1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:07,780 Elm Street, Townsend, MA 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:14,200 December 1, 1987 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,500 Andrew Gustafson lived in Townsend, Massachusetts... 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,600 with his wife and two children. 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,740 He was trying to reach his wife. 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,180 He called home but she didn't answer. 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,520 He was worried. 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,120 He came home and found... no sign of life. 9 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,960 He called his wife, but he made no answer. 10 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,200 He called his children, no answer. 11 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,640 So he had an anxious feeling inside. 12 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,960 He went upstairs to the bedroom... 13 00:01:14,469 --> 00:01:17,460 and his wife lay with her face down down on the bed... 14 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,640 with a bloody pillow on her head. 15 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,780 He didn't dare to look for the children. 16 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,620 He called the police and waited for them outside. 17 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,980 It was a horrible scene. 18 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,860 Such a thing doesn't happen in towns like this in New England. 19 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,680 The people were terrified, the whole neighborhood was terrified. 20 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:37,020 Then the police on December 1, 1987 arrived at the house, 21 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,780 said Andrew Gustafson that his wife was dead upstairs. 22 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:43,815 She was also a few months pregnant. 23 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,060 They asked him how he knew that she was dead. 24 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,347 He said he just knew... 25 00:02:50,507 --> 00:02:53,260 and those are children were probably dead too. 26 00:02:53,401 --> 00:02:55,252 But he didn't go looking for them. 27 00:02:55,393 --> 00:02:57,753 The police didn't know what was going on. 28 00:03:01,357 --> 00:03:03,540 I got a call by the state police... 29 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,400 about a death in Townsend. 30 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,580 We went upstairs and in the bedroom... 31 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,840 I saw the body by Priscilla Gustafson on the bed. 32 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:19,725 I saw what looked like bullet holes... 33 00:03:19,866 --> 00:03:23,826 in the back of the cushions that lay on her head. 34 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:30,180 She was partially clothed and one hand was tied to the bed. 35 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,420 Was on the bedside table a half empty bottle of beer. 36 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,360 I thought that was very strange. There was also an open condom wrapper. 37 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,480 When I went to the bathroom upstairs, I saw a little boy... 38 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,960 five years old, lying on his stomach in the bath. 39 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,940 We try those kinds of events to get rid of us... 40 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,820 so that it does not affect our work. 41 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,040 But I remember that little boy in the bath is still good. 42 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,400 And on the ground floor... 43 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:33,380 lay the body of a girl, fully dressed, 44 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,320 drowned in the downstairs bathtub. 45 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,900 Think about what it takes to William and Abigail to drown. 46 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,660 Two innocent children. 47 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,980 Not only kill them, but drown. 48 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,580 That's physical, someone underwater keep them until they die. 49 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:58,880 Something like that is indescribable. It's more than evil. 50 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,860 Andrew Gustafson was a lawyer and married to Priscilla. 51 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,060 She taught Sunday school. 52 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,300 She was loved in the community. 53 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,920 They led an idyllic life. 54 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:18,660 But in murder cases... 55 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:24,900 you start with the people who knew the victim. 56 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,760 No one was above suspicion. 57 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,540 While the police Gustafson's alibi 58 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,120 did the news the round almost immediately. 59 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,620 Townsend, Massachusetts is a small town, 60 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,460 although it is only 48 kilometers from Boston. 61 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,420 This is typically American. 62 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,580 Lots of cemeteries here date from the 17th century. 63 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,700 So the city has a long history. 64 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:58,180 It is a safe, cute little town in New England. 65 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,920 Lived there in the 80's in Townsend only about 1000 people. 66 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,780 This is your place for original reports. 67 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,940 The murder was so gruesome that the Boston media... 68 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:17,000 and some national media pounced on that town. 69 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,300 Everywhere you looked there was fear. 70 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,560 Are you safe in town? where you grew up? 71 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,060 People locked their doors. 