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Narrator: A PREGNANT TEEN IN A SMALL TOWN...
TO BE 18 AND HAVING A KID IS HONESTLY TERRIFYING.
Narrator: ...TURNS TO THE INTERNET.
IT WAS BASICALLY A CRY FOR HELP.
Narrator: A STRANGER COMES TO HER RESCUE.
IT WAS A VERY GENEROUS OFFER FROM A VERY GENEROUS PERSON.
Narrator: BUT IS IT REALLY A HELPING HAND...
I'M AMANDA.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator: ...OR THE SPECTER OF EVIL?
IT WAS NOTHING LIKE I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'M TERRIFIED.
AAH!
IS MY BABY BOY ALIVE OR NOT?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ GROANS ]
I THOUGHT THE ONLY WAY I'M GONNA END UP IN THE HOSPITAL
IS IN A BODY BAG.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: CLINTON IS A SMALL FARMING TOWN
ABOUT 80 MILES SOUTH OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
IN 2006, IT'S HOME TO
17-YEAR-OLD HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT AMANDA HOWARD.
AS A YOUNG GIRL, CLINTON WAS A REALLY GOOD PLACE --
BEAUTIFUL, A LOT OF FUN TO GROW UP IN.
EVERYBODY PRETTY MUCH KNEW EVERYBODY.
I WAS IN FLAG CORPS DURING HIGH SCHOOL
WITH THE MARCHING BAND.
MY DREAM WAS ACTUALLY TO DO COMPUTER WORK IN THE AIR FORCE.
Narrator: AMANDA'S AN ONLY CHILD LIVING WITH HER MOTHER, JEANA,
SINCE HER PARENTS DIVORCED A FEW YEARS AGO.
Booth: I'M VERY CLOSE TO AMANDA.
I WOULD SAY WE ARE PROBABLY AN INSEPARABLE UNIT.
Narrator: BUT AMANDA ALSO WANTS CONTACT WITH PEOPLE HER OWN AGE.
IN ISOLATED CLINTON,
THE INTERNET IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.
Howard: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MYSPACE.
MYSPACE OFFERED ME SOMEWHERE TO WRITE MY FEELINGS.
Booth: AMANDA WENT ONLINE A LOT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD STILL GO PLACES
OR GO SHOPPING OR TRAVEL TO SEE FAMILY.
Narrator: AMANDA'S ALSO GOT A BOYFRIEND NAMED ERIC.
HE WAS SUCH A SWEETHEART.
THE AFFECTION THAT HE SHOWED WAS DEFINITELY NOT ANYTHING
THAT I HAD HAD IN PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS.
BUT ERIC HAD A REPUTATION.
Booth: ERIC WAS NOT THE RIGHT GUY FOR AMANDA, IN MY EYES.
HE WAS THE KIND OF GUY
THAT WAS INTO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AND PARTYING.
Narrator: AMANDA AND ERIC HAVE ONLY BEEN DATING FOR FIVE MONTHS,
BUT SUDDENLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAS TAKEN A VERY SERIOUS TURN.
Howard: I HADN'T MISSED A PERIOD BEFORE.
I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING'S DIFFERENT.
THE IDEA OF BEING PREGNANT WAS OVERWHELMING.
MY FUTURE WOULD BE PUT ON HOLD.
SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A TEST.
I WAS VERY, VERY PREGNANT. [ CHUCKLES ]
[ SIGHS ]
THE BOTTOM KIND OF DROPPED OUT
WHEN I HEARD THAT AMANDA WAS PREGNANT
BECAUSE SHE WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF AT THAT POINT
LET ALONE TAKE CARE OF A CHILD.
IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT?
Howard: I UNDERSTAND THAT CERTAIN SITUATIONS
IT'S OKAY TO ABORT,
BUT I, PERSONALLY, WOULDN'T.
YES.
OKAY.
SO I DECIDED THAT IF I WAS DISAPPOINTED OR NOT,
I WOULD STILL LOVE HER AND WOULD SUPPORT HER
AND I WOULD HELP HER WITH ANYTHING THAT SHE NEEDED.
Narrator: BUT AMANDA'S BOYFRIEND, ERIC, ISN'T SO UNDERSTANDING.
Howard: ERIC TOLD ME THAT HE WASN'T READY TO BE A FATHER,
THAT HE WAS TOO YOUNG, THAT HE STILL WANTED TO GO HAVE FUN.
[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
I STARTED REALIZING THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A SINGLE MOM.
Narrator: BY THE TIME SHE'S FOUR MONTHS PREGNANT,
AMANDA'S TOUGH SITUATION HAS GOT A WHOLE LOT WORSE.
