How Police Captured A Killer Soldier 7 Years Later

out off of Southeast Main Street, there. was a body that was found in the house. Okay, we're able to say that it is. Kevin. Okay, I'm so sorry for your loss, sir. >> This is 28-year-old John Plowvelt. Learning that his missing wife was. discovered in an abandoned [music]. house, brutally murdered, surrounded by. satanic markings. However, John had a. disturbing secret he couldn't tell the. interviewer that day. down if I wiped. her down.

>> Using his military experience, he. carried out a nearperfect murder that. kept detectives one step behind for. years. And by the time investigators. began to narrow in on him, Jon was. already long gone, living in a new. state, in a new house, running away with. his 17-year-old girlfriend, [music]. and seemingly getting away for good. >> Mr. defies [music] any kind of logic. that I have experienced in my 62 years.

on this earth. >> We know more than you think we do. What. if I told you that your cell phone did. ping somewhere other than where you say. you were? >> It's 2:15 p.m. on October 24th, 2016. 22-year-old Katie Blauvelt is captured. on CCTV inside her workplace. Her shift. is soon coming to an end. And she's. planning to meet her mother at 3:00 p.m.

that same day. She leaves, calls her. mother, and takes a selfie, unaware it's. the last photo she ever takes. Not long. after, her phone pings a location for. the last time, and Katie disappears. without a trace. 5 hours passed by. It's now 700 p.m. and. Katie never arrived for dinner with her. mother. Worried, the mother and other. family members try calling her multiple. times, but her phone has no signal. At.

7:48 [music] p.m., Katie's mother. reports her missing. Officers, friends, [music] and family mobilize to look for. her, and the search officially begins. But this left detectives [music] with a. critical 5-hour gap in the timeline, one. they would spend months trying to piece. [music] together. 10 hours would go past without any clues. about Katie's whereabouts. Then at 12:33. a.m., the police receive an unexpected.

call. One of Katie's friends is on the. line, claiming he's just found her body. dead inside an abandoned house deep in a. nearby forest. >> Simpsonville 911. What's location of. your emergency? >> Um, I'm in that uh discovered church. across from in the woods. >> You're in disco. You're at Discover. Church across from where? >> Um, in the woods across from it. [music]. you're I was worried about my friend uh.

Katie and she she went missing. She's. been missing for a while now. And uh we. came in this house that we used to hang. all hang out in. And uh um she she. >> quickly medics and police rushed to the. address of an abandoned house deep in. the woods. Upon arriving at the scene, officers notice multiple graffiti. markings, including [music] apparent. satanic symbols. Soon after, they. identify the caller as Wayne Roer, a.

friend of Katie, who leads them into the. basement of the abandoned house. There, officers find a large concrete box. sealed with plywood. When they remove the cover, they're met. with a horrifying sight. Katie's body. lies inside with a knife pierced through. her neck and 16 stab wounds across her. body. The lack of struggle and the state. of her clothing with her shirt pulled up. and her lower clothes missing suggested.

a motivated killing. All of these. details point detectives straight to. Wayne as their first potential suspect. But what they don't realize is that this. is exactly what the killer wants them to. think. Every detail of the scene has. been arranged to send them chasing the. wrong lead. Without realizing it, detectives have walked straight into the. killer's setup. As the night went on, forensics revealed.

chilling details. Katie's body had been. dragged to the basement and her phone. was found submerged in water to destroy. [music] it. Wayne is detained and. brought in for questioning. At the. moment, detectives believe they have. their killer and they're ready to push. for a confession. >> Wayne, I'm sorry to keep you waiting, brother. >> Hey, buddy. >> What's your name? Franklin Wayne. I'm. sorry. Franklin Wayne. about Franklin or Wayne. At this point, Wayne believes he's been.

brought in to be questioned as a witness. after the heartbreaking discovery, unaware that detectives are already. convinced about his involvement in the. murder and any statement he makes might. be used against him. >> I think you know why you're here, right? >> Okay. Um, tell me uh tell me how how did. you meet Katie? just from the time you. met her, kind of what your relationship. was and leave you up until, you know, 11:30 or so last night. Okay. Okay. I.

first met her. We were friends at first. and then we [clears throat] dated for. like a month or so and then that's when. I moved to Liberty with my dad and we. stayed in contact for a little bit and. then once I left my dad and went to. North Carolina, we lost contact. Detectives begin the interview by. learning that Wayne and Katie were once. together. But quickly, Wayne reveals. something that would immediately put. suspicion onto his name.

>> Maybe uh a year later that Katie got. married to John Lville. And uh then one. [music]. night uh. she came and uh got with us with uh. John. was the first time I've seen her. since I moved. And since then, u um John offered me to. move in with him, a roommate, and $200 a.

month. And I I took it up. It was a good deal. >> So, you live with her and her husband? >> Yeah. >> Kind of weird. >> It was. >> When was this? Do you remember when this. was? when I live with him. Um, it was before June this year. >> As Wayne explains that he once dated. Katie and later lived with her and her. husband, detectives gain another reason. to suspect him, jealousy. And just as. everything appears to be moving in the.

perfect direction for the real killer. and his carefully constructed plan, Wayne makes a claim that complicates the. investigation and may just be enough to. ruin the killer's plan. there everything. like going okay you know then they. started having arguments cuz of me. because uh she used to talk about me. before and uh she told me that he was. jealous of me and uh their argument.

started getting worse and. that was whenever. he got drunk one night and uh he cussed. her out and he had her in the. Uh they were just pretty much just. screaming at each other and then from. there. she ended up moving back when with her. mom I think. >> When did you and Katie. when you were living with John and.

