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Narrator: When a night of fun
at the local tavern
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ends in mystery.
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She had left her cigarettes
and her keys on the bar.
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She walked out the back door,
never returned.
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Narrator: Rumors fly around
a quiet midwestern farm town.
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Curt: Had overheard them say
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they had killed someone
and cut them up.
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Narrator: And sent police down
an unexpected and dark path.
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They had abducted three women
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that they held as sex slave
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in a cave on the property.
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Narrator: The truth
lies hidden for years,
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until a horrifying discovery
buried in a rancher's backyard.
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I found a ribcage.
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Narrator: Reveals
a small town's deadly secret.
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[siren wailing]
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there's no way that this
could not be connected.
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The killer
was still out on the loose.
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[♪♪]
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narrator:
The tiny farm town of ord
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sits on the eastern edge
of the nebraska sandhills.
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A vast stretch of rolling dunes
that meet the great plains.
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Ord, nebraska
is dead center of the state.
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Michael:
It is kind of a small town
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in america's heartland.
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It's a farming
and ranching community.
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Very friendly.
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The ranches around ord
are pretty large,
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kind of gentle rolling hills,
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fields of alfalfa,
or fields of popcorn.
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Robert: That's safe.
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There's not a lot of crime.
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You can let you children
run around
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and not have to worry
about them.
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[♪♪]
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narrator: On a beautiful
spring afternoon,
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dee petska and her children
are out picking up
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discarded bottles and cans
to recycle for pocket money.
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And there are plenty
on party hill,
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a popular hangout spot
for teens
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hidden in a remote corner
of a rancher's backyard.
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Party hill was--
was well known back then.
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Kind of a known drinking spot
for underage teenagers.
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Curt: As dee petska
and her children were out,
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they walked, they found
something in the road.
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Initially,
she thought it was a ball
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or something that had
become deflated.
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But when she looked
at it closer,
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it looked like bone.
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She made an x
where she had found it
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and then called law enforcement.
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They determined it was a piece
of a human skull.
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[♪♪]
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[siren wailing]
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narrator: Police
are immediately dispatched
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to the rancher's
secluded backyard.
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It was by hand
and very, very meticulous.
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It was comparable
to an archeological dig.
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Larry: I started to walk
around a little bit
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and I went up to, uh,
a little indentation
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at the top of this pasture,
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and I found a ribcage.
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Narrator: As the work
stretches on for hours,
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many of the searchers
have their suspicions
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about who they found.
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Curt: I think almost
universally thought
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there's only been one person
disappeared here,
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and now it's possibly her.
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Narrator: Investigators send
the bones for dna testing,
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hoping it will confirm
their suspicion
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about the victim's identity.
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We think we know who was buried
in the backyard.
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[♪♪]
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curt:
The someplace else tavern
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is where people go for a meal,
a drink or two, socialize.
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Robert: Bar is pretty busy
place back then,
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and it's a bar, so of course
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you have your scuffles here
once in a while.
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Usually, everybody got along
with everybody.
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[♪♪]
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narrator:
The someplace else tavern
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is like a second living room
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for much of the tiny
community in ord.
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On most nights,
that's where you'll find
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sharlene whitefoot
and cathy beard.
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Michael:
Sharlene was the bar manager
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and cathy beard worked
as a part-time waitress
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at the someplace else tavern.
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Casey: Sharlene and cathy
were very good friends.
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I think you would call them
best friends.
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Robert: I've known cathy
for a long time.
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I remember when my mom sharlene
bartending,
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it seemed like cathy was always
sitting at the end of the bar.
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Cathy has always had
a smile on her face.
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Cathy was kind of social
and really enjoyed her friends.
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Narrator:
On a warm spring evening,
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cathy heads
to the someplace else tavern.
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Michael: This happened
to be cathy's night off,
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but she, you know,
went down to the bar
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to see her friends.
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She had talked to several
people in the bar
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including sharlene whitefoot.
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Michael:
This was a safe place to her.
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She was very familiar
with the people there.
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Narrator: But at closing time,
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sharlene who has been
tending bar all night,
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realizes that cathy is
suddenly nowhere to be found.
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Sharlene noted that cathy
had left her cigarettes
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and her keys and some
other items on the bar
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which she felt was very unusual.
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Michael: Cathy lived
with her mother veneta.
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They were very close.
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Narrator: But veneta
hasn't seen or heard from cathy
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since she left earlier
that evening
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to head for the bar.
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Sharlene became worried
about cathy
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and called
in the missing persons
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from the bar that night.
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Police don't really get involved
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until a person has been missing
for more than 24 hours.
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But because of the unusual
nature of cathy's disappearance,
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police started looking
into the case right away.
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When somebody leaves
their stuff unattended,
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that is a kind of a sign
of maybe something went wrong.
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Narrator:
When police interview people
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who were in the bar that night,
several say they saw cathy
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talking to a man
named john oldson,
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a lifelong resident of ord.
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Curt:
John oldson and cathy beard
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did know each other.
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I think cathy considered him
somewhat of a friend.
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Larry: They were all sitting
at a table and john,
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uh, got off from the table
and walked over
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and started talking to cathy
who was standing at the jukebox.
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They had some type
of a discussion
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and at some point went out
the back door into the alley.
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Narrator: When the detectives
visit john oldson
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to ask him what happened
in the alley behind the bar,
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he readily admits that
he was trying to hit on cathy.
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John wanted to be with cathy.
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Michael: He attempted to have
a relationship with her
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but she refused.
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Glenn: She said, uh,
I see you as a friend but,
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00:08:07,788 --> 00:08:13,074
you know, not--
not the way you're talking.
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Narrator:
John tells the investigators
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that while he and cathy
were talking,
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a pickup truck
pulled into the alley.
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Larry:
The passenger door opened up
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and cathy entered the vehicle
and the door closed.
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Narrator: John claims
he didn't recognize the man,
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but he did catch part
of the truck's license plate
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as it drove off.
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He thought it had
88 county plates
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and he couldn't get
the rest of the numbers.
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An 88 county license
which would be loup county
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and it would be about
31 miles from ord.
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Narrator: John tells the police
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cathy seemed to willingly
go off with the two men.
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He said he felt
rebuffed and ashamed
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so he got in his pickup
and drove home
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and took a shower.
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His dad said john
was in the shower
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at the time he got home
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and basically backed
john's story.
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Narrator: John oldson
isn't the only one
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who tells police he saw cathy
get into an unidentified
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pickup truck behind the bar.
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Curt: Jerome walkowiak
came forward,
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00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:27,065
he had seen the pickup
in the alley.
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Jerome basically stated
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that through the back door
window of the bar
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he saw cathy beard
walk away from john
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and get into this other
88 county pickup.
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He basically corroborated
john's story.
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Narrator: Investigators
now have two witnesses
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who claimed to have seen cathy
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getting into a pickup truck
behind the bar.
