Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls

The longer I searched, the more focused I was. I became fixated. on finding her.

Today could be the day. that kept me going, kept me coming back. here. Since 2014, [music]. I have dived the Tilly Foster mine 419. times. The mine was used as a dumping ground. Whatever is thrown in there was never. seen again. It's 500 ft deep. It's dark, it's cold,

it's very, very claustrophobic. So it's it's dangerous. But I'll never stop searching until I. find her. >> [music]. >> They call me the voice of Putnam County. I worked for the Putnam County Courier. [music]. Carmel is a close-knit community.

It's an hour and 15 minutes to New York. City by train, but yet you have the rural character. here in Putnam [music] County. So back in the 1940s, letters sent to residents of Carmel were. addressed to Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Carmel, New York, because everybody knew everybody back. then. No address was needed, no zip. codes,

just the town. The Putnam County Courier was a weekly. newspaper. We reported on everything, everything and anything. From Mrs. O'Leary's 100th birthday. to the local [music] town board meeting. and crime. I remember like it was yesterday. The Robin Murphy [music] disappearance. >> [music].

>> Robin Murphy was a kid with big. ambitions in a small town. She wanted to be a writer, she wanted to. be a singer. She was a born punk rocker. >> Robin loved the Ramones. She loved cranking out their music, especially I Want to Be Sedated. >> This is someone who would stand at a bus. stop and cut off jean shorts, fishnet.

tights, Doc Martens in the winter. From the jump, she had her own style and. we kept hearing how distinctive, how. memorable, how sweet she was. >> Robin's [music] my younger sister. She was cool. You know, she was real fun. We were very close. She was smart, she liked [music] to. write. Her and her friends and a boyfriend had. a little band going.

She was special. >> When Robin was around me, she acted like. a younger sibling. She seemed to make it. her life mission to make me either laugh. or at least smile. >> When Robin was in ninth grade, we moved from Arizona. to Carmel. >> [music]. >> Robin found her tribe in the Alternative. Kids group. >> Back in the 90s, she [music] would be. what you call goth. You know, she had. the trench coat, the boots, but.

sweetest, sweetest girl. >> Robin. >> dropped out of [music] Carmel High. At. 16, she was way too smart for that. school. She got a full-time [music] job as a. cashier at the ShopRite. She was saving money [music] to get out. of town and move to a big city. >> Robin worked at a shopping center. >> She did ShopRite. >> And there were other businesses in that. >> That's correct. The strip mall. >> Four doors down was the laundromat that.

Howard Gompert was an attendant at. >> He [music] was quite a bit older. He was. an acquaintance. He was a friend. >> Robin befriended Gompert's [music]. sometime girlfriend. They were both. cashiers at ShopRite. The laundromat was the hang spot at. [music] that strip mall. And then at at the head of the strip. mall was the Burger [music] King where. Robin's boyfriend Matt Esposito worked. night shifts. >> I worked at Burger King back in 1995.

with Matt. Matt really seemed to love. Robin. Seemed to light up when she came. in. They were cute. >> Matt and [music] Robin dressed alike and. you know were into that whole goth look. >> They both wore matching padlock. necklaces and they called [music] each. other Sid and Nancy after punk rock's. most infamous couple. >> [music]. >> We'd see her every day at Burger King. She'd usually doodle on her notepad, eat. something, but she would hang out there. until Matt had his break and then they'd. hang out together. >> Robin and Matt were always happy when.

they were together. They never had. [music] anything that would seem like. there was trouble between them. >> On April 9th, 1995, Robin got out of work. and she went into the Burger King. [music] Matt had a later shift supposed. to start at about 4:00 in the afternoon. He hadn't shown up. She went home. And she had gotten a call from Howard. Gompert.

asking if she would come meet him at the. laundromat. And she [music] drove the. five minutes it took to get to the. ShopRite. She was parked right next to. the Burger [music] King. Howard saw her. They talked in the car for maybe 10. minutes. And then he said around 7:15. [music] or so, he saw her walk toward. the Burger King and he went back to. work. >> She had plans to meet up with her. boyfriend Matt at the Burger King at. 6:00 [music] p.m., but she's a no-show.

>> [music]. >> Out the window of the Burger King, her. boyfriend could see her car parked out. there. >> When my shift was wrapping up, Matthew. came into the Burger King. [music] He said, Kevin, have you seen. have you seen Robin? I said, no, why? And then Matt said, because her car is. in the parking lot. >> Robin never went home on [music] April. 9th. So her parents did notice that she. was gone, but they thought maybe she was. out with friends.

And then when her mother is car is. [music] seen still parked in the same. parking spot that she had left at the. night before, they started to get. worried. >> No one reported her missing until her. best friend notified the Carmel PD. [music]. that Robin had been missing for 18. hours. >> I got the call. [music] I was at work. and they said my sister never came home. Then I got a gut feeling something was. wrong. Even [music] though everyone was. telling me like, ah, you know, she's a. kid, she'll come back. I don't know. I. felt something was off.

>> When Robin disappeared, [music]. you know, us workers had talked about. the fact, well, hey, remember that other. young girl? >> So as it turns out, [music]. Robin Murphy wasn't the only girl that. went missing. >> No, not at all. Not at all. >> [music]. >> I'm Paul Solotaroff, senior writer at.

Rolling Stone Magazine and host and. executive producer of the Devil's Quarry. two podcast. Now practically every kid in Carmel. bitched about being [music] bored, but. Robin actually did something about it. She got a full-time job at ShopRite and. made plans to get as far from Putnam as. she could. She'd been fast-tracked for [music]. raise and better hours. And then Monday rolled around. Robin never [music] showed for work.

>> I heard [music] on the police scanner. that they were looking for the a young. lady, a young girl. I went down there that night. and there were numerous police officers. [music] scouring the area. >> It was like a circus between the. helicopters, [music]. um the detectives interviewing the. employees. >> Investigators started talking to. everyone in Robin's orbit. and that includes Howard Gombert.

He worked at the laundromat. She worked. several doors down at the ShopRite. He said [music] that he did talk to her. and he did admit that he was the last. one to see her. >> Matt Esposito, Robin's boyfriend, he was. like a punk rocker type kid, troubled. Um. I really didn't have any bad feelings. about him at the time, just a little. anger issues.

>> [music]. >> The cops went to Robin's house and got. permission to search her room. There were posters on her walls of the. band she loved. Nothing bloody or black. metal, just a standard mix of pissed off. punk and goth. Then there was the packet of letters. they found. One of them was from [music] her. boyfriend Matt. who might have signed his postscript in. blood. >> They were reading her journals. and her writings. and some of them at the time, you know,

you're 17 years old at dark. >> Investigators began interviewing some of. Robin's friends who said that in the. past she had harmed herself, but more. recently she seemed happier. >> Police thought that perhaps maybe she. had left Putnam County on [music] her. own. >> Running away just didn't even cross her. mind. Something happened to her. We all. knew it. >> In the weeks before her disappearance, Robin had the distinct feeling she was. being tailed. [music]. A guy in a dark sedan was following her.

