The Mitchin Murders (2024) Movie Script
(foreboding ominous music)
[Jessie] My name is Jessie.
I'm a 26-year-old postgraduate student
from Iowa studying journalism.
But this documentary has
nothing to do with that.
This is a personal project about something
that is happening in a
place a couple of towns
from where I grew up, a town called Mitchin
in Arlin county, Iowa.
The town is situated on the other side
of the Des Moines River, an area known
for its surrounding farmlands and woodland,
and is a sight to see from a distance.
But if you look closely,
there is something strange.
(TV signal buzzing)
(tense dramatic music)
(TV signal buzzing)
Me and my ex-boyfriend
are taking time off to film this
in the hope of finding some clarity
and maybe even to solve this strange
and disturbing case once and for all.
It's something that is close
to all of our hearts in Iowa.
It all started four years ago,
back when maybe I was a
little too young to understand.
(bright acoustic music)
(dramatic music)
Homicide was confirmed tonight
in the small town of Mitchin.
The victim is believed
to be 22-year-old waitress
and student, Shelley
Harrison, from Arlin County.
There are no new leads at this point,
but we are working hard
to get to the bottom of this.
Our thoughts and prayers
are with the family at this point.
[Jessie] A local man was
arrested in 1990 up on the hill.
He was arrested for one
murder, one attempted.
His name was Bruce
Herber, a recluse that lived up
in a small wooden house
in the rigid woodland area
between the town and the main highway.
And he still does.
Back in '90, the town
was convinced it was him,
that he was the one killing and attacking.
See, let me be, let me be.
[Jessie] You fucking.
This was until four weeks
after Bruce was arrested without bail
and was in county jail.
April 30th, 1990 to
be precise, another girl,
Maisie Winters, was found
with wounds in the same area
and with the same puncture marks
that were similar to the other victims.
This and the fact that Bruce had an alibi
for when the other victims were attacked,
led to Bruce's release with
some protests surrounding it.
Maisie Winters was one
of the most famous cases.
She survived, by the
way, as did Sarah O'Reilly.
(gentle piano music)
So what do we know
about this murderer so far?
The victims are mainly
women, late teens to 20s.
But there is one discrepancy.
A guy, 25, who was
murdered in the same way.
He was a local musician
who frequented the local bars
and sometimes toured around the state.
Stabbed multiple times, as was the usual
for the murder victims,
as well as some strange puncture marks.
His name was Ben Holmes
and he was killed on May 23rd, 1990.
The killer had left an
even longer gap with him.
In this town with a
population of just over 20,000,
any murders and assaults are noticed,
and the police and locals could
never understand this break
in the killer's pattern
when it comes to Ben.
(guitar riff music)
The police never caught the killer.
Even though the FBI, local townsfolk
and many others were involved,
even though there was a statewide search
and they scoured the hills
and surrounding woodland.
Whoever it was, they were gone.
(guitar riff music)
If I could ask you, in
relation to Ben's murder,
do you have any idea who may
or may not have been involved with it?
To be honest, nobody does.
[Jessie] The town seemed
to go back to normality.
Curfews were relaxed.
This was until 1994, another
girl was murdered the same way
as how it happened four years ago.
Multiple stab wounds and a struggle,
and they were taken
towards the woodland area.
Her name was Rochelle Harman.
This will be a project that mainly consists
of interviews of victims
and other folk from this town.
(gentle rock music)
This town that has been home,
at least in part, to a serial killer.
But everybody is searching
and wanting to know
who is this mysterious
person or even creature,
a murderer, a myth that has been known
to be called the boogeyman.
(hard rock music)
(serene acoustic music)
What am I to do
What am I to say
My mind is all I got
These dreams and all these thoughts
An ocean of serpents
are dancing in my skin
My shadow eclipsed the sun
And I sleep walk down the hill
For miles and miles
- Excuse me, excuse me.
Okay, fun's over, get
that camera out of here.
[Jessie] Look, I was just wondering
if I could ask you a few more questions
for my documentary about the murders here?
Do you even have permission to film here?
[Jessie] Look, I'm
filming a personal project.
I'm not sure what kind
of permission I need.
Okay, well, the party is over.
- Just one.
- The party is over.
- Please, sir.
- Get that camera out of here.
- Okay?
- I just need to ask you
- one question.
- If you want
any more information, I suggest
that you apply for press pass.
Now, I ain't gonna ask you again,
- get that camera out of here.
- Okay, okay.
- Just one, please!
- Be about your business.
[Jessie] Were you the sheriff in 1990?
I recognized your face
from, from the news reports.
(rain pattering) (gentle acoustic music)
Easy, easy, let me down easy
Don't wanna be one of those girls
That gives you a hard time
So we are just assimilating data.
And it is high summer here in Mitchin,
but it is raining outside
and it is coming down.
(rain pattering)
There's usually drought
at this time of year,
as if that doesn't need
to add to the amount
of weird things going on here in Mitchin.
Anyway, I better get back
to Jesse, left her on her own.
(rain pattering)
[Jessie] Other than
the unsuccessful visit
to the law enforcement,
my first interviewee is Maisie Winters.
She was reluctant to interview at first.
She was the woman who
survived an attack four years ago,
and it was the case that
vindicated Bruce Herber.
[Thomas] Hi, Maisie,
thank you for coming.
No problem.
[Thomas] Do you want a cigarette?
Thank you, yeah.
[Jessie] She managed to
break away from the killer
and run down the hills to the town.
Eyewitnesses stated that
she screamed for help.
She survived the boogeyman,
but not without scars,
both physical and mental.
(foreboding ominous music)
So what do you wanna know?
[Thomas] Well, let's
start with the basics.
That night, what happened back in 1990?
Okay, so it was April 30th, 1990.
I was working at this bar, Mazers,
you know the one on the stretch?
- Yeah, I know Mazers.
- Yeah.
[Thomas] It's still here,
right? (Maisie chuckles)
It sure is.
[Jessie] Mazers is a drinking joint close
to the strip where the main shops
and amenities are located in the town.
Some people find it bizarre
that the attacker was so close
to the population when he attacked.
So I was working at Mazers part-time,
collecting glasses,
waiting tables, you know,
the usual shit to save money for college.
And this one particular night,
these guys were buying me
tequila as a way of thanking me.
And I mean, this wasn't the
first time this had happened,
and I'm used to rowdy folks.
So I got a little drunk
and I went out back to have a cigarette.
And you know how the
main stretch backs onto the,
onto the hills, the ridge?
- Yeah, okay.
- All of a sudden
I-I sort of felt this uh,
like this cold, and I've...
(ominous music)
[Thomas] Hey, Maisie,
you're doing really well.
If you wanna stop, that's-
No, no, no, no, it's fine, it's fine.
I just, I just haven't
really spoken about it
since the cops and everything, so um.
So, so I felt this cold,
like this cold presence,
like when you know someone's there.
- Yeah, I think so.
- And, and all of a sudden
th-there was a hand over my mouth.
And I just started getting
dragged straight up this hill.
And I mean, like, straight up.
I mean, I-I struggled,
but he was, like, strong,
like really strong, like,
like, superman or some shit.
And he dragged me for a while.
I-I couldn't tell you how long.
And then, and then we were in the woods.
(ominous music)
And, and then he started
to whisper in my ear,
"You've been a bad girl."
You've been a very bad
girl, you need to be punished.
"You need to be cleansed of your sins."
And then he started to claw
at my shoulder really hard
and his fingernails were really weird.
And, and then I could feel him reaching
for something in his pocket.
And me all revved up, you know, like,
I-I'd heard what had
happened to the other one.
So I-I just reached for
this, this log to my left,
and I just swung it, you know,
I just kept fucking swinging.
A-and then I-I heard this
squeal and then I was free.
And so I just started running,
not back into the woods,
fucking don't what's in there, you know?
So I started like, running down the ridge.
And, and I just started screaming,
you know, like, please help me.
[Thomas] Maisie, can
I ask you a question?
Sure.
[Thomas] The guys at the bar, do you,
do you think they had
anything to do with this?
I don't think so.
'Cause when I got down
the bottom of the ridge,
they were still at the bar, you know?
And, and they helped me.
They called the cops, they were questioned
and they were cleared.
And, and they did bloods and
DNA and shit and everything.
A-a-and they couldn't find a match.
And not even that weirdo
in the woods was a match.
[[Thomas] Do you mean Bruce Herber?
Do you think he had anything to do with it?
I don't know, I don't know, dude.
Nobody knows.
All I know is that I was supposed to be
at college at Drake's that year end.
Instead, I spent three years
just paralyzed by fear. (Scoffs)
(ominous music)
The boogeyman.
- What do you mean?
- That's what they call him.
'Cause he's here to
cleanse you of your sins.
[Thomas] Do you think
that's what the killer wants?
Some sort of twisted retribution?
I don't know, I don't know.
We've all sinned, right?
It's weird, but when he spoke
to me, it's like he knew me.
It's like he knew every
bad thing I'd ever done.
Weird.
[Jessie] Maisie Winters had
a relatively affluent upbringing right here
in the town of Mitchin.
Her parents are still together,
she was popular at school.
She was what seems to be a healthy kid
in small town America.
I asked her if she knew of any grudges,
perhaps somebody was jealous
or resentful of her existence.
Perhaps the attacks are
not opportunistic or random.
She could think of no one.
Thomas was left a little perplexed
by the conversation with Maisie.
We knew that we would
have to speak to her again,
but I thought I would
give her a little break
so she didn't get too upset.
We agreed to resume in a couple of days.
(sad cello music)
I managed to set up an interview
with Sarah O'Reilly, the other survivor.
Sarah suffered a similar
experience to Maisie.
She was dragged up the hill,
but there was a strange twist.
(bright guitar music)
(energetic rock music)
[Thomas] Make yourself
comfortable, it's all good.
So uh, like, are we
gonna be on, like, TV or?
(Thomas chuckles)
[Thomas] I'm not
sure yet, but I'll be sure
to get your permission
for any distribution.
Thank you so much for coming.
- Yeah.
- I really appreciate it.
Yeah, of course.
No, it's, yeah, it's, it's cool actually.
I've done a, I've done a lot of interviews
about this already, but
yeah, nothing televised.
[Thomas] Okay, cool,
well, let's jump straight in.
I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions
about what happened that night,
the night of the kidnapping, you know?
Mm-hmm.
(ominous music)
Yeah, I was at the bar.
I don't know if you know it, Mazers.
- Mazers?
- Yeah, yeah.
I went outside for a cigarette
and also to get away from Dobey Coleman
trying to put his fat
fingers on my ass every five.
Not that he has anything
to do with the murders.
He's just your average local town idiot.
You can ask Maisie that, she'll confirm.
He is completely harmless.
[Thomas] How are you and Maisie close?
I wouldn't go that far.
I mean, we hung out,
like a bit, after the event.
You know, it gives you a bond, you know?
But uh, yeah, she got really freaked out,
like, about the whole thing,
and well, she still is, right?
She's, I don't know, traumatized
or, you know, and I-I-I kept telling her,
he is just some hillbilly loon,
you know, don't get nightmares.
But she wasn't having any of it,
especially after that the guy died.
[Thomas] Yeah, yeah, that's bad.
So back to that night.
Oh, yes, yeah. (Chuckles)
So yeah, the night, well, some asshole
dragged me way on up the hill.
And with such strength, I-I like,
I kept trying to, like,
pull him off me and,
and well, no way, bro.
You know, at first, like, I
thought that was a joke,
but then like, he, he was really hurting.
And yeah, he was, like, pulling
at my hair and, (chuckles)
And well, I struggled,
but I-I remember being
on top of the hill and, and thinking,
well, this is the moment
when I die. (Chuckles)
Yeah, and then um, yeah,
then a gunshot went off
to the right of us, you know, bang!
And, and well, the loon, he
must have ran into the woods
behind me, and I couldn't
see anyone with a shotgun.
So I, I just scrambled
all the way down the hill
into Mazers, and I told
Dobey and the others,
and yeah, they went and scanned the area.
And they scanned, they didn't find nothing.
You know, and then, then the cops came.
(police siren wailing)
Not, not even a footprint.
[Thomas] Do you think Bruce Herber
had anything to do with this?
Probably not.
I-I kind of feel sorry for him.
Yeah, anyway, so I've
gotta go pick up my mom.
Are we gonna get a copy of this tape?
I'd love... Yeah, of course, of course.
- Yeah?
- Do you think we might get
a chance to speak to you
again if we, if we need to?
Oh, uh, I don't know, maybe, yeah.
We'll, let me just see how,
see how it goes, you know?
You can send me the tape
and then we'll see. (Chuckles)
[Thomas] Okay, sure thing.
We'll make sure we get it to you.
- Yeah, awesome.
- No problem.
Thanks, it was nice to meet you.
[Thomas] Thank you, nice to meet you too.
Thank you so much for coming.
(soft rock music)
[Jessie] Sarah O'Reilly,
the aspiring actress.
She had upbringing not
too dissimilar from Maisie.
In fact, they went to the same high school.
Sarah is from the outskirts of the town,
a section not known for affluence.
It looks as though this
killer did not discriminate.
She told us she used to drown out the noise
of her parents arguing by
playing rock music on her stereo.
They divorced when she hit her early teens.
She had always wanted to
be on stage, on a platform,
ever since she was a child.
She was prominent in
school plays and film projects.
She also finds it hard to
think of any low key enemies.
Dobey Coleman is the local town idiot.
He's still alive, but has since
refused to be interviewed.
When talking to Sarah
O'Reilly and Maisie Winters,
they both had similar experiences,
but completely different outlooks.
On the one hand, Maisie seems to have
a lot of trauma from the experience.
She seems moved, emotional.
Sarah seems detached
from it, using the interview
as a potential platform
for an entertainment career
she told me she's looking to get into.
Another thing crossed my mind.
Sarah O'Reilly mentioned a gunshot
(gunfire booms)
Up on the hill, which
seemed to save her life.
I wondered who it could be.
It made me think one way
or another I needed to try
and interview the guy that
everyone was talking about.
The one they suspected to be the boogeyman.
Bruce Herber on the hill.
(tense music)
We couldn't seem to
get a number for the guy,
or anybody who did have a
number would not give it to us.
