1
00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:12,967
[Snyder] Uh,
she was frozen solid.
2
00:00:12,967 --> 00:00:14,734
-[camera shutter]
-Shot in the back of the head.
3
00:00:15,867 --> 00:00:18,166
[Edgeworth] Everybody
is a suspect.
4
00:00:18,166 --> 00:00:20,166
I mean, who would do this?
5
00:00:20,233 --> 00:00:23,166
It was very obvious
that he was covering
up something.
6
00:00:24,066 --> 00:00:26,433
[Deeter] There was binding
marks on her wrist.
7
00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:28,667
I said, "Oh my god.
8
00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:31,834
It looks exactly
like handcuffs."
9
00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:35,166
I'm Sheriff Gary McFadden.
10
00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,166
I was a homicide
detective for 20 years.
11
00:00:39,166 --> 00:00:42,867
I've worked more than 800
homicides in my career.
12
00:00:42,934 --> 00:00:45,266
But even for the most
dedicated detective,
13
00:00:45,333 --> 00:00:47,066
there's no one harder to stop
14
00:00:47,066 --> 00:00:48,867
than a killer with a badge.
15
00:00:56,867 --> 00:01:00,767
[Tatar] A call came in
from a taxicab dispatcher,
16
00:01:00,834 --> 00:01:03,567
of a alleged robbery
that was going on
17
00:01:03,567 --> 00:01:06,000
at the University of Toledo.
18
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,166
[Snyder] And the caller
said there was an incident
going on,
19
00:01:09,233 --> 00:01:10,767
and there'd been
some shots fired.
20
00:01:10,834 --> 00:01:14,266
[gunshots]
21
00:01:14,266 --> 00:01:18,100
[Snyder] The 911 dispatcher
calls in the police crews
22
00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:19,567
from the University of Toledo.
23
00:01:20,567 --> 00:01:24,233
University officers found
no cab driver in distress.
24
00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:27,767
They decided that they
were gonna go back
25
00:01:27,834 --> 00:01:29,266
to look around
a little bit more,
26
00:01:29,266 --> 00:01:30,967
in the wooded area there.
27
00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:36,634
They shined their spotlights
out into a field.
28
00:01:37,767 --> 00:01:39,533
And there's a body out there.
29
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:43,967
Was a white female.
30
00:01:44,033 --> 00:01:45,166
Uh, she was frozen solid.
31
00:01:45,233 --> 00:01:47,834
Her face was right
down into the snow.
32
00:01:49,667 --> 00:01:51,867
[Cousino] The victim was found
behind the building,
33
00:01:51,867 --> 00:01:53,367
lying in a prone position.
34
00:01:53,367 --> 00:01:56,567
Her hands were straight
down at her sides,
35
00:01:56,567 --> 00:01:57,934
with her palms up.
36
00:01:59,767 --> 00:02:01,467
I thought that
was kind of unusual,
37
00:02:01,467 --> 00:02:03,533
because that's not
how you fall, usually.
38
00:02:05,667 --> 00:02:08,166
She was wearing
a blue sweater,
39
00:02:08,233 --> 00:02:10,767
her pants were partly
pulled down,
40
00:02:10,834 --> 00:02:14,233
and her midsection
was exposed.
41
00:02:15,266 --> 00:02:17,467
I could see gunshot wounds
42
00:02:17,467 --> 00:02:19,667
in the part of her skin
that was exposed.
43
00:02:20,567 --> 00:02:22,266
[Snyder] She had
some gunshot wounds
44
00:02:22,266 --> 00:02:23,967
into the back
of her head, also.
45
00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:30,367
[McFadden] The first
thing you're going to think,
it's sexual assault.
46
00:02:30,433 --> 00:02:32,567
So, a lot of things
go into play.
47
00:02:32,634 --> 00:02:34,066
You have to be careful
48
00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:35,967
of how you process
the crime scene,
49
00:02:35,967 --> 00:02:37,767
even walking
on the crime scene.
50
00:02:37,834 --> 00:02:39,767
Because we're always
gonna look for fibers
51
00:02:39,834 --> 00:02:42,567
or things that are left
by the suspect,
52
00:02:42,567 --> 00:02:43,567
but it heightens it,
53
00:02:43,567 --> 00:02:46,433
only because
it's a sexual assault.
54
00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:49,767
[Snyder] There was
no identification.
55
00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,867
But the university police
had a, uh, missing persons
report on her
56
00:02:54,867 --> 00:02:57,567
that had been filed
by her roommate that evening.
57
00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:03,367
[Tatar] She was identified
as Melissa Herstrum,
58
00:03:03,367 --> 00:03:05,867
a 19-year-old sophomore.
59
00:03:05,867 --> 00:03:08,433
A member of
the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
60
00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:12,433
[Edgeworth] Melissa stood out.
61
00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:14,867
She was absolutely beautiful,
62
00:03:14,867 --> 00:03:17,967
with that long,
curly, dark hair.
63
00:03:17,967 --> 00:03:19,667
Probably one
of the biggest things,
64
00:03:19,734 --> 00:03:21,066
and I remember this well
65
00:03:21,066 --> 00:03:24,266
because so many of the other
students would talk about it,
66
00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:26,767
was Melissa and her lipstick.
67
00:03:27,767 --> 00:03:29,867
It was a pinkish red,
68
00:03:29,934 --> 00:03:32,333
that just, her lips popped.
69
00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:35,533
She had a smile
that lit up a room.
70
00:03:38,567 --> 00:03:40,867
The sorority knew Melissa
71
00:03:40,867 --> 00:03:43,367
didn't come to meeting
on Sunday night.
72
00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:48,934
So they're
talking back and forth,
trying to find her.
73
00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:56,567
[Snyder] I came into
work the next morning
74
00:03:56,567 --> 00:04:00,333
and was notified
of the crime scene situation.
75
00:04:01,867 --> 00:04:05,166
I was trained
in the, uh, scientific
investigations unit.
76
00:04:05,233 --> 00:04:07,567
And I recruited
officers for the unit,
77
00:04:07,567 --> 00:04:09,367
trained them, and put together
78
00:04:09,367 --> 00:04:11,533
one of the best crime scene
units in the country.
79
00:04:13,266 --> 00:04:15,367
Once we got daylight, I said,
80
00:04:15,367 --> 00:04:17,567
we need to go out,
back over the scene.
81
00:04:19,066 --> 00:04:21,367
There was shell
casings all over.
82
00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,467
Some of the bullets
had passed through her body,
83
00:04:24,467 --> 00:04:25,967
into the frozen ground,
84
00:04:25,967 --> 00:04:29,066
so we decided
to excavate the ground.
85
00:04:31,266 --> 00:04:33,166
We found a couple
of the slugs.
86
00:04:34,667 --> 00:04:36,367
We made note
of one of the slugs,
87
00:04:36,367 --> 00:04:37,834
which was sheared off.
88
00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,266
It actually looked
like it had been cut,
89
00:04:42,333 --> 00:04:43,533
right in half.
90
00:04:45,667 --> 00:04:48,266
Also at the crime scene,
in the dumpster,
91
00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:50,033
a set of keys were found.
92
00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,066
They were to a Ford Taurus.
93
00:04:55,867 --> 00:04:59,934
The officers found
a '91 Ford Taurus.
94
00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:04,867
Her car was found abandoned,
a half-mile away,
95
00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:06,967
in a parking lot.
96
00:05:06,967 --> 00:05:09,467
[McFadden] When the detectives
found her car,
97
00:05:09,467 --> 00:05:11,166
that is point A.
98
00:05:11,166 --> 00:05:13,467
Point B is where
the key is found.
99
00:05:13,533 --> 00:05:16,066
Point C is where
she was found.
100
00:05:17,266 --> 00:05:20,266
Determining how A,
B and C come together,
101
00:05:20,266 --> 00:05:22,166
that's gonna be up
to the detectives.
102
00:05:25,367 --> 00:05:27,467
[Deeter] She was removed
by the coroner's office,
103
00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:30,266
and taken for autopsy
later that morning.
104
00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,467
I was there to photograph
at the autopsy,
105
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:35,567
and collect evidence.
106
00:05:36,667 --> 00:05:38,467
[narrator] According
to the autopsy,
107
00:05:38,533 --> 00:05:40,467
Melissa was shot 14 times
108
00:05:40,467 --> 00:05:42,867
with a 9mm gun.
109
00:05:42,867 --> 00:05:45,467
[Snyder] She was shot
in the back of the head.
Fell onto the ground.
110
00:05:45,467 --> 00:05:49,066
And then the suspect empties
his gun into her body.
