Original subtitles

Narrator: RACHEL LOUISE COOKE DISAPPEARED

ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2002.

WHEN A PERSON DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE,

OFTEN, THE MOST CRITICAL INFORMATION

IS HIDDEN IN THEIR ACTIONS AND WORDS

FROM THE DAYS BEFORE THEY VANISHED.

RACHEL COOKE'S LAST-KNOWN WHEREABOUTS

MAY HOLD THE CLUES TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

19-YEAR-OLD RACHEL COOKE RETURNS TO HER SMALL TEXAS HOMETOWN

FROM SAN DIEGO FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER IN SAN DIEGO.

WE THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD A HIGH CRIME RATE.

Narrator: WHILE STAYING AT HER PARENTS' HOUSE,

SHE GOES OUT FOR A RUN AND DISAPPEARS.

Robert: NEVER OCCURRED TO US

THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS AT HOME.

HOME IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE, AND IT WASN'T.

SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING HORRIBLE TO RACHEL.

Narrator: FOR YEARS, INVESTIGATORS AND FAMILY

ARE TORMENTED BY THE BAFFLING CASE.

YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO BASICALLY VANISHED.

Janet: BEING THE PARENT OF A MISSING PERSON,

THERE'S A THING WE SAY --

THAT IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CLUBS IN THE WORLD,

AND IT'S ONE CLUB YOU NEVER WANT TO JOIN.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: FOR THE COOKE FAMILY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS,

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2002,

BEGINS LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.

ROBERT, A SOFTWARE ENGINEER...

HIS WIFE, JANET, AN ART TEACHER...

AND THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, JoANN, A HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT,

EAT BREAKFAST AND SHARE PLANS.

THE ONLY THING A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY THIS MORNING

IS THE PRESENCE OF THE FAMILY'S ELDEST DAUGHTER, RACHEL,

WHO IS SPRAWLED OUT ASLEEP ON A NEARBY COUCH.

RACHEL IS VISITING ON HER WINTER BREAK

FROM A COLLEGE IN SAN DIEGO.

JoAnn: SHE WAS SLEEPING ON OUR COUCH

WHILE SHE WAS IN TOWN FOR MY COUSIN'S WEDDING.

Narrator: RACHEL HAS EXTENDED HER STAY IN TEXAS TO ATTEND THE WEDDING

AND HAS BEEN DRIVING HER FAMILY CRAZY,

ASKING THEM WHICH OF THE MANY OUTFITS

SHE HAS BROUGHT HOME SHE SHOULD WEAR.

Janet: SHE COULDN'T DECIDE,

AND SHE WAS ASKING EVERYBODY'S OPINION ON WHICH ONE.

OF COURSE, SHE'D END UP USING THE ONE SHE WANTED ANYWAY,

BUT SHE ALWAYS ASKED.

JoAnn: SHE WAS VERY INTO FASHION.

MY SISTER WAS KIND OF A FASHIONISTA IN HER OWN WAY.

SHE LOVED SHOPPING.

IT WAS ONE OF HER VERY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

Narrator: ON CHRISTMAS DAY,

SHE'D WORN A NEW TAN SWEATER WITH BEADED TRIM.

JoAnn: SHE WAS LIKE, "YEAH, THIS IS MY NEW SWEATER.

I GOT IT. IT WAS $400."

AND MY MOUTH JUST DROPPED OPEN. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF HOW SHE WAS.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT THAT THURSDAY NIGHT,

AND WE WERE SO EXCITED, 'CAUSE I HADN'T SEEN HER IN SO LONG.

Narrator: SHANNON LEACH HASN'T SEEN MUCH OF HER BEST FRIEND

SINCE RACHEL MOVED TO CALIFORNIA.

BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP GOES BACK A LONG WAY.

Leach: RACHEL AND I MET PROBABLY --

I THINK WE WERE ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD,

AND SHE WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU LOVE TO BE AROUND.

* JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY *

SHE WAS FUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL.

JUST SUCH A GOOD PERSON.

Narrator: RACHEL BROUGHT HER NEW BOYFRIEND HOME WITH HER,

BUT BY NEW YEAR'S, HE'D ALREADY RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA.

SHE TOLD ME HOW HAPPY AND IN LOVE WITH HIM THAT SHE WAS,

AND THEY SEEMED TO GET ALONG REALLY WELL,

AND SHE SEEMED VERY HAPPY.

HE WAS A SUPER GUY.

HE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE TO HER,

VERY SYMPATHETIC TO HER DESIRES ABOUT HER FUTURE, HER DREAMS.

JoAnn: MY SISTER TOLD ME THAT SHE REALLY THOUGHT GREG WAS THE ONE.

SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WANTED

TO, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY GET ENGAGED.

Narrator: RACHEL IS PLANNING TO MOVE IN WITH GREG

AND ENROLL IN A FASHION-DESIGN PROGRAM ONCE SHE RETURNS.

Leach: I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL,

'CAUSE SHE ALWAYS HAD HER OWN STYLE ON THINGS.

SHE WAS JUST -- ALWAYS LOOKED BEAUTIFUL IN WHATEVER SHE DID,

'CAUSE SHE COULD CREATE THESE OUTFITS

THAT NOBODY ELSE COULD GET AWAY WITH,

AND IT WOULD JUST LOOK AMAZING ON HER.

Narrator: WHEN SHE WAS 18,

RACHEL BROUGHT HER FASHION SENSE TO THE MISS GEORGETOWN CONTEST.

SHE DIDN'T WIN, BUT THAT DIDN'T FAZE HER.

Janet: RACHEL NORMALLY WASN'T INTO PAGEANTRY-TYPE THINGS,

BUT SHE DECIDED, HER SENIOR YEAR,

THAT SHE WAS GONNA TAKE PART IN THAT,

AND I THINK SHE REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE.

AS TO WINNING, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS HER REAL GOAL.

I THINK IT WAS JUST TO TAKE PART.

Leach: SHE WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL,

AND SO MEN WERE ALWAYS ATTRACTED TO HER.

