Texas Monthly True Crime: The Problem With Erik

In the series finale, Scott Hatley’s journal tells the story of how he built a new life on the run from police. And when the truth comes out, people in Stephenville must confront how little they knew about the man who killed Susan Woods. For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/stephenville

Lt. Don Miller discovers the hand-written life story of the man who killed Susan Woods. The murderer, it turns out, wasn't a stranger or an outsider to Stephenville, but a local boy nobody suspected. For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/stephenville

In 1988, Shannon Myers survived a brutal attack by Joseph Scott Hatley, the man whose fingerprints were also present at the scene of Susan Woods’s murder. Her statement to police—which included his chilling confession—created an opportunity to put Hatley behind bars for both crimes. For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/stephenville

Nearly twenty years after Susan Woods's murder, Stephenville Police Lieutenant Don Miller takes up the case. And with Michael Woods's cooperation, and help from new technology, Don finally makes a break in the case. But what he uncovers raises even more questions about why Susan was killed—and how her killer evaded justice for so long. For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/ste...

After Susan Woods was killed, just about everyone in Stephenville—including the police—figured they knew who’d done it. Her estranged husband, Michael Woods, was a long-haired biker who smoked pot and played rock music—a complete misfit in the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/stephenville

In the summer of 1987, 30-year-old Susan Woods was living alone in her hometown of Stephenville, Texas, piecing her life back together after being abandoned by her husband. Then, one sweltering July evening, Susan’s father came to check on her. For more on this and every episode, visit texasmonthly.com/stephenville

From the moment Susan Woods was found dead at home in the summer of 1987, everyone in Stephenville, Texas—including the police—was certain she’d been killed by her estranged husband. That left the real culprit free to prey on others. In "Stephenville," best-selling author Bryan Burrough returns to his small-town Texas roots to explore a murder case that went cold for nearly two decades. Only now,...

"I'll never lose that hope. It could be five years from today. The door is always open at our office for anything that will bring resolution to this case."

There have finally been a couple of developments in the case. But will they lead to the truth about what happened to Tom?

"I'm definitely more paranoid wherever I go. I definitely watch my back more and pay attention to what's going on around me."

"The people of the town are calling us and saying, 'Do we have a monster that lives in our community?' I wish I could give them Solace."

"I'm like, 'What the heck is that?' So, I walk around some shrubs, and as I get closer I can see that it kind of looks like bone."

“It's kind of strange that your investigator calls this search, and lo and behold, right after he starts the search, a cell phone is found.”

"I'm sitting there thinking, 'Oh God, I'm so scared right now.' I couldn't convince them. And so I just let them hammer me."

"Makes you want to go to the church, get on your knees and say a few words, right?

"My gut tells me he hasn't left Hemphill County. I think he's here somewhere, and I don't know if he intends to come out in the next day or two."

“Someone is lying. And it’s hard to know who’s lying and who’s not.”