111
00:05:50,266 --> 00:05:51,467
Shooting her in the back,
112
00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:53,166
all the way down
through her legs.
113
00:05:54,266 --> 00:05:55,433
Very brutal.
114
00:05:56,300 --> 00:05:58,166
It's an overkill situation.
115
00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:02,767
The pathologist ruled
out the possibility
116
00:06:02,834 --> 00:06:05,066
that she had been
sexually assaulted.
117
00:06:05,066 --> 00:06:07,767
There's no sign that
she'd had any forced
sexual intercourse,
118
00:06:07,767 --> 00:06:10,667
but she, you know,
obviously, it was a sex crime.
119
00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:13,834
Uh, she apparently had
been touched by whoever
had done this.
120
00:06:15,900 --> 00:06:19,567
The pathologist also
confirmed through toxicology
121
00:06:19,567 --> 00:06:21,867
there was no alcohol
or any drugs in her system.
122
00:06:21,867 --> 00:06:24,934
She was completely sober
when this all transpired.
123
00:06:29,767 --> 00:06:32,000
There was actually
some ligature marks,
124
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,367
or binding marks
on her wrists,
125
00:06:34,367 --> 00:06:38,333
that were signs that she'd
been bound at one point.
126
00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:43,266
[Deeter] I was at the scene,
and I'd seen the mark,
it wasn't clicking.
127
00:06:43,266 --> 00:06:46,033
But when I seen 'em
at the autopsy,
128
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,433
I said, "Oh my god.
129
00:06:49,467 --> 00:06:52,066
It looks exactly
like handcuffs."
130
00:06:54,166 --> 00:06:55,867
[McFadden] You have
to ask the question,
131
00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:57,567
who would use handcuffs?
132
00:06:57,567 --> 00:06:59,567
First one? Law enforcement.
133
00:06:59,634 --> 00:07:02,667
Second one?
Someone impersonating
law enforcement.
134
00:07:02,667 --> 00:07:05,867
Handcuffs are mainly
used for control,
135
00:07:05,867 --> 00:07:07,767
so the person that
you're looking for,
136
00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:11,266
is a person who wants ultimate
control over their victims.
137
00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:17,166
I remember thinking,
everybody is a suspect.
138
00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,667
Who would do this?
139
00:07:20,667 --> 00:07:25,533
Who would take a beautiful
19-year-old young lady,
140
00:07:26,567 --> 00:07:29,333
and take her to a remote
part of campus?
141
00:07:30,266 --> 00:07:31,634
Everybody had a theory.
142
00:07:33,266 --> 00:07:35,867
[McFadden] The word
on campus is gonna spread
very quickly.
143
00:07:35,934 --> 00:07:38,467
And I guarantee you,
everybody's gonna know this
144
00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:39,567
within the hour.
145
00:07:41,367 --> 00:07:43,467
[narrator] The campus
is even more on edge
146
00:07:43,533 --> 00:07:46,867
because one
of the women's dorms,
MacKinnon Hall,
147
00:07:46,934 --> 00:07:49,233
was terrorized shortly
before Melissa's murder.
148
00:07:51,166 --> 00:07:53,066
[Snyder] Shots had been
fired through the windows.
149
00:07:53,133 --> 00:07:54,967
I think six shots
were fired through.
150
00:07:54,967 --> 00:07:56,734
[gunshots]
151
00:07:58,166 --> 00:08:00,567
[Snyder] The projectiles
were 9mm bullets,
152
00:08:00,634 --> 00:08:02,266
and they were dug
out of the walls.
153
00:08:04,166 --> 00:08:06,000
[Cousino] The shooting
and then this homicide,
154
00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,634
being close together
and being so unusual
155
00:08:09,166 --> 00:08:10,567
for the University of Toledo,
156
00:08:10,567 --> 00:08:11,834
had to be related.
157
00:08:13,767 --> 00:08:15,667
Those kind of things
didn't happen there.
158
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,767
One of the officers brought
me empty shell casings
159
00:08:20,767 --> 00:08:21,934
from MacKinnon Hall.
160
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,967
They looked exactly
like what we recovered
161
00:08:26,033 --> 00:08:28,266
at the scene
with Melissa Herstrum.
162
00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:35,266
[narrator] Detectives
question Melissa's friends
163
00:08:35,266 --> 00:08:37,066
about the night
she went missing.
164
00:08:38,567 --> 00:08:41,467
[Edgeworth] Melissa
had been out with some
of her sorority sisters,
165
00:08:41,533 --> 00:08:42,734
and she decided to go home.
166
00:08:45,567 --> 00:08:47,433
She got a phone call
from someone.
167
00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,867
They said that JR,
168
00:08:50,867 --> 00:08:52,567
who was her boyfriend
at the time,
169
00:08:52,567 --> 00:08:53,967
was out with someone else.
170
00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,467
Melissa probably got angry
171
00:08:58,533 --> 00:09:00,667
and wanted to go
to the parking lot
172
00:09:00,734 --> 00:09:02,934
adjacent to where JR lived.
173
00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,066
From that parking lot,
she could easily have seen
174
00:09:08,066 --> 00:09:09,467
when JR was getting home,
175
00:09:09,533 --> 00:09:11,333
or anything that
was going on there.
176
00:09:13,367 --> 00:09:16,367
That was what I think led
some people to think
177
00:09:16,367 --> 00:09:18,734
he had something
to do with it.
178
00:09:23,166 --> 00:09:25,834
Jealousy is a motive a lot
of the times in homicide.
179
00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:31,066
A lot of times,
the homicide investigation
starts there.
180
00:09:32,967 --> 00:09:34,934
With the people who
are closest to the victim.
181
00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,467
You have a lot
of emotions in the case.
182
00:09:39,467 --> 00:09:41,567
You have a cheating boyfriend.
183
00:09:41,567 --> 00:09:44,467
And you know she went
to look for him.
184
00:09:44,467 --> 00:09:47,066
So the detectives need
to find this boyfriend,
185
00:09:47,133 --> 00:09:48,734
and they need
to find him fast.
186
00:09:55,300 --> 00:09:56,967
[Tatar] Melissa
was a nursing student.
187
00:09:56,967 --> 00:09:58,767
She was very popular,
very well-liked,
188
00:09:58,767 --> 00:10:01,066
had no issues with anybody.
189
00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:06,033
[Edgeworth] She had
so much she wanted
to give to the world.
190
00:10:08,066 --> 00:10:11,867
She was stopped from being
able to do all of that,
191
00:10:11,867 --> 00:10:13,433
in a senseless manner.
192
00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,767
When we actually
told the sorority,
193
00:10:21,767 --> 00:10:24,767
I vividly remember
young ladies screaming.
194
00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,166
Lots of why's.
195
00:10:28,166 --> 00:10:29,467
Lots of who's.
196
00:10:29,767 --> 00:10:31,567
How?
197
00:10:31,567 --> 00:10:33,934
Who would do this?
How would this happen?
198
00:10:35,166 --> 00:10:38,333
Just none of it
made any sense.
199
00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:45,567
Some girls immediately
called their parents.
200
00:10:45,634 --> 00:10:48,667
Parents came
and picked them up.
Took them home.
201
00:10:48,667 --> 00:10:51,367
There were 30 young ladies
who lived in that house.
202
00:10:51,367 --> 00:10:53,333
Did they feel safe
staying there?
203
00:10:58,767 --> 00:11:01,133
[narrator] Melissa's friends
worry they're in danger.
204
00:11:02,066 --> 00:11:03,467
But investigators believe
205
00:11:03,467 --> 00:11:05,333
the killing may have
been personal.
206
00:11:07,266 --> 00:11:10,266
Because of the brutal
nature of the crime,
207
00:11:10,333 --> 00:11:13,333
fourteen shots that
were fired into Melissa.
208
00:11:15,166 --> 00:11:17,567
This looked like a crime
that may have happened
209
00:11:17,567 --> 00:11:18,834
in a fit of rage.
210
00:11:21,567 --> 00:11:24,266
Every homicide case
has personal drama.
211
00:11:24,333 --> 00:11:26,567
In this case, you've got
a cheating boyfriend.
212
00:11:26,634 --> 00:11:29,066
That will be suspect
number one.
213
00:11:29,066 --> 00:11:31,667
How much is JR
involved with this,
214
00:11:31,667 --> 00:11:34,367
and does he want
to shut the victim up?
215
00:11:34,367 --> 00:11:36,367
You also need
to find out if JR
216
00:11:36,433 --> 00:11:38,066
is taking criminal
justice classes,
217
00:11:38,066 --> 00:11:39,166
to become a cop.
