“The Scream Murder"- The Murder of Cassie Jo Stoddard

This case if often called The Scream Murder because Cassie Jo Stoddard was brutally murdered by two of her classmates. They admitted they were inspired to kill someone after watching The Scream franchise. Cassie Jo was chosen because they knew she would be alone.

Brian Draper, Torey Adamchik and Cassie Jo Stoddard

Cassie Jo Stoddard was a 16 year old high school student and attended Pocatello High School in Pocatello, Idaho. The night she was murdered, September 22, 2006, she was housesitting for Frank and Allison Contreras who were her aunt and uncle. The home was on Whispering Cliffs Drive. Cassie invited her boyfriend Matt Beckham over, he arrived around 6PM. Two of her classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik to hangout. They all watched a movie together, but Brian and Torey left before the movie was over.

Cassie had given the boys a tour of the house, and showed them the basement. Brian had unlocked the door in the basement so that he and Torey could get back in the house later that night. Brian and Torey never went to the movies like they told Cassie and Matt. They went back to their vehicles and put on dark clothing, gloves and white masks. They returned to the house and made loud noises so they could “scare” Matt and Cassie. They also found the circuit breaker and turned the power off in the house. Cassie and Matt didn't come downstairs and they turned lights back on.

Cassie started to get really scared and knew Matt was leaving soon. She asked Matt to ask his mom if he could spend the night with Cassie because she was afraid. His mom said no, but that Cassie could stay at their home if she wanted. She said no, because she needed to look after her aunt and uncle’s house and pets.

At around 10:30PM, Matt was picked up by his mom and left. Matt called Brian and Torey to see where they were and what they were doing. Matt could barely hear them because they were whispering, Matt assumed they were at the movies like they said they were doing.

Brian and Torey heard Matt leave, and they once again turned the power off. Brian had dagger and Torey had a hunting style knife. They opened and slammed a closet door to make noise. They then brutally attacked Cassie and stabbed her 30 times, 12 of them being fatal.

Brian and Torey had been planning to kill Cassie all along and had recorded it. It was shown at their trials.

Arrests:

Brian and Torey were arrested not too long after the murder, on September 27th, 2006. They were charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. During the interrogations, they each blamed each other. Brian said he was in the same room when Cassie died, but that he never stabbed her. He eventually said he did, but that Torey demanded he do it. They also got rid of their masks, clothing and weapons at Black Rock Canyon.

Evidence:

Besides the clothing, masks and weapons they found some additional evidence that was buried at the canyon. They also found, stick matches, a pair of black boots, a melted hydrogen peroxide bottle, a Sony videotape which was later repaired in order to be played, a burned piece of paper with writing, a blue plastic garbage bag, a Calvin Klein dress shirt that had Cassie’s blood on it, a sock and a piece of a black cord.

The note. It’s hard to read, but you can make out “murder”, “kill”, “Cassie”, “home alone”.

One of the weapons

Mask

Mask

This video is disgusting. Especially when they talking about being horny thinking about killing her, and talk about her lifeless body.

Trial and Sentencing:

At trial, the boys said they were inspired by Dylan Kleobald and Eric Harris, The Columbine High School shooters and by the Scream movie franchise.

On April 17th, 2007 Brian Draper was found guilty.

Torey Adamchik’s trial started on May 31st, 2007 and was found guilty on June 8th, 2007.

On August 21st, 2007 they were both received a mandatory life sentence plus 30 years to life for conspiracy to commit murder. They are both serving their time at Idaho State Correctional Institution.

Other information:

The Stoddard Family filed a lawsuit against the Idaho School District in 2010. They said the school should have known that Brian Draper and Torey Adamchik were a threat to other people. It was dismissed by the civil court and the State Supreme Court.

Both Draper and Adamchik have tried appealing their convictions and all have been denied.

When I was trying to find these pictures, it shows a few of the crime scene, so just a warning if you’re looking at some pictures from this case it might show up on Google.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

First, these boys should never be let out. Clearly, they planned it out and had been thinking about murder for awhile. I hope they die in prison.

These masks they used and the tape of them talking about killing Cassie are SO disturbing and creepy.

I feel so bad for Cassie’s family, especially her aunt and uncle who blame themselves for leaving Cassie alone to housesit. They shouldn’t feel bad, how were they supposed to know that a couple of deranged 16 year olds were going to kill her? I also feel bad for Matt because he clearly was better friends with Brian and Torey and couldn’t stay the night with Cassie.