1 00:00:17,118 --> 00:00:18,851 When I was young, I wasn't allowed 2 00:00:18,919 --> 00:00:22,488 To ask or know questions or stuff about my mom. 3 00:00:22,556 --> 00:00:26,892 The story that my dad told me was that my mom just left me 4 00:00:26,894 --> 00:00:30,997 And that she didn't care. My dad's ex-wife had burnt 5 00:00:31,065 --> 00:00:33,331 All my baby pictures and everything I had 6 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,501 Of my mother. So it wasn't until 7 00:00:36,571 --> 00:00:39,639 I got to know my aunts that I got to hear stories 8 00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:42,841 And she was definitely loved. 9 00:00:42,910 --> 00:00:46,678 When I heard that kelly was taking on the case, 10 00:00:46,747 --> 00:00:52,284 I have been telling my aunts and family, this is our one shot. 11 00:00:52,286 --> 00:00:54,754 And I'm hoping. 12 00:00:57,391 --> 00:00:59,424 ♪♪♪ 13 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:02,294 ♪ mirrors and smoke ♪ 14 00:01:02,362 --> 00:01:05,364 ♪ I know you're close ♪ 15 00:01:05,366 --> 00:01:08,768 ♪ white light, late night sleep walking around ♪ 16 00:01:08,836 --> 00:01:11,938 ♪ just like you're home ♪ 17 00:01:12,005 --> 00:01:14,173 I'm very happy to see you little miss terri hook. 18 00:01:14,241 --> 00:01:15,841 I'm happy to see you, too. 19 00:01:15,909 --> 00:01:17,976 - Oh, it's so exciting. - It is exciting. 20 00:01:18,045 --> 00:01:19,644 It's been how long since I saw you? 21 00:01:19,713 --> 00:01:21,681 - 2018. - Dang. 22 00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:23,615 I worked with terri hook, 23 00:01:23,684 --> 00:01:26,685 The captain of the oneida county sheriff's department, 24 00:01:26,754 --> 00:01:29,387 When we solved the 1982 murder of barbara mendez. 25 00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:31,390 What do you think, terri? 26 00:01:31,392 --> 00:01:33,726 Whoever killed barbara mendez was not there about money. 27 00:01:33,794 --> 00:01:35,661 What was bob mendez's sentence? 28 00:01:35,729 --> 00:01:37,762 - Life. - Yes. 29 00:01:37,832 --> 00:01:40,599 Now I've asked terri to assist me to look 30 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:43,235 Into the murder of another young mother. 31 00:01:43,303 --> 00:01:45,404 20 year old shannon poteet. 32 00:01:45,406 --> 00:01:49,007 She's like the cute little girl in town that everybody liked. 33 00:01:49,009 --> 00:01:51,209 She was a cheerleader. Popular. 34 00:01:51,278 --> 00:01:53,011 She was doing her best to support her daughter. 35 00:01:53,013 --> 00:01:55,714 Shannon was a warm, fun loving young girl 36 00:01:55,783 --> 00:01:58,383 Who had recently separated from her high school sweetheart, 37 00:01:58,385 --> 00:02:01,253 And she was starting a brand new chapter in her life 38 00:02:01,322 --> 00:02:04,656 As a single mom to their 11 month old daughter, sara. 39 00:02:04,658 --> 00:02:06,625 She's trying to go off and be independent, 40 00:02:06,627 --> 00:02:09,595 Raise your baby by herself and figuring out her life. 41 00:02:09,663 --> 00:02:12,265 And then she goes missing when she's only 20 years old. 42 00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:15,234 According to her estranged husband, lonnie, 43 00:02:15,302 --> 00:02:17,336 On November the 8th, 1986, 44 00:02:17,404 --> 00:02:20,372 Shannon left the baby with him and never returned. 45 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,575 Three days later, her car was found with blood in the trunk. 46 00:02:23,644 --> 00:02:26,578 The mystery of her disappearance lasted for eight years 47 00:02:26,647 --> 00:02:28,047 Until her partial remains 48 00:02:28,115 --> 00:02:30,583 Were found outside of town in a forest. 49 00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:33,485 It was just luck, or fortune, or god 50 00:02:33,554 --> 00:02:35,453 That they even found any of her bones. 51 00:02:35,522 --> 00:02:37,522 It was somebody that just stumbled upon them. 52 00:02:37,591 --> 00:02:40,593 I mean, there's so much space out here. 53 00:02:40,661 --> 00:02:43,929 I can't even imagine trying to search this. 54 00:02:43,997 --> 00:02:47,133 Decomposition and scavengers cause shannon's remains 55 00:02:47,201 --> 00:02:49,501 To be of little help in determining how she was killed 56 00:02:49,570 --> 00:02:52,237 And who did it. But her estranged husband, lonnie, 57 00:02:52,306 --> 00:02:54,406 Became the primary suspect, meaning baby sara 58 00:02:54,475 --> 00:02:56,509 Grew up not only without a mom 59 00:02:56,576 --> 00:03:00,478 But being raised by the primary suspect in her disappearance. 60 00:03:00,547 --> 00:03:02,214 We just want to know what happened. 61 00:03:02,283 --> 00:03:04,116 We just want to know the truth. 62 00:03:04,118 --> 00:03:07,085 Sara and the rest of shannon's family deserves that. 63 00:03:07,087 --> 00:03:13,492 ♪ don't make me let, go ♪ 64 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,361 It has been 16 years and still no answer. 65 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:18,463 Reporter 1: Police consider her killing a cold case. 66 00:03:18,465 --> 00:03:20,265 Reporter 2: Years later, the case is still unsolved. 67 00:03:22,102 --> 00:03:25,237 Kelly: I've chosen cold cases from across the country 68 00:03:25,306 --> 00:03:28,241 And teamed up with the best detectives to solve them. 69 00:03:32,313 --> 00:03:34,646 We are more determined than ever to bring justice 70 00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:36,315 To these victims. 71 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,721 - Ready, girl? - Yes. 72 00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:44,723 - Hello. - Hello. 73 00:03:44,791 --> 00:03:46,858 - I'm kelly. - I'm mike george. 74 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:48,327 Mike george, terri hook. 75 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:50,530 - Nice to meet you. - Hi, vern king. 76 00:03:50,597 --> 00:03:52,264 - Hi, vern. - Kelly. Pleasure. 77 00:03:52,332 --> 00:03:53,999 You're the sheriff. Nice to meet you. 78 00:03:54,067 --> 00:03:55,534 - Good morning, sheriff. - Good morning. 79 00:03:55,602 --> 00:03:57,270 I'm so, so thankful. I feel blessed 80 00:03:57,337 --> 00:03:59,872 To have you folks here to help us out. 81 00:03:59,940 --> 00:04:01,606 This particular case has impacted the community, 82 00:04:01,675 --> 00:04:03,942 Probably more than any other case. 83 00:04:03,944 --> 00:04:07,913 When I was a teenager, I was on the search for shannon's bones. 84 00:04:07,915 --> 00:04:09,914 Wow. 85 00:04:09,983 --> 00:04:12,550 I'll never lose the memories of searching for shannon's remains. 86 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:14,486 The victim so young. 87 00:04:14,554 --> 00:04:18,290 My community has been wounded for a long time, 88 00:04:18,359 --> 00:04:21,694 And I can't wait to see if we can get that healed. 89 00:04:23,698 --> 00:04:25,931 Let's start with putting shannon's picture 90 00:04:25,999 --> 00:04:27,900 Up on the board. 91 00:04:27,968 --> 00:04:30,435 She's very pretty. She's native american indian? 92 00:04:30,504 --> 00:04:32,237 - Terri: Yes. - Mike: Correct. 93 00:04:32,239 --> 00:04:34,573 She was a member of the colville confederated tribe. 94 00:04:34,641 --> 00:04:36,375 She was employed by the forest service. 95 00:04:36,377 --> 00:04:38,510 Her life was around her daughter. 96 00:04:38,512 --> 00:04:40,245 After only two years of marriage, 97 00:04:40,247 --> 00:04:43,181 Shannon and lonnie separated in August of 1986, 98 00:04:43,183 --> 00:04:45,450 Agreeing to share custody of sara. 99 00:04:45,519 --> 00:04:48,787 Shannon was newly independent with her own apartment, 100 00:04:48,789 --> 00:04:50,923 And she had just started dating other young men. 101 00:04:50,991 --> 00:04:53,259 But her focus was on being a great mom. 102 00:04:53,327 --> 00:04:55,260 Tell us what happened? What's the story? 