Nobody can tell me, they had tried to rob him. They both had knives. He went like this or pushed her or anything. >> Just you just push somebody? And all of a sudden they got a big hole in their neck and then you call your girlfriend? To come help you load a body up into the back of a car? It's just not adding up. >> A woman walks out of a bar in St. Augustine, Florida and is never seen alive again. Days later, detectives sit across from a woman they believe knows what happened next. She says her boyfriend only pushed the victim. But the detective has already seen the video and he isn't asking whether something happened that night. He's asking where the body is and over the next few hours her story is going to change. >> You can't make it any worse for yourself, sweetheart. By telling me where she's buried. I don't know how else to tell you that. >> Just finish it. Just finish what you started. >> Listen, I know it I know it's hard. I know it's hard. Finish it up. Let's be done. >> He told me that he buried her at at the house that he's staying in right now that where his mom used to stay cuz his mom's in the trailer now. Now he's in the old house. >> Mhm. >> You go out the back door. >> The back door? >> In the early hours of Saturday, April 9th, 2016, 46-year-old artist Jordy Hudson was out in St. Augustine, Florida. At about 2:45 a.m., she left The Giggling Gator, a bar on King Street, with a man named John Harry Branson III. He was 38. 10 days would pass before anyone knew for certain what had happened to her. Around 3:30 a.m., surveillance cameras at two bed and breakfasts on Cedar Street recorded the pair and an altercation between them. At 3:45, Branson is seen leaving. About 3 hours later, the cameras caught him coming back, this time with his girlfriend, 29-year-old Christine Thomas. According to police, the video shows Branson putting Jordie into the backseat of a car while Thomas keeps watch. Jordie was not reported missing until Thursday, April 14th. By the time detectives at the St. Augustine Police Department sat down with Christine Thomas, they knew a great deal about that night. What they did not know was where Jordie was. What follows is that interview as it was recorded. It is long and much of it is quiet. We've shortened the silences, but nothing has been reordered and no answer has been cut short. >> Let me Let me ask you something. I'm I want you to I want you to tell me something, okay? When he called you after he did this What And I'll be honest with you. Truly, I'm I'm I'm having such a hard time wrapping my mind around why in the world he involved you in this. And and and I understand that you just told me that he was scared and that's why he called you, right? Would you Would you share with me what the first thing out of your mouth was when he called you? >> I said what happened. >> So, you said to him, "What the [ __ ] happened?" What did he tell you? Did he have the Did he have the guts to tell you? >> He said he was at the bar. I swear to heaven. >> You all right? Do you need some more water? >> I got it. PTSD >> Okay. Go ahead. I don't want to interrupt you. >> [clears throat] >> He said he was at the bar. was some guy in that kept bugging him. And he kept trying to tell him go away, go away, you know, but I And well, finally, I don't know what what led to this, but the guy was out in the middle of the road on his knees saying, "Please, Mr. Harry, don't don't beat me up." I don't I don't I guess the guy just wouldn't leave him alone. >> Mhm. >> Well, he said all of his friends left. Then they had gotten in their vehicles and drove away and they took a cab or whatever. Either way, they left. >> Okay. >> So, I guess this lady and a guy that she was with decided to >> A guy that she was with? >> Yeah, there was a guy that was with her, apparently. >> Okay. >> Said that they would give him a ride home. >> Okay. >> He was drunk, so he said, "Sure." >> Okay. >> Well, I guess he's stumbling down to wherever their car is supposed to be. >> Okay. >> And all of a sudden, her and the guy that she was with pulled a knife on her. Well, >> Pulled a knife on? >> On Harry. >> On Harry? Okay. Okay. >> So, I guess he either went like that and pushed her or whatever and I guess she flew over a fence and the guy that was with her hauled ass. >> And [clears throat] that's the story Harry told you? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, >> So you you guys have this conversation you and Harry that you just you just told me. Then what? Tell me about your plans. Tell me about the plans that Tell me. >> He wanted to go back see if she was alive or dead or what not. So he got the car from his mom. >> And what is he telling you when he says to you Now is he telling you this on the phone or is he Has he made it to you yet? >> He's made it to me. >> And And he has made it to you how? >> He um he walked down US 1 to his father-in-law's house. His father-in-law lives two away. >> So Harry makes it to you. So you guys You guys are now together. Are you walking? >> No. He's in the house. >> Okay. So you're in the house and you're you're obviously talking. So