Shaker Heights - Episode 2: The Weird Kid in School | Forensic Files

[Music] [Music] thank you foreign welcome to Shaker Heights episode 2 the weird kid in school
in the early morning hours of Friday September 14 1990. sixteen-year-old Lisa Pruitt was
stabbed to death in Shaker Heights an upper class suburb on the east side of Cleveland
her body was discovered behind a mansion owned by the dryford family the murder occurred the day her
boyfriend Dan dreyford was released from a mental institution no murder weapon was found at the scene
within 24 hours the detectives had interviewed the dryford family and come up with few solid leads
in the days after the murder friends of Dan dryford met up at the home of classmate Catherine Schultz to discuss
the ongoing mystery following this meeting several of Dan's friends went to the police station with
a startling claim a young man named Kevin young had been overheard stating he wanted to kill Lisa
because he was jealous of Dan dryford this podcast presents the case as it unfolded for Shaker Heights police
detectives the interviews you are about to hear are taken from actual police reports and
recounted by actors as the story unfolds ask yourself who do you think killed Lisa Pruitt
this is detective Richard mullaney with the Shaker Heights Police Department statement and interview by one Jonathan
Andrew George Jonathan I Know Dan from band I've known him since about eighth grade
we've been friends since then until now I've known Lisa since I was in 10th Grade and I've known Kevin since I was
in ninth grade Dan and Lisa have been going out for a couple months now Kevin supposedly is like Lisa for a long
time now most girls blow Kevin off because he seems kind of weird we were at Arabic at
Shaker Square me and Shane McGee we were standing by Shane's car talking with Kevin and we were talking about Dan
dryford and Kevin young said something like I'd hate to be Dan because he doesn't get any play and me and Shane
McGee both laughed Kevin was like why are you guys laughing and we were both like because Dan gets a lot of play from
girls and Kevin young said well he's not getting any from Lisa Pruitt and I said
yes he is he's sleeping with her and Kevin just freaked he was like that [ __ ] that [ __ ] I
hate him I'm going to kill him I want her dead and then he stormed off and left me in Shane McGee later that night
I was talking to Kevin young again and he was saying that women were good for nothing except screwing them and
throwing them away and how there's really no point in them me and Shane McGee we were both like Okay Kevin right
we stated Arabica a little while longer and talked to some friends there and then me and Shane both left
could you describe Kevin young physically and where he lives if you know he's about six feet tall about 160 170
pounds blonde blue-eyed listens to heavy metal Metallica and Anthrax he basically
doesn't like the world doesn't like black Jews Polish people basically a typical Aryan supremacist type person
he's usually a lot of talk he says things about people but then he's friends with them he talks about people
behind their backs it's very hard for Kevin to get a girlfriend because his views on everything are really strange
he'll be infatuated with a person in ninth grade he was infatuated with a girl named Marissa delinski and she was
going out with a friend of mine named Brett Hurst and we were in Canada and he was threatening that he would commit
suicide unless Marissa broke up with Brett and went out with him Jeff Patty and Hans Bonner are both band directors
at the high school and they were both there and knew about him threatening this and took his sleeping pills from
him that was basically all I remember about that Kevin does not get along with his parents none of us his friends
understand why his parents are great he's a heavy drinker he drinks by himself he likes to get drunk and wander
off by himself he lives across the street from the high school in a white house with a swimming pool in the
backyard don't know the address or the street did you ever see Kevin young act in a
violent manner not sure I like didn't hang around him a lot the only time he came over was at parties I'd say I don't
know do you know if Kevin young abuses any kind of drugs I don't think so I've never used them with him or seen him use
them do you think Kevin young would be capable of killing someone yes why just basically because of how he does talk
and he can become very aggressive I've never seen him get into a fight like with another guy but because of his
basic hate for women because they spurn him because of the conversations that me
and my friends have about him the strange things he says and does did Kevin young ever talk to you about
sex and his views on sex he always wanted to get laid it rarely happened like the only time was with Jackie Hale
and that was like it he hates [ __ ] he truly hates them anything that's not straight he's like
no he doesn't like it I have actually seen him get aggressive he once wanted to beat up a guy who was bisexual but he
couldn't find him did he ever State he wanted to have sex with Lisa Pruitt not that I can remember
do you know a male by the name of Ken Workman yes is he a friend of Kevin Young's
yes I think so whenever I go up to eradica me and Kevin would go outside to see who's out there and if Tex was out
there he would always go over there and say hey hi how you doing what's going on
is text a nickname for Ken Workman yes did you discuss with anyone who you thought could be capable of killing Lisa
Pruitt when you heard of her murder yes Kevin young and Dan's father why Dan's father Dan and Dan's father
don't get along at all Dan's father through Dan's friends is known as a very crazy man this is also viewed by his
sister Debbie and most of her friends Dan just got out of Cleveland Clinic and the reason that he came down to us is
that one night he was reading a book and Dan's father came in and caught him reading it and flipped and that was the
day before he got sent to the clinic why would you think that Dan's father would be capable of killing Lisa Pruitt
it was as soon as I heard she was dead I was thinking of who would have done it and I thought Dan wouldn't have done it
but Dan's father would have done it but I Ruled that out last night when I found
out that Dan's father sent him outside to find out who was screaming how did you hear about Dan's father
sending Dan outside through Shane McGee then I called Dan's house and his sister told me the same
thing I asked people who knew Dan and why he wasn't sent away and they basically said the same thing
to your knowledge to Dan dryford's father have anything against Lisa Pruitt not as far as I know
when did these threats against Dan dryford and Lisa Pruitt take place June of 1990.
