WEBVTT - RERUN Hell and Gone Murder Line: Amanda Tusing 0:00:46.480 --> 0:00:51.921 School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold 0:00:52.040 --> 0:00:55.361 case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite 0:00:55.401 --> 0:00:58.761 witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially 0:00:58.840 --> 0:01:02.961 be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights 0:01:03.001 --> 0:01:06.160 from family and community members, their statements should not be 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:09.961 considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts 0:01:10.041 --> 0:01:14.000 inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has 0:01:14.080 --> 0:01:17.160 presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 0:01:17.961 --> 0:01:20.840 Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply 0:01:21.041 --> 0:01:23.601 that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime 0:01:24.161 --> 0:01:27.121 is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening. 0:01:29.920 --> 0:01:33.440 On June fourteenth, two thousand, there was a huge storm 0:01:33.520 --> 0:01:36.721 brewing in northeast Arkansas. It had been raining heavily all 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:40.240 day and according to local weather data, tornadoes had hit. 0:01:41.161 --> 0:01:44.520 Over one hundred trees were downed, power line were down, 0:01:44.601 --> 0:01:48.721 and homes were destroyed. Twenty year old Amanda Tussing, who 0:01:48.721 --> 0:01:51.881 went by Mandy, was hanging out with her fiance, Matt Irvin, 0:01:52.041 --> 0:01:55.960 at his apartment in Jonesboro. Amanda lived forty miles away 0:01:56.121 --> 0:01:59.561 in Dell, Arkansas, which is in Mississippi County. She lived 0:01:59.561 --> 0:02:02.401 with her father, Ed, her mother Susan, and her twin 0:02:02.481 --> 0:02:05.601 brother Andy. She also had an older brother who worked 0:02:05.641 --> 0:02:08.641 out of state. Matt did not want her to go 0:02:08.721 --> 0:02:11.241 home that night. It was about a forty five minute 0:02:11.321 --> 0:02:13.641 drive on a good day and the weather was bad, 0:02:14.081 --> 0:02:17.161 but Amanda wanted to get home, so she left Jonesboro 0:02:17.321 --> 0:02:21.361 at around eleven thirty PM, so even if she drove 0:02:21.520 --> 0:02:25.280 very slowly, she should have gotten home around twelve thirty 0:02:25.361 --> 0:02:28.881 am at the latest. Amanda told Matt she would call 0:02:28.960 --> 0:02:31.121 him from her parents' landline as soon as she got home. 0:02:31.881 --> 0:02:34.041 She did have a cell phone by the way, but 0:02:34.481 --> 0:02:37.441 her family said she never kept it charged and it 0:02:37.481 --> 0:02:41.921 was always dying. Matt never got that call by one 0:02:42.041 --> 0:02:46.361 thirty am. He was concerned, and Matt called Amanda's mother, 0:02:46.641 --> 0:02:48.641 Susan tussing and woke her up. 0:02:50.721 --> 0:02:52.801 Susan told Matt to hang on a second. 0:02:52.841 --> 0:02:54.721 She said she would check to see if Amanda was 0:02:54.761 --> 0:02:58.281 in bed, but when she went into Amanda's bedroom, she 0:02:58.481 --> 0:03:03.121 saw that Amanda was not home. This was totally unlike Amanda. 0:03:03.601 --> 0:03:06.281 Her family knew something must have happened on that road, 0:03:07.001 --> 0:03:09.601 so her dad, Ed and her brother Andy got in 0:03:09.681 --> 0:03:13.801 the car together and drove toward Dell. Meanwhile, Matt left 0:03:13.841 --> 0:03:17.081 his house in Jonesboro and started driving down Highway eighteen 0:03:17.161 --> 0:03:21.001 in the opposite direction. Their plan was they would meet 0:03:21.001 --> 0:03:24.520 in the middle and hopefully see Amanda. Somewhere along the way, 0:03:25.601 --> 0:03:29.401 Matt saw Amanda's nineteen ninety two Pontiac grand am parked 0:03:29.441 --> 0:03:32.001 under a street light. It was on the shoulder of 0:03:32.081 --> 0:03:35.841 Arkansas Highway eighteen, about a mile west of the small 0:03:35.881 --> 0:03:39.041 town of Monette. Amanda's car was on the side of 0:03:39.041 --> 0:03:39.441 the road. 0:03:40.081 --> 0:03:40.801 It looked like. 0:03:41.081 --> 0:03:44.081 It had been parked there intentionally, in other words, not 0:03:44.161 --> 0:03:47.841 like she randomly swerved over. Matt got out of his car, 0:03:48.281 --> 0:03:54.241 stepped out into the darkness, walked over and looked inside. 