Original subtitles

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS LIKE A MELODY *

IT ALL LOOKS SO GOOD.

YEAH.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU GONNA GET?

THE CHOCOLATE.

WE'LL HAVE A STRAWBERRY AND A CHOCOLATE, PLEASE.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT STEFFIE BRYAN.

IN FACT, SHE WASN'T MUCH DIFFERENT

THAN THE THOUSANDS OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLS

IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. BYE-BYE.

STEFFIE WAS YOUR DAUGHTER OR YOUR NIECE

OR YOUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR'S KID.

BUT THAT'S WHAT GAVE THE STORY LEGS.

BYE.

AND FOR THE LAST HALF OF 1955,

SHE WAS ALL ANYONE IN THE BAY AREA COULD TALK ABOUT.

BUT WHY THIS GIRL, ABOVE ALL OTHERS, YOU ASK?

WHY STEPHANIE BRYAN?

BECAUSE ON APRIL 28, 1955, STEFFIE VANISHED.

NOWADAYS WHEN YOU HEAR "BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA,"

YOU THINK HIPPIES AND RADICALS.

BUT BACK WHEN I WAS COVERING THE STEPHANIE BRYAN CASE,

IT WAS "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" LAND

AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE,

RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE BRYAN HOUSE.

THE FAMILY HAD MOVED TO CALIFORNIA

FROM MASSACHUSETTS

TWO YEARS BEFORE THIS ALL HAPPENED.

HE WAS A DOCTOR, AND SHE WAS A DOCTOR'S WIFE.

THEY WERE PROPER NEW ENGLANDERS...

WHICH MEANT ORDER AND PUNCTUALITY.

THE FIRST SIGN THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT IS THAT STEPHANIE,

THE RULE-FOLLOWER, THE VERY GOOD DAUGHTER,

SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP AT HOME ON TIME.

STEPHANIE'S MOM KNOWS

THAT SHE GETS OUT OF SCHOOL AT 3:15.

CHILDREN, HAVE EITHER OF YOU SEEN STEPHANIE?

SO, WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME HOME BY 4:00,

MOM THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY, "THIS IS NOT RIGHT."

HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS MARY BRYAN.

YES, I -- I'M CALLING TO INQUIRE ABOUT MY DAUGHTER STEPHANIE.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF SHE'S, LEFT SCHOOL YET.

HI. JANICE.

HI.

YES, THIS IS MARY BRYAN.

YES, SHE'S NOT HOME YET.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED.

YES, MEREDITH. HI.

THIS IS MARY BRYAN CALLING.

I'M CALLING TO SEE IF STEPHANIE COME HOME

WITH YOUR DAUGHTER TODAY.

ONE FRIEND WAS THIS GIRL, MARY ANN STEWART.

AND IN FACT, MARY ANN HAD BEEN WITH STEPHANIE AFTER SCHOOL.

MARY ANN STEWART WAS ABLE TO SAY,

"WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY.

"SHE CHECKED OUT SOME BOOKS.

"AND THEN WE WENT TO THE DOUGHNUT SHOP.

AND FROM THERE, WE STARTED TO WALK HOME."

BUT THEY WENT SEPARATE WAYS ONCE THEY GOT TO THAT WOODED PATH.

SO, SHE'S GETTING MORE AND MORE ANXIOUS.

DR. AND MRS. BRYAN, MY NAME IS DETECTIVE HUTCHINS.

THIS IS MY PARTNER.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR DAUGHTER WENT MISSING THIS AFTERNOON.

AT 5:30 THAT AFTERNOON, THE FATHER COMES HOME,

AND HE CALLS THE POLICE.

WHAT WAS STEPHANIE WEARING THE LAST TIME SHE WAS SEEN?

SHE WAS WEARING A BLUE CARDIGAN, TURQUOISE SKIRT.

SHE WAS CARRYING A RED PURSE, AND SADDLE SHOES.

IS THERE A PHOTO OF HER

OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD TAKE A LOOK AT?

THANK YOU.

STEPHANIE WAS 14.

SHE WAS THE OLDEST OF FIVE.

SHE WAS VERY BOOKISH, VERY QUIET, VERY STUDIOUS.

NOW, THE FIRST THING THAT COPS TELL WORRIED PARENTS IS,

"DON'T WORRY.

"LITTLE BOBBY OR SALLY IS GONNA COME

WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR ANY MINUTE."

DR. BRYAN, IS THERE A TELEPHONE THAT I COULD USE?

CERTAINLY. RIGHT THIS WAY.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ONE.

MAYBE IT WAS STEFFIE'S "GOOD GIRL" STATUS,

MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE LOOK IN MRS. BRYAN'S EYES.

IT WAS DIFFERENT BACK THEN.

