How Police Captured The Texas Church Assassin

[bell]. >> Pastor? How are you, sir? Thank you for coming out here. >> Inside this church in May, Texas, locals. are gathering to mourn the tragic death. of 25-year-old Shante Blankenship. Somewhere within this crowd is Shante's. killer, hiding in plain sight and. watching town folks pointing suspicions. in all directions. >> Has she had problems with anybody? >> There's this guy that called and we used.

to have problems cuz he used to ride. around with them and stuff. >> Whoever it is is pretty sick person and. they're still out there somewhere. >> I think it's your boyfriend, Don. >> You know, she's a good-looking girl and. that makes me a dirty old man. That I. think that's what was said. >> As detectives exhaust every lead, the. case eventually goes cold, [music]. leaving this small community questioning. if any one of them might be the next. victim. Yet, for over a year, one. unusual witness sits quietly unnoticed,

holding the answer detectives had been. hunting for all along. >> He was so devious and smart. He just. didn't know that that was going to be. the thing that would finally catch him. >> The actions that we're showing on this. is, man, you're. you're off the freaking charts. >> And here he is, right in front of us. How did I miss that?

>> It's May 15th in the small town of May, Texas. Nearly 48 hours have passed since. 25-year-old Shante Blankenship. mysteriously vanished after going on her. usual evening walk. Since then, church. volunteers have searched tirelessly for. any sign of her until this Sunday. morning, around 11:00 a.m., when one. couple stumbles upon something. [music]. >> Brown County Sheriff's Office, what's. the location of your emergency?

>> I don't have no idea where I'm at. I am. in the middle of nowhere. >> We were looking for Shantae Golden ship. Okay. >> We found her. >> Okay. >> It's the. >> Okay, ma'am, it's face down. Face down. Real. still for me, okay? I'm going to try to. ping your location. >> It's actually the the old haunted house. is what everybody calls it. >> Is she okay? Does she need any medical. attention? >> She's alive. She's dead. >> What you talking about? >> Oh my god. >> Okay, it's Yeah, I've got everybody.

headed that direction, okay? >> Right away, the Brown County Sheriff's. Office dispatches [music] two patrol. deputies to the caller's location, an. abandoned farmhouse nearly 25 miles. away. Once they arrive, they find. Charlie and Jackie anxiously pacing. outside, ready to go into detail about. the gruesome discovery they had just. made inside. >> We were just driving around looking for. her. They did a a. Everybody met at 3:00 at the church to. go look for her, and we were just. driving around.

We looked at every creek and. >> The uh. >> culvert. We didn't find her. >> The peel out marks were already here. >> Those over there, yeah. >> I've seen those tracks, and they pulled. in. They didn't go on through. They would just stop. >> These aren't y'alls? >> Uh-uh. No, this is the vehicle we're in. >> Are these Are those over to the gate? Are those your shoe prints? >> Probably mine. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Let's stay over here on the rocks and. not walk around where there's any. footprints. >> Don't let them leave there till I get. out there, please. >> 10-4, they're waiting for everybody.

>> To the deputies, this discovery. immediately raises questions. The. farmhouse sits miles out of town in an. isolated location that many locals don't. even know exists. So, while they wait. for additional officers to arrive, the. deputy begins pressing for answers, trying to understand how this couple. ended up here in the first place. >> How long did you guess y'all called. immediately when y'all found her? >> Which gate did y'all jump? I walked. around the house. I didn't see nothing. in there. Then I went out to.

>> Do what? >> I walked around in the house. >> Uh-huh. >> I didn't see nothing in there. Went to. all the outbuildings. >> Yeah. >> And I was coming back and that storm. cellar there had a bunch of grass. knocked down. So, I run around and. looked and there she is. She's upside. down in there. And she is beat. >> I got a daughter that age. >> [snorts]. >> She's naked. Is this J Burton or she got. on is that white shirt she was wearing. around in probably when I seen her? [ __ ]. it. My hand on them so Did she done. that? I thought They done that right. there, flashes. I took them bastard.

