WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:10.919 On a warm June morning in nineteen ninety two, a 2 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:15.880 quiet Springfield neighborhood awoke to find three women missing, without 3 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:19.760 a trace, without a sound, and without a single clue. 4 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:25.039 Inside their home sat untouched purses, sleeping beds, and a 5 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:29.519 flickering TV playing static as if time had paused mid moment. 6 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.240 What began as a simple missed call would unravel into 7 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.359 one of the most haunting and enduring mysteries in American 8 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:44.159 true crime history. This is the baffling mystery of the 9 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:46.679 Springfield Three. 10 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.200 My name's Ben, I'm Nicole, and you're listening to Wicked 11 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.240 and Grim, a true crime podcast. 12 00:00:53.640 --> 00:01:01.280 The following podcast and material intended for a mature audience listener. 13 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:22.239 You might be listening to Wicked and Graham, but you're 14 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.319 also listening to Nicole being really sick. 15 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:27.719 I said that intro so quick. I think I was 16 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.480 trying to hide the fact that my voice didn't sound 17 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:31.799 quite proper. 18 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:33.040 You know, just get it out there. 19 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:36.680 You're listening to Wicked and Grip like that. It was 20 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:37.400 really quick, quick. 21 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:40.560 Yeah, but yeah, today's episode is delayed to day so 22 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:42.560 you could get a little bit more rest timing. You 23 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:44.359 napped for like three hours. This afternoon. 24 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.439 Yeah, it was like amazing. That was one of the 25 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.840 best naps I've ever had. But we were traveling too, 26 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.439 and when you're under the weather weather, I don't think 27 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:54.760 flying and stuff does anything good. 28 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.040 For you, you know, No, I don't think so so 29 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.239 so I think that little extra time did you some good. 30 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:01.560 But yeah, that's why we're a little bit late on 31 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.920 uploading this episode. Got to take care of ourselves sometimes. 32 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.640 Right, totally. And I do apologize. My voice always gets 33 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:10.919 so affected any sickness I have, so sorry about that. 34 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.319 It's all good. Just just let me do the heavy lifting. 35 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:14.719 I can do a little more talking and you can 36 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.439 just sit back and relax and drink your tea. 37 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:19.159 Yeah. Right, And if you don't get like your immune 38 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:22.439 system is unbelievable. It is so good. The fact that 39 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:26.439 you haven't gotten this set is like remarkable, very impressed. 40 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:28.840 I had a tickle in my throat yesterday, but I 41 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:29.919 coughed and then it was gone. 42 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.000 Yeah. Well, I mean I guess you still could time 43 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:33.439 could tell. 44 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.199 Yeah, we'll find out. Maybe next time we go to 45 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:38.599 upload an episode. We'll be putting a thing out on 46 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:41.479 our stories on Instagram, Facebook. Yeah, another delay because Ben's 47 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:42.919 sick now and he needs some time. 48 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:45.560 Fingers crossed the knock on wood that doesn't happen. 49 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:48.159 Well, we'll take it day by day. Whether it's your 50 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:51.199 recovery or mine, we'll we'll take it and we'll keep 51 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:52.560 the balls balls. 52 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.680 The ball rolling is rolling. Yeah, day by day. I 53 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.879 feel like that's just how you have to take life. Sometimes. 54 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:02.280 Ah too, Chet, It's actually funny. We had an Instagram 55 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.879 post go I don't want to say viral. It's at 56 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:09.879 like fifty thousand views right now. Well, one of the 57 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.680 cases you know where it was like, oh, the true 58 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:15.000 crime person you know, obsessive and goes in and kills someone, 59 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.560 and then right the irony of the post, it's the 60 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.319 discussion is going wild on people being like, oh my god, 61 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:25.400 like true Crime's not that bad, and people just like 62 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:27.439 on both sides of the fence and they're arguing, like 63 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.840 it's not bad. Do you not see it? This is 64 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:32.080 exactly the breakdown of what we're talking about. Why it's 65 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:34.919 like controversial. Sometimes you guys are literally doing what the 66 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:40.000 post is saying. It's anyways, my point was, yeah, we'll 67 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:43.520 take it, roll by the take it with the punches 68 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.159 and sometimes in a situation where you kind of just 69 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.560 do that. Yeah, because true crimes like that. 70 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:52.719 Yeah, life is like that, you know. 71 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:56.599 I feel like I really over explained that very simple. 