Original subtitles

♪

Narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF A SINGLE MOM

WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER KIDS.

Edie: SANDY LOVED HER CHILDREN.

THEY WERE A JOY TO WATCH AS A FAMILY.

Narrator: BUT WHEN A BRUTAL MURDER...

THE OFFICER JUST SPUN AROUND AND SAID, "OUT!"

...LEADS TO A NATIONWIDE MANHUNT....

Timothy: LAW ENFORCEMENT PUT OUT A LOOKOUT,

WHICH WENT TO EVERY AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES.

...THE TRUTH OF HOW IT ENDS...

Timothy: HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY HAVE HAPPENED?

IT'S JUST INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

...WILL DESTROY THIS FAMILY.

♪

♪

♪

Narrator: IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND,

1989, IN PALCO, KANSAS,

AND SANDY MILES IS CELEBRATING HER 40th BIRTHDAY.

-OH, BOY. -[ LAUGHTER ]

BEHIND THE CAMERA IS SANDY'S SISTER, EDIE.

SANDY CAME TO OUR HOUSE FOR HER 40th BIRTHDAY,

AND I'D MADE HER A BIRTHDAY CAKE.

I ENJOYED DOING SOMETHING FOR HER, MAKING HER DAY SPECIAL.

WE HAD THE FAMILY THERE FOR A MEAL.

Narrator: NEXT TO SANDY ARE HER TWO CHILDREN,

13-YEAR-OLD CHAD

AND 8-YEAR-OLD TRACIE.

WAITING IN THE WINGS, READY TO SERVE UP A BIRTHDAY FEAST

IS ELDEST SISTER, PAT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE ALL GOT TOGETHER

AS A FAMILY THAT WE'D KIND OF

SPOIL SANDY A LITTLE BIT.

SHE WAS THE BABY.

Narrator: THE MILES KIDS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES

EAGER FOR A SLICE OF BIRTHDAY CAKE.

THEY'RE JOINED HERE BY LITTLE COUSINS

TIFFANY AND HER YOUNGER BROTHER, TRAVIS.

GRANDMA EDIE'S THING WAS CAKES, OF ALL OCCASIONS.

[ SINGING ] TO YOU...

SHE DEFINITELY WANTED TO MAKE SANDY

FEEL LOVED ON HER BIRTHDAY.

TRACIE MOVES IN FOR A BIG HUG.

SEE HOW HAPPY SANDY IS?

Pat: WE WERE EXTREMELY CLOSE AS A FAMILY.

Narrator: SISTERS SANDY, EDIE, AND PAT

ARE COUNTRY GIRLS AT HEART.

Edie: THE RURAL AREA WHERE WE LIVE

IS PRETTY SPARSELY POPULATED.

YOU COULD GO A WHOLE MILE AND NOT SEE A HOUSE.

Narrator: GROWING UP, THEY QUICKLY LEARN

TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR RURAL LIFESTYLE.

PAT WAS ALWAYS OLDER AND MORE WITH HER FRIENDS

AND SO FORTH.

SANDY AND I WERE THE ONES WHO PLAYED TOGETHER.

WE WOULD GO UP TO THE PLAYGROUND

AND PLAY ON THE JUNGLE GYM,

AND THE SWINGS -- WE PLAYED SCHOOL INSIDE.

I ALWAYS WAS THE TEACHER,

AND I WAS THE OLDER CHILD, SO THEREFORE,

I COULD MAKE SANDY BE THE STUDENT.

-[ SWING SET SQUEAKING ] -[ INDISTINCT EXCLAMATIONS ]

AS THE YEARS PASS, PAT AND EDIE

START FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN.

BUT SANDY DECIDES IT'S TIME TO FLY

THE NEST AND MOVES 150 MILES AWAY

TO THE LARGER TOWN OF HUTCHINSON,

WHERE SHE GETS A JOB IN A LOCAL AVIATION FACTORY.

SHE WAS A VERY DEDICATED EMPLOYEE,

RARELY DID NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK, RARELY CALLED IN SICK.

Narrator: DESPITE THE DISTANCE, THE SISTERS MAKE SURE

THE BONDS BETWEEN THEM REMAIN AS TIGHT AS EVER.

I WOULD COME TO HUTCHINSON, AND WE WOULD GO

OUT TO EAT AND TAKE THE KIDS TO THE PARK.

SANDY MAKES REGULAR TRIPS TO EDIE'S RANCH

IN PALCO TO VISIT HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

Man: PAPAW'S DRUNK.

Narrator: AND WHILE SHE'S THRILLED TO BE AN AUNT,

SANDY CAN'T QUITE DISGUISE THE FACT THAT SHE'S DESPERATE TO

START A FAMILY OF HER OWN.

SANDY REALLY, REALLY WANTED CHILDREN.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN HARD FOR HER, SEEING

THAT EDIE AND I BOTH HAD CHILDREN.

Narrator: BACK IN HUTCHINSON, SANDY DECIDES TO MAKE A CHANGE.

Edie: SHE STARTED GOING TO SOME SINGLES CLUBS AND TRYING

TO MEET SOMEONE SHE WANTED TO SPEND HER LIFE WITH.

Narrator: IN 1976, SANDY HAS

SOME EXCITING NEWS FOR HER SISTERS.

SHE'S MET SOMEONE, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE A MOM.