HERE YOU GO, HONEY.
ACADEMICALLY THAT YEAR, I WAS FAILING MY CLASSES.
SO THEY ACTUALLY ENDED UP DROPPING ME FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF
BECAUSE I KNEW DEEP DOWN
THAT THAT WAS GONNA PUT A HOLD ON MY FUTURE.
Narrator: NOW AMANDA HAS NO BOYFRIEND OR SCHOOL FRIENDS TO TALK TO.
SHE TURNS TO HER ONLINE COMMUNITY.
I POSTED ON THE INTERNET HOPING THAT THE FEW FRIENDS THAT I HAD
WOULD REALIZE THAT I NEEDED THEM.
IT WAS BASICALLY A CRY FOR HELP.
I NEVER FOUND ANYBODY TO TALK TO.
I NEVER FELT LIKE ANYBODY REALLY PAID ATTENTION.
Narrator: AMANDA AND HER MOTHER, JEANA, ARE NOW EVEN MORE ALONE.
THEY FACE A HUGE CHALLENGE SUPPORTING THEMSELVES AND A BABY
ON JUST ONE SMALL SALARY.
I WORKED FOR A NON-FOR-PROFIT AGENCY,
SO WE DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY
THAT MY MOM COULD FINANCIALLY HELP ME WITH EVERYTHING.
A BABY WAS GOING TO BE A BIG FINANCIAL BURDEN.
Narrator: THEN, DESPITE ALL THE MONEY WORRIES,
AMANDA HAS A MAGIC MOMENT THAT REMINDS HER
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IS COMING INTO HER LIFE.
Howard: AS SOON AS WE SAW THAT IT WAS A BOY,
IT WAS A WONDERFUL FEELING,
AND UNTIL YOU HAVE THAT MOMENT, YOU CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE IT.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING FEELING.
OH, I'M SO EXCITED.
[ CHUCKLES ] HE'S SO CUTE.
I DECIDED TO CALL HIM ETHAN.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
HE WAS DUE AUGUST 1st.
SHE WAS ON TARGET. HE WAS A HEALTHY BABY.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE MY GRANDBABY,
AND I AM EXCITED.
Narrator: AMANDA'S GOT A NEW UPBEAT ATTITUDE.
SHE'S DETERMINED TO DO WHATEVER SHE CAN TO PROVIDE FOR HER BABY.
Howard: I DECIDED TO PUT AN AD ON MYSPACE...
...HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY WOULD BE UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GOT A MESSAGE FROM A WOMAN NAMED ASHLEY.
I DIDN'T REPLY TO HER IMMEDIATELY.
I AUTOMATICALLY WENT AND LOOKED AT HER PROFILE.
I READ ALL OF HER INFORMATION.
SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED
AND SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF TRYING TO GET STUFF READY TO MOVE.
Narrator: AMANDA'S REASSURED BY HER RESEARCH AND REACHES OUT.
SHE SAID HER SON WAS NINE MONTHS OLD.
AND WITH HER GETTING READY TO MOVE,
SHE WAS LIKE,
"I JUST WANT RID OF ALL THESE EXTRA BABY CLOTHES."
SHE WAS LIKE, "ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.
JUST LET ME KNOW.
I HAVE A CAR SEAT. I HAVE PLENTY OF BABY TOYS."
Narrator: FINALLY, AMANDA'S FOUND THE ONLINE FRIEND
SHE'S BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
I WAS VERY OVERWHELMED WITH THE WHOLE GENEROSITY.
I WAS EXCITED.
I WAS HAPPY
BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO REACH OUT AND BE HELPFUL.
Narrator: JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE BABY ETHAN'S DUE DATE,
AMANDA'S HOME ALONE MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR HIS ARRIVAL
WHILE HER MOM, JEANA'S, AT WORK.
Howard: I HAD A VOICEMAIL ON MY PHONE.
AND IT WAS ASHLEY.
AND SO I CALLED HER BACK.
[ Ringing ]
SHE WAS LIKE, "I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HER CAR BROKE DOWN,
AND I'VE GOT TO TAKE HER TO WARRENSBURG
FOR HER JOB INTERVIEW.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN MEET ME?"
Narrator: BUT WARRENSBURG'S A 60-MILE ROUND-TRIP FOR AMANDA,
A FINANCIAL STRETCH FOR THE YOUNG MOTHER-TO-BE.
Howard: AND I WAS LIKE...
I DON'T REALLY HAVE MONEY FOR GAS.
THAT'S WHY MY MOM WAS GONNA BRING ME.
SHE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WELL,
I'LL JUST BRING THEM DOWN THERE TO CLINTON."
