 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. NBC brings you dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to missing persons detail. You've never heard of Fountain Green, Utah. You've never heard of Juanita Lasky. Los Angeles is a big city. 452 square miles, 3,356,969 people. Your job, find her. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Monday, December 12th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of missing persons detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Ed Backstrand, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from lunch, and it was 12.47 p.m. when I got to room 67A, missing persons detail. 4G. Federal Cafe. Good soup today. What kind? Corn Chowder. It was real good. Places jammed with Christmas shoppers. I had to wait. I haven't even started my shopping yet. You? I gotta pick up something from my mother. Prices are high. I'll send a lot of cards. Will you get married, Joe? Never try to sell a Christmas card to a kid. They got to have something with wheels on it. Yeah, I guess you're right. Missing Persons, Friday. Fountain Green, Utah, calling the Los Angeles Police Department. Bureau of Missing Persons. My party will speak with anyone in charge. This is Missing Persons, Sergeant Friday. Just a moment, please. Mrs. Lasky, ready with your calls to Los Angeles. Hello? Hello? Here's your party. Go ahead, please. Operator? Yes, Madam. When your call is completed. Hello? Yes, ma'am. Sergeant Friday. Yes, ma'am. Where was she staying in Los Angeles, Miss Lasky? When's the last time you heard from her? Right, Miss Lasky. I'll take her description over the phone to make out a preliminary report. You'll have to send us a photograph of your daughter and a letter to the effect that you want us to trace her. Now, what's your daughter look like? What's her full name? S-K-E-Y. Her age, weight and height. How tall are you, Miss Lasky? Any outstanding scars, birthmarks, anything that might help us identify her? What's that? I say, any outstanding scars, birthmarks, anything that might help us identify her. No. Where can we contact you, Miss Lasky? We'll do that, Miss Lasky. What's your number up there? We'll go to work on it. I wouldn't worry about it, Miss Lasky. We'll call you as soon as we get any kind of a lead on her. No charge. If your daughter's in Los Angeles, I think we can find her. Yes, ma'am. Bye. Here's another letter. Come on, Ben. Made the usual check, the morgue, all the hospitals, the county jail. Now we went through the repeater file. We found a one-eat Lasky in the files, but the age and description didn't match. We put that lead in the discard. After the usual paperwork, the next step was to check our last known residence, the Chelsea Hotel for Women. Here it is, Joe. Chelsea Hotel. Yeah. 55 rooms all outside. You're home away from home. Now let's go in. Here's a bell. Yes, sir. May I help you? We're looking for a Miss One-eat Lasky. I'll ring her room. Whom shall I say is calling? Is she in? I believe so. I just saw her about an hour ago. Okay. Would you ring her room, please? Yes, sir. And whom shall I say is calling? My name's Friday. All right, Mr. Friday. Just a moment. Do you wish to speak with her on the phone or shall I have her come down? Ask her to come down if she doesn't mind. She doesn't seem to answer. I'll ring again. No, sir. She doesn't seem to be in. Would you like to leave a message? Didn't you say you saw her about an hour ago? Yes, I did. She must have gone out again. I wonder if we could check her room. Oh, no. The gentlemen are not allowed about the main lobby. I'm sorry, ma'am. We're from the police department. Missing persons, I'm Sergeant Friday. This is Sergeant Romero. Oh. You men are from Missing Persons, did you say? Yes, ma'am. Well, I'm sure One-eat has just stepped out for a moment We haven't got much time, ma'am. We'd appreciate it if you'd show us her room. Certainly. I'll get to the capacity. Two fifteen. The elevator is right this way. Thank you. What seems to be the trouble? Some friend of One-eat is missing? No, ma'am. One-eater. One-eater? I don't understand. Her mother's a little worried about her. Down this way. Here we are. No wonder she didn't hear the phone. She's in the shower. We can wrap on the bathroom door and tell her we'd like to talk to her as soon as she's through. We'll wait out here in the hall. Certainly. One-eater? One-eater, there are two gentlemen here to see you. One-eater? One-eater? I'm coming in. It's Miss Waters. Sergeant. Yeah? There's no one in the shower. What's running, isn't it? Yes, and I see a rolling towel all laid out. We better take a look around. She must have left in a hurry. Say, here's a fresh change of clothing on