72 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.280 Thing I think you did. I was trying to see 73 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.280 you at some point, but I'm like, you're in a 74 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:02.719 way too deep. I can't I don't even know what 75 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:03.639 to take you out of it. 76 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.000 So how don't we just move on to patrons? How 77 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:09.199 about we do that? Just shut up except that I'll 78 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:12.759 thank our patrons. Shout out to Jaden Jones, Britney Stapleton, 79 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:18.759 Tara Banks, d Cindy, Deborah Missey, Brenda w Aaron or 80 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.720 not Aaron, Sorry, Airvin, there's a v in there, and 81 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:25.160 Amanda Woolsey. Thank you so much for signing up over 82 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.040 on Patreon this week. 83 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:27.120 Nice, yeah, thank you. 84 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.439 Yeah. We appreciate you, guys, we sure do. But are 85 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:32.519 you ready for this story? The Springfield three? 86 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:35.839 Yeah? I think this is like a more known one, 87 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:36.959 right a little bit. 88 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.279 It is it is, and it's it is a mystery. 89 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:42.879 I'll tell you guys this right now. 90 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:44.680 Oh wow, real nice? 91 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:46.680 Well, I mean I even said it in the beginning. 92 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:49.240 This is the baffling mystery of the Springfield three. But 93 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:53.160 I just want to clarify. This is a mystery. It's unsolved. 94 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:55.600 So I don't love that, of. 95 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.800 Course you don't. I love mysteries though personally because it 96 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.079 gets the mind thinking it when it's just here's the 97 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:04.720 information and the story told for you. I don't know, 98 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:07.759 it seems like it's an easy ride if you have 99 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.040 to do some thinking, you know, it puts your brain 100 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:11.519 to work, and I like that sometimes. 101 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:14.079 Yeah, and it's nice. I mean, I don't know how 102 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:16.399 this one ends. I know I've heard of it, but 103 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:20.160 to know that people are still working on things too, right, 104 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:24.120 So like there's also the optimism. Is that the right 105 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:27.079 word that you know it maybe could get solved still 106 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:28.759 or something right exactly? 107 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:32.519 So let's dive into it before your voice breaks on 108 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:34.319 us and you can't talk for the rest of the episode. 109 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:34.920 How does that sound? 110 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.800 Sounds good? Midea? 111 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.199 It's all good. My bad for throwing back to you 112 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.720 when you're having a sip. Okay, let's get going. In 113 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:48.319 the early nineteen nineties, Springfield, Missouri, was a growing community 114 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:50.759 nestled in the heart of the Ozarks, a place where 115 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:54.680 people raised families, open small businesses, and left their doors unlocked. 116 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:57.759 At night. Known as the Queen City of the Ozarks, 117 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:01.279 Springfield balanced to charm of a small town with the 118 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:05.319 infrastructure of a regional hub. With a population nearing one 119 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:07.480 hundred and forty thousand at the time, it was a 120 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.759 large enough place to support universities, medical centers, and a 121 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.319 lively town, but small enough that most residents felt like 122 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.519 they knew like their neighbor's sort of situation, right, you 123 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:20.000 know who's living next to you, and you're comfortable with 124 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:20.720 your surroundings. 125 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.399 See, I still feel like that's a fairly large city. 126 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.240 One hundred and forty thousand. That's like not small in 127 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:27.240 my opinion. 128 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.879 It's not, but you still get that there's still pockets 129 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:31.879 of that, you know, that small town feel in it. 130 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:32.319 Yeah. 131 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.399 I guess like we're we're not in a city that large. 132 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.839 We're in a city of eighty thousand, ninety thousand somewhere 133 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.680 in there. And there's a lot of small town vibes here. 134 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.720 True. Okay, yeah, true, But I mean that's like double 135 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:45.079 the size, but still. 