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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...
01:24I want to see...
01:24I 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...
02:10No one is hurt from her...
02:13Is there any way someone could stop by their...
02:15house. The first call that came in
02:20was from family members. Crystal 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.
02:38So we went to...
02:40To the home, the deputy asked if he could look around.
02:43And...
02:45Asked questions.
02:48Steve and the two children were there.
02:51Steve said he didn't know where she was.
02:53That she...
02:55He never showed up to give the kids...
02:57That he hadn't heard from her.
02:59And that the family...
03:00My family was waiting on her.
03:02My family went up north, so we have electricity.
03:05And 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, said she was missing.
03:17I tried calling her.
03:19She didn't answer.
03:20My phone.
03:23We all were on 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, because everybody was looking for her.
03:35And she wasn't answering.
03:36And she wasn't answering.
03:40It wasn't like Crystal to not return their phone call.
03:43It wasn't like Crystal to not...
03:45Return attacks, especially since the storm was coming.
03:49She...
03:50She had already made plans to take her two children to Dallas.
03:54And...
03:55Her car was missing.
03:57Nobody in the family knew where the car was.
03:59Nobody in the family knew where the car was.
04:01And it was a nice car.
04:02It was a relatively new Mercedes Benz.
04:05The deputy just got a gut feeling that...
04:10Something wasn't right.
04:11Something wasn't right.
04:12And...
04:13It wasn't adding up.
04:15It wasn't until the fall...
04:19It wasn't until the fall...
04:20The following day...
04:21The...
04:22The storm actually hit.
04:25Texas right now is in the grip of the most powerful storm to hit...
04:30the United States in more than a decade.
04:32Hurricane Harvey was one of those things...
04:35that not many of us have seen in our lifetime.
04:37We got over 40 inches of rain in the Houston area.
04:40East Texas was buried with water.
04:44It was...
04:45Perential rain.
04:46Our county got flooded catastrophically all...
04:48from one side to the other.
04:51I remember the sheriff calling me and telling me...
04:53we need to go look for...
04:55Crystal McDowell.
04:56But we can't do anything right now because of the water.
05:00This morning police are searching for a Texas mother who mysteriously disappeared before...
05:05Harvey hit.
05:06Chambers County Sheriff Ryan Hawthorne says the investigation began...
05:10before the storm.
05:11But Harvey's aftermath has made their efforts more challenging.
05:15We are hampered by some of the flood issues, but we are as aggressive...
05:20as ever trying to locate and find Crystal McDowell.
05:25Because of the hurricane, they were inundated with...
05:30cascues and things of that nature.
05:32Chambers County Sheriff's Department reached out to the...
05:35Texas Rangers for assistance.
05:36They said, how about we send you a Texas Ranger?
05:41And they sent Ranger Steve Jeter.
05:44I could still come...
05:45in and work while they still were doing some of the things that they needed to do...
05:48to take care of their citizens.
05:50They...
05:52spun me up on what they've done.
05:54And...
05:55and...
05:56we started moving forward.
05:58So...
05:59at that point...
06:00we were doing a lot of...
06:01background...
06:02on her...
06:03exactly who she was...
06:04what she did for a living.
06:05and...
06:06husbands, boyfriends,
06:07just trying to put all of that together.
06:10Stephen Crystal, definitely...
06:12Stephen Crystal.
06:13Definitely.
06:14Stephen Crystal.
06:15I wanted a very successful marriage.
06:20When they got married, they just looked like they were smitten over each other.
06:25Just looked at each other like love would never fail.
06:30She always had big dreams.
06:32She was a flight attendant.
06:34And then...
06:35And she decided she was going to go into real estate.
06:39She wanted to provide...
06:40And to make a wonderful life for her kids.
06:45That was her goal.
06:47She started doing her own thing and traveling a lot.
06:49And still...
06:50We started to feel lonely and kind of forgotten.
06:54And I feel like...
06:55He wouldn't give her space.
06:58It just got to the point where...
07:00It was a strain on their marriage.
07:03It took a while for Steve and Chris...
