Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: CHRISTMAS WISHES IN MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
ARE DASHED WHEN A MOTHER AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS
MEET A BRUTAL END.
Sweitzer: THE WOMEN HAD DIED
FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD.
THESE WOMEN KNEW THAT SOMEBODY WAS IN THE HOUSE TO KILL THEM.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Givler: NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS DID I THINK
THAT I WOULD WALK INTO THE CARNAGE
THAT I FOUND AT THE WHOLAVER RESIDENCE.
Narrator: HOLIDAY CHEER TURNS TO HOLIDAY FEAR
AS POLICE PONDER WHO HAD IT IN FOR JEAN AND HER GIRLS.
DETECTIVES HAVE THEIR SIGHTS
ON AN ANGRY EX-HUSBAND AND FATHER,
A JUNK MERCHANT WHO MAY BE GUNNING FOR A DEADLY DEAL,
AND A LOCKSMITH
WHO ONCE HELD THE KEY TO DAUGHTER VICKI'S HEART.
Sweitzer: TO HAVE A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
WHERE THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN KILLER OUT THERE,
WE HAD TO FIND OUT WHO THAT PERSON WAS.
[ GUN *** ]
Narrator: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?
WHAT LIES BEHIND THE WHITE PICKET FENCES?
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NESTLED ON THE BANKS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
LIES MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN TOWN THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME.
I DON'T KNOW THE STORY OF HOW MIDDLETOWN GOT ITS NAME,
BUT IT'S KIND OF FITTING.
IT KIND OF EMBODIES THAT MIDDLE-AMERICAN FEEL.
Narrator: AND MIDDLETOWN WAS ALSO VIRTUALLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BIGGEST NUCLEAR DISASTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY --
THE MELTDOWN AT THE THREE MILE ISLAND REACTOR IN THE 1970s.
Lanyon: IF YOU'RE IN MIDDLETOWN, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE THE FACT
THAT YOU'RE IN THE SHADOW OF THREE MILE ISLAND.
THAT MIGHT SCARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS,
BUT THE PEOPLE IN MIDDLETOWN
DON'T SEEM TO NOTICE IT WHATSOEVER.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE A LOCAL
IF YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF THREE MILE ISLAND.
Narrator: MIDDLETOWN IS FULL OF HALE AND HEARTY FOLKS,
LIKE 43-YEAR-OLD JEAN WHOLAVER.
LITTLE SIS SARA DAVIS REMEMBERS JEAN'S NURTURING NATURE
WAS ALWAYS ON FULL DISPLAY.
Davis: JEAN WAS A WONDERFUL BIG SISTER.
SHE'D HELP ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.
Narrator: BUT A CLOUD HAS FALLEN OVER JEAN'S SUNNY LIFE.
SHE HAS RECENTLY SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND OF 20 YEARS,
ERNIE WHOLAVER.
LUCKILY, JEAN HAS HER GIRLS
TO GET HER THROUGH THE HARD TIMES.
WHEN SHE'S NOT DOWN AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL
WORKING AS AN X-RAY TECHNICIAN,
SHE SPENDS EVERY MINUTE WITH THEM.
THERE'S 15-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH --
OR "IZZY," AS SHE LIKES TO BE CALLED --
AND 20-YEAR-OLD VICKI,
WHO JUST MOVED BACK IN WITH HER MOM
ALONG WITH HER BABY DAUGHTER, MADDIE.
Davis: THEY WERE REAL CLOSE.
THEY LIKED TO PLAY JOKES, TEASE EACH OTHER,
BE AROUND DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DO DIFFERENT THINGS --
A LOT OF FUN-LOVING ACTIVITIES.
Narrator: WITH EVERYONE UNDER THE SAME ROOF,
THE GIRLS HAVE ALL THE MORE REASON
TO CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
Davis: JEAN LOVED TO DECORATE.
HER HOUSE WAS ALWAYS WELL-DECORATED --
LIGHTS EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: EVEN WITH ALL THE RECENT TURMOIL,
JEAN WANTS TO MAKE CHRISTMAS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE
FOR THE FAMILY.
Davis: WE WERE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS.
THE WHOLE FAMILY WOULD GET TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE
AT MY MOTHER'S.
Narrator: LITTLE DOES THE WHOLAVER FAMILY KNOW
THAT CHRISTMAS 2002 WILL CERTAINLY BE UNFORGETTABLE,
BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
JEAN'S SISTER, SARA, SPENDS CHRISTMAS EVE
GETTING READY FOR THEIR TRADITIONAL FAMILY DINNER.
JEAN AND HER BROOD PLAN ON DRIVING THE 2½ HOURS
FROM MIDDLETOWN TO JOHNSTOWN FOR THEIR GATHERING.
Davis: I CALLED JEAN.
SHE WAS PACKING THE CAR UP
BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE DIRECTLY FROM WORK.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH JEAN'S TUESDAY SHIFT AT THE HOSPITAL
DOESN'T END UNTIL 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON,
JEAN IS POSITIVE SHE AND THE GIRLS
WILL STILL MAKE IT IN TIME FOR DINNER.
BUT WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 7:00,
THEIR CHAIRS AT THE TABLE ARE STILL EMPTY,
AND SARA BEGINS TO WORRY
WHEN SHE CAN'T GET ANYONE IN THE WHOLAVER CLAN ON THE PHONE.
AND THE LONGER IT GOT, THE MORE WE WORRIED.
THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED THINKING, "ACCIDENT."
Narrator: BUT THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TELLS SARA
THERE ARE NO MAJOR WRECKS.
AND COME CHRISTMAS MORNING,
WITH NO NEWS ON HER OLDER SISTER'S WHEREABOUTS,
SARA IS AT HER WIT'S END,
SO SHE PLACES ONE LAST CALL FOR HELP.
I ACTUALLY DID CALL THE MIDDLETOWN POLICE
FROM JOHNSTOWN TO GO CHECK THE HOUSE,
SEE IF THE CAR WAS THERE,
AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY MOVEMENT
OR ACTIVITY AT THE HOUSE.
Narrator: SERGEANT ROBERT GIVLER IS OFTEN ACCUSED
OF BEING MARRIED TO THE JOB.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR WEDNESDAY MORNING,
THIS TOP COP IS SPENDING TIME WITH SOME PEOPLE
EVEN CLOSER TO HIS HEART.
Givler: I WAS AT MY RESIDENCE WITH MY FAMILY,
AND WE WERE OPENING PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, SERGEANT GIVLER'S FAMILY HOLIDAY
IS INTERRUPTED BY A CALL FROM DISPATCH
THAT SENDS HIM RACING TO THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
ON NORTH UNION STREET.
WHEN THE GOOD SERGEANT ARRIVES, HE FINDS THE DRIVEWAY EMPTY,
SO HE RINGS THE DOORBELL, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
Givler: AT THE POINT WHERE I LOOKED
IN ALL THESE WINDOWS AND STUFF,
I WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS NOBODY AT THE RESIDENCE.
Narrator: ONLY WHEN GIVLER MAKES HIS WAY AROUND TO THE GARAGE
DOES HE PICK UP ON SOMETHING AMISS.
