WE HEARD THE CRASH.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HORRENDOUS THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD.
Zahn: FOUR YOUNG LIVES,
FOUR FAMILIES DESTROYED IN AN INSTANT.
YOUR HEART IS RIPPED OUT.
Zahn: A TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
THEY WERE DRIVING 99 MILES AN HOUR
WITH SUCH A CLEAR, RECKLESS DISREGARD
FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.
Zahn: A SMALL TOWN DIVIDED, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME.
HE WAS ATTACKING MY CHILD.
TO ME, IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE KILLING HER ALL OVER.
PEOPLE WERE SAYING, "HE RUINED THIS TOWN.
HE'S A MURDERER."
Zahn: THEY'LL NEVER FORGET.
WILL THEY EVER FORGIVE?
IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE HE CARED.
David: I SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT, TOO.
I JUST FEEL SO GUILTY THAT I DIDN'T.
YOU NEED TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
MAKING UP FOR THE LIVES THAT YOU TOOK AWAY.
Zahn: A STORY OF SMALL-TOWN JUSTICE AND SECOND CHANCES.
[ 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 THE SMALL EAST-TEXAS TOWN OF TATUM,
WHERE A JOYFUL FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER A FOOTBALL GAME
WOULD END IN A TRAGIC CAR ACCIDENT.
THE WRECK WOULD TEAR APART THE COMMUNITY
AND LEAVE MANY WONDERING
WHETHER CARELESSNESS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH
OR IF SOMETHING DARKER, EVEN CRIMINAL, WAS INVOLVED.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2003 -- TATUM, TEXAS.
IT WAS THE START OF THE FOOTBALL SEASON,
AND THE TATUM EAGLES WERE PLAYING A HOME GAME
AGAINST THEIR BIGGEST RIVAL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
IT'S TEXAS, AND IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT,
AND IT'S TATUM, TEXAS, AND THE EAGLES ARE PLAYING.
EVERYBODY IS THERE.
EVERYBODY'S AT THE FOOTBALL GAME.
THE TATUM EAGLES LOST THE GAME,
BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO DAMPEN THE MOOD
OF AT LEAST FOUR GIRLS IN ATTENDANCE.
RACHEL, KASEY JO, MacKINSEY, AND JAICEY,
WHO STILL HAD AN AFTER-GAME PARTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
YOU KNOW KIDS --
AFTER-FOOTBALL-GAME PARTIES AND GET-TOGETHERS,
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE GOING.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL NIGHT
FOR 15-YEAR-OLD RACHEL --
HER PARENTS WERE LETTING HER RIDE IN A CAR
DRIVEN BY A FRIEND.
Julie: IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME
THAT I WAS GONNA LET RACHEL GO WITH OTHER KIDS.
WE SAID OUR GOODBYES AND, YOU KNOW,
SHE CALLED ME "BIG MAMA," YOU KNOW,
AND I TURNED AROUND AND LEFT.
"I LOVE YOU, BIG MAMA. SEE YOU IN THE MORNING."
THE GIRLS' FIRST STOP AFTER THE GAME
WAS KASEY JO'S HOME TO GET DRESSED FOR THE PARTY.
JANET RUSSOM REMEMBERS YOUTHFUL CHATTER
COMING FROM HER DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE JUST IN THERE GIRL TALKING
AND ALL THAT STUFF.
WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN TO HEAR, ISN'T IT, AS A MOM? YEAH, IT WAS FUN.
WE HAD A LOT OF THAT AT OUR HOUSE.
THEY WEREN'T THERE VERY LONG
BECAUSE THEY WERE READY TO GO BACK INTO TOWN.
THE GIRLS HEADED OUTSIDE
AND GOT INTO A CHEVY BLAZER S.U.V.
KASEY JO PAUSED FOR JUST A MOMENT BEFORE LEAVING.
IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL.
SHE GOT TO THE DOOR, AND SHE TURNED AROUND AND CAME BACK.
AND SHE WALKED OVER,
AND SHE LEANED DOWN AND KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK,
AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU, MAMA."
DAVID REID HAD ALREADY GRADUATED FROM TATUM HIGH,
BUT HE WAS AT THE BIG GAME, TOO.
MY SISTER WAS A CHEERLEADER.
SO WOULD YOU GO TO THE GAMES, THEN, TO SEE YOUR SISTER?
YEAH, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS AND STUFF.
DAVID WASN'T MUCH OF A FOOTBALL FAN.
HE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AS THE CLASS CLOWN.
IF I COULD MAKE SOMEBODY LAUGH,
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA TRY TO DO.
AFTER THE GAME, DAVID, ALONE IN HIS SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK,
PULLED OUT ONTO HIGHWAY 149 ALONGSIDE A FRIEND.
THEY GUNNED THEIR ENGINES AND STARTED RACING.
DAVID LIKED TO CALL IT "SHOWING OUT."
ALONG A QUIET STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF TOWN,
DAVID PULLED AHEAD OF HIS FRIEND
AND CAME SPEEDING OVER THE CREST OF A HILL.
ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY,
THE FOUR GIRLS WERE EXCITED TO BE LEAVING KASEY JO'S HOUSE
FOR THEIR PARTY.
THEY APPROACHED THE HIGHWAY FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE.
I JUST REMEMBER A FLASH OF HEADLIGHTS.
THAT WAS, LIKE, THE ONLY THING I REMEMBERED.
IT WAS ALMOST MIDNIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
DAVID'S PICKUP SLAMMED INTO THE BLAZER.
WE HEARD THE CRASH.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HORRENDOUS THINGS
I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE -- VERY LOUD.
THE IMPACT SENT THE VEHICLES SCREECHING INTO A NEARBY DITCH,
WHERE THEY BOTH BURST INTO FLAMES,
LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT SKY.