SHE WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE

THAT YOU WANTED TO BE AROUND ALL THE TIME.

SHE JUST LOVED LIFE,

AND SHE NEVER COULD GET ENOUGH DONE IN A DAY.

SHE HAD HER WHOLE LIFE TO DO THINGS.

Narrator: ON THAT THURSDAY MORNING,

RACHEL'S FATHER, ROBERT, LEAVES FIRST.

HER SISTER AND MOTHER SAY THEIR GOODBYES AROUND 8:00 A.M.

AND HEAD FOR SCHOOL.

Janet: I WALKED OVER AND TOLD HER GOODBYE,

AND SHE JUST KIND OF, "UHHH," MUMBLED,

SO WE SAID, "GOOD MORNING. GOODBYE."

AND WE LEFT FOR WORK.

Narrator: AROUND AN HOUR LATER, RACHEL IS AWAKENED

BY A CELLPHONE CALL FROM HER BOYFRIEND IN SAN DIEGO.

SHE TELLS HIM SHE IS GOING TO GET UP

AND GO FOR HER DAILY RUN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

RACHEL SAYS SHE MISSES HIM

AND WILL CALL HIM WHEN SHE RETURNS HOME AFTER HER JOG.

Janet: SHE'D RUN FOUR, SIX MILES EVERY DAY.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD WORKOUT FOR HER. IT KEPT HER IN SHAPE.

Narrator: ATHLETIC SINCE CHILDHOOD,

RACHEL HAS BEEN AN AVID RUNNER FOR MOST OF HER LIFE.

Robert: SHE STARTED RUNNING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,

AND SHE SUDDENLY REALIZED

THAT SHE WAS BEATING ALMOST ALL THE BOYS,

AND SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO DO THAT,

AND SHE DID LONG-DISTANCE, TRACK, AND CROSS-COUNTRY.

Narrator: SOMETIME AFTER HER PHONE CALL WITH HER BOYFRIEND ENDS,

RACHEL PUTS ON HER RUNNING CLOTHES,

GRABS A PORTABLE RADIO AND EARPHONES,

AND GOES OUT FOR HER RUN.

HER PARENTS' RANCH-STYLE HOUSE

IS IN A SUBDIVISION OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS,

A LITTLE NORTH OF AUSTIN.

MOST HOMES SIT ON LARGE LOTS OF MORE THAN AN ACRE,

AND THEY'RE SET BACK FROM THE ROAD.

ON A WORKDAY, THERE ISN'T MUCH TRAFFIC BY FOOT OR BY CAR

AS RACHEL JOGS HER USUAL ROUTE.

SHE HAS BEEN RUNNING HERE SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD.

SHE LOVED IT OUT THERE,

AND I THINK SHE, IN A WAY, MISSED IT.

SHE LOVED THE EXCITEMENT OF CALIFORNIA,

BUT HOME'S ALWAYS HOME, TOO.

Narrator: HOURS LATER, WHEN HER FAMILY RETURNS,

RACHEL IS NOT HOME.

AND FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS,

SHE'S NEVER RETURNED FROM HER RUN AT ALL.

COMING UP...

SURPRISE AT RACHEL'S SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE

TURNS TO SHOCK AND THEN HORROR.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY WRONG.

Hawkins: RACHEL WAS A HOMETOWN GIRL.

SHE GREW UP HERE. SHE WAS RAISED HERE.

EVERYBODY KNEW HER.

AND TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND MOST OF THE AGENCIES AROUND HERE,

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CASE LIKE THIS.

Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD RACHEL COOKE

HAS GONE OUT FOR HER CUSTOMARY SIX-MILE RUN.

HOURS LATER, HER FATHER RETURNS HOME

AND FINDS SEVERAL OF HIS DAUGHTER'S DRESSES AND SHOES

LINED UP IN THE LIVING ROOM.

BUT RACHEL ISN'T THERE.

HER FATHER NOTICES THAT RACHEL'S CELLPHONE IS STILL AT THE HOUSE,

AS IS HER PURSE.

WONDERING WHERE SHE COULD HAVE GONE WITHOUT THEM,

ROBERT CALLS RACHEL'S LONGTIME FRIEND SHANNON LEACH.

Leach: HE HAD ASKED ME IF I HAD TALKED TO HER,

AND I HAD SAID, "NO, BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON GOING OUT LATER."

AND HE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GONE

BUT THAT NONE OF HER STUFF WAS GONE,

AND EVERYBODY THAT KNEW RACHEL

KNEW SHE DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER PERSONAL BELONGINGS,

ESPECIALLY HER MAKEUP,

SO RIGHT THEN WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT

I STARTED TO GET REALLY WORRIED.

Narrator: RACHEL'S FAMILY IS CONCERNED, TOO.

HER MOTHER PHONES WILDFIRE,

A RESTAURANT WHERE RACHEL SOMETIMES WORKS

WHEN SHE'S IN TOWN.

THEY SAID SHE WORKED THAT NIGHT,

SO WE THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE SHE CAUGHT A RIDE TO THERE

AND SHE WAS FILLING IN FOR SOMEONE

AND SHE FORGOT TO TAKE HER PURSE AND HER CELLPHONE

AND SHE'D BE COMING HOME AT ANYTIME.

Narrator: BUT BY MORNING, RACHEL HAS NOT RETURNED.

ANOTHER CALL TO THE RESTAURANT UNCOVERS A MIX-UP.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT RACHEL, NOT RACHEL COOKE,

WHO HAD WORKED THE NIGHT BEFORE.

NOW EVEN MORE ALARMED,

HER FAMILY SURVEYS RACHEL'S EXTENSIVE WARDROBE

AND DISCOVERS THAT ONLY

HER JOGGING OUTFIT AND RUNNING SHOES ARE MISSING.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY WRONG.

AND ALL EVIDENCE LOOKED LIKE

SHE'D GONE OUT FOR A RUN AND HAD NOT COME HOME.

Robert: I DECIDED THAT I WAS GONNA GO OUT

AND DRIVE RACHEL'S JOGGING PATH.