0:03:54.361 --> 0:03:57.561 I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past five years of making 0:03:57.601 --> 0:04:00.801 my true crime podcast, Helen Gone, I have learned that 0:04:00.841 --> 0:04:03.441 there is no such thing as a small town where 0:04:03.521 --> 0:04:07.481 murder never happens. I have received hundreds of messages from 0:04:07.481 --> 0:04:10.761 people all around the country asking for help with an 0:04:10.841 --> 0:04:14.601 unsolved murder that's affected them, their families, and their communities. 0:04:15.401 --> 0:04:16.241 If you have a. 0:04:16.200 --> 0:04:18.401 Case you'd like me and my team to look into, 0:04:18.640 --> 0:04:20.440 you can reach out to us at our Helen Gone 0:04:20.521 --> 0:04:23.960 murder line at six seven eight seven four four six 0:04:24.121 --> 0:04:28.481 one four five at six seven eight seven four four six' 0:04:28.601 --> 0:04:32.001 one four five this Is Helen gone murder. 0:04:32.041 --> 0:05:22.601 Line matt called the. 0:05:22.641 --> 0:05:27.001 Police they met him And amanda's father out On highway 0:05:27.081 --> 0:05:31.121 eighteen by the. Car law enforcement showed up shortly after 0:05:31.161 --> 0:05:35.481 two thirty. Am at, first police were thinking maybe her 0:05:35.481 --> 0:05:38.401 car broke. Down the keys were still in the. Ignition 0:05:38.921 --> 0:05:42.001 when they started it, up the car ran. Perfectly there 0:05:42.041 --> 0:05:45.841 was also gas in the. Tank they noticed some other things. 0:05:45.881 --> 0:05:48.801 Too there was a coke can in the drinkholder that 0:05:48.921 --> 0:05:51.520 was half to three quarters full and it was still 0:05:51.601 --> 0:05:54.200 chilled with condensation on the, side. 0:05:54.441 --> 0:05:56.361 Which police believed. 0:05:56.361 --> 0:05:59.161 Indicated to them that someone had taken a drink out 0:05:59.201 --> 0:06:03.201 of that can pretty. Recently they also noticed the radio 0:06:03.361 --> 0:06:06.280 was turned To amanda's favorite station with the volume turned, 0:06:06.281 --> 0:06:09.880 down and the windshield wipers had stopped. 0:06:09.601 --> 0:06:10.401 Midwipe on the. 0:06:10.401 --> 0:06:13.601 Windshield the interior of the car did not show any 0:06:13.641 --> 0:06:17.361 signs of foul. Play amanda's stuff was, inside her cell 0:06:17.401 --> 0:06:20.401 phone and her billfold were on the passenger. Seat her 0:06:20.441 --> 0:06:23.521 cell phone was, dead but again her parents said that 0:06:23.521 --> 0:06:26.321 that wasn't necessarily a red flag because it was very often. 0:06:26.441 --> 0:06:29.001 Dead she had a habit of letting her phone run. 0:06:29.041 --> 0:06:31.801 Down and, this by the, way was back way before. 0:06:31.801 --> 0:06:36.001 Smartphones back in two, thousand cell phone reception was very 0:06:36.041 --> 0:06:39.041 spotty in those. Areas in some of those areas it still. 0:06:39.121 --> 0:06:44.121 IS i talked To amanda's, Cousin jonathan about the. Case 0:06:44.801 --> 0:06:48.961 her cousin was born After amanda, disappeared But amanda's family 0:06:49.121 --> 0:06:51.441 has never stopped trying to figure out what happened to. 0:06:51.481 --> 0:06:55.760 Her the weird things about the case is that like 0:06:56.721 --> 0:07:01.281 her car Wasn't it didn't look like somebody had like 0:07:01.361 --> 0:07:03.561 pulled her over and dragged her out of the car 0:07:03.721 --> 0:07:06.320 or anything like. That everything was like in, place but 0:07:06.441 --> 0:07:11.441 she had left all her stuff. There so people like 0:07:11.521 --> 0:07:14.241 to say, that, Like amanda would never have pulled over 0:07:14.401 --> 0:07:15.201 for no. 0:07:15.441 --> 0:07:20.001 Reason you, Know investigators and her family believed that she 0:07:20.161 --> 0:07:23.081 may have pulled over to stop for some reason or 0:07:23.481 --> 0:07:27.921 been pulled over by. Someone amanda's family and friends and 0:07:28.041 --> 0:07:30.881 volunteers came out to, search but they saw no sign 0:07:30.881 --> 0:07:35.241 Of amanda for. Days then three days, later On june, 0:07:35.281 --> 0:07:40.441 eighteenth two, Thousand Father's, day a, Couple trent And Fonda, davis. 