The 2006 murder of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart continues to grip true crime audiences nearly two decades later. Dateline NBC is bringing the case back to television screens with a rebroadcast of its episode titled “The Secret in Black Rock Canyon.” The episode, reported by veteran correspondent Keith Morrison, first aired in February 2024 and is scheduled to air again on August 8, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.
The case involves two of Stoddart’s high school classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik, who were convicted of her murder. The two teenagers, also 16 at the time, carried out a brutal attack that left Stoddart stabbed nearly 30 times. The killers were reportedly inspired by the horror movie franchise Scream, which led to them being labeled the “Scream Killers” in media coverage.
The Night Cassie Jo Stoddart Was Killed
On September 22, 2006, Cassie Jo Stoddart was house-sitting for her aunt and uncle at their home on Whispering Cliffs Drive in Pocatello, Idaho. The high school junior was watching over the property and taking care of the family dogs while her relatives were away.
Stoddart invited her boyfriend, Matt Beckham, over to watch movies. She also invited her classmates Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik, who stopped by. The group watched Kill Bill: Volume 2 together, but Draper and Adamcik left around 9:30 p.m., claiming they were going to a movie theater.
What Stoddart did not know was that the two boys never actually left the property. They sneaked back into the house through the basement. From there, they began tampering with the circuit breaker, repeatedly turning the power on and off to create a frightening atmosphere. The strange occurrences, including the electricity flickering and the family dog growling at the basement door, made Beckham uneasy.
Beckham called his mother and asked if he could stay overnight with Stoddart. His mother refused but offered to let Stoddart stay at their house instead. Stoddart declined, saying she needed to remain at her aunt and uncle’s home to fulfill her responsibilities. Beckham’s mother picked him up later that night, leaving Stoddart alone in the house.
Once Beckham was gone, Draper and Adamcik turned off the power again, went upstairs, and attacked Stoddart. They stabbed her approximately 29 to 30 times. The crime scene bore a resemblance to the horror movies the two boys admired.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Investigation
Stoddart’s body was discovered two days later on September 24, 2006, when her relatives returned from their trip. Her 13-year-old cousin found her lifeless body in the living room.
Lieutenant Robert Rausch of the Idaho State Police arrived at the scene and described seeing extensive blood around the body. The investigation initially faced challenges because there were no signs of forced entry or robbery.
Police questioned several potential suspects. They looked into Stoddart’s mother’s romantic partner after finding his fingerprints on the circuit breaker door. However, he had a solid alibi; he had previously done electrical work at the house, which the family confirmed. Beckham also became a person of interest as the last person known to have seen Stoddart alive. He passed a polygraph test and provided a consistent alibi, with his mother confirming she heard Stoddart’s voice when she picked up her son.
How the Killers Were Caught
The investigation eventually turned to Draper and Adamcik. Both boys initially claimed they had gone to a movie theater on the night of the murder. However, their alibi quickly fell apart. A theater employee told police the two were not there on September 22. Neither boy could provide any details about the movie they supposedly watched.
Under further questioning, the boys changed their story, claiming they had been burglarizing cars that night. Eventually, Brian Draper confessed to the crime, though he initially tried to downplay his role. Draper then led investigators to Black Rock Canyon, a recreation site near Pocatello, where he and Adamcik had attempted to hide and burn evidence.
At the site, police recovered masks, gloves, knives, and a partially burned VHS tape. The tape contained footage of Draper and Adamcik planning the murder, discussing their intentions, and expressing their obsession with horror movies. This video evidence became a key piece of the prosecution’s case.
The Trials and Sentences
Both Draper and Adamcik were charged with murder within a week of Stoddart’s death. They were tried as adults in separate trials.
Brian Draper was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in April 2007. Torey Adamcik was found guilty of the same charges in June 2007.
In August 2007, both teenagers received life sentences without the possibility of parole. The severity of the sentences reflected the premeditated nature of the crime and the fact that the killers had filmed their plans in advance.
According to the Idaho Department of Corrections, Torey Adamcik is currently serving his sentence at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona. Brian Draper remains incarcerated at the Idaho State Correctional Institution.
In a 2024 interview with Dateline, Draper expressed regret for his actions, saying, “I regret it every day of my life”.
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The Dateline Episode: What Viewers Can Expect
“The Secret in Black Rock Canyon” provides a detailed look at the case, from the night of the murder through the investigation and trials. The episode features interviews with law enforcement officials, including retired Captain John Ganske, who investigated Stoddart’s murder. It also includes insights from Dr. James Garbarino, a psychologist and expert on teen violence.
The episode’s official logline reads: “When police retrace the final hours of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart, they uncover evidence including a homemade horror film that points to her killers”.
The episode originally premiered on February 18, 2024. It has since been rebroadcast multiple times, including a Sunday airing on April 27, 2025. The upcoming August 8, 2026 broadcast is part of Dateline’s weekend mystery programming.
For those unable to watch the live broadcast, the episode is available for streaming on Peacock, the NBC App, and other platforms.
The Lasting Impact of the Case
The murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart continues to resonate with true crime audiences and the Pocatello community. The case has been covered in multiple documentaries, including Hulu’s docuseries The Scream Murder: A True Teen Horror Story, which premiered in February 2026.
Stoddart’s mother, Anna, passed away from cancer in April 2022. The family has continued to grapple with the loss of a daughter who was described as a bright student with a cheerful personality who made friends easily.
The case also serves as a chilling example of how an obsession with violent media can have deadly consequences when combined with adolescent impulses.
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