Post Mortem | It’s About Danni

Summary

48 Hours Post Mortem: It’s About Danni – A Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Post Mortem | It’s About Danni
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Hosts: Ann Marie Green, Peter Van Sant (Correspondent), Lauren Clark (Producer)

---

Introduction

In this compelling episode of "Post Mortem," hosted by Ann Marie Green, the team delves deep into the tragic and complex case of Danny Houchens. Originally aired on February 11, 2025, the discussion brings together CBS News correspondent Peter Van Sant and producer Lauren Clark to unpack the intricate investigation that spanned nearly three decades.

---

Background of the Case

In September 1996, the peaceful community near the Gallatin River, just outside Bozeman, Montana, was shaken by the discovery of Danny Houchens' lifeless body. The initial autopsy reported the manner of death as undetermined, and the sheriff's department suggested it might have been an accidental drowning. However, Danny's family harbored lingering suspicions of foul play, a sentiment that would persist for nearly 28 years until a breakthrough emerged.

---

Initial Investigation and Missteps

One of the most perplexing aspects of the original investigation was the sheriff's department's handling of the case. In 1996, Sheriff Bill Slaughter publicly stated there was no evidence of foul play. However, the coroner's report revealed concerning details, including water and mud inhalation, cuts and bruises, and potential signs of sexual assault.

Lauren Clark [02:31]:
"The Sheriff's Department publicly said that there was actually no indication of foul play here with Danny's death."

Peter Van Sant expressed ongoing bafflement regarding these discrepancies.

Peter Van Sant [02:31]:
"Why not say that this was a murder? The killer knew it was a murder. I understand details of the investigation you may not want a suspect to know, but just the basic fact as to whether or not it's a murder, that still baffles me to this day."

Despite Sheriff Slaughter's assurances that Danny's death was always treated as a homicide, the lack of transparency left the family and the community confused and distrustful.

---

The Role of Stephanie Houchens

Danny's sister, Stephanie Houchens, emerged as a pivotal figure in seeking justice. At just 12 years old when Danny was killed, Stephanie struggled with the loss, constantly questioning the nature of her sister's death.

Lauren Clark [06:19]:
"Stephanie is really kind of a remarkable woman. She was 12 years old when Dani was killed... She tried to keep it together and be strong for them because she knew that they were going to a lot."

For years, Stephanie sought answers, pushing the boundaries of her grief to reopen the investigation. Her relentless pursuit culminated in 2020 when she was granted access to the investigation files and autopsy photos, revealing the sheriff's department's true stance on the case.

Peter Van Sant [07:30]:
"Stephanie had always promised her sister in her thoughts that she was not going to let this case die. And it just reached a point where now was the time... She is the champion in this and one of the most compelling characters I have ever interviewed for a 48 Hours episode."

---

Reopening the Case with Sheriff Dan Springer and Tom Elfmont

In 2021, newly appointed Sheriff Dan Springer took a renewed interest in the cold case. Despite having only been on the job for five days when Danny's body was found, Springer's integrity and determination led him to commit fully to solving the case.

Peter Van Sant [08:19]:
"Sheriff Dan Springer is a man of absolute integrity. Once he became the sheriff, this case, that haunted him as well, he wanted to return to it and looked Stephanie in the eye and said, we are going to solve this."

Sheriff Springer enlisted the expertise of Tom Elfmont, a retired LAPD captain, whose extensive investigative experience became instrumental in advancing the case.

Lauren Clark [08:56]:
"Elfmont enlists the help of CeCe Moore, an investigative genetic genealogist... At this point, it's the path to justice."

---

Advances in DNA Technology and Investigation

A significant turning point in the investigation was the advancement in DNA technology. Tom Elfmont advocated for retesting the semen found on Danny's clothes using the latest DNA techniques. Although initial tests produced partial profiles, they did not match any entries in existing databases.

Lauren Clark [11:58]:
"These were naturally shed arm hairs... Astraea Labs... they literally grind down biological samples to get as much of the DNA as they can."

