Killer Breaks Down Crying After 8-Year-Old Victim is Found ALIVE (Case of Jennifer Schuett)

we're talking about Dennis Bradford. Dennis Bradford had been keeping a. secret for the past 20 years that's a. very long time like not a single person. knew his deep dark secret that he has. been just holding inside of him he made. sure that nobody knew nobody found out. his life depended on it his ex-wife his. current wife his children his legally. adopted children none of them knew what. he did 20 years ago the only person that.

knew his secret they died with the. secret 20 years ago and that was his. only comfort that was the only reason he. could sleep at night that was the only. thing that kept him going but almost 20. years to the day that he. had his big secret he was pulled over. for this routine stop and somehow Dennis. found himself in this interrogation room. for a routine traffic stop so things are. going down he's being asked about that. dark day from 20 years ago and what.

happened and you know he's being asked. all these things that make him feel like. someone out there knows his secret. I mean it doesn't make sense why would. they suddenly ask him these questions. about a day from 20 years ago maybe the. detectives read his mind because they. looked at him and they let him know. hey you know 20 years ago you know that. little eight-year-old girl that you left. in a field completely naked the one that. you tortured and then slit her throat. from ear to ear. that girl. the only one that knows what you did.

well she's alive. and she's been hunting you down every. single day for the past 20 years. she was the one that caught him. this was his reaction. I really do. [Music]. he's alive.

[Music]. [Music]. thank you. [Music].

so let's talk about the incredible. Survivor story of Jennifer shuitt and. Dennis Bradford's Dark Secrets because. he would have more than just this one. secret that he's hiding now as always. full show notes are available at. rottenminglepodcast.com but with that. being said let's get into the story. there were a group of kids that were. gathered to play at the field it was. like the best type of field to play and. do you remember playing in fields. no yes you've never played in a field. before okay school school field oh no no.

this one's a bit different okay so there. is like a a calculation on what the best. type of field is and when you're a kid I. used to love Fields with long grass. what I don't know it's so much better. than an empty flat field because you. feel like you can hide better and it's. just more of an adventure you feel like. you're in the jungle even though you're. not you're in like the suburbs but I. used to love like thin kind of almost. ticklish as you're running through it it. feels like an adventure so that's what. these girls are doing they're probably. between the ages of six and ten years.

old so you know they're pretty young and. they would all huddle around in a little. center of the field and they decide. who's it they're like you're it this. time you're gonna be the one chasing all. of us and then all of them would just. make a run for it they would just web. out into these different directions and. just carelessly run through the field. they would turn their head back. recklessly every so often just to see. just to see if that person is close to. catching them so they're screaming. shouting giggling they're not being. quiet you know but most importantly.

they're being very very Carefree. they're kids they're acting like kids. it's a beautiful thing now one of the. young girls was running so fast she. could feel her hair just blowing in the. wind and the grass was tickling her all. through her sides and she's looking back. and she's laughing because she's getting. ahead and boom she falls face first onto. the ground. she had tripped on something I guess due. to the overgrown grass she didn't see it. earlier but she turns to her left or her.

right to see what she tripped on maybe. it's a giant tree branch a discarded. Tire you know who knows a log. she looks down and sees that she had. tripped on another girl. the foot of a naked eight-year-old girl. who had her throat slit ear to ear who. had been left for dead I mean she was. practically on her last breath. I mean it it's pretty disturbing to. think about while these kids were. playing Jennifer a child who's not that.

far in age from them was barely holding. on to life in that same field I mean she. had been there for over 14 hours. paralyzed in shock losing blood actively. dying and Jennifer had tried to move you. know for the past 14 hours she tried to. move she tried to sit up or at least. crane her neck to see where she was but. all she felt was stinging all over her. body. she was frozen she couldn't even roll. over it's like her body was still. unconscious and her mind-body connection.

had been obliterated. she's trying her best to figure out. where she is but all she could do was. move her eyes back and forth and scan. the area even though she tried to scream. nothing came out it's like one of those. nightmares where you just you want to. scream nothing's pushing out you feel. this strange sensation so Jennifer is. able to force her right hand to her neck. to her throat. and it feels so weird. there was something thick and wet on her. neck and suddenly she felt pain.

she lifts her hand in the air and she. sees blood like a whole lot of blood. Jennifer's arm went cold I mean it. collapsed she went cold again I mean all. over her body there was just wounds tiny. wounds everywhere you know where she had. been left in the field. someone had discarded her on top of a. fire ant hill. oh my God she was completely unclothed. there were hundreds and thousands of. fire ants biting every single surface of.

her body that they could find Jennifer. had been tortured assaulted her throat. had been slit and left for dead on a. fire ant hill. so Jennifer gets rushed to the hospital. where police officers doctors nurses I. mean her mother everyone is telling her. she's safe now everything's gonna be. okay now and it wouldn't be for a while. that they discovered that whoever did. this the monster that did this to her. was also a patient in that same Hospital. the same time that she was there.

oh yeah. it gets really crazy. so let's start from the beginning. Jennifer says you know when you're a kid. you think there are monsters in your. closet but when you become an adult you. realize the monsters are outside your. window. and I think most adults out there do. everything they can to protect these. innocent little children for as long as. they can but sometimes these monsters. find a way like no matter how much you. try to keep them out they find a way in.