IT WAS A VERY GENEROUS OFFER.
ASHLEY AND I BOTH AGREED
THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO MEET IN PUBLIC.
THERE'S A GAS STATION WHEN YOU COME INTO TOWN.
I CAN MEET YOU THERE IF YOU LIKE.
I TRIED TO CALL MY MOM AT HER OFFICE
TO SEE IF SHE COULD TAKE A SHORT BREAK TO MEET ME.
[ Ringing ]
Booth: HEY, THIS IS JEANA. LEAVE A MESSAGE.
Narrator: BUT JEANA'S CELLPHONE IS TURNED OFF,
AND AMANDA DECIDES NOT TO BOTHER HER MOTHER WITH A MESSAGE.
Howard: I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, THAT'S FINE."
IT WAS A THING OF I KNEW THAT I WAS GONNA DO THIS ALONE.
Narrator: IT'S A LITTLE AFTER NOON,
AND AMANDA CALCULATES THAT SHE HAS JUST ENOUGH FUEL
TO MAKE IT TO THE GAS STATION IN CLINTON AND BACK.
I EVEN RUBBED MY BELLY, AND I SAID,
"EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY, BABY.
EVERYTHING'S GONNA GET BETTER FROM HERE."
Narrator: WHEN AMANDA ARRIVES AT THE MEETING PLACE,
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG
FOR HER NEW FRIEND ASHLEY TO ARRIVE.
SHE TOLD ME WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE SHE WAS DRIVING,
AND I SAW IT PULL IN.
AND I SAW THAT THERE WAS TWO FEMALES IN THE VEHICLE.
I WAS LIKE, "WELL, I GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE.
SHE WAS TAKING HER FRIEND TO THE INTERVIEW."
HI.
HI.
UM...
GOOD.
I'M ASHLEY.
WHEN I FIRST SAW ASHLEY -- AND THIS SOUNDS REALLY RUDE --
BUT I WAS DEFINITELY THINKING, "THAT GIRL IS REALLY BIG
COMPARED TO HER PROFILE PICTURE,
WHERE SHE WAS, LIKE, MODEL-SIZE SKINNY."
I JUST REASSURED MYSELF -- "WELL, WHO KNOWS?
SOME WOMEN GAIN A LOT OF WEIGHT
WHEN THEY END UP HAVING A CHILD."
THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. YOU KNOW, BABIES.
YEAH.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
THIS IS MY FRIEND ALISA.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
ARE YOU EXCITED?
I AM. YEAH.
Howard: I REALIZED THE BABY CLOTHES WERE NOWHERE IN SIGHT.
SO DID YOU MANAGE TO BRING ALL THE CLOTHES?
Narrator: ASHLEY EXPLAINS THAT THE CLOTHES ARE STILL IN WARRENSBURG,
A TOWN 30 MILES AWAY.
I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE GAS MONEY TO GET THERE.
SHE WAS LIKE, "SO YOU CAN RIDE WITH US,
AND THEN WE'LL BRING YOU BACK."
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: AMANDA MUST MAKE A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION.
HER CHOICE WILL CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER.
Narrator: HEAVILY PREGNANT, AMANDA HOWARD MUST DECIDE
WHETHER TO GET INTO A CAR
WITH TWO WOMEN SHE'S MET THROUGH THE INTERNET
SO THAT SHE CAN COLLECT SOME BABY CLOTHES FROM A NEARBY TOWN.
I DON'T KNOW.
IN MY HEAD, I WAS THINKING,
"THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO FOR MY SON.
I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIM."
AND SO I MADE THE DECISION TO GET IN THE VEHICLE WITH THEM.
UH, OKAY, AS ALONG AS YOU CAN BRING ME BACK HERE.
Smith: OH, IT -- YEAH, IT WON'T TAKE LONG AT ALL.
OKAY.
YEAH. LET'S GO GET YOU SOME CLOTHES.
OKAY, LET'S GET IN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ASHLEY AND HER FRIEND STARTED TALKING JUST CHEERFULLY,
JUST NORMAL FRIENDSHIP TALK.
DO YOU HAVE A NAME PICKED?
ETHAN.
THANKS.
THERE WAS JUST A VERY FRIENDLY VIBE THERE,
A VERY FRIENDLY PRESENCE.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE?
YEAH, THANKS.
Narrator: BACK IN CLINTON, AMANDA'S MOM, JEANA,
HAS JUST COME HOME FROM WORK.
[ Ringing ]
AMANDA WANTED TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE.
Howard: HI, THIS IS AMANDA. LEAVE A MESSAGE.
IN FACT, I THOUGHT
SHE HAD GONE SHOPPING WITH ONE OF HER FRIENDS,
AND SO I REALLY WASN'T VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER.
Narrator: BUT IN THE CAR,
AMANDA SUDDENLY NOTICES THAT THE FRIENDLY MOOD IS CHANGING.
Howard: ASHLEY'S FRIEND WOULD TYPE A LITTLE MESSAGE.
ASHLEY WOULD TAKE IT AND DELETE
AND THEN START TYPING IN A MESSAGE
AND HAND IT TO HER.
I STARTED FEELING REALLY UNEASY ABOUT IT.
IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE SITUATION.
AND THEN ASHLEY'S FRIEND LOOKS AT HER, AND SHE SAYS...
I REALLY NEED TO GO PEE.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST PULL UP RIGHT HERE,
AND YOU CAN JUST GO IN THE BUSH?
[ TURN SIGNAL CLICKS ]
Narrator: THE YOUNG WOMEN PULL OFF THE ROAD
IN AN ISOLATED SPOT 12 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN.
THERE WAS JUST FIELDS ON BOTH SIDES.
[ DINGING ]
[ CAR DOOR CLOSES, DINGING STOPS ]
I STARTED GETTING A SICKENING FEELING.
Narrator: AMANDA STARTS TO REALIZE JUST HOW VULNERABLE SHE IS.
WITH HER PANIC SLOWLY RISING,
IT'S HARD TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO NEXT.
I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE I SHOULD TRY AND GET OUT."
AND THEN I WAS LIKE, "I'M SO FAR FROM TOWN.
HOW AM I GOING TO WALK THAT FAR, YOU KNOW, BEING THIS PREGNANT?"
Narrator: WHEN ASHLEY AND HER FRIEND RETURN TO THE CAR,
AMANDA'S SENSE OF FOREBODING ONLY INCREASES.
Howard: ASHLEY GOT IN AND SHUT THE DOOR,
AND SHE SMILED REAL BIG.
I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS AWKWARD.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE."
Narrator: THE TENSION FINALLY SNAPS.
AND THEN AMANDA HEARS THE WORDS THAT MAKE HER BLOOD RUN COLD.
Howard: ASHLEY'S FRIEND --
SHE TURNED AROUND, AND SHE LOOKED AT ME.
SHE WAS LIKE...
HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS?
DO WHAT?
AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I'VE GOT TO CALL THE POLICE."
I GRAB MY PHONE,
AND RIGHT WHEN I STARTED TO HIT THE NINE...
[ SPRAY HISSES ]
Narrator: AMANDA IS BLASTED WITH PEPPER SPRAY.
AAH!
SHE FIGHTS BLINDLY TO HOLD ONTO HER CELLPHONE.
IT'S HER ONLY LIFELINE.
SHE MANAGED TO LITERALLY PRY MY FINGERS OFF MY PHONE.
[ SOBBING ]
I COULDN'T SEE.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA DIE."
THAT WAS THE THOUGHTS THAT CROSSED MY HEAD WAS,
"I'M GOING TO DIE. I'M NOT GONNA SURVIVE THIS."
[ SNIFFLES ]
Narrator: WHAT'S MORE, AMANDA REALIZES
THAT SHE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE IN DANGER.
ETHAN WAS A VERY, VERY ACTIVE BABY.
IT WAS NORMAL FOR ME TO FEEL HIM AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN AN HOUR.
I WASN'T FEELING HIM MOVE.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
I CAN'T FEEL HIM.
I WAS LIKE, "PLEASE, PLEASE, JUST TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO AFFECT MY SON."
I'LL KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT.
HER BABY.
IT'S NOT HAPPENING. WE'RE NOT TAKING HER.
WE'LL DROP HER OFF, AND THEN WE'LL JUST LEAVE.
NO.
Narrator: AMANDA'S ONLY HOPE
IS THAT ASHLEY'S ACCOMPLICE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CONCERN.
Howard: JUST THE LOOK IN HER EYES
TOLD ME THAT HER FRIEND KNEW THIS WASN'T RIGHT.
AND I KEPT THINKING, "HOW CAN I GET HER ON MY SIDE?"
TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I'M BEGGING YOU.
[ SNIFFLES ]
PLEASE. PLEASE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE HER.
ASHLEY TOLD HER, "NO, WE CAN'T."
IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
Narrator: ASHLEY MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT SHE HAS THE UPPER HAND IN THIS POWER GAME.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT SHE SAYS.
JUST SHUT UP!
THAT'S ENOUGH!
I FELT LIKE I WAS TRAPPED.
I FELT LIKE A PRISONER.
Narrator: HER MIND RACING, AMANDA SUDDENLY SEES
WHAT MIGHT BE HER ONE CHANCE OF FREEDOM.
I NOTICED A COP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
I WATCHED, JUST WANTING TO WAVE AT THE COP,
MAKING SOME KIND OF SIGN THAT I WAS IN DISTRESS.
Narrator: BUT AMANDA ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO'S SEEN THE POLICEMAN.
Howard: ASHLEY LOOKS BACK AT ME, AND SHE SAYS...
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
..."YOU DO ANYTHING, AND I WILL KILL YOU."
Narrator: AMANDA CAN ONLY WATCH AS HER CHANCE OF SALVATION SLIPS AWAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SCREAM.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A NIGHTMARE...
...ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
SO CLOSE TO HOPE, IS JUST RIPPED FROM YOU.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
Narrator: AMANDA'S KIDNAPPERS FINALLY PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY
INTO A DESERTED MOTEL PARKING LOT.
I'M SITTING THERE, AND I'M THINKING,
"WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?"
GO. GET IN THERE!
THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES, NO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND, NOTHING.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
I LOOKED AT HER, AND I TOLD HER,
"I'M NOT GOING IN THERE WITH YOU."
LET'S GO.
[ Voice breaking ] NO.
I'M NOT GOING IN THERE, NOT WITH YOU.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "IT'S EITHER YOU WALK IN THERE BY YOURSELF,
OR I'M FORCING YOU."
I DEFINITELY WASN'T ABOUT TO RUN BEING NINE MONTHS PREGNANT.
LET'S GO!
Narrator: HELPLESS, AMANDA HAS NO CHOICE.
SHE'S MARCHED INTO A MOTEL ROOM.
WHAT KIND OF TERROR WAS GONNA COME MY WAY NEXT?
AAH. [ GASPS ]
OH!
[ CRYING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I SAW PLASTIC ACROSS THE BED.
I SAW ROPE, AND THERE WAS A ROLL OF DUCT TAPE.
[ GASPS ]
I COULD TELL THAT THERE WAS OBJECTS LAYING NEXT TO THE BED.
ONE OF THEM WAS NARROW.
ONE OF THEM WAS KIND OF SHINY.
I'M THINKING, WHEN I SEE THESE THINGS,
THAT THIS IS IT.
I'M THINKING...
..."I'VE REALLY SCREWED UP."
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: BY NOW, IT'S OBVIOUS
THAT ASHLEY HAS SOME TERRIBLE, SINISTER PLAN.
BUT AMANDA CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE
WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR HER AND HER UNBORN SON.
[ MUFFLED SCREAM ]
Narrator: NINE MONTHS PREGNANT, AMANDA HOWARD HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED
AND IS BEING HELD IN A MOTEL ROOM
SURROUNDED BY UNKNOWN, SINISTER INSTRUMENTS.
[ GRUNTS ]
I'M THINKING THAT SHE'S GONNA KILL ME.
[ MUFFLED SCREAMS ]
Narrator: BUT ONE OF HER KIDNAPPERS SEEMS TO BE GETTING COLD FEET.
[ WRETCHES ]
Howard: WHEN I HEARD ASHLEY'S FRIEND PUKING,
TO ME, THAT WAS MY RAY OF HOPE.
[ COUGHING ]
I KEPT THINKING, "HOW CAN I GET HER TO SAVE ME?"
[ CRIES ]
Narrator: BUT AMANDA'S LAST HOPE IS SHATTERED.
I CAN'T DO THIS.
[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]
MY GUT WAS LIKE, "SHE'S NOT THERE FOR YOU."
Narrator: AMANDA IS NOW COMPLETELY ALONE,
FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.
I START SMACKING HER.
I START CLAWING HER.
SHE STARTS SLAMMING HER HAND INTO MY FACE EVEN MORE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
I GO COMPLETELY NUMB.
JUST THE BLAZE IN HER EYES
IS SOMEBODY THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT
AND SAY, "THAT'S A MURDERER."
Narrator: AMANDA IS DAZED BY THE BEATING.
Howard: I HEAR THIS VOICE --
A VOICE OF A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE THAT HAD PASSED AWAY,
AND HE SAYS, "JUST STOP FIGHTING.
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY."
Narrator: THEN, DURING THIS MOMENT OF CALM,
SHE COMES UP WITH ONE MORE IDEA.
Howard: THE BATHROOM POPPED IN MY HEAD.
[ MUMBLES ]
WHAT?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I NEED TO PEE.
WHAT?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
WHAT?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I NEED TO PEE.
SHE SAID, "WELL, YOUR HANDS ARE STAYING BEHIND YOUR BACK, TIED.
[ GROANS ]
I DIDN'T RESIST HER.
I WAS EXHAUSTED.
TWO MINUTES.
Narrator: AMANDA'S ONLY HOPE IS TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THE BATHROOM.
Howard: THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF WINDOW OR VENTS
OR ANYTHING TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
THERE WAS NO ESCAPE.
Narrator: AMANDA IS WORRIED BY MUCH MORE THAN JUST HER OWN PAIN.
[ CRYING ]
I NEVER FELT HIM MOVE WHILE I WAS IN THERE.
THE THOUGHT THAT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD
WAS THAT HE WAS ALREADY GONE, THAT I HAD LOST MY SON.
I'M SORRY.
HE'S NOT EVEN BORN YET. HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS.
HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO DIE WITH ME.
[ SNIFFLES ]
[ CRYING ]
AND I START PRAYING.
I START PRAYING, "GOD SAVE ME.
SAVE ME AND MY BABY."
Narrator: IT SEEMS SHE'S RUN OUT OF OPTIONS.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Howard: AND I STOPPED.
[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: THE SOUND OF KNOCKING SENDS ANOTHER SURGE OF TERROR
THROUGH AMANDA.
WHO WAS AT THE DOOR,
AND WHAT FURTHER HORRORS AWAIT HER?
NOW I'M GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT I HAVE TO TRY AND FIGHT.
HOW DO I KNOW THE END'S NOT COMING?
Narrator: NINE MONTHS PREGNANT,
AMANDA HOWARD IS COWERING IN THE BATHROOM OF A CHEAP MOTEL,
DESPERATELY TRYING TO THINK UP A WAY
TO ESCAPE FROM HER VIOLENT KIDNAPPER.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
SHE'S EVEN MORE TERRIFIED
WHEN SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE MOTEL ROOM'S DOOR.
Howard: I'M SITTING THERE, AND I'M THINKING,
"NOW I'M GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT I HAVE TRY AND FIGHT."
HI.
Man: HI.
I WASN'T CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR.
I'M THINKING, "MAYBE I SHOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, BARGE OUT
AND DASH FOR IT."
BUT I STILL HAD THAT THOUGHT OF DOUBT.
I STILL HAD THAT THOUGHT OF, "SHE'S BIGGER THAN ME."
AND THERE WAS A LOUDER KNOCK.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
AND I HEARD...
OPEN UP. THIS IS THE POLICE.
I COULDN'T ANSWER HIM.
WHEN I SAW AMANDA, IT'S A LOOK THAT I'VE NEVER FORGOT.
JUST A LOOK OF SHEER TERROR ON HER FACE.
AND EVEN TO THIS DAY, I MEAN, I CAN STILL REMEMBER HER FACE
WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF THERE AND HOW SCARED SHE LOOKED.
Narrator: AMANDA'S SURVIVED THE NIGHTMARE,
BUT SHE HAS NO IDEA IF HER BABY HAS BEEN AS LUCKY.
I'M IN THE MIND-SET OF, "IS MY BABY BOY ALIVE OR NOT?"
I WAS LIKE, "YOU TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL NOW."
Narrator: AS THEY RUSH AMANDA TO THE HOSPITAL,
HER BABY'S LIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
POLICE HAD BEEN SUMMONED TO THE MOTEL
BY AN ANONYMOUS 911 CALL.
NOW OFFICERS TRY TO MAKE SENSE
OF THE DISTURBING SCENE THEY'VE STUMBLED INTO.
WHEN WE LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM, BESIDE THE BED,
THERE WAS A LOT OF ROPE AND THE DUCT TAPE.
WE FOUND A COUPLE OF KNIVES THAT WERE LAYING OUT,
LIKE RAZOR-BLADE KNIVES.
AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW THAT
WE HAD A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SUSPECT OUTSIDE.
Narrator: AS THEY CONTINUE SEARCHING THE ROOM,
INVESTIGATORS FIND INCREASINGLY STRANGE AND HORRIFYING EVIDENCE.
WE ALSO REMOVED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE
AND ALSO, LIKE, A BRACELET YOU WOULD SEE ON A BABY
WITH THE NAME "JOHNNY GASH" ON IT.
Narrator: IT'S A BIZARRE COLLECTION.
WHAT KIND OF PERVERSE PLOT HAD ASHLEY INTENDED TO CARRY OUT?
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Shrout: SHE PRETTY MUCH STUCK TO HER STORY
THAT SHE WAS HELPING A FRIEND IN LABOR.
SHE NEVER EVEN MENTIONED THE ITEMS IN THE ROOM.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, I GUESS, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
THAT ALL THESE THINGS ARE THERE,
BUT SHE EXPECTS US NOT TO SEE THEM, I GUESS.
Narrator: TO GET MORE INFORMATION,
OFFICERS DECIDE TO CONTACT THE PERSON WHO MADE THE 911 CALL.
Shrout: THEY LOCATED THIS FEMALE,
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HER AS MISS BETTS.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THE POLICE QUESTION THE CALLER,
THEY ARE SHOCKED TO REALIZE SHE IS ACTUALLY AN ACCOMPLICE.
Shrout: AFTER SOME TALKING WITH HER,
SHE DID KIND OF ADMIT TO INVOLVEMENT WITH IT,
KNOWING MORE THAN WHAT SHE HAD SAID
IN THE ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL.
BUT SHE WENT FROM AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT
TO ACTUALLY KIND OF GETTING COLD FEET
AND LEAVING THE ROOM AND CALLING THE POLICE AND TURNING IT IN.
AFTER TALKING TO THE TWO,
WE KNEW WE HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED.
Narrator: BOTH WOMEN ARE TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING.
[ TAPE RECORDER BEEPS ]
SO, ASHLEY...
WE DID A BACKGROUND CHECK.
AND THERE IS NO ASHLEY SMITH,
SO DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHO YOU REALLY ARE?
LAUREN GASH.
HELLO, LAUREN. NICE TO MEET YOU FINALLY.
SHE HAD BEEN USING THE NAME OF ASHLEY STRICTLY AS AN ALIAS.
HER REAL NAME WAS LAUREN GASH.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: GASH IS THE SURNAME ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE
AND THE WRISTBAND POLICE HAD FOUND AT THE MOTEL.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Shrout: THE ITEMS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
MISS GASH'S STORY FROM THE ONSET DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE
OR MATCH UP TO WHAT WE SAW IN THE ROOM.
Narrator: THE POLICE ARE BAFFLED.
WHY HAD LAUREN GASH ATTACKED PREGNANT AMANDA HOWARD
AND RISKED THE LIFE OF HER UNBORN BABY BOY?
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BABY?
THEY TOOK ME INTO LABOR AND DELIVERY.
[ CRYING ]
I START PRAYING.
Narrator: 18-YEAR-OLD AMANDA HOWARD HAS SURVIVED A SAVAGE BEATING
AT THE HANDS OF KIDNAPPERS.
HER WORST FEAR NOW
IS THAT HER UNBORN CHILD HAS BEEN HURT OR EVEN KILLED...
...BY THE ASSAULT.
THE DOCTOR'S LIKE, "YOU ARE HAVING CONTRACTIONS,
AND THE HEARTBEAT LOOKS FABULOUS."
[ GASPS ]
[ CRIES ]
TO ME, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST RELIEF.
HE WAS KICKING IT REALLY GOOD.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I WAS READY TO HOLD MY BABY BOY.
Narrator: TWO DAYS AFTER HER BRUTAL ORDEAL,
AMANDA FINALLY GIVES BIRTH TO A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY CHILD.
TO HOLD MY SON IN MY ARMS AFTER ALL OF THAT
WAS THE MOST AMAZING FEELING THAT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED.
Booth: IT HURT DEEP DOWN
TO SEE THAT SOMEONE HAD DONE THAT TO MY DAUGHTER.
BUT HERE WE HAD THIS BRAND-NEW BABY BOY,
AND HE WAS HEALTHY.
HE HAD ALL OF HIS TOES AND ALL HIS FINGERS,
AND HE WAS HEALTHY.
[ TAPE RECORDER BEEPS ]
Narrator: AMANDA'S KIDNAPPERS ARE IN CUSTODY.
DETECTIVES NOW HAVE TO UNRAVEL THIS BIZARRE SERIES OF EVENTS.
ARE YOU MR. GASH?
Narrator: THEY START BY VISITING THE HOME OF THEIR SUSPECT, LAUREN GASH.
THE DETECTIVES LEARN FROM THE FAMILY
THAT LAUREN HAD CALLED THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE
AND STATED THAT SHE HAD JUST GIVEN BIRTH
TO A BABY BOY BY THE NAME OF JOHNNY GASH.
Narrator: BUT NO ONE HAS SEEN LITTLE JOHNNY YET.
IS THIS BABY BOY THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY?
DETECTIVES DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE
EVERYTHING ABOUT LAUREN GASH'S PREGNANCY.
LOOKING BACK TO APRIL 2007,
THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE KIDNAPPING,
DETECTIVE MAKE AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
LAUREN HAD ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.
THERE WAS A BABY SHOWER THAT WAS HELD FOR LAUREN.
ALL OF HER ACTIONS AND INTERACTIONS
WITH HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WERE INDICATING THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.
