Sneak peek: The Pact | Forensic Files

[Music] you go back to the first days after the murder this might have been a dispute
between teenagers it might have involved a girl it might have involved drinking whoever knew about Jon's
killing kept this secret for over 40 years that's one small step for man one Le [Music]
[Applause] for September 26 1969 is the day that changed the lives of Bill and Neville
and McCabe [Music] forever I I I don't think I've had a whole night's sleep since it's
happened if it's not too painful can you tell me about his last day went to a dance his second dance 15-year-old John
mccab was looking forward to going to the Nights of Columbus dance that evening took a shower scrubbed his hair
put his father's after to shave on he didn't shave but he put his father's After Shave on oh yeah he got all
spruced up 11:00 I started looking out the window that's when the dance closes he
should be home by midnight so I went down to the dance and checked the road screaming out the
window John John no John I started praying at that point the day after John mccab went
missing three young kids were cutting through a vacant lot when they made a horrifying discovery which was the body
of John mcab he had been bound and gagged and tied with rope after John's body was found Bill
mccab a Pillar of Strength had to do the Unspeakable that was identify the body of his dead son never forget it people
keep talking about closure you can't shake it he then had to go home and inform his
family of what had happened Bill said honey my son's dead well I was a senior in high school
were you fearful yes they hadn't caught the people that killed my brother did you think when you looked at kids in
your classes maybe it's him maybe it's them yes maybe it was them maybe they knew something how could they not know
anything without physical evidence without a witness this case remained unsolved for several years years and
several years became decades this is it I pray every day Justice will be served there was only one way this case
was going to be solved do you Solly swear and how old were you in 1969 17 and that's if someone came
forward and talked how do you know how John mccab died I was there

A 15-year-old boy goes to a dance and never returns. Teen killers keep a secret for 40 years until one of them cracks. "48 Hours" correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports Saturday, June 22 at 9/8c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

The episode recounts the tragic murder of John McCabe and its lasting impact on his family.

Key points

The Night John McCab Went Missing. John McCab looked forward to a dance but never returned home. His family's anguish began that night.
The Horrifying Discovery. Three kids stumbled upon John McCab's body, bound and gagged, leading to a family's nightmare.
A Father's Unspeakable Task. Bill McCab faced the unimaginable: identifying his son's body and informing his family.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I don't think I've had a whole night's sleep since it's happened.

Reflecting on the aftermath of a tragedy.

0:58WatchJun 18, 2024

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