Girl vanished at a shopping mall in 1995. 12 years later, security finds this. Marcus Williams adjusted his security uniform and checked his radio one final time before starting his shift. The renovation project at Westfield Shopping Center had been going on for 3 months. And today, they were finally tearing down the old storage area behind the food court.

 

 

 

 22 years of working mall security had taught him to expect the unexpected. But nothing prepared him for what he would find buried beneath decades of forgotten inventory. The construction crew had called him over around 2:00 in the afternoon. They had discovered something unusual while removing the concrete foundation of the old storage room.

 Marcus walked quickly through the corridors he knew by heart, past the familiar stores that had been serving the Columbus community since the early 80s. Over here, Marcus called out Tony Hernandez, the foreman. We found something you need to see. Marcus approached the demolition site.

 The workers had exposed a section of the floor that revealed a sealed metal container approximately 3 ft by 2 ft buried beneath what appeared to be a hastily poured concrete patch. The container was rusted but intact with what looked like duct tape wrapped around the edges. How long has this been here? Marcus asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

 Based on the concrete composition and the way it was poured, I’d say at least 10 to 15 years. Maybe longer, Tony replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. Marcus felt his stomach tighten. His memory flashed back to 1995 when he was still a junior security officer. A young woman had disappeared from this very mall.

 Jessica Thompson, 18 years old, had vanished without a trace on October 23rd, 1995. Despite an extensive investigation, no evidence had ever been found. Nobody touches this until the police arrive,” Marcus announced, pulling out his cell phone. “Tony, clear your crew from this area. We’re treating this as a potential crime scene.

” Detective Patricia Rivera arrived within 30 minutes, accompanied by two uniformed officers and the crime scene investigation unit. She was a seasoned investigator with the Columbus Police Department, specializing in cold cases. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, and her sharp eyes immediately focused on the buried container.

 “Marcus Williams, right? You called this in?” she asked, extending her hand. “Yes, detective. I’ve been working security here for over 20 years. This renovation is the first time anyone has disturbed this section of the building since the mid ’90s. Tell me about the Thompson case.” Marcus had been expecting this question.

 Jessica Thompson, 18 years old, disappeared from this mall on October 23rd, 1995. She was here shopping with friends, separated from them around 3:00 in the afternoon, and was never seen again. The original investigation was led by Lieutenant James Morrison. They searched everywhere, interviewed hundreds of people, but found nothing. Detective Rivera nodded, making notes on her pad. Who was the mall security supervisor in 1995? Richard Hullbrook.

 He’s the general manager now. Been with the company for over 30 years. The crime scene technicians carefully extracted the container. It was heavier than expected and the metal had corroded in several spots, but remained sealed. “Detective Rivera made the decision to transport it to the police laboratory for proper examination rather than opening it at the scene.” “I want to speak with this Richard Hullbrook immediately,” she told Marcus.

 “Can you locate him for me? He’s in his office on the second floor, administrative wing. I’ll call him down. Richard Hullbrook appeared within 10 minutes. At 58 years old, he was a distinguished man with graying hair and wire- rimmed glasses. He wore an expensive suit and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to authority.

 His expression showed concern as he approached the demolition site. Detective Rivera, Marcus told me you wanted to speak with me about the construction discovery. Mr. Mr. Hullbrook, I understand you were the security supervisor here in 1995 when Jessica Thompson disappeared. That’s correct. Terrible tragedy.

 We cooperated fully with the police investigation at the time. I need you to tell me everything you remember about that day and the investigation that followed. Bullbrook’s face remained composed. Jessica was here shopping with two friends, Amanda Morrison and Kelly Woo. They separated around 3:00. Jessica said she wanted to check out a store in the South Wing alone.

 When her friends couldn’t find her an hour later, they contacted Maul security. We immediately began searching and contacted the police. What was your role specifically? I coordinated with the police investigation, provided access to all areas of the mall, reviewed security footage, and interviewed staff members.

 We had cameras in the main corridors, but not in every store. Unfortunately, we never found any footage of Jessica after she separated from her friends. Detective Rivera studied Hullbrook’s face carefully. His answers were detailed and delivered with confidence, but something in his demeanor seemed rehearsed.

 I’ll need copies of all security reports from that period, staff schedules, and any documentation related to the Thompson case. Of course, I’ll have my assistant gather everything for you tomorrow morning. Tonight would be better. Holbrook paused for just a moment before nodding. I’ll see what I can do. After Hullbrook left, Detective Rivera turned to Marcus.

 What’s your impression of him? Marcus chose his words carefully. He’s been a good manager, professional, efficient, but I remember thinking at the time that he seemed unusually calm during the whole investigation. Most of us were pretty shaken up by the disappearance.

 Unusually calm, how? Well, when a young woman vanishes from your workplace, you’d expect some emotional reaction. Hullbrook treated it like a business problem to be solved. Very methodical, very controlled. Detective Rivera made additional notes. I want you to think back to 1995. Was there anything about the investigation, any detail that seemed odd or didn’t sit right with you? Marcus considered the question seriously. There was one thing.

 The day after Jessica disappeared, I came in early for my shift. I saw Hullbrook in the south wing with a maintenance crew. They were doing some kind of repair work in the storage area behind the food court. When I asked him about it, he said there had been a water leak that needed immediate attention. Did you see any evidence of a water leak? No.

 And I remember thinking it was strange because we hadn’t had any reports of water damage. Plus, the maintenance crew wasn’t our regular contractor. I’d never seen those workers before. Detective Rivera felt the familiar tingle of intuition that signaled an important lead. Do you remember what day this was exactly? October 24th, 1995, the day after Jessica vanished. By 6:00 that evening, the laboratory had confirmed the contents of the container.

 Detective Rivera received the call while still at the mall, coordinating with crime scene technicians who were now treating the entire former storage area as a potential crime scene. Detective Rivera, this is forensics. You need to sit down for this. I’m listening.

 The container held personal items belonging to Jessica Thompson. We found her driver’s license, a class ring from Columbus East High School, a bracelet with her initials, and several other items that match descriptions from the original missing person report. Detective Rivera closed her eyes. After 12 years, they finally had physical evidence. There’s more.

 We also found what appears to be a diary or journal, also belonging to Jessica. The last entry is dated October 23rd, 1995, the day she disappeared. What does it say? It mentions being afraid of someone at the mall. She writes about feeling like she was being watched and followed. The name quote r.h quote appears multiple times in the final entries.

 RH Richard Hullbrook. Detective Rivera immediately called her captain to request authorization for a full investigation reopening. The Jessica Thompson case was officially active again, and Richard Hullbrook had just become their primary person of interest.

 As night fell over the Westfield Shopping Center, Detective Rivera stood in the demolished storage area where Jessica’s belongings had been hidden for 12 years. Tomorrow, she would begin the process of unraveling what had really happened on October 23rd, 1995. The truth about Jessica Thompson was finally going to surface.

 Detective Patricia Rivera arrived at the station early, carrying two large boxes of files. The Jessica Thompson case had been stored in the cold case archives since 1998 when the active investigation was officially suspended due to lack of evidence. Now, with the discovery of Jessica’s personal items, every piece of information from the original investigation needed to be re-examined.

 Captain Michael Sullivan had assigned Rivera two additional detectives to assist with the case. Detective Thomas Walsh was a veteran investigator nearing retirement, and Detective Sarah Chen was a younger officer with expertise in forensic analysis and digital evidence recovery.

 “Let’s start with the timeline,” Rivera announced, spreading the original case files across the conference table. “3rd, 1995. Jessica Thompson, 18 years old, junior at Ohio State University, goes to Westfield Shopping Center with two friends. Detective Walsh opened the witness statement file. Amanda Morrison and Kelly Woo, both 18, both students at OSU. According to their statements, they arrived at the mall around 1:30 in the afternoon.

 They shopped together until approximately 3:00 when Jessica said she wanted to browse some stores alone. “Which stores?” Chen asked. Jessica told her friends she was interested in looking at jewelry at Pearson’s Fine Jewelry and possibly buying books at Walden Books. Both stores were located in the south wing of the mall.

 Rivera studied the floor plan from 1995, the same area where we found her belongings yesterday. What did the original investigation discover about her movements after 3:00? Walsh flipped through several pages. Store employees at both locations remember seeing Jessica? Sarah Martinez at Pearson’s Fine Jewelry spoke with her around 3:15. Jessica was looking at rings. Said she was shopping for a friend’s birthday.

