But you told them information that nobody else knew that had not been released by the law enforcement here. >> Where where >> How she died? >> Like how she died, Tyler. >> Yeah, I don't know. I said, "Oh my goodness, Kathy, I wonder what's going on?" He said, "Oh, there's been a murder out there. A girl was dead. >> This is 16-year-old Tyler Hirsch. Days after murdering Melody Victoria, Tyler accidentally told someone how exactly he killed her. A slip-up that detectives know of and one that will cost him his life. >> You chose someone to kill. >> But in spite of this mistake, Tyler will continue to dig himself deeper. >> She's weird, man. She made me do it. >> And deeper until there's nowhere left to go. >> Monsters don't cry, son. >> On January 24th, 2018, Melody Bennett's friends and family were eager to spend her 33rd birthday with her. They texted and called her, but no response ever came. Initially, they assumed she must have just gotten caught up in celebrating, but when their calls were still going unanswered by the next morning, January 25th, they knew something was wrong. Worried, her brother went to her house to make sure she was okay. And sadly, she was far from it. >> I just found my sister in in her house and and she's dead. >> Melody Bennett had been stabbed several times. Police immediately raced to the scene to canvas for evidence and to question neighbors. That included 16-year-old Tyler Ryan Hirsch, a troublesome teen who had found refuge in Melody's kindness and mentorship. And evidently, he found something else in that, too, a target. Evidence that popped up within hours of her discovery indicated that Tyler may have been her killer. The main clue being that despite her cause of death not being released, Tyler told several people that she had been stabbed. Which even for someone who hasn't yet graduated high school is pretty stupid. As a result, Tyler was brought in for an interview just 2 days after the murder, where he denied having any involvement. Detectives were able to take a DNA sample from Tyler, and for the next year the case sat unsolved until finally, around the year anniversary of the murder, detectives got a match on the DNA, and it led them to bringing Tyler in for questioning. Though, as you're about to hear, he didn't go down easily. >> Hey Tyler, how are you doing? >> Do you know me? >> Don't remember me. >> I'm from Sumter County. >> You're cheating taxes from Sumter County. >> We're just uh wanted to talk with you today a little bit if you you thought that was >> Whatever was going back and forth here. >> I'm sorry. >> And what whatever was going back and forth >> I don't know what's going to happen now after what happened out there just now. I can't I can't say. Uh that kind of >> I was trying to say I just wanted to know what was happening. Like I didn't know like what was what they were grabbing me for. Like I'm I'm good to go home on the 28th. >> Right. All right. >> I was trying to I was going >> Here's here's the deal. Calm down. Relax for a minute, okay? Now listen, you're in custody. Do you know what the deal is when you're in custody? We want to talk to you, but we can't talk to you without reading you your rights, especially after what really just happened with >> So like even if you just say you Whatever happens I'm still not going to be able to go back and do this this is a new charge. >> No no, I said I don't know what they're going to do with you. I don't know if they're going to charge you with it or not. >> If I could talk to him, I want to ask him to at least say no. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Yeah. >> But we want to we want to talk to you. You understand that's >> Detectives read Tyler his rights, but at this point he's already facing a charge for something else, resisting arrest and battery. When police confronted Tyler trying to arrest him on the warrant for Melody's murder, he, well, lost his freaking mind. Tyler thrashed against detectives, tried to run, and tried to pull away from his cuffs, despite being out-sized, out-numbered, and out-smarted. >> Those are some pretty old big old boys you's in tussling with. Yeah, well, I'm a pretty good sized fellow. >> I I didn't I just I was scared. Like, I don't I don't I don't want to get in trouble. >> I got to I got to >> I got to go home. I got to turn real hard to get back to my family. >> We got you. I don't know what's going on. >> You ain't hurt none of them, did you? >> I guess so. >> Okay. Do you stay Do you stay in here? >> Mhm. No, I'm from Washington. >> Okay. So, Tyler, we're we're here um following up on pretty much where the 1-year anniversary