1
00:00:03,670 --> 00:00:07,439
It was a horrific scene.
She was stabbed 44 times.
2
00:00:08,375 --> 00:00:12,311
She was alive for 33
of those stab wounds.
3
00:00:12,313 --> 00:00:14,346
There's some personal
connection.
4
00:00:14,348 --> 00:00:17,016
This was somebody's rage
boiling over.
5
00:00:18,785 --> 00:00:20,452
She was a great big sister.
6
00:00:20,454 --> 00:00:22,154
She was the oldest kid
in our block.
7
00:00:22,156 --> 00:00:24,590
We all kind of lost a mentor.
8
00:00:25,392 --> 00:00:28,260
It really turned this town
upside down.
9
00:00:28,262 --> 00:00:30,763
The killer
was still on the loose.
10
00:00:30,765 --> 00:00:34,700
[man] He was very abusive,
a lot of yelling and fights.
11
00:00:34,702 --> 00:00:39,171
He's engaged
in stalking younger females.
12
00:00:39,173 --> 00:00:42,207
He was known to carry knives
frequently.
13
00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:44,143
He looked like a really
good suspect.
14
00:00:45,245 --> 00:00:47,413
It's been 24 years,
15
00:00:47,415 --> 00:00:50,249
investigators are really
at a standstill here
16
00:00:50,251 --> 00:00:53,052
of why and more importantly,
who.
17
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,922
The DNA results revealed a name
18
00:00:56,924 --> 00:00:59,825
I definitely did not expect
to hear again.
19
00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:02,961
This is like discovering
a new planet,
20
00:01:02,963 --> 00:01:05,330
a suspect who had been
hiding in plain sight
21
00:01:05,332 --> 00:01:06,799
for nearly three decades.
22
00:01:10,336 --> 00:01:14,873
[narrator] Every day in North America
dozens of people are murdered.
23
00:01:14,875 --> 00:01:17,376
The key to solving the
toughest of these homicides
24
00:01:17,378 --> 00:01:20,512
lies in the final 24 hours
of the victim's life.
25
00:01:21,381 --> 00:01:23,048
To crack the case,
26
00:01:23,050 --> 00:01:26,618
detectives must reconstruct
that critical timeline,
27
00:01:26,620 --> 00:01:29,388
the minutes and hours
containing evidence
28
00:01:29,390 --> 00:01:33,192
that can help unlock the
mystery and catch the killer.
29
00:01:42,368 --> 00:01:46,271
Pleasanton, California
is a suburban oasis
30
00:01:46,273 --> 00:01:49,108
where families embody
the American Dream...
31
00:01:50,677 --> 00:01:52,344
with well-manicured lawns,
32
00:01:52,346 --> 00:01:56,482
white picket fences
and barbecues all summer long.
33
00:01:58,418 --> 00:02:01,987
True to its name,
Pleasanton is very pleasant.
34
00:02:01,989 --> 00:02:06,225
It's an everybody knows
everybody kind of a place.
35
00:02:06,227 --> 00:02:11,063
Pleasanton in 1984
was just a very small town.
36
00:02:11,065 --> 00:02:12,931
Only about 30,000 people.
37
00:02:12,933 --> 00:02:16,001
Had a really cute main street,
still does.
38
00:02:16,003 --> 00:02:17,903
There wasn't a lot of crime.
39
00:02:17,905 --> 00:02:20,139
It was not uncommon for people
40
00:02:20,141 --> 00:02:22,875
to feel that we can leave
our doors unlocked,
41
00:02:22,877 --> 00:02:24,776
our windows open.
42
00:02:24,778 --> 00:02:26,311
[narrator]
But on a warm afternoon,
43
00:02:26,313 --> 00:02:29,081
as students walk home
from school,
44
00:02:29,083 --> 00:02:32,651
the innocence of Pleasanton
would be shattered forever.
45
00:02:33,219 --> 00:02:36,188
On April 5th, 1984,
46
00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:39,958
Larry Lovall was driving
southbound on I-680
47
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,996
at about 3:10, 3:15
in the afternoon
48
00:02:43,998 --> 00:02:48,133
and noticed what he thought
was a child in distress
49
00:02:48,135 --> 00:02:50,135
on the side of the freeway.
50
00:02:50,137 --> 00:02:52,638
He pulled his truck
to the side of the road
51
00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:56,108
and he noticed the body
was covered in blood
52
00:02:56,110 --> 00:02:59,077
and was obviously in distress.
53
00:02:59,079 --> 00:03:04,383
So he took the next exit and
called 911 from a pay phone.
54
00:03:05,285 --> 00:03:07,886
[James Knox] After hearing
the call on the radio,
55
00:03:07,888 --> 00:03:10,756
Detective Craig Veteran
was in the area.
56
00:03:10,758 --> 00:03:13,859
He went down
into the creek area,
57
00:03:13,861 --> 00:03:17,629
at which time
he found the female body.
58
00:03:17,631 --> 00:03:21,166
He noted that there were
a number of stab wounds
59
00:03:21,168 --> 00:03:23,936
and clothing soaked
with her blood.
60
00:03:24,837 --> 00:03:26,905
She was obviously deceased.
61
00:03:26,907 --> 00:03:29,708
She was wearing
her school clothes,
62
00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:34,780
school books scattered about,
papers scattered,
63
00:03:34,782 --> 00:03:37,115
the blood soaked rocks
all around her,
64
00:03:37,117 --> 00:03:39,551
it was a horrific scene.
65
00:03:41,154 --> 00:03:43,989
[narrator] Among the responding
officers called to the scene
66
00:03:43,991 --> 00:03:46,325
is investigator James Knox
67
00:03:46,327 --> 00:03:49,094
from the Pleasanton
Police Department.
68
00:03:49,096 --> 00:03:50,362
[James Knox]
They brought us out
69
00:03:50,364 --> 00:03:52,798
and we actually did
what they call a grid search
70
00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:54,866
where you go back and forth
71
00:03:54,868 --> 00:03:57,302
looking to find
the murder weapon.
72
00:03:58,037 --> 00:04:00,639
But we're never able to locate
73
00:04:00,641 --> 00:04:04,243
what the victim
was stabbed with.
74
00:04:04,245 --> 00:04:08,347
In processing the crime scene,
detectives collected a purse
75
00:04:08,349 --> 00:04:12,017
that was found in the tree
directly above the body.
76
00:04:12,019 --> 00:04:15,287
And within that purse
there was a report card
77
00:04:15,289 --> 00:04:17,956
which had Tina Faelz's
name on it,
78
00:04:17,958 --> 00:04:20,892
and they were able to make
an initial identification
79
00:04:20,894 --> 00:04:23,028
based upon that.
80
00:04:24,230 --> 00:04:28,233
[narrator] Investigators ascertain
that the victim is Tina Faelz,
81
00:04:28,235 --> 00:04:32,070
a freshman at nearby
Foothill High School.
82
00:04:32,072 --> 00:04:36,108
Tina Faelz
was a very sweet girl.
83
00:04:36,110 --> 00:04:40,078
She was 14 years old at the
time that she was murdered.
84
00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,414
She came from
a really nice family.
85
00:04:42,416 --> 00:04:45,550
Her brother Drew was
eight years old at the time.
86
00:04:46,786 --> 00:04:48,253
Great big sister.
87
00:04:49,188 --> 00:04:51,990
Took on a mom role quite,
quite a bit
88
00:04:51,992 --> 00:04:54,026
because my mom
was working a lot.
89
00:04:54,961 --> 00:04:56,728
Oh, she was definitely
more of a wallflower.
90
00:04:56,730 --> 00:04:58,997
She would be a loner at times,
91
00:04:58,999 --> 00:05:01,800
but at the same time I
remember her being very mature
92
00:05:01,802 --> 00:05:04,136
just with the way she always
looked out for me.
93
00:05:06,139 --> 00:05:08,640
[narrator] Police traveled to
nearby Foothill High School
94
00:05:08,642 --> 00:05:11,276
to gather information about Tina
95
00:05:11,278 --> 00:05:14,346
and her movements in the hours
leading up to her murder.
