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[music playing]
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ANNOUNCER: This program is
about unsolved mysteries.
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Whenever possible, the
actual family members
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and police officials
have participated
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in recreating the events.
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What you are about to see
is not a news broadcast.
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[music playing]
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ROBERT STACK: In
Illinois, a lonely widow
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met a fortune teller
who seemed to create
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money out of thin air.
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Joan was amazed, and
within the next two years
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gave the fortune teller
$80,000, most of her jewelry,
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and a brand new Cadillac.
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Then the fortune
teller disappeared.
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On a lonely country
road in North Carolina,
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a teenage girl was murdered
by a single bullet fired
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through the trunk of her car.
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An eyewitness has
now come forward
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and under hypnosis
may have described
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Rhonda's unknown killer.
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77 year old Howard
Drummond was an eccentric
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who died as he lived--
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alone.
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Howard Drummond left behind
50 empty coffee jars,
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80 pairs of white
socks, and an unclaimed
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fortune of over $250,000.
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Someone watching
may be his heir.
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Also, tonight a different
kind of mystery in the world
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of medicine and science.
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Doctors had given
up nearly all hope
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for young Don Hammond,
who accidentally
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shot himself while hunting.
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Don lost more than
half of his blood,
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had no blood pressure and
virtually no brain activity.
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Yet Don's family
never lost faith
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and never left his bedside.
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Incredibly, Don recovered.
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Modern medicine has no
explanation, but perhaps
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there is one--
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a miracle.
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Ho ho ho.
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Merry Christmas.
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ROBERT STACK: During the
holiday season, office
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Christmas parties are a
traditional way of easing
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into the festive spirit.
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The night of December
22, 1981 marked
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the first company Christmas
party for a 19-year-old girl
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named Rhonda Hinson.
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Rhonda had recently graduated
from high school in Valdese,
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North Carolina and
was celebrating
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her first job as
a clerical worker
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for a local steel company.
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At midnight, Rhonda left the
party with two girlfriends.
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At approximately 12:30, after
dropping off her companions,
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Rhonda would begin the
10 mile drive to her home
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where she still lived
with her parents.
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At exactly 1:00 AM, Rhonda's
mother awoke from a sound sleep
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with a strange premonition.
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JUDY HINSON: I woke
up feeling panicky,
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scared because I
felt like something
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had happened to Rhonda.
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I felt like Rhonda was dead.
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I felt like she had been
in an automobile accident.
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I got up and I had
an old CB scanner
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that you listen to--
you know, accidents
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and all that stuff on it.
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And for some odd reason,
I just turned it on.
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I thought maybe if
there'd been an accident,
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I'd hear on the scanner.
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And the minute I turned
it on, it came over
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that there'd been a homicide.
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POLICE OFFICER (ON RADIO):
120, go ahead Bert.
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POLICE OFFICER
(ON RADIO): 120, I
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checked a vehicle in the ditch.
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Near Mineral Springs
Mountain and I40.
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Complainant reports
there's blood
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in the front seat of the same.
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ROBERT STACK: Rhonda's
car was discovered
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on Mineral Springs Mountain
Road just a half a mile
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from her home.
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The driver's door was open,
and just a few feet away
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Rhonda was found dead.
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She was lying on her
back and her arms
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appeared to have
been deliberately
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placed at her side.
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Tests showed that
Rhonda Hinson had
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been killed by a single bullet
fired by a high powered rifle.
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This bullet had passed
through the trunk of her car,
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through her seat, and
penetrated her heart.
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JUDY HINSON: The hardest
thing is living every day
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wondering who did this.
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Rhonda was the most
loving, caring person
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that you've ever known.
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Rhonda was the type of
daughter that everybody
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would like to have.
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The murder of
Rhonda Hinson at first
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appeared to be a
random act of violence.
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But as the
investigation proceeded,
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disturbing clues
began to surface,
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suggesting that Rhonda may
have been murdered by someone
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who knew her closely.
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Eight years of passed
since Rhonda's death
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and police are still at
a loss for an explanation
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or a suspect.
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In high school, Rhonda
was a popular girl,
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an expert tennis player
who had many close friends.
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But several weeks
after her graduation,
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she began to behave strangely.
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Though normally
happy to drive alone,
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Rhonda began to ask her father
to accompany her on trips
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into town, and on
one of these trips
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she made a disturbing statement.
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Dad, I've got something to
tell you but I'm afraid to.
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BOBBY HINSON: I said
what is it, Rhonda?
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I said no matter whether
it's good or bad, tell me.
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MAN: Now what do
you have to say?
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And she said I'll think about
it, and she never did explain,
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never did tell me why--
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what it was she was
afraid to tell me.
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Now, you keep your
mind on your job, OK?
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ROBERT STACK: Her
mother also recalled
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an uncharacteristic conversation
shortly before Rhonda's death.
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Mom, I was
wondering if it's ever
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OK to go with a married man?
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JUDY HINSON: I said,
Rhonda, there's never a time
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that it's all right to
go with a married man.
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The only thing that comes from
that is people getting hurt.
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I didn't ask her if she
was asking for herself
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or if she's asking
for somebody else.
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I don't know what she--
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Rhonda wanted to do the
things that pleased us.
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ROBERT STACK: In the weeks
prior to Rhonda's murder,
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her parents began to notice
that she suffered from insomnia.
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Rhonda also began
getting up in the middle
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of the night to take showers.
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According to authorities,
such obsessive behavior
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is common in women who've
been sexually abused.
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JUDY HINSON: The shower
would wake me up.
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She'd turn the shower
off and answer me
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and say, I just can't sleep.
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I feel dirty.
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I'm really angry at myself.
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I should have talked to her.
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I should have asked
her what was wrong.
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If I had asked enough, I would
have gotten some answers.
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ROBERT STACK: This
unusual behavior
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suggested to police that
Rhonda was under some kind
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of personal pressure.
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Could this pressure have
resulted in her murder?
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The police investigation
began to uncover evidence
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that someone may
have been stalking
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Rhonda the night of her death.
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JOHN SUTTLE: Between 12:15
and 12:30 on the morning
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that Rhonda Hinson was
murdered, a witness
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drove under the
Interstate 40 bridge
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on Mineral Springs
Mountain Road.
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She observed a blue
General Motors Chevrolet
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facing in a northerly
direction with two
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white males in the vehicle.
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ROBERT STACK: The car was
parked next to the same off-ramp
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that Rhonda would use to exit.
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It was spotted 30 minutes
before the fatal bullet
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was fired and just 200 yards
from where her body was found.
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Later that evening, another
witness traveling down
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the same road passed a similar
blue vehicle with a single man
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at the wheel speeding away
from the murder scene.
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As he continued down
the road, the witness
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saw Rhonda's vehicle
parked at the same spot
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where her body would be found.
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A woman was slumped
over the steering wheel
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and a man was standing
at her car door.
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The witness was unable to
get a close look at this man,
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and assuming the couple
were drunk, drove off.
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JOHN SUTTLE: There were some
latent prints on the driver's
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door, but these latent
prints have not been
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identified, as of this date.
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ROBERT STACK: With so
few clues to go on,
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police put their
witness under hypnosis
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and asked him to recall more
details about the murder scene.
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This is the actual audio tape
from the hypnotized subject.
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Surprisingly, the
witness also recalled
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seeing a second car parked down
the road from Rhonda's vehicle.
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This car was a black
or dark blue Trans Am.
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Some believe that car may have
been driven by the murderer.
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RALPH JOHNSON: There are so
many unanswered questions.
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We have a very attractive young
girl whose life was taken.
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And as far as we know, her
character is unblemished.
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It's just it's hard for me to
understand why a young person
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like this would--
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life would be taken away and
not have an answer for it.
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ROBERT STACK: Who killed
Rhonda Hinson and why?
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Authorities are certain
that she would never
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have stopped for a stranger.
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Was she pulled over by
someone who knew her,
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someone who then
fired the fatal shot?
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Who was the man seen at
Rhonda's car, the murderer
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00:10:45,612 --> 00:10:48,115
or a passerby who left the
area when he discovered
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that Rhonda was dead?
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Police still have no idea.
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RALPH JOHNSON: We have
some different stories,
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00:10:57,190 --> 00:10:59,927
but to really be able to
substantiate these stories,
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00:11:00,027 --> 00:11:02,262
we don't have that information.
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00:11:02,362 --> 00:11:03,663
That's what we're
looking for, those
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00:11:03,764 --> 00:11:04,965
little pieces of
information that we
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00:11:05,065 --> 00:11:08,101
can substantiate what happened.
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00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:13,907
ROBERT STACK: Eight years have
passed since that Christmas
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party ended in tragedy.
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00:11:15,776 --> 00:11:18,746
Rhonda's mother still keeps her
daughter's room exactly the way
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00:11:18,846 --> 00:11:21,849
it was when Rhonda was alive.
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00:11:21,949 --> 00:11:22,983
JUDY HINSON: I
can almost imagine
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Rhonda's still in there.
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00:11:24,985 --> 00:11:28,255
We have a baby doll that
she had years and years ago.
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00:11:28,355 --> 00:11:30,023
We've kept that out.
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00:11:30,123 --> 00:11:31,925
We've kept some of
her trophies out.
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00:11:34,795 --> 00:11:38,198
The grave marker I
think says it all.
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00:11:38,298 --> 00:11:39,666
On the grave marker
there are the words
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00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:42,169
"Always a ray of sunshine."
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00:11:42,269 --> 00:11:45,572
That's the best description
that we have of Rhonda.
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It's a perfect description.
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[music playing]
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ROBERT STACK: In a moment,
we'll see how viewers
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00:11:55,916 --> 00:11:57,384
helped capture an
alleged con man
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00:11:57,484 --> 00:11:59,652
who infiltrated a nudist camp.
