Bonnie Lee Schultz: Strangers and Secrets in a Mom’s Last Night Out

Hi, crime junkies. I'm your host, Ashley. Flowers. >> And I'm Brett. And. >> I have an interesting one for you today. One where I ask you to put aside old. tropes and quick judgments and listen. all the way to the end of the story. Because you might just find the thing. that I've come to learn over the years. That when you go beyond the surface. level of a case, things are never as. simple as they appear. Because [music]. this case on its surface seems like one. that you might have heard before. A. tragic tale as old as true crime. Woman. tells her husband she wants a divorce.

Woman goes missing. And husband does and. says all the wrong things which make. everyone around him think he is oh so. guilty of a crime they just can't prove. even happened. He eventually dies under. a cloud of suspicion and the case is. still unsolved. But if the husband did it and it was. that obvious, why couldn't police make. their case? So, for just a moment, I. want us all to consider something. What. if the reason this case hasn't been.

solved isn't because answers went with. her husband to [music] the grave? What. if it's because nobody ever looked for. the answers in the right place? And if. we could step back and reconsider what. we think we know, is it possible to. finally find Bonnie Lee Schultz? In the summer of 1997, Bonnie Lee Schulz.

found herself [music] in a position that. many women have. She had gotten married. young to her high school boyfriend and. jumped quickly into the role of. homemaker, following her husband's job. wherever it took them. In over 26 years. of marriage, she raised two kids who she. loved more than anything. But no amount. of love from them back could fill the. space that she felt growing between her. and her husband Rick. It wasn't the kind. of thing that I think happens all at. once because of something said or done. [music] It's this like lifetime of small.

decisions that send two people growing. in separate directions. But there came a. time for Bonnie when I think finding a. way back to each other probably didn't. seem possible. About the time her. youngest would have been going into. first grade, Bonnie decided to join the. workforce. [music] So, she got a job at. a company called RGis or sometimes. called Regis, [music] doing inventory. audits at stores in the area. I don't. know if the goal was just to like get a. little more independence and identity. outside of the home or if it was just to. have some [music] extra money since her.

husband kept her on a tight budget, but. it served to do both nonetheless. And. Rick wasn't a fan. Bonnie told her. friend Diane that Rick made it clear. I. mean, she could go get her full-time. job, but he still expected her to have. the house cleaned and dinners ready at. the same way he did when she was a. stay-at-home mom. So, she juggled it. all. But with time away came. perspective, and perspective is. everything. The more Bonnie was around. other people and saw other. relationships, she became less satisfied.

with her own. >> [music]. >> Now, I have no idea how many. conversations she and Rick had in the. privacy of their own home about her. [music] unhappiness or the unique. challenges of their relationship, but. they never discussed marital [music]. problems in public, at least not until. 1997. That's when things were coming to. a head. Aside from whatever she was. feeling internally about her marriage, her mother got diagnosed with cancer and. made a quick decline. She passed away in. 1995, which I'm sure kind of brought.

with it a whole other host of feelings. And so by Easter 1997, when her and Rick. were in Wisconsin for her niece's first. communion, Bonnie's brother, Mike, says. that he and his siblings witnessed the. first fight that he had ever seen. between the couple. Bonnie had. instigated it, pointing out that Rick. didn't do things for her that other. husbands did for their wives. The. specifics are lost on Mike all these. years later, but he said it was kind of. her just being like, you know, so and so.

does this for their wife, this person. does that, you don't do any of these. things for me. And he said it might have. started as banter, but it actually got. heated until finally the couple just. like stopped. >> And probably in like good Midwest. fashion, everyone sat in awkward silence. for about half a second before trying to. just like change the subject and pretend. like they didn't see what just happened. Well, and I wonder how much of that was. brought on by her mom situation. Like. not just watching her die and all the. emotions that come with that, but like. you said it was quick. So like the idea.

that any moment could be your last. Your. life is so short. >> It it would make you like really take. stock of things. That's what I was. saying like brings up this whole host of. feelings like am I happy? Am I living. the life that I want to live? And I. mean, I could read into this for days. cuz traditionally the farther back you. go in generations, the more you have. just these like expectations of what it. means to be a wife and a mother and. married and like you pick a path at 19. and then all of a sudden that is your. lot in life when you're 45. Like was her. mother happy? I don't know. I mean.

actually Rick does say that this kind of. was like playing a parting. >> Yeah. But I mean I see your point and I. think it's a good one. like death in. general just gets people thinking and it. is very possible and likely based on. what Rick later says that whatever was. bubbling under the surface got. accelerated by her mother's death cuz. after that fight in Wisconsin things. don't go back to status quo when they. get back to Indianapolis 2 weeks before. she went missing Bonnie called one of. her closest friends Diane Dando the two. actually lived pretty close to each. other and so the two would actually go.

for walks whenever one phoned the other. but this time when Bonnie called Diane. knew that it was different right away I. mean for one it late when she called, [music] like 900 p.m. And when she heard. Bonnie's voice, she could tell right. away that she was upset. So, the two met. up for a walk, and she said Bonnie just. like unloaded. She said Rick made her. feel unappreciated and ugly. Their. intimacy was gone, and she had to beg. him for any affection. And this, all of. this was already taking Diane back. I.

mean, they hung out like with the. couple, like her and her husband. altogether. They played cards all the. time. She had no idea. >> But you never really know. >> But then Bonnie, this is when she. dropped the real bomb. She said, "I'm. about to have an affair, and I really. don't want to do that to Rick, but you. know, I need somebody that makes me feel. appreciated and loved, and I don't. [music] feel that anymore with him." And. so Diane was like, "Well, why don't you. just ask Rick for a divorce? Tell him. you don't want to be married anymore.". And Bonnie said that she was afraid of.

how Rick would react. But clearly that's. where things were headed because she. also said that she was going to start. looking for apartments, though she had. no idea how she was going to actually. afford one. I mean, she wanted something. close by so the kids could still see. their dad. But even the two bedrooms. were too much, and she probably really. needed three since her son was 15 and. her daughter was 10. And the bigger. issue at hand was that she didn't even. know how to get a divorce or how much. that would even cost. And so she was. really looking to Diane for some kind of. advice or help. And Diane was still.

married. So she's like, "Listen, I have. no clue. Like, what about one of your. sisters? Can you ask [music] them?" And. Bonnie was like, "No, no, no, no. I. don't I don't want any family knowing at. this point." So Diane made another. suggestion. She said, "Well, isn't there. a lady at work who you said is divorced? Like maybe you can ask her." M. >> and there was possibly more than one, but I know for sure that Bonnie began. confiding in a woman named Anita. Cardone. Just to pause for a second, can. we go back to the affair comment real.

quick? Like was there someone specific. she was talking about or was she just. like I am so lonely. I have to do. something like this is the path that I'm. on based on like where my relationship. with my husband is. >> In this conversation with Diane, she. doesn't name anyone specific. And Diane. didn't press for a name or details at. the time. She just kind of wanted to let. Bonnie vent without prying too much. And. she assumed if there was someone, it. would probably just be someone that. Bonnie worked with. >> And there actually was someone. And.

