1 00:00:08,245 --> 00:00:19,965 Speaker 1: School of Humans. Catherine Townshend, journalist, licensed investigator looking into 2 00:00:20,045 --> 00:00:23,325 Speaker 1: the death of Rebecca Google that occurred in September around 3 00:00:23,365 --> 00:00:28,405 Speaker 1: September twentieth, nineteen or twentieth, two thousand and four. I'm 4 00:00:28,445 --> 00:00:31,325 Speaker 1: on the air with Gary Bridgeman, or as everybody around 5 00:00:31,325 --> 00:00:34,725 Speaker 1: here calls him, Gary B. It's been about a month 6 00:00:35,085 --> 00:00:37,485 Speaker 1: and we're getting the word out in a small town 7 00:00:37,925 --> 00:00:41,565 Speaker 1: that means hitting local radio. Everybody listens to Gary B, 8 00:00:42,205 --> 00:00:47,565 Speaker 1: including hopefully someone who knows something anything new about Rebecca's murder. 9 00:00:53,005 --> 00:00:56,005 Speaker 1: In September of two thousand and four, twenty two year 10 00:00:56,005 --> 00:00:59,485 Speaker 1: old Rebecca Gould was brutally murdered in a remote area 11 00:00:59,485 --> 00:01:04,045 Speaker 1: of the Arkansas Ozarks. Fourteen years later, her killer is 12 00:01:04,085 --> 00:01:07,365 Speaker 1: still out there. I've come back to Mountain View with 13 00:01:07,405 --> 00:01:12,525 Speaker 1: one mission to get justice for Rebecca. I'm Catherine Townsend 14 00:01:12,925 --> 00:01:21,165 Speaker 1: and this is Helen Gone. We're one month into our 15 00:01:21,245 --> 00:01:24,685 Speaker 1: investigation and we've made a lot of headway. We've talked 16 00:01:24,685 --> 00:01:27,565 Speaker 1: to Chris and JB, the guys who we've heard are 17 00:01:27,605 --> 00:01:31,605 Speaker 1: the police's main suspects. But the physical evidence doesn't seem 18 00:01:31,645 --> 00:01:34,165 Speaker 1: to point to a frenzied meth murder or to a 19 00:01:34,165 --> 00:01:38,125 Speaker 1: sexual assault. The blunt forced trauma of the head indicates 20 00:01:38,125 --> 00:01:41,165 Speaker 1: that someone killed Rebecca in a rage. The lack of 21 00:01:41,205 --> 00:01:44,525 Speaker 1: defensive wound seems to indicate that there wasn't a fight beforehand, 22 00:01:44,885 --> 00:01:48,285 Speaker 1: but the decomposition of her body could have hidden them. 23 00:01:48,365 --> 00:01:51,085 Speaker 1: The one person we'd like to get in touch with, Jennifer, 24 00:01:51,325 --> 00:01:54,405 Speaker 1: has left town for Florida, so we're back to looking 25 00:01:54,405 --> 00:01:57,125 Speaker 1: for new potential leads. And that's why I'm sitting here 26 00:01:57,165 --> 00:01:59,525 Speaker 1: in front of Gary B. Because if we can get 27 00:01:59,525 --> 00:02:02,685 Speaker 1: the town talking, someone will say something that may give 28 00:02:02,725 --> 00:02:07,005 Speaker 1: us the break we need. Catherine Township, Hello, Katherine. Hello. 29 00:02:07,245 --> 00:02:11,525 Speaker 1: WRD Entertainment operates six radio stations covering everything from top 30 00:02:11,605 --> 00:02:14,765 Speaker 1: forty to country and heavy metal, and Gary B plays 31 00:02:14,805 --> 00:02:17,685 Speaker 1: on all of them, which means pretty soon everyone in 32 00:02:17,725 --> 00:02:21,845 Speaker 1: town will hear this interview looking into the death of 33 00:02:21,925 --> 00:02:27,085 Speaker 1: Rebecca Gould. Yes, Gary B has a silky, soothing voice 34 00:02:27,125 --> 00:02:31,365 Speaker 1: that's made for radio. It matches his personality. He has 35 00:02:31,445 --> 00:02:35,005 Speaker 1: a grandfatherly, caring and completely genuine manner that puts me 36 00:02:35,125 --> 00:02:38,965 Speaker 1: instantly at ease. Even though the case we're discussing is 37 00:02:39,005 --> 00:02:43,125 Speaker 1: disturbing as hell. I know things can get exasperating when 38 00:02:43,125 --> 00:02:47,245 Speaker 1: you're investigating what kind of gets on your nerves about 39 00:02:47,725 --> 00:02:51,365 Speaker 1: trying to follow up on a lead or something like that. Well, look, 40 00:02:51,405 --> 00:02:52,925 Speaker 1: I think it's important to take a step back and 41 00:02:52,925 --> 00:02:56,365 Speaker 1: remember that this is someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's family member, 42 00:02:56,365 --> 00:02:58,925 Speaker 1: and if it was your daughter's sister or someone in 43 00:02:58,965 --> 00:03:01,565 Speaker 1: your life, you'd want someone to come home. If someone 44 00:03:01,645 --> 00:03:04,325 Speaker 1: knew something, you would want them to come forth. I 45 00:03:04,405 --> 00:03:07,365 Speaker 1: think that's a good way to look at absolutely absolutely, 46 00:03:07,445 --> 00:03:09,845 Speaker 1: so that you know, the reluctance to come forward or 47 00:03:09,885 --> 00:03:12,165 Speaker 1: kind of rock the boat has been a little bit difficult. 48 00:03:12,645 --> 00:03:15,805 Speaker 1: And then also just the physicality just finding people, you know, 49 00:03:15,845 --> 00:03:19,205 Speaker 1: as I said, I mean finding where they are, getting 50 00:03:19,205 --> 00:03:21,765 Speaker 1: a hold of them. Also just getting them to understand 51 00:03:21,765 --> 00:03:24,365 Speaker 1: that I'm not from here. I'm a journalist, you know, 52 00:03:24,405 --> 00:03:26,605 Speaker 1: I'm a female. It's just letting everyone know they can 53 00:03:26,725 --> 00:03:30,525 Speaker 1: talk to me, and you know, I am here to help. 54 00:03:30,805 --> 00:03:33,485 Speaker 1: She's here to help. She wants to talk to you. 55 00:03:33,565 --> 00:03:35,805 Speaker 1: If you know something, or if you'd like to tell 56 00:03:35,805 --> 00:03:38,605 Speaker 1: her something. Hopefully someone can come through that one piece 57 00:03:38,605 --> 00:03:41,205 Speaker 1: of information that'll help solve it. And sometimes it only 58 00:03:41,245 --> 00:03:44,805 Speaker 1: takes one piece that's right, that's right, so and you 59 00:03:44,845 --> 00:03:48,805 Speaker 1: never know what that piece of information might be absolutely 60 00:03:48,845 --> 00:03:51,605 Speaker 1: When a beautiful and popular local college student was murdered, 61 00:03:51,765 --> 00:03:55,445 Speaker 1: it dominated the headlines, but as time passed with no 62 00:03:55,605 --> 00:04:00,725 Speaker 1: new leads, the media coverage became scant. Rebecca's father, Larry, 63 00:04:01,045 --> 00:04:04,005 Speaker 1: was determined to keep the case alive however he could. 64 00:04:04,605 --> 00:04:07,045 Speaker 1: In two thousand and six, he was interviewed for an 65 00:04:07,085 --> 00:04:09,885 Speaker 1: article written by George Jared and Ak Barnes that provided 66 00:04:09,925 --> 00:04:13,405 Speaker 1: new details on the case. Several days after the story 67 00:04:13,485 --> 00:04:16,645 Speaker 1: was published, an anonymous letter arrived at doctor Gould's house. 68 00:04:17,005 --> 00:04:20,285 Speaker 1: Her father received a letter. He really thought it was 69 00:04:20,365 --> 00:04:23,365 Speaker 1: the real deal. Yes, tell us a little bit about Dan. 70 00:04:23,525 --> 00:04:25,685 Speaker 1: I have not seen the letter. I've heard about it. 71 00:04:25,805 --> 00:04:28,365 Speaker 1: I know that someone claimed to have heard and in 72 00:04:28,765 --> 00:04:31,365 Speaker 1: the college parking lot claimed to have overheard some people 73 00:04:31,365 --> 00:04:34,125 Speaker 1: talking about murder. It's hard to say, you know, I'm 74 00:04:34,165 --> 00:04:35,925 Speaker 1: hoping to see a copy, but based on what I've 75 00:04:35,965 --> 00:04:38,165 Speaker 1: sort of seen and heard, it's really hard to say 76 00:04:38,205 --> 00:04:42,125 Speaker 1: whether it's someone who was involved, or possibly maybe someone 77 00:04:42,125 --> 00:04:45,245 Speaker 1: who was trying to stir something up, or you know, 78 00:04:45,805 --> 00:04:47,725 Speaker 1: it's really hard to say. I can't really say too 79 00:04:47,805 --> 00:04:49,965 Speaker 1: much because I haven't seen it. When I first showed 80 00:04:50,005 --> 00:04:52,925 Speaker 1: up in town and started asking questions. A lot of 81 00:04:52,925 --> 00:04:57,165 Speaker 1: people told me you're not the police, you have no power. 82 00:04:58,085 --> 00:05:01,925 Speaker 1: In a way, they are right, But making people talk 83 00:05:01,965 --> 00:05:04,005 Speaker 1: to you because you have a badge and making people 84 00:05:04,125 --> 00:05:07,205 Speaker 1: want to talk to you two totally different skill sets. 85 00:05:07,925 --> 00:05:10,085 Speaker 1: And I have always been good at getting people to 86 00:05:10,125 --> 00:05:13,605 Speaker 1: tell me their darkest secrets. The radio station plays my 87 00:05:13,685 --> 00:05:17,605 Speaker 1: interview three times in three days, and it doesn't take 88 00:05:17,645 --> 00:05:24,405 Speaker 1: long for my Facebook and text messages to start lighting up. Dude, 89 00:05:24,445 --> 00:05:30,165 Speaker 1: someone else anonymous text, gotta love it. What does it 90 00:05:30,245 --> 00:05:32,165 Speaker 1: say if it's me? The woman who was on the 91 00:05:32,245 --> 00:05:35,525 Speaker 1: radio today they replayed it again. Okay, I'm in love 92 00:05:35,525 --> 00:05:39,605 Speaker 1: with the guys at Katieboozy Radio. They have been amazing. 