Arlene Bynon

Peter and I weren't allowed to record inside the prison, but we started as soon as we began driving away.

Peter and I weren't allowed to record inside the prison, but we started as soon as we began driving away.

It was the only time I ever saw Olson in person. and I could easily imagine him being a killer. I'd never forgotten him looking at me from his cell, hands high up on the bars. His face was in darkness, but backlit from the light coming in from the tiny window to the rear. He was calm until he wasn't. As I walked away, he started calling my name. Arlene. Arlene. Arlene.

It was the only time I ever saw Olson in person. and I could easily imagine him being a killer. I'd never forgotten him looking at me from his cell, hands high up on the bars. His face was in darkness, but backlit from the light coming in from the tiny window to the rear. He was calm until he wasn't. As I walked away, he started calling my name. Arlene. Arlene. Arlene.

A nearby prisoner yelled, it's Clifford's girlfriend. The angry warden pulled me away as the men yelled from their cells, trying to get us out of the area as fast as possible. As catcalls echoed off the thick concrete walls, it was chaos. It's been more than three decades since that moment, and it still horrifies me.

A nearby prisoner yelled, it's Clifford's girlfriend. The angry warden pulled me away as the men yelled from their cells, trying to get us out of the area as fast as possible. As catcalls echoed off the thick concrete walls, it was chaos. It's been more than three decades since that moment, and it still horrifies me.

In the years that followed, I would report what I could from what Olson told me, until eventually I wasn't able to listen to him any longer.

In the years that followed, I would report what I could from what Olson told me, until eventually I wasn't able to listen to him any longer.

Peter would continue speaking to him long after I stopped, over a decade more. And he would write books and articles about his relationship with Olson. Somehow I never could, but still I kept everything. The dozens, maybe hundreds of letters Olson sent me. The interrogation transcripts and psychiatric reports. The horrific journals where Olson detailed his crimes.

Peter would continue speaking to him long after I stopped, over a decade more. And he would write books and articles about his relationship with Olson. Somehow I never could, but still I kept everything. The dozens, maybe hundreds of letters Olson sent me. The interrogation transcripts and psychiatric reports. The horrific journals where Olson detailed his crimes.

And the tapes, the recordings of our hundreds of calls. It all lived in boxes that I carried with me from house to house wherever I moved. I think I always knew someday I'd return to this story. After Peter's death, I thought I would have to do it alone. Until a message in 2019 came. Nat, I still remember when I got that message from you.

And the tapes, the recordings of our hundreds of calls. It all lived in boxes that I carried with me from house to house wherever I moved. I think I always knew someday I'd return to this story. After Peter's death, I thought I would have to do it alone. Until a message in 2019 came. Nat, I still remember when I got that message from you.

And I don't think you had any idea at what time you were messaging me. You didn't know I'd yanked up the boxes. And I had, and there was this message from Peter's grandson. It was a moment.

And I don't think you had any idea at what time you were messaging me. You didn't know I'd yanked up the boxes. And I had, and there was this message from Peter's grandson. It was a moment.

And for me, for you to send me the message, it was just so full circle on the story, you know. And as you know, I was very clear with you. This thing has been twisting and turning inside me for such a long time. And this whole return to the partnership I had with your granddad, I was about your age and he was about my age.

And for me, for you to send me the message, it was just so full circle on the story, you know. And as you know, I was very clear with you. This thing has been twisting and turning inside me for such a long time. And this whole return to the partnership I had with your granddad, I was about your age and he was about my age.

And he's not here anymore, and here we are, and both of us picking up this story again. I feel the ghost of Peter in this.

And he's not here anymore, and here we are, and both of us picking up this story again. I feel the ghost of Peter in this.

I do, and that's one of the things that sticks out at me. But I also remember when everyone knew the name Clifford Woolso. And when you said it, you could see their face twist. It was a name that was completely connected with evil in this country. But yet now when I look at it, it is incredible that that cash-for-bodies deal happened. and that we forgot about it.

I do, and that's one of the things that sticks out at me. But I also remember when everyone knew the name Clifford Woolso. And when you said it, you could see their face twist. It was a name that was completely connected with evil in this country. But yet now when I look at it, it is incredible that that cash-for-bodies deal happened. and that we forgot about it.