Dian's assumptions were spoton. The. man's name was John Guy, and he worked. at Regis with Bonnie and Anita. Now, I. don't know how her relationship with Jon. started or exactly when, [music]. but Bonnie was getting bolder. With. every day that passed, she seemed more. comfortable standing on her own, going. places, making plans, whether Rick. approved or not, with people he didn't. know. She put a deposit down for a. cruise that she planned to take with. co-workers in December. and encouraged.

by Anita, she began going out more after. work with like that group of people to. just grab drinks or to at least be. social with those drinking cuz like she. wasn't much of a drinker herself. So. somewhere in all of that, something. began to blossom between Bonnie and this. John guy. And she was probably feeling. seen and cared for and so many other. feelings that she'd probably resigned. herself to believing were for other. people. But it wasn't a fairy tale. John. told her he wasn't going to date a. married woman. So there wasn't a happy.

ending where she didn't hurt someone. But for probably the first time in 26. years, Bonnie was going to choose. herself. On July 3rd, 1997, she sat with. Rick on the front porch of their home. and in no uncertain terms told him that. she wanted a divorce. They went back and. forth for a while, but there was no. talking her out of it. The time for. compromise had passed. like her mind was. made up and she wasn't going to keep. arguing about it. She told Rick that she.

was going to go to a house party with. Anita to watch fireworks that night and. then she would be back because she. promised to take their daughter Gretchen. to a movie and then the family was going. to go see a fireworks show together the. next day. It was going to be July 4th. Diane recalls Bonnie saying how excited. that Gretchen was for the fireworks. So, she was like set on going even if it was. going to be awkward being around Rick. and their friends when no one else would. know that they were about to separate. And like the thing I want to like get. across is that whatever was happening. between her and Rick, [music] it did not. change how she felt about her kids. So.

at around 8:30 that night after they. have this conversation, she went inside. and leaned down to kiss her daughter. goodbye. And her daughter Gretchen. remembers her mom's necklace swinging as. she did this. The number one mom pendant. that she and her brother Josh had gotten. her for Mother's Day was like tapping. her in the face. With it being 97, I can. like close my eyes and see this end. >> So, Bonnie kisses her goodbye. She walks. out the door and drives off in her blue. 1990 Mercury Sable. And the mystery of.

what happens next has plagued those who. love Bonnie for 28 years now. If Bonnie. left her house calm, cool, and. collected, that mask had melted away by. the time she got to the Hulahans's. restaurant where she met Anita and other. co-workers, cuz Anita says that when. Bonnie shows up, she looked really. upset. Like, Anita could tell that she'd. been crying. So, she hustled Bonnie to. the bathroom so they could talk in. private. And Bonnie told Anita that she. just had this big fight with her. husband, Rick. She told him she wanted a.

divorce. Rick said no, >> which is that's not how that works, >> right? And Anita said that Bonnie looked. so upset that she even asked if Rick hit. her, but Bonnie said no. Though, she. also told Anita that she didn't know. what Rick might do. Once Bonnie calmed. down, they ate dinner with a few. co-workers and then they went to that. party where they could see fireworks at. a house that was owned by this woman. that John was friendly with. Her name. was Phyllis. So, they all stay at. Phyllis's house until about 12:30. And. then that's when a small group of them.

decide to move that party from the house. to this bar that Phyllis worked at. called the Timeout Lounge. They might. have bopped over to another place first, but like all in all, they were at the. timeout lounge as it got close to. closing time. And we actually talked to. Phyllis for this story and it felt a. little bit like we got to step back into. a time machine because guess where you. can find her? She still tends bar at the. timeout lounge and she told us that she. remembers that night like it was. yesterday.

Some cases fade from headlines. Some. never made it there to begin with. I'm. Ashley Flowers and [music] on my. podcast, The Deck, I tell you the. stories of cold cases featured on. playing cards distributed in prisons. designed to spark new leads and bring. long overdue justice. Because these. stories deserve to be heard, and the. loved ones of these victims still. deserve answers. Are you ready to be.

dealt in? Listen to the deck now, wherever you get your podcasts. Phyllis didn't know Bonnie all that. well. She just knew her through John and. they'd come in a couple of times before. And she said Bonnie never drank much, maybe a beer, and things were like par. for the course that night. Now, she. wasn't at dinner, but by the time Bonnie. got to her house, she seemed fine as. they watched fireworks and they all hung. out at the bar. Now, Anita told. investigators that she left the bar at. around 2 or 2:30 in the morning. And.

Phyllis said that she called it quits. not [music] long after that, just before. closing time, around like 2:45. And when she called it quits, Bonnie and. John were still hanging out. They. actually had hung back with some [music]. staff till about 3:30 when it was very. much like a you don't have to go but you. can't stay here situation. [laughter]. The bar was like going to officially. close up shop. So when the final people. trickled out of the parking lot, John. and Bonnie were still there together. talking outside their cars. And that was.

the last time other people saw Bonnie. Less than 5 hours later, Gretchen was. waking up to a whole new reality. That. morning, when she came downstairs, her. dad was in the living room fully. dressed, reading with the dog in his. lap. And it wasn't weird that he was up. before her. But, you know, it was a. little out of the norm that he wasn't. still in his [music] PJs. And when she. asked where her mom was, her dad just. said that she was probably at a friend's. house. Like, no biggie. But it does feel. odd when the day keeps slipping by. without her there. She doesn't show up.

to take Gretchen to the movie as. planned. [music] Josh gets back from the. sleepover that he was at by the. afternoon, but Bonnie is still not. [music] there. So, at 5:10 p.m., Rick. reports her missing. A deputy from the. Marian County Sheriff's Department goes. to their house to take the report on the. 4th. [music] He gets her vehicle. information, but when he hears that they. had been having marital issues and. they're talking about it before she. leaves the house that night to go hang. out with friends, he might make some. assumptions that Bonnie's just going to.

turn back up. I mean, he literally says. like basically call us if she does and. then he leaves. So, not knowing what. else to do, Rick tries to keep things as. normal as possible for the kids. They go. to their friend's house to watch the. fireworks as planned and Rick just tells. the other people there that Bonnie had. gone out with friends. >> He doesn't mention that he had just. reported her missing. >> Not to them. No. >> Wait, do the kids at this point realize. that she's missing? Like they would have. seen the deputy show up.

