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Narrator: WHEN A PRETTY NAGS HEAD TOURIST
TURNS UP DEAD ON THE BEACH OUTSIDE HER HOTEL,
SUMMER FUN COMES CRASHING TO AN END.
YOU COULD SEE THE BLOOD ON HER NECK.
THIS WAS A CRIME OF HORRIFIC VIOLENCE.
Narrator: FIGURING OUT WHO DID THIS HORRIBLE DEED
LEAVES DETECTIVES SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS.
Kozak: POLICE INTERVIEWED MORE THAN 200 SUSPECTS.
THEY COULDN'T REALLY ELIMINATE ANYBODY.
Narrator: IS A DRINK-SLINGING BAD BOY TO BLAME,
A SCORNED WAITRESS SET ON REVENGE,
A CABANA ATTENDANT WITH A CRIMINAL PAST,
OR IS THERE A DEPRAVED KILLER LURKING IN PARADISE?
AND ANY ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN OUR KILLER.
Narrator: AND THIS *** MYSTERY GETS EVEN TRICKIER
WHEN MOTHER NATURE BLOWS INTO TOWN.
Kozak: THE OUTER BANKS WAS EVACUATED.
WITNESSES WERE GONE.
THE EVIDENCE WAS TAKEN AWAY BY THE STORM.
Narrator: BUT EVEN A HURRICANE
CAN'T WASH AWAY THE TRACKS LEFT BEHIND BY THIS VICIOUS KILLER.
Trivette: IT WAS THE PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL ALONG.
IT WAS HUGE.
Narrator: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?
WHAT LIES BEHIND THE WHITE PICKET FENCES?
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THE IDYLLIC BEACH TOWN OF NAGS HEAD
SITS ON NORTH CAROLINA'S FAMOUS OUTER BANKS.
THIS ONE-TIME PORT OF CALL FOR PLUNDERING PIRATES
IS NOW A PRISTINE PARADISE FOR TOWNIES AND TOURISTS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THE TOURISTS COME TO THE OUTER BANKS
BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND THE SAND.
IT'S ALL NATURAL, AND IT'S NOT COMMERCIAL.
THERE'S NO BOARDWALKS.
JUST LAID-BACK, EASYGOING, BEAUTIFUL BEACHES.
Narrator: 35-YEAR-OLD JANET SICLARI
HAS BEEN ENJOYING
ALL THAT NAGS HEAD HAS TO OFFER FOR YEARS.
NOW AN ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN IN ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY,
THIS CHARMING SINGLE
STILL HEADS TO THE OUTER BANKS WHENEVER SHE CAN,
OFTEN WITH HER BROTHER, WADE.
JANET CAME DOWN HERE FREQUENTLY AS SHE WAS GROWING UP,
AND SHE AND HER BROTHER LOVED COMING DOWN HERE.
SHE WAS A FUN-LOVING WOMAN, VERY DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY.
SHE AND HER BROTHER WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE.
Narrator: JANET LOVES TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM
AT ONE OF THE VACATION SPOT'S MANY CLUBS
AND THE FEELING OF SAND BETWEEN HER TOES.
THE BEACH WAS WHAT DREW JANET HERE,
SO SHE JUST LOVED BEING ON THE BEACH.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY SHE KEPT COMING BACK HERE.
Narrator: AND JANET DRAWS MEN
LIKE THE MOON DRAWS IN THE TIDES.
SHE'S THE CENTER OF ATTENTION WHEREVER SHE GOES.
Kozak: SHE WAS VERY PETITE.
SHE HAD DARK HAIR, A REAL PRETTY SMILE.
A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN. I THINK VERY ALLURING TO MEN.
Narrator: IN AUGUST OF 1993,
JANET, HER BIG BROTHER, AND SOME GIRLFRIENDS
HEAD SOUTH FOR SOME FUN IN THE SUN.
BUT LITTLE DOES JANET KNOW
THAT HER PARTY DAYS ARE ALMOST OVER.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
Narrator: AT 7:00 ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28th,
ROBERT TRIVETTE IS CATCHING UP ON SOME PAPERWORK.
NOW A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE,
BACK THEN,
THIS WET-BEHIND-THE-EARS ASSISTANT D.A.
IS UNPREPARED FOR WHAT THE DAY WOULD BRING.
I RECALL THE WEATHER WAS PRETTY NICE THAT DAY,
AND I GOT A CALL FROM ONE OF THE NAGS HEAD POLICE OFFICERS
ASKING ME IF I COULD COME DOWN TO THE AREA ON THE BEACH.
Narrator: THE OFFICER TELLS TRIVETTE
THAT JUST A HALF-HOUR EARLIER,
A SANITATION WORKER CLEANING UP THE BEACH BEHIND A POPULAR HOTEL
STUMBLED UPON A GRUESOME SIGHT --
THE BLOODY BODY OF A WOMAN.
I DIDN'T GET THAT KIND OF CALL VERY OFTEN AT ALL
AS AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY,
AND I KNEW THAT IF THEY CALLED ME AND WANTED ME TO COME
THAT IT WAS VERY, VERY SERIOUS
AND SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL FOR THE OUTER BANKS.
Narrator: FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE VICTIM
COULD BE A BIG HELP IF TRIVETTE TRIES THE CASE,
SO HE WASTES NO TIME
MAKING THE FIVE-MILE DRIVE TO THE SCENE.
WHEN HE FINALLY SEES THE HALF-NAKED WOMAN,
HE CAN'T BELIEVE HIS EYES.
SHE WAS LYING ON HER SIDE
IN SORT OF A HALF-FETAL POSITION.
SHE HAD ON A TOP,
BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE ON ANYTHING BELOW THE WAIST.
AND, THEN, SHE WAS ACTUALLY CLUTCHING HER SHORTS
UP NEXT TO HER NECK
NEAR WHERE HER THROAT HAD BEEN CUT,
AND IT WAS APPARENT TO ME THAT SHE HAD DIED
TRYING TO STOP THE BLEEDING WITH THIS PIECE OF CLOTHING.
Narrator: IT'S CLEAR TO INVESTIGATORS
SOMEONE SURE HAD IT IN FOR THIS WOMAN.
Trivette: IT WAS HARD TO SAY
HOW MANY STAB WOUNDS THERE WERE AT THAT POINT.
I PERSONALLY COULDN'T TELL FROM MY OBSERVATION.
SHE WAS PRETTY COVERED IN BLOOD.
Narrator: THIS WOMAN'S LAST MOMENTS
WERE OBVIOUSLY A NIGHTMARE.
