Original subtitles

NARRATOR: This program is about unsolved mysteries.

Whenever possible, the actual family members

and police officials have participated

in recreating the events.

What you are about to see is not a news broadcast.

NARRATOR: In San Francisco, the murder of a wealthy businessman

has baffled police for over a year.

The investigation stalled, the lead detective

tried a novel approach.

He opened his case files to a handful

of volunteers sloops enrolled in a course called Murder 101.

Tonight you'll see whether the students

came up with new clues that might

actually help solve the case.

In Rhode Island, a fiery car crash leaves a young mother

paralyzed and unconscious.

Now, she needs your help to find the two anonymous heroes

who saved her life.

In 1984, seven-year-old Gary Grant Jr.,

the son of a police officer, was found murdered

in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Incredibly, the prime suspect was just two boys

himself, who confessed to the crime, and then recanted it.

Joining me tonight.

You may be able to help solve a mystery.

[theme music]

NARRATOR: San Francisco, California, December 1993,

a prosperous business who supplied

noodles to dozens of Chinatown restaurants

is stabbed to death.

Case file number 93186131, current status: unsolved.

The Chinatown case is just one of thousands

of unsolved murders that plague police

departments across the country.

With no immediate solution in sight, the detective in charge

tried an unconventional approach.

He opened his case files to a college class called Murder We

Solve, created by a woman named Brooke Stewart.

The class had already helped close one case,

the slaying of a taxi driver in 1992.

Tonight, we invite you to join another group of students

as they try to unravel the peculiar case of the murdered

Chinatown businessman.

How many of you ever thought that you would be sitting here

today for the actual murder?

NARRATOR: When Brooke Stewart's class met in December of 1994,

the would be detectives included a ballet teacher, a housewife,

and several writers.

San Francisco police inspector Prentice Sanders briefed

the students on the case.

Good morning.

So, all you want to be a homicide detective, huh?

Well, first, you've got to buy yourself a hat like this.

I've been working on this case now, almost a year.

And certainly, I have believed that once you became stymied,

you're to take the case and look at it from an entirely

different angle, open it up, and start all over again,

and the class gave me an opportunity to do that.

Let me introduce you to your victim.

NARRATOR: Jin Frang was a 42-year-old businessman,

owner of two factories.

On December 18th, 1993, he and an employee

were attacked by a pair of assailants.

Jin Fang was stabbed to death.

Inspector Sanders was called to the scene around 1:30 AM.

We have to uh, here--

Trying to get some fingerprint off the--

NARRATOR: The rear window of Mr. Fang's van

was broken, the van's interior ransacked.

No fingerprints were found, but the murder

weapon had been left behind.

PRENTICE SANDERS: In the van, we found the knife.

The knife turned out to be a regular, cheap, kitchen steak

knife.

One that you would pay 99 cents for at the 99 cent store.

And it was very worn, as if it had

been washed 100 times or more.

NARRATOR: Authorities also recovered this BB gun,

however they weren't certain it had been used in the assault

until they interview the only witness to the crime.

The evening of the murder, Jin Fang

offered a ride home to one of his supervisors, Mrs. Yi Sung.

PRENTICE SANDERS: Shortly after midnight, they

exited the building, left and went outside, just outside,

and got into Mr. Fang's van.

The window was broken out and Mr. Fang did not notice

that his window was broken.

He and his passenger entered the van

and he drove about 100 feet.

[speaking cantonese]

Let me out!

[speaking cantonese]

[screaming]

PRENTICE SANDERS: According to Mrs. Yi,

the two young men spoke in fluent Cantonese.

They demanded the money.

Where is the money?

The man with the gun struck Mrs. Yi along the side of the head

with the gun, demanding that she not turn around nor look.

[speaking cantonese]

NARRATOR: Mrs. Yi said the terrifying episode

lasted more than half an hour, far longer than most robberies.

During that time, the two men ripped apart

the van's interior, repeating over and over their demand

for the money, the money.

The killer struck with brutal accuracy.

A single plunge of the knife sliced

directly into Mr. Fang's heart.

Either the stabber is very lucky to hit such a vital spot,

or he is very experienced in knowing

where the vital spot is.

Before

NARRATOR: Fleeing, the assailants threatened to kill

Mrs. Yi if she called for help.

She stayed there about two hours,

afraid to move because of the threat.

She didn't hear a car leave, and then

she didn't hear anyone running.

We're now open for questions.

