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Everyone was
looking for Micah.
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Where was Micah?
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Where would someone have come
by and tried to abduct her?
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You add all the
things together
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and something's not right.
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It was clear that
they knew about guns.
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He's telling me, I'm sorry.
I don't know where she is.
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And she kept repeating,
he's going to kill me.
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And he shoots my daughter.
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That's about the
only time in my career
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that I just wanted
to shoot him.
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You can run,
but you can't hide.
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Micah, as a child,
was the typical little sister.
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She had a very
outgoing personality.
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She had that tomboy
kind of a spirit.
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We loved sports
and we liked being outdoors.
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She loved running.
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Micah had a way
of drawing people in
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and making them feel
appreciated and making them
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feel loved and encouraged.
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Micah had a very strong faith.
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We are a Christian family.
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For Casey and Micah growing up,
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we wanted to be authentic
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and actually live our faith.
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She had such a sweet,
tender heart.
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I love that about her.
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And she was a peacemaker
and was real sweet about
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how she kind of
conducted herself socially.
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Micah wanted to be a nurse
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and got a job
as a nurse's aide.
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You don't take on
that profession
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without having a heart
for the vulnerable
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and for the broken
and the hurting.
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Micah was an
employee of mine.
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She was the loveliest soul.
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She was the nurse that
you wanted on your side.
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The one that you
wanted to be there
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to help you with a patient.
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She was just
a kind-hearted young lady.
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Thursday night,
which was the 30th,
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Micah worked late nights,
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it was kind of a dreary,
rainy night.
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I remember
leaving that office,
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and she was there
with patients.
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I was probably one of the last
two people to see Micah alive.
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We got a call that night.
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I think it was around
10:00, 10:30.
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Micah's husband, Thomas,
said, hey,
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do you know where Micah is?
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She's gone out for a run.
She hadn't come back.
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Didn't know if you'd heard
from her or not.
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It was not uncommon
for her to go running.
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On the final call,
it was, OK,
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Thomas, you need to be calling
the police and start a search,
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and we're coming to Memphis
to help in that search.
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We packed our stuff and
headed to Memphis immediately.
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It's about a 2-hour drive.
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Everyone was
looking for Micah.
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00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,920
Where was Micah?
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So there's this big search,
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this big hunt for Micah
the evening of the 30th.
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Where could Micah be?
Where's Micah?
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The dog was there.
She wasn't there.
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Well, I drive to her house
and at her house,
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there's yellow tape everywhere.
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There's police cars
everywhere.
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And it starts to make me
even more alarmed.
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I mean,
it is a scary situation.
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Well, as soon as we
got there,
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Thomas said, well,
she's gone out for a run.
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So I started running...
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the routes that I knew that
we had been on,
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different routes that
we had run
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from her house around Bartlett.
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She was running without
her phone and without her dog,
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and that would have been
unusual for her
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to go out without
either one of those.
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There were severe
storm warnings
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with lightning
and severe rain at that time.
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It was uncommon for her
to go running late at night
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in the dark in a rainstorm.
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I'm looking at culverts
where she might have tripped,
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she have fallen in off
the side of a road,
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off the side of a sidewalk.
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Where would someone have come
by and tried to abduct her?
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00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,520
What are some places where
that could have taken place?
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I'm just looking for any kind
of sign about what's going on.
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There was very little sleep
had by anybody.
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Everyone's doing all they can
to try and find Micah.
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I was like,
I've got to go find her.
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You know,
what do you need me for?
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Or what can I do?
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We went and got four-wheelers,
side-by-sides, and we went
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to the Loosahatchie Bottoms
to look for her.
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So the Loosahatchie
is the river,
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but we call it "The Bottoms"
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where you actually
drive down to.
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And we went through all
the crevices, the ditches.
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We did that for a few hours
and came up with nothing.
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We were standing at every
crossroad in Bartlett
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near her home
handing out flyers,
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thousands and
thousands of flyers,
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and all of us searching.
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Lieutenant Halford
came to the house about 7:00,
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and that's when
the investigation
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became much more intense
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because he took charge
of the situation.
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I get to the police station
and I walk in
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and the first person I see
when I walk in is Thomas.
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And Thomas is across the lobby.
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And I walk in and we meet
in the middle of the lobby
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and we hug and I'm crying
and he's crying.