93 00:05:39,925 --> 00:05:41,965 Speaker 1: They got me on the radio, they made it a priority. 94 00:05:41,965 --> 00:05:45,285 Speaker 1: They've replayed it three times now, Like I got to 95 00:05:45,285 --> 00:05:47,965 Speaker 1: give them a big shout out. They're awesome. It's big 96 00:05:48,005 --> 00:05:50,805 Speaker 1: news around here, and everyone knows people involved in this case, 97 00:05:51,005 --> 00:05:55,045 Speaker 1: so it's like everyone's got a personal involvement. They've gone 98 00:05:55,045 --> 00:05:57,125 Speaker 1: above and beyond, and they also put it in a 99 00:05:57,125 --> 00:05:59,925 Speaker 1: slot that's like drive time when most people would hear it. 100 00:06:00,685 --> 00:06:03,725 Speaker 1: And it's working. And I'm continuing to tell them, Hey, 101 00:06:03,765 --> 00:06:06,805 Speaker 1: this is working. Because every single week we've gotten hits 102 00:06:06,805 --> 00:06:09,205 Speaker 1: on that radio show, because it's right here in the 103 00:06:09,245 --> 00:06:12,405 Speaker 1: community and everybody listens to it, and because it takes 104 00:06:12,445 --> 00:06:15,645 Speaker 1: an hour to get anywhere in this town. Yeah, everybody 105 00:06:15,725 --> 00:06:18,805 Speaker 1: in Melbourne Batesville area, like everyone in the morning is 106 00:06:18,845 --> 00:06:22,205 Speaker 1: going somewhere. They're taking their kids to school or going 107 00:06:22,205 --> 00:06:25,245 Speaker 1: to work. But the other fact that's been racing through 108 00:06:25,285 --> 00:06:28,645 Speaker 1: my brain since the interview is that anonymous letter that 109 00:06:28,725 --> 00:06:32,085 Speaker 1: has never been publicly released. It seems like a lead 110 00:06:32,165 --> 00:06:35,765 Speaker 1: we need to follow, especially since it mentions a group 111 00:06:35,765 --> 00:06:39,085 Speaker 1: of people who supposedly were talking about the murder of Rebecca. 112 00:06:39,885 --> 00:06:43,285 Speaker 1: Could this be members of Rebecca's friend group or the 113 00:06:43,325 --> 00:06:47,285 Speaker 1: female we've heard rumors about getting into fights with Rebecca. 114 00:06:47,365 --> 00:06:50,565 Speaker 1: As I told Gary, I haven't seen the letter, but 115 00:06:50,645 --> 00:06:55,405 Speaker 1: George Jarrett has. The letter came right after I had 116 00:06:55,445 --> 00:06:59,565 Speaker 1: written a series. Actually i've written some see kind of 117 00:06:59,605 --> 00:07:03,685 Speaker 1: the chronology was, you know, for the first little bit, 118 00:07:03,765 --> 00:07:05,965 Speaker 1: maybe a year after she died, there was lots of 119 00:07:05,965 --> 00:07:07,885 Speaker 1: media attention, even when I was in the backtor Bolton, 120 00:07:07,925 --> 00:07:11,165 Speaker 1: I wrote about it, but then it just kind of 121 00:07:11,365 --> 00:07:14,245 Speaker 1: went away, and then I was writing my book about 122 00:07:14,245 --> 00:07:16,645 Speaker 1: the West Memphis three case, and I didn't know if 123 00:07:16,685 --> 00:07:19,205 Speaker 1: I'd ever write more than one book, you know. And 124 00:07:19,245 --> 00:07:21,965 Speaker 1: so the first editor, you know, who edited it, I 125 00:07:22,045 --> 00:07:25,205 Speaker 1: was like, I included the Ford and he's like, this 126 00:07:25,285 --> 00:07:27,485 Speaker 1: is a really good story, but it doesn't really belong 127 00:07:27,525 --> 00:07:30,565 Speaker 1: with this this case that you're writing about. And I 128 00:07:30,565 --> 00:07:34,005 Speaker 1: told him I don't care. I said, if I'm only 129 00:07:34,005 --> 00:07:35,525 Speaker 1: going to write one book, I'm going to get this 130 00:07:35,605 --> 00:07:38,405 Speaker 1: out one way or the other, because somebody, besides people 131 00:07:38,405 --> 00:07:40,285 Speaker 1: who live in these three or four little counties in 132 00:07:40,285 --> 00:07:42,405 Speaker 1: the middle of nowhere Arkansas, are going to find out 133 00:07:42,445 --> 00:07:46,685 Speaker 1: about this case. And so I wrote the book and 134 00:07:46,845 --> 00:07:51,565 Speaker 1: universally the comments I would get people would always ask 135 00:07:51,565 --> 00:07:54,925 Speaker 1: me about that case. And then of course that led 136 00:07:55,605 --> 00:08:00,205 Speaker 1: to me reconnecting with her dad, you know. And actually 137 00:08:00,285 --> 00:08:03,405 Speaker 1: it happened right here in Hardy. I was at the 138 00:08:03,405 --> 00:08:06,445 Speaker 1: library here, Jess mac come on do a book signing 139 00:08:06,445 --> 00:08:07,845 Speaker 1: one Saturday. I was like, yeah, I'll come over there. 140 00:08:08,045 --> 00:08:10,165 Speaker 1: I mean, I enjoyed doing them, you know, meet people. 141 00:08:10,205 --> 00:08:13,605 Speaker 1: And this gentleman came up, you know. I pitched the 142 00:08:13,605 --> 00:08:16,205 Speaker 1: book and at the very end I always pitched her story. 143 00:08:16,245 --> 00:08:18,485 Speaker 1: And then I asked him, I said, did you want 144 00:08:18,485 --> 00:08:22,045 Speaker 1: to buy one? He said yes, and I said okay, 145 00:08:22,045 --> 00:08:23,365 Speaker 1: and he goes, well, I want to buy ten of them. 146 00:08:24,485 --> 00:08:28,245 Speaker 1: I was like ten. Whatever I said to him, I 147 00:08:28,245 --> 00:08:32,365 Speaker 1: need to say to everybody, you know. And as I 148 00:08:32,405 --> 00:08:36,085 Speaker 1: folded over the first page, he took out a little 149 00:08:36,165 --> 00:08:38,845 Speaker 1: ribbon with her face on it and he put it 150 00:08:38,885 --> 00:08:43,365 Speaker 1: on the book and I had I hadn't seen him. 151 00:08:43,485 --> 00:08:45,525 Speaker 1: I didn't recognize him. He was he had kind of 152 00:08:45,525 --> 00:08:47,565 Speaker 1: had like a scruffy beard before. He's wearing a hat, 153 00:08:47,565 --> 00:08:49,365 Speaker 1: you know, looking for his daughter. I mean, you understand, 154 00:08:49,925 --> 00:08:56,045 Speaker 1: And I said, I know exactly who you are, and 155 00:08:56,085 --> 00:08:57,605 Speaker 1: I got up. I shook his hand. Of course, we 156 00:08:57,645 --> 00:09:00,485 Speaker 1: started hugging and started crying, but we reconnected and then 157 00:09:00,485 --> 00:09:04,485 Speaker 1: we started really hitting hard. Doctor Glider received the letter. 158 00:09:04,525 --> 00:09:06,685 Speaker 1: I believe he got it in a office. It was 159 00:09:06,725 --> 00:09:10,445 Speaker 1: an anonymous letter. It had too it was either going 160 00:09:10,525 --> 00:09:12,285 Speaker 1: to go to him or the return address was the 161 00:09:12,325 --> 00:09:15,085 Speaker 1: FBI office in Little Rock. And in the letter, the 162 00:09:15,205 --> 00:09:18,085 Speaker 1: person who wrote it claimed that they overheard a conversation 163 00:09:18,245 --> 00:09:21,405 Speaker 1: at I believe it's ozarka college in Melbourne, between a 164 00:09:21,445 --> 00:09:24,645 Speaker 1: couple of people, a female male, two or four people 165 00:09:24,685 --> 00:09:28,885 Speaker 1: talking and you know, somebody said in quotes, we did 166 00:09:28,925 --> 00:09:31,205 Speaker 1: that bitch, you know, and they were talking about Rebecca 167 00:09:31,325 --> 00:09:34,365 Speaker 1: was pretty obvious. And then in the letter they gave, 168 00:09:34,445 --> 00:09:36,885 Speaker 1: you know, some descriptions of what the people look like, 169 00:09:37,045 --> 00:09:41,685 Speaker 1: and I didn't. I wrote about it, but I didn't 170 00:09:42,085 --> 00:09:45,885 Speaker 1: include it in my latest book, and I didn't include 171 00:09:45,885 --> 00:09:48,005 Speaker 1: it in the news stories. You know, the police are investigating, 172 00:09:48,045 --> 00:09:49,245 Speaker 1: and you know that didn't want to tie it together, 173 00:09:49,285 --> 00:09:51,485 Speaker 1: so I didn't want to impede their investigation in any way. 174 00:09:51,925 --> 00:09:54,925 Speaker 1: It's important in investigations to not release every piece of 175 00:09:54,925 --> 00:09:57,405 Speaker 1: information because you have to be able to compare and 176 00:09:57,525 --> 00:10:00,365 Speaker 1: verify a new source. But I did want to make 177 00:10:00,365 --> 00:10:02,045 Speaker 1: sure people knew that this letter was out there. And 178 00:10:02,085 --> 00:10:04,325 Speaker 1: I read it, and I understand that the police think 179 00:10:04,405 --> 00:10:07,245 Speaker 1: that it's it's a it's a false lead, But I 180 00:10:07,325 --> 00:10:12,605 Speaker 1: read it. There was some sincerity in it. It looked 181 00:10:12,605 --> 00:10:14,645 Speaker 1: like it had been written again. It looked like a 182 00:10:14,725 --> 00:10:18,365 Speaker 1: woman had written it. It was uh, the grammar was good, 183 00:10:19,365 --> 00:10:21,525 Speaker 1: you know, which you know, being a writer, you know, 184 00:10:21,605 --> 00:10:24,565 Speaker 1: you just you see certain words put put together a 185 00:10:24,565 --> 00:10:26,325 Speaker 1: certain way, and you and you can kind of tell 186 00:10:26,365 --> 00:10:28,365 Speaker 1: the identity of the person writing it if you if 187 00:10:28,365 --> 00:10:30,765 Speaker 1: you write every day, But it could be totally bogus. 