We just need like some things in the neighborhood with you in the >> unic and there's a bunch of stuff we want to talk to you about. >> This is the mother of 13-year-old Levi Carter. For months, she's been quietly documenting Levi's obsession with murder. Concerned that her son was becoming a monster. And just hours ago, those same fears have become a terrifying reality. Hey, >> he believes this has been murdered. So, camera on. We have blood. >> Yeah. >> Because inside this home, officers have just found 64year-old Denise Tinpenney killed by Levi. They suspect that for all that time, he has been secretly planning, plotting, posting on his social media about this very murder. >> Do you know what we're investigating? >> A woman was murdered, right? So, we're trying to find out what happened. >> But yeah, I know. I mean, I'm 13. I'm not even old enough to go outside. There's only one person here that was in a jail. On February 2nd, 2025, police officers in Ohio were called to the home of 64year-old Denise Tinpenney after one of her relatives stepped inside [music] and made a horrific discovery. Denise was in bed deceased. When police stepped inside, it became clear this had not been a natural death. believes camera right here. >> Just try to touch as least as you guys can. Do what you guys got to do. When more officers arrived to assess the scene, it became evident that Denise had indeed been murdered and that she had fought it until her very last. There was DNA under her and a clump of hair that she had pulled out of her attacker's head while trying to fight him off. Very quickly, police were able to narrow down that whoever killed her lived within a short walking distance of her home. >> [music] >> Cameras in the neighborhood showed no one entering or exiting the street during the time of her death. Sometime [music] between 2 and 4 in the morning, FBI and the local police department canvased the area, taking DNA samples from her neighbors. And it wasn't long before those DNA samples matched the DNA found at the crime scene. But who it matched to was something no one could have prepared for. Because the DNA didn't match up to a criminal. It matched up to a 13-year-old boy who lived directly across the street from her. On the 12th, just 10 days after her death, police approached the young boy Levi Carter's home looking for answers. >> We just need some things in the neighborhood with you. Now, we can go back to >> Yeah. >> Then we got some pictures I want to show you and I'll show you and there's a bunch of stuff we want to talk to you about. All right. You guys good? >> Are we okay? >> Well, we just want to talk to you. I think you guys can help us clear a lot of things up around here. So, >> okay. >> All right. So, >> there you go. We'll buck you in. How's that? >> Okay. Oh, I don't know how this buck you in there. How's that, man? >> Okay. >> There you go. Let me see. You got your leg in? >> Yep. Hunter got the bigger seat. >> Yeah, you got the big one here. >> You get your buckled in. You get buckled in there, too. >> All right. >> Yeah. I don't know what's going on. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I think I don't know. They said that we can help them clear up what what's going on. >> Levi knows exactly what's going on, and sadly his mother likely does, too. During the investigation, police searched through her journal and found entries where she expressed concern for her son's behavior and interest in violence, specifically his interest in serial killers. As she sat in the cop car with her 13-year-old, those fears started to solidify. But when he entered an interrogation room, there was no way to deny them any longer. >> What's up, man? Hello. How you? >> All right. >> Okay. >> Need to eat though. >> Yeah. >> So, you go by Louisis. What's your like full real name? >> Um, >> Levi Jackson. Levi Jackson car. Levi, but you go by Louiswis. So, you want me to call you Louis? >> Whatever you want. >> Okay, that's cool. Hey, Lewis, I gotta read you a form because we're at a police station. Okay. And I have to ask you some important questions. >> All right. So, will you follow along with me and just kind of give the food a break for a sec? I know you're hungry. I'm sorry. I'm >> very hungry. >> I know, but this won't take long. >> Levi is read his Miranda rightites, which would be concerning for anyone with half a brain. Levi, however, is much more concerned about eating his raising canes. >> With these in mind, you want to have a conversation with you? >> Um, well, I guess it states that I can quit having a conversation with you. I'm not sure what this is like necessarily about. >> No, I will explain that. >> Okay. Yeah. You said that you said that it could we could help you guys like understand what's going on or like something like that. >> So, I'm not sure. Do you know what we're investigating? >> I mean, I know something happened on the street. >> Across the street? >> Across the street in front of me, >> right? A woman was murdered, right? So, we're trying to find out what happened. Okay. So, that's what we're investigating. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's why you're sitting here right now. >> Okay. >> Okay. I want to find out what you know, if any. I mean, I've already talked to FBI investigators yesterday, I think. So, >> okay. All right. So, do you want to talk to me? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Want to follow up on your conversation? >> All right. Go ahead and sign right here. >> Yep. >> All right. So, I know the agents were at your house yesterday and they talked to you and your mom, right? So, Kyle and your brother. Yep. And your brother's Hunter, right? >> Hunter. >> Okay. Hunter. >> What? I I speak a little bit. So, so [snorts] you guys are moving out of out of the state, I heard. >> Where you going? >> Um, take your time. Got my mouth full. >> I was gonna say take a break. >> All right. All right. Yes. So, you're moving out of state to California? >> Uh, yes. The plan is to move to California. >> I think it's Long Beach. >> Long Beach. Cool. Um, is your dad Is your mom and dad divorced? >> Yes. >> Okay. What? All right. So, listen. Um, Louis, I want to talk to you about like the weekend this thing happened. Okay. for the weekend. >> Yeah, it was the weekend of February. So, not this past weekend, but the weekend before that. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, tell me what you did on Friday. Not this past Friday. >> Last Friday. >> Yeah. Last Friday. >> So, last Friday there we we went to my dad's birthday. >> That was good. Um, and we just hung out for a while at a restaurant. >> Your with your dad, >> you and you and Hunter >> and my mom. >> Okay. Was it Kentucky or up here? >> Uh, probably in Ohio. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Um, and well, I guess most of the day before the before that day. Uh before the dinner I guess was just like pretty normal. I'm not sure what time I woke up, but I uh I don't know. I took a shower. I wanted to be ready for the dinner >> and I got dressed like nice clothes. So, >> okay. >> And then after we went to the dinner and I took some photos with my camera. So, I got that for uh Christmas. >> Okay. >> And do you have a phone? Uh yes. >> Okay. Apple phone or >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Uh and we just hang out hung out for a while and then I went went to bed. I mean I went I went home and then I went to sleep >> on Friday night. >> Okay. And then you woke up shattering. What did you do? >> Uh I I don't know. I went and did some homework. uh just because I didn't do any on Friday because I had spent most of the day at a birthday uh dinner. >> All right. >> It was early, but um yeah, so I went and did some homework. After I did some homework, my dad picked me up and we went and did some geocaching uh like we had planned to do. Geo what? >> Geocaching. >> What's that? >> It's like um How do I explain it? Like people give you clues to do things. >> I have a curious. Uh people give you clues like on the internet to do things or like to find things. >> Uh and if you find them or like they're kind of hard to find, not that hard, but if you find them uh in these places, then you can like say or write down that you've been there. I see. >> Like, put a thing next to it or >> So, you were supposed to do that on Saturday. >> We did do it. >> Oh, you did? Where did you do it at? >> Uh, we just drove around. I'm not sure. >> All right. Good. >> I went to a different couple places and then I also I like got my book bag like super super muddy. That was fun because we were trying to do like find one in a cemetery. But apparently like the rain has made it like super uh muddy >> because the rain swooshed down. But um yeah, we just we went and geocaching uh and then we hung out or after uh sorry. So I it's a lot of explaining to do. I also have ADHD. Okay. Uh, so my brain >> No, just jumps around. >> Yeah. >> The ADHD isn't the only reason why Levi here is overexlaining himself. At this point, police are well aware that his story of where he was the day of Denise's murder isn't true. And Levi isn't exactly the innocent, disability ridden child that he's pretending to be. They've also noticed at this point that Levi is busted. And we're not just talking about legally. His face, neck, and arms are covered in scratches that are all at the same point of healing. There are also stitches on his nose for an injury, which he goes on to explain in the most ridiculous way possible because why take responsibility when you can blame a cat named Marshmallow. >> But I'll continue explaining. >> No, go ahead. >> Uh, so I we all went to sleep. Um, and then honestly it seemed pretty normal. Uh, none of us really like woke up for a couple hours. Both of neither of them did. Uh, and then I think I don't know like kind of that the day after that is kind of like jingled in my head because it was a lot of waking up really early. >> Um, but we I don't know I think at like 2:30 maybe >> in the morning. >> Yeah, 2:30 in the morning or two, I'm not sure. in that time area. Uh my cat had randomly woke me up uh with all lights off like sitting on my sitting on my my neck. Uh and to give some context to why that is, uh we as you