Just before I go in--

NARRATOR: The case review provoked a number

of insightful questions.

One of the things that keeps bothering me

is the murder weapon.

That's a cheesy little kitchen knife, looks all worn out,

and if I was going to go get serious with somebody,

I wouldn't take a beat up old kitchen knife.

Have you checked to see if that kind of cheap knife that

was used, is used, at any of the restaurants

where he has clients?

Mrs. Yi kept saying they kept asking where the money is.

PRENTICE SANDERS: Right.

They were looking for a large quantity of money.

They thought he had a large amount of money.

What do his personal and business bank records show,

any recent, large money that went in and out,

that might be what the question, where is the money referred to?

PRENTICE SANDERS: That's an excellent question,

and I'll tell you why.

Remember I told--

NARRATOR: Inspector Sanders told the class

what he knew about Mr. Fang's daily activities.

--was becoming--

Hello, Chen Tai.

Hello!

How are you?

NARRATOR: At times accompanied by his wife,

Fang had personally collected money from his customers.

A typical day would add up to $1,000 in cash.

$300?

Good price!

Best price in the city.

NARRATOR: Every time you come in here, price goes up.

Here's your $300.

I have a hard time with the thought

that Mr. Fang made the routes himself,

collecting the receipts, and collect

the money if there wasn't something else

involved for him doing this.

This is a successful businessman,

why would he have somebody do it?

Well, that's a good question.

But he routinely did it himself.

Now, you may be--

that thought has crossed my mind.

Maybe he is frugal.

Is it that he is frugal, or is it that there

is something else going on?

That's what we--

NARRATOR: In fact, there was evidence that the case

had another dimension.

Three weeks after the slaying, Sanders received a call

from a mysterious tipster.

Who's this?

Oh, OK.

OK, no.

I don't care who you are, OK.

An informant advised me that I should look into the gambling

angle with Mr. Fang, that Mr. Fang was, in fact,

an avid gambler, and had connections

in the Chinese community for gambling,

and that that was likely the motive for his murder,

rather than petty robbery.

If the caller was to be believed,

Jin Hang had been a key figure in the shadowy world

of illegal gambling, both as a better and as a bookmaker.

This week should be even better.

I want to put $20,000 on the Dallas game.

That's four times what you did last week.

I know that, but I'm good for it, you know.

NARRATOR: The informant claimed that on the day of his death,

Mr. Fang had collected an eye opening $25,000 in cash.

At $25,000?

How do you know that?

NARRATOR: It was an extremely promising lead.

However, none of the information could be corroborated

and Sanders found himself back at square one.

By the end of the class, each student heard the baffling mix

of evidence, leads, and rumors in the case of Jin Fang,

and each student came back with a theory.

We do have some evidence that--

My scenario of the thing was that somebody that on his route

he had a bet with.

He won the money from the person on the route.

The person on the route was very ticked off

that he lost the money, sent somebody

out there to get the money back, and in the process, killed him.

I think maybe somebody overheard something.

It seems like maybe a crime of opportunity,

or possibly, it could have been planned and made

to look like a robbery.

I think there may be a link with Mrs. Yi

because we don't have as much information from her.

So, it looks to me like, with them moving their arms

and things around to kill him in the front,

that she would have been able to identify

something more about them.

I think what's really exciting for me

with this class is it was a completely unique idea.

It's never been tried anywhere, to my knowledge,

and it's actually become successful.

We're finding that this class is actually coming up

with ideas with leads that are helping to facilitate

the investigation.

NARRATOR: The students were given a week

to submit a written analysis.

Some like Nick Dolby, took their investigation to the streets.

But what about the gun that they--

NARRATOR: Another student, Cara Llewellyn

questioned a friend of hers who had lived

in Chinatown for many years.

--an amateur job.

NARRATOR: Cara and Nick later went

to police headquarters to try out their theories

on Inspector Sanders.

I was thinking that this was more of an amateurish job.

I sort of think it's some gang wannabes from a new immigrants

to the country.

Doesn't seem to fit, to me, the traditional sort

of signature, if you will, of the Chinese gangs in Chinatown.

But what about your dad? I know he lives in--

NARRATOR: Cara's friend had told her

about a different network of gangs that operated

within the Chinese community.

I think the Vietnamese gangs are very different.

They're different?

Yeah, they act like Chinese but--

NARRATOR: Cara learned that many Vietnamese immigrants are

well-versed in Cantonese and some of the newcomers

might be eager to prove themselves

to a long time gang members.

