The Scream Murder, Episode 2: Caught in a Lie

Hi, this is Connor McCarthy. Today we're. back with another episode of The Scream. Murder, a true teen horror story. Remember, if you can't wait for more, you can listen ahead to the entire. series right now, ad-free, when you. subscribe to 20/20 True Crime Plus. Just. click the link in the description to. sign up. Terms apply. Now, here's the. next episode. >> It's September 2006 in Pocatello, Idaho.

The murder of 16-year-old Cassie Jo. Stoddart terrifies and enrages this. small town. The investigation quickly leads to two. unusual suspects, high school classmates of Cassie's. One of those classmates was [music] just. caught lying to detectives. >> I'm Pat Rogers here with Connor. McCarthy, and this is episode two of The. Scream Murder, True Teen Horror Story.

podcast. >> It's 10:15, September 22nd, 2006. >> So, when we left the last episode, Brian. Draper had admitted that he had been. lying about what he and Torey Adamcik. had done once they left the house where. Cassie was murdered. He had said that he. and Torey went to a movie. But now he says that's not true, and he. has a new story about what happened that. night.

>> And I'm here to tell you, you didn't go. to the movie. Okay. You weren't out at that movie. theater. >> We didn't go to the movie. Okay. Can we. take a break? >> I don't think you're the type of person. [music] that could kill somebody. cold-bloodedly. >> And well, you especially my close. friend. >> Especially your close friend. >> Of course. Okay. >> He came clean. All right, you got me. We didn't go to the movies. We were. doing something else. What I'm about to. play is the police interview with Brian. Draper and his second story he's going. to tell them.

>> I don't want to say. Okay. >> Okay. >> I can tell you what. we're doing. I was trying to hide this. but I guess I have to tell you now. >> You're going to have to, man. That's the. only way out. >> Um we went through cars. That. and that's going to stop. That's what it. was. That's why it looks like that. >> Okay, you went through cars. What was. What does that mean? >> Uh. we checked for the cars that they're. locked or. locked or locked and then. >> Where at? Where was that?

Where at? >> Conner, you could tell there was a bit. of a rug pull for detectives here. >> His new story is I was going through. cars. >> Which is plausible because this is. something that some teenagers do. Uh. they go around, grab a handle. Is the. door unlocked? What am I going to find. inside? Some change, maybe a dollar or. two, pack of cigarettes, CDs at that. time. Um but you want to know why he. lied in the first place. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a murder. investigation. >> It's a murder investigation. There's. something he said cuz I know it's. against the law. [music].

>> Yeah. >> Now Pat, this is a 16-year-old kid. Is. he more concerned with what his parents. are going to find out versus what the. homicide detectives are going to find. out? Who is the one that he fears most? Because you're a kid. Am I going to get. grounded because now I'm going to have. to fess up that I was breaking into cars. while my friend was was murdered? The point is this is the second story. >> Right. >> that Brian has told. >> And here's Detective John Ganski. >> I think with the juvenile sometimes. they're reluctant [music] to tell us.

things that might get them in trouble. and maybe seems trivial to us but it's a. big thing you know, to them and it. because of the stage they're at in their. life. And the reason why they lied about. going to the movie is cuz they were. doing something. something else. >> [music]. >> And that something else that they were. doing is that they were burglarizing or. going through cars. in the neighborhood of Whispering Cliffs. near where Cassie was house sitting. >> He is an unreliable narrator at this.

point because he's already capable of. one lie and police need to once again. dig into this alibi. >> Can Can we be able to direct us to where. those cars were? >> Uh I remember seeing there a long road. and we went uphill. >> And Tory should be able to direct us to. that road. >> Yes, he should be able to direct you to. that. >> And he was driving? >> I wasn't driving so I don't know exactly. where it was. >> So. just like the movie, can you tell us any. details about the movie? Who was in it? What was it about? Couldn't tell them. So they start down the same path, which.

cars? What color were they? What streets. were they on? What did you get? What was. the make and model? >> [music]. >> Don't know, don't know, don't know, don't know. He had no information about. the cars he allegedly was breaking into. And again, this is about the same time. that police believe Cassie was murdered. So once his second story kind of falls. apart, can't name any of the cars, no. details again, police really [music]. start to close in and Detective Andy. Thomas.

