March 2008 - Posts
By Leonor Ayala, Dateline Field Producer
At 8:45 in the morning, I found myself zipping down a lonely, long stretch of road. State Road 62 in Florida wasn't much to look at in that hour, just lots of open space and farm land (of course this from my city girl's point of view). This led me to second guess myself. Was I going in the right direction?
My mind was racing. I was en route to my very first meeting with a first-degree murderer at Hardee Correctional Institution.
When I thought about stepping inside a prison for the first time, my anxiety wasn't for my personal safety. It wasn't about the pat-down everyone had warned me about, or being a few feet from a convicted killer. It was about getting to the prison on time.
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By Liz Brown, Dateline Producer
Carol Kent grew up the daughter of a preacher. Religion has always been her touchstone. That and her love of family. But this devoted Christian doesn't go to church on Sundays anymore.
Carol and her husband have a new Sunday ritual. They still put on their best clothes and pile into their car, minds filled with anticipation for what is ahead. When they arrive, they might chat with their fellow congregants, and nod to the staff as they take their places. But instead of a church, their new Sunday destination is a Florida prison. Their pews are plastic chairs, the congregants are visiting families, and the staff pack guns. Carol calls it the Church of the Razor Wire.
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By Sara James, Dateline Correspondent
I only wish I had met Abe Anhang under different circumstances. I only wish I had met his son, Adam, at all.
Abe Anhang is both razor sharp and resolute, a man crackling with integrity and brimming with love for his family. Adam Anhang was also known for his quick wit and equally ready smile, a magnet of a man. The kind of guy who would figure out the puzzle more quickly than you, but happily turn around and show you how he did it -- that uncommon blend of a brilliant mind and a gentle, generous spirit.
Like father, like son.
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By John Block, Dateline Producer
I have been tracking Adam Anhang's case for over a year and a half, along with the rest of the Dateline NBC team. In the course of it, I have come to know, like, and respect Adam's family as well as Adam himself. It may seem strange hearing that I feel as if I know and care about someone who has passed on, but I feel as if I do -- at least a little bit.
I've been introduced to him through his family's recollections as well as those of his many friends. I admire very much the kindness that he showed to them all, as well as many of his other strengths.
The family was initially very wary about telling their story to a television audience. They were, and continue to be, in a lot of pain. And like most of us, they are very private people. I think that they finally agreed to be part of our report because they hope it will somehow lead to more answers.
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By Luz Villarreal, Dateline Producer
It was an early Monday morning in late August 2004. I was the first one in the office that day. I warmed up some instant oatmeal and started reading some of our local newspapers. One story jumped out at me. The headline read “Investigation into girl's disappearance leads to murder charges against mother.”
The next day, I was sitting in Dick Pulsifer’s living room. He’s a simple, quiet man with a shy smile. He worked in security at a Las Vegas casino and also ran a karate school in town. He told me he grew up in San Diego and married young. I could tell he was trying to keep his emotions in check.
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By Captain David Thomley, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department
When I was asked to write this blog I was not sure how to start. You have now seen her story and there is no way for me to relay the sheer terror that Lizzie and her family endured.
I have been in law enforcement for 19 years now. As a young patrol officer, I have dealt with family members being killed in automobile accidents, taking reports for assaults, and arresting suspects for every crime imaginable. I have witnessed firsthand how this affects the lives of the family members of all involved, not to mention the victims.
One of the first lessons I was taught after becoming a criminal investigator is to follow the facts, keep an open mind, and don’t get emotionally involved in the case. Over the years I have done my best to abide by these seemingly simple rules, even though at times it was very difficult.
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By Lt. Eric Tisdale, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department
Where do you start? Who do you talk to? What assets do you devote to the investigation? Where do I look? What happened? Where was she last seen? What was her state of mind? What are the facts?
Facts dictate much of what we do in law enforcement. Facts are not something you can make or generate. They are to be followed. Facts are something you look for, and that lead you to other facts, which in turn, we hope, lead to the truth. This is true with any investigation.
So, where do you start?
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By Elizabeth Shoaf
Down in the bunker was hell. When I first went in, it was very dark and cold. I couldn’t see anything and everything looked creepy. After Vinson turned on the lights, it was even creepier. It looked unreal, almost like I was in a really bad dream. CONTINUED >>
By Madeline Shoaf
After seven sleepless days and nights, we finally got a lead in the case. My family and I were to attend another vigil for Elizabeth at the state capitol. My husband would stay behind just in case there were any phone calls. As I was leaving, I grabbed my cell phone and there was a text message on it. I looked at it and about fell to the ground.It was a message from my daughter. I knew it was from Elizabeth, yet it was the scariest message I ever received.
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By Keith Morrison, Dateline correspondent
People often ask me what it's like to talk to men and women accused -- and often convicted -- of horrendous crimes. Is it frightening, they'll ask, to interview such people? Can you tell if they are innocent or guilty? Can you sense evil in the room?
And usually, to such questions, the answer is.. no. A person capable of doing something quite terrible will frequently arrive for an interview well scrubbed and thoroughly prepared, and will prove to be intelligent, funny or charming. And almost always, such a person will present a reasonably believable argument for innocence. Skepticism is an important companion during prison interviews; truth is rarely easy to pin down.
And then there is Vinson Filyaw.
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