1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: Hi, guys, Nancy Grace here, Welcome back to Killers amongst Us, 2 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: a production of iHeartMedia and Crime Online. She had at 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: all Natalie Wooden type good looks, a wonderful husband, a 4 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: brand new restaurant just outside of La living the life. 5 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: But suddenly, out of the blue, Dawn disappears seemingly into 6 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: thin air. What happened to Dawn and why would she 7 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: leave the picture perfect life? I'm Nancy Grace, Killers amongst Us. 8 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: How does a beautiful young woman in the prime of 9 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: her life, she and her husband just launching a highly 10 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: popular restaurant, suddenly just disappear into thin air. We're talking 11 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: about a gorgeous woman, Dawn Vins. How does she just 12 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: disappear into thin air? Let's start with who is Dawn Vins? 13 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: Joining me an all star panel to break it down 14 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: and put it back together again with me, Larry Altman, 15 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: crime reporter for The d E Breeze, freelance journalist now 16 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: Professor Forensics Jackson State University, author of Blood Beneath My 17 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: Feet on Amazon and star on a new program Poisonous 18 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: Liaisons on True Crime Network. Also with me. Special guests 19 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: David Pappin, brother of Dawn joining me out of Bradenton, Florida, 20 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: and Dana, her sister, joining me from California. Welcome everybody. 21 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: I want to first talk about who is Dawn Vins 22 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: because you know, to you, Joe Scott Morgan, you're a 23 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: death investigator. You've handled thousands of cases, but you gotta 24 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: know who you're talking about, what circles they ran, and 25 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: where are they from? Where are they likely to go? Right? Yeah, yeah, 26 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: you do, Nancy, as you and I are off to say, 27 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: in any kind of missing person's case, who has access 28 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: that's that is, who has familiarity with the individual. And 29 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: what we're trying to find out is who is Don 30 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: Vian's Would she just take off and head to Vegas? 31 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: Is she with a boyfriend? Did she have a lover 32 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: and take off to start a new life? Well, listen 33 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: to our friend Joe kick Casey. Don was an amazing 34 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: person for me when I met her, and she has 35 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: brought so much goodness into my life personally and others too. 36 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure I look around and tell you so many 37 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: things because of Don. She's brought many people in the 38 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: head has she brought so many people together? And she 39 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: was a wonderful person She just loved people to laugh, 40 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: to have fun. Sadness wasn't her game. She didn't like 41 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: sadness very much. She liked to be happy and smile. 42 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: So is that her personality to her sister Dana, Dana again, 43 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: thank you for being with us. Tell me about Dawn 44 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: growing up? What's her personality? Joe was absolutely right there. 45 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: She was always the happy, smiley, looking for the positive 46 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: side of things. You know, she was incredibly smart, incredibly driven, 47 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: this happy, vibrant, always smiling woman that you kind of 48 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: wanted to be around. Where did you guys grow up, David, 49 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: We grew up in Burlington, Vermont. Yeah, I've been there 50 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: to ski beautiful. So question what was her interest? How 51 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: did she get into the restaurant business? So I remember 52 00:03:54,760 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: I was probably seventeen and Dawn there was a private 53 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: golf course called Basin Harbor and she used to go 54 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: up there and work there in the summertime. David, you 55 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: said she took this job in the food business. Was 56 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 1: that something she like? My daughter, David is a huge baker. 57 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: After dinner, she goes into the kitchen goes, what's it 58 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: a baked tonight? Last night? From scratch. I don't know 59 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: how she did it. She made these fantastic chocolate peanut 60 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: butter cookies, I mean perfect, and she's been doing this 61 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: since she was you know, nine years old. Was down 62 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: that way well done, you know, she definitely you know, 63 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: my mom worked and so done. Used to babysitters a lot, 64 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: and she would cook us dinner and things like that. 65 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: But I think, you know, she started in a restaurant business, 66 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, just as you know, not a lot of experience. 67 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: It was something that she could you know, get into 68 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: and make some money. You know, I don't necessarily think 69 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: food and the restaurant business early on was a passion. 