96
00:05:15,315 --> 00:05:19,384
Tina's last class of the day
was Geography.
97
00:05:19,386 --> 00:05:21,620
After class was let out,
98
00:05:21,622 --> 00:05:23,989
she stayed after
and talked to the teacher,
99
00:05:23,991 --> 00:05:26,825
the Geography teacher
for a few minutes.
100
00:05:26,827 --> 00:05:29,661
She was supposed to attend
detention.
101
00:05:29,663 --> 00:05:31,330
She skipped detention.
102
00:05:31,332 --> 00:05:33,965
And when she's seen
by her classmates,
103
00:05:33,967 --> 00:05:37,336
she's last seen heading toward
the culvert.
104
00:05:38,104 --> 00:05:39,971
When Tina
and I first found the culvert,
105
00:05:39,973 --> 00:05:41,807
I remember we were playing
in the creek
106
00:05:41,809 --> 00:05:44,042
and we saw kids
hanging out there.
107
00:05:44,044 --> 00:05:45,310
And they explained to her,
108
00:05:45,312 --> 00:05:48,146
"Oh, this is a shortcut
to the high school."
109
00:05:48,148 --> 00:05:49,614
[Det. Dana]
Without that shortcut,
110
00:05:49,616 --> 00:05:52,851
Tina would have to go all
the way around the freeway,
111
00:05:52,853 --> 00:05:54,853
then it would be a much
longer journey.
112
00:05:54,855 --> 00:05:57,189
So the cut-through really
served its purpose.
113
00:05:58,658 --> 00:06:02,661
It's a wooded area, there's
not a lot of people out there,
114
00:06:02,663 --> 00:06:05,697
you can hear the freeway
buzzing in the background.
115
00:06:05,699 --> 00:06:10,769
It just has kind of
a scary feel, an ominous feel.
116
00:06:10,771 --> 00:06:13,305
Not somewhere that I would
want my kids to use as a cut through
117
00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:16,641
but very common
that the kids used that
118
00:06:16,643 --> 00:06:20,445
to get to their neighborhood
back in 1984.
119
00:06:20,447 --> 00:06:23,382
[narrator] Investigators speak
to some of Tina's classmates,
120
00:06:23,384 --> 00:06:26,952
learning her troubles
started earlier that day.
121
00:06:26,954 --> 00:06:29,087
[James Knox]
That day during lunch time
122
00:06:29,089 --> 00:06:31,790
a number of girls
had thrown rocks at Tina
123
00:06:31,792 --> 00:06:33,625
and threatened to beat her up.
124
00:06:34,994 --> 00:06:37,162
It kind of left us wondering
125
00:06:37,164 --> 00:06:40,866
if maybe Tina
was trying to avoid them
126
00:06:40,868 --> 00:06:43,602
and really wanted to get home.
127
00:06:44,203 --> 00:06:45,737
She stopped taking the bus
128
00:06:45,872 --> 00:06:49,107
just because that's where she's being
bullied, on the bus on the ride home.
129
00:06:50,276 --> 00:06:55,080
So ultimately the girls who were
responsible for threatening her,
130
00:06:55,082 --> 00:06:58,049
they were identified
and interviewed
131
00:06:58,051 --> 00:07:00,819
and they were determined
to not be involved
132
00:07:00,821 --> 00:07:05,056
or responsible
for Tina's murder.
133
00:07:05,058 --> 00:07:08,627
[narrator] After speaking with more
classmates about Tina's movements,
134
00:07:08,629 --> 00:07:12,364
detectives are able to narrow
down her timeline.
135
00:07:12,366 --> 00:07:15,367
The Geography teacher
last sees Tina
136
00:07:15,369 --> 00:07:18,270
around 2:30 in the afternoon.
137
00:07:18,272 --> 00:07:20,172
At around 3:00 p.m.,
138
00:07:20,174 --> 00:07:25,210
Weldon Mann and Todd Smith see
Tina leaving the school area.
139
00:07:26,279 --> 00:07:27,813
It takes about seven minutes
140
00:07:27,815 --> 00:07:31,516
to get from the high school
to the culvert.
141
00:07:31,518 --> 00:07:35,720
And the truck driver spots
Tina's body from the freeway
142
00:07:35,722 --> 00:07:38,356
at about 3:15.
143
00:07:38,358 --> 00:07:41,827
[James Knox] I'm guessing
probably around 3:05
144
00:07:41,829 --> 00:07:46,465
is the time where Tina was
assaulted and ultimately killed.
145
00:07:46,467 --> 00:07:51,036
And that makes it even more
difficult to really process
146
00:07:51,038 --> 00:07:53,238
and comprehend that someone
was able to do this
147
00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,142
in such a short time
and not be seen.
148
00:07:57,144 --> 00:07:59,244
[narrator]
To track down Tina's killer,
149
00:07:59,246 --> 00:08:03,548
detectives will need to piece
together her final 24 hours.
150
00:08:07,186 --> 00:08:11,490
One of the hardest parts of
investigating this case for me
151
00:08:11,492 --> 00:08:13,358
was when I saw
the autopsy photos.
152
00:08:14,026 --> 00:08:16,695
She was stabbed 44 times.
153
00:08:16,697 --> 00:08:21,399
She was alive for 33
of those stab wounds.
154
00:08:22,735 --> 00:08:27,405
Based upon the overkill,
profilers would probably say
155
00:08:27,407 --> 00:08:30,742
that the suspect knew
the victim.
156
00:08:30,744 --> 00:08:36,081
Usually a suspect doesn't have
that much rage for a stranger.
157
00:08:36,083 --> 00:08:40,252
[Michael] Tina was stabbed multiple
times in an obvious case of overkill.
158
00:08:40,254 --> 00:08:43,855
Overkill being defined
as excessive violence
159
00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:47,959
that goes way beyond what's
required to carry out the crime.
160
00:08:47,961 --> 00:08:49,327
In this case,
there's a personal connection
161
00:08:49,329 --> 00:08:51,029
between the offender
and the victim.
162
00:08:51,031 --> 00:08:53,198
This was somebody's rage
boiling over,
163
00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,568
and that no number of stab
wounds can be enough
164
00:08:56,570 --> 00:09:00,405
to fulfill the offender's need
for vengeance.
165
00:09:02,975 --> 00:09:06,711
[narrator] Having established
that Tina likely knew her killer,
166
00:09:06,713 --> 00:09:09,281
detectives speak with her
mother Shirley Faelz.
167
00:09:10,049 --> 00:09:12,450
They hope she can provide
more insight
168
00:09:12,452 --> 00:09:15,787
on who might have wanted
to harm her daughter.
169
00:09:15,789 --> 00:09:18,857
Remember that day vividly,
it was a Thursday.
170
00:09:18,859 --> 00:09:21,259
My sister usually
got home about 3:30
171
00:09:21,261 --> 00:09:23,061
and she wasn't home yet,
172
00:09:23,063 --> 00:09:27,165
and saw an undercover police
car come down the court.
173
00:09:27,167 --> 00:09:30,101
And I just had a feeling it
was coming to our house.
174
00:09:30,670 --> 00:09:33,805
Shirley was in complete shock,
175
00:09:33,807 --> 00:09:36,041
complete disbelief
that this could have happened
176
00:09:36,043 --> 00:09:38,543
in this quiet little community.
177
00:09:39,979 --> 00:09:44,015
Tina's mom Shirley had been
divorced for about two years
178
00:09:44,017 --> 00:09:48,320
and was a single mom
struggling to make ends meet.
179
00:09:48,322 --> 00:09:52,057
[James Knox] At the time, Shirley
was dating Bobby Youngworth
180
00:09:52,059 --> 00:09:56,962
and he had actually moved
into the Faelz home.
181
00:09:56,964 --> 00:10:02,033
And Bobby had a tendency to
get violent when he was drinking.
