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This program is
rated 14+, and contains
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scenes of violence and
mature subject matter.
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Viewer discretion is advised.
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Me and Nellie
were out investigating.
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We followed Barbara's route.
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We found out
she went up to that bar.
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Barbara's
in a bar at closing time,
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gets into an argument
with two individuals.
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We knew she was missing.
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That's all we knew.
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We could not find
any footprints of life
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for Barbara
after she left Renegades.
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They were going
straight across Highway 22.
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He saw the passenger side
door open
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and there was a woman
who appeared to be naked
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trying to get out of the truck.
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I'm worried
that she's not alright,
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like, she could be hurt
or even dead.
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Because I fear the worst.
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Welcome to Crime Beat.
I'm Anthony Robart.
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A night out ends in turmoil
as a young woman vanishes.
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Loved ones held out hope
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that the aspiring nurse
would be found safe,
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but after months of searching,
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that hope was shattered.
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With a murder
investigation underway,
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detectives race
to find the truth
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behind the shocking details
of this murder mystery.
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Here now is Nancy Hixt
with "Last Call."
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Early one morning in 2002,
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the driver of a semi-truck
was navigating snowy roads
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when he noticed
a vehicle driving erratically.
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The trucker
then saw a naked woman
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hanging out
of the passenger door.
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He figured the occupants
had been drinking.
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And soon after, the vehicle
drove out of his sight.
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More than a week later,
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while reading
a local newspaper,
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he made a startling connection
between what he saw
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and a mysterious case
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that had been
unfolding in Calgary.
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So the family members
of Barbara Eyapaise
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called us
and they were concerned
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because they hadn't seen her
in a few days,
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hadn't heard from her
in a few days.
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Barbara had
a scheduled appointment
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with her dad at a bank.
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And her dad
called us and said,
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like, it is very,
very unusual
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that she wouldn't
have attended.
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And if she wasn't
going to attend,
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she certainly
would have contacted him.
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And the fact
that she didn't show up,
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she didn't contact him,
it was a concern.
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They didn't know what happened,
if anything,
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but she just
hadn't been seen in a bit
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and they were concerned.
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But I also knew
of Barbara's way.
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She was always-- If she
was said she'd be somewhere,
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she'd keep her word.
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Well, Nellie was getting
all panicky for a day or two.
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I said, "Just relax.
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If she's not back
for her job Monday...
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then we'll do something."
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Well, she didn't
come back for her job.
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So then I said,
"Okay, we'll do something."
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So, I went down
and talked to the detectives.
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As investigators
retraced Barbara's steps,
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they realized
none of her family or friends
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had seen or heard
from her since January 17th.
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It was actually
my mom that phoned me
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and she was hysterical,
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kind of just saying
that she was gone.
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And that wasn't
like her, right?
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Like, she always
was in touch with my mom,
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always in touch
with my dad, my aunt.
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So when we interviewed
Barbara's mom,
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we knew that
they had been out together.
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They had been drinking
at the Legion downtown,
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that they had left
that place together
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and they had gone
to another bar,
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the Cecil Hotel downtown.
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And that later on,
after a few drinks,
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that Barbara's mom left
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and Barbara was still there
with some other individuals.
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When the mom couldn't
get a hold of Barbara,
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she started doing
her own investigation.
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She found out
that Barbara had gone
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to Renegades bar
from the Cecil via cab
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and that it was actually
a group of them that had left
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the Cecil
and went to Renegades.
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♪ Got your name in lights,
you're a superstar ♪
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The inquiries
at Renegades indicated
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that Barbara had gotten
into some type of altercation,
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argument with two males.
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It seemed to be
over her accusing them
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of stealing $25
and that she needed that money
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because that was her
cab money to get back home.
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And that seemed to be the gist
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of this particular dispute
that was going on.
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I can only think
that it was probably
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a substantial argument
if people are noticing it.
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And if that's your
cab fare to get home
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and somebody's taken it and now
you're stranded somewhere,
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like I can see, where somebody
obviously would be upset.
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The manager said that there
was an off-duty doorman/bouncer
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that had given Barbara
a ride home.
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He said that
he gave her a ride home.
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He also said, though, that
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there were
some other individuals
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that seemed to be involved
in this story somehow
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that when he gave her
a ride home,
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that there were some
other people that were there
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and they were
the people from the bar.
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So, it was pretty clear
that he has some information
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and we need to get
that information from him.
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Calgary Police
Detective Len Howland
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was assigned to work
on the missing persons case.
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His first task was to
interview the bar's bouncer,
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who was now considered a key
witness in the investigation.
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His statement was that
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she was incredibly
intoxicated.
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She had no money.
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She said
that someone had taken it.
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He was in there on his day off.
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So, he technically
wasn't working,
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he was in there as a patron,
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but he volunteered
to drive her home.
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And he said that he drove her
from the bar to her home
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and he mentioned
that he thought
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someone was following him
from the bar,
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but he dropped her off
at her home
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where she told him it was.
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He saw a couple of guys
get out of a car.
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This witness told police
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it was the same two men
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Barbara had been seen
arguing with at the bar
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and he didn't want
to get involved
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in an altercation, so he left.
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And he drove me on the route
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that he took to take her home.
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When he dropped her off,
it was at the intersection,
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which was about
three houses from her home.
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Not in front of the house.
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He's even stronger
in his description
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of having been followed,
a couple of guys,
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and he watched them
get out of their vehicle,
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they started
arguing with Barbara,
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and he drove away.
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It was certainly
red flags for us.
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You know, Barbara's
in a bar at closing time,
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gets into an argument
with two individuals,
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and those two individuals
somehow show up at her house.
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Then came
disturbing reports
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of gunfire
aimed at the bouncer.
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This is a significant concern,
and it's really an escalation.
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Welcome back to Crime Beat.
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As police investigate
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the disappearance
of Barbara Eyapaise,
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they are confronted
with conflicting stories
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about her final hours.
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That is, until key evidence
came to light
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from an unexpected eyewitness.
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Here again is Nancy Hixt
with "Last Call."
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I'll keep
burning it for her
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until I hear something,
you know?
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Nellie Eyapaise
kept a candle burning
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for her missing
daughter, Barbara,
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as a sign of hope
that she'd be found safe.
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Nobody's seen her
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or heard from her
or anything.
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That's not like Barbara.
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She would have got in contact
with one of us.
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Barbara was
working as a waitress
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at a downtown
Calgary restaurant
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and had recently been accepted
into a nursing program.
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Just days
before her disappearance,
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she had spent time
with her family.
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Well, that's when
she came over,
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cooked that beautiful meal,
and I walked her outside.
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She had a bike.
She was gone.
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She only lived
a few blocks away.
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With every day that passed,
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Barbara's family
became more fearful.
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I'm worried
that she's not all right,
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like, she could be hurt
or even dead,
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because I fear the worst.
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Just the not knowing,
like, no one knew anything.
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Not knowing is the worst,
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right, because
it could be anything.
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My mother said that she'd got
a call from the bar manager
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and said that Barbara
was there at the club
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and that she was going to be
getting a ride home
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from one of the staff members.