70 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: I think it was just a you know, a job 71 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: that developed. Now you were going to jump in Dana 72 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: I was. I have very clear memories of her working 73 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: at a place called the Ponderosa Steakhouse when she was 74 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: probably fifteen or sixteen, and I remember going with my 75 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: mom to pick her up, and David's very I think 76 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: it was more of a ways to have a part 77 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: time job and to make money. She was really focused 78 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: on school. She was you know, honor roll part of um. 79 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: I was trying to think of what it was called 80 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: when high schoolers go to Washington, like the faux United Nation. 81 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: Oh wow, like a citizenship or leadership thing. I got 82 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: to do that exactly. And I can't recall exactly what 83 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: they call it, but um, but she was. But she 84 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: was really smart and so yeah, it was a part 85 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: time job. And I don't think there was ever a 86 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: real passion about the restaury industry. I hear you. I mean, 87 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: I've worked at a sandwich shop to put myself through 88 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: law school, but that did not mean I wanted to 89 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: make sandwiches the rest of my life. So I hear you. 90 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: Was it Beta Club? Jackie wants to know. Was she 91 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: in Beta Club? No? Um, David, you no, it was 92 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: a school trip. She was you know. She she was 93 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: a cheerleader. Um, not not a very not into sports, 94 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: but she did cheerleading. It's a sport. Okay, well, cheerleading 95 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: is a sport. I'm a former cheerleader and I had 96 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: to work out just like the football players did. You're right, man, 97 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: So I'm getting a picture of her. And she was very, 98 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: very social, lots of friends. Um yeah, but there's no 99 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: no fourage club or any of those types of things 100 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: that I recall. Well, I guess the cheerleading and the 101 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: straight a's was. Now I'm looking at a picture of 102 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: her right now, what picture I'm saying. She's got beautiful 103 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: auburn hair down below her shoulders and a later shot 104 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: it looks like she frosted it. Just super super pretty. 105 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: Kind of got a Natalie Wood look to her, a 106 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: young Natalie Wood I'm seeing. And one of the things 107 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: and one of the things about Don she you know, 108 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: we grew up and we didn't have a lot of money, 109 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: and done very much wanted that pair of Georgash jeans. 110 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: So an order for Don, myself, my brother, my sister. 111 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: In order for us to get that cool new item, 112 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: we had to go to work. You know, our mom 113 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: would give us or what we needed. But if we 114 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: wanted that cool pair of shoes or that nice pair 115 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: of jeans, you know, we were out there making money 116 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: to get them for ourselves. And she was very much 117 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: leading that. Oh yeah, we all worked. I remember my 118 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: first real job at Sears and Roebucks. I did fine 119 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: in the juniors department. I did fine in the candy department, 120 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: although I nearly ate all the profits. But then when 121 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: they put me in power tools and lawnmoors, that was 122 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: a mistake. They quickly moved me back to juniors. I 123 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: can tell you that much. So I hear you. So 124 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: you guys were getting through And she just looks beautiful 125 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: and so bubbly and vivacious. When then she meets the 126 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: man off her dreams. Take a listen to our friends 127 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: at id. Done and David actually met while working at 128 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: a hotel in Vermont. He's working in the kitchen, she's 129 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: working the door as the hostess. Don is beautiful, she 130 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: is petite, but she is big on personality. The two 131 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: of them hit it off together. It's putting to friends, 132 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: fell madly in love. After a few years, Done and 133 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: David marry and decided that time is right to strike 134 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: out on their own. They go to the Gulf Coast 135 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: of Florida and they open a little eatery called Beach 136 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: City Market and Grill. They understood the restaurant business. Don't 137 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: you want to paint on a larger canvas? What do 138 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: you mean California? Do you want to go to Hollywood? 139 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: They want the glitz, they want the glamour, They want Hollywood. 140 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: They did a renovation on it. It was closed for 141 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: a couple of months and when it reopened. They had 142 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: the new name Time Contemporary Cafe. The place is an 143 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: instant hit with local gifts, good reviews. It's got great food. 144 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: What was a team effort between the two running the restaurant. 