0:07:40.241 --> 0:07:41.801 Were coming back home after a trip To. 0:07:41.881 --> 0:07:45.561 Jonesboro they drove over the twin bridges On Arkansas highway 0:07:45.601 --> 0:07:48.721 one thirty five that ran over a body of water 0:07:49.001 --> 0:07:52.401 Called Big Bay. Ditch the couple saw what they thought 0:07:52.401 --> 0:07:56.601 were some clothes floating in that. Water then they realized 0:07:56.681 --> 0:07:59.641 that they were looking at a. Body it Was Amanda. 0:07:59.641 --> 0:08:10.641 Toussing Amanda tussing's body had been. Found this was twelve 0:08:10.761 --> 0:08:14.001 miles in the opposite direction of where she was. Driving 0:08:14.441 --> 0:08:17.041 she was driving, east her body was found to the. 0:08:17.041 --> 0:08:21.001 West an autopsy revealed That amanda had water in her nasal, 0:08:21.041 --> 0:08:25.801 passages but not her. Lungs law enforcement have said publicly 0:08:25.921 --> 0:08:29.601 that they Believe amanda was dead before her body was 0:08:29.601 --> 0:08:33.481 thrown into the, water but they reportedly could not decide 0:08:33.521 --> 0:08:36.721 on a definite cause of death because it could have 0:08:36.761 --> 0:08:39.440 been a dry drowning where the victim dies of choking 0:08:39.481 --> 0:08:42.121 on the water but water never actually gets into the. 0:08:42.201 --> 0:08:46.481 Lungs AMANDA i had no visible injuries except a small 0:08:46.521 --> 0:08:48.721 bruise on the back of her. Head there were no 0:08:48.881 --> 0:08:52.561 obvious signs of sexual, assault but because she had been 0:08:52.601 --> 0:08:55.561 in the water for, days it must have been very 0:08:55.601 --> 0:08:59.201 hard to know for. Sure the police also had more bad. 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:03.361 Luck the heavy torrential rains had washed away a lot 0:09:03.361 --> 0:09:10.281 of potential. Clues Gary, etter the original detective on the, 0:09:10.321 --> 0:09:15.561 case told Kait Regionate news quote the Medical examiner's office 0:09:15.641 --> 0:09:18.881 checked and said that she had no physical injuries other 0:09:18.961 --> 0:09:20.721 than being in the water and the impact of the. 0:09:20.721 --> 0:09:25.001 ELEMENTS i think whoever did this probably did it. Before 0:09:25.641 --> 0:09:30.361 that's What i'm, thinking due to no evidence end Quote Detective. 0:09:30.441 --> 0:09:33.001 Etter by the, way in my, opinion from what he 0:09:33.121 --> 0:09:35.761 said in, public it really does seem like he deeply 0:09:35.841 --> 0:09:40.441 cared about this. Case last year in twenty twenty, three 0:09:41.081 --> 0:09:44.641 The Craighead County Sheriff's office assigned a new detective Named 0:09:44.681 --> 0:09:48.001 David bailey to this, case and he has said that 0:09:48.041 --> 0:09:52.481 he's reviewing everything with a fresh. Eye so who Left 0:09:52.481 --> 0:09:56.761 amanda there floating in that ditch while they were figuring this? 0:09:56.801 --> 0:09:59.921 Out by the, way law enforcement did not say there's 0:10:00.001 --> 0:10:03.001 no immediate danger to the, public which is what they 0:10:03.041 --> 0:10:06.601 say a lot during these. Cases in, fact they said 0:10:06.681 --> 0:10:10.481 kind of the opposite In Mississippi. County In Craigheak, county 0:10:10.921 --> 0:10:13.761 they told women traveling alone to be careful and to 0:10:13.841 --> 0:10:18.681 take extra. Precautions Mississippi County Sheriff Leroy meadows told a 0:10:18.721 --> 0:10:22.161 local paper, QUOTE i would urge people traveling alone to be. 0:10:22.201 --> 0:10:24.881 Careful it would be wise to make sure you know 0:10:24.961 --> 0:10:28.001 who is trying to stop, you or drive to a 0:10:28.081 --> 0:10:29.281 lighted area before. 