45 | Lauren Giddings

Lauren Giddings was on her way to becoming a great lawyer. As she was prepping to take her bar exam she seemingly vanished into thin air. Her friends and neighbors searched for her alongside authorities...little did they know that the perpetrator was hiding in plain sight.

This episode was written, researched and produced by Erika Gwynn

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Music:

Kai Engel - Cendres

Ars Sonor - Efterdyningen

Break for Free - Summer Spliffs

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
This podcast contains graphic descriptions, explicitlanguage, and audio clips that may be
disturbing to some audiences. Listener discretionis advised. Life is full of disappointments.
Sometimes we don't look how we wantto look, feel how we want

(00:22):
to feel, or get what wewant to have. This can apply to
so many different facets that there arejust too many to even list. However,
it can be assumed that every personhas experienced this and have at one
point in your life desired something andjust having gotten it. Another beautiful part
of life is moving on from thisdesire and realizing, hey, it's okay,

(00:46):
because that is just how life goes. We have the choice to either
appreciate what we are given and makethe best of it, or we have
the choice to not feel that way. At least that's how some of us
think now. I understand sometimes feelingsare uncontrollable due to a slew of different
reasons, but for the sake ofgeneralization, I think you can get what

(01:07):
I'm trying to allude to here.For others with less reasoning, compassion,
or empathy, the notion of notgetting what they want or not being able
to do something that they believe thatthey should be able to do well.
That is a whole different story anda whole different thought process. As we
have talked about time and time againon this show, it is hard to

(01:30):
understand what goes through a person's mindwhen they cross that line between right and
wrong. While we speak of thistopic incessantly, we may never truly understand
why people do the things that theydo. You're listening to the Apex and
the Abyss, and this is thestory of Lauren Gettings. No one has

(01:53):
seen her sincerity. I haven't seenanything. I've always seen her noise outside
but people walking by pretty much.And she just recently graduated in the person.
Yeah, and we were both JD'sstudents. We graduated back in May.

(02:15):
Lauren Giddings was born on April eighteenth, nineteen eighty four, to Karen
and William Giddings. Lauren, alongwith her parents and her two younger sisters,
hailed from Tachhoma Park, Maryland.In two thousand and two, Lauren
would graduate from high school in Columbia, Maryland. Lauren was extremely ambitious and

(02:36):
an excellent student. Those who knewher best would describe her as someone who
lived her life to the fullest everyday and was a friend to everyone.
After high school, Lauren would attendAgnes Scott College in Georgia. Once she
graduated from there, she enrolled inMercer University Walter F. George School of
Law. Lauren dreamed of being adefense lawyer, and in June of twenty

(03:00):
eleven, she was intensely studying forher upcoming bar exam. She had completed
her studies and this was the finaltask between her and her ultimate goal.
Tragically, Lauren would never get tofulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer.
In fact, Lauren would not evenget the chance to take her bar exam

(03:20):
at all because of her classmate andneighbor, Stephen McDaniel. What kind of
person was she? I made?How did you? What did I'm She's
as nice as can be. I'mvery personable, very much people person Do
you know anybody d any enemies?You might have had, somebody that might
want to hurt her? No,I'm we don't know where she is.

(03:43):
I'm the only thing we can thinkis that maybe she went out running and
someone snatched her. Who is StephenMcDaniel Well? He was born on September
ninth, nineteen eighty five to Glendaand Mark McDaniel. The Georgia couple would
also have a daughter. Stephen's sisterat this time had spent a majority of

(04:05):
her life battling a drug addiction andhas had numerous stints in jail. Stephen's
sister would have six children, fourof which would eventually be adopted by his
parents due to the fact that hissister could not take care of them.
This type of situation is difficult ona family. Glinda and Mark seemed to

(04:26):
do what they believed was right fortheir children, but ultimately they both seemed
to take a darker path. Stephenwould have interest in things like sci fi
and fantasy. He was also abig fan of doing puzzles and singing in
the local boys choir. In twothousand and four, he would graduate from
high school. After he completed hisundergraduate degree, he would receive a scholarship

(04:49):
to attend Mercer Law. However,he was put on a wait list at
first, but eventually he got intothe law program. Stephen would be described
as quirky, at least by oneof his college professors. He thrived on
his oddities to get much wanted attention. He would frequently brag about his interest
and collection of swords and guns.It is said that Stephen would also obsessively

(05:14):
discuss the notion behind the perfect murder. One of his former friends had even
witnessed Stephen picking a locked door underten seconds and stating, see, I
can get to you whenever I want. A creepy joke to say the least,
but at the time this friend thoughtnothing of the comment. Stephen,
just like his classmate Lauren, hadjust completed his studies at Mercer Law and

(05:38):
was prepping for the bar exam.Stephen had been at Mercer since two thousand
and eight, and it is saidthat on his application to get into the
school, he wrote that he consideredhimself a deep thinker and highly competitive in
any given situation. Stephen was unemployedbut would frequently babysit his nieces and nephews,
and he was allegedly working on writinga novel. Stephen was hoping to

(06:01):
be a prosecuting attorney with the endgoal of becoming a federal judge. He
was far from a dumb individual.In fact, he was very intelligent,
even though it had been no goodby some of his teachers that he didn't
always apply himself as much as heshould have with his studies. Stephen McDaniel
could have been a great attorney,but he too would never get the chance

(06:25):
to take his bar exam. Yousee, Stephen McDaniel lived in the apartments
across the street from Mercer Law,and so did Lauren Giddings. The pair
had known each other for about threeor four years. Lauren was always friendly
to Stephen, even though she didn'tknow him that well. They were acquaintances,
two people with the same goal ofbecoming lawyers in some fashion, but

(06:48):
the friendship was nowhere near close.Lauren had once asked Stephen to help her
when she was having computer trouble,but that seemed to be the extent of
the friendship, apart from frequent pleasantriesif they saw each other in their shared
hallway. Despite not knowing her thatwell, Stephen was infatuated with Lauren.

(07:10):
He saw her as every one sawher, as a beautiful young woman who
was intelligent, ambitious, and hadan unstoppable drive. When Stephen would eventually
ask Lauren out on a date,she respectfully declined. She had been dating
a young man off and on fora few years, and at this time
they had been on. A personwith reason would take this declined offer and

(07:32):
move on, but Stephen couldn't dothat. What Lauren didn't know was that
Stephen was obsessed with her since themoment he saw her. He would watch
her when she would go out fora run, he would watch her go
into her apartment, and he wouldwatch her while she was in her apartment.