224
00:11:59,753 --> 00:12:01,454
We'll also tell
you how you may be
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00:12:01,554 --> 00:12:04,724
able to help authorities track
down two con women posing
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00:12:04,825 --> 00:12:05,725
as fortune tellers.
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00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:24,444
Last September, we examined the
case of a Florida nudist resort
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00:12:24,544 --> 00:12:26,379
whose members were
allegedly victimized
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by a smooth-talking con
man calling himself Rusty.
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Hey, Rusty.
How are you?
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00:12:31,284 --> 00:12:32,352
Hey, Steven.
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ROBERT STACK: In
February of 1988,
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00:12:34,087 --> 00:12:36,523
Rusty arrived at the
Sunny Sands Nudist Resort
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00:12:36,623 --> 00:12:38,658
and quickly ingratiated
himself with many
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00:12:38,758 --> 00:12:39,626
of the club's members.
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00:12:42,662 --> 00:12:45,365
He opened a video rental
store at a nearby town
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00:12:45,465 --> 00:12:46,834
and convinced some
of Sunny Sands'
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00:12:46,934 --> 00:12:51,905
residents to invest thousands
of dollars in his business.
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00:12:52,005 --> 00:12:55,175
But just seven months after
he arrived at Sunny Sands,
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00:12:55,275 --> 00:12:57,677
Rusty's upstanding
reputation in the community
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00:12:57,777 --> 00:13:00,814
began to crumble when a
neighbor's 11-year-old daughter
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00:13:00,914 --> 00:13:03,783
accused him of molesting her.
243
00:13:03,884 --> 00:13:06,619
Rusty was arrested for sexual
battery against a child
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00:13:06,719 --> 00:13:09,322
under 12 and ordered to
be held without bail.
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00:13:11,959 --> 00:13:13,760
However, many of
Sunny Sands' residents
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00:13:13,861 --> 00:13:17,164
believe that Rusty was unjustly
accused and convinced the judge
247
00:13:17,264 --> 00:13:21,768
to release him on $25,000 bail.
248
00:13:21,869 --> 00:13:24,337
Two days later,
Rusty disappeared,
249
00:13:24,437 --> 00:13:27,207
allegedly taking with
him more than $50,000
250
00:13:27,307 --> 00:13:29,910
of investors' money.
251
00:13:30,010 --> 00:13:31,278
INVESTOR: No matter
what happens, we know
252
00:13:31,378 --> 00:13:32,980
we'll never get our money back.
253
00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:37,918
But right at this point,
the money is immaterial.
254
00:13:38,018 --> 00:13:39,752
Right now the big thing
I want Rusty caught
255
00:13:39,853 --> 00:13:42,522
is what he did to that child.
256
00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:43,823
ROBERT STACK:
Police later learned
257
00:13:43,924 --> 00:13:46,759
that Rusty's true identity
was William Eugene Hilliard,
258
00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,529
and that he was wanted in both
Florida and Texas for fraud.
259
00:13:53,733 --> 00:13:55,903
Within minutes of our
broadcast, several viewers
260
00:13:56,003 --> 00:13:57,871
from South Carolina
called our telecenter
261
00:13:57,971 --> 00:14:01,074
to report that they recognized
William Eugene Hilliard.
262
00:14:05,112 --> 00:14:06,947
The morning after our
broadcast, Hilliard
263
00:14:07,047 --> 00:14:09,549
was arrested by Georgetown
County Sheriff's deputies
264
00:14:09,649 --> 00:14:11,051
at a convenience
store in Murrells
265
00:14:11,151 --> 00:14:13,320
Inlet, South
Carolina, a small town
266
00:14:13,420 --> 00:14:15,255
just south of Myrtle Beach.
267
00:14:15,355 --> 00:14:19,559
He was living under the assumed
name Ronald Edward Kant.
268
00:14:19,659 --> 00:14:22,562
On October 20, Hilliard
was returned to Florida
269
00:14:22,662 --> 00:14:25,832
to face charges of fraud and
sexual battery against a child
270
00:14:25,933 --> 00:14:27,367
under 12.
271
00:14:27,467 --> 00:14:29,903
If convicted of the
sexual battery charge,
272
00:14:30,003 --> 00:14:31,871
Hilliard could receive
the death penalty.
273
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:55,128
Fortunes told, tarot
cards, and tea leaves--
274
00:14:55,228 --> 00:14:56,997
it sounds intriguing.
275
00:14:57,097 --> 00:14:58,431
And many of us
have wondered what
276
00:14:58,531 --> 00:15:00,400
goes on inside a
fortune teller's parlor
277
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,402
after the door is closed.
278
00:15:02,502 --> 00:15:04,471
But let the buyer beware.
279
00:15:04,571 --> 00:15:05,838
The sad fact is
that some of them
280
00:15:05,939 --> 00:15:09,609
are more interested in fortune
taking than fortune telling.
281
00:15:09,709 --> 00:15:12,079
Across the United States
each year, tens of thousands
282
00:15:12,179 --> 00:15:13,981
of victims are milked out
of millions of dollars
283
00:15:14,081 --> 00:15:16,316
by fraudulent fortune tellers.
284
00:15:16,416 --> 00:15:18,685
Tonight, we present the
story of two of these victims
285
00:15:18,785 --> 00:15:20,954
who, embarrassed by
their own naivete,
286
00:15:21,054 --> 00:15:22,655
have requested anonymity.
287
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,098
Peoria, Illinois, August 1987--
288
00:15:31,198 --> 00:15:33,366
a respected educator
we will call Karen
289
00:15:33,466 --> 00:15:35,668
had been devastated
mentally and physically
290
00:15:35,768 --> 00:15:38,138
by an automobile accident.
291
00:15:38,238 --> 00:15:40,473
Friends urge her to
see Ann Correcelli,
292
00:15:40,573 --> 00:15:43,743
a fortune teller who is
reputed to have psychic powers.
293
00:15:46,913 --> 00:15:50,150
KAREN: The last thought of my
mind was to go see a psychic.
294
00:15:50,250 --> 00:15:53,420
But I thought, well, if it
doesn't work, it doesn't work.
295
00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:54,921
It's 10 bucks for
a half an hour.
296
00:15:55,022 --> 00:15:58,158
What have I got to lose?
297
00:15:58,258 --> 00:16:01,761
I see that you've had
family problems lately,
298
00:16:01,861 --> 00:16:05,065
and you've been very
depressed lately.
299
00:16:05,165 --> 00:16:07,900
Yes, I have.
300
00:16:08,001 --> 00:16:11,371
PSYCHIC: Have you
considered suicide before?
301
00:16:11,471 --> 00:16:14,907
KAREN: She told me that I
had had suicidal thoughts,
302
00:16:15,008 --> 00:16:17,710
and I had never
told anyone, so I
303
00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:19,712
was convinced that
she was psychic
304
00:16:19,812 --> 00:16:22,115
and she had the
answer to my problem.
305
00:16:22,215 --> 00:16:25,152
This is a curse that
someone has put on you.
306
00:16:25,252 --> 00:16:30,857
And I looked at her like
you have got to be kidding.
307
00:16:30,957 --> 00:16:32,059
God loves you,
and you have to--
308
00:16:32,159 --> 00:16:33,693
KAREN: But she said
it so believably.
309
00:16:33,793 --> 00:16:35,062
I have to be your friend.
310
00:16:35,162 --> 00:16:37,564
KAREN: And she held my hand,
and she leaned forward and said
311
00:16:37,664 --> 00:16:39,399
we can do something about this.
312
00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:41,134
I'll help you and we can
overcome this together.
313
00:16:41,234 --> 00:16:42,035
I'll help you.
314
00:16:44,104 --> 00:16:46,873
At the point she told me
there was a curse on me,
315
00:16:46,973 --> 00:16:51,678
I think I would have been
ready to believe anything.
316
00:16:51,778 --> 00:16:54,047
It was an answer to a problem.
317
00:17:01,154 --> 00:17:02,389
ROBERT STACK: Ann
told Karen that she
318
00:17:02,489 --> 00:17:05,024
must follow a strict regimen
in order to lift the curse.
319
00:17:13,333 --> 00:17:17,003
KAREN: I was taking ritual
baths in scented oils.
320
00:17:17,104 --> 00:17:22,175
I was blessing the doors,
the windows, the cars, people
321
00:17:22,275 --> 00:17:24,811
with holy water,
but I couldn't let
322
00:17:24,911 --> 00:17:26,846
anyone know what was going on.
323
00:17:30,383 --> 00:17:33,453
Each time that I saw her, she
gave me more things to do,
324
00:17:33,553 --> 00:17:34,421
which was great.
325
00:17:34,521 --> 00:17:35,788
I loved it.
326
00:17:35,888 --> 00:17:38,425
I felt like I was beginning to
get control back of my life.
327
00:17:42,162 --> 00:17:43,696
ROBERT STACK: Ann told
Karen to come with her
328
00:17:43,796 --> 00:17:47,100
to a nearby bridge and
bring $4,000 wrapped
329
00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,702
in a white handkerchief.
330
00:17:49,802 --> 00:17:52,472
I brought the money.
331
00:17:52,572 --> 00:17:54,441
This money has taken all
of the evil from your body.
332
00:17:54,541 --> 00:17:55,842
We have to get
rid of this money.
333
00:17:55,942 --> 00:17:57,977
KAREN: She told me that we had
to destroy the money, because--
334
00:17:58,077 --> 00:17:59,279
- Do you believe in Jesus?
- I do believe in Jesus.
335
00:17:59,379 --> 00:18:00,747
KAREN: --Satan was of the
earth and what better way--
336
00:18:00,847 --> 00:18:02,014
- Do you believe in god?
- I believe in god.
337
00:18:02,115 --> 00:18:03,316
- In the name of the son.
- In the name of the son.