Hello Chen Tai!

Hello!

How are you?

We're OK!

CARA LLEWELLYN: Maybe some young wannabes

thought this guy has money, they noticed that he has jewelry,

he's kind of a high roller by the clothes that he wears,

and that they thought he would be a good mark.

Um, give me a hundred pounds.

A hundred pounds?

PRENTICE SANDERS: Nick, why do you jump in--

NARRATOR: Nick Dolby proposed a scenario that was

totally at odds with Cara's.

I think Mr. Fang's assailants knew Mr. Fang,

knew his routine.

I think Mr. Fang was into gambling in a very high level.

I think it was one of the fun things he liked to do.

They overheard Mr. Fang, either taking or making a large bet.

They knew that he was going to collect a large sum of money,

they expected that he had that money that day.

And they were disappointed and surprised

when they found out that there was nothing in the van.

He didn't have it on him.

And I don't think they killed Mr. Fang deliberately.

When he started struggling, that's when they killed him.

So Nick, you feel that the robbers expected

to find more money than they actually

found on Mr. Fang's person.

PRENTICE SANDERS: Talking to Cara and Nick,

and the other students too, it's very stimulating.

It caused me to think, and rethink some ideas

that I had entertained during the course of the last year

that I've been working on this case.

So, which scenario lies at the heart of Jin Fang's murder?

Soon after briefing the students,

Inspector Sanders was contacted by a second anonymous

informant, who argued that the murderer

was tied to illicit betting.

Inspector Sanders believes the tip to be credible,

but only time and further investigation

will enable the police to close in on the elusive

killers of Jin Fang.

NARRATOR: Next, an accident victim is searching for the two

men who save her life.

[music playing]

Hi Colleen!

Welcome to our club.

NARRATOR: This is Colleen Frangioni.

She's 41 years old, the mother of two grown sons.

She has been paralyzed since 1978.

Colleen is a very special woman with a very simple message.

--very simple.

Buckle up.

I didn't.

It's my slogan, My motto.

NARRATOR: Over the last 15 years,

Colleen has spoken to more than 10,000 high school and

junior high school students.

Working in both Rhode Island and Florida,

she has erected billboards and distributed pamphlets in

a tireless one woman crusade.

Colleen Frangioni has earned high praise for her efforts

from several citizens groups.

But seat belt safety is not her only mission.

Colleen is also searching for two heroes,

the men who saved her life.

On the night she was paralyzed, they

snatched her from a burning car and from certain death.

Colleen herself remembers nothing.

NARRATOR: In 1978, Colleen was 26 years

old, recently divorced, and struggling

to support two young sons.

On September 23 of that year, Colleen

drove home from a rare night out, dancing

at the Naval officers club in Newport, Rhode Island.

Just before 1:00 AM, Colleen was turning on to Rogers Road.

She came to a full stop, but tragically,

a carload of teenagers behind her did not.

[screeching wheels]

[cars crashing]

The hit of that second car just twisted

me beyond the normal range.

And that twist was so forceful that it

broke two lower vertebrae, and severed my spinal cord.

And I'm glad I don't remember it.

NARRATOR: Colleen lay unconscious

as flames engulfed her car.

Patty and Joe Trifero, who lived across the street,

rushed to help.

No!

The door's-- the door's locked!

The door's jammed Joey!

It won't open!

Joey it's stuck!

I am!

It's stuck! We've got to get her help!

I can't get this one open, either!

CARA LLEWELLYN: The fire spreading really fast.

The whole back of the car was on fire.

The backseat was on fire.

And as we were trying to pull open the doors,

they wouldn't open because of the crash.

They were jammed.

And I heard in the background, get a crowbar.

Get a crowbar!

JOE TRIFERO: I glanced over to my right

and there were two men standing there.

My wife and I ran to our garage to get a crowbar.

In the time while we were gone, I

believe either one, or both of those gentlemen,

pulled Colleen from the car and brought

her up onto the sidewalk.

They were the only two I felt that were

physically able to have gotten her

out of the car at that point.

NARRATOR: By now, a third rescuer had appeared.

She apparently took charge of the situation.

She's in shock.

Guys, call 911 and get a blanket.

Hurry.

It's OK.

JOE TRIFERO: When we returned, there was a woman there.

Must have had some type of nursing background, that

said that she was in shock.

To get her feet up.

And shortly after that, the entire car was in flames.