136 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:46.879 Still you can imagine there would be some small town 137 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:51.360 vibes and that's it's not going to be everywhere for sure, 138 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.319 but there's going to be places like that. 139 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:54.399 Now. 140 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:57.920 Crime existed, of course, but violent incidents we're seen as 141 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.759 rare and isolated occurrence. The city had a reputation for 142 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.199 being a relatively safe place to live, particularly in its 143 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:09.480 more residential and suburban areas like the Southeast Corridor, where 144 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:13.000 there were modest homes, quiet streets, and community pride painted 145 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.519 a picture of everyday normalcy. In the spring of nineteen 146 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.879 ninety two, the city was busy with high school graduations, 147 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.360 weekend outings, and the anticipation of summer now. For Suzanne 148 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:30.519 or Susie Streeter and Stacy McCall, June sixth, nineteen ninety 149 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.120 two was meant to be one of the most memorable days, 150 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:37.000 memorable days of their lives. Both had just graduated from 151 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:40.959 Kickapoo High School, a major milestone, you know, marking the 152 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.360 end of their teenage years and beginning of their adult independence. 153 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:47.240 The ceremony was held at the hem and Student Center 154 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:51.639 in the Missouri State University campus, drawing hundreds of family members, friends, 155 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:55.639 and classmates alike. There was an air of celebration, pride, 156 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:00.720 and relief emotions typical of of course, any graduation. Susie 157 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.519 was nineteen and had long been known for her bright, 158 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.120 bold personality. She had a creative streak, a love of fashion, 159 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.680 and a rebellious edge that led her to explore independence 160 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:13.319 at quite a young age. Had five foot two and 161 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.720 one hundred and two pounds, her shoulder length, bleach blonde hair, 162 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.439 and a scar in her right forearm. She stood out 163 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.360 rather easily when you were looking for her. Though she 164 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:25.000 had had some turbulent moments in her late teens, including 165 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.319 a few strained relationships and move ins in and out 166 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:31.560 of her mother's house. She had plans she was set 167 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:36.759 to attend cosmetology cosmetology school and the fall following in 168 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:37.879 her mother's footsteps. 169 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:38.840 That's awesome. 170 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.720 Stacy McCall eighteen was more reserved than Susie, often described 171 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:47.600 as sweet, funny, and little spacey, earning her the affectionate 172 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.120 nickname Spacey Stacy. 173 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:52.759 Oh my gosh, almost feel like that's kind of mean. 174 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.559 I think it was a little bit more on the 175 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.639 affectionate end when like, I bug you about being a 176 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.799 little ditzy blonde sometimes, right, and it's the same sort 177 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:02.120 of thing. It's done with love. 178 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:04.679 Yeah, And I guess she's like, yeah, that's me. 179 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:08.919 Yeah, exactly own your flaws, right, nobody's perfect, with long, 180 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:12.159 dark blonde hair, blue eyes in a sunny smile. She 181 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:16.200 had recently started modeling, modeling wedding gowns, be more more specific, 182 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.720 at a local bridle shop. She was planning to start 183 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.080 college in Southwest Missouri State University in the fall, rooming 184 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:25.720 with her longtime friend Janelle Kirby and pledging to a 185 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.519 sorority now. She and Susie had once been close in 186 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:32.720 grade school, but they had drifted in their different social 187 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:35.480 circle sort of thing, but they'd recently reconnected in their 188 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:39.799 final year of high school. Susie's mother, Cheryl Levitt, was 189 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.799 forty seven years old and attended her daughter's graduation with 190 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:45.480 quite a bit of pride. She was a petite, hard 191 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:47.919 working woman at five foot tall and one hundred and 192 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.519 ten pounds, with bleached blonde hair and an eye for detail. 193 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:55.360 Cheryl worked as a hairdresser at a local salon. She 194 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.399 recently purchased a small home on East Delmer Street, a modest, 195 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:01.720 cozy place that she was fixing up all on her own. 196 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:05.600 Enjoying a sense of independency after divorce and raising her 197 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:10.840 children largely by herself, Cheryl and Susie had a close 198 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.240 bond despite the occasional tension you know, common between mother 199 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:18.519 and daughter sort of thing, navigating, you know that onset 200 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.519 from a teenage years into adulthood. 201 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.840 Oh yeah, it happens. 202 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.559 After the excitement of graduation, Susie and Stacy headed into 203 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.879 the night with plans typical of any teen marking the 204 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.120 end of high school. You know, parties, laughter, the comfort 205 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.399 of close friends, whether it's bonfires or whatever you find 206 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:39.919 yourself heading to. Right. Initially, the girls intended to spend 207 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:43.600 the night at their friend Janelle Kirby's house in Battlefield. 