Please help me. Athena. Athena. Please help me. Yep. There's a lot of blood. Officers have just found Athena Valentini killed inside her small, quiet coastal beach home. They believe that the man in this surveillance footage is Athena's murderer. For weeks, cameras have been recording him buying burner phones, driving more than 2,400 mi across the country, and breaking into Athena's house to take her life. A killer that is much closer to home than anyone knows. Video surveillance cameras show you going into your mom's apartment late she was murdered. Hold on. I'm sorry. No. Wait. No, no, no, no, no. Because this is Athena's son, Levente Lazar, and the same person CCTV has been recording all this time. Levente believes that he has planned the perfect murder, making sure that he will never get caught for what he has done to Athena. A plan that will come crumbling down. >> All these are the same clothes you wore when you killed her? Yes. But no, I didn't kill my mom. So, are you a cold-blooded killer, or did something else happen in the house? On October 24th, 2018, police were dispatched to the peaceful coastal community of Grover Beach, California, to perform a welfare check. 64-year-old Athena Valentini had failed to show up for her shift at California Men's Colony, a prison where she worked as a nurse, >> [music] >> and had been a reliable, on-time employee for several years. When she failed to show up for call, her co-workers instantly knew that something was wrong. Police arrived to search the home soon after the call, and immediately, they knew things weren't right. Grover, can I Registered nurse that never showed up for work this morning? >> Oh. Um so, get here. We only We know she only has one vehicle registered to her from our information. Mhm. Um she's not answering the door. We spoke with the neighbor. She said the last time she saw her was 2 days ago, uh but she did hear her yesterday uh speaking Hungarian. She is Hungarian, and that's all she knows. You have problems with her or anything? You know? She uh The neighbor said that she has a Adam 12, any contacts at this address? Good. She said that she has a regular routine. She likes the gate. She's got a small gate out front. She likes it with a padlock. Has a dog that she'll use out front. >> Okay. Um the padlock's not there. It's unsecured. There is no dog. Um she said that her son lives in the area. We tried contacting him. No answer. Okay. So, let's go >> answer on her phone, either? No. Uh any cars that are hers? >> This is her only This >> This is hers, yeah. Yeah. What do you think? Red type of substance on the blinds. So, I don't know if that'd be enough for you. You guys are scaring me. Well, it's good enough if you guys are going to request to check the welfare. Yeah. I I I don't need a warrant. I'm just going to Okay. Athena! I'm going to smoke it. Athena, Police Department. Yep. 11-44. Adam 12, code four. 11-44. All right, just don't touch anything, but it looks like a lot of pills. Oh, wait, no. There's a lot of blood. Inside the bedroom, police discovered Athena, deceased from a knife wound. And police couldn't have possibly expected that the person behind it was in the smiling family photos, which had been hung up all around the room by the proud mother. The proud mother, who was now gone, and who the police had to find answers for. Officers immediately canvassed the area, speaking with neighbors to try and get any insight into Athena's life, and what the last few days of her life looked like. Do you know she has relatives? >> She's got a son in Chicago, maybe. Do you know how to get a hold of him? No. Charmed with the knowledge that Athena has a son, the police hurry to another neighbor who provides much more insight into who he is and who gives police their first clue that he might not have been 2,000 mi away in Chicago like he should have been the night of his mother's murder. I heard her either last night or the night before. You heard her? Yeah, she was talking to someone in Hungarian. I think it was her son. Oh, on on a phone or something like that? >> No, in person. Athena's son is 27-year-old Levente Laszlo Lazar. Growing up, Athena had been the sole support for her son after moving to the US from Hungary after the loss of her husband. She raised Levente in the US all alone and managed to work hard enough to get her son into good schools and eventually good universities. Levente attended Ivy League schools and at the time of his mother's murder, he was attending graduate school in Bloomington, Indiana. His mom had given him the gift of an education that would allow him to land any job he wanted. He was undeniably smart, but as you're about to see, book smarts don't always translate to real life because covering up a crime, that's not Levente's forte. Hi. Hello. Are you Lazar or Mr. Lazar? Yeah, Levente Lazar. Okay, is Ms. Valentine your mother? Yes. Can I step in and speak to you, please? Um my girlfriend lives here, but sure. Is it You live here with her, though? Yeah, she's here and and a dog. Okay, would you mind if I come in? Oh, yeah, sure. Come on. Thank you. Hey, I'm Levente. How are you? I'm good. How are you? Doing pretty well. Um I was contacted this afternoon Okay. by the St. Louis Besbow County Sheriff's Department or District Attorney's Office, I don't remember which one. Okay. Um your mother has passed away. Very very sorry for that, obviously. >> What happened? I