So we took matters into our own hands.
(tense music)
Mr. Herber?
(tense music)
Mr. Herber, we're doing
a piece on the murders
and we wondered if we could
just have a minute of your time.
I'm not interested.
And you shouldn't be up here anyways.
Go back down the hill, girl.
[Jessie] Please, Mr. Herber,
it will just take a minute of your time
and it could give you a
chance to clear your name.
Go back down the hill.
[Jessie] He was not receptive
and still declined to speak with us,
but a week later we received a call.
He said he would talk to us,
but stressed that it had to be brief
and that he was only
doing it to clear his name.
It seems that everybody is
aware of this documentary now.
Having said that, I am surprised
that more people have not come forward.
[Thomas] Hi, Bruce, thanks
so much for taking the call.
We will keep it as brief as possible.
[Bruce] Okay.
[Thomas] No doubt that you've heard
about the boogeyman mystery,
and that is why you're
looking to clear your name.
Many think that you may be a suspect,
but others think differently.
[Bruce] I'm not no boogieman, okay?
I'm, I haven't touched or killed anyone.
[Thomas] Bruce, we
completely understand that.
And sorry to offend, as said,
a lot of people think differently of you.
They say you're a good character.
Do you remember a girl by
the name of Sarah O'Reilly?
[Bruce] That's a girl who
got dragged up the hill.
Yeah, I remember her.
I, oh, look, I-I-I really
have to go now, I-
[Thomas] Mr. Herber, thank you so much.
This helps a lot.
If I can ask you one
question before you leave,
what do you think of
the latest developments,
the new attacks?
Do you think it's the same person?
[Bruce] I-I don't know, and I,
I don't wanna be involved in it.
As I said, I only came
here to clear my name
of the shit before you start poking around.
Seems like you have more
investigating to do son.
(phone clicks)
(phone beeping)
[Jessie] Thomas had a
strange phone call with Bruce.
He was understandably pensive and defensive
and didn't give much away.
Would I say that he's a suspect?
I'm not sure, but something
tells me probably not.
(pensive music)
The next interview on
my list would be the police.
But we have had no positive
correspondence from them.
In fact, they have told us to butt out.
The next option I thought
would be to interview relatives
of the most recent
murder, Rochelle Hardmann.
We managed to get her brother to speak.
He did this on the pretext
that people may come
forward to help with the case.
Hi, everyone, so I just thought
I'd do a quick apartment tour for you all.
Just got here to Mitchin
and just met the landlord.
He's really weird, but the
apartment's really cool.
Like, we've got some artwork over here,
and oh, this is my favorite one.
Ready?
Americana! (Chuckles)
[Thomas] So you pick
the drive over here okay?
I know this place very well.
I was quite fine, thank you,
- thank you.
- This place is
a bitch to find though, it
took me ages. (Chuckles)
Thank you very much for asking.
And these, this is great.
So you make, this is, I feel,
I feel like a film star right now.
Yeah, yeah, well,
yeah, we got a nice setup.
You just needs on sound,
just taking care of everything.
You okay with those bikes?
Yeah?
Okay, cool.
We good to go?
Great.
(ominous music)
So Mr. Hardmann, thank
you so much for coming today.
We really appreciate it.
- No problem.
- Mr. Hardmann, when-
Drayse, please call me Drayse.
[Thomas] Drayse, okay, sorry.
With regards to your sister,
our deepest condolences,
when liaising with the cops
or any other information on the case,
have you found that you've got any close
to finding who may have done this?
And do you think that it's
connected to the murders at all?
Oh, shit, that is some intense question.
I would say it looks
like the other attached.
I don't even wanna think about it,
but the cops aren't really
sure what's going on.
Ridge was, was steeped in
mystery anyway, you know?
[Thomas] Okay, so you, you don't think
that the cops really have any leads?
Well, they had that one old weird guy,
but they don't really know if he did it.
To be honest, I don't think
he had anything to do with it.
- You don't?
- Well, if I did,
I would've fucking done
something by now, wouldn't I?
That's a fucking sure,
but he's still everywhere.
I mean, he's parasite.
(gentle music)
But no, I don't think he did it.
(gentle sad music)
I don't think he's capable.
(gentle pensive music)
[Thomas] Drayse, do you mind
if I pick your brain for a while?
There seems to be sort of
a, about this town of lives hell
or more of an urban
legend about the boogeyman.
Is this something that you know about?
You know, people seem to think
that it's already been
here, that it's supernatural.
Do you know anything about this?
That shit ain't real.
I mean, the old girls used
to hop on about that all the time.
I mean, my Aunt Clara used to say when,
when I was playing up, she used to say,
"Stop messing around or
the boogeyman will get you.
He will punish you for your sins."
[Thomas] Shit, punish you for your sins?
Is your Aunt Clara still alive now?
No.
She's also dead.
But if you did wanna talk
to some of the old girls
who believe that shit,
you could try the old girls
down the Great Cafe on Broad Street.
Ask for Jennifer.
[Thomas] Jennifer on Broad Street.
Thank you, Drayse, it's really helpful.
This shit ain't true though.
They're just messing
around all fucking crazy
when they say that shit.
Maisie Winters' in the crew.
I mean, they used to get freaked out
by this stuff before the killings.
You know, going on
about the, the boogeyman.
They spent one Halloween
camped up on that ridge.
Oh, yeah, you know,
our school was a pretty,
a pretty fucking boring place.
I used to play football though.
(gentle pensive music)
- Oh, nice, nice.
- First pick.
Line back.
(gentle pensive music)
[Thomas] Thank you,
Drayse, um, for coming in.
We really appreciate it.
If we need to contact you again,
can we, if that's okay with you?
Sure, it's okay,
(gentle pensive music)
But try not to.
(gentle sad music)
I've already spent so
much of my time on this,
(gentle sad music)
And time is everything, you know?
(gentle sad music)
I sure hope somebody comes forward
once this shit gets shown.
(gentle sad music)
I really do.
(gentle sad music)
[Thomas] Thank you so
much, Drayse, we appreciate it.
[Jessie] Drayse's
interview was interesting.
He was understandably
in some form of grief,
trying to work his way out
of what has undoubtedly
been a difficult time.
What he said about the
boogeyman myth seemed to tie in
with what Maisie Winters mentioned.
The idea of somebody punishing the wicked,
cleansing their soul, an
urban legend, if you will.
My mind wandered.
The bodies were so accessible when killed,
the murderer didn't even
seem to try and hide the bodies.
It's as if they wanted people to find them.
This is something more
akin to wild animals,
but Maisie's account
clearly states it is human.
Hey, so, um, today is my
last day on, um, boogeyman.
Jesse and I, back in
college, we, we were an item
and I did some things I regretted.
And we were hoping that
working on this together,
we could come back together as, as a pair.
But if anything it's, it's
just made things worse
with the stress and everything
that's been happening.
We seem to have very different viewpoints
on what is going on and the risks involved.
[Jessie] I think we have to,
we, we have to check it out for ourselves.
Negative, it's gonna
be crawling with cops.
[Jessie] Oh yeah, but I-I
was thinking we could sneak in.
You know, I'm, I don't know.
Come on, what are we doing this for?
I don't know, Jesse.
Honestly, I don't even
fucking know sometimes.
This is some fucked up shit.
So today I'm afraid it's becoming too much.
And I will be leaving the documentary
from this point forward.
[Jessie] Come on, remember
what we're doing here?
Documentaries that tell the truth,
documentaries that change things.
We have to take the risk.
Listen, if you're not into this-
Don't, don't give me that
not into this routine shit, okay?
I've put as much into this as you have.
I mean, okay, fine, we'll go, just,
just make sure it's water tight.
(gentle acoustic music)
Hi, everyone.
I have a little, little update for you.
Thomas will no longer be
working with me on this piece.
We had several disagreements
over things like location
of the filming and the
danger that it, that it brings.
Dude, you dragged me out here.
You, it's in the middle of fucking nowhere.
You want us, (chuckles)
You want us to be searching
down this wild goose chase
for a hunt that's some fantasy
that you... A fantasy?
- Made up in your head.
- You're the one
that told me about it.
Yeah, he's, he's decided not to go ahead,
just not to go ahead and to leave, um,
and to leave and go back home,
which honestly, I, I'm
not totally surprised by.
We, we weren't getting along.
- Sneak in at my fault.
- Do you understand
what you're doing if you get caught?
Do you understand?
It can affect your employ ability.
He, he, he slept with someone else
over, over a year ago.
But I, I don't think I realized just
how damaging it was for the relationship.
And we weren't working
together the way we should be.
So I, I wish him all the best, I really do.
I wish him all the best.
And I'm gonna be alone from here on out,
do the interviews by
myself, try and find this thing.
Sleep well till the moon
It's just becoming too much.
Sleep well
So with that in mind,
I am reluctantly stepping aside
and will be leaving boogeyman.
And for the purpose of the documentary,
I would like to talk
about the surrounding hills
that surround the small town
of Mitchin, Arlin County, Iowa.
(bright acoustic music)
They overlook the town on two sides,
actually to the east of
the town and to the west.
So the town is in a bowl.
The hills look like one long ridge,
each that gets steeper as you go up them.
And they are full of
dense woodland and bush.
They used to be a prime
spot for cougar hunters,
which are now likely extinct up on those.
(bright acoustic music)
When you reach the top,
they plateau into flat woodland
and are surprisingly large
like squares and squares of miles.
Really easy for people to
hang out and even live up there.
The hills have a longer
descent on the other side
and they have heavy woodland there.
(bright acoustic music)
The attacks took place
on the western portion
of these hills, which
happen to be the largest
and the most dense of the hilly areas.
There were many crater
type holes at the top.
And because of these new attacks,
a lot of it is cordoned off
by the police as discussed.
Last time, the police and
the FBI scoured the area
trying to find evidence,
but did not seem to find anything.
(ominous music)
Okay, viewers, it's Jesse
here. I made it to the hill,
but we're not really supposed to be here.
I just, I think it's essential
for the documentary.
I'm gonna try and keep the
camera as steady as I can,
but it's pretty steep.
(footsteps crunching)
I'm also gonna try and keep my voice down
because the cops could
come back here at any time.
(footsteps crunching)
Okay, okay, what's that?
It looks like, is that police tape?
Maybe this is where the last murder was.
(object banging)
Oh, my god, oh, my God, oh, my God.
What was that?
Okay, there's some weird
noises coming from the ridge.
I'm just gonna, I'm gonna keep
my voice down and get here.
Okay, go, let's go.
(footsteps crunching)
(electric guitar music)
The trip to the west side
of the ridges was an unmitigated disaster.
It was as if we were
getting close to something,
something important,
but got spooked by a noise.
There is definitely something up there
worth checking out for
this doc, and for answers.
For now, we need to
get back to the interviews
and dig deep into them.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is our landlord.
He seems to come over whenever he wants,
even when we're not in.
I needed to fix the pipe.
[Jessie] He needed to fix the pipe,
ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Mitchin.
- Is that thing on?
- What th-the camera?
Yes, yes it is, I'm recording you.
Where are you going?
(door latch clicks) (door thuds)
My God, he's so weird.
(gentle guitar music)
(people chattering)
Excuse me, I'm, I'm looking for Jennifer.
- And who might you be?
- My name is Jessie Heigel.
I'm making a documentary
about the recent activity here in Mitchin.
That's one of those kids, the weird one
that everyone's talking about.
What do you want with me?
[Jessie] Ma'am, we were sent by Drayse,
Drayson Hardmann, the brother of Rochelle.
He said you may be able to shed some light
in the midst and legends of the boogeyman.
You know the, the
superstitions that this town has
and help me relate to the (speaks faintly).
See, young lady, this
town's always been strange.
- Yeah.
- But it's our town.
- Yeah.
- So when some weird kid
from out of town is butting her nose in,
we're gonna be defensive.
- I-I understand.
- Having said that,
there hasn't been enough coverage
of this case at all.
- Yep, yep, that is right.
- That is right.
- People are too worried
about that damn OJ Simpson and Los Angeles
and all that crap to give us any attention.
He definitely,
definitely did it, you know?
[Jessie] Oh, so, so
you would say that there's
a legend in this town about the boogeyman?
Oh, someone say it's
real, not made up at all.
[Jessie] So you would say
there's something tangible then,
something real?
Look at you hiding
behind the camera there.
You can ask anyone in this town.
Are you ladies all okay?
Yes, thanks.
And they'll tell you.
Our parents, their parents will say to us,
if you are naughty,
boogeyman's gonna get you.
And I don't know any other
town where they say that.
- Nope, only here.
- And I know people
- across all the town.
- That's right.
Only in the hills.
The hills have always been strange.
Very strange place.
I think the general consensus, general idea
is that something on those
ridges has always been there.
And that's the boogeyman.
[Jessie] That is, that is strange.
Well, I mean, people
don't go up there to this day.
That's a fact.
Young generation think it's all bull crap.
But if you've done your homework.
- My homework?
- Yes, homework, dear.
The killings way back when.
I think you need to get to the library.
Oh, and by the way, the
cops, the cops, the FBI,
they've had everything up there, honey.
And nobody found anything.
Nope, it's supernatural.
It's supernatural.
That's right, thank you, Colleen.
Think of the marks on the victims.
And that ain't human.
Here to cleanse our sins,
- but we are naive.
- Cleanse our sins.
Mostly women so far.
I don't seem to care about men get up.
Cleanse our sins, that's right.
That's what my gramps used to say.
And we all know about
since Sarah O'Reilly-
- Oh, Jennifer, no, don't!
- Sarah O, sorry,
what do you mean by that?
About what?
[Jessie] About Sarah
O'Reilly and, and her sins.
Oh, nothing, don't mind me.
Okay, I didn't say anything.
[Jessie] What do you think about it?
Excuse me, um, Kandy,
is that, is that your name?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
Stop trying to get me involved.
Oh, come on, you know it, right?
Oh, can I take a piece of apple pie?
Thanks, Candy.
(people chattering)
[Jessie] Really, thank you so much.
But I hope we've been some assistance.
I mean that.
Hey, if you want a real ride,
you should try the lady.