know uh we're trying to move, right? That's a bit weird if you know that when you're trying to move. Um, and we had just moved the moved his like playset. >> Mhm. >> Uh, so that was like he probably thought >> So you're laying in in the front. >> Yes. >> And the cat. >> Yeah. >> And the cat's curled up in your neck. >> No, he was just like laying there. He wasn't curled up. He was like laying this way. >> Like long ways. Long ways. >> That's how it felt. >> Does he always sleep with you, the cat? >> No. Um, I mean, I guess another thing is I guess supposedly now I'm realizing because it was the weekend maybe even he woke up or he was up and he got freaked out because of he heard a sound like >> uh and then he went and got on me. I mean, he sleeps with my mom sometimes or my brother, not really with me, >> right? Um, yeah, he just like he woke me up. Felt like he was like right here. Well, you just um so I was like, you know, I woke up and I was like, what's going on? I was freaked out cuz I felt something on me. >> Uh, and I I have had sleep paralysis before. Uh, so it was kind of freaky. Uh, and then I like tried to touch him and he like he got obviously scared. He was like, "What's going on?" Probably. Uh, so he started scratching at me. Uh, started scratching my face and well, first he started scratching like my arms. So I was like trying to like get them off of me because I didn't know what was going on. >> Um, so he like scratched my face. You can't couldn't really see it. You can't see it anymore. But yeah, he like scratched my face. Uh, you see this here. And then he scr I think the his biggest claw which we've been knowing we needed to cut them for a while a long time. Uh he like scratched me on my nose like right here really really hard cuz we both extremely each other. So I kind of got up like a minute or I don't know sometime after uh and I felt very bloody obviously there was a lot of scratches on me. >> Uh and then I spent like I don't know like three hours maybe or a long time trying to like fix myself up again to give more context. uh fixing myself up. I or the reason why I didn't like help or ask my mom or my brother or wake them up is because we were literally just about to do photos that day. >> Like family photos. >> Uh for the house. >> Oh, for the house. I see. To solid. >> Yeah. I got you. So, I was like, I don't want to be, you know, this kid that's constantly waking people up or being like an annoyance when they're trying to sleep. Um, so I had to try to clean myself up the best I could. Like I tried to like clean up uh my face and my well, he also scratched my neck. Missed that part uh a little bit to get the blood off. Um, and then I decided to take a shower cuz I was like, it's probably the best thing I'm going to do. >> The only thing as evil as murder might just be placing the blame on a fluffy white cat named Marshmallow, especially when evidence at the scene contradicts that claim entirely. Denise had Levi's blood under her nails and on her person from the long scratches she dug in his face, arms, and neck as she fought for her life. That fighting is ultimately what led to justice for Denise. Justice that Levi here is determined to avoid. >> Well, most of the blood went to went to my shirt that was on my bed because it was like a lot of it was on my face. I usually put a shirt under my pillow, >> right? Um, so again, returning back after I got out of the shower, uh, I was like, "Okay, because I don't want to wake up mom and you know, whatever." I, uh, tried to like I don't know, I got some like a got a cotton thing or something and I tried to clean my nose up a little bit more. >> Do you use gloves like >> No. No. >> No. Just just my hands. Uh, and I >> Hiccups. Um, >> so as I was um like my nose kept bleeding, >> so yeah, it wouldn't stop. Uh, so I used the shirt that was already super bloody kind of wrapped it up and then I like uh I got >> Were your scratches bleeding too? >> Uh, a little bit. >> Okay. >> And sorry you you started talking it made me Oh, forget. >> Oh go. >> Uh, sorry. So, as I was in the shower and as I was in the shower, um I ended up because sorry, usually because my disability as well, uh I uh use like a like a shower chair. >> Yeah. >> Because I can't really stand for that long >> without getting like super fatigued and falling or like walking around for too long, >> right? >> Uh and so I didn't use the shower chair. I didn't want to make a bunch of noise and make anybody up, >> right? >> Uh so I ended up literally falling. Uh and I fell and like hit my head on the on the shower hose. >> Where'd you hit it? >> Uh I think like around here like right here. >> So I I don't know. >> Does that cause you to bleed more? >> Yes. Yes. So I was like Jesus Christ. Are you Are you kidding me right now? I >> Yeah, that's the same thing detectives are thinking. >> Um, so I was doing that and super exhausted, feeling like honestly like [ __ ] cuz I barely got any sleep. Oh, I bet. >> Uh, and so I was just like, I don't know what to do. I know I can't, you know, go to sleep in this state. Uh, and so I started crying honestly kind of