182
00:10:03,669 --> 00:10:08,039
At times, he would assault
Shirley physically
183
00:10:08,041 --> 00:10:10,275
and Tina didn't like that.
184
00:10:10,277 --> 00:10:14,379
He was very abusive,
a lot of yelling and fights.
185
00:10:15,247 --> 00:10:19,284
So, it was pretty scary at
times with him in the house.
186
00:10:19,286 --> 00:10:21,286
[Det. Dana] Interestingly
to the investigators,
187
00:10:21,288 --> 00:10:24,189
about a week prior
to Tina's murder,
188
00:10:24,191 --> 00:10:27,158
he and her had really
gotten into it.
189
00:10:28,127 --> 00:10:31,529
Tina definitely did not want
Bobby living there,
190
00:10:31,531 --> 00:10:36,635
so it caused some major stress
in that household.
191
00:10:36,637 --> 00:10:41,206
Bobby became a person of interest
very quickly in the investigation.
192
00:10:43,242 --> 00:10:45,143
I think at my young age
193
00:10:45,145 --> 00:10:47,145
I even thought it could be him
as well too
194
00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:49,981
because Tina would stick up
for my mom
195
00:10:49,983 --> 00:10:51,516
when they'd be having arguments.
196
00:10:51,518 --> 00:10:54,853
And she wasn't afraid
to stand up to him.
197
00:10:54,855 --> 00:10:58,823
[Michael] Could she have been threatening to
tell her mother something that Bobby had done?
198
00:10:58,825 --> 00:11:02,627
Could she have given him some kind
of ultimatum or been blackmailing him,
199
00:11:02,629 --> 00:11:05,797
something that would have
triggered this response,
200
00:11:05,799 --> 00:11:08,667
not a response the victim
could have ever imagined?
201
00:11:14,373 --> 00:11:17,275
[narrator] In the brutal stabbing of
high school freshman Tina Faelz,
202
00:11:17,277 --> 00:11:20,311
investigators have
their first suspect,
203
00:11:20,313 --> 00:11:23,648
her mother's abusive boyfriend
Bobby Youngworth.
204
00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:27,686
Questioning if Bobby could
have lashed out at Tina,
205
00:11:27,688 --> 00:11:31,923
detectives bring him down to
the station for an interview.
206
00:11:31,925 --> 00:11:36,995
Early on with investigators he had denied
any sort of temper or anything like that,
207
00:11:36,997 --> 00:11:40,098
but it definitely came out
that he did have a temper,
208
00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:42,200
especially when he drank.
209
00:11:44,670 --> 00:11:47,939
He did get into it about
a week prior with Tina,
210
00:11:47,941 --> 00:11:51,276
had gotten
to a verbal argument with her,
211
00:11:51,278 --> 00:11:55,647
but he always held by the fact
that he would never hurt her
212
00:11:55,649 --> 00:11:58,616
and genuinely cared about Tina.
213
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,822
[narrator] Detectives ask
Bobby for his timeline
214
00:12:03,824 --> 00:12:05,623
on the day of Tina's murder.
215
00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:08,993
So Bobby worked in Fremont,
California.
216
00:12:08,995 --> 00:12:15,033
He had taken the bus to work,
he got on the bus about 2:30,
217
00:12:15,035 --> 00:12:19,871
he arrived at his place
of employment around 2:45
218
00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:21,906
and then went to the break room
219
00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:27,979
where he was observed until
3:15 prior to going to work.
220
00:12:27,981 --> 00:12:32,717
So when detectives went
to verify Bobby's whereabouts,
221
00:12:32,719 --> 00:12:36,321
the boss informed detectives
that while Bobby's at work,
222
00:12:36,323 --> 00:12:41,726
Shirley calls and she notifies
him that Tina has been killed.
223
00:12:41,728 --> 00:12:44,763
At that time, Bobby
had a knife on his belt,
224
00:12:44,765 --> 00:12:48,967
which he handed to the boss
and asked him to hold for him
225
00:12:48,969 --> 00:12:52,070
because he didn't feel that it
would be a comfortable thing
226
00:12:52,072 --> 00:12:56,141
to take the knife to the Faelz
residence when he went there.
227
00:12:56,143 --> 00:13:00,044
So investigators of course
become interested in this detail
228
00:13:00,046 --> 00:13:02,747
and ask for the knife
to be tested.
229
00:13:02,749 --> 00:13:04,983
But there was no DNA found.
230
00:13:06,051 --> 00:13:10,088
Ultimately, investigators
looked at the time
231
00:13:10,090 --> 00:13:14,192
to travel from Pleasanton
to where he worked
232
00:13:14,194 --> 00:13:15,960
and they determined
233
00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:18,897
that he couldn't possibly
have committed the crime.
234
00:13:18,899 --> 00:13:21,032
He didn't fit the time
parameters
235
00:13:21,034 --> 00:13:24,068
that we had established
when Tina was killed.
236
00:13:24,070 --> 00:13:27,205
[Det. Dana] So he was
quickly dismissed as a suspect.
237
00:13:29,141 --> 00:13:31,176
[James Knox]
I think everyone was confused.
238
00:13:31,178 --> 00:13:34,879
Someone has taken this
14-year-old girl's life
239
00:13:34,881 --> 00:13:39,284
and it was really hard to
fathom who could be responsible.
240
00:13:39,286 --> 00:13:41,619
People were looking for closure.
241
00:13:41,621 --> 00:13:43,922
They didn't know,
could it be my neighbor,
242
00:13:43,924 --> 00:13:46,891
could it be someone
that's going to kill again.
243
00:13:46,893 --> 00:13:50,595
And I think that was unsettling to
people in the community at the time.
244
00:13:53,299 --> 00:13:57,135
[narrator] With the investigation
now back at square one,
245
00:13:57,137 --> 00:13:59,337
detectives reach out
to the community
246
00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:00,939
hoping to find information
247
00:14:00,941 --> 00:14:03,474
that could lead
to a potential suspect.
248
00:14:05,044 --> 00:14:07,912
[Det. Dana] Investigators
are doing a witness canvass.
249
00:14:07,914 --> 00:14:09,848
They become aware of some kids
250
00:14:09,850 --> 00:14:13,218
observing their activities
on Lemonwood Way,
251
00:14:13,220 --> 00:14:17,388
which is where Tina was taking
the shortcut to.
252
00:14:17,390 --> 00:14:20,124
So, investigators end up
knocking on the door
253
00:14:20,126 --> 00:14:22,026
where the teenagers are seen.
254
00:14:22,028 --> 00:14:23,795
And who opens the door
255
00:14:23,797 --> 00:14:28,867
but a classmate of Tina's
by the name of Steve Carlson.
256
00:14:28,869 --> 00:14:30,935
[James Knox]
The day that Tina was killed,
257
00:14:30,937 --> 00:14:33,738
Steve Carlson's parents
were out of town.
258
00:14:33,740 --> 00:14:36,074
He gives the investigator
some information
259
00:14:36,076 --> 00:14:39,177
that he actually had seen Tina
heading toward the culvert
260
00:14:39,179 --> 00:14:41,646
at about 3:00 pm.
261
00:14:42,648 --> 00:14:43,948
[narrator]
Realizing that Steven
262
00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:47,852
could have been one of the
last people to see Tina alive,
263
00:14:47,854 --> 00:14:49,287
police bring him down
to the station
264
00:14:49,289 --> 00:14:51,055
for a formal interview.
265
00:14:52,358 --> 00:14:54,192
On that particular day,
266
00:14:54,194 --> 00:14:56,394
Steven invited some
of his schoolmates
267
00:14:56,396 --> 00:15:00,965
to come to his house
and have a "party".
268
00:15:00,967 --> 00:15:03,902
They drank and used some drugs.
269
00:15:03,904 --> 00:15:06,771
At one point,
Steven returned to campus
270
00:15:06,773 --> 00:15:10,275
and a couple students
grabbed him
271
00:15:10,277 --> 00:15:12,277
and they threw him
in a dumpster.