SHE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING A MOTHER

AND HAVING A CHILD IN HER LIFE.

Narrator: IN MARCH OF 1976,

CHAD IS BORN.

BUT SANDY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER DOESN'T LAST.

CHAD IS STILL YOUNG WHEN SANDY TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH AGAIN

AND STARTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH A WORK COLLEAGUE,

JERRY MILES.

AND IT'S NOT LONG UNTIL THERE'S THE SOUND OF

WEDDING BELLS.

Pat: I WAS REALLY HAPPY FOR SANDY ON HER WEDDING DAY.

SHE HAD ON THIS PRETTY BLUE DRESS.

CARRIED HER BOUQUET, AND IT WAS A HAPPY DAY.

I WAS MAID OF HONOR, AND I REMEMBER TELLING JERRY

IN A FUN WAY THAT HE BETTER TAKE GOOD CARE OF SANDY.

Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER OF 1980

SANDY AND JERRY WELCOME A NEW BABY, TRACIE.

SANDY ALWAYS DID WANT A LITTLE GIRL TO PLAY WITH CHAD.

AND THEY WERE BOTH BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

SHE MADE GOOD-LOOKING BABIES.

Narrator: BUT SANDY AND JERRY ARE STRUGGLING,

AND IN 1985, THEY DIVORCE, LEAVING SANDY

A SINGLE MOM AGAIN, BUT NOW WITH TWO KIDS.

Pat: I THINK SHE DID A REAL GOOD JOB

OF COPING WITH BEING ON HER OWN.

Narrator: WITH TWO FAILED RELATIONSHIPS BEHIND HER,

SANDY DECIDES TO FOCUS COMPLETELY ON HER KIDS.

Edie: THEY WERE A JOY TO WATCH AS A FAMILY.

SHE WOULD HUG AND KISS THEM, AND THEY WOULD

SIT ON HER LAP, AND SHE WOULD PLAY WITH THEM.

SHE HAD SOMEONE IN HER LIFE THAT SHE REALLY CARED ABOUT,

AND THEY CARED ABOUT HER.

[ STATIC NOISES ]

Narrator: AND EDIE'S RANCH ALWAYS PROVIDES

A LOVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

THE CHILDREN COULD GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY AND RIDE BIKES

AND RIDE HORSES AND JUST MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

SO WE ENJOYED IT, THEY ENJOYED IT, AND...

IT'S JUST REALLY A NICE PLACE TO GET TOGETHER.

[ SQUEAKING NOISES ]

IT'S A PLACE OF ADVENTURE AND ESCAPE.

[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]

Travis: GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S HOUSE WAS ALWAYS

THE GATHERING PLACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

BIG OPEN SPREAD WITH TONS OF STUFF TO DO.

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

TO BE ABLE TO BURN OFF ENERGY

AND EXPLORE AND PLAY AND...

Narrator: FOR TRACIE AND CHAD,

IT'S AN IDYLLIC WORLD FAR FROM THEIR LIVES IN THE CITY.

TRACIE AND CHAD WOULD GO HORSEBACK RIDING

ON A HORSE NAMED CAJUN.

Child: OH! OH! OH!

Edie: OUR HORSES WERE GENTLE ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD RIDE

A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR OWN.

THEY ENJOYED THAT.

EVERY EASTER TIME, THE FAMILY GATHERED

FOR GRANDMA EDIE'S BELOVED EASTER EGG HUNT.

FOR THE KIDS, IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR.

ANY TIME CHAD AND TRACIE WERE COMING, WE WERE ALWAYS

REALLY EXCITED.

[ INDISTINCT EXCLAMATION ]

THE EASTER EGG HUNTS WERE LEGENDARY.

THEY WOULD PUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN THESE PLASTIC EGGS.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

THERE'D BE CANDY IN THERE, THERE'D BE CASH IN THERE.

THERE'D BE ALL SORTS OF THINGS YOU COULD FIND,

AND IT WAS ALWAYS A MAD SCRAMBLE AMONG

THE COUSINS WHO COULD FIND THE BEST EGG.

REALLY GREAT MEMORY FOR ALL OF US KIDS.

Narrator: WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T HUNTING EASTER EGGS,

EDIE'S SERVING UP HUGE COUNTRY FEASTS.

WE WOULD HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY DINNER.

I DID ALL THE COOKING.

GRANDMA.

Narrator: THE SUPPORT THAT EDIE AND PAT PROVIDE

GIVE SANDY, CHAD, AND TRACIE MUCH-NEEDED SECURITY.

THE DINNERS WERE VERY IMPORTANT,

AND WE WERE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

Narrator: WHILE CHAD HIDES HIS FACE BEHIND HIS HAND,

TRACIE IS NEVER ONE TO MISS A MOMENT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

[ INDISTINCT EXCLAMATIONS ]

Narrator: NO ONE CAN IMAGINE HOW BONDS THIS STRONG

COULD EVER BE BROKEN.

[ INDISTINCT EXCLAMATIONS ]

Narrator: SANDY MILES' 40th BIRTHDAY

ALSO MARKS FOUR YEARS SINCE SHE BECAME

A SINGLE MOM WORKING TO SUPPORT HER TWO KIDS,

CHAD AND TRACIE.

Narrator: IT'S A ROLE THAT CARRIES GUILT.