338
00:18:03,416 --> 00:18:05,084
KAREN: --to control him but
with his own dirty money.
339
00:18:05,185 --> 00:18:06,119
- In the name of the holy ghost.
- In the name of the holy ghost.
340
00:18:06,219 --> 00:18:07,086
I'm going to get
rid of this money.
341
00:18:07,187 --> 00:18:08,121
I'm going to get
rid of it right now.
342
00:18:08,221 --> 00:18:08,921
KAREN: So we took
the bundle of money
343
00:18:09,021 --> 00:18:11,958
and threw it off the bridge.
344
00:18:12,058 --> 00:18:13,393
Is it gone?
PSYCHIC: It's gone.
345
00:18:13,493 --> 00:18:14,294
It's gone.
346
00:18:14,394 --> 00:18:18,398
[interposing voices]
347
00:18:18,498 --> 00:18:20,433
ROBERT STACK: Karen now
believes that she was duped
348
00:18:20,533 --> 00:18:24,070
by Ann Correcelli, the
daughter in a sophisticated
349
00:18:24,171 --> 00:18:26,606
mother-daughter
fortunetelling team.
350
00:18:26,706 --> 00:18:27,840
Lena Marie Wilson--
351
00:18:27,940 --> 00:18:30,877
53 years old-- is Ann's
mother, though she sometimes
352
00:18:30,977 --> 00:18:33,012
pretends to be her grandmother.
353
00:18:33,112 --> 00:18:35,682
Together, they prey mainly
on vulnerable women.
354
00:18:38,751 --> 00:18:41,288
Another victim of the
fortunetelling scam in Peoria
355
00:18:41,388 --> 00:18:45,024
is a 69-year-old woman
we will call Joan.
356
00:18:45,124 --> 00:18:46,759
When her second
husband died, she
357
00:18:46,859 --> 00:18:49,296
was left with a considerable
amount of money.
358
00:18:49,396 --> 00:18:52,499
Despite the financial
security, Joan felt lost.
359
00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:55,368
[interposing voices]
360
00:18:55,468 --> 00:18:56,969
JOAN: I think at
the time I was very
361
00:18:57,069 --> 00:19:02,342
vulnerable, because I had lost
my husband two years before.
362
00:19:02,442 --> 00:19:04,477
I was lonely.
363
00:19:04,577 --> 00:19:09,549
I was searching, maybe for
answers in different places.
364
00:19:09,649 --> 00:19:12,752
And so, it was only
$10 to go and see her.
365
00:19:12,852 --> 00:19:13,953
And I thought, why not?
366
00:19:14,053 --> 00:19:15,988
Find out and see what
she says about my future,
367
00:19:16,088 --> 00:19:18,425
my life, and things in general.
368
00:19:21,361 --> 00:19:22,695
[knocking]
369
00:19:25,665 --> 00:19:27,567
ROBERT STACK: When Joan
visited the fortunetellers,
370
00:19:27,667 --> 00:19:30,603
they were operating under
the name of [inaudible].
371
00:19:30,703 --> 00:19:33,306
The first person she
met was Ann Correcelli.
372
00:19:33,406 --> 00:19:34,474
Just follow me this way.
373
00:19:34,574 --> 00:19:35,375
Thank you.
374
00:19:37,744 --> 00:19:39,446
JOAN: It was a regular house.
375
00:19:39,546 --> 00:19:42,482
There was a small room
off the living room.
376
00:19:42,582 --> 00:19:43,416
And there was an altar.
377
00:19:43,516 --> 00:19:44,617
I appreciate that very much.
378
00:19:44,717 --> 00:19:47,687
JOAN: And many holy
pictures all over the wall,
379
00:19:47,787 --> 00:19:51,558
many, many candles, and
many pictures of Jesus.
380
00:20:10,443 --> 00:20:12,879
I can tell that you've had
a recent spiritual crisis
381
00:20:12,979 --> 00:20:14,080
in your life.
382
00:20:16,949 --> 00:20:21,187
I can also tell that you have
a recent death in the family.
383
00:20:21,288 --> 00:20:24,857
Well, yes, my
husband two years ago.
384
00:20:24,957 --> 00:20:27,159
OK, I can also see that
there's something evil
385
00:20:27,260 --> 00:20:30,863
in your charts, something
that I am going to have to ask
386
00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:32,765
my grandmother to help us with.
387
00:20:32,865 --> 00:20:34,434
And I'm going to go
ahead and get her now.
388
00:20:34,534 --> 00:20:35,335
Is that all right?
389
00:20:35,435 --> 00:20:36,303
JOAN: That's fine.
390
00:20:36,403 --> 00:20:37,203
OK.
391
00:20:49,549 --> 00:20:50,517
Hi.
392
00:20:50,617 --> 00:20:52,285
My granddaughter told
me you need help?
393
00:20:52,385 --> 00:20:53,185
JOAN: Yes.
394
00:20:53,286 --> 00:20:54,654
I can help you.
395
00:20:54,754 --> 00:20:55,955
JOAN: Please.
396
00:20:56,055 --> 00:20:58,725
She told me there was evil
in those cards, but I--
397
00:20:58,825 --> 00:20:59,992
I'm doubtful of that.
398
00:21:00,092 --> 00:21:00,893
Let's see.
399
00:21:03,796 --> 00:21:06,433
I have the power to
reveal your problems.
400
00:21:06,533 --> 00:21:09,636
Take this thread
and tie three knots.
401
00:21:09,736 --> 00:21:10,670
Three knots?
402
00:21:10,770 --> 00:21:12,872
PSYCHIC: Yes.
403
00:21:12,972 --> 00:21:16,509
JOAN: She told me that
my life had had a curse
404
00:21:16,609 --> 00:21:21,581
on it for over 40 years that
was put on by a girlfriend
405
00:21:21,681 --> 00:21:23,716
of my first husband.
406
00:21:23,816 --> 00:21:27,587
And she actually named
the person that my husband
407
00:21:27,687 --> 00:21:29,856
went with before he married me.
408
00:21:29,956 --> 00:21:34,594
She said will you come
back and bring with you
409
00:21:34,694 --> 00:21:39,198
a $1, $5, $10, and a $20 bill?
410
00:21:39,298 --> 00:21:40,767
Did you bring
the money with you?
411
00:21:40,867 --> 00:21:42,101
Yes, just as you asked me.
412
00:21:42,201 --> 00:21:43,370
ROBERT STACK: Lena
Marie had also
413
00:21:43,470 --> 00:21:46,272
instructed Joan to bring a
sheet, which she had tied
414
00:21:46,373 --> 00:21:47,273
around both of their necks.
415
00:21:47,374 --> 00:21:48,675
God gave me the
power to multiply
416
00:21:48,775 --> 00:21:50,777
and restore this money.
417
00:21:50,877 --> 00:21:53,446
Rip this money and I will
prove I do have the power.
418
00:21:53,546 --> 00:21:57,517
JOAN: She told me to
tear these bills in half.
419
00:21:57,617 --> 00:22:00,587
And she said if this
money will go back
420
00:22:00,687 --> 00:22:03,756
together and become whole,
then I can help you,
421
00:22:03,856 --> 00:22:05,157
otherwise I can't.
422
00:22:05,257 --> 00:22:08,327
And then she wrapped them
up in the white handkerchief
423
00:22:08,428 --> 00:22:10,730
and tied it all together.
424
00:22:10,830 --> 00:22:14,133
Our father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name.
425
00:22:14,233 --> 00:22:17,103
ROBERT STACK: Lena Marie held
the torn money under the sheet
426
00:22:17,203 --> 00:22:18,905
and rubbed it over
Joan's arms and legs.
427
00:22:19,005 --> 00:22:21,107
Do you believe I will have
the power to restore the money?
428
00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:22,041
JOAN: I believe it.
429
00:22:22,141 --> 00:22:23,776
Yes, I believe you
have the power.
430
00:22:23,876 --> 00:22:26,178
Do you believe in Jesus?
431
00:22:26,278 --> 00:22:28,180
Yes, I believe in Jesus.
432
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:29,416
Do you believe
I have the power?
433
00:22:29,516 --> 00:22:30,850
JOAN: Yes, I do believe
you have the power.
434
00:22:30,950 --> 00:22:32,619
ROBERT STACK: When Lena
Marie unwrapped the money,
435
00:22:32,719 --> 00:22:34,887
the bills appeared
magically restored,
436
00:22:34,987 --> 00:22:36,889
and indeed even multiplied.
437
00:22:36,989 --> 00:22:39,158
To Joan, it seemed
like a miracle.
438
00:22:39,258 --> 00:22:40,059
[inaudible]
439
00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:41,761
I can't believe it.
440
00:22:41,861 --> 00:22:42,862
You must go down
and thank God.
441
00:22:42,962 --> 00:22:44,363
JOAN: She said kneel
down and thank God.
442
00:22:44,464 --> 00:22:45,498
Our father, who
art in heaven--
443
00:22:45,598 --> 00:22:48,267
JOAN: And so, I knelt
down before the altar
444
00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:51,070
and kept saying
over the our father.
445
00:22:51,170 --> 00:22:53,072
If you tell anybody, the
curse will be back on you.
446
00:22:53,172 --> 00:22:53,940
Do you understand?
447
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:54,907
Oh, yes.
448
00:22:55,007 --> 00:22:55,942
I understand.
449
00:22:56,042 --> 00:22:56,876
LEX BITNER: They
always associate--
450
00:22:56,976 --> 00:22:57,410
Do you believe
I have the power?
451
00:22:57,510 --> 00:22:58,511
I believe.
452
00:22:58,611 --> 00:22:59,446
LEX BITNER: --their
special powers with god,
453
00:22:59,546 --> 00:23:02,449
or religion, or the church.