103 00:04:55,329 --> 00:05:00,532 November 1986. Shannon was not seen for a couple of days. 104 00:05:00,534 --> 00:05:03,869 Her sister, roberta, went down to the apartment 105 00:05:03,871 --> 00:05:07,405 That shannon had rented and there was no shannon. 106 00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:11,343 Kelly: Shannon's sister last saw her on Friday, November the 7th. 107 00:05:11,345 --> 00:05:15,213 According to lonnie, he last saw shannon on Saturday morning. 108 00:05:15,215 --> 00:05:17,683 When he met her in a parking lot downtown. 109 00:05:17,751 --> 00:05:20,618 She gave him the baby because she had plans for that day, 110 00:05:20,687 --> 00:05:22,421 But she never returned. 111 00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:25,056 By Monday, shannon had not shown up for work 112 00:05:25,058 --> 00:05:26,958 And she was still nowhere to be found. 113 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,962 After that, shannon's car was located on the 11th 114 00:05:31,164 --> 00:05:33,832 And parked behind the doctor's office. 115 00:05:33,901 --> 00:05:36,268 The seat of the car was all the way back. 116 00:05:36,337 --> 00:05:39,904 Shannon was a small person, probably 5'1, 117 00:05:39,973 --> 00:05:42,574 So she would have had the seat all the way forward. 118 00:05:42,642 --> 00:05:44,475 Terri: Shannon's car was located about two miles 119 00:05:44,545 --> 00:05:46,044 From her apartment. 120 00:05:46,113 --> 00:05:48,180 Investigators found bloodstains in her trunk, 121 00:05:48,248 --> 00:05:50,349 Suggesting foul play. 122 00:05:50,417 --> 00:05:52,517 Samples were tested, but they couldn't determine 123 00:05:52,586 --> 00:05:55,220 Who's blood it was and without enough evidence to prove 124 00:05:55,222 --> 00:05:58,590 That shannon was dead, her case remained unsolved. 125 00:05:58,592 --> 00:06:03,562 1994, eight years later, a lady walking in a field 126 00:06:03,564 --> 00:06:07,767 Walks up on some bones, and particularly a skull. 127 00:06:07,834 --> 00:06:11,202 I helped organize the search, and we were fortunate 128 00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:14,106 In that we found part of the jaw bone and teeth 129 00:06:14,174 --> 00:06:16,074 For identification purposes. 130 00:06:16,076 --> 00:06:17,876 There was no doubt who it was. 131 00:06:17,945 --> 00:06:20,078 While investigators could not determine 132 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:22,647 Shannon's cause of death, her manner of death 133 00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:24,816 Was determined to be homicide. 134 00:06:24,885 --> 00:06:26,618 All right, so let's start over here 135 00:06:26,686 --> 00:06:29,288 On our suspect board with lonnie. 136 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:31,089 And he was how old when this happened? 137 00:06:31,091 --> 00:06:32,692 Terri: 24. 138 00:06:32,759 --> 00:06:34,826 So what are they fighting over in their marriage? 139 00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:36,429 - He's not keeping a job. - His unemployment. 140 00:06:36,496 --> 00:06:37,630 His unemployment. 141 00:06:37,697 --> 00:06:39,564 Vern: He's seeing other women. 142 00:06:39,633 --> 00:06:42,233 She actually found him with another girl in their house. 143 00:06:42,235 --> 00:06:43,968 Kelly: What else? 144 00:06:44,037 --> 00:06:47,038 Shannon told her sister that lonnie had headbutted her 145 00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:49,040 At one point, but she's not telling anybody. 146 00:06:49,042 --> 00:06:50,508 And when roberta does bring it up, 147 00:06:50,577 --> 00:06:52,377 She doesn't want to talk about it. 148 00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:54,846 It's common for abuse victims to not be open about it, 149 00:06:54,915 --> 00:06:58,650 Especially back in 1986, so we may never know the extent of it. 150 00:06:58,718 --> 00:07:01,787 It's possible it was a factor in shannon leaving lonnie 151 00:07:01,855 --> 00:07:03,788 A few months before her murder. 152 00:07:03,857 --> 00:07:06,524 The question is how did lonnie feel about their separation? 153 00:07:06,593 --> 00:07:09,260 And could that be related to a possible motive? 154 00:07:09,329 --> 00:07:13,264 All right, let's put clay kjos up on the board. 155 00:07:13,333 --> 00:07:16,267 Clay kjos was lonnie's best friend, 156 00:07:16,336 --> 00:07:18,470 And when he was questioned by the sheriff's department, 157 00:07:18,539 --> 00:07:21,140 He admitted to seeing lonnie on that Friday night 158 00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:23,341 That it's believed that shannon was murdered. 159 00:07:23,410 --> 00:07:27,413 Clay admitted that lonnie asked for a pair of gloves 160 00:07:27,481 --> 00:07:30,448 And clay's response was, well, it was cold outside, 161 00:07:30,517 --> 00:07:32,417 So he didn't think anything was wrong. 162 00:07:32,485 --> 00:07:36,554 So he becomes part of the story of what happened that night. 163 00:07:36,623 --> 00:07:38,491 Is he involved... What else do we know about clay? 164 00:07:38,558 --> 00:07:40,225 The girlfriend of clay. 165 00:07:40,294 --> 00:07:42,594 She said there was a couple of blood stains 166 00:07:42,663 --> 00:07:44,563 On the shoes of clay. 167 00:07:46,566 --> 00:07:48,433 It doesn't appear clay had a motive 168 00:07:48,435 --> 00:07:50,169 To have killed shannon on his own. 169 00:07:50,237 --> 00:07:52,770 But the possible blood on his sneakers makes you wonder 170 00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:54,774 If there's more to this story than he's admitting. 171 00:07:54,841 --> 00:07:56,574 So we've sent his sneakers, 172 00:07:56,643 --> 00:07:58,443 Along with the bloodstained lining 173 00:07:58,445 --> 00:08:01,180 Of shannon's vehicle off for forensic testing, 174 00:08:01,248 --> 00:08:02,714 And the results could go a long way 175 00:08:02,716 --> 00:08:04,517 In determining his involvement. 176 00:08:04,584 --> 00:08:07,185 It becomes a big question of did clay help? 177 00:08:07,254 --> 00:08:10,055 Does he know, is he involved or did he just figure it out later? 178 00:08:10,057 --> 00:08:11,790 - Does he know anything? - Right. 179 00:08:11,792 --> 00:08:14,526 Without a cause of death or a crime scene, 180 00:08:14,595 --> 00:08:16,128 Solving this case is going to rely 181 00:08:16,196 --> 00:08:18,330 On circumstantial evidence and witnesses. 182 00:08:18,398 --> 00:08:20,532 We'll need to nail down the nature of shannon 183 00:08:20,534 --> 00:08:22,267 And lonnie's relationship. 184 00:08:22,335 --> 00:08:24,002 Find out if there was any animosity 185 00:08:24,071 --> 00:08:25,738 In their recent separation. 186 00:08:25,805 --> 00:08:28,806 See if lonnie or clay made any kind of admissions 187 00:08:28,875 --> 00:08:32,143 Over the years and analyze lonnie's story for holes. 188 00:08:32,212 --> 00:08:33,878 And if he didn't kill shannon, 189 00:08:33,947 --> 00:08:35,681 Then we need to figure out who did. 190 00:08:37,817 --> 00:08:42,687 ♪ ooh, I can feel you ♪ 191 00:08:42,756 --> 00:08:47,492 ♪ warming the air as I sleep ♪ 192 00:08:47,561 --> 00:08:50,828 ♪ ooh, how I need you ♪ 193 00:08:50,897 --> 00:08:52,764 Kelly: You know her sister, roberta? 194 00:08:52,833 --> 00:08:55,833 I know roberta. I interviewed her many years ago, part of '95, 195 00:08:55,902 --> 00:08:57,902 Somewhere in that time frame. 