don't know. They they didn't really give me any details. Um they just asked that we come and make a notification to you. Okay. >> And then have you get in touch with them. Uh do you do you have a phone number? >> I do. I have a phone number for you. I'm very sorry for your loss. >> Thank you so much for the how's going though? Obviously it's a very Yeah. hard thing to have to deal with. >> Yeah. Have a wonderful day. Thank you. You too. Everyone reacts to grief and shock differently. Some people cry, some people freeze, some people scream, and some people like Levente act as if they've just heard the latest weather report. But Levente's complete lack of reaction to learning about his dear mother's death isn't the only thing that has law enforcement looking his way. After hearing the neighbor's statement that Levente was visiting and speaking with Athena the night of her murder, police looked deeper into his phone records, location, and relationship with his mother. And they found perhaps the most extensive trail of evidence that we've ever explored on this channel. But as Levente sat down with them for a check in at the station, he had no idea that they, as the kids say, had receipts, lots of them. If you'd like to see losers like Levente realize they're messed up, be sure to like and subscribe. It's literally all we do here. So, I wanted first again extend my condolences. Thank you. It's very difficult Yes. thing to deal with and you know, I just wanted to let you know that we all wanted to extend our condolences and work very hard in this case. Thank you. It's it's very difficult losing a parent. I lost one as well and so Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Actually lost two parents now because my father passed away from a heart attack. If you didn't have enough reasons to hate Levente already, he's also a one-upper. Though here he's not lying at least. Levente's father died of a heart attack when he was young and the family was living in Hungary. Due to Hungarian laws, Athena feared that Levente would be taken away and given to his father's parents to be raised. So wanting to keep her son, she immigrated to the US. So, keep in mind, this is a woman who put it all on the line simply to keep her son in her life, and her son paid her back in the most horrific way possible. Law enforcement read Levente his rights, and they get down to business. I just want to make it clear, you're welcome to access my phone or to come to my house or anything like that. I don't You don't need a warrant. I can invite you in. Okay. >> I didn't make that clear on the phone or if I did, I forgot. But, I I just want to kind of help No, I >> I can. >> that, and that's that's what I'm looking for is a little bit of help here. Okay. Um And I emailed you yesterday my flight schedule Oh, you did? Yes. Now, to give you a little more information, so I know what I talked to you. Your mom, um I uh believe she was attacked and killed on the 24th of October. What day you said? That was Thursday. So, when you left Yeah, because I don't know the dates. [clears throat] Sorry. So, yeah, so it was Wednesday. Okay. Okay? And so, you talked to her on Monday, right? Yes, and then she >> you went to Indianapolis on Tuesday. It was the 23rd. Correct. Okay, so then Wednesday is when I believe she was killed. Okay, and she texted me And she texted you on On the Thursday, the 25th. Yes. At 9:00 p.m. Okay. And then then the 20 It was it Thursday or Friday you took off in this? Uh Thursday. Okay. So, the 20 5th, you were in Columbus. Right. Okay. And then you Friday night. And then you you've been in Bloomington since then? Yeah, or just like the nearby area. Okay. >> Yeah, because there's a few wineries that we go to with my girlfriend. Oh, okay. Or like escape rooms or some sort of activity. Um I know we went to a haunted house um that Sunday and that was a little bit further up in that Sunday prior or after that Sunday after after okay so that would have been 28th okay and that that was in Martinsville so that's Martinsville is between Bloomington and Indianapolis it's about 20 20 miles 30 miles north okay so for the most part I've been kind of within um 50 mile range 50 50 100 mile range that's what kind of what I need a little bit of help with is because you and you've had your phone with you that whole time okay so when I [clears throat] looked in your phone I was able to get records for all the your recent people that have called your mom and so I your number was one of them on the 22nd so they came back with those records when I asked them from AT&T and so they show your phone going to Springfield Missouri on the 20 third I believe 22nd 23rd can you help me explain that not Missouri I I went to from Mount Vernon in Missouri but that was I'm sorry in Illinois >> that was Illinois yeah but that's as far as I went I didn't go to Missouri that that day or that week really >> Missouri was early the earliest time I was in Missouri was in June okay >> of this year okay and is that the that's the only phone you have >> that's the only phone I have I had this in January last year oh no I >> that's just strange I mean no I I so basically when our phones travel they talk to cell phone towers right so you you're a smart guy you probably know better than me but um no I have >> every time they connect to a tower Yeah. it shows the tower's location. Yeah. The phone has to be within close proximity of