I DROVE THAT REALLY SLOW, LOOKING TO SEE,

MAYBE SHE GOT HIT BY A CAR

AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN LAYING ON THE SIDE.

Narrator: JANET COOKE CHECKS OUT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.

IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 24 HOURS

SINCE RACHEL WENT OUT FOR HER RUN AND DISAPPEARED.

NEITHER PARENT FINDS ANY SIGN OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

AS IF IN A DREAM,

THEY HEAD TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REPORT RACHEL MISSING.

Hawkins: WE RECEIVED A REPORT ON JANUARY 11, 2002,

FROM ROBERT AND JANET COOKE

THAT THEIR DAUGHTER RACHEL COOKE WAS MISSING.

SHE HAD BEEN UNACCOUNTED FOR FOR, ALREADY, A DAY.

RACHEL WAS A HOMETOWN GIRL.

SHE GREW UP HERE. SHE WAS RAISED HERE.

EVERYBODY KNEW HER.

TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND MOST OF THE AGENCIES AROUND HERE,

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CASE LIKE THIS.

Narrator: GEORGETOWN IS A CLASSICALLY QUAINT

OLD TEXAS TOWN

SURROUNDED BY QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS

AND CATTLE RANCHES.

ABDUCTIONS WERE UNHEARD OF

UNTIL RACHEL COOKE DISAPPEARED.

JoAnn: NOTHING HAPPENS HERE.

IT'S A SMALL TOWN. EVERYBODY'S FRIENDLY.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU.

Narrator: HER PARENTS HAD BEEN UNEASY

ABOUT RACHEL LIVING IN THE MUCH LARGER CITY OF SAN DIEGO,

WHERE SHE MOVED AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

Robert: WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER IN SAN DIEGO.

WE THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD A HIGH CRIME RATE.

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO US

THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS AT HOME.

NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO HER THERE,

AND SHE COMES HOME.

AND HOME IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE, AND IT WASN'T.

Narrator: AT FIRST, RACHEL'S FAMILY BELIEVES

THE AUTHORITIES ARE SLOW TO RESPOND

TO THEIR MISSING-PERSON REPORT.

JoAnn: I FELT LIKE THE POLICE DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH,

A LITTLE BIT INCLINED TO SAY, "IT'S PROBABLY NOTHING.

"THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN HERE. SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL.

SHE PROBABLY JUST WENT OUT TO GO PARTY AND DIDN'T TELL PEOPLE."

BECAUSE, FOR THE MOST PART,

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN GEORGETOWN.

THEY SAID THAT SHE WAS OFF IN MEXICO, PROBABLY,

WITH HER BOYFRIEND,

AND THAT SHE'D BE HOME ANY MINUTE.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF DISCOURAGING.

WE LOST SOME VALUABLE TIME

BECAUSE, IN AN ABDUCTION, THE FIRST 48, 72 HOURS --

THAT'S YOUR WINDOW RIGHT THERE.

AND WE LOST IT.

Narrator: WHEN THE COOKES DON'T HEAR BACK FROM POLICE ON FRIDAY,

THEY ORGANIZE A SEARCH BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY

FOR SATURDAY MORNING.

WHEN AN INVESTIGATOR FINALLY APPEARS AROUND NOON ON SATURDAY,

HE STOPS THE SEARCH.

THEY WERE, I THINK, KIND OF ASTOUNDED

AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE,

BUT I THINK THEY WERE ALSO FREAKING OUT

BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE JUST TRAMPING AROUND

ON WHAT MIGHT BE A CRIME SCENE.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,

AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE LEGENDARY TEXAS RANGERS

JOINS THE INVESTIGATION.

I WAS CONTACTED BY THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

ON JANUARY THE 13th OF 2002.

PRETTY EARLY ON IN THE INVESTIGATION

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE UNLIKE RACHEL'S BEHAVIOR

JUST TO GO OFF AND NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE SHE WAS,

SO IT CREATED SUSPICION.

Robert: AND HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T THINK RACHEL LEFT ON HER OWN,

SO THAT MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE

I FINALLY GOT TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

AND SO THEY STARTED APPROACHING IT

MORE LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

Narrator: AN ALL-OUT OFFICIAL SEARCH,

INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS AND SEVERAL AGENCIES,

BEGINS ON SUNDAY,

FOUR DAYS AFTER RACHEL VANISHES.

Hawkins: WE UTILIZED EVERYTHING WE HAD.

ATVs, HORSEBACK, HELICOPTERS, MASSIVE SEARCH PARTIES.

BROUGHT IN A SEARCH TEAM CALLED EquuSearch

TO HELP DO THE SEARCH WITH US SO WE'D HAVE MORE MANPOWER.

ANYWHERE RACHEL WAS KNOWN TO HAVE GONE WHEN SHE WAS AT HOME,

THAT AREA WAS SEARCHED.

Narrator: BUT THE SEARCHERS TURN UP NOTHING.

Hawkins: NO SIGN OF RACHEL COOKE

OR ANY OF THE CLOTHING THAT SHE WAS POSSIBLY WEARING.

Narrator: DETECTIVES STRUGGLE TO SET UP A TIMELINE

OF RACHEL'S LAST-KNOWN MOVEMENTS.

SHE WAS LAST SEEN BY HER MOTHER AND SISTER

AROUND 8:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY.

CELLPHONE RECORDS CONFIRM

HER LAST PHONE CALL WAS WITH HER BOYFRIEND IN CALIFORNIA,

ENDING AT 9:15 A.M.

WHEN POLICE CANVASS THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

IT TURNS OUT A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS

CAUGHT SIGHT OF RACHEL

AS SHE WAS JOGGING LATER THAT THURSDAY MORNING.

TWO SEPARATE COUPLES -- THEY IDENTIFIED HER,

AND THEY DESCRIBED HER CLOTHING AND HER HAIR,

AND WE BELIEVE THAT TO BE RACHEL.

Narrator: IT WAS AFTER 10:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY

WHEN RACHEL PASSED ONE COUPLE OUT FOR THEIR DAILY WALK,

AS SHE DID HER CIRCUIT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AROUND 20 MINUTES LATER, SHE PASSED THEM AGAIN.