loud. Um, >> like what time would you say we are at now? like 5:30 maybe. >> A long time, >> right? >> So, >> um yeah, so I started crying really loudly. Uh and then I guess luckily for me, she soon as I started crying very loud, uh she went downstairs and she was like, "Are you okay?" And I was like, "No, not really." And I was still crying. Um, and she told me not to cry because that would make it worse. Uh, and then something even to make this situation funny, quote unquote, uh, as soon as she went in the kitchen, she opened the cabinet and got the got the band-aids. So this entire time that I looked for band-aids for like 30 minutes, it was right there in the kitchen, >> right? >> So she got me a band-aid and she was like, "All right, we're just gonna we're just going to go." So it took us a minute to get there, I don't know, like 30 minutes maybe. >> So where'd you go? >> Uh we went to urgent care, I think. >> Go to the hospital. >> Uh I think hospital. I don't I forget what it's called, but like >> All right. It was an >> somewhere where there's doctors. >> Yeah. >> Uh and [snorts] her telling me that we're going to go to urgent care. I was like, "So, we're going to this is that urgent." Like, I didn't know that this was a broken >> You mean >> thing was that urgent? >> Did you break your nose? >> I didn't break my nose. I >> screwed up. >> Not broken. Uh >> split. Not my guess. >> Uh, and so we we went to the doctor's office. We went to the doctor's uh sat there for like another 15 minutes. >> My stomach was feeling really bad. >> I bet. >> Uh, and then we got the help we needed and I just I got into the emergency room or like the help the care room or something. Mhm. >> Uh and they examined it and they were like, damn, this is pretty bad. >> Wow. >> Uh and I was like, I guess yeah. Um and I guess uh I needed stitches, so they had a plastic surgeon come in there and like give me uh some like numbing stuff, which really stupidly, it went right down my throat. Uh so that felt even worse. >> Oh man. Levi is desperate to get a crumb of sympathy for detectives because really, he's the victim. I mean, can you imagine the person you're trying to kill having the nerve to scratch you? After all, as Levi repeatedly reminds detectives, he's just a little 13-year-old boy. The same 13-year-old boy who posted on social media hours after the murder, and I quote, "That one was a fighter, and he wasn't talking about his cat." [music] >> So, I kept on crying. Uh, and then I kind of started feeling emotionally triggered. And when she said, uh, there was a bunch of ambulances outside, she or I, uh, I like started to freak out even more that I was already very triggered or feeling very triggered. >> When you say triggered, explain that to me. >> Like, like I said, emotionally triggered. >> Yeah. Yeah. Tell me what's that. >> I'm not in your head so I don't know what it means. >> Um >> trigger means different for different people. That's true. >> Um so just like I just felt like very like like sad and like overwhelmed and like in a in a crazy emotional state. >> So what >> that's what I meant by emotionally. >> All right. So, were you doing something that was like Were you acting out or crying or >> Yeah, I was I was crying very hard >> before um even before the ambulance was showed up. >> Um and then I just felt even worse because mom had said that something had happened to the niece, our neighbor, right in front of us. >> Um and I started feeling even worse. um just to the fact that the same night that something happened or something like that had happened that um that I had had an injury of my own. >> Well, you didn't know what was wrong with you. >> Yeah. I just thought that it's just crazy to it was crazy in my mind and I started assuming, you know, like what had happened because that >> What did you think happened? >> I don't know. I just thought that >> you thought it was coincidental. I thought that I think it was coincidental. I was just like, you know, I was jumping to conclusions. You know, mom was like, "She probably just, you know, have, you know, like an accident or she fell over." And I was like, "Hopefully." And I was like, "Yeah." And even this right now honestly starting to make me feel kind of emotionally. >> Well, I don't want you to relive something. >> Yeah. It's um Yeah. So it made me feel really gross that something else had happened and I was already in emotionally triggered state. So you know I kind of felt like really sick to my stomach and I felt really gross to have to think about you know something had happened to somebody right next to me or right the house right in front of me and it made me feel really sad and I started crying even worse. Levi goes on to explain that the following morning when cop cars arrived, he asked his dad to pick him up so he could emotionally heal from the experience. Yet online, he continued to brag about his crime and started researching how to beat a police interrogation. Evidently, he didn't read enough articles on how to do that. >> Yeah. So, I was there for about a week, uh, trying to feel better. Uh, couldn't stop thinking about what