[ WIND HOWLING ]
Narrator: ONE DARK WINTER NIGHT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
A COLD-BLOODED KILLING SHAKES AN ENTIRE CITY.
I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING AS HORRIFIC AS THIS WAS.
THE CRIME SCENES LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A SLASHER FILM.
THERE WAS AN AXE MURDERER RUNNING CRAZY
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Narrator: POLICE STRUGGLE TO TRAP A MONSTER...
THIS WAS ONE OF THE VERY FEW TIMES
THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN HOME
AND MY OWN WIFE'S SAFETY.
...A MONSTER WITH ONE SICK PLEASURE...
[ SCREAMS ]
WHEN WINTER COMES TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,
IT BRINGS A CHILL
AND DARKNESS NOTHING CAN PENETRATE.
WINTERTIME IN SEATTLE IS GRAY, COLD, DAMP.
Belle: A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE GET SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
BECAUSE YOU JUST -- YOU GET NO LIGHT, NO SUN,
AND PEOPLE JUST GET PRETTY DEPRESSED,
BECAUSE IT IS SO GRAY.
LONGTIME RESIDENT GENEVA McDONALD
HAS NEVER LET SEATTLE'S DARK SKIES
DAMPEN HER SUNNY DISPOSITION.
HI, GENEVA. IS YOUR FRIEND BACK?
HEY, MICHAELA. NO.
Belle: GENEVA WAS A SUPER NICE PERSON.
SHE WAS THE PERSON WHO WOULD SAY "HELLO"
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND PASS SOMEONE,
THE KIND OF NEIGHBOR THAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
Narrator: SHE WORKS AS A SECRETARY FOR A SHIP-BUILDING COMPANY.
THOUGH SHE LIVES ALONE SINCE HER DIVORCE,
SHE'S IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH HER DAUGHTER.
- HI, MOM. - HI!
YOU LEFT THE DOOR UNLOCKED, SO I LEFT MYSELF IN.
OH!
OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL!
THANK YOU!
Jacobson: HER DAUGHTER PAULA WAS IN HER YOUNG 20s,
AND SHE DIDN'T LIVE FAR AWAY.
AND SHE AND HER MOTHER WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE.
GENEVA HAD RAISED PAULA ESSENTIALLY BY HERSELF,
AND SO THERE WAS THIS REAL STRONG MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOND.
Narrator: ONE COLD SUNDAY EVENING,
GENEVA IS FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER.
SHE CALLS WORK TO SAY SHE WON'T BE IN ON MONDAY.
Jacobson: WELL, MONDAY MORNING CAME AND WENT, AND OF COURSE,
THEY DIDN'T HEAR FROM GENEVA.
BUT THEN TUESDAY MORNING ARRIVED, AND STILL NO GENEVA.
AND SO THE COMPANY SHE WORKED FOR,
THEY WERE CONCERNED.
Narrator: HER BEST FRIEND IS WORRIED, TOO.
SHE HAD A CLOSE FRIEND THAT TRIED TO GET A HOLD OF GENEVA
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER ON HER PHONE.
SHE BECAME CONCERNED THE NEXT DAY
WHEN GENEVA STILL WASN'T ANSWERING HER PHONE.
Jacobson: THE FRIEND KNEW TO GO THROUGH THE BACK ALLEY,
WHERE GENEVA WOULD NORMALLY PARK HER CAR.
AND SHE SAW GENEVA'S CAR THERE,
AND THAT KIND OF SENT UP SOME ANTENNAS, SO TO SPEAK.
GENEVA?
SO, SHE WENT TO HER BACK DOOR,
AND SHE FOUND THAT HER BACK DOOR WAS UNLOCKED.
GENEVA, ARE YOU HERE?
GENEVA?
YOU OKAY?
Belle: AND AT THIS POINT,
HER FRIEND IS STARTED TO GET REALLY WORRIED BECAUSE
SHE JUST GOT THIS FEELING THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
HER FRIEND ISN'T THERE, THE DOOR IS OPEN.
SO SHE WALKS UPSTAIRS.
GENEVA? GENEVA?
SHE SEES THE BODY IN ALL OF THIS BLOOD.
SHE'S COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
OH, GOD. OH!
SO SHE TURNS AROUND, SHE RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM,
RUNS DOWNSTAIRS, OUT THE OPEN DOOR,
AND SHE JUST IS LOOKING FOR HELP.
Narrator: PARAMEDICS ARRIVE,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP GENEVA NOW.
THIS IS A MURDER SCENE.
O'Leary: POLICEMEN SEE SHOCKING THINGS ALL THE TIME.
AND I HAD SEEN PLENTY OF BLOOD AND GORE,
BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING AS HORRIFIC AS THIS WAS.
Narrator: THE KIND OLDER WOMAN HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY ATTACKED,
SUFFERING DOZENS OF WOUNDS TO HER HEAD AND UPPER BODY.
HER FACE IS UTTERLY OBLITERATED.
O'Leary: IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO ACCLIMATE MYSELF.
WE'VE GOT A CRIME SCENE HERE, WE'VE GOT A JOB TO DO.
Narrator: ON THE BED ARE THE MURDER WEAPONS.
Gebo: I SAW THE AXE, AND I THOUGHT,
"WOW. I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN AN AXE USED LIKE THAT BEFORE."