 Robert Kim at Walden Books remembers her browsing the fiction section around 3:30. Any security footage? Limited. The mall had cameras in main corridors and at store entrances, but not inside individual stores. The footage showed Jessica entering both stores, but nothing after 3:45. Detective Chen pulled out a thick folder marked personnel files.

 I want to review everyone who worked at the mall in 1995, starting with security staff. The personnel records revealed that Westfield Shopping Center employed 12 security officers in 1995, supervised by Richard Hullbrook. The staff included both full-time and part-time employees ranging in age from 22 to 55. Look at this, Chen said, pointing to an employee record.

 Steven Blake, age 24, hired in July 1995, terminated November 1995. Terminated why? Violation of company policy. No specifics listed. Rivera made a note to locate Steven Blake for questioning. What about maintenance and cleaning staff? The records showed a crew of eight maintenance workers and six custodial staff.

 Most had been long-term employees, but two were terminated within 3 months of Jessica’s disappearance. We need to interview all surviving employees from 1995. Rivera decided, “Let’s start with Richard Hullbrook.” At 10:00, Richard Hullbrook arrived at the police station accompanied by his attorney, Lawrence Mitchell, from the prestigious firm of Mitchell and Associates. Holbrook appeared composed, but Rivera noticed he was gripping his briefcase tighter than necessary. “Mr.

 Hullbrook, thank you for coming in,” Rivera began. “As you know, we’ve reopened the Jessica Thompson investigation based on new evidence. I understand I want to help in any way possible. Tell me about your relationship with Jessica Thompson. I didn’t have a relationship with her. She was a customer who disappeared from our facility.

 I coordinated security efforts to locate her and assisted the police investigation. Rivera placed a photograph of Jessica’s diary on the table. Jessica’s journal mentions feeling watched and followed at the mall. She references someone with the initials r.h quote multiple times. Bullbrook’s attorney leaned forward. Detective, my client’s initials matching something in a diary doesn’t constitute evidence of wrongdoing.

 Of course not, Rivera agreed. Mr. Hullbrook, did you ever have direct contact with Jessica Thompson? Possibly. I interacted with many customers during security incidents or general inquiries. I don’t specifically remember speaking with her. According to mall records, you personally handled several customer complaints in October 1995.

 Do you remember any involving young women feeling uncomfortable or unsafe? Pullbrook paused. No, I don’t recall any such complaints. Detective Walsh entered the room carrying a thick file. Mister Pullbrook, can you explain why maintenance work was performed in the storage area behind the food court on October 24th, 1995, the day after Jessica disappeared.

 I don’t recall specific maintenance work on that date. Walsh opened the file and removed a work order. This is your signature authorizing emergency repairs for water damage in storage area 7 on October 24th, 1995. The work order was processed at 6:30 in the morning, less than 12 hours after Jessica was reported missing. Holbrook studied the document.

If there was water damage, it would have required immediate attention to prevent further structural damage and potential health hazards. The work was performed by an outside contractor, not your regular maintenance staff. Do you remember why? Our regular crew may have been unavailable for emergency work.

 Rivera noticed Hullbrook was becoming increasingly cautious with his answers. Mister Hullbrook, I need you to provide a detailed account of your activities on October 23rd and 24th, 1995. Detective, that was 12 years ago. I can’t be expected to remember specific details from every day. This wasn’t every day. A young woman disappeared from your mall. Surely that would be memorable. Bullbrook’s attorney intervened.

 My client has cooperated fully. Unless you have specific evidence linking him to any criminal activity, we’ll be leaving now. After Hullbrook and his attorney departed, the three detectives reviewed what they had learned. He’s hiding something, Chen observed.

 Did you see how he tensed up when Walsh mentioned the maintenance work? The timing is suspicious, Walsh agreed. Emergency repairs starting the morning after Jessica disappeared using an outside contractor. Rivera picked up the phone. I’m calling Lieutenant Morrison. He led the original investigation. If anyone knows what really happened in 1995, it’s him.

 Lieutenant James Morrison, now retired, agreed to meet with the detectives that afternoon at his home in suburban Columbus. At 68 years old, Morrison remained sharp and alert with the demeanor of someone who had spent 35 years in law enforcement. I never forgot Jessica Thompson, Morrison said as they sat in his living room. Cases like that stick with you, especially when you can’t solve them.

 What was your impression of Richard Hullbrook during the original investigation? Rivera asked. Morrison leaned back in his chair. Professional, cooperative, but something felt off. He was too helpful, if that makes sense. Most people in his position would have been nervous about negative publicity, potential lawsuits, impact on business.

 Holbrook seemed more concerned with controlling information than finding Jessica. Can you elaborate? He insisted on being present during all interviews with mall employees. He provided security footage quickly, maybe too quickly, and he kept emphasizing that Jessica had left the mall voluntarily, even before we had established that as fact.

 Detective Walsh showed Morrison the work order for the storage area repairs. Do you remember this? Morrison examined the document carefully. I do remember asking about construction activity near the food court. Holbrook told me it was routine maintenance, nothing related to Jessica’s disappearance, but now that I see this work order, the timing bothers me. Why didn’t you investigate further? I tried, but Hullbrook’s company had good relationships with city officials.

When I requested to search areas that had been under construction, I was told it would interfere with legitimate business operations. The mall’s corporate office hired expensive lawyers who made it clear that any disruptive searches would result in legal action against the department. Chen took notes rapidly.

 What about the maintenance contractors who did the work? I tried to interview them, but the company said they were subcontractors who had moved on to other jobs in different states. No forwarding addresses, no contact information. Rivera felt pieces of a puzzle beginning to form.

 Lieutenant Morrison, based on your experience with the case, what do you think happened to Jessica Thompson? Morrison was quiet for a long moment. I think she encountered someone at that mall who meant her harm, someone with authority, someone trusted, someone who could move freely through all areas of the building without attracting suspicion. And I think that person had help covering it up. Richard Hullbrook.

 I never had enough evidence to prove it, but yes, Richard Hullbrook. That evening, Detective Rivera called David Thompson, Jessica’s older brother. David was now 32 years old, married with two children, working as an accountant in Cincinnati. He had never stopped looking for answers about his sister’s disappearance. Mr.

 Thompson, this is Detective Patricia Rivera with Columbus Police. I’m calling about your sister Jessica’s case. There was silence on the other end of the line. Mr. Thompson, I’m here. Has something happened? Have you found something? Yes, sir. We’ve recovered some of Jessica’s personal belongings.

 I’d like you to come to Columbus as soon as possible to help us identify them and discuss reopening the investigation. David Thompson’s voice shook slightly after 12 years. You found something? Yes. And Mr. Thompson, I believe we’re finally going to get answers about what happened to Jessica. As Detective Rivera hung up the phone, she looked at the evidence board she had started assembling.

 Jessica Thompson’s photograph was pinned at the center, surrounded by timeline entries, suspect information, and location photographs. Tomorrow, the real investigation would begin. The Jessica Thompson case was no longer cold. David Thompson sat across from Detective Rivera in the same conference room where they had interviewed Richard Hullbrook 2 days earlier. His hands trembled slightly as he examined his sister’s recovered belongings.

 Each item sealed in evidence bags and laid out on the table like pieces of a broken life. “That’s definitely Jessica’s ring,” he said, pointing to the Columbus East High School class ring. “She got it senior year and never took it off. And this bracelet, our parents gave it to her for her 16th birthday.” Detective Rivera watched his face carefully. “Mr.

Thompson, I need you to look at this diary. Can you confirm this is Jessica’s handwriting? David studied the journal through the clear evidence bag. Yes, this is hers. She always wrote in cursive like this and she had that habit of drawing little stars at the end of sentences when she was thinking about something important.

 I need to ask you some difficult questions about the final entries. Did Jessica ever mention feeling unsafe or being followed? David read through the visible pages, his expression growing more troubled. She called me about 2 weeks before she disappeared. Said she felt like someone at the mall was watching her.

 I thought she was being paranoid because she’d been going there so often to shop for Christmas presents. Did she mention any specific person? She said one of the security guards always seemed to show up wherever she was shopping. Made her feel uncomfortable. I told her to shop somewhere else, but she said her friends liked meeting at Westfield because it was convenient.