do you know if Kevin young would carry any type of weapon I think he had a knife a knife that's it
did you ever see him with a knife once or twice yeah I'd come downstairs and he'd have it out and say look at this
and I'd say oh yeah whatever I think it was a switchblade or a lock knife I guess it was standard black or brown I
can't remember is there anything else that you wish to add to this statement there was a person he talked to uh Pete
mannon I think he's 17 or 18. he's a senior at Shaker Pete was the only one who could really stand Kevin they talked
a lot and Pete tried to get Kevin a girlfriend tried to make him not so much a loser tried to get him to go out
this interview with Jonathan George was important to detectives because George's
statement implicates three men as possible suspects for the murder of Lisa Pruitt
while taking the attention of his friend Dan there was another young man who knew
Lisa would be sneaking over to visit Dan late the night that she was killed his name was Ken Workman known simply as
techs to friends police asked Dan dryford a few questions about him that day so on Thursday September 13 1990
I'll start off with the with the phone calls I had Becca Boatwright called once at about 8 30. and I invited her over
and then she told me she was tired and was going to go to sleep so during the conversation she also
spoke to text Workman and one or both of us maybe mentioned that Lisa might be coming over
I also spoke to Chris Jones and invited him over and he called back and told me he was too tired and was going to go to
sleep I don't remember the times on either one of those calls but both were right
before 10 pm a text Workman came over it was sometime before 9 pm and he and I were sitting
outside when Lisa Pruitt came over at about 9 00 pm and left five or ten minutes later
while they were both there Tex and I joked about cutting Lisa Pruitt's hair to my knowledge however there was no
physical contact between Tex and Lisa then I walked Lisa to her car she left and I
went back to text Workman I think he was in need of cigarettes I gave him some money and at approximately 10 pm he left
on my bicycle for Shaker Square I went inside and came out again probably 11 pm to find texts waiting
with a pack of cigarettes and he told me that he wasn't going to sleep over I let him keep the change for Rapid fare
and and gave him some of the cigarettes and I then went inside and watched the news
did you see Tech's workmen leave your residence after you gave him the cigarettes and if so which direction did
he go I saw him turn to exit the backyard via the driveway to the best of your knowledge describe
what he was wearing he was wearing either a white pair of tennis shoes or a pair of Airwalk Viper high tops I'm not
certain what else he was wearing have you ever known Ken Workman to take the bus back to his house
no but he definitely he's definitely taken the rapid to my knowledge anyway did you have any contact whatsoever with
Ken Workman from the time you were brought to Shaker Heights Police station at approximately 3 A.M on September 14
1990 until noon on that same date no approximately how far does Ken Workman live from Shaker Square
between one and three blocks but I can't say for certain uh to your knowledge what is the
relationship between Ken Workman and Kevin young such as are they close friends or not
no they're they're not close friends but I don't believe they've ever been like hostile towards each other or anything
like that when can workmen return from Shaker Square to give you the cigarettes were
your parents aware that you had returned to your house or did you mention it to them at any time
now they to my knowledge anyway they didn't know and I didn't mention it to them is there anything else that you
wish to add to this statement well yeah I I guess I just like to reassure you that I'll tell you any new
information when I remember it but I just really have nothing else to say now [Music]
more friends of Dan dryford arrived at the Shaker Heights Police station to give statements similar to Jonathan
George's that they had overheard Kevin young say he wanted to murder Lisa Pruitt
the police learned that Kevin was due to leave town that Sunday to begin classes
at Ohio State University armed with the statements from multiple teenagers the detective secured a search
warrant for the young family home affidavit for search warrant of young residents
Kevin young son of Jay Talbot young Jr does reside on Onaway Road Shaker Heights Ohio
this warrant states that Kevin young knew Lisa Pruitt and her boyfriend Daniel dreifer
that in June of 1990 at arabica coffee house at Shaker Square Cleveland Ohio Kevin young stated in the presence of
several Shaker Heights High School students that he desired to kill Lisa Peru and Dan dryford
that Kevin young was seen at Arabica Coffee House Cleveland Ohio on the evening of September 13 1990 and learned
from Kenny James Workman that Daniel driver was home for medical treatment that at the time and in the presence of
witnesses Kevin young became emotionally distraught crying uncontrollably and appeared angry intermittently
that Kevin young was observed walking in the Shaker Heights area toward South Woodland Road at approximately 11 pm
that evening that on September 14 1990 Kevin young argued with friends about the homicide
indicating facts known at this time only to investigative authorities including preliminary findings from the Cuyahoga
County coroner's office that the victim was not raped and further that Kevin young through
reliable information is said to be an unstable individual and ordinantly jealous of male female relationships and
is known to carry a switchblade or lock knife it is necessary to conduct this search in the night because this request
is made at 11 45 pm on September 15 1990 and that Kevin young is known to be leaving for Ohio State University on
September 16 1990 and the evidence sought is subject to destruction if not retrieved at once
[Music] foreign detectives search the young family home Kevin young was formally interviewed by
police detectives this interview occurred after midnight that Saturday night I knew Dan and Lisa from band earlier
this year and I got to be friends with Dan's sister later on in March I got to be friends
with Dan that's about the time I got to be friends with Lisa I got to know her I
wasn't really good friends with her that's how I know them Thursday morning I don't remember much I
remember hanging out at Arabica until about 4pm it might have been later than that time
really meant nothing to me at the time I went back around 7 P.M or 8 P.M I waited until techs got off work we sat
there for a few minutes the two of us went to the shack he mentioned a potential Robitussin party at the
dryford's house I'm almost positive that he mentioned that Lisa and Chris Jones were going over to the driver's house
at quarter to 11 p.m we paid our checks left the shack and headed our separate ways
I went home I got there a few minutes after 11 o'clock I tried to go to bed at around quarter
to 12 and did not sleep well that night now we're at Friday at 8 30 in the morning my mom woke me up and told me
the text was at the door and wanted to talk to me my mom already knew what happened to Lisa text told me that Lisa
had been murdered and raped that night He also mentioned stab wounds I met up with text again slightly before noon at
Arabica it was there that he got hysterical he was worried about people thinking that he did it because he left
his knife at the driver's house also when Tex mentioned the murders he told me that Lisa was found in the backyard
