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00:00You
00:05Crystal McDowell's last Facebook post
00:10was, stay safe out there.
00:11She wrote it the day before Harvey made landfall.
00:15Crystal McDowell, 37-year-old, recently divorced.
00:20Mother of Two disappears in thin air.
00:24Are you two now?
00:25I was just in shock.
00:28How did something like that happen?
00:30It didn't sound like a mother would leave her two young children.
00:35It wasn't adding up.
00:37The only way we were going to find her was...
00:40And that's why I brought Jimmy in.
00:43I stepped into the interview.
00:45I want to know what makes this guy tick.
00:49I'm trying...
00:50I'm trying to get someone to trust me who's incapable of trust.
00:55The pressure's mounting.
00:57The family wants answers.
01:00The media is not letting this go.
01:02I want to find the truth.
01:04I want to see...
01:05I want to seek justice.
01:06And if I ruffle feathers or piss anyone off in the process...
01:10And tough shit.
01:15I want to know what makes this guy tick.
01:20I want to see...
01:23I want to see...
01:40A lot going on with Hurricane Harvey because it's closing in on the Texas...
01:45Gulf Coast and could hammer the area for days.
01:48The dangerous Category 2 storm is due...
01:50to make landfall in less than 24 hours.
01:52The National Weather Service says Harvey is life-threatening and...
01:55poses a grave risk.
02:00I'm the Denver County Sheriff's Office.
02:01This is Sean.
02:02My name's been off the radar...
02:05It's about 10 o'clock and no one can get a home...
02:10and no one has heard from her.
02:12Is there any way someone could stop by their...
02:15The first call that came in...
02:20was from family members.
02:22Crystal McDowell had disappeared.
02:25She had left the house where she was staying.
02:30She was living there with her ex-husband Steve McDowell.
02:35And nobody could locate her.
02:37So we went to...
02:40to the home.
02:41The deputy asked if he could look around.
02:43And...
02:45asked questions.
02:48Steve and the two children were there.
02:50Steve said he didn't know where she was.
02:53That she...
02:54Steve said he didn't know where she was.
02:55That she...
02:55never showed up to give the kids...
02:57that he hadn't heard from her.
02:58And that the family...
03:00was waiting on her.
03:01My family...
03:02went up north...
03:03so we have...
03:04electric...
03:05electricity and everything after the storm comes.
03:07Crystal was gonna meet us there the next day.
03:10She said I'm gonna get the kids in the morning...
03:12and I'm gonna bring them...
03:13then Friday morning...
03:15her assistant called...
03:16said she was missing.
03:17I tried calling her...
03:19she didn't answer...
03:20my phone.
03:23We all were...
03:24on the horn...
03:25trying to find out...
03:26give people texts...
03:27have you seen her?
03:29At that point...
03:30it was a little disturbing...
03:31like...
03:32because everybody...
03:33was...
03:34looking for her.
03:35and she wasn't answering.
03:40it wasn't like Crystal...
03:41to not return their phone call...
03:43wasn't like Crystal...
03:44to not...
03:45uh...
03:46return attacks...
03:47especially since the storm was coming...
03:49she...
03:50she...
03:51had already made plans...
03:52to take her two children...
03:53to Dallas...
03:54and...
03:55her car was missing.
03:58Nobody in the family...
03:59knew where the car was.
04:01and it was a nice car...
04:02it was a...
04:03relatively new Mercedes Benz.
04:05the deputy...
04:07just got a gut feeling...
04:09that...
04:10something wasn't right...
04:12and...
04:13it wasn't adding up.
04:15it...
04:18wasn't until...
04:19the fall...
04:20the following day...
04:21then...
04:22the...
04:23the storm actually hit.
04:25Texas right now...
04:27is in the grip...
04:28of the most powerful storm...
04:29to hit...
04:30the United States...
04:31in more than a decade...
04:32Hurricane Harvey...
04:33was one of those...
04:34things...
04:35that not many of us...
04:36seen in our...
04:37our lifetime...
04:38we got over 40 inches of rain...
04:39in the Houston area...
04:40East Texas...
04:41was buried...
04:42with water...
04:43it was...
04:44it was...
04:45experiential rain...
04:46our county...
04:47got flooded...
04:48catastrophically...
04:49from one side...
04:50to the other...
04:50and...
04:51I remember the sheriff...
04:52calling me...
04:53and telling me...
04:54we need to go look...
04:55for...
04:55Crystal McDowell...
04:56but we can't do...
04:57anything right now...
04:58because of the water...
05:00this morning...
05:01police are searching...
05:02for a Texas mother...
05:03who mysteriously...
05:04disappeared...
05:05before...
05:06Harvey hit...
05:07Chambers County Sheriff...
05:08Ryan Hawthorne...
05:09says...
05:10the investigation...
05:10before the storm...