(07:54):
When Lauren would talk to her familyback home in Maryland, she never
indicated to them that she felt threateneddown in Georgia. In fact, she
truly thrived in the South. Youwould have thought that she was born and
raised there. Her friends would frequentlyjoke that she was never going to come
home and she was always going tobe a Southern girl. The only thing

(08:16):
that Lauren would mention was that shegot this weird feeling when she was in
her apartment, sometimes, as ifsomeone had been in there and moved things
around when she wasn't home. Perhapsthis was just simply some paranoia, But
little did Lauren know that her gutfeeling was right. Stephen McDaniel had somehow
obtained a master key to the apartmentbuilding he lived in. Now, if

(08:39):
you don't know anything about master keys, it's very simple. They have the
ability to open several different locks.The master key that Stephen McDaniel had was
able to unlock Lauren's door. Itwould later come out that Stephen would go
into Lauren's apartment from time to time. It is believed that he removed personal
photos off of her computer onto aportable drive and uploaded them to his computer.

(09:03):
Eventually, the police would get ahold of Stephen's computer and be able
to see that he looked at violentpornography and then looked at these photos of
Lauren. It was a back andforth ritual of his Towards the end of
June in twenty eleven, Lauren wasprepping for the bar exam. The bar

(09:24):
is an intense test. It istypically broken up over two days and takes
about twelve hours to take. Thosewho truly want to become lawyers study aggressively
to make sure they pass. Inmost states, the pass rate for the
bar exam sits somewhere around fifty toseventy percent, so among the people who
do take it, a decent amountof people fail. Lauren knew all of

(09:46):
this, and she knew what wasat stake, so she told her friends
that she was going on a lockdownand to basically not bother her because she
was hunkering down and studying in herapartment or the law library. Knowing how
much passing this test meant to her, her friends and family obliged. The
last time Lauren spoke to her familywas on June twenty fourth, twenty eleven.

(10:09):
She was having a text conversation withher sister, who just so happened
to be on her way home fromher honeymoon. A few days would go
by before her sister realized that Laurenhad not replied to the last message of
the conversation, something that was veryodd for Lauren, even if she was
busy. Eventually, other family membersbegan to get worried about Lauren's silence.

(10:31):
They would ask Lauren's friends and Georgiato go check on her to make sure
she was all right. With aspare key, her friend would enter her
apartment. They would note that itlooked as though everything was normal. Lauren's
laptop was sitting on her bed,her purse was in her living room containing
her idea and keys. If herfriends didn't know any better, Lauren had

(10:52):
just gone out for a run andwas going to be back shortly. Lauren's
family and friends would file a missingperson's report, and the police would note
the same things her friends had thatthere seemed to be no sign of a
struggle or a break in the onlything odd about this whole situation was that
Lauren was not there. A fewdays would go by and investigators would enter

(11:15):
Lauren's apartment again to take photos andattempt to gather evidence. However, when
they were outside, they would smellsomething horrid. The smell would lead them
to the trash cans that were sittingin front of the apartment complex they were
waiting to be picked up. Typically, the trash would have been picked up
earlier in the morning, but onthis day, the sanitation worker driving the

(11:39):
truck Noga's police cars blocking his path, so he went about his route and
decided to make his way back thereto gather the trash when he was able.
If it wasn't for this twist offate, police may never have truly
known what happened to Lauren Giddings.Authorities would open the trash can that was
emitting the stench of decay, andinside the was fine. The torso of

(12:01):
a young Caucasian female, though theycould not make an identification right away due
to the fact that the body wasmissing its head and appendages. The police
had a gut feeling that this wasthe dismembered body of Lauren Gettings. While
all this was going on, StephenMcDaniel had been helping people search for Lauren.

(12:22):
He would even do multiple TV interviews. No one had seen her since
Saturday because we all just there's nota whole lot of interaction unless we're doing
classes, right, And she wasdoing an online version of it you out
study together though, I yeah,we were in there's two different people that

(12:46):
there's two companies that provided Captain providesit and Barbie provides it. I signed
up with Barbarie and I've been doingthe lectures that they have in the mornings.
She was doing the Kaplan online.So I ever saw her. I
would see her like go out running, But I mean what time might she
go out running? I mean,I don't even know when, I at

(13:07):
night or morning? I saw herlike mid day a couple of weeks ago.
I mean that was the last timeI saw her. Was come back
from the bar prep on the maincamp because we got moved over there for
a week. Or two, butshe normally would run. Ye, she
she ran all the time. Imean she she had a group that she

(13:30):
would go running with. I Idon't know anyone that would want to hurt
her. She was I was niceperson as there is. But she moved.
Did you know anything about her?Yeah? Yeah, she she was

(13:50):
going to be moving out today.She was supposed to move out today because
someone else was going to be movinginto her apartment Boston. Do you know
if she was sorry? Where isshe from? Marly? Yeah, she's
from up in Mary's all right,Okay, I'm so sorry and you can

(14:13):
just hold on me. I thankyou. Yeah, she's from Maryland.
Yeah, I mean she she wasfrom up in Maryland and all her family
was there as far as I know, I mean she what's going on in
your mind right now? Like,what are you thinking? Why would anyone

(14:37):
would do this? Anything? No? I just heard something. Maybe I
gotta help? Okay, don doyou wanted to adoper A seven? During
one particular interview, the reporter wouldn'formed Stephen that a body was found,

(15:01):
and this information seemed to shock himgreatly. One of her friends had a
key. We went inside and triedto see if there was anything amiss,
but I mean she had a doorjam that was sitting right by it,
so there was no sign that anyonebroke in. I think the door was
locked when everyone got here. Wejust don't know where she is. What

(15:24):
about in the like the parking lotarea, I know they've been doing a
lot of I think that's where theyhad recovered the body or whatever they recovered
from there. Had you heard anyhad just seen anything there, had just
get anything there? I mean,we don't know if this was the same
person, you know what I mean, Like they did out a body there
earlier. We don't know if it'sthe same person or That's how we're trying

(15:46):
to ask people they know who livedthere. Are you okay through? I
think I need to sit down,okay. Steven's behavior struck the authorities as
odd. His emotion undulated from calmto worried to hysterical. It appeared as

(16:07):
though he was acting. Police wouldask to look into Stephen's apartment, which
he allowed because an innocent person wouldlet the police search his apartment. Right
While they were asking Stephen questions andlooking around, the police noted that Stephen
seemed extremely nervous and was sweating profusely. During this odd interaction, Stephen would

(16:30):
somehow admit to committing a burglary withinthe apartment complex. Authorities had a bad
feeling about Stephen, and they believedhe was involved in the abduction and murder
of Lauren Giddings. However, allthe information they have regarding that was circumstantial.
But burglary is a crime, andStephen admitted to it, so they

(16:52):
were able to detain him at thelocal police station and interrogate him. What
you're about to hear are snippets fromStephen mcdane knows interrogation. I just gotta
ask you a few questions. Oh, you came down earlier tonight. I
mean you talked all right, youdon't have any weapons all you do?
That's just she want what's wrong?You know, Detective Patterson? Right?

