Narrator: 11-year-old
Ricky stetson went for an
Evening run on a jogging trail
In portland, maine.
Witnesses recalled seeing the
Boy and a young man right behind
Him on a bicycle.
The next day, ricky stetson's
Body was discovered in a nearby
Ravine.
He had been m*rder*d.
The k*ller left very few clues,
But he left behind something he
Couldn't hide -- his signature.
His family lived in a
Working-class section of
Portland, maine, a coastal city
Known primarily as a summer
Vacation destination.
Around 8:00 p.m. On
August 23, 1983, ricky went for
A short run along a biking and
Jogging path called black cove.
He never returned home.
His body was discovered the next
Day in a grassy area just off
The jogging path.
There was evidence both
Externally and internally, as I
Recall, of asphyxiation, that
Is, of choking around the neck.
And it appeared to the medical
Examiner as though he was choked
Manually and probably by a
Ligature.
Narrator: he had also been
Stabbed.
The autopsy revealed that the
Boy had not been sexually
Assaulted, but there were bite
Wounds on various parts of his
Body.
And the bite marks had been
Gouged with a knife.
None of the forensic dentists
Had seen a case before in which
There had been a bite mark with
Slashing and cutting through it
As if to hide the bite mark.
And so that's what the law calls
A signature crime, that is, it
Is done in a way that is very
Unique, that is very unusual,
That the culprit, the
Perpetrator, is leaving, as it
Were, his signature on the
Crime.
Narrator: to portland police,
Ricky stetson's m*rder appeared
Similar to a series of knifings
That occurred two years earlier
In the oakdale section of the
City.
Michael witham was just 9 years
Old when he had an encounter
With the so-called
"Oakdale slasher."
There's a wooded lot between
A couple of houses which have a
Couple of paths.
And I was called into the wooded
Lot by a guy who I didn't know
At the time.
He had asked me a few
Questions -- my age, my name,
Where I lived.
And after I had answered his
Questions, he said I could
Leave.
As I turned to leave, he grabbed
Me and cut my throat.
Narrator: witham got away,
But the injury was just inches
From being fatal and required 12
Stitches to close.
All witham could say was the
Attacker was a white male in his
Late teens or early 20s.
That description was similar to
The one of the man seen riding
His bicycle behind
Ricky stetson.
For a full year, police searched
For the k*ller and eventually
They identified a suspect --
He was also a suspect in the
Attempted m*rder of a 9-year-old
Girl.
But there was a problem.
Police in bellevue, nebraska,
Had a similar m*rder -- a
And markings identical to
Ricky stetson's.
If the nebraska m*rder was
Related to the stetson case in
Maine, joseph anderson wasn't
The k*ller.
A serial m*rder*r was on the
Loose on a 1,500-mile k*lling
Spree.
Narrator: in the fall of
Bellevue, nebraska, were
Searching for a missing
Danny joe eberle.
Danny joe had been delivering
Newspapers early one sunday
Morning when he mysteriously
Disappeared.
He was partially through is
Paper route, and now has
Disappeared.
And he wasn't with any of his
Playmates, any of his relatives,
Wasn't in any of the
Neighborhoods.
And we knew something was
Terribly wrong right then.
Narrator: danny joe's bicycle
Was found in front of a home he
Delivered newspapers to, but
There was no sign of a struggle
And no sign of the boy.
Danny's bicycle -- his
Brother and sister and his
Mother and dad said his whole
Life was that bicycle.
That's why he delivered
Newspapers -- to buy
Accessories, to keep the bicycle
Shiny.
He was really proud of it.
Narrator: police searched for
Danny joe eberle across the
State of nebraska.
His picture was seen on nightly
Television programs and in the
Newspapers.
Three days later, investigators'
Worst fears were realized --
Danny joe eberle's body was
Found on a desolate stretch of
Road four miles from his
Bicycle.
He had been stabbed to death.
The town's mayor, joe baldwin,
Personally delivered the news to
The boy's mother.
We broke the news to her, and
We were all crying, including
The fbi guy.
He was crying, and I was crying.
The chief was crying.
A very traumatic-type thing to
Tell some woman -- "your son was
Found, and he's dead."
Most traumatic thing I think
I've ever done.
Narrator: danny joe eberle's
Hands and feet were tied with
Rope, and a star-shaped pattern
Had been cut into his chest.
But there was no sign of sexual
as*ault.
Police turned to fbi behavioral
Analyst robert ressler for a
Psychological profile of the
k*ller.
We had a biter, an individual
That was compelled to bite his
Victims and then cutting the
Flesh away to deny that evidence
To the police.
Narrator: since the body was
Found so close to the road,
Ressler suspected the k*ller was
Slightly built and not strong
Enough to carry the body very
Far.
The location also told ressler
That the k*ller was
Inexperienced.
That it was right off the
Side of the road really would
Indicate to me that the k*ller
Was in a little state of panic,
Wanted to get rid of the body,
Didn't want to be found with the
Body in the car but wasn't
Sophisticated or knowledgeable
Enough about the area to do it
Effectively.