>> She would see it sometimes [music] near. where she lived and she also saw it in. the parking lot where she worked. >> She couldn't pin it down, but she told. her friends, someone has an eye on me. >> One of Robin's best friends, James, said. that Robin tried to call him around 7:15. [music]. on the night she disappeared. Robin left an answering machine message. James recounted for us what the message.

said. >> [music]. >> She didn't sound well put together. She. sounded like she was in desperate need. to talk to somebody. It sounded hurried, fearful. James, are you awake? [music] I need to talk to. you. James, are you there? That was the last time I heard her. voice. >> At dusk on April 13th, 4 days after she. goes missing, Robin's co-workers [music].

and friends organize. a civilian search. of the woods behind the ShopRite. >> Quite a lot of people showed up. and did like a a march around the whole. property of ShopRite. >> Behind the shopping center, there was. [music] a wooded path. It was an undeveloped area. It was overgrown. >> On that night in '95, those kids still. nursed hopes that Robin was up there.

somewhere. Maybe she'd fallen and hurt herself. [music] or lay bound and gagged in a. culvert. Either way, they weren't coming down. till they They each inch of that hill. >> We did. >> a great search [music]. and we were in a line. >> They make a crucial discovery. They find. her pay [music] stub. They find her work. schedule. They also find letters that. were addressed to her. >> And they immediately call the [music]. Carmel PD who shows up. >> And more items are found by the.

dumpsters. They found her wallet and an. ID. >> It was good to find something, but that was like a stab in the chest. cuz now it's getting. real. >> Our friend group had no idea how to. process Robin's disappearance. Those of us that knew Robin were all. destroyed, every single one of us. >> I was working [music] as a go-between. between the families and the police as. well as researching and organizing.

searches. [music]. The Murphys suffered at the loss of. their daughter. >> I'm afraid to hope because it's setting. myself up for so much hurt that [music]. you, you know, that she's still out. there. >> As a mother now, I I couldn't imagine. not knowing where my child is. I I. couldn't imagine not having [music]. answers. >> When I would see Robin's mother in. ShopRite, you can see the devastation in. her eyes, in her face. And I myself could never. even imagine.

what this woman [music] was going. through. >> I went down to talk to the police and I. looked over on the wall of missing. persons. I seen Joette Wright's poster. And it immediately [music] stuck out to. me. I said this is connected somehow. >> And for somewhat had been this missing. person's file is now elevated to the. crime of the century.

>> Ralph Jones [music] has always had an. appetite for danger. He's a former naval. who specialized in underwater. explosives. After retirement, the Texas cowboy. decamped to the suburbs of New York, where he became a private eye.

>> Excelled in surveillance and catching. people doing things. [music]. >> At what point do you hear the name Robin. Murphy? >> I had a town councilman come to me and. hand me a box about [music] Robin. He. knew what I did for a living and he. goes, there's a girl that went missing. Would you be interested in looking at. the box? I was like, hell yeah. >> That's when you start entangling [music]. this web. >> That's right. But then I was also. so busy doing my own thing. >> Then.

the name Robin Murphy came back to Ralph. years later. when he was investigating a different. case. Robin Murphy disappeared on April 9th, 1995, but she was not the first Putnam. school girl to go missing. Just six months prior, another girl had. gone missing in broad daylight. Her name was Josette Wright.

I'm here with my extraordinary reporter. Kathleen. We're here because [music]. we are retracing the steps that I took. [music] when I wrote the Rolling Stone. story called The Devil You Know. that launched this massive [music]. reinvestigation. So here we are, the former Wright. household.

Back in 1994, [music]. Josette was 12. She lived here with her older sister and. their mother. >> Josette. loved everybody. She didn't see the. bad [music] in people. >> She was. >> waif-like little girl, petite. >> Loved Mickey Mouse. She loved all the. Disney characters. She really wanted to. go to Disney World, but she didn't make. [music] it. Josette had a real zest for life. She. liked to be around everyone. She really.

didn't want to be alone ever. >> She'd go out that front door [music] as. fast as she walked in it after school. and head down Seminary Hill Road. to the girls' group home, St. Cabrini, where girls [music] her age and up to 18. essentially adopted [music] her as a. baby sister. >> So this is the group home you lived in? >> Yes. >> And this is where you met Josette? >> Yes, I met Josette here.

>> You would hang out on that porch right. over there? >> Yes. Yep, the stone porch. >> What would you talk about? >> We would talk about boys, of course. We. would talk about teachers, you know, that we don't like, and just regular. little kid stuff. And then listen to our stereo. >> October 3rd, 1994. It was the last day Josette was seen in. Carmel. At 3:45 she went walking down. the hill. That night when she didn't come home for.

dinner, her mom Susan called around to. Josette's friends, [music]. knocked on the doors of their houses, but none of them had seen her that day. >> I went with my boyfriend to find her. Nobody knew where she was. And in the morning. I went [music] to the police. >> They did searches and stuff, but nothing. ever came of it. >> It's like she fell off the face of the.

earth. >> That's right. >> Your mind every time you drive [music]. down the street, you're looking at. everybody. You're just trying to scan. for this kid [music] that isn't there, you know. It It horrible, horrible. >> [music]. >> They always think they're runaway. But there's no way she's runaway. >> [music].

>> Six months after Josette goes missing, [music]. Robin Murphy, like Josette, vanishes. into thin air. What had been rumor and gossip now. suddenly was full scale public panic. >> I was. born in that town. I grew up in that. town. And to think that this was. happening, we never heard of anything. [music] like this.

>> Josette had gone missing first week of. October 1994. [music]. Now it's 13 months later. A couple of hunters. are setting up their tree stand [music]. in the deep woods off of Fields Lane, just outside Carmel. [music]. One of those hunters noticed a patch of. dirt that looked [music] arranged.

Walked over to it, lifted up a branch, and with it came a huge chunk of ground. cover. >> Police in Putnam County think the. year-old disappearance of a young girl. from Carmel is a case of homicide after. [music] all. The scattered remains of. 13-year-old Josette Wright may have been. found by a deer hunter, and we [music]. have the story tonight from Tim. Fleischman. >> The condition of the body was pretty. bad. >> There was nothing but bones left and. clothing. Her panties were in her mouth. She had her training bra wrapped around.

her head. >> Josette. was discovered face down with her hands. bound [music] behind her. The cops [music] found an 8-in Sears. Roebuck hunting knife and a couple of. her articles of clothing that were. scattered 20 30 yards away. >> We were at the dinner table when two.

detectives from the sheriff's department. walked up into our front door. And they came in and proceeded to tell. us that [music] they found Josette. And. everything just [music]. went really wrong after that. My grandmother was screaming at the top. of her lungs. >> I had to calm everybody down. [music and clears throat] They went. nuts. >> Josette's cause of death was never. established.