I THINK THAT SANDY FELT BAD ABOUT HER CHILDREN

NOT HAVING A FATHER IN THE HOUSE.

MAYBE SHE OVERCOMPENSATED A LITTLE BIT

BY BUYING THEM TOO MUCH.

GRANDMA?

Narrator: TRACIE'S BEST FRIEND THROUGH SCHOOL, ERIKKA BUEFORD,

SEES JUST HOW CLOSE THE FAMILY IS.

THEY ALL LOVED EACH OTHER.

EVERYTHING SANDY DID WAS FOR THEM.

Narrator: SUPPORTING THEM ALL MEANS WORKING LONG HOURS

AT HER FACTORY JOB.

Edie: SANDY WORKED ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE.

SHE HAD TO WORK.

SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER AND HAD TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY.

Narrator: TRACIE RESPONSE TO HER MOM'S ABSENCE

WITH A NEED FOR LOVING ATTENTION.

Edie: TRACIE WAS VERY AFFECTIONATE WITH HER MOTHER.

YOU KNOW, AS ANY CHILD, THEY WOULD WANT

THEIR MOTHER TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEM.

♪

Narrator: AS TRACIE GROWS UP, THE TIES THAT BOND

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER BECOME EVEN STRONGER.

AND THEY'RE ONLY STRENGTHENED WHEN 20-YEAR-OLD CHAD DECIDES

IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO FLY THE NEST

AND EMBARK ON A LIFE OF HIS OWN.

Edie: AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, CHAD MOVED TO NEW MEXICO,

MARRIED A YOUNG LADY FROM THERE.

SANDY AND TRACIE'S RELATIONSHIP

BECAME CLOSER AT THAT TIME.

Narrator: FOR SANDY, LIFE IS NOW ALL ABOUT TRACIE.

♪

TRACIE IS A KEEN ATHLETE AND DANCER, AND SANDY

MAKES SURE HER DAUGHTER NEVER MISSES A PRACTICE.

SANDY WAS VERY PROUD OF TRACIE.

TRACIE WAS GOOD AT GYMNASTICS.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

SHE'S THE MOST ACTIVE PERSON I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

SHE WAS IN DANCE AND FLIPPING, CARTWHEELS,

SHE COULD DO ALL THAT.

SHE WAS VERY ACTIVE, VERY ATHLETIC.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Pat: I KNOW SHE WAS REALLY INTO THE DANCING,

AND -- AND SANDY LOVED DANCING, TOO,

AND HAD A REAL GOOD TIME WITH IT.

Narrator: IN THE FALL OF 1996, TRACIE TURNS 16,

AND SANDY IS DETERMINED THAT HER DAUGHTER

GETS EVERY CHANCE IN LIFE.

SANDY ALWAYS WANTED THE BEST FOR TRACIE.

SHE SENT HER TO SCHOOLS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS GETTING THE BEST EDUCATION.

Pat: IN HER MIND,

I THINK SHE FELT LIKE, "WELL, I DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE.

"I DIDN'T DO THIS. I DIDN'T DO THAT.

I WANT BETTER FOR MY KIDS."

AND THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HER.

Narrator: BUT TRACIE IS DISCOVERING THERE'S MORE

TO HIGH SCHOOL THAN GYM CLASS.

Erikka: TRACIE WAS 16 WHEN SHE STARTED DATING MORE.

WE'D ALL BE AT EACH OTHER'S HOUSE, LIKE,

JUST SITTING AROUND, TALKING,

AND WE'D LISTEN TO MUSIC MORE THAN ANYTHING.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: THERE'S ONE BOY IN PARTICULAR

THAT CATCHES TRACIE'S ATTENTION --

PAUL NELSON.

HE WAS THE NEW KID IN TOWN.

PAUL WAS A CHARACTER.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

I JUST REMEMBER HE JUST BROUGHT THE FUN.

HIS ENERGY ATTRACTED HER TO HIM.

Narrator: AND PAUL IS SWEPT AWAY BY TRACIE.

WELL, HE THOUGHT SHE WAS GORGEOUS.

PAUL WAS, LIKE, GOOGLY-EYED.

Narrator: BUT AS MORE OF PAUL'S FRIENDS START TO HANG OUT

AT TRACIE'S HOUSE,

ERIKKA BEGINS TO FEEL INCREASINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

THE DYNAMIC STARTED TO CHANGE.

MY GUT WAS TELLING ME, "YOU DON'T WANT TO BE

AROUND THESE PEOPLE."

Narrator: AND IN EARLY 1997, 16-YEAR-OLD TRACIE

CONFIRMS ERIKKA'S FEARS WHEN SHE REVEALS SOME STUNNING NEWS.

SHE'S PREGNANT,

AND PAUL IS THE FATHER.

Erikka: SANDY DID NOT FEEL THAT TRACIE WAS

OLD ENOUGH OR READY FOR A BABY.

I REMEMBER BEING SURPRISED BY TRACIE AND SANDY ARGUING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM ARGUE.

Narrator: SANDY'S OWN FAILED RELATIONSHIPS AND STRUGGLES AS

A SINGLE MOM MEANS SHE WANTS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR TRACIE.

As Sandy: TRACIE, YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER!

As Tracie: I DON'T WANT BETTER!

Edie: I'M SURE THAT SANDY FELT THAT

TRACIE NEEDED TO FINISH HER EDUCATION.