218
00:11:39,233 --> 00:11:41,567
Remember, handcuffs were used.
219
00:11:41,567 --> 00:11:42,767
He's on campus.
220
00:11:42,834 --> 00:11:44,634
We need to know
what his major is.
221
00:11:47,467 --> 00:11:49,867
[Snyder] According to her
current boyfriend, JR,
222
00:11:49,867 --> 00:11:51,634
he's with another girl.
223
00:11:52,166 --> 00:11:54,066
They're over at his place,
224
00:11:54,066 --> 00:11:57,333
and, uh, nobody ever
hears from Melissa again.
225
00:11:59,066 --> 00:12:01,367
[narrator] When investigators
speak with JR,
226
00:12:01,433 --> 00:12:03,467
they discover that
Melissa's love life
227
00:12:03,467 --> 00:12:04,734
was more complicated.
228
00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,467
[Snyder] She's got
a boyfriend.
229
00:12:08,533 --> 00:12:10,266
She's got an ex-boyfriend.
230
00:12:12,266 --> 00:12:15,367
And there, there's sort of
a love triangle going on,
231
00:12:15,433 --> 00:12:17,967
and she's trying
to keep it, uh,
232
00:12:17,967 --> 00:12:20,266
unbeknownst to her
former lover
233
00:12:20,266 --> 00:12:21,867
that she's got a new lover.
234
00:12:21,934 --> 00:12:23,300
It's pretty complex.
235
00:12:28,967 --> 00:12:32,867
Melissa and her
current boyfriend, JR,
were trying to hide it
236
00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:35,533
from her former
boyfriend, Kenny.
237
00:12:37,467 --> 00:12:40,433
Kenny was known to have
a very violent temper.
238
00:12:42,467 --> 00:12:43,667
Fighting in bars,
239
00:12:43,734 --> 00:12:45,000
and punching
holes in the wall,
240
00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,066
things of that nature.
Threats made.
241
00:12:49,166 --> 00:12:52,166
Kenny didn't know that JR
242
00:12:52,166 --> 00:12:54,767
and Melissa
had started dating.
243
00:12:54,834 --> 00:12:57,166
So there was a lot
of concern about,
244
00:12:57,233 --> 00:12:59,233
what would he do
if he found out?
245
00:13:01,867 --> 00:13:03,567
[McFadden] So now we have
a cheating boyfriend,
246
00:13:03,634 --> 00:13:05,266
and we have
an angry ex-boyfriend.
247
00:13:05,266 --> 00:13:06,634
Sounds like a soap opera.
248
00:13:07,467 --> 00:13:09,667
Like sands through
the hourglass,
249
00:13:09,667 --> 00:13:12,767
these are the suspects
in our homicide.
250
00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:16,867
[narrator] Detectives
bring both young men
in for questioning.
251
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,233
Neither seems to be involved.
252
00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:22,967
[Snyder] They both
took a polygraph.
253
00:13:24,567 --> 00:13:27,100
They were pretty clean
about what had happened.
254
00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:29,667
They're all locked in
with pretty good alibis,
255
00:13:29,734 --> 00:13:33,066
and, uh, were not involved
in the homicide whatsoever.
256
00:13:33,066 --> 00:13:35,233
So we're able
to eliminate them.
257
00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:40,033
[Edgeworth] Police cleared
JR and Kenny.
258
00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:45,367
But it wasn't solved,
so it didn't give anyone
any peace of mind.
259
00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:47,367
It was just that, okay,
that one's not on the table,
260
00:13:47,367 --> 00:13:48,700
so who's next?
261
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,767
[McFadden] Usually,
it's a boyfriend on
a college campus.
262
00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:56,467
But when both boyfriends
are ruled out,
263
00:13:56,533 --> 00:13:58,767
now you have more panic,
264
00:13:58,767 --> 00:14:01,367
because it could be
just a random killing.
265
00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,767
This is gonna bring out
fear at every level.
266
00:14:04,767 --> 00:14:07,667
If a trash can is turned over,
that's gonna breed fear.
267
00:14:07,734 --> 00:14:10,166
A car broken into?
That's gonna be fear.
268
00:14:10,233 --> 00:14:13,367
Everybody believes that
there's a boogeyman
on campus.
269
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:18,066
[narrator] Detectives
exploring their next move
270
00:14:18,133 --> 00:14:20,066
realize there may
be similarities
271
00:14:20,066 --> 00:14:21,734
to recent serial killers.
272
00:14:22,767 --> 00:14:24,166
[news anchor] In Los Angeles,
273
00:14:24,233 --> 00:14:25,567
a killer the police
are calling
274
00:14:25,567 --> 00:14:27,266
the Hillside Strangler,
275
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:28,867
has murdered 10 young women
276
00:14:28,867 --> 00:14:30,867
and left their bodies
on the hillsides
277
00:14:30,867 --> 00:14:32,133
along the highway.
278
00:14:34,266 --> 00:14:36,000
[Snyder] Sometimes
with serial killers,
279
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,367
they'll use handcuffs.
280
00:14:37,367 --> 00:14:39,233
They'll impersonate
police officers.
281
00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:41,467
It's very common.
282
00:14:41,467 --> 00:14:42,967
Put a red light on their car,
283
00:14:43,033 --> 00:14:45,066
pull over people,
stop vehicles.
284
00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:48,367
The victim is abducted,
285
00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:51,166
taken to a comfort zone,
286
00:14:51,233 --> 00:14:52,266
then murdered.
287
00:14:54,066 --> 00:14:56,467
This was always
on the back of my mind.
288
00:14:56,467 --> 00:14:58,266
Maybe we had
a serial killer here.
289
00:15:03,066 --> 00:15:04,567
[Edgeworth] For the first
time in my life,
290
00:15:04,567 --> 00:15:06,967
I was scared to go
to the University of Toledo.
291
00:15:08,867 --> 00:15:12,000
I remember looking
all different directions,
292
00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,967
in an area that I was,
normally felt very safe,
293
00:15:14,967 --> 00:15:16,367
and didn't think twice about.
294
00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,934
[Snyder] It was a total
panic on campus.
295
00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,166
'Cause all the girls
were afraid.
296
00:15:23,233 --> 00:15:26,066
In the girls dorm,
they were all petrified.
297
00:15:26,066 --> 00:15:27,867
They were doing
personal escorts,
298
00:15:27,867 --> 00:15:30,433
to pick these girls up,
take them to their classes.
299
00:15:32,467 --> 00:15:34,100
[Cousino] The University
of Toledo police officers
300
00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,266
were having to do
a lot more escorts.
301
00:15:36,333 --> 00:15:38,867
They were getting
a lot of reports
302
00:15:38,867 --> 00:15:40,934
about different incidents.
303
00:15:42,100 --> 00:15:43,767
[narrator] The fear
on campus grows
304
00:15:43,767 --> 00:15:46,867
in the days after
Melissa's murder.
305
00:15:46,867 --> 00:15:49,867
[Edgeworth] Before
Melissa's body was found
on campus,
306
00:15:49,934 --> 00:15:52,367
there were the shots fired
toward MacKinnon Hall,
307
00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:54,367
which was
the all-women's dorm.
308
00:15:54,367 --> 00:15:55,967
[gunshots]
309
00:15:56,033 --> 00:15:57,867
[Edgeworth] And then a couple
of female students
310
00:15:57,867 --> 00:16:00,767
in the same building
reported getting
311
00:16:00,767 --> 00:16:02,567
strange telephone calls.
312
00:16:03,266 --> 00:16:05,567
[phone ringing]
313
00:16:06,567 --> 00:16:10,266
[Edgeworth] That definitely
contributed to the fear,
314
00:16:10,333 --> 00:16:12,467
and the, oh my god.
315
00:16:12,467 --> 00:16:14,467
Is there someone out,
316
00:16:14,467 --> 00:16:16,667
after women?
317
00:16:23,467 --> 00:16:26,000
[Tatar] Because
of the random nature
of this crime,
318
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,767
and no one really knowing
who the killer could be,
319
00:16:29,834 --> 00:16:31,867
a lot of these female
students felt like
320
00:16:31,867 --> 00:16:33,266
they could be next.
321
00:16:35,367 --> 00:16:37,166
There was this sense that,
322
00:16:37,166 --> 00:16:39,467
the killer was lurking
around the corner.
323
00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:43,767
With a crime like this,
a college campus
324
00:16:43,834 --> 00:16:45,767
is an easy hunting ground.
325
00:16:45,767 --> 00:16:47,767
Everybody has to still
go to class.
