Peter Van Sant

It was the end of September 1996, a Saturday night, a fishing area just outside of Bozeman, Montana, a place of tranquility until this night. A few miles up a rural highway near the small town of Belgrade, searchers discovered the body of 15-year-old Danny Houchens. What brought your sister, Danny, down to this area back on September 21, 1996?

Now people wonder, how does a 15-year-old get a driver's license?

Now people wonder, how does a 15-year-old get a driver's license?

Now people wonder, how does a 15-year-old get a driver's license?

She hops into her Chevy pickup truck. Why would she come to this place if she wanted to just kind of take a break? It's peaceful. After Danny's pickup truck was located, a sheriff's posse had searched this wilderness for Danny until it got too dark. But that same night, two brothers, friends of the Houchens family, refused to call it quits.

She hops into her Chevy pickup truck. Why would she come to this place if she wanted to just kind of take a break? It's peaceful. After Danny's pickup truck was located, a sheriff's posse had searched this wilderness for Danny until it got too dark. But that same night, two brothers, friends of the Houchens family, refused to call it quits.

She hops into her Chevy pickup truck. Why would she come to this place if she wanted to just kind of take a break? It's peaceful. After Danny's pickup truck was located, a sheriff's posse had searched this wilderness for Danny until it got too dark. But that same night, two brothers, friends of the Houchens family, refused to call it quits.

So they came down this very path at night with their flashlights. That's right. They went across this bridge, right? Somehow, in the dense, muddy woods, they found her body.

So they came down this very path at night with their flashlights. That's right. They went across this bridge, right? Somehow, in the dense, muddy woods, they found her body.

So they came down this very path at night with their flashlights. That's right. They went across this bridge, right? Somehow, in the dense, muddy woods, they found her body.

Keith Farquhar, then a Gallatin County Sheriff's deputy, was the first officer on the scene. In the first hours after Danny was found, no one was really sure what had happened to her. Did this look like an accident scene or something else? Something entirely different.

Keith Farquhar, then a Gallatin County Sheriff's deputy, was the first officer on the scene. In the first hours after Danny was found, no one was really sure what had happened to her. Did this look like an accident scene or something else? Something entirely different.

Keith Farquhar, then a Gallatin County Sheriff's deputy, was the first officer on the scene. In the first hours after Danny was found, no one was really sure what had happened to her. Did this look like an accident scene or something else? Something entirely different.

And is it possible to put into words the shock and horror of that moment?

And is it possible to put into words the shock and horror of that moment?

And is it possible to put into words the shock and horror of that moment?

Rochelle Schrute went to school with Stephanie and Danny.

Rochelle Schrute went to school with Stephanie and Danny.

Rochelle Schrute went to school with Stephanie and Danny.

The sisters love the Montana wilderness.