188 00:10:30,845 --> 00:10:34,285 Speaker 1: That's possible. It could be totally real. You know. I 189 00:10:34,325 --> 00:10:36,725 Speaker 1: actually set him in the book. I said, if you 190 00:10:36,765 --> 00:10:39,085 Speaker 1: wrote this, please identify yourself and come to the police 191 00:10:39,125 --> 00:10:42,005 Speaker 1: and make a statement. I think that what happened was 192 00:10:42,045 --> 00:10:44,045 Speaker 1: is this person who wrote the letter, if it's real, 193 00:10:45,165 --> 00:10:49,285 Speaker 1: probably read a story somewhere that got out. I worked 194 00:10:49,325 --> 00:10:52,605 Speaker 1: really closely with A. K. Barnes, the reporter over at 195 00:10:52,645 --> 00:10:55,085 Speaker 1: Erowide Media. She's a really good friend of mine, really 196 00:10:55,125 --> 00:10:59,485 Speaker 1: great human being by the way, and you know, we 197 00:10:59,565 --> 00:11:02,605 Speaker 1: did stories together and we just hit it hard and 198 00:11:02,645 --> 00:11:07,365 Speaker 1: then it just kind of died down again and at 199 00:11:07,365 --> 00:11:10,845 Speaker 1: some point something it's just going to take one little crack. 200 00:11:11,325 --> 00:11:13,405 Speaker 1: As it was so frustrating. I remember reading because I've meant, 201 00:11:13,485 --> 00:11:15,525 Speaker 1: like a long time, I've done articles about it and stuff. 202 00:11:15,525 --> 00:11:18,645 Speaker 1: And then and then when in twenty sixteen, whenever this 203 00:11:18,805 --> 00:11:21,765 Speaker 1: your series of stories came out followed by the letter. 204 00:11:21,805 --> 00:11:24,205 Speaker 1: When I read about the letter, I was like, thank God, like, 205 00:11:24,285 --> 00:11:26,005 Speaker 1: maybe something will happen now, even if it's not real, 206 00:11:26,005 --> 00:11:28,965 Speaker 1: maybe it'll get someone to talk, you know. But then yeah, 207 00:11:29,005 --> 00:11:31,765 Speaker 1: and now nothing, and so now that no, we're here. Yeah, 208 00:11:31,765 --> 00:11:33,565 Speaker 1: we're back, I mean literally, we're back. To where we 209 00:11:33,565 --> 00:11:36,165 Speaker 1: were the day that they found our body. I mean, 210 00:11:36,205 --> 00:11:39,965 Speaker 1: that's where we're at right now. It's becoming clearer and 211 00:11:40,005 --> 00:11:42,565 Speaker 1: clearer to me that we need to find out who 212 00:11:42,605 --> 00:11:46,005 Speaker 1: wrote this synonymous letter, and to do that, we need 213 00:11:46,005 --> 00:11:48,365 Speaker 1: to see it for ourselves and mine it for any 214 00:11:48,405 --> 00:11:52,245 Speaker 1: new clues. So we go back to Larry. I'm hopeful 215 00:11:52,245 --> 00:11:54,485 Speaker 1: that now that we've gained his trust, he'll share it 216 00:11:54,525 --> 00:11:57,485 Speaker 1: with us. Over the years, I would get things. I'd 217 00:11:57,525 --> 00:12:00,565 Speaker 1: get phone calls here at my office. I would get 218 00:12:00,685 --> 00:12:03,285 Speaker 1: some notes that were taken by my secretary on somebody 219 00:12:03,285 --> 00:12:06,405 Speaker 1: that called about Rebecca's case, and then they'd scribbles some things. 220 00:12:06,845 --> 00:12:08,725 Speaker 1: In some cases there would be a phone number and 221 00:12:08,765 --> 00:12:11,565 Speaker 1: I could follow up. And in some cases I got 222 00:12:11,605 --> 00:12:14,085 Speaker 1: written materials. So I'd get letters, or i'd get things 223 00:12:14,085 --> 00:12:19,205 Speaker 1: sent to me. I can recall just offhand that I 224 00:12:19,245 --> 00:12:23,885 Speaker 1: did receive a phone call, and I believe I talked 225 00:12:23,885 --> 00:12:27,925 Speaker 1: to this girl and she was frightened. She wanted to 226 00:12:27,925 --> 00:12:32,365 Speaker 1: get some information to me, and bits and pieces of 227 00:12:32,405 --> 00:12:36,045 Speaker 1: that did get passed to me. Larry has several overflowing 228 00:12:36,085 --> 00:12:39,525 Speaker 1: manila folders filled with notes from years of collecting tips. 229 00:12:40,245 --> 00:12:42,485 Speaker 1: They are neatly laid out on the dining room table, 230 00:12:42,565 --> 00:12:45,485 Speaker 1: next to his own murder board, and I see pictures 231 00:12:45,485 --> 00:12:50,325 Speaker 1: of Rebecca with Justin Casey Chris, so much red string 232 00:12:50,405 --> 00:12:53,485 Speaker 1: linking the various parties, And in one of those Manila 233 00:12:53,485 --> 00:12:57,925 Speaker 1: folders we find the letter. Like George mentioned, it looks 234 00:12:57,965 --> 00:13:00,805 Speaker 1: like it was written by a female. We won't read 235 00:13:00,805 --> 00:13:03,005 Speaker 1: the entire letter in order to protect parts of the 236 00:13:03,005 --> 00:13:06,485 Speaker 1: police investigation, but we can share parts that have already 237 00:13:06,485 --> 00:13:10,205 Speaker 1: been made public. The writer claimed to have overheard a 238 00:13:10,245 --> 00:13:13,925 Speaker 1: conversation at ozarka college in Melbourne between at least four 239 00:13:13,965 --> 00:13:17,805 Speaker 1: people who were bragging about Rebecca's murder. The author said 240 00:13:17,885 --> 00:13:20,725 Speaker 1: two women and a man approached another man with dirty 241 00:13:20,725 --> 00:13:23,765 Speaker 1: blonde hair who was a student at the college. As 242 00:13:23,805 --> 00:13:26,485 Speaker 1: they walked toward the parking lot. The writer said they 243 00:13:26,525 --> 00:13:29,565 Speaker 1: overheard the mail student asking the other three did you 244 00:13:29,605 --> 00:13:32,885 Speaker 1: get it. The three people told him that they killed 245 00:13:32,925 --> 00:13:35,445 Speaker 1: her and dragged her through several rooms at the house. 246 00:13:36,405 --> 00:13:39,525 Speaker 1: The alleged mail killer said blood was everywhere, and she 247 00:13:39,605 --> 00:13:43,045 Speaker 1: put up a fight and screamed a lot. The letter 248 00:13:43,045 --> 00:13:45,845 Speaker 1: contained specific descriptions of all of the people involved in 249 00:13:45,885 --> 00:13:49,765 Speaker 1: the conversation. The letter writer apologized for not coming forward 250 00:13:49,845 --> 00:13:53,285 Speaker 1: sooner and said they could identify those people. But because 251 00:13:53,325 --> 00:13:57,045 Speaker 1: nobody has identified the writer, whatever knowledge they have remains 252 00:13:57,045 --> 00:14:00,885 Speaker 1: a secret. If you just took that letter and spent 253 00:14:01,005 --> 00:14:03,325 Speaker 1: some time on it, you'd probably be able to find 254 00:14:03,445 --> 00:14:06,165 Speaker 1: the person that wrote it. And the person that wrote 255 00:14:06,205 --> 00:14:10,765 Speaker 1: it definitely could have been able to and they even 256 00:14:10,805 --> 00:14:14,045 Speaker 1: said that they could identify the people that just look 257 00:14:14,085 --> 00:14:18,365 Speaker 1: at old pictures and probably put the faces to the 258 00:14:18,445 --> 00:14:22,725 Speaker 1: description that was on there. I love to see somehow 259 00:14:23,405 --> 00:14:26,445 Speaker 1: just get out to whoever wrote that one letter, if 260 00:14:26,485 --> 00:14:30,925 Speaker 1: they could hear about it, and I mean possibly come forward. 261 00:14:31,205 --> 00:14:35,365 Speaker 1: So what we've been doing is the Kat story got 262 00:14:35,445 --> 00:14:39,165 Speaker 1: shared a lot, and it's all being shared people in 263 00:14:39,205 --> 00:14:42,005 Speaker 1: that community, and then all these people are friending me. 264 00:14:42,125 --> 00:14:46,405 Speaker 1: So it is becoming more hard to escape, I guess, 265 00:14:46,765 --> 00:14:48,325 Speaker 1: you know, so I think so my point is, I mean, 266 00:14:48,325 --> 00:14:50,405 Speaker 1: if there is someone who's a student, A lot of 267 00:14:50,405 --> 00:14:52,965 Speaker 1: them were students at Ozarka too, So if there's if 268 00:14:52,965 --> 00:14:54,965 Speaker 1: there are people who in that friend group a friend 269 00:14:55,005 --> 00:14:56,845 Speaker 1: a friend, they're probably going to see it on Facebook. 270 00:14:57,565 --> 00:15:00,165 Speaker 1: I mean, it's well, I think there's probably quite a 271 00:15:00,205 --> 00:15:02,645 Speaker 1: few people that if they had access to that letter 272 00:15:03,205 --> 00:15:07,565 Speaker 1: and that the description that that whoever wrote the letter provided, 273 00:15:07,645 --> 00:15:12,405 Speaker 1: which was really well done. Yeah, that many people could 274 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:15,165 Speaker 1: probably say, oh, I know who this would have been. Yeah, 275 00:15:15,205 --> 00:15:19,525 Speaker 1: and to come up with those individuals or maybe one 276 00:15:19,605 --> 00:15:22,085 Speaker 1: or two that fit that description that would narrow it down. 277 00:15:22,445 --> 00:15:26,045 Speaker 1: At one time, it's going to try to get into 278 00:15:26,405 --> 00:15:30,925 Speaker 1: the people at Ozarka that were higher ups and try 279 00:15:30,925 --> 00:15:34,845 Speaker 1: to get access to records. But then you're into areas 280 00:15:34,845 --> 00:15:37,325 Speaker 1: where you're going to probably need some kind of permission 281 00:15:37,605 --> 00:15:40,285 Speaker 1: or well, I'm sure I have a yearbook or a 282 00:15:40,325 --> 00:15:45,485 Speaker 1: list of students. Yeah. Well, in the past, when certain 283 00:15:45,485 --> 00:15:47,845 Speaker 1: things have been done to try to draw people out, 284 00:15:50,805 --> 00:15:53,685 Speaker 1: a number of the people that I guess I would 285 00:15:53,685 --> 00:15:57,765 Speaker 1: call suspicious or possibly suspects in my mind. Whether they 286 00:15:57,765 --> 00:16:01,005 Speaker 1: are in law ENFORCEMNE, I don't know, but they would 287 00:16:01,005 --> 00:16:07,285 Speaker 1: befriend the person that was out there. Yes, that's another complication. 