At 11 p.m. on September 24, 1977, Thomas Kokotajlo commenced his duties as a campus police officer at Trenton State College, now known as The College of New Jersey, located in Ewing.
While conducting his patrol around the campus, Kokotajlo observed a bicycle secured to the railing outside Kendall Hall, which accommodates the Main Stage Theater.

Given that the semester was still a few days away from commencing, Kokotajlo contacted the dispatcher to inquire if anyone was expected to be present in the building that evening. Upon receiving confirmation that no one was scheduled to be there, he proceeded inside to conduct an investigation, noting that the theater was locked and that he had to unlock it to gain entry.

Upon entering the main stage, Kokotajlo initially perceived what appeared to be an individual resting on the stage, leading him to question whether it was a person or merely a prop. As he approached the figure, he noticed a significant amount of blood and quickly discerned that it was indeed a person. The only clue indicating the individual was female was an earring lying on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood.

At that moment, every Ewing police officer on duty that night arrived on the stage, Kokotajlo recounted in the Netflix documentary.