is this when he tells you he wants to go back to see Start from there. Tell me from there. >> He wanted to go to his father-in-law's car. >> Okay. >> Well, you could see where her shoes were up on top of the fence. And he looked over she was dead. >> How did he look over? >> Just kind of uh >> How did he see her? It's dark. >> At that point I don't even remember. I don't know if he had anything to see with really. You know what I mean? Mhm. >> Mhm. >> How does he get her from the other side of the fence? I know, but I want you to tell me. >> I'm trying. >> How? Tell me where you're standing and tell me how you see it. >> Okay, I'm sorry. >> Will you show me? What in here, will you stand up and and and show me? So, if um all right. So, so you're Harry, come right here. So, you're Harry, this is the fence, right? So, this might this might be okay because Harry is a big dude and maybe the fence comes up to about right here on it, right? So, if if say if I'm her, you said her legs were up on the fence, right? >> Yeah. >> So, so is she laying How >> I guess, or I could >> you standing? >> Oh, like back this way out like all I could see were her shoes. >> But okay, where's the Okay, so if you're standing back that way, okay. So, obviously I know the car is facing the wrong way on Cedar Street. We've went over all that already, right? So, you know all that. You know I know what I'm talking about. We've went over all that crap, right? Where are you standing and how are you seeing Harry do all this stuff? You know what I'm saying? >> I'm like right here. >> Where's Harry at? >> There. He's like right there. >> And you're standing behind Harry? >> No. >> So, are you telling me Are you telling me that Harry's strong enough to just like Show me. So, you're telling me Harry is strong enough to just like literally reach over over fence and grab her by foot and lift her up like this over the fence? Is that what you're telling me? Okay. Oh, I believe you. He's a big dude. And then what? >> I think he put her in the back of the car. >> How? >> He just kind of like >> It's okay. It's okay. You're doing You're doing good. You're doing good. Just Just let it all out. You need some tissues? Okay. Get it Get it to get it all out. How How did he get her I mean How? >> I think I'm not 100% like put her in the back of the car. He had her by her pants, I believe. And he just kind of put her in the car. >> And what were you doing? >> I was just >> [cough and clears throat] >> trying to make sure people weren't looking. >> Say that again. >> I was just standing there trying to make sure people weren't >> So, let me Let me ask you this. >> I was hoping that she wasn't dead. >> Well, how did you know what I was going to ask you next? >> I didn't. >> Oh, well, it sounded like you did because you just said you were hoping to God that she wasn't dead. Isn't that what you just said? I was just about to say, "How do you know she was dead?" >> I didn't. >> You didn't know she was dead? >> No, not until I saw the all the blood coming down from her neck. >> Yeah. Tell me what her neck looked like. >> Just a hole. A big old hole. >> You said a big old hole? Where? Can you show me? On me? >> Like right there. >> Can you tell me what side Do you remember what side of her neck? Take your time. Think about it. >> This side. >> So, you think she had a big hole on the left-hand side of her neck? >> I'm pretty sure. >> Okay. Did you see any other wounds? Okay. So, after you saw this big hole in her neck, you said you saw blood coming out of her neck. What did you think then? Did you say anything to Jared? What did he say? >> He said a lot of stuff. >> He said a lot of stuff? >> Yeah. >> At what point So, you know four people came by. Ooh. What was going on then? At what point in this process what was What was the deal right then when these four people walked by? Think back to that night. So, you remember Do you remember the four people walking by? What was going on right then? Obviously, I can't tell what y'all were thinking right then, but >> At that point, I thought he was going to try and grab her, and then I see him, you know, people walk walk up. >> Yeah. >> And I told him, I said, "No. Stop." It's not an thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, So, you were the lookout? Lookout? Okay. How I don't know. How How visible was she? And I was there. I've I've been there. I've seen it. I mean, I see the bushes on the outside of the fence. So, evidently, she was laid on her back with her legs kind of up in the air, like like this? Like if this is the fence, she was laid down with her legs up up in the fence? >> Well, I don't know if it was >> Can I If I lay down, can you kind of put your >> I just All I saw were her shoes. I didn't see her body. I just saw her shoes. >> But we can kind of So, she's in the car? Well, you know, you know it's important to us that we find her. You know. That's important to us. That's important to her family. That's important to her mom. All of her relatives. I I think you would tell me if you if you knew. I know. I know you did. And I appreciate that. I want you to