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But that was all she said
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and that's all she knew,
but she never showed up.
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You know, I can't imagine
what it's like for the family
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when you've got
your 24-year-old
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that's gone missing and
you had just been out with her
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just before she went missing.
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So the family,
as they're trying to help
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and they're trying
to get information,
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they also know
about this argument
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that took place in the bar.
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They're talking
to family and friends.
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They're getting
some of this information,
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and they are very convinced
that these two individuals
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must be responsible
because they're the only ones
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that anybody saw
Barbara have a conflict with.
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They now show up at
her house, parked outside,
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and you now
have the bouncer claiming
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that his window
was shot out by them.
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So, like this is definitely
an escalation
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in this particular
investigation.
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The bouncer went
to his local police station
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and provided officers
with a description
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of the suspect vehicle
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and details of what happened.
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The bouncer told police
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he was targeted because
he could identify the men
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responsible for Barbara's
disappearance.
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The witness volunteered
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to have police
examine his truck
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to help them find the person
responsible for the shooting.
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There was
a substantial amount
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of investigative work
that went into this,
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and in particular
into trying to identify
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these two individuals,
but we did,
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and we were able to go
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and interview
both of those males
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that Barbara
had that argument with.
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We interviewed them separately.
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Their stories
were very similar,
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and their story was that
they did leave the bar,
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but they left the bar in a cab,
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and they gave us a cab number.
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When we tracked
down their alibi,
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it seems to check out.
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We got a taxi receipt
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that indicated that, in fact,
they did take a taxi.
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We talked
to the roommates that said,
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"Yes, this is when
they showed up."
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And so we've got
two conflicting stories
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going on here.
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We're not really sure
what's going on,
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but it appears that these males
are not involved
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in her disappearance.
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And then another
startling development.
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We were able
to determine that
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there's no way that
that vehicle was shot at.
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So, we had our
forensic crime scenes unit
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look at that window,
and it was broken for sure,
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but they were able to determine
254
00:12:57,834 --> 00:12:59,266
that it was not shot out.
255
00:12:59,433 --> 00:13:01,533
That it looked like
it was some type of instrument
256
00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:03,000
that had broken it.
257
00:13:03,166 --> 00:13:06,834
It definitely
was not broken by a bullet.
258
00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,900
That that part of the story
that he provided,
259
00:13:10,066 --> 00:13:12,667
there's something wrong there,
because that is not accurate.
260
00:13:13,633 --> 00:13:17,233
Why would Fred Abma,
the Renegade's bouncer,
261
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:18,900
lie to officers about
262
00:13:19,066 --> 00:13:21,300
a missing persons
investigation?
263
00:13:22,333 --> 00:13:24,300
There's so many
conversations with him.
264
00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:26,300
He's starting
to get suspicious that
265
00:13:26,467 --> 00:13:28,367
maybe we think
he's the suspect.
266
00:13:28,533 --> 00:13:31,667
And he says that we need
to talk to his friend,
267
00:13:31,834 --> 00:13:35,800
where he went after
he had dropped the victim off.
268
00:13:35,967 --> 00:13:37,266
I went and talked
to that friend
269
00:13:37,433 --> 00:13:40,467
and got a written alibi,
a statement stating
270
00:13:40,633 --> 00:13:44,233
that Mr. Abma
had been to that house
271
00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:49,100
from, like, 2:30 till 4:30
in the morning on the 18th.
272
00:13:49,266 --> 00:13:50,600
So, we have an alibi.
273
00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,300
By now, Barbara's case
had become front page news.
274
00:13:58,467 --> 00:14:02,300
But what happened to her
remained a mystery.
275
00:14:02,467 --> 00:14:04,767
It's pretty clear
that somebody's lying to us.
276
00:14:04,934 --> 00:14:07,400
And so we need
to figure out who that is.
277
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:10,834
We could not find
any footprints of life
278
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,867
for Barbara
after she left Renegades.
279
00:14:15,033 --> 00:14:16,900
So when we looked at
banking information,
280
00:14:17,066 --> 00:14:18,734
there was no banking
information.
281
00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:21,166
She had a job.
She didn't show up to her job.
282
00:14:21,333 --> 00:14:24,233
We already know that she had
not contacted her family.
283
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,900
We know that she had missed
that appointment with her dad.
284
00:14:27,066 --> 00:14:29,767
All of these pieces
coming together
285
00:14:29,934 --> 00:14:31,333
causes us great concern
286
00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:35,633
that something more
has happened to Barbara.
287
00:14:36,867 --> 00:14:38,567
That's when police finally
288
00:14:38,734 --> 00:14:40,200
got a break in the case.
289
00:14:50,500 --> 00:14:52,834
ng]
290
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,300
Just over a week
291
00:14:54,467 --> 00:14:57,233
after Barbara Eyapaise
vanished,
292
00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,867
the investigation unraveled
in an entirely new direction.
293
00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,800
A semi-truck driver
came forward to police
294
00:15:05,967 --> 00:15:08,834
to report a shocking scene
on the highway
295
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,100
early in the morning
of January 18th,
296
00:15:12,266 --> 00:15:15,433
just hours
after Barbara was last seen
297
00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,834
leaving Renegades Bar.
298
00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,533
We got a witness statement
from the RCMP
299
00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:22,667
that originated
from a truck driver
300
00:15:22,834 --> 00:15:27,100
who had seen a suspicious
vehicle out south of Langdon.
301
00:15:27,266 --> 00:15:29,133
It was nighttime.
It was snowing.
302
00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:30,834
He was behind
this pickup truck.
303
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,033
This truck driver said
that he had seen a woman
304
00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,066
trying to get out
of the passenger side cab
305
00:15:37,233 --> 00:15:38,533
of the truck.
306
00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:40,900
He's thinking, "This is
strange." His brain clicks.
307
00:15:41,066 --> 00:15:43,934
He gets a hold of the RCMP.
He provides a statement.
308
00:15:44,967 --> 00:15:47,934
The truck driver
had seen a newspaper article
309
00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:51,600
about the missing persons case
in Calgary and said
310
00:15:51,767 --> 00:15:54,066
he believed the woman he saw
311
00:15:54,233 --> 00:15:56,900
could have been
Barbara Eyapaise.
312
00:16:14,934 --> 00:16:17,734
The trucker
took police on the exact route
313
00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:19,500
he drove that night.
314
00:16:43,367 --> 00:16:44,900
That's when it appeared
315
00:16:45,066 --> 00:16:47,867
the woman tried to get out
of the truck.
316
00:17:25,133 --> 00:17:27,066
An older model
blue Dodge Dakota pickup
317
00:17:27,233 --> 00:17:28,934
with a burned-out taillight.
318
00:17:29,100 --> 00:17:30,200
He's following them along.
319
00:17:31,333 --> 00:17:36,000
And when they get to Langdon,
they turn right, head south.
320
00:17:36,166 --> 00:17:38,667
When they're about to cross,
321
00:17:38,834 --> 00:17:41,467
they were going
straight across Highway 22,
322
00:17:41,633 --> 00:17:44,400
he saw the passenger
side door open, and...