 Detective Chen joined them with additional files. Mr. Thompson, we’ve been reviewing your sister’s phone records from 1995. She made several calls to the mall’s customer service line in the weeks before her disappearance. Do you know why? No, she never mentioned calling the mall. Chen consulted her notes. Three calls in October 1995.

 Each time she spoke with someone in management about security concerns, the person she spoke with was Richard Hullbrook. David’s face hardened. Jessica talked to Hullbrook about feeling unsafe and he never mentioned this to police. Apparently not. There’s no record of these complaints in any of the original investigation files. Rivera leaned forward.

 David, I need you to tell me everything Jessica said about her concerns at the mall. She said she felt like she was being watched whenever she shopped alone. She mentioned that security guards would appear in whatever section she was browsing, even areas where there hadn’t been any problems or crowds.

 She thought maybe they suspected her of shoplifting, but she’d never stolen anything in her life. Did she describe any of these security guards? She said there was an older man, maybe in his 40s, who always seemed very serious and professional. She said he made her nervous because he would watch her for long periods without doing anything else. Detective Walsh entered the room with a manila folder.

 I just got off the phone with Amanda Morrison, one of Jessica’s friends who was with her the day she disappeared. She’s now Amanda Parker. Lives in Cleveland. and she’s driving down this afternoon to speak with us. What did she tell you over the phone? She remembers more details now than she did in 1995.

 She says Jessica had been talking about feeling uncomfortable at the mall for weeks before she disappeared. Amanda thought Jessica was overreacting, but now she feels guilty about not taking it seriously. Rivera turned back to David. After Jessica disappeared, did your family ever suspect anyone specifically? We suspected everyone and no one.

 The police investigation seemed thorough, but they never found any real leads. My parents hired a private investigator in 1997, but he didn’t discover anything new either. What was your impression of the original investigation? David hesitated. Detective Morrison was dedicated and professional.

 He genuinely cared about finding Jessica, but I always felt like the mall management was more interested in limiting damage to their reputation than helping find my sister, specifically Richard Hullbrook. He was polite and cooperative when my family met with him, but he kept emphasizing that Jessica had probably left the mall voluntarily.

 He seemed convinced she had run away or met someone outside and left with them. Did you believe that? Never. Jessica was responsible and careful. She wouldn’t have left without telling her friends, and she definitely wouldn’t have abandoned her car in the parking lot. At 2:00, Amanda Parker arrived at the police station.

 Now 30 years old and working as a nurse in Cleveland, she had driven down immediately after receiving Detective Walsh’s call. Her memory of October 23rd, 1995 remained vivid despite the passage of time. Jessica was acting differently that day. Amanda told the detectives. She seemed nervous, kept looking around like she was worried about something.

 Did she mention why she wanted to shop alone? Rivera asked. She said she wanted to look at engagement rings. Her boyfriend Mark had been hinting about proposing and she wanted to see what styles she liked, but she was also concerned about being followed by mall security. She told you about security following her.

 Yes, she’d mentioned it several times over the past month. She said there was one security supervisor who always seemed to know where she was in the mall. It made her uncomfortable because she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Detective Chen showed Amanda a photograph of Richard Hullbrook from 1995. Did Jessica ever point out this person as someone who made her uncomfortable.

Amanda studied the photo carefully. I think so. We saw him that day actually. He was near the jewelry store when Jessica went in to look at rings. She pointed him out and said that was the man who’d been watching her. What happened after Jessica went to shop alone? Kelly and I went to the music store. We were supposed to meet Jessica at the food court at 4:30.

 When she didn’t show up, we waited until 5:00 before starting to look for her. Did you search the south wing where Jessica said she was going? We checked both stores, she mentioned, but the employees said she had left. We looked in other stores, checked the restrooms, even looked in the parking lot for her car. It was still there exactly where she’d parked it.

 Detective Walsh consulted the original investigation notes. According to the report, you contacted mall security at 5:15. Yes, we found a security guard and explained that our friend was missing. He called it in on his radio and within a few minutes, Richard Hullbrook appeared.

 What was Holbrook’s response? He asked detailed questions about when we’d last seen Jessica and where she’d planned to go. He seemed very organized and professional. He immediately organized a search of the mall and called the police. Did anything about his behavior seem unusual? Amanda thought carefully. He kept asking if Jessica had seemed upset or if she might have met someone and left with them.

 He suggested maybe she’d gotten a ride with someone and forgotten to tell us. But Jessica wasn’t like that. She was responsible. Rivera made notes. Amanda, this is important. When you told Hullbrook about Jessica’s concerns about being watched by security, how did he respond? That’s the thing that bothered me.

 He seemed surprised, like he didn’t know what we were talking about. But Jessica had specifically mentioned calling the mall about security concerns. If he was the supervisor, wouldn’t he have known about customer complaints? The detectives exchanged glances. Either Hullbrook was lying about not knowing Jessica had complained or someone else had taken her calls and failed to inform him.

 “We need to check those customer service records,” Chen said. After Amanda left, Detective Rivera called the number David Thompson had provided for Jessica’s former boyfriend, Mark Stevens. Stevens was now married with children, working as an engineer in Denver. But he remembered Jessica vividly.

 We were planning to get engaged after she graduated from college. Stevens told Rivera over the phone. Jessica was excited about the future. She would never have just disappeared voluntarily. Did she mention any problems or concerns in the weeks before she vanished? She said she felt like someone at the mall was paying too much attention to her.

 She was thinking about shopping somewhere else, but all her friends liked meeting at Westfield. Did she describe this person? An older man in a position of authority. She thought maybe he suspected her of shoplifting, but she couldn’t understand why because she’d never done anything wrong. Rivera felt the case building momentum.

 Multiple witnesses confirmed Jessica’s concerns about being watched by mall security. Yet, Richard Hullbrook claimed no knowledge of these complaints. That evening, Detective Chen completed her review of the 1995 mall personnel files. She discovered something that hadn’t been included in the original investigation. Richard Hullbrook had personally hired three new security guards in the 6 months before Jessica’s disappearance, including Steven Blake, who was terminated shortly after. “Riaa, look at this,” Chen called out.

 Holbrook had unusual authority over hiring and firing decisions. “Most mall security supervisors report to regional management for personnel decisions, but Hullbrook had independent authority.” Meaning what? meaning he could have hired people to help him with something and fired them when they became liabilities.

 Detective Rivera stared at the evidence board, now covered with timeline entries, personnel records, and witness statements. The picture emerging was of a security supervisor with unusual power, who had successfully controlled information during the original investigation.

 Tomorrow, they would begin tracking down the former employees who had been terminated shortly after Jessica’s disappearance. The truth about October 23rd, 1995 was buried somewhere in the connections between Richard Hullbrook and the people who had worked for him. Jessica Thompson deserved justice and Detective Rivera was determined to find it. Asterisk asterisk October 18, 2007.

 Various locations, Ohio asterisk asterisk Detective Rivera and Detective Walsh spent the morning tracking down Steven Blake. The security guard terminated in November 1995. Their search led them to a small apartment complex in Dayton, where Blake now worked as a night security guard at a warehouse facility.

 At 36 years old, he was thin and nervous with prematurely gray hair and the demeanor of someone who had spent years looking over his shoulder. Steven Blake, I’m Detective Rivera, Columbus Police. We’d like to speak with you about your employment at Westfield Shopping Center in 1995. Blake’s face went pale. I haven’t worked there in 12 years. We know.

 We’re investigating the Jessica Thompson disappearance case. New evidence has come to light. Blake invited them into his modest apartment, but remained standing near the door as if planning a quick escape. Tell us about your job at Westfield Shopping Center. Rivera began. I was hired in July 1995 as a security guard. Part-time, mostly evening shifts.

I needed the money for college. Why were you terminated? Blake hesitated for a long moment. Richard Hullbrook said I violated company policy. What policy? He said I was discussing confidential security matters with people outside the company. Detective Walsh leaned forward.

 What confidential matters? Look, I was 24 years old and scared. Bullbrook was doing things that didn’t seem right. And when I asked questions, he said I was being insubordinate. What kind of things? Blake walked to his window and looked out at the parking lot before answering. He would assign specific guards to follow certain customers. Young women, usually college age.

