Narrator: A 19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT VANISHES WITHOUT TRACE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED HERE.
Narrator: IT'S A FAMILY'S WORST NIGHTMARE COME TRUE.
REMEMBER WE LOVE YOU, AND WE MISS YOU.
WORDS REALLY CAN'T DESCRIBE THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL.
Narrator: SURVEILLANCE VIDEO COULD BLOW THE CASE WIDE OPEN.
IF WE CAN GET GOOD IMAGES OUT OF THIS,
WE MIGHT SAVE HER LIFE.
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: HAS KATIE POIRIER'S DISAPPEARANCE
BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA?
MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT!
**
Narrator: MAY 26, 1999.
MOOSE LAKE, MINNESOTA.
19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT KATIE POIRIER
IS WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT
AT A GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORE
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.
- HEY. HOW'S IT GOING? - I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
Narrator: HER FRIEND, KATHY HANEK,
WHO WORKS AT THE SANDWICH SHOP NEXT DOOR,
STOPS BY BEFORE HER SHIFT ENDS.
WE WOULD JUST TALK ABOUT MEN. [ CHUCKLES ]
MEN IN GENERAL, HUSBANDS, BOYFRIENDS.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED. ARE YOU WORKING TOMORROW?
IT WAS ALWAYS FUN TO HANG OUT TOGETHER AT WORK.
IMPROVING ON THE JOB. AMAZING.
NORMALLY, I'LL CLOSE UP
AND HANG OUT NEXT DOOR FOR A WHILE AND CHITCHAT.
MY HUSBAND'S MAKING ME DINNER TONIGHT.
- ARE YOU SERIOUS? - IT'S VERY EXCITING.
- THAT'S AWESOME. - RIGHT?
Narrator: KATHY ONLY STAYS A FEW MINUTES.
YEAH, OF COURSE.
I'M LIKE, "KATIE, I CAN'T STAY TONIGHT.
MY HUSBAND MADE ME DINNER."
OKAY, LOVE, I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
AND WE JUST SAID GOODBYE.
- SEE YOU LATER. - GOOD NIGHT.
Narrator: VETERAN MOOSE LAKE POLICE CHIEF DALE HEATON IS ON NIGHT PATROL.
MY BROTHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
MY SON IS A STATE TROOPER,
SO IT'S KIND OF A FAMILY THING.
I CHECKED OUT THERE AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE
TO SEE HOW SHE WAS DOING BECAUSE SHE WAS WORKING ALONE,
AND I KNEW THAT.
- HEY! - GOOD EVENING, YOUNG LADY.
SHE WAS VERY FAR FROM TOWN,
A FULL MILE FROM TOWN OR ANY NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES.
- HOW ARE YOU? - SUPER GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
- YOU BEEN BUSY TONIGHT? - KIND OF.
BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIP ON SOME COFFEE
AND GO OVER MY NOTES.
- GETTING YOUR HOMEWORK DONE? - GETTING MY HOMEWORK DONE.
Heaton: SHE WAS A VIVACIOUS, VERY ATTRACTIVE GIRL.
WELL, YOU TRY AND STAY AWAKE IN THERE.
- I WILL. - ALL RIGHT.
- IT WILL BE FINE. - ALL RIGHT.
SHE WAS HER USUAL CHEERFUL, OUTGOING SELF.
AND I SAID "I'LL SEE YOU LATER."
AND I JUST DROVE ON.
Narrator: AROUND MIDNIGHT,
A CUSTOMER ENTERS THE STORE TO PAY FOR GAS.
INSIDE, SHE NOTICES SOMETHING STRANGE.
THERE'S NO CLERK ON DUTY.
AND NEAR THE CASH REGISTER, SHE SEES A PILE OF MONEY
AND A COLLECTION OF NOTES.
WRITTEN BY OTHER PATRONS,
THE NOTES EXPLAIN THAT WITH NO ONE ON DUTY,
THEY'D LEFT MONEY FOR THEIR GAS ON THE COUNTER.
BUT THIS CUSTOMER DOESN'T PUT HER MONEY DOWN AND LEAVE.
SHE'S ALARMED ENOUGH TO CALL 911.
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
Heaton: ABOUT 12:20 IN THE MORNING,
I RECEIVED A CALL FROM DISPATCH
THAT THE CONVENIENCE STORE OUT BY THE FREEWAY
WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, LIGHTS WERE ON,
CUSTOMERS WERE IN THE STORE,
BUT THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ATTENDANT ON DUTY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
SHE JUST WOULD NOT LEAVE HER POST.
I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T.
Narrator: THE CHIEF QUESTIONS THE CUSTOMER
WHO CALLED 911 AND LOOKS AT THE NOTES.
WHICH ONES DID YOU TOUCH?
IT'S CLEAR FROM THE PILE OF CASH
THAT KATIE'S BEEN GONE FOR SOME TIME.
I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A QUICK LOOK AROUND.
YOU WAIT HERE, ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU.
I THOUGHT POSSIBLY SHE HAD BEEN INJURED
OR SOMETHING ON SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE PREMISES.
I CHECKED THE INTERIOR OF THE STORE LOOKING FOR KATIE,
BUT I DID NOT FIND HER.
