Honestly, if you grew up in the mid-2000s, you probably remember the headlines. It was 2006 in Pocatello, Idaho—a place where people usually left their doors unlocked. Then, two sixteen-year-olds named Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik decided they wanted to be "the next famous serial killers." They didn't just stumble into a fight. They planned it. They filmed it. They literally tried to turn a real-life murder into a sequel to the movie Scream.
But here’s the thing: most of the stuff you see on social media today skips the weirdest, most chilling details about how they actually carried it out. It wasn't just a "thrill killing." It was a calculated, cinematic obsession that destroyed a family and left two teenagers rotting in prison for the rest of their lives.
What actually happened on Whispering Cliffs?
Cassie Jo Stoddart was just seventeen. She was house-sitting for her aunt and uncle in a big, isolated house on Whispering Cliffs Drive. It was supposed to be a quiet weekend. She invited her boyfriend, Matt Beckham, over to hang out. She also invited Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik.
They were all "friends," or at least they went to the same high school. Draper and Adamcik showed up around 7:00 PM. They even watched Kill Bill: Vol. 2 together. It seemed normal. Then, about two hours later, Draper and Adamcik said they were leaving to go to the movies.
They didn't go to the movies.
Before they "left," Draper unlocked the basement door. They drove a short distance away, parked the car, changed into dark clothes, and put on white, ghost-like masks. They snuck back into the house through that unlocked basement door while Cassie and Matt were upstairs. They weren't just hiding; they were playing mind games. They went to the circuit breaker and cut the power. They wanted to lure the couple into the dark basement.
It worked, partly. Matt got spooked. He called his mom to ask if he could stay the night because Cassie was scared, but she said no. When Matt left, Cassie was alone. That's when things turned into a nightmare.
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The "Scream" obsession and the tapes
What makes the Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik case different from almost any other juvenile murder is the BRC Tape.
The police found a stash of evidence in Black Rock Canyon. It was a literal "how-to" guide for their crime. On that tape, you can see them sitting in a car, laughing, and planning the "high death count." Draper is seen on camera saying, "We're going to make history." They were obsessed with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. They were obsessed with the fictional killers Billy Loomis and Stu Macher.
They weren't just trying to kill someone; they were trying to be "directors."
The evidence they left behind:
- Two dagger-style knives (one serrated, one smooth).
- Handmade masks and fingerless gloves.
- A "Death List" of other students they planned to target.
- The video of them literally celebrating minutes after the murder.
One of the most disturbing parts of the transcript is when they talk about "natural selection." They sounds like they're reading from a script. They're trying so hard to sound like movie villains that it's almost cringeworthy, if it weren't for the fact that a girl was actually dead.
The legal battle: Life without parole
Both were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Both got life without parole.
Now, this is where the legal nerds get interested. Over the last decade, there’s been a massive shift in how the U.S. treats juvenile offenders. Because of cases like Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for kids are "cruel and unusual."
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Torey Adamcik has been fighting this for years. His lawyers have argued that he wasn't the main "stabber" and that his brain wasn't fully developed. They’ve filed appeal after appeal. In 2017, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the sentence. In 2019, a U.S. District Court rejected his request again. Even as recently as 2022 and 2024, the legal system has basically said the same thing: the crime was so "irreparably corrupt" that the sentence stays.
Brian Draper, on the other hand, actually admitted to the stabbing in later interrogations. He claimed Adamcik told him to "make sure she's dead." In his version of the story, he was under Adamcik's influence. In Adamcik’s version, he barely did anything.
The reality? The autopsy showed Cassie was stabbed about 30 times. Twelve of those wounds were potentially fatal. The forensic experts used the different blade types (serrated vs. smooth) to prove that both boys were actively involved in the attack.
Where are they now?
As of 2026, both men are still incarcerated in Idaho.
- Torey Adamcik is at the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Kuna.
- Brian Draper is also serving his life term within the Idaho Department of Corrections.
There hasn't been a "miracle appeal." The state of Idaho has remained incredibly firm on this. The judge at the original sentencing said he believed they would kill again if they were ever let out. That’s a hard label to shake off.
Why this case still haunts us
Most true crime cases fade away, but Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik stay in the public eye because they represent a specific kind of "digital-age" horror. They didn't just commit a crime; they documented their own descent into psychopathy.
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They weren't "bullied outcasts" in the traditional sense. They were kids who chose a persona. They wanted to be the "Scream Killers" because they thought it would make them famous. In a way, it did, but only as a cautionary tale about the intersection of media obsession and genuine malice.
Actionable insights for true crime followers
If you're following this case or similar ones, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding juvenile justice and "copycat" crimes:
- Check the Transcripts: Don't rely on TikTok clips. Read the actual court transcripts from State v. Adamcik. The nuances of the "conspiracy" charge are where the real legal battles happen.
- Understand Miller v. Alabama: This is the landmark case that changed everything for juvenile lifers. If you want to know if they’ll ever get out, you have to understand how Idaho interprets "irreparable corruption."
- Look at the Forensic Evidence: The use of two different knives was the "smoking gun" that debunked their claims of "just being there." It’s a classic example of how pathology can disprove a defendant's story.
The tragedy of Cassie Jo Stoddart isn't just about the two boys who took her life; it's about a community that lost its sense of safety. Even twenty years later, the name "Whispering Cliffs" still carries a weight in Idaho that's hard to describe.
To stay informed on the latest legal filings, you can monitor the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository, as any new motions for post-conviction relief will be filed there first.
Next Steps for You:
Check out the official court transcripts if you want to see the full BRC Tape dialogue—it is much more extensive and revealing than the snippets usually shown in documentaries.