sort of grabs onto this thread now, the. car break-in thread. >> The car burglary thing is not happening. >> [clears throat]. >> Okay? >> That's what happened. >> These are the types of situations that. you don't lie in. Everything else in. this world is game. And I'm and I'm a. firm believer in that. I don't give a. if you lie in anything else to a. cop, whatever, when it comes to a murder. of a beloved friend, you do not lie, okay? The second part of that.

is I want you to take a deep breath and. I want you to think about what part of. this that you're that you're involved. in, okay? How much of this are you. involved in? >> And if you are, that's fine. We can deal. with that. >> We can deal with that. But. >> Okay, that's ridiculous. >> Well, we're not going to kill my friend. >> Why the hell would I kill Cassie? >> Then anybody, do you know who did it? >> No, I don't know who killed Cassie. >> In the video you can see. Detective Thomas is right in front of.

him. staring right into his eyes, but Brian. doesn't break eye contact. >> Yeah. [music]. >> But now he's been caught into two lies, and detectives don't like when you lie. to them. >> And. they offer Brian what they offered Matt. >> Hey, come in, take a polygraph. Maybe we. can get you out of this. >> Let's clear this up. >> Let's clear this up. Brian immediately. and enthusiastically says, "Yes, I will. come in and I will take a polygraph.". >> The confidence just hits a 10. >> Yeah.

>> right from sullen I I didn't kill my. friend to absolutely I will take this. polygraph test. Let's do it. He's ready. to clear his name. Everybody knows that. polygraph test results are inadmissible. in court. >> But detectives. >> They love it. >> They love them. You know, it's it's like. you said, it's a tool that they [music]. can use. There's a psychology. >> Yeah. >> that they use. >> And they can they can argue it either. way. You don't want to take a polygraph? If somebody doesn't want to take it, why. don't you want to take it? That's that's.

odd to me, says the detective. Or if you take it and fail it, why'd you. fail it? What are you lying about? Here's what John Ganski said. >> Polygraph tests are are controversial at. best. I think sometimes they can be. useful. Not not the actual polygraph itself, but. the interview. process that comes with the polygraph. And the possibility of your body. indicating that you're lying, a lot of the times we get the truth not.

from the machine, but but from the. interview process. Our next step with with Brian was that. he'd given us a story and and that he. agrees to a polygraph examination. >> [music]. >> for the next day. >> And that was pretty much the end of the. interview and um. his mom, Pam. >> Pam. >> drove him home and this is what she had. to say about that whole situation. >> Well, the whole thing worried me. I.

mean, I was I was worried for. my family. I was worried for my parents. who were elderly. I was worried for my. daughter. I was worried about. everything. Um. at that point and. I was extremely worried for Brian. because. he was so quiet and withdrawn. Something. was definitely telling me. that he.

he knew more than he was saying. Kept telling me, "I can't believe she's. gone.". He just kept saying, "I can't I can't. believe she's gone, Mom.". >> So, the Brian that she sent into the. room. was different than the Brian who came. out of that room. >> All right, so maybe this is a good time. to back up and talk a little bit about. Brian Draper's family situation, his. background, and their whole situation. Connor, you met with his parents.

>> Yeah, I I met both Pam and Brian's dad, Kerry, when I was in Idaho and you know, they are. hardworking, small town residents, you. know, trying to raise their kids. Brian. was actually adopted. Um they had a. difficult time getting pregnant, so um. how [music] they saw it, he was a. blessing because they weren't sure if. they were going to be able to have. children and then they were able to. adopt him. Uh his biological mother was. quite young. Well, so they adopted him. as a baby and raised him as as their.

son. >> Here's his dad, Kerry. >> Brian is very talented. um in many ways. He flew through his. education. as an A student without trying. He was a musician from early on. Played. the piano. [music]. You'll find his room where he had a drum. set. Yeah, he was down in that room. pounding on the drums and playing this. and we loved it. >> In my mind, Brian was.