145 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: It was a winning combination everybody with me, our Dawn's 146 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: brother and sister, David and Dana. You mentioned I think 147 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: you said big basin. Is that where she meets the 148 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: husband and they fall in love A basin harbor? Yeah, 149 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: they send harbor in Vermont, I think you said, yes, ma'am. 150 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: And they fall in love, they marry and then take 151 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: off for the Gulf Coast of Florida. Now where was it, Dana, 152 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: On the Gulf Coast of Florida. A little island called 153 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: Anna Maria south of Tampa. I know exactly where it is. 154 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: My husband has done a lot of business down in 155 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: the Tampa area and I would fly from Court TV 156 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: in New York down there to meet him. And you 157 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: said Anna Maria island, right, yes, ma'am. What was the 158 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: name of there? Was that where they did Beach City Market? 159 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: And girl, that is beautiful that I was just a wonderful, 160 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: gorgeous Yeah, oh man, And you know what to you 161 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: just got Morgan. I know you know the area well, 162 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: because down there at Anna Maria Island, they're just beautiful 163 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: foliage like that. The air smells sweet because there's so 164 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: many tropical flowers. Yeah, it is relaxing. My wife and 165 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: I vacation down in that area as well, down towards 166 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: CS to Key, which is further south. But yeah, it is, 167 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 1: and it refurbishes. It refurbishes the SOI it does. I 168 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: can go down there and forget about all of my trouble. Well, 169 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of time right there on Anna 170 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: Maria Island, and it's down there, there's Longboat Key, There's 171 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: a group of islands right off the Florida coast. It's 172 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: part of the Florida Gulf and just beautiful and very 173 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: very quaint, wouldn't you agree, Dana, Because there's all these 174 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: little niche restaurants and boutiques and shops, because the villages 175 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: are really small, and I could just see that restaurant, 176 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 1: beach city market and grill. So then they moved to California, right, 177 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: it moved back to California. They moved back to California. White, 178 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: How have I missed it? They were in California. The 179 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: original mooved California. Happened in about ninety three. Now they 180 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: meet at Basin Harbor, they marry, and we're all romance. 181 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: I thought they went to the Golf Coast. Then you're 182 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: telling me that they went to California first. California happened first. Yeah, 183 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: they had been in California for probably about four years 184 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: when they got married, and then about a year later, 185 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: I think a year or so later, they went to 186 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: so I guess they were missing California a bit. So 187 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: the couple, deeply in love, head back to California. But 188 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: what do we know about Lameda where they transplant. Take 189 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: a listen to this our friends at CBS. Flomita is 190 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: a small, sleepy suburb of Los Angeles. It has a 191 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: nickname that people don't like, which is SLOWMDA. Larry Altman 192 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: is a reporter for the local paper, the Daily Breeze 193 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: and the CBS news consultant. He says, there's usually not 194 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: much news in Lomita. It's one of the lowest crime 195 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: rates of the fifteen or sixteen cities that I cover. 196 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: And joining me right now that reporter now freelance journalist, 197 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: Larry Altman. Larry, thanks so much for being with us. 198 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: Tell me about Lomita. Why would they choose to move 199 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: to Lomita. Lomita is in a nice area of southern California, 200 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: in the Los Angeles area. It's kind of a small 201 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: town within the big city and a nice place to live, 202 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: not too far from the ocean, and probably a good 203 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: place to do business. How close is it to La, Well, 204 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: it's within Los Angeles County, but it's probably about twenty 205 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: five miles from downtown Los Angeles. Ah. So do people 206 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: go from LA to Loomita, for instance, for dinner? Because 207 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: I can't imagine with everything they got going on in La, 208 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: you would drive to Lomita for dinner. What was the 209 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: lure of going there to launch their new restaurant. Well, 210 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: that's a nice place to live, and you would attract 211 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 1: the local community living in the suburbs, and probably a 212 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: nice place you could walk to for dinner. I would 213 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: think it's it's right there within the center of the town. 214 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: What do we know about their restaurant, Larry? It was popular, 215 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: It had good reviews, people enjoyed the food. I heard 216 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: it was a really nice place to go. Let's take 217 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: a listen to this. And I always thought he was 218 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: the best ship. I'd never tasted any food that was 219 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: that good. David had the most beautiful plates. It was 220 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: an art to him. Anytime that you went to that restaurant, 221 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: you was determined that you would leave happy. It was 222 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: just an amazing place to go. And then you meet down. 223 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: She's very personally, very friendly, loves everybody. I always really 224 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: liked she loved my dad, and I know they loved 225 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: each other. There they seemed happy, really, the two deeply 226 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: in love. Launching a new restaurant in a new place, 227 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: a sleepy little town Low Meda, California, also called Slow Meta. 228 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: What did you know of her feelings and her frame 229 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: of mind at the time to you, Dana, at that time, 230 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: when they had just opened the place, they were working 231 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: really hard. She was really excited about it, because you know, 232 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: that became such an interral part of their life and 233 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: their relationship. It's their working relationship. Larry was right there, Joe, 234 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: you know, called it. Everyone loved to be around her. 235 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: She made everyone feel welcome and made you feel special. 236 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: So they were excited to be back in business. Honestly, 237 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: you know, I've seen that dynamic. Joe Scott Morgan when 238 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: the husband and the wife are a team together with 239 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: a restaurant, with a family owned business, really raising your children, 240 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: and that kind of takes over the relationship. The goal 241 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: is in this case, the restaurant advancing the restaurant, and 242 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: you're both on this ride with long hours and restaurants. 243 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: You know, you work hard, but you play hard. It's 244 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: a fun place to be. I could just see it 245 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: all unfolding. Yeah, and boy, do you get to find 246 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: out everything about a person. You know, a normal marriage 247 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: we think about that, you know, in normal circumstances. But 248 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: then you put this together with working twenty four seven 249 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: with one another. You're doing the books, you're doing the bills, 250 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: you're playing the menus, and then you know, how are 251 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: you going to take care of the kids and get 252 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: them to everything? It is totally dependent upon total love 253 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: and teamwork and commitment. But seemingly these two very very 254 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: committed to each other. Take a listen to our friend 255 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: Richard Slessinger. It's very, very charismatic. He walked into a 256 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: room and you knew he was there. David Pappen was 257 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: just a kid when his older sister Dawn began dating 258 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: vans who worked in the same restaurant where Dawn waited tables. 259 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: It was very passionate about his food. We would have 260 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: Sunday dinners him and I and Don, and when it 261 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: was a spectacle to have him in the kitchen, I 262 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 1: never ate so good in my life. Very charismatic. He 263 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 1: walked into a room and you knew he was there. 264 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: David Pappen was just a kid when his older sister 265 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: Dawn began dating Vans who worked in the same restaurant 266 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: where Dawn waited tables. It was very passionate about his food. 267 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: We would have Sunday dinners him and I and Don, 268 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: and when it was a spectacle to have him in 269 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: the kitchen, it's so good in my life. So what 270 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: about that day? Would tell me about that, because that's 271 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: a memory I have growing up. Every well, my mom, 272 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: between all of us, we would sit down to dinner 273 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: together every night of the week, and on Sundays, that 274 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,719 Speaker 1: was the big thing. My mom would be working on 275 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: it the night before, we all would be pitching in 276 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: getting everything ready. On Sunday morning, when I would wake up, 277 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: I could smell whatever it was cooking at seven o'clock 278 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: in the morning, and when we would get home from church, 279 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 1: there would be a big meal with lots of people 280 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: invited every single Sunday, relatives, friends, everybody there for Sunday lunch. 