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[♪♪]
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larry:
Cathy, uh, left with someone
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and, uh, did not return of--
of her own accord.
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To find cathy,
we need to find the truck.
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Curt: So the officers
were trying to see
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00:10:14,948 --> 00:10:16,281
if they could locate a pickup
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00:10:16,316 --> 00:10:18,283
that would match
the description.
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00:10:18,318 --> 00:10:22,721
Larry: We were asking anyone
that may have witnessed, uh,
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00:10:22,756 --> 00:10:25,957
anything to do with this
loup county vehicle
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00:10:25,993 --> 00:10:28,043
to come forward.
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As time went by,
it was becoming fairly certain
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00:10:30,063 --> 00:10:33,698
that something serious
happened to cathy.
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She could be in real trouble.
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But it was quite urgent
to getting her located.
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[♪♪]
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he was pursuing
a sexual fantasy.
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The man who was soliciting sex
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00:10:49,516 --> 00:10:51,316
could have killed her himself.
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He was the last person
to see her alive.
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00:11:03,447 --> 00:11:06,197
Narrator: A day into the search
for cathy beard,
198
00:11:06,233 --> 00:11:09,901
police in ord, nebraska
are looking for a pickup truck
199
00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:13,121
that witnesses reported
seeing her get into
200
00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:16,291
with two unidentified men.
201
00:11:16,343 --> 00:11:18,510
[♪♪]
202
00:11:21,581 --> 00:11:24,132
they did a search of
department motor vehicle records
203
00:11:24,184 --> 00:11:26,384
for any and all
88 county pickups
204
00:11:26,419 --> 00:11:31,122
that were licensed
that fit that description.
205
00:11:31,158 --> 00:11:32,557
Larry: They were able to look
206
00:11:32,592 --> 00:11:34,559
at all of the vehicles
ever registered
207
00:11:34,594 --> 00:11:37,228
and could not find one
that matched the color
208
00:11:37,263 --> 00:11:39,064
and description
that was provided
209
00:11:39,099 --> 00:11:41,399
by both walkowiak and john.
210
00:11:43,487 --> 00:11:45,537
Narrator: Police wonder
could john or jerome
211
00:11:45,572 --> 00:11:47,205
have gotten the plate or color
212
00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,541
of the pickup truck wrong.
213
00:11:49,576 --> 00:11:54,546
Curt: Alcohol affects
the way you think.
214
00:11:54,581 --> 00:11:57,248
John and jerome
would have had enough to drink
215
00:11:57,283 --> 00:12:00,085
that they would have probably
not seen things
216
00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,723
the same way
as of they were sober.
217
00:12:04,758 --> 00:12:07,092
Narrator:
Since john was the last person
218
00:12:07,127 --> 00:12:10,095
to see cathy that night,
the detectives go back to him
219
00:12:10,130 --> 00:12:14,682
to see if his memory
has become any clearer.
220
00:12:14,735 --> 00:12:16,968
But his story is unchanged.
221
00:12:16,987 --> 00:12:18,737
To prove he's not hiding
anything from them,
222
00:12:18,772 --> 00:12:24,109
he agrees to let the police
search his pickup truck.
223
00:12:25,445 --> 00:12:26,544
Curt: Law enforcement collected
224
00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:28,446
whatever samples
they could find.
225
00:12:28,482 --> 00:12:32,984
Then everything came back
that there was no dna trace
226
00:12:33,003 --> 00:12:36,121
that belonged to cathy.
227
00:12:36,156 --> 00:12:38,590
[♪♪]
228
00:12:38,625 --> 00:12:42,127
narrator: Crime is rare
in a tiny town like ord,
229
00:12:42,162 --> 00:12:43,378
but as police search for cathy,
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00:12:43,430 --> 00:12:45,630
they find themselves
in the middle
231
00:12:45,665 --> 00:12:49,184
of two big investigations.
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00:12:49,219 --> 00:12:51,436
[♪♪]
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00:12:51,471 --> 00:12:53,104
jay: On the same night,
234
00:12:53,140 --> 00:12:56,107
cathy beard
becomes a missing person,
235
00:12:56,143 --> 00:13:02,063
there was an armed robbery
at a motel.
236
00:13:02,115 --> 00:13:04,115
There's no way that this
cannot be connected
237
00:13:04,151 --> 00:13:06,350
because what's the chances
of an armed robbery
238
00:13:06,369 --> 00:13:11,039
in ord, nebraska the same night,
um, a woman comes up missing.
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00:13:13,526 --> 00:13:16,360
Narrator: The robbery victim
is a businessman
240
00:13:16,379 --> 00:13:18,362
visiting from colorado.
241
00:13:18,381 --> 00:13:23,301
He tells police about two men
he met in a local bar.
242
00:13:23,336 --> 00:13:26,421
[♪♪]
243
00:13:26,473 --> 00:13:31,092
he was in town as a popcorn
seed salesman.
244
00:13:31,144 --> 00:13:33,311
He said they started
drinking together
245
00:13:33,346 --> 00:13:36,314
and he had a lot
of cash on him.
246
00:13:36,349 --> 00:13:38,516
And he was offering $100 to $200
247
00:13:38,551 --> 00:13:44,388
if they could find him
a woman that evening.
248
00:13:44,407 --> 00:13:45,857
Narrator:
The traveling salesman
249
00:13:45,892 --> 00:13:47,775
claims nothing came of it.
250
00:13:47,828 --> 00:13:49,727
But that an hour
after he left them,
251
00:13:49,746 --> 00:13:54,582
the two men showed up
at his motel room.
252
00:13:54,618 --> 00:13:59,737
And they forced the door open
and had a shotgun
253
00:13:59,756 --> 00:14:03,374
and robbed him of his money.
254
00:14:03,409 --> 00:14:05,460
Narrator: From the
salesman's description,
255
00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:10,215
police recognize the robbers
as two local men,
256
00:14:10,250 --> 00:14:13,101
rex white and glen hall.
257
00:14:13,136 --> 00:14:16,087
Glen hall and rex white
were known locally
258
00:14:16,106 --> 00:14:19,590
for having been involved
in some other crimes
259
00:14:19,609 --> 00:14:22,227
around the area.
260
00:14:22,262 --> 00:14:24,312
Rex and glen who live locally
261
00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:26,231
and were kind of
local troublemakers
262
00:14:26,266 --> 00:14:28,867
and they kind of pieced together
who these--
263
00:14:28,902 --> 00:14:31,536
these two culprits were.
264
00:14:31,571 --> 00:14:33,705
Narrator: They don't match
the description
265
00:14:33,740 --> 00:14:35,373
of the men in the alley,
266
00:14:35,408 --> 00:14:36,808
but when they bring in the pair
for questioning,
267
00:14:36,843 --> 00:14:39,410
detectives discover
a disturbing connection
268
00:14:39,445 --> 00:14:43,447
between them and cathy
on the night she vanished.