454
00:23:02,549 --> 00:23:06,318
And, more importantly, with
this particular type of trick
455
00:23:06,419 --> 00:23:10,523
with making the money multiply
is to get in the victim's mind
456
00:23:10,623 --> 00:23:13,159
that money means nothing.
457
00:23:13,259 --> 00:23:15,194
The next step is to convince
the victim that they are cursed.
458
00:23:15,294 --> 00:23:16,529
I'll show you that
I do have the power
459
00:23:16,629 --> 00:23:17,930
to take the devil out.
460
00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:19,398
ROBERT STACK: Lena
Marie told Joan
461
00:23:19,499 --> 00:23:21,801
to fill a shoe box
with dirt and leave it
462
00:23:21,901 --> 00:23:24,070
in her garage for three days.
463
00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:25,137
What are you doing?
464
00:23:25,237 --> 00:23:26,773
Now look at this,
what I'm going to do.
465
00:23:26,873 --> 00:23:28,441
JOAN: She had a
pitcher of water.
466
00:23:28,541 --> 00:23:32,378
And she said, now we will
pour this over the box
467
00:23:32,479 --> 00:23:37,450
and see whether or not
the devil is in there.
468
00:23:37,550 --> 00:23:39,919
She took a stick and
moved the dirt around.
469
00:23:40,019 --> 00:23:44,190
And then I saw this
water turn to blood.
470
00:23:44,290 --> 00:23:45,492
- You see this blood?
- Oh, you did it.
471
00:23:45,592 --> 00:23:46,392
The devil!
472
00:23:46,493 --> 00:23:47,393
You did it!
473
00:23:47,494 --> 00:23:49,562
JOAN: She had put
this fear into me
474
00:23:49,662 --> 00:23:52,699
that all this would happen if
we didn't get rid of the devil
475
00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:53,766
in my life.
476
00:23:53,866 --> 00:23:56,703
And here it was in
front of me in this box.
477
00:23:56,803 --> 00:23:58,905
She said we've got to
get rid of this devil.
478
00:23:59,005 --> 00:24:02,341
It is in your life and
it is all around you.
479
00:24:02,441 --> 00:24:05,512
And she said she had to
have money, because this
480
00:24:05,612 --> 00:24:07,514
would give her more power.
481
00:24:07,614 --> 00:24:09,749
And the more money I could
give her, the more power
482
00:24:09,849 --> 00:24:13,219
she would have to help me.
483
00:24:13,319 --> 00:24:14,821
ROBERT STACK: Over the
next year and a half,
484
00:24:14,921 --> 00:24:19,492
Joan gave Lena Marie more
than $81,000 in cash.
485
00:24:19,592 --> 00:24:22,128
She also gave Lena Marie
most of her jewelry
486
00:24:22,228 --> 00:24:23,763
and bought her a
brand new Cadillac.
487
00:24:23,863 --> 00:24:28,000
Well, this money will help to
take the evil out of your body.
488
00:24:28,100 --> 00:24:29,301
Money is evil.
489
00:24:29,401 --> 00:24:32,171
JOAN: Marie had the type of
personality that made you
490
00:24:32,271 --> 00:24:33,940
feel that she was helping you.
491
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:35,041
Do you understand?
492
00:24:35,141 --> 00:24:36,976
And I believed in her.
493
00:24:37,076 --> 00:24:39,111
She had me so convinced.
494
00:24:39,211 --> 00:24:41,681
I believed everything.
495
00:24:41,781 --> 00:24:45,718
She had me so controlled
that anything she
496
00:24:45,818 --> 00:24:48,855
would ask me to do I would do.
497
00:24:48,955 --> 00:24:50,289
JOAN: Sister, I'm so
glad to see you today.
498
00:24:50,389 --> 00:24:51,257
Are you feeling fine today?
499
00:24:51,357 --> 00:24:52,358
I'm just feeling great.
500
00:24:52,458 --> 00:24:53,693
ROBERT STACK:
Finally, Lena Marie
501
00:24:53,793 --> 00:24:56,162
had Joan hand over the
last of her life savings.
502
00:24:56,262 --> 00:24:57,496
- No, never.
- Now let's pray.
503
00:24:57,597 --> 00:24:58,397
ROBERT STACK: $40,000.
504
00:24:58,497 --> 00:25:00,266
[inaudible]
505
00:25:00,366 --> 00:25:02,869
JOAN: She said now we
have to burn this money
506
00:25:02,969 --> 00:25:06,005
because money is evil.
507
00:25:06,105 --> 00:25:10,743
She put it in a garbage can,
and then put lighter fluid on it
508
00:25:10,843 --> 00:25:11,744
and burned it.
509
00:25:15,247 --> 00:25:17,817
She had me so convinced
that all material things,
510
00:25:17,917 --> 00:25:18,718
all possessions--
511
00:25:18,818 --> 00:25:19,852
You put money before god.
512
00:25:19,952 --> 00:25:23,522
JOAN: --all money was
evil because the curse
513
00:25:23,623 --> 00:25:28,460
had been on me and everything
that I owned and possessed.
514
00:25:28,561 --> 00:25:31,297
She had actually brainwashed me.
515
00:25:31,397 --> 00:25:36,936
The money that the individual
thinks is going into the fire
516
00:25:37,036 --> 00:25:39,305
does not actually
go into the fire.
517
00:25:39,405 --> 00:25:40,439
Kneel down and pray.
518
00:25:40,539 --> 00:25:43,109
Money is evil, and in
order to purify you--
519
00:25:43,209 --> 00:25:45,044
FRANK WALTER: There might be
a $1 bill or a $100 dollar
520
00:25:45,144 --> 00:25:46,078
bill wrapped around play money.
521
00:25:46,178 --> 00:25:46,979
--the evil.
522
00:25:47,079 --> 00:25:48,314
Money is evil.
523
00:25:48,414 --> 00:25:49,682
FRANK WALTER:
524
00:25:49,782 --> 00:25:51,250
FRANK WALTER: And this is what
actually goes into the fire
525
00:25:51,350 --> 00:25:52,218
and is actually burnt.
526
00:25:52,318 --> 00:25:54,353
Real money never
goes into the fire.
527
00:25:54,453 --> 00:25:55,254
Did you see this?
528
00:25:55,354 --> 00:25:56,388
It's evil.
529
00:25:56,488 --> 00:25:57,824
FRANK WALTER: The crime
that they're committing
530
00:25:57,924 --> 00:26:00,727
is they're taking
valuables from people
531
00:26:00,827 --> 00:26:03,062
by the means of deception.
532
00:26:03,162 --> 00:26:05,531
But the majority of the
people would just as soon
533
00:26:05,632 --> 00:26:07,734
cut their losses and
not come forward.
534
00:26:07,834 --> 00:26:11,103
They do not want to
suffer the embarrassment
535
00:26:11,203 --> 00:26:15,141
of the community, of their
peers, of their family.
536
00:26:15,241 --> 00:26:20,747
The embarrassment is a very
hard thing to overcome.
537
00:26:20,847 --> 00:26:25,551
I gave her close
to $150,000 in money,
538
00:26:25,652 --> 00:26:28,320
possessions, and jewelry.
539
00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:31,891
I look at myself and I say,
how could I be so stupid?
540
00:26:31,991 --> 00:26:35,561
I'm a college educated person
and I'm a professional.
541
00:26:35,662 --> 00:26:37,129
I've seen enough news reports.
542
00:26:37,229 --> 00:26:38,530
I've lived in the
world long enough
543
00:26:38,631 --> 00:26:41,634
to know what real crime is and
that people in any opportunity
544
00:26:41,734 --> 00:26:43,736
are very willing to
steal your money.
545
00:26:43,836 --> 00:26:47,506
And I cannot believe that I
was a victim of this crime.
546
00:26:47,606 --> 00:26:51,310
I feel like the stupidest
person on the face of the earth.
547
00:26:51,410 --> 00:26:53,545
The evil from your body
has gone into this money.
548
00:26:53,646 --> 00:26:54,981
KAREN: The money that
was in the bundle
549
00:26:55,081 --> 00:26:56,883
had been wrapped
in a handkerchief,
550
00:26:56,983 --> 00:26:59,618
and she had refolded it
several times before it
551
00:26:59,719 --> 00:27:01,520
was ever thrown into the river.
- In the name of the father.
552
00:27:01,620 --> 00:27:03,222
In the name of the father.
KAREN: I never saw--
553
00:27:03,322 --> 00:27:04,023
- In the name of the holy ghost.
- In the name of the holy ghost.
554
00:27:04,123 --> 00:27:06,926
KAREN: --the actual $4,000.
555
00:27:07,026 --> 00:27:09,729
I had my eyes closed in prayer.
556
00:27:09,829 --> 00:27:11,297
Is it gone?
PSYCHIC: It's gone.
557
00:27:11,397 --> 00:27:12,098
It's gone!
558
00:27:12,198 --> 00:27:12,899
Do you believe in the power?
559
00:27:12,999 --> 00:27:14,033
I do believe in the power.
560
00:27:14,133 --> 00:27:15,401
KAREN: Every time
she handled money
561
00:27:15,501 --> 00:27:16,402
she could have switched it.
562
00:27:16,502 --> 00:27:17,369
[interposing voices]
563
00:27:17,469 --> 00:27:18,504
You believed in the power.
564
00:27:18,604 --> 00:27:20,506
KAREN: What confirmed
that a switch probably
565
00:27:20,606 --> 00:27:21,808
happened was that she took off.
566
00:27:21,908 --> 00:27:22,809
Do you believe in the power?
567
00:27:22,909 --> 00:27:23,710
Yes, I do.
568
00:27:23,810 --> 00:27:26,278
Praise the lord!
569
00:27:26,378 --> 00:27:28,480
ROBERT STACK: Based on the
testimony of Karen, Joan,
570
00:27:28,580 --> 00:27:31,283
and 16 other victims,
warrants were issued
571
00:27:31,383 --> 00:27:33,285
in Illinois for the
arrest of Ann Correcelli
572
00:27:33,385 --> 00:27:35,254
and Lena Marie Wilson.