know that I appreciate that. I really do. >> [clears throat] >> Has he Has he told you what he did with her? It's important. Have you guys talked about it? Has he said anything to you about it? A word? A a forever a Anything about what if the cops come to talk to you? Anything at all? Nothing? That is strange. >> And you were together last night? >> You guys were together last night and he has not mentioned anything about this? Yes, he has. Okay. Let let me ask you real quick. And this is kind of what I was thinking. What I was going to say. Okay, never mind. I forgot what I was going to say. No problem. Okay. Let's um let's collect our thoughts. I'm going to let you smoke a cigarette now. >> Notice how this story is built. In Thomas's account, everything that matters happens out of her sight. A robbery she didn't witness. A push. A woman who simply falls over a fence. But the detective keeps pulling her back to physical detail. Where she stood. How Branson lifted Jordy. Which side of her neck was wounded. Every one of those details is a test because a push does not leave a hole in someone's neck. And a man who was just robbed doesn't come back 3 hours later with a car. >> I'm sorry. >> So we talked about the videos earlier. >> [clears throat] >> I'm sorry. >> [clears throat] >> And all the cell phone stuff. Can I see your cell phone again? Thanks. >> [snorts] >> Again, with the cell phones and the videos and all that. So, where we are right now in the St. Augustine Police Department, we've got cameras here. They've got cameras here. There's cameras across the street. There's cameras >> [clears throat] >> Just trust me when I tell you there are cameras everywhere. Do you believe me? >> [clears throat] >> I know you're scared. I know you're upset. I would be, too. But, bear with me. Okay? This is King Street out in front right here. I know that after >> [clears throat] >> you guys left Cedar Street eventually you made it to King Street and then you turned up King Street, which would have made you go in a westerly direction. That's right. Correct. West? Yeah. West on King Street. It brought you directly in front of the police station. Okay? We got There's cameras here. You were directly in front of the police station. >> [snorts] >> The street that turns to the right directly across the police station is Malaga Street. >> [snorts] >> Your car stops there the light and turns right on Malaga Street. It goes straight on Malaga Street and hits US 1. When your car hits US 1 it It northbound on US1. When you get to the intersection of US1 and State Road 16, you guys turn left. Okay? When you turn left, that puts you going back to a westerly direction out towards the west, towards the Avenues Mall. Okay? >> [clears throat] >> So, we need to talk again. Okay? I understand I understand that you've got loyalty to Harry. And I'm just going to talk for a second, okay? And then I want you to talk. And I want you to set me straight. Talk to me. >> That's not That's not >> Where'd you go? Where'd you take her? >> Take her? I don't know where she is. He wouldn't He dropped me off. He wouldn't take me with him. I I really don't know. I'm not lying to you. I swear to God, I have no idea. >> But >> I have no idea. >> I don't I don't want you to >> I swear to God, I don't >> Where'd he drop you off? >> He dropped me off on 16. >> Where? >> Right there by the Publix. I got it. I don't you know where she is. I have no idea. If I did, I'd tell you. I had told you yesterday. >> Why did you give me the other story a minute ago? About going to dropping you off at your mom's house. >> By the convenience store by your mom's. >> Yeah. >> Because it's easy. Do you see how that would make us doubt what you're telling us now? >> Yes. >> It's really It's really hard for me to believe that you and Harry were riding around in a car in his mom's car with a dead body in the back seat 2 ft from you. And you guys were silent. You guys weren't talking to one another. He wasn't saying anything. You weren't saying anything. Now that isn't hard to believe. But what is hard to believe for me is that Harry was keeping his mouth closed. Because all the things that I know about Harry is not that he keeps his mouth closed. Harry's in control. Harry says what is what isn't. >> What's he saying? >> He said he wished that it never happened and that she never should have tried to run away from him. Okay. I mean Okay. And he was just trying to defend himself because she thinks of him for Brian and >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> What did Harry tell you about how she got a hole in her neck? >> He went in with it like that and pushed her. I guess she had the knife and >> Does that sound like a like a real story to you? >> Huh? >> Really? Do you believe that? Do you expect me to believe that? Do you think anybody would believe that? What did he really tell you? You believe him? >> I hate when you don't trust somebody just because I don't like them. >> Okay. >> Especially if >> Okay. So you're telling me that he stopped the car at the Publix on State Road 16. >> The light right there. >> And what