of the dryford's house Friday around noon Tex and I left for Arabica and headed for the shack it was there that
he was accusing Dan dryford of Lisa's murder he was threatening to kill Dan if he
found out that Dan killed Lisa he also asked me to mention to the police if I was questioned where I was with him
Thursday night I told him I would tell the police we left the shack at quarter to 11 as happened he also told me he was
worried because he had no alibi he said he left the dreyfert's house at 11 15 PM
that evening he told me that the bus ran an hour late or it took an hour caught a bus at 12 15
a.m and arrived home at 12 30 A.M Friday afternoon before Debbie got in town Tex was a wreck he was smoking like
a fiend very scared and like I said accusing Dan dreyfert Deb got in around 1 15 p.m in the afternoon having caught
the rapid going eastbound on the Green Road line for a while she was convinced as well that her brother had killed his
girlfriend Lisa she had also heard rumors that Lisa had been raped prior to being murdered and
thought that her brother Seaman was in Lisa I don't know what else to say after the five o'clock news came on it was
pretty obvious to everyone that Dan had not done it I ran into text again at Arabica briefly
I was on my way to Coventry so I only stayed a little while he was then blaming a stranger that none of us know
that was I think the last time I saw him Friday he mentioned that he had been called in
for questioning at least once as for today I spent just about all day with Ken mitsumoto and had very little
contact with texts I did see him tonight at the shack with Debbie and a lady named Becky I think her last name is
Myers Tex mentioned that he'd been called in four times now that brings us to when I
was called in for questioning I'm really worried that Tech did this I hope it's not true
but if he did this for me because of a crush I had on Lisa back around the time of the Germany trip this will be on my
conscience forever I have nothing more to say before given this statement were you
advised of your constitutional rights and did you fully understand them I was so advised and I understood them
are you at the present time under the influence of any alcohol or drugs I am not
the mail you relate to as text what is his full name his name is Ken Workman you state that when your mother woke you
up on Friday morning September 14 1990 at 8 30 a.m that she had already heard about the death of Lisa Pruitt how did
she know this a friend had called her I don't remember who but I could ask her so that I understand you correctly Ken
Workman advised you on the morning of September 14 1990 to make sure you told the police that you were with him until
10 45 PM the previous evening is that correct that's true did Ken Workman ask you to tell the
police any other information relative to him he did not you stated when you saw Ken Workman at Arabica at about noon on
September 14 1990 that he was hysterical could you explain what you mean he was worried that people would think
he killed Lisa he mentioned a knife of his that he thought was in the driver's house he was
also saying that he was convinced that Dan dreyfart killed Lisa when we went to the shack at about noon
probably earlier he was smoking a lot of cigarettes chain smoking after a while we both kind of burst into tears
Tex told me I was the best friend he had ever had have you ever known Ken Workman
to carry a knife I cannot say for sure but I'm almost positive that he has carried a knife on occasion when you met
Ken Workman at Arabica later on later on in the evening of Thursday September 13
1990. Did You observe him to be riding a bicycle I did not see him with or riding
a bicycle that night to the best of my recollection on the same evening September 13 1990
you stated you left Arabica and went to the shack with Ken Workman did he have a
bike with him then I did not see a bike so that I understand you correctly when you walked from Arabica to the shack Ken
Workman also walked he walked with me from Arabica to The Shack on September 13 1990. when you left the shack and
walked home which route did you follow Shaker Boulevard to Van Aiken North of Arabica from Van Aiken I took a left at
the traffic intersection onto drexmore from drexmore I took Woodbury I took Woodbury to Onaway Road where onway
school is and then I went around the school oval to there did you ever have sexual intercourse
with Elisa Pruitt I did not to your knowledge do you know anyone who did Dan told me that he did I'm pretty sure
that Dan was her first that's the way he described it to me did Dan dryford or anyone else invite
you or ask you to come over to the dryford's house in the late evening hours of September 13 1990.
nobody invited me did Ken Workman tell you what time he got home after he left the driver's
house he said 12 30 A.M how did he say he got home he said he took the bus he also said it didn't come
for an hour did he tell you where he caught the bus and where it let him off he did not
is there anything you wish to add to your statement I feel like crap and I really need some sleep
nothing of value was found during the search of the young family home they had no confession no murder weapon no bloody
clothes and Kevin's father Alibi him they were playing video games at the time Lisa was
murdered [Music] next the detective sat down with Tex to see what he had to say about Kevin Young
I went home and called Dan and asked him if it would be all right if I came over
he told me to come on over I got some money from my mom and I waited for the rapid and went and got off Shaker
Boulevard and Lee and went to Dan's house and just talked it was about 15 minutes until his
parents came home they had been shopping I think and I remember I had to help them carrying groceries they asked me
how I was doing because I hadn't seen them in a long time I think Dan was on the phone so I went out in the back and
smoked a cigarette then he came out we was just talking about some dude at the hospital he was at who was weird
then you got a telephone call again and I just sat back outside and he went in to get it then he came back out and Lisa
Pruitt came over and she said I could stay for 15 minutes because her dad was waiting for her in
the car so Dan was showing her his haircut and uh asked her if she wanted hers cut and was playing around
and then he went around the corner I don't know what they did Dan came back around and she left I
guess we just sat there and he played his guitar and then he said that his parents were
expecting me to leave around 10 p.m but I could stay if I wanted to without his parents knowing
so he told me to take the bike and go get him a pack of cigarettes so I took his bike and went up to the
gas station at Shaker Square which is right behind that Rebecca then I went over to Arabica and sat down
there I was talking to Kevin young and Stan Kramer he just got off work and came
over and sat down and Kevin was all messed up then he was crying about some kid named Manny or
something like that because he went over to Iraq he just kept crying and saying wish Manny was here I wish Manny was
here Stan called his dad to come get him maybe like five or ten minutes later his
dad came to pick him up then Kevin was crying he just kept crying saying something about Manny and
I told him to shut up then we left and I went up Shaker Boulevard and he went the other way I
think it was down south woodland or something right before I got to Dan's house I
stopped at like a little field thing and I used the bathroom in the field then I got back on Dan's Bike and went
to his house then I got there and I gave him his cigarettes and he said Chris Jones was coming over and Lisa Pruitt