Katie? We all being intimate with each. other. >> Um it was only once. >> And John was there or not there? It was. a Yeah, it was like three something. And. >> And how did that come about? >> Um, I was drunk and he was drunk and it. was like after that like he just he. changed. >> If true, Wayne's claims about Jon's. violent behavior could shift suspicion. towards him. But despite Wayne's.

accusations, something still doesn't add. up. His story with its inconsistencies. and gaps keeps raising suspicions. because prior to this interrogation, detectives learned that on the day of. Katie's death, Wayne arrived late to. work and he admits to walking near the. abandoned house around the time Katie. disappeared. More importantly, while at. work, Wayne was aware that Katie might. be inside that very house. Yet, despite. that suspicion, he never alerted. authorities. Instead, he waited until.

the end of the day, went there himself, and only then called the police. All of. this places Wayne squarely in the. crosshairs of investigators, and. unknowingly pushes them further into the. real killer's trap. Because in the next. few minutes, the interview will take a. terrifying turn as detectives. unknowingly edge closer to forcing an. innocent man into confession to a brutal. murder that he never committed. But. before we get to that, recently I'd been.

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today. With that said, let's get back to. Wayne's interview where detectives are. on the verge of pushing an innocent man. into a murder confession. >> Why did Why did you call the police? >> I didn't think of it at the time. I. didn't. >> Do you know she was dead? [clears throat]. >> No. Why would you think the best idea is. for you to walk into what turns out to. be her final resting place where.

somebody murdered her and dumped her. down there like a piece of trash? You. know why you didn't look in the. bathroom? >> We glanced in there with the flashlight. Like if you're standing at the door of. it, you can see in there. >> You can't see in the tub. I'm telling. you, I was up there in the day cuz you. wasn't in the tub, Mr. defies any kind. of logic that I have experienced in my. 62 years on this earth. >> You look like you're going to pass out. This is too much. I bet it is.

>> Get it off of you then. >> I'm sure it is. All you got to do is lay. it down. You lay the burden down. That's the only. way you'll be forgiven. You got to say, "I messed up. Help me." That's what you. got to say. and I'll do it, but I'm not. going to do it on credit. >> Detectives remained suspicious of Wayne, but with him sticking to his story and. no hard evidence, they couldn't yet. arrest him. Instead, they collected his. DNA sample to compare with the DNA found.

underneath Katie's fingernails. But. that's when just a few hours after. Wayne's interview, as police searched. the area around the abandoned house, they stumbled upon Katie's car. Only a. few miles from the crime scene, left. abandoned in a nearby parking lot. It. looked as if she had left in a hurry, but the reason her car ended up there. would remain one of the biggest. mysteries for the following months. Up to this point, everything was going. according to the killer's plan. one.

designed and carried out by Katie's own. husband, John Blauvelt. But Wayne's. comments about his jealousy pushed. detectives to dig deeper. What they. found was a restraining order filed. months earlier after Jon had allegedly. pulled a gun on Katie when she refused. to give him her phone. For the first. time, despite his efforts, officers were. seriously beginning to suspect Jon. So. the next day on October 26th, detectives.

approach him at his office on the. military base where he works. Their goal. is simple. Hear his side of the story. Verify his alibi for the day Katie died. and see how he reacts under pressure. For most perpetrators, this would be the. moment everything starts to fall apart. But Jon isn't like the rest. He would. play it perfectly. >> All right. Well, there out off of. Southeast Main Street. There was a body.

that was found in the house. Okay. An. abandoned house. Um, and at this point, we're we're able to say that it is. captain. Okay. I'm so sorry for your. loss, sir. Um, at this time, we are investigating. We would investigate every death the. same way. We start with homicide and. work our way from there. Okay. What the. restraining order deal? What's the deal. with that? This is a charge back that I. got back in um February. [snorts]. Uh domestic violence first degree.

>> Do do you know if she had any issues. with anybody? Anybody that won't hurt. her or anything like that? >> No. And I just I know that she's been. dating around and you know it's whatever. cuz I was into but. >> notice how John intentionally directs. detectives towards the fact that Katie. is dating around. Him pointing this out. isn't a coincidence. It's a strategy. By. controlling the narrative this early, Jon is quietly planting a story that. will protect him later. >> Did you work this Monday? >> Mhm. [clears throat].

>> What time did you get off Monday? >> Uh, like 2:30ish, 2. I don't know. >> Did you stop anywhere on the way home? No. >> Let me ask you this. Why were you. looking for Katie? >> For Shant. right now, I'm just trying to help her. out. >> Who do you know that would want to do. harm to her? >> Nobody. [snorts] Do you know uh there's. a guy that used to live with you? Uh. redheaded fella. >> Redhead. >> Yeah. >> Wayne. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> What's his story? >> Just regular dude. Good guy.

>> France. >> Mhm. What do you do for the army? >> Well, right now I just sit in this. office. Small office right now. Um. because of the civil investigation, all. my recruiting duties have been. suspended. [music]. >> Are you familiar with this abandoned. house? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's the spot. What's this? >> Hang out spot. Am I being charged with a. crime? Cuz he's recording me and I'm not. comfortable with that. >> No. >> If I am, I'd like to contact a lawyer. >> cuz this is uncomfortable.

