Sheriff Marcus Hudson receives a call from Lieutenant Nagel reporting that surveillance followed Bob Miller to an abandoned farmhouse off Route 603 and heard two gunshots shortly after Bob entered. Hudson orders Nagel to hold and races to the scene with Chief Deputy Pam Olson while calling for all available units. SWAT arrives first and stages for entry as portable lights illuminate the decaying structure.

Nagel briefs Hudson that Bob went inside, two shots were heard, and property records show no listed owner. Before a plan is finalized, a piercing scream comes from the house, prompting Hudson to breach immediately despite the SWAT commander’s objections. He clears the main floor amid debris, blood smears, and signs of a violent struggle, then hears a woman calling for help from below.

Hudson and Olson move to the kitchen and find an open doorway leading to cellar steps marked with blood drops. With Pam covering him, Hudson descends, announcing police presence. At the bottom, he sees Bob Miller lying face down, eyes open and lifeless on the concrete. Nearby are an old stained mattress, a chain anchored to a support beam, and a pool of dried blood, indicating prolonged captivity and prior violence.

To the left, Hudson spots Stacy Howard, ankle chained to a pole and holding a revolver with outstretched arms. Stacy, filthy, injured, and terrified, cries that Bob “killed her” and was going to kill Stacy as well. Hudson calmly instructs Stacy to put down the gun; after a tense moment, she slides the weapon across the floor to him.

Hudson holsters his weapon, checks Bob for a pulse, and silently confirms to Olson that Bob is dead. He reassures Stacy that she is safe now as she breaks down, repeating that she “had to do it.” The immediate scene suggests Bob was the captor and that at least one other woman was killed in the cellar prior to the officers’ arrival.