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And I'm like,
we're going to find her.
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It's going to be OK.
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He's telling me, I'm sorry.
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I don't know where she is.
I'm sorry.
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I don't know where she is.
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One of my first questions
for Lieutenant Halford was
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why are you taking Thomas
to this other place?
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And he goes, well,
typically in these situations,
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the first person we have
to eliminate is the spouse,
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and so we're going to question
him separately from the family.
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So that's when it began
to sink in that
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we've got a problem.
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There was one time that
I ask Thomas, you know,
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just occurred to me, I wonder
if they've had a fight.
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And I didn't get in his face or
scream at him or anything else.
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I just said, you know,
did y'all have a fight
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or did you have a disagreement
and maybe she's just left
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and spent the night
with a friend or something?
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He said, no,
they hadn't had a disagreement.
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Nothing had happened.
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When Thomas reported
Micah missing,
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he said that
she was out jogging.
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Well, a thunderstorm was
in the area that evening.
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Heavy rain, heavy thunder.
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Most people don't
go jogging that,
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even if they're training
for a marathon.
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As we were looking
through the house,
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Micah's purse is
still at the house,
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00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:02,920
Micah's phone is
still at the house,
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00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:04,880
her ID is still at the house.
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I mean,
even when you go jogging,
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00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,520
you go to the gym,
you take your phone with you.
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00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,720
As I was speaking to Thomas,
basic information, you know,
148
00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,880
how tall is Micah,
how much does she weigh,
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00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,240
what color hair does she have,
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he would just randomly
break down crying.
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00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,200
Very emotional
throughout the whole thing.
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As I walked around the house,
instead of Thomas sitting
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00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:27,840
or talking to anybody
or talking to the officer,
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he actually followed me
throughout the house,
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made small talk with me
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while I was looking
at different things,
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uh, explaining things that, you
know, didn't need explanation.
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Just very, very uneasy, very
nervous that we were there.
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It was around noon
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00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,880
that the police
separated our families.
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I felt like they knew
something was happening.
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00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,600
And that's when our
conversation started to move to
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00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,400
I think Thomas knows something
where she's at, or--
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00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:14,040
So as that progressed, we
became more and more concerned.
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Does he know something
about it?
166
00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,840
Anytime we would
ask him a question
167
00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,120
that was
the least bit pointed,
168
00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,480
that would maybe position him
to give us an answer
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00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,400
he didn't want to give us,
he'd start dry heaving.
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00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:29,680
You add
all the things together
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and something's not right.
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Out of high school,
my sister decided
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to go to Harding University,
174
00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,040
which is
our hometown university.
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My sister really wanted
to pursue nursing
176
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and that goes to
her heart of trying
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to help people
and love people
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and help people
through hard situations.
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And so because Harding had
a good nursing school,
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00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:10,400
she wanted to be involved
with that.
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Micah and Thomas met through
a friend group.
182
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There was a crew of them
hanging out together
183
00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,560
and he happened to be friends
of friends of hers.
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He's athletic, and so it
matched up with my sister
185
00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:30,160
wanting to play basketball and
be involved in those things.
186
00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,560
They liked to be outdoors,
they liked sports,
187
00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:36,960
and so I could see how
they could match up.
188
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They were from
two very different worlds.
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She led a rather
sheltered life.
190
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It was a small town
in Arkansas,
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00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,720
predominantly very Christian.
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There's like no alcohol sold
in that county.
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00:11:57,680 --> 00:12:00,680
His parents lived outside
of Atlanta, Georgia,
194
00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:05,040
a much more metropolitan, open,
195
00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,840
you know, exposed
to just about everything.
196
00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,440
He was a much more
worldly person than Micah was.
197
00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,400
We really didn't meet
him in person until
198
00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,240
he came
to our home Bible study.
199
00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,280
So then it was just a matter
of trying to get to know him
200
00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,240
and seeing what he was like.
201
00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:37,280
And a first impression was,
eh, he's OK.
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00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,200
Wasn't over-the-top impressed.
203
00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,000
But didn't have
any big red flags
204
00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,200
to start with either.
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00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:46,520
The more
I learned about him,
206
00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,960
he was more of an introvert.
207
00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,400
He did not like to be around
a lot of people,
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00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,360
and so, um,
209
00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,120
that was a little bit opposite
of Micah's personality.