72 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,140 If they had weapons, they made sure they were loaded. 73 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:34,500 Everyone looked out for their neighbors. 74 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,800 People looked out to suspicious cases. 75 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,480 Everyone was tense. 76 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:47,980 POLICE 77 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,220 The police pulled out Andrew Gustafson's alibi. 78 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:56,060 It became clear that he was nothing had to do with the murders. 79 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:02,380 That poor man lost his wife, baby and two children... 80 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,540 all at once, with no known motive. 81 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,540 It must have been the worst day that you can imagine. 82 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,660 REAL VIDEO 83 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,380 Andrew spoke to the police. 84 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,660 He remembered that there things were missing from the house. 85 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,180 There was a few days broken into before the murders. 86 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,700 There was a TV box missing... 87 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:31,740 and there were glasses of beer or drinks in the house. 88 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,440 Things that weren't serious at the time laymen, now became important. 89 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,060 The police knew there had been a series of burglaries. 90 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,300 Then Andrew Gustafson the police told about the burglary, 91 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,546 they immediately thought that there was a connection. 92 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,140 The police had a theory... 93 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,500 that Priscilla and William caught the burglar at home... 94 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:00,880 and that it was an impulsive act has been. 95 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,920 Abigail came home last. 96 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,960 The police suspected a burglary which may have been interrupted. 97 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,900 But everyone knew there a murderer was walking free. 98 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,540 No one knew where he would show up or what would happen. 99 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,380 WELCOME TO PEPPERELL 100 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:32,820 I was an inspector at the time the town of Pepperell, Massachusetts. 101 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,940 When I heard about the murders and its nature... 102 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,260 it sounded like something for Daniel LaPlante. 103 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:44,180 And I think he liked that kind of thing. 104 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:49,460 We had already arrested him for kidnapping. 105 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,820 We kept an eye on him because of his violent past. 106 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,220 All stand. - But this man is underage. 107 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,380 Daniel LaPlante was only 17 years old. 108 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,540 But he was no ordinary teenager. 109 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:06,460 He was dangerous, cold, 110 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:11,940 calculating and a very smart young man. 111 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:17,080 It would only get worse. 112 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,700 His crimes changed of routine burglaries... 113 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,540 in the most sinister and bizarre acts... 114 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:29,120 that I had ever experienced. 115 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,520 I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL 116 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:49,480 Everyone knew there a murderer was on the run. 117 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,080 Everyone looked over his shoulder. 118 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,380 Everyone had to stay indoors. 119 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,540 Everyone had to keep his door locked. 120 00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:02,860 The police had no idea what the killer's motivation was. 121 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,460 The series of previous burglaries... 122 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,840 seemed to be related to it because the earlier burglary at the Gustafsons. 123 00:10:10,981 --> 00:10:13,300 But there was a connection with the burglaries? 124 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:14,960 They really had no idea. 125 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:19,980 We drew up a list with the usual suspects. 126 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,140 I used that term loosely. People with a criminal background... 127 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,640 who have committed violent crimes and committed burglaries. 128 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,060 17-year-old Daniel LaPlante was on that list. 129 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,620 We discovered that the burglaries, where weapons were stolen, 130 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,340 started when he was released on bail. 131 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,600 The puzzle pieces fell into place. 132 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,620 Detectives found him at a library in Townsend. 133 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,020 They went to talk to him. 134 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,540 They didn't feel good at the interrogation. 135 00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:01,580 He said he had an alibi, that he was at a party... 136 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,260 and that other people could confirm that. 137 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,060 But he seemed nervous, so the police thought it was suspicious. 138 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,840 And then he fled. 139 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,340 He was a suspect. 