those towers. Right. So um the fact that your phone shows going you know from your house basically to the Springfield Missouri area >> I understand. >> 22nd 23rd Yeah. Okay. >> I was not in Missouri um this month last month. June was the last month I was in Missouri. Huh. May June And the other curious thing is so on the 25th only 4 25th I live on the 25th your phone is showing up in Texas. Yes. And and it and it tracks all the way back to your house from Texas. The last time I was in Texas was um when I moved back here. Oh. That's 2015 because I drove here. Okay. Yeah. Um So when I looked at your phone records, what I did was I had looked at um the other callers that called your mom. Okay? And I found another Cincinnati, Ohio number Mhm. that looks like it was traveling with your phone to your mom's house. And I don't have another phone either. Yeah. Well So when I looked at that and I put just the two records together >> Oh, I understand. I had a map from your house to your mom's house. Oh, to my mom's house. >> Correct. Okay. With those two phones the maps directly from your house on the 22nd Mhm. to your mom's house on the 24th. >> I can promise you I was not >> Okay. I was not in California in late January. >> Listen to me for a second here. Yeah. When I looked at that Yes. I checked uh there's other systems that we can check Mhm. that they have what's called a license plate reader. Okay. Okay? And when a license plate gets scanned on that as you're driving down the road Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> it takes a picture of your car. Okay? And the picture it took in Texas and Arizona and California is a picture of your car. That's not California receipt. All right, except the January. Okay. Listen to me, Levente. I am listening. Okay. All those records clearly show it was your Jeep. Okay? In 2018, you would think any person, let alone a person pursuing a master's degree, would know that burner phones aren't exactly as sneaky as they used to be. Police were able to connect Levente to the murder by looking at his mother's phone records. A new number had begun calling her in the weeks leading up to the murder and it actually called her moments before she was killed. The number was connected to a burner phone purchased at a Best Buy in, you guessed it, Indiana, where Levente lived. But the man who purchased the phone was named Jake Keith. Police pulled up surveillance footage of the purchase, revealing that Jake Keith was a fake name, a bad one at that, and that the man who purchased the phone was Levente. That burner phone, which Levente evidently believed was untraceable, was tracked leaving his home in Bloomington and making a 30-hour straight drive to his mother's home in Grover Beach, arriving the same day police estimate she was killed. And that's just the beginning of the evidence stacked against Levente. There's video surveillance cameras on your mom's apartment. Mhm. Did you know that? I did not. Video surveillance cameras show you going in your mom's apartment when she was murdered. Okay? So, what I'm here to do today to talk to you is well. I already know that you're the one that went there. Okay? I need you to help me understand why you did this to your mom. I didn't do anything to my mom. Levente, it's clear to me there's clear as day, unfortunately, you went and bought that phone at Best Buy. You're on video there buying that phone, the Cricket Wireless phone that you used during this trip. I have you on video there. I have you video on your mom's house. I have video afterwards with Athena leaving. Okay? Casey, I >> You have to We're past that part, okay? I know it's tough. This is something that's been hard to talk about, but No, there's nothing hard to talk about. It it it's the fact that I >> Explain to me why why you killed your mom. I didn't. >> Did something happen there? You know what I've looked into Listen to me for me. You know what I've looked into? It sounds to me like your mom was kind of a taskmaster. And she You know, I know she was upset a little bit about, you know, your choices for school, and that she would kind of push on you a little bit. And I and I >> No, but she didn't even want me to go into academia. She wanted me to be a nurse, an RN. I can understand growing up how you had a tough childhood, okay? And I know you you know, you guys moved here, you lost your father. >> Casey, she hasn't Since I was Since I was 18, since 2010, I have been independent. I have never relied on her financially, emotionally. I mean, we've shared bonds, but that was it. Like, she she never controlled what I went to Davis, when I switched majors. She wanted me to be a doctor. I wanted to be a historian at the time. I >> Well, there had to be something to where No, she No. No, listen to me. It it's clear as day that you were there that day. Help help me understand why. This is your house right here, where this is. Yes. This is your mom's house. Yes. Okay? You understand that pictures. Caught you going around. Okay? That's your Jeep, correct? >> Yes. Okay. The So, what you're telling me about being in Indiana, never leaving the house in your life since January of this year. >> No, I saw her in June. This clearly Well, you were at her house on the 24th of October. I was not at her house. Of October this year I was not. Do you see what I'm showing you? Do you want to see more? Here. Here's pictures of your Jeep was taken all on your route with you in it. Okay? The video at your mom's house show you driving by 3:30 that afternoon, >> [clears throat] >> okay, in your Jeep. Okay. Okay. So >> [clears throat] >> understand what all this says is that you were So for you to sit here and tell me that makes zero sense and it doesn't look, you know, good for you. Okay? What I'm trying to understand is did something happen when you were there that caused a struggle with your mom or were you just mad at her? Was Are you trying Do you need money? >> [clears throat] >> No. I don't I don't need money. >> So what happened? Tell me what happened. That's the only way we're going to understand this a little bit better cuz you seem like a very intelligent, smart, and a nice person and something had to have happened that We all make mistakes. No. I I mean I understand everybody makes mistakes, but no, I Hey. First of all First of all, you know, as you as you pointed out I I had a rough childhood, but you know what? I've always had my mom. Always had my mom. She was the on number one person with the exception of the dog that I could go to. >> Mhm. There's no reason for me to hurt her. I never hurt her. I never did. I If anything I went out of my way to help her all the time. There's no Can you explain this? I cannot. I absolutely cannot, but I did not do anything to her. I really didn't. I prom Do Do Do that there is video surveillance all over that complex? Okay, there was, but It was I watched you go in and out of the house. I watched you Your mom actually had a a video surveillance in her house cuz she was worried about the transients. Okay. Okay. [clears throat] It's I I watched you do it. Okay. What do you mean you watched me do it? I didn't do anything. Casey Help me explain why. Why Why what? What happened that day? What happened in your life around that time that where you decided Nothing. >> to do this. Nothing. >> Was it a spur of the moment? So, your mom You called her that day several times and she actually told her friends about it and left voicemails about talking to you >> Yeah. on the 24th. Yeah, I spoke to her. You told me earlier that you didn't. You said on the 26th. Any No, no, no. You had called her from the phone that you bought at Best Buy. I didn't. I only have one phone. Well, only your one phone, Casey. Did you not buy a phone a phone at Best Buy? No. I did not. I did not. Do you want me to show you the video of it? Do you want me to show you the video of it? Sure. While the officer waits for the videos of Levente walking towards the house to render, he shows him photos of his car as it traveled across the US to the scene of the crime and then immediately back. So, can you explain to me then the pictures of our Jeeps that are in Arizona and Texas cuz very clear your Jeep has this Jeep sticker here. >> mine. What's this sticker? Um when I lived in an apartment in Davis. Okay. So, >> [snorts] >> All right. And that's that's your license >> It's gray. It's not It's gray. Okay. Can you explain that, too? No. No, I'm not. Why? I cannot because I have no answer. Okay. And I Yeah, I That's your Jeep. Sure. Okay. And that's in Texas. Okay. Okay. That's where your phone is hitting the tower. Okay. That's where the phone you bought at Best Buy is hitting the tower. Okay. Right there. Okay. Where you picture your Jeep. Yes. You went. Okay. Okay. I understand. Okay. Help me explain that. I can't because I don't know this. Okay. So, this is on the 23rd and you're driving out to California. Okay. Okay. This is on the 25th you're driving back. Okay. To Indiana. Okay. Okay. This is in Arizona when you're even closer to California. You got tons of these. You realize that? I understand. Like everywhere you went you got captured on video. Okay. Okay. You understand that? You got captured everywhere you went. And you There's video surveillance of you at the house. I'll show [snorts] you that, too. Okay? The Best Buy is really not that important. I know you had that phone and you called your mom from it. Because her phone record showed your record showed and she tells her friend about talking to you right after that phone call from that phone, okay? So, I'm not You need to help me explain. Let me show you Let me show you something. Okay? Let me show you. Yes. >> I know this is tough. I know this is >> No, it's tough because I I'm You're telling me you're going to show me something, but I I haven't seen anything. Yeah. I've I've been showing Do you not No, no. I've seen I've seen the maps. >> Okay. Okay. I have 100 gigs of video and data on this computer all showing you right there. I'm waiting because I did not see my mom. You did not see your mom. I did not see my mom this year. Or except in January 2018. That's I did not see my mom. You're on video at her house on that day. Do you understand that? Do you understand that? I >> What you're saying flies in the face of reason. >> No, I I understand what you're saying. What I don't understand is is reason. Okay. Proof, I guess. >> Okay. Is that not your Jeep driving in front of your mom's house? That's on the 24th of October. I can't I mean I saw the Jeep. Okay, that's your Jeep, correct? I don't know. What do you mean you don't know? I don't know. I just saw a white >> Here you go. Okay? What's that in that corner? >> A sticker. Right? Okay. That's your sticker. Exact place you have on your Jeep, correct? What's that sticker? Exact sticker you have on your Jeep, is that correct? I didn't see the second sticker, but okay, okay. So this this is in front of your mom's house, on 10/24. Look 15:27, which means 3:27. The next Explain that to me then. I don't know. There's That's your Jeep. How do you know that's my Jeep? So, can you show me proof of me? Yeah. Is that what you need in order to tell me what happened? Sure, [snorts] but I didn't do anything. Look at that tape. Yes. I've been very nice to you. I've bent over backwards to explain all this. There's multiple views of every single place on that house. Do you understand that? I'm not going to show you the video of you murdering your mom. You're going to have to tell me about it. Okay. Of me murdering my mom? I didn't murder my mom. I didn't hurt my mom. I didn't do anything to my mom. >> were you not there at her house that day? Is [snorts] this Is this not you leaving with the dog? I realize there's audio as well on these videos. Okay. Right there. You realize there's you and Athena walking away. Okay? Right there. I have you on video going all the way up the street to where you parked. Do you realize that? >> That's not me. That's not me. How can that be me? Well, then tell me cuz it was you. Okay? You showed one person walking by with a dog. I have lots of video. They're hard to get to. The video that interested law enforcement the most and that Levente will be frustrated to see is the footage of him walking up to his mother's house and then leaving sometime later with her dog, who was also named Athena. Athena, the dog, was reportedly an incredibly testy pooch, one who would bark and lash out at anyone she didn't know. The fact that she was calm and collected with the man walking her out of her home told police that she was familiar with him and the fact that the man in the footage was wearing the same outfit as Levente, sitting in front of them, definitely helps with that theory. Faced with ample video evidence, Levente begins to backtrack and lie very, very, very badly. Throw another very in for good measure and maybe hold on to something because this is about to get cringey. Uh >> All these are the same clothes you wore there when you killed her. >> Yes. But no, I didn't kill my mom. No. Uh these are the clothes that I wore to California. I didn't see my mom that day. I didn't. I talked to her on the phone, but I didn't see her. So, did you Did you buy the phone at Best Buy? The one the Cricket? Yeah. Yes, I did. Okay. Why did you buy that phone? Personal reasons. Like what? Personal reasons. Can you explain that to me? No, because it has nothing to do with this. But it has nothing to do with my mom. And who else did you call from that phone? Um other people. They have I've never mentioned them to you. Okay. You've never told me about the other people. No, because they're not related to this. Can you tell [clears throat] me who they are now so I can check with them? But it's not related. Okay. That's why What's what's Hannah going to tell me when I talk to her about where you were? And I was not there. What's she going to say? What did you tell Hannah? Okay. I was in California. But I didn't go see my mom. I didn't see her. I drove by her place. What did you What did you I went to Los Angeles. Um I went to Los Angeles to and I can prove it to you. I can show it to you. >> Okay. Um to buy marijuana. Okay. And I I bought medicinal marijuana. I went to um It's on Venice Street in Los Angeles. That's why I went to California. Okay. >> And I How do you show that to me? How? >> Yeah. I have in my house. Okay. Um it's And how much did you buy? About a hundred and eight hundred twenty dollars worth. A hundred and twenty dollars worth? Yeah. It's fifteen grams. Okay. That's it. So that's why you came to California? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I don't know anyone here except Hannah. Hannah is not going to go ask people. I'm not going to go ask other people either. She's in medical school. Okay. Um And I know the person there. So he bought he gave it to me a reduced discount. Okay, at at a discount. And who was that? Did you Who did you buy it from? Um it's it's a store, a dispensary. Okay. >> And I know one of the people that that works there. What's his name? Her name. But it's not related to this. Well, if you're saying that's why you came to California, I should be able to ask them, right? And they would tell me. But I don't want to bring her into this. You can see film footage of me walking in there. I can show it to you because this is California on it. It shows the dispensary's name on it. Okay. Yeah. I went into this dispensary and I bought and then I left and then I was going to surprise my mom to go up. I went all the way up, but she wasn't there. Okay. And then where did you go after that? I left. What time What time did you leave? I left So, you're telling me that you drove for I know for 15 >> hours for 15 grand a week. for $100 a week. I know what it sounds like. I know it does. Okay. But Do you understand that as we talk you know Do you understand why you know, I think we need to talk about what happened here. I understand a couple of things. Just to be clear. I understand you gave me my rights when I first came here. Yep. I understand You cannot You I think you can understand why I was hesitant and why I didn't say it was in California because I'm crossing I'm crossing state lines with Is that Is that really the thing that you think I'm here for? No. No. No. You're not here for the for the weed, ain't it? No. No. No. No. You're not You're not here for the I understand that. But I didn't >> I talked to you about your mom being killed and asked you for your help to explain to me when the last time you saw your mom was and you >> see my mom. Okay, but I that day, okay, when I talked to you, you knew. Okay. But how am I supposed to How am I supposed to tell >> If this story you just told me is true, Yeah. you would have told me that. No, because No, no. >> Why? Because I am crossing state lines. I First of all, it makes me a suspect that I was in California and I drove 60 hours for 15 grams. Okay. More than that. A little bit more. Okay. Um So, when I go to that dispensary, and I check any dispensaries in in LA, I'm going to find that. Yeah. The reason I can't say this is because I am crossing state lines, multiple state lines. That's a federal offense. I will get in a lot of trouble for that. If I told you that, even if it was not related, I would still get in trouble for that. Why? Because I'm breaking a law. What law are you breaking? Crossing state lines of That's a law? I mean, it Yes, it is. Okay. I'm asking. I don't No, it is. I don't It is. It is. Okay. Let's break this down. Levente's story has completely changed. Now, he's saying he did make a 30-hour drive to California, conveniently around the same time his mother was murdered, but that the two things aren't related at all. He was driving across the country, sustaining himself on 5-hour energies, just to go buy medical grass in California. That story is obviously ridiculous for several reasons. For starters, no one is driving cross-country to buy a substance legally. Secondly, no one is driving to California to buy that legal substance when it's also legal in several other, much closer states, like Michigan, Colorado, or Nevada. Levente could have just driven 3 hours to the Michigan border. Instead, he drove 10 times that far and passed through two other states where he could have bought his substance of choice on the way, and could have bought it for cheaper, mind you. >> Let me Let me show you a couple things, right? Okay? Just so you know. Okay, here's Okay, here's your trust, right? >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> And this goes in to explain that um you are her sole heir, so you do get all her property. >> But I didn't even know about this. I mean, I knew she she wrote one up or she she talked to attorneys, but I didn't know about this. Okay. Let me show you a few things here. So we can get past that part cuz it's it's more about law, okay? It's not about law. Okay. Okay. What's your financial situation right now? It's going to It's fine. Yeah, it's more than fine. How much money do you have in the bank right now? 20,000. Okay. Not in the bank, but in collection. Bank, um TD Ameritrade. Okay. Levente tries to play himself off as financially stable, hard-working even, but the reality of his situation was wildly different. Levente had not worked an adult job in his entire life, though he claimed to work for Disney publishing to anyone who would listen. He coasted through life using legal payments from a settlement to sustain himself, but sustain is a bit of a heavy lifting word here because at the time of this interrogation, Levente was over $100,000 in debt after making bad trades, day trading, and refusing to pay the IRS money he owed them. He found himself spiraling deeper and deeper into severe debt, severe debt that could all be wiped away if his mother wasn't in the picture. You see, if Levente's mother died, he would inherit her properties, including a home she owned in Woodland Hills, California, which was estimated to be worth over half a million dollars. So what were you emailing about the Woodland Hills place? What do you mean the bank? You were emailing with somebody about the Woodland Hills address. Yes. >> that? Yes, um my mom was looking to sell it. Because I told her earlier this year that um based on the ratios in the market, I can get into that as well. Um I foresee property prices going down. And I told her right now um it's at its not at its peak, but it's very close to it. And I thought she should sell that property, live in Grover Beach, and then use that rest of the money and retire. Because that property is going for like 400,000 right now. And she bought it for I think 200 or 230. And because of that, I told her, "You look, it's super difficult to manage it. You owe you have two mortgages. You're 64 years old. How are you going to continue working and paying off two mortgages, even if you have a roommate or even if you rent one out? Eventually, like you're going to break down." I never wanted my mom to stop. I never If that's If that's the motive you're going for, there's no reason. Because if you look at my financial record, you'll see there is no reason for me to do that. My rent here is $435 a month, plus utilities, that brings it up to 550, maybe 600. You know, I I have no There's no financial gain in this. Because even even if I um I mean, if if all goes well in November the November 19th, I'm going to get an additional 197,000. You know, I I don't need that. Or I I I don't need more than that now. And considering I'm not going to buy property next year or this year, there's no incentive for me to need more. In fact, that's why I've been focused more on writing, so