THE GLASS WINDOW ON THE GARAGE DOOR IS SHATTERED,
AND WHEN HE REACHES FOR THE DOOR HANDLE,
HE'S SURPRISED TO FIND IT UNLOCKED.
Givler: WHEN I FIRST LIFTED THE GARAGE DOOR,
IT'S LIKE THE HAIR STANDS UP ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK,
AND I FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Narrator: NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT, GIVLER DRAWS HIS GUN
AND CAUTIOUSLY ENTERS THE GARAGE,
AND ONCE INSIDE, HE'S SHOCKED TO FIND A PARKED CAR.
I LOOKED AT THE REGISTRATION PLATE
AND I RADIOED IN AND ASKED THEM
IF THAT WAS THE PLATE WE WERE LOOKING FOR
AND THEY RESPONDED BACK, "YES."
Narrator: IF THE WHOLAVER'S CAR IS STILL HERE,
MAYBE THEY NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE
FOR A CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER AFTER ALL.
BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE,
WHY DIDN'T ANYONE ANSWER THE FRONT DOOR?
GIVLER ISN'T SURE, SO HE SLOWLY MOVES
THROUGH THE CONNECTING DOOR INTO THE HOUSE,
AND HIS POLICE SENSE IS SWITCHED TO HIGH ALERT.
Givler: HEART'S PUMPING UP, I'M REALLY FIRED UP.
NOW THINGS ARE STARTING TO GO SOUTH.
Narrator: AND GIVLER'S WORST FEARS ARE CONFIRMED
WHEN HE STEPS INTO THE KITCHEN.
THERE, HE FINDS THE BODY OF MAMA JEAN WHOLAVER
FULLY CLOTHED AND SPRAWLED OUT ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF HIM.
STRAIGHT AWAY, HE CAN TELL
HOW HER LIFE CAME TO AN UNTIMELY END.
Givler: WHOEVER IT WAS PUT THE GUN RIGHT UP BETWEEN HER EYES,
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.
KILLED HER INSTANTLY.
Narrator: IT'S A HORRIFYING SCENE.
AND WITH NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF *** ASSAULT,
GIVLER SUSPECTS THIS KILLER WAS OUT FOR BLOOD.
BUT WHERE ARE JEAN'S TWO GIRLS, VICKI AND IZZY,
AND GRANDBABY, MADDIE?
GIVLER'S QUESTION IS ANSWERED WHEN HE MAKES HIS WAY UPSTAIRS.
ELDEST DAUGHTER VICKI IS LYING IN THE HALLWAY
IN FRONT OF AN OPENED BEDROOM DOOR,
ALSO SHOT IN THE HEAD.
AFTER I SAW ALL THE BULLET WOUNDS --
AGAIN, AN UP-CLOSE-AND-PERSONAL --
AND IT'S LIKE, "WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL COULD DO THIS?"
Narrator: WITH A DOUBLE *** ON HIS HANDS,
GIVLER IS CAREFUL NOT TO DISTURB THE SCENE.
BUT AS HE SLOWLY WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR
TO THE BEDROOM BEHIND THE BODY, HE STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS
AND IS CONFRONTED WITH ANOTHER CHILLING SIGHT --
THE REMAINS OF 15-YEAR-OLD IZZY.
THE LEGS WERE DANGLING DOWN AND SHE WAS LAYING ON HER BACK
ACROSS THE BED AND SHE HAD PAJAMAS ON.
Narrator: BUT GIVLER ISN'T ABLE TO DWELL
ON THE HORROR OF THESE HOMICIDES FOR VERY LONG
BEFORE HE'S STARTLED BY A CRYING SOUND
FROM BACK OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
TUCKED IN THE ARMS OF VICKI IS A TINY INFANT,
VICKI'S 9-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER, MADDIE.
MIRACULOUSLY, SHE'S UNHARMED.
I THOUGHT, "HOW LONG HAS THIS BABY BEEN HERE
IN THIS HOUSE ALONE WITH THREE DEAD BODIES?"
Narrator: DESPITE THIS ASTONISHING FIND,
GIVLER CAN'T SHAKE THE HORROR THAT SURROUNDS HIM.
WHAT KIND OF MONSTER COULD DO SUCH A THING?
YOU NEVER FORGET THE FIRST HOMICIDE,
AND YOU NEVER FORGET THE WORST ONES.
THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC
I'VE EVER SEEN.
Narrator: WAS THIS A RANDOM KILLING OF THREE INNOCENT WOMEN,
OR DID SOMEONE HAVE THE WHOLAVERS
IN THEIR CROSSHAIRS?
MIDDLETOWN'S NEWEST DETECTIVE IS READY TO TAKE A SHOT
AT SOLVING THIS TRIPLE-*** MYSTERY.
DETECTIVE DAVE SWEITZER IS THE GREENHORN
ON THE DEPARTMENT'S HOMICIDE SQUAD,
AND WHEN HE ARRIVES AT THE SCENE,
HE BRACES HIMSELF FOR THE HORROR
OF THIS CHRISTMAS MORNING MASSACRE.
Sweitzer: YOU SIT THERE AND YOU THINK TO YOURSELF,
"OH, MY GOD." YOU KNOW, "THIS IS CHRISTMAS DAY.
"THIS IS A DAY WHERE FAMILIES
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY,"
AND THIS WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THIS FAMILY.
Narrator: WHEN SWEITZER ARRIVES AT THE WHOLAVER HOUSE,
HE IMMEDIATELY BEGINS SUSSING OUT THE SITUATION.
AND AFTER EXAMINING THE CRIME SCENE,
HE'S STRUCK BY WHAT HE FINDS.
Sweitzer: IT HAD APPEARED TO ME THAT THESE WOMEN
KNEW THAT SOMEBODY WAS IN THE HOUSE TO KILL THEM.
WHAT WAS THEIR REASON FOR WANTING THESE WOMEN DEAD?
Narrator: DETECTIVES BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO THIS MYSTERY
LIES WITH SOMEONE THE WOMEN KNEW,
AND A HORRIBLE FAMILY SECRET
JUST MAY PROVE THEIR THEORY RIGHT.
Narrator: FOLKS IN MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
ARE USUALLY EXCITED WHEN THEIR TINY TOWN
TURNS INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
BUT IN DECEMBER OF 2002,
A FEELING OF FEAR BLANKETS THIS QUIET COMMUNITY
WHEN JEAN WHOLAVER AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS,
VICKI AND IZZY, ARE FOUND MURDERED ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
PEOPLE IN MIDDLETOWN WENT TO SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE,
DREAMING OF THIS WHITE CHRISTMAS,
BUT THEY WOKE UP TO A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator: ANCHOR ALI LANYON FROM NEWS 27
KNOWS THE TALK IN TOWN
HAS ALREADY TURNED TO "WHO DONE IT?"
Lanyon: THERE WERE THEORIES FLOATING AROUND IMMEDIATELY,
BUT I THINK IT WAS HARD FOR ANY OF US TO IMAGINE
WHO WAS CAPABLE OF THIS.
Narrator: DETECTIVE DAVE SWEITZER
OF THE MIDDLETOWN POLICE
KNOWS HE NEEDS TO SERVE UP A PROMISING SUSPECT FAST.