>> We talked to Josh. He says that he. doesn't remember the deputy coming to. the house that Friday or his dad. reporting her missing, which to me, like. there is probably a world where he was. trying to shield them from all of that. >> Yeah. >> So Josh can't remember exactly how or. what his dad told him in those first few. days. He just knows that he knew. something was wrong by Saturday, the. next day for sure. Now, no one calls or. comes by the house on Saturday. So, not. knowing what else to do, that's when. Rick starts looking for contact numbers.

for people that Bonnie worked with, specifically Anita, since he knew that's. who Bonnie was going out with that. night. Now, it took him some back and. forth with Bonnie's boss, Felix, to get. Anita on the phone. But when he finally. does, she tells him she has no clue. where Bonnie was. She said they each. headed home at like 3:00 in the morning. Bonnie was fine then. Now, we know this. isn't the whole truth, but she wasn't. about to tell Rick that his wife hung. back with John, but she at least calls. John right after she gets off the phone.

with Rick to see if he is with her. And. he's like, >> "No, he had no clue." He said that. people couldn't find her, and he hadn't. seen her talk to her since they left the. Timeout Lounge. So, since Anita is. saying that Bonnie was driving home the. last she saw her, Rick decides to go out. and look for Bonnie or her car that. Saturday night. And then again with Josh. first thing Sunday morning. And Josh. says that he remembers his dad seeming. worried but not overly frantic. They. were just kind of looking anywhere they. could think of for her car or for any.

sign of her. But no matter how many. streets and parking lots they search, there is just no sign of Bonnie. So that. night, this is Sunday night now, Rick. calls her friend Diane, the one that she. walks with, and he's calling her to tell. her that Bonnie's missing. Now, it's. about 7:00 p.m. when she gets that call, and she said she answered the phone, and. Rick's voice is kind of shaky, and he's. just like, "Um, I'm just calling to tell.

you that um Bonnie's [music] missing.". Is Is this the first call she's getting. about Bonnie? >> Yeah. So he didn't call her at all. before to see if Diane had seen her, knew where she was. >> No. Which like you would kind of think, right? But she says this is the first. time she's finding out that nobody knows. where Bonnie is. >> It kind of feels like there's zero rhyme. or reason as to who Rick is telling, when he's telling them, what they're. telling. And like this all feels super. weird. >> It gave Diane a bad feeling, too. And.

she said instantly she thought quote, "You son of a you killed her. You did. [music] something to her." End quote. That's what she told us. Now Diane's. husband told her, you know, you're just. jumping to conclusions. Bonnie is. probably just staying with a friend or. something. But she's like, "Who, you. know, like whose house would she be at?". Right? He said she's been gone since. Thursday. It's Sunday now. He's just. telling me, never called and asked like, "Have you seen her? Is she with you?

Have you talked to her? Do you know. where she is? Like never got that call. So her husband telling her not to worry. did not make her worry any less. >> Shocker. >> Yeah. She said right then she marched. over to their house ready to confront. Rick. But as she's going over there, she. like knocks on the door and it's. Gretchen who answers and which like. totally knocks her off her axis cuz she. like she forgot about the kids in all of. this. And she's not about to interrogate. Gretchen's dad in front of her. So she.

decides to like tone it down a little. bit and just like talk to him. Except. the conversation did not make her feel. any better. So she says like, "Rick, tell me what happened. Tell me how. things went down.". >> And he goes, "Well, you know, she went. out that night with some people that she. worked with and apparently she was out. until 3:00 when the bar closed and she. never came home." He told her that the. lady she works with, I assume he means. Anita, kept calling him and saying she. wanted to talk to the cops. Like, give. me the cop that's involved. And I'm.

guessing Anita wanted to tell someone. what she knew about Bonnie's like real. last movements, but she still didn't. want to tell Rick anything. But by the. way, there is no cop involved. The. sheriff's office has still not called. them back. A detective hasn't even been. assigned to the case yet. But that. report the deputy took is just in like. holiday weekend purgatory waiting for. regular business hours to start. >> Which is like wild. >> Yeah. And like I don't know, maybe.

fasttrack the missing person. So anyway, so he's telling Diane about Anita like. blowing him up and he made a comment. He. goes, you know, it's a holiday weekend. Nobody's going to find her car or. anything until after the holiday. Every. place is closed until Monday. So, it's. going to be a few days before anybody. even finds her car or sees her, you. know, somewhere like behind a doctor's. office. >> That feels like a weirdly specific. example. >> Diane says she just looked at him like,

"What the hell, man? Like, what what. does that mean?". >> Yeah. >> And then she said there was this other. moment when he was sitting in a chair. like looking down at his feet and all of. a sudden he goes, "And [snorts] she is. too stupid to even know how to use an. ATM card." like meaning Bonnie. And she. said her eyes just went wide and her. mouth like dropped open. >> Yeah. >> And he looks up from his feet and sees. the shock in her face. Like what are you. saying about your missing wife right. now? And without her actually like. saying that out loud, he goes, "Oh,

well, I mean, you know, she's just never. used one before." So she ends up leaving. the house not feeling any better than. when she got there, but also unsure what. to do about her growing suspicions. So. that's Sunday night. Monday is when. Bonnie's case finally gets assigned to a. detective and that person gives Rick a. call to see if Bonnie [music] has come. back yet. Glad that's the first course. of action. I guess. >> she hasn't. And Rick tells them he.

hasn't found anyone who has talked to. her, seen her. And so this is when the. detective starts making more calls. >> Making more calls. Like do they not go. to the house and talk to Rick or the. kids? Maybe like poke around a little. bit? >> No. And this is really frustrating for. those looking back on the case because. there's a thousand little things that. have been speculated like in all these. years since Bonnie went missing. Stuff. that would probably be a whole lot more.

clear or definitive if the early days of. this case would have been handled. differently. But it seems like day one. after [music] being assigned the case, the Marian County detective is just. making calls, getting statements from. the people who were last with Bonnie, like Anita, [music]. who tells them how upset Bonnie was when. she showed up, and she tells them the. full story that she didn't tell Rick, that Jon was there with them, and Bonnie. and Jon had been having an affair for a. couple of months. She definitely did not.

