Ep 4. While She Was Sleeping, Part 1

While She Was Sleeping, Part 1 is the fourth episode of the tenth season of Dateline On ID. In this episode, viewers will follow the investigation into the murder of Jennifer Schuett. Jennifer was an eight-year-old girl who was kidnapped from her bedroom in 1990 and found in a field 12 hours later, sexually assaulted and left for dead.

The episode begins by introducing Jennifer, a happy and playful third-grader who dreams of becoming a cheerleader. Her mother, Linda, describes her as a child who was always smiling and full of life. However, on August 10, 1990, Jennifer's life was tragically cut short when an intruder broke into her home and took her from her bedroom.

Investigators, including Police Captain Brian Goetschius and FBI Special Agent Jeff Rinek, share their initial impressions of the case and the lack of leads they had in the beginning. They describe the community's shock and fear in the wake of Jennifer's abduction and how everyone came together to help search for her.

After twelve hours, Jennifer was found in a field by a passing motorist. She was badly beaten and left for dead, but she miraculously survived and was able to give investigators some information about her attacker. She told them that he was a white male with brown hair and glasses, and that he drove a white pickup truck. She also remembered a particular smell on his breath, which she described as smelling like "grandpa's medicine."

Despite Jennifer's detailed description of her attacker, the investigation hit a dead end. Police conducted multiple interviews and followed up on numerous leads, but they were unable to find any suspects. The case eventually went cold, and Jennifer's family was left without answers.

The episode then shifts to 2006, over 16 years after Jennifer's abduction. A break in the case comes when DNA evidence from the crime scene is matched to a man named Dennis Earl Bradford. Bradford was a convicted pedophile who had been in and out of jail for most of his life. DNA from the crime scene also linked Bradford to several other sexual assaults in the area.

The episode ends with the arrest of Dennis Earl Bradford, and the promise of additional information in the next installment of the series. While She Was Sleeping, Part 1 provides a detailed look at the investigation into Jennifer Schuett's murder and the persistence of law enforcement to bring her killer to justice.