Who Was Cassie Jo Stoddart & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile

Cassie Jo Stoddart was a 16-year-old high school student from Pocatello, Idaho, whose murder in September 2006 became one of the most disturbing juvenile crime cases in the state. A junior at Pocatello High School, Cassie was house-sitting for relatives when two classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik, entered the home, waited until she was alone and stabbed her to death.

The case drew national attention because of the planning behind the killing and the extraordinary evidence left by the two teenagers responsible. Draper and Adamcik recorded themselves discussing murder before Cassie was killed and made additional footage connected to the crime. Police recovered part of the recording after Draper led investigators to Black Rock Canyon, where evidence had been burned and buried.

Cassie’s story was later examined by numerous television programs and documentaries, including Dateline NBC’s “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon.” At the center of every account remains a teenager who believed she was spending a normal weekend caring for her relatives’ home and pets.

• “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon”: Dateline NBC Reports on Cassie Jo Stoddart Homicide August 8 2026
• Who Is Torey Adamcik & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Brian Draper & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Cassie Jo Stoddart Was a Junior at Pocatello High School

Cassie Jo Stoddart was born on December 21, 1989. She lived in the Pocatello area of Idaho and attended Pocatello High School, where she was an 11th-grade student at the time of her death.

People who knew Cassie described her as a well-liked teenager who performed well in school and formed friendships with ease. She had a boyfriend, Matt Beckham, and knew Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik through school.

Cassie was only 16 when she died. Nothing about the circumstances leading into the weekend of September 22, 2006, suggested that she was entering a dangerous situation.

She had agreed to help relatives by remaining at their home while they were away. It was the type of responsibility many teenagers take on, and Cassie appears to have taken that responsibility seriously.

That decision would later become an important part of the timeline of her final night.

Cassie Agreed to House-Sit for Her Aunt and Uncle

Cassie was staying at the home of her aunt and uncle, Allison and Frank Contreras, on Whispering Cliffs Drive in northeast Bannock County.

The couple had gone out of town and asked Cassie to care for their pets and remain at the residence during the weekend.

On Friday, September 22, Cassie’s boyfriend, Matt Beckham, came to the house. The pair planned to spend time together and watch movies.

At some point that evening, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik also arrived.

The four teenagers knew one another, and there was no reason for Cassie to believe that Draper and Adamcik presented a threat.

That trust became one of the most troubling aspects of the case.

Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik Came to the House

Draper and Adamcik were also 16 and attended Pocatello High School.

The two boys had developed an interest in filmmaking and horror movies. Investigators later learned that their interest had expanded into discussions about committing real acts of violence.

Evidence uncovered after Cassie’s murder showed that Draper and Adamcik had talked about killing people and had considered other potential victims. Their writings and recordings included references to the film Scream and to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.

Cassie did not know the extent of those discussions when Draper and Adamcik arrived at the house.

She saw two classmates coming over to spend time with her and Beckham.

The Four Teenagers Watched a Movie Together

Cassie, Beckham, Draper and Adamcik spent part of the evening watching Kill Bill: Volume 2.

At some point, Draper told the others that he needed to use the bathroom. Investigators later determined that Draper used the opportunity to unlock the basement door.

That action allowed Draper and Adamcik to return to the house without Cassie knowing.

The two teenagers eventually announced that they were leaving. They told Cassie and Beckham that they wanted to go to a movie theater instead.

They walked out of the house, but they were not finished with their plans for the night.

According to the case presented by prosecutors, leaving the door unlocked was part of the preparation for what happened next.

Draper and Adamcik Returned Wearing Masks

After leaving Cassie’s relatives’ house, Draper and Adamcik went to their vehicle.

They had dark clothing, gloves, masks and knives.

The teenagers parked away from the residence and returned to the house through the basement entrance Draper had unlocked earlier.

Cassie and Beckham remained upstairs.

They had no idea that Draper and Adamcik were now hiding inside the house.

The boys began making noises from the basement. They hoped Cassie or Beckham would come downstairs.

When that failed, they turned off the electricity using the circuit breaker.

Strange Things Began Happening Inside the House

The electrical problems frightened Cassie.

The power went off and on, and one of the dogs in the residence began focusing on the basement stairs. According to accounts of the case, the dog barked or growled toward the basement.

