Dateline: The Secret in Black Rock Canyon - Full timeline of Cassie Jo Stoddart shocking murder

Dateline: The Secret in Black Rock Canyon delves into the chilling murder case of Cassie Jo Stoddart on September 22, 2006, in Pocatello, Idaho. Stoddart, who was just 16 years old, was brutally murdered by two masked intruders at her relative's house. Her body was discovered two days later in the living room by her 13-year-old cousin when the Contreras family returned from their trip on September 24, 2006. Quite strangely, the murder scene resembled a sequence straight out of the 1996 horror movie, Scream.

Stoddart was stabbed approximately 29 times. After initial investigation, it was found out that the culprits were Stoddart's classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik. Both Draper and Adamcik were charged with murder within a week. Turns out, the two sixteen-year-old boys were film buffs, and they killed Cassie for 'thrill'.

Here's a timeline of Cassie Jo Stoddart's murder as shown in Dateline: The Secret in Black Rock Canyon

Dateline: The Secret in Black Rock Canyon- A complete timeline of Cassie Jo Stoddart's murder

September 22, 2006: Cassie Jo Stoddart murdered

Cassie Jo Stoddart was a 16-year-old high school student who lived with her family in Idaho. An academically bright student, Stoddart had a cheerful personality and loved making new friends. However, on September 22, 2006, the 16-year-old became a victim of thrill killing.

On September 22, 2006, Stoddart was at her uncle and aunt's house at Whispering Cliff's Drive. She was pet-sitting for her relatives who went on a trip. Eventually, she invited her boyfriend Matt Beckham to watch movies. She also invited her friends Torey Admacik and Brian Draper; however, they didn't stay long. Apparently, they were tired of watching Kill Bill: Volume 2 and left early to go to the theatres.

Things started to get strange as the electricity went on and off and the pet dog started to growl at the basement door. Beckham called his mother to ask whether he could stay at Stoddart's home; however, he didn't get permission. Beckham's mother offered Stoddart permission to stay at their house instead. However, Stoddart declined the offer, saying she needed to stay back and look after the house. Beckham eventually left the house after his mother came to pick him up.

During the investigation, both Draper and Adamcik were caught lying about visiting the theatre on the night of the murder. According to Oxygen, Draper and Adamcik returned to the house and turned the power on and off to scare Stoddart. They wore masks to disguise their identity. As per Draper's statements, Adamcik stabbed her multiple times, eventually killing her.

September 24, 2006: Stoddart's lifeless body found at her aunt's home

Two days later, on September 24, 2006, when Stoddart's relative returned from the trip, they saw her lifeless body lying in their living room. Robert Rausch, an Idaho State Police Lieutenant, arrived at the crime location and found that Stoddart's body was covered in blood.

The investigators initially struggled to solve the case. The crime scene had no signs of forced entry or robbery. The investigators claimed that Stoddart fought for her life and eventually succumbed to the multiple injuries.

Beckham, Draper, and Adamcik became the primary suspects. The investigators found that Draper and Adamcik were lying about their whereabouts and soon Draper confessed to the crime. Draper was initially eager to take the polygraph test but eventually broke down and confessed.

September 27, 2006: Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik arrested

After gathering sufficient evidence, Draper and Adamcik were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Draper led the officers to a Black Rock Canyon area to find further evidence. The evidence included a videotape, multiple knives, gloves, burnt books, among other things.

The video footage contained Draper and Adamcik planning Stoddart's murder and also a clip of them reacting to her murder. Apparently, the boys were inspired by slasher movies like Scream and wanted to create their own version. Stoddart was an easy target since she was alone at that time. They dropped by the house, unlocked the basement door, and waited for Beckham to leave before committing the heinous crime.

April 7, 2007: Brian Draper convicted for Cassie Jo Stoddart's murder

Brian Draper was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in April, 2007. Draper expressed his regret in a 2013 interview, and when Dateline spoke to him in 2024 and was asked why he killed Stoddart, he shared (via A&E),

"I felt like nobody, and I felt like I'd be somebody if I did something big and bad. I would give my life if I could change it, if I could go back in time and say, 'It's us, Cassie. We're just joking around."

June 28, 2007: Torey Adamcik convicted for Cassie Jo Stoddart's murder

Two months later, Torey Adamcik was convicted of first-degree murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart. Along with that, he was charged and convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder

August, 2007: Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik sentenced to life imprisonment

Both Draper and Adamcik received mandatory life imprisonment sentences without a possibility of parole and an additional thirty years to life for conspiracy to commit murder. Draper and Adamcik are currently serving his sentence in Idaho State Correctional Institution. Their attorneys filed separate appeals in 2010 and 2011, but both were denied by the Supreme Court.

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