I know Bonnie. She had the mentality of. a 9-year-old. >> There's a old house back there? They. apparently all met up at the church. earlier in North Lake and they were just. coming out driving around looking. She's in a cellar. >> You serious? >> Yeah. I said they were just out looking for a. place to stay. Yeah, I think so. They said they said they found. hair laying out on the ground. They're. like, "What the heck is that?" So, they've already picked they picked it.

up. It's like, "That ain't cow hair or. anything." They were wandering around. and found her in the cellar. The gate's locked, [music] so we'll have. to cut it. But there's tire tracks that. pull in there and then pull straight. back out. >> Fresh tracks? >> Yeah, like today fresh. >> Indeed, these are very fresh marks. planting a terrifying thought in the. deputies' minds that Shante's killer. could be somewhere nearby keeping a. close eye on the area. Shortly. afterward, more units begin arriving at.

the scene including the crime scene. photographer. And as the deputies. prepare to head towards the body's. location, they'll soon realize that. whatever the couple told them is nothing. compared to what they're about to see. >> What's that wire? >> Yeah. >> It's It's on your gun. There you go. You're good. All right. Here, John. Hold this. I'm. going to. I'll step up here and I'll grab the. camera and hold it while you. >> laying right on the other side on the. human turf. >> Okay. You said there's a.

little bracelet. Right here on the other side of the. gate, you said. Yeah, right over there. in the middle of that grass. There's one. of those wristbands, those little rubber. bands like this one. >> It looks, the way this grass is, right here, like someone's been through it recently. or something. Knife laying on the. ground. I don't know if Looks like it's. been there a little while. >> Yeah, it's been there a while, but we'll. go ahead and photograph it just in case. >> I don't see any blood anywhere, though. I haven't seen drops. >> Mhm.

>> I wonder if someone pulled around to the. back side of this house where it wasn't. as obvious. >> Yeah. Let's just follow this. >> We'll follow the dirt tracks. The grass. is disturbed. She had her knee pants on. >> Oh my goodness. >> Yeah.

Video here. I want to say he said he pulled this uh. >> Metal bar. >> We need to find out I mean, cuz you can. see where there's a path right through. here. >> Mhm. >> Man, this grass is still thick. There's. not There's not going to be any prints. This metal right here. we'll need to process, probably. However, I would say Here's another pink. band right here, John. >> Oh, yeah. It's a legit homicide, it looks like. >> blood all on that rock right there.

Once all your guys get out here, I'm. sure they'll want to go through this. building and make sure that there's not. something inside here, either. >> Yeah. >> On the ground, halfway inside the. cellar, lies Shante's deceased and. partially clothed body, beaten so. severely that she is almost. unrecognizable. Beside her is a broken. lawnmower blade stained [music] with. blood. Its condition and placement leave. investigators with little doubt that. they're looking at the murder weapon.

All of it, the secluded location, the. sheer brutality of the attack, and the. way Shante's body is positioned leave. deputies wondering just what kind of a. deranged person could have done this. Following this, Shante's body is taken. away for autopsy while officers clear. the abandoned house. [music] Inside, they find trash, empty alcohol bottles, and decay, but no blood or signs of a. struggle. The next step for. investigators is to speak with the.

remaining search volunteers, so they. release the couple who found the body, instructing them not to tell anyone. about the discovery to avoid alerting. the killer. But, that's easier said than. done because for Brown County. discoveries like this carry a familiar. weight as the area has been no stranger. to tragedy. In 1989, 13-year-old Amanda Goodman was. abducted while walking home from school. and murdered. Seven years later, in.

1996, 30-year-old Juan Morales was found. shot to death beside his burning car. Decades [music] later, both cases remain. unsolved. And even more recently, police. recovered the remains of two missing. residents in remote areas of Brown. County. So, while investigators hope to. keep details of Shante's murder from. spreading, in a town this small news. travels extremely fast, and. investigators are about to learn that. the hard way.

>> And this is the church North Lake. >> Because May, Texas is a [music] deeply. religious community, the search for. Shante has been organized through the. local North Lake Community Church. So, investigators head there, but by the. time they arrive, the situation has. already changed dramatically. A. volunteer firefighter has just informed. Shante's family that her body has been. found, [music] putting deputies at a. significant disadvantage. And as the. deputy approaches the church, he's met.

with uneasy stares [music] from the. crowd as he scans the room for any. potential suspects. >> Okay. >> Who are you sir? I'm just looking. >> Oh. >> I'm just making observations. >> Oh, appreciate it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're not doing what sir? >> Nothing. >> Okay. That's fine. All right, come on. Hey folks, could you have your attention. just a minute? Folks. Folks. Hello. Ladies, gentlemen. If you're believe you have information.