Neither Cassie nor Beckham understood what was happening.

Beckham recognized that Cassie was scared and called his mother to ask whether he could stay overnight.

His mother said he could not remain at the house, but she offered another solution. Cassie could leave with Beckham and spend the night at his family’s home. She could return to her aunt and uncle’s house the following morning.

Cassie declined.

She had promised to care for the house and the animals, and she believed she should remain there.

Cassie Stayed Behind Because She Felt Responsible for the House

Cassie’s decision to stay has become one of the most painful details of the case.

She did not remain at the house because she believed everything was safe. The power problems and the behavior of the dog had made her uncomfortable.

She stayed because she had accepted responsibility for caring for her relatives’ property and pets.

Beckham’s mother arrived at about 10:30 p.m. and picked him up.

Cassie was left alone inside the house.

Unknown to her, Draper and Adamcik had never left the property.

They were waiting in the basement.

Draper and Adamcik Waited Until Cassie Was Alone

After Beckham left, he called Adamcik.

Beckham later told investigators that Adamcik spoke in a low voice during the call. Beckham believed he and Draper were inside a movie theater.

Adamcik was instead inside or near the house where Cassie remained alone.

Draper and Adamcik again manipulated the electricity in an attempt to bring Cassie downstairs.

She did not enter the basement.

The teenagers eventually came upstairs.

Draper was carrying a dagger-style knife. Adamcik had a hunting knife.

Cassie was lying or sitting in the living room when the attack began.

Cassie Was Stabbed About 30 Times

Draper and Adamcik attacked Cassie with knives.

She suffered approximately 30 stab wounds.

Medical testimony later established that about 12 wounds were capable of causing her death.

Investigators concluded that two different types of blades had been involved, including a serrated blade and a non-serrated blade.

Most of Cassie’s wounds were associated with the serrated knife. A wound inflicted with the non-serrated weapon penetrated her heart.

The evidence supported the prosecution’s argument that more than one weapon was used during the attack.

Both defendants would later try to place greater responsibility on the other.

Neither succeeded in avoiding a murder conviction.

Cassie Was Left Inside the House

After the attack, Draper and Adamcik left the residence.

They did not seek medical help for Cassie.

Instead, they turned their attention toward concealing evidence and protecting themselves from being identified.

They traveled to Black Rock Canyon, where they attempted to burn and bury items connected to the killing.

Cassie remained inside her relatives’ home.

Her family did not return until two days later.

Her body was discovered on September 24, 2006.

Cassie’s Death Triggered a Murder Investigation

Police began reconstructing Cassie’s final hours.

Investigators needed to identify everyone who had been inside the house and establish who had last seen her alive.

Matt Beckham was an obvious person to examine because he had been with Cassie late into the evening.

His mother helped confirm his account. She had picked him up from the residence and recalled hearing Cassie’s voice as Beckham left.

That evidence established that Cassie was alive when Beckham departed.

Beckham also told police about the strange electrical problems inside the house and the behavior of the dog near the basement.

Those details would become significant once detectives understood how Draper and Adamcik had entered the residence.

Investigators Initially Considered Other Possibilities

Police examined physical evidence found inside the home.

Fingerprints belonging to the boyfriend of Cassie’s mother were discovered near the circuit breaker door in the basement.

That initially raised questions because investigators believed the electricity had been deliberately manipulated before Cassie’s murder.

There was, however, an innocent explanation.

He had performed electrical work at the residence months earlier. Cassie’s relatives confirmed that account.

Attention then returned to the people Cassie had seen on the night she died.

That included Draper and Adamcik.

Draper and Adamcik Claimed They Went to the Movies

When police questioned Draper and Adamcik, the teenagers gave investigators an alibi.

They said they had left Cassie’s house and gone to see the movie Pulse.

Detectives began testing their story.

The boys struggled to provide details about the movie they claimed to have watched.

Investigators also spoke with people connected to the theater. Evidence indicated that Draper and Adamcik had not been there.

Their story changed.

The teenagers then claimed they had spent time going through vehicles instead.

The change increased police suspicion.

Brian Draper Began Telling Investigators What Happened

As questioning continued, Draper began providing information about Cassie’s death.

He initially minimized his role.

Draper suggested that the plan had started as a prank and claimed Adamcik had been responsible for the stabbing.