think that Rick knew. And she says that. she definitely didn't say anything to. him when he called her looking for. Bonnie. And so she's admitting to. investigators that she lied to Rick. Like she didn't want to tell him. anything that would throw Bonnie under. the bus. She says she didn't even tell. him where else they went that night. She. just told him that she and Bonnie left. the party at 3:00 a.m. But the truth, she tells investigators, is that when. she left at around 2:00 2:30 a.m., Bonnie was still with John. But then she. also tells him, "Listen, like I called. John. John has no clue where she is. So,

she's not with him. Which, as you can. imagine, when the detective hears this, they want to talk to Jon directly. >> And he confirms what Anita said, that. she left before he and Bonnie did. And. he says that him and Bonnie stayed. inside till around 3:30 a.m. And then. after that, they were like chatting, kissing next to their cars in the. parking lot for like an hour, he says. And he says Bonnie mentioned to him this. big argument that she had with Rick. earlier that night and that Rick told. Bonnie he would fight a divorce. And he.

said they were also just generally. talking about other things like she said. she was going to take her 10-year-old. daughter to the movies later that day. So that means as of like 4 in the. morning, she's still planning on being. home that day. >> She's planning. Yeah. And John says that. after they were done talking, so this. would be around like 4:45 in the. morning, him and Bonnie get into their. own cars to each head to their own. respective [music] homes. Now, they. didn't live near one another, but they. did both need to travel west [music] to. get to their homes. So, he says Bonnie.

was following his car for part of the. drive. And as they turn south [music]. out of the Timeout Lounge parking lot, they would have been driving down. Allisonville Road to 62nd Street. Like. this is all very familiar to us. We're. like in this area all the time. >> But they turn onto 62nd Street heading. west. >> and then at Compton Street that's when. John has to turn [music] off to get to. his house. >> So at the light he went into the left. turn lane. Bonnie pulled up next to him. and he waved to her as he turned and.

then Bonnie continued straight towards. her house which would have been like. another 20 minutes away. But that he. says is the last time he saw her. Now I. assume they talked to other people as. well who were there that night. But how. long it took to make contact with people. and when exactly those conversations. happened is a little TBD. I just know. that it's not until August 6th, a full. month after Bonnie went missing, that.

investigators actually talked to Rick in. person for a recorded interview that we. actually got a transcript of. Our records request from the. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police. Department was. >> You want to guess? Oh, yeah. Denied. >> [laughter]. >> always. But Bonnie's son Josh actually. had copies of this transcript and shared.

them with us. We informed IMPD that we. would be using this in our episode and. asked if we could have the recordings of. this [music] to at least if not play so. you could hear him directly match tone. and inflection because I don't want the. vibe of it. >> I don't want to misrepresent anything. said by Richard Schultz aka I mean. whoever calls Rick. I know call him. Rick. His name's Richard. But again, they denied that request. So these. sections of the transcript are going to. be read by voice actors and it may not. reflect the exact tone.

>> What is your name, sir? >> Richard E. Schultz. What is your age? >> 46. And do you know why you're down here. this morning? >> Uh, questioning relating to the. disappearance of my wife. >> All right, sir. When was the last time. you saw Mrs. Schultz? at approximately. 8:30 p.m. Friday or Thursday, July 3rd. >> Okay. And would you tell us was there. any discussions on July 3rd that evening. or prior to her leaving? >> Yes, there was.

>> And what were those discussions? >> We had discussed as we had previously. some situations in regards to divorce. >> Now, when you say situations, that's a. general term. I need you to be specific. financial aspects I believe would be the. best way to. put about a divorce. >> All right, sir. >> How we could her desire was to stay in. the house with the kids and stay where. fairly in the school systems and we were. happy with the school systems and uh.

what we could do to meet that wish as. well as provide some finances for me to. set up a separate apartment or whatever. if it came to that. Did she in fact ask. you to move out of the house at a future. date on July 3rd, 1997 prior to leaving? >> She did not [clears throat] ask me to. move out. Did you discuss previously. with her about you moving out? We had. discussed previously about a possibility. of either one of us moving out. And who. brought that up? I think it was it was.

just a joint part of the conversation as. to what the possibilities were. The. discussion about her moving out was. primarily it would it would be easier. for me to obtain a mortgage to keep the. house than it would be probably for her. But the point I want to make about. Friday's discussion was I was willing to. procure the mortgage allow her to live. in the house with the kids again as long. as we were able to come up with enough. finances that I could set up a separate.

house. I was willing to make the. payments so she could stay in the house. with the kids and I would move out as my. indication of some willingness to. compromise on these issues so we could. discuss intermediate steps to divorce. rather than going to that final step. right away. >> Were you surprised when she talked to. you about divorce? >> Very. And when was the first time she. brought up divorce? >> I'd say in the end of May, sometime. during the month of May. uh couple of. months prior to the beginning of July in.

that time frame. >> What was her reason for wanting a. divorce? >> Lack of sexual activity on my part. >> That was the sole reason. >> and her fear of ending up being alone. And she defined alone as the fact that. we had nothing in common. How did you. take that? My reaction was, you know, we. had the same thing in common as most. married people do. I mean, we had. children. Our lives revolved around the. children. Uh, sporting activities,

school activities. I mean, Bonnie was in. booster clubs for Josh's sports. activities. She was in the PTA for. Gretchen. She was a member of the alter. church. I had been the treasurer of the. church. I've been a coach for Little. League. I I mean, our lives just. revolved around the kids. So, I mean to. say we had nothing in common, I thought. was a gross overstatement. >> Did it anger you? >> It bewildered me. I don't think it. angered me. Um, in the whole month or. two that lead up to the time of her.

leaving, I was trying. out, you know, what what caused her to. come to these types of conclusions or. whatever. I mean, it was what did she. say was thrown out in a very. matter-of-act type of situation rather. than again apparent to me building up. over time. uh and she just said, you. know, she was unhappy with some of the. things that were going on in her life. She felt underappreciated at times and. um by me and the kids and uh again, it.

was just a half a dozen or so. conversations over that period of time. trying to find out what the source of. all this was. It hit me out of the blue. And the. period of time would be from somewhere. in May to the beginning of July when she. left, but I don't remember the specific. date that she brought it up or whatever. >> Okay. It strikes me as it struck me as a.

very short period of time from the time. that she started to discuss the voice. her displeasure to, you know, sometime. in the round of the 1st or middle of. June saying, "Well, I just think that we. should just get a divorce." There are no. answers. Well, you know, in my own. opinion, there are intermediate steps to. take before we do that. I I think that. we could for counseling and try and find.

out if we can reconcile before we go to. divorce. And what did she say to that? She didn't she didn't say very much. She's just hung up on the divorce. situation. And again, I tried to appease. her to a certain degree by saying that, you know, I think that there's a way we. can financially handle. We wouldn't no. matter which direction we went. we. wouldn't lose the house and the kids. living where they were or whatever, which I was hoping was a peace offering. or whatever you want to call it to try.

to get her to discuss or consider of the. intermediate steps before before a. divorce. >> Now, I want to just jump in really quick. and compare this to what we actually. know. The timing makes sense. So, we. know that the fight they had in front of. her family was around Easter. The one. where she's saying he doesn't do things. that other husbands do for their wives. >> Everyone's sitting awkwardly watching it. happen. >> So, the idea that like since May she has. been saying she feels unappreciated by. her family. Like that tracks.