323
00:17:45,834 --> 00:17:48,633
there was a woman
who appeared to be naked
324
00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,300
trying to get
out of the truck.
325
00:17:50,467 --> 00:17:52,400
The bouncer
who gave Barbara
326
00:17:52,567 --> 00:17:54,367
a ride home from the bar,
327
00:17:54,533 --> 00:17:59,867
Fred Abma, drove a dark
blue Dodge half-ton truck.
328
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:03,367
We got a witness
describing a vehicle
329
00:18:03,533 --> 00:18:07,066
that's the same description
as what the original witness
330
00:18:07,233 --> 00:18:08,934
that I drove around had.
331
00:18:10,066 --> 00:18:11,367
This vehicle,
332
00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:14,600
another witness had seen a
woman trying to get out of it.
333
00:18:14,767 --> 00:18:16,934
We've got a missing person case
334
00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:19,600
where the witness
that owns a pickup truck
335
00:18:19,767 --> 00:18:21,633
admitted that
he drove her home in it.
336
00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:23,767
Police put out
a press release
337
00:18:23,934 --> 00:18:25,967
stating there was
new information
338
00:18:26,133 --> 00:18:29,266
on the disappearance
of Barbara Eyapaise,
339
00:18:29,433 --> 00:18:31,266
May have been
a dark-colored pickup truck
340
00:18:31,433 --> 00:18:35,100
in this line of traffic,
and we've been told
341
00:18:35,266 --> 00:18:37,166
there were two people
in this truck
342
00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:39,734
that were attracting the
attention of other motorists.
343
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:41,367
So we're asking
if anyone has seen this
344
00:18:41,533 --> 00:18:43,100
or has any information
regarding this truck,
345
00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:44,567
if they could give us a call.
346
00:18:44,734 --> 00:18:46,934
So, what we released
to the media as a follow-up
347
00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:49,734
was a description
of this truck,
348
00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:51,266
including the fact
that the truck had
349
00:18:51,433 --> 00:18:52,667
a burnt-out taillight.
350
00:18:52,834 --> 00:18:54,433
We released the fact that
351
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,967
there was two occupants
of the vehicle
352
00:18:57,133 --> 00:18:59,734
and they seemed to be
in some type of altercation,
353
00:18:59,900 --> 00:19:02,033
and we released the time
354
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,000
and the location
of this vehicle.
355
00:19:04,166 --> 00:19:07,100
What we didn't release
and what was hold back for us
356
00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:09,967
was the fact
that the truck driver
357
00:19:10,133 --> 00:19:13,767
saw a female trying
to get out of the vehicle
358
00:19:13,934 --> 00:19:16,700
and through that door
and then being pulled back.
359
00:19:16,867 --> 00:19:19,300
And so that's the piece
that we held back
360
00:19:19,467 --> 00:19:20,767
in this particular case.
361
00:19:20,934 --> 00:19:23,567
By now, Mr. Abma is a suspect.
362
00:19:23,734 --> 00:19:27,333
We've got people
following him 24-7.
363
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:29,700
Well, then
we would watch Mr. Abma.
364
00:19:29,867 --> 00:19:31,400
He fixed his taillight
the next morning
365
00:19:31,567 --> 00:19:33,400
when the information
came out in the paper.
366
00:19:33,567 --> 00:19:35,834
Certainly
this is looking suspicious.
367
00:19:37,266 --> 00:19:38,300
Just over a month
368
00:19:38,467 --> 00:19:41,100
after Barbara Eyapaise vanished,
369
00:19:41,266 --> 00:19:43,967
searchers began scouring
the countryside
370
00:19:44,133 --> 00:19:45,800
east of Calgary.
371
00:19:45,967 --> 00:19:47,333
Looking for things
that are unusual,
372
00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:48,834
out of place,
373
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,900
and that's the job
that we do.
374
00:19:51,967 --> 00:19:53,900
So as we track
Barbara's whereabouts
375
00:19:54,066 --> 00:19:56,533
as best we can,
we know she left Renegades,
376
00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:58,600
and then we suspect
that a few hours later
377
00:19:58,767 --> 00:20:01,500
at four o'clock in the morning
that she was seen
378
00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:03,767
in that truck
trying to get out.
379
00:20:03,934 --> 00:20:06,900
So what we did
was the investigators
380
00:20:07,066 --> 00:20:10,700
arranged for a search
of that particular area.
381
00:20:10,867 --> 00:20:14,133
So, we started
searching south of Langdon.
382
00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:15,367
Huge area.
383
00:20:16,367 --> 00:20:19,300
Some of us were out there
on our own time,
384
00:20:19,467 --> 00:20:20,700
driving around
just trying to see
385
00:20:20,867 --> 00:20:22,033
what the lay
of the land and stuff.
386
00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:23,900
We got our search
and rescue teams out there,
387
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:27,066
and we searched and searched
along the highway, you know,
388
00:20:27,233 --> 00:20:29,834
back a few hundred feet,
looking for small items.
389
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,633
So it wasn't-- We weren't
looking for big items.
390
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,600
We were looking for
anything we could find.
391
00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:39,066
The search
continued for weeks.
392
00:20:39,233 --> 00:20:41,033
Well,
we have found some items,
393
00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,767
but we don't know
their significance
394
00:20:42,934 --> 00:20:44,333
or relevance
to the investigation.
395
00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:45,900
That'll be done
at a later time.
396
00:20:46,066 --> 00:20:47,633
We're just going to collect
everything that we can,
397
00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,300
and our people
398
00:20:50,467 --> 00:20:52,767
will be examined thoroughly
afterwards.
399
00:20:52,934 --> 00:20:56,266
But there was
still no sign of Barbara.
400
00:20:56,433 --> 00:20:57,900
We had a belief that
401
00:20:58,066 --> 00:21:00,467
she was no longer alive,
and we were determined
402
00:21:00,633 --> 00:21:04,400
to do everything
we could to find her killer.
403
00:21:04,567 --> 00:21:08,600
I was giving news releases,
like, I met with the reporters
404
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:12,633
in a parking lot
by my home or in the office
405
00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,133
or out at Renegades
and stuff like that.
406
00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:18,033
Like, it was just constant.
407
00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:22,233
So, this is where Renegades
used to be.
408
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:23,700
The bar is gone.
409
00:21:23,867 --> 00:21:25,100
The main entrance
would have been there
410
00:21:25,266 --> 00:21:26,900
where that chipboard's
on the wall.
411
00:21:27,066 --> 00:21:29,800
Detective Howland
stayed in constant contact
412
00:21:29,967 --> 00:21:33,066
with the Renegades bouncer,
Fred Abma,
413
00:21:33,233 --> 00:21:36,767
never letting on that he was
considered a suspect.
414
00:21:37,667 --> 00:21:39,834
"So, what do
you think happened?
415
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,133
You're the last person
to see our victim.
416
00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:44,633
What do you think happened?"
417
00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,600
Nothing that Abma
was telling us made sense.