>> Okay. >> You're not you're you're not being. charged, okay, with the crime right now. >> As the interview ends, John does. something counterintuitive. He defends. Wayne, the man he's secretly framing. It's a manipulation tactic known as. reverse empathy. By showing compassion, he makes himself appear harmless and. trustworthy. Jon's first interrogation. had gone almost perfectly, leaving. detectives with little they could use. against him. Still, they couldn't shake.

the feeling that something was off. With. no evidence to hold him, he was let go. and officers would turn to those closest. to Jon and Katie, their friends and. family, unaware that Jon had already. influenced them. Detectives started with Crystal, Katie's. best friend, and at the time also Jon's. roommate. Jon knew exactly what to. expect here. In his interrogation, he. had already planted the idea that Katie.

was dating around. And Crystal, being. one of Katie's close friends, also knew. about her dating habits. His hope was. that she would unknowingly reinforce. this misdirection, steering suspicion. towards anyone but him. >> All right. October 28th, 2016, 4:47 p.m. to know. Um, and like I said, all I ask. is that you don't up here and he's not. the only suspect. You know, there's other people we're. talking to questioning. So, has he made.

any statements about, you know, if I go. to jail for. Katie's murder? He's just I mean he said. that [music] you know it sucks for him. because he feels like he's he's going to. get in trouble for it [music] but you. know he's like I didn't do this you know. like I'm tired of people coming after. me. [music]. >> See me and John actually really do get. along. You know what I'm saying? I'm not. going to lie about him at all. I'm going. to tell you the straight up truth. If. he's acting weird I'm going to tell you. But he wasn't. I was thinking last night.

about it. I really was. um just maybe a. split [music]. second thought that it could have been. John, but he's ever since Katie's gone. missing, he's made sure that there was. more than one person around him. At the. time that Katie died at 8:00 at night, John would all three of us were sitting. over here. I mean, from 5:00. when he came back home [music] till me. and my boyfriend left for work the next. morning, he was there.

Notice how Crystal mentions that Jon got. home at 5:00 p.m. and stayed there the. entire evening until morning. It's a. detail that would later turn out to be. part of John's manipulation. So, if you had to take a guess who killed. her, she said, >> "I don't know because I heard a lot of. things and I know she had a tender and I. know that she was dating a lot of people. from, you know, Cheyenne telling me that. [music]. she took a lot of people down in the. house. I didn't even know that house.

existed. >> What What were John's feelings or. thoughts toward Katie to you? >> I mean, I know that he loved her. I know. that he still does. I mean, he's mad. because of what Katie is accusing, you. know, yelled the gun up to my head and. stuff like that. And just by the way she. was talking, I knew she was lying. because that's what she did. Me and her. used to get each other in trouble all. the time in high school. That's what she. would do. She would lie, you know. >> But. we're done. >> Yeah. Just as Jon hoped, Crystal's account.

added fuel to the idea he had planted. By emphasizing Katie's dating life, she. unknowingly fed into Jon's narrative, suggesting the threat may have come from. someone she was seeing, maybe even. Wayne. Next came Catherine, Jon's. ex-wife and the mother of his child. He. had already made sure she wouldn't say. too much. Fear and their shared child. would be enough to keep her quiet.

This is an investigator Hawkins. Hey, how are you? Nice to meet you. >> With you being married to him for seven. years, has with the drink being grieving. sober, has there been any violence. between the two of you? >> Okay. I mean, I'm not here to to go and. arrest him for something that happened, you know, 10 years ago or anything like. that, but I just don't want to go into. anything that had to do with us because. that doesn't have anything to do with. what happened between him and Gay.

>> I mean, it's not that you're. incriminating yourself. >> He's a good. guy. I mean, I'm a lie. some bad joke, but I assume I wouldn't be if he was. that crazy. >> Well, you never know. One time for. somebody to snap him. >> But he's never snapping me for some. reason. >> Plus, you two have a kid together, so. >> yeah, there's that. >> All right, I'll give you a business card. with my phone number on there.

>> Okay. >> All right. Thank you very much for. coming with your app. Catherine's. silence kept Jon safe for now. But the. final interview with Katie's niece, Cheyenne, would not go, according to. Jon's plan. Unlike Crystal or Catherine, she wouldn't protect him. Instead, she. would point suspicion [music]. directly at Jon and reveal a motive that. would tie everything together. For the. first time, his carefully built plan. would start to fall apart.

[snorts]. >> All right. Your name is Cheyenne Paxton. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. It is Thursday, October 27th at. 8:52 a.m. Simpsonville Police. Department. This has been reference to. the homicide investigation Kaitlin. Black. Have you ever seen John get. violent towards Katie? >> I've never seen him put his hands up. I've seen them already. you [snorts]. >> would Katie have gone over to his house.

on her own. >> within the last 3 weeks. How long? Like. I know. >> So if he says he hasn't seen her since. July July. Yeah. No, he's seen her. I. know that John is really angry. for a lot of weeks. >> Tell me what he's been for. >> [gasps]. >> He feels like that it's her fault that. all like, you know, their relationship. went bad and everything kind of went bad. for a little while and he feels like. it's her fault that he's losing his job.

and that he got in any trouble and he's. just he just blames it all on her, you. know. >> And um I don't know if this matters or. not, but I know he has like $150,000. life insurance policy on her, too. >> All right. I appreciate you coming in. I. know it's not easy, >> especially when somebody close to you, but it's important. We, you know, a lot. of this information you gave us, good. information that we need. So, >> Cheyenne's interview gave detectives.

their first real motive, pointing to. John. But motive wasn't enough. They. needed evidence. >> They have a few leads, but they have no. defined person of interest just yet. As. the investigation dragged on, the. detectives frustration began to grow. Jon had covered himself so carefully. that they couldn't even get a judge to. approve a DNA warrant. Without it, they. had nothing that could tie him directly. to Katie's final moments.