 He said it was for theft prevention, but we never caught anyone stealing. Rivera felt her pulse quicken. Did this include Jessica Thompson? I don’t know her name, but there was a brunette girl about 18 or 19 who came in regularly in September and October 1995.

 Bbrook had me and two other guards take turns following her whenever she shopped alone. Did you report this to anyone? I tried to. I told my girlfriend at the time that it seemed wrong. She said I should contact the police or mall corporate headquarters. When Hullbrook found out I had talked about it, he fired me the next week. Detective Walsh showed Blake Jessica’s photograph.

 Is this the young woman you were assigned to follow? Blake studied the picture and nodded slowly. Yes, that’s her. I remember because she seemed really nice and polite when she shopped. It felt wrong to spy on her when she obviously wasn’t doing anything criminal. Tell us about October 23rd, 1995. I wasn’t working that day.

 I was scheduled for the evening shift, but Hullbrook called me around noon and told me not to come in. He said there was a scheduling conflict and I should take the day off. Did he often change schedules at the last minute? Never. Holbrook was very strict about schedules and attendance. Getting called off that day was unusual. Rivera made detailed notes.

 Steven, who were the other guards assigned to follow Jessica, Danny Rodriguez, and Mike Foster? Dany was terminated about 2 weeks after me. I don’t know what happened to Mike Foster. The detectives left Blake’s apartment with a list of names and a much clearer picture of what had been happening at Westfield Shopping Center in 1995. Their next stop was Danny Rodriguez, who they located working at a construction company in Springfield, Ohio.

 Rodriguez, now 35, was a supervisor at the construction site where they found him. He agreed to speak with them during his lunch break away from his co-workers. I remember the Thompson girl, Rodriguez said immediately when they showed him Jessica’s photograph. Holbrook had us watching her for weeks before she disappeared.

 Why did he want her watched? He said she was suspected of being part of a shoplifting ring, but that didn’t make sense because she never took anything, never acted suspicious. She just shopped normally. What happened on October 23rd? Rodriguez’s expression grew uncomfortable. Holbrook called a special meeting that morning with me, Blake, and Foster.

 He said there was going to be a security operation that day and we should stay away from the South Wing unless specifically called. Did he explain what kind of operation? He said they were going to catch the shoplifting ring in action. Said corporate security would be handling it and regular guards weren’t needed. Detective Walsh interjected.

 But you said Jessica wasn’t actually shoplifting. Right. That’s why I started asking questions. If she wasn’t stealing, why were we watching her? And why was there suddenly a special operation the day she disappeared? What did Holbrook say when you asked? He got angry. Said I was questioning authority. and if I couldn’t follow orders, maybe I wasn’t suited for security work.

 He fired me 2 weeks later for attitude problems. Rivera showed Rodriguez the work order for the storage area repairs. Do you remember any maintenance activity on October 24th? Yes, there were contractors working in the back areas, but it wasn’t our regular maintenance crew. Holbrook brought in outside people.

 Did you see what they were doing? They were working in the storage area behind the food court, moving equipment, pouring new concrete. Bullbrook said there had been water damage from a broken pipe. Did you see any evidence of water damage? Rodriguez shook his head. No broken pipes, no water stains, no smell of mold or mildew.

 Just looked like they were burying something under new concrete. That afternoon, the detectives attempted to locate Mike Foster, the third security guard, who had been assigned to watch Jessica. Their search revealed that Foster had died in a car accident in 1998, 3 years after Jessica’s disappearance. Detective Chen had been working on analyzing the recovered diary, focusing on the final entries that mentioned Jessica’s fears about being followed.

 Rivera, listen to this, Chen called out, reading from Jessica’s journal. October 15th, 1995. RH was in the jewelry store again today. He pretended to be checking on something with the staff, but I could tell he was watching me. Why does he care what I’m looking at? I’m not doing anything wrong. Keep reading. October 20th. Called the mall again about the security guard who keeps following me.

 The person I spoke with said they would look into it, but nothing has changed. I feel like I’m being hunted. October 22nd, the day before she disappeared. Mark thinks I should stop going to Westfield, but I don’t want to let some creepy security guard control where I can shop. Tomorrow, I’m going with Amanda and Kelly. If anything weird happens, I’ll have witnesses. Rivera felt cold understanding wash over her.

 Jessica had been documenting her stalker’s behavior, and that stalker was almost certainly Richard Hullbrook. “We need to find out who took Jessica’s customer service calls,” Rivera decided. If she was reporting Hullbrook’s behavior to someone at the mall, there should be records. The customer service manager from 1995 was Barbara Walsh.

 No relation to Detective Walsh. She was now retired but living in Columbus and agreed to meet with the detectives at her home that evening. I remember those calls, Barbara said immediately when they described Jessica’s complaints. Young woman, very polite, said she felt like she was being followed by mall security.

 I took detailed notes and passed them along to Mr. Hullbrook. You reported the complaints to Hullbrook himself. He was the security supervisor. Protocol was to report all security related complaints to him directly. Detective Rivera realized the terrible irony. Jessica had been calling to complain about Hullbrook’s behavior and her complaints were being reported directly to him.

 Did Hullbrook ever respond to these complaints? He told me he would handle it internally. He said the guards were probably just being extra vigilant because there had been some theft issues, but he would make sure they were more discreet. Did you ever follow up with Jessica? Barbara looked uncomfortable. I should have, but Mr.

Hullbrook assured me the situation was resolved. When I didn’t receive any more calls from her, I assumed the problem had been fixed. That night, Detective Rivera sat in her car outside the Westfield Shopping Center, studying the building where Jessica Thompson had last been seen alive.

 The renovation work was still ongoing, and the area where Jessica’s belongings had been buried was now completely excavated. She thought about Jessica making those phone calls, trying to get help, not knowing that her complaints were being reported directly to the person who was stalking her. The violation of trust was almost as disturbing as the crime itself. Rivera’s phone rang.

 It was Detective Chen calling from the station. Rivera, I found something. I’ve been going through the mall’s corporate insurance records from 1995. There’s a claim filed on October 25th, 1995 for emergency structural repairs in the food court storage area. Water damage. That’s what the claim says, but I called the insurance company. They still have the adjusters report from 1995.

 The adjuster found no evidence of water damage. The claim was denied. So, Hullbrook lied about the water damage and his own insurance company knew it. gets better. The denied claim triggered an internal investigation by Mall corporate security. They were looking into why Hullbrook had authorized expensive repairs without proper documentation.

What happened to that investigation? It was suspended in December 1995 when Hullbrook was promoted to assistant general manager. Rivera understood now that they weren’t just dealing with a single crime, but with a systematic pattern of abuse of authority that had been covered up at multiple levels. Jessica Thompson had been stalked, murdered, and buried by someone trusted to protect mall customers, and the system had protected her killer instead of seeking justice for her death. Tomorrow, they would begin building the

case to ensure Richard Hullbrook finally faced consequences for his crimes. Detective Rivera assembled her team for a strategy meeting. The evidence against Richard Hullbrook was circumstantial, but mounting steadily. They needed to build an airtight case before approaching him again because Rivera suspected they would only get one chance. “Here’s what we know.” Rivera began pointing to the evidence board.

Pullbrook had Jessica Thompson under surveillance for weeks before her disappearance. He received customer complaints about his behavior and suppressed them. He authorized suspicious construction work the day after she vanished using a false water damage claim, and he had the authority and access to dispose of her belongings in a location that wouldn’t be disturbed for years. Detective Chen had been analyzing financial records.

 I found something interesting in Hullbrook’s personal finances. In November 1995, 1 month after Jessica disappeared, he made a cash deposit of $15,000. Source: Unknown. The bank record just shows cash deposit. No explanation, no corresponding check or wire transfer.

 For a mall security supervisor making 35,000 a year, 15,000 in cash is significant. Detective Walsh had been working on tracing the maintenance contractors who had worked in the storage area. I located the contracting company that did the concrete work. Midwest Construction Services went out of business in 1997, but I found the former owner, Carl Brennan. What did he tell you? Brennan remembers the job clearly because it was unusual.

 Pullbrook contacted him directly, not through normal mall management channels, paid in cash, insisted the work be completed within 24 hours, and specified that they needed to pour concrete in a storage area that showed no signs of water damage. Rivera felt the case solidifying.

