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[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: IN 1981,
A BEAUTY QUEEN IS BORN ON A NEVADA STAGE...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I REMEMBER HOW GORGEOUS SHE LOOKED, AND HOW CONFIDENT.
Narrator: BUT THE BRIGHTER THE BEAUTY, THE BOLDER THE BEAST.
THERE ARE STALKERS EVERYWHERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REALLY INFATUATED WITH HER.
Narrator: AND SOME ADMIRERS
ARE GIVING THIS BRUNET BEAUTY THE EVIL EYE.
Harris: SOME PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT HER A LOT, WATCHING HER.
IT WOULD JUST KIND OF GIVE HER THE CREEPS
AND MAKE HER FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
Narrator: AND SUDDENLY,
A MOTHER STEPS INTO HER DARKEST NIGHTMARE.
[ SCREAMING ] HELP ME!
Linda: MY FRIEND WENT IN THE BEDROOM
AND CAME OUT AND SAID, "LINDA, DON'T GO IN THERE."
[ Voice breaking ] AND THEN, YOU JUST KNOW.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: 17-YEAR-OLD SHEILA JO HARRIS
IS 50% GRIT, AND THE OTHER HALF SASS,
WITH JUST A LITTLE COWGIRL THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.
Linda: SHEILA LOVED HORSES,
AND SHE SAT ON A HORSE VERY WELL.
SHE WAS OUTDOORSY,
AND WOULD RATHER BE HIKING THAN DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
SHEILA WAS DEFINITELY A TOMBOY, I WOULD SAY,
BUT A GIRLY GIRL, AS WELL.
Linda: SHE COULD FIT IN DOING PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING,
AND SHE WAS GREAT AT DANCE.
SHE DID LOVE DANCE.
Narrator: WITH GRACE AND TALENT TO MATCH,
SHEILA DREAMS OF ONE DAY STEPPING ONSTAGE
AS A PROFESSIONAL DANCER.
Linda: SHEILA PRACTICED HER DANCE EVERY DAY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS WORKING OUT.
Harris: SHE WOULD JUST HAVE HER MUSIC BLARING IN THE DRIVEWAY,
AND SHE WOULD BE PRACTICING HER DANCES FOR HOURS.
SHE WAS VERY DEDICATED,
AND -- AND I JUST REMEMBER
HOW SMOOTH AND EASY AND NATURAL HER BODY WOULD MOVE.
AS A DANCER, SHE LOOKED GRACEFUL.
Pacini-Haul: SHEILA WAS PHYSICALLY BEAUTIFUL.
SHE WAS TALL, HAD BEAUTIFUL SKIN, LONG LEGS.
SHE WAS POISED AND ARTICULATE AND FRIENDLY,
AND PEOPLE GRAVITATED TO HER FOR ALL THOSE QUALITIES.
Narrator: SHEILA OOZES SEXY CONFIDENCE,
AND IT'S ENOUGH TO DRIVE ALL THE BOYS WILD.
Harris: SHEILA HAD ALL OF THESE ADMIRERS
BECAUSE SHE WAS JUST EASY TO BE AROUND.
SHE WAS OUTGOING AND BEAUTIFUL
AND WOULD JUST REALLY DRAW PEOPLE IN TO HER.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
Linda: THERE WAS ONE BOY WHO WOULD RIDE HIS HORSE OVER
AND PARK HIM ON MY FRONT LAWN,
AND THEY WOULD SIT OUT IN THE FRONT YARD AND VISIT.
THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY COMING BY,
HOPING SHE WAS OUTSIDE,
SO THAT SHE COULD SIT AND TALK TO THEM FOR A FEW MINUTES.
Jamie: I THINK THAT THERE WERE MANY, MANY GUYS
THAT HOPED TO BE MORE THAN JUST A FRIEND.
Narrator: SHEILA, IT SEEMS, CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH ATTENTION.
AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO GET ATTENTION THAN CENTER STAGE?
Linda: SHEILA CAME HOME ONE DAY
WITH AN ARTICLE FROM THE NEWSPAPER,
AND SHE SAID, "I THINK I WANT TO TRY THIS."
A BEAUTY PAGEANT?
IT'S A BEAUTY PAGEANT FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Narrator: SHEILA WANTS TO MAKE A RUN FOR THE TITLE
AT THE MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY PAGEANT.
TALENT, GOWN, AND AN INTERVIEW QUESTION.
[ GASPS ] YOU'D BE PERFECT FOR IT, HONEY.
OF COURSE YOU CAN.
Harris: MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY IS A LOCAL EVENT, YOU KNOW,
WITH LOCAL GIRLS THAT SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL WITH
OR THAT SHE KNEW.
AND I WAS THINKING, FOR MY TALENT, I CAN DANCE.
OF COURSE. YES. OH, MY GOODNESS.
Linda: TO BE CROWNED MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY,
YOU HAVE TO BE INTELLIGENT.
YOU HAVE TO BE ARTICULATE.
YOU HAVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL.
I CAN'T WAIT.
OH.
IN A SMALL TOWN, IT'S A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: BUT BEHIND THE BEAUTY OF EVERY SMALL TOWN,
THERE HIDES A WORLD FAR MORE WICKED.
Pacini-Haul: BEAUTY QUEEN CONTESTANTS
MAKE A DELIBERATE DECISION TO ENTER A PAGEANT.
AND WHEN THEY DO, THERE'S GOING TO BE ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, THESE YOUNG GIRLS' PICTURES ARE IN THE PAPER,
AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
IT CAN BE SCARY, BECAUSE THERE ARE STALKERS EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: BUT FEAR IS THE FARTHEST THING FROM SHEILA'S MIND
AS SHE FOCUSES ON CLAIMING THE PAGEANT CROWN.
AND FOR THIS SEASONED PERFORMER,
THAT MEANS PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
Linda: SHEILA WOULD REHEARSE EVERYWHERE --
[LAUGHS] THE LIVING ROOM, THE BEDROOM, THE LAWN, THE BACKYARD.
WHEN SHE'D NEED IT CRITIQUED OR HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING,
SHE'D COME OUT AND RUN IT PAST US.