US GUYS ON THE CRIME BEAT

HAD TO HOLD DOWN THE BENCH AT THE PRECINCT FOR HOURS,

JUST WAITING FOR A HEADLINE TO ROLL IN.

BERKELEY P.D.

APB, ALL CARS. STEPHANIE BRYAN.

AT 9:00 P.M. THEY PUT OUT AN APB.

BROWN EYES, BROWN HAIR.

AND AT THAT POINT,

THE MEDIA BECOMES AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

LAST SEEN, THE TENNIS CLUB OF THE CLAREMONT HOTEL.

THE NEWS MEDIA LOVES NOTHING MORE

THAN A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG GIRL IN DISTRESS.

SADDLE SHOES, 5'2".

BACK IN 1955, THERE WERE

FOUR MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN THE BAY AREA.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY WERE ALL COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER

FOR THE SCOOP ON THE CASE.

WITH A MISSING-PERSONS CASE, THEY NEED THE MEDIA

BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO GET IT OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

AND THE TIPS STARTED COMING IN.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WHERE'D YOU SAY YOU SAW THIS HAPPEN?

A NAVY LIEUTENANT SAID HE SAW A MAN DRIVING VERY ERRATICALLY.

AND IN THE BACK, HE SEES THIS YOUNG GIRL.

AND HE SAW THE MAN TURN AROUND AND HIT HER.

WHITE MALE, BROWN HAIR.

BUT IT'S A VERY GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR.

NO LICENSE PLATE.

NOTHING TO REALLY POINT THEM TOWARDS ANY INDIVIDUAL.

THE POLICE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION

THAT THE BRYANS HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A WELL-OFF DOCTOR.

SO, THEIR FIRST THOUGHT IS RANSOM.

THEY WIRETAP THE HOME...

...AND AWAIT THE CALL.

HELLO? YES.

YES.

32 HOURS AFTER STEPHANIE GOES MISSING,

A PHONE CALL DOES, IN FACT, COME IN.

AND THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END SAYS THAT HE WANTS $5,000

FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF STEPHANIE.

YES.

YES.

THE CALLER SAID,

"I WANT YOU TO DROP THE MONEY IN WEST OAKLAND.

NO COPS."

OKAY. I'LL BE THERE.

SO, DR. BRYAN MAKES A BEELINE FOR THE SPOT, CASH IN HAND.

NOW EVERYONE -- AND I MEAN EVERYONE KNOWS

YOU DON'T TRY AND HANDLE THINGS YOURSELF,

NO MATTER WHAT THE GUY ON THE PHONE SAYS.

ARE YOU HER FATHER?

DON'T MOVE.

SO, STEFFIE BRYAN'S PARENTS HAD GOTTEN A RANSOM CALL

AND HIGH-TAILED IT TO THE RENDEZVOUS

WITH THE MONEY AND THE COPS.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?

DOES IT MATTER?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?

MY NAME'S L.C.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING OUT HERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW?

WHAT WERE YOU ASKING THAT MAN?

THE POLICE HAVE THIS GUY.

HE'S AN 18-YEAR-OLD. HIS NAME IS L.C. ELLIOT.

AND WHAT ELLIOT TELLS THEM IS THAT HE'S BEEN PAID

BY A WHITE MAN TO GET THE RANSOM MONEY.

AND HE ASKED YOU TO ASK HIM? YES.

HOW MUCH MONEY? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHEN THE COPS SEARCHED THE AREA,

THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING.

THE WHOLE THING SMELLED WRONG.

EVENTUALLY, HE JUST BREAKS DOWN AND SAYS,

"I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT KIDNAPPING.

"BUT I READ ABOUT IT,

AND I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE SOME MONEY."

I SWEAR, IF I HAD A DIME FOR EVERY SKEL

WHO TRIED TO WORK AN ANGLE ON THE COPS, I'D BE A RICH MAN.

HE WAS JUST A BLOODSUCKER

THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK

TO TRY AND EXTORT THE FAMILY.

FOUR DAYS AFTER STEPHANIE DISAPPEARS,

A MAN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

PULLS OVER TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

AND HE SEES A BOOK.

IT'S ACTUALLY STEPHANIE BRYAN'S FRENCH BOOK.

THE BOOK IS FOUND ON FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD,

WHICH IS AN HOUR FROM WHERE SHE DISAPPEARED.

THIS CRIME SCENE NOW HAS EXTENDED

WELL BEYOND THE BAY AREA.

AND IT COULD HAVE EVEN GONE INTO ANOTHER STATE.

AND REMEMBER, BACK THEN,

THERE WERE NO COMPUTERS, NO INTERNET.

THE DATABASE FOR THESE GUYS WAS CALLED A FILING CABINET.

A SEARCH ENGINE, IT HAD FOUR WHEELS AND A V-8.