07:05They were so successful to decide to split their own ways.
07:08She was living at the house with Steve and...
07:10The kids.
07:11And she started making plans to exit.
07:14She said, I've never been...
07:15I'm so happy.
07:16And I'm ready to live my life.
07:20I'm so happy.
07:25You don't want to die.
07:25first disappeared after a day you kind of
07:30think okay there may be a little problem second day you don't respond
07:35there's a bigger problem
07:37by the third
07:40day I knew something had happened I started texting
07:45Steve like what's going on have you heard from Crystal no she didn't pick the kids up
07:50haven't heard from her we got on social media
07:55and started posting as much information as we could
08:00it kind of went viral between all the family
08:05it's just both sides of the families and her friends and co-workers
08:10and then everybody's sharing posts
08:15and then all of a sudden the responses started popping up
08:20and her car was found
08:25see this black car right here
08:30this Mercedes somebody that was friends with her family
08:35actually spotted the car she's been missing since Friday
08:38she never went and picked up her kid
08:40we went to where the car
08:45the car was
08:46we were going through flood waters
08:48and the motel
08:50the motel was
08:51the motel was two or three foot under water
08:55the motel was two or three foot under water
08:57the car was found
08:57the motel six parking lot
08:58the motel six parking lot
09:00The doors were unlocked and the keys were in it.
09:05It's like somebody just pulled in the parking lot.
09:10And shut the door and ran, is what it looked like.
09:15And her car moved this in a completely different direction because now we actually had her tied to a location.
09:20There was a gas station right there in the next parking lot.
09:24And...
09:25And so they went and pulled video.
09:30In that footage, what we found was Crystal's car pulling in.
09:35Into the parking lot and then backing into a parking lot.
09:40And then, when the car...
09:45turned off, a person got out and then exited the parking lot.
09:50on foot and that person was not crystal.
09:55on foot and that person was crystal.
10:00on foot and that person was crystal.
10:05at this point.
10:09the biggest part of the hurricane had passed.
10:14they're just dealing with watersheds rising.
10:19on the sheriff's office, you know, and the people are counting on them to do their job.
10:24the family had located her car in a motel.
10:29the keys were left in full view.
10:31I'm sure with the intent that the car would be...
10:34stolen.
10:35in the initial video footage from the parking lot where the car was found.
10:39you could see what appeared to be a man walking away from the car.
10:43you could not see exactly who it was.
10:46but everything else led me to believe that that potentially could be her ex-husband.
10:51the ex-husband is always going to be the person of...
10:56in any case involving a missing person.
10:59we rule out the folks that are closest to you.
11:02Steve hadn't been really talked to.
11:04we were debriefed or even polygraphed.
11:06that was number one on my agenda.
11:07that was number one on my agenda.
11:09and all i needed from you is to be as painfully truthful as you can be.
11:13yes sir.
11:14when is the last time that you saw crystal?
11:19let's do it.
11:20let's do it.
11:21let's do it.
11:22let's do it.
11:24she left the house in pit.
11:26from understand i guess she still...
11:28from understand i guess she still...
11:29lives in the house with you.
11:32for the most part she has been a...
11:34so about the last three weeks she's been kind of in and out.
11:37now where does she stay?
11:38y'all sharing a bit?
11:40no.
11:43their family...
11:44their family dynamics was different to say the least.
11:47they were married for approximately...
11:49ten years.
11:50they divorced.
11:51wasn't living together currently.
11:52they were married for 10 years.
11:53they divorced.
11:54wasn't living together currently.
11:54seven years,...
11:57they were married for 25 years...
11:59I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
12:04A lot of people.
12:07It was apparent that Chris...
12:09Chris still had multiple suitors and he was having a hard time letting go.
12:14But according to the uncle, the marriage was done.
12:19She was moving on, she was seeing someone new, and she was very...
12:24She didn't want Steve to know anything about it.
12:29She spent the evening with her boyfriend and went to dinner.
12:34And that it was later on, that next day, when nobody could locate her.
12:40The boyfriend had video of her in his home.
12:43We're at...
12:44We're able to review all that video.
