A YOUNG MOM VANISHES
DURING THE FRIGID HOLIDAY SEASON.
SHE WALKED BACK OUT IN FRONT OF THE BANK
AND THEN DISAPPEARED.
WHERE IS SHE AT?
YOU KNOW, IT'S COLD. SHE CAN'T SURVIVE OUT THERE.
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL AT HOME.
WE WANTED TO BRING PATRICIA HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
TO A FAMILY,
ONE DAY IS TOO LONG.
YOU WANT RESULTS -- BOOM.
YET THE WORRY ONLY GETS WORSE...
I WAS DETERMINED TO FIND OUT WHO WAS BEHIND IT.
HE ROBBED ME OF MY MOTHER.
SHE'S NOT GONNA GET TO SEE MY WEDDING.
...IN A STORY THAT CHILLS A SMALL TOWN TO THE BONE.
A PERSON THAT COMMITS AN ACT LIKE THAT IS A MONSTER.
IN RUNNEMEDE, NEW JERSEY,
WINTER CAN MAKE YOU WANT TO JUST ESCAPE.
MISERABLE.
THE SKIES ARE GRAY.
THE AIR IS COLD. IT'S DAMP.
ALL OF US HERE IN NEW JERSEY
WOULD RATHER BE IN FLORIDA WHEN IT'S WINTERTIME.
INTENSE COLD COMES AND GOES WITH LITTLE WARNING.
WHEN IT GETS COLD HERE, IT'S, LIKE, DOWN TO THE BONE.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT SO BAD,
BUT WHEN IT SNOWS, IT REALLY SNOWS.
IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY...
USUALLY.
THERE'S ONE SMALL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TOWN.
ALL THE KIDS END UP GOING THERE,
AND THEY STAY FRIENDS.
IT'S QUIET. IT'S KIND OF BORING, ACTUALLY.
29-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM PATRICIA PARKIN
IS HAPPY FOR THE QUIET.
YEARS EARLIER, SHE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,
BUT NOW SHE'S TAKING CONTROL.
SHE WAS A GOOD MOM. SHE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL,
SHE TURNED AROUND AND WAS GETTING GOOD GRADES,
SHE MADE DEAN'S LIST, WANTED TO BE AN X-RAY TECHNICIAN.
SHE LOVED IT. SHE LOVED THE SUBJECT,
SHE WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND HELP PEOPLE.
MOVING BACK IN WITH HER PARENTS,
SHE'S DETERMINED TO START OVER WITH A NEW LIFE
FOR HERSELF AND BABY MELISSA.
SADLY, THE BABY'S FATHER
DIES SUDDENLY OF HEART FAILURE.
HE DIED THREE DAYS AFTER MELISSA WAS BORN,
SO IT WAS KIND OF JOYFUL, SAD.
THEY SAW HER GO
FROM HAVING PRETTY MUCH THE WORST TIME IN HER LIFE
TO HAVING A DAUGHTER,
RAISING A DAUGHTER, BEING AN AMAZING MOTHER,
THEN EVENTUALLY GOING TO COLLEGE.
LET ME SHOW YOU.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THAT BOOK BAG.
THAT BOOK BAG WAS HER FUTURE.
SHE'LL SHOW EVERYONE SHE'S A STRONG WOMAN,
RESPONSIBLE, STEADY.
SHE'S GOT A THOUSAND BUCKS TO PROVE IT.
THAT CHRISTMAS, SHE HAD A LOT OF MONEY SET ASIDE.
SO SHE HAD ENOUGH AWAY TO REALLY GIVE HER A GOOD CHRISTMAS.
FOR THIS FAMILY,
IT WILL BE A CHRISTMAS SEASON
THEY WILL NEVER FORGET.
BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!
**
DECEMBER 2nd,
SHE WAS GOING OUT TO A MEETING THAT MORNING.
IT'S NOT SO BAD OUT. I'LL JUST WALK HOME TONIGHT.
OKAY.
- I LOVE YOU. - LISTEN, IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
AND WANT A RIDE HOME, JUST GIVE ME A CALL.
- OKAY. LOVE YOU. - LOVE YOU.
AT THAT TIME, SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR,
SO SHE RELIED ON MY GRANDFATHER,
WHO 100% WAS WILLING
TO DRIVE HER THERE AND PICK HER UP.
IT'S AN ODDLY WARM DAY,
SO SHE'S JUST WEARING A HOODY.
HOPEFULLY, THE WEATHER WON'T TURN BEFORE SHE GETS HOME.
PROBABLY BOUT 4:00, MY FATHER SAID,
YOU KNOW, "WHERE'S YOUR SISTER?
I WONDER WHY SHE'S NOT HOME YET."
I SAID, "WELL, SHE PROBABLY RAN OUT
TO THE DINER AFTER THE MEETING."
BUT IT WASN'T LIKE HER NOT TO CALL HOME.
EVEN WHEN SHE DID THINGS,
LIKE GO TO THE DINER, SHE WOULD CALL.
"HOW'S THE BABY?"
MY FATHER SAID, YOU KNOW, "I WANT TO GO PUT A REPORT IN.
I BELIEVE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER."
SO I SAID, "ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE YOU
DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION, DAD."
WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER WANTS TO REPORT
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY MISSING,
THERE'S A TIME FACTOR INVOLVED AND AN AGE FACTOR INVOLVED.
BASICALLY, AN ADULT CAN WALK OUT THE DOOR
AND JUST LEAVE,
AND THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE.
THE FAMILY REVEALS A FACT ABOUT PATRICIA'S PAST
THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT.