SCOURING THE SCENE, THE SHREWD INVESTIGATOR
BEGINS TO PUT TOGETHER
THE PIECES OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A BURGLARY GONE WRONG.
Sweitzer: IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT ANYTHING HAD BEEN TAKEN.
WE FELT THAT THERE WAS SOME SPECIFIC INTENT
FOR THESE WOMEN TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE WOMEN WERE TARGETED.
Narrator: THEN, OUTSIDE THE HOUSE,
DETECTIVES COME ACROSS A TELLING CLUE --
THE PHONE LINE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CUT,
WHICH ONLY REINFORCES SWEITZER'S FEELING
THAT THE ASSAILANT WAS ON A MISSION TO KILL.
Sweitzer: SOMEBODY HAD TAKEN GREAT PAINS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY ENTERED THE HOME
THAT THESE VICTIMS WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY PHONE CALLS.
THIS WAS A CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT AND PLANNED EXECUTION.
Narrator: DETECTIVES LEARN MORE
WHEN THE AUTOPSY RESULTS COME IN.
THEY CONFIRM NONE OF THE WHOLAVER WOMEN
WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED,
FURTHER POINTING TO A TARGETED HIT.
Sweitzer: THE RESULTS OF THE AUTOPSY EXAMINATION
REVEALED THAT THE WOMEN HAD DIED
FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD,
AND THAT IT APPEARED THAT THESE GUNSHOTS
WERE AT VERY CLOSE RANGE.
Narrator: THE CORONER ESTIMATES THE MURDERS OCCURRED
IN THE EARLY HOURS ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
PROBABLY AROUND 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
THAT NEWS CONFIRMS SOMETHING DETECTIVES ALREADY KNOW.
Sweitzer: WE LEARNED THROUGH THE COURSE OF SEVERAL INTERVIEWS
THAT JEAN WHOLAVER WAS A CREATURE OF HABIT
AND THAT SHE ALWAYS AROSE AROUND 4:17 A.M. EVERY DAY
TO GET READY FOR HER WORK.
Narrator: SO WAS JEAN BEING STALKED
BY SOMEONE WHO KNEW HER ROUTINE,
OR DID HER KILLER JUST GET LUCKY?
HOPING TO FIND OUT, DETECTIVES SET THEIR SIGHTS
ON SOMEONE WHO WOULD KNOW THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND,
THE ONE FAMILY MEMBER
WITH NO PRESENTS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE --
JEAN'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND, 42-YEAR-OLD ERNIE WHOLAVER.
DETECTIVES START DIGGING UP DIRT
ON VICKI AND IZZY'S OVERBEARING DAD,
AND THEY UNCOVER A SECRET
THAT COULD BE THE KEY TO CRACKING THE CASE.
WE DISCOVERED ERNEST WHOLAVER WAS PENDING CRIMINAL CHARGES
ON SEXUALLY ASSAULTING THE GIRLS.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE CHARGES,
IT SEEMS ERNIE HAD BEEN MOLESTING BOTH HIS DAUGHTERS
FOR YEARS.
AND WHEN MAMA JEAN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ABUSE
FROM THE GIRLS SIX MONTHS AGO,
SHE KICKED ERNIE TO THE CURB AND PRESSED CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
ERNEST DEFINITELY BECOMES A PERSON OF INTEREST,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LEARNED
THAT THERE WERE THESE PENDING *** ALLEGATION CHARGES.
AND IRONICALLY ENOUGH,
THIS WAS SET TO GO TO TRIAL IN JANUARY,
AND HERE IT IS, A MONTH BEFORE, THESE GIRLS WERE MURDERED.
Narrator: BUT WHEN DETECTIVE SWEITZER
ASKS JEAN'S SISTER, SARA, FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP
ON THESE ALLEGATIONS, SARA IS STUNNED.
SHE HAD NO IDEA THE GIRLS HAD ACCUSED THEIR FATHER
OF *** ABUSE.
Davis: I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS,
AND, IT'S LIKE, YOU NEVER BELIEVE ANYBODY'S CAPABLE
OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ANYBODY,
SO IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO EVEN CONSIDER
THAT ERNIE WAS DOING THAT TO MY NIECES.
Narrator: SO TO SEE IF ERNIE REALLY DOES HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
TO HARM HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD,
SWEITZER ENLISTS THE HELP OF AN ACE INTERROGATOR --
BRIAN WALBORN,
DETECTIVE WITH THE DAUPHIN COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND THIS EX-MILITARY MAN HAS THE RIGHT STUFF
TO SOLVE THE TOUGHEST CASES WITH TEAMWORK.
Walborn: THE MILITARY TEACHES YOU THE TEAM CONCEPT --
NO ONE PERSON'S GREATER THAN THE OTHER
AND YOU WORK AS A TEAM AND YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT.
Narrator: DETECTIVES TRACK DOWN DISREPUTABLE DAD ERNIE
CARING FOR HIS OWN AILING FATHER AT THE HOSPITAL.
BUT HAVING ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE MURDERS FROM FRIENDS,
ERNIE ISN'T SURPRISED TO SEE DETECTIVES COMING FOR HIM.
ERNIE MADE THE COMMENT THAT IF THESE WOMEN EVER END UP DEAD,
"I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST PERSON THEY LOOK AT."
HE AGREED VOLUNTARILY TO COME BACK
TO THE STATE POLICE BARRACKS AND SPEAK WITH US.
Narrator: BACK AT THE STATION,
DETECTIVES THROWN ERNIE IN THE HOT SEAT.
AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT,
THEY CAN TELL HE'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.
Sweitzer: WHEN I FIRST MET ERNEST WHOLAVER,
I SAW A MAN WHO SEEMED TO APPEAR VERY CALM, UNEMOTIONAL,
AND HE REALLY DIDN'T APPEAR TO SHOW ANY SADNESS.
Narrator: DETECTIVES DOUBT ERNIE IS JUST PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE
TO MASK HIS GRIEF,
SO THEY PUT THE SCREWS TO THIS QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER.
THEY ASK HIM POINT-BLANK
IF HE'S BEHIND HIS FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS MASSACRE,
BUT ERNIE SWEARS UP AND DOWN HE'S NOT THEIR KILLER.
ERNIE'S RESPONSE TO OUR ACCUSATIONS
OF HIM KILLING HIS FAMILY --
HE WOULD ANSWER A QUESTION WITH A QUESTION.
"WHY? WHY?"
HE WOULD SAY, "WHY WOULD I DO THAT?"
Narrator: DETECTIVES CAN THINK OF A PRETTY GOOD REASON --
TO STOP HIS DAUGHTERS FROM TESTIFYING --
BUT ERNIE CLAIMS HE WOULD NEVER ASSAULT HIS OWN CHILDREN
AND INSISTS HE HASN'T EVEN SEEN HIS FAMILY
SINCE HE WAS BOOTED FROM THE HOUSE SIX MONTHS EARLIER.
BUT INVESTIGATORS JUST AREN'T BUYING IT.
AT THIS POINT OF THE INTERVIEW, WHEN WE'RE MIDWAY INTO IT,
I JUST GET A GUT INSTINCT
THAT ERNIE IS NOT TELLING ME THE TRUTH.
Narrator: BUT WHEN ERNIE QUICKLY PROVIDES AN ALIBI,
DETECTIVES WONDER IF THEIR HUNCH IS WRONG.
