 00:27:11,094
So they can raise her
465
00:27:11,163 --> 00:27:13,196
Because I guess they felt
that whitney and randy
466
00:27:13,265 --> 00:27:16,433
Wasn't capable enough
of raising her,
467
00:27:16,501 --> 00:27:19,536
Which was so false, so false.
468
00:27:21,940 --> 00:27:23,373
[narrator] according
to her family,
469
00:27:23,442 --> 00:27:26,276
Whitney had been quietly
making plans to leave
470
00:27:26,345 --> 00:27:28,245
For several weeks.
471
00:27:28,313 --> 00:27:31,648
She was supposed to
move out on October 1st.
472
00:27:31,717 --> 00:27:33,283
She was supposed to get
her apartment that day
473
00:27:33,352 --> 00:27:35,953
And sign the papers
at 10:00 that morning.
474
00:27:37,222 --> 00:27:40,591
[narrator] whitney
never arrived.
475
00:27:40,659 --> 00:27:43,126
I just knew something was wrong.
476
00:27:43,195 --> 00:27:45,295
She was going to take
her daughter with her.
477
00:27:45,297 --> 00:27:46,463
It made no sense to me
that whitney was missing
478
00:27:46,531 --> 00:27:50,601
Because that's not like whitney
to be missing at all, at all.
479
00:27:50,669 --> 00:27:52,836
She would let someone know.
480
00:27:52,905 --> 00:27:55,472
She always called me
and let me know.
481
00:27:59,445 --> 00:28:00,944
[narrator] coming up,
482
00:28:01,013 --> 00:28:04,314
A local resident
makes a gruesome discovery.
483
00:28:09,455 --> 00:28:13,424
[narrator] and investigators
move in on their suspects.
484
00:28:13,492 --> 00:28:15,392
I knew what had happened.
485
00:28:15,460 --> 00:28:17,494
I just wasn't clear
on why it happened.
486
00:28:19,932 --> 00:28:24,101
[theme music]
487
00:28:32,411 --> 00:28:35,312
[narrator] after questioning
those closest to her,
488
00:28:35,380 --> 00:28:37,848
Investigators fear
whitney hostler
489
00:28:37,916 --> 00:28:40,984
Might have been the
victim of foul play.
490
00:28:42,854 --> 00:28:45,122
In a last-ditch
effort to find her,
491
00:28:45,190 --> 00:28:47,857
They release details
of the case to the media
492
00:28:47,859 --> 00:28:49,893
And open a tip line
to the public.
493
00:28:51,062 --> 00:28:54,164
But their break
comes from a 911 call.
494
00:28:56,968 --> 00:28:58,301
[eric] the afternoon
of October 1st,
495
00:28:58,303 --> 00:28:59,803
The champaign county
communication center
496
00:28:59,871 --> 00:29:02,372
Received a call
from an individual
497
00:29:02,441 --> 00:29:05,442
In the area of kiser lake road
near kiser lake state park.
498
00:29:32,004 --> 00:29:33,036
[narrator] sheriff's deputies
499
00:29:33,104 --> 00:29:37,040
Are immediately sent
to the location.
500
00:29:37,109 --> 00:29:40,277
[brandon] deputy sheeley
and I responded to the area.
501
00:29:40,345 --> 00:29:44,247
When we got there, st. Paris
ems is already on scene.
502
00:29:44,316 --> 00:29:47,885
They had pointed out
to where the body was at.
503
00:29:55,427 --> 00:29:57,327
It was off the north
side of the roadway,
504
00:29:57,329 --> 00:30:00,297
About 75 feet down to a ravine.
505
00:30:00,365 --> 00:30:02,799
Emt and I secured
a rope to a tree
506
00:30:02,801 --> 00:30:04,501
And we went down to the body.
507
00:30:09,408 --> 00:30:11,908
When they rolled her over,
I mean, you could see her face,
508
00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:13,243
And it was whitney.
509
00:30:16,815 --> 00:30:19,582
[narrator] the deputies
notify homicide detectives,
510
00:30:19,652 --> 00:30:23,320
Who secure the area and
begin searching for clues.
511
00:30:25,156 --> 00:30:26,924
[scott] there was a log
that was laying across
512
00:30:26,992 --> 00:30:29,959
What appeared as
the entrance to the hill
513
00:30:30,029 --> 00:30:32,362
Where she was dumped down.
