1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,960 Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence, and is not intended for all 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:14,720 audiences. Listener discretion is advised. This woman's a media sessions. Can you 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,399 ask for where the mail ran to where he went? I don't think this 4 00:00:18,719 --> 00:00:26,320 woman's going to have any idea where she one? Hello and welcome. This 5 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,839 is season ten, episode two hundred and forty two, A Sword and Scale, 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:49,200 the show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. All right, 7 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,520 you got me, You got me pissed off. You did it, you 8 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,880 went and did it, you got me all pissed off. I'm flustered. 9 00:00:55,960 --> 00:01:04,079 People, listen. I know that figuring out how things work in the world 10 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:11,200 is hard to do, especially for the dim witted. But let me explain 11 00:01:11,239 --> 00:01:15,439 something to you. I started this podcast ten years ago when there were no 12 00:01:15,599 --> 00:01:23,840 other true crime podcasts at all period. I'm not about to start to listen 13 00:01:23,879 --> 00:01:26,439 to all of them to make sure they haven't covered a story we're about to 14 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:34,000 cover before we cover it. You get it? Do we have you figured 15 00:01:34,040 --> 00:02:10,199 it out yet? No? At some point in your life you may find 16 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:17,639 yourself tested in storytelling. It's a call to action. It's when the hero 17 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:24,479 finds themselves in a situation that could change their whole lives. They could do 18 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:30,000 nothing, ignore the situation and take the easy path and everything would stay the 19 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:38,039 same. Or they could take the hard path, overcome the situation and set 20 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,919 off on a hero's journey, culminating in a great triumph, forever altering the 21 00:02:44,039 --> 00:02:52,039 character. But all too often in our society we find ourselves in situations such 22 00:02:52,039 --> 00:03:22,319 as this and take the easy path, letting unknown villains run rampant. March 23 00:03:22,479 --> 00:03:28,240 fourteenth, twenty thirteen, was a cloudy and cold day in Clay, New 24 00:03:28,319 --> 00:03:34,039 York, a city central in the state. At eight pm, the sun 25 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:40,039 had already set and the waxing crescent moon had yet to rise. Bill Craig 26 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:46,960 found himself on an unfamiliar road to a life changing event. I can't tell 27 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,080 you why I was on Verplank Road that night, except for the fact that 28 00:03:51,199 --> 00:03:54,159 I took some back roads to go buy lottery tickets. I would have never 29 00:03:54,199 --> 00:03:58,479 ever gone down that road to get to my home. I would have went 30 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,879 in front of them all on a whim. He took a different route home 31 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:08,560 that evening. While close to a major shopping center, Verplank Road was quite 32 00:04:08,599 --> 00:04:11,680 remote, and all of a sudden, something caught my eye on the side 33 00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:16,439 of the road. It wasn't just something, it was someone, a young 34 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:21,160 girl on the side of the road. She was underdressed, considering it was 35 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:28,399 thirty degree weather and there was snow on the ground. My thoughts went from 36 00:04:28,439 --> 00:04:31,079 maybe someone setting me up just to hop for to do something to myself, 37 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,439 or maybe there's been an accident. But it just the dots didn't connect. 38 00:04:36,519 --> 00:04:41,439 Something wasn't right. As I stopped my car and I put it in park, 39 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,279 I left it running and opened the door, and immediately after I opened 40 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,040 that car door, and things weren't right. There was a young girl, 41 00:04:47,079 --> 00:04:53,839 there's absolutely in hysterics on the side of the road. Basically started calling nine 42 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:59,040 one one, nine one one. Mandy wears the emergency Jeff shotting in a 43 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:04,120 play. I'm on, I don't even know, um, there's a there's 44 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,759 there's a there's a little girl tied up on the side of the road. 45 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,720 Okay, a woman bleeding. Where are you guys? I need to learn 46 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,879 case and I understand, ma'am. I'm just trying to I don't usually say 47 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,680 this. Road. Bill had stumbled on a fresh crime scene. A little 48 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:27,000 girl running down the road was partially tied up and her mother collapsed covered in 49 00:05:27,079 --> 00:05:31,920 blood. Nearby. Their car was stuck in the snow in a ditch. 50 00:05:32,639 --> 00:05:35,199 I'm going to stay on the phone with you. Do you want them in 51 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,160 your car now? Or they still don't know. I'm just it's kind of 52 00:05:39,199 --> 00:05:41,879 spooky thing. I'm trying to figure out what's going on here. Okay, 53 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,279 I'm selling you on Verplank Road, and that is the name of the road. 54 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,279 Okay, do you see any house, summers or anything by you. 55 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:53,439 I'm more towards the cemetery. You couldn't be sure what was going on. 56 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,439 The girl and the woman were obviously in distress and needed help, but Bill 57 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:08,560 had no idea. Da, why, what's what's going on? I'm out 58 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,560 with nine to one. There's a woman out here, there's what kind of 59 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,800 athlete? And I'm in a white I'm gonna sir you you're gonna stick around 60 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,439 here, I'm gonna get out. I just what kind of vehicle? White? 61 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,959 I'm in a white? Uh, I don't drive this. There's another 62 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,079 gentleman here, there's a woman that is bleeding, she may be dead, 63 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,279 and there's a little girl tied up on the side of the roads. He 64 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:32,680 says, somebody beat her. If you couldn't make out what the little girl 65 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:40,120 was yelling in the background, she said he strangled her and he hurt me, 66 00:06:43,079 --> 00:06:45,560 so did. They asked her what the address is where you are? 67 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:48,160 There is no address, man, okay, and and I'm not being shut 68 00:06:48,199 --> 00:06:50,279 with you here. I'm sorry. No, no, that's fine. I 69 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:59,360 completely We were more towards like um Bennett Roade and for playing, although they 70 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,000 said they've been jack. Bill was trying to figure out the nearest crossroad. 