THEY WANT TO FIND STEPHANIE IN THE ABSOLUTE WORST WAY.

THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO GENERATE LEADS.

TOO MUCH TIME HAD PASSED WITHOUT A REAL RANSOM CALL.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.

THE MOTIVE WASN'T MONEY.

IT WAS SOMETHING WORSE.

THOMAS. PEEPING THOMAS.

WE MEET AGAIN.

LOOK FAMILIAR?

14-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL.

I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS, OFFICER.

I'M GETTING SO TIRED OF SEEING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

WELL, BACK IN 1955,

THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PROFILING

OR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT MORE TO GO ON THAN CONTACTING PEOPLE

THAT MAY HAVE HAD PROPENSITY TO DO THIS KIND OF THING.

THEY HAULED IN EVERY CREEP IN THE FILES --

FLASHERS AND MASHERS, PERVS AND JERKERS.

IT'S LIKE WE BOUGHT A TICKET TO THE LOSER PARADE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

I'VE NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE,

AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS GIRL.

THAT CAME TO A DEAD END, AS WELL.

STEPHANIE'S DISAPPEARANCE HAS BEEN HEADLINE NEWS

FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

THE CASE IS ESSENTIALLY COLD.

IT'S AT A STANDSTILL.

NOW, HERE'S THE THING YOU HAVE TO KNOW

ABOUT WORKING THE CRIME BEAT.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOUR STORY IS PETERED OUT,

YOUR NEXT HEADLINE CAN HIT.

AND IT CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE.

AND I MEAN ANYWHERE.

IN A HOUSE IN ALAMEDA,

GEORGIA ABBOTT, A 33-YEAR-OLD COSMETOLOGIST,

GOES DOWN INTO HER BASEMENT...

...AND SHE DISCOVERS A RED LEATHER PURSE.

AND IT'S NOT HERS.

THE STEPHANIE BRYAN DISAPPEARANCE

HAD BEEN FRONT-PAGE NEWS FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS,

BUT THE POLICE HAD NOTHING.

AND THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,

THEY GET THE MOTHER OF ALL BREAKS...

...IN THE CRAZIEST OF PLACES.

MRS. ABBOTT, WHAT BROUGHT YOU DOWN --

PLEASE CALL ME GEORGIA.

GEORGIA.

THE DETECTIVES GO IN, AND THEY TRY TO GET THE STORY

BEHIND HOW THESE ITEMS COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN THEIR BASEMENT.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU WERE IN THE BASEMENT

THIS EVENING?

WELL, I WAS GOING DOWN TO LOOK FOR A HAT.

FOR A COSTUME.

COSTUME? DO YOU GO DOWN THERE OFTEN?

NOT OFTEN.

I'M THE HEAD OF THE COSMETOLOGY SOCIETY,

AND EVERY YEAR WE HOST A SORT OF GALA EVENT... THING.

UM, OTTO?

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE THEME WAS LAST YEAR FOR THE GALA?

UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UM, OLD WEST, WESTERN?

THIS YEAR, IT'S 1920s THEMED, AND I NEEDED A FLAPPER HAT.

AND DO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAVE ANY OTHER AREAS OF STORAGE,

MAYBE THE ATTIC?

OTTO'S NOT MY HUSBAND.

WE'RE NOT MARRIED.

NO. BURTON'S MY HUSBAND.

MR. ABBOTT, YOU MIND IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?

NOT AT ALL.

BURTON ABBOTT IS 27.

HE IS AN ACCOUNTING STUDENT AT U.C. BERKELEY.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

SEVEN YEARS?

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?

YEAH.

WELL, I WAS COOKING.

WE WERE JUST GETTING READY FOR DINNER.

AND MY WIFE, SHE CAME UPSTAIRS HOLDING A RED PURSE.

SHE OPENED IT UP. SHE SHOWED IT TO US.

AND INSIDE WAS AN I.D. CARD OF STEPHANIE BRYAN.

WE RECOGNIZED THE NAME FROM THE PAPERS.

DID YOU TOUCH IT?

YES.

I THINK WE ALL TOUCHED THE PURSE.

MYSELF, OTTO, GEORGIA, MY MOTHER.

YOUR MOTHER?

YES, MY MOTHER, ELSIE. IS SHE HERE?

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO HER.

NO. SHE WAS HERE, BUT SHE LEFT.

SHE -- SHE DOESN'T REALLY LIKE

PEOPLE INTRUDING IN ON THE HOUSE, SO.

AND OTHER THAN YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND,

HAS ANYBODY HAD ANY ACCESS TO THE BASEMENT?

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

AND, YOU KNOW, WE USED IT AS A POLLING STATION

FOR THIS LITTLE ELECTION A FEW MONTHS AGO.

A POLLING STATION? YES.