281 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: And those are some of the best memories of my life. 282 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,239 Speaker 1: And that kind of sounds this way. What about that. 283 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: You said they would have Sunday dinners together and he 284 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: made these incredible meals. Tell me about it. Sure, so 285 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: they usually started off, you know, I when they bought 286 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: the restaurant in Anna Maria, I was in I was 287 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: in Lamida, California, working for David's mom who lives there, 288 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: and I helped Don and David travel back to the 289 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: Gulf Coast with all their stuff, and then immediately I 290 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: fell in love with that, so I went. I left 291 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: my job in Lamida and I went to Anna Maria 292 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: to be with those guys and to help open Beach 293 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 1: City Marketing grill. And yeah, during the construction, you know, 294 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: Monday through Saturday, we were working trying to get everything ready, 295 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: and Sunday's life. Yeah, we would just relax, invite some 296 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: friends over, and you know, he would cook whatever was 297 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: on his mind, whatever he was trying to get ready 298 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: for the restaurant. What was his style? Italian Beach fake contemporary. 299 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: What you know, I would say, you know a lot 300 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: of his you know, we did a lot of seafood 301 00:19:55,520 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: obviously right on the Gulf. You know, we had every 302 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: every vendor coming in with you know, thirty pound grouper's 303 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: hole and he'd buy the whole thing. So we had, 304 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 1: you know, lots of seafood. But he did, like an 305 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: American traditional type food just elevated the melo incredible, just 306 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: just every your normal, everyday food just brought up the 307 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: you know, to the next level. Dan, I hear you 308 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: in the background, Champion David Right, His whole kind of 309 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: stick was comfort food done really really well. Um. Everything 310 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: was just elevated a bit more. But he made things 311 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: that you knew that were familiar and that you didn't 312 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: know could taste that good. He was very talented. Like 313 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: what one of his most popular was, um um, one 314 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: of my chicken dish day of the Pope chicken pop pies. 315 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: You know that's funny that that that that memory they 316 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 1: because I can tell you what my mom made on Sundays. 317 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: She would make a roast beef fried chicken, a meat love. 318 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: I mean she would always have her go tos and 319 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: it would be plenty for everybody. But there was something 320 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: about the way she did it which is so good, 321 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: and I remember that it really sticks in my mind. 322 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: So where did your sister Dawn fit into this scenario? 323 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean, he's the great chef. Where does she fit in? David? So, 324 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: on the other restaurants that I visited, you know that 325 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: they had owned, she was always greeting customers. She was 326 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: always making sure everyone glass was full. She was she 327 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: was the front of the house. So David and his 328 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: staff would be in the back sweating in the kitchen, 329 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: and Don would be up there just making sure everyone 330 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: everyone was having a great time. And she trained me 331 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: to do the same thing at Beach City Mark and Grill. 332 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 1: She took a step back and did more of the 333 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 1: day to day stuff, the financing, and taught me, you know, 334 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: the front of the house business. So but that's normally 335 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: where she would be would be, you know, making sure 336 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 1: everybody was having a great time. I can see that dynamic. 337 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: They had the picture perfect marriage. But take a listen 338 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: to Richard's lessenger. Local businessman Joe Kacasey. His motorcycle repair 339 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 1: shop was across the parking lot from Vians's new restaurant 340 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: where Dawn was the hostess who charmed the locals, great personality. 341 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: I just thought she was a lot of fun and 342 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: I loved her. She's really cool. Vian's began to confide 343 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: in Joe that Dawn drank a lot, something Jackie saw firsthand. 344 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: I remember waking up and she being a kitchen just 345 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: chugging a beer not a car the morning, and then 346 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: hide the can under the sink so that he wouldn't 347 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: know she'd started been drinking. Do you think she was 348 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 1: an unhappy person? I think she was just confused with 349 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: her wife and as to how she got to where 350 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: she was. You know, I think she wanted things to 351 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: be different. She basically just let my dad take care 352 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: of her her whole life. Joining me, former crime reporter 353 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: for The Daily Breeze and now freelance journalist, Larry Altman, 354 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: what can you tell me about claims that Dawn developed 355 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: a drinking problem and was quote confused with her life. 356 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 1: When I met David David was David told me that 357 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,439 Speaker 1: his wife had had a drinking problem. You know, I 358 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: know I'm hearing this from the husband and from the 359 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: husband's daughter. That's his daughter from another relationship. But to 360 00:23:54,960 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: Dana and David, did you think she had a drinking problem? Yes, 361 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: it did tell me. I think it was probably about 362 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:15,479 Speaker 1: ten years and prior to them returning to Lamida when 363 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: I really noticed it had gotten out of control. Honestly, 364 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: and Jackie's sentiment was correct. She would, you know, hide 365 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: beers in her car, hide beers in her purse, and 366 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: sneak And that's when I knew it was an issue. 