NARRATOR: Amazingly, no one else was seriously injured.

But during the intense effort to put out the fire,

both of the men who had pulled Colleen to safety vanished.

For 10 days, Colleen hovered between life and death.

She awoke to the terrifying reality

that she was paralyzed from the waist down.

CARA LLEWELLYN: Once I had to deal with not

being able to walk, I was hurt.

It was like I was heartbroken.

That was my first feeling inside.

You know, and then it went from that,

to how am I going to do everything that I never

even thought about, sitting up, putting

a shoe on, getting dressed.

NARRATOR: But Colleen's spirit was indomitable.

She was discharged from the hospital after four months.

Colleen went on to raise her two sons as a single parent,

and in 1985, she married again.

Yet not a day goes by that Colleen

doesn't think about the accident and the men that

saved her life.

[music playing]

CARA LLEWELLYN: How lucky only to be paralyzed.

And now I'm saving lives because they pulled me from the car.

I just believe we're all meant to meet.

I would have been killed, if it wasn't for you guys.

And I want to thank you both, or just one of you, whichever one.

So, and even if you can just give me a call,

I would really appreciate it.

NARRATOR: When Colleen's appeal aired, luck was with her.

Both men called our phone center,

Their names are Ray Meyers and Mike Kane,

though they both live in the Providence, Rhode Island area,

they have seen each other only once in the aftermath

of Colleen's accident.

Colleen was thrilled to learn that her rescuers had been

found after more than 15 years.

CARA LLEWELLYN: What Unsolved Mysteries did,

was the tip lady called me and told me, you know,

that she had heard from one of them, and gave me his number

because, of course, they didn't want to give out my number.

So I called him, I said who I was, and it was just so nice.

In fact, we talked so long that night, my husband fell asleep.

We were in bed, and my husband fell sound asleep

while him and I was just talking about,

you know, he was telling me things that I had no idea.

NARRATOR: On December 27, 1993 Colleen, finally,

was able to meet her heroes in person.

Ray Meyers was the first to arrive.

CARA LLEWELLYN: Oh, I can't believe

that I can really touch you.

I really didn't think that you exited.

Thank you!

RAYMOND MEYERS: I was in shock.

I couldn't believe it was me.

You know, I mean, I knew it was me.

But it's like, it's incredible.

That's how I feel about this whole thing.

I think it's incredible.

NARRATOR: Half an hour later, it was Mike Kane's turn.

CARA LLEWELLYN: Hi.

Mike? - Mike.

Oh, gosh.

How nice to meet you.

Thank you so much.

Oh, gosh.

You know, I tried to imagine what you'd look like.

And-- and I can't do that when I don't know the person

MICHAEL KANE: I was surprised, you know.

Why, 15 years later, why, why, you know, why.

But when she said she wanted to thank the people,

after I spoke to her on the phone,

it was like, this lady is really sincere.

And that's what she wanted.

She wanted to thank us.

CARA LLEWELLYN: I feel the whole circle, it's all completed.

All the pieces of the puzzle are all put together now.

And it's a real peaceful feeling inside.

That's, to me, in fact, how many times have

I said in the last three weeks, how many people get

to meet their guardian angels?

And this is how I feel.

NARRATOR: When we return, a police officer's

painful search for answers in the murder

of his own 7-year-old son.

[music playing]

Thursday, January 12th, 1984, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Morning, Gar.

You must have been really tired last night, you slept--

NARRATOR: It was a rare midweek holiday for seven-year-old Gary

Grant Jr. There was no school because

of a teacher's conference.

Gary lived with his mother, May.

She and Gary's father, an Atlantic City police detective,

had been separated for nearly a year.

And after breakfast, are you going to go

out and play with your friends?

No, mom.

Not today.

Why not?

I have an appoint this afternoon at 2:30.

Wow!

Sounds important.

What kind of appointment is it?

Nothing. just an appointment.

Who's this appointment with?

MAY GRANT: I was asking him, with who,

and he said it was a secret.

So, I thought, you know, it's silly.

You know, he's a little boy.

Something to do, maybe, with his little girlfriend

around the corner or something.

So I kind of left it at that.

And he wanted to go out and play, so he got dressed

and he went out to play.

NARRATOR: Around noon, Gary left home.

He said he would be back by 4:00 PM, before it got dark.

It got to be like, 4:30, and he still

hadn't showed up for dinner.

And he liked his dinner.

He never missed.

And he's still hadn't showed up, so I started getting worried.

And I went down to where two girls that Gary played with,

they were friends of his, and asked

them if they had seen Gary.

Do you want to come in?

No, I'm just looking for Gary.

Well, he was here in the afternoon,

but he left around 4:30 to go home.

Oh, OK, well if you see him, will you

please tell Gary to come home?

OK, Mrs. Grant, I'll tell him.

Thanks.

Bye.

NARRATOR: When another two hours passed with no sign of Gary,

May telephoned her husband.

GARY GRANT SR.: I searched until well

after midnight, probably around 1:00

or 2:00 o'clock in the morning.

I walked around.

As a matter of fact, I called out from work that night.

I was due to go into work at midnight,

and I called my sergeant and advised him

that I wouldn't be coming in.

By the next morning, Friday, the Atlantic City Police Department

was engaged in an all out search.

Regulations prevent a Detective Grant from taking part

in the official investigation.

But as a father, he was unwilling to stand

by and do nothing.

GARY GRANT SR.: I started searching every possible place

I could think of.

I started searching abandoned houses.

I started searching underneath the boardwalk.

I started searching arcades, and questioning people who

were working in the arcades. - I'm Officer Gary Grant.

Have you seen this boy? He's been missing.

Take a good look, please.

GARY GRANT SR.: There was a couple of people that worked

in one of the arcades who had said that they had seen

him on Friday, early on Friday.

So I'm thinking well then he's still somewhere

around on the streets.

By Friday night, it started getting dark again, and still

no signs or no word of Gary.

I started looking out in alleyways, and trash cans,

and dumpsters.

The streets can be pretty mean now, for an adult,

let alone for a 7-year-old child.

And by that time, I was fearing the worst.

NARRATOR: At 3:30 the next afternoon,

the body of Gary Grant Jr. Was found

in a vacant weed infested lot, less

than two blocks from his home.

He had been bludgeoned to death.

Nearby, lay a short length of heavy pipe,

probably the murder weapon.

The police immediately imposed a radio silence until the boy's

family could be notified.

At virtually the same moment, Detective Grant,

exhausted and on the verge of collapse,

happened upon the scene.

GARY GRANT SR.: I really didn't know what was going on,

but I got a knot in my stomach and then something just

told me that it is a very good possibility

that they've found Gary.

Hey Sarg, what's happening?

Hey Gary, did you get radio call?

No, I saw the patrol cars.

I wanted to see what's happening.

What'd you find out?

Gary, you don't want to know.

I've been driving around for three days, no sleep,

looking for my son. I want to know something.

Gary, we found your son.

He's dead.

I want to see my son.

I want to see my son!

GARY GRANT SR.: I didn't want to believe that it was him.

In my mind, I knew that they-- that they- I

mean, why would they lie to me about something like that?

But at the same time, being a father,

you don't want to believe it.

You don't to believe that your kid is lying back

there somewhere, you know, and he's

never going to get up again.

MAY GRANT: When they told me that Gary was dead,

I just went totally numb, my whole body.

I didn't want to believe it.

I just can't imagine why someone would

do that to a 7-year-old boy, any 7-year-old boy.

NARRATOR: The investigation began like all others,

with detectives tracing the victim's final hours

and talking to those who knew him best.

Do you know Gary Grant?

Sure he lived around here.

Over on Arctic.

When was the last time you saw him?

A couple days ago.

That would be Thursday.

Where was that?

He was down by junior high.

Who was he with?

He was with Boo.

Would that be Boo Mason?

Carl Mason, nicknamed Boo, was a mildly retarded 12-year-old,

with an IQ of 65.

Though Boo who was five years older than Gary,

he was smaller in height and weight.

The two boys were good friends and often played together.

Hello, young man.

We're with the Atlantic City Police Department.

We need to ask you a few questions.

Did you know this Gary Grant kid?

Sure, I knew Gary.

When did you last see him?

Uhh, Wednesday, after school.

What did you two do?

We were at the park over on Texas.

You sure you didn't see him on Thursday?

Nope.

Are you sure it was Wednesday?

Yeah, we were supposed to meet on Thursday,

but Gary never showed up.

OK, kid.

Thanks.

RICK MURRAY: Boo he said he hadn't been with Gary,

but detectives canvassing the neighborhood

kept coming back with stories that he

had, in fact, been with Gary.

So they didn't know what to do.

There was this conflict.

Boo seemed like such a harmless character.

He was educably retarded.

He was known as a scaredy cat in the neighborhood.

But they just couldn't reconcile the conflict.

They're like, we'd like to ask you some questions.

And I came outside and--

NARRATOR: Carl Mason is now 21 years old.

--ask you some questions.

They're like, have I seen at all today.

I said no, I'd seen the day before, and that was it.

And then they just said OK.

And they were asking me some other questions,

but I don't remember.

And later on that night, they came back and they took me.

NARRATOR: At midnight on Saturday,

accompanied by his grandmother, was

driven to police headquarters.

Once there, Boo was separated from his grandmother

and led into a small room.

Look, just tell us the truth and we can all go home.

What happened when you and Gary left the school gym?

We went to the park over Texas,

but that was on Wednesday.

What did you do at the park?

We play on the swings.

Wait, those swings were taken down for cleaning last week.

I didn't see Gary on Thursday.

He didn't show up.

RICK MURRAY: In questioning Boo, his stories were inconsistent,

and the detectives rustled around with it until finally

around 3:00 o'clock.

One version of the story, he acknowledged

being with the victim at the crime scene, and that he had,

in fact, hit him with the pipe.

I hit him in the leg, but he threw a rock at me.

This was in the playground on Thursday.

I didn't see him on Thursday.

And what did you do after you hit him?

Well, once he fell, and he didn't get up, so I just left.

RICK MURRAY: He was telling police what they felt

were details that only the killer could have known,

and that sort of got everything into high gear,

because they realized that Boo was now the suspect.

CARL MASON: Everybody knew what happened.

They found the body.

Then like, that day, they were like, they found the weapon.

There was all different stories, what happened to him,

I guess, you might say.

We're bringing your grandmom in.

It will just be another minute.

NARRATOR: After three grueling hours,

police believed they had an admission of guilt.

When we did is have your confession typed up.

We need you to read it and sign it, both you, and your grandma.

NARRATOR: A confession was drawn up based on the interrogation.

Boo signed the document, even as he was insisting

he had not murdered his friend.

Have you told us the truth now?

Yes, but I didn't do it.

NARRATOR: Boo Mason was charged with murder

and remanded to a juvenile detention center.

I was not with Gary Grant that day when he was missing,

and I did not having anything to do with his murder.

The one cop said that if you admit that you did it,

we'll let you go.

So, me, at the age of 12, I was so tired, I said

if you say so, but I didn't.

And then the next thing I know I winded up at home.

Do you live in Atlantic City?

Yes.

NARRATOR: On Sunday, January 15th boy

was given a polygraph exam.

The results were inconclusive.

Three days later, a second test was administered.

Did you hurt Gary Grant?

No.

RICK MURRAY: In both the first and second lie detector tests,

it was determined that Boo had answered

truthfully when he said that he did not kill Gary Grant.

Did you see Gary Grant get killed?

No.

RICK MURRAY: There was some doubt as to whether he

had been at the scene, however.

Have you now told the entire truth

about Gary Grant's murder?

Yes.

GARY GRANT SR.: I feel that he, very easily, could have been

intimidated by the person who did it,

or who was there when it was done,

could have told him that, hey if you say anything to anybody,

you're next.

Now I have completed 3 and 1/2 days of testimony.

NARRATOR: A month after Mason was arrested,

a hearing was held to determine whether his confession was

admissible in court.

And this court cannot find beyond a reasonable doubt that

any of the statements made by the juvenile

were voluntary statements.

NARRATOR: The charges against Boo Mason were dropped

and police never came up with another viable suspect.

But two years later, it became obvious that someone had not

forgotten Gary Grant Jr. At approximately 3:00 AM om

January 4th, 1986, a vandal painted

a chilling message on the side of an Atlantic City patrol car.

Gary Grant's dead.

I am living.

Another will die on the 1/12/86 if all goes right.

January 12th would have been the second anniversary

of Gary Grant's murder.

GARY GRANT SR.: I was called by a police radio

to come over there and take a look at the car, and I did.

And from what I observed on the car,

it appeared to me that it was written on there by an adult.

However, as far as ever finding out who did that, no one ever--

we've never found that out.

NARRATOR: A few weeks later, a second cryptic message

was scratched on a sidewalk.

Gary Grant Jr. lives.

I still killed him, son of a pig officer.

Payback is a M.F. This second message led to speculation

that Gary had been murdered as retribution, possibly

for an arrest his father had made.

That thought has gone through my mind 1,000, million times.

But there's not one thing that stands out that I could think

of because I've never had anybody look at me in the face

and say to me, I'm going to get even with you for this.

NARRATOR: Nine years have passed since Gary

Grant Jr. was murdered.

His father is still looking for information, still passing

out flyers, and still barred from officially

working on the case.

Somebody knows something.

There's no doubt in my mind.

It's-- it's just not possible that something like that could

happen without somebody seeing or hearing something,

or even within the last nine years somebody saying

something to somebody about it.

I would like to see the person, or persons,

who are out there and they know who they are, to come forward.

So, I could have a little peace to my mind, in my heart.

[music playing]

Morro Bay, California is a kind of small town

Alfred Hitchcock might have loved.

On the surface, a picture postcard

seaside fishing village.

Peel back a layer, though, and a quirky cast of characters

emerges.

So does a murder mystery, or maybe two.

Fishing is Morro Bay's main industry.

In the 70s and 80s, work was irregular at best.

That suited Hugh Harlin just fine.

He had pared his life down to the basics.

Hugh thought you should work for the sheer joy of working,

if and when the spirit moved you.

That makes 16,000.

CATHERINE CORDERO: There were a number of times

that Hugh would stop by our business,

and we'd be unloading fish and we'd

have been at it for quite awhile and he'd roll up his sleeves

and pitch in.

And six or seven to 10 hours later, when we're finally done,

you know, Hugh wouldn't take any money for his help.

He wasn't just a weirdo.

He might have been weird at times, but he wasn't a weirdo.

NARRATOR: Hugh Harlin's high minded notions about work

and money were all well and good,

but he hit a roadblock when it came to his wife Diane.

Diane Harlin was generous to a fault.

She squandered what little money Hugh

gave her on beggars, on her friends, and on her dogs.

Well, I'm going down the docks.

Yeah, leave me some money, Hugh.

NARRATOR: It led to more than one bitter argument.

Groceries food.

What'd you do with the money I gave you yesterday?

I spent it, OK?

CATHERINE CORDERO: They weren't getting along very well,

and Diane would do bizarre things,

including opening a can dog food and serving

it to Hugh for dinner.

Lisa, Jimmy, the dogs, I can't support the entire county!

Hugh, you want dinner or not.

It's as simple as that, OK?

- Don't walk away from-- - Hey!

Don't you touch me.

NARRATOR: Rumor had it that Diane not only serve dog food

in the can, but that once she even baked it into a casserole

for her unsuspecting husband.

It seemed Diane cared more for her dogs than she did for Hugh.

In fact, around Morro Bay, Diane was known as the dog lady.

[seagulls chirping]

[police scanner sounds]

October 13th, 1982, the badly decomposed body of a woman

was found just off the beach at Morro Bay.

A jade bracelet, and a silver bracelet lay nearby.

Police could not identify the woman,

but they could identify the murder weapon.

The victim had been strangled with a dog leash.

MANNY SILVA: The investigators immediately put out a news

media release with a description,

asking for the public's assistance

identifying this individual.

Later in the evening, the department

was contacted by Hugh Harlin.

Hugh, you recognize this?

MANNY SILVA: Hugh Harlin was shown several pieces of jewelry

and he identified that jewelry as belonging to his wife Diane.

Yeah, that silver one was hers.

That was hers for sure, yeah.

When was the last time you saw Diane, Hugh?

NARRATOR: Hugh Harlin told police that Diane had been

away from home for 12 days.

He said he wasn't or he was until he heard about the body.

She was there.

I came home by 7 o'clock, she wasn't home.

Why did you wait almost two weeks to report her missing?

Didn't seem unusual to me for her not to come home.

She'd done it occasionally.

She's done this before?

Every now and then, yeah.

Do you remember what time the dogs came home that night?

Yeah, it was about 11:30.

Can you remember if they were wearing their leashes or not?

Yeah, uh, yeah they had their leashes on that night.

What's this, Hugh?

I don't know, what is it?

Found this tied around Diane's neck.

Looks like a dog leash, doesn't it?

That's right.

Uh, dogs came home, they didn't have their leashes.

Well which way is it, Hugh?

Did they come home with their leashes

or without their leashes?

MANNY SILVA: When Hugh Harlin changed his story,

I'd like to see a lawyer.

MANNY SILVA: The investigators began to look more closely

at him as a possible suspect.

Can I go now?

CATHERINE CORDERO: I asked him.

I said, Hugh, you know, a lot of people suspect you.

Did you killer?

You know, I know she's bizarre, and I know

she tried to push your buttons.

Did you do it?

And I knew when he answered that question,

he was telling the truth, that he didn't do it.

I mean, he said he didn't do it.

NARRATOR: Diane Harlin was 43 years

old when she was murdered.

No charges against Hugh, or anyone else were ever filed.

To this day, the case remains unsolved.

Four years past.

Hugh Harlin's life went on much as it had before Diana's death,

until November 1st, 1986.

That day, Hugh went to a friend's house

to borrow some tools for a two day construction job,

up the road in San Siemian.

You'll probably need these hand tools.

Yeah, throw them up in there.

Let me get the gate for you.

Yeah, thanks.

NARRATOR: Hugh Harlin set off for San Siemian, 27 miles north

of Morro Bay, before dark.

You're all set set, Hughy.

What it is, bro.

What it were.

Have a good one.

NARRATOR: But soon, the mystery would take yet another twist,

near the town of Cambria.

STEVE MATHIEU: The next thing we knew,

I'd gotten a call from a mutual friend in Cambria,

wondering why Hugh's truck was setting

off the side of the road, and had been for a day or so.

NARRATOR: Steve Mathieu and a friend, Eddie Grimes,

drove to Cambria to check out Hugh's abandoned truck.

What a wheelbarrow, there.

No keys in the truck.

STEVE MATHIEU: I got curious as to what was going on.

I took a look inside.

I saw Hugh's glasses on the dash.

I saw a couple of tins on the dash, one with tobacco,

and one with some ragweed pot that he smoked quite regularly.

All of these things weren't really adding up to me,

since three days or so had transpired

since the last time I'd seen him,

and this is basically the way he had left.

NARRATOR: The mystery did not end there.

Before Steve and Eddie left to look for Hugh,

Steve walked over to make a pit stop at the edge of the woods.

Hey Eddie, here's the keys.

What the hell are they doing there?

STEVE MATHIEU: It was at that point

that I decided that there were just too many elements

involved here to be a straight up situation.

I think we ought to call the cops.

I think you're right.

Let me lock it up.

NARRATOR: What could have happened to Hugh Harlin?

Did he meet with foul play, or did

he simply decide to disappear?

There are several possibilities as to what could

have happened to Mr. Harlin.

Number one, he simply could have possibly

staged his disappearance.

He knows he had been, at one time,

questioned regarding the homicide of his wife.

STEVE MATHIEU: I totally believe that Hugh was smart enough

and crafty enough to engineer his own disappearance, and just

in exactly this manner.

if he so wanted to.

The thing that I've never been able to decide

is if that's actually what he did,

or if there was some foul play here.

CATHERINE CORDERO: If he wanted to disappear,

Hugh's kind of person that would have

left his truck with somebody he wanted to have it.

He wouldn't have left it by the side of the road, like that.

NARRATOR: Indeed, why would Hugh Harlin want to disappear?

After four years, police no longer considered him

a suspect in his wife's murder.

Authorities now fear that Hugh might

have had a deadly encounter with the same person,

or persons, who killed Diane.

MANNY SILVA: Hugh Harlin knew, I believe,

and I think the investigators at the time believed,

knew more about the case than he was telling them.

And my concern is is possibly, he

was harmed by some individual who may very

well have harmed Diane Harlin.

NARRATOR: The case of Diane and Hugh Harlin is multi-layered:

Mystery on top of mystery, disappearance top of dead.

Years after the fact, people around Morro Bay

still talk about Diane's murder and Hugh's disappearance

as if they happened only yesterday.

The key to the mystery lies is in finding Hugh Harlin,

if he is alive.

At the time of his disappearance in 1986, Hugh was 51 years old

and weighed between 130 and 150 pounds.

He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, and is

missing the thumb and forefinger and his left hand.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Next week on Unsolved Mysteries,

a controversial story of two American servicemen

whose untimely deaths are under investigation by Congress.

Army Sergeants Billy Ray Hargrove and Mike Carmichael,

were the best of friends, and both wanted to spend the rest

of their lives in the military.

But in 1992, just six weeks apart, Hargrove and Carmichael

were both found hung to death.

The army ruled that the two men had committed suicide,

but their families are convinced they were murdered.

Joining me next time this intriguing case

and more on song.

[music playing]