288 00:16:07,645 --> 00:16:09,725 Speaker 1: A lot of people will friend you for good reasons 289 00:16:09,765 --> 00:16:12,125 Speaker 1: and some people will friend you to watch you. But 290 00:16:12,205 --> 00:16:14,725 Speaker 1: either way it's good because then you can watch it's 291 00:16:14,765 --> 00:16:16,525 Speaker 1: two ways, so you can see what they're doing too, 292 00:16:16,685 --> 00:16:19,645 Speaker 1: and you can see who their friends are. So yeah, 293 00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:21,805 Speaker 1: I think that's good. I'm friending. I'm accepting all the 294 00:16:21,805 --> 00:16:26,125 Speaker 1: friend requests right now. I can really feel the frustration 295 00:16:26,165 --> 00:16:29,485 Speaker 1: in Larry's voice, and I can't say I blame him. 296 00:16:29,925 --> 00:16:32,565 Speaker 1: Every time he gets a tip he is forced to 297 00:16:32,605 --> 00:16:35,765 Speaker 1: go on an emotional roller coaster and reopen old wounds. 298 00:16:36,845 --> 00:16:39,485 Speaker 1: I've heard from both George and Larry that the police 299 00:16:39,485 --> 00:16:41,965 Speaker 1: think the letter is a red herring, but I can 300 00:16:42,045 --> 00:16:45,725 Speaker 1: tell neither of them wholeheartedly believe that, and I'm not 301 00:16:45,765 --> 00:16:55,725 Speaker 1: sure I do either. We'll be right back. It's the 302 00:16:55,765 --> 00:16:59,165 Speaker 1: next day, and we tracked down Ak Barnes, who wrote 303 00:16:59,165 --> 00:17:03,125 Speaker 1: the story that led to Larry getting a letter. I know, 304 00:17:03,205 --> 00:17:09,165 Speaker 1: I'm not now. She works as a media teacher at 305 00:17:09,165 --> 00:17:11,925 Speaker 1: the local high school. We meet in the hallway of 306 00:17:11,965 --> 00:17:14,605 Speaker 1: the church she attends, and her son heads off to 307 00:17:14,605 --> 00:17:17,005 Speaker 1: play in another room while we talk about Rebecca's murder. 308 00:17:17,565 --> 00:17:25,365 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, can you give me twenty minutes? Definitely? You 309 00:17:25,445 --> 00:17:30,205 Speaker 1: always gotten closer than me. Ak is excited to talk 310 00:17:30,245 --> 00:17:33,285 Speaker 1: to us. She believes in the power of media attention 311 00:17:33,445 --> 00:17:35,205 Speaker 1: and thinks that this is the best way to bring 312 00:17:35,245 --> 00:17:39,085 Speaker 1: Rebecca's killer to justice. Okay, so I started doing a 313 00:17:39,205 --> 00:17:43,445 Speaker 1: cold case series at the paper. I've always been interested 314 00:17:43,445 --> 00:17:46,405 Speaker 1: in in unsolved murders. I guess it's been watching Insolved 315 00:17:46,445 --> 00:17:51,165 Speaker 1: mysteries growing up, perhaps, and so I was just asking 316 00:17:51,205 --> 00:17:55,485 Speaker 1: around and I had done one on Sabrina Underwood in 317 00:17:55,485 --> 00:17:58,565 Speaker 1: Fulton County. And then there's another lady who was actually 318 00:17:59,245 --> 00:18:03,565 Speaker 1: Connie Townsend from I think israc County, Fulton County maybe 319 00:18:03,685 --> 00:18:06,245 Speaker 1: was burn alive and her trailer. And then one of 320 00:18:06,245 --> 00:18:10,125 Speaker 1: my coworkers had brought up George author George Jared, and 321 00:18:10,525 --> 00:18:13,085 Speaker 1: brought that he had worked this Rebecca Gooul case, and 322 00:18:13,645 --> 00:18:16,405 Speaker 1: they told me I should check it out, and so 323 00:18:16,445 --> 00:18:19,005 Speaker 1: that all they knew was that the dad was a 324 00:18:19,085 --> 00:18:22,445 Speaker 1: doctor in Mountain Home. So I just looked up Golden Out, 325 00:18:22,565 --> 00:18:25,085 Speaker 1: Baxter County, Mountain Home, and I found him and left 326 00:18:25,125 --> 00:18:26,725 Speaker 1: him a boy smiling, I kid you not like I 327 00:18:26,725 --> 00:18:29,005 Speaker 1: think that was in the fall, and he did not, 328 00:18:29,925 --> 00:18:32,085 Speaker 1: And I just wrote it off because I thought I'd 329 00:18:32,085 --> 00:18:35,605 Speaker 1: never hear from again. And then Easter Sunday, the weirdest 330 00:18:35,645 --> 00:18:38,685 Speaker 1: days ever for him to respond. He sent me this 331 00:18:38,885 --> 00:18:42,645 Speaker 1: long text from Bora Bora about how he wants to 332 00:18:42,725 --> 00:18:45,365 Speaker 1: work with me in this case and let me just 333 00:18:45,445 --> 00:18:49,485 Speaker 1: hit the ground running, Bora Bora. I remind myself to 334 00:18:49,525 --> 00:18:52,165 Speaker 1: ask Larry about that the next time we talk just 335 00:18:52,285 --> 00:18:56,245 Speaker 1: the way that he has overcome so much, and how 336 00:18:56,285 --> 00:18:58,565 Speaker 1: he's able to function. I don't know that I could 337 00:18:58,605 --> 00:19:01,045 Speaker 1: function if I lost a child, let alone a child 338 00:19:01,085 --> 00:19:04,125 Speaker 1: that was brutally murdered, and nobody will help me solve it. 339 00:19:04,205 --> 00:19:07,845 Speaker 1: I don't know how he functioned. And you got this 340 00:19:08,445 --> 00:19:11,245 Speaker 1: awesome story and then someone and then you know, then 341 00:19:11,285 --> 00:19:13,165 Speaker 1: someone did write a letter. Do you know what I mean? 342 00:19:13,165 --> 00:19:14,365 Speaker 1: Like he asked them to write a letter, and then 343 00:19:14,365 --> 00:19:16,565 Speaker 1: someone wrote a letter, and we feel like we made 344 00:19:16,725 --> 00:19:20,765 Speaker 1: such progress, Like that's the most progress we think we've made, 345 00:19:20,845 --> 00:19:23,565 Speaker 1: just because all of us just finally got together and said, Okay, 346 00:19:23,565 --> 00:19:27,125 Speaker 1: you know what, let's do this, let's solve this, and 347 00:19:27,165 --> 00:19:30,005 Speaker 1: we got so far, and we were so hopeful when 348 00:19:30,005 --> 00:19:33,005 Speaker 1: we got that letter. You can sense how hopeful she, 349 00:19:33,365 --> 00:19:36,005 Speaker 1: George and Larry were when they got the letter. I 350 00:19:36,165 --> 00:19:39,485 Speaker 1: still think someone it was a genuine letter. I don't know. 351 00:19:40,085 --> 00:19:42,405 Speaker 1: George goes back and forth, but I think for the 352 00:19:42,445 --> 00:19:46,765 Speaker 1: most part, we're pretty sure that was a genuine letter. Well, 353 00:19:46,805 --> 00:19:48,845 Speaker 1: if I mean, if the letter is genuine, so who 354 00:19:48,925 --> 00:19:50,205 Speaker 1: what do you think? I mean, do you have any 355 00:19:50,245 --> 00:19:53,405 Speaker 1: theories about who killed Rebecca? What's your thoughts now? I 356 00:19:53,405 --> 00:19:55,365 Speaker 1: think we all have our theories, and I think we 357 00:19:55,445 --> 00:20:02,525 Speaker 1: all kind of speculate who did it, and I think 358 00:20:02,725 --> 00:20:05,205 Speaker 1: the p I don't know. I do have my theories, 359 00:20:05,245 --> 00:20:07,765 Speaker 1: don't I want to like say names, but I think 360 00:20:07,805 --> 00:20:09,925 Speaker 1: I know who did it. AK like a lot of 361 00:20:09,965 --> 00:20:12,805 Speaker 1: the town seems to think that there were multiple people 362 00:20:12,845 --> 00:20:16,445 Speaker 1: involved in Rebecca's murder. She also seems sure that the 363 00:20:16,525 --> 00:20:19,965 Speaker 1: letter is genuine, but I'm not convinced. It's just so 364 00:20:20,165 --> 00:20:24,165 Speaker 1: hard because it's you just can't pinpoint one person because 365 00:20:24,165 --> 00:20:26,245 Speaker 1: I think there were so many people involved in this. 366 00:20:27,485 --> 00:20:32,125 Speaker 1: Especially in that letter really supports our theory that we 367 00:20:32,245 --> 00:20:35,645 Speaker 1: already had. That's why it was so bizarre, because it 368 00:20:35,725 --> 00:20:41,045 Speaker 1: was like totally backing the theory we already had. Obviously, 369 00:20:41,085 --> 00:20:42,565 Speaker 1: the person is still anonymous. Do you have any theory 370 00:20:42,565 --> 00:20:45,405 Speaker 1: about who wrote it or where they are? No? And 371 00:20:45,485 --> 00:20:47,685 Speaker 1: we wish that they would come forward because it's not 372 00:20:47,725 --> 00:20:50,205 Speaker 1: like we're gonna blast them to the press or blast 373 00:20:50,285 --> 00:20:52,765 Speaker 1: them in the paper, like we just we just want 374 00:20:52,805 --> 00:20:55,045 Speaker 1: to talk. I have so many people that it will 375 00:20:55,125 --> 00:20:57,765 Speaker 1: tell me little hints or tell me something, and then 376 00:20:57,765 --> 00:20:59,805 Speaker 1: I'm like, can you just meet with me and Larry 377 00:20:59,805 --> 00:21:02,325 Speaker 1: and George for just a minute, and we don't even 378 00:21:02,325 --> 00:21:06,045 Speaker 1: want to publish