Narrator: KATIE IS GONE, BUT SHE'S LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND.
KATIE'S PURSE AND CAR KEYS WERE INTACT BEHIND THE COUNTER.
Narrator: OVER A MILE FROM TOWN,
POLICE KNOW IT'S UNLIKELY KATIE WOULD GO ANYWHERE BY FOOT.
THE DISCOVERY IS AN INSTANT RED FLAG.
NEXT, CHIEF HEATON LOOKS FOR KATIE'S CAR
IN THE PARKING LOT.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
HER PRIVATE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUT IN THE LOT.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE, TOM.
I KNOW THIS GIRL.
THIS ISN'T LIKE HER.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED HERE.
Narrator: WITH NO SIGN OF KATIE IN HER CAR,
CHIEF HEATON WIDENS HIS SEARCH TO THE NEARBY TRUCK STOP.
Heaton: I WAS LOOKING AT THE TRUCKS,
THINKING MAYBE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN HER
INTO ONE OF THE TRUCKS.
MORNING.
JUST CATCHING A LITTLE SHUT-EYE, EH?
WE'RE OUT HERE ON A SEARCH FOR A YOUNG GIRL.
SHE'S BEEN MISSING A COUPLE HOURS.
WE'RE A LITTLE CONCERNED SOMETHING BAD
MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO HER.
MIND IF WE GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK IN THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK?
I LOOKED THOUGH HIS TRUCK, AND SHE WAS NOT THERE, EITHER.
THE FACT THAT HER CAR WAS STILL THERE
AND HER PURSE WITH HER CAR KEYS,
YOU WONDER, WHERE DID SHE GO?
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD KATIE POIRIER
IS AN INDEPENDENT YOUNG WOMAN.
OKAY.
BUT IN SOME WAYS,
SHE'S STILL THE BABY OF THE POIRIER FAMILY.
'CAUSE I HAVE WORK TONIGHT.
SHE WOULD COME HOME, DO LAUNDRY,
BORROW MONEY, YOU KNOW, STEAL THE FOOD.
YOU KNOW, TYPICAL COLLEGE KID TYPE THING.
I THINK THAT WILL BE PERFECT.
SHE WAS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO WITH THE BACK...
SHE WANTED TO BE A CONSERVATION OFFICER IN MONTANA.
SHE LOVED THE MOUNTAINS.
YEAH, THAT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE MAUI, EH?
Narrator: SOON TO BE MARRIED TO HER PARTNER OF TWO YEARS,
MARK WILSON,
THE POIRIERS' LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING UP FAST.
I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE BRIDES...
WE KNEW THAT MARK LOVED KATIE,
SO I THINK IN THEIR EYES, THAT WAS FINE.
Narrator: THE DAY KATIE VANISHED,
SHE AND HER BROTHER, PATRICK,
HAD A TYPICAL BIG-BROTHER, LITTLE-SISTER PHONE CALL.
HEY, PAT, WHAT'S UP?
Patrick: I HAD CALLED MY PARENTS TO TELL THEM, YOU KNOW,
WHEN I WAS GOING TO BE HOME, AND KATIE ANSWERED THE PHONE.
AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS DOING LAUNDRY.
AND I SAID, "WELL, IF YOU MOVED OUT,
you should maybe do this somewhere else."
STILL ANNOYING.
OKAY, WELL, I GOT TO GO TO WORK.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON. BYE.
SHE HUNG UP THE PHONE.
HE'S COMING DOWN TO THE FLORISTS.
IT WAS GIVE SOME, TAKE SOME TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP.
THANKS, MOM.
SHE WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE MY KID SISTER.
LOVE YOU GUYS. BYE.
SHE WAS NEVER GONNA GROW UP FOR ME.
Narrator: WITH NO SIGN OF KATIE AT THE GAS STATION,
A POLICE OFFICER HEADS TO HER APARTMENT.
KATIE'S FIANCé, MARK WILSON, ANSWERS THE DOOR.
THEY SAID, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HER?
WHERE DID SHE GO? WHAT TIME DID SHE HAVE TO GO TO WORK?"
Narrator: MARK CLAIMS TO HAVE NO IDEA WHERE KATIE IS.
THE NEWS SHE'S MISSING LEAVES HIM SHAKEN TO THE CORE.
CHIEF HEATON EXPANDS THE SEARCH FOR KATIE.
HEATON: All units, be advised
we have a lookout for Katie Poirier.
19 years old.
Last seen at the mini mart on 535.
Narrator: HE KNOWS IN MISSING PERSONS CASES,
THE FIRST HOURS ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL.
WE STARTED A SEARCH IN MOOSE LAKE
AND THEN FANNED FURTHER OUT.
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
I CHECKED THE STATE PARK, WHICH WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE
OF HER BEING AT ANY OF THE PLACES I LOOKED.
Narrator: KATIE'S DISAPPEARANCE IS A MYSTERY.
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT, INVESTIGATORS TURN TO A WITNESS
THAT MAY HOLD ALL THE ANSWERS.
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
FOUR OF THEM, COVERING THE STORE INTERIOR.