573
00:27:35,354 --> 00:27:37,724
The two women were
nowhere to be found.
574
00:27:40,927 --> 00:27:44,697
Four days later, police in
North Kansas City, Missouri
575
00:27:44,797 --> 00:27:49,235
noticed some suspicious looking
people in a motel parking lot.
576
00:27:49,335 --> 00:27:50,703
Boy, did you see them
looking at us, Cal?
577
00:27:51,938 --> 00:27:53,672
POLICE OFFICER: I want
to check those plates.
578
00:27:53,773 --> 00:27:56,508
POLICE OFFICER (ON RADIO): 10-4.
579
00:27:56,608 --> 00:27:57,977
ROBERT STACK: They ran
a license plate check
580
00:27:58,077 --> 00:27:59,478
and found that the
car belonged to Lena
581
00:27:59,578 --> 00:28:00,679
Marie Wilson's daughter.
582
00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:01,313
Do you have any
identification?
583
00:28:01,413 --> 00:28:02,514
What's going on?
584
00:28:02,614 --> 00:28:03,515
ROBERT STACK: Ann Correcelli
was not in the car--
585
00:28:03,615 --> 00:28:04,483
Do you have any
identification on you?
586
00:28:04,583 --> 00:28:05,351
ROBERT STACK: --but
Lena Marie was.
587
00:28:05,451 --> 00:28:06,418
- Are you Lena Wilson?
- Yes.
588
00:28:06,518 --> 00:28:07,686
Why?
- You're under arrest.
589
00:28:07,787 --> 00:28:11,557
Step out of the car, please.
590
00:28:11,657 --> 00:28:12,658
What's in the bag?
591
00:28:12,759 --> 00:28:13,625
Nothing.
592
00:28:13,726 --> 00:28:17,563
You have no right
to do this to me.
593
00:28:17,663 --> 00:28:19,598
ROBERT STACK: When
police searched the car,
594
00:28:19,698 --> 00:28:22,334
they found over $250,000
worth of stolen jewelry.
595
00:28:23,469 --> 00:28:24,570
PSYCHIC: You have
no right to do this.
596
00:28:24,670 --> 00:28:26,605
It's like a jewelry
store in here.
597
00:28:26,705 --> 00:28:30,476
WOMAN: You guys are
wrong for doing this.
598
00:28:30,576 --> 00:28:33,145
ROBERT STACK: The police
never found Ann Correcelli.
599
00:28:33,245 --> 00:28:35,714
Lena Marie Wilson
jumped bail six days
600
00:28:35,815 --> 00:28:37,116
after she was apprehended.
601
00:28:39,986 --> 00:28:42,354
Lena Marie Wilson is
4 feet 10 inches tall
602
00:28:42,454 --> 00:28:44,924
and weighs 130 pounds.
603
00:28:45,024 --> 00:28:47,659
She is 53 years old and
has a dark complexion,
604
00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:50,229
brown hair, and brown eyes.
605
00:28:50,329 --> 00:28:52,498
She uses the aliases
of Lena Calvin,
606
00:28:52,598 --> 00:28:56,836
Marie Marx, and Lena Marx.
607
00:28:56,936 --> 00:28:59,271
Ann Correcelli is 5
feet tall and weighs
608
00:28:59,371 --> 00:29:03,042
between 140 and 170 pounds.
609
00:29:03,142 --> 00:29:06,245
She's 26 years old, has
a medium complexion,
610
00:29:06,345 --> 00:29:08,747
brown hair, and brown eyes.
611
00:29:08,848 --> 00:29:11,050
She uses the
aliases Lori Wilson,
612
00:29:11,150 --> 00:29:14,954
Lori Calvin, and Ann Marx.
613
00:29:15,054 --> 00:29:17,256
The police are also
searching for Joe Marx,
614
00:29:17,356 --> 00:29:19,725
a convicted male accomplice.
615
00:29:19,826 --> 00:29:24,496
He is 5 feet 7 inches tall
and weighs 120 pounds.
616
00:29:24,596 --> 00:29:27,199
He is 39 years old,
has a dark complexion,
617
00:29:27,299 --> 00:29:29,035
brown hair, and brown eyes.
618
00:29:32,371 --> 00:29:35,007
Update-- Joe Marx
has been captured.
619
00:29:35,107 --> 00:29:37,509
Within minutes of our broadcast,
the Springfield, Missouri
620
00:29:37,609 --> 00:29:39,778
police department received
a call from a viewer
621
00:29:39,879 --> 00:29:42,214
who recognized Joe Marx.
622
00:29:42,314 --> 00:29:45,117
On November 20, Greene County,
Missouri Sheriff's deputies
623
00:29:45,217 --> 00:29:46,819
arrested Marx at
his parents' home
624
00:29:46,919 --> 00:29:50,722
where his mother was operating
a palm reading business.
625
00:29:50,823 --> 00:29:53,025
Four days later, Marx
was extradited back
626
00:29:53,125 --> 00:29:54,493
to Illinois, where
he is currently
627
00:29:54,593 --> 00:29:57,396
serving a six year prison
term for theft and conspiracy.
628
00:30:17,583 --> 00:30:19,852
In a moment, the fascinating
story of an eccentric
629
00:30:19,952 --> 00:30:23,155
recluse who lived in
a tiny room at a YMCA.
630
00:30:23,255 --> 00:30:25,791
His friends were astounded when
he left behind an unclaimed
631
00:30:25,892 --> 00:30:36,568
fortune of $250,000.
632
00:30:36,668 --> 00:30:38,504
[music playing]
633
00:30:42,975 --> 00:30:44,843
Our next story is
about one of the most
634
00:30:44,944 --> 00:30:48,647
frugal and unusual people
we have ever encountered.
635
00:30:48,747 --> 00:30:50,749
He was reclusive,
eccentric, A man
636
00:30:50,849 --> 00:30:52,885
who spent his time dreaming
up the most peculiar
637
00:30:52,985 --> 00:30:54,887
ways to conserve money.
638
00:30:54,987 --> 00:31:00,159
When he died, he left a fortune
valued at more than $250,000.
639
00:31:00,259 --> 00:31:02,328
This mysterious man
devoted all his time
640
00:31:02,428 --> 00:31:04,563
and energy to saving money.
641
00:31:04,663 --> 00:31:08,334
Yet, ironically, the fortune
he amassed now sits unclaimed.
642
00:31:08,434 --> 00:31:11,737
Perhaps someone in our
audience tonight is his heir.
643
00:31:16,108 --> 00:31:19,778
Howard Drummond moved to the
Lansing, Michigan YMCA in 1985
644
00:31:19,878 --> 00:31:22,581
when he was 74 years old.
645
00:31:22,681 --> 00:31:25,217
He rented a room
for just $49 a week,
646
00:31:25,317 --> 00:31:27,853
but chose not to pay
an extra $5 a day
647
00:31:27,954 --> 00:31:29,121
for his own private bathroom.
648
00:31:32,391 --> 00:31:35,261
He always ordered the same
breakfast-- fried eggs, bacon,
649
00:31:35,361 --> 00:31:39,966
and rye toast for only $1.99.
650
00:31:40,066 --> 00:31:41,767
He also bought two
extra breakfasts,
651
00:31:41,867 --> 00:31:43,635
packed them in his
ever-present gym bag,
652
00:31:43,735 --> 00:31:45,871
and took them back to
his room at the YMCA
653
00:31:45,972 --> 00:31:48,174
for lunch and dinner.
654
00:31:48,274 --> 00:31:50,709
Howard's daily expenditure
on food was only $6.
655
00:31:55,214 --> 00:31:56,582
Howard was a pack rat.
656
00:31:56,682 --> 00:31:59,051
He saved money and
everything else.
657
00:31:59,151 --> 00:32:02,989
In his room at the Y, he kept
50 coffee jars, all empty.
658
00:32:03,089 --> 00:32:04,656
He collected
hundreds of magazines
659
00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:07,559
and countless rubber bands.
660
00:32:07,659 --> 00:32:10,829
Howard owned 80 pairs of white
socks and eight identical suits
661
00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:13,865
and hats so he could wear the
exact same outfit every day.
662
00:32:17,936 --> 00:32:20,339
Howard lived his life according
to a rigid set of rules
663
00:32:20,439 --> 00:32:22,975
that only he fully understood.
664
00:32:23,075 --> 00:32:25,644
He seemed to have no friends
and only a few acquaintances.
665
00:32:25,744 --> 00:32:27,179
Good morning.
Good morning.
666
00:32:27,279 --> 00:32:28,180
Howard, how are you?
667
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:29,448
DARNELL JONES:
Primarily, Howard had
668
00:32:29,548 --> 00:32:31,617
a very regimented lifestyle.
669
00:32:31,717 --> 00:32:35,021
He would pay his rent at a
certain time every month,
670
00:32:35,121 --> 00:32:37,623
the same amount every month.
671
00:32:37,723 --> 00:32:40,659
His receipt he would want
stapled to a certain piece
672
00:32:40,759 --> 00:32:44,763
of paper a certain way
every time it was done.
673
00:32:44,863 --> 00:32:46,665
However, there was
another side to Howard
674
00:32:46,765 --> 00:32:49,668
that I found that
people rarely saw.
675
00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:51,203
He was a very gentle person.
676
00:32:51,303 --> 00:32:53,739
He was very appreciative
of all the small things
677
00:32:53,839 --> 00:32:56,208
that you did for him, and he was
very willing to say thank you
678
00:32:56,308 --> 00:32:59,478
for everything that you did.
679
00:32:59,578 --> 00:33:00,646
ROBERT STACK: Every
day, Howard went
680
00:33:00,746 --> 00:33:03,115
to the downtown
Lansing post office.
