Athena! >> That doesn't smell good. >> These officers running a welfare check are instead in for a horrifying discovery. Inside this condo, they find the decomposing body of a missing mother. >> There's a lot of blood. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I was contacted this afternoon >> Okay. >> by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department or District Attorney's Office, I don't remember which one. >> Okay. >> Um your mother's passed away. >> What they don't know yet is that everything is about to circle back to a son who is sitting 2,000 miles away. >> Video surveillance cameras show you going in your mom's apartment when she was murdered. Okay. So, what I'm here to do today to talk to you is tell I already know that you're the one that went there, okay? I need you to help me understand why you did this to your mom. >> But he is secretly guarding an evil conspiracy that they never saw coming. >> Uh >> All these are the same clothes you went there when you killed her? >> Yes. But no, I didn't kill my mom. No. >> Registered nurse, I never showed up for work this morning. >> Oh. >> Um so, get here. We only we know she only has one vehicle registered to her from our information. >> Mhm. >> Um she's not answering the door. We spoke with a neighbor. She said the last time she saw her was 2 days ago, uh but she did hear her yesterday uh speaking Hungarian. She is Hungarian, and that's all she knows. Um >> You have problems with her or anything? >> No. >> She uh >> On October 25th, 2018, California police have arrived at a condo around Grover's Beach. They're running a welfare check on 64-year-old Athena Valentine, a nurse who has not been seen or heard from in over a day. They're met by state corrections officers, colleagues of Athena's, who grew concerned after she never showed up for work. It is supposed to be a quick knock and a quick answer, but the moment they step onto this property, something tells them that this is not going to be either of those things. >> The neighbor said that she has a >> Adam 12, any contacts at this address? Good. >> She said that she has a regular routine. She locks the gate. She's got a small gate out front. Locks it with a padlock. Has a dog that she leaves out front. >> Okay. >> The padlock's not there. It's unsecured. There is no dog. She said that her son lives in the area. We tried contacting him. No answer. >> Okay. >> So >> So no answer with her phone, either? >> No. >> Huh. Any cars that are hers? >> This is her only registered >> yeah? >> Yeah. >> What do you think? >> And that was confirmed by the neighbor as well. She said she drives a white uh >> You guys ran around 28? >> white Jeep No, we haven't ran it. >> Adam 12, 28. What's her name? >> Uh Athena Valentini. But the neighbor knew half of her license plate, so it matches. >> Everything about this scene is off. The car that should be gone is still here. The dog that should be here is gone. And before they even set foot inside the house, it has already started to give its horrifying secrets away. >> Um then uh partner here saw some red red type of substance on the blinds. So I don't know if that'd be enough for you. >> You guys are scaring the [ __ ] out of me. Well, it's good enough if you guys are going to request to check the welfare. >> Yeah. >> I I don't need a warrant. I'm just going Okay. >> No, we're not Technically, we're not authorized to make entry cuz it's >> 10-4. They're requesting check the welfare. Doors unlocked. This one here? >> Yeah. >> You guys yell in there? >> No, we never opened the door. So I don't even know if the deadbolt's on it. That's the only way the door handles are locked. But see here's the the red. Could be paint, could be whatever. Right here. Yeah, I would say there was no dog. Probably walking the dog on a nice day. >> Do you know if she has any weapons or anything? >> No idea. >> No one has walked through that door since Athena went silent. Not a neighbor or any family who cared enough to check sooner. Whatever has been sitting inside that house is about to be found within the next few moments. >> Athena! >> Nothing smoking. Athena, police department! Athena, police department! Yep. 11-44. >> What this detective has found inside is Athena on the floor, unresponsive. Her face slumped against the ground. What he is seeing in this moment is more than terrifying, but he has no idea yet just how far from a simple welfare check he actually is. >> 11-12, code four, 11-44. All right, just don't touch anything, but looks like a lot of pills. Oh, wait, no. There's a lot of blood. >> Yeah? >> Can't really tell for slice marks. Sam 6, uh, do we have a David unit available? >> All right, I'm on my way. >> Okay, um, yeah, I'll finish and then I'll have you guys just stand outside. >> Got it. >> Just, uh, don't leave until I get you guys' info or something and >> Yeah, we're not going to go anywhere. >> Yeah, we're not I'm to touch anything. Looking at that, it's, uh, I can't tell if she herself or something came up. >> Okay. >> 10-9? >> This place is definitely ransacked. >> Copy. Have Charles 1 respond. Okay. We'll just uh we're clear with this. Go and step out. >> All right. >> Uh yeah, don't leave if you don't mind. Let me get your info, but uh >> Oh, we won't go anywhere, but >> Yeah. Uh until we get somebody to move her. I I can't tell how she went. >> Copy. >> So >> I'm going to call. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Fire department? >> You can move your unit up. >> Okay. You got the garage? You want to take the garage? >> Yeah, let's go through there. I don't see the animal. So she's got a kid. She has any problems? DV problems? Anything? >> No, the neighbor just said that uh a lot of homeowners >> I saw her at work yesterday or last night, actually. >> Okay. >> Animal 11, bring a crime scene log. All right, just do that real quick and then let's get up. >> Detectives are sure now that this is not a natural death. And if Athena didn't do this to herself, then somebody walked in here with only one thing on their mind, and it wasn't the valuables. It was Athena, her dog, and her phone. >> All right. Have you guys get out. Technically, you guys are just reporting party. We'll leave it. That way makes it easier for us. No car? >> Negative. Cross there. >> Uh I don't >> Yeah, that's her there in the picture. >> Who is that guy? Her son? >> I'm not sure. >> I would say ransacked, but I don't know what she's ransacking about cuz her even her purse isn't ransacked. So if they're going for valuables >> Okay. >> All right. Um yeah, just wait outside for a few until I pass it up pass this one. Hello. >> Hi. >> Did you know Athena? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm the president of the association. club. >> Uh can my partner speak to you outside in just a minute? >> Sure. >> From there? >> Yeah. >> Do you know if she has relatives? >> She's got a son in Chicago, maybe. >> Do you know how to get a hold of him? >> I do not. She was supposed to leave me a key and contact and all that. She never did. >> When was the last time you talked to her? >> It was probably last week. >> Okay. >> She wasn't feeling well, so >> Did What is What do you mean? Like she was sick at the store? >> I don't go into work, you guys are going to be here." >> Did she say how she didn't feel very well? Like a sickness or flu or >> Um she had nerve damage. I don't remember if it was on her left or right side. >> Oh, okay. >> And uh it got bad in the last >> Being part of an HOA, does she have like a a contract with you guys with like next of kin info or something? Would you mind looking and coming back with that? >> company. >> Yeah, can you do that for me? I really appreciate if you could do that. >> She didn't pass away, did she? >> Yeah. >> Did she really? >> Yeah. >> We've got cameras, but >> Okay. Well, uh >> Look, when was the last time >> If you don't mind, we'll we'll be contacting you in a little bit. >> Yeah. >> Would that be okay? >> Oh god. >> Okay. >> While the investigation begins to take shape, someone has to make the hardest house call. Athena's son, 26-year-old Levente Lazar, 2,000 mi away in Indiana, and is about to find out he no longer has a mother. >> Hello, are you Lazar? Are you Mr. Lazar? >> Yeah, Levente Lazar. >> Okay, is this >> Is Valentine your mother? >> Yes. >> Can we step in and speak to you, please? >> Um my girlfriend lives here, but sure. >> Is it You live here with her, though? >> Yeah, she's here and and a dog. >> Okay, would you mind if I come in? >> Oh, yeah, sure. >> Okay. >> I was contacted this afternoon >> Okay. >> by the St. Louis Bespoke County Sheriff's Department or District Attorney's Office. I don't remember which one. >> Okay. >> Um your mother's passed away. Very very sorry for that, obviously. >> What happened? >> I don't know. They they didn't really give me any details. Um they just asked that we come and make a notification to you. >> Okay. >> And then have you get in touch with them. >> Okay. >> sorry for your loss. >> Thank you so much for the the house call, though. >> Obviously that's a very >> Yeah. >> hard thing to have to deal with, so sorry to have to bring bad news to you. So. >> you so much, though. I really appreciate it. >> Sorry about that. >> Have a wonderful day. >> Thank you. You too. >> While here on this street, detectives are beginning the methodical work of finding out exactly