She Fought Alone

"She Fought Alone" is the Lifetime original movie based on Caitlin Rose, a teenager who joins the coolest group in high school which boosts her popularity but when she is raped by a football player, Caitlin reports it and soon becomes an outcast by her so-called friends.

The movie starts with Caitlin getting ready for a big night out with "the crew". It's her initiation night to see if she is accepted to "the crew". She likes the quarterback of the football team, Ethan but his best friend Jace, another football player, likes Caitlin. On her initiation night, a party is thrown similiar to prom night. Caitlin is covered in raspberry syrup. She is accepted and joins "the crew". They all start hanging out together, running the school, by all the pranks and goofing around in class. The principal doesn't discipline them at all no matter how many complaints are made.

She really likes Ethan and thinks that they have something special going on after they end up sleeping together but Ethan doesn't want anything serious with any girl. After seeing Ethan with another girl at the movie theater, Caitlin runs out upset. Jace follows her to comfort her but she doesn't want any of his help. Later at Caitlin's house, Jace shows up to talk with her. Caitlin tries to get him to leave but he starts kissing her and touching her. Caitlin tells him to stop and tries to get away but he is too strong. He takes her to her bedroom and closes the door. He rapes her.

The next day, the whole school is talking about Caitlin and Jace hooking up together. Caitlin stayed home from school because she didn't want to see anyone. She told her mother but her mother didn't believe her. She thought Caitlin invited him over and things went too far. Caitlin stormed out and went to the local malt shop where everyone hung out. She saw Ethan and Jace there. She was so upset, she went up to Jace and screamed rape. Of course, no one believes her so she starts getting harassed at school. Her mother gets upset and tells the principal that it's Ethan and Jace and the rest of the crew but she doesn't do anything about it. She doesn't see a problem so since nothing is being done, the harassing continues.

After the harassment continues, Caitlin's mother speaks with the principal again due to all the fights, graffiti on bathroom walls, and Caitlin's locker being tagged with rude comments. All the principal does is suspend Ethan and Jace from a couple of football games. When they find out, they attack Caitlin and cut her hair.

Caitlin's mother calls an investigator from the Office of Civil Rights to check out what's going on. When the investigator arrives, Caitlin and her mother let him know what has happened and what the school's involvement has been by not protecting her. He lets Caitlin know that writing on the walls or rude comments in school are illegal now and she has a very good case for the lawsuit against the school. He then speaks with the principal and lets her know how much trouble the school is in.

Jace finally admits to Ethan that he raped Caitlin so Ethan tries to apologize to Caitlin for everything that has happened. Soon Ethan is being harassed for turning on Jace. They spray paint his car and bust his windows. Ethan and Jace get into a fight and Jace gets stabbed in the leg.

The lawsuit against the school starts and it proves that Caitlin was not being protected by the school. The superintendent of schools promises to change things as far as harassment goes. Ethan admits to participating in the harassment and so does Jace who got injured and he is not able to play football anymore. They both get punished for their actions. Caitlin graduates and is off to junior college. She says good-bye to everyone.

Lizzy   =)

The Green River Killer

Part 4 of the miniseries "The Capture of the Green River Killer" starts with David speaking with Seth about who could possibly be the killer but Seth doesn't want to listen. Seth thinks since Joe Jakes killed himself, that he was the killer but David doesn't think he was the killer. As of March 1987, thirty-seven women are dead and seven women are missing. Five years have passed and victims' remains are still being found near the Green River. David does find a clue in one of the victims. A piece of paper that shows a date of April of 1986 and Joe Jakes killed himself in February of 1986 so it couldn't have been Joe Jakes. David now knows that the killer is still out there. After investigating further, David finds more clues and realizes that it might have been Gary Ridgway.

On April 8, 1987, the police have warrants to search Ridgway's house, truck and work locker. They take hair samples and collect DNA swabs from Ridgway. After all the lengthy time and hard work in investigating Ridgway, the police have found no evidence. David is getting very frustrated and he thinks that these dead women are counting him to find the killer. At home, David is watching a television show that provides a hotline for any information on any crimes that witnesses may have knowledge about so David gets the idea to do the exact same thing to find out any information on the Green River Killer.