A WOMAN WORKING IN HER YARD WITH HER DAUGHTER

TELLS INVESTIGATORS SHE SAW RACHEL

AS SHE RAN TO THE END OF THEIR CUL-DE-SAC

AND DID SOME STRETCHES.

THE TWO EXCHANGE GREETINGS, AND RACHEL CONTINUES ON HER RUN.

Hawkins: THE LAST-KNOWN SIGHTING OF RACHEL COOKE

WAS A COUPLE THAT ACTUALLY KNEW THE FAMILY,

AND AROUND 10:45 THEY WERE PULLING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY,

AND RACHEL HAD RUN BEHIND THE VEHICLE.

THEY HAD LOOKED AT HER

AND DID RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS HER RUNNING,

AND THEY SAW HER GOING TOWARDS HER HOUSE.

THEIR RESIDENCE WAS ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM HER RESIDENCE,

SO THEY ASSUMED THAT SHE WAS GOING HOME.

Narrator: AFTER THAT, RACHEL COOKE DISAPPEARS,

AS IF INTO THIN AIR.

Hawkins: THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE ACTUALLY ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE.

SO ASSUMPTIONS WERE THAT SHE WAS ABDUCTED DURING THAT JOG

FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH SHE LIVED.

Narrator: IT IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT LEAVES LITTLE TO GO ON

AND IS OF NO COMFORT TO HER FAMILY.

AS THE DAYS GO BY WITH NO SIGN OF RACHEL,

HER PARENTS ARE DEVASTATED.

Leach: THEY WERE A WRECK.

THEY WERE BOTH IN TEARS, JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON

AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO RACHEL.

Narrator: RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE IS A BAFFLING MYSTERY,

A PROBABLE CRIME WITHOUT A CRIME SCENE TO INVESTIGATE.

Hawkins: YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO BASICALLY VANISHED.

WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF A CRIME SCENE AT ALL.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ON THE ROAD.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE IN THE HOUSE.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE THAT ANYTHING EVEN HAPPENED TO HER.

Narrator: COMING UP...

RACHEL'S FATHER TAKES A LIE-DETECTOR TEST.

Robert: I ACTUALLY FAILED ONE QUESTION.

THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW WHERE RACHEL WAS.

I SAID, "NO," AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK I DO.

Narrator: RACHEL COOKE'S DISAPPEARANCE SHOCKS CENTRAL TEXAS.

THE OFFICIAL SEARCH ENDS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS,

BUT HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS HELP THE COOKES

CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THEIR DAUGHTER FOR WEEKS.

WHEN THEY'D COME BACK, THEY'D FEEL SO DISAPPOINTED

BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT FOUND HER.

THEY'D BE IN TEARS AND VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.

Narrator: MOUNTED SEARCH-AND-RECOVERY TEAMS FROM TEXAS EquuSearch

COMB HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES FOR EVIDENCE.

THEY TURNED IN EVERYTHING THAT WAS SEMI-SUSPICIOUS

TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

Janet: I'D LOOK AROUND AND THINK, "MY GOD, RACHEL,

LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT CARE FOR YOU, BABY."

IT JUST TORE ME UP

THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD COME TOGETHER FOR HER.

Narrator: MEDIA ATTENTION

BRINGS A RECORD NUMBER OF TIPS TO POLICE.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF LEADS, IF NOT THOUSANDS.

Hawkins: I HAVE INTERVIEWED -- PROBABLY IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS --

PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AS A SUSPECT

OR JUST A WITNESS ON THIS CASE.

Narrator: EARLY ON, INVESTIGATORS DEVELOP A LEAD.

A SUSPICIOUS CAR WAS SEEN BY MANY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

THE DAY RACHEL DISAPPEARED.

Hawkins: A WHITE CAMARO WAS SEEN IN THE AREA.

WE ACTUALLY LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY REPORTS WE HAD

OF WHITE CAMAROS COME IN TO THE TIP LINE.

Narrator: WITNESSES REPORT TWO YOUNG MEN IN A WHITE CAMARO,

AIMLESSLY CIRCLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ONE REPORT MENTIONS A JOGGER IN RACHEL'S AGE RANGE

NEAR THE CAMARO.

ANOTHER SUGGESTS A YOUNG WOMAN POSSIBLY STRUGGLING IN THE CAR.

INVESTIGATORS WORKED REALLY HARD TO LOCATE THAT PARTICULAR CAR.

SEVERAL WERE LOCATED AND EXAMINED,

BUT NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND

THAT ACTUALLY LINKED RACHEL TO THOSE PARTICULAR VEHICLES.

Narrator: FINALLY, THE LEAD ABOUT THE TWO YOUNG MEN IN THE CAMARO

COMES TO A DEAD END.

IT TURNS OUT TO BE A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS PLAYING HOOKY.

Hawkins: THEY ADMITTED TO US WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THE AREA.

BACKGROUND SEARCH WAS COMPLETED ON BOTH OF THEM.

THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE IN THEIR VEHICLE THAT WE NEEDED

AS FAR AS DNA EVIDENCE OR ANYTHING,

AND THEY WERE EXCLUDED AS SUSPECTS IN THIS CASE.

Narrator: THE CAMARO ISN'T THE ONLY VEHICLE OF INTEREST.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DIVERS

SUIT UP AND SEARCH THE MURKY WATERS OF LAKE GEORGETOWN,

JUST A COUPLE OF MILES

DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE COOKE HOME.

Lindemann: WE HAD REPORTS

SUCH AS VEHICLES SUBMERGED HERE IN LAKE GEORGETOWN,

AND THOSE WERE RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE

AND DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN EARLIER,

BEFORE HER DISAPPEARANCE, SO THEY WERE NOT RELATED,

SO THAT WAS RULED OUT.

Narrator: COMPOSITE SKETCHES

OF UNIDENTIFIED MALES SEEN IN THE AREA

ARE DRAWN UP BY POLICE ARTISTS AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC.

