[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: A VICIOUS KILLER STRIKES
IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT.
Williamson: I LOOKED DOWN THERE,
AND YOU COULD DEFINITELY SEE A BODY LAYING ON THE PATH.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: IS THIS A RANDOM ATTACK?
GUESS WHAT.
HE'S LYING.
OR WAS THE VICTIM A TARGET FOR MURDER?
NO! SHE'S MY FRIEND!
TO SOLVE THE CASE, POLICE TURN TO A WITNESS
THAT NEVER BLINKS AND NEVER LIES.
THESE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
ARE ABOUT TO REVEAL THE CHILLING TRUTH...
WHAT'S HE HOLDING?
AS A VIDEO ANALYST, IT'S GOLD
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT UNIQUE.
Narrator: ...BEHIND A BRUTAL MURDER.
**
IT'S A JANUARY NIGHT
IN THE COLDEST, DARKEST PART OF THE CANADIAN WINTER.
OFFICER RUSS WILLIAMSON AND HIS PARTNER
ARE OUT ON THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT.
I REMEMBER IT WAS A FREEZING, COLD NIGHT THAT NIGHT.
IT WAS VERY, VERY COLD.
Narrator: IT'S COLD BUT QUIET UNTIL AROUND 11:30.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
HI, DISPATCH.
THERE WAS A LADY WHO HAD CALLED IN
TO STATE THAT HER FRIEND WAS BEING BEATEN AND RAPED...
YUP. OKAY, WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
...AND THAT SHE NEEDED ASSISTANCE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: THE CALLER'S NAME IS CHRISTINE,
AND SHE TELLS POLICE A VERY STRANGE STORY.
CHRISTINE SAYS THAT A MAN SHE KNOWS NAMED DANIEL GARCIA
CALLED HER AND SAID HER BEST FRIEND AND ROOMMATE,
ARCELIE LAOAGAN, WAS BEING ATTACKED.
Williamson: CHRISTINE? YES.
CHRISTINE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911,
BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH MORE THAN THE SECOND-HAND INFORMATION
SHE'S ALREADY GIVEN.
NO, SHE'S NOT HOME.
THEY'LL WANT TO ASK GARCIA WHY HE DIDN'T CALL 911 HIMSELF.
BUT THAT'S FOR LATER.
FOR NOW, POLICE MUST TRACK DOWN ARCELIE LAOAGAN
AS FAST AS THEY CAN. SHE CALLED HIM,
AND SHE WAS BEING ATTACKED SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN.
**
Williamson: THE FRIEND CONFIRMED
THAT ARCELIE WORKED DOWNTOWN CALGARY,
THAT SHE GOT OFF WORK ABOUT 10:00,
NORMALLY GOT HOME AROUND 11:00.
WHERE'S THAT? I DON'T KNOW THE ADDRESS,
BUT I -- I CAN SHOW YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE ADDRESS,
BUT SHE HAD BEEN TO THE PLACE OF WORK BEFORE.
AND SHE WAS CONFIDENT THAT SHE COULD POINT IT OUT TO US.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: WITH CHRISTINE GUIDING THEM,
THEY HEAD OUT TO ARCELIE'S WORKPLACE.
BUT AS THEY RUSH ACROSS TOWN, ANOTHER CALL COMES INTO POLICE.
UH, UH, UH, MY FRIEND ARCELIE --
I THINK SHE IS BEING ATTACKED RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: IT'S FROM DANIEL GARCIA.
DANIEL GARCIA.
Narrator: GARCIA, THE MAN WHO INITIALLY CALLED CHRISTINE,
IS FINALLY CALLING POLICE HIMSELF.
AH, YES, YES! S- SCREAMING, SCRE--
SH-SH-SHOUTING.
Narrator: IT'S UNCLEAR
WHY HE DIDN'T MAKE THIS 911 CALL IMMEDIATELY.
I THOUGHT... BUT HE CLAIMS ARCELIE CALLED HIM
WHILE THE ATTACK WAS IN PROGRESS.
IT WAS NOISY, CONFUSED, AND UNCLEAR.
BUT HE THINKS SHE SHOUTED... OKAY.
...THAT SHE WAS DOWNTOWN NEAR A PARK.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
BASED ON WHAT GARCIA TELLS THEM,
POLICE BEGIN A SEARCH OF ALL DOWNTOWN PARKS.
**
TWO STRANGE 911 CALLS,
A CRUEL WINTER'S NIGHT, AND A MISSING WOMAN.
WILLIAMSON HAS A BAD FEELING.
Williamson: I HAD NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT ARCELIE WAS IN TROUBLE AND NEEDED HELP.
Narrator: BUT WHERE?
WHILE HIS COLLEAGUES SCOUR THE DOWNTOWN PARKS,
WILLIAMSON HEADS TO THE LAST PLACE SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN,
WEST CANADIAN GRAPHICS, HER WORKPLACE.
Williamson: IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT BUSINESS WORKED LATE HOURS.
THEY DID A LOT OF PRINTING, AND SO, WHEN WE WENT DOWN THERE,
THE OWNER DID, IN FACT, SAY,
YES, ARCELIE WAS AT WORK THAT EVENING
AND THAT SHE LEFT THE BUSINESS AROUND 10:00 TO 10:30 AT NIGHT.
Narrator: BUT EXACTLY WHEN SHE LEFT WORK...
Williamson: WERE YOU WORKING WITH ARCELIE?
...OR WITH WHO, HE CAN'T SAY. IS THAT THING LIVE?
DOES THAT WORK? YEAH.
THAT'S WHEN OFFICER WILLIAMSON SPOTS A VERY RELIABLE WITNESS.