His story changed during later questioning.

Draper eventually admitted that he had stabbed Cassie as well.

He continued trying to place significant responsibility on Adamcik, but his admissions gave investigators a clearer understanding of what had occurred inside the house.

Then Draper offered to show detectives where evidence had been hidden.

That led police to Black Rock Canyon.

Black Rock Canyon Contained Evidence of Cassie’s Murder

Draper directed investigators to an area in Black Rock Canyon where he and Adamcik had attempted to dispose of evidence.

Police recovered masks, clothing, knives and other items.

Some of the material had been partially burned.

Investigators also recovered a damaged videotape.

The tape became one of the defining pieces of evidence in the case.

Draper and Adamcik had recorded themselves discussing murder and their plans before Cassie was killed.

They had also made recordings connected to the period after her death.

Investigators were able to restore enough of the damaged footage to use it as evidence.

The Killers Had Recorded Their Plans Before Cassie’s Death

The homemade recordings revealed that Cassie’s murder had not emerged from a sudden argument.

Draper and Adamcik had discussed killing people before the attack.

Their videos contained references to potential victims, serial killers and horror movies.

They discussed wanting to commit a real killing and compared what they planned to do with fictional violence.

One portion of the footage was recorded after the boys had left Cassie’s house during their initial visit.

In that recording, Draper referred to the task of killing friends who were inside the residence.

The footage gave prosecutors direct evidence of premeditation.

A Recording Was Also Made After Cassie Was Killed

Another portion of the recording was made after Cassie’s murder.

Draper stated that they had killed Cassie and had left her house.

The statement was significant because it was not made years later as part of an appeal or interview.

It came from the period surrounding the crime itself.

The recordings made it difficult for either defendant to argue that the murder had been an unexpected act carried out without preparation.

The boys had documented their thinking before Cassie died.

They had also recorded themselves after the killing.

The evidence came from the defendants themselves.

Draper and Adamcik Were Arrested Five Days After Cassie’s Murder

Police arrested Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik on September 27, 2006.

Both were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Although the defendants were minors, prosecutors handled their cases in adult court.

Each teenager attempted to distance himself from responsibility for the actual stabbing.

Draper acknowledged participating but claimed Adamcik had pushed the attack forward.

Adamcik’s defense argued that Draper was responsible for the killing.

Prosecutors argued that both teenagers had planned the crime together and had participated in the events that made Cassie’s murder possible.

Brian Draper Was Convicted First

Draper’s case went to trial in 2007.

Prosecutors presented his statements, the video recordings and physical evidence recovered during the investigation.

They also showed how Draper had created access to the house by unlocking the basement door before he and Adamcik left during the movie.

The prosecution argued that his actions demonstrated planning.

Draper’s admissions during police questioning also became important evidence.

A jury convicted Brian Draper of first-degree murder on April 17, 2007.

He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, although that conviction was later vacated because of an issue involving jury instructions.

His murder conviction remained intact.

Torey Adamcik Was Convicted Weeks Later

Adamcik was tried separately.

His defense argued that Draper had been the killer and that Adamcik should not be held responsible for Cassie’s murder.

Prosecutors used the video recordings and other evidence to establish Adamcik’s participation in the plan.

The jury rejected his defense.

On June 8, 2007, Torey Adamcik was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The verdicts meant that both teenagers involved in the planning and execution of the attack had been found responsible for Cassie’s death.

Cassie’s Killers Were Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Draper and Adamcik were sentenced in August 2007.

Each received life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

The defendants also received additional punishment related to the conspiracy charge.

Because both had been 16 at the time of Cassie’s murder, their sentences later became the subject of extensive appeals.

Court decisions concerning life sentences for juvenile offenders raised questions about whether their punishment should be reconsidered.

Despite those legal challenges, both men’s murder convictions and life sentences remained in place.

The Appeals Continued for Years

Draper appealed his conviction and sentence to the Idaho Supreme Court.

His first-degree murder conviction was upheld.

The court vacated his conspiracy conviction because jurors had received incorrect instructions regarding that charge, but the ruling did not change the life-without-parole sentence for murder.

Adamcik also pursued numerous appeals.

He challenged aspects of his trial, legal representation and sentence through Idaho courts and later through the federal court system.