that's probably one of the scariest. things about becoming a parent just. protecting your children from the scary. world so Elaine Jennifer's mom was very. nervous when she found out she was. pregnant I mean it would just be her she. was gonna be a single mom I mean it's a. total mix of emotions she's frightened. hesitant excited but also very very lost. but once baby Jennifer was born the two. of them were like this okay they're. Inseparable I know it sounds like a. cliche okay I know it sounds like one of. those she lit up the rooms but I'm.

telling you the two of them have this. incredible Bond I mean think Gilmore. Girls like it's just the two of them in. this scary world they only have each. other. most people said they were more like. best friends than they were mom and. daughter they kind of had this perfect. life going for them you know they rented. this ground floor apartment in a nice. area in Texas Dickinson and uh it's a. small town it's basically known for. Faith Family football one of those towns. and at this point in time Jennifer was. on summer break she just finished second.

grade and even though she's excited that. she's on break she's also very excited. to go back to the third grade I mean. Jennifer said that she loved life she. loved school she loved all of her school. friends she loved learning I mean this. was the best time in her life she was so. Carefree she loved hanging out with all. of her friends but more importantly she. liked hanging out with her mom so. naturally Jennifer liked to sleep in her. mom's room and she's eight okay she's. got her own room and her room is great. it's decorated all cute but she just.

really likes sleeping with her mom I. think I mean when you're a kid there is. no other comfortable feeling than. sleeping with your parents in the same. bed as I feel like I don't remember a. single time that I felt more at peace. than at those ages when you're just. sleeping with your parents because you. can just turn your brain off it's just. the ultimate comfort so one summer. evening August 10 1990 Jennifer and her. mom are settled in her mom's bed Elaine. had work the next day because you know. there's no summer break when you're an.

adult and you get a job shocking so she. tells Jennifer we gotta sleep early I. gotta wake up early for work and then. we've got some Child Care coming for you. but like it's a whole thing so they tell. each other good night turn off the light. and both of them start drifting off and. then boom Elaine jerks awake and another. boom Jennifer is fast asleep and is. kicking her I mean she's probably. sprawled out on this bed like a starfish. at this point Elaine is getting bullied. off of her own bed by her eight-year-old.

daughter and she's got no room to sleep. she's trying to push Jennifer to the. side but Jennifer's not budging so she. gently wakes up Jennifer sweetie I'm so. sorry but you're kicking me in your. sleep and I've got work in the morning. would you mind going to your own room. tonight. Jennifer wakes up and says because I. love you Mom I will I'll go to my own. room. so she grabbed her little pillow and. this is the exact conversation she rolls. out of her mom's bed and walks into her. room which her room has this twin bed.

next to the um window which is probably. why Jennifer's mom didn't go to. Jennifer's room herself it's a small. like a kid bed a twin bed she's got a. nightstand beside that with a globe on. top of it and it just looked like your. average cute eight-year-old's room so. typically if Jennifer sleeps in her own. room Elaine will go over there tuck her. into bed read her a bedtime story they. do their I love views check under the. bed for Monsters check in the closet for. Monsters then finally turn off the light.

and then Elaine would leave the room but. technically they already did all of that. and since Jennifer was already sleepy. everyone just assumed that she would. just go into her room and fall asleep. again but when Jennifer opens the door. to her room. it's so dark. so she starts getting a little freaked. out okay she flicks on the little light. bulb lamp that she has which sounds like. a just a light bulb but it was actually. a light bulb shaped lamp. that had a light bulb inside yeah yeah. so um she liked to keep the light on.

because you know she's eight and. monsters are scared of the light so her. version of monster is at this point are. furry bears with claws like think. Monsters Inc she's not thinking people. outside people inside she's thinking. Monsters Inc she flicks on the light and. she decides I can't fall asleep right. now so I'm just gonna go through my. bedtime routine by myself I'm gonna pick. a book from my shelf and start reading. it in bed and hopefully I'll fall asleep. that was the whole plan. she starts reading to fall asleep and. although the lamp was still on and.

bright Jennifer drifts off into sleep in. no time she's like knocked out now. a couple of things to note her Shades. were not drawn or they were not closed. so there was no curtain or Shades or. blinders that were blocking her window. her light is on and her window was open. a crack to let in that nice summer Texas. Breeze. Jennifer had a nightmare.

release it felt like she was having a. nightmare okay one where she was getting. tossed around like a doll and she opened. her eyes expecting to be in bed still. but she looked up to see her body being. moved by a man that she did not. recognize he was carrying her he had one. hand over her mouth and her nose and. he's booking it down the sidewalk he's. running full speed while she's being. bobbed around in his arms and she's. trying to hit him to make him stop and. let go but she's eight this is a. full-grown man Jennifer was barely four.

feet she weighed under 50 pounds yeah. this man overpowered her in every single. physical aspect. but I think that's where some people. underestimate children okay Jennifer was. very very sharp even while she was being. smothered by this giant hand she wanted. to stay alert so she's looking around. and she thinks to herself two doors blew. yucky paint wow. that was the car that this man threw her. into he gets in locks the car doors and. within seconds they were already on the. road he forces Jennifer to sit on his.

lap and he had one hand on the wheel and. another hand on her head to yank her. head down anytime another car passed. them. Jennifer was so terrified she's just. analyzing the situation trying to find a. way out when finally the man speaks. it's okay everything's gonna be okay I'm. an undercover police officer. a police officer. Jennifer felt a little bit better. because at the time you know this is in. the 90s 1990 most parents most teachers.

tell their children if you get lost and. can't find your parents what do you do. you find the police I mean there was. Ultimate trust in the police at the time. there was Ultimate trust for the general. public for. doctors teachers there was no concept of. like don't listen to these authority. figures because they might not be good. people. so Jennifer is confused I mean what is. going on I'm supposed to trust this guy. I want to believe him but there is just. something so off about him he doesn't. feel like a police officer.