mark uh for Tori's death. Yeah. Uh this is uh almost a year to the to the day of that time. Uh and we know that uh you were close to her. Uh you live nearby. We're going back and talking to uh people again. And obviously you are one of those trips that uh we had to had to make. Uh I hate that you were so far away, and I hate that you were in a Yeah, I hate that you were in a program. >> I mean, y'all couldn't just came and Like, I mean, not saying like I'm saying like [clears throat] y'all couldn't have just came and just talked to me there or >> Honestly, if I'd have known you were going to do that, I had no idea you were going to do that. >> walked cuz I was like >> I thought we we thought they were just going to go over and pick us pick you up across town, which is normal, and bring you down the street, and we could sit down and talk. >> And Well, I didn't know cuz they were putting handcuffs on me, so I was like I got scared, and I didn't know what like what I was I was like I wasn't even like trying to resist. I was like, "What did I do? What did I do?" And like they was grabbing my arm. I was like, "What did I do? What did I do? Hold up. Just wait. Just What did I do? What did I do?" Like [clears throat] what did What's What's up? And then like they weren't saying anything. So like I got even more scared and then like they grabbed me. So I just like I planted my feet. >> That all those guys were was a trans transport unit to >> I was like I was going to say something like Like they didn't tell me like where my warrant came from. I didn't have an idea like anything. Like if I was just I was scared. Like I >> I mean you're in custody with DJJ. So I mean >> Exactly. >> I've gotten arrested before. It's just it's a transfer. >> I was scared. >> You got arrested the day before? >> No, I've gotten arrested before there. And I was just I was scared. I was like, "What did I do?" What did I do? >> For >> Um I got It was an incident with the staff. >> Okay. All right. >> But they granted charges current and I was good. >> All right. Well, listen. You know where we're at now. You know why we're here to talk. >> Yes, sir. >> Take a deep breath. Try and relax some now. And let's uh let's try and get off with a a good foot. How's that sound? Good with you? >> All right. >> Good with us. >> Tyler is much more concerned about the tussle he got in with police than he is about the actual reason he was arrested for murder. But really, can you blame the guy? He's not the brightest bulb in the summer school classrooms. Take this statement from one of his teachers who didn't hold back on his opinion of Tyler. >> Can you just give me some background on Tyler? >> Please. Tyler is a lack of a better term, he's very sneaky. >> Mhm. >> I've had I've had several instances where he has done some things and tried to kind of hide it and >> [clears throat] >> after I pushed him, he finally admitted it. >> Right. >> Um also has a pretty violent temper. >> So he he likes to lie. >> Oh, trust me. He pretty much has it all together when you talk to him. >> The majority of Tyler's high school career has been spent in detention for breaking rules and in trouble with local law enforcement for theft and getting into fights. In Tyler's eyes, the murder is just another thing he can no child left behind his way out of. But he's about to find out that's not the case. >> As as he's talked about, we're we're revisiting that case. You know, it's been a year. And and Tyler, as we go along, it's it's very important that that you're truthful. We got to be truthful. Um we we we don't want any misunderstandings, okay? Um And I know you were you were close with Tory. You you liked her. >> Yeah. Both of us were. >> [clears throat] >> And so you know what happened to her is you know, that's not that's hurtful, right? You know, that had to hurt you. So you know, we're that that's why it's important for us to be able to to understand [clears throat] everything that that that we can about that to try to help the situation, okay? You see? Um do you have good memory of that? >> That was like you said a while ago, so like not not really. Um >> Tell me what you remember. >> When they came they came talk to us they came other people came and talked to us at the house. Um they brought me in. They had asked my parents to to come up to the interview and they talked to us about they asked me about all the things that what I was doing that day or in the day of. I told them I was helping uh my grandma. >> Like we did. Do you remember who those people were you talked to? >> Uh I don't know. Two investigators. >> Okay. And what happened after that? >> You know, I don't know. It was we left and then they came searching our house. They took like clothes and shoes which I've been asking my parents to check into that. I don't know if they'll have any record of that. Like when like I'm supposed to be ready to get my stuff. >> Get your stuff back. >> Yeah. It's It's been a long It's been a year now since What What do you remember Tell me about Tori? Help me understand Tori as you knew her. >> I know she loved to draw. I mean she's very like arts and crafts, nice person. >> What kind of What kind of friend were you? I mean how close? >> I mean I knew her through my mom. And then I never really went out of my way to like to do I would help her I would help her around the house. >> So she was a pretty good neighbor? Y'all associated family-wise uh quite a bit? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Did you hang out with her a lot? >> Yes, sir. With who, mister? >> No. Did you ever hang out with her by yourself? >> Yes, sir. >> No? Um Do you know she lived with anybody? >> No, I don't think so, no, sir. >> Um What do you know about the time you know the time that she you know she was killed? >> Yes, sir. >> What do you know about that? >> I mean as soon as she was killed well my parents told me this that she had said I had murdered her or something or whatever. >> Yeah. Do you know if she was uh romantically involved with anyone? >> Not that I know of, sir. >> Okay. Were you ever boyfriend-kind of girlfriend with her at any time? >> Yes, sir. >> You had no um contact other than occasionally and she >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Okay. Did y'all And of course you know as close of friends as as sounds like y'all were, were y'all ever intimate together? >> Yes, sir. >> Not at all? >> It was intimate. Okay. >> You You You never had You didn't have You know what intimate means? >> I know. >> Well, I mean, were y'all Did y'all Did you ever have any type of uh relations together? And I understand you're underage, you can't catch charge for that. I understand she was above age. Did y'all ever have any kind of contact? >> And I told the um people about it. >> What people? >> I was here last time like when I got interviewed. Then um she kind of like And she like blackmailed me that I was doing something. I don't really like talking about it. >> Okay. Well, I understand that might be very important for us to to hear about um given uh you know how she died. So, tell us a little bit about that, if you will. What What were the circumstances of that? You said she blackmailed you. >> Yeah. I was doing something wrong and then she was like, "I'm going to tell your parents if you don't um do this." And then I was like for a second I don't want to do it, you know. I was like, "No, this is wrong of me." Yeah, that I did that. And then she was like, "And that time you're going to get in big trouble." All right. >> What What did she say you're catching you doing? >> I was in the back and I was um burying burying some stuff that I had stolen. Handcuffed. I don't want to get like my parents in it. They already have like been mad at me about stuff like that. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Like grease down and getting committing crimes and they already get mad at me for doing things like that and I already know I was disappointing them already. I want to disappoint them anymore. >> What kind of stolen stuff was it? >> It was some jewelry. >> Help help me help me understand how she caught you. Did she come home and you're uh you're viewable from where she was at? I mean, how did she You said you she caught you doing How did she catch you? >> Like I was standing where I was at. She was like she came out of her house. She wouldn't come home so she came out of her house. And she had seen me. She was like, "Hey, what are you doing?" And then she came over there. I was like, "Nothing." She was like, "Whose stuff is this?" I was like, "Don't don't nobody don't tell mom." >> So when she caught you, what happened after that? You said she blackmailed you. What happened? >> She was like, "All right." She was like, "I won't tell if you do something for me." >> What was that? >> Um she had a roommate. She had roommate in the house like in the with like laundry room was at. And she was like, "I need you to help like >> It's okay. Take a deep breath. That's right. Seem like this affected you deeply, huh? We're all We're all grown men. Okay? Go You can tell us. >> She was like, "Um I need you to help uh And I was like, "I don't want to do that." And then that She is like, "What am I supposed to do with my parents