HE DID SAY THAT HE AND HIS BROTHER, SCOTT WHOLAVER,
WERE OUT SPOTTING DEER AND COYOTE.
Narrator: A POPULAR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA PASTIME
WITH WHICH DETECTIVE SWEITZER IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
SPOTTING DEER MEANS YOU'RE GOING OUT LATE AT NIGHT
WITH A HIGH-INTENSITY SPOTLIGHT
AND JUST LOOKING AT WILDLIFE AT NIGHT.
Narrator: ERNIE GOES ON TO SAY THAT HIS YOUNGER BRO, SCOTT,
DROVE THEM TO THE FOREST TWO HOURS AWAY FROM MIDDLETOWN,
WHERE THEY WERE ALL NIGHT,
AND THEY DIDN'T GET HOME UNTIL LONG AFTER THE SUN CAME UP
ON THE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS EVE.
BUT DETECTIVES WANT TO KNOW FOR SURE,
SO THEY CALL HIS 28-YEAR-OLD BROTHER IN FOR QUESTIONING,
AND SCOTT STICKS TO THE SAME STORY ERNIE TOLD INVESTIGATORS,
LEAVING THESE SAVVY INTERROGATORS
WONDERING IF SOMETHING'S UP.
MY GUT REACTION WAS, THEIR STORY WAS TOO PERFECT.
Narrator: BUT WHEN A SEARCH OF ERNIE'S NEW DIGS
TURNS UP NOTHING TO CONNECT HIM TO THE MURDERS,
DETECTIVES PLAY THEIR LAST CARD.
THE D.A.'s OFFICE CONVINCES A JUDGE TO REVOKE ERNIE'S BAIL,
SINCE HE'S THE PRIME SUSPECT IN THE INVESTIGATION,
SENDING THIS SMOOTH TALKER BACK TO THE SLAMMER
ON THE CHARGES HE ASSAULTED HIS DAUGHTERS.
THERE'S STILL NOT ENOUGH TO CHARGE HIM WITH ***.
BUT WITH ERNIE'S BAIL BEING REVOKED,
WE KNEW WHERE TO FIND HIM.
Narrator: WITH ERNIE COOLING HIS HEELS BEHIND BARS,
DETECTIVES CONTINUE CHATTING UP THE WHOLAVERS' NEIGHBORS,
HOPING TO FIND SOMETHING TO CONNECT ERNIE TO THE KILLINGS,
AND WHAT THEY FIND WILL TURN THE INVESTIGATION ON ITS HEAD.
WE HAD LEARNED THAT NEIGHBORS HAD SEEN AN UNKNOWN PERSON
AT THE FRONT DOOR TALKING WITH JEAN WHOLAVER
APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS PRIOR
TO THE HOMICIDES BEING DISCOVERED.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DECEMBER 23rd.
Narrator: WHO IS THIS STRANGER KNOCKING AT DEATH'S DOOR?
WHEN DETECTIVES LEARN THE IDENTITY
OF JEAN'S MYSTERY VISITOR,
THEY DISCOVER A SECRET WORTH KILLING FOR.
Narrator: THE HOLIDAYS IN MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
ARE FOR CELEBRATING PEACE ON EARTH
AND GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN.
BUT ONE DAY AFTER THE MURDERS OF JEAN WHOLAVER
AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS, VICKI AND IZZY,
FOLKS JUST AREN'T FEELING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT HOUSE ON NORTH UNION STREET
WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE NORM FOR MIDDLETOWN.
PEOPLE KNEW THIS WAS THE WORST OF THE WORST.
THEY KNEW THIS WAS THEIR COMMUNITY'S DARKEST HOUR.
Narrator: MIDDLETOWN POLICE HAVE ALREADY STRUCK OUT ONCE
WITH THEIR FIRST SUSPECT --
JEAN'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND, ERNIE WHOLAVER.
BUT HE HAS A STRONG MOTIVE,
SO DETECTIVES PLAN TO GO TO BAT AGAINST HIM AGAIN
ON THE HUNCH HE'S GOOD FOR THE BAD DEEDS.
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,
IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE THE SUSPECT.
THIS PERSON HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT,
AND YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO CHARGE.
Narrator: BUT JUST IN CASE ERNIE'S NOT THEIR MAN,
DETECTIVES HAVE KEPT LOOKING FOR NEW LEADS,
AND THEY'VE JUST PICKED UP THE SCENT
OF A PROMISING SUSPECT --
A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER SEEN BY A NEIGHBOR
AT THE WHOLAVER HOUSE ON THE DAY BEFORE THE MURDERS.
DETECTIVES KNOCK ON A FEW MORE DOORS
AND LEARN THIS SHADOWY SOMEONE COULD BE STEVEN CHAPMAN,
KNOWN AROUND TOWN AS A LOCAL MERCHANT OF SORTS.
Sweitzer: WE LEARNED THAT MR. CHAPMAN WAS A LOCAL SELLER
OF, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, ODDITIES.
HE WOULD MAKE SALES AT LOCAL FLEA MARKETS,
AND HE WAS IN THE BUSINESS
OF SELLING THESE THINGS FOR PEOPLE.
Narrator: BUT WHAT BUSINESS
WOULD THIS MARRIED KNICKKNACK DEALER
HAVE WITH ANY OF THE WHOLAVER WOMEN?
IT TURNS OUT, ACCORDING TO THE GOSSIP
SPREADING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRAPEVINE,
STEVEN MAY HAVE BEEN REGULARLY COMING AROUND THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
FOR MORE PERSONAL REASONS.
WE HEARD A RUMOR THAT THERE MIGHT BE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN STEVEN AND JEAN,
AND THAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO A MOTIVE.
Narrator: IF THE RUMOR IS TRUE, DETECTIVES WONDER,
COULD JEAN HAVE CALLED IT QUITS AFTER THE ROMANCE TURNED SOUR,
LEAVING STEVEN HOPPING MAD?
AND IF STEVEN WAS REALLY GUNNING FOR JEAN,
MAYBE HER DAUGHTERS WERE JUST COLLATERAL DAMAGE,
LEFT BEHIND WHEN HE TOOK HIS REVENGE.
TIME TO ROUND UP STEVEN TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION
ABOUT WHAT HE WAS REALLY DOING AT THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
THE DAY BEFORE THEY WERE KILLED.
AND THE PERSON LEADING THE CHARGE
IS FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FRAN CHARDO.
WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING A TOUGH CASE,
THIS PROSECUTING HEAVYWEIGHT HAS NO PROBLEM GETTING IN THE RING.
I RESPOND TO THE CRIME SCENE WHEN POSSIBLE,
I GET INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING
AS TO WHAT EVIDENCE TO COLLECT, WHAT SEARCH WARRANTS TO SEEK,
GET INVOLVED IN THE QUESTIONING PROCESS.
Narrator: SO PROSECUTOR CHARDO JOINS DETECTIVES
ON THE HUNT FOR STEVEN CHAPMAN,
AND IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO FIND THE SECOND-HAND DEALER.
HE'S MANNING A BOOTH AT THE TOWN'S HOLIDAY BAZAAR.
EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS ABOUT THE MURDERS,
STEVEN SEEMS SURPRISED TO SEE POLICE HEADING HIS WAY,
BUT HE AGREES TO COME IN FOR QUESTIONING.
CHAPMAN WAS COOPERATIVE WITH THE POLICE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE FACT OF HIS COOPERATION DID SIGNAL SOMETHING,
BUT I'VE ENCOUNTERED MANY PERSONS
WITH CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
WHO TRY TO EXUDE COOPERATION AS A WAY TO MISLEAD THE POLICE.
Narrator: AND BACK AT THE STATION,
DETECTIVES WONDER IF THEIR SUSPICIONS WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG.
Sweitzer: IS THIS GUY A LITTLE SQUIRRELY?
IS HE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION OR NOT BEING COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL
ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THIS FAMILY?
OR YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FACT --
IS HE JUST NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING TO SPEAK TO POLICE?
Narrator: DETECTIVES START BY PRESSING STEVEN
TO EXPLAIN THE WHISPERS ABOUT A SECRET LOVE AFFAIR
FLOATING AROUND TOWN,
BUT STEVEN CLAIMS INVESTIGATORS HAVE IT ALL WRONG
AND SWEARS HE ONLY HAS EYES FOR ONE WOMAN --
LAURA, HIS WIFE OF 20 YEARS.
STEVEN'S RELATIONSHIP TO JEAN
WAS ONE OF THAT WAS DESCRIBED BY STEVEN
AS BEING A STRICTLY BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.
IT WAS ONE WHERE HE WAS CALLED UPON
TO TRY TO DO BUSINESS FOR JEAN
BECAUSE JEAN WAS LOOKING TO SELL PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
Narrator: BUT WHAT STEVEN SAYS NEXT
COULD BLOW THE LID OFF THE INVESTIGATION.
HE TELLS DETECTIVES
THAT THE ITEMS JEAN GAVE HIM TO SELL INCLUDED SIX HANDGUNS,
AND INVESTIGATORS CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER
IF STEVEN HELD ONE OF THEM BACK
AND USED IT ON JEAN AND HER DAUGHTERS.
MAYBE HE AND JEAN WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR
AND SHE PUSHED HIM TO LEAVE HIS WIFE AND HE GOT ANGRY.
COULD HE BE HOLDING THE SMOKING GUN AFTER ALL?
Chardo: WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONNECTION TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS
INVOLVING A GUN A DAY BEFORE THE ***,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE FOLLOWED UP ON.
Narrator: SO DETECTIVES ASK STEVEN
TO TURN OVER THE WEAPONS FOR ANALYSIS,
BUT HE CLAIMS HE RECENTLY SOLD THEM AT A LOCAL FLEA MARKET,
WHICH IS WHY HE WAS AT JEAN'S HOUSE
ON THE DAY BEFORE THE MURDERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
STEVEN SAID HE WAS AT THE HOUSE A DAY PRIOR TO THE ***
AND THAT HE WAS THERE TO GIVE JEAN SOME CASH
THAT WERE PROCEEDS OF WHAT HE SOLD FOR HER.
Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, STEVEN TELLS DETECTIVES
HE CAN'T REMEMBER THE GUN BUYER'S NAME,
WHICH THEY FIND EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS.
IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE HE MAY HAVE KEPT THEM HIMSELF
AND MAYBE DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE.
Sweitzer: WE HAD TO ASK OURSELVES, YOU KNOW,
ARE THESE ITEMS PART OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?
WERE THESE WEAPONS THAT MAYBE MR. CHAPMAN
HAD SOMEHOW DESTROYED OR USED IN THIS CRIME?
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVES ASK HIM DIRECTLY
IF HE'S BEHIND THE MURDERS,
STEVEN INSISTS HE'S NOT THE SHOOTER.
HE CLAIMS HE WAS AT HOME ASLEEP WITH HIS WIFE
WHEN THE WOMEN WERE KILLED.
STILL, WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL *** WEAPON,
DETECTIVES CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING STEVEN SAYS AT FACE VALUE.
Sweitzer: I FOUND THAT SOME OF HIS RESPONSES IN THE INTERVIEWS
WERE SOMEWHAT EVASIVE,
AND THAT AROUSED A LITTLE BIT OF SUSPICION.
Narrator: BUT DETECTIVES CONFIRM STEVEN'S ALIBI WITH HIS WIFE,
AND A SEARCH OF STEVEN'S HOUSE FAILS TO TURN UP ANY WEAPONS.
SO WHILE DETECTIVES REALIZE
THEY HAVE NOTHING CONCRETE TO HOLD HIM ON,
THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S IN THE CLEAR.
THE CONNECTION INVOLVING A FIREARM
MEANT THAT STEVEN COULDN'T BE A COMPLETE WRITE-OFF
AS A SUSPECT AT THAT POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: SO INVESTIGATORS MOVE STEVEN'S NAME
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SUSPECT LIST.
AND AS DETECTIVES CONTINUE TO QUESTION
THE WHOLAVERS' FRIENDS AND RELATIVES,
THEY DISCOVER A SURPRISING NAME FROM DAUGHTER VICKI'S PAST
THAT SENDS THE CASE ON A SHOCKING NEW COURSE.
HE'S A GUY WHO SPURNED,
MAYBE HE WAS TRYING TO GET BACK WITH VICTORIA,
AND HERE, LO AND BEHOLD, SHE REFUTED HIS REQUEST,
AND HE HAD CERTAINLY A MOTIVE THEN
TO WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KILL THE WOMEN.
Narrator: COULD VICKI'S STORMY PAST RELATIONSHIP
HELP INVESTIGATORS BRING A KILLER TO LIGHT,
OR WILL SOMEONE RAT OUT THE REAL BAD GUY ONCE AND FOR ALL?
Narrator: ONE WEEK AFTER THE WHOLAVER WOMEN
ARE GUNNED DOWN IN THEIR OWN HOME,
FOLKS IN MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
ARE GETTING READY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR,
BUT DETECTIVES WORKING THIS TRIPLE HOMICIDE
ARE MAKING ONLY ONE RESOLUTION WHEN THE BALL DROPS --
CATCH A COLD-BLOODED KILLER.
Lanyon: PEOPLE KNEW THAT THE POLICE WERE GONNA TAKE THEIR TIME
AND DO IT RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID --
"WE NEED TO DOT ALL OF OUR I's AND CROSS ALL OF OUR T's
AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS INVESTIGATION RIGHT."
Narrator: MIDDLETOWN DETECTIVES ARE ALREADY SIZING UP
TWO POTENTIAL SUSPECTS --
JEAN WHOLAVER'S EX-HUSBAND, ERNIE,
WHO'S CHARGED WITH MOLESTING HIS DAUGHTERS.
AND STEVEN CHAPMAN, A LOCAL ODDS-AND-ENDS DEALER
WHO CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR SEVERAL GUNS
JEAN ASKED HIM TO SELL FOR SOME FAST CASH.
AND WHAT'S MORE,
STEVEN MAY HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME FAST TIMES WITH JEAN.
AT THIS POINT OF THE INVESTIGATION,
WE STILL BELIEVED THAT EITHER COULD BE INVOLVED.
BOTH HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AND MOTIVE TO KILL THE WOMEN.