Kat knows something is wrong when she hasn't heard from Helen so she reports her missing to the police. Then the movie shows Helen speaking to the camera. She states, "I never thought about the dead being just as lost as I was. Not in heaven or hell but in a different place where all you do is try to figure stuff out. Life and death and the reasons why. But now I know because now I'm one of them."

As of March 1989, thirty-nine women are dead and six women are missing. One of the women missing is Helen. David, not knowing what to do, starts investigating again. He looks at all the tips he received and with looking through all the evidence once more, he finally finds out who did it. It was Gary Ridgway all along. David looks into Ridgway's background and finds out more about his lifestyle. But he needs more evidence.

On March 16, 1990, David's boss wants to get rid of all the paperwork on the murders and tells him that he got promoted to Sheriff. It is now 2001, and unfortunately, as time has passed on, there are no more victims being found. More and more, the investigation slows down and the cases are put to the side from the police except one and that's David. Curious, David then looks again at the DNA evidence taken from Ridgway. On September 10, 2001, the test results get back and the results show that Ridgway is the killer.

The movie then shows all the pictures of the innocent women that have passed away. After nearly 20 years, David has finally found the Green River Killer and has helped find peace for all of these women. On November 30, 2001, the police arrest Ridgway. David, in order to find the rest of the women that Ridgway has killed, decided to make a plea bargain of life in prison without parole in exchange for Ridgway's confessions of where the bodies are buried. On June 13, 2003, David finally meets with Ridgway to hear his gruesome confessions of the killings. Ridgway tagged along with the police to sights of where the remains of other victims were located. Sadly, Helen was never found.

Ridgway was convicted of 49 murders, but he confessed to at least 71 murders. He states that murdering young women was his "career".

It was a long miniseries showing the man who was responsible for these gruesome murders and it was a sad, heart-warming movie that showed one dedicated man who didn't quit to find the killer and showed so much determination in helping these women rest in peace. The movie was dedicated to the victims of the Green River Killer and their families.

Lizzy   =)

Chasing The Devil

Part 3 of the miniseries "The Capture of the Green River Killer" begins with the police station announcing the Green River Task Force which is dedicated to finding the killer of these unsolved murders of these young women. It's being reported that this murder investigation is the longest running unsolved serial case in history. The task force is being pressured to find a suspect. The task force goes back and looks at the previous suspects to give them another lie detector test. Still no suspect.

Helen did come back but was crying and had met Bobby who took care of her. She told him that she was taken by the Green River Killer. Bobby took her back to his house. She didn't want to go to the police.

In February 1984 (two years after the first killings), David received an anonymous letter with biblical quotes. David thinks the killer is trying to send him a message but doesn't understand yet. As of March 1984, nineteen women are dead and twenty-two women are missing. Searching the woods, David and the police find more remains of victims. Bodies are being discovered 30 feet apart from each other. As of April 1984, twenty-four women are dead and nineteen women are missing.

David hates finding all these victims and not having anyone in custody. He is becoming distant from his family and more determined in finding the killer. FBI agent, Seth, comes to help David and tells him he knows of someone who can help and who knows the mind of a serial killer. He is speaking about Ted Bundy. On November 16, 1984, David and Seth make a visit to the prison in Florida where Ted Bundy is being held. He tells them the killer is violent, he is very low-key, he could be single or married, wants the feeling of power and it's all about the hunt.

As of May 1985, twenty-nine women are dead and eleven women are missing. A few women come forward about getting away from the killer. One of the women give a description of the man who attacked her. On June 12, 1985, two victims are found. The bodies are identified as 24 year old Denise Bush and 26 year old Shirley Sherrill. As of June 1985, thirty-one women are dead and nine women are missing.