the perfect son. >> So, when this came up, they were just. blindsided by their son who seemingly. perfect all the way up to age 16 is now. being questioned by police. Like none of. this tracks. This doesn't make sense. >> So, Brian leaves, agrees to come back. and take a polygraph, but meanwhile, police are still investigating. They're. not just waiting for Brian to take his. polygraph. And that investigation,

rightly, centered on Pocatello High. School because you got Tory and Jack, Brian Draper, Cassie, and Matt. All of. them are students. Where would you go to. find out more information about students. than the high school? So, the students. told us there were police in the. hallways, police in the vice principal's. office. You know, imagine how disruptive. this is in a high school. And despite. the fact that Matt had passed his. polygraph by now, there were rumors. >> This is Danny Dixon, a former Pocatello.

High School student. >> Yeah, I remember initially how crazy it. was. I remember everyone crying. There. was counselors swarming the hallways. [music]. Um, just yeah, everyone holding on, it felt. like to each other a little tighter and. and so everyone was like, oh, Cassie's. boyfriend, you know, he was there and he. was her boyfriend. And so. you've seen a lot of crime movies. Like, I think people just thought, oh yeah, like he probably did that. >> And this is frustrating for.

investigators because nobody knows that. they had already talked to Matt and they. had. cleared him. of any connection to the homicide, yet. they go into the hallways of Pocatello. and everyone points the finger, it's the boyfriend. >> Right. >> With no other basis other than well, I've seen a lot of movies and you know. how things unfold in in crime. documentaries, it's always going to be. the boyfriend in the end. So, it's a. frustrating setback. They're not. progressing very much in in the. investigation. At school,

all they have right now is Brian Draper. We need to follow up with his story and. see what happens with his polygraph. test. >> The following day, he comes back to the. police station, but this time he's not alone. He doesn't. have a lawyer, but he does have his mom. and his dad, Pam and Carrie, are there. by his side. He sets up to take a polygraph. He's. ready. clear his name like he said, but that is not what happened. >> Don't go this way. I'll.

>> Brian was in the interrogation room, nervous, scared, and he wanted to talk. to police. >> Just tell me you're waiting. I ain't leaving. Really. Just tell me you're waiting. Okay. >> In the police interview, you can see. Brian in the center of frame, Carrie just to his right and Pam with. Detective Gansky and Thomas. Everyone is. looking at Brian. What is he about to say? He's highly.

emotional. It's about to explode out of. him. >> Sure, sure, sure. We We didn't We. We We were on the side of the road. Parked on the side of the street. Okay. >> So, Brian tells police that they left. the house at 9:30. But what he says next is both shocking. and [music] case altering forever. It is. another major turning point here. He.

says that they. >> [music]. >> doubled back and came back inside the. house. >> no plans [music] of actually leaving. They just wanted to convince Cassie and. Matt. that they're going to see a movie. That. was never the plan. >> They come in through the basement where. they had been earlier that night and. they had unlocked the door. You. remember? They were down in the basement. playing with the weight machine. When. they did that, they took that. opportunity to unlock the basement door. knowing that they were going to come. back later. And that's part of the explanation of.

why the lights were going out. Brian. explains that. >> Can you tell us a little bit about. messing with the lights or anything like. that power box yesterday? >> We went there when uh. Matt was still here and then we went and. turned all the lights. I thought this scared them. >> Okay. So, so was your intent when you. did those lights is to get them to come. downstairs? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, you thought you were going to. jump out and. >> Yes. Look at them a little bit. >> Part of this confession, the sobbing, the the stuttering, the stammering, it's.

it's hard to get what he's saying, piecing together. He can barely get it. out. Get the words out. But he just. said, "We were just trying to scare. them." Okay. So, what he's suggesting is. a plan. >> Yeah. He also goes on to tell police. that to lure them down into the. basement, they had smashed an ashtray. And if you remember from episode 1, there was this glass that was at the.

bottom of the staircase. They couldn't. really figure out why it was there. There was no windows broken and there. were no windows anywhere near this part. of the basement. But they. turned the lights off and off and on. They'd smashed the glass in an attempt. to scare them. >> As we talked in episode 1, when Matt was. describing this, Cassie, Matt, and the dog are at the. [music] top of the stairs. They're. looking down into a pitch black. basement. [music] Now we know. it was Brian and Tory. And keep in mind.

