Elaine Ramos was planning a big party.

It was 1999. New Year's Eve was coming soon, and she wanted to celebrate Y2K with friends and family at her home in Monterey, California.

She was excited, even more so when her cousin, Eun-sun Joon, called with some big news.

She called to say that she had met somebody and asked if she could bring him.

And I thought, sure, this is somebody that she's finally met, that she's in love with.

Of course, you could bring him.

Elaine and Eun-sun were close.

Their families both immigrated to the U.S. from Korea when they were young, and they grew up together.

Elaine knew that Eun-sun had a hard time when it came to dating.

So when Eun-sun now in her mid-40s called to say she had met someone, it was a big deal.

Elaine couldn't wait to meet him.

Elaine's house in Monterey sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in a suburb full of nice ranch-style houses.

When Eun-sun and her new boyfriend arrived on the day of the party, Elaine stepped outside to greet them.

First of all, when they drove up, it was in this dirty white van, didn't have windows on it. It was one of those cargo vans. And I thought, wow. But then when they came up to the door and I opened the door and saw his face, I had a chill run down my back that I've never in my life ever had before.

And he stuck out his hand to shake my hand,

and I saw the long, dirty fingernails that just creeped me out.

Unsun's new boyfriend, Larry Vanner, looked ragged, dirty.

He seemed a lot older than Unsun.

He was bald on top, with patches of messy brown hair sprouting out on the sides.

He wore a mustache, and his voice was a deep drawl.

The only thing inviting about him, Elaine remembers, were his eyes.

They were a shade of deep blue that seemed to sparkle in the light.

...