(17:17):
Yes, do you remember good chanceup here? You remember us talking earlier
tonight? Right? You remember meearlier today? Yes, we came down
here and talked a little bit andthen we left. Yes, Okay,
I need to know about this girlright here. You know her? Yes?
Who is that Lauren Gettings? Doesshe live next door to you?

(17:41):
Yes? What's the last time you'veseen her two or three weeks ago.
Okay? Was your friends with Lauren? Yes? Look at me and we
talked to me. So, okay, was your friends with her? Yes?
Close friends? I mean y'all werefriends, right, both of y'all

(18:02):
law students. You're starting to bean attorney? Right? What kind of
law do you want to go into? Criminal law? Silky? Is that
what you want to do for aliving? Yes? Okay? Are you
almost finished? Yes? Okay,So you don't have too much more to
do? Right? All right?Are you gonna stay here and making I
don't know. Did you used towork at the District Attorney's office and making

(18:25):
Yes? Was you on the prosecutorside or the defense side? So you
on our side? Right? Younever worked on the other side. Did
you like it when you were downthere? Yes? Got along with everybody?
Yes? Okay? And you livenext to Lauren for a long time.

(18:47):
Yes? Do you know where she'sat tonight? No authorities wanted to
know what happened to Lauren, Butfrom the moment this interview started, Stephen
was acting extremely odd and was speakingvery unusually. Look, just tell me
what happened, brother, I don'tknow. Well, worse yet I need

(19:11):
you. I'm asking you for yourhelp. I'm a detective and I'm asking
you for your help. Okay,I'm asking you for help. I need
your help. Can you help me? I don't know. You don't know
if you can help me? Yes, I need your help. Help me

(19:33):
out, tell me what to do? Has anybody asked you for help today?
I need your I'm asking you asa friend for help. Can you
help me? I don't know.What do you mean? You don't know?
You can't help a friend out.I don't know what you need.

(19:55):
I need to know where Laurence,saying, I don't know. What's the
last time you've seen her? Twoor three weeks ago? Has anybody Have
you ever seen anybody over her housethe last couple of lines? No?
Okay, if you knew where shewas, would you tell me? Yes,

(20:15):
what do you think happened to her? I don't know. Do you
even care that no one came out? Yes? I mean I don't know.
Do you yes? Do you havea girlfriend now? Did you think

(20:45):
Lauren was your girlfriend? No?The detective would bring up the fact that
Stephen owned more than one car,something he would keep denying despite it being
confirmed by multiple sources. During theinterview, they kept pushing Stephen and keep
bringing up the fact that they foundunderwear in his apartment, women's underwear.

(21:11):
He said, you didn't have anyother cars, right right? Why would
you? Everybody you want to schoolwith the last three and four years said
that you own another car other thanthat geo prism. Everybody I talked to,
all your friends you were in schoolwith, people that you worked at
the District Attorney's office with, saidyou have other cars other than that car.

(21:36):
And you're gonna sit here today andtell me you don't have another car.
I don't where's that? I don'thave one? You never had another
car besides that geo prism. Soif I call your granddaddy, he's gonna
tell me that you only have onecar. Yes. What's his phone?
Mother? Yeah? Because I alreadyhave him. You don't know the phone

(22:00):
over? No? M hmm.I mean you seriously can't help us out
the numbers in myself? Where's aboutto start? Where's your cell phone?

(22:21):
The apartment? In your apartment?I mean, it's kind of like to
be calling him. Does he stayup late? I don't know. Do
you have a grandmother or just him? My grandmother passed away a while by.
Yes, but you're close to yourgrandfather, right, yes? I

(22:42):
mean don't he owns some property orsomething? He said, A couple of
acres? My granddaddy or my grandfatherwho lives in Pike County? My granddaddy
does he own any land down there? Yes? And do sometimes you go
down to visit him or some openLast time we met, I went down

(23:03):
to business edge with my hands anduncle. What did he do for a
livel Was he an attorney like you'rehe worked for the Southern rail of the
company. Is he in buying yourfamily an attorney? Now you're the only
one that went through law school?Yes, that's an accomplishment, don't you
know? Yes? I mean ittook a long time, right, yes,

(23:29):
a lot of a lot of studying. They then asked Stephen, who
do you think to Lauren? Whodo you think took Lauren away? I

(24:03):
don't know. Well, I needyour help, give me some What what
is your observation of this? Iknow you're smarter, Okay, I know
you have an observation. You cantell me what's what do you think happened
to her? I think someone tookher? You think I mean you watch

(24:33):
TV shows, right, what's yourobservation? How do you think somebody would
take her? If somebody did takeher when she was running? Did she
normally run all the time? Sheruns? I don't know. You mean
you think somebody might have took herwhen she was running, like down the

(24:53):
street somewhere. Yes, you don'tthink somebody got her when you've got back
to her apartment, I don't know. Well, you know there was a
body found in the trash can nextto the armors. Yes, you do
know that. And it's a female, white female's body right now, right

(25:19):
next to your department, feet withinfrom her apartment. I mean, we
don't know one hundred percent sure it'slard, but we're pretty confident it is.

(25:40):
I wait for some tests to bedone to be a hundred percent sure.
I mean, who would who woulddo something to somebody throw in a
trash can? I'm asking for youradvice or your observation. Who in your
complex would do something like that?You live over there for three years.

(26:03):
Tonight's the first night I think I'veever been over there. In your expert
opinion of all your knowledge, aregoing through law school and all that,
Who in that complex do I needto talk to? I don't know.
No names come to mind. Youcan't help me out a little bit.

(26:26):
M. You can't help me out. I don't know. You don't know
anybody at all that lives in thatcomplex. You know, earlier you told
me about a guy who lives inapartment fifteen. I mean he's a decent

(26:49):
guy, I think. So.Don't y'all have a launder room there or
something that everybody has access to thelaunder room? Yes, anybody been working
over the apartments below you in thelast couple of weeks that you've noticed.
I haven't seen anyone, but youdon't. You don't know if they've been

(27:14):
doing work on the department number one? Now, I mean earlier today,
I mean you sit here and talknormal. What's going on with you?
Now? Why are you acting likethis? I need to know. Well,
all of a sudden, you're actinglike this. H. I don't

(27:37):
understand. Okay, earlier today wesit here and talked, But now you're
acting like you don't know what's goingon. HM. I mean there's something
happened or something. Tell you,why are you not why are you shutting

(28:00):
down? Why are you not talkingto me? I don't know. You
don't know. Are you scared now? I mean you're not scared? Are
you now? Are you sad?That's something happened? Alarm if that's her
in that trash can? Yes?Once? Last time you said you can't

(28:30):
remember the last time earlier today thatyou took the trash out to the trash
can? Right? Am I wrong? Right? I mean because you said
you liked stayed inside the whole thewhole weekend. I think because you had
all your food and all that.You never went to Crowber over the weekend
or walm Ward or anything. Idon't remember, but you could have.

(28:56):
I don't know when you go toKroeger. When you do go to the
store to get your food, doyou use a credit card or you pay
cash cash? Do you have aCrocer card? Yes? Okay, so
the Crower cards should be able totell if you were hey Croker this weekend?
Ryan? Yes? Do you swipeyour card and just into your cell

(29:25):
phone number? Because I ain't onmy phone up because I can't never remember
a brand of card. But youdon't remember if you went over to Bay
you drive your car or you walkover there. Do you ever go to
Walmart? On the East Time GreatHighway? Or which Walmart do you go

(29:45):
to? When you go to WalmartGreat Highway? You don't ever go out
to Zepplin Row. I don't thinkso. You've never been out there.
You know where Zeblin wrote the newWalmart? Now you know? So you
just basically go to Long Railway.Yes. Do you know where you're at

(30:06):
the night? Yes? Where areyou at? Detective you? And you
know why we've been working all daytrying to find Lauren Ryan. Yes,
because her family wants to know whereshe's at. Yes, And I don't
know what to tell her family.So I'm asking you what do I need

(30:27):
to tell her family? I don'tknow. What do you want me to
tell him? I don't know.Huh, You're gonna have to tell me
what to tell her family. It'saw along you brother? What do you
want to be to tell her family? H I don't know. Well,

(30:49):
I need to know. I needto know. Okay, there's something happened
to Lauren. And you know youneed to tell me if you know something,
because I need to know because herfamily's down here. I want to

(31:14):
know what happened to her. Idon't know. You don't know, now,
that's what you want me to tellher mother and her father that you
don't know God, that you're sorrythat she's missing. And I thought you've
been trying to help me all dayfind her, but you just want me

(31:37):
to tell her I don't know.Are you a sorry piece of shit that
you want me to tell her thatyou got your ass on that fucking news
and stood out there and gave amedia report that her mother saw about her

(31:57):
missing daughter, And you want meto sit there and tell him that you
don't know. Is that what youwant me to tell him? Because you're
all over the news. You surestood out there and ran your mouth to
the news media, But now you'regonna get out of here, and you

(32:19):
don't fucking know. You know,you're just a sorry piece of shit that
don't give a fuck? Right,Yeah, Well, why would you tell
the media everybody? Do you needto see what you told the media today?
It was on the eleven o'clock news. Well, I'm asking you tell

(32:40):
me. I want to know.I don't know where she is. That
ain't what you told the media.You didn't stand in front of that camera
and say I don't know, Idon't know, I don't know At this

(33:05):
point in the interview, the detectiveis getting frustrated. Stephen is sitting oddly
still. He refuses to see anythingbeyond I don't know when I asked questions
when they know that he has moreinformation. You don't know, now,
that's what you want me to tellher mother and her father that you don't

(33:28):
know, Not that you're sorry thatshe's missing. I thought you've been trying
to help me all day find her, but you just want me to tell
her I don't know. Are youa sorry piece of shit that you want
me to tell her that you gotyour ass on that fucking news and stood

(33:50):
out there and gave a media reportthat her mother saw about her missing daughter,
And you want me to sit thereand tell him that you don't know?
Is that what you want me totell him? Because you're all over
the news. You sure stood outthere and ran your mouth to the news

(34:15):
media. But now you're gonna getout here and you don't fucking know.
You know, you're just a sorrypiece of shit that don't give a fuck?
Right, Yeah, well, why'dyou tell the media everybody? Do
you need to see what you toldthe media today? It was on eleven

(34:37):
o'clock news. Well, I'm askingyou tell me. I want to know.
I don't know where she is.That ain't what you told the media.
You didn't stand in front of thatcamera and say I don't know,
I don't know, I don't knowright about all these weapons? Was you

(35:12):
ever in a military? No?What do you need all these weapons for?
Are you scared somebody's gonna hurt you? Yeah? What do you need
all these weapons for? Why there'sa reason. Why were you molested as
a child? No? Then whydo you need all these weapons? Why

(35:37):
give me one good reason? Justgive me one reason. Why does it
make you feel important? Yeah?M hmm. Are you a big guy
because you got a weapon? No? Do you even know how to use
it? Yes? I need youto tell me what you want me to

(36:00):
tell her mother, and then Iwon't ask you another thing. I'm not
gonna tell her mother that you don'tknow because her mother saw you on the
news tonight and she cried all theway down to making because you had the
balls to get on the news andtell everybody everything. You don't have no

(36:21):
problem talking to the news. Iwant to ask you questions. I'm asking
you questions. Where's Lauren, Yes, you do know, you do,
don't you do know? You know? You know, you do know,

(36:49):
And everybody Making knows you knows becauseyou got your sorry ass on the news
and told everybody. So every friendyou have in Making knows you know.
Everybody go to school with, everyone of your professors, everybody he knows

(37:10):
that you know because you got onthe news to mine and told everybody that
you know. How do you think, hmm, think you're gonna be walking
down the street tomorrow and nobody botheryou? Hm? Think nobody's gonna come

(37:32):
over and knock on your door tosee if you want to talk to the
media again. I don't know.Oh, they're gonna be over there,
brother, So this little act thatyou're doing right now, I ain't working
with me, okay, because youdidn't have no problem talking to the media,

(37:58):
no problem. So you can justsnap out of and tell me what
they'll happen so we can move on. I don't know, well how many
times you're gonna say I don't know, hm, how many times you're gonna
say it? What are you gonnasay? I remember? I don't want

(38:24):
to remember what happened to her?How many times you're gonna say that if
you did something that you regret,you let me know. I didn't.

(38:44):
Who did? I don't know?Well, a lot of was found over
here, right next to where youlive. And what do you have in
your apartments? A lot of nismy guns. A new detective would walk
into the interview room to give thefirst one a break. This detective is

(39:08):
more abrasive and begins to question Stephenabout the guns. Hunes. So you
talked to him about his guns?Yeah, when's the last time you shot
those guns? You've never shot agun? Have you ever shot any gun
in your whole life? Now?Never? No? So you bought three

(39:34):
guns as you never shot? Yes? Why for? What? For?
What? I'm asking for? What? Why do you want to have them?
What makes did they give you?I mean, tell me why it's
important for you to have three guns? That's an easy question. Come on,

(40:00):
talk to me, buddy. Imean, you've talked all day today.
We ain't had a problem communicating.Why is it important for you to
have three guns? Do you notknow? No? Okay, Um,
you got a girlfriend? No?Who's your best friend? Michael quin?