681
00:33:03,215 --> 00:33:05,384
He subscribed to the "Wall
Street Journal," "Forbes"
682
00:33:05,484 --> 00:33:08,220
magazine, "Psychology
Today," "Foreign Affairs,"
683
00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:09,621
and "Soviet Life."
684
00:33:12,258 --> 00:33:14,693
He regularly received
envelopes from banks
685
00:33:14,793 --> 00:33:18,230
and sent out registered
letters to banks.
686
00:33:18,330 --> 00:33:20,866
Howard never failed to stop
for a visit with postal worker
687
00:33:20,966 --> 00:33:22,034
Frances Dodge.
- Good morning.
688
00:33:22,134 --> 00:33:23,001
Good morning, Frances.
689
00:33:23,102 --> 00:33:24,002
ROBERT STACK: He
often presented her
690
00:33:24,103 --> 00:33:24,936
with unusual shopping
lists, written
691
00:33:25,037 --> 00:33:26,672
on the backs of old envelopes.
692
00:33:26,772 --> 00:33:27,839
Just a courtesy.
693
00:33:27,939 --> 00:33:29,341
ROBERT STACK: Howard
always gave Frances money
694
00:33:29,441 --> 00:33:32,078
to cover the items he asked
for, and she was usually
695
00:33:32,178 --> 00:33:33,545
able to find what he needed.
696
00:33:33,645 --> 00:33:36,348
Do you have any rubber bands?
697
00:33:36,448 --> 00:33:37,916
And I need some coffee.
698
00:33:38,984 --> 00:33:39,851
FRANCES DODGE: I've
got some coffee.
699
00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:41,187
HOWARD DRUMMOND: Oh, good.
700
00:33:41,287 --> 00:33:43,455
Yeah, I brought you some
coffee and I brought you some--
701
00:33:43,555 --> 00:33:44,390
just a minute.
702
00:33:44,490 --> 00:33:46,758
Let me look.
703
00:33:46,858 --> 00:33:48,660
Oh, good.
704
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,862
I also brought
you some washcloths.
705
00:33:50,962 --> 00:33:53,832
Oh, I can use those.
706
00:33:53,932 --> 00:33:55,234
How are you today?
707
00:33:55,334 --> 00:33:56,135
Oh, I'm feeling fine.
708
00:33:57,136 --> 00:33:57,969
FRANCES DODGE: Good.
709
00:33:58,070 --> 00:33:59,871
I-- I'll see you tomorrow, OK?
710
00:34:00,872 --> 00:34:01,840
FRANCES DODGE: OK.
711
00:34:01,940 --> 00:34:03,742
I thought he didn't
have anything.
712
00:34:03,842 --> 00:34:06,912
Why would anyone go around in
the same clothes all the time?
713
00:34:07,012 --> 00:34:08,247
He just looked
really poor to me.
714
00:34:08,347 --> 00:34:09,381
I'll see you tomorrow.
715
00:34:09,481 --> 00:34:11,049
FRANCES DODGE: I always
asked him why he wore
716
00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:13,452
that same hat all the time.
717
00:34:13,552 --> 00:34:15,954
And he said, well,
it's not worn out.
718
00:34:19,024 --> 00:34:21,059
ROBERT STACK: After completing
his daily routine in Lansing,
719
00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:23,862
Howard returned to
his room at the YMCA.
720
00:34:23,962 --> 00:34:27,333
He never allowed anyone inside.
721
00:34:27,433 --> 00:34:37,209
He died on January 28, 1989.
722
00:34:37,309 --> 00:34:39,478
Two days later, Paul
Rosenbaum-- a county
723
00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:42,681
appointed attorney--
visited the YMCA.
724
00:34:42,781 --> 00:34:44,216
Since Howard had
left no will, it
725
00:34:44,316 --> 00:34:46,185
was Rosenbaum's job
to settle the estate
726
00:34:46,285 --> 00:34:48,654
and find Howard's heirs.
727
00:34:48,754 --> 00:34:51,157
Looking for clues, Rosenbaum
spread the contents
728
00:34:51,257 --> 00:34:53,725
of Howard's room at the Y
over the conference table
729
00:34:53,825 --> 00:34:55,927
at his law office.
730
00:34:56,027 --> 00:34:57,696
PAUL ROSENBAUM: It took
probably two and a half weeks
731
00:34:57,796 --> 00:34:59,198
to sort out everything.
732
00:34:59,298 --> 00:35:04,770
He had every single piece of
paper from probably 25 years.
733
00:35:04,870 --> 00:35:09,208
He had a diary that was one of
the most unbelievable things I
734
00:35:09,308 --> 00:35:12,178
have ever witnessed in
my life in which he kept
735
00:35:12,278 --> 00:35:17,616
an hour by hour account of
the headlines in news stations
736
00:35:17,716 --> 00:35:20,819
across the whole United States.
737
00:35:20,919 --> 00:35:24,456
He had three watches
that wouldn't work.
738
00:35:24,556 --> 00:35:28,160
There was thousands
of used shoe laces,
739
00:35:28,260 --> 00:35:31,096
unlimited amount of newspaper
clippings-- with a lot of it
740
00:35:31,197 --> 00:35:33,832
had to do with the royal
family and Princess Di.
741
00:35:33,932 --> 00:35:35,901
He was infatuated with her.
742
00:35:36,001 --> 00:35:39,104
It was unique, to say the least.
743
00:35:39,205 --> 00:35:43,675
To the best of my knowledge,
he had eleven separate bank
744
00:35:43,775 --> 00:35:46,745
accounts from coast to
coast with a quarter
745
00:35:46,845 --> 00:35:49,080
of a million dollars in
cash in the bank accounts.
746
00:35:49,181 --> 00:35:50,782
And that quarter
million dollars is not
747
00:35:50,882 --> 00:35:52,518
even the tip of the iceberg.
748
00:35:52,618 --> 00:35:56,622
He has a whole lot
more money out there.
749
00:35:56,722 --> 00:35:58,023
ROBERT STACK:
Strangely, the gym bag
750
00:35:58,123 --> 00:36:01,627
Howard always carried with
him was not found in his room.
751
00:36:01,727 --> 00:36:04,930
Some say Howard kept his most
important papers in that bag.
752
00:36:08,867 --> 00:36:10,836
Among Howard's
possessions, Rosenbaum did
753
00:36:10,936 --> 00:36:13,439
find a key marked number 29.
754
00:36:13,539 --> 00:36:15,841
The key seems to open a
standard locker-- the type you
755
00:36:15,941 --> 00:36:17,776
might find in a bus station.
756
00:36:17,876 --> 00:36:21,179
Could Howard's missing gym
bag be in the unknown locker?
757
00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:24,750
Could the papers inside lead
the way to even more money?
758
00:36:24,850 --> 00:36:26,618
Authorities in Michigan
are still searching
759
00:36:26,718 --> 00:36:30,589
for Howard's missing heirs.
760
00:36:30,689 --> 00:36:34,025
We have very little information
about Howard Thomas Drummond.
761
00:36:34,125 --> 00:36:36,995
He was born in Houston,
Texas in 1911, the only child
762
00:36:37,095 --> 00:36:39,965
of impoverished parents.
763
00:36:40,065 --> 00:36:43,935
He served in the Army
from 1942 to 1945.
764
00:36:44,035 --> 00:36:46,238
He was fired from a job
at a California bank
765
00:36:46,338 --> 00:36:48,440
for stealing scotch
tape, then became
766
00:36:48,540 --> 00:36:51,243
a postal employee in Pasadena.
767
00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:54,780
He lived at YMCAs in
Pasadena, Denver, and Dayton
768
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:57,716
before moving to
Lansing, Michigan.
769
00:36:57,816 --> 00:37:00,286
He died at the age of
77 and went to his grave
770
00:37:00,386 --> 00:37:20,306
holding the secret of
his $250,000 fortune.
771
00:37:20,406 --> 00:37:22,341
In a moment, a mystery
with a happy ending--
772
00:37:22,441 --> 00:37:25,444
a mystery of a life saved
when all hope was gone.
773
00:37:31,917 --> 00:37:33,785
[music playing]
774
00:37:41,259 --> 00:37:44,830
June 10, 1989--
775
00:37:44,930 --> 00:37:46,865
Don Hamilton and Donna
Johnson are married
776
00:37:46,965 --> 00:37:48,233
in Maple Plain, Minnesota.
777
00:37:50,869 --> 00:37:53,204
This happy day is
in a way a miracle.
778
00:37:56,041 --> 00:37:59,778
Sponge, pull back-- let's
isolate that vein and artery,
779
00:37:59,878 --> 00:38:01,146
retraction.
780
00:38:01,246 --> 00:38:03,148
ROBERT STACK: Just 20 months
earlier, teams of specialists
781
00:38:03,248 --> 00:38:07,453
had been working around the
clock to save Don's life.
782
00:38:07,553 --> 00:38:09,755
He was in a deep coma.
783
00:38:09,855 --> 00:38:14,426
Some of the doctors thought
Don was already dead.
784
00:38:14,526 --> 00:38:15,694
CARSON GARDNER: Don
was not breathing.
785
00:38:15,794 --> 00:38:17,629
He did not have an
effective heartbeat.
786
00:38:17,729 --> 00:38:20,599
He had serious damage to
body organs when he arrived.
787
00:38:20,699 --> 00:38:22,768
Statistically, Don's
likelihood of surviving
788
00:38:22,868 --> 00:38:25,737
was very, very low, maybe zero.
789
00:38:25,837 --> 00:38:28,106
And that night I stood by
his bedside most of the night
790
00:38:28,206 --> 00:38:30,476
and just wiped the blood,
because they said this probably
791
00:38:30,576 --> 00:38:31,810
would be his last night.