SO, A LOT OF THE PUBLIC WAS DOWN THERE.

AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE PUT IT DOWN THERE.

WELL, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

FOR THE COPS TO CHECK OUT,

AND THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE FORCED TO.

BUT RIGHT THEN, THOSE DETECTIVES WERE MORE INTERESTED

IN THE THREE PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSE.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BURTON AND GEORGIA ABBOTT?

UM, FAMILY FRIENDS, NEIGHBOR.

GEORGIA ACTUALLY WORKS AT MY WIFE'S BEAUTY SALON.

OTTO DEZMAN WAS MARRIED TO LEONA DEZMAN

WHO OWNED THE BEAUTY PARLOR WHERE GEORGIA WORKED.

AND HE WAS AN EX-MARINE,

KIND OF DID A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.

WHERE WERE YOU APRIL 28th?

YOU REMEMBER?

YEAH, I WAS WORKING ON A CONSTRUCTION JOB,

AND I HAD TO RUN SOME ERRANDS THAT DAY.

I WAS PROBABLY AT THE BEAUTY PARLOR

BECAUSE I WORK EVERY THURSDAY.

THE 28th OF APRIL?

THE 28th, YEAH.

I WAS HEADED UP TO THE FAMILY CABIN

FOR A FISHING TRIP.

AND WHERE IS THAT?

IT'S UP IN WEAVERVILLE, IN TRINITY COUNTY.

ABOUT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET OUT THERE?

WELL, IT WAS LONG ENOUGH.

I MEAN, IT'S ABOUT 300 MILES FROM HERE TO WEAVERVILLE.

SO, IT TOOK A GOOD CHUNK OF THE DAY.

I DID STOP OFF FOR A MEAL AT THE CHUCK WAGON.

AND I ALSO STOPPED OFF AT THE WILDWOOD INN

TO GET A COUPLE OF DRINKS...

AND ARRIVED AT THE CABIN.

BURTON SAYS THAT HE HAD GONE TO A FAMILY CABIN

ABOUT SIX HOURS AWAY.

THINK ABOUT IT.

THE MISSING GIRL'S PURSE WAS FOUND

IN SOME WEIRD GUY'S BASEMENT,

AND HE MENTIONS A SOLO TRIP UP TO A SECLUDED CABIN

IN THE WOODS?

YOU BET THE COPS WERE GONNA CHECK IT OUT.

THEY LOOK AROUND THE CABIN.

THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF STEPHANIE.

THEY GO TO THE CHUCK WAGON, AND THEY TALK TO A WAITRESS.

THE INVESTIGATORS PRESENTED HER WITH SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM.

AND SHE SAID, "YEAH, YEAH. I RECOGNIZE HIM.

"YOU KNOW, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER

HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THAT GUY."

AND SHE DESCRIBED KIND OF WHAT WE HE WAS WEARING,

WHICH MATCHED UP WITH WHAT HE SAID HE WAS WEARING

ON THAT THURSDAY EVENING.

THAT MEANT ABBOTT WAS AT LEAST SIX HOURS NORTH OF BERKELEY

WHEN STEFFIE WAS SNATCHED, SO THAT WAS A NO-GO.

SO, THEY COME BACK HOME TO THE BAY AREA.

THE COPS GO BACK TO THE ABBOTT HOUSE,

AND THEY TURNED IT INSIDE-OUT.

MOTHER? THEY'D LIKE YOU DOWNSTAIRS NOW.

BURTON'S CAR REALLY MATCHED FAIRLY CLOSELY

THE DESCRIPTION OF PEOPLE THAT HAD CALLED IN WITH LEADS.

A VERY RENOWNED CRIMINALIST PROFESSOR

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA NAMED PAUL KIRK

COMES AND GOES OVER THE CAR WITH A FINE-TOOTHED COMB.

CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING TO DRINK?

COFFEE? TEA?

THANK YOU.

YOU COULD TELL THESE PEOPLE TO LEAVE, IS WHAT YOU COULD DO.

MOTHER.

I'M HEADING DOWN TO THE BASEMENT.

AND THEY GO DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT.

IT'S HALF DIRT, HALF PAVEMENT.

AND THEY DECIDE TO START DIGGING.

NOW WE REALLY PUT A BIG DISTANCE

BETWEEN INVESTIGATORS AND THE MEDIA.

BUT THERE WAS NO DISTANCE HERE BACK IN 1955.

THEY WERE ALMOST ELBOW TO ELBOW ON THIS INVESTIGATION.

THEY FIND THE LIBRARY BOOKS SHE CHECKED OUT,

THE PARAKEET BOOK...

...HER GLASSES...

...AND HER BRA.

THAT MEANS, TO THEM,

THAT SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED TO STEPHANIE.

