Steve Fishman, Narrator

The Zieglers felt Collier needed to integrate into their family. And the Mesmores might unintentionally get in the way. The Zieglers were already encountering challenges.

The Zieglers felt Collier needed to integrate into their family. And the Mesmores might unintentionally get in the way. The Zieglers were already encountering challenges.

Collier had all the problems of a normal teenager, but with higher stakes. The Zieglers didn't always appreciate his rich imagination. Did Collier always tell the truth? No.

Collier had all the problems of a normal teenager, but with higher stakes. The Zieglers didn't always appreciate his rich imagination. Did Collier always tell the truth? No.

No.

No.

The Zieglers did the best they could for Collier. They took him in, nurtured him, protected him, loved him in their own way. They were generous. They bought him a new car for his 16th birthday. But Collier was an unusual kid who'd gone through something unimaginable. He still felt alone, rejected, a lost boy. The Zieglers couldn't understand what he'd been through. Who would?

The Zieglers did the best they could for Collier. They took him in, nurtured him, protected him, loved him in their own way. They were generous. They bought him a new car for his 16th birthday. But Collier was an unusual kid who'd gone through something unimaginable. He still felt alone, rejected, a lost boy. The Zieglers couldn't understand what he'd been through. Who would?

Well, there was one person who just might. And so Kalia reached out.

Well, there was one person who just might. And so Kalia reached out.

Imagine, a son reaches out to his father, the father convicted of murdering his mother. Just months after the trial ended, Collier did just that, writing to his father in prison. They'd go on to exchange hundreds of messages. We have copies of most of them, and they're a treasure trove of insights. They're heartbreaking, disturbing, sometimes almost unbearable.

Imagine, a son reaches out to his father, the father convicted of murdering his mother. Just months after the trial ended, Collier did just that, writing to his father in prison. They'd go on to exchange hundreds of messages. We have copies of most of them, and they're a treasure trove of insights. They're heartbreaking, disturbing, sometimes almost unbearable.

In the early letters, Jack seems desperate for a relationship with Collier. He's careful, encouraging, full of praise. He calls Collier by his childhood nickname, Bumper, and signs off, I love you and miss you, XXXOO. He even sends presents on Collier's birthday, like a jewelry box he made out of popsicle sticks. Jack writes often. Collier responds less often.

In the early letters, Jack seems desperate for a relationship with Collier. He's careful, encouraging, full of praise. He calls Collier by his childhood nickname, Bumper, and signs off, I love you and miss you, XXXOO. He even sends presents on Collier's birthday, like a jewelry box he made out of popsicle sticks. Jack writes often. Collier responds less often.

Maybe it's the tenor of Jack's letters. He gives Collier fatherly advice, but it's generic and stern. At one point, he writes, as I have repeated over and over to you, your education is the number one in your life. Elsewhere, he writes, don't procrastinate. It's a bad habit. It's like Jack doesn't know anything about Collier. He could be writing to anyone's kid.

Maybe it's the tenor of Jack's letters. He gives Collier fatherly advice, but it's generic and stern. At one point, he writes, as I have repeated over and over to you, your education is the number one in your life. Elsewhere, he writes, don't procrastinate. It's a bad habit. It's like Jack doesn't know anything about Collier. He could be writing to anyone's kid.

At one point, Jackson's Collier a video. It's shot in the prison against a painted background. Sky, mountains, a red race car. It's like a prisoner's dream. Jack is in his blue prison uniform, gray-haired and wearing glasses.

At one point, Jackson's Collier a video. It's shot in the prison against a painted background. Sky, mountains, a red race car. It's like a prisoner's dream. Jack is in his blue prison uniform, gray-haired and wearing glasses.

The video is awkward. It's as if Jack doesn't have much to say.

The video is awkward. It's as if Jack doesn't have much to say.