THREE OF THE TEENAGE GIRLS WERE TRAPPED IN THE OVERTURNED S.U.V.
THE FOURTH WAS CATAPULTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
DAVID WAS STUCK BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL OF HIS PICKUP.
JANET AND HER HUSBAND RAN OUTSIDE.
WHEN I WENT OUT OF THAT HOUSE, I WAS SCREAMING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
I WAS SCREAMING FOR KASEY
AND, "PLEASE, GOD, DON'T LET MY BABY BE DEAD."
WHEN THEY GOT TO THE HIGHWAY,
THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT HIT THEM IMMEDIATELY.
WE WERE ALL JUST CRYING. YOU KNEW IT WASN'T GOOD.
JANET'S HUSBAND SAW THAT IT WAS THEIR DAUGHTER, KASEY JO,
WHO HAD BEEN THROWN FROM THE S.U.V.
HE HAD A PHONE IN HIS HAND AND CALLED 911.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CALLED THEM.
THAT WAS THE FIRST CALL THAT CAME IN?
WE COULDN'T FIND PULSES ON HER,
AND THEY TOLD HIM TO TRY AT HER FEET,
AND HE SAID, "I CAN'T."
HER LEGS WERE TWISTED, SO HE COULDN'T GET TO HER PULSES.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
THERE WAS CHAOS AS EMERGENCY CREWS ARRIVED.
THEY TRIED TO CONTAIN THE FIRES AND RESCUE THE VICTIMS.
IT WAS VERY SURREAL.
IT WAS LIKE I WAS UP IN THE AIR LOOKING DOWN.
IT'S THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT.
FIVE YOUNG LIVES WERE HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED
WOULD BE A LONG AND PAINFUL PROCESS,
AND TATUM, TEXAS, WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.
A FRIDAY NIGHT THAT STARTED
UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF A FOOTBALL GAME
HAD ENDED IN A HORRIFYING CRASH
ON A DARK STRETCH OF HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF TATUM, TEXAS.
WHAT HAD CAUSED THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY?
WELL, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION
WOULD HAUNT THE PEOPLE OF TATUM FOR YEARS TO COME.
BUT IN THE MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH,
THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING ON PEOPLE'S MINDS --
DID ANYONE SURVIVE?
JANET RUSSOM REMEMBERED LOOKING DOWN AT HER DAUGHTER
WHEN SHE WAS PLACED ON A STRETCHER.
I LOOKED DOWN AT HER, AND SHE WAS JUST SO PEACEFUL.
I THINK I PRETTY MUCH KNEW IN MY HEART THEN,
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.
I WANTED TO THINK THAT THEY COULD DO SOMETHING.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING RESCUE WORKERS COULD DO
FOR ANY OF THE GIRLS.
ALL FOUR WERE DEAD AT THE SCENE.
THE PARENTS OF THE OTHER GIRLS
WERE ABOUT TO GET THE WORST NEWS THEY COULD EVER FACE.
MacKINSEY'S MOM, DEBBIE BLALOCK,
WAS AT HOME WHEN HER PHONE RANG.
Blalock: I HAD A CALL FROM A FRIEND OF MINE THAT SAID,
"DEBBIE, WHO WAS MacKINSEY WITH?"
AND, YOU KNOW, TOLD THEM SHE WAS WITH JAICEY,
AND THEY SAID, "WELL, THERE'S BEEN A BAD CAR WRECK ON 149."
NOT LONG AFTER, THERE WAS A KNOCK ON DEBBIE'S DOOR.
AN HOUR LATER,
THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO THE HOUSE AND TOLD US, YOU KNOW,
THAT ALL FOUR GIRLS HAD PASSED, SO...
IT'S JUST SOMETHING A MOTHER NEVER WANTS TO HEAR.
SHE WAS SO YOUNG AND SO FULL OF LIFE.
IT'S JUST HARD.
JAICEY WAS DRIVING THE S.U.V.
WHEN HER MOTHER, DAPHNE, ARRIVED AT THE SCENE,
A TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER
TOLD HER TO GO HOME AND WAIT FOR NEWS,
BUT SHE REFUSED TO LEAVE.
I SAID, "WELL, UNTIL THEY COME AND TAKE HER,
I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE,
BECAUSE I'M NOT LEAVING HER HERE BY HERSELF.
I WAS HERE WHEN SHE CAME INTO THIS WORLD,
AND I'M GONNA BE HERE
UNTIL I KNOW THAT SHE'S OUT OF THAT CAR."
DAVID REID, THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP,
WAS STILL ALIVE, BUT HE WAS GRAVELY INJURED.
DAVID HAD BROKEN SEVERAL RIBS, AND HIS LUNG HAD BEEN PUNCTURED.
THERE WAS DANGEROUS SWELLING AROUND HIS HEART.
WHILE HE WAS SPARED A SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY,
HE DID SUFFER A CONCUSSION.
DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH?
OH, NO.
DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING
THE SOUNDS OF THE CHEVY BLAZER EXPLODING?
NO, I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING.
DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING SIRENS? NOTHING.
POLICE QUICKLY FOUND EYEWITNESSES
WHO REPORTED SEEING DAVID AND A FRIEND RACING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
BUT THE ACCIDENT HAD CAUSED A SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS IN DAVID.
WHEN INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED HIM,
HE STRUGGLED TO REMEMBER ANYTHING HE HAD DONE
AFTER THE FOOTBALL GAME.
I REMEMBER MEETING UP AT BROOKSHIRE BROTHERS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, A GROCERY STORE.
AND THEN I REMEMBER LEAVING.
AND I THINK I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, TAKING OFF.