208 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:46.720 Not an actual battlefield, the place is called Battlefield. It's 209 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:50.440 a quiet suburb southwest of Springfield. Janelle was part of 210 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.360 Stacy's close circle, and her home had become a gathering 211 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.759 place for classmates celebrating their final moments together before summer, 212 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:58.559 and the looming changes. 213 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.879 Came on such a time that I don't know, it's 214 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.799 so precious, really, it really is. It's like just a 215 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:09.120 moment in time that stands still for like a brief moment, 216 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:13.639 but and then yeah, literally everything changes after that, pretty much. 217 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.200 Yeah, like I remember, and luckily enough you and I 218 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.559 got to experience that together, going to to graduation parties 219 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:23.480 and prom together and everything. And I remember packing like 220 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.759 air mattresses and like sleeping bags and sleeping the back 221 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.159 of the vehicle after a bonfire party and that sort 222 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:31.799 of stuff. Like it was a good time and memories 223 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.720 made for sure. 224 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.639 Because I don't know high school and stuff, I feel 225 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:37.519 like is kind of shitty, but from my experience anyway, 226 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:41.960 grade twelve was was more was more entertaining or fun 227 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:45.559 or whatever than previous grades. And because everyone sort of 228 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.600 it gets the end, and everyone, I feel like came 229 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:50.679 together a little bit more than they did in previous grades, 230 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.799 so it was kind of nice. 231 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:55.519 Yeah, that just shows our Canadian citizenship right there, because 232 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:59.200 grade twelve in the States its senior year, right, you know, Okay, 233 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:02.799 yeah yeah, grade twelve senior year whatever, your final year 234 00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:04.120 in high school before graduation. 235 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.039 Yeah. 236 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.960 Now. Susie arrived at Janelle's house at around eight fifteen PM, 237 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:12.440 and Stacy followed shortly after. At eight thirty, The girls 238 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:14.919 and headed out to a series of parties, including one 239 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:18.759 hosted by a classmate named Brian Joy. Spirits were, of 240 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.960 course high. There was music, there was drinks, chatter and 241 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:27.080 lightness of you know, the whole situation. Though Susie reportedly 242 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.679 complained of a mild stomach ache during the night, possibly 243 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:33.480 from pizza she'd eaten earlier, she didn't let this dampen 244 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.960 her mood, though. By ten thirty PM, Stacy phoned her mother, 245 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:39.799 Janis McCall to let her know that the plans had changed. 246 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:44.480 See instead of driving to Branson as originally planned, they 247 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:47.840 were going to stay the night in Springfield instead. Stacy 248 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:50.039 promised to call again in the morning before heading to 249 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:54.559 Whitewater Water Park. Janis, who had been concerned about the 250 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.799 idea of her daughter driving late at night after the party, 251 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:59.879 was quite relieved at this idea and this new plan. 252 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.720 Around that same time, Susie also called home to update 253 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:07.840 her mother, Cheryl, about the changes. Cheryl herself had spoken 254 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:10.840 to a friend that evening at eleven fifteen PM, chatting 255 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.320 casually about her ongoing and ongoing improvements in her new 256 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:18.080 home and her projects. Nothing unusual was noted in her demeanor. 257 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.879 She seemed relaxed and at ease, spending the evening varnishing 258 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:25.399 some furniture and winding down with her day. At around 259 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.159 one thirty in the morning, Susie and Stacy, along with 260 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:34.360 Janelle and others arrived at another party on East Hanover Street. However, 261 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:38.720 this one was a bit short lived. Apparently Springfield police 262 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:42.559 broke it up quite early on, shortly after the group arrived, 263 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.840 due to a noise complaint. 264 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.759 Yeah, well, it's getting real pretty late at that point. 