272
00:15:13,245 --> 00:15:18,182
He's actually locked in the
dumpster for about 10 minutes or so
273
00:15:18,184 --> 00:15:21,853
before a woodshop teacher
comes and lets him out.
274
00:15:21,855 --> 00:15:23,788
Steve Carlson is angry,
275
00:15:23,790 --> 00:15:27,025
he's covered in garbage,
he's pissed off.
276
00:15:27,027 --> 00:15:30,929
The teacher tells them to head
toward the principal's office.
277
00:15:30,931 --> 00:15:35,333
However, Steve Carlson walks
the other way back to his house.
278
00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:37,368
He told police at the time
279
00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:41,072
that he saw Tina going down
towards the drainage canal
280
00:15:41,074 --> 00:15:43,274
around the time of her murder.
281
00:15:44,810 --> 00:15:47,946
[Det. Dana] Steve Carlson also
gives information to the investigators
282
00:15:47,948 --> 00:15:52,917
that he sees another classmate
by the name of Jeff Michaelson
283
00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:54,185
heading toward the culvert
284
00:15:54,187 --> 00:15:57,055
kind of a little bit after
he sees Tina.
285
00:15:57,823 --> 00:16:00,224
He paints this picture
of Jeff Michaelson
286
00:16:00,226 --> 00:16:04,762
as a troublemaker,
he bullies other kids.
287
00:16:04,764 --> 00:16:07,365
He's even pulled out
a pocket knife at school
288
00:16:07,367 --> 00:16:10,068
and kind of bragged
that he has this knife.
289
00:16:10,070 --> 00:16:14,105
So, Carlson really paints the
picture that Jeff Michaelson
290
00:16:14,107 --> 00:16:17,208
is a potential suspect
in Tina's murder.
291
00:16:19,278 --> 00:16:22,847
[narrator] With suspicion
swirling around Jeff Michaelson,
292
00:16:22,849 --> 00:16:24,816
investigators bring him down
to the station
293
00:16:24,818 --> 00:16:26,184
for questioning.
294
00:16:27,052 --> 00:16:30,888
So on that particular day,
April 5th, 1984
295
00:16:30,890 --> 00:16:32,156
when Tina was murdered,
296
00:16:32,158 --> 00:16:36,294
Jeff Michaelson
attends detention.
297
00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:39,163
He is released from detention
at 3:00 p.m.
298
00:16:39,165 --> 00:16:42,133
He is supposed to walk over
to the elementary school
299
00:16:42,135 --> 00:16:45,169
and walk
with his younger sister.
300
00:16:45,171 --> 00:16:49,240
But he's late, his sister ends up
getting a ride from someone else.
301
00:16:49,975 --> 00:16:51,642
And by the time he got home,
302
00:16:51,644 --> 00:16:54,145
it was 3:40 p.m.
in the afternoon
303
00:16:54,147 --> 00:16:58,983
and his mother questioned
why he hadn't picked up his sister.
304
00:17:00,019 --> 00:17:02,153
During the time
of Tina's murder,
305
00:17:02,155 --> 00:17:05,957
Jeff really doesn't have
a solid alibi.
306
00:17:05,959 --> 00:17:09,260
There's no confirmation as
to what exactly he was doing.
307
00:17:09,262 --> 00:17:11,796
So that created more suspicion
around Jeff,
308
00:17:11,798 --> 00:17:15,066
and whether he could have
been involved.
309
00:17:15,068 --> 00:17:18,503
[narrator] Then Jeff tells
detectives he goes to his job,
310
00:17:18,505 --> 00:17:23,708
working at a local pizza
parlor, arriving at 5:00 p.m.
311
00:17:23,710 --> 00:17:27,278
[James Knox] At the time of his
interview, he had a cut on his hand
312
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,181
and claimed that he cut
his hand while working.
313
00:17:30,949 --> 00:17:36,087
That really led us to
consider him rather strongly
314
00:17:36,089 --> 00:17:40,191
because of the violent nature of
the stab wounds to Tina's body.
315
00:17:40,193 --> 00:17:43,161
We felt that it was
a high probability
316
00:17:43,163 --> 00:17:46,230
that the suspect
probably cut his hand.
317
00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:50,168
When investigators are
questioning Jeff Michaelson,
318
00:17:50,170 --> 00:17:54,806
he admits to frequently
carrying around a pocketknife.
319
00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,775
He produces that pocketknife
to investigators
320
00:17:57,777 --> 00:18:00,244
and investigators have
that knife tested
321
00:18:00,246 --> 00:18:02,280
for the presence of any DNA.
322
00:18:02,981 --> 00:18:05,083
[narrator]
With Jeff in their crosshairs,
323
00:18:05,085 --> 00:18:08,419
detectives request permission
to search his bedroom.
324
00:18:11,156 --> 00:18:14,325
[Det. Dana] Inside his bedroom
is another knife that's found.
325
00:18:14,327 --> 00:18:17,195
It's a larger knife. It's
contained within a sheath.
326
00:18:17,197 --> 00:18:20,631
So they end up confiscating
the large knife
327
00:18:20,633 --> 00:18:23,101
that was found in his room,
his pocketknife,
328
00:18:23,103 --> 00:18:25,303
the clothes
that he was wearing that day.
329
00:18:26,138 --> 00:18:28,272
The more that time goes on,
330
00:18:28,274 --> 00:18:31,409
the stronger of a person
of interest he becomes.
331
00:18:32,344 --> 00:18:34,879
Here's a guy who is known
to carry knives,
332
00:18:34,881 --> 00:18:36,948
witnesses put him
in the vicinity of the crime
333
00:18:36,950 --> 00:18:40,718
and he has wounds on his hands.
334
00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,989
You add it all up, he immediately
looks like a very viable suspect.
335
00:18:49,928 --> 00:18:52,930
[narrator] In the homicide of
high school freshman Tina Faelz,
336
00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:56,734
detectives are zeroing in
on a prime suspect,
337
00:18:56,736 --> 00:18:59,504
the school bully,
Jeff Michaelson.
338
00:19:02,274 --> 00:19:06,310
Jeff Michaelson quickly
becomes a strong person of interest
339
00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:09,280
based on the statement
given by a classmate
340
00:19:09,282 --> 00:19:11,782
that he's following Tina
in to the culvert
341
00:19:11,784 --> 00:19:14,619
right around the same time
of her murder.
342
00:19:15,621 --> 00:19:19,423
He was known to carry knives
frequently,
343
00:19:19,425 --> 00:19:23,761
and ultimately detectives were
able to take his knives
344
00:19:23,763 --> 00:19:25,363
and had them tested.
345
00:19:26,165 --> 00:19:29,800
[Det. Dana] The DNA results
from the knives,
346
00:19:29,802 --> 00:19:32,837
from his clothing that
he was wearing that day
347
00:19:32,839 --> 00:19:36,774
come back with no traces of DNA.
348
00:19:36,776 --> 00:19:38,976
So though he remained
a person of interest,
349
00:19:38,978 --> 00:19:43,648
there was really no physical
evidence to put him there at the scene.
350
00:19:44,149 --> 00:19:45,917
[narrator] With no new leads,
351
00:19:45,919 --> 00:19:50,321
the investigation into the
murder of Tina Faelz hits a wall.
352
00:19:52,291 --> 00:19:55,059
[Det. Dana] It really turned
this town upside down.
353
00:19:55,061 --> 00:19:58,963
Murders in Pleasanton
were not common at all,
354
00:19:58,965 --> 00:20:02,400
much less that of
a 14-year-old girl.
355
00:20:03,569 --> 00:20:06,370
The city was just scared
to death at that time
356
00:20:06,372 --> 00:20:10,007
and especially because the
killer was still on the loose.
357
00:20:11,743 --> 00:20:15,112
[narrator] Then police get
a potential break in the case
358
00:20:15,114 --> 00:20:18,049
when an arrest is made
for a separate crime.
359
00:20:18,784 --> 00:20:20,117
Walter Nyman is arrested
360
00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,820
for a sexual assault
of a 16-year-old girl.