It's now been 4 days since Katie was. killed, and detectives didn't have any. solid evidence. They knew Jon was smart, but so were they. Out of options and. patience, they began planning something. different. They began forming a new. risky and very unconventional plan. [music] In just 2 days, they would set a. trap for Jon. A trap at Katie's own. funeral. In the days leading up to the funeral, detectives stayed ready. While they.

waited, Katie's family mourned and tried. to make sense of what happened. [music]. 22-year-old Katie had spent the past. year working at PetSmart, surrounded by. animals she was saving and [music]. taking care of. She was easygoing and. warm, quick to make friends and [music]. close with her family. But her peaceful. life from just days earlier would make. what was about to come only more. unsettling. As the day of the funeral came,

detectives entered the funeral home. early, working quietly before guests. began to arrive. They positioned hidden. cameras around the room and secretly. wired the space for sound. Everything. inside the funeral home looked normal, but in reality, detectives controlled. every detail. They'd placed cups of. water and other drinks where guests. could easily reach them. The plan was. simple. Get Jon to drink from one of the. cops, catch it on video, collect his DNA. from the cup, and compare it to the DNA.

found on Katie's body. On October 30th, the day of the funeral, detectives set. their plan into motion. But what their. cameras are about to capture goes far. beyond anything [music] they expect. She's all. they didn't wipe her down.

Think she still plunges. the funeral home. Detectives know their. [music] plan has worked. They quickly. return to retrieve the cup he had drank. from and the hidden camera they placed. earlier. When they review the footage, three critical things stand out. All of.

which will become pivotal to the entire. investigation. The first is exactly what. they were hoping for. Jon drinks from. one of the cups and leaves it behind, giving detectives the evidence they need. to collect his DNA without a warrant and. compare it to the samples found on. Katie. The second detail is something. they never expected. The footage. captures Jon walking up to the casket, [music] taking pictures of Katie's body. while making unsettling comments. And.

the third, perhaps most unsettling of. all is that Jon isn't alone. Standing. beside him is an unidentified young. woman who quietly tells him to stop. taking pictures, then giggles moments. later. Her behavior immediately drew. attention and detectives decided to. collect her cup as well for DNA testing. And when they began digging into her. identity, they discovered the woman was. 17-year-old Hannah Thompson, a friend,

and more recently Jon's new roommate. They also learned that she had once been. close friends with Katie. Given her. connection to Jon and Katie and her. strange behavior at the funeral, detectives know Hannah isn't just. another witness. She might be the key to. solving the entire case. And they were. dead on. At this point, detectives have. interviewed Wayne, John, and people from. both Jon and Katie's circle. They also. collected crucial evidence and leads and.

now believe that Hannah, the 17-year-old. who lived with Jon, could be the key to. uncovering the truth about Katie's. murder. The next day, on October 31st, a. week after Katie's death, detectives. approach Hannah and bring her in for. interrogation. If anyone knows what. really happened, it's her. >> When was the last time you uh you saw. Katie? >> Like a few months ago. >> Did uh what was your feelings towards. her? I mean, I always like I've always seen.

her as like a friend cuz like I lived. with her for a little bit, >> right? So, is it fair to say you were. you were on good terms with her when she. was killed? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um, did you end up going to her. visitation Saturday? >> No, I didn't. >> Okay. [clears throat] So, you didn't get. to say goodbye to her? >> Mhm. >> Um, John, I think went there Sunday, right? >> Mhm. >> Okay. You didn't get to go get to go. with him? >> I went with him. Yeah. I didn't go. Saturday either though cuz um her family.

doesn't really like me. >> because of um her niece Cheyenne. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We were like kind of like off and. on friends and I think she might have. said something about me that her family. didn't really like me. >> Did uh so did you go in the room and pay. your respects or. >> how did that go? >> It was hard. It was really hard. Um. >> how long did you stay in the room with. her casket? >> Like. 10 minutes. 10 [music] to 15 minutes.

>> What' y'all talk about while you're in. there? >> We didn't talk at all. >> Nothing. >> We just [music] each had our like. moments, I guess. >> John never take his cell phone out and. take a picture of her. >> No, he didn't. >> Sure. >> Mhm. >> Well, you can tell me. I just Some. people do that. >> Yeah. No, [music] he never took a. picture of her. >> Watch Hannah's behavior closely as the. questions get more direct. Her eyes. start darting between the detectives. She fidgets with her hands, picks at her. nails. Her whole demeanor shifts. It's. clear she's getting nervous. And the.

detectives can see it, too. >> So, while you were in that room, you two. never talked at all. [clears throat]. >> I kind of rubbed his back a little bit. You know, I told him that it was okay, but other than that, we didn't really. talk. >> Was he crying? >> Mhm. >> Were [clears throat] you crying? >> Mhm. >> It's just hard like seeing somebody like. that, >> I bet. [snorts] Okay. Um, Monday night at some. point before you went out, you guys. carried out a bag of trash to your car. or to his car, right? >> I don't remember.

>> Okay. So, you don't recall carrying out. a trash bag or him cleaning anything up? >> Mm-m. >> Having to. put stuff in the trash? >> No, sir. >> Okay. >> On Monday, the day Katie was killed, one. of their roommates reported seeing John. and Hannah carrying out several bags of. trash. At the time, detectives didn't. think much of it. It felt like a small, irrelevant detail with nothing to back. it up. But now, with all this new. information coming together, that. statement suddenly stood out. It was.

another piece of the puzzle, something. they could finally use to put more. pressure on Hannah. Um, just so you. understand, we've been working this case. steady since she disappeared, >> right? >> So, there's a lot of these things that. we know the answers to. >> Mhm. >> I can tell you already you're lying to. me. Okay, you do not want to get wrapped up in. catching the murder charge. I got to. tell you a little something. At the. funeral home, we were there. Okay. There was a camera in the room. There was a reporter in the room. We.