Narrator: BUT WITH NO EVIDENCE DIRECTLY CONNECTING
EITHER NAME TO THE CRIME SCENE,
INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE SUSPECT POOL.
TURNS OUT, THERE'S SOMEONE
IN THE ELDEST WHOLAVER DAUGHTER'S PAST
WHO'S MIGHTY SUSPICIOUS --
VICKI'S FORMER BOYFRIEND, 25-YEAR-OLD WILL CONNORS.
BREAKUPS SOMETIMES SERVE AS MOTIVES FOR ***,
AND SO IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO CONSIDER.
Narrator: AND WHEN DETECTIVES GET THE SCOOP
FROM VICKI'S FRIENDS ON THIS REARVIEW-MIRROR ROMANCE,
THEY WONDER IF HER PAST MAY HAVE CAUGHT UP TO HER.
IT SEEMS VICKI AND WILL DATED ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE
BEFORE VICKI FINALLY CALLED IT QUITS FOR GOOD
OVER TWO YEARS EARLIER,
BUT WILL COULDN'T SEEM TO MOVE ON.
HE REGARDED VICKI AS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE,
AND HE WENT TO GET BACK TOGETHER WITH HER.
Narrator: IF WILL COULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER
AFTER REPEATEDLY TRYING TO WIN HER BACK,
DETECTIVES WONDER IF VICKI'S ONE-TIME MR. RIGHT
COULD HAVE BECOME HER EVERLASTING MR. WRONG
AND TAKEN OUT HER ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE PROCESS.
Sweitzer: IT'S CERTAINLY PLAUSIBLE TO THINK
THAT WILL WOULD HAVE HAD A MOTIVE TO KILL THE WOMEN
IN THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN A JILTED EX-BOYFRIEND.
HE HAD MADE RECENT ATTEMPTS
TO TRY TO GET BACK WITH VICTORIA,
AND SHE HAD SPURNED THOSE ATTEMPTS.
Narrator: WHILE DETECTIVES THINK VICKI
MAY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A BAD ROMANCE,
A QUICK BACKGROUND CHECK REVEALS
WILL HAS NEVER HAD SO MUCH AS A PARKING TICKET.
BUT WHEN DETECTIVE SWEITZER
LEARNS WHAT WILL DOES FOR A LIVING,
HE'S CONVINCED WILL'S UP TO NO GOOD.
Sweitzer: THE THING THAT RAISED RED FLAGS IN WILL'S BACKGROUND
IS THE FACT HE WAS A LOCKSMITH
AND HE HAD ACCESS TO TOOLS THAT COULD BYPASS LOCKS.
Narrator: COULD WILL HAVE USED HIS EXPERTISE
TO LET HIMSELF IN TO THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
AND THEN STAGED THE BREAK-IN TO COMMIT THIS CRIME?
IF WILL HAD BECOME UNHINGED AFTER BEING REJECTED BY VICKI,
MAYBE DETECTIVES HAVE FOUND THE KEY
TO UNLOCKING THIS *** MYSTERY.
Walborn: WITH WILL, YOU COME AROUND TO THE SAME THING
OF HATE, LOVE, SEX FOR MOTIVES OF KILLING SOMEONE.
AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, HE WAS ALSO A LOCKSMITH,
WHICH HE WOULD KNOW HOW TO MAKE ENTRY INTO A HOUSE
IN A STEALTHY MANNER.
Narrator: TIME TO PICK APART THE REAL STORY
BEHIND VICKI AND WILL'S RELATIONSHIP
AND SEE IF DETECTIVES CAN FINALLY GET A HANDLE
ON THEIR KILLER.
INVESTIGATORS GIVE WILL A CALL AT HIS PLACE IN TOWN,
AND HE AGREES TO COME IN FOR A LITTLE CHAT.
AND AS SOON AS WILL ARRIVES AT THE STATION,
DETECTIVE SWEITZER CAN ALREADY TELL HE'S GOING TO BE A HANDFUL.
WILL'S BEHAVIOR, WHEN HE SHOWS UP, IS VERY ODD.
HE APPEARS EXCITED.
Narrator: COULD WILL BE NERVOUS
BECAUSE HE'S HOLDING SOMETHING BACK FROM POLICE?
DETECTIVES INTEND TO FIND OUT.
THEY START BY ASKING WILL
TO EXPLAIN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WHOLAVERS,
ESPECIALLY VICKI,
AND WILL ADMITS TO WHAT DETECTIVES ALREADY SUSPECTED.
Chardo: HE SAID THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE RELATIONSHIP,
BUT HE STILL WANTED TO GET BACK TOGETHER.
Narrator: AND WILL CLAIMS HE'D EVEN BEEN HELPING OUT
AROUND THE WHOLAVER HOUSE RECENTLY
TO GET BACK IN VICKI'S GOOD GRACES,
STARTING WITH CHANGING THE DOOR LOCKS
RIGHT AFTER HER DAD, ERNIE, MOVED OUT
ABOUT SIX MONTHS EARLIER.
BUT POLICE AREN'T BUYING WILL'S HELPFUL EX-BOYFRIEND ROUTINE,
SO THEY TURN UP THE HEAT.
WILL WAS ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHETHER HE HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT,
AND HE DENIED COMMITTING THESE MURDERS.
Narrator: WHEN ASKED WHERE HE WAS WHEN THE MURDERS WENT DOWN,
WILL CLAIMS HE WAS AT HOME, ALONE IN BED,
WHICH LEAVES INVESTIGATORS IN A JAM.
Chardo: WHENEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEONE THAT LIVES ALONE
AND THE ALIBI IS "I WAS AT HOME, ASLEEP,"
IT'S A DIFFICULT ALIBI TO CHECK OUT,
BUT NOT A SURPRISING ONE
BECAUSE IT WAS A *** IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
Narrator: AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
POINTING TO WILL AS THE KILLER,
DETECTIVES AREN'T READY TO LET HIM OFF THE HOOK JUST YET,
ESPECIALLY WHEN HE HAS THE MEANS AND MOTIVE TO KILL.
Sweitzer: WHO ELSE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A SPARE KEY,
STAGE A SCENE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE FORCED ENTRY,
BUT ACTUALLY USE A SPARE, EXTRA KEY
THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD
TO GAIN ENTRY AND COMMIT THE MURDERS?
Narrator: KNOWING THEY CAN'T HOLD HIM,
DETECTIVE SWEITZER SENDS WILL PACKING
BUT TELLS HIM NOT TO SKIP TOWN.
AT A LOSS FOR A NEXT MOVE,
DETECTIVES KNOW IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION TAKES OFF AGAIN.
IN THE MEANTIME,
DETECTIVE BRIAN WALBORN DOESN'T JUST SIT AROUND.
HE'S BUSY LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT THRILL,
AND HE KNOWS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIS FIX.
Walborn: I'M A TEAM MEMBER
WITH THE DAUPHIN COUNTY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM,
WHICH IS A POLITICALLY CORRECT NAME FOR SWAT TEAM.
I'VE BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR 17 YEARS
AND I'M ONE OF THE TEAM LEADERS.
Narrator: FOR DETECTIVE WALBORN,
BEING A SWAT COMMANDO TRANSFORMS HIM
INTO A LEAN, MEAN, COMBAT MACHINE.
WHEN A CITIZEN NEEDS HELP, THEY CALL THE POLICE.
WHEN THE PATROL GUYS NEED HELP, THEY CALL THE SWAT TEAM.
WHEN WE SUIT UP, THIS IS FOR REAL.
Narrator: AND WITH A KILLER ON THE LOOSE,
THIS POWER RANGER KNOWS THE ONLY WAY TO IDENTIFY THE PERP
IS TO NARROW DOWN THE SUSPECT LIST.
RIGHT NOW THREE CONTENDERS ARE STILL IN PLAY --
A QUESTIONABLE FATHER FIGURE, A GUN-LOVING JUNK MERCHANT,
AND A DAUGHTER'S EX.
ALL COULD BE KEY TO SOLVING THE CASE.
BUT WITH A STRONG MOTIVE,
ERNIE WHOLAVER STANDS OUT IN THE CROWD,
SO POLICE TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT HIS ALIBI.
HIS CLAIM THAT, ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
HE IS OFF WITH HIS BROTHER SPOTTING DEER
DIDN'T SEEM TO BE VERY CREDIBLE.
Narrator: BUT WHEN FIRST QUESTIONED,
ERNIE'S BROTHER, SCOTT, CONFIRMED ERNIE'S STORY
DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL.
NOW DETECTIVES WONDER IF A SECOND GO AT THE LITTLE BRO
WILL GET HIM TO CHANGE HIS TUNE.
Sweitzer: IT'S OUR DESIRE TO BREAK THE ALIBI
OR MAYBE TO GET A FULL CONFESSION.
IT'S A SHOT THAT WE DECIDE TO TAKE.
Narrator: WILL THIS ROLL OF THE DICE
PAY OFF BIG FOR DETECTIVES,
OR WILL THE BOND BETWEEN BROTHERS
PROVE TOO STRONG FOR THEM TO SHATTER?
Chardo: WE CAN'T EXCLUDE ANYONE.
NOBODY'S PERMANENTLY REMOVED AS A SUSPECT
UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE CASE.
WE HAVE TO KEEP ALL POTENTIAL AVENUES
OF INVESTIGATION OPEN.
Narrator: ONLY WHEN A SHOCKING DISCOVERY COMES TO LIGHT
ARE DETECTIVES ABLE TO GET A GRIP ON THEIR KILLER.
Narrator: ONE WEEK AFTER THE MURDERS
OF JEAN WHOLAVER AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS
ROCKED MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,
DETECTIVES HAVE EX-HUSBAND ERNIE UNDER THEIR MICROSCOPE.
IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH ERNEST,
HE DID SAY THAT HE AND HIS BROTHER, SCOTT WHOLAVER,
WERE OUT SPOTTING DEER AND COYOTE
AT THE TIME OF THE MURDERS, AND I FOUND THAT VERY ODD.
Narrator: POLICE DOUBT THE PAIR JUST HAPPENED TO BE OUT
ADMIRING WILDLIFE TWO HOURS AWAY
DURING THE WEE HOURS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
CHANCES ARE, ERNIE WASN'T OUT IN THE WOODS
WITH A SPOTLIGHT THAT AWFUL NIGHT,
BUT AT HIS EX-WIFE'S HOUSE WITH A GUN.
IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE THAT GUT INSTINCT
THAT YOU STRONGLY BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
THAT THIS IS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING THE WOMEN.
Narrator: BUT DETECTIVE SWEITZER
HOPES BLOOD ISN'T THICKER THAN WATER
WHEN IT COMES TO THE ONE PERSON
WHO MAY BE ABLE TO BREAK ERNIE'S ALIBI --
HIS BROTHER, SCOTT.
OUT OF ALL OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT WE HAD CONDUCTED
UP TO THIS POINT,
IT APPEARED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT SCOTT WAS THE WEAKEST LINK.
HE APPEARED TO BE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION,
AND PERHAPS HE WOULD BE THE EASIER PERSON TO BREAK.
Narrator: PERHAPS A SECOND GO AT SCOTT
WILL GET HIM TO SPILL THE BEANS,
SO DETECTIVES TRACK HIM DOWN
AND HAUL HIM BACK TO THE STATION.
IF SCOTT REALLY IS HOLDING BACK LIKE DETECTIVES THINK,
THEY MAY HAVE JUST THE TRICK TO GET HIM TO TALK.
SCOTT WAS SHOWN PICTURES OF THE CRIME SCENE,
WHICH GOT HIM UPSET,
AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGED HIS MIND.
Narrator: SCOTT BREAKS DOWN WHEN HE SEES FIRSTHAND
HOW HIS EX-SISTER-IN-LAW AND TWO YOUNG NIECES
WERE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.
IT'S THE MOMENT POLICE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
SCOTT JUST DROPPED HIS HEAD DOWN
AND BASICALLY SAYS, "I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED."
Narrator: SCOTT STARTS BY SAYING HE AND ERNIE
WEREN'T REALLY OUT DEER SPOTTING ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY OUT DRINKING AT A BAR.
AFTER A NUMBER OF BEERS, ERNIE SUGGESTED
THE TWO OF THEM DRIVE OVER TO HIS EX-WIFE JEAN'S HOUSE
IN MIDDLETOWN,
BUT SCOTT INSISTS ERNIE NEVER MENTIONED ***.
SCOTT TELLS US THAT ERNIE TELLS SCOTT
THAT HE JUST WANTS TO GO DOWN AND GET THE FAMILY DOG.
THAT IS A WAY OF GETTING EVEN WITH THE GIRLS
FOR REPORTING THIS ALLEGATION OF *** ASSAULT.
THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH,
IS VERY CLOSE TO THIS DOG.
THAT WOULD HURT HER IN MORE WAYS THAN ANYONE COULD IMAGINE.
Narrator: BEING THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND AT THE TIME,
SCOTT SAYS HE DIDN'T REALIZE
THE GIRL'S DOG PASSED AWAY WEEKS AGO
AND AGREED TO ERNIE'S PLAN WITHOUT THINKING.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE, SCOTT TELLS DETECTIVES
ERNIE INSTRUCTED HIM TO STAY PUT WHILE HE HEADED INSIDE ALONE.
AND ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER,
ERNIE RETURNED TO THE TRUCK, BUT WITHOUT THE DOG.
Sweitzer: HE SAID WHEN ERNIE CAME BACK TO THE TRUCK,
HE WAS EXCITED, HE WAS OUT OF BREATH,
AND JUST TOLD HIM TO "DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE."
WHEN SCOTT SAID, "WHY? WHAT HAPPENED?"
ERNEST REPLIED, "YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAW."
Narrator: SCOTT SAYS HE NEVER PRESSED ERNIE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THE HOUSE,
AND WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE MURDERS,
HE NEVER IMAGINED ERNIE WAS THE SHOOTER.
HE SWEARS HE DIDN'T HEAR ANY GUNSHOTS
COMING FROM THE HOUSE AND DIDN'T THINK ERNIE
EVEN HAD A GUN WITH HIM THAT NIGHT.
BUT DETECTIVES AREN'T READY TO BUY THIS BILL OF GOODS JUST YET.
