“Of course Lily I promise to tell Meghan.”
I am released from the hospital after a few days and I am scared to go home. I have no idea what is going to happen next. I have no idea how to cope with this.
The Psychologist at the hospital told me to take it day by day. He said I need to write down my feelings and express how I feel. I need to mourn what happened to me and Zacks death. He referred me to a survivor’s group and counselor outside of the hospital.
I later learned from my parents that the Marin police along with the F.B.I Special Agent Angelo conducted a search on Carl Booker’s home. They confiscated his computers, electronic devices, at least 9,500 homemade child pornography videos of girls he forced to have sex with random men, a lot of the girls were underage. They also confiscated drugs, guns and 100,000 images of child pornography. They also confiscated his financial records. They found all the men he had dealings with Carl kept an accurate record of phone numbers home address and their family life. They found jewelry that belonged to other girls. The evidence is handed off to the F.B.I. They found my Pandora bracelet that Zack gave me. Detective Allard, returned my bracelet to me and all I did was cry when I got it back. It was the last thing that Zack gave me.
5
The Police Investigation
When Detective Allard, and I arrive at the crime scene it is nothing but chaos. There are people everywhere and so much confusion about what had transpired. Another police officer approaches us and says that he was the first on the scene. Detective Allard, and I see a bunch on lookers, we are unsure of who are witnesses or who are there just watching.
The officer tells Detective Allard. that the victim was dead upon arrival and he did not touch the body. He has not touched the crime scene; he has only secured it. Have you or the officers started questioning the witnesses yet?
“Yes, they are questioning them now, one witness says she saw two men and they abducted a girl”.
The witness said “I heard a gunshot and a female screaming. Two men forced her into the back of a dark colored van. One of the suspects got into the driver’s side.” The witness said they were wearing dark colored hoodies, masks and she thought she saw gloves on their hands. She, said they peeled off she was unable to see the plates on the van. According to the witness the van made a right-hand turn.
As I approach the vehicle, I see a young man who was shot in the back of the head. I notice the driver’s side window is broken. I see stippling and glass embedded on the victims’ head so I know he was shot at close range. There was an exit wound in the front of the victim’s head. I ask the patrol officer if he ran the plates to the vehicle?
“Yes Detective, it is coming back to Zachary Bower Sr. and Melanie Bower they live here in San Francisco.”
Okay, Detective Everly and I will notify the family. The medical examiner is on his way. Do not touch anything or let anyone near my crime scene.
Here comes Dr. Copeland now! Speak of the devil.
Detective Allard, this is chaotic has anyone touched the body or moved the body?
“Good evening Dr. Copeland, no the scene was taped off nothing has been touched.”
Good what do we have?
“A young male he was shot in the back of the head with an exit wound in the front.”
I need to examine the crime scene you know the drill Detective Allard. This poor boy was shot close range in the back of his head. See the stippling and the embedded glass Detective?
“Yes, I pointed that out earlier to a patrol officer.”
He has not been dead very long; he is still warm to the touch and rigor mortis has not set in. Here is his ID it looks like the victim’s name is Zachary Bower he is 19 and from this area. I have a learners’ permit for Lily Rose Flannery she is only 17 and her purse is still on the passenger floor. It looks like she called 911 and dropped the phone in the process. I want to take everything from the crime scene with me. I will have the body transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
“This such a senseless death. The suspects had masks on. Why shot and kill him?”
Yes, and I agree Detective it is terrible when someone so young is murdered. He was shot execution style. What cowards shoot someone in the back of the head.
“Poor kid did not even see it coming.”
Hey, Detective Everly have you met Dr. Copeland the Medical Examiner?
“Yes, sir I have. How are you Dr. Copeland?” I am good we are in for a long night. It is so upsetting to see young person die before their time. This is the hardest part of the job.
Detective Allard, “I have another Detective pulling the surveillance tapes from the surrounding businesses. Many of them are closed but we will canvass in the morning”.
“I also, want to find out about Zachary and the girl he was with. I hate this part of our job death notifications are the worst and the hardest part of the job!”
Detective Everly, “did the other Detective pull the surveillance tapes from the theater and parking lot and go through them yet?”
Yes, he and I observed two men approaching the car, one of the suspects approached the drivers’ side window. The other suspect approached the passenger side. I observed the shooter; he shot the driver of the vehicle in the back of the head. I saw the flash of the muzzle and observed the window break. It appears as though the shooter stuck his hand through the broken window and unlocked the doors.