Fortune teller Mystic Hannah,
she'll tell you some real crazy theories.
Yeah, she's down by the garage.
She has a, yeah,
she has a weird old practice
down by the garage. (Laughs)
Go see her if you want a good job.
[Jessie] Okay, I, well,
thank you ladies so much
for your time, I just
have one last question.
Are you scared at all of the boogeyman?
You know, that he might come after you.
Honey, when you get to my
age, nothing scares you anymore.
So many sins, they'd have
to kill me three times over.
(both laugh) (people chattering)
[Jessie] Meeting the ladies in the cafe
shed some new light on
what the town's perception was
in regards to the boogeyman.
It also tied in with
what Maisie Winters said,
and that voice that spoke to her.
This idea that the boogeyman is here
in this town should
cleanse sins via punishment.
I decided to interview
passers by in the town
to try and get an idea of what they thought
the boogeyman was to them.
Yeah, well, that's
probably what's killing them,
that or a cougar.
My mom used to say to
me when I was younger,
be a good girl or the boogeyman-
[Jessie] Or the boogeyman
will come and get you.
Yeah, exactly, the boogeyman.
If you are a bad girl, you know?
[Jessie] The, the boogeyman will get you.
Yeah, exactly, the
boogeyman will get you.
But you only hear that
in Mitchin or maybe nearby.
But I don't think so,
or just like, a Yeti.
I mean this town's always had a lot
of crazy things going on,
you know, over the years.
We call it the boogeyman.
That's probably what's
killing everyone around here.
That or the cougars.
Weird shit happens there.
You should get out while you can.
It's freaking me out.
It freaks a lot of people out
and we're all worried and we don't know.
We don't know what's going on.
We don't know who's doing it.
The ridges are weird.
They gotta Agent Orange that shit, man.
(Amy laughs)
Yeah.
Don't laugh, I'm serious.
The town's weird.
You gotta get out, get out now.
When talking to the locals,
they seem to be quite well versed
on the boogeyman and its legend.
Things I still need to do.
Find out what Jennifer meant
about Sarah O'Reilly's sins.
Try and get an interview with the police.
Go to the library.
Interview with Maisie Winters again,
maybe not in that order.
Okay, viewers, just to give you a heads up,
I've been to the library and
I may have found something.
In 1924, a woman was
attacked in the town of Mitchin,
but she managed to flee.
She had strange markings all over her body.
Some say were similar to raccoon bites.
The attack happened here on the ridge.
Maybe I should tell the police about this.
It could help with their investigation.
Oh, shit.
Another attack in 1905.
Strange markings but there,
there doesn't seem to
be any other correlation.
Maybe it passed over.
(door pounding)
What the hell is, who the hell is that?
Okay, I'm, I'm gonna find out who it is.
(camera buzzing)
(door latch clicks) (door hinge squeaks)
Can I come in?
Uh, Sarah, okay.
Do you, do you mind if I film you?
No, I'm, no, I don't mind.
It's, yeah, yeah, I like it.
You know, I wanna be in the movies.
[Jessie] In the movies, yeah, you...
(ominous music)
I was walking down
main street the other night,
which should be cordoned off or,
or there should be a curfew
or something, by the way.
And it was dark.
And I, fuck, I'm certain that
someone was following me.
Like, it was dark and I turned around
and I, I'm sure that I saw a dark shadow.
And then I went back to
my house and there was,
there was someone in my
yard and the dog's barking.
And I'm, fuck, I'm freaking out, guys.
Like, is this thing back or, I mean,
'cause I feel like they've
come back to finish
what they didn't finish before.
[Jessie] I'm, I'm so sorry
that you had to experience that.
There's, there's multiple
things it could be.
Oh, yeah, like one of
them being that I'm a nut job.
[Jessie] No, no, not at all.
I know I sound crazy,
but don't you think it's weird
that Kurt Cobain died this year?
- Kurt Cobain?
- Yeah.
Not, I mean, not a Nirvana fan.
- I like hip hop.
- Life is fucking meaningless.
It's just, like, given and
then just fucking taken away.
[Jessie] We actually, we
actually meant to contact you.
We went down to the cafe.
And don't get offended when I say this,
but the ladies in there said that
you might be a sinful person.
Like, you might be a sinner or something.
I mean, it was quite, it was quite funny
when, when it happened at the time.
But, but do you know what
they may have meant by that?
Yeah, wow, those damn ladies.
Honestly, I mean, they've
got nothing else better
to do than just talk shit and,
and drink coffee in that
fucking place all day.
I mean, yeah, I know what they're on about.
You might as well know.
You know the musician guy who got killed?
- Ben Holmes, right?
- Yeah.
Well, I mean, yeah, they are correct,
it's not exactly relevant.
I used to go to Mazers a lot
and that's where he played guitar.
So we started seeing
each other on the regular.
[Jessie] Seeing each other?
Yeah, seeing each other, Jessie.
Oh, do you want me to go into more?
[Jessie] Oh, no, no, no, no.
Sorry, I-I understand.
Who else knows about this?
I mean, everyone seems
to be talking about it.
You know, I broke it
off before the killings,
but everyone keeps looking at me
like I'm some fucking whore of the town.
[Jessie] Can I ask why you broke it off?
Yeah, you can, but I don't
like to speak ill of the dead.
I mean, he's just, he's just
a regular musician schmuck,
you know, if you think
that I was the only girl
that he was with, you'd be wrong.
I mean, he was with a list
of girls as long as my arm,
and he is not even, he's not even hot.
He's just from out of town and,
and I know he's older, so like,
we all swooned when he played the guitar.
And well, he, he could get us pot, so.
[Jessie] Do you know
anyone else that he was seeing?
Like, personally or?
I don't, I-I'm, I mean, I don't know.
Everything is Chinese whispers.
Why do I feel like I'm being interrogated?
[Jessie] Oh, what makes you think that?
Oh, my God.
You think, you think that I killed him?
You think that I'm... No!
You think that I'm one of the killers?
[Jessie] Sarah, I never said that.
Well, okay, I, wow.
I need to get out of
here, you're fucking crazy.
Bitch, you know I had your back
when everyone in the
town was hating on you.
And I think I came here for, for help.
I mean, can you believe that?
- Fucking help!
- Sarah!
I do not think that, Sarah, wait.
Oh, fuck, fuck.
Okay, everybody, those two fuckers
aren't the only people
who can get shit to camera.
So here I am.
Okay, there is,
there is definitely
somebody following me here.
There's no doubt.
(footsteps crunching)
Okay, I've deliberately
taken you around the ridges,
try and lure whatever it
is that's following me here.
I assume it's home territory.
I am not scared!
Do you hear me? (Gasping)
(Sarah screams)
(camera buzzing)
(Sarah whimpering and crying)
(knife stabbing)
(murderer breathes deeply)
[Jessie] This project, this place
is something that strikes a personal chord.
I'm not just doing it to get away.
When I was nine years
old, my cousin went missing.
She was riding on her
tricycle on the front lawn
and all of a sudden vanished.
I know you shouldn't have family favorites,
but, but she was just
the cutest little thing.
We searched and searched
until they found her body half a mile away.
It's never been concluded
what exactly happened to her,
but an autopsy stated that she had been hit
by a large moving vehicle.
This is what the injuries aligned with.
It was as if the body was
just taken there to dump it,
maybe a hit and run.
They tried to dispose of
the evidence and got scared.
I don't know.
I just want these sick fucks to realize
that they won't get away with it.
The truth will always come out.
In this mean world, it's
always the vulnerable
that get hurt first.
(intense rock music)
What I was saying about the potential
of there being two murderers
is an interesting concept
and one that should not be overlooked.
One thing that is sure enough
is that the more I delve into this,
the more complicated it becomes.
I've decided to go to
the police with excerpts
that I found about a similar
case dating back a century.
Honestly, it's as if this
is some kind of tradition.
Why though is it only this decade
that it has become so
prevalent, so violent?
Maisie Winters has helpfully
agreed to do another interview,
which I will also do once
we hit the cops with this.
(intense rock music)
Sir, sir.
- Thank you, sheriff.
- Okay. Yeah, no problem.
- Okay.
- Good, good, thank you.
Oh my, what did I tell you people?
Get the hell out of here
before I have to drag you out.
[Jessie] I just need two
minutes of your time, okay?
I have some information that
might be relevant to the case.
What, what could you possibly
have to show me young lady?
[Jessie] If you could
just take a look at these, sir.
They're similar cases
recorded from years ago.
One from the '20s and
one from the 19th century.
How could they possibly be related, huh?
Give it, now, get out of here.
I'll hand it over to homicide.
It's all external now.
[Jessie] Thank you.
You be careful though,
where you go around,
homicide may come and find you instead.
[Jessie] Hey, everyone, as
Thomas isn't with us anymore,
my sister has come to help out for the day.
- Hey, guys.
- Are you excited?
Yeah, I can't wait.
Where do I put all the tapes?
[Jessie] In the box.
(ominous music)
Thank you for joining us today.
That's no problem.
Oh, do you know where
this is gonna be shown yet?
Like on ABC or something?
[Jessie] I don't know,
we're, we're definitely trying
to get more traction with it,
- that's for sure.
- Oh, okay.
Oh, don't mind me if my
beeper goes off, my pager.
My parents got it for me for safety.
[Jessie] Yeah, no, of
course, it's absolutely fine.
Yeah.
So what do you guys wanna ask me this time?
Well, we, we basically just wanted
to ask you about the legend
of the boogeyman itself.
You know, and since you're the first one
who brought our attention to it.
And just specifically
what your attacker actually said to you.
- Right.
- We, we were talking
to one of the ladies
down at the cafe, Jennifer,
and Rochelle's brother, Drayse.
Well, first of all, Drayse is a psycho,
so I wouldn't listen to
anything that he says.
I should know, I went
to school with the guy.
[Jessie] The, the local school?
Yeah, Maryland.
Total shithole.
But anyway, like I was saying before,
nobody really knows
where the legend came from.
It's just one of those
things where people say
there's the boogeyman
and it's gonna punish you
for your sins or if you've
sinned too much, or whatever.
But just like everything else
that people say in this
town is probably bullshit.
[Jessie] We also wanted
to ask you about the ridges.
See, all the attacks just seem
to happen on the one side.
I know.
[Jessie] Don't you think it's strange
that nobody's, like, tried to do more?
What do you mean more?
I mean it's, it's always been cordoned off.
They've had curfews, FBI dogs, the works.
I mean, whoever's doing up shit up there
probably doesn't live there.
(camera buzzing)
[Jessie] Well, except for Bruce.
Do you think he might know anything more
about the logistics of the killings
even if he's not the killer?
I don't know, I mean,
you'd have to ask him yourself.
(pager beeps)
Shit, my parents only beep
like this when it's serious.
Does that TV work?
- Yeah, it should.
- Can we turn it on?
We need to watch the news.
- Okay.
- No, not that channel.
We need a, a local news.
(camera buzzing)
[Reporter] From the town of Mitchin.
A young woman has been found murdered
near the center of the town.
The town has confirmed that the victim
is a woman in her '20s.
- Sarah O'Reilly.
- Oh, my God.
[Reporter] This is not the first-
No!
God, she warned us about this.
[Reporter] Being another homicide
- in February.
- I can't believe
this is happening.
[Reporter] Not to mention
the cases four years prior.
Daniel, what on earth
is going on in that town?
[Daniel] Good question, Cassie.
I don't know what's stranger?
The murders or the
authorities' lack of ability
to put a halt to it.
I'm wondering if the local police
are incompetent or indifferent.
Oh, shit.
Camera's running out of battery.
We need to put it on something.
Okay, I'll recharge.
[Daniel] Has made it clear
that law enforcement
agencies are not required
to provide protection to the citizens
who are forced to pay
the police for their services.
Is it on?
Yeah, all good.
Do you think we should go
outside, see what's going on?
I mean, that's not really advisable.
They'll already have an emergency
curfew on and no offense,
but if they see you walking
around with that camera kit,
they'll kick you out of Mitchin for good.
You know, I reckon you
should just stay here.
If it's okay with you, I might stay here
until I get another beat,
because it might not be safe out there.
Yeah, yeah, of course,
of course, you can stay.
Cool.
Well, hopefully this will
all get sorted out soon.
But in the meantime, I come bearing gifts.
Do you guys smoke?
Very occasionally.
Do you think that's a good idea
with all the, the cops around?
I'm sure they have
bigger things to worry about
than a little bit of pot.
I, I don't know about you guys, but I'm,
now, this whole thing's
making me really anxious.
So, and this is basically the only thing
that stops me from losing it.
We'd have to turn the camera off though.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Okay, it's off.
Okay, well, in that case, here we go.
(lighter clicks)
Mm. (Exhales sharply)
So good.
Are you sure you don't want some?
Yeah, no, I'm, I'm good.
Thank you though.
- More for us.
- Nice.
So how do you guys
like s-save all that shit,
you know, the tapes and stuff?
Well, I know, we basically make sure
that we have enough
tapes to always go round,
you know, in case you run out.
And we keep them in that box over there.
(Maisie laughs) And well,
the same goes for batteries.
You know, you gotta,
you gotta have batteries.
Oh, my God, do you know what I wonder?
Whoa!
That's, that's quite a
strong grip you have there.
Yeah, I mean, I used
to play shot put in school.
(Maisie laughs)
You know, I wonder,
what is the world gonna
be like in the next millennia,
in the, in the, in the next century?
Well, um, that can't be
any worse than this, right?
No, but seriously, like, I really hope
that we're all just so
busy with our flying cars
and our skateboards from
that, what's that film called?
"Back to the Future?"
It's the fucking one,
"Back to the Future."
I love that film. So like, I
hope we're all just super busy
with our flying cars and skateboards,
or too busy to fight,
and hopefully there'll be
no wars, you know, and stuff.
- Yeah, I know.
- We've gotta get there.
No prejudice, opportunity for all.
- Yeah.
- Ozone layer.
Oh, my God, have you heard of Waco
or Wacko, whatever it is?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I have.
Mm, interesting.
Oh!
(pager beeps)
Okay, no curfew's been called
so I should be getting
home before it gets dark.
I suggest you guys get
your groceries before they,
'cause they will call a curfew, so.