then?" And I was like, you don't have to you you just let it go. That has nothing to do with you or anybody. Like that. >> What happened? Did Did it Did you actually do it? >> Uh yes, sir. >> There is absolutely no indication that Tyler and Melody had a sexual relationship of any kind. All evidence points to Melody being a positive, encouraging, and appropriate force in his life. Tyler was a foster child before he was adopted by Melody's neighbors. In his new home, he continued to struggle. Knowing he needed a place where he could feel safe, Melody often invited him to do art projects with her on her porch. She became a confidant and a good role model for Tyler, who often butted heads with his adoptive parents. Melody did nothing but help Tyler. And in response, he did the unthinkable. >> You You don't remember what day she died, do you? >> No, sir. >> Um When When was the last time you saw her? Before, as you say, these investigators came and talked to you. When was the last time that you saw her? That you knew she was not dead. >> I didn't. She was here We saw her at Walmart with her mom. >> What What about at her home? >> What about at her home? >> Do you remember Ty your last encounter with her, speaking to her? >> Walmart. >> And what happened? >> My mom was there. It's Tori and we were there. As I hate da da da da da da That's it, really. As I said earlier. Seen her, said hi, and then she turned around and we were gone. >> How did Tori act then? >> I don't know. Good. >> She Would you say she was normal, abnormal? >> Maybe normal, I guess. >> Yeah, okay. Now, I saw some notes that that obviously were uh beside your name from the prior investigators uh where they talked about you had a recent cut on your hand. >> I guess so. >> Can you tell me about that? >> I was doing barbed wire with Allen working for my grandma. >> Mhm. >> I had scrapes actually all over my hand. I had some right here, over here, right here. It was freezing and freezing outside. >> Okay. >> But it was I did it for 20 bucks. Because um >> For Tori? >> No, my grandma. >> Okay. Oh, for your grandma? Okay. How bad did you cut your hand? >> Not bad, it was a little a little cut. It was not bad. >> What kind of barbed wire You said it was barbed wire? >> Yes, sir. >> What kind of work were you doing? What what did you What did you have to do? >> Um I had to With the way the the defense was, there was a hole where the barbed wire had you guys rusted away or whatever. >> This is not on like a corner post. It's kind of like in the middle of the fence. >> was a corner post. It was like right in the corner and then there was the section next to it that's right there. And I went and helped. I What I did was I pulled I had put got new barbed wire and stretched to pull it around and doing that, but it kept on it would slip or the the the posts were rotted. And there was another section where like the posts like went out like this. So I had to wire those together >> [snorts] >> cuz it would move every time I would go to stretch the wire tight and nail it in, the post would move. >> So So it it nicked your hands up? >> Yeah. >> Uh, did you have a cut that was substantial that you had to get >> stitches >> and or stitches or a Band-Aid or something for? >> Yes, I needed a Band-Aid. >> Tell me about that. >> I was I mean, got a Band-Aid. >> From >> Uh, I was at school. Cuz I felt it was healed up. >> And it healed up. >> And like but it was still like there. Like open. So, I was like um I went to the nurse and I was like can I get a Band-Aid? >> Did uh Did you go to When When this happened, did you go to your grandmother's and get uh any type of Band-Aids or >> No, sir. >> nap- paper towels, napkins, anything? >> No, sir. >> Did you go home and get anything like that and then >> No, what I did I went home and washed it out in the sink. >> All right. Would you have gone to Tori's and gotten anything for a cut or a Band-Aid or something? >> No, sir. Yes. >> Did uh Did that leave a scar? >> Yes, sir. >> Can I see it? >> I actually got it It's funny cuz I have both of them on both my hands. They're in the same spot. >> Which one would it be? >> Right side. >> That's the one that >> Yes, sir. >> You said you got a stitch for that? Where do you have one on this side, you said? >> Mhm. >> What's it >> My thumb. I don't know. >> Okay. And when you got it? >> [clears throat] >> I had it for a while. >> Okay. >> The day after Melody's murder, Tyler got on the bus and went to school as if nothing happened. However, he had severe lacerations on his hand, so bad that in the middle of the school day, he needed to go to the nurse for a Band-Aid. And when she asked him how he got the injuries, his answer was the brightest red flag you can imagine. >> There was one that was a little bit deeper than the others. Um I did ask him what happened to to his hand cuz I didn't know if it had happened here or at home or where. And he just told me that he didn't want to talk about it, that it was personal. >> After giving that non-answer, Tyler went back to class. And now he has to answer for that personal way he really got that injury. >> So, there's there's really no reason uh for your blood to have been found outside the house, correct? >> No, sir. >> On the carport or anywhere? >> No, sir. >> Okay. In the laundry room? No reason? >> the carport might have been some cuz when I was up on the roof, I cut my leg. >> Cut your leg? That's where? >> Yes, sir. >> Doing roof [clears throat] work there? >> Yes, sir. >> When was that? >> Um it's a couple days after uh Irma. >> I was still fixing up after Irma? >> Mhm. >> So, cut we had cuz we had to put 2x4s 2x4s inside of the the we took some stuff out of the carport, I mean, not the carport, but the the shed and put um cuz we had an old antique car in there. We had to put um posts up there to hit maybe the tree so we can try to direct it when [music] it fell. >> Mhm. >> And we cut the tree in half, but it was still not falling. So, we would give it a try to rope and pull it. My dad, like, I had to yank him out of the cuz as the tree was falling, he was inside the carport. And I pulled him out. Try to [snorts] >> And it caused that? >> No, that's when I was on top of the roof. >> So, it it bled where? >> On the >> Um when I went up to the carport, she had got a Neosporin. >> Neosporin? Who did? That's where? >> Tori did. >> Okay. Did you see your blood on the carport or something? >> Mhm. It It might have got there. >> Anything to wipe it up with and clean it with or just a Neosporin? >> Uh I think we just put Neosporin, then a napkin and Neosporin. >> Okay. Uh did you take the napkin with you? >> No, sir. >> You left it? Okay. So, she would have taken it? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Cuz she had fed us >> For >> For kind of helping out. >> Yeah, the family. She had made a big pot of chili. >> So, you remember when I was we I began our conversation about truthfulness. >> Yes, sir. >> Being completely truthful. >> Yes, sir. >> Is that what you've been with us? >> Yes, sir. >> You sure? >> Yes, sir. >> So, See, you see this right here in this corner? >> Yes, sir. >> That's 0% truth. You see this right here at the end of this map? That's 100% truth. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. With the information that you told the first investigators and the information that you're telling us now, >> Okay. >> where would you put us on this line of truth? >> Um >> Can you point to it for me? You're saying you're right here, 100% truth. >> Yes, sir. >> Well, you haven't been in the house past the laundry room. >> I haven't. >> Right? That's That's true. >> Yes, sir. >> [snorts] >> You You've never been in the living room. >> Yes, sir. >> That's true. >> Yes, sir. >> Um You've had Tori a year before or a year before her death. That's true. >> Yes, sir. One to two years. >> One to two years before her death. >> Somewhere in that time. >> That's true. And you don't know what day she died on. >> Yes, sir. >> That's true. >> Yes, sir. >> You sure? >> Yes, sir. >> So, if I told you that I know you were in her living room, how would you explain that? >> Really? What did I create? You There's There's got to be an explanation. >> to be, though, Tyler. >> If you've been in there. Yes, sir. >> Tyler, you were really good friends with Tori. >> Yes, sir. You cared. >> You liked Tori. >> Yes, sir. >> You cared for Tori. >> Yes, sir. >> Tyler, I'm talking with you and I know there was a little misunderstanding this morning. I understand this morning you were scared. I get that. But Tyler, you don't look like a monster to me. Yes. Are you a monster? >> No, sir, I'm not. >> Thank you. How about you tell me that? >> I think I mean it. I have >> How How do I know you were in that living room? >> I don't, man. >> How do you know you were in that living room? >> I said um >> [snorts] >> Yes, sir. Tyler, I'm going to let you in on something. A lot of the delay uh in reapproaching you uh is because we've been waiting on lab results to come back from testing of evidence. And we've got a lot of evidence. We've got forensic evidence against you. Okay? You're shaking your head and like you kind of knew >> No, no, I'm saying it. Okay. >> Okay, do you understand? >> [clears