0:10:29.321 --> 0:10:32.601 Stopping end. Quote this is very good. 0:10:32.681 --> 0:10:36.481 ADVICE i just want to point out That amanda did 0:10:36.561 --> 0:10:40.361 stop under a street, light and her parents said she 0:10:40.441 --> 0:10:42.921 was very safety conscious and they had told her they 0:10:42.961 --> 0:10:45.481 had drilled it into she should only park in well 0:10:45.521 --> 0:10:49.161 lit areas late at. Night so even if she had 0:10:49.201 --> 0:10:51.281 followed that, Advice i'm not sure that it would have helped. 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:57.001 Her amanda's car had some partial fingerprints, inside but according to, 0:10:57.001 --> 0:11:01.881 police nothing. Usable according to law, enforcement her car did 0:11:01.921 --> 0:11:05.001 not look like it had been wiped. Clean this led 0:11:05.041 --> 0:11:09.121 investigators to believe that the perpetrator probably did not get 0:11:09.121 --> 0:11:14.161 inside the. Car Detective etter said something else in that 0:11:14.241 --> 0:11:17.521 interview with the news. Channel he told, them, quote the 0:11:17.561 --> 0:11:19.681 first thing that comes to your, mind And i'm not 0:11:19.721 --> 0:11:22.921 saying it was a law enforcement, officer first thing that 0:11:22.961 --> 0:11:25.441 comes to your mind is that a law enforcement officer 0:11:25.721 --> 0:11:27.241 would know how to conceal the. 0:11:27.280 --> 0:11:28.601 Evidence end. 0:11:28.681 --> 0:11:36.680 Quote amanda's family laid her to, rest and the funeral 0:11:36.681 --> 0:11:41.121 procession was three miles. Long everyone loved this young woman 0:11:41.161 --> 0:11:45.201 who had dreams of being a, veterinarian and her father 0:11:45.321 --> 0:11:48.881 Told channel Eight news that Because amanda loved the song 0:11:49.001 --> 0:11:52.321 tie yellow ribbon around the Old oak, tree the town 0:11:52.521 --> 0:11:55.321 actually ran out of yellow ribbons because there were so 0:11:55.481 --> 0:11:57.641 many of them that had been tied to trees in her. 0:11:57.641 --> 0:12:02.721 Honor this murder brought the town together but also terrified 0:12:02.801 --> 0:12:06.201 locals all at the same. Time police did take a 0:12:06.241 --> 0:12:09.841 close look At, Matt amanda's, fiancee which is completely. Normal 0:12:10.601 --> 0:12:14.481 according To amanda's, family they got along very. Well they 0:12:14.521 --> 0:12:17.361 had occasional minor arguments about things like where he was 0:12:17.401 --> 0:12:20.761 going to go to, school but they apparently had a very, 0:12:20.801 --> 0:12:24.601 good loving relationship and were very. Happy they were supposed 0:12:24.601 --> 0:12:25.440 to get married. 0:12:25.201 --> 0:12:26.721 The next year In. 0:12:26.841 --> 0:12:32.081 June amanda's cousin said That matt did not appear to 0:12:32.081 --> 0:12:33.161 be a person of interest for. 0:12:33.241 --> 0:12:38.921 LONG i know that at the, time they obviously first, 0:12:39.121 --> 0:12:43.481 suspect you, know is always going to be the, spouse 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:47.081 and so they questioned him and he was Really i'm 0:12:47.081 --> 0:12:51.481 pretty sure he was very, cooperative and THEN i think 0:12:51.561 --> 0:12:52.241 they ruled him. 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:56.881 Out, Also matt was the person who Reported amanda. Missing 0:12:57.441 --> 0:13:00.160 matt told investigators he And amanda had dinner At Dixie 0:13:00.201 --> 0:13:03.201 cafe that, night the night she went, missing and later 0:13:03.241 --> 0:13:05.481 stopped at a grocery store before going back to his. 0:13:05.521 --> 0:13:09.201 Apartment one Of amanda's school teachers was able to confirm 0:13:09.321 --> 0:13:11.881 that they had seen the couple at The Dixie cafe that, 0:13:12.001 --> 0:13:17.961 night so police were able to confirm her. Activities then 0:13:18.241 --> 0:13:20.881 they went back To matt's. Apartment it was getting late 