(40:22):
Michael? Who who is he?He was a law student with me,
is he does he still a lawstudent? He graduated? When was the
last time you talked to him beforehe moved up to Boston? How long
ago was that? A few weeks? A few weeks, like a month?
Two months, two weeks, threeweeks? What the beginning of June?

(40:46):
Beginning of June? Yeah? Uh? June? Okay, So let
me ask you a question. Howyou say you don't know? What?
Are his? Right? Right?You said you told me earlier you and
long we're friends? Right? Yes? How would you describe y'all's relationship?

(41:10):
She was my friend, she wasyour friend. What did you ever do
things for it? She ever dothings for you? What did she ever
do for you? We talked?What y'all talk about? News? The
news? Okay? Um? Earlieryou was telling me something about you fixed

(41:31):
her computer before. I couldn't fixit. You couldn't fix it? What
was wrong with it? I don'tremember. How long ago was that?
Around graduation? How long ago wasthat? Middle liddle of May? So
you were over in her apartment inthe middle of May. Yes? Have

(41:53):
you been over this since then?Yes? When was the last time you
rover there? Last night? Beforelast night? Have you ever been over
there? With Lauren since the timeyou've worked during her computer in the middle
of bay. No, how manytimes have you been in her problem with
her hand out? I know youdon't know if you had to guess,

(42:25):
what was just? I mean onetime, two times? Three times?
What? Two? Maybe? Two? See? If I had only been
somewhere twice, I could remember thatif I had been there over fifty times,
and you asked me how many timesI've been, like, I don't
know a lot. But the factthat you've only been there twice? When

(42:47):
I say how many times been yousay you don't know. That's just odd
to me. Does that make senseto you? Yes? That does make
sense. What so what I'm sayingright now makes sense? No? The
detective calls Stephen out. He knows, he knows more than he is letting
on. When was the last timeyou saw Lauren? Two or three weeks

(43:15):
ago? And you have you beenon vacation for the last couple of weeks?
You've been home every night? Yes? Has she been at home every
night? I don't know. Hasshe been on vacation? I think she
was away for a while. Howlong? I don't know? Were you
looking for? Now? Let metell you even if I didn't talk to

(43:37):
my neighbors. I know if myneighbors have been in and out. I
hear them come in, I hearthem go out. I see him when
they walked by my window. I'velived in a parkas most of my life.
So the fact that you haven't seenher in two or three weeks,
that's just odd. Demand I'm gonnabe It makes me feel like you're not
being honest with me, Stephen.Why would you not be honest with me,

(44:02):
Stephen? It just doesn't feel likeit, buddy. You know,
I get the sense that there's somethingweighing heavy on your heart right now,
and it's breaking you down, andyou feel bad about it. I can
tell you you haven't slept much,have you in the last few days?

(44:24):
Have you no like something's weighing onyour mind? Named we were looking for
Lauren. You started looking for Laurenyesterday. But you haven't slept in several
days, have you? Yes?You have. Earlier when I talked to
you, you said you hadn't sleptin days, that this morning was the
first time you was able to getinto sleep. Was this morning for a

(44:45):
little bit? No, Yes,that's what you said. That's what you
told me. So I if youhave been able to sleep and several days,
what have you been doing? Study? And you said, yeah,
studying. You don't remember that.No, what I want you to do

(45:17):
and I'm gonna ask you this question. I want you to describe to me
how you feel right now. Youdon't know how to answer that with it
yes or no? Dude, Idon't know what's going on. Lawn's missing.

(45:45):
This pretty little girl right here,your neighbor, she's missing. I
know you weren't looking for last night. Yeah, did you heard la Now,

(46:05):
Stephen, did you heard Laing?No? I know this is hard
if you to tell it, butit's weighing on you right now. And
it's Steven. I didn't do it, But I know you can probably help
me with who did? Can't you? Buddy? I don't know? Stephen?

(46:30):
You know, and I mean youboth know. It's no different than
when you was a little kid,right and you reached in that cookie jar
and you got called after your mamatold you not to get that cookie.
And when she was did you geta cookie? No? And whenever you
tell a lie, you feel badabout it? Right then, one with

(46:51):
every line is a chance you're gonnaget caught, and that weighs on you
because you know you did something bad. All right, I didn't do it.
You didn't take the cookie. Now, the detective that brings up the

(47:13):
fact that, despite Stephen looking likean unkempt person, his apartment had been
recently cleaned. What did you do, buddy, I didn't do anything.
What did you do the lord?I didn't do anything. You saw lord

(47:34):
last night though, yesterday? No, what time was it that she went
out to do it? Long?I don't know where were you at yesterday?
At home? What did you doat home? Tell me everything you
did yesterday, from the time youwoke up to the time you went to
slip check the news at what time? I don't remember. Was it yesterday

(48:05):
morning? I don't remember. Whatdid you do when you woke up?
I think I checked the news?All right? You checked the news,
okay, But you do after that? I watched some videos online to clean

(48:31):
up. No, you didn't.No, you smell like you've been cleaning
up, Like you've been using cleanerto clean up. I know that smells
like my wife smells like that allthe time when she cleans the house.
You've been using some kind of cleanerto clean up your apartment, hadn't you
No, Stephen? Did you tellme you live it like I mad?

(48:53):
How does your apartment get cleaned?I cleaned it, okay? The last
time you claimed this, Stephen,I don't remember. Was it this week?
No? You mean you go awhole week without claning? Yes?
Why that's horrible, Steven. Wasit possibly with the weekend last weekend?

(49:16):
No, it wasn't. If youcan't remember, then how is it that
you can tell me that you didn'tclean up your apartment last weekend? Minute
ago? You couldn't remember. Idon't remember cleaning last weekend. So it

(49:37):
isn't that you didn't. It's thatyou just don't remember. All right,
help me out, buddy, right, I don't understand. You don't understand.