SHE IS A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC.
MAYBE SHE RELAPSED
OR MAYBE SHE WENT WITH AN OLD BOYFRIEND
OR MAYBE SHE JUST NEEDED TIME FOR HERSELF.
29 IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.
SO WITHOUT SOMEBODY CALLING AND SAYING, "HEY,
SHE'S IN TROUBLE," OR FINDING HER BOOK BAG,
THERE WAS NOTHING SOLID
FOR ANYONE TO REALLY PIN THEIR HAT ON.
ALL PATRICIA'S PARENTS KNEW WAS "SHE DIDN'T COME HOME TONIGHT."
THE MEETING SHE'D GONE TO WAS AN A.A. MEETING.
THEY HOPE SHE HASN'T SLIPPED AND STARTED DRINKING AGAIN.
THIS WASN'T HER CHARACTER, BEING A SOBER PERSON.
YOU KNOW, THE NEW HER WAS VERY RESPONSIBLE.
NO MATTER WHAT, SHE NEEDS TO BE FOUND.
MY DAD, HE WAS VERY PERSISTENT.
HE WAS NOT GONNA LEAVE THERE UNTIL THEY PUT A REPORT IN.
DETECTIVES AGREE TO ENTER PATRICIA
INTO THE NATIONAL MISSING PERSONS DATABASE.
THE FIRST 48 HOURS ARE VERY CRUCIAL.
YOU HAVE TO JUMP ON IT RIGHT AWAY.
BECAUSE IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN,
IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF FOUL PLAY,
PEOPLE ARE GONNA START COVERING THEIR TRACKS.
LIKE THE SNOW FALLING ACROSS THE TOWN.
WHILE THE FAMILY AWAITS WORD, THEY ALSO ACT.
WE JUST KNOW. THERE'S THIS FEELING INSIDE.
YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
TO A FAMILY, ONE DAY IS TOO LONG.
YOU WANT RESULTS -- BOOM -- RIGHT AWAY.
I SAID TO MY MOM AND DAD,
"WE NEED TO GET SOME FLIERS UP."
THE LAST TIME WE ACTUALLY SAW HER,
SHE WAS WEARING A BROWN HOODY, BLUE JEANS,
AND SHE HAD HER BACKPACK WITH HER.
THEY TRY TO RETRACE HER FOOTSTEPS.
I WENT BACK TO THE A.A. MEETING THAT SHE WAS AT THAT MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M GOOD! HOW YOU BEEN?
THEY SAID THAT SHE WAS DOING GOOD IN THERE.
THEY SEEN HER AT THE MEETING.
SHE JUST CAME IN THAT MORNING.
SHE WAS WORKING THE COFFEE BAR.
I LIKE IT BLACK.
HERE'S THAT.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW THAT SHE TURNED AROUND AND LEFT.
ONE OF THE GUYS THERE
SAID THAT HE SEEN HER WALK OVER TO THE BANK.
PATRICIA SHARES AN ACCOUNT WITH HER BROTHER, JOHN.
HE LEARNS SHE MADE A WITHDRAWAL
ON THE DAY SHE WENT MISSING.
WE PULLED THE VIDEO UP
AND SAW HER COME IN, WITHDRAW THE MONEY.
SHE WALKED BACK OUT THE FRONT OF THE BANK
AND THEN DISAPPEARED.
THE AMOUNT OF HER WITHDRAWAL --
JUST $90.
IF SHE WANTED TO ESCAPE HER NEW RESPONSIBILITIES,
SHE HAD PLENTY OF CASH AT HOME.
THERE WAS STILL $1,000 UPSTAIRS IN CHRISTMAS MONEY
THAT SHE WAS GONNA SPEND ON FAMILY AND HER DAUGHTER.
AND THAT PUZZLED ME,
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT,
YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THAT MONEY WITH YOU,
'CAUSE YOU NEED THAT MONEY.
WHEREVER SHE IS,
SHE'S NOT DRESSED FOR THE INCREASING COLD.
SHE LEFT WITH JUST A HOODY ON.
WE'RE FULL-FLEDGED WINTER. WE'RE HAVING ICE STORMS.
WE'RE LIKE, "THIS ISN'T RIGHT. WHERE IS SHE AT?"
YOU KNOW, "IT'S COLD.
SHE CAN'T SURVIVE OUT THERE."
SOON, PATRICIA'S FAMILY WILL LEARN DARK SECRETS
ABOUT HER LAST KNOWN STEPS
AND REALIZE THE TRUE DANGER SHE IS IN.
IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN NEW JERSEY,
AND COLLEGE STUDENT AND SINGLE MOM PATRICIA PARKIN
GOES MISSING.
THIS WASN'T THE PERSON
THAT WE KNEW IN THE LAST YEAR,
ESPECIALLY WITH MELISSA BEING BORN.
SHE WAS HOME EVERY NIGHT TO PUT ME TO BED.
SO DAY TWO, WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME HOME
TO TUCK ME IN OR WAKE ME UP IN THE MORNING,
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, "SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG."
ALL INVESTIGATORS KNOW SO FAR
IS THAT PATRICIA WITHDREW $90 THE DAY SHE WENT MISSING.
HER BROTHER THINKS IT'S A SIGN OF A SLIP IN HER NEW SOBRIETY.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE FIGURED,
"LET ME JUST GO HAVE A COUPLE DRINKS,
LET ME GO HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT OF ESCAPE FUN
BECAUSE OF ALL THIS
YOU KNOW, BEING A MOM AND BEING A STUDENT."
