Janice Morgan

In 1990, the Esoton and Lewiston police departments made a huge discovery. Frank, their main person of interest, had just poured a layer of concrete into the basement of one of his properties. A chilling development. Authorities worried he was trying to hide something beneath that concrete.

In 1990, the Esoton and Lewiston police departments made a huge discovery. Frank, their main person of interest, had just poured a layer of concrete into the basement of one of his properties. A chilling development. Authorities worried he was trying to hide something beneath that concrete.

Not missing a beat, they obtained a search warrant and arrived at Frank's property with radars and cadaver dogs in tow. Despite the impulse to tear up every last inch of the basement, Assotin County Sheriff John Jeffers was methodical.

Not missing a beat, they obtained a search warrant and arrived at Frank's property with radars and cadaver dogs in tow. Despite the impulse to tear up every last inch of the basement, Assotin County Sheriff John Jeffers was methodical.

He and his team tested different areas, using specialized equipment to look for aberrations or empty spaces beneath the concrete, signs that they should start digging. They narrowed in on one spot they believed was big enough to hide a body, and Jeffers ordered his men to start excavating. As the dig started, he watched and waited, positive this was the moment they'd all been waiting for.

He and his team tested different areas, using specialized equipment to look for aberrations or empty spaces beneath the concrete, signs that they should start digging. They narrowed in on one spot they believed was big enough to hide a body, and Jeffers ordered his men to start excavating. As the dig started, he watched and waited, positive this was the moment they'd all been waiting for.

Finally, he could put this case to bed and send the man responsible to prison. When the digging was done, no one said anything. Sheriff Jeffers stepped forward and peered into the ground. Nothing was there. This marked the end of an era. Authorities didn't have probable cause to question Frank again or to search any more of his properties.

Finally, he could put this case to bed and send the man responsible to prison. When the digging was done, no one said anything. Sheriff Jeffers stepped forward and peered into the ground. Nothing was there. This marked the end of an era. Authorities didn't have probable cause to question Frank again or to search any more of his properties.

Until they could find something more definitive, they had to stop investigating him. So the cases went cold. Although Christina White and Steven Pearsall's bodies hadn't been found by this point, most people assumed they were dead. Because of this, all five cases became known as the Lewis-Clark Valley Murders.

Until they could find something more definitive, they had to stop investigating him. So the cases went cold. Although Christina White and Steven Pearsall's bodies hadn't been found by this point, most people assumed they were dead. Because of this, all five cases became known as the Lewis-Clark Valley Murders.

Over the coming decades, most of the officers who worked the original investigations retired. The pain of the crimes dulled, but nobody in the valley forgot. Then, in the 2000s, a new detective joined the Esotan County Sheriff's Office. Her name was Jackie Nichols, and she breathed new life into the cold cases. Since she was based in Esotan, she specifically focused on Christina White.

Over the coming decades, most of the officers who worked the original investigations retired. The pain of the crimes dulled, but nobody in the valley forgot. Then, in the 2000s, a new detective joined the Esotan County Sheriff's Office. Her name was Jackie Nichols, and she breathed new life into the cold cases. Since she was based in Esotan, she specifically focused on Christina White.

Although nearly 30 years had passed since her disappearance, Jackie considered it her job to figure out what happened. She hoped to finally give Christina's family answers. So she poured over all the evidence. She re-interviewed the witnesses. She retraced the steps of both the victims and her prime person of interest.

Although nearly 30 years had passed since her disappearance, Jackie considered it her job to figure out what happened. She hoped to finally give Christina's family answers. So she poured over all the evidence. She re-interviewed the witnesses. She retraced the steps of both the victims and her prime person of interest.

Like her predecessors, she believed Frank was responsible for at least four of the disappearances and deaths. In her mind, there was only one that could potentially be the work of another, second killer. That's Kristen David's case, the 22-year-old who went missing on her bike ride. Jackie thought the way Kristen's body was dismembered didn't match the M.O. in the other cases.

Like her predecessors, she believed Frank was responsible for at least four of the disappearances and deaths. In her mind, there was only one that could potentially be the work of another, second killer. That's Kristen David's case, the 22-year-old who went missing on her bike ride. Jackie thought the way Kristen's body was dismembered didn't match the M.O. in the other cases.

So Jackie looked into a lead for a potential suspect, a convicted murderer named Harry Hantman. In 1968, when Hantman was college-aged, he was arrested for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was sentenced to stay in a psychiatric hospital. Five years later, he escaped and went on the run.

So Jackie looked into a lead for a potential suspect, a convicted murderer named Harry Hantman. In 1968, when Hantman was college-aged, he was arrested for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was sentenced to stay in a psychiatric hospital. Five years later, he escaped and went on the run.

He spent the next two decades hiding out in a cabin on the Idaho-Oregon border. It's about 100 miles away from the Lewis-Clark Valley, but still close enough that he could have easily made a day trip. Eventually, Hantman was caught and returned to prison in 1993. But that was 12 years after Kristen David's death. It's possible he killed her.

He spent the next two decades hiding out in a cabin on the Idaho-Oregon border. It's about 100 miles away from the Lewis-Clark Valley, but still close enough that he could have easily made a day trip. Eventually, Hantman was caught and returned to prison in 1993. But that was 12 years after Kristen David's death. It's possible he killed her.