the bed. Where's the closet, ma'am, this door? Yes, that's right. There's a couple of pieces of luggage in there. This isn't like One-eater. Funny, isn't it? You say you saw her about an hour ago. Yes, I did. Coming in or going out? Coming in, I thought. You have room service here? Yes, we have a coffee shop downstairs. The tray of food here on the table hasn't been touched. Coffee's still warm. Shut that radio off, will you, Ben? Could you have gotten out of the building without you seeing her? No, we don't have a rear entrance. I'm sure you didn't see her go out the front door just before we got here. No. No, I did not. How about her mail? Has she been picking it up lately? I think so. We can check that down at the desk. Yeah, here's some letters. Postmark, Utah. Return address, Mrs. H. Lasky. Let me see that, will you, Ben? This is one of your telephone message forms? Let me see. Yes, yes, that's right. It says long-distance call operator 2, Fountain Green, Utah. According to this slip, this call was received at 1.25 today. May I see that, Sergeant? Yes, that's it, Ms. Riding. Mrs. Tullison took that call. She relieves me for lunch. Do you know whether she returned this call? Well, if she did, there'll be a record down at the desk. Now, you're positive that you saw one E. Lasky an hour ago. Yes, how? I'm sure. Just about an hour ago. 5 feet 728 pounds, green eyes, red hair. Red hair? Oh, no. Juanita's a blonde. Her mother told us that Juanita Lasky had red hair. Now, we weren't too surprised. A lot of women changed the color of their hair. It would make identification a little more difficult, but not impossible. We checked down at the desk. Juanita Lasky had picked up all her mail, but she had not answered that long-distance phone call to Fountain Green. The next step was to question some of the people in the Chelsea Hotel who knew Juanita. She had room 217. Gloria, these men are police officers. They want to ask you some questions. Oh, yes. Is it all right for them to...? Yes, yes, of course. This is an exception. Won't you come in? Thank you. What's your name, miss? Gloria Edgerton. You know Juanita Lasky? Yes, I know her. She has the room right next door to me. Have you seen her today? No, I haven't. I've been out doing my Christmas shopping. Are you trying to locate her, miss Edgerton? Wasn't she in her room? I thought I heard her shower going. Yes, she did, but she wasn't in there. When was the last time you saw her? Last night at dinner. We always eat dinner together. Did she say anything that might lead you to believe that she was going anywhere today? No. She said she might do some Christmas shopping today, so I suggested she go with me. She agreed. She said she'd let me know this morning. Did she? No, she didn't. I just assumed that maybe she was sleeping in, so I went on alone. Are you sure she hasn't just stepped out? We don't know. You're just going down to the corner. It's a little unusual to leave the shower running, the radio on, and let your lunch get cold. Did she do that? How long has Juanita had blond hair? Well, ever since I've known her about six months. We moved in here together. We work at the same place. Where's that, miss Edgerton? At the gadget building. We're elevator operators. I see. Who's your immediate superior down there? Darling Camp. She's a cheap starter. You got that, Ben? She have many dates? No, not too many. Juanita likes to go steady. Who was her steady boyfriend? Paul Matthews. He works in the gadget building, too. He's in the dental lab for Dr. Welty. Sixth floor. Is there anything else that you'd like to add that might help us find her? Well, are you sure she's lost? The building is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It's a business and professional building. The cornerstone says erected in 1924, and it stands 12 stories high. The main entrance is on Hill Street. Going up? All right, Harry. Going up. Are you Darling Camp? Yes. Just a moment, please. Going up. All right, Dora. Can I help you? I'm Sergeant Friday. Police Department. This is Sergeant Romero. Yes, sir. Juanita, I'll ask you work for you. Yes, she does. She's one of my operators. When's the last time you saw her? Anything wrong? No, no. We're just trying to locate her. You just missed her by 45 minutes. All right, Sylvia. She was in to pick up a check. Do you know where she cashes her check? Most of the girls cashed in down at the bank on the corner. There's only one around here over on eight. You say about 45 minutes ago? Yes, that's right. Thanks very much, Miss Camp. Come on, Ben. Going up? All right, Marion. Man, bank's not far from here. There it is, kind of funny. What's that? Her room, the shower, the radio, that'll lunch. She was pulled