71 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:09,720 The little girl yelled, he's up there. He stole my car. That's 72 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:15,959 when Bill realized this might not be over. Luckily for this little girl, 73 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:19,959 Bill was the perfect person to stumble upon a crime. Yeah. I spent 74 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:25,759 four years active duty with the United States Army and the Soldier Biological and Chemical 75 00:07:25,759 --> 00:07:29,519 Command. This is one of the things that I used to do in the 76 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:34,839 military is protect people, and it just my training took over. This little 77 00:07:34,839 --> 00:07:40,399 girl was scared and she didn't want to leave her mother. But now that 78 00:07:40,439 --> 00:07:45,240 Bill knew there may still be someone lurking nearby, he had to put her 79 00:07:45,279 --> 00:07:48,759 at ease to ensure her safety. Honey, honey, get in the car. 80 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,560 No, ma'am, I'm a little. I'm not gonna hurt you. 81 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,680 I'm out with nine one, okay, honey. And this is a child 82 00:07:57,759 --> 00:08:01,480 that said this not leaving your mom. I want you to get warm money, 83 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:07,040 okay, get in here, okay. Not knowing who or what or 84 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:15,360 how many, I basically approached the young girl and my goal was to get 85 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:20,560 her secure and safe. Understandably, so, she was concerned about who was 86 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:26,040 even approaching her. And I just kept trying, you know, I just 87 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:30,839 I told her that I was a friend. I just kept repeating, I'm 88 00:08:30,879 --> 00:08:35,720 a friend, I'm a friend. And after the first couple of times, 89 00:08:35,759 --> 00:08:41,200 and she trusted me, and I don't know why, but she did. 90 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,799 And basically what I did at that point is I secured her in my vehicle, 91 00:08:45,639 --> 00:08:52,879 still on the phone with nine one this whole time. Yes, she 92 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:58,000 should be scared. What your mommy's mean? Lorie Brezan Okay, sir, 93 00:08:58,159 --> 00:09:01,440 can you see the mother at all? Can you see as she's breathing. 94 00:09:03,039 --> 00:09:05,879 I'm gonna check right now, honey. I'm gonna I am a friend, 95 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:09,600 Okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm gonna close the door. We 96 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,480 need people immediately. But this guy could be on a loose, shir I 97 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,120 do I have everybody notified at this point? Can you pull back so I 98 00:09:16,159 --> 00:09:20,039 can get a light on her. Now that the girl was safe, or 99 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,360 as safe as he could make her, Bill needed to check on the mother. 100 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,840 Another passer by had already stopped to help. Bill instructed him to watch 101 00:09:28,879 --> 00:09:33,639 the little girl while he tried to help Laurie. Ma'am, Yeah, I'm 102 00:09:33,639 --> 00:09:37,320 here. Okay, she is breathing. She is breathing. Okay, okay, 103 00:09:37,399 --> 00:09:39,840 grow all the sea. Look about sir. She I'd say she's about 104 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:46,480 thirty five, ma'am? Does away walking to you? She is talking to 105 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:50,600 me. She's lost a lot of blood. Can you tell us she's bleeding 106 00:09:50,639 --> 00:09:52,440 there in her head? Will you stad ma'am? Or anything? Or just 107 00:09:52,519 --> 00:09:58,879 beating? Just beating? Does she know who did this? Do you know 108 00:09:58,919 --> 00:10:01,080 who did this to you? You know the man? No? No, 109 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:05,720 she said they were card jack. Okay, you're doing good. You're doing 110 00:10:05,759 --> 00:10:09,279 super. Just keep way to go, Just keep staying with me. Okay, 111 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,600 honey, you're doing super. Okay, ask her, ask her if 112 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,200 she can give you a description of the guy who did this. Can you 113 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,120 can you tell me what this guy looked like? Man? Would you black, 114 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,639 Would you white? Was he Hispanic? Laurie Bresnahan lay on the side 115 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:30,000 of the road, losing a lot of blood. She was able to give 116 00:10:30,039 --> 00:10:35,919 Bill some info, but she was fading fast. Perhaps she didn't realize during 117 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:41,120 the struggle that the man was holding a knife and not simply beating her, 118 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:48,720 or maybe she was already too far gone to convey that information. Regardless, 119 00:10:48,519 --> 00:10:54,639 Bill tried to keep her awake, even though he knew it was likely already 120 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,720 too late. There's too much damage there was. There was very little convent 121 00:10:58,799 --> 00:11:03,600 on her before she lost consciousness. Bill swore to her that he would keep 122 00:11:03,639 --> 00:11:09,440 the little girl safe and that I would not let anybody touch herr armor anymore, 123 00:11:09,159 --> 00:11:16,000 and she was aware and cognizant of that before she passed. Laurie was 124 00:11:16,039 --> 00:11:22,399 a librarian at a local elementary school. She devoted herself to the betterment of 125 00:11:22,519 --> 00:11:26,519 children. She was unmarried, but adopted the little girl when she was about 126 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:33,879 three months old from China. Leedless to say her little girl was her whole 127 00:11:33,919 --> 00:11:39,559 world. I'll be honest with you, I think that I think Laurie continued 128 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:46,200 to fight for the little girl until she knew she was safe with police and 129 00:11:46,279 --> 00:11:50,120 first responders still on the way. Bill needed more information to help catch who 130 00:11:50,159 --> 00:11:54,279 did this. Once again, he directed the other man who stopped to stay 131 00:11:54,320 --> 00:12:00,600 with Laurie while he talked of the little girl should stay with her, I 132 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:05,440 might thought to the little girl, I wasn't leaving her side. I stayed 133 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:11,279 with her. I tried to comfort her, and also I'm still on with 134 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:18,919 nine one through the attempt to give first aid to Lorie. Now back into 135 00:12:18,919 --> 00:12:26,559 the vehicle with a little girl. Now training takes over again. Two types 136 00:12:26,519 --> 00:12:31,519 daddy trying to be a good father and comfort a scared little girl, but 137 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:39,480 interweaving getting information from her about who, what, where and when? What 138 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,840 was going on? You're doing really good, sweet, I want you to 139 00:12:43,919 --> 00:12:46,399 go slow. Was he white? Was he bladder? He was a white 140 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,120 man? Do you remember about how was you? My height? Probviously about 141 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:54,720 five kind of man? Okay, after I see the staying in the medium 142 00:12:54,799 --> 00:12:58,759 large belt? Was he a big? Was heast heavy? Was he skinny? 143 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,000 Skinny? Was skinny? Okay? Do you remember what he was wearing? 144 00:13:05,879 --> 00:13:09,120 So he had he over his ears? Honey, okay, I'm going 145 00:13:09,159 --> 00:13:13,320 to give her my jack a coldown please here. And he has glasses, 146 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:20,279 he has glasses. Okay. As Bill asked the little girl questions, they 147 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:26,320 quickly got the description of an average height, skinny white guy with hair over 148 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:30,919 his ears, who wears glasses. Can you ask the little girl where this 149 00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:35,039 wall happened? Where they were picked up? Where the guy got in their 150 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:48,480 assle? Where did this happen? Where did you get picked up? Honey? 151 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,480 Okay? He had a gun, ma'am. She said she was leaving 152 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:58,080 her gymnastics class at the Great Northern Mall when the man pulled out his gun 153 00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:03,279 and pushed his way into their car behind the little girl, and he threatened 154 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:05,960 to kill him. The guns were out and pointed at him. Okay, 155 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,919 was it just one? Mail? Asked him one money, one person or 156 00:14:09,919 --> 00:14:15,840 two? One person? Was one gun? Can you ask for what he 157 00:14:15,919 --> 00:14:24,200 was wearing? You remember what he was wearing? All black, a black 158 00:14:24,279 --> 00:14:31,320 jacket. Maybe from sports authority, your mind doing science medio? Okay. 159 00:14:31,879 --> 00:14:48,399 It was then that the paramedics arrived, followed by the state police. Yet 160 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:58,080 I long ago horned y, all right, I got the deputies. All 161 00:14:58,159 --> 00:15:00,960 right, I'm gonna go ahead and let you go. O. Okay, 162 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:05,399 all right, thank you bye. The police arrived and assessed the situation before 163 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:13,519 pursuing the suspect. Laurie was clinging to life and wouldn't make it through the 164 00:15:13,639 --> 00:15:18,919 night. The culprit was