140 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,500 But we couldn't link it to him the crime scene. 141 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,260 We had to do as much as possible gather information about Daniel. 142 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,500 He had as a youngster crimes committed in Townsend... 143 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,060 and also in Pepperell, a neighboring town. 144 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,580 He had been arrested and out on bail... 145 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,680 for his crimes in Pepperell. 146 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,260 Frank Bowen lived in Pepperell. 147 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:45,640 He was a bus driver and he lost his wife from cancer in 1986. 148 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:49,860 He had two daughters. 149 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:55,120 Tina was in high school and had a younger sister, Karen. 150 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,020 All three were grieving for the loss of their mother. 151 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:05,080 Frank worked long hours and his daughters were home alone. 152 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:10,700 The daughters had a hard time with the death of their mother. 153 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,640 They tried to reach her. 154 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,860 They held a séance. 155 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:23,100 During the séance they tried communicate with their mother. 156 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:29,000 They heard sounds, knocking on the walls. 157 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:39,280 They thought it was a sign of their deceased mother. 158 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:49,360 Then they started doing unusual things to notice. 159 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:56,840 They entered rooms and saw that the lights were on. 160 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,780 Things were moved in different rooms. 161 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,880 They started their mother to ask questions... 162 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:13,160 and if they asked something someone knocked. 163 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,620 The two girls who mourned for the loss of their mother... 164 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,780 went to their father and said their mother was home. 165 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,200 That she was trying to reach them. Frank thought they were mourning. 166 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,820 It caused confusion between the daughters and their father. 167 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,100 He found that they need psychological help needed... 168 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,280 and that this wasn't real. 169 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:49,480 But that changed very quickly on December 8, 1986. 170 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,860 The family came home... 171 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,240 and saw that one of the toilets was used. 172 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,660 They immediately thought someone was there had been in the house... 173 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,520 and looked around. 174 00:14:31,075 --> 00:14:32,820 When he got into his bedroom, 175 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:37,900 found Frank a man in a long coat and war colours... 176 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:39,520 with an axe. 177 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,920 It looked like something out of a horror movie. 178 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,980 He took the family hostage. 179 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:51,100 He was very purposeful and calm. 180 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,560 He didn't seem scared at all. 181 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,960 He locked them in that room and left them there. 182 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:12,140 Then one of the daughters escaped. 183 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,260 She went to the neighbors, 184 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:19,020 said they were being held hostage and called the police. 185 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:20,980 We're going there. 186 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,620 We searched the house, the woods around the house, 187 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:30,120 the environment and the roads, but have not found a suspect. 188 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,300 As police officers, we had to believe the story. 189 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,840 As incredible as it sounded. 190 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:46,140 I had written about murders, suicides, strange deaths. 191 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,640 I had never experienced anything like this before. 192 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:57,680 I found the ax close behind one of the doors. 193 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:03,340 But we found no traces of an intruder. 194 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:09,220 No one could find the intruder identify. 195 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,940 Because of his disguise and the fear he sowed, 196 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:18,800 it was impossible to identify who this was. 197 00:16:20,531 --> 00:16:23,580 Now Frank knew the girls had told the truth. 198 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,984 That something was going on and that it wasn't just in their heads. 199 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:33,300 We thought the suspect, if he existed, 200 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,380 had fled into the forest. 201 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,280 It was night. 202 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,020 It would be very easy for the intruder... 203 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,920 to hide in the woods. 204 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,323 It would have been extremely difficult to find him. 205 00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:00,140 The family did not want to return to the house. 206 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:01,980 The girls were terrified. 207 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,700 They went straight to a hotel. 