AND THEN, I CAN JUST REMEMBER, LIKE, THE HEADLIGHTS.
AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE HEADLIGHTS.
JUSTIN SHARP ARRIVED IN TIME TO WATCH
AS HIS FRIEND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE WAS COVERED UP WITH BLANKETS -- HIS HEAD.
OF COURSE, HE HAD GLASS ALL IN HIS HEAD,
AND HIS FACE WAS SWOLLEN.
HE JUST LAID THERE, AND HE JUST LOOKED KIND OF LIFELESS.
I WAS REALLY SCARED I MIGHT LOSE HIM.
Zahn: LYING IN HIS HOSPITAL BED,
DAVID HAD NO IDEA JUST HOW SEVERE THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN.
HIS PARENTS WAITED TWO DAYS TO DELIVER THE DEVASTATING NEWS.
HE WAS LAYING THERE IN BED,
AND HE JUST KIND OF ROLLED OVER AND LOOKED AT ME
WITH A VERY BLANK LOOK.
AND I SAID, "I THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT."
AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT FOUR GIRLS WERE KILLED.
DID HE HAVE ANY EMOTIONAL REACTION TO IT?
OH, YEAH. HIS EYES GOT REAL BIG.
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHO, IF I KNEW WHO.
AND I SAID, "YEAH."
I SAID, "JAICEY ROBBERSON...
KASEY JO MORAW."
I SAID, "MacKINSEY BLALOCK...
AND RACHEL."
BOY, HE LOOKED AT ME. HE SAID, "RACHEL WHO?"
SO I HAD TO TELL HIM.
HE JUST WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE.
RACHEL WAS 15-YEAR-OLD RACHEL REID,
DAVID'S BELOVED LITTLE SISTER.
SHE'S A LOT LIKE ME, REAL WILD AND CRAZY
AND, YOU KNOW, GOOFY AND STUFF, FUNNY.
ME AND HER WERE ACTUALLY, GROWING UP, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
CLOSER THAN ME AND MY BROTHER.
BESIDES BEING YOUR SISTER, YOU CONSIDERED HER YOUR BEST FRIEND?
YEAH, SHE WAS SOMEBODY I COULD ALWAYS,
YOU KNOW, TELL EVERYTHING TO.
HEARING THAT SHE WAS ONE OF THE GIRLS WHO DIED
WHEN HIS PICKUP TRUCK SLAMMED INTO THE S.U.V. WAS CRUSHING.
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, JUST CRYING AND SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"YOU MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A SISTER NO MORE?"
JUST 48 HOURS BEFORE,
JULIE REID HAD BEEN TOLD
THAT HER BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, RACHEL, WAS DEAD.
NOW HER HEART WAS BREAKING AGAIN.
SHE MUSTERED ALL HER STRENGTH
TO PROTECT AND TAKE CARE OF HER SON DAVID
EVEN AS SHE PREPARED TO BURY RACHEL -- HER ONLY DAUGHTER.
IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD TO REACH DOWN,
TO BE THE ROCK OF THE FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, I HAD TWO OTHER KIDS
THAT I HAD TO GET THROUGH THIS AND A HUSBAND.
HOW COULD YOU EVEN MOURN THE LOSS OF RACHEL
WHEN YOU HAD TO ENDURE EVERYTHING ELSE
YOU WENT THROUGH?
I REALLY DIDN'T FOR, YOU KNOW, A FEW WEEKS.
I WAS JUST IN THIS MODE OF GETTING DAVID, YOU KNOW, HOME.
I HAD TO PLAN A FUNERAL, YOU KNOW,
AND DAVID WAS DETERMINED TO GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL
TO GO TO THE FUNERAL,
AND HE WENT TO THE FUNERAL IN A WHEELCHAIR.
JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOUR CHILD.
DAVID STRUGGLED WITH THE ENORMITY OF THE TRAGEDY
AND WHAT HIS ROLE IN THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN.
I DON'T THINK IT EVER REALLY SUNK IN.
IT'S JUST TOO PAINFUL FOR YOU?
YEAH, I MEAN, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
OF COURSE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO POINT THE FINGER AT YOU,
AND IT'S TOUGH, YOU KNOW?
I JUST TRY TO BLOCK IT OUT, ACT LIKE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT THE CRASH DID HAPPEN,
AND FOUR YOUNG GIRLS LOST THEIR LIVES.
IT WOULD NOW BE UP TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHO, IF ANYONE, WAS TO BLAME.
COMING UP, A TOWN DIVIDED.
WAS DAVID REID A VICTIM OR A KILLER?
RIGHT AWAY, I SAID, "OH, MY GOD.
I'M FIXING TO LOSE ANOTHER CHILD."
DAVID REID WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A PICKUP TRUCK
THAT KILLED FOUR YOUNG STUDENTS,
INCLUDING HIS OWN LITTLE SISTER.
AS INVESTIGATORS TRY TO DETERMINE
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT,
THE TOWN OF TATUM MOURNED THE LOSS OF FOUR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2003.
NO ONE CAN REMEMBER A SADDER TIME AT TATUM HIGH
THAN THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
WITHOUT JAICEY, KASEY JO, MacKINSEY, AND RACHEL.
Julie: YOUR HEART IS RIPPED OUT --
ACTUALLY RIPPED OUT FROM YOU.
TO SEE THEM ONE MOMENT, HAPPY,
AND NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.
ALL FOUR GIRLS WERE REMARKABLE.
THEY WERE HONOR STUDENTS, CHEERLEADERS, ATHLETES,
THE PRIDE OF TATUM HIGH.
Allen: THEY WERE GOOD. THEY HAD A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
THEY WERE GONNA DO BIG THINGS WITH THEIR LIVES.