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00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,200
And so I was a little curious
why he was her choice
211
00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,480
and why they were dating.
212
00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,640
We found out pretty quickly
213
00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:13,320
that much of what he was about
was not like Micah,
214
00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,200
and we could not identify
exactly what it was
215
00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:18,960
and name what it was,
216
00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,960
but it just
did not seem to be a good fit.
217
00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,240
As you learn more about him,
218
00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,960
I was like, uh, I'm not sure
about this relationship.
219
00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,840
As we were learning
to get acquainted with Thomas,
220
00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,600
we found out different things
that he had in his background
221
00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,240
that were concerning to us.
222
00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,160
Part of that had to do
with a lot of partying,
223
00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:46,240
a lot of drinking,
some promiscuity,
224
00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,440
even dabbling some
in some drugs.
225
00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:53,160
And then she would try
to justify and explain away
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00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,280
some of the flags
that we would point out.
227
00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,480
By the time they had dated
for nearly a year,
228
00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,360
we were starting
to really get concerned.
229
00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,960
She was very bubbly
and friendly
230
00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,280
and very outgoing
to everybody,
231
00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,480
and then all of a sudden,
she was very withdrawn.
232
00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,320
She was stressed.
233
00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,640
I believe Micah went into
the relationship open,
234
00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:33,200
whole-hearted, honest,
transparent, and vulnerable.
235
00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:39,920
And then this very shining,
bright light in our lives,
236
00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,320
the light just
kind of went out.
237
00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,960
He would discourage her
from being part
238
00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,840
of social things and
part of even family things.
239
00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,240
The things that
we saw in her relationship
240
00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,560
were very typical observations
that you would see in someone
241
00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,920
who is trying
to manipulate another person,
242
00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,680
trying to instill some power
and control over that person
243
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,320
in such a way that
they almost answer to them.
244
00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:17,800
And that was what we were
having trouble with.
245
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,160
I remember very clearly
246
00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,680
there was this moment where my
sister called me
247
00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,720
and she called me and said,
248
00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,880
Mom and Dad don't want this
relationship to continue.
249
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,120
I'm drawn to him.
250
00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,600
What's your advice?
251
00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,320
What's your big brother
advice to me?
252
00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:45,080
And I remember being
extremely, extremely torn.
253
00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,120
And what I share with her was
like, I trust Mom and Dad
254
00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,720
and I love Mom and Dad,
255
00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,520
but you need to make
the best choice for Micah.
256
00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,520
There's about two years from
the time they started dating
257
00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,600
till the time they got married.
258
00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,280
Just the week prior
to her wedding,
259
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,080
I mentioned a young man
260
00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,560
that she had a very sweet
relationship with,
261
00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,960
and it probably
could have gone romantic,
262
00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:26,840
but it just never did.
263
00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,720
And I said that
I spoke with him recently
264
00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,000
and I told him that
it was, you know,
265
00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:34,760
it's coming up a few days
before your wedding.
266
00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:36,440
And he made the statement,
267
00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,600
I'm sorry I didn't pursue that
any further.
268
00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,960
And she perked up and said,
he said that?
269
00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:44,440
And I thought that
was interesting,
270
00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,120
because just days
before her wedding,
271
00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,200
that showed me that
272
00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,000
she still had some doubts
about what she was doing.
273
00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:54,520
Before I walked her
down the aisle,
274
00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,360
I said, Micah,
it's still not too late.
275
00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,400
If you want
to back out of this,
276
00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,880
I'll support you 100%.
277
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,000
I want what's best for you.
278
00:17:04,120 --> 00:17:06,480
And she just said, no,
let's go with it.
279
00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,960
Let's take me down the aisle
and let's do this.
280
00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,840
After that, she had
received a nursing job
281
00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,160
with a clinic in Memphis.
282
00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:27,840
They moved to Bartlett,
283
00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,800
which is just on the outskirts
of Memphis.
284
00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,800
One of the choices
that Micah made in order
285
00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,160
to help their family and
to spend more time together
286
00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,480
was she moved from
working in a hospital
287
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,440
where they have more
of a hectic schedule,
288
00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,960
to move to the MOGA clinic.
289
00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,000
She was the nurse
that everybody wanted to be.
290
00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:52,920
Patients loved Micah.