05:11but...
05:12Harvey's aftermath...
05:13has made their efforts...
05:14more challenging...
05:15we are hampered...
05:16by some of the...
05:17flood issues...
05:18but...
05:19we are as aggressive...
05:20as ever...
05:21trying to locate...
05:22and find...
05:23Crystal McDowell...
05:25because of the hurricane...
05:28they were inundated...
05:29with...
05:30rescues...
05:31and things...
05:32of that nature...
05:33Chambers County...
05:34Sheriff's Department...
05:35reached out...
05:35to the rangers...
05:36for assistance...
05:37They said...
05:38how about...
05:39we send you...
05:40a Texas Ranger...
05:40and they sent...
05:41uh...
05:42Ranger Steve Jeter...
05:43I could still...
05:44come...
05:45in...
05:46and work...
05:47while they still...
05:48were doing...
05:49some of the things...
05:50that they needed...
05:51to do...
05:52to take care...
05:53of their citizens...
05:54done...
05:55and...
05:56we started...
05:57moving forward...
05:58so...
05:59at that point...
06:00we were doing...
06:01a lot of...
06:02background...
06:03on her...
06:04exactly...
06:05who she was...
06:04what she did...
06:05for a living...
06:06husbands...
06:07boyfriends...
06:08just trying to...
06:09put all of that...
06:10together...
06:09to...
06:10to...
06:11to...
06:12to...
06:13to...
06:14to...
06:14toddler...
06:15and...
06:16Crystal...
06:17definitely wanted...
06:18a...
06:19very...
06:20successful marriage...
06:19When they got married, they just looked like they were smitten over each other.
06:24Just looked at each other like love would never fail.
06:29She always had big dreams. She was a flight attendant.
06:34And then she decided she was going to go into real estate.
06:39She wanted to provide for her family and to make a wonderful life for her kids.
06:45That was her goal.
06:47She started doing her own thing and traveling.
06:49And Steve started to feel lonely and kind of forgotten.
06:54And I feel like he wouldn't give her space.
06:58It just got...
06:59To the point where it was a strain on their marriage.
07:03It took a while...
07:04It took a while for Steve and Crystal to decide to split their own ways.
07:08She was living at the house.
07:09With Steve and the kids.
07:11And she started making plans to exit.
07:14She said, I've never been so happy.
07:16And I'm ready to live my life.
07:19She was living at
07:24When Crystal first disappeared, after a day,
07:29you kind of think, okay, there may be a little problem.
07:33Second day,
07:34you don't respond, there's a bigger problem.
07:39By the third day, I knew something had happened.
07:44I started texting Steve, like, what's going on?
07:46Have you heard from Crystal?
07:48No, she didn't.
07:49Pick the kids up, haven't heard from her.
07:54We got on social media and started posting
07:57as much information as we could.
07:59It kind of went viral between
08:04. . .
08:04all the families, just both sides of the families,
08:07and her friends.
08:09And coworkers.
08:10And then everybody sharing posts.
08:13. . .
08:14And then all of a sudden,
08:16the responses started popping up.
08:19. .
08:19and her car was found.
08:24See this black?
08:29This black car right here?
08:30This Mercedes?
08:32Somebody that was friends with me
08:34with her family actually spotted the car.
08:36She's been missing since Friday.
08:38She never went to the car.
08:39She never even picked up her kid.
08:43We went.
08:44To where the car was.
08:46We were going through floodwaters and the...
08:49the motel was two or three foot underwater.
08:54The car was found at the Motel 6 parking lot.
08:59The doors were unlocked and the keys were in it.
09:04It's like somebody just, you know, pulled in the parking lot.
09:09And shut the door and ran is what it looked like.
09:14Finding her car moved this in a completely different direction
09:17because now we actually had her...
09:19tied to a location.
09:21There was a gas station right there in the next parking lot.
09:24And so they went and pulled video.
09:29And that footage, what we found was...
09:34the motel's car pulling into the parking lot.
09:37And then backing...
09:39moving inıp
09:43and then...
10:04...
10:07At this point, Crispin missing about a week.
10:12The biggest part of the hurricane had passed.
10:14Now we're just dealing with watersheds rising.
10:17You've got a spotlight on the sheriff's office, you know, and...
10:22People are counting on them to do their job.
10:24All of us are looking for Crystal.
10:27The family had located her car in a motel parking lot.
10:30The keys were left in full.
10:32I'm sure with the intent that the car would be stolen.
10:35In the initial video...
10:37Video footage from the parking lot where the car was found.
10:39You could see what appeared to be a man.
10:42Walking away from the car.
10:43You could not see exactly who it was.
10:47But everything else led me to believe that that potentially could be her ex-husband, Steve.
10:52The ex-husband is always going to be the person of it.
10:57In any case involving a missing person.
11:01We rule out the...
11:02The folks that are closest to you.
11:03Steve hadn't been really talked to or debriefed or even polygraphed.
11:07That was number one on my agenda.
11:09You know, all I needed from you is to be this painful...
11:12The only true of fools you can be.
11:14Yes, sir.
11:16When is the...
11:17The last time that you saw Crystal?
11:21Let's go.
11:22I should have left the house at Pitt.
11:26Should have left the house at Pitt.
11:28From my understanding, I guess she still lives in the house with you.
11:30From my understanding, I guess she still lives in the house with you.
11:33For the most part, she has been up the tub about the last three weeks.
11:36She's been kind of in and out.
11:37No.
11:38Now, where does she stay?
11:39Y'all share her bed?
11:41No.
11:42No.
11:44Their family dynamics was different to...
11:47To say the least.
11:48They were married for approximately 10 years.
11:50They divorced.
11:51Was...
11:52Living together currently.
11:53Are you cheating on her or she cheating on you?
11:57No.
11:58No.
11:59No.
12:00No.
12:01No.
12:02I gotta know.
12:03How about the street?
12:05A lot of people.
12:07It was apparent that Crystal had multiple suitors and he was...
12:12having a hard time letting go.
12:13But according to the...
12:17The uncle, the marriage was done.
12:19She was moving on.
12:21She...
12:22She was seeing someone new.
12:23And she was very adamant.
12:26She did...
12:27She didn't want Steve to know anything about it.
12:30She spent the evening with her boy...
12:32a boyfriend and went to dinner.
12:34And that it was later on...
12:37that next day when nobody could locate her.
12:41The boyfriend had...
12:42a good video of her in his home.
12:44We were able to review all that video.
12:47It was very obvious that...
12:50It was very obvious that...
12:52Crystal left...
12:53the boyfriend's house...
12:54on her own.
12:57And got in her car and drove away.
13:03When I finished talking to Steve...
13:06he took a polygraph.
13:08I went after the first time to writeike...
13:09And he hit the floor and drove away in his head.
13:12I had to tell if...
13:14The woman to lose her.
13:15From...
13:16the first time to querer...
13:17And that is she kept her father-in...
13:18we were impressed with you.
13:19What was her daughter-in-law,
13:20tym...
13:21đã bier...
13:22The woman's like...
13:24Didn't look back like a body sister if told.
13:25We will not, uh...
13:27Have they been told...
13:29I was so sorry too.
13:31Then we're going to shoot the lady but...
13:35一ron story...
13:12And he f-
13:17failed at miserably. It basically let me know he had something to do with her or something
13:22he was hiding. Now what opened this thing up as we started to find in other videos
13:27from where the car was parked. Straight across from the...
13:32Hotel 6 parking lot is a gas station.
13:37We found some video that actually showed...
13:42Steve pulled in to the gas station in his Mustang.
13:47He didn't buy any gas. He just got something out of the trunk and stuck it down in the garbage can.
13:52But before he left, he looks over.
13:55You can see that he's looking over.
13:57To the car in the Motel 6 parking lot.
14:02Her car had been left in such a manner that it appeared to us that...
14:07somebody wanted that car to be taken. It had cash in view. It had keys in view.
14:12You can see him actively looking in the direction of that car.
14:16And I can...
14:17You can only imagine it was one of those deals.
14:19Oh shit. The car's still here.
14:22When I saw him on the video, I knew he had done...
14:27something and I just wanted to find her. We were hoping that she wasn't...
14:32alive somewhere.
14:35When we're looking at missing person cases...
14:37time is of essence. The clock is ticking. The only way we were going to find her...
14:42was through him. But with Steve, it was deny, deny...
14:47he wasn't budging. I needed some help.
14:51It takes a personality...
14:52bigger than life...
14:53to catch some of these people.
14:55So...
14:56I personally requested Jimmy...
14:57Jimmy Holler.
14:59I specifically asked for him.
15:01Because I know what he brings...
15:02to the table.
15:06Ranger Jeter asked me...
15:07to come in and work on Steve.
15:10That's... you know...
15:11kind of what I do.
15:12My expertise is talking to these twisted...
15:15really... screwed up people.
15:17and...
15:18figuring out a way to get through with them.
15:22I don't know.
15:24I don't know.
15:25I don't know.
15:26I don't know.
15:27Water and eat.
15:29Coffee.
15:31Food.
15:33Jeter got Steve to come back to the Sheriff's Department...
15:36and go back in the...
15:37interview room.
15:38I'm gonna go in there with them.
15:40I'm gonna see how this thing goes.
15:42So when was the last...
15:47It's time to be okay.
15:50We have most plenty of tags.
15:52For the most part, Steve locks in his timeline.
15:57And he pretty much repeats what he said to G during prior interviews.
16:01So we go to Saturday morning...
16:02This is 26.
16:03What time do you get up at 1?
16:07He says that Saturday morning, he wakes up...
16:12He plays video games with the kids.
16:14And the reality is that's bullshit.
16:16I know where you're at.
16:18You're caught in the lot.
16:20Your own video.
16:22Backing her car in.
16:28I hope that is bullshit.
16:30That's what I'm asking you.
16:32And then...
16:33Guess what happens at 10.30?
16:35What?
16:37I'm trying.
16:38It's a mistake.
16:41You don't...
16:42You don't remember being at the Shell station at 146 in IT.
16:47I can tell...
16:48Am I lying?
16:49Or are you lying?
16:52I don't recall.
16:53That's what I'm saying.
16:54I...
16:55Like I said...
16:56For another day, I'm worried about my lying.
16:57Where is she at?
16:58Where you live.
16:59Up there.
17:00Right at her car.
17:01Up there.
17:02That you dropped off earlier.
17:03That you dropped off earlier.
17:04That you captured on video.
17:07You parked it there.
17:08And I can see you and your bald head get out of your...
17:12Where is the car?
17:13Wearing just about the same outfit you're wearing today.
17:17I can see you right there.
17:21Let's pre-close the short...
17:22Is that what you're wearing now?
17:23Is that you?
17:24Yes or no?
17:25Sir.
17:26Ha ha ha.
17:27Am I a moron?
17:28How could that do me?
17:30I remember looking at Jeter and...
17:32Seeing in his eyes the same thing that I'm thinking.
17:35Which is...
17:36What?
17:37What the hell?
17:38Well how was your car that pulled in there?
17:40Was your car stolen?
17:42No.
17:43Am I your twin brother?
17:44No.
17:45Neither of us anticipated that he was going to...
17:47Deny that he was in this gas station video.
17:52And I think at that point this interview turned into an interrogation.
17:57Because as soon as this occurred there was no doubt in my mind that Steve...
18:02McDowell was responsible for the disappearance of his ex-wife.
18:06Now how do I...
18:07To get him to admit that he did it.
18:12The reason for saying...
18:13no
18:15This is bullshit...
18:17I'm going to be very happy to have the advantage of the...
18:21I sing...
18:22Our good news is partnering with this Mrs. Cove...
18:27uine Vogue page in my book editor...
18:3014th3
18:33それ...
18:35Cove in our book editor...
18:37Why did he communicate with his family in the corner?
18:39We need a confession.
18:41The problem is he's not going to give an in.
18:44He's not letting in on anything.
18:49Did you proper call it?
18:53No.
18:54Is that you walking from the gas station?
18:56It looks like we put it in.
18:58You didn't put that in.
18:59Yes, sir.
19:00No.
19:01No.
19:02No.
19:03No.
19:04Did you put something in the trash can?
19:05Did you put something in the trash can?
19:06Did you put something in that trash can?
19:08Yeah.
19:09No.
19:10No.
19:11No.
19:12No.
19:13No.
19:14No.
19:15No.
19:16No.
19:17The big thing that I took from this moment was
19:19Steve was a possibility that he was sociopathic in nature.
19:24It becomes fairly clear that he wasn't going to admit to the fact that that
19:29was him in the gas station video.
19:31And it really left Jeter and I flat footed.
19:34The problem with an aggressive approach with someone with a sociopathic person.
19:39personality is it's just not going to go anywhere because you're dealing with.
19:44someone who is not going to be told what to do.
19:48So we.
19:49You had to make a change because you know an interview is not generally a good threesome.
19:53You want.
19:54You want to create this one-on-one atmosphere and this one-on-one relationship.
19:59Jeter's a super smart guy and he knew exactly when to step out.
20:04This is why I brought Jimmy in.
20:06He's got a special knack to her.
20:09He doesn't relate to bad guys.
20:10He doesn't like to lose and I knew that he was able to take him to the next level.
20:14conference.
20:15I did not 곳 in the next level in the room.
20:18Nope, no.
20:19hey I'll be back my primary goal
20:24is to really build that one-on-one rapport you know that I'm not an idiot
20:29and I know that you're not an idiot, okay?
20:33The bargaining chip that you have
20:34I don't know how big that chip is
20:37it's huge
20:38huge
20:39what I'm looking for is body language
20:41and he's a guy who keeps his arms crossed
20:44he keeps his legs crossed
20:46when we start talking about mitigation
20:48that was the first
20:49time that I saw Steve uncross his legs
20:52the DA wants closure for
20:54the family
20:55I am family
20:57it was a short
20:59window
21:00but it was obvious to me that that was something that he was interested in
21:03the DA
21:04the DA wants closure
21:05alright
21:06and you have a bargaining chip
21:07and it's sitting right there
21:08and you can
21:09if I were you
21:09I'd play that the best I could
21:11at the end of the day
21:12this guy is a control freak
21:14and he wants to feel like he's controlling the investigation
21:17well we can't let him do that
21:19obviously
21:20but we can let him think that he is
21:24the DA
21:25the DA
21:27the DA
21:28the DA
21:29There's nothing that you did today, nothing that you...
21:34Myself, the district attorney, Ranger Jeter, and...
21:39...a number of other detectives were watching the interview.
21:42There was a lot of pressure on...
21:44...on Ranger Holland.
21:45Everybody is looking to Jim, like, let's get what we need.
21:49But you have an opportunity, before today is over, to go back...
21:54...and help yourself.
21:58I placed my...
21:59...a hand on Steve's knee.
22:01I'm moving really, really close.
22:04...a kissing distance close.
22:07And the more that I moved in...
22:09...the more he accepted it.
22:12Enough left.
22:14Not for one second, if I thought they could.
22:18Can't go...
22:19...the more package.
22:21Can't bring her back.
22:25I can't eat that.
22:27You can't eat that.
22:28It's a weird...
22:29...he's dead.
22:30You know it.
22:32You can't live with...
22:34You know it.
22:37We were all sitting there...
22:38...walking...
22:39...watching it in the next room, like this.
22:43I remember...
22:44...thinking...
22:45...we've got to get somewhere...
22:46...because...
22:47...this is just...
22:48...this is crazy.
22:49I'm not ready to face...
22:50...if I said...
22:52...his followers...
22:53...do not be here.
22:54I don't know what to do with that.
22:57It's why...
22:58...this situation has taken...
22:59...you know...
23:00...I'm sorry to...
23:01...I can't...
23:03...I can't...
23:04...you need information...
23:05...that I...
23:06...don't have knowledge of.
23:08I felt like we're...
23:09...stepping up to the edge...
23:10...of the Grand Canyon...
23:11...and...
23:12...you know...
23:13...is he gonna jump off...
23:14...and I'm...
23:14...and hand him a parachute...
23:16...but he got up to the edge...
23:17...and he just...
23:19...backed away...
23:21...11 hours...
23:22...we sat there.
23:24...Steve wasn't to the point...
23:25...where he was ready to concede.
23:27He asked Jamie...
23:28...if he could...
23:29...you let him go home.
23:30Then I'd go...
23:31...now what do we do?
23:32And he goes...
23:33...you let him go home.
23:34I'm like...
23:35...what?
23:38I was...
23:39...concerned...
23:40...that Steve was a flight risk.
23:42He's like...
23:43...let him go home.
23:44...and I was like...
23:46...okay!
23:49...it's hard...
23:52...and people around you think...
23:53...it's hard...
23:54...and people around you...
23:54...think you are crazy...
23:56...and that this is not going to work.
23:59I know that the only way to win this game...
24:02...is a confession.
24:05We're not going to recover Crystal's body...
24:08...unless...
24:09...like doll...
24:10...takes us there.
24:11But I need time.
24:14The game plan is to drive Steve home...
24:16...and pick up where we left off.
24:18The next day...
24:19...and I'm really putting my reputation out there...
24:23...by asking them...
24:24...to leave him on the street.
24:27But...
24:28...our only chances...
24:29...in this thing...
24:30...is...
24:31...that Stephen McDowell...
24:32...keeps running his mouth.
24:34And...
24:37...another dude...
24:39.
24:41.
24:43A
24:44...kennka
24:46.
24:47You
24:49?
24:52?
24:53?
24:54?
24:56?
24:58This happened ..
24:59?
25:00?
25:00?
25:01?
25:02?
25:03?
25:04up. Yeah, I mean, he's a smart guy. You know, he agreed to me.
25:09I think at 10. So we show up, we're like most...
25:14Rangers, if you're on time, you're late.
25:19Hey, Steve, is it cool if we come in?
25:22It's not.
25:24He came to the door, said, I'm ready.
25:27It was a flip of the dice.
25:29And we rolled the right dice.
25:31Kiddos at school or...
25:33Someone...
25:34Are you picking them up?
25:36Cindy came back.
25:37Okay, are they staying with Cindy now?
25:39We were definitely weren't happy to take the kids in.
25:44I felt like if I could just get the kids away and give them...
25:49Give them a good time.
25:50Take their mind off things and just give them a little peace.
25:53That was...
25:54That was my job.
25:56How'd you sleep?
25:58Um...
25:59Well expected.
26:02The thought process on the second day was...
26:04Let's put Steve in the car with me and let's continue to build rapport.
26:09Hey, where's plantations from here?
26:11I think right.
26:12Will you take me down there?
26:13I'll show you my own house.
26:14And that's basically to kind of build the pseudo friendship.
26:19That hopefully will get him to trust me and ultimately share the truth.
26:24We go to the hotel where Crystal's car is discovered.
26:29We go to the gas station where Steve's picked up on surveillance camera.
26:34The video that we thought we would put in front of them and move forward in this case...
26:39He denies that it's him and ultimately the idea is to...
26:44point out that camera and hopefully break him down.
26:49And then the video has you...
26:54going across here and then you disappear and you come out...
26:59What I'm telling him is...
27:01I know that you did this.
27:03I'm...
27:04I'm still working on...
27:05How did you do it exactly?
27:08But I'm not...
27:09setting up in any way.
27:10Are you still disputing that you at 6.30?
27:12Yes, sir.
27:13Okay.
27:14All right.
27:15Ah...
27:19You know what my end game is. You know I want to bring closure.
27:24To your children, to anyone and everyone who is friends with her.
27:27Steve McDonnell is not some dumb...
27:29Steve McDonnell is pretty intelligent and I think he's...
27:34...as this sociopathic, psychopathic persona.
27:37And those are criminal justice terms, it's not...
27:39...something a psychiatrist would use.
27:41And based on my experience, what I know is you're...
27:44...we're only going to get a confession if you can...
27:46...put something tangible in front of them.
27:49And I think the main points of the second day was...
27:52...planting these seeds and...
27:54...that those tangible items existed or soon would exist.
27:59I've discussed my end game with the district attorney...
28:02...and the district attorney is on board...
28:04...with that.
28:05It seems like those interviews lasted forever.
28:06I didn't know if they were ever going to end.
28:09It was taking longer than I wanted.
28:14...or would have expected.
28:16Um, that...
28:17...well that is correct.
28:18I had pressure from the media...
28:19...everybody is wanting us to solve this case.
28:24We put together this really solid timeline.
28:28Um...
28:29...of...
28:30...when we believed the murder occurred.
28:32We knew when the car was...
28:34...and he dropped off.
28:35The big question was...
28:37...how did he get home?
28:39...and he got away!
28:40Weiman주고ah...
28:42...Here I am.
28:43We going...
28:44Wondering who helped him.
28:46Did he hitchhike?
28:49You know, what?
28:49What did he do?
28:51So after the second day's interview, I went...
28:54I went with other rangers, and we literally go back to the hotel park.
28:59We started looking at all these ways that he could have gotten home without being seen.
29:04So we walk underneath Interstate 10 across 146.
29:09And we end up in this giant store parking lot.
29:14And there's cameras everywhere.
29:19And it's like...
29:19There's no way that this guy crossed somehow near...
29:24or through this parking lot and didn't end up on camera in some way, shape, or form.
29:29We're gonna go into that store, and we're gonna look at these videos.
29:34And as crazy as it sounds, there's surveillance video...
29:39of Steve McDowell buying a bicycle.
29:44We saw him going into the store, getting a bike, and then...
29:49checking out.
29:52Goes for a ride.
29:54In the rain.
29:55Pouring down rain.
29:56In the rain.
29:57Pouring down rain.
29:58It...
29:597 o'clock in the morning.
30:007 o'clock in the morning.
30:04So I've been in Steve's house, and I'd seen the bike, and I actually took a...
30:09picture with my cell phone of it.
30:12The bike just completes the puzzle.
30:14We knew what we had to do, which was to lay this entire thing out in front of...
30:19him, and let him know that he's done.
30:24So you're cool.
30:25So you're cool.
30:26So you're cool.
30:29I love being here.
30:31I mean, anytime I wanna leave, walk out the door.
30:34I remember asking, I'm like, why in the hell does he keep coming?
30:38I wouldn't keep coming in.
30:39Here.
30:40On 826 2017, it's 6.30 Sam.
30:44We have video of the Mercedes backing in on the south side of the moat.
30:49L6 parking lot.
30:50And I developed this acronym, SSA.
30:54Steve says, accurate.
30:55So, would this be an SSA?
30:56Steve says accurate.
30:57So, would this be an SSA?
30:58Steve says accurate.
30:59SSA.
31:00And the idea...
31:01SSA is accurate.
31:02SSA.
31:03And the idea...
31:04The idea behind this is I'm going to put this tangible piece of evidence in front of him.
31:08And he's going to mark...
31:09Look at SSA.
31:10When we put it all together and he sees this clear picture...
31:14He's going to realize that he has no choice.
31:18So...
31:19If I tell you...
31:20At 7.05 there is a dude...
31:24In black shorts...
31:26Riding a mountain bike style...
31:2926-inch bicycle...
31:32remarkable,
31:33so part of...
31:34I can tell you...
31:35Oh, why not针 tendon?
31:36We will go.
31:37Come to your honest dude...
31:38Okay.
31:39Bedans, we've got a foot on what IR只是...
31:40It's quite my little bit!
31:41We will see...
31:42That's our destination!
31:43It's quite my favorite street.
31:44We have somewhere this area.
31:45It's a kind of room for to perfect...
31:46We are here...
31:47Well, we'll see...
31:48up.
31:49We will get two units.
31:50It's not Lucy.
31:51I can tell you...
31:52I will go.
31:53Up.
31:54You and they have to see that!
31:55We will see it.
31:56I can tell you...
31:57It's totally impossible.
31:34Look at the rims, you see that it's like a sunburner
31:39A star or something, right?
31:41So would you agree with me?
31:44Those look exactly the same.
31:49You see that it's like a sunburner
31:52A star or something, right?
31:54Okay.
31:55Is that an ass or a tag?
31:56I'm going to put the same wheels.
31:58Is that-
31:59Is that an SSA or not?
32:02Yeah.
32:03They look-
32:04They look to be the same couple wheels.
32:08And would you agree that that-
32:09That's a picture of your bicycle in your garage?
32:12Yes.
32:13Okay.
32:14Okay.
32:15I'm going to put SSA.
32:16My bike.
32:17How's that?
32:18My bike.
32:19It's you.
32:20And it's only going to be more you.
32:24It doesn't go away.
32:26It doesn't get better.
32:27It doesn't go away.
32:28It doesn't get better.
32:29It only gets worse.
32:32At this point, I'm-
32:34Using expletives and saying,
32:36Come on.
32:37Hurry up.
32:38I'm tired of-
32:39Sitting here.
32:40We know you did it.
32:41Take us to work.
32:44I'm going to be honest with you tomorrow.
32:47I'm going to be honest with you tomorrow.
32:49We am this tomorrow?
32:50Yeah.
32:53You're moving at-
32:54Mock 10.
32:55You're not sure where you're going to go.
32:58You need results.
32:59It's-
33:00The pressure is going through the roof.
33:02What's the best thing you can do?
33:05Call a time out.
33:06As much as everyone are-
33:09Around me wanted tomorrow to be today.
33:12I just knew that that was-
33:14Isn't going to happen.
33:17Steve called.
33:18He said, I just-
33:19Got out of an interrogation.
33:20I'm coming to get the kids.
33:21They had literally worked Steve into a t-
33:24He was busy.
33:25His mind was not stable.
33:27I really wanted him in-
33:29custody.
33:30Because I was so afraid for those kids.
33:34That he did not have anything to lose at this point.
33:37That he did not have anything to lose at this point.
33:39The district attorney is just watering at the mouth to have Steve arrest.
33:44And to put him behind bars where he belongs.
33:47But.
33:48I believe.
33:49That if we arrest him now.
33:51He's going to lawyer up.
33:52And if he lawyers up.
33:54We're never going to find Crystal McDonald.
33:57So the CPS took his kid.
33:59And Jimmy took him home.
34:02And Jimmy took him home.
34:03And Jimmy took him home.
34:04I really didn't think we were going to see him the next day.
34:10I was concerned that he would commit suicide.
34:13It's-
34:14Probably the most neck on the line I've ever felt as a sheriff.
34:19I'm asking for this leap of faith.
34:22By asking them.
34:24I'm asking him not to make this arrest.
34:25I'm asking him not to make this arrest.
34:29But.
34:30There was really no doubt in my mind.
34:34Steve was going to tell me what happened the next morning.
34:39And Steve was going to take me to Crystal McDonald.
34:42And the question was.
34:44You know.
34:45Was I right?
34:50He's new to sell?
34:53We're the first to 3.
34:54We're aいき.
34:55He's a Kid.
34:56And what's the last one?
34:58Well, this is lest some of his men's life.
34:59But we're going to see Chelsaps, we've got a familyское leader.
35:01This is odd.
35:02Yeah.
35:03Okay, I was wondering.
35:04My friends of fusion brothers, let me hang around.
35:06Why are you shining?
35:06Cause I had to last.
35:08Pleased out.
35:10Well, when you guys see me again.
35:11Please buy meously and see him more than a gift.
35:13I will tell him, where?
35:15But, I'll help me.
35:16And I'll say I keep you in the spirit.
35:18I'll say the pastor in the world.
34:54So the third interview
34:57ends with Steve telling
34:59me that he was going to
35:01confess and that
35:03he was going to alter
35:04him and ultimately
35:05take me to his wife.
35:07Am I crazy for
35:09waiting?
35:10I think everyone
35:11around me thought
35:12I was crazy.
35:14But I knew that the
35:15only way this was going
35:16to happen is if he
35:17really felt like he
35:18was in control.
35:19I knew that the
35:20only way he was
35:21in control.
35:24Myself and Ranger Jeter
35:26head to his house.
35:29We showed up.
35:32I knocked on the door.
35:34I heard some folks
35:36scramble around in there.
35:37I heard some folks
35:38scramble around in there.
35:39He answers the door
35:40and he looks different.
35:41His shoulders look
35:44really sunken in.