time of day was that? Guess. >> Was the sun coming up here? I don't remember. >> What did you do when you got out of the car? >> Walked. >> Where? You're telling me that you walked from 16 to Walmart. >> I walked from 16 to >> Is your phone going to tell me that? >> I didn't have my phone. >> Oh, so you're back to not having your phone. >> No, I forgot it in the car. >> Mhm. So your phone was in the car with Harry? Okay. Okay. Your best guess is where he's going to put her body. Keep in mind that I talked to his mom earlier today. I didn't lie to you about that. Okay? Where's your best guess that he would put her? To hide her, whatever. I want you to guess for me. It's just a guess. It's all It's just a guess. You want to say it? You don't want to guess? You feel weird about it? >> Yeah. >> You do? >> Yeah. >> You just feel weird about guessing? >> Yeah. >> Why? >> Because I don't I don't like >> You feel like what? >> I don't know. I guess that would be like planning it out or something. Does that make sense? >> No. >> Like if I said "Hey, I'm going to >> You got me on the edge of my seat here. Come on. Finish what you were saying. You got to finish this up. You know that. Okay. You know that. >> I just think it makes us sound weird. Like if you say, "Oh, I'm going to I'm going to bury you 2 ft to the right of where I'm sitting." Like I'm planning on doing that. Like that sounds like a plan, right? Like or >> I You know? >> I You know, like I don't know. Maybe it depends on who's saying it. >> I don't know. >> This is where the interview turns. Thomas had told detectives that Branson dropped her off near her mother's house. So, the detective lays out the route instead. King Street, past the police station, Malauka Street, US 1, State Road 16. He never calls her a liar. He simply shows her that the cameras have already followed the car. Then he asked her to guess where Branson would hide a body. And notice what the detective now treats as settled. That she rode in that car with Jordy in the backseat. Her hesitation tells him more than an answer would. >> How much farm equipment is out there? Like tractors. You know what I mean? Front end loaders. What sort of What sort of implements would make it easy to bury a a body out there on his property? On his mom's property or whatever. What do you think he'd bury her with? Just a shovel? What I'm asking you is is there a tractor or a backhoe or a bulldozer out there? Okay. Did he discuss with you >> [clears throat] >> where he put her? Did you ever ask him where he put her? Did you ask him why he did that to her? >> No, but I just >> You didn't. Wasn't like a like a >> Well, he had told me he said that they had tried to rob them. And they both had knives. And he went like this or pushed her or something. So, but I didn't I didn't think about it. I just believed >> Well, the way you're talking, it doesn't seem I don't know this doesn't make any sense to me. You know? It doesn't make any sense at all. Just you just push somebody and all of a sudden they got a big hole in her neck? And then and then you call your Well, I'm Can I say girlfriend? And then you call your girlfriend to come help you to load a body up into the back of a car? If you just Look at it this way. Look at Look I want you to look at it from my point of view, okay? Can you do that for me? I want you to try to put yourself in my shoes for just a minute. So, you listen to me tell that story about you just pushed her and then she fell over a fence, calls me, and I show up, she's got a big hole in her neck, we put her in the back of the car. Why why would he Why would she want to come back and see her? That's all he did was just push her and he ran down the street like you said. >> No. >> It's just not adding up. >> Okay. >> All right, hold tight for just a second. Just sit tight. Why are your hands bruised up like they are? >> Bruise easily. >> Mhm. >> I got bruises on my hands >> Your other hand? You want to tell me about that? >> I don't have to tell. >> Just tell me now. Okay. So, I want you to know that >> [cough and clears throat] >> we are really The world We really want Jordie. Okay? Um Whatever little little bit of respect and dignity that I can we can we all can bring to her. I- Imagine Imagine if you will seeing your baby on the news. Please, if you have any information about where my baby is, please help Please help me find my baby. Because to a mom >> I know I lost my son when he was born. I know how that feels. >> That's horrible. >> Do you have any information about where she might be? >> I really don't. Travis I really >> I'm I'm trying to put into words what happened to I don't know how I want to say what I want to say to you about this and where she is and where she's buried. Once again, I [snorts] know you did it. Murder her. You know you didn't murder her. Right? We both know that. Yeah, we both know that. Do we all know that in this room? We all agree that you didn't murder her. Okay? Can we all say that and agree on it? Okay. Let's be open and let's be real in this room. We all know in this room that Harry called you up and said what he said