GENEVA HAD A NUMBER OF INJURIES THAT WERE HORIZONTAL TO THE FACE
THAT OBVIOUSLY WERE INFLICTED BY THIS FIRE AXE
THAT WAS LAYING RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF HER.
Narrator: AND UNDER THE BLANKET, COVERING THE VICTIM...
Gebo: THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STAB WOUNDS INTO THE CHEST.
THEY WEREN'T BLEEDING VERY MUCH.
SO THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE INFLICTED
LONG AFTER THE -- THE HEAD WOUND,
AND SHE WAS DEAD OR NEARLY DEAD
WHEN THOSE WERE INFLICTED.
THERE WAS ALSO A PAIR OF SEWING SCISSORS
THAT WERE LAYING ON THE BED BESIDE HER.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE A SURPRISE ATTACK.
THAT INDICATED TO ME THAT SHE WAS PROBABLY ASLEEP
WHEN THE FIRST BLOW OCCURRED.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING.
O'Leary: BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH ANGER AND VIOLENCE TO THIS WOMAN,
YOU IMMEDIATELY START TO THINK THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY
CLOSE TO HER THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
USUALLY, YOU DON'T SEE STRANGERS KILLING STRANGERS
WITH THAT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.
AND OBVIOUSLY, SOMEBODY WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY.
**
Gebo: IN THE BATHROOM, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT HE'D WASHED UP.
THERE WAS SOME BRAIN MATTER AND SOME BLOOD,
AND I THINK EVEN SOME BONE IN THE SINK.
O'Leary: ON HER DRESSER WAS AN OPENED JEWELRY BOX,
AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FAKE, CHEAP JEWELRY.
AND YOU COULD TELL THAT SOMEBODY HAD GONE THROUGH IT.
AND SOME OF IT HAD BEEN LEFT THERE.
Narrator: HER PURSE HAS ALSO BEEN RUMMAGED THROUGH,
BUT OTHER VALUABLES HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED.
O'Leary: DOWNSTAIRS IN HER CHINA CABINET,
THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF ITEMS, UH, SILVER SPOONS,
A COMPLETE SET OF SILVER SILVERWARE.
AND NONE OF THESE THINGS WERE TAKEN.
Narrator: IT'S POSSIBLE THE KILLER
JUST TRIED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.
**
AS MORE INVESTIGATORS SWARM THE CRIME SCENE,
WORD TRICKLES OUT AMONG GENEVA'S CLOSEST NEIGHBORS.
Belle: THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.
THEY WERE JUST IN SHOCK.
AND THEY WERE SO SAD BECAUSE THIS IS A WOMAN
THAT HAS LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 20 YEARS.
SHE'S A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY LOVE HER.
AND NOW, SUDDENLY, SHE'S GONE.
DETECTIVES CONTACT HER DAUGHTER, WHO RUSHES OVER.
Jacobson: GENEVA'S DAUGHTER WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HER MOTHER.
IT WAS DEVASTATING TO HER.
Belle: AND HER DAUGHTER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
WHY SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING
SO VIOLENT AND HORRIFIC TO HER MOTHER.
O'Leary: SO THE EVIDENCE TECHS CAME OUT,
AND ON THE INSIDE DOORJAMB OF MRS. McDONALD'S BEDROOM,
A PALM PRINT WAS RECOVERED.
AND THAT PALM PRINT WAS LIFTED.
Narrator: IT DOESN'T BELONG TO GENEVA.
IT WAS LIKELY THAT, BEFORE WALKING INTO HER BEDROOM,
I THINK THE KILLER HAD STOOD THERE
AND PEERED AROUND THE DOOR FRAME,
AND THAT'S WHO LEFT THE PRINT.
Narrator: DETECTIVES FIND NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY.
THEY BELIEVE THE SCISSORS WERE A WEAPON OF OPPORTUNITY,
GRABBED FROM GENEVA'S SEWING TABLE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE AXE?
Phelps: YOU GOTTA WONDER, WHERE DID THE AXE COME FROM?
DID THE KILLER BRING IT WITH HIM?
WAS HE A FIREMAN?
DID HE STEAL IT FROM SOMEBODY'S GARAGE?
WHERE DID THAT AXE COME FROM?
Narrator: AS TECHS EXAMINE IT, THEY NOTICED SOMETHING STRANGE.
DETECTIVE. THIS AXE HAS ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED.
IT WAS ODD THAT THE AXE WAS USED TO BEGIN WITH.
AND THEN YOU LOOKED AT IT, AND YOU SAY,
WELL, THIS HAS BEEN DUSTED FOR FINGERPRINTS BY SOMEBODY,
AND WE HAVEN'T. IT WAS STILL THERE.
Phelps: SEVERAL POSSIBILITIES EMERGE HERE.
DID THE AXE COME FROM A FORENSIC EVIDENCE ROOM
AT A POLICE STATION?
IS IT A COP DOING THIS MURDER? RIGHT?
DID THE KILLER BRING IT WITH HIM?
WHERE DID HE GET ACCESS TO AN AXE
WITH BLACK FINGERPRINT POWDER ON IT?
Narrator: POLICE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
BUT ONE THING THEY KNOW FOR SURE --
SOMEONE SAVAGELY MURDERED GENEVA McDONALD IN HER SLEEP,
AND THAT KILLER IS ROAMING FREE, LOOKING FOR THE NEXT VICTIM.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
Narrator: EVERYONE IN THIS QUIET SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD
LOVED GENEVA McDONALD,
A SWEET DIVORCEE WHO LIVED ALONE.
SO THEY'RE STUNNED TO LEARN
SHE WAS HACKED TO DEATH WHILE SHE SLEPT,
AN INTENSE MURDER.
OVERKILL.
O'Leary: SOMEBODY GOT SOME PLEASURE OUT IT.
SOMEBODY'S GOT A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THIS WOMAN.
WHO DID SHE ANGER? WHO KNEW HER HOUSE WELL ENOUGH?
GET THIS STUFF TO THE LAB AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND THIS VICTIM.
AND THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THAT.
Narrator: DETECTIVES QUESTION HER DAUGHTER AND EX-HUSBAND.
IN MURDERS, PARTICULARLY VIOLENT MURDERS LIKE GENEVA'S,
THE EX-HUSBAND WOULD ALWAYS BE A POTENTIAL SUSPECT.
Narrator: HE LIVES JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY --
EASY ACCESS TO HER HOME.
Phelps: THEY HAVE TO REALLY SERIOUSLY CONSIDER --
DID HE HAVE A MOTIVE? DID HE STAND TO PROFIT?
WAS THERE REVENGE? WAS HE JEALOUS?
Narrator: TURNS OUT, HE COULD NOT PROFIT FROM HER DEATH.
HE HAS A SOLID ALIBI FOR THE NIGHT SHE DIED,
AND HE AND GENEVA HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
COPS ARE GOOD AT READING PEOPLE.
AND HIS REACTIONS TO THEIR QUESTIONS SEEM REASONABLE.
Narrator: THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER PAULA, TOO.
O'Leary: GENEVA'S DAUGHTER, AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL,
WAS THE ONLY HEIR TO ANY PROPERTY.
I MEAN, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE HOME.
Narrator: THOUGH, TO DETECTIVES,
SHE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A RUTHLESS KILLER.
Belle: GENEVA'S DAUGHTER WAS DEVASTATED.
I MEAN, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
ANYONE WHOSE MOTHER WAS MURDERED, YOU WOULD BE SO UPSET.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME IN
WITH AN AXE AND SEWING SCISSORS
AND COMPLETELY DESTROY SOMEBODY'S FAMILY.
Jacobson: GENEVA'S POOR DAUGHTER.
MANY OF GENEVA'S FRIENDS WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PAULA.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS EXPAND THEIR INTERVIEWS
TO GENEVA'S FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES.
O'Leary: WE COULD FIND NOTHING IN HER RELATIONSHIPS
WITH ANY OF HER CLOSE ASSOCIATES AT WORK.
SHE WAS WELL LIKED.
AND WE JUST COULDN'T FIND A PERSON THAT WOULD STAND OUT
AS SOMEBODY THAT WANTED TO ATTACK THIS WOMAN AND KILL HER.
**
Narrator: CONTINUING THE CRIME SCENE PROCESSING,
TECHS FIND CURIOUS CLUES --
PARTIALLY-EATEN FOOD, INCLUDING A BANANA.
ANOTHER BIZARRE DISCOVERY IS IN THE SPARE BEDROOM.
O'Leary: ON THE PILLOW, WE NOTICED A DEPRESSION.
AND THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL-LOOKING HEAD HAIR.
GENEVA'S HAIR WAS, UH, RED.
AND THIS WAS KIND OF A MIXTURE OF BROWN AND GRAY.
Gebo: THE IDEA THAT THIS PERSON,
AFTER INFLICTING ALL OF THIS VIOLENCE ON GENEVA McDONALD,
WOULD THEN HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT AND THEN TAKE A NAP,
THIS REALLY STRUCK ME AS BEING VERY, VERY, VERY ODD.
O'Leary: WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE KILLER HAD TAKEN A NAP,
THAT STRUCK BE AS BEING AN EXTREMELY BOLD MOVE
ON THEIR PART, NOT TO WANT TO FLEE RIGHT AWAY.
THAT JUST KINDA DEFIES LOGIC.
Phelps: A VERY UNUSUAL TWIST.
A KILLER WANTS TO PUT AS MUCH DISTANCE
BETWEEN HIM AND THE CRIME SCENE AS POSSIBLE.
BUT NOT THIS KILLER.
Narrator: DETECTIVES TURN TO THE MURDER WEAPON.
Gebo: THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE AXE
THAT WERE ROLLING THROUGH MY MIND.
IS IT HER AXE?
BUT THEN, WHY IS THERE FINGERPRINT POWDER ON IT?
Narrator: SHOCKINGLY,
THEY LEARN THAT FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE MURDER,
THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT IN QUEEN ANNE INVOLVING AN AXE.
[ FILM PROJECTOR CLICKING ]
Phelps: IN THAT CASE, A MAN WAKES UP,
AND HE LIVES ABOUT THREE BLOCKS OR SO FROM GENEVA.
AND SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS LIVING ROOM IS GUESS WHAT --
AN AXE.
Narrator: IT BELONGS TO THE HOMEOWNER.
Jacobson: THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE PLACE
WHERE HE HAD LEFT HIS AXE.
THE AXE WAS KEPT IN A BACK PORCH AREA.
THE HOMEOWNER WAS VERY CONCERNED
THAT SOMEBODY HAD COME INTO HIS HOUSE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
Narrator: THE MAN TOLD THE RESPONDING OFFICER
HE'D LEFT HIS BACK DOOR UNLOCKED THE NIGHT BEFORE.
NOTHING HAD BEEN STOLEN.
O'Leary: THE OFFICER, DOING HIS DUE DILIGENCE,
USED FINGERPRINT POWDER ON THE AXE HANDLE,
GAVE THE AXE BACK TO THE VICTIM.
Narrator: THE PRINTS BELONGED TO THE OWNER.
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES RE-INTERVIEW HIM.
THEY SHOWED HIM THE AXE, AND HE SAID,
"YEAH, THAT'S THE AXE."
AND, I MEAN, IT WAS PRETTY IDENTIFIABLE
FROM THAT FINGERPRINT POWDER ON THE HANDLE.
Narrator: HE CLAIMS AFTER THE INCIDENT,
HE PLACED THE AXE BACK ON HIS PORCH.
THEN, THE NIGHT OF GENEVA'S MURDER, IT WENT MISSING.
THAT AXE IS THE MURDER WEAPON.
SO THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT,
DID HE HAVE A DISPUTE WITH GENEVA?
SOMETIMES NEIGHBORS, THEY CAN GET VERY, VERY VICIOUS.
Jacobson: THEY QUESTIONED HIM VERY EXTENSIVELY.
BUT HE WAS EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE,
WAS VERY STRONG AND CONSISTENT ON HIS STORIES.
AND SO HE WAS RULED OUT AS A SUSPECT.
Phelps: THERE'S NO WAY THAT HE COULD'VE BEEN
AT GENEVA'S THAT NIGHT.
AND THAT PUSHES DETECTIVES TO ONE CONCLUSION --
THAT HER MURDER HAD TO BE A RANDOM CRIME.
O'Leary: WE'RE THINKING IT COULD'VE BEEN SOMEBODY
JUST PROWLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY
AND HAD A DESIRE TO WANT TO KILL SOMEBODY WITH AN AXE.
**
Belle: A RANDOM CRIME SETS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD ON EDGE.
THE GUY IS ON THE LOOSE. HE'S OUT THERE.
NOBODY CAN RELAX BECAUSE EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE
THEY COULD BE THE NEXT VICTIM.
Jacobson: I PERSONALLY LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
LESS THAN A MILE AWAY DURING THIS TIME FRAME.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU WERE ALWAYS LOOKING BEHIND YOU
WHEN YOU GOT OUT OF THE CAR
OR YOU WERE WALKING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ASK THE PUBLIC TO CALL IN WITH INFORMATION.
Gebo: THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HOPING IS THAT PEOPLE WILL CALL,
BUT THEN YOU GET OVERWHELMED WITH 400 TIPS.
"I SAW THIS SHADOWY FIGURE WALK BY MY HOUSE FIVE NIGHTS AGO."
WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO US?
A LOT OF THOSE TIPS, YOU GOTTA FILTER THROUGH THEM.
Narrator: THEY SPEND THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS PURSUING THESE LEADS.
THEN, LATE ONE NIGHT,
ANOTHER SURPRISE ATTACK
IN THE VERY SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
PICTURE THIS -- A COUPLE IS STAYING AT A FRIEND'S
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AT 4:00 A.M...
**
[ SCREAMS ]
[ WIND HOWLING ]
Narrator: IN THE DARK CHILL OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,
POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE BRUTAL MURDER
OF DIVORCED MOTHER GENEVA McDONALD,
WHEN ANOTHER VICIOUS ATTACK
OCCURS IN THE SAME UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Jacobson: THERE WERE A COUPLE
THAT WERE STAYING WITH SOME FRIENDS OVERNIGHT.
AND AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING...
THE MAN WAKES UP TO SOMEBODY STABBING HIM WITH A KNIFE.
**
[ SCREAMING ]
AND THEN, THE STABBER TURNS AROUND AND WALKS AWAY.
Narrator: THE VICTIM SURVIVES.
HELLO?!
ALL THE COUPLE COULD TELL IS THAT IT WAS A WHITE MALE.
DETECTIVES DETERMINE HE ENTERED THROUGH AN UNLOCKED BACK DOOR.
THERE WERE OTHER SIMILARITIES TO GENEVA'S MURDER.
IT WAS JUST EIGHT BLOCKS FROM HER HOUSE.
WHILE IT WASN'T AN AXE,
IT WAS A KNIFE, A SHARP INSTRUMENT.
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES.
THIS COULD BE THE SAME PERPETRATOR.
O'Leary: RANDOM HOMICIDES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE,
SO WE'RE NOT REAL SURE WHO WE'RE DEALING WITH.
Narrator: POLICE FEAR THEY ARE SEARCHING
FOR THE MOST DANGEROUS TYPE OF MURDERER --
ONE WHO STRIKES SIMPLY FOR THE THRILL OF IT.
O'Leary: THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON FOR IT.
WHOEVER'S DOING THIS IS NOT BREAKING INTO HOUSES
TO TAKE THINGS OF VALUE.
IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THESE WERE CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY,
AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN OUR MIND HE WAS GONNA KILL AGAIN.
Narrator: THE SECOND CRIME SCENE PRODUCES NO NEW LEADS.
AUTHORITIES HOPE SOMETHING FROM GENEVA'S HOUSE
MIGHT HELP I.D. THE ATTACKER.
Phelps: THE BEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE THEY COME UP WITH
IS A PALM PRINT FOUND ON A DOORJAMB
THAT LEADS RIGHT TO GENEVA'S BEDROOM.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE,
DNA EVIDENCE IN GENERAL, IS YOU NEED SOMETHING TO MATCH IT TO.
AND IN THIS CASE, THEY HAVE NOTHING.
Gebo: THE AUTOMATIC FINGERPRINT SYSTEM, IAFIS,
THAT WAS KIND OF IN ITS INFANCY BACK THEN,
IT DIDN'T REALLY DO MUCH WITH PALM PRINTS.
TO IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN OFFENDER
JUST FROM A PALM PRINT COULDN'T BE DONE.
Narrator: GENEVA'S DAUGHTER IS DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS.
Belle: IT'S ONE THING TO LOSE A PARENT,
WHICH IS REALLY HARD FOR ANYONE.
BUT TO HAVE YOUR MOM BRUTALLY MURDERED
AND NOT EVEN KNOW WHO DID IT,
HER DAUGHTER COULD JUST NOT FIND ANY PEACE.
Gebo: SHE'D BEEN RAISED IN THAT HOME.
HER MOTHER WAS A GOOD PERSON.
AND TO HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO HER MOM
REALLY SHOOK HER UP, HURT HER GREATLY.
AND THERE'S NO WAY
YOU CAN MAKE THAT GO AWAY UNTIL WE RESOLVED IT.
Narrator: A TWISTED MIND IS SOMEWHERE NEARBY.
THIS THIRST FOR VIOLENCE UNQUENCHED,
THE TENSION INSIDE HIM RISING,
REACHING THE POINT WHERE HE MUST HAVE MORE.
AS THE SEARCH CONTINUES, SO DOES THE CRIME SPREE.
A NOISE OUTSIDE WAKES A RESIDENT IN WHAT WILL BE
THE THIRD INCIDENT IN GENEVA'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE LOOKED OUT AND SAW SOMEBODY PEERING IN THE WINDOW.
Narrator: SHE WAKES HER BROTHER FOR HELP.
Phelps: IT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
HE GETS OUT OF BED, HE GOES OUTSIDE
TO WHERE AN AXE MURDERER MIGHT BE...
Narrator: ARMED ONLY WITH A CAMERA.
HEY! STOP!
ONCE AGAIN, THE PROWLER VANISHES INTO THE COLD NIGHT AIR.
THE BROTHER RUSHES HIS FILM TO POLICE.
THE PHOTOS ARE BLURRY, BUT THEY ARE SOMETHING.
THE MAN WORE GLASSES, UM,
HAD KIND OF AN ODD, UH,
PERSONAL LOOK ABOUT HIM.
UH, DIFFERENT KIND OF A FACIAL EXPRESSION.
Narrator: COULD HE BE GENEVA'S KILLER?
WASN'T LIKE HE WAS STANDING THERE WITH AN AXE.
BUT WE DO HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH NOW OF SOMEBODY.
CAN WE IDENTIFY WHO THIS GUY IS?
Phelps: WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THREE OF THESE CRIMES,
THERE WAS NO REVENGE, NO JEALOUSY, NO LUST.
HE WAS JUST OUT THERE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL VICTIMS.
WHAT COULD BE MORE SCARY?
Narrator: DETECTIVES PUT TOGETHER A PROFILE.
Gebo: HE'S A PROWLER. AND PRETTY GOOD AT IT,
BUT HE'S ALSO REGULAR.
KEEPS A ROUTE, COMING UP AND DOWN THE SAME STREETS,
EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A LOT OF POLICE PRESENCE THERE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HE SORT OF BLENDS IN.
PROBABLY JUST KIND OF DISAPPEARED.
Narrator: MAKING HIM ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND.
SEVERAL NIGHTS LATER, A COUPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOLTS AWAKE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
THEY HEAR SOMETHING.
Gebo: THEY STARTED LOOKING AROUND IN THE HOUSE,
AND THE WIFE HEARD
WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOMEBODY IN THEIR BASEMENT.
[ DOG GROWLING, BARKING ]
SADIE! SADIE!
SHE NOTICED A MAN DOWN THERE.
THE DOG HAD BASICALLY CORNERED THE INTRUDER IN THE HOUSE.
Phelps: SO THE WOMAN RACES UP THE STAIRS...
[ DOOR SLAMS ]
AND SLAMS THE DOOR CLOSED.
LOCKS THE DOOR, YELLED OUT TO HER HUSBAND TO CALL 911.
**
Phelps: AND HE SAYING, "WE'VE CAUGHT THE AXE MURDERER.
WE HAVE THE AXE MURDERER. COME."
[ WIND HOWLING ]
**
Narrator: AFTER THE SLAYING OF GENEVA McDONALD
IN HER SEATTLE HOME AND SEVERAL OTHER NIGHTTIME ATTACKS...
[ GRUNTS ]
AAH! [ DOOR SLAMS ]
...A COUPLE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD
THINKS THEY'VE TRAPPED THE KILLER IN THEIR BASEMENT.
Phelps: HERE YOU HAVE THE SAME M.O. --
A MAN ENTERS A HOME IN THE QUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HIS CRIMES HAVE BEEN ESCALATING --
MORE FREQUENT AND MORE BRAZEN.
BUT HE'S ALSO GETTING SLOPPIER,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE POLICE HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO HIM.
POLICE OFFICERS. YOU IN THE BASEMENT.
GETTING READY TO OPEN THE DOOR.
YOU DOWN THERE.
ANY SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, YOU WILL BE SHOT.
KEEP YOUR HANDS UP.
FACE AWAY FROM ME. FACE AWAY FROM ME RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: THE INTRUDER'S CARRYING A SEVEN-INCH KNIFE.
Phelps: BURGLARS DON'T GENERALLY CARRY WEAPONS.
THEY'RE THERE TO GRAB YOUR STUFF
AND GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THIS GUY HAS A KNIFE,
AND A PRETTY DAMN BIG ONE AT THAT.
THAT MEANS HE'S NOT THERE TO BURGLARIZE.
HE'S THERE TO COMMIT VIOLENCE.
OFFICERS DETERMINE HE ENTERED
THROUGH AN UNLOCKED BASEMENT WINDOW.
Gebo: A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENED
IN THE McDONALD HOUSE
AND THE OTHER HOUSE WHERE THE ASSAULT OCCURRED,
BUT CLOSE ENOUGH.
HIS NAME -- STEVEN RAMIREZ.
HE'S CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE BURGLARY FOR NOW.
**
Gebo: IT CERTAINLY CAUSED SOME EXCITEMENT IN THE UNIT.
WE HAVE HIM, NOW, DOES HE MATCH UP
IN ANY KIND OF PROVABLE WAY TO THAT EARLIER CRIME?
Narrator: DETECTIVES COMPARE HIM TO THEIR PHOTO.
THE PHOTOGRAPH, IT DID HAVE SOME RESEMBLANCE
TO THIS YOUNG MAN THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE,
BUT YOU COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE OR NOT.
Narrator: AS DAWN BREAKS IN QUEEN ANNE,
THE GOOD NEWS QUICKLY SPREADS.
Jacobson: WORD PASSED FROM PERSON TO PERSON ABOUT,
"WELL, SOMEBODY'S FINALLY BEEN ARRESTED."
SO THAT CALMED THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN.
THERE WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS GRILL RAMIREZ.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THAT BASEMENT?
WINDOW WAS OPEN AND, UH,
I THOUGHT I COULD GET IN AND GET OUT
WITH SOMETHING VALUABLE.
SO WHY THE KNIFE?
Gebo: THEY QUESTIONED HIM STRONGLY ABOUT, UH,
HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE McDONALD MURDER.
AND HE DENIED IT.
THE GUY WAS ADAMANT THAT HE WASN'T THE ONE.
I -- I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
Phelps: YOU KNOW,
IT'S PRETTY RARE THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA COME IN,
A LIGHT'S GONNA BE SHINED IN THEIR FACE,
AND THEY'RE GONNA CONFESS RIGHT OFF THE BAT TO MURDER.
SO THE FACT THAT RAMIREZ IS SAYING,
"WELL, I DIDN'T DO IT. I'M INNOCENT,"
MEANS NOTHING TO COPS.
Narrator: THEY SEND HIS PRINTS TO THE LAB.
Phelps: SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S A WAITING GAME,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PALM PRINT.
AND IF THE PALM PRINT MATCHES RAMIREZ,
THEY GOT THEIR GUY. IT'S OVER.
**
Narrator: WHILE RAMIREZ SITS IN JAIL, ANOTHER HOME BREAK-IN.
THIS IS FAR FROM OVER.
[ FILM PROJECTOR CLICKING ]
Jacobson: THE LIVING ROOM WAS RANSACKED,
AND ON THE WALL, ONE OF THE LIVING ROOM WALLS,
WAS WRITTEN "THE KILLER IS BACK."
TWO X's WERE PUT ON SOME OF THE CHAIRS IN THE LIVING ROOM,
TWO LARGE X's THAT WERE MADE WITH A FELT-TIP PEN.
AND THE SAME PEN WAS USED TO WRITE "THE KILLER IS BACK"
ON THE WALLS.
Narrator: THE KILLER COULD BE MARKING HIS NEXT TARGET,
OR TAUNTING INVESTIGATORS.
WHOEVER BROKE IN ALSO LEFT A CALLING CARD
IN THE FORM OF AN AXE.
TURNS OUT, IT WAS THE HOMEOWNERS',
TAKEN FROM THEIR WOOD PILE.
POLICE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE REAL AXE MURDERER
OR A COPYCAT.
THIS CASE RECEIVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.
AND ANYTIME THERE'S A HIGH-PROFILE CASE
IN THE NEWS LIKE THIS,
YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD
AND THEY WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES
AND GET THAT MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
Narrator: THEN, INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER
ANOTHER CLUE LEFT BEHIND --
A HALF-EATEN BANANA.
Phelps: THE BANANA PIECE OF GENEVA'S CRIME SCENE
HAD NEVER BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
COPS KEPT THAT.
COPS LIKE TO KEEP THINGS FOR THIS REASON ALONE.
THEY KNOW THIS IS NO COPYCAT. THEY KNOW THEY GOT THEIR KILLER.
**
Narrator: STEVEN RAMIREZ CANNOT BE THAT MAN.
Jacobson: MR. RAMIREZ WAS STILL BEHIND JAIL WALLS.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS NOT THE KILLER
THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.
HE WAS JUST ANOTHER GUY
PASSING THROUGH, SO TO SPEAK,
WHO HAPPENED TO COMMIT A CRIME IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
Gebo: IT SEEMED TO BE THAT -- THAT THE OFFENDER WANTED US,
THE POLICE, TO KNOW THAT WE HAD THE WRONG GUY,
AND HE WAS STILL AROUND, AND THAT WHATEVER WE WERE DOING,
WE HADN'T FOUND HIM YET.
O'Leary: IT WAS FRUSTRATING, EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.
WE'RE SWORN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
WELL, WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB VERY WELL.
Gebo: THIS WAS ONE OF THE VERY FEW TIMES
THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN HOME
AND MY OWN WIFE'S SAFETY.
I TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO LOCK THE DOORS.
IT WASN'T A GOOD TIME.
AND THE LONGER IT WENT ON, THE WORSE IT GOT.
Phelps: X's ON CHAIRS, LEAVING NOTES ON WALLS --
HE'S TAUNTING THE POLICE.
IT'S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A HOLLYWOOD SLASHER FILM,
A REAL THRILLER, AND EVEN COPS ARE SCARED.
THIS IS PRETTY DAMN CREEPY STUFF.
**
Belle: GENEVA'S FAMILY IS CONSTANTLY REMINDED
THAT THIS KILLER HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT.
POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THIS AS AN OPEN MURDER,
AND SO GENEVA'S DAUGHTER
CAN'T EVEN LET HER WOUNDS START TO HEAL.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS PROCESS THE LATEST CRIME SCENE.
O'Leary: THAT ENTIRE HOME WOULD'VE BEEN SCOURED
FOR EVERYTHING FROM HAIRS, FIBERS, OTHER FINGERPRINTS...
Narrator: THERE ARE NO USABLE PRINTS ON THE AXE LEFT BEHIND.
BUT TECHS DO FIND LATENT PRINTS
ON A PANE OF GLASS LEADING TO THE DINING ROOM --
A FINGER AND A PALM.
Gebo: THE FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN THAT HAD BEEN DOING
ALL OF THE EXAMINATION FOR THE PRINTS IN THE McDONALD HOUSE
WAS THE SAME ONE THAT WAS LOOKING AT THOSE,
AND SAID, "THAT'S THE SAME PALM DETAIL."
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS RUN THE SOLE FINGERPRINT
THROUGH THE NATIONAL DATABASE.
AFTER WEEKS OF CITY-WIDE FEAR
OF AN AXE-WIELDING MANIAC,
POLICE FINALLY GET A SOLID LEAD ON WHO HE MIGHT BE.
**
THE FINGERPRINT BELONGS TO 36-YEAR-OLD JAMES CUSHING,
WHO HAS A RECORD FOR ARSON.
O'Leary: HE WAS LIVING IN A GROUP HOME IN BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON.
AND HE BECAME ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED AND STARTED A FIRE.
AND HE'D BEEN ARRESTED FOR ARSON.
AND THAT'S HOW HIS PRINTS GOT INTO THE SYSTEM.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COMPARE CUSHING'S PRINT
WITH THE PALM PRINT FOUND IN GENEVA'S HOME.
IT'S A MATCH.
O'Leary: WE WERE ECSTATIC.
FINALLY, WE'VE GOT THIS INDIVIDUAL.
**
Narrator: BUT WHERE IS HE?
HE'D BEEN IN WESTERN STATE,
ONE OF OUR LOCAL MENTAL HOSPITALS,
SEVERAL TIMES IN AND OUT AND RELEASED.
Gebo: WE WERE ABLE TO START GETTING THOSE RECORDS TOGETHER,
SO WE KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH A GUY
WHO'S GOT SOME MENTAL ISSUES.
Narrator: HE HADN'T FOLLOWED UP ON HIS CARE
AND IS OUT THERE, UNMEDICATED, UNTREATED.
INVESTIGATORS LEARN HIS MOTHER LIVES IN WEST SEATTLE.
Phelps: THE MOTHER TELLS A STORY OF A SON
WITH THIS EXTREMELY VIOLENT TEMPER.
I MEAN, THE GUY WAS JUST FILLED WITH VOLCANIC RAGE.
AND SHE DID TELL ME HE WAS OBSESSED
WITH THE MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE "LIZZIE BORDEN."
Phelps: LIZZIE BORDEN IS THE INFAMOUS, REALLY,
WOMAN IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS,
WHO KILLED HER MOTHER AND STEPFATHER WITH AN AXE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO GENEVA.
EVERYTHING BEGINS TO MAKE SENSE NOW.
Narrator: SHE TELLS INVESTIGATORS
ABOUT THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM --
JUST DAYS BEFORE GENEVA'S SLAYING.
[ FILM PROJECTOR CLICKING ]
O'Leary: SHE CONVINCED JIM TO COME AND STAY WITH HER,
GET CLEANED UP, UM, GET SOME FOOD IN HIM.
Narrator: LATER THAT NIGHT...
[ FABRIC TEARING ]
**
[ GASPS ] JAMES!
[ BREATHING SHAKILY ]
Gebo: SHE WOKE UP TO HIM
STANDING NAKED OVER HER,
AND CARVING THE OUTLINE OF HER BODY IN THE MATTRESS OF THE BED.
AND THEN, SHE HOPPED UP AND SCREAMED
AND RAN OUT OF THE ROOM.
Narrator: IN THE LIVING ROOM,
SHE SAW HE'D DONE SOME... ORGANIZING.
O'Leary: HE HAD TAKEN EVERY SHARP INSTRUMENT IN THE HOUSE,
SCREWDRIVERS, KNIVES,
AND LAID THEM OUT IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER ON THE COUCH.
Narrator: HE LEFT THAT NIGHT WITHOUT HURTING HER.
SHE TELLS POLICE THAT HE'S BASICALLY HOMELESS,
LIVING AS A TRANSIENT ON THE STREETS OF SEATTLE.
SO FINDING JIM CUSHING BECOMES A PROBLEM.
Gebo: AS THAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING WORE ON, UH,
MY CONCERN GOT GREATER AND GREATER
THAT THIS GUY REALLY IS DANGEROUS,
AND HE'S LIKELY TO OFFEND RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE GOT TO FIND HIM.
Narrator: AND WHEN THEY DO, HIS STORY WILL SHOCK EVERYONE.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
Narrator: AFTER THE AXE MURDER OF GENEVA McDONALD,
A SLASHING ATTACK ON A COUPLE A FEW STREETS AWAY,
AND A STRING OF BIZARRE BREAK-INS,
SEATTLE POLICE IDENTIFY TRANSIENT JAMES CUSHING
AS THEIR PRIME SUSPECT.
ALL AVAILABLE OFFICERS MOBILIZE FOR THE SEARCH,
AND DETECTIVES REACH OUT TO HOMELESS SHELTERS.
O'Leary: WE KNEW HE WAS MOST LIKELY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND FROM TALKING FROM THE DIRECTOR
OF THE EMERGENCY HOUSING,
HE SAID HE LIKED TO HANG OUT AT A CERTAIN RESTAURANT.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: POLICE LIE IN WAIT.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
HANDS UP! DON'T MOVE! DON'T MOVE!
LOWER YOUR ARMS.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
O'Leary: I WAS REALLY SHOCKED
WHEN I MET MR. CUSHING FOR THE FIRST TIME.
JUST HIS OVERALL DEMEANOR, I THOUGHT,
"THIS GUY -- THIS GUY'S A KILLER?"
IS IT OKAY IF I SIT HERE?
PLEASE.
Narrator: AFTER ALL THE MYSTERY, CUSHING ACTUALLY SEEMS EAGER TO CONFESS.
HE TELLS THEM ABOUT THE NIGHT HE KILLED GENEVA McDONALD.
[ FILM PROJECTOR CLICKING ]
AFTER WANDERING AROUND QUEEN ANNE,
HE STOPPED BY THE HOUSE HE BROKE INTO BEFORE.
HE SAW THE FAMILIAR AXE BACK OUTSIDE, SO HE TOOK IT.
HE SLINKED DOWN ALLEYWAYS CHECKING DOORS.
GENEVA'S WAS UNLOCKED.
YEAH?
SHE'D DONE NOTHING TO HARM HIM.
HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HER.
YET, HE ATTACKED WITHOUT MERCY.
LIKE THAT?
AFTER THE MURDER, HE ATE SOME CEREAL AND FRUIT.
THEN TOOK A NAP IN THE GUEST ROOM
ACROSS THE HALL FROM GENEVA'S DEAD BODY.
O'Leary: I THINK FINALLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME OF HIS LIFE,
HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
AND I THINK HE REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
EVERYBODY'S FOCUSED ON YOU, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE ON CAMERA.
Narrator: HE ALSO CONFESSES TO THE KNIFE ATTACK ON THE COUPLE.
THEY ASK HIM ABOUT THE OTHER BREAK-INS.
INVESTIGATORS DO NOT THINK HE'S CRAZY AT ALL.
O'Leary: IN ORDER TO HAVE A MENTAL DEFENSE,
YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE PERSON THAT COMMITTED
THE CRIME DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG.
AND JIM DEFINITELY KNEW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
Narrator: PROSECUTORS CHARGE JAMES CUSHING
WITH ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED BURGLARY,
TWO COUNTS OF BURGLARY, ATTEMPTED MURDER,
AND AGGRAVATED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
Gebo: THE TRIAL JUDGE AND ALSO THE JURY,
THEY FELT THAT HE -- HE WAS NOT CRIMINALLY INSANE,
THAT HE WAS ABLE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE.
Narrator: ON MARCH 8th, 1991,
THE JURY SENTENCES HIM TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
BUT THE CONVICTION DOESN'T BRING CLOSURE TO GENEVA'S DAUGHTER.
Jacobson: HER MOTHER'S DEATH DEVASTATED HER.
AND SHE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN.
SHE WAS UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE.
AND WITHIN FOUR YEARS,
AT AGE 29, PAULA DIED.
PAULA'S BROKEN HEART WAS TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
IT'S JUST SO SAD AND TRAGIC THAT THIS FAMILY IS JUST GONE.
Gebo: THE IDEA THAT HIS ONE LITTLE GUY
COULD CAUSE ALL OF THAT DAMAGE
AND ALL OF THAT FEAR IS HARD TO BELIEVE.
O'Leary: HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HE COULD BE A THREAT TO ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF "PSYCHO"
WHERE BATES IS JUST SITTING IN THE CORNER
AND THE FLY LANDS ON HIS HAND?
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT HIM.
HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A THREATENING INDIVIDUAL.
BUT TO CREATE THAT KIND OF FEAR IN A CITY
OF A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE,
IF YOU WANT TO DEFINE AN ICE-COLD KILLER,
THAT INNOCUOUS LITTLE MAN THAT'S ON THAT VIDEO TAPE
IS AN ICE-COLD KILLER.
IF HE GOT OUT, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND HE'D DO IT AGAIN.