IT WAS HARD WORK, A LOT OF HARD WORK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: WHEN THE DAY OF THE PAGEANT ARRIVES,
ALL OF SHEILA'S PREPARATION FINALLY PAYS OFF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WHEN A YOUNG GIRL ENTERS HER FIRST PAGEANT,
IT FEELS LIKE A CINDERELLA FAIRY TALE.
I REMEMBER HER LEOTARD WITH THE CHIFFON SKIRT.
I -- I COULDN'T TELL YOU
WHAT ANYBODY ELSE WORE IN THAT COMPETITION,
BUT I DO REMEMBER SHEILA.
I REMEMBER WATCHING HER DANCE.
SHE WAS VERY LOVELY AND GRACEFUL AND TALENTED.
Linda: WHEN SHEILA WAS ON THE STAGE,
SHE WAS JUST VERY PROUD AND ALWAYS SMILING,
HER WHOLE FACE JUST BEAMING.
Narrator: ON A SUNNY SUMMER DAY IN 1981...
THE WINNER OF MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY IS...
MISS SHEILA JO HARRIS!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: ...18-YEAR-OLD SHEILA JO HARRIS
IS CROWNED MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Pacini-Haul: SHEILA WAS A BIT STARSTRUCK AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS YOUNG,
BUT SHE SET HER SIGHT ON,
"THIS WHERE I WANT TO COME BACK TO.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO HAVE."
Harris: THERE WERE JUST A TON OF TEARS AND SMILES AND HAPPINESS,
AND EVERYBODY EXCITED.
IT WAS REALLY A BIG DEAL.
THAT'S WHAT SHE HAD BEEN PRACTICING HOURS FOR,
AND ALL OF HER HARD WORK ENDED UP PAYING OFF.
Linda: WHAT MADE SHEILA A BEAUTY QUEEN
WAS ALL THE BEAUTY THAT GLOWED FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
I THINK THAT'S WHY SHE WON, HANDS DOWN.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
Narrator: WITH A NEWFOUND PASSION FOR PAGEANTS,
MISS DOUGLAS COUNTY IS JUST THE FIRST STOP FOR SHEILA JO.
BUT THIS SMALL-TOWN GIRL HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING
SHE'LL SOON BE STOPPED DEAD IN HER TRACKS.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
AFTER HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATION,
SHEILA MOVES ON TO HER NEXT BIG THING.
SHEILA SET HER EYES ON THE MISS CARSON CITY PAGEANT
AND MOVED TO CARSON CITY
BECAUSE SHE HAD TO BE A RESIDENT TO RUN FOR MISS CARSON CITY.
THAT WAS A HUGE STEP FOR SHEILA -- MOVING OUT.
Narrator: BUT SHEILA FINDS COMFORT
KNOWING HER NEW APARTMENT IS JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM HOME.
Harris: CARSON CITY IS 20 MINUTES AWAY.
SO I WOULD CALL HER APARTMENT "SHEILA'S HOTEL."
AT A YOUNG AGE, I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO A HOTEL.
THAT WAS MY CONCEPT
OF HER MOVING OUT AND LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Narrator: IT'S SHEILA'S FIRST TASTE OF FREEDOM,
AND SHE BASKS IN THE GLOW OF HER BRIGHT FUTURE.
Linda: SHEILA WAS WORKING AT A GROCERY STORE,
AND SHE WAS GOING TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
IN CARSON CITY.
Pacini-Haul: SHE WAS VERY, VERY EXCITED
ABOUT MOVING OUT AND BEING ON HER OWN, BEING AN ADULT.
AND SHE WAS SO HAPPY.
SHE HAD THE WORLD BY THE TAIL.
Narrator: BUT JUST DAYS AFTER SETTING OUT ON HER OWN,
THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE SHEILA MAPPED OUT IS HORRIBLY DERAILED.
Linda: MY FRIEND AND I WERE SITTING, DRINKING COFFEE.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
MY PHONE RANG, AND IT WAS SHEILA'S WORK CALLING
TO SAY SHE HAD NEVER COME IN FOR HER SHIFT.
AND I SAID, "WELL, SHEILA WOULD NEVER BE NO-SHOW TO WORK."
AND THEY SAID, "WE KNOW THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED."
Narrator: SHEILA'S MOM, LINDA,
CAN'T GET TO HER DAUGHTER'S APARTMENT FAST ENOUGH.
Harris: MY MOM LOADED ME AND MY LITTLE SISTER IN THE CAR,
AND WE ENDED UP DRIVING TO CARSON CITY,
THINKING THAT WE WOULD FIND SHEILA.
ONCE WE REACHED THE APARTMENT COMPLEX,
HER CAR WAS IN THE PARKING LOT.
Narrator: SHEILA'S CAR IS THERE...
...BUT WHERE IS THE REIGNING BEAUTY QUEEN?
I WENT TO THE APARTMENT.
ALL HER CURTAINS WERE PULLED.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
I KNOCKED, AND NO ONE ANSWERED.
I TRIED TO GET IN, AND THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.
Narrator: IN A PANIC,
LINDA RACES TO GET A KEY FROM THE MANAGER'S OFFICE
AND HOLDS HER BREATH AS SHE UNLOCKS THE DOOR.
Linda: MY FRIEND CAME IN WITH ME.
WHEN WE ENTERED SHEILA'S APARTMENT,
HER PURSE WAS ON THE FLOOR.
THERE WAS A PLANT THAT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN KNOCKED OVER.
IT WAS ALL DISHEVELED.
I WAS VERY DISTRESSED, BECAUSE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.
Narrator: LOOKING AT THE MESS IN FRONT OF HER,
LINDA IS PARALYZED BY FEAR.
MY FRIEND WENT IN THE BEDROOM
AND CAME OUT AND SAID, "LINDA, DON'T GO IN THERE."
[ Voice breaking ] AND THEN, YOU JUST KNOW.
Narrator: WHEN BEAUTY QUEEN SHEILA JO HARRIS
SEES SOMETHING SHE WANTS,
SHE GOES OUT AND GETS IT, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.