361
00:20:22,822 --> 00:20:25,823
She was using a shortcut
to leave school.
362
00:20:25,825 --> 00:20:27,625
He attempted
to sexually assault her
363
00:20:27,627 --> 00:20:29,660
and she ultimately got away.
364
00:20:29,662 --> 00:20:33,631
But the victim profile was the
same as that of Tina Faelz,
365
00:20:33,633 --> 00:20:36,334
which really piqued
the investigators' interest.
366
00:20:40,906 --> 00:20:43,941
[Keira] Could Walter Nyman
have killed Tina?
367
00:20:43,943 --> 00:20:46,077
He has a past sexual offense
368
00:20:46,079 --> 00:20:48,913
where he's engaged in following,
369
00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:51,816
potentially stalking
younger females
370
00:20:51,818 --> 00:20:54,318
similar in demographic profile
to Tina.
371
00:20:55,454 --> 00:20:57,922
There's no sexual assault
per se,
372
00:20:57,924 --> 00:21:02,860
but it could be the very act of stabbing
someone repeatedly is an act of penetration
373
00:21:02,862 --> 00:21:06,430
that is arousing or has
a sexual undertone to it.
374
00:21:08,267 --> 00:21:12,336
[narrator] With Walter Nyman
already under arrest for sexual assault...
375
00:21:13,105 --> 00:21:14,905
detectives speak
to his grandmother
376
00:21:14,907 --> 00:21:17,241
hoping to learn more
about his whereabouts
377
00:21:17,243 --> 00:21:20,845
in the hours leading
up to Tina's death.
378
00:21:20,847 --> 00:21:22,647
[James Knox] The odd
thing about Walter Nyman
379
00:21:22,649 --> 00:21:26,183
is five days after Tina's murder
380
00:21:26,185 --> 00:21:31,789
he suddenly shows up at his
grandmother's house in Felton, California
381
00:21:31,791 --> 00:21:36,661
out of the blue and she said that he
was visibly upset, he was not himself,
382
00:21:36,663 --> 00:21:39,063
that something seemed
wrong with him.
383
00:21:40,599 --> 00:21:43,401
[Det. Dana] Investigators
obtain a search warrant
384
00:21:43,403 --> 00:21:46,570
for Walter Nyman's
apartment in Pleasanton.
385
00:21:47,139 --> 00:21:48,906
When they enter his apartment,
386
00:21:48,908 --> 00:21:52,476
they end up locating
bloodied clothes
387
00:21:52,478 --> 00:21:55,980
and a knife that's
hidden in his apartment.
388
00:21:55,982 --> 00:22:01,018
The investigators thought this was
going to be a huge break for them.
389
00:22:01,020 --> 00:22:04,255
He looked like a really good
suspect because of the similarities.
390
00:22:04,257 --> 00:22:07,858
He had suddenly left
Pleasanton in a hurried manner,
391
00:22:07,860 --> 00:22:11,662
he shows up and commits
a crime very similar
392
00:22:11,664 --> 00:22:15,366
to what transpired
ultimately to Tina.
393
00:22:16,868 --> 00:22:19,370
Investigators at this time are
waiting on pins and needles
394
00:22:19,372 --> 00:22:23,607
to get the DNA results back
because it's so promising.
395
00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:26,177
It took some time
for the testing to be done,
396
00:22:26,179 --> 00:22:31,982
but ultimately the results are that the
blood on his clothing was animal blood,
397
00:22:31,984 --> 00:22:36,487
there was no DNA or anything
consistent with Tina's murder on them.
398
00:22:37,923 --> 00:22:40,925
[Det. Dana] For investigators,
it was a huge disappointment.
399
00:22:40,927 --> 00:22:43,461
They just keep coming up
empty-handed.
400
00:22:44,796 --> 00:22:46,364
[James Knox]
This was a heinous crime.
401
00:22:46,366 --> 00:22:49,400
Tina was robbed
of her childhood.
402
00:22:49,402 --> 00:22:52,903
She was robbed of her innocence.
403
00:22:52,905 --> 00:22:56,140
You hope that you can follow
through to the end
404
00:22:56,142 --> 00:23:00,044
and catch whoever
the responsible individual is
405
00:23:00,046 --> 00:23:03,080
and make them pay
for their crime.
406
00:23:03,715 --> 00:23:06,016
[narrator]
With no new leads or suspects,
407
00:23:06,018 --> 00:23:10,988
the investigation into the
murder of Tina Faelz goes cold.
408
00:23:13,358 --> 00:23:17,294
[Det. Dana] Investigators
conducted 150 interviews
409
00:23:17,296 --> 00:23:20,431
of potential suspects,
witnesses.
410
00:23:20,433 --> 00:23:24,568
Investigators are really
at a standstill here of why
411
00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:26,971
and more importantly, who.
412
00:23:28,306 --> 00:23:31,609
[James Knox] Through the
years, Shirley would contact police
413
00:23:31,611 --> 00:23:34,912
on the anniversary
of Tina's death.
414
00:23:34,914 --> 00:23:37,381
Do you have anything new?
Do you have any news for me?
415
00:23:37,383 --> 00:23:40,551
And that happened
year after year after year.
416
00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:44,054
[Drew]
I was really losing hope.
417
00:23:44,056 --> 00:23:48,759
I never thought
it would get solved.
418
00:23:48,761 --> 00:23:52,062
[Keira] The psychological toll
that this would take on the family
419
00:23:52,064 --> 00:23:56,333
just day in and day out,
it's just unfathomable
420
00:23:56,335 --> 00:24:00,037
to think that you have
no answer in the case,
421
00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:03,407
that you don't know who did
this to your daughter.
422
00:24:03,409 --> 00:24:06,243
It's just, it's got to be
heart-wrenching.
423
00:24:13,151 --> 00:24:16,587
[narrator] 24 long years
after Tina Faelz's death,
424
00:24:16,589 --> 00:24:19,390
her killer remains at large
425
00:24:19,392 --> 00:24:22,660
and each passing year leaves
the community of Pleasanton
426
00:24:22,662 --> 00:24:25,429
with more questions
than answers.
427
00:24:29,167 --> 00:24:31,936
[Drew] It was very
difficult for my mom.
428
00:24:31,938 --> 00:24:34,872
It was always the topic
of conversation.
429
00:24:34,874 --> 00:24:38,342
When the case went cold, my
mom would do whatever she could
430
00:24:38,344 --> 00:24:41,278
to make sure it stayed
fresh in everyone's mind,
431
00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:43,013
if it was contact the newspaper
432
00:24:43,015 --> 00:24:45,182
or check in
with the police station.
433
00:24:45,184 --> 00:24:48,486
And I think it just...
Slowly, mentally,
434
00:24:48,488 --> 00:24:50,221
she was deteriorating.
435
00:24:51,990 --> 00:24:55,826
[narrator] But in 2008,
the case gets new life
436
00:24:55,828 --> 00:25:00,097
when Dana Savage, an up-and-coming
detective with the Pleasanton PD,
437
00:25:00,099 --> 00:25:03,234
decides to take another look
at Tina's file.
438
00:25:04,102 --> 00:25:07,104
[Det. Dana]
This case really spoke to me.
439
00:25:08,073 --> 00:25:12,943
Being a mom myself,
I really felt for this family.
440
00:25:13,812 --> 00:25:16,247
When I was looking
into this case,
441
00:25:16,249 --> 00:25:19,116
it was absolutely overwhelming.
442
00:25:19,118 --> 00:25:22,720
There was over 20,000 pages
of police reports.
443
00:25:22,722 --> 00:25:24,989
I knew several of
the investigators
444
00:25:24,991 --> 00:25:27,992
that had worked on this case
exhaustingly.
445
00:25:27,994 --> 00:25:30,494
So I didn't have
a whole lot of hope.
446
00:25:31,963 --> 00:25:35,132
[James Knox] In the course
of reviewing the case files,
447
00:25:35,134 --> 00:25:39,637
Detective Savage noted
the picture of Tina's purse
448
00:25:39,639 --> 00:25:42,206
hanging in the tree
above her head.