throat] >> Tyler, we've got your in her We've got your touch DNA inside the waistband of the pants that she was wearing. And you're familiar with DNA, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Do you know how many people are in the United States, roughly? >> Millions. Millions. >> It's about 300 million people in the United States. Do you know what the odds are from the lab results that that was your DNA? About 700 billion, not million, billion to one. That means that essentially nobody else in North America, probably, could match that the way that you did. What does that mean to you? >> Just I'm going to >> No, help help me understand. >> Yeah. I mean I guess I'm going to go to jail. I mean that's it. >> DNA evidence was everywhere in Melody's home. So yes, there's no question whether or not he's going to jail. The only question is will he tell police the real events leading up to her murder. >> Help me understand how your and your touch DNA is there. >> I'm going >> You know what he asked you about? He didn't think you were a monster. Something happened that you didn't want to happen. I believe I I believe that. I don't believe you intended for whatever happened to happen. But something did happen. And we with that evidence left behind, we've got to get your side And the whole truth this time. The whole thing. Whatever it may be, however bad you feel about it, she's your friend. I understand that. She's your She You didn't mean for this to happen, but it did happen. You were close with her family. You thought a lot of them, they thought a lot of you. Your family next door that adopted you thinks a lot of you. Everybody in this, and especially Tori and her memory, deserve to hear your side of the story and what the truth really is. Because otherwise, what do people on the outside think? They just think you're a monster. >> Fill me up. >> Okay? Is that true? Are you just a monster? >> You think so? >> Then tell me what happened. >> I did, sir. What did I tell you? >> Time. >> You under You know what the DNA you under >> So, what he told you about that? >> There There's no way around this. Three of us in this room. Absolutely know you were involved in her death. >> No, sir. Yes, sir. >> There's no way around that. >> [clears throat] >> 700 billion times there's no way around it. How How would you out there? You know this. >> I do. >> was that day, wasn't it? >> No, sir. But I don't know like how like >> [snorts] >> That was crazy. >> Do you remember the day after the body was found? The day after her body was found by us and we got called. Remember seeing all the cops out there? >> [clears throat] >> You went to school the next day. You rode the bus. And you got a long distance travel, so you got to get on the bus kind of early. There's a bus driver and there's an aid on the bus. You remember? >> [clears throat] >> And when you got on the bus, they asked you what all the noise was about. What Why is every Why are there the cops here? >> It goes like uh I figured it was like something happened at Torres Ave. So, something something happened at Torres Ave. >> What did you tell them? >> Nothing there. That's what I told them, something happened at Torres Ave. And I consultant, get all the cops over there. >> What we didn't tell you then because they came to us immediately was that you told them information that nobody else knew that had not been released by the law enforcement yet. >> Word word. >> How she died. >> Like how she died, Tyler. >> I don't know. Tyler, you're you're you're beating your head on this wall. You're trying to deny something that didn't happen. And Tyler, you need to understand that this evidence is 700 billion times in a row tells us you did it. And and it's okay. You've got to understand that part of it is done. I don't think you're the monster. I I told I told him the whole write-up. This kid is not a monster. Something had to have happened. >> The bus driver who picked Tyler up the morning that they responded to Melody's home spoke with police and gave them this telling piece of evidence. >> We went to pick him up Thursday morning. I think it was Wednesday morning. No, it was Thursday. >> This past week? >> Yeah. And um I seen all these cars down there, you know, this is early in the morning. We pick him up around 20 till 5:00 5:00 6:00. And I seen all these cars parked down there and I said, "Oh my goodness, Kathy, [clears throat] what what's going on?" He said, "Oh, there's been a murder out there. A girl was dead." I said, "Really?" He said, "Yeah." >> Police never released how Melody was killed. The fact that Tyler nonchalantly told people she had been