what happened to her. >> I didn't see anything right now, but I'll take another I'll take another look. >> Yeah, he's on the other >> Okay. Thank you. Adam 11, bring me some crime scene tape. >> I have a sister, but she's in Hungary. >> Okay, maybe she wrote it on her paperwork. If you could find that, >> Yeah. >> it'd be helpful. Thank you. >> She's just here. >> Yeah, just come right back and we'll contact you. >> Thanks. I'm going to walk over to the vehicle for a moment. >> Yeah. >> I'll be right back. >> as you guys don't take off until I get your info before you leave. >> All right. >> Just tell Just Just Just tell your supervisor it's suspicious right now. Um I'm going to take her picture >> Yeah. >> just cuz I don't I got gloves. That's hard for me to write. >> Got you, man. >> You got to know her? Did you like cuz No or no or she's just a worker? >> worked around her a couple of times. I said I thought thought I seen her last night and the night before around 10:00. >> I don't see a dog. >> But it could have been a couple days ago. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's what we said when we knocked on the door we didn't hear the >> Well, then again, I mean door things are locked or could have jumped. I mean it's not like I have >> The lock is probably sitting on the thing. I seen the lock sitting on the table. That's probably goes to that frame. >> Hold on, I'm going to take a photo. >> Uh it's because I can't see it. She's got a She's in the upstairs Oh, I'll wait for Miller to get here. Um She's an employee. She's a psych tech. Didn't hear from her a a of days. They have anything out of order and we're just doing a welfare check. Somebody came by and said she has a dog, but we haven't seen it. Her car's out there, which it is, that white one. They saw some blood on the thing right here. Doors are unlocked. They saw some blood on the blinds. No, she's Hungarian. >> Huh? >> Hungarian. >> Hungarian, yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> Is there blood where? >> Um on the on the >> On the inside? >> The inside door. So, anyways, um she's located upstairs. There's a lot of pills around her. >> All right. >> But, she's doubled over and I can't tell if it's sliced marks, but there's a lot of >> I couldn't tell if >> She's like in a prone position. Well, a curled fetal position upstairs. So, they're just You're contacting your boss? >> made contact. He's going to call back. >> Yeah, if you don't mind, just wait out there and and um stop that guy from coming back till I get some kind of something to do. >> trying to leave out of the driveway. Right here. >> Okay. Uh um I really couldn't tell you. I mean at this point it looks like the place has been ransacked. >> It has been? >> It looks, but her purse is right here and it's unopened. And her purse is right here. It's unopened. So, I don't know if you want to be part of the crime scene look now. But, we checked, the dog's not here. Um there's no cars in the garage. Everything Nothing has been touched. We just did a search real quick. Um clothes are like they are. >> Has the coroner been requested yet? >> No, only because I was waiting for help to come in so I can secure the area. Um but I didn't take a photo of it. Basically, she's on a prone position, curled fetal up, kind of >> of her? >> No. >> see before we go in and check everything out. We want to know if >> grab me a camera, then? Might grab a camera. It should be. >> Yeah. Go ahead and photograph everything. Was Was the residence locked? >> 45 minutes. >> No, it wasn't locked. They They tried it before they called us. They just didn't go in. >> These neighbors might seem like a distraction right now, but their statements are about to become the backbone of this entire investigation. Real quick, if this is the kind of content you like, feel free to subscribe. We cover a lot of cases just like this one. Quick pause to let you know about a new project I'm working on, a channel where I'm experimenting with a darker, more cinematic mini docs. Black Archive. It's a bit different, but I think you might like it. The link's in the description. Now, back to the case. >> So, you guys last heard of her from her 2 days ago? >> Yeah, that's um okay. Yeah, >> I think it was like 2 days ago. I saw her like at work, leaving work. >> Uh-huh. Did she say anything or >> It is at this point that detectives learn that Athena had already registered a complaint with the police just 2 days ago. And if this is what they think it is, it might lead to a sudden break through in this case. >> Seem distressed or anything? Fighting with anybody? >> No, I just I didn't I didn't work with her that night. I just seen her when we were leaving