449
00:25:42,208 --> 00:25:43,707
[Det. Dana]
We seriously doubted
450
00:25:43,709 --> 00:25:47,044
that Tina was able to throw
the purse in the tree.
451
00:25:47,046 --> 00:25:49,313
She's defending herself,
she's defending her life.
452
00:25:49,315 --> 00:25:52,716
Probably the person who threw
it into the tree was the suspect,
453
00:25:52,718 --> 00:25:54,985
the only other person
that was there.
454
00:25:56,788 --> 00:26:00,190
[James Knox] I really was
hopeful that I could get involved
455
00:26:00,192 --> 00:26:03,961
and somehow find
that needle in the haystack
456
00:26:03,963 --> 00:26:06,597
that would break this case
and solve it.
457
00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:10,634
[narrator] Knowing the
odds are stacked against her,
458
00:26:10,636 --> 00:26:13,904
Detective Savage
recovers Tina's purse,
459
00:26:13,906 --> 00:26:18,008
hoping it may be the key
to solving this cold case.
460
00:26:18,010 --> 00:26:20,911
[Det. Dana] When I take
the purse out of evidence,
461
00:26:20,913 --> 00:26:23,213
there was nothing visible
on the purse.
462
00:26:23,215 --> 00:26:26,183
No blood droplets,
nothing like that.
463
00:26:26,185 --> 00:26:29,353
[James Knox] The purse
was sent to the FBI crime lab.
464
00:26:29,355 --> 00:26:31,055
And of course
being in a cold case,
465
00:26:31,057 --> 00:26:33,824
it probably wasn't top priority.
466
00:26:33,826 --> 00:26:38,228
[Det. Dana] Along with Tina's
purse is a sample of her blood,
467
00:26:38,230 --> 00:26:42,132
and that is also sent
to Quantico for testing.
468
00:26:42,134 --> 00:26:45,035
If anything is found
on the purse,
469
00:26:45,037 --> 00:26:48,305
we can compare it
to Tina's blood.
470
00:26:48,307 --> 00:26:51,108
[narrator] While awaiting
results from the FBI,
471
00:26:51,110 --> 00:26:53,744
Dana starts combing
through the case files,
472
00:26:53,746 --> 00:26:58,115
looking for anyone they could
have potentially missed in 1984.
473
00:26:59,417 --> 00:27:02,820
[Det. Dana] In the early 1980s
there were three serial killers
474
00:27:02,822 --> 00:27:05,723
that were around Pleasanton,
California.
475
00:27:05,725 --> 00:27:08,692
I started focusing
on these three suspects,
476
00:27:08,694 --> 00:27:13,097
which was James Daveggio,
Robert Rhoads, and Michael Ide.
477
00:27:13,099 --> 00:27:18,869
Michael Ide had raped and
murdered Lisa Monzo in 1984.
478
00:27:18,871 --> 00:27:22,773
Lisa Monzo also fit the victim
profile of Tina Faelz
479
00:27:22,775 --> 00:27:25,943
being a young Caucasian girl.
480
00:27:25,945 --> 00:27:30,748
Through the crime analyst, I learned
that Michael Ide would have had an alibi
481
00:27:30,750 --> 00:27:34,752
for Tina's murder because
he was incarcerated at the time.
482
00:27:34,754 --> 00:27:37,888
[narrator] Then Detective
Savage discovers Robert Rhoads
483
00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:41,158
also has an airtight alibi
for the day of Tina's murder
484
00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,661
and he's eliminated
as a suspect.
485
00:27:45,997 --> 00:27:50,134
I then focused my attention
on James Daveggio
486
00:27:50,136 --> 00:27:52,236
and his girlfriend.
487
00:27:52,238 --> 00:27:56,640
They snatched Vanessa Sampson
off the street around Pleasanton,
488
00:27:56,642 --> 00:28:00,644
they sexually assaulted her
over a period of time
489
00:28:00,646 --> 00:28:03,280
before they murdered her.
490
00:28:03,282 --> 00:28:08,419
And interestingly enough, James
Daveggio attended Foothill High School.
491
00:28:09,454 --> 00:28:13,357
So James Daveggio
is serving life in prison.
492
00:28:13,758 --> 00:28:16,794
Investigators interview him.
493
00:28:16,796 --> 00:28:19,129
James Daveggio says, "Look,
I'm just going to level with you.
494
00:28:19,131 --> 00:28:23,967
I'm doing life anyway. I had nothing
to do with the murder of Tina Faelz.
495
00:28:23,969 --> 00:28:28,972
However, you might want to look
into..." and he names Walter Nyman.
496
00:28:28,974 --> 00:28:30,708
And I don't know how these
people find each other
497
00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:34,078
but James Daveggio
and Walter Nyman were friends
498
00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,314
and had hung out
at a local bar in Pleasanton.
499
00:28:37,316 --> 00:28:42,386
Walter Nyman was the suspect
who had sexually assaulted
500
00:28:42,388 --> 00:28:46,924
and grabbed a young girl five
days following Tina's murder.
501
00:28:46,926 --> 00:28:49,026
Even back in 1984,
502
00:28:49,028 --> 00:28:54,031
Walter Nyman looked good as a person
of interest in the murder of Tina Faelz.
503
00:28:54,899 --> 00:28:57,735
[James Knox]
But in 1984
504
00:28:57,737 --> 00:29:00,871
we didn't have any physical
evidence to tie him to Tina,
505
00:29:00,873 --> 00:29:03,974
so unfortunately
things didn't pan out
506
00:29:03,976 --> 00:29:06,143
like we'd hoped that they would.
507
00:29:06,978 --> 00:29:09,146
There is no honor among thieves.
508
00:29:09,148 --> 00:29:13,684
We have no idea if James
Daveggio is telling the truth.
509
00:29:13,686 --> 00:29:18,856
But now investigators are
looking again at Walter Nyman.
510
00:29:18,858 --> 00:29:22,426
And at that point
we have no physical evidence,
511
00:29:22,428 --> 00:29:26,130
everything is speculation,
so it's extremely frustrating
512
00:29:26,132 --> 00:29:28,532
because we're not able
to determine
513
00:29:28,534 --> 00:29:31,034
who is responsible
for this case.
514
00:29:34,806 --> 00:29:38,275
[narrator] It would take two more
years before the FBI crime lab
515
00:29:38,277 --> 00:29:42,646
gets around to examining Tina
Faelz's purse for outside DNA.
516
00:29:43,515 --> 00:29:45,849
There were so many suspects,
517
00:29:45,851 --> 00:29:48,719
many of whom had
the potential and motive
518
00:29:48,721 --> 00:29:51,989
to have committed this homicide.
519
00:29:51,991 --> 00:29:56,293
The advancement of DNA
technology has been very significant.
520
00:29:56,295 --> 00:30:00,197
So, cases that years and years
ago couldn't be tested
521
00:30:00,199 --> 00:30:02,399
can now be pinpointed
522
00:30:02,401 --> 00:30:05,736
to one in a trillion to the
exact match of an individual
523
00:30:05,738 --> 00:30:08,572
who may have been
on that suspect list.
524
00:30:10,074 --> 00:30:12,042
[Det. Dana] At this
point in the investigation,
525
00:30:12,044 --> 00:30:16,547
there's very high stakes in
getting a DNA match on a suspect
526
00:30:16,549 --> 00:30:19,082
to move forward with this case.
527
00:30:20,218 --> 00:30:23,086
[narrator] Finally the
FBI lab criminologist
528
00:30:23,088 --> 00:30:27,357
is able to pinpoint four blood
stains on Tina's purse.
529
00:30:27,359 --> 00:30:30,060
[Det. Dana] Once we
received the DNA results,
530
00:30:30,062 --> 00:30:34,498
only one comes back
as not belonging to Tina.
531
00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:41,004
I receive a call and it's
Marty Parker from the FBI
532
00:30:41,006 --> 00:30:44,975
and she says to me, "Do you
want to know who killed Tina Faelz?"