THE VIDEO TAPE SHOWS YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
Narrator: CHIEF HEATON CONTACTS
THE STORE MANAGER TO RETRIEVE THE VIDEO FOOTAGE.
WILL ONE OF THESE CAMERAS
REVEAL WHAT'S HAPPENED TO KATIE POIRIER?
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT KATIE POIRIER
HAS DISAPPEARED WHILE WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT
AT A LOCAL GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORE.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
ALL HOPES OF FINDING HER REST ON WHAT'S BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
WE STARTED LOOKING
JUST PRIOR TO THE LAST CASH REGISTER TRANSACTION.
Narrator: IMMEDIATELY, INVESTIGATORS HAVE A PROBLEM.
Heaton: IT WAS A POOR VIDEO.
IT WAS A BLACK AND WHITE, AND IT WAS GRAINY.
THE VIDEO WAS SET UP IN A WAY
THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FOUR PICTURES ON ONE SCREEN.
Narrator: DESPITE ITS LIMITATION,
THE VIDEO IS INVESTIGATORS' BEST HOPE.
AT 11:11 P.M.,
THE CAMERA CATCHES KATIE ALONE, CLEANING UP.
AT 11:32 P.M., SHE THEN DISAPPEARS OUT OF CAMERA RANGE
INTO THE STORE ROOM.
EVERYTHING LOOKS NORMAL...
UNTIL ONE MINUTE LATER, AT 11:33 P.M.
THAT'S WHEN A MAN ENTERS.
FOR THREE MINUTES, THE CUSTOMER ROAMS THE STORE.
Koneczny: SHE'S MADE AWARE
THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE STORE,
AND SHE COMES OUT INTO THE CAMERA VIEW AREA.
AND SHE HAS A CONVERSATION WITH THE SUBJECT.
YOU RECKON THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?
BODY LANGUAGE IS FRIENDLY ENOUGH.
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE SHE COULD HAVE KNOWN THE PERSON,
BECAUSE THEY DID ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE VIDEO DIDN'T HAVE AUDIO TO GO WITH IT,
SO WE DON'T KNOW THE CONTEXT OF THE CONVERSATION
THAT TOOK PLACE.
Pertler: THERE WAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER THAT WOULD INDICATE
THAT SHE WAS NERVOUS
OR THERE WAS ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
Koneczny: HE EXITS THE STORE,
AND SHE CONTINUES BACK INTO THE AREA
THAT SHE HAD BEEN PRIOR TO HIM COMING IN.
Narrator: BUT THE CUSTOMER'S NOT GONE FOR LONG.
10 SECONDS LATER, HE'S BACK.
HE HAD BEEN OUTSIDE.
HE CAME BACK INTO THE STORE
AND MADE HIS WAY TO THAT AREA WHERE SHE WAS.
Heaton: THEY BOTH DISAPPEAR FROM VIEW.
Narrator: OUT OF RANGE OF ALL FOUR CAMERAS.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ALL THEY CAN SEE IS AN EMPTY STORE.
UNTIL THE MAN RE-ENTERS THE FRAME...
MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT!
...WITH KATIE POIRIER BY THE NECK,
MARCHING HER OUT OF THE PICTURE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
THE NEXT THING YOU SEE IS THE MALE SUSPECT
WITH HIS HANDS AROUND KATIE'S NECK.
AND HE'S PUSHING HER OUT THE DOOR.
HE IS BEHIND HER,
AND HE'S GOT SOMETHING AROUND HER NECK.
IT LOOKS LIKE SOME KNOTTED UP CORD.
IT MADE ME FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT SHE WAS BEING TAKEN
AGAINST HER WILL.
Heaton: YOU FEAR FOR HER SAFETY WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HE'S DOING.
Narrator: THE TERRIFYING ABDUCTION HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, NO ONE KNOWS.
ON MUST ABDUCTIONS,
BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
Narrator: THE VIDEO IS CLEAR ENOUGH TO TELL INVESTIGATORS
WHAT HAPPENED TO KATIE,
BUT IT'S TOO GRAINY FOR THEM TO I.D. THE SUSPECT.
WERE WE FRUSTRATED BY THE QUALITY?
ABSOLUTELY, WE WERE FRUSTRATED.
Narrator: THE VIDEO ONLY SHOWS THEM THE BASICS.
Heaton: HE APPEARED TO BE OF NORMAL BUILD,
AND HE HAD SOME KIND OF A SWEATSHIRT ON.
Koneczny: WE'RE THINKING THAT WE WERE DEALING
WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS A WHITE MALE,
WAS IN THEIR MID 20s TO MAYBE EARLY 30s.
WE KNEW THAT KATIE WAS ABOUT 5'2",
THAT HE STOOD A GOOD HEAD ABOVE HER.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH THE VIDEO DOESN'T REVEAL THE MAN'S IDENTITY,
IT DOES HELP INVESTIGATORS ELIMINATE POTENTIAL SUSPECTS.
Hodapp: THE FIRST PERSON OF INTEREST
IS GOING TO BE THAT VICTIM'S LOVE INTEREST.
Narrator: IN THIS CASE, KATIE'S FIANCé, MARK WILSON.
BUT MARK DIDN'T FIT THE DESCRIPTION AT ALL.
