A house in flames, a teen in a wheelbarrow, and a twisted plot uncovered
The desert sun was sinking low over the Coachella Valley, casting long shadows across the quiet mountain roads leading to Pinion Pines. It was a place that looked peaceful, almost timeless — miles away from the bustling city below. But beneath that calm lay a dark secret that would haunt the community for years.


Becky Freedley and her family lived high above the valley, in a secluded home nestled among the pine trees. Becky’s mother, Vicky Freedley, was a free spirit — a hippie at heart with a kind soul. She was 53 when tragedy struck, but to those who knew her, she was full of warmth and love. Vicky’s boyfriend, John Hayward, was also part of the household, a steady presence in their lives. And then there was Becky, the youngest daughter — a bubbly, loud, and hilarious girl who was the life of any room she entered. After her parents’ divorce, Becky had become the glue holding the family together.

Despite the beauty and quiet of Pinion Pines, it was isolated. Cell phone service was almost nonexistent. Friends would joke that you could shout from Becky’s front door and no one would hear. And on the night of the tragedy, if there were any screams, no one was around to hear them.

The fire started in the night, engulfing the house in flames. When the fire department arrived, the devastation was unimaginable. Amid the ashes, the police found the bodies of Vicky and John — Vicky had been shot in the head, John had suffered a shotgun wound to the chest. Outside, burned beyond recognition, was Becky’s body, cruelly placed in a wheelbarrow.

The horror of the triple murder sent shockwaves through the community. Investigators suspected the attack was personal — especially since Becky was deliberately posed in the wheelbarrow, a chilling message that she was the true target.

Becky’s life had not been without struggles. A childhood accident had left her with burn scars and a deep fear of fire — a cruel twist of fate considering what had happened to her. But the mystery remained: who could want her dead?

As the investigation unfolded, attention turned to Robert Pape — Becky’s high school boyfriend — and his friend Christian Smith. Just the day before the murders, Becky had a heated confrontation with Robert at a local Denny’s, witnessed by her cousin Daniela. Becky even told Daniela she had agreed to go hiking with Robert and Christian the next day, hoping to calm the tension.

But when detectives interviewed Robert and Christian, they denied any involvement or even being near Becky’s home that night. Their phones were mysteriously switched off during the critical hours.

For years, the case went cold. Then private investigator Lewis Bologanos stepped in, revitalizing the search for justice. He launched a campaign with billboards and a tribute video that brought the case back into the spotlight. Tips flooded in — thousands of calls — and eventually, Robert and Christian were arrested.

But just six months later, charges were dropped amid murky legal battles and allegations of political interference. The family’s heartbreak was renewed as justice seemed to slip further away.

Hope returned when a new district attorney, Mike Hestin, took office determined to reopen the case. Advances in DNA technology linked Christian Smith’s DNA to a business card found at the crime scene. Jailhouse recordings surfaced, revealing Robert’s discussions about hiding unregistered guns, including one matching the caliber used in the murders.

An informant came forward, claiming Christian had boasted about burning down the house to cover up the crime.

After more than a decade, the truth finally caught up. Christian Smith, a decorated war veteran with two Purple Hearts, was convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of Vicky and John. Robert Pape was convicted for the murders of all three victims.

The mountain air around Pinion Pines finally seemed to breathe a little easier, but the scars of loss lingered. Becky’s family could only hope that after years of waiting, justice had finally been served.