12:49It was very obvious that Crystal left the boyfriend's house.
12:54On her own.
12:56And got in her car and drove away.
12:59When I finished talking to Steve...
13:02When I finished talking to Steve...
13:05And he took a polygraph.
13:08Whoa.
13:09Whoa.
13:10Whoa.
13:11Whoa.
13:12Whoa.
13:13Whoa.
13:14What the fuck?
13:15What this is?
13:16I got to go...
13:17The in-
13:19The in-
13:20The in-
13:20The from-
13:21The in-
13:22The in-
13:22The in the
13:24The in-
13:28The in-
13:40that actually showed Steve pulling in to the gas station.
13:45In his Mustang, he didn't buy any gas. He just got something out of the trunk.
13:50And stuck it down in the garbage can. But before he left, he looks over.
13:55You can see that he's looking over to the car in the Motel 6 parking lot.
14:00Her car had been left in such a manner that it...
14:05It appeared to us that somebody wanted that car to be taken.
14:09It had cash.
14:10It had cash in view. It had keys in view.
14:13You can see him actively looking...
14:15In the direction of that car. And I can only imagine it was one of those deals.
14:19Oh shit.
14:20The car's still here.
14:23When I saw him on the video...
14:25I knew he had done something. And I just wanted to find her.
14:30We were hoping that she was alive somewhere.
14:35When we're looking at missing person cases, time is of essence.
14:39Clock is ticking.
14:40The only way we were going to find her was through him.
14:43But with Steve...
14:45It was deny, deny...
14:47He wasn't budging.
14:48I needed some help.
14:50It takes a personality bigger than life to catch so many people.
14:55So...
14:56I personally requested Jimmy Holler.
14:58I specifically asked for him.
15:00Because I know what he brings to the table.
15:02Because I know what he brings to the table.
15:05Ranger Jeter asked me to come in and work on Steve.
15:10That's kind of what I do.
15:12My expertise is talking to these twisted...
15:15Really screwed up people.
15:17And figuring out a way to get through with them.
15:20And...
15:21And...
15:22And...
15:23...
15:25How you doing?
15:26Good.
15:27Want some water?
15:28Coffee?
15:29Coffee?
15:30Food?
15:31Jeter got Steve to come back to the sheriff's house.
15:35The sheriff's department and go back in the interview room.
15:37I'm going to go in there with them.
15:40I'm going to see how this thing goes.
15:45So when was the last time you helped me?
15:50For the most part...
15:55Steve locks in his timeline,
15:57and he pretty much repeats what he said to Jeter.
16:01So we go to Saturday morning.
16:02This is 26.
16:03What time do you get up at 1?
16:05He says it's Saturday.
16:06He says it's Saturday.
16:10Good morning.
16:11He wakes up, plays video games with the kids.
16:14And the reality is that's...
16:15I know where you're at, sir.
16:16You're caught in the line.
16:20You're on video.
16:21I'm going to her.
16:22I'm going to her.
16:23I'm going to her.
16:24Back in her car.
16:25Back in her car.
16:26Back in her car.
16:27Back in her car.
16:28Back in her car.
16:30Back in her car.
16:31Back in her car.
16:32Back in her car.
16:33Back in her car.
16:34Back in her car.
16:35Back in her car.
16:36Back in her car.
16:37Back in her car.
16:38Back in her car.
16:39Back in her car.
16:40Back in her car.
16:41Back in her car.
16:42Back in her car.
16:43Back in her car.
16:44Back in her car.
16:45Back in her car.
16:46Back in her car.
16:47Back in her car.
16:48Back in her car.
16:49Back in her car.
16:50Back in her car.
16:51Back in her car.
16:52Back in her car.
16:53Back in her car.
16:54Back in her car.
16:55Back in her car.
16:56Back in her car.
16:57Back in her car.
16:58Back in her car.
16:59Right at her car
17:01You dropped off earlier
17:03You dropped off
17:04earlier
17:05It was captured on video
17:07You parked it there
17:08and I can see
17:09you and your bald head
17:11get out of the car
17:12We're in just about the same outfit here
17:14Where in the back?