THOSE, OF COURSE, WENT THROUGH THE MEDIA.

AND NO REAL GOOD TIPS ON THOSE

AS FAR AS WHO THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR ANYTHING SUCH AS THAT.

Narrator: IN ADDITION TO SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS,

DETECTIVES EXAMINE PEOPLE CLOSER TO HOME.

RACHEL'S BOYFRIEND, GREG,

WHO FLIES BACK ON SUNDAY TO HELP WITH THE SEARCH,

IS QUESTIONED AS SOON AS HE ARRIVES.

Lindemann: INITIALLY, I WAS INVOLVED IN INTERVIEWING

A PRESENT BOYFRIEND OF RACHEL'S FROM CALIFORNIA.

Narrator: GREG IS GIVEN A LIE-DETECTOR TEST,

EVEN THOUGH PHONE RECORDS CONFIRM THAT HIS CALL TO RACHEL

THE MORNING SHE DISAPPEARED WAS MADE FROM SAN DIEGO.

Lindemann: WE WERE ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH RULE THE GENTLEMAN OUT

EARLY IN THE INVESTIGATION

AND CONTINUE OUR FOCUS ON OTHER PEOPLE.

Narrator: BOTH OF RACHEL'S PARENTS

ALSO VOLUNTEER TO TAKE LIE-DETECTOR TESTS.

ROBERT FAILS A QUESTION ON HIS.

Robert: THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW WHERE RACHEL WAS.

I SAID, "NO."

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK I DO.

I THINK SHE'S IN HEAVEN.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY

I DIDN'T PASS THAT ONE QUESTION ON THE QUIZ.

Lindemann: YOU START RULING OUT THOSE PEOPLE CLOSE TO HER.

THEY WERE ABLE TO CLEAR SOME PEOPLE.

SOME STILL REMAIN PEOPLE OF INTEREST.

Narrator: ONE OF RACHEL'S EX-BOYFRIENDS BECOMES A PERSON OF INTEREST.

HER SISTER JoANN'S SUSPICIONS CENTER ON HIM.

MY SISTER HAD MENTIONED

THAT SHE HAD SEEN HER EX-BOYFRIEND,

AND SHE DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL WITH ME,

BUT SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE MADE A SCENE.

MY INTUITION TELLS ME THAT IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE

TO THINK THAT HE COULD HAVE HAD A FIGHT WITH HER

AND SOMETHING HAPPENED.

Narrator: MANY OF RACHEL'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS

SAY THEY CONSIDERED HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EX-BOYFRIEND

TO BE VOLATILE.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS REALLY KIND OF LIKE FIRE AND ICE

FROM THE GET-GO.

Narrator: RACHEL'S MOTHER

SAYS THE YOUNG MAN WAS VERY UPSET

AFTER RACHEL BROKE OFF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

Janet: AND WHEN SHE CAME HOME THE NEXT TIME, FOR THE HOLIDAY,

HE CAME OVER, AND HE WAS INEBRIATED,

AND HE CAME --

IT MUST HAVE BEEN 3:00 AT NIGHT,

POUNDING ON THE DOOR, WANTING TO SEE RACHEL.

SO I HAD TO THREATEN HIM, BECAUSE HE JUST WOULD NOT LEAVE.

I THREATENED TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

HE STILL WANTED TO BE A PART OF HER LIFE,

AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

Leach: THEY HAD BEEN AT A PARTY A COUPLE NIGHTS BEFORE,

AND PEOPLE HEARD THEM ARGUING

AND HE WAS YELLING AT HER

AND TELLING HER THAT HE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER

AND HE WANTED TO BE WITH HER AGAIN

AND THAT SHE NEEDED TO BE WITH HIM.

THIS WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: POLICE INVESTIGATE,

BUT THE MAN DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT

IN RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE.

Robert: I JUST DON'T KNOW.

EX-BOYFRIENDS, EX-HUSBANDS

ARE ALWAYS SOMEONE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT,

BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF,

THEN YOU CAN'T REALLY CALL THEM A SUSPECT.

Narrator: THE MONTHS GO BY.

DESPITE ALL THE EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY,

THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE ARRIVES,

WITH AUTHORITIES SEEMINGLY NO CLOSER

TO FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL COOKE

THAN THEY WERE AT THE OUTSET.

THE FAMILY BEGINS TO LOSE HOPE.

JoAnn: I STARTED THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS

THAT SHE WAS GONNA MISS THAT I WAS STILL GOING TO GET TO DO.

Janet: BEING THE PARENT OF A MISSING PERSON

OR BEING A RELATIVE OF A MISSING PERSON,

THERE'S A THING WE SAY,

THAT IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CLUBS IN THE WORLD,

AND IT'S ONE CLUB YOU NEVER WANT TO JOIN.

Narrator: COMING UP...

AFTER YEARS WITHOUT A BREAK IN THE RACHEL COOKE CASE,

THE INVESTIGATION HEATS UP

WHEN A CONVICTED MURDERER REVEALS HE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

HE ADVISED US THAT HE KILLED RACHEL COOKE

AND NAMED LOCATIONS THAT HE HAD TAKEN HER.

Narrator: GET MORE "DISAPPEARED" ONLINE AT...

Narrator: AN EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION

FAILS TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF RACHEL COOKE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

A YEAR LATER, THERE ARE LOTS OF THEORIES

ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO RACHEL,

BUT NO EVIDENCE.

THERE'S REALLY NO TELLING HOW IT CAME DOWN

AFTER SHE PASSED THAT DRIVEWAY.

SOMEBODY WAS DRIVING BY AND TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY

THAT SOMEONE WAS LAYING IN WAIT FOR HER.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EASY

FOR HER TO HEAR SOMEONE COMING UP ON HER.

Robert: I SUSPECT THAT IT HAPPENED

EITHER IN THE LAST PART OF HER JOG,

OR AS SOON AS SHE WALKED IN THE HOUSE,

BECAUSE WE NEVER LOCKED OUR HOUSE.

WE FELT SAFE IN THAT COUNTRY AREA.