BUT WHAT'S NOT CLEAR IS WHO SHE IS
AND WHO'S TO BLAME FOR HER DEATH.
WITH NO I.D. IN HER POCKETS AND NO PURSE NEARBY,
POLICE CAN'T PINPOINT HER IDENTITY JUST YET.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER.
THEY PROBABLY ASSUMED
BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL
WHERE JANET WAS MURDERED THAT SHE WAS A TOURIST.
Narrator: BUT AS INVESTIGATORS SCOUR THE SCENE FOR EVIDENCE,
THEY FIND SEVERAL ITEMS
THAT JUST MIGHT REVEAL WHO KILLED HER.
POLICE COLLECTED CIGARETTE BUTTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE BODY,
AND A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE BODY
WERE A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES --
HIGH-TOP, WHITE, BASKETBALL SHOES
WITH GRAY SOCKS STUFFED INSIDE.
AND THERE WAS A BEER CAN OR TWO NEARBY THAT THEY COLLECTED.
Narrator: IF THE CRIME LAB COMES BACK
WITH ANY FINGERPRINTS OR DNA,
POLICE MIGHT JUST HAVE A NAME FOR THEIR SUSPECT LIST.
BEFORE DETECTIVES EVEN HAVE THE EVIDENCE BAGGED UP,
THEY LEARN THE NAME OF THE VICTIM.
Trivette: I REMEMBER STANDING THERE
WATCHING THE OTHER OFFICERS PROCESS THE EVIDENCE,
AND A MALE CAME OUT OF THE HOTEL,
AND HE STARTED SCREAMING AND CRYING.
Narrator: HE TELLS POLICE HIS NAME IS WADE DAWSON
AND THAT HIS SISTER, JANET,
DIDN'T SLEEP IN HER HOTEL BED LAST NIGHT.
THEN, WHEN HE LOOKED OUT HIS WINDOW
AND SAW THE COMMOTION OUTSIDE, HE GOT A HORRIBLE FEELING.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE SAW,
BUT MY GUESS IS HE PROBABLY SAW
A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WAS DOWN THERE.
AS A RESULT OF SEEING ALL THE POLICE OUT THERE,
I THINK HE PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER QUICKLY.
Narrator: AND WHEN INVESTIGATORS SHOW WADE THE BODY,
HIS WORST FEARS ARE CONFIRMED.
IT'S HIS SISTER, JANET.
JANET'S BROTHER WAS SO DEVASTATED
BY THIS *** OF HIS SISTER.
HE WAS VERY, VERY CLOSE TO HIS SISTER,
AND THE WAY THAT SHE DIED
WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO DEAL WITH.
Narrator: POLICE ARE JUST AS STUNNED
AND HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES,
WHO COULD HAVE COMMITTED SUCH A HORRIBLE ACT
ON THIS BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF BEACH?
Trivette: THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AT THE OUTER BANKS.
I THINK ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT WERE THERE THAT MORNING
WERE KIND OF FUNCTIONING IN A STATE OF SUBDUED SHOCK.
Narrator: WITHOUT A LOT TO GO ON,
POLICE ARE HOPING THAT JANET'S BROTHER
CAN HELP THEM ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD
THE TIMELINE AND THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT OCCURRED
RIGHT BEFORE JANET'S DEATH
SINCE WADE WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT SPOKE TO JANET
BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED.
Narrator: AND IT SEEMS WADE HAS SOME SUSPICIONS TO SHARE.
HE NOTICED HIS LITTLE SIS WAS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION
FROM NOT ONE PERSON, BUT TWO LAST NIGHT.
HE OBSERVED SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM,
AND THAT STOOD OUT TO HIM.
Narrator: DID ONE OF JANET'S ADMIRERS
BECOME HER LETHAL NEMESIS
AND TAKE HIS ATTRACTION TO HER TOO FAR?
Trivette: IT WAS JUST KIND OF BIZARRE,
AND IT BECAME SORT OF ONE OF THOSE STORIES
THAT WAS SO ODD, YES, IT HAD TO BE BELIEVABLE.
Narrator: AS SUMMER WINDS DOWN IN NAGS HEAD,
TOURISTS SOAK UP THE LAST RAYS
AND DOWN ICY DRINKS IN THEIR ADIRONDACK CHAIRS.
BUT NO ONE'S RELAXING
ON THE SATURDAY MORNING JANET SICLARI IS FOUND MURDERED,
AS VIRGINIAN-PILOT REPORTER CATHERINE KOZAK
REMEMBERS ALL TOO WELL.
IT WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKING
THAT SHE WAS KILLED ON THE BEACH.
IT DID CHANGE PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE --
THAT YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS SAFE, EVEN IN A SAFE AREA.
PEOPLE SAID, "THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON THE OUTER BANKS."
PEOPLE HERE FELT ALMOST TAINTED
BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN ABERRATION
FOR THE OUTER BANKS TO HAVE ANYTHING THIS VIOLENT HAPPEN.
AND CERTAINLY, THE POLICE WERE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE
TO FIND THIS KILLER.
Narrator: POLICE FIGURE THEIR BEST SHOT AT SOLVING THIS CASE
IS TO HAVE ANOTHER CHAT WITH JANET'S BROTHER.
DESPITE HIS GRIEF,
WADE COMES TO THE STATION TO RUN DOWN YESTERDAY'S EVENTS.
AFTER A RELAXING DAY ON THE BEACH,
HE, JANET, AND TWO OF HER GIRLFRIENDS
WENT OUT ON THE TOWN AROUND 7:00.
THEY ATE DINNER AT THE HOTEL,
AND THEN THEY PLANNED TO GO OUT TO A CLUB NEARBY
AND ENJOY THE MUSIC AND THE DANCING.
Narrator: BUT DINNER DIDN'T EXACTLY GO AS PLANNED.
WHEN WADE POLITELY COMPLAINED ABOUT HIS MEAL,
THE WAITRESS GOT A LITTLE TESTY WITH HIM AND JANET,
WHO WAS IN THE NEXT SEAT.
BUT WADE SAYS THEY WEREN'T ABOUT TO LET THE WAITRESS'S FOUL MOOD
SPOIL THEIR NIGHT,
SO THEY DROVE TO THE PORT O' CALL NIGHT CLUB,
WHERE JANET HUNG OUT WITH A GUY SHE'D MET EARLIER IN THE WEEK,
A LOCAL PARTY BOY, BRAD CASEY,
A STRAPPING HUNK WHO POURS DRINKS AT ANOTHER BAR IN TOWN.