still on the loose, but Bill had kept the 165 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:26,679 little girl safe. This whole ordeal, however, was far from over. 166 00:15:56,399 --> 00:16:03,120 Bill Craig stumbled upon Laurie Bresnahan, stabbed and bloody with her daughter on the 167 00:16:03,279 --> 00:16:10,600 side of a rural road after sunset. The little girl's hands were bound behind 168 00:16:10,679 --> 00:16:15,279 her back. She claimed a man stole their car at gunpoint and hurt them. 169 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,720 Bill relayed as much information to nine one one as he could get from 170 00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:26,279 a wounded Laurie and a traumatized little girl. Once the state police arrived, 171 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:30,879 Bill felt a little bit of relief, like the situation was out of his 172 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:37,519 hands. But that's when he realized what the little girl meant when she said 173 00:16:37,399 --> 00:16:41,600 he hurt me. I know, when I looked at the mail paramedic that 174 00:16:41,639 --> 00:16:45,279 I asked to get out, it was almost like sorrow. I mean, 175 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,279 when I, you know, said I think that you know she's been assaulted, 176 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,080 it was like, are you kidding me? Not only had this man 177 00:16:53,279 --> 00:17:00,639 forced his way into the Bresnahan's car, brandishing a gun and eventually add Laurie, 178 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:07,839 but he had also sexually assaulted the little girl. Trooper Jeff Sikora would 179 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:14,319 be the first officer to arrive on the scene. He was another perfect person 180 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:18,039 to respond to such a tragedy. After nine to eleven, he went to 181 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:22,799 ground zero to do his duty and help, and when he learned that the 182 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:30,039 little girl had been assaulted, he knew this was a significant situation. Initially, 183 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:37,599 I thought that the call, which came out as a carjacking, sexual 184 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,200 assault and stabbing was a hoax. The information that we initially got just didn't 185 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,480 make sense. You know, that doesn't happen up here. It doesn't happen 186 00:17:45,559 --> 00:17:49,960 in our county. The information was that there was a young victim, there 187 00:17:51,039 --> 00:17:56,039 were weapons, and there were injuries. He rushed to the scene, hoping 188 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,279 it was just a hoax. I rolled up right behind the first rescue rick, 189 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:04,319 ran around the truck, and then I found Laurie laying right about here. 190 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,920 She was bleeding heavily. I got right down to her and I asked 191 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:14,319 her, who did this steer And she's still conscious and breathing, and I 192 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,920 know she's alive, and she's looking at me, but she just didn't have 193 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,640 the strength answer. That's when Trooper Sikora met Bill. As silly as this 194 00:18:22,799 --> 00:18:27,160 may sound, in a chaotic situation like that, I saw a confidence in 195 00:18:27,279 --> 00:18:30,960 his eyes, and it made me feel that we're going to be okay. 196 00:18:32,839 --> 00:18:37,920 Bill tells me that there is a little there's a female victim, and he 197 00:18:38,079 --> 00:18:41,759 tells me that she's been sexually assaulted. I said, okay, where is 198 00:18:41,799 --> 00:18:45,799 she? And we opened his car door to find the little girl sitting in 199 00:18:45,839 --> 00:18:51,960 the backseat. She's still bound behind her back. She was severely injured, 200 00:18:52,519 --> 00:18:57,279 but she was still able to tell me the details of her assault, and 201 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:02,279 she gave me a description of this suspect. She gave me a description of 202 00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:07,119 the weapons that were used. He told me to stay with the girl, 203 00:19:07,079 --> 00:19:12,920 and I wasn't leaving her anyways. So if he would have, well, 204 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,039 I shouldn't say that if you, if you would have told me to go, 205 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,559 I probably would into or at least I would have resisted a little bit. 206 00:19:18,599 --> 00:19:21,720 But I was not leaving her side. She and I, in the 207 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:30,599 small amount of time, had developed a trust bond and she didn't want me 208 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:36,799 to leave her side. Witness and protector Bill stayed with the little girl as 209 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,720 officers began to search for the suspect and paramedics tried to save Laurie. The 210 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:52,480 way he approached this scene, secured this scene, did an assessment of everything 211 00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:56,599 that was going on, and then was able to go ahead and relay information 212 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:02,880 and then hand off the information he had to another team member, and then 213 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:10,359 he led the pursuit and the woods Officer Sakora just happened to be the canine 214 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:15,039 officer in the area, so he was primed to pursue the man into the 215 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,480 woods at night. I was able to get my canine partner out along with 216 00:20:19,079 --> 00:20:26,920 super House and super Hunt and Deputy Joe Strom and Deputy Bloodgood. They provided 217 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,680 cover for me because we knew that this guy was still armed, We knew 218 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:33,319 that this guy was desperate, we knew what he was capable of, and 219 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,640 I'm sure any one of these guys would tell you that we fully expected to 220 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,119 be shot at that night. Even with the assumption of danger, those officers 221 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:45,359 felt the necessity for the suspect to answer for what he had done, So 222 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,640 the three officers took off into the woods. It's pitch black out here. 223 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,200 We're using flashlights, so he knows we're coming. We just don't know where 224 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:57,960 he's at. We don't know if he's going to jump out and start shooting. 225 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,599 It's dark and the officer can't see pass the end of their flashlight beams, 226 00:21:03,759 --> 00:21:10,279 but the night is still, and the dog caught a scent immediately. 227 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:17,559 They tracked the man through the high brush woods and over a railroad. Occasionally 228 00:21:17,759 --> 00:21:22,160 they could see footprints in the snow and mud, so they knew they were 229 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:26,880 on the right track. By this time, every police officer, deputy, 230 00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:33,480 and trooper is converging on the area. We end up tracking through the woods 231 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,200 and then we come down our plank road and as we're coming down, Investigator 232 00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:41,759 dar Sign sees the subject running down the road, at which point he turns 233 00:21:41,799 --> 00:21:48,759 around and follows him down Room fifty seven. Not catching him wasn't an option. 234 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,759 We knew what he had done, we knew what he was capable of, 235 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,759 and chances are he would do it again, so we knew how important 236 00:21:57,759 --> 00:22:00,759 it was to catch him. Point as we come out into this field, 237 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,960 not only is my dog right on the scent, but now I can see 238 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:11,599 some footprints and some of the mud and snow and whatnot, and the footprints 239 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,920 come right down, so the mailbox. That's right here in front of us, 240 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:29,160 turning control hite mail going found foot on the gap in self, point 241 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:36,359 and turn around and offer consumer by the irradiate okay. Running down the road 242 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:44,079 unto an officer in an unmarked police car saw a man matching the description running 243 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:48,400 down Route fifty seven, not far from for Plank Road. He turned around, 244 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,799 raced back to the man, stopped the car blocking his way forward, 245 00:22:53,559 --> 00:23:00,000 dived out of the vehicle, and tackled him without incident. Other officers arrived 246 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:04,119 quickly to find the man face down in the snow, his hands cuffed behind 247 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:18,559 his back. The man was quiet and calm, too calm for having just 248 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:23,079 been slammed to the ground. He claimed he was just coming from a friend's 249 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,119 house down the road. It was an obvious lie, as he couldn't tell 250 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:32,759 them where his friend's house was or where he was going. Also, he 251 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:37,920 fit the description given by the little girl to a t, and even had 252 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:59,440 scratches across his face. Hurt, he didn't speak except monosyllabically to answer the 253 00:23:59,559 --> 00:24:08,599 question of officers a word. They searched him to find him empty handed except 254 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:14,359 for some car keys. He was unarmed, with no gun no knife, 255 00:24:14,599 --> 00:24:18,160 no phone, no wallet, and no idea. So yeah, I'll find 256 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:29,480 yourself carcase. Who's wallet? Who's wallet? I don't have a lot um 257 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:38,039 um If you couldn't hear what he said in that inordinate pause, he said 258 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:45,599 of friends, but they were actually the keys to Laurie's car. He was 259 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:51,359 caught red handed, but still he didn't want to cooperate. He refused to 260 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,319 give the officers his name. I'm pretty sure we talked before we met before, 261 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:59,440 so because not seeing you before, I don't aware, maybe fifty seven, 262 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:06,759 but i've seen you, I don't know, so you name. His 263 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:11,000 face was hard to forget. He kind of had a perpetual dumb look on 264 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:17,000 his face. But it wasn't his fault. He had a birth defect that 265 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:22,519 left him with a rather large bump or hump on the right side of his 266 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,400 face. One of his eyes was noticeably lower than the other, and his 267 00:25:26,599 --> 00:25:33,480 mouth was well off center. In the back of the car, he barely 268 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,599 spoke for a long time. He kind of answered questions, but none that 269 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:44,480 were actually important, like what's your name? I mean he knew that they 270 00:25:44,599 --> 00:25:48,680 knew what he had done. What's use the alphabet? What's the first letter, 271 00:25:49,759 --> 00:26:02,480 did you want David D? John? Gave him sure, yet, 272 00:26:02,519 --> 00:26:15,880 name our aid and theater. Finally he gave them his name, David John 273 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:22,160 Wren's. He was a twenty nine year old man who lived with his mom. 274 00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:26,839 Why is that a common theme? He was dressed in all black. 275 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:33,279 He was light complexed and had hair down to his ears, and he was 276 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,680 skinny. But he differed from the original description in height. He was quite 277 00:26:37,759 --> 00:26:44,359 short, only about five foot four inches tall. Also, he was clearly 278 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:48,319 Asian, not white. But when officers showed a picture of him to the 279 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:55,480 little girl, she began to sob. She was sure it was the man 280 00:26:56,519 --> 00:27:03,960 who hurt her. Never kind of rest before richer Alan Runchmali emergency. Yes, 281 00:27:03,559 --> 00:27:07,519 I'm calling because I'm trying to get right on a call. He has 282 00:27:07,799 --> 00:27:11,920 um one of d He was supposed to be at nine o'clock. He has 283 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,960 one of those um honoring these vices on his leg. Can we track yet? 284 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:21,559 Can we find out where he is? Your name Jathleene Ran. When 285 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:26,519 Kathleen Wren's got home from work, she was worried that her son wasn't already 286 00:27:26,559 --> 00:27:33,720 there. What's your son name, David Ran? How old is this at 287 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:37,640 twenty nine. It's a light wall. Are you planning to see a light 288 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:45,079 wall? A white nail? He's Categoriental chat Asian. Do you know how 289 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,599 long he's been down for? You know, I don't well. I came 290 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:52,559 home he was from He was called wall how response? His cellphone is still 291 00:27:52,640 --> 00:28:00,200 here here and so I'm home? What's up? Fall? He was arrested 292 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:07,480 by FBI agents. So he's supposed to be home by nine o'clock. He 293 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:12,880 got a house lost. It's not really color. You go wherever he wants, 294 00:28:14,079 --> 00:28:18,119 you know what, He's appposed to be within stavicinities and stuff with kids 295 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:23,559 and all that, but not supposed to be in certain vicinities and stuff with 296 00:28:23,839 --> 00:28:30,200 kids and all that. This vague statement from his mother was an understatement. 297 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:36,400 Not only was David RN's prohibited from being around kids, he had to quit 298 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:41,359 his job at a local grocery store because kids were sometimes customers, and his 299 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:48,079 computer usage was monitored by federal software. You see, he had been arrested 300 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:55,960 in January of that year by the FBI for you guessed it, child pornography. 301 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:02,440 He was released to await trial after two days in custody. The only 302 00:29:02,559 --> 00:29:07,119 thing keeping him honest was a GPS monitor on his ankle, something that was 303 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:12,599 supposed to account for dangerous people. But before that he was, by all 304 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:19,240 accounts, a good person. He graduated from East Syracuse Minoah High School and 305 00:29:19,359 --> 00:29:26,839 attended several colleges, eventually graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor in Arts in 306 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:33,039 Computer science from the State University of New York. He even rose to the 307 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,400 level of front and supervisor before having to quit the grocery store. He did 308 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:41,599 have a couple of setbacks in his life, though His father died when he 309 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:47,559 was nine, a hard thing to deal with at any age, but also 310 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:52,880 Wrens had been born with a birth defect. His jaw was fused at birth, 311 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:57,400 and he had undergone several surgeries in his life to correct it, yet 312 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:07,680 his face remained noticeably disfigured. Later, the Onondaga County District Attorney would reveal 313 00:30:07,839 --> 00:30:12,400 details about his crimes during a press conference in forming the public of the grand 314 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:18,119 jury indictment. This morning, an Onondaga County grand jury has returned a thirty 315 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:23,640 seven count indictment in front of Judge Anthony Alloy against twenty nine year old David 316 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:29,559 Rens. Forty seven year old Lorie Bresnahan and ten year old Jane Doe, 317 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,480 a child whose identity is known to the grand jury, left a gymnastics practice 318 00:30:33,599 --> 00:30:38,200 class at the Great Northern Mall in the town of Clay. David