208 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,320 They knew they were there couldn't sleep anymore. 209 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,080 Two days later Frank came home. 210 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,680 As he came closer, he saw something. 211 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,660 He saw the same man as before. 212 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,620 He thought: he wants to kill us. 213 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,480 Frank Bowen called the police. 214 00:17:55,000 --> 00:18:01,500 I arrived ten minutes later and you could tell he was upset. 215 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,400 He said: I saw him. He's standing in front of the window and waved at me. 216 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:08,880 I said: Okay. 217 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,480 The police had the house locked after the incident. 218 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:20,480 I walked around the house and searched a track. There wasn't one. 219 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,300 No broken windows, the doors are still intact. 220 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,700 I decided to go in... 221 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,980 with the small chance that there was someone else. 222 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,040 I'm not just going in. 223 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,680 So I'm very gentle the door open. 224 00:18:41,669 --> 00:18:43,100 Immediately afterwards... 225 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,540 I saw a photo of the family on the wall. 226 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,140 There was a large knife stuck in the photo. 227 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:55,640 In felt-tip pen it said: I'm still here. Come find me. 228 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:03,620 Then I said: He's inside. 229 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,560 I don't know how, but he's here. 230 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,040 This was terrifying for the family. 231 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,960 An intruder had taken the family hostage. 232 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,800 Now he's back. He doesn't give up. 233 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,380 Steve Bezanson arrived at the house... 234 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,120 and was sure that the intruder was still there. 235 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:46,580 I listened quietly, because I thought: 236 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,360 I want him to think that the owner is here and not me. 237 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:56,780 I looked to my right and saw the hallway which led to the rest of the house. 238 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,020 There is another photo of the family with another knife through it. 239 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,260 I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL 240 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,740 I said to myself: I have to search this house. 241 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,220 I need help to do it right. 242 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:13,860 I walked back very quietly and picked up the radio. 243 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,080 There was a sergeant and I said: I need you here, right now. 244 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,400 We've searched everything. 245 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:27,720 Cupboards, mattresses, under the bed. Everything really. 246 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,337 We searched every place anything we could think of. 247 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,600 We came out in the laundry room downstairs. 248 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,700 I remember that I looked at the ceiling and thought: 249 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,000 I don't understand why we can't find him. 250 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,780 And then suddenly I looked at the corner. 251 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,860 There were pipes there from the upstairs bathroom. 252 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,940 But they didn't like looking at blowjobs, so they built a wall. 253 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,560 I looked at that wall and thought: 254 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,120 someone can hide behind it. 255 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,060 When I walked there and turned on the light, 256 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,620 I saw a pile of dirty clothes lie down. 257 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,040 You don't put dirty clothes in your hands behind a fake wall. 258 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,140 I moved some clothes. 259 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,760 I saw a black head of hair and said, Hebbes. 260 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,940 He looked at me from the corner of his eye. 261 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,960 I saw the cogs turning. 262 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:58,720 I said: Show your hands slowly. He had a gun. 263 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,460 When I saw his hands were empty, 264 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,640 I grabbed his arm and said: let's go. 265 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:16,080 The intruder was a 16 year old boy Daniel LaPlante. 266 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,320 This was no ordinary teenager... 267 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:24,360 and not an ordinary criminal either. 268 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,460 Because I like a lot of young men had arrested, 269 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,500 His carefreeness quite surprised me. 270 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:38,400 This young man was despite his age very dangerous. 271 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:43,700 And for the first and last time in my entire career... 272 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:49,860 I didn't take two mugshots as usual. 273 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,140 I took six. 274 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,640 I thought they were in the future would be used. 275 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,980 Daniel has been abused a lot as a child. 