Narrator: SO THE HUGE, UNANSWERED QUESTION IS...
WHERE IS LAUREN GASH'S NEWBORN BABY, JOHNNY?
I'M GONNA ASK YOU ONE MORE TIME...
WHERE'S YOUR SON?
[ SIGHS ]
I...
I DON'T HAVE A SON.
THE TRUTH IS THERE WAS NO JOHNNY GASH.
THE TRUTH IS LAUREN WAS NOT PREGNANT.
I REALLY WANTED A BABY.
[ CRIES ]
ALL OF THIS WAS JUST A BIG WEB OF LIES.
Narrator: LAUREN GASH HAD CREATED AN ELABORATE DECEPTION.
SHE TOLD A STORY THAT WASN'T TRUE,
AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT TRUE WAS TO COME UP WITH A BABY.
Narrator: JULY 2007, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE KIDNAPPING,
LAUREN GASH WENT ONLINE TO HUNT FOR HER VICTIM.
AMANDA'S DUE DATE MADE HER AN IDEAL CANDIDATE.
SHE WAS A YOUNG LADY, NINE MONTHS PREGNANT,
GETTING READY TO GIVE BIRTH.
THE PERFECT VICTIM.
Narrator: THE INSPIRATION FOR LAUREN GASH'S DEADLY PLAN?
A LOCAL NEWS STORY.
Reporter: LISA MONTGOMERY, A 36-YEAR-OLD WIFE AND MOTHER,
IS ACCUSED OF THE SEEMINGLY UNIMAGINABLE.
IN DECEMBER 2004 IN SKIDMORE, MISSOURI,
LISA MONTGOMERY, A WOMAN WHO'D BEEN LIVING EXACTLY THE SAME LIE
AS LAUREN GASH,
BRUTALLY MURDERED HER PREGNANT VICTIM
AND CUT HER BABY FROM HER WOMB.
...DRIVING THE BABY TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO HER KANSAS HOME.
THAT WAS A VERY MAJOR CASE.
IT MADE NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
Narrator: DETECTIVES CAN DRAW ONLY ONE CONCLUSION.
IT WAS OBVIOUS, WITH ALL OF THE ITEMS IN THE ROOM,
THAT LAUREN HAD THE INTENT TO KILL AMANDA
AND ACTUALLY CUT THE BABY FROM HER WOMB.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY WHILE BEING LED INTO COURT,
BUT IT'S TOUGH TO FORGET WHAT THEY'RE ACCUSED OF.
INVESTIGATORS SAY LAUREN GASH AND ALISA BETTS
KIDNAPPED 18-YEAR-OLD AMANDA HOWARD,
AT THE TIME NINE MONTHS PREGNANT.
I CAN'T WRAP MY MIND AROUND HOW SOMEBODY WOULD EVEN PLOT
TO CUT SOMEBODY ELSE OPEN JUST FOR A CHILD.
I JUST -- IT SICKENS ME.
THE ALLEGED PLOT DID NOT GO OFF AS PLANNED
ON THAT DAY BACK IN JULY.
SHE WAS GOING TO KILL MY DAUGHTER, AMANDA,
THE ONLY CHILD I HAD?
I WAS VERY ANGRY.
BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING I COULD DO
EXCEPT LET THE LAW DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
Narrator: IN 2008,
LAUREN GASH PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT AND KIDNAPPING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY.
I'M SO SORRY FOR WHAT I DID AND PUT YOU THROUGH.
SHE IS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.
IT TERRIFIES ME...
...THAT SHE COULD GET OUT AND DO IT AGAIN TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND I HATE THE IDEA OF ANYBODY ELSE
HAVING TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH.
Narrator: ASHLEY'S ACCOMPLICE, ALISA BETTS, ALSO PLEADS GUILTY
AND IS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS PROBATION.
SHE WAS THE REASON THAT ME AND MY SON BOTH SURVIVED,
AND FOR THAT, I GAVE HER FORGIVENESS.
Narrator: AMANDA WENT ON TO MARRY STORE CLERK JEFF SPENCER,
AND ETHAN NOW HAS TWO BEAUTIFUL SISTERS,
ISABELLA AND MIRANDA.
THAT DAY TOOK A BIG TOLL ON MY LIFE.
Narrator: YOUNG AND INNOCENT,
AMANDA HOWARD WALKED STRAIGHT INTO A NIGHTMARE.
THOUGH SHE MANAGED TO ESCAPE,
THE EXPERIENCE WAS A SOBERING LESSON
IN THE DARKEST SIDE OF CYBERSPACE.
Howard: YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY ONLINE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT SCREEN.