291
00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:57,560
She just was energetic and just
had this honesty about her.
292
00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,960
And our patients
just really adored Micah.
293
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,600
Along with her coworkers.
294
00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,560
What happened after
they got married then,
295
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,880
is we wanted to be
their cheerleader.
296
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,480
We tried to affirm and to do
everything we could to help
297
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,360
to give our blessing onto this
home that they were building.
298
00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,160
I believe, because she knew
that we were working hard
299
00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,280
to build that relationship,
then she was unwilling
300
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,160
to share anything
about her struggles
301
00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:37,440
that had been taking place
in their marriage.
302
00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,000
All of us that
worked with Micah,
303
00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:41,720
just based on
interactions with Thomas,
304
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,000
kind of questioned him
305
00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:48,120
and kind of thought he was
a little shady, disrespectful,
306
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,080
and she was such a loving,
kind-hearted person.
307
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,440
He just belittled her.
308
00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,040
And I think that his drinking
didn't help that because
309
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,720
it would be in those spells
that he would drink
310
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,880
and things would come out
of his mouth that it shouldn't.
311
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,440
We all learned that there was
312
00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:09,360
some marital counseling
going on.
313
00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,000
She loved helping people
314
00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:17,000
and that ultimately was
what fed into her marriage too.
315
00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:18,680
She loved Thomas
316
00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,960
and she wanted
to help that relationship.
317
00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:30,320
The thing that I noticed
the most was the anger.
318
00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,840
Thomas had a hunting dog
319
00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,960
and he told the hunting dog
320
00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:39,720
to stay in the back
of the truck.
321
00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,720
And then the dog
got off the truck
322
00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,680
and walked towards Thomas.
323
00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,920
Thomas screams at the dog,
324
00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:50,120
I told you to stay
on that truck.
325
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,680
And he picked the dog up
by the ears
326
00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,160
and threw it back in the truck.
327
00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,080
Extreme anger.
328
00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,440
Extreme violence.
329
00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,120
But then two or
three minutes later,
330
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,000
he goes back to the truck
and is petting on the dog
331
00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:12,880
and telling the dog
how sweet it is.
332
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:17,640
And so these extreme moods
in anger and behavior.
333
00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,720
But when I point out
the red flags,
334
00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,760
because she was invested
in this relationship,
335
00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,160
she wasn't willing to listen
336
00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,520
to "Dad's advice"
at this point.
337
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,360
Whatever I would say
338
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,840
really wasn't taken to heart
because at this point,
339
00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,640
Thomas had her heart.
340
00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,640
He would push
to get his way,
341
00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,080
to get control, to, you know,
342
00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,520
he would make her
probably feel better
343
00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,680
if they stayed at home alone.
344
00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,120
You know, he'd give her
some compliments.
345
00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,360
Or if they went out,
he'd probably say,
346
00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,320
oh, why aren't you
dressing like that person?
347
00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,680
Or why do you have to be
so picky about your food?
348
00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,920
You know, things
349
00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,920
that would make her feel bad
about herself.
350
00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,200
We don't know that
he ever hit Micah physically,
351
00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,280
but the yelling and the
screaming we know was there.
352
00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,680
And so there would be
this argument and belittling.
353
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,840
You're so stupid,
why can't you get this right?
354
00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:30,640
And then at the other extreme
of saying, oh, you're so sweet,
355
00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:32,360
I love you so much.
356
00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:37,200
It wasn't, like, bruises
and cuts and scratches
357
00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,680
and broken bones
and cigarette burns.
358
00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,480
It wasn't that kind
of domestic violence.
359
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,880
It was the kind of
scars in her heart
360
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,280
and her spirit dampened
361
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:53,720
and all those things
that made her who she was.
362
00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,480
Many of those were taken away.
363
00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,320
And she became
a little suspicious,
364
00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,520
I think, of Thomas.
365
00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,720
Like when she came home
and he was on the phone
366
00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:05,440
with some other person,
367
00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:07,400
evidently in
a very personal way.
368
00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:11,640
At that point,
I think it became clear to her
369
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,240
that he was having an affair.
370
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:31,200
There was no sight of Micah.
371
00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,680
And of course,
75% to 90% of the time
372
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,920
that someone ends up dead,
373
00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:40,000
the spouse ends up as a suspect
at some point.
