LOG LINE
A gritty psychological thrill ride based on the heinous true crime when a small town family was executed by a young gang on Valentine’s Day 1977 just to see what it felt like to kill someone.
The gunman thought they left no witnesses and committed the perfect crime. They couldn't have been more wrong...
SYNOPSIS
According to authorities, four unmasked young men brandishing sawed-off shotguns invaded the Spencer’s doublewide in Hollandsburg, IN around 12 AM the morning of February 14, 1977. The assailants proceeded to force 41-year-old Betty Jane Spencer, her 22-year- old son and two teenage stepsons face down on the living room floor. The gang ransacked the house looking for guns, drugs, and money to no avail. 17-year-old Raymond, her oldest stepson, returned home from work welcomed at gunpoint and forced to join his family on the floor.
After smashing radios and ripping the phones from the walls the gang battered the family with questions and then commenced shooting them at point blank range, taking turns and seemingly enjoying themselves. Sources say that when the gang kicked the feet of the victims Betty Jane Spencer flinched and the leader ordered her to be shot again. Believing they committed the perfect crime with no witnesses the gang gathered their spent shell casings and fled the scene.
Seconds after their exit Betty Jane sat up despite bleeding from multiple gunshots and checked to see if anyone else made it, they didn’t. She realized her beehive wig had been blown off, in shock she ran for her life making it through snow and ice to the nearest neighbor and miraculously survived the terrifying incident
The crime, that has no motive, was committed completely at random. Fear consumes the quiet farming community. 3 out of the 4 gunman’s composite sketches are created from Betty Jane’s eyewitness testimony. Weeks go by with no solid leads. The future looks bleak.
Finally, the police receive an anonymous tip pinning 20-year-old Daniel Stonebraker for the murders. The guilt becomes too much for Stonebraker. He rolls over on his accomplices DAVID SMITH (17), MICHAEL WRIGHT (21) and their ringleader ROGER DROLLINGER (23) telling the authorities about the “kill or be killed pact” the gang had made. Federal warrants are issued for their arrest and the manhunt ensues.
72 hours later the FBI detain Wright at a service station in Santa Clara, CA. By this time Roger and Smith have fled to Florida with Roger’s 33-year-old mistress and her 3-year-old daughter. Once word gets back about their Federal arrest warrants Roger and Smith take to the swamp, hitchhiking, and hopping trains attempting to live off a diet of speed and canned goods. The two manage to evade the authorities for weeks until they get separated. Smith, a drugged out zombie by this time, takes to the rails until finally being turned over to the FBI in Lexington, KY.
Roger, the boss man, doesn’t get caught. Weeks go by with the rest of the gang behind bars and the authorities haven’t a clue of his whereabouts. Finally, the Monday after spending Easter with his family he turns himself in during a TV press conference arranged by his lawyer where he pleas his innocence to the American public. He is far from innocent and the film ends as the FBI put Roger into handcuffs and escorts him away.
Drollinger and Smith were convicted of four counts of 1st degree murder and sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in an Indiana State Prison. Wright and Stonebraker were convicted of two counts of 1st degree murder for their cooperation in the case and were sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in an Indiana State Prison. The Master Mind, Roger Drollinger died of a heart attack in his solitary prison cell on January 29, 2014. His three accomplices are still alive and remain incarcerated today.