276 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:10,700 He was abused by his father, his psychiatrist and others. 277 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,140 Sexually, physically and psychologically. 278 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,660 For a long time. 279 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:20,360 And he showed from an early age disturbing behavior. 280 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,260 He was a loner. 281 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,180 He didn't know how had to deal with other people. 282 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,120 That only got worse. 283 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:36,020 He was delivered at my request held for kidnapping... 284 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,680 but also for a psychiatric examination. 285 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:45,340 We used to be the assistant officer to do his best... 286 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:51,280 so that his process would not be delayed. 287 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:58,140 It's shocking to the target to be a psychopath. 288 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,660 When they found the suspect had arrested, 289 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,700 they found out that Tina had something with Daniel LaPlante. 290 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,060 He had spoken to her on the phone. 291 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,380 Eventually they had a date and they went for ice cream. 292 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,020 He pretended to be different on the phone. 293 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,620 He presented himself very differently than he was and what he looked like. 294 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,980 She got a bad feeling about him. She broke up with her after that one date. 295 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:24,580 That one date led to it that he was going to stalk her... 296 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,800 and in the walls of her house went to live. 297 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:41,200 Daniel was six months long in and out of that house. 298 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:55,760 One of his actions was remove sockets... 299 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,820 to spy on the family members. 300 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:05,700 This way he could see when they were left a room... 301 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:11,640 and he was able to leave his hiding place and do these disturbing things. 302 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,460 That made the girls quarreled among themselves. 303 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,220 They told their father stories about milk being drunk... 304 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:22,000 and that the TV was converted. 305 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:30,080 That allowed him to slip away again to his hiding place. 306 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,720 Everyone remembers that feeling from a thump in the cellar... 307 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,960 thinking it's a monster, that there is someone in the closet. 308 00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:12,120 In this case it really was. 309 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,900 It's terrifying that a date with whom you will only eat ice cream, 310 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,500 turns into someone who breaks into your house... 311 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,440 and torments you for months. 312 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:41,420 I don't know what his plan was, or he now wanted to rape a daughter... 313 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:47,400 or all three people wanted kill, I'm not sure. 314 00:26:51,699 --> 00:26:55,079 Daniel LaPlante was sent to the Bridgewater Hospital sent... 315 00:26:55,220 --> 00:26:59,320 for a psychiatric examination. Then he was told... 316 00:26:59,461 --> 00:27:02,506 that he is antisocial had a personality disorder. 317 00:27:02,647 --> 00:27:05,620 He went to juvenile detention. 318 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,520 Everyone thought it was safe. 319 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:10,900 TOWNSEND, MASSACHUSETTS 320 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,100 ONE YEAR LATER 321 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,180 Daniel LaPlante lived on Elm Street. 322 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,872 It was only 1.5 kilometers from the Gustafsons' house. 323 00:27:20,013 --> 00:27:23,293 But Daniel LaPlante was in juvenile detention. 324 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:26,280 At least that's what they thought. 325 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:32,740 When he was 17, the judge decided that he should be tried as an adult. 326 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,700 Then Daniel LaPlante was tried as an adult, 327 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,262 he was released on bail. 328 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:43,580 There is no deposit for young people. It's a completely different legal system. 329 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:47,660 Because of his age and the seriousness of the crimes... 330 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,000 he can do as an adult be indicted. 331 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:57,500 They charged him as an adult and he was able to get out on bail. 332 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,700 The mother wanted her son get free. 333 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,179 I think every mother can understand that. 334 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,500 She wants her family member back. 335 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:07,300 But the nature of the crimes, the violence... 336 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,860 and wickedness of the crimes themselves, 337 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,900 show serious underlying psychological problems. 338 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,880 That he was free again awaiting trial... 339 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,560 posed a threat for the entire community. 340 00:28:23,291 --> 00:28:24,820 You may sit down. 341 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:31,460 He came to court for a bail hearing. 342 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:37,620 The judge then let him without the opinion of the police, 343 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,820 free on bail of $10,000. 