so she tells him well can I see your gun. and badge then. I don't have my gun or badge with me. right now. what. Jennifer was confused but she looks up. and right at that moment she sees that. they're driving past her grandparents. house so Elaine's parents house they. live nearby and she's eagerly telling. him oh that's my grandparents like you. should drop me off here you need to drop. me off because they can help me. if you're a police officer and you took. me because I'm in danger you need to. drop me off with my grandparents. he didn't stop driving and Jennifer.

realized if he was a police officer. surely he would have taken her to a. trusted family member's house right this. is the moment that Jennifer started to. believe that she was being kidnapped but. she didn't just panic she was quick on. her feet she remembered looking at him. and repeating in her head glasses. mustache yucky hair scar on face. suddenly the car stops moving and. Jennifer pops her head up and she sees. that the stranger pulled into the. parking lot of her elementary school did. he know it was her school did he pull.

into the lot by chance I don't know but. he tells her and it's very strange he. tells her look out the window at the. Moon. when the moon changes colors your mom. will meet us here to pick you up. mind you Jennifer has never seen the. colors of the moon change before so what. is he even saying she tries to stay. hopeful though and she stares out the. window just waiting for the headlights. to approach but they never approach I. mean it felt like an eternity that she's. waiting for her mom later it's suspected. that he was using this time to psych.

himself up for what he was about to do. next. he kept offering her to eat some candy. but Jennifer knew better she's like no. way absolutely not a stranger giving me. candy nope and she starts trying to. think of a way out because it was clear. to her that there's no headlights coming. her mom's not coming this man's not a. police officer and even if he was that. would have been scarier. she realized she was in extreme serious. Danger. he starts driving the car again and he. goes down this gravel road while he.

tells her well your mom's not coming. Jennifer is trying to self-soothe. because while this is happening she has. no idea what's going on she doesn't even. know what this man would want with an. eight-year-old little girl. she tries not to panic and she makes it. her mission to just remember everything. she remember seeing cigarettes Marlboros. the red and gold ones empty beer cans. bottles she remembers all of this and. then finally the car turns off and the. man pulls her out into this overground. field with tall grass he lunges for her.

throat and holds a knife up to it am I. scaring you little girl am I scaring you. she said he dropped the knife and. started choking her over and over and. over again she was completely blacked. out and when she came to he would choke. her again and she would black out and it. felt like he was trying to kill her it. didn't even feel like he was just trying. to strangle her but he was full on. trying to snap her neck that's how she. felt. she lost Consciousness again and during. these times we later find out that she. was brutally assaulted.

and the next thing that she felt was her. body being dragged through the field by. her ankles she was barely able to stay. awake at this point let alone even fight. back or even move or talk she felt him. drop her legs and walk off he had. already slid her throat at this point. his car door slammed and he drove off. just leaving her in the field for dead. any time that she woke up and tried to. figure out what the hell was going on. she would Fade Out into unconsciousness. again she said I would come in and out.

of Consciousness and every time I would. come to I would just be in disbelief. that I hadn't died yet. now before she knew it the sun was. rising and it's the next day already. Jennifer could feel all of these little. stings and nips all over her little body. and she felt these things crawling and. biting her and she tried screaming for. help but that's when she discovers that. big gaping wound basically a hole in her. neck. her hand was covered in blood anytime. she tried to hold her neck together. whether from shock or pain or from loss. of blood she would just drift Back Into.

Darkness this kept happening all day. long so that's what she was doing all. night long into the morning then all day. long until early evening rolls around. and this time she could hear passing. cars on the road she tried to turn her. head to see if she could make out these. cars but all she saw was them driving. past in the distance. she can move she can't scream. and at this point she said she just felt. exhausted.

just tired she felt like she had been. fighting for so long it had been at. least 14 hours since the man dragged her. into the field completely naked on top. of a fire ant hill beaten bitten and her. neck slit I mean she just wanted rest. Jennifer said she felt this kind of. Peace In This Moment Like a wave of. peace. she wasn't afraid anymore she didn't. care about the cars that were driving. past anymore she didn't care to try and. move or scream she didn't even care that.

there was nearby voices in the field. she's felt very peaceful. at just eight years old Jennifer was. dying. and she closed her eyes one last time. thinking it would surely be the last. time I imagined she thought about her. mom or her friends from school or. I don't know but speaking of her friends. from school it felt like she could hear. them right now. or at least you could hear people right. now like young little kids playing in. the field and those voices started. coming closer and closer to Jennifer and.

she could make out the sound of a young. girl giggling and running through the. field laughing with her friends these. weren't Jennifer's friends but they were. all very close in age that little girl. ran giggling not a care in the world. until she tripped over Jennifer's limp. foot. wow that is crazy. Jennifer remembers the girl's little. voice turning into multiple voices that. become louder and louder and it felt. like there was a whole commotion over. her she tried to wake up and all she.

could see was a police officer which was. probably traumatizing but this one was. in uniform and they told her you've been. found you're gonna be okay stay with us. just please stay with us. Sharon McBride is a pediatric ICU nurse. she clocked in for her night shift and. she starts reviewing her patients charts. and her heart drops she was assigned to. a room with an eight-year-old girl which. is the same age as her own daughter. which is always hard for Sharon but the.