It was impossible [music]. after 13 months whether her throat had. been cut, whether she'd been strangled. >> For Josette's mother, the last year has. been an agonizing one. >> Who'd do such a thing? They've made no effort to. to find my child in the past year. Now they've got to find a killer. >> When Josette's remains were found, it. confirmed. the town's. worst fears that there was a killer in. their midst.

So we're on our way to. Fields Lane where on November 25th, 1995. two hunters [music]. stumbled upon the skeletonized remains. of Josette Wright. [music].

So the infamous Fields Lane. or as we called it, the dumping ground. This was completely. un. uninhabited and those woods are. impassable. >> There's a certain level of fear in In. [music] like what happened where two. young ladies both disappeared. >> Robin was last seen at this Lake Carmel.

shopping center. Investigators say they. have no leads in the case. >> Were the [music] cases connected? It. certainly could could have looked that. way. >> For 13 months, Josette's whereabouts. remained a mystery. >> We're [music]. doing extensive interviews of. relatives and friends. >> Law enforcement certainly [music]. mobilized their efforts, but they put. some heat on local kids that weren't the. usual suspects. [music].

>> My name is Anthony DiPippo. I was born. in Carmel, New York. I grew up there. I mean, high school has ups and downs. I. never went to class. I repeated the. ninth grade three times. >> Anthony DiPippo at the time was 19 and. his best friend Andy Krivak were in the. parlance of the local cop community. They were the ogres. They were the kids.

who were slinging weed after school. They really stood out. >> I met Anthony in 1992. He was just a big, fun, lovable guy. And then [music] Andy came in the. picture. few months later. Andy was my first. boyfriend, so I loved him. >> You became a tight circle of friends? >> Yes. [music]. >> St. Cabrini group home was a hangout for. us. We go out and hang out on the porch. >> Andy and Anthony.

both acknowledged having seen Josette. hanging around St. Cabrini girls' home. >> I was friendly enough to say hello to. Josette. There wasn't a lot of. communication. >> Friends told police they had seen Andy. [music] Krivak and Anthony DiPippo. hanging out with Josette. Police were. familiar with them. They had records. They had been arrested previously on. drug charges. >> I see money and drug dealing, but also. you get the attention of law. enforcement.

>> Three days [music] after Josette's. remains were discovered in that horrific. scene, Anthony, Andy, and a buddy of his. were coming back from a rave, [music]. and they were pulled over by Putnam. County Sheriff deputies, and they find. PCP inside. >> They arrested me, [music] charged me. with felony possession with intent to. sell. >> So Anthony and Andy [music]. got the idea that the cops were.

desperate for leads, and the cops went. [music] at them as if. they either did the murder or knew who. did. >> I remember them getting meaner. The good cop, bad cop thing was a real. thing, you know. I gave them nothing [music] and they. hated it. I did not kill Josette Wright. I swear to God I had nothing to do with. that.

>> Unbeknownst to Anthony and Andy, the cops had started talking to their. friends. >> Investigators came and spoke to you? >> They showed me a hunting knife. They. asked me if I had ever seen Andy and. Anthony with this knife, and I said no. >> When the investigators left that day, what what was the feeling you had in. your heart? >> And I kept telling my mom something's. not right. >> The cops then went after kids they got. high with, kids they went [music] to. raves with, kids they drank beer in.

someone's basement on a Tuesday. afternoon with. >> Then eventually a young lady [music]. named Denise Roses gave information. >> Denise Rose was in the crew of kids that. Andrew and Anthony hung out with, and. she was [music] Anthony's sometimes. paramour. >> Denise Rose, who was facing her own. unrelated criminal charges, told. investigators that she had information. [music] about Josette's murder. >> Denise goes on to tell police that a. group that includes Anthony and Josette.

Wright were riding in. >> [music]. [music].

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[music]. >> Let's see who we could find. [music]. To charge with murder of girl 12 years. old, Josette Wright. Remember taking that picture at their.

arraignment as Andrew Krivak being taken. in a police car and Anthony DiPippo. being escorted out of the jail by. investigator Quick. Amazing. Years have gone by so fast. >> There was intense anticipation, a. palpable energy [music] as this trial. was about to get underway because so. many people had been waiting so long to. get justice for Josette.

>> [music]. >> It takes about a year for the two boys. to come to trial separately. >> Before his trial, Andy Krivak recanted. that confession, maintained [music] his. innocence, that he didn't do it. Nevertheless, he was convicted based on. that confession and the testimony of. those who placed him at the scene. >> The charges against 21 year old Anthony. DiPippo are first degree rape [music]. and second degree murder. >> We get the trial.

It was in an old colonial courthouse and. it was like something straight out. [music] of a time to kill. >> The atmosphere of the trial was that. DiPippo was guilty before it [music]. began. The community was outraged. over the whole situation. People were. out for blood. >> In his opening statement, Assistant. [music] District Attorney James Rooney. told jurors DiPippo and Krivak drove out. to the desolate road with Wright, two. other men, and a woman identified as. Denise Rose. And Rooney said the case.

may have remained unsolved if Rose. hadn't broken the wall of silence. [music] late last year. >> What sort of case did the prosecution. put on? [music]. >> Denise Rose was the star witness. In. broad strokes, they had Denise Rose. >> Cameras weren't present for Denise's. testimony, but she would later recount. in [music] a videotaped deposition what. happened in the final moments of. Josette's life. >> While she was struggling, he tied she. kept swinging. He took her hands and.

tied them like this. [music]. >> Who raped Josette Wright first? Was it. Anthony or. >> It was Anthony Crivac first, then. Anthony said, yo, save some for me, man. Come on, man. Hurry up with that. >> They saw the [music] Wright family at. the trials. They remembered Denise Rose's testimony. It was graphic. I think they really suffered a lot. [music] through the testimony. >> The way that they killed her, you don't.

get over that. >> She really fought for her life and it's. just incredibly sad to know that she. tried to live and she [music] she wasn't. able to. >> At the time that Ms. Wright was taken. out of the van, you didn't know one way. or another whether she was [music] alive. and breathing. >> She was dead. >> DiPippo's lawyer, Robert Leader, warned. jurors not [music] to trust the. testimony of Denise Rose. That's because. Rose only talked to police [music] after. she'd been arrested on an unrelated.

charge. >> Denise Rose. and the other witnesses to the horrors. of what occurred, you might think are. not your pillars of the community. Denise Rose is never going to be. mistaken for Mother Teresa. They're in court because [music]. they were there. >> One of the defense's primary arguments. centered around Crivac's van. where the alleged crime occurred. >> That van, what shape was it in when the. police investigated it?