Walborn: I DON'T BELIEVE SCOTT.
HE'S HOLDING BACK SOMETHING ELSE.
HE KNEW EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT.
BUT DID HE KNOW ERNIE WAS GONNA KILL HIS FAMILY?
Narrator: AND WHAT SCOTT FESSES UP TO NEXT
MAKES THEM CERTAIN HE'S COVERING FOR HIS BROTHER.
HE ADMITS THAT HE AND ERNIE MADE ANOTHER STOP
AFTER LEAVING THE WHOLAVER HOUSE
AT A WOODED AREA OFF THE HIGHWAY.
Sweitzer: SCOTT ALSO SAID THAT ERNEST
TOOK SOME THINGS INTO THE WOODS WITH HIM,
AND WHEN HE RETURNED, HE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE THINGS.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT ERNEST HAD.
Narrator: WHILE SCOTT STILL INSISTS HE NEVER SAW A GUN,
HE SAYS IF ERNIE DID HAVE ONE,
HE KNOWS WHERE THEY CAN PROBABLY FIND IT.
FIRST THING IN MY MIND IS, "I WANT TO GET VERIFICATION
OF SCOTT'S STORY AND FIND THE HANDGUN."
Narrator: LEAVING SCOTT TO SWEAT IT OUT AT THE STATION,
DETECTIVES ARRIVE AT THE WOODED AREA
OFF THE INTERSTATE
WHERE SCOTT SAID HE AND ERNIE PULLED OFF THAT NIGHT.
SEARCH TEAMS COMB THE AREA, AND SURE ENOUGH,
ON THE BANK OF A STREAM,
DETECTIVES STUMBLE UPON SOMETHING IN THE WATER
THAT CATCHES THEIR EYE.
Walborn: THERE WAS THE RUST COMING UP OFF THE GUNS.
I BELIEVE TO THIS DAY GOD WAS LOOKING DOWN ON US
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY, WHERE WE WERE LOCATED,
YOU WERE EVER GONNA FIND A SMALL-CALIBER HANDGUN.
Narrator: NOW THAT POLICE
CAN PUT ERNIE AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
AND WITH ERNIE'S BROTHER, SCOTT,
LEADING THEM TO THE LIKELY *** WEAPON,
DETECTIVES CHARGE ERNIE WITH KILLING HIS FAMILY
AND CHARGE HIS BROTHER, SCOTT, AS AN ACCOMPLICE
FOR HIS ROLE IN THE MURDERS.
BASED UPON THE CONFESSION THAT WE HAD OBTAINED FROM SCOTT,
WE WERE POSITIVE THAT ERNEST WHOLAVER
WAS THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS
AND THAT SCOTT SIMPLY WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH ERNIE NEVER CONFESSES,
ON AUGUST 31, 2004, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF
AFTER THE CHRISTMAS EVE KILLINGS,
ERNIE WHOLAVER IS CONVICTED OF THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDERS
OF HIS EX-WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS
AND HE'S SENTENCED TO DEATH.
ERNEST WHOLAVER IS A MURDERER.
HE'S COMMITTED THE HEINOUS CRIME.
HE KILLED THREE PEOPLE TO KEEP HIS FREEDOM,
MOLESTED HIS TWO DAUGHTERS FOR HIS OWN SELF-GRATIFICATION.
HE'S JUST PURE EVIL.
Narrator: SCOTT WHOLAVER IS ALSO FOUND GUILTY
ON THREE COUNTS OF THIRD-DEGREE ***
AND IS SENTENCED TO UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON
FOR AIDING HIS BROTHER IN THE CRIME.
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND SCOTT WHOLAVER'S CONFESSION,
THIS IS WHAT POLICE BELIEVE HAPPENED
ON THAT DREADFUL NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
AFTER LEAVING SCOTT ALONE IN THE CAR,
ERNIE PULLS OUT A GUN HE'S BEEN SECRETLY CARRYING
AND MAKES HIS WAY TO THE FAMILY HOUSE.
Sweitzer: ERNEST BREAKS IN TO THE HOME BY BREAKING THE GLASS,
GOES IN THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR.
Narrator: CROUCHING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE KITCHEN,
ERNIE LIES IN WAIT FOR JEAN TO COME DOWNSTAIRS.
AND AT THAT MOMENT, HE CAME FROM THE DINING ROOM
AND HE HAD HER CORNERED AND HE SHOT HER IN THE HEAD.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: HEARING THE SHOTS COMING FROM DOWNSTAIRS,
ELDEST DAUGHTER VICKI RACES OUT OF HER BEDROOM
WITH BABY MADDIE IN HER ARMS.
BY THE TIME SHE GOT OUT INTO THE HALLWAY,
ERNEST WOULD HAVE CAME UP THE STEPS.
SHE PROBABLY HAD HER CHILD WITH HER,
AND WAS SHOT IN THE TOP OF HER HEAD.
SHE DIED RIGHT THERE IN THE HALLWAY
AT THE THRESHOLD TO ELIZABETH'S ROOM.
Narrator: VICKI'S LIFELESS BODY COLLAPSES ON THE FLOOR,
BABY MADDIE CRYING WHILE STILL CLUTCHING HER MOTHER.
Chardo: ERNEST -- HE THEN STEPPED OVER THE BODY
AND WALKED INTO THE BEDROOM OF HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER,
15-YEAR-OLD IZZY, AND SHOT HER IN THE HEAD,
KILLING HER.
Narrator: THE FAMILY'S EXECUTION
IS OVER IN ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES.
Walborn: IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE HOUSE
AND RAN BACK TO THE CAR,
WHERE HIS BROTHER WAITED, AND TOLD HIM TO GO.
Narrator: THEY DRIVE OFF,
LEAVING BEHIND EVIDENCE OF UNTHINKABLE HORROR.
ERNIE THEN INSTRUCTS SCOTT TO DRIVE TO THE WOODS,
WHERE HE TOSSES THE GUN, THINKING IT WILL NEVER BE FOUND,
AND IT WOULD HAVE STAYED HIDDEN IF NOT FOR HIS BROTHER.
IT WAS A WELL-PLANNED, WELL-EXECUTED ***
WITH ONE EXCEPTION -- IS HE BROUGHT HIS BROTHER WITH HIM.
Narrator: NO ONE IS MORE RELIEVED
TO HAVE THE CHRISTMAS EVE KILLER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
THAN JEAN'S SISTER, SARA DAVIS,
BUT THE MEMORY OF THAT TERRIBLE DAY STILL HAUNTS HER.
I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK TO CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVE
AND DO MY FAVORITE PART OF THE CHURCH,
WHICH WAS THE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE,
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE JEAN
AFTER MY CHRISTMAS WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
Narrator: WITH ERNIE WHOLAVER AWAITING EXECUTION ON DEATH ROW,
MIDDLETOWN RESIDENTS ARE SLOWLY MOVING ON WITH THEIR LIVES.
BUT FOLKS HERE TAKE PRIDE
IN KNOWING VICKI'S LITTLE GIRL, MADDIE,
CAN GROW UP IN A LOVING, NURTURING HOME.
THE WAY THE COMMUNITY WILL REMEMBER THESE THREE WOMEN
IS IN THE ONE LIFE THAT WAS SPARED THAT DAY.