265 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:48.919 Yeah, so I guess I shouldn't say early on, because yeah, 266 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:51.919 one thirty, but early on for them, as they just 267 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.759 recently arrived. Now, with the night winding down and options limited, 268 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.039 the girls returned back to Janelle's house, but it was 269 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:02.200 packed with out of town relatives who had come for 270 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:06.440 the graduation celebrations. Despite Janelle's mother setting out the betting 271 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.080 for them, Susie and Stacy decided they would rather sleep 272 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:14.480 somewhere a little quieter. That decision would prove fateful. Oh no, 273 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:18.799 Susie invited Stacy to spend the night at her house, 274 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:22.559 a suggestion sweetened by the recent arrival of a graduation gift, 275 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.000 a brand new king sized waterbed that she was eager 276 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.120 to show off. Yeah. 277 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.559 Oh, that's amazing, right. 278 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:33.000 It was some time around two am when they left 279 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.519 Janelle's house, each in their own car. According to Janelle's mother, 280 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:40.759 Kathy Kirby, she heard the girl say goodbye and walk 281 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:46.159 out the front door. That was the last time anyone 282 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:50.519 would hear their voices. On the morning of June seventh, 283 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:54.679 nineteen ninety two, it started like any other early summer morning. 284 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:58.000 It was a Sunday in Springfield. The skies were mostly cloudy, 285 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:01.639 the air was cool and breezy. Across town, graduations party 286 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.720 had faded intil late night, and they were now quiet. 287 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.159 I'm sure there was a few with hangovers as well 288 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:11.159 stumbling around yep. But for those expecting to meet Susie 289 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.440 and Stacey in the morning, something that felt off. By 290 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:19.159 nine am, Janelle Kirby and her boyfriend Mike Henson, they 291 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:23.000 had grown concerned Susie and Stacy hadn't called or arrived 292 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:27.440 at her house as planned, because they were supposed to arrive, 293 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.480 give us a call and let her let them know, Hey, 294 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:33.720 we got here safe, right. That never happened. Now, As 295 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.679 I had mentioned, there were plans to go to a 296 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:38.279 water park the next day, and the trio were supposed 297 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.879 to drive over to the water park in Branson for 298 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.360 that post graduation tradition meant to cap off the weekend 299 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:48.000 sort of thing. Now, at first, Janelle assumed that they 300 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.519 were simply just running late, maybe you know, sleeping in 301 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:53.840 after a long night, But when repeated phone calls to 302 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.919 Susie's home when unanswered, she and Mike decided to check 303 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:01.200 in in person. They arrived at one seven one seven 304 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.279 East Delmer Street, the home Susie shared with her mother, 305 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:07.879 Cheryl Levitt. As soon as they pulled into the driveway, 306 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:11.799 nothing appeared out of place. Nothing was immediately a miss. 307 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:16.120 All three vehicles were parked outside, Cheryl's blue Mitsubishi Eclipse, 308 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:20.720 Susie's red Ford Escort with personalized license plates to go 309 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.799 with it That's say Susie on the back, and Stacy's 310 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:27.279 read Toyota Corolla. The presence of all three cars suggested 311 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:30.360 the women were home, but the sense of normalcy was 312 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:33.720 short lived. As they approached the front door, Janelle and 313 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.919 Mike noticed broken glass sitting there on the front porch, 314 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:41.639 the globe covering the porch light. It was broken. The 315 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:45.440 bulb itself remained intact and still burning, but this glass 316 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:49.799 globe that was the cover it was shattered. Without thinking twice, 317 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.639 Mike swept up the glass and threw it away in 318 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.720 a trash can across the street. An act of helpfulness 319 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.960 that would later actually be seen as a critical camp 320 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.000 contamination of a crime. 321 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.279 I'm seeing Damn. 322 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:08.279 The front door was unlocked, and Janelle cautiously stepped inside. 323 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:11.240 The house was quiet and dark. The television in the 324 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:14.000 living room was on, but only static flickered across the screen. 325 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:21.480 She called out, Susie, Stacy, Cheryl, but there was no answer. 326 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:27.960 Then from the shadows, Cinnamon, the family's dog, a small 327 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:31.920 little Yorky terrier, came rushing forward. The dog was quite 328 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:34.640 happy to see them, in fact, a little bit frantic 329 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:38.079 barking and even a little bit of whimpering. Allegedly a 330 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.400 little bundle of anxiety, Let's put it that way. Janelle 331 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:44.200 would later recall how strange it was. Cinnamon had clearly 332 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.640 been left alone, and she was distressed in a way 333 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.599 that felt out of place. They looked through the home, 334 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.920 nothing appeared to be disturbed. Beds had been slept in, 335 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:56.279 but made or left only slightly rumpled from being slept in. 336 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.240 Cheryl's glasses and book were still in her nightstand. In 337 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.359 the bathroom, there were makeup wipes in the trash, and 338 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:06.119 signs that the women had gotten ready for bed. Stacy's 339 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.240 close from the night before had been neatly folded on 340 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:11.680 a chair, and inside Susie's room, their purses sat lined 341 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:17.759 up on the floor. Everything, money, cigarettes, car keys, jewelry. 