326
00:16:47,834 --> 00:16:49,266
Everybody still
has to go to work.
327
00:16:49,266 --> 00:16:52,266
These detectives
need to catch this killer
328
00:16:52,266 --> 00:16:54,266
before another murder happens
329
00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:56,066
on this college campus.
330
00:17:01,567 --> 00:17:03,166
[narrator] With no
clear suspects,
331
00:17:03,166 --> 00:17:05,967
investigators go back
to the beginning.
332
00:17:05,967 --> 00:17:07,767
The original call to dispatch
333
00:17:07,834 --> 00:17:10,433
that led to the discovery
of Melissa's body.
334
00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,867
This initial call came in,
335
00:17:13,934 --> 00:17:17,000
it was a cab driver being
robbed by three Black males.
336
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,166
[sirens in distance]
337
00:17:19,166 --> 00:17:21,467
When the University of Toledo
police got to the scene,
338
00:17:21,467 --> 00:17:24,333
they didn't find a robbery
of a cab driver.
339
00:17:25,867 --> 00:17:28,567
No shots fired.
Uh, no shots were heard.
340
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,066
The call was
fictitious information.
341
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,367
We did a background search.
342
00:17:37,367 --> 00:17:40,934
The call in that was
made into 911,
343
00:17:42,166 --> 00:17:44,333
the caller said they were
on a cell phone.
344
00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,934
We started looking farther.
345
00:17:47,767 --> 00:17:49,266
They traced that call,
346
00:17:49,266 --> 00:17:50,767
and they told me that
347
00:17:50,834 --> 00:17:52,333
it did not come
from a cell phone.
348
00:17:53,967 --> 00:17:57,066
That call came from
the Writing Center,
349
00:17:57,066 --> 00:17:59,967
which was out
at Scott Park Campus.
350
00:18:01,767 --> 00:18:03,567
[Edgeworth] Scott Park Campus
was locked on the weekends.
351
00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:06,634
It had to be somebody
that had keys to get in there.
352
00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:13,867
The call came back to an area
that was secured on campus.
353
00:18:13,867 --> 00:18:16,567
The only way that you can
enter to this area
354
00:18:16,634 --> 00:18:18,367
is with a set of keys.
355
00:18:18,367 --> 00:18:19,967
But also,
you have to remember,
356
00:18:20,033 --> 00:18:21,567
handcuffs were used.
357
00:18:21,567 --> 00:18:23,333
Who has handcuffs,
358
00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:25,367
and who has keys,
359
00:18:25,367 --> 00:18:27,367
on the secure part
of the campus?
360
00:18:29,266 --> 00:18:32,066
The University of Toledo
has a police department.
361
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,567
They are not rent-a-cops.
362
00:18:35,634 --> 00:18:37,867
They're actually armed,
sworn peace officers,
363
00:18:37,867 --> 00:18:39,367
within the state of Ohio.
364
00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,100
[Snyder] The picture of her
laying in the field,
365
00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:45,567
with her hands up,
the palms up,
366
00:18:45,567 --> 00:18:47,867
that's basic, uh, police 101,
367
00:18:47,934 --> 00:18:49,266
handcuffing procedure,
you know?
368
00:18:49,266 --> 00:18:50,834
That the palms are out.
369
00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,467
If somebody's hands
are behind their back,
370
00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:55,667
if they're handcuffed,
371
00:18:55,734 --> 00:18:57,166
that's how their
hands would fall.
372
00:18:58,867 --> 00:19:02,166
It was probably not a serial
killer imitating the police.
373
00:19:02,166 --> 00:19:04,033
That looked like
real law enforcement.
374
00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:10,066
Hate to think that
we've got a brother officer
involved in a murder.
375
00:19:10,066 --> 00:19:12,266
Uh, but we can't leave
anything unturned.
376
00:19:13,567 --> 00:19:14,667
[McFadden] You have to go back
377
00:19:14,667 --> 00:19:17,367
to the original officers
who found the body.
378
00:19:17,433 --> 00:19:19,867
Maybe they forgot
to tell you something
379
00:19:19,867 --> 00:19:21,367
that they didn't
think was important,
380
00:19:21,367 --> 00:19:23,100
but you do need to go back,
381
00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:24,867
and look
for particular things,
382
00:19:24,867 --> 00:19:26,567
and for particular evidence,
383
00:19:26,567 --> 00:19:28,166
that they may have missed,
384
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:29,634
that's important to this case.
385
00:19:31,266 --> 00:19:33,767
[Edgeworth] They were
talking to Joseph Green
386
00:19:33,767 --> 00:19:34,967
and Jeffrey Hodge,
387
00:19:35,033 --> 00:19:36,934
because they found the body.
388
00:19:37,867 --> 00:19:41,634
Joseph Green was the first
one to find the body.
389
00:19:43,567 --> 00:19:46,367
Joseph Green was one
of my favorite officers.
390
00:19:46,367 --> 00:19:48,467
I used to talk
to him all the time.
391
00:19:48,533 --> 00:19:51,467
He just always seemed
to be very friendly,
392
00:19:51,467 --> 00:19:54,333
he used to tell silly jokes.
393
00:19:54,867 --> 00:19:57,166
Joe was just a good guy.
394
00:20:00,066 --> 00:20:02,967
[Cousino] I did know
Officer Green pretty well.
395
00:20:03,033 --> 00:20:05,367
I knew him from working
special events
396
00:20:05,433 --> 00:20:06,333
at the university.
397
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,166
He was a very good guy.
398
00:20:10,166 --> 00:20:12,367
Couldn't say anything
bad about him.
399
00:20:12,367 --> 00:20:14,367
This is not the typical,
"He wouldn't do that."
400
00:20:14,433 --> 00:20:16,367
This is very heinous,
this is...
401
00:20:16,433 --> 00:20:18,066
Only a monster does that.
402
00:20:22,266 --> 00:20:25,066
[narrator] Detectives
focus on Green.
403
00:20:25,133 --> 00:20:27,100
As the first officer
on the scene,
404
00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:29,333
he wrote
the primary police report.
405
00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:32,667
[Snyder] That evening
Melissa came up missing,
406
00:20:32,734 --> 00:20:35,000
it had snowed
about seven o'clock.
407
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,867
And it was
a real wet snow.
408
00:20:36,867 --> 00:20:39,667
And I knew that she had
went out that evening
409
00:20:39,734 --> 00:20:40,967
at three o'clock.
410
00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:44,867
So, the snow had to be
on the ground
411
00:20:44,867 --> 00:20:46,333
before she got there.
412
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:49,467
[Cousino] Where the body
was located,
413
00:20:49,467 --> 00:20:52,166
there is literally
no foot traffic back there.
414
00:20:52,767 --> 00:20:54,667
With all this fresh snow,
415
00:20:54,734 --> 00:20:58,266
I thought
there should have been
footprints going to the body
416
00:20:58,266 --> 00:21:00,533
and the killer's footprints
leaving the body.
417
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,066
[Snyder] Officer Green
wrote a report
418
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:10,066
and he made it very clear
that there was no footprints
419
00:21:10,066 --> 00:21:11,233
there at the scene.
420
00:21:13,166 --> 00:21:15,000
[McFadden] Now, we all know
when it snows,
421
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,767
you're going to leave
footprints
422
00:21:16,767 --> 00:21:18,166
even when you leave a body.
423
00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,767
Why is his report
inconsistent?
424
00:21:21,767 --> 00:21:23,367
Did he have something to hide
425
00:21:23,367 --> 00:21:25,133
or he was just sleeping
on the job?
426
00:21:26,367 --> 00:21:28,266
[Deeter] At the scene,
Joseph Green
427
00:21:28,266 --> 00:21:30,767
started talking about
how the snow was pristine
428
00:21:30,767 --> 00:21:32,066
and there was
no tracks.
429
00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,767
Okay, then what are you doing
looking around the corner?
430
00:21:36,767 --> 00:21:38,533
What're you gonna find?
There's nothing here.
431
00:21:39,266 --> 00:21:41,667
"Oh, and by the way,
here's the keys."
432
00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,567
"Where did you find
these keys, right?"
433
00:21:45,634 --> 00:21:47,233
"We got them
out of the trash."
434
00:21:48,967 --> 00:21:51,467
There was something else
that Green said.
435
00:21:51,467 --> 00:21:54,266
He says,
"When I seen the body,
436
00:21:54,266 --> 00:21:55,867
I knew she was dead."
437
00:21:55,934 --> 00:21:57,767
And I said,
"Well, how would that be?"