[ LAUGHS ]
Trivette: BRAD WAS AROUND 30.
HE WAS KIND OF A RUGGED, OUTDOORSY TYPE OF GUY
WHO, ACCORDING TO JANET'S BROTHER,
WAS THE TYPE OF GUY THAT JANET WAS ATTRACTED TO.
Narrator: AND THIS BAD BOY
SURE SEEMED TO BE ENJOYING JANET'S COMPANY...
...SO MUCH SO, IT MADE ANOTHER WOMAN
WHO HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE CLUB MIGHTY MAD,
THE SAME PRICKLY WAITRESS FROM DINNER.
TURNS OUT SHE'S ANDREA MACKEY,
BRAD'S ON-AGAIN-OFF-AGAIN GIRLFRIEND.
SEEMS WATCHING BRAD FLIRTING WITH JANET
WAS MORE THAN SHE COULD HANDLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE WAS SOME FRICTION
BETWEEN JANET AND THE BARTENDER'S GIRLFRIEND,
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF JEALOUSY THERE.
Narrator: DESPITE ANDREA'S ANTICS,
WADE SAYS JANET DIDN'T LEAVE BRAD'S SIDE
THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
SINCE JANET WAS HAVING A GREAT TIME,
WADE TELLS POLICE HE AND HER GIRLFRIENDS DIDN'T THINK TWICE
ABOUT HEADING BACK TO THE HOTEL WITHOUT HER.
AND SURE ENOUGH,
JANET WAS SAFELY BACK IN THE ROOM AROUND 2:30.
Trivette: WADE SAID HE WAS IN BED AND ASLEEP.
HE HEARD SOMEONE COME IN
AND WOKE UP ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS JANET.
AND SHE GOT HER CIGARETTES AND THEN LEFT.
Narrator: WADE GOES ON TO SAY THAT HE ASSUMED
JANET SIMPLY SLIPPED OUT TO HAVE A SMOKE ON THE BEACH.
WADE NEVER GAVE US THE IMPRESSION
THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WAS UNUSUAL.
I MEAN, JANET WAS A GROWN, ADULT WOMAN.
SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO AS SHE WANTED TO DO IT.
HE KNEW HIS SISTER LOVED THE OCEAN
AND PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE NEXT DAY.
Narrator: POLICE THANK WADE FOR HIS HELP
AND MOVE ON TO ENVIOUS ANDREA.
COULD THIS WOMAN SCORNED HAVE BEEN SO JEALOUS,
SHE DECIDED TO TAKE HER RIVAL OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR GOOD?
POLICE TRACK DOWN THIS TROUBLEMAKING WAITRESS,
HOPING FOR A GOOD TIP.
Trivette: SHE BECAME, TO SOME DEGREE, A FOCUS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
BECAUSE SHE WAS SO INTERTWINED
IN THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED THAT LAST NIGHT,
AND THEY JUST HAD TO UNTIE THAT KNOT AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT, IF ANY, HER ROLE WAS IN THE WHOLE PROCESS.
Narrator: DETECTIVES CALL THE BRISTLY BRUNETTE
INTO THE STATION FOR QUESTIONING
AND WASTE NO TIME ASKING ANDREA
EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON BETWEEN HER AND JANET.
HER STORY WAS THAT SHE HAD SEEN
HER ON-AGAIN-OFF-AGAIN BOYFRIEND, BRAD,
INTERACT WITH JANET IN A WAY THAT CAUSED HER TO BE JEALOUS.
Narrator: ANDREA ADMITS THINGS REALLY GOT HEATED
ONCE JANET'S BROTHER AND FRIENDS TOOK OFF.
THAT'S WHEN SHE CONFRONTED BRAD ABOUT HIS NEW SQUEEZE.
THERE'S A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE EX-GIRLFRIEND AND BRAD
THAT'S NOT VERY PLEASANT.
AND THEN BRAD AND JANET LEAVE,
AND THE EX-GIRLFRIEND IS RIGHT THERE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN.
Narrator: SURE SOUNDS LIKE ANDREA HAD A MOTIVE,
WATCHING HER SOMETIME-BOYFRIEND
LEAVE WITH A WOMAN HE COULDN'T TAKE HIS HANDS OFF OF.
AND SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY,
LIVING NEAR THE HOTEL WHERE JANET WAS STAYING.
PERHAPS ANDREA SPOTTED HER RIVAL
ON THE BEACH LATER THAT NIGHT.
Trivette: SHE WAS ACTING THE PART OF A WOMAN SCORNED THAT NIGHT.
IT WAS CLEAR SHE WAS UPSET AND ANGRY.
SO IT WAS A QUESTION WE HAD TO ASK OURSELVES.
Narrator: AFTER ALL,
ANDREA WORKS IN A KITCHEN BRISTLING WITH CUTLERY.
THERE WERE PLENTY OF KNIVES IN THAT KITCHEN
THAT WOULD HAVE FIT THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE TYPE OF WEAPON THAT THEY BELIEVED
WAS INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME.
Narrator: POLICE DECIDE TO GO FOR IT
AND ASK ANDREA POINT-BLANK IF SHE MURDERED JANET,
A QUESTION THAT DRAWS A QUICK DENIAL.
ANDREA INSISTS SHE WENT STRAIGHT HOME
ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER BRAD AND JANET LEFT THE BAR.
WHEN SHE GOT HOME, SHE CLAIMS BRAD WAS WAITING FOR HER,
IRATE OVER HER EARLIER BEHAVIOR.
AFTER A BRIEF FIGHT, ANDREA SAYS BRAD TOOK OFF,
AND SHE WENT INSIDE AND WENT TO BED.
Trivette: HER STORY HAD ALL THESE TWISTS AND TURNS IN IT,
MAKING THE INVESTIGATORS SHAKE THEIR HEAD ABOUT ITS VERACITY.
AT FIRST, WE WEREN'T SURE WHETHER WE BELIEVED IT OR NOT.
Narrator: AND SINCE ANDREA LIVES ALONE,
THERE'S NO ONE TO CONFIRM HER STORY,
SO POLICE CHECK HER RECORD, HOPING FOR ANOTHER CLUE,
BUT NO SUCH LUCK.
Trivette: SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF RECORD
THAT WOULD INDICATE IF SHE HAD
ANY KIND OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN HER PAST
OR ANY KIND OF CRIME LIKE THAT.
Narrator: BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE DIDN'T DO IT.
WHEN WOMEN KILL, LOVE'S USUALLY TO BLAME.
TYPICALLY, MEN ARE LIKELY TO *** THAN WOMEN.