374
00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:42,520
Then we have a search warrant
375
00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,040
and the police gather things
from within the house.
376
00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,320
That's where
they find hunting rifles.
377
00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:55,640
And it was clear that Thomas
and Micah both knew about guns.
378
00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,000
Thomas went hunting regularly.
379
00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:02,480
He had all sorts of hunting
rifles and he had handguns.
380
00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,280
He went hunting all the time
with his friends.
381
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,960
The police uncover
a lot of different things
382
00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,640
from multiple bottles
of alcohol
383
00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:16,720
to a history of pornography
384
00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:21,720
to him reaching out
to another lady.
385
00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,880
The officers tracked back
through his phone records
386
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,920
and there were many texts
with another woman
387
00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:34,800
who was from New Jersey.
388
00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,120
And then they got
into the credit cards.
389
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:39,920
And that's when
they discovered
390
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,440
that there were charges made
at Tunica, Mississippi.
391
00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,240
He used the credit card
to play on the slot machines
392
00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:51,360
and to pay for the hotel room
that he and this woman
393
00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,280
from New Jersey
spent the night in.
394
00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:10,880
Micah went home one day
and surprised Thomas.
395
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,280
He did work from computers
396
00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,200
and on the phone
doing medical sales.
397
00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,560
He said he was sick,
398
00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,040
so he wasn't going
to be working any.
399
00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,560
So she thought she would
go home and fix him some soup
400
00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,000
during the middle of the day.
401
00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,000
And when she got there,
402
00:24:28,120 --> 00:24:30,200
he was on the phone
with somebody
403
00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,560
that he seemed to be
talking rather intimately to.
404
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,360
And this was very alarming
to Micah.
405
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,080
According to her coworkers,
406
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,400
she came back to work
and sort of broke down crying.
407
00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,480
I remember Micah
being totally,
408
00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,040
totally distraught
to the point of where
409
00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,040
I went and got her stuff
410
00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,760
and helped her out the door
and she went home.
411
00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,320
He actually had
met this woman
412
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,880
from New Jersey
on a flight to Atlanta
413
00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,560
and he was indeed
in communication with her
414
00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,200
and had met her for a weekend
415
00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,240
at the casinos
in Tunica, Mississippi.
416
00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:12,760
So he indeed wasn't very happy
with Micah,
417
00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,920
and he was going after
418
00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,600
a much more worldly woman.
419
00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,320
All of these things were news
to our family.
420
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,800
And so it was sort of shocking
seeing all of these things.
421
00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,600
All through
that search afternoon,
422
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,640
more and more doubts
began to arise about
423
00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:50,760
what's going on here?
424
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,160
We're not getting
the whole story.
425
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,480
There's things here
that don't add up.
426
00:25:55,600 --> 00:26:00,480
And they start going through
more personal items.
427
00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:06,360
And it turned out that
Micah kept a journal.
428
00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,560
The journal was
very revealing.
429
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,680
There was one entry in her
prayer journal in February
430
00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,000
before this happened in April
431
00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:20,080
and she had a whole paragraph
that spoke to
432
00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,600
Thomas's indiscretions
and unfaithfulness.
433
00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,840
"My heart is broken.
434
00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,640
"I am so angry, sad, mad,
435
00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,400
"disappointed at Thomas.
436
00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:36,800
"If he truly loved me,
how would this happen?
437
00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,280
"My mind cannot fathom
what he's done.
438
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:44,200
Am I so naive that
I didn't see this coming"?
439
00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:49,760
It clearly showed
the dissolution of a marriage.
440
00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:54,680
And this was a sacrilege
441
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,800
that was held very sacred
by Micah,
442
00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,200
who's a very religious person.
443
00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,480
"All I want to
do is cry and sleep
444
00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,440
"and forget this relationship
ever happened.
445
00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,400
"I've worked so hard
on our marriage.
446
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,000
"I never thought I would be
talking to You
447
00:27:11,120 --> 00:27:13,440
about unfaithfulness."
448
00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:20,720
She's miserable
and losing touch with herself,
449
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,240
and only feels
comfortable being herself
450
00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:26,800
when she is in this journal
speaking with God.
451
00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,760
And, you know, her ask for help
452
00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:32,840
or ask for guidance
453
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,680
is just very heart-wrenching.