Brian's parents are sitting right next. to him. This is all brand new to them. This is. brand new to everybody in that room. >> Remember, they thought, "Oh, we're. coming in for a polygraph. He's going to. He's maybe hiding something, but we'll. be gone in a couple hours." This is. They're sitting here in real time. listening to this plot unfold. >> And the two of. you wearing Remember the masks that you. had? Actually, what kind of masks? >> Uh. >> Halloween? >> Yeah, Halloween masks.

>> He just says they put on Halloween. masks. >> I mean, is it from the show Halloween? Is that. >> No, they're white and then we painted. I had Mine was all. black and stuff and his was red all over. it. >> You can see Pam in the video tighten up. >> Yeah, she recoils. >> She puts her hand up to her face, almost. hiding, shocked again, like. "Where is this going? This is not a. story he told me when I was at home with. them all weekend. or after the first police interview.".

>> And did you Have you seen the masks? Were they guys, of course? >> Let's. take a step back and remember. Brian's first interview early on. They're just getting to know each other. What do you like? Movies. What kind of. movies? Horror movies. What kind of. horror movies? >> Slashers. >> Slasher. >> movies. >> Cut to him in the confession saying, "We. donned masks. We carried knives. We went. up to scare her.". >> He then explains that he and Tory waited. in the basement until they heard Matt's.

mom come and pick Matt up. and leave. So now they know that Cassie. is alone in the house. and this is when they make their move. >> Brian and Tory walk up the stairs, knives in hand, masks on face, reach the. top of the stairs, Cassie is in the. living room, 20 ft away. She turns, she. sees the two of them. What Brian is. saying was that that's where it was. going to end. >> Tory stepped in front of me and he.

walked over here and then. hit. Cassie was saying. and who's there and stuff and I was. about to say, you know, "Hey." And then. she screamed right out of this. So he walked. closer and he was really stabbing her. and then I was. He was saying, "You I'll kill her. I'll. kill her." Like what are you talking. about, man? >> Okay. So you guys you turned when he's. stabbing her, where are you at in the. room? >> The back of him. I'm I'm by the door and.

then he said that. if I told that he would. he'd kill me. >> What he's suggesting is Brian thought, "We're just going to do this to scare. her.". Tory had a different plan. >> So since you're saying that that Tory. Tory stabbed her all the stab wounds. Tory did it? >> Yes. >> Brian puts everything on Tory. Tory. attacked, stabbed Cassie to death.

>> So the big question is. Okay, cuz we found Cassie's body, okay? >> Yeah. >> And. we're going to go find the knives and. we're going to compare the knives to the. wounds. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> And if I can find me your knife it'll be. shown on her body. >> I didn't touch Cassie. >> When watching the police interview, Brian's dad, Kerry, is in the corner of. the room. He's trapped. He cannot move and you see. him.

gripping his son's shoulder. You see him. tightening himself up. He is stuck in. the worst possible place he can imagine. >> I think it definitely got. to a certain extent, I had checked out. I really say that because. I don't I think I was just going through. the motions. I think I stopped thinking. I felt like I was watching a movie.

of somebody else's [music] life. I knew he was toast. I knew it. I lost my son. I knew it. >> The cameras are still rolling even. though the confession is over. And. the cameras capture a very personal. moment with this family in this. time of extreme stress. Uh. Pam, Carrie, and Brian sort of lock. together in embrace.

And Pam says something to Brian. >> You are an incredible incredible boy. >> You are an incredible boy. An incredible. boy. I talked to her about that moment in. particular. And she said, "Even after hearing that he had been a. part of this crime, he's [snorts] still. my boy.".

You know, you never stop being a parent. >> Then we went back in the room. And I said the first question he asked. is, "Can I go back to school?". And then before when they were leaving, I believe is when I hugged him. and told him. that he was an amazing boy and I was.