0:13:20.921 --> 0:13:23.001 and the weather was, bad And matt did not Want 0:13:23.041 --> 0:13:26.601 amanda to get on that. Road amanda still lived at 0:13:26.601 --> 0:13:29.161 home with her parents and she had a, Curfew so 0:13:29.681 --> 0:13:33.281 If amanda normally called her parents before heading, home why 0:13:33.321 --> 0:13:36.001 did she head out so late that. Night could she 0:13:36.041 --> 0:13:40.241 And matt have been. Arguing they Grilled matt. Hard they 0:13:40.321 --> 0:13:43.241 questioned him several, times but police said he was totally 0:13:43.241 --> 0:13:48.881 cooperative that he had passed polygraphs three separate. Times police 0:13:48.921 --> 0:13:53.161 also considered another possibility very early on That amanda could 0:13:53.201 --> 0:13:56.521 have been pulled over by a member of law, Enforcement. 0:13:56.601 --> 0:14:00.041 So they think it Was there's been a theory that 0:14:00.161 --> 0:14:03.441 it was someone in law enforcement that pulled her over 0:14:03.841 --> 0:14:06.440 and then got her out of the car and then 0:14:06.481 --> 0:14:10.041 took her or people think that it might have been 0:14:10.081 --> 0:14:13.521 someone impersonating law enforcement and got her. 0:14:13.521 --> 0:14:17.761 Out detectives were Processing amanda's body in the clothes that 0:14:17.761 --> 0:14:20.601 she was found in when her body was recovered from that. 0:14:20.681 --> 0:14:23.481 Ditch she was still wearing the same jeans and white 0:14:23.561 --> 0:14:25.441 GAP t shirt she had been wearing when she went. 0:14:25.441 --> 0:14:28.721 Missing her driver's license was in the front pocket of her. 0:14:28.761 --> 0:14:32.161 Jenes NOW i wondered at first if that had some 0:14:32.241 --> 0:14:36.361 kind of. Significance could that be evidence That amanda got pulled? 0:14:36.401 --> 0:14:41.921 Over but her mother said not. Necessarily she told police 0:14:42.001 --> 0:14:45.241 That amanda normally kept her driver's license like that in 0:14:45.321 --> 0:14:48.561 her front. Pocket apparently she never kept it in a 0:14:48.601 --> 0:14:52.401 purse or a. Billfold amanda was wearing her diamond engagement 0:14:52.481 --> 0:14:55.081 ring when she was, found so between that and the 0:14:55.121 --> 0:14:57.481 wallet that had been left on her, seat detectives took 0:14:57.521 --> 0:15:00.321 this as even more. Evidence the motive was obviously not. 0:15:00.441 --> 0:15:05.681 Robbery investigators Believed amanda was killed somewhere else and then 0:15:05.761 --> 0:15:09.041 thrown into the, water but the question is where and, 0:15:09.121 --> 0:15:12.761 why because the only injury they found was a bruise 0:15:12.801 --> 0:15:13.521 on the back of her. 0:15:13.561 --> 0:15:15.921 HEAD a few years After. 0:15:15.721 --> 0:15:20.001 Amanda, disappeared law enforcement gave photos to THE tv Station 0:15:20.481 --> 0:15:26.241 Regionate news and they are. Haunting you could see one 0:15:26.241 --> 0:15:28.681 of the clues that can of coke in the drink 0:15:28.681 --> 0:15:32.241 holder that was partly. Empty it was chilled with condensation 0:15:32.521 --> 0:15:35.641 on the night she. Disappeared now a lot of people 0:15:35.641 --> 0:15:38.721 have wondered if the coke can was a clue that 0:15:38.841 --> 0:15:40.841 maybe she had stopped somewhere. 0:15:40.441 --> 0:15:42.081 On the road during her. 0:15:42.161 --> 0:15:45.481 Drive it was late at, night and that is a 0:15:45.521 --> 0:15:48.201 pretty remote strip of. Highway there are only a couple 0:15:48.201 --> 0:15:52.161 of gas stations along. It police did apparently check surveillance 0:15:52.201 --> 0:15:55.681 footage from one of these convenience stores and said they 0:15:55.681 --> 0:15:59.121 did not See amanda on, it but that's not proof 0:15:59.161 --> 0:16:02.321 that she wasn't. There and someone else also brought up 0:16:02.321 --> 0:16:04.921 another interesting. POSSIBILITY i was reading a lot of online 0:16:04.961 --> 0:16:08.521 comments and they mentioned the were vending machines at a 0:16:08.521 --> 0:16:11.321 couple of these, Places so