418
00:21:48,567 --> 00:21:50,233
All it did
was raise suspicions.
419
00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,000
What Abma
didn't realize was that
420
00:21:53,166 --> 00:21:57,066
covert officers
were watching him 24-7.
421
00:21:59,133 --> 00:22:02,467
He spent time
establishing his own business
422
00:22:02,633 --> 00:22:04,734
called Fast Fred's.
423
00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:06,467
He was delivering appliances.
424
00:22:07,333 --> 00:22:09,166
It might have been a dryer,
some kind of appliance.
425
00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:11,300
He had delivered
to a location of ours.
426
00:22:11,467 --> 00:22:13,934
At that seemingly
chance meeting,
427
00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:16,500
Fred Abma struck up
a conversation
428
00:22:16,667 --> 00:22:18,166
and jumped at a chance
429
00:22:18,333 --> 00:22:21,200
to discuss possible
business opportunities
430
00:22:21,367 --> 00:22:23,567
over drinks
at a Calgary bar.
431
00:22:35,266 --> 00:22:36,533
Throughout
the entire investigation,
432
00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:38,900
the investigators
are continuing to look to see
433
00:22:39,066 --> 00:22:42,367
if there's other investigative
strategies that they could use.
434
00:22:42,533 --> 00:22:45,000
It's been months now,
and we still have had
435
00:22:45,166 --> 00:22:47,166
no signs of life
from Barbara,
436
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:50,066
and we're not moving
the investigation further.
437
00:22:50,233 --> 00:22:54,667
The investigators make
a very bold choice to see
438
00:22:54,834 --> 00:22:55,967
if they could introduce
439
00:22:56,133 --> 00:22:59,700
undercover operators into
Abma's life.
440
00:23:28,934 --> 00:23:31,333
They were happy
to involve Mr. Abma,
441
00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:34,000
and they would
pay him cash for...
442
00:23:34,166 --> 00:23:35,900
For small jobs
that he would do,
443
00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:38,967
and this is how
the friendship developed.
444
00:23:39,133 --> 00:23:40,934
What always happens
in these operations
445
00:23:41,100 --> 00:23:44,433
is that the undercover
officers...
446
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:49,867
want to gain
the trust of their target.
447
00:23:50,033 --> 00:23:52,667
They want the target
to fully believe
448
00:23:52,834 --> 00:23:54,633
that they are criminals.
449
00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,467
At the time, we were given
very limited information,
450
00:23:57,633 --> 00:23:59,000
or at least I was,
451
00:23:59,166 --> 00:24:01,367
and the reason we have
limited information
452
00:24:01,533 --> 00:24:03,367
is to protect the integrity
of the investigation
453
00:24:03,533 --> 00:24:06,066
so that we don't know
what happened, right?
454
00:24:06,233 --> 00:24:09,700
I was aware
that a woman by the name
455
00:24:09,867 --> 00:24:12,767
of Barbara Eyapaise
was missing,
456
00:24:12,934 --> 00:24:15,667
and it was believed
that she may have been
457
00:24:15,834 --> 00:24:17,934
the victim of a homicide,
458
00:24:18,100 --> 00:24:21,133
and that Mr. Abma
was the suspect
459
00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:25,033
that the homicide
detectives had identified.
460
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,867
It's a tough file, and...
461
00:24:28,033 --> 00:24:31,200
even though Abma
has been lying to us,
462
00:24:31,367 --> 00:24:33,700
and he's a suspect,
we need evidence.
463
00:24:33,867 --> 00:24:36,266
It's not good enough
just to say he lied.
464
00:24:36,433 --> 00:24:37,300
We need evidence,
465
00:24:37,467 --> 00:24:39,533
We need to find Barbara,
466
00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:42,767
and/or we need some other
break in this particular case.
467
00:25:02,967 --> 00:25:04,166
Exactly two months
468
00:25:04,333 --> 00:25:07,200
after Barbara Eyapaise
disappeared,
469
00:25:07,367 --> 00:25:10,233
family, friends,
and strangers gathered
470
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,433
for a candlelight vigil.
471
00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,266
I'm just taking it
a day at a time,
472
00:25:14,433 --> 00:25:16,467
like, day by day,
like, it's hard.
473
00:25:16,633 --> 00:25:18,233
It's really hard
not knowing,
474
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,000
and this cold weather
doesn't help.
475
00:25:20,166 --> 00:25:23,166
Like, you know, I worry about
where she could be,
476
00:25:23,333 --> 00:25:25,500
she could be cold.
477
00:25:25,667 --> 00:25:27,533
No, but I'm just...
478
00:25:27,700 --> 00:25:29,533
I just feel
that there's something wrong
479
00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:33,400
because she would have been
trying to contact anyone of us.
480
00:25:38,300 --> 00:25:39,700
As time passed,
481
00:25:39,867 --> 00:25:43,467
Barbara's mother found it hard
to stay positive.
482
00:25:43,633 --> 00:25:45,734
I have hopes
that they'll find her
483
00:25:45,900 --> 00:25:49,066
and find out
what happened to her,
484
00:25:49,233 --> 00:25:52,133
but I don't think
I'll see my girl alive again.
485
00:25:52,300 --> 00:25:54,800
I just, you know,
I just have that feeling.
486
00:25:56,467 --> 00:25:59,533
After a month
or two goes by,
487
00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:02,300
you just basically know it's...
488
00:26:02,467 --> 00:26:05,166
It can turn out one way, right?
489
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:09,500
Police continued
to search east of the city,
490
00:26:09,667 --> 00:26:12,967
where the semi-truck driver
believed he saw Barbara
491
00:26:13,133 --> 00:26:15,700
trying to escape
from the vehicle.
492
00:26:15,867 --> 00:26:19,100
So now we arranged for more
of our search and rescue teams.
493
00:26:19,266 --> 00:26:20,667
They come out.
494
00:26:20,834 --> 00:26:22,834
They were out, I think,
a total of three times.
495
00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,166
One time we had,
496
00:26:24,333 --> 00:26:26,734
must have had
50 members out there,
497
00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:28,600
like, walking the bush
498
00:26:28,767 --> 00:26:30,333
and down by the river
and stuff like that.
499
00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:31,900
We needed to go over that land
500
00:26:32,066 --> 00:26:35,300
because you can hide
a body behind a tree,
501
00:26:36,233 --> 00:26:39,066
and we believed
that she was out in that area.
502
00:26:39,233 --> 00:26:41,900
On our own time, like when
we're not scheduled to work,
503
00:26:42,066 --> 00:26:43,567
let's go look.
504
00:26:43,734 --> 00:26:46,767
At this point,
the undercover operation
505
00:26:46,934 --> 00:26:49,734
targeting the bouncer,
Fred Abma,
506
00:26:49,900 --> 00:26:51,734
was well underway.
507
00:26:51,900 --> 00:26:53,066
Mr. Abma...
508
00:26:54,734 --> 00:26:57,433
I believe, at least
at that point in time,
509
00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,333
may have started to feel
that he was in the clear
510
00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:01,934
because it was--
511
00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:03,767
Nothing was being
said anymore
512
00:27:03,934 --> 00:27:05,533
on the news or media.