heard everything you guys said. So, do you want to go back and rehash. that? >> I don't. It was not. easy to see her like that. Is that why. there was giggling and stuff? >> There's not any Googling. >> We've been doing this longer than you've. been alive. >> You're not you're not you're not slicker. than us. You know, you're not going to. outsmart us. We we we've talked to. people. This is a murderer. You.

understand that? >> Yes, sir. What do you think about somebody that. would stab a girl in the neck to the. point where the knife went all the way. through to the other side and then stick. her body like a piece of trash in the. basement of an abandoned house to sit. there for a day and a half before. somebody finds her? >> Okay, she's right here. >> I don't want to look at her. >> It's your friend. >> I don't want to do this anymore. >> Don't want to do what? Don't want to. help us find out who killed her. >> All you got to do is tell the truth. It.

will be so easy. alligator. >> Can I alligator? >> Can I Can I tell you something? To tell. the truth, you don't have to try. It. just flows. It just comes out. >> We're also aware of what people have. told us about you and Katie. They're. telling us that you didn't like her one. bit. >> Well, after me and John started like. getting together, Katie started not liking me. If you know. something and you're trying to cover up.

for it, you're going to go down with the. rest of them. You're going to go down. with the person who did this to her. >> I don't know anything about her murder. >> You do. >> I don't. >> You do. >> I really don't. >> We really do. >> You do. We know more than you think we. do. >> I I don't want to talk anymore right. now. Even after being confronted with the. footage and being caught in multiple. lies, Hannah refused to give up on any. additional details she may withhold. But.

while none of this gave detectives. [music] the definitive proof they. needed, Jon didn't know that. And that. uncertainty was exactly what they were. counting on. So detectives decide to. bring him in again. This time more. prepared and ready to push harder than. before. They planned to corner him with. everything they had, but they'd have to. be careful. If they push too far without. enough to arrest him, it could tip him. off, causing him to disappear. >> We hadn't really had a chance to sit.

down. I know I talked to you that day. that when we notified you about her. death. >> Yeah. >> And things are kind of emotional and. everything. So, Right. So, the viewing. was Saturday, right? >> Right. 2:00 to 4 on Saturday. >> When did you when did you get. >> I went Sunday. 2:30 on Sunday. >> Okay. They So, they just had a private. thing for you? M by yourself or? >> Yeah. Well, I took Hannah with me. >> Did you? >> Yeah. >> Was that hard? >> Yeah, cuz I mean, first of all, there's. nobody there but me and her, so we're. just kind of standing there staring at. like Katie's nasty, like, dirty,

disgusting body. I've seen people dead. I've [ __ ] dealt with this [ __ ]. before, and now there's nobody else. there. You know what I mean? >> That night, somebody says you and Hannah. were putting some trash from a bag, like. a trash bag in the back of the Prius. >> Do you know remember doing that? Oh. yeah. Uh Marley had [music] like the. most explosive [ __ ]. >> all on the floor and stunk up the whole. house. I throw out like four towels. This moment reveals Hannah's lie. She.

claimed she couldn't remember taking any. trash out. Yet John's statement confirms. otherwise. It's a small clue, but one. that'll soon become part of a much. bigger picture. >> So you guys got home around three. roughly. Brandon and um. >> Crystal. >> Crystal were there. Um what happened. after that after you've done that? >> We went and met my uh friend Scott to. get some money that he owes me. >> What's he owe you? >> He owed me 500 for when he crashed my. car. >> Where'd you meet with Scott?

>> That does actually. >> But he was in the army with you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We played together. >> We played together. >> Did you go anywhere before that? >> No. >> This is where John makes his first. mistake. mentioning a name detectives. have never heard before. Charles Scott, his friend from the military, someone. who'd later proved to know far more. about the night Katie died than anyone. realized. >> I don't know how much you know about. cell phones and stuff like that. Um, [music] but as you go around, your cell. phone's constantly.

searching for signals and stuff like. that. Um, so with that said, is there. anything going back to last Monday, is. there anything that you've told me that. your cell phone records would say. otherwise? >> I don't believe so. >> What if I told you that your cell phone. did ping somewhere other than where you. say you were? >> Then I'd also say that her cell phone. pinged in West Virginia. >> Yeah, that ended up being a AT&T mishap. They they plugged in the wrong phone. number. >> Yeah. I don't know.

>> Okay. Um, what if I told you that Charles Scott's. phone number pinged in the same area. that yours did and not around Zach's. piece? >> When? >> Monday night. >> He's got a freedom of moving on him. We. can call him. We can ask him. >> Okay. So, the night this Monday night. that we're talking about around 6:15, sometime around that time frame, can you. think of any reason your phone would. show that you were in that area of. Augusta Road and White Horse Road?

>> No. >> Um, is there any reason you and Charles. were talking a lot that evening? >> Yeah, cuz he that's the night that he. was here. That's the night he was. available. [clears throat]. >> I'm not looking to offend you, but it's. questions that we we need to get. answered and cleared up. Okay. Um, did. Katie have any kind of life insurance. policy. >> through the military? Yeah, she's. automatically enrolled. >> Okay. >> Same as my daughter. >> Would you be willing to take polygraphs. so we can go ahead and do that for you. and eliminate you and start looking. elsewhere? >> I have to talk to my lawyer about that. first. >> Okay. >> See what he says cuz I don't know about.

that at all. >> As the interview ends, detectives have. their first real connection between Jon. and Charles. Both of their phones show. activity near the area where Katie's. body was found. It isn't enough to make. an arrest, but it's enough to keep. digging. And with a new name now tied to. the night of the murder, John can sense. it. Detectives are closing in. At this point, the main circle of. suspects included Wayne, John, Hannah, and now more recently, Charles Scott,

John's friend from the army. But as. detectives slowly pressed forward, Jon. was growing uneasy. For the first time, he was starting to realize his master. plan might not hold. That's when on November 4th, 11 days. after Katie was killed, detectives. received a call that would send the case. in a whole new direction. Crystal, who. was John's roommate and had been. interviewed earlier, came forward with. information that changed everything. >> Hi, Crystal.