that will assist in this investigation, >> [music]. >> I ask you don't discuss it with anybody. else. I don't want to mix your notes. with anybody else's notes or anybody. else's observations. [music] That's. important because I want your. recollections to be your own. Thank you very much for your. cooperation. >> Pastor. >> How are you sir? >> Good. >> You're doing okay? >> Doing well, sir. Thank you for coming out here. >> While the community may not trust the. deputy yet, they do trust Pastor Ron. Keener. Having spent nearly five decades.

in ministry and years helping local. charities, he knows this town inside and. out, and having him on their side could. prove invaluable to the investigation. As the deputy continues moving through. the church, he notices people beginning. to leave. With no legal authority to. stop them, he urges Pastor Keener to. help gather Shante's family and those. closest to her. But as detectives begin. speaking with the people who knew Shante. best, one person quickly draws their. attention, her boyfriend, John Adams.

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investigation where Shontae's boyfriend, John, is about to exhibit some behavior. that detectives would find highly. suspicious. >> My name's John Harper. I'm an. investigator with Bracket Insurance. Agency. >> Okay. >> get in trouble anymore. >> What does that mean? >> Well, me and Bracket Sales are over one. time. >> Now, now now I remember who you are. Yes, now I remember who you are. How long have you been with her? >> A little over 3 years. October 7th, 2012. >> Okay. How was you How did you How did. you and her.

How did you and her get along? >> How did you get along? >> Yeah. >> I mean like we. There was times, I ain't going to lie, we'd argue, I mean like, but. she's not. capable of. handling things. I mean like, she has. mental problems, I mean like I try to. cut She has a habit of yelling and. stuff, and. I just try to Sometimes I leave, and. then sometimes I could just talk her out. and be nice, and she'd calm down. >> Mhm. >> But she just has I mean like.

I can't say it. She'd express herself different, I mean. like, just Sometimes there's like a. wall, but like. I mean like, she showed me love, you. know what I mean? >> Despite just learning that Shontae has. been found dead, John doesn't ask a. single question about what happened to. her that night, leaving detectives to. wonder if he somehow already knows. At.

this stage, deputies are looking for. anyone who may have had a reason to harm. Shontae. And without hesitation, John. would point investigators towards. another man, someone who had just. slipped out of the church the moment the. deputy arrived. >> Anything else you can Has she had. problems with anybody? >> Basically, this guy, yeah. Or this guy, Colin. >> Guy where? >> Colin. >> Yeah. >> What about Colon Smith? >> Well, me and we used to have problems. cuz he used to chase the ride around. with him and stuff. And he used to just.

do stupid stuff and he like driving. drunk. >> Mhm. >> Stuff like that and I didn't like that. and he like. I shouldn't hang around and stuff but. it's pretty much. me and him got into it one time cuz he. came up to the house. She was drunk, uh, drunk or off drunk. >> Mhm. >> I'm off of work. I mean, I'm thinking, "What the hell?". And me and her stood out there and we. were out there and. straightened out and I never heard much. out of him. He [music] He pretty much. turned his nose and at me.

>> Okay. >> And then I've heard off and on she goes. over there, I mean, but. it's just something I can't really get. myself upset about and. I mean, but. and that fool was over. >> As John's interview comes to an end, deputies still aren't sure what to make. of him. Although he agreed to speak with. him voluntarily and remains cooperative, detectives find his behavior oddly. unconcerned. For now, John points. investigators towards the only possible.

suspect he can think of, Colon Smith, a. man deputies soon learn is no longer at. the church. And as the church empties. and the night comes to an end, detectives decide to wrap up the. interviews and continue the. investigation at first light. But when. the community finally learns who the. killer really is, they would be left. speechless that someone they thought. they could trust was capable of such. evil. >> I mean, we've got her's been brutally.

murdered. And here he is right in front of us. How. did I miss that? How did I miss that? >> The next morning, just as deputies. prepare to head back into town, they. receive a major update from the forensic. team. The initial autopsy results are. in. Shante's cause of death is. determined to be blunt force trauma to. the head and neck. Her injuries are. consistent with the broken lawnmower. blade found at the scene. She has no. defensive wounds. While bruising on her. arms suggests she had been dragged by.

the elbows, but investigators uncover. something even more disturbing. Shante's. body had been violated as she was dying. or even after her death. Male DNA is. recovered giving detectives their first. concrete clue about the person they're. looking for. And combined with the sheer. brutality of the attack, investigators. begin to suspect that this was not the. killer's first time and that other. victims may still be hidden somewhere.