513
00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:07,633
The police
weren't hounding him.
514
00:27:19,333 --> 00:27:21,900
Then,
three-and-a-half months
515
00:27:22,066 --> 00:27:24,667
after Barbara Eyapaise
vanished...
516
00:27:25,734 --> 00:27:26,900
On the 27th of April,
517
00:27:27,066 --> 00:27:28,600
we got a phone call
518
00:27:28,767 --> 00:27:31,000
that a fisherman
had found a body
519
00:27:31,166 --> 00:27:33,700
in the Bow River,
south of Langdon.
520
00:27:36,033 --> 00:27:37,800
Investigators drove about an hour
521
00:27:37,967 --> 00:27:41,266
southeast of Calgary
to investigate further,
522
00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:43,266
to the south shore
of the river
523
00:27:43,433 --> 00:27:46,233
near Wyndham-Carseland
Provincial Park.
524
00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:49,300
We had help
from Fish and Wildlife.
525
00:27:49,467 --> 00:27:51,100
They provided a boat
and an operator that--
526
00:27:51,266 --> 00:27:53,166
We got her on the boat,
and they took her over
527
00:27:53,333 --> 00:27:54,800
to a wharf
where they could load her
528
00:27:54,967 --> 00:27:56,200
into the coroner's van.
529
00:27:56,367 --> 00:27:58,066
Rather than get people's
hopes up or not,
530
00:27:58,233 --> 00:27:59,567
we're going to wait until
the M-E tells us
531
00:27:59,734 --> 00:28:00,767
who the victim is.
532
00:28:00,934 --> 00:28:02,867
So after the remains
were located,
533
00:28:03,033 --> 00:28:06,867
we did send out a media release
with regards to that,
534
00:28:07,033 --> 00:28:09,333
just that we located
the remains.
535
00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:12,367
And then we saw a newspaper
article that actually came out
536
00:28:12,533 --> 00:28:14,100
that talked about
what we released,
537
00:28:14,266 --> 00:28:17,533
but also put in some additional
information in there.
538
00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:21,500
It talked about the truck
driver and that particular tip,
539
00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:25,567
and it also quoted
Abma in that article.
540
00:28:25,734 --> 00:28:28,033
But what was of interest
to us in particular
541
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,100
was the fact
that in the article,
542
00:28:30,266 --> 00:28:32,700
it talked about a female
trying to get out
543
00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:36,367
of the passenger window
of a truck.
544
00:28:36,533 --> 00:28:37,600
"They were
following up a report
545
00:28:37,767 --> 00:28:39,567
of a partially nude woman
seen struggling
546
00:28:39,734 --> 00:28:41,667
and hanging out
of the passenger window
547
00:28:41,834 --> 00:28:44,800
of a moving pickup truck
along Highway 22X."
548
00:28:44,967 --> 00:28:47,367
And that was supposedly a tip
549
00:28:47,533 --> 00:28:48,934
that had come
from the truck driver.
550
00:28:49,100 --> 00:28:51,033
That was not information
we had released,
551
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,133
and in fact,
it wasn't accurate.
552
00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:56,400
As we know, she was--
A female was trying to get out
553
00:28:56,567 --> 00:28:59,633
of the door, not the window.
554
00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,633
So for us, it was inaccurate,
555
00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,400
and we just let it play.
556
00:29:05,567 --> 00:29:06,767
I know it's her.
557
00:29:07,633 --> 00:29:10,667
Even without
official confirmation,
558
00:29:10,834 --> 00:29:13,700
Nellie Eyapaise
felt in her heart
559
00:29:13,867 --> 00:29:16,200
that the body
recovered from the river
560
00:29:16,367 --> 00:29:18,033
was Barbara.
561
00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,233
Something told me
that she was in the water.
562
00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,033
I just-- Gut, I don't know.
563
00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:23,333
It's, you know,
mother's intuition,
564
00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:25,433
I guess you'd call it,
but I just knew
565
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,467
she was in the water
somewhere.
566
00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:30,300
That's when
she blew out the candle
567
00:29:30,467 --> 00:29:32,700
she had kept lit
for her daughter.
568
00:29:35,166 --> 00:29:36,834
In this particular case,
569
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,400
it took dental records
and skeletal records
570
00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:41,834
to confirm that in fact
571
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,667
the body the fishermen saw
was Barbara.
572
00:29:44,834 --> 00:29:46,934
As far as cause of death goes,
573
00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:50,834
the medical examiner said
it was really undetermined,
574
00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,300
but he couldn't
rule out choking.
575
00:29:53,467 --> 00:29:55,934
It was not easy, because Nellie
wanted to see her daughter
576
00:29:56,100 --> 00:29:58,567
and I had to tell Nellie that
577
00:29:58,734 --> 00:30:01,000
there's not going to be
an open casket.
578
00:30:01,166 --> 00:30:02,967
You know,
she was in bad shape.
579
00:30:03,567 --> 00:30:06,800
Three months under the water,
under the ice...
580
00:30:07,967 --> 00:30:10,100
above the ice, predation.
581
00:30:10,266 --> 00:30:11,700
You know,
she was in rough shape.
582
00:30:11,867 --> 00:30:13,600
We're just
going to put her to rest,
583
00:30:13,767 --> 00:30:15,600
have a decent
funeral for her,
584
00:30:17,266 --> 00:30:18,834
And just try and continue on.
585
00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,166
Like, it's going to be hard,
586
00:30:20,333 --> 00:30:23,934
but that's
what Barbara would want.
587
00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:26,100
She was a fighter
right to the end.
588
00:30:26,266 --> 00:30:28,367
Once again, Barbara's case
589
00:30:28,533 --> 00:30:30,433
topped local news headlines.
590
00:30:31,333 --> 00:30:33,233
Well, when we have
an undercover operation
591
00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:35,033
ongoing and
there's something
592
00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,300
that is significant
to the file that happens,
593
00:30:38,467 --> 00:30:41,233
such as in this case
where we've located Barbara,
594
00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,767
and we've now gone public
with that information,
595
00:30:43,934 --> 00:30:45,800
or at least
some of that information,
596
00:30:45,967 --> 00:30:50,266
it often
is a great opportunity
597
00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:52,567
for our undercover operators
598
00:30:52,734 --> 00:30:56,967
and the subject
to have conversation around it.
599
00:30:57,133 --> 00:30:59,633
And that's exactly
what happened,
600
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:04,000
just days after
Barbara's body was recovered.
601
00:31:04,166 --> 00:31:06,967
At that time,
we were still
602
00:31:07,133 --> 00:31:08,700
hanging out with Mr. Abma.
603
00:31:08,867 --> 00:31:10,600
Maybe he felt like the police
were kind of closing in
604
00:31:10,767 --> 00:31:13,300
and that he was feeling
his jeopardy.
605
00:31:13,467 --> 00:31:15,433
The police
had reached out to him
606
00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:17,834
and claimed that they had
some new evidence
607
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:19,400
or something to that effect,
608
00:31:19,567 --> 00:31:22,200
and wanted
to interview him again.