I could publish again. Okay. So, what else do you need money for? Nothing. Nothing? No. Okay. You could check You could check my bank You only I only have one [clears throat] bank. So, you'll see all the statements. Amazon, food, gas. So, that should show me all the places you used this card. Yeah. Right? Okay. Um So, what are the other motives you think I'm looking at? I don't know because I can't think of any. I had a good relationship with my mom. I did. Because you're trying to get to a motive, but there is no motive here. I'm Okay. Okay? >> Okay. Listen to me for a minute. This whole thing It's not only just that my mom died, but now my whole life is going to be just just just by by the news, by you guys saying that you leaked that didn't leak that story. Give me a break. Okay? And now you're going to go through my stuff and my girlfriend's belongings and stuff. Jesus Christ, it's going to ruin her. Okay? All because And you're going to find out you You're going to find out. Okay? But in the end, it doesn't affect you. It I could move on. It's not a big deal. There's a million fish out there, but damn, man. Levente's debts are enough motive for him to kill his mother, but police don't need to theorize on this. Levente all but proved it for them with his Google search history. Leading up to his mother's murder, he made numerous searches to see if a beneficiary could still inherit a home if the owner of said home died under mysterious circumstances. In other words, he was basically Googling, "If I kill my mommy and they can't prove it, can I still get all of her stuff?" And that wasn't even the worst of his searches or history on his phone. So, Yeah. [clears throat] I don't want to go through Yeah. you know, your trip back from Yeah. California. Look, let let's just Okay, I I understand you have you have evidence. You have the videos. You have the videos. Let's just let the jury decide. Okay? Let's just do that. >> Let me tell you this. You were >> here's the thing, Casey. Here's the thing. Let me let me tell you what's what's what's going to happen here because I already know what it what what You're asking me questions about my PC, about my shoes. Excuse me. May I just one just one minute, okay? Just You're asking questions about my PC, about my phone, about my shoes. Okay, that there's no doubt in my mind you were in that house. Tell me what happened in that house that night. Maybe it's something different than what I think. Nothing happened. >> What happened in that house? >> Nothing happened because I didn't go in her house. I didn't even see the dog. I didn't even get out of my car. I literally I drove I think I circled twice that uh that street. Not like in two different intervals, but literally the same interval. Like I circled once because I thought I saw her. And then I circled twice to verify and I didn't. And I and I and I pulled and then I pulled in And then you parked up the street. Okay? And you walked down to the house. And then afterwards, you walked back up to your Jeep. And you get in your Jeep and you drive. And you leave the area at about 11:00 p.m. Okay? >> [snorts] >> You get rid of her or turn her mom's phone off right after that, okay? So her phone goes with you with your your Cricket phone and your other phone. We're communicating with towers right from her house. Okay? You took her phone with you. I didn't because I didn't see my mom. I didn't go in her house. I didn't Lente. Do you understand that none of that makes any sense and it makes you seem I know what it seems like, but that's what that's what I'm saying that I'm No, no, no, no, no. I'm going to let the jury decide because here's the thing. Okay, you said you had forensic there. Okay, then you're going to find like my fingerprints, right? Or you have a weapon or or something. Right? Or my hair fibers because I'm balding and because it's shedding all the time. Or you're going to find because my because Rowan's hair sheds as well, you're going to find Rowan's hair or another dog's hair in there. A Bernedoodle Not a Bernedoodle, a Goldendoodle, right? You're going to find all that there. And then they can add it up, but I'm telling you I did not go in that house. You're saying you have you have video evidence. I you I that's >> You killed No. Oh my god. Okay. You Your mom Your mom Okay, I don't know what the conversation was. >> There was no conversation except on the phone when we just talked generically. >> Okay, when you went in there something happened. Okay, and maybe you didn't want it to happen, but you hurt your mom. Look, I'm not in denial. Okay? Okay, I'm not like like Like I don't have dual personalities or anything like that. I'm I'm telling you >> Do you understand that the story you gave me about driving 64 hours across country I know what it is. to buy a $100 worth I know. I know. Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds? I I do know. I do know. >> So then you should understand. You're a smart guy. I do know. No, I understand you completely. And the thing is like I can't say anything otherwise. >> listen to the rest of it. Okay, you bought a prepaid burner phone from Best Buy so you can make this trip to contact your mom. Okay? >> No, not to contact my mom. That wasn't the purpose. Look, I'm not Okay, you you can accept you can access the phone number so you can see that I called Why Why did you get it Why did you do it on a fake name? What did? On your phone. Why did you register to a not your name? On your Cricket phone. Why did you put come up with a fake name? I don't know. >> What's the name you come up with? I don't know. I I don't I didn't even think they asked for what name. I just remember calling in and giving the serial number. Okay. >> I actually don't remember that. Okay. And and I >> So so okay. Don't think >> That's not important. But what's important here is when you look at all the evidence. I know, I know. It's It's It's You are a smart person, okay? You You tell me. I want you to tell me. Tell me what each thing means. >> Okay. Um burner phone, traveling across California, uh lying about the trip to a detective, not telling anybody about it, including girlfriend. Hundred dollar um and then visiting mom's house. I know. I know what it looks like. >> Levente sent texts from his mother's phone to not only himself, but friends in the hours following her death, all in an attempt to make it look as though she wasn't dead. But, there's something else Levente did in the wake of his mother's death that pointed a bright red arrow right at him. While at a rest stop in Arizona, just hours after killing his mother, he searched Grover Beach murder, Levente Lazar suspect Grover Beach, and this one's the kicker, Levente Lazar murder Grover Beach. Do you realize that these text messages you're showing from your mom were after she was dead? You mean They were sent after she was dead. You sent those texts. Yeah. Yeah. From my phone. Right. You You sent those texts from your mom's phone to you cuz she was already dead. She couldn't. What? No. Look. Look Look Look. Hold on. I'm sorry. No. Wait. It No No No No No. No. Okay. I sent these messages. These are mine. I never sent this because, first of all, I don't even know what that word is. The fact That's That's not That's not a Hungarian word. Look it up. I don't know what it is. Second of all, I don't want >> In Hungarian, that says I I lay down. The fact No. Then, she spelled it incorrectly. Okay. I didn't send those text messages. Okay. I don't know Look. I finished the test. First of all, why don't you Is there a way to to see You're accusing me of hurting my own mom. Well, do you understand why? Because of a map, of a phone, and another phone traveling >> of you at her house. Walking in the house, walking out with the dog. Okay? I know this. Where's Athena? I don't have [laughter] Athena. >> Where is she? I don't know because I haven't >> her there? Is she still alive? I don't have the dog. I don't know if she's alive. I haven't seen the dog with my mom since January. I >> [laughter] >> I did not go in the house. I did it. How can [snorts] you say that? How can you sit here and tell me that when I know different? How can you sit here and tell me that? >> Because >> Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Because I That's ridiculous. That That How can you sit here and look at me and I tell you I know this and you tell me that? That's I I It baffles me. Baffles me. It It That won't make sense to anybody else, either. Do you understand that? The only thing that's going to make sense is if you can help explain what happened in there. I can't because I didn't go in. The I didn't go in. I can't tell you what happened if it didn't happen, correct? I can't. I know. Let's just speed up this process. Okay. Can I have another pair of pants? I will give you these. Yeah, that's fine. But, do you not want to look at your phone? Help explain what's on there? No, because you're going to leave the I've I've seen enough TV to know what happens, okay? You're going to leave the room, you're going to let me sit here, vegetate in my own thoughts, that sort of thing. I can't go to the bathroom, can't drink water. It's going to pass 24 hours, that sort of thing. I I'm not You say I'm I'm I'm smart, but come on. I'm I know some of these tricks because I've seen TV. Okay? >> Okay. You obviously thought a lot about this. The cop actually proves Levente right. After he leaves Levente alone with his thoughts for over an hour, he can't seem to help himself and begins to dig through the files all about him. >> [snorts] >> When police return, they have bad news for him. All right, so you understand I place you under arrest for the murder of your mother. Oh, yes, I understand. Okay. Okay, I'm going to take this Okay, I'm just going to take that off. Just put that on the table. Okay, we're going to put you in a secure room for now. And this is the process is since this is the state of California. Yes. Once the warrant is signed in California and sent to us, then you'll be transported here to our jail. Okay. Okay. For how long if I may ask? So, well, that's part of it, too. You you I can take you back to California and meet with me on that flight back. If you want, you have the right to go be booked at the jail and wait there for a hearing. So, that's up to you, but if you if you want to go back directly to California to start Ultimately, Levente Lazar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. Investigators determined that his motive was purely financial. In the end, his grieving, hard-working mother, who struggled her entire life just to give him the best life possible, was a casualty of his greed. Our thoughts are with Athena's family. Thank you for tuning in. Nearly 85% of everyone watching isn't subscribed. 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