Gerard John Schaefer, a six-foot-two-inch-tall deputy sheriff in Martin County, Florida, drove along the beach in July of 1972 when he stopped to pick up two hitchhikers: 18-year-old Nancy Trotter and 17-year­-old Paula Sue Wells. Neither girl came back – but Susan’s mother Lucille had written down Schaefer’s license plate number. The clerical error was found, and the correct license number brought up the name of an inmate who was already being jailed for the assault of two girls – Gerard Schaefer.