Survivor Writes Attacker’s Name in Blood in Home Invasion

I believe that the evidence that we're. going to find, the statements that we're. getting from other people is going to. show that what you're telling us is not. the truth. That you in fact did go over. to house and assault her tonight. I hope. that you're not the type of person that. goes out here and sits and thinks up. horrible, deviant, terrible things to do. to people that prays on on innocent. people out here and and and and just.

tries to torture them and do terrible. things to them. I would rather think. that you're the person that made a. simple mistake tonight and just. did something that was totally out of. character and would not normally do. >> Hi, crime junkies. [music]. Even though I don't sound like it, I am. your host, Ashley Flowers. >> And I'm Brit. >> And even though I'm sick, I could not. let that stop me today from telling this. story because it is an urgent warning.

for the people of Elizabeth Town, Kentucky. There is a man living among. you who committed one of the most. violent, heinous crimes on a neighbor. that he barely even knew for a reason no. one knows. And with her grandchild in. the other room, he brutalized her. [music] and then went home to make. supper and watch TV like nothing. happened. And the only reason police. knew where to go looking for [music] him. and the mountain of evidence that proved. he committed this crime is because the.

victim wrote his name in her own blood. and somehow managed to survive so she. could warn others about [music] this. churchgoing father who masqueraded as a. good man. This story is going to be hard. to hear, but no one else is talking. [music] about it. So, I want to warn you. because some in the community have long. wondered [music] whether this survivor. is the only victim of Ernest Pine.

The neighborhoods that surround Rough. River Lake in Kentucky are quiet [music]. ones. It's over an hour away from any. big city and really gives those nothing. bad happens here kind of vibes to those. who don't know. But anyone who lived. there in August 2008 found out the hard. way that evil can reside anywhere. And. they learned that lesson at the expense. [music] of one woman. A woman who is. still so scared of the man who. masqueraded as normal that she asked us.

not to use her real name. So I'll call. her Linda. And the day that changed. Linda's life forever was August 25th, 2008. That's when Linda was home. babysitting her 22-month-old. granddaughter who was asleep on the. couch. And Linda was next to her just. watching TV when she got a knock at her. door. It was a little after 7:00 p.m. at. the time. The sun was still out, [music]. wouldn't be setting for like a couple of. more hours that time of year. And in a. place like this where you know all your. neighbors, Linda didn't even hesitate to.

open her front door. And it [music] was. for a neighbor, Ernest Pine. Now, the. two exchanged friendly greetings, and. Ernest told Linda that he was there to. talk to her husband about a boat dock. that either he has or maybe one that he. was building, and he wanted her husband. to work on it because he's an engineer. Now, Linda's husband wasn't home and she. told Ernest as much, said he would be. back in a half an hour or so. And Ernest. seemed happy with that and turned to. leave. And as he made that motion, signaling to Linda that their very.

normal, very safe interaction was over, just when her guard was completely down. and she went to close the door. That is. the moment he pounced. Ernest shoved the. door open and forced his way inside. And. before she can even process what is. happening, Linda feels the butt of a gun. against her head and she hears Ernest. [music] in her ear. He says, "Turn. around. you are going to die. Every. nerve ending is on fire. And she.

believes him even before he pulls out. the 6-in hunting knife and zip [music]. ties, which by the way, he had to have. brought with him. This was planned. And. in that moment, she knows that this. isn't a situation where she can just. appease him. Give him what he wants and. he'll leave. What he wants is to kill. her. And so, she fights. He's trying to. get her to put her hands behind her back. and to tie them with the zip ties, but. she won't let him. So, he hits her with. the gun three times, but Linda keeps. fighting. And for a moment, she pulls.

her arms free and she reaches for the. side door that leads to the garage, hoping that she can get her German. Shepherd that is in there. But right as. she is about to open it, Ernest grabs. her again. He pulls her back and this is. when he's able to tie her arms. And he. tells her that if she tries that again, he [music] will not just kill her, he. will also kill her granddaughter, too. >> Now, Linda knows that that little girl. could wake up any second. So, she makes. a request. She asks Ernest to move her. to the small laundry utility space that.

they have just off the kitchen so that. whatever is about to happen to her won't. be witnessed by her granddaughter if she. does wake up. and Ernest complies. He. drags her to that room and she hears the. lock click behind them. Now, Linda is. still not giving up in that moment. She. manages to pull her arms out of the zip. [music] ties, but Ernest is bigger than. her. He overpowers her. He cuts off all. of her clothes and for the next 15. minutes that feel like a lifetime to.

[music] her. Ernest sexually assaults. her with objects that he finds nearby. while Linda [music] tries to fight him. off. Now, at one point, Linda is able to. push him to the ground. And that's when. he starts cutting her with his knife. And he tells her that she is not getting. out of this room. She has to die because. she knows who he is. And that's when he. pulls out his gun and aims it right at. her head. And she hears it go off. But. somehow, by some miracle, the round just. zips past her head and hits the wall.