and they were coming over at like 12 30 a.m and he asked me if I wanted to stay and talk to them I told him no I was
just gonna go home I gave him his bike and he put it in the garage and he went back in and I left
I went to the rapid stop and just sat there until it was around 12 midnight and I called my mom and asked her to
call the rapid and see what time they were supposed to come and then I gave her the phone number to call
me back at the pay phone and after I got off the phone with her I sat down by the
rapid tracks and then the rapid came I don't remember how long it was then I got on and the rapid driver said
something like like it was running late and he was sorry I didn't say nothing to
him until I got to Shaker Square I just told him to take it easy and then I went
home and I got home and told my mom that I wasn't staying at Dan's because I didn't feel right about it
called Deb dryford at college and we talked about how we missed each other I got off the phone with her and went to
sleep the next day I had to get up early because I uh had to go to school and get
my work permit so I got to school I went to Mr vlog's office and some lady told me he was with
some girl who got murdered parents or something it was the lady who was the secretary
for the office she told me that and I told her I was just gonna go to one of my friends houses until he came back and
she said go ahead I went to Dan dreyfert's I seen all the police and I thought maybe he'd commit
suicide or something so I started up the driveway but halfway up the drive these
two policemen stopped and asked me what I was doing and I said I had come to see Dan and
they told me he wasn't home I asked them what was going on they told me to go watch the news
the one policeman asked me my name and where I went to school and what I was doing out of school
so then I went back to school and went to Mr annandale's office and asked him if he knew what was going on
and then he said a girl was murdered over there and I asked him the name of who was
killed and he didn't say anything I left his office and I started back to Law's office and I asked this girl who
was killed and she said Lisa Pruitt and I went to Mr vlad's office and asked Michelle
viditonio who died and she said Lisa Pruitt and she was crying and then I went in and got my work
permit for Mr vla and then I went to Kevin Young's house to tell him his mom answered the door and she
wouldn't let me in because she didn't know who I was I told her it was really important she
asked me if it had anything to do with Lisa's death and I told her yeah and asked her if she told Kevin and she said
no I asked her if she wanted me to tell him and she said yeah she went up and woke Kevin up and and
then me and him went downstairs to the pool table I told him that Lisa had been killed and
he was like all right and he said he'd meet at Arabica at around 4pm and then I went to see if
Jeremy Webster was at school so I could talk to him he wasn't outside the school or anything
and I started walking back and I seen Clark Pope and some other guy and Clark was going crazy because of Lisa
I got sick of hearing him so I walked home I think I went in Arabica to see if anybody was there and there was nobody
in there so I left then I went home then I called the police station to see if Dan was here
or if any of his parents were here and somebody let Dan's dad on the phone and I told him Deb was coming back
then officer mullaney told me to come down and make a statement and I asked him if I could come in around 4 P.M
because I was waiting for Deb to come in I got off the phone with him and I went
to the rapid and just sat there and Kevin came over he got to Arabica a lot sooner than 4
P.M then we were sitting there for a while and we got some coffee at the shack and
then we seen Jerry Eisenberg and Ken mitsumoto get off one of the Rapids so he went outside and Kevin talked to them
and I walked away Kevin came back and said they were going to a bank or something
then we walked over to Arabica and I think it was Dave Branigan I talked to and he asked me how I was doing and I
said all right and then he asked me something else but I can't remember what it was
I left and went back to the rapid stop and waited for Deb and she finally got off
then we went back to my house and then I told Deb I had to go to the police station and my mom
wanted to come with me but I wouldn't let her we both left my house and went to Arabica and then we got a ride from
some guy named Bob to the police station I got to the police station and that's it
before giving this statement you were advised of your constitutional rights did you fully understand them
yes are you presently under the influence of any alcohol or drugs no was your mother aware that you were
planning on spending the night at Dan dryford's house yes when did you tell your mother that
you're planning on staying at Dan dragford's house when I called Danny he said something about it and I said I
wasn't sure do you know what time these Arrangements were made I don't know it was when I called Dan at
his house to see when I could come over have you stayed at the driver's house before when Debbie was not home
not when Devil's known Can you estimate how many nights you stayed at the driver's house when Debbie
was home a lot the last month before she went to college I stayed there almost every
night were Debbie driver's parents aware you were staying there no you stated that you took Dan's Bike and
rode it to Shaker Square to buy cigarettes for Dan drivers in yourself on Thursday September 13 1990 at
approximately 10 p.m is that correct yes describe the bicycle that you rode to Shaker Square
it was a blue mountain bike is that a men's or ladies bike it was a man's bike what brand of cigarettes did
you buy Marlboro regular box just one pack after you purchased the cigarette she
went to Arabica is that correct yes while you're at Arabica how did you secure the bike and where
I didn't I just laid it up by the window at Arabica in the back so I could see it
how long approximately did you talk to Stan Kramer on that evening or how long was he sitting with you
maybe like 15 maybe maybe like 10 or 15 minutes did you work at Arabica at all that
night no while at Arabica did you mention to Kevin young and Stan Kramer that there
was going to be a Robitussin party at Dan dryford's house that evening I didn't say there was going to be I
said there might be because that's what Dad said before he went in the hospital he said the day he got out he was going
to have a robo party what did you tell Kevin young and Stan Kramer about who was coming over to Dan dragford's house
that evening and I remember telling them anything what did you know about anything that
was going to happen at dryford's house that evening all I knew was that Lisa and Chris were coming over
have you ever attended a Robinson party at Dan dryford's yes how many times did this occur only once
what was in your opinion the result of the people who drink Robitussin at this party that is the effect of the
Robitussin on them and how did it affect their actions they just went crazy Dan told me that it makes them feel
strong and said something about some kind of Trance they go into when they get into this trance whoever
they see at the end of this hallway they do whatever they can to get them out of
the hallway they kill if they have to sometimes they just knock the person out of the hallway that's what he said
would you explain what this hallway means he said one day that everybody's got a
hallway and when you take Robitussin it brings you back to your hallway and it's
like if you take it you see a hallway it's like a mild form of acid have you ever done Robitussin and if so