344 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,520 His mother took out a mortgage to pay that deposit. 345 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,560 It is certain that the judge made a huge mistake. 346 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:56,780 Daniel LaPlante was very dangerous. 347 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:02,620 He terrorized a family and took them hostage. 348 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:06,620 When I heard about the murders, I said: 349 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,480 what would Danny LaPlante are doing? 350 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,380 December 2, 1987 351 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:28,060 Homicide still had a violent, bizarre crime. 352 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:33,160 Daniel LaPlante lived nearby that triple murder. 353 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,509 It was a revelation for the police... 354 00:29:36,650 --> 00:29:40,189 but they had no hard evidence to link him to the murders. 355 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:43,540 Just the proximity of them and his violent past. 356 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:45,580 Seven o'clock. 357 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,860 We arrived the next morning meeting again at the crime scene... 358 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:55,160 for as much information as possible and gather evidence. 359 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:00,700 It was outside the house a pillow on the floor. 360 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,280 I called a sniffer dog team of the state police... 361 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:06,800 and we started a search. 362 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:13,520 The dog followed a trail from the garden to the forest. 363 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:20,100 Found within a few minutes a police officer a wet flannel shirt. 364 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,900 There were also wet gloves in the forest. 365 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,740 The police thought that those clothes... 366 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,280 could have to do with with the drownings. 367 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:37,140 The dog immediately smelled something... 368 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:39,600 and led us through the forest. 369 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,040 Finally we arrived at Daniel LaPlante's home. 370 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,800 After the sniffer dog we asked a search warrant. 371 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:59,100 We went there. We searched the entire house. 372 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:02,080 Daniel wasn't there at the time. 373 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,220 One of the things we found, 374 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:09,660 was a pair of wet socks in Daniel LaPlante's bedroom. 375 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,660 We found those wet socks a blonde hair. 376 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,800 That could be Abigail's. 377 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,820 In addition, we found bullets, 378 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:28,300 used bullets that matched with the patterns... 379 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,380 with which Priscilla Gustafson had been murdered. 380 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:36,180 We were clearly seated on the right track. 381 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:41,280 Then we applied for an arrest warrant for Daniel LaPlante. 382 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:47,840 But Daniel had fled and the hunt was on for him. 383 00:31:49,113 --> 00:31:52,780 We released his photo to the media and they ran with it. 384 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:57,153 24 hours after the triple murder of the Gustafson family in Townsend... 385 00:31:57,294 --> 00:32:00,420 the police are still there looking for the killer. 386 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:04,860 On the news from six o'clock and from They used his photo at eleven o'clock. 387 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,100 We told people that we were looking for Daniel LaPlante... 388 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:13,180 and anyone who could help us, we asked for a tip. 389 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:17,260 The media from Boston and Worcester and all of Massachusetts... 390 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,700 came to Townsend and Pepperell. 391 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,940 I spoke as a reporter with the police officers... 392 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,140 and the police chiefs. Everyone was worried and exhausted. 393 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:31,040 People who were not on duty were back to work. 394 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:36,980 For the first and last time in my career... 395 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,120 I put on a bulletproof vest. 396 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:46,760 I thought Daniel was going to it northwest of Pepperell. 397 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:57,920 It is rural, densely wooded and you are not easily noticed. 398 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,320 My decision was prophetic. 399 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:09,480 Reports of a suspicious young man came in almost immediately. 400 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:17,280 The reports came true a forest area with four roads. 401 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,560 We drove around that area. 402 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:28,940 I pulled into the driveway from one of the houses... 403 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:34,100 and a woman said, I know why you are here. I just got home. 404 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:38,460 'Can you come with me? when I go in?' 405 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:40,760 And I said: Of course, ma'am. 406 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:44,320 I asked my partner to stay in the car. 407 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,540 When we arrived at the house, 408 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:52,720 it didn't last more than half minute when I heard a loud thump. 