TURNS OUT JOHN'S HUNCH WAS CORRECT.
SOMEONE WHO SAW THE MISSING POSTER
CALLS TO SAY THEY SPOTTED PATRICIA
GOING INTO A BAR IN TOWN CALLED THE RIVERMAN LOUNGE.
IF YOU WERE NOT FROM RUNNEMEDE
AND YOU WALKED IN THERE,
EVERYBODY AT THE BAR WOULD TURN LIKE, "WHO'S THAT,
AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?"
IN A BAR SITUATION
SUCH AS THIS PARTICULAR BAR,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND TOO MANY PEOPLE
THAT LIKE THE POLICE.
YOU SEEN THIS GIRL AT ALL?
I DON'T RECOGNIZE HER.
- TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. - LOOK, I DON'T KNOW HER.
THEY MIGHT KNOW SHE LEFT WITH A CERTAIN PERSON,
BUT THEY MIGHT BE FRIENDLY WITH THAT PERSON.
THEY KNOW SOMETHING, BUT NOBODY'S TALKING.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN.
YOU HAVE TO MORE OR LESS PUT YOURSELF IN
LIKE YOU'RE ONE OF THEM
AND JUST BREAK THE ICE WITH THEM,
AND ONCE YOU BREAK THE ICE, IF THEY TAKE A LIKING TO YOU,
THEY WILL CONFIDE IN YOU.
DETECTIVES' FIRST GOOD LEAD
COMES FROM THE BARTENDER
WHO WAS WORKING THE DAY PATRICIA VANISHED.
EVENTUALLY, THEY GET HER TO TALK.
SHE CONFIRMS PATRICIA WAS THERE
ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE A.A. MEETING
AND WAS WITH A GUY NAMED RICK ROLLINS,
WHO WORKS AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE AT THE BAR.
WHEN QUESTIONED, ROLLINS ADMITS TO DETECTIVES
HE DID HANG OUT WITH HER THAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THIS PARTICULAR FRIEND
WAS NOT ENCOURAGING HER SOBRIETY.
COME ON.
- ONE AIN'T GONNA HURT YOU. - I'M ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, THOUGH. I GOT THIS.
COME ON. COME ON.
THERE WE GO.
SHE HAD BEEN DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL,
AND SHE TRIPPED.
SHE TRIPPED UP.
IT'S A COMMON THING FOR THOSE BATTLING ALCOHOLISM --
THE DELUSION THEY CAN HAVE JUST ONE DRINK,
THEN SUCCUMBING TO THE SUPERFICIAL HAPPINESS IT BRINGS.
ROLLINS TELLS DETECTIVES SHE WAS WITH OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.
SHE WAS HAPPY-GO-LUCKY THAT NIGHT,
TALKING AND SMILING AND LAUGHING.
HE SWEARS HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PATRICIA.
HE PROVIDED THEM WITH AN ALIBI,
AND, OF COURSE, THEY CHECKED THE ALIBI,
AND IT CHECKED OUT.
ROLLINS CLAIMS HE SAW PATRICIA
SPEAKING WITH ANOTHER MAN THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS SITTING AT THE BAR,
AND SHE WAS SITTING AT THE BAR.
AND HE SEES HER...
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
...BEGIN TO SPEAK WITH LEE HEITZMAN.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE BACKPACK?
I'M ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL.
- OKAY. - I WANT TO BE A RADIOLOGIST.
- A RADIOLOGIST? - YEAH.
SO, THAT'S LIKE A -- LIKE A DOCTOR.
WORKING ON IT.
YOU KNOW, I NEED A NEW DOCTOR.
DETECTIVES FOLLOW UP ON LEE HEITZMAN.
WE NEEDED TO TALK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL
AND EITHER KEEP HIM IN AS A PERSON OF INTEREST
OR BE ABLE TO RULE HIM OUT AS A PERSON OF INTEREST.
LIVED RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, SO NOT FAR FROM THE BAR.
THE DETECTIVES GO KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.
AND HE'S NOT THERE, BUT HIS GIRLFRIEND IS HOME,
AND SHE'S WILLING TO TALK TO US.
HER NAME IS VANESSA PETERSON.
SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S CARRYING HIS CHILD.
AND, YEAH, HE HAD GONE TO THE BAR THAT NIGHT,
GOT HOME ABOUT 11:30,
SPENT THE REST OF THE NIGHT AT HOME.
SHE SAYS RIGHT NOW, HEITZMAN IS OUT OF TOWN.
HE WORKED FOR A MOVING COMPANY,
AND HIM AND ANOTHER GUY
LOADED UP A TRACTOR TRAILER
AND WERE HAULING THIS CUSTOMER'S BELONGINGS DOWN TO KENTUCKY,
AND HE WASN'T DUE BACK FOR A FEW DAYS.
MY PARENTS KEPT ASKING ME, "WHERE IS SHE?
WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE?"
IT'S POSSIBLE SHE'S HIDING, AFRAID TO COME HOME.
I THOUGHT, BEING AWAY FROM IT FOR A YEAR
AND DOING SO WELL, YOU KNOW,
JUST WANTING THAT ONE MORE PARTY TIME,
WE WERE THINKING, YOU KNOW, "IS THAT KEEPING HER OUT?
IS SHE AFRAID TO COME HOME AND SAY, 'I MESSED UP'?"
SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
AND EVEN MORE PRESSURE TO FIND PATRICIA.
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL AT HOME
WHO WAS 11 MONTHS OLD.