work. >> And um off our yard. >> Uh-huh. >> And I seen her walking by. >> Okay. >> I believe that was 2 days ago. Um the neighbor down here, like she said, she seen her like 2 days ago. >> Uh-huh. >> She usually has a dog out front. The gate's usually locked. >> Right. >> None of that was here. Her car was still here. Uh this is white Jeep right here. So, uh like I said, well, she didn't show up to work, no phone call, nothing. So. >> So, we came out for a welfare check. >> That was my watch commander right there. Um he's going to do a check to see what day she worked. >> Okay. >> If she was at work yesterday or or if it was her day off, whatever. So, he's going to call right back. >> All right. >> And then, once we did the welfare check, the uh officer showed up and made entry, and then that's when >> Okay. So, you guys never entered the house or anything like that? >> Yeah, we came in We followed him. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um but the door was unlocked when you guys got here? >> Yeah, I checked the door knob. We never We never opened the door, just checked the just wiggled the door knob to see if it was unlocked. >> Uh-huh. >> You know, for >> Hm. Yeah, her dog is gone. I'm not sure if she would have gave her dog to somebody or left her dog somewhere. Um >> The neighbor at the very end, uh 263, extremely helpful, seems to know a lot about her. >> Okay. >> Um cuz she's the one that gave us the full rundown on how she keeps everything locked, the dog out front when she goes to work. She mean she Oh, she knew half of her license plate number. >> Oh, okay. >> vehicle, so >> At 263? >> As it turns out, the complaint was merely for unauthorized parking. A small, ordinary concern from a woman who had no idea she had only two days left. >> They're They're checking to see when's the last time she was at work, when she was supposed to be at work. Um all they did was a welfare check or come to do a welfare check on her because she didn't didn't show up to work is all they know. >> No history on >> With her? >> Yeah. >> No, the only history I have with her is coming here and she's complaining about people parking in in the front there and um across the street with the neighbors um because she thought the neighbors were drug dealers. >> Yeah, I don't think we're really going to have an idea what happened until the coroner gets here and we get in the back. >> Yeah. I'll check the garage real quick. >> They don't find anything of significance in the garage, either, making this as complicated as it gets, as if someone has been planning this for some time. >> What kind of dog was it? >> It was a little dog, that's all I remember. >> What kind of subject It's interesting is it for the most part everything seems to be neat except for the areas that are torn up. Kind of odd. >> Yeah. >> And the bathroom. I mean, unless she was looking for something. >> This case has become an open can of worms. No signs of struggle or forced entry. Yet, somewhere out there, Athena's dog is still missing. As if even he knows something that detectives don't. >> No mess from the dog. But, they said the neighbor knows a lot about her. And number 263 says that when she goes to work, she leaves the dog outside in the patio area here. >> This is his little uh kingdom, huh? >> Unless the dog's under her. I can't tell. >> So, this is Athena. This is her personal number? This is what we have listed as an emergency contact, which nobody's been answering. This is her supervisor. >> While police are filling out some formalities, one of the officers decided to talk to the neighbor who seemed to know more about Athena than anyone else. A correction officer and one of Athena's colleagues had already spoken to this woman. But, this time the detective investigating this case will walk up to her door. And what he is about to hear is going to leave him shocked. >> Did he just stab her and walk away? >> Yes. >> Okay. Did uh You said she didn't or she never cried. She was nice to you the whole time? >> Yes. >> Uh when you stabbed her, did she ask you why or did she just >> I don't think she expected me to cuz I told her to get down on her knees. And I told her, I said, "Don't get up until you know I'm gone." And that's when everything else went a totally different way. >> I asked the our watch commander, too, cuz he was just on the phone with her to get a copy of her sign-in sign-out sheet. >> Mhm. >> You know, where she actually signs out verifying that she left at 1400. And uh if you want, I can send that to you, too. >> Uh yeah, yeah. Um my email is on there. If you could, I'd appreciate it. My business card. Um >> The neighbor didn't hear anything last night? >> No, I'm going to go talk to her. 45 South 6th Street out contact with a neighbor at 263 South 9th. Hello, Sergeant Ramirez Long Beach PD. >> Mhm. >> I'm trying to get a little more information on your neighbor here at the first apartment. >> Yeah, I just talked to Officer Josh Cook from the Sheriff's Department. >> Uh no, he's with the Corrections. >> Oh, well, it said sheriff on his badge. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, and uh I already gave him all the information. What did you want to know? >> Uh when's the last time you seen her and talked to her? >> It was probably 2 days ago, and I think I heard her either last night or the night before. >> It is what this neighbor says next that makes things a little fuzzy. And it is going to be the very first indication that a dark secret is hiding in plain sight. >> You heard her? >> Yeah, she was talking to someone in Hungarian. I think it was her son. >> Oh, on on a phone or something like that? >> No, in person. >> Okay. >> But her dog's not up up front. She usually leaves her dog, her little beagle, uh out in the front. And he's not out front. She's not out front right now. Her car is here. >> I see that. And it's a little beagle, you said? >> Yeah, a little beagle. I think that's the brand. Anyway, and so um I I'm I'm sure pretty sure I heard her >> Is it brown, white, and black dog? >> It's a a little brown dog. Um she's about um 9 or 10 years old. And she's very well-behaved. >> And usually when she leaves for work, she leaves the dog on the front porch until she gets home. >> Yeah, I just got um a notice from my my neighbor uh Scott Milleroni who lives on the other side. >> Mhm. >> And he said, "Do I have Athena's son's information? She died in her unit and the police are asking." >> Um we think we have information for that, so. >> Okay. >> Do you have his name and information? >> I don't. I'm sorry, I don't. >> Uh what was your name, ma'am? >> My name's Marsha, m a r s h a. >> Mhm. Okay. Thank you very much. >> you're welcome. >> I'll give you a call if we need more information. All right. >> According to Marsha, Athena was well and talking to her son just 1 day before she was found. But Athena's son lives almost an entire country's length away. So either he made a trip nobody knows about or this is the first lie. To find out, they turned to other neighbors. >> But you didn't see her last night or anything? >> No, no. >> Did you hear any fighting or anything like that? Any loud noises? >> No, cuz I work till uh 9:00 and and and yeah, I don't I I And she never leaves the truck in in there. She always put her his car inside the garage, but night >> So she never does she never >> leaves uh she put on the day, but on the night she always put inside of the garage. >> Oh, I get it. >> Last night is is is there cuz we uh I park that way cuz there's no parking here, but yeah, there's only >> Other than that, did you see anybody around other than her? >> No. >> What? >> Apart from Marsha, no one has seen Athena talking to anyone in Hungarian or has seen her son around. But there is one detail that is going to the detectives, exactly the clue they're looking for. >> He's going to call the detectives >> before we do anything? >> Yeah, he's he's not sure either. >> Okay. Well, there's somebody downstairs here. So, there was an issue at work yesterday. And one of the employees spoke to her last night. Um somebody by the last name of Minky. And we're trying to get a phone number for her, figure out what the heck's going on. Uh they haven't moved her. >> He's going to call the detectives. >> When they go to move her, take pictures, get close up to everything as as you do that. >> Oh, yes. Everything. The house is >> Looks like it is on the outside. >> Clean clean. >> Milford's entry Milford's entry, the the door was unlocked when they got here. Um but the bathroom's torn apart. Those jackets are all thrown down. And the dog was in >> Upon closer inspection of the body, detectives will find that Athena was stabbed more than 10 times. And the wound that took away her life was exactly on the back of her neck. However, just hours before this horror unfolded, somebody from work had talked to her very late at night, which gives a very small window of 8 hours when Athena was attacked and left to die. As devastating as that is, these 8 hours give them their first real lead. A motion-activated camera in Athena's condo recorded a visual on October 24th, turning this case stranger than ever. A figure can be seen holding Athena's dog, who is also named Athena, in their hands and walking into the unknown. Until they find another camera recording the rest of their journey. Another corner street camera shows the figure walking