514
00:30:32,431 --> 00:30:36,066
And there was a, a red
mark that was on a, a log
515
00:30:36,134 --> 00:30:37,767
Right up by
the entrance to that,
516
00:30:37,836 --> 00:30:39,436
And it looked like blood to me.
517
00:30:40,605 --> 00:30:43,273
You could see leaves
and dirt had been moved
518
00:30:43,342 --> 00:30:45,108
From coming down the hill.
519
00:30:45,177 --> 00:30:47,410
To me, it didn't look like
she had been killed there.
520
00:30:47,412 --> 00:30:49,746
It appeared that she
had been dumped there.
521
00:30:51,182 --> 00:30:54,084
The medical examiner determined
that whitney had been strangled
522
00:30:54,152 --> 00:30:56,820
Due to the evidence
around her neck
523
00:30:56,889 --> 00:30:59,088
And the redness , choke marks,
524
00:30:59,158 --> 00:31:03,126
In addition to the petechial
hemorrhaging in her eyes.
525
00:31:07,132 --> 00:31:09,432
To our knowledge,
the riders were the last ones
526
00:31:09,501 --> 00:31:14,070
That had contact with whitney
and saw whitney, um, alive.
527
00:31:14,139 --> 00:31:16,506
So, at that point,
coupled with the evidence
528
00:31:16,575 --> 00:31:18,809
That had already been
found at the residence,
529
00:31:18,877 --> 00:31:23,146
We felt that we really needed t
focus our efforts on the riders
530
00:31:25,117 --> 00:31:28,218
[music]
531
00:31:28,286 --> 00:31:30,587
At that time, they were brought
in for second interviews.
532
00:31:33,425 --> 00:31:35,425
[narrator] this time,
detectives focus on
533
00:31:35,494 --> 00:31:38,562
Valerie rider's
husband, rodney sr.
534
00:31:41,166 --> 00:31:43,733
They really start
to kind of push him
535
00:31:43,735 --> 00:31:47,004
Because they have picked
up on this nervous demeanor
536
00:31:47,072 --> 00:31:50,707
And they think of a tactic.
537
00:31:50,775 --> 00:31:53,577
I actually showed him
some autopsy photos.
538
00:32:31,516 --> 00:32:36,519
I said, "obviously,
whitney was killed."
539
00:32:36,521 --> 00:32:41,291
And I asked him if
he knew who killed whitney.
540
00:32:50,235 --> 00:32:51,902
[eric] he stated he'd
been asleep in his bed
541
00:32:51,970 --> 00:32:53,770
And woke up to the argument,
542
00:32:53,772 --> 00:32:57,440
And that when he came
out of the bedroom,
543
00:32:57,509 --> 00:33:01,378
He went into where
whitney's bedroom was
544
00:33:01,446 --> 00:33:03,280
And where valerie was.
545
00:33:03,348 --> 00:33:06,116
And he found whitney
laying on the bed
546
00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:09,352
With a plastic
bag over her head,
547
00:33:09,354 --> 00:33:10,854
And it appeared
that it had been taped.
548
00:33:32,177 --> 00:33:34,211
[eric] rodney sr stated that
549
00:33:34,213 --> 00:33:35,412
Even though he knew
he shouldn't help,
550
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:40,216
He assisted valerie in placing
whitney into the pickup truck
551
00:33:40,285 --> 00:33:41,751
Outside the residence.
552
00:33:41,820 --> 00:33:45,388
And then later, they went
out to try to find a location
553
00:33:45,390 --> 00:33:47,457
In order to dispose
of whitney's body.
554
00:33:59,972 --> 00:34:02,038
[denae] what sticks out to me
555
00:34:02,107 --> 00:34:05,608
From the whole
story, at this time,
556
00:34:05,677 --> 00:34:09,045
Is her own daughter,
the two-year-old child,
557
00:34:09,114 --> 00:34:11,848
Is in the vehicle with them
558
00:34:11,916 --> 00:34:15,385
When they're trying to
get rid of whitney's body.
559
00:34:18,257 --> 00:34:21,257
[music]
560
00:34:21,326 --> 00:34:22,925
[narrator] armed with
this information,
561
00:34:22,927 --> 00:34:25,896
Investigators question
valerie again.