So, he fires again. But this time, it's. just the click of the trigger. She hears. no shot. The gun jammed. But in that. half second that Linda thought she'd. been saved, that's when Ernest grabs. Linda by the head and slices her throat. ear to ear. When Ernest lets her go, her. body just falls limp onto this pile of. towels. And even though at that moment. she is sure she's going to die, she. still won't give up. She is pressing the.

towels against her neck, trying to use. them to like stop the bleeding as best. she can. And she uses every ounce of. energy she has, every ounce of willpower. that she has left to hold on as long as. possible and to hold as still as. possible because she's trying to. convince Ernest she's dead. Now it's. quiet, so she can hear him unlock the. door, leave the room, but then he comes. back and he just like stands over her. and all of a sudden, Linda feels this.

searing pain because he's stabbing her. And he does this over and over again. Leaves, comes back and stabs her, leaves, comes back and stabs her. And. all the while, somehow she is managing. to play dead. Finally, she hears a new. sound. Ernest is running the sink in the. utility room now. He thinks she is dead. on the floor and he is washing his knife. and washing his hands above her before. leaving the room one last time. Then she. hears the front door open and close. And.

even then she cannot bring herself to. move. Like he could come back and if he. does, if he stabs her one more time, that might really be it for her. So, for. another 10 long minutes, Linda just lies. there bleeding on this heap of towels, wondering if her utility room is going. to be the last thing she ever sees. And. when she's sure that he's not coming. back to clean up anymore, that's when. Linda takes her finger and in her own. blood begins to scrawl Ernest's name on.

the wall. She wants people to know who. did this to her. And when she finishes. the final E in his last name, Pine, somehow, maybe it's the adrenaline. that's been rushing through her body or. just the drive to protect her. granddaughter. At that moment, Linda. pushes herself up off the floor and she. makes her way out of the utility room. into the kitchen where she can see her. granddaughter in the living room on the. couch, who thank God is still asleep and.

unharmed. So, she makes a beline for the. front door to lock it. And then next to. the door is their security system. So. she presses the panic button which. triggers a 911 call at 8:12 p.m. [music]. ending her hour in hell with Earnest. Now she has never had to use this button. before. She doesn't even know how. quickly police will respond or if they. will at all. So she goes back to the. kitchen and starts making calls while. she's still bleeding out. She calls her. son-in-law who lives next door and then. she hangs up and calls her husband and.

begs him to come home. They both call. 9112 to make sure they know to send an. ambulance, not just police. And Linda is. somehow still conscious and talking when. first responders get there at 8:20 p.m. And as more and more people show up and. she's loaded into an ambulance, she is. able to relay what happened to her and. more importantly, who is responsible. So, as they airlift her to University. Hospital in Louisville for emergency. surgery, the sheriff goes to the home of. Ernest Pine, just a one-minute drive. away, positions outside his home, and.

calls his landline. When Ernest answers, the sheriff asks him to come out of his. home, but he doesn't say why. Now, it's. dark now, around 900 p.m., and Ernest. emerges from his front door, blinded by. a cruiser's spotlight. And as the. sheriff arrests him and place him in the. back of a car, a deputy notices that he. reeks of alcohol, but he is coherent. enough to answer questions after he's. read his Miranda rightites. They ask. him, "Is anyone else inside?" "No," he.

says. "My wife's at a dog show 2 hours. away." "Were you at Linda's house. earlier tonight?" "No." But when the. sheriff says, like, "So, if a neighbor. told me that they had seen you on the. front porch earlier, then you're saying. that neighbor would have been lying.". And this is when Ernest starts. backtracking, saying, "Well, oh, actually, yeah, I did go over there to. talk to her husband about a boat dock, but Linda said that he wasn't home, so I. just left." Okay, your name is written. in her blood. >> But he I don't think he's pieced that. together yet. Like, I don't think he. knows that she's the neighbor who saw.

him. I mean, he knows what he did to. Linda, so I think in his mind, she. should not be alive. Linda is dead. so. calm, cool, and collected, he just. answers their questions and acts like. this is some big misunderstanding. The. sheriff asks Ernest if he has any. weapons at [music] home. Ernest mentions. like two or three long guns and the. sheriff's like, "Well, yeah, but what. about a handgun?" Now, Ernest thinks for. a while and he's like, "Well, oh yeah, I. do have this 22. It's in a toolbox in. the basement." Perfect. So, he's taken.

to the station and somewhere between. when he's put in the back of the. sheriff's car and when he gets to the. station before the recorded interview. with him begins, investigators give him. a heads up like, "Oh, by the way, it. wasn't just a neighbor who saw you on. her porch. It was the victim herself who. IDed [music] you. And, by the way, we're. getting a warrant to search your house. for that gun and anything else we can. find." And also, before their interview. starts with him, they're getting as much. background on Ernest as they can. But.

honestly, the more they learn about this. guy, the more shocked they are by this. crime and the more they have to be. thanking their lucky stars that Linda. survived. Because without her, I don't. know if they would have ever gotten to. Ernest. Cuz 58-year-old Ernest does not. fit the profile of a violent offender. that they might have gone looking for. Cuz he's been married to the same woman. for his whole adult life. They have two. kids, grandkids, and he has no adult. criminal record that they can find. You.

know what else they can't find? Any. connection to Linda. I mean, aside from. living a minute away from her, they. don't seem to really know one another or. have any history. I mean, like, Linda. and her husband would wave to Ernest. when they would walk their dogs, but. that was it. And even in that, like. barely any words are spoken between. them, and Ernest was never alone with. Linda or anything like that. So, by the. time Kentucky State Police investigators. get in a room with Ernest, hours after. his arrest, they are dying to get to the.

heart of their questions. Why? And I'll warn you, what you're. about to hear, the actual interview. audio between Ernest and the detectives, it is explicit and troubling. >> Okay. My name is Detective Jason Folks. with the Kentucky State Police. The date. is August 26, 2008. Time is 1:35 hours. Eastern Standard Time. Uh we're. currently in the uh Breen Ridge County.

uh Sheriff's Department. Um myself and. Detective Matt Johnson with Texas State. Police will be attempting to interview. Ernest Pine. >> 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 [music] 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. Are you currently on the influence of. alcohol or any drugs? Anything like. that? >> I could complain about one tonight, but. don't. >> You're not not intoxicated or anything. like that. We like to talk to you about. incidents that happened tonight. Why? Why you're here? Would you be willing to.

talk to us about that? >> I'm not real sure what the incident is. >> Do you have any idea why why you're in. here? >> Neighbor was assaulted and said it was. me. >> Uh-huh. And that's all I know. >> Okay. >> Wasn't in the back of a car. >> Okay. >> Ever since then. >> All right. Uh who was this neighbor that. said this? >> She's cross street down to the house. >> Okay. And how did you um learn that she. said that you were assaulted her?