17:16That's you right there
17:19Let's pre-close the shorts you're wearing now
17:23Is that you?
17:24Am I a moron?
17:27How could that be me?
17:30I remember looking at Jeter
17:32and seeing in his eyes the same thing
17:34that I'm thinking
17:35which is
17:36What the hell?
17:38Well that was your car
17:39pulled in there
17:40Was your car stolen?
17:42No
17:43My twin brother?
17:44No
17:44Neither of us anticipated
17:46that he was going to deny
17:47that he was in this gas
17:49station video
17:52And I think at that point
17:54this interview turned into
17:56an interrogation
17:57because as soon as this occurred
17:59there was no doubt in my mind
18:01that Stephen McDowell
18:02was responsible
18:04for the disappearance
18:05of his ex-wife
18:06Now how do I get him to admit
18:08that he did
18:09that he did
18:14and he did
18:24Myself and Ranger Jeter get into the interview room
18:27with Steve, the ex-husband.
18:29And it's obviously fairly easy to determine that he's lying.
18:32How could that be me?
18:34But we know that if we're going to find Chris
18:39with Crystal McDowell, we need a confession.
18:42The problem is he's not going to...
18:44He's not going to give an edge.
18:45He's not letting in on anything.
18:49Did you talk or call it?
18:54No.
18:55Is that you walking from the gas station?
18:57It looks like we've been smart.
18:59You didn't put that stuff in the trash can?
19:02I'm not quite sure.
19:03Yes or no?
19:04Did you put something in that trash can?
19:05Did you put something in that trash can?
19:06Did you put something in that trash can?
19:09Yes or no?
19:10I don't...
19:11Yes or no?
19:12No.
19:13No.
19:14The big thing that I took from this...
19:17The big thing that I took from this...
19:19moment with Steve 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
19:29that was him in the gas station video and it really left Jeter and I flat.
19:34The problem with an aggressive approach with someone with a sociopath.
19:39This is just not going to go anywhere because you're.
19:44Dealing with someone who is not going to be told what to do so.
19:49We had to make a change because you know an interview is not generally a good threesome.
19:54You want to create this one on one atmosphere and this one on one relationship.
19:59Jeter is a super smart guy and he knew exactly when to stop.
20:04This is why I brought Jimmy in. He's got a special knack.
20:09To relate to bad guys. He doesn't like to lose and I knew that he was able to take it.
20:14To the next level.
20:19The next level.
20:20I'm not going to laugh.
20:21I'm not going to laugh.
20:22I'm not going to laugh.
20:23I'm not going to laugh.
20:24The primary goal is to really build that one-on-one rapport.
20:28You know that I'm not...
20:29You're not an idiot, and I know that you're not an idiot, okay?
20:33The bargaining chip is...
20:34You have...
20:35Oh, how big that chip is!
20:37It's huge!
20:39What I'm looking for is body language, and he's a guy who keeps his arms...
20:44crossed, and keeps his legs crossed.
20:46When we start talking about mitigation, and that was...
20:49It was the first time that I saw Steve uncross his legs.
20:53The DA wants...
20:54Closure for the family.
20:56I am family.
20:59It was a short window, but it was obvious to me that that was something that he was interested in.
21:04The DA wants closure, alright?
21:06And you have a bargaining chip, and it's sitting right there.
21:08And you can...
21:09Even if I were you, I'd play that the best I could.
21:11At the end of the day, this guy is a control.
21:14He's a freak, and he wants to feel like he's controlling the investigation.
21:18Well, we can't let him do...
21:19We can't do that, obviously, but we can let him think that he is.
21:24Turn off...
21:25parable...
21:26...
21:28...
21:29logical
21:31...
21:34...
21:35UNLOR
21:37F WALL
21:29There's nothing that you did today, nothing.
21:34There's nothing that you did today that helped you.
21:37Myself, the district attorney, Ranger G.
21:39and a number of other detectives were watching the interview.
21:43There was a lot of...
21:44There was a lot of pressure on Ranger Holland.