SHE NEEDED TO BE PREPARED FOR LIFE MORE

BEFORE SHE HAD A CHILD.

I'M SURE THAT'S WHY SHE ENCOURAGED HER

TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

Narrator: TRACIE EVENTUALLY AGREES

TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY.

THAT WAS A TOUGH DAY -- IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DAY.

Narrator: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOM AND DAUGHTER

IS AT BREAKING POINT,

BUT SANDY HAS A PEACE OFFERING --

A BLACK FORD MUSTANG.

I DON'T THINK SHE COULD BELIEVE IT AT FIRST,

BUT SHE WAS JUST CRAZY, HAPPY, EXCITED,

AS ANY KID WOULD BE.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE A CAR AT THAT AGE.

Narrator: IT'S A TRULY GRAND GESTURE, BUT SECRETLY,

IT'S ONE THAT SANDY STRUGGLES TO AFFORD.

I'M ASSUMING SHE HAD TO HAVE WENT

INTO DEBT FOR IT, BECAUSE SINGLE MOTHER,

I MEAN, SHE WASN'T WEALTHY.

Narrator: DESPITE THE COST, THE GIFT SEEMS TO PAY OFF.

Erikka: TRACIE WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT MUSTANG.

TRACIE AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST RIDING AROUND

IN THAT CAR.

SANDY WAS VERY PROUD OF HERSELF FOR GIVING IT TO HER.

Narrator: BUT THERE'S MORE TO SANDY'S GENEROSITY

THAN AN ACT OF KINDNESS.

I THINK THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING TO TRY TO KEEP TRACIE

ON THE RIGHT PATH AND THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW,

BUT IT MADE HER HAPPY TO SEE HER HAPPY, TOO.

Narrator: SANDY IS DETERMINED TO SHOW THE WORLD

SHE'S REBUILT THE BOND BETWEEN HER AND TRACIE.

SHE HAD RAISED A GOOD, SWEET GIRL,

AND SHE WANTED EVERYBODY TO THINK

THAT IT WAS STILL THAT WAY.

[ MUSIC CLIMBING ]

BUT THINGS WERE CHANGING, AND IT WASN'T.

Narrator: MARCH 30, 1998.

PAT DOUGLAS-BUTLER RECEIVES A WORRYING CALL.

Pat: I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM SANDY'S WORK.

THEY SAID SHE HADN'T BEEN TO WORK IN SEVERAL DAYS,

AND SHE HAD NOT CALLED IN LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

Edie: THAT WAS VERY UNLIKE HER,

AND SO PAT BECAME VERY CONCERNED AND CALLED SANDY.

Narrator: BUT THERE'S NO ANSWER.

PAT DECIDES TO GO CHECK SANDY'S HOUSE.

WE GOT IN THE CAR AND WENT TO HER HOUSE.

♪

HER CAR WAS UNDER THE CARPORT.

THE CURTAINS WERE ALL PULLED AND EVERYTHING.

Narrator: THERE'S NO SIGN OF SANDY ANYWHERE.

PAT DECIDES TO CONTACT TRACIE AT SCHOOL,

SEE IF SHE CAN SHED LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY.

BUT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER TELLS THEM

THAT TRACIE'S NOT THERE AND HASN'T BEEN FOR DAYS.

I WAS BEWILDERED

AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD BE GOING ON, BUT...

SOMETHING TOLD ME THERE JUST WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

Narrator: THEY FOLLOW THE RESOURCE OFFICER

BACK TO SANDY'S HOUSE.

[ DOOR CREAKING ]

THE RESOURCE OFFICER WENT IN FIRST.

♪

[ MUSIC CLIMBING ]

THE OFFICER JUST SPUN AROUND AND SAID, "OUT!"

WELL, WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE ODOR.

YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT

OR DESCRIBE IT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS,

AND I KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

I KNEW IMMEDIATELY.

Narrator: THE RESOURCE OFFICER DIALS 911.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

Ernie: WE GO INTO IT WITH OUR WEAPONS IN A READY POSITION.

ONCE WE OPENED THE DOOR,

THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT ODOR OF DECOMPOSITION.

WE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED TO THE LEFT,

WHICH WAS TRACIE'S BEDROOM.

AND IN THAT HALLWAY COMING OUT OF THE BEDROOM

WAS WHERE THE BODY WAS.

♪

THE BODY WAS LAYING HALFWAY IN THE ENTRANCEWAY

AND HALFWAY IN THE HALLWAY,

AND THERE WAS A LARGE POOL OF BLOOD

AROUND THE HEAD AREA.

♪

THERE WAS AN INDICATION THERE WAS POSSIBLY

A STRUGGLE THAT STARTED MAYBE IN THE BEDROOM,

AND IT CONTINUED ON OUT TO THE HALLWAY.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL

BLOWS TO THE HEAD WITH A BLUNT OBJECT.

AROUND THE THROAT WAS A TELEPHONE CORD.

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS NOT TIGHTLY TIED,

BUT CLEARLY INDICATIONS WERE AT THAT POINT THAT

STRANGULATION HAD OCCURRED ALSO.

Narrator: LYING IN THE HALLWAY IS SANDY MILES.