269
00:14:43,466 --> 00:14:45,717
[♪♪]
270
00:14:45,752 --> 00:14:48,887
larry: Glen hall explained
that this salesman
271
00:14:48,922 --> 00:14:54,175
was looking for a person
he could have sex with.
272
00:14:54,227 --> 00:14:57,845
And they-- they left
the other bar in ord
273
00:14:57,898 --> 00:15:02,400
and went
to someplace else tavern.
274
00:15:05,689 --> 00:15:07,155
And they walked in
275
00:15:07,190 --> 00:15:09,857
and they were asking
where cathy was.
276
00:15:09,910 --> 00:15:12,410
And it popped into their head
that cathy beard
277
00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:18,199
would be someone that
they would, uh, find for him.
278
00:15:18,251 --> 00:15:23,288
Cathy beard had a reputation,
deserved or not.
279
00:15:23,323 --> 00:15:25,506
Curt: There was a belief
amongst law officers
280
00:15:25,542 --> 00:15:28,826
that glen hall and rex white
might have taken cathy
281
00:15:28,845 --> 00:15:32,964
to the motel and the man
who was soliciting sex
282
00:15:32,999 --> 00:15:36,184
was the one that killed her.
283
00:15:37,854 --> 00:15:39,721
Narrator: Detectives
can't find any evidence
284
00:15:39,773 --> 00:15:42,506
connecting the salesman
to cathy's disappearance.
285
00:15:42,525 --> 00:15:46,811
And rex and glen claim they
never saw cathy that night.
286
00:15:46,846 --> 00:15:50,315
But as the investigators
check out their alibi,
287
00:15:50,350 --> 00:15:54,319
what they learn
sets off an alarm.
288
00:15:54,354 --> 00:15:56,187
[♪♪]
289
00:15:56,222 --> 00:16:00,575
curt: Mr. Hall and mr. White
worked for a construction crew
290
00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:03,211
and their boss indicated
to the investigators
291
00:16:03,246 --> 00:16:07,548
at one point that he had
overheard rex white say
292
00:16:07,584 --> 00:16:11,219
they had killed someone
and cut them up.
293
00:16:12,672 --> 00:16:16,557
And indicated that they may be
buried somewhere.
294
00:16:18,511 --> 00:16:21,346
Larry: One of the concrete crew
reported to us
295
00:16:21,381 --> 00:16:26,517
that there was a bag of lime
that was missing.
296
00:16:27,771 --> 00:16:29,687
Narrator:
It's a disturbing discovery.
297
00:16:29,723 --> 00:16:32,857
The detectives know lime
is often used by killers
298
00:16:32,892 --> 00:16:36,527
to try to hide evidence
of their crime.
299
00:16:36,562 --> 00:16:39,447
Lime is basically used
to keep the odor
300
00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:43,668
and the decomposition
attraction for bugs
301
00:16:43,703 --> 00:16:47,572
to a minimum.
302
00:16:47,607 --> 00:16:52,510
The crew just
had had a hole dug.
303
00:16:52,545 --> 00:16:55,046
They poured the concrete
the next day.
304
00:16:55,081 --> 00:16:56,714
We had to search the jobsite
305
00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:59,717
where they were pouring
a concrete pad.
306
00:16:59,752 --> 00:17:03,521
Cathy beard may be buried
under a slab of concrete.
307
00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:05,790
Larry: If her remains
were found there,
308
00:17:05,825 --> 00:17:11,562
we might be able to figure out
what happened to cathy.
309
00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:21,672
♪]
310
00:17:21,708 --> 00:17:23,674
narrator: A week after
cathy beard vanishes
311
00:17:23,710 --> 00:17:25,977
in ord, nebraska,
police are searching
312
00:17:26,012 --> 00:17:28,413
in nearby construction site
where the foreman
313
00:17:28,448 --> 00:17:32,516
has told them he overheard
an employee named rex white
314
00:17:32,535 --> 00:17:34,552
brag about killing her.
315
00:17:34,587 --> 00:17:38,489
Larry: He reported that
he had overheard rex white
316
00:17:38,525 --> 00:17:42,526
talking about how they had
disposed of cathy beard
317
00:17:42,545 --> 00:17:45,063
underneath this concrete slab.
318
00:17:45,098 --> 00:17:47,065
Narrator: Rex
and his co-worker glen hall
319
00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:50,468
are already suspects
in cathy's disappearance,
320
00:17:50,503 --> 00:17:52,053
so the information
from their boss
321
00:17:52,088 --> 00:17:55,139
is enough for officers
to obtain a search warrant
322
00:17:55,175 --> 00:17:59,877
and begin breaking down
the concrete slab.
323
00:17:59,913 --> 00:18:04,548
The sheriff's office
was able to completely remove
324
00:18:04,567 --> 00:18:07,185
all that concrete, demolish it,
325
00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:11,522
and search the area underneath.
326
00:18:11,558 --> 00:18:13,991
There was no remains.
327
00:18:18,064 --> 00:18:19,864
Narrator: It's a disappointment
328
00:18:19,899 --> 00:18:24,102
but it doesn't remove suspicion
from rex white and glen hall.
329
00:18:24,137 --> 00:18:28,606
We later found
that they had stolen a boat.
330
00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:32,593
There was rumors of her
being thrown into the lake
331
00:18:32,629 --> 00:18:35,012
and they dredged ericson lake.
332
00:18:36,015 --> 00:18:38,716
But they didn't find anything.
333
00:18:40,220 --> 00:18:44,222
That did not clear mr. Hall
and mr. White as suspects.
334
00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:49,143
It was always in the back
of everybody's mind,
335
00:18:49,195 --> 00:18:51,779
"hey, what happened to cathy?"
336
00:18:51,815 --> 00:18:54,899
robert: I was 12 years old
when she disappeared.
337
00:18:54,934 --> 00:19:01,122
And I just wanted her
to be found alive and okay.
338
00:19:05,178 --> 00:19:07,662
Curt: After she disappeared,
339
00:19:07,714 --> 00:19:12,049
cathy's mother
became more homebound.
340
00:19:12,085 --> 00:19:13,784
She did think about it a lot.
341
00:19:13,803 --> 00:19:18,756
She really needed to know
what happened to her daughter.
342
00:19:19,926 --> 00:19:22,827
Michael:
The family was heartbroken.
343
00:19:23,813 --> 00:19:25,129
No arrest had been made.
344
00:19:25,165 --> 00:19:29,066
[♪♪]
345
00:19:31,154 --> 00:19:32,904
narrator:
Detectives continue to watch
346
00:19:32,939 --> 00:19:35,990
their potential suspects
rex white and glen hall
347
00:19:36,025 --> 00:19:37,992
but can't find
any solid evidence
348
00:19:38,027 --> 00:19:40,778
connecting them
to cathy's disappearance.