SOME GIRLS HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE
TO JUST ENTER PAGEANTS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT COST.
SHEILA HAD TO RAISE HER OWN MONEY.
ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S SO SWEET OF YOU. I SO APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
Linda: SHE WAS VERY RESOURCEFUL.
SHEILA WAS SELLING SOME PINS
WITH HER FACE ON THEM, IN HER TIARA,
TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PAGEANT.
SHE PAID FOR EVERYTHING HERSELF.
Narrator: SHEILA IS ALREADY DREAMING OF HER NEXT PAGEANT,
BUT IT'S A DREAM THAT WILL NEVER BE REALIZED.
LET GO OF ME!
[ SCREAMING ]
ON JANUARY 6th OF 1982, SHEILA WAS A NO-SHOW AT WORK.
I SAID TO MY FRIEND, "I'M GOING TO GO LOOK FOR HER."
AND I WENT TO SHEILA'S APARTMENT.
Narrator: THE TYPICALLY TIDY APARTMENT IS IN DISARRAY,
AND SHEILA'S MOM INSTANTLY KNOWS SOMETHING IS HORRIBLY WRONG.
LINDA WENT DOWN TO THE BEDROOM...
...AND FOUND SHEILA DECEASED, LAYING FACEDOWN ON HER BED.
I HIT THE WALL AND SAID, "NO! NO! NO! NO!"
AND THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER WERE JUST ALL OF THE SIRENS.
I REMEMBER JUST SIRENS AND POLICE CARS
STARTING TO SHOW UP -- AND AN AMBULANCE.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
I WAS JUST THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHEILA MUST BE SICK.
AT 7, YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF ***.
SO IT WAS MORE, "SHE MUST BE SICK.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY."
Narrator: BUT AS INVESTIGATORS ARRIVE ON THE SCENE,
IT BECOMES CLEAR TO EVERYONE THINGS ARE NOT OKAY.
SHEILA WAS LAYING FACEDOWN ON THE BED.
HER ARMS WERE BEHIND HER.
HER WRISTS WERE CLEARLY BOUND UP.
SHE WAS STRANGLED.
THERE WAS CLEARLY MARKS AROUND HER NECK.
Narrator: IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE
THAT SHEILA FOUGHT BACK AGAINST HER ATTACKER,
[ GRUNTING ]
IT SEEMED TO BE A VERY VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITHIN THE APARTMENT,
'CAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A HOLE
KNOCKED INTO THE SIDE OF THE WALL,
AND THERE WAS ALSO SPLINTERS OF WOOD.
I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, "WELL, WHERE DID THE WOOD COME FROM?"
Narrator: IT'S ONE OF MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR INVESTIGATORS.
AND THEY SOON FIND MORE CRITICAL EVIDENCE IN SHEILA'S BEDROOM.
Heddy: THE LAB PEOPLE -- THEY TOOK SHEILA'S NIGHTGOWN.
THEY TOOK THE BEDDING.
Rombardo: THEY SWABBED HER BODY, AND THEY FOUND ***.
SHE WAS CLEARLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CAN'T HELP WONDER,
WAS SHEILA'S KILLER A STRANGER OR SOMEONE SHE KNEW?
THERE WAS, IT APPEARED, NO FORCED ENTRY INTO THE APARTMENT.
SHE EITHER LET THE PERPETRATOR IN,
OR SOMEBODY USED A KEY TO COME IN TO THE APARTMENT.
Narrator: AS DETECTIVES SCOUR THE SCENE,
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WHO'S THIS?
IT WAS HER BOYFRIEND, SCOTT.
SCOTT WAS PLANNING ON SEEING SHEILA THAT NIGHT.
THEY HAD MADE PLANS.
HE WAS GONNA COME DOWN,
AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EVENING TOGETHER.
Narrator: DID SCOTT'S PLANS FOR THAT EVENING INCLUDE ***?
Linda: SCOTT'S VERY TALL.
HE'S GOT SANDY-BLOND HAIR.
HE'S JUST A GENTLE GIANT.
SHEILA'S FIRST JOB WAS AT A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT,
AND SHE MET SCOTT THERE.
HE WAS THE MANAGER.
AND THEY STARTED SEEING EACH OTHER.
THANKS.
I REMEMBER HOW HANDSOME HE WAS AND HOW LOVING,
AND HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT OUR HOUSE AND WITH MY SISTER.
A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES HERE.
Narrator: BUT LIKE SO MUCH YOUNG LOVE,
SHEILA'S ROMANCE WITH SCOTT ENDS WHEN SUMMER DOES.
HE MOVED TO SACRAMENTO, AND THEY BROKE UP.
Narrator: BUT NOT LONG BEFORE THE BEAUTY QUEEN IS KILLED,
THE TWO REKINDLE THEIR ROMANCE.
AND THIS TIME, SCOTT WANTS TO SHOW SHEILA HE'S SERIOUS.
Linda: HE WAS VERY GOOD TO HER.
HE WAS ALWAYS BUYING HER SOMETHING.
AND HE BOUGHT HER A VERY NICE, PRETTY, DELICATE LITTLE RING.
IT WAS A RUBY, AND IT HAD DIAMONDS AROUND IT.
[ GASPS ] IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
Narrator: BUT WITH SO MANY GUYS TO CHOOSE FROM,
SHEILA CAN'T POSSIBLY BE A ONE-GUY KIND OF GAL.
Heddy: WELL, SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL, YOU KNOW,
AND SHE DATED A LOT -- A LOT OF BOYS.
Narrator: EVERYONE KNOWS THAT ENVY IS ONE OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS,
BUT DID IT TURN SCOTT INTO A KILLER?
Rombardo: LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY IS GOING TO THINK,
CRIME OF PASSION.
SCOTT WAS UPSET THAT SHE HAD OTHER BOYFRIENDS.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE SCOTT IN THEIR SIGHTS,
AND THEIR SUSPICIONS ARE ABOUT TO GROW.
Rombardo: LINDA ASKED THE DETECTIVES,
"DOES SHE HAVE HER RING ON?
WHERE'S THE RING?"