Williamson: YOU NEED TO GET, UH, THE FOOTAGE.
Narrator: THE BUILDING IS EQUIPPED WITH VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
THAT INFORMATION IS HUGELY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT GIVES US A LAST-KNOWN LOCATION WHERE SHE WAS AT.
BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
RIGHT AWAY.
ANYTHING, EVERYTHING AFTER...
Narrator: HE ASKS THE MANAGER TO GET THAT NIGHT SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE
TO THE POLICE STATION AS SOON AS HE CAN.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
AND THEN, WITH THE CLOCK TICKING,
WILLIAMSON JOINS THE SEARCH OF PARKS IN DOWNTOWN CALGARY.
**
I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 2:00 IN THE MORNING,
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LATER.
THERE WAS 14 TO 18 OFFICERS, I BELIEVE, TO THE SEARCH,
AND WE WENT OUT ON FOOT.
WE WERE ALL GIVEN CERTAIN, SPECIFIC AREAS
THAT WE HAD TO SEARCH.
SO WE WERE USING OUR FLASHLIGHTS TO LOOK AROUND IN DUMPSTERS,
UNDER TREES, BUSHES,
BY A VAN AND CARS, ANYTHING AT ALL
WHERE WE BELIEVED THAT SHE COULD BE.
**
Narrator: THEY SEARCH EVERY PARK AND OPEN SPACE
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF ARCELIE'S WORKPLACE.
**
WILLIAMSON TRIES TO REACH ARCELIE LAOAGAN ON HER PHONE.
BUT SHE NEVER ANSWERS.
HI. YOU'VE REACHED ARCELIE.
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE.
41-YEAR-OLD ARCELIE LAOAGAN, MOTHER OF FIVE BOYS,
TRAVELED TO CALGARY FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
SHE WAS A HARDWORKING MOM.
SHE WANTED A BETTER LIFE FOR HER CHILDREN.
SHE HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS.
LIKE, SHE HAS FAMILY BACK HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES
THAT SHE HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND.
Narrator: ARCELIE IS A QUIET, SHY WOMAN
BUT HAS LOTS OF FRIENDS WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCH GROUP.
SHE MADE ALL THESE SACRIFICES FOR HER FAMILY,
SO PEOPLE JUST CONNECTED WITH HER.
**
Narrator: ARCELIE WORKS TWO JOBS
AND IS ALSO STUDYING TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT.
BUT WHERE IS SHE NOW ON THIS FREEZING, COLD NIGHT,
WHEN SHE SHOULD BE HOME FROM WORK?
**
Williamson: WE HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL INVESTMENT INTO THAT
TO TRY AND HELP HER...
AND TO TRY AND FIND HER,
AND SHE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
**
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, CALLIN' IT OFF.
**
Narrator: BUT THE SEARCH COMES UP EMPTY.
Williamson: IT WAS CALLED OFF SOMEWHERE AROUND 5:00 IN THE MORNING.
IT WAS DISAPPOINTING.
WE WERE VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD FIND HER.
**
Narrator: BUT THAT IS NOT THE END
OF THIS LONG, CRUEL WINTER'S NIGHT.
**
Williamson: BEFORE WE HAD GOT BACK TO OUR OFFICE --
WE WERE FAIRLY CLOSE --
A CALL HAD BEEN VOICED BY DISPATCH
THAT A BODY HAD BEEN FOUND.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
COPY THAT.
Narrator: THE BODY IS NOT DOWNTOWN,
WHERE POLICE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ON DANIEL GARCIA'S SAY-SO,
BUT BEHIND A CHURCH,
WORRYINGLY CLOSE TO ARCELIE LAOAGAN'S HOME.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
**
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
**
Williamson: WHEN WE APPROACHED THE BODY,
RIGHT AWAY, I COULD TELL THAT IT WAS A FEMALE.
SHE WASN'T MOVING AT ALL.
SHE HAD BLACK HAIR, APPEARED TO BE FILIPINO.
**
THIS WAS ARCELIE.
**
IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND HER DEAD.
I BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS THE VICTIM
OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT
AND THAT SHE WAS MURDERED DURING THAT.
Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR ARCELIE LAOAGAN IS OVER.
Williamson: THIS LADY WAS A GOOD PERSON.
SHE HADN'T DONE ANYTHING TO ANYBODY,
AND THIS HORRIBLE THING HAD HAPPENED TO HER.
**
Narrator: THERE WILL BE NO HAPPY ENDING FOR THIS HARDWORKING WOMAN
AND HER FAMILY.
Cousart: YOU HEAR IT HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE,
BUT IF IT HAPPENS TO A PERSON YOU KNOW
AND WHO HAPPENS TO BE YOUR FRIEND FROM THE SAME COUNTRY,
LIKE, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT, LIKE, IT HITS YOU, LIKE, DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S JUST THAT SINKING FEELING
THAT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE HER.
BUT THE CALGARY POLICE,
THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT IT WAS HER.
**
Williamson: HER BODY WAS IN A WALKING PATH BEHIND A CHURCH,
AND I KNEW SHE WAS CHRISTIAN.
SHE WAS CATHOLIC, AND I WAS CHRISTIAN.
AND SO, UM,
KNOWING THIS HORRIFIC THING THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER,
YEAH, I JUST KNELT DOWN AND TOUCHED HER,
SAID A PRAYER FOR HER.
**
Narrator: BACK AT THE POLICE STATION,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES GEOFF BRYDGES AND PATTY McCALLUM
ARE ASSIGNED TO FIND ARCELIE'S KILLER.
GOT A REPORT LAST NIGHT. UH, WE HAD A CALL.