21:46Everybody is looking to Jim.
21:48Like, let's get...
21:49When you have an opportunity, before today is over...
21:54to go back and help yourself.
21:59I place my hand on Steve's knee.
22:02I'm moving really, really close.
22:04Like, kissing distance close.
22:07And the more that I moved...
22:09the more he accepted it.
22:12Well, I was a bad person.
22:13I know that.
22:14Not for one second if I thought they could.
22:19Can't go back and...
22:22Can't bring her back.
22:25I can't be dead.
22:28They can't be...
22:29It's a week.
22:30She's dead.
22:31You know it.
22:33You can't live with...
22:34You can't live with...
22:37We were all sitting there.
22:38We were all sitting there.
22:39watching it in the next room like this.
22:44I remember thinking,
22:45We've got to get somewhere.
22:46Because...
22:47This is just...
22:48This is crazy.
22:50I'm not ready to finish.
22:51If they said...
22:53His father would spin up...
22:54He said...
22:55I don't know what to do with that.
22:57And so...
22:58It's been such a waste...
22:59I'm gonna take him for the...
23:00You know?
23:01I'm sorry.
23:02I can't.
23:04I can't give you the impression that I don't have knowledge of.
23:09I felt like we're stepping up to the edge of the Grand Canyon.
23:12And you know...
23:13Is he gonna...
23:14I'm gonna jump off and I'm gonna hand him a parachute.
23:17But he got up to the edge...
23:18And he just...
23:19Backed away.
23:2211 hours...
23:23We sat there.
23:25Steve wasn't to the point where he was ready to concede.
23:28He asked Jamie...
23:29If he could go home.
23:30Then I'd go...
23:31Now what do we do?
23:32And he goes...
23:33You let him go home.
23:35I'm like...
23:36What?
23:39I was concerned that Steve was a flight risk.
23:43He's like...
23:44Let him go home.
23:44And I was like...
23:45Okay.
23:46And I was like...
23:47Okay.
23:49And I was like...
23:52It's hard.
23:53And people are...
23:54All around you think you are crazy.
23:56And that this is not going to work.
24:00I know that the only way to win this game...
24:03Is a confession.
24:04And...
24:05We're not going to recover Crystal's body...
24:08Unless...
24:09McDowell...
24:10Takes us there.
24:12But I need time.
24:15The game plan is to drive Steve home...
24:17And pick up where we left off.
24:19The next day.
24:21And I'm really putting my reputation out there...
24:24Asking them to...
24:25Leave him on the street.
24:28But...
24:29The only chance in this thing...
24:31Is...
24:32That Stephen McDowell...
24:33Keeps running his...
24:34Now.
24:39Joel, Jenna...
24:44He's an innocent man.
24:46He hasn't won the line.
24:51He was back!
24:54He was Evangelion...
24:55Crystal McDowell. The game plan was to pick him up and start all over.
25:00So, am I worried that he's going to lawyer up?
25:05Yeah, I mean, he's a smart guy. You know, he agreed to meet us.
25:10I think at 10. So, we show up. We're like most Rangers.
25:15If you're on time, you're late.
25:20Hey, Steve, is the corporate coming?
25:23Just not.
25:25He came to the door and said, I'm ready.
25:27It was a flip of the dice.
25:29And...
25:30And we rolled the right dice.
25:32Kiddos at school or someone picking them up?
25:36Uh, Cindy came back.
25:37Sure.
25:38Okay, are they staying with Cindy now?
25:41We were definitely more unhappy to take the kids in.
25:44I felt like...
25:45If I could just get the kids away and give them a good time...
25:50take their mind off things and just give them a little peace, that was my job.
25:56How'd you sleep?
25:58Uh...
26:00All expected.
26:02The thought process on the second day was...
26:05Let's put Steve in the car with me.
26:07And let's continue to build rapport.
26:09Hey.
26:10Where's plantations from here?
26:11I'll take a right.
26:12Will you take me down there?
26:13Yeah.
26:14I'll show you my own house.
26:15And that's basically to kind of build the pseudo-friendship.
