The trip took just under six hours

Robbie was seated directly across from Kerber, Koffee, and Radford, all three still and subdued as if waiting for a death sentence. Robbie started by saying, "We left Slone this morning around five and drove to Newton County, Missouri. Travis Boyette was with us. The trip took just under six hours. With Boyette giving directions, we worked our way through a remote section of the county, along back roads, then dirt trails, then to a place known locally as Roop's Mountain. Secluded, remote, overgrown. Boyette struggled to remember it at times, but eventually led us to the place where he claims he buried Nicole Yarber." Robbie nodded at Carlos, who punched a key on his laptop. At the far end of the room, on a whiteboard, a photo of the overgrown clearing appeared. Robbie continued, "We found the site and began to dig." The next photo was of Aaron Rey and Fred Pryor with shovels. "When Boyette was here in Slone in the fall of 1998, he worked for a company called R. S. McGuire and Sons out of Fort Smith. He kept a large metal box, one that was once used for hydraulic tools, in the back of his truck, and he used it to bury her." Next photo: the top of the orange toolbox. "The soil was not hard, and within ten, maybe fifteen minutes we found this." Next photo: the top half of the toolbox with "R. S. McGuire and Sons" stenciled on it. "As you can see, the toolbox opened from the top with a latch to the side. The latch was secured by a combination lock, which Boyette claimed he bought at a hardware store in Springdale, Arkansas. Boyette remembered the combination and unlocked it." Next photo: Boyette kneeling at the grave, handling the lock. The color drained from Koffee's face, and Kerber had perspiration on his forehead. "When we opened the box, this is what we found." Next photo: the skeleton. "Before we opened it, Boyette told us there would be a wad of clothing next to her head." Next photo: the clothing next to the skull. "He also told us that rolled up in the clothing we would find Nicole's driver's license and a credit card.