Oh, thank you.
I, I hope I've been helpful.
If you have any more questions,
- just, call me.
- Yeah, will do.
Thank you, thank you so much, Maisie.
- No problem.
- Thank you.
You can keep that.
So it's been a day since
the murder of Sarah O'Reilly
and honestly, I'm just still trying
to get my head around it.
I mean, obviously I can't
shake this feeling of guilt.
She, she came to me asking for help
and I-I didn't help her.
Anyway, the, the police
have, they've been informed
that she was in touch with
me, obviously prior to this.
And I'm trying to be
as cooperative as I can.
They asked for all of the footage
from her interview with me,
and now I have to stay
in Mitchin indefinitely,
in case I'm called in for questioning.
Honestly, it's as if I'm a suspect.
Sarah's parents won't talk to me
and apparently they want me out of town.
I don't know, it just feels
like since I got here trying
to resolve a murder, I've ended up
making way more enemies than friends.
I just, I don't understand
how anyone could think
I have anything to do with a murder
that happened before I even got here.
I mean, I don't know.
(gentle piano music)
I know I sound crazy.
(gentle piano music)
So like, are we gonna be on, like, TV or?
Life is fucking meaningless.
It's just, like, given and
then just fucking taken away.
(gentle piano music)
(gentle guitar music)
So the police are
now actually also saying
that I'm not allowed to
interview anyone anymore.
Obviously, I don't think they
have the power to do this.
They don't have the power to do it.
And I will still be
carrying out the interviews.
The next one, however, I
am pretty hesitant about.
It's with this woman that Jennifer
from the cafe recommended, Mystic Hannah.
I don't know, I'm
obviously still gonna do it,
but it's probably more just to humor myself
and add some dimension to the documentary.
I'm, I'm, I'm just gonna try
and interview as many people as possible
before the police
literally out me from here.
I mean, I seem to be the
only outlaw that anyone
is actually interested
in prosecuting. (Chuckles)
I also finally,
after many, many, many
attempts in the phone book,
I finally managed to get
through to that musician's mother.
She doesn't actually live in Mitchin,
but she's agreed to do an interview
at a confidential and neutral location.
So I'm, I'm really hopeful
that she's gonna help me,
you know, unpick the
events of that day in 1990
and put some pieces of this
convoluted puzzle back together.
(melodic guitar music)
(ominous music)
Ms. Holmes, thank you so
much for coming to the interview.
I really appreciate it.
- Thank you.
- If I could just ask you,
in relation to Ben's
murder, do you have any idea
who may or may not
have been involved with it?
To be honest, nobody does.
Sorry, is, is that a,
am I answering these correctly?
[Jessie] Oh, absolutely fine.
There are no right or wrong answers here.
I should also say, if you
wanna stop at any time,
that is absolutely fine, Mrs. Holmes.
Oh, you can call me Cassie, yeah.
Well, we've been trying to understand
to ascertain why our child was killed.
He was from out of town,
but he obviously had a
connection with Mitchin
due to his work and the people there.
[Jessie] Would you,
would you say he was close
with the people in Mitchin?
He was close with a
lot of people, you know?
It seemed my son was a good looking child.
He was good with the ladies too.
And funnily enough, I
know he was seeing that girl.
[Jessie] Sarah O'Reilly.
Yeah, that's correct.
And of course, the other girl.
[Jessie] The other girl?
Yeah, was also attacked.
Maisie, her name is Maisie,
it was in the papers too.
[Jessie] Your son Ben
was seeing Maisie Winters?
No.
I, I mean, yeah, I, goddammit.
He would've ha-hated me talking
about his personal life like this.
[Jessie] So does that, does that mean
that you haven't told
anyone else about this?
Well, I did, I didn't
think it was relevant.
[Jessie] Cassie, do
you know if Maisie knew
that your son was also
seeing Sarah O'Reilly?
I don't know, I'm sorry.
I-I-I really don't know.
[Jessie] It's, it's okay.
One, one last question.
Was your son ever, ever
seeing Shelley Harrison?
Shelley Harrison.
The girl who got killed?
[Jessie] Yes, that's correct.
I-I don't know, Jessie.
I'm sorry, I-I-I don't know.
[Jessie] Thank you, thank
you for your time, Cassie.
Hello, hello, come in, don't be shy.
[Jessie] Hi, thank you, um.
Thank you so much for
allowing us to interview you.
Do you prefer Mystic
Hannah or, or just Hannah or?
Hannah is just fine, darling.
Before we get too
comfortable, before we start,
I will need to take my fee.
- Your fee?
- That is correct, yes.
For you, I can do it for $25,
which is a deal, let me tell you.
[Jessie] I'm really sorry,
I think there's been some kind of mistake.
When I called, it was
just for an interview.
I-I won't require a reading.
Well, honey, the reading
will be the interview.
I can't do it otherwise, I
don't have any answers for you.
[Jessie] Okay, um, I'm
not really sure what I have.
Do you have change?
Yes, definitely, thank you.
- Okay, lady.
- Jessie.
Jessie, let's begin.
[Jessie] Okay, well, basically, Hannah,
I just wanted to ask you
about the recent murders in the area.
What you think about them
and who you think the murderer might be?
So you want to know who the murderer is?
I have been asked this
question a few times.
Always the same answer.
They're close.
You and a man are also close.
[Jessie] Oh, what do you mean?
Like, like, we're close
to solving the case or,
or close to the murderer?
Strength, surprising strength.
[Jessie] What do you mean by that?
Um, it's, it's residual.
What is, the clues of what is happening.
You're on the right path.
[Jessie] Residual, okay.
Please, I'm trying to.
[Jessie] Okay, sorry, yeah, sorry.
Triangles, triangles of love.
[Jessie] Oh, geez.
Please don't interrupt,
it's very important.
Triangles at the,
two triangles once
attached but now separate.
You are running from
one of them, and the other.
[Jessie] How do you know that?
The other triangle.
The other triangle is,
is what you're looking for.
(glass thuds)
[Jessie] Shit, Hannah, are you okay?
You, you look kind of shocked there.
Um, I'm okay.
I just need to be alone for
a little while to recalibrate.
[Jessie] What, what about the reading?
What about the other terms?
Look, I'm sorry, please leave, I'm sorry.
Can you, can you just turn the camera off?
Thank you.
[Jessie] Okay, but,
okay, you, you take time,
time to collaborate,
but maybe another time?
Be careful.
Okay, um,
okay, thank you.
Thank you, Hannah, you too.
Maisie Winters, I mean there's motive,
obviously nothing set in stone,
but the triangle, the love triangle.
And I keep remembering how, how Sarah said
that her attacker was just
dragging her up the hill.
And I mean, obviously initially, I just,
I assumed it was a guy,
but now I'm just remembering
how strong Maisie's grip was.
I mean, obviously this is
just me thinking out loud.
Maybe, maybe I'm going
crazy. (Chuckles nervously)
Anyway, I-I'm gonna try
and go to the forest tonight.
I just, I need to see the area for myself.
I need to scan it.
Obviously, just being careful
with the whole curfew thing.
I just need to see the spot
where Sarah was murdered.
Still can't believe how
accessible the bodies were,
especially after, after
everything that's happened.
I mean, God, people here
are just, they're just assholes.
No one even wants to help.
(door knocking)
- Who is it?
- It's the landlord.
(door bangs)
[Jessie] Okay, okay,
I'm coming, I'm coming.
[Landlord] You're gonna let me in?
[Jessie] Yes, I'm sorry.
God, would you stop
pointing that thing at me?
[Jessie] Look, I'm making
a documentary, sorry.
Look, you guys, you can't stay here.
You, you gotta leave, the heat's too much.
[Jessie] Yeah, I know.
The cops told me the same thing, but-
- You got two days.
- Two days?
I'll return your deposit
and anything I'll owe.
- But no, I paid.
- This isn't my problem.
What? Excuse...
- Oh, my!
- That's why.
Okay, so I decided to come
into the woods on my way home.
I just, I wanna see the area for myself,
you know, scope it out a little bit.
I'm gonna do a kind of patrol and, okay,
okay, so I'm, I'm now in the
area where the police tape was.
I still can't believe how
accessible the bodies were.
I'm just gonna make sure
that I'm home before curfew.
Did you hear that?
Okay, I heard something,
I'm gonna pan the camera.
[Sheriff] That's why I
got the damn shotgun.
(Jessie gasps)
Oh, my God.
They were kissing.
Okay, I gotta get home.
I've, I've gotta get home right now.
Guys, my tapes, my fucking
tapes have been stolen
and so many items have been destroyed.
I don't know, I don't know
how someone got in here, okay?
They must have access,
because there's been no evidence
of breaking and entering.
Also I saw Maisie Winters
talking to the sheriff.
And now I think that,
I think she might have
something to do with the murders.
Okay, there's motive,
there's a lot of things.
And I think it was the
sheriff that set that gun up.
I don't think it was Bruce.
Maisie was asking about the tapes.
Shit.
Rochelle Hardmann.
Rochelle Hardmann.
We, we should have been
asking Ben's mother about her,
not Shelly, because she must
have been one of the ex-lovers.
(Maisie clapping)
She was, well done!
Sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting.
I've got a confession to make.
Maisie, I should warn
you, I'm, I'm taping this.
I can get in here whenever I like.
You probably haven't noticed,
'cause you're too busy
making your shit doc.
You see, when I saw your ad for interviews
for the boogeyman, I made
sure that Robert, the landlord,
Robbie, come out, please.
Look, guys, I don't, I-I
don't want any trouble.
I just-
(Jessie screams)
[Robert] Shut your fucking
mouth, you little bitch!
(Jessie screams)
Is this thing still on?
Where was I?
Yeah, I made sure that
Robert, the landlord here,
gave you the utmost hospitality.
Make sure she's tied up tight.
(Maisie exhales sharply)
Thank you, darling.
Am I gonna see you later?
Yeah, you're gonna
have to help me clean up.
- Okay.
- Okay.
(Maisie sighs)
God, I love that guy.
Poor thing, he's besotted with
me, he'd do anything for me.
So some of the things
that you've been saying
are pretty accurate.
Although there were two attackers,
I was attacked, that's for sure.
Although I didn't attack Shelley or Sarah.
Well, first time anyway,
but that son of a bitch man-slut Holmes.
Mm, that was my work.
I had to stop because of the heat.
(Jessie shrieking)
(camera buzzing)
(Jessie speaks indistinctly)
What, what was that?
Why did I do it?
I don't know.
Call it PTSD from my attack
or just taking advantage of the situation.
This fucking world
thinks it can attack women
wherever it wants.
Fucking assholes, yeah, exactly.
So after I killed Ben,
then I had to leave it,
four years to be precise,
or the tradition of the boogeyman,
or so the sheriff told me.
It was his ancestors
who starred the killings.
They created the boogeyman.
It was him who fired the
shot after Sarah got away.
So I knew that he knew
who the killer was, or is.
Maybe it was himself.
Soon the town will know
that the sheriff is also dead.
They'll blame that one on you as well.
- No.
- Yeah, he was in on it.
He helped me cover up the killing of Ben,
who he was jealous of.
Me and the sheriff had a bit of a thing.
I didn't mean to kill Ben,
honestly, I didn't plan it.
It was more like a fucking fit of rage.
And then I had to cover it up
and make it look like the boogeyman.
So here we are, four years later.
I killed Rochelle because I knew
she was seeing Ben behind my back.
And then I finished Sarah off,
'cause she was just such a fucking cunt.
Oh, I do wonder who attacked her first.
It's so weird to think there's
a real boogeyman out there,
you know, walking around.
It's funny how he tried to kill me
and he dragged me up that hill. (Grins)
After a while, I sort
of started admiring him.
Oh, I made these.
(Jessie screams)
(Maisie hushing)
Oh, they're so cool,
you're gonna love this.
Here, look.
Look, like the claws.
Like Freddy fucking Krueger, am I right?
You have been very, very
bad. (Laughs maniacally)
Oh, you're probably
wondering why I'm still filming.
Don't worry, it's just for me for now.
Okay, time to die.
(Jessie screams) (knife stabbing)
(Maisie gasping)
Oh, yeah.
(Maisie gasping)
Over and out. (Chuckles)
Two documentarians have gone missing
thought to be on the run for the murder
of a sheriff in Mitchin, Arlin
County, as well as the murder
of up and coming actress, Sarah O'Reilly
and town local Rochelle Harmon.
Tell me what has been your experience?
Well, they asked me loads of questions
and they mentioned Sarah O'Reilly a lot.
Um, really twisted how
they left the bodies out
in the open for everyone to see.
That's some fucked up shit.
Now, do you think these
attackers are the same attackers
that attacked you four years ago?
I-I don't know.
I mean, could there be another?
Could there be another?
Back to you in the studio.
Okay, so this is totally rad,
but we are actually headed towards the area
where a few of the murders happened
on the news here in Mitchin.
So a few documentarians
have been on the case already,
but knowing me, I wanted
to get in on the action.
But I have to be super
careful as I am female
and I don't want to bait anything.
If not today, maybe another day, who knows?
So I think the murders happened around.
(animal grunting)
Oh, my God!
Did, did, did you guys hear that?
It was probably some wildlife or something.
Anyway, as you can see, the woodland
is super dense around here,
which definitely cooperates with-
(animal growling)
Oh my, my God!
Holy, holy fuck!
Oh, my God, oh, my God!
Oh, no, please, no, no!
(documentarian whimpering and crying)
(knife stabbing) (documentarian shrieking)
(ominous music)
(camera buzzing)
Breaking news today again in Mitchin.
Maisie Winters has been found
murdered near the town center
four years after she
was initially attacked.
Just behind me, you can see
there is police tape all around.
There are reports saying
the two documentarians
are still suspects, and the
police have managed to capture
and arrest Thomas Wajowski,
who vows his innocence,
as well as the innocence
of his partner, Jessie Heigel,
whom he says he hasn't seen
since he left the documentary.
(ominous music)
I'm getting involved in this project
for the sole purpose of
clearing my sister's name.
Maisie Winters does not know
that I made copies of the tapes.
(camera buzzing)
(bright melodic music)
(bright melodic music continues)
(bright melodic music ends)
[Jessie] My name is Jessie.
I'm a 26-year-old postgraduate student
from Iowa studying journalism.
But this documentary has
nothing to do with that.
This is a personal project about something
that is happening in a
place a couple of towns
from where I grew up, a town called Mitchin
in Arlin county, Iowa.
The town is situated on the other side
of the Des Moines River, an area known
for its surrounding farmlands and woodland,
and is a sight to see from a distance.
But if you look closely,
there is something strange.
(TV signal buzzing)
(tense dramatic music)
(TV signal buzzing)
Me and my ex-boyfriend
are taking time off to film this
in the hope of finding some clarity
and maybe even to solve this strange
and disturbing case once and for all.
It's something that is close
to all of our hearts in Iowa.
It all started four years ago,
back when maybe I was a
little too young to understand.
(bright acoustic music)
(dramatic music)
Homicide was confirmed tonight
in the small town of Mitchin.
The victim is believed
to be 22-year-old waitress
and student, Shelley
Harrison, from Arlin County.
There are no new leads at this point,
but we are working hard
to get to the bottom of this.
Our thoughts and prayers
are with the family at this point.
[Jessie] A local man was
arrested in 1990 up on the hill.
He was arrested for one
murder, one attempted.
His name was Bruce
Herber, a recluse that lived up
in a small wooden house
in the rigid woodland area
between the town and the main highway.
And he still does.
Back in '90, the town
was convinced it was him,
that he was the one killing and attacking.
See, let me be, let me be.
[Jessie] You fucking.
This was until four weeks
after Bruce was arrested without bail
and was in county jail.
April 30th, 1990 to
be precise, another girl,
Maisie Winters, was found
with wounds in the same area
and with the same puncture marks
that were similar to the other victims.
This and the fact that Bruce had an alibi
for when the other victims were attacked,
led to Bruce's release with
some protests surrounding it.
Maisie Winters was one
of the most famous cases.
She survived, by the
way, as did Sarah O'Reilly.
(gentle piano music)
So what do we know
about this murderer so far?
The victims are mainly
women, late teens to 20s.
But there is one discrepancy.
A guy, 25, who was
murdered in the same way.
He was a local musician
who frequented the local bars
and sometimes toured around the state.
Stabbed multiple times, as was the usual
for the murder victims,
as well as some strange puncture marks.
His name was Ben Holmes
and he was killed on May 23rd, 1990.
The killer had left an
even longer gap with him.
In this town with a
population of just over 20,000,
any murders and assaults are noticed,
and the police and locals could
never understand this break
in the killer's pattern
when it comes to Ben.
(guitar riff music)
The police never caught the killer.
Even though the FBI, local townsfolk
and many others were involved,
even though there was a statewide search
and they scoured the hills
and surrounding woodland.
Whoever it was, they were gone.
(guitar riff music)
If I could ask you, in
relation to Ben's murder,
do you have any idea who may
or may not have been involved with it?
To be honest, nobody does.
[Jessie] The town seemed
to go back to normality.
Curfews were relaxed.
This was until 1994, another
girl was murdered the same way
as how it happened four years ago.
Multiple stab wounds and a struggle,
and they were taken
towards the woodland area.
Her name was Rochelle Harman.
This will be a project that mainly consists
of interviews of victims
and other folk from this town.
(gentle rock music)
This town that has been home,
at least in part, to a serial killer.
But everybody is searching
and wanting to know
who is this mysterious
person or even creature,
a murderer, a myth that has been known
to be called the boogeyman.
(hard rock music)
(serene acoustic music)
What am I to do
What am I to say
My mind is all I got
These dreams and all these thoughts
An ocean of serpents
are dancing in my skin
My shadow eclipsed the sun
And I sleep walk down the hill
For miles and miles
- Excuse me, excuse me.
Okay, fun's over, get
that camera out of here.
[Jessie] Look, I was just wondering
if I could ask you a few more questions
for my documentary about the murders here?
Do you even have permission to film here?
[Jessie] Look, I'm
filming a personal project.
I'm not sure what kind
of permission I need.
Okay, well, the party is over.
- Just one.
- The party is over.
- Please, sir.
- Get that camera out of here.
- Okay?
- I just need to ask you
- one question.
- If you want
any more information, I suggest
that you apply for press pass.
Now, I ain't gonna ask you again,
- get that camera out of here.
- Okay, okay.
- Just one, please!
- Be about your business.
[Jessie] Were you the sheriff in 1990?
I recognized your face
from, from the news reports.
(rain pattering) (gentle acoustic music)
Easy, easy, let me down easy
Don't wanna be one of those girls
That gives you a hard time
So we are just assimilating data.
And it is high summer here in Mitchin,
but it is raining outside
and it is coming down.
(rain pattering)
There's usually drought
at this time of year,
as if that doesn't need
to add to the amount
of weird things going on here in Mitchin.
Anyway, I better get back
to Jesse, left her on her own.
(rain pattering)
[Jessie] Other than
the unsuccessful visit
to the law enforcement,
my first interviewee is Maisie Winters.
She was reluctant to interview at first.
She was the woman who
survived an attack four years ago,
and it was the case that
vindicated Bruce Herber.
[Thomas] Hi, Maisie,
thank you for coming.
No problem.
[Thomas] Do you want a cigarette?
Thank you, yeah.
[Jessie] She managed to
break away from the killer
and run down the hills to the town.
Eyewitnesses stated that
she screamed for help.
She survived the boogeyman,
but not without scars,
both physical and mental.
(foreboding ominous music)
So what do you wanna know?
[Thomas] Well, let's
start with the basics.
That night, what happened back in 1990?
Okay, so it was April 30th, 1990.
I was working at this bar, Mazers,
you know the one on the stretch?
- Yeah, I know Mazers.
- Yeah.
[Thomas] It's still here,
right? (Maisie chuckles)
It sure is.
[Jessie] Mazers is a drinking joint close
to the strip where the main shops
and amenities are located in the town.
Some people find it bizarre
that the attacker was so close
to the population when he attacked.
So I was working at Mazers part-time,
collecting glasses,
waiting tables, you know,
the usual shit to save money for college.
And this one particular night,
these guys were buying me
tequila as a way of thanking me.
And I mean, this wasn't the
first time this had happened,
and I'm used to rowdy folks.
So I got a little drunk
and I went out back to have a cigarette.
And you know how the
main stretch backs onto the,
onto the hills, the ridge?
- Yeah, okay.
- All of a sudden
I-I sort of felt this uh,
like this cold, and I've...
(ominous music)
[Thomas] Hey, Maisie,
you're doing really well.
If you wanna stop, that's-
No, no, no, no, it's fine, it's fine.
I just, I just haven't
really spoken about it
since the cops and everything, so um.
So, so I felt this cold,
like this cold presence,
like when you know someone's there.
- Yeah, I think so.
- And, and all of a sudden
th-there was a hand over my mouth.
And I just started getting
dragged straight up this hill.
And I mean, like, straight up.
I mean, I-I struggled,
but he was, like, strong,
like really strong, like,
like, superman or some shit.
And he dragged me for a while.
I-I couldn't tell you how long.
And then, and then we were in the woods.
(ominous music)
And, and then he started
to whisper in my ear,
"You've been a bad girl."
You've been a very bad
girl, you need to be punished.
"You need to be cleansed of your sins."
And then he started to claw
at my shoulder really hard
and his fingernails were really weird.
And, and then I could feel him reaching
for something in his pocket.
And me all revved up, you know, like,
I-I'd heard what had
happened to the other one.
So I-I just reached for
this, this log to my left,
and I just swung it, you know,
I just kept fucking swinging.
A-and then I-I heard this
squeal and then I was free.
And so I just started running,
not back into the woods,
fucking don't what's in there, you know?
So I started like, running down the ridge.
And, and I just started screaming,
you know, like, please help me.
[Thomas] Maisie, can
I ask you a question?
Sure.
[Thomas] The guys at the bar, do you,
do you think they had
anything to do with this?
I don't think so.
'Cause when I got down
the bottom of the ridge,
they were still at the bar, you know?
And, and they helped me.
They called the cops, they were questioned
and they were cleared.
And, and they did bloods and
DNA and shit and everything.
A-a-and they couldn't find a match.
And not even that weirdo
in the woods was a match.
[[Thomas] Do you mean Bruce Herber?
Do you think he had anything to do with it?
I don't know, I don't know, dude.
Nobody knows.
All I know is that I was supposed to be
at college at Drake's that year end.
Instead, I spent three years
just paralyzed by fear. (Scoffs)
(ominous music)
The boogeyman.
- What do you mean?
- That's what they call him.
'Cause he's here to
cleanse you of your sins.
[Thomas] Do you think
that's what the killer wants?
Some sort of twisted retribution?
I don't know, I don't know.
We've all sinned, right?
It's weird, but when he spoke
to me, it's like he knew me.
It's like he knew every
bad thing I'd ever done.
Weird.
[Jessie] Maisie Winters had
a relatively affluent upbringing right here
in the town of Mitchin.
Her parents are still together,
she was popular at school.
She was what seems to be a healthy kid
in small town America.
I asked her if she knew of any grudges,
perhaps somebody was jealous
or resentful of her existence.
Perhaps the attacks are
not opportunistic or random.
She could think of no one.
Thomas was left a little perplexed
by the conversation with Maisie.
We knew that we would
have to speak to her again,
but I thought I would
give her a little break
so she didn't get too upset.
We agreed to resume in a couple of days.
(sad cello music)
I managed to set up an interview
with Sarah O'Reilly, the other survivor.
Sarah suffered a similar
experience to Maisie.
She was dragged up the hill,
but there was a strange twist.
(bright guitar music)
(energetic rock music)
[Thomas] Make yourself
comfortable, it's all good.
So uh, like, are we
gonna be on, like, TV or?
(Thomas chuckles)
[Thomas] I'm not
sure yet, but I'll be sure
to get your permission
for any distribution.
Thank you so much for coming.
- Yeah.
- I really appreciate it.
Yeah, of course.
No, it's, yeah, it's, it's cool actually.
I've done a, I've done a lot of interviews
about this already, but
yeah, nothing televised.
[Thomas] Okay, cool,
well, let's jump straight in.
I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions
about what happened that night,
the night of the kidnapping, you know?
Mm-hmm.
(ominous music)
Yeah, I was at the bar.
I don't know if you know it, Mazers.
- Mazers?
- Yeah, yeah.
I went outside for a cigarette
and also to get away from Dobey Coleman
trying to put his fat
fingers on my ass every five.
Not that he has anything
to do with the murders.
He's just your average local town idiot.
You can ask Maisie that, she'll confirm.
He is completely harmless.
[Thomas] How are you and Maisie close?
I wouldn't go that far.
I mean, we hung out,
like a bit, after the event.
You know, it gives you a bond, you know?
But uh, yeah, she got really freaked out,
like, about the whole thing,
and well, she still is, right?
She's, I don't know, traumatized
or, you know, and I-I-I kept telling her,
he is just some hillbilly loon,
you know, don't get nightmares.
But she wasn't having any of it,
especially after that the guy died.
[Thomas] Yeah, yeah, that's bad.
So back to that night.
Oh, yes, yeah. (Chuckles)
So yeah, the night, well, some asshole
dragged me way on up the hill.
And with such strength, I-I like,
I kept trying to, like,
pull him off me and,
and well, no way, bro.
You know, at first, like, I
thought that was a joke,
but then like, he, he was really hurting.
And yeah, he was, like, pulling
at my hair and, (chuckles)
And well, I struggled,
but I-I remember being
on top of the hill and, and thinking,
well, this is the moment
when I die. (Chuckles)
Yeah, and then um, yeah,
then a gunshot went off
to the right of us, you know, bang!
And, and well, the loon, he
must have ran into the woods
behind me, and I couldn't
see anyone with a shotgun.
So I, I just scrambled
all the way down the hill
into Mazers, and I told
Dobey and the others,
and yeah, they went and scanned the area.
And they scanned, they didn't find nothing.
You know, and then, then the cops came.
(police siren wailing)
Not, not even a footprint.
[Thomas] Do you think Bruce Herber
had anything to do with this?
Probably not.
I-I kind of feel sorry for him.
Yeah, anyway, so I've
gotta go pick up my mom.
Are we gonna get a copy of this tape?
I'd love... Yeah, of course, of course.
- Yeah?
- Do you think we might get
a chance to speak to you
again if we, if we need to?
Oh, uh, I don't know, maybe, yeah.
We'll, let me just see how,
see how it goes, you know?
You can send me the tape
and then we'll see. (Chuckles)
[Thomas] Okay, sure thing.
We'll make sure we get it to you.
- Yeah, awesome.
- No problem.
Thanks, it was nice to meet you.
[Thomas] Thank you, nice to meet you too.
Thank you so much for coming.
(soft rock music)
[Jessie] Sarah O'Reilly,
the aspiring actress.
She had upbringing not
too dissimilar from Maisie.
In fact, they went to the same high school.
Sarah is from the outskirts of the town,
a section not known for affluence.
It looks as though this
killer did not discriminate.
She told us she used to drown out the noise
of her parents arguing by
playing rock music on her stereo.
They divorced when she hit her early teens.
She had always wanted to
be on stage, on a platform,
ever since she was a child.
She was prominent in
school plays and film projects.
She also finds it hard to
think of any low key enemies.
Dobey Coleman is the local town idiot.
He's still alive, but has since
refused to be interviewed.
When talking to Sarah
O'Reilly and Maisie Winters,
they both had similar experiences,
but completely different outlooks.
On the one hand, Maisie seems to have
a lot of trauma from the experience.
She seems moved, emotional.
Sarah seems detached
from it, using the interview
as a potential platform
for an entertainment career
she told me she's looking to get into.
Another thing crossed my mind.
Sarah O'Reilly mentioned a gunshot
(gunfire booms)
Up on the hill, which
seemed to save her life.
I wondered who it could be.
It made me think one way
or another I needed to try
and interview the guy that
everyone was talking about.
The one they suspected to be the boogeyman.
Bruce Herber on the hill.
(tense music)
We couldn't seem to
get a number for the guy,
or anybody who did have a
number would not give it to us.
So we took matters into our own hands.
(tense music)
Mr. Herber?
(tense music)
Mr. Herber, we're doing
a piece on the murders
and we wondered if we could
just have a minute of your time.
I'm not interested.
And you shouldn't be up here anyways.
Go back down the hill, girl.
[Jessie] Please, Mr. Herber,
it will just take a minute of your time
and it could give you a
chance to clear your name.
Go back down the hill.
[Jessie] He was not receptive
and still declined to speak with us,
but a week later we received a call.
He said he would talk to us,
but stressed that it had to be brief
and that he was only
doing it to clear his name.
It seems that everybody is
aware of this documentary now.
Having said that, I am surprised
that more people have not come forward.
[Thomas] Hi, Bruce, thanks
so much for taking the call.
We will keep it as brief as possible.
[Bruce] Okay.
[Thomas] No doubt that you've heard
about the boogeyman mystery,
and that is why you're
looking to clear your name.
Many think that you may be a suspect,
but others think differently.
[Bruce] I'm not no boogieman, okay?
I'm, I haven't touched or killed anyone.
[Thomas] Bruce, we
completely understand that.
And sorry to offend, as said,
a lot of people think differently of you.
They say you're a good character.
Do you remember a girl by
the name of Sarah O'Reilly?
[Bruce] That's a girl who
got dragged up the hill.
Yeah, I remember her.
I, oh, look, I-I-I really
have to go now, I-
[Thomas] Mr. Herber, thank you so much.
This helps a lot.
If I can ask you one
question before you leave,
what do you think of
the latest developments,
the new attacks?
Do you think it's the same person?
[Bruce] I-I don't know, and I,
I don't wanna be involved in it.
As I said, I only came
here to clear my name
of the shit before you start poking around.
Seems like you have more
investigating to do son.
(phone clicks)
(phone beeping)
[Jessie] Thomas had a
strange phone call with Bruce.
He was understandably pensive and defensive
and didn't give much away.
Would I say that he's a suspect?
I'm not sure, but something
tells me probably not.
(pensive music)
The next interview on
my list would be the police.
But we have had no positive
correspondence from them.
In fact, they have told us to butt out.
The next option I thought
would be to interview relatives
of the most recent
murder, Rochelle Hardmann.
We managed to get her brother to speak.
He did this on the pretext
that people may come
forward to help with the case.
Hi, everyone, so I just thought
I'd do a quick apartment tour for you all.
Just got here to Mitchin
and just met the landlord.
He's really weird, but the
apartment's really cool.
Like, we've got some artwork over here,
and oh, this is my favorite one.
Ready?
Americana! (Chuckles)
[Thomas] So you pick
the drive over here okay?
I know this place very well.
I was quite fine, thank you,
- thank you.
- This place is
a bitch to find though, it
took me ages. (Chuckles)
Thank you very much for asking.
And these, this is great.
So you make, this is, I feel,
I feel like a film star right now.
Yeah, yeah, well,
yeah, we got a nice setup.
You just needs on sound,
just taking care of everything.
You okay with those bikes?
Yeah?
Okay, cool.
We good to go?
Great.
(ominous music)
So Mr. Hardmann, thank
you so much for coming today.
We really appreciate it.
- No problem.
- Mr. Hardmann, when-
Drayse, please call me Drayse.
[Thomas] Drayse, okay, sorry.
With regards to your sister,
our deepest condolences,
when liaising with the cops
or any other information on the case,
have you found that you've got any close
to finding who may have done this?
And do you think that it's
connected to the murders at all?
Oh, shit, that is some intense question.
I would say it looks
like the other attached.
I don't even wanna think about it,
but the cops aren't really
sure what's going on.
Ridge was, was steeped in
mystery anyway, you know?
[Thomas] Okay, so you, you don't think
that the cops really have any leads?
Well, they had that one old weird guy,
but they don't really know if he did it.
To be honest, I don't think
he had anything to do with it.
- You don't?
- Well, if I did,
I would've fucking done
something by now, wouldn't I?
That's a fucking sure,
but he's still everywhere.
I mean, he's parasite.
(gentle music)
But no, I don't think he did it.
(gentle sad music)
I don't think he's capable.
(gentle pensive music)
[Thomas] Drayse, do you mind
if I pick your brain for a while?
There seems to be sort of
a, about this town of lives hell
or more of an urban
legend about the boogeyman.
Is this something that you know about?
You know, people seem to think
that it's already been
here, that it's supernatural.
Do you know anything about this?
That shit ain't real.
I mean, the old girls used
to hop on about that all the time.
I mean, my Aunt Clara used to say when,
when I was playing up, she used to say,
"Stop messing around or
the boogeyman will get you.
He will punish you for your sins."
[Thomas] Shit, punish you for your sins?
Is your Aunt Clara still alive now?
No.
She's also dead.
But if you did wanna talk
to some of the old girls
who believe that shit,
you could try the old girls
down the Great Cafe on Broad Street.
Ask for Jennifer.
[Thomas] Jennifer on Broad Street.
Thank you, Drayse, it's really helpful.
This shit ain't true though.
They're just messing
around all fucking crazy
when they say that shit.
Maisie Winters' in the crew.
I mean, they used to get freaked out
by this stuff before the killings.
You know, going on
about the, the boogeyman.
They spent one Halloween
camped up on that ridge.
Oh, yeah, you know,
our school was a pretty,
a pretty fucking boring place.
I used to play football though.
(gentle pensive music)
- Oh, nice, nice.
- First pick.
Line back.
(gentle pensive music)
[Thomas] Thank you,
Drayse, um, for coming in.
We really appreciate it.
If we need to contact you again,
can we, if that's okay with you?
Sure, it's okay,
(gentle pensive music)
But try not to.
(gentle sad music)
I've already spent so
much of my time on this,
(gentle sad music)
And time is everything, you know?
(gentle sad music)
I sure hope somebody comes forward
once this shit gets shown.
(gentle sad music)
I really do.
(gentle sad music)
[Thomas] Thank you so
much, Drayse, we appreciate it.
[Jessie] Drayse's
interview was interesting.
He was understandably
in some form of grief,
trying to work his way out
of what has undoubtedly
been a difficult time.
What he said about the
boogeyman myth seemed to tie in
with what Maisie Winters mentioned.
The idea of somebody punishing the wicked,
cleansing their soul, an
urban legend, if you will.
My mind wandered.
The bodies were so accessible when killed,
the murderer didn't even
seem to try and hide the bodies.
It's as if they wanted people to find them.
This is something more
akin to wild animals,
but Maisie's account
clearly states it is human.
Hey, so, um, today is my
last day on, um, boogeyman.
Jesse and I, back in
college, we, we were an item
and I did some things I regretted.
And we were hoping that
working on this together,
we could come back together as, as a pair.
But if anything it's, it's
just made things worse
with the stress and everything
that's been happening.
We seem to have very different viewpoints
on what is going on and the risks involved.
[Jessie] I think we have to,
we, we have to check it out for ourselves.
Negative, it's gonna
be crawling with cops.
[Jessie] Oh yeah, but I-I
was thinking we could sneak in.
You know, I'm, I don't know.
Come on, what are we doing this for?
I don't know, Jesse.
Honestly, I don't even
fucking know sometimes.
This is some fucked up shit.
So today I'm afraid it's becoming too much.
And I will be leaving the documentary
from this point forward.
[Jessie] Come on, remember
what we're doing here?
Documentaries that tell the truth,
documentaries that change things.
We have to take the risk.
Listen, if you're not into this-
Don't, don't give me that
not into this routine shit, okay?
I've put as much into this as you have.
I mean, okay, fine, we'll go, just,
just make sure it's water tight.
(gentle acoustic music)
Hi, everyone.
I have a little, little update for you.
Thomas will no longer be
working with me on this piece.
We had several disagreements
over things like location
of the filming and the
danger that it, that it brings.
Dude, you dragged me out here.
You, it's in the middle of fucking nowhere.
You want us, (chuckles)
You want us to be searching
down this wild goose chase
for a hunt that's some fantasy
that you... A fantasy?
- Made up in your head.
- You're the one
that told me about it.
Yeah, he's, he's decided not to go ahead,
just not to go ahead and to leave, um,
and to leave and go back home,
which honestly, I, I'm
not totally surprised by.
We, we weren't getting along.
- Sneak in at my fault.
- Do you understand
what you're doing if you get caught?
Do you understand?
It can affect your employ ability.
He, he, he slept with someone else
over, over a year ago.
But I, I don't think I realized just
how damaging it was for the relationship.
And we weren't working
together the way we should be.
So I, I wish him all the best, I really do.
I wish him all the best.
And I'm gonna be alone from here on out,
do the interviews by
myself, try and find this thing.
Sleep well till the moon
It's just becoming too much.
Sleep well
So with that in mind,
I am reluctantly stepping aside
and will be leaving boogeyman.
And for the purpose of the documentary,
I would like to talk
about the surrounding hills
that surround the small town
of Mitchin, Arlin County, Iowa.
(bright acoustic music)
They overlook the town on two sides,
actually to the east of
the town and to the west.
So the town is in a bowl.
The hills look like one long ridge,
each that gets steeper as you go up them.
And they are full of
dense woodland and bush.
They used to be a prime
spot for cougar hunters,
which are now likely extinct up on those.
(bright acoustic music)
When you reach the top,
they plateau into flat woodland
and are surprisingly large
like squares and squares of miles.
Really easy for people to
hang out and even live up there.
The hills have a longer
descent on the other side
and they have heavy woodland there.
(bright acoustic music)
The attacks took place
on the western portion
of these hills, which
happen to be the largest
and the most dense of the hilly areas.
There were many crater
type holes at the top.
And because of these new attacks,
a lot of it is cordoned off
by the police as discussed.
Last time, the police and
the FBI scoured the area
trying to find evidence,
but did not seem to find anything.
(ominous music)
Okay, viewers, it's Jesse
here. I made it to the hill,
but we're not really supposed to be here.
I just, I think it's essential
for the documentary.
I'm gonna try and keep the
camera as steady as I can,
but it's pretty steep.
(footsteps crunching)
I'm also gonna try and keep my voice down
because the cops could
come back here at any time.
(footsteps crunching)
Okay, okay, what's that?
It looks like, is that police tape?
Maybe this is where the last murder was.
(object banging)
Oh, my god, oh, my God, oh, my God.
What was that?
Okay, there's some weird
noises coming from the ridge.
I'm just gonna, I'm gonna keep
my voice down and get here.
Okay, go, let's go.
(footsteps crunching)
(electric guitar music)
The trip to the west side
of the ridges was an unmitigated disaster.
It was as if we were
getting close to something,
something important,
but got spooked by a noise.
There is definitely something up there
worth checking out for
this doc, and for answers.
For now, we need to
get back to the interviews
and dig deep into them.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is our landlord.
He seems to come over whenever he wants,
even when we're not in.
I needed to fix the pipe.
[Jessie] He needed to fix the pipe,
ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Mitchin.
- Is that thing on?
- What th-the camera?
Yes, yes it is, I'm recording you.
Where are you going?
(door latch clicks) (door thuds)
My God, he's so weird.
(gentle guitar music)
(people chattering)
Excuse me, I'm, I'm looking for Jennifer.
- And who might you be?
- My name is Jessie Heigel.
I'm making a documentary
about the recent activity here in Mitchin.
That's one of those kids, the weird one
that everyone's talking about.
What do you want with me?
[Jessie] Ma'am, we were sent by Drayse,
Drayson Hardmann, the brother of Rochelle.
He said you may be able to shed some light
in the midst and legends of the boogeyman.
You know the, the
superstitions that this town has
and help me relate to the (speaks faintly).
See, young lady, this
town's always been strange.
- Yeah.
- But it's our town.
- Yeah.
- So when some weird kid
from out of town is butting her nose in,
we're gonna be defensive.
- I-I understand.
- Having said that,
there hasn't been enough coverage
of this case at all.
- Yep, yep, that is right.
- That is right.
- People are too worried
about that damn OJ Simpson and Los Angeles
and all that crap to give us any attention.
He definitely,
definitely did it, you know?
[Jessie] Oh, so, so
you would say that there's
a legend in this town about the boogeyman?
Oh, someone say it's
real, not made up at all.
[Jessie] So you would say
there's something tangible then,
something real?
Look at you hiding
behind the camera there.
You can ask anyone in this town.
Are you ladies all okay?
Yes, thanks.
And they'll tell you.
Our parents, their parents will say to us,
if you are naughty,
boogeyman's gonna get you.
And I don't know any other
town where they say that.
- Nope, only here.
- And I know people
- across all the town.
- That's right.
Only in the hills.
The hills have always been strange.
Very strange place.
I think the general consensus, general idea
is that something on those
ridges has always been there.
And that's the boogeyman.
[Jessie] That is, that is strange.
Well, I mean, people
don't go up there to this day.
That's a fact.
Young generation think it's all bull crap.
But if you've done your homework.
- My homework?
- Yes, homework, dear.
The killings way back when.
I think you need to get to the library.
Oh, and by the way, the
cops, the cops, the FBI,
they've had everything up there, honey.
And nobody found anything.
Nope, it's supernatural.
It's supernatural.
That's right, thank you, Colleen.
Think of the marks on the victims.
And that ain't human.
Here to cleanse our sins,
- but we are naive.
- Cleanse our sins.
Mostly women so far.
I don't seem to care about men get up.
Cleanse our sins, that's right.
That's what my gramps used to say.
And we all know about
since Sarah O'Reilly-
- Oh, Jennifer, no, don't!
- Sarah O, sorry,
what do you mean by that?
About what?
[Jessie] About Sarah
O'Reilly and, and her sins.
Oh, nothing, don't mind me.
Okay, I didn't say anything.
[Jessie] What do you think about it?
Excuse me, um, Kandy,
is that, is that your name?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
Stop trying to get me involved.
Oh, come on, you know it, right?
Oh, can I take a piece of apple pie?
Thanks, Candy.
(people chattering)
[Jessie] Really, thank you so much.
But I hope we've been some assistance.
I mean that.
Hey, if you want a real ride,
you should try the lady.
Fortune teller Mystic Hannah,
she'll tell you some real crazy theories.
Yeah, she's down by the garage.
She has a, yeah,
she has a weird old practice
down by the garage. (Laughs)
Go see her if you want a good job.
[Jessie] Okay, I, well,
thank you ladies so much
for your time, I just
have one last question.
Are you scared at all of the boogeyman?
You know, that he might come after you.
Honey, when you get to my
age, nothing scares you anymore.
So many sins, they'd have
to kill me three times over.
(both laugh) (people chattering)
[Jessie] Meeting the ladies in the cafe
shed some new light on
what the town's perception was
in regards to the boogeyman.
It also tied in with
what Maisie Winters said,
and that voice that spoke to her.
This idea that the boogeyman is here
in this town should
cleanse sins via punishment.
I decided to interview
passers by in the town
to try and get an idea of what they thought
the boogeyman was to them.
Yeah, well, that's
probably what's killing them,
that or a cougar.
My mom used to say to
me when I was younger,
be a good girl or the boogeyman-
[Jessie] Or the boogeyman
will come and get you.
Yeah, exactly, the boogeyman.
If you are a bad girl, you know?
[Jessie] The, the boogeyman will get you.
Yeah, exactly, the
boogeyman will get you.
But you only hear that
in Mitchin or maybe nearby.
But I don't think so,
or just like, a Yeti.
I mean this town's always had a lot
of crazy things going on,
you know, over the years.
We call it the boogeyman.
That's probably what's
killing everyone around here.
That or the cougars.
Weird shit happens there.
You should get out while you can.
It's freaking me out.
It freaks a lot of people out
and we're all worried and we don't know.
We don't know what's going on.
We don't know who's doing it.
The ridges are weird.
They gotta Agent Orange that shit, man.
(Amy laughs)
Yeah.
Don't laugh, I'm serious.
The town's weird.
You gotta get out, get out now.
When talking to the locals,
they seem to be quite well versed
on the boogeyman and its legend.
Things I still need to do.
Find out what Jennifer meant
about Sarah O'Reilly's sins.
Try and get an interview with the police.
Go to the library.
Interview with Maisie Winters again,
maybe not in that order.
Okay, viewers, just to give you a heads up,
I've been to the library and
I may have found something.
In 1924, a woman was
attacked in the town of Mitchin,
but she managed to flee.
She had strange markings all over her body.
Some say were similar to raccoon bites.
The attack happened here on the ridge.
Maybe I should tell the police about this.
It could help with their investigation.
Oh, shit.
Another attack in 1905.
Strange markings but there,
there doesn't seem to
be any other correlation.
Maybe it passed over.
(door pounding)
What the hell is, who the hell is that?
Okay, I'm, I'm gonna find out who it is.
(camera buzzing)
(door latch clicks) (door hinge squeaks)
Can I come in?
Uh, Sarah, okay.
Do you, do you mind if I film you?
No, I'm, no, I don't mind.
It's, yeah, yeah, I like it.
You know, I wanna be in the movies.
[Jessie] In the movies, yeah, you...
(ominous music)
I was walking down
main street the other night,
which should be cordoned off or,
or there should be a curfew
or something, by the way.
And it was dark.
And I, fuck, I'm certain that
someone was following me.
Like, it was dark and I turned around
and I, I'm sure that I saw a dark shadow.
And then I went back to
my house and there was,
there was someone in my
yard and the dog's barking.
And I'm, fuck, I'm freaking out, guys.
Like, is this thing back or, I mean,
'cause I feel like they've
come back to finish
what they didn't finish before.
[Jessie] I'm, I'm so sorry
that you had to experience that.
There's, there's multiple
things it could be.
Oh, yeah, like one of
them being that I'm a nut job.
[Jessie] No, no, not at all.
I know I sound crazy,
but don't you think it's weird
that Kurt Cobain died this year?
- Kurt Cobain?
- Yeah.
Not, I mean, not a Nirvana fan.
- I like hip hop.
- Life is fucking meaningless.
It's just, like, given and
then just fucking taken away.
[Jessie] We actually, we
actually meant to contact you.
We went down to the cafe.
And don't get offended when I say this,
but the ladies in there said that
you might be a sinful person.
Like, you might be a sinner or something.
I mean, it was quite, it was quite funny
when, when it happened at the time.
But, but do you know what
they may have meant by that?
Yeah, wow, those damn ladies.
Honestly, I mean, they've
got nothing else better
to do than just talk shit and,
and drink coffee in that
fucking place all day.
I mean, yeah, I know what they're on about.
You might as well know.
You know the musician guy who got killed?
- Ben Holmes, right?
- Yeah.
Well, I mean, yeah, they are correct,
it's not exactly relevant.
I used to go to Mazers a lot
and that's where he played guitar.
So we started seeing
each other on the regular.
[Jessie] Seeing each other?
Yeah, seeing each other, Jessie.
Oh, do you want me to go into more?
[Jessie] Oh, no, no, no, no.
Sorry, I-I understand.
Who else knows about this?
I mean, everyone seems
to be talking about it.
You know, I broke it
off before the killings,
but everyone keeps looking at me
like I'm some fucking whore of the town.
[Jessie] Can I ask why you broke it off?
Yeah, you can, but I don't
like to speak ill of the dead.
I mean, he's just, he's just
a regular musician schmuck,
you know, if you think
that I was the only girl
that he was with, you'd be wrong.
I mean, he was with a list
of girls as long as my arm,
and he is not even, he's not even hot.
He's just from out of town and,
and I know he's older, so like,
we all swooned when he played the guitar.
And well, he, he could get us pot, so.
[Jessie] Do you know
anyone else that he was seeing?
Like, personally or?
I don't, I-I'm, I mean, I don't know.
Everything is Chinese whispers.
Why do I feel like I'm being interrogated?
[Jessie] Oh, what makes you think that?
Oh, my God.
You think, you think that I killed him?
You think that I'm... No!
You think that I'm one of the killers?
[Jessie] Sarah, I never said that.
Well, okay, I, wow.
I need to get out of
here, you're fucking crazy.
Bitch, you know I had your back
when everyone in the
town was hating on you.
And I think I came here for, for help.
I mean, can you believe that?
- Fucking help!
- Sarah!
I do not think that, Sarah, wait.
Oh, fuck, fuck.
Okay, everybody, those two fuckers
aren't the only people
who can get shit to camera.
So here I am.
Okay, there is,
there is definitely
somebody following me here.
There's no doubt.
(footsteps crunching)
Okay, I've deliberately
taken you around the ridges,
try and lure whatever it
is that's following me here.
I assume it's home territory.
I am not scared!
Do you hear me? (Gasping)
(Sarah screams)
(camera buzzing)
(Sarah whimpering and crying)
(knife stabbing)
(murderer breathes deeply)
[Jessie] This project, this place
is something that strikes a personal chord.
I'm not just doing it to get away.
When I was nine years
old, my cousin went missing.
She was riding on her
tricycle on the front lawn
and all of a sudden vanished.
I know you shouldn't have family favorites,
but, but she was just
the cutest little thing.
We searched and searched
until they found her body half a mile away.
It's never been concluded
what exactly happened to her,
but an autopsy stated that she had been hit
by a large moving vehicle.
This is what the injuries aligned with.
It was as if the body was
just taken there to dump it,
maybe a hit and run.
They tried to dispose of
the evidence and got scared.
I don't know.
I just want these sick fucks to realize
that they won't get away with it.
The truth will always come out.
In this mean world, it's
always the vulnerable
that get hurt first.
(intense rock music)
What I was saying about the potential
of there being two murderers
is an interesting concept
and one that should not be overlooked.
One thing that is sure enough
is that the more I delve into this,
the more complicated it becomes.
I've decided to go to
the police with excerpts
that I found about a similar
case dating back a century.
Honestly, it's as if this
is some kind of tradition.
Why though is it only this decade
that it has become so
prevalent, so violent?
Maisie Winters has helpfully
agreed to do another interview,
which I will also do once
we hit the cops with this.
(intense rock music)
Sir, sir.
- Thank you, sheriff.
- Okay. Yeah, no problem.
- Okay.
- Good, good, thank you.
Oh my, what did I tell you people?
Get the hell out of here
before I have to drag you out.
[Jessie] I just need two
minutes of your time, okay?
I have some information that
might be relevant to the case.
What, what could you possibly
have to show me young lady?
[Jessie] If you could
just take a look at these, sir.
They're similar cases
recorded from years ago.
One from the '20s and
one from the 19th century.
How could they possibly be related, huh?
Give it, now, get out of here.
I'll hand it over to homicide.
It's all external now.
[Jessie] Thank you.
You be careful though,
where you go around,
homicide may come and find you instead.
[Jessie] Hey, everyone, as
Thomas isn't with us anymore,
my sister has come to help out for the day.
- Hey, guys.
- Are you excited?
Yeah, I can't wait.
Where do I put all the tapes?
[Jessie] In the box.
(ominous music)
Thank you for joining us today.
That's no problem.
Oh, do you know where
this is gonna be shown yet?
Like on ABC or something?
[Jessie] I don't know,
we're, we're definitely trying
to get more traction with it,
- that's for sure.
- Oh, okay.
Oh, don't mind me if my
beeper goes off, my pager.
My parents got it for me for safety.
[Jessie] Yeah, no, of
course, it's absolutely fine.
Yeah.
So what do you guys wanna ask me this time?
Well, we, we basically just wanted
to ask you about the legend
of the boogeyman itself.
You know, and since you're the first one
who brought our attention to it.
And just specifically
what your attacker actually said to you.
- Right.
- We, we were talking
to one of the ladies
down at the cafe, Jennifer,
and Rochelle's brother, Drayse.
Well, first of all, Drayse is a psycho,
so I wouldn't listen to
anything that he says.
I should know, I went
to school with the guy.
[Jessie] The, the local school?
Yeah, Maryland.
Total shithole.
But anyway, like I was saying before,
nobody really knows
where the legend came from.
It's just one of those
things where people say
there's the boogeyman
and it's gonna punish you
for your sins or if you've
sinned too much, or whatever.
But just like everything else
that people say in this
town is probably bullshit.
[Jessie] We also wanted
to ask you about the ridges.
See, all the attacks just seem
to happen on the one side.
I know.
[Jessie] Don't you think it's strange
that nobody's, like, tried to do more?
What do you mean more?
I mean it's, it's always been cordoned off.
They've had curfews, FBI dogs, the works.
I mean, whoever's doing up shit up there
probably doesn't live there.
(camera buzzing)
[Jessie] Well, except for Bruce.
Do you think he might know anything more
about the logistics of the killings
even if he's not the killer?
I don't know, I mean,
you'd have to ask him yourself.
(pager beeps)
Shit, my parents only beep
like this when it's serious.
Does that TV work?
- Yeah, it should.
- Can we turn it on?
We need to watch the news.
- Okay.
- No, not that channel.
We need a, a local news.
(camera buzzing)
[Reporter] From the town of Mitchin.
A young woman has been found murdered
near the center of the town.
The town has confirmed that the victim
is a woman in her '20s.
- Sarah O'Reilly.
- Oh, my God.
[Reporter] This is not the first-
No!
God, she warned us about this.
[Reporter] Being another homicide
- in February.
- I can't believe
this is happening.
[Reporter] Not to mention
the cases four years prior.
Daniel, what on earth
is going on in that town?
[Daniel] Good question, Cassie.
I don't know what's stranger?
The murders or the
authorities' lack of ability
to put a halt to it.
I'm wondering if the local police
are incompetent or indifferent.
Oh, shit.
Camera's running out of battery.
We need to put it on something.
Okay, I'll recharge.
[Daniel] Has made it clear
that law enforcement
agencies are not required
to provide protection to the citizens
who are forced to pay
the police for their services.
Is it on?
Yeah, all good.
Do you think we should go
outside, see what's going on?
I mean, that's not really advisable.
They'll already have an emergency
curfew on and no offense,
but if they see you walking
around with that camera kit,
they'll kick you out of Mitchin for good.
You know, I reckon you
should just stay here.
If it's okay with you, I might stay here
until I get another beat,
because it might not be safe out there.
Yeah, yeah, of course,
of course, you can stay.
Cool.
Well, hopefully this will
all get sorted out soon.
But in the meantime, I come bearing gifts.
Do you guys smoke?
Very occasionally.
Do you think that's a good idea
with all the, the cops around?
I'm sure they have
bigger things to worry about
than a little bit of pot.
I, I don't know about you guys, but I'm,
now, this whole thing's
making me really anxious.
So, and this is basically the only thing
that stops me from losing it.
We'd have to turn the camera off though.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Okay, it's off.
Okay, well, in that case, here we go.
(lighter clicks)
Mm. (Exhales sharply)
So good.
Are you sure you don't want some?
Yeah, no, I'm, I'm good.
Thank you though.
- More for us.
- Nice.
So how do you guys
like s-save all that shit,
you know, the tapes and stuff?
Well, I know, we basically make sure
that we have enough
tapes to always go round,
you know, in case you run out.
And we keep them in that box over there.
(Maisie laughs) And well,
the same goes for batteries.
You know, you gotta,
you gotta have batteries.
Oh, my God, do you know what I wonder?
Whoa!
That's, that's quite a
strong grip you have there.
Yeah, I mean, I used
to play shot put in school.
(Maisie laughs)
You know, I wonder,
what is the world gonna
be like in the next millennia,
in the, in the, in the next century?
Well, um, that can't be
any worse than this, right?
No, but seriously, like, I really hope
that we're all just so
busy with our flying cars
and our skateboards from
that, what's that film called?
"Back to the Future?"
It's the fucking one,
"Back to the Future."
I love that film. So like, I
hope we're all just super busy
with our flying cars and skateboards,
or too busy to fight,
and hopefully there'll be
no wars, you know, and stuff.
- Yeah, I know.
- We've gotta get there.
No prejudice, opportunity for all.
- Yeah.
- Ozone layer.
Oh, my God, have you heard of Waco
or Wacko, whatever it is?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I have.
Mm, interesting.
Oh!
(pager beeps)
Okay, no curfew's been called
so I should be getting
home before it gets dark.
I suggest you guys get
your groceries before they,
'cause they will call a curfew, so.