349
00:19:40,813 --> 00:19:42,747
And there's no sign
of the pickup truck
350
00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:45,616
witnesses reported
seeing cathy get into
351
00:19:45,652 --> 00:19:47,985
behind the
someplace else tavern.
352
00:19:48,004 --> 00:19:50,588
The mystery stretches
into its third
353
00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:55,826
heart-wrenching year
and the case grows cold.
354
00:19:57,363 --> 00:19:59,013
I would stop frequently
355
00:19:59,048 --> 00:20:02,934
and visit
with cathy beard's mother.
356
00:20:02,969 --> 00:20:08,105
And I told her I was not gonna
forget about her daughter.
357
00:20:12,011 --> 00:20:15,179
Narrator: Then, a woman
walking with her children
358
00:20:15,198 --> 00:20:18,682
makes a horrifying discovery
359
00:20:18,701 --> 00:20:23,854
in a secluded corner
of a rancher's backyard.
360
00:20:26,826 --> 00:20:29,260
Casey: Dee petska found
the skull on party hill
361
00:20:29,295 --> 00:20:33,197
where kids would go out
in a desolate area and--
362
00:20:33,216 --> 00:20:34,865
and have their beer parties.
363
00:20:34,884 --> 00:20:40,037
Larry: It's located
about five miles from the bar
364
00:20:40,073 --> 00:20:42,039
where cathy was last seen.
365
00:20:42,075 --> 00:20:46,043
She called the police department
to report that.
366
00:20:47,213 --> 00:20:49,614
Narrator: Crime techs comb
the isolated backyard
367
00:20:49,649 --> 00:20:53,718
collecting pieces
of the remains.
368
00:20:55,188 --> 00:20:57,888
Curt: The body parts
had been somewhat scattered.
369
00:20:57,924 --> 00:21:02,026
Larry: Based on the evidence,
damage to the skeletal,
370
00:21:02,061 --> 00:21:05,963
uh, remains,
we knew that it was a homicide.
371
00:21:05,999 --> 00:21:07,698
Casey:
The anthropologist determined
372
00:21:07,734 --> 00:21:14,588
that it was a white
caucasian female in her 30s.
373
00:21:14,624 --> 00:21:16,140
Narrator: And the more
evidence they find
374
00:21:16,175 --> 00:21:19,043
buried in the backyard,
the more investigators
375
00:21:19,078 --> 00:21:25,349
are convinced they know
the identity of the victim.
376
00:21:25,385 --> 00:21:27,285
I started to brush the dirt away
377
00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,854
and I found the sweater
that cathy beard
378
00:21:29,889 --> 00:21:35,259
was reported wearing
when she disappeared.
379
00:21:35,295 --> 00:21:41,932
There was a large hole in the
abdominal area of the sweater.
380
00:21:41,968 --> 00:21:44,702
A blood sample was drawn
from cathy beard's mother's arm
381
00:21:44,737 --> 00:21:50,207
so we could use, uh, the blood
for mitochondrial dna.
382
00:21:50,243 --> 00:21:54,662
Narrator: Dna testing confirms
the family's worst fears.
383
00:21:54,714 --> 00:22:00,685
The body found on party hill
is cathy beard.
384
00:22:03,122 --> 00:22:04,989
[♪♪]
385
00:22:05,024 --> 00:22:09,260
larry: It was an emotional,
tearful event.
386
00:22:09,295 --> 00:22:11,862
They knew that it was her and--
387
00:22:11,898 --> 00:22:17,001
and the search for cathy beard
was over.
388
00:22:19,989 --> 00:22:23,908
Robert: My mom came home
and she was crying.
389
00:22:23,943 --> 00:22:27,745
She told me that
they had found cathy.
390
00:22:27,780 --> 00:22:32,983
I was saddened
that she wasn't still alive
391
00:22:33,002 --> 00:22:36,153
but happy that maybe
they did find her,
392
00:22:36,172 --> 00:22:41,008
now some questions
could be answered.
393
00:22:45,365 --> 00:22:48,999
Jay: Cathy beard's death
was a homicide
394
00:22:49,018 --> 00:22:51,769
and she suffered
both blunt force trauma
395
00:22:51,804 --> 00:22:54,688
and sharp force trauma.
396
00:22:56,225 --> 00:22:59,393
Michael:
The killer was still out.
397
00:22:59,445 --> 00:23:05,316
Whoever was responsible for this
was still out on the loose.
398
00:23:07,019 --> 00:23:12,490
Glenn: He was gonna have sex
with her that night regardless.
399
00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:15,359
Casey: A lot of times
criminals will brag
400
00:23:15,378 --> 00:23:16,860
when they're incarcerated
and say,
401
00:23:16,879 --> 00:23:19,997
"oh, yeah, I did this
but I never got caught."
402
00:23:20,032 --> 00:23:28,305
[♪♪]
403
00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,908
narrator: Three years
after she vanished
404
00:23:30,943 --> 00:23:32,676
from a bar in ord, nebraska,
405
00:23:32,712 --> 00:23:35,179
cathy beard's remains
have been found
406
00:23:35,214 --> 00:23:37,014
buried in a rancher's backyard
407
00:23:37,033 --> 00:23:41,252
and a homicide investigation
is underway.
408
00:23:42,872 --> 00:23:45,873
Michael: The ranch owners
cooperated fully
409
00:23:45,908 --> 00:23:50,060
with law enforcement
in this investigation.
410
00:23:50,096 --> 00:23:52,863
There was no connection
to cathy beard.
411
00:23:52,899 --> 00:23:58,586
In ord, it's quite possible
that a body could be buried
412
00:23:58,638 --> 00:24:02,773
in this backyard
for quite a long time
413
00:24:02,809 --> 00:24:04,942
and nobody noticed it
414
00:24:04,977 --> 00:24:08,679
because the land is so vast.
415
00:24:14,020 --> 00:24:16,687
Narrator: Detectives quickly
turn their focus back
416
00:24:16,722 --> 00:24:19,990
to the two men
who were strong early suspects,
417
00:24:20,026 --> 00:24:22,943
glen hall and rex white.
418
00:24:22,995 --> 00:24:25,196
Mr. Hall and mr. White
had actually been
419
00:24:25,231 --> 00:24:30,901
to the someplace else tavern
looking for cathy beard.
420
00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,788
Larry: People at the bar
overheard them questioning,
421
00:24:34,841 --> 00:24:36,257
"where is cathy?"
422
00:24:36,292 --> 00:24:38,809
and the next thing
that was reported
423
00:24:38,845 --> 00:24:41,345
was cathy's disappearance.
424
00:24:45,801 --> 00:24:47,184
Their employer had reported
425
00:24:47,220 --> 00:24:50,054
that he had overheard
rex white talking
426
00:24:50,089 --> 00:24:54,091
about how they had disposed
of cathy beard.