Helen decides to go speak with the police about what happened to her. She meets with David and explains the night she was taken. She tells him about the truck. The FBI inform David about a suspect, Greenwald, who fits the profile of the killer. They picked him up and the first words out of his mouth were, "What took you so long?" Now they think they finally found the killer and start celebrating but David has a feeling that this isn't the killer. Unfortunately, David was right. Greenwald was cleared due to lack of evidence and Joe Jakes had committed suicide so the police have to work extra hard to find another suspect. As of June 1986 (four years after the first killings), thirty-seven women are dead and five women are missing.

Helen isn't the same anymore. She is sad and depressed so she turns to prostitution. She is walking the streets until she sees the truck that picked her up. She starts chasing it but can't so runs up to a truck and asks for a ride and gets in. She is not seen again.

To be continued....

Lizzy   =)

Much More Tragedy

Part 2 of the original miniseries "The Capture of the Green River Killer" begins with Detective David Reichert  finding out the news and posting pictures of more missing women in the area. No more bodies have been found as of yet. No suspects are in custody as of yet either. Reporters are putting pressure on the police force to find out who the killer is. David has no idea who is doing these unspeakable crimes. He wants to hurry up and find the killer before he finds anymore victims.

At home, David is having a conversation with his daughter and she tells him that one of her friend's mother says that these are bad women and the police are wasting their time. David told her that these women are helpless and that God is helping him to help these women.

As of April 1983, seven women are dead and fifteen women are missing. David's first encounter with Gary Ridgway comes from a witness informing the police of Ridgway's truck being seen at the strip, a sidewalk where prostitutes walk along, and he states his girlfriend was taken from there. David spoke with Ridgway but nothing indicated that he was guilty of anything at this time. So there was no need to speak with him further. But little did David know, he was speaking with the killer all along.

Helen is narrating at this time and states, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" On May 8, 1983, another victim is found and is identified as 16 year old Carol Christensen. David gets help from an FBI agent to get a better profile on the killer. In order to be more organized with the women that are still missing, David invests in a computer to put the women's files online. While typing, many names of women that have disappeared are flashed across the movie screen. Helen narrates, referring to the tragedies of what happened to these women and states, "What were their lives like before they hit the streets? Did they come from happy homes? Did they run away? Did they have boyfriends?"

On June 17, 1983, Joe Jakes, a cab driver, is arrested after a woman informs the police that he tried to kill her and called him "The Green River Killer". At the police station, Joe takes a lie detector and says he didn't kill anyone so they let him go. David is frustrated as of right now. He is trying so hard to find the killer of the innocent women. He hopes to find him soon.

As of October 1983, twelve women are dead and twenty-three women are missing. David and the police are searching through fields near the Green River and find remains of  three more victims. One victim found was pregnant and there was a skull of the baby. The body was identified as 24 year old Mary Meehan. The other two bodies were identified as Jane Doe so they had no identity.

Helen and Kat get tattoos and get really drunk. Helen goes home and gets into an argument with her mother and then runs away. She is walking along the strip. While walking, a truck picks her up and she gets in for the ride.

To be continued....

Lizzy  =)

The Beginning Of Evil

Lifetime's original miniseries "The Capture of the Green River Killer" is based upon the true story of serial killer, Gary Ridgway. Ridgway was responsible for the horrible, gruesome murders of numerous women, mainly prostitutes, that were committed in Washington State between the early 1980's and the late 1990's. Sheriff David Reichert, for nearly 20 years, was the dedicated police officer, with his determination in hunting down the killer of these murders. David Reichert also wrote a book "Chasing the Devil: My Twenty Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer." Ridgway earned the name "Green River Killer" when the first five victims were found near the Green River. The miniseries is told through the eyes of one young runaway, Helen "Hel" Remus whose fate lead her to the encounter with the notorious serial killer.

Part 1 of the miniseries opens with Helen speaking in front of the camera about a book of poems she received. She reads, "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." The picture fades and then pictures of the Green River are shown. Detective David Reichert gets injured after an encounter with a criminal he was arresting for domestic abuse and then is ordered to sit at his desk and is not to take on any more cases until he heals.