AS DAVID REID RECOVERED FROM HIS INJURIES,
THE TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL TRIED TO DETERMINE
WHO, IF ANYONE, WAS AT FAULT.
BUT BEFORE INVESTIGATORS COULD REACH ANY CONCLUSIONS,
PEOPLE IN TOWN BEGAN MAKING THEIR OWN JUDGMENTS.
White: WITH SOMETHING THIS TRAGIC,
WITH FOUR GIRLS KILLED AND THEN ALSO A YOUNG MAN INJURED,
THERE WAS CERTAINLY MANY RUMORS,
MANY LEADS THAT HAD TO BE FOLLOWED.
Zahn: DAPHNE ALLEN FEARED HER DAUGHTER, JAICEY,
WHO WAS DRIVING THE S.U.V.,
MIGHT BE TO BLAME FOR THE TRAGEDY.
I'M THINKING, "OH, MY GOD.
"SHE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY.
"SHE CAUSED THIS WRECK TO HAPPEN.
AND SHE'S KILLED HERSELF AND THREE OF HER FRIENDS."
THE RUMOR MILL IN TATUM STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.
SOME SAID THE S.U.V.'S LIGHTS HADN'T BEEN TURNED ON AT ALL,
AND OTHERS SPECULATED THAT DRINKING HAD LED TO THE CRASH.
TOXICOLOGY TESTS WERE ORDERED.
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST ACCIDENTS I'VE WORKED,
BUT THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL AND NO DRUGS
INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT AT ALL.
Zahn: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WAS RULED OUT,
BUT POLICE WERE TAKING ANOTHER SCENARIO VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY RECEIVED SEVERAL EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
OF RACING ON HIGHWAY 149.
THERE WAS DAVID REID'S SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK,
AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER SMALL CAR DRIVEN BY KARL CULLEN.
FROM SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS,
WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING TOGETHER,
AND THEY HAD BEEN RACING.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS CONFIRMED THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
WHEN THEY QUESTIONED DAVID'S FRIEND, KARL CULLEN.
HE AND DAVID HAD BEEN RACING.
HE STATED THEY STARTED RACING AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL.
DAVID, HOW DID YOU END UP RACING ON HIGHWAY 149?
I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER HOW IT CAME ABOUT,
BUT IT'S ALL JUST FUN, YOU KNOW?
NOBODY WANTED NOBODY GETTING HURT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE YOUNG.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
A NEW TEXAS LAW CRACKING DOWN ON RACING
WENT INTO EFFECT JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLY ACCIDENT.
THAT PUT DAVID REID IN SERIOUS LEGAL JEOPARDY.
White: IF IT WAS SIMPLY RACING,
THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CLASS-A MISDEMEANOR,
BUT BECAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY DID OCCUR,
THEN IT MADE IT A FELONY.
Zahn: DAVID WAS ALSO FACING THE POSSIBILITY
OF A MUCH MORE SERIOUS CHARGE -- MANSLAUGHTER.
BUT WAS RACING REALLY THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT?
NONE OF THE EYEWITNESSES POLICE SPOKE WITH
WERE AT THE CRASH SITE,
DAVID COULDN'T REMEMBER ENOUGH ABOUT THAT NIGHT
TO HELP THE INVESTIGATION,
AND EVEN KARL CULLEN, THE OTHER DRIVER,
DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD VIEW OF THE ACCIDENT.
White: HE SAID THAT THEY RACED ONLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE,
AND THEN HE FELL IN BEHIND DAVID REID.
Zahn: WITH NO EYEWITNESSES ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE ACTUAL ACCIDENT,
POLICE DECIDED TO CALL IN A RECONSTRUCTION TEAM
TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAD ALL KINDS OF DEBRIS AND SCUFF MARKS AND TIRE MARKS
ALL OVER THE ROADWAY OUT HERE.
JOHN VANCE WAS PART
OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S RECONSTRUCTION TEAM.
WHAT WE DO IS WE WORK OUR WAY FROM THE CRASH SCENE OUTWARD,
FROM THE AREA OF IMPACT OUTWARD,
AND WE BASICALLY MEASURE EVERY SKID MARK.
WE ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SKID MARK.
WHICH TIRE WAS IT ASSOCIATED WITH?
Zahn: THE GIRLS WERE COMING FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE IN A BROWN S.U.V.
AND WERE TURING LEFT ONTO THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF HIGHWAY 149.
THE RECONSTRUCTION TEAM CONCLUDED
THAT WHEN DAVID HIT HIS BRAKES,
HIS GREEN PICKUP TRUCK VEERED LEFT
AND PLOWED INTO THE S.U.V. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.
THE IMPACT SENT BOTH VEHICLES BARRELING WILDLY
ACROSS TWO LANES OF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A DITCH.
IT WASN'T CLEAR WHY THE PICKUP TRUCK VEERED LEFT.
WAS DAVID TRYING TO AVOID THE S.U.V.
OR DID HE LOSE CONTROL WHEN HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES?
BUT HIGHWAY PATROL INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THERE WAS NO CONFUSION
ABOUT ONE CRITICAL FACT --
EXACTLY HOW FAST DAVID WAS DRIVING.
IT WOULD BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDING
OF THEIR INVESTIGATION.
AT THE TIME HE LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES --
A MINIMUM SPEED OF 99 MILES PER HOUR.
NOW, FROM THE DISTANCE THAT HE LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES
TO WHEN HE ACTUALLY STRUCK THE BLAZER,
HE SLOWED DOWN, I BELIEVE,
TO A MINIMUM SPEED OF ABOUT 87 MILES PER HOUR.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS DECIDED TO RUN ANOTHER COMPUTER MODEL
OF THE ACCIDENT --
THIS ONE WITH THE GREEN PICKUP TRUCK
TRAVELING AT PRECISELY THE SPEED LIMIT.