IT SEEMS SHE'S BEEN DEAD FOR SEVERAL DAYS,

AND HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, TRACIE,

IS MISSING.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

INVESTIGATORS SCOUR THE HOME FOR POTENTIAL CLUES.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

IN ADDITION TO SEARCHING FOR THE MURDER WEAPON,

THE OFFICERS WERE ALSO SEARCHING FOR ANY ITEMS THAT

MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSING FROM THE HOUSE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

ONE ITEM MISSING FROM THE HOUSE WAS A VCR.

♪

I REMEMBER BEING CALLED TO THE OFFICE FOR A PHONE CALL,

AND I ANSWERED THE PHONE AND, UM,

THE MAN IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS THE POLICE CHAPLAIN AND TOLD ME

THAT MY SISTER, SANDY, HAD BEEN FOUND MURDERED IN HER HOME.

YOU'RE TRYING TO COMPREHEND WHAT THEY SAY,

BUT YET AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE DEALING WITH ALL THESE

EMOTIONS ABOUT YOUR SISTER BEING MURDERED.

I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHY

AND WHAT REASON.

Narrator: NEWS OF THE BRUTAL KILLING QUICKLY

REACHES TRACIE'S BEST FRIEND, ERIKKA.

MY MOM OPENED THE DOOR AND CAME IN THE ROOM AND WAS LIKE,

"ERIKKA, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU NOW."

SHE PUT ME OUTSIDE, AND SHE'S LIKE, UM,

THEY JUST FOUND SANDY'S BODY AT THE HOUSE.

I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "THERE'S POLICE TAPE.

"THERE'S POLICE EVERYWHERE.

"THE -- YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ON THE BLOCK.

"ERIKKA, IT'S TRUE. SANDY'S GONE,

AND NOBODY KNOWS WHERE TRACIE IS EITHER."

Narrator: 17-YEAR-OLD TRACIE'S DISAPPEARANCE FROM SCHOOL

APPEARS TO COINCIDE WITH HER MOTHER'S MURDER.

Edie: WE WERE JUST VERY WORRIED ABOUT TRACIE'S WHEREABOUTS

AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO HER.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE WERE

TRYING TO DEAL WITH SANDY BEING MURDERED.

Erikka: I WAS SCARED, LIKE,

CRYING UNCONTROLLABLY, LIKE, TO THE POINT OF PHYSICAL ILLNESS,

FEVERISHLY PRAYING, LIKE, JUST, PLEASE,

PLEASE, GOD, DON'T LET NOTHING BE

WRONG WITH MY BEST FRIEND, PLEASE.

Narrator: DETECTIVES NEED TO FIND TRACIE.

THEY COULD HAVE A DOUBLE HOMICIDE ON THEIR HANDS.

DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THIS CRIME, DUE TO THE BRUTALITY

OF IT AND KNOWING NOW

THAT WE HAVE A ANOTHER PERSON MISSING IT WAS -- THERE WAS

A VERY HIGH SENSE OF URGENCY.

Timothy: MY FEAR AND NIGHTMARE AT THAT POINT

WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO TRACIE.

SHE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED OR KILLED.

♪

♪

Narrator: SANDY MILES HAS BEEN MURDERED,

AND HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, TRACIE, IS MISSING.

NEWS SOON SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE FAMILY.

CHAD WAS DEVASTATED AT THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER.

HE ASSUMED, LIKE THE REST OF US,

THAT TRACIE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED.

Narrator: THE BRUTALITY OF THE SCENE IS

A SHOCK FOR THE HARDENED DETECTIVES.

IT TOOK US ALL BACK DUE TO THE NATURE OF HOW VIOLENT

IT WAS.

WHY THIS HAPPENED TO A WOMAN THAT WAS

JUST A SINGLE PARENT TRYING TO RAISE HER KID.

WHAT -- I MEAN, WHAT WOULD SHE HAVE DONE TO DESERVE THAT?

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: THE CRIME SCENE AT SANDY'S HOUSE

REVEALS A VITAL CLUE.

Larry: IT WAS DETERMINED THERE HAD BEEN NO FORCED ENTRY.

THEREFORE,

SANDY PROBABLY KNEW HER KILLER.

Narrator: POLICE IMMEDIATELY CALL TRACIE

AND SANDY'S FRIENDS TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD CONTACT WITH THEM.

ONE NAME KEEPS COMING UP --

AN OLD BOYFRIEND OF TRACIE'S, JEREMY BELL.

WHEN THE NAME JEREMY BELL CAME UP,

HUTCHINSON IS A SMALL ENOUGH TOWN.

ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHO HE WAS,

IMMEDIATELY KNEW HE HAD

BEEN IN JAIL THE WEEK BEFORE AND THAT HE HAD BEEN RELEASED.

JEREMY BELL WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A VIOLENT INDIVIDUAL.

CLEARLY, THAT BECAME A PRIMARY FOCUS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Narrator: THE FACT THAT JEREMY BELL IS FRESH OUT OF JAIL

IS A HUGE RED FLAG TO INVESTIGATORS.

POLICE BRING HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING.

Timothy: WHEN JEREMY WAS INTERVIEWED,

HE INDICATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HE HAD

WENT TO CARRY PARK AND PLAYED BASKETBALL WITH A FRIEND.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NEED TO FIND OUT IF JEREMY IS LYING.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED JEREMY'S FRIENDS

TO VERIFY THAT, IN FACT,

HE HAD BEEN AT THOSE LOCATIONS.