>> That makes sense. Easter spring, May's. right after. >> and Rick says that he notices this. strong shift a couple of months ago. So, that lines up with what Anita has told. police that like she's been seeing John. for like that amount of time. And Rick. is super honest about Bonnie having. issues with a lack of intimacy on his. part, which to me would be an easy thing. to lie about, but he doesn't. >> Yeah. >> The thing that is a little TBD in this. is his response to her wanting a. divorce. And it feels so nuanced to me.

So, he's saying that like he just wants. to figure it out. Like, let's take some. steps first before we just like jump. straight to divorce, which feels. reasonable. But you have Anita saying. that Bonnie is super upset that night. and Rick would not give her the divorce, which makes you want to say like, "Oh, he's lying.". >> But I will say that when police talked. to their 10-year-old daughter who was. home that night, Gretchen, she said she. was watching them outside through the. window as they were like on the porch.

having this conversation. She says it's. like 15, 20 minutes long. And she could. tell that her mom was like a little. upset just by the way she was talking. >> It was an intense conversation. >> Yeah. She didn't necessarily even. describe it as an argument. Like mom. seemed upset, which like I don't think. contradicts anything that Rick is. saying, >> right? >> So, let's just jump back into the. interview. >> Has Mrs. Schultz ever left like this. before? >> Never. >> Has she ever threatened to leave before? >> No. >> Have you ever been physically violent. towards her? Have you ever struck her,

pushed her, shoved her, held her tight. against her will, or anything at all? >> No. >> Never. Ever. Never. When she asked you. for a divorce, did you think at any time. during those 3-month time period? And I. know that's just a ballpark figure on. the time frame, think that there was. another person in her life, another. male? I did not. When she told you that. she was disappointed in the lack of uh. sexual activity, did you then think. there possibly may be another male? I. would I probably I probably thought.

there was a possibility, but I just I. still don't think so. I mean, it's. possible. Sure. >> Well, I need I'm trying to find out what. you're thinking. Did you consider. another male? >> No. >> At all? >> No. >> During that whole 3 month time period, you never considered that Bonnie may be. having an affair? >> I did not. >> Do you know any of her co or did you. know any of her co-workers prior to her. disappearance? >> No.

>> Okay. So, you know of no co-workers. address or phone numbers prior to her. disappearance? I I did not. >> Again, this all tracks with what other. people know. The way that Bonnie. explained things to Diane on their walk, it did not seem like Rick knew there was. another man. And Anita and John are very. clear and say that Rick did not know. about the affair. I mean, even up until. the point of Saturday when Rick is. calling Anita looking for Bonnie, he's. not asking about another man. And Anita.

isn't offering that up. She is still. covering for Bonnie, >> right? He's just asking specifically. like about Bonnie. Not even like who. they were, >> where they were, which is where they. were. >> Where they were. When was the last time. you saw her, >> which is what makes this next part of. the interview stand out to detectives. >> What time does Bonnie leave? July 3rd, 1997. 8:30, maybe 8:40 p.m. >> Okay. Do you know where she's going. >> specifically? No. She told me she was. going to a party, a house party with.

Anita. When did you talk to Anita? I. tried to call her a couple of times. during the afternoon on Saturday the. 5th. I got no answer and no answering. machine. Um, her daughter called me back. later that same afternoon indicating. that she had gotten a number off of. caller ID type list. I don't have that. feature so I don't know how it works. Um, and I asked her if Anita was there. and she said she thought she had gone to. work. I asked her if she knew where.

Bonnie was and she said she didn't know. Uh, and then after talking, I believe it. was after talking to her, Felix had. returned my beep. I had beeped him and. talked to him about the situation. He. had a manager from Regis call me later. that evening, like say in the 7:00 area. on Saturday. On Saturday, from the job. that Bonnie was supposed to be at, he. indicated she was not there. He. indicated that Anita was I asked him to. have Anita call me. He said that he.

would do that. She called a half an hour. 45 minutes later. I asked her if she. knew where Bonnie was. She said no. She. said they had left a timeout lounge the. night before around 3. And I need you to. speak up. You got quiet on me. Oh, I'm. sorry. I keep forgetting the name of the. place. Um the the timeout lounge name. just [clears throat] gets me every time. I bring it up.

>> here. This is the main reason I want to. see this recorded interview so badly. because this is the moment detectives. still point to 28 years later. The. moment they believe Rick knows he messed. up. Sergeant Kner with IMPD has viewed. that tape and he says that you can read. the words on the page, but what you. cannot see is Rick's body language. Kner. says that Anita is very clear that she.

never told Rick where she and Bonnie had. been when he called on Saturday. According to her, all she said was that. they headed home around 3:00 a.m. Full. stop. So then, >> so how would Rick know about the timeout. lounge? Hisner says that he and the. current lead detective agree that you. can see it in his demeanor that he. realized he stepped in it. And if Anita. never told him where they were or. anything more, then this next part.

really doesn't make sense. >> So Anita told you that they had left the. Timeout Lounge around 3:00 in the. morning. That's correct. Okay. left. about 3:00 in the morning. Yes. So, this. was maybe around 8 on Saturday evening. I got in the car. I drove to the timeout. lounge. I went across 86th Street. >> So, you knew where the timeout lounge. was. I looked it up in the phone book. >> Okay. Or I I believe or Anita may have.

told me. I don't remember how I found. out where it was. Okay. I I drove over. there going east on 86th Street to. Allisonville. I found the place. Came. back through Broadripple on 62nd Street. around 8:30 quarter till 9 on Saturday. night. It's very busy. There are lots of. people on the street and lots of cars. and I did not see anything. Sunday. morning at 5:00. Josh and I got up and.

went to try to retrace those same steps. and we went. >> How do you know to go through. Broadripple? You went to 86 to. Allisonville Road and you found the. timeout lounge. Why would you not go. back the same way that you went? >> Well, I didn't see anything on the way. over. Why? I mean, why go back the same. way? I was trying to figure out as many. possible ways that she would come home. Did you go 465? No, I did not. But you. went to 86th Street to go to 62nd on the. way back through Broadripple. Yeah. Why?