that you Now, I'm paraphrasing here. I'm not using your exact words. I'm just This is just kind of I'm just kind of telling the story, you know. Harry calls you up and says to you once again, I'm paraphrasing pretty much over the phone and in person pretty much I've killed this girl. I need your help. You're always there for him. Through thick and thin. >> He didn't >> Because that's >> if she was dead or not. He said, "I think I killed someone, but I don't know." That's why he wanted to go back because he was scared that he was going to >> Fair enough. Fair enough. But through thick and thin you're there for him. Right? Because maybe you love him. Maybe you have an unwavering loyalty. And you are loyal to a fault. Fair? So, you load up in mom's car with Harry. Here you come down Cedar Street. And you provide a lookout for Harry. Right? Okay. Y'all put Jordy in the back of the car. Right? >> He did. >> He did. You see a big old hole in Jordyn's neck. You see blood coming out of Jordyn's neck. You say to me a few minutes ago that you didn't think at first that she was dead. But then >> I was hoping to God she wasn't. >> And you were hoping to God that she wasn't. But then you see a big hole and you you touched my neck right here and you said you seen a big hole in her neck and then you knew she was dead. Right? Okay. She's in the car and you guys leave. I still don't think I still know >> [cough] >> that you didn't have anything to do with killing this girl. Do you believe up till now >> [snorts] >> that I have not lied to you? Do you believe that I have been truthful with you in everything that I have said? >> Yes. >> Do you believe that I'm going to be honest with you from this point on? >> Yes. >> Okay, good. >> [snorts] >> I believe I believe and I know in my heart and soul that you have more to share about this. Okay? And I want you to know that you've done you've done [snorts] what you've done and nothing's going to change that. Okay? You can't You can't go back and change anything. Okay? I don't want you to make things worse for yourself. Okay? Please believe me. We've agreed, you've told me that you believe me. Okay? I don't want you to make things worse for yourself by remaining silent and not finishing this out and not closing this out. It could get worse for you. Okay? I'm being I'm being open with you. I'm being honest with you. I'm being real with you. Okay? I know the answer to this, but I'm going to ask you because just for the sake of so we all Did you kill her? >> No. >> Right. Get completely off the tracks. Metaphorically speaking, you've taken one step off the railroad tracks from in front of that train that was coming towards you a couple of hours ago. Okay? Take the next step. I I really really want to believe you. I do. I really want to believe you. Okay? You You can't make it any worse for yourself, sweetheart, by telling me where she's buried. I don't know how else to tell you that. You can't make it any worse for yourself. I know you didn't kill her. I know you didn't. You can't make it any worse for yourself. Know that. Okay? Listen to me. Know that you can't make it any worse for yourself. Good lord of mercy. You can't make it any worse for yourself. Get off the tracks. Come on. >> Listen to the technique here. The detective gives Thomas a version of herself she can live with. You didn't murder her. You're loyal. He dragged you into this. Interrogators call it minimizing and it lowers the cost of talking. He never raises his voice. He tells her himself, "That's not how I roll." Then comes the promise, "You can't make it any worse for yourself." Whether that was true was never his decision to make, but it works. Moments later, Thomas mentions a yard. >> The only thing I can think of is to go out there and check the yard. >> What yard? >> The one where he's staying at. >> Why do you say that? >> I'm not trying to be difficult. >> I >> I'm >> You're being a little difficult and I know why and I'm not holding it against you. I'm not holding it against you. If I were holding it against you, I'd be yelling at you. I'd be screaming at you. I'd be doing all that stuff. That's not how I roll. That's not how I roll. I want you to know that I know how you got wrapped up in this crap. I know how you got wrapped up in this crap. Okay? I know you got a phone call and your [clears throat] life changed. Your life changed. From that moment on. Right? Her life ended. Her life ended at the hands of your boyfriend. >> [clears throat] >> Ex-boyfriend, whatever. Her life ended violently. The robbery, whatever story that he told you, no. No. Her life ended for no damn good reason. None. No good reason for a 6'4" 260-lb man to do what he did to her and dump her lifeless body on the other side of a fence. And how dare his ass How dare him as loyal as you are, think about Listen, think about this for just a minute. Holy cow. How dare him as loyal as you are and all of all of his crap that you've put up with, think about that for a minute. How dare him wrap you up in this and you've got you nothing. Nothing to do with this. Here you are living your life doing the