609
00:31:22,367 --> 00:31:25,900
And it was following
that that he had...
610
00:31:27,233 --> 00:31:29,500
essentially told myself
611
00:31:29,667 --> 00:31:33,567
and another operator
that he was involved
612
00:31:33,734 --> 00:31:36,500
and responsible
for Barbara Eyapaise death.
613
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:44,500
And so, as it always
does go,
614
00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:47,700
they talk about Mr. Big.
615
00:31:47,867 --> 00:31:50,100
They talk about their boss,
616
00:31:50,266 --> 00:31:53,333
and that their boss
can fix a lot of things
617
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:55,767
in the criminal justice area.
618
00:31:56,767 --> 00:32:00,433
Mr. Abma just has to be frank
and truthful with the boss
619
00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,300
so that he knows what the real
problem is and how to fix it.
620
00:32:13,767 --> 00:32:16,633
According to Mr. Abma,
they had consensual sex
621
00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:19,600
and then afterwards,
he went to drive her home.
622
00:32:19,767 --> 00:32:23,100
And at that point in time,
he said that Ms. Eyapaise
623
00:32:23,266 --> 00:32:26,166
accused him of,
in his words, of raping her.
624
00:32:26,333 --> 00:32:31,700
He said that he did not want
that allegation of rape.
625
00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:34,467
He knew somebody that
had been charged previously
626
00:32:34,633 --> 00:32:35,834
and what that person
went through,
627
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,066
and he didn't want
to go through the same thing.
628
00:32:38,233 --> 00:32:40,500
So, I think
he used the words
629
00:32:40,667 --> 00:32:42,934
getting rid of the problem
or taking care of the problem
630
00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:44,400
or something to that effect.
631
00:32:44,567 --> 00:32:47,300
From that, he said
that he ended up driving...
632
00:32:48,633 --> 00:32:50,667
down Highway 797
633
00:32:50,834 --> 00:32:52,867
down to a body of water
634
00:32:53,033 --> 00:32:56,934
where he had killed
Ms. Eyapaise
635
00:32:57,100 --> 00:32:59,333
and discarded her
into the river.
636
00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,533
Abma told officers
that a trucker
637
00:33:05,700 --> 00:33:08,767
likely saw Barbara
as she tried to escape
638
00:33:08,934 --> 00:33:11,700
out the passenger door
of his truck.
639
00:33:33,166 --> 00:33:36,367
Hold back
is so important in...
640
00:33:36,533 --> 00:33:38,567
really any investigation,
641
00:33:38,734 --> 00:33:41,066
but certainly
investigations like this.
642
00:33:41,233 --> 00:33:43,967
And in this particular case,
643
00:33:44,133 --> 00:33:45,967
what we had was Abma
644
00:33:46,133 --> 00:33:49,533
talking to undercover operators
and he confessed to the crime.
645
00:33:49,700 --> 00:33:52,166
He confessed
to murdering Barbara.
646
00:33:52,333 --> 00:33:54,133
But on top of that,
there's what I would call
647
00:33:54,300 --> 00:33:55,500
a reverse hold back.
648
00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:57,834
There was the information
that was in the article
649
00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:02,066
about a female trying to get
out of a passenger window
650
00:34:02,233 --> 00:34:04,333
of the truck
on Glenmore Trail.
651
00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:06,734
And we know that
that's not what happened.
652
00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:10,500
And in fact, Abma was adamant
that that's not what happened.
653
00:34:10,667 --> 00:34:12,367
And he told
the undercover operators,
654
00:34:12,533 --> 00:34:14,266
actually she was trying
to get out of the door.
655
00:34:14,433 --> 00:34:16,266
A female trying to get
out of the door of that truck,
656
00:34:16,433 --> 00:34:17,567
we had never told anybody.
657
00:34:17,734 --> 00:34:19,367
We had never
released to the media.
658
00:34:19,533 --> 00:34:22,200
And so, but he was adamant
that the information
659
00:34:22,367 --> 00:34:24,000
about the window
was inaccurate.
660
00:34:24,166 --> 00:34:26,033
And he was right,
it was inaccurate.
661
00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:27,633
That became
very, very crucial
662
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,300
to corroborating
his confession.
663
00:34:31,433 --> 00:34:33,433
At one point,
Abner drew a map
664
00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,700
for undercover officers
to better describe the route
665
00:34:36,867 --> 00:34:39,567
he had taken
after they left the bar.
666
00:34:59,367 --> 00:35:01,300
He had ran out of gas
near Langdon.
667
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:04,367
And that he had
pushed his truck either
668
00:35:04,533 --> 00:35:06,533
up to the gas station
or near the gas station.
669
00:35:06,700 --> 00:35:11,200
He described the gas attendant
and he also described
670
00:35:11,367 --> 00:35:15,433
telling us a story about
how he told this gas attendant
671
00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,633
that he was out there looking
for a fifth wheel trailer
672
00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,166
that he had sold to two guys
from Newfoundland
673
00:35:21,333 --> 00:35:22,600
that didn't pay him.
674
00:35:22,767 --> 00:35:24,133
They tracked down
the lady that was working
675
00:35:24,300 --> 00:35:26,934
at the gas station at the time
that Abma stopped there.
676
00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:28,400
Got a statement from her,
and yes,
677
00:35:28,567 --> 00:35:29,900
she confirmed
that he was there.
678
00:35:30,066 --> 00:35:31,600
Described his vehicle and him.
679
00:35:31,767 --> 00:35:34,533
And got his name
because she had asked for it.
680
00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:36,867
It was pretty clear that
681
00:35:37,033 --> 00:35:40,467
this was a legitimate
confession.
682
00:35:58,900 --> 00:35:59,834
Welcome back.
683
00:36:00,066 --> 00:36:01,100
Three and a half months
684
00:36:01,266 --> 00:36:03,233
after Barbara Eyapaise
disappeared,
685
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,000
the search sadly
ended in heartbreak.
686
00:36:06,166 --> 00:36:08,400
Her body
was recovered from a river.
687
00:36:08,567 --> 00:36:10,934
Downstream, in fact,
from where a semi-truck driver
688
00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:12,967
saw her trying to escape.
689
00:36:13,133 --> 00:36:17,367
Then, a confession
in a Mr. Big sting operation,
690
00:36:17,533 --> 00:36:19,500
but would there be
justice for Barbara?
691
00:36:21,767 --> 00:36:23,433
Here now is Nancy Hixt
692
00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,333
with the conclusion
of "Last Call."
693
00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:33,600
Every day I put an X down
that I--
694
00:36:33,767 --> 00:36:36,767
that I haven't heard nothing,
I haven't seen nothing.
695
00:36:36,934 --> 00:36:40,633
Nellie Eyapaise
had marked 100 X's
696
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,867
on her calendar
until her daughter was found.
697
00:36:45,033 --> 00:36:47,800
The 17th, that was the
last day I was with my girl.
698
00:36:47,967 --> 00:36:50,266
A hundred days exactly, yeah.