what was the effect of it yes I fell asleep have you ever seen Dan dryford under the influence of
Robitussin the only time I seen him he was just coming down from it I never seen him
when he was in the middle of not coming down from it what was his conditions at that time and
and how did he act he just sits there and stared like he was asleep but had his eyes open
when was this Robitussin party and who was all there it was after I got out of rehab and
before he went into the psych ward Rebecca Boatwright Andrea Conrad Jim Hannah me Dan and Deb
was there Dan messenger was there too that's everybody to the best of your knowledge did Dan
dryford have a Robitussin party last Thursday night I don't think he did on Thursday evening September 13th the
1990 after you brought after you bought the pack of cigarettes and went to Arabica did you leave Arabica with
anyone and go over to the shack no I left with Kevin and I went down to Shaker Boulevard and he went down South
Woodland when you left Arabica to return to the dryford's house with the cigarettes
which route did you take I went down Shaker Boulevard to Lee and then down Lee prior to
reading the driver's house you stated you stopped in a vacant lot a few doors from the driver's house is that correct
yes was that to urinate yes approximately how far into the lot did you go I put Dan's Bike down where the entrance
is and I walked a couple steps in did you take the bike into the lot and if so how far
I just took the bike to like the edge of the lot where it was in the grassy area
like a couple feet after you finish urinating and returned to the dryford's house how did you make him aware that
you had returned I was throwing rocks at his bedroom window did he indicate to you that he had heard
you throwing the rocks at his window no he never said did he come outside to meet you
yes I was standing over by the garage and he came out and told me to go around back and then he came out the back with
the door with his dog and I told him I wasn't gonna stay what did you do with the bike
just gave it to him and he put it in the garage did you physically see Dan dryford put
his bike in the garage yes was the garage open at the time or did he have to open the door
the garage was part way up it wasn't all the way up when you left dryford's house
and walked to the rapid what route did you take Lee to Shaker Boulevard did you stay on the sidewalk
on the west side of Lee Road all the way to Shaker Boulevard or did you exit the sidewalk at any point no
when he arrived at the Rapid station at Shaker and Lee was anyone else there did you encounter anyone that you knew
while walking from the driver's house to the rapid no when you finally got on the rapid was
there anyone else on the rapid no describe the rapid driver that you had a conversation with big black guy with a
beard where did you exit the rapid Shaker Square right by the shack on your way walking from the rapid stop
to your apartment building did you see anyone that that you knew no when you arrived home who was there
my mom and her fiance boyfriend Rob Cornell did you have a conversation with them
I just told my mom I didn't want to stay at dance tonight approximately what time did you call
Debbie dryford from your apartment probably around 12 30 a.m Did you dial her direct at her residence at Ohio
University yes when you called did she answer the phone directly or did someone else pick it up first
one of her friends picked it up first did you know her name no how long did you talk to Debbie dryford
about 30 minutes after that you went to sleep yes did you leave your apartment at any time between
the time you spoke to Debbie driver on the morning of September 14 1990 no on September 14 1990 when you first
learned of the death of Lisa Pruitt did you hear or did somebody tell you how she was murdered somebody had told me
she was hit with something did anyone tell you that she had been stabbed no did anybody tell you that she had been
raped no I heard that on the news what time did you hear that on the news at noon when you went to Kevin Young's
house on the morning of September 14 1990. approximately what time did you get there
probably like 9 or 9 30 a.m something like that at that time when you advise Kevin young of the death of Lisa Pruitt
did you tell him that she had been stabbed and raped no are you absolutely sure of that yes
during the same conversation with Kevin young at approximately nine or 9 30 a.m did you tell Kevin that you thought Dan
dryford had done it yes why did you say that because on the news they said they had
found her in his backyard and she was supposed to come over and see him so what made you think that even though you
heard where she was found that Dan driver would be capable of or want to murder Lisa Pruitt I just thought if he
did Robo that night that he might have I don't know do you know for a fact and did you see
Dan dreyfert consume any Robitussin on the evening of September 13 1990 or of the early morning hours of
September 14 1990 now did you make the statement to Kevin young that you were afraid that if Dan
dryford did it he might have used a knife of yours that was left at the dryford's house yes
what kind of knife is this it's a butterfly I left it in Deb's room and she told me that she took it with her
when did she tell you this I asked her what happened to it as soon as she came home and she said she took it to college
with her did you tell Kevin young to tell the police that you were with him until 10 45 PM the previous evening yes
I told him that while I was at the shack why so he wouldn't forget to tell you guys that I was with him
so he wouldn't get in trouble and I wouldn't get in trouble did you make a statement to Kevin young
that on the evening of September 13 1990 that Dan driver told Lisa Pruitt that he
wanted to cut her hair and he wanted you to hold her down while he did it he was
just playing around when he said it did he make that statement yeah did he have a pair of scissors in his
hands when he made that statement no he had Clippers in his hand did he ever attempt to have sexual intercourse
with Lisa Pruitt no on Saturday September 15 1990 in the evening hours were you at the dryford's home
yes I think it was from maybe about 11 until 12 30 a.m did anything happen between
the times at the dryford's house that got you angry or made you lose your temper yes
Deb's dad was just getting on my nerves and me and Deb left the house he was nitpicking at Deb and it was just kind
of getting on my nerves on Friday night Deb seen kind of like a flashlight in the bushes and I
got pissed off and went down to the street to see what it was but I didn't see anything
since the murder of Lisa Pruitt have you threatened to kill anyone yes who when I thought it was Dan and I
went down the street on Friday night I was going to do the same thing to them as whoever did that to Lisa from the
time you heard about Lisa Pruitt's death until right now have you had any contact
with Lisa's parents I had some contact with some lady that was there with Lisa's mom and I told her if Lisa had
any Diaries or any journals or anything to turn them into the police because they might have some information what
did she say she asked me my name and said okay did this woman tell you that Lisa did in
fact have a diary no how would you describe your relationship with Kevin young we're friends until he like starts
going nuts would you consider him to be your best friend sometimes would you relate to me what you told me previously
about the information you had on David Branigan David told me that he was on the street that night and he was walking