At 10:00 a.m., deputies make their way. into town and split up interviewing men. throughout the area and collecting DNA. samples in hopes of identifying the. killer. Suspecting they're dealing with. a serial killer, they know they can't. afford to waste time as anyone could be. a potential suspect. But the terrifying. part is that they have no idea which of. those encounters will be the one with. the killer. >> I guess you know why I'm here. >> Well, I'm sure it has nothing to do with. Shante.

>> Yes, sir. What do you know about Shante, sir? >> I've lived here about 4 years and she. walks up and down the streets every day. >> Something was said and I'm not sure. about the source cuz it I was just. assigned to come out. >> Okay. >> Something about, you know, that. uh you had said that you get excited. when you see her. >> Uh there might have been a comment made. to say that. you know, she's a good looking girl and. that makes me a dirty old man. That I. think that's what was said. And I don't. give a [ __ ] if you're male and you. ain't, you're going to look at a young.

lady and say, "Well, damn, she's. pretty." You know. >> Yeah, I hear you. Somebody reported a dead body hanging in. there. And they got on that gate there and came. up and went in. He told me she's. sleeping. Now, look what they told me. Oh, ago was that? >> Oh, that's been. >> 10 years. >> Oh, okay. And you just you just seen her and waved. to her. You didn't stop and talk to. >> I did stop and talk to her. I had. stopped and talked to her in the past. some. She's a good little girl. >> You know, there's. boys that were.

you know, wanting to be with her or. and John said that he was her boyfriend. and she'd say Colin was her boyfriend. You never know. You didn't. >> After speaking with more than a dozen. residents, detectives uncover a. troubling reality. There is no shortage. of men who knew Shantae, knew her. routine, and may have had the. opportunity to harm her. Meaning there. are still too many possibilities and no. clear suspect. So, in search of a. breakthrough, the lead detective.

contacts Shantae's family and learns. from her mother, Michelle, that the last. person likely to have seen her before. she disappeared was her closest friend, [music] Caitlyn. After getting Caitlyn's. address, detectives drive to her house, unaware that the woman they're about to. meet may hold the key to unraveling the. entire case. Because no one in this. house knows Shantae better than she. does, or the three strange men who had. recently entered her life. >> Caitlyn, we're just trying to get as. much information on this as we can. Can. you just kind of tell me about Friday?

What was she talking about? >> She was talking to me about a whole. bunch of different stuff. One thing that. really got me was she told me her and. Colin got back together. Her and her. boyfriend, John, talked about how they. broke up because she didn't like him. And then said that uh actually Colin. told her yeah, told her to meet him in. the shed behind his house that night. Sorry. >> It's okay. Take your time. >> And then this guy he drove by us in.

Bronco. It's white and red. You You when. you see somebody you think is really. creepy, you kind of get this feeling. He. looked kind of creepy and he waved at. her and she was like, "Yeah, that's. so-and-so, but he really creeps me out.". >> Caitlin points to the three men who may. have been involved in Shanti's. disappearance, John, Colin, and a third. man she can't remember, except for one. detail, a red and white Ford Bronco. Once investigators locate the only.

matching vehicle registered in the area, the name comes [music] back as Bobby. Sosa. So, with three potential suspects. now at the forefront of the. investigation, John, Colin, and Bobby, deputies split up and head out to each. of their homes. The first team makes. their way to Bobby's property, and when. officers arrive, they're immediately. struck by something unusual, a strong. odor coming from inside the trailer. >> Uh just follow up on everything. I think. I mean,

I don't think you're being, you know, misleading with us or anything, but just for us to cover anything since. the vehicle's in the area, do you mind. if we go in your in your trailer and. just make sure everything's okay and. there's nobody in there? >> Yeah, you can check. There's nobody in. here, but it's a mess. >> It's just It's just more just to cover. all of our bases. >> Sure, I mean, I'll show you. No problem. >> Any guns in there, anything like that? >> No, no weapons. >> No weapons? >> Maybe a pocket knife here or there. >> All right.

How long you lived out here, man? >> Uh like I said, man, a month. >> Oh, yeah? >> It's a mess. >> Oh, okay. >> Let's follow him. >> Surely you've been in worse. >> I don't know. Not unless you got a. hoarder around here. >> Do what? >> Oh, we got we got plenty of those, man. Hoarders. >> Oh, yeah? Yeah, freezer looks like it works good, man. >> It runs on propane. >> Do what? >> It runs on propane. >> Really? Hey, as long as we're here real quick, your storage unit shed right here, is. that cool? Appreciate it, man.