POLICE KNOW THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CRIME OF PASSION,
ESPECIALLY WITH A JEALOUS WOMAN,
THERE'S THAT POSSIBILITY.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS AREN'T SURE YET
IF ANDREA'S GOOD FOR JANET'S ***.
BUT BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE
TO LOOK INTO THIS FEMME FATALE ANY FURTHER,
THE AUTOPSY RESULTS COME IN.
AND THIS REPORT READS LIKE A HORROR STORY.
WHILE INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON A FEMALE SUSPECT,
THE CORONER FINDS EVIDENCE THAT A MAN IS TO BLAME --
FRESH *** IN JANET'S BODY.
Trivette: JANET WAS NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON
TO HAVE A ONE-NIGHT STAND WITH A GUY.
SO WE WERE PRETTY CERTAIN EARLY ON THIS WAS A ***.
Narrator: JUDGING BY THE DEFENSIVE WOUNDS ON HER HANDS,
JANET TRIED TO FIGHT BACK,
BUT SHE WAS CLEARLY NO MATCH FOR HER ATTACKER,
WHO WAS ARMED WITH SOME KIND OF KNIFE
AND STABBED HER NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE SLASHING HER THROAT.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
Trivette: SHE DID NOT DIE IMMEDIATELY.
IT TOOK PROBABLY MORE THAN A MINUTE
OR MINUTES BEFORE SHE FINALLY BLED OUT AND DIED.
Narrator: THE M.E. THINKS JANET SUCCUMBED TO HER INJURIES
AROUND 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
AND WITH THIS TYPE OF OVERKILL,
DETECTIVES WONDER WHAT SENT HER ATTACKER INTO SUCH A RAGE.
THIS WASN'T LIKE ONE GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD.
THIS WAS REPEATED STABBINGS AND SLASHINGS,
AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE A WORSE SERIES OF EVENTS
TO HAVE TO ENDURE FOR A HUMAN BEING.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER
TO FIGURE OUT WHO LASHED OUT AT JANET,
SO THEY ZERO IN ON THE MAN
WHO LEFT THE PORT O' CALL BAR WITH HER THAT FATEFUL NIGHT --
BRAD CASEY.
PERHAPS HE WANTED MORE
THAN JANET WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIM,
SO THEY HAUL BRAD INTO THE STATION
FOR A LITTLE SIT-DOWN.
THE BUFF BARKEEP TELLS POLICE
HE'S ALREADY HEARD THE HORRIBLE NEWS.
BUT IF BRAD IS SIMPLY HEARTBROKEN,
WHY DOES HE SEEM SO NERVOUS?
Trivette: HE APPEARED INITIALLY TO BE SOMEWHAT ANXIOUS
BECAUSE HE PROBABLY PRETTY QUICKLY REALIZED
THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE TO SEE JANET ALIVE
AND THAT THE FOCUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION
WAS DEFINITELY ON HIM.
Narrator: NOW POLICE NEED TO FIND OUT
IF THERE'S MORE TO THIS SMOOTH-TALKING BARTENDER
THAN MEETS THE EYE
AND WHETHER OR NOT AN INNOCENT FLIRTATION
TURNED DEADLY FOR JANET.
Narrator: JUST A DAY AFTER JANET SICLARI'S ***,
THE SEASIDE TOWN OF NAGS HEAD
IS ALREADY BRACING FOR A SECOND BLOW,
THIS TIME FROM MOTHER NATURE.
THE COMMUNITY HAD TO COME TO GRIPS
WITH A *** THAT HAPPENED HERE ON THE BEACH.
AROUND THE SAME TIME, WE HAD A HURRICANE
COME INTO THE OUTER BANKS NAMED EMILY.
Narrator: RONNIE MERRELL,
THE MANAGER OF THE PORT O' CALL BAR
WHERE JANET SPENT HER LAST NIGHT,
RECALLS THE CHAOS
WITH EMILY EXPECTED TO HIT TOWN IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.
Merrell: WE HAD A MANDATORY EVACUATION.
SO ALL TOURISTS AND ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES AND ALL HOTELS --
ALL THOSE PEOPLE LEFT THE OUTER BANKS.
Narrator: FOR POLICE SCRAMBLING TO SOLVE JANET'S CASE,
IT'S A PERFECT STORM
DESTINED TO CRIPPLE THEIR INVESTIGATION.
Trivette: SO, THE CRIME SCENE
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IMMEDIATELY IN THE VICINITY
OF WHERE THE HOMICIDE OCCURRED WERE GONNA BE GONE.
SO IT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING.
Narrator: GOOD THING POLICE ALREADY HAVE
BARTENDER BRAD CASEY ON THEIR DOPPLER,
THE VERY GUY JANET DROVE HOME THE NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF *** TENSION GOING ON THAT NIGHT
BETWEEN JANET AND THE BARTENDER
AND THE BARTENDER'S GIRLFRIEND, WHO WAS JEALOUS OF JANET
BECAUSE SHE OBSERVED FLIRTING BETWEEN THE BARTENDER AND JANET.
Narrator: WITH BRAD IN THE HOT SEAT,
DETECTIVES START GRILLING HIM LIKE A CRAB-CAKE SLIDER.
BRAD CONFIRMS
HIS ESTRANGED GIRLFRIEND, ANDREA MACKEY'S, STORY
ABOUT THE SQUABBLE IN THE PORT O' CALL BAR.
SHE WAS HOPPING MAD
ABOUT HIM RIDING HOME WITH BUBBLY JANET.
Trivette: IT BECAME CLEAR TO THE INVESTIGATORS
THAT HE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP
WHERE THERE WAS APPARENTLY A LOT OF JEALOUSY
AND THEY WERE NOT GETTING ALONG.
Narrator: BRAD TELLS POLICE
THAT AFTER JANET DROPPED HIM OFF AROUND 2:30,
HE GRABBED A SNACK AND WALKED TO GIRLFRIEND ANDREA'S PLACE
JUST STEPS FROM THE BEACH
TO CONFRONT HER ABOUT THE BAR FIGHT.
AND WHAT HE SAYS NEXT THROWS POLICE FOR A LOOP.
WHILE SLICING UP A TASTY TREAT,
HE SPOTS JANET HEADING INTO THE HOTEL,
BUT HE SWEARS HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD TO HER.
HE HAD A ROLL OF PEPPERONI AND A KNIFE,
AND HE SAT THERE WHILE HE WAITED FOR HIS GIRLFRIEND
AND ATE THE PEPPERONI.