And it would indicate to me,
Possibly, that this may have
Been the first time that he had
k*lled in this particular area.
Narrator: the rope used to
Bind danny joe eberle was of
Particular interest to
Investigators and was sent to
Fbi headquarters in
Washington, d.c.
Special agent wayne oakes
Conducted the analysis.
I had never seen anyone like
This.
None of the other examiners in
The laboratory who deal with
Ropes on a daily basis for a
Number of years had ever seen a
Rope like this.
Narrator: the outside of the
Rope was common white nylon, but
The inner core was extremely
Unusual.
There were 24 different types of
Fibers and 106 different colored
Yarns.
There were polyesters, nylons,
Rayons, acrylics, polyethylenes,
Wools, and cottons, which is
What made the rope unique.
Oakes took the rope to the
National cordage institute, a
Trade association of all rope
Manufacturers in the
United states.
Their technical experts had
Never seen a rope like this,
Either.
Back in bellevue, nebraska,
Police were desperate to find
The k*ller of danny joe eberle,
And parents were warned to keep
A close eye on their children.
People are reluctant to let
Their children out to go
Sledding or skating or any of
The normal activities.
Children are watched over at
Shopping centers.
The parents are keeping a very
Tight rein on their children for
Their safety.
Narrator: despite the
Precautions, the unthinkable
Happened again.
Another young boy, 12-year-old
Christopher walden, was abducted
As he walked to school.
It was about eight blocks
From his house, again in
Bellevue, and he was at a
Four-way stop when a young man
Came up and forced him into the
Car and drove off with him.
Narrator: in the sub-zero
Temperatures, police searched
For christopher walden.
Three days later, a group of
Pheasant hunters stumbled upon a
Snow-covered figure.
Christopher walden's frozen body
Was found in the same area as
Danny joe eberle's.
Like danny joe, walden had been
Stabbed to death, and he had the
Same star-shaped pattern etched
On his body.
Narrator: two sets of
Footprints led into the woods
Where christopher walden's body
Was discovered, but only one set
Of footprints left the scene, an
Indication the k*ller did not
Have an accomplice.
The star-shaped pattern told
Investigators that this was the
Same individual who k*lled
Danny joe eberle three months
Earlier.
Witnesses saw christopher walden
With a young, white male in his
Early 20s on the walkway near
The school.
From those descriptions, police
Created a composite drawing,
Which was distributed to
Newspapers and local television
Stations.
Robert ressler refined his
Profile of the k*ller with
Information gathered from the
Second m*rder.
I felt that the individual,
Because of this need to be close
To young males and having an
Attraction for them, that he
Would be involved in some sort
Of activities with youth -- a
Soccer coach, baseball coach,
Boy scouts.
Narrator: since the k*ller
Was using a knife to obscure the
Bite wounds, ressler suspected
That the k*ller read police and
Detective magazines, because
Matching bite wounds to a dental
Impression is often discussed in
These types of publications.
Police talked to a woman who was
Walking her dog near the
Intersection at the time
Christopher walden was abducted.
She thought she saw the
Abduction, but she wasn't
Entirely sure, so police asked
Her to undergo hypnosis.
Hypnosis can sometimes help a
Witness to recall details of an
Event they can't otherwise
Remember.
But hypnotically enhanced
Recollections are usually not
Admissible in court.
She underwent hypnosis, and
Something came out in the
Session.
And it was just driving her
Crazy, and it all came back to
Her.
And that's when she realized
That she had seen
Christopher walden being
Kidnapped.
Narrator: she said that
Christopher walden was with a
Man who was approximately the
Same height.
The car leaving the scene was
Brown.
The license number started with
The letter "r" followed by a
Series of numbers.
Sheriff patrick thomas issued a
Challenge to the k*ller during a
News conference.
And I think that the
Individual who's responsible for
These acts is very sick...
Spineless, a coward.
And I would urge him to call a
Minister or a priest or me.
There was a lot of
Monday-morning quarterbacking
From then on that maybe
This shouldn't have been done or
Maybe -- whatever.
But I felt that I would see what
He's made of, because I knew
That he was watching the press,
He was watching tv, he was
Monitoring us as much as they
Do.
That's part of their profile.
That's part of their m.o.
And I figured that maybe he
Would make a mistake.
Narrator: and it worked.
A local woman, barbara weaver,
Told friends that she had been
Praying for the capture of the
Serial m*rder*r, and she did
Something else.
In her prayers, she offered
Herself in any way possible to
Help find the k*ller.
Barbara weaver worked in a
Day-care center, and she usually
Arrived at work early to get her
Classroom ready.
When she looked outside, she
Noticed a strange car in the
Parking lot.
The driver was wearing a ski cap
And looked similar to the
Composite drawings of the k*ller
She saw on television.
As she was writing down the
License-plate number, the man
Entered the classroom.
He threatened to k*ll her and
Pulled a knife.
Mrs. Weaver ran past him and
Fled to the house next door,
Which belonged to the pastor of
The church.
From there, she called police.
She writes down his license
Tag.
That's the first thing she did.
Sharp woman.