427
00:24:54,110 --> 00:24:56,160
Narrator:
But the new investigation
428
00:24:56,195 --> 00:24:57,728
can't turn up any evidence
429
00:24:57,763 --> 00:25:00,281
connecting them
to cathy's murder.
430
00:25:02,034 --> 00:25:08,105
Curt: Mr. Hall and mr. White
had taken a polygraph
431
00:25:08,124 --> 00:25:12,710
and it turned out the polygraph
came up negative.
432
00:25:15,781 --> 00:25:18,782
Larry: Basically,
we feel that rex white
433
00:25:18,801 --> 00:25:23,220
is trying to sound tough
and intimidate people.
434
00:25:23,256 --> 00:25:24,889
As far as being suspects,
435
00:25:24,924 --> 00:25:28,125
they were discredited
and disproved.
436
00:25:28,144 --> 00:25:29,960
Narrator: Investigators
were also unable
437
00:25:29,979 --> 00:25:33,180
to find any new evidence
connecting cathy's murder
438
00:25:33,232 --> 00:25:34,798
to the popcorn seed salesman
439
00:25:34,817 --> 00:25:36,984
who claims that glen and rex
robbed him,
440
00:25:37,019 --> 00:25:40,971
a crime for which th.
441
00:25:40,990 --> 00:25:43,657
Michael: In the end,
there was no connection
442
00:25:43,693 --> 00:25:48,946
between the robbery
and cathy beard's disappearance.
443
00:25:53,152 --> 00:25:56,670
Narrator: With their strongest
potential suspects ruled out,
444
00:25:56,706 --> 00:25:58,339
the detectives go back to
the witnesses
445
00:25:58,374 --> 00:26:02,359
who were in the bar
the night cathy vanished.
446
00:26:02,395 --> 00:26:04,161
That includes john oldson,
447
00:26:04,196 --> 00:26:06,463
the last person
to report seeing cathy.
448
00:26:06,498 --> 00:26:10,184
They're stunned to discover
that john is in jail
449
00:26:10,219 --> 00:26:14,772
awaiting arraignment
on sexual assault charges.
450
00:26:14,807 --> 00:26:17,174
[♪♪]
451
00:26:17,209 --> 00:26:21,845
larry: John had been arrested
for sexually assaulting a clerk
452
00:26:21,864 --> 00:26:26,016
at a gas station in burwell.
453
00:26:26,035 --> 00:26:28,702
Curt: When she left work,
john had grabbed her,
454
00:26:28,738 --> 00:26:30,187
he had forced her
to the ground,
455
00:26:30,206 --> 00:26:32,957
lifted her shirt,
rubbed her stomach,
456
00:26:32,992 --> 00:26:34,208
and she had tried
to fight him off
457
00:26:34,243 --> 00:26:39,063
and once she did that,
he turned and left.
458
00:26:39,098 --> 00:26:40,864
Narrator:
The sexual assault charge
459
00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:42,766
raises red flags.
460
00:26:42,802 --> 00:26:44,802
But when detectives interview
john in jail
461
00:26:44,837 --> 00:26:47,371
about what happened
the night cathy disappeared
462
00:26:47,406 --> 00:26:52,843
three years ago,
his story doesn't change.
463
00:26:57,016 --> 00:27:01,068
Jay: John oldson's version
of the events in the alley
464
00:27:01,103 --> 00:27:04,738
was that
he approached cathy beard
465
00:27:04,774 --> 00:27:09,059
for sexual relations,
she refused him.
466
00:27:09,078 --> 00:27:11,111
She then went to a pickup
467
00:27:11,163 --> 00:27:16,750
with two other guys
and left with them.
468
00:27:16,786 --> 00:27:20,087
Jerome walkowiak,
the man at the bar
469
00:27:20,122 --> 00:27:23,907
who also saw cathy
get into the, uh, truck,
470
00:27:23,926 --> 00:27:27,911
corroborated what
john oldson's version was
471
00:27:27,930 --> 00:27:31,348
of what happened in that alley.
472
00:27:31,384 --> 00:27:37,087
Larry: We had no evidence to
dispute what he was telling us.
473
00:27:37,106 --> 00:27:40,391
It was extremely frustrating
for not only myself,
474
00:27:40,426 --> 00:27:43,227
but local law enforcement
in valley county,
475
00:27:43,262 --> 00:27:46,230
and in ord, and, uh,
the family members
476
00:27:46,265 --> 00:27:51,201
that this was ongoing
and unsolved.
477
00:27:54,123 --> 00:27:58,876
Narrator: In 2004, five years
after cathy vanished,
478
00:27:58,911 --> 00:28:01,045
her mother veneta passes away,
479
00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,280
never knowing
who was responsible
480
00:28:03,299 --> 00:28:07,451
for her daughter's murder.
481
00:28:07,486 --> 00:28:10,621
She's laid to rest
next to cathy.
482
00:28:10,656 --> 00:28:13,123
Curt: I know it was
very difficult for the family.
483
00:28:13,159 --> 00:28:17,127
I had-- I had talked
to some of them over the years.
484
00:28:17,163 --> 00:28:21,632
The whole thing
was very devastating.
485
00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:24,501
But I think they all had hope.
486
00:28:27,106 --> 00:28:29,306
Narrator: The investigation
stays cold
487
00:28:29,325 --> 00:28:32,309
for another six
agonizing years.
488
00:28:32,344 --> 00:28:36,146
Then in 2010,
the nebraska state patrol
489
00:28:36,165 --> 00:28:37,948
decides to try a new tactic
490
00:28:37,983 --> 00:28:41,618
to solve some
of its cold cases.
491
00:28:41,654 --> 00:28:44,455
Casey: I was contacted
by nebraska state patrol
492
00:28:44,490 --> 00:28:47,875
about a set of cold case
playing cards.
493
00:28:47,927 --> 00:28:53,163
Each card had a cold case
on it of an unsolved murder,
494
00:28:53,182 --> 00:28:55,999
and they would have details
of the case.
495
00:28:56,018 --> 00:29:01,872
And they were distributed
into the state prison.
496
00:29:01,907 --> 00:29:03,974
A lot of times
criminals will brag
497
00:29:04,009 --> 00:29:05,392
when they're incarcerated
and say,
498
00:29:05,444 --> 00:29:08,562
"oh, yeah, I did this
but I never got caught."
499
00:29:08,614 --> 00:29:12,649
cathy's case
was on the two of spades.
500
00:29:12,684 --> 00:29:17,988
And few months later,
we did get a-- a hit.
501
00:29:18,690 --> 00:29:20,157
Jay: It fanned the flame
502
00:29:20,192 --> 00:29:23,243
and got the investigation
rolling again.
503
00:29:23,295 --> 00:29:32,503
[♪♪]
504
00:29:32,637 --> 00:29:36,089
narrator: Twenty-one years
after cathy beard disappeared
505
00:29:36,142 --> 00:29:39,209
from a bar in ord, nebraska,
506
00:29:39,245 --> 00:29:41,145
there's a new lead.
507
00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:43,313
It comes after police
distributed playing cards
508
00:29:43,349 --> 00:29:48,068
featuring unsolved cases
to prison inmates.
509
00:29:49,355 --> 00:29:53,357
Jay: That was August of 2010,
510
00:29:53,392 --> 00:29:55,892
I got assigned
to follow up a lead
511
00:29:55,911 --> 00:29:58,278
that had come in
as a result of an inmate
512
00:29:58,330 --> 00:30:03,250
at the lancaster
county corrections,
513
00:30:03,285 --> 00:30:05,085
who viewed a playing card
514
00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,839
and he had heard
about cathy beard from ord.
515
00:30:08,874 --> 00:30:14,244
Casey: A cellmate was
incarcerated in valley county
516
00:30:14,263 --> 00:30:15,963
with john oldson.
517
00:30:16,015 --> 00:30:19,249
Jay: John oldson
had made an admission to him
518
00:30:19,285 --> 00:30:23,937
regarding being involved
with the death of cathy beard.
519
00:30:24,990 --> 00:30:27,124
Narrator: To the detective's
frustration,
520
00:30:27,159 --> 00:30:30,494
the jailhouse informant refuses
to testify in court.
521
00:30:30,529 --> 00:30:34,865
But the tip refocuses
their attention on john oldson
522
00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:36,834
and the deeper
detectives delve,
523
00:30:36,869 --> 00:30:41,938
the more alarming
john's story becomes.
524
00:30:41,957 --> 00:30:44,408
Casey: We found out
that john oldson went to prison
525
00:30:44,443 --> 00:30:50,047
in 2003 for sticking
hypodermic needles
526
00:30:50,082 --> 00:30:53,951
in his stepdaughter's
midsection area.
527
00:30:53,986 --> 00:30:57,921
John oldson got out of prison
in 2005.
528
00:30:57,956 --> 00:31:02,843
Michael: This was just
so egregious and so abusive,
529
00:31:02,895 --> 00:31:07,314
so they knew he was dangerous.
530
00:31:07,349 --> 00:31:09,483
Narrator: Investigators
see a connection
531
00:31:09,518 --> 00:31:11,151
between john's stomach fetish
532
00:31:11,186 --> 00:31:14,238
and the evidence found
with cathy's remains
533
00:31:14,273 --> 00:31:16,573
two decades earlier.
534
00:31:16,609 --> 00:31:18,642
Larry: The recovery of the--
the sweater
535
00:31:18,677 --> 00:31:21,979
with a hole
in the abdominal area,
536
00:31:22,014 --> 00:31:24,147
made a suspicion
that john oldson
537
00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:27,417
was directly involved with this.
538
00:31:27,453 --> 00:31:29,019
Because of his two arrests,
539
00:31:29,054 --> 00:31:32,923
where he assaulted women
in the abdominal area.
540
00:31:32,958 --> 00:31:34,524
Curt: We believe
that the cathy beard
541
00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:38,295
having her sweater cut
and the marks on her bones
542
00:31:38,330 --> 00:31:41,515
would indicate
that he was pursuing
543
00:31:41,550 --> 00:31:44,368
a sexual fantasy.
544
00:31:44,403 --> 00:31:47,371
Casey: We had evidence
the whole time,
545
00:31:47,406 --> 00:31:52,142
the tip that we got
from the confidential informant
546
00:31:52,778 --> 00:31:55,062
was the key.
547
00:31:55,114 --> 00:31:58,014
Narrator: But there's a problem
with the investigator's
548
00:31:58,033 --> 00:31:59,533
new theory of the murder.
549
00:31:59,568 --> 00:32:01,685
John's claimed
to have seen cathy
550
00:32:01,704 --> 00:32:03,186
get into a truck with two men
551
00:32:03,205 --> 00:32:05,989
was confirmed
by another eyewitness
552
00:32:06,024 --> 00:32:07,324
at the bar that night.
553
00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:10,210
Jay: Jerome walkowiak
was the only person
554
00:32:10,245 --> 00:32:14,247
that corroborated
what happened in that alley.
555
00:32:14,300 --> 00:32:16,032
Narrator: Investigators
take another look
556
00:32:16,051 --> 00:32:20,053
at jerome's story
and make a key discovery.
557
00:32:20,089 --> 00:32:23,707
Jay: We had taken pictures
of the bar inside and out
558
00:32:23,742 --> 00:32:29,680
and we compared them
with photographs of it in 1989.
559
00:32:30,983 --> 00:32:35,352
Casey: I explained to him
there was no way he could see
560
00:32:35,387 --> 00:32:37,187
out the back window.
561
00:32:37,222 --> 00:32:40,123
And at that point,
he come clean
562
00:32:40,159 --> 00:32:42,559
and said he did not see that.
563
00:32:42,578 --> 00:32:45,195
It never happened.
564
00:32:46,281 --> 00:32:49,082
He heard john talking
about a pickup in the bar
565
00:32:49,118 --> 00:32:50,751
a couple of days later
566
00:32:50,786 --> 00:32:57,124
and had repeated it
during the investigation.
567
00:32:57,176 --> 00:33:02,179
Larry: I suspect that he was
just trying to get attention.
568
00:33:02,214 --> 00:33:06,266
Narrator: John oldson's alibi
has just evaporated.
569
00:33:06,301 --> 00:33:09,603
But the case against him
is more than 21 years old
570
00:33:09,638 --> 00:33:14,274
and the evidence
is purely circumstantial.
571
00:33:15,794 --> 00:33:19,613
Glenn: We never found anything
during the investigation.
572
00:33:19,648 --> 00:33:21,465
Dna-wise or fiber
or any otherwise,
573
00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:27,004
that would link john oldson
to the murder of cathy beard.
574
00:33:27,039 --> 00:33:29,539
There simply wasn't anything.
575
00:33:29,575 --> 00:33:34,845
Dna, unless it's protected,
ain't gonna stay there forever.
576
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,631
It's gonna wash away.
577
00:33:40,302 --> 00:33:41,651
Narrator:
Seeking more information
578
00:33:41,687 --> 00:33:43,136
about their suspect,
579
00:33:43,172 --> 00:33:44,638
police tracked down
john's family.
580
00:33:44,673 --> 00:33:47,624
His father died
several years earlier.
581
00:33:47,643 --> 00:33:51,127
But his sister who
wasn't previously interviewed
582
00:33:51,146 --> 00:33:54,181
has surprising new information
for them.
583
00:33:54,233 --> 00:33:57,067
She describes
the lengths john went
584
00:33:57,102 --> 00:33:58,301
to clean his pickup truck
585
00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,738
the day
after cathy disappeared.