The other suspect grabbed the young female out of the car and dragged her to the van. The first suspect got into the drivers’ side. The second subject forced the female victim in the back of the van. They were both in dark clothing and appeared to be wearing hoodies, masks and gloves. I obtained copies of the surveillance tapes from the theater manager. So, we can look through the tapes and maybe get a plate number from another angle. We could not see the plates the footage was to grainy. Also, we need to find out what time the van arrived.
The other Detective and I could not get a make and model of the vehicle. All that was observed is it is a dark colored older model van. They hauled ass and made a right-hand turn onto the road. We took photos of skid marks left behind from the van. I will pull surveillance videos from the surrounding businesses. As soon as the other businesses open, I will obtain the tapes.
Detective Everly, we need to have the car processed. I did not find any spent casings, so our suspect either picked up the casing or he used a revolver. I need the surveillance footage examined immediately to make sure nothing was missed.
We need to go notify the families. Let the witnesses know that we need copies of what the witnesses and the on lookers filmed on their camera phones. All the witnesses have been questioned?
“Yes, they have all been questioned.”
Everly, get everyone’s information and let them know we will be in contact with them. Hopefully the gun has been used in other crimes and we can get a lead from it. Did you put an Amber Alert out on the female victim?
“Yes, Allard we need pictures and videos. We need to talk to her family.”
Somebody knows the van and the men who did this somebody out there knows something.
We have a BOLO out for the van and the girl. How long has it been since the abduction?
“It has been about an hour.”
With a kidnapping like this the first three hours are vital in the investigation.
“I am praying we do not find her body. Most victims are usually killed within the first few hours”
Well hopefully we will get a lead on the van, and the bullet that is lodged in the car. I hope it is in pristine condition. Is there an estimated time on when the car is being towed to the crime lab?
“I checked they said they are about 10 to 15 minutes out.”
Okay! Patrol can wait for the car to be towed back to the lab.
We need to get leads for this murder the first 48 hours are crucial. Have the patrol units canvass the neighborhood. They need to find other potential witnesses. We will re-interview eye witnesses tomorrow
. Do we have all the eye witnesses information? “Yes, Detective Allard.”
Make sure you get all videos and pictures from the witnesses’ cell phones. Let them know a young girl was taken and a young man was murdered, we need their help. We cannot fuck this up, there is a young teenage girl out there and she is in grave danger. We need to find her alive. The first three hours in this type of abduction are critical. The longer they have her it decreases her chances of surviving. Let’s head over to the Bower home.
Hey, Everly is this the house?
“Looks like it.”
All the lights appear to be off. I hate this part of the job I really do. As much as we have had to do this it will always be the hardest part of the job.
As Detective Everly and I approach the Bower home. My heart is heavy, just knowing that I have to make a death notification of someone so young, a boy who had his whole life ahead of him.
Good evening are you Mr. and Mrs. Bower? “Yes?”
My name is Detective Allard and this is Detective Everly we are with the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Division. May we come in and speak with you. It is about your son Zack.
“What is going on? Is Zachary okay?”
Mr. and Mrs. Bower, I need you to sit down please.
“We are not sitting, until you tell us what is going on.”
“Please sir, ma’am I need you to sit. Mr. and Mrs. Bower take a seat reluctantly. I am sorry to inform you that Zachary has been killed earlier this evening. I am so sorry for your loss.”
“OH MY GOD NO! WHAT DO YOU MEAN KILLED? No, that is not possible. Where is Lily? Is she alright?”
I am so sorry! I know that this is a bad time, but I need to ask some questions. Lily, how is she related to Zachary?
“She is Zacks girlfriend.”
“How long have they been dating?”
“Three years it is their anniversary today.”
Are you aware of anyone who would want to hurt Zachary or Lily?
“No, absolutely not they are both really good kids. Everyone loves them.”
Has Zachary had any trouble with anyone. Were there any threats that you are aware of?
“No, nobody would want to hurt Zack or Lily everyone loves them. “Where is Lily? What happened to our son? How was he killed?”
“I am so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Bower it is an ongoing investigation. I have a few more questions. Has anyone that you know of been harassing Lily or Zachary recently?”
No, they do not have any issues with anyone. Where is Lily?
“Mr. and Mrs. Bower Lily has been abducted.”
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, NO THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!
I sat there and listened to these parents cry over the loss of their son. Their cries are almost animalistic. If you are not a homicide detective, I am not sure if you would understand, the pain in the way they are crying.
“We will need one of you to come down and identify Zachary’s body.”
“Honey I will go.”
No, Zachary I am coming too.
“Do you have any one who can drive you to the Medical Examiner’s Office?”
Yes, we can ask our neighbor he will drive us.
“Sir, ma’am I know that this is the worst possible time, but Detective Everly needs to look in Zachary’s room.”
Yes, fine okay look in his room.
“Do you know the passwords to Zachary’s social media accounts?”
Yes, we have them all written down. Zachary does not really use social media.
“Okay I am going to need all his passwords please. We are also going to have to take any electronic devices that he has. You will get them back.”
Fine okay! Do you have any leads on who did this? Do you have any idea who would kill my son and took Lily?
“Mr. Flannery, we are very early on into our investigation. I promise you I will not stop until whoever is involved in brought to justice.”
“Again, I am so sorry for your loss, here is my card. If you have any questions or remember anything please do not hesitate to give me or Detective Everly a call. Mr. and Mrs. Bower, I will need you to come down to the police station to give a formal statement this only protocol.”
Do you think we are suspects?
“No, we do not believe you are suspects, we want to do the interview incase anything was missed.”
We will be in touch soon Mr. and Mrs. Bower, again I am so sorry for your loss. Again, if you should think of anything before me meet, please do not hesitate to call us.
Allard, these poor people, I really hate this part of the job. I could not imagine the pain they are feeling right now. Jesus his death was senseless. Do you think the Bowers were involved?
“No absolutely not!”
“Everly, I will never understand people and why they do what they do. I need to call the Medical Examiner and let him know that the Bowers are coming down to identify their sons’ body.”
Dr. Copeland it is Detective Allard. Mr. and Mrs. Bower are coming down to identify Zachary Bower. Please take good care of them.”
I will, I absolutely loathe this part of my job. I will assure them that I will take good care of their son.
“Thank you.”
Goodnight Detective.
“Everly, we have to go inform a family that their 17-year-old daughter was taken and her boyfriend was murdered. I try my best to think that this could never happen to my son or daughter after all, there are so many sick and twisted individuals out walking the Earth and hiding in plain sight. My children are around the same ages of these two kids. What if we can’t protect our kids?”
Yeah, my wife and I do not have any children. I cannot imagine this ever happening to my nieces or nephews.
Do you want me to handle the notification for Lily’s parents?
“No Everly, I will tell them. I need you to go through her room and obtain her computer. Lily Rose is the daughter of a prominent plastic surgeon. We need to solve this quickly; it is a high-profile case.”
Is this the house?
As we approach the house, I feel so much pain for this family, and what I am about to tell them.
“Yes, we are here. We are in for a long night.”
Both Everly and I approach the door with sorrow in our hearts.
“Dr. and Mrs. Flannery. This is Detective Everly, and I am Detective Allard of the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Division. Are you Lily Rose Flannery’s parents?”
Yes, is Lily in trouble?
“Dr. and Mrs. Flannery, I need you to have a seat please.”
Where is Lily?
“I regret to inform you that Lily was abducted this evening. I need to ask you some questions about Lily and Zachary.”
Abducted what do you mean abducted? Abducted by who?
Sir ma’am we are investigating that now. Has Lily had any trouble with anyone lately?
No Lily, gets along with everyone.
“Have you noticed anyone following your daughter recently?” No!
“Has Lily mentioned that she thought anyone was following or threatening her? Have you seen any strange cars around watching your home?”
No.
“What about on social media anything unusual?”
No, but Lily makes everything public, and sometimes she shows her location in her photos and on the social media sites. We have told her numerous times that is it extremely dangerous to do that. We have told her she does not know who is looking at her pages, photos and when she is out and about.
“Lily has everything public?” Yes!
I sit and listen as both parents become hysterical. They are screaming, whaling in pain, and are stunned that this has happened to their little girl. I give them both a hug and try my best to assure them we will find Lily. I try to console them. I tell Dr. Flannery and Mrs. Flannery we have our best detectives working on her case.
“Mrs. and Dr. Flannery, we need Lily’s computer and all her electronic devices. Detective Every also needs to search her r
oom. We will also need anything with Lily’s DNA on it a toothbrush, or a hairbrush.”
Dr. Flannery answers. No problem, when was Lily taken? And from where? What are we looking at in terms of odds of finding her?
“Lily was taken earlier this evening and I am not going to sugar coat it the first three hours are crucial with this type of abduction investigation.”
Trafficking the Disappearance of Lily Rose Flannery: Based on Many True Stories Page 5
