All right. So, you stab her. You don't know how many times you stab her. Okay. She's just alive. Okay. >> This is 27year-old Steven Joseph Cousins. >> What What did you do? >> Used the towels to wipe the floors and everything. Took the bed sheets and wrapped her. >> Okay. >> And then I >> Okay. And you did that >> just 6 hours ago. Police discovered her 26-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer, brutally stabbed and deceased in a hotel room. >> You got a drugy party girl that just did too much test your stuff and somebody did something. I mean, she's always up here making a fool of herself. That's all I know. >> In a few hours of investigation, detectives would uncover a chilling truth with Steven at the center of it all. >> Why'd you wrap her in the sheet? There's one part of this that doesn't make sense to me. On August 28th, 2022, a chilling 911 call led officers to a motel in Bradenton, Florida. Inside a room, housekeeping staff had discovered a body wrapped in a sheet and hidden beneath a bed. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Jennifer Perglesi, but her boyfriend of nearly a year, Steven Cousins, was nowhere to be found, which immediately made him the prime suspect. And it wouldn't take long for investigators to uncover a crucial clue. Oh man, >> under the bed. >> Yeah. >> Oh, sweet Jesus. >> Oh, Jesus. >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. Might as well get out of there. >> All right, guys. Why don't you stand? Don't touch anything. >> Might try to clean up this bleach in there. >> 104. >> It looks like she might have been stabbed. Okay. >> I don't want to go in the scene. She's wrapped up in a sheet. There's blood underneath her. >> I don't think natural people die that way. >> I might as well just take the single pipe out and figure it out from there. >> Oh, thank you. >> Did you hear anything last night or last couple days over here? Only when they're so drunk are so [ __ ] out of their head. You can tell they're no big drugs cuz they're like fall down the steps. >> Can we just talk for a minute? >> I really don't have anything to say. >> Can you give us a description of the other person she was with? >> Oh, I didn't even know. You have a she is a problem. >> Well, you said there was two people, right? I'm assuming >> they stayed in that room. Yeah, >> there was a whole lot of people. >> Whole lot of people. So, it's been pretty much in and out. >> She's the rank of description. You got a druggie party girl that just did too much trashy stuff and somebody did something. >> I mean, she's always up here making a fool of herself. That's all I know. >> Did you Was she with anybody? >> Overall, a holy sit outside of report. >> Okay. So, >> did did you guys see her with anybody else yesterday or >> I didn't see her with anybody? >> Nobody. And you didn't hear >> only just with that one young boy. >> One young boy. >> Do you know his name? You know what he looks like? >> Skin like I don't know. >> Blonde hair, black hair, >> brown, >> brown, >> white male. I want to show other people's brown, but I just like I don't want to give you my brown. I don't care. >> Um, >> all I know is that some young dude, >> is it a white male, black male, Hispanic? >> White guy. >> But then you see white guys, you see black guys. You see >> undeniably there's guys coming all the time. >> Undeniably, there's guys like on a consistent basis. >> Do you remember how tall he is roughly? 5'8 59 probably >> 5'8 5'9 >> probably 5'8 >> that's like 6 foot that's not right >> how much do you think you weigh 180 >> 180 any scars or marks or tattoos >> not to my knowledge but I think he has like a little beard >> a little bor like not >> lighter than yours >> not clean shaven basically it's a little scrumpy >> does he look homeless >> looks like he's whacked out on drugs buy out on drugs. >> That's why I always take my nose just to just stay in here. >> I get it. >> So, basically, it's pretty much always a ruckus over here. >> Yeah. >> I've known her I've known her since I was like 10 years old. >> Okay. Um she was super skinny. She was she's been in jail for the last month. Um I saw her like this morning and she Okay. So that might be her 218. Uh the female in there, she's been staying here for 2 months. Her son's been staying at 219 for 2 months as well. Female 216 is not here last night. Her boyfriend has been staying here for longer, but he's not here yet. She was here since 9. >> It's kind of like his, but a little bit patchier. >> A little patchier. a little bit past you. It's about that length. >> So, he has a full beard, but short. Very, very, very >> The dong squad immediately started combing through the area looking for Steven. It didn't take much time to pin him down. >> Looking for him in here. All right. Nice. Show me your hands, bro. Show them your hands. Come out. Come out now. Come on out. Walk. Walk to me now. Walk up. >> He's sitting right here. Make sure you got your hands in view. >> You got them. Hey. Hey. >> No. Come here. Right to. Hey. Hey. Boss, do you want to go? >> Hey, get pick that up for me. The moment officers caught the prime suspect of the case, he was quickly taken into questioning. >> What do you what is it you think you're here for? >> Okay. And who who is the person that you murdered? >> Okay. All right. Just tell us what happened. We have a pretty good timeline, but just break it down for us. Me and her were arguing because she says that I was cheating on her with an invisible woman. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And she tried to stab me. >> Okay. >> Let me see what you got there. >> No, don't take them off. Is that That's what that is. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. We'll look at them later. That's fine. >> And where did this happen at? >> Hotel. >> Okay. Is that the American >> America's best value? best best value and then that's over there by McDonald's and Starbucks and all that. >> Yeah. >> Waff House. Okay. And when did this happen? This was >> um like early like um evening. >> Okay. So this is Sunday. So early evening yesterday, Saturday. If you had to get sun still up or down, do you remember still light outside? Okay. So before say 8:30 p.m. Okay. Do you do you roughly know what time? >> 7. >> 7ish. Okay. So obviously you and Jennifer, you're at the hotel, right? You're in the room. And what are you doing when this starts? >> She was getting home. Correct. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. And you were doing what? >> Laying in bed. >> You were laying in bed. Okay. And is she she in the same bed with you? Okay. And there are two beds in the room. Okay. One closest to the door or the one closest to the bathroom? >> Okay. So, you're laying in bed. She's laying in bed. And she starts in with this invisible people. You're having an affair. Okay. And then what happens? >> She tries to attack me cuz she's tired of me being a scumbag. >> Okay. >> And I hit myself. >> Okay. And describe that. What what happened? >> Well, I pushed her off and I got the knife. >> Okay. All right. [snorts] And what kind of knife? >> Like a fixed blade or one that you flip open? >> Flip open. Do you can you describe it? >> So it's not a Is that That's the whole knife or is that the blade? >> The whole knife. >> That's what color? >> Black. >> Black. Okay, I'm going to take a couple notes just Okay. >> How many times you think you stabbed? >> Recall. A lot. >> A lot. Okay. >> Okay. Do you remember where you stabbed her? I know you said a lot. >> In the neck. Okay. Okay. So, what's going on in this in this moment? Okay. So, you've you've disarmed her. She's tried to stab you. You've disarmed her. She is uh you you now have the knife. Okay. And are we on the bed still? You're on the floor. Where at? Between >> In between the beds. >> In between the beds. Okay. And you're on top of her at this point. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And what is she wearing? Uh, she had a white shirt on. >> Okay. >> And shorts. >> White shirt and shorts. Okay. And what are you wearing? >> Um, camo gym shorts. And I don't think I had a shirt on. >> Okay. What are gym shorts? Are they like the spandex? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. All right. So, you stab her. You don't know how many times you stabbed her. Okay. But he's just a lot. Okay. So, how and I know this is kind of a weird question. I understand that you're probably in a little bit of shock at this point. And how long did this confrontation go on? >> 5 minutes. >> 5 minutes. Okay. And is that from the time that she tried to attack you or is that from the time she started accusing you? >> Attacking. >> Attacking you. Okay. Okay. Then what happened? >> I was scared. >> I I think that's fair. I I I think that's fair. Let Let me ask you a question because we're not trying to We're not trying to paint you as a terrible person. Okay. When you woke up Saturday morning, did you plan on killing Jennifer? Okay. Have you guys fought before? And is Jennifer a physical person? Get go handsy. Get handsy with you. Okay. And what about you with her previously? Have you guys had not that this matters, but have you guys had >> confrontation before? >> Okay. Physical >> domestics. >> Domestics, right? That's >> in the Yeah. Yeah. So, that's an all in one thing. >> How long you two were you two together? >> Two years. >> Two years. And how long have you been together? Like at the hotel? Not that hotel, but two years you've been together together. So no matter where you were, you were together unless somebody went to jail. Okay. All right. Okay. So what happens after I took a shower cover? >> Okay. Did you call anybody? No. >> Was anybody else there? Okay. What happened after you took a shower? Where'd you go? >> Just walked around. >> Okay. >> All right. So, you you went back to the room. Were you still alone? >> Okay. And then what'd you do? >> I tried to cover it up. >> Okay. Describe to me. So, you tried