July 15, 1982, the first victim is found near the Green River. The body is identified as 16 year old Wendy Coffield. On August 12, 1982, David Reichert takes the phone call that gives him the case that will change his life forever. The call informs him that another victim is found near the Green River. The body is identified as 17 year old Marsue Haller. Now, feeling troubled, David has to figure out who killed these two young women. He's thinking it might be a serial killer. Someone like Ted Bundy but he doesn't want to jump to any conclusions.

August 15, 1982, a fisherman finds another victim in the Green River. When David and the police search the area, two more victims are found. The bodies are identified as 16 year old Opal Mills, 31 year old Marcia Chapman, and 17 year old Cynthia Hinds. The autopsies are being done on the victims. David is speaking with the coroner to find out how the victims were killed. All of the victims, that the coroner could see, died from strangulation. Some of the victims have been dead for more than 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, in the middle of all the murders being discovered, Helen is living her life. She is best friends with Kat, lives with her alcoholic mother, and is getting sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. She doesn't know what to do. Hurt and confused, she starts stealing money and stealing clothes.

Back at the police station, the officers gather around to hear the investigation about the murders. There's five bodies and no clues as of yet. David stands up and gives the other officers details about each victim and their lifestyle in prostitution, friends and boyfriends. Looking into the victims' backgrounds may give them some clues about their killing. The police then bring in a suspect. A cab driver, Jeb Dallas, who took a lie detector test and says that he didn't do it. There wasn't any evidence connecting him to the murders so they had to let him go. Sadly, another victim was found. The body was identified as 17 year old Laura Meeks. David's boss was upset and hassled him about finding a suspect already due to political and public pressure. As of November 1982, there were six women dead and seven women missing.

Helen is now thinking her life is crappy. She told her mother about what her boyfriend did to her. Her mother slapped her. Her mother's boyfriend left and blames her. She talks with Kat about what happened and asks her, "Do you think what happens to us is our fault?"

To be continued.....

Lizzy   =)

A Killer Among Friends

Lifetime's original movie "A Killer Among Friends" is based on the true story of the 1985 murder of Michele "Missy" Avila committed by her two best friends, Karen Severson and Laura Doyle due to jealousy. In the movie, the names are changed. Jenny is the changed name for Missy. Ellen is the changed name for Karen. Carla is the changed name for Laura.
The movie begins with home movies of the three of them as little girls playing together and being the best of friends. Jenny does notice that her, Ellen, and Carla are going in different directions. At her home, Ellen sees her boyfriend, Dan with Jenny. At a picnic, Carla sees her ex-boyfriend, Steve with Jenny. The next day, Jenny goes out with Carla. Later that night, Carla calls Jenny's mother, Jean, asking where Jenny is. Jean is confused because she thought Jenny was with Carla. Jean starts calling around and no one knows where Jenny is. In the woods, two hikers are walking through and find a body. Sadly, the body is Jenny. The police arrive and inform Jean of finding Jenny's body.

The investigation soon begins with trying to find out who killed Jenny. Jean is at the police station speaking with Det. Staley who doesn't have many suspects yet. Det. Staley speaks with Carla about her story of Jenny leaving with guys in a red monte carlo. Det. Staley doesn't believe that story and tries to find more clues. Jean, upset about Jenny's death, goes hunting for Jenny's killer. Jean sees a news article with the description of how Jenny was killed and gets outraged. She speaks with Det. Staley, who doesn't know why the story is in the paper but is going to find out.

Ellen offers to move into Jean's house and help her find Jenny's killer. Jean accepts. She soon starts becoming like a daughter to Jean. Ellen thinks she belongs there and wants to replace Jenny.

Ellen calls Carla but Carla is nervous over the phone. She says that the police keep asking her about the red monte carlo but Ellen advises her to stick with the story and lets her know that she is staying at Jean's house. She advises for Carla to get a grip or she could end up in jail for the rest of her life. Ellen speaks with Kathy, another one of Jenny's friend, who is having nightmares and can't take it anymore and has to tell someone what really happened. Ellen threatens her and then Kathy leaves town.