699
00:36:50,433 --> 00:36:52,867
It's the hardest
thing in my life
700
00:36:53,033 --> 00:36:56,834
was the first hundred days
701
00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,100
'til they recovered her body.
702
00:37:00,266 --> 00:37:04,200
It just drove me crazy
every day.
703
00:37:04,367 --> 00:37:08,133
Just days later,
on May 3rd, 2002,
704
00:37:08,300 --> 00:37:10,800
Fred Abma was arrested.
705
00:37:10,967 --> 00:37:12,467
I just put a big X on there
706
00:37:12,633 --> 00:37:14,467
that charges were laid down.
707
00:37:14,633 --> 00:37:15,934
They said,
"We got good news,
708
00:37:16,100 --> 00:37:18,200
we found the guy,
we've arrested him."
709
00:37:18,367 --> 00:37:21,300
The first thing
that went through my mind was,
710
00:37:21,467 --> 00:37:23,100
"My girl, you can rest now.
711
00:37:23,266 --> 00:37:25,000
We found him.
We found your killer."
712
00:37:25,166 --> 00:37:27,633
You know, "Whoever hurt you,
we found him.
713
00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:28,967
You can rest."
714
00:37:29,633 --> 00:37:30,800
He admitted to everything.
715
00:37:32,300 --> 00:37:34,100
You know, he confirmed it
with the little things too.
716
00:37:34,266 --> 00:37:37,133
It wasn't just the admission
to the undercover guys.
717
00:37:37,300 --> 00:37:39,533
It was, you know,
telling us exactly
718
00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:41,333
what the truck driver saw.
719
00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:42,834
No one else knew that.
720
00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:44,867
Found a cell phone
on the passenger side floor
721
00:37:45,033 --> 00:37:46,367
of his truck.
722
00:37:46,533 --> 00:37:47,734
Had 911 dial on it.
723
00:37:48,767 --> 00:37:50,767
How long
was this girl alive?
724
00:37:50,934 --> 00:37:52,667
And she knew
she was going to die.
725
00:37:53,567 --> 00:37:54,867
She was trying
to get out of the truck
726
00:37:55,033 --> 00:37:56,233
when they crossed 22X.
727
00:37:57,367 --> 00:37:59,834
She knew it wasn't good.
Imagine the fear.
728
00:38:01,033 --> 00:38:03,000
It's a relief
to finally know that someone
729
00:38:03,166 --> 00:38:06,967
that can commit this type
of a crime is off the streets
730
00:38:07,133 --> 00:38:10,066
and it's going to be
facing a trial.
731
00:38:10,233 --> 00:38:13,400
Even after
the damning confessions,
732
00:38:13,567 --> 00:38:15,600
investigators continued to search
733
00:38:15,767 --> 00:38:17,633
for further evidence.
734
00:38:19,233 --> 00:38:21,767
They returned to the shore
of the Bow River,
735
00:38:21,934 --> 00:38:24,133
hoping to find
Barbara's clothing.
736
00:38:26,667 --> 00:38:28,033
If they were located,
for instance,
737
00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:30,333
it might even give us
a better understanding
738
00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:35,734
of what happened, those moments
leading up to her death.
739
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:37,066
And then I kept
working on it,
740
00:38:37,233 --> 00:38:38,967
trying to just tie up
loose ends and stuff.
741
00:38:39,133 --> 00:38:41,433
And I went back and talked
to the original person
742
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:43,967
that gave us
the alibi on May 5th,
743
00:38:44,133 --> 00:38:45,600
and he recanted
everything and said,
744
00:38:45,767 --> 00:38:47,567
no, Abma had threatened him
745
00:38:47,734 --> 00:38:51,467
and, like, told him he had to
tell us that he was there.
746
00:38:51,633 --> 00:38:53,700
I think it's
a horrendous situation.
747
00:38:53,867 --> 00:38:55,767
You have this young woman
748
00:38:55,934 --> 00:38:57,900
that was out having
a good time with family
749
00:38:58,066 --> 00:38:59,700
and then with friends,
750
00:38:59,867 --> 00:39:03,266
is looking
to get a ride home,
751
00:39:03,433 --> 00:39:06,333
had money stolen from her
so she couldn't take a cab,
752
00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:10,233
is looking for a ride home,
and she gets a ride
753
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:13,133
from somebody that,
although off duty at the time,
754
00:39:13,300 --> 00:39:16,333
was working-- Works at that bar
and works as a bouncer,
755
00:39:16,500 --> 00:39:18,800
works as a security person
for that bar.
756
00:39:18,967 --> 00:39:22,033
And I have no doubt
that she trusted him,
757
00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:23,934
even just by his job.
758
00:39:26,867 --> 00:39:29,033
In October of 2003,
759
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:33,133
almost two years after
Barbara Eyapaise went missing,
760
00:39:33,300 --> 00:39:35,800
her accused killer, Fred Abma
761
00:39:35,967 --> 00:39:38,934
stood trial
in front of a judge alone.
762
00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:43,400
So the theory of the crown
and of the investigator is that
763
00:39:43,567 --> 00:39:46,066
Abma had plenty of time
764
00:39:46,233 --> 00:39:48,100
to plan out
what he was going to do,
765
00:39:48,266 --> 00:39:50,467
that it was about
a 30 minute drive,
766
00:39:50,633 --> 00:39:53,166
and during that time
that he had planned out
767
00:39:53,333 --> 00:39:55,100
that he was actually
going to kill Barbara
768
00:39:55,266 --> 00:39:56,667
and dispose of her.
769
00:39:56,834 --> 00:40:00,200
And so he was
ultimately charged of,
770
00:40:00,367 --> 00:40:01,734
for first degree murder.
771
00:40:01,900 --> 00:40:07,033
The key evidence in this case
was the Mr. Big confessions.
772
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:09,800
And I say plural confessions
773
00:40:09,967 --> 00:40:12,500
because he had told
to friends that he'd made,
774
00:40:12,667 --> 00:40:16,967
and then he told Mr. Big
the same story, and that--
775
00:40:17,133 --> 00:40:19,633
that was the key
evidence against him.
776
00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:21,900
His testimony...
777
00:40:22,066 --> 00:40:24,200
was that he had
dropped her off at her house,
778
00:40:24,367 --> 00:40:25,867
as he'd said,
779
00:40:26,033 --> 00:40:28,967
and that there was somebody
in a car that had followed them
780
00:40:29,133 --> 00:40:32,734
from the bar and the last
he saw of her was there.
781
00:40:32,900 --> 00:40:35,700
And then later, he hears
that she's missing. He--
782
00:40:36,500 --> 00:40:37,934
And the police
want to question him.
783
00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:40,033
He hits the panic button
and says,
784
00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:41,934
"I made a false alibi up
785
00:40:42,100 --> 00:40:44,967
because I was the last one
who was with her."
786
00:40:46,333 --> 00:40:48,400
After six weeks of evidence,
787
00:40:48,567 --> 00:40:52,300
Fred Abma was convicted
of first degree murder.