438
00:21:57,767 --> 00:22:00,467
He said,
"Well, I'm involved
in a funeral home business,
439
00:22:00,533 --> 00:22:03,266
it's a family business,
and I've seen a lot
of dead bodies."
440
00:22:03,266 --> 00:22:05,533
Struck me as being,
"Oh, this is weird."
441
00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:09,066
The air
just wasn't right.
442
00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:15,166
[narrator] Suspicious
of Officer Green,
443
00:22:15,166 --> 00:22:17,033
the detectives
dig deeper.
444
00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:23,634
We decided to process
the cars that the officers
were using that night.
445
00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:26,867
We're looking for
physical evidence
446
00:22:26,867 --> 00:22:30,133
that would link Melissa
to one of the patrol cars.
447
00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:34,467
We were unable to find
any fingerprints from her.
448
00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:39,100
But, we were able to find
green woolen fiber
449
00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:41,333
that matched
Melissa's coat.
450
00:22:42,967 --> 00:22:46,266
Also, we found some long hair
in the front seat.
451
00:22:46,333 --> 00:22:49,367
At the time,
we couldn't do DNA
from hair samples.
452
00:22:49,367 --> 00:22:52,734
But, it did match color
and consistency
with her hair.
453
00:22:54,867 --> 00:22:56,867
There was some
circumstantial evidence.
454
00:22:56,867 --> 00:22:59,967
It couldn't be positive,
but it was some good evidence.
455
00:23:02,367 --> 00:23:05,000
Officer Green wrote
a inconsistent report
456
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,266
about the crime scene.
457
00:23:06,266 --> 00:23:08,667
Now, the officers
and the detectives
458
00:23:08,667 --> 00:23:10,967
had found evidence,
hair and fibers,
459
00:23:11,033 --> 00:23:14,934
that looked like
things are now stacking up
against Officer Green.
460
00:23:17,266 --> 00:23:20,467
At that time,
he became a suspect
in this investigation.
461
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,634
Detectives were keeping tabs
on him, watching him.
462
00:23:28,066 --> 00:23:30,667
We were at his home in--
in the middle of the night,
463
00:23:30,667 --> 00:23:32,667
picking his garbage
464
00:23:32,734 --> 00:23:34,767
to try to find something
that will connect him
465
00:23:34,767 --> 00:23:36,667
to this case
even farther.
466
00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:41,567
[Snyder]
He was so emphatic about
no footprints on the scene.
467
00:23:43,567 --> 00:23:45,467
It was very obvious
from that report
468
00:23:45,533 --> 00:23:47,266
that he was covering up
something.
469
00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,667
Oftentime,
officer make mistakes
in writing a report
470
00:23:52,667 --> 00:23:54,967
or touch something
and try to cover it up.
471
00:23:55,033 --> 00:23:56,166
But, in this case,
472
00:23:56,233 --> 00:23:57,567
you have to ask yourself,
473
00:23:57,567 --> 00:24:00,433
"Is this person
writing the report
our killer?"
474
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,667
[Snyder] It was
eventually determined that
475
00:24:07,734 --> 00:24:10,667
we would ask all the
law enforcement officers
involved
476
00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:12,433
if they would be willing
to take a polygraph.
477
00:24:13,667 --> 00:24:17,567
I trained as
a polygraph examiner
interrogator
478
00:24:17,567 --> 00:24:20,266
for the, uh, scientific
investigations unit.
479
00:24:20,266 --> 00:24:21,867
The first officer
480
00:24:21,867 --> 00:24:24,634
uh, that was brought in
was Officer Green.
481
00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,734
The one that had discrepancies
in his police report.
482
00:24:31,667 --> 00:24:33,567
[McFadden] We needed to ask
Officer Green
483
00:24:33,634 --> 00:24:35,567
why was his report
inconsistent
484
00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:37,767
with the physical evidence
on the crime scene.
485
00:24:37,767 --> 00:24:39,867
But, we're also gonna
have to ask him
486
00:24:39,934 --> 00:24:41,066
during the polygraph
487
00:24:41,066 --> 00:24:44,066
how did these fibers
and hairs,
488
00:24:44,133 --> 00:24:47,266
possibly from the victim,
get into the car?
489
00:24:47,333 --> 00:24:48,767
Polygraphs are not definitive,
490
00:24:48,767 --> 00:24:51,734
but it will tell you
if there is some deception.
491
00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,867
[Snyder] He passed it,
uh, with, uh,
flying colors.
492
00:24:57,767 --> 00:24:59,233
So, we were able to
clear him.
493
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,667
The only thing
that bothered me was, uh,
494
00:25:04,667 --> 00:25:08,767
why he was so emphatic
about no footprints
at the scene.
495
00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:12,467
[Cousino] A lot of times
when a police officer sees
496
00:25:12,467 --> 00:25:13,867
a person in distress,
497
00:25:13,867 --> 00:25:15,266
they rush to the person
498
00:25:15,266 --> 00:25:18,367
not thinking about
footprints and shoeprints
and stuff.
499
00:25:18,367 --> 00:25:21,767
And I-I believe that's what
Officer Green did.
500
00:25:21,767 --> 00:25:25,066
[Snyder] And I think he was,
uh, persuaded into saying
501
00:25:25,133 --> 00:25:28,367
that there was no footprints
on the scene
when he wasn't positive,
502
00:25:28,433 --> 00:25:31,033
and made himself
a suspect in a murder.
503
00:25:32,467 --> 00:25:34,266
But, that was
our prime suspect
504
00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:36,533
and I was-- I was sure
that he wasn't involved.
505
00:25:37,867 --> 00:25:41,266
At that point there,
we really had
nowhere to turn.
506
00:25:43,266 --> 00:25:46,367
Another officer
had come in with Green
507
00:25:46,367 --> 00:25:49,567
and uh, that was his partner,
Officer Hodge.
508
00:25:49,634 --> 00:25:53,567
Lieutenant asked me,
would-- would I be willing to
run Hodge through.
509
00:25:53,634 --> 00:25:55,166
"We don't think
he's involved,
510
00:25:55,233 --> 00:25:57,467
but uh, you know,
we just wanna
get him cleared up."
511
00:25:57,533 --> 00:25:59,433
And I said, "For sure,
yeah, yeah, I'll do him."
512
00:26:00,767 --> 00:26:03,166
[Lori] Jeffrey Hodge
was a young policeman.
513
00:26:03,166 --> 00:26:06,066
He worked, um,
a lot of student events.
514
00:26:06,066 --> 00:26:07,667
Prior to becoming
a police officer,
515
00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:10,266
he was a 911 operator.
516
00:26:10,333 --> 00:26:13,266
Nice guy,
very passionate officer.
517
00:26:13,333 --> 00:26:16,767
Everyone had described him
as a very, kind of, cordial
518
00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:18,567
uh, quiet person.
519
00:26:18,634 --> 00:26:22,266
Kind of like a Boy Scout
type mentality.
520
00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:24,367
And he was very eager
to try
521
00:26:24,433 --> 00:26:26,967
and contribute
to the investigation.
522
00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:31,867
[narrator]
A couple of officers
from Toledo PD
523
00:26:31,867 --> 00:26:35,166
actually saw Officer Hodge
before the body was found.
524
00:26:36,166 --> 00:26:38,567
Previous to coming into work
that night,
525
00:26:38,567 --> 00:26:41,867
Officer Hodge
was at a Super Bowl party
526
00:26:41,934 --> 00:26:44,066
uh, with a bunch of
police officers.
527
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,367
Jeff was really nervous.
528
00:26:46,367 --> 00:26:48,667
[Cousino] Hodge was asking
about ballistics,
529
00:26:48,667 --> 00:26:53,100
about how long
a body can stay
530
00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:56,367
in certain conditions
prior to decomposition,
531
00:26:56,433 --> 00:26:58,667
what it's like seeing bodies
and stuff like that,
532
00:26:58,667 --> 00:27:01,266
I-I-- it was
just weird stuff.
533
00:27:01,333 --> 00:27:04,767
[Snyder] And the TU officer
who was hosting the party
534
00:27:04,767 --> 00:27:07,166
had a radio there
and he turns on
the police radio
535
00:27:07,166 --> 00:27:09,166
and he's listening
to all the police calls
536
00:27:09,233 --> 00:27:10,467
and they go,
"What're you doing, Jeff?"
537
00:27:10,467 --> 00:27:12,266
He says, "Well, I just wanna
hear what's going on
538
00:27:12,333 --> 00:27:13,567
before I go to work."
539
00:27:13,567 --> 00:27:15,834
And everybody thought
this was pretty unusual.