AND THE DETECTIVES DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SHE SAID THAT SHE ALWAYS WEARS
THE RUBY RING THAT SCOTT GAVE HER.
THAT RING WAS MISSING.
Narrator: SHEILA'S BELOVED RING IS GONE,
AND IT'S THE ONLY THING
THAT APPEARS TO BE MISSING FROM HER APARTMENT.
SHEILA AND SCOTT WERE SOMEWHAT ON THE ROCKS AT THE TIME.
MAYBE HE MURDERED HER AND THEN TOOK THE RING BACK OUT OF SPITE.
THAT WOULD BE SOME EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE RING'S MISSING.
Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS QUESTION SCOTT,
HE ADMITS, WHILE HE TALKED TO SHEILA THE NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED,
HE NEVER SAW HER.
SCOTT AND SHEILA'S PLANS HAD FALLEN THROUGH.
SHE HAD JUST ENDED UP GOING TO DANCE CLASS
AND THEN WAS JUST GONNA GO HOME.
Narrator: SCOTT CLAIMS HE TALKED TO SHEILA AROUND 11:00,
RIGHT BEFORE SHE WENT TO BED.
AND HE INSISTS HE WASN'T ANYWHERE NEAR HER APARTMENT
THAT FATEFUL NIGHT.
SCOTT DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME.
SO, HE HAD AN ALIBI.
Narrator: BUT SCOTT'S MOTIVE COULDN'T BE STRONGER OR MORE OBVIOUS,
BECAUSE HE WASN'T THE ONLY MAN IN SHEILA'S LIFE.
SHE HAD SO MANY GENTLEMAN CALLERS,
DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE PARTICIPATED IN PAGEANTS.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS DRAWN TO ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE,
WHO HAVE GOTTEN ATTENTION OR HAVE BEEN CROWNED.
MY SISTER, AS A BEAUTY QUEEN,
WAS JUST SO FRIENDLY AND SO LOVING,
AND SHE WAS LOVED BY EVERYBODY.
Narrator: MEN SHOWERED SHEILA WITH SO MUCH ATTENTION
THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE SWIMMING IN SUSPECTS.
Heddy: EVERYBODY BECOMES A PERSON OF INTEREST.
YOU WANT TO FIND OUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
ABOUT WHO HER FRIENDS WERE, WHO HER ASSOCIATES WERE,
WHO HER BOYFRIENDS, PAST BOYFRIENDS WERE.
WAS THERE ANYBODY THAT'S SUSPICIOUS --
MAYBE SHE HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH?
Narrator: AND IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE INVESTIGATORS LEARN
SHEILA RECENTLY HAD A FLING WITH A LOCAL BAD BOY NAMED STEVE.
Rombardo: LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHO STEVE WAS
BECAUSE HIS DAD WAS THE SHERIFF,
AND HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY DATING HER.
THEY HAD JUST BROKEN UP.
Narrator: AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING
THAT HAS INVESTIGATORS EYEING THE SHERIFF'S SON.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A *** CASE,
YOU DON'T LOOK AT IT AS JUST A ***.
IF THERE WAS A *** ASSAULT,
YOU LOOK AT IT AS A *** ASSAULT.
SO YOU START GETTING INTO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MIND
OF THE POTENTIAL PERPETRATOR.
Rombardo: STEVE WAS ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES.
HE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES
OF INDECENT EXPOSURE AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
Narrator: STEVE'S RAP SHEET PROVES
HE'S MORE THAN JUST A BAD BOY,
BUT IS THIS WILD CHILD A BRUTAL KILLER, TOO?
HELP!
Narrator: A TRUE SPITFIRE,
SHEILA JO HARRIS IS NOT A TYPICAL PAGEANT STAR.
Harris: SHEILA WAS DEFINITELY A TOMBOY.
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, HER RIDING HORSES,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PRACTICING FOR HER MISS NEVADA PAGEANT.
MOST POPULAR GIRLS ARE, LIKE, CHEERLEADY, ***.
SHEILA WASN'T ANY OF THAT.
Narrator: BUT EVEN WITH ALL HER VERVE,
THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE SHEILA COULDN'T STAND UP TO.
ON JANUARY 6, 1982,
SHEILA JO HARRIS' BODY WAS FOUND IN HER APARTMENT.
SHE HAD BEEN STRANGLED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
IT WAS A VERY HIGH-PROFILE CASE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS A BEAUTY QUEEN, AND SHE WAS A VERY OUTGOING GIRL.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WONDER
IF THE POPULAR PAGEANT GIRL'S OUTGOING SPIRIT
ATTRACTED THE WRONG COMPANY.
Heddy: SHE HAD A LOT OF MALE FRIENDS,
SO EVERYBODY WAS A PERSON OF INTEREST AT THAT TIME.
Narrator: AND SHEILA'S EX-BOYFRIEND STEVE
STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD.
Rombardo: HE WAS ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES.
HE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES
OF INDECENT EXPOSURE AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT
IN CARSON CITY.
Narrator: STEVE IS TALL, DARK, AND HANDSOME,
A KILLER COMBO THAT GETS HIM PLENTY OF ATTENTION
FROM THE GIRLS IN TOWN.
BUT FROM THE FIRST MOMENT HE MEETS SHEILA, HE'S SMITTEN.
Linda: SHEILA MET STEVE
AS SOON AS SHE STARTED ATTENDING COLLEGE.
THEY DATED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
SHE BROUGHT HIM OVER, INTRODUCED HIM TO ME,
AND I THOUGHT HE WAS NICE.
STEVE'S FAMILY WAS VERY WELL-KNOWN
WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
HIS DAD HAD BEEN, PREVIOUSLY, AN UNDERSHERIFF.
Narrator: STEVE COMES FROM A GOOD FAMILY,
BUT STRUGGLES WITH SOME DEEP-SEATED DEMONS.
Rombardo: STEVE DEFINITELY HAD SOME TYPE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE.
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF BIPOLAR TYPE OF ISSUE.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, EVERYONE REALLY LIKED HIM,
AND THEN, THERE WOULD BE THESE WEIRD CHANGES,
TO WHERE THESE ISSUES WOULD ARISE.