Brydges: IT CERTAINLY MOTIVATES YOU MORE
WHEN THE VICTIM IS A COMPLETELY INNOCENT VICTIM,
AND IT MADE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOMICIDE UNIT
WANT TO DROP WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING
AND COME AND HELP ON THIS FILE.
YEAH, SO THERE DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE ANY CONNECTION, UM, TO THE VICTIM.
McCallum: IN A CASE LIKE THIS, EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH,
AND ANYTIME YOU HAVE A CASE
THAT HAS VIOLENCE ATTACHED TO IT,
YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE BEGIN TO FEAR THAT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.
**
Narrator: ON A FRIGID, CANADIAN WINTER NIGHT LIKE THIS,
POLICE PROBABLY WON'T FIND TOO MANY WITNESSES
WALKING AROUND.
BUT THEY MIGHT ONLY NEED ONE WITNESS -- THIS ONE.
WAS SHE FOLLOWED WHEN SHE LEFT WORK,
ATTACKED OR ABDUCTED ON HER WAY HOME?
WAS ARCELIE LAOAGAN'S KILLER CAUGHT ON CAMERA?
McCaw: AS A VIDEO ANALYST, IT'S GOLD
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT UNIQUE.
**
HI, DISPATCH.
Narrator: 41-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF FIVE, ARCELIE LAOAGAN,
HAS BEEN FOUND BRUTALLY RAPED AND MURDERED IN A CHURCH YARD.
**
THANK YOU.
SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE
FROM ARCELIE'S WORKPLACE HAS JUST ARRIVED.
FORENSIC VIDEO EXPERT KATHY McCAW
WILL HELP POLICE SEARCH THE TAPES FOR CLUES.
WHAT'S RECORDED ON CAMERA IS, LIKE, THE SILENT WITNESS.
IT'S RELIABLE.
IT DOESN'T SUFFER FROM STRESS.
IT RECORDS ACCURATELY AND DISPASSIONATELY
ABOUT WHAT IT SEES IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO THIS IS WHERE SHE, UH...
Narrator: KATHY AND THE TEAM PLAY BACK THE PRINTING COMPANY'S FOOTAGE.
THEY KNOW ARCELIE'S SHIFT WAS DUE TO FINISH AT 10:00 P.M.
SO THEY CUE UP THE TAPE TO JUST AFTER.
THE CAMERA SHOWS THE BACK EXIT OF THE BUILDING,
WHERE EMPLOYEES USUALLY COME AND GO.
ALL IS QUIET AND STILL.
AND THEN, AT 10:06 P.M.,
A FIGURE WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES
AS WERE FOUND ON THE BODY LEAVES THE BUILDING.
IT'S ARCELIE.
EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL.
YEAH.
McCaw: SHE WAS WEARING A KNEE-LENGTH BLACK COAT.
IT HAD A FUR AROUND THE HOOD.
SHE WAS WEARING KHAKI-COLORED PANTS
AND BROWN BOOTS
AND A BLACK KNITTED HAT.
SHE WAS CARRYING TWO BAGS --
ONE FLAT, SLIM BAG AND THEN HER PURSE.
Narrator: ARCELIE LEAVES WORK ALONE.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE AROUND.
EVERYTHING LOOKS NORMAL.
BUT THE VIDEO GIVES INVESTIGATORS
A VERY IMPORTANT CLUE.
OKAY.
THIS ESTABLISHES WHAT SHE WAS WEARING.
COULD I GET A HARD COPY OF THAT? McCaw: ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
McCallum: SO THE FACT IS
THAT WE HAD A TIME STAMP OF WHEN SHE LEFT.
WE COULD SEE WHAT SHE WAS WEARING.
THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD START FOR US.
**
Narrator: BRYDGES AND McCALLUM HEAD TO THE CRIME SCENE
TO GET A CLOSER LOOK IN DAYLIGHT.
Brydges: ARCELIE'S BODY HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CRIME SCENE,
BUT IT WAS STILL APPARENT THAT THERE'D BEEN
A VIOLENT INCIDENT THERE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD AND SIGNS OF VIOLENCE.
**
Narrator: A CSI TEAM SEARCHES.
THE SCENE IS LITTERED WITH TRASH,
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT IS POTENTIAL EVIDENCE
AND WHAT IS JUST PLAIN GARBAGE.
IT WILL ALL HAVE TO BE COLLECTED AND BAGGED.
Brydges: THERE WAS QUITE A FEW ITEMS TAKEN.
THIS DEFINITELY IS A VERY UNORGANIZED CRIME SCENE.
Narrator: BUT THEN THEY FIND SOMETHING
THAT COULD GIVE THEM A SOLID LEAD.
**
IT'S A CELLPHONE.
Brydges: THE CELLPHONE WAS SMASHED,
AND IT APPEARED THAT IT HAD BEEN SMASHED DELIBERATELY.
Narrator: IS THIS ARCELIE'S PHONE,
THE PHONE SHE ALLEGEDLY CALLED GARCIA FOR HELP ON?
THE CELLPHONE IS SENT FOR FORENSIC TESTING RIGHT AWAY.
Brydges: WE REALIZE THAT THERE WERE PERSONAL BELONGINGS
OF ARCELIE'S THAT WEREN'T THERE.
HER PURSE WAS MISSING FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
SO IT'S LIKELY THAT THE PERPETRATOR
TOOK THE ITEM WITH HIM WHEN HE LEFT.
**
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO COMB THE AREA FOR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
UH, IT WOULD BE NICE.
BUT THEY'RE OUT OF LUCK.
THE PATH WHERE ARCELIE'S BODY WAS FOUND ISN'T COVERED.