562
00:34:27,532 --> 00:34:28,665
I confronted valerie
with the fact
563
00:34:28,733 --> 00:34:30,533
That I had already
spoken with rodney sr
564
00:34:30,602 --> 00:34:33,470
And that I knew
what had happened.
565
00:34:34,339 --> 00:34:36,138
I knew where it happened.
566
00:34:36,140 --> 00:34:37,674
I knew how it happened.
567
00:34:37,742 --> 00:34:40,310
I just wasn't clear
on why it happened.
568
00:34:40,378 --> 00:34:42,679
I said, "was it an accident?
569
00:34:42,747 --> 00:34:44,247
Did you accidentally
kill whitney?"
570
00:35:21,887 --> 00:35:23,753
[narrator] valerie
claims she only meant
571
00:35:23,822 --> 00:35:26,155
To keep whitney from leaving,
572
00:35:26,157 --> 00:35:29,191
But the thought of never
seeing her granddaughter again
573
00:35:29,193 --> 00:35:30,994
Sent her into a rage.
574
00:35:32,997 --> 00:35:36,733
The riders seemed
to have their whole world
575
00:35:36,801 --> 00:35:40,303
Wrapped up in that
granddaughter.
576
00:35:41,473 --> 00:35:43,740
I do believe that valerie felt
577
00:35:43,808 --> 00:35:47,443
That she needed to
control that situation.
578
00:35:47,512 --> 00:35:51,715
And her way of control
was to murder whitney.
579
00:35:55,854 --> 00:35:58,889
[eric] after we completed
the interview with valerie,
580
00:35:58,957 --> 00:36:03,192
The riders were charged
with felony murder
581
00:36:03,262 --> 00:36:06,295
And, I believe,
tampering with evidence
582
00:36:06,365 --> 00:36:07,864
And abuse of a corpse.
583
00:36:11,136 --> 00:36:13,403
[music]
584
00:36:13,471 --> 00:36:16,406
[narrator] when whitney's
loved ones learn of the arrests
585
00:36:16,474 --> 00:36:18,074
They are devastated.
586
00:36:18,777 --> 00:36:20,310
[chelsea] I tried
to keep it together because
587
00:36:20,378 --> 00:36:24,313
My mom was crying.
588
00:36:24,383 --> 00:36:26,649
She lost it.
589
00:36:26,718 --> 00:36:30,453
So...I felt like I had
to be the strong one.
590
00:36:30,522 --> 00:36:33,723
As a parent, you don't
wanna never, ever
591
00:36:33,792 --> 00:36:36,459
Think that your child
is taken from you like that.
592
00:36:38,297 --> 00:36:40,030
But it happened
to me and my family.
593
00:36:41,466 --> 00:36:42,732
And it didn't need to.
594
00:36:42,801 --> 00:36:45,368
It was so senseless, senseless.
595
00:36:46,405 --> 00:36:47,770
[narrator] now
it's up to prosecutors
596
00:36:47,839 --> 00:36:50,573
To get justice
for whitney's family.
597
00:36:51,376 --> 00:36:54,811
To sit in that
courtroom looking at her
598
00:36:54,879 --> 00:36:58,314
Was the hardest thing
I think I've ever had to do.
599
00:36:58,383 --> 00:36:59,849
I wanted them to get
the most sentence,
600
00:36:59,918 --> 00:37:01,952
The most years that
they could get,
601
00:37:02,020 --> 00:37:03,820
Which was, hopefully, forever.
602
00:37:03,888 --> 00:37:05,589
And I'm gonna make
sure that happens.
603
00:37:07,025 --> 00:37:10,860
[theme music]
604
00:37:19,804 --> 00:37:23,105
[theme music]
[narrator] days after whitney
hostler's body was found,
605
00:37:23,107 --> 00:37:26,576
Valerie and rodney rider sr
are both in jail
606
00:37:26,644 --> 00:37:28,712
Awaiting trial for her murder.
607
00:37:30,281 --> 00:37:33,350
But some question whether
they are truly the ones
608
00:37:33,418 --> 00:37:35,418
Responsible for her death.
609
00:37:37,589 --> 00:37:41,658
After the arrest of
both rodney sr and valerie,
610
00:37:41,726 --> 00:37:45,628
We obviously were continuing
to receive information or calls
611
00:37:45,696 --> 00:37:46,963
Indicating that they believed
612
00:37:47,031 --> 00:37:49,932
That randy probably
killed whitney himself
613
00:37:49,934 --> 00:37:54,537
And that valerie and rodney sr
614
00:37:54,539 --> 00:37:56,439
Were simply claiming
responsibility
615
00:37:56,508 --> 00:37:57,941
So they could protect their son.
616
00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:02,612
[denae] so there's history there
between whitney and randy.
617
00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:06,549
We know that family
members have witnessed them
618
00:38:06,551 --> 00:38:09,686
Fighting with each other.
619
00:38:09,754 --> 00:38:12,222
And they started thinking about
620
00:38:12,290 --> 00:38:14,524
Well, what really happened?
621
00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:17,627
[scott] we continued
to look into
622
00:38:17,696 --> 00:38:20,897
Randy's possible
involvement in it
623
00:38:20,965 --> 00:38:24,167
Just to make sure that nothing
comes up down the road.
624
00:38:27,405 --> 00:38:28,838
[music]
625
00:38:28,907 --> 00:38:30,573
[narrator]
to investigators' surprise,
626
00:38:30,642 --> 00:38:34,210
Randy is happy to cooperate.
627
00:38:34,278 --> 00:38:36,012
[eric] we interviewed
randy, and we said,
628
00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:37,646
"well, would you be willing
to take a polygraph?"
629
00:38:37,716 --> 00:38:40,083
And he said, "absolutely."
630
00:38:40,151 --> 00:38:42,152
[eric] detective kemp
and I drove randy
631
00:38:42,220 --> 00:38:45,855
Over to the bureau of criminal
investigation in london, ohio,
632
00:38:45,924 --> 00:38:49,059
Where he was, uh,
subjected to a polygraph exam
633
00:38:49,127 --> 00:38:53,063
By one of the
bci polygraph investigators.
634
00:39:08,947 --> 00:39:11,147
[eric] upon completing
the polygraph exam,
635
00:39:11,215 --> 00:39:16,152
It was very clear that
randy was not trying to, uh,
636
00:39:16,220 --> 00:39:17,353
Trying to lie,
637
00:39:17,422 --> 00:39:19,021
He was not trying
to cover up any truth,
638
00:39:19,023 --> 00:39:21,658
And that he did not
commit the crime.
639
00:39:23,628 --> 00:39:25,928
[music]
640
00:39:25,930 --> 00:39:29,466
[narrator] two months
later, in December 2020,
641
00:39:29,534 --> 00:39:32,268
Rodney rider sr
enters a plea deal.
642
00:39:34,172 --> 00:39:38,240
Rodney sr was convicted of
possession of criminal tools,
643
00:39:38,242 --> 00:39:41,611
Obstructing justice, and
tampering with evidence,
644
00:39:41,679 --> 00:39:44,781
And was sentenced to
36 months in prison.
645
00:39:46,551 --> 00:39:49,486
[narrator] that leaves the
confessed killer valerie rider
646
00:39:49,554 --> 00:39:51,855
To stand trial alone.
647
00:39:56,227 --> 00:40:00,430
When her trial begins
in February 2021,
648
00:40:00,498 --> 00:40:05,735
Both her son and her husband ar
witnesses for the prosecution.
649
00:40:05,803 --> 00:40:07,403
[denae] here's what they had--
650
00:40:07,471 --> 00:40:11,640
Hair in the duct tape that
was the same color as whitney's
651
00:40:11,642 --> 00:40:14,444
They had statements
from rodney saying,
652
00:40:14,512 --> 00:40:16,679
"look, my wife did it."
653
00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:19,616
Then they have valerie
sort of breaking down
654
00:40:19,684 --> 00:40:21,584
And admitting things
655
00:40:21,652 --> 00:40:24,553
That proved, or at
least pointed to,
656
00:40:24,623 --> 00:40:27,790
Her involvement
in whitney's death.
657
00:40:27,792 --> 00:40:30,993
Not only that, this
big piece of evidence
658
00:40:31,062 --> 00:40:34,463
Happened to be one green glove
659
00:40:34,533 --> 00:40:36,765
That was found in the truck.
660
00:40:36,767 --> 00:40:41,537
And this is the golden
part for prosecutors.
661
00:40:41,606 --> 00:40:44,106
Valerie's dna was
inside the glove
662
00:40:44,175 --> 00:40:47,811
While whitney's dna was
on the outside of the glove.
663
00:40:49,180 --> 00:40:50,646
[narrator] while the
case against valerie
664
00:40:50,715 --> 00:40:52,782
Seems straightforward,
665
00:40:52,850 --> 00:40:55,819
Her lawyers insist
she didn't do it.
666
00:40:59,357 --> 00:41:02,658
Despite the results of
randy's polygraph test,
667
00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:06,329
They maintain he was the one
who actually killed whitney.
668
00:41:08,867 --> 00:41:11,367
The defense said, "not a chance.
669
00:41:11,435 --> 00:41:12,868
"valerie is innocent.
670
00:41:12,937 --> 00:41:16,573
In fact, she's taking the
fall for her son, randy."
671
00:41:16,575 --> 00:41:20,810
And in that defense,
they called randy's siblings,
672
00:41:20,878 --> 00:41:22,745
Valerie and rodney sr's
children,
673
00:41:22,747 --> 00:41:24,213
And they came to the stand,
674
00:41:24,282 --> 00:41:29,219
And they argued that their
mother was kind and caring,
675
00:41:29,287 --> 00:41:31,821
And in fact, rather
than being an instigator,
676
00:41:31,889 --> 00:41:34,123
She tried to always
calm people down.
677
00:41:35,559 --> 00:41:36,692
[kimberly] randy's many things,
678
00:41:36,761 --> 00:41:39,829
But randy's not
a murderer, okay?
679
00:41:39,897 --> 00:41:43,966
Wanting to put her
own son under the bus
680
00:41:44,035 --> 00:41:45,702
To save her own skin.
681
00:41:47,605 --> 00:41:49,538
Yeah, what mother does that?
682
00:41:49,608 --> 00:41:52,108
That's no mother to me.
683
00:41:52,176 --> 00:41:56,846
She acted like
she had no care in the world.
684
00:41:56,915 --> 00:42:00,850
And denied it, denied it,
685
00:42:00,918 --> 00:42:03,720
All the way to the end.
686
00:42:05,323 --> 00:42:06,890
All the way to the end.
687
00:42:07,859 --> 00:42:11,093
She didn't show
any type of remorse.
688
00:42:11,095 --> 00:42:14,864
She just acted like she
would never hurt my sister,
689
00:42:14,932 --> 00:42:17,200
But...She did.
690
00:42:18,736 --> 00:42:20,436
[narrator] the jury agrees.
691
00:42:22,106 --> 00:42:25,441
On February 25th, 2021,
692
00:42:25,510 --> 00:42:27,911
They find valerie guilty.
693
00:42:30,281 --> 00:42:32,782
[scott] valerie rider
was convicted of murder,
694
00:42:33,451 --> 00:42:36,286
Felonious assault,
tampering with evidence,
695
00:42:36,354 --> 00:42:38,921
And gross abuse of a corpse.
696
00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:41,691
She received 21 years
in prison to life.
697
00:42:47,431 --> 00:42:49,899
[chelsea] I was happy
that my sister got justice.
698
00:42:49,967 --> 00:42:52,968
Not that her serving
21 years to life
699
00:42:53,037 --> 00:42:55,938
Is ever gonna bring
my sister back.
700
00:42:56,007 --> 00:42:58,408
She was a mother.
She was a daughter.
701
00:42:58,476 --> 00:43:00,843
She was a granddaughter.
702
00:43:00,845 --> 00:43:02,378
She was a great friend.
703
00:43:05,183 --> 00:43:07,783
And her daughter has
to live the rest of her life
704
00:43:07,852 --> 00:43:09,319
Without her mother.
705
00:43:10,488 --> 00:43:11,654
[kimberly] my daughter
didn't have to die.
706
00:43:11,656 --> 00:43:13,155
No, she didn't.
707
00:43:13,224 --> 00:43:17,860
But there's nothing that
can be done now about that
708
00:43:17,862 --> 00:43:22,198
Except for we love her,
we miss every day.
709
00:43:22,266 --> 00:43:23,899
Every day.
710
00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:26,769
[music]
711
00:43:27,805 --> 00:43:39,916
[music]