STEPHANIE BRYAN'S BELONGINGS WERE FOUND

IN THE BASEMENT OF A HOUSE IN BERKELEY.

IT WASN'T A SMOKING GUN,

BUT IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN

AS FAR AS JOHN Q. PUBLIC WAS CONCERNED.

FOR US IN THE DAILIES,

THE SMART MONEY WAS ON THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,

A GUY NAMED BURTON ABBOTT.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE SEEING YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER?

UNPLEASANT, IN A WORD.

TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY LIKES

BEING THROWN INTO THE LIMELIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS FASHION.

BURTON, DID YOU DO IT?

AS I'VE TOLD THE POLICE AND THE FBI MANY TIMES,

I DID NOT, NO.

AT THIS POINT, BURTON ABBOTT SAYS,

"HEY, I'M COMPLETELY INNOCENT.

"I'M BEING FRAMED.

"I DIDN'T PUT THOSE ITEMS THERE.

"I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU

THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO MY BASEMENT."

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO STEPHANIE BRYAN'S FAMILY?

I'M MOURNING WITH THEM, AS ARE MY FAMILY.

I'M A FATHER MYSELF, AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE

THE HORROR THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH.

AND WE'RE ALL PRAYING

THAT SHE'S REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY VERY SOON.

IF I COULD BE FRANK, ME AND MY FAMILY,

W-WE'RE KIND OF READY FOR THIS MEDIA FRENZY,

IF YOU WILL CALL IT, TO BE OVER.

WE'RE READY TO GO BACK TO OUR DAILY LIVES.

AND SO, I'VE AGREED TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH TEST

FOR THE POLICE

AND DO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN TO SPEED THIS PROCESS ALONG

BECAUSE, FRANKLY, I THINK WE'RE READY

TO JUST GO BACK TO OUR PRIVATE LIVES.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THAT WILL BE ALL.

IS YOUR NAME BURTON WILBUR ABBOTT?

YES.

DO YOU LIVE AT 1408 SAN JOSé AVENUE?

YES.

ARE YOU MARRIED TO GEORGIA ABBOTT?

YES.

THE POLYGRAPH IS ADMINISTERED BY A BERKELEY DETECTIVE

CALLED AL RIEDEL.

HE WAS THOUGHT OF AS ONE OF THE TOP POLYGRAPH EXAMINERS

IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DID YOU DO ON APRIL 28, 1955?

WENT TO MY WIFE'S PARLOR,

SAID HELLO TO HER ABOUT 10:00 A.M.

AND THEN I DROVE UP TO WEAVERVILLE, TRINITY COUNTY.

ON MY WAY, I STOPPED FOR GAS.

THEY ASK, "DO YOU HAVE A RECEIPT FOR THE GAS?"

AND HE SAYS, "NO, I DON'T HAVE A RECEIPT.

"I PAID CASH.

"MY WIFE SAYS I USE THE CREDIT CARD TOO MUCH,

SO I CAN'T VERIFY THAT."

I STOPPED AT THE CHUCK WAGON TO HAVE AN EARLY DINNER.

THAT'S WHERE THE WAITRESS HAD SEEN HIM.

I STOPPED AT THE WILDWOOD INN TO HAVE A DRINK.

I SAID HELLO TO THE OWNER.

THEN I GOT TO THE CABIN, AND I WENT TO BED.

HE TELLS INVESTIGATORS THAT HE SPENT THAT NIGHT AT THE CABIN.

TELL US YOUR ROUTE HOME.

I TOOK THE ZIG-ZAGGIEST ROUTE YOU EVER DID SEE.

ROUTE 36 TO 99 EAST,

HIGHWAY 40 OVER THE CARQUINEZ BRIDGE.

THEN I TOOK A SHORTCUT ALONG FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD.

STEPHANIE BRYAN'S FRENCH BOOK

WAS FOUND ON FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD.

DO YOU KNOW STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

DID YOU ABDUCT STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

DID YOU KILL STEPHANIE BRYAN?

NO.

I DON'T SEE ANY FLUCTUATION.

THE RESULTS ARE INCONCLUSIVE.

NOTHING SHOWS THAT BURTON'S LYING.

THE POLYGRAPH DIDN'T PAN OUT LIKE THEY WERE HOPING IT WOULD,

AND THAT LEFT THEM WITH TWO OPTIONS THEY DIDN'T LIKE.

"A," BURTON WAS THEIR GUY,

BUT HAD SOMEHOW BEATEN THE TEST.

OR "B," BURTON WASN'T THEIR GUY

AND THEY WERE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

SIR?

THEN THEY GET AN ANONYMOUS NOTE.

THE NOTE SAYS, "IT'S NOT BURTON.

WHO YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT ARE GEORGIA AND OTTO."

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU

THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION.

THE IDEA OF THAT PAIR FRAMING BURTON FOR MURDER

WASN'T SO CRAZY.

SO, THE DETECTIVES WENT TO TALK TO THE PERSON

WHO HAD AVOIDED THEM FROM THE BEGINNING,

THE ONE WHO MIGHT KNOW ALL THERE WAS TO KNOW

ABOUT GEORGIA, OTTO, AND BURTON.

ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR US,

WE'D REALLY --

PERHAPS YOU SHOULD ASK HER.

GEORGIA?

YES. AND MAYBE OTTO.

GEORGIA AND OTTO?

YES, PERHAPS.

WHY DO YOU BRING UP THEIR NAMES?

WELL, THEY DO SEEM AWFULLY CLOSE.

ELSIE SAID, "GEORGIA JUMPS FROM MAN TO MAN.

SHE'S UNFAITHFUL TO MY SON."

AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT WHAT BURTON IS SAYING IS THAT,

"SOMEBODY'S FRAMING ME,"

AND THE IMPLICATION IS

THAT OTTO COULD BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

INVESTIGATORS RECALL

THAT THEY THOUGHT GEORGIA AND OTTO SEEMED A LITTLE COZY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SPINNING THAT THEORY OUT,

THEY HAVE TO BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY...

THANKS AGAIN.

...DID OTTO FRAME BURTON SO THAT HE COULD HAVE GEORGIA?

OTTO'S NEIGHBOR CAME FORWARD.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD HEARD SCREAMING FROM HIS GARAGE

THE DAY THAT STEPHANIE WENT MISSING.

NOT ONLY THAT,

SHE SAID SHE HAD A HOE AND SHE HAD A SHOVEL

THAT WERE MISSING FROM HER GARAGE.

SIT HIM DOWN.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GEORGIA ABBOTT?

YOU'VE BEEN SLEEPING WITH HER.

NO!

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

OTTO DENIED THE AFFAIR

AND THE RUMORS FROM HIS NEIGHBOR.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK A GUY'S GONNA SAY

WHEN HE'S PUT IN A SPOT LIKE THAT?

WHERE WERE YOU APRIL 28th WHEN STEPHANIE BRYAN DISAPPEARED?

THAT DAY, OTTO'S WIFE WAS WORKING AT THE BEAUTY PARLOR.

LET ME SEE THAT.

HE WENT INTO THE BEAUTY PARLOR,

AND THERE WAS A WOMAN THERE THAT HAD A PARKING TICKET.

AND HE VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE HER PARKING TICKET

TO THE PARKING BUREAU AND PAY IT.

DATE CHECKS OUT.

THAT PUTS HIM IN ALAMEDA WHEN STEPHANIE DISAPPEARS.

SO, HE BASICALLY HAS AN IRON-CLAD ALIBI.

WERE GEORGIA AND OTTO HAVING AN AFFAIR?

WHO KNOWS?

THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING STOPPED RIGHT THERE.

AND THAT'S WHEN ONE OF US -- A REPORTER, I MEAN,

A REAL HARD CASE NAMED ED MONTGOMERY --

PLAYED A HUNCH.

BETWEEN THE CAR, FRANKLIN CANYON ROAD,

STEPHANIE'S STUFF IN THE BASEMENT,

AND ABBOTT'S TIMELY TRIP NORTH,

MONTGOMERY DECIDED THERE HAD TO BE ANSWERS UP AT THAT CABIN.

THERE WAS NO WAY IN HIS MIND

THAT THERE WASN'T SOMETHING UP THERE THAT THE COPS MISSED.

MONTGOMERY AND A PHOTOGRAPHER WENT DOWN

TO BURTON ABBOTT'S CABIN SITE AND LOOKED AROUND.

THEY LOOKED AND THEY LOOKED,

AND THE DAY WAS ENDING.

SO, MONTGOMERY, BEING THE SMART,

RESOURCEFUL REPORTER THAT HE WAS...

...WENT AND FOUND SOME BLOODHOUNDS.

THE DOGS HIT...

...AT A LOCATION THAT'S WAY UP ON A STEEP HILL.

BUT AS THEY GET CLOSER...

THEY SEE A LITTLE SADDLE SHOE STICKING OUT OF THE DIRT.

A CABIN IN THE WOODS, AN INTREPID REPORTER,

AND A PACK OF BLOODHOUNDS.

THREE HOURS LATER, WE WERE STARING AT A BODY,

AND THE COPS WERE SWARMING.

THEY FIND STEPHANIE'S BODY

WITHIN 330-SOME FEET TO THE CABIN

WHERE BURTON SAYS HE WAS THAT THURSDAY.

THEY'RE ABLE TO TELL FROM INSECT LARVAE

THAT SHE WAS KILLED SHORTLY AFTER HER ABDUCTION.

THERE HAD BEEN SOME VERY SEVERE BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA

TO HER HEAD.

THEY SAW THAT HER UNDERPANTS HAD BEEN AROUND HER THROAT.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, EVEN FOR VETERAN REPORTERS,

THE DETAILS WERE NIGHTMARISH.

THERE HE IS!

ALL RIGHT, FELLAS. MOVE IT ALONG.

SO, THEY ARREST HIM.

BUT HE'S STILL PRETTY COOL, AND HE'S CALM,

AND HE'S COLLECTED.

NOW THE PROSECUTOR KNOWS THAT HE'S UNDER A TIME CRUNCH.

IT SOUNDS FROM THE OUTSET LIKE HE HAD A GOOD CASE.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO COURT,

THAT EVIDENCE HAS TO RISE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL

WHERE A JURY OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY,

"THIS IS MORE THAN CIRCUMSTANTIAL."

SO, HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO NEED FORENSIC EVIDENCE

BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T, BURTON'S GOING TO WALK.

NOVEMBER 7, 1955,

THE TRIAL STARTED, AND IT WAS GONNA BE HUGE.

HACKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SHOWED UP.

AND JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT

THE CIRCUS COULDN'T GET ANY BIGGER...

THE MAIN ATTRACTION ARRIVED TO TAKE CENTER RING.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, HE WAS A SHOW-STOPPER.

BURTON ABBOTT HAS NO EMOTION THAT'S CONSISTENT

WITH THE FACT THAT HE'S FACING THE CHARGE OF HOMICIDE

WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEATH SENTENCE.

HE'S COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THAT.

IN COURT, HE'S GLIB AND CHARMING.

HE WAS LAUGHING AND JOKING TO THE MEDIA,

TO THE DEFENSE, TO ANYBODY THERE.

'COURSE, THE D.A. WAS UNIMPRESSED

WITH ABBOTT'S SHENANIGANS

AND WENT RIGHT AFTER HIM AND HIS ALIBI.

BURTON ABBOTT SAID ON THURSDAY,

THE DAY OF STEPHANIE'S DISAPPEARANCE,

HE LEFT FOR TRINITY COUNTY

SOME TIME SHORTLY AFTER 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

SO, HE COULDN'T HAVE ABDUCTED STEPHANIE.

AND THE WAITRESS AT THE CHUCK WAGON HAD SAID

SHE'D SEEN HIM THURSDAY NIGHT.

BUT THE BARTENDER AT THE WILDWOOD INN

REMEMBERED IT DIFFERENTLY.

WAS IT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY?

FRIDAY.

THE BARTENDER SAID, "HE WASN'T HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT."

THEY VERIFIED THAT HE WAS THERE THE FOLLOWING DAY,

BUT THEY SAID, "NO, HE WASN'T HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT."

TOUGH DAY FOR ABBOTT, AIN'T IT, FELLAS?

HE'S NOT SO COCKY ANYMORE, IS HE?

GOT THAT RIGHT.

IT WAS A GOOD OPENING MOVE FOR THE D.A.

SHOW ABBOTT'S A LIAR ABOUT ONE THING,

AND CHANCES ARE HE'S A LIAR ABOUT EVERYTHING.

IT'S EFFECTIVE, BUT IT'S NOT FOOLPROOF,

AND THAT'S WHERE THE PROSECUTION'S

KEY WITNESS CAME IN.

SO, FINALLY, THE PROSECUTION BRINGS OUT THEIR SECRET WEAPON,

FORENSIC EXPERT PAUL KIRK.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,

THIS WAS BEFORE "PERRY MASON" AND "THE DEFENDERS"

AND SHOWS THAT MADE US ALL FEEL THAT WE KNEW OUR WAY AROUND

THE INSIDE OF A COURTROOM.

MOST OF US HAD NEVER SEEN ANYONE LIKE PAUL KIRK.

PAUL KIRK WAS A NATIONALLY RENOWNED CRIMINOLOGIST.

HE WAS A PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY.

HE HAD DEVELOPED SEVERAL TECHNIQUES

IN THE AREA OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

PROFESSOR KIRK, CAN YOU TELL US THE SIGNIFICANCE

OF THE FIBER THAT YOU FOUND IN BURTON ABBOTT'S CAR?

I CANNOT ONLY TELL YOU, I CAN SHOW YOU.

I BROUGHT ALONG SOME SAMPLES.

PAUL SAYS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FIBERS

FROM BURTON'S CAR

THAT, ULTIMATELY, HE WAS ABLE TO MATCH

TO THE FIBERS IN STEPHANIE'S SWEATER.

HE ALSO SAID HE FOUND HAIRS

THAT MATCHED THE HAIRS OF STEPHANIE.

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DIRT

THAT YOU FOUND ON HIS BOOTS?

WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO,

WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IN A LABORATORY,

IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, SAY,

THE DIRT FOUND ON THE LAWN OUTSIDE THIS COURTHOUSE

AND A LAWN FOUND A FEW MILES AWAY IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.

PAUL WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT THE DIRT ON BURTON'S BOOTS

MATCHED THE DIRT NINE INCHES DOWN INTO STEPHANIE'S GRAVE.

THE EVIDENCE DON'T LIE, BOYS. THE EVIDENCE DON'T LIE.

AND ONCE THE D.A. HAD STACKED UP HIS CASE BRICK BY BRICK,

HE DID WHAT D.A.s DO BEST --

HE TOLD THE JURY A STORY.

ON APRIL 28, 1955,

STEPHANIE BRYAN WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL.

HE GRABBED HER...

...AND HIT HER...

SO HE COULD GET CONTROL OF HER.

HE THEN PUT HER IN HIS CAR.

HE HAD AN INSTRUMENT THAT HE USED

TO INFLICT THE BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA.

* THAT HAUNTS YOU NIGHT AND DAY *

AND THEN, ONCE HE WAS FINISHED WITH HER,

HE THEN PUT HER IN THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR

AND THEN DROVE UP TO TRINITY.... * JUST LIKE THE STRAIN *

* OF A HAUNTING REFRAIN *

...AND BURIES HER 300 FEET FROM HIS CABIN.

AND THEN, ON HIS WAY HOME, ABBOTT DISCARDS A FRENCH BOOK.

AND THEN, ARRIVING HOME, YOU KNOW,

HE'S GOT SOME OF HER OTHER POSSESSIONS,

AND HE BURIES A COUPLE OF THEM UNDERNEATH HIS HOUSE.

SIX DAYS OF DELIBERATIONS AND NO VERDICT.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.

THOSE 12 JURORS COULDN'T AGREE.

AND EVERY HOUR THAT PASSED,

IT GOT MORE LIKELY THAT ABBOTT WOULD WALK.

THEN FINALLY, ON THE SEVENTH DAY,

WE GOT WORD THAT THE JURY WAS BACK.

WE, THE JURY, FIND THE DEFENDANT,

BURTON W. ABBOTT, GUILTY OF FELONY VIOLATION

OF SECTION 209 OF THE PENAL CODE.

THE JURY COMES BACK, AND THEY FIND HIM GUILTY.

AND HE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

MRS. ABBOTT.

MRS. ABBOTT.

ONE QUESTION.

IS HE GUILTY?

THE VERDICT SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH BERKELEY AND BEYOND.

DOOMED BY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

IN THE SENSATIONAL TRIAL...

A DEATH SENTENCE WAS JUSTICE IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

...BLUDGEON MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD STEPHANIE BRYAN.

BUT IT WAS COLD COMFORT TO THE BRYANS,

WHO WOULD NEVER BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND HER PARENTS WANTING,

AT THE VERY LEAST, A REASON --

WHY DO IT?

WHY KILL OUR GIRL?

BUT BURTON WOULD NEVER GIVE IT TO THEM...

...BECAUSE HE NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE DID IT.

WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT AND ADMIT YOUR GUILT

AND THROW YOURSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE GOVERNOR?

NOT REALLY, ANYWAY.

I CAN'T ADMIT IT.

THINK OF WHAT IT WOULD DO TO MY MOTHER.

BUT GET THIS.

EVENTUALLY, IT CAME OUT IN THE PAPERS

THAT ELSIE HAD MADE HERSELF SO SCARCE

BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN KEEPING A SECRET OF HER OWN.

SHE, IN FACT, HAD FOUND THAT PURSE

DOWN IN THE BASEMENT TWO MONTHS EARLIER,

BEFORE THE LOCAL ELECTION.

AND SHE WAS SILENT AS A MOUSE ABOUT THAT.

I GUESS THERE'S JUST NO LIMIT

TO THE LOVE BETWEEN A BOY AND HIS MOTHER.

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS LIKE A MELODY *

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS AND I'VE COVERED A LOT OF STORIES.

IT'S EASY TO GET HARDENED ABOUT THINGS,

BUT NOT ABOUT STEFFIE BRYAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THAT I WAS YOUNG AND IDEALISTIC

OR THAT THIS TOWN WAS,

OR JUST THAT STEFFIE BRYAN, A BEAUTIFUL 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL,

WAS DESTROYED BY A MONSTER.

BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S NOT IMPORTANT

WHY WE REMEMBER STEFFIE BRYAN,

JUST THAT WE DO.

* SHE WILL LEAVE YOU AND THEN *

* SHE'LL COME BACK AGAIN *

* A PRETTY GIRL *

* IS JUST LIKE *

* A PRETTY TUNE *