And the fact of it is, when she
Saw the car, she said, "that
Looks like the car of this
k*ller."
This is all that's on everyone's
Mind.
This is the biggest case they've
Ever had in nebraska.
Narrator: police tracked the
License-plate number to a
Stationed at offutt air force
Base.
His name was john joubert.
Joubert was a maintenance
Mechanic in the radar unit.
He was also an eagle scout
And was an assistant scout
Leader for a local troupe.
Joubert denied having anything
To do with the two murders.
But there was an interesting
Coincidence -- joubert had been
Living in portland, maine, the
Year before at the time of
Ricky stetsons's m*rder.
Narrator: when john joubert
Was questioned about the murders
Of danny joe eberle and
Christopher walden, he had
Little to say to investigators.
But he fit the fbi's profile of
The k*ller.
He was 19 years old, slightly
Built, and an eagle scout who
Volunteered his time as an
Assistant scout leader of a
Local troop.
Joubert read soft-core
Pornography and detective
Magazines, which were found in
His footlocker at the air force
Base.
But what police found in his
Automobile was of particular
Interest.
On the right floorboard was a
Brown caucasian head hair, which
Was sent to the fbi for
Analysis.
A microscopic examination of
The questioned hairs found from
The vacuum sweepings in the
Vehicle with the known standards
From the victim, they were the
Same microscopically.
And I indicated in my report
That the hairs in the vehicle
Were consistent with head hairs
From the victim
Danny joe eberle.
Narrator: police also found a
Knife and a roll of tape, and in
Joubert's automobile was a piece
Of rope.
At first it appeared to be
Common nylon rope similar to the
Type sold in thousands of
Retail outlets throughout the
United states, but inside the
Rope was a surprise.
The core of the rope was so
Unique with 106 different fibers
In there.
Every single one of those fibers
Was mounted on a glass
Microscope, and the generic
Class of fiber was identified to
Make sure they were the same
Color, composition, diameter,
Cross-sectional shape, and to
Make sure that the acetates
Matched the acetates and the
Polyethylenes matched the
Polyethylenes.
I found that they were identical
In all respects --
Microscopically, instrumentally,
Chemical tests.
There were no differences
Between the two ropes.
Narrator: joubert had no idea
The rope was so rare.
He said he had been given the
Rope years earlier in the
Boy scouts.
When confronted with the
Evidence, joubert confessed.
He said, "let me tell you
About the second boy first
Because it's fresher in my
Mind."
And we started questioning him,
And he told us and provided us
With facts concerning the
Killings and the abduction of
Both boys that would only be
Known to the individual that had
Committed the crimes.
Narrator: joubert also
Admitted that he was the oakdale
Slasher, and his att*cks on
People like michael witham were
Practice for his subsequent
k*lling spree.
He also revealed that after
k*lling danny joe eberle, he
Walked into a mcdonalds
Restaurant, washed the blood
From his hands in the
Men's room, and ordered some
Breakfast.
After the christopher walden
m*rder, joubert said he attended
A boy scout meeting, where he
Was an assistant troop leader.
At that meeting, the troop
Discussed the abductions.
Guys, you know, as long as
You look out for each other, you
Have nothing to worry about,
Okay?
Narrator: after 116 days and
One of the most intensive
Manhunts in nebraska history,
Police finally had their k*ller,
And portland, maine, had theirs,
As well.
In maine, joubert was sentenced
To life in prison for the m*rder
Of ricky stetson.
In nebraska, for the murders of
Danny joe eberle and
Christopher walden, joubert was
Convicted and sentenced to
Death.
I specifically asked him if
He disliked the boys, and his
Statement was, "how could I
Dislike him?
I didn't even know him."
Narrator: no one knows what
Drove john joubert to k*ll.
And I remember one day, I
Said, "john, if I let you out of
Jail today and just let you walk
Away from here, do you think
You've learned now that you
Would never do that again?"
He thought for quite some time,
And he says, "no."
"No," he says, "I don't think I
Could help myself."
I says, "do you mean you would
Go k*ll another little boy?"
"Yeah, probably," he said.
"Yeah, I probably would."
Narrator: on july 17, 1996,
John joubert was put to death in
The electric chair.
Joubert's presence is still felt
To this day in the small town of
Bellevue.
Former mayor joe baldwin
Regularly visits the victims'
Graves and remembers the
Stalked his community.
The most horrible thing that
Ever happened in this city,
You know, to have a young person
Like that -- two young persons
And even three -- to have their
Life taken away by a person like
That.
I think that is terrible.
You can't believe how traumatic
It is when that happens.
Just the other day in a
Grocery store, a lady said that
She's just fearful of her
Little boy playing after dark,
That she remembers joubert.
She says, "I don't know how to
Instill in them that it may
Happen again."
I told her to hope and pray that
Never it would happen again, but
Make sure she keeps an eye on
Her little boy.
You just have to be careful.
Children have to be very
Careful.
There are people out there that
Prey on them.
04x07 - Ties That Bind
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
Documentary that reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and outbreaks of illness.
Documentary that reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and outbreaks of illness.