White: A RECONSTRUCTION TEAM WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT DAVID REID WOULD HAVE BEEN 706 FEET BACK FROM THE GIRLS
WHEN THEY ENTERED THE ROADWAY,
WHICH, OF COURSE, WOULD HAVE GIVE THEM PLENTY OF TIME
TO SAFELY PULL OUT AND MAKE THE TURN
HAD DAVID BEEN GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65.
Zahn: THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S REPORT LED TO AN UNAVOIDABLE CONCLUSION.
THE DEADLY ACCIDENT HAPPENED
BECAUSE DAVID REID WAS DRIVING ALMOST 35 MILES PER HOUR
ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT
ALONG A DARK STRETCH OF HIGHWAY.
White: FOR THERE TO BE HEALING,
THERE HAD TO BE AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE FACTS,
AND JUSTICE NEEDED TO BE CARRIED OUT.
Zahn: FOR SOME, JUSTICE COULD ONLY BE CARRIED OUT
BY PUTTING DAVID REID IN PRISON FOR KILLING FOUR INNOCENT GIRLS.
BUT NOT JULIE REID, THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THOSE GIRLS.
SHE WAS ALSO DAVID'S MOTHER,
AND THE LAST THING SHE WANTED WAS TO SEE HER SON BEHIND BARS.
HAVE YOU EVER,
DURING SOME OF YOUR DARKEST HOURS OF REFLECTION,
BLAMED DAVID?
I'VE NEVER BLAMED HIM. NEVER.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
AND YOU NEVER CRITICIZED HIM
FOR DRIVING TOO FAST OR BEING RECKLESS THAT NIGHT?
NO.
ALL I COULD SEE WAS A MISTAKE HE MADE
AND THE PAIN THAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH.
THE PROSECUTOR BELIEVED THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S FINDINGS
PROVED THE CRASH WAS NOT SIMPLY A TRAGIC MISTAKE.
IT WAS A CRIMINAL ACT.
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH,
DAVID REID WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER
AND RACING ON A HIGHWAY.
IF CONVICTED, HE COULD SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS.
TAKE US BACK TO THE MOMENT WHEN DAVID WAS ARRESTED.
RIGHT AWAY, I SAID, "OH, MY GOD.
I'M FIXING TO LOSE ANOTHER CHILD."
YOU FEARED LOSING ANOTHER CHILD, LOSING HIM TO PRISON?
YEAH.
ALL I COULD SEE WAS HE WAS GOING TO PRISON.
YOU KNOW, HEARING MANSLAUGHTER,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS DEVASTATING.
COMING UP, A SMALL TOWN'S GRIEF TURNS TO PUBLIC OUTRAGE.
I EVEN CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY E-MAILS I GOT
FROM PEOPLE SAYING, "HE RUINED THIS TOWN.
HE'S A MURDERER."
WHEN DAVID REID WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER,
IT HEIGHTENED TENSIONS
IN A TOWN THAT WAS ALREADY BITTERLY DIVIDED.
THE QUESTION OF WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE TRAGIC LOSS OF FOUR YOUNG LIVES
NOW CAME WITH SERIOUS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.
THE ONLY PERSON TO SURVIVE THE CRASH
MIGHT SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS.
DAVID REID HAD BECOME A LIGHTNING ROD.
BECAUSE HIS OWN SISTER HAD DIED IN THE CRASH,
SOME LOOKED AT HIM AS A SYMPATHETIC VICTIM.
TO OTHERS, HE WAS A RECKLESS DRIVER
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORST TRAGEDY TATUM HAD EVER SEEN.
JULIE REID WAS DEVASTATED BY HOW HER SON WAS BEING LABELED.
WHAT WAS THE WORST THING YOU HAD TO LISTEN TO?
MURDERER.
HE DIDN'T PLAN THIS.
HE MADE A BIG MISTAKE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST FOCUSED ON THE FACT
THAT MY SON WAS THE ONE THAT RAN INTO THESE GIRLS,
THAT KILLED THEM.
I HAD A DAUGHTER IN THAT CAR, TOO.
AND HE HAD A SISTER IN THAT CAR.
NOBODY EVER FOCUSED ON THAT AT ALL.
DAVID'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS
SAY THEY WERE STUNG BY THE HOSTILITY THEY FACED.
I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY E-MAILS I GOT
FROM PEOPLE SAYING, "YOU'RE THE DEVIL FOR TALKING TO HIM.
"HE RUINED THIS TOWN. HE'S A MURDERER.
"HE HAS NO REMORSE. HE DOESN'T CARE. HE'S HEARTLESS."
HE WAS GRIEVING JUST AS THEY WERE,
BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TURN HIS ANGER TOWARD,
SO HE KIND OF TURNED IT TOWARD HIMSELF SOMETIMES.
Zahn: DAVID MAY HAVE BEEN SUFFERING IN SILENCE,
BUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE OTHER GIRLS,
IT ONLY LOOKED LIKE COLD-HEARTED INDIFFERENCE.
IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE HE CARED.
IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS NO EMOTION,
AND I WOULD JUST WISH THAT HE WOULD SAY, "I'M SORRY."
YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO WORDS WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME.
SOMETIMES, DAVID COULD BE HIS OWN WORST ENEMY.
WHEN HE WENT WITH FRIENDS
TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO HIS PICKUP TRUCK,
HE NOTICED THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION
AND DECIDED TO SALVAGE THEM.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW HURTFUL THAT WAS?
YEAH. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT THEN.
I MEAN, I GUESS I CAN SEE WHY.
WELL, IT MADE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE AN UNFEELING GUY.
I CAN'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED,
BUT, ME, I GUESS, I INTERPRET IT DIFFERENTLY.
DO YOU THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING DAVID COULD HAVE DONE
AFTER THE TIME OF HIS ARREST OR DURING THE TIME OF HIS TRIAL
THAT WOULD SOFTEN ANY OF THOSE OPINIONS?
I THINK IF HE'D HAVE JUST...
TRIED TO LET HIS FEELINGS SHOW A LITTLE MORE
THAN BOTTLING THEM UP, AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID,
JUST KEEPS THEM BOTTLED UP.
I CAN LOOK IN HIS EYES AND SEE THAT THEY'RE BLANK,
THAT THERE'S NO SPARKLE ANYMORE.
THE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AGAINST DAVID
HAD ALREADY INCREASED TENSIONS IN TOWN TO A FEVER PITCH.
BUT ALL THE RESENTMENT AND HURT FEELINGS BOILED OVER
WHEN THE REID FAMILY
DECIDED TO SUE THE ESTATE OF JAICEY ROBBERSON,
THE DRIVER OF THE S.U.V.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION
WHEN YOU HEARD THE REIDS HAD FILED A LAWSUIT
AGAINST JAICEY'S ESTATE?
MY FIRST THOUGHT, BESIDES BEING HORRIFIED,
I'M THINKING,
"WHAT ARE THEY GONNA GET,
"A MEGAPHONE AND A PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES?
WHAT WERE THEY GONNA GET? WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF IT?"
AND I JUST FELT SO VIOLATED.
THE REIDS SAY THEIR ATTORNEY ADVISED THEM TO FILE THE LAWSUIT
AS A STRATEGIC MANEUVER
TO GET IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM KEY WITNESSES
THAT COULD BE USED TO HELP PREPARE FOR CROSS EXAMINATION
DURING THE TRIAL.
DO YOU REGRET THAT YOUR FAMILY FILED SUIT
AGAINST JAICEY ROBBERSON'S FAMILY?
WELL...
OF COURSE, AND DAVID HATED THE IDEA.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THAT OUTRAGED SO MANY PEOPLE?
OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AFTER DEPOSITIONS WERE TAKEN
AND WITNESS TESTIMONY WAS ON THE RECORD,
THE LAWSUIT WAS DROPPED,
BUT THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE WAS DONE.
BOTH JULIE AND DAVID REID TOLD ME
THAT THEY BASICALLY LISTENED
TO EVERYTHING THEIR ATTORNEY TOLD THEM TO DO.
RIGHT.
AND ALTHOUGH, IN RETROSPECT,
THEY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE SO OUTRAGED,
THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR ATTORNEY DID IT.
DID THAT MAKE IT ANY LESS OUTRAGEOUS TO YOU? NO.
THE TENSION CONTINUED TO SIMMER FOR THREE LONG YEARS
BEFORE DAVID'S TRIAL WAS FINALLY SCHEDULED TO BEGIN.
Jimmerson: IT WAS VERY POLARIZING.
YOU WOULD HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
WHO TOOK THE POSITION, "WELL, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE
"BECAUSE THEY WERE DRIVING 99 MILES AN HOUR,
"WHICH IS SUCH A CLEAR, RECKLESS DISREGARD
FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS."
AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
WHO THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS IS HIS OWN SISTER.
"HE'S SUFFERED WAY WORSE
THAN ANYTHING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WOULD BE ABLE TO DO TO HIM."
Zahn: AS THE TRIAL GOT UNDERWAY,
THE PROSECUTION USED THE TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL'S RECONSTRUCTION
TO SHOW THAT DAVID HAD BEEN DRIVING RECKLESSLY
AND THAT HE ALONE WAS TO BLAME FOR THE CRASH.
IF HE HADN'T BEEN GOING THAT FAST,
THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO PROVE TO A JURY.
THOSE SKID MARKS AND YAW MARKS,
THEY REALLY INDICATED THOSE GIRLS WERE NOT AT FAULT.
Zahn: THE ATMOSPHERE WAS TENSE WHEN KARL CULLEN APPEARED IN COURT.
AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS,
HE TESTIFIED AGAINST DAVID,
PROVIDING A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF THE RACE ON HIGHWAY 149.
A GROUP OF DAVID'S SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE
ANGRILY DENOUNCED KARL FOR BETRAYING HIS FRIEND.
WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
'CAUSE THESE WERE BOYS THAT WE HAD KNOWN,
BOYS THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS FRIENDS WITH.
IT WAS JUST VERY HARD TO GO INTO TOWN.
THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH ANIMOSITY WITH EVERYBODY
DURING THAT WHOLE TIME.
WHEN DAVID GOT HIS TURN IN COURT,
HIS TEAM RESPONDED AGGRESSIVELY, ARGUING THAT BOTH DRIVERS --
DAVID AND JAICEY -- WERE EQUALLY AT FAULT.
SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT OBSERVING THE TRAFFIC
BEFORE SHE PULLED OUT ON THAT HIGHWAY.
THE GIRL PULLED OUT ON A HIGHWAY WHERE DAVID HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY
IF HE WAS GOING 1,000 MILES AN HOUR.
HE HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY. SHE DIDN'T.
HAD SHE PROPERLY LOOKED TO HER LEFT,
SHE COULD HAVE SEEN 6/10 OF A MILE TO THE TOP OF A HILL
OVER 3,000 FEET AWAY.
EVEN IF THE CAR HAD BEEN GOING AT 100 MILES AN HOUR
AS SOME ALLEGED,
SHE WOULD HAVE HAD WELL OVER 20 SECONDS
WHICH TO SEE THE CAR.
Zahn: DAPHNE ALLEN FELT
THE DEFENSE WAS WAGING A CRUEL ASSAULT
ON THE DAUGHTER SHE'D BURIED THREE YEARS BEFORE.
HE WAS ATTACKING MY CHILD, YOU KNOW,
AND HE WAS WANTING EVERYONE TO BELIEVE THAT,
"YEAH, THIS WAS JAICEY'S FAULT,"
THAT JAICEY WAS THE CATALYST
THAT CAUSED THIS WRECK TO HAPPEN.
AND TO ME, IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE KILLING HER ALL OVER,
THAT SHE WAS UNIMPORTANT.
THE EVENT THAT HAD TAKEN SUCH A TERRIBLE TOLL
ON THE WHOLE COMMUNITY NOW WEIGHED HEAVILY
ON THE 12 MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD TO DECIDE DAVID REID'S FATE.
YOU GET TO THINKING, "NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
YEAH, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY KIDS IN THE CAR THAT GOT HIT,
"BUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY KIDS IN THE CAR
THAT HIT THOSE GIRLS."
Zahn: WHEN THE CASE WAS GIVEN TO THE JURORS,
THEY STRUGGLED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CONFLICTING EVIDENCE.
WERE THE GIRLS LOOKING OR WERE THEY TALKING?
YOU KNOW, WERE THEY REALLY PAYING ATTENTION
TO WHAT THEY WERE DOING?
WAS DAVID REALLY WATCHING THE ROAD?
COMING UP, THE CONTROVERSIAL CONCLUSION
OF DAVID REID'S TRIAL
AND DAVID'S LAST CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
David: I FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT, TOO.
I JUST FEEL SO GUILTY THAT I DIDN'T.
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"?
GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
DAVID REID'S CASE WAS NOW IN THE HANDS OF A JURY.
DAVID'S FAMILY, THE FAMILIES OF THE OTHER GIRLS WHO DIED,
AND EVERYONE IN THE PACKED COURTROOM
ANXIOUSLY AWAITED THE VERDICT.
AFTER DELIBERATING FOR ALMOST FIVE HOURS,
THE JURY RETURNED WITH A VERDICT.
DAVID REID WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER AND RACING.
Zahn: WHEN YOU HEARD MANSLAUGHTER,
DID THAT SEND A CHILL DOWN YOUR SPINE?
OH, YEAH. JUST...
JUST THE NAME SOUNDS SO TERRIBLE.
JULIE REID WAS CRUSHED BY THE VERDICT,
BUT HER THOUGHTS TURNED QUICKLY TO WHAT THE SENTENCE WOULD BE.
Julie: IT WAS DEVASTATING.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THAT WEEKEND,
AND WAS HE GOING TO PRISON?
THE COURTROOM WAS PACKED FOR DAVID'S SENTENCING.
IT WAS STUNNING AND CONTROVERSIAL.
DAVID REID WAS GIVEN EIGHT YEARS OF PROBATION.
HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND A SINGLE DAY IN PRISON.
THAT DECISION HARDENED POSITIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
Allen: YOU KNOW, THE DEATH OF FOUR PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY, TO ME,
WARRANT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OF PROBATION.
Julie: IF HE'D GONE TO PRISON,
I'D HAVE FELT LIKE I'D LOST ANOTHER CHILD.
AFTER SENTENCING, DAVID WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY IN COURT
TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES.
Russom: I WANTED HIM TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
I WANTED HIM TO TELL US HE WAS SORRY.
I WANTED HIM TO SAY,
"I TOOK SOMETHING PRECIOUS FROM YOU THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK."
IN THE COURTROOM,
DAVID SAID HE WAS PREPARED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HIS PART IN THE ACCIDENT.
THOSE WERE NOT THE WORDS THE OTHER FAMILIES WANTED,
NOR EXPECTED, TO HEAR.
THE FAMILIES HAVE TOLD ME
THAT THEY'VE NEVER REALLY HEARD YOU APOLOGIZE FOR THE ACCIDENT.
AT THE END OF THE TRIAL, I SAT UP AND, YOU KNOW,
APOLOGIZED, YOU KNOW, TO ALL OF THEM.
AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL GAVE ME HUGS AND STUFF,
AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.
BUT THEY SEE YOU AS A GUY
WHO'S NEVER PAID A PRICE FOR WHAT YOU DID.
LIVING WITH THIS IS ENOUGH PRICE.
THE HURT ON BOTH SIDES WAS SO DEEP
THAT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE TRAGEDY BEHIND THEM,
AND IN THE TINY TOWN OF TATUM,
REMINDERS OF THE CRASH WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID.
AND FOR THE FAMILIES OF KASEY JO AND MacKINSEY,
LIFE IN TATUM BECAME TOO HARD.
THEY DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF TOWN.
Russom: WE HAD MOVED AWAY FROM THE CEMETERY
AND FROM THE WRECK SITE BECAUSE WE JUST COULDN'T STAY THERE.
WE COULDN'T BE THERE.
WE HAD TO WALK OUT EVERY DAY AND SEE THAT,
AND WE JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
FROM THE START,
THE TRAGEDY SEEMED TO HIT JAICEY ROBBERSON'S FATHER
HARDER THAN ANYONE.
Allen: JAICEY WAS HIS ONE AND ONLY CHILD, AND SHE WAS HIS LIFE.
THE HUNGER FOR HER AND THE LOVE FOR HER AND MISSING HER
JUST WAS MORE THAN HE COULD TAKE.
FIVE YEARS AFTER JAICEY DIED, HER FATHER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
HE COULD NOT TOLERATE THIS WORLD WITHOUT HER.
HE JUST COULDN'T.