to cover it up. What does that mean? >> Tried. Okay. All right. And what what did you do? He used the towels to wipe the floors and everything. Took the bed sheets and wrapped her. >> Okay. >> And then I stuffed her under the bed. >> Okay. And you did that >> one closest to the door, >> right? And you did that by yourself. Okay. And did you use a cleaner? No. So, we found a bottle of fabuloso in there. >> That's from the cleaner we use. >> They're saying it's not theirs. >> It's not mine. >> Okay. All right. I believe you. And was it Tide? >> Tide. Yeah, there's Tide. >> Was that yours? >> Water, too. >> That was your Yeah. Okay. So, you didn't use anything to try to clean up. You just water >> and towels. >> Towels. Did you use any clothing? Did you throw any clothing out when you were done? Because the room looks vacant, right? So, did you have clothing in there and Jennifer had clothing in there? >> Okay. So, obviously you took your stuff with you. And where's your clothing? >> I was. >> Okay. Once you went out, you you got rid of the clothes and the towels that you used to clean up. And what did you do with her stuff? >> Um, most of it I just packed away in a bag. >> Okay. >> Like I put it with my stuff. >> With your stuff. Okay. Did she have shoes? >> Yeah. >> In the room. What did you do with the shoes? >> Packed them with my stuff. >> Packed them up. Okay. So, we found some shoes in a garbage can right outside the door that have blood on them. Is that Some of that went in there, but your clothing didn't. >> Okay. So, what how long were you out walking? What time you think you got back to the room? >> Um, 7:30. >> Okay. So, you weren't gone long. >> Okay. So, you cleaned up. >> I was scared someone was going to come to the room or something. >> Right. Okay. So, some people talked about hearing like some banging and yelling between like 1:30 and 3:00 a.m. We we can't like yelling around 1:30 a.m. and then some banging, not not necessarily yelling, but banging. So, we were just trying to figure out was that in the time period you're cleaning up or you because I think you said you thought you killed her around 7:30. >> I was sleeping at 1:30. You were sleeping. Okay. >> All right. So, you and I'm sorry I didn't write it down. What time do you think this you you said about 7 7:30? >> He said the sun was still up, >> right? So, and then you went out and walked. And when you got back from walking, well, you took a shower. You went out and walked. Tried to clear your head a little bit, I think, and wrap your mind around it. And when you got back, was it dark? No, it was still light out. Okay. All right. How long do you think it took you to get everything done? Her under the bed. Clean up. >> Two hours. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. Remember what you do with a knife? >> Threw it in the lake. >> Threw a knife in the lake. Okay. Which lake >> by Sunny's >> behind the hotel. But >> the one Sunny's the one in the circle. >> Okay. Okay. And whereabouts in the lake, you know, >> where were you standing when you tossed it? Do you remember? >> I threw it out the back window. >> Oh, no [ __ ] That lake that close to the >> Yeah. >> Oh, I had no idea. Okay. >> Did you throw a lighter a ring in the garbage at all? >> A lighter. A ring. Okay. Some some stuff we just found. That's I just asked because >> we had to go through garbage, right? So, we don't know. I mean, we knew the shoes definitely were going to be, you know what I mean? But >> All right. >> So So you can throw the right out. So I actually, >> you know, now that I think about it, yeah, I think I think you can. It's not a big window, but it's it's big enough to throw something out of >> this much space. And I just like that. >> Did you hear it at the water? >> I watched it. >> Oh, did you? Okay. Cuz [snorts] at what point was this? Before, after you cleaned up, or during? >> Before I cleaned up. >> Was it before you left? >> Okay. So, before you took a shower. Okay. Did you Why did you think she was dead? >> So much blood, >> right? Was she Was she talking at any point afterwards? No. Not moving, making any sounds? Nothing. Gurgling. >> Gurgling. Right. Okay. And I would I appreciate your honesty. I would expect you to say that. >> So you got any scratches on you? It's your fault. You come out on you. Like there's stuff on like the back of my neck right here. Okay. Okay. I'm see. So you put those band-aids on. >> Okay. Okay. I see. I see. Yes. Okay. I just think it's a woods. Okay. Yeah. Put it back on now. Probably get you some peroxide. You put some on that. Okay. All right. So, you you went to sleep. So, it took you a couple hours to clean up and then you went to sleep. And what time did you wake up? >> 7:00. >> This morning. Okay. And can you take us through today? I just I started packing up and it was like 10:30 I left 10:30 you left. >> Okay. So you woke up and packed up. Okay. And where'd you go? You just kind of hanging out in the area. Did you go to Walmart? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Was there >> Did you just go into Walmart to cool off or you just >> to avoid the rain? >> Okay. All right. Okay. So, you you left. Obviously, you didn't check out, right? You just you just left. Okay. All right. Was anybody with you at Walmart? >> Yeah, there was a couple. >> Okay. And one of those is >> Lonzo. >> Zo. >> Zo. Yeah. >> Lonzo. >> And Crystal. >> Uh, Emma. >> Emma. >> Okay. Is that Lonzo's girl? >> Mhm. >> Emma. >> Okay. >> You How do you know them? Give me the most 64. How long you been knowing Zo? >> Not that long. >> Not that long. >> I know Z too. >> Yeah. Um, so you met them at Walmart. Did you buy anything while you in there? >> Nope. >> That them? >> Okay. All right. So, help clear this up for me. I'm guessing that to you. Okay. So they What time did you link up with them today? >> 10:30. >> Okay. All right. And then you guys hung out. You at some point you ended up at Walmart. Were you there more than once today at Walmart? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Were they with you both times? >> No. Okay. The last time. >> Yeah. Well, they came with me and then I left and then came back in and then they end up going out the opposite uh exit and I met them over there. >> Okay. All right. So, did somebody come up to the room with you at some point? >> Okay. And when was that? >> Uh this morning. >> Okay. And who was it? >> A guy named Sheree. >> Share. >> Share. Share. Spelled like Sheriff. >> Okay. Share. >> Name sounds. Share. Remember his last name? >> That name is familiar. All right. >> I know he's got a case here. So >> I when you said share name sounds familiar. >> And what time was that you said? >> 8 9:00. >> Okay. What's Sharief's connection? How did he end up at the room? >> Um, I asked him to come over to ride. >> Okay. Were you using a phone? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was it your phone or Jennifer's? >> Jennifer's. Where's her phone? >> They took it. >> Oh, okay. It was on you. Okay. Okay. And did she have a password on it? >> Yeah. >> Can you tell me what it was? >> Um, like >> is it a number? >> No. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, so if I got them little six like this. So if I had one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Which way would it go? Boom. Gotcha. >> Okay. All right. Um, did you tell Sheree what happened? No. Did Sheree help you get rid of anything? No. Okay. And what's this girl's name? Emma. >> Emma was never up there at the room last night or today. And >> yeah, it was up. >> Okay. So, it wasn't up there either. Okay. >> Okay. Did you tell anybody what happened? >> No. You just kept it to yourself. Even when you were with them today, did they know something was up? >> They could kind of tell, >> right? From your demeanor. >> That and then you saw the cops everywhere, >> right? You know, funny story. So, we're out there and the whole time I know you're nearby, right? I'm like, it's bugging me. I'm like, this happened. >> Were you at Chevron? >> No, I was in a pickup truck. >> So, were you talking about Chevron station? >> Yeah, about right in front of Walmart. >> Were you there? >> No. >> Okay. >> But because I knew you were in Walmart at 3 something and then I think you were at Chevron around 4:00 and I'm like, >> "Yeah, I'm like he's around here somewhere." You know, I couldn't figure out I just couldn't find any place you had to go. Right. you didn't really have any transportation. And I figured you had little to no money. And so that's when I I had everybody regroup and I said, "We got to find a guy. He's around here or something." The fact that you didn't run run told me I felt very confident that you were going to own it and you were going to talk to us and cuz you know, even if I thought you were going to be a dick, we'd have still brought you food. Don't get me wrong. I mean, we deal with a lot of terrible people. And I'm not saying you're one because I I think the gravity of this is weighing on you pretty heavy. We get people in here that kill people over a pair of sneakers and it's like they stepped on an ant. You know what I mean? So >> So you you say you have no body here? No, nothing. >> I did. I found your mom, Michelle. Is she local? You just no contact. So, what's your story, man? I got to know because you're you're pretty slim guy. You got a problem with drugs? Okay. How long? >> Most of my life. >> Most of your life. Cuz you were a pretty big dude. One time you looked husky, thick, you know, and you were in the Bridges program >> that that's over in Orlando. Okay. >> Phoenix house. >> Phoenix house. Okay. Is that run by Bridges? >> Cuz I know there's a Bridges over in Orlando. >> Yeah. That now that's a coming out of DOC thing. You never been to prison, right? >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. So, the Phoenix house is for drugs, right? >> What's your drug of choice? >> Heroin. >> Heroin. Fentanyl. >> Man, where did the knife come from? Um, I had it for a while. >> You've had it for a while? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And where was it when she got a hold of it? >> On on the desk next to the TV. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Were you high at the time? Was she Okay. What was she high on? Crack. >> Is that her drug of choice? >> She was smoking crack, but fentanyl is her thing. >> Okay. >> See you shaking. See, I see you shaking. But I want you to eat something cuz you ain't your nerves bad. I I can tell. >> Yeah. Take a drink, man. Your mouth's probably dry as cotton. Why' you wrap her in a sheet? Honest answer. Take a second, man. Yeah. There's one part of this that doesn't make sense to me. And I'm not saying you're lying. I'm saying that I I need some clarification, okay? I'm Look, I'm just going to be honest with you because I told you I wouldn't [ __ ] you, okay? So, I I don't want to even beat around a bush about it. I'm not feeling like you got attacked with the knife. I'm feeling like you did get attacked, but I'm not feeling the knife part of it. Okay. I see the injury to your hand, [snorts] right? But from my experience, okay, it's it's not it's not adding up, okay? And let me just tell you this, there's you've been I I think [snorts] probably one of the most honest people we've interviewed in a long time, except the last guy. That guy was unbelievable. But anyway, so was there obviously there was a fight. Okay, there was a disagreement. There was an argument. There was a something. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that she got out of the bed, went and retrieved your knife, and came back and tried to attack you. And I'm just telling you, I'm not seeing the evidence that that's the way it went down. It feels to me like there was a fight, something did happen, and you snapped. Am I right or wrong? I'm right. Okay. Did she go hand Did she get handsy with you or was she just like a Chihuahua just barking and barking and nipping and you just had enough [snorts] and you you got up and grabbed the knife. Okay. Because you just you were done and the injury on your hand your hand slid down the blade, didn't it? Yeah. Yeah. See, let me open your hand for a minute. [snorts] This these are blade marks. Yours from SL cuz I seen know those two are pretty deep. Which what hand are you? You right. Okay, you're right-handed. >> Stephen, did it ever Don? Did you ever think to call law enforcement? And this isn't there's no right or wrong answer. >> No. >> No. You couldn't undo it. [snorts] >> Would you? If you could. >> Yeah. Let me ask you, have you ever been that I'm going to call it like in a rage. Is that Have you ever been in that place before where you were that angry? How often? >> A lot. >> A lot. So, what made this time different? Was there more to it like to to the fight? Because I'm I'm looking at some of her past like she's so she's she's a working girl, right? Was was there some disagreement over that? No. >> How long you say you've been homeless? >> 17. >> So 7 years. And you how long you been with her? Two years. >> Two years. Yeah. >> So the whole two years y'all been going from place to place. >> Yeah. Some as you said, how do you sustain your habit? Did you? >> Yeah. [snorts] Now, I imagine her prostituting isn't an ideal situation, but is that how does that set with you? >> I don't like it. But but you both had a habit and that was the quickest way to defeat it. So it must have been a real like ying and yang kind of thing in your head. I'm guessing you know like you understand this is how things are but you don't have to like how things are. >> Yeah. >> Let me ask you honest did that send you over the edge? >> No. Okay. >> Okay. So nothing happened in in that regard. This was just she was just she was just on your ass and wouldn't let up >> every day. >> Every day. >> [ __ ] [ __ ] >> Yeah. Like a Chihuahua, you know, like a barking dog nipping at you, you know. I understand. I understand. So, listen, man. Here's the deal, okay? Obviously, you're going to get charged with murder, okay? It's it's going to be seconddegree murder, okay? It's not first degree. Um, you know, obviously, you're not dumb. You know, we recorded all of this and we record that to protect you and us, okay? We're not the judge, >> okay? And we're prison. >> We're not here to Well, we're not But that's not what we do. You know what I mean? That's out of our wheelhouse. Alls we do is we, you know, we put a case together, we find the evidence, okay? We we do the who done it part and the rest is out of our hands. >> Cousins was arrested and charged with seconddegree murder. But prosecutors later escalated it to premeditated first-degree murder, a charge that carried life in prison. Throughout the case, he sat in Manatee County Jail without bail, waiting as the months stretched into years. Then in 2024, Cousins was sentenced to 60 years in state prison, receiving credit for more than 2 years already spent in custody.