alarming part about this was that there. was a police escort stationed in front. of this eight-year-old girl's room that. could only mean two things when police. and Pediatrics are involved it's either. child abuse or juvenile offender. Sharon asks around and she gets filled. in on what happened and decides it is. her mission for however long it takes to. make sure that Jennifer heals and gets. out of this Hospital stronger than. before. the doctors and nurses informed Sharon. that Jennifer was airlifted to the. hospital via a helicopter and everyone.

thought that she was going to die her. chance of survival was slim to none. practically non-existent her skin was. completely pale drained of all color and. blood her body was covered in ant bites. I mean every single surface area of her. body was bitten by fire ants. she had contusions that indicated that. she had been beaten and of course. doctors speculated essay because she was. found unclothed in a field with intense. scratches on her back. Jennifer was in and out of Consciousness.

and the only part of her body that she. could control at the time were her eyes. she couldn't move she couldn't speak she. just had these she has these piercing. blue eyes that are beautiful and she's. staring at the doctors she's so so. scared I mean the whites of her eyes. were bloodshot to the point of being a. thick opaque color so think just red and. blue in her eye and this is so. heart-wrenching but the doctors noticed. that anytime a male doctor or a male.

nurse or any male staffer would come. anywhere near her eyes would widen and. panic. reaffirming their belief that something. horrendous had happened before she was. left for dead. her mom wasn't allowed in the room. because they're performing life-saving. treatments and they can't risk a parent. intervening so they need to focus all. their attention on saving Jennifer the. hospital decides female doctors and. nurses would be taking the lead when. Jennifer is conscious and they would be. reassuring her that she was safe and. nobody was going to hurt her she's. rushed into the OR and Jennifer was put.

to sleep once more and they called this. uh ENT specialist so ENT Eyes Nose. Throat right all right ears nose throat. and because Jennifer's trachea had been. slashed in half that's why she couldn't. scream I mean it was a genuine miracle. that this laceration on her neck missed. all of the major blood vessels if the. knife had gone any deeper or had cut any. wider it would have resulted in. practically instant death in that field. because all the vital blood vessels in. that neck she would have bled out. instantly.

wow so yeah the doctors work to ensure. her Airway is intact and that the. bleeding has stopped but it's it's not a. day to celebrate like it's not a good. day every single Medical Professional in. that or knew that Jennifer would never. be able to speak again. the trauma to her throat was so. extensive it slashed her voice box her. vocal cords were slashed in half there. was just no way. so being caught up to speed Sharon was. adamant that she was gonna do whatever. it takes to make sure that Jennifer.

feels safe nurse Sharon she's not gonna. allow anyone to re-traumatize this young. girl Sharon would slip into the room and. watch Jennifer even when she slept and. she just could feel all these tears. threatening to come out because all she. can think about is her daughter at home. like who is doing this to someone this. young. Sharon was a seasoned nurse though. whenever she was scared or emotional she. never let it show. she said standing there looking at. Jennifer. the fact that this little eight-year-old.

girl had suffered something like this. horrendous trauma. my heart aches for her what on Earth was. her life gonna be like now how was this. going to affect the rest of her life. so no matter what Jennifer was doing. Sharon was always in her room even if. she was sleeping even if she was eating. Sharon literally never left her side. Jennifer's mom was also allowed to be. there now and she was beside herself. with grief and anger she had woken up. the next morning to get ready for work.

she slowly opened Jennifer's door. expecting her to still be fast asleep. but instead her bed was empty Jennifer. was nowhere to be seen and the window. was wide open. she called 9-1-1 and she had not stopped. searching for Jennifer until she got the. call that she was in the hospital and. now just like nurse Sharon she's not. going to leave Jennifer's side Sharon. quickly becomes one of the first few. people that Jennifer trusted so Jennifer. later said that she was very difficult. to deal with in the hospital she said. you know I had a lot of male doctors I.

was scared of men now and side note the. man who assaulted her told her he was a. police officer and she said I learned in. school the police were good the man that. hurt me said he was a police officer and. he hurt me really really bad so in my. eyes who's to say that these doctors can. be trusted like at that point everyone. was a suspect in my book. at one point she even kicked one of the. male's doctor in the stomachs to get him. away from her and she was just in this. constant state of fear and panic in the. hospital which is not good for your.

recovery now just to clarify in case I. forgot to mention Jennifer was able to. move now after her operation she was. actually never paralyzed in a sense it. was just fear pain and Trauma that. prevented her from moving because her. body went into ultimate survival mode so. she's like kicking these male doctors. which a lot of them were not offended. they just felt like it was good it's. Improvement in her situation it's her. recovering she's got strength she's a. fighter. even just looking into the mirror though. was traumatic for Jennifer.

one of her uncles brought her this. Tinkerbell makeup set as a gift while. she was in the hospital and that's how. she saw herself for the first time she. saw blood vessels were bursting in the. whites of her eyes and she just said she. felt so so ugly that little girl that. she saw in the mirror she's like I don't. know who that girl is that's not me. I mean it must have been so alienating. and disorienting for her like her. reflection was a literal stranger. so Jennifer's mom and nurse Sharon they.

would be pivotal in Catching whoever did. this to Jennifer this is in Dickinson. Texas like I said very very small. community the police are like we need to. catch who did this to Jennifer before. everybody starts freaking the fork out. and we don't have much to go off of so. right now we've got Jennifer's pajamas. that were found in the field we've got a. blue men's t-shirt and a pair of men's. underwear that was also discarded nearby. in the field where Jennifer was found. but at this point in time I know you're. like looking at me like that's amazing. that's all you need in this point in. time DNA evidence was not specific.