>> [music]. >> This sounds weird, but that's the son I raised. The one who even though he was naive. about the finality and what was going to. happen, he still went in and told the [music]. truth. And he's still my son. And that was. that never changes. He will always be my son. >> This may be controversial and there are.

a lot of people out there that certainly. do not want to hear a mother calling. Brian Draper incredible minutes after he. confessed to participating in Cassie's. death, but she felt in that moment. she needed to do something. because of what he had just done and he, as Carrie said, had no idea of what was. coming for him and they felt like they. just needed to take a break. and just be parents for their only son, regardless of what just happened. >> Sure, that's her take.

Incredible's not the word I would use. >> I I wouldn't use that word, but they're. in a highly unique situation and they're. making this up as they go. Um no one's prepared for this. >> I think um. what you said is on the money and it's. understandable that she would do this, but I think. people watching and Cassie's family. might not think that Brian Draper is an. incredible boy. There's one other very strange moment.

captured by the cameras that was outside. of the interrogation. So, Pam and Carrie were not in the room. The detectives were not in the room. Brian's alone, the cameras are rolling. and he starts talking to himself, but. he's also talking to Cassie. He. addresses Cassie. as if she's [snorts] still alive. >> I'm so sorry for you.

I don't know. >> And then he knows. What does he mean? >> [sighs and gasps]. >> What what am I. going to do? I would have stopped him, Cassie. I. would. I would stop him. >> I will protect you, Cassie. I would have. stopped him.

I wanted to be your boyfriend. He's talking as if she's still alive. He's center frame, the camera's on him. Do you think he's aware that the camera. is rolling? >> Well, that's. the $64,000. question. Either he's had some sort of. weird psychotic break where he's talking. to her as if she's alive. I would stop. him. I would want to be your boyfriend. Either that's the case or he knows those. cameras are still on and is sort of.

constructing a I would have stopped him. You know, again, Tory did it. Did this kid in the moment come up with. this like scheme to sort of. Look look, I'm apologizing to her. I. wanted to be your boyfriend. Or is he. really just well, broken brain syndrome? >> That's the part [music] that works. against his story. I want to be your. boyfriend. This is a different context. >> Yeah.

>> He clearly had. a liking. He had a crush on I would I. would say from what he would just. >> He's saying it. >> I had a crush on you, Cassie. If you have a crush on a girl, [music]. do you put on a mask and wield a knife. and go in the upstairs and terrorize. her? No. >> Yeah. >> That doesn't track with someone who has. a teenage crush on a girl. So, for Brian, he confesses. They have a version of. events that closely the crime scene of. of how she died. But there are so many.

details between that. We have Brian's. word, a person who's been caught lying. not once, twice. Unreliable narrator. He's closer to the truth. They said, "Okay, Brian, we have your confession. You're putting. it all on Tori. Now we need the evidence. that matches your story. The knives, the mask, where is it? Cuz. remember, nothing was found at the crime. scene. And then Brian agrees, "Okay, I'll take you to Black Rock Canyon where.

everything is.". >> Now Black Rock Canyon, when we were. making the documentary Scream Murder. True Teen Horror Story, we went out. there with Detective Ganski and saw this. area. You know, we're talking before about how. Pocatello's kind of isolated. This is a. good example of it. It's only 10, 15. minutes maybe outside of town, but you. think you could be on the moon.

>> It's pitch black at night. No one's. going to be out there. But you can still hear the traffic from. a distance. You're not that far away. >> Yeah. >> So you can go out there in 10 minutes, do what you want to do, and be back in. town, and no one would notice. >> So what Brian said about Black Rock was. that after they had killed Cassie, they. drove out there and buried this evidence. out there. So this is where Brian after. his confession. um leads police out there and he.

locates, even in the dark, um the area. where they had buried everything. And. they start pulling out exactly what. Brian said they would find there. [music] The black clothes, the masks that they wore. >> These masks were clearly homemade. Paper mache. And then they designed them themselves. They they sprinkled paint down, bloody, you know, smears that were coming down. [music]. um. for maximum effort to terrify Cassie.