With persistent effort and financial backing from Sheriff Springer, Elfmont collaborated with pioneering labs to extract DNA from rootless hairs—an innovative approach that provided the necessary leads.

Peter Van Sant [12:39]:
"Think about this. It's like a time machine. They're able to go back generations and then work their way forward to find someone. It's almost magic."

---

Identification and Confrontation of Paul Hutchinson

The breakthrough came when investigative genetic genealogist CeCe Moore constructed a family tree from the DNA profiles, ultimately identifying Paul Hutchinson as the prime suspect. Hutchinson, a respected member of the community with no prior criminal record, worked for the Bureau of Land Management and was actively engaged in turkey hunting—an activity that provided him with ample opportunities to commit crimes unnoticed.

Lauren Clark [16:31]:
"Hutchinson was a big turkey hunter, traveling across the country... it's very easy for him to get in and out of somewhere. No one even knew he was there."

When confronted by Elfmont and another detective, Hutchinson exhibited extreme nervousness, a clear sign of guilt.

Peter Van Sant [19:15]:
"He went from being calm and collected to sweating. He was very nervous. They pointed out that he leaned back in the chair to get as far away from them as he possibly could psychologically."

Tragically, before the authorities could arrest him, Hutchinson drove to a remote area and took his own life. His DNA was confirmed as a match to the evidence found on Danny’s body, bringing a somber conclusion to the case.

---

Resolution and Aftermath

The resolution of the case, while providing some closure, left Danny's family grappling with the loss without the chance for a formal trial. Stephanie recounted receiving the devastating news and the subsequent emotional impact.

Ann Marie Green [20:13]:
"It was heartbreaking. It really is. The questions they have, the why, the how, the what actually happened... it just gone now for them."

In a poignant finale, Stephanie honored her sister by spreading Danny's ashes in the Gallatin River, reclaiming the site of her tragic death and transforming it into a place of remembrance and peace.

Peter Van Sant [21:00]:
"I celebrate that a violent predator is no longer able to victimize other women and girls. I celebrate that my fight for my sister is over."

---

Final Reflections

The episode concludes with reflections on the profound nature of murder and the enduring impact it has on victims' families. Stephanie's unwavering determination and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement serve as a testament to the pursuit of justice, even in the face of immense challenges.

Lauren Clark [22:23]:
"If you like the series postmortem, please rate and review 48 hours on Apple Podcasts and follow 48 hours wherever you get your podcast."

---

Conclusion

"It’s About Danni" is a heartrending yet inspiring exploration of a cold case reopened through relentless dedication, advanced technology, and the unyielding quest for truth. The episode not only highlights the systemic issues within initial investigations but also celebrates the heroes who refuse to let justice slip away.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Van Sant [02:31]: "Why not say that this was a murder? The killer knew it was a murder... that still baffles me to this day."
• Lauren Clark [06:19]: "Stephanie is really kind of a remarkable woman... trying to keep it together and be strong for them."
• Peter Van Sant [07:30]: "She is the champion in this and one of the most compelling characters I have ever interviewed for a 48 Hours episode."
• Lauren Clark [11:58]: "These were naturally shed arm hairs... they literally grind down biological samples to get as much of the DNA as they can."
• Peter Van Sant [21:00]: "I celebrate that a violent predator is no longer able to victimize other women and girls. I celebrate that my fight for my sister is over."

---

This episode of "48 Hours Post Mortem" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, technological advancements in solving crimes, and the enduring human spirit in the face of tragedy.

Transcript

[Ann Marie Green]

This episode is brought to you by Meundies Underwear. Drawers are like the Wild West. You never know what you're gonna pull out or what shape it's in. So upgrade your collection with the buttery, soft comfort of Meundies. Meundies signature fabric is as soft as a warm hug from your favorite sweater. Plus, it's breathable and oh, so comfy, making it ideal for all day wear. Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping at MeUndies.com Spotify with code Spotify. That's MeUndies.com Spotify. Code Spotify.

