1 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:48,241 Speaker 1: School of Humans. 2 00:00:49,241 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold case murders in 3 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: an effort to raise public awareness invite witnesses to come 4 00:00:56,241 --> 00:01:00,121 Speaker 2: forward and present evidence that could potentially be further investigated 5 00:01:00,121 --> 00:01:03,761 Speaker 2: by law enforcement. While we value insights from family and 6 00:01:03,801 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: community members, their statements should not be considered evidence and 7 00:01:07,761 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: point to the challenges of verifying facts inherent in cold cases. 8 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: We remind listeners that everyone has presumed innocent until proven 9 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: guilty in a court of law. Nothing in the podcast 10 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: is intended to state or imply that anyone who has 11 00:01:22,161 --> 00:01:25,601 Speaker 2: not been convicted of a crime is guilty of any wrongdoing. 12 00:01:26,241 --> 00:01:27,121 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. 13 00:01:30,681 --> 00:01:34,321 Speaker 3: Sometime after ten pm on April twenty first, two thousand 14 00:01:34,321 --> 00:01:37,801 Speaker 3: and six, twenty one year old college student Nina Ingram 15 00:01:37,961 --> 00:01:41,961 Speaker 3: was brutally murdered inside her apartment, Unit number one at 16 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:46,521 Speaker 3: the Law Quad Complex in Fayettvile, Arkansas. The cause of 17 00:01:46,561 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 3: death was ligature strangulation, and the Arkansas State Crime Lab 18 00:01:51,001 --> 00:01:55,201 Speaker 3: ruled the death a homicide. Despite the fact that detectives 19 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 3: interviewed dozens of Nina's friends, co workers, and her significant other, 20 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,641 Speaker 3: they had no viable suspects for years. One big question 21 00:02:04,881 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 3: was how did Nina's killer get access to her apartment. 22 00:02:09,321 --> 00:02:11,241 Speaker 1: One of the theories that police. 23 00:02:10,881 --> 00:02:14,041 Speaker 3: Had early on was that Nina's killer rushed her at 24 00:02:14,081 --> 00:02:17,201 Speaker 3: her apartment door and pushed her inside when she put 25 00:02:17,201 --> 00:02:20,081 Speaker 3: her key into the door, which could explain why none 26 00:02:20,121 --> 00:02:23,601 Speaker 3: of the neighbors who police spoke to reported hearing screams 27 00:02:23,641 --> 00:02:27,041 Speaker 3: on the night of April twenty first. But Nina's door 28 00:02:27,481 --> 00:02:31,041 Speaker 3: was locked from the inside, her keys, purse, and all 29 00:02:31,081 --> 00:02:34,201 Speaker 3: of her belongings, including her cell phone, were with her, 30 00:02:34,561 --> 00:02:37,641 Speaker 3: and there was no sign of forced entry. She was 31 00:02:37,721 --> 00:02:41,641 Speaker 3: violently strangled, which must have taken several minutes, and yet 32 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 3: there was no sign of anything taken from. 33 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,321 Speaker 1: Her residence or of sexual assault. 34 00:02:47,161 --> 00:02:50,681 Speaker 3: So if Nina's killer did force their way in, that 35 00:02:50,721 --> 00:02:53,241 Speaker 3: would mean that they either locked the door behind them 36 00:02:53,721 --> 00:02:56,561 Speaker 3: or locked the door from the inside and then went 37 00:02:56,601 --> 00:03:01,241 Speaker 3: out another way, probably through the unlocked front window. But 38 00:03:01,321 --> 00:03:04,281 Speaker 3: if they did that, that would mean that they carefully 39 00:03:04,321 --> 00:03:07,041 Speaker 3: replaced the screen and pulled the window down to the 40 00:03:07,081 --> 00:03:12,321 Speaker 3: exact same spot where it was opened before. The Fayetteville 41 00:03:12,401 --> 00:03:15,841 Speaker 3: Police Department considered this a cold case, one of the 42 00:03:15,961 --> 00:03:20,361 Speaker 3: only unsolved cases since the nineteen seventies, but then in 43 00:03:20,401 --> 00:03:24,161 Speaker 3: twenty twelve, they arrested and charged twenty six year old 44 00:03:24,281 --> 00:03:28,401 Speaker 3: Rico Tavarius Cone with Nina's murder, but the case against 45 00:03:28,521 --> 00:03:30,841 Speaker 3: Rico Cone was not as solid as it appeared to 46 00:03:30,881 --> 00:03:34,601 Speaker 3: be on the surface. He spent over three years behind bars, 47 00:03:34,961 --> 00:03:37,481 Speaker 3: and then the case against him was dismissed. 48 00:03:38,121 --> 00:03:39,081 Speaker 1: Three years later. 49 00:03:39,161 --> 00:03:42,921 Speaker 3: In twenty eighteen, Rico filed a civil lawsuit against the 50 00:03:42,921 --> 00:03:47,001 Speaker 3: Fayetteville Police Department, detectives, and employees at the Arkansas State 51 00:03:47,041 --> 00:03:51,481 Speaker 3: Crime Lab, who he alleged violated his civil rights. The 52 00:03:51,521 --> 00:03:55,921 Speaker 3: allegations made in Rico Cohne's lawsuit are obviously only one 53 00:03:55,961 --> 00:03:59,881 Speaker 3: side of this story, but it is a completely different 54 00:03:59,921 --> 00:04:02,601 Speaker 3: story than the one that has been put out, at 55 00:04:02,681 --> 00:04:05,081 Speaker 3: least so far, by the fate of a police department. 56 00:04:05,961 --> 00:04:09,121 Speaker 3: The lawsuit claims that there were several people of interests 57 00:04:09,441 --> 00:04:13,001 Speaker 3: who police interviewed over the years, people who were, according 58 00:04:13,041 --> 00:04:17,001 Speaker 3: to the lawsuit, potential suspects. The lawsuit alleges that these 59 00:04:17,041 --> 00:04:23,281 Speaker 3: potential suspects were overlooked. This case is still unsolved. The 60 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: person who murdered Nina Ingram has never been arrested or charged, 61 00:04:28,001 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: so this person is still out there and we have 62 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 3: access to part of this case file through a Foyer request. 63 00:04:35,481 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 3: Could the clues to the killer's identity be in this 64 00:04:39,041 --> 00:04:39,561 Speaker 3: case file? 65 00:04:41,161 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: I'm Catherine Townsend. 66 00:04:42,521 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 3: Over the past five years of making my true crime podcast, 67 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,441 Speaker 3: Helen Gone, I've learned that there's no such thing as 68 00:04:48,481 --> 00:04:49,561 Speaker 3: a small town where. 69 00:04:49,481 --> 00:04:50,681 Speaker 1: Murder never happens. 