26:19That...
26:20hopefully will get him to trust me and ultimately share the truth with me.
26:25We go to the hotel where Crystal's car is discovered.
26:30We go to the gas station where Steve's picked up on surveillance camera.
26:35The video that we thought we would put in front of them and move forward in this case...
26:40He denies that it's him.
26:42And ultimately the idea is to point...
26:45Find out that camera.
26:46And hopefully break him down.
26:50And then the video has you...
26:55You're going across here...
26:57And then you disappear...
26:58And you come out...
27:00What I'm telling them is...
27:02I know that you did this.
27:04I'm still working...
27:05I'm working on...
27:06How did you do it exactly?
27:08But I'm not letting up and...
27:10In any way...
27:11Are you still disputing that you at 6.30?
27:13Yes, sir.
27:14Okay.
27:15Here we go.
27:17No, I'm not leaving here.
27:18No, no, no!
27:19No, no, no!
27:20You know what my endgame is, you know, I want to bring closure to you.
27:25Your children to anyone and everyone who is friends with her.
27:28Steve McDowell is not some dumbass.
27:30Steve McDowell is pretty intelligent.
27:33And I think he's a sociologist.
27:35He's a psychopathic, psychopathic persona.
27:37And those are criminal justice terms.
27:39It's not something as...
27:40And based on my experience, what I know is you're only going to...
27:45get a confession if you can put something tangible in front of them.
27:50And I think the main points of the second day was planting these seeds in Steve's head.
27:55That those tangible items existed or soon would exist.
28:00I've discussed my endgame with the district attorney.
28:03And the district attorney is on board with that.
28:05It seems like those interviews lasted forever.
28:07I didn't know if they were ever going to end.
28:10It was taking longer than I wanted or would.
28:15have expected.
28:16Well, that is correct.
28:17I had pressure from the media.
28:20Everybody is wanting us to solve this case.
28:25We put together this really solid timeline of...
28:30when we believed the murder occurred.
28:33We knew when the car was dropped off.
28:35The big question was...
28:37How did he get home?
28:40How did he get home?
28:41How did he get home?
28:42How did he get home?
28:44We were wondering...
28:45Who helped him?
28:46Did he hitchhike?
28:48You know, what did he do?
28:50What did he do?
28:51In secure sessions?
28:52Who helped him?
28:53How did he fit in?
28:54How did he get home?
28:55How did they get home?
28:56How did he get home?
28:56How I met in their business?
28:58And I had not.
28:59How did he get home?
29:08How did he do this?
29:09How did he get home if he had home?
29:17What am I?
29:18You just had a lot of money?
29:19And it's like, there's no way that this guy crossed somehow.
29:24Near or through this parking lot and didn't end up on camera in some way, shape or form.
29:29We're going to go into that store and we're going to look at these videos.
29:34And as crazy as it sounds, there's surveillance.
29:39This video of Steve McDowell buying a bicycle.
29:44We saw him going into the store, getting a bike.
29:49And then checking out goes for a ride.
29:54In the rain, pouring down rain.
29:59At 7 o'clock in the morning.
30:04So I've been in Steve's house and I'd seen the bike and I.
30:09I actually took a picture with, with my cell phone of it.
30:12The bike just completes the.
30:14We knew what we had to do, which was to lay this entire thing out.
30:19In front of him and let him know that he's done.
30:24We knew what he had to do befriended to do.
30:40Let's have a foot.
30:50Let's see.
30:29So you're cool with being here?
30:31I mean, anytime I'm leaving, walk out the door.
30:34I remember asking, I'm like, why in the hell does he keep coming?
30:38I wouldn't keep.
30:39Coming in here.
30:41On 826-2017, it's 6.30 a.m.
30:44We have video of the Mercedes backing in on the south side of the Mercedes.
30:49And I developed this acronym, SS.
30:54Steve says accurate.
30:56So would this be an SSA?
30:59Steve says accurate.
31:02SS.
31:04And the idea behind this is I'm going to put this tangible piece of evidence in front
31:08of him and he's going.
