Detective

Okay.

What the neighbor says next would become crucial information for detectives once they had Michael Strauss in an interrogation room.

What the neighbor says next would become crucial information for detectives once they had Michael Strauss in an interrogation room.

What the neighbor says next would become crucial information for detectives once they had Michael Strauss in an interrogation room.

This flashing incident wasn't just a strange rumor. It was a documented crime. Michael Strauss had been convicted of jerking off in a grocery store parking lot, an act that landed him a year of probation. To Michael's neighbor, it was just another odd chapter in his long history of strange behavior. But for detectives, it was something they'd tuck away in the back of their minds.

This flashing incident wasn't just a strange rumor. It was a documented crime. Michael Strauss had been convicted of jerking off in a grocery store parking lot, an act that landed him a year of probation. To Michael's neighbor, it was just another odd chapter in his long history of strange behavior. But for detectives, it was something they'd tuck away in the back of their minds.

This flashing incident wasn't just a strange rumor. It was a documented crime. Michael Strauss had been convicted of jerking off in a grocery store parking lot, an act that landed him a year of probation. To Michael's neighbor, it was just another odd chapter in his long history of strange behavior. But for detectives, it was something they'd tuck away in the back of their minds.

And yet, despite his oddities, Michael could come across as completely ordinary, at least on the surface.

And yet, despite his oddities, Michael could come across as completely ordinary, at least on the surface.

And yet, despite his oddities, Michael could come across as completely ordinary, at least on the surface.

When the time came to bring Michael in for questioning, they already knew what to expect. A man who couldn't resist spinning stories. Pretty quickly, though, detectives realized that Michael's neighbor had not been exaggerating.

When the time came to bring Michael in for questioning, they already knew what to expect. A man who couldn't resist spinning stories. Pretty quickly, though, detectives realized that Michael's neighbor had not been exaggerating.

When the time came to bring Michael in for questioning, they already knew what to expect. A man who couldn't resist spinning stories. Pretty quickly, though, detectives realized that Michael's neighbor had not been exaggerating.

The plan was just to let Michael talk. Detectives wanted to get to know this strange guy with long dreadlocks piled on top of his head. They wanted to make a false connection, making him feel like he could trust them. You can't. You can't, by the way. You can't trust cops. This was the same approach they took with everyone they interviewed in this case.

The plan was just to let Michael talk. Detectives wanted to get to know this strange guy with long dreadlocks piled on top of his head. They wanted to make a false connection, making him feel like he could trust them. You can't. You can't, by the way. You can't trust cops. This was the same approach they took with everyone they interviewed in this case.

The plan was just to let Michael talk. Detectives wanted to get to know this strange guy with long dreadlocks piled on top of his head. They wanted to make a false connection, making him feel like he could trust them. You can't. You can't, by the way. You can't trust cops. This was the same approach they took with everyone they interviewed in this case.

If they scared anyone away, they could lose a potential lead. And Ellie may never be found.

If they scared anyone away, they could lose a potential lead. And Ellie may never be found.

If they scared anyone away, they could lose a potential lead. And Ellie may never be found.

All right. All right. Do you guys believe that? Me neither.