Delia D'Ambra

Hi, park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia D'Ambra. And the case I'm going to tell you about today doesn't technically take place within the bounds of a national or state park. But if you were to look at it from a bird's eye view, it's the closest thing to it. I'm talking about Bonner County, Idaho, which sits extremely close to the US-Canada border.

Hi, park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia D'Ambra. And the case I'm going to tell you about today doesn't technically take place within the bounds of a national or state park. But if you were to look at it from a bird's eye view, it's the closest thing to it. I'm talking about Bonner County, Idaho, which sits extremely close to the US-Canada border.

There's an abundance of animals in this region, including birds of prey, pheasants, and swans. Some rather frightening species of wildlife that roam this terrain include coyotes, mountain lions, black bears, and even grizzly bears. But on a cold January day in 1989, it wasn't apex predators that residents were worried about.

There's an abundance of animals in this region, including birds of prey, pheasants, and swans. Some rather frightening species of wildlife that roam this terrain include coyotes, mountain lions, black bears, and even grizzly bears. But on a cold January day in 1989, it wasn't apex predators that residents were worried about.

It was two armed men, on the loose in the forest, who were responsible for an act of bloodshed that marked one of the most notorious crimes in northern Idaho's history. The devastating impact their actions had on families from this area is as real today as it was 36 years ago.

It was two armed men, on the loose in the forest, who were responsible for an act of bloodshed that marked one of the most notorious crimes in northern Idaho's history. The devastating impact their actions had on families from this area is as real today as it was 36 years ago.

so

so

Around 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11th, 1989, a woman named Tammy Polonick was relaxing with her family inside her mother's house near the small town of Sagal, Idaho. In total, there were nine people in the home. Tammy, who was pregnant, her husband Mark, her brother, her brother's wife, and a few teenagers and kids.

Around 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11th, 1989, a woman named Tammy Polonick was relaxing with her family inside her mother's house near the small town of Sagal, Idaho. In total, there were nine people in the home. Tammy, who was pregnant, her husband Mark, her brother, her brother's wife, and a few teenagers and kids.

Because the house was large and had several stories, it was the perfect place for the group to vacation together while simultaneously acting as house sitters for Tammy's mother, Lee, who happened to be out of town in California.

Because the house was large and had several stories, it was the perfect place for the group to vacation together while simultaneously acting as house sitters for Tammy's mother, Lee, who happened to be out of town in California.

As everyone was settling in for the evening, most of the kids stayed on the entry-level floor of the home, which had some bedrooms and I think the living room, while Tammy and the other adults hung out on the lower level. Sometime shortly after 6.30 p.m., though, she and her husband Mark heard a noticeable thud come from upstairs.

As everyone was settling in for the evening, most of the kids stayed on the entry-level floor of the home, which had some bedrooms and I think the living room, while Tammy and the other adults hung out on the lower level. Sometime shortly after 6.30 p.m., though, she and her husband Mark heard a noticeable thud come from upstairs.

So they decided to check things out, and I imagine just make sure the kids were okay. But when Mark rounded the corner at the top of the staircase that led to the upper level, a man wearing all black confronted him and struck him in the head with the butt of a gun, then said, quote, hey dude, this is for real, end quote.

So they decided to check things out, and I imagine just make sure the kids were okay. But when Mark rounded the corner at the top of the staircase that led to the upper level, a man wearing all black confronted him and struck him in the head with the butt of a gun, then said, quote, hey dude, this is for real, end quote.

Right after hitting Mark, the masked man forced the adults upstairs and it became clear to everyone that there was another assailant in the house helping to corral the family members into the living room. The victims were all directed to lay down on their stomachs and then bound with duct tape to ensure they couldn't escape or fight back.

Right after hitting Mark, the masked man forced the adults upstairs and it became clear to everyone that there was another assailant in the house helping to corral the family members into the living room. The victims were all directed to lay down on their stomachs and then bound with duct tape to ensure they couldn't escape or fight back.

While all of that was going on, the two suspects repeatedly threatened to kill the victims and demanded to know where the home safe was located. Tammy desperately tried to explain to the attackers that there was no safe in her mom's house, but the masked men didn't believe her.

While all of that was going on, the two suspects repeatedly threatened to kill the victims and demanded to know where the home safe was located. Tammy desperately tried to explain to the attackers that there was no safe in her mom's house, but the masked men didn't believe her.