454
00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:41,160
It's tragic and it's sad.
455
00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,400
Micah's prayer journal
ties it all together
456
00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,280
of her talking about
her rocky marriage,
457
00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,960
the things that
she's going through.
458
00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:53,920
It was very shocking
and very painful.
459
00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:06,640
Thomas ends up
in an interview room
460
00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:08,880
at the Bartlett
Police Department
461
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,520
and he's not telling the
Bartlett police anything
462
00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,160
except for her leaving,
463
00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,560
she's gone jogging,
he doesn't know where she is.
464
00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,680
Thomas lied to the police.
465
00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,320
You know, he failed
a polygraph test.
466
00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,920
The agent told us that
he did not feel,
467
00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:26,360
based on Thomas's results,
468
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,280
that Thomas was
being 100% truthful.
469
00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:34,720
And when Thomas's father
came to town,
470
00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:39,440
I think that's sort of
when things changed.
471
00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:47,160
He went from
being very aggressive
472
00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,600
and telling Thomas,
you know, don't lie to me.
473
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,040
Tell me if you hurt, you know,
tell me where Micah is.
474
00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,320
He went from that within
a matter of minutes to
475
00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:58,680
it'll be OK.
476
00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,280
We had people around us
praying,
477
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,720
saying, God, reveal something,
make something happen.
478
00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,280
That night,
479
00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,080
the police pulled me
and my Mom and my Dad
480
00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,760
into this side room
and they shared with us
481
00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:33,000
that Micah was shot by Thomas
482
00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,320
and that he had left her body
at the Loosahatchie River
483
00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,640
and that he was taking them
to her body at that time.
484
00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,480
He shoots my daughter
485
00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:49,680
and he leaves her out there
for over 24 hours.
486
00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,760
Wild animals, elements,
it didn't matter.
487
00:31:55,520 --> 00:32:00,000
He takes the police
to her body.
488
00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,600
I personally walked out
to where they found her
489
00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,600
and it is way off the road
490
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,960
in the middle of thorns,
491
00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:14,920
brambles, mud,
leaves, everything.
492
00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:19,920
There was a very
off-the-beaten-path place
493
00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,080
to leave her
and it looked as if
494
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:25,440
he had probably
carried her there
495
00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:27,000
probably with the intention
496
00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:28,960
of throwing her
in the Loosahatchie River.
497
00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:34,800
But he couldn't make it
quite to the river,
498
00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,960
so he left her there
499
00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,280
face-down with a gunshot hole
500
00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,160
in the back of her head.
501
00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:48,120
And the interesting thing is
she's not wearing her shoes
502
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:52,000
and she's wearing white socks
503
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,800
which are not dirty
on the bottom.
504
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,920
And this is a muddy,
muddy place where she is
505
00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,240
and it would be
extremely doubtful
506
00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:03,400
that she went there
of her own free will.
507
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:13,080
We were just
so eaten up with anger,
508
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,800
just so mad that this man
509
00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:20,480
allowed her family,
her friends
510
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,480
to spend this time looking.
511
00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:29,200
Looking for her,
hoping to find her.
512
00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,000
For you to know all along
that you had shot her
513
00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,480
and left her at the Bottoms
with ants and mud.
514
00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,160
Wow.
515
00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:42,200
The fact that he knew
that whole time
516
00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:47,440
and was lying to us
the whole time is so painful.
517
00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,960
It's so, so painful.
518
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,680
Thomas, in trying to explain
what had happened to Micah
519
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,600
and how she ended up shot,
520
00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:22,600
came up with this story of
521
00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:26,960
they went here frequently
to fire guns.
522
00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,360
And according to Thomas,
523
00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:33,320
they would go target shooting
out there
524
00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:37,240
and that somehow
there was a mistake
525
00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,960
and he accidentally shot her
in the back of the head.
526
00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,000
Something about
her gun misfiring
527
00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:47,920
or her getting in the way
of him when he's shooting.
528
00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,560
It just didn't make
a lot of sense.
529
00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:59,160
I have lots of doubts
about his story
530
00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,360
of the series of events.
531
00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,400
We spent a lot of time
at a Christian youth camp
532
00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,480
at Camp Tahkodah
and one of the things we do
533
00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,640
at Camp Dakota
is target shoot.