>> They confiscated it from one of our. member for Crivac Senior's property. and towed it down to the sheriff's. department and that's where it sat. >> Let me describe the state of the van. That van was basically an ashtray on. wheels. It had filthy shag carpets, Miller High. Life bottles, cigarette butts. >> That van was searched. back then for DNA. They didn't find anything. They did not. find one molecule of Josette.

>> Putnam County Sheriff's Investigator. John Reese testified how he found what. is believed to be Josette Wright's. jewelry in a van owned by DiPippo's. co-defendant Andrew Krivak. >> Could you tell us where you found the. In the [music] map pocket of the Krivak. van. >> Was there any physical evidence tying. DiPippo and Krivak [music]. to the crime scene near Josette's body? >> None. Nothing. >> Nothing? >> Nothing.

Not one damn thing. >> I had a shot. I wasn't thinking about. losing. >> The outcome, what happens? >> Guilty. [music] Guilty. >> You know, now you got to go to prison. for murdering and raping a 12-year-old. Nobody wants to be in prison under those. conditions.

>> Susan Wright, Josette's mother, told us. the verdict moves her closer to closure. in her daughter's [music] death. >> If there was something worse than prison. I we could do that would be fine, but. that's all we can do is put them away. and they can't hurt anybody else. and the other children. >> I thought justice was served. >> [music]. >> Susan Wright, when I was found guilty. I turned around to her and I said,

Susan, I'm sorry you think I killed your. daughter. I won't stop until you see that I'm. [music] innocent. >> You thought the boys were innocent? >> I knew that a. >> killer had to be out there. >> It was heartbreaking, but I knew that. there was something [music] else that. could be done. The truth is going to. come out.

This is basically a homage to my. childhood hero, Hulk Hogan. Over the years, wrestling has given me. great [music] inspiration fighting my. case. Sometimes it takes a while for the good. guy to win, and that makes people root. for you. >> [music]. >> Freedom has been taken away from Anthony. DiPippo. He's to serve 25 years to life. It's a crime DiPippo vows he never.

committed. >> [music]. >> As men convicted of murder, both Anthony. and Andrew were sent to [music] maximum. security prisons. >> Is this where they housed the worst of. [music] the worst prisoners? >> Some of them. Well, I wouldn't want to be there. >> Generally tried to stay out of trouble. Guards would tell other inmates what. you're in for. They just assume you're. guilty, you're guilty. >> I was wrongly imprisoned for 16 [music].

years. It's very easy to lose hope when you're. wrongly convicted and it seems like. there's no way out of it. One of the. main ways that Anthony kept his hope. alive was to learn his case file. backwards and forwards. >> A couple guys that [music] really cared. took me into a law library and just. started teaching me. It didn't start out. easy. I was uneducated. I could hardly. [music] write. We filed the appeal, we. lost it. We filed another, we lost that.

>> He reads and rereads his case [music]. file, which is you know, hundreds of. pages long. And he keeps seeing one name appear over. and over in different witness. statements. It was. Howard Gomberg. >> [music]. >> Who is the same Howard Gomberg who had. last seen Robyn Murphy. >> So as Anthony [music].

is in prison and reading all these. statements that witnesses made to the. detectives, he realizes [music] that. Howard Gomberg at one point in the. investigation was on police's radar. >> When the cops [music] interviewed. Josette's sisters, one of them, Chloe, described Gomberg. as a rapist [music] to cops. >> Howard Gomberg has been in legal trouble.

since he was a kid. He started with. burglary [music] and then he moves up to. sexual assault. >> The night Josette [music] Wormans were. discovered, two Putnam investigators showed up on. Susan Wright's doorstep to tell her the. horrible news. The first words out of. Josette Wright's mother's mouth were. >> Howard Gomberg killed my daughter.

>> Gomberg has denied any rape allegations. or that he killed [music] Josette. >> It was enough to kind of crack the door. [music] I needed more. >> Anthony had one great stroke of good. fortune. His mother met this very. successful businessman and he had the. money to help Anthony. >> He spent quite a bit of money on me.

to go and do what I did. >> What did they want you to do? >> They wanted me to reinvestigate leads. >> As a part of Anthony the Piple's appeal. strategy, his team finds a handful of. women who each alleged in in [music]. filings to have been sexually assaulted. by Howard Gombert. >> You think you were [music] Howard's. first victim? >> Yes, I do. At the time, he was 16. I was. 12. >> Can you tell us what Howard did to you? >> I'm a kid, so basically I never done.

anything obviously [music] before I was. child. He would tie my hands behind my. back. Always outside like in a tent. Sickening as I think about [music] it. now. >> You didn't tell anyone? >> I didn't. >> And how long did this go on? >> Um, I'd have to say very close to 3. years. >> When you first told your mother, what. happened then? >> My mother said that she was going to. call the police, and she did, and I was. asking her not to. I said it was consensual.

I sided with him. >> You were protecting him? >> I was protecting myself. >> Looking back now, was it rape? >> Absolutely it was rape. 100%. >> Gombert is arrested for sexual assault, which he denies. That charge is later. dropped. While Anthony Di Pippo's team points at. Howard Gombert as an alternative. suspect, [music]. more information comes to light to help. Di Pippo's legal cause. >> Howard Gombert, unbeknownst to Anthony, had been represented by Anthony's trial. lawyer for sex crimes.

leveled by. in one case, a 13-year-old girl. In another case, a 19-year-old girl. Gombert pled not guilty in the two. cases. The charges were ultimately. dropped. >> My lawyer had a duty to tell me he. previously represented Gombert. He. didn't do that. >> The New York Appellate Court found. overwhelmingly he had cause for a new.

trial. >> Anthony sent to the Putnam County. Sheriff's Office while awaiting the. start of his new trial. While there, he's approached by another inmate. >> That inmate says my name is Joe Santoro. [music] I know Howard Gombert. I was. just in jail with him in Connecticut. Have I got something to tell you? >> As fate. >> would have it, DePippo and Santoro cross. paths in Putnam County lockup. >> In an affidavit, Joseph Santoro says. that Howard Gomberg spoke about Josette.

Wright. >> Well, I talked to Joe about what he. heard in prison that day. >> He went to into. you know, Josette. um how you know yeah he was he was with. her he was you know he he had slept with. her and I'm like. what? And I'm like yeah but you know he's like. yeah they got these [music] two other. suckers for it though so he they'll. never get me. >> Joe Santoro ran back to his cell and. wrote recollections of his conversation.