IT'S SO BIZARRE. HOW COULD YOU MAKE IT UP?
[ Chuckling ] YOU'RE GONNA TELL LAW ENFORCEMENT
YOU WERE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT WITH A KNIFE?
HE DID.
Narrator: LOOKS LIKE BRAD HAS HANDED POLICE A GIFT.
NOW IF POLICE CAN ONLY PROVE
THIS KNIFE-WIELDING LOTHARIO IS GOOD FOR THE CRIME.
AND THEY HAVE TO WONDER --
DID BRAD BECOME TOO HOT TO HANDLE LATER THAT NIGHT?
Trivette: THE SCENE WAS SEXUALLY CHARGED,
AND THE QUESTION BECAME,
WAS THIS AN ATMOSPHERE THAT COULD LEAD TO ***?
Narrator: WHEN POLICE ASK BRAD IF HE KILLED JANET,
HE DENIES IT.
BESIDES, HE INSISTS
THAT ANDREA PULLED UP RIGHT AFTER HE SAW JANET.
AFTER SPEAKING TO ANDREA, HE WENT HOME IN A HUFF,
AND THAT'S WHERE HE STAYED THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
BRAD EVEN TELLS POLICE
THEY CAN CHECK OUT THE SMALL KNIFE FOR THEMSELVES.
IT'S IN THE KITCHEN SINK RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT IT.
AND THAT'S NOT ALL BRAD IS WILLING TO GIVE UP.
BRAD VOLUNTEERED TO GIVE US A DNA SAMPLE,
A SAMPLE THAT WE COULD USE TO TEST AGAINST THE *** SAMPLE.
Narrator: BUT THIS MOODY MIXOLOGIST
IS FAR FROM OFF THE HOOK.
WITH NO ONE TO CORROBORATE HIS ALIBI,
DETECTIVES RUN BRAD'S RECORD
BUT FIND NOTHING MORE THAN A FEW TRAFFIC TICKETS.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME TO LET BRAD GO
AND MOVE HIM A FEW NOTCHES DOWN ON THE SUSPECT LIST.
MY GUT TOLD ME ABOUT BRAD
THAT HE WAS AN OVERGROWN KID, PRETTY IMMATURE,
AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S STILL KIND OF HANGING ON
TO HIS TEENAGE YEARS IN HIS 20s
BUT THAT HE WASN'T A KILLER.
Narrator: DETECTIVES ARE MORE THAN DISAPPOINTED.
AND WITH HURRICANE EMILY BEARING DOWN,
THEY'RE DESPERATE FOR A HOT LEAD.
SO THEY CORNER JANET'S FRIEND STACY BEFORE SHE LEAVES TOWN
AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER FISHY CHARACTERS
JANET MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED DURING THEIR STAY.
STACY SAYS CABANA ATTENDANT JACOB RYAN
DIDN'T EXACTLY MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION
WHEN HE SPOTTED JANET IN A BIKINI.
JANET'S FRIENDS HAD SEEN HIM,
YOU KNOW, LOOKING HER UP AND DOWN,
AND IT GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE THEY HAD TO TELL HIM TO LEAVE THEM ALONE.
Narrator: THEN HE UPPED THE ANTE
BY MAKING AN UNWANTED PASS AT JANET
THE VERY NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED.
Trivette: ON THAT LAST NIGHT,
WHILE THE PARTY WAS HAVING DINNER AT THE HOTEL,
MR. RYAN WALKED BY DURING THE MEAL
AND LEANED DOWN AND KISSED JANET ON THE CHEEK.
Narrator: STACY GOES ON TO SAY
THAT JANET WAS POLITE DURING THE WHOLE INCIDENT.
BUT DID JACOB GO AFTER HER FOR NOT RETURNING HIS ADVANCES?
OKAY.
SHE ROUTINELY WAS APPROACHED BY MEN IN PUBLIC
AND MEN WHO TRIED TO TOUCH HER AND KISS HER,
AND SHE DIDN'T ENCOURAGE IT AT ALL.
Narrator: AND WHEN POLICE RUN THIS KISSING BANDIT'S RECORD,
IT'S AN EYE-OPENER.
JACOB SERVED A YEAR AND A HALF IN PRISON
FOR STABBING HIS OWN BROTHER.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME
TO DRAG THIS HOTHEAD DOWN TO THE STATION.
HE GRUDGINGLY AGREES
AND DOESN'T MAKE THINGS EASY FOR POLICE
ONCE THEY HAVE HIM IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
Trivette: HE APPEARED TO BE WARY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND HE SEEMED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF DEFENSE UP ABOUT HIMSELF.
AND HE HAD TO HAVE REALIZED, TOO,
THAT HE WAS BEING LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY.
Narrator: JACOB ADMITS
TO ADMIRING JANET'S BEACHSIDE CURVES
BUT CLAIMS HE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS BOTHERING HER.
SO WHEN HE SAW JANET AT DINNER THAT NIGHT,
HE DIDN'T HESITATE TO SAY HELLO.
WHEN POLICE ASK JACOB
WHAT HE DID THE REST OF THE EVENING,
HIS ANSWER FAILS TO IMPRESS.
Trivette: HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ALIBI.
HE CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN ASLEEP IN HIS APARTMENT
AT THE TIME OF THAT ***.
Narrator: SEEMS LIKE JACOB COULD HAVE EASILY SURPRISED JANET
DURING HER LATE-NIGHT STARGAZING ON THE BEACH.
AFTER ALL, IF HE COULD STAB HIS OWN KIN,
HE WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT STABBING A PRETTY TOURIST.
Trivette: THEY FELT LIKE HE MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING.
THEY WERE SUSPICIOUS OF HIS ANSWERS.
Narrator: IN CASE JACOB IS THEIR GUY,
POLICE ASK HIM FOR A DNA SAMPLE.
HE RELUCTANTLY AGREES,
AND POLICE SEND HIM ON HIS WAY.
Trivette: MR. RYAN STAYED HIGH ON THE SUSPECT LIST
BECAUSE OF ENCOUNTERS THAT HE HAD WITH HER THAT NIGHT
THAT KEPT THE FOCUS ON HIM.
PLUS, HE HAD NO ALIBI.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE POLICE CAN TRACK DOWN ANOTHER SUSPECT...
...HURRICANE EMILY UNLEASHES HER WRATH ON THE OUTER BANKS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EASY FOR A KILLER TO DISAPPEAR.
THE WHOLE BEACH WAS CHAOS THEN
BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN CONTROL WHO IS EXITING
DURING A EVACUATION LIKE THAT.