367 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: It's because she was being sneaky about it. It just 368 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: breaks my heart because on the outside, David, this is 369 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: Dawned brother. There was this happy facade of they're so 370 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: happy and they have this awesome hot restaurant, totally popular 371 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 1: in this beautiful area of Californian. Their dreams are coming true. 372 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: But she's sneaking alcohol and I got to wonder why. 373 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: I mean, did you know, David, I can honestly say that, 374 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:05,719 Speaker 1: you know, part of their lifestyle, part of was, you know, 375 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: after the restaurant closes, you you know, you drink, so 376 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: I can attest to I don't. I never really saw 377 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: her sneaking necessarily, but um, you know, her and I 378 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: definitely drank a lot. I remember I stopped drinking in 379 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, and she would call me from 380 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 1: time to time asking for advice on how I quit. Um. 381 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: You know, it's almost been twenty years sober for me, UM, 382 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,360 Speaker 1: and she used to call me periodically. I don't want 383 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: to drink anymore. I don't want to drink and what 384 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: can I do? And we talked for a long time. 385 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 1: But I think part of that restaurant life, UM is 386 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: you know, you know, there's definitely, you know, some alcohol involved. 387 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: Like I said, I never saw it. Is this I 388 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: mean to you. Larry Altman, former crime reporter Daily Breeze 389 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: now freelance journalist. When you get off from a restaurant, 390 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: it's not like you can go to a movie at 391 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: eleven o'clock at night. I mean, I've noticed. I noticed this, 392 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: of course in New York where we live, and in Atlanta, 393 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: that at midnight you can go buy and see maybe 394 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: a Chinese restaurant open, or the bar. All the bars 395 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: are still open. There's nowhere to go when you close 396 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: down the restaurant, exaid basically to a bar. And I 397 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: think that's a real danger restaurant workers. Larry, right, And 398 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: you know, Lamina is a small town too, and so 399 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 1: a lot of places would close early, and so the 400 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: only other place to go and drink would be at home. Yeah, 401 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 1: and so all the guys, everybody at the restaurant would 402 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: stick around and start drinking. And somehow she develops a 403 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: drinking problem. And according to this friend whose businesses across 404 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: the street, she began to sneak alcohol, like hiding it 405 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: in her car. But we learned some thing else from 406 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 1: the friend across the street. Take a listen to this 407 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: our friends at CBS. Dawn asked Joe if he'd hold 408 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 1: on to some money for her. So there was like 409 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: almost seven hundred dollars, and she said, if I bring 410 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,439 Speaker 1: more input in there. I said, yes, your spot, you 411 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: can put anything you one. She took him up on 412 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: the offer. On October eighteenth, two thousand and nine, Dawn 413 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 1: called Joe and asked to stash more money. She'd saved 414 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: up a thousand dollars. You want to bring it over 415 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: on Monday and drop it off and put it with 416 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: the other money. And I said, no problem. Monday came 417 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: and went, but Dawn never showed up either at work 418 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: or at Joe's Casey kept watch out of the rear 419 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: window of his shop. He saw Dawn's car, but never 420 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: saw her. After days went by, Kacasey asked David Van's 421 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: where she was and he said she had left him 422 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: after he insisted she go to rehab for her drinking problem. 423 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 1: So Dawn Van's hicks off when her husband's insists she 424 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: go to rehab. But why was she saving up money? 425 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: Why couldn't she put it in the bank if she 426 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: wanted to have a vacation fund or a Christmas fund? 427 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 1: Was it an escape fund? And what will we learn about? 428 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 1: A mystery text from her saying I'm starting over love Pixie, 429 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: Nancy Grace, Killers amongst us, signing off goodbye friend,