Narrator: HE'S THE WRONG BUILD.
POLICE HAVE GONE FROM ONE SUSPECT TO NONE.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
UNAWARE UNTIL NOW THAT KATIE HAS BEEN MISSING,
WORD OF HER ABDUCTION REACHES HER FAMILY.
[ WOMAN CRYING ]
WHAT THE HELL, MOM?
AT ABOUT 2:00 A.M., MY MOM CAME INTO MY BEDROOM
SCREAMING THAT SOMEBODY HAD TAKEN HER.
[ CRYING ]
WHO IS -- WHO IS HER, MOM? WHO IS HER?
AND WHEN I ASKED WHO "HER" WAS, SHE COULDN'T SPEAK.
MY FATHER THEN CAME INTO THE ROOM,
AND I SAID, "WHO IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?"
AND HE SAID, "SOMEBODY HAS TAKEN YOUR SISTER."
WORDS REALLY CAN'T DESCRIBE THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL.
YOU'RE HELPLESS.
MY PARENTS LEFT THE HOUSE
TO GO THE STORE, TO THE POLICE STATION.
I STAYED HOME IN CASE SHE WAS GOING TO CALL.
Narrator: WITH EACH TICK OF THE CLOCK,
KATIE'S FAMILY BECOME MORE AND MORE DISTRAUGHT.
Patrick: WHEN MY PARENTS CAME BACK,
THE ONLY THING THAT I WAS TOLD WAS YOUR SISTER WAS TAKEN
AND GO FIND THE [BLEEP] WHO DID IT.
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT KATIE POIRIER
HAS BEEN ABDUCTED FROM THE GAS STATION WHERE SHE WORKS.
AND IT'S ALL BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
POLICE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT NOT WHO DID IT.
HI. I'M DETECTIVE HODAPP.
HI.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, AGENT PHIL HODAPP
QUESTIONS KATIE'S COWORKER, KATHY HANEK.
SHE SEEMED OKAY?
- EVERYTHING WAS FINE. - YEAH?
Hanek: I'M LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I LEFT?"
I WAS SO DUMBFOUNDED.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS EVEN HAPPENING.
WHEN I CLOSED OUT MY SHOP LAST NIGHT, AROUND 10:00 P.M.
SO YOU'RE WORKING RIGHT NEXT DOOR HERE?
Hodapp: SHE WAS TERRIFICALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE SHE WAS THE LAST PERSON,
AS FAR AS WE KNEW, THAT SAW KATIE ALIVE.
Narrator: AND IT TURNS OUT THAT LAST NIGHT,
KATHY HAD AN ENCOUNTER
THAT WILL GET THE INVESTIGATION UP ON ITS FEET.
OKAY.
AFTER SAYING GOOD NIGHT TO KATIE,
KATHY RETURNED BRIEFLY TO THE SANDWICH SHOP TO CLOSE UP.
Hanek: I WAS GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO LEAVE FOR THE NIGHT.
THE LIGHTS WERE SHUT OFF,
BUT I HAD THE DOORS STILL UNLOCKED,
AND I WAS PUTTING EVERYTHING AWAY.
EVENING, DARLING. HEY, CAN I USE YOUR WASH?
THIS FELLOW COMES IN,
AND HE'S LOOKING FOR THE RESTROOM.
LIKE, "YOU NEED TO GO AROUND TO THE OTHER DOOR
IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.
I DON'T HAVE ONE HERE, AND I'M CLOSING."
I COULD TELL HE HAD BEEN DRINKING,
BUT HE DIDN'T SCARE ME, BOTHER ME.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST LIKE, "JUST GO HOME, YOU DRUNK."
WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK...
AND HE WAS STANDING ON THE CORNER
OF THE SIDEWALK WHERE WE PARK.
DONE FOR THE EVENING?
I'M LIKE, "WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I'M DONE FOR THE EVENING."
I WAS KIND OF RUDE.
HE JUST GOT IN HIS TRUCK. I GOT IN MY CAR.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
HE WAS LEAVING THE SAME TIME THAT I WAS LEAVING.
THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP BEHIND HIM
AS WE WERE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT.
HE HAPPENED TO BE GOING THE SAME DIRECTION AS ME.
AS I WAS DRIVING INTO TOWN,
HE TURNED AT A BUSINESS, AND I KEPT GOING,
AND THAT WAS IT.
WHAT WAS HE WEARING?
WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?
THE MAN I SAW THAT NIGHT
WAS WEARING A PLAIN-COLORED SHIRT AND JEANS.
GRAYING HAIR.
I WOULD SAY HE'D BE IN HIS LATE 40s, EARLY 50s.
THE DESCRIPTION THAT KATHY HANEK GAVE US DID NOT MATCH
WHAT WE WERE SEEING ON THE VIDEO.
Narrator: THE MAN IN THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
APPEARS YOUNGER AND WAS WEARING A TWO-TONED SWEATSHIRT
WITH A LOGO THAT'S TOO BLURRY TO MAKE OUT.
BUT WITH NO OTHER REAL LEADS, IT MUST BE FOLLOWED UP.
WHAT DID HIS TRUCK LOOK LIKE?
HE HAD A BLACK F-150.