540
00:27:18,667 --> 00:27:21,967
[Deeter] Awaiting the results
of, uh, Mr. Green's
polygraph,
541
00:27:21,967 --> 00:27:24,934
I happen to be talking
to Hodge in the
detective bureau.
542
00:27:25,266 --> 00:27:27,166
Just chit-chat.
543
00:27:27,233 --> 00:27:30,266
He said how neat it was
to see all the girls
come running out
544
00:27:30,266 --> 00:27:33,467
at uh, MacKinnon Hall
when the fire alarm
was pulled,
545
00:27:33,533 --> 00:27:35,934
in their little flimsy,
uh, night gown.
546
00:27:36,867 --> 00:27:39,066
Which I thought
was kinda strange
547
00:27:39,767 --> 00:27:41,567
and just pretty inappropriate.
548
00:27:41,567 --> 00:27:42,867
He's not talking about
the guys
549
00:27:42,934 --> 00:27:44,667
running out the dorm
in his boxer shorts.
550
00:27:44,667 --> 00:27:47,567
He's talking about
the women running out
in their night wear.
551
00:27:47,567 --> 00:27:50,567
And it's the same dorm
that got strange phone calls
552
00:27:50,567 --> 00:27:52,667
and also shots fired.
553
00:27:52,734 --> 00:27:55,867
So, it's time now
to interview Officer Hodge
554
00:27:55,934 --> 00:27:57,166
to see what else
he knows about.
555
00:27:59,467 --> 00:28:02,166
[Snyder] I went in,
met Officer Hodge.
556
00:28:02,233 --> 00:28:05,367
Part of the polygraph process
is pre-test interview
and stuff.
557
00:28:05,367 --> 00:28:07,667
I ask him, like, you know,
what-- what's one of
the greatest things
558
00:28:07,734 --> 00:28:10,166
ever happened in your life
and he told me that was
559
00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:12,567
uh, being a police officer.
560
00:28:12,567 --> 00:28:16,066
Apparently, he had applied in
Toledo Highway Patrol,
561
00:28:16,066 --> 00:28:18,166
several other departments
and uh,
562
00:28:18,233 --> 00:28:23,367
then eventually got, uh,
hired with the university.
563
00:28:23,433 --> 00:28:27,066
And he he said his grandfather
had bought him a gun
for graduation.
564
00:28:27,900 --> 00:28:29,967
I said, "Well, really?
What kind is it?"
565
00:28:29,967 --> 00:28:32,567
Uh, "5906 Smith & Wesson."
566
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,867
The bullet that we recovered
at the crime scene,
567
00:28:37,934 --> 00:28:39,567
firearms examiner determined
568
00:28:39,567 --> 00:28:42,533
that it came from a model
5906 Smith & Wesson.
569
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,667
[McFadden] He mentions
the make and the model
of the gun that he owned.
570
00:28:46,667 --> 00:28:49,867
Just so happens
it was the same caliber,
make and model
571
00:28:49,867 --> 00:28:52,000
of the gun that was fired
on the scene.
572
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,567
That is what we call
a silent "Aha" moment.
573
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:58,667
You can't act it out,
but in your body
and your soul,
574
00:28:58,667 --> 00:29:00,967
you are saying,
"Aha!"
575
00:29:00,967 --> 00:29:04,467
[Deeter] The type of tests
that Sergeant Snyder
was administering,
576
00:29:04,533 --> 00:29:06,266
peak-of-tension tests,
577
00:29:06,266 --> 00:29:08,266
they ask questions
and-and then they react
578
00:29:08,266 --> 00:29:12,166
to the-- the answers
that only the suspect
would know.
579
00:29:12,166 --> 00:29:13,667
[Snyder] Jeff was
at the crime scene.
580
00:29:13,667 --> 00:29:14,667
[indistinct police radio]
581
00:29:14,667 --> 00:29:15,767
[Snyder] He knew
what she was wearing,
582
00:29:15,767 --> 00:29:17,467
he knew her---
position of her body,
583
00:29:17,467 --> 00:29:21,166
he knew there was
nine millimeter shell casings
there at the scene.
584
00:29:21,166 --> 00:29:23,266
So, I had to be creative.
585
00:29:23,333 --> 00:29:25,000
So, I formulated
a bunch of questions
586
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,166
and uh, "Do you know,
she was bound with rope,
587
00:29:27,233 --> 00:29:28,567
do you know
she was bound with wire,
588
00:29:28,567 --> 00:29:30,567
do you know she was bound
with panty-hose?"
589
00:29:30,567 --> 00:29:33,834
And one of the questions
mixed in was handcuffs.
590
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,266
"Was she bound
with handcuffs?"
591
00:29:36,333 --> 00:29:38,467
He hits the handcuffs
very hard.
592
00:29:38,467 --> 00:29:40,767
It's-- unbelievable response
I get.
593
00:29:40,767 --> 00:29:42,066
Uh, very deceptive.
594
00:29:42,066 --> 00:29:43,667
I'm just, like,
shocked, you know,
595
00:29:43,667 --> 00:29:46,867
'cause I-- nobody was even
looking at Jeff as a suspect.
596
00:29:46,934 --> 00:29:50,066
Everybody said he was
such a model officer.
597
00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,367
[Michael] I think
a light bulb went off
598
00:29:53,433 --> 00:29:55,100
in the investigators' heads
599
00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:58,667
thinking, "We may be
looking at the wrong guy
this entire time."
600
00:30:00,567 --> 00:30:03,266
[McFadden]
When the question
comes up about the handcuff,
601
00:30:03,266 --> 00:30:05,667
the polygraph
went off the charts.
602
00:30:05,734 --> 00:30:07,667
Now, do you stop him
at that point? No.
603
00:30:07,667 --> 00:30:09,667
You continue
to ask your question.
604
00:30:09,734 --> 00:30:14,734
Always allow him
to have enough to rope
to hang himself later.
605
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:18,767
[Snyder] What is
the most important thing,
606
00:30:18,767 --> 00:30:21,166
what has Jeff got
that I really need?
607
00:30:21,233 --> 00:30:23,734
Well, I need the gun
and I need his handcuffs.
608
00:30:24,967 --> 00:30:28,166
He hit on the handcuffs
in the test
609
00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:30,667
so, I-I wanna see
these handcuffs.
610
00:30:30,667 --> 00:30:32,100
So, I-I ask Jeff,
611
00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:33,166
"I'd like to see your gun."
612
00:30:33,233 --> 00:30:35,367
He goes, "No, no, no,
no problem at all."
613
00:30:35,433 --> 00:30:36,867
I said, uh,
614
00:30:36,867 --> 00:30:38,266
"Where is it?"
You know,
615
00:30:38,266 --> 00:30:39,767
and he says,
"Well, it's uh,
616
00:30:39,767 --> 00:30:41,767
it's in my locker
over at the university."
617
00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:46,467
[Deeter] I recall
him looking in the locker
618
00:30:46,533 --> 00:30:47,867
and saying,
619
00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:50,667
"Somebody's trying
to set me up.
The gun's missing.
620
00:30:50,667 --> 00:30:53,166
In my head,
I'm automatically thinking,
621
00:30:53,233 --> 00:30:55,066
"If I was gonna
set you up,
622
00:30:55,133 --> 00:30:57,367
that gun would've
definitely been there.
[chuckles]
623
00:30:57,967 --> 00:30:59,634
So, that didn't make sense.
624
00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:04,166
[narrator] Officers do find
handcuffs in Hodge's locker.
625
00:31:04,166 --> 00:31:05,467
[Snyder] We take 'em
over to the lab
626
00:31:05,533 --> 00:31:08,166
and look at 'em under--
under a microscope.
627
00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:11,066
[Deeter] You can see
on one of the edges,
628
00:31:11,133 --> 00:31:13,066
a bullet had struck that.
629
00:31:13,066 --> 00:31:15,567
You could see
actually the lead
630
00:31:15,634 --> 00:31:17,066
that was in the bullet
631
00:31:17,066 --> 00:31:21,066
and the copper jacketing
was actually melted
632
00:31:21,467 --> 00:31:23,467
onto Hodge's handcuffs,
633
00:31:23,467 --> 00:31:26,967
where this bullet
had struck at velocity.
634
00:31:26,967 --> 00:31:29,934
There was one bullet
that was sheared.
635
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:32,867
So, that means
it hits something hard
636
00:31:32,867 --> 00:31:34,066
on the way through.
637
00:31:34,066 --> 00:31:35,867
So, it was not hard
to figure out
638
00:31:35,867 --> 00:31:38,166
that the bullet had struck
a handcuff.
