When two pals from Boston, Massachusetts go for a hike in the New Mexican desert and only one makes it out alive, questions begin to swirl about what happened. Was it the elements that overtook one of the men or perhaps a much darker secret that forced his friend to turn into an enemy?
David Coughlin Photo (Source) The Boston Globe
Raffi Kodikian Photo (Source) Carlsbad Current-Argus
Raffi Kodikian Photo (Source) Jason Kersten
David Coughlin, Kirsten Swan, Raffi Kodikian Photo (Source) Daily News
Rattlesnake Canyon Campsite Map featured in the Albuquerque Journal August 22nd 1999 (Source) Newspapers.com
Raffi Kodikian Receiving First Aid Photo (Source) The Sunday Telegraph
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Sign Photo (Source) National Park Service Website
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- The Boston Globe: ‘Mass. Man Slain in N.M.’ By Ryan Davis.
- The Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Homicide at Carlsbad Cavern NP’ By Stella Davis. Page 1.
- The Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Homicide at Carlsbad Cavern NP’ By Stella Davis. Page 2.
- The Associated Press via The Deming Headlight: ‘Rescued Hiker Accused of Killing Companion’.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Suspect Released on Bond’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 1.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Suspect Released on Bond’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Hiker’s Diary Details Desperation, Fear and Death’ By Thomas Farragher. Page 1.
- The Boston Globe via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Hiker’s Diary Details Desperation, Fear and Death’ By Thomas Farragher. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Police in N.M. examining journal kept by suspect in killing of friend’ By Thomas Farragher. Page 1.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Police in N.M. examining journal kept by suspect in killing of friend’ By Thomas Farragher. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe: Obituaries. ‘David A. Coughlin, 26’.
- The Boston Globe via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Friend says N.M. Adventure Ended in Mercy Killing’ By Yvonne Abraham and Carlos Monje Jr.
- The Associated Press via The Santa Fe New Mexican: ‘Hiker Claims Mercy Killing of Companion’.
- The Associated Press via Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Suspect, Victim Described as ‘Well-Liked’ by Family, Friends’ By staff. Page 1.
- The Associated Press via Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Suspect, Victim Described as ‘Well-Liked’ by Family, Friends’ By staff. Page 2.
- The Associated Press via The Santa Fe New Mexican: ‘Tests Show Carlsbad Hiker was Dehydrated Before Stabbing Death’.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Journal Entry Retells Camper’s Homicide’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 1.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Journal Entry Retells Camper’s Homicide’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Desert Camper Killed by Companion Was Indeed Dehydrated, Autopsy Shows’ By Thomas Farragher and Yvonne Abraham.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Autopsy Bolsters Suspect’s Tale of Desert Killing by By Thomas Farragher and Yvonne Abraham. Page 1.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Test Backs Suspect’s Tale of Desert Slaying’ by By Thomas Farragher and Yvonne Abraham. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Judge Allows Desert Killing Suspect to Go Home’ By Thomas Farragher.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Perplexed Mourners Pay Tribute’ by Yvonne Abraham.
- The Associated Press via Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Stabbing Victim’s Brother Asks For Prayers For Suspect’ By staff.
- The Guardian: ‘Desert Killer May Have Had a Thirst for Fiction’ By Christopher Reed.
- The Los Angeles County via The Seattle Times: ‘Desert ‘Mercy Killing’ Raises Doubts with Police. By Elizabeth Mehren and Julie Cart.
- CBS News: ‘A Death In The Desert Sentence’ By Staff.
- The Associated Press via The Albuquerque Journal: ‘Camper Faces District Court Trial’ By staff.
- The Associated Press via The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Lawyer: Camper Tried Suicide’.
- Carlsbad Current-Angus: ‘Hearing Waived; Caverns Homicide Case Moved to District Court’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 1.
- Carlsbad Current-Angus: ‘Hearing Waived; Caverns Homicide Case Moved to District Court’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 2.
- Tampa Bay Times: ‘Death Called Mercy Killing, but Investigators Say It’s Murder’ By staff.
- The Albuquerque Journal: ‘A Death In The Wilderness, Murder of Mercy?’ By Fritz Thompson. Page 1.
- The Albuquerque Journal: ‘A Death In The Wilderness, Murder or Mercy?’ By Fritz Thompson. Page 2.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Funeral Held for Park Death Victim’ By Catherin Ivey. Page 1.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Funeral Held for Park Death Victim’ By Catherin Ivey. Page 2.
- The Boston Globe: ‘Laid to Rest’ by Mark Wilson.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Defendant in Camper Homicide Enters Innocent Plea’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 1.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Defendant in Camper Homicide Enters Innocent Plea’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 2.
- The Albuquerque Tribune: ‘Professed Mercy-Killer Waives Arraignment’ By staff.
- The Los Angeles Times: ‘Mercy or Murder? Doubts About a Death in Desert’ By Pauline Arrillaga.
- The Washington Post: ‘Desert Mystery: An Act of Mercy or Murder?’ By Paul Duggan.
- Denver Post: ‘Hiker Gets 2 Years in Friends Stabbing Death’ By Jim Hughes.
- Deseret News: ‘Man Pleads No Contest In Stabbing’ By Deseret News Staff.
- Maxim Magazine: ‘Mercy or Murder? The Journal of The Dead’ By Jason Kersten.
- New Mexico Law Review: ‘Death in the Desert: A New Look at the Involuntary Intoxication Defense in New Mexico’ By Shawn Marie Boyne and Gary C. Mitchell.
- New Mexico Courts Case Look Up: Eddy County District Court Records Online.
- BBC News: ‘Hiker Jailed for Desert ‘Mercy Killing’ By staff.
- Carlsbad Current-Argus: ‘Massachusetts Woman Lost While Hiking Coincidentally in Same Area s Kodikian, Coughlin’ By Kyle Marksteiner. Page 1.
- Midland Daily News: ‘Probation in Desert Killing Case’ By staff.
- South Coast Today: ‘Hiker who stabbed friend to death gets 2-year term’ By Michelle Koidin.
- The Associated Press via Athol Daily News: ‘Friend Killer Is Released’. Page 1.
- The Associated Press via Athol Daily News: ‘Friend Killer Is Released’. Page 2.
- The New York Times: ‘Two Went Out, One Came Back’ By Bruce Barcott.
- Sunday Telegraph: ‘Dead Man’s Tale’. Page 1.
- Sunday Telegraph: ‘Dead Man’s Tale’. Page 2.
- Daily News: ‘Strange Pals Go Camping’. Page 1.
- Daily News: ‘Strange Pals Go Camping’. Page 2.
- Tulsa World: ‘Book Gives Details of Ill-fated desert hike’ By Mike Nobles.
- Murderpedia.com: ‘Raffi Kodikian’
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park Website: ‘History and Culture’
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Natural Features & Ecosystems’
- Upper Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Info via National Park Service
- Lower Rattlesnake Canyon Trail info via National Park Service