Hodapp: SHE GOT A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT HIS VEHICLE.
IT WAS A BLACK PICKUP TRUCK.
SHE GOT A GOOD LOOK AT HIS LICENSE PLATE,
AND REMEMBERED FOUR OF THE SIX DIGITS.
PLATES WERE 5-5-7
AND THERE WAS EITHER A "K" OR A "Y" IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
WE DID A COMPUTER RUN ON ALL OF THE PICKUP TRUCKS
THAT HAD THOSE PARTICULAR DIGITS IN THE LICENSE PLATE,
AND THE STACK OF RETURNS THAT WE GOT BACK
WAS ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF THICK.
WE SENT THOSE OUT STATEWIDE TO INVESTIGATORS
TO TRACK DOWN THOSE VEHICLES
AND INTERVIEW EVERY SINGLE PERSON
THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE VEHICLES.
Narrator: FINDING ALL THOSE DRIVERS
WITH ONLY A PARTIAL PLATE TO GO ON WILL TAKE TIME.
AND FOR KATIE POIRIER, TIME MIGHT BE RUNNING OUT.
IN CASES LIKE THIS, TYPICALLY,
THE VICTIM IS NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED TO LIVE
FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR KATIE POIRIER
IS NOW A FULL-ON RESCUE MISSION.
WE'RE GONNA BE AS THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS AREA.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE.
Man: OKAY!
Narrator: TEAMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND VOLUNTEERS COMB THE LOCAL AREA FOR CLUES.
Reporter: FOR NEARLY TWO DAYS NOW,
SEARCHERS HAVE BEEN COMBING THE WOODS AND THE DITCHES.
WATER PATROLS HAVE TAKEN TO THE LAKES.
AND TWO COBRA HELICOPTERS CANVASSING THE AREA
FROM JUST ABOVE THE TREETOPS.
KATIE WAS WELL LIKED AND RESPECTED,
AND TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO HER,
IT WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN OF EVERYONE WHO LIVED HER.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S 22, AND, YEAH, IT'S EMOTIONAL.
BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THE MOM, WHAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH.
AND THE WORD "THANK YOU"
JUST DOESN'T SEEM ENOUGH TO GIVE TO YOU.
BUT WE DO --
WE DO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT,
AND KATIE DOES, TOO.
Patrick: NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO A LOVED ONE,
IT'S REALLY HARD FOR SOMEBODY THAT HASN'T HAD THAT HAPPEN
TO WRAP THEIR BRAIN AROUND THAT.
BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, KATIE.
REMEMBER -- PLEASE STAY STRONG AND REMEMBER WE LOVE YOU,
AND WE MISS YOU.
Narrator: AS THE SEARCH CONTINUES,
INVESTIGATORS TRACK DOWN AND QUESTION OWNERS OF BLACK TRUCKS
ACROSS THE STATE.
A DETECTIVE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL SUBURB OF RICHFIELD
FOLLOWS UP ON ONE OF THE TRUCK LEADS.
THE OWNER IS LISTED AS DONALD BLOM.
Hodapp: THEY JUST KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID,
"DO YOU STILL OWN A TRUCK THAT'S DESCRIBED LIKE THIS?"
SHE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE.
SHE SAID, YEAH, HER HUSBAND HAD OWNED A PICKUP TRUCK,
BUT IT HAD BEEN A WHITE COLOR TRUCK,
AND THEY HAD SOLD IT SOME MONTHS BEFORE
AND NO LONGER OWNED IT.
Narrator: THE VEHICLE IS CROSSED OFF THE LIST.
IT'S ONE OF MANY DEAD ENDS.
A LOT OF THOSE LEADS WERE JUST LEADING NOWHERE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS KNOW THAT ALL TOO OFTEN,
WHEN A WOMAN IS ABDUCTED,
IT'S BY A SEXUAL PREDATOR.
MANY TIMES, THEY'RE REPEAT OFFENDERS.
AND SO THEY'RE PROBABLY THE FIRST PLACE
YOU WANT TO START LOOKING.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE SEX OFFENDERS
IN OR NEAR MOOSE LAKE,
AND IT'S AN UNUSUALLY LONG LIST.
IS THAT ALL?
WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT MORE MANPOWER.
Narrator: THERE'S A GOOD REASON WHY.
Hodapp: MOOSE LAKE IS THE HOME OF THE HOSPITAL
WHERE ALL THE PREDATORY OFFENDERS IN OUR STATE
ARE SENT FOR THEIR TREATMENT
AFTER THEY'RE CONVICTIONS ARE SERVED.
Narrator: MANY OF THESE SEX OFFENDERS NOW LIVE IN THE MOOSE LAKE AREA.
THERE WERE A LOT,
AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE WAS A SET LEAD THAT WE INVESTIGATED.
THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL YOU'RE...
Narrator: SOON, WORD GETS AROUND,
AND INFORMATION STARTS COMING IN.
WE'D GOTTEN A TIP FROM THE PUBLIC,
A FRIEND OF THIS INDIVIDUAL,
WHO SAID THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED.
Narrator: POLICE IMMEDIATELY BRING HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING.
HIS NAME...
DONALD DEAN CHRISTIANSEN.