[Peter Van Sant]

Let the bodies hit them.

[Ann Marie Green]

Think about how screwed up we would.

[Lauren Clark]

Be if we had survived a plane.

[Ann Marie Green]

Crash only to end up eating each other. The only way to truly be safe is to be the only one left.

[Peter Van Sant]

You really are insane.

[Lauren Clark]

Yellow jackets new season streaming February 14th on the Paramount plus with Showtime Plan. Welcome to Postmortem. I'm your host, Ann Marie Green, and today we're discussing the case of Danny Houchens. In September 1996, Danny was found dead near the Gallatin River. That's just outside of Bozeman, Montana. After an autopsy declared the manner of death undetermined, the sheriff's department said it could have been an accidental drowning. In the following years, though, Danny's family tried to move on, but always suspected that her death was no accident. And almost 28 years later, her killer was found. So with me now to discuss this case is 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant and producer Lauren Clark. Welcome.

[Peter Van Sant]

Hey, good to see you again, Ann Marie.

[Ann Marie Green]

Thanks for having us. Annemarie.

[Lauren Clark]

All right, guys, as usual, remember, if you haven't listened to this episode of 48 Hours, head on over to your podcast feed. You can find the full episode of this case right underneath this podcast that you're listening to right now. Go listen and then come on back so we can have this conversation. All right, let's get into this. One of the things that really stood out to me about this case is the fact that in 1996, the Sheriff's Department publicly said that there was actually no indication of foul play here with Danny's death. They withheld details from the coroner's report that said that Danny had inhaled water and mud, that she had cuts and bruises on her body, and that there were signs of a possible sexual assault. Why did investigators originally not release this information?

[Peter Van Sant]

Well, it all depends on who you talk to. And we spoke with a lot of people involved in this investigation, and I have to admit, I remain baffled to this day. Why not Say that this was a murder. The killer knew it was a murder. Right. I understand details of the investigation you may not want a suspect to know. Right. But just the basic fact as to whether or not it's a murder, that still baffles me to this day. And it baffled people back in the day in 1996 in Montana, Deputy Farquhar could not believe what his sheriff's department was putting out there. He still can't explain. He's still baffled. And Deputy Farquhar, who today is a veterinarian, ended up leaving eventually the sheriff's department out of frustration in all of this. So it is one of these things that is baffling to me. But some of our people ended up speaking to the sheriff back in the day.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah. My co producer, Chuck, gave a call to Bill Slaughter. He was the gallant county Sheriff back in 1996. And he was upfront with Chuck. He said, we sometimes withhold information so that we know when someone does come forward that that's the real information, that we don't have it all out in the press, that this is often common in investigations. But he says he never lied to the family. But, you know, for the family, that doesn't really help. They were left with this impression for so many years.

[Peter Van Sant]

And back in 1996, he told the media that there was no evidence of foul play. And we can say, we know today, that simply was not true.

[Ann Marie Green]

The coroner's report said that her manner of death was undetermined. So while Sheriff Slaughter said, you know, we always investigated this as a homicide, there wasn't that, like, conclusive evidence that said this was a murder. But, you know, this was something that really bothered a lot of people in the sheriff's office for a long time because they knew, like, Danny's family knew. Danny was an outdoors person. She was comfortable in the mountains. She was wearing a leg brace at the time, which is something I think investigators did take into account. But Deputy Farquhar told us that he talked to Danny's doctor at the time, and her doctor said there was no reason for her not to be able, even with a leg brace, to be able to turn herself over in that mud and still survive if it had been an accidental trip or a fall.

[Lauren Clark]

I'm glad, Lauren, that you said that they always investigated it as a homicide. But I also think what opportunities were missed if the public knew that they were looking for someone. Maybe other people were out there at that time and, you know, they might have seen someone else out there talking to her. But if you don't know. You're looking for another person, you're not going to, you know, try to help.