 Did Brennan ask questions about the unusual circumstances? He did, but Hullbrook told him it was an emergency situation related to insurance requirements. Brennan needed the money, so he didn’t push for more explanation. Does Brennan remember anything else about the job? He said Hullbrook was very specific about the depth and thickness of the concrete pore, much thicker than necessary for a simple repair, and he insisted on being present during the entire operation. Detective Chen interrupted with new information.

 I just got the results from the forensic analysis of the storage area. excavation. They found traces of lime powder mixed with the concrete. Rivera understood the significance immediately. Lime is used to accelerate decomposition and control odor. Exactly. This wasn’t a repair job. It was a burial.

 The team spent the afternoon developing their approach for questioning Hullbrook again. This time they would confront him with specific evidence and watch for tells that might reveal additional information. At 4:00, they drove to Westfield Shopping Center to observe Hullbrook in his normal environment before bringing him in for questioning.

Rivera wanted to see how he behaved when he didn’t know he was being watched. They positioned themselves in the food court area where they had a clear view of the administrative offices on the second floor. At 4:30, Hullbrook emerged from his office and walked toward the south wing of the mall.

 “He’s going to check the construction site,” Walsh observed. They followed at a distance as Hullbrook approached the area where Jessica’s belongings had been discovered. He spoke briefly with the construction foreman, then spent several minutes examining the excavated storage space. Rivera noticed that Hullbrook seemed tense and agitated as he inspected the site.

 He made a phone call that lasted about 3 minutes, speaking quietly and occasionally looking around as if checking for observers. We need to get a warrant for his phone records, Rivera decided. At 5:00, Detective Chen called Hullbrook’s office and requested that he come to the police station for additional questions related to the Thompson investigation. His attorney would meet them there.

 The second interview with Richard Hullbrook began at 6:00. This time, Rivera was prepared with specific evidence and pointed questions. Mr. Hullbrook. We’ve discovered that Jessica Thompson made three phone calls to mall customer service in October 1995, reporting concerns about being followed by mall security. “These complaints were reported directly to you.

 Why didn’t you mention this in our previous interview?” Bullbrook conferred quietly with his attorney before responding. “I received many customer complaints. I may not have recalled those specific calls. These weren’t generic complaints. Jessica Thompson specifically reported feeling stalked by a security supervisor.

 She described someone matching your description who appeared wherever she shopped and watched her for extended periods. I supervised 12 security guards. Any of them might have been overzealous in their duties. Detective Walsh placed the work order on the table. This is your signature authorizing emergency concrete work in storage area 7 on October 24th, 1995.

The insurance company denied the claim because their adjuster found no evidence of water damage. Can you explain why you authorized expensive repairs for non-existent damage? Hullbrook’s attorney whispered something in his ear. I may have been mistaken about the extent of the damage. Mr.

 Hullbrook, forensic analysis of the excavated area found lime powder mixed with the concrete. Lime is commonly used to accelerate decomposition of organic material. Can you explain why lime was used in a simple repair job? For the first time, Hullbrook showed signs of stress. He loosened his tie and shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

 I wasn’t involved in the specific materials used by the contractors. Rivera leaned across the table. Mr. Hullbrook, we have testimony from multiple witnesses that you personally supervised the concrete work. You were present during the entire operation and specified the depth and composition of the pore. That’s not accurate.

 Carl Brennan, the contractor who did the work, is prepared to testify that you paid him in cash and insisted on being present during the entire job. He specifically remembers you directing the placement of the concrete. Holbrook’s attorney called for a brief recess. When they returned, his strategy had changed.

 Detective Rivera, my client has been a respected member of the Columbus business community for over 30 years. These allegations are based on speculation and coincidence, not evidence. Actually, we have quite a bit of evidence. Steven Blake and Danny Rodriguez have both confirmed that you assigned them to follow Jessica Thompson for weeks before her disappearance.

They’re prepared to testify that you deliberately cleared the south wing of security personnel on October 23rd. Rivera continued without pause. We also have Jessica’s diary documenting her fear of being stalked by mall security. Customer service records showing her complaints were reported directly to you.

 Financial records showing you made a large cash deposit shortly after her disappearance and forensic evidence that her belongings were buried under concrete you personally supervised. Bullbrook remained silent, but Rivera could see sweat forming on his forehead. Mr. Hullbrook, where is Jessica Thompson’s body? His attorney immediately objected. My client is not required to answer that question. Of course not.

 But innocent people usually want to help find missing victims, not hide behind legal technicalities. Detective Chen entered the room with a folder. Mr. Holbrook, we’ve obtained a warrant for your phone records from October 1995. We’re also executing search warrants for your home and office.

 This news seemed to shake Hullbrook’s composure more than any previous revelation. “Is there anything you’d like to tell us before we discover it ourselves?” Rivera asked. Bulbrook whispered urgently with his attorney for several minutes before addressing the detectives. I want immunity from prosecution in exchange for information. Rivera felt a surge of adrenaline.

That’s not my decision to make. You’ll need to speak with the district attorney’s office. Then I’m not saying anything else without an immunity agreement. The interview concluded with Hullbrook remaining in custody as a person of interest while his attorney negotiated with prosecutors. Rivera knew they were close to breaking the case.

 As she drove home that evening, Rivera received a call from Detective Chen. Rivera, the search of Hullbrook’s office turned up something significant. Hidden in his desk, we found security reports from October 1995 that were never included in the original investigation files.

 What do they say? Detailed surveillance logs of Jessica Thompson’s shopping patterns, including dates, times, stores visited, and duration of visits. This went back to August 1995, almost 3 months before she disappeared. Anything else? Contact information for the contractors who did the concrete work along with handwritten notes about disposal requirements and permanent solution.

 Rivera realized they now had documentation proving premeditation. Richard Hullbrook hadn’t acted impulsively on October 23rd, 1995. He had been planning something for months. Jessica Thompson’s disappearance was not a random crime. It was a carefully orchestrated murder carried out by someone she had trusted to protect her safety.

 District Attorney Robert Mitchell reviewed the evidence against Richard Hullbrook with Detective Rivera and prosecutor Sarah Kim. The case file had grown thick with witness statements, forensic reports, and documentation spanning 12 years. Mitchell was known for his cautious approach to high-profile cases, especially those involving respected community figures.

“The evidence is compelling, but largely circumstantial,” Mitchell observed. Bullbrook’s attorney is demanding full immunity in exchange for cooperation. “What are you thinking?” Rivera asked. I’m willing to offer limited immunity for information leading to the recovery of Jessica Thompson’s remains and identification of any accompllices, but if he was directly responsible for her death, that’s off the table.

 Prosecutor Kim had been analyzing the legal strategy. The surveillance logs are our strongest evidence of premeditation. Combined with the burial site and the coverup, we have a solid case for kidnapping and murder. Assuming we can locate the body, Mitchell replied, without physical evidence of homicide, we’re looking at obstruction of justice and evidence tampering charges.

 Rivera’s phone buzzed with a text message from Detective Chen. Search of Hullbrook’s house complete. You need to see what we found. I have to go, Rivera told the DA’s team. Chen found something at Hullbrook’s residence. The search of Richard Hullbrook’s home had revealed a hidden safe in his basement office.

 Inside the safe, detectives had discovered what appeared to be trophies from multiple victims. Jewelry, driver’s licenses, photographs, and personal items belonging to at least six different young women. Rivera, look at this, Chen said, holding up an evidence bag containing a small gold necklace.

 This matches the description of jewelry reported stolen from a college student who was assaulted in the Westfield parking lot in 1993. Are you saying Jessica wasn’t his first victim or his last? I’ve been cross-referencing these items with missing person reports and assault cases from 1992 to 2006. We have potential connections to at least four unsolved cases.

 Detective Walsh was photographing documents found in the safe. There’s a detailed journal here written by Hullbrook. It describes his hunting methods and collection procedures. Rivera, this guy is a serial predator. The journal entries were disturbing and methodical.

 Holbrook had documented his selection of victims, surveillance techniques, and disposal methods with clinical precision. The entries related to Jessica Thompson were particularly detailed. Rivera read aloud from the journal. Subject JT has established predictable pattern. Visits mall twice weekly, typically alone on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Prefers southwing stores. Shows interest in jewelry and books.

 Trusting nature makes approach feasible. Storage area 7 prepared for permanent disposal. He planned this for months, Chen said. The journal contained entries about other victims as well. Some had been assaulted and released, but at least three entries suggested women who had been killed and buried.