HE'S A SEX OFFENDER,
SO HE'S COMMITTED CRIMES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST.
HE LOOKS REALLY GOOD TO US AS A POTENTIAL SUSPECT.
YOU KNOW THIS GIRL?
NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE.
HE VEHEMENTLY DENIED
THAT HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ABDUCTION.
HE HAD AN ALIBI.
WHERE WERE YOU THE NIGHT OF MAY 26th?
I WAS AT HOME WITH MY WIFE.
WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HEARD.
Narrator: CHRISTIANSEN CLAIMS THAT ON THE NIGHT KATIE WAS ABDUCTED,
HE WAS AT HOME WITH HIS WIFE.
BUT OTHER WITNESSES CONTRADICT CHRISTIANSEN'S ACCOUNT,
CASTING DOUBT ON THE RELIABILITY OF HIS STATEMENT.
THAT LED US TO A SEARCH WARRANT AT HIS HOUSE.
WE FOUND THIS IN YOUR TRASH.
WE FOUND IN THE TRASH, SOME CORD THAT WAS KNOTTED UP,
THAT LOOKED SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE THE ABDUCTOR
USING TO CONTROL KATIE POIRIER.
WE'VE GOT A VIDEO OF A GUY
THAT LOOKS A HELL OF A LOT LIKE YOU
TALKING TO THIS 19-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO,
I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK, BUT I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
IT WASN'T ME!
Narrator: DESPITE MOUNTING EVIDENCE,
CHRISTIANSEN SWEARS HE'S INNOCENT.
SO DETECTIVES GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO PROVE IT.
Koneczny: THE INVESTIGATORS TRIED TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE BROUGHT PEOPLE BACK INTO CRIME SCENES,
AND HE WAS AGREEABLE TO THAT.
Hodapp: SO ONE OF OUR AGENTS WALKS HIM AROUND,
BASICALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME MOTIONS
AS THE SUSPECT IN THE VIDEO DOES WHEN HE ABDUCTS KATIE.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET HIM IN THE SAME POSITIONS AS THE VIDEO
AND THEN DO A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S ABOUT 5'10", SAME AS OUR GUY.
Narrator: CHRISTIANSEN AND KATIE'S KIDNAPPER
APPEAR TO BE THE SAME AGE.
HIS HAIR LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE SUSPECT'S IN THE VIDEO.
HIS SIZE MATCHES THE SUSPECT IN THE VIDEO.
Narrator: POLICE HAVE ALMOST ENOUGH TO ARREST CHRISTIANSEN.
BUT HE HAS VERY DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTIC.
DONALD DEAN CHRISTIANSEN HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE TATTOO
ON HIS FOREARM OF A SPIDER WEB.
Narrator: AND IF THEY CAN MATCH THAT TO THE VIDEO,
HE WILL QUICKLY BE FACING KIDNAPPING CHARGES,
AND MAYBE MORE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE A PRIME SUSPECT
IN THE ON-CAMERA KIDNAPPING OF KATIE POIRIER --
DONALD DEAN CHRISTIANSEN.
INVESTIGATORS PORE OVER THE VIDEO,
LOOKING FOR A SPIDER WEB TATTOO ON THE PERPETRATOR'S FOREARM.
BUT THE VIDEO IS TOO GRAINY TO TELL
IF THE KIDNAPPER HAS THE TELLTALE TATTOO.
POLICE CAN'T ARREST CHRISTIANSEN OR RULE HIM OUT AS A SUSPECT.
IT'S A DISAPPOINTMENT.
BUT IT MIGHT ONLY BE A TEMPORARY ONE.
MAYBE IF WE COULD IMPROVE THE PICTURE A BIT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO FOR US, JERRY?
Hodapp: ONE OF THE FBI AGENTS HIT ON THE IDEA
OF BRINGING THE VIDEO TO A NASA SCIENTIST.
Narrator: ASTRONOMER DAVID HATHAWAY
IS AN EXPERT IN ENHANCING AND INTERPRETING VIDEO.
AS AN ASTRONOMER, I KNEW THAT THE WAY YOU SHARPEN
THOSE IMAGES IS TO ADD IMAGES TOGETHER.
IF YOU SHARPEN THE ORIGINAL ONE, YOU JUST SHARPEN THE NOISE --
AND IT WOULD LOOK EVEN WORSE.
Narrator: TO IMPROVE THE CONVENIENCE STORE VIDEO,
DR. HATHAWAY USES A SOFTWARE PROGRAM
HE CO-PIONEERED CALLED VISAR.
WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR AS A SEQUENCE OF FRAMES
THAT WE COULD ADD TOGETHER.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
MOST VIDEO CAMERAS RECORD AT 30 FRAMES PER SECOND.
BUT THESE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ONLY RECORD
AT ONE FRAME PER SECOND.
DR. HATHAWAY WILL NEED TO FIND A SECTION OF VIDEO
WHERE THE SUSPECT STAYS STILL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS.
AND HE HAS TO DO IT FAST.
I HAD AN FBI AGENT LITERALLY BREATHING DOWN MY NECK, SAYING,
"IF WE CAN GET GOOD IMAGES OUT OF THIS,
WE MIGHT SAVE HER LIFE."
