Zahn: SHE SENT HER ONLY CHILD OFF TO COLLEGE...
AND NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.
Pelasara: I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FALL APART.
I WAS HER VOICE.
Nolan: SHE WAS JUST GOING OUT TO SKATEBOARD.
THE ROOMMATE EXPECTED TAYLOR TO BE BACK THAT NIGHT.
Zahn: WHERE WAS TAYLOR BEHL?
Nolan: WHAT THIS STORY DID
IS IT HIT AT THE HEART OF EVERY PARENT.
Garner: DID TAYLOR LEAVE THAT CAR?
DID SHE GET OUT OF THAT CAR AND WALK SOMEWHERE?
Nolan: YOU DON'T HAVE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
OR THE VICTIM.
IT'S VERY HARD TO BUILD A CASE.
Zahn: POLICE SUSPECTED HER BOYFRIEND AND AN OLDER MAN.
WOULD ONE OF THEM CRACK?
HOW DID IT HAPPEN? OR WHY DID IT HAPPEN?
ALL THEY HAD WAS THEORY.
Zahn: THE CASE OF A MISSING GIRL
THAT ROCKED A CAMPUS AND TOUCHED A THOUSAND HEARTS.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HI, I'M PAULA ZAHN,
AND TONIGHT WE'RE ON THE CASE IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
WHERE A FRESHMAN CO-ED HAD JUST RETURNED TO COLLEGE
AFTER A VISIT HOME.
HOURS AFTER ARRIVING BACK ON CAMPUS,
THE 17-YEAR-OLD MYSTERIOUSLY WENT MISSING.
FOR HER MOTHER, FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER ONLY CHILD
WOULD BECOME A DESPERATE MISSION.
IT WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS INTO THE FALL SEMESTER
WHEN JANET PELASARA GOT ONE OF THOSE TERRIFYING
MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT PHONE CALLS.
Pelasara: THE V.C.U. POLICE CALLED AND SAID
THAT TAYLOR'S ROOMMATE HAD CALLED IN TO TELL THEM
THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN IN HER ROOM SINCE MONDAY NIGHT.
WHAT ELSE DID THE CAMPUS POLICE TELL YOU?
THAT NIGHT THEY HAD LOOKED AROUND
AND TALKED TO A COUPLE PEOPLE,
BUT NO ONE HAD SEEN HER.
I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE DOWN THERE.
Zahn: TAYLOR BEHL WASN'T YOUR TYPICAL COLLEGE FRESHMAN.
HAVING GROWN UP OVERSEAS,
SHE HAD A WORLDLY SOPHISTICATION THAT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A TEENAGER.
EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ADVENTUROUS,
SHE ALWAYS TOLD HER MOM WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
DURING THE TWO-HOUR DRIVE TO THE V.C.U. CAMPUS,
JANET TRIED TO THINK OF SOMETHING, ANYTHING,
THAT COULD EXPLAIN HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE.
HER SPIRITS WERE GOOD. SHE WAS HAPPY TO BE ON CAMPUS?
YES. SHE WAS EXCITED ABOUT HER CLASSES.
HER AND HER ROOMMATE GOT ALONG FINE.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING HER WAY.
IN YOUR MIND, WAS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY
THAT TAYLOR HAD JUST GONE AWAY FOR A COUPLE DAYS?
NO.
WHEN JANET GOT TO V.C.U., THE CAMPUS POLICE TOLD HER
WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT TAYLOR'S WHEREABOUTS THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.
Nolan: SHE WAS GOING TO SKATEBOARD
AND HANG OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS.
THE ROOMMATE FULLY EXPECTED TAYLOR TO BE BACK THAT NIGHT.
AND, CERTAINLY, THE FACT THAT SHE DIDN'T TAKE A WALLET
OR ANY OTHER KIND OF IDENTIFICATION,
ANY OTHER CLOTHES THAT WOULD SUGGEST
SHE WAS GOING AWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Zahn: JANET DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR ANOTHER WORD.
SHE FELT CERTAIN HER DAUGHTER WAS IN TROUBLE.
SHE WAS A GIRLY GIRL.
AND SO SHE'S NOT GONNA LEAVE FOR DAYS
AND NOT TAKE CLOTHES AND MAKEUP,
AND SHE WOULD CALL AND LET ME KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.
BUT CAMPUS POLICE TOLD HER
THERE WAS NOTHING TO INDICATE ANY FOUL PLAY.
SECURITY VIDEO SHOWED TAYLOR LEAVING HER DORM AT 10:24 P.M.
SHE APPEARED TO BE OKAY, CROSSED THE LOBBY, AND WAS GONE.
IT WAS THE LAST TIME ANYONE SAW HER.
Man: FROM ALL OF HER FRIENDS THAT WE'VE TALKED TO
AND HER ROOMMATE,
NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CONFLICTS WITH ANYONE
OR ANYBODY WHO INDICATED THAT --
OR SHE HAD INDICATED SHE WAS AFRAID OF ANYONE
OR ANY INDICATION THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY ANYONE.
I THINK THEY BELIEVED THAT TAYLOR HAD JUST RUN OFF
OR THAT SHE WAS JUST OFF WITH FRIENDS.
Zahn: JANET WENT ALONG WITH CAMPUS POLICE
WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO TAYLOR'S FRIENDS.
THEY STARTED WITH HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JAKE,
WHO SAID HE HAD SEEN TAYLOR AROUND 9:00 P.M.
ON THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
HE SAID, "WE HAD DINNER, AND SHE WAS HELPING ME
WITH A PROJECT IN THE SCHOOL,"
AND THAT WAS THE LAST THAT THEY HAD TALKED OR SEEN EACH OTHER.
BEN FAWLEY WAS AN OLDER FRIEND OF TAYLOR'S
WHO LIVED OFF CAMPUS.
HE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER,
AND SHE HAD AN INTEREST IN MODELING.
HE HAD ALSO BEEN IN TOUCH WITH TAYLOR THAT NIGHT.
