Cold Case Files: "She Never Came Home" – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Paula Barros, "She Never Came Home" delves into the harrowing 1984 murder of 14-year-old Tina Fales in Pleasanton, California. This episode meticulously traces the investigation’s evolution over three decades, highlighting the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement and the enduring pain endured by Tina’s family.

1. The Tragic Beginning

April 4, 1984, marks the day when Tina Fales’ life was brutally cut short. Seeking to avoid bullies, Tina opts for her usual shortcut home via a drainage culvert. However, this time, she never returns.

• Drew Fales (Tina's Brother) shares his poignant memories:

  "I remember every bit of that day like it was yesterday... She protected me. She looked out for me all the time."
  (00:32)

• Jim Knox (Pleasanton Police Officer) recounts the discovery:

  "A truck driver... saw what he felt was a person in distress... He saw blood and realized there’s a dead body down in the creek."
  (02:21)

• Bill Eastman (Former Police Chief) describes the crime scene’s grim nature:

  "She was stabbed 44 times... There’s no weapon. There are no fingerprints. There are no footprints."
  (03:26)

2. Initial Investigation and Suspects

The immediate aftermath saw investigators grappling with limited evidence. The absence of a weapon and identifiable traces made the case particularly challenging.

• Detective Dana Savage emphasizes the brutality:

  "The coroner determined the first 38 times she was stabbed, she was still alive... Some wounds were up to 5 inches deep."
  (03:29)

• Jim Knox speculates on the killer’s weapon:

  "There was probably no hilt or guard on the knife... the suspect’s hand would slide off, possibly cutting themselves."
  (03:38)

Primary Suspects:

1. Jeff Michelson

   • Described as a school bully with a history of aggressive behavior.
   • Jim Knox notes:

     "Jeff had a hunting style knife... he had a cut on his index finger."
     (09:37)

   • Despite arresting him, forensic tests found no blood traces linking him to the murder.

2. Keith Fitzwater

   • Tina’s mother's boyfriend, noted for his volatile temper and recent departure from the Fales household.
   • Karen Reiff (Tina's Aunt) states:

     "He was physically, verbally abusive... the only time he was ever nice was the night when Tina died."
     (10:55)

   • Evidence was inconclusive, leading investigators to keep him as a suspect without sufficient grounds for charges.

3. Walter Nyman and James D'Veggio

   • Both had histories of sexual offenses and were part of Pleasanton’s serial killer investigations.
   • Detective Dana Savage later connects them to ongoing patterns of violence against young girls in the area.

3. The Fales Family’s Ordeal

Tina’s disappearance profoundly affected her family, particularly her mother, Shirley Fales.

• Drew Fales describes the emotional toll:

  "I was afraid of being killed next. I had a mental block... I was in shock."
  (17:44)

• Karen Reiff highlights Shirley’s deteriorating mental state:

  "She just couldn’t function anymore... She started eliminating friend after friend."
  (20:01)

4. The Case Goes Cold

Despite multiple leads and suspect interrogations, the absence of concrete evidence led to the investigation stalling. The family remained in limbo, hoping for answers that seemed elusive.

• Bill Eastman expresses the frustration:

  "With the information we had, we couldn't charge Fitzwater... justice is supposed to prevail."
  (15:26)

• Narrator summarizes:

  "Leads run out, and the investigation goes cold. Life for the Fales family stands still."
  (19:54)

5. Reopening the Investigation

February 2008, Detective Dana Savage decides to revisit Tina’s case while on limited duty during her pregnancy.

• Detective Dana Savage shares her motivation:

  "People who get into law enforcement don't do it for the money. We do it to help people. I want to provide closure to Tina and to her family."
  (20:51)

She identifies patterns linking Tina’s murder to other serial killings in Pleasanton during the 1980s, particularly focusing on James D'Veggio, a known serial killer who attended Foothill High School during Tina’s murder.

6. Breakthrough and Evidence Collection

Using advanced DNA technology, Detective Savage revisits older evidence, particularly Tina’s purse, suspected to hold crucial forensic clues.

• Detective Dana Savage explains her strategy:

  "I think the last person to touch this purse was the suspect... I handed it over to the FBI in Quantico."
  (24:26)

March 14, 2011, the FBI identifies four drops of the suspect’s blood on the purse, narrowing down the suspects to Walter Nyman and James D'Veggio.

However, when questioned:

• James D'Veggio deflects blame onto Walter Nyman, suggesting:

  "If I was involved in Tina's murder, I would tell you I'm not involved."
  (24:26)

7. The Arrest of Steve Carlson

Contrary to initial suspicions, it emerges that Steve Carlson, a student who had been previously incarcerated for unrelated charges, was the actual perpetrator.

• Jim Knox narrates the arrest:

  "Steve became violently ill... we met with deputies and placed Steve under arrest for murder."
  (34:06)

Steve’s transformation from a bullied student to a hardened criminal added complexity to the case.

• Bill Eastman reflects:

  "Somebody that killed a little girl is still at large, but we have a potential suspect, Keith Fitzwater... eventually, it was Steve Carlson."
  (10:45)

2014, Steve Carlson is convicted and sentenced to 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of Tina Fales, finally bringing closure to the long-unsolved case.

8. Aftermath and Legacy

The resolution of Tina’s case, albeit delayed, had profound effects on her family and the community.

• Drew Fales shares the lingering grief:

  "A year after my sister's murder, my mom wrote a poem... 'Someday we'll all be together again.'"
  (35:32)

• Karen Reiff laments the toll:

  "She just couldn’t function anymore... he took Shirley because she had no life after that."
  (35:37)

Although justice was served, the emotional scars endured by Tina's family remained deep and unhealed.

Notable Quotes

• Drew Fales on the loss:

  "She protected me. She looked out for me all the time."
  (00:32)

• Bill Eastman on investigative challenges:

  "Who in the hell killed a little girl alone in front of a culvert?"
  (04:49)

• Detective Dana Savage on her commitment:

  "I want to provide closure to Tina and to her family."
  (20:51)

• Jim Knox on the final arrest:

  "Once we booked Stephen at Santa Rita Jail, I went over to Shirley Fale's residence. It was like she knew."
  (34:11)

Conclusion

"She Never Came Home" serves as a testament to the enduring pursuit of justice in the face of overwhelming odds. Through meticulous investigation and breakthroughs in forensic technology, the Pleasanton community witnessed the closure of a heart-wrenching cold case. However, the episode also underscores the profound and lasting impact such tragedies have on the victims' families and the community at large.