enough to ID a Suspect with such a small. sample. like DNA back then you would need like a. blood sample you would need like a you. know a genuine sample so these things. they would be kept in evidence but. there's nothing that can be tested that. could tell them anything so it's. pertinent to the police that they catch. whoever did this because there is a. danger out there to children. the police also had no leads no. potential suspects no Witnesses the only. thing the police had was Jennifer and.

there was a lot of concern about talking. to Jennifer about what had happened to. her first of all she's eight and this. could easily re-traumatize her second of. all adults alone have a very hard time. remembering details especially after. traumatic events how could they expect. an eight-year-old to remember. and third she was very very scared of. people right now especially men and this. is a small town in Texas majority of the. police force were men. and fourth she couldn't speak or make. noise so she could just blink or once or.

twice to say yes or no and she could. either write on a sketch pad but. Jennifer yes she's smarter than I would. ever be even at just eight years old but. she does have like the reading. comprehension and the writing skills of. a second grader. which is to be expected. so they come up with a system where the. police would ask Jennifer's mom and. nurse Sharon all these questions that. they want Jennifer to answer they would. go in with a sketch pad and Jennifer. would write down her answers her ability. to recall traumatic memories and the.

fact that she was so observant is out of. this world I mean these would all lead. to be key circumstantial evidence later. that would help with the arrest. eight-year-old Jennifer schuett not only. survived her abduction but she. remembered almost every single detail. about the man who climbed into her. bedroom window and kidnapped her and her. notes would forever be known as. Jennifer's notes. she wrote in detail about what she wore. that night that she was asleep when she. was crapped that he told her to shut up. that he was white he had glasses you.

know brown hair totally green tattoos. black mustache in his 30s Maybe. she even drew a little sketch to show. where the scars on his face were and at. the very last page she wrote he said his. name was Dennis. during this process Sharon the nurse who. is pivotal in helping Jennifer open up. about these details she was so impressed. by Jennifer's memory but also so. devastated she would say thank you.

Jennifer that's really good you did good. and then she would excuse herself rush. out of the room down the hallway into a. break room and when she was finally. alone she would lose it I mean she would. just break down. after Jennifer's notes were completed. the authorities even brought in a female. forensic artist so she's like a. composite sketch artist who's going to. talk to Jennifer and start drawing the. attacker this was Jennifer's fourth day. at the hospital she's heavily medicated.

in excruciating pain reliving her trauma. but nevertheless within an hour they. have their composite sketch of the. suspects it showed a man with dark hair. dark eyes dark eyebrows and a mustache. and stubble all over his chin he also. had a scar on his face. they turn it into the police and I think. this is when Jennifer focuses all of her. energy on just recovery now now remember. how the First Responders said that. there's no way she's gonna survive well. she did and remember how they said that.

she would never talk again. mm-hmm well she did. what in the hospital it all started with. this tiny little noise like a soft noise. and everyone just went quiet. because they're like is that even is. that coming from Jennifer. slowly but surely she started to talk. she had to relearn inflection and speech. patterns but all of it returned I mean. her voice her octaves inflection tone. all of it was restored she was proof.

that the impossible was possible. Jennifer now jokes as an adult and I. haven't shut up since. okay but even though she's defying all. these odds okay it's still very scary. for her to go back to the normal world. because her attacker is still out there. somewhere what if he comes back to. finish the job what if he comes back to. make sure that she will never be able to. talk about it again nobody would have. blamed Jennifer if she wanted to move if. she never wanted to leave the house. again if she wanted to switch schools. move States but she started third grade.

at the same time all of her classmates. did. she went straight back from summer break. to school and they didn't move I think. they moved Apartments but not towns wow. so Jennifer got closer and closer to how. her life was but the police are getting. further and further from Catching the. attacker days turned into weeks and you. know how it goes it was a Cold Case. Jennifer is an adult she's no longer.

that eight-year-old girl which side note. I know I'm making it out to be like oh. Jennifer is so strong which she is oh my. gosh she's so strong but she also went. through a lot like this was not an easy. Road where she's like okay guys I'm just. gonna go back to school now and be fine. she remembers being a child she would. lock herself into the bathroom for hours. and just stare at the quote ugly long. red scar on her neck. she felt like she did something to. deserve this attack. she couldn't participate in PE classes. anymore.

because of her Airways so she would have. to go to the nurse's office and she. would sit there while the rest of her. friends played she was scared of parking. lots of Windows of going to sleep of the. dark she had anxiety panic attacks PTSD. most nights she would just sit up for. hours at night just trying to calm. herself to sleep. this is what an eight-year-old is going. through while the case goes cold the. only news that she would hear. periodically was that her case was being.

reassigned to a different officer this. is very bureaucratic it's like a new. officer comes in and they're like oh. well you get this case and nothing. really happens and it's a pretty and. scary feeling knowing that the person. who did this is still out there but. Jennifer she's trying to move on she. starts working at a public library. during college Years she's got a really. strong she had a really strong maternal. Instinct her title everyone nicknamed. her the children's librarian kids just. gravitated towards her they loved her. and she just wanted to have kids one day.

that was her dream to be a mom. so she falls in love with this man. Jonathan Martinez the two of them get. married and Jonathan was like the man of. her dreams the one that she wanted to. have children with and start a family. with he was like the biggest cheerleader. he knew everything that she went through. to be who she is now she had to learn to. be less Afraid of the Dark to sleep. alone again she had to unlearn her. deep-rooted fear of men like even. doctors and police and men in her life. that she could dress she had to unlearn. that fear.

everywhere she went grocery store park. anywhere she would constantly scan all. the men's faces looking for any. familiarity. she said it could have been our new. neighbor you know or someone at the post. office someone at the grocery store I. never knew is he watching us is he gonna. come back and finish me off I never knew. this is what she would have to go. through every day for the rest of her. life but Jonathan was helping her. through it even when she was diagnosed. with um Hydro Cell pinks I think at just.