(50:01):
Eventually, the detective expresses his opinionon what he thinks happened to Lauren.
I don't know how else to say, at Stephen, let me tell
you what I think. I thinkthat she was a friend of yours.
Look at her right here. Ithink that she was a friend of yours,

(50:22):
and I think something happened, Steven. She used to watch her come
in and out of her apartment,didn't you? Now, I mean,
then, how were y'all friends?If y'all were, if me and you
friends, we live next door toeach other. Every time I see you,

(50:43):
look at what I see all mybuddy going in because we're friends,
I'm gonna pay attention to when youcome in and out. Didn't you just
tell me that y'all were friends?Yes, but you don't get don't pay
attention to when she came in andout? No, Steve your line.
Now you're lying. You're just lying. That's a lie. You ever see

(51:07):
her committing out of her apartment?Yes? You did? When was the
last time? You don't remember?Like last week? Maybe you don't think
so. Stephen, you understand thateverything that you're saying, he doesn't make
any sense at all. No,No, you totally contradict everything that relates

(51:36):
to human behavior. We have skillsto be able to observe things, to
hear things, to see things.There are natural things out there to draw
our attention every day. That's justwhen you're driving down a court road.
Is somebody hits the horn, youlook around. You know what I'm saying.
That's the natural reaction. If you'resitting in your living room, you
hear the door standing next to you, you automatically think, my neighbor's home,

(52:00):
right, You're you're telling me thatthose kind of things don't happen in
your life. You asked if Iwatched, I didn't watch. Had you
noticed that she's came in and outof our house in the last week or
two? I don't remember. Whatdo you remember, Steven? Last time

(52:30):
I saw it was two or threeweeks ago, dude? Where she was
going out running? When I wascoming in? What were you coming in
from? Preparation? Bar preparation?What's the bar preparation? Oh, you're
preparing for the bar? Then?Yes, okay? The first detective would

(52:52):
return at this point, he's playingthe good cop in this scenario. It
seems he pleads for Stephen to helpthem find Lauren. Where hell y'all doing?
We're just talking. You never seemedto remember a whole lot. Everything's

(53:14):
yes or no. I don't remembera lot of things. Don't making anything.
I gotta be honest with you,Stephen, me personally, I don't
feel like you're being honest. Okay, Well, Steven, you say she's
gonna help me out right? Well, this investigation because we needed your help.
We're asking you for help, right, that's what we remember. I

(53:37):
told you that, yes, andyou told me you're gonna help man,
right, You're gonna help me findLauren? Right? Yes? And I
asked for your opinion, your observation, and what happened to her? Right?
What did you tell me? Ithought someone snatched her? All right?

(54:00):
Where do you think someone might havesnatched her from? If you're the
detective, if you're the police detective, it's your investigation. Where would you
start your investigation? I come on, now, you watch TV? Right?

(54:20):
Yes? Okay, you made itthrough college, right, yes,
you made it just about through lawschool? Yes, so you should know
where would you start your investigation?Where she was last seen? Okay?
So in this case, where wasshe last seen at Garen's house? Garen

(54:45):
that's the guy that lives up onstreet, right, a friend of hers?
Yes, okay, all right,and that was on I think she
left there on Saturday morning? Yeah, am I? Right? Okay?
Now where do you think she wentfrom their house? All right? You're

(55:09):
the detective, now, all right, it's your case. What would you
do? Check at her home?Kay? We did that, but you
know that's what we did today rightcheck, you saw us out there when
we knocked on your door. She'snot there. You know I need your

(55:36):
help in finding her. What dowe need to do? What do we
need to do that we haven't done? You know, you don't know.
So if you had this case,you wouldn't be able to solve as that
that you're saying because you're not smartenough to solve it. I don't know,

(55:58):
or you think you're smart enough tobe take us, I don't know.
No, you gotta be killing me, Steven, as you Steven,
So, Steven, listen to me. We're real people and we're here to
talk to you. We're trying toWe're I like to think that we're friends,

(56:20):
okay, friends communicate back and forth. The only thing you said is
yes and no one. I don'tknow, okay. It makes me feel
like you're treating me like you don'tlike me. And I feel like I've
looked out for you today. Everythingyou said you wanted, I'm giving you.
I'll try to give you food severaltimes. You know. I feel
like we've talked. You told meabout how you like to look at point

(56:44):
on the internet. Um, youexpressed me that you're virgin. Correct.
Yes, I mean that's the kindof stuff you tell friends. You know
what I'm saying. Right, Stephenwon't budge. His broken record of I
don't know, Oh, I don'tknow is not working. Little does he
know the detectives have been gathering evidencethis whole time. They know that he

(57:09):
knows more what happened alone. Yeah, you like Kurt, don't you?
Did you ever think about having sexwith her? No, you never tried
to talk to her on a datinglevel. Let me go talk. They
got his grandfather. Let me gotalk. Make sure that he owns another

(57:32):
car, because he's telling us hedoesn't. You're right by it. So
you're telling me she had a prettygirl, right, Yes, you're telling
me you look that a pretty girllike that, and you never once thought
ever, man, she looks good. You never thought that. I don't

(58:02):
understand. What do you mean youdon't understand? Did you know when you
sitting here, you see a girlwalking down the road, and he said,
man, that girl looks good.You see a good looking girl?
Where you think yourself? Man,a girl looks good? Yes, you
never thought that about her? Yes, So you mean to tell me you

(58:24):
look at pawn on the Internet andget off to that. But you never
looked to her and said, man, I wonder what it'd be LIKEO to
have sex with her? Yes,you have. No. Have you ever
thought about what it would be liketo have sex for long? No?

(58:45):
You never imagined having sex fu long? No? Have you ever had sex
ful long? No? What doyou know about that body we found today?
I don't know. You don't know. What if I told you that

(59:14):
I believe that you do know,I don't What if I told you that
I could prove it. I don'tknow. You don't know. Is there
a chance? But you do admitthat there's a chance that I possibly have
evidence to show that you don't havesomething to do with that body? Correct?

(59:37):
I don't know. You don't knowbecause if I hadn't done anything,
I say, no, there's noway. But you say you don't know.
Why is that? Why do yousay you don't know? Is there
a chance that maybe something's there?Now? Why did you say you don't
know? Because I don't know?Because you're worried about something. Maybe something

(59:59):
happened, that maybe something got mixedup with something, and you're worried about
that. No, the why yousay I don't know because I don't know.
How would you not know? IfI was asking you, did you
just rob a bank? If youdidn't, you'd say no, not.

(01:00:21):
I don't know, right right?So why do you say I don't know
because I don't know. You don'tknow if you had anything to do with
that body? I didn't You didn't. Are you sure? Yes? What
if I said I could prove thatyou did? I don't know. Could

(01:00:44):
you explain it? I don't know. Today you told an investigator that you
were worried about is possibly finding bloodin your apartment? Didn't it? I
don't remember you did. Now,why would you be worried about that?

(01:01:08):
We all looked in the lawren's apartment. Did you see blood that? What
would make you think that that therewas blood taken over there? Nothing would
make you think that unless you sawit, because see, I didn't see
no blood. None of the otherLawd's friends saw blood. But I know

(01:01:29):
now that blood was there, andnow I believe you saw it. You
saw that blood. You know thatblood was there, and that's why you're
worried about it. No, didyou know? Why do you have blood
up in the inside of your nose? I don't know. You don't know,

(01:02:00):
but you saw that blood. That'sthe only way that you would be
worried about it, because that's likesaying, I'm worried about red roses being
under my pillow, but yet Inever put on there. That doesn't make
any sense. You know, yourbrain doesn't even think to operate like that

(01:02:22):
unless you knew something was there.Does that make sense? That made sense
that you're a smart guy, right, I don't understand you knew that there
was blood in that apartment. No, yes you did, Stephen, Yes

(01:02:46):
you did. There's blood in yourapartment, Stephen. That's right, there's
blood in your apartment. Stephen.This is hard, buddy. I know
this is hard, and I cantell it's only you want to let it

(01:03:09):
go. There's blood in your apartment, Stephen. You didn't get it all
up, It didn't all come off. You scrubbed and you wiped. But
we can tell that, don't you, white CSI, yeah, we know
it, Stephen. Why is thereblood in your bathroom? Yes? You

(01:03:39):
do know why? Stephen? Hasanybody else been in your bathroom? The
police were there. Other than thepolice, who else has been in there?
No one? And you recently cleanedyour bathroom. Didn't you know how

(01:04:00):
long ago? A couple of daysago, over the weekend. No,
No, you don't know. Idon't remember cleaning it. Do you use
drugs? You ever use ascid?No? Are you you're on medication?

(01:04:29):
Your line still. I wanted togive you an opportunity to telling I wanted
to be here with you to gothrough that process because I know you're not
a monster. Man. I knowyou're not a bad guy. You're just
a hard working student trying to passthe bar exam. Mansion. You ain't

(01:04:49):
got a lot of support from yourfamily, dud, Yes, you do.
A lot of people can't say that. And the fact that you do
have support from your family should makethe things easier to do. Your family
wants to feel like they've raised somebodythat tells the truth and is honest.
Right, Yes, did you heardthat girl? Stephen? Now? Had

(01:05:12):
you ever heard anyone? Stephen?Now? The remainder of the interview,
Stephen remains almost catatonic. They tellhim they have discovered a body, but
they have yet too ideas. Theyspeak to him about his work at the
DA's office and how people spoke ofhow personable and kind he was, but

(01:05:35):
they still keep grilling him, tryingto break him. We have to go
to our best resources when we're tryingto do anything. You know, It's
kind of like the guy who wantsto get his old chain. He goes
ugulu. You know what I'm saying. We're looking for long and you said
you were her friend? Aren't toher friend? Yes? All good friends?

(01:05:59):
Yes? How good of friends arey'all? Friends? Like? How
good a friends? I don't understand. You don't understand. You don't understand
how good a friends y'all are?You don't understand what you ask? How
good of friends are y'all? Friends? Are y'all close friends? Are y'all

(01:06:23):
just acquaintances? Um? Y'all?Study? I mean, how good a
friends? Y'all? We're friends?Are y'all really good friends? I don't
know? You don't know. Howdo you not know? If you're not
a really good friend? Let meask you this. Maybe you're saying that
because you don't know how she feelsabout you. How do you feel about

(01:06:47):
her? Do you consider her areally good friend? She's a friend,
but not a really good friend.I don't know. You don't know.
How do you not know? Idon't know what you mean. I really
could. Oh, y'all really close? No, No, you're not.

(01:07:10):
No, so y'all you never toldher any of your personal business? No,
she ever tell you any of hersNo? Do you ever see her
upset? No? She was alwaysa happy person, wouldn't you? Yes?

(01:07:32):
Why are you acting like this?Stephen? You see how I'm able
to talk in complete sentences. We'rehaving a conversation, but the only thing
you're bringing to the table is thatyes, no, or I don't know?

(01:07:53):
Why is that? Stephen? Idon't don't understand. What don't you
understand? I want to be ableto help you, Tom, to be
able to communicate with me better thanthat, Stephen. I feel like we
can help each other. Stephen,did you heard that girl? No?

(01:08:26):
Do you know where she's at?No? Would you tell me if you
did? Yes? Have you liedto me at all in this interview?
No? Yes, she has,Stephen, she says she have. When

(01:08:55):
you say you don't know when thelast time you clean your bathroom is that's
a lie. When you say youdon't know the last time you saw her
coming in out of her apartment andyou don't notice whether or not she comes
in and out. That's another lie. Your doors only a few feet from

(01:09:16):
hers. You've told some lies inthis interview, Stephen, without a doubt.
What was the last time you didlaundry a few weeks ago? You
ain't washed clothes in a few weeks? Yeah, why, I have a

(01:09:41):
lot of clothes. No, youdon't. That's another lie. That's right,
that's three lives, Stephen. Youdon't have a lot of clothes.
Yes, you got enough underwear tolast you three weeks. Yes? Do

(01:10:06):
you wear the same pair of underwearthe mother one day? Yes? Why?
Because it's still clean enough to aweSteven. I appreciate you coming down
here today, I'm talking to us, Okay. I appreciate you cooperating with

(01:10:30):
us and and helping us along.But you've lied to me about at least
three things in the same view.And people don't lie as they got something
to hide. Why would you lieto me, Stephen? I didn't lie,
Sure you did. You said youdon't even notice when she comes in

(01:10:51):
and out of her apartment. That'sa lie, Stephen, I said,
I didn't remember the last time.Have you ever watched her going on her
apartment? No, you've never Howlong you have been neighbors three years?
Three years? You've never watched herwalk through her front door? Yes?

(01:11:13):
Five sets? And I said youever watched her walk into the apartment?
You said no, So I'm gonnaask you again if you ever watched her
walk into her apartment? Yes?When was the last time? How long
time ago? How long for graduation? It's been that long? And you

(01:11:36):
graduated when man beginning to may inthe main middle and you hadn't said her
walk in her apartment since? Now? Did you ever helpercare at groceries and
stuff like that? No? Never, No, you have a helpercare air

(01:12:00):
laundry. Now. She never neededyour help with anything. She asked for
help with the computer. You everall for help with her for anythink cave
and stuff or anything like that.Yes, that was Stephen. When she
was moving out during the first summer. What did you do? She needed

(01:12:25):
help moving stuff to her car andyou helped her. Yes, so you
went in out of her apartment movingstuff? Yes? How long did you
help her? A few minutes?That's it? Yes. Do you realize
how you're talking right now? Doesit not feel weird you now? Would

(01:12:47):
you say that this is how youtalk? All the time. I don't
understand. You're just not expressing yourself. All everything is with you is yes,
No, I don't remember. Idon't understand. You can't help me

(01:13:11):
out with anything. You there's nothingyou can tell me to help me about
this beautiful girl right here, Stephen, that was your friend. Nothing.
You're gonna let things go down likethis. I don't know what you want.
I want the truth, Stephen.I don't know where she is.