196 00:08:57,971 --> 00:09:01,573 What kind of connection did she have with sara back then? 197 00:09:01,575 --> 00:09:03,509 I don't know that she had much of a connection. 198 00:09:03,577 --> 00:09:05,510 Right. 199 00:09:05,579 --> 00:09:08,846 Because lonnie had taken the child and moved out of the area. 200 00:09:08,848 --> 00:09:11,516 After shannon's murder, lonnie gained custody 201 00:09:11,585 --> 00:09:13,318 Of their daughter sara. 202 00:09:13,386 --> 00:09:15,820 And in all the years that followed, he never allowed her 203 00:09:15,889 --> 00:09:18,324 To have contact with any of shannon's family, 204 00:09:18,391 --> 00:09:21,392 Including shannon's sisters, roberta and charlene. 205 00:09:21,461 --> 00:09:23,695 Hello, ladies, how are y'all? 206 00:09:23,763 --> 00:09:25,663 - Hi. - Hello. 207 00:09:25,732 --> 00:09:28,733 But when sara got to high school, she reached out 208 00:09:28,802 --> 00:09:31,002 To her aunt, and together the three of them 209 00:09:31,072 --> 00:09:33,871 Formed a common goal of getting justice for shannon. 210 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:36,541 Roberta. It's mike george. 211 00:09:36,543 --> 00:09:37,943 - Oh, good lord. - Yes. 212 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:42,013 All right. 213 00:09:42,082 --> 00:09:43,348 So I'm still trying to help out. 214 00:09:43,350 --> 00:09:44,816 Oh, bless your heart. 215 00:09:44,884 --> 00:09:46,684 What was it like for y'all? 216 00:09:46,753 --> 00:09:49,021 She's growing up. You lose your sister. 217 00:09:49,089 --> 00:09:51,422 Now, you can't even talk to your niece. 218 00:09:51,491 --> 00:09:54,292 It was, um, it was hard. 219 00:09:54,361 --> 00:09:56,896 I mean, it was exciting to like, when we finally got 220 00:09:56,963 --> 00:09:59,364 To meet her and she looked just like shannon. 221 00:09:59,432 --> 00:10:02,100 Can you talk about her, what she was like? 222 00:10:02,169 --> 00:10:03,969 Shannon was my best friend. 223 00:10:04,037 --> 00:10:06,304 And she was charlene's best friend. 224 00:10:06,306 --> 00:10:08,973 Fun. Beautiful. Smart. 225 00:10:08,975 --> 00:10:10,975 She was working full time for the forest service, 226 00:10:11,044 --> 00:10:12,777 But she wanted to be a nurse. 227 00:10:12,846 --> 00:10:14,246 Kelly: Oh, really? Okay. 228 00:10:14,314 --> 00:10:16,114 That was her long time plan, huh? 229 00:10:16,183 --> 00:10:20,452 Yeah, it's been almost 35 years from the day 230 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,587 Shannon disappeared. 231 00:10:22,656 --> 00:10:24,456 It's still hard. 232 00:10:24,524 --> 00:10:28,193 Every birthday, there's a candle lit in honor of her. 233 00:10:28,195 --> 00:10:30,395 She's missed, but she's not forgotten. 234 00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:33,532 She'll never be forgotten. Ever. 235 00:10:35,535 --> 00:10:38,002 You weren't even one year old when it happened, right? 236 00:10:38,071 --> 00:10:40,071 So you have no memory, no nothing, 237 00:10:40,140 --> 00:10:42,141 Just pictures and what they tell you, huh? 238 00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:47,346 I begged my dad just to tell me anything about my mom. 239 00:10:47,414 --> 00:10:49,147 I wasn't allowed to talk about my mom. 240 00:10:49,215 --> 00:10:53,418 I'd probably say that I grew up without parents. 241 00:10:53,486 --> 00:10:58,523 My dad was there, but I would have been better off... 242 00:10:59,826 --> 00:11:01,627 Without him there. 243 00:11:04,297 --> 00:11:06,631 When I was really young, the story that my dad told me 244 00:11:06,699 --> 00:11:11,569 Was that my mom just left me and that she didn't care. 245 00:11:11,571 --> 00:11:15,840 And it's pretty gut-wrenching, you know? 246 00:11:15,909 --> 00:11:20,178 So, it wasn't until I got to know my aunts 247 00:11:20,247 --> 00:11:26,117 That I was told how happy and genuinely nice she was. 248 00:11:26,186 --> 00:11:28,853 And hear stories, and now I'm like, 249 00:11:28,922 --> 00:11:31,590 I have so much of my mom in me. 250 00:11:33,593 --> 00:11:35,526 What happens November the 7th? 251 00:11:35,595 --> 00:11:39,330 It was Friday night. I went to her apartment. 252 00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:44,735 We watched the newlywed game together and then shortly after, 253 00:11:44,805 --> 00:11:48,072 I left, and that was the last time I'd seen her. 254 00:11:48,141 --> 00:11:49,941 That was about what time? 255 00:11:50,010 --> 00:11:52,077 I wanna say sometime between 7:30 and 8. 256 00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:55,146 Okay. And what was she going to do for the rest of the night? 257 00:11:55,214 --> 00:11:57,749 Shannon was dressed for half way to go to bed. 258 00:11:57,751 --> 00:11:59,550 She had no plans to go anywhere. 259 00:11:59,619 --> 00:12:01,552 Have you ever talked to lonnie since then? 260 00:12:02,288 --> 00:12:05,024 It was her birthday a week later and they hosted 261 00:12:05,091 --> 00:12:10,095 A little birthday party and lonnie held you on his lap. 262 00:12:10,163 --> 00:12:11,964 He just smirked. 263 00:12:12,031 --> 00:12:13,699 But he never told you anything? 264 00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:16,067 Yeah. You know, it's about this young lady 265 00:12:16,136 --> 00:12:19,203 Who's been robbed all these years. 266 00:12:19,205 --> 00:12:20,972 We're going to try our hardest, okay? 267 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,207 - Thank you. - Terri: Let's go hard. 268 00:12:23,209 --> 00:12:26,377 When you have a child left behind like sara, 269 00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:28,746 That's not even one year old, there's nothing 270 00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:30,982 In her life that wasn't affected. 271 00:12:31,050 --> 00:12:33,452 What she's been through, what she's suffered, 272 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,787 What she's lost, all that pain. 273 00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:37,855 How do you not do everything that you can to try 274 00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,091 And help get justice for her mom? 275 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,360 ♪♪♪ 276 00:12:54,741 --> 00:12:57,275 ♪♪♪ kelly: I thought it was like in the middle 277 00:12:57,277 --> 00:12:59,644 Of a couple of blocks in town. 278 00:12:59,712 --> 00:13:01,980 - So it's out here by itself. - Yeah. 279 00:13:02,048 --> 00:13:05,149 We don't know exactly how or where shannon poteet 280 00:13:05,218 --> 00:13:08,219 Was murdered back in 1986, but the sheriff's department 281 00:13:08,221 --> 00:13:10,422 Has always believed that she was killed in her apartment, 282 00:13:10,490 --> 00:13:13,224 Her body was transported in the trunk of her car 283 00:13:13,293 --> 00:13:15,159 And dumped in the woods outside of town. 284 00:13:15,228 --> 00:13:17,329 So what we want to do now is go back and revisit 285 00:13:17,397 --> 00:13:20,097 All of those locations to try to get a clearer picture 286 00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:21,700 Of exactly what we think happened. 287 00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:24,636 Shannon's landlord lived next door to him. 288 00:13:24,705 --> 00:13:26,404 - Do I have that right? - Mike: Yeah. 289 00:13:26,472 --> 00:13:28,106 ♪ the end is near ♪ 290 00:13:28,174 --> 00:13:30,541 ♪ the end is near ♪ 291 00:13:30,610 --> 00:13:31,976 Kelly: Hello. 292 00:13:32,045 --> 00:13:34,179 - Mike: You know why we're here? - Yes. 293 00:13:34,247 --> 00:13:36,247 Mike: And that's because of shannon poteet. 294 00:13:36,249 --> 00:13:38,183 - Yes. - What was sharon like? 295 00:13:38,251 --> 00:13:40,452 Oh, shannon was very lovable. 