Oh, thank you.
I, I hope I've been helpful.
If you have any more questions,
- just, call me.
- Yeah, will do.
Thank you, thank you so much, Maisie.
- No problem.
- Thank you.
You can keep that.
So it's been a day since
the murder of Sarah O'Reilly
and honestly, I'm just still trying
to get my head around it.
I mean, obviously I can't
shake this feeling of guilt.
She, she came to me asking for help
and I-I didn't help her.
Anyway, the, the police
have, they've been informed
that she was in touch with
me, obviously prior to this.
And I'm trying to be
as cooperative as I can.
They asked for all of the footage
from her interview with me,
and now I have to stay
in Mitchin indefinitely,
in case I'm called in for questioning.
Honestly, it's as if I'm a suspect.
Sarah's parents won't talk to me
and apparently they want me out of town.
I don't know, it just feels
like since I got here trying
to resolve a murder, I've ended up
making way more enemies than friends.
I just, I don't understand
how anyone could think
I have anything to do with a murder
that happened before I even got here.
I mean, I don't know.
(gentle piano music)
I know I sound crazy.
(gentle piano music)
So like, are we gonna be on, like, TV or?
Life is fucking meaningless.
It's just, like, given and
then just fucking taken away.
(gentle piano music)
(gentle guitar music)
So the police are
now actually also saying
that I'm not allowed to
interview anyone anymore.
Obviously, I don't think they
have the power to do this.
They don't have the power to do it.
And I will still be
carrying out the interviews.
The next one, however, I
am pretty hesitant about.
It's with this woman that Jennifer
from the cafe recommended, Mystic Hannah.
I don't know, I'm
obviously still gonna do it,
but it's probably more just to humor myself
and add some dimension to the documentary.
I'm, I'm, I'm just gonna try
and interview as many people as possible
before the police
literally out me from here.
I mean, I seem to be the
only outlaw that anyone
is actually interested
in prosecuting. (Chuckles)
I also finally,
after many, many, many
attempts in the phone book,
I finally managed to get
through to that musician's mother.
She doesn't actually live in Mitchin,
but she's agreed to do an interview
at a confidential and neutral location.
So I'm, I'm really hopeful
that she's gonna help me,
you know, unpick the
events of that day in 1990
and put some pieces of this
convoluted puzzle back together.
(melodic guitar music)
(ominous music)
Ms. Holmes, thank you so
much for coming to the interview.
I really appreciate it.
- Thank you.
- If I could just ask you,
in relation to Ben's
murder, do you have any idea
who may or may not
have been involved with it?
To be honest, nobody does.
Sorry, is, is that a,
am I answering these correctly?
[Jessie] Oh, absolutely fine.
There are no right or wrong answers here.
I should also say, if you
wanna stop at any time,
that is absolutely fine, Mrs. Holmes.
Oh, you can call me Cassie, yeah.
Well, we've been trying to understand
to ascertain why our child was killed.
He was from out of town,
but he obviously had a
connection with Mitchin
due to his work and the people there.
[Jessie] Would you,
would you say he was close
with the people in Mitchin?
He was close with a
lot of people, you know?
It seemed my son was a good looking child.
He was good with the ladies too.
And funnily enough, I
know he was seeing that girl.
[Jessie] Sarah O'Reilly.
Yeah, that's correct.
And of course, the other girl.
[Jessie] The other girl?
Yeah, was also attacked.
Maisie, her name is Maisie,
it was in the papers too.
[Jessie] Your son Ben
was seeing Maisie Winters?
No.
I, I mean, yeah, I, goddammit.
He would've ha-hated me talking
about his personal life like this.
[Jessie] So does that, does that mean
that you haven't told
anyone else about this?
Well, I did, I didn't
think it was relevant.
[Jessie] Cassie, do
you know if Maisie knew
that your son was also
seeing Sarah O'Reilly?
I don't know, I'm sorry.
I-I-I really don't know.
[Jessie] It's, it's okay.
One, one last question.
Was your son ever, ever
seeing Shelley Harrison?
Shelley Harrison.
The girl who got killed?
[Jessie] Yes, that's correct.
I-I don't know, Jessie.
I'm sorry, I-I-I don't know.
[Jessie] Thank you, thank
you for your time, Cassie.
Hello, hello, come in, don't be shy.
[Jessie] Hi, thank you, um.
Thank you so much for
allowing us to interview you.
Do you prefer Mystic
Hannah or, or just Hannah or?
Hannah is just fine, darling.
Before we get too
comfortable, before we start,
I will need to take my fee.
- Your fee?
- That is correct, yes.
For you, I can do it for $25,
which is a deal, let me tell you.
[Jessie] I'm really sorry,
I think there's been some kind of mistake.
When I called, it was
just for an interview.
I-I won't require a reading.
Well, honey, the reading
will be the interview.
I can't do it otherwise, I
don't have any answers for you.
[Jessie] Okay, um, I'm
not really sure what I have.
Do you have change?
Yes, definitely, thank you.
- Okay, lady.
- Jessie.
Jessie, let's begin.
[Jessie] Okay, well, basically, Hannah,
I just wanted to ask you
about the recent murders in the area.
What you think about them
and who you think the murderer might be?
So you want to know who the murderer is?
I have been asked this
question a few times.
Always the same answer.
They're close.
You and a man are also close.
[Jessie] Oh, what do you mean?
Like, like, we're close
to solving the case or,
or close to the murderer?
Strength, surprising strength.
[Jessie] What do you mean by that?
Um, it's, it's residual.
What is, the clues of what is happening.
You're on the right path.
[Jessie] Residual, okay.
Please, I'm trying to.
[Jessie] Okay, sorry, yeah, sorry.
Triangles, triangles of love.
[Jessie] Oh, geez.
Please don't interrupt,
it's very important.
Triangles at the,
two triangles once
attached but now separate.
You are running from
one of them, and the other.
[Jessie] How do you know that?
The other triangle.
The other triangle is,
is what you're looking for.
(glass thuds)
[Jessie] Shit, Hannah, are you okay?
You, you look kind of shocked there.
Um, I'm okay.
I just need to be alone for
a little while to recalibrate.
[Jessie] What, what about the reading?
What about the other terms?
Look, I'm sorry, please leave, I'm sorry.
Can you, can you just turn the camera off?
Thank you.
[Jessie] Okay, but,
okay, you, you take time,
time to collaborate,
but maybe another time?
Be careful.
Okay, um,
okay, thank you.
Thank you, Hannah, you too.
Maisie Winters, I mean there's motive,
obviously nothing set in stone,
but the triangle, the love triangle.
And I keep remembering how, how Sarah said
that her attacker was just
dragging her up the hill.
And I mean, obviously initially, I just,
I assumed it was a guy,
but now I'm just remembering
how strong Maisie's grip was.
I mean, obviously this is
just me thinking out loud.
Maybe, maybe I'm going
crazy. (Chuckles nervously)
Anyway, I-I'm gonna try
and go to the forest tonight.
I just, I need to see the area for myself.
I need to scan it.
Obviously, just being careful
with the whole curfew thing.
I just need to see the spot
where Sarah was murdered.
Still can't believe how
accessible the bodies were,
especially after, after
everything that's happened.
I mean, God, people here
are just, they're just assholes.
No one even wants to help.
(door knocking)
- Who is it?
- It's the landlord.
(door bangs)
[Jessie] Okay, okay,
I'm coming, I'm coming.
[Landlord] You're gonna let me in?
[Jessie] Yes, I'm sorry.
God, would you stop
pointing that thing at me?
[Jessie] Look, I'm making
a documentary, sorry.
Look, you guys, you can't stay here.
You, you gotta leave, the heat's too much.
[Jessie] Yeah, I know.
The cops told me the same thing, but-
- You got two days.
- Two days?
I'll return your deposit
and anything I'll owe.
- But no, I paid.
- This isn't my problem.
What? Excuse...
- Oh, my!
- That's why.
Okay, so I decided to come
into the woods on my way home.
I just, I wanna see the area for myself,
you know, scope it out a little bit.
I'm gonna do a kind of patrol and, okay,
okay, so I'm, I'm now in the
area where the police tape was.
I still can't believe how
accessible the bodies were.
I'm just gonna make sure
that I'm home before curfew.
Did you hear that?
Okay, I heard something,
I'm gonna pan the camera.
[Sheriff] That's why I
got the damn shotgun.
(Jessie gasps)
Oh, my God.
They were kissing.
Okay, I gotta get home.
I've, I've gotta get home right now.
Guys, my tapes, my fucking
tapes have been stolen
and so many items have been destroyed.
I don't know, I don't know
how someone got in here, okay?
They must have access,
because there's been no evidence
of breaking and entering.
Also I saw Maisie Winters
talking to the sheriff.
And now I think that,
I think she might have
something to do with the murders.
Okay, there's motive,
there's a lot of things.
And I think it was the
sheriff that set that gun up.
I don't think it was Bruce.
Maisie was asking about the tapes.
Shit.
Rochelle Hardmann.
Rochelle Hardmann.
We, we should have been
asking Ben's mother about her,
not Shelly, because she must
have been one of the ex-lovers.
(Maisie clapping)
She was, well done!
Sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting.
I've got a confession to make.
Maisie, I should warn
you, I'm, I'm taping this.
I can get in here whenever I like.
You probably haven't noticed,
'cause you're too busy
making your shit doc.
You see, when I saw your ad for interviews
for the boogeyman, I made
sure that Robert, the landlord,
Robbie, come out, please.
Look, guys, I don't, I-I
don't want any trouble.
I just-
(Jessie screams)
[Robert] Shut your fucking
mouth, you little bitch!
(Jessie screams)
Is this thing still on?
Where was I?
Yeah, I made sure that
Robert, the landlord here,
gave you the utmost hospitality.
Make sure she's tied up tight.
(Maisie exhales sharply)
Thank you, darling.
Am I gonna see you later?
Yeah, you're gonna
have to help me clean up.
- Okay.
- Okay.
(Maisie sighs)
God, I love that guy.
Poor thing, he's besotted with
me, he'd do anything for me.
So some of the things
that you've been saying
are pretty accurate.
Although there were two attackers,
I was attacked, that's for sure.
Although I didn't attack Shelley or Sarah.
Well, first time anyway,
but that son of a bitch man-slut Holmes.
Mm, that was my work.
I had to stop because of the heat.
(Jessie shrieking)
(camera buzzing)
(Jessie speaks indistinctly)
What, what was that?
Why did I do it?
I don't know.
Call it PTSD from my attack
or just taking advantage of the situation.
This fucking world
thinks it can attack women
wherever it wants.
Fucking assholes, yeah, exactly.
So after I killed Ben,
then I had to leave it,
four years to be precise,
or the tradition of the boogeyman,
or so the sheriff told me.
It was his ancestors
who starred the killings.
They created the boogeyman.
It was him who fired the
shot after Sarah got away.
So I knew that he knew
who the killer was, or is.
Maybe it was himself.
Soon the town will know
that the sheriff is also dead.
They'll blame that one on you as well.
- No.
- Yeah, he was in on it.
He helped me cover up the killing of Ben,
who he was jealous of.
Me and the sheriff had a bit of a thing.
I didn't mean to kill Ben,
honestly, I didn't plan it.
It was more like a fucking fit of rage.
And then I had to cover it up
and make it look like the boogeyman.
So here we are, four years later.
I killed Rochelle because I knew
she was seeing Ben behind my back.
And then I finished Sarah off,
'cause she was just such a fucking cunt.
Oh, I do wonder who attacked her first.
It's so weird to think there's
a real boogeyman out there,
you know, walking around.
It's funny how he tried to kill me
and he dragged me up that hill. (Grins)
After a while, I sort
of started admiring him.
Oh, I made these.
(Jessie screams)
(Maisie hushing)
Oh, they're so cool,
you're gonna love this.
Here, look.
Look, like the claws.
Like Freddy fucking Krueger, am I right?
You have been very, very
bad. (Laughs maniacally)
Oh, you're probably
wondering why I'm still filming.
Don't worry, it's just for me for now.
Okay, time to die.
(Jessie screams) (knife stabbing)
(Maisie gasping)
Oh, yeah.
(Maisie gasping)
Over and out. (Chuckles)
Two documentarians have gone missing
thought to be on the run for the murder
of a sheriff in Mitchin, Arlin
County, as well as the murder
of up and coming actress, Sarah O'Reilly
and town local Rochelle Harmon.
Tell me what has been your experience?
Well, they asked me loads of questions
and they mentioned Sarah O'Reilly a lot.
Um, really twisted how
they left the bodies out
in the open for everyone to see.
That's some fucked up shit.
Now, do you think these
attackers are the same attackers
that attacked you four years ago?
I-I don't know.
I mean, could there be another?
Could there be another?
Back to you in the studio.
Okay, so this is totally rad,
but we are actually headed towards the area
where a few of the murders happened
on the news here in Mitchin.
So a few documentarians
have been on the case already,
but knowing me, I wanted
to get in on the action.
But I have to be super
careful as I am female
and I don't want to bait anything.
If not today, maybe another day, who knows?
So I think the murders happened around.
(animal grunting)
Oh, my God!
Did, did, did you guys hear that?
It was probably some wildlife or something.
Anyway, as you can see, the woodland
is super dense around here,
which definitely cooperates with-
(animal growling)
Oh my, my God!
Holy, holy fuck!
Oh, my God, oh, my God!
Oh, no, please, no, no!
(documentarian whimpering and crying)
(knife stabbing) (documentarian shrieking)
(ominous music)
(camera buzzing)
Breaking news today again in Mitchin.
Maisie Winters has been found
murdered near the town center
four years after she
was initially attacked.
Just behind me, you can see
there is police tape all around.
There are reports saying
the two documentarians
are still suspects, and the
police have managed to capture
and arrest Thomas Wajowski,
who vows his innocence,
as well as the innocence
of his partner, Jessie Heigel,
whom he says he hasn't seen
since he left the documentary.
(ominous music)
I'm getting involved in this project
for the sole purpose of
clearing my sister's name.
Maisie Winters does not know
that I made copies of the tapes.
(camera buzzing)
(bright melodic music)
(bright melodic music continues)
(bright melodic music ends)