586
00:34:03,275 --> 00:34:05,358
Curt: John had basically
cleaned that whole pickup
587
00:34:05,411 --> 00:34:08,111
from stem to stern,
including removing the seats
588
00:34:08,146 --> 00:34:13,450
and cleaning everything
within the pickup.
589
00:34:13,485 --> 00:34:15,452
Larry: It's very possible
that john was cleaning up
590
00:34:15,487 --> 00:34:20,624
to hide any type of evidence
of blood or injury.
591
00:34:22,361 --> 00:34:24,194
Narrator: Then,
the investigation gets a jolt
592
00:34:24,229 --> 00:34:26,663
when a new witness
comes forward,
593
00:34:26,682 --> 00:34:29,382
suzanne pelster,
a former resident of ord
594
00:34:29,435 --> 00:34:34,221
has a bone chilling story
to tell the police.
595
00:34:34,273 --> 00:34:35,722
Jay: She overheard
a conversation
596
00:34:35,774 --> 00:34:41,228
between john oldson
and his first wife.
597
00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,396
They had an argument in the bar
598
00:34:43,449 --> 00:34:44,681
and he told her
to shut up
599
00:34:44,700 --> 00:34:48,535
or I'll do to you
what I did to cathy.
600
00:34:50,205 --> 00:34:52,372
Larry: We brought up
the circumstantial evidence
601
00:34:52,407 --> 00:34:55,191
that we had accumulated
over the years
602
00:34:55,210 --> 00:34:56,693
to the county attorney.
603
00:34:56,712 --> 00:34:59,429
Curt: There was a concern that
we didn't have enough evidence
604
00:34:59,465 --> 00:35:02,716
and maybe forced into a trial
and lose it and therefore,
605
00:35:02,751 --> 00:35:05,702
wouldn't be able
to prosecute him again.
606
00:35:05,721 --> 00:35:08,138
Narrator: But prosecutors
conclude that the weight
607
00:35:08,173 --> 00:35:12,676
of the circumstantial evidence
is enough.
608
00:35:12,711 --> 00:35:15,762
As far as we know,
there was really nobody else
609
00:35:15,814 --> 00:35:17,347
out in that alley.
610
00:35:17,382 --> 00:35:22,269
John was the last person
to see her alive.
611
00:35:24,773 --> 00:35:26,740
An arrest warrant was issued.
612
00:35:26,775 --> 00:35:30,610
We had a swat team
of 15 to 20 members
613
00:35:30,662 --> 00:35:32,412
swarmed in and--
and arrested john
614
00:35:32,447 --> 00:35:35,115
as he was driving
down the street from his house.
615
00:35:35,167 --> 00:35:37,134
[siren wailing]
616
00:35:42,374 --> 00:35:47,344
jay: He acted like he had been
expecting it for some time.
617
00:35:50,015 --> 00:35:52,415
Casey: I called mary kirby,
618
00:35:52,451 --> 00:35:54,584
cathy's sister and I told her,
619
00:35:54,620 --> 00:35:56,603
"hey, we got john in custody."
620
00:35:56,638 --> 00:35:58,922
she just said, "thank you."
621
00:35:58,957 --> 00:36:02,659
robert: My mom, she's relieved
that he finally got caught.
622
00:36:02,694 --> 00:36:07,147
And she was glad
it was finally coming to an end
623
00:36:07,199 --> 00:36:12,769
that they would bring justice
for cathy.
624
00:36:12,804 --> 00:36:16,840
Narrator: A trial date
is set for March 2012,
625
00:36:16,875 --> 00:36:18,675
but as prosecutors get ready,
626
00:36:18,710 --> 00:36:22,579
john oldson's mother makes
a stunning announcement.
627
00:36:22,614 --> 00:36:23,880
She claims the post office
628
00:36:23,916 --> 00:36:25,882
has delivered
an envelope to her
629
00:36:25,918 --> 00:36:27,717
with no return address
630
00:36:27,753 --> 00:36:32,355
containing proof that her son
did not kill cathy beard.
631
00:36:33,642 --> 00:36:35,758
Casey: What come out
of the envelope
632
00:36:35,777 --> 00:36:39,295
was this long diary
stating that these people
633
00:36:39,314 --> 00:36:43,316
that live north
of ericson, nebraska,
634
00:36:43,352 --> 00:36:44,801
had this sex slave ranch
635
00:36:44,836 --> 00:36:46,836
and they kept women
incarcerated there
636
00:36:46,872 --> 00:36:52,909
and cathy beard was one
of the victims of this ranch.
637
00:36:54,329 --> 00:36:56,246
This mysterious envelope
showed up
638
00:36:56,281 --> 00:37:00,667
and we'd have to determine
if this was a true diary.
639
00:37:00,702 --> 00:37:04,337
Glenn: It severely interfered
with our prosecution.
640
00:37:04,373 --> 00:37:09,342
You just got to really wonder
if that diary is true.
641
00:37:09,378 --> 00:37:12,829
Jay: This leads to a whole
another investigation.
642
00:37:12,848 --> 00:37:19,869
[♪♪]
643
00:37:20,004 --> 00:37:22,005
narrator: On the eve
of john oldson's murder trial,
644
00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,375
an anonymous letter
containing diary pages
645
00:37:25,410 --> 00:37:28,678
threatens to upend
the prosecution's case.
646
00:37:28,714 --> 00:37:32,515
Its author claims
cathy beard was held captive
647
00:37:32,551 --> 00:37:34,083
on a ranch 22 miles north
648
00:37:34,102 --> 00:37:38,388
of her hometown
of ord, nebraska.
649
00:37:38,423 --> 00:37:43,560
Jay: This so-called diary
indicates that this rancher,
650
00:37:43,595 --> 00:37:48,031
mr. Backus and his wife,
had abducted three women
651
00:37:48,066 --> 00:37:52,469
that they held as sex slaves
and eventually killed them.
652
00:37:52,504 --> 00:37:57,374
One of which was allegedly
cathy beard.
653
00:37:57,409 --> 00:38:01,378
These women were supposedly
kept in a cave
654
00:38:01,413 --> 00:38:03,747
on the property.
655
00:38:05,517 --> 00:38:07,717
Narrator: Police rush
to search the ranch property
656
00:38:07,753 --> 00:38:11,588
and learn wetzel backus
died several years earlier.
657
00:38:11,623 --> 00:38:15,342
But detectives interview
his widow jean,
658
00:38:15,394 --> 00:38:19,429
who's now in her 80s.
659
00:38:19,464 --> 00:38:21,798
Glenn:
They took her deposition.
660
00:38:21,817 --> 00:38:25,518
She was a frail old lady
661
00:38:25,570 --> 00:38:27,354
and you're looking at her
saying,
662
00:38:27,406 --> 00:38:29,105
"yeah, I don't think so.