788
00:40:52,467 --> 00:40:55,567
The judge looked at all
of the evidence, including...
789
00:40:55,734 --> 00:40:57,800
the confessions by Mr. Abma
790
00:40:57,967 --> 00:40:59,934
to the undercover police
officers and said,
791
00:41:00,166 --> 00:41:02,033
"I have no reason
to doubt these."
792
00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:04,900
It makes sense that
the body could have been dumped
793
00:41:05,066 --> 00:41:08,900
where Mr. Abma said and that
it was flowed downstream
794
00:41:09,066 --> 00:41:10,433
because the river ice
was melting,
795
00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:12,233
the river was flowing.
796
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,367
The truck driver who saw
797
00:41:14,533 --> 00:41:18,400
this pair of naked legs
hanging out the vehicle...
798
00:41:18,567 --> 00:41:20,934
with the distinctive
left taillight out
799
00:41:21,100 --> 00:41:22,600
and the same type of vehicle.
800
00:41:22,767 --> 00:41:24,266
All of that added up,
801
00:41:24,433 --> 00:41:25,767
all of these little pieces.
802
00:41:25,934 --> 00:41:28,767
The fact that Mr. Abma
had gone for gasoline
803
00:41:28,934 --> 00:41:32,800
and even given his name
to the gas attendant very near
804
00:41:32,967 --> 00:41:35,467
where he says the body
was put into the river.
805
00:41:35,633 --> 00:41:39,000
All of that circumstantially
became overwhelming.
806
00:41:39,166 --> 00:41:41,066
Judge found that
it was planned and deliberate
807
00:41:41,233 --> 00:41:43,300
that he had planned
to kill her
808
00:41:44,734 --> 00:41:46,567
while basically
while he was driving,
809
00:41:46,734 --> 00:41:50,266
which meant
an automatic life sentence
810
00:41:50,433 --> 00:41:54,967
with parole
ineligibility of 25 years.
811
00:41:56,133 --> 00:42:00,400
Barbara's parents left
court feeling some relief.
812
00:42:00,567 --> 00:42:02,667
She was the apple of our eye,
I'm telling you.
813
00:42:02,834 --> 00:42:04,066
She was my only daughter.
814
00:42:05,533 --> 00:42:07,967
At least we get some
kind of closure on this now.
815
00:42:08,133 --> 00:42:10,567
We can't
let this destroy us.
816
00:42:10,734 --> 00:42:12,300
We can't.
817
00:42:12,467 --> 00:42:15,033
But in the end,
that's exactly
818
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:18,233
what Fred Abma did
to Barbara's family.
819
00:42:19,633 --> 00:42:22,834
Nellie Eyapaise
passed away in 2010.
820
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,200
She wasn't the same,
she just lost...
821
00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:29,233
all the will for anything
after that.
822
00:42:32,333 --> 00:42:34,166
He destroyed our family.
823
00:42:36,333 --> 00:42:39,000
That's pretty nerve wracking,
even telling you guys this.
824
00:42:39,166 --> 00:42:42,467
Other than in the
Mr. Big sting operation,
825
00:42:42,633 --> 00:42:47,233
Fred Abma has never admitted
to killing Barbara Eyapaise
826
00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:50,200
and never expressed remorse.
827
00:42:50,367 --> 00:42:53,066
Yeah,
everybody knows except him.
828
00:42:53,233 --> 00:42:54,967
I don't know why.
829
00:42:55,133 --> 00:42:56,300
You know.
830
00:42:56,467 --> 00:42:59,000
If he said he was sorry...
831
00:43:00,467 --> 00:43:03,600
you know, had a little remorse,
832
00:43:03,767 --> 00:43:05,767
actually I probably
wouldn't say, well...
833
00:43:07,333 --> 00:43:09,533
give the guy
another chance.
834
00:43:09,700 --> 00:43:13,800
But I hear he has no remorse.
835
00:43:13,967 --> 00:43:15,000
Jesus.
836
00:43:16,166 --> 00:43:18,533
That sickens me
in a roundabout way.
837
00:43:18,700 --> 00:43:20,567
I'm scared for other people.
838
00:43:20,734 --> 00:43:22,900
I'm scared
if he ever gets out...
839
00:43:24,133 --> 00:43:26,033
that it could happen again.
840
00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:28,633
That's what I worry about.
841
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,934
I don't want him to
another girl,
842
00:43:31,100 --> 00:43:32,467
another family.
843
00:43:40,433 --> 00:43:43,033
As Barbara's father
battles cancer,
844
00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:48,033
he can't help but feel robbed
of time and precious memories
845
00:43:48,200 --> 00:43:50,300
he could have had
with his daughter.
846
00:43:51,166 --> 00:43:53,033
I just love her smile.
847
00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:54,467
Yeah.
848
00:43:55,867 --> 00:43:57,333
I do miss my girl.
849
00:43:58,567 --> 00:44:00,166
Everybody missed her.
850
00:44:01,100 --> 00:44:04,033
That word, closure, there's
no such thing as closure.
851
00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:06,266
I wish there was,
but there's not.
852
00:44:08,734 --> 00:44:10,900
Sometimes, I just...
853
00:44:11,066 --> 00:44:13,633
hear a tune that I know
Barbara would like,
854
00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:15,800
tear might come to my eyes.
855
00:44:16,533 --> 00:44:18,667
You know,
she was a great daughter.
856
00:44:22,967 --> 00:44:25,000
Fred Abma
remains in prison
857
00:44:25,166 --> 00:44:28,900
and runs several online pages
proclaiming his innocence.
858
00:44:29,066 --> 00:44:30,400
In 2020, he requested
859
00:44:30,567 --> 00:44:33,033
a ministerial review
of his case.
860
00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,400
However, officials determined
there was no reasonable basis
861
00:44:36,567 --> 00:44:39,767
to conclude a miscarriage
of justice occurred.
862
00:44:39,934 --> 00:44:41,433
As of the release
of this episode,
863
00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:45,200
he has been denied
day and full parole.
864
00:44:45,367 --> 00:44:48,633
After her death, a donation
was made in Barbara's name,
865
00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:50,266
contributing
to a scholarship fund
866
00:44:50,433 --> 00:44:51,867
at Bow Valley College,
867
00:44:52,033 --> 00:44:53,867
awarded to students enrolled
868
00:44:54,033 --> 00:44:56,000
in the Practical
Nursing Program.
869
00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:01,066
Thank you for joining us
tonight on Crime Beat.
870
00:45:01,233 --> 00:45:02,700
I'm Antony Robart.
871
00:45:04,200 --> 00:45:06,033
Want more episodes
of Crime Beat?
872
00:45:06,200 --> 00:45:09,000
Listen to the Crime Beat
podcast now for free
873
00:45:09,166 --> 00:45:12,600
on Apple Podcasts,
Spotify or wherever you find
874
00:45:12,767 --> 00:45:14,066
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875
00:45:14,233 --> 00:45:16,433
And for past episodes
of Crime Beat,
876
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:20,433
go to the Global TV app,
visit globaltv.com
877
00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:23,800
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