Narrator: LIKE ALL THE OTHER MEN IN SHEILA'S LIFE,
STEVE WANTS TO BE THE ONE.
WOULD YOU WANT TO... GO OFFICIAL WITH ME?
Narrator: BUT INSTEAD,
HE'S JUST ANOTHER BROKEN HEART IN A STRING OF MANY.
YOU GET TO KNOW SOMEONE, AND YOU REALIZE THAT
IT'S NOT REALLY A PERFECT MATCH, OR A GOOD MATCH.
SEE YOU AROUND.
YEAH. I'LL SEE YOU AROUND, I GUESS.
SO, SHEILA BROKE UP WITH HIM.
Narrator: BUT THEIR BREAKUP IS NOT THE FINAL SAGA
IN THE STORY OF STEVE AND SHEILA.
Linda: A FEW DAYS BEFORE HER LIFE WAS TAKEN,
SHE TOLD ME HE HAD COME OVER TO THE APARTMENT...
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
...TO ASK HER TO GO SOMEWHERE OR DO SOMETHING,
AND SHE HAD DECLINED.
SHEILA, WE NEED TO TALK.
STEVE, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO TALK ABOUT.
I'M SORRY, BUT IT IS OVER.
ONE MORE CHANCE.
STEVE, LEAVE! GOODBYE!
Narrator: IS IT POSSIBLE
STEVE FELT JILTED ENOUGH TO SEEK THE ULTIMATE REVENGE?
INVESTIGATORS INTEND TO FIND OUT.
BUT BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO TRACK STEVE DOWN,
HE SURPRISES EVERYONE...
...AND FINDS THEM FIRST.
Heddy: STEVE WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROCEEDING,
AND THE DETECTIVES AT THAT TIME
JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS.
THEY'RE NO LONGER BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND,
AND WHY IS HE CALLING, TRYING TO SEEK INFORMATION?
[ SIGHS ]
MAYBE HE WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE INVESTIGATION WAS
TO TRY TO HIDE HIS TRACKS, COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF ALIBI.
Narrator: BUT IF STEVE IS A MAN WITH SOMETHING TO HIDE,
HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T COME OFF AS ONE.
STEVE WAS GIVEN A POLYGRAPH, AND HE PASSED THE POLYGRAPH.
Rombardo: THEY QUESTIONED HIM.
HE HAD AN ALIBI.
HIS MOM CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS AT HOME WITH HER.
Narrator: STEVE'S INTEREST IN SHEILA'S ***
DOESN'T SIT RIGHT WITH INVESTIGATORS,
BUT THEY HAVE LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO MOVE ON.
AND THE LOCAL PAGEANT SCENE IS IN A TIZZY,
AS THEY CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR THIS BEAUTY QUEEN KILLER.
Pacini-Haul: I HAD NEVER KNOWN ANYBODY THAT HAD BEEN MURDERED BEFORE.
ALL OF US GIRLS WHO WERE IN THE PAGEANT,
WHEN WE HAD -- WOULD SEE EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW,
WE TALKED ABOUT SHEILA AND HOW SAD IT WAS,
AND WE FELT REALLY BAD.
Narrator: SHEILA DIDN'T HAVE AN ENEMY IN THE WORLD --
AT LEAST, NOT ONE HER FAMILY WAS AWARE OF.
Heddy: INVESTIGATORS, AT THAT TIME,
GO AROUND AND KNOCK ON TENANTS' DOORS
AND QUESTION THE NEIGHBORS,
FIND OUT IF THEY HAD SEEN ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS
OR HEARD ANYTHING UNUSUAL THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.
NOTHING GOING ON -- QUIET NIGHT.
Narrator: DETECTIVES TALKED TO THE TENANTS
IN EVERY SINGLE APARTMENT, EXCEPT ONE.
POLICE.
Heddy: THE OFFICERS HAD GONE
AND KNOCKED ON THIS PARTICULAR APARTMENT.
AND THEY SAID, AS THEY WERE GOING UP THE STAIRWELL,
THAT THEY COULD HEAR A TV AND PEOPLE TALKING IN THE APARTMENT.
AND WHEN THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR,
THE TV WENT OFF AND THE PEOPLE QUIT TALKING,
BUT NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE SUSPICIOUS
AND PLAN TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE APARTMENT.
ALL THE OTHER TENANTS PAINT SHEILA
AS THE GIRL WHO SHARED A SMILE WITH EVERYONE --
WELL, JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.
SHE WAS DISTURBED BY A HANDYMAN AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
Linda: SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE,
SHEILA SAID, "HE GIVES ME THE CREEPS.
HE'S ALWAYS STARING AT ME AND WATCHING ME."
Narrator: SHEILA TURNED HEADS WHEREVER SHE WENT,
BUT THIS GUY'S LOOKS WERE MORE LIKE LEERS.
Heddy: WHEN SHE WAS MOVING IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX,
THEIR PATHS HAD CROSSED,
AND HE HAD MADE SOME REMARK TO HER THAT SHE DID NOT LIKE...
HEY, BEAUTIFUL.
...AND THAT MADE HER SOMEWHAT FEARFUL.
Narrator: AND THERE'S ONE MORE THING THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL
FOR THE SOON-TO-BE *** SUSPECT.
Heddy: THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAD THE KEY TO GET INTO THE APARTMENTS
WAS THE MAINTENANCE MAN.
Narrator: IT SUDDENLY SEEMS
THIS HANDYMAN MIGHT HOLD THE KEY
TO SOLVING THIS BEAUTY QUEEN ***.
[ SCREAMING ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: NO MATTER WHERE SHE WENT,
18-YEAR-OLD SHEILA JO HARRIS WAS THE GIRL
WHO MADE AN UNFORGETTABLE IMPRESSION ON EVERYONE.
SHEILA AND I MET AT THE 1981 MISS NEVADA PAGEANT,
WHICH WAS HELD IN RENO.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO REMEMBER 30 GIRLS
IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS I HAVE FOR SHEILA,
BECAUSE SHE WAS A MAGNIFICENT YOUNG WOMAN,
JUST EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD IMAGINE A BEAUTY QUEEN TO BE.