and a cop asked him what he was doing on the street and he said nothing and that he walked a girl home and the cop
took his name and everything then he told Deb that he had his knife on him that night and last night he showed it
to us me and Deb asked him if he still had his knife and he said yeah pulled it out of his pocket
describe this knife for me it just had brass knuckles and the knife pops out of the side
approximately how long is this knife about two and a half three inches long just the blade how long is the blade on
your butterfly knife that you described about six inches did he ever have any kind of relationship with Lisa Pruitt or
did you want to no to both questions when you boarded the rapid and Shaker and Lee that night shortly after
midnight on September 14 1990. do you remember what the sign said on the rapid the sign said Shaker Square
the butterfly knife that you described as yours where is it now it's in Athens Ohio it's been there
since the 6th of September what kind of handle does it have metal it's got holes drilled in the handle to
your knowledge why would Debbie driford take your knife to college with her because I gave it to her
so it wouldn't cause me no trouble what kind of trouble it's by carrying it because I'm on probation for truancy and
running away and stuff prior to getting on the rapid shortly after midnight on the 14th of September 1990. did you see
the same rapid driver before and if so where going the opposite way while I was sitting on the tracks waiting to go to
Shaker Square he passed me up going eastbound and then came back Westbound and picked me up
during the day Friday September 14 1990 did you have any contact with any school
teacher counselor or teachers other than getting your work permit from Mr Val Miss Annandale
I think I called them earlier that day to see if there was anything else going on I think I called him once and Deb
called him once is there anything else that you wish to add to your statement No but I just
remembered Dave B tried to sell me a stolen gun about two weeks ago by this time Shaker Heights detectives
must have known that someone was lying to them everyone was pointing fingers at everyone else
everyone who knew that Lisa Pruitt was going to be at Dan dreyferts the night she was murdered seemed to have an alibi
as Loose as Alibis could be so who was lying Dan dryford Tex or was it Kevin Young
like Dan's friends wanted the police to believe just when it couldn't get any more
complicated in walks 18 year old Stanley Kramer Stan could you State starting from
Thursday September 13 1990 the proximate time you went to work at Arabica that evening and relate to me as best as you
can recall the events of the evening which relate to you of who you may have seen who you may have talked to and
anything that you can remember about that evening okay Scoops closes about 10 and after we closed I usually do the
mopping at about 10 15 PM when I was mopping I noticed Kevin young was sitting at a table right by Scoops he
was emotionally depressed it looked like he was crying and seeing songs I know some of the songs that he was singing
I've heard him when I was younger I continued mopping for about five to ten more minutes and I saw Kenny Workman
come in and sit with Kevin so I wasn't as worried as I was when I saw Kevin from the first time about what was wrong
I pretty much finished up at about I'd say about about 10 30 pm and that's when I clocked out and I decided to join
Kevin and Kenny at the table the conversation up was Kevin was upset because a friend of his I don't remember
the name at all was in a rock I don't know if he was living or dead but Kevin was like hallucinating wanting him to
walk through the Arabica door so Kevin could give him a hug say hello how have you been and so forth
I called my dad at about roughly 10 p.m I went to get a pack of cigarettes first
at about 10 35 pm and when I got back I sat down and smoked one cigarette which takes me roughly five minutes I got up
and called my dad roughly 10 40 P.M to come and give me a ride home I went back to the table and the same
conversation was up at the table that was when I left I have no awareness of what they were talking about at all
my dad got to the back of Arabica at about 10 45 PM which is when I say goodbye to Kevin and Kenny
yeah Kevin and Kenny um I went outside to get in the car my dad asked me to go in and get him a Coke
came back in Kevin and Kenny were walking out the front door to go home which from my knowledge is where they
were going um um Kenny was riding Dan drifert's bike which he had to return that evening and
when me and my father pulled out of the driveway I tried to get him the coke I saw Kevin young walking up a street I
think it was drexmore alone and it looked like he was headed home what did you do after that I had a lot
of studying to do that evening and I went home I watched a little bit of the news just to get caught up on current
events like I usually do I went upstairs to do my homework it was a rough day and I had a little
bit of homework to do so I did have a little bit to drink a few beers after I finished my homework I pretty much
crashed I went to sleep got ready for school the next day when you are at Arabica with text
Workman and Kevin Young on Thursday night did you hear any conversation about a possible party at Dan dryford's
that night no I did not were you aware from the conversation between Tex and Kevin young that Dan driver was back in
town um we all knew from that day Kenny was in school that day I'm almost positive
he was that was the day that Kenny did drop out but I do know for a fact that we all knew that Dan was back in town
when did you first learn that Dan dryford was back in town it was roughly in between the hour of 12 noon and 1 p.m
Thursday noon go ahead and explain the same thing you said before okay um I was uh I don't have a sixth seventh
eighth period so Alexi ratchison a friend of mine that graduated in 89 was up at the school he's usually up there
just driving around I asked him if he would drive me up to the gas station and pick up a pack of smokes he did so and
when I came back we usually park right outside the science swing of the school I looked out the window and I saw what I
thought was Danny dryford which I didn't know at first and I called his name and
it was Danny and he walked over to the car and we we just reunited started to talk and I saw him throughout the rest
of the afternoon until about 4 P.M which I had to go home to go to work who's the friend of yours and what was
his name Alexi ratchison Alexi Alexi that night out of rabbica when you left with your dad you state you saw Kevin
young walking up drexmore towards Shaker Heights is that correct yes did you see Tex Workman leave
[Music] um I did not see him leave I knew where his bike was parked it was parked right
outside the window of where we were sitting and the bike was gone so I figured they must have left at any time
were you aware that Kevin and tex Workman had left Arabica and walked over to a place called the shack
I have no awareness of it do you know where the shack is yes where is that it's the rapid transits restaurant right
on Shaker Boulevard in Shaker Square what hours did you work at Arabica on Thursday night
from my knowledge it was 5 PM to close which is at 10 pm which I stated earlier how well do you know Kevin Young
I know him pretty well I used to play Little League baseball with him when we were both younger and we had missed each
other for a while after the team ended that summer he went back to school and I went back to school I was still in the
middle school at the time when I got up to uh I think the eighth grade I when I started going up to the high school