>> You got it. >> You know what a dog did? >> No. That smell coming from the dog being in. your stomach there. >> You know what that is? >> I got to use that little thing there cuz. I'm out of gas. Go and haul it to that place down the. street. >> Oh, really? You got to dump it in there. and haul it down there? >> Yes, sir. >> Awesome, man. >> I'm sorry about the smell. I just I'm. trying to get everything. good if it's. >> You're good, man. >> Despite the strong odor on the property, which Bobby claims is gasoline, officers.

failed to find anything that [music]. connects him to Shante's murder. And. while officers continue questioning. Bobby, another team makes its way to. Colin's house. At first, they're. prepared to treat him like any other. potential witness, but [music] Colin's. behavior and his refusal to cooperate. would soon shoot him to the top of the. suspect list. >> How you doing, sir? What's your name? >> Colin. >> You mind if I You want to ride with me. up to the SO and then Yeah, and I'll. bring. >> I'll go and do it.

>> Okay, you don't want to go with me? >> I mean, it's ridiculous that I'm even. being looked at. She's got a boyfriend. or a husband, John Adams. >> Mhm. >> She's like infatuated with me. She'll. just walk up and down. >> Did y'all have any type of physical. relationship at all? Cuz some of the. people we talked to is that y'all had a. relationship at one time. So, never? >> Nope. >> What What kind of relationship did she. and the boyfriend have? >> He'd always pick her up and tell her to. go get her belongings. He treated her.

like a dog. And every There's a lot of. people that are kind of looking at him. I mean, it's. >> Yeah, well, he's I mean, he's one of the. people I need to I'm going to have to. interview. Are you working anywhere. right now? >> I do lawn mowing out here. >> Okay. >> According to Colin, he never had any. kind of relationship with Shante, but. detectives aren't buying it. And when. the conversation turns to his job, Colin. reveals he works in lawn care, giving. him access to the same type of weapon. detectives believe was used to murder. Shante. But, seeing how defensive Cullen.

is becoming, detectives decide to leave, asking him to come to the station the. following day to provide a DNA sample. and answer a few more questions. So, now. with three key figures firmly on the. investigators' radar, detectives back at. the station begin taking a closer look. at each of them, and what they uncover. is peculiar, to say the least. John has prior burglary and assault. charges and withheld critical details. about his relationship with Shante.

Bobby has a previous assault charge. against a woman and was known to spend. time near the area where Shante's body. was found. And Cullen, while having no. known criminal history, has long been. the subject of rumors about his violent. temper. And this is when detectives. realize that any one of these men could. be Shante's killer, but figuring out. which one will prove far more difficult. than they expected. As the day comes to an end, rumors begin.

spreading throughout the community and. neighbors start keeping a watchful eye. on one another. And with Shante's. funeral set for the following day, detectives will be doing the same, watching the crowd for a killer hiding. in plain [music] sight. >> I've always had this different part of. me. It just wants nothing but. destruction and evil. It wanted to kill. somebody. >> The following morning, medical examiners. release Shante's body to her family for. the funeral, but not before delivering.

one final unexpected update. Examiners. have discovered unusual markings on. Shante's chest, markings investigators. cannot explain and believe may point to. something ritualistic. To make matters even more unsettling, detectives realize Shante had been. murdered on Friday the 13th, a detail. that only adds a weight [music] to this. theory. But with no way of knowing.

whether the markings are significant or. simply a coincidence, investigators file. the possibility away as the community. prepares [music] to say its final. goodbye. Around 11:00 a.m., nearly 100. churchgoers begin gathering for Shante's. funeral. The church is so crowded that. some are forced to wait outside, and. among them, patiently waiting, is. Shante's killer. Inside, Pastor Keener. leads the service as the family and. friends pay their final respects. The. ceremony lasts for hours, though a.

handful of attendees quietly slip away. before it ends, including the men. responsible for Shante's death. A short time later, Shante's coffin is. carried to Pleasant Valley Cemetery, where she's finally laid to rest. [music] And despite all their best. efforts, police fail to recognize the. killer. With the funeral over, detectives turn. their attention back to the. investigation. They call all three key. suspects and ask them to come to the. station for questioning. Around 4:00.