Rens, 319 00:30:38,279 --> 00:30:42,079 it is alleged, followed Laurie and the child to their car and a parking 320 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:47,440 lot. At that point, he brandished what appeared to be a pistol and 321 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:52,400 forced his way into Laurie's car and directed her to drive to a remote area 322 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:57,440 of the parking lot behind the mall. In the parking lot, he used 323 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:03,119 twist ties to bound Laurie's hands behind her back, and then he made the 324 00:31:03,279 --> 00:31:07,480 ten year old child remove her clothes and put on a pair of pantyhose that 325 00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:12,000 he had brought with him. He then tied her hands as well, behind 326 00:31:12,119 --> 00:31:18,440 her back. It is further alleged that Wrens cut a hole in the panty 327 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:23,000 hose and began a sexual assault on Jane Doe. Jane Doe, as the 328 00:31:23,079 --> 00:31:30,319 little girl was referred to, suffered extensive injuries from the assault and needed a 329 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:34,799 blood transfusion and surgery to repair the damage. It is further alleged by the 330 00:31:34,839 --> 00:31:38,839 grand jury that the defendant drove the victim's car out of the parking lot and 331 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:44,839 eventually stopped on for Plank Road, which is just north of great More Northern 332 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,839 Mall, and the car became stuck in the snow on the side of the 333 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:53,079 road. The grand jury found that at dead point, mister Wrens attacked Laurie, 334 00:31:53,559 --> 00:31:57,400 began to strangle her with his hands, and then attempted to tie her 335 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,720 head to the headrest at the passenger seat of the car with cable ties. 336 00:32:02,359 --> 00:32:07,839 Laurie put up an extensive struggle that ties broke several times, and at this 337 00:32:08,039 --> 00:32:14,440 time Laurie told Jane Doe to run and get out of the car. Although 338 00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:19,440 Jane had her hands tied behind her back, she was able to open the 339 00:32:19,519 --> 00:32:22,759 back door. It's a very extraordinary young girl, and she ran away. 340 00:32:23,359 --> 00:32:27,759 As she ran away, she noticed that Laurie was able to break free and 341 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,960 escape from the car, and at that point Jane observed Wren's chasing Laurie around 342 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:37,839 the car. Laurie's cause of death was six stab wounds to the chest and 343 00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:45,160 head, with a contributory cause of strangulation. Thankfully, Jane hadn't witnessed Laurie 344 00:32:45,839 --> 00:32:51,079 being stabbed. She had already suffered so much. The defendant had the keys 345 00:32:51,119 --> 00:32:53,759 to the victim's car in his pocket. He had blood on his pants, 346 00:32:54,079 --> 00:33:00,319 on his underwear, and on his genitals. The New York State Police today 347 00:33:00,359 --> 00:33:06,319 search warrant and rends his home and found several CDs and DVDs that contained child 348 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:12,960 pornography. The pornography they found depicted the same violent act that Rends carried out 349 00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:20,559 against Little Jane. Also among the discs of child porn, officers found a 350 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:28,000 package of children's pantyhose and a receipt for zip ties. Also a receipt for 351 00:33:28,079 --> 00:33:35,359 a Baretta's style pellet gun. The gun he used wasn't even real. There 352 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:40,000 are numerous murder counts. To be clear, they alleged intentional murder in the 353 00:33:40,119 --> 00:33:46,920 first degree and that requires an intentional murder along with the commission of another felony. 354 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:52,400 There are four counts of murder in the first degree. The four underlying 355 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:59,039 felonies are kidnapping, rape, criminal sexual act, and sexual abuse. There 356 00:33:59,119 --> 00:34:04,359 are also murder second accounts contained in the indictment. There are charges of kidnapping, 357 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:09,519 rape, criminal sexual act, and sexual abuse. Are also possession of 358 00:34:09,599 --> 00:34:15,559 weapons charges. The only thing that could even be considered good news out of 359 00:34:15,639 --> 00:34:23,360 this situation was the little girl's fortitude and the kindness of two men who stopped 360 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:28,000 to help. The one thing that I did take away from it is that 361 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:37,920 Laurie died really saving Jane Doe. There's no question that she attempted to distract 362 00:34:37,159 --> 00:34:43,320 ends so that little Jane could get away. She is, she was a 363 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:47,440 she was an outstanding witness, and she will be an outstanding witness of trials. 364 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:54,480 She has a very very good recollection of what happened. She's an extraordinary 365 00:34:54,480 --> 00:35:00,800 little girl. I don't have any doubt in my mind that we would be 366 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:06,039 here discussing an indictment for the murder of Laurie Bresnahan and the murder of Jane 367 00:35:06,079 --> 00:35:09,000 Doe where it not for those two gentlemen. I have spoken to the State 368 00:35:09,079 --> 00:35:15,599 Police. My office and the State Police will both presenting as small a token 369 00:35:15,679 --> 00:35:19,800 as it seems, with an award the next month. Needless to say, 370 00:35:20,679 --> 00:35:24,519 the reveal of the details of the case did little to quell the fear and 371 00:35:24,679 --> 00:35:32,800 outrage the public was feeling. They rightfully didn't understand how someone already charged with 372 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:39,239 possession of child porn was allowed to commit murder, and more importantly, how 373 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:45,599 someone like him was allowed probation in the first place. Have you checked up 374 00:35:45,639 --> 00:35:51,360 on the decisions your elected officials are making lately? You might want to do 375 00:35:51,519 --> 00:35:57,320 that. Then, to make matters even worse, a woman came forward with 376 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:02,440 information about Renz's path past. A woman who wishes to remain anonymous, says 377 00:36:02,599 --> 00:36:07,840 Wrens and an accomplice sexually molested her in nineteen ninety nine when she was nine 378 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:12,079 years old. Because Rens was fifteen at the time, the case was handled 379 00:36:12,119 --> 00:36:16,159 in family court and the records were sealed, and criminal trials, the judge 380 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:23,039 often considers a defendant's past criminal record when making judgments, but crimes committed while 381 00:36:23,079 --> 00:36:31,760 a minor are often sealed and therefore inaccessible. No, I can't comment specifically 382 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:37,599 on the details. But there was a juvenile record at the time which was 383 00:36:37,679 --> 00:36:40,239 sealed, and it was sealed at the time of the bail hearing, and 384 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:45,639 to get those records unsealed usually takes some time and motions before a court to 385 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:52,920 obtain that information was obtainable time was that hearing. No. No, in 386 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:57,199 the timeframe of the hearing, it would not have been and that's not uncommon 387 00:36:57,239 --> 00:37:00,639 to have juvenile records that are sealed that come up with respect the defendants. 388 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:05,679 Well, when it comes to a case where you're dealing with a child printer, 389 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:10,559 okay, even if it's pornography, you know, should those juvenile records 390 00:37:10,679 --> 00:37:15,320 be automatically un sealed so that prior to a hearing of this nature, a 391 00:37:15,519 --> 00:37:20,280 judge and everybody has a full awareness of the situation. Jim, that's a 392 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:23,599 good question and one perhaps that the state legislature should take up in terms of 393 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:29,280 modifying the current procedures, I want to wait in in a couple of things. 394 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:31,440 First of all, in America, you have a constitutional right to be 395 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:36,039 a knit wi all right. And some of the things that I read about 396 00:37:36,119 --> 00:37:40,119 Judge Andrew Baxter were completely inappropriate and out a line. He made a judgment 397 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:44,760 call based on all of the events, and he didn't just say okay, 398 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:47,480 mister Wren's walk out of the courtroom and promise to come back. He listened 399 00:37:47,519 --> 00:37:52,039 to both sides. He made the guy wear an ankle bracea that he restricted 400 00:37:52,119 --> 00:37:55,639 him. But to criticize Judge Baxter for what he did in this case, 401 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:00,760 if someone has a crystal ball and know that someone's going to go from Decon 402 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:06,119 five to Deacon one in three weeks. Please share that with me so that 403 00:38:06,199 --> 00:38:07,599 I can take it over to federal court and I can give it out to 404 00:38:07,639 --> 00:38:12,360 all the judges in Onondaga County as well. Okay, here's the crystal ball. 405 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:19,960 You ready, You're ready? Here it is don't let petos out of 406 00:38:20,199 --> 00:38:24,440 prison? Okay. An alternative is, why don't you just shut up and 407 00:38:24,599 --> 00:38:29,320 let us do our job and let the facts come out. You cannot read 408 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:35,440 the facts of this case and not start crying. You just can't. There's 409 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:39,119 no reason in the world why the DA's office, State Police US Attorney should 410 00:38:39,159 --> 00:38:43,599 jump through hoops to find out about what somebody did when they were the precious 411 00:38:43,679 --> 00:38:50,159 age of fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen. The realization that Ren's committed such 412 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:57,480 heinous crimes less than nine weeks after being released from jail awaiting trial for federal 413 00:38:57,639 --> 00:39:05,039 child pornography charges didn't sit well with the public at large, especially when they 414 00:39:05,199 --> 00:39:09,719 learned that he had previously been charged with molesting a nine year old with an 415 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:17,440 accomplice. But all that outrage aside, how did this person under twenty four 416 00:39:17,519 --> 00:39:23,559 hour GPS monitoring by a federal agency. A federal agency, by the way, 417 00:39:23,599 --> 00:39:30,639 that monitors you and me every day, drive miles from home to stock, 418 00:39:30,119 --> 00:39:37,559 kidnap, assault Jane, and murder Lorie. How was he not stopped? 419 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:45,519 Well, the answer to that question will piss you off all over again. 420 00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:52,119 You see, three years earlier, the federal probation officers in Syracuse are 421 00:39:52,199 --> 00:39:59,119 trying to get used to the new Execute Track one ankle bracelet. As you 422 00:39:59,239 --> 00:40:05,039 might expect, the device reported the wearer's location all the time, but it 423 00:40:05,159 --> 00:40:12,519 also reported tampering. It used an infrared beam in the locking mechanism to detect 424 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:17,760 tampering. If someone removed the bracelet, the beam would be broken and officers 425 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:24,400 would be alerted. The problem was that they weren't all that great and actually 426 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:30,880 quite fragile, and alerts were going off all the time. Too many alerts 427 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:37,960 to respond to, especially when a lot of them were false alarms. Probation 428 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:46,840 Officer Mark Walker called the manufacturer in twenty ten asking for advice because you had 429 00:40:47,559 --> 00:41:00,639 actually another one coals but I hadn't come. My officers are getting liability. 430 00:41:00,239 --> 00:41:05,400 Oh yeah, yep. I don't know what what to do here? What 431 00:41:06,119 --> 00:41:10,199 what I did for another district. Because these are fiber optics. I put 432 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:15,760 in a parameter for the open closed step. You know, if they don't 433 00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:21,480 restore in three minutes or five minutes, but then they would be notified. 434 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:28,079 Then I put some in for five minutes. Yeah, okay, even mine 435 00:41:28,119 --> 00:41:31,679 that after maybe winkenses the steps figured out, maybe you might want to take 436 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:37,000 out that five minute buffer. Now those on probation were not aware of this, 437 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:42,519 but what that five minute buffer meant was that there would not be an 438 00:41:42,519 --> 00:41:49,000 alert sent to officers unless the infrared beam was broken for longer than five minutes. 439 00:41:50,119 --> 00:41:54,400 Typically, an alert would be sent anytime the beam was broken. Of 440 00:41:54,519 --> 00:42:00,039 course, after Renz's arrest, Mark Walker called the manufacturer back to figure out 441 00:42:00,119 --> 00:42:05,320 how this could have happened. It's a smart Walker, give me your curvation. 442 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:09,880 Um, I think it's Persasi. Let you know. Unfortunately we had 443 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:15,559 a Panama and they couldn't no bree want um. David wren he's a lunch 444 00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:21,400 committed a murder at a rape. I'm just trying to I guess reason trying 445 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:25,800 to evaluate what happened here is he could have you know, little those ten 446 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:30,239 when you get them out, and then my fine might have been wooing them 447 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:34,760 out, put him back in and away he went. Looks like this guy 448 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:40,320 probably disconnected reconnected it within a minute, and that's why it was the delay. 449 00:42:40,599 --> 00:42:46,039 And yeah, I think it's the small possibilities that what he could have 450 00:42:46,079 --> 00:42:52,599 done it was to um back or something. Yeah, I mean anything that 451 00:42:52,639 --> 00:42:55,280 would hold out. I mean even if you could squeeze it close enough, 452 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,960 and you know sometimes you don't know actually need the pen to keep it clothe. 453 00:43:00,519 --> 00:43:02,039 Even if he did that, it wouldn't have to have a pack in 454 00:43:02,119 --> 00:43:05,719 it, just so the light goes through that back. I mean, you 455 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:09,559 could set a two sick pen. Whatever the ort to begin family to the 456 00:43:09,599 --> 00:43:15,119 actual pans you mention to put that back in right, anything that holds that 457 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:21,559 buckle cloth over the lights through. In an attempt to mitigate false alarms, 458 00:43:21,639 --> 00:43:25,880 they had extended the amount of time before a tempor alert was sent to probation 459 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:34,000 officers. In theory, an offender with determination could disassemble the ankle monitor, 460 00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:38,800 remove it from their leg, and reassemble it without alerting the authorities, as 461 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:45,480 long as they did it under five minutes. And that is exactly what Rens 462 00:43:45,679 --> 00:43:52,440 did, just not at first. It all started on his release date. 463 00:43:52,519 --> 00:43:58,280 When he was first outfitted with the monitor. When this was device was first 464 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:01,599 put on your ankle, were you able to watch him do it? Yes? 465 00:44:02,559 --> 00:44:07,239 You would think that you wouldn't let someone you were trying to track watch 466 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:13,159 exactly how to install the monitor, but they did a short time later, 467 00:44:13,239 --> 00:44:19,559 Rens accidentally damaged the device. The next morning they called the provision department, 468 00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:24,119 sofish mister Aflano told him the events who told me to come into the office 469 00:44:24,199 --> 00:44:30,119 to get it basically retired, which I did. I stepped in a narrow 470 00:44:30,239 --> 00:44:37,679 place and got it caught mister Traflano make a repair. Yes, did you 471 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:44,639 watch him do it? Yes. After witnessing the installation and repair of the 472 00:44:44,800 --> 00:44:50,679 GPS monitor, this computer science major started trying to figure out how to disassemble 473 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,960 it himself. He couldn't work, so he had a lot of time to 474 00:44:54,039 --> 00:44:59,320 figure it out while his mother was at work. The first time was just 475 00:44:59,519 --> 00:45:04,360 a test. Did you ever receive a call from the federal government the US 476 00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:10,000 Probation Department? After his successful first attempt, he began doing it more and 477 00:45:10,239 --> 00:45:15,840 more. When you went into Walmart to purchase the air pistol on February twenty 478 00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:22,599 eight, two, thousand and thirteen. Were you wearing the ankle bracelet that 479 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:30,119 was not Where was the ankle bracelet located? It was located at my house. 