409 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:58,860 I quickly asked the lady: Do you have a pet? 410 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,480 She said: I have a cat. I said: That wasn't a cat. 411 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:09,940 When I got to the top of the stairs, 412 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:16,180 I found a hunting rifle with the latch closed. 413 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,660 I assumed that it was loaded. 414 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,520 That was the thud I heard. 415 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,580 We searched the entire house. 416 00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:30,580 He had climbed out of the window, 417 00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:37,220 jumped on the garage and fled into the forest. 418 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:44,580 He wanted to shoot me with a shotgun. 419 00:34:44,720 --> 00:34:46,420 What scared him 420 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:49,640 was the presence of my partner in the car. 421 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:56,100 The man of the house said that the gun was his. 422 00:34:56,240 --> 00:35:00,340 But he said that a gun was missing... 423 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:03,820 and that there too a belt of ammunition was missing. 424 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:07,800 It was clear that the intruder wanted to arm himself. 425 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:12,860 Everyone knew that the killer was walking free. 426 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,320 The police were everywhere. 427 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,140 Every time someone saw something moving, they called the police. 428 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:26,140 People sat terrified locked in their house. 429 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:28,900 That should have been the case. 430 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:32,360 If you kill three people, there are no more boundaries. 431 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:37,500 He couldn't do it alone kidnap people, 432 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:39,200 but also kill them. 433 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:46,220 This was one of the biggest manhunts ever in Massachusetts. 434 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:48,900 You saw police cars everywhere... 435 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,760 with officers searching to Daniel LaPlante. 436 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:54,800 We knew he was dangerous. 437 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,251 We knew him could strike again. 438 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:02,420 He had to get off the street. 439 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:04,660 We had to deal with a young man... 440 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:10,300 who hid in the walls and made us wade through the forest. 441 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,840 He knew how had to go unnoticed. 442 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,140 Within 15 to 20 minutes... 443 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:27,300 I received a notification that this fugitive criminal... 444 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:33,120 to a timber yard in the town of Ayer. 445 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:40,020 I was afraid that LaPlante was armed... 446 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:44,640 and that he would take someone hostage or kill. 447 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:51,300 The police cordoned off the area and closed the streets. 448 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:55,780 A police helicopter flew and police searched the store. 449 00:36:55,920 --> 00:37:00,440 One of the officers thought he was something belonged to a container. 450 00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:05,960 Multiple agents surrounded the container. 451 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:11,160 They dedicated Daniel to come out... 452 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:18,280 and he decided to surrender. 453 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:23,940 He got tired brought to the police barracks... 454 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:28,620 on Elm Street in the town Concord, Massachusetts. 455 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:32,500 MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED 456 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:38,780 He was charged with the murder on Priscilla, Abigail and William. 457 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:43,420 I sat next to him during the trial. Hij had een kille blik. 458 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:47,960 Hij keek langs je heen. He showed not an ounce of remorse. 459 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,980 I reported on the trial voor m'n krant. 460 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:55,180 Ik zat in de rechtszaal en keek LaPlante aan. 461 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:58,540 Hij was emotieloos. 462 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:00,606 He showed not an ounce of empathy. 463 00:38:00,747 --> 00:38:03,900 He didn't feel uncomfortable bij wat er gebeurde. 464 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:06,820 He had a soulless look. 465 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,380 Gloves. 466 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:13,300 There were several things linked Daniel to the murders. 467 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:17,900 The shell casings in the house van LaPlante... 468 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:22,000 were the same like those at the crime scene. 469 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:29,500 And a hair on one of Daniel's socks... 470 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:33,000 of the head of the murdered Abigail Gustafson. 471 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:37,820 During one of the searches at LaPlante's house... 472 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,340 the murder weapon was found. 473 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:46,140 A .22 revolver in an abandoned vehicle... 474 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:48,880 on the LaPlante property. 475 00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:54,540 We also found two TV boxes and remote controls... 476 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:57,540 that were stolen from the Gustafsons. 477 00:38:57,680 --> 00:38:59,580 So before the murders... 478 00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:02,420 LaPlante had already been in that house. 