Narrator: FINALLY, HE IDENTIFIES SIX SECONDS
OF VIDEO THAT MIGHT JUST WORK.
HE STOOD THERE LONG ENOUGH THAT I THINK
THERE WERE A HALF A DOZEN FRAMES.
Narrator: DR. HATHAWAY LAYERS THE SEQUENTIAL FRAMES OF VIDEO,
ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER.
SLOWLY, THE PICTURE CLEARS.
Hathaway: THERE WAS A QUESTION WHETHER THERE WERE TATTOOS ON HIS ARMS.
HE'S GOT SHORT SLEEVES, SO YOU CAN SEE THE FOREARMS.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE NO IDENTIFYING MARKS
ON HIS ARMS AT ALL.
Narrator: CHRISTIANSEN IS OFF THE HOOK.
BUT THE NEW IMAGE CHANGES THE CASE
IN MORE WAYS THAN THAT.
IT COULD NOW HELP INVESTIGATORS I.D. A NEW SUSPECT.
IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THIS WAS AN OLDER PERSON.
IT WAS PRIMARILY IN THE EYES AND THE EYEBROWS.
HE CONVINCED US THAT THE SUSPECT WAS ACTUALLY OLDER MALE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE SPENT TWO VALUABLE DAYS
LOOKING FOR A MUCH YOUNGER SUSPECT.
DR. HATHAWAY THEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPROVES
TWO OTHER KEY FRAMES OF VIDEO
AND SOLVES MAJOR PUZZLE OF THE CASE --
THE BLURRY LOGO ON THE ABDUCTOR'S SHIRT.
HE WAS ABLE TO ZERO IN ON THE SHIRT
THAT THE SUSPECT WAS WEARING AND IDENTIFY IT
AS A NEW YORK YANKEES THROWBACK JERSEY...
...AND IDENTIFY THE FACT THAT IT HAD THE NUMBER 23 ON THE BACK.
Narrator: THE NEW IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE BASEBALL JERSEY IS BROADCAST NATIONWIDE.
TO GENERATE THE MAXIMUM MEDIA COVERAGE,
INVESTIGATORS TURNED TO A LOCAL BASEBALL HERO, PAUL MOLITOR.
THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BLONDISH HAIR,
WHICH MAY BE SHOULDER OR COLLAR LENGTH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION
REGARDING THIS INDIVIDUAL OR KATHLYN POIRIER,
PLEASE CONTACT THE CARLTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
Narrator: WITHIN HOURS, THE POLICE HOTLINE
IS FLOODED WITH HUNDREDS OF CALLS AND TIPS.
ONE BY ONE, INVESTIGATORS CHASE DOWN EACH TIP.
BUT THEY ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON.
EVERY LEAD THAT WE CHASED WAS REALLY GETTING US NOWHERE.
Heaton: YOU HAD THE NAGGING FEAR
THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THIS GUY.
Narrator: ALL THE WHILE, KATIE'S FAMILY IS SUFFERING
THROUGH EVERY AGONIZING MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.
WHEN THEY SAY YOUR HEART BREAKS, IT LITERALLY IS BREAKING,
AND YOU CAN FEEL THIS EMPTINESS,
THIS PAIN THAT GOES ON.
Patrick: I WAS HOPING TO FIND KATIE.
I WAS HOPING TO FIND HER ALIVE.
YOU COPE WITH HOPE BECAUSE HOPE IS ALL YOU HAVE.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS SINCE KATIE WAS ABDUCTED
AND INVESTIGATORS RECEIVE THEIR 1,960th TIP.
RUN THIS NAME THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
Hodapp: WE HAD A CALL FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO WORKED IN MINNEAPOLIS
WITH A GUY NAMED DONALD HUTCHINSON.
AND DONALD HUTCHINSON OWNED
ONE OF THOSE THROWBACK NUMBER 23 NEW YORK YANKEE JERSEYS.
Narrator: THE VERY SAME BASEBALL JERSEY
THE PERPETRATOR WAS SEEN WEARING IN THE GAS STATION VIDEO.
AND THIS GUY THOUGHT
THAT HE MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION TO A TEE
OF THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?
WE QUICKLY FIND OUT HE HAD CONVICTIONS FOR SEX OFFENSES.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT HE'S GOT SEVERAL ALIASES.
FRANKLIN, KOPPELS, KIPPELS, PINCE, HUTCHINSON.
Narrator: ONE OF DONALD HUTCHINSON'S ALIASES SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
DONALD BLOM.
SON OF A [BLEEP]
Narrator: AFTER SUCCESSFULLY ENHANCING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
OF KATIE POIRIER'S ABDUCTION,
INVESTIGATORS NOW HAVE A NEW PRIME SUSPECT --
A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER NAMED DONALD BLOM.
IT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST TRUCK LEADS INVESTIGATED.
Hodapp: HIS WIFE HAD TOLD US THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SOLD
AND THAT THE TRUCK WAS WHITE-COLORED.
Narrator: RECORDS SHOW THAT BLOM OWNS TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
POLICE HEAD OUT TO SEARCH THEM AND LOOK FOR DONALD BLOM.