480 00:45:30,719 --> 00:45:38,039 You purchased these items that we've marked, the receipts, the zip ties, 481 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:45,880 the tights or pantyhose. I think you called them before March fourteen, 482 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:50,800 twenty thirteen. Correct, credit those items. They were all involved in the 483 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:54,920 commission of the crimes. Were here about? Correct? Paul were purchased without 484 00:45:55,039 --> 00:46:00,880 his monitor. The more he did it, the more he did the system, 485 00:46:00,599 --> 00:46:07,360 and the more the system failed. How many times in total would you 486 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:10,199 say that you took the bracelet off? I can only did enough in it, 487 00:46:12,360 --> 00:46:16,800 but I think probably tend to a doesn't Did you feel that you could 488 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:22,559 take the bracelet off whenever you wanted to and not risk having Probation call you. 489 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:29,000 Yes. His only worry was how long he could go with it off. 490 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:35,880 Alerts were also sent if the device was stationary for too long. Since 491 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,280 I didn't know after a limit, I kept it too as short a time 492 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:45,920 as possible. Even with this unknown limit, Rens began living at his leisure. 493 00:46:45,840 --> 00:46:51,440 Was there any role that Probation played by the fact that they were not 494 00:46:52,159 --> 00:46:58,119 contacting you when the tampers would happen, or anything like that that embolden you 495 00:46:58,559 --> 00:47:04,719 to go forward with what eventually happened on March fourteenth, I would say yes, 496 00:47:06,199 --> 00:47:14,039 because of the lack of hers thoughts to certain actions that I knew that 497 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:23,519 or assumed anyways that there was, I had greater freedom. He felt he 498 00:47:23,719 --> 00:47:30,400 had greater freedom. When the probation officers checked the temper alerts that were less 499 00:47:30,519 --> 00:47:37,320 than five minutes, Rens had nearly fifty. And when they found his reassembled 500 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:44,000 monitor at his home, it was held together with an oversized screw and duct 501 00:47:44,039 --> 00:47:50,760 tape. David Rens had been caught trying to fulfill his sick fantasy, the 502 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:58,559 one he fostered through violent child pornography, all because he thought he could get 503 00:47:58,599 --> 00:48:05,280 away with it, even under the watchful eye of probation officers. The only 504 00:48:05,360 --> 00:48:10,079 questions that remained were how he would plead and whether or not he would get 505 00:48:10,159 --> 00:48:45,760 the death penalty or just life in prison. On Large Soldiers Shows Down thirteen 506 00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:51,440 imploy nine years old, drilled my car into the parking lot of the Great 507 00:48:51,559 --> 00:48:57,159 Order Wall and the town of play On and IgA tell me there I left 508 00:48:57,199 --> 00:49:01,039 my car and entered into another car pus by Lawyer Drives in hand and a 509 00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:06,800 ten year old Tunld child. I shrikened both of theocutants of the car, 510 00:49:07,079 --> 00:49:12,559 which the tallest gun that looks like a real handgun, and directing Lawyer Dress 511 00:49:12,559 --> 00:49:16,639 to hand to drive to a remote loth park and parking lot. Once there, 512 00:49:17,039 --> 00:49:22,639 I restrained both Lorie Drives to hand and the child's hands without their consent, 513 00:49:22,119 --> 00:49:28,159 so that they could not escape or resist. I used it nice to 514 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:32,559 cut a hole and the child's clothing and proceeded to head ton instu Vagina's sexually 515 00:49:32,679 --> 00:49:38,079 enforce art. Immediately after, I drove the car out of the mall parking 516 00:49:38,159 --> 00:49:44,559 lot and eventually ended up on her plank road in the town play und dot 517 00:49:44,679 --> 00:49:49,920 is becoming under plane road. I intentionally caused a dash with Lorie Dress to 518 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:53,840 hand, but I repeatedly stauting here in the head chest which are nice, 519 00:49:54,119 --> 00:50:01,719 and attacking the strained older while she was restrained. I do not fully understand 520 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:07,679 what legend to conditus crimes the lusion as I did. An explanation is not 521 00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:13,320 in justification, nor has it less of my responsibilities for what I had done. 522 00:50:14,519 --> 00:50:17,039 I am truly sorry. For my actions, and I am prepared to 523 00:50:17,159 --> 00:50:23,239 accept a constquesss Toora. I also advise he is guilty, I will be 524 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:29,119 able to bring a closure to a victim and their family, and stared on 525 00:50:29,360 --> 00:50:34,960 to reveal on the trial. He pleaded guilty to avoid trial and spare young 526 00:50:35,119 --> 00:50:40,599 Jane Doe and the rest of the Bresnahan family the trauma of reliving that event. 527 00:50:42,679 --> 00:50:45,639 It was a generous play, even though he claimed he didn't know why 528 00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:51,400 he actually carried it out. He could have pleaded not guilty and made everyone 529 00:50:51,559 --> 00:50:55,400 involved go to trial, but he knew that his only chance set life in 530 00:50:55,519 --> 00:51:00,760 prison rather than death was to throw himself at the mercy of the court. 531 00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:09,480 As mother Kathleen emotionally expressed her remorse for what had happened because of her son. 532 00:51:10,320 --> 00:51:15,760 My heart goes out to the prisoner hand family. We are praying for 533 00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:22,719 God's comfort, healing and restoration for everyone who's been affected by this tragic event, 534 00:51:22,960 --> 00:51:29,639 especially the young girl. I pray that your hearts will be filled with 535 00:51:29,840 --> 00:51:36,679 God's peace. Phaps is all understanding, and his lawyer reinforced that sentiment. 536 00:51:37,320 --> 00:51:42,920 His family is remorseful. He is remorseful, and this is a terrible event, 537 00:51:43,400 --> 00:51:46,400 and that's our whole goal here, is to demonstrate that he's remorseful for 538 00:51:46,440 --> 00:51:52,320 what happened. We're hopeful that they'll see that it's not necessary that mister Wrens 539 00:51:52,360 --> 00:51:55,679 will be in prison for the rest of his life, and that trying to 540 00:51:55,679 --> 00:52:01,440 seek the death penalty for this event is as real purpose. When people saw 541 00:52:01,559 --> 00:52:08,079 Wrens in court, they couldn't imagine how he could be responsible, even though 542 00:52:08,119 --> 00:52:13,199 they knew he was. I did get to know it him, and I 543 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,480 got to interview and learn about a lot of other people who've known David for 544 00:52:16,559 --> 00:52:21,840 a long time, and as I got to know him, I understood why 545 00:52:22,719 --> 00:52:30,599 anyone I talked to about him were shocked by the activity this conduct of this 546 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:36,599 day was not what most people thought. David Rens. You know, I 547 00:52:36,679 --> 00:52:43,719 do have this feeling of you're kidding me. This is the guy that committed 548 00:52:43,800 --> 00:52:50,039 this horrible, horrible act, cause so much heartache for Laurie's family, and 549 00:52:50,360 --> 00:52:53,440 has scarred this little girl for the rest of her life, and you know, 550 00:52:53,559 --> 00:52:57,480 has affected everybody in this community. Nobody's ever going to go to a 551 00:52:58,119 --> 00:53:00,840 place with their daughter at them all the same way for the foreseeable future. 552 00:53:01,280 --> 00:53:04,880 And you look at him, I don't know what does he five for. 553 00:53:05,360 --> 00:53:12,760 He's obviously has some serious physical disfigurement. It just doesn't It's almost beyond description. 