I mean, if you're looking for how she. would go home, I would think that you. would cover all of your bases. Uhuh. >> Well, why didn't you go 465? Because at. that point in time, the police report. had been filed. And I I assumed that it. would be if the car would have been seen. along 465. It's much more heavily. traveled than some of these other areas. So, you go out 86, but you come back. 62nd. What's the interest coming back on. 62nd? It's just a different possible.

route. I was going to try as many as. possible. Are those the only two that. you tried that evening? Yes. Okay. And. as I indicated, we got up early Sunday. morning, my son and I, and we went um I. I Anita told me, I believe on I don't. remember when it was the first phone. call or the second one, that she had. seen her heading west on 62nd Street. Anita told you that she saw Mrs. Schultz. When you say her? >> Yes. Heading west on 62nd Street.

>> From the timeout lounge. >> At what time? at 3 or 3:30 when they. left the bar. >> Anita said she saw her? >> Yes. >> Your wife. Did Anita say anybody else. was with them? She did not. She said. they were there alone. >> I get why investigators are suspicious. Yes, we know from John that Bonnie took. 62nd Street home and that's the last. place he saw her as they waved goodbye. But how would Rick know that? I mean,

he's saying he's checking all the. routes, right? >> Sure. But then he doesn't like 62nd. Street is the one that he calls out. specifically to investigators. And later. in the interview, he explains, well, you. know, like she was most familiar with. this route because of like X, Y, and Z. reasons, which all the reasons were. valid. And in 1997, this is a time. before Google Maps, so like I kind of. get that gut instinct off the bat. But. you've been down 62nd Street. >> like a million times. It turns into. Broadripple Avenue which has like this.

strip of restaurants, bars where like. all the college kids go. At least where. the college kids used to go. I don't. know it's cool anymore but it's like. very busy on a weekend. So he says his. reason for not checking 465 which is one. of our major highways is that like oh. well if there was an accident then. police would have [music] seen that. >> But like if that's your reasoning I'm. pretty sure the same can be said for. that area. >> Second. Yeah. And like sure that busy. road doesn't stretch all the way to her. house. Like check the whole route. Fine,

whatever. But check more. Yeah. So why. doesn't he? Like the feeling everyone. says they get is that it's like he knew. what route she took home. And if he. knew, there were only a couple of. options of how that could have happened. One, Anita misremembered and she. actually did tell him or let it slip and. he had more to go off of. or two. And the theory that police seem. to be hinting at, Rick followed Bonnie.

that night. And it wasn't just the fact. that he knew her route home that made. them [music] think that. It's actually. something Jon ends up telling them later. on. Sergeant Knisser says that in subsequent. conversations with John, he ends up. telling investigators like, "Hey, you. know, looking back on it, I had this gut. feeling that somebody was watching us. that night before we left in the parking.

lot at the timeout lounge." And then he. tells them about another instance. [music] prior to that in which they were. leaving the lounge and he saw a car pull. out behind Bonnie and it was actually. following her, but he got stopped at the. light so he wasn't able to follow it or. confirm like his suspicions and. obviously that time she was fine. So he. didn't really think anything of it until. now, of course. But now as in like not. the first time they talked to him. This. is after when I'm sure everyone is kind.

of side eyeing getting suspicious. correct of Rick. >> Correct. And to be clear, there is. nothing detectives have told us that. gives any insinuation that it's Rick. specifically [music]. he felt was the one watching, >> right? Just like just someone feeling. watched. >> Yeah. And I actually have a bit of a. hard time believing that it was Rick who. followed her before if someone was in. fact following her because that would. mean that he would have been behind her,

like got home after her or at least. right at the same time as her. And in. all the conversations she had with. friends and co-workers, she never said. that Rick had followed her. And she. still thought he didn't know about John. So, like I I think it's like if someone. had followed her before if if someone. was following her and it was the same. person both times. I just don't think. >> she would like she would have she would. have known it was her husband and he and. she would have known that he knew about. the affair and I feel like other people. would have heard about that. Anyways, I. don't know how much stock you can put in. a feeling in hindsight. What.

investigators feel like they can put. stock in is a polygraph. And both John. and Rick readily agree to them. One. passes, one fails. What's your guess? >> I mean, I I'm assuming that John passes and Rick. fails. >> You are correct. Which only bolsters. their suspicions. >> And do the police talk to the kids at. any point? Like Gretchen we know was. home that night? She's 10,

>> right? Josh was at a sleepover, but. yeah, she was home the whole time. >> Yeah, she remembers the conversation. that was like at least tense. But what. next? Like was dad there? Like does she. remember him leaving? This should be. easy to figure out. >> Yeah. She's like old enough to like be. aware, right? And yes, they do talk to. the kids, but I think they kind of do it. in this like a little bit like Shady. Boots way, like don't love. So, in the. first interview that they have, or the. first recorded interview they have with. Rick, they ask him if they can interview. the kids, and he's like, "Yes, of.

course." They ask if they can talk to. them alone, and at first he's like, "Yes." But then eventually he says, "You. know what? You can talk to Josh alone, but like I want to be there when you. talk to Gretchen." which like she's only. 10. Her mom is missing. >> Like he's six. Josh [music] is 16. Josh. is like 15. Yeah. So like I refuse to. fault him for wanting to be there for. his 10-year-old who whose mom is. missing. >> For sure. >> Whatever. >> But they just kind of go behind his. back. Like. >> one day they show up at the house at a. time when Rick isn't home and they talk.

to the kids without him there. >> Is that even legal? >> Right. Okay. So I was like, um, they're. minors. and he explicitly said he wanted. to be there when you talked to Gretchen. Like this feels pretty black and white. to me. And so like I was so like twisted. up about this that we even asked the. sergeant, Sergeant Ker about this. Now. he wasn't the one who who did this and. went to the house in '97 obviously now. >> Yeah. I'm like, are we good with this? And he said it wasn't a formal interview. with the kids. Like it wasn't recorded.

or anything. So he said detectives felt. like Rick was being controlling. So, this was their attempt to try and see if. the kids might mention something. offhand, like if their dad wasn't over. them, >> which like still didn't give me my. answer. So, I. >> like he's saying it's gray. >> Well, well, he was just saying like, "I. understand why they did it." So, then I. went to our lawyer, Crystal, and I'm. like, "No, but like on paper, is this. legal?" And she said, "It actually is. It is legal for police to talk to minors. without parental consent in Indiana.".

