this is "nightline." >> tonight, sick doc? he was a bravo reality tv star, a successful surgeon with an enviable life on social media. now he and his girlfriend charged with drugging and raping two women. >> we've all heard of a wolf dressed up in sheep's clothing. well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctor's clothesing. >> as investigators comb through the evidence, authorities say there could be more victims. plus the release of a kidnapper. it was a story that gripped this man. >> i would do anything to have her back in my arms. >> elizabeth smart abducted from her own bedroom, held captive and abused for nine months. now, one of her captors is being set free. smart now speaking out. >> i believe that she is a danger and a threat to any vulnerable person in our

communities. and "pitch perfect," the 8-year-old girl with a prosthetic hand who reached a major league milestone. "nightline" will be right back.

good evening, and we're going to start here tonight with the horrifying allegations against a couple who seemed to have it all.

a doctor and reality star and his female companion now suspected of picking up women, drugging them, sexually assaulting them and in some cases even videotaping. tonight, the police fear there may be many more victims. here's abc's whit worth. >> reporter: a picture perfect pair seen here in a you tube video she posted enjoying a beach vacation in mexico. he, a handsome bravo reality tv star. >> crossing paths with that perfect someone isn't an easy thing to do and it's definitely much harder than i thought it would be. >> reporter: and popular doctor. >> hi, i'm dr. grant robicheaux, orthopedic surgeon at newport care. >> reporter: she, a gorgeous 31-year-old. >> my name is cerissa reilly and i am pursuing a teaching credential in physical education. >> reporter: together living a seemingly beautiful life under the golden sunshine of newport beach but authorities say this is no california dream story. >> we have all heard of of a

wolf dressed up in sheep's clothing. well, a wolf can wear scrubs or a wolf can be a beautiful woman. >> reporter: dr. grant william robicheaux and his companion, cerissa r riley were arrested lt week for picking up two women, drugging them, and wail assaulting them. one neighbor says they seemed so normal. >> they seemed like a beautiful happy couple. we just see them all the time and they just are beautiful and happy looking and friendly and nice. >> reporter: what's more, authorities are concerned by videos they say the defendants made. >> there are several videos of where the women in the videos appear to be highly intoxicated beyond the ability to consent or resist, and they're barely responsive to the defendants' sexual advances. based on this evidence, we believe that there might be many unidentified victims out there. >> reporter: newport beach police and the orange county district attorney's office announcing today they have

identified two jane doe victims. jane doe number one claims in 2016 the couple invited her to a boat party. she became intoxicated and that's when she was taken to robicheaux's home where she says they drugged and raped her. while she was incapable of resisting. police say the encounter was filmed. later that year, police say jane doe number two drank with the couple at a bar then was taken unconscious to robicheaux's home where the couple sexually assaulted her. she allegedly woke up and screamed for help. a neighbor called the newport beach police department who responded to the scene and investigated. authorities now saying based on the number of videos the couple made, there could be hundreds more jane does. >> we don't know how many victims there might be out there. we don't want this to happen to any other women. >> it is rare but it isn't unheard of that you have a woman being used to bait and lure other women. it lulls a victim into a false sense of security, and so she

may be thinking, well, there are two of them, they're a couple, there is this other woman there, and she will help me. she will protect me. and your defe down. >> reporter: 38-year-old robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon, practiced here at newport care medical group. authorities say he was well known in part to his 2014 appearance on a bravo tv show about online dating. authorities say there's no evidence any of the women on the bro have bravo show were victims of his alleged attacks. he has several videos on youtube and was even named bachelor of the year by orange coast magazine. robicheaux's codefendant was well known in the southern california dance scene. one of thaib their neighbors said he is shocked by the news. >> he's a very nice guy. i know her personally. she's very nice. i know their family. they're all very nice. >> reporter: another neighbor tells a different story. >> my mom told me a story that she heard screaming. i don't want to -- i don't know

if it was a year or two ago -- and the police came and i don't know what came of it. >> reporter: authorities say robicheaux may have a longer history of sexually assaulting women so they're casting a wide net. saying, he graduated from louisiana state university in 2003 and then from medical school there in 2007. completed his residency at uc irvine medical center in 2012 and kplieted a fellowship at new york university hospital for joint diseases in 2013. around the time of the two alleged attacks, the couple partied at various music festivals, including burning man, the dirty bird campout, and the splash house festival. ♪ >> reporter: in his youtube video, robicheaux is seen partying at what appears to be a music festival. >> we know some victims might blame yourself buzz you need to hear this. your conscious decisions to party with these defendants or with anybody using alcohol or