even if she didn't go, 0:16:11.441 --> 0:16:15.801 in maybe she stopped at a vending. Machine, Now matt 0:16:15.841 --> 0:16:19.121 apparently told investigators he wasn't sure if she had taken 0:16:19.121 --> 0:16:21.801 the drink from his house or, Not so that's another 0:16:21.841 --> 0:16:25.041 possibility she might have taken it from her fiance's home 0:16:25.561 --> 0:16:28.841 because she was not in the car that. Long before 0:16:28.881 --> 0:16:33.441 something stopped her on that dark stretch of. Road there 0:16:33.761 --> 0:16:36.841 was a witness who reportedly said that he saw her 0:16:36.881 --> 0:16:40.361 at a gas, station but police couldn't confirm, this and 0:16:40.401 --> 0:16:43.961 again they reportedly pulled surveillance footage and didn't see her in. 0:16:44.001 --> 0:16:47.241 IT i don't know times or, details because remember this 0:16:47.321 --> 0:16:49.801 is still an open, investigation so we don't have access 0:16:49.801 --> 0:16:53.321 to any of the case. Files in the photos that 0:16:53.361 --> 0:16:56.281 were released to the, media you can see a basketball 0:16:56.321 --> 0:17:01.041 on the. Foreboard amanda played sports in high. School she 0:17:01.081 --> 0:17:06.440 was an accomplished. Athlete there's also A bridle magazine in the. 0:17:06.481 --> 0:17:10.200 Car she was clearly excited about her upcoming wedding and 0:17:10.281 --> 0:17:15.041 probably looking at. Dresses Both amanda's parents say they believe 0:17:15.161 --> 0:17:18.161 she may have been stopped by, someone maybe someone impersonating 0:17:18.201 --> 0:17:21.361 a police, officer or that she had some kind of car. 0:17:21.441 --> 0:17:27.160 Trouble the law enforcement theory is a good, one but 0:17:27.201 --> 0:17:30.440 then there's been other people who have said maybe it 0:17:30.521 --> 0:17:33.561 was a serial killer that was just you, know passing 0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:38.201 through that came and did. It because just the evidence 0:17:39.360 --> 0:17:42.840 at the, car there was basically no evidence to go off. 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:48.601 Of over the, years law enforcement have debated and investigated 0:17:48.641 --> 0:17:52.400 a lot of these. Theories like so many, cases this 0:17:52.441 --> 0:17:54.721 one has been the subject of several rumors over the. 0:17:54.761 --> 0:17:57.920 Years there's a ton of people in the, COMMUNITY i 0:17:57.961 --> 0:18:01.400 mean a ton of people that want this case to be. 0:18:01.561 --> 0:18:03.441 Solved and there's a ton of people who think that 0:18:03.601 --> 0:18:08.600 it's like literally like we're right there and they're they're. 0:18:08.601 --> 0:18:12.241 Close but that's just all. HEARSAY i, mean it doesn't mean. 0:18:12.281 --> 0:18:13.081 Anything but. 0:18:14.801 --> 0:18:17.481 There's people who say who swear up and down they 0:18:17.521 --> 0:18:20.161 know who did. It they just don't have, evidence enough 0:18:20.201 --> 0:18:21.201 evidence to book the. 0:18:21.241 --> 0:18:26.041 Guy the strip of road Between jonesboro And dell is pretty, 0:18:26.041 --> 0:18:29.321 remote especially back. Then it passes through a couple of 0:18:29.361 --> 0:18:32.241 small towns Like manila And Black, oak and there are 0:18:32.241 --> 0:18:34.360 only a couple of gas stations that would have been 0:18:34.401 --> 0:18:37.761 opened during that. Time over the, years a lot of 0:18:37.801 --> 0:18:40.120 people came forward with, tips but most of them led to. 0:18:40.161 --> 0:18:43.521 Nothing in two thousand and, three the sheriff And Ana, 0:18:44.080 --> 0:18:47.241 County jack McCann Of Craighead, county said that they had 0:18:47.241 --> 0:18:51.361 gotten a major tip that someone had told them there 0:18:51.401 --> 0:18:52.161 was some sort. 0:18:52.001 --> 0:18:53.041 Of note In amanda's. 0:18:53.041 --> 0:18:55.761 COFFIN i don't know if it was a confession or, 0:18:55.801 --> 0:18:59.201 information but it was apparently something that could have helped 0:18:59.281 --> 0:19:04.601 lead to the killer's. Identity