Melissa Calusinski

More than 19 years have passed since 19-year-old Michelle Lawless was found bludgeoned and shot to death in her car. Some of this stuff's hard to read. And it's still not easy for her best friend to read the cheery diary that Michelle kept the last year of her life.

Melissa Gaines met Michelle when they were high school freshmen in Benton, Missouri.

Melissa Gaines met Michelle when they were high school freshmen in Benton, Missouri.

Melissa Gaines met Michelle when they were high school freshmen in Benton, Missouri.

While Michelle stood barely five feet tall... She was just little bitty. She was tiny. She was no lightweight. She was a green belt in karate, halfway to earning a black belt.

While Michelle stood barely five feet tall... She was just little bitty. She was tiny. She was no lightweight. She was a green belt in karate, halfway to earning a black belt.

While Michelle stood barely five feet tall... She was just little bitty. She was tiny. She was no lightweight. She was a green belt in karate, halfway to earning a black belt.

Which is why what happened in the early morning hours of November 8, 1992 was so unexpected, so shocking. How brutal a murder was this?

Which is why what happened in the early morning hours of November 8, 1992 was so unexpected, so shocking. How brutal a murder was this?

Which is why what happened in the early morning hours of November 8, 1992 was so unexpected, so shocking. How brutal a murder was this?

That's Rick Walder, the man with the mustache. He was a 32-year-old part-time deputy sheriff when he discovered the body of Michelle Lawless.

That's Rick Walder, the man with the mustache. He was a 32-year-old part-time deputy sheriff when he discovered the body of Michelle Lawless.

That's Rick Walder, the man with the mustache. He was a 32-year-old part-time deputy sheriff when he discovered the body of Michelle Lawless.

Police documented the grisly scene using blood evidence to reconstruct Michelle's final terrifying moments.

Police documented the grisly scene using blood evidence to reconstruct Michelle's final terrifying moments.

Police documented the grisly scene using blood evidence to reconstruct Michelle's final terrifying moments.

There was also blood under Michelle's fingernails and marks on her right hand and wrist suggesting she had fought her assailants.

There was also blood under Michelle's fingernails and marks on her right hand and wrist suggesting she had fought her assailants.

There was also blood under Michelle's fingernails and marks on her right hand and wrist suggesting she had fought her assailants.

It wasn't until investigators searched her car and found three spent shell casings from a 380 handgun that they realized Michelle had been shot too.