792
00:38:31,910 --> 00:38:34,580
And he was bleeding from his
eyes, nose, and mouth again.
793
00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,382
And it was just like
it was the last thing
794
00:38:36,482 --> 00:38:38,684
I could do for my son.
795
00:38:38,784 --> 00:38:41,052
Don Hamilton's recovery
as a shining example
796
00:38:41,152 --> 00:38:43,822
that happy endings do occur.
797
00:38:43,922 --> 00:38:46,425
His story is one of those
unexplained events in the field
798
00:38:46,525 --> 00:38:49,495
of science and medicine, which
proves that medical science
799
00:38:49,595 --> 00:38:51,630
and simple faith
can turn out to be
800
00:38:51,730 --> 00:38:53,499
wondrous and
mysterious partners.
801
00:38:59,705 --> 00:39:02,708
November 8, 1987,
just before dawn--
802
00:39:02,808 --> 00:39:04,275
Don Hamilton and
a group of friends
803
00:39:04,376 --> 00:39:07,979
set out deer hunting 175
miles north of their hometown,
804
00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:10,315
Maple Plain, Minnesota.
805
00:39:10,416 --> 00:39:12,317
I'll go way off to the
right here, down at the end.
806
00:39:12,418 --> 00:39:13,419
OK.
807
00:39:13,519 --> 00:39:14,720
I think we're going
to take off over here.
808
00:39:14,820 --> 00:39:15,621
All right.
809
00:39:15,721 --> 00:39:16,688
Well, see you guys.
810
00:39:16,788 --> 00:39:17,989
DON HAMILTON: We all
got ready to leave.
811
00:39:18,089 --> 00:39:20,959
And they took my ATV and
drove out through the field,
812
00:39:21,059 --> 00:39:23,261
and parked at the
edge of the woods
813
00:39:23,361 --> 00:39:25,230
and then walked into
the woods to the tree
814
00:39:25,330 --> 00:39:28,934
that I had previously planned
out that I would be in.
815
00:39:29,034 --> 00:39:32,671
And with my climbing
harness and straps,
816
00:39:32,771 --> 00:39:34,940
I got myself strapped
into the tree.
817
00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:36,975
And then I pulled
the gun up to me,
818
00:39:37,075 --> 00:39:42,681
and loaded it, and just sort of
sat back, relaxed on a branch.
819
00:39:42,781 --> 00:39:45,684
And I just loosened
up on the gun.
820
00:39:45,784 --> 00:39:48,487
I had it balanced on my legs
and apparently I shifted it
821
00:39:48,587 --> 00:39:49,888
enough so it got off balance.
822
00:39:49,988 --> 00:39:52,791
And when I loosened
my grip, it slid off.
823
00:39:52,891 --> 00:39:53,692
[gunshot]
824
00:39:53,792 --> 00:39:57,629
[scream]
825
00:39:57,729 --> 00:39:59,097
Glen!
826
00:39:59,197 --> 00:40:00,065
Steve!
827
00:40:00,165 --> 00:40:01,933
It sounds like
somebody's been shot.
828
00:40:02,033 --> 00:40:02,834
Donny!
829
00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:08,239
ROBERT STACK: For 25 agonizing
minutes, Don Hamilton's
830
00:40:08,339 --> 00:40:09,841
friends search the dark woods.
831
00:40:09,941 --> 00:40:11,076
There he is.
832
00:40:11,176 --> 00:40:14,012
ROBERT STACK: Finally,
they found Don in the tree.
833
00:40:14,112 --> 00:40:15,847
A bullet from his
own rifle had severed
834
00:40:15,947 --> 00:40:17,749
crucial veins in his leg.
835
00:40:17,849 --> 00:40:19,317
Don seemed completely lifeless.
836
00:40:25,757 --> 00:40:27,425
20 minutes later,
an ambulance rushed
837
00:40:27,526 --> 00:40:29,595
Don to the nearest hospital.
838
00:40:29,695 --> 00:40:31,029
NURSE: [inaudible]
- OK.
839
00:40:31,129 --> 00:40:31,930
Is he breathing?
840
00:40:32,030 --> 00:40:32,998
No.
841
00:40:33,098 --> 00:40:34,432
ROBERT STACK:
Technically he was alive,
842
00:40:34,533 --> 00:40:37,035
but he had no blood
pressure at all.
843
00:40:37,135 --> 00:40:38,236
Bag him.
844
00:40:38,336 --> 00:40:39,404
[inaudible]
845
00:40:39,505 --> 00:40:40,506
DOCTOR: Yeah.
846
00:40:40,606 --> 00:40:41,740
NURSE: I'll run these
for you right away.
847
00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:42,674
Get those blood pumps on.
848
00:40:42,774 --> 00:40:44,275
This guy has
nothing circulating.
849
00:40:44,375 --> 00:40:46,077
Somebody call Liz.
850
00:40:46,177 --> 00:40:47,178
Let's get another unit--
851
00:40:47,278 --> 00:40:48,514
CARSON GARDNER: When
we started work on Don,
852
00:40:48,614 --> 00:40:52,450
he was not breathing, he was
not moving, he was comatose,
853
00:40:52,551 --> 00:40:54,385
and his heart was
not pumping blood.
854
00:40:54,486 --> 00:40:55,420
There was no blood to pump.
855
00:40:55,521 --> 00:40:56,321
DOCTOR: Stop CPR.
856
00:40:56,421 --> 00:40:57,656
OK, check that pulse.
857
00:40:57,756 --> 00:40:58,557
No carotid pulse.
858
00:40:58,657 --> 00:40:59,625
DOCTOR: OK.
859
00:40:59,725 --> 00:41:00,859
He's in electromechanical
dissociation.
860
00:41:00,959 --> 00:41:01,760
Let's go.
861
00:41:01,860 --> 00:41:02,828
Continue CPR.
862
00:41:02,928 --> 00:41:04,763
CARSON GARDNER: He'd
lost more than half
863
00:41:04,863 --> 00:41:11,503
of his total blood volume, and
maybe close to 2/3 or more.
864
00:41:11,603 --> 00:41:15,206
I was afraid through the whole
process of working on Don.
865
00:41:15,306 --> 00:41:17,442
I was afraid simply
because I knew
866
00:41:17,543 --> 00:41:19,144
it would take
everything our team
867
00:41:19,244 --> 00:41:20,979
could do to pull him through.
868
00:41:21,079 --> 00:41:23,615
The farther along we
went, the more afraid I
869
00:41:23,715 --> 00:41:25,116
became in a different way.
870
00:41:25,216 --> 00:41:27,686
I was afraid that we as a team--
871
00:41:27,786 --> 00:41:30,756
doctors, nurses, anesthetists,
respiratory therapists,
872
00:41:30,856 --> 00:41:35,260
lab personnel-- would have
saved a body but not a brain.
873
00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:36,294
DOCTOR: One more.
874
00:41:36,394 --> 00:41:37,195
That's it.
875
00:41:37,295 --> 00:41:39,831
One more, Kelly, please.
876
00:41:39,931 --> 00:41:42,634
Hold these, Jan.
877
00:41:42,734 --> 00:41:44,736
CARSON GARDNER: We ran out of
options for Don in our hospital
878
00:41:44,836 --> 00:41:45,971
very quickly.
879
00:41:46,071 --> 00:41:47,773
We resuscitated him.
880
00:41:47,873 --> 00:41:50,976
Our surgeon operated to
repair massive damage
881
00:41:51,076 --> 00:41:52,844
to the veins in his left leg.
882
00:41:52,944 --> 00:41:56,381
We gave Don all the blood
and blood products we had,
883
00:41:56,481 --> 00:41:57,783
and he needed more.
884
00:41:57,883 --> 00:42:02,520
Hold and I'll cauterize, and
we'll come off with him-- off.
885
00:42:02,621 --> 00:42:04,522
CARSON GARDNER: The only thing
we could do was transfer Don.
886
00:42:07,726 --> 00:42:08,894
ROBERT STACK: Don
was helicoptered
887
00:42:08,994 --> 00:42:11,196
to the North Memorial Medical
Center in Minneapolis,
888
00:42:11,296 --> 00:42:13,431
200 miles away.
889
00:42:13,531 --> 00:42:16,501
There, a team of
specialists waited for him.
890
00:42:16,602 --> 00:42:18,670
They stabilized Don's
physical condition,
891
00:42:18,770 --> 00:42:21,006
but his brain showed
no sign of life.
892
00:42:21,106 --> 00:42:22,207
--tests.
893
00:42:22,307 --> 00:42:24,876
The first thing I'm going
to do is open your eye
894
00:42:24,976 --> 00:42:26,211
and shine a light in.
895
00:42:26,311 --> 00:42:30,616
BRUCE NORBACK: When I did the
initial evaluation on Don,
896
00:42:30,716 --> 00:42:32,250
he failed all the tests.
897
00:42:32,350 --> 00:42:36,121
In essence, he basically
did not have any breathing,
898
00:42:36,221 --> 00:42:40,058
any response to pain,
any basic, deep-seated
899
00:42:40,158 --> 00:42:43,394
reflexes that are very well
protected in the brain.
900
00:42:43,494 --> 00:42:47,532
I'm sorry to tell you this,
but your son is brain dead.
901
00:42:47,633 --> 00:42:49,234
I can't accept that.
902
00:42:49,334 --> 00:42:50,368
MARILYN HAMILTON:
Dr. Norback said
903
00:42:50,468 --> 00:42:51,837
that it's the same
as if someone has
904
00:42:51,937 --> 00:42:53,271
been underwater for an hour.
905
00:42:53,371 --> 00:42:55,907
He said, have you ever heard
anybody underwater for an hour,
906
00:42:56,007 --> 00:42:58,276
and had lived, and had a brain?
907
00:42:58,376 --> 00:43:00,045
And I still told him that
I couldn't believe it.
