And how how do you get her in the water? >> This is Donovan Lewis. Below this bridge lies a creek that Donovan has trudged across to hide a suitcase. Where she >> at? 0920 hours. We have connected to the suitcase. >> It's just laying there. >> A suitcase with his dead girlfriend inside. Behind closed doors, Ania and Donovan's relationship has been spiraling for months, pulling investigators into one of the most tragic domestic dispute cases Michigan has ever seen. I put her that she couldn't do. >> On June 28th, 2018, 24year-old Ania Max's friends and family finally accepted that something was very, very wrong. For 4 days, they hadn't heard a word from her. Not a text, not a call, not a social media post, which was completely unlike Ania, who was a social butterfly. After days of reaching out to every friend or acquaintance they could think of, they knew it was time to speak with the police. One of her close friends called the Kalamazoo Police Department requesting a welfare check on Ania, which led them to her apartment complex, where Ania's close friends waited to meet with police and show them through the apartment along with her roommate Ka. >> It's unlike it's unlikely. >> It's unlikely to just not answer her phone. It sounds like >> it's if anything is going on. I'm like pretty much the only person that she has here besides her family. But like me and her, we have been best friends for 24. I'm only 24, but we have been best friends our entire basically. >> I got friends like that >> and it it's just it's driving me real crazy that if anything was going on, she would call me. If if nobody she would call me. I know for a fact. Police get a brief background on Aniia and learn that she's far from the type to run away. Dedicated and intelligent, Ania had just landed a job working with autistic children, which she balanced alongside getting her psychology degree and participating in her church's choir. She was always busy but always reliable, which has some officers on the scene scratching their heads and looking immediately towards foul play. And when you suspect a disappearance is involuntary, the first place to look is always with the boyfriend. Which brings us to Donovan Lewis, Ania's boyfriend of just under a year. When police ask her friend about the relationship, the answer he gives regarding their love isn't exactly glowing. >> Has there been any issues with them that you know of? >> Um, >> yeah. >> There's been several occasions that they went back and forth. >> I know one time the police was called. >> Say escalate the violence. Really? >> Um, >> did you >> He threw water on us several times. He took off in her car when she came out. She was getting ready to talk to him. He wrote her arm up in the window like dragged her down the street. >> Donovan was far from a model boyfriend. And according to Ania's lifelong best friend, he could get physically violent. Just as police are writing their first suspect on their list, Ania's roommate, Kora, arrives to let them inside. >> When was the last time you were you were here before? >> Um, this morning. I came back from work around like 6:00 and I went to the movies and I came back here. >> When's the last time you saw her? Um, not before Saturday. I left home for graduation. I graduated this Saturday. >> Correct. >> And then this room right here. >> But someone was here today because they turned on the um the air and they put some clothes in the washer. So when I was going home, like I thought maybe she came. But >> have you seen her boyfriend around here? >> I haven't seen anybody honestly, but I left for the weekend. So I thought maybe she just went home. I really haven't seen her. Nothing looks ordinary in here. Obviously, boyfriend, go check mom's boyfriend's mom's place. Do we have a number phone number for boyfriend? >> Uh, I don't know. >> Probably one in the eyelids, too. Or from him. >> Yeah. Let's check with the roomate. See if he's got >> On the way to check in with the roommate, law enforcement walk by the washer and dryer where they make an unsettling discovery. soaking wet clothes recently washed that belonged to a man. Keep in mind at this point Ania had been missing for 4 days. And that's not the only strange thing waiting to be discovered inside the home. >> Yeah, somebody definitely came in today for sure because the air wasn't on. >> Does her boyfriend ever come over here and do any laundry or anything? >> Yeah, they always do laundry together. >> Okay. >> So, it's not like out of the ordinary. >> Does he have a key? >> I don't think so. That's what I'm saying. Like somebody was scared because I don't think he has a key. Usually if he's coming like we'll leave the I'll leave the door locked like if I know he's he's here or like she'll leave the door locked. So just Cora wasn't home for the entire weekend because she graduated from college and was back home celebrating with her family which meant whatever happened inside the home happened away from the prying eyes of others possibly even behind a locked door. Because in the bathroom detectives make another discovery. >> Can you ask her to use the bathtub in here? >> Hey Jerry, what's up? Can you ask if she uses the bathtub? It's like full of water. >> The bathtub was full of water up to the highest level, but it was undisturbed. There was no blood, no signs of a struggle. It was as if someone had gone to relax in the tub and simply vanished. But something else in the room painted a different story. The fact that the bath mats in the room and the towels that were usually hanging on the rack had all been put into the washer along with the men's clothes. Armed with information about the scene, police leave to go speak to Ania's boyfriend at his mother's home. When they arrive, however, they're told he isn't there. So, they wait. And as they wait, they trade theories on what happened to Aniia. And if you love cops trying to solve crimes just like this one, subscribe so we can keep bringing you more. >> I think it's just a little fishy. >> The only person we haven't talked to. >> Yeah, she's going to end up calling every morning. >> I hope so. >> Where the hell's she been at, though? Both she both her cars are here. Boyfriend has no car. her best friend, her parents, her godsister, >> her pastor, she's been at work. >> And from what other people have said, his boyfriend been around her the last couple days? >> Well, he claims he hasn't seen her since Sunday either. >> What about talk? >> Yeah, I need to get that from him. >> Do you think this is an actual >> an actual >> like an actual missing person? Well, nobody knows where she's at right now. She's missing >> like Okay. Well, I mean, >> do I think that she's endangered? No. >> Absolutely not. >> Uh, we've got nothing to lead us to believe that she's endangered other than the fact that boyfriend was an [ __ ] at one point. >> Is that just a dispute that you were talking about or >> uh I don't know. There's still somebody coming and going from the apartment. That's the weird part. >> Yeah. >> But like roommate hasn't [snorts] seen her in almost a week. >> Yeah. >> I tried to speak to mom. I got to call mom back. Apparently she just called me back. Uh her other male best friend who I think on the other side of things. He hasn't seen her from her. Her roommate hasn't seen her or heard from her since Friday because she was out of town all week. Got any friends for this suspect? >> We haven't got that far yet his friends. I think now I think something fish is going on here. And that something fishy is about to make itself very clear because in the midst of detectives standing outside Donovan's mother's home discussing their thoughts on the case, he suddenly arrives and he has a devastating admission. >> What's going on? >> So we know where is she? boyfriend. Uh, he's recording at 2:35. Where is she? >> You [snorts] got any weapons on you, John? All right, I got to read some stuff to you real quick. Okay, >> just like that, police have their answer. Ania isn't alive. She didn't just run off like one of them believed. She wasn't kidnapped. She had been murdered by the man whom she trusted. But as you're about to see, trust was a constant issue in their relationship. Police quickly read Donovan his rights and cuff him. From >> the beginning, what's going on? Hey, give me one second. Okay. 61 [snorts] standing. >> My last I got back in town about a week ago or three weeks ago on the 16th. I found out I went to work home and I found out they're messing around. Try to get over it. I, you know, told her it's okay. I understand what you did. I respect that you took care of yourself and we move forward and we have a great couple weeks and decent Sunday we had arguments involved since I just moved back so I don't have a job before today or maybe in two weeks I don't know she told me you know not doing enough. I told her I called my dad, asked for some help, whatever. Saturday, Sunday, >> let's have a seat in the back of my car. >> Hey, sit tight. Okay, >> that sigh says everything. But this cop has no idea how much more is left in the story. Wanting to get the admission on camera in the interrogation room, the police quickly transport Donovan to a nearby station for questioning? Because at this point, they have two questions. Why did he kill Ania? And where is she? What's going on? He just had a rough week last week. The car had to pass and back it went flat. It was a slow week. So we had to keep fell in there. Come Sunday [snorts] house. She wanted to church. She went outside the front tire. >> Guess what was doing? The car is just old, the tires are bad or what? [snorts] For the last two weeks since I found out about that, I just been kind of dream whatever she got going on. Oh, and when she got the car, she told me, "I can't can figure out." She told me, you know, she got her car. We got her B car racing. She told me after I kind of gave her I want to have a sit down with her because even picking her up and he threatened pass her the car because she was using her she would say you can't do this to me. How was he using her that they had relationship? >> Yep. >> I went through the phone. Who's the pastor? Which second Baptist right there station? Okay. Pastor I went through her phone before. I didn't even count. So I came back to Coo from Mother's Day and I went through her phone. She tled with me about her phone and she died on my phone kind of got like a few position on her knees and saw it was pastor say everything. She kind of gave up the phone and the man said, "Hey, I'm what is going on?" She nothing she didn't just travel too bus she told me to leave I was sleep going back to where I was going back to anyway like that's crazy she's like that's just too much you think something like that and the whole time she basking and grinning and she gave me the phone she's grinning bing cuz you know, okay, if I do make that accusation, she can have that reaction that she had. Just think about that be when I left. I told you I was working trying to save Indianapolis just in case we didn't work out and I told her she kept telling me she want you know whatever. >> Donovan and Ania had been together for just under a year at the time of her death and for the entirety of their relationship things had been rocky between the pair and also rocky in their independent lives. Ania struggled financially affording college and her apartment rent. And when her car broke down, life became downright impossible for her. So much so that she reached out to the pastor of her longtime family church, Strick Strickland, to ask to borrow his car. Why would a pastor give a young woman his car to borrow? Well, let's just say that allegedly Pastor Strickland was all about sharing. And I ain't just talking about sharing the word of God. >> She think that's the best way out of my hands. uh the very beginning stages of the way at the bottom which is step by step you'll get all your questions answered eventually detectives come in. >> After nearly 30 minutes in the interrogation room, detectives covering the next shift arrived to get down to the basics of why Donovan did what he did and how. >> Hey, how are you? >> Karen, what's your first name? >> Donovan. >> Donovan. >> Hey, I'm Gary. This my partner Gary. Um >> Patty. >> Yeah. I would like you have it. >> How old are you, Donovan? >> 25. >> 25. Okay. What's your ID there for bud? >> This month. >> Oh, you work at Striker. >> Okay. What do you do there? >> I work for Bioan. Bio clean. >> Enviran. >> Envir clean. What do you do for them? >> Oh, okay. Good. Good. How long do you >> much better? >> Year and a half. You said >> week and a half. >> Oh, week and a half. Okay. All right. Um, well, my understanding based on talking to the officer there is that you um want to talk with us. Um, obviously we we just got here, so that's why it took us a little bit. Sorry you had to wait. Okay. Um, but what do you know? What's uh what's going on tonight? >> Just got off work. >> Just probably did what I did. >> What time did you have work? >> 3. >> 3 a.m. >> Okay. Um, where did you go when you left work? >> Who Who are we talking about? What's your name? >> What is it? >> Mac. >> So, tonight when you got there, was Coral home? >> Uh, sure. I just came put the keys down. >> Okay. You have a key to the door, though? >> All right. Um, when you got there, what happened with you and Anniah? >> This happened Sunday. >> This happened Sunday. >> It didn't happen what, an hour ago, 2 hours ago at 3:00 a.m. >> Okay. What happened on Sunday? >> We got a bit of an argument about a bunch of things. What kind of things? >> The main thing was >> getting over her messing around with a basket. >> Oh, okay. So, she's cheating her, >> right? When I found that out 16 video recorded this going through recorded, you know, going through block messages, whatever. I saw him say a few things. one time on the 5th and then another time on the 15th. >> What kind of stuff was he saying? >> Well, one of his statements was I believe on the 5th was trying to give you the best you ever had and then on 15 said, "Hey, I didn't know your phone was off. I guess you had it blocked." So I I understood her doing that while I was away in Indianapolis. But once I was there, I was >> When were you away in Indianapolis? >> I was working with my brother like an internship though. >> Doing what? >> Internship with my brother. Aniia had been attending her church, Second Baptist Church, for several years and knew the pastor Strick Strickland well. And she wasn't the only one. Strick Strickland, which is shockingly his real name, allegedly had very close relationships, specifically with the young men and women in his congregation. In 2020, not long after this case, he was arrested and charged with engaging in sexual relationships with members of his congregation in exchange for money and gifts. And it seems that he began one of those relationships with Ania, who was desperate for cash in order to finish her education and continue living in her apartment. But the depths of their relationship, and what Strickland was doing behind the curtains doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what Donovan here knows. But for him, the texts he saw on Ania's phone from the pastor were enough. Well, I went to her phone. She jumped over her phone, tried to cover it up and she kind of jumped over her phone like defeated position, put on her knees and she got a text message before that. We're kind of arguing about um whatever. I don't remember. But um we're kind of trying to build trust by allowing each other's each other to have each other password for her to jump over her phone and do the extra stuff. I knew something was happening. >> Yeah. >> And I opened the phone and said, "Hey, love." Then um she kind of got in a field position and looked through her phone and said and uh you know held it once she seen that it said something that couldn't be you know totally you know it could have been innocent >> you know it could have been you know but it was 11:30 at night Right. And um she gave me a phone smile and advised me and um I think she knew my reaction was going to be >> and that was Sunday. >> No, that was that weekend. >> Okay. And >> I guess me finding out everything now really my face on me, you know, tell me why would you think I would do that to like this that and the third and she told me get out and she's like I can't talk to you ever again. This is BS and this like I can't believe you say that or believe something like that. I'm just like it's not a big deal. I'm sorry. You know, I won't question you know I mean you again I know how that feels and you do that but talk to him very passionate that way that I was something I just kind of came back. >> Okay. So that was in May you guys had that argument. Did you leave? >> Okay. >> I left. Yeah. >> She didn't like the fact that I left. >> Back in May, nearly 2 months prior to Ania's death, Donovan saw a text on her phone allegedly from Pastor Strickland, referring to her as love. When questioned about that as part of this investigation, Strickland brushed it off by telling police that he wasn't the Pastor Strickland she had been texting. She had actually started an affair with another man and she had put his name in her phone as Pastor Strickland so Donovan wouldn't be suspicious. Dudes will do anything except admit they're cheating, won't they? Because keep in mind, not only was Pastor Strickland uh well, pastor, but he was married. >> So, so the Mother's Day was kind of when you confronted her, just so I'm understanding about this uh pastor. >> Who's the pastor? >> Pastor Strickland. >> Strick Strickland. >> Strickland. Second Baptist Church kind of way behind the bus station. >> Yeah. Okay. Um and so you confronted her in May when right around Mother's Day when all that happened >> and that she drove you over to your mom's. >> Mhm. >> Did you stay at your mom's after that? >> Yes. My mom. >> Do you know how many days or how? >> Sure. But I end up I end up believeing back from my brother. He had um his daughter had a birthday party here. >> Okay. And you rode back to Indianapolis. >> Okay. So then when you're in Indianapolis, what's going on with her? You guys talking or you >> talking back and forth? We >> How do you guys talk? Do you text or? >> Yeah, everything. Together >> on your do do you use like Snapchat or Facebook Messenger or >> uh everything? Really? >> That's how you you don't talk to her in one specific way? >> No. >> All right. Um and so then when do you come home again after Mother's Day? >> I uh came home can't remember exactly definitely the beginning of this month. >> Okay. And you know what month this is right now? >> What month is it? >> June. >> Okay. Um, so you so you come home on June 5th. Where do you go when you come into town? >> Well, she actually came and pick me up. >> Where'd she pick you up at? >> From my brother in Indianapolis. >> Oh, okay. So, she drove you all the way home. >> So, were you guys getting along at that point? >> Pretty much. >> Okay. Um, had the whole strict Strickland thing been resolved at that point or how did you feel? >> Resolved that night when she told me that how could you believe that? How could you believe something like that would happen? So, I let it go. >> Okay. >> And uh, you know, kind of still had, you know, speculation. >> Yeah. So, like I said, um I have videos in my phone, pictures in my phone. >> Do you have your phone on you right now? >> Okay. Um pictures. >> Yeah. What are the videos and pictures of? >> Pictures of um deleted and blocked messages on her phone. She broke her phone and that was one of the thing one of the favorites I guess to me a phone. So you took videos and pictures of her phone. >> Okay. Like screenshots of her phone. >> Video. I got my phone her phone here. >> All right. >> So I have a video picture of >> Okay. Um so what what ends up happening? You know, you get back what you thought June 5th. I mean you guys when do you guys talk about this again or have another conversation about it? got a phone email June 16th. >> What'd you find out? On June 16th. >> That's when I took a big off the phone. >> Okay. >> Is that when you heard about giving you the best you ever had? >> Okay. And that was on the 16th. >> Yes, sir. >> From Gary. >> You don't appreciate the respect. I really did. Thank you. >> So, you um So, on the 16th, you confront her. >> What happens? Basically, she's sleep. I stayed up all night. Kind of just drinking and watching a movie while she's sleeping. She had to go to work. She wakes up. I, you know, in that time while she's sleeping, I'm kind of going through her phone. I kind of stay up and just figure out what I want to do about the situation. Then I kind of let it go. Just talk to my dad. He gave me good advice as part of this. Don't jump off your road, >> right? >> You just move back. >> You know what happened? >> And I'm like, "Yeah, but I've been back since the two days. I see these messages. It's kind of tough." So I, you know, I hold my tongue. When she gets up, she notices her that I'm, you know, shaking up. And I kind of make up the story. I'm shaking up. What' you tell her? >> Um, you told her something about >> just like like I believe it was something about my niece niece is missing. >> Okay. >> You think she believed you? >> She she did believe? >> Yeah. >> So, she called me when she get out and she tells me, "You know what? like I don't know what's going on with you or whatever. You have to be out by the time I get home. I'm like, "Oh, really?" >> Yeah. >> But I kind of ended at it like this is this is messed up. Like what I know is messed up already. I just keep it keep it to myself. Let it go. Let's move forward. But y'all need to leave and you know I can't do this with you. Well, go here, here, here. phone pastor down the phone. She broke her. >> You don't know him? >> I don't >> never met him. >> Never met him. >> Well, I met him. Yes, I have. >> I met him at like a church church event church. Mhm. >> Um, so, uh, moving forward, she gets in the car and she calls me, says that I'm like, "Okay, well, go to your settings, go to live messages and see where I see, you know, do that, you know, and then she kind of just doesn't respond for first few hours." So, I send her the messages. >> Oh, you sent off from your phone. >> I sent her a picture. Mhm. And kind of just kind of like this is why you know this is messed up. I understand what you got to do. You got to get your rent. You got to get you know this that and the third. Um that's fair, you know, because I left. I left town and I was supposed to be there with you. I supposed to give you a four here. And she decided, you know, I'm going to leave this man that do this, that, and third. But >> she told you she wasn't going to see strict anymore. >> Um, no. She kind of just tried to blow it off, not talk about it. >> And uh, you know, it popped up. You know, of course, next time church comes around, couple weeks ago, she went to church and she told me she only wanted to go to church for choir practicing choir. >> And uh she said once he got up to speak, I left. She said, "I want to be there. I want to be around." I'm like, "Okay, it's fair." next week comes around, you know, she wants to go to church still. And I'm like, how could you sit there and listen to a man that for one said to you, you know, how could you listen to a man that does that or say this to you? >> What other stuff did he say to her other than that? >> [snorts] >> Um the main thing was that she told me is that he threatened her. He told her you can't do this to me. You can't black she blackmail basically and said I'll tell if you don't do this you don't pay my rent. Don't help me out. So >> it's important to note that there is no actual proof that Ania was blackmailing Pastor Strickland. At the very least she knew about his history and his desire to convince young members of the church to trust him with gifts, money, and all expense paid trips. Ania took advantage of that by urging Pastor Strickland to help with her rent, fixing her car, and even more. All the while, people lined up in the pews to hear the word from the godly man before them. >> The thing she's been telling me, too, is that he sent she had a flat tire maybe like two months ago, and she said Pastor Strickland helped out. Um, Pastor Strickland wrote a check for her rent. Sorry. from Passion Strickland pay for the trip to Mississippi. >> When did you go to Mississippi? >> The weekend before she came and got me from Indianapolis. >> Okay. So before June 5th, whatever. >> All right. What was the trip to Mississippi about? >> Choir and special guest. I guess he was a special guest. >> Some event they were doing. >> Yes. >> Okay. So you guys talk about that >> him paying for the trip. >> Um and then what what happens next? I mean you guys are obviously this is kind of hanging over your head, right? >> The main thing is that she was like uh the main thing that I was I went through her phone again. I'm like why would you delete the messages if this is the case, right? And she's like, "Well, he has a check, you know, in his name. I went to Mississippi. I didn't pay for any of it." She's like, "Uh, I had his the church card for 3 weeks, you know, and I believe maybe she got a car pay as well. >> Oh, pay her car off." >> Now, as we stated earlier, Ania's car had two flat tires and other mechanical problems. So, Pastor Strickland, out of the kindness of his heart, loaned Ania a car to use, but not just any car, his wife's. And while you may be feeling for the poor woman who had no idea her husband was being unfaithful, maybe hold back those feelings until you hear this. At Strickland's 2020 trial, he admitted that he paid young men from the church to engage with his wife in their marital home. So, allegedly, she wasn't a woman left in the dark. She knew exactly what kind of extracurricular activities the pastor was into. Sunday came, we had a little um argument about getting the car fixed because I'm like, it's been a week. If you had it handle with pastor and you had this loaner car or the church's car, why don't you have it handle? I could have been called my dad and got some money and, you know, promised to pay it back. >> And uh she just wasn't having it. She was she was pissed. She was mad and then she got a lot worse once she went outside and saw the car had two flat tires instead of one. So she comes back in the house and uh she's crying or she starts crying because I'm like let me fix it. Let me do this. She's like no I don't need you to do anything. She starts crying like hysterically like I don't know like she had to be there for some reason almost like she like it was an agreement by her pastor when she wasn't there or something like I don't know >> their meeting at church. I don't know. I was just saying that she was crying. >> Okay. >> For whatever reason for her to cry about, you know, maybe he missed the day at church, >> right? >> Can we go back to obviously um Annayia is no longer with us, correct? >> Okay. And obviously at some point you and her something happened between the two of you. >> Okay. That's kind of what I want to focus on. I get all the other stuff going on and Patty and I both or Karen and I both appreciate this. Okay. We understand how tough this is for you. The important thing now is that we we get a a good idea of what happened. I understand the stress you've been through and and and maybe the way she treated you and some of the things that at your age you shouldn't have to go through. All right? And we can't take that back. But what I do need to know, what we need to know is what happened to Annayia. Okay? And what what occurred between the two of you and and and where she's at now. That's that's kind of that's that's the important things that we need to focus on. Can we do that? What what what happened to her and when did it happen? Is it Sunday? >> Okay. What happened and where? At the apartment. >> At the apartment. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Tell me what happened at the apartment on Sunday. So, basically, you know, we're arguing about uh that situation taking care of the car. So, she's in the tub. >> She's about to She's running her bath water. Um the night before she twisted my hair up. >> Mhm. >> So I'm exhausted because they have to dry it. [snorts] [sighs and gasps] >> So I wake up, she jumps over me. Um we go to the store. I meet her at the store. Um we walk back to the apartment. Oddly enough, like she walked away from me, just walked for it, never waited for me. Um, left the stuff on the counter when she paid for it. I get back to the apartment. I'm still exhausted. I was going to be on my way to my sister's house. I've been drinking already. She bought me a couple beers. So, you know, I drank one, lay down. Um, I feel her over me. She was on my phone and she's sending the video to herself. So I get up like, "What are you doing on my phone?" And she kind of walks way into the bathroom. I'm like, "What are you doing on my phone?" And I look at my phone. I'm like, "Why are you doing this?" And she's like, "The same reason. Everybody like we argue about it." And she's like, "You know, don't worry about it. It's that third. Don't worry about it." And I'm like, and then you know, I press the issue to her like, "Okay, like why would you do that? So she end up telling me I did the same reason why you truth. Then what happens? >> Then um she gets upset. She's like you still worried about this that and the third worried about you not having a situation leave. You know she starts to grab my stuff packet and you know she like I can't believe you know this and third. I can't do this with you. You really show it. I'm not that bad of a person. It's, you know, you can I hit her. >> Okay. How'd you hit her? >> I punched her. >> Where? With your with your left hand there. >> Where? >> In your face. No, I haven't. >> No. I'm kind of panicked then. >> No. and she said unconscious and >> so you knocked her out when you hit her. >> Okay, >> so she's on the ground and you're like, man, this is not good. Then then what happens? You put your hands on her again at some point. >> Tell me about that. I was going in the kitchen. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> In the in the apartment. >> Okay. Where were you at when you hear that she was unc? >> Okay. The bedroom. >> And where? >> Right behind the bed. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, obviously she's there. There's there's obviously a lot of blood. >> And at some point, um, [snorts] you have to do something with the body, correct? >> Okay. And when when did this occur? A >> little bit after five. >> Five. in the morning or 5 in the afternoon. >> 5 in the afternoon is is when >> Okay. So, you've the night in the kitchen and >> in the bedroom >> in the bedroom. Okay. And then what do you do with her? >> I put her in the suitcase. >> What suitcase did you put her in? >> I put her in this big >> big suitcase. >> Okay. I know this isn't easy, but I I I appreciate the support. So, so you put her in a big suitcase and you do what with her? >> Took her out to the trash. >> Took her out to the trash. >> You put her in the trash in the dumpster? >> Okay. Is that where she's at now? >> No. >> Tell me what happens. [snorts] >> I go to my mom's we go. We wait, you know, contact the police. Come here. She >> did you tell your mom what happened? >> So that was this that was this Sunday, right? >> Now, we've dug into Pastor Strickland a lot here because quite frankly, when you take a position dedicated to holiness, you might want to try to follow the rules you're dishing out just a little bit. Instead, he did the opposite. But at the end of the day, it's Donovan who picked up the knife and took Ania's life with it. All because he saw intimate texts on Ania's phone from the pastor. >> How'd you get her out of the car? car roll her >> rolled her. >> She's still suitcase at this time. >> The suitcase has got wheels on it. >> Okay. And so you rolled her out there >> and >> she floated all the way to that point. >> Okay. So you put her in right here then >> closer to the road and then she floated over here. How do you know she floated over there? I got in short. >> Okay. You got into the water and and did you push her down? >> Okay. >> So, I hear it one. >> All right. Did you go have you have you been back to check and make sure that she's there since that day? >> Okay. >> If you if we needed to, and I don't know if we'll need to or not. If we need to, would you be willing to go show us where she's at? I don't think you think >> just be Gary and I. >> And And she's still in the suitcase, right? >> Or not. Or did you take her out of the suitcase? >> She's still >> She's still in the suitcase. Okay. >> Buried. >> What do you mean by that? >> There's a little monk on top of the suitcase. >> Did you put some monk on top suitcase? Okay. >> But as news of Ania's disappearance spread, the place he hid her body seemed less and less secure. >> Did you have to clean up the apartment? cuz I and I'm just I'm just asking because when you we've been doing this a long time so we've seen a lot of different different scenes. Okay. And when you uh when an incident occurs where someone there must have been an awful lot of blood. >> Okay. What kind of are we talking about? A carpeted floor? >> Yes. >> Okay. And is there a tremendous amount of blood on that carpeted floor? >> No, it's just one spot. >> Just one spot. >> Just one spot. And did you clean that spot up or what? >> I tried to. You tried to What did you try to clean it up with? >> What do you mean everything? >> Oh, how big of a spot is it? >> It's not bigger than this piece of paper. >> It's not bigger than this piece of paper. >> Hm. Okay. When you walk in, it'll be right in front. >> When you walk in the door, the main door of the apartment, >> our bedroom door. >> Okay. >> Is that door locked or was that door locked? Is it capable of being locked? >> Okay. Even as forthcoming as Donovan has been, police still have one very big question. How did the fight escalate from Donovan slapping Ania's drink out of her hand to him brutally taking her life? >> Tell me where you're at. Tell me tell me what what what takes you from uh you know face to grabbing a knife and and and >> how much time between the time you face to the time you go in that kitchen and grab and grab that knife? Almost immediately. >> Almost immediately. So you face. She goes down. She's bleeding on the face and you say, "You know what? I'm going to get a knife." >> Okay. So you go in the kitchen, you get a knife, right? Out of what? Is it laying there? Is it a drawer? Where's it at? >> It's on a drying rack. And how how long a knife we talking? We talking a knife this big. We talking a knife >> long paper. >> Long as a paper. So it's a it's a it's a big knife. Okay. You remember what the kind of handle it has on it? >> Black handle. black handle. >> Is it like a knife that's wide like this or is it skinny? >> It's wide. >> It's a wide knife. Okay. So, you grab that knife out of that drying rack and you go back into that bedroom and where is she? >> She's right in front of bed. >> She's right in front of the bed on She's floor. >> She's still on the floor. >> She's still out. >> Is she alive at this point? >> No. >> No. >> No. >> You do something else to her? >> Yeah. So anyway, do you think she's alive at that point or not? >> She was alive. >> She's How do you know if she's alive? >> She was breathing. >> She was breathing. >> Did she say anything to you? >> No. >> With a full confession, police took Donovan to the bridge where he originally tossed Ania from >> suitcase or did you bring her all the way down? >> All the way down. >> All the way down here. Okay. So you you wheel her in the suitcase all the way down here. >> Okay. Can you park back up where the SUV is? >> And how do you how do you >> where the white truck is? >> That way. And how how do you get her in the water? >> You just threw her in the suitcase into the water. Okay. And this is the right spot. >> Okay. Where where do you want these guys to go? >> Straight. >> Straight down. That's sides. The sun's not problem. After several hours, they located the suitcase and removed Ania to be taken to her final resting place. Did >> you get that? You got it. >> Continuing his surprising theme of being upfront, Donovan admitted his guilt and pleaded as such to a charge of seconddegree murder. He was sentenced to 25 to 40 years behind bars as well as an additional 17 months. Why the additional 17 months? Well, because on September 19th, 2018, Donovan scaled two 15-ft tall fences to escape Kalamazoo County Jail. He was found moments after his escape standing on a street in just his underwear and sneakers. Donovan has a chance at life again, but Aniia doesn't. All because he refused to just walk away, and he's not the only one who refuses to stay out of trouble. Ultimately, Strick Strickland was sentenced to just one year behind bars for trafficking charges in 2020. Afterwards, he moved to Mississippi where he became a pastor at a new church, a church that was willing to give him a chance until 2025 when he was arrested for allegedly embezzling $90,000 from them. Our thoughts are with the family of Ania whose life was taken far, far too soon. We hope you enjoyed today's video. 85% of our viewers aren't subscribed, so if this is the kind of content you come back for, just hit subscribe. It's the single biggest thing you can do to support the channel. If you want to keep watching more, check out one of the most intense cases we've ever covered right here.