to see other friends of mine I met back up with Kevin and we started talking and
just getting caught back up so I've known him roughly well since about the eighth grade which is
since I'm a senior would be 1995 I mean 1985 that's where I figure describe for me Kevin young as you know
him what what do you know about him he had a normal Teenage life did what most teenagers do drink go to parties on
the weekend from what I remember he did quite well in school he wasn't one of the types to slack off that much with
the schoolwork because he was really concerned with his life when he got out of school he just graduated in the year
of 1990 from the Shaker Heights High School and he's a part of my group at Shaker Square Arabica
lately um what I've been hearing what me and Kevin been doing which was maybe about
once or twice is drinking which seems like Kevin is having somewhat of an alcoholic problem which somewhat scares
me with Kevin because I know Kevin quite well and he was really interested in baseball and he started smoking and
drinking which surprised me that Kevin would do something like that that heavily
could you describe for me what you know in regards to any relationship between Kevin young and Lisa Pruitt okay I have
known that for the last two years Kevin has had a crush I don't know if you want
to say crush on Lisa uh he really was not to distract you go ahead and describe the relationship between Kevin
and Lisa um last two years Kevin has been in marching band with Lisa and they were
pretty close since marching band is pretty much a big family um to my knowledge Kevin has had a crush
on Lisa for the last two years and when his knowledge came about Dan dreyfert going out with Lisa he was very angry
distracted about Dan going out with Lisa not him did he tell you that or is that just
from behavior that you observe I have heard that from Danny dreifer Kenny Workman and once from Kevin Young
could you identify the members and kids you are referring to when you say your group yes
um in the group are Kenny Workman Kevin young Ken mezzamoto Terry Eisenberg Judd
Osgood Gina Messina that's her last name um another one I'm just thinking of now
is John Hannon and Alexi ratchison at least until he started working at Arabica and there are a few more that
just don't go to Shaker Heights High School so they're usually not there all the time how well do you know Kenny
Workman since Kenny's come to Shaker Heights High School as a freshman which was last
year I've known him quite well we're both pretty much the same we're crazy we're both crazy well in the means of
doing the usual things that we would do in the Arabica Group which is drink and every once in a while just party go down
to Coventry look for fights um we were crazy one evening and we became Blood Brothers so I pretty much
say that me and Kenny Workman or to me texts are darn close describe tax what what kind of a person he is
um who texts when he came up to the high school he looked like he wasn't as enthusiastic as a normal teen is for
high school he was like different he really did not want to be there it's like high school wasn't for him
um I mean that I'm used to it with our group but people normally don't like High School
that had to be there was a literal dislike he stayed in school he didn't go most the time we did a lot of cutting at
the end of second semester of last year I dropped out of school which I really stopped going to the high school it was
maybe about I dropped out of the Shaker Heights High School High School wasn't for me I was a
junior at the time I don't know I just didn't like school I came back up every once in a while
until I got a job at Universal printing which my dad owns and was coming up to the school and when texts or any of the
group was cutting I'd be joining them which most of the time I did see Kenny Workman
after the last year this summer I was on vacation most of the summer so I didn't
really see him that much him and Debbie driver had been together which has been a weird relationship they've broken up I
think about three times and now they're engaged to get married which really confuses me I mean I'm glad that they
are but I don't see how both parties are really wanting to do that but this year
I went back to school I enrolled again for some reason they put me up as a senior
and I'm happy about that Kenny was clicked in as freshman at the Shaker Heights High School
he failed last year we were doing the same thing pretty much at the beginning of this year
um we were both caught smoking outside the school which is in the rule book illegal and we were both suspended for
three days which my parents didn't know about so hopefully they won't hear from this Kenny after being suspended he went
into Richard blah one of the he's assistant principal and was talking to him and he asked if he would tell that
Mr Vlog would tell Kenny's mom that he really does not want to be in school because Kenny's mom is one of those
kinds of moms that don't really want to listen to the sun they just think it's coming out of their mouth because
they're sick of school but after Richard flaw Mr flaw I mean talked to Kenny's mom they got the paper signed and Kenny
dropped out of school after that a big change came in Kenny he got a full-time job he started dressing nice he was like
really getting his life back in order but he didn't know what he was going to do
we didn't know if he was going to become a druggie to just a regular bomb and the
farthest away was actually get a full-time job and actually look good which he is now that's pretty much all
the knowledge I know up to Lisa's death could you describe what you know about Robitussin cough syrup in terms of how
it fits in with your group of friends the only people I know that have taken Robitussin to get a high are Kenny
Workman Danny dryford I think I'm almost positive that Danny and Kenny were the two that found that it did something to
you um those are the only two people I'm really positively sure about trying it to the best of your knowledge how many
times have either Danny or Kenny tried Robitussin well me for one have known him to walk around when he has problems
when he doesn't want to go home he just walks around a lot just to get stuff off
his chest he just he doesn't want to really go home at his house his mom is the caring kind and she'll ask what's
wrong he doesn't really want to tell anyone about it except someone from the group but if we're not there for him or
if there's something else up or if we're having a phone conversation he just won't bring it up with us I have known
him to walk around a few times by himself have you ever had any knowledge of him sneaking out of his house without
his parents knowing it I know he is 18 and if his rules are the same as mine he doesn't really have to
well since he graduated I don't think he has to worry about sneaking out I don't
think he has a curfew on the night of September 13 1990 when you returned home from work from Arabica
did you leave your house after you got home for any reason no I did not were your parents awake when you retired
for the evening on September 13th 1990 no they roughly went to bed at about 11 30 pm and I was still up studying was
anybody else in your household up at the time no when you said you were studying
and had a few beers to drink that night do you have an idea how many beers you had
roughly six to eight do you or do any of your friends that we have mentioned so far or maybe some of them we haven't
regularly or not regularly carry any type of weapon from my knowledge Tex had a butterfly which Debbie dreyfert took
