Anastasia Nicolazzi

When Ray and Michelle finally confronted Rodarte with the existence of the video footage that contradicted his story, he continued to insist that she had left his car. But in the video recording of that interview, you can really almost see in his body language that his grip on his weak alibi was starting to slip.

When Ray and Michelle finally confronted Rodarte with the existence of the video footage that contradicted his story, he continued to insist that she had left his car. But in the video recording of that interview, you can really almost see in his body language that his grip on his weak alibi was starting to slip.

And you can hear the emotion rising in their voices, especially that of Ray's partner, Michelle. It was likely that they saw a chink in their suspect's armor and they knew that this was the time to try their best to get him to take off his armor and finally come clean.

And you can hear the emotion rising in their voices, especially that of Ray's partner, Michelle. It was likely that they saw a chink in their suspect's armor and they knew that this was the time to try their best to get him to take off his armor and finally come clean.

After several hours of questioning, Ray and Michelle sensed it was now or never to, within the bounds of the law, press for a confession.

After several hours of questioning, Ray and Michelle sensed it was now or never to, within the bounds of the law, press for a confession.

Their suspect was nearing the point of no return. Would he double down on the lie, or would he confess and finally tell the truth?

Their suspect was nearing the point of no return. Would he double down on the lie, or would he confess and finally tell the truth?

It was an unbelievably tragic, but not wholly unexpected, turn in what was until that point a missing persons case. Savannah Gold had been murdered.

It was an unbelievably tragic, but not wholly unexpected, turn in what was until that point a missing persons case. Savannah Gold had been murdered.

But most critically, there was what he didn't do. He didn't call 911. He didn't drive her to a hospital. He didn't do anything to try and save her life, which means this was no accident. This was a deliberate and intentional act of homicide. And then evidence by the way he so calmly got out of his car and slashed her tires, proof that it was also a crime that he was determined to get away with.

But most critically, there was what he didn't do. He didn't call 911. He didn't drive her to a hospital. He didn't do anything to try and save her life, which means this was no accident. This was a deliberate and intentional act of homicide. And then evidence by the way he so calmly got out of his car and slashed her tires, proof that it was also a crime that he was determined to get away with.

Rodarte described how he drove Savannah's body to his house and then dragged her into his backyard, where he attempted to burn her body in a makeshift fire pit.

Rodarte described how he drove Savannah's body to his house and then dragged her into his backyard, where he attempted to burn her body in a makeshift fire pit.

The details of Savannah's fate are almost too hard to imagine. But as horrible as they are, for the detectives, there also must have been a sense of solace. Finally, they at least had the answers now that they'd been looking for.

The details of Savannah's fate are almost too hard to imagine. But as horrible as they are, for the detectives, there also must have been a sense of solace. Finally, they at least had the answers now that they'd been looking for.

Members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office were immediately dispatched to the location.

Members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office were immediately dispatched to the location.

When detectives executed a search warrant over Daugherty's house, they found more items that verified the details of his confession, including gasoline, the fire pit, and pillows that matched the blanket used to wrap Savannah's body.

When detectives executed a search warrant over Daugherty's house, they found more items that verified the details of his confession, including gasoline, the fire pit, and pillows that matched the blanket used to wrap Savannah's body.