p.m., Bobby and John are first to arrive. at the station, handing over their. phones to be searched for potential. evidence. And as detectives sit down. with both men, it quickly becomes clear. that they both have some explaining to. do. >> Uh of course, I guess they told you when. they download the phone they get. everything. They get pictures, they get. text messages, they get phone calls, all. that stuff. All right? Have you ever Do you delete. your text messages? >> Yeah. But I was like long places and.

they want my phone out there. >> No, that's not what this these text. messages. uh that you deleted. And you know what. I'm talking about, because you even told. somebody, "Hey, my phone's clean." What. are you worried about DNA so bad about? >> I don't know what you're worried about. I don't like needles. I don't like stuff. like that. >> Well, she was alive. I don't know why. she's worried. >> What do you mean? >> She said you were texting her and asked. her what they wanted my DNA. Why do they. want my DNA? >> I'm sure why they do. That's what the text message just said.

That's strange. I don't know. That's why I'm asking you. I smoke. I just don't want that. I'm telling you. it's not a time thing with me. Like. I just might go to a friend's or. something like that. >> I don't care. I don't care if you smoke. I don't care if you smoke or something. I don't care if you blaze all the time. Well, I I I don't care about that. I'm. talking about what we got going on right. now and then that we find your phone and. you knew we were fixing to look at. everything that and then we find the.

message going or cuz they can tell. what's been deleted and what hadn't been. deleted. And then they look and they. like deleted deleted deleted. If if you did have something to do with. this, you need to let me know now. >> have told you if I knew what it was. Okay? If I would have been around. anything serious like that or knew. anything or anybody. >> or knew anybody that had anything to do. with it. >> Cuz if I had anything to help out, you. know, I have I have nieces out there. I. have my sister up there. Until we figure. out who this person is, I mean, everything's kind of like you said, kind.

of locked down cuz everybody's. scared to death right now. >> Shantae told um. one of the girls that she was walking. with that night that she was supposed to. be coming back to meet Colin Smith. >> Yeah, that's what we heard. >> Does that make you jealous if she's. going to go over there and meet with. Colin? >> Yeah, that makes me jealous, but I have. to say but it was still. in a way that I can't do anything about. it. I mean.

>> So, it wouldn't make you mad if she was. hooking up with somebody else? It wouldn't make you mad? >> It would, but not to to the extent of. this far away. A mother and her. daughter, I mean. I'll never be that federal. I don't. really have much family around here. My. dad's in a nursing home. Sister's in. Dallas. >> Well, that would make it even worse. though, because the one person that you. care about. and she's sleeping around with somebody. else, that would Now, the only. connection you got out here. >> Yeah. I'd just move on.

>> Upon speaking with both men, detectives. notice they appear more nervous than. before. That said, they also know both. have prior run-ins with law enforcement. and could simply be wary of being. wrongly targeted. But, one detail stands. out. Only John appears to have deleted. messages from his phone. By the end of. both interrogations, only circumstantial. evidence remains. So, detectives release. the men while instructing them to. provide DNA samples. Shortly afterwards,

Colin arrives at the station and this. time things would take a very different. turn. Feeling as though he may be their. strongest suspect yet, investigators. immediately ask him to take a polygraph. test. And as they sit down with him, it. doesn't take long before Colin admits he. hasn't been entirely honest with them. >> Whoever it is is pretty sick person and. they're still out there somewhere, whether it's a guy or a girl. I mean. >> What do you think it's going to take to.

pass the test today? >> To pass the test? What do you mean? >> What do you think it's going to take to. pass the polygraph? >> Honestly? >> Honestly, yeah. Yeah, that's going to be. the. >> I'm an honest person, so. >> I I I don't know. When she was with John, she always had advantages [music] in. John. Always looked like something was. wrong with her. She was always telling. me about him putting her hands on her. >> Were you all uh pretty sexual back then? >> I had sex a couple of times and then I. told him no the other day just cuz I was. scared. >> As far as uh how she died, what all do.

you know about how she died? >> This is the first first story we got, all right? This. sitting honestly. Sorry for cussing, but. It's always sick to think of how many. people out there have been gossiping and. like making their own stories up, you. know what I mean? Like. >> What do you think the person that that. killed her is feeling right now? >> I don't know. >> Think they're feeling a little guilty. [snorts] about it? Do you think. >> it's her boyfriend, Dylan. Only thing I. can say is maybe Dylan did it out of.