IT'S A MASS EXIT.
Narrator: FIGURING OUT THIS WHODUNIT
IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT TRICKIER
NOW THAT HURRICANE EMILY HAS BLOWN INTO TOWN.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AFTER JANET SICLARI'S ***,
LOCALS ARE FEELING AS WEATHER-BEATEN
AS THE HOUSES ALONG THE NAGS HEAD SHORE.
Kozak: PEOPLE WERE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED ABOUT THIS,
AND THE POLICE WERE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE TO FIND THIS KILLER.
AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS STILL OUT AND ABOUT AMONG PEOPLE
OR IF HE WAS GONE.
Narrator: THE CATEGORY-3 STORM
WIPES OUT THE HOTEL WHERE JANET STAYED
AND BLOWS WITNESSES AND SUSPECTS ALIKE OUT OF TOWN.
GOOD THING JANET'S MOM CALLS WITH A HOT TIP
THAT KEEPS THE INVESTIGATION GOING.
SHE WANTS POLICE TO KNOW ALL ABOUT A SOMEONE
FROM JANET'S PAST, JERSEY BOY FRANK MAZA.
Trivette: HE WAS THE PERSON IDENTIFIED
AS HAVING BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JANET,
SO ABSOLUTELY HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER
BECAUSE, STATISTICALLY,
THAT'S THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO BE MURDERED BY.
Narrator: JANET'S MOM TELLS POLICE
THAT WHILE GOING THROUGH SOME OF HER DAUGHTER'S BELONGINGS,
SHE CAME ACROSS SOME PROVOCATIVE LETTERS FROM MAZA.
IN ONE, HE WROTE THAT HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WOULD DO
IF JANET STARTED SEEING SOMEONE ELSE.
MOM NEVER MET FRANK,
BUT IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GOT A HOT TEMPER,
JUST THE KIND OF BAD BOY JANET LIKED.
JANET DID LIKE THE OUTGOING, RUGGED SORT OF GUY,
AND HE FIT THAT DESCRIPTION.
HE HAD A ROUGH EDGE TO HIM.
Narrator: AND JANET'S MOM MENTIONS
SOMETHING ELSE SHE FINDS VERY SUSPICIOUS ABOUT FRANK.
WHEN HE AND JANET WERE DATING, JANET TOLD HER MOM
SHE WORRIED FRANK MIGHT GET VIOLENT
IF SHE BROKE UP WITH HIM.
SO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE COUPLE SPLIT,
POLICE WONDER HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN.
POLICE NEEDED TO KNOW WHETHER IT WAS A BAD BREAKUP OR NOT.
Narrator: IF FRANK'S STILL STEAMING,
DETECTIVES JUST MAY HAVE A PRIME SUSPECT.
COULD FRANK HAVE GOTTEN WIND
OF THE GOOD TIME JANET WAS HAVING IN NAGS HEAD WITHOUT HIM
AND DECIDED TO CRASH THE PARTY?
Trivette: THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS THAT COME HERE FROM NEW JERSEY.
HE COULD HAVE BLENDED IN IN THE HUGE CROWD,
SOMEHOW KNOWN WERE JANET WAS,
AND BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET OVER THE RELATIONSHIP,
HE COULD HAVE MURDERED HER.
Narrator: AND WHEN POLICE DO A LITTLE DIGGING
INTO THIS JERSEY BOY,
THEY FIND OUT FRANK HAS A HOBBY
THAT REALLY REVS UP THEIR ENGINES.
Kozak: JANET'S EX-BOYFRIEND,
HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF A BIKER GANG,
WHICH GOT THE INTEREST OF POLICE.
Narrator: AND MORE ALARMING STILL,
IN 1975, FRANK SERVED FIVE YEARS IN PRISON
FOR BEING AN ACCESSORY TO ***
WHEN ONE OF HIS BIKER BUDDIES SHOT A RIVAL GANG MEMBER.
BECAUSE HE HAD THIS PRIOR CONVICTION FOR *** ON HIS RECORD,
IT MOVED HIM WAY UP THE SUSPECT LIST.
IT DEMONSTRATED THAT HE'D DONE IT ONCE.
HE MIGHT HAVE DONE IT AGAIN.
Narrator: SO NAGS HEAD POLICE TRACK DOWN FRANK
AT HIS MECHANIC'S JOB IN NEW JERSEY.
FRANK DOESN'T SEEM SURPRISED TO SEE THEM.
HE'S HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT JANET WAS MURDERED.
HE COMES DOWN TO THE LOCAL POLICE STATION
AND STAYS CALM AS POLICE THROW HIM SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS.
WHEN DETECTIVES ASK ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH JANET,
HE SAYS THEY WERE AN ITEM FOR A FEW YEARS.
Kozak: THE EX-BOYFRIEND TOLD POLICE
THAT THEY WERE AN ON-AGAIN-OFF-AGAIN COUPLE
AND THAT HE HAD BROKEN UP WITH JANET.
Narrator: THE TWICE-DIVORCED FATHER OF FOUR
CLAIMS HE BROKE IT OFF
BECAUSE JANET WAS PRESSURING HIM TO SETTLE DOWN,
WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT JANET'S MOTHER SAID.
POLICE WONDER IF FRANK'S TELLING THE TRUTH,
SO THEY LOB A FEW MORE QUESTIONS AT HIM.
WAS THERE ANY VIOLENT HISTORY INVOLVED IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP?
HOW HAD IT ENDED? WAS IT OVER?
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THEY SAW EACH OTHER?
Narrator: FRANK CLAIMS HE AND JANET STAYED FRIENDS
EVEN AFTER THEIR HOT ROMANCE BURNED OUT.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
IN FACT, HE SAYS THEY WERE SO CLOSE
THAT JANET OFFERED HIM AN INTERESTING INVITATION
BEFORE SHE LEFT FOR NAGS HEAD.
Trivette: HE DID INDICATE
THAT JANET HAD ACTUALLY ASKED HIM TO COME ON THIS TRIP,
BUT HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO AND DIDN'T COME.
Narrator: BUT MAYBE FRANK DID HOP ON HIS BIKE
AND HEAD DOWN THE COAST.
SO POLICE ASK HIM WHERE HE WAS THE NIGHT JANET WAS MURDERED.
HE SAYS HE WAS IN A JERSEY HOSPITAL
BEING TREATED FOR A WORKPLACE INJURY.
BUT AS DETECTIVES MOVE ON FROM BIKER BOY,
THEY BEGIN TO WONDER IF THEY'LL EVER MAKE AN ARREST.