to college with her when she left about a week ago she took it to College because text really had no need for it
um Ken mezzamoto has a switchblade would any of this be used against you know one
of friends no no okay because I have one myself which I lost it was a butterfly knife I showed it to someone and like
walked over to him around the car and I came back and forgot to retrieve it so I
haven't seen it for roughly two to three weeks so and that's pretty much it out of the group
do you know who has your butterfly no idea at all from my knowledge it could be on someone's dresser to someone
actually giving it back to me and me putting it in my room without me knowing where I put it
do you have any direct knowledge or have you ever heard of Lisa Pruitt sneaking out of her house to go see Dan dryford
or anybody else no I know of no passed or I don't even know why she did it this evening Lisa's
not the kind of girl that would sneak out she has a foreign exchange student at her house that's the second reason
why I wouldn't think that she would sneak out unless it was very important to see Dan that evening
so that I understand you correctly you didn't really know Lisa Pruitt well is that correct
not as well as other people you wouldn't have any idea who Lisa Pruitt might confide in as far as a
female friend not off the top of my head not any of her really close friends did
he ever meet her parents no I was planning on going over there this weekend but there were too many people
over there and I didn't go over there I'd rather it be a few amount of people over there do you have any knowledge of
the feelings or either Mr dryford or miss dryford on how they felt about Dan going out with Lisa Pruitt that they had
both approved of it but I'm really wondering about Mr dryford from my knowledge he supposedly had a crush on
Lisa I don't know how long it's been but he's really supposedly liked her I mean
it's a rumor it's not straight facts I didn't hear it from Dan or Dan's father but he has had a crush on her and she
has been going over from what I know she has been going over to the dryford's house to see if Dan's home yet hear of
any messages from Dan as where Dan was he can't write out to people of the family from I mean a friend of mine was
in there and they cannot write accept to family members can you tell me who you heard this from about Mr dreifert having
a crush on Lisa I'm not sure the girl's first name but Hallie Warren who just heard it from Abby Wilson
McPherson she is a senior at the high school and she is in the yearbook Hallie McPherson Abby
Abby is this a rumor that you heard prior to Lisa's death or after her death after I only heard it this afternoon on
my way to the funeral from Hallie and she did not want me to repeat it to anyone for reasons of she didn't want it
to slip out which I have no idea why because I know I'd heard on behalf of the other kids at Shaker we want whoever
did this behind bars is there anything else you can think of that you've heard thought saw or
otherwise in the last few days that might be a value or interest to us and trying to figure out what happened to
Lisa Pruitt thought of what could have happened in my mind from hearing the knowledge of a possible linking Lisa
Dan's father and Dan and Dan's father were supposedly out the evening Lisa's incident happened they were both
in the same room and they both heard a scream this is from what I know for a fact or at least from the papers Dan's
father told Dan to go out and see what happened if he can see anything at all Dan came back didn't hear or see
anything um and you pretty much know the whole thing after that he went back after the police
were called they went out they didn't see anything Dan went back out looked for his bike looked around found Lisa's
bike came back out to the police and that's when the body was found I don't know if Dan's father and him
were still in the same room that Dan's father might have told Dan that look you're gonna be looked at as to being a
suspect in this because Lisa was heading over here I'll say that you were me and you were
in the same room talking or whatever and that's when we heard it from what I can
think I don't know if it could possibly happen but that might have never happened Dan's father might have heard
Dan talking on the phone to Lisa and met her outside before she actually got to the house that's really off the top of
my head that possibly could have happened which the skid marks on the sidewalk could
explain the corner ones as maybe his father maybe walking around the corner or surprising her and then skidding to a
halt saying oh hello and then walking towards the house Mr dry for possibly thinking about it or
riding a bike still turning around again abruptly and having to slam on the brakes again to describe the other ones
on the road I heard there were two skid marks one on South Woodland a one on Lee
is that true whatever I I could picture Mr dreifert doing something like that I don't want to say it because I like Mrs
dryford rumors from Debbie dreyfert and Danny dreyfert they consider their father as a Hitler which really having
the full meaning of why they call him this or why the nickname came up but he was like strict he was one of the
stricter parents around the neighborhood with the kids were you aware or have you heard halisa
was supposed to meet Dan that evening or how she was supposed to let him know she
was there the only way I could figure is the way we always do it is when girlfriends sneak out or boyfriend sneak
out the parents are up in bed the one is waiting by his window to in the family room they have a TV room which looks out
there's a window along the side there's a fence because you're aware of that from looking around she could have
easily parked her bike right there and knocked on the window do anything like that I mean through those windows I know
that you can't really hear anything if the TV's playing because I've been in there waiting for Dan this weekend when
I was going over to visit him to see what he was doing I couldn't hear the cars when the TV was playing if that can
be of any help to you guys I just thought about that [Music] do do [Music]

Shaker Heights - Episode 2: The Weird Kid in School

www.TrueCrimeGarage.com

In the early morning hours of Friday, September 14, 1990, 16 year old Lisa Pruett was stabbed to death in Shaker Heights. This is a 6 part true crime series. The bulk of the story comes from actual police interviews. As the story unfolds, ask yourself, who do you think killed Lisa Pruett?Directed and produced by True Crime Garage. Co-produced by The Philosophy of Crime and narration written by James Renner

Brief Summary

The episode investigates the murder of Lisa Pruitt, exploring suspects and teenage dynamics in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1990.

Key points

The Murder of Lisa Pruitt. Sixteen-year-old Lisa Pruitt was stabbed to death in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Startling Claims. Friends of Dan Dryford report Kevin Young's jealousy and threats against Lisa.
Multiple Suspects. Jonathan George's statement implicates three men as possible suspects in Lisa's murder.
The Night of the Murder. A series of events leading up to the tragic murder of Lisa Pruitt.
The Alibi Game. Everyone who knew Lisa seemed to have an alibi as loose as could be.
Kevin's Emotional State. Witness describes Kevin Young as emotionally depressed and crying at Arabica.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I want her dead.

Kevin Young expresses his jealousy and anger towards Lisa Pruitt.

3:18WatchNov 17, 2022

Tension

75/ 100High tension

More from True Crime Garage TV

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.