[music]. uh. seemingly seconds before she was. murdered. >> And then they pulled the knives out of. the hole. >> And And these, what we've been told from. the autopsy report, was one of them was. a serrated knife. That doesn't do it. justice. These were. 10 to 12-in long daggers. >> Hunting knives almost. Uh if if you. recall, the the Rambo knife is sort of a. moniker for this. So, clearly, this. horror movie theme is something that's.

on their minds, and we'll see in later. episodes that it's it comes really to. the forefront in a way that nobody could. have predicted when this all started. The other thing they found in this hole. of evidence was something that Brian had. never mentioned, and it wasn't a murder. weapon, and it wasn't something they. wore there. It was a tape, a video tape. >> A tape? >> Yeah, what's that doing there? >> I mean, what is that doing there? And it. looked like someone had tried to damage.

it, set it on fire. Maybe that's why Brian never mentioned. it. But, he knew that it was in that. cache with everything else. >> think he didn't mention it because he. thought, "Oh, it's so badly damaged, they'll never get anything off of it.". >> Destroyed. Everybody at the police station, all. investigators involved, were quickly. notified, "Guys, there's a tape, and our technician's been able to. recover the footage that's on that. tape." Everyone is brought into a single. room. Everyone's going to watch it at.

the same time. No one knows what they're. about to watch. And are they about to. watch something that they are going to. regret? When I sat down with John Gacy, and we. got to the moment of the tape discovery, I could see him reliving this. 20 years. ago, that this was a going to be a. defining moment for him. >> So, we get a call that they got the. videotape. They they've they've fixed. it. Looks like they'll be able to play. it.

They're in the conference room. Andy and. I arrive about the same time. We walk in and you could hear a pin drop. in the room cuz nobody in the room. knows what we're about to see. And are. you prepared to see what you're going to. see? >> There was so much tension as they're. waiting for the technician to hit play. Opening shot. is the camera in the hallways of. Pocatello High School. Kids are moving around. They're going to.

lockers. They're getting stuff. It appears that Brian is doing most of. the camera work. Now, what's strange about this tape is. that it jumps around because it's out of. order. It's happening on multiple days. We're we're in March of 20 2006 and then. we jump to September 21st, the day. before Cassie is killed. But early on, something happens that uh. catches everyone's breath in that police. room when they're watching it.

It's a shot of the camera POV. Brian holding it, walking down the. hallway. which is. almost empty. You see a student off in the distance. A long row of lockers. As you get closer. you realize. it's Cassie. Brian spins around.

puts the camera on her says. >> Hello, Cassie. I'm getting you on tape, okay? Say hi, please. >> Hi. >> Okay, see you. Wait. Have you seen Tory? >> Uh-uh. >> He's supposed to meet me here at 7:30. and it's 8:19. He's an hour late. You You don't even care, do you? Okay. See you.

>> Bye. >> When you look at the timestamp, it's September 22nd. >> This is the day that they killed her. He. approaches her on tape in the hallways. of Pocatello High School. Um certainly a a huge shock for anybody. that's watching this. >> She's in the clothes. that she's killed in. >> Yeah. >> It's hard to watch. >> Yeah. >> It's clearly Brian. taunting her. >> Yeah. >> Is he taunting her with a plan to kill. her? Is he taunting her with the plan to.

only scare her? And is that going to be. a part of this tape? What else is on. this tape? >> Okay, so seeing Cassie at her locker. alive. the morning of September 22nd, knowing. that that night. she would be murdered, is certainly. heartbreaking and shocking and. diabolical. kind of at the same time. >> This tape is 35 minutes long. Seeing Cassie at the lockers is one of. the earlier scenes, if you want to call.

it that. And what police are going to. see is that Brian and Tory captured the. rest of their day and into the night. What is on this tape that Brian and Tory. did not want anyone to see? >> The most shocking parts are still yet to. come and we're [music] going to explore. that on the next episode. >> All right, we checked out the whole. house. We know there's lots of doors and. there there's lots of places to hide.

>> And then [music] in the video you see. them they're driving there to to commit. this crime. >> There should be no law against killing. people. >> We just killed Cassie. We just left her. house. >> Shut the up. We got to get our act. straight. >> [music].