663
00:38:29,140 --> 00:38:31,107
Not even in her youth."
664
00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:34,244
jay: The pages of the diary
were handwritten
665
00:38:34,279 --> 00:38:39,482
and the handwriting
was not that of jean backus.
666
00:38:39,501 --> 00:38:43,586
Narrator: Yet the details
of ranch life are specific.
667
00:38:43,622 --> 00:38:47,624
Jay: The pages of the diary
described the neighbors,
668
00:38:47,659 --> 00:38:51,227
the terrain, and so on
in relationship
669
00:38:51,263 --> 00:38:54,297
to where the backuses live.
670
00:38:54,332 --> 00:38:57,734
A pretty good,
accurate description.
671
00:38:57,769 --> 00:38:59,352
Narrator:
Whoever wrote the diary
672
00:38:59,388 --> 00:39:02,722
had day to day knowledge
of life on the ranch.
673
00:39:02,774 --> 00:39:04,274
Investigators asked jean
674
00:39:04,309 --> 00:39:07,811
who might have a grudge
against her.
675
00:39:07,846 --> 00:39:11,197
Jay: Jean threw out
doug olson's name.
676
00:39:11,233 --> 00:39:14,851
Casey: Doug olson
worked for jean backus
677
00:39:14,870 --> 00:39:16,369
at the backus ranch.
678
00:39:16,405 --> 00:39:17,704
Narrator:
Jean tells the investigators
679
00:39:17,739 --> 00:39:19,656
that doug believed
she cheated him
680
00:39:19,691 --> 00:39:23,192
out of part of the ranch
he thought he would inherit
681
00:39:23,211 --> 00:39:25,378
after wetzel backus' death.
682
00:39:25,414 --> 00:39:30,750
That envelope is taken
to the state patrol crime lab
683
00:39:30,802 --> 00:39:32,585
and they find doug olson's dna
684
00:39:32,637 --> 00:39:36,923
on the flap of the envelope
and/or the stamp.
685
00:39:36,975 --> 00:39:38,758
Narrator: Doug olson admits
trying to ruin
686
00:39:38,810 --> 00:39:43,213
the backus' reputation
by tying them to the murder.
687
00:39:43,248 --> 00:39:45,682
He's charged
with evidence tampering
688
00:39:45,717 --> 00:39:49,903
as the case against john
moves forward.
689
00:39:49,938 --> 00:39:51,321
Casey: We proved the diary
690
00:39:51,356 --> 00:39:53,773
had nothing to do
with cathy beard.
691
00:39:53,825 --> 00:39:57,193
Bottom line is cathy
walked out the back door
692
00:39:57,228 --> 00:40:00,764
with john oldson
and never returned.
693
00:40:02,367 --> 00:40:04,284
Narrator: In January 2013,
694
00:40:04,336 --> 00:40:09,572
the trial of john oldson
is finally set to begin.
695
00:40:09,591 --> 00:40:13,576
Robert: My mom wanted justice
for cathy.
696
00:40:13,595 --> 00:40:18,932
She was glad it was finally
coming to an end.
697
00:40:21,303 --> 00:40:23,453
Narrator: The investigation
could not determine
698
00:40:23,488 --> 00:40:26,322
whether cathy beard
was sexually assaulted
699
00:40:26,358 --> 00:40:28,958
because of the condition
of her remains.
700
00:40:28,994 --> 00:40:31,427
But the prosecutors
paint a picture for the jury
701
00:40:31,446 --> 00:40:37,534
of what they believe happened
on may 31st, 1989.
702
00:40:39,371 --> 00:40:44,407
Larry: John olson said he was
getting a little bit aroused.
703
00:40:44,442 --> 00:40:47,827
Glenn: When john oldson
and cathy beard
704
00:40:47,879 --> 00:40:49,445
were in that bar,
705
00:40:49,464 --> 00:40:53,299
he was gonna have sex with her
that night regardless.
706
00:40:54,419 --> 00:40:55,718
Casey: There was a struggle.
707
00:40:55,754 --> 00:40:57,420
He hit her in the head.
708
00:40:57,455 --> 00:40:58,922
He threw her in the pickup.
709
00:40:58,957 --> 00:41:02,642
Michael: John oldson said,
"she said, "no, no, john.
710
00:41:02,677 --> 00:41:03,960
Please no, no."
711
00:41:03,979 --> 00:41:06,763
well, I believe
those were her last words.
712
00:41:06,798 --> 00:41:09,532
Casey: After murdering her,
713
00:41:09,568 --> 00:41:13,736
he then took her
to the dumpsite.
714
00:41:17,809 --> 00:41:21,027
He did dispose
of cathy's body,
715
00:41:21,079 --> 00:41:23,530
he felt safe that
she would never be found
716
00:41:23,582 --> 00:41:27,500
because party hill
was a remote area
717
00:41:27,536 --> 00:41:31,421
and law enforcement
was not typically driving
718
00:41:31,456 --> 00:41:33,706
by that location.
719
00:41:36,361 --> 00:41:37,994
[♪♪]
720
00:41:38,013 --> 00:41:41,531
narrator: After a week
and a half of testimony,
721
00:41:41,566 --> 00:41:43,533
the jury leaves to deliberate.
722
00:41:43,568 --> 00:41:49,973
It takes them just six hours
to decide john oldson's fate.
723
00:41:51,643 --> 00:41:54,944
Glenn: The jury
found him guilty
724
00:41:54,980 --> 00:41:57,780
of second degree murder.
725
00:41:59,684 --> 00:42:04,020
Narrator: He's sentenced
to life in prison.
726
00:42:06,057 --> 00:42:09,358
Casey: You could just tell
in the community that it was a--
727
00:42:09,377 --> 00:42:12,962
a brick off
everybody's shoulders.
728
00:42:16,084 --> 00:42:21,638
Um, to get justice for cathy
729
00:42:21,673 --> 00:42:23,506
was what everybody wanted
730
00:42:23,541 --> 00:42:29,846
and that was our goal
and that's what we got.
731
00:42:32,851 --> 00:42:36,853
Michael: This woman
should still be alive today.
732
00:42:38,406 --> 00:42:40,573
I'm confident that the family
733
00:42:40,609 --> 00:42:45,762
and the community
felt justice was served.
734
00:42:45,797 --> 00:42:48,798
Robert: Everybody's much
better with john in prison.
735
00:42:48,833 --> 00:42:52,669
I think the world is better
with john in prison.
736
00:42:53,872 --> 00:42:56,839
Cathy was always wanting
to help my mom.
737
00:42:56,875 --> 00:42:59,943
They did about
everything together.
738
00:43:03,882 --> 00:43:05,915
My mom would want cathy
to be remembered
739
00:43:05,934 --> 00:43:08,851
as a good kind person.
740
00:43:08,887 --> 00:43:12,789
[♪♪]