296 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,653 Real sweet gal. 297 00:13:42,655 --> 00:13:45,189 According to her sister, that Friday night, 298 00:13:45,258 --> 00:13:48,193 Shannon was popping popcorn and playing with her baby, 299 00:13:48,261 --> 00:13:51,195 Just enjoying a quiet night in her new apartment 300 00:13:51,264 --> 00:13:53,866 She'd only been in for a few months since her separation. 301 00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:57,134 This is the shannon side, right here. 302 00:13:57,203 --> 00:13:59,071 We don't know how shannon was murdered, 303 00:13:59,138 --> 00:14:01,606 And her scattered remains didn't really give us any clues. 304 00:14:01,674 --> 00:14:03,909 What we do know, though, is that there was blood 305 00:14:03,977 --> 00:14:05,443 In the trunk of her car. 306 00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:11,215 After shannon's abandoned vehicle was recovered, 307 00:14:11,284 --> 00:14:13,451 It was taken down to the sheriff's department 308 00:14:13,519 --> 00:14:15,554 For processing and it's been there ever since. 309 00:14:15,622 --> 00:14:17,455 What kind of car is it, guys? 310 00:14:17,523 --> 00:14:19,457 - It's a thunderbird. - Let's go take a look. 311 00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:22,160 We won't know for sure if the blood in the trunk of the car 312 00:14:22,162 --> 00:14:24,895 Is shannon's until we get our dna results back. 313 00:14:24,965 --> 00:14:26,831 But it is what we're all thinking. 314 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:29,133 Yeah, there's plenty of space. 315 00:14:30,203 --> 00:14:32,637 - Yeah. - When a killer moves a body, 316 00:14:32,639 --> 00:14:34,906 Especially in the victim's own car, 317 00:14:34,974 --> 00:14:36,774 They run a huge risk of being caught. 318 00:14:36,843 --> 00:14:38,643 So why do it? 319 00:14:38,711 --> 00:14:40,912 Well, usually it's because the location of the murder 320 00:14:40,980 --> 00:14:43,648 Helps to identify who did it, and hiding the body 321 00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:45,450 Buys the killer some time. 322 00:14:45,518 --> 00:14:47,852 And in shannon's case, it took over eight years 323 00:14:47,854 --> 00:14:49,187 For her body to be found. 324 00:14:56,796 --> 00:15:00,064 And you all remember this being the spot where you looked-- 325 00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:02,234 This is the approximate location. 326 00:15:02,302 --> 00:15:04,202 It's difficult to pinpoint exactly because 327 00:15:04,204 --> 00:15:07,405 - They've logged the area. - Okay. 328 00:15:07,473 --> 00:15:09,840 You couldn't actually see any of that because of the timber 329 00:15:09,842 --> 00:15:11,943 That would have been growing up here. 330 00:15:11,945 --> 00:15:14,413 I can remember some of the bone fragments we found 331 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:16,480 Were just tiny. 332 00:15:16,549 --> 00:15:18,716 If you were to walk within 10 feet of it 333 00:15:18,718 --> 00:15:20,952 And if you weren't looking for it or looking down, 334 00:15:21,021 --> 00:15:22,820 You probably wouldn't have seen it. 335 00:15:22,889 --> 00:15:25,757 We were lucky that we did find what remains we did. 336 00:15:25,825 --> 00:15:27,626 But the lucky thing was you found the skull 337 00:15:27,694 --> 00:15:29,427 That had teeth in it. 338 00:15:29,429 --> 00:15:31,362 Once you got her outside of the trunk of that car, 339 00:15:31,431 --> 00:15:33,165 You could roll them right out there 340 00:15:33,232 --> 00:15:34,933 And you would probably never find the body. 341 00:15:35,001 --> 00:15:36,267 We didn't for almost eight years. 342 00:15:36,336 --> 00:15:37,902 Eight years. 343 00:15:37,971 --> 00:15:40,972 I thought that whoever did it took shannon 344 00:15:41,041 --> 00:15:43,908 Out of the car and walked away into the woods. 345 00:15:43,977 --> 00:15:46,177 But your point is, once you got to here, 346 00:15:46,246 --> 00:15:48,579 - There was no work left to do. - Yep. 347 00:15:48,649 --> 00:15:52,283 If lonnie poteet did kill shannon, it's possible that he 348 00:15:52,352 --> 00:15:55,753 Could have disposed of the body, driven the car back into town, 349 00:15:55,822 --> 00:15:58,991 Abandoned it, and walked home all by himself. 350 00:15:59,058 --> 00:16:01,993 But what about that potential blood stain 351 00:16:02,061 --> 00:16:04,929 On his friend clay kjos's shoes? 352 00:16:04,931 --> 00:16:06,465 Is it possible that we're missing something? 353 00:16:06,532 --> 00:16:08,399 Oh, it's a beautiful area. 354 00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:10,334 It is pretty, pretty, pretty lonely. 355 00:16:10,403 --> 00:16:12,203 It's more remote and you think. 356 00:16:12,205 --> 00:16:14,039 It is. All right, let's go. 357 00:16:14,107 --> 00:16:15,873 - Okay. - All right. 358 00:16:15,942 --> 00:16:20,812 Somebody took a 21-year-old living breathing human 359 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,748 Who was a mother of a one-year-old baby 360 00:16:23,816 --> 00:16:25,883 And threw her inside the trunk of a car 361 00:16:25,952 --> 00:16:27,885 And drove off with her and dumped her down 362 00:16:27,954 --> 00:16:30,355 The side of a mountain like she's a piece of trash. 363 00:16:31,025 --> 00:16:33,791 And then, you know, you have to consider the possibility 364 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:37,095 That there is a crying, screaming baby in the back seat 365 00:16:37,097 --> 00:16:39,697 Of the car the whole time with their mother laying there dead. 366 00:16:39,766 --> 00:16:41,499 So it's pretty horrible. 367 00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:47,371 ♪♪♪ 368 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,306 Terri: This was like jody's case, right? 369 00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:50,541 Mike: Yeah. 370 00:16:52,779 --> 00:16:54,679 Jody, it's mike. 371 00:16:54,681 --> 00:16:56,981 We need to examine lonnie's story about the last time he saw 372 00:16:57,050 --> 00:17:00,184 Shannon early that morning when she dropped off the baby. 373 00:17:00,253 --> 00:17:02,787 So we're going to talk to the initial investigator 374 00:17:02,855 --> 00:17:05,823 He told that to in the days after shannon's disappearance. 375 00:17:05,891 --> 00:17:08,559 Take me back through when you first got the call 376 00:17:08,628 --> 00:17:10,161 About this case. 377 00:17:41,694 --> 00:17:43,962 Lonnie didn't have a car, and he's saying that 378 00:17:44,030 --> 00:17:46,630 Shannon dropped off their 11-month-old baby to him 379 00:17:46,699 --> 00:17:48,766 To walk half a mile in the cold. 380 00:17:48,835 --> 00:17:52,002 According to the weather data, it was 27 degrees outside. 381 00:17:52,004 --> 00:17:53,838 It seems unlikely that any mother would drop 382 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,973 Their child off in that type of weather when they could 383 00:17:56,042 --> 00:17:57,842 Have just given their child a two minute ride. 384 00:18:10,656 --> 00:18:14,059 Did you ever ask him why he would have to come down there 385 00:18:14,127 --> 00:18:16,094 To get clothes or anything like that? 386 00:18:27,540 --> 00:18:29,941 According to lonnie, shannon was only going 387 00:18:30,008 --> 00:18:32,243 To be gone for one day, so it makes sense that 388 00:18:32,312 --> 00:18:34,946 He only had one day's worth of clothing. 389 00:18:35,014 --> 00:18:37,416 But if he did murder shannon, why would he bring 390 00:18:37,483 --> 00:18:39,617 Law enforcement back to the scene of the crime? 391 00:18:39,619 --> 00:18:41,853 Is lonnie dumb or is he really innocent? 