WITHIN THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS, THERE WAS A SINKING FEELING
GOING THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION.
IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING.
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS LEAPING OUT AT US.
THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE POSSIBILITIES.
THERE WERE SUSPICIOUS STATEMENTS MADE,
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING CLEAR THAT WAS COMING OUT.
Narrator: POLICE WATCH THIS CASE GO COLDER
THAN A SIX-PACK IN AN ICY COOLER.
AND MORE FRUSTRATING STILL,
NONE OF THE DNA SAMPLES
COLLECTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION
COME BACK AS A MATCH TO JANET'S.
AND JANET'S FAMILY IS ALSO LEFT HIGH AND DRY
TO PLAY A FRUSTRATING WAITING GAME.
Kozak: THE CASE WENT COLD,
AND IT JUST WAS SO FRUSTRATING TO THE SICLARI FAMILY,
AND THEY FELT SO DESPERATE.
Trivette: THE SICLARI FAMILY WERE WANTING
TO UNCOVER ANY ROCK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW
IF THE NAGS HEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD MISSED ANYTHING.
Narrator: BUT AFTER POLICE REVISIT HUNDREDS OF FORMER LEADS,
NOTHING SEEMS TO PAN OUT,
AND DETECTIVES CAN'T HELP STARTING TO LOSE HEART.
Trivette: I HAD TO ADMIT TO THE FACT IT MIGHT GO UNSOLVED,
AND, I MEAN, IT OCCURRED TO ME.
I'D HOPED THAT WASN'T THE CASE. I PRAYED IT WASN'T THE CASE.
Narrator: JANET'S CASE GATHERS DUST ON A SHELF
FOR FOUR LONG YEARS
UNTIL SCIENCE GIVES POLICE THE BREAK THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
WHEN INVESTIGATORS COMPARE THE ***
TAKEN FROM JANET AT THE TIME OF THE ***
TO DNA SAMPLES IN A NEW DATABASE,
THEY GET A HIT.
IT SEEMS A JAILBIRD
IN A PRISON ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF NAGS HEAD
JUST MAY BE THEIR MAN.
Trivette: WHEN WE GOT A NAME THAT WENT WITH OUR DNA SAMPLE,
I MEAN, IT WAS HUGE.
IT WAS A COMPLETE GAME CHANGER FOR THE INVESTIGATION.
IT JUST TURNED ALL OUR ATTENTION IN ONE DIRECTION.
Narrator: WITH THIS SUDDEN BREAK IN THE CASE,
POLICE ARE ITCHING TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND THE MATCH
AND WONDER IF THEY HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE KILLER
WHO STAYED ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM FOR SO LONG.
Narrator: NEARLY FOUR YEARS
AFTER JANET SICLARI'S BRUTAL ***,
NAGS HEAD POLICE FINALLY HAVE A DNA HIT
ON A PROMISING NEW SUSPECT --
INMATE THOMAS BERRY.
Trivette: THAT WAS THE BIGGEST, ABSOLUTE MOST INCREDIBLE THING
THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE CASE SO FAR,
AND IT WAS THE PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL ALONG.
Narrator: NOW POLICE ARE CERTAIN BERRY HAD SEX WITH JANET,
BUT JUDGING BY HIS RECORD, THEY DOUBT IT WAS CONSENSUAL.
HE'S ALREADY BEHIND BARS FOR AN ASSAULT IN A NEARBY TOWN
JUST A YEAR BEFORE JANET DIED.
BERRY WAS CONVICTED
OF A *** OFFENSE AGAINST A MINOR.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
HE SERVED SOME TIME,
AND THEN HE WAS RELEASED ON PAROLE.
Narrator: IN FACT, THE RECENTLY DIVORCED FISHERMAN
WAS OUT ON PAROLE
WHEN JANET WAS VACATIONING IN NAGS HEAD.
BUT HE WAS THROWN BACK IN THE SLAMMER THREE YEARS LATER
WHEN HE FAILED A MANDATORY DRUG TEST.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE PROVIDED POLICE
WITH THE PRIZED PIECE OF EVIDENCE THEY NEEDED.
WHEN HE WAS PICKED UP FOR THE PAROLE VIOLATION,
THEY TOOK HIS DNA SAMPLE,
AND THEY PUT THAT INTO THE DATABASE.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY GOT A HIT.
Narrator: BUT DID THIS CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER
TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER
AND COMMIT THE ULTIMATE SIN AGAINST JANET?
BEFORE DETECTIVES INTERVIEW THE MAN OF THE HOUR,
THEY TRACK DOWN A WOMAN WHO WAS IN BERRY'S LIFE
AT THE TIME OF JANET'S DEATH --
HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND.
SHE'S LIVING IN BERRY'S HOMETOWN OF ENGELHARD,
ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE NAGS HEAD.
Trivette: WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS TIMELINE NOW,
ABOUT WHERE HE WAS IN THE DAYS AND THEN THE HOURS
LEADING UP TO THE ***,
TRYING TO ESTABLISH OTHER EVIDENCE THAT SHOWED
THAT HE WAS IN AND AROUND THE HOTEL WHERE JANET WAS MURDERED.
WAS HE LIVING IN THE AREA? WAS HE WORKING IN THE AREA?
Narrator: BERRY'S FORMER MAIN SQUEEZE
CONFIRMS HE WAS CRASHING AT HER HOUSE AT THE TIME.
BERRY WAS WORKING AS A FISHERMAN
15 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE RESORT TOWN,
AND SHE RECALLS HE ALMOST ALWAYS CARRIED
A FISHING KNIFE ON HIS BELT.
COULD THAT BE THE KNIFE THAT CUT SHORT JANET'S LIFE?
WHAT BERRY'S EX SAYS NEXT
MAKES POLICE SUSPECT IT MAY BE.
Kozak: HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW HE HAD SEX WITH SO MANY WOMEN.
HE WAS VERY CONVINCED THAT HE WAS IRRESISTIBLE.
Narrator: MAYBE THIS EGOTISTICAL ANGLER
WAS FISHING FOR A DATE
WHEN HE SAW JANET ON THE BEACH AND STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION.
THERE'S ONE MORE TIDBIT BERRY'S EX SHARES
WHEN POLICE SHOW HER A PHOTO
OF SOMETHING THEY FOUND ON THE BEACH.
WE DID RECOVER FROM THE CRIME SCENE
A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES AND A PAIR OF SOCKS.
AND SO WE QUESTIONED HER
ABOUT WHETHER SHE RECOGNIZED THOSE ITEMS.
