All language subtitles for Disappeared.S04E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10

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.