anything, and they're scared they won't do it. People, 379 00:21:06,445 --> 00:21:08,805 Speaker 1: it's very hard, and you know, to get people to 380 00:21:08,845 --> 00:21:12,005 Speaker 1: talk about this, and we just wish whoever wrote this 381 00:21:12,445 --> 00:21:15,685 Speaker 1: would come forward. If anyone understands how hard getting people 382 00:21:15,685 --> 00:21:19,045 Speaker 1: to talk about this case is, it's me. In many cases, 383 00:21:19,045 --> 00:21:21,365 Speaker 1: we've had to just show up because if we call 384 00:21:21,405 --> 00:21:24,725 Speaker 1: and ask, it's so much harder for people, or either 385 00:21:24,765 --> 00:21:26,885 Speaker 1: we show up or we'll have to be introduced through 386 00:21:26,925 --> 00:21:29,325 Speaker 1: a friend of theirs, because it's so hard when you 387 00:21:29,365 --> 00:21:31,725 Speaker 1: call someone and just say you're from the press and 388 00:21:31,765 --> 00:21:34,125 Speaker 1: you want to talk. It's like it's really hard, and 389 00:21:34,165 --> 00:21:36,565 Speaker 1: people are scared. There's some scary people involved in this case, 390 00:21:36,885 --> 00:21:39,405 Speaker 1: so especially since you don't know who it is, you 391 00:21:39,405 --> 00:21:41,365 Speaker 1: don't really know who to trust and who not to 392 00:21:41,405 --> 00:21:45,325 Speaker 1: trust because it could literally be anyone. And I'm sure 393 00:21:45,325 --> 00:21:48,165 Speaker 1: we've seen them at this point and absolutely, and you 394 00:21:48,245 --> 00:21:51,845 Speaker 1: know they're following your stuff, they're reading your stories, and 395 00:21:51,885 --> 00:21:54,445 Speaker 1: they get spoofed out and then it's like a nope, 396 00:21:54,485 --> 00:21:57,365 Speaker 1: contact order. They all just zip it. And I think 397 00:21:57,405 --> 00:21:59,765 Speaker 1: we put some pressure on people, and I think people 398 00:22:00,085 --> 00:22:02,645 Speaker 1: were starting to get scared because I would go through 399 00:22:02,765 --> 00:22:05,325 Speaker 1: Sonic and people would make little comments be like you 400 00:22:05,525 --> 00:22:10,525 Speaker 1: better be careful writing this article. I think the people 401 00:22:10,725 --> 00:22:14,005 Speaker 1: who have done this are around or have ties here still, 402 00:22:14,045 --> 00:22:17,125 Speaker 1: and they are still on their toes. I think they 403 00:22:17,165 --> 00:22:19,805 Speaker 1: think it's died down, but it hasn't because now you 404 00:22:19,845 --> 00:22:21,685 Speaker 1: guys are gonna bring it back up. Yeah, so now 405 00:22:21,765 --> 00:22:25,565 Speaker 1: you're trying to fit some pressure on this story is 406 00:22:25,605 --> 00:22:29,045 Speaker 1: like still my baby at the favor. So actually I 407 00:22:29,085 --> 00:22:31,485 Speaker 1: could do an article on y'all. We totally you done 408 00:22:31,525 --> 00:22:33,525 Speaker 1: to do it. We did some new stuff. We did 409 00:22:33,525 --> 00:22:35,565 Speaker 1: a radio thing, I think because I feel like you 410 00:22:35,605 --> 00:22:38,445 Speaker 1: guys made so much progress in breaking this and like 411 00:22:38,525 --> 00:22:40,525 Speaker 1: and it's kind of everyone working together at this point 412 00:22:40,925 --> 00:22:43,445 Speaker 1: because the more pressure we can put on these people, like, 413 00:22:43,485 --> 00:22:45,885 Speaker 1: the better chance we're gonna have. I mean, I've had 414 00:22:45,925 --> 00:22:50,645 Speaker 1: people who will give us enough information to kind of 415 00:22:50,685 --> 00:22:53,445 Speaker 1: help us along. But I think a lot of people 416 00:22:53,525 --> 00:22:55,485 Speaker 1: just want to be protected, and I think they don't 417 00:22:55,525 --> 00:22:57,365 Speaker 1: want their name out there. I think they've tried to 418 00:22:57,405 --> 00:23:01,085 Speaker 1: move on, which if somebody knows what happened, I don't care. 419 00:23:01,085 --> 00:23:02,725 Speaker 1: If you are trying to move on, I don't care 420 00:23:02,765 --> 00:23:06,725 Speaker 1: if you have recreated yourself this is your moral duty 421 00:23:06,765 --> 00:23:09,685 Speaker 1: to come forward. But I mean at the same time 422 00:23:09,725 --> 00:23:12,085 Speaker 1: I do. I stand by my word and I protect 423 00:23:12,125 --> 00:23:15,965 Speaker 1: people when they want anonymity. There's a lot of people 424 00:23:16,005 --> 00:23:18,925 Speaker 1: who know who did it, and that's what's just so 425 00:23:19,045 --> 00:23:23,765 Speaker 1: crazy to me. I don't understand why this case can't 426 00:23:23,765 --> 00:23:27,965 Speaker 1: get solved. I do not understand they spent twelve hours 427 00:23:27,965 --> 00:23:30,805 Speaker 1: inside that trailer well, and in talking to these guys, 428 00:23:30,925 --> 00:23:33,525 Speaker 1: it seems like we've heard a lot of stories. There 429 00:23:33,525 --> 00:23:35,725 Speaker 1: are stories that make sense right, they fit together, and 430 00:23:35,765 --> 00:23:37,645 Speaker 1: I don't understand they weren't able to piece this together 431 00:23:37,645 --> 00:23:39,925 Speaker 1: when they have these people voluntarily talking to them. That's 432 00:23:39,925 --> 00:23:43,125 Speaker 1: what I can't get. There's just so many also, that's 433 00:23:43,125 --> 00:23:44,605 Speaker 1: been a big part of the challenge too, It's figuring 434 00:23:44,605 --> 00:23:47,605 Speaker 1: out what's rumor and what's not. I think this little 435 00:23:47,645 --> 00:23:51,645 Speaker 1: circle that did this, they have like this death pack 436 00:23:52,085 --> 00:23:54,685 Speaker 1: and I've never seen anything like it. It's like the 437 00:23:55,725 --> 00:23:59,205 Speaker 1: the bro Code or something. Nobody's breaking through this because 438 00:23:59,365 --> 00:24:03,925 Speaker 1: they will not talk. Either they don't really know or 439 00:24:03,965 --> 00:24:07,085 Speaker 1: they are just taking it to their grave. And I 440 00:24:07,965 --> 00:24:09,805 Speaker 1: don't know. I'm just not built like that. I couldn't 441 00:24:09,845 --> 00:24:13,925 Speaker 1: live with myself. This isn't the first time, I've heard 442 00:24:13,965 --> 00:24:17,125 Speaker 1: rumors of an inner circle involved in Rebecca's death, a 443 00:24:17,165 --> 00:24:20,885 Speaker 1: secret party, and a death pact. And if this group 444 00:24:20,965 --> 00:24:24,725 Speaker 1: of killers does in fact exist, we're on their radar now. 445 00:24:25,645 --> 00:24:28,925 Speaker 1: They're on my Facebook, they have my cell phone number, 446 00:24:29,365 --> 00:24:32,645 Speaker 1: and they definitely know where I live. I know that 447 00:24:32,725 --> 00:24:36,045 Speaker 1: I might be in danger, but I don't care. Am 448 00:24:36,125 --> 00:24:39,405 Speaker 1: I crazy or just obsessed? It's probably a little bit 449 00:24:39,405 --> 00:24:42,565 Speaker 1: of both. Do you get freaked out? Because when I 450 00:24:42,645 --> 00:24:46,845 Speaker 1: was knee deep in these articles, like my imagination told 451 00:24:46,845 --> 00:24:49,965 Speaker 1: me once, I was doing this on the Sabrina Underwood 452 00:24:49,965 --> 00:24:52,165 Speaker 1: and I know who killed her in my mind, and 453 00:24:52,205 --> 00:24:54,365 Speaker 1: I'm like, he's watching you right this through your window. 454 00:24:54,685 --> 00:24:57,285 Speaker 1: He's gonna come kill you tonight. In my mind, I'm like, 455 00:24:57,365 --> 00:25:00,565 Speaker 1: he's the murderer. Is onto me because I was putting 456 00:25:00,605 --> 00:25:02,525 Speaker 1: all these articles out. You're looking at me like I'm crazy, 457 00:25:03,125 --> 00:25:05,885 Speaker 1: Like you think they're following you or something they thought, 458 00:25:05,885 --> 00:25:08,325 Speaker 1: And you know what, it's not entirely true. They all 459 00:25:08,325 --> 00:25:11,045 Speaker 1: know where you live. I mean it's a small place. 460 00:25:11,645 --> 00:25:14,685 Speaker 1: But what George saw me, he goes AKA, They're not 461 00:25:14,805 --> 00:25:17,165 Speaker 1: gonna take you out, because if you're right in the 462 00:25:17,205 --> 00:25:20,845 Speaker 1: middle of this case, they're done for and you're about 463 00:25:20,885 --> 00:25:23,005 Speaker 1: to set you back in with you It's okay, I'm sorry. 