[music]. And just like Sergeant Kner said, Crystal said that if the parent is a. suspect, police would have an interest. to do this reason to do it. >> Yeah. To do it outside of their presence. to avoid any kind of like coaching or. intimidation. So, all of that to say, they do end up talking to the kids solo. Now, Josh can't tell them much because. he wasn't home that night. And Gretchen. tells them a lot of the same stuff her. dad and Bonnie's friends said about what. her mom was last wearing, which was like. a light tan purse, sandals, navy pants,

a striped like light and dark blue type. shirt, a herring bone necklace, wedding. ring, gold watch, and Gretchen remembers. something else that her mom was wearing. too. That number one mom necklace, the. one that was like right in her face as. her mom kissed her goodbye. And then. there's this moment where I have to. imagine the energy in the room shifts. for detectives. Sergeant Kner wasn't. there. He just read about this in old. reports, so he doesn't know exactly how.

it unfolded. But apparently at some. point while they're there, Gretchen goes. up to her mom and dad's bedroom and she. comes downstairs and she presents them. the number one mom necklace and she. tells the detectives that it was in a. different spot than where her mom. normally keeps it. >> That just gave me like the most full. body chills. [music] I know. >> I mean, is this Gretchen's way of like. telling them something? Like hinting at. something? I don't know what this is,

but we did get confirmation from [music]. the police that this is the item that. has been referenced online and in. reporting, but never actually named. until now. They actually approved us. releasing this information. Like, this. is the item everyone talks about that. the kid said she was never without this. necklace. Now, we really wanted to speak. with Gretchen ourselves for this. reporting, but she wasn't up for it. Cuz. in my mind, I'm like, you know, you. know, it's been so many years since this. happened. What if Bonnie wasn't wearing. the necklace [music] that night? Like. what if we are misinterpreting old.

reports? Like this either means. everything. >> Mhm. >> Or we are missing a piece and this. actually means nothing. Like what if her. mom took it off real quick? Like I was. talking to our director of reporting and. she was like oh yeah. She's like there's. like plenty of things I have where I'm. like oh my god I love this. I'm never. going to take it [laughter] off. I have. a very specific pair of earrings that. May insisted she get for my birthday and. I have worn them. >> Exactly. In front of her. >> She seen me wear them. >> Our other producer Ma said that her mom.

has a box of stuff that's literally like. a box of this stuff that like kids make. and you're like this is. >> or like give you because they love it. and they like think you will love it. too. >> I know. I can imagine as a mom like. literally making sure it dangles and. hits Josie in the face so she like knows. I'm wearing it. You know what I mean? and then like just drop it somewhere the. place I don't normally put it because. I'm about to head out the door. >> Well, and with that in mind, like did. anybody see her wearing it when she went. out that night? Like it's a again I can. picture this necklace. This is a.

distinct kind of necklace in the '9s. So, this is this is what kills me. Apparently, her shirt had a high. neckline, so no one remembers seeing. this. And like I think if she was. wearing necklaces, it would be outside. of her shirt. People talk about a. herring bone necklace she was wearing, >> but like I think the fact that it just. her chest wasn't exposed, you can't. prove she wasn't wearing it and it. wasn't like under the turtleneck. Now, even though we couldn't talk to. Gretchen, we did talk to Bonnie's son. Josh for this episode. We asked him. about this necklace and you know he. wasn't there when she left the house. obviously so he couldn't speak to that.

but I didn't know if maybe he remembered. this moment like when Gretchen like. gives them this or if he and Gretchen. ever talked about this after but like. whatever this big significant moment was. to detectives was not that for him cuz. he says he does not remember it. >> What about any other family members? Did. anybody else bring this up? I mean you. said she had sisters like no one? No, we. didn't get to speak to her sisters in. our reporting. Like they did help verify. some facts for us, but they didn't want. to have like long conversations about. this. Like it's still just too painful. But we did have a really long.

conversation with Bonnie's brother. So. that's Mike. And you know, it's. interesting. Like I think it's so easy. for us as reporters, crime junkies. listening to be like, "Oh, if this was. me in a situation, like I would bulldoze. my way through people until I got the. answers I needed." Mhm. >> Often times that is not what real life. looks like. In the very early days, like. her siblings weren't even really in. contact with police. They were kind of. getting what little updates they could.

from Rick in the first like [music] week. or so. So, he's actually the one who. does eventually call them and tell them. that Bonnie's missing. But kind of like. he called Diane a little bit later, he. did the same with them. He calls them on. the 6th. And at the time, they're like, "Well, do we need to come down? We need. to look from us. Yeah. He's like, "No, no, no. Don't come search. I'm I'm sure. she's going to be back." And at that. time, they were really not suspicious of. him at all. But after like a week of. Bonnie being gone, they're finally like,

"You know what? Like, we're coming down. from Wisconsin to help look for her.". And that was the following Friday. So, Mike and his sisters drive through the. night. They get to Rick's place at like. 5:30 in the morning and ring the. doorbell. They're obviously there with. like bags and stuff, right? Like they. don't know how long they're going to be. there, but the hope is that they're. going to stay till they find their. sister. >> But Mike says that when Rick opens the. door, his first words are something. like, "Oh, you're staying the night.".

>> Yeah, Rick, we're staying the night and. the night after that and the night after. that and the night until Bonnie comes. home. >> It was just odd, but like whatever. They. brushed it off. Everyone is in a weird. place right now. And for the next two. days, everyone just divides and. conquers. Mike and Rick go in one car. looking for Bonnie. Josh in another. uncle go in another car. And they just. drive and drive all day looking for her. or the car. And that goes on until. eventually like the family members from. Wisconsin, they have to go home because.

no car is found. There's no crime scene. And they felt like there was nothing. else they could do. And they all had. jobs and families that they had to go. back to. Like time does not stop when. you have a missing family member. I tell. people this all the time and still even. in that moment they go home not thinking. Rick did anything. So he's out there. He's looking for his wife and the kids. are standing beside him. Had Bonnie's. family always had a pretty good. relationship with Rick. Like families. could be different and blending them can.

be interesting. >> Yeah. No, I mean he's what been in their. family for like 26 years now. So, like, and listen, Rick for sure had his quirks. or like kind of just like one big quirk. really. And I heard this from several. people that we talked to. Rick did not. like to lose. Raet ball, cards, whatever. He was a very sore loser. Like. his whole mood would shift if he didn't. win. And like in a way where it's not. just like. >> it affects everybody. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Knowing that about him, I wonder.

if he viewed losing his marriage in the. same way. [music] Like divorce would be. >> him losing his wife, >> him not winning at marriage or him like. losing her to some. I mean, he says he. didn't know about the fair, but yeah, I. don't know. But anyway, so so that's. that's all that we like that's [music]. the relationship. It it was a fine. relationship. They just there was just. this one weird thing about him. >> Play games with Regg. >> pretty much. It was sort of to the point. where they're like, let's do anything. else. >> Yeah. So anyways, they go back to.