WE WANTED TO BRING PATRICIA HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
YOU CAN'T SOLVE A MISSING-PERSONS CASE
WITHOUT FINDING THE MISSING PERSON.
YOU HOPE YOU FIND THEM ALIVE.
WE WERE HOPING THAT IF WE COULD FIND THAT BOOK BAG,
THERE WAS GONNA BE ANSWERS IN THERE.
SOON, INVESTIGATORS WILL FIND A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
THAT BLOWS THE CASE WIDE OPEN.
IN RUNNEMEDE, NEW JERSEY,
SINGLE MOM PATRICIA PARKIN VANISHES,
CARRYING LITTLE MORE THAN HER BOOK BAG,
JUST BEFORE HER BABY DAUGHTER'S FIRST CHRISTMAS.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE RULED OUT RICK ROLLINS,
A GUY SHE WAS WITH THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED,
BUT HAVE NOT YET SPOKEN TO A SECOND MAN FROM THE BAR,
LEE HEITZMAN, WHO IS OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK.
AFTER SEVERAL DAYS,
DETECTIVES RETURN TO HEITZMAN'S APARTMENT.
CAN I HELP YOU?
HE WAS VERY LAID-BACK, VERY CALM, COOL.
HE PRETTY MUCH SAID
THAT HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE,
THAT HE JUST WENT DOWN THERE FOR A COUPLE DRINKS,
AND HE MET HER, AND,
"YEAH, I MET THE GIRL IN THERE." YOU KNOW, "SHE WAS NICE."
PROBABLY GET GOING. I NEED TO GET HOME TO MY DAUGHTER.
HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA GET OUT OF HERE, TOO.
- YOU SURE? - YEAH. HEY. HOLD ON.
- I'LL WALK OUT WITH YOU. - OKAY.
"WHEN WE LEFT THE BAR, IT WAS, LIKE, A COINCIDENCE,
AND SHE FOLLOWED ME OUTSIDE,
BUT SHE WENT HER WAY, AND I WENT MINE."
**
HE CONFIRMS WHAT HIS GIRLFRIEND SAID.
HE CAME HOME AROUND 11:30
AND STAYED IN THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
HEITZMAN HAD A CRIMINAL HISTORY
BUT NOTHING FOR ANY HOMICIDE.
JUST SMALLTIME THINGS --
DRUG POSSESSIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT --
NOTHING IN THERE THAT WOULD MAKE ME THINK THAT HE WAS A MURDERER.
WITH HEITZMAN'S ALIBI SEEMINGLY CORROBORATED,
DETECTIVES LOOK INTO OTHER AVENUES.
ANOTHER LEAD BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE RIVERMAN LOUNGE,
WHERE THEY LEARN ABOUT A MAN NAMED DANNY SILVA.
- HOW ARE YOU? - GOOD.
- BROWN COAT? - YEAH. BROWN, YEAH.
CAN I HELP YOU?
YEAH, I SAW THAT GIRL UP HERE.
- SHE WAS WITH SILVA. - WHO'S SILVA?
SILVA PRACTICALLY LIVES UP HERE.
DANNY WAS A BIG, HEAVYSET GENTLEMAN.
HE WAS NOT VERY GOOD-LOOKING.
PATRICIA PARKIN WAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE YOUNG FEMALE.
**
HE'S GOT A BIG CRUSH ON HER.
THEY WERE SHOOTING POOL THE OTHER NIGHT.
HE WAS BUYING HER DRINKS, TOO.
IN THE COURSE OF TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE,
WE REALIZE THAT HE HAD TAKEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SHINE TO HER.
PATRICIA WAS NICE TO EVERYBODY,
AND SHE WAS NICE TO THIS GENTLEMAN.
MAYBE A THEORY IS, SHE HAD REJECTED HIM,
AND THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND.
SO, DANNY, YOU KNOW PATRICIA PARKIN?
LIKE THE OTHER SUSPECTS,
SILVA SWEARS HE DID NOTHING TO HARM HER.
I CAN REMEMBER HIM SWEATING PROFUSELY
WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING WITH HIM. HE WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.
THE GUY WAS SO NERVOUS
THAT HE ACTUALLY WET HIS PANTS
IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.
RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THROWS UP A RED FLAG.
UNDER QUESTIONING, HE MAKES LITTLE SENSE.
YEAH.
HE HAD A VERY BAD ALCOHOL PROBLEM,
AND HE ALSO HAD A DRUG PROBLEM.
AND HIS ACCOUNT
OF HIS RELATIONSHIP AND HIS MEETINGS WITH PATRICIA
WAS COMPLETELY SCRAMBLED EGGS.
WE WERE SHOOTING POOL THE OTHER NIGHT UP AT THE BAR.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT'S GOING ON?
HE HAD DATES WRONG. HE HAD TIMES WRONG.
HE WAS MEETING HER FOR DRINKS
ON DAYS THAT HE COULDN'T POSSIBLY
HAVE MET HER FOR DRINKS.
JUST TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS! WHAT'S GOING ON?
I GOT TO GO FEED MY MOTHER'S CATS!
WE WERE CONVINCED THAT HE WASN'T INVOLVED IN IT
WHEN WE WERE ALL FINISHED WITH HIM.
AS THE DAYS PASS,
PATRICIA'S LOVED ONES STRUGGLE WITH NOT KNOWING.
ABOUT FOUR DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION --
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
WE DECIDED THAT,
WHEREVER MY SISTER IS AND WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED TO HER,
SHE WOULD WANT THIS FOR HER DAUGHTER.