464 00:25:23,165 --> 00:25:25,205 Speaker 1: We can all talk it out together. Yeah, if I 465 00:25:25,245 --> 00:25:27,525 Speaker 1: can tell, like when you get into this one, I 466 00:25:27,565 --> 00:25:30,525 Speaker 1: don't know what it is about this case. Ak is right, 467 00:25:31,005 --> 00:25:33,885 Speaker 1: This case sucks you in. It's haunting that everyone thinks 468 00:25:33,885 --> 00:25:37,325 Speaker 1: they know what happened, but they've reconciled themselves to just 469 00:25:37,405 --> 00:25:42,085 Speaker 1: living near the killer. If we can find out who 470 00:25:42,085 --> 00:25:44,885 Speaker 1: wrote this letter, we can get some insights about the 471 00:25:44,965 --> 00:25:48,045 Speaker 1: leads it contains. We don't have many clues to go on. 472 00:25:48,605 --> 00:25:52,205 Speaker 1: It's postmarked Little Rock. The return address was the FBI 473 00:25:52,325 --> 00:25:56,045 Speaker 1: office in Little Rock, which seems like a pretty sophisticated move. 474 00:25:56,765 --> 00:25:59,805 Speaker 1: As George pointed out, the letter had good grammar. It 475 00:25:59,885 --> 00:26:02,565 Speaker 1: seems like the biggest clue as to the writer's identity 476 00:26:03,125 --> 00:26:07,365 Speaker 1: is the handwriting itself. Reach out to a handwriting analyst, 477 00:26:07,965 --> 00:26:13,885 Speaker 1: let me get your case. Okay. That's Nam Peterson. She 478 00:26:13,965 --> 00:26:19,045 Speaker 1: specializes in graphology, which is identifying personality, traits, and other 479 00:26:19,165 --> 00:26:22,525 Speaker 1: characteristics of a letter writer's personality through the strokes and 480 00:26:22,565 --> 00:26:25,805 Speaker 1: patterns revealed by their handwriting. She looks over the letter 481 00:26:25,885 --> 00:26:28,325 Speaker 1: to see if she can provide any details about who 482 00:26:28,365 --> 00:26:34,845 Speaker 1: wrote it. I'm looking at where something you know, initial strokes, 483 00:26:34,925 --> 00:26:41,645 Speaker 1: terminal strokes, placement on the page of word combinations, letter combinations, 484 00:26:41,685 --> 00:26:47,925 Speaker 1: how they connect, spacing zone differences. You know, like this 485 00:26:48,005 --> 00:26:54,405 Speaker 1: person they have a large mid zone. And what that 486 00:26:54,565 --> 00:26:59,405 Speaker 1: means is like on the line paper, the lower case 487 00:26:59,485 --> 00:27:04,925 Speaker 1: letters almost fill up. They're almost as large as the 488 00:27:05,085 --> 00:27:10,605 Speaker 1: entire line, you know, between each line, there's not a 489 00:27:10,645 --> 00:27:14,245 Speaker 1: lot of space between. I mean, it is true that 490 00:27:14,365 --> 00:27:19,765 Speaker 1: when you're young, you have immaturity showing up in your handwriting. 491 00:27:19,765 --> 00:27:22,525 Speaker 1: As you get older, you have graphic maturity, and then 492 00:27:22,605 --> 00:27:28,685 Speaker 1: you decline. So with that being said, I see graphic 493 00:27:28,765 --> 00:27:34,485 Speaker 1: maturity with this letter, with you know, this writing. But 494 00:27:34,765 --> 00:27:39,445 Speaker 1: as to say age line, I just it's an adult 495 00:27:41,125 --> 00:27:45,645 Speaker 1: as far as personality traits. To me, this is a 496 00:27:45,725 --> 00:27:51,525 Speaker 1: person that is more immature than mature. They live in 497 00:27:51,565 --> 00:27:55,365 Speaker 1: the moment. And that's because that mid zone is it 498 00:27:55,485 --> 00:27:59,685 Speaker 1: is bubbly. Like you look at a teenager's handwriting, they're 499 00:27:59,765 --> 00:28:03,445 Speaker 1: usually big and bubbly. And because they don't care about 500 00:28:03,765 --> 00:28:06,325 Speaker 1: a year from now, they're looking at now Friday night. 501 00:28:07,005 --> 00:28:10,845 Speaker 1: And so people that have this big, bubbly writing usually 502 00:28:10,925 --> 00:28:13,645 Speaker 1: have money problems because they're never looking into the future 503 00:28:15,285 --> 00:28:19,765 Speaker 1: because they're never planning for it. There's also the lower 504 00:28:19,805 --> 00:28:22,645 Speaker 1: stem of the Y. See ow they're just straight, there's 505 00:28:22,685 --> 00:28:26,205 Speaker 1: not a loop that goes back. That's usually a person 506 00:28:26,885 --> 00:28:32,085 Speaker 1: that is very socially. They like to be by themselves. 507 00:28:32,125 --> 00:28:34,885 Speaker 1: They don't really prefer a lot of company. They would 508 00:28:35,125 --> 00:28:42,245 Speaker 1: prefer to be They're probably more introverted and large loops 509 00:28:42,485 --> 00:28:44,445 Speaker 1: like in the D and the O. Like the OS 510 00:28:44,445 --> 00:28:48,205 Speaker 1: are people are willing to take on more responsibility. So 511 00:28:48,645 --> 00:28:52,365 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't see any efforts that the person 512 00:28:52,445 --> 00:28:56,205 Speaker 1: did to disguise their writing. An adult but with the 513 00:28:56,245 --> 00:29:00,925 Speaker 1: slightly immature personality more reminiscent of a team. Sounds like 514 00:29:00,965 --> 00:29:03,765 Speaker 1: the letter writer could have been a student and money 515 00:29:03,765 --> 00:29:09,205 Speaker 1: troubles in this part of the Ozarks that's nearly everybody. 516 00:29:09,725 --> 00:29:12,725 Speaker 1: The handwriting tells us the writer wasn't trying to disguise 517 00:29:12,765 --> 00:29:15,885 Speaker 1: their writing, which lends credence to the idea that the 518 00:29:15,965 --> 00:29:18,725 Speaker 1: letter is genuine. But there are a few things about 519 00:29:18,765 --> 00:29:21,965 Speaker 1: the letter that don't ring true. First of all, there's 520 00:29:22,005 --> 00:29:25,645 Speaker 1: the timing. The letter was postmarked only a few days 521 00:29:25,685 --> 00:29:28,645 Speaker 1: after the story came out, asking for help. This is 522 00:29:28,685 --> 00:29:32,485 Speaker 1: really suspicious. July twenty first. That was the first article 523 00:29:32,485 --> 00:29:34,045 Speaker 1: that came out, the one we just read where it said, 524 00:29:34,045 --> 00:29:37,405 Speaker 1: you know, hey, please write me a letter at my office. Okay, Now, 525 00:29:38,245 --> 00:29:44,565 Speaker 1: then a story comes out on August third saying they 526 00:29:44,565 --> 00:29:50,245 Speaker 1: got a letter, right, I mean that's and I don't 527 00:29:50,285 --> 00:29:52,325 Speaker 1: know what their deadline is either. It might even be 528 00:29:53,725 --> 00:29:55,565 Speaker 1: like some of these papers are weekly. So you got 529 00:29:55,565 --> 00:29:57,525 Speaker 1: to wonder if the story came out on August third, 530 00:29:57,605 --> 00:29:59,725 Speaker 1: like when their deadline was. I mean that's literally like 531 00:29:59,725 --> 00:30:03,365 Speaker 1: a couple days later they got a letter, you know, 532 00:30:04,205 --> 00:30:06,925 Speaker 1: and the post office around here in exactly quick. So 533 00:30:08,045 --> 00:30:09,485 Speaker 1: the two to three days it would take to get 534 00:30:09,525 --> 00:30:12,285 Speaker 1: the letter, plus like the I don't know, it could 535 00:30:12,325 --> 00:30:14,365 Speaker 1: be totally legit. Someone could have read that and been moved. 536 00:30:14,405 --> 00:30:17,805 Speaker 1: But also what was the letter? July twenty first was 537 00:30:17,845 --> 00:30:21,205 Speaker 1: the first and this is the story about the letter 538 00:30:21,285 --> 00:30:24,965 Speaker 1: comes out on August the third. I wonder what day 539 00:30:25,205 --> 00:30:28,445 Speaker 1: it actually. Let's find out, you know what, right while 540 00:30:28,485 --> 00:30:31,045 Speaker 1: we're sitting here, let's find out when their deadlines are, 541 00:30:31,445 --> 00:30:35,125 Speaker 1: so area wide media is published. It was a Thursday, 542 00:30:35,805 --> 00:30:40,765 Speaker 1: all right. The story came out on August third, which 543 00:30:40,845 --> 00:30:43,965 Speaker 1: was which was about two weeks later. In the story 544 00:30:44,085 --> 00:30:47,165 Speaker 1: it says on Friday, which I guess will be the 545 00:30:47,165 --> 00:30:52,085 Speaker 1: twenty ninth. George Jared, like Mark Hollingsworth, confirmed with George 546 00:30:52,165 --> 00:30:55,925 Speaker 1: Jared that there was interest in the letter, so it 547 00:30:56,005 --> 00:30:59,165 Speaker 1: had to be before. It had to be sometime that week, 548 00:30:59,245 --> 00:31:03,085 Speaker 1: sometime between the twenty first and the following Friday at least, 549 00:31:04,525 --> 00:31:07,805 Speaker 1: which is a pretty short period of time, literally right 550 00:31:07,845 --> 00:31:11,165 Speaker 1: after the story came out that they sent it a 551 00:31:11,245 --> 00:31:16,485 Speaker 1: day or two after. Secondly, the identification. The letter writer 552 00:31:16,685 --> 00:31:19,685 Speaker 1: says that they recognized one of the people talking as 553 00:31:19,725 --> 00:31:23,925 Speaker 1: a student at OZARKA. Now, if the author was organized 554 00:31:24,045 --> 00:31:26,925 Speaker 1: enough to get this much detail and smart enough to 555 00:31:27,005 --> 00:31:30,245 Speaker 1: figure out how to address a letter to the Arkansas FBI, 556 00:31:30,765 --> 00:31:33,325 Speaker 1: it seems to me that on such a small campus 557 00:31:33,685 --> 00:31:36,845 Speaker 1: they could have figured out that supposedly unknown student's name. 558 00:31:37,245 --> 00:31:39,965 Speaker 1: It was said in the letter they were bragging about 559 00:31:39,965 --> 00:31:42,045 Speaker 1: how they killed her and what she put up a fight, 560 00:31:42,285 --> 00:31:45,165 Speaker 1: So she put up a fight, then that people would 561 00:31:45,245 --> 00:31:51,525 Speaker 1: have marks on their faces on somewhere. Finally, and most crucially, 562 00:31:52,005 --> 00:31:54,845 Speaker 1: the letter doesn't match the physical evidence found at the 563 00:31:54,845 --> 00:31:59,685 Speaker 1: crime scene. The letter mentioned a knock down, drag out fight, which, 564 00:31:59,725 --> 00:32:01,765 Speaker 1: from the limited knowledge we have so far, of the 565 00:32:01,805 --> 00:32:06,605 Speaker 1: case does not seem to have