Due to the graphic nature of this killer's crimes, listener discretion is advised.

This episode includes discussions of murder, sexual assault, and child abuse.

We advise extreme caution for children under 13.

Ellen Blattell took a long sip of coffee and tried to shake off the morning cobwebs.

She hadn't slept well, not after last night.

Her husband had walked into their bedroom around 10 p.m. looking pale.

He said he'd heard what sounded like two gunshots from next door.

Ellen was stunned.

They lived in a client supposedly safe neighborhood in the Riverside City of Cape Gerardo, Missouri.

Nothing bad ever happened here, especially not something as serious as a shooting.

They considered calling the police, but after talking it over, they decided it must have

just been a car backfiring.

But even though Ellen tried to put it out of her mind, she had spent the night tossing

and turning, unable to relax.

That uneasiness followed her into the morning.

She was so on edge that when the phone rang, she jumped.

It was her neighbor, Floyd Parche, and he sounded just as anxious as she felt.

Floyd was in the hospital recovering from heart surgery.

He said that his wife and daughter was supposed to visit him that morning, but they never showed

up.

He was worried about them and asked if Ellen could go and check that they were all right.

Ellen did her best to reassure Floyd that everything was fine.

...