SO WE HAD CHRISTMAS.
BABY MELISSA IS TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE IT,
BUT SHE SPENDS HER FIRST CHRISTMAS
WITHOUT HER LOVING MOTHER.
THE KIDS, THEY GOT PRESENTS.
SANTA CAME -- ALL THAT NINE YARDS.
BUT IT WASN'T CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW?
I LOOK BACK AT IT
AS MY CHRISTMAS WITH A BIG HOLE IN IT.
YOU KNOW, SANTA DIDN'T GIVE ME MY GIFT.
OUR WHOLE FAMILY DIDN'T GET THE GIFT THAT CHRISTMAS.
SHE COULD'VE BEEN THERE.
THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING, AND IT WAS MY MOTHER.
**
TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS.
MY POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A CALL.
THAT A GROUP OF KIDS WERE PLAYING
IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA IN TOWN.
AAH!
WHEE! WHEE!
THESE KIDS WERE PLAYING IN THE SNOW,
AND THEY SEE FINGERS
PROTRUDING THROUGH THE SNOW.
AND THEY THINK, "WHAT'S THIS?
MAYBE IT'S A MANNEQUIN."
**
SO THE KIDS START BRUSHING THE SNOW AWAY.
FINGERS.
AND THEY REALIZE, "THIS ISN'T A MANNEQUIN."
HAND.
"THIS IS A HUMAN BEING."
HELP!
MY PATROLMEN RESPONDED AND LOCATED THE BODY.
IT WAS SITTING DOWN IN A RAVINE.
AND WHAT THEY SEE IS A CAUCASIAN FEMALE,
SOMEWHERE IN HER 20s, AND SHE'S BRUISED.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DUMP SITE.
SOMEBODY JUST ROLLED HER DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HILL
AND DISCARDED HER,
UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE SOMEONE WOULD GET RID OF TRASH.
SEEING HER BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT BOTHERED ME.
I WAS DETERMINED TO FIND OUT WHO WAS BEHIND IT
AND WHY SHE WAS THERE.
SNOW'S LIKE A BLANKET OVER THE EVIDENCE.
IT MAKES IT HARD TO CANVASS,
SCRUTINIZE AN AREA WHERE THE CRIME HAS OCCURRED.
WE SEARCHED EVERY INCH OF THAT AREA,
PICKED UP NUMEROUS PIECES
OF WHAT WE THOUGHT COULD BE EVIDENCE,
FROM SODA CANS, BEER CANS --
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE WASN'T ONE PIECE THAT PANNED OUT.
ALL WE KNEW IS WE HAD A BODY -- A FROZEN BODY --
SITTING THERE IN THE SNOW.
THERE'S NO I.D. AND NO BOOK BAG,
BUT SHE DOES FIT THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION
OF PATRICIA PARKIN.
SHE WASN'T KILLED THERE,
SO SHE HAD TO HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED.
AND THIS LEADS POLICE TO SUSPECT SOMETHING EVEN MORE OMINOUS --
MORE THAN ONE PERSON MIGHT HAVE DONE IT.
PICKING UP AND MOVING A DEAD BODY
IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
MAYBE PUTTING IT IN A CAR,
DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION,
TAKEN OUT, AND THEN DISCARDED.
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR ONE PERSON TO DO.
THE BODY WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO THE MORGUE,
BUT BECAUSE OF FREEZING-COLD TEMPERATURES,
IT HAD TO SIT IN THE MORGUE FOR SOME TIME
TO BE ABLE TO THAW SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY DO AN AUTOPSY
AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FINDS EVIDENCE OF A BEATING
AND DISCOVERS A TRAGIC DETAIL.
HER BLADDER WAS FILLED WITH URINE.
NORMALLY WHEN YOU DIE,
EVERYTHING DRAINS OUT OF A BODY.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT DIDN'T,
WHICH INDICATES
THAT SHE WAS PROBABLY ALIVE
AND JUST LAID THERE DOWN IN THE RAVINE.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT SHE DIED
OF A COMBINATION OF THINGS --
BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA...
AND HYPOTHERMIA.
BASICALLY, SHE FROZE TO DEATH.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER
WHAT KIND OF A PERSON COULD LEAVE THIS YOUNG WOMAN,
HALF-DRESSED,
IN THE FREEZING COLD, IN THE SNOW,
ON A HILL, IN DECEMBER.
A PERSON THAT COMMITS AN ACT LIKE THAT IS A MONSTER.
AFTER PATRICIA PARKIN GOES MISSING
IN RUNNEMEDE, NEW JERSEY,
CHILDREN UNCOVER A FROZEN BODY.
THE DETECTIVES SAID
THAT THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO IDENTIFY THE BODY.
OF COURSE, MY MOM AND DAD,
"WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GOING."
I TOOK THEM UP THERE, BUT I WOULDN'T LET THEM GO IN.
I WAS NOT GONNA LET THEM GO IN, SO I WENT IN.
"YES. MY GOD. THAT'S MY SISTER."
I CAN SEE IT AS VIVID TODAY AS I DID 21 YEARS AGO.
HOW COULD SOMEBODY BEAT SOMEBODY LIKE THAT?
MY MOM AND DAD, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT, YOU KNOW?
"WHY WOULD SOMEONE KILL OUR DAUGHTER?"
ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS WITH ALL OF US IN THE FAMILY
WAS WE COULDN'T FIND HER BELONGINGS,
HER BOOK BAG.
EVERYWHERE PATRICIA WENT, THE BOOK BAG WAS SURE TO GO.