>> Hello. >> How are you? I'm good. >> Oh, okay. >> What's been going on since Oh, I don't. know. You got a phone call on Wednesday. >> at 3:30. He called and he said um he. said, "Are y'all at home?" And we said, "No." And he said, "Okay, all right. Bye." And then just hung up. Well, me. and Brenn got home about 6:15, 6:30. And. we seen that uh in our room, we have, like I said, the Halloween lights just. going across the ceiling. The attic is. right where that light is at. And we had.

the lights I had the lights going across. the attic. Well, when we come back, they. were just torn down. We haven't even. touched them. They were just ripped out. from the attict. And once we figured out. he was gone, we went searching through. the house, making sure all the windows. were locked and covered. And cuz I've. never been in a house alone like that. except for my apartment. But he just he. just he was gone, you know, and we. couldn't call him cuz the cops have his. phone. I said, Brandon, I said, "We need. to go back outside and call the. Clintonville detective warlock." And I.

told him what was happening. And he was. like, you know, I was like, you know, if. you want to come and search the house. right now, I give you full permission. He said, "Well, I can't do that without. a warrant." And he was like, and I was. like, "Well, I mean, there's no way that. somebody can come out here and like. search the house or anything like that.". And he said, "No." He said, "Your best. bet is to go stay the night somewhere. else." He was like, "Cuz you're possibly. living with a murderer.". >> John was gone. His disappearance also. meant he abandoned his military service, officially classifying him as a.

deserter. However, as investigators. would soon learn, he wasn't alone. He. had fled with none other than the. 17-year-old girl, Hannah Thompson. And. as officers across the state searched. every highway, every motel, every. possible route out of South Carolina. with no sign of either of them, it. became clear this wasn't just an. investigation anymore. This was a. manhunt.

In the days that followed, leads were. few. The pair had vanished completely. off the grid. A 28-year-old former army. sergeant and a 17-year-old teenager gone. without a trace. Then on November 19th, 26 days after Katie's death, a small. breakthrough happened. John's red Yukon. was captured on CCTV near Los Cuses, New. Mexico, about 1,600 m from Simpsonville, South Carolina, where he disappeared.

And just two days later on November. 21st, that same Yukon was found. abandoned in the mountains of Yumatila. County in Oregon, over 1,400 m away from. Las Crues. Inside the vehicle, investigators found Jon's laptop, clothes, and camping gear scattered. around, suggesting that after the crash, Jon and Hannah grabbed what they could. and ran into the woods. The discovery. confirmed what detectives had already. feared. John and Hannah were constantly. on the move, crossing state lines and.

staying just far enough ahead of law. enforcement to vanish again. Later that. same day, authorities issued arrest. warrants for both Jon and Hannah, officially turning the case into a. nationwide manhunt. By this point, Jon and Hannah had. already been on the run for over 2 weeks. before any warrants were ever issued, putting them far ahead of law. enforcement and nearly impossible to. track. But once the warrants went. active, detectives finally gained full. access to their phones, chat logs, and.

internet history. And that's when their. worst suspicions were confirmed. >> I just woke up and I already feel sad. again. I feel like you're still talking. to Katie. >> I promise you I'm not talking to Katie. >> I will leave you if you talk to her. I. swear. >> I know I'm not and I won't. She's gone. I'm done with her. I promise. I'm going. through with that thing though soon. >> I'm going to be staying with you. >> Good. >> The messages between the two suggest.

that John had been planning the murder. for months prior to it actually. happening. And upon searching his. internet history, they found searches. like how to make a two-way radio or how. to sharpen a knife, leaving little to no. doubt about his involvement. But with. John and Hannah still missing, detectives had little choice but to. wait, hoping for the next break that. could pull them back on the trail. And. that's when on November 25th, 21 days. after Jon and Hannah's disappearance,

and over a month after Katie's death, detectives got a call from a South. Carolina prison. But the caller wasn't. just anyone. The call came from the. cellmate of Charles Scott, Jon's army. friend, who was already in custody for. an unrelated charge. Charles's phone had. pinged near the abandoned house on the. day Katie died, and his cellmate was. about to provide a lead that could give. detectives the breakthrough they. desperately needed with details [music].

only the killer could have known. >> Just [clears throat] as we're talking. today, is that Charles Town you're. talking about? That's the one I'm. talking about. He's okay. He killed a. girl. Helped kill a girl with one of his. blade named John. Something like that. You know, my dad put her in a drug house. or an abandoned house in a basement in a. box that take two people's home. He was. the one that coerced her to the spot. where John come up behind her and got.

her, grabbed her. They met at a. different location. When John got her, they put the knife toward John stabbed. her. I don't know how many times John. stabbed. He didn't say he said he knows. he stabbed her twice and John made him. stab her twice. He actually said he. scared him when he scared stabbed her at. first, but then after he stabbed her, it. made him feel a little better. William's. statements are shocking. His account of. what happened closely mirrors the. possible events of the night Katie died. And what he says next only grows more. disturbing. >> He said, "Well, this is the second time.