639
00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:45,166
[Deeter] And then there was
also some tissue
640
00:31:45,233 --> 00:31:48,266
that was found
within them handcuffs.
641
00:31:48,266 --> 00:31:51,166
[Snyder]
The next morning, they had
Medical College of Ohio
642
00:31:51,233 --> 00:31:53,266
actually analyze the sample.
643
00:31:53,266 --> 00:31:55,467
But, they said, "No,
no, not enough tissue.
644
00:31:55,467 --> 00:31:57,934
You don't have enough,
not enough to do DNA."
645
00:31:58,900 --> 00:32:01,967
DNA was...
Man, it was really new.
646
00:32:01,967 --> 00:32:03,233
Uh, not like today.
647
00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,166
They had to grow
this tissue
648
00:32:07,233 --> 00:32:09,166
so that they would have
more substance
649
00:32:09,166 --> 00:32:10,867
for testing purposes.
650
00:32:12,867 --> 00:32:16,333
So, back in 1992,
DNA was a nude banana
for law enforcement.
651
00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:20,467
You had to wait
for the analysis.
652
00:32:20,533 --> 00:32:21,934
You don't wanna make
any mistakes.
653
00:32:23,767 --> 00:32:26,367
The evidence is stacking up
against Officer Hodge,
654
00:32:26,367 --> 00:32:28,567
but DNA will seal the deal.
655
00:32:36,767 --> 00:32:40,467
[McFadden] So, we have to look
at what evidence they have
against Officer Hodge.
656
00:32:40,533 --> 00:32:43,000
The suspicious activity
on the scene,
657
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:45,100
the handcuff
with the indention,
658
00:32:45,100 --> 00:32:47,266
owning a gun
that is linked
659
00:32:47,266 --> 00:32:49,967
to the type of gun
that we use on a murder,
660
00:32:50,033 --> 00:32:52,967
and also the lies
and inconsistencies
661
00:32:53,033 --> 00:32:54,066
that he was telling.
662
00:32:54,133 --> 00:32:56,367
Now, we have
enough evidence
663
00:32:56,367 --> 00:32:58,934
to allow him to be hanged
with his own rope.
664
00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:02,767
[narrator]
Officer Jeffrey Hodge
is arrested
665
00:33:02,834 --> 00:33:05,567
on February 1st, 1992,
666
00:33:05,567 --> 00:33:08,333
six days after
Melissa Herstrum was killed.
667
00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:13,967
[Michael] People were
a little more at ease
668
00:33:14,033 --> 00:33:15,867
that someone
had been arrested.
669
00:33:15,934 --> 00:33:17,100
But, the fear
670
00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:18,266
was still there
671
00:33:18,266 --> 00:33:19,867
because of who it was.
672
00:33:19,867 --> 00:33:21,567
It was a police officer.
673
00:33:21,634 --> 00:33:23,033
It shocked everyone.
674
00:33:23,967 --> 00:33:25,266
[Lori] I was so angry,
675
00:33:25,266 --> 00:33:26,367
because this is somebody
676
00:33:26,367 --> 00:33:29,000
that is supposed to
protect and serve.
677
00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,867
They're not supposed
to be taking a life,
678
00:33:30,867 --> 00:33:33,166
they're supposed to be
saving a life.
679
00:33:33,233 --> 00:33:35,867
I remember the morning
the body was found.
680
00:33:35,867 --> 00:33:38,367
Jeff came to
the sorority house.
681
00:33:38,433 --> 00:33:42,066
It just seemed like
a very caring move to make.
682
00:33:45,467 --> 00:33:47,467
[Snyder] Soon as
Melissa's body was found,
683
00:33:47,467 --> 00:33:49,667
all the girls
were petrified.
684
00:33:49,667 --> 00:33:51,667
When they were doing
personal escorts,
685
00:33:51,734 --> 00:33:54,066
Hodge was actually part
of the escort team.
686
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:58,967
And he would
pick these girls up,
take 'em to their classes,
687
00:33:59,033 --> 00:34:02,100
and a couple of the girls
complained that, uh,
688
00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:05,467
Hodge said,
"I'm working on this
and making you safe",
689
00:34:05,467 --> 00:34:07,867
and hitting on these--
these young girls
690
00:34:07,867 --> 00:34:10,266
and-and uh, trying to make
himself a hero.
691
00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:13,867
[McFadden] So,
what Officer Hodge did
692
00:34:13,934 --> 00:34:15,467
is taking advantage
of these women
693
00:34:15,467 --> 00:34:19,100
in situations that
they believe that
they need an officer,
694
00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:24,166
and it would be Officer Hodge
coming as the knight
in shining armor.
695
00:34:25,567 --> 00:34:27,367
[Lori] After Jeff Hodge
was arrested,
696
00:34:27,367 --> 00:34:28,867
other women came forward
697
00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:31,266
and said that Jeff had--
had stopped them
698
00:34:31,266 --> 00:34:33,867
and accused them
of drinking.
699
00:34:33,934 --> 00:34:37,767
There were several people
who I spoke to
in my reporting
700
00:34:37,767 --> 00:34:40,767
uh, who, when they first saw
Hodge's face
701
00:34:40,834 --> 00:34:42,166
come up on the TV,
702
00:34:42,166 --> 00:34:44,533
their heart just
completely sank.
703
00:34:45,967 --> 00:34:49,767
Anna Kolin,
she had been stopped by Hodge
704
00:34:49,767 --> 00:34:52,567
in the 24 hours
before Melissa's murder.
705
00:34:52,567 --> 00:34:55,567
I was pulled in,
um, it was the second
parking space,
706
00:34:55,634 --> 00:34:57,567
you know, directly
in front of the tennis courts
707
00:34:57,634 --> 00:35:00,467
because when he pulled in,
he pulled in directly
behind me
708
00:35:00,533 --> 00:35:01,667
and blocked me in.
709
00:35:01,734 --> 00:35:04,266
She hadn't been drinking,
so she didn't know
710
00:35:04,266 --> 00:35:06,367
why he was questioning
her for that.
711
00:35:06,367 --> 00:35:08,867
Anna believes if her boyfriend
had not shown up,
712
00:35:08,867 --> 00:35:10,967
she would've been
Hodge's first victim.
713
00:35:12,867 --> 00:35:15,000
[Anna] Seeing his face
in that mugshot,
714
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,467
that was probably
the moment that
scared me the most,
715
00:35:17,533 --> 00:35:19,767
when I realized
how close I had actually come
716
00:35:19,834 --> 00:35:22,066
um, to potentially losing
my life that night.
717
00:35:23,367 --> 00:35:26,166
[Lori] I think that was
one of the other
really scary things was,
718
00:35:26,166 --> 00:35:27,767
could he have killed more?
719
00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,867
[narrator] The case
against Hodge remained
circumstantial.
720
00:35:34,934 --> 00:35:38,967
Until the DNA results
come back
three weeks after his arrest.
721
00:35:39,033 --> 00:35:42,767
The tissue on his handcuffs
is Melissa Herstrum's.
722
00:35:42,767 --> 00:35:46,634
[Deeter] And that links
that handcuff to you and her.
723
00:35:47,467 --> 00:35:49,467
Game over.
724
00:35:49,467 --> 00:35:52,166
[McFadden]
The ultimate satisfaction
of any homicide detective,
725
00:35:52,233 --> 00:35:55,567
when you can present
a solid case to the
district attorney's office.
726
00:35:58,266 --> 00:36:00,867
[Cousino] This is the type of
heinous act
727
00:36:00,867 --> 00:36:02,634
that the death penalty
is made for.
728
00:36:03,700 --> 00:36:05,367
[Deeter]
There was a kidnapping,
729
00:36:05,433 --> 00:36:06,767
uh, and-and there was a murder
730
00:36:06,767 --> 00:36:09,367
and the commission of
other-other felony.
731
00:36:09,367 --> 00:36:11,233
If anybody deserves,
he does.
732
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:14,967
[narrator] In 1993,
733
00:36:14,967 --> 00:36:17,867
15 months
after Melissa's murder,
734
00:36:17,867 --> 00:36:19,567
Jeffrey Hodge pleads guilty
735
00:36:19,567 --> 00:36:22,934
in exchange for life in prison
with the chance of parole.
736
00:36:25,767 --> 00:36:28,367
[Cousino] When he made
his plea deal,
737
00:36:28,367 --> 00:36:30,066
he took
a cowardly way out
738
00:36:30,066 --> 00:36:33,000
and said, "I don't remember
anything about it."
I'm sure that's not true.
739
00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:34,934
I'm sure he remembers
every detail.