amanda's body was. Exhumed there 0:19:04.721 --> 0:19:08.561 was no note or anything else inside that casket besides her. 0:19:08.601 --> 0:19:10.641 Remains to, me. 0:19:10.801 --> 0:19:13.281 This really does show how police were willing to act 0:19:13.321 --> 0:19:16.360 on any. Tip i'm sure that after going through the 0:19:16.361 --> 0:19:19.640 trauma of unearthing their daughter's, body the fact that the 0:19:19.641 --> 0:19:23.521 coffin had no evidence must have been another devastating blow 0:19:23.561 --> 0:19:27.921 For amanda's. Parents around that same, time a psychic detective 0:19:28.001 --> 0:19:31.201 rolled into town with a COURT tv show Called Haunting. 0:19:31.241 --> 0:19:34.081 Evidence i'm sure many of you know HOW i feel. 0:19:33.881 --> 0:19:34.721 About psychics on this. 0:19:34.761 --> 0:19:39.881 Podcast apparently their paranormal investigation did not provide any credible. Leads, 0:19:40.441 --> 0:19:43.721 then in two thousand and, seven an anonymous person told 0:19:43.801 --> 0:19:47.681 The sheriff's department that they had heard people allegedly Discussing amanda's, 0:19:47.721 --> 0:19:52.201 murder but nothing came to that. Either in so many 0:19:52.201 --> 0:19:54.801 of these, cases we see this over and. Over people 0:19:54.881 --> 0:19:57.321 over the years will claim either that they did it 0:19:57.481 --> 0:19:58.601 or they know someone who did. 0:19:58.641 --> 0:20:00.881 It they'll do it sometimes for their own. 0:20:00.921 --> 0:20:04.761 Reasons sometimes if they're, incarcerated they may want to impress other, 0:20:04.761 --> 0:20:08.041 inmates and the more publicity a case, has the more 0:20:08.121 --> 0:20:12.401 rumors start, flying but police were willing to listen because 0:20:12.481 --> 0:20:14.441 there was a real lack of physical evidence in this. 0:20:14.521 --> 0:20:18.681 Case there were zero suspects and no clear. Motive there 0:20:18.761 --> 0:20:22.681 was one single hair found On amanda's. Body they DID dna, 0:20:22.761 --> 0:20:25.441 testing but it turned out that it Was amanda's own. 0:20:25.441 --> 0:20:31.281 Hair The sheriff's department admitted that law enforcement was up 0:20:31.281 --> 0:20:33.681 a creek and WHAT i take from that is that 0:20:33.721 --> 0:20:36.561 they were just, stuck no forward movement on the. Case 0:20:37.401 --> 0:20:40.840 amanda's father did an interview WITH Kit channel, eight and 0:20:40.921 --> 0:20:44.641 it was. Heartbreaking he talked about the f That amanda 0:20:44.761 --> 0:20:48.161 was found On Father's. Day the reporter asked him if 0:20:48.161 --> 0:20:52.921 he was affected every Single Father's. Day he got tearful and, said, 0:20:53.521 --> 0:20:57.241 yeah but it's no different from other. Days he's affected 0:20:57.281 --> 0:21:03.600 every single day by his daughter's. Murder so police are 0:21:03.681 --> 0:21:08.281 left with a few different. Possibilities Was amanda killed by someone, 0:21:08.361 --> 0:21:10.921 random maybe someone who was just passing through the. Area 0:21:11.481 --> 0:21:15.120 detectives don't think. So they think the location of the 0:21:15.161 --> 0:21:18.361 body is a big. Clue they point out that it's 0:21:18.441 --> 0:21:21.961 near an access point that they believe only someone local 0:21:22.041 --> 0:21:22.360 would know. 0:21:22.441 --> 0:21:26.081 About but what. 0:21:26.161 --> 0:21:27.440 About a local serial? 0:21:27.561 --> 0:21:37.321 Killer several people have suggested That amanda might have been 0:21:37.401 --> 0:21:41.281 killed by someone impersonating a police. Officer, now there was 0:21:41.481 --> 0:21:44.761 one very high profile case the real rapist who was 0:21:44.801 --> 0:21:47.521 preying on women In arkansas in the late. Nineties the 0:21:47.561 --> 0:21:50.960 papers gave him the name the Blue Light. Rapist his 0:21:51.041 --> 0:21:54.481 real name Was Robert Todd. Birmingham he was convicted of 0:21:54.601 --> 0:21:57.360 raping two women in Eastern arkansas in nineteen ninety. Seven 0:21:58.761 --> 0:22:01.120 the reason he was given that nickname was because