Narrator: SHEILA HAD BIG PLANS ON THE PAGEANT STAGE,
BUT LIFE RARELY TURNS OUT THE WAY YOU EXPECT IT TO.
THE BEAUTY QUEEN HAS BEEN *** AND MURDERED IN HER APARTMENT.
AND INVESTIGATORS ARE EYEING THE HANDYMAN, DAVID MITCHELL,
AS A SUSPECT.
Heddy: THE MAINTENANCE MAN, DAVID MITCHELL,
WAS PRETTY STOCKY, VERY STOUT.
HE WAS VERY MUSCULAR AND VERY STRONG.
SHEILA FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE MAINTENANCE MAN.
HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FROM AFAR IN HER WINDOWS...
...WATCHING HER WALK, WATCHING HER COME HOME.
[ HAMMER TAPPING ]
HEY, HONEY PIE.
HEY, BEAUTIFUL.
Narrator: TRY AS SHE MIGHT,
SHEILA CAN'T ESCAPE DAVID'S GAZE.
Heddy: THERE WAS A WOODEN FENCE OUTSIDE HER APARTMENT.
AND HE HAD BEEN OUT WORKING ON THAT PARTICULAR FENCE
TO REPAIR IT.
HE WAS RIGHT OUTSIDE, WORKING ON THAT THING.
THERE'S THE FENCE, AND THERE'S HER FRONT DOOR.
IT'S NOT A LONG WALK.
SO HE WAS PROBABLY OUTSIDE HER WINDOW,
CHECKING HER OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF THING.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT
THAT WOODEN FENCE MIGHT LINK MITCHELL TO THE ***.
Heddy: IN HER BEDROOM, THERE HAD BEEN A STRUGGLE.
AND THERE WAS ALSO WOOD AND SPLINTERS OF WOOD
IN THE BEDROOM.
Narrator: DETECTIVES TRACK MITCHELL DOWN.
AND THOUGH HE ADMITS
HE HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING HIS EYES OFF SHEILA...
CAN'T SAY I HAD A CONVERSATION.
...HE SAYS HE NEVER LAID A HAND ON HER.
HE SAYS HE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
HE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANYTHING GOING ON.
I WAS AT MY HOME WITH MY GIRLFRIEND.
Heddy: HIS STORY WAS THAT HE WAS HOME,
AND HE HAD AN ALIBI OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.
SHE LIVED WITH HIM, AND SHE WAS WITH HIM THE WHOLE TIME,
AND SHE CONFIRMED THAT.
Narrator: BUT DOES THE WOOD FROM THE FENCE MITCHELL WAS WORKING ON
MATCH THE WOOD FOUND IN SHEILA'S APARTMENT?
THE DETECTIVES AT THE TIME SAID THAT THE WOOD FROM THAT FENCE
DID NOT MATCH THE WOOD FROM THE INSIDE.
Narrator: MITCHELL MAY HAVE GIVEN SHEILA THE CREEPS,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM A MURDERER.
AND WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF SHEILA JO HARRIS,
HER KILLER IS STILL ROAMING FREE.
Linda: IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING,
THINKING, "ANY DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ARREST MADE."
Harris: DAYS, YOU KNOW, WERE PRETTY MUCH A BLUR TO ME.
YOU KNOW, I JUST REMEMBER
A LOT OF SADNESS AND A HEAVINESS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
Narrator: WITHOUT AN ARREST OR SHEILA JO,
HER FAMILY DESPERATELY HOLDS ONTO HER MEMORY.
Jamie: IT WAS HARD FOR MY MOTHER,
BECAUSE IT BRINGS UP THE SADNESS THAT YOU FEEL,
AND OBVIOUSLY, THE FEELINGS OF LOSS.
Harris: MY MOM KEPT HER SPIRIT ALIVE
BY TELLING US STORIES,
BY, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING US TO SHARE MEMORIES
AND TALKING ABOUT HER.
Jamie: MY MOTHER DID AN AMAZING JOB
SHOWING US THAT LIFE GOES ON AND THAT YOU PERSEVERE.
Narrator: EVERYONE IN TOWN IS TALKING ABOUT SHEILA JO,
BUT INVESTIGATORS CAN'T HELP NOTICE
SHEILA'S EX-BOYFRIEND STEVE IS STILL TALKING MORE THAN MOST.
Heddy: STEVE KEPT CALLING THE INVESTIGATORS,
INQUIRING AS TO HOW THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROCEEDING.
AND THEY PERCEIVED THAT AS BEING NOSY ABOUT THE CASE,
AND SO THAT JUST RAISED SUSPICIONS UP.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DON'T BUY STEVE'S GOOD-GUY ROUTINE
AND SUSPECT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS.
Heddy: IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF
AFTER SHEILA JO HARRIS WAS MURDERED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WE GOT A CALL SAYING THAT
THIS GUY HAD BEEN *** IN FRONT OF THE FOTOMAT STORE.
THEY STOPPED HIM, ARRESTED HIM,
AND BOOKED HIM IN THE WASHOE COUNTY JAIL
FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE.
Narrator: WITH HIS DARK PAST AND CRIMINAL HISTORY,
STEVE'S LATEST ARREST DOESN'T SURPRISE ANYONE.
BUT WHAT STEVE DOES NEXT SHOCKS EVERYONE.
THE NEXT DAY, HE CALLED HIS DAD AND APOLOGIZED,
SAYING HE WAS SORRY FOR EMBARRASSING THE FAMILY
AND HE WAS ASHAMED.
LATER THAT EVENING,
HE ENDED UP HANGING HIMSELF IN HIS JAIL CELL.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE STEVE PLANNED
TO KEEP HIS DARKEST SECRETS SAFE FOREVER.
INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT HE HANGED HIMSELF
BECAUSE HE HAD MURDERED HER.
HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME!
Heddy: HE WAS A *** DEVIANT,
AND SO THEY DETERMINED
THAT HE WAS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT COMMITTED
THE *** ASSAULT AND *** OF SHEILA JO HARRIS.
Narrator: JUST LIKE THAT,
THE CASE OF SHEILA JO HARRIS APPEARS TO BE CLOSED.