Narrator: JEREMY HAS A STRONG ALIBI,

AND POLICE RULE HIM OUT OF THE INVESTIGATION.

BUT BEFORE HE LEAVES, HE THROWS THE DETECTIVES

A BONE.

HE SAID THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT TRACIE'S PRESENT BOYFRIEND,

PAUL NELSON.

HE CERTAINLY HAD NO FOND FEELINGS TOWARDS PAUL.

HE FELT PAUL WAS RUINING TRACIE'S LIFE

AND ONLY HAD VERY NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT

PAUL NELSON.

Narrator: AND FILES ON PAUL NELSON

SEEM TO SUPPORT HIS CLAIMS.

Timothy: WE KNEW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PAUL HAD

HAD NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAD PREVIOUS

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.

WE ALSO KNEW THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH FRIENDS

THAT DRUGS CERTAINLY WERE INVOLVED IN HIS LIFESTYLE

AND CERTAINLY RAISED CONCERNS.

Narrator: PAUL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH TRACIE AND HER MOM

THROWS UP YET ANOTHER RED FLAG.

ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THE HOMICIDE,

TRACIE BECAME PREGNANT, WITH THE FATHER BEING PAUL NELSON.

SANDY DID NOT WANT TRACIE TO BE WITH PAUL.

SANDY TOLD TRACIE THAT IF SHE KEPT THE BABY,

SHE WOULD BE FORCED OUT OF THE HOME.

SO AT THAT POINT, TRACIE MADE THE DECISION

TO HAVE THE ABORTION.

Narrator: POLICE NOW HAVE A POSSIBLE MOTIVE...

...REVENGE.

PAUL HAD STRONG FEELINGS AGAINST SANDY,

AND SANDY HAD EQUALLY STRONG FEELINGS AGAINST PAUL.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NEED TO FIND PAUL NELSON

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THEY CONTACT HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN A BID

TO TRACK HIM DOWN.

PAUL'S PARENTS HAD INDICATED HE HAD

NOT BEEN STAYING AT THE RESIDENCE.

THEY HADN'T SEEN HIM FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK.

Narrator: INTERVIEWS WITH PAUL'S FRIENDS SUGGEST

HE ISN'T RETURNING ANYTIME SOON.

HE WAS LEAVING FOR MEXICO AND ALSO INDICATED

THAT HE DID HAVE $2,000 IN CASH

AND WAS DRIVING A BLACK MUSTANG.

ONE OF THESE FRIENDS SAID HE HAD

PAWNED A VCR TO GET THE MONEY.

THE VCR WAS MISSING FROM SANDY'S RESIDENCE.

PAUL NELSON IS NOW THE PRIME SUSPECT.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

OFFICERS CANVASS THE PAWNSHOPS DOWNTOWN TO SEE IF THEY CAN

FIND A VCR THAT MATCHES THE ONE STOLEN FROM SANDY'S HOUSE.

THEY QUICKLY CATCH THEIR FIRST BREAK.

IN THE SECOND STORE THEY VISIT,

THEY FIND SANDY'S VCR.

AND THE PAWNSHOP OWNER HAS A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA.

Timothy: THE PAWNSHOP HAD SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.

THE POLICE TOOK CONTROL OF THE VIDEO

TO VERIFY WHO, IN FACT, HAD PAWNED THE VCR.

Narrator: DETECTIVES SPOOL THROUGH THE FOOTAGE

FROM THE DAYS BEFORE SANDY'S MURDER,

AND ON MARCH 26th, THEY SPOT A FAMILIAR FACE.

Timothy: THAT WAS PAUL NELSON ON THE VIDEO.

♪

THE OWNER SAID YES, A YOUNG MALE CAME IN,

ATTEMPTED TO PAWN THE VCR.

HE TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT

PAWN THE VCR WITHOUT THE REMOTE CONTROL.

THE YOUNG MALE LEFT AND RETURNED A SHORT TIME LATER

WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL,

AND THAT AT THAT POINT, THE PAWNING TOOK PLACE.

PAUL WAS VERIFIED AS THE PERSON WHO HAD PAWNED

THE VCR THAT HAD COME FROM SANDY'S HOUSE.

Narrator: THE SHOP OWNER TELLS POLICE HE ONLY

GAVE NELSON $50 FOR THE VCR,

FAR LESS THAN THE $2,000 HIS FRIEND TOLD POLICE

HE'S CARRYING.

BUT DETECTIVES CAN NOW DIRECTLY LINK HIM

TO THE MURDER OF SANDY MILES.

THE FATE OF HER DAUGHTER, TRACIE, IS STILL UNKNOWN.

WHEN THE VIDEOTAPE WAS VIEWED, IT CLEARLY VERIFIED PAUL

WAS INVOLVED, BUT IT STILL DID NOT

INDICATE WHERE TRACIE WAS AND WHAT HAD BECOME OF TRACIE,

AND OBVIOUSLY, FINDING OUT TRACIE'S WHEREABOUTS

IS STILL OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE.

Narrator: BACK AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS,

DETECTIVES ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH

SANDY'S FINAL MOVEMENTS LEADING UP TO HER DEATH.

INVESTIGATORS EXAMINED SANDY'S FINANCIAL RECORDS.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THEY GET A BREAKTHROUGH.