out in a hurry. What do you think? I don't know what to figure. It's a new one on me. She's alive. We know that. She was 45 minutes ago, anyway. Christmas is here. Santa Claus and his chimney. Yeah. No. I beg your pardon, sir. That's all right. Merry Christmas. Same to you. Here we are, Joe. I guess we better check with the manager, huh? You the manager? I'm the assistant manager. Can I help you? Police department. Yes, sir. I'd like to find out if a check has been cast here within the hour. Yes, sir. And what's the party's name? Lasky Juanita Payroll Check, Plaget Building. Yes, sir. I know Miss Lasky. If you'll step behind the counter, I'll get the check. Thank you. If you'll just wait right here. Okay, thanks. Wonder why she stopped riding to her mother? That's a good question. When we find her, we'll ask her. Wonder if anything was wrong where she worked? No, it didn't seem to be. We'll check back there when we finish here. Yeah. That boyfriend, Paul Matthews, too. Yeah. Oh, here's our man. Yes, sir. Here's the cancel check. I located it. You sure it's the same girl? Blonde girl. Elevator operator in the Plaget Building. Was she alone? Oh, I think so. Did she appear in normal? No. No, she didn't seem to be as friendly as she usually is. Now, does she have an account here? She did have a small savings account here, but she closed it out about a month ago. I see. Well, here's our card. If you should have him to see her again, give us a call. I'll do that. Thank you very much. Well, you're welcome. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. We went back to the Plaget Building. Ben called the Chelsea Hotel from the phone booth in the lobby of the building. Miss Waters, the manager, was keeping a sharp look out, but one he'd ask he had not been heard from. Paul Matthews worked in the dental lab for a Dr. Welley. His office was number 637. Yes, gentlemen, may I help you? We'd like to see Paul Matthews. I'm Paul Matthews. We're from Missing Person Police Department. I'm Sergeant Merrill. Yes, sir? Do you know of Juanita Lasky? Yes, sir. When's the last time you saw her? Saturday night. We went to a show. Is there something wrong? We're trying to locate her. Do you see a lot of each other? Yes, we do. I don't understand. Miss Lasky disappeared from the hotel a couple hours ago. I thought maybe you might know where she is. No, I don't. Today's her day off. Maybe she's out shopping. Has Juanita done anything wrong? No, it's just that her mother hasn't heard from her for quite some time. I can explain that. Juanita's an elevator operator here in the building. That's how I met her. They don't make much money, you know? Yeah. She was having a hard time making ends meet. She sends money home to her mother every month or so. And besides that, she's got to pay rent and buy clothes. And the heat is pretty rough. She seemed despondent over all this? No, I wouldn't say that. But she was kind of unhappy about not getting a raise. Do you have any outside jobs? No, sir, she didn't. What kind of a girl is she? What do you mean? Sureful. Good nature. Sure. Fine girl. We get along swell. I still don't get it. Well, maybe there's nothing to it. Just routine check. I hope she's all right. When did all this come up? A couple of hours ago. We might have to check back with you if I can help. Okay. Thanks for the information. Here's our card. If you hear from him, we'll give it to you. You don't suppose anything's happened to her? That's what we're trying to find out. Goodbye, Mr. Matthew. When we got back to Central Division, we had a full description of Juanita Lasky to all outlying stations in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. We also put out an APB. We double-checked the repeater file and the wanderer file. We made out a full report on our findings to date. During the next eight days, we located a missing husband for a wife in Memphis, Tennessee. We picked up a runaway boy missing from his home in Reno, Nevada, and a 79-year-old veteran of the Spanish-American War who left his home in Beggarsfield, California because he didn't like his daughter-in-law's cooking. But Juanita Lasky was still a mystery. For eight days, we checked and rechecked all our known friends and habits. We went back over the course a dozen times, but no trace. It was almost as if she had ceased to exist that day in the Chelsea Hotel. The letter and photograph from her mother had arrived, and we circulated it to cities all over the country. Her mother wrote that during the war, Juanita was a whack corporal. We put a tracer through to the War Department. That way, we'd have another photo and a full set of fingerprints. Well, where do you want to start today? I'll get it. Missing