like a crime of passion, you know. It. >> Interestingly, Colin admits that he was, in fact, involved in an intimate. relationship with Shontae, but he. insists that he has been truthful about. everything else. However, that claim. would soon be put to the test when the. polygraph examination begins. And before. long, something would happen that would. cause Colin to abruptly end the. interview. >> Hey, uh. Colin, when we take this test, man, I'm.

starting to see some things in here. that's a little bit concerning to me. You know, you got to be sure to be still. when we take the test. >> All right. Sounds good. >> First off, secondly, you know, you got. to be. keep everything the same. as far as when you're answering. There's. a little bit of movement going on, okay? So, just, you know, everything you do, just just be yourself, okay? That's all. all we're asking. [snorts] Colin, what. what do you think the best. uh. question to ask you is going to be. today? >> Did I kill Shontae Black and tell you?

>> Whether it be through strangulation, whether it be through what, through. what, whether it be through whatever. Did you physically cause the death of. Shontae is what I'm asking, okay? So, your response is no. What have you not been honest with me. about? >> I've been honest to you about. everything. >> Okay. So, why why is it showing that. you're being deceptive about this? >> I guess cuz. I don't understand how it's what's. showing. Tell me what's showing. >> You're not even You're not even showing. any reactions to those questions where. I'm telling you to lie about it, where.

I'm telling you. >> Cuz you told me to stay as calm as I can. and look at the board, so I'm just. saying yes and no. >> Yeah. And you know what? The reactions that. we're showing on this is man, you're. you're off the freaking charts. >> I'm telling you, I didn't do anything. wrong and I'm I'm not I'm about to. leave. >> And that's up to you. I can't force you. to be here, but you know, you're the one. that's that that needs to clear this. thing up. >> I I did come in here to clear it. I gave. DNA right off the bat, the very first. one to test for DNA and I came in here.

and like this is a bunch of crap, man. >> Yeah, there's the door. >> [snorts]. >> I did what I was supposed to do. I was. 100% cooperative. >> As Colin walks out of the room, detectives begin to believe they may. have found their killer. Because while. Colin had been adamant that he had. nothing to do with Shante's death, [music] his polygraph results appear to. tell a very different story. His. elevated emotional responses, reflected. in changes to his breathing, heart rate,

blood pressure and perspiration, suggest. he may not have been entirely truthful. when answering questions about Shante's. death. [music] That said, polygraph. results aren't foolproof and aren't. admissible in court as proof of guilt. DNA, however, is a very different story. and with DNA samples now collected from. John, Colin and Bobby, detectives. believe the answer to who killed Shante. must lie with one of them. The samples are sent to the Tarrant.

County Medical Examiner's laboratory in. Fort Worth, more than 100 miles away. And while detectives and the entire. community wait for answers, the killer. remains free to roam the streets. A month passes and the DNA results. finally arrive. But [music] when the DNA. profile is entered to the national DNA. database, there are no matches. No match. to John, Colin, or Bobby and no matches.

to any known offenders in the area. Detectives are left with a troubling. possibility. Perhaps their killer wasn't. a local, but someone passing through. town who had already disappeared for. good. More than a year into the investigation, in October 2017, another investigator. who had worked on Shante's case, Carlyle. Gover, would make an incredible. discovery. While watching a true crime.

show, Gover learns about an emerging. technology known as DNA phenotyping, a. technique that had successfully solved. another cold case by generating a. snapshot prediction of what a person may. look like using only their DNA. The next day, Gover rushes to tell the. lead detective, Scott Byrd. Within. hours, the $4,000 needed for the testing. is secured and the DNA is submitted. And. as the image slowly begins to take. shape, suspects would be eliminated one.

by one until the true killer turns out. to be someone no one ever expected. >> Yeah, by the time that the Blankenship. case came along, we had a couple of. cases that had used the phenotyping. information to help solve their cases, given the investigative capabilities. that they had [music] at that time, which were not DNA. He managed to avoid. leaving any clues that got him caught, but he did leave DNA.

He just didn't know. that that was going to be the thing that. would finally catch him. >> This is Dr. Ellen Greytak, director of. bioinformatics at Parabon NanoLabs, the. company behind the snapshot technology. detectives used in the hunt for Shante's. killer. Within weeks of receiving the. DNA evidence, Parabon's team analyzes. the sample and generates a snapshot. report predicting the unknown suspects. physical appearance. And as soon as it. lands on Scott Bird's desk, he. immediately recognizes the man,

21-year-old Ryan Riggs. Years earlier, before entering law enforcement, Bird. had taught Ryan in the fifth grade. When. detectives dig deeper, they discover. Ryan had been there the entire time. He. was a long-time family friend, attended. Shante's funeral, rode around with John. calling out her name during search. parties, and even hugged her parents at. the wake. Detectives now know it was all. an act, a years-long act that Ryan. managed to maintain perfectly.