Narrator: THE CASE GOES COLD AND BECOMES OFFICIALLY INACTIVE.

FOR THE COOKES, THE STRESS OF RACHEL'S LOSS

LEADS TO ADDITIONAL FAMILY CRISES.

JoAnn: MY SISTER'S DISAPPEARANCE DEFINITELY CHANGED MY FAMILY.

UM...

I THINK WE EACH DEAL IN OUR OWN WAY...

AND, UM...

IN A WAY THAT KIND OF GOT IN BETWEEN SOME OF US.

Janet: ROBERT AND I WEREN'T COMMUNICATING.

WHEN IT CAME TO RACHEL STUFF, WE WERE TOGETHER.

WE WERE GONNA DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FOR OUR BABY,

BUT HIS AND MINE'S PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP JUST --

IT JUST WASN'T THERE ANYMORE.

JoAnn: SHE WANTED HUGS, SHE WANTED COMFORT,

WHEREAS MY DAD WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN,

AND THEN HE ALSO WAS KIND OF OUR LIAISON FOR THE MEDIA

AND MAKING SURE THE WORD GOT OUT.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT ON US,

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A MISSING LOVED ONE,

THAT COMES TO BE LIKE A SECOND JOB.

I ENDED UP GETTING LAID OFF.

JANET AND I ARE DIVORCED.

AND JUST PSYCHOLOGICALLY, IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

YOU WAKE UP TO IT EVERY DAY.

Janet: I ASKED FOR A DIVORCE

BECAUSE I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF ALIVE.

I MEAN, I HAD DEPRESSION LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.

AND I WAS SEEING A PSYCHIATRIST. AND I WAS ON MAJOR MEDS.

AND ME, I KIND OF --

I TRIED TO GO ON WITH LIFE AS MUCH AS I COULD,

AS MUCH AS NORMAL.

Narrator: THEN, TWO YEARS AFTER RACHEL DISAPPEARS,

THERE IS FRESH INTEREST IN THE CASE

WHEN A NEW SHERIFF PULLS TOGETHER

A RACHEL COOKE TASK FORCE

MADE UP OF SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES,

TEXAS RANGERS, FBI, AND THE AUSTIN COLD CASE UNIT.

Robert: AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE REALLY GOING TO FIND RACHEL.

THEY TRIED FOR A LONG TIME

AND STILL DID NOT COME UP

WITH A LOT THAT HADN'T BEEN FOUND BEFORE.

Narrator: IN 2006, DETECTIVE LARRY HAWKINS IS ASSIGNED,

AND WHEN THE TASK FORCE IS DISBANDED,

HE INHERITS ITS FILES,

WHICH TAKE UP SIX SHELVES AND SEVERAL FILE CABINETS

IN HIS OFFICE.

THE FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS,

HE IS DETERMINED TO SOLVE THE CASE.

Hawkins: A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS ARE LOOKED AT,

THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HEART AND WE'RE ALL ABOUT BUSINESS,

BUT RACHEL COOKE IS SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER,

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE KIDS, IT KIND OF HITS HOME.

Narrator: THEN, IN AUGUST OF 2006,

INVESTIGATORS GET WHAT LOOKS LIKE A CLEAR BREAKTHROUGH

IN THE CASE.

FROM PRISON, A CONVICTED MURDERER CONTACTS AUTHORITIES

WITH A STUNNING STORY.

Lindemann: A GENTLEMAN NAMED MICHAEL MOORE,

WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN UNRELATED HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION,

TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL COOKE.

Narrator: MICHAEL MOORE IS A CAREER CRIMINAL

WHO HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF TROUBLE SINCE THE AGE OF 13.

MOORE HAS SPENT MUCH OF HIS ADULT LIFE IN PRISON.

AT THE TIME OF HIS CONFESSION TO LAW OFFICERS,

HE IS SERVING FOUR LIFE SENTENCES

FOR THE 2003 ROBBERY AND MURDER

OF A YOUNG MOTHER AND HER UNBORN CHILD

IN A TOWN NEIGHBORING GEORGETOWN.

Hawkins: MICHAEL MOORE IS A VERY INTERESTING INDIVIDUAL.

HE DOES HAVE A HISTORY OF MURDER.

HE HAS A HISTORY OF A LOT OF THINGS

THAT WOULD MAKE HIM BE A GOOD SUSPECT FOR THIS CASE.

Narrator: BOTH DETECTIVE HAWKINS AND TEXAS RANGER LINDEMANN,

AMONG OTHERS, INTERVIEW MOORE IN PRISON.

HE TELLS THEM HE WAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO ROB, WHEN HE SAW RACHEL.

HE ADVISED US THAT HE KILLED RACHEL COOKE

AND NAMED LOCATIONS THAT HE HAD TAKEN HER.

HE CAME FORWARD AND CONFESSED THAT HE HAD TAKEN RACHEL

AND DUMPED HER BODY IN MATAGORDA BAY,

WHICH IS ON THE GULF COAST OF TEXAS.

Narrator: MOORE OFFERS INVESTIGATORS

A CHILLING, DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WHAT HE HAD DONE TO RACHEL

AND HOW HE HAD ACCOSTED HER ON THE ROAD.

AND HE STOPPED...

WHEN SHE WAS JOGGING ON THE ROAD

AND KILLED HER WITH A HAMMER.

UM...

THAT WAS ALL HARD TO HEAR.

Narrator: THE STORY IS PLAUSIBLE.

MOORE WAS OUT OF PRISON

AT THE TIME OF RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE,

AND LIVED NOT FAR FROM HER PARENTS' HOUSE.

AFTER RACHEL DISAPPEARED,

A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK BECAME A VEHICLE OF INTEREST.

MOORE WAS SAID TO HAVE DRIVEN A WHITE PICKUP AT THE TIME.

RACHEL'S MOTHER REMEMBERS SEEING SUCH A VEHICLE NEAR HER HOUSE.

Janet: THERE WAS A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK THAT WAS IN THE AREA,

AND I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT

AFTER WE WENT TO THE POLICE --

BEFORE THE POLICE WERE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH --

IT CRUISED REAL SLOWLY BY THE HOUSE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO SPEND TIME TALKING WITH MOORE.

THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE STARTING TO BUILD A SOLID CASE.

INVESTIGATORS INTERROGATED HIM EXTENSIVELY,

EVEN TAKING HIM TO LOCATIONS

WHERE HE HAD CLAIMED TO HAVE DISPOSED OF HER BODY.

Narrator: DIVERS SEARCH A LOCATION MOORE TAKES THEM TO

IN MATAGORDA BAY.

BUT THEY FIND NOTHING.

STILL, HE AND HIS ATTORNEYS WORK OUT A DEAL

FOR MOORE TO PLEAD GUILTY TO THE MURDER OF RACHEL COOKE.

IN RETURN FOR HELPING INVESTIGATORS,

MOORE IS TO GET ONLY AN ADDITIONAL 18 MONTHS

ON HIS EXISTING SENTENCE.

THE COOKES HOPE FOR SOME KIND OF CLOSURE.

FINALLY, AN END TO THEIR LONG ORDEAL IS IN SIGHT.

THEY GATHER THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

AND GO TO THE COURTHOUSE FOR MICHAEL MOORE'S PLEA HEARING.

JoAnn: IT WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY

THAT WE MIGHT GET SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION,

SO PEOPLE CANCELED EVERYTHING THEY HAD GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES

TO MAKE IT UP HERE FOR THAT.

Robert: AND WE WENT IN THERE

AND I SAW MOORE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN PERSON,

SITTING THERE WITH HIS LAWYERS.

Narrator: COMING UP...

A SHOCKING EVENT AT THE COURTHOUSE

SHATTERS RACHEL'S FAMILY.

HE IS A PREDATOR.

HE LIVES AND BREATHES

BASED ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND HE USED MY DAUGHTER FOR HIS OWN GAIN.

THAT'S WHY HE DID EVERYTHING.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 9, 2006.

FOR FOUR YEARS,

RACHEL COOKE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN WAITING AND HOPING FOR THIS DAY.

A CONVICTED MURDERER, MICHAEL MOORE, SAYS

HE IS FINALLY GOING TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DAUGHTER.

Lindemann: THE DAY THAT MR. MOORE WAS GOING TO ENTER HIS PLEA OF "GUILTY,"

THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST GENERATED

BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH EXTENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE

OF RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE,

AND NOW IT CAME DOWN TO THE DAY THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO ADMIT

THAT THEY WERE THE CAUSE OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.

JoAnn: THERE WAS TONS OF REPORTERS.

THE COURTROOM WAS ABSOLUTELY FULL.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE YOU SEE ON TV.

IT JUST SEEMED VERY SURREAL.

Lindemann: THE COURTROOM WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE,

AND MR. MOORE STOOD THERE TO ENTER HIS PLEA.

JoAnn: AND THEN HE GOT UP THERE...

AND HE SAID, "NOT GUILTY."

AND IT WAS KIND OF A HUSH JUST FELL OVER THE ENTIRE CROWD.

NOBODY KNEW WHAT TO DO.

HE HAD BEEN FEEDING THEM INFORMATION THAT HE HAD DONE IT

AND SAID THAT HE HAD DONE IT,

AND THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,

HE JUST DECIDES THAT HE WAS GONNA TAKE IT BACK.

Lindemann: WHICH WAS CONTRARY

TO WHAT HE HAD BEEN TELLING INVESTIGATORS

AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

Narrator: MOORE'S TURNABOUT CREATES AN UPROAR,

EVEN SURPRISING HIS LAWYERS,

BUT HE STICKS TO HIS "NOT GUILTY" PLEA

AND THE HEARING IS DISMISSED.

THE COOKE FAMILY VOICES OUTRAGE.

THEY FEEL VICTIMIZED ALL OVER AGAIN.

COME FORWARD AND BE A MAN FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE

AND TELL THE TRUTH.

Narrator: MOORE LATER TELLS A REPORTER

THAT HE MADE THE WHOLE STORY UP.

HE IS A PREDATOR.

HE LIVES AND BREATHES

BASED ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE,

AND HE USED MY DAUGHTER FOR HIS OWN GAIN.

THAT'S WHY HE DID EVERYTHING.

JoAnn: I WAS LIVID.

I THOUGHT THAT, WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD DONE IT,

THE FACT THAT HE WOULD PUT MY FAMILY THROUGH THAT,

THAT WE WOULD ALL COME THERE

HOPING TO GET SOME KIND OF ANSWERS,

AND THEN HE JUST THROWS IT BACK IN OUR FACE AND SAYS --

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.

Narrator: THE D.A. ANNOUNCES

HE WILL PURSUE A MURDER CHARGE AGAINST MOORE,

BUT A GRAND JURY IS NEVER CALLED.

WITHOUT MOORE'S COOPERATION, THERE IS NO CASE.

Hawkins: WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM ANYMORE AFTER THAT.

HE DID SIGN PAPERWORK, BUT IT WAS NOT FINALIZED BY A JUDGE

AS FAR AS TO PROSECUTE HIM ON IT.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT HE ACTUALLY DID WHAT HE SAID HE DID.

Lindemann: PERSONALLY, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT I HAD HAD ANYONE OWN UP TO OR CLAIM

TO HAVE DONE SUCH A THING

AND THEN, AT THE LAST MINUTE, BACK OUT ON THOSE CLAIMS.

HE'S STILL A VERY STRONG PERSON OF INTEREST.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT BEEN IDLE

IN THE YEARS SINCE MICHAEL MOORE CHANGED HIS PLEA.

ACTING ON TIPS, WILLIAMSON COUNTY DIVERS

HAVE SEARCHED GEORGETOWN LAKE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES,

BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND ANY TRACE OF RACHEL.

DETECTIVE LARRY HAWKINS AND TEXAS RANGER MATT LINDEMANN

CONTINUE TO WORK LEADS, HOPING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH.

Hawkins: YOU HAVE TO ELIMINATE EVERYTHING,

BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LEGITIMATE TIP.

WE HAVE SOME TIPS OF INTEREST THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: SOME OF THOSE TIPS LEAD INVESTIGATORS

TO EXCAVATE PORTIONS OF A PROPERTY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

DETECTIVES HAWKINS USES GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR PROBES

TO LOOK FOR DISTURBED SOIL

AND OTHER INDICATIONS SOMEONE MAY BE BURIED AT A LOCATION.

Hawkins: FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,

WE GET A CONTINUOUS TIP, AS I CALL IT,

THAT RACHEL IS ON A CERTAIN PROPERTY.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE SEARCHES OUT THERE.

IT'S JUST A CONTINUOUS STORY THAT WE HEAR,

WITH A LITTLE TWIST EACH TIME.

IT COMES BACK TO THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY TIME.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP LOOKING AT IT.

IT'S A VERY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL.

RACHEL'S FAMILY MEMBERS GO FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES,

BUT THE PAIN AND DOUBT ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR THEM.

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED.

WHY?

RACHEL WAS SUCH A GIVING SOUL

AND SUCH A FRIENDLY SOUL.

Narrator: JANET COOKE LIVES ALONE,

SURROUNDED BY HER ART, INCLUDING A PORTRAIT OF RACHEL.

SHE STILL TEACHES ART TO STUDENTS

AT GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL, RACHEL'S ALMA MATER.

HER DOG IS A RESCUE FROM HURRICANE KATRINA.

JANET BUILT THE KOI POND AND WATERFALL BY HERSELF.

THE SOUND OF FALLING WATER HELPS GIVE HER PEACE

FROM THE QUESTIONS THAT ECHO IN HER MIND.

WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?

WAS IT ON PURPOSE? I DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: JANET IS UNSURE IF MICHAEL MOORE

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE,

BUT SHE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT.

Janet: IF HE DID HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT,

DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE SAVING OF HIS SOUL,

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WOULD HE DO THAT FOR ME?

WOULD HE DO THAT FOR HIMSELF?

Narrator: IN JANUARY OF 2011,

MICHAEL MOORE AGREES TO BE INTERVIEWED ABOUT RACHEL COOKE

FOR THIS PROGRAM

AT THE STATE PRISON IN GATESVILLE, TEXAS.

THE CAMERA IS SET UP IN THE PRISON CHAPEL,

BUT WHEN HE APPEARS, HE SAYS HE HAS CHANGED HIS MIND,

JUST AS HE DID THAT DAY IN COURT IN 2006.

RACHEL'S FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE

OF MOORE'S INFURIATING AND CRYPTIC BEHAVIOR.

AT TIMES, THEY THINK

HE MAY HAVE HAD A HAND IN RACHEL'S DISAPPEARANCE,

BUT, MORE OFTEN, THEY THINK HE IS SIMPLY MANIPULATING THEM.

HE COULD HAVE MURDERED RACHEL. I'M NOT GONNA SAY --

HE LIVED NOT TOO FAR FROM US. SO HE COULD HAVE DONE IT.

BUT I JUST HAVE THIS FEELING

THAT HE WAS JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US.

Narrator: ROBERT COOKE KEEPS A SMALL HOUSE IN THE GEORGETOWN AREA,

WHERE HIS DAUGHTER JoANN LIVES

WHILE GETTING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN.

MY SISTER'S DISAPPEARANCE KIND OF SOLIDIFIED, FOR ME,

THAT I WANTED TO BE IN A PROFESSION

WHERE I'M INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE,

AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE

THAT ANYBODY WHO'S HAVING ANY ISSUES IN THEIR OWN LIFE

HAS SOMEBODY TO TALK TO SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL TEMPTED

TO DO WHAT WHOEVER TOOK MY SISTER DID.

Narrator: FINDING RACHEL HAS BEEN ROBERT'S FIRST PRIORITY

SINCE THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED,

AND THE YEARS HAVE TAKEN A HEAVY TOLL ON HIM.

YOU FEEL GUILTY, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING MORE,

BUT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH YOU CAN DO AS A PRIVATE PERSON.

WITHOUT A LOT OF RESOURCES, YOU JUST CAN'T DO A LOT.

HE HAD MADE RACHEL A PROMISE

THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA QUIT UNTIL HE FOUND HER,

AND HE TOOK THAT VERY, VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY,

AND HE STILL DOES.

AND, AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING FOUND HER,

I THINK IT'S REALLY CHEWING ON HIM.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY WILL NEVER GIVE UP

ON A CASE THAT STILL HAUNTS GEORGETOWN, TEXAS.

RACHEL'S IMAGE HAS SHONE DOWN FROM BILLBOARDS HERE,

AND A CEREMONY TAKES PLACE

EACH YEAR ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER DISAPPEARANCE

AT A MEMORIAL TREE PLANTED AT HER HIGH SCHOOL.

Lindemann: IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT IT BE SOLVED

FOR THE COOKE FAMILY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Hawkins: I BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE

KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL COOKE.

HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL REALLY THINK ABOUT IT

AFTER WATCHING THIS

AND REALIZE THAT IT'S SOMEONE'S CHILD,

THAT IT'S SOMEONE'S SISTER, THAT IT'S SOMEONE'S GRANDCHILD,

AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEVASTATED PEOPLE OUT THERE.

JoAnn: IT'S POSSIBLE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE ABDUCTED HER

AND JUST HAVE HER LOCKED UP SOMEWHERE,

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS ANSWERS...

JUST TO KNOW.

I MEAN, EVEN IF THAT MEANS WE KNOW SHE'S DEAD.

Robert: IT'S A HORRIBLE THING TO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,

AND I THINK IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN A MURDER,

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T EVEN BURY YOUR CHILD.

Janet: I USED TO BE EMBARRASSED

ABOUT CRYING ON CAMERA...

BUT, HEY, GUESS WHAT?

I HAVE EARNED THESE TEARS.

I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CRY.

ANY MOTHER WOULD CRY.

SO WHY HIDE IT? YOU KNOW?

IT'S JUST EVIDENCE OF HOW MUCH I LOVE HER.