THE GUT RESPONSE WAS THIS IS OUR GUY.
Narrator: IN RICHFIELD,
OFFICERS GAIN ENTRY TO HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
WHEN THE INVESTIGATORS WENT INTO THAT HOUSE,
THEY DID NOT FIND KATIE.
Narrator: DONALD BLOM AND HIS FAMILY ARE ALSO NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
Hodapp: BUT WHEN THEY GOT INTO THE GARAGE,
THEY FIND THE BLACK PICKUP TRUCK.
AND THE LICENSE PLATE THAT MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION
THAT KATHY HANEK GAVE ME ON THE VERY FIRST DAY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: POLICE ARE POSITIVE
THAT DONALD BLOM IS THE KIDNAPPER.
NOW ALL HOPE TURNS TO HIS TRAILER HOME NEAR MOOSE LAKE.
IF KATIE'S STILL ALIVE,
IS THIS WHERE HE'S HOLDING HER CAPTIVE?
Heaton: WE HAD REALLY HOPED
THAT HE WAS HOLDING HER HOSTAGE AT THE PROPERTY.
Hodapp: WE WERE PREPARED, WE MIGHT HAVE TO ENGAGE BLOM.
THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IS KEY IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.
THE MAIN ENTRY TEAM SECURED THE TRAILER VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: THERE'S NO SIGN OF KATIE OR DONALD BLOM.
THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS METICULOUSLY SEARCHED FOR CLUES.
WE DECIDED TO SEARCH THE FIRE PIT.
Narrator: AMONG THE ASHES,
DALE HEATON MAKES A GRUESOME DISCOVERY.
Heaton: IT APPEARED TO BE A HUMAN TOOTH.
SO AT THAT MOMENT, IT CAME TO ME THAT THIS IS PROBABLY KATIE'S.
Narrator: THE EVIDENCE IS SENT AWAY FOR FORENSIC ANALYSIS.
AFTER A STATE-WIDE MANHUNT,
DETECTIVES LOCATE DONALD BLOM IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
HE'S QUICKLY ARRESTED.
WITNESSES, INCLUDING KATHY HANEK,
ARE ASKED TO I.D. HIM.
Hanek: THEY ASKED HIM TO SAY...
ARE YOU DONE FOR THE EVENING?
DONE FOR THE EVENING?
THAT'S HIM.
THAT'S DEFINITELY HIM.
I KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHEN HE WALKED IN THAT DOOR
THAT IT WAS HIM.
AFTER HE DETERMINED THAT KATHY WAS CLOSING UP AND LEAVING,
HE LEFT AND ENSURED THAT SHE WAS LEAVING.
Narrator: BLOM CHANGES HIS CLOTHES,
THEN RETURNS TO THE GAS STATION AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER.
I THINK HE WENT AND DID SURVEILLANCE ON THE STORE
AND WAITED FOR THE STORE TO BE UNOCCUPIED
BY ANY OTHER CUSTOMER.
AND HE WENT IN THE STORE, MADE SURE NO ONE WAS IN THERE.
AND HE GRABBED HER AND TOOK HER AWAY.
Pertler: HE DID INDICATE THAT AFTER HE GOT TO THE PROPERTY
AND PULLED UP TO HIS TRAILER HOUSE,
HE TOOK HER OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND SHE PUT UP A FIGHT.
GET OFF ME!
Hodapp: AND HE JUST CHOKED HER UNTIL SHE DIED.
THAT'S ALL HE ADMITTED TO, BASICALLY.
Narrator: DONALD BLOM NEVER EXPLAINS HIS MOTIVE.
BUT HE'S A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER,
AND IT ISN'T HARD TO CONCLUDE
THAT KATIE POIRIER WAS SIMPLY HIS LATEST VICTIM.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS PROVES THE TOOTH IN BLOM'S FIRE PIT
BELONGS TO KATIE POIRIER.
I'M SORRY TO BE THE ONE TO BRING THIS NEWS TO YOU GUYS.
Patrick: HE LOOKED AT MY MOM AND DAD FIRST, AND SAID,
"DONALD BLOM HAS CONFESSED TO MURDERING YOUR DAUGHTER."
AND LOOKED AT ME, "YOUR SISTER."
AS SOON AS HE SAID IT,
I DON'T REMEMBER HEARING ANYTHING ELSE.
Narrator: ON AUGUST 16, 2000,
DONALD BLOM IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE
FOR THE MURDER OF KATIE POIRIER.
THE STAR WITNESS?
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
THERE WAS NOTHING TO CONNECT KATIE TO DONALD BLOM
OTHER THAN THAT VIDEO.
Patrick: I HAVE HER IN MY LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, THREE OF WHICH ARE DAUGHTERS.
EACH ONE OF THOSE DAUGHTERS
HAS A TRAIT, I BELIEVE, OF MY SISTER.
Narrator: AS A RESULT OF KATIE'S MURDER,
A NEW BILL IS PASSED, KNOWN AS KATIE'S LAW.
IT ALLOWS AGENCIES TO BETTER TRACK SEX OFFENDERS
ACROSS THE STATE.
PEOPLE'S LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED BECAUSE SHE WAS KILLED.