On November 9th, officers head straight. to his address, but instead, they're met. by Ryan's parents, who reveal that he. has already fled. Within hours of the. image being released, Ryan manages to. slip away, and once again, police are. back at square one until the following. evening at a church service, when Ryan. decides to do something completely. unexpected. >> As I do before every service, God, I. stand in the parking lot greeting.

people, and there was Ryan standing. there with his mother, Michelle, and he. said, "Um I'm going to turn myself in. tonight." He said, "I murdered her." And. I said, "At that point, I'm going to. step out in the parking lot and call. Sheriff Hill. We're going to take you to. the law enforcement center." He said, "Yes, sir. I want to confess to them.". >> To detectives' surprise, less than an. hour ago, Ryan had unexpectedly shown up. at a Wednesday night service, where he. made a horrifying confession. He was.

responsible for murdering Shante. Not. only that, he had just walked into the. sheriff's office alongside Pastor. Keener, saying he wants to turn himself. in. Baffled by the situation, detectives. bring Ryan into the interrogation room. And when they sit down with him, they. let him speak trying to determine. whether this young man in front of them. is truly the dangerous killer they've. been hunting for nearly 2 years. >> So, this happened on Friday the 13th. Tell me about that day. How did you.

start that day out? >> I don't remember. how I started the day. It was just like an average day to me up. until. I did what I did. I had stopped her. She. needed a ride. And she got in my truck. And then. out of nowhere, I just put my left arm. around her. I began to strangle her. I went back to. my truck and got a lawn mower blade out. of the back of my truck.

And I went back to where she was. I beat her to death with it to make sure. that she was dead. I've always had this It's like this. different part of me. that. it just wants nothing but destruction. and evil. And whenever I saw her that day, it's. just it took over. So, I was. I knew what I was trying to get. It.

wanted to kill somebody. >> Ryan's description of what he did to. Shante perfectly matches the details. from the crime scene. Details that had. never been made public. To detectives, it leaves little doubt that he is in. fact the killer. >> If you could [snorts] say something. right now to Shante, what would you say? >> That I'm sorry that I did what I did. And I. whatever I have coming towards me, I. deserve.

>> What do you think you deserve? >> Death for sure. >> Anything else? >> No. >> All right, Ryan. You [clears throat] are. officially under arrest for capital. murder. >> With the charges laid bare, Ryan Riggs. ultimately pleads guilty to the capital. murder of Shante. When news of Ryan's. arrest reaches Shante's mother, Michelle, she releases an emotional. statement thanking the community for its. support. [music]. >> Hey everyone. Um.

I don't know if everybody knows, but we. caught him. We got him tonight for a capital murder. trial. God has blessed us with him. And. it breaks my heart because this man went. to church with her and he's just a kid. himself. I wanted everyone to know that. we appreciate everything you all have. done. >> In 2019, Ryan is ultimately sentenced to. life in prison without the possibility. of parole. But even with Ryan behind. bars, [music] the abandoned property. where Shante was found continues to.

haunt the town. The site became. infamously known as the haunted house. People regularly jumped the fence to. explore the property, reopening old. wounds for Shante's family. Eventually, in 2025, both the house and the storm. shelter were demolished in an effort to. finally bring peace to the community and. allow it to move forward. And while this case left Texas shaken by. a killer hiding in plain sight, our next. case takes us to Florida where the. warning signs were always there, but no.

one could do anything to stop what was. coming. >> 4250 14 have a lengthy blood trail. leading to several houses. >> Yeah. >> Oh my god. >> Inside this family home, 21-year-old. Dima Tower has just committed the most. heinous crime imaginable against his own. parents. >> 4250 14. >> North Court police, armed male. I see bodies. >> Lying inside are two deceased bodies. with over 100 stab wounds. But the man.

responsible is already on on run, leading officers on a dangerous. multi-hour manhunt as Deema stops at. nothing to escape the country. To watch. this exclusive Dr. Insanity episode. along with three more episodes from our. new Tubi series, click the link below. and check it out now for free on Tubi.