740
00:36:36,367 --> 00:36:38,166
[narrator] Even without
a confession,
741
00:36:38,166 --> 00:36:39,667
detectives have
pieced together
742
00:36:39,734 --> 00:36:42,533
what they believe happened
to Melissa that night.
743
00:36:43,266 --> 00:36:45,000
[Cousino] Hodge was out
on patrol
744
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,867
and it was not
an unusual thing
745
00:36:46,934 --> 00:36:48,467
for him to stop
pretty girls.
746
00:36:48,533 --> 00:36:50,567
Unfortunately,
Miss Herstrum
747
00:36:50,634 --> 00:36:52,233
was out late at night.
748
00:36:53,500 --> 00:36:55,767
[Snyder] She hasn't got
her driver's license with her.
749
00:36:55,767 --> 00:36:58,467
So, he drives her back
to her apartment
750
00:36:58,533 --> 00:37:01,000
and she goes in and gets
her driver's license for him.
751
00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,367
You know, he's got her
in the car,
752
00:37:02,367 --> 00:37:05,266
so he-- he makes her
take her coat off
753
00:37:05,333 --> 00:37:07,166
and puts it in the back seat
of the car.
754
00:37:07,166 --> 00:37:09,166
You know, he wanted to get
a closer look at her body.
755
00:37:10,667 --> 00:37:14,066
He was probably making
advances to her in the car.
756
00:37:14,133 --> 00:37:15,767
She's not gonna take this
757
00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:17,934
abuse from some cop.
758
00:37:19,166 --> 00:37:20,734
[Deeter] Something
triggered him.
759
00:37:21,066 --> 00:37:23,266
My best guess
760
00:37:23,333 --> 00:37:25,233
is that she questioned
his authority.
761
00:37:26,767 --> 00:37:28,634
"I will have your job."
762
00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:32,066
"My dad's gonna see
that you'll never work again."
763
00:37:32,867 --> 00:37:34,533
[Deeter] "Oh, he's gonna ruin
his career".
764
00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:36,767
Someone like Officer Hodge
765
00:37:36,834 --> 00:37:38,867
who always dreamed
about being a cop,
766
00:37:38,934 --> 00:37:40,967
he could never
live with himself
767
00:37:40,967 --> 00:37:42,734
not being a cop.
768
00:37:44,900 --> 00:37:47,367
[Snyder]
I think he took her out,
terrorized her,
769
00:37:47,367 --> 00:37:51,033
handcuffed her
and walked her out
into that field.
770
00:37:53,867 --> 00:37:56,567
Pulled her clothing down,
humiliated her,
771
00:37:56,567 --> 00:37:58,333
and just brutalized her.
772
00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,266
He came to a point where,
"God, you know,
look what I've done.
773
00:38:04,266 --> 00:38:05,967
My only out is now
is to kill her."
774
00:38:05,967 --> 00:38:08,467
You know, and then,
I think that's when
he shot her in the head.
775
00:38:08,667 --> 00:38:09,600
[gunshot]
776
00:38:12,500 --> 00:38:14,567
[narrator] Hodge later called
into dispatch,
777
00:38:14,634 --> 00:38:17,266
so he and his partner
could respond to the call
778
00:38:17,266 --> 00:38:18,433
and find the body.
779
00:38:20,266 --> 00:38:22,467
[Snyder] He manipulated
Green into thinking
780
00:38:22,533 --> 00:38:24,867
he was the one
that found the body.
781
00:38:24,934 --> 00:38:26,367
He didn't wanna be
the lead.
782
00:38:26,433 --> 00:38:29,166
He wanted to sit back
and let Green do it.
783
00:38:29,233 --> 00:38:31,367
[Cousino]
I think Jeff Hodge
was intentionally
784
00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:32,667
messing up
the footprints.
785
00:38:32,667 --> 00:38:35,867
He did know
those are his shoeprints
in the snow
786
00:38:35,934 --> 00:38:36,967
and he had to ruin them.
787
00:38:36,967 --> 00:38:40,533
And he used Officer Green
to help him do that.
788
00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:44,100
Hodge also confessed
to the threatening phone calls
789
00:38:44,100 --> 00:38:45,567
that ensued after
790
00:38:45,567 --> 00:38:47,867
and to a shooting
that had happened
791
00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:49,266
at MacKinnon Hall
792
00:38:49,266 --> 00:38:50,967
sometime before
the murder.
793
00:38:51,667 --> 00:38:53,667
So that he could
respond to it,
794
00:38:53,667 --> 00:38:57,667
and again, be this type of
superhero cop.
795
00:38:58,467 --> 00:38:59,967
[McFadden] His violence
was escalating,
796
00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:03,166
and it ended up with him
taking a young girl's life.
797
00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:08,567
[Lori]
Melissa is remembered
798
00:39:08,567 --> 00:39:10,767
as that beautiful
photograph of her,
799
00:39:10,834 --> 00:39:13,567
19-years-old
with a beautiful smile
on her face.
800
00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:17,367
Her sorority sisters,
801
00:39:17,367 --> 00:39:19,767
they've never
forgotten her.
802
00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,867
They raised money
several years ago
803
00:39:22,867 --> 00:39:25,266
at the University of Toledo
to put a bench
804
00:39:25,266 --> 00:39:27,066
um, with Melissa's name
on it
805
00:39:27,066 --> 00:39:31,100
and a rock,
a place that students
could go meditate
806
00:39:31,100 --> 00:39:33,533
and Melissa would be
there with them.
807
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:42,266
[narrator] Jeffrey Hodge's
first parole hearing
is in 2021,
808
00:39:42,266 --> 00:39:45,667
29 years after
Melissa was killed.
809
00:39:45,734 --> 00:39:47,867
[Lori] I wrote a letter
to the parole board.
810
00:39:47,867 --> 00:39:52,233
He is a monster
and he should never see
the light of day.
811
00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,767
He shot her 14 times
at close range
812
00:39:55,767 --> 00:39:57,367
and her clothes
were partially removed,
813
00:39:57,367 --> 00:40:00,367
like, he wanted to see
the impact of the bullets.
814
00:40:00,433 --> 00:40:03,266
And I have to relive
all these things,
815
00:40:03,266 --> 00:40:05,266
but they never leave
my memory anyway.
816
00:40:05,467 --> 00:40:06,533
But, um...
817
00:40:07,567 --> 00:40:09,233
he's-- he's dangerous.
818
00:40:10,467 --> 00:40:12,166
[narrator] The push
is successful.
819
00:40:12,166 --> 00:40:17,166
Hodge will remain in prison
until his next hearing
in 2031.
820
00:40:17,233 --> 00:40:19,734
[Cindy] I can't forget
what she looked like
laying there in the coffin.
821
00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:21,967
I can't forget it.
822
00:40:21,967 --> 00:40:24,667
I won't forget it.
I don't wanna forget
her memory.
823
00:40:24,667 --> 00:40:26,567
But, I won't forget
what he did
824
00:40:26,567 --> 00:40:29,266
and I will spend
the rest of my life
making sure
825
00:40:29,333 --> 00:40:31,367
he stays
where he needs to stay.
826
00:40:33,700 --> 00:40:34,967
[Snyder] I have no qualms
827
00:40:34,967 --> 00:40:37,867
about putting him away
and locking him up.
828
00:40:37,934 --> 00:40:40,000
He should be treated
worse than any criminal
829
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,266
because he's--
he knows better.
830
00:40:42,333 --> 00:40:44,567
I really believe
that, uh,
831
00:40:44,567 --> 00:40:46,834
we-we stopped
a serial killer.
832
00:40:47,567 --> 00:40:50,367
The Jeffrey Hodges are very,
very, very
833
00:40:50,367 --> 00:40:52,867
few and far between.
Thank God.
834
00:40:54,100 --> 00:40:56,266
It's a black eye on all of us.
835
00:40:56,266 --> 00:40:59,166
And it makes
our jobs harder.
836
00:40:59,166 --> 00:41:02,867
Nobody wants to
get rid of bad cops
more than good cops do.
837
00:41:11,367 --> 00:41:12,667
♪
838
00:41:12,667 --> 00:41:14,333
He says that she threatened
to commit suicide.
839
00:41:15,567 --> 00:41:18,467
MAN: If there's a rumor it
spreads like wildfire.
840
00:41:18,467 --> 00:41:20,166
WOMAN: It rocked the town.
841
00:41:21,100 --> 00:41:23,667
A lot of people didn't believe
the official story.
842
00:41:23,667 --> 00:41:26,100
MAN: Who would know how to
stage a crime scene
843
00:41:26,100 --> 00:41:28,667
better than someone who
investigates crime scenes?