908
00:43:00,145 --> 00:43:02,080
I just couldn't accept that yet.
909
00:43:02,180 --> 00:43:03,649
BRUCE NORBACK: She had
that feeling in her eye
910
00:43:03,749 --> 00:43:07,218
that said, OK, I've heard
your side of the story.
911
00:43:07,318 --> 00:43:08,453
Well, let's just see.
912
00:43:08,553 --> 00:43:11,122
I have my own side of the story.
913
00:43:11,222 --> 00:43:13,524
Oh god, our heavenly
father, we earnestly
914
00:43:13,625 --> 00:43:15,226
pray for Don's recovery.
915
00:43:15,326 --> 00:43:17,996
MARILYN HAMILTON: We knew that
our church was praying for him,
916
00:43:18,096 --> 00:43:20,365
and they were a
support the whole time.
917
00:43:20,465 --> 00:43:21,767
--beyond their help.
918
00:43:21,867 --> 00:43:23,334
We pray that you'll be the great
physician and bring healing--
919
00:43:23,434 --> 00:43:25,436
MARILYN HAMILTON: From 7 o'clock
in the morning till 11 o'clock
920
00:43:25,536 --> 00:43:26,537
at night, we were never alone.
921
00:43:26,638 --> 00:43:28,573
There was someone with us.
922
00:43:28,674 --> 00:43:30,541
And they even had a
schedule made up so that we
923
00:43:30,642 --> 00:43:32,077
wouldn't be alone when he died.
924
00:43:34,813 --> 00:43:37,348
ROBERT STACK: Tragically,
Don's body began to fail him.
925
00:43:37,448 --> 00:43:40,618
First, his kidneys stopped
functioning, then his lungs.
926
00:43:40,719 --> 00:43:44,289
Once he even suffered
a cardiac arrest.
927
00:43:44,389 --> 00:43:46,357
Donny, it's really
going to be nice to get
928
00:43:46,457 --> 00:43:48,126
you out there again.
929
00:43:48,226 --> 00:43:49,460
ROBERT STACK:
Nevertheless, Don's family
930
00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:51,830
talked to him as if he could
hear every word they said.
931
00:43:51,930 --> 00:43:52,998
Don, it's Donna.
932
00:43:53,098 --> 00:43:54,499
ROBERT STACK: They prayed
and searched in vain
933
00:43:54,599 --> 00:43:56,434
for a glimmer of response.
- It snowed last night.
934
00:43:56,534 --> 00:43:58,870
You'd like to get your
snowmobile out now?
935
00:43:58,970 --> 00:44:00,739
ROBERT STACK: Doctors offered
them the option of turning
936
00:44:00,839 --> 00:44:02,974
off Don's life support systems.
937
00:44:03,074 --> 00:44:05,944
They refused, and despite
the overwhelming odds,
938
00:44:06,044 --> 00:44:07,245
never gave up.
939
00:44:07,345 --> 00:44:09,014
WOMAN: You just show us how
hard you'll fight for it.
940
00:44:09,114 --> 00:44:12,283
GEORGE NEMANICH: They kept
up the hope of survival,
941
00:44:12,383 --> 00:44:15,687
even when it seemed like
it would never occur.
942
00:44:15,787 --> 00:44:19,324
And lots of times when we
would bring bleak news,
943
00:44:19,424 --> 00:44:23,394
they would accept it because
they had to accept it,
944
00:44:23,494 --> 00:44:26,965
but you could tell that they
were going to rise above that
945
00:44:27,065 --> 00:44:29,034
and somehow Donny
was going to make it.
946
00:44:29,134 --> 00:44:31,903
My feeling was very
positive all the time.
947
00:44:32,003 --> 00:44:34,539
I just knew that he
was going to be OK.
948
00:44:34,639 --> 00:44:37,709
I just couldn't
help but know that.
949
00:44:37,809 --> 00:44:41,346
After five weeks, his
friend, Karen Speeder and I
950
00:44:41,446 --> 00:44:43,014
went in to see him.
951
00:44:43,114 --> 00:44:43,915
Hi, Don.
952
00:44:44,015 --> 00:44:45,516
How are you doing?
953
00:44:45,616 --> 00:44:47,385
MARILYN HAMILTON: Don, Karen
Speeder is here to see you.
954
00:44:51,823 --> 00:44:53,158
He nodded.
955
00:44:53,258 --> 00:44:56,261
You do know Karen
Speeder, don't you Don?
956
00:44:56,361 --> 00:44:58,696
To me, this was
the breaking point.
957
00:44:58,797 --> 00:45:00,766
And I said, isn't
that nice of Karen
958
00:45:00,866 --> 00:45:03,601
to come and see you and
those three same short nods.
959
00:45:03,701 --> 00:45:06,838
So we knew because it
was answers to questions,
960
00:45:06,938 --> 00:45:09,540
and he was nodding
yes three times.
961
00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:11,376
So we knew that
he was hearing us.
962
00:45:11,476 --> 00:45:12,677
BRUCE NORBACK: By
that time, of course,
963
00:45:12,778 --> 00:45:14,545
we'd been dealing on
a day-to-day basis
964
00:45:14,645 --> 00:45:18,950
with the family and kept giving
this news that was always
965
00:45:19,050 --> 00:45:21,987
couched with, well, I don't
think things are still
966
00:45:22,087 --> 00:45:24,255
going to go well long range.
967
00:45:24,355 --> 00:45:28,126
And then all of a sudden to
see just like a flower opening
968
00:45:28,226 --> 00:45:31,830
that he started to get
markedly better over a period
969
00:45:31,930 --> 00:45:34,432
of just a day or
two was just a great
970
00:45:34,532 --> 00:45:37,735
feeling all the way around.
971
00:45:37,836 --> 00:45:39,370
ROBERT STACK: In four
weeks, Don Hamilton
972
00:45:39,470 --> 00:45:41,840
made the miraculous
journey from brain death
973
00:45:41,940 --> 00:45:44,810
to walking away from the
hospital on crutches.
974
00:45:44,910 --> 00:45:47,645
Within six months, he
threw the crutches away.
975
00:45:47,745 --> 00:45:49,447
The doctors and
Don's family were
976
00:45:49,547 --> 00:45:51,416
united in the awesome
feeling that they
977
00:45:51,516 --> 00:45:54,585
had witnessed a wonderful
and mysterious event.
978
00:45:54,685 --> 00:45:56,788
[inaudible]
979
00:45:56,888 --> 00:45:59,925
BRUCE NORBACK: This was
a very memorable case.
980
00:46:00,025 --> 00:46:03,261
We love being wrong in
situations like this.
981
00:46:03,361 --> 00:46:06,064
It sort of balances
the ledger, shall
982
00:46:06,164 --> 00:46:08,533
we say, a little bit for
all those other ones where
983
00:46:08,633 --> 00:46:10,936
things don't quite go as well.
984
00:46:11,036 --> 00:46:12,670
CARSON GARDNER: If
you believe in god,
985
00:46:12,770 --> 00:46:15,506
you'll call Don Hamilton's
survival a miracle.
986
00:46:15,606 --> 00:46:17,442
I happen to believe in god.
987
00:46:17,542 --> 00:46:21,079
The doctors don't
know why I lived.
988
00:46:21,179 --> 00:46:23,849
And I think god had a reason
why I'm supposed to be here
989
00:46:23,949 --> 00:46:26,885
and he pulled me through.
990
00:46:26,985 --> 00:46:28,386
ROBERT STACK: 20 Months
after his accident,
991
00:46:28,486 --> 00:46:30,956
Don married Donna Johnson.
992
00:46:31,056 --> 00:46:33,959
Every day, Don
Hamilton feels awe.
993
00:46:34,059 --> 00:46:37,896
He no longer takes life's joys
or life itself for granted.
994
00:46:42,433 --> 00:46:44,802
[music playing]
995
00:46:50,341 --> 00:46:53,778
Next week on "Unsolved
Mysteries," in 1962,
996
00:46:53,879 --> 00:46:55,313
Sonny Liston was
the toughest man
997
00:46:55,413 --> 00:46:57,949
on earth, the heavyweight
champion of the world.
998
00:46:58,049 --> 00:46:59,985
Nine years later he was dead.
999
00:47:00,085 --> 00:47:02,587
Police say he killed himself,
but his friends and family
1000
00:47:02,687 --> 00:47:05,523
say Sonny Liston was murdered--
1001
00:47:05,623 --> 00:47:07,558
also the story of
Sharon Stevens,
1002
00:47:07,658 --> 00:47:09,527
a woman whose life has
been haunted by the abuse
1003
00:47:09,627 --> 00:47:11,029
she suffered as a child.
1004
00:47:11,129 --> 00:47:13,698
But Sharon does have
one happy memory--
1005
00:47:13,798 --> 00:47:15,800
a couple who briefly
were her foster parents
1006
00:47:15,901 --> 00:47:18,603
and taught her the true
meaning of the word love.
1007
00:47:18,703 --> 00:47:22,607
SHARON STEVENS: I know that it
hadn't been for them I probably
1008
00:47:22,707 --> 00:47:30,248
would have been a child abuser,
a drug addict, a prostitute,
1009
00:47:30,348 --> 00:47:33,618
a very active alcoholic.
1010
00:47:33,718 --> 00:47:36,387
I feel I would have
turned out very
1011
00:47:36,487 --> 00:47:38,924
bad if it hadn't been for them.
1012
00:47:39,024 --> 00:47:41,526
ROBERT STACK: Sharon wants
to reunite with this couple
1013
00:47:41,626 --> 00:47:45,430
and thank them for
literally saving her life.
1014
00:47:45,530 --> 00:47:48,099
Join me next week
for another edition
1015
00:47:48,199 --> 00:47:49,400
of "Unsolved Mysteries."
1016
00:47:49,500 --> 00:47:52,437
[music playing]
79309
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