392 00:18:41,921 --> 00:18:47,959 ♪♪♪ 393 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,701 ♪♪♪i think we'ree leaving a lot of messages 394 00:18:56,703 --> 00:18:58,602 And then we'll just try to catch this phone 395 00:18:58,604 --> 00:19:00,571 When it rings back in between people, right? 396 00:19:00,573 --> 00:19:03,441 While we wait on our dna results from our victim 397 00:19:03,509 --> 00:19:05,009 Shannon poteet's trunk 398 00:19:05,077 --> 00:19:08,012 And also from the stains on clay kjos's shoes, 399 00:19:08,081 --> 00:19:10,915 We want to start talking to civilian witnesses. 400 00:19:10,917 --> 00:19:13,251 Shannon and her estranged husband, lonnie, 401 00:19:13,253 --> 00:19:16,687 Were high school sweethearts, so many of our potential witnesses 402 00:19:16,689 --> 00:19:18,824 Are their classmates from back in high school. 403 00:19:18,891 --> 00:19:21,593 - You got the number. - Yeah, let me find my notes. 404 00:19:21,661 --> 00:19:24,561 But when you're dealing with a 35 year old case, 405 00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:26,364 People relocate. 406 00:19:26,432 --> 00:19:28,467 So for us, that's going to mean a lot of phone calls. 407 00:19:28,534 --> 00:19:30,668 This is in reference to the cold case homicide 408 00:19:30,737 --> 00:19:34,272 Back in 1986 with shannon poteet. 409 00:19:34,340 --> 00:19:35,807 Do you remember anything about that? 410 00:19:47,420 --> 00:19:49,287 What kind of person was lonnie? 411 00:20:05,972 --> 00:20:09,140 All the stories that we hear about lonnie headbutting lockers 412 00:20:09,142 --> 00:20:12,109 And things throughout the school seems kind of crazy. 413 00:20:12,178 --> 00:20:14,278 But when you take into account that shannon says 414 00:20:14,347 --> 00:20:17,315 He also headbutted her, it doesn't seem so harmless. 415 00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:46,343 It looks like lonnie had a history 416 00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:48,746 Of terrorizing people and that together 417 00:20:48,815 --> 00:20:52,617 With his quick temper and his unpredictable attacks, 418 00:20:52,685 --> 00:20:55,753 Paint a pretty frightening picture of his personality. 419 00:20:55,822 --> 00:20:59,423 But was his best friend and our other suspect anything like him? 420 00:20:59,492 --> 00:21:01,726 Did you know clay kjos? 421 00:21:03,330 --> 00:21:04,328 What was clay like? 422 00:21:06,966 --> 00:21:08,600 Do you know clay kjos? 423 00:21:17,510 --> 00:21:20,611 It seems like clay did not have quite the reputation 424 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,815 That lonnie did, but with lonnie being such a bully, 425 00:21:23,883 --> 00:21:26,383 It makes you wonder if he could have pressured 426 00:21:26,452 --> 00:21:28,720 Or threatened clay in any way. 427 00:21:28,788 --> 00:21:31,789 ♪♪♪ 428 00:21:34,393 --> 00:21:36,827 Are y'all ready for the dna results? 429 00:21:36,896 --> 00:21:38,663 - Yes. - Yes, ma'am. 430 00:21:38,731 --> 00:21:40,931 Okay, well, I'm super excited, so I'm gonna merge in 431 00:21:40,933 --> 00:21:44,135 - Phillip with our dna lab. - Terri: Okay. 432 00:21:44,203 --> 00:21:47,204 The investigators recovered very little physical evidence 433 00:21:47,273 --> 00:21:50,942 In shannon's murder, but what they did recover could be huge. 434 00:21:51,010 --> 00:21:52,877 And it's time for the results. 435 00:21:52,879 --> 00:21:55,012 What did we send to you first to get tested 436 00:21:55,081 --> 00:21:56,715 And tell us about those results. 437 00:22:05,691 --> 00:22:08,325 We did not have a sample of shannon's dna 438 00:22:08,394 --> 00:22:10,060 To provide for testing. 439 00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:12,963 But what we do have is her daughter, sara's dna. 440 00:22:13,032 --> 00:22:15,365 We also have a sample that was provided by lonnie 441 00:22:15,435 --> 00:22:17,602 From back during the initial investigation. 442 00:22:17,670 --> 00:22:20,738 So what we're trying to determine is sara's dna 443 00:22:20,740 --> 00:22:24,475 A combination of lonnie's dna, plus the blood in the trunk? 444 00:22:25,778 --> 00:22:28,246 If it is, then that's shannon's blood in the trunk. 445 00:22:39,325 --> 00:22:41,659 Oh, my god. 446 00:22:41,727 --> 00:22:43,093 Well, now we know that it was shannon 447 00:22:43,162 --> 00:22:44,762 That was in there for sure. 448 00:22:44,830 --> 00:22:47,531 The blood in the trunk of that car is shannon's. 449 00:22:47,601 --> 00:22:51,535 That is undeniable physical evidence that we can now use 450 00:22:51,604 --> 00:22:54,138 To lock down our theory of what happened to shannon. 451 00:23:07,286 --> 00:23:10,688 ♪♪♪ 452 00:23:14,127 --> 00:23:15,927 Clay, this is mike george. 453 00:23:15,995 --> 00:23:18,362 I'm working with the ferry county sheriff's office 454 00:23:18,364 --> 00:23:21,498 Up here in republic, washington on the shannon poteet case. 455 00:23:21,567 --> 00:23:25,068 Although we now know that the stain on clay kjos's 456 00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:27,037 Tennis shoes isn't blood. 457 00:23:27,105 --> 00:23:29,174 He did admit to being with lonnie poteet 458 00:23:29,241 --> 00:23:31,241 The night we believe shannon was killed. 459 00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:33,877 So we still need to talk to him to try and figure out 460 00:23:33,946 --> 00:23:37,182 If he's an accomplice or maybe our best witness. 461 00:23:37,249 --> 00:23:39,249 What can you tell us about that weekend 462 00:23:39,318 --> 00:23:41,586 That she disappeared and what you were doing? 463 00:23:45,391 --> 00:23:47,024 How well did you know shannon? 464 00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:51,094 I believe you were with lonnie on the night 465 00:23:51,164 --> 00:23:52,430 That shannon went missing. 466 00:23:58,671 --> 00:23:59,971 How did he get to your house? 467 00:24:01,807 --> 00:24:03,541 Remind me what time that was. 468 00:24:09,548 --> 00:24:11,115 Mike: Where was it going? Did he tell you? 469 00:24:13,553 --> 00:24:15,286 After that night, what did he tell you? 470 00:24:22,061 --> 00:24:24,128 Do you have any contact with lonnie at all? 471 00:24:37,743 --> 00:24:39,377 Were you afraid of him? 472 00:24:41,647 --> 00:24:42,613 How come? 473 00:24:50,456 --> 00:24:54,025 Clay kjos is cooperative. He is consistent. 474 00:24:54,093 --> 00:24:56,460 He does not sound like he's trying to hide anything. 475 00:24:56,462 --> 00:24:59,329 He's never said a lot of detail because he's not a nosy guy. 476 00:24:59,331 --> 00:25:01,331 He just minds his own business and he doesn't really 477 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,334 Want to know, especially when it comes to ask lonnie questions. 478 00:25:04,403 --> 00:25:06,871 At this point, there is no reason to think 479 00:25:06,939 --> 00:25:09,440 He played any part in shannon's murder. 480 00:25:09,442 --> 00:25:12,776 It is time for us to refocus our attention on lonnie poteet. 481 00:25:12,778 --> 00:25:17,514 ♪♪♪ 482 00:25:17,583 --> 00:25:19,184 How are you doing? I'm kelly. 483 00:25:19,251 --> 00:25:22,252 We're here because we're working on shannon poteet's 484 00:25:22,321 --> 00:25:24,187 Murder case, and we wanted to pick your brain 485 00:25:24,257 --> 00:25:27,024 About anything you might know from 35 years ago. 486 00:25:27,093 --> 00:25:29,794 We've learned that lonnie poteet has this pattern of aggression 487 00:25:29,862 --> 00:25:32,897 And violence, but did he kill his wife and why? 488 00:25:32,965 --> 00:25:36,233 We need to dig deeper into their estranged marriage. 489 00:25:36,302 --> 00:25:37,768 Let's go sit down, vern. 490 00:25:37,770 --> 00:25:39,569 We're gonna have some good luck here. 491 00:25:39,639 --> 00:25:42,339 We've tracked down a close friend of theirs from back then, 492 00:25:42,408 --> 00:25:44,374 Who we're hoping can give us some insight. 