534
00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,040
We would have three
or four rifles
535
00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,640
shooting at the target
at the same time
536
00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,600
and she would be aware
of the safety issues
537
00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:22,200
of making sure the rifles
are put away
538
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:23,960
when you go check the target,
539
00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:25,720
that before you shoot,
540
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,560
there's nobody between you
and the target.
541
00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,000
She would have had
to gone through gun safety
542
00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,120
to get her carry permit
that she had.
543
00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:37,640
And so she was well aware
544
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,960
of the safety issues
involved with guns
545
00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:42,920
and to not
be in front of someone
546
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:44,600
with a loaded gun.
547
00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:47,760
He raised her
to know about a gun.
548
00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,280
Good, old Arkansas way.
549
00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:50,880
You learn how to fire a weapon,
550
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,000
you learn how
to take care of it,
551
00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,160
you learn what to do with it,
to clean it, load it,
552
00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:58,240
fire it, and everything else.
553
00:35:58,360 --> 00:35:59,840
There's no accident
when you shoot somebody
554
00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:01,520
in the back of the head.
555
00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:06,200
One shot with her own gun
and you don't call anybody?
556
00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:08,440
You don't call 911?
That wasn't an accident.
557
00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:21,080
Early on,
he was offered a plea deal
558
00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,960
of second-degree murder
and 15 years.
559
00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:28,520
And we asked our friends to
pray that he would take that.
560
00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:30,760
And he did not.
561
00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:36,720
It was a disappointment
to us that
562
00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:39,920
he did not take the plea
on the front end.
563
00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,480
He could have saved us
all those months of grief.
564
00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,440
We wanted to grieve
the loss of our daughter.
565
00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:49,800
We wanted to get used to this
new normal of having a daughter
566
00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:51,560
that was no longer with us.
567
00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:56,040
Instead, we had to concentrate
on all the stuff
568
00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:58,280
that was going on in Memphis
and make trips over there
569
00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:02,400
that were very
emotionally laden.
570
00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:06,400
For all those months, we just
felt like we were, you know,
571
00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,920
we were just dangling
on somebody else's string.
572
00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,080
Seeing
the crime scene photos
573
00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:32,720
and going through the autopsy
with the medical examiner,
574
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,320
it seemed evident
that his explanation
575
00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:36,920
of what happened that evening
576
00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:41,120
did not fit with the facts
very well.
577
00:37:41,240 --> 00:37:44,160
Thomas is like over 6'.
578
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:49,160
I want to say 6'4".
She's maybe 5'4", 5'5".
579
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:52,000
The gunshot wound is
in the middle of her back--
580
00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:53,520
the back of her head.
581
00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,240
It goes through her ball cap.
582
00:37:56,360 --> 00:38:01,760
And it's not quite a
contact wound, but it is close.
583
00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:07,960
And Thomas was very experienced
in firing weapons.
584
00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:10,480
And Micah had
grown up with guns.
585
00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,200
I can't see that she would
ever be in front of the gun,
586
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:17,040
in front of Thomas with a gun.
587
00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,240
We were ready
for jury selection.
588
00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:37,600
We were ready to go over and be
there for this week-long trial.
589
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,360
At the last moment,
he made an Alford plea.
590
00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:48,000
The Alford plea says,
I'm not confessing
591
00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:51,720
to doing this, but the evidence
against me is overwhelming.
592
00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:55,280
And so therefore,
I wave the white flag.
593
00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:59,000
The judge clapped his gavel
on the desk and said,
594
00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:03,120
you are guilty
of second-degree murder.
595
00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:07,240
There was some comfort
in that.
596
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,000
When Thomas is told by
the judge,
597
00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:16,560
you're guilty
of second-degree murder
598
00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:21,520
and he walks through the door
to go to prison,
599
00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:26,000
there was part of me that felt
some relief that this is over.
600
00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:30,160
And so I say that
is God's way of saying,
601
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:33,040
here's the best blend
602
00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:36,640
of justice and mercy.
603
00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,440
We get to feel some justice,
604
00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:43,320
that there's a consequence
being paid
605
00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:45,000
for what happened to Micah.
606
00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:54,200
So he was convicted
for 25 years with no appeals.
607
00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:58,160
And seeing some justice
gives me the chance
608
00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:01,960
to offer a little bit
better forgiveness.