stabbed told police that he had to be the one behind the heinous crime. >> Tell us what happened and why. Did she try to threaten you again? >> You know, sir, I mean I know >> What'd she do? >> I don't know. I don't know what you know >> Were you tripping on something? What? There's got to be an explanation. Some Only you can tell us now cuz she's gone. She can't tell us. So, tell us. Let's be honest. Let's get it out. Let's get it open. Now's the time to deal with it. >> I don't know what to tell you. >> Did she make you mad? How'd she make you mad? >> I mean, like I was >> What time did you go over there that day? Today she died. The day you you killed her. >> I didn't kill her, sir. >> Sure. 700 billion times says you did. >> Can I tell you a little more information? More lab testing. We've got from the time of her death mixed with your in the same drop. Again, 700 billion to one. It could not have been anyone else there at the time of her death except Tyler Hurst. Your is mixed with her where you cut your hand. 700 billion to one. What happened, son? Don't go down being the monster. Don't do that. >> Don't take that route. >> Man up. Own up to it. Tell us what happened. Don't make this play out for people in court. And let them make their own decision. You write the other end of this story. >> Tyler, you couldn't eat for days after this. You told us the doctors that. You were throwing up. It was it ate on you. You threw up, you couldn't keep your food down. I don't know how you done it. Today's the day to get your freedom back from this trouble for what happened. Today's the day to do what all those that have mentored you to do. You said, "Tyler, always tell the truth, do the right thing." This is that time, Tyler. Who was scratched off the list? We're done with who? >> I have to decide who >> Let us tell your mom and dad why. >> What's your What's What's your version? What happened? What really happened? Did you mean for it to happen? >> Did she make you mad? >> Did you want her to die? >> I don't know. Sorry. >> You did? >> No. >> Why so? What happened? Why did you want her to die? >> Everything. >> What did she do? That you wanted her to die? Did she hurt you? Did you have to keep her quiet about something that happened? Tyler. Why? >> She made me do it. >> She made you do what? >> She made me do it. >> Tyler's word choice here isn't subtle. First, in his words, it was Melody that forced him to have an intimate relationship with him against his will. Now, it's her fault that he had to kill her. >> Just tell me how it happened. What How did she die? Be Was she Was she shot? Tell me. >> I don't remember. >> Okay. What do you remember? You remember you wanted her to die. You remember she made you do it. But How did she do it? >> I don't remember. >> Did you cut her? >> All I do remember is >> You're almost there, son. What do you [clears throat] remember? >> I don't remember anything. >> You don't have any You don't have or not have anybody until they distance themself from you. But what will keep them and love you through this is for you to get this off your chest and be honest and have remorse for what happened. That's what people want to see. >> Be honest. >> Remorse. Remorse. You feel bad for what happened and that you're truthful about what happened. Do you have remorse? >> Remorse is a very good thing. You got to do that. >> Do you have remorse? Do you know what that means? Do you feel sorry for what happened? >> She deserved it. >> How? >> [clears throat] >> Help me unders- Help us under- >> Yeah, help us understand that. Why did she deserve it? >> She took something that wasn't hers. >> What did she take? >> Me. >> Okay. >> She hurt me. >> So then what happened? It's all right, son. We're getting there. We're getting there. >> [laughter] >> Let's get it off your chest. >> [laughter] >> Get it off your chest. Come on, Tyler. >> [gasps] [laughter] >> Let it go. Tyler, you've carried this too long. >> [laughter] >> That's right. Let it go. Get it out of there. >> [clears throat] >> Monsters don't cry, son. I'm just sorry. You got to feel remorseful what happened. You didn't want it to happen. But it controlled you. Something Something took over [snorts] and caused this to happen. What was it, son? What did you do? Tell us. Get it off your chest. Get it off your chest. >> I worked so hard to have a family, and now I have nothing. >> Tyler, you still have family. >> I don't. I don't. I don't have a family. I don't have a family. I don't Like I I knew something was up with my family they'd pick up the phone. Like I called them and they didn't pick up the phone. >> Tyler, they