 Chen, I want you to coordinate with missing persons units in surrounding counties. We need to determine if any of these other victims are still missing. At 7:00, Detective Rivera returned to the police station where Richard Hullbrook was being held. His attorney had agreed to a plea negotiation meeting, but Hullbrook himself had not yet been informed about the discovery of his journal and trophy collection. Mr. Hullbrook, we’ve searched your residence pursuant to our warrant. His face immediately went pale.

What did you find? a safe containing personal items belonging to multiple women, including detailed journals documenting surveillance and assault activities from 1992 to 2006. Hullbrook’s attorney looked stunned. Detective, I need time to consult privately with my client. Of course, but Mr. Hullbrook, the immunity offer from the district attorney’s office is no longer available.

 We’re looking at multiple counts of kidnapping, assault, and murder. During the consultation break, Rivera received a call from David Thompson. Detective Rivera, I’ve been thinking about something. After Jessica disappeared, my parents received a sympathy card from the mall management. It was signed by Richard Hullbrook.

 What did the card say? Something about how sorry he was for our loss and that Jessica was a special young woman who would be missed. At the time, we thought it was a nice gesture, but looking back, it seems strange that he would refer to her death when she was still officially classified as missing.

 Rivera realized this was another piece of evidence suggesting Hullbrook knew Jessica was dead when everyone else still hoped she might be found alive. When the consultation ended, Hullbrook’s attorney requested another meeting with prosecutors. My client is prepared to provide information about Jessica Thompson’s death in exchange for life in prison without possibility of parole instead of the death penalty.

 Is he admitting guilt? He’s acknowledging responsibility for Jessica’s death and is prepared to provide details about what happened and the location of her remains. Rivera felt a mixture of satisfaction and revulsion. After 12 years, they were finally going to learn the truth about what happened to Jessica Thompson. There’s one condition, the attorney continued.

 My client insists that David Thompson and Jessica’s parents not be present during his statement. He’s prepared to describe what happened, but he doesn’t want to face the family directly. That’s not his decision to make, Rivera replied. But we’ll consider it in the interest of obtaining information about Jessica’s location. That evening, as Rivera prepared for what would likely be Richard Hullbrook’s confession, she called David Thompson to update him on the developments. “We believe we’ll have answers very soon,” she told him. “It’s going to be difficult to hear, but

you’ll finally know what happened to Jessica.” “I’ve been waiting 12 years for this phone call,” David replied. “Whatever the truth is, my family needs to know.” Detective Rivera agreed completely. Jessica Thompson’s family deserved the truth regardless of how painful it might be.

 Richard Hullbrook sat in the interrogation room with his attorney facing Detective Rivera, Detective Walsh, and prosecutor Sarah Kim. A video camera recorded every word as Hullbrook prepared to reveal what had happened to Jessica Thompson on October 23rd, 1995. Mr. Mr.

 Hullbrook, you’ve agreed to provide a complete account of Jessica Thompson’s death in exchange for life imprisonment without parole. Do you understand that anything you say will be used as evidence against you? I understand. Tell us what happened on October 23rd, 1995. Bullbrook took a deep breath before beginning. I had been watching Jessica for approximately 2 months. She came to the mall regularly, and I found her attractive and appealing. I began timing my patrols to coincide with her visits.

 You were stalking her. I was observing her. I learned her patterns, her preferences, her habits. I knew she typically shopped alone on certain days. Rivera controlled her anger and kept her voice professional. Continue. On October 23rd, Jessica came to the mall with her two friends.

 I knew from previous observation that she sometimes separated from them to shop independently. I positioned myself in the south wing and waited. What happened when she was alone? Around 3:45, Jessica was leaving Walden Books. I approached her and identified myself as mall security. I told her there had been reports of suspicious activity in the area and I needed to escort her to a secure location for her safety.

 Did she resist? No, she trusted me because I was in uniform and had legitimate authority. I led her through a staff corridor to the storage area behind the food court. Detective Walsh leaned forward. What happened in the storage area? I told Jessica that I had been watching her for weeks and that I found her very attractive.

 I said I wanted to get to know her better and suggested we could meet privately outside the mall. How did she respond? She became frightened and said she wanted to return to her friends immediately. She tried to leave but I blocked the door. Rivera felt sick but continued the questioning. Then what happened? Jessica said she was going to report me to mall management and the police.

 She said what I was doing was wrong and illegal. I told her that wouldn’t be possible. Why not? Because I was mall management. Customer complaints came to me. I controlled what information reached corporate headquarters or law enforcement. What happened next? Bullbrook paused for a long moment before continuing.

 Jessica became more upset and tried to push past me to reach the door. We struggled. I didn’t intend to hurt her, but I grabbed her to prevent her from leaving, and she fell and hit her head on a metal shelf. She was unconscious and bleeding. Rivera studied Hullbrook’s face.

 His story sounded rehearsed, designed to suggest accident rather than intentional violence. Was she dead? I thought she was. There was a lot of blood and she wasn’t responding. What did you do? I panicked. I knew if she was found in the storage area, the investigation would focus on mall employees. I had to dispose of the body. How? I waited until the mall closed at 9:00. Then I used a maintenance cart to transport her to my car.

 I drove to a construction site about 20 mi outside Columbus and buried her in a foundation that was being poured the next morning. Detective Walsh interrupted. Which construction site? The new Riverside Shopping Plaza on State Route 33. It was being built by Morrison Construction Company. Rivera made notes.

 Morrison Construction Company had been out of business for 5 years, but they could still locate the site and potentially recover Jessica’s remains. Why did you bury her belongings separately? I kept some of her things initially. I don’t know why, but after a few weeks, I realized they were evidence that could connect me to her disappearance.

 I decided to bury them in the mall storage area and pour concrete over them. Why didn’t you dispose of them somewhere else? I thought the mall was safer. The storage area was rarely used and I controlled access to it. I figured they would never be discovered. Prosecutor Kim had been taking detailed notes. Mr. Hullbrook, you mentioned keeping some of Jessica’s belongings initially.

 Are you referring to the items we found in your safe? Holbrook’s attorney objected. My client has agreed to provide information about Jessica Thompson specifically. Actually, Jessica’s diary wasn’t in your safe, Rivera pointed out. which means you read her personal thoughts about being afraid of you and you kept it as a trophy.

Bullbrook remained silent. How many other women did you assault or kill? I’m only discussing the Jessica Thompson case. Rivera placed photographs of the items found in Hullbrook’s safe on the table. These belong to other victims. We’ve already identified three of them from missing person reports.

 My client has fulfilled his agreement regarding Jessica Thompson, his attorney interjected. The agreement was for complete cooperation with our investigation. If Jessica wasn’t his only victim, that information is relevant to understanding what happened to her.

 Rivera spent the next hour pressing Hullbrook for information about other crimes, but he refused to discuss anything beyond Jessica’s case. However, his admission regarding Jessica was complete and detailed enough to support murder charges. As the confession concluded, Rivera felt both satisfaction and frustration.

 They had solved Jessica Thompson’s disappearance and would be able to bring her family closure, but Hullbrook’s other victims remained unknown. That evening, Rivera called David Thompson to inform him about the confession. “He killed her,” David said quietly after Rivera explained what Hullbrook had admitted. “Yes, I’m sorry. Where is her body? Buried at a construction site that’s now a shopping plaza. We’ll begin excavation tomorrow.

12 years, David said. 12 years our family has been wondering what happened to her. And this bastard has been working at the same mall, probably watching other women. David, we’re going to make sure he never hurts anyone else. Is he going to trial? Yes. The plea agreement covers sentencing, not prosecution.

 Your family will have the opportunity to face him in court and make victim impact statements. After hanging up, Detective Rivera stood in the police station parking lot, looking up at the October sky. Tomorrow, they would begin the process of recovering Jessica Thompson’s remains and building the case that would ensure Richard Hullbrook spent the rest of his life in prison. Jessica had been silenced 12 years ago, but her voice would finally be heard in a courtroom.

 The excavation team arrived at Sunrise at what was now the Riverside Shopping Plaza. Ground penetrating radar had identified an anomaly in the foundation consistent with human remains. Detective Rivera watched as the specialized equipment carefully removed layers of concrete and soil that had covered Jessica Thompson’s grave for 12 years.