533
00:30:45,410 --> 00:30:49,313
And I said, "Yeah, I do."
534
00:30:49,315 --> 00:30:53,183
Once the DNA profile
was located,
535
00:30:53,185 --> 00:30:54,885
that kit revealed the name,
536
00:30:54,887 --> 00:30:59,189
then I definitely did not
expect to hear again.
537
00:30:59,191 --> 00:31:05,329
The only viable sample was
a nearly 100 percent match
538
00:31:05,331 --> 00:31:10,334
to male DNA belonging
to Steve Carlson.
539
00:31:10,336 --> 00:31:14,137
Steve Carlson
was Tina's older classmate
540
00:31:14,139 --> 00:31:16,240
from Foothill High School
541
00:31:16,242 --> 00:31:21,245
who had been seen watching
the investigation as it was going on.
542
00:31:21,247 --> 00:31:24,648
He was also the one
that told investigators
543
00:31:24,650 --> 00:31:28,018
that he saw Jeff Michaelson
following Tina
544
00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:30,454
into the culvert
right before she was murdered.
545
00:31:31,623 --> 00:31:34,858
My first thought was shock.
546
00:31:34,860 --> 00:31:38,462
It's really hard for anyone,
even an investigator,
547
00:31:38,464 --> 00:31:41,565
to wrap their mind around
the fact that a kid can kill a kid.
548
00:31:45,069 --> 00:31:47,638
[narrator]
After a 26-year investigation,
549
00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:49,840
Pleasanton detectives
are closing in
550
00:31:49,842 --> 00:31:53,944
on the killer of high school
freshman Tina Faelz.
551
00:31:53,946 --> 00:31:57,781
Modern DNA testing has placed
her classmate Steven Carlson
552
00:31:57,783 --> 00:32:00,050
at the scene of the crime.
553
00:32:01,085 --> 00:32:04,888
Steven Carlson and Tina Faelz
were not friends.
554
00:32:04,890 --> 00:32:08,959
They didn't share
the same social circles.
555
00:32:08,961 --> 00:32:14,097
[Det. Dana] There was no other reason for
his DNA to be at the scene of this murder
556
00:32:14,099 --> 00:32:17,134
unless he was the one
that did it.
557
00:32:17,136 --> 00:32:21,805
[James Knox] And that was an
overwhelming feeling, just disbelief that,
558
00:32:21,807 --> 00:32:26,576
"Wow, we really have something
solid, concrete here now
559
00:32:26,578 --> 00:32:28,412
that ties him to the case."
560
00:32:30,181 --> 00:32:35,018
[Det. Dana] In 1984 Steve
Carlson was asked for an alibi,
561
00:32:35,020 --> 00:32:40,757
but he was more or less
focused on as a potential witness
562
00:32:40,759 --> 00:32:44,895
being that he had supposedly
seen Jeff Michaelson
563
00:32:44,897 --> 00:32:47,998
following Tina
into that culvert.
564
00:32:50,401 --> 00:32:52,836
[James Knox] At the time we
didn't have any physical evidence
565
00:32:52,838 --> 00:32:55,305
to tie him to Tina.
566
00:32:55,307 --> 00:32:58,342
There were no witnesses
that tied him to the crime.
567
00:32:58,344 --> 00:33:00,143
It just seemed so unlikely
568
00:33:00,145 --> 00:33:03,580
that he could be responsible
for something so heinous.
569
00:33:07,018 --> 00:33:09,052
[Michael]
Twenty-six years later
570
00:33:09,054 --> 00:33:12,055
the DNA actually points
to a fringe player
571
00:33:12,057 --> 00:33:15,258
that hadn't even been considered
in the original investigation.
572
00:33:15,260 --> 00:33:18,996
This is like discovering
a new planet,
573
00:33:18,998 --> 00:33:21,298
a suspect who had been
hiding in plain sight
574
00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:23,500
for nearly three decades.
575
00:33:25,003 --> 00:33:26,903
[narrator] With the
discovery of physical evidence
576
00:33:26,905 --> 00:33:30,374
that places Steven Carlson
at the crime scene,
577
00:33:30,376 --> 00:33:32,943
detectives work
to track him down,
578
00:33:32,945 --> 00:33:37,180
only to discover
he's already in jail.
579
00:33:37,182 --> 00:33:42,352
[Det. Dana] With fresh eyes on Steve
Carlson, we re-interview witnesses.
580
00:33:42,354 --> 00:33:44,788
Steve Carlson's shop teacher
581
00:33:44,790 --> 00:33:47,257
knew of Steve's violent history.
582
00:33:47,259 --> 00:33:50,627
He said that following
Tina's death
583
00:33:50,629 --> 00:33:55,432
there definitely was a change
in Steve Carlson's behavior.
584
00:33:55,434 --> 00:34:00,303
This information did not get back
to investigators at the time however.
585
00:34:01,873 --> 00:34:05,108
[James Knox] Steve Carlson's
nickname was Creepy Carlson.
586
00:34:05,110 --> 00:34:08,078
He was not well liked.
He was a loner.
587
00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:15,485
We looked at the circumstances
surrounding Tina's murder.
588
00:34:15,487 --> 00:34:20,690
Obviously, Steven was there in the
neighborhood the day she was killed.
589
00:34:20,692 --> 00:34:23,427
His home sat in a location
590
00:34:23,429 --> 00:34:27,330
where he could see her walk
down into that drainage canal,
591
00:34:27,332 --> 00:34:28,899
walk through that fence.
592
00:34:28,901 --> 00:34:31,301
In fact, he at one point stated
593
00:34:31,303 --> 00:34:34,504
he saw Tina go down
into that drainage canal.
594
00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:37,707
[narrator] Armed with
this new information,
595
00:34:37,709 --> 00:34:42,212
investigators set out to interview
Steven Carlson at the Santa Cruz Prison
596
00:34:42,214 --> 00:34:45,982
where he is being held on
an unrelated drug charge.
597
00:34:51,322 --> 00:34:55,225
[James Knox] We mentioned that
we were detectives from Pleasanton
598
00:34:55,227 --> 00:34:59,496
and asked if he remembered
a girl named Tina Faelz.
599
00:35:06,304 --> 00:35:09,806
[Det. Dana] Steve Carlson's
body language completely changes.
600
00:35:09,808 --> 00:35:13,009
He starts almost throwing up
at hearing her name.
601
00:35:14,812 --> 00:35:16,079
One question further,
602
00:35:16,081 --> 00:35:20,951
Carlson just kind of starts
babbling incoherently.
603
00:35:28,259 --> 00:35:30,927
[Det. Dana] Mutters the
name Jeff Michaelson.
604
00:35:30,929 --> 00:35:34,965
He's just deflecting. He
doesn't know, he wasn't involved.
605
00:35:56,154 --> 00:36:00,957
Thankfully, investigators
have a warrant for his DNA.
606
00:36:02,426 --> 00:36:06,563
[narrator] Detectives send Steven
Carlson's DNA sample to the crime lab
607
00:36:06,565 --> 00:36:10,667
to confirm it matches the
sample found on Tina's purse.
608
00:36:10,669 --> 00:36:14,471
[James Knox] And was confirmed
as a match to Steven Carlson.
609
00:36:14,473 --> 00:36:18,942
And ultimately that's the piece of
evidence that broke the case for us.
610
00:36:20,077 --> 00:36:22,445
[narrator]
After 26 years,
611
00:36:22,447 --> 00:36:28,285
detectives are finally able to piece
together Tina Faelz's final 24 hours.
612
00:36:33,224 --> 00:36:36,760
[Det. Dana] At 7:15 in the morning
on the day that Tina's murdered,
613
00:36:36,762 --> 00:36:39,196
she's dropped off by her mom
614
00:36:39,198 --> 00:36:43,700
to avoid taking the school bus
to avoid the bullies.