609
00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,800
Because that's what Jesus has
asked me to do as well,
610
00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:09,040
is to give forgiveness,
so I forgive Thomas.
611
00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:13,160
Micah has an amazing family.
612
00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:16,360
Yeah, the strongest people
I've ever met.
613
00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:22,680
And as a mom...
614
00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:31,200
I don't know that I could have
done what they did.
615
00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:33,600
That was their only daughter.
616
00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:41,080
They forgave him.
617
00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:43,200
I just don't know
how you do that.
618
00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,800
I believe that
she caught him
619
00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:01,360
in his adulterous exploits.
620
00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:05,200
And as she realized what
was going on.
621
00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:08,400
In my mind, I believe that was
the turning point
622
00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:11,880
that led to her death.
623
00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:16,200
Sadly, I think Thomas had
a volatile nature
624
00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:18,280
and he may have felt like
625
00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:22,000
he would have to get rid of her
to keep his little world going.
626
00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:24,920
Sort of like
a good church member
627
00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:30,120
that can't divorce his wife,
so he has to kill her.
628
00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,880
I think she got out
of the car or whatever
629
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:34,560
and was mad, maybe perhaps,
630
00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:38,040
ready to run back home
in the rain...
631
00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:41,120
And he just shot her.
632
00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:45,480
And then he got rid
of her body
633
00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:47,920
in the best place he could.
634
00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:51,160
And I think for some reason,
635
00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:54,760
he carried her out there
and took her shoes off.
636
00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,120
And I think that was
to throw off
637
00:41:57,240 --> 00:42:00,560
being at the muddy bank
of the Loosahatchie.
638
00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:04,840
Why look there?
Her tennis shoes are clean.
639
00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:12,040
I miss my sister so much.
640
00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,560
And she was a light
641
00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:19,160
and she is just
an incredible example
642
00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,840
of what love looks like.
643
00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:27,160
And if I could talk to her now
644
00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:29,680
and then in a way,
talk to other people
645
00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:33,240
that are in struggling
relationships,
646
00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:36,720
I pray that if you're
in a struggling relationship,
647
00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,800
don't keep it to yourself.
648
00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:42,960
Talk to someone about it.
649
00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:46,080
There was one entry
in her prayer journal
650
00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:50,240
and she had a whole paragraph
that spoke to
651
00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:53,080
Thomas's indiscretions
and unfaithfulness,
652
00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:55,880
and she said, "I can't believe
653
00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:00,240
I gave my family up for this."
654
00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:03,080
She didn't give us up.
655
00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:07,440
But in her eyes,
it was him or us.
656
00:43:07,560 --> 00:43:10,160
And that makes me so sad.
657
00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:13,400
And she used to,
as a little girl,
658
00:43:13,520 --> 00:43:15,800
when she would get upset
about something,
659
00:43:15,920 --> 00:43:17,560
and even as an adult,
you know,
660
00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:20,480
when she'd get upset, her eyes
would just be wide open.
661
00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:23,480
And she had little freckles
on her nose.
662
00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:27,600
And when I read that in her
journal, I can just see that.
663
00:43:27,720 --> 00:43:29,520
You know, I can see
that sweet little girl
664
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:32,720
with her eyes wide open,
like oh, my goodness,
665
00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:35,440
now I get it, now I get it.
666
00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:39,800
And that was--that was just--
that was hard as a mom
667
00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:44,160
to read because
she could have come to us.
668
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,680
We could have prevented this.
669
00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:49,000
This did not have
to end this way.
670
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:59,120
Even though the marriage
was pretty bad,
671
00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:03,200
she kept her faithfulness
and her love for God.
672
00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:06,640
And that lets us
live with hope.
673
00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:17,360
All she's doing
is a New Year's day,
674
00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:20,480
taking a hike with her dog.
675
00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:22,200
The blood was wet.
676
00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:25,440
It was fresh.
That was disturbing.
677
00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:28,400
It was a calm place,
she thought.
678
00:44:28,520 --> 00:44:31,720
And then she was kidnapped.
679
00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:34,560
The way in which
this person gets money
680
00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:37,040
is by abducting these victims.
681
00:44:37,160 --> 00:44:39,760
He fits the definition
of a serial killer by far.
681
00:44:40,305 --> 00:45:40,860
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