554 00:53:13,559 --> 00:53:19,920 I think that when you have someone who's as evil as that individual, 555 00:53:20,079 --> 00:53:22,519 I mean, I don't think it really matters if you're five foot four or 556 00:53:22,679 --> 00:53:27,159 six foot four, or two hundred pounds or one hundred pounds. I mean, 557 00:53:27,239 --> 00:53:30,400 when you're that committed to commit such heinous acts, you're going to do 558 00:53:30,480 --> 00:53:34,800 whatever you can, no matter what you're building. Child pornography is clearly becoming 559 00:53:34,800 --> 00:53:38,360 an epidemic in our country, and we need to wake up. Everything learned 560 00:53:38,440 --> 00:53:45,119 about Rends would be taken into consideration at a sentencing, but also all the 561 00:53:45,239 --> 00:53:52,880 pain he caused. Thoughts of Laurie's loving spirit warm my heart. But the 562 00:53:52,039 --> 00:54:00,159 picture of Laurie's smile means you're smile eyes every time I see it. His 563 00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:07,119 act was so horrendous that Judge confessed his trust in God was shaken. I 564 00:54:07,199 --> 00:54:12,960 think people are still struggling to understand. We're explaining unimaginable horror. Do you 565 00:54:13,119 --> 00:54:20,440 quite obviously upon to the sailing, solve the little rules innocence and you rob 566 00:54:20,639 --> 00:54:27,480 her or youth. A thirty year old veteran court reporter who happened to be 567 00:54:27,599 --> 00:54:31,039 Laurie's cousin, said, for the first time in his career, did he 568 00:54:31,159 --> 00:54:38,119 truly understand the pain of victims families? This today closed the book on a 569 00:54:38,679 --> 00:54:47,400 criminal court proceeding. It doesn't provide one iota of closure for the sorrow and 570 00:54:47,519 --> 00:54:53,360 the grief that we're going through, and I'm not sure that that that'll ever 571 00:54:53,440 --> 00:55:00,679 go away. Frends would be sentenced to life in prison without parole, and 572 00:55:00,840 --> 00:55:06,400 because he waved his right to appeal, that would be forever his fate. 573 00:55:07,159 --> 00:55:10,639 I just want to say that we're really glad that a final decision was made 574 00:55:10,800 --> 00:55:15,679 and that we're pleased with the decision to not pursue the death penalty. It's 575 00:55:15,679 --> 00:55:19,280 a great Britain lifted, you know, not only for the sake of my 576 00:55:19,400 --> 00:55:24,159 son, but more importantly for Jindo who now won't have to testify and relive 577 00:55:24,360 --> 00:55:30,119 that perfixx cerience. I want to say that it's been brought to a close 578 00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:36,599 as far as State Court is concerned. The defendant has waived appeal. He 579 00:55:36,719 --> 00:55:39,800 will be sentenced to life without parole. There is no equivocation about that. 580 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:45,519 There's there's no games, there's no gimmicks, there's no way he can ever 581 00:55:45,599 --> 00:55:49,199 appear in front of a parole board. He will come out of prison in 582 00:55:49,280 --> 00:55:53,360 a pine box. Little Jane was well taken care of. After that, 583 00:55:54,400 --> 00:56:00,320 the Presdenthan family filed a lawsuit against the US government for their clear lack of 584 00:56:00,559 --> 00:56:07,039 due diligence and was awarded a five million dollars settlement. Three point seven million 585 00:56:07,119 --> 00:56:14,639 dollars went into a trust for Little Jane. Right now, she is surrounded 586 00:56:14,760 --> 00:56:22,599 by an incredibly nurturing, loving, supportive environment. There are numerous people, 587 00:56:22,679 --> 00:56:28,119 some of whom were in court this morning, that love her and are caring 588 00:56:28,199 --> 00:56:32,480 for her, making sure that she gets proper counseling if necessary. I am 589 00:56:32,599 --> 00:56:38,480 told that she's very, very energetic, that she's resilient, that she is 590 00:56:39,039 --> 00:56:49,360 one incredible, resilient, bright, tough individual. And I would be remiss 591 00:56:49,480 --> 00:56:52,440 if I didn't mention to the people in this room. I know that most 592 00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:55,159 of you, if not all of you, know who she is. And 593 00:56:58,239 --> 00:57:02,079 I don't know that another community's media would have reacted this way, that somebody 594 00:57:02,199 --> 00:57:07,000 might have tried to sneak up on her and get a picture or an interview. 595 00:57:07,639 --> 00:57:14,480 You have been very, very fastidious in protecting her identity, and I 596 00:57:14,519 --> 00:57:19,840 appreciate that very much. And I think she'll I think she'll do okay. 597 00:57:20,159 --> 00:57:24,239 I think she'll do okay. Now, over ten years later, she is 598 00:57:24,320 --> 00:57:30,920 more than twenty years old, and this whole time Bill has been fighting to 599 00:57:30,119 --> 00:57:37,960 keep his promise to Laurie and make sure nothing like this ever happens again. 600 00:57:37,719 --> 00:57:43,239 If you remember where you were on March fourteenth, as the scrolls on the 601 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:47,960 bottom of the news or your show or whatever you were watching talk about carjacking 602 00:57:49,039 --> 00:57:54,679 and clay, or you watch the eleven o'clock news and you see how bad 603 00:57:54,760 --> 00:57:58,800 this is, and then the next day you hear even how much worse it 604 00:57:58,960 --> 00:58:01,920 is, and then the file following days you hear how horrific and heinous this 605 00:58:02,199 --> 00:58:10,679 was. I think Laurie deserves to know why an individual like this was given 606 00:58:10,679 --> 00:58:16,480 an electric monitoring device. And also, what could is a program like that 607 00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:22,599 if you're going to have forty six alerts go off? What could is a 608 00:58:22,679 --> 00:58:27,440 program like that if you're not going to follow up on it. If the 609 00:58:27,480 --> 00:58:32,159 alerts were sent and the probation officers would have done their job, they would 610 00:58:32,199 --> 00:58:36,760 have even checked on them at his house. I'm not even saying that night 611 00:58:36,840 --> 00:58:39,280 that they could put an electric fence around this man, but they would have 612 00:58:39,360 --> 00:58:45,800 seen that that device had been tampered with. What I want from state lawmakers 613 00:58:45,559 --> 00:58:57,079 is I want them to provide an opportunity for district attorney's offices judges to be 614 00:58:57,199 --> 00:59:02,880 able in certain cases. We're not going to broad brush everybody, but in 615 00:59:04,000 --> 00:59:14,039 cases of sexual offenders violent crimes, they should have the right to call up 616 00:59:14,320 --> 00:59:20,400 your family courts where these are sealed, and say does this Does this individual 617 00:59:20,559 --> 00:59:25,599 have this type of offense in their background? And until we as a community 618 00:59:27,440 --> 00:59:35,760 together push this agenda Ford, it may go on deaf ears and and we 619 00:59:35,920 --> 00:59:52,880 can't let that happen. Bill is still advocating for change and how the government 620 00:59:52,000 --> 01:00:00,519 handles pre trial release. Unfortunately, Trooper Sikora, who had become friends with 621 01:00:00,639 --> 01:00:06,559 Bill, never got to see this progress. He retired in twenty seventeen, 622 01:00:06,760 --> 01:00:14,079 and in twenty nineteen he succumbed to lung cancer he developed after his exposure at 623 01:00:14,159 --> 01:00:21,119 Ground Zero. David Rens was sick and had been from a young age. 624 01:00:22,320 --> 01:00:28,599 His obsession for child pornography, likely stemming from what can be assumed was his 625 01:00:28,679 --> 01:00:35,280 only sexual encounter when he molested a nine year old, fueled his unrequited urges 626 01:00:36,199 --> 01:00:42,679 as an adult. Sure he was otherwise a good student and a decent employee, 627 01:00:43,559 --> 01:00:47,159 but only because he kept the darkest part of him secret from everyone. 628 01:00:49,360 --> 01:00:54,119 If the courts had been allowed to see his sealed juvenile record, maybe he 629 01:00:54,239 --> 01:01:00,840 would have not been given probation. If the probation office had paid attention to 630 01:01:00,920 --> 01:01:06,880 the alerts and checked on him, maybe he would have never entertained the idea. 631 01:01:07,079 --> 01:01:15,960 But they didn't because of laziness. If the ankle monitor manufacturer had focused 632 01:01:16,000 --> 01:01:22,920 on building a decent product instead of the cheapest one they could for the most 633 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:30,800 profit, perhaps none of this would have happened, but they didn't because of 634 01:01:30,800 --> 01:01:37,119 and competence. David Wrens said he did what he did only because he thought 635 01:01:37,599 --> 01:01:42,880 he could get away with it, but we all know better than that. 636 01:01:44,239 --> 01:01:51,440 David Wrens was a monster all along, and the only reason he did what 637 01:01:51,639 --> 01:02:12,639 he did was because we as a society allowed him to. All Right, 638 01:02:12,719 --> 01:02:15,360 that's gonna do it. If you like the show, join plus Swordenscale dot 639 01:02:15,440 --> 01:02:50,559 com slash plus. If you don't fuck off and stay safe, Hey, 640 01:02:50,679 --> 01:02:57,159 Mike, I just wanted to let you know that I definitely enjoy your little 641 01:02:58,320 --> 01:03:04,280 opinions that you describe throughout the shows. Don't listen to these dorks that call 642 01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:10,320 and complain about it because they have literally every other true crime podcast to listen 643 01:03:10,400 --> 01:03:16,559 to if they want their little opinions echoed. They also have the corporate media 644 01:03:17,320 --> 01:03:22,880 and the stupid government to agree with them. So let us have this one 645 01:03:22,159 --> 01:03:25,360 podcast and use his best. Thank you right,