IN FACT, HE SAID SHE HAD BORROWED HIS SKATEBOARD.
WELL, HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD LEFT THE SKATEBOARD FOR HER
UP AT THE TOP OF THE STEPS OF HIS APARTMENT,
AND HE ASSUMED THAT SHE HAD BEEN THERE
WHEN HE RETURNED HOME
AND SAW THAT THE SKATEBOARD WAS GONE.
Zahn: THE SECURITY VIDEO
THAT SHOWED TAYLOR LEAVING THE DORM AT 10:24 P.M.
AND HER ROOMMATE'S STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS GOING SKATEBOARDING
SEEMED TO BACK UP FAWLEY'S STORY.
BUT THAT WORRIED JANET.
MAYBE HER DAUGHTER HAD AN ACCIDENT, OR WORSE.
JANET'S MIND STARTED RACING.
RICHMOND IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS PLACE.
THE CRIME RATE IS UNBELIEVABLY HIGH.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE HER PURSE.
SHE HAD HER KEYS AND HER CELLPHONE.
IT WAS TWO DAYS WITH NO SIGN OF TAYLOR.
JANET DIDN'T THINK THE CAMPUS POLICE
WERE TREATING THE SITUATION WITH THE URGENCY IT DEMANDED,
SO SHE DECIDED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.
SHE CALLED ALL THE LOCAL HOSPITALS HERSELF.
TAYLOR HAD NOT BEEN ADMITTED.
SHE CHECKED TAYLOR'S CELLPHONE RECORDS.
NO RECENT CALLS HAD BEEN MADE.
SHE KEPT DIGGING.
TAYLOR'S BANK ACCOUNT WAS CHECKED.
Pelasara: MM-HMM. WHAT DID THE RECORDS SHOW?
THERE WAS NOTHING. NO ACTIVITY.
NO ACTIVITY AT ALL? NO. NO.
THEN ANOTHER DISTURBING DEVELOPMENT.
TAYLOR'S CAR, USUALLY PARKED IN THE SAME PLACE OFF CAMPUS,
COULD NOT BE LOCATED.
IT WAS AS IF TAYLOR HAD DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR.
JANET THOUGHT HER BEST HOPE
WAS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
SHE POSTED "MISSING" FLYERS ALL OVER CAMPUS.
BUT INCREDIBLY,
JANET SAYS UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS DID NOT APPROVE.
THEY WERE RIPPING DOWN THE "MISSING" POSTERS
AS QUICK AS WE WERE PUTTING THEM UP.
BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID IT WAS GONNA...
COMPROMISE THE SCHOOL IN SOME WAY? I GUESS.
THEY WANTED TAYLOR TO BE JUST A KID WHO HAD RUN OFF.
SO, HERE YOU ARE,
DEALING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER HAVING GONE MISSING...
MM-HMM.
...AND THAT'S HOW SOMEONE TREATED YOU?
YEAH.
THE SCHOOL WAS NOT EXACTLY...
REAL HELPFUL IN THE BEGINNING.
BUT JANET WASN'T ABOUT TO LET ANYONE STAND IN HER WAY.
SHE DECIDED TO CONTACT LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND TV STATIONS.
I'M BEGGING, PLEADING THE MEDIA
TO GET TAYLOR'S PICTURE OUT THERE.
TAYLOR'S DISAPPEARANCE QUICKLY BECAME BIG NEWS.
TAYLOR, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR YOU.
Zahn: ALL OVER RICHMOND,
PEOPLE STARTED TALKING ABOUT TAYLOR BEHL,
THE BEAUTIFUL V.C.U. FRESHMAN
WHO HAD VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE.
Nolan: EVERY FALL, THOUSANDS OF MOTHERS AND FATHERS
SEND THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS OFF TO SCHOOL.
WHAT THIS STORY DID
IS IT HIT AT THE HEART OF EVERY PARENT.
Zahn: 10 DAYS INTO THE SEARCH,
THE RICHMOND CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
DECIDED TO TAKE OVER THE INVESTIGATION.
Man: PEOPLE ARE BRINGING FORTH INFORMATION,
SOME VERY CREDIBLE,
SOME A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE,
BUT WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO FOLLOW UP ON EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT COMES OUR WAY.
THE RICHMOND POLICE IMMEDIATELY PUT OUT AN AMBER ALERT.
THEY BROUGHT IN THE STATE POLICE.
THEY BROUGHT IN THE FBI.
THEY HAD ENORMOUS RESOURCES.
FINALLY, JANET'S EFFORTS TO BRING ATTENTION
TO HER MISSING DAUGHTER'S CASE
WERE BEGINNING TO SHOW REAL RESULTS.
THE SEARCH FOR TAYLOR BEHL WAS HEATING UP,
AND IT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A DRAMATIC TURN.
AFTER 10 LONG DAYS
WITH NO SIGN OF 17-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR BEHL,
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, POLICE ASSEMBLED A JOINT TASK FORCE
TO AGGRESSIVELY INVESTIGATE HER DISAPPEARANCE.
IT HAD ONLY BEEN A FEW WEEKS
SINCE TAYLOR HAD SAID GOODBYE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
TO START A NEW LIFE AS A COLLEGE FRESHMAN.
NOW HER MOTHER WORRIED
THAT SHE'D NEVER SEE HER PRECIOUS DAUGHTER AGAIN.
WHILE TAYLOR WAS EXCITED ABOUT STARTING COLLEGE AT V.C.U.,
IT WAS A MELANCHOLY TIME FOR HER MOTHER.
Zahn: WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AS YOU DROPPED TAYLOR OFF?
SHE WAS YOUR ONLY CHILD,
AND IT WAS HER FIRST TIME ON CAMPUS, BASICALLY.
WHEN SHE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
I SAT FOR AN ENTIRE DAY JUST CRYING IN MY LITTLE GARDEN
THAT SHE WAS LEAVING
AND HOW LOST I WAS GONNA BE WITHOUT HER.
AND I WAS JUST CRYING AND CRYING.