 David Thompson stood beside her, having insisted on being present when his sister’s body was recovered. The Thompson family had waited long enough for closure. “Detective Rivera, “We’ve located something,” called out Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, the forensic anthropologist leading the excavation.

 Approximately 6 ft down, we have what appears to be human skeletal remains. The recovery process was meticulous and respectful. Dr. Morgan and her team documented the position and condition of every bone before carefully removing them for laboratory analysis. Along with Jessica’s remains, they discovered fabric from her clothing and a few pieces of jewelry that had survived 12 years underground.

 Based on preliminary examination, these remains are consistent with a young adult female approximately 5’6 in tall. Dr. Morgan told Rivera, “We’ll need dental records for positive identification, but the physical characteristics match Jessica Thompson’s description.

” David Thompson watched silently as his sister’s remains were carefully placed in transport containers. After 12 years of hoping she might still be alive somewhere, he was finally facing the reality of her death. “I need to call my parents,” he said quietly. While the excavation continued, Detective Chen was at the police station interviewing additional witnesses who had come forward after news of Hullbrook’s arrest became public.

 The media attention had prompted several former mall employees to contact the police with information they had been afraid to share in 1995. Detective Chen, this is Monica Stevens. I worked at Victoria’s Secret in 1995. I read about the arrest in the newspaper and I think I have information about what happened.

 Stevens, now 38 and working as a teacher, had driven from Cleveland to provide her statement. I remember Jessica Thompson. She was a regular customer, very friendly and polite. But I also remember Richard Hullbrook asking unusual questions about her. What kind of questions? He would ask which days she typically came in, what times, whether she shopped alone or with friends.

 He said it was for security purposes because there had been some thefts, but it felt inappropriate. Did you report these conversations? I mentioned it to my store manager, but she said Hullbrook was just being thorough about security. I was 22 years old and didn’t want to cause problems with mall management.

 Did you see Hullbrook on October 23rd, 1995? Yes, that’s why I called you. I saw him that afternoon around 4:00. He was near the service corridors in the south wing and he looked agitated. When he saw me, he quickly walked in the other direction. Stevens provided additional details about Hullbrook’s behavior that corroborated the timeline of Jessica’s disappearance.

 Meanwhile, Detective Walsh was working with technical specialists to recover data from computers seized during the search of Hullbrook’s office. Despite being 12 years old, some files had survived on backup drives. Rivera, we recovered email correspondence between Hullbrook and an unknown account, Walsh reported.

 The messages are coded, but they appear to be discussing disposal services and cleanup assistance. Can we trace the other account? We’re working on it. The messages suggest Hullbrook wasn’t working alone. This revelation alarmed Rivera. If Hullbrook had accompllices, other people might have known about Jessica’s murder and helped cover it up.

 At 3:00, Rivera received confirmation that dental records positively identified the recovered remains as Jessica Thompson. She immediately called David to inform him that they could now definitively prove his sister had been murdered. “At least we know,” David said. “My parents are driving down from Cleveland tonight. They want to meet with you tomorrow.” “Of course.

” David, there’s something else. We believe Hullbrook may have had accompllices and Jessica may not have been his only victim. How many others? We’re still investigating, but we found evidence suggesting he assaulted or killed at least five other women over a 14-year period. David was quiet for a moment. He was a serial killer. Yes, we believe so.

And he worked at that mall for 30 years with access to thousands of women and girls. Rivera realized the full scope of what they were dealing with. Richard Hullbrook hadn’t been a security supervisor who committed one crime of opportunity. He had been a predator who used his position of authority to systematically hunt victims.

 That evening, the Columbus Police Department held a press conference announcing Hullbrook’s arrest and the recovery of Jessica Thompson’s remains. Chief Robert Martinez addressed the media with Detective Rivera standing beside him. After 12 years, we have solved the disappearance of Jessica Thompson.

 Richard Hullbrook, former mall security supervisor and current general manager of Westfield Shopping Center, has confessed to her murder and has been charged with kidnapping, murder, and evidence tampering. “Chief Martinez, are there other victims?” asked a reporter. “We are investigating potential connections to other unsolved cases. We encourage anyone with information about suspicious activity at Westfield Shopping Center or involving Richard Hullbrook to contact our tip line immediately. The press conference generated immediate response. Within

hours, the police tip line received dozens of calls from women reporting uncomfortable encounters with mall security during the 1990s and 2000s. Late that night, Rivera sat in her office reviewing the growing pile of tips and witness statements. The Jessica Thompson case had opened a window into years of predatory behavior that had been hidden behind a facade of professional authority.

 Richard Hullbrook had used his position as a protector to become a hunter, and the system had failed to stop him for over a decade. Tomorrow, Rivera would begin the process of identifying his other victims and building cases that would ensure he never saw freedom again.

 Jessica Thompson would have justice, but Rivera was determined that his other victims would have justice as well. Detective Rivera arrived at the station to find her desk covered with messages from the tip line. Overnight, 47 women had called to report suspicious encounters with Richard Hullbrook or unusual incidents at Westfield Shopping Center between 1992 and 2006. The scope of the investigation was expanding rapidly.

Detective Chen had been working since 6:00 in the morning, categorizing the tips and cross-referencing them with missing person reports and assault cases from central Ohio. Rivera, we have a problem. Five of these tips describe incidents that match exactly with unsolved missing person cases from surrounding counties. Show me. Chen spread out five case files on the conference table.

 Angela Roberts, 19, disappeared from Riverside Mall in 1996. Christine Miller, 20, vanished from Eastgate Shopping Center in 1998. Maria Santos, 18, missing from Westland Mall in 2001. Jennifer Walsh, 21, disappeared from Southgate Plaza in 2003. And Nicole Chen, 19, vanished from Northland Mall in 2005.

 All shopping malls, all shopping malls, all young women between 18 and 21, all disappeared while shopping alone. And here’s the connection. Richard Hullbrook attended security conferences and training seminars with supervisors from all these locations. Rivera felt the magnitude of the case expanding beyond what she had initially imagined.

 Are you saying Hullbrook was operating across multiple counties or he was part of a network? The coded emails we found suggest he was communicating with someone who provided disposal services. Someone with access to construction sites and burial locations. Detective Walsh entered with additional information. We traced those mysterious emails.

 The account belongs to Carl Morrison, son of Lieutenant James Morrison, who led the original Jessica Thompson investigation. The son of the detective who investigated Jessica’s disappearance. Carl Morrison owns Morrison Construction Company, the same company that was building Riverside Shopping Plaza in 1995, the same company where Hullbrook claims he buried Jessica. Rivera realized they were dealing with corruption that reached into the police department itself.

Lieutenant Morrison may have unknowingly helped cover up his own son’s involvement in the murder. We need to bring in Carl Morrison immediately. Carl Morrison, now 41 years old, was arrested at his construction office in Newark, Ohio.

 He initially denied any knowledge of Richard Hullbrook beyond routine business interactions, but the coded emails provided clear evidence of ongoing communication about criminal activities. Mr. Morrison, we have documented email exchanges between you and Richard Hullbrook discussing disposal services and cleanup assistance from 1995 to 2006. We need you to explain these communications.

 Morrison’s attorney advised him to remain silent, but Rivera pressed forward with the evidence. Your construction company was building Riverside Shopping Plaza in October 1995. Exactly when and where Hullbrook claims he buried Jessica Thompson.

 You had access to the construction site and knowledge of when concrete would be poured. I want to make a deal. What kind of deal? Full immunity in exchange for information about all the victims and locations. Rivera consulted with prosecutor Kim before responding. We’ll consider reduced charges in exchange for complete cooperation, but we need everything. Morrison’s confession revealed a sophisticated operation that had been active for over a decade.

 Bullbrook would identify and stalk victims at various shopping centers throughout central Ohio. When he decided to kill someone, Morrison would provide disposal services using active construction sites where bodies could be buried beneath foundations or parking lots.

 “How many victims total?” Rivera asked, including Jessica Thompson, seven women. But Hullbrook assaulted or attacked at least 20 others who survived. Where are the other bodies? Morrison provided detailed locations for each burial site. The bodies were scattered across five counties, buried beneath shopping centers, office buildings, and residential developments that Morrison’s company had constructed between 1995 and 2005.