BUT FOR HER FAMILY, THERE IS NO CLOSURE,
AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE STEVE COULD HAVE BEEN SHEILA'S KILLER.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS VERY SHORT.
STEVE HAD AN ALIBI FOR THAT NIGHT.
I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT CONSIDER STEVE A SUSPECT.
Narrator: THE MONTHS SLOWLY SLIPPED BY,
AND ALL THE WHILE,
SHEILA'S MOM NEVER GIVES UP ON FINDING THE TRUTH.
Jamie: MY MOTHER KEPT THE CASE ALIVE
BY PURSUING EVERY AVENUE THAT SHE COULD,
AS FAR AS CONTACTING AUTHORITIES,
CONTACTING THE MEDIA HERE AND THERE,
TO KEEP THE STORY ALIVE, KEEP IT IN PEOPLE'S MINDS,
NOT LET PEOPLE FORGET.
Narrator: IT TAKES THREE YEARS,
BUT IN 1985, LINDA FINALLY GETS SOMEONE TO LISTEN.
I HAD BUILT UP A GOOD RAPPORT WITH LINDA ON THIS CASE.
I KNOW HOW DEAR HER DAUGHTER WAS TO HER.
AND AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, I FELT HER PAIN.
I PROMISED LINDA TO REOPEN THAT CASE, AND WE WILL GET IT CLOSED.
THAT WAS MY PROMISE TO HER.
Narrator: DETECTIVE ED HEDDY
DOESN'T MAKE PROMISES HE CAN'T KEEP.
AND WHEN HE DISCOVERS A SMALL OVERSIGHT,
THE CASE SUDDENLY STARTS HEATING UP.
Heddy: AFTER THE ***,
INVESTIGATORS GO AROUND AND QUESTION THE NEIGHBORS.
NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL THE NIGHT BEFORE?
NO, NO. NOTHING I CAN THINK OF.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HIT EVERY APARTMENT BUT ONE.
Heddy: THE OFFICERS ON THIS PARTICULAR APARTMENT SAID
THAT THEY COULD HEAR A TV AND PEOPLE TALKING IN THE APARTMENT.
AND WHEN THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR,
THE TV WENT OFF AND THE PEOPLE QUIT TALKING,
BUT NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR.
NOBODY, AT THAT TIME,
FOLLOWED UP ON TO FIND OUT WHOSE APARTMENT THAT BELONGED TO.
THAT RAISED A RED FLAG FOR ME.
Narrator: WHO LIVED IN THAT APARTMENT?
AND COULD THE ANSWER BE THE KEY TO SOLVING SHEILA'S ***?
Heddy: MY PARTNER AND I --
WE GO TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, TALK TO THE MANAGER,
AND WE WANTED TO FIND OUT
WHO WAS LIVING IN THAT APARTMENT DURING THAT TIME.
WE FOUND OUT THAT IT BELONGED TO DAVID MITCHELL.
HE WAS THE MAINTENANCE GUY AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX,
AND HE HAD MASTER KEYS TO ALL THE APARTMENTS IN THAT COMPLEX.
Narrator: THE EVIDENCE AGAINST DAVID MITCHELL IS STACKING UP,
AND THE PILE IS ABOUT TO GROW HIGHER.
Rombardo: THE OFFICE MANAGER -- SHE SAYS TO ME,
"I RAN INTO THE MAINTENANCE MAN, MITCHELL,
"AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
AND WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM, HE SAID, 'LOOK WHAT I HAVE.'"
AND SHE SAID, "I'LL NEVER FORGET --
"HE OPENED THE PALM OF HIS HAND,
AND HE HAD A RUBY RING IN HIS HAND."
Narrator: DAVID MITCHELL MAY HAVE HAD
THE BEAUTY QUEEN'S BELOVED RUBY RING,
BUT CAN INVESTIGATORS PROVE HE HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS?
Narrator: A MOTHER'S DETERMINATION IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH,
ESPECIALLY WHEN HER DAUGHTER'S KILLER
SEEMS TO HAVE ESCAPED JUSTICE.
I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS GOING BY
WHERE THERE WASN'T ANY NEW INFORMATION.
BUT IT NEVER STOPPED MY MOM FROM WANTING TO FIND JUSTICE,
AND I REMEMBER HER BEING IN CONTACT
WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REGULARLY.
Linda: EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAID,
"HOW DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS, LINDA?
"HOW DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS?
YOU CAN JUST STOP AND FORGET ABOUT IT."
BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.
Narrator: FINALLY, YEARS AFTER THE *** OF SHEILA JO HARRIS,
IT LOOKS LIKE HER MOTHER'S EFFORTS ARE ABOUT TO PAY OFF.
DAVID MITCHELL,
THE MAINTENANCE MAN AT SHEILA'S APARTMENT COMPLEX,
IS SUDDENLY BACK ON THE RADAR.
Heddy: HE WAS A SUSPECT
DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE LIVED IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX
AND HAD A MASTER KEY TO GET INTO THE APARTMENTS.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE ALSO LEARNED,
IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE ***,
MITCHELL WAS SEEN SHOWING OFF SHEILA'S RUBY RING.
BUT THEY NEED MORE CONCRETE EVIDENCE
BEFORE THEY CAN ACT ON THEIR SUSPICIONS.
THE FIRST THING WE WANTED TO LOOK AT
WAS THE BEDDING AND HER NIGHTGOWN.
AND WE ROLLED IT OUT ON A TABLE,
AND I'M NOT A HAIR EXPERT,
BUT THERE APPEARED TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAIR.
EXAMINED HER NIGHTGOWN.
AND AS WE UNROLLED HER NIGHTGOWN...
...THERE'S HAIR IN THAT, ALSO.
WE PUT A REQUEST IN
TO SEND THAT HAIR TO THE LAB TO HAVE IT EXAMINED...
...AND IT CAME BACK AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAIR.
Narrator: SUSPECTING THE HANDYMAN IS INDEED THEIR KILLER,
INVESTIGATORS MOVE QUICKLY TO TRACK HIM DOWN.