he 0:22:01.201 --> 0:22:04.360 had blue lights on top of his. Car he pulled 0:22:04.401 --> 0:22:08.401 women over and impersonated a police. Officer one Of robert's, 0:22:08.481 --> 0:22:11.001 victims a seventeen year old whose first name Was, shannon 0:22:11.441 --> 0:22:14.601 told detectives he pulled her over while she was traveling 0:22:14.641 --> 0:22:18.481 alone on a state. Highway she said at first she 0:22:18.521 --> 0:22:21.281 thought she was going to get a speeding. Ticket after 0:22:21.481 --> 0:22:23.401 he signaled for her to pull over and she, Did 0:22:24.080 --> 0:22:26.840 robert came up to the window of her car carrying a. 0:22:26.881 --> 0:22:30.041 Gun he told her to cover her face with a 0:22:30.080 --> 0:22:33.160 shirt and to get out of her, car then he 0:22:33.321 --> 0:22:37.241 forced her into his. Vehicle once he Got shannon into his, 0:22:37.321 --> 0:22:40.041 vehicle he claimed that his buddy was going to take 0:22:40.080 --> 0:22:42.841 her To Little rock to pick someone, up But, instead 0:22:43.241 --> 0:22:45.881 he drove her to a remote location and raped. Her 0:22:47.041 --> 0:22:48.961 he told her that if she would kiss him, back 0:22:49.001 --> 0:22:52.761 he wouldn't hurt. Her after the, assault he forced her 0:22:52.801 --> 0:22:55.881 to redress and took her to a. Field he made 0:22:55.881 --> 0:23:00.361 her lie down and wait until he was. Gone robert 0:23:00.361 --> 0:23:03.161 was convicted of those two, rapes but he was suspected 0:23:03.201 --> 0:23:08.600 of committing. More there were other attacks women who were 0:23:08.641 --> 0:23:11.400 pulled over in the same area with Blue mars lights 0:23:11.601 --> 0:23:15.161 and then sexually, assaulted But robert was never convicted of those. 0:23:15.201 --> 0:23:20.641 Attacks side. Note in twenty, seventeen lawmakers Passed Shannon's, law 0:23:21.241 --> 0:23:25.361 name For. Shannon this law increased the penalty for anyone 0:23:25.441 --> 0:23:31.281 caught illegally possessing blue emergency. Lights robert was sentenced to 0:23:31.321 --> 0:23:34.961 life in. Prison he died in prison OF covid related 0:23:34.961 --> 0:23:40.441 complications In may twenty. Twenty But robert was convicted in 0:23:40.521 --> 0:23:44.321 nineteen ninety, seven which of, course was three years Before amanda's. 0:23:44.361 --> 0:23:47.921 Death but there was still lingering questions about these other 0:23:48.080 --> 0:23:53.081 alleged blue light. Assaults were these copycat rapes or could 0:23:53.080 --> 0:23:56.201 there have been another blue light rapist out there one 0:23:56.241 --> 0:24:02.680 who wasn't. Caught there was another young woman eighteen year 0:24:02.721 --> 0:24:06.281 Old Dana, stidham who went missing From Bella, Vista, arkansas 0:24:06.321 --> 0:24:09.441 On july twenty, fifth nineteen eighty. Nine on that, Day 0:24:09.561 --> 0:24:13.241 dana was on her way. Home she had gone out 0:24:13.281 --> 0:24:15.840 to run some errands for her, dad who wasn't feeling. 0:24:15.840 --> 0:24:19.041 Well he asked her to pick some stuff up for, 0:24:19.121 --> 0:24:22.161 him so she went To Philip's Food store In Bella. 0:24:22.241 --> 0:24:25.721 Vista she bought Some alka seltzer and some dishwashing soap and. 0:24:25.761 --> 0:24:29.160 Sugar this is all according to. Receipts she left at 0:24:29.161 --> 0:24:33.681 three SEVENTEEN. Pm, now there was another grocery store closer 0:24:33.681 --> 0:24:36.681 to her, house but later one of the detectives on 0:24:36.721 --> 0:24:39.681 the case talked to reporters and said That dana avoided 0:24:39.681 --> 0:24:42.161 that store because a guy whose parents owned the store 0:24:42.201 --> 0:24:44.921 back then hung out there a. Lot, now apparently this 0:24:45.041 --> 0:24:48.281 guy had a crush On, dana but the feelings were not. 0:24:48.361 --> 0:24:52.400 Reciprocated the last time That dana was seen alive was 0:24:52.401 --> 0:24:55.041 when she left that food store after running her errand 0:24:55.041 --> 0:24:58.041 for her. Dad she used to work At phillip's food, 0:24:58.080 --> 0:25:00.241