493 00:25:44,443 --> 00:25:47,778 So, kymbra, in all the times you hung out with lonnie, 494 00:25:47,780 --> 00:25:50,147 Did you ever have a conversation where he talked about 495 00:25:50,149 --> 00:25:52,917 How he felt about shannon or anything like that? 496 00:25:52,985 --> 00:25:54,785 I knew he was jealous. 497 00:25:54,854 --> 00:25:57,155 I knew he said "my possessions are my possessions." 498 00:25:57,222 --> 00:26:01,059 You weren't his partner or his equal, you were his possession. 499 00:26:01,126 --> 00:26:02,926 And that's how he treated shannon. 500 00:26:02,995 --> 00:26:04,928 Shannon was a shrinking violet, you know? 501 00:26:04,997 --> 00:26:06,531 She had low self-esteem. 502 00:26:06,599 --> 00:26:09,399 Shannon wanted to feel protected and sheltered. 503 00:26:09,468 --> 00:26:11,535 And lonnie made her feel like that. 504 00:26:11,537 --> 00:26:13,937 That's the only thing we can figure that she saw in him 505 00:26:14,006 --> 00:26:15,939 Because they didn't have anything in common. 506 00:26:16,008 --> 00:26:18,208 He was a drinker and a partier, she wasn't. 507 00:26:18,210 --> 00:26:19,743 He was loud and obnoxious, 508 00:26:19,812 --> 00:26:22,479 And she was quiet and a little wallflower. 509 00:26:22,548 --> 00:26:24,415 They couldn't have been more, more separate. 510 00:26:24,483 --> 00:26:27,619 But it all really escalated once they had the baby. 511 00:26:27,686 --> 00:26:29,353 All what escalated? 512 00:26:29,421 --> 00:26:31,488 Just their-- their fighting. And I think 513 00:26:31,557 --> 00:26:34,758 That motherly instinct finally gave her a backbone, you know? 514 00:26:34,827 --> 00:26:36,960 And she started calling him out. 515 00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:39,329 He was just a loser, and she was supporting him. 516 00:26:39,398 --> 00:26:41,131 He'd just be drinking and driving around 517 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,834 And messing around. Just it's oil and water. 518 00:26:43,836 --> 00:26:45,970 And I never even got to know sara. 519 00:26:46,038 --> 00:26:48,439 Once this happened, he disappeared 520 00:26:48,507 --> 00:26:51,776 And I never even knew where they went, until she showed up 521 00:26:51,844 --> 00:26:54,378 Back here with her own kids and her husband. 522 00:26:54,380 --> 00:26:57,181 Everybody said that she always wanted to find out 523 00:26:57,183 --> 00:26:59,116 What went on, and the older she got, 524 00:26:59,185 --> 00:27:01,985 The more she saw her dad's actions weren't to protect her. 525 00:27:02,054 --> 00:27:03,921 They were to keep her from the truth. 526 00:27:03,990 --> 00:27:10,962 ♪♪♪ 527 00:27:17,669 --> 00:27:20,237 ♪♪♪ we need to call the attorney now. 528 00:27:20,239 --> 00:27:22,607 At the time of her murder, shannon poteet 529 00:27:22,675 --> 00:27:24,342 And her estranged husband, lonnie, 530 00:27:24,410 --> 00:27:26,143 Had been separated for three months 531 00:27:26,211 --> 00:27:28,612 And were sharing custody of their daughter, sara. 532 00:27:28,681 --> 00:27:31,182 According to reports, shannon had just hired 533 00:27:31,250 --> 00:27:33,450 A divorce attorney named rebecca baker. 534 00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:36,553 Hello, we're helping the ferry county sheriff's office 535 00:27:36,555 --> 00:27:39,223 Investigate the shannon poteet case. 536 00:27:39,225 --> 00:27:41,558 We need to find out if shannon told anything 537 00:27:41,627 --> 00:27:44,295 To her lawyer about this divorce being contentious. 538 00:27:48,033 --> 00:27:50,301 Is that normal for you to save a file like this? 539 00:27:55,741 --> 00:27:58,242 What kind of things did shannon tell you? 540 00:28:24,336 --> 00:28:25,602 Okay. 541 00:28:38,484 --> 00:28:40,851 And she was able to get custody back? 542 00:28:46,492 --> 00:28:49,060 According to rebecca, lonnie had taken sara 543 00:28:49,128 --> 00:28:52,430 Out of town in order to try to get shannon to come back to him. 544 00:28:52,498 --> 00:28:54,531 And instead, on November the 3rd, 545 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,901 She took lonnie to court and the judge ordered lonnie to give 546 00:28:57,970 --> 00:29:01,038 The baby back and go back to their old custody agreement. 547 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,106 This sounds like lonnie didn't want his baby 548 00:29:03,175 --> 00:29:05,475 So much as he wanted to control shannon. 549 00:29:30,036 --> 00:29:35,372 ♪♪♪ 550 00:29:38,675 --> 00:29:40,640 Okay, imma call mr. Borgman now, I guess. 551 00:29:40,709 --> 00:29:42,210 Let's get her done. 552 00:29:42,278 --> 00:29:45,479 With their divorce proceedings in motion, 553 00:29:45,548 --> 00:29:48,814 Lonnie scheduled a counseling session between him 554 00:29:48,883 --> 00:29:52,151 And shannon with a local pastor on November the 7th, 555 00:29:52,220 --> 00:29:53,952 The night that we believe shannon was murdered. 556 00:29:55,490 --> 00:29:58,091 Hello, mr. Borgman. This is mike george. 557 00:29:58,158 --> 00:30:00,892 Learning more about what happened at that meeting 558 00:30:00,961 --> 00:30:03,092 Could be crucial to figuring out 559 00:30:03,161 --> 00:30:05,127 What happened to shannon later that night. 560 00:30:05,196 --> 00:30:07,429 I know that you guys had a counseling session. 561 00:30:07,497 --> 00:30:09,966 Lonnie, shannon, and you. 562 00:30:10,035 --> 00:30:11,369 Can you tell us about that? 563 00:30:31,390 --> 00:30:32,388 How come? 564 00:30:38,763 --> 00:30:39,597 Okay. 565 00:30:53,542 --> 00:30:55,542 We've heard that lonnie was controlling 566 00:30:55,611 --> 00:30:58,344 And considered shannon his possession. 567 00:30:58,413 --> 00:31:00,580 He said my possessions are my possessions 568 00:31:00,648 --> 00:31:02,482 And that's how he treated shannon. 569 00:31:02,484 --> 00:31:05,017 Kelly: If he did kill shannon, it makes you wonder 570 00:31:05,086 --> 00:31:08,287 If this last failed effort by lonnie to keep shannon 571 00:31:08,289 --> 00:31:11,022 In his life was his breaking point. 572 00:31:11,092 --> 00:31:13,827 Apparently, lonnie then called you after she went missing. 573 00:31:13,895 --> 00:31:14,994 How did he sound? 574 00:31:50,265 --> 00:31:51,864 - That's huge. - Yeah. 575 00:31:51,932 --> 00:31:54,500 According to the pastor, lonnie said shannon 576 00:31:54,568 --> 00:31:56,235 Went out of town with a boyfriend, 577 00:31:56,303 --> 00:31:57,870 Which is inconsistent with 578 00:31:57,872 --> 00:32:00,341 What lonnie told the investigators back then. 579 00:32:00,409 --> 00:32:03,944 Plus, with everything that we now know about shannon's fear 580 00:32:04,012 --> 00:32:07,913 Of leaving sara in lonnie's custody, it makes no sense that 581 00:32:07,981 --> 00:32:11,618 She would have left her daughter with him the way he's saying. 582 00:32:11,686 --> 00:32:13,586 This pastor might have just become the number one 583 00:32:13,655 --> 00:32:16,157 Witness in this case. Oh, that's a good one. 584 00:32:16,226 --> 00:32:18,359 He was even better than we thought he would be. 585 00:32:18,361 --> 00:32:29,038 ♪♪♪ 586 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,109 - Are we going to-- - see ed bacon now. 587 00:32:31,176 --> 00:32:33,043 Ed bacon now. 588 00:32:33,111 --> 00:32:35,344 We feel like we've nailed down this volatile relationship 589 00:32:35,414 --> 00:32:37,980 Between shannon and her estranged husband, lonnie, 590 00:32:38,048 --> 00:32:40,216 As well as poked holes in his story. 591 00:32:40,286 --> 00:32:42,585 Now we want to find out if he's possibly made 592 00:32:42,653 --> 00:32:44,554 Any admissions after all these years. 