70 00:04:51,281 --> 00:04:54,001 Speaker 3: I have received hundreds of messages from people all around 71 00:04:54,001 --> 00:04:56,721 Speaker 3: the country asking for help with an unsolved murder that's 72 00:04:56,721 --> 00:05:00,801 Speaker 3: affected them, their families, and their communities. If you have 73 00:05:00,881 --> 00:05:02,801 Speaker 3: a case you'd like me and my team to look into, 74 00:05:03,201 --> 00:05:04,961 Speaker 3: you can reach out to us at our Helen Gone 75 00:05:05,001 --> 00:05:08,521 Speaker 3: Murder Line at six seven eight seven four four six 76 00:05:08,681 --> 00:05:11,561 Speaker 3: one four or five. That's six seven eight seven four 77 00:05:11,641 --> 00:05:15,081 Speaker 3: four six one four or five, or you can send 78 00:05:15,161 --> 00:05:19,521 Speaker 3: us a message on Instagram at Helen Gonepod. This is 79 00:05:19,601 --> 00:06:06,001 Speaker 3: Helen Gone Murder Line. Rico's lawsuit, and again this claim 80 00:06:06,161 --> 00:06:09,401 Speaker 3: is just one side of the story, alleged that multiple 81 00:06:09,481 --> 00:06:12,721 Speaker 3: and credible direct reports and evidence had been submitted to 82 00:06:12,721 --> 00:06:16,041 Speaker 3: the Fayetful Police Department and other law enforcement agencies over 83 00:06:16,081 --> 00:06:22,041 Speaker 3: the years, but the lawsuit alleges that detectives ignored this evidence. Instead, 84 00:06:22,321 --> 00:06:26,841 Speaker 3: they laser focused on Rico and quote missed multiple opportunities 85 00:06:26,841 --> 00:06:31,521 Speaker 3: to investigate and perhaps actually solve this unsolved crime end quote, 86 00:06:31,801 --> 00:06:34,921 Speaker 3: So they were chasing what the lawsuit called a wrongful 87 00:06:35,001 --> 00:06:39,881 Speaker 3: and unconstitutional conviction against Rico. The lawsuit alleges that the 88 00:06:40,001 --> 00:06:44,921 Speaker 3: arrest warrant was obtained under fraudulent pretenses because the police 89 00:06:44,961 --> 00:06:48,681 Speaker 3: claimed they had three independent witnesses, but in fact, the 90 00:06:48,761 --> 00:06:51,641 Speaker 3: lawsuit pointed out all they had was a single person, 91 00:06:51,761 --> 00:06:55,161 Speaker 3: Randy Applewhite, because the second person Brenda case was a 92 00:06:55,201 --> 00:06:59,281 Speaker 3: friend of Randy's and she was repeating what Randy told her. Now, 93 00:06:59,441 --> 00:07:01,761 Speaker 3: the arrest warrant claimed that there was a third person, 94 00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:05,801 Speaker 3: an ex girlfriend of Rigo's named Kathleen Slaughter. The warrant 95 00:07:05,881 --> 00:07:10,721 Speaker 3: stated that Kathleen had shared intimate details about Nina's homicide 96 00:07:10,761 --> 00:07:13,401 Speaker 3: with detectives, but the lawsuit said. 97 00:07:13,161 --> 00:07:14,801 Speaker 1: That information was incorrect. 98 00:07:15,401 --> 00:07:19,481 Speaker 3: The lawsuit says that this third person was quote never 99 00:07:19,561 --> 00:07:24,721 Speaker 3: specifically or sufficiently identified, and never existed at all, conclusory, 100 00:07:24,721 --> 00:07:32,441 Speaker 3: at best, fabricated at worse end quote. These are serious allegations. Basically, 101 00:07:32,561 --> 00:07:36,921 Speaker 3: the lawsuit claimed that the police attempted to get an 102 00:07:37,001 --> 00:07:40,961 Speaker 3: arrest warrant, but the prosecuting attorney would not grant that 103 00:07:41,001 --> 00:07:45,921 Speaker 3: warrant because the evidence was insufficient. So the lawsuit stated 104 00:07:46,161 --> 00:07:49,441 Speaker 3: that after that police went back to the prosecuting attorney 105 00:07:49,761 --> 00:07:53,321 Speaker 3: with essentially exactly the same evidence, but now there were 106 00:07:53,361 --> 00:07:56,681 Speaker 3: three people instead of just one, and this time the 107 00:07:56,721 --> 00:08:02,641 Speaker 3: warrant was granted. Rico's attorney, Tony Pirani, claimed that on Wednesday, 108 00:08:02,761 --> 00:08:06,121 Speaker 3: January TEWOD twenty fourteen, he and the rest of the 109 00:08:06,161 --> 00:08:09,721 Speaker 3: defense team met with Detective Carlton, the lead detective on 110 00:08:09,721 --> 00:08:13,361 Speaker 3: this case, Detective Brooks, and the prosecuting attorney and his 111 00:08:13,441 --> 00:08:16,761 Speaker 3: chief deputy at the Fayeteville Police Department. They were there 112 00:08:16,881 --> 00:08:20,321 Speaker 3: to review the physical evidence still in the police department's possession. 113 00:08:21,081 --> 00:08:24,481 Speaker 3: Their purpose there was to figure out the current status 114 00:08:24,481 --> 00:08:28,001 Speaker 3: of all DNA testing, to figure out what had been tested, 115 00:08:28,481 --> 00:08:32,001 Speaker 3: what the results were, and what the communication was between 116 00:08:32,001 --> 00:08:34,961 Speaker 3: the Fayetful Police Department and the Arkansas State Crime Lab 117 00:08:35,001 --> 00:08:39,401 Speaker 3: regarding this case. Two days later, Rico's attorneys had another 118 00:08:39,441 --> 00:08:43,081 Speaker 3: meeting with personnel at the Arkansas State Crime Lab. Now, 119 00:08:43,121 --> 00:08:46,721 Speaker 3: the lawsuit states that during this meeting they realized there 120 00:08:46,761 --> 00:08:50,361 Speaker 3: were irregularities in the testing and procedures in this case. 121 00:08:51,121 --> 00:08:53,961 Speaker 3: They said some pieces of evidence in Nina's case had 122 00:08:54,001 --> 00:08:58,641 Speaker 3: not been properly labeled or tested, and that safeguards had 123 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:02,121 Speaker 3: been failed in regards to DNA tape lifts that were 124 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,601 Speaker 3: done from Nina's clothing. On April twenty six, twenty twelve, 125 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:11,521 Speaker 3: Officer Carlton called Brenda Case later labeled Confidential Informant IE 126 00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 3: in the search warrant documents, She told defendant Carlton that 127 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,361 Speaker 3: her friend Randy Applewhite had a detailed account of the 128 00:09:18,441 --> 00:09:22,321 Speaker 3: Nina Ingram homicide allegedly from Rico Cone. 129 00:09:22,401 --> 00:09:22,721 Speaker 1: Now. 130 00:09:22,961 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 3: Rico Cone allegedly told Randy that he was at the 131 00:09:26,241 --> 00:09:29,201 Speaker 3: Law Couad apartments to buy marijuana, that he saw Nina 132 00:09:29,241 --> 00:09:31,001 Speaker 3: in the parking lot, and that he hit on her, 133 00:09:31,441 --> 00:09:34,881 Speaker 3: and that Nina turned him down. Brenda Kay said that 134 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,721 Speaker 3: Randy told her Rico came back later and went to 135 00:09:38,841 --> 00:09:42,081 Speaker 3: Nina's apartment, using the excuse that he needed to borrow something. 136 00:09:42,601 --> 00:09:45,241 Speaker 3: He knocked on the door, Nina opened the door and 137 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,321 Speaker 3: then tried to shut it, but it failed to close 138 00:09:47,361 --> 00:09:49,961 Speaker 3: all the way, and at that point Rico entered Nina's 139 00:09:49,961 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: apartment and strangled her to death. So Randy Applewhite became 140 00:09:54,361 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: Confidential Informant number two. But Rico's lawsuit claims that Randy's 141 00:09:59,961 --> 00:10:03,561 Speaker 3: story did change over time, and that the second time 142 00:10:03,641 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 3: that Detective Carlton spoke to Randy, on May first, twenty twelve, quote, 143 00:10:08,441 --> 00:10:12,921 Speaker 3: she had already significantly changed her own reported timeline, substantially 144 00:10:12,961 --> 00:10:16,121 Speaker 3: altering her earlier story, which should have given an early 145 00:10:16,161 --> 00:10:20,521 Speaker 3: clue that something was amiss end quote. The lawsuit also 146 00:10:20,721 --> 00:10:25,841 Speaker 3: alleges that Detective Carlton helped Randy apple White financially, that 147 00:10:26,001 --> 00:10:28,521 Speaker 3: he encouraged her to contact crime stoppers so she could 148 00:10:28,521 --> 00:10:31,361 Speaker 3: collect the cash reward if she continued to cooperate, which 149 00:10:31,361 --> 00:10:35,361 Speaker 3: she did, and the lawsuit claimed that Detective Carlton, in 150 00:10:35,441 --> 00:10:39,081 Speaker 3: what they called a highly unusual move, destroyed his own 151 00:10:39,121 --> 00:10:44,441 Speaker 3: investigative field notes. Rico's defense attorneys were preparing for his trial, 152 00:10:44,961 --> 00:10:48,481 Speaker 3: so they contacted Randy apple White, and on December seventeenth, 153 00:10:48,521 --> 00:10:52,041 Speaker 3: twenty thirteen, according to the lawsuit, when Rico's legal team 154 00:10:52,121 --> 00:10:55,601 Speaker 3: spoke to Randy, she told them she did not believe 155 00:10:55,681 --> 00:10:58,961 Speaker 3: that Rico was guilty of the murder. The civil lawsuit 156 00:10:59,001 --> 00:11:02,761 Speaker 3: also claimed that Randy said she was quote no longer 157 00:11:02,801 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: certain exactly what, if anything, she recalled Rico, ever having 158 00:11:07,321 --> 00:11:10,961 Speaker 3: said regarding any alleged involvement in the Ingram homicide, and 159 00:11:11,001 --> 00:11:14,161 Speaker 3: that she wanted no part in a criminal prosecution which 160 00:11:14,201 --> 00:11:18,721 Speaker 3: could potentially see Rico convicted of capital murder and sentenced 161 00:11:18,801 --> 00:11:24,521 Speaker 3: to death end quote. The lawsuit alleges that on several 162 00:11:24,561 --> 00:11:29,121 Speaker 3: occasions that Detective Carlton gave Randy apple White money, including 163 00:11:29,201 --> 00:11:32,161 Speaker 3: thirty five dollars in gas money on May third, twenty twelve, 164 00:11:32,481 --> 00:11:35,081 Speaker 3: and also a hotel room that he booked for her 165 00:11:35,121 --> 00:11:37,601 Speaker 3: and her children for two nights at the Clarion Inn 166 00:11:37,721 --> 00:11:40,841 Speaker 3: for one hundred and twenty four dollars and fifty eight cents. Now, 167 00:11:40,881 --> 00:11:44,321 Speaker 3: this apparently happened after Detective Carlton got a call from 168 00:11:44,401 --> 00:11:48,161 Speaker 3: Randy apple White alleging that Rico had assaulted her. After 169 00:11:48,201 --> 00:11:52,361 Speaker 3: that incident, they did DNA testing on Randy's shirt and 170 00:11:52,441 --> 00:11:56,441 Speaker 3: they found no match to Rico Cone. During this time, 171 00:11:56,521 --> 00:12:00,201 Speaker 3: detectives were doing a deep dive into Rico Cone's history 172 00:12:00,481 --> 00:12:04,121 Speaker 3: and his employment record. They were conducting follow up calls 173 00:12:04,121 --> 00:12:07,121 Speaker 3: and visits with current and former residents of the Law 174 00:12:07,161 --> 00:12:08,721 Speaker 3: Quad apartments. 175 00:12:09,921 --> 00:12:11,401 Speaker 1: While this was going on. 176 00:12:11,401 --> 00:12:15,681 Speaker 3: On May fourteenth, twenty twelve, Rico Cone got wind of 177 00:12:15,721 --> 00:12:18,961 Speaker 3: the police investigation against him, and that's when, according to 178 00:12:19,001 --> 00:12:23,321 Speaker 3: his attorney, He decided to voluntarily talk to police because, 179 00:12:23,401 --> 00:12:26,521 Speaker 3: according to the civil lawsuit, Rico wanted to be cleared. 180 00:12:27,481 --> 00:12:30,841 Speaker 3: At this interview, police gave Rico a doctor pepper to 181 00:12:30,921 --> 00:12:34,521 Speaker 3: drink after he said he was thirsty. Then Detective Carlton 182 00:12:34,601 --> 00:12:37,961 Speaker 3: told Rico that they had taken a DNA sample from 183 00:12:37,961 --> 00:12:41,241 Speaker 3: that doctor Pepper camp and that they had matched the 184 00:12:41,321 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 3: DNA on it to a DNA sample taken from the 185 00:12:43,841 --> 00:12:48,121 Speaker 3: crime scene, meaning the detective told Rico that Rico had 186 00:12:48,161 --> 00:12:52,401 Speaker 3: been inside Nina Ingram's apartment. This, however, was not true. 187 00:12:53,041 --> 00:12:54,761 Speaker 3: I want to point out by the way that we 188 00:12:54,921 --> 00:12:58,521 Speaker 3: can't know the inner workings of Detective Carlton's mind at 189 00:12:58,521 --> 00:13:01,641 Speaker 3: this point, but it is not illegal for detectives to 190 00:13:01,721 --> 00:13:06,081 Speaker 3: light to suspects. Often it's encouraged. I've actually taken the 191 00:13:06,201 --> 00:13:09,361 Speaker 3: read Interrogation seminar as part of my private investigator training. 192 00:13:09,801 --> 00:13:12,081 Speaker 3: That's the same one the police take, and in that 193 00:13:12,241 --> 00:13:15,721 Speaker 3: seminar they actually teach you how to lie. But Rico 194 00:13:15,841 --> 00:13:20,161 Speaker 3: Cone's civil lawsuit alleges that the police didn't stop there. 195 00:13:20,681 --> 00:13:23,641 Speaker 3: The lawsuit alleges that not only was the case against 196 00:13:23,721 --> 00:13:26,721 Speaker 3: Rico Cone weaked to nonexistent, but that the judge who 197 00:13:26,761 --> 00:13:30,001 Speaker 3: issued the search warrant, and the public were actually being misled. 198 00:13:30,561 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 3: They were being told that Rico Cone was the only 199 00:13:34,001 --> 00:13:37,401 Speaker 3: Bible suspect, But in fact, as we got into last week, 200 00:13:37,961 --> 00:13:41,361 Speaker 3: Rico Cone was not the only man questioned, and there's 201 00:13:41,481 --> 00:13:44,081 Speaker 3: nothing about Rico Cone in the case by up to 202 00:13:44,081 --> 00:13:47,001 Speaker 3: the year two thousand and eight, at least nothing that's 203 00:13:47,041 --> 00:13:51,481 Speaker 3: been publicly released via FOI request. I could not find 204 00:13:51,561 --> 00:13:54,121 Speaker 3: any mention of Rigo Cone in the pieces of the 205 00:13:54,161 --> 00:13:57,441 Speaker 3: case file that we were given, though again we can't 206 00:13:57,481 --> 00:14:00,481 Speaker 3: be sure that we have every document because much later 207 00:14:01,041 --> 00:14:05,321 Speaker 3: after the case against Rigo Cone was dismissed, Rico Cone's 208 00:14:05,521 --> 00:14:09,281 Speaker 3: entire criminal case was sealed by a judge. There is 209 00:14:09,401 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 3: no mention of Rico Cone's name in connection with the 210 00:14:12,361 --> 00:14:16,881 Speaker 3: Nina Ingram case anywhere in the Arkansas court system. After that, 211 00:14:17,401 --> 00:14:20,681 Speaker 3: Nina's case went cold again. And while of course we 212 00:14:20,761 --> 00:14:23,401 Speaker 3: can't know for sure what was happening behind the scenes 213 00:14:23,441 --> 00:14:27,921 Speaker 3: of the investigation, publicly, the statements made by police appeared 214 00:14:27,921 --> 00:14:30,561 Speaker 3: to indicate they believed they did have the right person, 215 00:14:31,241 --> 00:14:35,161 Speaker 3: but they did not have enough evidence to prosecute Rigo Cone. 216 00:14:35,241 --> 00:14:38,361 Speaker 3: They had one year to refile charges, but they never did, 217 00:14:39,081 --> 00:14:41,441 Speaker 3: which means Nina's killer was. 218 00:14:41,401 --> 00:14:42,361 Speaker 1: Still out there. 219 00:14:53,401 --> 00:14:55,641 Speaker 3: One of the things that police were trying to figure 220 00:14:55,641 --> 00:14:59,081 Speaker 3: out early on was was this a random attack or 221 00:14:59,081 --> 00:15:02,681 Speaker 3: someone whom Nina knew, because even though everyone they talked 222 00:15:02,681 --> 00:15:05,641 Speaker 3: to said Nina was this super nice person and they 223 00:15:05,681 --> 00:15:08,561 Speaker 3: couldn't imagine anyone would want to hurt her, the fact 224 00:15:08,681 --> 00:15:12,561 Speaker 3: is someone did brutally strangle her, and her cell phone 225 00:15:12,641 --> 00:15:15,081 Speaker 3: was in her pocket, She had no defensive wounds on 226 00:15:15,121 --> 00:15:19,041 Speaker 3: her hands, and she was not sexually assaulted. Also, her 227 00:15:19,081 --> 00:15:22,001 Speaker 3: purse was found near her body with money inside it, 228 00:15:22,081 --> 00:15:25,921 Speaker 3: and nothing obvious was taken from her apartment, so, at 229 00:15:26,001 --> 00:15:28,681 Speaker 3: least on the surface, the motive did not appear to 230 00:15:28,681 --> 00:15:32,561 Speaker 3: be robbery or sexual assault. And I keep coming back 231 00:15:32,601 --> 00:15:35,241 Speaker 3: to the locked door because I believe it could. 232 00:15:35,041 --> 00:15:36,201 Speaker 1: Be a crucial clue. 233 00:15:36,721 --> 00:15:40,361 Speaker 3: When Nina's brother, Noah and his roommate Chad got to 234 00:15:40,401 --> 00:15:43,001 Speaker 3: her apartment the day her body was found, the door 235 00:15:43,081 --> 00:15:45,761 Speaker 3: was double locked. Her brother had to crawl in through 236 00:15:45,761 --> 00:15:48,681 Speaker 3: an open window next to the door, then he unlocked 237 00:15:48,721 --> 00:15:49,641 Speaker 3: the regular. 238 00:15:49,281 --> 00:15:50,481 Speaker 1: Lock and the dead bowl. 239 00:15:51,601 --> 00:15:54,881 Speaker 3: So if the killer left through the door, how did 240 00:15:54,881 --> 00:15:56,521 Speaker 3: they lock it behind themselves? 241 00:15:58,481 --> 00:16:00,601 Speaker 1: Police asked several people about. 242 00:16:00,441 --> 00:16:03,521 Speaker 3: Nina's keys, including Nina's boyfriend, Josh Stewart. 243 00:16:04,361 --> 00:16:05,561 Speaker 1: We talked to Josh. 244 00:16:05,801 --> 00:16:07,761 Speaker 3: He said that he met Nina in March of two 245 00:16:07,801 --> 00:16:10,881 Speaker 3: thousand and five when they started working at the same Walmart. 246 00:16:11,321 --> 00:16:13,361 Speaker 3: They started dating later that summer. 247 00:16:14,201 --> 00:16:17,281 Speaker 4: There's a new store that's being open and Rogers Arkansas. 248 00:16:17,321 --> 00:16:20,521 Speaker 4: We were helping you get that store set up and 249 00:16:20,601 --> 00:16:24,801 Speaker 4: so met her at that time, but we didn't start 250 00:16:24,881 --> 00:16:28,841 Speaker 4: dating more over the summer. By midsummer May of late summer, 251 00:16:28,921 --> 00:16:30,641 Speaker 4: say I was bye. We started dating, So we didn't 252 00:16:30,681 --> 00:16:34,281 Speaker 4: date for very long. At the most seven eight months 253 00:16:34,601 --> 00:16:37,441 Speaker 4: we were seeing each other exclusively. You know, we have 254 00:16:37,561 --> 00:16:39,881 Speaker 4: started talking about getting the place together because we spend 255 00:16:39,921 --> 00:16:42,201 Speaker 4: our time together. Anyway, She spent a lot of time 256 00:16:42,241 --> 00:16:46,041 Speaker 4: at my apartment changedly move along grade. 257 00:16:46,481 --> 00:16:48,321 Speaker 3: Josh said that he did not have a key to 258 00:16:48,361 --> 00:16:50,681 Speaker 3: her apartment, and even though she had a key to 259 00:16:50,721 --> 00:16:53,841 Speaker 3: his place, and even though they regularly switch vehicles, He 260 00:16:53,961 --> 00:16:56,641 Speaker 3: said they did this because he had to commute for work. 261 00:16:57,081 --> 00:16:59,401 Speaker 3: He worried that his older truck wouldn't make it all 262 00:16:59,401 --> 00:17:01,561 Speaker 3: the way to Bentonville, so on the days he had 263 00:17:01,561 --> 00:17:04,361 Speaker 3: to make that drive, Nina would lend him her two 264 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:06,001 Speaker 3: thousand and two Toyota Corolla. 265 00:17:06,961 --> 00:17:08,641 Speaker 1: Josh told detectives he. 266 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,281 Speaker 3: Had not actually been inside Nina's apartment for a couple 267 00:17:11,281 --> 00:17:14,281 Speaker 3: of months. Their routine was she would get off work, 268 00:17:14,441 --> 00:17:17,001 Speaker 3: usually shower, and then come to his place to hang out. 269 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:20,801 Speaker 3: Sometimes they would go out when she came to his place. 270 00:17:21,161 --> 00:17:23,761 Speaker 3: Sometimes she would stay over there. Sometimes she would go 271 00:17:23,801 --> 00:17:27,281 Speaker 3: back home, but he pretty much never stayed at her place. 272 00:17:28,201 --> 00:17:31,681 Speaker 3: He also told detectives that Nina often felt he would 273 00:17:31,681 --> 00:17:35,041 Speaker 3: get angry with her if she didn't stay over. In 274 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,281 Speaker 3: two thousand and six, Josh told detectives that his relationship 275 00:17:38,321 --> 00:17:41,641 Speaker 3: with Nina had been going great. He said Nina planned 276 00:17:41,681 --> 00:17:43,401 Speaker 3: to move in with him when her lease was up. 277 00:17:43,801 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 3: He said she was easy going and they got along 278 00:17:46,041 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 3: super well, that they came from similar hard working family backgrounds, 279 00:17:49,801 --> 00:17:52,761 Speaker 3: and that they had shared values. They were both working 280 00:17:52,761 --> 00:17:55,801 Speaker 3: their way through college. He said, I was going to 281 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,481 Speaker 3: marry that girl. He cried as he told detectives quote, 282 00:17:59,721 --> 00:18:04,921 Speaker 3: it's the best relationship that I've ever had. Police asked 283 00:18:04,961 --> 00:18:08,641 Speaker 3: about the keys several times. Josh clarified that his truck 284 00:18:08,721 --> 00:18:11,721 Speaker 3: keys were on a removable ring, so when they swapped vehicles. 285 00:18:12,001 --> 00:18:13,801 Speaker 3: He said he would take the truck keys on their 286 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 3: little silver ring and give them to Nina and vice versa, 287 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,241 Speaker 3: so that allowed them to swap vehicle keys without swapping 288 00:18:20,281 --> 00:18:24,161 Speaker 3: the entire key ring. Police also asked Josh if Nina 289 00:18:24,201 --> 00:18:27,241 Speaker 3: had noticed anything at work or at home if there 290 00:18:27,281 --> 00:18:30,161 Speaker 3: was anyone who would want to hurt her. Josh said 291 00:18:30,201 --> 00:18:33,361 Speaker 3: not at work, but he said Nina had told him 292 00:18:33,401 --> 00:18:36,201 Speaker 3: about some guys at her apartment complex who were cat 293 00:18:36,241 --> 00:18:39,961 Speaker 3: calling her. He told detectives this happened five days before 294 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,481 Speaker 3: Nina's murder on Easter Sunday, April sixteenth, two thousand and six. 295 00:18:44,161 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 3: While Josh said he hadn't been inside Nina's apartment in months, 296 00:18:47,441 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 3: he said he had waited for Nina in the parking 297 00:18:49,641 --> 00:18:53,081 Speaker 3: lot of her complex on Easter Sunday, April sixteenth, two 298 00:18:53,121 --> 00:18:55,961 Speaker 3: thousand and six. He said on that day, both he 299 00:18:56,001 --> 00:18:58,361 Speaker 3: and Nina had the day off. He said they hung 300 00:18:58,361 --> 00:19:00,761 Speaker 3: out together and went to Walmart to buy some stuff. 301 00:19:01,161 --> 00:19:04,241 Speaker 3: After that, they swung by her apartment complex so she 302 00:19:04,281 --> 00:19:06,681 Speaker 3: could run inside and change before they went out to eat. 303 00:19:07,641 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 3: Josh said that while he was waiting for Nina in 304 00:19:09,921 --> 00:19:12,881 Speaker 3: the law Quad parking lot, he noticed two or three 305 00:19:12,961 --> 00:19:15,561 Speaker 3: young men, who he had described a police as young 306 00:19:15,641 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 3: male kids aged fourteen to fifteen years old, and at 307 00:19:18,921 --> 00:19:22,001 Speaker 3: least one of them driving a truck. He said that 308 00:19:22,121 --> 00:19:24,921 Speaker 3: Nina had told him on that day that one of 309 00:19:24,961 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 3: these guys had been cat calling her and called her 310 00:19:27,121 --> 00:19:30,321 Speaker 3: a bitch, and that he had considered confronting them but didn't. 311 00:19:31,361 --> 00:19:33,801 Speaker 4: She guys just said something to me, and I'm like, well, 312 00:19:33,961 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 4: whe they say, she's whether he was hollering at me 313 00:19:35,921 --> 00:19:37,961 Speaker 4: and trying to get come talk to them, and I 314 00:19:38,121 --> 00:19:40,561 Speaker 4: just ignored them. And she's kind of shaken up by 315 00:19:40,561 --> 00:19:43,441 Speaker 4: that enough to mention it to me, and I, well, 316 00:19:44,001 --> 00:19:46,361 Speaker 4: do we need the same thing? And she was like, well, 317 00:19:46,361 --> 00:19:49,801 Speaker 4: now they drove off, so it was from like a vehicle. 318 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:52,801 Speaker 4: She just kind of shook it off, and you know, 319 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 4: I don't know, it's not that big deal. Let's just 320 00:19:54,681 --> 00:19:58,001 Speaker 4: move on. That's the only time that I recall her 321 00:19:58,161 --> 00:20:00,641 Speaker 4: being uncomfortable about anybody in the complex. 322 00:20:01,721 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 3: Later, Rico's defense team talked to Josh as well. He 323 00:20:05,281 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 3: told them that the mental image he had in his 324 00:20:07,441 --> 00:20:09,360 Speaker 3: head from that day was that it could have been 325 00:20:09,401 --> 00:20:11,761 Speaker 3: a couple of white guys and that they were definitely 326 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:12,721 Speaker 3: younger than him. 327 00:20:12,801 --> 00:20:13,321 Speaker 1: And Nina. 328 00:20:14,161 --> 00:20:17,441 Speaker 3: Another former law squad resident named Catherine Austin, who lived 329 00:20:17,481 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: in apartment number eighty two, told police on April seventeenth, 330 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,481 Speaker 3: two thousand and seven, that around the time of the murder, 331 00:20:23,521 --> 00:20:26,641 Speaker 3: there were four men. She described them as clean cut, 332 00:20:26,681 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 3: white males hanging around in that parking lot in a 333 00:20:29,681 --> 00:20:33,281 Speaker 3: white four door pickup truck. Catherine said two of these 334 00:20:33,281 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 3: guys came up to her apartment door and asked her 335 00:20:35,401 --> 00:20:38,441 Speaker 3: what her name was. She said that this made her 336 00:20:38,601 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 3: very uncomfortable because they invaded her personal space. 337 00:20:42,441 --> 00:20:42,801 Speaker 1: Again. 338 00:20:43,001 --> 00:20:46,241 Speaker 3: According to the lawsuit, there were several potential people of 339 00:20:46,281 --> 00:20:49,201 Speaker 3: interests who the suit claimed should have been thoroughly investigated. 340 00:20:49,801 --> 00:20:52,961 Speaker 3: The lawsuit alleges that the lead detective, Scott Carlton, when 341 00:20:52,961 --> 00:20:57,161 Speaker 3: he took over the investigation, very quickly became totally focused 342 00:20:57,201 --> 00:21:01,281 Speaker 3: on Rico Cone, and that Detective Carlton was quote exhibiting 343 00:21:01,321 --> 00:21:05,521 Speaker 3: clear signs of cognitive bias, repeatedly assisted Josh in matching 344 00:21:05,561 --> 00:21:08,041 Speaker 3: up his answers with his prior statements by telling him 345 00:21:08,041 --> 00:21:10,801 Speaker 3: what an excellent job he was doing and even providing 346 00:21:10,881 --> 00:21:14,121 Speaker 3: him with a transcript of his prior statement with highlighted portions, 347 00:21:14,441 --> 00:21:17,001 Speaker 3: and it was only after that happened that Josh then 348 00:21:17,121 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 3: changed his statement back to having been present in the 349 00:21:19,961 --> 00:21:24,641 Speaker 3: parking lot end quote. The lawsuit alleged there was really 350 00:21:24,641 --> 00:21:29,361 Speaker 3: no evidence, physical or otherwise against Rico Cone, but there 351 00:21:29,481 --> 00:21:32,601 Speaker 3: were pieces of evidence that could have pointed to other 352 00:21:32,641 --> 00:21:33,441 Speaker 3: people of interest. 353 00:21:34,241 --> 00:21:37,281 Speaker 1: There was the text message. Josh told police. 354 00:21:36,921 --> 00:21:40,241 Speaker 3: That Nina had communicated with someone online prior to leaving 355 00:21:40,281 --> 00:21:42,561 Speaker 3: his residence. On April twenty first, two thousand and six, 356 00:21:43,201 --> 00:21:46,521 Speaker 3: detective found a text message on Nina's cell phone from 357 00:21:46,561 --> 00:21:50,281 Speaker 3: a contact listed as Joey. The message read quote I 358 00:21:50,401 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 3: see be careful, be one hundred percent see ya end quote. 359 00:21:54,361 --> 00:21:58,481 Speaker 3: But that person Joey was never identified in the case file. 360 00:21:59,041 --> 00:22:02,161 Speaker 3: So who was Joey? Was he the last. 361 00:22:01,881 --> 00:22:05,481 Speaker 1: Person who Nina messaged? What did he mean by be careful? 362 00:22:06,361 --> 00:22:09,001 Speaker 3: Was this just a random occurrence or could it be 363 00:22:09,041 --> 00:22:13,801 Speaker 3: a clue. Several potential pieces of evidence were sent to 364 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 3: the Arkansas State Crime Lab, including Nina's clothes that she 365 00:22:17,481 --> 00:22:22,161 Speaker 3: was wearing, plus other items of clothing including jeans, towels, 366 00:22:22,201 --> 00:22:25,281 Speaker 3: and socks, the dead bolt and doorknob from the front door, 367 00:22:25,761 --> 00:22:28,561 Speaker 3: a small black elastic cord with a white button that 368 00:22:28,601 --> 00:22:31,361 Speaker 3: was found under the bed, Nina's betting, and the black 369 00:22:31,481 --> 00:22:33,441 Speaker 3: leather belt that was found in the kitchen trash can. 370 00:22:34,001 --> 00:22:37,241 Speaker 3: They also found other items, including a Valentine's card that 371 00:22:37,281 --> 00:22:39,761 Speaker 3: was from Josh and a poem that Nina had written 372 00:22:39,761 --> 00:22:43,241 Speaker 3: to her mom. The lawsuit mentions the fact that the 373 00:22:43,321 --> 00:22:47,721 Speaker 3: DNA evidence collection procedures were much less advanced in two 374 00:22:47,761 --> 00:22:50,641 Speaker 3: thousand and six than they are today. The training of 375 00:22:50,721 --> 00:22:53,481 Speaker 3: law enforcement and the procedures at the Arkansas State Crime 376 00:22:53,601 --> 00:22:58,481 Speaker 3: Lab were also not what they are today. This would 377 00:22:58,561 --> 00:23:02,001 Speaker 3: become a crucial component of Rico's lawsuit. 378 00:23:03,521 --> 00:23:05,241 Speaker 1: Another question that we had when. 379 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,641 Speaker 3: Reviewing this case file were who were the men whom 380 00:23:08,681 --> 00:23:11,761 Speaker 3: Nina was seen talking to at her apartment complex in 381 00:23:11,801 --> 00:23:15,401 Speaker 3: the days before her death. Detectives talked to a neighbor 382 00:23:15,441 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 3: of Nina's who said she saw Nina sitting on a 383 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,561 Speaker 3: bench in her apartment building on April twentieth, two thousand 384 00:23:20,561 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 3: and six, the day before she was murdered. Nina was 385 00:23:23,921 --> 00:23:27,521 Speaker 3: talking to a white male described as having slightly bigger 386 00:23:27,521 --> 00:23:30,161 Speaker 3: than medium builled, with blondish brown hair and a pasty 387 00:23:30,201 --> 00:23:33,881 Speaker 3: white complexion, approximately five foot eight to five foot ten 388 00:23:33,961 --> 00:23:37,201 Speaker 3: inches tall. The neighbor told police she had seen Nina 389 00:23:37,241 --> 00:23:40,241 Speaker 3: come home with a similar looking mail on multiple prior 390 00:23:40,241 --> 00:23:45,761 Speaker 3: occasions after dark. Now remember, Nina's boyfriend, Josh, told police 391 00:23:46,161 --> 00:23:50,801 Speaker 3: that he had not been inside Nina's apartment in months. However, 392 00:23:50,921 --> 00:23:52,961 Speaker 3: he did say he had been in the parking lot 393 00:23:53,001 --> 00:23:56,761 Speaker 3: a few days before her murder. This neighbor also said 394 00:23:56,801 --> 00:23:59,721 Speaker 3: that she saw Nina that same week with another different 395 00:23:59,721 --> 00:24:02,201 Speaker 3: white male with lighter brown hair and a medium build 396 00:24:02,401 --> 00:24:05,001 Speaker 3: between five foot ten and five foot eleven inches tall, 397 00:24:05,481 --> 00:24:08,041 Speaker 3: that the two of them had walked together to Nina's apartment, 398 00:24:08,481 --> 00:24:11,681 Speaker 3: standing very close with the white male than following Nina 399 00:24:11,681 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 3: into the apartment. This could have been Nina's brother or 400 00:24:15,681 --> 00:24:19,481 Speaker 3: another friend, but this information, to our knowledge, was never 401 00:24:19,601 --> 00:24:23,001 Speaker 3: followed up on in the police file. Another question we 402 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:27,201 Speaker 3: had was could someone have been stalking Nina. Police did 403 00:24:27,281 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 3: talk to a friend of Nina's named Samantha Stevens. She 404 00:24:30,401 --> 00:24:33,281 Speaker 3: said Nina had told her in the past that someone 405 00:24:33,401 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 3: had been stalking her at her apartment and following her around, 406 00:24:36,601 --> 00:24:38,441 Speaker 3: but there are no more details about this in the 407 00:24:38,481 --> 00:24:41,761 Speaker 3: case file, including when they had this conversation and how 408 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:42,841 Speaker 3: recently it happened. 409 00:24:43,201 --> 00:24:44,641 Speaker 1: It just as in the. 410 00:24:44,561 --> 00:24:48,601 Speaker 3: Past, the Fayetteville police department asked the FBI to get 411 00:24:48,601 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 3: involved with Nina's case, and they did. In March of 412 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,641 Speaker 3: two thousand and seven, Detective John Gentry of the Faetful 413 00:24:54,681 --> 00:24:58,041 Speaker 3: Police Department worked with a crime analyst named Tom Dover 414 00:24:58,241 --> 00:25:02,561 Speaker 3: of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI as part 415 00:25:02,641 --> 00:25:06,801 Speaker 3: of the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program or VISCAP. They prepared 416 00:25:06,881 --> 00:25:11,001 Speaker 3: and generated a criminal investigative analysis of the Nini Ingram homicide, 417 00:25:11,241 --> 00:25:17,201 Speaker 3: including a very detailed profile of potential suspects. So ViCAP 418 00:25:17,281 --> 00:25:19,761 Speaker 3: has a few different functions. One of them is the 419 00:25:19,761 --> 00:25:21,281 Speaker 3: one that most of us have seen in the movies 420 00:25:21,321 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 3: where the FBI criminal profiler comes in. They have a 421 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,761 Speaker 3: big marker board with a bunch of unsolved homicides on it. 422 00:25:27,121 --> 00:25:30,801 Speaker 3: They analyze major violent crimes and can link cases based 423 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:35,281 Speaker 3: on behavioral and geographical similarities. Basically, they find patterns, but 424 00:25:35,441 --> 00:25:39,201 Speaker 3: ViCAP also looks at individual cases and from the information 425 00:25:39,281 --> 00:25:41,921 Speaker 3: in the case file. By examining the crime scene, they 426 00:25:41,921 --> 00:25:44,561 Speaker 3: can give a profile of the unsub short for unknown 427 00:25:44,601 --> 00:25:47,961 Speaker 3: subject or unidentified subject. This is meant to help local 428 00:25:48,041 --> 00:25:51,841 Speaker 3: law enforcement narrow down their search. On April sixteenth, two 429 00:25:51,881 --> 00:25:55,201 Speaker 3: thousand and seven, the FBI gave the profile that they 430 00:25:55,281 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 3: produced to the FFUL Police Department. The VISCAP profile was 431 00:26:00,041 --> 00:26:04,201 Speaker 3: pretty much the opposite of ricocone. The VISCAT profile stated 432 00:26:04,241 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 3: that Nina's killer was likely a Caucasian male, familiar and 433 00:26:08,201 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 3: comfortable in the area, and that they were likely living 434 00:26:10,641 --> 00:26:14,761 Speaker 3: in or near Fayette, Arkansas. In terms of the man 435 00:26:14,801 --> 00:26:18,201 Speaker 3: being Caucasian, that would track with the initial interviews, not 436 00:26:18,361 --> 00:26:21,561 Speaker 3: one single person mentioned a person of color as hanging 437 00:26:21,601 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 3: around the apartment building. So, in addition to believing that 438 00:26:24,921 --> 00:26:27,801 Speaker 3: the killer was local and not a transient, the VISCAP 439 00:26:27,881 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 3: profile stated that they believed the evidence suggested that the 440 00:26:32,241 --> 00:26:35,281 Speaker 3: killer knew Nina and may have had an intimate relationship 441 00:26:35,321 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 3: with her, and that they were familiar with her schedule. Again, 442 00:26:39,321 --> 00:26:42,321 Speaker 3: this is the opposite of ricocone. He was a stranger 443 00:26:42,321 --> 00:26:46,961 Speaker 3: to Nina. To the witness Randy Applewhite story, Rico only 444 00:26:47,001 --> 00:26:50,481 Speaker 3: saw her briefly and attacked her because he just happened 445 00:26:50,481 --> 00:26:54,321 Speaker 3: to see her coming home. The FBI stated that Nina's killer, 446 00:26:54,481 --> 00:26:58,281 Speaker 3: according to the profile they provided quote, knew his or 447 00:26:58,321 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 3: her proximity to her would not cause her alarm end quote, 448 00:27:02,481 --> 00:27:06,001 Speaker 3: So they believed that Nina's killer was someone who if 449 00:27:06,041 --> 00:27:08,161 Speaker 3: she saw them in line at Taco Bell or hanging 450 00:27:08,201 --> 00:27:11,201 Speaker 3: out at Walmart, or maybe even in her apartment complex, 451 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,561 Speaker 3: maybe would not be immediately freaked out and shut the 452 00:27:15,601 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 3: door in their face. The VISCAT profile suggested that Nina 453 00:27:19,641 --> 00:27:21,961 Speaker 3: and the offender may have gotten into some kind of 454 00:27:21,961 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 3: a conflict in the past, but they believed that it 455 00:27:25,681 --> 00:27:28,201 Speaker 3: was likely that the offender had been nice to her 456 00:27:28,321 --> 00:27:31,121 Speaker 3: in the run up to the killing. So the FBI 457 00:27:31,561 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 3: seemed to think that this murder was something the killer 458 00:27:34,641 --> 00:27:38,041 Speaker 3: had planned out fairly carefully. And this next part of 459 00:27:38,121 --> 00:27:41,801 Speaker 3: the FBI's report is interesting. Quoted in court documents, it read, 460 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 3: quote offender may have been excessively nice to the victim 461 00:27:45,641 --> 00:27:48,921 Speaker 3: in the time preceding the homicide, in hopes this behavior 462 00:27:48,961 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 3: would deflect law enforcement's attention away from him after the homicide. 463 00:27:53,441 --> 00:27:54,601 Speaker 1: End quote. 464 00:27:54,801 --> 00:27:58,521 Speaker 3: The final note was that the offender may have executed 465 00:27:58,521 --> 00:28:01,681 Speaker 3: a well constructed plan in committing the homicide, so the 466 00:28:01,721 --> 00:28:05,361 Speaker 3: profiler believed this was not a random attack, and finally, 467 00:28:06,121 --> 00:28:10,001 Speaker 3: the profiler believed the offender was likely satisfied that the 468 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 3: victim is dead. The VISCAT profile also stated that the 469 00:28:18,161 --> 00:28:22,721 Speaker 3: offender was quote likely monitoring this case through the media, 470 00:28:22,801 --> 00:28:25,961 Speaker 3: and may have already been contacted by law enforcement regarding 471 00:28:25,961 --> 00:28:26,441 Speaker 3: the incident. 472 00:28:27,361 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: So they were looking for someone. 473 00:28:29,361 --> 00:28:32,241 Speaker 3: Who knew Nina, who maybe had been rejected by her, 474 00:28:32,681 --> 00:28:35,841 Speaker 3: who was potentially inserting themselves into her case to help 475 00:28:35,961 --> 00:28:39,841 Speaker 3: law enforcement, and who may be monitoring the case through 476 00:28:39,921 --> 00:28:40,321 Speaker 3: the media. 477 00:28:41,361 --> 00:28:41,561 Speaker 1: Now. 478 00:28:41,601 --> 00:28:45,961 Speaker 3: The lawsuit stated that none of those details matched Rico Cone, 479 00:28:46,361 --> 00:28:49,681 Speaker 3: but almost all of them matched the person that the 480 00:28:49,761 --> 00:28:54,121 Speaker 3: lawsuit called person of interest A Josh and another person 481 00:28:54,601 --> 00:29:09,681 Speaker 3: the person they called person of interest B. Based on 482 00:29:09,721 --> 00:29:13,241 Speaker 3: the FBI's assessment of Nina's case, Rico Cone did not 483 00:29:13,481 --> 00:29:17,481 Speaker 3: fit the profile of her killer. The lawsuit alleged that 484 00:29:17,521 --> 00:29:20,761 Speaker 3: the lead detective, Scott Carlton, and his colleagues were quote 485 00:29:21,001 --> 00:29:23,721 Speaker 3: seeking solely to obtain a conviction and close out a 486 00:29:23,761 --> 00:29:26,961 Speaker 3: politically difficult case, without regard to where the facts or 487 00:29:27,001 --> 00:29:31,801 Speaker 3: evidence may lead end quote. The lawsuit also accused the 488 00:29:31,881 --> 00:29:35,361 Speaker 3: lead detective and his colleagues of conspiring with the Arkansas 489 00:29:35,401 --> 00:29:39,961 Speaker 3: State Crime Lab to hide or manipulate evidence and intentionally 490 00:29:40,001 --> 00:29:44,361 Speaker 3: and deliberately misleading both the Office of the Prosecutor Attorney 491 00:29:44,641 --> 00:29:48,041 Speaker 3: and the general public about the relative strengths and weaknesses 492 00:29:48,081 --> 00:29:52,721 Speaker 3: of what the lawsuit called an improper, illegitimate, and unconstitutional case. 493 00:29:53,801 --> 00:29:56,961 Speaker 3: The lawsuit mentioned someone else who they called person of 494 00:29:57,001 --> 00:30:00,721 Speaker 3: interest B. Now, this person is not named in the lawsuit, 495 00:30:01,201 --> 00:30:03,441 Speaker 3: but by comparing the civil lawsuit to the part of 496 00:30:03,481 --> 00:30:06,441 Speaker 3: the case file that we have access to, this person 497 00:30:06,561 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 3: appears to match the description of a man named Jarvis Harper. 498 00:30:11,241 --> 00:30:13,961 Speaker 3: Jarvis was someone who first came up in the case 499 00:30:14,001 --> 00:30:15,161 Speaker 3: file in two thousand and eight. 500 00:30:15,721 --> 00:30:17,281 Speaker 1: On August fifth, two thousand and eight. 501 00:30:17,521 --> 00:30:20,321 Speaker 3: Officers from the Fayetable Police Department went to a residence 502 00:30:20,321 --> 00:30:22,761 Speaker 3: where a woman was requesting help to obtain an order 503 00:30:22,761 --> 00:30:23,281 Speaker 3: of protection. 504 00:30:23,841 --> 00:30:25,441 Speaker 1: The woman's name was Nicki Perry. 505 00:30:26,041 --> 00:30:28,761 Speaker 3: She wanted the restraining order against her boyfriend, twenty nine 506 00:30:28,801 --> 00:30:32,361 Speaker 3: year old Jarvis Harper. She told officers that she and 507 00:30:32,481 --> 00:30:35,481 Speaker 3: Jarvis had been living together for about five years. She 508 00:30:35,601 --> 00:30:39,161 Speaker 3: said that he was a quote controlling individual who monitors 509 00:30:39,201 --> 00:30:42,721 Speaker 3: her every move end quote. She said Jarvis had a 510 00:30:42,761 --> 00:30:45,521 Speaker 3: camera inside the house. She said he installed it there 511 00:30:45,561 --> 00:30:48,241 Speaker 3: to track her. She claimed that it recorded twenty four 512 00:30:48,281 --> 00:30:50,681 Speaker 3: hours a day. She said she was afraid of turning 513 00:30:50,681 --> 00:30:53,561 Speaker 3: the camera off because Jarvis allegedly had a bad temper. 514 00:30:54,241 --> 00:30:57,601 Speaker 3: Nicki also said Jarvis had done something to the back door, 515 00:30:57,681 --> 00:30:59,601 Speaker 3: basically disabled it so she couldn't get out of the 516 00:30:59,601 --> 00:31:03,361 Speaker 3: apartment the back way, meaning Nicki told officers that she 517 00:31:03,361 --> 00:31:05,121 Speaker 3: would always have to go through the front door to 518 00:31:05,201 --> 00:31:09,321 Speaker 3: leave the apartment. Jarvis, also, according to Nicki, asked her 519 00:31:09,401 --> 00:31:11,721 Speaker 3: to change her name and start going by the name 520 00:31:12,001 --> 00:31:17,081 Speaker 3: Lindsey Knight, which she said she agreed to do. The 521 00:31:17,201 --> 00:31:19,761 Speaker 3: latest incident that led to her calling the police had 522 00:31:19,801 --> 00:31:23,521 Speaker 3: actually started three days before. She said that on that day, 523 00:31:23,721 --> 00:31:26,961 Speaker 3: on April second, two thousand and eight, that Jarvis had 524 00:31:27,001 --> 00:31:30,281 Speaker 3: tied her hands together with black drawstring cords that he 525 00:31:30,281 --> 00:31:33,241 Speaker 3: took out of a pair of athletic shorts. Nicki said 526 00:31:33,241 --> 00:31:35,401 Speaker 3: that he left her tied up for half the day, 527 00:31:35,801 --> 00:31:39,001 Speaker 3: starting at around two pm. She said, while she was 528 00:31:39,041 --> 00:31:42,441 Speaker 3: tied up, Jarvis sat on top of her and held 529 00:31:42,481 --> 00:31:46,001 Speaker 3: his Bretta nine milimi a pistol to her head, demanding 530 00:31:46,001 --> 00:31:49,601 Speaker 3: to know the truth about her activity. Apparently he believed 531 00:31:49,641 --> 00:31:52,241 Speaker 3: she had been lying to him. Nikki said that she 532 00:31:52,321 --> 00:31:54,881 Speaker 3: complied because she was terrified. She said she had been 533 00:31:54,921 --> 00:31:57,921 Speaker 3: too afraid to call the police. On the police report, 534 00:31:57,961 --> 00:32:01,281 Speaker 3: it noted detectives took away the drawstring cords from the 535 00:32:01,281 --> 00:32:04,481 Speaker 3: athletic shorts as evidence. But there was something else at 536 00:32:04,481 --> 00:32:08,281 Speaker 3: that residence. In the living room, Jarvis had a framed 537 00:32:08,321 --> 00:32:11,801 Speaker 3: photo of Nina Ingram. It was the same photo that 538 00:32:11,841 --> 00:32:14,761 Speaker 3: had been passed out to Walmart employees after Nina died, 539 00:32:15,161 --> 00:32:18,761 Speaker 3: and in fact, Jarvis worked with Nina at the Sixth 540 00:32:18,761 --> 00:32:23,641 Speaker 3: Street Walmart. But Jarvis, apparently, according to the lawsuit, didn't 541 00:32:23,641 --> 00:32:27,201 Speaker 3: actually get the photo that way. In fact, Rico's lawsuit 542 00:32:27,241 --> 00:32:31,081 Speaker 3: claims that Jarvis wanted a way to remember Nina, so 543 00:32:31,241 --> 00:32:34,161 Speaker 3: he went and tracked down the photo from another employee. 544 00:32:34,521 --> 00:32:38,121 Speaker 3: The lawsuit claimed Jarvis was not aware that the framed 545 00:32:38,121 --> 00:32:40,721 Speaker 3: photograph of Nina Ingram that he had on his wall 546 00:32:41,121 --> 00:32:44,241 Speaker 3: was the same one they handed out at Walmart. Police 547 00:32:44,321 --> 00:32:48,281 Speaker 3: later questioned Nikki about this photo. Nicki said when she 548 00:32:48,401 --> 00:32:51,041 Speaker 3: had asked about the photo of Nina, Jarvis told her 549 00:32:51,081 --> 00:32:53,281 Speaker 3: the photo was there because Nina was a friend of his, 550 00:32:53,641 --> 00:32:56,601 Speaker 3: and also he was good friends with her boyfriend, Josh. 551 00:32:57,161 --> 00:32:59,721 Speaker 3: Jarvis told her that he had worked with Nina at 552 00:32:59,761 --> 00:33:02,961 Speaker 3: Walmart and that he quote was pretty sure he knows 553 00:33:03,001 --> 00:33:05,641 Speaker 3: who did it, meaning knows who killed Nina, but that 554 00:33:05,681 --> 00:33:09,521 Speaker 3: it could not be proven. So we have a person 555 00:33:09,561 --> 00:33:12,641 Speaker 3: with a definite connection to Nina Ingram, someone who worked 556 00:33:12,641 --> 00:33:15,361 Speaker 3: with her and her boyfriend, who was accused of choking 557 00:33:15,401 --> 00:33:18,161 Speaker 3: his girlfriend with the cord of his athletic shorts, and 558 00:33:18,641 --> 00:33:22,561 Speaker 3: who allegedly exhibited violent behavior. We know that, according to 559 00:33:22,601 --> 00:33:26,401 Speaker 3: the autopsy report, Nina was strangled with an object that 560 00:33:26,481 --> 00:33:28,961 Speaker 3: was between one sixteenth of an inch and one eighth 561 00:33:29,001 --> 00:33:31,641 Speaker 3: of an inch wide, and that the murder weapon was 562 00:33:31,681 --> 00:33:35,761 Speaker 3: never found. In addition to the photographs of Nina on 563 00:33:35,841 --> 00:33:39,321 Speaker 3: the wall, Jarvis also had photographs of other women in 564 00:33:39,361 --> 00:33:43,281 Speaker 3: a filing cabinet next to his computer. Nicki told police 565 00:33:43,801 --> 00:33:46,521 Speaker 3: Jarvist told her one of the women was a missing person, 566 00:33:46,921 --> 00:33:49,441 Speaker 3: but did not give her any more details about that woman, 567 00:33:49,761 --> 00:33:53,081 Speaker 3: about the case, or where or when the woman supposedly 568 00:33:53,081 --> 00:33:56,841 Speaker 3: went missing. Nicki told police she didn't remember a lot 569 00:33:56,881 --> 00:33:59,881 Speaker 3: of details about the files she saw inside Jarvis's office, 570 00:34:00,241 --> 00:34:03,001 Speaker 3: other than the fact that she said the name McMillan 571 00:34:03,521 --> 00:34:06,201 Speaker 3: was written on the bottom front of one of those photos. 572 00:34:07,001 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 3: Nicki said that again, besides Nina, who she had specifically 573 00:34:10,241 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 3: asked about, she did not know who any of these 574 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,321 Speaker 3: other women were. Police also talked to Nicki's mother, Susie 575 00:34:17,681 --> 00:34:20,641 Speaker 3: Susie told detectives that Jarvis was a martial arts expert, 576 00:34:20,881 --> 00:34:23,241 Speaker 3: that he had various martial arts weapons and guns and 577 00:34:23,321 --> 00:34:26,121 Speaker 3: ninja items in the home, and that he was quote 578 00:34:26,281 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 3: as self proclaimed ninja and black belt end quote. Jarvis 579 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:35,361 Speaker 3: confirmed to police that he did practice martial arts. Police 580 00:34:35,361 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 3: searched the bedroom and remove some items, including a black 581 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:42,361 Speaker 3: scheme mask. Next week, We're going to hear more from 582 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:46,041 Speaker 3: Nina's boyfriend at the time, Josh, about his relationship with Dina, 583 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:50,041 Speaker 3: his relationship with Jarvis, and his theories on the case. 584 00:34:50,881 --> 00:34:54,161 Speaker 3: We're also going to try to figure out who the 585 00:34:54,281 --> 00:35:00,201 Speaker 3: other women were on Jarvis's wall. I'm Katherine Townsend. This 586 00:35:00,281 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 3: is Helen Gone Murder Line. Helen Gone Murder Line is 587 00:35:05,521 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 3: a production of School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts. It's 588 00:35:08,481 --> 00:35:11,560 Speaker 3: written and narrated by me Katherine Townsend and produced by 589 00:35:11,601 --> 00:35:15,121 Speaker 3: Gabby Watts. Special thanks to Amy Tubbs for her research 590 00:35:15,161 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 3: assistance and James Wheaton for legal review. Noah camer mixed 591 00:35:19,081 --> 00:35:22,001 Speaker 3: and scored this episode. Our theme song is by Ben Salep. 592 00:35:22,521 --> 00:35:26,481 Speaker 3: Executive producers are Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, and LC Crowley. 593 00:35:27,081 --> 00:35:29,641 Speaker 3: Listen to Helen Gone ad free by subscribing to the 594 00:35:29,681 --> 00:35:31,081 Speaker 3: iHeart True Crime Plus. 595 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:32,361 Speaker 1: Channel on Apple Podcasts. 596 00:35:32,641 --> 00:35:35,361 Speaker 3: If you were interested in seeing documents and materials from 597 00:35:35,401 --> 00:35:38,921 Speaker 3: the case, you can follow the show on Instagram. 598 00:35:38,201 --> 00:35:39,520 Speaker 1: At ellen gonpot. 599 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:41,641 Speaker 3: If you have a case you'd like me and my 600 00:35:41,681 --> 00:35:43,601 Speaker 3: team to look into, you can reach out to a 601 00:35:43,881 --> 00:35:47,161 Speaker 3: at our Hellngong Murder Line at six seven eight seven 602 00:35:47,201 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 3: four four six one four five. That's six seven eight 603 00:35:50,761 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 3: seven four four six one four five. 604 00:35:57,201 --> 00:35:58,361 Speaker 1: School of Humans