615
00:36:43,702 --> 00:36:47,704
At 8:05, Steve Carlson
convinces three of his friends
616
00:36:47,706 --> 00:36:53,443
to come back to his house with
him and drink alcohol and use drugs.
617
00:36:53,445 --> 00:36:58,248
Steve and his friends returned to
the school about 8:40 in the morning.
618
00:37:00,084 --> 00:37:03,853
At 10:10 am at school,
619
00:37:03,855 --> 00:37:06,089
Jeff Michaelson grabbed
Steve Carlson
620
00:37:06,091 --> 00:37:09,125
and threw him into the
dumpster and locks him in.
621
00:37:10,061 --> 00:37:14,164
Steve Carlson gets out, he's
covered in garbage, he's pissed off.
622
00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:19,236
He leaves school and he heads back
home by himself and continues drinking.
623
00:37:20,238 --> 00:37:23,907
At 2:25, Tina finishes up
geography class
624
00:37:23,909 --> 00:37:27,110
and visits with her teacher
for about five or ten minutes,
625
00:37:27,112 --> 00:37:29,679
skips detention
to avoid her bullies.
626
00:37:29,681 --> 00:37:33,984
And that's when she walks
toward the culvert toward home.
627
00:37:34,919 --> 00:37:37,988
Steve Carlson sees Tina
walking toward the culvert.
628
00:37:37,990 --> 00:37:41,758
He grabs a knife
out of his own kitchen
629
00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:44,361
and follows her
into the culvert.
630
00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:52,135
So about 3:05 pm,
now intoxicated, enraged,
631
00:37:52,137 --> 00:37:56,139
he confronts her
and assaults her,
632
00:37:56,141 --> 00:37:59,242
stabbing her ultimately
44 times.
633
00:38:00,911 --> 00:38:03,446
[Det. Dana] Tina does
her best to defend herself,
634
00:38:03,448 --> 00:38:07,050
but ultimately Steve Carlson
just overpowers her.
635
00:38:17,528 --> 00:38:19,663
After attacking Tina,
636
00:38:19,665 --> 00:38:22,966
Steve Carlson throws her purse
into the tree
637
00:38:22,968 --> 00:38:26,136
and then he throws the murder
weapon into the field.
638
00:38:28,372 --> 00:38:30,140
It's hard to wrap
your mind around
639
00:38:30,142 --> 00:38:34,144
the fact that
this 16-year-old kid
640
00:38:34,146 --> 00:38:38,281
would kill this young,
sweet innocent girl.
641
00:38:38,949 --> 00:38:41,051
But that's what happened.
642
00:38:41,053 --> 00:38:44,654
And it's because he's a
psychopath and he's evil.
643
00:38:45,656 --> 00:38:49,626
I think Steven wanted to unleash
644
00:38:49,628 --> 00:38:52,162
his rejection from peers
645
00:38:52,164 --> 00:38:59,669
and he did that without any
thought or concern for that victim.
646
00:38:59,671 --> 00:39:02,872
He's made a series of
decisions to take out his pain
647
00:39:02,874 --> 00:39:06,343
on other victims
who he can overpower.
648
00:39:06,345 --> 00:39:10,180
And that culminated
in this homicide of Tina.
649
00:39:11,749 --> 00:39:14,918
[narrator]
On August 7, 2011,
650
00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,455
Detectives Knox and Savage
drive to Santa Cruz County Jail
651
00:39:18,457 --> 00:39:21,324
to arrest Steven Carlson.
652
00:39:21,326 --> 00:39:23,960
[James Knox] Putting the
handcuffs on Steven Carlson
653
00:39:23,962 --> 00:39:26,529
was the most rewarding point
of my career.
654
00:39:27,264 --> 00:39:30,333
For that case
to have gone that long,
655
00:39:30,335 --> 00:39:34,337
for him to be undetected
for all those years
656
00:39:34,339 --> 00:39:39,008
was so rewarding,
it's hard to describe.
657
00:39:39,977 --> 00:39:43,613
Being able to tell Shirley
was special.
658
00:39:43,615 --> 00:39:45,382
She never let go of hope
659
00:39:45,384 --> 00:39:49,352
that we would finally someday
catch her daughter's killer.
660
00:39:49,354 --> 00:39:51,621
And we were able to do that.
661
00:39:55,292 --> 00:39:57,894
I remember my mom calling me
on a Sunday night.
662
00:39:57,896 --> 00:39:59,496
She said, "They got him."
663
00:39:59,498 --> 00:40:01,698
And I remember
I just started crying,
664
00:40:01,700 --> 00:40:08,171
just so happy to finally
get some justice for Tina.
665
00:40:09,974 --> 00:40:15,945
[narrator] On October 29th,
2014, 30 years after Tina's death,
666
00:40:15,947 --> 00:40:19,149
Steven Carlson is convicted
of first degree murder.
667
00:40:20,451 --> 00:40:24,354
But in 2017,
the conviction is overturned
668
00:40:24,356 --> 00:40:26,523
and he is re-sentenced
to 16 years
669
00:40:26,525 --> 00:40:29,292
for second-degree murder.
670
00:40:29,294 --> 00:40:33,296
[Drew] The trial was initially supposed
to start on February 13 of 2014.
671
00:40:33,298 --> 00:40:36,266
That's actually the date
my mom passed away.
672
00:40:36,268 --> 00:40:40,203
I, I always look at it as
my mom's way of letting go
673
00:40:40,205 --> 00:40:44,007
and saying we got him now.
674
00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:49,946
[James Knox] Steven later
wrote a letter to the Faelz family
675
00:40:49,948 --> 00:40:52,182
in which he confessed
to killing Tina.
676
00:40:52,184 --> 00:40:57,387
In that letter he stated
that he was so intoxicated
677
00:40:57,389 --> 00:41:01,324
and enraged that it didn't
matter that it was Tina Faelz,
678
00:41:01,326 --> 00:41:04,794
that it could have been
any random person.
679
00:41:04,796 --> 00:41:06,930
But I don't buy it.
680
00:41:06,932 --> 00:41:11,034
I think that he had some
predisposed anger towards Tina.
681
00:41:11,036 --> 00:41:16,139
And she had confronted Steven
on several occasions
682
00:41:16,141 --> 00:41:18,875
trying to protect
one of her friends.
683
00:41:18,877 --> 00:41:24,481
And I think that was the inner
drive for him to attack her.
684
00:41:26,250 --> 00:41:30,086
[narrator] Pleasanton police
feel both pride and relief
685
00:41:30,088 --> 00:41:34,190
that they were finally able
to do right by Tina Faelz.
686
00:41:34,192 --> 00:41:36,059
[James Knox]
I grew up in the town,
687
00:41:36,061 --> 00:41:41,030
so being able to bring justice
to the Faelz family
688
00:41:41,032 --> 00:41:44,100
and maybe a sigh of relief
to all those folks
689
00:41:44,102 --> 00:41:47,203
that have lived in Pleasanton
for all those years
690
00:41:47,205 --> 00:41:49,939
was extremely rewarding.
691
00:41:49,941 --> 00:41:54,677
[Det. Dana] Solidifying a
timeline in this case was crucial.
692
00:41:54,679 --> 00:41:57,614
We had to know what time
she left school,
693
00:41:57,616 --> 00:41:59,782
what time she had left
geography class,
694
00:41:59,784 --> 00:42:03,086
when she was supposed to be
in detention but wasn't.
695
00:42:03,088 --> 00:42:07,156
I'm happy that Steve Carlson
is in prison,
696
00:42:07,158 --> 00:42:09,158
and I hope he never gets out.
697
00:42:11,295 --> 00:42:15,832
[Drew] When Tina died, she
was the oldest kid in her block.
698
00:42:15,834 --> 00:42:20,503
We, we all kind of lost
a mentor and a leader.
699
00:42:21,639 --> 00:42:23,840
We all just loved hanging out
with her.
700
00:42:23,842 --> 00:42:25,375
It makes me wonder all the time
701
00:42:25,377 --> 00:42:28,044
what, what life would be
with, if she was still here.