TURNS OUT THAT MITCHELL IS IN NEW YORK CITY,
WHERE HE HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR A SIMILAR TYPE OF CRIME.
Heddy: MY PARTNER AND I TAKE A TRIP TO NEW YORK.
WE WANTED TO GO BACK AND TALK TO HIM,
BUT WE ALSO NEEDED TO GET HAIR SAMPLES FROM HIM
TO COMPARE WITH THE HAIR THAT WAS FOUND
IN THE BEDDING AND IN HER NIGHTGOWN.
WE ENDED UP GETTING A SEARCH WARRANT.
MY PARTNER AND I TOOK HAIR SAMPLES --
CHEST HAIR SAMPLES, *** HAIR.
AND THEN WE BROUGHT BACK THEM BACK, SENT THEM TO THE LAB.
Narrator: WILL DAVID MITCHELL'S OWN HAIR
PROVIDE THE FINAL NAIL IN HIS COFFIN?
Heddy: THE LAB TECH CALLED ME, AND HE SAYS, "HEY, ED.
"WE GOT A DNA MATCH ON SHEILA JO HARRIS.
YOU WERE RIGHT -- IT WAS DAVID MITCHELL."
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DON'T WASTE A MINUTE
HITTING MITCHELL WITH A CHARGE OF ***.
AND SHEILA'S FAMILY FEELS ONE STEP CLOSER
TO THE ANSWERS THEY'VE BEEN SEEKING FOR SO LONG.
GETTING THAT NEWS OF HIS ARREST IS UNDESCRIBABLE.
IT WAS A HUGE RELIEF.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT MY MOM HAD FOUGHT FOR FOR SO LONG.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT
I HAD WANTED FOR MY FAMILY FOR SO LONG.
Narrator: DESPITE THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM,
DAVID MITCHELL NEVER UTTERS A WORD ABOUT SHEILA'S ***.
BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR TO EVERYONE...
HE WAS CONSTANTLY AROUND HER APARTMENT.
HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FROM AFAR IN HER WINDOWS,
WATCHING HER WALK, WATCHING HER COME HOME.
Rombardo: I THINK MITCHELL IS A PERVERSE HUMAN
WHO GETS OFF ON *** ASSAULT AND BRUTALIZING WOMEN.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT MITCHELL WATCHED
AS SHEILA JO LEFT FOR THE LAST DANCE CLASS SHE'D EVER TAKE.
MY THEORY IS THAT,
WHEN HE SAW SHEILA JO HARRIS LEAVE HER APARTMENT
THAT DAY OF JANUARY 6, 1982,
THAT HE THEN USED HIS MASTER KEY TO GO INTO HER APARTMENT,
AND HE LIED IN WAIT.
Narrator: POLICE BELIEVE MITCHELL HID UNTIL SHEILA CAME HOME.
Heddy: HE WAS IN THERE.
HE COULD SEE HER GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
Narrator: SHEILA HAD NO IDEA
MITCHELL WAS HIDING IN THE SHADOWS JUST FEET AWAY.
HE ACTED FAST...
[ GRUNTING ]
...AND VICIOUSLY ATTACKING HER.
HE BEGAN TO HIT HER WITH SOME TYPE OF WOOD,
AND DURING THAT, SHE CLEARLY FOUGHT WITH HIM,
WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS THE HOLE IN THE WALL.
MITCHELL CHASED HER THROUGHOUT THE APARTMENT...
HELP ME! STOP!
...INTO HER BEDROOM.
GET OFF! HELP ME!
DON'T!
...SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER...
[ SCREAMS ]
...AND STRANGLED HER TO DEATH.
Narrator: MITCHELL QUICKLY SNATCHES SHEILA'S BELOVED RUBY RING
BEFORE SNEAKING OUT OF HER APARTMENT.
HER BEAUTY LED HIM TO PAY ATTENTION TO HER.
HER BEAUTY ATTRACTED A KILLER.
Narrator: FOR MANY YEARS,
DAVID MITCHELL MANAGED TO GET AWAY WITH ***,
BUT FINALLY, HE'S FORCED TO FACE A JUDGE.
Harris: BEFORE WE KNEW IT, IT WAS TRIAL TIME,
AND WE WERE SITTING IN THE COURTHOUSE,
GETTING READY TO GO FORWARD WITH THE TRIAL OF DAVID MITCHELL.
Reporter: 18-YEAR-OLD SHEILA HARRIS.
TODAY, PROSECUTORS BEGAN LAYING OUT THE CASE
AGAINST THE MAN ACCUSED OF HER ***.
Linda: IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO TELL YOU HOW I FELT.
Narrator: AFTER A ONE-WEEK TRIAL,
THE JURY TAKES ONLY FIVE HOURS TO DELIBERATE.
Heddy: WHEN THE VERDICT CAME BACK,
DAVID WINFIELD MITCHELL...
WAS FOUND GUILTY...
OF FIRST-DEGREE *** AND *** ASSAULT
OF SHEILA JO HARRIS.
Narrator: SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON,
DAVID MITCHELL'S FUTURE IS AS DARK AS HIS PAST.
BUT THE FUTURE FOR SHEILA'S FAMILY
FINALLY LOOKS A LITTLE BRIGHTER.
Linda: AFTER THE VERDICT,
THERE WAS TEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT,
TEARS OF SADNESS,
TEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING SHEILA BACK.
BUT THERE WERE TEARS OF JOY,
TO JUST FINALLY KNOW THAT HE WAS OFF THE STREETS
AND THAT WE'D DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD FOR SHEILA.
Pacini-Haul: SHEILA WAS BEAUTIFUL.
SHE WAS SMART.
SHE HAD TALENT.
Harris: IF SHEILA WERE STILL HERE,
I COULD IMAGINE HER, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOVING HUSBAND.
I CAN IMAGINE I'D HAVE
SOME NIECES AND NEPHEWS RUNNING AROUND.
Linda: I DON'T SEE HOW SHE COULD HAVE GOT ANY BETTER,
BUT I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE JUST GOT BETTER WITH AGE.
I THINK SHE WOULD BE A FABULOUS MOTHER,
A FABULOUS WIFE -- JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON.