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COME ON.
Narrator: TWO DANGEROUS FELONS MAKE A DARING JAILBREAK.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A MOVIE SCRIPT STRAIGHT OUT OF ALCATRAZ.
GO IN THERE AND GET IT.
Narrator: THEY NEED MONEY TO FUND THEIR RUN FROM THE LAW.
Palmer: HE WAS MAD AT THE WORLD.
IF LOOKS COULD KILL, YOU WOULD BE DEAD.
Narrator: BUT WHAT STARTS AS A MONEY-GRAB ENDS IN A SHOCKING ***.
THIS WAS SOMEBODY THAT SHE KNEW AND TRUSTED.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO CATCH THE FUGITIVES.
Officer: FREEZE!
Timothy: GOT A GUN POINTED AT YOU.
I DON'T THINK IT GETS MUCH CLOSER THAN THAT.
FREEZE! FREEZE!
Narrator: NO CRIMINAL WANTS TO GO TO PRISON,
SO SOME GO ON THE RUN.
THIS IS THE STORY OF TWO MEN WHO ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NOVEMBER, 2008, KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, FLORIDA,
50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JACKSONVILLE.
TIMOTHY FLETCHER IS WANTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY.
HE'S LURKING OUTSIDE A LOCAL BAR,
ABOUT TO COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME TO FUND HIS DRUG HABIT.
I WAS SMOKING CRACK AND DRINKING, SNORTING POWDER,
DOING PILLS,
WHATEVER I COULD GET A HOLD OF, BASICALLY.
Narrator: NOT EVEN A BROKEN LEG CAN STOP FLETCHER FROM A LIFE OF CRIME.
A CAR ACCIDENT FIVE MONTHS AGO LEFT HIM IN A CAST,
BUT HE WON'T LET THAT DETER HIM.
WHEN THE BAR CLOSES, FLETCHER MAKES HIS MOVE.
BUT HE'S TEMPTING FATE.
GIVE ME YOUR PURSE! COME ON!
SEVEN MONTHS AGO,
FLETCHER AND A BUDDY WERE ARRESTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY.
FLETCHER JUMPED BOND,
SO IF HE'S CAUGHT TONIGHT, HE'S GOT A LOT TO ANSWER FOR.
AND THE 24 YEAR OLD ALREADY HAS OVER 20 FELONIES ON HIS RECORD.
Timothy: I BROKE INTO A BAR
AND STOLE SOME MONEY BAGS OUT OF THE SAFE AND A HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
Narrator: TONIGHT, LUCK IS ON HIS SIDE.
FLETCHER CAN SELL THE HARLEY FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS, BEEPS ]
WITHIN HOURS, HE'S FOUND A WILLING BUYER.
YEAH. HEY, YOU FRANK?
I GOT A SWEET ROAD BIKE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
FLETCHER ARRANGES A MEETING SPOT WITH A BUYER
FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
OFFICER ROMERO SPEAKING.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE FLETCHER IS EVEN ON THE ROAD,
THE COPS GET A CALL.
OKAY. WHAT'S THE MOTORCYCLE'S DESCRIPTION?
AN ANONYMOUS INFORMANT TELLS THEM
NOT ONLY WHERE FLETCHER IS HEADED,
BUT ALSO WHAT ROAD HE'LL BE TAKING TO GET THERE.
Andrews: WE ACTUALLY GOT A TIP
THAT HE'D BE TRAVELING BACK TO THE KEYSTONE HEIGHTS AREA
ON THAT MOTORCYCLE.
HE WOULD BE TRAVELING SOME BACK ROADS.
SOMEBODY CALLED THE POLICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT I WAS DOING,
AND THEY WAS WAITING ON ME.
WHEN I ROAD BY, THEY WHIPPED OUT ON THE ROAD BEHIND ME.
[ CHUCKLES ] THEY JUMPED BEHIND ME WITH BLUE LIGHTS FLASHING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: FLETCHER IS CHARGED WITH SEVERAL FELONIES,
INCLUDING BURGLARY AND GRAND THEFT AUTO.
HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD.
HE IS GIVEN A 10-YEAR SENTENCE.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
WHEN HE ARRIVES AT PUTNAM COUNTY JAIL IN PALATKA, FLORIDA,
HE RUNS INTO DONI BROWN,
HIS PARTNER IN CRIME IN THE ARMED ROBBERY
THAT SENT HIM ON THE RUN.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
FLETCHER AND BROWN GO WAY BACK.
WE'VE BEEN CLOSE SINCE WE WERE SMALL KIDS.
WE GREW UP TOGETHER,
AND THE FIRST TIME I EVER GOT ARRESTED WAS WITH DONI.
WE'VE BEEN CODEFENDANTS AS JUVENILES
PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT SEPARATE TIMES.
Jeffery: TIMOTHY'S HAD HIS MISTAKES.
HE'S DONE THINGS THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE,
BUT HE'S MORE AN OUTGOING PERSON THAN ANYTHING.
HE LIKED TO PARTY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
DONI, HE'S ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A WANNABE GANGSTER,
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: BROWN IS ALREADY SERVING TIME FOR THE ARMED ROBBERY
HE AND FLETCHER COMMITTED TOGETHER SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER.
I'VE GOT A JOB INTERVIEW,
BUT I'M TRYING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY.
IF YOU GO DOWN THIS STREET RIGHT HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
TIMOTHY FLETCHER WAS A PERSON WHO COULD BE VERY CHARMING,
VERY ENGAGING IF YOU MET HIM ON THE STREET,
BUT HE HAD NO REGARD WHATSOEVER FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
HE WAS MAD AT THE WORLD. HE COULD LOOK AT YOU EVIL.
IF LOOKS COULD KILL, YOU WOULD BE DEAD.
A PSYCHOLOGIST CONVEYED TO US
THAT TIMOTHY FLETCHER WAS A PSYCHOPATH.
COME ON. COME ON!
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: FLETCHER HAS SPENT NEARLY HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE
BEHIND BARS.
I DID 18 MONTHS AS A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER,
STAYED OUT 50-SOMETHING DAYS,
AND WENT RIGHT BACK, DID FIVE MORE YEARS.
Narrator: LOCKED UP ONCE AGAIN,
HE'S STILL ABLE TO BUY DRUGS TO FEED HIS HABIT,
BUT IT JUST FUELS HIS DESIRE TO ESCAPE.
I JUST WAS MESSED UP ON DRUGS AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE LOCKED UP.
MAN, I JUST WANT TO BUST OUT.
YEAH, BUT THE LAST TIME THAT THEY TOOK ME TO COURT...
Narrator: FLETCHER LEARNS THAT THERE'S A TIRE JACK IN THE BACK OF THE VAN
THAT TRANSPORTS PRISONERS FROM JAIL TO COURT.
HE THINKS IT COULD BE THE KEY TO HIS WAY OUT.
APRIL 2, 2009.
ONE MONTH INTO HIS SENTENCE, FLETCHER HAS A COURT HEARING.
THIS COULD BE HIS CHANCE.
I HAD A CAST ON MY LEG, SO THEY PUT ME IN THE BACK OF THE VAN
'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T PUT NO SHACKLES ON ME.
Narrator: ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE HEARING,
FLETCHER'S DETERMINED TO STEAL THE JACK.
I LEANED OVER AND UNLATCHED THE PLASTIC CLASP OVER THE JACK.
Narrator: HE HAS TO WORK QUICKLY
BEFORE THE DEPUTY REALIZES WHAT HE'S DOING.
Timothy: I HAD TO UNSCREW IT.
MY HEART WAS BEATING PRETTY FAST.
I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS.
Narrator: FLETCHER MANAGES TO FREE THE JACK
AND QUICKLY STUFFS IT INTO HIS CAST.
BUT THE REAL DANGER LIES AHEAD.
HE STILL HAS TO SNEAK IT PAST THE GUARDS AND INTO HIS CELL.
SO, WHEN WE GOT TO THE JAIL, I WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY LET OUT.
WHEN THEY TOLD ME TO GET UP,
YOU KNOW, I HAD TO KEEP MY LEG STRAIGHT.
I COULDN'T BEND MY LEG
BECAUSE THE THING WAS IN THE TOP OF MY CAST AND WAS POKING ME.
Narrator: IT WORKS.
HE GETS PAST THE GUARDS AND BACK TO HIS CELL
WITHOUT ANYONE SPOTTING THE JACK.
Timothy: I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DIDN'T SEE ME WITH THE STUFF.
PRETTY SHOCKING THAT THEY WERE SLIPPING AS BAD AS THEY WERE.
Narrator: FLETCHER TELLS BROWN ABOUT HIS ESCAPE PLANS.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE WANTED TO LEAVE, TOO, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: BROWN CLAIMS HE WAS A RELUCTANT FOLLOWER.
Johnson: IT WAS ALWAYS CLEAR TIMOTHY FLETCHER WAS THE LEADER,
BUT DONI BROWN WAS NO CHOIR BOY.
I MEAN, HE COULD BE VIOLENT, AS WELL.
Narrator: APRIL 10th,
EIGHT DAYS AFTER STEALING THE JACK.
THE FRIENDS PUT THEIR PLAN INTO ACTION.
ACCORDING TO FLETCHER, THEY TELL GUARDS THAT BROWN IS SUICIDAL.
THE JAILERS AGREE TO MOVE THEM INTO THE SAME CELL
SO FLETCHER CAN KEEP AN EYE ON BROWN.
NORMALLY, AS CODEFENDANTS, YOU WOULD NOT BE IN THE SAME CELL.
I GOT YOU COVERED.
MAN, CHECK IT OUT. WE ARE GONNA BUST OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: ALONE IN THEIR CELL, FLETCHER SHOWS BROWN THE STOLEN JACK.
NOW THEY JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT TO ESCAPE.
SUDDENLY, BROWN NOTICES SOMETHING
THAT COULD BE THE ANSWER THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
DONI TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG HOLE BEHIND THE TOILET.
SO, I BUSTED IT LOOSE FROM THE WALL
JUST FAR ENOUGH I COULD STICK MY HAND BEHIND IT AND FEEL,
AND I COULD FEEL THAT THE HOLE WAS KIND OF LONG.
FIGURED IT MIGHT BE WORTH A TRY.
Narrator: THE TWO PLAN TO USE THE JACK
TO MAKE A HOLE BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO CLIMB THROUGH.
BEHIND THE WALL, THEY EXPECT TO FIND A WAY TO THE OUTSIDE.
ALL THEY CAN DO NOW
IS WAIT FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THEIR MOVE.
SO, WHAT'S IT LIKE IN THERE?
IT'S NOT BAD.
Narrator: JUST TWO DAYS LATER, ON EASTER SUNDAY,
BROWN GETS A VISIT FROM HIS FAMILY.
IT'S EASTER. YOU SHOULD BE HOME WITH US.
WE REALLY MISS YOU.
ME AND MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SEE DONI.
AT LEAST I'M WITH FLETCHER,
SO IT'S -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN A CELL WITH TIM FLETCHER?
Narrator: DURING THE VISIT, BROWN'S MOTHER IS UPSET TO LEARN
THAT HE AND FLETCHER ARE CELLMATES.
TIME'S UP.
Palmer: SO, I ASKED THE GUARD, I SAID, "EXCUSE ME, SIR."
I SAID, "WHAT ARE THESE TWO DOING IN THE SAME CELL TOGETHER?
"THEY'RE CODEFENDANTS.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SAME CELL TOGETHER."
MA'AM, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
MY MOM TOLD THEM, AND THEY SAID THAT
THEY WERE GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THEY NEVER DID.
LET'S GO.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN REALIZE
THEY NEED TO BREAK OUT BEFORE THEIR MOVE TO SEPARATE CELLS.
Timothy: WE KIND OF MADE UP OUR MINDS.
WE WERE JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND LEAVE.
Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER, THE CELLMATES MAKE THEIR MOVE.
THEIR PLAN IS TO GET BEHIND THE WALL
AND FIND AN EXIT FROM WITHIN THE PLUMBING SYSTEM.
ACCORDING TO FLETCHER, THEY USE THE JACK TO PRY THE TOILET FREE.
EXPOSING THE HOLE BEHIND IT IS PAINSTAKING WORK.
THEY HAVE TO STOP AND START REPEATEDLY.
Johnson: THEY WOULD HAVE CELL CHECKS EVERY HOUR.
THEY WOULD TIME IT ABOUT 40 MINUTES OR SO
AFTER THE GUARD HAD LEFT.
THEY WOULD STOP WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
ONCE HE HAD PERFORMED THE NEXT CELL CHECK,
THEN THEY WOULD GO BACK TO THEIR WORK.
ALL RIGHT, TIM.
Narrator: FINALLY, FLETCHER AND BROWN BUST THE TOILET'S ANCHOR BOLTS LOOSE.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE A NEW PROBLEM.
WATER, WATER. [BLEEP]
Timothy: WHEN I PULLED THE BOTTOM OF THE TOILET UP OFF THE WALL,
THE WATER LINES BUSTED, SO THERE WAS WATER FLOODING IN THE CELL.
THERE'S WATER.
Narrator: THEY START TO PANIC.
Timothy: WE HAD TO JAM OUR BLANKETS AND SHEETS
UP UNDER THE EDGE OF THE BARS
TO STOP THE WATER FROM GOING OUT INTO THE BREEZEWAY
WHERE THE OFFICERS WERE WALKING.
Narrator: IF THE WATER REACHES THE EDGE OF THEIR CELL,
THE GUARDS WILL SEE IT DURING THEIR ROUNDS.
THEY CLEAN UP THE MESS AND GET BACK TO WORK.
BY 10:00 P.M.,
THE CELLMATES HAVE SEPARATED THE TOILET FROM THE WALL,
BUT WHEN THEY LOOK BEHIND IT, THEIR HOPES ARE DASHED.
THERE WAS REBAR INSIDE THE HOLE BEHIND THE TOILET
ABOUT EVERY SIX INCHES.
I WAS READY TO CALL IT QUITS, REALLY.
I WAS KIND OF STRESSED OUT.
GOT TO.
Narrator: BUT THEY'VE GOTTEN TOO FAR TO STOP NOW.
THE MEN DECIDE TO TRY
TO TEAR OUT THE STEEL ROD REINFORCEMENTS.
Timothy: THE REBAR WAS ONLY IN THE CONCRETE ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF.
SO WHEN IT STARTED BENDING, IT CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE WALL.
I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED
THAT THEY ONLY PUT REBAR AN INCH AND A HALF INTO THE WALL.
YEAH, I WAS PRETTY DUMBFOUNDED.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN MANAGE TO PULL ENOUGH REBAR OUT
SO THEY CAN FIT THROUGH THE HOLE.
THE TWO MEN KNOW THEY HAVE ONLY MINUTES
BEFORE THE NEXT CELL CHECK.
FLETCHER AND BROWN CRAWL THROUGH THE OPENING
AND FIND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR --
A PLUMBING ACCESS DOOR.
ONCE IT OPENED,
WE WAS IN THE GRASS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
I FELT NERVOUS. I FELT SCARED.
I HAD BEEN UP FOR FOUR DAYS ON *** INSIDE THE JAIL,
SO I WAS PRETTY STRUNG OUT.
Narrator: WHILE THE GUARD ARRIVES AT THEIR CELL INSIDE,
JUST THREE FENCES SEPARATE THE MEN FROM FREEDOM.
BUT WILL THEIR RUN BE OVER BEFORE IT STARTS?
Narrator: APRIL 15, 2009, PALATKA, FLORIDA.
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI BROWN
ARE IN THE MIDST OF A DARING JAILBREAK.
PULL, PULL.
BUT THEY MAY NOT GET FAR
IF A GUARD REALIZES THEY'VE ESCAPED.
Timothy: WE RAN UP AND DOWN TO FIND A WAY TO GET PASSED THE FENCE,
WORRYING IF A COP WAS GONNA SEE US.
THE JAIL WAS KIND OF OLD, YOU KNOW.
THE MAINTENANCE WAS KIND OF SHEISTY.
SO LOOKED DOWN,
AND THE FENCE WAS STICKING OUT OF THE DIRT ON THE BOTTOM,
SO I PRIED THE BOTTOM OF IT UP WHILE HE CLIMBED UP UNDER IT.
Narrator: WITH TWO MORE FENCES TO CLEAR,
FLETCHER AND BROWN NEED TIME.
WISELY, THEY PLANNED AHEAD.
Johnson: STRAIGHT OUT OF ALCATRAZ,
OUT OF THE MOVIE "ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ,"
THEY LITERALLY USED THE STUFFING FROM THE MATTRESS
TO FORM THE SHAPE OF A BODY
AND THEN PUT SHEETS OVER THAT TO FOOL THE GUARDS.
Narrator: IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
THE GUARDS, WHEN THEY PERFORMED THEIR CELL CHECKS,
DID NOT NOTICE THAT THEY HAD ACTUALLY ESCAPED.
Narrator: AS THE CLOCK TICKS,
THE INMATES MAKE IT OVER THE SECOND FENCE.
BUT AT THE THIRD, THEY RUN INTO TROUBLE.
Timothy: AND THEN WE GOT TO THE ACTUAL PERIMETER GATE.
IT HAD GUY-WIRE ON THE BOTTOM
HOLDING THE FENCE TIGHT ON THE BOTTOM,
AND IT HAD RAZOR WIRE ON THE TOP.
Narrator: THE TWO ESCAPEES ARE STUCK.
THIS FENCE IS WELL-PROTECTED.
THEIR ONLY CHANCE IS TO SLIP THROUGH THE GATE.
THEY JUST HAD A PIECE OF LOCK AND CHAIN WITH A MASTER LOCK
HOLDING THE GATE,
BUT IT HAD PLAY IN IT.
THE GATE WOULD MOVE PROBABLY A FOOT BACK AND FORTH.
AND WE WAS OUT.
Narrator: THE INMATES MAY BE FREE,
BUT THEY'RE NOT SAFE YET.
THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE AREA AND FAST.
BUT FLETCHER CAN'T KEEP RUNNING WITH HIS CAST.
THEY BREAK INTO A NEARBY TIRE SHOP.
Johnson: THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND A TRUCK
THAT THE OWNER HAD LEFT THE KEYS IN A VEHICLE.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
Narrator: NOW THAT THEY HAVE WHEELS,
THE FUGITIVES NEED CASH.
WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT WE'RE NOT IN OUR CELL,
THERE'S GONNA BE COPS EVERYWHERE, BRO.
YEAH, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYWHERE WITHOUT ANY MONEY.
WE JUST TRIED TO THINK
OF WHERE THE CLOSEST PLACE TO GET SOME MONEY WAS,
AND THE LADY THAT MY GRANDFATHER USED TO BE MARRIED TO
DIDN'T LIVE BUT ABOUT 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD,
AND WE DECIDED THAT'S WHERE WE WAS GONNA GO.
IF WE GET ANOTHER ARMED ROBBERY, MAN,
WE'RE GOING BACK FOR LIFE, MAN.
Narrator: RECENTLY SEPARATED,
66-YEAR-OLD HELEN GOOGE NOW LIVES ALONE
IN THE HOME SHE HAD SHARED WITH FLETCHER'S GRANDFATHER.
DURING THE MARRIAGE,
FLETCHER WOULD OCCASIONALLY LIVE THERE WITH THEM.
OKAY, YOU PROMISE ME YOU'RE GONNA STRAIGHTEN UP?
YEAH, I PROMISE, GRANDPA.
I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE CASH.
WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT. WAIT.
ARE YOU GONNA GIVE HIM MONEY AGAIN?
Narrator: BUT SHE AND FLETCHER DIDN'T ALWAYS GET ALONG.
HEY, SHUT UP, ALL RIGHT? I DON'T NEED THIS FROM YOU.
WHEN TIMOTHY FLETCHER WOULD GO TO JAIL,
DONALD GOOGE WOULD BAIL HIM OUT.
THAT WOULD MAKE HER UPSET,
AND SHE WOULD TRY TO PREVENT DONALD GOOGE FROM DOING THAT.
YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A ***!
TIMOTHY FLETCHER DID NOT LIKE HELEN GOOGE.
HIS CONTEMPT FOR HER WAS VERY CLEAR.
HE HAD TOLD THEM, "SHE'S NOT MY GRANDMOTHER.
SHE'S A ***."
WHATEVER. WHATEVER.
GO, GO.
Timothy: WE HADN'T HAD THE BEST RELATIONSHIP.
I DIDN'T HATE HER, BUT I WASN'T FOND OF HER.
Narrator: 3:00 A.M.,
LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER ESCAPING FROM PUTNAM COUNTY JAIL,
BROWN AND FLETCHER ARRIVE AT HELEN'S HOME.
HELEN IS ASLEEP.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
FLETCHER IS ABLE TO SNEAK INTO THE HOUSE
AND OPENS THE FRONT DOOR FOR BROWN.
WE GET TO THE HOUSE, AND WE JUST WANTED TO GET SOME MONEY
SO WE COULD RUN, YOU KNOW?
WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A VERY SOLID PLAN
OF WHAT WE WAS GONNA DO.
Narrator: THEY DO KNOW THEY NEED TO LOSE THEIR JAIL UNIFORMS.
FLETCHER FINDS SOME OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S CLOTHES
TO CHANGE INTO.
FLETCHER THEN TRIES TO DISGUISE HIMSELF.
SHE WON'T RECOGNIZE YOU.
I TIED A T-SHIRT AROUND MY FACE. I DIDN'T WANT HELEN TO SEE ME.
Narrator: NEXT, THE FUGITIVES ARM THEMSELVES.
Timothy: THERE WAS SOME GUNS AND KNIVES
THAT MY GRANDFATHER HAD COLLECTED.
I GRABBED ONE OF THE REVOLVERS OFF THE WALL
THAT WAS A COLLECTOR'S ITEM
THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE GUN FIRED OR NOT, YOU KNOW?
BUT I GAVE IT TO DONI.
THINGS KIND OF WENT, UH... [ CHUCKLES ]
...DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
JUST GO IN THERE AND GET THE COMBO FROM THAT OLD ***.
Narrator: BROWN CLAIMS HE NEVER WANTED TO GO INTO HELEN'S ROOM.
NO.
BUT AUTHORITIES BELIEVE BOTH FLETCHER AND BROWN
WENT INTO THE BEDROOM TO WAKE HELEN UP.
[ SCREAMS ]
WHERE'S THE MONEY?
I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
TAKE ANYTHING YOU WANT.
THEY SNATCHED THE PHONE CORD FROM THE WALL
SO SHE COULD NOT CALL THE POLICE.
THEY TIED HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK.
THAT DID NOT WORK.
THE PHONE CORD CAME LOOSE,
AND SHE WAS RESISTING, SCREAMING.
PLEASE! [ GRUNTS ]
GIVE ME THE GUN!
AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME,
TIMOTHY FLETCHER TOOK THE GUN FROM DONI BROWN.
YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME WHERE THE MONEY IS,
OR I'M GONNA [BLEEP] SHOOT YOU.
OH, MY GOD.
THERE WAS SOME INDICATION THAT SHE RECOGNIZED HIM.
SHUT UP. JUST SHUT UP.
[ GRUNTS ]
Narrator: THE TWO MEN LEAD HELEN TO THE SAFE.
ON THE WAY, SHE BEGS THEM TO LET HER USE THE BATHROOM.
I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. PLEASE.
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.
OKAY.
Narrator: HELEN SEES HER CHANCE AND SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT.
FLETCHER AND BROWN ARE PANICKED.
IF SHE ESCAPES, IT COULD SPELL THE END OF THEIR FREEDOM.
Narrator: 4:00 A.M., APRIL 16, 2009,
PALATKA, FLORIDA.
FUGITIVES TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI RAY BROWN
NEED TO FUND THEIR ESCAPE FROM JAIL.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET FLETCHER'S STEP-GRANDMOTHER, HELEN GOOGE,
TO OPEN HER SAFE.
SHE MANAGES TO GET THE BATHROOM DOOR SHUT.
KICKED THE DOOR OPEN ON HER,
AND SHE HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH A HAIR DRYER.
[ GRUNTS ]
Narrator: BUT HELEN IS NO MATCH FOR HER TWO ASSAILANTS.
[ GRUNTING ] NO!
FROM THAT POINT IN TIME,
THERE WAS A LOT OF RESISTANCE FROM HELEN GOOGE.
LET ME GO! DON'T HURT ME!
Timothy: I GUESS SHE GOT SCARED,
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE DECIDED TO GO AND OPEN THE SAFE.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN
FINALLY MANAGE TO DRAG HELEN TO THE SAFE.
THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET THE MONEY AND GET OUT OF TOWN.
MY HANDS ARE SHAKING.
UGH!
Doni: GET IT, GET IT, GET THE MONEY.
THERE'S ALL THIS PAPER, MAN.
Johnson: WHEN SHE ACTUALLY OPENED THE SAFE,
THEY DISCOVERED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE
THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT HE THOUGHT SHE DID.
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE HER.
HE CONTINUED TO DEMAND THE MONEY.
SHE'S GOING, MAN. GET HER.
Timothy: SHE TRIED TO RUN AWAY,
AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO RUN AWAY, I GRABBED HER.
THAT'S WHEN THE FIRST REAL ONSET OF VIOLENCE HAPPENED.
AND I LET HER GO, AND THEN SHE FELL ON THE GROUND.
Narrator: IT'S TIME TO SILENCE HER FOR GOOD.
THE FUGITIVES HAVE CONFLICTING STORIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Timothy: THAT'S WHEN DONI JUMPED ON TOP OF HER
AND PINNED HER TO THE GROUND
AND WHEN HE STARTED CHOKING HER, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THERE.
I SHOULD'VE STOPPED IT. I DIDN'T STOP IT.
I SHOULD'VE STOPPED HIM.
[ GRUNTING, CHOKING ]
Narrator: FLETCHER INSISTS BROWN IS TO BLAME FOR GOOGE'S DEATH.
Timothy: HE SAYS THAT HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
HE'S A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR.
I COULDN'T HAVE -- I COULDN'T HAVE KILLED HER.
I WISH I WOULD'VE STOPPED IT, BUT I COULDN'T HAVE KILLED HER.
I DIDN'T KILL HER.
Narrator: BROWN SAYS FLETCHER IS THE ONE WHO STRANGLED HELEN.
DESPITE FLETCHER'S CLAIMS,
EVIDENCE ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS BROWN'S VERSION
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HELEN GOOGE.
Johnson: WHAT MADE THIS PARTICULARLY HEINOUS
WAS THE PERSONAL NATURE OF THE CRIME.
THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAS TO BE DISTURBED ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY
NO REGARD WHATSOEVER FOR HUMAN LIFE.
[ PANTING ]
Narrator: REGARDLESS OF WHO ACTUALLY KILLED HELEN GOOGE,
BOTH MEN ARE NOW IMPLICATED IN HER DEATH.
Doni: GET OUT OF HERE.
Johnson: I BELIEVE THAT THE BIGGEST REASON WAS
HE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HER SAFE,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE, AND HE TOOK IT OUT ON HELEN GOOGE.
LET'S GO, MAN.
Narrator: THEY FRANTICALLY GRAB ANY VALUABLES THEY CAN FIND.
TIMOTHY ALWAYS WANTED TO FIGHT. ALWAYS.
I WASN'T SHOCKED THAT HE KILLED HIS GRANDMOTHER.
MY BROTHER WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT ANYBODY.
IF TIMOTHY REALLY DID DO IT, I'D HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IT.
IF HE DID, HE DID. THAT'S HIS BED.
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO LAY IN IT NOW.
Narrator: THE FUGITIVES KNOW THEY NEED TO DITCH THE STOLEN TRUCK.
THEY FIND HELEN'S PURSE AND CAR KEYS.
COME ON.
AFTER BROWN HIDES THE TRUCK IN THE WOODS NEARBY,
THE TWO TAKE OFF IN HELEN'S GOLD SEDAN.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
FLETCHER HOPES TO HIDE WITH FAMILY
IN TOMPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY,
SO THEY HEAD NORTH.
5:00 A.M., APRIL 16th.
GUARDS AT PUTNAM COUNTY JAIL ARE DOING THEIR MORNING COUNT
WHEN THEY REALIZE THE INMATES ARE GONE.
ALL UNITS BE ON ALERT...
LOCAL AUTHORITIES RELEASE
A NATIONWIDE "BE ON THE LOOKOUT" ALERT
FOR TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI RAY BROWN.
THE MANHUNT IS ON.
THE PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
CALLS IN THE U.S. MARSHALS.
TASK OFFICER MIKE CALHOUN IS THEIR LEAD DEPUTY.
WE WERE TOLD THAT TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI BROWN
HAD ESCAPED FROM THE PUTNAM COUNTY JAIL,
AND OUR MAIN FOCUS WAS TO FIND FLETCHER AND BROWN.
OKAY, SO IT WAS ON EASTER?
Amanda: AND THEN THAT'S WHEN ALL THE DETECTIVES AND EVERYBODY COME
AND, YOU KNOW, SEARCHED OUR HOUSE,
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
WE JUST WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD. WHERE IS HE GONNA GO?
WOULDN'T HURT A FLY.
Narrator: BROWN'S AND FLETCHER'S FAMILIES
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE ESCAPE OR THE FUGITIVES' WHEREABOUTS.
THE COPS HAVE NO LEADS.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE HIS VEHICLE FOR ME AGAIN?
MEANWHILE, 25 MILES NORTH, IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA,
CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY MARK ANDREWS IS DRIVING HOME.
HE HAPPENS TO SEE A GOLD SEDAN
TURNING INTO THE LANE NEXT TO HIM.
I NOTICED IT WAS OCCUPIED BY TWO YOUNGER WHITE MALES.
IT JUST STRUCK ME KIND OF ODD.
Narrator: EARLIER THAT DAY,
ANDREWS HEARD THE ALERT FOR THE TWO FUGITIVES.
FLETCHER'S NAME RINGS A BELL.
AS SOON AS I SAW THAT "PUTNAM COUNTY"
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TAG,
IT JUST KIND OF HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS.
I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, "WELL,
COULD THIS BE TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI BROWN?"
I'M THINKING IT'S REALLY NOT THEM.
IT CAN'T BE THEM.
Narrator: BUT ON A HUNCH, ANDREWS CHECKS THE TAG.
[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]
Andrews: IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE FEELINGS YOU GET,
ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THE HAIR STANDS UP ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK.
Narrator: HE LEARNS THE VEHICLE BELONGS TO SOMEONE NAMED GOOGE.
SUDDENLY, ANDREWS REMEMBERS THAT, YEARS AGO,
HE'D BEEN CALLED TO DONALD GOOGE'S HOME
AFTER FLETCHER ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS BELONGINGS.
Andrews: THAT WAS WHEN IT HIT ME --
TIMOTHY FLETCHER'S GRANDFATHER WAS -- LAST NAME WAS GOOGE.
KIND OF PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
Narrator: BUT AT THIS POINT, THE SEDAN IS LONG GONE.
ANDREWS CALLS PUTNAM COUNTY AUTHORITIES,
WHO DISPATCH POLICE TO THE GOOGE HOME.
ONCE THEY WENT TO HELEN GOOGE'S HOUSE,
THEY NOTICED THAT THE GOLD CAR WAS NOT THERE.
[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ]
HEY, MIKE. COME HERE.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THEY FOUND THE BODY OF HELEN GOOGE
LYING FACEDOWN ON HER LIVING ROOM FLOOR.
Narrator: ESCAPEES BROWN AND FLETCHER ARE NOW *** SUSPECTS.
THE MANHUNT ESCALATES.
THESE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ESCAPED FROM THE JAIL,
WHO HAD MURDERED SOMEONE IN A PARTICULARLY VILE FASHION.
Calhoun: FOR SOMEBODY THAT SHE TRUSTED, PROBABLY EVEN HELPED RAISE,
FOR HER TO BE BETRAYED BY SOMEBODY LIKE THAT,
IT BECAME MORE SENSELESS TO US THAN ANYTHING.
THIS WAS SOMEBODY THAT SHE KNEW AND TRUSTED.
Narrator: PUTNAM COUNTY AUTHORITIES BROADEN THEIR SEARCH,
CALLING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM TWO NEARBY COUNTIES.
...SITUATIONS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY.
Calhoun: THE FUGITIVE INVESTIGATION, AT THAT POINT, BECAME RAMPANT.
WE WERE BASICALLY DOING EVERYTHING WE COULD
TO FIND THEM.
WE DIDN'T GO HOME. WE STAYED AROUND THE CLOCK.
FORENSICS TEAMS ARE HARD AT WORK...
THEY WERE ALL OVER EVERY CHANNEL --
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED," I MEAN, EVERYTHING.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES HAVE LITTLE TO GO ON,
ONLY THAT FLETCHER AND BROWN WERE LAST SEEN HEADING NORTH
AND THAT THEY HAVE HELEN GOOGE'S CREDIT CARDS.
MEANWHILE, THE FUGITIVES ARRIVE IN CORDELE, GEORGIA,
ABOUT 250 MILES NORTH OF THE GOOGE HOME.
I'M GONNA HAVE THEM GO FILL IT UP, ALL RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
WHEN THEY STOP FOR GAS,
BROWN PAYS WITH ONE OF THE STOLEN CREDIT CARDS.
Timothy: 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
PUT ON TV OR WHAT'S GOING ON,
SO BECAUSE OF ALL MY TATTOOS,
HE'S LESS RECOGNIZABLE THAN I AM.
[ BELL DINGS ]
Narrator: THE TWO FUGITIVES ARE ANXIOUS TO KEEP MOVING.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
BACK IN FLORIDA, AUTHORITIES DISCOVER THE CHARGE
THE FUGITIVES MADE ON HELEN GOOGE'S CARD.
WE GOT A HIT ON A CREDIT CARD IN GEORGIA AT A GAS STATION.
YEAH?
Calhoun: WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE GRANDMA'S CREDIT CARDS
WAS USED AT AN OUTSIDE GAS PUMP IN CORDELE, GEORGIA,
SO IT KIND OF GAVE US A DIRECTION
OF WHERE TO START LOOKING.
WE DETERMINED THERE WAS FAMILY NORTH OF GEORGIA
IN KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE AREA.
Narrator: WHEN THE FUGITIVES MAKE IT TO TENNESSEE,
THEY SELL HELEN'S JEWELRY AT A PAWN SHOP FOR ABOUT $100,
JUST ENOUGH TO GET THEM TO THEIR DESTINATION.
WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN TOMPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY,
IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 24 HOURS SINCE THE *** OF HELEN GOOGE.
FLETCHER CALLS HIS UNCLE.
[ CHUCKLES ] HEY, YEAH. YEAH, IT'S TIM.
I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO COME SEE HIM.
HE GAVE ME THE DIRECTIONS,
SAID HE WOULD BE SITTING ON THE PORCH WAITING ON ME.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
Narrator: IT'S JUST A FIVE-MILE DRIVE TO THE UNCLE'S HOUSE.
MY UNCLE SAID HE'D BE OUTSIDE HIS PLACE.
THERE IT IS. THAT'S THE PLACE.
BUT THERE'S NO ONE WAITING OUTSIDE.
SUDDENLY, HE SEES HIS AUNT APPROACHING HIM.
Woman: TIMOTHY FLETCHER!
HELEN GOOGE'S *** IS ALL OVER THE NEWS,
WITH FLETCHER NAMED AS THE PRIME SUSPECT.
Timothy: MY UNCLE WILLY CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME.
HE WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE,
AND I HEARD HIM SAY, "THEY'RE IN THE YARD.
I'M GONNA TALK TO THEM TILL YOU GET HERE."
THAT'S RIGHT, OFFICER. TIMOTHY FLETCHER'S RIGHT HERE.
THANKS FOR NOTHING.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
SO, I CONKED THE CAR UP
AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND TOOK OFF.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: FLETCHER IS IN THE RACE OF HIS LIFE.
IF HE AND BROWN GET CAUGHT,
THEY WON'T JUST BE CHARGED WITH ESCAPE.
THEY'LL BE CHARGED WITH ***.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: APRIL 16, 2009, TOMPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY.
*** SUSPECTS TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI RAY BROWN
ARE ON THE RUN
AND HOPING TO FIND HELP FROM FLETCHER'S FAMILY.
HEY, ARE YOU TALKING TO COPS?
INSTEAD, THE TWO HAVE WALKED INTO A TRAP,
AND THE COPS ARE CLOSING IN.
Timothy: WE WAS RUNNING.
I DIDN'T STOP TO THINK ABOUT IF WE WAS GONNA GET CAUGHT OR NOT.
I WAS TELLING MYSELF WE WASN'T GONNA GET CAUGHT.
"I'M GONNA RUN."
Narrator: ACCORDING TO FLETCHER, THE MEN GET RID OF THE EVIDENCE
TYING THEM TO HELEN GOOGE'S ***
AND TAKE OFF DOWN A SIDE ROAD.
Timothy: I JUST SWERVED DOWN IT
AND BASICALLY MADE A BLIND RUN FOR IT,
'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE I WAS
ON ALL THESE LITTLE BACK, COUNTRY ROADS.
AND THERE WAS SIRENS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
JUMPED OUT AND TOOK OFF ON FOOT RUNNING.
Narrator: BROWN SPRINTS THROUGH THE WOODS
WHILE FLETCHER DOES HIS BEST TO KEEP UP IN HIS CAST.
MOMENTS LATER, POLICE DISCOVER THE ABANDONED VEHICLE
BUT NO SIGN OF THE FUGITIVES.
FLETCHER AND BROWN ARE NEARBY, HIDING IN THE WOODS.
[ DOG BARKING ]
WHEN IT GETS DARK, THEY SNEAK OUT INTO A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD
AND LOOK IN PARKED CARS FOR KEYS.
Timothy: I COULD HEAR A CAR COMING.
[ IMITATES ENGINE REVVING ]
WHEN IT WENT BY,
IT WAS TWO KENTUCKY STATE POLICE FLEW BY.
THEY WAS GOING TOWARDS THE DIRECTION
WHERE WE DITCHED THE CAR AT.
Narrator: IT'S A CLOSE CALL.
THEN THEY CATCH ANOTHER BREAK.
THERE'S KEYS IN THERE.
WE FOUND A TRUCK WITH THE KEYS IN IT
AND GOT IN THE TRUCK AND DROVE OUT OF THERE
AND DIDN'T SEE NO COPS.
JUST FELT LIKE WE WAS HAVING GOOD LUCK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT OUT OF THERE
WITHOUT THE COPS SEEING US.
Narrator: BACK ON THE MOVE,
THE FUGITIVES STILL NEED CASH TO SURVIVE ON THE RUN.
MAN, TIM, I GOT AN IDEA.
I KNOW A GUY WHO'S GOT 20 GRAND IN A SHOE BOX, RIGHT?
THE PROBLEM IS THEIR NEXT TARGET
LIVES JUST 10 MILES SOUTH OF THE VERY JAIL THEY JUST ESCAPED.
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
Timothy: WE KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS,
BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE WE COULD GO THAT WOULDN'T BE DANGEROUS.
WE HAD, YOU KNOW, NO TOOL TO INTIMIDATE NOBODY
OR NO MONEY OR NOTHING, YOU KNOW?
SO, WAS GOING BACK TO FLORIDA TO TRY TO GET SOME MONEY.
UNTIL THEN,
WE BETTER FIND A PLACE TO HIDE OUT BEFORE IT GETS LIGHT.
Narrator: FLETCHER CLAIMS THEIR PLAN IS TO STEAL THE MONEY
AND THEN MOVE DOWN TO MEXICO.
BROWN SAYS HE HAS A DIFFERENT MOTIVE FOR RETURNING TO FLORIDA.
WE NEED TO HIDE OUT, MAN.
TO COME BACK TO PUTNAM COUNTY
MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE WHATSOEVER,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY HAD NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.
Narrator: HEADING SOUTH,
FLETCHER AND BROWN REACH THE TENNESSEE BORDER AT SUNRISE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE DAYLIGHT
BECAUSE I'M SURE IT'S BEEN REPORTED STOLEN.
WE WENT TO AN OLD ABANDONED BARN
THAT WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS OFF THE ROAD IN A BIG FIELD
AND PASSED OUT.
911. WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY?
Narrator: SOON AFTER, KENTUCKY POLICE GET A CALL
THAT A TRUCK HAS BEEN STOLEN IN THE AREA.
I'M ON LAKE STREET.
THEY SUSPECT FLETCHER AND BROWN ARE RESPONSIBLE.
...GAS STATION IN GEORGIA.
AND AT THAT POINT, MY TEAM MADE THE DECISION
THAT WE WERE GOING TO TOMPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY,
SO WE LEFT THAT DAY.
Narrator: A FEW HOURS LATER, FLETCHER GETS A RUDE AWAKENING.
[ RADIO TUNES ]
MAN: And in other news, two escapees from Putnam County, Florida,
were seen last night in Monroe County.
DAMN, WE'RE FAMOUS, FLETCHER. [ CHUCKLES ]
FAMOUS? WE'RE SCREWED.
Timothy: A LITTLE BULLETIN CAME OVER THE RADIO, YOU KNOW?
"TWO ESCAPEES OUT OF PUTNAM COUNTY, FLORIDA,
WERE SEEN LAST NIGHT IN MONROE COUNTY."
YOU KNOW, THEY DESCRIBED OUR NAMES,
MY TATTOOS AND SCARS,
AND THEY SAID THAT WE WAS WANTED FOR ESCAPE,
FIRST-DEGREE ***, AND HOME-INVASION ROBBERY.
MAN: They should be considered armed and dangerous.
Please do not approach them if seen.
Timothy: AND THAT'S WHEN WE KNEW WE WAS IN PRETTY DEEP.
Narrator: BROWN AND FLETCHER ARE PANICKED.
AS NIGHT FALLS,
THE CAUTIOUSLY START MAKING THEIR WAY SOUTH TO FLORIDA.
ANY TIME WE SEEN A COP ON THE ROAD,
MY HEART WOULD GO TO BEATING FAST, AND I WOULD GET SCARED.
Narrator: THEIR FEARS ARE JUSTIFIED.
Calhoun: WE'RE PRETTY SURE WE PASSED THEM IN THE NIGHT
AS WE WERE HEADED UP AND THEY WERE COMING BACK,
WHICH IS KIND OF EERIE TO US
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE THAT CLOSE TO THEM AND HAD NO IDEA.
Narrator: APRIL 18th.
FLETCHER AND BROWN ARRIVE BACK IN PUTNAM COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS SINCE THEY BROKE OUT OF JAIL.
FLETCHER NEEDS A FIX
AND HEADS DIRECTLY TO ONE OF HIS FORMER DRUG DEALERS.
HAVE A SEAT, MAN. HAVE A SEAT. HAVE A SEAT.
I TOLD HIM, "MAN, I ONLY GOT $27,"
AND HE GAVE US ABOUT $100 WORTH OF CRACK.
HELP YOU OUT, MAN. HERE YOU GO.
MAN, ARE YOU SURE? I MEAN, THIS IS, LIKE, FOUR TIMES AS MUCH.
Timothy: HE SAID THAT WE HAD BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS,
THAT WE WAS CRAZY, BASICALLY,
AND THAT HE HOPED WE DIDN'T GET CAUGHT.
MAN, YOU BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, MAN. YOU END UP GETTING CAUGHT.
Narrator: NEXT, THE MEN TAKE OFF FOR THEIR TARGET --
THE $20,000 BROWN SAYS
HIS FRIEND HAS STASHED IN A SHOE BOX.
WHAT?
ON THE WAY TO THE GUY'S HOUSE, THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS.
SO WE PUSHED IT OFF THE ROAD.
Narrator: HAVING SPENT THE LAST OF THEIR MONEY ON DRUGS,
THE MEN ARE DESPERATE.
BROWN DECIDES TO CALL THE ONLY PERSON HE KNOWS HE CAN TRUST.
DO YOU THINK I COULD USE YOUR PHONE FOR A SECOND?
OUR CAR BROKE DOWN OVER THERE,
AND I REALLY NEED TO MAKE A CALL REAL QUICK.
DONI CALLED HIS LITTLE BROTHER.
DUDE, WHERE ARE YOU? YOU'RE ALL OVER THE NEWS.
SHUT UP. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. CAN YOU GET US SOME MONEY AND CLOTHES?
HIS BROTHER, T.J., AGREES TO MEET THEM AT LAKE COMO, FLORIDA,
WHERE THEY GREW UP.
WE'RE GONNA BE AT LAKE COMO. GET US SOME MONEY.
Timothy: IT'S ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES FROM WHERE WE'RE AT
AT THIS TIME,
BUT HIS BROTHER WAS ALL THE WAY IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS,
SO WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIM TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY --
YOU KNOW, ABOUT AN HOUR RIDE.
YEAH, I'LL BE CALLING YOU.
[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]
WHO WAS THAT?
NOBODY.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE T.J. CAN LEAVE THE HOUSE,
HE HAS TO GET PASSED HIS SISTER, AMANDA.
DON'T LIE TO ME, T.J.
Amanda: I HAD HEARD MY BROTHER TALKING TO SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE,
AND I KNEW IT WAS MY BROTHER DONI.
I KNEW IT.
I COULD TELL BY MY BROTHER T.J.'s VOICE.
HE JUST SAID HE WAS GOING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE,
BUT I COULD TELL, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS VERY NERVOUS, VERY ANXIOUS
TO GET TO WHERE HE WAS GOING.
Narrator: DESPITE HER PROTESTS, T.J. TAKES OFF.
AMANDA SHARES HER CONCERNS WITH HER MOTHER.
HE'S GONNA GO...
I WAS ACTUALLY RELIEVED THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE
AND THAT HE WAS BACK HERE.
DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT CARD?
I DONE CALLED AND TOLD THE MARSHALS.
ALL WE WANTED WAS DONI TO COME HOME SAFE.
Narrator: U.S. MARSHAL TASK OFFICER MIKE CALHOUN
IS STILL IN KENTUCKY
WHEN HE HEARS FROM BROWN'S FAMILY BACK IN FLORIDA.
T.J., HE'S GONNA GO SEE DONI RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY GET HIM SAFE
IF WE COULD HELP THEM.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, THIS IS CALHOUN WITH THE U.S. MARSHALS OFFICE.
Narrator: CALHOUN IMMEDIATELY CONTACTS
THE PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
Calhoun: WE WERE GIVEN A VEHICLE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT T.J. WAS DRIVING,
AND WE WERE GIVEN THE TIME THAT HE LEFT THE HOUSE.
WE KNEW THAT HE WOULD BE TRAVELING SOUTH.
Narrator: THE PUTNAM COUNTY DEPUTIES
QUICKLY SPOT T.J.'s CAR AND PULL HIM OVER.
THAT DETECTIVE WAS ABLE TO INTERCEPT HIM.
I'M DETECTIVE STUART. PLEASE STEP OUT OF THE CAR.
Narrator: NOW THEY JUST NEED T.J. TO COOPERATE.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
BUT HE STAYS LOYAL TO HIS BROTHER
AND REFUSES TO GIVE UP ANY INFORMATION.
WHO ARE YOU?
Palmer: THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIS PHONE
AND PUT HIM IN ONE OF THE DETECTIVE'S CARS.
I DIDN'T DO NOTHING, MAN.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, AFRAID THEY'LL BE SPOTTED TRAVELING BY FOOT,
THE TWO FUGITIVES START LOOKING FOR GAS AT A NEARBY FARM.
BUT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
Timothy: THEY WAS FARMERS, BOTH OF THEM HAD PISTOLS...
THIS AIN'T NO GAS STATION.
...AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WAS DOING IN HIS YARD,
SO DONI WAS TRYING TO TALK THEM INTO GIVING US SOME GAS,
BUT I COULD TELL THAT HE KNEW WHO WE WAS.
WE DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE.
THIS AIN'T NO GAS STATION.
Timothy: I WANTED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
I ASKED HIM,
"DO YOU CARE IF WE FINISH CUTTING THROUGH YOUR YARD?"
AND HE TOLD US TO GO AHEAD.
I LOOKED BACK, AND HE WAS ON HIS CELLPHONE LOOKING AT US.
I TOLD DONI, I SAID, "I THINK HE'S CALLING THE COPS."
THOSE FARMERS CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CONVERGED ON THE AREA.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN TAKE OFF DOWN A DIRT PATH,
BUT WHEN THEY REACH THE MAIN ROAD,
THEY REALIZE THAT, YET AGAIN, THEY HAVE COMPANY.
THERE WAS TWO PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY CARS
PARKED NOSE-TO-NOSE, BLOCKING THE ROAD,
AND THERE WAS COPS WITH THEIR PISTOLS ALREADY DRAWN.