occurred, so references to 566 00:32:06,645 --> 00:32:09,965 Speaker 1: getting the stuff don't ring true. A small amount of 567 00:32:09,965 --> 00:32:14,325 Speaker 1: marijuana and some money were left behind. Most importantly, we 568 00:32:14,445 --> 00:32:17,085 Speaker 1: know from Danielle and Rebecca's friends that she was a 569 00:32:17,125 --> 00:32:21,365 Speaker 1: spitfire who never backed down from a conflict. Now, I've 570 00:32:21,405 --> 00:32:24,405 Speaker 1: replayed the morning of September twentieth, two thousand and four 571 00:32:24,805 --> 00:32:28,085 Speaker 1: thousands of times in my mind, and in every scenario, 572 00:32:28,245 --> 00:32:30,725 Speaker 1: no matter how afraid she may have been, if she 573 00:32:30,845 --> 00:32:34,085 Speaker 1: saw people coming for her, Rebecca Gould would have gone 574 00:32:34,165 --> 00:32:36,485 Speaker 1: down fighting. Trying to figure out what's real and what's 575 00:32:36,565 --> 00:32:41,725 Speaker 1: not real is like a whole nother layer. It's really hard. 576 00:32:42,005 --> 00:32:44,125 Speaker 1: It is really hard. Yeah, there's a lot that's hard 577 00:32:44,125 --> 00:32:46,005 Speaker 1: about this. I mean one of the things that I 578 00:32:46,045 --> 00:32:48,365 Speaker 1: was thinking about last night is the fact that you know, 579 00:32:48,405 --> 00:32:51,005 Speaker 1: and I'm not a lawyer, but it's been very difficult 580 00:32:51,045 --> 00:32:53,125 Speaker 1: because you're not allowed to say. There's never been a 581 00:32:53,165 --> 00:32:55,845 Speaker 1: suspect named by the police. The police are giving out 582 00:32:55,925 --> 00:32:58,765 Speaker 1: no information. They won't even really tell you who the 583 00:32:58,765 --> 00:33:00,925 Speaker 1: people of interest are. I think they said a little 584 00:33:00,925 --> 00:33:02,725 Speaker 1: bit about it at the time they named They said 585 00:33:02,725 --> 00:33:05,885 Speaker 1: Casey was a person of interest at one point, but 586 00:33:05,925 --> 00:33:08,765 Speaker 1: then it was very quickly reported that he was not 587 00:33:08,845 --> 00:33:12,445 Speaker 1: a suspect, and then after that no official suspects were named. 588 00:33:12,765 --> 00:33:15,445 Speaker 1: So it's difficult to even talk about the case because 589 00:33:15,485 --> 00:33:17,045 Speaker 1: you don't want to get in trouble legally. And it 590 00:33:17,085 --> 00:33:22,645 Speaker 1: really creates this just wall of silence. You can't talk. 591 00:33:22,085 --> 00:33:26,205 Speaker 1: Everyone's whispering the names, everyone's texting me these names. You 592 00:33:26,245 --> 00:33:27,925 Speaker 1: can't say they're a suspect, you can't say they're a 593 00:33:27,925 --> 00:33:31,245 Speaker 1: person of interest. And it not only is bad for 594 00:33:31,285 --> 00:33:34,485 Speaker 1: the investigation, it's also bad for these people because they 595 00:33:34,525 --> 00:33:37,805 Speaker 1: never get charged, but they never get cleared either. And 596 00:33:37,845 --> 00:33:39,965 Speaker 1: I feel like the investigation feels like it's at a 597 00:33:40,045 --> 00:33:42,485 Speaker 1: real impasse. I feel like, you know, for whatever reason, 598 00:33:42,845 --> 00:33:45,165 Speaker 1: the police have a very definite idea about who it is. 599 00:33:45,725 --> 00:33:49,165 Speaker 1: Other people have a different idea. It just feels like 600 00:33:49,205 --> 00:33:51,125 Speaker 1: it's at a place where it really might not get 601 00:33:51,125 --> 00:33:54,685 Speaker 1: solved unless some radical new approach comes in. We've learned 602 00:33:54,725 --> 00:33:57,765 Speaker 1: from the autopsy that there were no obvious defensive wounds 603 00:33:57,805 --> 00:34:00,765 Speaker 1: on the body and no signs that she had been restrained. 604 00:34:01,325 --> 00:34:04,725 Speaker 1: So who wrote this letter and why were they trying 605 00:34:04,725 --> 00:34:07,965 Speaker 1: to help or to throw off the police? Could it 606 00:34:08,005 --> 00:34:10,245 Speaker 1: have been written in an attempt to get media attention 607 00:34:10,445 --> 00:34:13,085 Speaker 1: to support one of the other theories surrounding Rebecca's death, 608 00:34:14,125 --> 00:34:16,965 Speaker 1: Or could it have been the killer stoking the town's 609 00:34:17,045 --> 00:34:23,525 Speaker 1: rumor mill to continue to hide in plain sight. We'll 610 00:34:23,525 --> 00:34:32,245 Speaker 1: be right back. Even after being on the case for 611 00:34:32,285 --> 00:34:35,085 Speaker 1: a short period of time, I do sympathize with the 612 00:34:35,085 --> 00:34:37,925 Speaker 1: police because just a week after being on the air, 613 00:34:38,245 --> 00:34:41,845 Speaker 1: we're weeding through hundreds of texts, tips and false rumors. 614 00:34:42,565 --> 00:34:45,725 Speaker 1: This is the one, the guy I talked to. I've 615 00:34:45,765 --> 00:34:49,005 Speaker 1: recently heard some information you may be interested in Rebecca's 616 00:34:49,005 --> 00:34:51,765 Speaker 1: Gould's boyfriend was my best friend since grade school. So 617 00:34:51,845 --> 00:34:54,205 Speaker 1: this is the guy who was friends with Casey and 618 00:34:54,285 --> 00:34:59,085 Speaker 1: called and said he again, I think he mentioned Chris 619 00:34:59,125 --> 00:35:01,485 Speaker 1: and JB. And he said he knew someone at work 620 00:35:01,485 --> 00:35:04,485 Speaker 1: who'd known them. Literally was one line, and it said 621 00:35:06,685 --> 00:35:09,325 Speaker 1: it said look for a foot in a freezer in 622 00:35:09,445 --> 00:35:13,445 Speaker 1: Israd County. That's all it said. It said, if you're 623 00:35:13,445 --> 00:35:16,525 Speaker 1: looking into the Rebecca Gould case, look into a foot 624 00:35:16,765 --> 00:35:20,405 Speaker 1: that's in a freezer in Israd County. And we pretty 625 00:35:20,445 --> 00:35:23,245 Speaker 1: quickly discounted that because of course we'd seen the autopsy 626 00:35:23,325 --> 00:35:26,925 Speaker 1: report and she was not missing. A foot. Yeah. There 627 00:35:27,045 --> 00:35:30,845 Speaker 1: was also one of the things that Brian Bangs said, 628 00:35:30,965 --> 00:35:35,165 Speaker 1: Brian kind of became my guy on the inside, and 629 00:35:35,245 --> 00:35:39,045 Speaker 1: he kind of started interviewing people inside prison and was 630 00:35:39,125 --> 00:35:41,845 Speaker 1: like asking people, Hey, have you heard about this murder? 631 00:35:41,845 --> 00:35:44,725 Speaker 1: What do you know? And everybody seemed to have their 632 00:35:44,765 --> 00:35:49,285 Speaker 1: own story, and Brian did mention, this is jail house gossip, 633 00:35:50,205 --> 00:35:52,565 Speaker 1: and it clearly sounds like jail heu's gossip, because there 634 00:35:52,605 --> 00:35:57,285 Speaker 1: was one that was like, yeah, somebody threatened to beat 635 00:35:57,325 --> 00:35:59,365 Speaker 1: this guy up if he didn't keep his mouth shut 636 00:35:59,445 --> 00:36:02,925 Speaker 1: because he found a toe and it was Rebecca's toe 637 00:36:03,165 --> 00:36:08,165 Speaker 1: and again had all her toes. People told Brian that 638 00:36:09,045 --> 00:36:12,445 Speaker 1: she had been held at a different location and like chained, 639 00:36:13,085 --> 00:36:16,685 Speaker 1: chained up and held hostage on a mattress and all that. Anna, 640 00:36:17,765 --> 00:36:21,205 Speaker 1: I really think that came from the very beginning of 641 00:36:21,285 --> 00:36:24,885 Speaker 1: the investigation, because look, an expert looking from the outside 642 00:36:24,925 --> 00:36:27,965 Speaker 1: reading an autopsy report, it's very obvious that whoever he 643 00:36:28,045 --> 00:36:29,765 Speaker 1: hit Rebecca on the head and from the blood they 644 00:36:29,805 --> 00:36:33,805 Speaker 1: found the scene, she was dead pretty quickly. She wasn't 645 00:36:33,845 --> 00:36:37,165 Speaker 1: taken to a secondary location. None of the autopsy bears 646 00:36:37,205 --> 00:36:41,325 Speaker 1: that out. But police said at the time that the 647 00:36:41,365 --> 00:36:43,765 Speaker 1: mechanism of injury was created from the scene she had 648 00:36:43,765 --> 00:36:46,245 Speaker 1: been forcibly removed from the residents. Of course, it wasn't 649 00:36:46,285 --> 00:36:48,085 Speaker 1: her that was forcibly removed. It was her body that 650 00:36:48,165 --> 00:36:51,325 Speaker 1: was forcibly removed. But with them saying that, I think 651 00:36:51,365 --> 00:36:53,045 Speaker 1: people got ideas in their head that she might have 652 00:36:53,085 --> 00:36:56,645 Speaker 1: been kidnapped. Tips are one of the things that make 653 00:36:56,685 --> 00:37:01,005 Speaker 1: investigations so challenging. Some can contain a grain of truth 654 00:37:01,485 --> 00:37:05,085 Speaker 1: while others are red herrings. But like I told Gary b, 655 00:37:05,885 --> 00:37:09,525 Speaker 1: no piece of information is too small. Oh all right, 656 00:37:10,645 --> 00:37:13,365 Speaker 1: just heard you on KWOZ with Gary and I just 657 00:37:13,405 --> 00:37:15,765 Speaker 1: wanted to let you know that on that Saturday, on 658 00:37:15,805 --> 00:37:18,725 Speaker 1: the weekend, Rebecca was killed. And not sure what time 659 00:37:18,725 --> 00:37:20,285 Speaker 1: it was, but it was in the afternoon. There was 660 00:37:20,325 --> 00:37:22,005 Speaker 1: a little dark blue car with a guy and a 661 00:37:22,005 --> 00:37:23,605 Speaker 1: woman that came by and went up to the barn, 662 00:37:23,725 --> 00:37:26,045 Speaker 1: right past the trailer. The guy got out, and I 663 00:37:26,085 --> 00:37:27,925 Speaker 1: thought he was going to use the bathroom, but he 664 00:37:27,965 --> 00:37:29,405 Speaker 1: went to the back of the car, put on like 665 00:37:29,485 --> 00:37:31,605 Speaker 1: jogging pants and got a weedied her out and weeded 666 00:37:31,645 --> 00:37:34,205 Speaker 1: it a little bit. Rebecca came out on the porch 667 00:37:34,405 --> 00:37:36,485 Speaker 1: when they drove back by and stopped and she went 668 00:37:36,525 --> 00:37:38,325 Speaker 1: to the end of the porch and said did you 669 00:37:38,365 --> 00:37:41,685 Speaker 1: get it done? And he said yes, and they drove off. 670 00:37:41,925 --> 00:37:44,405 Speaker 1: They had Texas tags on the car. Then a little 671 00:37:44,405 --> 00:37:46,565 Speaker 1: while later, Rebecca came out to her car, opened the 672 00:37:46,605 --> 00:37:48,885 Speaker 1: door and got something out and went back inside the trailer. 