Kristin at a 1995 family reunion with her maternal grandmother, Frances O'Neill. (Courtesy Robin Henson)
The home on Cole Crest Drive in the Hollywood Hills where lawyer David Mahler settled after moving from New Jersey. He shared it with three male tenants plus a long line of women. (Author photo)
David Mahler and Stacy Tipton in Hawaii. His girlfriend for two decades, Stacy lived with Mahler in the East for two years and continued their fractious relationship after he moved to Hollywood and involved himself with a porn star and a stripper. (Courtesy Stacy Tipton)
In Hawaii, Mahler and Stacy argued. He abandoned her there, which was consistent with a long pattern of leaving her stranded and foreshadowing an event involving Kristin. (Courtesy Stacy Tipton)
Porn actor Michael Conoscenti, aka Damien Michaels, befriended Kristin and introduced her to David Mahler. (Courtesy Los Angeles County Superior Court)
Rock musician Donald Van Develde, aka Donnie Vie, witnessed Kristin crying and begging to go home as David Mahler furiously cursed and waved a gun in their faces. (Courtesy Los Angeles County Superior Court)
Detective Vicki Bynum worked numerous homicide cases in Hollywood. She and her partner investigated a strange call about an alleged shooting, even though no victim had been found. (Author photo)
Detective Tom Small, Bynum's partner on the Mahler case, atop the Hollywood station with the famous sign in the background. His powerful interview skills came into play with Mahler. (Author photo)
Vicki Bynum and Tom Small in the Homicide Bureau. During the filming of movies in this location, the detectives had met many stars, including Paul Newman and James Garner. (Author photo)
Vicki Bynum and her supervisor, Detective Wendi Berndt, stand near one of seven memorials for officers killed in the line of duty, including Detective Ian Campbell. Joseph Wambaugh's book The Onion Field told Campbell's story. (Author photo)
Police searching the Cole Crest house found David Mahler in a tenant's closet downstairs. Vicki Bynum demonstrates exactly where he attempted to hide. (Courtesy Los Angeles County Superior Court)
Officers transported Mahler to the Hollywood station for an interview. (Courtesy Los Angeles County Superior Court)