593 00:32:44,556 --> 00:32:46,723 So we're going to talk to the witnesses closest to him. 594 00:32:46,791 --> 00:32:48,923 Vern: You and lonnie went to school together, right? 595 00:32:48,991 --> 00:32:50,125 In the same grade? 596 00:32:52,461 --> 00:32:55,063 Ed bacon is a person that he went to high school with 597 00:32:55,131 --> 00:32:56,832 And he played football with. 598 00:32:56,900 --> 00:32:58,568 Maybe lonnie opened up to him about shannon. 599 00:33:09,679 --> 00:33:12,212 Terri: So when you confronted him, what did he say to you? 600 00:33:29,566 --> 00:33:32,235 Why would he be so nervous if he wasn't involved 601 00:33:32,302 --> 00:33:34,069 And he wasn't around shannon that night? 602 00:33:47,149 --> 00:33:48,783 Vern: You're sure it was lonnie? 603 00:33:49,451 --> 00:33:50,418 Vern: About what time? 604 00:33:53,322 --> 00:33:54,287 Vern: Was he by himself? 605 00:33:55,589 --> 00:33:56,554 Vern: Where was he headed? 606 00:34:00,727 --> 00:34:02,796 We know from the dna test that shannon's blood 607 00:34:02,863 --> 00:34:04,529 Was in the trunk of her car. 608 00:34:04,597 --> 00:34:06,932 That suggests that she was transported in her car 609 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,334 To the woods the night that we believe she died. 610 00:34:09,336 --> 00:34:11,469 According to ed, that same night, 611 00:34:11,471 --> 00:34:13,606 Lonnie was driving her car. 612 00:34:13,608 --> 00:34:15,607 This is huge. 613 00:34:17,476 --> 00:34:19,675 [phone ringing] 614 00:34:19,677 --> 00:34:21,079 Jeff: Hello? 615 00:34:21,081 --> 00:34:23,015 - Is this jeff? - Jeff: Yes. 616 00:34:23,017 --> 00:34:24,781 Jeff owens is lonnie's brother. 617 00:34:24,783 --> 00:34:27,151 We're hoping that at some point over all these years, 618 00:34:27,153 --> 00:34:29,854 They've had a heart to heart about what happened to shannon, 619 00:34:29,856 --> 00:34:32,521 And maybe he'll tell us what that was. 620 00:34:32,523 --> 00:34:34,024 What can you tell me about lonnie? 621 00:34:52,411 --> 00:34:54,610 Did you have any contact with your brother 622 00:34:54,612 --> 00:34:56,312 After shannon disappeared? 623 00:35:25,907 --> 00:35:28,108 You want to think that there's this moment 624 00:35:28,110 --> 00:35:30,913 When every murderer realizes the horror of what they've done, 625 00:35:30,915 --> 00:35:33,715 Probably when they're all alone with their thoughts. 626 00:35:33,717 --> 00:35:37,083 But oh, my god, did lonnie's brother actually witness it? 627 00:35:37,085 --> 00:35:39,284 Nice. Nice! 628 00:35:39,286 --> 00:35:42,824 The circumstantial evidence is piling up against lonnie poteet. 629 00:35:42,826 --> 00:35:45,159 And it's time for the team to drive all the way 630 00:35:45,161 --> 00:35:47,228 To montana to confront him. 631 00:35:53,468 --> 00:35:55,937 - Let's do it, team. - All right. 632 00:35:56,005 --> 00:35:58,138 We've heard that lonnie was controlling, 633 00:35:58,208 --> 00:36:01,040 Abusive, and frustrated because shannon 634 00:36:01,108 --> 00:36:03,609 Finally stood up to him and was leaving the marriage. 635 00:36:03,611 --> 00:36:05,810 Vern: Hello. Lonnie. 636 00:36:05,879 --> 00:36:08,310 If lonnie's temper got the best of him that night and he killed 637 00:36:08,380 --> 00:36:11,614 His wife, any inconsistencies can make this case even better. 638 00:36:11,616 --> 00:36:14,781 Shannon's homicide happened 36 years ago, 639 00:36:14,851 --> 00:36:16,652 And so we're here to talk to you about that. 640 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:19,319 I did not have anything to do with my wife's disappearance. 641 00:36:19,389 --> 00:36:21,755 I wasn't even around when it happened. 642 00:36:21,822 --> 00:36:23,924 Vern: You remember where you were that night? 643 00:36:23,993 --> 00:36:27,858 Yeah, I remember where I was, but I mean, I wasn't around her. 644 00:36:27,928 --> 00:36:29,595 That's what I'm saying. 645 00:36:29,597 --> 00:36:31,595 I didn't see her till the following morning, 646 00:36:31,597 --> 00:36:33,732 When she gave me my daughter and I met her 647 00:36:33,734 --> 00:36:36,000 At the library parking lot, I believe is what it was. 648 00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:38,735 Terri: And then you went from there where? 649 00:36:38,804 --> 00:36:41,004 I went-- I walked up all the way back down 650 00:36:41,072 --> 00:36:42,605 To lou and anita springles. 651 00:36:42,673 --> 00:36:44,572 Terri: Why didn't she give you a ride there? 652 00:36:44,641 --> 00:36:46,939 That doesn't make any sense that she'd make you walk in the cold? 653 00:36:47,009 --> 00:36:48,642 Good lord, you ask her. 654 00:36:48,711 --> 00:36:51,578 Lonnie is still telling the same story he did 35 years ago 655 00:36:51,647 --> 00:36:55,082 That shannon made him walk with sara in the freezing weather. 656 00:36:55,151 --> 00:36:58,553 It still sounds ridiculous, especially after all we've heard 657 00:36:58,555 --> 00:37:01,958 About shannon and what a devoted mom she was to sara. 658 00:37:02,026 --> 00:37:05,559 The last day I saw her, before I picked up the kid. 659 00:37:05,627 --> 00:37:09,161 We started counseling and the pastor told me 660 00:37:09,229 --> 00:37:11,561 At that point that this is going to be a long road 661 00:37:11,631 --> 00:37:14,365 Because she was done with me, period. 662 00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:16,635 Terri: Okay, and then you guys would have to share sara? 663 00:37:16,702 --> 00:37:19,236 Yeah. And shannon was fine with that. 664 00:37:19,305 --> 00:37:21,305 And when we met that day, it didn't work. 665 00:37:21,307 --> 00:37:24,476 So, you know, she pulled her stunt and she disappeared. 666 00:37:24,544 --> 00:37:28,578 I don't know with who. But I still say it wasn't in town. 667 00:37:28,580 --> 00:37:31,348 They just wanted an easy target. We're going through a divorce. 668 00:37:31,350 --> 00:37:33,048 So yeah, that would make me the easy target. 669 00:37:33,117 --> 00:37:34,918 Terri: We are looking at you because you were 670 00:37:34,986 --> 00:37:36,786 The husband going through a divorce. 671 00:37:36,854 --> 00:37:38,587 People said that you were unhappy about it 672 00:37:38,656 --> 00:37:41,592 And you had a reputation for being a bad ass. 673 00:37:41,662 --> 00:37:44,726 I was pretty free with my hands on men. 674 00:37:44,795 --> 00:37:46,794 And I've never hit a woman. 675 00:37:46,864 --> 00:37:49,665 - Terri: Okay, well, that's-- - have you been abused, hun? 676 00:37:49,667 --> 00:37:51,603 No. 677 00:37:51,671 --> 00:37:53,737 You know, all of these things about how 678 00:37:53,804 --> 00:37:58,772 I was when I was a kid, I can't tell you I was a saint, 679 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:00,708 But I had nothing to do with shannon. 680 00:38:00,777 --> 00:38:02,177 Okay. 681 00:38:02,179 --> 00:38:04,212 And that's the honest to god truth. 682 00:38:04,214 --> 00:38:06,515 You put together all the circumstances around what was 683 00:38:06,583 --> 00:38:08,813 Going on back then, and that's why we're here talking to you. 684 00:38:08,883 --> 00:38:10,612 You put together the circumstances 685 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:12,680 That were laid before you and most of them weren't true. 686 00:38:12,748 --> 00:38:14,683 - Terri: Well, you were-- - the narrative doesn't fit. 687 00:38:14,750 --> 00:38:16,885 The-- listen, I'm not going to debate it with you. 688 00:38:16,953 --> 00:38:18,720 I'm through talking, it's starting to rain. 689 00:38:18,722 --> 00:38:20,820 - I appreciate your time. - Terri: Okay, thank you lonnie. 690 00:38:20,889 --> 00:38:23,355 If you need to speak to me again we do it through an attorney. 691 00:38:23,423 --> 00:38:26,223 Lonnie had an answer for every question that I asked him, 692 00:38:26,225 --> 00:38:28,826 Because lonnie has been thinking about this for 35 years. 693 00:38:29,829 --> 00:38:33,634 He's created his own narrative about what he's going to say 694 00:38:33,702 --> 00:38:36,436 Has happened and we know his story. 695 00:38:36,503 --> 00:38:38,036 It doesn't make any sense at all. 696 00:38:38,104 --> 00:38:39,169 That was so awesome. 697 00:38:39,237 --> 00:38:48,645 ♪♪♪ 698 00:38:48,713 --> 00:38:50,782 ♪♪♪ all right, wd to everybody, 699 00:38:50,851 --> 00:38:54,052 Y'all driven out of state to interview lonnie. 700 00:38:54,123 --> 00:38:56,189 We got clay on the phone. 701 00:38:56,258 --> 00:38:58,326 It's time for us to review everything we've learned 702 00:38:58,393 --> 00:39:00,626 And make a decision as to the involvement 703 00:39:00,695 --> 00:39:03,595 Of our two suspects in the murder of shannon poteet. 704 00:39:03,663 --> 00:39:05,799 Let's start with what we think about clay kjos 705 00:39:05,867 --> 00:39:07,433 And his involvement. 706 00:39:07,501 --> 00:39:09,336 His story hasn't changed in all those years. 707 00:39:09,403 --> 00:39:13,270 Clay kjos tells the same story 35 years later 708 00:39:13,338 --> 00:39:15,905 And seems like he has nothing to hide. 709 00:39:21,879 --> 00:39:25,349 Kelly: And the stains on clay's shoe came back negative 710 00:39:25,351 --> 00:39:28,354 For blood, further pointing to his innocence. 711 00:39:28,421 --> 00:39:31,356 He answered every question we had. He cooperated. 712 00:39:31,358 --> 00:39:34,093 I have no reason to believe that he was actually 713 00:39:34,162 --> 00:39:35,594 - Involved in the murder. - Okay. 714 00:39:35,662 --> 00:39:37,696 I would not say that he's an accomplice. 715 00:39:37,764 --> 00:39:39,364 - I'd say he's a witness. - All right. 716 00:39:39,432 --> 00:39:41,434 We're all in agreement that clay kjos 717 00:39:41,503 --> 00:39:42,567 Comes off the suspect board. 718 00:39:42,635 --> 00:39:44,404 - Right. - Yes. 719 00:39:44,406 --> 00:39:46,037 Clay has been in the middle of this investigation 720 00:39:46,107 --> 00:39:48,274 Since it began, but there is no evidence 721 00:39:48,276 --> 00:39:50,876 To suggest he's been involved in shannon's murder. 722 00:39:50,946 --> 00:39:53,412 That leaves lonnie poteet. 723 00:39:53,481 --> 00:39:54,713 Let's start with the relationship 724 00:39:54,782 --> 00:39:56,282 Between lonnie and shannon. 725 00:39:56,351 --> 00:39:58,250 They at one time were crazy about each other 726 00:39:58,318 --> 00:40:00,120 And things went south very, very quickly. 727 00:40:00,189 --> 00:40:02,622 It was an abusive relationship. 728 00:40:02,692 --> 00:40:03,790 It was a violent relationship. 729 00:40:07,728 --> 00:40:11,397 Him being a bully that did not mind hurting people. 730 00:40:11,399 --> 00:40:13,365 Right. How many people did we talk to who could talk 731 00:40:13,434 --> 00:40:14,800 About his horrible temper? 732 00:40:20,670 --> 00:40:24,840 Shannon was afraid of lonnie and wanted to get the divorce. 733 00:40:33,281 --> 00:40:35,349 And then you go to day of. 734 00:40:35,417 --> 00:40:37,084 They end up the counselor's office. 735 00:40:37,152 --> 00:40:39,920 There was a lot of anger, and lonnie was upset 736 00:40:39,988 --> 00:40:42,522 Because shannon wasn't going along with what he wanted. 737 00:40:47,961 --> 00:40:51,334 And crucial eyewitness with-- when he saw lonnie 738 00:40:51,401 --> 00:40:53,868 - Driving the vehicle alone. - Yes. 739 00:40:57,572 --> 00:41:00,771 We also now know from jeff, his brother. 740 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:02,774 What were the words out of lonnie's mouth? 741 00:41:02,843 --> 00:41:04,646 "I can't believe I did it". 742 00:41:11,986 --> 00:41:16,356 Do you really think that shannon poteet gave that baby 743 00:41:16,358 --> 00:41:19,792 On a cold winter morning over to lonnie at 6:00 am 744 00:41:19,860 --> 00:41:22,462 In a parking lot and didn't even give him a ride home? 745 00:41:22,529 --> 00:41:24,528 - Absolutely not. - Then how in the world 746 00:41:24,530 --> 00:41:27,398 - Does he end up with the baby? - He took that baby. 747 00:41:27,466 --> 00:41:29,302 That baby changed shannon's life. 748 00:41:29,369 --> 00:41:31,001 That baby made shannon independent, 749 00:41:31,071 --> 00:41:32,803 Made shannon grow up, made shannon decide 750 00:41:32,872 --> 00:41:35,003 To take charge of her life and get rid of that loser. 751 00:41:35,072 --> 00:41:37,207 - And she stood up to him. - Because she was trying 752 00:41:37,209 --> 00:41:38,674 To protect that baby to her death. 753 00:41:38,743 --> 00:41:40,475 And that's what happened. 754 00:41:40,545 --> 00:41:42,311 As far as circumstantial evidence cases go. 755 00:41:42,379 --> 00:41:44,115 We have checked every single box, 756 00:41:44,184 --> 00:41:45,849 And now it's time to present this case 757 00:41:45,918 --> 00:41:48,350 To ferry county district attorney katherine burke 758 00:41:48,419 --> 00:41:50,054 In the hopes of charging lonnie poteet 759 00:41:50,121 --> 00:41:51,788 For the murder of shannon. 760 00:41:51,790 --> 00:41:54,024 - Everybody fired up? Yes. - Yes. 761 00:41:55,026 --> 00:41:58,695 ♪♪♪ 762 00:42:01,834 --> 00:42:04,669 We've got a better case now than we've ever had. 763 00:42:04,737 --> 00:42:07,338 You ought to feel pretty good, you ought to feel proud. 764 00:42:07,340 --> 00:42:09,307 We've presented the case to the d.A. 765 00:42:09,375 --> 00:42:11,644 - Hello, ladies. - Good morning. 766 00:42:11,712 --> 00:42:15,179 And now it's time to tell shannon's family the news 767 00:42:15,246 --> 00:42:17,879 They've been waiting thirty five years to hear. 768 00:42:17,948 --> 00:42:20,313 I've always thought about this case over the years. 769 00:42:20,381 --> 00:42:22,715 Back in the 90's, when I actually worked 770 00:42:22,784 --> 00:42:25,450 Part of this case, I wasn't as confident as I am today. 771 00:42:25,519 --> 00:42:30,187 We had met with the prosecutor in ferry county yesterday, 772 00:42:30,256 --> 00:42:33,058 And she seems very positive about this case. 773 00:42:33,127 --> 00:42:34,525 She likes what she hears, 774 00:42:34,594 --> 00:42:36,796 And all the evidence points to lonnie. 775 00:42:36,863 --> 00:42:40,934 ♪ breathe in ♪ 776 00:42:41,002 --> 00:42:43,134 I know he's your dad, baby. 777 00:42:43,136 --> 00:42:45,205 I know, but I feel like you've known 778 00:42:45,273 --> 00:42:47,073 For a long time what really happened. 779 00:42:49,008 --> 00:42:51,944 What we've been fighting for for the past 34 years 780 00:42:51,946 --> 00:42:55,613 Is finally coming to the beginning of the end. 781 00:42:55,682 --> 00:42:57,683 It's relieving. I know my mom's been with me 782 00:42:57,753 --> 00:43:00,289 And I know my mom will always be with me. 783 00:43:00,357 --> 00:43:03,157 You need to know that everybody here supports you. 784 00:43:03,159 --> 00:43:05,426 - Yes, absolutely. - Kelly: They do. 785 00:43:07,899 --> 00:43:09,900 They remember you as a little baby. 786 00:43:09,968 --> 00:43:12,670 They remember how much your mom tried to take care of you. 787 00:43:14,241 --> 00:43:17,108 You were lied to. So many lies. 788 00:43:18,177 --> 00:43:20,111 There were so many victims 789 00:43:20,181 --> 00:43:22,981 And there were so many lives affected by this tragedy. 790 00:43:23,049 --> 00:43:24,983 Thank you so much. 791 00:43:25,051 --> 00:43:28,654 Sara's entire life has been filled with unimaginable pain. 792 00:43:28,656 --> 00:43:33,589 ♪ I'm on my own and I feel fine ♪ 793 00:43:33,657 --> 00:43:36,293 Hopefully, knowing that she's closer than ever 794 00:43:36,361 --> 00:43:40,932 To getting justice for her mom can help her begin to heal. 795 00:43:41,001 --> 00:43:44,633 ♪♪♪