AND WHEN I SEEN THE COP,
HE LOOKED UP RIGHT THEN AND YELLED "FREEZE"
AND THREW HIS PISTOL UP AT US.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN HAVE JUST TWO OPTIONS LEFT --
SURRENDER OR RISK THEIR LIVES WITH THEIR MOST DARING RUN YET.
Officer: FREEZE NOW!
FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT FUGITIVES ON THE RUN,
GO TO investigationdiscovery.com.
Narrator: APRIL 18, 2009, LAKE COMO, FLORIDA.
TIMOTHY FLETCHER AND DONI BROWN
ARE WANTED FOR ESCAPE AND ***.
THEIR THREE-DAY RUN MAY BE OVER
AS THEY STARE DOWN THE BARRELS OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT GUNS.
POLICE GOT A PISTOL DRAWN, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO JAIL,
SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, BASICALLY.
I GOT A CAST ON MY LEG.
Narrator: BEFORE THE COPS HAVE A CHANCE TO FIRE AT THEM,
THE FUGITIVES RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.
GOT A GUN POINTED AT YOU, IT DON'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THAT.
WE TOOK OFF RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS,
AND DONI'S 6'1", ALSO,
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP PACE WITH HIM.
THE OFFICERS WEREN'T ABLE TO CATCH UP TO THEM.
THEY JUST KNEW THE DIRECTION THEY WERE RUNNING.
Narrator: POLICE CALL FOR MORE BACKUP.
IT ARRIVES WITH K-9 UNITS.
[ DOG WHINES, BARKS ]
YOU COULD HEAR THEM BARKING AND HOWLING.
Narrator: AFTER RUNNING FOR 20 MINUTES,
FLETCHER AND BROWN BELIEVE
THEY'VE THROWN THE COPS OFF THEIR TRAIL,
BUT JUST WHEN THEY THINK THEY'RE SAFE,
THE SILENCE IS BROKEN.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
I HEARD [IMITATES HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
AND SURE ENOUGH, HERE COME THE HELICOPTERS
AND WAS FLYING IN A BIG COUNTER-CLOCKWISE CIRCLE
OVER THE TOP OF US.
Narrator: FLETCHER REALIZES THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN OUTRUN A HELICOPTER,
WHEN SUDDENLY, THE CHOPPER CHANGES DIRECTION.
IT'S FLYING AWAY FROM US.
Narrator: THE MEN MAKE THEIR WAY TO A CLEARING AND FIND A HOUSE.
WHEN WE FINALLY CAME OUT OF THE WOODS,
I TOLD DONI TO GO ASK, YOU KNOW, TO USE THE PHONE,
CALL HIS BROTHER.
AND AT THAT POINT, T.J. WAS SITTING WITH THE DETECTIVE.
THANKS.
[ Dialing ]
WHEN THE PHONE CALL WAS MADE, T.J. DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO HIM.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS, BEEPS ]
YEAH, THIS IS DETECTIVE RANKIN.
WE GOT T.J. HERE.
WHAT?!
ALL I HEARD WAS HIM YELL "[BLEEP] YOU"...
..."[BLEEP] NO."
AND THEN HE THREW THE PHONE ON THE GROUND
AND COME RUNNING TOWARDS ME.
HIS EYES WERE BIG.
I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
HE SAID, "MY BROTHER WAS IN A CAR WITH A COP.
THEY KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT. WE GOT TO GO RIGHT NOW."
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: PUTNAM COUNTY AUTHORITIES TRACK THE CALL
TO THE HOUSE IN POMONA PARK 12 MILES AWAY.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
WELL, ONCE THE CROSS-REFERENCE WAS DONE ON THE PHONE NUMBER,
PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY CONVERGED ON THAT AREA.
I MEAN, THERE WAS OFFICERS FROM EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN ARE SPOTTED NOT FAR FROM THE HOUSE.
ON THE GROUND! POLICE!
THE FUGITIVES ARE SURROUNDED BY FEDERAL MARSHALS
AND FLORIDA STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[ DOG BARKING ]
Timothy: WHEN THEY COME DOWN ON US, WE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD.
THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO,
SO I JUST THREW MY HANDS UP AND SURRENDERED.
AND DONI JUMPED, RAN INTO THE WOODS.
STOP! STOP! WE GOT A RUNNER!
GET DOWN! RIGHT THERE. GET DOWN! ON THE GROUND!
[ DOG BARKING ]
WHEN THE OTHER COP TOLD HIM,
"I'M GONNA PUT THE K-9 ON YOU. THE K-9's GONNA EAT YOU UP.
YOU BETTER COME OUT, OR WE'RE GONNA SHOOT YOU"...
OKAY, OKAY.
[ DOG BARKING ]
...HE COME OUT WITH HIS HANDS UP.
[ DOG BARKING ]
ONCE THEY WERE CORNERED, THEY SURRENDERED WILLINGLY.
THEY KNEW THE GIG WAS UP.
THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO.
Narrator: FLETCHER AND BROWN'S WILD RUN HAS FINALLY COME TO AN END.
Timothy: CONFUSED,
COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAD HAPPENED
AND THAT NOW I'M GOING BACK TO JAIL,
DONE DID ALL THIS CRAP FOR NOTHING, BASICALLY,
AND MAD 'CAUSE WE GOT CAUGHT.
BUT REALLY, BASICALLY SHOCKED
WAS THE MAIN EMOTION THAT WAS GOING ON.
Narrator: TIMOTHY FLETCHER GOES TO TRIAL FOR THE *** OF HELEN GOOGE.
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE,
INCLUDING HIS DNA FOUND UNDERNEATH HER FINGERNAILS,
PROSECUTORS BELIEVE HE'S THE ONE WHO STRANGLED HER.
Johnson: HE GOT ON TOP OF HELEN GOOGE,
WRAPPED HIS FINGERS AROUND HER THROAT,
AND BEGAN TO STRANGLE HER UNTIL SHE DIED.
STRANGULATION IS NOT A QUICK DEATH.
IT TAKES A LOT LONGER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HEINOUS,
IT WAS ATROCIOUS, AND IT WAS CRUEL.
Narrator: MAY 25, 2012.
A JURY FINDS TIMOTHY FLETCHER GUILTY
FOR THE *** OF HELEN GOOGE AND THE PRISON ESCAPE.
HE GETS THE DEATH PENALTY.
DONI RAY BROWN PLEADS GUILTY TO ESCAPE AND ***
AND GETS LIFE IN PRISON.
HE REGRETS IT. HE SHOULD'VE NEVER DONE IT.
NEVER, EVER SHOULD'VE ESCAPED.
HE'S SAD THAT MS. GOOGE DID GET KILLED.
Narrator: BROWN IS CURRENTLY SERVING HIS TIME
AT THE FLORIDA STATE PRISON.
FLETCHER IS ON DEATH ROW
WHILE HIS CASE GOES THROUGH APPEAL.
Timothy: IT'S NOT WORTH IT. CAN'T OUTSMART THE POLICE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I WISH I WOULD'VE BEEN SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT BEFORE.
I HAVE A LOT OF REGRETS.
I REGRET THE WHOLE ESCAPADE AS A WHOLE.
BUT MAINLY THAT HELEN LOST HER LIFE
IS THE MAIN THING THAT I REGRET.