31:09And to mark it, SSA, when we put it all together and he sees this clear.
31:14Picture.
31:15He's going to realize that he has no choice.
31:17So.
31:19So.
31:20If I tell you.
31:21At 7.05 there is a due.
31:24In black shorts riding a mountain bike.
31:29One style.
31:3026 inch bicycle.
31:32ThTO.
31:33There is no choice.
31:34They lose hair nothing.
31:37You can hold your eyes.
31:51Those are very little baby are algumas or you just can attack that with this juicer.
31:57I'm gonna put the same wheels. Is that an SSI or not?
32:02Yeah, they look like the same couple wheels.
32:07And would you agree that that's a picture of your bicycle?
32:12In your garage?
32:13Yes.
32:14Okay.
32:15I'm up at SSI. My mic. How's that?
32:17My bike.
32:20SSI.
32:21It's you.
32:23And it's only gonna be more of you.
32:26Doesn't go away.
32:28Doesn't get better.
32:29It only gets worse.
32:32At this point, I'm using expletives and saying,
32:37come on, hurry up. I'm tired of sitting here. We know you did it.
32:42It doesn't take us too hard.
32:48Can you be honest with me tomorrow?
32:50Will we end this tomorrow?
32:51Yeah.
32:52You're moving at Mach 10.
32:57You're not sure where you're gonna go. You need results. The pressure is going through the...
33:02What's the best thing you can do? Call a time out.
33:07As much as everyone around me wanted tomorrow to be...
33:12Today, I just knew that that wasn't going to happen.
33:17Steve called. He said, I just got out of an interrogation. I'm coming to get the kids.
33:22They had literally worked Steve into a tizzy. His mind was not stable.
33:27I really wanted him in custody because I was...
33:32I was so afraid for those kids that he did not have any...
33:37anything to lose at this point.
33:40The district attorney is just...
33:42watering at the mouth to have Steve arrested and to put him behind bars where he belonged.
33:47But I believe that if we arrest him now he's...
33:52to lawyer up. And if he lawyers up, we're never going to find Crystal McDowell.
33:57So the CPS took his kids, and...
34:02Jimmy took him home.
34:05I really didn't think...
34:07we were going to see him the next day.
34:11I was concerned that he...
34:12he would commit suicide.
34:14It's probably the most neck on the line I've ever...
34:18felt as a sheriff.
34:20I'm asking for this leap...
34:22but faith...
34:23by asking them not to make this arrest.
34:27But...
34:32there was really no doubt in my mind...
34:36Steve was going to tell me...
34:37what happened the next morning.
34:40And Steve was going to take me to Crystal McDowell.
34:43And the question was...
34:44you know...
34:45was I right?
34:47you know...
34:49you know...
34:50you know...
34:52you know...
34:52you know...
34:53you know...
34:55so the third...
34:57the third interview...
34:59ends with Steve telling me...
35:00that he was going to confess.
35:03and that he was going to ultimately...
35:05take me to his wife.
35:08am I crazy...
35:09for waiting?
35:11I think everyone around me...
35:12thought I was crazy...
35:15but I knew that the only way...
35:16this was going to happen...
35:17as if he really felt like...
35:19he was in control.
35:22myself and Ranger...
35:26myself and Ranger...
35:27Jeter...
35:28head to his house.
35:31We showed up...
35:32I knocked on the door...
35:37I heard some folks...
35:38scramble around in there.
35:40He answers the door...
35:41and he looks different.
35:42his shoulders...
35:44look...
35:45really...
35:46sunken in.
35:47and he looks like...
35:48he hasn't slept.
35:52it hurts.
35:55it hurts.
35:57it hurts.
35:58it hurts.
35:59it hurts.
36:00it hurts.
36:02and he's a broken man...
36:03Friday morning?
36:04yes.
36:06hey...
36:07tell me...
36:08tell me...
36:10tell me...
36:11tell me...
36:12what happened...
36:13when you see her...
36:14on fire.
36:18but I'm sorry...
36:19I'm sorry.
36:22but...
36:23I'm sorry.
36:24I'm sorry...