479 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:04,740 Again, this is Exhibit 53. 480 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:08,220 The most compelling piece of evidence... 481 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:12,960 was the legal concept of consciousness of guilt. 482 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:20,100 An innocent person does not run away for the police during an interrogation. 483 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:25,420 An innocent person tries don't kidnap people... 484 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:27,640 when they run from the police. 485 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:34,900 An innocent person tries not to arm oneself... 486 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:41,040 with a rifle, a shotgun, ammunition and a pistol. 487 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:46,980 LaPlante's actions after the murder sealed his fate. 488 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:48,740 REAL VIDEO 489 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:50,540 He made you feel cold. 490 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:55,920 You don't always have that with the people we meet. 491 00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:00,640 Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Reilly 492 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:03,620 was very skilled. He told... 493 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:09,640 that this young family led a happy life. 494 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,220 Two beautiful children and there is another one on the way. 495 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:18,380 And that horrible person broke into their house... 496 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:24,480 and just like that, put an end to it. He killed those people. 497 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:28,320 Thank you. Please sit down. 498 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:37,980 In court, ironically... 499 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,780 at the intersection from Elm Street and Goram Street, 500 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:45,060 the jury has Daniel LaPlante found guilty... 501 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,180 to the murder of three members of the Gustafson family. 502 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:51,100 Guilty of murder. 503 00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:56,660 He received three life sentences without chance of parole. 504 00:40:56,800 --> 00:41:01,380 REAL VIDEO 505 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:03,700 You're looking at someone... 506 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,800 who is evil, if such a thing exists. 507 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:14,020 The lead researcher said: 508 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:18,140 'Tom, you saw that Elm Street keeps popping up?' 509 00:41:18,280 --> 00:41:21,700 His house on Elm Street. 510 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:26,420 He becomes taken to the police barracks... 511 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,580 on Elm Street in Concord. 512 00:41:29,720 --> 00:41:34,380 He is being prosecuted and found guilty... 513 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,620 on the corner of Elm Street in Massachusetts. 514 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:45,260 Elm Street shows up seven times in LaPlante's story. 515 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,320 That's quite bizarre. 516 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:52,960 Has justice prevailed? 517 00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:57,460 According to the law, yes. 518 00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:00,643 But how does it get better after losing your wife, 519 00:42:00,784 --> 00:42:03,340 your two children and your unborn baby? 520 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:05,940 He was off the street... 521 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:10,760 but as far as the Gustafson family is concerned I don't know. 522 00:42:12,920 --> 00:42:15,620 A case like this is so terrible. 523 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:19,620 That's so terrible people never get over it. 524 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:24,940 It's something that makes people stop for a moment and really think. 525 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,480 How can anyone do this to another? 526 00:42:31,280 --> 00:42:34,780 All I know is that there are people who are capable of such a thing. 527 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:36,505 You have to be careful. 528 00:42:36,646 --> 00:42:38,606 You have to know how to deal with it. 529 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:45,740 Lock your door. If we When I'm home, my door is locked. 530 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:47,920 You can't just come in. 531 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:52,780 If you go to Pepperell there are still many people... 532 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:56,640 who are old enough that when you say his name, 533 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:00,880 they say: There I get still goosebumps. 534 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:06,880 That was almost 40 years ago. 535 00:43:07,993 --> 00:43:11,272 When you mention his name to people with gray hair, they say: 536 00:43:11,413 --> 00:43:12,813 I remember that day. 537 00:43:14,787 --> 00:43:16,460 I've never forgotten it. 538 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:20,645 I reported it, but I have never forgotten this matter. 539 00:43:20,792 --> 00:43:22,632 Evil showed itself. 540 00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:28,620 Two beautiful children, pregnant with a third party. 541 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:33,820 A horrible person broke in and put an end to it. 542 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,420 He killed those people for no reason. 543 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:40,980 There was no real motive. 544 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:45,020 Except that they came in when he was in that house. 545 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:50,520 This person was cold and evil. 546 00:43:51,316 --> 00:43:54,500 In 2017, life sentences were imposed prohibited for young people. 547 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:56,900 Daniel's punishment was reduced to 45 years. 548 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,460 He will be 62 years old if he can be released in 2033. 549 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:07,000 REAL VIDEO