silently with the dog. Dog Athena is not on a leash, giving a major impression that she knew and trusted the person walking with her. Discovering this suspicious footage is only the beginning. Just 5 hours earlier, it captures the same figure walking towards Athena's condo. This is why this case is no less than a can of worms, because they have started to crawl out. There's no stopping these evil secrets. In the footage, the figure is on a phone call, and so is Athena at this exact moment, according to her digital call log. One number sticks out maddeningly frequently, and it is not a local number. It is from Southwest Ohio. Like another crawling worm, this number would lead the detectives right into the CCTV footage of the store from where this burner phone was bought. The phone was bought in Indiana by none other than the prodigal son, Levente, and it registers the location moving all the way to Grover Beach on October 24th, the day Athena was killed. Levente might have thought he made a master plan, but it does not take them much time before they find more evidence against him, like the pictures of his Jeep, which are clearly not from Indiana, as he suggested. Investigators immediately bring Levente in the hot seat of interrogation. But if his plan lacked creativity, this interrogation is allergic to rationality. This might as well be one of the most ridiculous interrogations in history. For under clean designs with a criminal twist, you want to check out what's live right now on strangerlabel.com. From heavyweight t-shirts and hoodies to tank tops and sweatshirts, it's all made for fans of mystery, suspense, and everything in between. Take a minute, browse over at strangerlabel.com. Now, let's get back to the case. >> They had They have what's called a license plate reader. Okay. And when the license plate gets scanned on that as you're driving down the road, it takes a picture of your car. Okay? And the picture it took in Texas and in Arizona and California is a picture of your car. >> I was not in California this year. All right, except in January. >> Listen to me, Lupe. >> I'm listening. >> Okay? All those records clearly show it was your Jeep. Okay? There's videos from surveillance cameras on your mom's apartment. Did you know that? >> I did not. >> The video surveillance cameras show you going in your mom's apartment when she was murdered. Okay? So, what I'm here to do today to talk to you is about I already know that you're the one that went there. Okay? I need you to help me understand why you did this to your mom. >> I didn't do anything to my mom. >> Lupe, it's it's clear to me. There's clear as day, unfortunately. We went bought that phone at Best Buy. You're on video there buying that phone, the Cricket Wireless phone that you used during this trip. I have you on video there. I have you video on your mom's house. I have video afterwards with Athena leaving. Okay? >> Casey, I >> You have to accept We're past that part, okay? I know it's tough. This is something that's been hard to talk about, but >> No, there's nothing hard to talk about. It it it's the fact that I didn't >> Explain to me why why you killed your mom. >> I didn't >> Did something happen there? You know what I've looked into Listen to me for a minute. Do you know what I've looked into? It sounds to me like your mom was kind of a taskmaster and she you know, I know she >> Everything about this scene is off. The car that should be gone is still here. The dog that should be here is gone. >> No, but >> And before they even set foot inside the house, it's already started to give its horrifying secrets away. Growing up, how >> You You had a tough childhood, okay? And I know that you know you guys moved here, you lost your father. >> Casey She had many different men. Since I was 18, since 2010, I've been independent. I have never relied on her financially. Emotionally, I mean we've shared bonds, but that was it. Like she She never controlled what I went to Davis, when I switched majors. She wanted me to be a doctor. I wanted to be a historian at the time. >> This is a perfect moment to let you know that he, in reality, has never worked a day in his life. What makes it probably worse is that the detective did not ask him about the finances, but that is how he has begun, only giving a hint of what ugly secrets lie beneath. >> I >> Well, there had to be something to where >> No, she No. >> No, listen to me. It's clearly there. That you inherited this, so help me understand why, okay? >> look look. When I spoke to Terry, Terry >> Let me Let me show you a couple things, right? Okay? Just so you know. Okay, here's Okay, here's her trust, right? >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> And