WHERE IS THAT BAG NOW?
WHEN PATRICIA PARKIN WAS IDENTIFIED,
THE NEWS MEDIA, OBVIOUSLY, WAS ALL OVER IT.
IN RUNNEMEDE -- QUIET RUNNEMEDE --
DURING THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR HOLIDAY SEASON,
WE FIND A YOUNG MOTHER
OF AN 11-MONTH-OLD CHILD
DEAD IN THE SNOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLIDAYS.
YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE
THE KIND OF COVERAGE THAT IT GOT.
FUNERAL TURNOUT COULD BE BIG, WHICH MIGHT HELP.
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNERAL,
BECAUSE SOMETIMES,
IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION,
THE PERPETRATOR WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK
TO VISIT THE BODY.
VERY OFTEN, WE WILL SEND INVESTIGATORS
TO SCAN THE CROWD IN THE ROOM,
SEE IF ANYBODY'S BEHAVING STRANGELY.
THEY ALSO HIDE A MICROPHONE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHO COMES UP TO THE BODY,
WHO WILL KNEEL NEXT TO THE CASKET
AND ACTUALLY SAY, "I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY FOR DOING THIS."
YOU REALLY COULDN'T SEE WHO THEY WERE.
THEY LOOKED LIKE THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
BUT AT THAT TIME,
IT WAS A COMPLETE, ALL-OUT INVESTIGATION.
EVERYBODY WAS A SUSPECT.
YOU'RE SITTING AT YOUR SISTER'S FUNERAL,
YOUR MIND IS CONSTANTLY GOING ON,
"DID THAT PERSON DO IT?" YOU KNOW?
LIKE, YOU WANT TO JUMP AT EVERY PERSON THAT COMES IN THERE.
SAY, YOU KNOW, "WHO DID THIS? I KNOW YOU KNOW."
YOU JUST HAD TO BACK OFF,
AND YOU HAD TO LET PEOPLE DO THEIR JOB.
DESPITE THEIR EFFORTS...
THE SURVEILLANCE OF THE FUNERAL
LED TO NOTHING.
NO WITNESSES,
NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
DETECTIVES BELIEVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON
WAS INVOLVED IN THIS SICKENING CRIME.
TWO PEOPLE COLLUDING TO DUMP A BELOVED YOUNG MOTHER
ON AN ICY NIGHT,
AND NO ONE TALKING TO POLICE.
BUT WHO ARE THEY?
WE HAVE A BIG GAP IN THIS CASE,
FROM WHEN SHE LEAVES THE BAR
TO WHEN THAT BODY'S FOUND.
AND WHO DID PATRICIA LEAVE THE BAR WITH?
LEE HEITZMAN,
THE LAST PERSON WITNESSES PLACE WITH PATRICIA
BEFORE SHE DIED.
CERTAIN HE WAS INVOLVED,
DETECTIVES NEED TO GET HIM TO TALK.
WE ASKED HIM IF HE'D BE INTERESTED
IN TAKING A POLYGRAPH TEST, AND HE --
"SURE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT."
WE HAD THE TEST SET UP FOR THE NEXT DAY AT 3:00.
WELL, OF COURSE, WE GET A PHONE CALL --
"I'M NOT TAKING THE TEST NOW.
I'VE DECIDED TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY."
THAT WAS HIS ANSWER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TUNE HAD CHANGED.
LEE NO LONGER WANTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH US.
THE COOPERATION ENDED.
HE SAID, "I'M DONE. I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU PEOPLE.
I'M GETTING A LAWYER." ONCE HE LAWYERED UP,
WE COULD NOT APPROACH HIM ABOUT THAT AGAIN.
WHEN SOMEBODY RIGHT AWAY ASKS FOR AN ATTORNEY,
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THEY'RE HIDING.
HEITZMAN'S GIRLFRIEND, VANESSA,
DOESN'T WANT TO COOPERATE ANYMORE, EITHER.
**
AUTHORITIES RECALL HEITZMAN HAS A TRUCKING PARTNER
WHO WENT OUT OF TOWN WITH HIM AFTER PATRICIA DISAPPEARED.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED WHO THE GUY WAS.
JIM BOLIO.
SO WE ENDED UP TRACKING HIM DOWN.
AND WHEN HE WAS HOME ONE DAY, WE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM.
WE ASKED HIM IF HE'D BE INTERESTED
IN TAKING A POLYGRAPH TEST.
IS HE THE SECOND PERSON INVOLVED?
HERE'S HOW A POLYGRAPH WORKS. IT'S GONNA MEASURE
YOUR HEART RATE, YOUR RESPIRATORY RATE.
YOU ANSWER TRUTHFULLY, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, OKAY?
OKAY.
FIRST QUESTION. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JIM BOLIO.
HE WAS TRUTHFUL
ABOUT HIS NAME AND ABOUT HIS ADDRESS.
AND HE INDICATED
THAT HE AND LEE
HAD BEEN ON A LONG TRUCK RUN.
THAT PART'S TRUE.
EVERY OTHER QUESTION THAT HE ANSWERED
INDICATED DECEPTION.
HE INDICATED THAT LEE APPEARED FINE --
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY,
DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABNORMAL OR STRANGE TO HIM.
ALL LIES.
**
WE CONFRONT HIM
WITH THE RESULTS OF HIS POLYGRAPH TEST,
AND HE SHUT DOWN ON US.
THE TRUCKER IS NOW REFUSING TO SPEAK TO US.
BOLIO LAWYERS UP AND STONEWALLS THEM,
JUST LIKE LEE HEITZMAN
AND VANESSA.
THE PROBLEM WAS, LEE HAD ASKED FOR A LAWYER,
AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
AND LEE HEITZMAN'S GIRLFRIEND IS REFUSING TO SPEAK TO US.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.
WE ARE STUCK.
THE CASE GOES COLD...
FOR YEARS.
**
BABY MELISSA BECOMES A TODDLER,
THEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLER.
AND SHE DOES NOT KNOW
WHO RIPPED HER MOM AWAY FROM HER.
SHE WASN'T THERE TO SEE ANYTHING I DID.
EVERY AWARD I GOT IN SCHOOL,
EVERY TIME SOMETHING BIG HAPPENED IN MY LIFE,
I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SILENTLY THINK TO MYSELF
THAT MY MOTHER WOULD BE PROUD OF ME.
BUT I NEVER ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THAT FOR MYSELF.
I NEVER GOT TO HUG HER OR KISS HER GOODBYE
WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING.
EVERY YEAR WAS AN ANNIVERSARY.
EVERY YEAR, I WATCHED ANOTHER YEAR
GO OUT OF MY MOTHER.
I WATCHED MY FATHER AGE A LOT.
YOU KNOW, I WAS GETTING TIRED.
IT GETS HARD ON YOU.
**
ONE OF MY DETECTIVES CAME TO ME
AND ASKED ME IF IT WAS A PROBLEM IF HE OPENED UP THAT CASE AGAIN.
AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S BEEN ALMOST SEVEN YEARS."
PEOPLE, OVER TIME,
THEY LOSE THEIR FRIENDS, AND THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR STORIES.
MAYBE THEY'LL COME FORWARD WITH THE TRUTH NOW.
NOW, IF ONE OF MY SIBLINGS WAS MURDERED,
I WOULD WANT THE POLICE TO DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD,
TURN OVER EVERY STONE.
I TOOK THAT CASE APART PAGE BY PAGE.
I WENT OVER EVERY SINGLE STATEMENT.
FRESH EYES AND TIME
CHANGE EVERYTHING.
THE POSITIVE THING ABOUT THE PASSAGE OF TIME
IS THAT BOYFRIENDS AND GIRLFRIENDS BREAK UP.
AND WHAT'S THE OLD PHRASE?
"HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE THE WOMAN SCORNED"?
EX-GIRLFRIENDS, YEARS LATER,
ARE A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
RENEWING THE INVESTIGATION
INTO THE COLD MURDER CASE OF PATRICIA PARKIN...
...DETECTIVES FIND A STATEMENT FROM A WITNESS
ABOUT A TIME WHEN SUSPECT LEE HEITZMAN
RETURNED TO THE BAR AFTER PATRICIA VANISHED.
THE STATEMENT THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS THE BARMAID.
WHEN THE BARMAID CONFRONTED LEE HEITZMAN...
- YOU'RE RIGHT. - LEE.
SHE SAID, "LEE, YOU WERE THE LAST ONE SEEN WITH TRICIA.
WHERE IS SHE?"
HEY, YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH.
AND LEE HEITZMAN'S FATHER STEPPED IN
AND SAID, "DON'T YOU SAY ANYTHING TO THIS WOMAN."
WHEN I READ THAT STATEMENT, I KNEW HE HAD TOLD PEOPLE
WHAT HE HAD DONE WITH HER AND HER BODY.
HEITZMAN'S FATHER REFUSES TO TALK.
THEY LOOK TO VANESSA,
NOW HEITZMAN'S EX-GIRLFRIEND.
THE GIRLFRIEND, WHO NO LONGER LIVES WITH HIM,
WE INTERVIEWED HER AGAIN
AND EXPLAINED TO HER
THAT SHE'S FACING SOME SERIOUS CHARGES
IF, INDEED, SHE'S INVOLVED IN THIS.
FINALLY, SHE BREAKS AND TELLS US THE TRUTH.
**
SHE SAID PATRICIA CAME BACK TO THE APARTMENT.
THEY WERE PARTYING.
SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN HERE.
LEE WANTED HIS GIRLFRIEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARTYING,
AND SHE CLAIMED THAT SHE SAID, "NO."
YOU KNOW, "I'M PREGNANT. I'M TIRED."
AND SHE JUST WENT INTO THE BEDROOM,
AND THAT'S THE LAST SHE KNOWS OF ANYTHING.
SINCE SHE WASN'T TRUTHFUL FROM THE BEGINNING,
SHE'S GONNA BE A BAD WITNESS,
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT ALL OUR PROSECUTORIAL EGGS
IN THE GIRLFRIEND BASKET.
SO WE GO BACK TO HIS FRIEND, THE TRUCKER.
ONCE SOMEBODY SPEAKS,
THEN MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL, AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE WILL.
IT COULD START A RIPPLE AFFECT.
AFTER LOCATING THE TRUCKING PARTNER,
I TOLD HIM I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF PATRICIA PARKIN,
AND HE TURNED PURE WHITE.
THEY TELL HIM VANESSA IS COOPERATING,
SO THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THE TRUCKER REALIZES,
"I CAN'T HOLD THIS IN ANYMORE."
**
HELP ME OUT, MAN. I HAD TO WAIT.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
WELL, WHAT WERE YOU -- WHY, MAN?
THE TRUCKING PARTNER TOLD ME
THAT HE CONFRONTED LEE THAT MORNING
'CAUSE LEE WAS LATE FOR WORK.
AND THEN LEE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A HORRIBLE NIGHT,
THAT HE ACTUALLY KILLED A WOMAN.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MAN?
I CAN PROVE IT TO YOU.
I WISH I COULDN'T, BUT I CAN PROVE IT TO YOU.
LOVE YOU.
WE KNEW THAT SHE HAD A BACKPACK AND A SWEATSHIRT HOODY.
SEE THAT BACKPACK RIGHT BEHIND YOU?
YEAH, THAT'S HERS.
THE TRUCKER REVEALED THAT LEE HEITZMAN
GOT RID OF THE BOOK BAG AND THE SWEATSHIRT.
HEITZMAN TOOK PATRICIA PARKIN'S BOOK BAG
AND THREW IT IN A DUMPSTER AT A TRUCK STOP.
THE FACT THAT THE TRUCKER KNEW
THERE WAS A BACKPACK AND A HOODY
LENT TOTAL CREDENCE TO WHAT HE WAS TELLING US.
NOW WE HAD SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CHARGE HIM WITH.
THE DAY THAT WE GOT THE WARRANT FINALLY SIGNED FOR HIM,
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BE THE FIRST ONE AT THE DOOR.
I HAD GUYS BACKING ME UP.
I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.
CAN I HELP YOU?
REMEMBER ME?
HE KNEW EXACTLY WHO I WAS, 'CAUSE HIS EYES GOT BIG.
HE LOOKED LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.
LEE HEITZMAN, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF PATRICIA PARKIN.
IT WAS A GOOD FEELING.
**
THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR HIM TO HIDE ANYMORE,
AND HE CONFESSES.
HE, IN FACT, BROUGHT PATRICIA BACK TO HIS APARTMENT.
HE MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO COERCE HER
INTO SOME KIND OF SEXUAL CONTACT.
I DON'T THINK SHE WAS ON BOARD
FOR WHATEVER ACTIVITIES HE HAD PLANNED THAT EVENING,
AND SHE FOUGHT BACK.
- STAY A LITTLE WHILE. - THAT'S OKAY.
- I CAN LET MYSELF OUT, THOUGH. - HEY, NO, NO, NO, NO.
HEY! HEY, HEY, HEY!
- STAY A LITTLE WHILE! - AAH! AAH!
YOU ARE GONNA STAY!
I BELIEVE SHE CHALLENGED HIM,
AND HE OVERPOWERED HER AND SMASHED HER HEAD IN.
HEY, LOOK AT ME! YOU'RE GONNA COME HELP ME.
HEY! LOOK AT ME!
HE LIKELY THREATENED HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND
TO MAKE HER HELP DISPOSE OF PATRICIA...
SHUT UP. LOOK AT ME!
...WHO WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN HE DUMPED HER.
**
AND THEN, IN THE COURSE
OF THE LONG-HAUL TRUCKING TRIP,
DISPOSES OF THE ONLY EVIDENCE
THAT WOULD'VE LINKED PATRICIA PARKIN TO HIM
OR HIS APARTMENT.
CHARLES LEE HEITZMAN
PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER.
AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
IS RECKLESSLY KILLING SOMEONE
UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES MANIFESTING EXTREME INDIFFERENCE
TO THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE.
AND IF YOU SAW THE WAY
SHE WAS LEFT THERE TO FREEZE TO DEATH,
IS THE PICTURE OF THE DEFINITION
OF THAT "LEGAL" PHRASE.
PEOPLE WHO COMMIT THESE HEINOUS ACTS
CHEAPEN THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE,
TO HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR THAT PERSON,
NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT PERSON FELT
AND LEAVING THEM LIKE A PIECE OF GARBAGE.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR COOPERATION,
THE GIRLFRIEND AND THE TRUCKING PARTNER
ARE NOT CHARGED.
HEITZMAN GETS A 25-YEAR SENTENCE
BUT ONLY SERVES 12.
HE DIES IN PRISON
ON OCTOBER 31, 2014--
EERILY, ON PATRICIA PARKIN'S BIRTHDAY.
TO THE PARKIN FAMILY,
HEAVEN HAS NO ROOM FOR HIM.
WE ALL HAD THE SAME THOUGHT THAT,
"I WONDER HOW HE FELT WHEN HE MET MY SISTER,
AND MY SISTER SAID, 'NOPE, YOU GOT TO GO THE OTHER WAY.
YOU CAN'T COME UP WITH ME NOW.'"
HE'S NEVER APOLOGIZED,
NOT EVEN TO HIS GRAVE.
TO HIS DEATH, HE WAS A COLD-HEARTED KILLER.
THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN THIS CASE
IS THAT A LITTLE GIRL NEVER KNEW HER MOTHER.
SHE WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A MEMORY OF HER.
HE ROBBED ME OF MY MOTHER.
SHE DIDN'T GET TO SEE ME GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
AND SHE DIDN'T GET TO SEE MY PROM.
SHE'S NOT GONNA GET TO SEE MY WEDDING.
I'M SHOOK UP A LITTLE BIT,
BUT SHE COULDN'T BE HERE
TO HELP ME BURY MY -- OUR PARENTS.
WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A SISTER
A LOT LONGER THAN WHAT I HAD.
MY MOTHER DEFINITELY HAD A PART IN MY INSPIRATION
TO GO TO NURSING SCHOOL AND BECOME AN R.N.
SHE WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE,
AND SHE DEDICATED A LARGE PART OF HER LIFE
TO STUDY TO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO HELP PEOPLE,
AND I KIND OF WANT TO FULFILL HER DREAM FOR HER.