35:46He looks like he
35:47hasn't slept.
35:49He looks like the
35:51outside of me.
35:52He's trying to
35:53take me to him.
35:54It hurts.
35:56It's not bad.
35:59It's not bad.
36:01Are you a broken man Friday morning?
36:04Yes.
36:06She didn't come home.
36:09Tell me what happened when you see her on Friday.
36:14My heart's hard.
36:19It's not bad.
36:21It's not bad.
36:23It's not bad.
36:25What is it where she was?
36:28She didn't.
36:29Don't tell me.
36:30She's a terrible business.
36:35It's not bad.
36:36It's not bad.
36:38It's not bad.
36:39Why?
36:40I try so hard.
36:41I do everything.
36:42Do you walk all over me?
36:44Do you ever think it's because I don't love you?
36:46Do you ever get that through your head?
36:49I don't know what happened.
36:54I don't know what happened.
36:55I'm sorry.
36:56I'm sorry.
36:57I'm sorry.
36:58I'm sorry.
36:59Okay, then...
37:04How did you suffocate?
37:09It's not a waste of a bond around here.
37:12Okay, fucking dead.
37:14Choke hold or something?
37:18How did you eventually...
37:19know that she was no longer alive?
37:24No, no, no, no, no.
37:29It's not good.
37:33Shit, that guy...
37:34No, no.
37:35It's good.
37:36It's good.
37:37It's good.
37:38It's good.
37:39It's perfect.
37:40It's perfect.
37:41It's perfect.
37:42It's perfect.
37:44There's one last thing to do, and I appreciate you being honest, but are you willing?
37:54It's the one you hitter.
37:55Yeah.
38:04He leads us.
38:09To a swamp.
38:10The land is moist, humid.
38:14Lots of gators.
38:16And we start walking in.
38:19Myself, Ranger Jeter, and Steven McDowell.
38:29And it didn't take but a few feet of stepping in there.
38:34And you could smell what we believe to be decomp.
38:39I can't believe it.
38:40It's okay.
38:41You're so-
38:42That's no body.
38:43You're so-
38:44You can see the hairbread, there's the zip ties.
38:49September 9th, 2017 at 2.46 p.m.
38:54Skeletal remains.
38:56I thought she meant something to them.
39:00I was wrong.
39:02He threw out with the trash.
39:05I thought I was wrong.
39:09You feel the Old Testament for pewds,
39:10You know, the Old Testament for me!
39:13The Old Testament is literally 30 seconds shipped until the Old Testament,
39:17for me and my wife brought it up.
39:19I found out.
39:21You can tell them.
39:23I haven't.
39:27My dad brought it up.
39:30Philadelphia Gulf Coast Guard CapronBrava
39:32cooked for me.
39:09When I was told he was arrested, I couldn't even wrap my head around it.
39:14You just start thinking, man.
39:19How did something like this happen in your family?
39:24The fact that he confessed to strangling her was...
39:29It was so important.
39:32Generally, it takes from three to seven...
39:34...in minutes for somebody to die from strangulation.
39:38So he could say...
39:39...that he snapped, but in about four minutes' time...
39:44...when her bladder is letting go, when she's grabbing at your hands...
39:49...you have a long time to come to your senses and realize, oh my God, this...
39:54...is what I'm doing.
39:57His intent was to kill.
39:59The emotion I saw from him in the interviews...
40:04...I don't take his remorse.
40:07I think if he was put in that same situation...
40:09...again, and he ultimately knew what the outcome would be...
40:14...he'd do it again.
40:17He wasn't going to let her go.
40:19He might want him to let her go.
40:20So I'm gonna let her go.
40:21You are going to let her go.
40:22I'm gonna let her go.
40:24Let her go.
40:24We miss her.
40:29And, uh...
40:34The kids lost their mother and their father.
40:39And, uh...
40:44This is a tragic story.
40:48Crystal...
40:49Crystal McDowell's children, unfortunately, will grow...
40:54...up knowing the truth about what happened to their mother.
40:58Steve...
40:59Steven McDowell felt like he was smarter than law enforcement.
41:03And he felt like under the cover...
41:04...of a hurricane...
41:06...he could kill his wife and walk away from it.
41:09At the end of the day, law enforcement made sure that didn't happen.
41:14And, uh...
41:15...he could kill his wife and walk away from it.
41:16And, uh...
41:17...he could kill his wife and walk away from it.
41:18And, uh...
41:19My Uncle Alfred's murder was a cold-blooded murder.
41:22This was one of the oldest...
41:24...cold cases...
41:25...in Pennsylvania.
41:26The white sandwich just tried to kill you.
41:28He's...
41:29...cunning.
41:30He got away with it.
41:31He has everything to lose.
41:32More than 40 years...
41:34...to have passed.
41:35And it was time to get justice.
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