AND I'M NOT A CRIER.
NOW THE POSSIBILITY OF A MUCH MORE TERRIFYING LOSS
WAS WEIGHING HEAVILY ON JANET.
SHE WAS CLEARLY UNDER GREAT STRESS.
YOU COULD SEE THAT IN JANET.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE DEVASTATING TO A PARENT
THAN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF THEIR CHILD.
Zahn: WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS AND AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS,
JANET DID HER BEST
TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE SEARCH FOR TAYLOR.
YOU REALLY GOT A TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT.
WHAT DID PEOPLE DO FOR YOU?
HOW KIND WERE THEY?
THEY WERE BEYOND KIND.
FRIENDS, FAMILY CAME TO RICHMOND
TO HELP HAND OUT FLIERS,
TO LOOK FOR HER, TO QUESTION PEOPLE.
MEANWHILE, THE NEW TASK FORCE
STARTED ITS INVESTIGATION FROM SCRATCH.
INVESTIGATORS REFUSED TO RULE OUT ANYONE AS A SUSPECT
AND DECIDED TO DO THEIR OWN INTERVIEW
WITH JAKE CUNNINGHAM, THE STUDENT TAYLOR HAD BEEN DATING.
HEY, YOU'RE IN MY CHAIR.
DURING QUESTIONING,
JAKE SAID HE HAD DINNER WITH TAYLOR
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED,
EVEN THOUGH HE CLAIMED THEY HAD BROKEN UP THE NIGHT BEFORE.
THE FACT THAT JAKE AND TAYLOR HAD A DATE AFTER BREAKING UP
SEEMED UNUSUAL,
SO DETECTIVES PRESSED THE ISSUE.
JAKE SAID THEY SIMPLY WENT TO DINNER
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP,
AND AT AROUND 9:00 P.M.,
HE WALKED TAYLOR BACK TO HER DORM.
JAKE LEFT TAYLOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES
BEFORE SHE'S SEEN ON THE SECURITY VIDEO
LEAVING HER DORM.
POLICE WONDERED IF HE HAD SEEN ANYTHING UNUSUAL
WHEN HE DROPPED HER OFF.
JAKE TOLD POLICE AFTER HE LEFT TAYLOR,
HE WATCHED A MOVIE WITH FRIENDS
AND THEN, AT AROUND MIDNIGHT,
RETURNED TO HIS DORM AND WENT TO SLEEP.
INTERVIEWS WITH FRIENDS,
AS WELL AS CAMPUS SECURITY VIDEO,
CONFIRMED HIS ACCOUNT.
WAS THERE ANY PART OF YOU THAT THOUGHT HER BOYFRIEND
HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE?
NO. NO.
IT LOOKED LIKE JAKE CUNNINGHAM
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TAYLOR'S DISAPPEARANCE.
BUT IF HE DIDN'T, THEN WHO DID?
WITH NO OTHER OBVIOUS SUSPECTS,
DETECTIVES FOCUSED ON FINDING TAYLOR'S CAR,
A WHITE FORD ESCORT.
Nolan: THAT CAR BECAME A BIGGER AND BIGGER SOURCE OF INQUIRY,
MAINLY BECAUSE FINDING IT
MIGHT LEAD YOU TO CLUES AS TO WHERE TAYLOR WAS.
Zahn: AND THEN, 12 DAYS AFTER SHE WENT MISSING,
INVESTIGATORS FINALLY GOT A BREAK.
TAYLOR'S CAR WAS FOUND PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
NOT FAR FROM THE V.C.U. CAMPUS.
AN OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER WALKING HIS DOG
FOUND THE CAR NOT FAR FROM WHERE TAYLOR LIVED.
Zahn: THE OFFICER IDENTIFIED TAYLOR'S CAR
THROUGH A CAMPUS STICKER ON THE WINDSHIELD.
THE TASK FORCE SET UP A STAKEOUT ON THE CAR.
WHEN THEY FOUND HER CAR, I FELT A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT HER CAR?
THEY HAD FOUND THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY
AND WATCHED IT FOR 12 HOURS, HOPING SOMEONE WOULD COME BY.
AND NO ONE DID? AND NO ONE DID.
MYSTERIOUSLY, TAYLOR'S VIRGINIA LICENSE PLATES
HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH STOLEN ONES FROM OHIO.
A FORENSIC TEAM WAS CALLED IN TO PROCESS THE CAR FOR EVIDENCE.
Bullard: IT WAS DUSTED FOR PRINTS
AND GONE OVER FROM FRONT TO BACK,
BUT NOTHING THAT GAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT CLUE
AS TO HER WHEREABOUTS.
Zahn: BUT DETECTIVES DIDN'T STOP THERE.
THEY CALLED IN A K-9 TEAM TO SEARCH FOR CLUES.
Garner: I WAS ASKED TO TAKE MY BLOODHOUND
AND SEARCH FOR TAYLOR BEHL'S SCENT.
DID TAYLOR LEAVE THAT CAR?
DID SHE GET OUT OF THAT CAR AND WALK SOMEWHERE?
LET'S KEEP LOOKING. WHERE'S HER SCENT AT?
LOOK FOR HER.
LOOKS LIKE SHE'S NOT HERE. LOOKS LIKE SHE'S NOT HERE.
I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT TAYLOR DID NOT WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR.
I WORKED THE COMPLETE AREA OF HER VEHICLE.
Zahn: IF TAYLOR BEHL WASN'T IN THE CAR
WHEN IT WAS ABANDONED ON THE STREET,
THEN WHO WAS?
INVESTIGATORS ASKED DETECTIVE GARNER TO TRACK THE SCENT AGAIN,
THIS TIME FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR.
Garner: I PLACED GAUZE PADS ON THE STEERING WHEEL OF HER CAR,
AS WELL AS THE HEADREST AND ON THE SHIFT LEVER.
THE BLOODHOUND WAS ABLE TO TRACK
THE SCENT OF THE LAST PERSON THAT DROVE TAYLOR BEHL'S VEHICLE
TO A RESIDENCE ON NORTH SHEPPARD STREET.