things that you do and this jackass kills her, calls you up, and the next thing you know, you're standing there watching him pull pull this poor girl up by her darn ankle and tossing her into the back of a car dead with a big old hole in her neck. Do you deserve that? Where in the wide world of sports do you think that you deserve for him to call you up and get you in the middle of all that crap? No way. You don't. >> [cough] >> I You know, you don't. How much more horrible can it get for you right now? I'm going to tell you how much more horrible it can get for you. I want to believe you that you don't know where this girl is, but I'm having a hard time with it. >> Just finish it. Just finish what you started. >> You already told me to go look in his yard. Finish it up. Let's finish it out. And let's let's be done with it, okay? Finish it out and let's be done with it. Can we please finish it up and let's be done with it? Please. Listen, I know it I know it's hard. I know it's hard. Finish it up. Let's be done. >> Can't be easy for >> Let it Let it Just let it go. Finish it up. >> He told me that he buried her in the at the house that he's staying in right now that where his mom used to stay cuz his mom was in the trailer. Now Now he's in the little house. If you go out the back door the back porch >> Can you draw it for me? Because I'm not going to remember this. I promise you. >> This is my understanding of it because this is what he told me. Okay. Okay. The house >> Wait, can you Okay, front. Do you know which way is north or south or anything like that? Where's 208? >> Okay, so if you're going this way and out of the road it's like right here. And then the driveway and then you come in. Do you need to go this way? >> Mhm. >> Or do you need to go this way? >> Mhm. >> This is where the trailer is. >> Mhm. >> This is the house. >> So it's a house, not a trailer? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And also there's other houses that are back in >> Okay, I got you. >> woods >> Mhm. >> between there and kind of give it privacy. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> So this is the back of the house. >> Mhm. >> And it's at the hill very narrow and curvy road. >> So he buried her from in between the back of the house and the beginning of the woods? >> Yes, that's what he said. >> How deep did he bury her? Tell me Tell me what it and and this is important because it's going to help us find her. How did he bury her? >> He just said he dug a hole. >> Just dug a hole and threw her >> Yeah. >> Just dug a hole and threw her in there? Oh, okay, perfect. Um do me a favor and just like initial that for me cuz I don't want anybody to say that I drew it. Cuz I don't want to artist. Okay. All right, so put your initials right here for me. How do you know How do you know George is there? How did he tell you? It's important. >> Well, I asked him what he did with her body. And he >> When did you ask him that? >> Um It wasn't the night she was killed. But >> Was it last night when you were over there? Were you over there last night? >> Yeah, I was over there last night. >> [snorts] >> Um but >> You You can move it on up. >> I asked him when I was on the phone what he did with her body. >> Today? >> No. It was um like 2 days after it happened. >> Okay. And he said >> He said that he buried her across the back porch where he shot her. >> He buried her across the back porch where he shot her. Okay. Okay. >> [sighs] >> What is the deal with the night y'all left here? burying her >> I don't understand the question. >> We don't think that >> the rest of it. >> We don't believe that you walked to Walmart. >> much Sweetheart, we pretty much know you didn't walk to Walmart. Okay? >> [snorts] >> Right. Right. >> As crazy as the situation was that night, do you really think that we don't believe that you took her if you walked out of that car? >> I have my phone home. >> What >> [snorts] >> what are you afraid of? What is everything? You're afraid you're going to lose your life. Why? Who who who are you afraid How how are you going to lose your life? Come on. >> Are you afraid of Carrie? Are you afraid of >> [snorts] >> what he may do if he finds out you talked to us? Is that it? >> It's not that I'm I mean, afraid of him. It's not that I'm not afraid of him because I have have a real I have a feeling he can get vicious and mean if he needs to. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> You think? Um but I also know that he knows a lot of people that have done a lot of things. >> Okay. My my point is this, okay? These things that that you've these things that you've told us that you've that that have helped us with with finding Jordan and bringing her home. There's more. We know there's more. We know that you've got a more involvement, okay? I'm having a hard time understanding your hesitance in in completing the the the the journey, Jordyn, you know? You know? You walked away as he was burying her? >> No. >> You walked away the next morning after? >> No. I walked away that night cuz I didn't want to be involved in it even though I already was. >> From where did you walk away? >> From his house. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> What time did you >> What time did you guys get there? >> I think maybe like 7:00, 7:30 maybe. >> Sounds reasonable. >> I think so. >> It was Was it daylight? Sorry. >> What happened when you got there? >> I want you to tell us from when you guys pulled up in the yard. Look here. Look here. It's hard to talk about this. I know. I know it's hard to talk about this, but we We're We're there, okay? You pull up in the yard. Jordyn's in the back. What do you do? >> I don't know. He pulled her out. Laid her on the ground. I went in the house. And I got my bag cuz I had a bag with a couple of things, like clothes. And he got the mats out of the car and he was cleaning the mats. He cleaned the blood off the mats. >> With what? >> I don't know. Just the water hose as far as I know. >> Will you say >> [clears throat] >> Will you say as far as I know? >> Yeah. >> What does that mean? You saw him doing it, right? >> Yeah, but I mean, you don't know what people do after you leave. >> Okay. So, but you saw him with the water hose squirting it off? >> Yeah. >> How much blood was there? >> Quite a bit. >> Okay. >> Um so, when I grabbed my bag of stuff, I walked down to a wait down to the raceway and I got a ride and I left. >> Who did you get a ride from? Is your mom going to verify that for us? >> Probably not because she doesn't know what happened in there. >> Well, not verify what happened, verify the fact that you called her up at 7:00 What did you say? >> 7:00. So, by the time you got to the raceway, what time do you think it was? >> And what is the raceway? I don't know what it is. >> gas station >> Like the raceway. I think it's actually a racetrack. >> Yeah, the gas station. >> Okay, so what time was it by the time you got there? >> That's a long walk. >> It is. It's like 9 miles. And I've walked it like four times. >> So, let me stop you right there. Let's Let's back up. Okay? So, you pull up in the yard at Harry's yard at around 7:00. 7:30. It's daylight? You said he takes her body out of the back of the car. How does he take her body out of the back of the car? Is it in a Well, just tell me. How does he get her out? >> He just grabs her by her pants. >> Does he pick her up and sling her out like like sack of potatoes? Does he pick her up, set her down? Does he drag her out? How does he get her out? >> He took her out. >> Okay. Nothing. It's daylight and you just put a body on the ground and something >> the [ __ ] are you doing?" That's the only thing that kept coming to my mind. What the [ __ ] are you doing? What the [ __ ] is going on? Like, what am I even [ __ ] involved in right now? That's the only thing that kept coming to my mind. What the [ __ ] are you doing? What the [ __ ] is going on? Like, what am I even [ __ ] involved in right now? >> Yeah. >> What's his answer? I don't remember. >> What is this What is he What is his demeanor? >> He's He's just He's scared. He's paranoid. He's going to go back to prison, which yeah. >> You go in the house, you said, after that? You packed your bag? You came back out? And he's doing what when you come back out? >> He's cleaning the mats. >> Where is Jordyn? >> Laying there on the ground. >> Are you telling me that Harry takes Jordyn's body out of the car, lays her body on the ground, and then takes time to hose the mats off prior to doing anything else? Do you comment on this? >> No. >> Do you think this may be odd in any way? >> I think the whole situation is [ __ ] up. >> Well, I agree with you 100% on that. Does he seem >> Can I go to the bathroom? I think I'm going to throw up. >> In the end, Christine Thomas gave detectives what they needed most, a location. Her hand-drawn map pointed behind the house on County Road 208, between the back porch and the woods. She also described Branson hosing down the car's floor mats, a detail police later made public. On Tuesday, April 19th, investigators found human remains buried near Branson's home. 10 days after Jordy disappeared, she was found. Thomas never claimed to have seen the killing itself, but the cameras on Cedar Street had already shown detectives the rest. John Harry Branson III was charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors added a charge of abusing a dead body, saying Branson had cut off two of Jordy's fingers. In April 2017, Branson pleaded guilty to both counts. On Tuesday, May 30th, 2017, Circuit Judge Howard Maltz sentenced him to 40 years for second-degree murder and 10 more for the abuse of her body, 50 years in total. Christine Thomas pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. On Wednesday, June 7th, 2017, she was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Jordy Hudson was 46. She was an artist in St. Augustine. Her mother reported her missing and pleaded for help bringing her home. We remember Jordy not for the way her life was taken, but for the life and the art that were hers. If you value police interrogations examined carefully with every fact checked, subscribe to Stay Alert Interrogation. We'll see you in the next room.