[Ann Marie Green]

In that manner, or just the thought that there was a killer on the loose in their small town.

[Lauren Clark]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Peter Van Sant]

And again, this is a first for me. I've never known a law enforcement agency at any level to withhold from the public that it was a murder.

[Lauren Clark]

Yeah.

[Peter Van Sant]

To suggest that it was an accident or may have been an accident. As you said, everyone downshifts, Anne Marie. Right. They're not as concerned. They don't have a threat in the community. They're not racking their brains. What did I see that day in that area, in this public fishing area. And there could have been opportunity lost there.

[Lauren Clark]

So, you know, a lot of times when people ask me about working for 48 hours, and they say, isn't it sort of depressing to focus on these topics? And I always tell them, in every story, there are heroes, and there are a few. In this story, Dani's sister Stephanie, is definitely one of them. Lauren, you spent a lot of time talking to her. She struggled her entire life to accept Danny's death as an accident. She couldn't shake the feeling that her sister had been murdered. But it wasn't until years later that Stephanie pushed the sheriff's department to reopen the investigation. What prompted her to take action?

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, I think. I think Stephanie is really kind of a remarkable woman. She was 12 years old when Dani was killed. And in our show, she says, you know, I tried to be strong for my parents. Dani was killed on a Saturday. She went back to school on Monday. Mm. And she was just trying to keep it together and be strong for them because she knew that they were going to a lot. But this really, really affected her. I mean, this was her big, cool sister. It was like the mid-90s. She was, like, all grunge. She was just everything Stephanie wanted to be. So then Stephanie growing up and having that void in her life and always having these questions, you know, it was hard for her. She told us, you know, every year, her mom would send a note or call the sheriff's office, be like, hey, is anything going on? But it wasn't really a big push, and Stephanie kind of wanted to. To really push and ask questions, but some friends told her, like, make sure you're in a good place to take this on, because once you take this on, it's going to be a lot. So it took a little while, and she got to a place where she really felt like, all right, now's the time. And so it wasn't until really 2020 that she was let in to see the pieces of the investigation, to see the autopsy. She chose to look at the autopsy photos herself. And that's when she was told that, no, they really believe that this was a homicide.

[Peter Van Sant]

And the thing about Stephanie, all these years, she had always promised her sister in her thoughts that she was not going to let this case die. And it just reached a point where now was the time, as Lauren said, for her to move forward. And she is the champion in this and one of the most compelling characters I have ever interviewed for a 48 Hours episode.

[Lauren Clark]

Right. Another big driving force is Sheriff dan Springer in 2021. He's a newly appointed sheriff, and he tells Stephanie, I am making a promise that we will find an answer to this case, which I thought was quite a hefty promise to make. So I want to talk about him and just why Springer decided that this was the cold case that he was going to dig into and he was going to solve.

[Peter Van Sant]

I think everyone touched by this case was haunted by it all this time. Keep in mind Sheriff Dan Springer. He'd just been on the job for five days with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department when Danny's body was found. If there's one thing that we learned in this, Sheriff Dan Springer is a man of absolute integrity. And once he became the big dog, you know, the sheriff in the department, this case, that haunted him as well, he wanted to return to it and looked Stephanie in the eye and said, we are going to solve this. He played such a crucial role in this.

[Lauren Clark]

And then there's another hero in Danny's case. Springer enlists the help of a former investigator, Tom Elfmont. Tom Elfmont was a former LAPD captain. He retires, and he moves to Boseman. How did Springer even find him?

[Peter Van Sant]

Well, meeting this guy, you instantly love him. I mean, Lauren was there, too. We're just having a brief conversation about how he got involved with this. He starts talking about Danny, and tears come to his eyes. He tears up. This is a guy who was a tough LAPD police captain, right? He'd seen everything in Los Angeles county and investigated every kind of crime. But when law enforcement people retire, they oftentimes get in the private security business. He has a business, a number of employees, so he kept his network of contacts out there. And eventually Sheriff Springer learns of his presence. This wealth of experience and investigative talent is, you know, living on the top of a mountain just outside of town. And Springer reached out to him and Elfmont said yes, which is, of course, crucial in this case.

[Lauren Clark]

Yeah.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah. Elfman's dedication to this really was key to getting this solved. I mean, we've read his case notes. He did everything. He talked to everyone he could. And he had the enthusiasm to think outside the box a little bit, which ended up being what this case really needed.

[Peter Van Sant]

Prepare to be entertained. Gladiator 2 is now streaming on Paramount.

[Ann Marie Green]

You hear that crowd?

[Peter Van Sant]

It's ferociously entertaining. I'm just here for the games. And an absolute triumph.

[Ann Marie Green]

Take your father's strength.

[Peter Van Sant]

His name is Maximus.

[Ann Marie Green]

Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal. With Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

[Peter Van Sant]

Strength and honor. Strength and honor. Gladiator 2, directed by Ridley Scott.

[Ann Marie Green]

Now streaming on Paramount.

[Peter Van Sant]

Plus rated R.

[Lauren Clark]

Welcome back, everyone. We are going to dig into the science here. Tom Elmont's investigation really starts to gain. Gain momentum when he pushes the Montana State Crime Lab to retest the semen that was found on Danny's clothes. With their newest DNA technology. Now, the lab does manage to get a partial DNA profile, but it didn't match any of the names in their System or in CODIS, which is the FBI's national DNA database. But there were also four rootless male hairs found on Danny that were preserved. And the private lab was able to extract DNA from one of those hairs. I didn't realize that that was even a possibility now, to tell you the truth, because normally you need. When we say rootless, we're talking about that sort of white bulb that's at the end of a hair when it gets yanked out. This didn't have that. You know, tell me a little bit more about this technology and how they were able to do this.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's pretty wild, honestly, what they're able to do. Now, these weren't just rootless hairs. These were, like, naturally shed arm hairs. They thought so. They're like, little too. But back in 1996, you know, DNA technology was relatively new. It's not nearly advanced as where we are now. This is something that is still new in the law enforcement community. That this is a possibility that, you know, there are these companies out there like this Astraea Labs that Tom Elfman connected with that they have, like, their own proprietary methods and software where they literally grind down biological samples to get as much of the DNA, as much of the cells in there as they can. And then they use computer to amplify the DNA in there.

[Lauren Clark]

Sounds expensive.

[Ann Marie Green]

So, yeah. Another thing about, you know, these DNA tests, they are very expensive. It can get into the thousands of dollars. And something in this case that really stood out to us is Tom Elfman told us he went to Sheriff Springer and was like, hey, can I spend some money here? Could I go to these outside labs? And Sheriff Springer told him, like, do what you gotta do. I'm not gonna let money get in the way of this. And that was a really big commitment and something that enabled them to do the testing they needed to get the break in this case. And think about just, like, how many cold cases are out there where there's evidence in, like, the back of a file cabinet in the basement of the sheriff's office. You know, if something could be retested now or new eyes put on it. I mean, it's a total game changer.

[Peter Van Sant]

Think about this. It's like a time machine. They're able to go back generations and then work their way forward to find someone. It's almost magic. It really is.

[Ann Marie Green]

Mm.

[Lauren Clark]

Which brings me to CC Moore, because it's one thing to have a DNA profile, but if you can't match it to a person, then it doesn't really matter. So Elfmont enlists the help of CeCe Moore, an investigative genetic genealogist. She's worked for law enforcement to build family trees from DNA samples and identify killers. So in 2024, CECE was able to identify several family members who were related to this DNA profile. Eventually, though, she zeroes in on Paul Hutchinson because he's post that he moved to Montana in 1996, and he moved to Bozeman. And this is just months before Danny is murdered. First off, what was the moment like for CeCe Moore when she realized, here are all the dots, and now the lines are like, I have a picture.

[Peter Van Sant]

Well, remember, once they get that DNA readings, they're able to then get into DNA databases, and they found this link to the suspect, Hutchinson. So for cece, who's been doing this for a while, it's extraordinarily exciting. It's what she lives for. But it's also a very sobering thing because now you can go to that person's social media. She learned that Hutchinson was a big time hunter. He's married, has two kids. And she realizes that these people's lives are about to go off a cliff when she brings this forward. So it's excitement that is tempered a bit with this sobering reality of what the consequences will be. But finally, it is the path to justice.

[Lauren Clark]

So let's talk a little bit about these public DNA databases, because I think some people, they Wanted to, you know, see if they were related to the Queen of England or something like that. So they signed up for Ancestry. We're not talking about a database necessarily like that.

[Ann Marie Green]

No. And it's actually. There's two parts to cece's work. She starts with the unknown suspect DNA profile. They get permission to test it against databases where people have volunteered. Basically, they take the DNA profile that they've gotten from like, a 23andMe or an ancestry, you know, one of those kits you do at home. But then individual users can choose to take that profile and upload it to different sites that contain these databases. And they do have to opt in for law enforcement to be able to search their profile in these. In this case especially, because in Montana, there are also a lot of personal freedom laws. So Tom Elfmont actually needed to get a subpoena from a judge to some of these companies for them to be able to, you know, basically compare the suspect DNA profile to these databases. So once they do that, they get a list of people that have similar DNA to the suspect, and that's when CeCe gets to work. And then the next stage of her work, she does use ancestry.com she uses public records like the Mormon Church, has a giant database of family trees and everything. She goes through everything, and that's where she's piecing in those common connections.

[Lauren Clark]

Fascinating. So, as Peter pointed out, the suspect, Paul Hutchinson, he's well respected. He's working for the Bureau of Land Management in Montana. He also has no criminal record, so he's definitely managed to stay under the radar for many, many years. I know. I thought, there's no way that this is the only thing this guy has ever done, because it. It's. You know, it's a murder and a sexual assault. Is there any thought that there. There could be other victims?

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, I mean, Tom Elfman is, as we said, a really experienced investigator. And if we had that first thought, he definitely had that first thought of, are there more victims out there? And he told us, you know, it's not unlikely, especially for a sexual assault like this, for someone to have done it again. As of this day, we don't know, but they are actively investigating because Hutchinson was a big turkey hunter, and there's this thing in the turkey hunting community called the US Super Slam, where you kill a turkey in every state except Alaska. So he was working towards this kind of certificate, traveling all over the country in these remote backwoods areas. Elfmont told us, you know, it'd be very easy for him to get in and out of somewhere. No one even knew he was there. Who knows what the possibilities are all over the country.

[Peter Van Sant]

And also the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, they sent out a bulletin to other law enforcement agencies in the state of Montana to see if they have any cold cases linked to Hutchinson. And that's the big question, is, will they find other cases in this? And Stephanie herself, she ends up saying in our hour, I think that anyone who was able to rape and murder a young girl and then get away with it for almost 28 years had plenty of chances to do it again. Wow.

[Lauren Clark]

So, turning back to this investigation, once Hutchinson is identified as the suspect, Elfmont and another detective confront him. They make up an excuse to speak to him, but they do say, you know, we're investigating crimes along the rivers in southwest Montana, and we want to talk to you. But they start to focus in on Danny's murder, and Hutchinson becomes visibly nervous. I want to play an extended clip here of that interview. Do you remember hearing about this murder or anything about. About that?

[Peter Van Sant]

I don't.

[Ann Marie Green]

I mean, I. I might have.

[Peter Van Sant]

It was a big case just because.

[Lauren Clark]

She was so young. And obviously for Bozeman, that's.

[Peter Van Sant]

That's.

[Lauren Clark]

That's big news.

[Peter Van Sant]

You know, especially in Montana. This.

[Lauren Clark]

It wasn't common, obviously, back in the day. I mean, I know I'm giving you different people, but, you know, for Bozeman, Belgrade area, that's.

[Ann Marie Green]

That was big news.

[Peter Van Sant]

Do you remember this movie?

[Lauren Clark]

Horrors.

[Peter Van Sant]

Hearing her name? I don't. I've never seen anybody quite melt down like that. It was like the Wicked witch in the wizard of Oz melting down at the end. That's what I saw. He went from being calm and collected to sweating. He was very nervous. They pointed out that he leaned back in the chair to get as far away from them as he possibly could psychologically. He wanted out of that room.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah. And Hutchinson, by the end there, was allowed to leave, able to arrest him right then. But Elfmont was pretty sure Hutchinson knew that his time as a free man was running out.

[Lauren Clark]

Indeed, just hours after that interview, Hutchinson drives to a remote area and he shoots himself. When Hutchinson's DNA is ultimately checked against evidence from Danny's body, it is a match, but unfortunately, he is now dead, and so there will be no trial. I just wonder what it was like for Danny's family.

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, I mean, Stephanie told us about Tom Elfmont calling her that morning. It was in the early hours of the morning that news kind of spread, and, I mean, she was shocked. She had been Preparing herself to be there every day through court hearings for trial. She was mentally and emotionally preparing herself. And then it was just, oh, okay. But now. And again, all these questions they have, the why, the how, the what actually happened. I mean, it's just gone now for them. And it's heartbreaking. It really is.

[Lauren Clark]

The hour ends in a really beautiful moment that Stephanie allows 48 hours to be there for. She spreads some of her sister's ashes in the Gallatin River. What was that moment like?

[Ann Marie Green]

Yeah, I mean, that was definitely not part of our original plan. We had filmed with Stephanie the day before by the fishing access area where Dani's body had been found. And they avoided that area for a long time. Her mom actually moved away. She had just recently moved back and I guess told Stephanie that she had some of the. So it really was incredibly profound that Stephanie trusted us to be able to do it on camera. Of course, with crew, kept their distance, made sure she had the time on her own. But it was really just, yeah. This reclaiming of this scary place with where this horrible thing happened to her sister, that now she can go back there and think of Dani, think of the beautiful area around her and have it be a good memory.

[Peter Van Sant]

I thought one thing that was profound that I just wanted to read as almost kind of a final thought from Stephanie. This was at the press conference. She said, I celebrate that a violent predator is no longer able to victimize other women and girls. I celebrate that my fight for my sister is over. Celebration for me is short lived. It's quickly replaced with a tangled mess of frustration, disbelief, and anger. Of course, that is part of the profound nature of murder, isn't it? It just never quite goes away inside any of these victims. But in this case, I think Stephanie really accomplished this extraordinary feat in her life and gave honor to her sister's memory.

[Lauren Clark]

Really, really well put. Peter, Lauren, thank you so much.

[Peter Van Sant]

Thanks, Ann Marie.

[Ann Marie Green]

Thank you.

[Lauren Clark]

If you like the series postmortem, please rate and review 48 hours on Apple Podcasts and follow 48 hours wherever you get your podcast. You can also listen ad free with the 48 hours plus subscription on Apple Podcasts. Thanks again for listening.

[Peter Van Sant]

Let the bodies hit the the phenomenon is back.

[Lauren Clark]

The new season of Yellowjackets, streaming February 14th on Paramount plus with Showtime. Think about how screwed up we would be if we had survived a plane crash only to end up eating each other.

[Peter Van Sant]

This place will follow us for the.

[Ann Marie Green]

Rest of our lives. The only way to truly be safe is to be the only one left.

[Lauren Clark]

This season the past will come back to hunt you.

[Peter Van Sant]

You really are insane.

[Lauren Clark]

Yellow Jackets, new season streaming February 14th on the Paramount plus with Showtime Plan.