From: jcs
On April 8, 2009, eight-year-old Tori Stafford was last seen leaving Oliver Stevens School in Woodstock, Ontario, at 3:27 p.m. [00:00:16] She was captured on surveillance footage leaving the premises two minutes after the dismissal bell, having gone back inside for her mother’s butterfly earrings [00:00:18]. Tori was reported missing by her grandmother at 6:04 p.m. the same day [00:00:29].
Initial Investigation and Discovery [00:00:32]
Approximately seven hours after Tori was reported missing, surveillance footage from a local high school was discovered [00:00:36]. This footage, according to police, showed Tori walking side-by-side with an unidentified woman, appearing not to struggle [00:00:40]. The woman was described as 19 to 25 years old, white, 5 foot 2, about 125 pounds, with a black ponytail [00:00:47].
A public appeal was made for the woman in the video to come forward [00:00:55], and Tori’s grandparents offered a $10,000 reward for her return [00:00:58]. A Facebook group dedicated to finding Tori gained over 20,000 followers in under 24 hours [00:01:03]. On April 12, hundreds gathered in Woodstock for a vigil, and Tori’s mother made a televised appeal [00:01:07]. Tori’s parents were interviewed by investigators and passed polygraph tests [00:01:19]. Ground searches were called off six days after her disappearance due to a lack of clues [00:01:24].
“America’s Most Wanted” featured Tori’s case [00:01:30]. On April 17, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) took the lead in the investigation, and ground searches resumed [00:01:35]. The case was officially reclassified as an abduction [00:01:41]. A composite sketch of the woman in the video was released and circulated widely [00:01:45].
Terry Lynn McClintock’s Confession [00:01:51]
On May 19, police identified the woman as 18-year-old Terry Lynn McClintock, who was already in custody for breaching a probation order related to a prior drug violation [00:01:54]. She was interviewed at 5:30 p.m. by Detective Sergeant Jim Smith [00:02:03]. Initially, she denied involvement and knowledge of Tori’s disappearance, but broke down 45 minutes into the interrogation [00:02:09].
McClintock described in detail the abduction and killing of Tori Stafford [00:02:55]. She stated she lured Tori into a secluded parking space by promising to show her a puppy [00:02:57]. Tori was then forced into the back seat of a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Michael Rafferty [00:03:03]. Rafferty drove to a secluded area about 100 miles north of Woodstock, where he sexually assaulted and murdered the eight-year-old [00:03:08]. The fatal injuries were four strikes to the head with a claw hammer [00:03:16].
McClintock drew a sketch of the area where Tori was killed, which led police to discover Tori’s remains [00:03:20]. Tori was found with lacerations to her liver and 16 broken ribs, and her cause of death was confirmed to be repeated blows to the head with a blunt object, correlating with Terry Lynn’s testimony [00:03:26].
Michael Rafferty’s Arrest and Interrogation [00:03:37]
At 7:55 p.m. that same evening, Michael Rafferty was arrested and charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder [00:03:39]. He was read his rights and brought to police headquarters for interrogation [00:03:44].
The interrogation began with Staff Sergeant Chris Loam, a member of the OPP’s Behavioral Sciences unit and head of the analysis section, which includes criminal profiling, threat assessment, and forensic psychiatry [00:07:02].
Interrogation Techniques [00:05:01]
- Rapport Development: The investigator maintained a friendly and nonchalant disposition to make the suspect more likely to cooperate and downplay the crime’s severity [00:05:20]. Loam stated his purpose was to assess Rafferty’s threat level, claiming nothing Rafferty could say would surprise him due to his knowledge of the case [00:06:16]. However, the true primary purpose was to understand Rafferty’s character and influence his reasoning and decision-making [00:07:34].
- Confrontation with Evidence: Loam informed Rafferty that the evidence had led them to him [00:08:22]. He highlighted that Rafferty had previously flown under the radar with no major police issues, making his current involvement a “serious situation” [00:08:47]. Loam used the case of Michael Briere, who abducted and killed Holly Jones, as an example of how things can happen [00:09:05]. He stressed that they knew “the who” and “the what,” leaving only “the why” for Rafferty to explain [00:10:03].
- Emotional and Psychological Pressure: Loam tried to convey empathy, stating, “we all make mistakes,” and that if Rafferty could turn back time, he would make different decisions [00:10:45]. He stated that Rafferty’s credibility was all he had left [00:12:07]. Rafferty’s demeanor was observed as a “quivering mess, acting like a helpless victim wallowing in his own self-pity while vying for sympathy” [00:13:14]. The detective continually watched for denials and stopped them to prevent Rafferty from increasing his morale and psychological endurance [00:14:30].
- The Mutt and Jeff Technique (Good Cop/Bad Cop): After 95 minutes, Rafferty remained unyielding [00:33:19]. The investigators initiated the Mutt and Jeff technique, with a new officer taking a “bad cop” role, directly confronting Rafferty with Terry Lynn’s detailed statements [00:33:40]. Terry Lynn stated that Rafferty drove, she lured Tori, pushed her into the car, and they drove to Guelph, then to a Home Depot for garbage bags [00:34:04]. She further stated that Rafferty sexually assaulted and killed Tori in a farmer’s field [00:35:17]. The officer also highlighted that Tori’s DNA would be found “all over your car” [00:37:48]. This technique, based on the “fear-then-relief” response, aims to disorient the suspect and make compliance more likely [00:39:16].
Despite the psychological pressure, Rafferty remained silent or gave evasive answers. He questioned why the investigator was asking if he wanted food, concerned about how it would be perceived [00:44:32]. The transcript notes this as an “intriguing moment” where Rafferty was clinging to hope but was also situationally aware of his perception [00:44:34].
Trial and Verdict [00:55:25]
31-year-old Michael Rafferty was found guilty of murdering, kidnapping, and sexually assaulting eight-year-old Tori Stafford [00:55:25]. The trial lasted nearly 10 weeks in London [00:55:32]. The verdict was reached quickly, in just over a day of deliberations, leading to a collective sigh of relief among friends and family in the courtroom [00:56:53]. Lawyers from both sides appreciated that justice was done and thanked the jury for sitting through the difficult case [00:56:02].
Sentencing [00:57:16]
Both Michael Rafferty and Terry Lynn McClintock were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years [00:57:16].