Wisconsin and eventually detectives do. start reaching out to interview [music]. them and the first was detective Michael. Kelly and it seems like he might really. be the first one to introduce them to. the idea that Rick might have something. to do [music] with this. And Bonnie's. brother, Mike, says that detective Kelly. tells them about the whole number one. mom necklace, which was odd, but even. they are like, like, okay, you maybe. should, who knows? Yeah. And detectives.

tell them that they even collected this. necklace, not to like process it as. evidence. They actually had a psychic. look at it, but eventually Rick wanted. it back or something. >> Wait, did the psychic see anything? >> Oh, uh, nothing important. Like, well, nothing that they think is important. whatever psychic they took it to, they. felt like the necklace had been broken. Like that's all really that came of it, but it definitely wasn't broken when. they had it. And then they didn't do any. kind of exam to try and track down and. see if it was like repaired or anything. Like I I think they kind of just like. wrote it off. But but again, Rick Rick.

like wants it back. So they eventually. give it back to Rick. But here's the. interesting thing that Detective Kelly. says. He says that when he meets up with. Rick to give it back, Rick says. something to him and learning what he. said flips the switch for Bonnie's. brother Mike. According to him, Detective Kelly said that when he met. Rick to give him this necklace, he had. to meet him out in public. He hands it. back to him. And before Detective Kelly.

gave it back, like right before Rick. asked him if he was wearing a wire, Detective Kelly told him no. And so he. hands the necklace back and then Rick. told him that he will never figure this. out. That is the [music] thing that finally. changed Mike's mind about what happened. to his sister. And he's super. transparent. He's like, "Look, I'm. taking detective's word for it. >> I can't prove that that even happened, but he's like, why would a detective lie.

to me about this?". >> Yeah. >> And from that moment on, it's been. different. And that permeates through. Bonnie's side of the family, making them. view everything in this new light. Like, why did he wait days to call? Why didn't. he want them to help come look right. then that first weekend? Why would he be. surprised that they showed up with bags. when they came? And then his sister Sue, Bonnie's sister, Sue, remembers. something now that's chilling to her.

She says, "When they first showed up at. Rick's house, Rick had on different. glasses than like he normally would. wear." And she's like, "Oh, like new. glasses, Rick?" And he says, "No, these. are my old ones. My other ones broke.". And she also noticed that there was a. scratch on the side of his face, like. next to his eye, where like the arm of. the glasses would connect to the rims. But before you say anything, let me say. two things. to circle all the way back.

to your original question. Did the. family ever grill Gretchen about the. necklace? No. One of Bonnie's sisters. really tried to keep a relationship with. the kids, which is hard to do if you're. coming in hot. >> And everyone else just thought that they. were really taking their dad's side and. there became this like huge rift in the. family. Like they didn't want to make. things harder on the kids and they were. kids. like they're not going to grill. them when they're already dealing with. the trauma of their mom being missing, especially when the grilling would have.

been about their dad. >> And then number two, to hop back to the. glasses and the possible cut. >> I'll ask this question again. Is it. everything or is it nothing? Because we. asked the current detective about this. Like I'm sorry, like was there a cut on. his face and broken glasses? That. >> seems notable. >> Feels like we should be talking about. this. And the current detectives say. there is zero mention in the responding. deputy's note about a cut on Richard's.

face. And by responding deputy, you mean. from the department who took the weekend. off before assigning a detective and. then didn't actually talk to Rick in. person for like what, like a month. >> or didn't do the recorded interview for. a month. But yeah, and this is what I. mean about how the lack of an. investigation in this case, I think. hinders both ways. If he did have that. cut, they missed their chance to take. photos and to add that as evidence. If. there wasn't a cut, and this is just bad.

memories or whatever, or it happened. after Bonnie went missing. >> There's also no proof of that. >> Yeah. And Rick can never prove that he. didn't have a cut because no one did. anything, but now he is paying for it by. being under this cloud of suspicion. Yeah, but I mean I feel like maybe he. should be under a cloud of suspicion. >> Yes, but only if the investigation was. thorough. And this is the drum beat that. I heard so loud and clear from Bonnie.

and Rick's son, Josh. He said he is. willing to accept that his dad did. something if they can just show him that. his dad did something. He's like, "You. don't think I want to know if my dad. murdered my mom? Of course I want to. know." But what's not fair to do is like. a halfass investigation and then point. the finger at the only parent they have. left. Make them wonder if the man they. live with and love is a killer. you. know, really mess with their heads, but.

not be able to give them. >> any specifics, right? >> Because there are there are none. Where. did this happen? When did this happen? How did this happen? The idea that they. can put forward this very vague theory. that just points to their dad because. they say he had motive, but also. acknowledge that there are all these. holes and look past all those holes. because the holes were put there by them. >> and the lack of investigation.

>> and yet not give their dad any breaks. That is what is like bull to them. So. he's like, "Look, I'm willing to also. accept that he looks the most guilty out. of everyone if you dug in harder and. actually looked at everyone.". But they didn't even do that. And that's. what we tried to do. And I do think. there is an entirely different side. [music] to this story that hasn't been. told. So, if you're feeling sure about. yourself now, hang on because I've got.

an entire part two of Bonnie's story. that is full of surprises, contradictions, and new theories about. what could have happened to Bonnie. [music] Lee Schultz that Fourth of July. morning back in 1997. Now, anyone who's part of the Crime. Junkie fan club doesn't have to hang on. >> [music]. >> You can listen to that episode right now. in our Crime Junkie app adree. And for. everyone else, you will get part two.

next week. So, we'll see you then. You. can find all the source material for. this episode on our website, crimejunkie.com. And if you want to listen to part two of. Bonnie story right now, make sure to. join the fan club. You'll get part twos. early. You'll get all of our episodes. adree [music] and tons of bonus. neverbeforreleased episodes. You can. join on our website, crimejunkkey.com, >> and you can follow us on Instagram, crimejunkodcast. We'll see you next week. for part two of the story.