other intoxicating substances does not give them a pass to rape, assault, or have sex with you once you're passt the point of consent. >> because of today's technology, it is a bit easier to find victims. social media can be extremely helpful. the internet can be extremely helpful and the fact that there is videotape of the women is going to be extremely helpful. >> with this announcement, we're hoping that some people see it and say, hey, i was in that circumstance, i was there. i should come forward. >> reporter: the couple denying the charges. their attorney saying tonight they have been aware of these accusations for a number of months and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial. it must be noted that none of the allegations in this matter relate to or concern dr. robicheaux's medical practice or his patients in any way.

robicheaux and riley's arrest last week stemmed from another alleged creime earlier this yea. >> on january 19, they're accused of possessing large quantities of illegal drugs along with two illegal unregistered assault rifles. four other firearms and several large capacity magazines at robicheaux's residence. >> reporter: authorities say the california state medical board does have an open investigation into robicheaux. both robicheaux and riley are now out on bail. >> $100,000 bail for an orthopedic surgeon does sound low to me but what you have to keep in mind is that bail cannot be punitive. the only conditions that need to be met are you have to ensure the safety of the community and you have to ensure that the defendants will return back to the courtroom. >> reporter: if convicted, robicheaux faces 40 years in state prison, riley, 30. >> with good old-fashioned detective work, i think we're going to be hearing from a lot of women and i also think that

because of the climate that we're in, women will want to cooperate. they will want to cooperate. next here, outrage over the release of one of elizabeth smart's kidnappers. why this is happening and why elizabeth smart says wanda is still a danger to society. ♪ ♪ i don't care where we go ♪ and i don't care what we do ♪ just take me with you there are roadside attractions. and then there's our world-famous on-road attraction. the 2019 glc. lease the glc300 for just $469 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. endless shrimp is back at red keep those slobster.min'! with all the shrimp you want, any way you want them.

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next tonight, we turn to an outraged elizabeth smart. 16 years after she was kidnapped at knife point from her bedroom in salt lake city, utah, one of

her kidnappers is now being released from prison. why this is happening is what smart is saying tonight. >> do i believe that she is dangerous? yes. but not just to me. i believe that she is a danger and a threat to any vulnerable person in our community. >> elizabeth smart speaking out, saying her former captor, wandy barzee, is still dangerous. >> she is a woman who had six children and yet could co-conspire to kidnap a 14-year-old girl. >> reporter: barzee, who was convicted of helping to kidnap smart, is being released from prison five years earlier than smart expected. >> outrage growing after the release, the unexpected release from prison of one of elizabeth smart's captors. >> and one of elizabeth smart's kidnappers now hours away from freedom. >> reporter: smart was kidnapped by barzee and her husband, brian david mitchell, 16 years ago, taken at knife point from her bedroom in salt lake city, utah. the dispaerns of the then

14-year-old captured the attention of the nation. thousands of volunteers joined the search. her family made several emotional pleas for her safe return. >> i would do anything to have her back in my arms. >> we have not given up on you, elizabeth. we're going to find you. we love you, elizabeth. >> reporter: but there would be no sign of smart for months. she was held in captivity, physically and psychologically abused. >> wandy barzee saw me as her slave. she called me her hand maiden and she never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known. there were times when, yes, absolutely, she was manipulated by mitchell, but she in her own right abused me just as much as he did. >> reporter: she says she was raped every day by mitchell who threatened her with death if she tried to escape. then on march 12, 2003, nine months after her disappearance, smart was rescued by police officers on a public street. >> the prayers of the world have

brought elizabeth home. >> reporter: but at the time smart was discovered -- >> it feels like you're losing control of everything, you just feel like the world is coming to an end. >> reporter: the fbi was also frantically searching for another missing girl who was kidnapped on her way to the bus in 1991 by phillip and nancy. she was held against her will for 18 years in this shed. she would have two children by her captor. >> the mind manipulation plus the physical abuse i suffered in the beginning, there was no leaving. >> reporter: she spoke with abc's diane sawyer about those dark years in captivity. >> how did you stay sane? >> i don't know. i was still alive. i was still -- there was still hope. >> reporter: beyond the similarities in their trauma, both jc and elizabeth became

