Vanessa Richardson

How he wore a tiny police scanner in his ear so he could track their movements. He knew most officers would be stationed at a festival across town. It's why he chose that night. Importantly, he tells investigators he didn't know Samantha, never met her before that night. He says he only chose that coffee stand because it was open late. Samantha was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

How he wore a tiny police scanner in his ear so he could track their movements. He knew most officers would be stationed at a festival across town. It's why he chose that night. Importantly, he tells investigators he didn't know Samantha, never met her before that night. He says he only chose that coffee stand because it was open late. Samantha was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The district attorney asks Israel where he'd like to start the story of what happened after Samantha's abduction. He says he doesn't want to go through everything beat for beat. So someone suggests they start at the end. What happened to Samantha Koenig?

The district attorney asks Israel where he'd like to start the story of what happened after Samantha's abduction. He says he doesn't want to go through everything beat for beat. So someone suggests they start at the end. What happened to Samantha Koenig?

After returning to the shed with Samantha's ATM card, it was late. Israel raped Samantha twice, strangled her with gloves on, and at some point stabbed her below her right shoulder blade. He then went into the house, took a shower, and woke up his daughter for the cruise. Detectives now have a much clearer picture of the man sitting before them, but it's just the beginning of their education.

After returning to the shed with Samantha's ATM card, it was late. Israel raped Samantha twice, strangled her with gloves on, and at some point stabbed her below her right shoulder blade. He then went into the house, took a shower, and woke up his daughter for the cruise. Detectives now have a much clearer picture of the man sitting before them, but it's just the beginning of their education.

After that initial interview, two different stories emerge. The first is an ending.

After that initial interview, two different stories emerge. The first is an ending.

Israel leads the FBI to Samantha's body, submerged in the vastness of a frozen Alaskan lake. Even with Israel's precise location, it takes teams of divers hours to recover her remains. Her loved ones learned the real origin of that ransom photo, the one that gave them the hope she might still be alive. Israel staged the photograph 11 days after he killed Samantha.

Israel leads the FBI to Samantha's body, submerged in the vastness of a frozen Alaskan lake. Even with Israel's precise location, it takes teams of divers hours to recover her remains. Her loved ones learned the real origin of that ransom photo, the one that gave them the hope she might still be alive. Israel staged the photograph 11 days after he killed Samantha.

Winter temperatures had slowed the decomposition process. Israel had sewn her eyelids open to make her look alive, added makeup, and braided her hair as well. After so many weeks spent missing, after all the suspicion cast on her father and boyfriend, the ransom note and close calls, no one could have predicted this. The city of Anchorage hosts a memorial for Samantha.

Winter temperatures had slowed the decomposition process. Israel had sewn her eyelids open to make her look alive, added makeup, and braided her hair as well. After so many weeks spent missing, after all the suspicion cast on her father and boyfriend, the ransom note and close calls, no one could have predicted this. The city of Anchorage hosts a memorial for Samantha.

Hundreds attend to honor a life cut unimaginably short. Many come wearing lime green, Samantha's favorite color. They match the balloons released into the sky and the embroidered wings on the back of James Koenig's vest. It's not the ending anyone wanted. The pain and grief from losing someone so young, amplified by knowing what a stranger put them through in their final hours.

Hundreds attend to honor a life cut unimaginably short. Many come wearing lime green, Samantha's favorite color. They match the balloons released into the sky and the embroidered wings on the back of James Koenig's vest. It's not the ending anyone wanted. The pain and grief from losing someone so young, amplified by knowing what a stranger put them through in their final hours.

Trying to not let their last chapter of life overshadow everything before it. And on top of it all, to be told it was just a random act of violence. A whim. Bad luck. On another day, it could have been someone else. Samantha's boyfriend, Dwayne, learns he was the lucky one. Israel almost abducted him and Samantha together as a pair. At least, that's what Israel tells the FBI.

Trying to not let their last chapter of life overshadow everything before it. And on top of it all, to be told it was just a random act of violence. A whim. Bad luck. On another day, it could have been someone else. Samantha's boyfriend, Dwayne, learns he was the lucky one. Israel almost abducted him and Samantha together as a pair. At least, that's what Israel tells the FBI.

The second story that emerges after that first interview is only just beginning.

The second story that emerges after that first interview is only just beginning.

operating for more than a decade and that they believe there could be victims in other states as well by the time the fbi finishes going through israel's two computers he had already destroyed a third with a hammer they find hundreds of photos of people some alongside missing person flyers and news articles about disappearances nothing obvious connects them

operating for more than a decade and that they believe there could be victims in other states as well by the time the fbi finishes going through israel's two computers he had already destroyed a third with a hammer they find hundreds of photos of people some alongside missing person flyers and news articles about disappearances nothing obvious connects them