673 00:37:49,165 --> 00:37:51,005 Speaker 1: She was wearing a gray tank top and a pair 674 00:37:51,045 --> 00:37:54,165 Speaker 1: of gray sweatpants. We did tell the Arkansas State Police, 675 00:37:54,285 --> 00:37:56,005 Speaker 1: and not sure it has anything to do with anything. 676 00:37:56,085 --> 00:37:58,045 Speaker 1: It was just really strange because he only weedied for 677 00:37:58,085 --> 00:38:00,205 Speaker 1: maybe about fifteen minutes or so, not long at all, 678 00:38:00,405 --> 00:38:02,405 Speaker 1: and it was where the old barn is. Just thought 679 00:38:02,405 --> 00:38:04,245 Speaker 1: it was strange. Never seen the guy before. He yet 680 00:38:04,285 --> 00:38:06,525 Speaker 1: black hair and was young looking, couldn't really see the woman. 681 00:38:06,965 --> 00:38:09,485 Speaker 1: So is this person lying? Is this the is this 682 00:38:09,605 --> 00:38:12,405 Speaker 1: the killer? Or like what is trying to deter us? 683 00:38:12,725 --> 00:38:15,285 Speaker 1: Like what is this? You know, it sounds the tip 684 00:38:15,325 --> 00:38:17,805 Speaker 1: itself if you don't think about that part sounds kind 685 00:38:17,805 --> 00:38:21,405 Speaker 1: of credible because it's why would you say, I mean, 686 00:38:21,405 --> 00:38:22,925 Speaker 1: if you were trying to make something up, you'd say, 687 00:38:22,965 --> 00:38:24,125 Speaker 1: you know, you got out of the back of the car, 688 00:38:24,165 --> 00:38:26,725 Speaker 1: got a knife or whatever, but or you'd say you 689 00:38:26,765 --> 00:38:29,045 Speaker 1: recognize somebody. But to say someone got out of the car, 690 00:38:29,085 --> 00:38:31,325 Speaker 1: put on jogging pants and started weed eating. Seems like 691 00:38:31,405 --> 00:38:35,125 Speaker 1: something random to make up. I did look into the 692 00:38:35,125 --> 00:38:37,765 Speaker 1: Texas connection, and there are a couple cars with Texas 693 00:38:37,805 --> 00:38:41,325 Speaker 1: plates owned by different members of Casey's family because some 694 00:38:41,365 --> 00:38:44,805 Speaker 1: of them live there. So that's not necessarily weird. I 695 00:38:44,805 --> 00:38:47,005 Speaker 1: mean it might be, you know, I get that it's Melbourne, Arkansas, 696 00:38:47,045 --> 00:38:48,485 Speaker 1: and there's not that many out of state plates, but 697 00:38:48,645 --> 00:38:52,565 Speaker 1: in his particular case, it doesn't seem that strange. And 698 00:38:52,605 --> 00:38:54,525 Speaker 1: they said not sure I could pick him out. But 699 00:38:54,565 --> 00:38:57,125 Speaker 1: his hair was short, black, and he was tan skin, 700 00:38:57,325 --> 00:38:59,925 Speaker 1: not black or his span. It just looked tan. The 701 00:39:00,005 --> 00:39:02,085 Speaker 1: lady was white, and she never got out. We had 702 00:39:02,085 --> 00:39:04,085 Speaker 1: never seen that vehicle, and I just thought it was weird. 703 00:39:04,085 --> 00:39:06,845 Speaker 1: And they had Texas tags. When Rebecca came out and 704 00:39:06,885 --> 00:39:10,205 Speaker 1: asked if he finished whatever I think she means. When 705 00:39:10,205 --> 00:39:11,685 Speaker 1: Rebecca came out of the house and asked if it 706 00:39:11,725 --> 00:39:15,125 Speaker 1: was done, she acted like she knew him and seemed fine. 707 00:39:16,085 --> 00:39:18,565 Speaker 1: You know what's weird about that, though, Taylor, do you 708 00:39:18,645 --> 00:39:22,405 Speaker 1: remember the letter? So in the letter, remember how whoever 709 00:39:22,405 --> 00:39:24,605 Speaker 1: wrote the letters said it was made a point of 710 00:39:24,685 --> 00:39:27,445 Speaker 1: several times saying tan skin, which I thought was odd. 711 00:39:28,565 --> 00:39:31,485 Speaker 1: A lot of people seemed absolutely sure it was Jennifer 712 00:39:31,605 --> 00:39:35,565 Speaker 1: and possibly Justin. Probably just as many seemed absolutely sure 713 00:39:35,565 --> 00:39:38,365 Speaker 1: it was Chris and JV. To sift through these tips 714 00:39:38,485 --> 00:39:41,325 Speaker 1: and figure out our next steps, Taylor and I take 715 00:39:41,325 --> 00:39:44,365 Speaker 1: another look at the murder board. There's an odd similarity 716 00:39:44,405 --> 00:39:46,605 Speaker 1: between the person who wrote the letter and this tip. 717 00:39:47,365 --> 00:39:49,285 Speaker 1: Could this tip be from the author of the letter, 718 00:39:49,925 --> 00:39:51,605 Speaker 1: or is there a new person we need to be 719 00:39:51,685 --> 00:39:55,485 Speaker 1: looking for with black hair and tan skin. As I said, 720 00:39:55,725 --> 00:39:59,725 Speaker 1: the flood of tips is both extremely helpful and extremely frustrating. 721 00:40:01,285 --> 00:40:04,285 Speaker 1: At this point, I think the letter is most likely bogus. 722 00:40:04,805 --> 00:40:07,485 Speaker 1: The timing is it's just too convenient, and the description 723 00:40:07,605 --> 00:40:10,845 Speaker 1: doesn't match what we know about the crime scene. I 724 00:40:10,885 --> 00:40:13,645 Speaker 1: still want to talk to Jennifer, but the group theory 725 00:40:13,765 --> 00:40:17,245 Speaker 1: is looking less and less likely, and according to Justin 726 00:40:17,485 --> 00:40:20,085 Speaker 1: and the police, she had an alibi the day of 727 00:40:20,125 --> 00:40:24,805 Speaker 1: the murder. According to what we've heard from several police sources, 728 00:40:25,165 --> 00:40:29,165 Speaker 1: whoever killed Rebecca most likely knew her, someone she knew 729 00:40:29,165 --> 00:40:32,085 Speaker 1: well enough to be comfortable hanging around in her underwear 730 00:40:32,085 --> 00:40:35,245 Speaker 1: and pajama top. That's not likely in a group setting. 731 00:40:36,245 --> 00:40:39,365 Speaker 1: It seems like it would be someone she trusted someone 732 00:40:39,405 --> 00:40:41,245 Speaker 1: who was able to get close enough to her so 733 00:40:41,325 --> 00:40:44,605 Speaker 1: that she never saw the first blow coming, someone who 734 00:40:44,685 --> 00:40:48,725 Speaker 1: knew about the loose piano leg. We look over the 735 00:40:48,805 --> 00:40:58,365 Speaker 1: murder board. The names on post its Rebecca, Chris, jb Justin, Jennifer, 736 00:40:59,445 --> 00:41:03,085 Speaker 1: and Casey. I look at Casey's photo on the wall. 737 00:41:03,765 --> 00:41:06,525 Speaker 1: He's the only person who has been officially ruled out 738 00:41:06,525 --> 00:41:09,805 Speaker 1: as a suspect by the police. But at this point 739 00:41:10,285 --> 00:41:14,805 Speaker 1: I can't eliminate anyone. We need to find Casey and 740 00:41:15,005 --> 00:41:17,885 Speaker 1: figure out if his alibi for September twentieth, two thousand 741 00:41:17,925 --> 00:41:21,165 Speaker 1: and four is really as errortight as the police say 742 00:41:21,205 --> 00:41:48,645 Speaker 1: it is. I'm Catherine Townsend and this is Helen Gone. 743 00:41:50,845 --> 00:41:54,045 Speaker 1: Helen Gone is a joint production between How Stuff Works 744 00:41:54,205 --> 00:41:57,325 Speaker 1: in School of Humans. It is written and recorded by me, 745 00:41:57,765 --> 00:42:01,485 Speaker 1: Catherine Townsend. Taylor Church is our producer and story editor. 746 00:42:02,085 --> 00:42:06,885 Speaker 1: Audio editing and designed by Jonathan Sleeve Mix and Glenn Mattulo. 747 00:42:07,565 --> 00:42:12,245 Speaker 1: Audio mixing and love by Tunewelders. Executive producers Brandon Barr 748 00:42:12,285 --> 00:42:15,645 Speaker 1: and Else Crowley for School of Humans and Connell Byrne 749 00:42:15,645 --> 00:42:19,125 Speaker 1: and Chuck Bryant for How Stuff Works. Our field producer 750 00:42:19,325 --> 00:42:24,645 Speaker 1: is James Morrison. Our researcher is Sandy Klosterman. Themon original 751 00:42:24,645 --> 00:42:28,285 Speaker 1: score by Ben Solee available wherever you get your music. 752 00:42:31,045 --> 00:42:35,645 Speaker 1: To dig into the investigation, please visit helengonepodcast dot com 753 00:42:35,845 --> 00:42:50,045 Speaker 1: or follow us on social media. School of Humans