known for their strength and perseverance. both are also now staunch advocates for victims. and today, jc spoke out in support of elizabeth smart's protests of wanda barzee's release, pointing to her own abduction as a cautionary tale n. this exclusive statement to abc news, duggard said, i feel deeply for what elizabeth is going through, knowing this dangerous person is free to twauk streets. she says she agrees that wanda barzee is a potential threat to society, adding, she and her husband tried to kid and a half elizabeth's cousin a month after they kidnapped elizabeth. wasn't a lesson learned from my case when phillip was released from prison early in his first rape and kidnapping conviction. he was then free to take me with his wife's help. barzee pled guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transport of a minor in november of 2009. she was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. she later pled guilty but

mentally ill in connection with a plot to kidnap smart's cousin, for which she was sentenced to state prison until 2024. after being released with time served from federal prison in december of 2015, barzee was transferred over to a utah state prison to serve out her state sentence. barzee's husband, brian david mitchell, remains behind bars, serving a life sentence. elizabeth smart's courage was on display to the world during his trial as she delivered emotional testimony, reliving the trauma nearly 8 years after her release. >> i told brian david mitchell today in court that whether he received his just sentence here on earth or after this earth life that one day he will have to be responsible for his actions. >> reporter: since the trial, smart has tried to put the past behind her as she has moved on, getting married and starting a foundation. >> today is the ending of a very long chapter and the beginning

of a very beautiful chapter for me. >> reporter: barzee was at one time expected to be behind bars in that utah state prison until january 2024, but a new ruling by the utah parole board found she was entitled to credit for the years she spent in federal custody. smart is now imploring the board to change their decision. >> that being said, i would urge the powers that be and anyone who works under them to really strongly reconsider this situation, to look at all the facts, look at her mental status, and see if they really and honestly truly feel like she is no longer a threat. >> you have someone that clearly has been diagnosed with suffering from mental illness but hasn't been seeking the mental health help that she needed, and when you have that kind of defendant or parolee on

parole, i think this is of -- this should be of grave concern to the community at large. >> reporter: the utah board of pardons addressed those concerns last week, saying that barzee cannot legally be held any longer, saying, in a statement, this is not an early release. ms. barzee will have spent 15 years in custody, which is the maximum amount of time allowed by her state conviction and sentence. this morning, smart spoke with cbs news about barzee's impending release. >> when you say you think that she's a danger, what do you mean by that? dangerous now? >> well, i know what she was capable of before she was incarcerated. >> so what do you think she would do? >> i don't know. and perhaps that's what worries me. because i know just how bad she really can be. she would encourage him to rape me. she would sit right next to me, like the side of her body would be touching me. >> reporter: barzee's release no doubt reopening old wounds but as the world has seen time and again, it is elizabeth smart's

resilience that shines through. >> i have tried to move on with my life, and i have tried to have a family and everything that was important in my life and at this point, to be so shocked and surprised by the news, are there things that i am concerned about? absolutely. but i also refuse to go back to that state of fear that i felt when i was kidnapped. >> reporter: and always brave, elizabeth smart. up next here, a very different kind of story. eight years old and she's thrown out the opening pitch in all 30 mlb stadiums, but that's not all that is special about this little girl. >> announcer: abc "nightline" sponsored by -- touch shows how we really feel. but does psoriasis ever get in the way? embrace the chance of 100% clear skin with taltz,

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finally here tonight, a little girl whose major league dreams came true. >> send it down to the field for our ceremonial first pitch.

>> haley dawson was born without her middle three fingers but that has not stopped her from pitching in the big leagues. with the help of a 3d printed right hand that lets her grip and throw a baseball, she was able to have her dream season as the first person ever to throw out the first pitch in all 30 major league baseball stadiums. >> i want people to know that if i can do it, you can do it. >> she is incredible. we want to thank you for watching "nightline" tonight as always. we're online 24/7. on our "nightline" facebook page, thank you again for watching. and good night. >> announcer: "nightline," nine emmy nominations. in a year like this with stakes so high, we're honored. abc's "nightline." s "nightline."