Zahn: THE BLOODHOUND TOOK POLICE TO A HOUSE
JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE TAYLOR'S CAR WAS DISCOVERED
AND LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM HER DORM.
WOULD IT LEAD TO TAYLOR
OR THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DISAPPEARANCE?
COMING UP...
...ON THE TRAIL OF A NEW SUSPECT.
HE FAILED THE POLYGRAPH ON WHETHER HE KNEW TAYLOR BEHL
AND WHETHER HE HAD BEEN IN HER CAR.
AFTER 12 FRUSTRATING DAYS,
IT LOOKED LIKE POLICE FINALLY HAD A SOLID LEAD
IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF COLLEGE FRESHMAN TAYLOR BEHL.
A k-9 TEAM HAD TRACKED A SCENT FROM HER CAR
TO A HOUSE LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY FROM HER DORM.
WOULD THE TRAIL LEAD THEM TO THE MISSING CO-ED?
THE HOUSE ON NORTH SHEPPARD STREET
WAS HOME TO AN OLDER COUPLE,
BUT INVESTIGATORS LEARNED
THAT JESSE SCHULTZ, A 22-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT WORKER,
SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE HOUSE VISITING HIS AUNT AND UNCLE.
POLICE BROUGHT HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING
AND ASKED HIM TO TAKE A LIE-DETECTOR TEST.
HE FAILED THE POLYGRAPH ON TWO QUESTIONS --
WHETHER HE KNEW TAYLOR BEHL
AND WHETHER HE HAD EVER BEEN IN HER CAR.
Zahn: THEY ALSO FOUND A WITNESS
WHO SAID SHE HAD SEEN TAYLOR WITH JESSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JESSE SCHULTZ WAS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A PRIME SUSPECT.
Bullard: SOME PEOPLE REMEMBERED
HER BEING AT A PARTY WHERE HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE.
OTHER PEOPLE SAID, NO, THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
Zahn: DESPITE THE FACT THAT A BLOODHOUND
TRACKED A SCENT TO JESSE'S RELATIVES' HOME
AND THAT HE FAILED A LIE-DETECTOR TEST,
JESSE SCHULTZ STUCK TO HIS STORY,
THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW TAYLOR.
THE TASK FORCE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING
TO CONNECT HIM TO TAYLOR'S DISAPPEARANCE.
EVENTUALLY, HE WOULD BE DROPPED AS A SUSPECT.
IT WAS YET ANOTHER SETBACK FOR TAYLOR'S MOTHER, JANET.
HOW MUCH OF A STRUGGLE WAS IT FOR YOU
TRYING TO PROD THE INVESTIGATION ALONG
AND PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT WAS BEING THROWN AT YOU?
BEING SO NUMB, YOU JUST TAKE IT IN.
IT WAS WHAT I HAD TO DO.
IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS.
I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FALL APART.
I WAS HER VOICE.
AND THINGS HAD TO BE DONE.
ONE THING JANET DID DO WAS SCRAPE TOGETHER $11,000
AND OFFER IT AS A REWARD
TO ANYONE WHO COULD HELP SOLVE THE CASE.
MEANWHILE, THE TASK FORCE CONTINUED LOOKING
INTO ALL OF TAYLOR'S FRIENDS,
INCLUDING BEN FAWLEY, THE 38-YEAR-OLD PHOTOGRAPHER
WHO LIVED JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE V.C.U. CAMPUS.
HE EXPRESSED JUST GREAT CONCERN.
NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE SHE COULD HAVE GONE.
Zahn: RIGHT AFTER TAYLOR DISAPPEARED,
FAWLEY HAD TOLD POLICE THAT HE HAD LEFT A SKATEBOARD
OUTSIDE OF HIS APARTMENT FOR HER TO USE THAT NIGHT.
NOW FAWLEY CHANGED HIS STORY.
HE SAID HE WAS ACTUALLY WITH TAYLOR
AT 4:15 P.M. THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED.
BUT POLICE KNEW THAT TAYLOR HAD ACTUALLY BEEN VISITING
HER MOTHER AT HOME, 100 MILES AWAY FROM CAMPUS.
ABOUT 4:30, SHE WENT TO GET GAS,
CAME BACK, AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, IT COST ME $40 FOR GAS."
I GAVE IT TO HER, AND...
SO THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.
BUT SHE DID CALL WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN RICHMOND
TO SAY THAT SHE HAD ARRIVED SAFE.
BEN FAWLEY WASN'T SAYING ANYTHING
TO CONVINCE DETECTIVES THEY SHOULD DROP HIM AS A SUSPECT.
HE CHANGED HIS STORY AGAIN.
THIS TIME, HE SAID, HE MET TAYLOR
AFTER SHE HAD SAID GOOD NIGHT TO HER BOYFRIEND, JAKE CUNNINGHAM.
Fawley: I HAD WALKED HER TO THE DORM.
I WAS WITH HER WHEN WE WALKED TO THE DORM.
SHE KNEW HER ROOMMATE HAD A GUEST,
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT ME GOING UP TO THE DORM WITH HER,
SO SHE HAD ASKED ME TO WAIT OUT FRONT.
Zahn: SECURITY VIDEO FROM TAYLOR'S DORM
SEEMED TO SUPPORT FAWLEY'S REVISED VERSION OF THINGS.
THERE'S TAYLOR IN THE LOBBY AT 10:21 P.M.,
AND THEN...
13 SECONDS LATER IN THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE,
YOU CAN SEE BEN FAWLEY ARRIVE AT THE OUTSIDE OF HER DORM.
Fawley: I WAS JUST STANDING OUT FRONT, WAITING FOR HER.
SHE CAME OUT,
AND WE WENT FROM HER DORM BACK TO MY APARTMENT.
Zahn: FAWLEY CLAIMS TAYLOR LEFT HIS APARTMENT HOURS LATER
TO FINALLY GO SKATEBOARDING,
AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME HE SAW HER.
