“The Secret in Black Rock Canyon”: Dateline Reports on Cassie Jo Stoddart Homicide April 27 2025

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, Dateline NBC presents a chilling new episode titled “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon.” Hosted by Keith Morrison, the program delves into the tragic 2006 murder of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart in Pocatello, Idaho. Cassie, a popular and responsible high school junior, had been house-sitting for her relatives when she was brutally attacked. What began as a routine weekend task became the setting for one of the most disturbing thrill killings in American true crime history.

This episode revisits the calculated actions of Cassie’s classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik, who orchestrated her murder after being inspired by horror films and a desire for infamy. Their actions, captured in chilling home videos, shocked their community and prompted an intense investigation that ultimately revealed a deeply disturbing motive.

The Victim and the Weekend That Changed Everything

Cassie Jo Stoddart was known among her peers as a trustworthy, intelligent, and well-liked student. On Friday, September 22, 2006, she was house-sitting at her aunt and uncle’s residence while they were out of town. Her boyfriend, Matt Beckham, spent the evening with her, and later, classmates Draper and Adamcik visited under the guise of watching a movie.

After watching Kill Bill: Volume 2, the two boys left the home—seemingly innocuous. But unknown to Cassie, they had secretly unlocked the basement door with the intent of returning later that night. Dressed in dark clothing and white masks, Draper and Adamcik entered the house, cut the power, and eventually attacked Cassie alone, stabbing her more than thirty times.

The Shocking Discovery and Start of the Investigation

Two days after the attack, Cassie’s relatives returned home to a gruesome scene. Cassie’s body was found on the living room floor, the result of a violent and personal assault. The initial investigation produced few immediate leads. There was no sign of forced entry, and no valuables had been taken, eliminating robbery as a motive.

Attention turned to Matt Beckham, who was the last person to see Cassie alive. However, his alibi checked out, and he passed a polygraph test. It was Beckham who informed police that Draper and Adamcik had been at the house earlier in the evening. This key detail shifted the focus of the investigation.

Lies, Tapes, and the Break in the Case

Draper and Adamcik initially told police they had gone to the movies after leaving Cassie’s house. When neither could describe the film they supposedly saw, detectives pressed harder. Eventually, Draper broke down during an interrogation and admitted their involvement, revealing a horrifying truth: Cassie had been targeted because she was alone.

Investigators recovered a partially burned VHS tape near Black Rock Canyon, where Draper and Adamcik had buried their weapons and disguises. Forensic experts salvaged the footage, which showed the two teens discussing their plans to kill Cassie. They described her as their first victim, fantasized about additional murders, and referenced the Columbine killers as their idols.

The Trial and Life Sentences

Draper and Adamcik were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. During separate trials in 2007, prosecutors introduced the video evidence, Draper’s written admiration for mass shooters, and their chilling “death list.” The jury found both teens guilty.

On August 31, 2007, Draper and Adamcik were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus thirty years for conspiracy. Appeals followed for more than a decade, but each was denied by state and federal courts. Despite various arguments about ineffective counsel and sentencing guidelines, the courts consistently upheld their convictions and sentences.

Aftermath and Legacy

Cassie Jo Stoddart’s murder left a deep scar on the Pocatello community. Her family, particularly her mother Anna, remained vocal about the pain of losing her. Anna Stoddart passed away in 2022, never seeing her daughter’s killers released or expressing remorse directly to her. In honor of Cassie, the family launched “Pumpkins for Cassie,” an annual community event supporting local charities.

The case also raised broader questions about juvenile justice, media influence, and school safety. A civil lawsuit filed by the Stoddart family against the Pocatello School District claimed the school should have recognized the warning signs. The case was dismissed, with courts ruling the attack was unforeseeable.

A Murder Inspired by Fiction, Anchored in Reality

Draper and Adamcik cited the film Scream as an inspiration, even adopting aspects of the film’s premise in their planning. Their homemade tapes bore eerie similarities to horror movie dialogue, but investigators were quick to draw a sharp distinction between fantasy and their real, premeditated actions. They had targeted a peer they knew well and meticulously planned her murder, demonstrating forethought and cruelty far beyond typical teenage mischief.

Experts and commentators have referred to the crime as a “copycat killing,” but its implications extend beyond any single influence. Draper’s own writings expressed a desire to gain notoriety, to be remembered. This desire, combined with access to weapons and a disturbing lack of empathy, led to an irreversible outcome.

Conclusion

“The Secret in Black Rock Canyon” is more than a recounting of a crime; it is an exploration of how two seemingly ordinary teenagers became killers, and how a community struggled to comprehend the darkness behind their actions. Cassie Jo Stoddart was a vibrant teenager with a promising future, taken by senseless violence born of obsession and delusion.

Dateline’s coverage, guided by Keith Morrison’s careful narration, revisits a case that continues to haunt those who knew Cassie and those who remember the tragedy that unfolded one quiet weekend in Idaho. The episode underscores the need for vigilance, empathy, and remembrance in the face of violence that defies explanation.