>> When the sheriff called me on the phone. and said, "Come over to your house.". >> Okay. Did he tell you what the. accusation was? >> Assaulted. And she said, "I did.". >> Okay. Um, did you in fact uh assault. tonight? Have you been over to house. tonight? >> I went over cuz I want to talk to her. husband. >> What were you going to talk to him. about? >> He builds boat docks. >> And I just got recently got my permit. >> Mhm.

>> And the guy that said he was going to do. it, he was going to put it in this. weekend and he hadn't shown up yet. So I wanted to talk to him about that. >> What did she tell you? And he wasn't. home. >> Okay. And then what happened next? >> I went back home. >> Okay. So you went back home. What did. you do when you went back home? >> Dinner. I was sitting down watching TV. >> You remember what you were watching? >> No. >> Do you live at home by yourself?

>> My wife. >> Okay. Is your wife at home tonight? >> No, she's in Washington right now. >> How long have you lived at the residence. where you live now? about a year. >> I'm not sure though. We just at the. hospital. >> Do you know I mean you have any other. acquaintance with. >> we've talked to him two or three times. >> Is that just casual conversation or. >> walking down the street or we'd be. walking down the street?

>> How you doing? >> Why do you think if she was assaulted. would she name you as being the person. that assaulted her? That's the fact that I had been at her. front door. Of. >> course, the reason you're here is pretty. seriously. Matter of fact, she's at the University. of Louisville Hospital right now as we. speak. And she's said told several. people that you were the person that did.

this to her. However, you you're saying. that's not true. Is that correct? That's. right. >> Uh why would she accuse you of doing. this if you didn't have anything to do. with it? >> I said I I went through her door. Maybe she thought I'd come back. I don't. know. >> We know what's been told what's. happened. We'll find out what's. happened. That's what we do. I mean, that's just our job. But we talk to.

people all the time because. it's kind of like it's not normal. behavior is is what it is. It's got. there's always a reason that something's. happened and we want to try to find out. why so we can prevent it from happening. again. Here's here's the situation we're. in, Mr. Pine. We're going to search your residence and. we're going to search residence for. evidence and we're going to find.

evidence in those places. Okay. The. evidence. I believe is going to show that you're. not telling us the truth right now. I. believe that the evidence that we're. going to find, the statements that we're. getting from other people is going to. show that what you're telling us is not. the truth. That you in fact did go over. to house and assault her tonight. I hope.

that you're not the type of person that. goes out here and sits and thinks up. horrible, deviant, terrible things to do. to people that prays on on innocent. [snorts] people out here and and and and. just tries to torture them and do. terrible things to them. I would rather. think that you're the person that made a. simple mistake tonight and just. did something that was totally out of. character and would not normally do. But.

the evidence is going to show that that. you were there and that you had. something to do with this. And I need to. know from you which type of person you. are. If you're that evil type of person. that I'm thinking about on this end or. if you just made a mistake tonight and. did something that was totally out of. character that would never happen again. I said at the front door so I don't. think the evidence is so much. >> Okay. When we go in there and we find. evidence in your home on your person.

house that shows that you're not telling. us the truth. How do you think a. prosecutor and a judge is going to view. that? Are they going to say this is the. type of person that made a mistake? Or. they're going to say this is the type of. person that stood up and straight up. lied to those detectives when he knew. good and well that there was evidence. that showed he had done something like. this. >> What do you think a prosecutor is going. to think? What do you think a jury is.

going to think. >> about something like that? >> He had a bunch of evidence. I guess. that's that's the idea. So, if we So, if. we laid out a bunch of evidence here for. you, then that might. change your view on it. Is that what. you're telling us? >> I don't know what evidence you can do, >> Mr. B. Here's the situation. But, we're. talking with you here cuz this is what. we do, but there's not a particular. reason why we have to be talking to you. Now, >> this is your opportunity to help.

yourself. The good thing here is that. she hasn't died. Okay? You know, my. thing is too, if you sexually assaulted, you want to take me to a hospital, have. a blood test taken. >> Okay? >> Because if I don't take a pill, then ain't nothing going to happen. Okay? >> Okay? >> So, if I don't have some of the Levitra. in me, then there wouldn't have been a. sexual assault in the first place. >> Did I say you stuck your penis inside of. her? >> Okay. What's a sexual assault? Well, any.

type of assault that involves her any. type of assault that involves her. sexually that involves her vagina. >> Okay. >> Her anus. >> To me, a sexual assault would be a red. >> Okay. Well, then didn't say you didn't. sexually assault her. >> Well, it was sexual. >> Well, that's what she's saying. >> Well, that's because we're we have a. misunderstanding. >> All we've got is what she's saying. Okay. Maybe you tell us something a little. different than that. Well, it's not. against her.