25 years old he was right there with her. so if you're wondering what that is it's. a condition where your fallopian tubes. are blocked and they're filled with. fluid. she was told by our doctors that it was. due to complications as a result. of the essay when she was eight and. because they're blocked and filled with. fluid she may never be able to conceive. any children. the doctors told her even with. corrective surgery your chances of. becoming a mother naturally are slim to. none.

so this Devastation just starts hitting. again like she's finally moving on from. everything that's happened and boom her. life goal her life dream to have a. family has been shattered Devastation. doesn't even begin to describe how. Jennifer felt the man who did this to. her is walking free and she is dealing. with the consequences that he forced. upon her an infertility diagnosis alone. is very very traumatic for a lot of. people it's life-altering emotional news. but the fact that Jennifer's infertility. was directly caused by the fact that she.

was essayed at eight years old I can't. even imagine the sheer amount of rage. and anger I would have felt like I don't. even think I would be able to function. from the hatred I would have for the. world and for life so while she's in the. thick of these emotions from this. diagnosis she gets a phone call from a. man named Tim cromie Tim cromie was the. new detective that was in charge of her. case it had been 18 years since her. attack 18 years I mean she's all grown. up now and here was another officer take.

taking a look at her case there had been. so many before him that took a look at. her case and what nothing happened I. mean it was more painful to even. convince herself that this one this guy. this one's going to be different. but there was something about Detective. chromie. he called Jennifer personally to let her. know that he was taking over and he. wanted to meet with her in person it was. the first time she was requested to talk. to a police officer about her case they. met for the first time at the police. station and honestly Jennifer was.

frustrated she was upset and she let it. out she thought to herself here here we. are 18 years later like what is this guy. gonna do she met with him and she just. starts bawling she's breaking down and. she's saying it's not even about me. anymore okay it's not even about what. happened to me because what's happened. has happened but that man could still be. out there hurting kids like you don't. even know how many kids he could have. hurt since he hurt me it's been 18 years. I mean it's likely I'm not the last or. the only one. detective crony sat and listened and.

when he finally spoke he said Jennifer. I will do whatever I can in my power. till the end of my career to get you the. answers that you need for this case. Jennifer said. that simple sentence changed my life. for the first time since what happened. Jennifer had hoped that she might get. Justice she told detective chromie I won. a trial I want to help and I want a. trial I want to face this guy in court.

she said I want to be able to face the. person that wanted to silence me and. show them that I came out Victorious. so she puts her trust in detective. chromie and he did not take that lightly. okay he felt like he owed her answers. now it's 2009 19 years since the attack. which in police investigations we know. that time is the enemy like they barely. have anything to go off of detective. chromie reaches out to the FBI to help. with the investigation and in 2009 this. was the year for a lot of new tech DNA.

testing had grown significantly so the. police sent the clothes off to Quantico. for them to be tested for any sort of. DNA that they could find now side note. the police knew that there would be a. long line for DNA testing done at. Quantico and their crime took place 19. years ago so this case is not going to. be a priority but they had no idea how. long it was going to take truly. so DNA testing it's a very lengthy. process it's not like this easy I just. put it in a machine and a computer.

screen pops up and it says Hey we've got. this DNA in our system it's really it. takes a lot of people the machines are. not fast and quick especially in 2009 to. get results turned over is not easy and. not every police station or law. enforcement agency has these machines so. most of them get sent to the FBI so. they've got every single DNA evidence. from all these states coming in they. have to prioritize it what's urgent. who's in immediate danger what needs to.

be solved today versus a case happened. 19 years ago it took a year. it took a year for them to get it back. detective chromie got a call at 2 30 in. the morning they had a match. whoever did this was already in the. system. so. who was it a man named Dennis. remember that name oh my God that's. crazy Dennis Earl Bradford the. detectives went back to Jennifer's notes.

and they saw the name was Dennis they. said it was Monumental that this girl. was that accurate the detectives thought. well we never heard of this guy though. but apparently he has a criminal record. they look him up and Dennis Earl. Bradford had been convicted of. kidnapping and rape in 1997. seven years. after Jennifer's attack but they noted. that this happened in Arkansas so as far. as the police could track Dennis had. been living in Arkansas since at least. 1991. so they call the driver's license.

bureau in Texas and they try to figure. out okay well he was in 1991 he was in. Arkansas maybe he was in Texas before. then so let's figure out if he was a. resident of Texas before we hunt this. guy down in Arkansas because then we got. to get multiple agencies involved right. so they look him up in Texas records and. there he was they were even sent a. picture of his Texas license ID picture. from back when he was a Texas resident. they their jaw Hit the Floor remember. the composite sketch they said this was. the most accurate composite sketch they.

had ever seen in their entire careers it. looked like the sketch artist had drawn. the picture based off of Dennis's. driver's license photo. wow and the fact that an eight-year-old. girl did this wow. wow I mean the details were spot on it. was insane and when Dennis was in Texas. his residential address was in Dickinson. around the time of the crime. Dickinson in fact from Jennifer's. apartment Window you could probably see. his residence he only lived a few blocks. away.