BUT HE WASN'T DONE TALKING.
HE WENT ON TO DESCRIBE THE REST OF HIS NIGHT.
IT WAS BIZARRE.
HE REPORTED HE HAD GONE OUT TO TAKE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS,
AND HE REPORTED TO THE POLICE
THAT HE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED,
THAT THEY HAD THROWN SOMETHING LIKE A SACK OR A BAG
OVER THE TOP OF HIM, THROWN HIM INTO A VAN.
I WAS ATTACKED AND DRAGGED OFF AND DUMPED ON A SIDE OF A ROAD
AND HAD TO WALK BACK TO RICHMOND.
Zahn: FAWLEY'S ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED
THE DAY TAYLOR DISAPPEARED
STARTED WITH LIES
AND ENDED UP WITH A STRANGE STORY THAT COULDN'T BE VERIFIED.
EVERYTHING HE SAID AND DID
SEEMED TO ADD TO THE DETECTIVES' SUSPICIONS,
AND NOW THEY WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
HE HAD WITH A GIRL WHO WAS HALF HIS AGE.
WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU ABOUT HIM?
I DID KNOW THAT HE WAS OLDER.
SHE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS INTO ART,
AND HE TOOK PICTURES OF HER ONE WEEKEND.
DID TAYLOR EVER SHOW YOU THE PICTURES
THAT HE HAD TAKEN OF HER?
OH, YES. WE HAD IT ON A CD AT HOME.
IT ALL SOUNDED VERY INNOCENT.
SHE DIDN'T ACT LIKE SHE LIKED THIS GUY.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE ANOTHER FRIEND,
AND SO I WASN'T CONCERNED.
NO RED FLAGS WERE RAISED AT ALL?
NO. NO.
WE SHARED A COMPUTER IN HER COMPUTER ROOM,
AND HE WAS ONLINE.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, "I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN RICHMOND
AND, YOU KNOW, MORE MATURE THAN MOST OF THE PEOPLE SHE KNOWS."
I SAID, "SO WILL YOU KEEP AN EYE OUT ON HER?"
AND HE SAID YES.
Zahn: BUT NOW THAT TAYLOR WAS MISSING,
JANET SAW FAWLEY IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LIGHT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE LEARNED
THAT HE HAD ADMITTED DURING HIS INTERROGATION
THAT THEY WERE MORE THAN JUST CASUAL FRIENDS.
I HAD TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD BEEN INTIMATE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
Bullard: HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD HAD SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER,
AND AT THE TIME, SHE WAS A MINOR.
THAT PROVIDED PART OF THE BASIS
FOR THE SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF HIS APARTMENT
VIA A SEARCH WARRANT.
Zahn: DETECTIVES SEARCHED EVERY INCH OF FAWLEY'S APARTMENT
AND MADE A DISTURBING DISCOVERY.
THE PRIMARY THING THAT WAS DISCOVERED
DURING THE EXECUTION OF THE SEARCH WARRANT
WAS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON SOME OF THE COMPUTERS THAT HE OWNED.
Zahn: 18 DAYS AFTER TAYLOR'S DISAPPEARANCE,
BEN FAWLEY WAS ARRESTED ON 16 COUNTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.
POLICE WERE CONFIDENT
THEY HAD TAKEN A PEDOPHILE OFF THE STREETS.
NOW THEY WOULD TRY TO PROVE
HE WAS ALSO THE MAN
BEHIND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TAYLOR BEHL.
COMING UP...
A DEFIANT SUSPECT SPEAKS OUT.
Fawley: THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A MURDER.
IT'S JUST MY WORD VERSUS WHAT THEY ARE SUSPECTING.
AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH OF BEN FAWLEY'S APARTMENT,
INVESTIGATORS WERE UNABLE TO COME UP WITH ANY EVIDENCE
CONNECTING HIM TO TAYLOR BEHL'S DISAPPEARANCE.
BUT THEY DID FIND EVIDENCE OF ANOTHER CRIME
AND HAD TAKEN FAWLEY INTO CUSTODY.
DETECTIVES HAD DISCOVERED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
ON FAWLEY'S COMPUTER.
AS THEY SPOKE WITH HIM ON THE WAY TO THE STATION,
THE CONVERSATION WAS BEING RECORDED.
FAWLEY CLAIMED THE COMPUTERS WITH THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
DIDN'T EVEN BELONG TO HIM.
BUT HE ALSO KNEW HE WAS A SUSPECT
IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TAYLOR BEHL.
AND WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HER, HIS VOICE CHOKED WITH EMOTION.
POLICE WEREN'T BUYING FAWLEY'S ALIBI,
BUT THERE WAS STILL NO SOLID EVIDENCE
TO PROVE HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN TAYLOR'S DISAPPEARANCE.
Nolan: ESSENTIALLY, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A MURDER WEAPON
OR A CONFESSION OR FORENSIC EVIDENCE
OR THE VICTIM...
IT'S VERY HARD TO BUILD A CASE.
Fawley: THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A MURDER.
IT'S JUST MY WORD VERSUS WHAT THEY ARE SUSPECTING.
Zahn: BUT DETECTIVES WERE DETERMINED.
DAY AFTER DAY, THEY METICULOUSLY ANALYZED
EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE
CONFISCATED FROM FAWLEY'S APARTMENT.
THEY PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO HIS PHOTOGRAPHS.
Nolan: THEY HAD GATHERED PICTURES THAT FAWLEY HAD TAKEN,
AND THE NEXT GIRLFRIEND OF FAWLEY'S
WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY
A PICTURE OF AN ABANDONED FARMHOUSE.
Zahn: FAWLEY'S EX-GIRLFRIEND TOLD POLICE THAT THE FARMHOUSE
WAS A RENDEZVOUS SPOT WHEN THEY WERE DATING.
V.C.U. POLICE DROVE 70 MILES TO THE HOUSE
AND STARTED SEARCHING FOR A SIGN THAT TAYLOR HAD BEEN THERE, TOO.