>> Not exactly. >> Okay. >> Cuz cuz I mean there's going to be. evidence that's going to corroborate. what she said. >> If she's saying it was sexual assault, >> what was the sexual assault? >> Well, she's saying that that you stuck. some things up in her vagina and her. anus, some foreign objects. >> That may not be sexual assault. >> I mean, it could we could very well, if. that wasn't for sexual gratification, might not be sexual assault. But what. we're saying is this is what she's.

telling us. Okay? We're here to talk to. you and get your side of the story. You're telling us. >> my side of the story. >> That's what you're saying though. But. Mr. Mr. Cl, you don't understand that 95% of. your communication that your body gives. off is all verbal. Okay. We've been. doing this enough. I know you're very. nervous. >> and you've been and you've been trained. probably in the military about talking. about things like that, but actually. an armed family. Okay. So, no. >> I'm I'm no different. I'm no different.

than you are. Okay. Yeah. Y'all could be. one day end up sitting in that same. character. Okay. Doesn't that make me a. bad person? >> No. >> Am I going to want my kids thinking that. the daddy's a bad person? Am I going to. want my wife thinking that their. husband's a bad person? That's what it comes down to, Mr. Pine. If you're not a bad person, we know. that. But right now, all that we have is. to take her side of the story. And.

that's putting you as this terrible. person. And that's all these people are. going to hear. He's saying, "What me? Didn't do it. Got no alibi. Prove no. evidence. Prove it." And then only when. you prove it and I'm backed into a. corner and I've got no other options, then I'll say I did it. How if you're an. outside person, you see somebody do. that, what are you going to think? You're going to think that man is not. sorry. That man's going to do it again. And the only reason he finally fessed up.

to it was because he knew he had no. other option. And that's the only reason. And that. person there deserves no sympathy. Deserves no help in the process. It. should be thrown out to the world for. all we care. Get rid of them. That's one. less person we need in this world. That's what those people think. You know. what? going to get on the stand and. point you out and say he's the one that. did it. He did this to me. We're going. to show pictures of what happened. We're. going to listen to her story about what.

happened. We're going to present the. evidence that we're probably going to. find here in a short while against you. and you're going to get up there and. say, "I don't know what she's talking. about. It wasn't me. I walked back home. That that's it. I don't know what else. to tell you other than it's my word. against hers. Take that. I'll tell you. what's going to happen to you. A jury. member is going to sit up there and. listen to that and go. He's full of. crap. He's lying. He's lying just like.

he lied to those detectives right there. And if that's what you want to do, by. all means, that's fine. >> Challenge accepted. If Ernest Pine. wasn't going to talk, the evidence would. do the talking for him. I mean, what. more do they even need, though? Linda. wrote his name in blood. I like if I. need to say one more time. Well, and. she's telling any living soul she came. in contact with before she was airlifted. off that it was him. But like you heard. the man. He framed this as a he said she.

said situation. And we unfortunately. live in a world that requires a hell of. a lot more than the word of a woman. >> So buckle up. Let's go get that. irrefutable proof that no one can argue. with. Starting with Ernest own body. By. the time their interview with him ended, they had a warrant to search him and. collect [music] his DNA. And while he. sat in that room talking to them, he had. this cut on his thumb and scratches on. his lower back and blood on his watch.

and more smeared on one of his shoes, the shoes he is wearing. [music] And. back at Ernest house, they find that 22. caliber handgun that he told them was in. the toolbox in the basement. There is. still blood on that and it is jammed. just like Linda said. It turns out that. it jammed because Ernest loaded it with. the wrong ammo. But the ammo that they. found matched the 22 caliber round still. lodged in Linda's utility room wall. Ernest also had multiple hunting knives. [music] in his place, one of which had.

human blood still on it. And there were. sandals with blood still on them, too, that matched a tread of a bloody. footprint found at the crime scene. And. not just like in her house in general at. the entrance of the utility room where. Linda was attacked. They collected zip. ties that matched what Linda described. in her account along with green rope. tied into a noose and even more smudges. of blood around his house in her home. They also took into evidence the. multiple items that were used to.

sexually assault her. And make no. mistake, Ernest can sell his bull story. all he wants that if he didn't use his. penis, like does that really count as. assault? >> Yes, >> absolutely. And the detectives might. have been trying to like play along to. get him to confess. But they agreed too. because anyone anyone who hears what he. did with those objects knows what a. [clears throat] sick and twisted monster. Ernest actually [music] is. And the fact. that he couldn't use his limp doesn't. change a thing for me. Now, Linda had to.

undergo an almost 19-hour surgery where. she needed about 17 pints of blood for a. blood transfusion and hundreds of. stitches. Her husband told us that. doctors said the knife missed her vital. organs by millimeters. And I tell you. all of this, Linda's stories, the. details of it, not to be overly graphic. for entertainment or shock value. We. asked Linda's permission to go into. detail and she allowed it because she. and we want you to know exactly who.

Ernest Pine is. She and her family want. you to really understand what he is. capable of and what kind of threat that. he could be to other women out there. Because at Ernest indictment hearing in. 2008, the one where he gets slapped with. seven charges, Linda's family learns for. the first time that she may not have. been his first victim. Now, Linda and. her husband, they didn't go to that. She. was still recovering. So, her husband's. dad [music] went in their place. And so,

he was the one who first felt this big. mix of emotions, thrilled as he came in. that this man would be facing real. charges. And then horror when the. strangest thing happened right before. the hearing started, something that you. won't find in any of the case files or. reporting. Linda's father-in-law. happened to sit right behind this guy at. the hearing that he didn't know. And. this guy turned around and asked him if. this was the courtroom that Ernest Pine. was [music] going to be in. Linda's.

father-in-law said yes and went on to. explain Linda's case a little. And the. next thing that came out of the other. man's mouth set a chilling and ominous. tone for the next year to follow while. they waited for a trial. According to. Linda's family, the other man said that. he was there for his daughter-in-law, too, because he believed 16 years before. Linda's attack, Ernest murdered her. Linda's father-in-law was shocked to.

hear this. I mean, Ernest had never been. convicted of any other crimes, let alone. murder. And the truth is, as far as I. can tell, for all of the years before. this, Ernest was never even a suspect in. this other woman's case. The only reason. this other man learned about him and. knew to show up to this hearing [music]. was because allegedly that man said a. state trooper called him the night. before this indictment hearing and. described how Linda was found. And when. he heard the details, it was almost.

unbelievable. So, for police to call. this guy, I mean, that means they must. be seeing the similarities, too. They're. hard to miss. And police later said as. much to local press. And when our team. dug into her case, I was shocked at what. they found. So, this other woman was. 29-year-old Elena Sanchez Hawkins. And. 16 years before Linda's attack and just. an hour away from Rough River Lake in. [music] Elizabeth Town, Kentucky, Elena. was raising two little boys with her. husband, Mike. The date was January 8th,

1992. And that day started off like any other. Elena woke up her 8-year-old for school, made him breakfast, walked him out to. the front porch to watch him get on his. bus at around 7:00 a.m. Her husband, Mike, was already at work, but he called. like he did every morning to check in. and make sure the morning was going. smoothly. And on that 7:00 a.m. call, everything was fine. But an hour or two. later, Elena's sister told us that Mike. called his wife back because he had won. some radio contest and gotten a free. dinner. He was like excited about it, wanted to tell her about it, but when he.

called, the phone was just ringing and. ringing and ringing with no answer, which was odd. I mean, Elena worked. mostly nights at a gas station, so she. could be home with their three-year-old. son during the day, so she usually was. there to pick up. So, he tried calling. [music] back again, and this time the. call was picked up, but it wasn't Elena. on the other end. It was his. three-year-old's voice that he heard. And Mike's like, "Okay, hey, put mom on. the phone." And what his son said next. is still burned into my [music] brain.

Mama's bleeding. >> I don't think Mike's brain tried to make. excuses. He didn't ask more questions. He just immediately left work and raced. home to a scene that I am sure continued. to haunt him throughout his life. Elena. was lying half on the couch covered in. blood with her hands tied behind her. back and her throat was slit from ear to. ear. and there was truly blood. everywhere. Now, thankfully, their son. had been left physically unharmed, so.

Mike scooped him up and called 911. The. crime in 92 Elizabeth Town was just as. shocking as Linda's would eventually be. in Rough River Lake in 2008. It didn't. matter that this was a bigger city. This. just didn't happen here, [music] and. police were quickly stumped by the. crime. Now, it seemed like Elena knew. her killer because there was no forced. entry. And even though this was a pretty. rural neighborhood where people didn't. always lock their doors, a family member. told us that Elena usually did, especially when Mike was gone, they also.

remembered there being glass in the door. and there was definitely a window next. to the door. So Elena would have been. able to see whoever was on the other. side, >> right? It's not like it was just like a. solid wall and she was blindly opening. it, >> right? And also nothing seemed to be. taken from the house. So killing Elena. seemed to be the only goal. But there. was no one in Elena's life who raised. suspicions. I mean, obviously, they. looked at Mike because, as we know, they. always check the husband, but he had a. salad alibi. He was at work, so he was.

cleared pretty quickly. And police. didn't believe that he had anything to. do with her death. Not that he just. didn't do it. He didn't arrange it. Nothing. >> And as they made their way through. others close to the family, no suspects. emerged, or at least none that have ever. been reported on or that the family knew. about. Because the case is still. unsolved, all of our records requests. and interview requests were denied by. law enforcement. >> And did her son see anything? >> Mike's brother told us that at some. point in the morning, the son had pulled. up a chair in the kitchen to get a snack. out of the fridge or like off the.

counter or something. And in that. moment, the little boy remembered seeing. a man in the house. Now, we weren't able. to talk to Elena's younger son, so. exactly what he saw the man doing, if he. even remembers is unclear. But it must. have been something that spooked him. because one of Mike's brothers told us. that eventually he went into a bedroom. and hid inside a toy box. >> But you'd think if it was someone that. the family knew even at three, he might. have been able to like recognize them or. remember who they were. >> Yeah. I mean like my daughter is coming.

out of the three stage. I think she. could, but like also our brains are. capable of shielding a lot to like. protect us from trauma. So. >> who knows at that young of an age? What about any neighbors around? I mean, this is happening in the morning on a. weekday. People are driving to work, out. and about. Like, there's people around. >> This crime was so bold. According to a. local paper called the News Enterprise, investigators believed that she died. sometime between 7 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. And I mean, we looked up her address,

and from what we could tell, it was kind. of a rural area outside of town. The. houses were pretty spread apart. So. again, bold for time of day, like people. could just come by, mailman, whatever. But I don't think I do think that like. this attacker was protected in the fact. that like there was not like a next door. neighbor the way there are in like a lot. of suburbs that you see. >> But even though the neighbors were. spread apart, like police talked to as. many people as they could. They even set. up a roadblock to question anyone who. drove past Elena's house in the morning. on their way to work. And from all of.

that, they did find someone who came. forward saying that they saw a black. Nissan Dassen pickup truck parked in. Elena's driveway. Now, they didn't see a. person or anything, but the truck is. important because as far as we can tell, police were never able to connect anyone. in her circle or beyond to that kind of. car. So, eventually, it was considered. that this could be everyone's nightmare. scenario. just this random roaming. psychopath who targeted Elena for who.

[snorts] knows what reason? Was it just. that day that he saw her? Had he been. watching her? Now, a few of her loved. ones told us that in the weeks leading. up to her murder, Elena did mention this. weird guy that was watching her during. her night shifts at the gas station. [music] she worked at nearby. During her. shifts, Elena sat in one of those like. glass boxes in the middle. People could. like drive up to her if they wanted to. buy something. And this weird guy would. drive by, but he would never talk to her. or anything like that. He would just.

stare at her. Now, everyone we talked to. said Elena wasn't somebody who got. scared easily, and she could stand up. for herself. But this guy freaked her. out enough that even though the door to. her box was locked, she would call Mike. and his brothers and [music] ask them to. come down when this guy showed up. >> But every single time they got to the. gas station, the guy was gone. Now, as. far as everyone remembers now, Elena. never described this guy or what he was. driving. And it doesn't seem like police. were ever able to track this guy down.

either. But if the gas station guy. somehow figured out where she lived and. showed up at her house, like you said, like she could see out in front of the. door before she opened it, I doubt she. would have opened the door for someone. that was already creeping her out. >> I don't think so. So, circling this back. to Linda, what are all the similarities. and what like if anything is different. in these two situations? >> Okay, so first of all, everyone we. talked to who has seen both Elena and. Linda told us that they looked a lot.

alike. Both women were dark-haired, tan, short, like around 5t tall. Both women. were bound. Both had their throats cut. >> Now, as far as we know, Elena wasn't. tied using zip ties. One of Mike's. brothers remembers that it was a cord. from the blinds. So, her attacker seems. a little less prepared than Ernest was. with Linda 16 years later. And I can't. tell you if the same type of weapon was. used because just like Ernest took the. knife with him, Elena's attacker did the. same thing. Also, they were each.

attacked in their home. A child was. present in each case, which might be a. coincidence, but we know in Linda's case. that Ernest used her granddaughter as. leverage to make her comply. Could. Elena's killer have done the same thing? Like I wonder if a child in the home was. something they were looking for rather. than just like. >> right like knowing they could use that. kind of against their victim. >> rather than just like something that. happened to be there. Right now we know. that Linda was sexually assaulted,

>> but it's not totally clear if Elena was. I mean, according to what KSP had told. other reporters in the past she was, but. Elena's brother told us something. totally different. He said that he. talked to someone in the coroner's. office who told him that based on what. she read in the report, she didn't think. Elena was sexually assaulted. Well, whose definition are we using here, too? Right? Cuz you also have Ernest over. here saying that what he did to Linda. wasn't sexual assault, and we know. that's total BS,

>> right? And I've seen before people even. like in an official capacity interpret. like a lack of semen as a sign. So yes, if she too was assaulted with an object, my question would be was there trauma. left behind? >> Well, I feel like the one thing that. seems obvious is that there for sure was. no semen or we'd be talking about like. DNA all these years later, right? That. might actually be wrong actually, which. I know sounds bananas, but without. police cooperation, I can't like really. tell 30 years later. So like I said, um. there is old reporting that has KSP.

saying that she was assaulted and they. have DNA they said in that same study. Okay. They don't explicitly say that it. was from the sexual assault kit. And in. talking with Elena's family so many. years later, like different people. remember different things. >> One person remembered that the DNA at. the crime scene was semen. Another said. that they thought it was maybe like skin. from underneath Elena's fingernails. Whatever they had, whatever they were. able to do with that in the early '90s, it didn't go anywhere. And so Elena's.

case went cold quickly. Now, in 2004, Elena's husband, Mike, ended up passing. away from surgery complications. And that same year, police told the. family that they had stopped testing the. DNA they had because they didn't want to. destroy the little bit they had left. [music] So, Elena's loved ones, including her kids, who now have lost. both parents so young, they were just. left hoping that someday, somehow, they. would get the answers that they've been. waiting so long for. So four years after.

that when they get word about Linda's. attack and Earnest, they get this surge. of hope. Maybe this is it. [music]. And this is when I told you that police. came out in the press and even they said. that they saw the same similarities. This is why Elena's father-in-law went. to Ernest indictment hearing where he. met Linda's father-in-law and he. probably planned to attend the trial. But a trial never [music] happened. In. the 10 months after the attack on Linda,

Ernest ends up seeing the writing on the. wall. And just like detectives, Propes. and Johnson said he would do, Ernest. waited till he was backed into a corner. before he finally admitted what he'd. done. On June 17th, 2009, about 10. months after Linda was attacked, Ernest. pleads guilty. Now, the judge gives him. sentences for all of those things, but. allows him to serve them concurrently.

instead [music] of consecutively. So, that means he isn't stacking time. for each count back to back. He gets to. serve one term, the longest one, 20. years. You know, it never ceases to. amaze me how you get a lighter sentence. for attempted murder, like just trying. to murder somebody. >> because you like didn't do it right. Like, >> right. >> Like, you told her she was going to die. that day. You kept coming back to the. room and stabbing her to make sure she. was dead. >> It was kind of multiple attempted.

murders of one person. >> And just because by some miracle she. survived, you get out of prison to maybe. do this again to somebody. Like what are. we? >> It doesn't make any sense. What are we. doing here? And it is the strangest. thing to me because once he goes away. for his attack on Linda, all of the talk. about the similarities to Elena's case. just stops. And to date, no official. connection between Ernest and Elena has. ever been made. Wait, so it wasn't his.

DNA? >> I didn't say that. I don't know if it. was because police wouldn't talk to us. And even the family has never like. Elena's family has never been able to. get a straight answer about this either. They have asked and they just keep. getting the same party line that they. have gotten for years. [music] This case. is unsolved and open and investigators. are waiting for technology to move. forward before they can retest that DNA. I feel like if they actually had a DNA. profile to compare, they would at least.

come out and confirm it's not him, right? You would think, but at least one. family member told us that they remember. police [music] testing the DNA they had. against a few people back in the day. Now, they don't know who was tested or. cleared from that, and we couldn't. confirm that. So, I don't know. Like, there is something so confusing. >> about the DNA stuff in Elena's case to. me. Like, something does not feel right. >> Well, I kind of wonder if maybe they're. waiting till closer to the time that. Ernest is set to be released. Like that. gives them kind of a ton of time to make.

a really solid case against him if they. think it's him. Like he's safely behind. bars. He can't hurt anybody else. They. have this like chance to really develop. >> He was safely behind bars. >> Uh this is that's past tense. >> This is what I'm saying about this. episode. This is how I got put on this. case. Ernest got an early release this. summer. >> What? Early release this summer. He's. out. On August 19th, 2025, Ernest Pine.

was released on parole after serving. only 17 of his 20ear sentence for. Linda's attack. >> Yeah, I was trying to do the math. I'm. not good at it. How is that even. possible? How does a guy like this who. did something like that get out? Like to. me, you already got a gift by getting to. serve them, >> right? Like just Right. Exactly. He's. already getting kind of a [laughter]. pass. Uh-huh. So, he got to serve them. concurrently. And under Kucky's violent. offender law, you can be considered for.

parole after you serve 85% of your. sentence. In this case, 20-year. sentence, that's about 17 years. Now, our sources said that Ernest spent a lot. of time like leading Bible study and. Sunday school while he was in prison, too, which they believe the parole board. like like. >> Yeah. when they approved his release. >> Ashley, I'm sorry. I don't care how many. Bible studies he led. You don't get to.

torture a woman and then shave literal. years off your prison time just because. you said your prayers. Amen. And by the. way, it's like sure, forgiveness, second. chances, whatever. But I have a hard. time believing that Ernest like found. God in prison because he knew the guy's. number before he went away. A source. close to Ernest's own family who asked. to stay anonymous told us that at some. point after Ernest moved to Elizabeth.

Town, like way back in 1986, we're. talking even before Elena's case, he and. his wife joined the praise band at this. mega church. a mega church that, oh, by. the way, is located in Elizabeth Town, just two and a half miles away from the. gas station where Elena worked, according to her brother-in-law. >> Wait, so Ernest for sure has a. connection to the area where Elena lived. back in '92. >> Yeah, he we learned that he lived in the. same town as Elena when she was murdered. in 1992, not just before, in 1992.

>> And the potential ties don't stop there. So, when we found out that Ernest lived. in Elizabeth Town in 1992, right away we. began to wonder, did he know Elena? >> Yeah, >> it doesn't seem like it or at least it. does not seem like she knew him. But. then we talked to that source who was. close to Ernest family and they had a. few theories on how Ernest and Elena's.

paths could have crossed. So Ernest was. in the army which is what brought him to. Kentucky. He was actually stationed at. Fort Knox before he retired and then he. moved into a house only about 5 miles. away from Elena's. And our source told. us that after Ernest retired, he was. having a really hard time finding a job. So for a while he delivered pizzas for. Domino's. And of course like we don't. know where he delivered pizzas or. anything like that. I do imagine that. you called Domino's and were like, "Hi, [laughter] could I get could I?". >> They cannot confirm. >> But our the source that we talked to.

kind of has always wondered if he could. have maybe delivered a pizza to the. Hawkins house or in their neighborhood. Like that's a bit of a stretch to me. >> This is less so though. The source also. said that when Ernest started working at. a nearby break factory, he would work. the night shift and then get off early. in the morning. And remember when he was. arrested after Linda's assault, a deputy. said that he smelled alcohol on his. breath in the patrol car. Right. >> Yeah. >> Well, our source went on to claim that. Ernest had a drinking problem that he.

hid from his family. So, he would. usually drink during the day after his. shift ended while they were all out of. the house. But Elizabeth Town was a dry. town at the time. So, you could only buy. alcohol in Boston, Kentucky, which was. like the next town over. And if what our. source told us is true, which we have. not been able to confirm yet, to get to. Boston from the break factory or his. house, Ernest would have had to have. drove right past Elena's house. And that.

probably would have been right around. the time that she was putting her son on. [music] the bus to school in the. morning. >> And remember that truck that someone saw. in her driveway the day she died, >> the black Datson? Well, our source told. us that Ernest had bought his daughter a. tan or beige Chevy S10 sometime before. that. Now, if you look at the photos, an. S10 looks really similar to a Datson. >> Yeah, but I don't know if you could. confuse those colors though, right?

>> Big difference. But I did look it up and. sunrise that day would have been at. around 8:00 a.m. So if Elena is attacked. sometime like between 7 and 10, 7:30 and. 10:00, it may have still been dark when. that witness spotted the truck. I mean, yeah, it seems worth tracking down the. truck at least just to like get eyes on. it like Yeah. I don't know if police. ever like did because when a reporter. looked into this and shared our sources.

information with current detectives, we. were told that they still have not. followed up. Wouldn't they have talked. to his family though at some point. during the investigation into Linda's. case? They tried. So in our records. request, there was one audio file from. when detectives went to the home of. Ernest daughter and her husband. They. didn't want to talk then and they. basically direct police to earnest. lawyer, some guy named Roger and his. associates because it sounds like when. they tried to answer questions before.

people in their family were not happy. with them. Take a listen. >> I guess you all sound okay. What we want. to do are you're is that right? And. Ernest is your dad? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. What we want to do is. just sit down and talk to you and your. mom uh for a little while. We absolutely. if Roger or or if y'all have an attorney. representing you all, >> we'll do we can do that if basically was. you know, you know what what we what I.

told you the other morning and. everything you were coming to and and. hopefully we were wanting to be able to. talk and maybe answer a few more of your. questions and just find out basically we. we just don't know why this has really. happened and uh I mean that's what we're. trying to find out. We don't we don't. have a clue why. Uh, I mean, we know the. who, what, when, where. We just don't. know why. And, uh, and, uh, you know, we. just basically just wanted to find out, you know, if your dad had any mental uh.

issues in the past or is on any. medications or has a history of. alcoholism or has been abusive in the. past or anything like just small stuff. like that with your family. Just. basically you and your mom, point to. answer. Um, and that's really about all. it was. >> Okay. Well, since I have basically. gotten my head decapitated from my. um let me just get back in contact and. then I guess. >> call you all back and let you know. >> As far as I can tell, Ernest daughter.

did not call them back. And actually, out of all of our attempts to reach his. children or ex-wife or him directly so. he could respond to allegations, this. was the only response we got, a. voicemail. Yes, I'm calling on behalf of the letter. you sent to Ernie Pine. Um, your. information is inaccurate. He is not. interested in speaking of you with. either of you on anything. And please. stop harassing him. Thank you. Who was. that? We don't know. She didn't say.

Maybe someone close to him could be a. family member. I mean, we were told that. Ernest's family stood by him after. Linda's attack. Stood by him? How? I. mean, like, they might not even believe. that he did it. >> How can you like make yourself believe. that? There's a literal mountain of. evidence in this case. >> I know. I like I get how hard it would. be to [music] accept that your husband. or your dad did something that heinous,

>> but there's also a bit of a line for me. like denial, trauma. Families of. predators can be victims, too. Do not. get me wrong. But when you help shield. them from accountability, that is when I think you're crossing. over. >> What do you mean? >> Well, so Linda's attack left her with. serious medical debt. Before she was. even discharged, they had a quarter of a. million dollar lean on their house and. it took her husband 10 years to pay that. off. And like, I just want to take a.

second because this is the side of these. cases that does not get talked about. enough in my opinion. survivors don't. just have their physical well-being. taken from them and their emotional and. mental health totally wrecked, their. safety taken away. Like on top of all of. that, it's like the logistics of it. >> They often have to pay literal money for. what their attacker did with money they. often don't have. >> A crime like this seriously just like. rips apart every aspect of your life.

Yeah, but I think about in this case. like can't they sue Ernest? like he had. money, right? Yeah. We were told by our. source that he did, but Linda's husband. told us that none of that money has gone. to her. So, this is what played out. So, Linda had to wait for the criminal trial. to end or like all of that before they. could actually file a civil suit, >> right? >> And her husband told us that during that. time, Ernest and his wife got divorced. and his assets were all transferred to. her. So, from what he can tell, all.

Ernest has now to his name is his. pension, which I guess is protected, which I didn't know that it's how it. worked, but that's still his. And. Linda's husband told us that he did try. to fight for that money. Money that. Linda deserves, but they just couldn't. keep up the fight because lawyers cost. too much. >> It Yeah, you need money to get the. money. >> Yeah. Now, on the one hand, what I'll. say is like in any other scenario like. this where say the wife and family are. blindsided, it would be like the wife's. whole life savings up in smoke too. And.

I'm not saying the per's family has to. be left destitute if they did not know. anything or did not participate like but. neither should Linda, right? It like you. said earlier, there are lots of victims. in this case. >> Yeah. And I haven't seen anything in the. source material to suggest that they got. a dime to help. So, it feels to me like. everyone on Ernest's side chose to. support Ernest and protect themselves. And as cruel as the financial burden has. been on Linda and her family, the.

emotional toll is seriously just as. real. Linda lives with physical and. emotional challenges from the trauma. Like I said, she is now back in therapy. because Ernest has been released and it. has brought all of this back up for her. I mean, ever since that night, 2008, Linda has never been left alone. She is. always with her husband or a trusted. friend or family member. And her husband. has faced his own challenges, too. He. had a stroke in 2013, and his doctors. told him that all of this stress and.

worry that he carries could have been a. factor. But you know what? He told us. that he loves Linda. They have been. married for 47 years now, and [music] he. would do anything to protect her and. their family. When Linda's husband went. to one of Ernest hearings after his. [music] parole, he said that in his. opinion, Ernest didn't even show any. remorse even after all these years. And. he has never made [music] any kind of. formal apology to Linda or her family.

One of those hearings was about a no. contact stayaway order, which meant that. Ernest couldn't be anywhere near Linda. or her granddaughter for like 10 years. But Linda's husband told us that when. the judge asked him if he understood. that, he didn't even answer. So the. judge had to ask him again, like, "Do. you understand that?" And he says like, "Yeah, I get it." Which to Linda's. family felt like he was not taking it. seriously. And so now that neighbor who.

left Linda for dead lives just about an. hour away from her even though he is 75. years old now we know what he's capable. of. And there is so much anger and fear. that you can feel from everyone who has. been affected by this case. And Elena's. family lives with that same anger and. fear because her killer, whoever he is, is still out there somewhere. Elena. didn't get the chance to name her. killer. And her family told us the. little that's out there about her.

doesn't even begin to paint a picture of. who she was. So, I do want to share a. few of their memories. They said Elena. never met a stranger. Like, she loved. people and she loved to sing. She was. her son's best friend and the sister. everyone wishes they had. And girl was. 411, but she may as well have been like. 8t tall. Nothing scared her. She never. backed down from a fight to protect the. people she loved. And Elena's son told. us that he has never given up on getting.

justice for his mom. And until the day. he dies, he is going to keep looking for. her killer. Maybe Elena's killer thinks. he'll never be caught. But if someone. out there listening knows something that. can change that, you need to come. forward now. You can call Kentucky State. Police Post4 or email us tipsaudio.com. and we'll forward it on. We'll put KSP. post4 information and our tips email in. the show notes. And if you or someone. you know has experienced sexual. violence, you [music] can contact Rain's.

National Sexual Abuse Hotline. We'll. have their number and other resources. for survivors of sexual assault [music]. in our show notes. You can find all the. source material for this episode on our. website, crimejunkie.com. And if you want to listen to more. episodes like this and all of our. episodes completely adree, be sure to. join our fan club. You get early [music]. access to new episodes every week and. bonus content every month. And bonus. content, by the way, legit episodes. And. you can follow us on Instagram at. CrimeJunky Podcast. [music] We'll be. back next week with a brand new episode. And hopefully I'll be feeling better.

[laughter].