this goes into explaining that um you are her sole heir, so you do get all her property. >> But I didn't even know about this. I mean, I knew she she wrote one up, or she she talked to attorneys, but I didn't know about this. >> Okay. Let me show you a few things here, okay? So we can get past that part, cuz it's it's more about why, okay? >> It's not about why. >> Okay. Okay. >> I I understand what you are saying. >> This is your house right here, where this is. This is your mom's house. >> Yes. >> Okay? You understand that her at your on the 24th of October. >> not in her house. Of October of this year, I was not. >> Lamente, do you see what I'm showing you? Do you want to see more? >> Yeah. >> The pictures of your Jeep was taken all along your route with you in it. Okay? The video at your mom's house show you driving by at 3:30 that afternoon, okay, in your Jeep. Okay? Okay. So, >> [clears throat] >> understand what all this says is that you were. So, for you to sit here and tell me that makes zero sense and it doesn't look, you know, good for you. Okay? What I'm trying to understand is did something happen when you were there that caused a struggle with your mom? Were you just mad at her? Was Are you trying Do you need money? >> No. I don't I don't need money. >> So, what happened? >> I don't need any money. Now, that is probably something Lamente cannot tell the IRS, to which he owes 200 grand. He has an education loan, apart from bad financial decisions like using 50 grand in trading. What he does not understand is that the police know his financial health and they see a motive. >> Tell me what happened. That's the only way we're going to understand this a little bit better cuz you seem like a very intelligent, smart, and a nice person and something had to have happened that day. We all make mistakes. >> No. But, I mean I understand everybody makes mistakes, but no, I >> Hey, first of all, >> first of all, you know, as you as you pointed out, I I had a rough [clears throat] childhood, but you know what? I've always had my mom. Always had my mom. She was the on number one person, with the exception of the dog, that I could go to. >> Mhm. >> There's no reason for me to hurt her. I never hurt her. I never did. I If anything, I went out of my way to help her all the time. There's no >> Can you explain this? >> I cannot. I absolutely cannot, but I did not do anything to her. I really didn't. I promise >> Do you Do you understand that there was video surveillance? >> Levente's promise is only worth as much as toy money in a toy world. At this point, his silly excuses go up to a level where he may ask leniency because he had to travel 2,000 miles to kill his mom and back in only 2 days. >> I watched you go in and out of the house. I watched you Your mom actually had a a video surveillance at her house cuz she was worried about the transients. >> Okay. >> You okay? It's I I watched you do it. Okay? >> What do you mean you watched me do it? I didn't do anything. Casey >> Help me explain why. >> Why? Why what? >> What happened that day? What happened in your life around that time that where you decided >> Nothing. >> to do this. >> Nothing. >> Was it a spur of the moment? So, your mom You called her that day several times and she actually [clears throat] told her friends about it and left voicemails about talking to you >> Yeah. >> on the 24th. >> Yeah, I spoke to her. >> You told me earlier that you didn't. You said on the 26th. >> Any >> No, no, no, but you had called her from the phone that you bought at Best Buy. >> No, I didn't. I only have one phone. I >> Well >> I only have one phone, Casey. >> Did you not buy a phone a phone at Best Buy? >> No. I did not. I did not. >> Do you want me to show you the video of it? >> I didn't. >> Do you want me to show you the video of it? >> Sure. >> Okay. So, I can look at it exactly where you were along this route. >> You've shown me that map. before. understand, Casey. >> going to I'm going to I'm going to show you the other stuff. I'm I'm asking for your help here, okay? >> Why don't you Is there a way to to see You're accusing me of hurting my own mom. >> Well, do you understand why? >> Because of a map, of a phone, and another phone traveling >> of you at her house, walking in the house, walking out with the dog, okay? I know this. Where's Athena? >> I don't have Athena. >> Where is she? >> I don't know because I haven't >> leave her there? Is she still alive? >> I don't have to talk. I don't know if she's alive. I haven't seen the dog or my mom since January. Casey, I didn't. >> Okay. >> Look, I I've been I've been open with you with everything. >> Athena has left her son a will of dreams, including her second condo, which is rented at the moment, including her retirement funds, and that is something the detective highlights to Levente. >> I didn't even know that she left this to me because she said she was going to leave it for Judith, for Yudi. Um It's not the dog. I don't want the dog. >> Okay. >> What is there? >> What is it? >> I There isn't anything. I'm trying to lay it down for you so you could see that there is literally nothing. I had a a good relationship with my mom. Look at the text messages. If you could contact AT&T, why don't you read like the conversations I've had with her? Why don't you Okay, why don't you see the long phone calls I've had with her? Why don't you talk to Joseph or Carrie or anybody about my relationship with my mom? >> At some point during this interrogation, Levente finally agreed to having been in California. But something else troubles him more than being accused of murder. >> But I didn't go see my mom. I didn't see her. I drove by her place. I went to Los Angeles to and I can prove it to you. I can show it to you. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um to buy marijuana. >> Okay. That's why you came to California. >> I know it sounds ridiculous. I think you could understand why I was hesitant, why I didn't say all that in California. Because I'm crossing I'm crossing state lines with weed. >> Is that Is that really the thing that you think I'm here for? If this story you just told me is true, >> Yeah. >> you would have told me that. >> No, because >> Correct? >> And in Levente's world, moving weed might be a little more offensive than murdering your mother. Something clearly new to the detective. >> I'm getting a lot of trouble for that. If I told you that, even if it was not related, I would still get in trouble for that. >> Why? >> Because I'm breaking the law. >> What law are you breaking? >> Crossing state lines with marijuana. >> That's a law? >> I mean, it Yes, it is. >> Okay. >> In the next moment, irony hits hard when Levente talks about the ridiculousness of this interrogation. >> These are the same clothes you wore when you went there when you killed her? >> Yes. No, I didn't kill my mom. No. I These are the clothes that I wore to California. For you to even say such a thing is kind of ridiculous. You guys don't know what is happening. >> Really? >> And if you're really wasting your time with me, >> No, I wouldn't I wouldn't do that. >> No, not wasting my time, but wasting your time with me. >> No, I wouldn't do that either. >> What I'm imagining right now is that you already have have a bunch of [clears throat] cops at my girlfriend's and my house going through our [ __ ] And she's going to come home after a long day of work. She wants to play with the pups, and guess what? She's going to come home to that. I can move on. It's not a big deal. There's a million fish out there. But damn, man. >> [clears throat] >> For personal reasons. >> Like what? >> Personal reasons. >> Can you explain that to me? >> No, because it has nothing to do with this. >> And so, the interrogation comes to an end. But without a confession. Which may not be required after all with the kind of planning Levente has done. To make it worse, shortly after this interrogation, Levente's Google searches are found to be about the other condo his mother owned and the money it could make if sold. These searches get graver. How to kill somebody. How long to wait after someone's death to get their condo. Naming only a few. But the most disturbing of all might be Levente Lazar suspect Grover Beach, Grover Beach murder etc. It was searched 45 minutes before his mother was discovered dead. On December 11th, 2019, Levente Laszlo Lazar was sentenced. >> The matter of the people of the state of California versus Levente Laszlo Lazar. Probation is denied. Defendant The defendant will be sentenced to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations as follows. For his conviction on 10/21/2019 by jury's verdict of guilty as to count one in violation of Penal Code section 187 (a), willful, deliberate, premeditated murder in the first degree, a felony. And with the true finding that the murder was carried out for financial gain pursuant to Penal Code section (1), the defendant is sentenced to serve life in the state prison without the possibility of parole. >> A lot of what happened inside Athena's condo remains a mystery. The whereabouts of Athena's pet, Athena, remain unknown. That's where we end this video. If you'd like today's video, then drop a line. And if you want to support the channel even further, you can check out my Patreon link in the description below. Thanks for watching. I'll see you in the next one.