The first time he told me about, you. know, how he coerced her because his. spot and now they was going to talk. about something about John trying to. help John come off marijuana and John's. on drugs real bad. After they John. grabbed her, they put him in John's. Tahoe, red Tahoe, took her to the scene. So where does it say where they actually. killed her at? In the back of the Tahoe. on the tarp. I told him, be honest with. me. I said, "Have they took your DNA?". He said, "No." Well, that's a good.

thing. I tell you, your DNA is crossing. He said they had my DNA is not going to. be there. >> All right. If you don't have anything. else, uh, Mark, we're going to go ahead. and conclude the interview at 11:02 a.m. >> Mark's statements put serious. allegations on Charles. It wouldn't be. anything special as false accusations. like this happen when inmates try to get. a deal with officers or get their. sentence lowered. But in this instance, too many details added up. details only. the killer or someone heavily involved.

could have known. One of those was his. claim that Charles had lured Katie to a. location near the abandoned house. For. detectives, this suddenly made sense of. why her car had been discovered just a. few miles away, abandoned without a. struggle. Charles also allegedly told. his bunkmate that he and Jon wrapped. Katie in a tarp to move her into the. basement. This matched forensics, which. had already indicated she'd been moved. after death. Now, detectives have a. chilling theory of how that happened. It.

was now a very big chance for the. detectives to possibly catch one of. Katie's killers. A chance they couldn't. afford to waste. So, without hesitation, they brought Charles in, hoping for the. biggest breakthrough in the case yet. But detectives knew getting Charles to. talk wouldn't be easy. They didn't have. enough evidence to pin him down, and. they needed something, anything, that. could make him slip. So, they decided to. take an insane risk. They came up with a. plan to push him over the edge. They.

would bluff, pretending that Jon had. already been arrested and was ready to. testify against him. If Charles believed. it, the pressure might finally make him. talk. But if he didn't, detectives would. lose their best chance to get the truth. >> All right, Charles, >> what do you think the polygraph says? >> Let's Let's get away from the polygraph. Okay. And you've been saying that ever. since I read the launch changing. Okay. Cuz it's not looking good for you. [music] Okay. >> I have absolutely nothing to do with.

that girl. You got to take a poly. >> Let me tell you that John was arrested. in in New Jersey. >> Okay. >> Okay. And he sang like a bird to those. investigators. >> I don't care what he told you. >> Well, you should. >> I was not there. Um investigator mainly. told you that John was arrested earlier. >> Okay. And he's talking. What do you. think he's saying? >> I don't know what he's saying. I don't. know. But I know I never seen that girl. day in my life. >> We were both there, Charles.

>> No, we were not. >> As soon as the questioning starts, Charles demands a polygraph. And. detectives know exactly what that means. Polygraphs aren't reliable, can be. manipulated, and their results can't be. used in court. It's an easy way out. Simple yes or no questions instead of. real confrontation. And before long, his. avoidance turns into an act of. ignorance. >> I never seen that. >> You knew that they were married and you. knew that John had problem. >> No, I did not know. >> You told me. You told me at the founding.

police department that John has talked. about how she was [ __ ] his career up. >> That was a lie. Everybody singing like a bird. I I never. had no weapon. You will not find no. fingerprint or no weapon that I touch. [music] Number one. Why is that? >> Cuz I wasn't there. I didn't touch no. weapon. I never said he said I'll never. find fingerprints on a weapon that you. touched. >> Yeah. >> Have you ever Have you ever told anybody. that you're involved in this murder?

>> Do I look stupid? Do I look like I would. just go inside of a [ __ ] jail to some. guy I don't know and say, "Hey man, I. murdered some girl.". >> You know what it looks like? It looks. like you were remorseful for your. actions. Let me ask you this. Um, where's the phone that you had that you. communicated with Katie on? >> Who? Who's Katie? The girl that died? >> Yeah. >> I never communicated with her. >> Where? Where's the phone? >> What phone? >> The phone that was used to communicate. with the girl the day that she was. murdered. >> Only phone that I had was the one you.

confiscated and the one in this house. Even after the detectives bluff and. revealed the testimony his previous. cellmate made about Charles involvement. in the crime, he denied everything. Still, detectives couldn't ignore the. phone data placing him near the house or. the chilling details from his bunkmate. With no confession, all they could do. was wait. Charles's DNA was now added to. the samples already being tested against. the evidence found beneath Katie's. fingernails. And when those results came.

back, they would finally reveal who was. truly involved. Over 2 weeks have now passed since the. last lead on the case. With false leads. and missing crucial timelines, it. [music] was becoming more and more. possible that the real killers of Katie. would never be found. until the. detectives got a call from Hannah's. parents with information that could soon. result in solving the whole case. Hannah.

had resurfaced stating she had been. abandoned by John and would soon come. back to her hometown so law enforcement. would be there waiting for her. It was now the day when Hannah was. supposed to come back to her home. Law. enforcement secured all entries to the. city as well as all possible places she. could go to. And finally, at 9:00 a.m., she would be spotted near her family. home. From there, she would be instantly. detained and taken to the police.

department for interrogation. For the. detectives, it was now or never. That. was their biggest chance of finding out. what had really happened and who is. truly responsible for Katie's death. >> What was the game plan when you died? What? I don't think we really had one. Like I guess both of us just kind of. panicked and confused Friday that he. wanted to leave like the state and we. like drove up into the mountains and he.

like he just got the car like stuck in. the like in trees like in the mountains. So I was like like what are we going to. do? He said that we would hike. I kind. of like stopped and I was crying and I. was like, I can't do this anymore. I was. like, I need to go home. Like he started. like yelling at me and calling names and. saying that if I left like he was going. to kill. Then like one morning like he had gotten.

up and left and I I was just like I'm. not just going to like sit here like so. I got up and I went to like um down the. street to like a hotel. Started crying. and then I sent a message to my mom and. dad. Um, >> Anna continued describing their time on. the run, doing her best to avoid talking. about the day of the murder. It went on. for nearly 2 hours, and by then, the.