THOUGH MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED,
MEMORIES OF THE CRASH CONTINUE TO HAUNT DAVID.
HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU DRIVEN DOWN HIGHWAY 149
SINCE THE ACCIDENT?
EVERY DAY.
I DRIVE BY THERE EVERY DAY GOING TO WORK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY
WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED?
EVERY DAY I HAVE TO DRIVE BY IT AND REALIZE,
YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE CROSSES MEAN.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW IT FEELS.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY
THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
JUST NOTHING, YOU KNOW, WILL MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME,
YOU'RE KNOWN AS THAT GUY THAT KILLED HIS SISTER.
Zahn: AFTER LIVING WITH THAT BURDEN FOR SO LONG,
DAVID FINALLY DECIDED THE ONLY WAY THINGS COULD EVER GET BETTER
WOULD BE FOR HIM TO REACH OUT, FULLY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY,
AND APOLOGIZE IN PERSON TO THE OTHER FAMILIES
WHO LOST THEIR DAUGHTERS IN THE TRAGIC CRASH.
THEY AGREED TO MEET WITH HIM AND TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE IN HIS FACE
THAT HE WANTS TO BE FORGIVEN.
DOES HE REALLY GET IT?
DOES HE UNDERSTAND THE GIFTS HE'S BEEN GIVEN
BY THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T TAKEN AWAY?
Russom: AS A MOM, IT'S A REALLY HARD THING TO DO
WHEN THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN
HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
IT'S HARD TO FORGIVE THAT.
I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER FORGET IT,
BUT I HOPE I GET TO A POINT WHERE I CAN FORGIVE IT.
David: I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO HATE NOBODY, YOU KNOW, ANYMORE.
I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO RUN INTO SOMEBODY IN WALMART,
YOU KNOW, AND SAY HI.
YOU KNOW, GIVE A HUG, AND THAT'S ALL I WANT.
A DATE WAS SET FOR A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING.
WITH SO MUCH RIDING ON WHAT DAVID WOULD SAY
AND HOW HE WOULD SAY IT,
JULIE REID STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT HER SON.
Julie: I HOPE THAT HE'S ABLE
TO RELEASE SOME OF THE FEELINGS THAT HE HAS.
HE'S NOT GOOD ABOUT SHOWING EMOTIONS.
HE REALLY HOLDS THEM IN.
DAVID IS A SWEET, SWEET KID.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE,
'CAUSE HE REALLY DOES DESERVE IT.
THE ACCIDENT THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER
HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS JUST A TEENAGER.
NOW DAVID WAS A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN
SITTING DOWN WITH ALL FOUR MOTHERS
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT TERRIBLE NIGHT.
IT WAS PAINFUL AND STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE.
I WAS SO SCARED, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU ALL HATED ME,
AND I'M SURE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SEE ME.
AND I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
YOU KNOW, I DID MY SHARE OF CRYING, YOU KNOW,
AT THE HOUSE BY MYSELF,
AND I JUST HOPE YOU ALL CAN FORGIVE ME.
YOU KNOW, I FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT, TOO.
AND I...
I JUST FEEL SO GUILTY THAT I DIDN'T.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT. IT WASN'T YOUR TIME.
THAT'S NOT YOUR DECISION OR OURS, EITHER.
WE'RE ALL SCARED IN THIS. EVERYBODY'S SCARED.
Zahn: DAPHNE ALLEN TOLD DAVID HIS APOLOGY WAS ONLY A BEGINNING
AND THAT HE STILL HAD A LOT TO PROVE.
YOU HAVE A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE LIFELONG --
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? --
LIFELONG RESPONSIBILITY
TO HER, TO HER, TO ME, TO YOUR MOM,
BECAUSE YOU TOOK OUR DAUGHTERS AWAY.
YOU NEED TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
MAKING UP FOR THE LIVES THAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM THESE MOMS,
THESE FAMILIES, THIS TOWN.
THE WOMEN ASKED DAVID TO DO HIS BEST
TO HONOR THE FOUR GIRLS WHO DIED.
HE SAID HE WOULD TRY BUT COULDN'T DO IT ALONE.
HE ASKED FOR EVERYONE'S HELP.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
I MEAN, IF YOU ALL CAN HELP ME OUT, LIKE,
WITH THINGS TO DO, 'CAUSE I'M SO LOST.
MY WORLD'S SCREWED UP.
Zahn: KASEY JO'S MOTHER SUGGESTED
SPEAKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
AND RESPONSIBLE DRIVING.
I WILL GO WITH YOU AND SPEAK.
I'LL GO TO ANY PLACE YOU WANT TO GO AND SPEAK.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN
WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS
YOU COULD EVER DO FOR ANYBODY.
YES, MA'AM.
DAVID'S APOLOGY COULDN'T INSTANTLY WIPE OUT
ALL THE SUFFERING HE HAD CAUSED,
BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROMISE AT THAT MOMENT MORE
THAN THE WOMAN WHOSE SON WAS CONVICTED
OF KILLING HER ONLY DAUGHTER --
DAVID'S MOTHER, JULIE.
YOU KNOW, I TOLD DAVID
THAT HE DIDN'T DIE THAT NIGHT FOR A REASON.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOU,
AND I'M HOPING THIS IS THE BEGINNING.
I SEE SOMETHING GREAT IN YOUR FUTURE.
I HOPE YOU FIND IT.
I LOVE YOU.
DAVID'S MOTHER, JULIE, NOW COUNSELS OTHER PEOPLE
DEALING WITH GRIEF.
SHE SPEAKS TO GROUPS ABOUT HER OWN LOSS,
HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM,
AND HOW HER FAMILY WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE AND MOVE FORWARD.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.