Over the next couple of months, Ellen is helping Jean look at several different possible suspects but doesn't really know who killed Jenny. Jean soon discovers that she has to let it go and let the police handle the case. She tells Ellen she has to move out. Ellen gets upset but leaves. She then returns and gives a lie about how she remembered something about the killing. Det. Staley suspects Ellen but can't prove it.

A year passes, Kathy then returns, guilt has been on her mind the whole time, and tells Det. Staley what really happened. Ellen, Carla, Jenny and her drove towards the woods. Ellen and Carla start arguing with Jenny about stealing their boyfriends. They start punching her and kicking her. They cut off her hair. They stick her head in the creek water until she drowns. They threw a log over her to pin her down. After hearing Kathy's story, the police arrest Ellen and Carla for Jenny's muder. Their sentence is 15 years to life in prison.

Jean can finally put to rest her fight in trying to find Jenny's killer. She's standing on her porch looking up to the sky and whispers, "Good night, Jenny. Sleep with the angels."

Lizzy    =)

For The Love Of Nancy

"For the Love of Nancy" is the true story of Nancy Walsh, a graduating senior who is afraid of facing the future and turns to the habit of not eating, which she learns that this is the only thing that she can control in her life.

The movie opens with Nancy at her senior prom, having such a great time, and she doesn't want it to end. She not excited about graduating or about going to college. The next morning, she has a dentist appointment to get her wisdom teeth pulled. Unfortunately, the wisdom teeth being pulled starts her with the excuse of not eating. It's only the beginning of the dangerous road she is about to take.

Nancy starts preparing to leave for college and she still has the fear of facing college and starting a whole new life away from home. After starting college, Nancy still feels sad and she doesn't fit in so she starts to become withdrawn. In her own way of coping, she starts to exercise alot more. She begins to obsess about her weight. She looks in the mirror and doesn't like what she sees. She also continues the habit of not eating which is taking more and more control of her day by day. Nancy's family and friends start noticing her weight loss. They start to worry. Her mother, Sally, who doesn't want to believe any of this nonsense of her daughter being anorexic, ignores the remarks from the others. She thinks Nancy is still the same girl she always was.

At the family Christmas party, Sally soon discovers what everyone is talking about. She goes up to Nancy's room and is shocked to see Nancy standing there in her dress all skin and bones. She looks like a skeleton. Nancy walks downstairs to say hello and everyone is shocked to see how much weight she lost. Her parents confront her and she doesn't know what answer to give to the reason why. She promises to eat and get better. Sally's brother advises her to put Nancy into a rehab to get better instead of letting her do it on her own.

Her parents, against Nancy's consent, send her to the rehab center name Parker Pavillion that help with eating disorders. Right from the start, Nancy refuses to eat, participate in group therapy, or talk to the doctor. She throws away food. She stores food in her bedroom walls. The doctor then sets her up with a IV to feed her but Nancy punches a hole in the tube. Not knowing what to do next, the doctor recommends a feeding tube. Nancy weighs herself and, surprised she had gain six pounds, wants to go home. She signs herself out and goes home. Her parents are upset but there was nothing the doctor could do. Her no eating continues at home. Soon, she gets sick from malnutrition and is hospitalized because of a kidney infection.

Her parents don't know what to do but then decide to speak with a lawyer to get a document stating that Nancy is incompetent and unable to make decisions on her own concerning her health issues. Nancy, deciding that her parents love her and just want to help her, makes the decision to let her parents have guardianship over her health issues. She is doing better now. It hasn't completely gone away but she is taking one day at a time. Now, she speaks to others with similiar problems and opens up about her own situation.

It's a warm movie that teaches you how serious anorexia can be. The actress that played Nancy Walsh was Tracey Gold, who actually was going through a similiar problem of her own facing this disease. She played a great role of someone who she can be familiar with and understand what needs to be done.

Lizzy   =)