AND THEN, FINALLY,
ONE MONTH AFTER SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING,
THE SEARCH FOR TAYLOR BEHL ENDED.
Nolan: THEY FOUND TAYLOR'S REMAINS
OFF THE SIDE OF A NONDESCRIPT ROAD,
BADLY DECOMPOSED.
Zahn: HOW DID YOU GET THE NEWS
THAT TAYLOR'S BODY HAD BEEN FOUND?
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR, AND IT'S TWO OF THE RICHMOND POLICE.
AND THEY SAT DOWN
AND SAID THAT A BODY HAD BEEN FOUND
AND THEY THINK IT'S TAYLOR'S.
Zahn: JANET SUMMONED THE STRENGTH TO TELL THE PUBLIC
HOW THE SEARCH FOR HER DAUGHTER HAD COME TO A TRAGIC CONCLUSION.
MY MIND STILL CANNOT ABSORB THE FACT
THAT SOMEONE COULD DO SOMETHING THIS CRUEL AND HEINOUS
TO MY 17-YEAR-OLD.
I AM POSITIVE THE AUTHORITIES
WILL BRING THESE SUBHUMANS TO JUSTICE.
Zahn: BUT BEFORE JUSTICE COULD BE DONE FOR TAYLOR,
INVESTIGATORS WOULD HAVE
A DIFFICULT CRIME SCENE TO PROCESS.
THE CHALLENGE IS COLLECTING EVIDENCE IN A REMOTE AREA.
Zahn: TAYLOR'S REMAINS HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS
FOR SO LONG,
INVESTIGATORS WEREN'T SURE
A CAUSE OF DEATH COULD EVER BE ESTABLISHED.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR AUTOPSY RESULTS TO BE SURE.
THEY'D ALSO HAVE TO WAIT WEEKS BEFORE DNA TESTING
COULD BE COMPLETED ON HAIRS FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE.
IN THE MEANTIME,
PROSECUTORS KEPT THE PRESSURE ON BEN FAWLEY.
WE HAD A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT WAS CIRCUMSTANTIAL.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT FAWLEY'S CREDIT-CARD RECORDS
SHOWED HE HAD STOPPED AT A GAS STATION
BETWEEN RICHMOND AND THE AREA WHERE TAYLOR'S BODY WAS FOUND
ON THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE THEY HAD
WAS THE CREDIT-CARD RECEIPT
AND HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THIS VERY REMOTE AREA,
COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT HE WAS THE LAST PERSON
KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN WITH HER.
Zahn: FAWLEY REMAINED BEHIND BARS
ON THE UNRELATED CHILD-PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE.
THEN, ONE WEEK AFTER TAYLOR'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED,
FAWLEY DID SOMETHING THAT SHOCKED EVEN HIS OWN ATTORNEYS.
HE SAID HE WANTED TO TALK WITH THE D.A.
WHEN POLICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT BEN WANTED TO CONFESS,
I WAS SURPRISED.
I IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO THE JAIL AND TALKED TO HIM.
Fawley: I DECIDED I SHOULD TALK TO PROSECUTORS.
I FINALLY JUST DECIDED...
THAT IT NEEDED TO BE OVER WITH.
I JUST WANTED IT OVER WITH.
Zahn: FAWLEY TOLD DETECTIVES YET ANOTHER STORY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT TAYLOR DISAPPEARED.
THIS TIME, HE CLAIMED THAT HE AND TAYLOR WENT FOR A DRIVE
AND ENDED UP AT THE SECLUDED FARMHOUSE.
HIS STATEMENT WAS THAT SHE HAD ASKED HIM TO STRANGLE HER
WHILE THEY WERE HAVING SEX.
Zahn: FAWLEY SAID THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG.
Fawley: SHE WAS PASSED OUT, BUT SHE WAS BREATHING.
I GOT PANICKED WHEN SHE WOULDN'T WAKE UP.
PART OF ME WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.
SHOULD I CALL THE POLICE? SHOULD I TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL?
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I WAS JUST ACTING OUT OF FEAR, OUT OF PANIC.
Zahn: FAWLEY CLAIMED TAYLOR DIED SOMETIME LATER
WHILE HE DROVE HER CAR BACK TO RICHMOND.
HE SAID HE RETURNED TO THE SCENE AND DUMPED TAYLOR'S BODY.
BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS FAWLEY'S STATEMENT WOULD GO.
HE STOPPED SHORT OF CONFESSING TO TAYLOR'S MURDER.
THINGS WERE OUT OF HAND, YES,
BUT I DIDN'T KILL HER.
Zahn: POLICE DIDN'T BELIEVE FAWLEY'S NEWEST STORY.
ON JANUARY 16th,
FIVE MONTHS AFTER TAYLOR'S DEATH,
BEN FAWLEY WAS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
Bullard: HIS VERSION OF THE EVENTS
CERTAINLY MADE IMMEDIATELY APPARENT
WHAT THE CHALLENGES WOULD BE --
THAT HE WAS GONNA PUT FORTH
SORT OF AN ACCIDENTAL-DEATH DEFENSE
OR, ALTERNATIVELY, A HEAT-OF-PASSION DEFENSE.
Zahn: WITH A PILE OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
AND FAWLEY'S OWN ADMISSION
THAT PLACED HIM AT THE CRIME SCENE,
PROSECUTORS BELIEVED THEY COULD CONVINCE A JURY
THAT BEN FAWLEY WAS GUILTY OF MURDER.
COMING UP...
...THE CASE AGAINST BEN FAWLEY.
MR. FAWLEY HAD TOLD
AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN DIFFERENT STORIES.
WERE MY MISSTATEMENTS WRONG? YEAH.
DOES THAT MAKE ME GUILTY OF MURDER? NO.
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"? GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
BEN FAWLEY'S TRIAL DATE WAS APPROACHING.
BUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
STILL HADN'T COMPLETED THE AUTOPSY REPORT.
PROSECUTORS HAD HOPED THAT THOSE FINDINGS
WOULD EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW TAYLOR BEHL DIED
AND HELP THEM WIN A CONVICTION.
WHEN DID YOU BECOME CONVINCED
THAT BEN FAWLEY MURDERED YOUR DAUGHTER?
AS SOON AS I KNEW THAT HE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER.
THAT QUICKLY?
YES.
PROSECUTORS STARTED TO BUILD THE CASE AGAINST FAWLEY.
HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF EVENTS
NOW PUT HIM WITH TAYLOR AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH.
BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
TO PROVE HE COMMITTED MURDER.
THERE WAS NO REAL SILVER-BULLET PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THROUGHOUT THE CASE
WAS THERE WAS ONLY ONE EYEWITNESS,
AND THAT ONE EYEWITNESS WAS BEN FAWLEY.
Zahn: BUT PROSECUTORS BELIEVED
THEY COULD USE FAWLEY'S OWN WORDS AGAINST HIM,
LIKE WHEN HE SAID HE DECIDED TO CONCEAL TAYLOR'S BODY.
THE ONLY EVIDENCE THEY HAD
WAS THE STATE IN WHICH THE BODY WAS FOUND,
AND THAT'S THAT I HAD BURIED HER.
I DID DO THAT. I DID BURY HER.
I COVERED UP THE FACT THAT SHE DIED. I PANICKED.
Nolan: IN HIS STATEMENTS -- YOU KNOW, "I PANICKED."
BUT YOU DON'T STAY PANICKED FOR OVER A MONTH...
IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
Bullard: BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER,
MR. FAWLEY HAD TOLD
AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN DIFFERENT STORIES
AS TO WHAT HAPPENED
DURING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TAYLOR BEHL.
Zahn: FAWLEY CLAIMED HE NEVER DID ANYTHING
AGAINST TAYLOR'S WILL ON THE NIGHT SHE DIED.
BUT PROSECUTORS BELIEVED ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE
CAST SERIOUS DOUBT ON THAT PART OF HIS STORY.
Bullard: THERE WAS TAPE ON THE OUTSIDE OF HER FOREARMS AND WRISTS.
THAT CERTAINLY GIVES STRONG INDICATIONS
OF A NONCONSENSUAL ENCOUNTER,
AND, OF COURSE, HIS STORY WAS ALL DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN THAT.
Zahn: IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,
INVESTIGATORS SENT A K-9 UNIT
TO THE SPOT WHERE TAYLOR'S BODY WAS FOUND.
Garner: THERE WAS FEAR SCENT WHERE HER BODY WAS RECOVERED.
JUDGING BLOODHOUND'S BODY ENGLISH
AND THE WAY HE TRAILED AND THE WAY HE WORKED --
HIS STRENGTH, HIS PULL --
THERE'S NO DOUBT TAYLOR WAS DEFINITELY ALIVE.
Zahn: PROSECUTORS BELIEVED THE EVIDENCE FROM THE K-9 UNIT
WOULD BE ALL THE MORE EFFECTIVE IF THEY COULD ESTABLISH
THAT FAWLEY HAD A HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
THERE WERE TWO REPORTED INCIDENCES
OF HIM ATTEMPTING TO EITHER CHOKE OR SMOTHER
A LOVE INTEREST.
ONE OF THEM INVOLVED HIM PUTTING A PILLOW
OVER A FEMALE'S FACE
AND TRYING TO SMOTHER HER.
THE OTHER ONE WAS CHOKING.
Zahn: FAWLEY'S VIOLENT PAST MADE HIM LOOK SUSPICIOUS.
BUT PROSECUTORS WERE WORRIED ABOUT HOW SOMETHING
TAYLOR HAD TOLD FRIENDS ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH FAWLEY
WOULD PLAY WITH THE JURY.
THERE WAS, APPARENTLY,
AT LEAST ONE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
HAPPENED WHEN SHE HAD VISITED V.C.U.
Zahn: EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE
SUGGESTING TAYLOR HAD ANY INTEREST
IN THE TYPE OF SEX FAWLEY CLAIMED LED TO HER DEATH,
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAID THEY WERE PREPARED
TO EXPLOIT THE FACT THAT TAYLOR AND FAWLEY HAD BEEN INTIMATE
AND THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM THAT NIGHT
WAS CONSENSUAL.
Collins: WE WERE PREPARED TO TRY TO DENT THAT IMAGE
OF HER BEING THIS SWEET 17-YEAR-OLD.
Zahn: TAYLOR'S MOTHER STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRIAL
AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR HER DAUGHTER'S REPUTATION.
IT WAS YET ANOTHER BURDEN FOR HER TO BEAR.
I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE CONVICTED, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
THEY WOULD HAVE TRIED TO MAKE HER OUT TO BE,
YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF SLUT.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED AS A BAD MOTHER.
BELIEVING HE COULD EXPLAIN AWAY INCONSISTENCIES
IN HIS STATEMENTS TO POLICE,
FAWLEY PLANNED TO TESTIFY IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
Fawley: I GAVE A LOT OF STATEMENTS.
WERE MY MISSTATEMENTS WRONG? YEAH, THEY WERE WRONG.
BUT DOES THAT MAKE ME GUILTY OF MURDER? NO.
Zahn: FAWLEY WAS PREPARED
TO FIGHT EVERYTHING IN THE PROSECUTION'S CASE,
FROM THE UNUSUAL EVIDENCE THAT A BLOODHOUND DETECTED
A SCENT OF FEAR AT THE CRIME SCENE...
SHE WAS NEVER AFRAID OF ME.
Zahn: ...TO THE CRITICAL DISCOVERY
THAT TAYLOR'S WRISTS HAD BEEN TAPED.
THE DUCT TAPE ENDED UP THERE
BECAUSE AT ONE POINT, WE WERE ROLE-PLAYING,
AND I HAD WRAPPED HER WRISTS IN DUCT TAPE.
IT LOOKS DIABOLICAL AND HORRID,
BUT THAT'S TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.
Zahn: JANET EXPECTED TAYLOR'S REPUTATION
TO BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD AT THE TRIAL,
BUT SHE WAS PREPARED TO DEFEND HER HONOR POINT BY POINT.
HE WAS INTO THE DARK SIDE OF SEX,
AND FOR HIM TO SAY THAT THEY WERE ROLE-PLAYING --
I DON'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL.
SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND. THEY WERE INTIMATE.
AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD CONSENSUAL SEX WITH HIM
WHEN SHE DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT ME AS THE MOTHER
STICKING UP FOR HER ANGEL-LIKE DAUGHTER,
'CAUSE I KNOW SHE WASN'T A SAINT.
BUT SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND,
AND IT'S JUST --
IT WASN'T LIKE HER TO GO TO THAT SIDE.
SO, I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE IS A CHRONIC LIAR.
Zahn: JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIAL,
THE AUTOPSY REPORT FINALLY CAME BACK.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS DID A VERY THOROUGH EXAMINATION,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
REALLY ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS THAT IT WAS A HOMICIDE.
Zahn: EVEN THOUGH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
HAD DECLARED TAYLOR'S DEATH A HOMICIDE,
HE COULDN'T SPECIFY A CAUSE OF DEATH.
IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL RULING.
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CLAIMED THE CORONER'S REPORT WAS ISSUED
TO HELP THE PROSECUTION.
ON AUGUST 9, 2006,
ALMOST ONE YEAR AFTER TAYLOR'S DEATH,
SPECTATORS CRAMMED INTO THE COURTROOM
AS THE TRIAL GOT UNDER WAY.
Man: ALL RISE!
Judge: THIS IS THE CASE OF COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
VERSUS BENJAMIN W. FAWLEY.
I'M ADVISED THERE'S AN AGREEMENT IN THIS CASE?
Collins: THAT'S CORRECT, JUDGE.
Zahn: AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE TRIAL WAS OVER.
PROSECUTORS AND FAWLEY
HAD WORKED OUT A LAST-MINUTE PLEA DEAL.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT A REASONABLE JURY
COULD FIND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONVICT HIM.
Collins: THE PLEA BARGAIN
ULTIMATELY WAS 30 YEARS ON SECOND-DEGREE MURDER,
AND THEY WOULD DUMP ALL OF THE CHILD-PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES.
Zahn: FAWLEY WAS SENTENCED
TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
BUT FROM BEHIND BARS,
HE STILL INSISTS HE DID NOT MURDER TAYLOR BEHL.
I'M TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO GET UPSET HERE
BECAUSE I DON'T ALWAYS...
...EXPRESS MYSELF WELL WHEN I'M UPSET.
WHEN I GET EMOTIONAL, I CAN'T KEEP MY THOUGHTS STRAIGHT.
I DID NOT KILL TAYLOR BEHL,
BUT, YES, I FEEL ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE
BECAUSE I WAS THERE.
I HID WHAT HAPPENED.
I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HER TO THE HOSPITAL.
I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE POLICE.
BUT I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T INTENTIONALLY HARM TAYLOR.
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY TO KILL TAYLOR.
JANET, YOU'VE HEARD WHAT BEN FAWLEY JUST HAD TO SAY --
AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THAT HE DID NOT INTENTIONALLY KILL YOUR DAUGHTER.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?
DO YOU...
TAKE A 17-YEAR-OLD...
TAPE HER HANDS WITH DUCT TAPE BEHIND HER BACK?
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL.
Zahn: BEN FAWLEY ALSO SAYS HE HAD NOTHING AGAINST TAYLOR
AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HIM TO KILL HER.
I HAD NO MOTIVE.
TAYLOR HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING FOR ME TO BE ANGRY AT HER FOR.
I HAD NO ANIMOSITY TOWARDS HER.
I HAD NO REASON OR CAUSE TO DO HER ANY HARM.
HOW ABOUT FAWLEY'S CLAIM
THAT HE HAD NO MOTIVE TO MURDER TAYLOR?
TAYLOR WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HIM ANY LONGER.
SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND AT COLLEGE.
SHE WAS PUSHING HIM AWAY.
AND HE HAS BEEN KNOWN
TO GO AFTER THE WOMEN THAT DON'T LIKE HIM ANYMORE.
SO THAT IS THE MOTIVE.
HE DIDN'T GET 40 YEARS BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS, 10 SUSPENDED,
FOR INTENTIONALLY KILLING MY DAUGHTER.
SO...
THERE ARE THE FACTS.
Zahn: THERE'S ANOTHER FACT THAT JANET WILL HAVE TO FACE
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
NO MATTER WHAT BEN FAWLEY SAYS
OR WHAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DOES TO HIM,
NOTHING WILL EVER UNDO THE TERRIBLE LOSS SHE SUFFERED.
EVERYONE SAID, YOU KNOW, "ONCE HE'S CONVICTED --
ONCE HE'S CONVICTED, YOU'LL HAVE CLOSURE."
OKAY, SO AFTER IT,
I WAS WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING.
I DIDN'T FEEL ANY DIFFERENT.
NO SENSE OF RELIEF
KNOWING THAT HE WAS GONNA BE IN PRISON FOR...
30 YEARS? NO. ...A LONG TIME?
NO.
YOU'VE HAD TO ENDURE SO MUCH PAIN
DURING YOUR JOURNEY.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST PART OF ALL OF THIS?
[ CHUCKLES ]
UM...
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HOLD HER AGAIN.
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE GRANDKIDS.
I'M NOT GONNA WATCH HER GET MARRIED.
BUT I WAS GIVEN SUCH A PRECIOUS GIFT
FOR 17 YEARS.
THAT MAKES ME THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD.
IN 2008, BEN FAWLEY PETITIONED
TO HAVE HIS MURDER CONVICTION THROWN OUT,
CLAIMING HE WASN'T OF SOUND MIND WHEN HE TOOK THE PLEA DEAL.
HIS PETITION WAS DENIED.
FAWLEY WILL BE IN PRISON UNTIL AT LEAST THE YEAR 2031.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.