pressure had clearly worn her down. That's when the detective would start. asking her the difficult questions, causing Hannah to break, revealing. everything she knows. >> Let's go back to that Monday, okay? Because we now have conversations from. you and him on Wednesday about he's. going to meet up with going to drink. some beers with her at this abandoned. house. >> Um he says he tries to meet up with her. It doesn't work, but then lo and behold, she's found at that abandoned house that. he was supposed to go meet up with her.

at. >> Um meanwhile, he randomly asks you to. drop her off on Woodruff Road or drop. him off on Woodruff Road. >> and doesn't tell you why or anything. >> Okay. So, can you please tell me what. the game plan was? Well, what did he. tell you he was going to go and do? >> He was just He told me that he was just. going to go [music]. talk to her at work. >> You drove him over there. >> He kept telling me like every day that.

like. it was my fault and that he did it for. me and like what did he say he did for. you? He said that. when we were in Oregon at the casino, he. like yelled it real loud. He said that. he killed her for me. Hannah, was there. a plan before this to get rid of Katie? >> Not from you. But did John ever talk to. you about getting rid of Katie?

Honestly, >> what did he tell you about killing. Katie? He just said that like it was. really really funny. He told me that the. knife broke. He just said that. broke the knife. The last thing she she said was ow. And. she said that before that that if he let.

her go that she wouldn't call the. police. Where were they handling? Um and you don't know exactly where he. could he. did you have anything to do with G. >> And the reason why I ask you this is. because we're still looking for John, >> right? Okay. And as much as you think.

John cared about you. from an outsider's perspective and not. knowing you, not being your mom, he. doesn't. >> Unfortunately, Hannah's statements. proved [music] far less helpful in. finding Jon than the detectives. initially hoped for. Although she stated. that Jon confessed to killing Katie and. provided some new insights, she didn't. know much about Charles's involvement. And while she could be arrested, detectives decided she might prove more. useful free. After all, they now had her.

back in the city and under close watch, which seemed like a small success. What. they didn't realize, however, was that. this was all part of Jon's plan, planting Hannah back in the city to. infiltrate the case and feed him exactly. what detectives knew, keeping him one. step ahead for years to come. Almost 3 months had passed since Katie's. body was found in the basement of the. abandoned house, and the killer was.

still out there. But on that particular. day, the long-awaited DNA results. finally came back. And the results of. DNA found under Katie's fingernails. pointed to no one else but John himself. With the DNA matching to John, Wayne was. cleared. But detectives still believed. Hannah or Charles might have helped, or. at least knew far more than they. admitted. Detectives already knew that. Jon was only using cash and most likely. a fake ID. So, all they could do at the.

moment was wait for Jon to make a. critical mistake that would allow them. to catch him. But Jon was careful. Very. careful. It had been over 7 months since Katie's. murder and 6 months since Jon went on. the run. When on May 21st, 2017, investigators received tips and possible. sightings of Jon in Washington, over. 2,700 m from South Carolina, where Katie.

was found dead and over 300 m away from. where his red Yukon was found abandoned. Acting on these leads, they canvased. local businesses and retrieved CCTV. footage from a parking lot in Washington. where Jon was captured on camera. Unfortunately, despite getting close, Jon managed to slip away, vanishing off. under the radar once again.

For the next year, the investigation hit. a standstill. [music] It wasn't until. September 6th, 2018, almost 2 years. since Katie's death, when Hannah finally. revealed that Jon had given her his. journal and tools to hide. A crucial. piece of evidence that would shift the. case in a new direction. The journal. became a pivotal piece of evidence, revealing Jon's state of mind and his. premeditated intentions. It confirms. that Jon's actions were driven by a deep. desire to be with Hannah and his.

willingness to kill [music] Katie to. make that happen. During her interview, Hannah admitted she had been Jon's. girlfriend and that she had been in. constant contact with him before Katie's. death. She also confessed that she had. hidden Jon's journal, which contained. disturbing entries about his obsessive. thoughts and plans to escape with. Hannah. This was the last significant. breakthrough in the case for years. With. no new leads, the investigation stalled.

Detectives spent the next few years. chasing down small tips and piecing. together fragments of information, but. nothing substantial came of it. The case. gradually faded from public attention. Then in 2022, 6 years after Katie's death, everything. is about to change. After over 6 years. of dead ends, US marshals and local law. enforcement tracked Jon down in Oregon.

He had erased his past, now living under. the alias Ben Klene. Under his new. identity, he had started a fresh life, marrying a new woman and leaving his. past behind. The arrest felt surreal. Jon, who had spent so long evading. capture, was now cornered. After years. of hiding in plain sight, the truth had. finally caught up with him, and the case. was nearing its resolution. [music].

However, the mystery of how Katie was. lured to the abandoned house remains. unsolved to this day. Her phone was. recovered damaged, limiting. investigators ability to access message. content and app-based communications. And while rumors suggested Charles Scott. might have had contact with her, this. was never confirmed. with no physical or. forensic evidence tying him to the. crime. He was ultimately ruled out as a. suspect and never sentenced. In 2022,

during an interview after Jon's arrest, Hannah revealed for the first time that. she and Jon had been in regular contact. throughout the years he was on the run, continuing to text and communicate, even. after she had returned to South. Carolina. This new revelation shed light. on her role in helping Jon evade. capture. Finally, on September 20th, 2024, John Blauvelt was convicted of. Katie's murder and sentenced to life in. prison without parole. Hannah Thompson.

was charged with obstruction of justice. and accessory after the fact, receiving. a sentence of 10 years.