Jean Hargadon Wehner discusses how she came to remember years later the sexual abuse she suffered at Archbishop Keough High School. She also talks about what happened when she reported the abuse to Church officials and how she realized she was connected to the death of Sister Cathy Cesnik. As the can of worms is opened on the hidden world in the high school and the people begin to talk about what happened behind closed doors. With the Jean’s accusations, Abbie Schaub, Gemma Hoskins, and Tom Nugent learn about a story of a graveyard and a source nicknamed 'Deep Throat' who could hold the key.
Michelle McNamara and her editors agree to push her book deadline after being granted access to the Orange County Sheriff's Department's East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker room. After everybody realized the killer moved south, that story exploded. The hope was that by having greater public attention, the right person gave the right tip.
As Michelle's loved ones cope with her sudden death, her work to unmask the Golden State Killer lives on. After inheriting Michelle's 37 boxes of case files, Paul Haynes and Billy Jensen work alongside Patton Oswalt, to finish her book.
In 1979, law enforcement is thrilled when the East Area Rapist attacks abruptly stop in Northern California. But in reality, the East Area Rapist had only moved 400 miles south, to commit a number of gruesome murders in the Santa Barbara area, where he would become known as the Original Night Stalker. Michelle McNamara ultimately came up with the name 'Golden State Killer' cause he terrorized up and down the state. Michelle starts to write a true crime book that would transcend the genre because the way she humanized all of the victims.
Edgar Davidson agrees to talk to investigators but tells a different story. Cathy’s sister Marilyn indicates her interest in solving the case. Tom Nugent casts doubt on Gerry Koob’s story about the night of Cathy’s disappearance. The search for the other man at Cathy’s apartment Pete McKeon may have information about Koob’s relationship. What Cathy’s roommate Sister Russell knew about the abuse and Cathy’s relationship comes into question. 'Jane Doe' and 'Jane Roe' meet for the first time and talk about the Keough. Abbie investigates Baltimore’s investigation into the abuse reports they received. Marilyn Cesnik Radakovic recalls receiving a mysterious letter from her sister after her death.
Eric C. Conn became a local celebrity and maybe even became heroic in the eyes of the people they were helping. He put up billboards all over the county and his parties were legendary. Conn took monthly vacations to exotic locations as a sex tourist and his 16 marriages were the talk of the town. In the third episode, a new U.S. attorney begins working the case. Things take a dark turn when several of Conn's former clients share their experiences. Wanted by the FBI, chased by the authorities, the story soon spirals into a twisty-turny thriller. That’s no coincidence either, given Conn mentions numerous times that he likens himself to James Bond. James Bond with a dash of Robin Hood.
As the can of worms is opened on the hidden world in the high school and the people begin to talk about what happened behind closed doors. With the Jean’s accusations, Abbie Schaub, Gemma Hoskins, and Tom Nugent learn about a story of a graveyard and a source nicknamed 'Deep Throat' who could hold the key.