so let's get this Dennis guy okay who. even is he let's backtrack a little and. dig into who this guy is and there's not. much on his childhood out there but he. would have been 20 when he attacked. Jennifer soon after he moved from Texas. to Arkansas and we know that he got. married at 21 years old to an 18 year. old Lisa and they had two kids together. but the marriage would disintegrate he. was a bit of a binge Drinker it seems. like everyone saw Dennis's life and it. was just falling apart Dennis was not. very a good person who's not a good.

person yeah what can I say even though. they didn't even know his Secrets just. wasn't a good person they get divorced. and in 1996 he's at a local bar when he. spots a girl across from the bar and. offers to buy her drink. she politely declines but he keeps. asking for all these things ah just one. drink ah just play around a pool with me. oh let's do this let's do that she. finally just agrees to get him off of. her back and he proceeds to buy her. drink after drink after drink throughout. their whole pool game their game of pool.

and once they were finished he offers. her a ride home. she accepts it but in his car he's like. can we take the long way the scenic. route there's a couple of songs that I. want you to listen to and I want to show. you some property nearby. she didn't really want to but she. couldn't control him he just starts. driving down the back road he stops the. car and without even hesitating he. begins choking and punching the woman. she starts losing Consciousness he drags. her out of the car when she woke up she.

was naked her clothes were scattered in. a field Dennis told her not to move he. ran back to his car came back with a. knife Put The Knife to her neck and. raped her assaulted her which side note. his ammo is so similar to the attack on. Jennifer in 1990 it's hard to imagine. that this was his second time I suspect. that there were other victims and the. fact that this victim said that he never. hesitated whereas with Jennifer it. seemed like he was hesitating is that. him getting more and more comfortable. with his crimes the more he commits them.

fortunately he did not slit This Woman's. throat she was able to flee and alert. the Police he was arrested and charged. with attempted first degree murder now. for some strange reason the charges were. later reduced to kidnapping and rape now. side note this is infuriating but the. jury they were deadlocked on the sexual. assault charge. how do you get deadlocked on that how. are you deadlocked when this man put his. knife to her throat and then assaulted. her like how do you convict him of. kidnapping but then you're somehow. confused you're like well we don't know.

if he's that bad I mean what is there to. be confused about he was sentenced to 12. years and ordered to provide a DNA. sample for the database Arkansas. correction record showed that he served. less than three years in prison before. he was released. he was paroled February of 2000 he was. arrested the next year for drinking and. driving and in 2004 Dennis remarried a. woman named Elizabeth she had three. children before marrying Dennis and he. legally adopted them legally becoming. their stepfather which scares me because.

I mean think about it he's a father and. a stepfather creepy now from then on we. don't know what he was doing we don't. know if he had any other victims but we. do know that he was in North Little Rock. when he was arrested during a routine. traffic stop without incident he was. arrested by the Arkansas police brought. into the station where the Texas. detectives were there to meet him. he was held without bail on the. attempted murder charge. when Jennifer got that call that he was. arrested she said it was the most.

surreal moment in my life it meant. everything to me. when she went to the press conference a. little bit after the initial arrest she. remembers how detective chromie and. agent renison from the FBI came into the. room and hugged me and they whispered in. my ear we told you we'd get him. and at that time that was the single. most amazing moment of my life. but they still had work to do even. though the case testimony and evidence. is already incredibly accurate Detective. chromie still had to prove Beyond a.

reasonable doubt that Dennis was. responsible for the attack and since 19. years had passed it's going to be harder. to do so after Dennis was booked he was. interviewed about Jennifer's case from. 19 years ago now side note because. Jennifer was a minor when this happened. and it was an ongoing investigation the. information in case files were not. publicized. so that means the last time Dennis saw. Jennifer was when he dumped her body in. the field 19 years ago he believed. wholeheartedly that she was dead because. that was his intention he left her for. dead on top of an ant pile he firmly.

believed he killed that eight-year-old. little girl he had no reason to believe. otherwise. the detectives start by asking him if he. had ever heard of Jennifer Stewart. yes. he stated that he remembered Hearing in. the community talking about you know a. girl that was left in the field and he. prayed for her. did you ever have occasion to come in. contact with her. yes. tell me about it.

no. you don't want to talk about it. no. is there a reason why. you did your homework. you're right Dennis we did do our. homework and if you're remorseful about. this people need to hear that there's. two sides to every story. Dennis starts to tear up before saying. not a single day goes by where I don't. see that baby. there is no other side to the story she. was innocent and I was a sick deranged. beat up little [ __ ] punk she wasn't. anybody I met I don't remember why I.

pulled up to those apartments. huh well I think if I think if you were. to see her I think you would be. extremely proud. I really do Dennis breaks down sobbing. and says she's alive. she's alive. yes she's alive and let me tell you. something right now she's with us. you ever heard the name Jennifer shewitz. he is do you ever have occasion come in. contact with her. yes.