His attorneys argued that constitutional decisions concerning juvenile sentencing should affect his case.

Those efforts did not result in his release or a new sentence.

Cassie’s Family Also Pursued a Civil Lawsuit

In 2010, Cassie’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Pocatello School District No. 25.

The family argued that school officials should have recognized warning signs involving Draper and Adamcik and taken action.

The lawsuit raised the question of whether the murder could have been anticipated or prevented.

The courts dismissed the case.

The Idaho Supreme Court concluded that the actions committed by Draper and Adamcik were not sufficiently foreseeable to make the school district legally responsible for Cassie’s death.

The ruling closed another legal chapter in the case.

Hundreds Attended Cassie’s Funeral

Cassie’s funeral was held on October 1, 2006.

Around 500 people attended.

The size of the gathering reflected the effect her death had on her family, friends, classmates and wider community.

Cassie’s family later helped create a project known as Pumpkins for Cassie.

The event honored her memory while supporting organizations including the Pocatello Animal Shelter and the Idaho Food Bank.

Community members could make donations and receive pumpkins.

The project provided a way for Cassie’s family to connect her name with service and community support rather than allowing her identity to become defined only by the manner of her death.

Cassie’s Story Continued to Receive National Attention

The murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart has been examined in documentaries, television programs and crime series for years.

Her case appeared in programs including Dateline, Your Worst Nightmare, CopyCat Killers, Murder Among Friends and other true crime productions.

The 2013 documentary Lost for Life examined Draper and Adamcik as part of a broader discussion about people serving life sentences for murders committed as juveniles.

Dateline NBC examined the case in “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon,” with Keith Morrison reporting on Cassie’s death, the investigation and the recordings that exposed the murder plot.

In 2026, the case received another major examination through The Scream Murder: A True Teen Horror Story.

Cassie’s Murder Became Known for Its Connection to Scream

Draper and Adamcik’s interest in Scream became one of the most publicized aspects of the case.

The teenagers referred to the film and discussed wanting to commit violence similar to what they had watched on screen.

They also showed an interest in the Columbine killers and other people responsible for notorious crimes.

That background helped explain parts of their thinking, but the evidence established something more important.

Cassie’s murder involved preparation.

Draper unlocked the basement entrance. The teenagers obtained knives and disguises. They returned to the house after pretending to leave. They waited inside while Cassie and Beckham remained upstairs. They stayed until Cassie was alone.

After killing her, they attempted to destroy evidence.

Those were deliberate choices made over an extended period.

Cassie Was More Than the Victim in a Famous Murder Case

Much of the public attention surrounding the case has focused on the recordings made by Draper and Adamcik, their fascination with violent movies and the unusual evidence recovered in Black Rock Canyon.

Those elements explain why the case became nationally known.

They should not overshadow Cassie.

She was a 16-year-old student with family, friends, responsibilities and plans beyond September 2006.

Her decision to remain at her relatives’ house that night reflected the responsibility she felt toward a promise she had made. When given the option of leaving because she was frightened, she chose to stay and care for the animals entrusted to her.

She had no way of knowing that the danger was already inside the house.

What Happened to Cassie Jo Stoddart?

Cassie Jo Stoddart was murdered on September 22, 2006, while house- and pet-sitting for relatives near Pocatello, Idaho.

Her classmates Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik visited the house that evening, left an entrance unlocked and later returned wearing dark clothing and masks. They hid in the basement, manipulated the electricity and waited until Cassie’s boyfriend went home.

Once Cassie was alone, they came upstairs and attacked her with knives.

She suffered about 30 stab wounds and died inside the house.

Her body was discovered two days later.

Draper and Adamcik were arrested five days after the murder. Both were convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Years of appeals followed, but neither man’s murder conviction was overturned.

Nearly 20 years later, Cassie Jo Stoddart remains at the center of a case remembered for the killers’ homemade recordings, the evidence recovered from Black Rock Canyon and the level of planning carried out by two teenagers she believed were her friends.

Her story is also that of a 16-year-old girl whose trust was exploited inside a home where she should have been safe.

More “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon”

• “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon”: Dateline NBC Reports on Cassie Jo Stoddart Homicide August 8 2026
• Who Was Cassie Jo Stoddart & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Torey Adamcik & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Brian Draper & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile