Honestly, it looked like he was dragging something. In your mind, you know what he was dragging, right? When I look back now, yeah. What was he dragging? I think he was dragging one of them. It's part of an ongoing capital murder investigation which we have two bodies. Capital, that means death penalty, right? You're probably going back to prison. Meet 34-year-old Amanda Nover and her husband Adam Williams. Just moments before this interview, Amanda and Adam were caught on a highway camera driving in a dead couple's car. Now detectives have one question for them both. Why? If you know he committed a crime, that's fine. We need to know it right now. We don't want to find it out later. But this killer couple isn't at all what they seem. Because when one tries to outsmart cops, I'm not going to say anything without a lawyer. and the other pretends to be a victim. I don't know why I didn't do something different about all of it. Detectives will have to dig for every clue they can to find the secrets that Amanda and Adam are so desperately trying to hide. That is until one of them breaks. I think your story is very accurate, but I think you're leaving out something. The only way this works is if you tell me 100% of the truth. I thought And he says that he did what he had to do. James and Michelle Butler were living the dream. After working tirelessly in the US Navy as an air traffic controller, James retired and embarked on the journey of a lifetime with his wife Michelle. The two bought an RV and decided to travel the country, something they had both wanted to do for their entire lives. Tragically, their lives were cut short all because they ran into the wrong people. On October 23rd, 2019, after not hearing from their parents for a week, James and Michelle's five children called police desperate to find out what happened to them. When police arrived at their campsite on Padre Island in Texas, they made a shocking discovery. James and Michelle's bodies buried in a shallow grave along a sand dune. Their camper and truck were nowhere to be seen. That is until their license plate was clocked crossing the border into Mexico and a photo captured the two suspects behind the wheel, Amanda Nover and Adam Curtis Williams. Quickly, police managed to extradite them back to the US and bring them in for questioning. The following footage was kindly provided to us by the Kleberg County Sheriff's Office in Texas. Um obviously, you know you're under arrest. You're You're here at the jail. Um so, we're going to talk to you a little bit. We're going to ask you some questions. You're under arrest on a warrant on a theft warrant out of out of county here. And um I'm handling the investigation related to a capital murder investigation. But because you are under arrest, you have certain rights. I'm going to go ahead and read you those out of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Cuz I You're [clears throat] not from Texas, I understand. So, I just want to make sure you know those. Adam is read his rights and though he's not from Texas, it ain't his first rodeo with the law. Adam previously spent 10 years in prison on drug charges and though that's the only crime he's been convicted of, he has a long list of ones that he has committed. Obviously, we you were arrested yesterday on on the warrant and that warrant was issued out of here. Um it's part of an ongoing uh capital murder investigation or at least a homicide investigation we have two bodies. So, what I want to do today is I want to talk to you. I want to tell you to tell me because we know a bunch of facts about the case, but I've never met you before. I've never seen you. Um I want to know how you got to be in our investigation here today. So, can you fill me in? I don't I don't know your story. So, can you tell me how we got here today? I got a question. Absolutely. Uh capital uh That means death penalty, right? Well, so capital punishment is is is the death penalty. Um the case we call it capital murder because in in our Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and in our our Penal Code, the way you make it to capital is is a whole list of stuff. Maybe because two people were killed in the same criminal incident. We believe that they're killed in the same criminal um event, then that would make it capital. Also, because of uh we think a robbery occurred at the time of the murder, that would make it capital. Um that's not You're not being charged with that. You're charged with theft right now. But that's what the investigation is is at this point. Um obviously, we have a homicide that occurred and we need and we're solving that and that's what I actually want to talk about. But right now, you're being charged with theft and I need to know how you relate in the overall scheme of what happened. Does that make sense? Yeah. Okay. Um I'm not going to say anything without a lawyer. I need to talk to a lawyer this Okay. Do you have a lawyer that that you already hired? No. Okay. So, we'll have one appointed to you. The The court system will appoint you one when we magistrate you this morning. Okay. Um I just want you to consider one thing. Um And we're not going to ask you any questions, just so you know. Um but uh I know you've got a couple of warrants and there's a couple of other things going on in your in your criminal history and you've been to prison. So, um you're probably going back to prison. And I just want you to make some good decisions in your life when you talk to your attorney cuz the next time we talk is going to be post-indictment and your attorney's going to be here and he's going to be representing us. And I'm In that time, I want you to think about it. Um you're going to have to walk the yard in in a prison somewhere. So, um I just want you to think about the the way you handle yourself on this one. With all of his experience, Adam knows right away to invoke his right. Amanda, however, takes a very different approach. One that's going to show just how deviant Adam's behavior is and just how dark the crimes he's committed are. So, Amanda, um you were here on a theft warrant. Yes. Um and you know that you you were actually arrested in uh um a few days ago and got here and we picked you up in the airplane where where you're here now. Um but the theft warrant is based on a large investigation we're doing that involves the homicide that the murder of two people um that we're we're currently working. And um so, um you're not being charged with that, not being accused of that, but your information the crime you're accused of is relating to it. So, what I want to do is I want you to first tell me I want you to start um you are married to uh what's what's your husband's name? Adam Williams. Adam Williams. It's Adam Curtis Williams, correct? Okay. Adam's also in custody and you know that you were arrested together. Okay, what I want you to start with um we need some history on you and Adam and your relationship. So, can you start with when you first met him and then we'll work our way forward and I'm going to have to stop you and ask you to get clarifications. I don't care if you Okay, so tell me about that. Uh so, I first met Adam actually uh through Facebook. Okay. Uh at Facebook and POF. I don't know if you Plenty of Fish. Yes. Uh and he sent me messages and I seen his pictures and he was covered in tattoos and I was like, uh that guy is nothing but trouble, and so I ignored him for a long while and then uh a friend of mine actually knew who he was and said, oh you know, I think he's a good dude. And so, I talked to him and like the first message that I sent to Adam, like he was persistent and he's like, well, I want to meet you. And so, the very like first day of us even talking, he ended up coming to my house in Smithville. Like he was so adamant about it. Like he's that's his presence. He just says something and you just For some reason, you just give in. Like and I didn't even know him and I had a couple of friends at the house though and so, I felt comfortable and like he came over and I met him and he's very He's very like suave, I guess. He's very charismatic. And so, all of his tattoos and everything, you kind of like see through all of that and you see like this other person and everything. And so, he actually came over with his cousin and uh we actually we all ended up hanging out like the entire night and I made him dinner and everything and we hung out and he went home and the next like few days we talked off and on and it just we started to kind of like form a relationship. Like So, I I don't mean to interrupt and I know we we looked >> [clears throat] >> we looked into this. So, the time you're still married to your ex-husband, but you're separated this time. So, about what what time was that? What what Uh around the end of February. End of February of this year, 2019. Yes. Okay. Okay, so go ahead. So, you start forming a relationship. Okay. Um and it honestly, like it just kind of things moved quickly, it seemed. It When we met, he had like this rule that he could see and date anybody he wanted, but I wasn't allowed to. Like that I guess came from spending as much time in prison as he did, but I didn't >> How long was he in prison? Uh 10 years is what I've been told and I I believe roundabout 10 years for uh selling marijuana. For selling marijuana, okay. And so, it was kind of not the greatest in the beginning because like he actually had another girlfriend when we met and she knew about me and I knew about her and everything like that and it wasn't until like a few months after him and I had been seeing each other that he decided that he wanted to be with just me and he made that decision. Like that was his choice to not like see any other women or sleep with any other women or anything like that and came fully devoted to me. What an honor to have a convict and a cheater choose you. It's like winning the world's worst contest. And in this case, worst might be an understatement. Because Amanda here wasn't just putting herself at risk. I guess because he did that, like I don't know maybe in a sense I felt like I owed him something and he'd been asking me to move in with him and I didn't want to because I had my house, I had my space, I had my daughter and my safe place like and that was extremely important to me because all through our like dating time Adam, even though like I don't know if he was allowed to drink or not, but he would get drunk and he would black out and when he'd black out he'd get violent. And he would turn into somebody completely different. It just completely different but when he sobered up he'd be back to himself and he wouldn't remember what happened. And so me selling my home that was like a really hard thing but I'd been a stay-at-home mom for so long and I had just split up with my husband and I was basically living at Adam's and still cuz I had a trailer home I was still paying my pad rent and I didn't quite know how I was going to keep paying pad rent you know being a stay-at-home mom with no job everything like that and so I sold my trailer and I moved in with him and that was like honestly like one of the first things that I regretted mostly because I that was my my safe place. So about when was that? Um I don't even know. I Honestly like because of the last few months like time is just kind of a mess for me. So let's say so you meet the end of February, you date for a month or two before you move in or a week or two how long do you think? Uh it a month or two before I like fully moved in but we started dating and it was like he would spend like three nights at my house and then I'd spend two nights at his and then his other girlfriend would come and spend a night at his house and so it was kind of weird I guess in regards to that but when I sold my place and I fully moved in with him like his he broke it off with his other girlfriend and everything but I'm trying to think. >> That's right. Amanda has a daughter, Ryan. And yet within 1 month of knowing a convicted felon, she moved in with him dragging her daughter along with her. And while Amanda is telling detectives that the man she moved in with willingly ended his relationship with his other girlfriend that's not exactly the case. The relationship ended after he viciously attacked his other girlfriend Stephanie and she filed a police report against him. Something that Amanda found herself doing soon after she moved in with Adam. At the time when you were you said he he was recently out of prison. Um he did not have warrants for his arrest at this time. >> No. Okay. >> No. So tell me kind of how that progresses into how we get to those situations. Um well Adam when we met he liked to drink and [snorts] when he would drink he would black out and he would get violent. And there were a few times that neighbors like heard us fighting and I would try to leave. Remember the like first time well not the first time I don't even actually remember the actual first time that he smacked me. And that was before I sold my trailer actually. And it we were at my my trailer at my house and we had been drinking Ryan was in bed and I I was messaging somebody on my phone and he took my phone from me and got upset about one of the messages and like he smacked me and like he threatened me and told me that he should freaking like make it so my face was unrecognizable and it terrified me. And I honestly like I waited because he held me in the bedroom and I waited until he kind of let his guard down and I grabbed my daughter and I cuz I lived in a trailer park and I ran to my neighbor's house. And he still had my phone at that time. And like I was I was terrified but I didn't want the cops to come and arrest him because like I knew his history and I didn't want him to get in trouble. Like not I guess in accordance to me if that makes any sense and so I because he had my phone I used my neighbor's phone and I called him and I told him I said you need to leave my house like you need to leave. Right now you're at my house you have no right to be there you need to go. And he left and he took my phone with him. And he went back to his house and I I remember like because I still I had my neighbor come back and stay with me cuz I was afraid that he was going to come back. I didn't know. I didn't know him very well at that time like and so she came back and stayed and he kept calling her phone and like the next day he when he sobered up he said he didn't remember anything and that he was so sorry and he at least wanted to bring my phone back and everything like that. So he brought my phone back and like he was crying and telling me how sorry he was and you know that that would never ever happen again and I fell for it like I fell for that and cuz I was done I mean nobody has ever smacked me like that and I'm like uh-uh. But there was something about him like and so I continued to date him. Like and that was the first time and he promised me that nothing would ever happen again. Look, we like to joke on our channel here at the expense of the perpetrators but in this case what we're about to say is deadly serious. If someone tells you that they will never hurt you again they will. For serial domestic violence offenders this is the ultimate get out of jail free card. They do something horrific to you, come groveling back apologizing and showering you with compliments and then the cycle repeats itself on and on and on until you find yourself in a situation like Amanda where over the course of several months Adam racked up battery charges for his attacks on her and actually had a warrant out for his arrest. And what did they do instead of breaking up or facing the warrant? So y'all y'all are and y'all aren't married at that point you're still just dating. Correct. Okay. Did you know when they became warrants or did he know that when he was wanted? Um In regards to the most recent assaults when the officers came and tased him and he fought back yes because the day we got married we didn't do a wedding or anything. We had a few friends over to the house. And um we just signed our marriage certificate. And then took it. He actually So what happened is we signed our marriage certificate had a person that like whatever they're called that can legalize the marriage or whatever he was there and when Adam went to go turn the marriage certificate in and take the gentleman back that was the wedding official or whatever the police showed up and said they had a warrant for his arrest. And so like and literally as he's coming back he sees that there's cops outside the house and he turned around and drives off. And so we got married on August 29th and that's when the officers came in regards to like that assault they had tacked on a new assault and that's what they were there to pick him up on. That was a first degree assault and it not 100% sure like what the backing was for it you know it but they obviously had plenty of backing on that because he got an assault on a police officer an assault by a prisoner. Um he got possession of alcohol by an interdicted person because on his last set of charges his DUI he was told that he couldn't drink. Um he got an intoxication charge. And then I think that there was just a plain assault and I think the just plain assault was supposed to be an assault on me. But I don't I don't know fully like what the whole backing of Okay. that set of charges were. >> So it sounds like Amanda knew exactly what those charges were stemming from every single one of them and the list is long. For the first hour of the interrogation Amanda talks about the toxic relationship she's in which is terrible obviously. No one should be subjected to violence, and Adam's behavior was completely inexcusable. And yet she continuously excuses it, which is a giveaway that their relationship is trapped in this devastating cycle. One that ultimately led to the demise of two innocent people. And as she stated earlier, she wasn't the only one put at risk, which should have been the first sign. There was an incident that was kind of sitting in limbo, I guess, that uh Adam like we were just kind of waiting to see if they were going to file charges on. And that's the the Okay. >> charge. Um I I honestly like I had sold my place and I had moved in with him. And as I was unpacking uh couple of officers came to the house and they said that they wanted to talk to Adam about something. And he didn't have a warrant or anything, but the gal, she had pressed uh like a no contact order, I guess, or protective order, something like that, and uh they wanted to talk to Adam about the incident. And I had no idea, and I asked him what it was about, and they told me, "Well, you'll need to talk to him about >> like we can't disclose that." And so I called him. He was at work, and he started to kind of tell me like you know, well, because of this and this and this, and he told me we'd talk more about it when he got home. Like he actually had like all the paperwork and everything, and he showed it to me, and I remember like I was so mad because he had known about all of this, and he didn't say anything to me. Like and it was it was a big deal. You know, when I read I read her statement and everything like that, and it just it Like I know what I read was true, like what she stated. And like I I don't know that like first hand, I just know that because I mean, he'd done the same thing to me. So what did she say? And what did what did he do to you? What are you talking about? >> [snorts] >> So Adam used to he actually like uh I'm not even going to say used to. Uh sometimes I get really like aggressive during really really aggressive. And you weren't allowed to like say no. Like if if you did, it he would either like try and be like, "Oh, no, no, you know, just just do this, just do this." And it it Honestly like So the incident with this gal happened. And I looked at the date. And what she had put in her report So Adam and I we had gotten into a fight earlier that night because what he did to her he did to me. Like same exact night. >> Same day. Same day. So what what did he do? Tell me tell me. I know it's uncomfortable, but it it's important. Uh Adam sometimes like I said he'd get aggressive like and sometimes like he would like it hurt you. Uh this incident like he used his hand. Mhm. And he made me bleed, like he tore me, and like I still have a scar. And that's the same exact thing that he did to this gal. Like And I it made me so mad because that's the reason I left that night, and he he did it to somebody else, and I didn't even know. Like I had no idea that he called this other girl to come over. >> [snorts] >> Nothing like that. Like I But that's when we were still >> [snorts] >> like not we, when he was still seeing other women. Like and I had to be okay with it. But [snorts] I didn't find out about all of this until after I had moved in, until I sold my trailer and I had moved in. That what he did to me, he did to somebody else the same exact night, probably only few hours later. And she called and pressed charges. Like she went to a doctor and everything like that, and she pressed charges about it. And that's like when I read her statement, like I was just so mad because like I don't know why I why I didn't do something different about all of it. And that honestly, that wasn't even like close to the worst like when it comes to that. Fleeing the charges, the two decided to get a truck and trailer and head south looking for free camping spots to start a new life near the ocean. While they were fleeing the consequences of their actions, Michelle and James Butler were enjoying the fruits of their labor, traveling cross country in the trip of their dreams. The two couples found themselves on the island for very very different reasons. And we'd been here for about a week, but we were completely out of everything. >> [snorts] >> Like there was no gas for our generator. Like we're running out of food. Like everything was tapped. And so when that money got sent like that replenished everything, if that makes sense. Like >> we were able to put gas in the generator, and put gas in the truck, and get smokes, get food, and be okay for a moment. >> And how long did that last? Uh honestly, I don't know because I never You weren't aware of the dates. Okay. >> Well, no, and I also I never had the money. >> He didn't have the money. >> Adam wouldn't let me have the money because I think I think he was afraid that I would take it and leave, if that makes sense. Like >> Okay. You have the means to go at that point. Okay. So you're living You're living on the beach. You've got a little bit of money. Things are going okay. Uh never was okay. >> So when you say never okay, is is he still physically abusive of you at this point? >> It's got extremely bad again. Like he ran out of pot. Okay. And like he would have crazy mood swings again. Mhm. So he's wanted. He's violent. Did he have weapons? Did he have weapons? >> Yeah. Uh at that time, I don't I mean, there were always knives. How about guns? At that time, I don't think that there was. But >> Okay. Hang on, cuz when you say in that time, was there a gun later? Or a gun earlier? What gun? Uh I'm not too extremely familiar with guns? >> I'm not. But uh later it somehow like I do know a gun was acquired. What does it look like? It's a smaller black handgun. Okay. Like >> [snorts] >> and I know this because like I had seen it. Mhm. And like it there were times that he had like left it in an uncomfortable spot for me. Mhm. And I would move it. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. So Brian didn't get it, obviously. No. So when you [snorts] say small black handgun, do you know the difference in a revolver and an automatic? Yes, that I do. >> Is it an automatic or a revolver? >> It's not a revolver. It's a revolver has the The wheel. >> Yeah. That's a cylinder. So it's back and forth. Did A lot of times people refer to them by their caliber. They call them I don't know what caliber Well, like I said, I had moved it uh like that. Yes. Yes, all black. Uh yes. Yes. I might be able to, yes, actually. No, I don't think so. Uh I think I'm actually maybe smaller than that. That, I think. Uh I don't know. I don't know. Honestly, like Yeah. Yes. I don't know. It was honestly like acquired when I think truthfully, when I was at the hospital. No, of course. Um I don't think think I don't think that he is. And if he is, I don't have any knowledge in that. Just marijuana. Actually, no, he ran out of marijuana, so no. Mhm. Not that I seen, not that I knew of. Are you talk associating with any people on the beach? Uh do you have any friends or No. No, there were people like that would stop by and ask like how the tide was. Not that I that I know. Yes, but there's times that like either I'd be sleeping or I'd take Ryan and we go look for seashells. It was like our thing and it got me away from him and In cases like with me being out like looking for seashells truthfully, like sometimes I would walk up and down the beach for a few hours with Ryan. Like The That was the only good thing about being on the beach. No, he didn't. That I do know. Okay. Um All right, so keep going from the beach. Now, where do we go from the beach? So from the beach like I think he did. He always said He had said things like that to me prior. And that's why like I think he sought out a gun. Was because like Is there any way we can take a moment? Is there any way I can have a cigarette? Please. Okay. That's fine. Uh we were talking about how Adam obtained the gun and the reason I wanted to stop is because what I was starting to say wasn't true. Like I know where he got the gun. I do know. He We went to a gun show here in Texas and we were there for honestly hours literally asking everybody. Like he was asking cuz I didn't want any part of it because I just I don't like guns. I'm just not comfortable with guns. I haven't ever been. And nobody would Yes. Uh I was at a small uh kind of like Shriners type thing. Like Okay. Um and we went in there and literally like he played it off that he wanted something for me. And so I was the one that was getting the gun and we looked at so many and literally I swear we asked everybody in there like and nobody would sell a gun to somebody with an ID out of state. And so uh and finally somebody like the very last person that possibly could be asked uh did. And everything was just kind of fuzzy at that point because I was just I didn't want that to happen. Does that make sense? Like I didn't I would every part of me was hoping like and I even I got upset and I went outside I took my daughter outside of like the convention and like just stood out there because I didn't want to be there anymore and I I wanted to leave and he made me go back inside and he was trying to be so nice and so calm about all of it and everything and um we went back inside and we got something to eat and asked a bunch of others and finally one said that they would and like the transaction was so quick like that's why I'm not even honestly sure what like what the gun was because it was Gave him my ID. He took a picture of it. Nothing. No paperwork. Nothing. And Adam handed him the money. I don't remember. Like I really don't like Yes. No, it was it was cash. Because if he got stopped by the cops, he didn't want He didn't want to be arrested. He said that he'd never go back to prison. And so his plan was to shoot it out and I was terrified because all I could think of was what about Ryan and I? Like what are you going to do an officer comes up and you're going to pull a gun and then fire and then they're going to return fire and Ryan and I are going to be like I think so. That I that I really don't know. No, no, as far as I know, no. In regards to that. So >> [snorts] [snorts] >> You were in a 1999 Chevrolet and a 1974 Prowler trailer. And that's not the truck or trailer we arrested you in. No, that's not. So honestly uh we had stayed at the one spot on Padre Island for past the 14 days like well past the 14 days and we drove to the south side and that's when we were stopped because we weren't wearing our seat belts. And we were looking for a new place to move the trailer. You know, a new place to park it. We didn't have anywhere to go. And so Um but I I remember like he stopped and Adam was in the bathroom. And I was doing something in the kitchen. Honestly, I think I was throwing up or something cuz I was still It took quite a few days for this one to clear up and then then it's hit me again in another spot. But um >> [cough and clears throat] >> He said that we needed to move. And so It it that point like we didn't really like have any plan at all. And I told Adam like that we needed to leave and I remember that we got into a really really nasty fight. And so there wasn't anybody camped up from us because I took Ryan and I had put her blankets in my backpack while Adam was in the bathroom. And I started walking up the beach. And like I've literally like I didn't I didn't know what I was going to do. Like I didn't I didn't have a plan. Like I didn't I just I had had enough and I just wanted to get away. I wanted to get away from all of it. I wanted to get away from everything. And so we're walking up the beach and and honestly, I think that Ryan and I had been out there walking for cuz we walked all the way up to the dock. The The boat pier? Yes. Yeah. We'd walked all the way up there. And during that trek from where we were all the way up. Uh somebody stopped and asked if everything was okay. And I asked them if they would take me to the nearest women's shelter. And they Googled it. And they said it was like 30 minutes away and that they couldn't because they didn't have enough time to take Ryan and I there. And then for them to get back. Like I think they were on their break or something. And I was mad. I was really mad cuz it took a lot of guts in my eyes for me to actually ask somebody to take me. Because I I feel if that person would have, I would have finally have gotten away. Like does that make sense? >> Mhm. But he gave me $20 and I took Ryan to the pier and I got her something to eat. I got back in the truck. And [snorts] we went back and we stayed at the uh the laundry mat that night cuz we didn't have any other place to stay. >> [snorts] >> And it just I think that night because well, it it was that night >> [snorts] >> that Adam got the new truck and trailer. And when you say got the new truck and trailer, what do you mean? >> [snorts] >> So this is hard. I understand that. Super important. >> I know. We get to the laundry mat and Adam says that he found a new truck and trailer. Because our truck was literally dying. Like it it the motor was blowing up on it. It was. And so I was like, "Okay. What do you mean?" And he was very vague and he's just like, "Well, I know where a new truck and trailer is and like you don't need to worry about it." And I didn't I didn't quite understand. You know what I mean? Like Later So we're there and like I didn't press the matter or say anything else about him saying about a new truck and trailer and then he says, "Well, I'm going to unhook our trailer. And we're going to go for a ride and you're going to drop me off." And I asked I says, "Why?" And he's like, "Well, I need to go pick up the new truck and trailer." And I'm thinking, "What in the hell?" Now I didn't think that Adam had done anything bad because Adam's like mother is wealthy and she bought the house that Adam and I lived in. And they had been talking about selling the house and sending the money so that we had money. Like and it's a $130,000 house. So I didn't think anything like malicious or anything when Adam said that he had like a new truck and trailer and everything like that. Like I didn't I'd never seen Adam be violent against anybody but me if that makes sense. And like Except for the multiple women he attacked and the numerous people who he beat up in prison. So much so that when asked about prison, he said, "All I wanted to do was work out, get high, and hurt people." I was scared like because why you know, obviously there's not just going to be a truck and trailer sitting there that you purchased. If that makes sense. Did you think he was going to steal one as well? I did. 100% Okay. That I am I'm guilty of. Mhm. But I wouldn't be able to stop him from anything. I just want to say I just want to say cuz when you said you stopped, you said you stopped and you and you stayed there for a minute. So I dropped him off. >> And I just a minute because when you said that, I could see you play it back in your mind and something bothered you about when you stopped there for a minute. Tell me what that is. I had a bad feeling. Okay. He walked up. And then he walked down. And I remember when I cuz I drove down there were there was like it the truck and trailer that we ended up with back like and everything was dark and like you couldn't even like see it very well. But I drove past it. And There's no lights on in it? Mhm. Okay. No. It That's why I didn't think so much about it. And that's why I didn't think that anybody had gotten hurt. Does that make sense? Like Because I mean it wasn't it wasn't super late. It was like 8:00, 9:00 or something. I don't know. But I that's my assumption is that it was around that time. And so >> and what did you do? >> So I drive down and I turn around. And I'm sitting there and I'm I'm just I'm waiting and thinking. And sure enough like because the truck it wasn't hooked up to the trailer. Like the one that we ended up with. They weren't hooked up. And I was kind of watching him and sure enough like he hooks the truck up. And he pulls out. And I'm thinking like holy [ __ ] like he's freaking he's stealing somebody's freaking truck and trailer, like and so I sat there and I and then I followed him. And >> just reminding you that you were Yes. When you took him to go down there, did he have the gun with him? When I took him to go get the truck and trailer? >> I don't know. Okay. That I I really don't know. >> That's fine. And I'm like, well I'm going back now and my adrenaline is pumping because he's in this like truck and he has this trailer that's not ours. And I'm thinking, oh god. Like >> what do y'all do at the laundry mat? So we go back to the laundry mat. And I'm like for real? And he's like, yeah, this is this is what I got us. This is what he kept saying. This is what I got us. And I'm like no, Adam. He's like, well, we need a new truck. No, we're not going to like I didn't I I didn't think, you know, even though he told me, oh yeah, I've got a new truck and trailer and oh yeah, you know, I dropped him off. Like I didn't think that he was doing anything bad until he got in the truck and hooked it up that trailer and then went to drive off and he didn't even know that I hadn't gone back. So then you went What do y'all do at the laundry mat? At the laundry mat he starts taking out everything that belonged to them and putting all of our stuff in there and I Where did he put the stuff that belonged to them? The stuff that belonged to them uh like their clothes took it into the laundry mat and left them in there. Okay. Like and like I was still so sick and everything was happening so fast and I'm just like, oh my gosh, like I can't believe he just stole this. Like are you serious? Like Okay. This is this is not okay and I'm freaking out and he's just telling me just to calm down and freaking like but his demeanor had changed instead of him being like mean he was more like kind of like because he needed my help to move all of our stuff. And so he was just he was being nice actually and he's like come on, like this trailer is nice. We won't have to live in that little thing anymore, like and it was it was so nice. And like So saying in just a minute. >> Yes. When was the first time you got in the new trailer at the laundry mat? Yes. Did you notice anything about it? About the trailer? Okay. Did you notice blood or No. No. Nothing. Nothing like that. Uh the only thing that I thought like the bedroom, like all of the bedding was completely gone. And like there was a cat in there. And so it it smelled like cat. But uh like >> [snorts] >> because the trailer had been moved without things being put in places, it was it was a mess in there. But you said the bedding was completely gone. Yes. >> Like the mattress with no sheets, no pillows, no anything? >> Yes. Yep. We left our truck and trailer there. And we drove off. And his plan was to go to Mexico. Okay. But before we before we get to the Mexico part I thank you for telling me this. I think your story is very accurate. But I think you're leaving out something. A few little parts in there. And here's here's what I don't want you to do. Um I don't want you to leave out parts because one you think we're going to think poorly of you or because you don't want to get in trouble. Because the only way this works is if you tell me 100% of the truth. And you know the part we're missing. Okay? So So what I want to do is I want you to think very carefully. Um because that isn't exactly what happened when you dropped him off at the beach. It's a little bit different, okay? You want to talk about that? You want to come back to that? Here's the deal. We have to have 100% honesty. >> I know. No, I know. And I'm not going to think less of you. We understand it was a very bad situation. We understand it was very bad. But your story is very very detailed, very accurate until we get to that part and I know that's why. >> Chance that we can take one more break? Let's take another break. One more smoke? Absolutely. Once again, detectives know they're about to get the truth. And for all of Amanda's flaws, she's been incredibly forthcoming. After she gets a cigarette, that is. So when I dropped him off to pick up the truck and trailer Mhm. that he said he had found and everything was dark I like I didn't down and I came back and I I parked >> [snorts] >> and like I know that he removed some things from the trailer. I don't know what. Like I do know that. Like uh my assumption it was because honestly, my main concern was Ryan. Mhm. Like but I thinking like the bedding like that type of stuff. Like I honestly, truthfully, I didn't ever see anything in that like I swear on my daughter's life, like >> Let's talk about he removed something. Okay. So how far away are you parked? Uh so the trailer is right here and then the the like the other truck is right here and then I'm parked down. Could he see you? Yeah. So he knew you were there? >> Yeah. Okay. He knows you're there. Yeah. Okay. So he's not trying to hide from you what he's doing. Uh I don't think so, no. Okay. And in your mind you're trying to not see what you're seeing at this point. >> In my mind I'm not trying to see anything, honestly. And I So you said he removed something from the trailer. Yes. When you say he removed something, is he carrying a box? Is he dragging something? Is he have something over his shoulder? Uh honestly, it looked like he was dragging something. Okay. Now if I'm dragging um if I'm dragging a towel, that's one thing. If I'm dragging >> Oh, it was like that's why I'm thinking like the bedding and everything cuz it was bigger. Was it heavy? Uh I think so. Okay. Okay. In your mind you know what he was dragging, right? When I look back now, yeah. What's he dragging? I think he was dragging one of them. Okay. Okay. We know that, too. We just I just In your mind you you're blocking out what he's dragging. He's dragging a body out of there. Okay? All right, Amanda. Let's talk about what happens next. And it's going to be important to me. He drags whatever he's dragging out and then where does he go? Goes up in the dark. Up you mean >> Like up in the dunes. >> In the dunes? >> Mhm. Okay. And then what do you see? Honestly, I stopped like looking. Okay. I I stopped. So do you think cuz you're you're an emotional person, you're a good person, you're like oh [ __ ] he just killed these people. You're blocking this out. I don't want to see anymore. Did he tell you to wait for him while I go do this? Did you know he was going >> I don't honestly, I I don't I think that he didn't kill them while I was there. Okay. To be honest, like I Close enough you think you would have heard him shoot him if he had shot them? Yeah. Okay. Because I mean that it's loud. Okay. Like because he when we got the gun he fired off one round to make sure Mhm. like that it worked and it was so loud. And so I don't that's why I Okay. I didn't think that I I mean I Looking back on it, that's what you think he was doing is taking a body out of the trailer. How long was he gone from the time he he dragged it up, you said into the dunes? Mhm. So how long was he gone from the time he dragged it up into the dunes until you saw him again? I don't know because I No, so here's the I No, no, no, like I I wouldn't look. >> No, so I'm not asking I'm not asking you to tell me like he was gone for a minute 42 seconds. I want to know was he gone long enough that he just walked up there and walked back? Or was he gone for a while It had to have been a while. Did he make multiple trips? Yeah. To the dunes? Yes. What did you see him carrying? Uh You saw something important in your mind right now. You wouldn't >> I didn't No, no, no. I didn't. It was similar to the first thing. Okay. Like I didn't >> dragging a second thing. Mhm. Does he make a trip after that? Well, he hooks the truck up. Does he make a trip to the dunes? Does he go back and forth another time after he takes the two of them the two whatever she took? After the two, no. Do you see anything else in his hands? No. Not that I can remember because honestly like I didn't So, I'm going to ask you about >> want to look. Did he Does he have a flashlight? No. A stick? Like I know he didn't have a flashlight cuz I would have seen it and it was extremely dark. Everything was so dark. Like there was no lights. >> What about a stick? Um A shovel? A bucket? There No. No bucket. Uh There were shovels, but there were shovels on the outside like of like on the outside of the other truck. Like leaned up against it. And so Like I I literally I didn't I didn't want to look. And so No, no. So Like I I know that he moved shovels, but I don't know when. So, you unload the stuff. What does he tell you? So I I understand you're scared of him, but there's some sort of conversation because he has now upped the ante on what y'all are doing wrong. So, tell me >> really say much. But you you ask him about it. And he says that he did what he had to do Okay. to get his a new truck. Okay. And that's it. Okay. And I don't know what to do. Like I don't I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I don't One thing to do was call the police in secret. One thing to say was, "Please get me the hell out of here. My husband just murdered two people." Amanda, of course, did neither. Now, she was a victim of violence at the hands of her husband, but she allowed her daughter to be the victim of her choices and to be present in the aftermath of a murder. Not only that, but she fled to Mexico with her husband behind the wheel. When they arrived in Mexico on their ill-fated escape, things didn't go exactly as they planned because unbeknownst to them, when they tried to sell their stolen RV to a local, that local had seen a news bulletin to be on the lookout for the family. And he immediately called the police and kept them in place so that they could arrive. We've run out of money because the toll roads are really expensive in Mexico. Okay, so you're at this place parked there. And Adam and I like we keep fighting and he keeps hurting me. And I beg him to like let me send Ryan back to the states cuz I didn't I I didn't I just I couldn't do anymore and I wanted her safe and I knew we weren't safe. Like and I didn't want to be without my daughter, but I'd rather be here and be safe than with me like cuz it wasn't safe. Okay. Um What is What is your long-term plan? Are we having plans like What What are we going [snorts] to do? We're going to stay here forever? We're going to go to another country? We're Uh There was talk of going to Panama, going to Belize, going to Iceland, of going >> there. How are you planning on getting there? [snorts] Plane tickets or No. Uh It that I wanted no part of anything. Like Okay. Except Amanda was a huge part of the ordeal. And though she repeatedly claims that she cared about her daughter's safety above all else, the fact that she brought her daughter alongside her fleeing to Mexico is an example of her doing the exact opposite. Ultimately, the two were extradited to the US where Amanda [snorts] pleaded guilty to four charges: murder, theft, tampering with physical evidence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. She took a plea deal resulting in a 20-year sentence. In order to avoid the death penalty, Adam pleaded guilty to capital murder earning life in prison instead. Thankfully, Amanda's daughter is now with family and is being raised well. We wish her as well as the families of James Butler and Michelle Butler healing and happiness. They did not deserve the loss they've experienced and we hope there are brighter days ahead. Thank you for watching today's video. 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