[Music]. my whole life for the past 20 years. has been utterly and completely. [Music]. because of my mistake if you were to see. her I think you would be extremely proud. of her. I really do. um. [Music].

laughs. well you have no idea how hard I pray. for them. that's probably from Christ. but I. had no idea because it wasn't about two. days later I ran and I just took off. Dennis explains he was randomly driving.

around that night and pulled into a. random lot and he stated I walked over. to the window I remember it was open and. I could see in it and the light was on. and I just want this to be over and I'm. sick and tired of looking over my. shoulder and being afraid so forgive me. Mom. I pulled that little girl out of that. window and I put her in my car she was. freaking out and I told her please don't. worry it's all right I told that little. girl that I was a police officer that. everything was gonna be okay and I. pulled off into this little road and. that little girl she was so scared I.

just lost it I was like a Savaged animal. I couldn't force myself to say it and I. can't force myself to say it right now. this has been haunting you your whole. life Dennis. let's hear it. I took that little girl out there. and I ripped her and I cut her throat. and I don't know why and I've never. known why. many many times I've just wanted to end. it but I never had the guts. he told the police officer that he used. a shotgun to try and end his own life. shortly after what he did to Jennifer. but he decided not to he did however.

blow a hole through his parents roof and. he was brought into the hospital after. his attempt the same hospital that. Jennifer was in the same Hospital. Jennifer was recovering in Jennifer had. every right to be afraid of this guy. because he was in the same Hospital. But ultimately Dennis confirms all the. details that she remembered and he. confesses to it all and Jennifer was so. relieved at the press conference she. declared I'm not a victim I'm Victorious. Jennifer had waited 19 years for this.

and now she focused all of her attention. on prepping for this trial Dennis admits. to the crime he matched the description. he matched the DNA and they were. planning to go for a life sentence she. had routinely went to the field that she. had been abandoned in not constantly but. several times she would visit so that. she said I just really wanted to be able. to remember all the details of the. attack so that one day if I ever could I. could go to court and tell my story the. way it was. wow now he was supposed to appear in.

front of the judge. on August 10th Jennifer had picked the. date exactly 20 years of the day of the. attack. she said it was a full circle moment she. stayed up countless nights prepping for. her statement she said writing it. erasing it writing it erasing it just. trying to perfect it. she had 19 years of things she wanted to. say but she wouldn't be able to do it. at least not the way she imagined she.

gets a call from Detective chromie. and her heart dropped she already knew. Dennis had hanged himself in his jail. cell after confessing he made a news. from his betting and there was no signs. of Foul Play it was definitely so he. died 40 years old May 10 2010. it's. believed that Dennis Was a Serial. Predator to children and adults he knew. that his life was over the minute he was. caught more of his crimes would likely. surface he knew the things that other. inmates would do to him if he spent the. rest of his life in prison so instead of. taking these consequences facing the.

consequences he took the quote easy way. out. detective chromie remembers this phone. call he said he'll never forget this. phone call. he said there was just crying and. screaming on the other end of the phone. she didn't want to believe it. the only thing I could do was just tell. her I was sorry. Jennifer said the only thing I can. describe is Devastation I felt like. everything I had worked so hard for was. just ripped away from me in an instant. and now that Dennis was deceased his.

case was immediately dropped and. Jennifer felt like she could go to his. grave she had to exactly 20 years later. instead of going to court Jennifer and. her husband went to Dennis's grave. August 10th of 2010 and she read her. impact statement that she had prepared. for court and she read it directly to. Dennis while standing over his dead body. she read Dennis Bradford I waited 19. years two months and three days to find. out your last name and for you to be.

caught. you chose the wrong little 45 pound. eight-year-old girl to try and murder. because for 19 years I've thought about. you every single day. and I've helped searching for you. I didn't know who you were or where you. were but in my head I knew you were out. there alive either in prison or living a. lie and now I know listening to my heart. all these years and never giving up on. finding you I was right. all this time you've been living a lie. you thought you killed me you thought. you won that sick little game that you.

had started but again you were wrong you. left me there in a fire ant pile like I. was nothing like I was an Old Rag Doll. that you discarded in a field as trash. after having your fun torturing her over. 14 hours I laid there in that field. bleeding to death. knowing that one day I'd face you. and to know that you'd never hurt. another person. that is what has kept me going. and today I sit in front of you as a 28. year old woman and I would like you to. know that I'm not a victim because of.

what happened 20 years ago I've waited. for this day for 20 years of my life and. I hope you now feel as weak as you made. me feel all those years ago as a child. Dennis Bradford I'm not your victim. I'm Victorious. and then the most surreal thing happened. Jennifer turned her husband and asked. do you think he heard me. ow. she looked down.

and right then and there a single fire. ant bit her ankle. and she took it as a sign from God that. he had heard her loud and clear. and to this day Jennifer detective. chromie and special agent renison as. well as nurse Sharon they all keep in. contact Jennifer said they mean a lot to. me and to know that they're still there. they're still supporting me they're not. leaving me anytime soon just like I'm. not leaving them anytime soon. but the story doesn't even end there.

remember how Jennifer was diagnosed with. a condition that made it nearly. impossible for her to have her own. children a doctor heard about her story. and heard of her diagnosis offered. Jennifer and Jonathan free IVF IVF is. not guaranteed to work side note but. just to try it right the couple have. since then welcomed two beautiful. children into their family a daughter. and a son which is remarkable because. medical professionals doubted that she. would survive it would take a miracle. they said medical professionals doubted. that she would ever talk again it would.

take a miracle they said medical. professionals doubted that she could. ever conceive her own children it would. take a miracle they said. and she did it all. right. oh my God. yeah she really is a woman that proved. The Impossible Is Possible and nowadays. she spends a lot of her time helping. other survivors of essay she travels to. connect with people and to educate. people on the pure Devastation of these.

sort of violent crimes. and that is the story of Jennifer. schuette. what are your thoughts on this I mean. it's devastating it's so sad but the. fact that she's so strong and we can all. smile at the end is something right. but I hope you guys enjoyed today's. episode and I will see you guys on. Wednesday for the main episode bye. stay safe.