 Why did you help him? Bullbrook paid well, and I needed the money to keep my business running. I didn’t ask questions about what he was doing. Rivera realized that Morrison’s father, Lieutenant James Morrison, had unknowingly investigated cases where his own son was helping dispose of the evidence. Did your father know about your arrangement with Hullbrook? No, he never knew.

 When he was investigating Jessica’s disappearance, I was terrified he would discover the connection, but Hullbrook was careful to keep the burial site outside Dad’s jurisdiction. The scope of the investigation now required coordination with multiple counties and federal authorities.

 Rivera contacted the FBI to request assistance with what had become a multi-jurisdictional serial murder case. Agent Karen Foster arrived from the FBI’s Cincinnati office that afternoon to coordinate the expanded investigation. Detective Rivera, we’re treating this as a federal case. Given the interstate aspects and the organized nature of the crimes, we’ll need to excavate all the burial sites Morrison identified. How long will that take? Weeks, possibly months.

 But we’ll recover every victim and build airtight cases against both Hullbrook and Morrison. That evening, Rivera met with David Thompson and his parents, Robert and Margaret Thompson, to update them on the investigation’s expansion. Jessica wasn’t the only one, Rivera explained.

 Bullbrook and his accomplice killed at least six other young women over a 10-year period. Margaret Thompson, Jessica’s mother, wept quietly. “All those families going through what we went through. We’re going to recover all the victims and notify their families,” Rivera promised. Jessica’s case broke this open. Her courage in documenting her fears in her diary, is helping us solve multiple murders.

 “Robert Thompson, Jessica’s father, had been quietly listening.” “Detective Rivera, I want to attend the trial. I want to look Richard Hullbrook in the eye and tell him about the daughter he stole from us. You’ll have that opportunity, Mr. Thompson. Both Hullbrook and Morrison will face trial for multiple counts of murder.

 As the Thompson family left the police station, Rivera reflected on how a routine construction discovery had uncovered one of the largest serial murder cases in Ohio history. Jessica Thompson’s voice, silenced 12 years ago, had finally become loud enough to seek justice for herself and six other young women who had trusted the wrong person.

The investigation was far from over, but the truth was finally emerging. The trial of Richard Hullbrook began on a cold Monday morning with David Thompson and his parents sitting in the front row of the courtroom gallery. Over the past 5 months, the investigation had recovered the remains of all seven victims and built comprehensive cases against both Hullbrook and Carl Morrison.

 Prosecutor Sarah Kim delivered the opening statement outlining 12 years of predatory behavior that had ended with multiple murders. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence will show that Richard Hullbrook used his position of trust and authority to systematically stalk assault and murder. Young women who had every right to feel safe while shopping at Westfield Shopping Center.

 Defense attorney Lawrence Mitchell attempted to characterize the crimes as tragic accidents that escalated beyond Hullbrook’s control, but the evidence against his client was overwhelming. Detective Rivera testified for two days, walking the jury through the investigation that began with the discovery of Jessica’s belongings and led to the identification of six additional victims. Her testimony was methodical and devastating.

 The defendant’s own journal describes his hunting methods and refers to victims as subjects to be collected. This wasn’t accidental violence. It was deliberate premeditated murder. The most powerful testimony came from the survivors.

 Eight women who had been assaulted by Hullbrook but escaped testified about their encounters with him. Their stories revealed a pattern of behavior spanning 15 years. Maria Gonzalez, assaulted in the Westfield parking lot in 1997, testified about Hullbrook approaching her under the pretense of security concerns.

 He told me someone had reported suspicious activity near my car and he needed to escort me to a safe location. When we got to a secluded area, he attacked me. I fought back and screamed until other people came running. Jennifer Adams, assaulted in 1999, described a similar approach. He seemed professional and official. I trusted him because he was mall security. I never imagined that the person assigned to protect customers was actually the greatest danger.

 Carl Morrison testified as part of his plea agreement, describing his role in disposing of bodies and evidence. His testimony was clinical and detailed, providing the prosecution with exact locations and methods used to conceal the crimes. Brook would contact me when he needed disposal services.

 I would identify active construction sites where bodies could be buried beneath foundations that were being poured. The construction schedule ensured the evidence would be permanently sealed. Defense attorney Mitchell cross-examined Morrison aggressively, attempting to portray him as the primary culprit, who had manipulated Hullbrook into criminal activity. Mr.

 Morrison, isn’t it true that you approached my client with this scheme because you needed money for your failing construction business? No, that’s not accurate. Pullbrook contacted me after learning that my company had construction contracts throughout central Ohio. He needed someone with access to burial sites.

 How do we know you weren’t the ones selecting and stalking these victims? Because I never worked at any of the shopping centers. I never had contact with the victims. My role was strictly disposal and concealment. The jury heard testimony from forensic experts, law enforcement officials, and family members of all seven victims. The evidence painted a picture of systematic predatory behavior that had continued for over a decade.

Dr. Elizabeth Morgan testified about the condition of Jessica’s remains and the forensic evidence that supported the prosecution’s timeline. The skeletal remains show evidence of blunt force trauma to the skull, consistent with the defendant’s description of how Jessica Thompson died. The position of the body and the burial method match Mr.

Morrison’s testimony about disposal procedures. On the fourth day of trial, David Thompson delivered his victim impact statement. Jessica was 18 years old when Richard Hullbrook killed her. She should be 30 now, possibly married with children.

 Instead, our family has spent 12 years wondering what happened to her, hoping she might still be alive somewhere. David looked directly at Hullbrook as he continued, “You didn’t just kill my sister. You killed our hope. Every birthday, every Christmas, every family gathering, we wondered if this would be the year Jessica came home. You stole 12 years of our lives along with hers. Margaret Thompson, Jessica’s mother, spoke about the impact of not knowing what had happened to her daughter.

 The not knowing was almost worse than knowing she was dead. “We couldn’t grieve properly because we kept hoping. We couldn’t move forward because we were always looking backward.” Robert Thompson addressed Hullbrook directly. “You were supposed to protect people like Jessica. Instead, you used your authority to hunt them.

 You betrayed every parent who trusted their children would be safe at that mall.” The trial lasted 2 weeks. The jury deliberated for only 4 hours before returning guilty verdicts on all charges, seven counts of first-degree murder, multiple counts of kidnapping, assault, and evidence tampering.

 Judge Patricia Coleman sentenced Richard Hullbrook to life in prison without possibility of parole, plus an additional 200 years for the other charges. Mr. Hullbrook, you used a position of trust to prey on innocent young women. Your crimes were calculated, deliberate, and showed complete disregard for human life. This sentence ensures you will never again have the opportunity to harm another person. Carl Morrison received 25 years in prison as part of his plea agreement.

His cooperation had been essential to solving the cases and recovering all the victims. Asterisk asterisk epilogue August 2008. Isk asterisk Detective Patricia Rivera stood in the cemetery where Jessica Thompson had finally been laid to rest beside her grandparents. The investigation had officially concluded with the conviction of both perpetrators and the identification of all victims.

The Thompson family had established a foundation to promote safety awareness and support families of missing persons. David Thompson had left his job in Cincinnati and moved back to Columbus to run the foundation full-time. Jessica’s foundation has helped 12 families this year, David told Rivera as they stood beside his sister’s grave.

 She’s still helping people even now. The Westfield Shopping Center had been sold to new ownership and completely renovated. A memorial garden near the food court honored Jessica Thompson and the other victims with a plaque reading in memory of those who trusted and were betrayed. Rivera had been promoted to left tenant and now supervised the cold case unit.

The Jessica Thompson investigation had demonstrated the importance of never giving up on unsolved cases and had led to the development of new protocols for investigating missing person cases involving potential predators in positions of authority. We got justice for Jessica, Rivera said, placing flowers on the grave.

 It took 12 years, but we got justice. As she walked back to her car, Rivera reflected on the lesson of the Jessica Thompson case. Evil could hide behind authority and respectability for years, but truth had a way of eventually surfacing. Sometimes it took a construction project to uncover buried secrets, but justice was patient and persistent.

 Jessica Thompson had been silenced in 1995, but her voice had ultimately brought down the man who killed her and ensured that six other families finally learned what had happened to their daughters. The case was closed, but Jessica’s memory would continue to protect others through the foundation established in her name and the improved investigative protocols her case had inspired. Truth had prevailed, and Jessica Thompson could finally rest in peace.