didn't know anything about this. Look at me. When we Today, we sent detectives just today. Right about the time that those guys came to bring you over to talk to us. They don't have any clue up until then. >> There's a moment in here, a brief flicker that might make you think Tyler is remorseful. A second where you think maybe, just maybe, those are the tears of a man who regrets his actions. That is until you realize the tears aren't for Melody. They're because he believes his adoptive family has turned on him, which in reality they didn't do. Not even close. Up until the end his parents defended him believing he couldn't have done anything violent. >> So you went over there and she was already home? What happened when you got there? Did you knock on the door? You did? And then what happens? Did she say something? Did she say come in? Did she say who is it? What happened? Which is? >> She said come in. She was just sitting at the table. >> In the living room? Okay. Did you go in and sit down, too? You stood there? What happened then? >> She was laying. You laid back on the wall? And then I She was [snorts] laying but I know what you've been doing. She took me to the living room and I didn't know what to talk about. And I swooped back. She talked about it. I know that you've been sneaking out. >> I think I'm not. >> Talking about >> [clears throat] >> stuff about me. She was like that's what he was talking about. I asked her to do it again. It was like no, I don't want to. She's like do it or I'm going to tell. We got I don't know. We did it. And I don't know. Yeah. >> That's >> And then we went to home. >> Then I >> And we went to sleep. And then the next morning I had on with those on. Like the next morning I woke up. And then I'm not where I was, you know, when I went to sleep. >> What? >> That's before I went to sleep and then I smoked. And then After that I don't know what happened. >> Did you go back to her house? >> Yeah. >> Was she dead when you left her house? >> No, she >> She was not? >> [snorts] >> It's like the key. >> So you smoked in the next morning. >> Yeah, I smoked before I laid down. >> You said you you said you You said you woke up not where you were before. Where did you wake up at? >> Like I had fell asleep in the back of the and then [clears throat] I woke up. >> When you woke up where were you? >> The back chair. >> What that like? >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> I don't know. >> You had blood on you? No? What you got? >> It's incredible how often criminals come down with a case of selective amnesia. Tyler, like many, manages to hold on to his for the rest of his interrogation and beyond. >> She made you mad. Right? Can I get a head nod? You were mad. Because of what she said. Will you answer that for me? How then? >> [clears throat] >> Tyler. You These people need You deserve to be mean to people. Complete the story for them. Complete the story for your family. Complete the story for her family. >> She say something that made you mad? Did you lose your temper? >> No. >> Then what happened? She's sitting at the table. She tells you you've been sneaking out. And it's not over. Right? >> Did you get scared? >> [snorts] >> Did you get mad? Cuz I think that would make me mad. I'm not you, but I think that would make me mad. Did it? >> Tell your mom or your dad or your mom or dad the story. Tell us. I don't have to produce anything at the table. She didn't threaten you, but she made you mad. Is that right? She threatened to tell your parents again. She went back on her word, didn't she? You had already worked this out with her. Right? But that wasn't good enough. Was it? Not for her. So, you walk in there. And there she sits. Do you walk up to her? Or do you sit? Do you sit down and tell her? Does that I know? Okay. >> [clears throat] >> So, what did you tell her you were going to do? Will you really be here today? We're done questioning you. >> Yeah. >> No. Tyler, we've got a warrant for your arrest for first-degree premeditated murder. >> More murder? >> Ultimately, Tyler was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Melody Bennett. Up until the very end, he denied involvement, which denied her family the answers they deserved. Our thoughts are with Melody's friends, family, and loved ones who had a bright light taken from them far too soon. Thank you for tuning in. Nearly 85% of everyone watching isn't subscribed. Your subscription and support would mean the world to us so we can keep bringing you more content just like this. Before you go, check out one of our craziest cases right here or one of my newest ones right here.