happened. I went home and I had started feeling a little bit better. Um, and just I don't know, just feeling better and feeling, you know, not like super triggered at our house anymore, >> right? >> I was getting more comfortable throughout the week, >> right? >> Does, um, when you get triggered, does it ever make you angry? No, >> make me s that sad >> or like hyper emotional? >> Hyper emotional. >> Okay, let me ask you this. On that day you cut your nose on that Sunday morning, were you ever out out in the when when you got hurt, were you ever outside? Did you ever walk outside? >> Never were outside. >> Uh I was outside when we went to get in the car. >> No, I'm talking when you cut your nose. Were you ever out? I mean, like if a camera picked you up, that wouldn't have been you if you were outside. >> No, I I wasn't outside. >> Not one time. >> Nope. >> Okay. All right. And have you So, do you know Denise? >> A little bit. >> How do you know her? >> Uh, I just know she's our neighbor. Uh, we waved a couple times, so [snorts] Yeah, I I didn't really know her that well, you know. I thought that she I don't know. I just thought that she just like had a job. Like I don't know any normal person. I don't think I I my I just mean like I didn't like uh like I didn't know her a lot. I just thought like this is this person, you know, >> right? Just a person that lives in the neighborhood, >> right? >> Okay. So, you were never out when you hurt yourself with this cat and all that. Nope. >> You never want stepped outside? >> Yes. >> Okay. I mean >> to I I couldn't even gone outside because there [snorts] the couch was the couch is like literally in front of the door. So even if I wanted to go outside uh which wouldn't make that much sense because I'm trying to clean myself up uh I would have to move the couch. Would you have gone out before >> uh like before that day? >> Yeah. No. Would you have gone out before you hurt yourself like midnight or before the >> No, I don't before a marshmallow scratched you. >> I don't go outside >> ever. I go like for walks sometimes with like my mom and my brother just get some fresh air in my house a lot. >> Um but yeah, no, I mean I'm 13. I'm not even old enough to go outside uh even have I don't know fun bound >> Levi isn't old enough to leave the house by himself. One other thing he wasn't old enough to do evidently was correctly clean up the crime scene. First responders noted a variety of chemicals and medication that had been dumped after she was murdered. But none of them were chemicals capable of destroying the DNA evidence that Levi left behind. Should have stayed in Homeck, I suppose. Have you ever been in Denise's house? >> Uh, I mean like I know they ask like have we had dinner with them? No. I mean with her? No. Uh, has she had dinner with us? No. I've never none neither my mom, my brother, or me have ever been in that house or even that close other than I guess walking distance. You never like did work or anything like helped her? >> 13. >> No, I'm talking like 13 year olds mow grass and brother. >> My brother uh was >> shovel snow, all that stuff kids do. >> No, I mean my brother was uh mowing lawns over. Hey uh Lewis, >> do you think sometimes people do something that they regret is out of character for themselves or do something to get scared and they don't want to talk or tell anybody about it. >> I think sometimes >> I'm sorry. >> Like if you're cheating on somebody like that and you're going to regret that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, so do you think somebody can do something and get nervous and maybe do something they weren't intending to do and things get out of hand and something bad happened? You think that could happen? >> I mean, I think everybody, you know, is human. So, >> Right. Exactly. Exactly. >> I think that could happen. >> You think that could happen? Okay. So, you said you never been in Denise's house. Never been. >> Okay. Do you know what DNA is? You ever heard of it? I've heard of it. Okay. So, we're trying to figure out I want you to help me explain this. Okay. Why your would be in Denise's house. That's what we're trying to figure out. Well, I'm not sure cuz I don't know. Like, how is it my blood? Like, >> that's what we're trying to find out >> cuz I don't know. I don't know why it would be in my house. >> Yeah, that's what we're trying to figure out. That's why we're even here right now. >> Oh, we got those swabs from you. >> Mhm. >> Well, we compared that to not only her blood, it's your blood mixed in with it. >> Wow. Through DNA testing. How did that work? >> Well, they com everybody's DNA is unique. >> You know, everybody has different DNA. Everybody, it's unique to one person. That's like fingerprints. Every Nobody has the same fingerprints in the whole world. >> Even brothers. >> Even brothers. So, I'm just trying to figure out. So, I just I want an explanation. I'm trying to figure out myself. And after sitting here talking to you, you just seem like a kind of just a young man. I mean, I'm I'm a young boy. >> I know. So, I'm just trying. >> Sometimes young boys make mistakes. >> I mean, everybody makes mistakes. >> I agree. I've made a hundred of them. Thousands. Thousands of I'm sure Steve's made thousands of them, too. >> So, I'm just trying to figure out why that would be that way. I think something happened and I think you don't want to tell me and I just want to know what happened. I think I don't think it was done like maliciously. I think something just stupid. >> I don't think that murder is stupid. >> Well, when I mean stupid, I don't think that would be intent at all. Well, when somebody intends to do something different from something just happens, bad happens. Like if if um you know like a car accident like if I'm drunk driving and I hit and kill somebody. I didn't mean to do it. >> I mean it's kind of your fault though. >> It is. But I wasn't out. I didn't wake up in the morning. I didn't wake up in the morning to go drive over somebody. But I shouldn't have been drinking and driving. Right. Right. So, I'm trying to figure out why your blood is mixed in with her blood in her house. That's what I'm trying to figure out. And I just need explanation. I don't have an explanation for you. I don't I don't know why I would be in her house. >> Yeah, I don't either. >> I don't know what explanation I could give you or even come up with. That would be equivalent to how that would happen. Well, I don't know how it happened. There's only one person here that knows you. I just know that because there's no other way that part of you can be in that house without you ever being in there. >> I can, right? So, that's why I just needed an explanation as to how I'm just trying to wrap my brain around it. you know. >> Well, I have to wrap my brain around it first. >> Yeah, I So that's what you need to wrap around together, >> you know. >> Can you help me do that? >> I can if you help me. I can help you if you help me. How do I help you? >> By telling me the truth. I told you the truth, though. I don't think you're telling me all the truth. What? But I'm not. Well, I think you're about to hurt. I what? >> I think you lied to behind the hurt. >> That's my opinion. >> But why would I do that? >> Well, usually people don't tell the truth because they don't want to get in trouble. And I've been doing this a long time and I understand why people >> What did you do to get in trouble? >> What's that? >> I said, "What did you do to get in trouble?" >> Me my life. All kinds of listen to my parents. I mean, that's not >> sneaking out at night, drinking underage, all kinds of stuff. >> You know, I did all kinds of stuff. We do stuff as young people. >> We just But then when you get older, you kind of sometimes grow out of it sometimes. >> The DNA evidence in the home was overwhelming. His DNA was also found on the bottles he used to try to clean up and obviously in the he left behind. His name was written all over the house and he didn't manage to find an answer online on how to get away with that. >> Well, we have your in her house and we're trying to figure out >> how that's the bottom line. >> Well, that's the bottom line. >> Get my blood from somewhere. >> We didn't need your blood. We got swabs. >> I assume like did you did somebody put my blood in that house for a reason? Oh, I don't know what you told me. Would they? >> I didn't put your blood. >> I don't have any enemies. >> I didn't put your blood there. >> I mean, I'm only 13. I don't know why anybody would put my blood in my house, but I mean, >> is there any more questions you have for me or like what? >> Well, I just I I want to get past this and we're not getting past it. You don't know. I don't know. So, we're not resolving anything. >> Well, I'm not sure if we can resolve it if I don't know. You don't know. But, you know, I mean, listen, I I wholeheartedly believe that there's two types of people in this world. You've got monsters. You've got people who make mistakes. >> I think I disagree with that person. >> Help us explain. >> What do you disagree with about that state? I just think that, you know, there's there's a lot of different types of people in the world. There's not monsters and people who commit mistakes. Well, I'm simplifying things in terms of, you know, a crime, a murder, right? There's two types of people who would commit a murder. >> There's a monster and there's people who make mistakes. Like his example of the carried away. >> If it's a murder, then it would be a monster, right? >> Not necessarily. You don't think so? >> No. >> No. I've been pretty. >> No, I don't. I think murders can happen many different ways. >> Well, I feel like if it's murder, it would either be self-defense or manslaughter or something. >> It's funny you bring that up. That's very that's very interesting you bring that up and very very um that self-defense thing and the manslaughter thing is, you know, there's different levels of murder. When you say murder, everybody thinks I walk up and shoot the clerk at the liquor store. That's murder, right? But then you have lesser charges. You have murder, you have aggravated murder, you have manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and then you have reckless homicide. And then negligent, meaning like the drunk driver. That's reckless homicide, right? So the self-defense thing is interesting, right? I mean, you >> I just I didn't mean that was just like the first thing that >> No, I I get it. I'm just saying it's interesting though >> because it's like it's a fight between or it's like it's something between two people, >> right? And some and some it could start off normal and then somebody would have to defend themselves, >> right? And then get scared. >> You agree with that? Could that happen? I know you say anything's possible. >> Wars happen. Anything happens. So that's why I'm asking you, it's interesting you brought up the self-defense thing. Could something have happened? And I'm asking you directly. Could something have happened where you had to defend yourself? >> I'm not sure. I mean, I'm not I'm not that strong. I don't know how I would be able to defend myself in a situation like that. >> Um, yeah. I don't know. It could, but I feel like that's a kind of a rare chance, especially for me to even be in her house in the first place, which I don't understand either. >> Right. So if you were and things got out of hand and you had to defend yourself or you were attacked, you know, hence the scratches and the nose and the scratches on the arms, you know, obviously you were you were attacked some in some way, you know. Um that makes sense to know. [snorts] But I guess my question to you is, could you have defended yourself? I mean, is that >> like I said before, anything's possible. >> I understand that, but now we're talking in vague terms, you know, >> so I need specifics. >> I I don't know. I doubt that that's a possibility that I would be defending myself because I wouldn't be in that house in the first place. And if I was defending myself from somebody, then it would probably be because I don't just like it would be a different reason than me being in that house. I don't know why I would be in that house. >> Well, that's what we're trying to find out. I mean, you'll be in the house for any number of reasons. Invited, talking, um, whatever, whatever. I mean, there's many there's a number of reasons. Levi has an opportunity to go for the self-defense angle, but his searches on his phone and iPad proved otherwise. For months leading up to Denise's murder, he searched things like how to someone and how to find the perfect victim. The murder wasn't just a random encounter. It was premeditated weeks and weeks and weeks ahead of time. For what reason? Just to feel what felt like. >> I definitely have some short-term memory loss. Could this be something you wouldn't remember? >> Possibly. If it I don't know what it would be, but >> Well, that's what I'm trying to find out. It's my job. And I'm glad you respect that, you know. >> I mean, I think that if I if I didn't remember it, then why would I make up a story about, you know, having my cat or like my cat being out my face or whatever? Like why why would I even do that? So >> well some people will make up stories to explain things. >> Right. So that's what I'm saying. If I didn't remember it then why would I explain it? >> Well you some people want to give a story to so the real story doesn't come to life. >> Right. But if I forget >> Well I'm not saying you didn't. I'm just saying I'm just saying if I if I if I forgot it. Why? >> So in that scenario, if you had forgotten it, you would have been able to make up a story. >> Exactly. >> I see what you're saying. Well, >> right. >> Right. I see what you're saying. Well, I I'm just as we look at the thing right now, it looks really bad. It looks really really bad. And >> I'm I'm just trying to trying to wrap my brain around and I hate using that word all the time, but I am >> I'm trying to figure out what the hell happened. Something really bad happened, but I don't know how it happened. I know who was there, but I don't know how it happened. There's two people there, but I don't know how it happened. And I'm just trying to figure it out. I'm truly just trying to figure it out. >> Could have been three people. I don't know. >> I mean, there could have been more people there. >> Was there? >> I don't know. I've already told you that. I don't I don't know. I don't I don't have any memory of anything like that happening or me being outside at a time after darkness. Um, but I mean, I'm just saying possibilities. Possibilities are possibilities. Possible as I've repeated multiple times. So, I know nothing's impossible. Um, but I do believe you remember um because it's pretty significant. I could see something minor you not remembering something even if you have short-term memory. >> That is true. >> Um, but I think something significant you would remember. I think this you remember. I think you don't want to tell me because I'm the >> I haven't told anybody. If I don't, if I know about it, then I haven't told anybody and I haven't told you. So, I don't know. I just I don't see a reason why I would uh make up a story or why I would be out after dark or any of this. >> Well, people make up stories all the time. Okay. >> Trust me. >> I just mean like why I would do it. >> Well, because you have to explain these scratches and these injuries. I mean, that's my first guess. >> I your >> your mother's going to come up to you when she wakes up and say, "What happened?" If my son woke up all scratched up, my first question would be, "What happened?" >> That's true. >> You know, if your mother showed up after dinner with her sisters and was all scratched up, what would you ask her? What happened? Right? [clears throat] I mean, so there has to be a story. There has to be an explanation. >> I just mean, I guess you didn't really listen to my >> I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Uh, what I said was I don't know why I would lie. I don't know why I I would be outside after dark. I don't know why I would even do something like this. That's what I mean. Not why would I lie. I already know why people lie. I just >> right >> I don't see a scenario where me alone or me myself would ever do that. >> How about could you have been meeting with somebody else? >> Uh, no. I guess >> I don't like the I guess. >> Well, I guess you either were or you weren't there. But we but we know you were there, right? Explained all that. We know you were there. >> Well, I mean, you can I don't know. You can think about my full sentence and say or my full wording and say he said no. You know, like I'm just saying I guess as this is what I think, not you know, I don't have a definitive answer for you to give for me to give. And that's why I'm saying I guess or I'm not I don't know. I'm not sure what's possible because I don't have a definitive answer. If I'm going to say no, then in my mind I'm going to say no. I guess because I don't have an answer. I don't have a real answer. Though Levi manages not to break down here, it seems online he had begun to realize he was in trouble. He messaged several people the day before this interrogation, telling them, "I think I just got caught." But still, he's resolute that he has no idea what happened. >> So, we going to leave it at this. >> Mhm. >> I I don't know why my leg would be out. >> This is the only time you and I will ever get to talk. >> Okay. You know what I think? I think you've created this version of event and you want it so badly to be the truth. >> But it's not the truth. I don't think I would want it to be the truth if I wasn't telling you that it was the truth. You know, like why would I want something to be true if like why would I tell a story if I wanted it to be true? Like I I've never done that because you want to be able to explain how you got these injuries and disassociate yourself with what happened next door. And you want your version to be the truth so you're not attached to what happened at your neighbor's house. But your version is not the truth. Well, if that's what you think, that's what you think. I've explained to you everything I know and my version of events that I know is correct or that it's in my memory. So, I don't know why you would think I'm lying or why you don't believe me. I mean, my brother's pretty chatty, you know. >> He's pretty what? >> Uh, ADD. Was your brother with you up at all during that night? >> Hey, you wear a wristwatch. Never. >> No. >> No. Um, some interesting things. We found a box of the same glove that was left at the scene. Uh, why did you find them in your house? >> Yeah. >> Thought that you'd be the only one in the world that would have those, but they're the same color and they're unique. So they're the same color and they're un your knee. So but what size do shoes you wear? >> Uh well just look at it. 10 and a half. Hey you pull your hand way up. Way up way up. Way up. Way up. Way up. Keep going. here. Did you accidentally pull your ear out or something? >> Uh, I have a balding thing. >> Okay. >> So, thumb. Okay. All right. Well, we're going to step out again and we're going to take some pictures. Um, then we'll be back. Okay. How many? >> So, you got three left. Your brother's still talking. So, you were right. He's very chatty. So, just be patient with me. Okay. >> You get on your drink. >> Yeah. Water. Yeah. >> Propel. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> So what's happened? >> Yeah, I got to keep hold of you while we go out there. >> Ultimately, Levi was charged with six separate felonies. In the end, he took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, burglary, and he will be held at a juvenile detention facility until his 21st birthday, after which, due to his age, he will be released. At his trial, several people expressed concern that once he is released, he will have learned from his mistakes in the murder of Denise and will try again. Time will tell, but I can tell you one thing for certain. I'd rather not have Levi living on my street. Our [music] thoughts are with Denise's loved ones. As part of the deal, the teen will be held in the Department of Youth Services until his 21st birthday. While there, he will take a victim's awareness class, get his high school diploma, and go to cognitive behavioral therapy. Thank you for tuning in. 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