>> This guy handed me those notes and I was. given a gift. >> Howard Gomberg tells 2020 [music] he. never made those statements to Joe. Santoro. In that affidavit, Joe Santoro [music]. alleges Howard Gomberg also mentions. someone else. >> And when he brought up Robin Murry. they're like you know she just went. missing. Then he tells me uh they'll. never find the body.

>> The following section contains. descriptions of sexual assault which may. be disturbing to some. >> Can I touch your camera and like. >> cuz it's really needed. >> Okay. >> You tell us when to [music] start. >> Yeah you're good whatever. >> Okay. In here in this little pile [music] is.

you at Christmas time. with one of your gowns that you would. never take off. >> My swan lake costume [music]. I wore it on top of a velvet dress. because I was like no this one's. prettier. [laughter] I was so mad you wanted me to. wear velvet when I wanted to wear a swan. lake costume. >> And then that's just [music] us hugging. >> Yeah my big smile my big cheeks. >> Yeah. And then. I think this is both of our favorites. This is at the horses.

>> I would never have wanted my daughter's. father to be this way, nor did I ever want to be involved with. someone that would harm me. >> After those two young [music] girls, Robin and Josette, go missing, Howard. Gomberg, the then 30-something-year-old. laundromat attendant, [music] relocates.

to Connecticut where his father lives. >> Gomberg moves in with a nurse named. Jean. >> Howard was the maintenance man on the. property that I lived in. [music]. We just started up a casual friendship. He had other girlfriends, but I had fun. with him, but. he didn't do anything harmful to me. until. we got a closer. He just was very controlling and.

like [music] he would say things that no. one else would hear. And I told him I was pregnant [music]. and he got very angry. The abuse didn't stop even [music] after. I had Dana. And then. um with the stuff with Sarah, I I I had. no idea. >> Tell me about the first time you met. Howard Gomberg. >> So I was. probably like six [music] or seven when. we had first met.

And he was dating my mom's best friend. >> Sarah has been a very special angel to. me. Sarah was my best friend's. only daughter and she used to come and. spend time with me during her breaks. [music]. And I asked Howard if he would take her. swimming. >> It [music] was just like, oh, okay, well, I can't go with you, so have fun. I guess Jean didn't think anything of. it, you know? >> [music].

[music].

[music]. [music].

[music]. >> having fun and I wish I could just swim. over there and I don't [music] want to. leave the water.

Um. Howard was uh. It's hard to think about. >> And what what did Howard tell you would. happen if you said anything about this? >> I was under the impression when it had. happened cuz he told me he said if you. say anything, you know, you're not you're going to die. You're. not going to see your family again. If. you scream, [music] if you tell anybody. And um. I did not say anything and it actually.

happened again. He had chased me up the stairs like. trying to play when everybody was around. and he he grabbed my foot and tried to. put a little butterfly hair clips in the. '90s that all the little girls loved. I hate them. Then I. so took my hand and I smacked him as. hard as I could in his back because I. was in front of everybody, you know.

And everyone got so angry with me and. they were like, why did you hit him? He. was trying [music] to play. >> They had no idea. >> no [clears throat] one knew. >> So things escalated [music]. and Gompert. held Jane in a three-day siege of sexual. violence. [music]. >> I don't know exactly how it all started, but I know he wanted sex and I didn't. want sex. [music].

Howard sodomized me those three days. He. tortured me. Dana was really sick and I. was really worried about her and I said. I need to bring her to the doctor. He. wouldn't let me bring her to the doctor. [music] All I kept thinking about was, oh my god, I have a baby to protect too. There was no doubt in my mind [music]. that I was going to press charges. >> The second [music] Gompert left the. house that morning, Jane instantly drove. herself to the hospital. They.

immediately rushed her baby into ICU. and. called the New Milford police who took. Jane's statement. >> Howard Gombert pleaded guilty to the. sexual assault of Jane [music] and then. he sent to prison. >> So he was in prison. before I told anyone. I mean maybe my.

little self felt safe enough. knowing that, oh well he's going away. I. don't know what it was but I confided in. my best friend. And that that day. >> you even have the language [music] to. say. >> I didn't actually um. I had told her that he used his hot dog. Not even a. not even [music] an adult term. And she knew what it meant. She was. older. She was a few years older than me. and she understood. And she went home and she told my mom.

>> Her father is the one [music] that. called me to tell me. And he said first. of all before I say anything it's not. your fault. Well of course I felt like. [music] it was my fault. I introduced. that man to that family. >> With Howard [music] now in prison, police decide to do a search of Jane's. home. >> Did police have any idea the kind of. Pandora's [music]. box that they were about to uncover?

>> [music]. >> It was in my closet always. But it was in the back of the closet.

I opened it up. I was shocked. [music] I I couldn't even. move at first. I just looked down at it, and I was like, oh my god. [music] I zippered it back. up, and I I couldn't look at it again. >> During the search of James's cottage, they found hidden away a tan suitcase. >> And inside the suitcase there were. underwear [music]. in Ziploc bags that were labeled. >> Mine was on top, so I could tell you.

what it said. [music] My name, a date, and what the particular nightgown was. that I had been looking for. >> The cops [music]. found. troves of jewelry, of ladies' handbags. and purses. At Howard Gombert's father's house, they. found troves and troves of Polaroids. >> [music]. >> And then the police discovered this. Manila folder, and in that folder are.

newspaper articles all [music] connected. to Robin Murphy's disappearance. So Carmel, New York police, who are. still trying to solve the disappearance. of Robin Murphy, that 17-year-old who was last seen with. Howard Gombert, suddenly learned of Gombert's crimes. [music]. out in Connecticut, sexually assaulting. the mother of his child and 7-year-old. Sarah. He's now serving [music] 30.

consecutive years for those crimes. >> The cops submitted the underwear for DNA. testing. [music] One of those pairs came. back conclusive for Robin [music]. Murphy's DNA. >> I found out. that they found my sister's underwear. Yeah, that was totally caught me off. guard. It was sickening. [music]. Then he admitted to being the last. person to see my sister. So obviously.

she was with him. as far as can tell. >> And that's when police publicly identify. Howard Gombert as a suspect in Robin. Murphy's disappearance. >> From this shopping center in Carmel. nearly six years ago, Robin Murphy, 17. years old at the time, disappeared. Little evidence found until now. >> We have recovered a piece of evidence. that we feel has the potential to be a. significant break in this case. >> Perhaps leading them to the whereabouts.

of Robin Murphy. Reporting from Carmel, Tim Fleischer, ABC 7 Eyewitness News. >> Over the years, Gombert has offered. varying conflicting explanations for the. items that police seized, [music]. including that they were acquired from a. thrift store. As for the underwear with. Robin's DNA. >> When confronted with the evidence, Howard completely denied those underwear. were his. or that he had gotten them from Robin.

>> So in their application for the search. warrant, [music] Carmel police. maintained that searching Howard. Gombert's home could yield some evidence. [music] to tie him to the Robin Murphy. disappearance. >> So the nature of their interactions, Robin and Howard? >> Well, they knew each other and. Gombert wanted. Robin to go talk to [music] his. girlfriend because him and her again. were on the outs. >> They spent a lot of time.

together. >> [music]. >> So the day Robin disappeared, Howard who. doesn't normally come to the. drive-through, had pulled through the. drive-through and he had said to my. co-worker, where is that [music]. Robin? And he goes, well she stood me up. And. we come to find out from the detectives. that Howard admitted to seeing her. >> Robin's ID was found behind the ShopRite. and the laundromat [music] Gombert. worked at. Robin's driver's license was.

found with Howard Gombert's thumbprint. on it. [music]. >> Howard said. that Robin had shown him her license a. week before, you [music] know, the and. that's why he had handled it. >> And a week after she disappears, Robin. What happened with Howard Gompert? >> Well, he winds up in the hospital. >> With Howard, he tried to take his own. life. He took a bunch of pills, according to. him, and he fell on his face and ended. up in the hospital.

>> Gompert tells a local newspaper reporter. that he was just distraught over a. custody battle with his ex-girlfriend, and then he claims once police started. asking him all about Robin, it was quote. the final push. >> The day after he tried to end his life, Gompert had visitors at the hospital. Carmel detectives had questions about. Robin Murphy. They found Gompert more or less lucid by.

then, willing to speak on the record. He told them that [music] he'd seen. Robin just before she vanished, saying they talked for 10 minutes in his. car. >> Gompert goes on to say he doesn't know. what happened to her after that. conversation. >> Years later, he writes to investigators. saying he had nothing to do with Robin. Murphy's disappearance. >> When I asked Howard especially about. Robin Murphy [music]. and that he was the last person to see.

her, why did you even think about. committing suicide if you had nothing to. do with it? He goes, I was tired of. everybody always putting the questions. towards me when there was no evidence. [music] And I said, are you sure you. didn't No, that has nothing to do with. me. >> For reasons that shall ever forever. remain unknown to me, the Carmel [music]. PD did not immediately arrest Gompert. with an enormous amount of. circumstantial [music]. evidence.

>> Carmel police declined to comment on the. investigation. To be clear, Howard Gompert nor anyone else was ever. arrested, charged or convicted for the. disappearance of Robin Murphy. >> [music]. >> But now in a stunning development, Howard Gombert is called to testify in. another case, the murder of Joe. Setright. >> Howard Gombert came in [music] wearing. his orange jumpsuit,

shackled and handcuffed, walked up to the [music] bench, was. sworn in. >> You can imagine the tension in the. courtroom as Anthony DiPippo was finally. waiting for Howard Gombert to take the. stand [music] and testify. But instead, Gombert pleads the fifth. and says nothing. >> I'm like, I promise [music] I'm going to. get you.

>> All right. Ready? [music]. Yeah, there we go. Good job. What a good. boy. >> What gives you peace these days? >> Oddly [music] enough, being out in the. woods. Uh my boyfriend and I spend a lot. of time camping. >> Howard Gombert changed [music] who you. were as a little girl. >> Absolutely. But. I. didn't let that.

make me a worse [music] person. I struggled a lot growing up, but realized if I do. [music] just keep doing the things and. falling in the same patterns, then he's. winning. And he can't. I will not let. him win. I was [music] at one point a. victim. At one point, I am not. I. am [music] Sarah. That's who I am. I'm a. woman who loves animals. I I look. forward to having a farm with my.

boyfriend and us having a family and. getting married and doing all the things. that I thought. I wasn't [music]. going to be able to at one point in. life. >> [music]. [music]. [music].

>> Anthony Di Pippo has spent almost 20. years in prison [music] for the murder. and rape of 12-year-old Josette Wright. >> [music]. >> But in 2016, he is released pending a. retrial. >> You've spent 20 years behind bars. What. does it feel like now to be out in the. sun? >> It feels great, but the thing is. I don't let my mind focus too much off. my case. I'm just consider considering. the case and trying to work hard to. vindicate myself.

>> When Putnam County. gave him a new trial, it was like the. whole rug was just ripped out underneath. you. Helpless feeling, hopeless feeling. >> Anthony's trial should be a movie. >> Anthony had some of the finest. legal counsel I've ever seen. >> Anthony's stepfather went out and hired. the best criminal attorney in New York.

City, a guy named Mark Baker. Baker then. brought aboard Mark Agnifilo. He was P. Diddy's lawyer. >> Like in the first trial, the. prosecution's star witness was Denise. Rose. [music] And similarly, in the. first trial, she recounted what she says. she saw in that van. She saw Di Pippo rape Josette Wright and. that she was [music] killed during the. attack, a claim she repeats on tape during a. video deposition.

>> Anthony Di Pippo's. murderer. He's a murderer. You're. defending a murderer who killed a. 12-year-old girl in 1994. Hello, people, wake up. I'm the truth. I'm the only one that saw. it. Goodbye. >> Denise Rose claimed that the reason she. [music] never came forward after. witnessing the rape and murder of a. 12-year-old girl was that she lived in. fear of [music] her life from Anthony to. Pippo for a year and a half.

>> I believe it's still today that he's. going to kill me. >> And [music]. >> If he ever sees me, I'm going to be he's. going to kill me. >> And when Agnifilo did his. cross-examination. of Denise Rose, he started with not the facts of the. case, but the facts of [music] Denise Rose's. romance. with Anthony DePippo. That she'd slept with Anthony, [music]. that she thought he was funny after she. witnessed him murder and rape Josette. [music]. Wright.

>> You don't like me calling you a liar, do. you? >> No, I'm not a liar. Shut up your. testimony. >> Don't leave. >> Shut it up your ass. SHUT IT UP YOUR. ASS, ALL OF YOU. >> IN an extraordinary step, the court. allows for Sarah to testify about her. assault at the hands of Howard Gomberg, believing the jury should hear her. account because she was attacked in a. very similar fashion to that of Josette. >> [music]. >> Why did you agree to testify? >> Because I saw I could help. >> And there were similarities between what.

happened to you and what happened to. Josette? >> Yes. I believe that they had found her. [music]. bound and with something in her mouth. And that was really what connected our. cases together and the fact [music] that. it had happened in the woods. In the fact that people who shouldn't. have been in prison, that [music] was. heartbreaking. As I was telling the. story, I looked out into the jury. and. it was [music] it was hard, but I was. kind of trying to keep it together.

>> And then you look out. in the courtroom and you see someone. [music] else crying? >> She didn't need. She didn't need to know the details. She. didn't need to know that. those truly horrible things are real. >> [music]. >> I disassociated when they were. testifying. It's hard absorb, you know. I could [music] not imagine what they've. been through.

>> [music]. >> The defense bring in prison informant. Joe Santoro. And when he's on the stand, he gets the chance to tell the jury. about the conversations he says he had. with Howard Gombert when they were. serving time together back in 2011. >> And I never said that he said blatantly. that I killed this one, I killed that. cuz he never did. But you're. in jail talk [music] insinuating. that those are your bodies. >> Santoro testifies that Gombert mentions. two bodies, Joe Set, and one belonging.

to the longtime missing teen Robin. Murphy. >> And when he brought up Robin Murphy, they're like, you know, she just went. missing. And then he tells me uh they'll. never find the body. >> [music]. >> In an email to 2020, Howard Gombert says. he never discussed Joe [music] Set or. Robin with Joe Santoro. >> The prosecution questions Santoro's. credibility by showing his extensive rap. sheet. In court, defense attorneys argue that. Gombert is the actual culprit.

The prosecution argues that while. Gombert is a horrible person for what he. did to Sarah, [music]. he did not kill Joe Set right. And that the jury should believe Denise. [music] and not Joe Santoro. >> They send me back, they bring me back. out for the final time. And judge is. like, arise, jury, [music] have you. reached the verdict? How do you find the. defendant? Not guilty. Yeah.

I did it. >> When Anthony DiPippo was found not. guilty, we were just shocked. I we. didn't do anything. We sat there in. shock. >> I ran out of there. I left. Goodbye. >> Yeah. >> Here Anthony DiPippo is a free man, but. his friend Andy Krivak [music] is still. sitting behind bars fighting for justice. and begging for a new trial. >> [music]. >> All these years later, the Robin Murphy. case is still an open case for the.

Carmel Police Department [music]. and even the Sheriff's Department. >> The not knowing it is a nightmare. because you can never close that wound. You can't grieve totally. You can't bury. it. It's just always that question mark. >> Judy Murphy, Robin's mother, [music]. is desperate for answers. She spoke to a. long list of psychics [music]. and mediums and paranormal investigators. hoping to get a lead. >> Driving with police back here.

and I remember [music] coming down this. way. and. I saw the little light again and I said. to them, keep [music] going. I tell them that she's in there. >> Robin Murphy's family had hoped a $5,000. reward might bring answers. >> Murphy's unsolved case has garnered. intense local interest over the years. >> Judith Murphy would like nothing better.

than to see her daughter Robin come. home, but there does not seem to be much. hope. >> Back when she disappeared, that was a. very bad time for my parents. And as a brother, it was life altering. But my mother took it pretty hard. >> Do you have any hope that Robin is still. alive? [music]. >> Still feel it. Just waiting for [music] somebody to. finally, you know, have some conscience. Tell me something. It's been too long. >> My father.

yeah, tore him up, too. >> I just hope that if anybody's out there, if they can find it in their heart to. say something. come forward. >> We were desperate for anything. I mean, I was out looking in the woods with my. mother for evidence and just. it is very frustrating. >> Quite early. >> on, Robin's mother, Judy, began casting. around for TV psychics, for women who.

had appeared on Sally Jessy Raphael. >> So [music] when all else fails, we have. brought world-renowned psychic Dorothy. Allison to the show today. How many cases have you solved? >> I've done over 5,000. >> [applause]. >> When Dorothy Allison gave us this list. [music] of clues, I'd say it was fascinating. It was like. a puzzle, you know? And now it's time to. solve the puzzle.

I rode around with her. We just. basically drove her around. spots we might thought would be of. interest. And her indicator of that it was of. interest is if she said I I like this. place. It never really led us to any more. [music] information. >> As always happens in these disappeared. girl cases, psychics come forward. They read a. headline and they called to offer their. services.

20 different psychics or folks claiming. to have paranormal vision. called the Carmel Police Department. >> There's been so many different, you. know, psychics and other people who try. to help and. come up and search the area and all. this. But every time, you know, nothing. definite. >> It's apparent Carmel police are taking. these leads [music]. from psychics and mediums very. seriously. And one day, the detectives.

go out with a medium named Philip Quinn. >> I was sitting at a party about 45. minutes from here and this young female. came [music] walking up toward me and. she had this long dark hair. She looked. very. simple and average, but very physically. real. And she said my name is Robin. But the. interesting part was when she pointed. behind her, there was a lake behind me.

[music] That's not what I saw. I saw an entirely different body of. water. And as she was walking up, she said, I'm. [music] there. And boom, she was gone. Driving the police back here and. periodically. I would see this little light. And I remember coming down this way. And. I saw the little light again, and I said. to them, keep going.

So. we get out here. And. this is where I see this light. jumping going down here. The police had. stopped. And. I said to them, this is the location. that we need to go. [music]. I'm thinking I'm going to look down here. and see a big hole. [music] I'm not realizing there's water. in here. I tell them that she's in there. >> There were numerous divings,

state police [music] divers, all kinds. of investigators, and when something is in the mine, it's there forever. >> Every year, multiple times a year, veteran volunteer dive crews go down. into those pitch black waters [music] to. look for any trace of Robin Murphy. >> We started diving here and I heard.

almost right away the story of Robin. Murphy. [music] And then the more I've. looked into it, the more I was intrigued. and try to find her. We can go far beyond what the police can. do. They can do generally around 100 ft. And they just not equipped like we are. If you forget any one of these little. pieces, you aren't going in. [music]. Serious. It's like you're being born for the. first time. I usually attach a GoPro.

[music] right on that. So all the helmet cam footage. That's what I wear. The first diving here, we were just. exploring. It's like finding a needle in a needle. stack because the landscape is not flat. It's it's conical and it's jagged. There is a tremendous amount of garbage. been thrown in there. The mine was in. like the [music] 1920s, 1930s, 1940s.

used as a dumping ground, so there are. many antique cars [music] down there. It's been a grueling search and we. search out a quadrant [music] until we. know that she's not there, then we move. on to the next one. >> For years they found nothing, but then. one of the volunteer divers made a. discovery. They found a Doc Marten boot. >> The mother described the boot had a tear. in the leather and this boot had a tear. in the leather.

And the mother said she finally cleared. out Robin's room, the only footwear. missing for those boots. >> That definitely gave us a renewed sense. of hope. At least something is. happening. >> If I can liberate her and allow her to. be properly buried by her family, this. is one of my drives. >> We begin with a News 12 exclusive, [music]. a possible major break tonight. >> I got a phone call from my cousin and. she told me floored me.

>> Were you ever in this building? >> This is my second and third trial. >> Second and third trial was this. building. >> Yeah. >> And Andy's trial. >> And Andy's trial. Wow. >> Had a lot of panic attacks you. >> I'll bet you did. >> While I was recording my podcast, Anthony returned to Carmel with me. nearly a decade after his acquittal. This town still had a hold on him.

>> I I. >> have to tell you, I'm feeling it. >> Oh, I can hear you feeling it, guy. >> He was sweating through his shirt with. [music] something like. cold terror. That town is so haunted for. [music] him. >> And so I did my perp walk right there. All the news cameras are down [music]. now. >> What are you saying now? >> I don't know. You had. >> You don't know? >> I did nothing. Spent a lot of time here.

A lot of time. After I was acquitted, they brought me back down, [music]. processed, and I came out that door, and. I was a free man. >> What were you feeling when you [music]. came out those doors a free man? >> Just joy. You know? But then when you you know, the PTSD kicks in, [music] and and you. start to realize what actually happened, what they took from you. >> Anthony DiPippo is now a free man, and. Andy Krivak is still in prison until he.

gets the word that he had been [music]. praying for. The judge overturns his. conviction and orders another trial. >> It's in October of 2020, still during. the COVID pandemic, that Andy Krivak is released on bail. We. were there covering it. >> Free Andy now. Free Andy now. >> The anticipation was almost too much for. family members who have waited 24. [music]. years for this. >> [cheering].

>> We saw when he came out, hugs, cheers, but there was certainly relief, but also. the realization that there was likely. going to be a retrial. >> They wrongfully convicted. It's the first step towards proving my. innocence, clearing my name. >> The last time he was home, Bill Clinton. was president. And um I love you, man. >> Ultimately, he was acquitted at trial. >> I appreciate the jury seeing the truth. and coming back with a not guilty. verdict. It's been far too long.

>> To To him walk out the door, to be a part of that day, it. it was full circle. >> I wanted justice for her. and I didn't get it. >> We had justice and it was taken away. from us. It was taken [music] away. >> I'll always believe Anthony and Andy. were the killers, [music]. always. >> Anthony DiPippo sues Putnam County. They. settle for $12 million.

and the county admits no wrongdoing. >> And then another settlement, $20 million. for Andy Krivak. Once again, the county admits no. wrongdoing. >> What happened to 17-year-old [music]. Robin Murphy has been a mystery. Last week, these decades skeletal. remains were found on Ice Pond Road, not. far from where Wright's [music] body was. discovered. >> The feeling around the community was.

it's Robin Murphy. >> And I'm like, wow, this is it. This is. it. They found her. It was like a flood of emotions like, wow, this is going to be it [music] and. I'm planning the funeral. >> I was really hopeful that it was Robin. >> State and Carmel police have [music]. confirmed that DNA samples collected. from human remains does not match the. profile of missing Putnam resident. [music] Robin Murphy. >> It was a combination of relief cuz she. might still be alive and it was also a. combination of sadness cuz we still have.

no idea what happened with her. >> You get the hope [music] and then it. knock you down. Nope. Nope. It's an It's. an emotional roller coaster that I don't. wish on anybody. >> Robin and Josette, do you think [music]. one day we'll find out. what happened to them? >> I think so. [music]. I want to believe that. I have to have. hope. because if it's not for hope, then what. are we going to believe in? >> [music].

>> In the search for answers, there's one. voice we haven't heard from yet. >> Listen, anything you want. >> to know right now. >> Now, Howard Gompertz is speaking [music]. out. >> [music]. >> This is a scrapbook that my best friend. had started and we've been friends. [music]. for 23 years, almost 24 years now.

This one, this is the first time we had. done each other's hair. and [music] they they came out pretty. rough. They were bright red, fire engine. red. Our mothers were not happy. I get to look back on this and and. remember that even in hard times when I. was younger that I had my best friend. He stole [music] parts of me that. I still hate him for, but. I'm also proud of [music] who I am. I can't let him win. >> I have spoken twice with Howard. Gompertz, both times by phone.

They were not civil conversations. >> [snorts]. >> How did I Wait, how. How did I kill Josette? It [laughter] is. something I didn't even know. Hey, I've. met once. >> I'm sorry, you met her once? I've got. five witnesses who said you met her. repeatedly. >> No, I met her once that that I know of. >> You have 1 minute left. >> Listen, dude. Anything you want to know. right now.

I asked Howard point blank. where Robin's [music] body was. >> Really dude? >> Really dude? >> Hello. No. No. >> Gompertz has repeatedly denied any. involvement in Josette's murder or. Robin's disappearance. >> There is news and cause [music] for. grave public concern. Next month, Howard Gompertz is walking.

out of [music] those prison gates. >> I turned off the notifications. because I don't want that quiet [music]. fear in the back of my head saying. He's out? He's among other people. >> Breathing the same [music] air. >> Exactly. >> You describe him as a monster, as the. Antichrist, and now that person might. get out of prison soon. >> Do I have fear? I'm afraid for some. other women. That's what scares me.

>> In messages to 2020, Gombert [music]. says his accusers are lying about him. He vows to [music] confront them in. court. >> The Putnam Sheriff's Office, in. combination with the Carmel PD [music]. and the State Police, have appointed a. task force to reinvestigate these two. cold cases. [music]. >> In a statement to 2020, the task force. stresses how seriously it's taking these.

cases, knowing how long Jolene and. [music] Robin's families have been. waiting for answers. How do you want Jolene. to be remembered? >> For her smile and her friendliness. She was very friendly. She had a good heart. Good kid. >> I want Jolene to be remembered as a. sweetheart. Never hurt anybody. It's inconceivable that someone would.

take this beautiful girl. and destroy her. >> Her story was just completely just. stopped, and it's not fair. >> And [music] I think it's important. that people become aware that Robin. has never been found over 30 years. >> [music]. >> We want somebody. who knows any information. so that they can help Robin's [music]. family and find her cuz Robin's out.

there somewhere. >> If she is gone, she's not going to be at. rest until, [music] you know, we [snorts] define her or. they make some arrests. >> I think there will always. >> a hole. in our lives where Robin is missing. Think about her every day. I would like people [music] to remember. her as smart, funny, ambitious, wanted to be a journalist, loving, [music] good sister. to me and her siblings, good daughter,

um who was robbed of the opportunity of. living. >> We should point out that Robin Murphy's. brother tells us that his family has. never given up hope that they will. actually someday learn what happened to. Robin, but adds that their communication. with law enforcement over the decades. has been limited. >> There is even more insight, David, into. the disappearance of Robin Murphy on the. newest installment of the Bone Valley. podcast, The Devil's Quarry II. That's our program for tonight. Thanks.

so much for watching. I'm Deborah. Roberts. >> And I'm David Muir. From all of us here. at 20/20 and ABC News, good night.