36:25but I'm sorry...
36:26where she was...
36:27but she didn't tell me
36:29she said something about business
36:32she said something about business
36:36she said something about business
36:37it's not fair
36:39it's not fair
36:41why I've tried so hard
36:42everything
36:42she walked all over me
36:44she was like
36:45everything is because I don't love
36:47you get that through your head
36:48one hour
36:52I don't know
36:57Please.
36:58Please.
36:59Please.
37:02Okay.
37:03Then how did you suffocate?
37:05No.
37:06No.
37:07No.
37:08No.
37:09No.
37:10No.
37:11No.
37:12No.
37:13No.
37:14Okay.
37:15Like a chokehold or something.
37:17How did you eventually know that she was no longer alive?
37:22No.
37:23No.
37:24No.
37:25No.
37:26No.
37:27No.
37:28No.
37:29Stop doing it.
37:32Oh.
37:33It's just like how to cure trash bags.
37:37What?
37:38What?
37:39What?
37:40What?
37:41What?
37:42What?
37:43Steve, there's one last thing to do, and I appreciate you being honest.
37:48What are you willing to take us today?
37:53Thanks to my new hitter.
37:58Yeah.
38:09He leads us to a swamp.
38:12The land is...
38:13Moist.
38:14Humid.
38:15Lots of gators.
38:17And we start washing.
38:18Walking in.
38:19Myself, Ranger Jeter, and Steven McDonald.
38:23How?
38:24How far in?
38:25How far?
38:26Just a couple.
38:28How far?
38:29How far?
38:30How far?
38:31How far?
38:32And it didn't take but a...
38:33a few feet of stepping in there, and you could smell what we believe to be decomp.
38:38How far?
38:39How far?
38:40How far?
38:41How far?
38:42How far?
38:43How far?
38:44You've seen the...
38:45He's really was talking.
38:46How far?
38:47How far?
38:48How far?
38:49How far?
38:50How far?
38:51How far?
38:52How far?
38:53him!
38:54How far?
38:55What?
38:56How far.
38:57How far?
38:58How far?
38:59Come where?
39:00How far?
39:01He's there.
39:02How far?
39:03How far?
39:04How far?
39:05How far?
39:07I'm 100%.
39:08You're so much.
39:10I mean...
39:11I couldn't even wrap my head around it.
39:16You just start thinking, man, how did something happen?
39:21Let something like this happen in your family.
39:26The fact that he confessed to strangling her was so important.
39:31Generally, it takes from three to seven minutes for somebody to...
39:36...die from strangulation.
39:38So he could say that he snapped.
39:41But in about four minutes' time, when her bladder is left...
39:46...letting go, when she's grabbing at your hands...
39:51...it took a long time to come to your senses and realize,
39:54oh my God, this is what I'm doing.
39:56His intent was to kill.
40:02The emotion I saw from him in the interviews...
40:05I don't take Israel.
40:07I think if he was put in that same situation again...
40:10...and he ultimately...
40:11...knew what the outcome would be...
40:14...he'd do it again.
40:16He wasn't gonna let her go.
40:21He died.
40:26He died.
40:26We miss her.
40:31And, uh, the kids lost their-
40:36their mother and their father.
40:41And, uh, the kids lost their-
40:46This is a tragic story.
40:49Crystal McDowell's-
40:51Children, unfortunately, will grow up knowing the truth of-
40:56about what happened to their mother.
40:59Steven McDowell felt like-
41:01he was smarter than law enforcement.
41:03And he felt like under the cover of a hurricane.
41:06He could kill his wife and walk away from it.
41:09At the end of the day-
41:11Law enforcement made sure that didn't happen.
41:16My Uncle Alfred's murder-
41:21It was a cold-blooded murder.
41:23This was one of the oldest cold cases in Pennsylvania.
41:26The lights on bitch just tried to kill you.
41:29He's cunning.
41:30He got away from-
41:31He got away with it.
41:32He has everything to lose.
41:33More than 40 years have passed.
41:35And-
41:36It was time to get justice.
41:37And it was time to get justice.
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