Narrator: AFTER ONE LOOK AT THE KICKS,
THE EX DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
SHE RECALLED THAT SHE BOUGHT HIM SHOES LIKE THAT
AND THAT THOSE GRAY SOCKS
THAT WERE STUCK DOWN IN THOSE SNEAKERS
WERE THE KIND THAT HE WORE.
Narrator: WITH THIS INFORMATION IN HAND,
POLICE GET A WARRANT TO SEARCH THE LAST PLACE BERRY LIVED,
BUT THEY COME UP EMPTY.
SO THEY PAY BERRY A LITTLE VISIT
AT THE PASQUOTANK CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
BERRY IMMEDIATELY DENIES
MEETING A BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE ON THE BEACH.
EVEN WHEN POLICE PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS
AND TELL BERRY HIS DNA IS A MATCH,
HE TAKES A DIP IN DENIAL.
Trivette: BERRY DENIED EVER MEETING JANET,
DENIED THAT HE HAD SEX WITH HER, DENIED THAT HE KILLED HER,
DENIED THAT THEY HAD EVER EVEN MET ON THE BEACH.
Narrator: POLICE DON'T BELIEVE A WORD BERRY SAYS,
SO THEY PRESS HARDER
AND ASK HIM WHERE HE WAS THAT NIGHT.
FISHING.
Trivette: BERRY DIDN'T HAVE AN ALIBI.
HE COULDN'T TELL US EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS.
HE DIDN'T REMEMBER.
Narrator: AND BERRY HAS AN EXCUSE
FOR HIS TEMPORARY AMNESIA.
Trivette: HE DID SAY THAT HE HAD BEEN SMOKING A LOT OF CRACK
DURING THAT PERIOD AND HE DIDN'T REMEMBER A LOT OF WHAT HE DID.
Narrator: DETECTIVES KEEP PUSHING,
AND, SURE ENOUGH,
SOME MEMORIES START TO COME BACK TO BERRY.
Trivette: HE REMEMBERS THAT HE HAD BEEN SMOKING CRACK
AT A BEACH ACCESS
THAT WAS JUST NORTH OF THE HOTEL WHERE JANET WAS MURDERED.
Narrator: BUT THAT'S AS FAR
AS THE SNEAKY SEX OFFENDER WILL GO.
Kozak: HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER
WHETHER HE EVER MET JANET SICLARI.
HE WAS SO MESSED UP ON CRACK
THAT HE DIDN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING,
BUT HE INSISTED HE COULD NOT FORGET KILLING SOMEBODY
AND THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY HE DID THAT.
Narrator: DESPITE DETECTIVES' GRILLING,
THOMAS BERRY NEVER CONFESSES.
BUT POLICE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO ARREST HIM,
SO THEY KEEP THE CUFFS ON THIS CONVICT
AND SEND HIM BACK TO HIS CELL.
WE GOT A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON OFF THE STREETS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT HE WOULD HAVE *** OR HARMED PEOPLE AGAIN.
HE WAS JUST THAT KIND OF PERSON. HE DID NOT SEEM REMORSEFUL.
HE DID NOT DEMONSTRATE ANY KIND OF COMPASSION.
Narrator: AND IN JANUARY OF 1999,
SIX YEARS AFTER JANET'S ***,
NAGS HEAD PROSECUTORS MAKE SURE
BERRY WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
HE'S SENTENCED TO TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS
FOR THE FIRST-DEGREE *** AND *** OF JANET SICLARI,
GIVING SOME LONG-AWAITED CLOSURE TO HER FAMILY.
Trivette: BERRY'S CONVICTION WAS A TREMENDOUS RELIEF
FOR THE SICLARI FAMILY.
THEY CAN'T REPLACE THE PERSON,
BUT HE WON'T HARM ANYBODY ELSE.
Narrator: BASED ON THE EVIDENCE,
POLICE PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED
ON THAT FATEFUL SUMMER NIGHT.
IT ALL STARTS WHEN JANET GOES OUTSIDE HER HOTEL
TO HAVE ONE LAST CIGARETTE ON THE BEACH,
AND SHE'S APPROACHED BY BERRY, WHO'S HIGH ON CRACK ***.
Trivette: I THINK HE PROBABLY WALKED UP,
AND JANET, BEING JANET, PROBABLY WAS FRIENDLY TO HIM.
Narrator: BERRY KICKS OFF HIS SHOES AND BUMS A CIGARETTE,
BUT FRIENDLY BANTER QUICKLY TAKES A TWISTED TURN.
[ JANET SHOUTING ]
BUT PETITE JANET IS NO MATCH FOR HER CRAZED ATTACKER.
THOUGH SHE STRUGGLES WITH ALL HER MIGHT,
WHEN BERRY REACHES FOR HIS FISHING KNIFE,
SHE LOSES THE BATTLE.
HE FORCED HER TO TAKE HER CLOTHES OFF.
HE FORCED HER TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM
USING THE KNIFE, HOLDING IT AGAINST HER THROAT.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO KEEP JANET
FROM REPORTING HIM TO THE POLICE,
HE SILENCES HER FOR GOOD.
HE HAD LEFT A VICTIM ALIVE BEFORE AND GONE TO JAIL,
AND HE WAS NOT GONNA LEAVE ONE THIS TIME.
[ GASPING, COUGHING ]
Narrator: BUT THIS CRAZED CRACK MONSTER IS SO DAZED
THAT HE LEAVES HIS SHOES AND SOCKS
NEAR JANET'S LIFELESS BODY.
Kozak: THE ONLY THING THAT JANET SICLARI DID WRONG
WAS GO OUTSIDE AND FEEL SAFE ON THIS BEACH.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING SHE DID WRONG.
AND HOW WAS SHE TO KNOW THAT?
Narrator: WITH JANET'S KILLER LOCKED IN A DARK CELL,
FOLKS IN NAGS HEAD CAN GO BACK
TO THE LIGHTHEARTED LIFE THEY LOVE --
WARM SUMMER DAYS AND COOL DRINKS ON THEIR SEASIDE PORCHES.
AND THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SPARKLY BRUNETTE
WHO LOVED TO SHINE HER LIGHT ON THE OUTER BANKS
AND HAD A SMILE FOR EVERYONE SHE MET.
JANET WAS A VERY COMPELLING PERSON,
A PERSON WITH A LARGE PERSONALITY
LOVED BY MANY PEOPLE.
ALTHOUGH WE PUT THIS *** BEHIND US
AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON,
WE'RE NOT READY TO FORGET JANET.