(01:13:34):
Let me ask you this. Iactually believe you don't know where she is
right now? Where was she yesterday? Liar? That's right, you're lie.

(01:14:00):
At this point, the detectives havegiven up on Stephen breaking. They
turned the conversation about how no oneis going to come see him. They
know that he killed Lauren and thegame that he is playing is now over.
You heard that girl, now sureyou did. You know it and
I know it. You just don'twant to tell us to you and that's

(01:14:26):
okay, I know it. Ijust want to give you an opportunity to
tell it so people didn't think youwere a monster. You're not a monster,
all you, Steve. Now,I know, buddy, I know
you're not a monster. Tell mewhat happened. I don't know. You

(01:14:54):
try to have sex with it.No, she didn't want to have sex
with you. I didn't do it. She didn't want to have sex with
you, Stephen. I don't know. You don't know if she wanted to
have sex with you. I didn'tdo anything that she did, Steven.

(01:15:15):
You went into her apartment, Steve, and you hurt that girl. No,
I didn't. You did, buddy, You heard her, Steven,
No, I did that. Hedid. Why won't you tell me,

(01:15:42):
Stephen, I didn't do It'll takethis with me. You don't deserve and
look at it. Just stay righthere, okay, Okay, I appreciate

(01:16:03):
all your cooperation tonight. Okay.Police would later find many things in Stephen's
apartment that fingered him as the perpetratorin Lauren Gidding's murder. They would find
a hacksall with blood and human remainson it in the supply closet of the

(01:16:23):
apartment complex Stephen and Lauren lived at. They would find the packaging for that
hacksall in Stephen's apartment. They wouldalso find female underwear, but probably the
most damaging was the video footage foundon Stephen McDaniel's computer. Of Lauren's apartment.
The footage was taken outside of Lauren'swindow and recorded the happenings that was
going on inside. They would alsofind on Stephen McDaniel's computer child pornography.

(01:16:49):
Stephen would later confess that he brokeinto Lauren's apartment with the master key he
had. He was dressed in allblack and warm mask. He would enter
her bed room while she slept,and at some point Lauren would wake up
and see the silhouette of someone inher room. Stephen would state that Lauren
told him to get the fuck out. At this Stephen lunged towards Lauren and

(01:17:12):
grabbed her throat. Lauren, fightingfor her life, would fight back,
causing her and Stephen to fall offthe bed and onto the floor. Unfortunately,
Lauren's legs would somehow get trapped underher bed and she was unable to
move or kick Stephen. During thestruggle, Lauren would rip off his mask
and she would beg him to stop, but Stephen would not. He held

(01:17:38):
her throat until she stopped moving,and then he would drag Lauren into the
bathroom and put her in the bathtub. At this point, Stephen would state
in his confession that he left Laurenthere and would return later with his newly
purchased haxaw. He would then beginthe process of dismembering her body, placing
her in trash bags and throwing theminto the dumbs. He would also cut

(01:18:01):
up the mask, glove, andshirt he wore throughout the crime and flushed
them down the toilet. Stephen neverexpected the police to find Lauren. He
thought her body would be long gonebefore they started poking around her apartment complex.
He was wrong, because Stephen mcdaniel is not as smart as he
thinks he is. Stephen mc danielwould be charged with the murder of Lauren

(01:18:27):
Giddings in July of two thousand andeleven. Over the course of a few
years, Stephen's trial would be pushedback and moved a handful of times in
an attempt to find an unbiased jury, which would prove to be very difficult.
Finally, in April of two thousandand fourteen, Stephen McDaniel's trial would
be set to begin. However,he would eventually plead guilty to the crime

(01:18:51):
and accept a plead deal. Ina statement, Stephen would fully confess to
the crime of killing and dismembering LaurenGiddings. In exchange, he would receive
life in prison with the possibility ofparole in lieu of the death penalty,
which is still legal in Georgia.Stephen mc daniel will be eligible for parole

(01:19:12):
in two thousand forty one. However, the d A believes that Stephen will
most likely spend the rest of hislife in prison. Stephen would say in
a written statement that it is difficultfor him to explain why he killed Lauren
and attempted to conceal his deeds theway that he did, and that if
he could take back what happened,he would empty words from an empty man.

(01:19:38):
In two thousand eighteen, Stephen's father, Mark, would attempt to set
up a gofundmi site for his son'slegal fees. Stephen, after spending seven
years in prison, would attempt toget a new trial, believing that his
attorneys did not represent him well enough. This feeble attempt to free himself was
rejected by the judge and the gofundmisite that was set up for him that

(01:20:00):
was almost immediately shut down for violatingthe site's rules. Despite all of this,
Lauren Giddings's memory still burns as brightas ever, from memorials to scholarships,
to tournaments and runs in her honor. Whatever Stephen McDaniels intended when he
committed this crime, one thing isfor certain. Lauren Gidding's light will never

(01:20:25):
be sussed out. Her memory liveson and is pushed out into the world
by those who knew and loved her. Thank you for listening to this episode
of The Apex and the Abyss.If you would like to reach out to
the show, please feel free towrite an email to Apex and Abyss at

(01:20:45):
gmail dot com. You can alsofind the show on Twitter, Instagram,
and Facebook if you prefer to communicatethat way. You can also submit episode
suggestions, as well as fine linksto everything mentioned above in the show notes
and at ape xabis dot com,as well as a link to another show
a co host called Monster Madness.If you'd like to support the show,

(01:21:05):
you can do that in many ways. You can head on over to Apple
podcast and submit a rating and review. This costs you nothing but a few
moments of your time and it isgreatly appreciated. Again, thank you so
much for listening to the show andfor your support in telling these stories.
Until next time, certain justice,finality, and the answers they deserve.

(01:21:34):
These are the reasons Lawrence family supportmy decision to accept Steven McDaniel's guild rather
than py sing to trial. Ido not expect Steven McDaniel to ever be
released from prison, even though hehas been sentenced to life with the possibility
of role. The terms of thisguilty play require that Stephen McDaniels serve thirty

(01:21:58):
years in prison before he can befirst considered for parole in the year two
thousand and forty one. The heinousnature of this crime, confirmed today in
Stephen McDaniel's own words, will followhim into any potential parole hearing. Because

(01:22:19):
of the detailed admission of guilt,I do not expect any parole board will
ever agree to his release. Ifully expect Stephen McDaniel to spend the rest
of his life behind bars. Itis my belief that today's sentence and the

(01:22:41):
specific admission of guilt that accompanied himwill allow Laurence family and friends to move
forward with the healing process. Myprayers will always