WE WERE ABLE TO VERIFY $2,000 HAD BEEN TAKEN

ON SANDY'S ACCOUNT.

PAUL HAD $2,000.

THAT FURTHER BUILT THE CASE AGAINST PAUL.

Narrator: POLICE NEED TO VERIFY IF PAUL

WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO ACCESS SANDY'S ACCOUNT.

THAT BANK HAD INDICATED THAT, IN FACT,

IT WAS TRACIE MILES WHO CAME IN TO CASH A $2,000 CHECK.

Narrator: POLICE HAVE TO CONSIDER

THE POSSIBILITY THAT TRACIE IS STILL ALIVE.

♪

PAUL NELSON, ACCORDING TO HIS FRIENDS THAT MORNING,

WAS DRIVING A BLACK MUSTANG AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO MEXICO.

Narrator: NELSON MAY NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO

CROSS THE BORDER -- WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,

THE POLICE NEED REINFORCEMENTS.

IT BECAME NECESSARY TO BRING IN

AS MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: TO KNOW IF THE PAIR HAVE CROSSED INTO MEXICO,

INVESTIGATORS MUST CHECK HUNDREDS OF CAMERAS

AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF FOOTAGE,

AND IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

Narrator: MARCH 30, 1998,

MEXICAN BORDER CROSSING, EL PASO, TEXAS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT PUT OUT A LOOKOUT FOR PAUL NELSON

AND TRACIE, WHICH WOULD HAVE WENT

TO EVERY AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY ISSUE A SPECIAL BULLETIN OF MOST WANTED.

Narrator: NELSON IS REPORTEDLY HEADING TO MEXICO

IN TRACIE'S BLACK MUSTANG.

WITH DETECTIVES WORRIED THAT HE HAS ALREADY CROSSED

THE BORDER, THEY CHECK HUNDREDS

OF HOURS OF POOR QUALITY, LOW-RESOLUTION

SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE AT THE EL PASO CHECKPOINT.

♪

THIS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE

HIGHLIGHTS THE IMMENSITY OF THE TASK.

160,000 PEOPLE MAKE THIS CROSSING EVERY DAY.

[ MUSIC CLIMBING ]

BUT, ALMOST A WEEK AFTER PAUL AND TRACIE'S DISAPPEARANCE,

INVESTIGATORS CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A FAMILIAR-LOOKING CAR.

IT'S A BLACK FORD MUSTANG, BUT IT'S COMING BACK TO THE U.S.

THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE ALERT FOR PAUL AND TRACIE,

BUT APPARENTLY, IT HADN'T REACHED BORDER PATROL

BY THE TIME PAUL AND TRACIE CAME THROUGH.

BORDER PATROL ESTABLISHED, IN FACT, PAUL AND TRACIE

DID NOT HAVE A VISA TO ALLOW THEM TO REMAIN

INTO MEXICO

OR TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE FURTHER THAN JUST A FEW MILES

FROM THE BORDER.

Narrator: WITH NO VISAS, THEY COULD NOT REMAIN IN MEXICO.

♪

THE SECURITY CAMERA PROVES THEY RETURN TO THE U.S.

Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS STILL

HAVE NO IDEA WHERE.

ON APRIL 8th, THEY RECEIVE

A CALL FROM 17-YEAR-OLD CANDACE KIENOW.

SHE HAS JUST RECEIVED A MISSED CALL FROM

HER HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND, TRACIE MILES.

CANDACE KIENOW NOTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAID,

"TRACIE HAS CALLED ME ON CALLER I.D.

THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT SHE CALLED FOR."

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE ABLE TO TRACE THIS NUMBER

TO A MOTEL IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO.

LOCAL POLICE QUICKLY MOVE IN

AND FIND PAUL NELSON AND TRACIE MILES

HOLED UP TOGETHER.

TRACIE AND PAUL WERE BOTH TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT.

Narrator: AFTER A MANHUNT THAT HAS SPANNED OVER 700 MILES

ACROSS FOUR STATES, THE SEARCH IS OVER.

PAUL AND TRACIE ARE BROUGHT BACK TO HUTCHINSON,

KANSAS, SEPARATELY.

PAUL IS QUESTIONED FIRST.

BUT HE ONLY ADMITS TO STEALING THE VCR

FROM SANDY'S HOUSE.

FINALLY, I SAID, "OKAY, PAUL,

"YOU DON'T THINK THAT WE FLEW ALL THE WAY FROM HUTCHINSON,

KANSAS TO EL PASO, TEXAS, TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A VCR."

AND THAT'S WHEN HE DROPPED HIS HEAD

AND STARTED CRYING.

AND I KNEW RIGHT THEN.

Narrator: PAUL CRACKS AND TELLS POLICE WHAT HAPPENED.

TRACIE AND SANDY HAD BEEN FIGHTING SINCE THE ABORTION

OVER PAUL AND TRACIE BEING WITH PAUL.

Narrator: ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25th,

SANDY THREATENED TO TAKE AWAY TRACIE'S MUSTANG.

TRACIE WENT BALLISTIC, HAD A FULL-OUT FIGHT

WITH HER MOTHER, UH, ON WEDNESDAY EVENING.

SO PAUL AND TRACIE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION WAS TO KILL SANDY.

Narrator: PAUL EXPLAINS

TRACIE LEFT FOR SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY

WHILE HE HID INSIDE SANDY'S HOME,

ARMED WITH A STATUE OF A WOODEN BEAR.

Timothy: PAUL HIT SANDY ON THE HEAD.

SHE WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR IN THE LIVING ROOM.

FIRST, HE SAID HE HIT HER ONCE,

AND THEN WE SAID, "HOW MANY TIMES, PAUL?"

HE SAID, "I HIT HER THREE TIMES."

Timothy: THEY CAME UP WITH THE PLAN.

PAUL WOULD KILL SANDY, AND THEN TRACIE WOULD BE CALLED,

SHE'D COME TO THE RESIDENCE,

THEY WOULD MAKE IT, IN THEIR VIEW,

ATTEMPT TO LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.

Narrator: BUT THE PLAN GOES WRONG.

HE INDICATED THAT AFTER HE HAD STRUCK SANDY IN THE HEAD WITH

THE BEAR STATUE THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY

WENT IN THE BATHROOM AND BECAME ILL

AND WAS HAVING TROUBLES DEALING WITH THE SITUATION.

HE SAID THAT SHE WAS STILL ALIVE

OR MAKING GURGLING SOUNDS WHEN TRACIE ARRIVED.

♪

Narrator: PAUL THEN DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

DESPITE BEATING SANDY TO THE FLOOR,

HE CLAIMS THAT TRACIE IS THE REAL KILLER.

♪

Timothy: IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE AT

THAT TIME THAT SOMEONE WOULD PREMEDITATEDLY KILL

THEIR MOTHER.

IT'S JUST INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CHALLENGE TRACIE

WITH PAUL'S ACCOUNT.

THE AGENT TOLD TRACIE THAT PAUL SAID,

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DID IT."

AT THAT POINT, SHE GAVE A SLIGHT CHUCKLE.

SAID YES, I WENT AND GOT THE CORD

AND WRAPPED IT AROUND MY MOTHER'S THROAT.

Narrator: TRACIE MILES ADMITS THAT SHE STRANGLED

HER OWN MOTHER TO DEATH WITH A TELEPHONE CORD.

PAUL AND TRACIE'S ACTIONS AFTER THE KILLING

LEAVE DETECTIVES IN NO DOUBT

THAT THIS WAS A CALLOUS, COLD-BLOODED MURDER.

THEY TOOK THE VCR, THEY WENT BACK

INTO THE HOUSE AND WALKED AROUND SANDY'S BODY.

SHE WAS ASKED SPECIFICALLY AS TO WHY THIS MURDER OCCURRED.

SHE SAID, ON THE 25th, THERE HAVE BEEN

A REALLY BAD ARGUMENT

BETWEEN TRACIE AND HER MOTHER.

SANDY WAS GONNA TAKE TRACIE'S CAR AWAY FROM HER

BECAUSE OF THE TICKET SHE HAD GOTTEN,

AND THE PRICE OF THE CAR INSURANCE

WAS BEING RAISED SO HIGH.

AND TRACIE WAS EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THAT FACT.

SHE WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE HER CAR TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.

SHE WAS BASICALLY

STONE-FACED ABOUT IT, THAT IT HAPPENED,

IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

SHE SHOWED NO REMORSE AND ACTED AS IF

SHE DIDN'T CARE ONE BIT, AND THAT SHE WAS GLAD

IT WAS DONE.

THEY JUST CAME TO THE CONCLUSION JOINTLY

THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO

TO BE ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER AND KEEP THE MUSTANG.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS AFTER THE KILLING,

TRACIE MILES AND PAUL NELSON ARE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF

SANDY MILES.

17-YEAR-OLD TRACIE IS CHARGED AS AN ADULT.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS BAD THAT SHE WAS CHARGED AS AN ADULT.

SHE KNEW RIGHT FROM WRONG.

FOR ME, SPECIFICALLY, IN MY LITTLE COMMUNITY.

IT WASN'T JUST SOMEONE IN TOWN

YOU KNEW OF -- YOU -- YOU KNEW HER.

I THINK IT SHOCKED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

Narrator: AT THE TRIAL ON MARCH 1, 1999, BOTH TRACIE

AND PAUL PLEAD NO CONTEST TO THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM.

THEY BOTH RECEIVE LIFE SENTENCES.

I SPOKE FOR THE FAMILY, AND I ASKED THE JUDGE

TO SENTENCE THEM TO THE LONGEST TIME POSSIBLE

AND HAVE THE SENTENCES BE CONSECUTIVELY.

THERE IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING IN TRACIE THAT IS EVIL.

SO WE ASKED TO GO SEE HER,

AND,

YOU KNOW, SHE SHOWED NO EMOTION.

SO WE ASK HER WHY,

BUT SHE COULDN'T TELL US.

THE ONLY THING I SAID WAS, "YOUR MOM WANTED SO MUCH MORE

"FOR YOU.

"SHE WANTED YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF.

AND THAT WON'T HAPPEN NOW."

Narrator: DESPITE THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION,

SANDY'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY STRUGGLED TO COME TO TERMS

WITH WHAT HAPPENED.

I NEVER THOUGHT SHE'D BE CAPABLE

OF BEING INVOLVED IN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT.

NO MATTER HOW MAD OR UPSET OR ANGRY THEY GET.

THAT'S NOT WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO.

THAT'S HOW MONSTERS BEHAVE, SO...

♪