persons, Friday. Joe Org? Yeah, Archie. Juanita? Yeah. The city morgue is located in the basement of the Hall of Justice on West Temple Street, across the street from the city hall. A lot of missing persons' cases end right here. Archie Spencer met us at the door. Hi, Joe. How's the wife been? Oh, fine, Archie. Over here, Joe, cooler 23. Give me a hand, huh? That's her, isn't it? When's she gonna be posted? As soon as your fingerprint man gets here. That's from Mona Lasky, isn't it? Juanita. Juanita, I mean. No. No, that's not her, Archie. You sure? Yeah. I was almost positive. Sure looks like this picture in your bulletin. Yeah, yeah, she looks a lot like the picture, but it's not Juanita Lasky. Five foot seven, green eyes, blond hair, about one to 30. How close can you get? Look at the face. You sure that's not her? Yeah, I'm sure. Look at her hair, the roots. Yeah. They're blonde all the way down. They ought to be dark. Our girl's a bleached blonde. Yeah, I see what you mean. Look at her right hand, index and middle fingers. Heavy nicotine stains. Our girl didn't smoke, Archie. Yeah, I see what you mean. Yeah, I guess I was wrong. That's not Ramona. Juanita, come on, Ben. That afternoon we got another phone call from Fountain Green, Utah, Juanita Lasky's mother. We told her we hadn't found any trace of her daughter. It was a hard job. We had answered calls like this before, but maybe it was just the season of the year. Somehow we felt that we had to find Juanita Lasky by Christmas. We covered every angle we could think of. We kept close watch on all incoming reports. We stayed in close contact with her friends and Miss Waters at the Chelsea Hotel. Regardless of the name on the incoming reports, we checked every set of fingerprints against those we had received on Juanita Lasky from the War Department. Still, no trace. December 23rd, we checked in for work at 8.30 a.m. Chief Ed Backstran wanted to see us. Got a little something on the Lasky girl. Might help you. What is it, Kevin? A man by the name of Willard Harris owns a bar out in Pomona, phoned in this morning. Now? Found a woman's handbag left in the bar. Driver's license made out to Juanita Lasky. Why do you think to call her? He's got a television set in his bar. Saw the Lasky girl's picture on Sergeant Rosenquist's broadcast last night. How about the girl? Says he can't place her. You better hop out and pick up that purse. Willard Harris owned the Mission Trail Bar. Was in the bus terminal on the heart of Pomona. The Christmas traffic was heavy all the way out Garvey Boulevard. It was 1045 when we pulled up in front of the bar. Willard Harris was inside taking a liquor inventory when we walked in. How'd he do? You, Mr. Harris? Yeah, that's right. You fellas with General Lickers? Los Angeles Police Department. My name's Friday, this is Sergeant Romero. Oh, say. Glad to know you boys. Yeah, I called Los Angeles this morning. We came right out. Say, how about a little eye opener? Got some fine Irish whiskey? No thanks, Mr. Harris. How about your partner there? Oh, thank you. All right, boys. Guess you want that purse, huh? Yes, please. Yeah. Here you are, just as I found it. I opened it up to get the owner's name, but that's all. Didn't touch a thing. Okay. Thanks, Mr. Harris. You said that you didn't remember seeing a woman who left this. No, I don't. Herb works with me here. He might have seen her, but he didn't. I asked him the night we found it. How long ago did you find his purse? Oh, better part of two weeks. No, a little closer to a week. Yeah, about eight days ago. I usually hold something like this for 30 days. That's a lawyer, you know. Yeah. But I saw that fella on the television on that missing persons program. That's how come I called you, boys. Well, thanks very much, Mr. Harris. Well, go on, boys. It's cold out this morning. Sure you don't want a little nap? No, thanks, Mr. Harris. Goodbye. We checked the personnel at the bus terminal, but none of them seem to recognize Juan Hidalasky's photograph. We checked the contents of her purse, but we found nothing unusual. Four $1 bills and some change in the normal things women carry. Since it was money in the bag, we felt sure that Juan Hidalasky had lost the purse herself. That meant that she was alive eight days ago, two days after she walked out of the Chelsea Hotel. It's the only print carried on a California driver's license. It matched the same print on the war department record. It didn't prove anything except that all the evidence tied in and belonged to the girl we were looking for, Juan Hidalasky. The next morning, December 24th, we checked in for work at 8.30. Morning, Ben. All right, Joe. Here's the data reports. You want to check them? There's a mess of them. Let's get at them. You look through any of them yet? No, not yet. I figured it would be for you. All right. I'll take half, huh? Got any shopping done? No, for you? No, some. Lunch hour, most of it. Mm-hmm. Found some nice cards. You sure to send me one? Yeah, I'll hand it to you in the morning. Let's trade shaving lotions like we did last year. If I get any? You can get some. My kid's got a bottle all picked out for you. It's called South Pole for that cool thing. Yeah. He's only a kid. Feeling when it? Better than he gets old. We'll do it. Tell it to that party on the Lasky case. Thanks, Holmes. Ben, listen to this. Yeah? Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Sacramento. Here's a kickback on our APB. Yeah, what's it say? Reading your APB, number 43 on 12, 1248. Our records disclose that Juanita Lasky applied for a position of civilian clerk at Marchfield, California, U.S. Army Air Base using alias Gene Davis. How about the thing, Prince Lasky case? Yeah, let me find it. Yeah, FPC, key 19, primary 32 over 32, inter-over-outer, final 15 over 17. Prince, check out. That's our girl, Jill. The Sacramento reports stated that Gene Davis had applied for government work at Marchfield, California. Well, a couple of things dropped into place. Her purse had been found in Pomona. That's right on the main highway from Los Angeles to Riverside. There was a location for a job at the Army Air Base a few miles beyond Riverside. We put through a long-distance phone call and they told us that Gene Davis was employed there as a civilian clerk, but failed to show up for work that morning. This seems like we run fresh out of luck air of a trip, doesn't it? We get so close and then she's gone again. What you think she's on the go for? If I could figure that, I could find her. I'll get it. Missing person's Friday. Yeah? We'll be right over. We didn't find her, but she's been found. Juanita Lasky just walked into the Chelsea Hotel. We went over to the Chelsea Hotel. Technically, our job was completed now. Juanita Lasky had been found. We went over to make out a routine report. The streets were pretty jammed with last-minute Christmas shoppers, so we walked the last block to the hotel. What's your guess, Jill? Let's ask her. Come on, let's go in. That looks like her over by the desk there. You know, pretty well memorized that face. Sergeant, this is Juanita Lasky. Sergeant Siding, Sergeant Romero. Juanita. How do you do, Miss Lasky? How do you do? I'm sorry. I'm terribly sorry. Miss Waters told me. You mind telling us? Where have you been? Sergeant, I don't know. These last 12 days have been a complete loss to me. Miss Waters told me what happened. I went over to see my doctor. He said I had temporary amnesia. I have to have treatment. I see. What's your doctor's name, Miss Lasky? Dr. Rudner over on Crenshaw. Oh, we're glad you're okay. Kind of had us going there for a while. I'm sorry. Can I use your phone, Miss Waters? Oh, certainly. Help yourself. Thank you. I'd like to place a person-to-person call to Mrs. Hannah Lasky, Fountain Green, Utah. That number is 14R2. Fountain Green, Utah. 14R2. That's right. Your name and number, please. Joe Friday. And this is Hempstead 8594. Thank you. Fountain Green, Utah. Route and night person rate from Los Angeles. T.C. Mount Pleasant. Salt Lake Night Person 140. Through Salt Lake. T.C. Mount Pleasant. Fountain Green. Fountain Green. Fountain Green, 14R2. Mrs. Hannah Lasky. Los Angeles, California calling. Thank you. Ringing operator. Mrs. Hannah Lasky, please. Los Angeles, California calling. Oh, oh, yes, yes. Hang on. I'll get it. Waiting on your party, sir. Thanks. Getting through all right, Joe? Yeah. Lucky. Christmas Eve. Yeah. Hello? Hello? Hello, Miss Lasky. Yes? Just a minute, Miss Lasky. Juanita. Yes? You're wanted on the phone. Oh. Who is it? Just say hello. She'll take it from there. Let's go then. Hello? Yes? Hello, Mother. Come on, then. Yes. I'm all right. Say it more, Joe. Merry Christmas. Yeah. It is, isn't it? The story you have just heard is true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. Upon further examination by competent medical authorities, Juanita Lasky was found to be suffering from periodic spells of amnesia. She was given treatment and a complete cure was affected. You have just heard the eighth in a new series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for dragnet is furnished by the Los Angeles Police Department. Tonight's program is dedicated to Corporal Grady A. Beecham of the 9th Precinct Metropolitan Police Force, Washington, D.C., who, on the night of December 2, 1948, gave his life so that yours might be more secure. Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.