DETECTIVES CHANGE GEAR AND FOCUS ON ARCELIE'S PERSONAL LIFE.
WE NEED TO MAKE A LIST OF FRIENDS, FAMILY, COLLEAGUES.
McCallum: DOES SHE HAVE ANY KNOWN ENEMIES?
HAS THERE BEEN ANYONE THAT SHE'S ANGERED?
IS THERE ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP
THAT SHE'S HAD OUTSIDE OF HER MARRIAGE?
THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS WE ASK
TO BE SURE OF WHOM WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
**
Narrator: THEY START WITH THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER BEST, HER FRIENDS
CHRISTINE AND DANIEL.
DETECTIVES QUIZ CHRISTINE ON ARCELIE'S PRIVATE LIFE.
DOES SHE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AFTER WORK?
DOES SHE GO STRAIGHT HOME AFTER WORK?
WHO DOES SHE SEE?
Narrator: OUTSIDE OF CHURCH,
SHE ADMITS ARCELIE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A SOCIAL LIFE.
UM, SHE JUST LIKES TO BE HOME
AND COOK MEALS AND, YOU KNOW,
TALK WITH HER HUSBAND LONG-DISTANCE.
Narrator: SHE WAS FOCUSED ON HER PLAN
TO GET HER HUSBAND AND SONS TO CANADA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SHE WENT TO WORK, CAME HOME FROM WORK,
AND WENT TO CHURCH AND CAME HOME FROM CHURCH.
OTHER THAN THAT, SHE HAD NO SOCIAL LIFE.
Narrator: NEXT, THEY BRING IN DANIEL GARCIA.
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LAST PERSON
TO EVER HEAR ARCELIE'S VOICE.
GARCIA KNOWS ARCELIE FROM THEIR CHURCH GROUP.
BUT IS A FRIEND REALLY ALL HE IS?
SO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.
UH, UH, I WAS -- I WAS AT HOME --
HOME COOK-- HOME, COOKING,
AND, UH, A-ARCELIE -- SHE CALLS.
HELLO?
Brydges: AT ABOUT 11:00 P.M.,
HE'D RECEIVED A CALL FROM ARCELIE,
AND SHE WAS HYSTERICAL.
SHE WAS CRYING AND UPSET AND STATED THAT AT THAT TIME,
SHE WAS PRESENTLY BEING BEATEN AND RAPED.
SO I JUST HEAR SCREAMING, JUST...SO MUCH SCREAMING.
AND I THINK SHE'S IN TROUBLE.
ARCELIE, ARE YOU OKAY?
Narrator: GARCIA CLAIMS THAT THEN THE PHONE WENT DEAD...
...AND THAT HE TRIED TO CALL ARCELIE BACK,
BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
I -- I GO DOWNTOWN, AND I SEE IF I CAN FIND HER.
Narrator: THEN, RATHER THAN CALL THE POLICE,
HE WENT OUT TO FIND ARCELIE.
TELL -- TO TELL YOU.
HE ASSUMED THAT ARCELIE WAS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
OF CALGARY SOMEWHERE,
AND HE DROVE DOWN IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE HER.
Narrator: AS HE SEARCHED, HE CALLED CHRISTINE...
Christine, it's Daniel.
...AND ASKED HER TO CONTACT THE POLICE.
She's in danger.
POLICE DON'T LIKE IT.
IT'S UNUSUAL TO HEAD RIGHT INTO A CRIME SCENE,
RATHER THAN CALL 911.
SO THEY AREN'T GOING TO TAKE GARCIA'S WORD FOR IT.
THEY GET ARCELIE'S PHONE RECORDS RIGHT AWAY.
GUESS WHAT.
WHAT?
ARCELIE DIDN'T MAKE ANY CALLS TO GARCIA.
REALLY?
Brydges: THE CELLPHONE COMPANY TOLD US
THAT THERE WERE NO TELEPHONE CALLS
BETWEEN THE MALE FRIEND'S TELEPHONE
AND ARCELIE'S CELLULAR TELEPHONE.
HE'S LYING.
Narrator: GARCIA'S JUST LIED TO THE POLICE.
AND IF HE'S LYING ABOUT THE CALL,
WHAT ELSE IS HE HIDING?
INVESTIGATORS CONFRONT GARCIA WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION.
SHE WASN'T CALLING YOU.
WHAT?
SHE CALLED ME! IT...
BUT GARCIA STICKS WITH HIS STORY.
I WAS AT HOME, COOKING.
ARCELIE'S MY FRIEND! SHE CALLED ME!
POLICE BEAR DOWN ON DANIEL GARCIA.
...SOMEBODY SAY SHE WAS AT A PARK.
NO! SHE'S MY FRIEND!
I WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER!
AND HIS STORY IS ABOUT TO TAKE A TURN
THAT WILL LEAVE POLICE FLABBERGASTED.
Narrator: POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE MURDER
OF 41-YEAR-OLD ARCELIE LAOAGAN.
HER FRIEND, DANIEL GARCIA,
CLAIMS ARCELIE CALLED HIM DURING HER ATTACK.
BUT PHONE RECORDS SHOW THERE WAS NO SUCH CALL.
Brydges: WE HAD TO SPEAK FURTHER WITH THE MALE FRIEND.
HE CERTAINLY WAS A SUSPECT.
Narrator: BUT THEN THERE'S A REVERSAL.
Brydges: THE TELEPHONE SERVICE THEN CONTACTED US BACK AGAIN
AND INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE.
ARCELIE, ARE YOU OKAY?
Brydges: AND THEN, IN FACT, THERE WAS A TELEPHONE CALL
AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 P.M. FROM ARCELIE'S TELEPHONE
TO THE MALE FRIEND'S TELEPHONE.
GOT THE NUMBER FOR GARCIA, AND I'VE GOT THE NUMBER FOR CHRISTINE...
HIS STORY WAS BACKED UP BY THE TELEPHONE RECORDS, SO...
Narrator: DANIEL GARCIA HAS GONE FROM SUSPECT TO CONCERNED FRIEND
IN ONE PHONE CALL.
DANIEL, YOU CAN GO.
INVESTIGATORS ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
**
OUTSIDE OF CHURCH,
ARCELIE'S LIFE CONSISTED OF WORK
AND HER FOUR-MILE COMMUTE TO AND FROM HER DOWNTOWN JOB.
OKAY, THEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RANDOM ATTACK.
Narrator: AND IF IT'S RANDOM MURDER,
THERE'S A CHANCE THE KILLER MIGHT NOT BE DONE.
**
Brydges: IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE,
WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MAKE AN ARREST
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
BEFORE THE OFFENDER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REOFFEND.
Narrator: NOW DETECTIVES MUST PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED
FROM THE TIME ARCELIE LEFT THE PRINTING SHOP
TO THE MOMENT SHE WAS MURDERED ON THE CHURCH PATH.
**
Brydges: ARCELIE DIDN'T OWN A VEHICLE.
SHE USED THE TRAIN TO COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK.
**
Narrator: AND IN THIS CITY,
WHERE THERE ARE TRAINS, THERE ARE CAMERAS...
...HUNDREDS OF THEM COVERING EVERY PLATFORM AT EVERY STATION.
Brydges: WE KNEW THAT ARCELIE WORKED JUST TWO BLOCKS
FROM THE 8th STREET PLATFORM
AND THAT SHE TOOK THE TRAIN.
FOUND THE CAMERAS.
Narrator: DETECTIVES WILL FOLLOW ARCELIE'S ENTIRE JOURNEY HOME ON CAMERA.
Brydges: ON JANUARY THE 18th,
WE BEGAN RECEIVING THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO,
BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE.
IT CAME IN OVER A TWO-DAY PERIOD.
WE'D ALREADY LOCATED THE VIDEO FROM HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT,
SO WE HAD STILL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THAT VIDEO.
AND WE ALSO HAD THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT ARCELIE WAS WEARING.
WOMAN, BLACK HAT, BLACK COAT, KHAKI PANTS.
Narrator: THAT WAS JUST AFTER 10:00 P.M.,
AND SHE WALKED TOWARDS 8th STREET STATION,
JUST TWO BLOCKS AWAY,
WHICH MEANS THE CAMERAS OVER THE PLATFORM
SHOULD PICK HER UP JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER.
**
THEIR EYES GLUED TO THE SCREEN,
THEY SEARCH FOR ANY SIGN OF ARCELIE.
**
AND THEN THEY SEE HER.
Brydges: SHE WAS LOCATED ARRIVING AT THE TRAIN STATION
AND WALKING UP ONTO THE PLATFORM.
AND SHE'S WEARING THAT SAME CLOTHING COMBINATION
THAT SHE WAS WEARING AT HER WORKPLACE.
Brydges: IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY COLD DAY.
SHE'S ALL BUNDLED UP.
SHE'S CARRYING HER PURSE AND ANOTHER WHITE BAG
IN HER HAND.
THAT'S HER. ALL RIGHT.
SO I WANT TO SEE IF ANYBODY TALKED TO HER,
SHE TALKED TO ANYONE.
**
THE PLATFORM ISN'T THAT BUSY.
SHE WALKS PRETTY WELL DOWN THE LENGTH
OF THE WHOLE PLATFORM WESTBOUND AND THEN STOPS.
**
SHE'S JUST ON HER WAY HOME,
AND SHE DOESN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY,
NO USUAL MOVEMENTS WHATSOEVER.
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
SHE'S LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER OR ANYTHING.
SHE'S JUST WALKING UNCONCERNED DOWN THE PLATFORM.
McCaw: AND SHE DID GET INSIDE A BUS SHELTER
PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE COLD.
Narrator: THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE IN THE BUS SHELTER.
ANYONE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ARCELIE MUST BE LOOKED INTO.
THE BRIGHT PLATFORM LIGHTS DISTORT THE FOOTAGE
AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY DETAIL.
IT COULD BE A MAN OR A WOMAN, OLD OR YOUNG.
DETECTIVES JUST CAN'T TELL.
POLICE KNOW IF ARCELIE REALLY IS GOING STRAIGHT HOME,
SHE'LL BE WAITING FOR THE McKNIGHT-WESTWINDS TRAIN,
DUE IN AROUND 10 MINUTES.
SHE WAS THERE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES
BEFORE HER TRAIN ARRIVED.
Narrator: RIGHT ON TIME,
THE EASTBOUND TRAIN TO McKNIGHT-WESTWINDS PULLS IN.
McCaw: WHEN THE TRAIN ARRIVED,
SHE GOT UP OUT OF THE BUS SHELTER
AND ONTO THE TRAIN.
THAT'S IT. SHE'S ON THE TRAIN.
Narrator: SO FAR, NOTHING IS OUT OF PLACE,
BUT THERE ARE NO CAMERAS ONBOARD THE TRAIN.
McCaw: ONCE THE TRAIN TAKES OFF OR LEAVES THE STATION,
THEN YOU LOSE CONTINUITY OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT POINT.
**
Narrator: THE McKNIGHT-WESTWINDS TRAIN
WITH ARCELIE ON IT
IS DUE AT FRANKLIN STATION, THE STOP CLOSEST TO HER HOME --
AND TO WHERE HER BODY WAS DISCOVERED --
IN AROUND 10 MINUTES.
UNTIL POLICE GET THAT FOOTAGE, SHE'S NOT VISIBLE.
Reporter: THE BODY OF THE FEMALE WAS DISCOVERED BY A PASSERBY
WHILE SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK.
Narrator: BY NOW, THE STORY OF THE BRUTAL RAPE
AND MURDER HAS MADE THE NEWS.
Reporter #2: THE 40-YEAR-OLD MOVED TO CALGARY 4 YEARS AGO
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
SHE WORKED TWO JOBS TO PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE
FOR HER FIVE SONS.
McCallum: ARCELIE LAOAGAN WAS HARDWORKING.
SHE'S MADE HER LIFE HERE,
AND SHE WAS SOMEBODY THAT YOU WOULD NEVER EXPECT.
"SO IF IT HAPPENS TO HER, COULD IT HAPPEN TO ME?"
AND I THINK THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT PEOPLE WERE THINKING.
AND IT SCARED THEM.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: THE CLOCK IS TICKING,
AND THE CITY IS ON EDGE.
POLICE KNOW ARCELIE GOT ON THE McKNIGHT-WESTWINDS TRAIN.
**
THEY'RE ABOUT TO SEE IF SHE GOT OFF ALIVE.
AND WHAT THEY SEE AT FRANKLIN STATION
WILL SOLVE THIS CASE.
THAT'S HIM.
Narrator: ARCELIE LAOAGAN HAS BEEN MURDERED.
POLICE ARE FOLLOWING HER COMMUTE HOME VIA SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
FROM CALGARY'S TRAIN SYSTEM.
THEY'VE SPOTTED HER BOARDING THE McKNIGHT-WESTWINDS TRAIN
AT 8th STREET STATION NEAR HER WORK
JUST BEFORE 10:20 P.M.
THEY KNOW HER HOME STOP IS FRANKLIN STATION,
FOUR MILES AWAY.
THE RIDE SHOULD TAKE 10 MINUTES.
SO HER TRAIN SHOULD ARRIVE AT ABOUT 10:30 P.M.
WE HAD A TIME FRAME THAT
WE COULD SEARCH THE VIDEO FROM THE FRANKLIN STATION.
Narrator: 10:29, AN EASTBOUND TRAIN
PULLS INTO THE PLATFORM AT FRANKLIN.
SURE ENOUGH, ARCELIE LAOAGAN STEPS OFF
AND HEADS TOWARDS THE EXIT.
Brydges: SHE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
SHE'S JUST ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK.
Narrator: SEVERAL OTHER PASSENGERS GET OFF THE TRAIN WITH HER,
BUT NONE SEEM UNUSUAL.
Brydges: SHE'S WALKING BY HERSELF.
THE TRAIN STATION ISN'T THAT BUSY,
AND SHE DOESN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY.
McCaw: IT'S VERY UPSETTING.
HER DEMEANOR IS, "I'M JUST GOING HOME,"
AND BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, SHE WILL NO LONGER BE ALIVE.
Narrator: SHE'LL BE FOUND DEAD LESS THAN A HALF-MILE FROM THIS SPOT.
SO POLICE MUST TAKE A LOOK
AT THE PASSENGERS AROUND HER AT THE STATION.
THEY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF THEM
AND IDENTIFY TWO MEN THAT GET OFF THE TRAIN
BEHIND ARCELIE
AND FOLLOW HER ALONG THE PLATFORM.
IS ONE OF THESE MEN FOLLOWING ARCELIE HOME?
I'LL BACK IT UP TO THE BEGINNING HERE.
TO FIND OUT, POLICE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK IN TIME
AND TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE ON THE PLATFORM
WHERE ARCELIE GOT ON AT 8th STREET.
YEAH. THIS IS THE 8th STREET PLATFORM.
VIDEO FROM THE 8th STREET PLATFORM CAMERAS
CONFIRMS THAT NEITHER OF THE TWO MEN
GOT ON WHEN ARCELIE DID.
ANYBODY MATCH?
NOPE. NO.
Narrator: SO ARE THEY FOLLOWING HER?
OR IS IT A COINCIDENCE?
THERE'S ONE WAY TO FIND OUT --
DETERMINE WHERE THESE MEN BOARDED ARCELIE'S TRAIN.
SO WE'VE ESTABLISHED SHE GOT ON AT 8th STREET.
MM-HMM.
THERE ARE EIGHT STOPS BETWEEN 8th STREET AND FRANKLIN.
I WANT TO CHECK EVERY CAMERA
AT EVERY STATION BETWEEN 8th AND FRANKLIN.
EACH STATION HAS MULTIPLE CAMERAS COVERING A PLATFORM.
IT'S A MAMMOTH TASK.
Brydges: WE WANTED TO SEE
IF WE COULD LOCATE THE SUSPICIOUS MALES.
IT WAS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOURS OF FOOTAGE
WITH MULTIPLE CAMERAS AT EACH PLATFORM.
Narrator: THERE'S NO SIGHT OF THE MEN GETTING ONBOARD
AT ANY OF THE STOPS ON ARCELIE'S ROUTE.
**
JUST TO BE SURE, POLICE CHECK THE CAMERAS
AT 10th STREET STATION, ONE STOP BEFORE ARCELIE BOARDED.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY SEE HIM.
POLICE RECOGNIZE HIM FROM THE PLATFORM
WHERE ARCELIE GOT OFF HER TRAIN.
McCallum: IT SEEMS TO BE A YOUNG MALE IN HIS 20s.
HE HAS GOT DARK HAIR.
HE APPEARS TALL.
HE'S WEARING A VERY COMMON CARHARTT JACKET.
HE'S WEARING A HOODIE.
HE'S GOT WORK BOOTS ON.
Narrator: HE'S GETTING ON A TRAIN HEADING EAST,
IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS ARCELIE.
OKAY. LET'S PLAY IT AGAIN.
MAYBE WE MISSED SOMETHING.
BUT REWINDING, INVESTIGATORS NOTICE SOMETHING VERY STRANGE.
HE GETS OFF THE TRAIN...
HANGS AROUND FOR A MOMENT...
...THEN GETS BACK ON TO THE VERY SAME TRAIN
HE JUST GOT OFF...
...NOT THE BEHAVIOR OF AN ORDINARY COMMUTER.
McCaw: THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS HANGING AROUND AND HANGING AROUND,
AND IT'S VERY COLD OUT.
AND YOU WONDER WHY HE'S DOING THAT.
YOU AND I WOULD TAKE THE TRAIN FROM HERE TO HERE,
GO HOME, GO TO THE JOB, GO OUT,
BUT NOT TAKE THE TRAIN BACK AND FORTH IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
Narrator: POLICE WONDER WHY THE MAN FOLLOWING ARCELIE
IS AIMLESSLY RIDING TRAINS.
TO FIGURE THAT OUT,
THEY'LL TRACE HIS ENTIRE JOURNEY,
LOOKING FOR CLUES.
McCaw: ONCE HE WAS POINTED OUT TO ME,
I CAN GO BACKWARDS AND NOW LOOK FOR HIM.
**
Narrator: 11 MINUTES EARLIER, AT 7th STREET STATION...
THERE HE IS, RIGHT ON THE PLATFORM.
HE'S ALONE.
THEN HE APPEARS TO ASK ANOTHER PASSENGER
FOR DIRECTIONS.
PERHAPS HE IS JUST A CONFUSED COMMUTER AFTER ALL...
...UNTIL...
INVESTIGATORS CATCH A BREAK.
Brydges: A YOUNG ASIAN WOMAN WALKED UP ONTO THE PLATFORM
AND BEGAN WALKING EASTBOUND DOWN THE PLATFORM.
THAT STOOD OUT TO US
BECAUSE THE YOUNG ASIAN GIRL LOOKED QUITE SIMILAR TO ARCELIE.
**
Narrator: WHEN THIS FOOTAGE IS RECORDED, ARCELIE IS STILL AT WORK.
BUT WHEN A WOMAN WHO LOOKS LIKE HER WALKS BY,
THE SUSPICIOUS MAN HIDES HIS FACE.
McCallum: HE'S LOOKING AT HER.
HE PUTS HIS HOODIE UP.
AND AS SHE GOES BY, HE KIND OF WATCHES HER,
AND THEN HE PULLS HIS HOODIE DOWN.
OKAY, SO THAT'S PRETTY ODD.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW HAVE MAJOR SUSPICIONS.
THEY CUE UP THE MOMENT
ARCELIE STEPS OFF THE TRAIN AT FRANKLIN...
...AND CONFIRM IT'S DEFINITELY THE SAME MAN
GETTING OFF THE TRAIN JUST BEHIND HER.
IT'S AN AWFUL THOUGHT.
IS THIS MYSTERY MAN
STALKING CALGARY SUBWAY FOR ASIAN WOMEN?
Brydges: WE SPECULATED AT THE TIME
THAT HE WAS STALKING WOMEN ON THE TRAIN.
Narrator: IT'S A BIG LEAP IN LOGIC.
BUT IF POLICE ARE RIGHT, THIS IS A VERY CLEAR LOOK
AT THE FACE OF A KILLER ABOUT TO STRIKE.
Narrator: ARCELIE LAOAGAN HAS BEEN MURDERED ON HER COMMUTE,
AND POLICE SPOT A MAN THEY THINK IS A STALKER ON HER TRAIN.
BUT SO FAR, THIS VIDEO AND A DETECTIVE'S HUNCH
IS ALL THEY'VE GOT,
AND THEY'LL NEED A LOT MORE TO MAKE AN ARREST.
THEY'VE ALREADY LOOKED THROUGH HOURS OF VIDEO.
BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE JUST ABOUT TO STRIKE GOLD.
MORE FOOTAGE ARRIVES FROM FRANKLIN STATION,
WHERE ARCELIE GETS OFF TO GO HOME,
THIS TIME SHOWING THE STATION EXIT TO THE STREET.
LET'S GET THIS ON THE BIGGER SCREEN,
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
Brydges: ARCELIE LEAVES THE PLATFORM
AND ENTERS THE INTERIOR OF THE TRAIN STATION.
McCallum: AT THE LEVEL THAT A PERSON GETS OFF THE TRAIN,
THEY GO UP THE ESCALATOR.
IT'S AT THAT TIME THAT WE SEE SOMEBODY
IN THE VIDEO EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HER.
WE'RE TALKING A COUPLE -- THREE STEPS -- BEHIND HER.
Brydges: HE IMMEDIATELY PUTS HIS HOOD UP AND PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN,
CONCEALING HIS FACE, AND FOLLOWS BEHIND HER.
Narrator: AND THIS ACTION IS SOMETHING INVESTIGATORS HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
McCaw: HE DOES THAT SAME MOTION.
THOSE TWO SAME MANNERISMS REALLY HIT HOME
BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS KIND OF A STALKING.
Narrator: ANOTHER CAMERA SHOWS THE SAME THING
FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
AS ARCELIE AND HER PURSUER REACH THE TOP OF THE ESCALATOR...
FREEZE IT THERE.
...THE DETECTIVES FREEZE FRAME.
AND WHEN THEY FREEZE THE VIDEO, THEY SPOT SOMETHING...
WHAT'S HE HOLDING?
I NEED THE CRIME-SCENE PHOTOS NOW.
...A TELLTALE CLUE THAT CHILLS THEM TO THE BONE.
Brydges: HE'S CARRYING A CONSTRUCTION HARD HAT.
Narrator: THE VIDEO CONNECTS WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MANY PIECES OF TRASH
PULLED FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST ANY HARD HAT --
THIS ONE HAS BEEN PERSONALIZED.
McCaw: THIS BLUE HARD HAT -- IT HAD STICKERS ALL OVER IT,
AND THEY'RE PLACED IN A CERTAIN WAY,
WHICH MAKES THAT PARTICULAR HARD HAT UNIQUE.
LOOKS LIKE THE EXACT SAME STICKERS.
ALL RIGHT. THIS HAT IS THE LEAD.
LET'S FIND THIS GUY.
AS A VIDEO ANALYST, IT'S GOLD
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT UNIQUE.
THIS HARD HAT WAS FOUND AT THE MURDER SCENE.
Narrator: THEN A STROKE OF LUCK FROM INSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT --
ONE OF THE OFFICERS AT THE STATION
RECOGNIZES THE HARD HAT.
YEAH, I RECOGNIZE IT.
PRIOR TO BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER,
HE WAS AN IRONWORKER.
THIS IS AN IRONWORKER'S HARD HAT.
REALLY? HE SAID,
"IRONWORKERS TYPICALLY DECORATE THEIR HARD HATS
WITH STICKERS."
AND THIS ONE HERE HAD SEVERAL STICKERS ON IT
THAT DEFINED THE LOCAL IRONWORKERS' UNION,
LOCAL 725.
**
Narrator: WITH A PICTURE OF THEIR SUSPECT IN HAND,
INVESTIGATORS HEAD TO THE IRONWORKERS' HEADQUARTERS.
DETECTIVE BRYDGES. DETECTIVE McCALLUM.
Narrator: AND WHEN POLICE SHOW THE UNION PRESIDENT
A PHOTO OF THE MAN IN THE VIDEO...
...HE IMMEDIATELY THINKS HE RECOGNIZES HIM.
JASON WATCHESTON.
OKAY, SORRY. SO THAT WAS WATCHESTON?
Brydges: HE ALSO STATED THAT WATCHESTON HAD A BROTHER BY THE NAME
OF CHRISTOPHER WATCHESTON, BOTH IRONWORKERS,
AND BOTH ALSO WORKED AT THE SAME OVERPASS.
THEY HAVE A RECORD.
Narrator: THEY RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK
ON THE WATCHESTON BROTHERS
AND FIND THEY'VE BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE.
I, UH, PULLED UP THE WATCHESTON BROTHERS.
UH, WE DID A SEARCH ON THEM, AND LOOK.
Brydges: THEY WERE BOTH ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.
THEY WERE ALSO PHOTOGRAPHED AT THAT TIME.
Narrator: THE TEAM COMPARE THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THEIR CCTV STILLS
OF THE SUSPECT STALKING ARCELIE.
THEY HIT PAY DIRT.
CHRISTOPHER.
WE BELIEVED IT WAS CHRISTOPHER WATCHESTON
IN THE VIDEO.
Narrator: POLICE CAN NOT BE CERTAIN HE IS ARCELIE'S MURDERER
OR JUST CAUGHT ON VIDEO
IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME
UNTIL THEY SEARCH THE HOUSE WHERE HE'S STAYING.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Brydges: WHILE WE WERE IN THE RESIDENCE,
I NOTED THAT THERE WAS A KHAKI-COLORED WORK JACKET
HANGING AT THE BACK DOOR.
THAT JACKET TURNED OUT TO HAVE BLOODSTAINS
ON THE FRONT OF IT.
THOSE BLOODSTAINS WERE LATER IDENTIFIED TO BELONG TO ARCELIE.
**
HEY. LOOK WHAT I FOUND.
ARCELIE'S PURSE WAS FOUND IN THE GARBAGE BAG,
ALONG WITH PIECES OF IDENTIFICATION
BELONGING TO ARCELIE.
**
Narrator: VIDEO FOOTAGE HAS LED POLICE
TO THEIR MAN,
A SEXUAL PREDATOR
WHO RAPED AND KILLED AN INNOCENT STRANGER
HE FOLLOWED OFF THE TRAIN.
Brydges: VIDEO MADE IT POSSIBLE
THAT WE COULD ARREST CHRISTOPHER WATCHESTON
WITHIN DAYS OF THE OFFENSE AND GET HIM OFF THE STREET.
**
Narrator: IN APRIL 2010,
24-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER WATCHESTON
IS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
FOR THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF ARCELIE LAOAGAN.
THIS MAN HAS BEEN DECLARED GUILTY.
HE'S NOW BEHIND BARS. HE'S IN PRISON.
BUT HE CAN NEVER, EVER GIVE BACK THE LIFE
THAT HE HAS TAKEN AWAY.
Woman: SHE WANTED NOTHING BUT A PROMISING FUTURE
FOR HER FIVE SWEET BOYS.
HER CASE DEFINITELY WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER.
THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT I DON'T GO DRIVING BY MEMORIAL DRIVE
AND SEE GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
THAT I DON'T THINK OF HER, FOR SURE.
Cousart: WHEN I THINK OF HER, I CAN STILL PICTURE HER IN MY MIND.
LIKE, JUST BEFORE I GO TO BED OR SOMETHING,
I'LL REMEMBER HER FACE.