342 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:20.799 It was all there, all the little items someone might 343 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:22.920 take with them if they were leaving, even just for 344 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:27.480 a short errand but still here they are, sitting inside 345 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:33.720 the house. Then the phone rang. Janelle picked it up, 346 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.519 hopefully it was going to be one of them, but 347 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.079 instead on the other end of the line was an 348 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:44.039 unknown male voice that responded. The caller immediately launched into 349 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:49.920 sexual innuendos and crude language, using profane and explicit terms, 350 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:53.200 including repeated use of the F words, saying fuck or whatever. 351 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.119 It's unsure exactly what was said because there was no 352 00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:00.799 quotes I could find, only saying the type of language 353 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:03.119 and type of things that were being said well. 354 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.880 Pretty alarming and pretty unexpected, probably from her answering the phone. 355 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:10.759 Exactly, and Janelle was quite unsettled by the call. She 356 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.319 immediately hung up, thinking that this was just some sort 357 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:17.680 of weird prank, possibly left over from hey, graduation parties 358 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.839 and stuff, the big weekend that was going on, right, 359 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.279 But the phone rang again. 360 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.319 Oh gosh, she picked up. 361 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:28.440 And the same man continued with more obscene language, offering 362 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:33.759 no name, no context, just straight vulgarity. In the context 363 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.720 of the empty house, it added an intense uneasy feeling 364 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.680 that was growing in the sense that something was wrong. 365 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:43.480 Well, yeah, everything aligned right, Maybe just one thing isn't off, 366 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:46.960 but all of these it's like, oh gosh, yeah. 367 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:50.160 Now. By late afternoon that day on June seventh, Janice 368 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.599 McCall was growing uneasy too. Her daughter Stacy had promised 369 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.759 to call that morning before leaving for the water park, 370 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:59.039 and Janis hadn't heard a single word. At first, she 371 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:01.960 chalked it up to a bu morning dead phone battery, 372 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:05.680 you know, common teenage oversight, whatever it may be. But 373 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.960 after checking in which Nell Kirby and learning that the 374 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:11.039 girls hadn't spent the night there as planned and hadn't 375 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:13.880 shown up for the trip to the water park, her 376 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:17.839 concern turned to dread. With a growing sense of something 377 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:20.839 being wrong, Janice also drove to the house at East 378 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:24.519 Delmer Street herself. What she found inside was the tidy home, 379 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:29.039 you know, it was quiet. Their Cinnamon the dog, still alone, 380 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:32.640 greeted her anxiously, and Janis noticed the strange details that 381 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:36.119 had unsettled Janelle earlier that morning. The lined up purses, 382 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:39.000 the cash still in Cheryl's wallet, keys in the counter, 383 00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:42.519 cigarettes left untouched, which for both Cheryl and Susie, who 384 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:46.799 were heavy smokers, leaving without their cigarettes was something they 385 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.880 would not do. In Stacy's case, there was an even 386 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:54.359 more telling sign. The only clothes she had with her 387 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:58.079 were still there, neatly folded. 388 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.200 Oh okay. 389 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:04.559 Stacy was known to be contentious about her appearance, often 390 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.160 modeling wedding dresses. As I mentioned at that local bridle shop, 391 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:11.960 if she left the house voluntarily, she wouldn't have gone 392 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.599 out without getting dressed. She would have made sure that 393 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.960 she was looking maybe not her best, but she was 394 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.680 going to ensure that she did something to ensure she 395 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.839 looked and felt good. 396 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.039 Like she wasn't going out in her pajamas kind of 397 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.920 thing exactly. 398 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.680 And I don't even know she had pajamas. 399 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:29.240 Well, she's probably borrowing her friends or something. 400 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.480 Potentially, Hey, she might have just taken off her jeans 401 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:33.559